In a battle between armies numbering hundreds of thousands, a lone figure isn't supposed to overturn the tide. But in some cases, there are people whose mere presence can decide the victory or defeat of a battle.
People called those people great generals, the ones who are blessed by the heavens. Throughout the history of China, many famous generals have emerged; General Ousen was supposed to be the best among them, according to one of the previous six greats of Qin, Koshou. But he made that remark before the emergence of another monster that would shake the entire nation. And with a twist of fate, these two monsters would battle against each other as enemies one day, their battle becoming famous throughout history. But not for an epic clash between two monsters, but rather how one of them would crush the other with such total devastation.
Inside the grand command tent of the Qin army, the air was thick with tension. General MouBu stood by the central war table, his broad figure towering over the gathered officers. His clenched fists rested on the map spread across the table, his face a mask of frustration.
"This is a disgrace!" MouBu's voice boomed, shaking the very fabric of the tent. "We've marched all this way, prepared to destroy that traitor Ousen, and now you're telling me we're retreating without a real fight? Another retreat? Another humiliation?!"
General Tou, seated calmly with his hands resting lightly on the table's edge, regarded MouBu with a measured gaze. "Your frustration is understandable," Tou began, his voice low and steady. "But this is no ordinary situation. Ousen's betrayal is not just a military setback—it's a disruption of Qin's balance. Returning to Kanyou is not a retreat; it's ensuring we are ready for what comes next."
"What comes next?" MouBu sneered, his scorn barely concealed. "What could possibly be more important than crushing a traitor who has shamed us all? Ousen is a stain on Qin's honor, and leaving without his head will only embolden others."
Tou sighed, his patience undiminished. "If you think Ousen's defection is merely about personal ambition, you're mistaken. His timing, his alliances, even his choice of territory—it all suggests a larger scheme at play. The internal politics of Qin are more precarious than you realize, MouBu. A storm brews in Qin, one we cannot ignore."
Before MouBu could retort, the tent flaps parted, and Mouten, MouBu's son, entered with a respectful bow.
"Father, General Tou," Mouten greeted, his tone light but respectful.
MouBu's eyes widened briefly, surprise flickering across his stern face. It was quickly replaced by a scowl. "Mouten? What are you doing here? Did you leave your duties to come gallivanting around?"
Mouten chuckled, unfazed by his father's harsh tone. "Not at all, Father. I'm here to ensure I uphold the honor of our family name. After all, I've been fortunate enough to serve under Qin's greatest generals."
MouBu's scowl deepened, though a flicker of pride crossed his face. "You'd better. I won't have my son tarnishing the family name."
Before the conversation could continue, KouRyu entered the tent, his presence instantly commanding attention. His sharp, calculating eyes scanned the room before settling on Tou and MouBu.
"General Tou and General MouBu, good to see you again." KouRyu began, his tone as composed as ever. "We face more than one enemy here. The journey back to Qin will not be without obstacles."
MouBu snorted. "Obstacles? What obstacles could surpass the treachery of Ousen?"
KouRyu's gaze remained steady. "Ousen's betrayal has emboldened not only him but also our enemies within and beyond Qin. Ren is but a single spark in a forest of dry wood. If we are not careful, the flames will spread beyond control."
Turning to Tou, KouRyu continued. "General Tou, I recommend that you and General MouBu take the bulk of our forces back to Qin immediately. Leave me thirty thousand of our best soldiers. Along with my soldiers, that should be more than enough."
Tou raised an eyebrow, his expression thoughtful. "Thirty thousand? Do you truly believe that's enough to handle Ousen and his allies?"
A faint smile played on KouRyu's lips. "For Ousen, thirty thousand is more than sufficient. In truth, I likely only need half that number. But my battle is not solely with Ousen. My true battlefield lies elsewhere."
Tou studied KouRyu for a moment, his keen eyes searching for the hidden meaning behind the words. Finally, he nodded. "Very well. We'll leave you thirty thousand elites."
As Tou and MouBu began organizing the withdrawal of the remaining 120,000 soldiers, MouBu leaned closer to Tou. His voice was low, laced with suspicion. "What does he mean by his 'true battlefield'? Where else could he be fighting?"
Tou's eyes flickered toward KouRyu, who was already issuing orders to his subordinates. "It seems," Tou said quietly, "that the time has come for KouRyu to show us the depths of his plans."
The next morning, Ousen rode out from Shouchun with a small entourage to meet KouRyu on neutral ground. Both armies stood arrayed behind their respective leaders, their banners snapping in the cold wind.
KouRyu rode forward alone, his calm demeanor an unsettling contrast to the tension in the air. Ousen met him, his enigmatic mask as unreadable as ever.
