Recruitment
The shaman of the tribe had said that today was the day to burn your house and snap the neck of the drunk master. But you don't look drunk at all.
"You must be a fake, huh."
"You are the one interfering with the star's path. What is your name, new wall owner?"
"Yuhyeon."
Yul-ta, the leader of the Yashin tribe and known as the Eye of the Blue Wolf, stood there with his bow drawn, facing me for a while. Then, without warning, he lightly shot an arrow that hit right below the watchtower where I was standing.
Are you trying to fight? The soldiers gripping their weapons tightly, all tense.
But Yul-ta soon put away his bow and blew his horn. And then he turned the formation and prepared to withdraw beyond the horizon again.
"If you can't cut off the breath with the first shot, don't fight back. Prolonging the fight against you would not be wise."
"You are not a fake either, huh."
"I will remember your name. See you again, Yuhyeon."
"Don't come again."
It was fortunate, or rather, surprisingly, it ended lightly. Since we confirmed that the defenses were stronger than expected, we would retreat for now.
This is how they test opponents and strike mercilessly if there's any opening. That was their way.
We had crossed a big hurdle, but what we need to worry about now is our own treatment. After the situation settled, Park Gyu cautiously asked.
"Lord... sir."
"Why?"
"What should we do with the convicts?"
Do you want to release them?
I know, he knows, and all the penal conscripts here know that sometimes, very rarely, there are those who are unjustly arrested and sent to the border defense unit even though they are innocent. The problem is that everyone claims to be the victim.
Of course, I was no exception.
'Honestly, isn't the most unjust one me? The one who knocked down Hyunryeong and the guards was Yuhyeon before transmigration, not me.'
Hmm. No matter how I think about it, I was innocent.
Innocent.
"Continue as before."
"As before?"
"Each one is different, the headquarters and the region. How do we single them out? Am I the one who decides? If we release them, where else would they go?"
"Yes, understood."
This is not a court. Even if we blindly give freedom, they would just wander near the border and get enslaved by nomads. So, just like before, men as soldiers, women and children, and the elderly as laborers.
We killed Jang Mu and seized the command position at the front lines, but releasing the convicts would be seen as a riot from the center, which is dangerous. In fact, even without that, the current situation is sufficiently dangerous.
'If necessary, I need to prepare to flee.'
When the banquet was stopped, they would think that if I don't side with my faction immediately, my neck would be pierced by Yul-ta's arrows as he breaks through the city gates. Thanks to the penal conscripts who had experienced my strength personally quickly persuading the garrison soldiers to support me, I temporarily maintained the position of border defense commander, but it was like a candle in front of the wind.
However, did the heavens help? For several days, I had been packing bundles and placing them by my head, enduring tense days.
Suddenly, a urgent report flew to the front lines.
It was the news that the Heavenly Emperor, the only ruler of the Tianyu Empire, had passed away.
"Choked on the rice cake at the Birthday Festival and died."
"Human life is indeed fleeting."
"Since he didn't properly designate his successor, isn't there going to be a bloody storm in the capital?"
"Then we..."
"The central nobles won't have time to care about this. It would be fine if we just stay quiet like this."
Pamagok was just one of the many passes installed to guard the vast border. The incident of a frontline commander dying was not rare.
It was a chaotic time. The military administrators were afraid that it might be seen as a rebellion or political scheme, so they hesitated to send their own troops or replacement personnel to Pamagok, allowing me to maintain the position of border defense commander as is.
In fact, about half a year later, secretly, they promoted my position to that of Jang Mu's brother, who didn't even know I existed, and it was approved as is. It seems the administration at the time was quite sloppy.
Since I boarded the galloping horse, I must spur it on. So, after accepting Pamagok, I took my next steps.
"I need to increase the troops."
"Troops, then..."
"What is this supposed to be a barrier protecting the empire? Anyone would think it's a backwater village. This won't do."
Pamagok was one of the most disproportionately high casualty rate among the passes built to block the barbarians. The reason is simple.
Not only is it included within the sphere of influence of major nomadic tribes like Yashin, Siseom, and Togwol, but the demonic beasts appearing in the valley are also several times stronger than usual.
I don't know the reason. But the fact is clear: even if I become the border defense commander, people will keep dying the same way.
So, in the 6th year after transmigration.
Taking advantage of the confusion in the capital, I began to expand my forces in earnest.
In the center, the owner of the throne was still not decided. Due to the fight among over ten children of the Heavenly Emperor and the nobles supporting them, people were being slaughtered in the capital endlessly.
