[Chapter Size: 3500 Words.]

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Thrid Person POV

Yi-Ti, 297 AC.

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“How should I begin this…”

An elderly man with long white hair styled like a scholar’s sat in a room filled with burning candles scattered throughout.

He held a quill, hesitating slightly before setting it to the paper where he was crafting his kanji.

“How difficult it is… Should I start with his decision or when he arrived at the ports of Yin…”

He wondered aloud before making up his mind, dipping his brush in ink and lowering it to begin writing.

‘This is the tale of a foreigner coming from a land far away…’

He began to write.

“What title should I give this tale…?”

He asked himself.

“The Tale of the Okuchi no Makami, the White Wolf of Yi-Ti.”

‘More than five moons ago, a colossal fleet cut through the restless waves of the Jade Sea, its sails white as snow and adorned with a blue flake at the center, a mark that the leader of that people knew well. It was a fleet of 450 ships, commanded by a man many called the King of Artica.

Little is known about his origins, and his soldiers speak very little of it, but it is said that he was born in humble circumstances, living as the son of a bastard in the northern kingdom of the lands of the setting sun. Tales say he was touched by his gods, which gave him strength and a purpose to pursue the north beyond the kingdom, in a desert land where chaos and the law of the strong prevailed. There, he arrived as a boy and transformed it into a kingdom that would come to be known worldwide as the Kingdom of Artica.’

“Should I continue like this… Is this good enough?”

The man debated with himself, unsure if that introduction sufficed.

“Perhaps I should go straight to the events in Yin…”

He decided, resuming his writing as the brush touched the blank sheets, creating more kanji.

‘When the Articans arrived, the empire was entering a crisis with famine ravaging Yi-Ti, while the culprits, the Mongols, advanced mercilessly from the east, pillaging villages, destroying crops, and leaving a trail of misery. They dishonorably killed many samurai.’

‘Everyone in Yin was astonished by their arrival, knowing there was a blockade of pirates allied with the Mongols. So, seeing 50 ships advancing toward the city was surprising. The city was on high alert as they approached, but they finally docked peacefully at the ports of Yin, initiating negotiations that surprised the city’s lord. He ended up accepting the foreign king’s proposal, forming a certain friendship during their stay in Yin.’

‘The Artican king was not merely interested in selling to Yin; he revealed that over 450 ships were prepared to supply the entire empire, which at that moment was an incredibly tempting offer. In a situation like theirs, they could hardly have asked for a better option. After all, this would help delay the growing famine in the country.’

‘Thus, a meeting between the Shogun and the King of Artica was arranged in the capital, with the Articans heading north in a modest group.’

‘However, the Mongols were already aware of this and quickly attempted to prevent the meeting by ambushing the Artican advance. Yet, they were taken by surprise, as they were easily defeated by these foreigners, even though the Articans were outnumbered four to one. This moment was when Yi-Ti began to recognize the strength of these foreigners.’

‘They proceeded to the capital and met the emperor. Both leaders seemed to respect each other, and I could see no hostility in their encounter.’

‘There were even rumors among the wisest that the Shogun himself saw his own son in the eyes of that foreigner, admiring him for his young age and the enormous responsibility he bore for his entire kingdom, as well as his experience traveling the world and succeeding in his endeavors.’

‘Besides the Shogun, it is said that Princess Hiyori also had her eyes fixed on the Artican king, far beyond what courtesy would dictate. Many claim that, as an unmarried woman, she fell in love at first sight. Others believe she saw in him an opportunity to save her country.’

The elderly man paused his writing, looking at the last words he had penned.

“Should I mention this about the princess? I think it’s better not to; it might come off poorly…”

He murmured, mulling over the romantic notion. Despite this, he thought to himself that it would make for a good tale. However, he decided to avoid the subject, reasoning that they were not together or anything of the sort. He then continued writing.

‘The princess, with her devotion to Yi-Ti, her captured brother, and her desolate father, looked to the Articans as a possible beacon of hope the moment she saw their king. During negotiations, they were finalized with Jon Artica, reaching an agreement with the Shogun. Yet, what surprised everyone most was that on the last day of the Articans’ stay, Jon announced to the Shogun, in a private conversation, that he would fight for Yi-Ti.’

