Chapter 233
Chapter 233
Iron Emperor — Chapter 233
Chapter 74: When Flowering Spring Comes
News of the Haian Kingdom spread swiftly.
That was only natural.
It had been the implicit buffer zone of the Three Great Empires, a target of their joint exploitation, and although that significance had faded, it was also the place where the last traces of the ancients had once remained.
In such circumstances, rumors of a legendary return and the like had been circulating, and the Trikan—the three-legged crow once called the wicked bird or the ominous bird before vanishing—had been adopted as a symbol once more. Events that could hardly be dismissed as mere change were taking place.
On top of that, when a clear movement to rally around Gauri—whose military might had been proven powerful enough to storm the capital of North Roselin—was identified, the opposing empires, even while watching each other warily, swiftly summoned their armies and made every preparation to respond.
An inscrutable exultation played across the face of Emperor Shau Hwan Millior of the Holy Empire as he received the reports of Duke Perisman and Viscount Mao.
Had he caught the scent of war?
Emperor Millior had long been dissatisfied with a stagnant continent. This outcome likely made him want to leap for joy.
"Han..."
But he was not entirely untroubled.
Trakhan. The ancient race called the Han. And Gauri, which had appeared without warning...
"This three-legged crow they speak of and the Trakhan are plainly the same being. And no matter how I consider it, the notion that a kingdom could have persisted all that time within the Reganza Mountains is nonsense. Duke Schung, recite the rest of your investigation."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Even as he raised a wineglass red as blood to his lips, Emperor Millior's eyes were fixed on Duke Schung's own lips. His gaze glinted sharply, as if determined not to miss a single word that fell from them.
"Furthermore, according to the investigation team, there were once slave merchants who captured the slash-and-burn farmers of the Reganza Mountains and sold them off. However, these slavers say that at some point, not a single mercenary company that entered the Reganza Mountains ever returned. That period began roughly fourteen or fifteen years ago. After the dragon's emergence, traffic ceased entirely. The same was true of the hunters who had been tracking the dwarves."
"Hmm. As I suspected."
"Another reason to doubt the length of this kingdom called Gauri's existence is the behavior they displayed in this recent battle. They do covet plunder, but what they took in by far the greatest numbers was ordinary prisoners and serfs."
"Hmm. Is that not commonplace?"
"The numbers are rather... large."
"Oh? Large enough to remark upon?"
"Their troop strength is under fifty thousand, yet the number they carried off apparently reaches nearly forty thousand."
"Ha. Their troop count and their slave count are nearly the same."
"Precisely. A situation entirely without precedent. From this we may conclude that this nation called Gauri is, first of all, short on population. The very idea that a nation so desperately short of people could have endured for nearly a thousand years is itself unbelievable. What prevents us from drawing a firm conclusion, however, is that their dress and culture have no counterpart anywhere on the continent. More decisive still, they have a language of their own."
"What?"
"The word order may be similar to the Continental language, but in virtually every other respect they differ so greatly it can hardly be overstated. Fortunately we have managed to catch a few phrases, but their exact meaning could not be determined."
"Is that so? I am curious as to what their language may be."
"Among the words learned by approaching South Roselin soldiers are phrases with harsh pronunciations, such as 'chokkateun nom,' 'ppogaeppeuryeo,' 'daekkeuppak,' and 'aguri tamulla-ura.' We are devoting further effort to this area. At any rate, what deserves note is that, unlike the languages of our continent, which share a single root and differ only slightly by region, theirs is of an entirely different form."
At Duke Schung's report, Emperor Millior's brow slowly furrowed.
"Summarize your conclusions clearly, Duke Schung."
"I cannot say for certain. My apologies. In any case, the report indicates that these people have not been established in the Reganza Mountains for even fifty years."
"So are you saying they fell from the sky? Or that they appeared with a flash from the lake?"
"Nothing has yet come to light on that point. Only that they are unmistakably a group of a kind that did not previously exist on the continent."
Faced with Duke Schung's uncertain answer, Emperor Millior ultimately knitted his brow and waved his hand.
"Enough. Concentrate on monitoring the Maritime Empire and the Federal Empire. You said Duke Perisman, was it?"
"Yes."
