Chronicles of the Northern Heavens Chapter 153 - Yang So's Tears of Blood
Thud thud thud! Rumble rumble...
The Red Wolf Corps, numbering thirty thousand strong, met no real resistance. The northwestern cities, caught utterly off guard by the surprise assault, fell without mounting any proper defense—either overrun or surrendering outright. By the time dawn broke, three cities had already been seized. All three had served as supply depots for the northwestern forward camps aligned against the Northern Legion, so the blow was devastating.
"Restrain the killing as much as possible!"
Gwan Baek did his utmost to protect the ordinary northwestern civilians. But to those who resisted, he showed not a shred of mercy.
"Hoo..."
A hot breath escaped Gwan Baek's lips. He turned his gaze northward.
If we press on and strike their rear like this, we could annihilate the northwestern vanguard forces clashing head-on with the Northern Legion. So why did he order us to hold position here?
Once the operation succeeds, maintain your position until further orders. Remember, your top priority as unit leader is to preserve your full strength intact.
Yeon-hoo had given that command clearly. Otherwise, Gwan Baek would have pushed deeper west or swung north to hit the northwestern front lines.
"Uncle!"
Gwan-ryang approached, his body drenched in blood, but his face beaming with excitement.
"We've taken this place perfectly too!"
"Good work. Post minimal forces to guard the southwest perimeter of the city, and let the rest rest."
"Already given the order. You should rest too, Uncle."
"I'm fine."
"How about some liquor, then?"
"Sounds good."
Moments later, Gwan-ryang returned with booze, and Gwan Baek downed a whole bottle in one go, as if parched.
"Why do you think the lord ordered us to stay put here? On this momentum, we could crush anywhere."
"We wait here until the next command arrives. That's the lord's order and our mission."
"...Understood."
Gwan-ryang scratched his head awkwardly at Gwan Baek's curt demeanor.
That was when it happened.
A single rider and mount burst through the darkness into view.
Thud thud thud!
"Halt!"
The Red Wolf Corps guards at the gate drew their weapons and shouted.
The rider called out, "Where's the unit leader?"
"Right here!"
The voice came from above. The rider looked up to see Gwan Baek and Gwan-ryang on the ramparts and spoke at once.
"The Blood King Army will soon advance across the plains north of the city! Came to warn you ahead of time so you don't mistake us for foes and move out!"
"So you're hitting the northwestern vanguard?!"
"Yes!"
Gwan Baek couldn't hide his inner astonishment.
Incredible—nay, astounding. It's unfolding without a single deviation, like a perfectly scripted play...
He'd regretted not being able to strike the enemy's rear himself. But now the Blood King Army was stepping in to do just that.
"Is the Blood King leading personally?"
"He is!"
"Then pass on my wishes for victory."
"Got it!"
Thud thud thud!
The Blood King Army herald vanished into the dark.
Gwan-ryang whistled in admiration. "Bit early to say, Uncle, but... this war feels like it'll be too easy a win."
Gwan Baek nodded silently. But he showed no excitement.
"If the Blood King Army's on the move, our job now is to watch west and south, cut off any enemy reinforcements. Split the full force in two and deploy to the city's west and south sides."
"On it!"
As Gwan-ryang leaped into the shadows, Gwan Baek turned his eyes west, toward the Wall Thunder Manor. Wi Yeon Gwang's face naturally came to mind.
Twitch.
Gwan Baek's brow curved like a blade.
"Looks like you've gone and touched someone you absolutely shouldn't have, Wi Yeon Gwang."
* * *
Yang So had chosen a counterattack to throw Yeon-hoo's intentions back at him. But he'd stayed at base camp himself.
Ever since learning the Northern forces had broken taboo by striking the rear, an inexplicable dread had gripped him.
"Strategist, shouldn't we send more troops to the Northern Legion? Seizing it would make everything within fifty li north a safe zone."
Yang So shook his head at his aide's words. "You know the enemy is moving on our rear. We need minimal forces here to defend against ambushes."
"I know that, but if enemy reinforcements join the Northern Legion, our attacking forces might struggle..."
Yang So shook his head again. "The enemy struck our rear first precisely to pin us down and keep us from aiding the Northern Legion. Doesn't that mean no reinforcements for them? Our forces alone should suffice to crush the Northern Legion."
He spoke with firm conviction—perhaps to shake off the anxiety gnawing at him, putting extra force into his voice.
