Reconnaissance is Part of War - 2
Formed by the Emperor's order, approved by Grandfather, and cheered on by Yi Yeon-i, the Zhangcheng Expedition was ready to set out in grand style toward Zhangcheng—more precisely, Guyongguan. This bizarre team of one human, one sa-ryeong, and one sa-hung was geared up and raring to go.
But the distance from Kaepyeong to Guyongguan wasn't so far that you'd call it extreme, yet it wasn't a casual jaunt you could knock out in an afternoon either. Trekking it on foot—especially while carrying the Qilin and Do-cheol—would be a nightmare.
- Kki-ing!
- Kki-ong~
That's why we conscripted Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i as our mounts. Regular horses froze up at the sa-hung Do-cheol's aura anyway, refusing to budge, and Kki-ing-i hates it when I ride anything else. She acts like she's the only one fit to carry me.
So what could I do? We mobilized Kki-ing-i fresh from her trip to Beukhae Binggung and brought Kki-ong-i along too, since she hates being separated from her mate. I felt guilty dragging these guys from their comfy life in Kaepyeong all the way to the border, but luckily, the couple welcomed the outing with open arms—hooves, whatever. Kki-ing-i's grumbling on the Beukhae Binggung trip must've been because we'd left Kki-ong-i behind.
- Thanks for the warm welcome, but you can stop licking now.
- Kki-i-ing~
- Kki-o-ong~
- Hehe, they've been able to talk for a bit now. All that pampered palace life cracked their speech open faster than I'd figured.
Decisively, this Zhangcheng Expedition included the Qilin they revere and serve. A couple's getaway and escorting their exalted king? From Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i's perspective, it was a dream journey.
'Jealous.'
I shouldn't feel this way, but damn if I wasn't envious of Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i. A happy couple off on a fun trip—who wouldn't be?
If it weren't for me, they could've lounged at Giwangjeo or Akwangjeo in peace, or at least gotten some fresh air now and then. These were beasts who'd roamed free on Hengshan, after all; cooping up in Kaepyeong full-time couldn't be great for their health.
So the two Baeknok weren't losing out at all. Traveling with their revered king and their beloved mate? Perfect.
How nice it'd be if Yi Yeon-i were here. Hell, even Jo Wi-cheo.
"My partner is you."
- Pa-tu... what?
"Nah, nothing."
I'd slipped into that foreign tongue I go out of my way to avoid. Ever since reincarnating into this world, I'd kept foreign languages strictly internal—no need to let them past my lips. But watching my joyful pets and their miserable owner got the bitterness bubbling over.
Deer life: top-tier luck.
"Guess you're stuck with me."
While Kki-ing-i and Kki-ong-i diligently licked the Qilin clean, I scooped up Do-cheol. Naturally, Kki-ing-i balked at putting the sa-hung on her back. But I couldn't just make Do-cheol trot along solo on those stubby legs—not when we needed to wrap this up at Guyongguan and head back fast.
I'd barely talked Kki-ing-i into letting Do-cheol ride, but no dice on piling Qilin and Do-cheol together. They both threw fits at the idea. Damn beasts.
'They got along fine in Gonghuwon.'
Treating the sprawling Gonghuwon like a deer's back was unfair, sure.
"Let's roll. We check it out quick, get back, and plan countermeasures properly."
- Yes. Quite so.
At my words, the Qilin hopped nimbly onto Kki-ong-i's back. Kki-ong-i puffed up proudly, head held high. Looked like she took real pride in carrying the Qilin.
- Kki-ing...
Even Kki-ing-i eyed Kki-ong-i with envy. Weird. I felt a twinge of jealousy toward the Qilin myself. Was it rubbing off from hugging the sa-hung?
- Why the stare?
"Just... your fur's grown out more."
For a second, I considered chucking Do-cheol back to Gonghuwon and bolting, but his pathetic howls would just bug the Emperor. Better to suck it up and sacrifice.
The vibe north of the Yellow River was worlds apart from the south. Not just cultural quirks. This border zone got short shrift economically and culturally, and lately, it bore the brunt of the Mongols' bullshit first. The air up here was tense, sharp, unyielding.
'Soldiers everywhere.'
Crossing the Yellow River toward Guyongguan, we kept running into patrols. Twice as many as in Zhili, easy.
"Apologies for the grim sight, my lord."
I'd been staring at a patrol, and the escort captain—assigned by Jung San Wang at Grandfather's request—spoke up cautiously. I'd just been zoning out, but his apology left me awkward. Jung San Wangbu was swamped already, pulling staff for me? Felt like a pain-in-the-ass delivery from some shady supplier.
"Grim? This is beautiful—tireless dedication to the realm and its people. How could I call it grim? I'm impressed by Jung San Wangbu and Habuk's vigilance."
So I shook my head with the brightest smile I could muster. Told him I was touched by their service to the masses.
- Kki-ing.
- Kki-o-o-ong~
- Kiriring!
"See? Even these little ones are awed by the troops' patriotism."
Right on cue, my quick-on-the-uptake beast crew chimed in with clear, supportive cries.
"What an honor."
The crown prince and three spirit beasts appreciating their grind? The captain's eyes got suspiciously misty. Tough break. How much stress and grief had he been carrying?
- Kr, kruheong...
I poked the silent Do-cheol's side, and he finally let out a supportive rumble. Boom—four spirit beasts cheering the troops. (Two were technically above spirit beasts, but whatever, close enough.)
"That said, Vice Censor-in-chief, your destination's Guyongguan, right?"
"Yes."
"Awkward to bring it up now, but... how about somewhere else?"
I turned to him. Huh? Timing's off for that.
"It's the closest pass to the Mongol scum, so I figured it'd give the rawest, most intense view. Something wrong?"
Wondered how to play it, then went straight: "Picked it for the frontline edge. Issue?"
A guy handpicked by Jung San Wang wasn't some rube. If he was piping up late and hesitant, there was reason. Better to hear it out than get prickly.
"Well..."
He hesitated, sighed softly. "The suicide beast remains are brutal, and the uncleared bits are drawing swarms of bugs... Embarrassing to show you, my lord. Maybe hit another pass first, come back after cleanup?"
'Ah.'
Solid reason. TL;DR: "Guyongguan's a shitshow right now—might catch something."
Beyond ugly, unprocessed corpses meant bugs and plague. Humanity's classic plague vector.
"No worries. I'm no match for Grandfather or Father, but I'm a warrior too. Dodging hardship? That's no warrior's way."
"But—"
"Unlike me—who can dodge—the Guyongguan troops are silently cleaning up, right?"
Invoke their dedication, and he clammed up.
"Plus, seeing the immediate aftermath gives the clearest intel. Might even stop more beast rampages. For the soldiers and people, Guyongguan it is."
"My apologies, my lord. I overstepped and offended you."
"Haha, all good. You're my escort—it's your job."
Escorts guard against more than blades: plagues too.
'Peak realm—no bug's catching me.'
I'm peak realm. Lags Hwagyeong or chojeoljeong, but not frail enough to sicken where regular troops hold.
Grateful for his worry, but stick to plan. High-up visits boost morale; wimping out tanks it.
I got why he'd pushed back.
'It's bad.'
Exaggerating a tad: walls caked in blood and chunks. Grounds carpeted in beast (formerly) bits. Even braced, I flinched.
These psycho nomads—how many beasts did they shove at Guyongguan? And detonate?
- Kiriring...!
At the carnage, the Qilin on Kki-ong-i's back seethed with rage. Beasts beyond the border were still her people. No king stays chill watching subjects butchered.