256 BCE
STATE OF ZHAO: CHUUZAN
SEI CHOU POV
A banquet was held in Dai. My whole army was present along with the Rin clan and all the influential people of Dai. I spent time getting to know Chun Li, and her story was quite fascinating. It was long, but in a quick summary, she was kind of adopted by the Rin clan. That also explained why she was allowed to keep her original name. I stayed in Dai for a few weeks, me and Chun Li taking walks through the city and such.
I knew I would have to return to Chuuzan, as the world did not wait for anyone. Some plans needed to be put in place, and opportunities to be seeked but only at the right time. The Xiongnu were getting braver by the day; their raids on the northern parts of Zhao were starting to ramp up.
However, that was an issue for another time. In Dai, I had met up with all the merchants and discussed more business; they were curious as to what I was planning next. With me showing great talents on the battlefield, and with my mercantile abilities, their loyalty was as ironclad… well as much as it can be with merchants.
"So, what do you think?" I asked Chou Garyuu as we looked at a map of the northern border. I always made sure to run my plans by the veteran. On the map displayed, Chuuzan, Dai, Seika, Gammon and other northern regions of Zhao are shown.
"It's a good plan, but we have not got the time to put it all in motion." Chou Garyuu said, and I knew he was right, but I wanted to push it just a little. However, before I could speak, Chou Garyuu spoke once more, "We may have the backing, but you do not have the status just yet. By my calculation, it will be at least 3 years before you can move north and begin in earnest, and then after that, you will need to integrate the conquered lands with Zhao."
"I know, but that does not mean we can not put things into motion already, look at the border." I pointed at the current situation in the Warring States, "The Qin are already invading Chu, Ou Kotsu, who prides himself on being the strongest warrior in all of China. Even going as far as to call himself a God of War?" I countered.
Chou Garyuu's eyes flickered to the map, seeing Qin's placement on the borders of Chu, "I've met Oukotsu in battle a few times; he's a mighty foe to face, though that was some years ago. Still, I personally see him defeating whatever Chu army that is not headed by Kou En." Gyou'un added that there were more in the room, but it was only me, Chou Garyuu and Gyou'un who voiced anything. Den Pou, Jo Rin, Jo Shou and Fu Jin were all quietly choosing to watch on.
"Also, the recent word is that the Kou En army is busy conquering both in the east and towards the south of Chu; it seems Shun Shin Kun and the Chu court want to bring the barbarian tribes on their border under their thumb." Chou Garyuu said with certainty.
"So, how do you suggest we move Chou Garyuu? We shouldn't miss a year. I want the blade of our soldiers to stay sharp; our King will not move against Wei once more. Yan has not tried anything since the death of Chi Ketsu. There are only two paths we hope we get called up to the northern border, or-" As I was about to speak, there were two knocks at the door.
"Who?" Fu Jin called out, speaking for the first time, "It's a message for Sei Chou, from the Prime Minister." One of the bodyguards answered, and I gave the signal.
"Enter," Fu Jin said, and in walked a messenger. Nervous sweat poured down his face as he locked around the room before he bowed low, his hands clasped in a salute.
"Lord Sei Chou, the King sends his regards and heaps praise on your achievements." I allowed the man to continue speaking pleasantries before he could get to the point of the matter. "The court has requested the Sei Chou army to head to the Western border and defend against the Qin." And there it was.
"Inform the King that I accept." To the western border I go. I watched the messenger leave the room after a bow. He would stay here for a few more days. Eating and drinking to his fill before heading back to Kantan, the summer was coming, and that made a good time for war.
"Well, it seems the King agrees to keep our blade sharp." It was no small exaggeration that one of the top warring states at this time, the military reforms by King Shou, who was given the epithet of War God, were truly eye-opening; many of the other states had not kept up with them. Even Zhao was lagging, but some of the groundwork was being laid. The Qin were monsters who could churn out Generals and Great Generals over and over again.
Just thinking about the amount of prominent figures they had in the manga hurt my head slightly, Ouki, Tou, Mou Bu, Ousen, Kanki, Duke Hyou, Kyou, Oukotsu and more. Some of their generals who did not even have a chance to become a Great General would be renowned in a state like Yan or Han.
However, I'm sure if I were fighting for Qin against Zhao, I would have the same sentiment. The future of Zhao's army was going to be stacked, but this was not the future; it was the present, and in the present, the military talent was thin.
"Before we head out, there is someone I want to visit," I said, looking at the Wei border. It was time to meet a legend.
….
Chun Li POV
They had lived such a similar life, she wondered to herself if it was fate that had brought the two of them together. They had both been adopted into the same clans but still kept their former names, and they had shared their dreams in talks under the moonlight. Talking about everything and nothing till the sun came up, she loved every moment of it.
Even when he had made an odd request, one that she had laughed at first before amusing it. It all came naturally to her in that moment, when she had curled her fist up as they both shared smiles. He had held his palm up, and she struck it. The punch hurt her wrist when it met with his palm. He shouted out in faux pain, shaking his hand as if he were seriously in pain.
"Don't lie, it wasn't that painful." She said back to him, but he shook his head, still acting, she would've believed him. If his eyes were not thoroughly amused, and the damned smirk at his lips.
Chun Li sighed long and hard; she wanted to see him, to hold his hand and talk about nothing at this moment. But she knew he was not in Dai, "He's probably not even in Zhao." She sighed again before hearing a knock at the door. One of the servants opened it and entered after announcing herself.
A letter was handed to her, she read it once, twice and thrice before holding it close to her chest. The letter was from Sei Chou. She stood up, smiling with fondness, caressing the new silk dresses he had gifted her. Along with the earrings that he called pearls, they were beautiful to look at and even more special to hold.
She wanted to visit Chuuzan, the way he talked about his city and the sights that it had. It made her mind run wild with all the sights she could see there, all the food she could eat and the people she could meet. It all fascinated her deeply; she saw how the people of Dai looked at him. They looked at him like a hero and revered him; he played with the children, allowing them to climb on his limbs and genuinely laughed along with them.
It made her wonder how he would be with children in the future, "How he would be with our children…" She whispered her words to herself. Chun Li desired to make him hers. She knew there would be many, many women vying for him. But she wanted him to be hers and her to be his.
On the last night when they had walked hand in hand through Dai, both of them knew their time together was coming to an end. That was when he handed her the pearl earrings and called them a symbol of his love; it was a token of marriage.
Then, after she had hugged and kissed him deeply, he teased her about coming to live with her husband, even though they had yet to have a marriage ceremony. For the first time in a long time, she felt truly special being showered in love and affection.
Though he had worried her when he talked of the sneaky assassin that was trying to kill him, Chun Li told him to get rid of the woman, but Sei Chou only smirked and assured her that he had everything under control and that her worries were truly heard. It made her more determined to try and fight, so today she was going to ask her father figure for a single request.
She made her way through the Rin mansion, a determined glint in her eyes. Sei Chou had told her that she had sharp, powerful punches and kicks; if she not listen to her future husband's words, then what sort of wife would she be?
Reaching the double doors leading into Lord Rin's meeting room, the two guards bowed at her before allowing her entry. The man who had taken her in as his very own daughter sat behind the desk, reading bamboo slips and reports.
"Ah, my sweet daughter, how are you?" He said with a fatherly smile.
"Father, I wish to learn how to fight." Chun Li decided to cut right to the meat of the matter, as Sei Chou would say.
The look on her face would've made her laugh at any other time, but Chun Li was too determined to be amused. She wanted to stand tall beside her husband with her head high, and this was a way she could do it.
CHAPTER DONE