Chapter 5 (Updated)


Disclaimer: I own nothing except my original characters.


Yang Jin POV

We were returning to the city, when we saw a large crowd. They were citizens of Kwan, they were here to greet us. They're also families of the soldiers, hoping to see their sons returning alive and well. When one of the soldiers declared that no one died, the crowd erupted in cheers, applause and started to chant my name. It was empowering and exhilarating to have so many people chanting your name. He felt as if he was on top of the world, yet he understood that this feeling was bought with the blood of his enemies. For a moment he felt ashamed yet that moment passed as fast as it came. This was his life from now on and he chose it for himself. So he smiled and waved, appreciating the feeling for what it was. He thought he prepared himself, but apparently he was still green. He knew that this feelings will go away in time, yet he's not sure that he want to lose them. As he was musing on those things he was interrupted by a tap on my shoulder.

"I know how you feel lord Jin, but it'll pass, trust me." said Ma Cong with a sad smile.

"I appreciate the sentiment Ma Cong, but I'll be fine." said he in calm tone.

"That's right you bloodthirsty brute, our lord does not need your comfort, he just needs you to keep swinging that axe of yours in the direction he points." mockingly said Zhu Fa with a smirk.

"You want to say that again to my face you feminine looking bastard?" challenged Ma Cong.

"Enough! Just smile and wave." said he. Those two did just that but still gave each other a stink eye. They can be so childish sometimes, it's a wonder that behind all those arguments they still respect each other when it truly matters.

"Look lord Jin your parents are here to greet us as well." said Zhu Fa and pointed at something in the distance.

And indeed he did see his parents, they were waiting for them right in front of the barracks. There was his father Yang Fu and his mother Yang Cai, they were now 27 and 25. Apparently they wanted to have more children, but he was the only child they had. That's why they were reluctant to let their only child choosing career in a military when he had so many other choices, but they supported him despite that and he will always be grateful for that.

"I see that you won your first real battle in a very impressive way my son, congratulations." said Yang Fu.

"I'm just glad that you returned alive and unharmed." said Yang Cai.

"Thank you father, mother." said he with a barely discernible smile on his face.

"I'm glad heavens blessed us with such a smart and strong child, but I'm still not sure why you want to be a great general." said his father.

"I hate war. In peace sons bury their father, but in war fathers bury their sons. So I plan to perfect the art of war, so that one day I may end it." said he in with a frown on his face.

"Haah, truly heavens blessed us with a wise yet troublesome child" said his mother with a smile on he face.

"Hahaha, that describes our son alright." cheerfully said his father.

"Ma Cong, Zhu Fa come and greet my parents." said he while gesturing them to come to the front.

"Greetings, Lord Yang, Lady Yang." said Cong and Fa in unison with respect in their voice.

"Hello to you too Ma Cong, Zhu Fa. Thank you for taking care of our troublesome son." said his mother.

"It's no problem at all Lady Yang, he's the one who takes care of us mostly." said Ma Cong with a smile.

"Indeed, lord Jin is wise beyond his years and we can only struggle to catch up to him." said Zhu Fa.

"That's our son alright, anyway we prepared a big feast for you and all the soldiers, go and dig in." said my father as he gestured towards the barracks.

"Your generosity knows no bounds Lord Yang." said Zhu Fa and Ma Cong in unison with a slight bow.

"Ma Cong, Zhu Fa take the soldiers with you and make sure that you two don't drink too much, I won't carry you both back again just because you're drunk again." said he in a teasing tone.

"It was only once." mumbled both Zhu Fa and Ma Cong and went to fulfill their orders.


After saying goodbye to his parents he went to the market, after seeing some of the wares, he approached a good looking despite being scarred merchant selling silk.

"Merchant, I seek the best silk and all the wares I see are not up to par, do you perhaps have better ones." said he while gesturing towards merchant's wares.

"Of course young lord, the best stuff is in the back, let me show you. Li, watch wares while I tend to this customer." said merchant while beckoning him inside.

"Lead the way." said he and followed merchant inside. After following merchant into the back of the building, they entered a room with a single desk, two chairs and no windows. Merchant quickly closed the door and locked it. After they sat down he looked at merchant and asked "So how was business in Zhao?"

"It was great thanks to your patronage and advice young lord. But I'm sure that's not why you came to talk to me." said merchant in a teasing tone.

"Lu Su, what did you find?" he asked in a serious voice with narrowed eyes. Lu Su is good looking man that has several scars all over his face, he has dark brown hair and brown eyes.


Flashback

He was seven when he found a collapsed man in the middle of the road, from what he deduced the man by looking at them was that the man was down on his luck, he was homeless and had barely eaten in several days. After he made sure that the man was fed, bathed and clothed, he talked to the man, introduced himself and asked him the man his name and what happened to him.

