260 BCE
3rd person POV
Over a year had come and gone for the Rin Shou Jo army that was posted on the border facing the Wei army led by Wei Fire Dragons, Shou Sen, Ba Tou and Tai Ro Ji. In that time only skirmishes occurred between the two sides, with the most notable clashes being Gyou'un clashing with Tai Ro Ji and Chou Garyuu facing off against Ba Tou. With both Shou Sen of Wei and Rin Shou Jo of Zhao trying to deceive the other strategist.
All the while these skirmishes occurred, in the west the Qin rallied and invaded Zhao attempting to strike the heartlands of the Zhao and finally conquering one of their most bitter enemies. The army was headed by none other than the most feared Great General in the Qin army, Haku Ki or Bai Qi. Haku Ki the leader of the Qin Six Great Generals appointed Ou Ki or Wang Ji famed as the monstrous bird of Qin as his vice general.
Their opponent was a veteran of warfare who had clashed with the Qin Great Generals countless of times, a man who the two Great Generals knew well. Ren Pa or Lian Po, a Great Heaven of Zhao who was near flawless in warfare.
This clash was one that involved three claimants to the title of God of War. An unbelievable war that had continued for a year, with Great Heaven Ren Pa choosing to defend whilst Haku Ki and Ou Ki continued to attack.
The world looked on and awaited with bated breath for the outcome of the battle at Chou Hei/Changping….
…
260 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: KANRIN
In the Zhao city of Kanrin one young looking man sat whilst the other stood and looked over one of the two tables that was spread across the table. The particular map they looked over and scrutinized was the one that showed the frontline of Chou Hei and the current battle happening between Qin and Zhao.
"What is the latest update?" The man sitting down, Rin Shou Jo of the Zhao Three Great Heavens asked one of the two assistants in the room.
"Lord Ren Pa has taken back two cities, but does not move forward afterwards." Pieces on the board moved as the man pointed out which cities it was that Ren Pa had taken. Looking at his Lord, Chou Garyuu stayed silent, his eyes slid over to the youngest person in the room and an addition to the Rin Shou Jo army. It was Sei Chou the youngster Gyou'un had found and brought back to the main camp.
The boy looked a lot different from when they had first found him, over years he had grown taller, his body filling out due to Gyou'un training and the colours of his clothes had changed to that of the Rin Shou Jo army and of Zhao. Chou Garyuu understood his lords intentions with having Sei Chou be a constant feature in meetings and though earlier he did not think it was so safe for the boy to be close to their army high command.
The past year and a bit more had changed his mind, it was not only Gyou'un who had trained the boy up to become stronger but also Chou Garyuu had also spent his time giving the boy lessons regarding strategies and tactics whenever Lord Rin Shou Jo did not do so personally.
Chou Garyuu found that Sei Chou was a prodigy, 'No, to only call him a prodigy would be false, he is something entirely above a prodigy.' Chou Garyuu knew both his brother Gyou'un and his Lord Rin Shou Jo also understood this distinct point.
"Sei Chou," Rin Shou Jo called him, the boy forwards another regular occurrence in the meetings that continued with them. "Proceed to predict the next steps of the battle at Chou Hei." Sei Chou heard the words and knew it was a test, his teacher loved to both teach and set him a test on prediction.
Sei Chou stepped forward with ease and looked at the board, he of course knew how the battle of Chou Hei would end. The foolish decision that the King of Zhao would eventually make and the tragedy that was going to be inflicted on Zhao.
"Great Heaven Lord Ren Pa will once again assume the defensive and await the turning point."
"Explain, what do you mean?" The inner workings was what his master wanted. Rin Shou Jo looked up and into the eyes of the boy that had been much more hardened than when he had previously found him. "Lord Ren Pa can not engage both Haku Ki and Ou Ki in pitched battle, as he knows their supply line can only be maintained for so long. He would rather choose for them to withdraw on their own."
"Hmm, there is something you are not saying, you do not speak with certainty." Rin Shou Jo knew his only student well and could pick up on the subtle times that Sei Chou held himself back from saying all he thought. It was a good trait to have, one that he wished his own brother that was currently fighting the Qin to also have at times.
"Lord Ren Pa, has fought a continuous defensive battle. Blunting the Qin sword on his own shield and though it is the best solution for the current problem. It will not be seen favourably by everyone in Zhao. My Lord, I believe detractors in Zhao court will look to change the momentum of this war and…" There was silence in the room, Lord Rin Shou Jo allowed his student to conclude.
