This arc has some really good moments but I feel like none of that outweighs the negative. The whole thing about 'Riboku's cage' feels like it destroys the level of suspense and realism, especially after all the loses Zhao has taken and after Kanki's beheadings.
That's fair enough. Setting aside the recorded history, I would argue the necessity in giving the Zhao (an overdue) victory here from a narrative perspective. If only to keep the Zhao Campaign interesting and preserve Ri Boku as a credible threat to Qin's ambitions.
Historically, the Qin did lose a couple battles, but they weren't so desperately outnumbered. In fact, the Qin had the bigger army in pretty much every battle of note throughout unification. Of course, Kingdom isn't a recounting of history, but a heavily fictionalised, dramatised retelling, so Hara's first priority as a storyteller is to tell an
interesting story.
To that end, I don't mind most of the changes he has made, such as giving the Zhao tons of troops and generals. Most of his changes have kept the story interesting, exciting and tough to predict.
Though it was imo way more impressive in actual history (given the dire state of Zhao through droughts, famines, earthquakes, etc.), it really shouldn't be surprising Zhao is still in fighting shape after Eikyuu. Zhao had a population in the millions even during this period. Considering every scrap of resource is being dedicated to the national defence, once again led by Ri Boku, joined by the formidable generals of Seika, they were bound to put together formidable armies and mount at least a comeback victory or two. The story is more exciting for it in my view.
Riboku's explanation about Kanki's supposed weakness doesn't make sense (I've elaborated on this
before).
I hate this explanation of Kan Ki's weakness as well. In my headcanon/perception of Kingdom, he is a natural Hybrid Type like Ren Pa, with savant acumen for warfare, capable of understanding, identifying and even perfectly copying high level tactics and strategy on par with masters like Ou Sen and Ri Boku despite not having a shred of formal training.
It was my theory (and remains my headcanon) Kan Ki's weakness was the source of his drive: his rage was his fatal flaw. That anger could be used against him by those who understood him on a fundamental level, who understood he didn't just go for the enemy's head because he
wants to (and he does), but because he's
needs to. It was my theory that Kan Ki's rage was so all-consuming to him, he would develop tunnel vision and leave himself uncharacteristically open to a counterattack if he believed his psychological warfare was working, i.e. he was inflicting pain and exercising power over his prey.
I'd also have written it as Ri Boku seeing through Kan Ki's corpse tree bluff and setting himself up as bait, I was convinced that's what was happening until the ambush actually happened and Hara spelled it out Ri Boku got caught.
The akward Saki Clan/HSI unit conversation and Kanki's cringe backstory.
I don't like his backstory either, but I'm holding out hope the full reveal of it will retroactively make the bits we know better.
Personally, I would've given Kan Ki a background similar to Guts from Berserk.
The siege of Gian and Denyuu's fake out death (which felt very contrived).
This, I fucking hated.
Not just Den Yuu, but Chu Tetsu and Ryuu Sen had their fake-out Death Flags revoked in the same chapter. Den Yuu should've died and it should've inspired Ryuu Sen to become a more reliable member of the HSA.
What I really like about this arc are the Shin and Mouten tag team going up against the Seikai generals
Shin rising to the moment remains the highlight of this arc for me. That or Kan Ki's breakthrough.
The Seika generals are pretty good characters. Hara did a good job not just with them, but also with Ba Fu Ji and Ko Haku Kou. I particularly liked how SSJ put his trust in Ko Haku Kou in the latest chapter.
Riboku, all the other stuff is 'meh'.
I'll say this, the arc started much stronger than it is, but things are far from boring.
I don't disagree with your critiques. Personally, I wish Hara hadn't gone with the scale of ambush he decided on for Gishi Plains. I'd be down for a cat-and-mouse game between Ri Boku and Kan Ki, but I can't say I'd have gone for the choices Hara made.
For me lack of death from Ribokus and Kankis core ruined the climax..it should have been more brutal with personal deaths for both parties
I very much agree with this.
If I had the power to edit what happened, I would've written it as
Gishi Plains: Jyou Ka Ryuu kills Gaku Rai andShin kills JKR.
Gian: Den Yuu dies.
Ambush: Ri Boku kills Shu Ma, Ba Fu Ji kills Rin Gyoku, Shun Sui Ju kills Koku'Ou, Zenou kills Ba Fu Ji, Kan Ki kills Fu Tei, Ba Nan Ji kills Zenou and foot soldiers stab, dismount and hack Kan Ki to death