Chapter 169
Chapter 169
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 169
Chapter Title: Jo Yun Achieves His Goal
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The throne room.
With two ministers dead at the hands of the rebel bandits, and their intrusion even into the grand assembly hall exposed, the atmosphere among the officials was beyond somber—it was downright mournful.
Jo Yun inwardly flashed a triumphant smile amid the deeply sunken mood. He fixed his gaze on the minister to whom he had granted until the end of the day and asked,
"What of the countermeasures?"
"My talents are insufficient, and I could devise no other plan. Thus, I shall follow Your Highness's will."
'He's backing down this easily?'
It was unexpected. Jo Yun had anticipated that this, the most stubborn of officials, would cling to his opposition no matter what.
"Is this the consensus of all?"
"Yes! Your Highness!"
Jo Yun swept his intimidating gaze over the officials and spoke in a resolute tone.
"The ferocity of these rebel bandits grows by the day. Should we by any chance botch this major affair under the eyes of all under heaven, our Zhao Kingdom will become the laughingstock of the world. Therefore, I hereby officially announce that I shall dispatch the Southwest Army to exterminate these rebel bandits."
Boom!
In an instant, the throne room fell into dead silence.
The officials who had stood politically opposed to Jo Yun let out sighs with expressions that said it had finally come. Yet none dared raise an objection.
* * *
Jo Yun's face refused to lose its smile as he headed to his residence.
A middle-aged retainer followed at his side and remarked,
"It passed more easily than expected. I thought they would put up a fiercer resistance."
"Why do you think those fellows backed down so readily?"
"Please enlighten me."
"They feared I would entrust them with subjugating the rebel bandits. If they failed, they knew they couldn't handle the backlash that would follow. Giving them until the end of the day was meant to instill that fear. The more they think, the greater the fear grows."
"Ah...."
The middle-aged man was filled with admiration.
'His Highness saw through the weakness hidden in their hearts from the very start.'
Jo Yun asked,
"How much time remains until the appointed meeting with Yeon's Empress and Qin's Great Prince?"
"About one shichen remains. The location has been set at a detached palace, considering Her Majesty's tastes."
"See to it that hospitality is impeccable. Especially with Qin's Great Prince—we must pay him particular attention. Use this opportunity to dispel Qin's ill will toward our Zhao Kingdom."
"Fear not. I've selected the finest girls to attend them, and Qin's Great Prince is already most satisfied."
"Does he fancy women?"
"Indeed. He's notoriously known as a lecher."
"Then he should be easy to handle. Still, we must exert our utmost until the end."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Jo Yun waved his hand dismissively.
"A little time remains, so I shall rest. Send a messenger to the Southwest Army at once, ordering them to enter the capital as swiftly as possible."
"Understood."
Jo Yun entered his residence straightaway.
The middle-aged man waited until Jo Yun vanished from sight before turning away. Gradually, ecstasy filled his eyes.
'Once the Southwest Army enters, His Highness's ascension to the throne will hasten as well. Is the curtain finally rising on a new era?'
At that moment, a figure in blue robes appeared like a ghost. The middle-aged man's gaze regained its usual cold sharpness.
"How did it go?"
"Their whereabouts remain utterly elusive. However, while tracking their movements, we discovered several badly charred corpses. We must investigate closely to confirm if one is Yeon's Fourth Imperial Prince."
"Deploy our brightest agents if need be, and verify it as quickly as possible."
"Understood."
The middle-aged man headed toward the western side of the palace. The blue-robed figure followed and asked,
"What of the Southwest Army?"
"His Highness approved it outright. You should have seen those stubborn old codgers, not even managing a single protest. Heh heh heh."
"Congratulations."
"It's a triumph for us all. Come! We must hurry and dispatch the letter to the Southwest Army."
"Yes."
* * *
Yi Hwan's group, having inspected the assembly grounds and returned to the inn, ordered liquor and food to their room for a group dinner.
The downstairs was far too noisy with the massive crowd.
As the meal wrapped up and the drinking continued, Go Mi presented a map she had drawn.
"These are the military camps around the capital. I've detailed the routes leading into the capital from there, along with the surrounding terrain."
Yi Hwan examined the map, inwardly marveling.
For something drawn in just a few days, it was astonishingly comprehensive and precise.
"Well done."
Yi Hwan handed the map back to Go Mi and emptied his cup. As she refilled it, Go Mi brought up another matter.
"It seems a faction plotting rebellion has entered the capital. Have you heard?"
"It's beyond just hearing."
"Pardon?"
Yi Hwan recounted the incident he had experienced with Pa Pa. Once finished, everyone wore incredulous expressions.
Ju Tae grinned.
"So they came all the way to Zhao Kingdom to play the rebel bandits?"
Thwack!
Cheol Mu-ok elbowed Ju Tae in the side and said,
"No wonder the eyes of those men killed at the assembly today seemed off. So that was the scheme."
"I'm thinking of making sure Jo Yun doesn't achieve his aims so easily."
"How so?"
"We'll find a way by tomorrow."
"......Understood."
"What's with that look?"
"I thought you already had a plan in place."
