Kingdom has always danced an elaborate tightrope with war.  It must, by nature of what it is, glorify the military exploits of its main cast.  It must make them heroes, despite the fact that their job is to kill thousands of people for the crime (mostly) of being from somewhere else.  But if it’s going to be any good, it should also acknowledge the fact that war is ultimately a self-defeating way of life.  It has to make pains to stress that from the perspective of the enemy, its heroes are villains, and that atrocities are committed on all sides in any war of consequence.

I take the flashback sequence, “The Tragedy of Liyan”, in that context.  Ji Hui’s backstory is sad, certainly.  His father was this super-beloved lord of his state, a military genius (as was his son).  So what does he get for it?  Burned alive, along with most of the leadership of the military, by a vengeful son of his enemy, as his own son and his people look on.  For what?  Liyan conquered Anhe, it’s rival.  Then Anhe sacked Liyan’s capital and took its women and elderly and children hostage.  What was gained, exactly?  It’s all just stupid, and this was a constant during the (aptly named) era in which Kingdom is set.

Yet, this is the path on which both Xin and Zheng (don’t kid yourself) have set themselves on.  Lu Buwei was the main antagonist for four seasons, but he was basically manouvering to put a stop to Qin being involved in perpetual warfare.  It’s a fascinating contradiction, truly.  Now, in the present, Ji Hui is the enemy – a hard man forged in tragedy who rebuilt his army and country from the ground up.  And as the fourth day of the battle for Heiyong dawns, Huan Yi continues to do nothing.  He sends a messenger to Xin’s camp, telling them so stand their ground.  Thanks a pantload for that.

It’s pretty clear what’s going on here.  Huan Yi is prioritizing getting into Qing She’s head above all else.  He’s trying to goad Qing She into moving first, which his reputation says he never does.  And if he has to sacrifice the Fei Xin force to do it, that’s a small price to pay.  But it only works if it truly looks like that’s what’s happening – that’s he’s leaving the Fei Xin totally unsupported and exposed, a tempting target.  They represent Huan’s entire right flank, and they occupy a crucial position at the base of the central hill.  Huan Yi nebulously promises reinforcements, but when Xin wisely asks if he can trust that all the messenger says is “who knows?”.

And, perhaps surprisingly, Qing She takes the bait.  Presented with the opportunity to wipe our the Fei Xin, already under assault, he sends his personal cavalry into battle to finish them off, and Liu Dong unilaterally moves to cut off their retreat, leaving them completely.  It’s only now, with the fish is on the hook, that the promised reinforcements – Ze Nuo and his psychopathic unit – seemingly arrive.  Huan Yi is a hell of a poker player, and the fact that he doesn’t care that these are lives and not cards is what makes him so deadly.  If there’s any silver lining for Xin, it’s that Li Mu has finally acknowledged that he’s a threat worth taking out – Qing She’s attack is quite a compliment.