The General Who Surpassed Imagination is the 844th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary
In the early morning, Shin, Ka Ryo Ten, and Kyou Kai head up a staircase atop the walls of Shintei. Midway, they're met by Tou, and Shin is surprised, having been sure he was not late that time. He wonders if he got the meeting time wrong, but Tou tells him that he was not mistaken, and congratulates him on, by his standards, excellent work. Shin laughs and tells Tou that he scared him for a second, and that he's not such an idiot that he would be late every single time.
Tou continues staring at Shin wordlessly as he reaches the top of the staircase, standing in Shin's way in the process. Shin asks Tou what the matter was, and after some silence, Tou tells him that he had improved slightly but late is still late. From a pavilion atop the walls, Roku O Mi slams the door open and calls for them to come, telling them not to keep the Commander-in-Chief waiting, mockingly calling the "Slow-Shin Unit".
Inside the pavilion, Kan Ou, Ryuu Koku, Roku O Mi, Shin, Kyou Kai, and Ka Ryo Ten face Shou Hei Kun, with Tou standing in front of them. Shou Hei Kun thanks them all for their exceptional service in the Conquest of Han and informs them that although a grand ceremony for meritorious service would be held in Kanyou in due time, he would first like to honor their achievements there and then.
Shou Hei Kun reminds them that after suffering two consecutive defeats at the hands of Ri Boku, Qin's path to unifying China was once severed, but Kanyou had established Three Pillars for its revival and reminds them of what they were.
He states that even in the era of "War God" King Shou, the destruction of one of the Warring States could not be achieved, but they had done so and offers his repeated praise and words of gratitude.
He informs them that from then on, the work of governance and domestic policy would begin, and that he and Ri Shi would join forces to absorb the full might of Han into the strength of Qin, and with all their new power, would once again invade Zhao, and this time defeat Ri Boku.
Shou Hei Kun reminds them all that the main force for the campaign would naturally be them, having been the ones to conquer Han, and led by Tou. Tou remains silent as Shin cheers and gets admonished by Roku O Mi, but after a moment, asks to say a few words. He turns to the six behind him and thanks them for their efforts. Roku O Mi asks Tou why he is acting like this all of a sudden, but Tou ignores him and continues speaking.
Tou says that although their forces captured Shintei, it fell due to the decision of a king and a single princess, and while they and the people of Han were spared from bloodshed, the weight of that responsibility fell tremendously upon the shoulders of the king and princess.
He tells them that although the war in Han was over, the suffering of the Han people was only beginning; their wealth, people, everything, would be taken and made to be Qin's, and they would be forced to fight alongside Qin against the remaining five kingdoms.
Tou says that it was not an easy thing and states his belief that the responsibility for making that happen still lies with him, one of the Six Great Generals who served as the Commander-in-Chief in the attack on Shintei. As the others begin to realize what he wished to say, Tou informs them that he would lay down his sword there and live his life supporting princess Nei as she guided the people of Han.
Roku O Mi, Kan Ou, and Ryuu Koku refuse to believe his words. Kyou Kai points out that Tou's spine is crooked and asks him if that was the reason why, but he tells her that it wasn't the reason, and his spine isn't crooked, slightly showing a limp. Tou tells his commanders that the next power had already come to fruition — Ou Hon, Mou Ten, and the one that appeared suddenly before them fifteen years ago, Ri Shin himself. He recalls how a mere boy who had asked Ou Ki for discipleship after an encounter at the Battle at Dakan Plains had now served as vice-general in the decisive war against Han and brought victory to the Qin Army. As he and his commanders take a moment to appreciate their late lord Ou Ki, Tou reminds Shin of how Ou Ki had realized it, even then, that he would become a Great General of the Heavens and entrusted his glaive to him.
Tou apologizes and gives back his golden necklace to Shou Hei Kun. He asks Shou Hei Kun to take it back to Kanyou and then tells Shin that he is not yet a Great General, and to do so, he has to break one greater wall and climb its stairs — defeating Ri Boku!
Characters
Qin
- Shou Hei Kun
- Ou Sen (Mentioned)
- Kan Ki (Mentioned)
- Ou Hon (Mentioned)
- Mou Ten (Mentioned)
- King Shou (Mentioned)
- Ri Shi (Mentioned)
- Ou Ki (Mentioned)/(Flashback)
Zhao
- Ri Boku (Mentioned)/(Flashback)
- Hou Ken (Flashback)
- Chou Sou (Flashback)
- Man Goku (Flashback)
- Shou Mou (Flashback)
- Fuu Ki (Flashback)
- Kou Son Ryuu (Flashback)
Han
- Raku'A Kan Army (Mentioned)
- Haku'ou Koku Army (Mentioned indirectly)
- Haku'ou Koku (Mentioned)
High Points
- Tou resigns from the Qin Military and retires his role as the second member of the Six Great Generals.