Chapter 49
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 49
Chapter Title: Blitzkrieg
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Zhongping 2nd year (185 AD), 3rd month. The Grand Hall of the Imperial Palace.
As spring arrived, the frozen Yang Province front lines began to thaw, and the court in Luoyang sprang into bustling action alongside them.
The Emperor had finally decided to dispatch a massive relief force to put an end to the protracted Yang Province rebellion.
The voice of the eunuch reading the edict echoed through the grand hall.
"Zhu Jun, Right Colonel Director, is hereby promoted to Right General and appointed Supreme Commander of the relief army!"
Zhu Jun, who had earned great merits during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, was named Supreme Commander of the relief force.
"Tanggu General Zhu Shen shall assist the Right General! Furthermore, Separate Division Commander Sun Jian and Gentleman Consultant Do Gyeom are appointed Adjutants; they too shall aid the Right General in suppressing the rebels!"
As this splendid lineup of appointments was announced, the most shocking name no one had anticipated slipped out.
"Hedong Commandery Administrator Dong Zhuo stands accused of accepting bribes in secret and colluding with the barbarians. However, His merciful Majesty grants him a chance to atone for his crimes—lead twenty thousand troops and join this campaign!"
At those words, the Emperor spoke up with evident satisfaction.
"The central army is the foundation of the state, so I shall send ten thousand. The rest can be filled by Hedong Commandery Administrator. He must wish to earn merits to wash away his sins, so is this not a joyous occasion?"
"Y-Your Majesty's wisdom reaches the heavens!"
It was the Emperor himself who had taken bribes from Dong Zhuo, who had earned merits suppressing northern barbarians.
Yet seeing him so shamelessly conscript troops now, the officials clicked their tongues inwardly but none dared speak up directly.
There was a brief murmur, but with the military commanders' appointments concluded, it was finally time to name the vacant Yang Province Administrator.
At that moment, Chief Attendant Zhang Yang, standing beside the Emperor, stepped forward and proclaimed in a clear voice.
"By His Majesty's decree! After deep deliberation over the vacancy of Yang Province Administrator, a recommended candidate has emerged: Yang Yong!"
Zhang Yang unfurled the imperial edict and continued.
"Though Yang Yong has not held office, his talent in handling finances is exceptional, and his calculations are sharp. His Majesty deems him the perfect man to straighten out chaotic Yang Province's finances and revive trade with the Western Regions!"
As Zhang Yang finished, a man dressed as a merchant stepped forward and prostrated himself on the floor.
He was Yang Yong.
At his name, the faces of the Pure Stream faction officials darkened, and Grand General He Jin let out a deep sigh, muttering inwardly.
'If not for that fool Song Xiao...'
On the other hand, the Obscure Stream faction, led by the Ten Attendants, beamed with delight. The Emperor looked upon Yang Yong with great satisfaction and said.
"The people of Yang Province are sturdy and hard to sway, but once their habits are corrected this time, great profits shall surely follow, no?"
Yang Yong pressed his forehead to the floor and flattered.
"This unworthy subject has been granted the great post of Yang Province Administrator by Your Majesty's grace; I shall exert every effort, like a horse at the post road, to repay it!"
The Emperor burst into hearty laughter at the flattery.
But the Pure Stream officials and He Jin's faces hardened at the sight.
Rumors were already rampant in the court: the Yang Province Administrator post had been sold for a staggering sixty million cash.
The Emperor's laughter proved the rumor true.
The same question lingered in every official's heart.
'Sixty million cash... Hah, who knows how much blood he'll squeeze from the people now.'
One side dreamed of profits from the war, the other of the disasters the new administrator would bring.
The relief army departing the capital arrived at Jinseong.
I greeted the new commanders leading it, alongside Lu Zhi.
Supreme Commander Right General Zhu Jun exuded an aura befitting one of Han's Three Great Generals.
"General Lu, you've endured much hardship."
"Haha, with General Zhu leading the relief army, it's like gaining a heavenly host."
Lu Zhi and Zhu Jun exchanged proper courtesies, greetings, and shared the battlefield situation.
My gaze, however, turned to those standing beside Zhu Jun.
Tanggu General Zhu Shen, Hedong Commandery Administrator Dong Zhuo, Adjutants Sun Jian and Do Gyeom.
I didn't know much about Zhu Shen, but even I, who wasn't well-versed in Romance of the Three Kingdoms, had heard of Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian, and Do Gyeom.
'That guy's gotta be Sun Jian, no doubt.'
A young general with gleaming eyes and evident competitive spirit stood out. He was almost certainly Sun Jian.
Beside Sun Jian was an older warrior who looked like he'd swung a blade in his day. Probably Do Gyeom.
'Whoa, damn. Never thought I'd run into them this soon.'
But the one my eyes lingered on longest was Dong Zhuo.
A fat, arrogant face.
His reluctance at being dragged here was plain; he barely gave perfunctory bows even to Zhu Jun and Lu Zhi.
I glanced around briefly.
'Damn, at this rate, it'd be impossible not to clash.'
