The original work is a Sengoku period battle manga by Yasuhisa Hara. It began serialization in Weekly Young Jump in 2006, with the first anime season airing in 2012, the second in 2013, and the third in 2020. A PlayStation Portable game was released in 2010, and a live-action film was released in 2019, making it a popular work that has been adapted into various media. The story is set in China during the Spring and Autumn Warring States period. The protagonist, Shin, a war orphan, and Sei, who would later become the first emperor of the Qin dynasty, strive to achieve something no one has ever accomplished before: unify China. While the story is based on historical facts, the personalities and appearances of the characters, as well as the war situation in each country, have been adapted for a more readable and engaging manga. This article will cover Sei's past and how he becomes Ou Ki's apprentice, based on the original manga. It covers volumes 8 to 10 of the manga. This article contains spoilers, so please be careful if you haven't seen it yet!
Was Sei Born in Zhao?!
In 262 BC, Qin and Zhao clashed over the Han territory of Shangdang. This battle is known as the "Battle of Changping" because the decisive battle took place at Changping. After winning the battle, Qin general Bai Qi buried alive 400,000 Zhao soldiers who had surrendered due to food shortages and the risk of rebellion. This massacre caused unimaginable anger and resentment among the Qin people. As if that weren't enough, Sei, a member of the Qin royal family, was born in the capital of Zhao, a state that hated the Qin.
The Secret Plan of the Qin Dynasty
With the death of the King of Qin, the Crown Prince, Anguojun, became king, and a prince named Zichu was to become the next Crown Prince. Zichu had been under house arrest in Zhao until seven years ago, when he escaped with the help of Lü Buwei. However, Zichu's wife and child remained in Zhao, and that child was none other than Zheng. With Zichu now crown prince, Zheng would become the next Crown Prince. To help Zheng escape from Zhao, the Qin Dynasty secretly requested Zichu, a black market merchant from Zhao. Believing that they would be tortured and killed as traitors if they failed, Shika's companions, Amon and Kosho, refused the request, and the Qin Dynasty attempted to help Masa escape on their own. Shika, who had been concerned about Masa, appeared and offered her help.
What motivated Shika...?
Shika, Amon, and Kosho, orphans on the verge of starvation, were picked up and saved in the wilderness by a traveling merchant named Shiki. Shika, who had risked his life to save them, inherited Shiki's will and could not leave Masa, who was on the verge of death, alone.
Five Checkpoints to Escape Zhao
Shika and her friends attempt to leave Zhao through the five checkpoints as usual to avoid suspicion. If they are discovered, they will be beheaded on the spot, and Masa will be brought back to Zhao. Fearing their own discovery, the group arrives at the first checkpoint, "Hui'an." Despite Doken and the others' concerns, Shika actually passes through the checkpoint as usual. Shika and her friends are black market dealers. Because they transport dangerous and illegal goods, they must be constantly making arrangements with the checkpoints. Without Shizuka and the others, Doken and his men would have been eliminated at the first checkpoint.
Masa: Feeling Nothing
At the second checkpoint, "Seikaku," a newly recruited soldier test-fired his bow at the rice bale where Masa was hiding. Blood was flowing from the bale, but he didn't make a single groan, so he managed to pass through unnoticed. However, it's impossible for someone to not even utter a cry after being hit by an arrow. While many thought he might have fainted or died, Masa held on without even batting an eyebrow. Masa alone bore the wrath of Zhao, and by the time he was old enough to understand, he had lost not only his sense of pain, but also his senses of taste, smell, heat, and cold. Masa declares that he'll never be king, but Shika accepts everything and vows to stay by his side.
Has Zhao noticed him?!
