The Small Ball Kicked Over the Border - 1
Shiwandaishan lay in the western reaches of Guangxi—more precisely, near the border with Vietnam. It was an astonishing situation where a Hwagyeong master was permanently stationed close to the frontier. If the Baekryeon Cult Leader had been your typical Hwagyeong expert, Vietnam would have lodged fierce—or desperate—protests demanding his removal. No matter how much they served Daesong as their suzerain, who could stay calm with a monster capable of wiping them out camped right on their doorstep?
But the Baekryeon Cult Leader was no ordinary Hwagyeong master. He kept a thorough distance from worldly affairs and mobilized his Baekryeon followers for volunteer work in Guangxi and surrounding areas. That included Vietnam, which meant the Leader enjoyed a good reputation there. Thanks to him, relations between Daesong and Vietnam were... passable, at worst. 'Was that old information?' It seemed I'd been mistaken. They weren't just passable—they looked downright tense.
"We meet the Left Vice Inspector General, sir!"
"Good. Carry on."
The soldier who'd moved to inspect me folded into a ninety-degree bow upon seeing my official badge. Before that, his rigid demeanor had given me a glimpse of the local mood. This was Sungseon County, nestled near Shiwandaishan. I'd originally planned to head straight to Namyeong, but since I was already in Guangxi, I figured I should check the border regions. Conveniently, it housed Yui-gwan, a pass comparable to Shanhaiguan or Guyongguan.
If I'd known it'd be like this, I would've thought twice.
Even accounting for its border location, Sungseon felt ominously tense and on edge. It was less a peacetime frontier and more a near-wartime one.
Nothing's wrong with Vietnam, right?
I racked my brain quietly at the unexpected atmosphere. Daesong's vast territory meant long borders touching all sorts of nations, each with their own quirks. To the east: Goryeo, vanguard of mad diplomacy. North: the Mongols, where only one side's death would end the grudge. West: Tibet, former Mongol collaborators. South: Vietnam, relatively normal by comparison.
Sure, Vietnam had its dramas—a previous king slain in battle, the retired emperor holding real power, some regent seizing military authority—but that was internal stuff. As long as they didn't hassle Daesong externally, they were a normal state. Yet if even the one reliable neighbor soured, it'd be a real headache. Tension across every border? Nothing more exhausting.
"Gaga. Over there..."
"Hm?"
In the midst of it, Ak I-yeon pointed at something with a finger.
"This is insane."
A patrolling squad prowling Sungseon caught my eye. Patrols for urban or village security were standard, but this group's size screamed more than mere policing. Even for a border county, a patrol that big meant Daesong was doomed from troop shortages.
Should've just gone to Namyeong.
Regret was piling up. What had possessed me—a non-military expert—to poke around the border?
People got punished for overstepping, as the saying went. Whoever coined it was a sage.
"Sir. What shall we do?"
Soon, Jo Wi-cheo spoke up after Ak I-yeon. She might assume this was normal as a border newbie, but Jo Wi-cheo, who'd rolled through hellholes with me, knew Sungseon was off.
"Meet the county magistrate first."
"Yes, sir."
I let out a small sigh and set the next schedule with the bitterness of chewing leather. Come to think of it, I'd seen the same untouchability in Otae-hyeon of Habuk. That had Jung San Wang racing there to scoop up the magistrate.
Counties got demons attached or something.
I rarely visited county-level admin spots, but whenever I did, massive incidents awaited. Stick to major cities from now on...
The county magistrate, a Jeong 7-pum facing my Jong 3-pum descent, panicked and bowed deeply.
"We meet the Left Vice Inspector General, sir!"
In that brief moment before he bent, I caught the worry and exhaustion etched on his face. Sadly, Sungseon's mess wasn't my imagination.
"Take a seat. It puts guests ill at ease if the host stands."
"Yes, sir! I'll sit right away!"
I'd meant it to ease him, but he seemed more uncomfortable. Sorry. A superior seven ranks up speaking? Anything sounded off. Best to wrap business quick and leave—for both our sakes.
