255 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: Chuuzan
After leaving Dai, I travelled to Hokudai. I was assigned to watch the border and test the Qin to see if anything would happen. There were a few skirmishes with the Qin, but nothing major happened. It was only when information reached me that Duke Hyou's was slowly reducing the number of soldiers that he had at the border, after monitoring our movements and seeing that we would not be invading.
As this was credible information, I decided to do the same and reduce my own troop size at the border; the soldiers deserved to go home to their families. They deserved to celebrate and embrace their loved ones, so I allowed them to go home. Only leaving a small force of men from the nearby cities to keep watch.
We took back Hokudai but did not push further to take Kaiya and Chiku. I was sure that there would soon be some fighting over there, but it made little sense to wait on the border throughout the winter. And an invasion of Qin at such a time would also be very terrible for our supply lines.
"Has your network expanded into Wei yet? My creepy watcher." I said, finding it difficult to keep the amusement out of my tone.
There was a soft thud from behind me. There was no need to turn my head and look at her to know she had a flushed look. Two green eyes burned directly into the back of my head. I leaned further back into my chair and smirked.
"A few have opened up some shops in Dairyou," Yuu Sui said after dropping down from wherever her hide space was located. I had no idea how she always seemed to find new spaces in my office. Since Yuu Si and I had our initial conversation, things had progressed quickly.
"That's good. Have a look at Shi Ei for me. He's a Wei Fire Dragon, uses a spear and wears purple armour." I replied that, since we were gaining a foothold in Wei, it was time to look at people of interest.
"It will be done." Yuu Sui replied to me.
"How about the person I asked you to look into from Ganmon?" I had asked Yuu Sui to try to find me some information on Ri Boku. I knew that Shiba Sou is in Seika, and the city was not very far from Dai or Chuuzan. It was also another city that my merchants regularly frequented.
"There's not much to tell. He's currently still a cavalryman fighting on the frontlines." It seemed that Ri Boku had yet to meet Houken. I wondered when that would happen; it was another reason why I silently cursed Hara. The guy was playing fast and loose with the entire timeline.
"Hmm, anything suspicious in the city, Sui?" I asked her. "There's been new people coming in and out, more unknown people from the north. The majority of them look to be Xiongnu." She replied, and that was surprising.
"That could be serious… I'm not talking about the influx of people but the fact they're even being moved…" I trailed off, thinking it over.
"What do you think we should do?" Yuu Sui asked.
"This could be a singular person's plot against me, or it could be something much bigger. The moment my guard falls, just a slip, they will pounce. I want to think it was your former employer, since it would be easier to resolve." I paused, sighing before continuing, "Watch the suspicious ones for now, I know that you would've already interrogated them. However, don't round them up until they show their true intentions."
Yuu Sui nodded before remarking that I shouldn't call her a creep and then jumped gracefully out of the window. I chuckled at her actions. I saw that her face was flushed when I told her I'd call her my lover instead.
I knew it was Shou Sen of the Wei Fire Dragons who had hired Yuu Sui to kill me; I just didn't know if what was happening with the Xiongnu was also part of his machinations. 'He's been a high-ranking official of Wei for a long time.' That would mean his connections ran deep and far; who's to say he could not know a few Xiongnu? And then if he empowered them, and now they were causing a fuss since they knew Ren Pa was not coming to keep them quiet.
'Could there seriously have been this many layers to his plan?' I questioned myself. I only fought against the man once, but there was no planning from my side. Since Rin Shou Jo could contest with him strategically.
"And there's also Oukotsu back in the west now." Recent information, though it was speculative, mentioned Oukotsu had taken up residence in Chiku city, one of the cities taken by Duke Hyou's army in their previous invasion. I had thought he would invade immediately, but there was a possibility that his wounds were too severe and he needed to rest and recover.
Well, for now, it was winter and no one fought in the middle of winter. "I wonder if Chun Li wants to get married this year."
…
"Fu Tei, have you started training yet?" I asked the awestruck boy beside me. He shook his head in only a way an overenergized child would do so. Before saying, "No, not yet, but I soon will."
I placed a hand on his head, ruffling his hair, "Speed is vital in war, but in life you should enjoy a little bit of slowness." By the slight pout and annoyance, I could see that Fu Tei wanted to be a soldier as quickly as possible. I knew he had potential, but he was still only 5 years of age. Much too young to begin his martial training in earnest.
"But I want to train and grow strong, so I can fight in your army." Fu Tei said in a low voice.
