Chapter 128
Chapter 128
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 128
Chapter Title: The Reason for Showing Strength
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Yi Hwan approached Gwak Chung-mu.
Gwak Chung-mu, who had clearly seen Yi Hwan's prowess with his own eyes, couldn't hide his surprised expression.
“Now are you at ease?”
“……!”
“From now on, disperse the martial artists attached to me among the generals. Only then can they concentrate their full strength without feeling intimidated, right?”
“Is it really okay?”
“Do I need to show more to make you believe?”
“No. Then I will follow the Great Prince's will.”
It was the moment when Yi Hwan's intention of deliberately showing his strength in front of everyone took effect.
Shortly after, the martial artists who had been escorting Yi Hwan dispersed to various places.
With their joining, the generals were able to launch much more aggressive offensives.
“Huuuk!”
Yi Hwan exhaled deeply and turned his gaze back to the enemy martial artists.
At that moment, Gwak Chung-mu's shout rang out.
“Great Prince!”
Yi Hwan turned to him.
But suddenly, Gwak Chung-mu burst into loud laughter.
“Hahaha! Thank you for coming to us!”
‘Suddenly?’
Yi Hwan gave a wry smile at Gwak Chung-mu's unexpected behavior.
“It's not like I came because I wanted to.”
“Still, thank you! Now let's finish this! I will lead the charge!”
“Let's do that.”
Gwak Chung-mu charged toward the enemy lines.
The generals and martial artists followed behind him and pressed in.
Yi Hwan turned to Hwa Ryeong.
Just then, Hwa Ryeong was severing the neck of an enemy commander.
The martial artists around the enemy commander rushed at her, but they couldn't pierce through Hwa Ryeong's subordinates and fell spilling blood.
‘Even hiding her strength, she's at a level where I can acknowledge she has the right to act arrogant in front of me?’
Hwa Ryeong was astonishingly strong.
What was even more surprising was that she achieved the best results with minimal strength and movements.
It was an extremely precise movement that only a master like Yi Hwan could discern.
Just then, Hwa Ryeong looked this way, and their gazes met.
“Work hard.”
At Yi Hwan's words, Hwa Ryeong just smiled.
Yi Hwan soon turned his gaze away.
Waaaa!
“Kuaaaak!”
“Uwaak!”
Under the Northern Legion's fierce assault, the enemies began to flee.
Also, enemies blocked from retreat discarded their weapons and surrendered in droves.
The battle was heading toward its final stages.
‘I don't need to step in more.’
Yi Hwan wiped the blood from his sword on his sleeve.
Clack!
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae approached.
Both were drenched in blood from head to toe.
Yi Hwan looked for Go Mi first.
Go Mi was standing right behind him.
“Are you alright?”
“Yes. I'm fine.”
Go Mi felt bitter.
Until now, she hadn't even had a chance to fight.
Whenever she tried to attack, Yi Hwan would kill them first, making her drawn sword pointless.
Ju Tae pointed to his left arm.
“I got slightly cut!”
“It'll heal after you eat.”
“Ah, yes.”
Yi Hwan turned to where Gwak Chung-mu was.
Several enemy commanders were kneeling before him.
The sporadic enemy resistance continuing here and there was also nearing its end.
It was a perfect overwhelming victory.
Yi Hwan scooped up a handful of snow and put it in his mouth, muttering.
“Not a bad start.”
“Seeing how easily they fell, it seems they didn't anticipate our surprise attack at all.”
“Zhao Kingdom always provoked first. They must have let their guard down thinking nothing would happen if they didn't move. Plus, with snow piled up like this.”
“The Zhao Kingdom martial artists here were weaker than expected too.”
“It's the same context. If they valued this place, they would have deployed stronger ones.”
“The main camp will be different, right?”
“Of course.”
Yi Hwan went up to where Gwak Chung-mu was.
Gwak Chung-mu and the generals bowed to him.
“It's a great victory, Great Prince!”
“By now, reinforcements have probably left the enemy main camp, so isn't it good to withdraw here?”
“What about the prisoners?”
“Is there enough space in the camp to hold the prisoners?”
“Even if not, we have to make it, right?”
“No need to go that far.”
Yi Hwan stared at the surrendered enemy commanders.
Then he turned his gaze to the regular soldiers.
About a hundred or so?
‘There's no weapon more fearsome than fear. But no weapon more powerful than mercy.’
Changing his mind, Yi Hwan turned to Gwak Chung-mu and asked.
“Do we have enough materials to pitch tents for them?”
“Yes. Plenty.”
“Then let's take them. We can't kill enemies who surrendered, right?”
“Understood.”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju Tae looked at each other with wide eyes.
They were certain Yi Hwan would order them all killed.
[Why is he doing that?]
[He must have his reasons.]
Dong dong dong!
The drum signaling withdrawal sounded.
On the way back, there were no longer martial artists escorting around Yi Hwan.
Meanwhile, Hwa Ryeong couldn't take her eyes off Yi Hwan's back.
‘In one battle, the commander and generals acknowledged the Great Prince. This is a more dangerous ability than martial prowess…….’
Even though Yi Hwan's powerful force made her think it was fun and smile, Hwa Ryeong's eyes grew heavy for the first time.
She felt uneasy.
Maybe she wouldn't get what she wanted.
“Give me some liquor.”
“Here.”
Hwa Ryeong downed the liquor her subordinate handed her in one go.
Just then, wind blew from behind, carrying the alcohol scent to Go Mi who was moving ahead, stimulating her nose.
She turned to Hwa Ryeong.
Their gazes intertwined again.