On our side: one of the Three Great Generals, Lu Zhi, plus me, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhang Liao.
On theirs: likewise, one of the Three Great Generals, Zhu Jun, plus Sun Jian, Do Gyeom, Dong Zhuo.
'All these Romance of the Three Kingdoms heroes crowding into this backwater corner of Yang Province—what the hell?'
In this absurd situation, I almost wondered if this really wasn't a novel world.
As these ridiculous thoughts crossed my mind, my eyes met Dong Zhuo's.
'Not in this life will I call you father.'
Dong Zhuo's perpetually bored, dissatisfied expression shifted subtly upon meeting my gaze.
With Lu Zhi and Zhu Jun's conversation ending, the two veteran generals finally took their seats at the head.
We took our places below them. An awkward silence hung in the air until Zhu Jun spoke first.
"I've also brought the newly appointed Yang Province Administrator with this suppression army. Please step forward."
I clicked my tongue inwardly.
'Like Zuo Cang, Song Xiao'—nightmares came to mind. Having bought the post with bribes, how much would he fleece us?
Wei Sok, standing behind me, whispered softly, clearly sharing my thoughts.
"Brother, how much did that guy pay for this spot? I heard Zuo Cang shelled out fifteen million cash..."
"Quiet, you fool."
I silenced Wei Sok and eyed the man before us. He looked nothing like I'd imagined.
Not flashy like Zuo Cang, nor out-of-touch like Song Xiao. Just practical attire and calm eyes.
"By excessive grace of His Majesty, I, Yang Yong, have been appointed the new Yang Province Administrator. I have long heard of the generals' valor."
As Yang Yong's introduction ended, Lu Zhi spoke gravely.
"Before we begin the council, we must address the greatest issue: logistics. Feeding sixty thousand troops daily requires immense grain, and the supply line from Chang'an here is too long and perilous. What shall we do?"
Murmurs rose among the warriors: "We suffered so in winter...", "Split forces to guard the supply route?"
Then Yang Yong stepped forward.
"General Lu, worry not. That's precisely why I'm here."
Yang Yong unrolled a map detailing Yang Province's logistics and caravan routes.
"As a merchant, I have much experience. Before taking this post, I already invested my private wealth to build ties with clans and barbarians across Yang Province, stockpiling grain. No matter which path the generals advance on, my caravans can complete resupply within half a day. We have plenty for the next two or three months."
The tent's warriors all gasped in shock.
'We've slaved over logistics till now, and this guy's already handled it?'
I'd thought a man who spent sixty million cash on an office was either mad or just good at squeezing the people dry. But his words showed he was anything but incompetent.
On the contrary—
'This guy's insanely capable.'
Lu Zhi glanced at Zhu Jun, who smiled lightly.
"Haha, the new Yang Province Administrator's ambition and ability are truly impressive, aren't they?"
"I merely wish to pacify Yang Province swiftly and reopen Western trade routes. Why would I scrape petty coin from the people? For Yang Province's stability, I offer material and moral support—command me anytime."
With that, Yang Yong moved to leave, saying strategy was for the warriors. But just before exiting, he turned back.
"Ah, of course, I won't supply for free. I'm a merchant; I must charge, no?"
As Lu Zhi's face hardened again, Yang Yong smiled and added.
"Just at cost."
With that, Yang Yong departed without lingering.
With logistics solved, confidence filled the air.
Lu Zhi spoke of winter's achievements.
"Over winter, we actively supported barbarian tribes who sat out between the court and rebels, blocking Northern Palace Bai Yu's plundering. In result, many tribes pledged to join us. Mobilizing their forces too, we'll have at least eighty thousand."
Listening to Lu Zhi, I recalled Master Feng's recent words to me.
『Battles with barbarians never end in one clash. But as their numbers grow, they must settle somewhere. To eradicate them fully, strike their bases in one fell swoop.』
I gauged the moment, thinking now was the time to voice it.
Lu Zhi and Zhu Jun began discussing a textbook strategy: slowly but surely reclaim territory with the eighty thousand.
But Dong Zhuo sneered and interrupted.
"Eighty thousand massed, yet you fear the rebels and advance piecemeal instead of crashing head-on? What idiocy!"
"Mind your place before speaking so arrogantly, Hedong Administrator!"
Sun Jian bared his teeth, glaring at Dong Zhuo, who sneered back.
"I brought twenty thousand. Think I can't speak? Tsk, a lucky beggar like you dares?"
At Dong Zhuo's insult, Sun Jian shot up, hand to his sword.
As Lu Zhi and Zhu Jun moved to shout, before the veterans could intervene, I acted first.
In an instant, I wedged between Dong Zhuo and Sun Jian, seizing both men's arms as they reached for their blades.
Overwhelmed by my sheer power and speed, neither could resist. I said coldly to Dong Zhuo.
"Is head-on the only thought rattling in that head of yours, Hedong Administrator?"
Provoked, Dong Zhuo cried out with eyes mixed fury and intrigue.
"Hah, then you have a better plan, do you?"
All eyes turned to me.
I uttered one word.
"Blitzkrieg."
There was no need to drag it out further.