Heading North is the 704th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
A herd of sheep are grazing on a small slope hill while two children play, and a man works beneath them. Kaine appears as she tells them that it’s time to make dinner. The two children come down to greet her while the man, who is revealed to be Ri Boku, stops working and picks up the youngest child comes to greet her too. With tears in her eyes Kaine just gazes at her husband and child.
And she hugs him while cheerfully declaring her love for their family as Ri Boku calls out her name, repeatedly. Kaine is awoken by Ri Boku whotells her they’re heading back to Kantan and she needs to get ready. While on their way Kaine thinks to herself that her experience must’ve been a dream and mutters if only she could return to Ganmon with Ri Boku instead of the capital. Realizing what she just said was out loud she attempts to hide it with coughing. But Ri Boku returns her sentiments as he tells her that they should return to Ganmon together after everything is over.
Upon returning to the capital after inspecting Gian, Ri Boku sends out envoys to two locations - Seika, Shi Ba Shou’s city and Roumou, a castle in proximity with the eastern border of the state of Qin and northeast of Taigen.
Later from Seika, two generals are sent out after receiving Ri Boku’s orders and arrive in Roumou. The chapter then cuts to the two generals, Kan Saro and Ji Aga as they greet city lord, Duke Son Fu, about how they will contribute from then on.
Over at Heiyou and Bujou, the Yo Tan Wa Army arrive to hold down the positions. Ri Shin and Yo Tan Wa talk, and her army will hold Gyou while the rest go north up to cap Zhao at Atsuyo. Heki appears and rejoins the Ou Sen Army. He now can speak the mountain people's language with Kitari. She teases him and he promises to be back to teach her his language next.
We then cut to Ri Boku and co discussing upcoming plans when King Yuu Boku walks in and begins licking Kaine in front of everyone. He stops when Ri Boku says that she is an important commander of his army.
The King says that if she wipes his saliva off her hand, he will order her execution. He comments about how he will be better in his father in the fact that he won’t get in Ri Boku's way and talks about how his own pleasure is all that matters to him. The chapter ends with Ri Boku saying that that he will separate the armies of Ou Sen and Kan Ki at Atsuyo.
Characters
Zhao
- Shi Ba Shou Army
- Shi Ba Shou (Mentioned)
- Kan Saro
- Ji Aga
- Son Fu
Qin
- Royal Palace
- Shou Hei Kun (Mentioned)
Characters Introduced
Zhao
- Roumou
- Son Fu
High Points
- Shou Hei Kun's stratagem in its essence will consist of having the combined Ou Sen and Kan Ki Armies attack and conquer Atsuyo while later moving to march towards the north of Zhao. After which the northern and eastern Qin military forces will gather at Taigen and combined into a great army that will move to take Gian.
- Heki has begun learning how to speak the language of the Mountain Tribesmen and Xiongnu.
- Heki promises Kitari that he will teach her how to speak the language of the central plains.
- Yuu Boku shows himself to be different from his father, Tou Jou as he doesn’t hate Ri Boku.
Trivia
- Kaine's dream mirrors that of Ri Boku's own dream as he wishes to retire to the countryside.
- Kyou Kai is capable of jealously.