Over the vast mountains, fields and streams, an eagle soared through the sky with a rolled up letter clutching onto his leg. Whether the sky showed its radiant sun or poured down its rage, the eagle would not stop its journey till it approached the lands of Northern Chu. Meanwhile, a masked messenger who had been traveling for days on his horse galloped through the mountains and forests with a scroll tucked in between his garments by his chest. The messenger horse, trained to not tire out, darted his way through the valleys leading to Northern Chu while the messenger’s black cloak whipped the air in rhythm with the eagle’s wings. They, both with their heads piercing onward, bore the last great task for the late king.

When the masked messenger arrived at the front, the Qin soldiers on guard pointed their arrows and spears at him and declared for his identity. He pulled out the scroll used by the Imperial Court of Qin.

“An urgent message to the Unit Commander,” he said, his voice low and calm.

They softened their position and let him pass. Two guards followed him in while the front two led him to Ying-tai. As he walked into the camp, chills went down his spine as he looked at the countless numbers of large men in armor observing him closely, turning their heads with his movements. This was the Qin army. The army that everybody feared and he was in the middle of it. He couldn’t help but feel small and weak. The more they neared Ying-tai, the more elite the soldiers were. His knees felt weak. When they finally reached Ying-tai’s tent and slid the curtains to the side, he saw even larger men dressed in steel armor that were specially welded for their bodies. They were the officials of the Qin army.

“Lord Ying-tai, this messenger brings news from the palace,” the soldier said.

The messenger stared at the renowned Ying-tai, who was standing between Huian and Xia that had their prey-like eyes on the messenger, turn his back around and looked at his face. He could feel Ying-tai’s mighty aura in the room.

“A letter from the Imperial Court,” he announced, trying to keep his voice from cracking.

Ying-tai walked to him and took the scroll from him. He wondered why the Imperial Court would send him an urgent message and not The Emperor himself, as he always did. He unrolled it and read the dark, bold calligraphy before him.

RETURN HOME. THE EMPEROR OF QIN HAS PASSED.

It was a letter of notification of death. His eyes widened as he gripped the paper hard. Time froze to him. His heart stopped. He dropped down his arm holding the scroll. His gaze was lost. His breathing heaved. He lifted his other hand up and placed it over his eyes as he lowered his head. He squeezed his forehead as he was deep in anguish.

Huian, alerted, quickly walked to him and grabbed the scroll from his hand. His hands trembled as he read the text. His breathing also heaved.

“What is it,” Xia asked nervously.

Huian looked down, eyes widened. He dropped his shoulders and lowered the scroll down. “The Emperor has passed,” he managed to speak.

Everyone inside the tent gasped. They were in disbelief that their beloved Emperor died.

“Did it say how?” One of the officials asked.

Huian shook his head. He looked at Ying-tai who was lost in distress.

“Tell them to lower the flags. We mourn today of our lost,” Huian said to Xia.

Xia, eyes welled up with tears, nodded and headed out. When the flags lowered, all the men knew what it meant. A lot of them let out a cry while some of them went ahead and got down on their knees to pay their respect. Soon, the army of Qin went silent and all got down on their knees and saluted to their Emperor in heaven. Meanwhile, Xia wept quietly.

Ying-tai held his composure and stood silent in his tent. Huian was also there, not saying a word.

Finally Ying-tai spoke, “Get some of our men ready. We leave for Qin in the morning.”

Huian looked up at Ying-tai.

“The rest will stay behind and continue on with the battle against Chu.”

“Can it wait till we return?” Huian suggested.

“No. I will leave Li Xin in charge of the unit till we return.”

Huian didn’t argue any further and just nodded his head and walked out to prepare for their leave. Soon after, a commanding officer came in with an envelope and an eagle on his shoulder.

“I saw him flying over us and lured him in. It’s another letter from the palace,” he breathed heavily.

Ying-tai straighten his posture and took the letter. He opened it and read the coded words of Qin’s cryptogram.

Ying-tai, return to Qin. We need to talk soon. -Sir Guozhi.

He furrowed his brows, growing anxious.

The next morning, before the sunrise, Ying-tai, Huian, Xia, and a few other men prepared themselves to leave camp. Ying-tai handed the mission of conquest of Chu to Li Xin and mounted onto his dark horse. His men looked unto him and he smiled and nodded to them to bid them goodbye and good luck. He whipped his dark horse and his elite men followed, shaking the ground as they rode away while their black cloaks glided on top of the wind behind them.