"Change the commander in chief." There was a pin drop silence, for many reasons lead among them being the words of Sei Chou shocked everyone who heard them. Even Chou Garyuu who had overseen the Sei Chou's strategic planning could not believe the conclusion Sei Chou had come to.
"... You may leave, lead the Rai Un and Dojaku armies and probe the Wei frontlines." Rin Shou Jo commanded. Sei Chou bowed and stepped out of the room alongside the assistants walking to where both the Dojaku and Rai Un armies were stationed with the orders.
Back in the room the silence was only broken by Chou Garyuu, "Perhaps, we have placed too much on young Sei Chou's shoulders?"
"Hmm, it is possible you are correct but Sei Chou has risen and excelled at every challenge we have set him…" Rin Shou Jo replied.
"Then… My Lord, you believe the words that Sei Chou just spoke?" Gyou'un was the next to ask.
"... I'm not sure I want to believe them brother. It would be a disastrous thing to change the commander at such a time in battle, especially for Ren Pa who is no doubt enjoying the current battle." Rin Shou Jo knew his brother would have a bright grin as he clashed with Ou Ki.
…
Sei Chou POV
I knew the words were going to be difficult to hear for Lord Rin Shou Jo but they were the truth, Zhao had a solid block to the Qin and everyone knew. 'Everyone in the middle plain is probably marveling at the might of Ren Pa.' It was no secret that the war was happening, and the might of both Ou Ki and Haku Ki had been felt throughout the Seven Warring States.
So to not only contest against them but gain ground and halt the two firmly was an amazing feat, if the war continued Ren Pa would most likely win. He would find a way to destroy the Qin supply line, 'If he has not already.' I thought it was probably why Qin was going to move very fast in getting Ren Pa removed from command.
Anyway it was time for me to re-focus my thoughts on the current situation. I was leading both the elite units of Chou Garyuu and Gyou'un. I knew the reason why I had been chosen for this task, I was being groomed to become the successor of Rin Shou Jo and to lead the future Rin Shou Jo army to glory, it was why I had fought in both armies and got acquainted with the troops of both units.
'Teacher, most likely knows he can not hold back the other eight but he can do it for Gyou'un and Chou Garyuu.' The two of them had spent the most time with me outside of Rin Shou Jo himself for almost two years.
Turning to Den Pou I asked, "Scouts report?"
Den Pou and the Jo brothers (Jo Shou and Jo Rin) alongside the elite from their armies, were accompanying me through a secret path that I had spotted on the map. A Wei unit of similar size to ours was also passing through.
"Young master," Den Pou replied. I wonder when that started? It had been some time since they had begun calling me young master instead of my name. I didn't correct them because I thought it was either Rin Shou Jo, Chou Garyuu or Gyou'un that had instructed them to do so.
"A scout said he saw the banner read Shi." I nodded and looked forwards, my brain recognising the name. A grin made its way to my face. 'So, it will be Shi Ei, the future Earl Shi.' The dust cloud that kicked up behind the enemy drew my eyes upward, my grin only growing, quickly I instructed the Jo brothers to break off at each flank.
The area had many trees that were suitable for sneak attacks and cover, looking at my map I saw that Shi Ei was leading the army directly. He had not sent anyone to split off.
'This will be another good challenge to see where I am at.' I thought as I caught a glimpse of purple armour and a spear.
…
3rd person POV
260 BCE (A few weeks after Sei Chou's skirmish with Shi Ei of Wei).
Rin Shou Jo turned to Chou Garyuu and asked, "Give me a summary of Sei Chou's predictions from a few weeks ago."
"Fourteen, all correct. A pity that this one has managed to besmirch his record, it could've been a new record set." Hearing Chou Garyuu's words Rin Shou Jo nodded, and thought more on the matter.
As he was thinking, a messenger entered the room and bowed deeply before relaying what he had heard from the Zhao frontlines.
"The court sees Great Heaven Ren Pa's defence as slow progress and wishes to end the suffering by going for a pitched battle. In doing so they have decided to remove Lord Ren Pa as the Commander in Chief and have ordered him to command the eastern border. Lord Chou Katsu has been announced as the new Commander in Chief." The messenger spoke.
Chou Garyuu and Gyou'un's eyes widened with shock at the words they heard even the two assistants who had been there five days ago and heard Sei Chou's prediction were equally shocked.
"Fifteen rounds of battle all correct and from so far away. A new record has been set." Rin Shou Jo spoke, "After knowing for half of my lifetime that I will not live long… after worrying and looking for my successor." Even though bitterness and anger could be seen in his eyes, a grin still made its way to his face.
"He has finally appeared before me."