The Battle of Kankoku Pass (Kanji: 函谷関, Chin: "Hangu Pass") is a large battle taking place in 241 B.C., between Qin, defending its existence, and the Coalition Army, comprised of soldiers from Zhao, Chu, Wei, Han, and Yan, aiming to destroy the state of Qin.
Location[]
A close up of Kankoku Pass
The battle took place at Kankoku Pass,[1], also called Qin's "National Gate", blocking the one and only entrance of the path leading towards its capital Kanyou.[2] Given the size of the armies involved on both sides, battle took place not just at Kankoku Pass itself, but to the regions on its left and right, with armies aiming to open/prevent Kankoku Pass from being opened from behind.[1]
Kankoku Pass is considered the most impenetrable pass in all of China, it is thanks to this wall along with the mountain range surrounding it, that Kanyou can be seen as one of the hardest cities to conquer. A gigantic wall protecting one of two passages leading to Kanyou, the royal capital of Qin. It's a counterpart to the south is Bu Pass. Ladders and siege towers are deemed ineffective due to their height and so far, it has never been breached by any enemy. The mountainous surrounding terrain also makes it harder to flank. This made it the ideal location to oppose the Coalition Army.
Background[]
In an unidentified forest near the Wei, Zhao, and Qin borders, Ri Boku[3] meets Chu's Prime Minister, Shun Shin Kun.[4] Shortly after, he meets with Wei King Kei Bin.[5] A month later, in 241 B.C., the state of Qin begins being invaded by the Coalition Army.[6]
News first reaches Kanyou of Chu's invasion through Fort Nanko; the messenger conveys that the 50,000 strong Chu Army had already reached the area around Yasen, right in the middle of Qin's southern region. With the expectation that Generals Mou Bu and Chou Tou had already headed there, Kanyou waits for more news. 5,000 men from the remnants of the Ou Ki Army, led by Tou, are first to engage the Chu army, and do so at Hanto Plains.[7] Shortly after, Kanyou receives urgent news that a 100,000 strong Wei Army had begun invading them and had captured all the cities in the region of Gouryou City. Shou Hei Kun shares his knowledge from a report that Ri Boku had made contact with Chu, and speculates that Zhao would be invading as well. A messenger arrives immediately after, confirming that the Zhao were invading and were currently sieging Bayou. Qin's royal court immediately gets swept up in a flurry of preparations. A new messenger arrives, notifying them that a 120,000 strong Yan army had just conquered Sui, the base of Qin's northern defense line. A final messenger arrives, notifying Kanyou that a 50,000 strong Han army had begun to attack them, and a large army from Qi was likely passing through Zhao and heading for Qin.[8]
Now fully aware that they were the target of a coalition army, many officials in the court begin to freeze, aware of the power of a coalition army, once seen around forty years ago, where the target Qi had been reduced to only two cities. After being roused by Ei Sei, they find motivation to defend their home and begin devising plans to respond. As part of Shou Hei Kun's strategy,[9] Sai Taku speaks with King Ou Ken of Qi, who agrees to have Qi withdraw its 50,000 soldiers from the Coalition Army before they even enter Qin's borders in exchange for twice the amount of land, riches, and people Qi would have received from contributing to the coalition. This causes the appearance of a potential threat behind the backs of the Coalition Army. Kanyou hears that the Duke Hyou Army had already engaged the Wei army at Rai Plains,[10] who had engaged the Wei army before receiving orders to do so in order to give them time to perform what they need to do.[11]
Kanyou eventually comes up with a plan, which Shou Hei Kun estimates has a one-in-five chance of success.[12] As citizens continue evacuating, Generals Mou Bu, Chou Tou, Tou, Ou Sen, Kan Ki, Mou Gou, and Duke Hyou are recalled to Kanyou, where they are informed of their plan to deal with the 500,000 strong Coalition Army.[13]
At Fuuman Plains[13] each state's representative for the coalition army meet: Great Generals Kan Mei of Chu, Ordo of Yan, Go Hou Mei of Wei, Sei Kai of Han, Zhao Three Great Heavens Ri Boku, and Shun Shin Kun, Prime Minister of Chu. After meeting each other, Ordo comments on how the death of Yan Great General Geki Shin at the hands of Ri Boku was a necessary sacrifice for the formation of the coalition army. They learn that although Ri Boku would be the strategical advisor for the coalition army, Shun Shin Kun would serve as the Coalition Army's Commander-in-Chief, and then Ri Boku begins explaining their strategy for attacking Kanyou.[2]
In Kanyou, Shou Hei Kun informs the recalled generals that they were withdrawing everything to Kankoku Pass, the "National Gate" blocking the only entrance of the path leading towards Kanyou. They are instructed to recall all their forces to Kankoku Pass.[2]
Shou Hei Kun speaks to Mou Bu before he sets off for battle, and admits his blunder, not having imagined that anyone could see through the true intent behind the Sanyou Campaign. At Fuuman plains, Ri Boku shares the same knowledge with the Coalition Army's commanders, explaining why he had set out to form the coalition army.[14]
The armies face each other as such, from west to east:
- Ou Sen Army v.s. Yan (Ordo Army)
- (Kankoku Pass itself) Mou Gou Army, Kan Ki Army, and Chou Tou Army v.s. Wei (Go Hou Mei Army) and Han (Sei Kai Army)
- Tou Army and Mou Bu Army v.s. Chu(Rin Bu Kun Army, Ka Rin Army, and Kan Mei Army)
- Duke Hyou Army v.s. Zhao (Kei Sha Army)
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Story[]
Day 1-3
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1st Day[]
Both armies' deployment on the battlefield.