"Feed him well and raise him carefully. He looks to be useful in time."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
As Duke Schung bowed and withdrew, Emperor Millior's voice, sounding both bored and chilling, reached his ears.
"It is time this tiresome, interminable balance came crashing down. I can dye this continent the color of this red wine... Kuhahaha!"
* * *
Fifteen days had passed since the Gauri forces led by Go Jin-cheon had crossed the border. Unlike when they had departed on campaign, the return journey was met with a grand welcome.
When Marquess Gaun came out to receive Go Jin-cheon, Jin-cheon naturally accepted his guidance.
"Hwi. How is the capital?"
Jin-cheon, unable to conceal his curiosity, asked in a low voice. In truth, were the only capitals Jin-cheon had seen the South Roselin capital reduced to utter ruin and the North Roselin capital that he himself had reduced to utter ruin?
Somehow, Jin-cheon seemed ill-suited to anything intact.
"It displayed a certain unadorned quality, with a well-emphasized focus on practicality. However, in matters such as the castle walls, the construction reveals vulnerabilities in siege defense. They did dig something called a moat, but not to such a degree that a gate assault would face great difficulty."
"Hmm. Are you speaking of the same type of fortress we have fought against until now?"
At Jin-cheon's counter-question, Hwi-garam stroked his chin for a moment, then nodded and began to provide the answer he wanted.
"On the whole, yes. To be honest, regarding the moat, simply hitching cows or pigs to carts loaded with earth, setting their tails ablaze, and sending them forward would be a trifling matter—the beasts would charge in and fill the moat themselves."
"I imagine so."
"If necessary, I can see several other weaknesses through which the fortress could be taken from another direction using certain contrivances." As the two men's conversation regarding the capture(?) of the Haian royal palace grew longer and increasingly concrete, Marquess Gaun, who was guiding them, could only wear a helplessly twisted expression. Seeing this, Jin-cheon chuckled and spoke.
"If what we have said is reinforced, will not the fortress's defensive strength rise accordingly?"
"Ah, yes."
At Jin-cheon's words, Marquess Gaun rubbed at his face, trying to compose his expression and bowed his head. And the road stretched on.
* * *
The Gauri main force continued their return to the homeland, while only the thousand-odd troops centered on Go Jin-cheon entered the capital of the Haian Kingdom.
Perhaps mobilized in advance, countless citizens of the capital had emerged onto the streets and were cheering Go Jin-cheon and the Gauri officers. Jin-cheon, apparently not displeased by the reception, raised one hand and naturally acknowledged them. A stranger watching might have thought Go Jin-cheon was a man of the Haian Kingdom.
"His Majesty King Bera Han has personally come out to welcome Your Majesty."
"Oh?"
Jin-cheon wore an enigmatic smile.
For the king of a nation to come out from his palace and personally receive someone signified that he was humbling himself. But had that relationship not yet been formally established between them?
"Let us go."
Jin-cheon urged Gangsoe onward.
For the Haian Kingdom, Gauri was a power they absolutely had to win over. Because they had to secure them, Bera Han was likely stepping forward so directly. Furthermore, to quell domestic opinion, which had not yet stabilized, it was necessary to demonstrate a close relationship with Gauri, which had displayed tremendous might in the Roselin War.
"Well, I must take responsibility for my own words. He is a friend who took a risk trusting me..."
"What do you mean?"
Marquess Gaun, who was escorting Jin-cheon at his side, looked at him with curious eyes, but received no further answer. Only Yeon Hwi-garam, understood what he meant and smiled to himself.
BWOOOOO!
A long horn blast resounded, and the swords of the knight orders arrayed along both sides of the road were drawn in unison, forming a corridor of blades. At the same moment, as Go Jin-cheon and his party began to enter, a resounding voice rang out.
"His Majesty the Yeolje of Gauri has arrived!"
"Waaaah!"
The cheers of the citizens swelled louder still.
And was not their own king coming out to meet them on the other side?
After bringing the nobles to heel, King Bera Han had distributed their wealth on a massive scale to the common people, winning overwhelming support and raising expectations.
Whatever anyone said, what ruler could be better than one who put food on the table right now?
