CHAPTER 2 The First Squad

3 months later

As Shin stood watching the line of Qin soldier's that stretched over the next hill and the men just kept on coming he couldn't believe it. He spun around and joined the line deep in thought. Coming out of his thought about the battle he looked right and saw a familar face.

"Hm?."

"AHH! SHIN! AREN'T YOU SHIN!?."

"Oh the Bi brothers glad to see you guys are doing well." Shin said

"GYAHAHA!."

"But to think we'd run in to you here out all places. You've been missing ever since that night Hyou got killed. You didn't even show up at Hyou's funeral. We thought you had gotten youself killed." Said Bi Hei

"I'm glad Hyou had a funeral." Shin said with a small smile looking into the sky 'Hope your watching over me Hyou'

"It's was a huge funeral, It's hard to believe that tight ass village mayer organised it" Bi Hei said looking down at Shin."Apart from you, everyone from the village showed up and cried. even some people from the neighbouring... Everyone really liked that guy..."said Bi Hei eyes down and full of sorrow.

"Yeah, You're right." Shin said with a content look on his face.

"Ah, I guess you haven't been to his grave yet, have you? After this battle should go right away. It's at-

"Nah, It's fine."

"Eh?."

I'll go after I've fulfilled our dream." Said Shin with a grin and with a fire in his eye's.

"That great general of the heavens thing?...You guys have gone on about that for ! LIKE HELL YOU'LL BECOME SOMETHING LIKE THAT! JUST GET YOU ASS OVER THE GRAVE ONCE WE GET BACK!."

Shin snapped his head towards Bi Hei with a glare that made him stepback."I've said my goodbye's." Shin's eyes softened."I'll go visit his grave when I've achieve our dream."

"Shin" Bi Tou said turn his head to look at him."Have have you grown taller?."

"Ha?."

"What kind of question is that?."Bi Hei said with a Stupid look on his face.

"Ah, Um...Nah It's just like somehow It's like he seems like a different person from before." Said Bi Tou with a sweat drop.

"Hah? How so?." Bi Hei said

"Shin, Where and what have you been doing for the last three mouths?." Bi Tou said

"Hmmm...about that...I've been studying at a strategy and tactics school and learn to wielding the sword." Said Shin looking ahead.

A Few Hours Later

"Hm? Everyone's gathered up here." Shin said over looking the soldiers just standing around.

"IT'S TIME TO START FORMING GO'S! ALL SQUAD LEADERS, ASSEMBLE!." Shout a Qin Officer.

"Ah Go's, Will you be joing me Bi brothers?." Said Shin turning to look at Bi Tou and Hei.

"Well we'll see." Bi Hei said while scratching his head and looking away.

"Oi." Shin and the Bi brothers turned to see three tough looking guys aproaching them."You guys must be new."

"You've got a pretty solid body." Said Scar Face as Shin dub him putting his arm aroung Bi Tou.

"This one's the elder brother? With you two we'll have five." Said the shortest of the thugs. As they turned to walk away Scaf face finally noticed Shin."Hm, Is that shrimp also your brother? If you brothers don't want to split up, We'll go find someone else.

The Bi brother and Shin stared at one another...

"Nah, That guy's just from the same village, He's not related to us." Bi Hei said turning and walking away from Shin.

Shin just sweatdropped and decided to sit while he waited. Turning he saw a person standing just a few feet from him. "Oh, Hello can't find a group either?."

"..."

"So the quiet type. Very well." Shin said turning to look around him."My name's Shin by the way."

"..."

A few moments later

"We're back" Bi Hei said walking towards Shin and the unknown.

"Ah, Did they find stronger people?." Said Shin turning to look at them.

Bi Hei head dropped and said "Yeah some guys called the Ma Brothers"

"So who's this guy Shin" Bi Tou said

"I don't know he won't tell me his name" Said Shin turning to half face the unknown.

"Um...nice to meet you, everyone. My name is Taku Kei and I'm your squad leader.

Shin, the unknown, and the Bi brothers all turned to look at the newcomer. Shin's eyes become calculating and began to size up the squad leader.' If his a squad leader his at least been to a few battlefields and managed to survive.'

That Night

"Well, Then. Let's introduce ourselves once again. I am Taku Kei from Furou village. As your squad leader, Feel free to ask me if you have any questions, Since it looks like everyone's first campaign."