"I've passed through Shiwandaishan before, but this is my first time in Sungseon. Even I can see your soldiers' discipline is sharp as honed blades, so how rigorous must it be daily? That's why this border stays peaceful."
"Y-You're too kind, sir."
Mentioning the troops directly had him sweating and nodding furiously. If he had any sense, he'd get it: an inspector hitting a border and zeroing in on military matters meant their odd buildup irked me. Not irked enough for real trouble, but it nagged. Intent conveyed was enough.
"I hear Yui-gwan's defenses are ironclad against Vietnam disputes, yet even Sungseon County spares no effort. Truly Daesong's great fortune."
"Y-Yes..."
"But a blade over-honed snaps easily. Maintaining peak discipline in peacetime must wear on them, no? I wonder how the soldiers fare."
I phrased it as concern, but it meant Spill everything about this situation. My mind wasn't okay after seeing this freak show.
"Sir. It's..."
He rolled his eyes briefly before speaking cautiously.
"No dispute with Vietnam. They're as loyal a tributary as ever—how could there be issues?"
Worst case averted; relief flooded me. Right—as long as no Vietnam clash. With Mongols raging north and Tibet possibly stirring west, a southern flare-up would be game over.
"However... no dispute, but there is turmoil from the Vietnam side."
"Turmoil?"
"I hardly know how to put it."
He muttered blankly, frowning in thought. After a pause, he continued.
"Beasts of all kinds are flooding in from Vietnam."
"...What?"
"And Vietnam's hunters trail them, crossing the border without regard."
The unexpected issue left me speechless. Sure, crises never matched my predictions, but beasts? Unforeseen.
How many to cause this?
How many beasts for so many hunters to illegally cross, panicking a whole county? Honestly, I didn't want to know.
Daesong and Vietnam's border was peaceful and serene. Mongols had invaded Vietnam thrice in the past, but modern Daesong had little interest. Vietnam saw no need to defy the Middle Kingdom's unifier, so relations stayed decent. The terrain—mountains and jungles—made war unprofitable anyway. Untouched wilds became beast paradises.
But months ago, weirdness started.
Beasts that lived quietly en masse.
Border depths saw few except hunters or herb gatherers. Yet deep-dwelling beasts burst from the jungle voluntarily. If just rabbits or deer, fine—but not all beasts were tame. Fierce predators ignoring all but blue-rank meat now prowled cities and villages.
Sungseon mobilizing troops against beast raids was natural, but the extras were the problem.
Foreign hunters trailing them complicated it. Borders must hold firm—not just against armies, but unchecked civilians. Slack off, and who knew what'd happen.
Thus, Sungseon unleashed masses of soldiers: to cull beasts and sniff out stamina-monster illegal hunters.
...Beasts, huh.
The word triggered an instinctive group. Sungseon troops hunted illegal hunters; hunters surged because beasts rampaged. Beast cause unknown, but experts could handle that.
Handy—they're right next door.
Yunnam housed Middle Kingdom's top beast lovers and pros. Guangxi neighbored it perfectly—time to commission them. Oddballs in peace, rock-solid when needed. Good thing Baek-su-mun was thoroughly pro-commoner, pro-beast...
It had been ages since the Left Vice Inspector General sent a messenger pigeon. First since meeting Maek in Gansu?
- Buo!
- Buo! Buooo!
"Heh, did you smell something?"
Pulling the letter from the pigeon, the nearby Maeks started snuffling excitedly. Odd. Did it carry the Inspector's scent? Excited by their guardian's family smell? Such fine family bonds. Heartwarming.
Beasts causing a ruckus.
Anyway, from the Inspector—time to check contents quick. Guangxi beasts rampaging; if possible, investigate causes.
...Guangxi too, huh.
The Inspector might not know, but surprisingly, Yunnam's beasts were stirring too. What the hell happened in Vietnam to hit both? No clue.