Kingdom: Hyou Ren

After a few days march, we had finally reached the battlefield, whereas we had been thrown straight into the fighting. Or more so, the vanguard.

8000 men, including Ou Hon and his unit, had been thrown into the Vanguard, facing the Wei Vanguard of similar numbers, led by Rin Kon. The assassin with dual blades and a kid appearance, and their forces had been almost slaughtered. 

Rin Ko took advantage of the rapid promotions of Lieutenants and lower commanders to the rank of 1000 man commanders, assassinating them quickly and efficiently, his elite unit of 300 taking out the disrupted formations of the 1000 man commanders.

In these times, the progress and synchronisation of a unit was found in the Commander, and his strategy or strength. But, with 1000 man units and lower, the commander held everything together. His appearance, his skill, his strength. It was what kept these smaller units composed, fighting to help him. 

And with their assassination, 8000 men had been given a new Commander, without much time to fully get used to this new Commander, and his strategies. And few of them were at the level of a 1000-Man Commander, most of them being Lieutenants with the skill level of a 500-Man Commander.

And 1000 men, and 500 men was a major difference.

And therefore, due to a lack of coherence, once the Commander fell. The entire formation and morale of said 1000-man unit fell, resulting in their destruction.

But, that could be said to be true for any unit. If Shin fell, his unit would be decimated. But the difference was that those soldiers would throw themselves between Shin and the blade if needed, sacrifice themselves.

But they wouldn't do the same with the new commander, and coupled with their lack of physical strength or intelligence, most of those units were doomed to fail. 

So with 2000 out of the 8000 men in chaos and being rapidly slaughtered, the morale fell for the remaining 6000. And they were now outnumbered, pushing the entire first unit back.

Our formation stood beside Shin, and the Hi Shin Unit. And as such, I approached the man in question. 

"Yo, Shin. What's up." I said with a smile, as I approached Shin, who was shocked at me appearing. I hadn't been social as of yet, with none of the other three units. But they knew of my existence, and that we were competing. Though I had spoken to them before, just not in depth.

"Watchu want?" He asked, grumpily. 

"Well....." I said, as I rode my horse up to his.

"We´ll be called into Battle soon, as you might have realised," I said, turning to face him as I stood beside him.

"What? Why?" He asked. 

"The Commander of the Vanguard is most likely led by Rin Kon, the assassination responsible for the death of 8 thousand man commanders," I said, as Shin´s eyes widened.

"2 of the promoted Commanders have been killed, and their division. Meaning the Vanguard has essentially lost. We've lost a lot of elite troops during our sieges, so our average quality is lower than theirs." I continued.

"So what? We´ll just push right through them." Shin said, with a wide grin plastered onto his face, hungry for glory. 

"Indeed. Well, the reason why I am here. Is that I wish to suggest a partnership of sorts, I am aware you desire to fight alone and gain the glory of it. But for the success of the entire battlefield, I´d ask you to comply with a single wish of mine." I said, as Shin´s angry look said he disapproved of it, but listened anyhow. 

I waved one of my soldiers over, and he came forward. Bringing up a map of the Vanguard, with each division, both hostile and friendly. 

"The western flank is the weakest, both legions come from there. So I suggest we head there, the 3000 Wei Troops are deep within our lines, chasing down and killing the stragglers, they are soon to turn towards the centre, and flank them." I said, as Shin´s officers came up to us. 

"What I suggest, " I said, is an entrapment. They are deep within our lines, and therefore they are vulnerable to an encircling." I said, as I marked the 3000 men inside our lines. 

"If they're so vulnerable, why not do it yourself? Surely you'd have more to gain." Kyou Kai said. 

"I frankly don't have the men to do it, and I am aware of your strategy of just all out brawling. So your task will be simple, charge. I´ll split my men up and have them running behind you. Your original 300 men will just charge, I'm certain the 700 men of the Kaku Bi can handle the encircling." I said, turning towards the Lieutenant in question, who nodded. 

"Aye, if Shin can clear the road. We´ll fill it." He said, and I smiled.

"With it, we can swiftly capture 3000 men. And their Commander is currently immobilised, fighting the Gyoku Hou Force." I said, and Shin began thinking, for once. But not more than a second before he responded. 

"Okay, but stay out of our way." He said, turning around and leaving. As I sighed, and so did many of his Commanders. 

I ignored him and turned towards the Shin´s officers. 

"I´ll send Kaen alongside 200 Heavy Infantry with you, in addition to the 500 Kaku Bi Troops. We should be fine." I said, and they nodded. 

"We´ll have the Cavalry run around our encirclement, on the outside to protect the flanking." Kyou Kai said, and I nodded. It was the most feasible plan. And I turned my horse around, preparing to leave.

"And remember to let allied soldiers through," I said before I disappeared back to my men. 

I rode up to my 5 officers with a stoic expression, as they stood there waiting. 

"They agreed, Kaen, you'll take 200 men and follow the Kaku Bi men. Roku, you'll lead the cavalry at the front. Ishiro will join you. Hozu and Tetsuji, you'll each take 250 men and follow our cavalry. You know the strategy." I said. 

"Yes, sir!" They said in unison, before they rode off to inform their men, except Ishiro, who remained by my side. 

"I should remain with you, Young Master. What if that assassin appears? He asked me, his expression still stoic. 

"It´s a risk we have to take, he should be fighting Ou Hon as it stands, and he won't let the enemy-commander get away, he'll hold the fort down long enough. And you may return to me once you link up with Shin." I said, as he reluctantly nodded. 

____________________________

**EVERY 50 POWERSTONE IS AN EXTRA CHAPTER**

patreon.com/pondsfyre

Captain Vaughn: +11 Chapters

House Bracken: +12 Chapters

Hyou Ren: 40+ (soon, gotta fix a few things)