The Two Armies' Sortie (3)
Moyong Woo stood with his Tangma Greatsword still sheathed and driven deep into the earth, both hands resting atop the hilt. The image he presented was that of a grand general of a nation, radiating unshakeable authority.
Heavy armor encased his entire body.
Yet it was no ordinary plate. The Tangma Army’s armor had been specially modified for combat against murim warriors. Its joints moved with fluid grace, never restricting motion, and every section could be detached at will.
They were not wearing ceremonial uniforms. Every last member of the Tangma Army under Moyong Woo’s command was dressed for deployment.
The same was true of the Myeolsa Army.
Moyong Woo lifted his gaze to the sky.
“The wind is favorable.”
At some point the bitter cold of winter had slipped away, and true spring had arrived. It was the perfect season to take the first step toward a new beginning.
As he stared quietly upward, Moyong Woo closed his eyes.
Brother.
“I’m sorry for proceeding without a word.”
“What are you saying, Brother? From the moment I came to you, I resolved to accept any task with humility. This is nothing at all.”
“Still, I feel uneasy. I’ve placed someone younger than you in command. No matter how far-sighted the decision, it doesn’t sit well with me.”
“It’s fine. As you know, Brother, Lord Yeon’s ability is genuine. Frankly, he isn’t someone I could ever contain.”
“Don’t say that. It is true that Yeon Hojeong’s talent is outstanding. However, I do not believe you are inferior to him.”
“You flatter me.”
“Just as there are things Yeon Hojeong lacks that you possess, there are many things you lack that he possesses. Though we’ve clashed for a long time, he is someone with much to teach. Learn everything you can from him.”
“I will.”
“And I have one separate request for you.”
“Please speak.”
“As you know, Yeon Hojeong is the eldest son of the Yeon family head. The Yeon family head has been building close ties with the strategist and the Tang family head. From what I hear, even Gong Gong Dae-sa and Wudang’s Seunghyeon Jinin regard Lord Yeon quite favorably.”
“He is a talent worthy of such regard.”
“Among the six great families, two maintain neutrality without sharp opposition: the Namgung and the Peng. I maintain good relations with the Namgung, but a child of the Peng family serves under Yeon Hojeong. The Peng family head will likely lean toward their side rather than ours.”
“……”
“I am not speaking of factional advantage or disadvantage. It means a great deal of information will flow to them.”
“Are you asking me to steal information?”
“There is no need to seize it actively. Yeon Hojeong is sharp. Overreaching could put you in danger, so simply pass on to me whatever reaches your ears.”
“……”
“Why? Does it trouble you?”
“To say otherwise would be a lie. Before I am a martial artist, I am a member of the Martial Alliance. Before that, I am commander of the Tangma Army. And now I have become a member of the combined Tangma-Myeolsa force.”
“You are also a member of the Moyong family before you are a member of the combined army.”
“……”
“If it truly weighs on you, I will not press the matter.”
“No. That is merely how I feel. Conveying the information I receive is not a difficult task.”
“Thank you.”
“It is nothing. I only hope this helps you become Alliance Leader, Brother.”
“Of course. I have not forgotten my dream or my goal. There is simply something that must be handled first.”
“The Three Sects.”
“Correct. The mere fact that those lowly vermin from beyond our borders dare eye the Central Plains is enough to make smoke rise from my ears in rage. Yet regardless of their origins, they possess the power to set the Central Plains ablaze with the fires of war. No matter how important our dream may be, it cannot take precedence over this.”
“You speak truly. In that case, I also have something to say.”
“What is it?”
“The Black Dragon Department.”
“……!”
“I do not like that you have joined hands with the Lord of the Black Dragon Department. However, since the alliance is already made, it is best to use him to the fullest.”
“Mm.”
“I have heard that one of the Three Sects’ organizations provided great assistance in establishing the Black Dragon Department.”
“Yes, that matter will need to be settled as well.”
“I have not seen it myself, but if the rumors are true, Yang Cheon, Lord of the Black Dragon Department, is one of the Holy Thirteen Seats. That alone makes him one of the most dangerous men in the gangho. The Three Sects granted such a person power and authority, then allowed him to found the Black Dragon Department.”
“They will believe they used each other. Yang Cheon will certainly think so.”
“Whether Yang Cheon believes that is his own freedom. What matters is that the Three Sects are a group with both the capability and the danger to do such things.”
“Indeed.”
“To bring the Black Dragon Department entirely under your command, collision with the Three Sects in other territories will be unavoidable. Should that happen, the fact that you have joined hands with Yang Cheon may be revealed to the entire world.”
“……”
“Before we fight the Three Sects, I believe we must clean them out first.”
“I have considered it. But it will not be easy.”
“Of course not. Yet an unpleasant task cannot be postponed forever simply because it is difficult.”
“Mm.”
“Therefore I suggest we fix the objective of this combined deployment on the Black Dao.”
“The Black Dao? You mean to strike at the Black Dragon Department’s side?”
“Yes.”
“No! That is far too dangerous!”
“I am not proposing an invasion. Only that we give Yang Cheon a sense of urgency and create justification to draw him to our side as an ally.”
“Justification?”
“My thought is this. When we strike the Black Dao……”
At that moment, a powerful surge of energy rippled from far in the distance.
Moyong Woo’s eyes flew open.
“All troops, fall in!”
