Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Internal and External Troubles
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Won Yeong asked in return.
"Did you say traitor?"
In lieu of an answer, the curtain was pulled aside. A handsome man with a bold impression and sturdy build stepped out from behind it and approached the group. He was none other than Prince Chu, Zhu Zhen.
His appearance evoked memories of the Geum Ryeong Division Leader they had seen before. Especially his eyes, which held a mystical purple hue. It was a mark of having mastered the imperial secret eye technique.
Instead of ordinary robes, he wore armor adorned with dragon motifs reserved for royalty on the shoulders and breastplate.
Prince Chu pulled out a chair and sat down before the group. It was a display of informality without regard for protocol. Normally, facing a royal dragon seed barefaced would be an act of grave disrespect.
Prince Chu continued the conversation as if it were nothing.
"You seem quite surprised. But when you think about it, it's entirely natural. This place isn't my territory to begin with."
"Ah......"
"In reality, my influence only extends to the generals and soldiers I brought from the State of Chu."
The feudal princes had the right to form their own courts with their retainers. It was the same principle as the direct bloodline of the Yuk Clan operating each branch with their own people.
In other words, feudal princes outside their own fiefdoms inevitably saw their influence wane.
"On the other hand, the Provincial Military Commander, Surveillance Commissioner, and Fabric Tax Commissioner who originally governed Guizhou cannot be trusted. The same goes for the local branch head managing the Exile Office."
The detectives and guards followed the Surveillance Commissioner's orders. Even if they couldn't match the regular army, they could mobilize constables trained in martial arts.
Moreover, the Imperial Guards may have already infiltrated the area. With the cooperation of the Fabric Tax Commissioner who controlled administration, it wouldn't be difficult.
To make matters worse, the native troops of Guizhou needed watching as well. Their command lay with the Provincial Military Commander. There was a risk of infighting breaking out among the official forces.
Prince Chu leaned back comfortably against the chair.
"To rivers and lakes folk, this place might seem like land infested by yokai. But from the court's perspective, it's different. They dispatched me urgently due to the unexpected crisis, but they hadn't completely abandoned it."
According to Prince Chu's explanation, Guizhou was a strategically vital area, both militarily and economically.
Thanks to the immense revenue from gold and silver mines, as well as byproducts from yokai hunts. In terms of taxes secured by the bureaucracy, it surpassed even Sichuan, known as the land of abundance.
Thus, the officials governing Guizhou were all carefully selected by the central court. Each had their own connections, so they weren't the type to be swayed by a mere feudal prince.
"Still, you used your heads well. Pretending to be imperial inspectors, no less. Had you not, a messenger bird would surely have flown to the capital by tonight."
"We've heard that the Ghost Sword Society is also after Your Highness's life."
"I'm beset by internal strife and external threats. If I show myself openly, the Ghost Sword Society Leader will come out personally. When we razed their main base, I burned down a secret warehouse that bastard had hidden away. The grudge must be immense."
"......"
"And if the Ghost Sword Society moves, the insiders will seize the opportunity to focus attention on them and escort me back to the capital. It's like crabs in a pot glaring at each other, isn't it?"
Prince Chu burst into hearty laughter. Even in this grim situation, he remained remarkably composed. It was unclear whether it stemmed from royal dignity or mere optimism.
He asked,
"By the way, is it just the two of you?"
"There's one more. Hearing that Guizhou's situation was dire, the two of us hurried ahead separately."
Won Yeong spoke with a hint of embarrassment, and Prince Chu waved it off.
"I'm not blaming you. It would have been hard to grasp the full situation from Kaifeng. But you two broke through by land? Your martial prowess must be considerable."
"There wasn't as much interference as expected. At most, a few assassins...... So it was unexpected. Do you have any guesses?"
"Who did you encounter?"
"Someone who called himself the Guizhou Rogue Sword."
Prince Chu tilted his head.
"He's just a lackey. A considerable expert, but the Crimson Sword Sect he originally belonged to doesn't hold much sway within the Ghost Sword Society."
"I see."
"The Ghost Sword Society isn't exactly flush with resources either. They've taken quite a hit from several battles already. Open warfare isn't the assassins' specialty. They'd want to preserve their forces and bide their time."
Won Yeong's expression hardened.
"If that's the case...... it means they're sharpening their blades. They won't let us through easily. I thought assassins would avoid fights without profit."
"That's why they reached out to the Alliance. I'm like a bird trapped in a cage. You'll have to step up."
Yuk Jin-yang, who had been listening silently, spoke up.
"Couldn't we attempt a breakthrough with a small force? With us joining, we should be able to handle their swift movements to some extent."
"Difficult. We'd still be outnumbered. Even selecting only the martial experts, breaking through would be impossible."
"What if we gather a large army and advance instead?"
