Bai Zi, son of Bai Qi of the Six Great Generals, was sitting next to his lake fishing. It had been years since years since his father passed away and he assumed leadership of his family. He at the time was only a 5000 man commander but since then he had become a general, but after the death of the God of War King Sho everything had become boring so here he was waiting for his men to get healed before he took them on the next training session.
My lord Zi message to you from Ou Ki." A message said running up to hand him the letter.
"I know you're bored, give your men a bit longer break and meet me at the Ambush. I want to tell you something."
Ou Ki
Do you have news from Gaku'in, Jou Hen, and Ton Kan." Bai Zi asks.
They said only 2000 survived this time. It brings the army up to 35000."
All right tell them I will be leaving but to get them organized into the army. And tell Sou Ma that we're leaving to meet Ou Ki and to get twenty men and come to."
Yes my lord."
A day later
"Jou Hen get me 1000 men and get them for combat. We are going to have a little bit of fun with Shou Bun Kun." Bai Zi says leaving the meeting he had when he returned. "This better be worth it I have get the army rebuilt after most of them got themselves killed, and you know this Ou Ki."
Days later Night Sheaf Hills
My lord Bai, the time has come." Rin Bou 3rd Army Commander of Ou Ki says.
Zi looked down the hill they were on and saw Shou Bun Kun and Ou Ki riding towards them with their men fighting, just before they entered the hills a large group came around the corners of the hills. He smiled and got on his horse and waited for the fight to get them, he didn't have to wait long. As soon as he saw Shou Bun Kun go flying off a cliff he turned.
Jou Hen, Gaku'in remember what we talked about. Alright men, Rin Bou you ready." Bai Zi says.
Yes." Was his answer.
Then let's go, Charge!" He said.
They charged at but saw a rider coming at them.
Rough him up but let him through. Pull off the charge a bit." He ordered.
They did and continued their battle, but to anyone not in the know they were seeing an absolute slaughter. After all Shou Bun Kun's men escaped, Ou Ki rode up to him.
You pulled off your charge early, are you getting a little rusty?" Ou Ki asked
I couldn't help but realize Shou Bun Kun was still alive when he fell. Has your glaive lost its weight?" He said.
Touché shall we go straight to my bed or do we drink a little bit more before we continue with the nice activities." Ou Ki says.
How about we terrorize Chu a bit then head to the capital." He answers.
No I feel like it would start another great war if the two of us showed up there now of all times. Let's just head back to the capital. I'm sure there are much more fun things to do there." Ou Ki says before turning and heading for a village.
Where are you going, Ki?" Zi asks.
Bed or drink?" Ou Ki asks.
Drink… drink please don't play with my mind." Zi says.
Then we drink then go to the capital." Ou Ki says.
A day later
Entering the court room
What the hell do you mean you haven't found the king's corpse!?" They heard someone scream.
"That's because the soldiers got a little carried away and chopped everyone to pieces. So we're having a hard time putting everyone back together again. Also there were a lot more tunnels under the village than we thought but we were using all we had to search for them." An advisor said.
Damn that Shou Bun Kun! I knew he was up to something but for him to plan this far. I underestimated him just because he was a low ranking official. Dammit now I'm kicking myself for not taking care of them earlier." Jie Shi said. "However it doesn't matter if the king has gotten through our grasp! No one knows what happened within the castle walls so no one in their right mind will believe anything he says! Find him along with the king! Give us not under any circumstances let those two meet up! Do whatever you must to find and kill him!"
There's no need for any of that." Ou Ki says.
Where on earth have you been at such an important time. General Ouki." Jie Shi said, then realizes who is behind him.
"Where? I was out playing. Nothing much talked about with Shou Bun Kun. So calm down we made him suffer and killed him."
We will send you his head as soon as we can. I'm going to clean up you deal with the rest, Ou Ki." Zi says walking out.
Later
Jie Shi was staring down from a balcony when the staff officer and advisor Shi Shi arrived.
"And we have received word from the village. The king has managed to survive and slip through our defenses." Shi Shi said.
