Gyou's True Identity is the 512th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
Forced to navigate through forests to avoid Zhao armies lined up on the plains, Ou Sen finally arrives within viewing range of Gyou, two days after the joint Qin armies took the city of Retsubi from Zhao. Ou Sen and his men note that the city was very different from the descriptions they had heard of it, lending credibility to the rumors of large-scale renovations under Ri Boku's orders. Ou Sen's men finish commenting on the city and await the judgement of their leader, and hear Ou Sen describe Gyou as the perfect city, which would not fall to an attack.
His men worry and ask for further explanation, but are ignored by Ou Sen, who asks A Kou to bring out the map showing the region around Zhao's capital. While looking at the map, Ou Sen confirms that eight cities existed along the path to Gyou, and hears that their scouts had detected a ninth, a small town located northwest of Kion. They hear Ou Sen asking further questions and wonder if he was intending to formulate a strategy right on Zhao's doorstep.
A Zhao patrol discovers them and asks what they were planning to do. A Kou swiftly cuts them down, making noise that attracts other patrols. Ou Sen asks A Kou for his assessment of the situation, and A Kou reassures him that them being outnumbered 2:1 was not an issue.
Two days later, Ou Sen returns to Retsubi and immediately gathers all the officers in the city. He states plainly that Retsubi's condition had made Shou Hei Kun's plan impossible to proceed with, and informs them that they would be advancing past Retsubi according to his own strategy, effectively turning the battle from then on into a battle of wits between Ri Boku and himself. Ou Sen instructs them to take all their rations and not leave anyone behind to guard Retsubi, and march to take Gyou in the name of Qin.
That night, in Setsu City, Ri Boku receives an urgent report by bird that Qin had ventured further into Zhao. He wonders why they had chosen to do so, believing that they had noticed Retsubi's trap, and wondering if they had found a way to escape when surrounded. Ri Boku silences the commotion and addresses his men, confirming that the one battle deciding the fates of Zhao and Qin drew near, and that Qin appeared to be targeting Gyou. He warns them of their grave situation, that should Qin capture Gyou, a knife would be held against Kantan's throat, and Zhao with its 170 years of history faced being wiped off the map. Conversely, if Qin's forces were able to be wiped out, Qin's dreams of unification would end. Ri Boku instructs a bird to be sent with orders for General Ko Chou to begin his attack on Retsubi, and for messengers to be dispatched to the various armies on standby within the inner region, beginning the encirclement strategy immediately.
Characters
Qin
- Royal Palace
- Ei Sei (Flashback)
- Shou Hei Kun (Mentioned)
- Unidentified Armies
- Unidentified commanders
- Unidentified officers
- Unnamed members
Zhao
- Ko Chou Army
- Ko Chou (Mentioned)
- Gyou
- Unnamed soldiers
High Points
- Ou Sen arrives at Gyou and calls it a perfect city that will not fall under attack.
- Ou Sen creates new plan of invasion while being attacked by Zhao patrol.
- Two days later Ou Sen returns to Retsubi and decides to abandon the city completely.
- Ri Boku is surprised that Qin is advancing past Retsubi and comments that this war will decide the fate of states.
- Ri Boku orders Ko Chou to recapture Retsubi.
Trivia
- Setsu city is shown for the first time.