"An impressive sight," Ousen remarked, his voice calm. "But I wonder if there's a way to avoid all this bloodshed. Return to Qin, KouRyu. There's still a place for you there."
KouRyu's eyes sharpened. "You picked the wrong time and the wrong side to defect, Ousen. Had you done this a decade ago, you might have enjoyed a few years as king. Now? You've gambled away everything."
Ousen's face betrayed no emotion at the insult.
"Very well," Ousen remarked, his voice carrying just enough volume to reach KouRyu. "Your reputation precedes you, KouRyu. But I wonder—do you truly believe you can break me with mere words?"
KouRyu's lips curled into a faint smile. "Words are but tools, Ousen. As are soldiers, supplies, and alliances. The question is not whether I can break you, but whether you understand the magnitude of the mistake you've made."
Ousen's gaze remained steady, his expression unchanging.
"Soldiers of Ren!" KouRyu suddenly called out, his voice sharp and commanding. "Your leader has led you astray, choosing ambition over loyalty and treachery over honor. I am here to put an end to this madness. Surrender now and you will be pardoned. Do not throw your lives away for a man who sees you as pawns in his selfish game!"
The murmurs began immediately, a ripple of doubt spreading through Ren's ranks. KouRyu turned back to Ousen, his eyes glinting with quiet triumph. "Even the strongest walls crumble from within." What he didn't say was that this was just a provocation to make Ousen the first move. After all, whoever makes the first move will always be at a disadvantage.
Ousen turned his horse and began to ride back toward Shouchun. As he passed his officers, he spoke calmly to Makou, one of his most trusted generals.
"Poison the food and water supplies of the Qin army," Ousen ordered. "Ensure the ones carrying out the act are caught in the process. Let them think they've solved the problem."
Makou frowned slightly. "And the river?"
"Poison that as well," Ousen replied. "We have already had our supplies ensured. Let them drink deeply of their own confidence. Once they've been weakened, we'll strike. But first, I want to see how KouRyu responds to this. He doesn't have enough men to just fight us head-on."
Makou hesitated, then bowed. "As you command."
KouRyu PoV
That night, I stood atop a ridge overlooking the Qin encampment, the light of their fires flickering in the distance. My expression remained neutral, but my mind raced. The lights of their campfires flickered in the distance, the soldiers unaware of the game unfolding around them.
"Ousen is a man of subtlety," I thought. "He won't rely on brute force to defend Ren. He'll strike where we least expect it—our supplies, our morale."
I turned to Han Xin and Mouten. "Double the inspections on all food and water. Any signs of tampering, report to me immediately. And send scouts to monitor the rivers upstream."
They bowed and left to carry out their orders.
Zhuge Liang, who was calmly sipping tea, remarked, " This doesn't seem like something Ousen would usually do. What made you think of this?"
I just laughed and replied, " A cornered dog will bite crazily; his actions will be unpredictable. Also, he fears me because he doesn't feel like he can match my strategy. So when he rots his brain thinking strategies and counterstrategies, I'll just use my fists to show him how fucked he truly is for rebelling at this time."
Zhuge Liang just smirked and retorted, " I don't think you have brought me along to drink tea here, my Lord. What would be my task?"
I just replied with a shrug, " I just brought you thinking you might make a good governor for Han after we take over." To which he spluttered his tea and replied, " My wife would beat me up if we moved from Changan, my lord. I think Han Xin would be a better choice."
My gaze remained fixed on the horizon where Shouchun's walls loomed in defiance. "You're clever, Ousen," he murmured. "But every move you make is a step deeper into my trap. Let's see if your gambit can withstand my patience."
As the night deepened, KouRyu returned to his tent and began drafting his next set of plans. His mind worked tirelessly, not just to outmaneuver Ousen but to ensure that the ripple effects of this battle would secure Qin's stability.
The command tent was alive with tension as the intercepted spies were dragged in, bound and bruised. Their desperate eyes darted around the tent, landing on KouRyu, who sat calmly at the head of the table, his gaze piercing and unreadable.
General Han Xin entered moments later, flanked by two more captured spies. "My Lord," Han Xin announced, his tone grim. "These men were caught upstream, attempting to poison the river."
A murmur rippled through the gathered officers. Even the seasoned warriors among them exchanged uneasy glances.
"Poisoning the river?" Mouten muttered, his disbelief evident. "I expected Ousen to employ underhanded tactics, but this... this is barbaric."
KouRyu rose from his seat, his expression as calm as still water. He approached the first group of captives, gesturing for them to speak. "Tell me," he said, his voice soft yet commanding, "why poison the river? Wasn't the food and water in our camp enough?"
