The Siege of Kantan is the 876th chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Synopsis
Zhao officials rush to the Great Hall in Kantan amidst news of Ri Boku's second defensive line being broken through by the Qin army. They exchange updates, asking if the defensive line had repaired itself. Some learned that the Hi Shin, Kyou Kai, and Gaku Ka armies had all broken through.
Kou Son Ryuu speaks out and tells the official to calm down, telling them that their armies would be chasing them from behind. The officials are momentarily relieved, but then a messenger updates them that although battles had unfolded on the Kishu Plains and Tanza Plains, it was mostly the Mou Ten army fighting there, spreading out in a wide formation to obstruct any pursuers and acting as a rear guard for the other two armies, leaving the Kyou Kai and Ri Shin armies free to push in without pursuit.
The officials begin to turn on those from Ri Boku's faction, but the cacophony is interrupted by a messenger with an urgent report from Rinro and Shuu, stating that Mount Bei and Mount Jou had both sent out signal flares signaling the advance of the Qin Army, and revealing that they had already made it past Bu'an, the final city between the Qin and Kantan.
Kou Son Ryuu instructs Kou Ryou to tell the king that the situation had turned grave, and then turns to Kaku Kai to remind him that with the absence of both the king and Ri Boku, he is the head of the imperial court, before asking him to swiftly give the order to ready Kantan for battle. Kaku Kai asks Kou Son Ryuu if he believes Kantan would hold, and Kou Son Ryuu declares that he would ensure it would.
The lives of the civilians in Kantan are interrupted by bells ringing throughout the city, signaling that the Qin army is near. They worry but begin moving to safety. As the court begins preparing itself, a court official quietly informs Kou Son Ryuu that a horse messenger had arrived from Ri Boku.
Outside Kantan, the Hi Shin Unit takes a moment to observe Kantan. They hear the bells ringing, yet Shin remains unfazed, aware that there is no more need to hide now that they have arrived. Ten gives the orders for ladders to begin being made, and the Hi Shin Unit begins making them with fervor. As Kyou Kai and her army pass through the Kansho Wooded Area, Setsu Kou returns from scouting and reports that the Hi Shin Unit had begun preparing for a siege. They cheer and continue heading forward.
After the ladders are made, the Hi Shin Unit waits for Shin's command to begin. A nervous Bi Hei asks for reassurance that it was really okay for them to take over Kantan, destroying Zhao. And Shin reminds him that even though they were not supposed to think, it is impossible not to, and so instead think about ending the war that had plagued them since birth. In Kantan, the bell for the Qin army's attack beginning is heard, and the Hi Shin Unit is seen throwing ladders up against the walls of Kantan.
Characters
Zhao
- Kantan
- Yuu Boku (Mentioned)
- Kaku Kai
- Kou Son Ryuu
- Kou Ryou
- Ri Boku (Mentioned)
- Ki Sui Army (Mentioned)
Qin
- Gaku Ga (Mentioned)
- Shou Sa (Mentioned)
- Ei Sei (Mentioned)