255 BCE
NARRATOR POV
As the winter snows began to melt, a large-scale battle took place in 255 BCE. The battle would not be recorded in the Shiji, but many in the future will come to know it as the battle that changed a certain man's life.
It was a battle where Zhao soldiers faced off… against Chu soldiers.
NARRATOR POV END
3RD PERSON POV
"UOOOHHH!" Soldiers from both Zhao and Chu screamed their war cry as they charged towards one another before crashing into each other. Spears thrusted and pierced through armour, men tripped and fell, only to be trampled on by their own comrades. The battle was frantic; the very air seemed charged with furious energy.
The state of Chu was still riding the wave of their previous one-sided victory against Qin, their morale high. As for the Zhao soldiers, their own morale was very high, as a nation that had not seen defeat since the Battle of Chouhei. The soldiers did not believe a defeat could ever be in their future.
It was a fearsome clash between two emboldened states.
Kan Mei, a recently promoted Great General of Chu, raced down the battlefield, swinging his greatsword, beheading Zhao soldiers with every swing. The Great General seemed to have become even more powerful since his battle against OuKotsu. His facial expression was odd as he cut through Zhao's soldiers after soldier. Great General Kan Mei seemed bored.
"The Kan Mei army has smashed through the second wave and is heading directly here!"
"Damn him! Send the 3rd wave after the bastard!"
Duke Son Fu of Zhao, an uncle of King Xiaocheng, led the battle for the side of Zhao; his headquarters were up in arms as they reacted to the martial might of Chu's Great General. Closer to Zhao's frontlines, soldiers gritted their teeth, sweat pouring down their foreheads as they awaited Kan Mei.
"Here comes Kan Mei, STOP HIM NOW!"
"Sh-shit, how has this happened?!"
Kan Mei's momentum did not slow for a second, his sword army taking four heads, leaving a shower of blood in his wake. Fear started to strike deep into the hearts of the Zhao soldiers; they could scarcely believe the power of Kan Mei.
LI MU/ RI BOKU POV
"KILL HIM DAMMIT!" Li Mu/Riboku could barely hear the shout from one of the commanders over the continuous thundering of cavalrymen; he could feel that the tide of the war was going only one way. Just over the horizon, his eyes spotted Kan Mei's Great General flag, and as he looked back down, their sides were closer.
"BREAK THEM TO PIECES!!!!"
Then he saw him take a single swing…
!!!!
DEVASTATING
Kan Mei cut down 5 men with a swipe of his sword. Flesh and armour separated from their lower halves as blood sprayed.
Then, chaos he knew not how or when, but Riboku was knocked off his horse. He still clutched his spear, his lifeline with everything he had, and parried, stabbed and thrusted as ferociously as he did the first time he ever wielded a weapon.
The Chu momentum was unstoppable. Ri Boku felt parched, sweat rushing down his face.
'WHY WON'T YOU STOP!' Riboku shouted as he deflected a strike to his neck, before piercing the unknown Chu soldier with half a dozen wounds.
He asked unanswerable questions, as he felt his stomach cave in. A mace had impacted his chest with such force that his feet left the ground. Both his head and back touched the dirt below; horses and men died all around him.
The screams were never-ending, never stopping; he knew his men were also dying amongst them. The last of his family, his younger brother, had only been killed the day before. He had nothing left... nothing left to give... nothing left to take.
Why should he always taste defeat?
Why must these times be so plagued with war?
His peace had been shattered.
And now there was nothing more... "Nothing more." Riboku whispered as he crawled; the feeling in his lower voice had gone. He could feel blood seeping through his teeth, but he still crawled and crawled towards the tree line.
'Let me die cold and alone,' Riboku thought as he slowly bled out. In peace, he will find death; his family will be waiting for him to come home to them.
However… Heaven had a different plan for Riboku. For heaven had not needed to call him yet.
*COUGH* *COUGH* *COUGH*
He coughed furiously as more and more blood poured from his mouth; his eyes gazed out, looking but not seeing. There was nothing for him to give anymore, no words, no feelings, no tears.
feelings, no tears.
Broken, shattered and battered, he lay in a forest, coughing blood. Waiting and beckoning his death, hoping the cold grasp would take him as it did his family. Scars lined each side of his face, leaking crimson as both sweat and blood mixed and married.
His breath still came to him, ragged and harsh; it all hurt. Pain had assaulted him to the point there was none left to feel; his body was growing cold, and death slowly had her cold grasp on him.
