Chapter 120
Chapter 120
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 120
Chapter Title: Yi Hwan's Assignment
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Yi Hwan returned to headquarters and sat face-to-face with Jo Gwang. The Empress's declaration was far from unrelated to him.
Yi Hwan first explained what had happened in the Imperial Palace. Jo Gwang could barely contain his shock.
"All the imperial princes are heading to the front lines?"
"That's the law of this land. The Crown Prince was unexpected, but it's what the Empress wants, so what can we do? The problem is you're far from exempt from this."
"......"
Yi Hwan took a sip of cold water and continued.
Thud!
"If the Empress and the Southwest King made a deal, her next target is likely you."
"She could force me back as well."
"Because that's what the Southwest King wants."
Jo Gwang gave a forlorn smile.
"That man declares war, the Empress uses it to send the Crown Prince to the battlefield, and then she hands me over to him... Is that how it's playing out?"
"You've got it exactly right."
"What did we princes do to deserve this......"
Overcome with emotion, Jo Gwang's eyes reddened. Yi Hwan silently watched him.
Jo Gwang asked.
"What should I do, then?"
"You have two choices. Stay here, or come with me to the front. Of course, vanishing to some unknown place is another option."
"......!"
"Take your time to think it over."
Jo Gwang shook his head. He bit his lip and said.
"I'll follow the Great Prince to the battlefield. Staying here alone won't let me stand against the Empress, so it feels safer that way."
Pa Pa said nothing. She shared Jo Gwang's thinking.
Once Yi Hwan and Yi So left for the front, the shield protecting Jo Gwang would vanish completely. In that case, staying by Yi Hwan's side on the battlefield seemed better.
'The only one I can trust is the Great Prince.'
Pa Pa was deeply grateful that Yi Hwan intended to take Jo Gwang along.
Yi Hwan asked.
"Do you trust me?"
"You want an honest answer?"
"Of course."
Jo Gwang hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"It's not so much that I trust the Great Prince—it's more that you're the only one left I can trust."
Yi Hwan laughed at the brutally honest response and turned to Pa Pa.
"If we end up near Zhao Kingdom territory, do you have people you could call in?"
"I'd have to look. If there's been a purge, they're probably scattered everywhere......"
"Think positively and line up some options ahead of time."
"Yes, Great Prince."
Yi Hwan rose from his seat.
"I'll let you know once the battlefield assignment is set."
"There's no chance this could all just blow over?"
"I'd like that too, but it won't happen."
"......"
* * *
Yi Hwan held a drinking session with Cheol Mu-ok, Ju Tae, and Go Mi.
Deputy General Son Yeong joined them.
Yi Hwan said nothing until he emptied a bottle of liquor.
The mood was inevitably heavy.
Go Mi cautiously spoke up.
"The Empress will surely separate the Crown Prince and the Great Prince."
"She will."
Everyone nodded gravely.
"The Great Prince might not be headed to the Southern Legion. If I were the Empress, I'd send you somewhere unfamiliar."
Yi Hwan responded calmly.
"Naturally, she'll send me to a front line commanded by her faction's generals. The Crown Prince too, most likely."
"Exactly."
In truth, Yi Hwan had been pondering this very point. He had no worries for himself, but the Crown Prince was another matter.
The Empress would undoubtedly send him to the most dangerous spot.
Cheol Mu-ok asked.
"Is there no way to go to the same place as the Crown Prince?"
"The old fox has the seal and the Emperor's seal. She can fake an imperial edict to assign posts, and even the Crown Prince can't refuse. No need to mention me."
"If she has that much power, why hold back until now?"
"An imperial edict doesn't let you do anything. One misstep, and you face backlash. But this case is ironclad because of the founding ancestor's unbreakable rule for the imperial house. That's why even the Crown Prince's Palace can't object."
"It feels like we've taken a solid hit from the Empress. Better yet, just get rid of the Empress... Never mind."