Immediately after Shika and the others passed through the final checkpoint, Lu Gan, the gates of the checkpoint closed. Zhao had discovered Masa's escape. Having narrowly escaped the checkpoint, Shika and the others discard their luggage, abandon their disguise, and head for the Qin border at full speed. The Zhao cavalry, boasting the best tracking capabilities in China, closes in on them in the blink of an eye. Realizing that it is no longer possible for them to escape all the way to the border, Shika and the others must fight the cavalry as they advance. Amon, who was in love with Shika, sacrifices himself for her sake to buy them time. Shika and the others are driven into a corner, but Masa awakens, overcoming his curse. He takes command himself and attempts to return to Qin.
Shika, Masa's savior
Masa and his companions were close to the rendezvous point with the Qin soldiers, but a cavalry attack made it difficult to reach their destination. Doken, Amon, and Kosho were all killed, and Shika was also in dire straits. Shika left the carriage to Masa and fought back against the cavalry. Shikei, who raised Shika, taught her that the blessings he received should be passed on to the next generation. Feeling that he had not yet fully repaid those blessings, Shika risked her life to protect Masa. Not only Zi Xia, but many others sacrificed themselves before joining Changwenjun and the others. Zi Xia was his savior, exorcising Zi Xia's curse and bringing him back to Qin.
Qiang Qi's Past
Qiang Qi, a descendant of Chiyou, is a woman just like Diao, but she grew up in a completely different environment. The Chiyou clan had a custom of killing each other to select a successor to the Chiyou name until only one remained. This custom was called the "Festival." Qiang Qi and her sister Qiang Xiang also participate in the festival. Not wanting to kill Qiang Qi, Qiang Xiang burns incense while Qiang Qi sleeps, and she falls into a deep sleep. When she wakes up, it is evening, and Qiang Qi rushes to the festival site, but the festival has already ended and Qiang Xiang's body is there. As soon as the festival begins, Qiang Xiang is the first to be attacked by all the clans. It is forbidden to join forces to fight at the festival, but Qiang Qi and Qiang Xiang are far stronger than any other clan, so Qiang Qi's absence from the festival and their joining forces to fight are tacitly tolerated. The rule is that all losers become corpses, so the chief tells Kyou Kai to commit suicide, but enraged at the chiefs for so easily breaking the rule, Kyou Kai kills everyone there and leaves the village. Kyou Kai's current goal is to defeat Gen Chiyou and the You tribe's allies, who secretly teamed up to kill Kyou Xiang. Incidentally, the scene in which Kyou Kai's past is revealed is depicted differently in the anime and the original work. If you're interested, be sure to compare them!
The Return of Lü Buwei
The day after the assassination of Zheng, Lü Buwei returned to Qin from his expedition. Knowing that he was the mastermind behind the incident, Zheng's camp was eager to hear how he would explain his case, but Lü Buwei immediately declared himself the mastermind. Zheng's camp was surprised by Lü Buwei's ready admission. When Zheng said that couldn't be true, Lü Buwei replied that he was joking to lighten the mood. While the political camp knew who the culprit was but was unable to bring him to justice, Lü Buwei swept the matter under the rug by brazenly claiming to be the culprit. Even though he had regained his throne, the difference between the two men was stark.
The Revival of the Six Generals
Lü Buwei and his companions had come to meet the king, but Meng Wu said he had come to petition the king (to present his opinion directly to the king). His message was about the "revival of the Six Generals." The Six Generals system was established during the reign of King Zhao, and the appointed six generals were given the "freedom to wage war." It was at this time that Shin learned for the first time that General Wang Qi was the Sixth General. Lu Buwei silenced Meng Wu as he spoke his mind, and suggested that they create a group of six generals centered around his own confidants. Naturally, Lu Buwei did not think that would be accepted, so the situation was resolved by accepting Meng Wu's petition. This audience highlighted the difference in power between Sei and Lu Buwei.
Karyo Ten: Aiming to Become a Military Strategist
As Sei restores his country as king, while Shin achieves military feats, Ten feels left behind as they advance forward. Ten wants to join the battlefield to catch up with them, but as a woman with no military skills, there's no way she could survive on the battlefield. So she sets her sights on becoming a military strategist. In the original manga, she enters Changpingjun's school through Kyou Kai's introduction and becomes Meng Yi's apprentice. However, in the anime, she meets Meng Yi while observing a battlefield and enrolls in the school.
