Chapter 139
Chapter 139
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 139
Chapter Title: The Battle Begins (4)
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“This is...”
Jo Jeong-mu’s face twisted slightly.
He didn’t seem particularly regretful despite losing one of his generals.
“This has turned ridiculous.”
He had pulled out an ancient tactic to seize the initiative, only for it to boost the morale of the Yeon Kingdom forces instead.
“Impressive. To split a martial artist who’s mastered internal energy in two with a single sword stroke. That guy must be from the martial world too, right?”
“That seems to be the case.”
Jo Jeong-mu raised his gaze to stare at Yi Hwan atop the ravine.
“Could that be Yeon Kingdom’s fierce general Bang Hyo?”
“No. Bang Hyo is the one standing next to him.”
“Then who is it? I know Gwak Chung-mu’s face.”
“This one is unfamiliar to me as well.”
No one in Jo Jeong-mu’s unit knew Yi Hwan’s identity. Of course, they had intelligence confirming his presence in the Northern Legion, but no one recognized his face.
“I don’t know where this stray came from, but his grasp of tactics and strategy seems poor. To choose a frontal assault in a place with such a natural advantage instead of an ambush.”
“Indeed. If they had aimed for a surprise attack via ambush, it would have been a real headache.”
“What they want is to drag this out as long as possible. But time is on our side, so we have no choice but to win this war. Heh heh heh.”
“Yes.”
Jo Jeong-mu’s gaze shifted back to Cheol Mu-ok.
Cheol Mu-ok stood proudly atop his warhorse, his crescent blade dangling at his side—a sight so dashing even another man couldn’t help but admire it.
“An enemy, but one I quite like.”
“Don’t we have stronger martial artists at the main camp? Calling them would make short work of a guy like that.”
“No. Sending more and having them fall too would be worse than doing nothing. Better to pull back here.”
“Then you’ll attack right away?”
“Of course.”
“Understood.”
Jo Jeong-mu was infamous for his fiery temper. Yet when he was cold and calculating, no one was sharper than him. Just like now.
He even smiled at Cheol Mu-ok.
“I’ll remember your face.”
“Are you the traitor’s son?”
“What?”
A twitch!
The smile vanished from Jo Jeong-mu’s face. Cheol Mu-ok added one more line.
“You’d do well not to meet me on the battlefield. I hate traitors with a passion.”
Having thoroughly gotten under Jo Jeong-mu’s skin, Cheol Mu-ok headed straight up to the top of the ravine. The warriors greeted him with roaring cheers.
Waaah!
“I’m back.”
“Good work.”
At that moment, Bang Hyo spoke.
“The enemy is about to launch a full assault.”
The Zhao Kingdom troops were picking up speed. Yi Hwan stared at the figures moving around Jo Jeong-mu. Hundreds of martial artists.
Their attire set them apart from the regular soldiers.
Normally, they would dress like the soldiers to sow confusion among the enemy, but coming out so blatantly identifiable meant they were that confident.
“Mu-ok, Ju Tae.”
“Yes.”
“When the battle starts, target only their generals. But don’t push too deep.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan looked at Hwa Ryeong.
“You help too.”
“Sure.”
“Bow.”
One warrior handed Yi Hwan a bow and arrows. Yi Hwan nocked an arrow and slowly drew the string.
Kkiiik...
Everyone watched him with puzzled eyes.
The Zhao Kingdom troops were still well beyond bow range.
‘What is he planning to do, drawing a bow at this distance?’
It was the shared thought among them all.
Twang! Whiiish!
The arrow flew like lightning from the released string. Everyone’s eyes followed its path.
“Gasp!”
“Whoa!”
Exclamations erupted from all around.
The arrow struck Jo Jeong-mu’s warhorse, which had been grazing far beyond range, hitting it dead on.
With a pitiful whinny, Jo Jeong-mu’s warhorse collapsed. His furious shout echoed clearly all the way to the ravine top.
Yi Hwan handed the bow back to the warrior and issued orders to the generals.
“Move to your assigned positions.”
“Yes!”
The generals headed to their posts.
Moments later, the Zhao Kingdom troops surged forward like a tidal wave.
Waaah!
Yi Hwan did not advance but kept his position, watching Jo Jeong-mu, who also held his ground.
‘Testing the waters, is he?’
Nearly twenty thousand troops remained around Jo Jeong-mu. This defied Yi Hwan’s expectation of a full assault.
Go Mi said,
“Has he figured out our tactic of dragging out time?”
“Seems like it.”
“Then shouldn’t we change our strategy?”
Yi Hwan shook his head.
“Our main camp now has thirty thousand elites. And since this battlefield is our territory, there’s no need to take risks. We just use the terrain to our advantage, buy time, and respond to their changes as they come.”
Go Mi started to say something else but stopped.
Yi Hwan wouldn’t change his mind anyway, and above all, he was brimming with confidence right now.
She had no desire to shake that.
“Stay by my side.”
“...Yes.”
Waaah!
The Zhao Kingdom troops shouted as they charged up the ravine from all sides.
Yi Hwan watched Jo Jeong-mu again. Unexpectedly, Jo Jeong-mu sat leisurely in a chair, sipping something.
‘He’s as certain of victory in this battle as I am. To win, I need to shatter that confidence first.’