The lead spy, his face pale and drenched in sweat, stammered, "W-we... we were ordered to ensure complete devastation. General Ousen said... said your strength lies in your unpredictability, so he planned to cripple you before you could make your move."
A ripple of disgust passed through the room, but KouRyu merely nodded. "You were thorough, I'll give you that. But your master underestimated me."
He turned to his commanders. "Spread the word through the camp. Inform the soldiers to rest and pretend they've been poisoned. Have the medical tents filled with moaning men and healers rushing about. Keep our formations tight but defensive. If Ousen sends a probing attack, we retreat without engaging. Save as many men as possible, but do not counterattack under any circumstance."
Mouten's brows furrowed, his frustration evident. "You want us to lose?"
Before KouRyu could answer, Zhuge Liang, still seated and sipping tea, interjected with a wry smile. "Lose? My dear Mouten, our lord never makes unnecessary moves. All will be revealed in time."
Mouten opened his mouth to argue but fell silent under KouRyu's steady gaze.
"Wait and see," KouRyu said simply. "Ousen believes he's leading the dance, but he doesn't realize he's already within my rhythm."
The Qin camp buzzed with an air of desolation. Soldiers lay sprawled in their tents, feigning illness, while a few shambled about, their faces pale and gaunt. From a distance, the camp appeared to be in disarray, a shadow of its once-mighty force.
That night, Ousen sent a probing force of 3,000 soldiers. They moved swiftly under the cover of darkness, striking at the outskirts of the camp. The Qin soldiers retreated in disorder, leaving behind abandoned supplies and a scattering of bodies.
As Ousen's forces withdrew, the scene they left behind confirmed his suspicions. From the captured rations to the lethargic retreat of the soldiers, everything pointed to his poison taking effect. But for some reason, Ousen felt something was amiss, and his doubt kept growing.
Mouten entered the command tent, his face a mixture of frustration and curiosity. "We retreated again," he began, his tone sharp. "How much longer are we going to keep this up? If we keep losing ground, Ousen will take the initiative and crush us!"
KouRyu, seated at the head of the table, gestured for Mouten to sit. "Tell me," KouRyu said, his voice calm, "what do you think Ousen is planning now?"
Mouten hesitated, then replied, "If Ousen believes his plan worked, he'll wait a little longer before launching a decisive attack. He'll want to weaken us further before committing his full forces."
KouRyu smiled faintly. "A good answer, Mouten. And you'd be correct if Ousen were fighting someone else. But this is not a battle between ordinary men."
Mouten frowned. "Then what will he do?"
"Ousen fears me too much to act rashly," KouRyu explained. "He won't attack until he believes we've dwindled to a force he can utterly destroy—likely no more than 50,000 men. He's cautious by nature, and that caution will be his undoing."
Zhuge Liang chuckled softly from the side. "So, what's the plan, my Lord? How do we make Ousen take the gamble?"
KouRyu leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with resolve. "We give him what he fears most: uncertainty. We will feign complete collapse. Our forces will scatter, and our defenses will appear to crumble. But in reality, we'll be coiling like a serpent, ready to strike when he overextends."
Han Xin nodded, his expression serious. "And when he does?"
KouRyu's voice hardened. "We unleash everything. Not just the men he sees, but the reserves he doesn't. We'll strike at his flanks, his rear, and his heart. By the time he realizes his mistake, it will be too late."
Mouten's frustration faded, replaced by a spark of admiration. "You're drawing him into the trap... making him believe he's already won."
KouRyu smiled. "Exactly. Ousen prides himself on his patience, but even the most patient man can be forced into a gamble when the stakes are high enough. Atleast I hope he won't make me use my backup plan. I don't feel like ruining people's lives."
Zhuge Liang replied seriously, " My lord, that plan might be the fastest and most efficient way to solve this battle."
KouRyu replied resolutely, " We will only use it if Ousen shows signs of suspicion. I really feel pity for the common people here, they were Qin people and has nothing to do with this mess. But if it comes down to it, I'll have to be more..... ruthless." He sighed .
Meanwhile, in Ousen's chambers, Ousen was looking through some old battle records. All of a sudden, he stopped and picked up a page. The records was for the Chu campaign of KouRyu. "So, you are using the same tactics you used to fool KouEn? Did you really think so little of me, KouRyu?" He sneered.
"Akou, tell the next raiding party to be around 10,000. If they plan to play sick, we'll cut down their numbers this way without losing much. Also, tell my son to go patrolling with his soldiers near Chu Borders. Tell those fools to start their plans immediately."
Akou bowed and left the room, leaving Ousen alone. "What is this unrest I'm still feeling?" Ousen thought grimply. It was too late to pull back, so he decided to go all out here, hoping the coalition can strike true and defeat Qin.