[Remember that only the Great Prince can drink during operations.]
At Go Mi's cold transmission, Hwa Ryeong raised her hands slightly and smiled slyly.
[I didn't know. I'll keep it in mind from now on.]
Go Mi turned her head away.
The smile vanished from Hwa Ryeong's lips.
‘If you keep showing off, I'll kill you first?’
* * *
Western Front.
After clashing with Zhao Kingdom's surprise unit, the Western Legion advanced their forces right up to the border.
Crown Prince Yi So was there too.
Whoosh!
Even though it was much south of the Northern Legion, the western front had fierce blizzards swirling.
Yi So stood side by side with Gwan Ji-baek, gazing at the enemy lines with a calm gaze.
“They're not the type to stop at one surprise attack, yet it's too quiet.”
“The scouts we sent out haven't returned a single one. It seems enemies are lurking in that mountainous area.”
Yi So stared at the vast mountainous region turned into a world of pure white.
Once Yeon Kingdom territory, taken by Zhao decades ago, it was too quiet.
“Have battles started on other fronts too?”
“Due to the heavy snow, communication isn't smooth, so headquarters probably hasn't heard from other fronts either. Sending people is too far…….”
“I heard the enemies facing the Northern Legion are elites among elites…….”
Yi So was worried about Yi Hwan.
Hearing he went with less than fifty close aides made him more worried.
At least Gwak Chung-mu, Northern Legion commander, wasn't with the Empress and Fourth Prince side.
Of course, that didn't mean he was on his side.
“Don't worry about the Great Prince. He's tough; he'll overcome any difficulty.”
“Huu…….”
Breath came from Yi So's lips.
Then.
“Your Highness.”
Two generals approached from behind.
“What's the matter?”
“The commander and main generals discussed and decided to counterattack. Advance time will be about half a day later.”
“Half a day later means night surprise attack?”
“Yes.”
Yi So couldn't understand.
Even adapted warriors in severe cold, night attacks had many risks.
If enemies were prepared, it could be irreversible.
“The commander expects Your Highness to lead the troops.”
At that, fire sparked in Gwan Ji-baek's eyes.
“What? Did the commander really say that?”
“He said if Your Highness leads personally, the legion's morale will rise…….”
Gwan Ji-baek said angrily to Yi So.
“Your Highness! This is the Empress's scheme to put you in danger! Don't accept it!”
Unexpectedly, Yi So was calm.
“Did other generals agree too?”
“Half and half.”
A wry smile appeared on Yi So's lips.
“Fortunately, half the generals opposed. I thought they all supported the Empress fully.”
He continued to Gwan Ji-baek.
“Let's meet the commander first.”
“No need to meet! Just refuse, Your Highness!”
“Still, we should. Follow me.”
Yi So headed straight to the command post.
Gwan Ji-baek following had his face red with anger.
‘The commander and his cronies are finally showing their evil intentions.’
Actually, until now, nothing much happened.
The commander and all generals treated Yi So courteously, and lodging was the safest.
So Gwan Ji-baek had relaxed somewhat.
‘Vile bastards…….’
Shortly after, Yi So entered the command room.
The two generals stood and bowed.
Western Legion's commander and deputy.
“You're entrusting a unit's command to me?”
“I'm sorry, but the generals earnestly hope Your Highness will personally boost the legion's morale. As commander, I must respect their will, please understand.”
“Then, the scale of the counterattack force is set?”
“Mobility is key in surprise ops, so elite 10,000.”
Gwan Ji-baek couldn't hold back.
“Surprise attacking 200,000 with just 10,000! Does the commander think this makes sense?!”
“Step back, Ji-baek.”
Yi So scolded Gwan Ji-baek.
Then firmly to the commander.
“I understand. As the Crown Prince of the nation, for the legion's morale, what can't I do? However, take elite 20,000, prepare by advance time.”
“Your Highness!”
“I said step back.”
Gwan Ji-baek was furious as if to draw his sword.
But Yi So maintained extreme calm.
The commander bowed.
“We will follow Your Highness's will. Prepare elite 20,000.”
The commander handed a map.
“Detailed enemy defense positions drawn. Red marked areas have laxer vigilance; pass through there.”
“I'll reference it.”
Yi So took the map and left the command room.
Gwan Ji-baek followed, suppressing emotions.
“Why accept knowing it's the Empress's scheme?”
“Must step up once. It's today, so calm down.”
“……!”
Yi So's gaze hardened coldly.
“It's a counterattack not against enemies but Her Majesty the Empress, so prepare all who come with us.”
“What do you...”
“I'll explain on the way, hurry.”
“......Understood.”
Gwan Ji-baek ran ahead.
Yi So stared at his back, biting his lip.
‘It absolutely won't go as Mother Empress wishes. After this, no one in the Western Legion will dare lift their head before me.’
Then.
“Your Highness!”
A general ran up.
One handling info between units.
“Message from Northern Legion.”
“Yes?”
Yi So immediately opened the letter handed by the general.
It was from Yi Hwan, starting with asking after his well-being.
A smile spread on Yi So's face.
‘As expected, you're doing well. This brother will endure steadfastly like you.’
Yi So tucked the letter in his bosom.
Usually burned, but this one he wanted to keep preciously.
That evening,
Yi So led 20,000 elites on the surprise operation.
The commander and attending generals had varied expressions.
But most looked satisfied, as if getting what they wanted.
Of course, supporters of Empress and Second Prince.
Meanwhile, most generals joining Yi So supported him.
They had friction with commander side usually. So?
The commander's face watching departing Yi So and warriors showed clear relief.