"I'm Bi Hei from Jouto village."

"I'm his younger brother, Bi Tou."

"I'm Shin also from Jouto village. I hope to learn a lot from you, squad leader." Shin said putting one fist in the palm of the other at chest height and bowing a little.

They all turned to look at the unknown.

"..."

"..."

The unknown put a hand to there throat and shook the other hand.

"Are you a mute." Said, Shin

"Correct!." The unknown said

"Um...sorry, but could you at least tell us your name?." Taku Kei said

"Kyou Kai...I dislike talking...that is all." Said the unknown now Kyou Kai.

"Hahaha, I look forward to fighting with you." Shin said with an eager grin.

"Anyway, The five of us are now comrades that will entrust our very lives to each. So let us help each other and do our best together as whole." Said Taku Kei said. "Let's get some rest."

The Next Morning

"Oooh, This is the perfect weather for going on a march." Shin said stretching his arms above his head.

"Why the hell aren't you nervous at all?." Said Bi Hei with a pale face

"Oh, Kyou Kai's got a nice sword, Wonder if it's a family heirloom or something." Shin said changing the subject.

"Wait a second. Like you're one to talk, What the heck is with that extraordinary sword of yours?." Bi Hei said with a sketchy look in his eye.

"What with those eyes?."Shin said stepping away from Bi Hei. "I was given this sword properly."

"From who."

"From a friend at the school I talked about earlier." Shin said not wanting to give out it was from King Sei.

"Oh"

As Shin continues to march he looked ahead and saw Kyou Kai standing still and looking past some bushies. Walking up behind Kyou Kai he saw a second army marching to there Right.

"Wow, there's another Qin army on our right." Shin said

"Of course there is, That's the main body of the 4th group is about to join up with them." Said Taku Kei working up behind his squad.

"Oh, How many other army's like that one are there?." Shin said turning to look at Taku Kei

"In total, There are six different armies."

"Hahaha, Awesome." Shin's eager grin returned tenfold.

A few hours later they were sitting down to lunch. Taku Kei had left close to an hour ago. Shin was the first to see Taku Kei approaching.

"SQUAD LEADER TAKU KEI! OVER HERE!." Shouted Shin.

"I'm afraid the situation has taken a turn for the worse." Taku Kei began."We and the 4th army have been ordered to head toward Gan castle."

"I thought we were attacking the city of Keiyou?." Bi Hei said

"Ah, Not quite. It's like this...certainly, Our final objective is the siege the Wei city of Keiyou but first, Each army of militia must rendezvous with the official Qin army at different castles where they will organize us into proper divisions. While it has already been decided that the 1st and 2nd armies will go to Asui, Which is located closest to the frontlines. Of the remaining options, Gan castle was the worst possible outcome for us." Explained Taku Kei to his squad.

"What's so bad about Gan castle?."Bi Hei asked.

"The lord of Gan castle is none other the Lord Koku Gou, A commander renowned as the "Star-eyed black dragon", He is a man who truly loves fighting from the bottom of his heart and throws his men into the most brutal battlefields. To survive a battle under his command is like escaping from a deathtrap, To be under the command of lord Koku Gou could very well prove even harsher than being at the front lines with the Asui army. He has also just been promoted to general and may turn out to be even more rash than usual."Taku Kei said to Bi Hei.

"Oh, I look forward to witnessing this General Koku Gou's warfare." Said Shin with a thoughtful look on his face. 'Wonder what type of General he is, To have such a reputation in the army?.'

That Afternoon

"Hmm...Squad leader I think something happened." Shin said staring at the approaching Cavalry soldier.

The rest of the squad followed the direction he was looking to see what made him make that comment.

"ALL TROOPS, HOLD POSITION!." Said the Cavalry soldier."ALL TROOPS, HOLD POSITION!. ALL SQUAD LEADERS, ASSEMBLE ON ME!. EVERYONE ELSE, WAIT WHERE YOU STAND!."

"That's a red messenger, They only carry the most urgent orders. There must be some sort of emergency." Taku Kei said following the Cavalry soldier with his eyes.

"Emergency?."Said Shin, with a hand-folded over his chest and one hand on his chin. 'Something must have happened at Gan castle for us to be halted instead of told to double-time it.'

