The Second Pillar is the 801st chapter of the Kingdom manga.
Summary
Shouheikun explains that the imperial court in Kanyou doesn’t fully grasp all the small details about the kingdom of Qin. Kanyou doesn’t have a clear count of the various large cities to the far-flung small villages and the independent areas formed my migrants. And subsequently, they don’t know the actual population of Qin. Sei says that it’s the responsibility of the local lords to count the population and report it, but depending on the lord, the accuracy of the reporting is hit or miss. Shouheikun agrees and says that’s why the imperial court must count the population themselves.
Every man and woman, and their respective ages without missing a single person. Shoubunkun gets worked up and says that’s impossible, but Shouheikun says they have to do this, or they won’t complete the first reform. Shoubunkun remembers that Shouheikun said “military reforms” and this isn’t the time to be conducting a census to organize the kingdom. Sei pauses and asks if the purpose of this census is the rebuild their lost armies to which Shouheikun agrees.
If they complete this family register, then the imperial court will know the location and numbers of all adult men in the kingdom. If the court issues a conscription order, they will be able to produce a massive army without letting a single man avoid joining the war effort. Shoubunkun starts to get angry and says if they try to send every single man to the battlefield, there will be riots across the kingdom.
Shouheikun rebuffs back that normal methods will not restore their lost military power. Their first step is to build up a 300,000 strong army again within half a year or they can’t begin to restore their kingdom’s power. They will have to enlist every person who have merely been observers until now and unite them on the battlefield with the goal of toppling the other kingdoms.
Shoubunkun continues to argue back that the citizenry will not go along with this kind of militarism, but Shouheikun simply says they will force the citizens to comply. Of course, they will hand out compensation for the conscription, but those that fail to comply will see their families punished through guilt by association.
Shoubunkun argues that the citizenry will start to hate the imperial court and the king, but Sei says he doesn’t care. From the very beginning, he was resolved to be despised by both the other kingdoms and by Qin. Right now, the only thing that matters is not losing their path to unification.
This path is something that will bring hardship to all of China, including Qin, but it will lead to a new world without war. No matter what Qin has to go through to get there, they will push forward. Sei orders Shoubunkun to lead this effort and especially check around the recently conquered areas for any citizens that were previously part of different kingdoms.
Shouheikun then explains that the second pillar will be reforming the structure of their military. In the past two years, they lost Kanki and Ousen suffered a major loss, so they’ve lost two of their major forces. Shouheikun says they need to promote certain generals to a rank just under great general, reinforce their armies, and have them shoulder the responsibility for Qin’s grand designs on the other kingdoms. Sei and Shoubunkun start to ask Shouheikun to clarify who he means, but Shouheikun says they should already know (full page spread of Shin, Mouten, and Ouhon).
The three generals are summoned and talked about their promotions. Shin misunderstands and thinks this means they’re moving up to great general, but the other two realize it must be about expanding their armies. Shouheikun says that the Gyoku Hou and Gakuka will be expanded to 50,000 each, and to help control these armies, Kanjou and Akakin of the Gyoku Hou will be promoted to general as well as Aisen and Rikusen of the Gakuka. Shouheikun also places these two armies in charge of defending the cities of Rakushi and Kouto. Mouten starts to ask about Shouheikun’s strategy when Shin interrupts to ask about the Hi Shin Unit. Shouheikun first explains that with the loss of Kanki and Ousen, Qin only has two years to restore their path to unification or they risk losing everything.
Shin says that he understands, so just tell him what city the Hi Shin Unit will be in charge of protecting. Mouten says that the Gakuka and Gyoku Hou won’t be protecting any cities, they’re being stationed to ward off reinforcements from Wei and Zhao. Shin starts to ask for details, but Shouheikun informs him that the Hi Shin Unit will be expanded to 60,000 men. Kyoukai will be made general while Sosui and En will be made into 5000-man commanders. Finally, the Hi Shin Unit will join forces with Tou’s 100,000 army take down Han!
Characters
Qin
- Royal Palace
- Ei Sei
- Shou Hei Kun cover/story
- Shou Bun Kun
Zhao
- Ri Boku (Mentioned)
High Points
- The second pillar of reformation proposed by Shou Hei Kun to restore the path to unification is a complete reorganisation of the Qin Military.
- Ou Hon and Mou Ten see their respective armies expanded to 50,000 soldiers.
- Ri Shin sees his army unit expanded to 60,000 soldiers.
- Kan Jou, A Ka Kin, Riku Sen, Ai Sen and Kyou Kai are promoted to the rank of General.
- En and So Sui are promoted to the rank of 5000-Man Commander.