"Dammit he's resourceful. Well however, The real problem, Shou Bun Kun, is dead. That man was the real threat to me. He easily slipped right through the defensive line I set up and got outside the castle walls." Jie Shi said. "He even prepared a body double of the king. Because of him I nearly ended up losing everything that night."
"He's a man that was well known on the battlefield, we should've been more wary of him. So who on earth got him?" Shi Shi said.
"That man and Bai Zi." Jie said pointing to Ou Ki.
"General Ou Ki and Bai Zi." Shi Shi said, shocked.
"He knew we were going to mess up things, so he went to help and had their men waiting outside for an ambush." Jie said.
Does that mean The Great General Ou Ki and General Bai Zi is on your side?" Shi Shi asked. " They had absolutely no interest whatsoever in the fights for political power up until now and, so why would they bother now of all times?"
Land and Boredom." Jie said.
Excuse me?" Shi Shi said.
Ou Ki's condition for taking our side was to gain all of Shou's land, he also said he got Bai involved because him being bored is not something the country needed right now." Jie said.
Shou Bun Kun land?" Shi Shi thought.
"If all it takes to get that man on our side is a parcel of land I made a killer deal." Jie Shi said. "With him on our side he may be able to convince Bai to fight for us later."
"No one knows much of the general, if you put too much faith in him you'll end up in a world of pain." Shi Shi said cautiously. "As for Bai Zi, my information says tread carefully with him. He is not the war monger that he puts on, he is very calculating and even more than Ou Ki at times."
With Bai Zi
Bai family court residents
Ah here you are kuku, I figured you would be halfway to your cities by now." Ou Ki says sit down across from said man.
I promise I would be way for a week, depending on what happens during that period I'll either return home or stay here and see this through." Zi says.
Ah I remember a time when you would have surrounded the city and forced them to behave like family." Ou Ki says.
I won't lie I was half tempted to bend both of the boys over my leg and absolutely tan them out. It is clear that no one else has or this wouldn't have happened." Zi says.
Kuku you're probably right, which is reminds me of them. I found it extremely funny and annoying how those two could tell you exactly how certain things happened and what to not do if you didn't want it to happen again." Ou Ki.
They were both bastards, but they taught me almost everything I know today. I never beat either of them and still to this day have not beaten you. There's still a lot of things for me to learn before I die." Zi says.
Don't downplay yourself so much, not many can say they tied with me two times in a full spar. I might not have trained you from the ground up, but my time with you has told me that you are very close to their skill if not there already, you only have to get true battle experience with a large army and you will get here soon no matter what happens with these two royals." Ou Ki says. "But enough of that I couldn't help but notice you didn't wear armor to last night's events."
I didn't need to you said it yourself, but if Shou had gone vengeful then I would have been worried. Now that spar you mentioned a couple days ago Lieutenants and below right?"
It would be problematic if we had another 6 month training battle on the Chu Wei Han board. So this time only Lieutenants, Generals, Commanders agreed, Kuku." Ou Ki says.
Alright, a date." Bai Zi.
A couple days later
In the court room filled with advisers and ministers, but the real focus was on one side, Shi Shi and the other General Ouki and Bai Zi was one second away from going to sleep.
"I apologize for calling you'll here so early in the morning, but please understand that there was an urgent matter that needed you here. It's about the head that you sent us last night. As you can see it's so badly beaten we can't tell whether or not it is truly Shou Bun Kun or not. I'd love to hear exactly what kind of fight you had that his head turned out like this General Ouki." Shi Shi said.
What's this? Are you doubting the validity of my story?" Ouki said.
No, I'm not doubting you. But it is my duty to find out little details like this." Shi Shi said, trying not to piss off Ouki.
Whoever fights a General of our strength usually ends up looking like that. And if you don't believe me, he'd be glad to show you, with one of those guys over there as a test subject." Bai Zi said while Ou Ki was handed his glaive.
That is not necessary. If I may ask something of you and Bai Zi?" Shi Shi said.
Go ahead." Ou Ki says.
"What exactly are you after?" Shi Shi asked.
A world full of blood and guts!" Ouki says way too serious to be lying with Zi nodding.(just go to chapter 11 of the manga) before laughing. " I was only joking, sucha world doesn't exist. However if a world like that comes in the future I'd be beside myself with joy."
