55,000 Imperial soldiers surrounded the ancient city of Gangwon. They had hoped to take the rebels inside by surprise. Unfortunately the rebel forces had recalled all their forces to protect the city. They now had 120,000 men defending a city known as one of the greatest fortresses on the continent.
"Sir it is unwise to lay siege to a city when we are outnumbered to such an extent. Not to mention that the walls of Gangwon are over 12 feet thick. It would be no easy feat to breach those walls. My recommendation would be to temporarily retreat and wait for additional reinforcements." An officer said to a middle aged man in golden armor, who had a mustache that stretched from ear to ear though it would be longer if it wasn't swirled on both ends.
"Ho ho ho. We have our orders, we'll just have to make do with what we have. How long will it take for us to prepare the proper siege equipment?" The mustachioed man, whose name was Great General Tenjin, replied cheerfully as if the less than ideal circumstances had nothing to do with him.
"I'd say at least 2-3 days sir, and of course several more days if you intent to try to make a breach in the walls." The officer replied.
"Hohoho, it's unfortunate but if that's how long it takes then so be it." The Great General replied while whimsically stroking his mustache.
"There's no reason to wait so long. My men can take this city by the end of the day." A man said confidently.
A man approached the general. He had on silver armor and unruly black hair and he was carrying an ornate silver spear.
"Hohoho, you sound awfully confident young lord." Tenjin replied cheerfully.
The man was the Emperor's second son and his name was Gaileo Shukure.
"Sir, you should remember that while on the battlefield he is technically your subordinate as one of your deputy generals." His officer added.
Great General Tenjin blatantly disregarded that and continued, "While I do appreciate the enthusiasm, I'm afraid we will continue with the conventional approach. After all, how could I face the Emperor if I let one of his precious sons get hurt?"
The man just clicked his teeth and balled his hands into fists. "Tch, he's NOT my father." He said coldly.
This just caused Tenjin to chuckle a bit. "Well, be that as it may, I'd still get chewed out if the Emperor's son got killed in battle." He said ignoring the man's words. "How do you even plan on making it around the city walls? They are quite formidable after all."
"Maybe to you! But to me, these walls might as well be made of paper!" Gaileo said as he turned towards the city walls and planted his spear in the ground.
"Great General Tenjin, I know he's the emperor's son but you really should stop him. It'd be a difficult task for all of our troops to take the city. Let alone the 15,000 he commands. Not to mention, there are the rumors that he is the least exceptional of all the Emperor's sons." The officer said.
"Fist of the Howling Winds!!!!"
He howled as he threw a punch in the direction of the walls and the air pressure from his strike obliterated the massive walls in an instant and continued crash throughout the city, and created a canyon that almost stretched to the wall on the opposite side of the city.
"Men, charge!" Gaileo said as he mounted his horse and he and his men charged through the breach in the wall without waiting for the Great General's orders.
Great General Tenjin stood there and faintly chuckled in amusement. "Ah, the young lord is as impertinent as ever. Oh well, I suppose there's no harm in letting him do as he wishes for now at least." He said.
"S-Sir, that power just now was incredible! I've never seen anything like it! With power like that why is he considered the "dud" of the Shukure family?" The officer asked.
Tenjin looked down on him as he twirled his mustache some more. "You're the new strategist from the capital correct?"
"Yes sir."
"Yes I thought as much. Many of the people in the capital look down on young lord Gaileo, but he's been serving as a soldier in my army since he was just a boy. He couldn't have been older than 9 during his first battle, so I know all too well what he is capable of."
"So, is it just because people don't know how powerful he actually is?"
"That's certainly part of it, but no. He's considered a "dud" because that's exactly what he is. At least that's what he is going by the standards of the Shukure family, To that family, his level of ability is nothing special. However, when compared to us regular humans, he's quite exceptional indeed.