Shing!
The ranked soldiers snapped back into perfect posture.
Five hundred warriors clad in dark heavy armor and, standing before them, fifty warriors in lighter armor that prioritized mobility presented a truly magnificent sight.
“……”
Yeon Hojeong watched them and let out a quiet inner sigh. They’re so rigid.
Two armies with utterly different characters had suddenly been fused into one.
Orders from above were absolute. Once issued, they had to be obeyed without question.
Yet the personalities of these two forces differed far too greatly.
When units of such contrasting nature merged, a proper process was normally required. Shortening and smoothing that process was the mark of a capable commander, but this order had been far too abrupt. It was Moyong Gun who first proposed this. Regardless of his hidden intentions, even he understands. Unity holds greater power than division.
Yeon Hojeong’s eyes deepened. He won’t be without ulterior motives. He has probably tasked my brother with something. Using lives as bait to plant eyes in the enemy’s heart… how very like Moyong Gun.
Knowing that, Yeon Hojeong could not treat Moyong Woo lightly. Of course, he had never intended to, nor was there any room for such behavior.
But beyond that, to fight the Three Sects, the two armies will eventually need to join strength. This must be an order to begin matching their coordination now, in preparation for that day.
Yeon Hojeong unconsciously let out a bitter smile. Moyong Gun must be feeling the pressure as well.
A moment later, Yeon Hojeong stepped onto the platform. Muk Bi, who had accompanied him, stood behind Moyong Woo and looked up at him.
With the Mad Dragon Axe resting on his shoulder, Yeon Hojeong gazed down at the unified army and spoke.
“The higher-ups have decided on a name for us.”
The soldiers, who had been watching him with complicated expressions, now showed open confusion. What was he talking about with his very first sentence?
Yeon Hojeong grinned.
“They said they would call our combined Tangma Army and Myeolsa Army the Righteous Army. Funny, isn’t it? Such a classical name it makes you want to laugh. Haha!”
He might have intended the remark as a joke to ease the troops’ tension.
Unfortunately, the joke fell disastrously flat. As with Yeon Ji-pyeong, Yeon Hojeong was a man who had lived decades before returning to the past, his emotions worn down by countless wars. There was no way such a lame jest would land.
“……”
The soldiers stared up at him in bewilderment.
Seeing their reaction, Yeon Hojeong himself grew flustered.
He glanced at Moyong Woo and Muk Bi. Both sighed and shook their heads.
Yeon Hojeong laughed awkwardly.
“Right. It seems trying to be clever in a way that doesn’t suit me only shattered the mood further. Let’s do this my way.”
“……”
“From now on we move as one. The newly unified force will be called the Righteous Army, and its Grand Commander is me.”
Yeon Hojeong swept his gaze across the Tangma Army with calm intensity.
Though every member maintained an expressionless face, several pairs of eyes visibly twisted even from a distance.
“It must feel sudden and confusing. Some of you will feel your pride wounded. Among you, I dare say there are those whose paranoia has already flared, badmouthing me behind my back.”
It was an exceedingly blunt statement. Not the sort of thing a commander should say at a founding ceremony.
Yeon Hojeong continued with complete candor.
“Curse me, lose motivation, do whatever you like. I won’t concern myself with any of it. I have no desire to interfere, and interference would be meaningless anyway.”
“……”
“There is only one thing I expect from you. When an order is issued, react instantly as you have been trained. That is all.”
At that moment, Yeon Hojeong’s eyes changed.
“I cannot promise to bring you honor. But I can promise I will not let you die meaningless deaths. That is the one thing I can swear to you.”
“……”
“Dismissed. You’ve suffered enough standing in formation for nothing.”
Stepping down from the platform, Yeon Hojeong spoke to Moyong Woo.
“Commander Moyong, dismiss the troops and spare me a moment.”
Moyong Woo offered a crisp salute.
“I obey the Grand Commander’s order.”
He turned and shouted.
“All troops, dismissed! There will be no training today.”
The Tangma Army relaxed their stance. Murmurs began to spread among the ranks that had remained silent until now.
At that, Yeon Hojeong roared.
“Myeolsa Army!!”
His voice thundered across the field, carrying terrifying dignity.
The pressure was so overwhelming that the murmuring vanished instantly.
Every warrior from both the Tangma Army and Myeolsa Army stared at Yeon Hojeong with taut tension.
Yeon Hojeong’s face twisted fiercely.
“Did you not hear Commander Moyong’s order? I’m certain he said dismissed.”
“……!”
“React immediately to a superior’s command. In my absence, Commander Moyong is the highest authority who may lead the Righteous Army as my proxy and is superior to every one of you.”
“……”
“Since this is the first time, I will overlook it. If I witness such pathetic behavior again, every last one of you will be punished severely.”
The fierce warning turned the training ground’s atmosphere icy.
Yeon Hojeong nodded at Moyong Woo.
Moyong Woo shouted once more.
“All troops, dismissed!”
Only then did both armies finally relax and disperse.
Yeon Hojeong snorted.
“The lot of them are so damn stiff.”
Moyong Woo approached, smacking his lips.
“My head already aches terribly even though it’s still daylight. Care for a drink?”
“What? That gave me chills. Just speak normally.”
“Fine. You’re buying.”
“Casual speech right away. Unbelievable.”
“……”
“Let’s go.”