Kingdom : History is rewritten

The interior of Ousen's command tent was filled with the quiet murmur of commanders deep in discussion.

A large map stretched across the central table, its surface marked with lines and figurines representing troop movements.

Ousen, ever the stoic tactician, stood silently, his eyes sweeping across the battlefield laid out before him.

"The coalition forces will reach Qin within the week," said Denrimi, his voice steady but tinged with urgency. "If we do not act soon, KouRyu will seize the advantage."

Ousen nodded, his expression unreadable. "KouRyu's strength lies in his patience. He creates the illusion of weakness to lure his enemies into a trap. We must not fall for it."

Makou, ever the bold warrior, leaned forward. "Then let us strike before he has time to prepare further! His numbers are fewer than ours—an all-out assault will overwhelm him."

Ousen raised a hand, silencing the discussion. "KouRyu has left weaknesses in his formation. They are not mistakes; they are invitations. He wants us to commit. We will not oblige him. Instead, we hold our ground and let him reveal his true hand."

Just as Ousen's commanders prepared to leave, a low rumble reverberated in front of the city. It was subtle at first, like the distant roll of thunder, but it grew louder with each passing second.

"What is that?" Makou asked, his voice uneasy.

"Probably thunder," Denrimi suggested, though his tone lacked conviction.

Ousen's sharp gaze flicked toward the door. "No. It's something else."

The ground trembled beneath their feet, sending ripples through the water jugs on the table. A soldier burst into the tent, his face pale with fear.

"My lord!" he cried. "A flood! A massive wave of water is headed for the city!"

Ousen's expression remained calm, but his movements were swift. "To the walls," he ordered.

As they stepped outside, the scene before them was surreal. In the pale light of the moon, a massive wall of water surged toward Shouchun, its roar deafening. The flood smashed into the city walls with catastrophic force, shattering stone and wood as if they were paper.

The roar of the flood drowned out all other sounds as it broke through the walls with unstoppable force, shattering the once-impenetrable defenses of the majestic city of Shouchun.

Soldiers and civilians screamed as the water surged through the streets, sweeping away everything in its path. Horses neighed in terror, their hooves slipping on the slick ground.

Tents, supply wagons, and siege equipment were torn from their moorings and carried off in the raging current.

Ousen stood atop the walls of his palace , his cape billowing in the wind. For the first time in his life , his masked face betrayed his inner emotion—shock, admiration, and maybe fear, for KouRyu's unexpected bold move. The one action that has destroyed his capital city, one that he built as an impregnable fortress.

"He's turned the heavens themselves into a weapon," Ousen murmured. "KouRyu has shown yet again why one should never try to predict his moves." He clenched his fist so hard that it started to bleed.

Despite the devastation, Ousen's mind worked with the precision of a well-oiled machine. He began issuing orders with calm authority.

"Denrimi! Organize the remaining troops to secure higher ground. Prepare for the incoming attack.

Akou, lead the cavalry to prevent panic among the ranks, then gather back with a counter attack to the front gate .

Sou'ou, assemble engineers to divert the water wherever possible, also clear out the people from the area, we can't defend them . Makou, you will fortify what remains of the inner city. Gather all the soldiers to hold the central city."

His commanders snapped to attention, their respect for Ousen overcoming the shock so quickly .

But Ousen's thoughts were elsewhere. He realized KouRyu's brilliance: the dams must have been constructed weeks ago, gathering rainwater into reservoirs.

The flood was no accident—it was a deliberate weapon, one that even Shouchun's mighty walls couldn't withstand.

"KouRyu doesn't attack with swords alone," Ousen murmured. "He's brought nature itself to its knees. Shouchun's walls can withstand men, But not the force of nature. "

As the waters receded slightly, chaos gave way to a new horror. From the riverbanks, Han Xin appeared with 30,000 soldiers aboard rafts.

Before the defenders could react, a volley of arrows darkened the sky, raining death upon the disorganized Ren forces.

Han Xin, standing at the bow of the lead raft, raised his arm high. His voice rang out, cutting through the chaos.

"Fire again! Leave no ground untouched!" He commanded, his voice cutting through the night like a blade.

Han Xin stood at the front , his eyes scanning the battlefield with cold precision.

Thousands of arrows darkened the sky, striking down the disorganized defenders.

Han Xin's soldiers landed swiftly, moving with the precision of a well prepared army . They advanced into the flooded city, cutting through the panicked Ren soldiers.

Ousen's commanders scrambled to respond. "Makou! Hold the central square at all costs!" Denrimi shouted.

Makou rallied his forces, determined to turn the tide. But Han Xin was relentless. His troops, though outnumbered, fought with ferocity and discipline.