"Taku Kei go find out we'll be here when you're back," Shin said, eye still following the distant Red Messenger's back.

"Very well, Please wait here." Taku Kei said turning and walking to the assembled squad leaders.

Shin and the others decided to rest while they waited. Shin was lost in thought about what news the Red messenger could be bringing. As he looked around he noticed an air of unease about most of the men. With a more detailed look, he noticed it was mostly the veterans where unease. 'They must know what a red messenger means.' Thought Shin.

Hearing footsteps behind him, He turned and saw the squad leaders approaching their squads. Taku Kei looked pale and shaken.

"I'm afraid there's been a change of plan's, Gan castle has fallen and the inhabitants, including the women, children and the elderly, were not spared." Taku Kei explained with a grimace.

"This is my first time, So I'm not very clear but...Do you usually need to go that far in war." Bi Hei said, shaken to his core by what he heard.

"No, Even for me, This is a first." Answered Taku Kei

"Who was leading the Wei army?." Shin asked with fury burning in his gut.

"Most likely the Wei lord of Shou castle, General Go Kei. The man who was once the chief retainer of lord Shin Ryou Kun." Taku Kei said with a sigh.

"SHIN RYOU KUN!." Exclaimed Bi Hei. "WASN'T HE ONE OF "FOUR LORDS OF THE WARRING STATES"? AND THIS GENERAL WAS HIS CHIEF RETAINER!?."

"Since he was Shin Ryou Kun's chief retainer, He must be some sort of prodigy." Bi Tou said with a pale face and shaking hands.

"No doubt he is a genius of warfare. Not to mention, the Wei have the "Wei prince's art of war"-

"Doesn't matter." Interrupted Shin with a calm voice."It's not our job to worry about stuff like that, No doubt the higher-ups know what kind of person would be sent to repel our invasion. Our General will without a doubt not lose to this Go Kei. So just have faith in that and we'll just have to watch each other back." Shin stood with arms crossed over his chest with a resolute look on his face.

"..."

"..."

"Wow." Bi Hei said."Well, it just as Shin said no point worry over something out of our control."

As the squad came to grips with the situation Shin asked a question."So squad leader what's the plan now?."

"...We will be marching to Asui." Taku Kei said looking up from the ground to answer.

"Asui...Isn't that the same place as the 1st and 2nd army?," Said Bi Hei

"Indeed." Replied Taku Kei."The 4th army will rendezvous with the 1st and 2nd will then combine into a single force and siege Keiyou from head-on."

"Isn't that really bad for us?." Bi Hei said with a sweatdrop.

"It's the worst." Said Taku Kei."Look's like we're heading off."

The others all turned and saw the line begin marching again so they put the thought of fallen castle's and Wei General's out there heads and began to march.

They had been marching for a good little bit when a squad off to there left began to have a shouting match."Everyone, Please be careful. If you get caught brawling in the army, You'll be severely punished." Taku Kei warned his squad.

After marching for a bit longer they heard a voice to there right."Taku-san. Once again, Your squad looks as weak as usual." Turning to see who had said that they spotted a squad had moved up right next to them. The five-man look strong, A few had scar's and all were just about as tall and as build Bi Tou the tallest in their squad.

"Man, That's just awful."

"It look's like some kind of family trip."

"Buhihihi!. That's saying a bit too much, squad leader."

"This one's gotta be the weakest looking yet."

"Oh man, two of them are kids. Isn't that a bit too sad?. Kuhahaha!"

"It's 'cause Taku-san is always so pathetic that this is all he can come up with."

"You mustn't fight." Whispered Taku Kei to his squad."Endure it."

"I'm amazed someone like him managed to make squad leader."

"Oh, For a kid, You've got a nice sword. Where'd you steal it from?. Let me have a look." Said the tall lanky, One hand reaching for the sword only for a hand to clamp down on it.

"Please do not touch my sword," Shin said slowly squeezing his hand.

Tall and lanky tried to free his hand has the kid began to squeeze and his hand began to hurt."Haha." Lanky gave a weak laugh."Sorry sorry." Shin gave a nod and released his hand. Lanky gave his hand a shake to get feeling back.

