Kingdom : History is rewritten

The Qin camp grew eerily quiet over the next two days as rain continued to fall, signalling the arrival of the monsoon.

To Ousen's spies, it seemed as if the entire army was on the brink of collapse. Soldiers appeared lethargic, food stores were abandoned, and defensive formations grew sloppier by the hour.

Even the commanding officers seemed withdrawn, barely issuing any orders.

Within the shadows of KouRyu's command tent, however, the atmosphere was far from defeated. Maps covered the central table, marked with intricate diagrams detailing Ousen's likely moves and the countermeasures waiting for them.

Han Xin, Zhuge Liang, and Mouten stood around the table, listening intently as KouRyu laid out the final stage of his plan.

"Ousen will wait until he believes we've reached our weakest point," KouRyu began, his tone confident but measured.

"When our numbers appear to dwindle to about 50,000, he'll commit his forces in full. But his patience has limits. He cannot afford to hold out indefinitely—he has an army to feed, and his men will grow restless."

Han Xin nodded. "So, when he believes the moment is ripe, he'll march out with his entire force to crush us."

"Exactly," KouRyu replied. "But here's where his arrogance will betray him. Ousen believes he's facing a defeated army. He doesn't know about the 20,000 cavalry hidden in the forest to his south or the 20,000 archers we've stationed in the ridges west of Shouchun. Not to mention the foot soldiers that are currently in the river bank. When he sends his forces forward, we'll close the jaws of the trap."

Zhuge Liang smirked, pouring himself another cup of tea. "And with the bulk of his men outside the city, Shouchun itself will be vulnerable."

"Precisely," KouRyu said, his gaze hardening. "Ousen thinks he's drawing us into his game. But he doesn't realize he's already a piece on my board."

The campfires of the Qin army flickered dimly in the night, their light barely reaching the surrounding darkness amidst soft soudn rain falling. From outside , the sight was one of despondency. Soldiers moved sluggishly, their coughing and wheezing audible even from a distance. Supplies were being burned rather than stored, and makeshift pyres hinted at the deaths of many.

It was the perfect time to strike.

Ousen dispatched a force of 10,000 soldiers under his capable subordinate, General MouRyu. Their orders were clear: infiltrate the Qin camp under cover of night, raze their supplies, and leave the so-called "sick army" crippled and unable to fight.

But within the heart of the Qin camp, KouRyu stood ready, his armor gleaming faintly in the dim glow of torches.

"They're coming," Zhuge Liang said quietly, seated on a crate with a tea cup balanced on his palm.

"Of course they are," KouRyu replied, stepping forward and tightening the straps of his gauntlet.

"Ousen can't resist the opportunity to strike when he sees weakness. But tonight, we'll show him what happens when he underestimates us."

Mouten grinned from across the tent, adjusting his sword belt. "It's been a while since I've had a proper fight."

Han Xin nodded, his expression calm but his eyes alight with anticipation. "The men are ready. They've been waiting for this."

"Good," KouRyu said, drawing his sword and pointing it toward the approaching shadows on the horizon. "No speeches tonight. Just execution."

MouRyu's men crept into the camp, their movements precise and disciplined. The Qin soldiers scattered before them, seemingly too weak or panicked to resist. Fires were lit, tents were torn down, and supplies were looted.

But then the air shifted.

The sounds of retreating footsteps ceased, replaced by an ominous silence. Suddenly, from the shadows of the surrounding forest, cavalry emerged, their charge swift and brutal.

The raiders, caught completely off guard, were thrown into disarray as the horsemen cut through their ranks.

From within the camp, KouRyu and his generals led a counterattack as the remaining troops encircled them.

Han Xin's spear flashed like lightning, while Mouten's swordsmanship left trails of crimson in the air. Zhuge Liang, though unarmed, directed the chaos with eerie precision, shouting commands that turned the battlefield into a deadly dance of encirclement and annihilation.

KouRyu himself was a storm of destruction, his blade carving through MouRyu's men with ruthless efficiency. MouRyu, who tried to rush at him, was beheaded with a single swing of his Glaive.When the fighting finally subsided, the raiding force lay in ruin. Not a single man survived to return to Shouchun.

News of the massacre reached Ousen by dawn.

In his war tent, Ousen stood motionless, his eyes fixed on the messenger who delivered the grim report.

"Slaughtered?" He murmured, his voice betraying neither anger nor fear.

"Yes, my lord," the messenger stammered. "The Qin army... the vanguard was indeed sick and retreating, but once our soldiers drove in, KouRyu himself was there awaiting them. Their forces were prepared and encircled them. It was a trap."