Their movements were different than any army, each unit switched positions and covered any gaps, making the attack impossible to defend against. And when attacked, they would again switch positions as if they could predict it before it appeared.

Makou rallied his troops, determined to turn the tide. "It's as if each of them moving on instinct, predicting our each moves." Makou muttered.

Standing atop the remnants of a collapsed wall, he bellowed orders, his booming voice cutting through the chaos.

"Form ranks! Hold the defense! Shouchun will not fall!"

The Ren soldiers, inspired by his courage, began to push back against Han Xin's advancing forces. For a moment, it seemed that the tide might turn.

But Han Xin was relentless. He directed his troops with masterful precision, exploiting every weakness in the Ousen army defenses.

"Encircle their right flank," he ordered. "Break their formation and drive them into the river."

As the Ren soldiers line wavered, Han Xin himself led a charge against Makou's position. The two warriors clashed in a fierce battle, their blades sparking in the moonlight.

But Han Xin's superior tactics and relentless determination proved too much. With a swift strike, he felled Makou, his blade piercing the general's heart. Makou, the man who accompanied Ousen for a decade, fell in battle.

By dawn, the battlefield was littered with the bodies of the dead. Major Among them was Makou, Ousen's third-in-command, slain by Qin general Han Xin. Akou, who came back to support battle with the cavalry also suffered multiple arrows and was injured. The defenders, demoralized and leaderless, were pushed back further and further.

Just as the first rays of sunlight pierced the horizon, Ouhon arrived with reinforcements. His cavalry charged into the fray, their presence breathing new life into the beaten Ren forces.

Han Xin, seeing Ouhon's arrival with more than 10,000 soldiers , called for a retreat.

"Our work here is done, no point staying further " he said, a faint smirk on his lips.

Turning to his men, he issued a final command: "Leave nothing behind. Let Ousen know we've already won."

Before leaving, Han Xin turned toward Ousen's camp and shouted mockingly, "Your head is still needed, Ousen! My lord KouRyu awaits your offering!"

As Han Xin's forces withdrew, Ousen surveyed the aftermath. His once-mighty army of 300,000 had been reduced by nearly a third.

Thousands had drowned in the flood and thousands more in battle, and many more had deserted in the chaos.

The city of Shouchun was in ruins, and the morale of his army was at its lowest.

Ousen stood before his war map, his expression as inscrutable as ever.

Ousen called a meeting of his remaining commanders.

"Denrimi, Akou, Sou'ou," he began, his voice steady despite the situation. "We still have around 200,000 soldiers. That is enough to win this war."

Denrimi frowned. "But the men are shaken. The city is lost, and KouRyu's forces are gaining momentum."

Ousen's eyes narrowed. "The city was his bait. He wanted to draw us out into open battle. We will oblige him—but not on his terms."

He pointed to the map, tracing a path around KouRyu's army.

"We will march behind him and cut off his retreat. KouRyu cannot survive without a supply line to Qin. When he is forced to attack us, we will strike him down."

Sou'ou frowned. "What of our men? They are not in the best condition to fight."

"They will follow," Ousen replied, his voice firm. "They know that defeat here means the end of the kingdom of Ren. KouRyu has played his hand. Now, it is our turn."

The commanders nodded, their confidence restored by Ousen's unwavering resolve.

Standing before his troops, Ousen addressed them.

"Soldiers of Ren! KouRyu's trickery has brought devastation, but his time is running out.

His army is weakened, and his arrogance will be his downfall. Today, we march not to defend, but to conquer. The path to victory lies through KouRyu himself. Follow me, and together, we will crush him!"

The soldiers roared in approval; their morale rekindled.

Meanwhile, in KouRyu's camp, Han Xin reported the success of the flood and the battle at Shouchun.

"The city is in ruins, and Ousen's forces are demoralized," Han Xin said. "But they will regroup quickly. Ousen is not a man to be underestimated."

KouRyu nodded, his gaze fixed on the horizon. "The flood was only the beginning. Ousen will come for me, but he doesn't realize he's walking into the jaws of the lion."

Turning to Zhuge Liang, KouRyu smiled. "Prepare the final battlefield. It's time to end this. We still have to destroy the real enemy."

He then looked towards Mouten, " You will play a key role in the next battle, my cute little disciple. You will be responsible for beating up your friend when he comes to sneak attack."

Mouten looked hesitant and asked, " Master, can I capture him alive, and convince him to return to Qin?"

KouRyu smiled, " Don't be naive . He won't betray his father. But if you still wish to, you can try. But never let down your guard." To which Mouten nodded solemnly as he left to make his preparations.