Kingdom (キングダム)

What is the matter, dear sire?

Has it been a year already?

The kingdom of Qin had invaded

the smaller Han to expand its territory.

Neighboring Zhao jumped at the chance to draw Qin

into a dangerous battle.

Stepping up as commanding general

was the Strange Bird of Qin:

Wang Yi, the last of the six great generals,

feared throughout the Middle Kingdom.

Zhao sent forth as their commanding general Pang Nuan,

a so-called god of war with deep ties to Wang Yi.

The two men clashed violently.

Just as strategist, Li Mu,

one of Zhao's Three Greats, had planned.

Thus, Wang Yi was skillfully manipulated

into dying a hero's death.

Without the absolute symbol of their army,

Qin's military power waned,

and the neighboring lands of Zhao, Wei, Han, and Chu

started launching invasion after invasion.

But now, every Qin man, woman, and child knew:

The time for action had come!

Kill them all!

Squash those Qin worms!

Kill them now!

We've got this!

Aflame with fierce battles,

the front lines also featured

a group of singularly dynamic fighters.

Captain! New troops from the right!

But that is--

The Fei Xin Force!

This hundred-man squadron had come together

under Wang Yi in the Zhao battle.

Proving their prowess there, the Fei Xin Force grew

into a 300-man unit with many ten-man sergeants.

The Fei Xin Force's master swordsman, Chong Yuan.

The cool-headed spearman, Song Zuo.

The herculean Long Chuan.

The clownish, but hard-hitting Wei Ping.

The group fighting expert, Ze Gui.

The oldest sergeant, Lu Yan.

The short-tempered and argumentative Tian Yong.

The intimidating veteran, Pei Lang.

The dependable Tian You.

The talented leader, Yuan.

She who dances down the gods of war, Qiang Lei.

And at the head of the entire Fei Xin Force...

Hey, there's that brat!

...is a backwater servant boy

who fought his way up the ranks

to command a unit of 300 men strong.

This was none other than Xin,

captain of the Fei Xin Force.

Shout our victory!

He has left me that weapon,

intending on improving himself until he is worthy of it.

I have been entrusted with a nation.

I cannot lament my helplessness.

Sire.

Lord Changwen.

I will unify the Middle Kingdom,

no matter what it takes me!

But do you have the means to defeat that man, then?

Si Shi!

By whose authority do you--

I summoned him.

You did, sire?

Si Shi. When Zheng's younger half-brother,

Cheng Jiao, plotted an uprising with Jie Shi,

his Minister of the Left, the level-headed Si Shi

gave his support as Jie Shi's right hand.

Cheng Jiao didn't bring an uprising,

because of his popularity, nor Jie Shi's ambition.

It was because Si Shi took part in all of the planning.

He also had to seize the remnants of Jie Shi's faction,

But, I'll have him serve as a close advisor.

There you have it.

As it happens, sire,

we've received word of troubling behavior

from Lu Buwei.

Say what?

We do not know the specifics,

but you should know, Your Highness.

That man...

What is he planning?

Now, where are you?

Where is my little prey now?

Aha! Gotcha!

And who might this be?

Well, if it isn't the little Quan!

Qin's Minister of the Right, Lu Buwei.

Once a mere Zhou merchant,

his insatiable thirst for wealth and fame

propelled him up the ranks to become the ruler

of Qin in all but name.

With a faction of the best in warfare,

politics, diplomacy, and law,

Lu Buwei had designs

on taking the Qin throne for himself.

Now, powerless to confront him

in the face of such naked ambition,

Zheng's camp could only wait for the other shoe to drop.

The greatest threat for Zheng, the king of Qin,

may not be the surrounding nations

and the battles they wage.

Indeed, it may be Lu Buwei.

A minor irregularity was causing a stir in Zhao.

Li Mu, my lord!

King Daoxiang is beside himself.

Lord Chunping is nowhere to be found!

Lord Chunping, you say?

Yes, His Highness's absolute favorite.

He'd have no reason to vanish of his own accord.

This could get very messy indeed.

Xiang, wait up!

What is it?

You assume your post as the king's companion today!

So, why are you running away?

But-but-but, not me!

I can't!

Xiang!

Are you all right, Xiang?

Why can't you tell me?

There have been dozens of ladies called by the king,

but it has always been only for one day.

I think I am much too childish for this.

What do you mean?

Why do you think His Highness said as much:

It is your devotion that counts!

Really?

Well, er, maybe?

You see?

Plus, I'm so clumsy.

I just know I'll make lots of mistakes here.

Don't be silly!

We don't draw straws for this, I will have you know.

You were chosen on your merits!

Do your best.

I beg your pardon.

M-M-My name is Xiang.

Starting today, I will be your cam-er, um--

I'll be your companion!

It's my pleasure.

Yes, but pleasure what?

And how exactly then?

Er, um...

So then...

What would Your Highness like me to do first, exactly?

You need not do anything.

Huh?

Just being here is good enough.

Yes, sire.

Many thanks.

How kind of you to come all this way.

Well. It's been a while, Lu Buwei.

I am glad to see you again.

And you, Lord Chunping.

But, Lu Buwei!

What does this mean?

The answer to that question

will have to wait until next time.

Si Shi's advice came seconds too late.

The situation surrounding Zheng silently grew ever more tense.

Attacks from other kingdoms, Lu Buwei's plotting,

and a darkness that lurked in a most unexpected place.

And just when exactly

will I get my wish then?

Huh, Zhao Gao?

Madam.

We have, in fact, reached a conclusion in that regard.

Let's hear it.

Care for a drink then, Lord Changping?

This is a school, Cai Ze.

Waiting for the minister to make a move is dull.

He does us no favors.

It seems the one you had your eye on

is coming along quite nicely, correct?

Xin of the Fei Xin Force?

Mmm.

Do you still want him after all?

Or not?

Well, no.

You give up on him?

Quite the opposite.

I want to see how far he'll go.

For now, Cai Ze,

we will just leave him out there.

Oh, I see.

And the little straw man you are training now

is to help speed up Xin's progress?

That, I do not know for sure.

Can't sleep, huh, Diao?