Chapter 15
Chapter 15
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 15
Chapter Title: Stratagem
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Yi Hwan and Jeong Cheon sat facing each other.
Staring at the steam rising from his teacup, Jeong Cheon hesitated for a moment before getting to the point.
“Since we don’t know when the enemy might attack again, it would be best for Your Highness to return to the main camp.”
“Are you saying that out of concern for me?”
“Of course. What could be more important than Your Highness’s safety?”
“I appreciate the general’s concern for me. However, I have no intention of leaving.”
“Your Highness, it’s too dangerous here. Unlike the main camp, we’re vulnerable to enemy ambushes.”
Yi Hwan leaned back slightly and continued.
“Even so, I am the Great Prince. If I flee to the safety of the camp to avoid danger, what will the warriors think? As a prince of the imperial family, I cannot tarnish not only my own honor but the honor of the imperial house.”
“…….”
Mentioning the imperial family was as good as an all-purpose shield. The moment it came up, Jeong Cheon was at a loss for words.
In the end, he had no choice but to back down.
“Understood. At least refrain from leaving the camp.”
“Very well.”
Jeong Cheon rose to his feet.
“General.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“Why are we fighting so fiercely over this ravine, which holds no military or strategic value whatsoever?”
“You could call it a matter of pride.”
“Whose pride?”
“On a small scale, it’s the pride of our Southern Legion. On a larger scale, it’s the pride of the nation.”
Yi Hwan let out a scoff.
“Thousands of warriors have died over something as trivial as pride…… Understood. You may go.”
Once Jeong Cheon had withdrawn, Yi Hwan opened the window. A nauseating stench of blood rode in on the wind.
‘Whether then or now, those who handle state affairs never change.’
“Your Highness.”
Cha Jung-kyeong appeared suddenly before him. Judging by the mud caking his body, he had come straight from the fortification work.
“Do you have something to say?”
“What shall we do with the prisoners captured by the Dragon-Tiger Army?”
In this battle, the Dragon-Tiger Army had taken dozens of enemy soldiers alive. Thanks to that, the other units’ views of them had shifted considerably. Truth be told, almost everyone had doubted they could even fight properly.
For such a unit to capture so many prisoners was certainly surprising.
‘Right. We can use the prisoners.’
A faint smile crept across Yi Hwan’s lips as an idea struck him.
“Clear out one of the buildings and lock them in there.”
“Understood.”
Among the prisoners, the common warriors were treated as spoils of war. By custom, the unit that captured them had the right to dispose of them as they saw fit.
“Jung-kyeong.”
“Yes?”
“Where is your hometown?”
“Sichuan Province. But why do you ask about my hometown…….”
“No need to say more. You may go.”
“…….”
* * *
That night, two figures headed toward an old building at the edge of the Dragon-Tiger Army’s camp.
It was Song Cheon-mu and Cha Jung-kyeong.
Both were dressed in Zhao Kingdom army uniforms, their faces caked with dried mud to the point of being unrecognizable.
Song Cheon-mu asked.
“Did His Highness devise this plan himself?”
“Yes. Isn’t it a bit brilliant?”
“It’s certainly ingenious.”
“Then let’s carry it out flawlessly. He trusted us with this, so we can’t disappoint him.”
“Understood.”
Moments later, Cha Jung-kyeong entered the building.
As soon as the door closed, Song Cheon-mu circled around to the back. There, he waited for his moment to step in.
Song Cheon-mu tilted his head, thinking of Yi Hwan.
‘The rumors of him being an incompetent Great Prince were complete nonsense.’
Song Cheon-mu had seen it clearly: Yi Hwan’s valor on the battlefield.
Especially his solitary stand against the enemy commander that everyone else had shied away from—it was still thrilling to recall.
‘Well, even as a bastard son, he carries the emperor’s blood…….’
* * *
“You fucking bastards.”
As Cha Jung-kyeong stormed in cursing, the prisoners jumped to their feet and bowed their heads. It was because he was dressed as a colonel.
Cha Jung-kyeong waved them off with a bored expression.
“What’s with the greetings in a dump like this? Sit down, all of you.”
“Colonel, what’s to become of us now?”
“How should I know? If you’re unlucky, you die. If you’re lucky, you somehow survive. At least the one who captured us is Yeon Kingdom’s Great Prince, so maybe we can hope for mercy.”
“But how did you end up as a prisoner, Colonel?”
“I came chasing a Black Tiger Squad deserter and got caught by bad luck. Tsk. I wondered if he’d defected to the Yeon Kingdom army, but they said he’d already left the area for Sichuan. If I’d known sooner, I wouldn’t have come here—and if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t be in this mess. Damn it all!”
“So that’s what happened. Still, it’s a relief they didn’t kill us right away. As long as we’re alive, there’s always a way to survive, right?”
“Any of you believe in Buddha here?”
“Yes! I do!”
“Then pray like hell. Beg to be spared.”
It was then. A dull thud echoed from outside.
Thud thud!
It sounded like something collapsing.
The door flew open, and a man strode in. It was Song Cheon-mu.
As everyone’s eyes widened in shock, Song Cheon-mu pressed a finger to his lips and whispered urgently.
“I’ve taken out the guards. Everyone, get out of here—quickly.”
“……!”
“What are you dawdling for? Move!”
No sooner had the words left his mouth than the prisoners bolted barefoot from the building. One of them called to Cha Jung-kyeong.
“Hurry, Colonel.”
“I’ll follow behind. Go first. Once you’re out, don’t look back—head straight for the Commander’s main camp. Got it?”
“Yes. See you at the main camp!”
The prisoners vanished from the building in an instant. Cha Jung-kyeong and Song Cheon-mu exchanged glances and chuckled.