‘No one knows exactly what transpired in that conversation, but the emperor gave his trust, shocking everyone. Many questioned why he would trust a foreigner. Even with trade agreements in place, it was unheard of for a foreigner to suddenly decide to fight for Yi-Ti. However, the emperor was resolute, declaring the existence of a possible private negotiation. We still do not know what was discussed, but many believe it involved the hand of the princess.’

‘It is said that the princess was willing to cross to the other side of the world if it meant saving her brother and her country, purely out of her devotion and loyalty to her family. Yet, it cannot be denied that she cast a certain look toward the Artican king, and whispers spread, not only in the castle halls but even through the city streets. However, no one dared say such things in front of an official.’

“I think writing it like this is better than the previous version… I hope they end up together. After all, I advised the Shogun at the time that this was a wise decision, creating a bond that justified and explained why the foreigners joined this fight.”

He muttered aloud as his thoughts escaped him and resumed writing.

‘With Jon’s decision, the Articans resolved to act. Their king announced, together with the Shogun, that an alliance between Artica and Yi-Ti had been forged that day. Many seemed happy, while others remained suspicious. Even so, they respected the emperor’s decision—or at least, most of them.’

‘If everyone was already astonished by this, what happened next made us realize just how dangerous Jon Artica was to his enemies. He achieved something no one anticipated: solid proof against one of the emperor’s trusted men.’

‘Instead of heading south, he claimed he had something important to do and asked the Shogun to wait two more days. By the end of that time, he presented communication letters between the enemy army and the northern province, along with hidden signatures. While these were difficult to trace, it was easy to identify them due to the region’s circumstances and how the man moved his forces. This led to an operation against the samurai leader, Orochi.’

‘The evidence made it undeniable that Orochi was not only plotting to assassinate the Artican king and frame the Shogun himself but was thwarted in his attempt.’

‘No one could explain how the Artican king managed to act so swiftly and obtain those letters, seemingly by magical means, as most of them should have been in the north. With indisputable proof, a trial was held days later—not just for Orochi but for many nobles associated with him. It was suspected that all were spies, possibly even Mongol infiltrators. They too were exposed and defeated in a massive operation led by the Artican king. Afterward, executions were carried out, and Orochi lost his head before the entire city.’

‘At this point, everyone was stunned by what the Artican king had already accomplished. He had resolved a significant portion of the internal crisis among allies. No one knew how he managed it, but rumors abounded that he could control animals. It was said that he could see through the eyes of a giant wolf and take on its form. But that was not all. Tales circulated about two distinct eagles under his command—one red and one blue—that flew over the capital while he was there. These eagles were described as the most beautiful ever seen in the Empire. The rumors gained credibility when the two birds descended and obediently perched at their master’s feet, witnessed by many.’

‘Despite the rumors, the people’s trust in the alliance began to grow, elevating the foreigner to the status of a legend, the very Okuchi no Makami. Even the Shogun helped spread this notion, as he had seen that the Articans might enable them to defeat the invaders. The morale of the country began to rise, especially in the capital. News quickly spread to the other provinces.’

‘The Artican king then returned to the south and stationed the 450 ships at the port of Yin. What followed was described as formidable. People were astonished to see an army of towering, armored giants, hundreds of animals—mostly giant wolves—and smaller, common yet heavily armed men. Caravans carried a powerful liquid capable of exploding, and all of it began to march toward the capital. Over 20,000 men marched while 2,000 remained on the ships to guard them at Yin.’

‘No one in Yi-Ti knew exactly how the Mongols were reacting to these movements and the news of the alliance, but it undoubtedly caused a stir. The Artican king continued to monitor all their activities. He knew precisely where their leaders were and the condition of the Shogun’s son, Momo, who had been captured and held hostage. Though mistreated, Momo retained his will and honor, according to Jon Artica’s words.’

The man paused his writing briefly, pondering what to say next.

“Well… I still haven’t introduced myself. My name is Takeshi, which means warrior, but by a twist of fate, I followed a path of peace, much to my father’s disappointment more than 50 years ago. I am a scholar directly connected to the emperor. We share a friendship that dates back to his youth. I taught him the arts of our culture, our language, and I have always been tasked with overseeing the intellectual matters of the castle.”

