A Ka Kin is the 538th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
Chou Ga Ryuu wonders to himself as to why he is reminiscing about his late lord, Rin Shou Jo. While reminiscing, he remembers a battle in which he asks his lord if it's alright to throw away the strategy they devised the night before since their allies won't know what's going on. Laughing to himself, Rin Shou Jo says it can't be helped since he just thought of a better plan on the spot. He replies to be able to hold both allies and enemies in the palm of their hands is what it means to be a Great General while attributing it to Ren Pa. Chou Ga Ryuu replies that his lord is a difficult man to work with. Laughing, Rin Shou Jo tells him, it doesn't matter since he's not the one in the difficult position. One of Kai Shi Bou sends a messenger out of fury to which Rin Shou Jo replies that it doesn't matter, and to send the messenger away. The flashback ends with Chou Ga Ryuu thinking about Ou Hon's actions.
Over on the battlefield, Ou Hon continues the charge while shouting to men that this is their hunting ground and orders the Gyoku Hou to trample on the Ba Nan Ji Army soldiers. A 1000-Man Commander by the name of A Ka Kin shows up and orders his unit to start destroying the Zhao Army from its ends. A Ka Kin empowers his soldiers by telling them that the young master, Ou Hon may have chosen to throw out the second day's strategy at his own discretion they should rack up a lot of achievements so their names will be known to Ou Hon since he is the heir to the Ou Family, Kan Jou and his subordinates notice A Ka Kin and are surprised with Kan Jou calling him a bastard of rare ingenious talent and says a reliable reinforcement has come. While Kyuu Kou says he hates A Ka Kin.
Ba Nan Ji wonders if he should disengage his ongoing melee with A Kou to go help his men but his subordinates report that the main force of the A Kou Army is beginning to gather more where Ba Nan Ji is. He says A Kou has changed his tactics to prevent the Zhao General from withdrawing. Thinking it interesting, Ba Nan Ji goes to claim A Kou's head.
Ou Hon is seen staring into the distance, his subordinates ask what's going on since the battlefield is leaning towards Qin's favor. He replies that they need to be weary of Chou Ga Ryuu. Ou Hon believes that any actions taken by Chou Ga Ryuu could affect the current trend of the battlefield.
Chou Ga Ryuu's soldiers tell their General that they're awaiting his orders and Gaku'Ei is also asking where his army should target since Ou Hon and the main core of the Gyoku Hou Unit successfully escaped. Gou Ga Ryuu states that by using their advantage in number and strength, they will divide and attack: Gaku'Ei will chase the remaining Gyoku Hou Unit and his army will attack A Kou's 8,000 reinforcements. He also orders 1,000 cavalries from his unit to interfere where Ou Hon is fighting, he believes this is what the Qin commander will find most annoying.
Ou Hon's subordinates notice this and report the 1000 cavalry that is approaching them with great speed. Ou Hon thinks to himself that if the cavalry can reach their location, the tides will turn, and the Qin army will be at a disadvantage. He wonders if he should go on a counterattack before the cavalry reaches them because if they break away from the battle, the Zhao army will collaborate with the incoming cavalry to end Qin's current attack. He wonders if he should divide his 700 cavalries farther.
While he is thinking, he notice's A Ka Kin's cavalry, which numbers 200. A Ka Kin tells Ou Hon that the current battlefield is the young commander's achievement and that he will deal with the incoming cavalry. He tells Ou Hon to rack up achievements even more, and if he manages to do that, even his father Ou Sen might be pleased. He also asks Ou Hon to remember his debt and efforts, and to remember to repay his debt tenfold to him or his family. He then departs.
Ou Hon says that must be the infamous A Ka Kin. He asks Kan Jou whether A Ka Kin should be saved. Kan Jou says that A Ka Kin has remained a 1000-Man Commander due to his quirky personality, but he is without a doubt the most wasted talent in the A Kou Army. Seeing this, Ou Hon orders one of his subordinates to lead 30 cavalries to chase after A Ka Kin and to make sure he escapes before he is killed.
The fighting continues, A Kou says it's nearly impossible for the Zhao army to stop the current situation with the Qin forces decimate the Zhao and cripple the Ba Nan Ji Army.
Meanwhile on the Ryouyou warfront, the Yo Tan Wa Army is faring a lot better on the second day. Heki believes the Yo Tan Wa Army has gotten used to the way that the Quanrong Army fights. He thinks this means Mountain tribesmen's strength will rise even more.
On the opposite side, Rozo asks if his younger brothers have noticed anything. Bunen says since they're fighting while conserving their energy, they can notice the strengths and weaknesses of the Yo Tan Wa Army. Tork says Bajio's army, the Feego Tribe, and the Mera Tribe stand out the most amongst them. But the most impressive army is Yo Tan Wa’s personal army, and that two Quanrong tribal leaders have already been killed by her forces today. Rozo says she is truly worth killing and says he won't forgive anyone who tries to kill and take Yo Tan Wa for themselves since she is his prey. He says it's been a while since his blood and genitals have been aroused.
Goba then asked where Shun Sui Ju is and what he is up to. Rozo says that Shun Sui Ju has been outside of the battlefield since the morning. In another location Shun Sui Ju is seen observing different parts of the battlefield with his scouts.
The narrator says on the third day of battle, an event that would affect the whole Qin army would occur. The target will be the Heki Army.
Characters
Qin
Shukai Plains
Battle of Ryouyou
Zhao
Shukai Plains
- Ri Boku Army
- Ba Nan Ji
- Chou Ga Ryuu
- Gyou’un (Flashback)
- Gaku'Ei (Mentioned)
Past
- Rin Shou Jo (Flashback)
- Ren Pa Army
- Ren Pa (Mentioned)
- Kai Shi Bou (Mentioned)