Exceptional Service is the 355th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
Shin , Ou Hon and Mou Ten meet up with each other gather up one month after the disbanding of the Coalition Army and the Battle at Sai.
The trio talk about the war which quickly leads to a lot of boasting and friendly fights between them. Mou Ten says that yet again Shin's that has gotten most of the achievements in this war and will probably get rewarded handsomely for doing so in the upcoming reward ceremony.
In the Royal Court, the reward ceremony begins as all the Generals gather waiting for their rewards. Sei starts off by thanking every brave soldier in Qin for defending their state from a threat that would've destroyed the very kingdom. He specially thanks the seven generals that were defending Qin - Mou Bu, Mou Gou, Chou Tou, Kan Ki, Tou, Ou Sen and Duke Hyou. He expresses his regrets that two of them, Duke Hyou and Chou Tou, died on the battlefields while defending their state.
From those seven Generals, one would receive an exceptional reward, while the other six will receive a big reward as well. Shou Hei Kun explains that the reason for one grand reward is because one general had exceptional achievements. The first and greatest reward goes to Mou Bu - for facing the Chu Army which was the strongest in the Coalition Army and slaying the Commander in Chief and Great General Kan Mei. And despite his own injures, chase down the Coalition during their retreat and attack on the state of Qi which led to the victory of Qin at the Battle of Kankoku Pass and the disbandment of the Coalition after failing their last attack against the Qi.
Mou Bu is rewarded with the lands of Ryuujin and Shunjin, 3000 units of gold and 10 units of treasure, while his nobility rank is raised by two. The other generals are rewarded with two ranks in nobility, 3000 gold units, 10 units of treasure and some lands.
Sei follows by saying that there are three semi rewards to be given out as well. The first one immediately goes to the people of Sai, for defending their city against the Ri Boku Army even though their army was composed of citizens.
The second goes to Yo Tan Wa and the rest of her Mountain Warrior who saved Qin in the last moments of the Battle of Sai. Yo Tan Wa is given the Dai Jozou rank which is one of the five highest ranks in the 20-rank system of the Qin courts.
The final of three rewards goes to the man that slayed Zhao General Man Goku who was infamous for his hatred of Qin and numerous atrocious against its citizens, accompanied Duke Hyou through the Southern Passage and battled with the Ri Boku Army giving the Qin courts precious time in preparing a proper response, and served as the commander of the South Wall while fighting and leading from the front in one of the most brutal fights during the Battle of Sai. And finally, personally dueled Hou Ken of the Three Great Heavens while demonstrating to the world Qin's martial prestige as he drove him off which resulted in the retreat of the Coalition Army from Sai.
This reward is given to Shin who steps forward while the officials are amazed of such achievements with some of them recognizing him from the Sanyou reward ceremony and being surprised by his youth. Shin's nobility rank is raised by one, he is given 500 units of and five units of treasure while his land Fuuri will be enlarged. He is also promoted from the rank 1000-Man Commander to 3000-Man Commander as the courts cheer in celebration.
Characters
Qin
- Royal Palace
- Boku Kou (mentioned)
- Ei Sei Faction
- Ei Sei
- Shou Bun Kun
- Unnamed officials
- Ryo Fui Faction
- Ryo Fui
- Shou Hei Kun
- Kai Oku
- Unnamed officials
- Mou Gou Army
- Mou Gou
- Unnamed members
- Ou Sen Army
- Ou Sen
- Unnamed members
- Chou Tou Army
- Chou Tou (mentioned)
- Duke Hyou Army
- Duke Hyou (mentioned)
- Sai
- Unnamed representatives
Zhao
- Ri Boku Army
- Ri Boku (mentioned)
- Hou Ken (mentioned)
- Man Goku Army
- Man Goku (mentioned)
Chu
- Kan Mei Army
- Kan Mei (mentioned)