"That's no easy task either. Do you know how much supplies a thousand soldiers consume in a day? They'd collapse in days, and a general without his army's morale is no better than a scarecrow."
Gathering made them sluggish and hard to advance, while scattering left them vulnerable to defeat in detail. Prince Chu's self-mocking words about their predicament made sense.
Yet, amid the tangled power dynamics, a path forward emerged. Yuk Jin-yang cautiously proposed,
"What about the Strategy of Two Tigers Fighting Over Food?"
"Making two tigers clash over prey? The tigers would be the court officials and the Ghost Sword Society."
Prince Chu's lips curved into a smile as he pondered the meaning.
"Then I'd be the bait to lure them into fighting. Tell me more about the specific plan."
He unhesitatingly suggested using himself as bait. He showed no discomfort whatsoever. It seemed to be his nature. He was ready to step forward himself if needed. Even as royalty, his general's temperament was evident.
Won Yeong, on the other hand, glared with wide eyes. Her gaze shot at Yuk Jin-yang in reproach. She hurriedly interjected with her concerns.
"Isn't that too dangerous? There's a rivers and lakes adage: Don't stand in an assassin's sights. To draw their attention, Your Highness would have to expose yourself, and I'm afraid it might violate taboos and lead to unforeseen disaster."
"I know the terror of assassins too. And that dealing with rivers and lakes experts is different. But we can't escape this place without a fight."
Yuk Jin-yang pressed his idea again.
"What if we hide a plan within a plan?"
"A Chain Stratagem, eh. I didn't expect the Alliance to have someone versed in military tactics."
Prince Chu stroked his chin and asked casually,
"What's your name?"
"Yuk Jin-yang."
"Yuk...... Then you're from the Zhejiang Yuk Clan. A direct descendant, perhaps?"
"Yes."
"Old Master Yuk must be pleased. His grandson has grown so well."
It was then.
Sssh.
A presence stirred outside. The sound of clothing brushing the floor accompanied it. Several people seemed to be peering into the office from outside.
Prince Chu clicked his tongue.
"See? Eyes and ears are everywhere here. Anyway, the meeting has dragged on. To avoid suspicion, find an excuse and come back later. We'll discuss the details then."
The military camp of the Exile Office was in uproar.
It was because the patrols dispatched outside were returning one after another. The soldiers guarding the walls swarmed toward them like ants.
"Supplies? Did you at least hunt some game worth eating?"
"The ones who arrived first came back empty-handed! How about you?"
The returning soldier shook his head and plopped down on the ground. His body was covered in traces of large and small skirmishes.
"Nothing. No supplies, no beasts. All we got was the head of some man-faced beast. You gonna boil that and eat it?"
"You had time to hunt yokai but missed the animals? Those yokai corpses are useless beyond filling the quota!"
"Everything's dried up! Wild beasts and mountain birds have all been eaten—only bones are left wandering around. And with the squad leader glaring from behind, what can we do?"
"Damn it."
The soldier spat and turned to ask,
"So...... dry rations again today? Or salt-pickled radish?"
"Dry rations? Even the radishes from the camp fields are running low."
As the soldier in charge of grain replied, a cynical voice cut in from across the way.
"Before long, we might have to slaughter the warhorses and boil them in pots."
"Good idea. At least we'd get plenty of meat and hot soup. They're useless anyway. Riding them against yokai or assassins just makes you a bigger target."
"So, what's for dinner tonight?"
Amid the boisterous laughter and clamor, some slipped away quietly. A woman in her mid-twenties and a middle-aged man.
They too were covered in dust like the others, but upon closer inspection, they exuded an innate nobility unlike the rest.
It was the trait of experts raised preciously in their clans and long-tempered in martial arts, sharpening their features distinctly.
The woman glanced back at the camp and muttered,
"The fortress is starting to crumble from within, right? Nothing disrupts army morale like hunger."
"Don't get too pleased. The court doesn't want the Exile Office to fall completely."
"I know. The best is just to escort Prince Chu away. We can't let trash like the Ghost Sword Society profit from the chaos."
Once fully out of the camp, the two headed to the government office. They moved with the ease of entering their own home. The gate guards recognized their faces and greeted them without question or hindrance.
"Senior Kwak, did everything go well?"
"No. There were some results, but not great. Fitting for assassins, their escape techniques were incredibly fast. I was trying to whittle down their forces in advance."
Imperial Guard Kwak Min smiled faintly. It was her habit when concealing anger.
It was also a virtue required of Imperial Guards. Given their frequent undercover work as spies, they often needed to hide or feign emotions and expressions.
Kwak Min changed the subject.
"By the way, what about over there? I heard outsiders entered the Exile Office."
"A man and woman claiming to be imperial inspectors did come. They even defeated Deputy Leader Dong Jung-bo of the Guizhou Rogue Sword. They seem like considerable experts."