Chapter 24: The battle of Dakan plains
Ryofui PoV
It seems Ei Sei has managed to retake the throne, with the help of the Mountain folks of all people. How the hell he accomplished that remains vague, but this could be problematic. He even curbed out the remaining influence Sei Kyo had and replaced with his own people.
Soon, there will be a selection for new ministers and I must place my people in key positions. There must be stability now and I can't make a move. But after some time, I'll be ready, and I'll swallow the entirety of Qin.
3rd person PoV
With the fall of Sei Kyo and his cronies, Ei Sei managed to establish his own faction at the court. Sei Kyo was put under house arrest and most of his supporters were executed.
With the new election, Shoheikun became the right chancellor and the army supreme commander and Shoubunkun became the chancellor of the left, in charge of construction and maintenance of infrastructure. Ryofui became the prime minister and his power in court was unbreakable.
The most surprising thing that happened was Zhao's defeat against Wei in the battle of Chenliu. Zhao general Zhao Cong decided to face Wei in a field battle which was expected by Jia Xu and he sent Xu Chu to attack them from the rear, cutting off their retreat.
Zhao lost about 40,000 soldiers and the entire Yingchuan region and Zhao Cong was killed in battle. His deputy Yan Ju was captured and executed as Zhao king refused to ransom him out.
Although Wei won, their victory was predicted by Zhao general Zhang He. He gathered all the people he could find and escorted them to Zhao. Wei had to relocate immigrants to the Yingchuan region.
Zhao king was furious and decided to send an army to retake the lands but Riboku and Dong Zhuo persuaded him not to. They advised to focus all of their strength on holding the north. Zhao had a lack of army and they chose to remedy that.
Lu Bu and Riboku was sent to the north to recover the slaves from the Hun barbarians. They managed to succeed but the Huns escaped deeper into their territories so they had to return back. This news was kept hidden and with the new population, Riboku recruited a large army and spread them among the north western defenses.
Wei posted Gohoumei in the newly conquered region and built a new fortress there. The central plains were now under Wei completely. Wei moved their capital to Xuchang, Yingchuan to establish a defensive formation protecting the capital.
With all these changes, the year came to an end and the year 245 BCE began. With that, The seven Kingdoms entered a era of wars. Ei Sei decided to take Rongyang from Wei to set up a new front of conquest.
So Qin sent an army of 100,000 under Duke Hyouko to take Rongyang. He would be facing the Wei army of 120,000 under General Gokei of the Wei fire Dragons.
But shocking everyone, Wan castle was attacked by Wei General Gokei preemptively and he killed the commanding general Hei Gang of Qin. This led the armies to separate and attack the nearby castles to divert Wei. Shin joined the 4th army of Qin and went on his first campaign.
With Wan castle gone, Qin army had no choice but to face the Wei army at Dakan Plains. This was a disadvantage for Qin as Wei chariots will be far effective in that battlefield.
Shin arrived at the battlefield and joined the 5 man squad along with Bihei, Bitou, Taku san and Kyoukai. The past few months, Shin had been training hard and practiced some moves shown by Zhao Yun who went back to Wudu despite Ei Sei's request to join the army. He preferred to hide his whereabouts for now.
The battle started with the infantry clashing and trying to push each other back to create an opening. Shin and his squad under the 1000 man commander Baku Koshin suffered some casualties in the initial clash and it looked like it was pretty even but that's when the tragedy began with Wei sending their prized chariot units which stomped through the Qin infantry resulting in horrendous losses.
Shin PoV
Man, this is bad. We are getting demolished out there and some of the infantry ran away causing more chaos. We need to do something to turn the tide. For that, we need to stop the damn chariots. I looked towards my squad and only Kyoukai was keeping up with me.
I slowed down and observed the enemy and the battlefield like Yun bro told me. When it is difficult to create any opening, we must observe for a weak spot and take that down ruthlessly to turn the tide. He also told me to don't rush alone without thinking about my squad.
I took a deep breath and watched the chariots turning and suddenly I found it. The weak spot was the wheels of the chariot, as long as someone put a spear between them, the chariot will be destroyed. Kyoukai suggested building some ramparts with the corpes. So I gathered the remaining people and created small pile of corpses and covered them with shields and told the others to hide behind them.