Ju Tae trailed off. But everyone knew what he meant.
"I need some rest. Everyone, head out."
* * *
The lake shrouded in darkness was as silent as an abyss. In the pavilion once filled with the clack of go stones, Third Prince Yi Seong-ji sat across from an old man.
"It came to this, as expected."
"Her Majesty the Empress played her strongest card—one no one could refuse."
Yi Seong-ji gave a dry smile.
"It was ridiculous."
"What was?"
"I saw the ministers' faces back then. They were shocked, but relieved deep down. For them, this is like a free ride. Whoever survives and returns, they just latch onto the winner."
"Hmm."
The old man nodded in agreement.
"I'll summon our people. They'll serve Your Highness on the battlefield."
"The Crown Prince's Palace will call in all their martial artists too."
"Probably. They'll see you as the greatest threat. And isn't that true?"
"Perhaps Her Majesty even planned for that—to gauge the Crown Prince's Palace's strength. No one truly knows it, after all."
"Yes. That's my thinking as well."
Yi Seong-ji smiled dryly again.
"She's my mother, but what a terrifying woman. And so......"
His eyes grew colder than usual as he trailed off.
"She must never seize power. For the sake of this nation's people, if nothing else."
"......"
Yi Seong-ji stood.
"Shall I let you rest?"
"Yes. I'll be heading to some far-off hellish place soon enough—better rest up now. Then."
The old man watched Yi Seong-ji descend from the pavilion, letting out a quiet breath.
"Hmm......"
A man in green robes approached from a distance away.
"Shall I summon everyone?"
"Yes, even the Shaolin Arhat Monks."
"Shaolin Temple too?"
"What choice do we have? Protecting Your Highness comes first—we'll need their strength."
"Understood. I'll make contact right away."
As the green-robed man vanished, the old man addressed the empty air.
"How long do you plan to lurk there? Come out and serve Your Highness."
No sooner had he spoken than the air rippled. Once the hidden presence faded, the old man finally left the pavilion.
* * *
Yi Tae-ji's residence.
No one was as shocked by this affair as Yi Tae-ji, aside from Crown Prince Yi So.
The Empress hadn't even hinted at it to him beforehand.
"Trying to send me to the front lines too, just to take down the Crown Prince's Palace! What if something goes wrong—what were you thinking!"
Thud!
The teacup on the table shook violently.
His flushed face showed no sign of calming—he was furious.
Mun I-jong, seated opposite, spoke calmly.
"It's decided by imperial edict, so we must obey. I and Hongwol will protect Your Highness—don't worry too much."
"Hongwol alone won't cut it—summon every last martial artist! Anyone who can swing a sword!"
"Yes, I'll do that."
Unlike Yi Tae-ji, Mun I-jong was utterly composed.
In fact, he welcomed the Empress's decision.
'The battlefield will make it easy to cut that bastard's throat.'
Since the decision, Yi Hwan's face hadn't left his mind. He planned to use this chance to eliminate him.
'It doesn't matter if you go to the edge of the kingdom. Wherever you end up, you won't return alive.'
To him, this was a grand gift from the Empress.
* * *
Despite the unprecedented decision sending Crown Prince Yi So and all imperial princes to the front lines, the Imperial Palace seemed unchanged. But that was only surface-level.
The Crown Prince's Palace and other princes poured everything into summoning martial artists to bring along. In that regard, Yi Hwan was the quietest.
Aside from Yi Wang's lineage, he had no other forces to call.
He couldn't take the Golden Army either. In wartime, their main duty was defending the capital.
Even as their commander, Yi Hwan couldn't arbitrarily pull troops.
Even if he could, the Empress wouldn't stand by, and he had no intention of bringing them anyway.
Days passed like that, until the princes' assignments were finally set, starting with Crown Prince Yi So.
* * *
Yi Hwan's office.
A general from the Crown Prince's Palace bowed before him.
