Close In is the 399th chapter of the Kingdom manga.
Summary
The Gyoku Hou Unit, Roku O Mi Army, and the Hi Shin Unit fight their way to Go Hou Mei's HQ.
Over at the Wei HQ reports are coming in that their defensive line is being breached. The army from the south and the west can't be stopped, and the north are struggling.
Also, the HQ is notified that both Gi An and Gi Chou have fallen. Wei tries to reform their defenses as they were caught off guard. One soldier says that it would be better to call the reserve armies back in order to bulk their defenses. They are asking themselves on why three armies could get near them that easily and if this is mere coincidence.
Go Hou Mei tells that it was his mistake to have assumed that the Tou Army would be the main attacker of the Qin army just because his army numbered the greatest out the Qin forces. He states that it was their plan from the very start that the offense would be conducted by those three strike forces. One of the soldiers asks why Tou attack with such weak units would. Go Hou Mei however states that it was the fact that those 5000-man units would actually bypass the Fire Dragons of Wei Earl Shi and Gai Mou. However, he states that their plan is double edged sword that carries the risk of causing the entire Qin army's collapse if even one of their strike teams failed.
The they came to the conclusion that one of these of both 4000-Men units must have come up with this plan. Go Hou Mei states that the era of the Six Great Generals of Qin and the Fire Dragons of Wei has passed.
It has now fallen to Ri Boku and Go Hou Mei's respective generation to steer the rudder of China's battles. The latter believed that Kan Ki would be destined being the rival from Qin. He then deduces that the next generation of Qin youths who are destined for greatness could very possibly be already rising to prominence right now.
Another messenger comes to the Wei HQ stating that their second line has been breached. One of the soldiers' states that they need to be stopped now but Go Hou Mei states they can't be stopped now.
Tou has confidence in his three blades. Shin who was late to head to Wei HQ are nearing the battlefield. Go Hou Mei HQ would fall via an opening created by attacking it from multiple directions and forces and because of that their rear has been exposed. Because of this the Hi Shin Unit who came late to the party have the chance to strike the decisive blow against Wei HQ. Kyou Kai then starts pulling ahead and is right next to Wei HQ and starts attacking.
Characters
Qin
- Tou Army
- Tou (mentioned)
- Roku O Mi Army
- Roku O Mi
- Unnamed officers
- Unnamed members
- Gyoku Hou Unit
- Roku O Mi
- Kan Ki Army
- Kan Ki (mentioned)
- Gaku Ka Unit
- Mou Ten (shown)
Wei
- Go Hou Mei Army
- Go Hou Mei
- Kan Toku
- Gi Chou
- Gi An
- Unnamed officers
- Unnamed messengers
- Unnamed soldiers
- Gai Mou Army
- Gai Mou (mentioned)
- Earl Shi Army
- Earl Shi (mentioned)
- Gai Mou Army
Zhao
- Ri Boku Army
- Ri Boku (mentioned)
Highpoints
- The Gyoku Hou and Hi Shin Units and the Roku O Mi Army close in on Go Hou Mei's HQ.
- Both Gian and Gi Chou have fallen.
- The Qin Army has broken to Wei second line of defense.
- Go Hou Mei's HQ rear is exposed.
- Kyou Kai is at Wei HQ.
Characters Introduced
- First appearance of Kan Toku.
- Gi An and Gi Chou are mentioned for the first time.