The man introduced himself as Lu Su, he told him the story of how he became a homeless man. He was once a rich silk merchant in Chu, in fact he became so rich that eventually he was selling his wares to royal palace. But that turned out to be his downfall. When King Kou Retsu of Chu took all of his finest silk and promised to pay a year later, Lu Su believed him and went on with his business. But when a year later Lu Su came to receive his payment, instead of paying him as promised Kou Retsu ordered his subordinate Shun Shin Kun to take care of him. Shun Shin Kun instead of paying him had ordered him to be tortured, his family executed and his property confiscated. While he was whipped he begged Shun Shin Kun to tell him why he and king were doing this to him, he was a loyal subject of Chu. The prime minister refused to meet his eyes or answer any of his pleas. After he was lashed he was thrown out of the palace, several days later he swore to heavens upon the graves of his dead family that he would have his vengeance. After that he wondered the land, a shell of the man he once was. Eventually he found himself in Kwan but was too weak from not eating for several days and collapsed and then he was found by me.

He saw Lu Su for what he was, a man consumed with hate, he knew that he could use that and channel it towards his goals. From the way Lu Su talked, held himself and the light in his eyes, he could tell that Lu Su was a smart and cunning man that wanted vengeance above all else. When Lu Su was done with his story he told him that for saving his life he had Lu Su's eternal loyalty. When Lu Su said that he looked Lu Su in the eyes and knew he was telling the truth. This made him a perfect man for creating and managing a spy network that he wanted to set up, it would encompass not only Qin but all other states as well. He told Lu Su what he wanted him to do and he told him that he will provide him with all the money he'll need to start his business again in Qin and all the expenses needed to create a spy network and to make sure others can't get any information he doesn't want them to know.

He's not sure why other people did not think of using merchants as spies, after all they are the only people that can freely and brazenly travel between states and be welcomed with open arms. When Lu Su asked him why he wanted to do something like that his answer was simple: "Knowledge is power, guard it well." From that day on Lu Su served him faithfully and set up the spy network just as he ordered him to, all the information Lu Su gave him was timely and accurate.

Flashback End.


"Hmm, now that's the lord that I know, well we found out that the initial reports were correct. Zhao is getting desperate and they're planning to attack Bai to cut off the supply routes. The bad news is that with Wei recently joining the fight against Qin and successfully pushing Qin forces back, it freed up a considerable amount of forces for Zhao. They're sending over 50,000 soldiers to make sure that Bai is captured quickly, then those 50,000 will quickly try to cut off the retreat for the rest of Qin forces up north. If that happens Qin forces will be trapped between a rock and a hard place and will eventually be destroyed without supplies. The good news is that Kwan is not even seen as an obstacle, they're thinking of it as a small stop. They believe that they can conquer Kwan in a few hours and then move on to Bai. They will be led by Li Chang, he's 38 and famous among his peers for his skills with a hammer. He's a newly promoted general, he will be eager to prove himself, I'm sure you can use that against him." finished Lu Su in a cheerful manner.

"When will they be here?" he asked.

"Within two days." Lu Su replied with a smile.

"Does anyone else know about this?" he asked with narrowed eyes.

"No, me and you are the only ones in Qin that know." said Lu Su with a smirk.

"Lu Su, I need you to send your fastest man to general Ou Ki and warn him about Zhao's plan. While we have great quality of soldiers, quantity has a quality of its own. And 50,000 is too much for a small city like Kwan." he said with a frown on his face.

"Already done!" Lu Su said with a smile.

"Good. I need you to get out of the city and go to Bai." he said while looking at Lu Su.

"My lord, you're not planning on telling this servant to go to safety while planning on dying, are you?" asked Lu Su in a low tone with narrowed eyes .

"Hmph, I'm sorry but I'm not that noble, I need you to go to Bai to make sure that supplies keep going out no matter what. If Bai stops sending supplies general Ou Ki won't be able to help Kwan." he said with a smirk.

"Of course, do you also want me to alert Bai's governor about the attack on Kwan?" asked Lu Su while looking at his nails.

"No, I plan to send my parents to Bai and to persuade the governor to send the reinforcments. Governor of Bai is notorious for his cowardice, my parents are the only people he'll listen to since they grew up together." said he with calm voice.

"As you command young lord. But what are you planning on doing?" asked Lu Su with a short bow.

"Why, I'm planning on becoming famous and with general Ou Ki as a witness, my chances of receiving official military post are much higher." said he with a smirk.

"But this will not be a victory without sacrifice, many of your soldiers will fall." said Lu Su in a slightly pained tone.

"Lu Su stop saying foolish things, there is no victory without sacrifice." he said in a grave voice, with his back to Lu Su.


AN

Things are heating up. Please pm me or leave a review if you have any questions.