Kyou Kai! You're now a friend!
Kyou Kai comes to visit Shin. Since it's getting late, she decides to stay the night at Shin's house. Kyou Kai's face is cute when not in use, so Shin was a little nervous (lol). Kyou Kai says that Shin's fighting style is "reckless" rather than "brave." Kyou Kai is quiet and doesn't show her emotions, but she does seem to care about Shin. When Kyou Kai says she has nothing else to do but avenge her sister, Shin tells her to come back. They fought together in the same ranks, and Kyou Kai was an important comrade to Shin. It's absurd for Shin to arbitrarily include her in the Hundred Man Squad, but perhaps this is just right for Kyou Kai, who doesn't say anything of her own accord. It was a forceful invitation, but no matter what, Kyou Kai didn't deny it.
Shin Heads to the Great General of the Land
In order to become stronger, Shin asks his contact, Fuchi, to guide him to General Ou Ki's castle. No one is allowed to approach General Ou Ki's castle without permission, and rumors suggest that many people have gone missing. Fuchi feels sorry for Shin, who is suddenly asked to go to such a place. However, Shin offers to give him all the money he earned in battle. The impossible amount of money makes Fuchi reluctantly head to the castle. Despite Fuchi's apparent reluctance, money is no match for him (lol). Shin and the others arrive at the castle, only to find the door firmly closed. Just then, Ou Ki returns from training. It's a sudden encounter, but for some reason, they end up bathing together... Shin asks Ou Ki to train him, but Ou Ki says he'll take him somewhere more fun.
For Big Dreams
On the way with Ou Ki, Shin learns about the Six Shoguns. Ou Ki says it's not the Six Generals system that's so great, but the six generals themselves who were extraordinarily strong. According to Ou Ki, even if the Six Generals system were to be revived, there would be no general who could match his abilities. A general whose name resonates throughout China... Hearing this, Shin's desire to become the greatest general in the world grows even stronger. Seeing Shin's reaction, Ou Ki asks if he wants to become a general, to which Shin boasts that he will surpass Ou Ki and become the strongest general in the world. Impressed by Shin's spirit, Ou Ki pushes Shin off a cliff, and thus begins Shin's harsh training.
Ouki-style Training Method
Ouki believes that the current generals are powerful but lack experience, and that the greatest training is in practice. He orders Shin, who has energy and courage but vastly lacks experience, to pacify a stateless area within the Qin state. The Nanba tribe, who live in the village where Shin was defeated, are the weakest of the ten tribes, with a population of about 100 people. Ouki's message is that if he cannot unite these 100 people and pacify the village, he will not be able to survive as a general, let alone a commander of 100 men. While Shin has developed his individual skills, Ouki intends for him to learn the difficulties of "leading" and the strength of "a group" through this training. Will Shin be able to overcome this challenge?!
He was supposed to be a liaison officer...
Shin forms a group, a technique he learned during the battle with Wei, and teaches the villagers how to fight as a group. By taking the initiative to pave the way, the villagers begin to follow suit. Ouki asks Fuchi to deliver a message, and he ends up joining Shin in pacifying the village. Shin and his men pacified the village in about four months, but I wonder if Fuchi's child was okay... (lol) Maybe it's just my imagination, but Fuchi seems to have gotten bigger and stronger since the pacification.
Summary of Season 1, Part 3: Masa's Past - Shin Becomes Ou Ki's Apprentice (Spoiler Alert!!)
What did you think? Scenes like Kyou Kai's attack on Masa were cut from the anime, and Diao is with Shin when he stays at Shin's house. Therefore, Diao's motivation for becoming a military strategist is slightly different in the original and anime versions. As Sei's painful past is revealed, Shin is given his first challenge as a commander of one hundred men by Ou Ki. We can't wait to see how Shin grows and overcomes this challenge!
