When Ri Boku's army was stationed at the most vulnerable point in Qin's defenses, Duke Hyou, determined to defend this position to the death, found himself surrounded by enemies. He knew Ri Boku well, this man had united most of the warring states to attack Qin. Killing him was a necessity, even if it meant dying today.
At that moment, Duke Hyou, angered but with a fierce smile on his face, declared: "Ri Boku, I've been ordered to defend Qin's lands to the last drop of strength we possess. Lead your army out of these lands, and only then might you survive."
Ri Boku, with a subtle smile, thought to himself: "The general doesn't realize this operation was designed to kill him. I must say, you've been a thorn in my side since this war began. Many warned me about your battle style, and I've been truly impressed. No soldiers match your quick decision-making. But today, that will lead you to your death."
Duke Hyou frowned and demanded: "Do you think you have me cornered?"
Ri Boku replied with an emotionless expression: "General, rest assured, you've caused us more trouble than any other to bring you to this point."
Yuan Yin, furious, interjected: "How can we camp without supplies or food?"
There was no chance of Duke Hyou surviving with enemy soldiers at his back. He knew that fleeing would only lead to more deaths and, ultimately, the fall of Qin.
"No need to worry, my lord." A voice reassured.
Duke Hyou turned his head to see Shin in the distance, and a vague idea crossed his mind.
"Yes... perhaps it's time for the younger generation to take the stage."
Duke Hyou, wounded and bloodied, sat astride his horse, facing Ri Boku's advancing army. The battlefield was filled with cries, smoke, and the thunder of battle. The enemy's trap had worked perfectly. Now, even a man as relentless and glory-thirsty as Hyou faced his mortality.
In his final moments, Hyou surveyed the field. The bodies of his soldiers lay in heaps, men he had sent without hesitation to certain death. To him, they had always been pawns on the board, sacrifices for victories that now seemed unattainable.
"How many lives have I squandered for my ambition?" Hyou mused as the pain of his wounds began to fade, replaced by a bone-chilling cold. Yet there was no regret in his eyes, only stoic acceptance. He had chosen this path, fully aware that warriors like him were destined to fall on the battlefield.
"I'll buy them time to prepare. I saw this coming but accepted it. Not because it was my only choice, but because the battlefield is my home. I lived for war, and here I will die."
For the first time in years, Duke Hyou felt a sliver of peace, not because he had triumphed, but because he had remained true to his nature to the very end. His instincts, intuition, and strength, all that defined him as a man and leader, culminated on these plains.
A smile formed on his face as he thought of this. Unbeknownst to him, dozens of figures cloaked in shadow slipped among the allied ranks.
Amid the rasp of steel swords drawn from scabbards, more than fifty gleaming waist knives rose into the air. The "Union Assassins," once meek as sheep, now transformed into fierce spirits, howling as they leapt toward the enemy lines.
Simultaneously, a war horn signaled the arrival of a force that had remained unseen since the war began.
Ri Boku's eyes widened with intensity as he recognized the flags.
A dozen soldiers rushed to shield him, fighting as they retreated. Chaos erupted across the battlefield, and the deafening sounds of slaughter filled the air.
"Kill the duke!"
A Zhao soldier, seizing the moment, fired a powerful arrow into the air. The piercing cry snapped Duke Hyou's attention to the realization that reinforcements had arrived at such a crucial moment.
Suddenly, overwhelming shouts echoed across the battlefield. An army appeared like ghosts among Duke Hyou's exhausted troops, charging the enemy like rabid, bloodthirsty bears.
"By Jun's orders, retreat to the nearest city and establish a large-scale defense!"
Hyou wanted to refuse, but knowing this was an opportunity to regroup, he roared: "Retreat! Everyone, follow me!"
"AAAHHHHH!!"
In the distance, Ri Boku ordered the extermination of those troublesome assassins. The exact number of enemies was unclear; only the sounds of killings pierced the dust and smoke that had risen as the chaos began.
If ordinary infantry had replaced them, they would have crumbled by now. But this cavalry, prepared by Jun for moments like these, was the elite.
Jun observed Ri Boku's army, impressed by how swiftly they formed such a tight defensive formation. Realizing penetration was impossible, Jun decided it was time to withdraw.
The purpose of this intervention was to save General Hyou, extract him from the battlefield, and use him in the massive invasion Jun planned against Zhao.
Gazing at Ri Boku, Jun knew this was not the end, not yet.
"Let's go. We need to regroup with the main defense army."
...
"The Qin army is mighty!"
Chanting fiercely and marching in perfect formation, nearly a thousand of Jun's soldiers gathered in a torrent of steel, advancing with purpose. A deadly intent surged between heaven and earth, and unshakable confidence burned in the hearts of every soldier under Jun's banners.
The world may try to stop them! Anyone who defies the divine might of Jun's army will be punished by gods and ghosts alike!
Outside the military camp, under the night sky, Jun stood with an icy expression, sword in hand.
"The plan is simple: we await an invasion and crush it, securing victory in this war."
Jun's words resonated among the dozens of shadows surrounding him. They all understood what this meant. The time had come for the world to witness Jun's military power, a force that had remained quiet until now.