Ousen turned toward his map, his mind racing. KouRyu's movements were different this time—bolder, more unpredictable. The man who had always been content to outmaneuver his enemies from a distance had now taken to the battlefield himself.

Was the Qin army truly sick, or had this all been an elaborate ruse? And if it was a ruse, what was KouRyu's ultimate goal?

After a long silence, Ousen spoke. "We will hold. Let the other six kingdoms do their part. When Qin sends for reinforcements to protect their homeland, KouRyu's army will weaken itself in retreat. That is when we'll strike."

His officers bowed and left to carry out his orders, but unease lingered in Ousen's mind.

Both camps worked tirelessly as a new day approached. In Ousen's camp, the soldiers sharpened their weapons and fortified their positions. Scouts reported on KouRyu's movements, but the reports were frustratingly vague. KouRyu's army appeared not organized, with no obvious effort to sharpen defenses.

In KouRyu's camp, the atmosphere was one of quiet determination. Soldiers rehearsed their roles in the ambush, while runners relayed orders to the hidden cavalry and archers.

Zhuge Liang approached KouRyu as the preparations neared completion. "Do you think he'll take the bait?"

KouRyu glanced at the map one last time. "Ousen will hesitate. But when he sees what he thinks is a chance to crush us, he'll move. His caution is his strength, but it's also his weakness. He won't realize it until it's too late."

Han Xin joined them, his expression serious. "And if he doesn't move?"

KouRyu's eyes gleamed. "Then we'll force him to. This battle isn't just about defeating Ousen—it's about sending a message to all of China. The time for hesitation is over. It's time for boldness."

Three days later, the world itself seemed to tremble with the weight of new tidings.

Messengers arrived simultaneously at Ousen's camp and KouRyu's headquarters, bearing the same message: the armies of the six other kingdoms had begun their march toward Qin.

Ousen, seated in his private chamber, rose from his chair as he listened to the report. His golden armor caught the sunlight streaming through the tent's flap, casting an imposing figure over his subordinates.

"Hoh, the coalition moves at last," Ousen said, his voice a quiet rumble. "And with it, the time for caution has ended. The battle truly begins now."

In the Qin camp, KouRyu stood atop a small rise overlooking his army. The messenger had barely finished speaking when KouRyu's expression shifted, his usual calm replaced with a fiery determination.

"Finally," he said, gripping the hilt of his sword. He looked hesitant, but then resolved himself as he looked towards Han Xin, " You will go to the river banks far away from sight and guide your soldiers to the rafts we prepared before. Wait till it happens, then give them hell."

Zhuge Liang comforted him from the side, " My lord is benevolent, and used this strategy only when it was necessary. Nobody would blame you."

KouRyu nodded and turned to his generals, his voice carrying across the camp. "Send word to all units. The game is over. Now, it's time for war."

Ousen stood before a massive war map spread across his table, his officers gathered around in silence. The pieces on the board represented his army and KouRyu's forces, along with markers for the distant coalition armies.

Ousen's calm demeanor belied the storm of calculations raging in his mind. He gestured to the markers indicating KouRyu's positions.

"KouRyu's movements are bold, yet deliberate," Ousen began. "He slaughtered the raiding force to send a message: he is not desperate.

But this confidence is a double-edged sword. He believes I will attack head-on. We will use that belief against him."

One of his generals, Makou, frowned. "But, my lord, if we wait too long, the coalition forces might not act immediately. Shouldn't we exploit their absence now?"

Ousen shook his head. "The coalition is not my concern. My focus is here. KouRyu has left subtle openings in his formation—weak points that invite attack. They're traps, designed to make us overextend. We won't fall for them."

Pointing to the terrain, Ousen continued, "The battlefield is narrow, flanked by forests and ridges. KouRyu will likely use the terrain to ambush and encircle us.

To counter this, we'll divide our army into three parts: the vanguard will feint an attack to lure his forces forward, the main army will hold firm in reserve, and the rear guard will secure our supply lines while watching for any flanking maneuvers."

Makou nodded. "And Shouchun's defenses?"

"We leave minimal forces," Ousen replied. "KouRyu knows the city is impenetrable. If he attempts to seize it forcefully , he'll divide his forces. That will be our opportunity to strike."

Ousen's gaze hardened. "KouRyu thrives on unpredictability, boldness, and calculated risk. But patience can be a weapon. We'll hold the field, conserve our strength, and wait for him to show his hand. Only then will we strike."