"FORM UP! GET INTO FORMATION!." Yelled a Cavalry Officer."A THOUSAND-MAN COMMANDER'S CAVALRY UNIT IS ABOUT TO PASS THROUGH! ALL TROOPS GET IN FORMATION!."

'Ooh' thought Shin turning to look behind him as he moved to the front of the formation."Let's get to the front I want to see this cavalry unit."

So they push there way to the from where the infantry formed two lines with a lane in the middle.

"Um...It's fine to be happy but please make sure you don't step out of formation. Qin's cavalry soldi-

"Don't worry squad leader we'll stay in formation," Shin said giving him a reassuring smile that put Taku Kei at ease.

"Very well."

The first thing they noticed was the tip of the spears rising over the hill and then the unit flag. As made its way over the hill you could tell that these guys were professional soldiers.

'So that's what Qin's cavalry look like' Shin thought gazing in awe at the mounted soldiers.

"Ah, Here comes the quad chariot. Everyone, please be still and quiet the commander is approaching." Taku Kei said

Shin couldn't wait to see the core of the unit and had a huge grin on his face. He turned his head to look and was dumbfounded when he saw who the commander was. Eager to talk to an old friend he steps out.

"HALT!." Shouted the one thousand-man commander.

Shin just kept a small smile on his face as the chariot and cavalry around came to a halt. "Yo, Heki. It's been a while."

"So you really did come, You haven't changed at all, Shin." Heki said with a matching smile."Thank goodness you seem well."

Later That Evening

"It's only been three months but you seem like you've grown even stronger, Shin." Heki stated.

"The same to you Heki-bro, I almost couldn't recognize you." Said Shin with a happy grin."You're a commander of a thousand men, That's pretty amazing.

"I apologize for not visiting the two of you even once." Heki said with a small frown."I've been completely occupied with tying up loose ends that I haven't had time."

"Loose end's?."

"Normally, For plotting a rebellion and the assassination of the king, We would have executed every single traitor involved in the revolt along with there entire families...But as we also needed to preserve them to counter Ryo's expanding influence, We had to consider other alternatives for dealing with traitors. His Majesty said then we'll treat the rebellion as if it never happened in the first place and that Ketsu perished in a power struggle within his own faction, This will allow us to resolve this issue with the least amount of punishment necessary. As for Ketsu's authority, We shall pass it down to Mister Shi as it is." Heki explained.

"Hmmm...That would be for best I think." Shin said with a frown. they both sat in silence lost in thought about the rebellion and the aftermath.

"By the way, How is Ten? Have you noticed anything strange?..." Heki said coming out of his thoughts.

"Ah, So you know he is a she Heki." Shin said, grinning.

Heki sighed."I hear she has joined you in the school, Do you think that's wise?."

"We talked a lot about that stuff and I see no reason to stop her from wanting to support me," Shin said with a sad smile on his face. "I should know what it's like, Not being able to be there for your loved ones."

Heki could say nothing to that remembering Hyou and his last moments. "Well with that said how do you feel about your first campaign, Shin?."

"Hahaha, I'm looking forward to seeing a real battlefield and taking my first step on my path," Shin said with his eager grin.

"Good, Because this is different from last time. We'll have to rely on brute force alone to break through their walls." Heki began to explain. "I hear Keiyou's defenses are extremely sturdy so this could very well become a battle of endurance. Anyway, An officer is still an officer. From now on you should speak to me more formally. If even a foot soldier is seen been rude to me, How am I meant to become an example to my men."

"Of course, Heki-dono." Shin said.

"What about you, Shin? What kind of squad did you join?." Asked Heki.

"Well I've got the Bi brothers from the same village as me but the other two I don't know until the fighting starts. My squad leader is at least been to a few battlefields, He knows his stuff." Answered Shin with a thoughtful look.

"Well, I best be off I've got to get to the war council at Asui." Heki stated standing.

"No worries, I'll see at Asui."Shin said standing as well."May fortune be with you Heki-dono." One fist in the palm of the other hand across Shin's chest and he bowed his head as Heki left the tent.

Five Day's Later

Shin stood on the cliff edge and could not tear his gaze away from his first battlefield. 'The atmosphere is crazy and the air feels heavier, The air from the battle is so hot as well. So this is a true battlefield.' Shin could not contain the grin on his face.