254 BCE
BATTLE OF RIEN: WEI MAIN HEADQUARTERS
Gokei POV
It was rare, but there were times when even the Greatest slipped up and made mistakes, and the scene playing out in front of Gokei had all stemmed from an error he had made. The battle plan for Rien had been going in the right direction, and it had seemed the Wei army had received the blessings of heaven. They'd drawn out Sei Chou, the enemy Commander in Chief, who was still being held in a fierce duel towards Gokei's the left side of the battlefield.
Though he'd had his reservations regarding Earl Shi's son, it was only natural the man was young and even if Gokei wanted to wholeheartedly trust the youth due to the fact he'd never fought beside him, there was a modicum of scepticism. However, that had now all changed.
The two young martially inclined warriors were battling away, and Gokei could hear the screeching and impact of their weapons clashing from where he was; in that circumstance, all they needed to do was kill both Gyou'un and Chou Garyuu and the battle would find a natural conclusion after that. With the right and left hands of Sei Chou cut off, the Zhao warrior wouldn't be able to reach any further than now, and if he did, Gokei had a backup plan for that.
It was highly important that he kill off both Gyou'un and Chou Garyuu, as those two were experienced monsters who would not fall for the same trick twice; they'd fought under the phantasmal Great Heaven, and Gokei had looked at the late Zhao Generals' battles enough times to understand the man certainly earned his title and rank on merit.
Still, even with knowing all of that, Gokei didn't and couldn't have equated another talented individual to take full command of the reserves and launch a rescue plan under such pressure. Gokei, from his vantage point, could see that the person had hastily put together his plan, and whoever it was, they were definitely young, as Gokei had not heard of such a person in the Sei Chou army previously.
Reports had come back that the person's name was Chou Sou; he'd never heard of him, but according to some, he'd featured in the previous Zhao-Qin war. Though he had achievements worthy of praise, they were greatly overshadowed by three others. A distant relation to Hei Gen Kun, Prime Minister of Zhao, and now he was a General strategist in the Sei Chou army.
"Just how talented is the Sei Chou army for a youngster like this to be unknown…" Gokei wondered to himself.
GOKEI POV DONE
BATTLE OF RIEN: ZHAO MAIN HEADQUARTERS
CHOU SOU POV
So, this is Wei Fire Dragon Gokei's method of war. It was truly eye-opening for Chou Sou to see, and coming up against Gokei was a true Great General who'd fought in countless battles and scored many victories. Even if Chou Sou had some pride, he would never allow it to stretch to the point that he was prideful or even dare think about getting arrogant, not while those two monsters still kept him under their eye. And when Great Heaven Sei Chou still breathed, thinking about his Lord.
Chou Sou looked towards where his Lord had headed off to at the very beginning of the day, it was kind of ridiculous and if Chou Sou could he would say it was reckless, irresponsible and many more words but he kept his mouth closed and his thoughts to himself, because who knew what hellish training Lord Sei Chou would put him and his men under if he dared voiced his complaints in such a manner.
While the Great Heaven was away, the two veterans were left in command. Chou Sou had learned that Sei Chou was not a person to look over and nitpick at everything; instead, he gave the commanders freedom to act as they pleased. Which is why the two veterans had done what they'd done, and Chou Sou was able to deploy the shifting sands formation of Lord Chou Garyuu as soon as he'd noticed the plan of Gokei.
'Speed is vital in war.' A teaching of Master Sun, and a quote that Lord Sei Chou quoted regularly, so much so that Chou Sou was sure he'd never forget the quote even if he'd forgotten his own name. However, 'If I was quicker I could've noticed and saved more troop strength.' Chou bitterly clicked his tongue at the thought; it was his failure and his alone that had cost so many lives, and he knew if it was faster he'd have saved more.
Gokei was as intelligent as they come, but he'd made errors and had blind spots because while Chou Sou had used the shifting sands to defend, a two-pronged attack was being headed by both Lord Gyou'un and Chou Garyuu with their elite cavalry to back them up as well. Everything between Chou Sou and the two experienced warriors was enemies in the eyes of the two Generals, and they were brutally cutting through all Wei troops that tried to bar their way.