He commented while looking at the page before shaking his head.

“I don’t think that fits. Perhaps I’ll include an introduction when I officially publish this tale.”

He decided and resumed writing the story where he had left off.

‘When the Artican king returned with his army without issue, they quickly began organizing outside the city. Although the Artican king had another strategy in mind, he wanted the Mongols to be aware that the foreign army was in the capital. It was then that I finally met the Artican king in person, during a visit he made after a meeting with the Shogun and the princess. We had a conversation in which he expressed interest in certain aspects of our country.’

‘I must admit that I have never seen such a sharp mind in anyone like him. Despite his youth and, in my opinion, a certain impulsiveness—which I believe is perfectly normal for his age—there is no denying that he possesses, besides an intellect superior even to my own, an impressive ability to lead and guide his people like no other leader I have ever encountered.’

‘During his second time in the capital, there was a meeting between the Artican king and a foreign woman from the dark lands across the continent. She wore a mask and followed the religion of fire. I later heard that she met with Princess Hiyori and proposed a solution to persuade the Articans to launch an attack against the Mongols.’

‘After this meeting, Jon of Artica returned to his army and began preparing his troops. Even the other provincial leaders returned to their territories to organize their own armies, which were to converge on the capital in the central province. However, the problem lay in the northern region at that time.’

‘With Orochi now dead, the area needed to be either filled or strongly protected against a potential Mongol attack from there. However, the emperor, at that time, trusted Jon’s words.’

‘Leave the region lightly guarded. I will watch over it with my eyes and alert you if an enemy comes,’ he was rumored to have said.

‘Thus, a march began toward the northern mountains, while Yi-Ti’s army finally organized to advance against the Mongols, more than five moons after their last defeat.’

‘The army of Yi-Ti entered the eastern province, moving to confront the Mongols as they prepared their forces for a grand battle between the two sides.’

‘The first battle was intense. The army reorganized at the right moment to face the enemy, and Jon, the Artican king, participated in this battle alongside the Shogun. However, his foreign army did not join the fight there. He sent them south, handing Artican banners to the Yi-Ti soldiers to deceive the Mongols into believing the Articans were present.’

‘When the northern battle began, it was bloody but also groundbreaking for Yi-Ti, showing that the nation still breathed as a power after enduring so many attacks. With newfound morale, they fought fiercely. During the first moon, the combats were relentless. Jon, the Artican king, fought alongside the samurai with his royal guards.’

‘The rumors from this first battle spread like wildfire throughout the empire. It was said that the Artican king was invincible atop his giant wolf, charging through storms of arrows without suffering grave injuries, advancing and killing more men on the battlefield than anyone else. His men struggled to keep up with him amidst the bloody fray, but the Artican king was always one step ahead, hailed as the Okuchi no Makami at the end of the fight.’

‘During the first moon of the empire’s alliance with the foreign king, the battles continued. Despite losing many Yi-Ti soldiers, they won battle after battle, creating an opening to finally advance into the eastern province and secure their position at the region’s entrance, while the Artican army continued its march south, taking care not to be detected.’

‘No one knew what happened to the messengers or information that could have fallen into enemy hands regarding the Articans, for none of the Mongols learned of the army heading south. After two moons, Jon finally left the battlefield, with the Yi-Ti forces holding a strong position in the province. He departed with his men and, according to rumors, a mysterious female figure no one could identify, as she never appeared publicly. Still, it was said that she warmed the Artican king’s bed every night. Yet no one questioned him or dared approach her, as a dozen giant wolves always guarded his tent.’

‘When Jon rejoined his army, they began crossing the mountains, carving a path with their giant forces. Meanwhile, to the north, the Shogun continued to lead all of Yi-Ti’s warriors.’

‘The Artican army then launched an attack through the mountains as soon as the opportunity arose, taking part of the Mongols by surprise. They didn’t just have to contend with massive armies but also with villages, fortresses, and cities occupied by the Mongols. Nevertheless, the Mongols were caught off guard and forced to split their troops between two fronts. Despite the distance between the battlefields, it was a massacre, particularly in the south. It was said that green flames lit up the battlefield, leaving no Mongol survivors within their reach while the Artican forces cleared the rest of the battlefield.’