Yang So stared north. The forest shook like a living beast from his army's movements.
Battle would begin in moments.
Scouts confirmed no further reinforcements for the Northern Legion up to yesterday. This fight is ours for the taking.
Then—
Kaboom!
Explosions roared, flames flashing wildly. Followed by faint, agonized death cries echoing in the distance.
"Argh!"
"Gaaah!"
The battle had begun.
Yang So thought of Sama Jung.
Sama Elder's assassins need to take Yun Hoe's head fast...
From the start, Yang So believed beheading Northern Legion commander Yun Hoe quickly would decide victory. That's why he'd committed the ultra-bold move of deploying Sama Jung and his killers, who should have guarded him.
Kaboom! Clang!
"Gaaah!"
"Argh!"
Nothing visible but bursts of fire everywhere. Nothing audible but agonized screams impossible to tell friend from foe. Still, Yang So was certain of victory.
Then—
"Strategist!"
"Strategist!"
Urgent shouts rose from below the watchtower.
A soldier bellowed up at Yang So. "Tens of thousands of enemy cavalry spotted advancing from the west!"
This was within Yang So's predictions. He turned to his aide. "That's why I didn't send more troops."
"Your instincts are unmatched, sir!"
But the second shout turned Yang So's mind blank.
"Strategist! Our forces attacking the Northern Legion are taking flank fire from enemy cavalry! At least tens of thousands strong!"
"...!"
"Order a retreat before it's too late! Any more delay, and the vanguard's cut off with no hope!"
"...The tide's turned already?!"
"Yes! The enemy's momentum exceeds our worst fears! And those ambush cavalry—they were waiting for us from the start, like they knew we'd come!"
"...!"
Yang So's legs buckled. He barely grabbed the railing or he'd have collapsed.
Then chaos erupted from the base camp rear.
Dong dong dong!
"It's the Blood King Army!"
"Blood King Army at our rear!"
Craack!
"Gaaah!"
"Urk!"
"Strategist! Blood King Army!"
"Vanguard's retreating! Order retreat here too, quick! Strategist!"
Yang So barely registered his men's cries. He couldn't accept the reality crashing down.
It felt like standing naked in a storm's eye.
How... how could it crumble this fast...?
As Northwest Murim's strategist, he'd known unbroken triumph. Nearly every scheme victorious, even driving Northern hegemon Yi Yeom to death—a shining feat of his making.
That's why he denied this reality all the more.
"Strategist! Decide now! You'll be in danger too!"
"...!"
An aide grabbed and shook his shoulders hard—teeth clicked from the force.
Only then did Yang So snap from panic. He bit his lip till it bled.
Grip!
"...Order full retreat."
Dong dong dong!
The retreat drums boomed deafeningly, shredding Yang So's heart.
How did I, Yang So, end up this pathetic?!
Tears of anguish streamed down his cheeks.
"Strategist! Follow me!"
Clutching his torn heart, Yang So trailed his aide. All that remained was escaping alive to plot revenge.
"Gaaah!"
"Argh!"
He shut out the endless death cries.
The aide led him north through the camp. The Northern Legion base loomed close, but a pre-built escape route awaited for emergencies.
Yang So himself had designed it when setting camp—to exploit Northern blind spots.
Now fleeing down it like a dog, his heart was utter despair.
He glanced back. Fewer than a hundred pursuers trailed—half his Wall Thunder guards. From near eighty thousand, only fifty stuck with him.
Grip!
Blood dripped from his bitten lip. His tear-streaked eyes bulged bloodshot like a demon's.
Today's humiliation—I'll repay it a hundred, a thousandfold.
Better rage than despair? Yang So nursed grudge-fueled fury as he ran.
How long had they fled? Rain stopped; dawn crept in, painting the world red.
Reaching a high vantage overlooking the battlefield, the sight shredded Yang So's heart anew.
The vast field swarmed with Blood King Army and Iron Blood Cavalry banners. The Wall Thunder Great Banner, symbol of Northwest Murim, burned away in flames.
Not just Yang So—all stared dumbfounded, souls lost.
Just yesterday, they'd dreamed happily of ruling soon-conquered Northern lands.
"Sob!"
"Waaah!"
Sobs erupted everywhere.
Grip.
I'll never forget this disgrace!
Yang So's mangled, blood-crusted lips bled fresh.