The main character, Xin, is the most realistic shounen main character I've seen and loved. Though at the start he seems to be riding purely on the waves of luck and plot device, we see his character emerge from a socially-conscious background. We cannot relate with him in a way that he has insecurities in skills, in being alienated, or in lacking loyal and loving relationships to support his character. Through and through, he was a young man who started out as a clueless servant boy chasing after a dream left behind by someone he once shared it with. The conditions and violent, volatile way of life in the Warring States Era is not something we who could freely access the Internet or purchase manga can relate to, yet Xin's story welcomes us to dive into his arduous journey of fighting and finding meaning behind it in the grander scheme of things that Zheng is opening to.
Xin has started off as a laughing stock. His antics at the start of the manga has always made me laugh and I enjoyed going back to those moments. But he became such a dynamic character who would provide insight that no eloquent speech or status could deliver. We're spared from “instant genius-change” and sees that Xin will always be the lower-class person that he'll always be. But while he may never be able to map complex strategies in his head, experience shapes him emotionally and mentally. We see him mature. We see him provide the king himself insight a great man like him would overlook.
What I love about Xin the most is that he knows how to deal with people. The way he had Qiang Lei open up to him was not some sort of random talk. We see this with his interaction with Zheng too. I feel like a lot of people overlook that strength is not just about qualities related to popularity or ability. There are a lot of strengths relating to social wellness. This is the one point why I have stamped Xin as a shounen character that is unlike any other. He behaves like how an ordinary person would. His simplicity should not be scorned at, but be admired for its tenacity. Time and time again, those that leave him behind are people who have inspired light in his eyes. Perhaps this is one thing we can relate with him. There are people in our lives who inspire us to dream...and we want to continue living with what they taught us so that their memory will continue to smile with us.
Xin himself understands that thinking is not his greatest strength. We expect our protagonist to emerge from this obstacle by gaining new strength. In Xin, he attains this by relying on others. How often do we see this in manga? Xin even acknowledges this early on in the manga. He is not quite as bright, so he wishes things to be spelled out for him. There is no shame in this. Could you really blame him? He who grew up nothing but as a servant, chasing after Piao's brilliance?
And I like this. I love how it makes sense. I love how logical the facts are. Servants don't just become smarter, and education is not something open for everyone – or something to have time with. Piao was clearly an exception. A one in a one thousand. Xin knew that Piao would have been someone who would be better than him. But he's dead. Xin has buried his memories of Piao in the village until he could achieve their dream. He could not keep on mourning or wallow in insecurity about Piao's death. The only way is forward.
This is a manga not for everyone's taste. I've recommended this to friends who liked it for the grander battles and gore. Me? I loved it because of its characters, particularly Xin. I love the intricacies of politics, the historical setting in China, and the deaths and impacts that leave me to tears and cheering on for Xin. He's not a character who has an ambition to save the world, to take vengeance on a rival or villain, or to find the truth behind some dark secret. Xin dared to chase after a dream to leave a mark on the world and to rise above the social conditions imposed on him as a servant. As Piao once told Xin, they were left with nothing but able bodies. As long as they had the sword, they could do anything.
As a side note, I'd like to point out that the Qin Dynasty and its unification is an era of class struggles. Xin is a symbol of the lower class who is struggling tooth and nail to get to the top. Fellow peasants in the Fei Xin Force who could not achieve or even dare to dream such big goals pin their hopes in Xin. Just as Piao had inspired Xin, Xin had inspired his people. To them, his victory is their victory too. The blaze he leaves as he works toward his dream is an ignition in their life too.
Do not judge Xin on face value. I suppose this manga is not for readers who can only grasp things from the surface. Kokoko. Those who scorn and ridicule Xin's intelligence obviously can't read beyond text.