‘Wild animals devoured men across the battlefield. Even basilisk-like creatures native to the region descended from the mountains to attack the Mongols, aiding the Articans and forcing a retreat. Thus, the Articans finally established a foothold in the region. However, the Mongols were not without response.’

‘During the third moon, while the campaign to reclaim the eastern province continued, a new Mongol army advanced from the north. The warning about this came from the Artican king himself, who sent a letter to the Shogun.’

‘What surprised the Shogun was that the Artican king declared he would handle the entire region alone, recovering it with just his men. Though astonished, the Shogun refused to leave him unsupported, assigning two provinces and their leaders to act under the foreign ally’s command. At the same time, he left part of his forces in the northern part of the eastern province and marched with the rest of his men directly north.’

‘Thus, a campaign began with only 20,000 men against an enemy army numerically several times larger, while reinforcements from the north had yet to arrive. Meanwhile, another army from the late Orochi’s region in the north joined forces with the Shogun, leading his people during the fourth moon.’

‘To the east, battle after battle, the Articans emerged victorious, clearing the entire west and conquering Kaneda Castle, a crucial stronghold in the eastern region. This forced the Mongols to retreat further east. The enemy leader, Khotun Khan, grew desperate, holding his hostages tightly in an attempt to delay the advance of the foreigners. At this point, men from two provinces joined the Articans, followed by a third force from the south led by Lord Kin’emon himself. This surprised the Artican king, as Kin’emon and Jon Artica had forged a friendship.’

‘Thus, 20,000 Articans, combined with three provinces of 20,000 men each, advanced eastward, leaving the Mongols in a dire situation. With their communication lines destroyed by the Artican king, and 80,000 men pressing toward them, the Mongols suffered defeat after defeat.’

‘At this point, Jon Artica was nicknamed Fuhai-Ō, which means “Unconquered King,” by the soldiers, while the common people continued to call him Okuchi no Makami, further solidifying his legend in the eastern province.’

‘The victories were achieved through unimaginable means. By exploiting terrain, setting traps, and employing cunning strategies, every battle ended in favor of the Articans with minimal losses. This came at a high cost to the Mongols, whose forces were rapidly depleted by the relentless attacks. They couldn’t even determine the source of the assaults, as their scouts kept disappearing, and their communication remained nonexistent. As the saying goes, “Whoever controls information controls the war,” and the foreign king was the worst kind of enemy one could face.’

‘By the fifth moon of battles, Jon was leading his troops while commanding the armies of three entire provinces. The Articans advanced directly toward one of the last Mongol-controlled strongholds in the eastern region, where the Artican king claimed Prince Kozuki Momonosuke was imprisoned. He intended to liberate him and finally hunt down Khotun Khan once and for all.’

‘The latest reports from the capital stated that the Articans had managed to rescue Lord Shimura, who had been held captive in a fortress. Jon Artica received aid from Lord Shimura’s nephew, Jin Sekai, who was also gaining fame in the region, albeit with some controversy among the samurai.’

‘Meanwhile, the Shogun continued to hold the northern region, engaged in periodic battles over many moons against more than 60,000 men. These were reinforced by additional Mongol forces sent under the orders of another general, directed by the Grand Khan.’

‘Thus began the Artican king’s final campaign to liberate the province. Lord Shimura started to rally his own men from the surrounding areas to join the last campaign. This is where I find myself today, waiting to see the outcome of the battle that still seems far from over.’

The man stopped writing at that moment and let out a sigh. He had recorded all of this in his journal, intending to transcribe it later into an official document. This was merely a draft, but it summarized the latest events in the country well.

While the Shogun held the north and the east was being liberated, it seemed that, for now, things were going well for that man. The people were far more spirited; there was food and news of victory after victory. Even the princess was said to have been singing in the castle gardens as she walked alone.

Now, it depended on the eastern forces to keep advancing, drawing closer to cornering the last Mongol resistance. The man looked at his manuscript and sighed again.

“I wonder how this will end. But I hope Yi-Ti can finally see a new dawn,” Takeshi murmured to himself.

Raccoon Here:

I adjusted the numbers for both sides to make them more realistic. I hope you liked the explanation, and that it served as a concise summary of what happened over the last five moons leading into the sixth.

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