Chapter 10
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Ding Yuan's One Move
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A month had passed since that day's 'perfect meeting'.
The biting winds of Saibang still chilled me to the bone, but the atmosphere in our camp was so heated that no one could feel the cold.
The soldiers' eyes no longer held shadows of defeat or exhaustion. In their place burned confidence in victory, unshakeable trust in their comrades, and absolute reverence toward me.
Everything was going according to my plan.
Zhang Yang maneuvered the army just as I had schemed. We no longer hid behind the city walls.
Under the pretext of securing supply routes, we conducted a 'peaceful advance' only to be 'unexpectedly' ambushed by the Wuhuan tribe. Or while delivering relief supplies to the people of Saibang, we 'unwittingly' fell into their traps.
Of course, all of it was a trap we had set ourselves.
And every time, I became the sharpest spearhead of that trap. Under the perfect excuse of 'self-defense', I danced my blade freely from the position Zhang Yang's army had prepared for me.
Once, twice, three times... As victories piled up, the tables turned between us and the barbarians.
Now, they were the ones skulking around, avoiding us.
A few days ago, I recalled the scene when we rescued a village they were plundering.
Even as I approached silently on my red horse while the barbarians were wreaking havoc in the village, they spotted me immediately.
"Th-that guy...!"
"The red horse...! It's Saibang's mad dog bastard!"
"Run! Don't look back, just run!"
The sight of them screaming in terror at the mere glimpse of me, abandoning their loot and fleeing in panic, was truly spectacular.
"Kwaaaagh! Run!"
"Hiiiik!"
—Hiiiing!
The echoes of hoofbeats and screams mingled together.
"....??"
The villagers, covered in dust, first trembled in fear at the sudden flight of the barbarians. But as our troops entered the village in orderly fashion, they wept and prostrated themselves on the ground.
"Thank you! Truly, thank you, General!"
"Heaven hasn't abandoned us! The Martial God has descended!"
They gathered what little food remained and tried to offer it to us, while the children clung to my clothes and wouldn't let go.
Watching that, Zhang Yang's soldiers puffed out their chests with pride. Among the people of Saibang, a new name began to spread, replacing the nickname 'Wolf of Saibang'.
—The Martial God sent by Heaven to save Saibang.
What nonsense. I wasn't a god. But the people needed that faith.
"Kuhaha! Did you all see it? Yesterday, our big brother alone blew the heads off hundreds of those beast cubs!"
In one corner of the camp, Wei Sok had gathered Zhang Yang's soldiers and was spittle-flying as he boasted. His exaggerations grew worse by the day.
"Hundreds? It was barely dozens at most."
At my casual remark from behind, Wei Sok jumped in surprise and turned around.
"Ah, big bro! You're here! But come on, I was just trying to boost these guys' morale. Don't pour cold water on it like that!"
"Whatever. You focus on your training properly. In the next 'advance', you're taking the vanguard."
"Hiiik...! Bro, how can you assign such a dangerous job to your poor little brother...!"
"Poor little brother? Don't make me laugh. The guy who goes berserk and lops off barbarian heads first the moment fighting starts—what's with the whining?"
At my scolding, Wei Sok cried out in mock grievance.
"Heh, bro, you know damn well I only rampage like that because I trust you've got my back! Without you, I'd just piss myself and run!"
"Uhahahaha!"
The surrounding soldiers burst into loud laughter at Wei Sok's banter. He grumbled but didn't seem displeased deep down.
"By the way, bro, why do you keep reporting all the credit under Fierce Captain's name only? At this point, you could be Bing Province Governor yourself! Time for us to get some recognition too!"
"Watch your mouth."
"...Ahem."
At my icy retort, Wei Sok clamped his mouth shut. He didn't yet understand. What we were building wasn't mere merit—it was a shield to keep the old fox of Jinyang from baring his teeth at us.
I shut down Wei Sok's bragging and headed straight for Zhang Yang's tent.
