254 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: KANRIN
Before the battle north of Rien City…
SEI CHOU POV
"Gokei is such a smart and cunning man; he will definitely make this battle hard work," Gyou'un said.
"Especially now that no one would even dare to think about underestimating you anymore. The King has painted a mighty target on your back, and Lord Hei Gen Kun does not help it." Chou Garyuu added.
The war council was in session, with my army swelling to 120,000; it meant there was a massive influx of commanders, strategists, messengers and scouts. There was now a whole section of my army fully dedicated to ensuring the rations were safely transported and equally shared out, another section that was solely focused on siege equipment and formations and so on.
Yet at the moment it was the dozen strategists that would have my attention, because every one of them was given the task of finding a way to reduce the Wei army numbers considerably. As a collective, we knew that Gokei desired an open plains battle, and that fact did not deter me. Even so, I would've preferred it to be a siege since that would negate one of Wei's most formidable weapons.
The famed Wei Chariot! In my opinion, the chariot was going out of fashion and becoming a thing of the past, but even if time had mostly moved past the chariot. They were still deadly to infantry, and I had quite a lot of infantry.
"Plus there's that Shi Ei as well; his fame continues to grow more and more in lockstep with your own. They're already calling him the unrivalled spear of Wei; there's no doubt that guy will seek you out." Smirking back at Chou Garyuu, I shook my head lightly.
"Surely it would be better to avoid an open plain battle, since the Wei chariots will have the advantage against our troops?" Chou Sou spoke up; he was promoted, and I could see that becoming even more important in the army had given him more confidence.
"Yes, but it's unavoidable. As Generals Gyou'un and Chou Garyuu have mentioned, Wei Fire Dragon Gokei is not an ordinary strategist; he's very clever and experienced in his many years of battle. He's already pushing us to an open field battle; it is now only a question as to where and how far the travel will be." Fu Jin answered Chou Sou's question swiftly.
Still, I kept silent, listening to plans that were made before they were being shut down by Chou Garyuu and Gyou'un or even Chou Sou for various reasons. It was Chou Sou who spoke up next, and when he did, my eyes brightened. "Why doesn't My Lord play the same trick once more?" He asked.
Tilting my head, I raised a brow. "Explain?" All eyes were now on Chou Sou, who moved some of the figures on the map depicting my forces and the Wei forces.
"We know that Wei are charging forwards and have taken a few border cities. However, if we were to take a city directly behind them," He moved some of the clay soldiers to a city directly behind and on the supply line of Wei, Rien City.
"Then we will successfully cut off their return route, leaving Gokei and his men in between our own army." Chou Sou finished.
"It's a good plan, but no doubt Gokei would've planned for such a thing in advance and stationed a considerable force with someone he trusted in command in Rien City and in the nearby regions." Fu Jin accurately pointed out. Though I'd initially wanted Fu Jin to journey with Yuu Sui and Kai Kou, to the Shi residence I'd changed my mind at the last moment as his skills would be better used with me.
"Yes, that's why I suggest Lord Sei Chou goes with only a few dozen men. We received reports earlier that several merchants were heading to the city; should my Lord disguise himself as a simple merchant caravan looking to help the Wei army… Who will doubt him?" Chou Sou countered, and my smirk grew into a smile.
This strategist was growing; I fixed Chou Sou with a look, and whatever he saw made him puff his chest out and stand taller.
"You would risk our Lord's life?" Gyou'un, cold and curt as ever, spoke directly to Chou Sou. Yet, the younger General did not back down, "I would say it is the only way to catch this enemy off guard. To do something outside of Gokei's framework." Chou Sou replied.
Gyou'un sent a look to Chou Garyuu, who just proudly smirked as if to say, 'My pupil will not cower to you.' Looking back to Chou Sou, who was waiting for an answer, whether it be agreement or dismissal, I thought about the plan, and though it was good, there were some points lacking in it, but it was a good plan and one I wanted to use.