"The Northern Legion has been set as the Great Prince's assignment."
"Northern Legion?"
Yi Hwan remained impassive, but Cheol Mu-ok and his aides inwardly cheered. It was the only force that had once sent reinforcements to the Southern Legion.
Yi Hwan asked.
"Where's the Crown Prince headed?"
The general replied in a heavy tone.
"The Western Legion."
"As expected."
The Western Legion bordered Zhao Kingdom across the widest front—a true vanguard line. Worse, its commander was from the Empress and First Prince's faction.
'She's throwing him straight into the tiger's den.'
Deputy General Son Yeong asked the general.
"Where are the First Prince and Third Prince going?"
"The First Prince to the Central Army, the Third Prince to the Southern Legion."
Everyone, Son Yeong included, looked incredulous.
Well-versed in military matters, Son Yeong spoke with rising anger.
"The Central Army handles support and supplies—sending the First Prince there means they'll cut both if things go south, doesn't it?"
"Don't get worked up. I'd make the same call if I were the Empress."
Yi Hwan asked the general.
"Is the departure date set?"
"Her Majesty the Empress orders everyone to leave within three days."
"The Crown Prince's Palace is prepared?"
"Yes. His Highness departs for his post tomorrow."
"Makes sense—he needs to show resolve now. Anyway, good work. At least have a meal before you go."
"No, thank you. I must return and prepare to depart myself. Then, Great Prince... please be careful."
The general left immediately.
Son Yeong asked.
"Will you really not bring the Golden Army?"
"I can't break the law just to save my skin. And bringing them could become another chain later. Drop it."
"Then at least take some Golden Army martial artists. That won't be an issue."
"They need to be here so the deputy can wield full power in emergencies. Don't worry about me—lead the Golden Army well with General Yu. If they shine now, it'll help me greatly later."
"......"
Yi Hwan had already appointed Son Yeong as acting commander and Yu Woo-seong as his deputy. He'd also granted the acting commander authority for immediate execution of any who grumbled or broke discipline.
In wartime, military orders rivaled imperial edicts—no one could complain if their head rolled.
Yi Hwan eyed Son Yeong.
"No confidence?"
"Honestly, I want to serve the Great Prince. So even now, with military orders..."
"Enough."
"Great Prince."
"Trust your deputy and go. If I can't trust anyone, how can I focus on the battlefield? If you want me back alive, stick to your duty."
"......"
Ju Tae entered then.
"They're all here."
"How many?"
"Twenty-one. Shouldn't we call more, even now?"
"No. That's enough."
The twenty-one were from Yi Wang's lineage. He could have taken more, but chose not to.
'That child isn't safe either. I need to leave a minimal guard.'
It was for Yi Yeong's sake.
With the Yellow Dragon Merchant Group weakened, cutting funds to the Empress's side, there was no guarantee they wouldn't touch her.
"Everyone, enjoy yourselves drinking for the next two days. No one enters the residence until I say."
"Understood."
* * *
Go Mi headed straight to her residence.
Moon Pavilion warriors greeted her.
"When do we leave?"
"Two days. Set aside missions for now—go to the markets and have some fun."
"We're fine here. Where to?"
"Northern Legion."
"Right to the vanguard."
Go Mi looked over them slowly.
They were all coming along. She judged her alone couldn't properly aid Yi Hwan.
It wasn't an easy call.
Intelligence work on the battlefield came with constant death risks. Many might fall.
Still, she had to bring them.
"Steel yourselves, everyone. This will be more dangerous than any mission before."
"Yes!"
Go Mi smiled faintly at their spirited reply.
"Shall we all eat together for once?"
"Sounds good!"
"We'll prepare the meal!"
"No. Let's eat at the markets today. Have a drink for once."
"Yes!"
The mood was as usual. That made her heart heavier.
How could she not know?
They were acting cheerful to ease her worries.
'I won't let anyone die. Not a single one.'