I wouldn't mind crushing a couple cities while we are at it, don't you think Ou Ki." Zi says.
Kuku, well of course you can expect me to get involved in that." Ou Ki says.
The next day at Ou Ki's place in the capital
So what is this supposed to be? You never told me." Zi asks.
That would be no fun, kuku, do you have a guess?" Ou Ki asks.
Orders from chancellor Jie have arrived sir. You are to take command of Kankoku Gate." A messenger said.
"Reject it, tell him that defensive battles do not suit my personality." Ou Ki says.
Apologies General Ou Ki, but the orders were for General Bai, your answer." Messenger says.
Tell him to be careful how he orders me around first, then I figured this would probably happen so yesterday I sent a message to the old man asking for permission to stomp his son into the ground. He could give me his answer quickly, I'll give my answer in half a week or so." Zi says.
Then the messenger leaves.
"It seems like he's finally started preparation for an all out war with Chancellor Lu Buwei. Finally things have started moving, past this it will be extremely difficult for the King to retake his throne." Ou Ki says while thinking back to Shou Bun Kun, who had told him that the king would surpass King Sho. " King Ei Sei, truly he can be considered to be a king of misfortune. How will you be able to surpass king Sho, Who is known as the God of War? That would be something I would like to see."
Indeed, is it your horse?" Zi asks while thinking. "Who am I kidding 70% chance it has to do with her, but I'm interested in what that 30% will be, no matter, they all end up being beautiful somehow. Love sick puppy."
The royal court a day later
"Rankai has run out of toys to break. Bring me some more." Chenjiao said talking about the human that always followed him around.
My Lord we ran out of prisoners loyal to Shou Bun Kun." Shi Shi says.
Then bring me others, bring me his entire family. Wait, that's not enough, bring me every single person that lives on his land." Chenjiao says.
Um." Shi Shi says?
What is it?" Chenjiao asks.
The truth is we already dispatched people meant to secure his family, however someone ended up getting in the way." Shi says.
Who dares?" Chenjiao says.
The very person we gave his land to." Shi says
Earlier that day
You want me to hand over Shou Bun Kun's wife and children, but all his land already belongs to me. In other words all the people living there are my slaves. Now you wish to take them from me? That is unacceptable. But if you were to offer your own family in return minister Shi then I might reconsider. Now leave your distracting me for our match." Ouki said, turning back to Bai Zi.
Now
"Damn Ouki. He's getting ahead of himself just because he killed Shou Bun Kun. I'll feed him to Rankai after this has blown over. By the way, minister Shi, what happened to getting me Ei Sei's Head? My patience is running thin." Chenjiao said.
Yes sir, we are currently searching for him." Shi says.
Mister Shi. I have agreed to handover the reins of this country to you and the chancellor to do as you wish, however you must bring me the head of my brother in exchange! That is the only thing I require you to do. Otherwise even you will not be safe from my wrath." Chenjiao said.
There is no need to be in such a rush your highness. Your loyal chancellor swears on his life they will bring you the head of king Ei Sei. Now that Shou Bun Kun is Dead and the king has lost his support, he is probably hiding like a rat somewhere fearing for his life. Doesn't the thought of that bring a smile to your lips? We can slowly take our time rooting him out while he despairs. By this point the king is no longer a factor; we have bigger fish to fry." Jie Shi says.
You speak of Chancellor Lu." Chenjiao says.
Indeed, if we're defeated that vile merchant will be the one to send the throne." Jie Shi says.
"Just thinking about it makes me want to puke. How are the preparations going for catching that Wily old fox?" Chenjiao said.
Would your highness like to see for himself?" Jie said.
Outside the castle on the walls
Chenjiao looked down and saw a large number of soldiers.
Now this is more like it." Chenjiao said grinning.
Bai Zi roof villa
Impressive for not having the royal seal. One with the right strategies one could hold the wall easily with that amount of men." Zi says.
Does that mean you're thinking about accepting it?" Ou Ki asks.
If my king asks I will happily take up position in that wall and hold it to the last man." Bai Zi says.