"With a sword at his front and another at his back, it's time we repay Gokei for his rash invasion into Zhao. Maybe because he saw Ren Pa was no longer on the border, he felt emboldened! Perhaps he heard it was the Sei Chou army that was coming to meet him, and he grew arrogant, placing us beneath him!" My voice grew louder as I addressed my men.
"None of the reasons for his invasion of Zhao matter! The day we were granted the task of ridding our lands of Gokei and his Wei troops! It was the last day they would ever be emboldened! There is a hefty debt to be paid! And Gokei is first on the list!"
Staring at my troops, I saw the looks of reverence in their gazes directed to me; long since used to it, I focused on adding bits and pieces to Chou Sou's plan.
By night, I would take 50 men of my personal guard and Fu Jin to enter Rien City right under the nose of the City Lord.
….
254 BCE
WEI SIDE POV
"My Lord! Rien City has been breached and fallen!" A messenger rushed into the war council announcing the new information he had just received.
"How can that be?! Reports have Sei Chou's army still at Kanrin; there's no way he could move that fast!" Kyuugen, one of Gokei's generals, said, not believing the news.
"That's correct! We have been monitoring Kanrin. Should anyone have left, we would've noticed the enemy movement." Another commander agreed with Kyuugen.
"The Ki brothers were ambushed in the night. General Kan Ei went to aid them in the fighting but was only ambushed. They've been annihilated." The messenger replied; he knew the message was unreasonable, but it was his job to let Lord Gokei know what was happening.
However, contrary to the terrible news that he heard, news that informed him of some of his troops being destroyed and the loss of a key city, Gokei had a slight smile on his face; his meticulous eyes did not leave the map on the table in front of him.
"He's certainly not an ordinary guy." Gokei commented before continuing, "He's cut our supply line, and now we cannot go any further forward. There's no doubt he has kept his army at Kanrin while moving some troops to Rien City to secure it properly." Gokei could see all the moves Sei Chou had played, and now that there was a silent deadline, he knew a major battle would have to happen soon.
"Give and take, he took our time, and we will give him the location." Go Kei spotted a place where a battle would be favourable for him and his troops. "Have Shi Ei head to this location. He will be the vanguard."
WEI SIDE POV END
The Battle of Rien, 254 BCE: Zhao and Wei clashed fiercely on the first day of battle. Both armies attacked, holding little back; none of the main Great Generals entered the fray. Sei Chou, Gokei and Shi Ei all stayed in the HQ. This was not odd for Gokei, but for Sei Chou and Earl Shi, who both had shown a preference for leading their troops into battle, it was highly unusual.
At the start of the first day of battle, Wei's Gokei was in command of 130,000 while Sei Chou was in command of 120,000. However, after the fierce fighting of the first day, Zhao suffered an estimated 15,000 casualties. Whilst Wei lost 20,000, placing their number at 105,000 and 110,000 respectively. The next five days of battle would be a complete reverse of the first day; instead of attacking each other ferociously, both Gokei and Sei Chou would go on the defensive.
Both commanders chose to save and allow their soldiers to recuperate; there was a relative calm on the battlefield for five days, with a few skirmishes without many losses. Over the five days, Zhao lost about 20,000 while Wei lost around 25,000. This left both sides with equal numbers, of 85,000 troops.
As their numbers were equal come the start of the 5th day, that seemed to be the trigger for Sei Chou and the full force of the Sei Chou army to act. After 5 days of battle, the Zhao Great Heaven would take to the field, but he wouldn't be alone, as on that fifth day of battle Wei Fire Dragon Earl Shi would also enter the fray.
Both martially inclined warriors charged directly towards each other; there was no subtlety in it. Both young generals only wanted to know one single answer, and as they circled each other, they pointed their respective weapons towards their opponent.
'Who is number 1?'
On that fifth day, it would all be settled.