The Battles of Kokusen’ya – Episode Four

The death of Kinshōjo shocked everyone in the castle. Her blood ran across the stone ground like a bright red river, seeming to call out to the heavens.

Kan Ki hurried to her side and held her cold hand. Her face was calm, and a faint smile rested on her lips.

“This is my shame,” Kan Ki whispered.
His voice broke as he cried.
"I will return to the Ming side," he said. "I will honor her loyalty. I will be a true general again.”

His words spread through the castle like fire. Soldiers who once feared the Tartars now stood tall.
“If our general returns, we will follow him!” they shouted.

Even some guards who served the Tartars wanted to fight for the Ming again. Soon, the soldiers gathered around Kan Ki. Shishi Castle returned to the hands of the Ming.

Ro Ikkwan and Watonai entered the castle and met Kan Ki. No one spoke at first. They simply held each other’s hands.
“Kinshōjo died for a purpose,” Watonai said. Everyone nodded in silence.

The Tartars then moved to attack. They surrounded the castle with a large army. Kan Ki looked at his men and prepared for battle. Watonai stood beside him.

“If we run now,” Watonai said, “her spirit will not rest. I will lead the first attack.”
He put on his armor, grabbed his spear, and rushed out of the gate. Arrows flew at him like rain, but he pushed forward.

He fought as if he had the strength of ten men. He defeated many soldiers and even struck down the enemy leader. The soldiers of Shishi Castle cheered and charged into the fight.

Ro Ikkwan watched his son with tears in his eyes.

“He carries my wish,” he whispered.

Kan Ki also fought fiercely, thinking of his wife. 

“Your wish guides me,” he said as he led his troops.

By dawn, the Tartars began to retreat. Smoke from the battle rose into the sky, and the morning sun appeared behind it. A new day had come.

After the battle, Watonai stood quietly, breathing hard. Ro Ikkwan placed a hand on his son’s shoulder.

“Well done,” he said.

“You are the one who will save this land.”

Princess Sendan came forward with tears in her eyes. 

“Your loyalty has brought light back to our country,” she said. She knelt beside Kinshōjo’s body and prayed.

Kan Ki turned to Princess Sendan.

“My wife gave her life for this victory,” he said.

“Please, let her name be remembered in the history of the Ming.”

Princess Sendan nodded. “I promise.”

The battle for Shishi Castle ended. Hope returned to the Ming Empire.

People began to speak of Watonai everywhere. They called him “Kokusen’ya,” the man who would soon receive the emperor’s own family name.

The path to restoring the Ming had finally begun to shine.