“Not bad acting.”
“Who are you to say? Hahaha.”
* * *
Yi Hwan watched as Song Cheon-mu and Cha Jung-kyeong entered through the door.
Song Cheon-mu grinned.
“Mission accomplished perfectly.”
“Now, when those guys reach the main camp and spread the word that I’ve returned to my hometown, even the Zhao Kingdom army won’t come looking for me anymore.”
“Well done.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“You did it for me, so no need for thanks. Quit stinking up the place and go wash up.”
“Yes, sir!”
“Understood!”
As Song Cheon-mu and Cha Jung-kyeong headed to the back yard, Yi Hwan lay down on the couch.
‘Now I just need to deal with those guys.’
Yi Hwan recalled the man he had faced on the battlefield. The man had effortlessly slain the repulsive Blood Ghost.
He had expected strength from their eye contact at the inn, but seeing it firsthand left him uneasy.
‘To face an expert of that level, I’m still not quite there. Still, I achieved quite a bit in this battle.’
His clash with the enemy commander had yielded greater results than anticipated. The only regret was that the Blood Ghosts’ appearance had cut it short.
Yi Hwan scoffed.
‘Reborn in this weakling’s body, and my situation’s turned utterly ridiculous.’
* * *
The next evening, in the Zhao Kingdom army camp.
A general entered the Commander’s tent.
“We’ve uncovered Cha Jung-kyeong’s movements.”
“Is that so?”
“Contrary to expectations, he didn’t defect to the Yeon Kingdom army but headed toward Sichuan instead. It’s his hometown.”
“Sichuan?”
“Yes. One of the Black Tiger Squad members we sent to capture him was taken prisoner alongside the Yeon Kingdom forces. He told the prisoners we captured in the camp battle.”
The Commander shot to his feet.
“Bring him here at once! We need to verify the intel thoroughly!”
“Well…… He tried to escape and got spotted. Some didn’t make it back, and it seems that Black Tiger Squad member met his end too.”
The Commander furrowed his brow at the general’s explanation.
“It’s a shame we couldn’t confirm the source directly…… Still, if he’s heading to his hometown in Sichuan, the information seems credible.”
“I’ll dispatch men to Sichuan to track him down.”
“See to it immediately.”
“Yes, Commander.”
Once the general left, the Commander’s expression cleared as if his chronic indigestion had vanished. He snapped his fingers, and a Blood Ghost appeared.
“Congratulations, Commander.”
“It’s too early for that. I won’t relax until we capture him and recover the Changbo Sword. For now, recall all the kids who crossed into Yeon Kingdom territory to find him.”
“Understood.”
“Tell them to bring in a table of drinks. It’s been a while since I’ve had a drink.”
“Yes.”
As the Blood Ghost vanished, the Commander let out a sigh of relief. Truth be told, his mind had been more occupied with the Changbo Sword that Cha Jung-kyeong had stolen than the hill battle with Yeon Kingdom.
Now that he knew the man’s whereabouts, he could breathe a little easier.
“He wouldn’t dare do anything to the Changbo Sword, would he?”
* * *
The next morning, the rain stopped, and the sun rose.
The weather had cleared, but the lingering stench of blood in the air persisted.
The warriors resumed fortifying the camp, while many sweated profusely clearing corpses.
Yi Hwan sat in a chair in front of his tent, sipping tea as he surveyed the camp.
Countless warriors toiled nearby, sweating buckets, but none harbored resentment toward Yi Hwan. The Great Prince was allowed such leisure.
Just then, a general approached at a brisk trot from afar.
After bowing to Yi Hwan, the general asked in a somewhat firm tone.
“Some of the Dragon-Tiger Army’s prisoners escaped last night. Were you aware?”
“I was just informed myself.”
“I apologize, but I must inquire about the circumstances.”
“The warriors must have been a bit lax on guard duty. It’s due to their inexperience, so let’s let it slide.”
“An escape can’t simply be overlooked, Your Highness.”
“Then are you holding me accountable?”
As Yi Hwan’s gaze and tone turned icy, the general’s face stiffened.
“I’ll speak to General Hwang about it myself later. You may go.”
“Understood. Then.”
Overwhelmed by Yi Hwan’s presence, the general turned away without saying all he wanted. Deep down, he was thoroughly rattled.
‘What was that aura…….’
He had never been so dominated by anyone before.
Walking away, the general absentmindedly glanced at his palm and flinched.
“……!”
Sweat beaded on his palm.
* * *
Left General Paeng Mu-wi was in a foul mood.
After his first operation since taking command of the Southern Legion ended in fiasco due to dysentery, he had steeled himself to shine in the second.
Yet the second operation had ended without him accomplishing a thing. At least it was a victory for their side; a defeat would have further tarnished his standing.
“Why does everything go wrong? Damn it all!”
Gulp gulp!
Paeng Mu-wi chugged lukewarm water straight from the bowl.
‘That dysentery wasn’t ordinary. Someone jealous of me must have poisoned my food.’
Paeng Mu-wi began suspecting too late. Once the suspicion took root, every general in the camp seemed suspicious.
Then he recalled his encounter with Yi Hwan.
‘That’s right! Not long after drinking the tea that guy gave me, the dysentery hit. Come to think of it, he summoned me, said a few words, and dismissed me—that was odd from the start.’
“Deputy General!”
“Yes, General.”
“Find out if there’s anyone around the Great Prince who handles poison.”
“Why all of a sudden…….”
“Do it if I tell you to—what’s with the questions!”
“Understood.”
Gulp gulp!
Thud!
‘If it turns out he tampered with the tea I drank, not even the Great Prince will get off lightly.’
Crack!
Thick veins bulged on Paeng Mu-wi’s pot-lid fist.