Full-Scale Assault is the 851st chapter of the Kingdom manga, written and illustrated by Yasuhisa Hara.
Summary[]
The Qin army advances. Zhao lookouts in their region of Tairi spot an army with Qin flags coming through the Ryo plains, and immediately jump on horses. The three messengers coordinate well, making sure to spread the information to the next village over as well. Villagers begin to leave a village, reminding each other to hurry and to not take more than what they had already prepared. They make sure that everyone knows their destination, Suei Castle, where arrangements had already been made for their reception there.
The same thing happens in villages in the Zhao region of Kouju. A large stream of villagers begin to form, but near the front, the trail stops. Soldiers explain to the head of the stream that they needed to change course, since the Qin army was closing on Suei Castle. The villagers find it hard to believe, since they had fled away from the Qin army, but the soldiers tell them that another army numbering at least 10,000 had appeared from the direction of Onzan, and redirect the villagers to Ninka Castle in the northeast direction. The villagers confirm that they had heard the soldiers correctly, that they were directed to the far-away Ninka, and the soldiers add on that they also had reports of Qin forces appearing in the other plains, before confirming that their only destination now is Ninka.
Narration describes how over the past year, Ri Boku had traveled throughout the western territories of Zhao from north to south and established evacuation routes for the populace of each region in the event of a Qin invasion from their direction, and ensured that the military and heads of the cities and towns were aware of it. This allowed the people to swiftly move toward safe zones in response to the Qin invasion. The present situation, however, had those safe zones changing on the fly because Qin had appeared from multiple directions and begun its invasion. The armies on the ground had also been notified of this by Ri Boku, but the final decision was left to the commanders in the field to determine which areas the Qin were present in and which routes were still open, a misjudgment potentially leading to a massive catastrophe.
Officials hear that the Qin army is present in Taiwa, and Anden, and Shintou, and Kabun, and gradually realize that there was nowhere in the entire area to send the civilians; the Qin had appeared at every single point along the western frontlines, from the north to the south. The stream of refugees swell into a river, and finally receive instructions to head to Seiyou Castle in the east.
The messenger leaves it to another soldier to lead the group and hurries elsewhere. The villagers begin to worry if they would even make it that far and contemplate heading back to their village and accepting their fate. One of their leaders reminds them of Ri Boku's words, and his promise to challenge the Qin with all their might and drive them back without fail so that they could all return to their homes. The villagers find a new source of strength and continue evacuating to Seiyou Castle.
In Kantan, reports of Qin appearances flood the royal court. Reports come in of 20,000 Qin in Taimei, 8,000 in Mount Ou, 15,000 at Bousen, 25,000 at Ritsuju, 20,000 at Gyoku Kou, 20,000 at Douhei, 50,000 at Mousa. The staggering amount of reports leaves many officials unable to begin thinking of a way to stop the Qin.
Kou Son Ryuu parallels their current situation to the Coalition Army that the Qin had faced twelve years ago, present as the head of Ri Boku's faction in the royal court ever since his right arm was severed by Bajio in the Battle of Ryouyou, having long fought beside Ri Boku. He instructs subordinates to keep a close watch on the movements of the refugees and gauge them accurately, since more of them were flowing toward the capital than expected.
From a distance away, Kaku Kai and two men from his faction observe the situation and wonder if Ri Boku could truly stop the Qin. Kou Son Ryuu calls them over, telling him to observe the state of the war instead of standing on the sidelines. Kaku Kai doubts that there was any point in following the war from Kantan, but Kou Son Ryuu confidently states that there is, that Ri Boku and the others were fighting so that their kingdom would not fall and Kantan would not be taken, and that they need to follow the entire situation closely and be prepared to deal with any eventuality. Kaku Kai asks if Ri Boku could win, and after a moment of silence, Kou Son Ryuu dismisses the question as foolish, answering that no one in all of China could defeat him.
As the Hi Shin Unit progress through the forests, Ka Ryo Ten tells Shin that they were getting close to their positions and would be splitting up there, reminding him that the Zhao scouts were probably already around, and to be careful. Shin speaks to Kyou Kai and tells her that they would be fighting so far apart that it would be like they were in two different battles, proof that their armies had grown. Kyou Kai says that it couldn't be helped, and a look on her face makes Shin ask what was wrong.
Kyou Rei speaks up and says that she had had a bad feeling ever since they got close to Zhao, but was unsure of what it was. She earns looks from Kou, Shin, and Bi Hei, the last of whom panic and tell her not to say ominous things before a battle. Kou turns to Kyou Rei and passionately tells her not to overdo it, and asks her to promise not to die and to meet him again.
Rei pauses for a moment, and then kisses Kou, surprising everyone. Rei smiles and dismisses it as just a good luck charm for victory, then says goodbye to Kou, and tells him that she would be upset if he died as well.
Under his breath, Shin asks when there had been a good luck charm like that, but Kyou Kai hears him and says that there isn't any. Shin pauses for a moment, and then with fake bravado, tells Kyou Kai that she would have to give him one if they won the battle as well. Kyou Kai pauses for a moment, and right as Shin begins to say he was joking, agrees and rides away. Shin is flustered enough to disturb his horse, and tells Kyou Kai that he was praying for her fortune in battle, and to be careful. Without turning, she acknowledges his good wishes, and then heads to her unit.
Nan Chin informs Kyou Kai that the plains east of where they currently were should be their assigned position, the Gokusa plains. He asks her if something was wrong, and mentions that it was rare to see her smiling like that. She blushes and says that nothing was wrong, but he enthusiastically tells her that her expression was super cute. She asks if all her troops were ready, and then orders her unit to move out, reminding them to stay sharp, assume battle formation, and take their positions.
Ka Ryo Ten tells Shin that reports from their scouts indicated that there was a Zhao army at their front left, their opponents. Shin takes a moment to appreciate the moment, and then prepares to challenge Ri Boku and take his head. He calls for the Hi Shin Unit to advance to their left.
A distance away, Ri Boku receives reports of the Qin armies being deployed. 30,000 Qin at the Houzan Foothills, the Ou Sen Army at Kain, 20,000 believed to be the Kyou Kai Army at the Gokusa Plains, 40,000 of the Hi Shin Unit on the Mouen Plains, 70,000 from the Yo Tan Wa Army at Bunan deployed over a wide area, 60,000 of the Roku O Mi Army at Benrou. Reports also flood in of his armies being deployed, Rei Ju Kou's Army entering Ryuukei, the Ba Nan Ji Army at Ougen, the Shun Sui Ju Army at Enchi, the Ki Sui Army at Fuko, and the Seika Shi Ba Shou Army deployed at Rekiba. Ri Boku acknowledges the reports, and lets the messengers know that he will give the command to begin the battle.
Characters[]
Zhao[]
- Chou Kan (Debut)
- Hei Ton (Debut) (Name only)
- Rei Ju Kou Army (Mentioned)
- Ba Nan Ji Army (Mentioned)
- Shun Sui Ju Army (Mentioned)
- Ki Sui Army (Mentioned)
- Shi Ba Shou Army (Mentioned)
Qin[]
- Ou Sen Army (Mentioned)
- Yo Tan Wa Army (Mentioned)
- Roku O Mi Army (Mentioned)
High Points[]
- Kou Son Ryuu is revealed to have become a civil official in Kantan's royal court and the head of Ri Boku's faction after losing his right arm in the Battle of Ryouyou.
- Kyou Rei kisses Kou.
- The Qin and Zhao armies are currently moving to their designated battlefields.