5000-Man Commander is the 407th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
The soldiers of the Tou Army cheer for Tou's promotion to a Great General while Shin stands stunned, and Ou Hon remaining silent. However, the two officers are soon called onto the stage - The Gyoku Hou Unit 4000-Man Commander’s Ou Hon and Hi Shin Unit’s 4000-Man Commander’s Shin. With the usual dislike for their rivals, Ban You and the Gyoku Hou members are not pleased that Shin is called as well while the Hi Shin members cheer and root for him. Kyo Gai realizes that Ou Hon’s achievements in this war are hugely impressive due to his plan of attack on Go Hou Mei's HQ and Taku Kei thinks of the possibility he will shoot straight up to the rank of general.
For their valor in the last battle, where they bested and slew the likes of Seven Fire Dragons of Wei, Earl Shi and Rei Ou along with their continued defense of Chiyoyou, both the young officers are promoted to the rank of 5000-Man Commander together which leaves both their respective units in shocked.
While Hi Shin members express their joy, the Gyoku Hou are displeased because due to Ou Hon’s achievements being greater and Kan Jou deduces that skipping a rank to jump all the way to general was simply out of the question. As they stand together on stage, Shin expresses his enjoyment in his promotion to which Ou Hon sarcastically complaints him in his “accidental” achievement of killing Rei Ou. And with that Shin instantly starts a fight with Ou Hon which leads to a small brawl between the two’s units with Ban You commanding the Gyoku Hou members to kill him.
Following the ceremony, the Roku O Mi Army and the Gyoku Hou Unit set out together towards the southern front in order to assist the Mou Bu Army in their clash against the armies of Chu.
Meanwhile Shin meets with Tou as he then states that a being 5000-Man commander is completely different compared to the ranks of 3000 and 4000 and explains that it is only through the eyes of being a one, the rank directly below general, that a person can understand what manner of existence a General and will truly experience many new things from now onwards. And Tou tells him that is exactly why he objected to Ou Hon skipping a rank and being promoted directly to the rank of general.
This statement shocks Shin as he realizes that without Tou’s intervention Ou Hon would have beaten him first to the rank of general and is knock on his head for his overt tone/outburst by Ryuu Koku. Tou goes on to tell him that Shou Hei Kun was also against this as well and he states that the rank of 5000-man commander is not a mere steppingstone to the rank of general. It is from now on that one must learn to stop relying on others while still being able to achieve results. Ryuu Koku tells Shin that it is only if he accomplishes this, he will truly become a general. Tou states that with the absence of the Roku O Mi Army and the Gyoku Hou, the responsibility of defending Choyou weighs heavier and then orders Shin to attach himself to Ryuu Koku and his army to take control of the defense of Choyou in his own hands.
Accepting this with a steadfast salute Shin accepts this responsibility and leaves with Ryuu Koku and realizes that he only one step away from becoming a general. Then there is the rank of Great General. Shin remembers his promise to Ei Sei. Sei asked Shin if he can achieve the rank of general in five years, before his coming of age. If Shin could reach general by then, Ei Sei promises him that the first general he sends on a conquest will be him. Shin asks Ryuu Koku which direction Kanyou is and then wishes Ei Sei good luck on his end.
Meanwhile at Kanyou the officials are shocked about what Ei Sei said. The growth of the state of Ai is not stopping. A lot of money and people seem to be funneling behind the scenes. Also, delegates of other states are spotted quickly coming and leaving from the state.
At the state of Ai, people are noticing the manners of Rou Ai has changed slightly. Suddenly a messenger states that 5000 gold are offered from Mei Rin. The officials realize that they are from Zhao. The Queen Mother says that the number of offerings is even higher than she predicted. Rou Ai however believes it to be waste that they must send half to Kanyou. However, the Queen Mother says that they need to do this in order to protect their own interests. Rou Ai suggests spending the money on the military instead and take Kanyou for themselves. However, she states that they would need ten times their current gold and number of people. An official tells him that it cannot be helped. As a woman, the Queen must find talk of warfare to be a tiresome subject. He suggests to Rou Ai to proceed with the plans amongst the men only.
Ei Sei is standing on the balcony as Shou Bun Kun walks towards him telling him to come inside. Ei Sei says whenever this season comes around, he is reminded of his mother. Ei Sei believes at this rate it is only a matter of time for the state of Ai to burst. He says that it is not only his duty to defeat Ryo Fui, but his mother as well.
Characters
Qin
- Royal Palace
- Ei Sei Faction
- Ei Sei (flashback and main story)
- Shou Bun Kun
- Shi Shi
- Unnamed master of award ceremony
- Unnamed officials
- Ryo Fui Faction
- Ryo Fui
- Ri Shi
- Shou Hei Kun
- Unnamed officials
- Ei Sei Faction
- Tou Army
- Tou
- Ryuu Koku
- Unnamed others
- Roku O Mi Army
- Roku O Mi
- Unnamed officers
- Unnamed members
- Roku O Mi Army
- Mou Bu Army
- Mou Bu (mentioned)
Wei
- Go Hou Mei Army
- Go Hou Mei (mentioned)
Ai
- Royal Palace
- Rou Ai
- Queen Mother
- Ko Reki
- Haku Bi (mentioned)
- Mei You (mentioned)
Zhao
- Royal Palace
- Mei Rin (mentioned)
Characters Introduced
Ai
High Points
- Shin and Ou Hon are called on stage.
- Both Shin and Ou Hon are promoted to the rank of 5000-man commanders.
- The Gyoku Hou members is displeased with the outcome.
- Shin and Ou Hon start a "small" fight.
- Tou tells Shin about the difference between a 5000-man commander and 3000, 4000-man commander.
- Both Tou and the chief of military affairs was against Ou Hon being promoted straight up to general.
- Ou Hon is being assigned to Roku O Mi.
- Shin is being assigned to Ryuu Koku.
- Ou Hon and Roku O Mi are headed towards the borders of Chu to aid Mou Bu.
- Shin and Ryuu Koku are tasked to protect Chiyoyou.
- The state of Ai gives half its money to Kanyou.
- Rou Ai want to keep the gold instead of giving half to Kanyou.
- Ei Sei plans to defeat his mother.
- First appearance of Kou Reki. His name is not revealed in this chapter.
- Haku Bi, Mei You and Mei Rin are mentioned for the first time.