Chou Sou could see the two of them from his vantage point, and it seemed like the two were… "Are they having fun?" Chou Sou tilted his head; it was such an odd sight given the gore and carnage around the two Generals, but their smiles and the way they fought were not ones of anger, hatred or revenge but instead looked as if the two were competing, even the way they seemed to shout at one another.
Chou Sou really had no words for what he was seeing, and all he could do was shake his head. "At times it's like I'm the only sane one." Chou Sou said before nodding and taking command of his personal cavalry troops, though he hated this part; his Lord had personally given him a teacher for exactly this moment.
'A strategist must spill blood to truly understand what it means to be a strategist.' His Lord had told him before walking away, and leaving Chou Sou to fight and lose miserably against his martial arts teacher.
"Both Lord Gyou'una and Chou Garyuu are fighting valiantly down there!! Let's join them and rout the Wei troops!!" The majority of infantry will be left behind to continue defending and holding down the Wei troops, while his cavalry will fan out and strike at the Wei chariots that had no mobility since they were trapped between two forces.
As he charged towards the stuck Wei chariots, Chou Sou reflected on his earlier thoughts, and what he was currently doing now… 'Perhaps I am just as crazy as them.'
CHOU SOU POV END
BATTLE OF RIEN: WEI MAIN HEADQUARTERS
3RD PERSON POV
The clanging of their weapons continued long into the day, even as night approached. Two young, fearless and brave Generals fought under a dusky, shouts and screams rang out around the two, but so engrossed in their duel they paid them no mind. Shi Ei of the Wei Fire Dragon had charged Zhao's Great Heaven Sei Chou, even as his body screamed in pain from the many cuts that marred him.
Two spears thrust towards the Great Heaven's midriff were blocked but not fully, as Sei Chou was only half a beat slower. Not to be outdone, Sei Chou sent three powerful strikes of his glaive back at Shi Ei, breaking off chunks of the man's armour.
'What a wicked spear, even a damn half a second will see me skewered.' Sei Chou thought of dodging another attack and watching as the weapon shot past his face. Shi Ei's eyes were a touch more narrowed than usual as he saw Sei Chou come back at him with another attack.
'He's getting more powerful?! Damn him!' Shi Ei thought as he just barely blocked a glaive strike; the weight behind the attack sent his horse back a few paces. However, he was quick to recover and race at his opponent once more.
For those in the Shi Ei army who could see their General fighting, they could see something odd but not uncommon. It only happened when Shi Ei fought against Sei Chou, and that was the sight of Shi Ei enjoying a fight. It was often to see their General fighting with a deep scowl or no emotion at all, as if he were unfeeling and unthinking. However, every time the man seemed to duel this one opponent, he would always show at least a flicker of emotion.
Shi Ei was still angry and wanted answers for what Sei Chou had said, but it was all in the back of his mind. Even if he tried to bring it to the forefront of his mind, he just couldn't do it, and Shi Ei didn't truly know why.
Sei Chou could see this, and as the fight continued, the sky started to get darker and darker; time was passing, but neither of them was slowing down; instead, they seemed to just get faster, and their attacks continued to grow in power.
'There's something more to his attacks now, but it's a pity…' Sei Chou allowed his thoughts to trail off as he gritted his teeth and swung his glaive with everything towards the Wei Fire Dragon's neck. The strike was met with another clang; the pole of Shi Ei's spear had been raised just in the nick of time. A streak of blood left his neck as he stared at Sei Chou; the cut was too shallow to do more.
It was only then that Shi Ei realised just how long the two of them had been fighting. Looking around, he assessed the battlefield and could see his men were tired from the fighting and needed rest.
"It seems we're done for the day." Sei Chou said.
Shi Ei only clicked his tongue before ordering his soldiers to retreat. "I'll get my answer." He said before leaving as the rear guard of his army.
"You should get them soon enough." Sei Chou said as he retreated with his men.