Inside, Zhang Yang stared down at a map spread on a worn table, lost in deep thought.
A victory report for Jinyang lay before him, but his face was shadowed not by joy, but by anguish.
"General, why do you look so troubled?"
"Ah, Strategist Yeo? Hah, we've won again."
Even as I entered, Zhang Yang didn't lift his eyes from the map.
"But I'm more afraid than glad. The more these false merits pile up, the greater the old man's suspicions grow. At this rate... he's surely noticed everything. Just imagining the rumors swirling in Jinyang sends chills down my spine."
Anxiety seeped unavoidably into Zhang Yang's voice. I sat calmly across from him and lifted the bowl on the table.
"General, what's the problem exactly? We're winning steadily, and Saibang is regaining peace. The old man will surely be pleased. You're worrying too much."
At my nonchalant response, Zhang Yang finally raised his head to look at me. His eyes brimmed with frustration. He slammed his fist on the table.
"You underestimate the old man too much!"
Zhang Yang's voice echoed through the tent.
"He absolutely won't tolerate anything escaping his palm! By now, Jinyang must be rife with vicious rumors about us moving the army on our own! He values disobeying orders more than the victories themselves! To you, this might look like simple wins, but to him, it's blatant defiance!"
I didn't flinch at Zhang Yang's outburst, which had been building up until now, and coolly drank the water.
"We haven't disobeyed any orders. We were ambushed every time and merely defended ourselves. Isn't that how it's written in the reports?"
"You think he'll buy that?!"
Zhang Yang cried out almost in despair.
"The old man... he's surely seen through your danger already. No way he doesn't know this all came from your head. He's sharpening his blade right now. For your neck... and mine, for failing to stop you."
"General, the Governor is a man of broad magnanimity."
"......What?"
Zhang Yang stared at me like I'd lost my mind. His face filled with disbelief.
"Are you joking right now?! The man who dislikes you so much—broad magnanimity? What nonsense is that?!"
"The old man is obsessively conscious of others' gazes."
I stood and approached the map, pointing with my finger at the messy marks of the enemies we'd crushed.
"If I'd earned minor merit while disobeying orders, he would've used military law to take my head and gained the reputation of a 'fair lord who strictly punishes disobedient subordinates'. But look."
I turned back to Zhang Yang and continued.
"We're greatly subjugating the Wuhuan in Saibang right now. Punishing me in the face of this great merit would only paint him as a 'narrow-minded lord jealous of his meritorious subordinate' to the world."
Seeing Zhang Yang's rigid expression soften bit by bit, I pressed harder.
"The old man would never endure such humiliation. Instead, he'll smile broadly and boast to the world that 'everything was my intent, and I foresaw it all with my keen insight'. Our merits become his. How could he not be pleased?"
Stunned by my logic, Zhang Yang fell silent for a moment. He tried to grasp my words but still muttered anxiously.
"But... what if the old man doesn't act as you predict? How do we handle his wrath then?"
"General. Do you think the old man's fury will outpace my blade? Don't worry. If he tries to leash me, I'll just snap the leash."
"You—"
At my bold words, Zhang Yang momentarily lost his voice. He seemed about to say something when a soldier's voice came from outside.
"General! Strategist! A messenger! From Jinyang!"
Our eyes met in the air. It had finally arrived.
Moments later, not a ragged soldier but a properly attired messenger from Jinyang entered the tent, knelt before us, and shouted.
"Fierce Captain Zhang Yang and Chief Clerk Yeo Po, hear this!"
The air in the tent froze. Especially Zhang Yang's face drained completely white.
"Greatly pleased by Saibang's successive victories, the Governor himself leads 10,000 elite troops here to Saibang for the complete pacification of the north! Hasten to join his army with yours and claim the honor of the vanguard!"
As the messenger finished, suffocating silence filled the tent. Disbelief filled Zhang Yang's eyes, but I couldn't help marveling at Ding Yuan's one move.
Rather than rage, Ding Yuan was seizing this chance to properly claim his share.