Every time a family disappears from history, countless members lose their territory. The perpetrators were executed, but the rest were punished and fell into the status of criminals.
In other words, it means that talented people I can legally incorporate into the unit are pouring in. Normally, they would have to wait until they are handed over via relay stations to the pass, but then I couldn't select good slaves... I mean, good talents.
"Listen up, everyone."
"What is it, sir?"
"Those who have experience of selling goods in various places during their free days as merchants, or have connections with the local leaders of the regions to be mentioned from now on. Yes."
"?"
I periodically led my subordinates to distant cities and recruited the promising ones as they came.
The convicts imprisoned in the detention facility requested escort from the warden. When the trial dragged on, I bribed the judge to get them out.
And if they seem really useful but haven't committed any crime yet...
"At the Birthday Festival's martial tournament, he inflicted fatal injuries on seven opponents and retired three of them. Impressive."
"Who is it?"
"Your name from now on is Chun-sik."
"Why are you putting my master's undergarment into my coat... eh?"
I gently pushed his back with tears in my eyes.
By reorganizing the forces gathered from various places, the power became incomparably higher than before. Among them, there was also the benefit of completely eliminating the system of penal conscripts (convict soldiers) and garrison guards (regular soldiers) who monitored them.
"The arrow you dodged was shot by your comrade watching your back."
"..."
"When they realize that the blood they spilled is the same color as mine, it will already be too late. From now on, do not wear the golden uniform except during ceremonies. I will do the same."
"Understood!"
In Pamagok, everyone wears the same clothes and eats the same food. There is no difference between convicts and soldiers, soldiers and commanders. This rule had quite an effect on those who were barely surviving with lives as poor as flies.
As the number of casualties noticeably decreased in the most dangerous area, rumors spread around. So, the population increased and the valley became even safer.
For me, it was a welcome thing, but there were also those who saw it as a thorn in their eye. Namely, the commanders of other passes.
"Hey, Yuhyeon, Border Defense Commander. Because you're constantly taking our convicts from us, the defense on the west is becoming lax, isn't it?"
"There seems to be some misunderstanding. We do not accept penal conscripts belonging to other passes."
"Using the excuse of population increase, we demand even more supplies and food from the Military Supplies Ministry than others, so this side is on the verge of starvation."
"Correct!"
It was absurd. If supplies aren't coming properly, why contact the Military Supplies Ministry? Why are you asking me?
Without notice, the commanders of six passes suddenly came to find me, raising their voices as if they were the victims. Food was the excuse, and if Pamagok is left like this, their troops' morale would decline and there would be threats of desertion or rebellion, so it seemed they had gathered to pin me down this time.
As if to prove their intentions, they ignored my offer to divide the surplus food and instead trampled our farmland collectively on their way back.
It was already painful because the terrain was steep and there wasn't much land for farming. A painful blow.
My subordinates were outraged. Because the food they eat is supplied by the military, but the families of ordinary people and soldiers living in the pass have to farm to eat.
"You can't just leave those bastards!"
"Let's raise weapons and attack right now! I'll lead the vanguard!"
"Wait, do you not know that if there's a fight between passes, the center will intervene!"
The senior Park Gyu calmed his subordinates. But he was just as outraged.
"What should we do? If we leave them alone, they will keep provoking us."
"I think like this. The demonic beasts also have the right to freely run and play."
"Eh...?"
This place can only gather those who are unjust to each other. Did the demonic beasts come because they wanted to be summoned to Pamagok? No basis, but probably they were forcibly taken. Just like us who have no crime.
"If there is an innocent demonic beast that hasn't eaten anyone yet, wouldn't it be okay to give them a chance? Somewhere else, not here."
"You are the one who turned around, sir?"
"Shh, sometimes like that."
"That time is the scariest."
Park Gyu, who had been listening to my words carefully, soon understood the meaning and swallowed his saliva.
"Does that mean we should release the demonic beasts of Pamagok to other passes?"
"Release them? They only requested help from friendly forces near the valley while fleeing from the demonic beasts?"
"..."
The demonic beasts of Pamagok are beyond understanding in ferocity and use strange sorcery. But if we are careless or use lures against them, our own side would suffer.
"We cannot defeat demonic beasts with bare hands like you, sir."
"Don't worry. I'll make it so that we can."
"Eh?"
"You were talking about that thing, no... "
I need to teach them about Tugi.