The New Winds

Taking his time to think on the day earlier whilst rubbing the floor, he came to realize that his performance was not bad compared to what he usually was. Even tired, he managed to perform the remaining physical things well. They said that Crabs are trained so their body continues when their mind faulters, and this was proving to be true.
After that the students were to be teached intensively in only one thing, he heard. And he wanted to learn about mass combat. Aiichiro remembers the sensei who supervisioned the basic fighting stances — a Lion, a gunso, and one that seemed pretty old — and started seeking for him.

The general was in the dojo, practicing some kata of his own.

In between strikes, the Kaiu catches his eyes.

"What"

swing

"is"

swing

"it?"

He watched quietly, waiting for him to end his training, and perceiving that he just disturbed it. Not the intent. He held his hand to his chest as the words were spoken, following the gesture by kneeling on the ground and bowing until his forehead touched the ground, getting his head up quickly, still on the ground.
He tried to read which family mon the gunso had, but failed. Time to be direct with his request. The commanders at the Kaiu Wall liked directness, at least.
"Sensei, I am asking to learn the way of battles, not only skirmishes."

The old general continues his kata, speaking without looking at the Kaiu.

"You are wise to seek me out then. What do you know already?"

"I know the ranks of command and how many units they each command, I know how to use siege engines for warfare, the deployment formations of the main body, vanguard, read guard, flank guard, the scouts and courier parties, the systems of the Great Wall, the codes of war fans and the weaknesses of Moto Tsume's army." He tried to resume as he pushed things from memory.
OOC: It's like 3 or 4 lores together here. Not too much for Aiichiro's sheet.

More footwork and swings from the general as he listens.

"Well learned, but are you tested in that knowledge? Have your sensei's put you through war games? Picked apart your command choices?"

"I play some shoji on my spare time, but never with my sensei." He said, standing up from the ground as he continued to watch the Akodo training. "There is also the Kaiu game of designing and invading imaginary fortresses, but it is less a war game and more an engineering game."

"Shogi is good, it teaches you to use all of your forces to their potential, as well as awareness of the field."

The general pauses and takes a deep breath.

"What of Go?"

"I know the game's rules. Nothing else." He said, secretly finding it silly that games really helped. "There was a book on go strategies at the library, but reading them would ruin the point."

The general lets out another deep breath before sheathing his katana and falling into a stance to practice his draw.

"You should never assume knowledge is beneath you, Kaiu-san."

He stopped talking for a little, losing his train of thought on watching. Indeed, it was of no use to discover what has been already discovered. "How do you concentrate on our talk and your training at the same time?"

"A general's mind must be able to focus on many things at once. Even if I am fighting for my life, I must also continue to think about the army around me, their moves, and what the opposing general may be doing"

He draws, not as quickly or elegantly as a Kakita, but still a very respectable form.

"Am I helping you, sensei? And how do you train a thing like that, sensei?" He said. He could practice thinking on other things whilst training alone, or talking when training, but usually it resulted into doing either thinking, talking or hitting poorly.

"You aren't hurting me. As far as how to train it? By doing it! Constantly put yourself in situations where you have divided attentions and excel at both!"

Another sheath and draw, this time a bit more aggressive and suited for a battlefield than a duel.

He went quiet again, rubbing his hands. He didn't plan to leave until the sensei himself dispensed him — he could not have such opportunity again.

"What do you think it would be of utmost importance for me to learn, sensei?"

"To know what you know and to know what you don't. A good strategist or tactician recognizes their own strengths and weaknesses, seeking council from those who are more knowledgeable"

He nodded. "This I believe to be an ability I have, and I am seeking council, although unsure of which kind. I know my objective, but only roughly how to accomplish it."

"Good, and you've lucked out and came to the right sensei to teach you. Instead of drilling you on book ideas and concepts, I propose we either play a game of Shogi or Go, to better show you how a general thinks"

The old general wraps up his kata and bows to the front of the dojo, where the shrine is.

"So, which would you prefer?"

He shook his head, bowing after him. "Not luck. When I was training with the bokken, I saw you. And you are a gunso." Aiichiro said. "As far I know, shogi. The board is smaller, but the pieces are different. I also have a board." He said, taking a miniature board from his obi.

"I am more than just a gunso, young Kaiu. I am a general. A gunso only leads a small handful of soldiers, where a general leads the entire army."

He walks over near Aiichiro and looks down at the board.

"Well enough, if a bit small for my eyes. Come then, show me your skills."