On top of that, he had Gauri to point to as a way to ease the people's anxiety about the empires. Therefore, following King Bera Han's orders, agents had been dispatched to spread rumors among the commoners about the Roselin War. Additionally, a rumor had been let loose that Gauri, the Haian Kingdom, and the Roselin Kingdom might join hands.
At times, even exaggerated rumors were added, but people tend to believe such stories precisely because they want to erase the anxiety in the back of their minds. For that reason, the fervent cheers of the people when Jin-cheon arrived at the capital were only natural. Perhaps they were less cheers than a kind of hope.
"Gangsoe, halt."
"Kkieeng!"
At Jin-cheon's word, Gangsoe nodded and stopped walking. There were still over a hundred mir left to reach King Bera Han, but Jin-cheon dismounted first. King Bera Han, seeing Jin-cheon dismount, could only hurriedly dismount himself, flustered by his abrupt action.
Step. Step.
As Jin-cheon dismounted and strode forward with great steps, Marquess Gaun, Eulji Buru and Uru, followed by Gye Ung-sam and the Rebellious Trio, trailed behind him.
As Jin-cheon walked, King Bera Han likewise walked forth to meet him. Even as King Bera Han walked toward Jin-cheon, he could not conceal the pounding of his heart.
It had been his own intention to use this occasion to publicly display their friendship to the people, but it was only natural to be flustered by Jin-cheon's act of suddenly dismounting and walking toward him.
Where else could one find a man who looked so good in immaculate armor?
'I shall become your sky.'
That single utterance on that day had hastened his resolution. And Jin-cheon had proven himself more than worthy of being that sky.
Not content merely to revive a perished nation, he had kept his word to punish the invaders without mercy.
The two men stood facing each other.
"Hmm. Now you look somewhat the part of a king."
"Because I have a sky above me."
As Jin-cheon, with a faint smile on his lips, appraised Bera Han, the king answered calmly.
"Heh."
After letting out a short laugh, Jin-cheon suddenly threw his arm across Bera Han's shoulder and let out a great laugh.
"Uwhahahaha!"
"Waaaah!"
"Waah!"
"Long live the Haian Kingdom! Long live Gauri!"
Though Jin-cheon's action was abrupt, this single intimate gesture swelled the cheers of the people even more. In truth, Bera Han's coming out this way was tantamount to performing the courtesies of a subordinate state, but when Jin-cheon slung an arm over his shoulder and strode alongside him, the meaning shifted in an amusing fashion.
The meaning of friendship.
King Bera Han had welcomed Jin-cheon as a friend. Of course, Jin-cheon had no such intention whatsoever, but it was a scene that could at once bolster Bera Han's prestige and amply display a demeanor different from the arrogance of the other empires.
Jin-cheon, who had glanced sidelong at King Bera Han's flushed face, let out a quiet laugh and could not resist adding one remark.
"Don't think this puts us on equal footing."
At Jin-cheon's words, Bera Han corrected his expression and retorted.
"How could I dare go toe-to-toe with the sky?"
"Heh."
"Hohoho."
So the two men who led their nations slowly made their way toward the royal palace, leading the long procession.
And a harmonious banquet unfolded.
"Present yourself. This is His Majesty the Yeolje of Gauri."
The woman who approached, gently holding King Bera Han's hand, was none other than Lian Su.
"I pay my respects to Your Majesty."
When Queen Lian Su, with an elegant air, offered her respects to Jin-cheon, Jin-cheon nodded and accepted her greeting.
"I am Go Jin-cheon."
"It is an honor."
As Jin-cheon finished his greeting and watched Bera Han and Lian Su take their seats, his face betrayed something of regret. Just then, Eulji Buru approached from the side and teased him.
"Now that's a fine picture."
"Mm."
Whether he had caught Buru's banter, King Bera Han laughed loudly and waved his hands in demurral.
"Why, General Buru, you're flattering us too much."
"This ain't just honeyed talk for the fine feast, no sir. The way Your Majesty Bera Han and Queen Lian Su sit there together, why, they're the very picture of a heavenly couple here on earth!"
"Ohoho, General Buru, I'm honored you think so."
Lian Su covered her mouth, a smile in her eyes, and expressed her thanks to Buru.