* * *
Yeon Kingdom Central Army command center.
Reports flew in one after another to the place where all major and minor legion matters were decided and executed.
Yi Tae-ji, who happened to be visiting, checked the reports himself. Most were from the Northern Legion, requesting reinforcements.
The last one confirmed that the Zhao Kingdom’s attack had begun.
A faint smile played on Yi Tae-ji’s lips.
‘Her Majesty the Empress’s scheme seems to be working perfectly.’
A general approached.
“You must decide on reinforcements quickly, Your Highness.”
“With the enemy’s elite concentrated on the western front, we can’t support the Northern Legion. Regrettable, but we’ll have to trust their fighting spirit.”
“This could cause problems later.”
“I’ll handle that. Just send the reply.”
“Understood. I’ll send it right away.”
“Add a note urging them to hold at all costs.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Yi Tae-ji turned with a smile and left the command center for his quarters. Mun I-jong awaited him there.
The moment Yi Tae-ji entered, he asked,
“How did it go?”
“It failed. My apologies.”
Mun I-jong bowed his head.
Yi Tae-ji’s eyes sharpened.
“Both failed?”
“No. We haven’t heard from the ones sent to the Northern Legion yet. And since the Third Prince is severely wounded, wait a bit longer.”
“Didn’t you just say it failed?”
“We couldn’t confirm death on the spot, so I didn’t call it a success.”
Yi Tae-ji’s expression finally relaxed. He sat in a chair, propped his legs on the table, and stared straight at Mun I-jong.
“The secret’s been kept tight?”
“No worries. I confirmed both took their own lives before capture.”
Yi Tae-ji chewed on a strip of jerky and eyed Mun I-jong oddly.
“Hongwol doesn’t seem to be what it used to be.”
“......”
“Get out. I need rest.”
“Rest well.”
Moments later, Mun I-jong stepped outside and headed to his tent with his aides.
“Still no word from the ones sent to the Northern Legion?”
“Yes.”
“Get exact details on the situation there. Check if there was an attack on the Fourth Prince too.”
“Understood.”
Mun I-jong let out a quiet breath.
*Hongwol isn’t what it used to be?*
‘It’s not that we’ve weakened—it’s that your rivals are stronger than you. You, who can’t take a single step from your mother’s skirts...’
Yi Tae-ji’s mocking face lingered in Mun I-jong’s mind.
* * *
Western front, Western Legion.
Crown Prince Yi So’s expression was grave.
“The Zhao Kingdom forces on the northern front are approaching three hundred thousand. That’s three times the Northern Legion’s strength.”
“Will the Central Army provide support?”
“Unlikely. Right now, only the Southern Legion could help the Northern Legion, but they won’t move easily either. Zhao isn’t the type to just sit idly by.”
“Haa...”
Yi So closed his eyes and bowed his head.
Anger flickered in Gwan Ji-baek’s eyes.
“It seems the Empress spread rumors that Zhao’s Crown Prince is with the Northern Legion. Otherwise, there’s no reason for Zhao to send so many troops north.”
Yi So opened his eyes.
Anger swirled in his eyes too. What infuriated him more was knowing the Northern Legion’s peril yet being utterly powerless to act.
“Can the Northern Legion hold?”
“......”
Gwan Ji-baek couldn’t answer.
Normally, he’d reassure Yi So that they could, but the situation left no room for comforting words.
Fsssh...
White smoke rose from the table where Yi So’s hand rested. The smoke whitened his eyes, shimmering with rage.
“I swear to the heavens: once this war ends, even if I’m branded a filial impiety for forsaking heavenly principles, I will eradicate every last evil in this land.”
His tone dripped with killing intent.
At that moment.
“Your Highness.”
A general entered.
He bowed and reported immediately.
“The Central Army has rejected the Northern Legion’s request for support.”
Yi So closed his eyes again.
He had expected it, but hearing it confirmed still choked him.
Gwan Ji-baek asked the general,
“Is this confirmed?”
“Yes. From our general in the Central Army.”
“Haa...”
Gwan Ji-baek sighed deeply.
Then another general entered.
“Your Highness, the Zhao Kingdom troops are on the move.”
“Any signs of attack?”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
Yi So opened his eyes, rose, and donned his armor.
Clank!
Though he gripped the heavy armor, he felt nothing in his fingertips.
Yi Hwan had suddenly become his great pillar of strength. Thanks to him, Yi So had regained his smile, resolved many issues, even the intractable ones.
Now, he might lose that Yi Hwan forever.
Grip.
His teeth pressed against his lip.
‘Please hold on. Please...’
* * *
Northern front, Zhao Kingdom Eastern Army main camp.
Half a day after Jo Jeong-mu led the vanguard out, a group of troops entered the camp.
Clang!
The entire camp turned to face them.
Generals, including the commander, rushed out and stood at attention.
A suffocating silence enveloped the Eastern Army.
Who could command such awe?
One man.
If a tiger took human form, it might look like that: sharply arched sword brows, tiger eyes blazing with fire, a jaw forged of steel, and long black hair evoking the ancient Shu Han legend Guan Yu.
He led the group in golden armor embroidered with a yellow dragon, a blood-red cape billowing behind.
It was Zhao Kingdom’s Southwest King, Jo Yun.