"Haha, what a restless child. Fine, I'll send you military readings and teachings from past generals, should you learn them all. Then we will see." I replied, this was something I had wanted to do for a long time. Fu Tei in the manga was lacking, even though he was a major character.
So, rather than having him follow that same path, I wanted the son of my good friend to be the best he can be.
"Really?!" Fu Tei exclaimed, his eyes shining with stars as he looked at me. I simply nodded, "But you can not train until your father says so." I added, knowing the words went in through one ear and out of the other.
"Now, what do we say to Lord Sei Chou, Fu Tei?" Questioned Lady Fu.
"Thank, My Lord." The boy said quickly with a bow. I only chuckled, shaking my head before turning my attention to Fu Jin and Lady Fu. I had spoken with them about having Fu Tei study under a personal tutor regarding military schooling. Lady Fu stood up and excused herself, taking Fu Tei with her.
"Your boy grows stronger," I said, watching the mother and child leave.
"Yes, and as his strength grows, so does his restlessness." Fu Jin commented, making me chuckle. "Hmm, what are you laughing at? One day, you will be in my position. Before the last deployment, he tried to sneak in with the soldiers." I laughed some more.
"Haha, oh to be so young and innocent. Were you not the same?" I asked.
"No, originally I didn't even want to enlist, but I did and managed to be placed in the Rin Shou Jo army, and in my first battle, we found a boy of a similar age to me on the border of Wei." Fu Jin said.
I waved my hand dismissing the topic, as the last time I and Fu Jin spoke about it. The topic had gone on for hours, and all we discussed was fate and destiny. I didn't have the time to do all of that today.
I had only come for a short visit before heading to meet some of my people amongst the merchant alliance.
255 BCE
STATE OF WEI: DAIRYOU
3RD PERSON POV
As the head of military affairs, and one of the seven Wei Fire Dragons. Shou Sen's mind always had to be focused on the big picture; his mind could rarely drift towards the smaller matters. As he sat down on the floor idly fanning himself, he sifted through the messages and information he had received.
One of them stood out to him; it was a problem he knew. A small problem that should've never grown to what it currently was now, and at this time, he was almost powerless to do anything about it. Unknowingly to him, his hand clenched around the wooden handle, as he halted fanning himself for just a moment.
Before he sighed, "He grew from a leaf to a tree in the matter of moments." Shou Sen could scarcely believe it. That the little prince who fled would turn into such a monstrous talent, he truly did not know whether to laugh or cry.
"Such is the world, but he does not change the grand scheme." Shou Sen had long since calculated the conclusion of this chaotic era; he knew there was no way it could continue, and something had to give. The people would not allow a continuous cycle of blood and war to continue for another 300 years. To him, it was why so many formidable people were coming forward, especially in the harshest of times.
"I only have to make sure that it is Wei who comes out the victor." Shou Sen said to himself, reinforcing the idea. As the head of military affairs, he was close with the royal family, and with that, he saw and heard many things.
Sei Chou was going to resent Wei after what Lady Kei had done; there was no way he would not resent them. And once he was picked up by Rin Shou Jo, Shou Sen could only see the problem growing bigger. Many times, he had come up against the Phantasmal General; the Zhao general was renowned for his strategic brilliance.
A set of footsteps tore him from his thoughts, "It's not like you to be so lost in thought. Shou Sen." The voice caught him off guard. Shou Sen steadily moved to stand up and bow, but a hand stopped him.
"At ease, Shou Sen," Crown Prince Kei Bin said. Before sighing and sitting down next to Shou Sen, "The masses are worried." The crown prince said as Shou Sen sat beside him, saying nothing. "The King created the Seven Wei Fire Dragons, as a means to counter all threats and yet… recently there's been nothing but a string of defeats."
Shou Sen felt his anger spike before it was quickly smothered by logic. Crown Prince Kei Bin glanced at the man without turning his head before continuing to speak. "They say the era of the Qin Six Great Generals and Zhao's Three Great Heavens is dead."
"Tell me, Shou Sen, is the era of Wei's Fire Dragon dead with them?" Kei Bin questioned him pointedly, his eyes narrowing to nothing less than slits.
"Your Majesty, the board is in our favour. Zhao and Qin continuously whittled each other down, and now they're both there for the taking." Shou Sen replied, this was a situation he had long planned for. And the board was heavily stacked in favour of Wei.
"Then, we will be counting on you. Shou Sen," replied Kei Bin as he stood up to leave, but before he left the room, he spoke a single line that froze Shou Sen.
"Let's hope those barbarians will follow the plan."
CHAPTER: DONE