"I just changed my mind. So you all brainstorm effective methods too."
"Got it."
Yi Hwan drained another cup and stood.
"Take your time eating. I need some rest."
* * *
Yi Hwan's room was at the very end of the corridor.
He had chosen it deliberately because the light leaking from the inn across the way was too bright for the other rooms.
Clunk!
Yi Hwan opened the window and looked down at the market street teeming with a sea of people.
'To think a martial conference alone can stir people up like this.'
He had gained some realization since arriving here. Yi So, the Crown Prince, could learn a thing or two about this kind of governance.
When Yi Hwan had unified the martial world in the past, securing the people's hearts had been his top priority.
'Once we topple the Empress and seat the Crown Prince on the throne, holding a martial conference like this might be worth considering.'
Whoosh!
A gentle breeze caressed Yi Hwan's face. As he raised a hand to smooth his tousled hair, his eyes gleamed upon spotting someone at a window in the opposite inn.
'Seeing him here again.'
It was Yang Chan, the man from the cloth shop.
Yi Hwan subtly retreated to an angle where Yang Chan couldn't see him and kept watch.
'Something's definitely off about him.'
Just then, Yang Chan turned his head toward Yi Hwan.
Yi Hwan stepped back further. When he cautiously peeked out again moments later, Yang Chan's window was firmly shut.
But Yi Hwan soon spotted him again.
Yang Chan was weaving through the crowd, heading north along the market street. Curiosity suddenly piqued Yi Hwan.
'Shall I tail him?'
He shook his head soon after.
'For now, I need to find a way to thwart Jo Yun.'
Thud!
* * *
Yang Chan walked north through the market street.
His destination was the regional headquarters of Zhao Kingdom's Golden Army, responsible for the city's security.
Yang Chan moved through the throng at neither a fast nor slow pace. After some time, as he reached the city's outskirts, a wall along the ridgeline came into view, and beyond it loomed the Golden Army's regional headquarters.
Yang Chan paused in a shadowed spot to survey the surroundings.
The defenses were exceedingly tight atop the wall and all around. Massive torches blazed at regular intervals, making it seem impossible to scale undetected.
Whoosh!
A gust swept over Yang Chan's body. His previously impassive eyes flashed for an instant.
"Those who commit crimes must face punishment."
The head of the regional headquarters had brutally murdered children, all because their wailing annoyed him.
Recalling the village chief's words, Yang Chan filled his eyes with chilling killing intent.
Whoosh!
As the wind blew again, Yang Chan moved toward the wall. His movements appeared utterly natural, like someone strolling home.
"Halt!"
The warriors atop the wall spotted him and shouted. But Yang Chan ignored them and kept walking.
"Will you not stop?!"
One warrior reached for his sword hilt. But before the blade could clear the sheath, he toppled backward like a bundle of straw.
The warriors to left and right fared no differently.
Whoosh!
The wind roamed freely atop the wall as if directed by an unseen hand.
Thud!
Boom!
Wherever it passed, warriors collapsed limply. Yang Chan lightly vaulted the wall. Though many warriors remained farther off, not one looked his way.
* * *
"Kehahaha! Excellent!"
He was a man of imposing build, his needle-like beard covering half his face.
Flanked by two women, he laughed uproariously. This was Ban Noe, head of the regional headquarters.
A close confidant of Southwest King Jo Yun, he had been appointed to this post right after ousting Crown Prince Jo Gwang. Infamous for his brutal temper and insatiable greed for wealth and women, no one dared oppose him thanks to Jo Yun's backing.
One general said,
"With things this quiet up to today, those scum must have gotten scared and fled. This is all thanks to Your Excellency personally strengthening the capital's defenses, is it not?"
"Precisely!"
Ban Noe bared yellowed teeth and guffawed at the sycophancy from the seated generals. Then, feigning sternness, he declared,
"Until the conference ends, we must not slacken our vigilance for even a moment. This is a grand event for His Highness's great cause—everyone, give your all. Understood?"
"How could we not? We subordinates will always exert our utmost for His Highness and for you, General!"
"Kehahaha! Bring more to drink! The liquor tastes superb tonight!"
"Yes, General!"
The generals, each with women at their sides, continued their drunken revelry.
"Bring more liquor!"
"Yes, my lord."
One woman stepped out.
Through the not-quite-closed door, something odorless and colorless seeped in. Yet no one inside noticed.
* * *
Even at this late hour, when the streets should have been deserted, they buzzed with people. The noise they made prevented Yi Hwan and the others from sleeping properly.
Pondering ways to strike at Jo Yun, Yi Hwan shook his head at the din drifting through the window and lay down on the bed.
'The simplest way would be to sabotage the martial conference....'
That would mean causing trouble at the assembly grounds. But it was far too risky and could endanger his group, so he had put it off.
Nor could he simply rampage through the capital, smashing and killing at will.
Throb.
Nothing came to mind, and a headache set in.
It was then.
"Gasp! What is that?!"
"Eek!"
Sudden uproar erupted outside.
Wondering what was happening, Yi Hwan opened the window. His brows furrowed deeply.
'What the hell is this?'