Houshin Engi
by Fujisaki Ryuu, adapted from the novel by Ano Tsutomu
published by JUMP Comics; Shueisha, Inc. 
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79.  The Princes' Choice . Part 3
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[183]

79.  The Princes' Choice . Part 3

[184]
When the Yin and Zhou army completed their formations...

Taikoubou was...

Sipuxiang: Goshujin, this is bad!!  
The war may already be starting now!!

Taikoubou: Uhh...I didn't expect this would take so long...

[185]
I went to Senninkai with Goshujin, 
in order to report about the prince, (ani) Inkou's betrayal...

Genshi Tenson: You're here... 
Taikoubou.

[186]
Kouseishi: Sorry about that~ my disciple did such a thing!!

[ Kouseishi (right) - One of the Kongrong Twelve Sennin,
  Inkou (ani)'s master.  He is a strict military-sennin
  disciplinarian. ]

[ Sekiseishi (left) - One of the Kongrong Twelve Sennin, 
  Inkou (otouto)'s master.  Highly skilled and sarcastic
  sennin; loves to collect swords. ]

Taikoubou: Mm...
But this wasn't caused by myself alone!

Genshi: ...Taikoubou!  
Isn't the war between the Yin and Zhou about to begin?

[187]
Taikoubou: ... yes.

Genshi: A lot of human lives will be lost this time?

Taikoubou: I already knew this long ago... 
Inkou is leading an army to attack us, and I must lead my army 
to retaliate, this is how thing are...

Taikoubou: Let's put this matter aside for now, 
The reason I am here this time is...

Kouseishi: I know!  
Is it because you're worried that Inkou might fight as a 
doushi?

Kouseishi: These are the design plans for (ani)Inkou's 
"Bantenin" and (otouto)Inkou's "Onmyoukyou".
You'll know what to do after you've seen it.

[188]
Taikoubou: You're letting me see the younger brother's paopei 
plans too?
Kouseishi: ...if the older brother betrayed you, the younger 
brother might too!

Kouseishi: In any case, the "Bantenin" built by me has 
extraordinary powers, so you have to be careful!
Sekiseishi: Hah!

Sekiseishi: Extraordinary powers?  
Don't think so highly of yourself.  Hahahaha!

Kouseishi: How dare you look down on me~~!!

[189]
Chop!!  Chop!!  Chop!!

Taikoubou: Take it outside!!

Taikoubou: Let's get to the point.
Genshi: Hm!

Taikoubou: Looks like I will have to personally kill Inkou 
with this hand... 
Because this time, I can't count on Nataku's or Youzen's 
powers any more!

[190]
Taikoubou: But I can't help feeling that I can win with just 
the Dashinben.

Taikoubou: So...
Genshi: So?

Taikoubou: Please give me a more powerful paopei!
Genshi: Idiot!  Is this the attitude to ask for something?!

Sipuxiang: Ehh?  
Then you have a new paopei?  What is it??

Taikoubou: Ohoho~  you'll have to wait and see!
Sipuxiang: Ahhhh~  no fair!!

[191]
ani-Inkou: This is the advancing formation...

Kanei: Right!  The enemy might attack through our 
midpoint...!!

Kanei: They're thinking of breaking up our army into two 
halves and then attack them separately!!

ani-Inkou: A strategy to divide the army?  
I won't let them succeed!!

ani-Inkou: Forward, everyone!!

[192]
KiHatsu: Oh dear... 
The enemy is coming!

KiHatsu: What do we do!?  
The commander is not here!!

KouHiko: Buou!  
At this stage, we can only...
Bukichi: (Master...)

Bukichi: !!

Bukichi: Master!!

[193]
KiHatsu: He's finally here!!

Taikoubou: Sorry to keep everyone waiting!!
KiHatsu: Idiot!!  The enemy has started advancing!!

KouHiko: Taikoubou, we've formed up according to your 
instructions!!

Taikoubou: Ah!  That's right!  
The enemy thinks we're going to strike into their midpoint, so 
there are more people in the middle.

Taikoubou: If we go for the midpoint in this manner, we'll be 
finished!  
But!!

[194]
Taikoubou: Poor Inkou... 
We were not intending to strike at the midpoint!

Taikoubou: Zhou army, forward!!

[196]
Bukichi: ........
This is scary, Sipuxiang...

Bukichi: The people keep dying off...

Sipuxiang: This is the first time I've seen it too...  
Is this war?!

Taikoubou:  ..........

Taikoubou: ... it must be about time, right?
Tenka, hit the gong three times for me!

[197]
Soldier: Who... who is that!?
Soldier: He... he's really powerful...!!

Nankyuukatsu: Gah~hahahahaha!!

Nankyuukatsu: The weak and ignorant Yin Army!!  
Look at me, Nankyuukatsu, not a scratch on me~~!!

*gong gong gong*
Nankyuukatsu: !

Nankyuukatsu: All right, time to follow with the war plans!!  
My brothers... let's go forth!!

[198]
KouMei: Everyone retreat!!

Shuuki: Advance!!

Bukichi: Eh?

Bukichi: The Zhou army have stopped attacking...
Sipuxiang: Goshujin...

[199]
KiHatsu: Taikoubou!!  
Is our army too small, can't we handle it anymore?!

KiHatsu: If this continues, it will be OUR midpoint that will 
be struck!!

Taikoubou: .........

ani-Inkou: Heh... 
This is how it should be!

ani-Inkou: Listen up, everyone!  
You must kill Buou, he is the enemy's leader!!

Soldier: But...but, your highness... the enemy's sennin are 
coming...

[200]
ani-Inkou: Don't worry about that.  
This bunch of hypocrites won't attack humans.

ani-Inkou: ...eh?

ani-Inkou: The Zhou army is moving across...

ani-Inkou: This is... 
Could it be...!!

Soldier: This is great, looks like we're going to win for 
sure!!
Soldier: Charge~~!!

Soldier: Er... er....?
Soldier: Wait a minute...

[201]
Soldier: We are... 
Surrounded by the enemy?!

Taikoubou: My strategy was to surround the enemy!  
I simply let them move forward, backward, left and right and 
finally...



Volume 9 The Princes' Choice  (end)



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Translation (c) 2000 Koushi <http://houshin.net/> - all rights
reserved. No part or whole of this document may be broken up
or published on a web-page without the express permission of
the author. It may be freely distributed for _personal_ use
ONLY on the condition that it is distributed in its entirety
and no changes of ANY KIND are made, leaving all original
author and copyright information intact.

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