Kyoukai's plan worked as the chariots didn't attack on the piles, and the we attacked the wheels to take out a few chariots. We even took out the commander of the chariot unit and I took his horse. I didn't bring mine as I was only foot soldier at the moment.
With our small victory, the soldiers heaced a sigh of relief getting a temporary respite. Everyone was looking at our squad as despite looking weak, we turned this battle around. But our small victory won't win the war.
Duke Hyoko PoV
This battle was turning out to be a messy affair. Our soldiers were dying like flies but I had yet to find out a spot to light the fire. A messenger came and reported," A small squad of infantry under Baku Koshin has managed to beat a unit of Wei chariots. They are putting up a good fight against them."
I grinned savagely as I yelled out," All cavalry troops, head towards that area. We can not let the fire die out there. We must fan those flames and turn it into a raging inferno."
All the soldiers saluted and started preparing to charge as I looked closely at the location. Only by drawing out Gokei, we can hope to take his head. So we need a bait to lure him out. At that moment, another messenger came to report," My lord, commander Baku Koshin has repelled the enemy but he seems to be getting to ready to charge uphill to Wei general Genyuu's location.
I gave a hearty laugh and spoke," It looks like Baku Koshin knows what I want to do. Gather the HQ guards, we are all going there."
3rd person PoV
Shin and the others only rested for a while before charging towards the southern hill. Baku Koshin told him to follow behind him closely and keep up. He liked Shin's performance and thought to himself," The duke could use this kid in his main army. He gives off an aura of confidence just like him."
Genyuu's HQ was defended well but the fearless charge of Baku Koshin unit was relentless. They cut through the guards and climbed up almost midway when tragedy struck.
An archer unit led by Genyuu's lieutenant KouRigan focused their arrows at the front where Baku Koshin and Shin was. Kyoukai jumped from Shin's horse and managed to cut down a few but the rest had already fired their arrows. Baku Koshin threw up some blood as the arrows pierced him. Shin also had an arrow on his left shoulder and legs.
They both gritted their teeth and rushed forward. Baku Koshin cut down KouRigen as he yelled," move forward boy! finish our work. The glory of taking Genyuu's head will be left to you. I'll be watching your journey from the heavens." He fell down as his weapon left his grasp.
Shin was startled seeing him fall but he ignored his sadness and yelled out in rage as he swung towards Genyuu. Genyuu laughed disdainfully and repelled Shin's strike and spoke," A mere peasant boy playing soldier? Don't make me laugh boy! you are too weak to take my head."
Shin replied with anger," You think I don't know my weakness? I came here grow stronger and one day, I'll be a great general known to all of China! And they would remember you only as my first stepping stone towards that goal."
Genyuu's face darkened as he yelled," don't mess with me boy! Do you know how many people become a commander from a soldier, let alone a general? And to become a great general from a mere peasant levy, how many dreamed of this before you?
Millions of them! and none of reached that goal, only died becoming food for the soil. You will be the same."
Shin growled in anger and lunged again and again but he was blocked by Genyuu. The Hq soldiers couldn't step in as Kyoukai and the others kept them away.
Soon, they were both panting as they got tired. Shin and Genyuu lunged at each other. Shin tripped on a rock and he lost his balance as Genyuu swung his blade thinking he got him. But surprising him, Shin sat down in a weird posture and spinned his whole body to cut down Genyuu's right leg.
Genyuu fell with a scream and was silenced soon as Shin drove the sword in his throat and spoke," quiet down you noisy bastard." The Qin soldiers cheered and Wei soldiers were demoralized after seeing their general fall. Kyoukai cut down the Wei flag and replaced with a Qin flag which signalled their victory.
Gokei was was angry seeing this and decided to move his army towards that location. He left the Haku Kisai army to cover the rear. He and Duke Hyouko both made their way towards the hill, but there was someone else who was faster than them.
In a nearby hill from the one Shin and the others took over, There was a large man sitting atop his horse with a huge Glaive as he watched the battle going on with interest. He spoke to his companion," Don't you think that hill would provide a better view of the battlefield, Tou?"
Tou clasped his fist and replied," Indeed it would, Ouki sama. But participating without permission would get us a big earful again from the court."
Ouki laughed and spoke," Kokokkoko, don't be such a spoilsport, Tou. We would be just taking a relaxing walk . There are some interesting people over here it seems. Let's go see for ourselves."