Then a monster appeared, Riboku side glanced HIM. As he walked, glaive in one hand, and a tiger's head in the other. The man gripped his glaive with such force his hand bled, leaking with each step he took.
"All that stands in my path shall die by my hands and return to the earth." The thing spoke.
*THUD* Riboku watched as the tiger's head landed just past his head. His body not moving an inch, waiting for death to claim him.
*SHING*
The cold, harsh blade of the thing's glaive touched his skin, apathetic eyes spared the blade a single glance, then looked in the thing's eyes for the first time.
"What's wrong?... Didn't you... Say that I stood in your way?... End me if that's your wish?" Riboku strained.
"I have nothing left... My parents... Brothers... Friends and comrades...All lost... To the flames of war..."
"I let them die... I have nothing left..."
The thing removed their weapon from his neck, a stern face stared down at him, and Riboku only looked back. He was beyond tired, beyond exhaustion, and only wished to wither away.
"There exists a role for you to play. You still have yet... To carry that out."
Riboku did not... could not speak as he looked at the man.
"There are voices that whisper... You are the one... Who shall guide me?"
WHAT? Riboku thought, looking at this man... thing?
"Towards the answer... That seeks my path."
The man must be mistaken.
"I'm sorry but... you've got the wrong man. I have... No idea what you are talking about."
Riboku tried to dissuade him, but the man was having none of it.
"One day you will understand."
"Riboku"
How did he know my name? Riboku could not help the thought that came to his mind.
"Remember this."
"I am Houken. The path seeker."
He saw a large hand loom over his eyes, and then darkness.
LI MU/RI BOKU POV END
NARRATOR POV
He who only walks the martial path, disregarding all but the way of a Wushen/Bushin, will shock the world at Bayou.
NARRATOR POV END
....
255 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: CHUUZAN
SEI CHOU/ JING ZHE POV
"Duke Son Fu is dead?"
"Indeed, my Lord. Kan Mei, a new Great General of Chu, invaded, destroyed his army and took his head. The Zhao forces in the region scattered."
"What bad timing…" I couldn't help but remark. The Chu were a serious threat, and though we rarely clashed with the Chu, we still shared a border with them. And with the way Chu operated, it was only a matter of time till they turned their heads towards Zhao.
"There's also Oukotsu in the west, the Xiongnu tribes to our north and whispers from Yan." Chou Garyu said before I interrupted him. "You think this could be something bigger?" Though I was smart and a very good strategist, I would always ask the opinions of those around me. There could always be something that I missed.
"Yes, too many coincidences. The barbarians suddenly became so emboldened after years of hiding, as Chu invaded from the south. A defeated Wei is still trying to contest against Ren Pa." Chou Garyuu let his words sit in the air. I could also see Gyou'un nodding along to the words.
The picture they were painting was alarming, and not something Zhao could even think to match up against and come out unscathed. So why… "Why are you two smiling?" I questioned with a raised brow.
It was Gyou'un who answered me, "It has been so long since we've been able to see our Young Lord's outstanding abilities. My blood sings with excitement at the prospect of being in a battle once more."
"And My Lord. Since you have wedded Lady Chun, we've been able to hand over all administration tasks to the Rin family and their subordinates who moved here with them." Chou Garyuu added.
"Haha," I looked at both of them, "So you two have finally decided to step away from the paperwork? This sure brings back a flood of memories. It's been years since you two…" My words trailed off as I shook my head.
"There better be no rustiness?" I inclined my head to look at both of them in faux contempt.
"Never!" X2
"Good, we start with the Xiongnu tribes, and then we knock out Yan." I made my decision; speed was vital in war, and I knew those two were the quickest we could take off the board.
"And Oukotsu for last?" Chou Garyuu rhetorically questioned.
"Yes," I turned towards the door and called for Fu Jin. Who appeared and bowed only moments later.
"Fu Jin, remember what you learnt from General Rinko?" I asked him.
"Yes, My Lord. I will ride out immediately, scout their teams and take the heads of a few outstanding officers." Fu Jin replied. It was a tactic Rinko used to disturb enemy morale.
"Take three thousand cavalry and cause chaos," I said before giving Fu Jin leave to head north.
"Now it's time for me to go and inform my wife that I will be heading to war," I said, spinning on my heel.
CHAPTER: DONE