Duke Hyou and his army initiates the battle along with Shin and the Hi Shin Unit and rushed the Zhao army head-on. Wei Commander in Chief brought out specially designed siege towers to attack Kankoku Pass. The first tower was raised at General Chou Tou's location and successfully reached its mark. Kan Ki burned down the second siege tower when they attempted to reach the location he was in charge of. General Chou Tou successfully pushed backed Wei soldiers to their Siege tower. Shin's ability as an instinctual General is awakened. Along with the Hi Shin Unit, Shin saved Duke Hyou's Army and counterattacked against Zhao leading 10,000 soldiers. Shin slew General Man Goku in battle promising him as a soldier he will never commit or allow an incident such as Chouhei to happen again. Rin Bou, Tou's second vassal, when attempting to kill Rin Bu Kun, was sniped from distance by Haku Rei. Tou slew Chu General Rin Bu Kun.
Tou decapitates Rin Bu Kun.
Shin cuts down Man Goku of the Assault.
2nd Day[]
The remnants of the 1st Chu Army fought with no assistance from the 2nd Army. They proceed to attack the Qin Army with no tactics. On the Zhao Battlefield, Duke Hyou remained at his HQ observing the small-scale clashes. The Yan Army continued their assault on Ou Sen's fortress, with no signs of it breaking. With the withdrawal of the Wei's siege tower, Kankoku Pass itself has turned into a standard siege battle. Later, Karin ordered the HQ to pass the message as follows: "If all troops fight conservatively, Kankoku Pass should fall in ten days' time!".
[]
| Chu Wars | |
|---|---|
| Before the Start of the Series. | |
| The War God's Era | |
| 284 B.C.
|
Qi Coalition War |
| Unknown Dates
|
Ou Kotsu's Invasion of Chu |
| Current Era | |
| 241 B.C.
|
Coalition Invasion • Battle of Kankoku Pass •
Battle of Kankoku Pass/Day 4-14 • Battle of Kankoku Pass/Day 15 • Battle of Kankoku Pass/Day 16-17 • Coalition Army's Revenge on Qi |
| 238 B.C.
|
Battle of Gento |
| 235 B.C.
|
Battle at Gecchi Plains |
| 233 B.C.
|
Chu Takes Keifu |
| Wei Wars | |
|---|---|
| Before the Start of the Series. | |
| The War God's Era | |
| 284 B.C.
|
Qi Coalition War |
| 246 B.C.
|
Hanyou Campaign • |
| Current Era | |
| 245 B.C.
|
Battle at Dakan Plains |
| 243 B.C.
|
Border skirmishes with Qin |
| 242 B.C.
|
Sanyou Campaign |
| 241 B.C.
|
Battle of Kankoku Pass • Coalition army's revenge on Qi |
| 239 B.C.
|
Choyou Campaign |
| 235 B.C.
|
Battle at Gecchi Plains |
| Han Wars | |
|---|---|
| Before the Start of the Series. | |
| The War God's Era | |
| 284 B.C.
|
Qi Coalition War |
| 256 B.C.
|
Qin/Han War |
| Current Era | |
| 244 B.C.
|
Anhou Campaign |
| 241 B.C.
|
Battle of Kankoku Pass • Coalition army's revenge on Qi |
| 231 B.C.
|
Conquest of Han (Siege of Nanyou) |
| 230 B.C.
|
Conquest of Han (Battle at Eitei Plains • Battle at Tousa Plains • Siege of Shintei) |
| Yan Wars | |
|---|---|
| Before the Start of the Series. | |
| The War God's Era | |
| 284 B.C.
|
Qi Coalition War |
| Unknown Dates
|
Zhao/Yan War |
| Current Era | |
| 242 B.C.
|
Zhao/Yan War (242 B.C.) |
| 241 B.C.
|
Battle of Kankoku Pass |
| 236 B.C.
|
Yan Invasion of Eastern Zhao |
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Kingdom - Volume 25, Chapter 271
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Kingdom - Volume 25, Chapter 269
- ↑ Kingdom - Volume 24, Chapter 258
- ↑ Kingdom - Volume 24, Chapter 259
- ↑ Kingdom - Volume 24, Chapter 260
- ↑ Kingdom - Volume 24, Chapter 261
- ↑ Kingdom - Volume 25, Chapter 262
- ↑ Kingdom - Volume 25, Chapter 263
- ↑ Kingdom - Volume 25, Chapter 264
- ↑ Kingdom - Volume 25, Chapter 265
- ↑ Kingdom - Volume 25, Chapter 266
- ↑ Kingdom - Volume 25, Chapter 267
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Kingdom - Volume 25, Chapter 268
- ↑ Kingdom - Volume 25, Chapter 270