The Decisive Year is the 408th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
Everyone is gathered to wish a happy new year. On stage stands Ryo Fui, Ei Sei, Shou Hei Kun and Ri Shi. It is also the year for the coronation ceremony. Mou Bu says that the time has finally come as Ryo Fui that he should not say that. This is the deciding year for the power struggle between Ei Sei and Ryo Fui for victory and defeat. The Queen Mother and Rou Ai will set the stage for a deciding battle.
Shin is having it difficult as Kyou Kai is trying to pep him up. She wonders if he is already feeling the pressure of being a 5000-Man Commander but he is actually angry and annoyed as he remembers Ryuu Koku’s continuously scolding and nagging at him for making basic mistakes. Telling Shin and his men are too gullible for enemy traps, does not know how to delegate and slacks of in managing the workers. Because of the new year, the workers are wanting to go home to their families. Kyou Kai then says congratulations and happy new year. Shin mentions that now that She got promoted to 3000-Man Commander she can lead her own troops. Adding that to the 5000 men of Shin unit that makes 8000. Ryuu Koku stated that 8000 men exceeds the restrictions of a 5000-man commander and therefore cannot stay in the Hi Shin Unit. She however states that she belongs in the Hi Shin Unit and will not leave because of that. They are commenting on the fact that the construction of the fortress is going very well. The work them even harder Shin realizes they will need to give out bonuses to work extra. This coming from the pockets of both Shin and Ka Ryo Ten. This idea shakes up Shin, but it must be done. Also, when the workers are not working Shin was forced to send in his own men to help to get the work done and apologizes to Kyou Kai for this. Kyou Kai then states that when they finish the outer wall of the fortress, they will have finished the lower parts and then they can finally initiate the attack. Shin then remembers that Tou already started investigating target areas. They can use Choyou as a standpoint to start the invasion of Wei. Kyou Kai then reminds Shin that there is also the intern struggle to deal with.
At Kanyou, Shou Bun Kun is preparing for the coronation ceremony and remembers that eight years ago he was shamefully forced to make the king flee alone. If they can finish the coronation ceremony safely, the king position of power will be recognized by other states and the neutral parties will start to join. They are gathering troops to strengthen their defenses. This is all to make sure that nothing happens before the ceremony. Shou Bun Kun states that both sides will have placed spies in each other camps, but he will not let anything go unnoticed.
Ri Shi gives Ryo Fui a status update on the Ei Sei Faction’s activities. Telling him that Shou Bun Kun surveillance is stricter than they predicted. Ryo Fui states that he found out who the spies are in his camp. Even though they are few, they still have some people defecting to Sei’s side. Ri Shi states that they must be very cautious in making a move, but Ryo Fui says that will not be necessary. The first one to move will not be them or the king’s faction, but the state of Ai.
Rou Ai is finding it difficult to seeing so many important people and figures and meets ambassadors from Zhao and Chu. Both ambassadors suggest giving Rou Ai the title of king which the people in Ai find this not to be a bad idea. Bi Ki, the Queen Mother is very pleased with the plans of Chou Kou. The latter asks the Queen to allow him to make even more plans. She says that they need to strengthen their borders even further. If they would be overturned, that would be an embarrassment.
Characters
Qin
- Royal Palace
- Ei Sei Faction
- Ryo Fui Faction
- Ryo Fui
- Shou Hei Kun
- Ri Shi
- Sai Taku
- Mou Bu
- Unnamed officials
- Hi Shin Unit
- Shin (flashback and main story)
- Kyou Kai
- Bi Hei (flashback)
- Ka Ryo Ten (Mentioned)
- Unnamed others (flashback)
- Kanyou
- Unnamed citizens
- Unnamed eunuchs
Ai
- Royal Palace
- Rou Ai
- Queen Mother
- Chou Kou
- Ko Reki
- Ko Reki's aide
- Unnamed officials
Chu
Zhao
Characters Introduced
Chu
Zhao
High Points
- It's new year and everyone is gathered.
- This is the year of Ei Sei coronation.
- This is the deciding year for the power struggle between Ei Sei and Ryo Fui.
- A flashback is shown of Ryuu Koku scolding Shin.
- Kyou Kai is now a 3000-man commander.
- The Hi Shin Unit is now an 8000 unit.
- Shin was forced to send in his own men to get the work done of parts of the construction.
- Kyou Kai plans to attack when the lower parts of the fortress have finished.
- Tou is investigating target areas.
- Shou Bun Kun is preparing for the coronation ceremony.
- The ambassadors of Zhao and Chu suggest giving Rou Ai the title of king.
- First appearance of Jou Kei and Hoku Ryuu.