@Gatekeeper:
1. No, I meant that as a coward, he would avoid fights, like what he initially did to the Xiongnu and one on ones. Of course, I know he can fight (not on a tier as high as you are saying though). Unlike Houken, Reebok didn't get those muscles from lumberjacking off.
2. Where was that hinted? Yes, he had that aura during the Zhao-Qin alliance precursor but so did Ryofui. We all know Ryofui isn't a fighter, unless you want to argue that his stature and aura also implies that he is an another >Houken beast. It just meant that he was a person of great importance or whatever.
3. For the duke, maybe. But if Reebok is as strong as you think, one-shotting the Duke right then and there would have been better than letting your hermit have one of his arms broken. Besides, neither of those two knew the Duke's full strength and if Reebok was that strong, why would he take the risk to gamble on Houken arriving in the first place or him even beating the Duke? For the Yan campaign, Houken was the commander in chief, you don't risk your "king" like that. Again, Reebok was probably confident in Houken's ability but he did not fully know Gekishin's.
4. Experience and skills, that's ALL Reebok beats Shin in. He may have overpowered Shin in their first skirmish but like I said, Shin wasn't at full strength and seriousness. Where am I getting this "shit" about Shin being super strong? Oh, I dunno, maybe him overpowering Houken (yes, Houken was only using one arm but how many people without top tier strength can do that in the entire series)? Him breaking the legs of Rinko's horse with brute strength alone? Him tanking Renpa's blow?
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1. If cornered the guy can stand his ground and defend himself. Those scars and muscles are not just for show, surely the guy has a fair share of fights in his lifetjme before becoming a great heaven.
2. Yes at that precursor stage. Wrong , shin mentions that he doeznt feel a strategists aura crom riboku , what other type of aura do you think shin mean ? Political pressure like Ryofui 's ? Surely you jest right ? Besides being a strategist surely it can only mean martial aura. Then we have that little confrontation that verify's Riboku isn' just all brains.
3. Like I said , why bother fighting and risking your own hide when you have someone who convenientky showed up to that for you. Did he really not know about gekishin ? Thr guy has an outstanding information gathering methods.
4. No. Strength experience and skills. He overpowered shin on their skirmish. He will overpower him again if they have another skirmish now. You think Riboku was at full strength and seriousness during their skirmish ? Lol.
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@Purple:
When it comes to using the greatest weapon with efficiency, it does kinda matter. Why bring Houken? Did Reebok expect someone to use him during the main alliance battles? Or was he just camping with the rest of the troops in the hidden area until the designated time? Or was Reebok telling him the answer was in really easy battles on the way to conquering Qin? Reebok can bring him out of isolation, but it doesn't seem like Houken wants to play friendly with him otherwise like he did with Ouki or Gekishin if there's no promise of someone strong.
It is not enough to simply have a weapon and use it or to stow it away as your first fallback. Even for us readers, that's not what should be done as a "great strategist". Any idiot can have hired hands at the opportunity, but he shouldn't need to rely on a loose cannon during what could be the most important campaign of his career.
He is using his greatest weapon efficiently imo. Letting him be is the most efficient way to use Houken , he does not give Houken orders or a target because he knows Houken will seek him or her out himself. He only needs to mmanipulate him to come with him in battle. Riboku does not want to be friends with Houken imo , I think he just see him as a pawn. Nevertheless he wouldnt hesitate to use him when an opportunity presents itself.
Yes usung his weapon is not enough that is why he has this intricate traps and schemes but even those well thiught out.tactics are broken down by some. Why bring houken? Because he knows he can handle this individuals without him lifting a finger. Houken My be a loose cannon but his usefulness ouweights the trouble he brings. To you it may seem weak but looking at things having Houken around is very convenient for Riboku , he can focus more on leading his army rather than engaging on 1v1 battlez with the enemy. Knowi g how to utilise your forces is a marking of a great strategist.
