“ | WHY!? Why did things turn out like this!? Why are the people of Zhao killing one another!?...Not only that...They've turned their blades on Ri Boku-sama of all people...This can't be right!! NONE OF THIS MAKES ANY SENSE!! | ” |
—Kaine's lamenting |
The Zhao Crisis Arc is the nineteenth story arc of Yasuhisa Hara's Kingdom, serialized in Weekly Young Jump starting in 2020.
Summary[]
War in Kantan[]
After Qin's victory and the capture of Gyou, the newly strengthened 10,000-strong Hi Shin Unit returns to the Zhao frontlines following a month of training. On the march, they meet the Gaku Ka Army, and Generals Ri Shin and Mou Ten reunite, exchanging lighthearted greetings. They discuss Zhao's capital Kantan, its defenses, and the future of the war.
Mou Ten expresses eagerness to exploit Ri Boku's dismissal and impending execution, while Shin regrets not having the chance to face the Zhao Great General in battle and avenge the death of Ou Ki, the "Monstrous Bird." Mou Ten acknowledges Shin's sentiments but emphasizes that Ri Boku's death could save countless Qin soldiers while also expressing his own regret that such a Great General's fate lies in his king's hands.
Later during a night in Kantan, masked individual invades an estate
Assassination of the Zhao King[]
Release[]
Royal Succession[]
Renewed Fire and Future[]
Characters Introduced[]
Zhao[]
Qin[]
Story Impacts[]
- Ri Boku is imprisoned due to his failures in preventing the Qin from taking Gyou and waits for his execution.
- The Hi Shin Unit, now an army unit, reorganizes its command structure as a General led unit and trains with the added addition of soldiers. The unit heads back to the Zhao frontlines after completing their training.
- Bi Hei was promoted to the rank of a 100-Man Commander and the Bi Hei Unit becomes a 100-Man unit.
- Ai Sen, a commander of the Mou Bu Army, is transferred to the newly established Gaku Ka Army.
- Qin observes the political situation in Zhao and takes advantage of it.
- Shun Sui Ju leads Ri Boku's faction in various rescue attempts and begins fighting with the Royal Faction led by the king and Kaku Kai.
- The 9th King of Zhao, Tou Jou is assassinate with poisoning.
- Ri Boku is released from prison and returns to his vassals.
- Prince Ka releases all of his late father's political enemies from prison.
- Half a day before his death, King Tou Jou had modified his last will, according to the clerk Ei's accounts, to make his youngest son Prince Yuu Boku his official heir and the next king of Zhao.
- Kaku Kai, now in charge of the Royal Faction, wipes out Ka's supporters and their families.
- Prince Ka, Ri Boku and his army flee Kantan and go into exile and hiding.
- Prince Ka is entrenched and forced into exile in Houshou.
- Shi Ba Shou agrees to grant Ri Boku and his vassals' sanctuary in his city of Seika.
- Kaku Kai uses the strategy that Ri Boku had given him during his imprisonment to defend the front lines around Kantan, fortifying Hango and Heiyou.
- Bi Hei is promoted to the rank of 100-Man Commander.
- The Ton Brothers joined the Bi Hei Unit.
- Ai Sen, a former soldier of the Mou Bu Army and vassal of the Mou Family, joins the Gaku Ka Army as its new 2nd lieutenant.
Trivia[]
- This arc is the second shortest after the Third Faction Arc with it consisting of six chapters.
- The Kantan Army had never left the capital during the reign of King Tou Jou.
- Shin is shown to be wearing sleeves after becoming a General.
- Shin and Mou Ten greet each other like they did after becoming 1000-Man Commanders.