Chapter 229
Chapter 229
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 229
Chapter Title: War Clouds Looming Over the North
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Tai Mu-rang.
Having named himself the wolf, he had long been hailed as the ruler of the North and the king of the great plains.
For a thousand years, the nomadic peoples of the vast steppe had been scorned as barbarians by the Central Plains. After uniting them into a single force, he had been ceaselessly watching for an opportunity to reclaim the southern lands that once belonged to his people.
The Yeon Kingdom and the Zhao Kingdom were one and the same—enemies to him.
Yet he had decided to strike the Yeon Kingdom first after receiving a piece of intelligence.
The Yeon Kingdom was planning a northern conquest.
Tai Mu-rang hadn't been particularly surprised by the news. The Yeon Kingdom had been eyeing a northern campaign for ages, launching repeated incursions across the great plains. It was nothing new.
Before Gwak Chung-mu, every commander of the Northern Legion had invaded the plains time and again in pursuit of conquest.
Gwak Chung-mu had stayed quiet unlike his predecessors, but Tai Mu-rang figured he was finally revealing his true intentions.
He had no intention of sitting idly by. Instead, Tai Mu-rang resolved to strike first, leading to the current situation.
Whoooosh!
Snow piled thick atop Tai Mu-rang's head. His generals begged him to seek shelter from the blizzard, but he waited atop the storm-swept plain for a messenger.
"The messenger is late."
"The weather is foul, Your Highness. Please wait just a bit longer."
"These aren't the sort to be slowed by weather like this. The operation must have failed."
"......"
Tai Mu-rang's gaze grew heavy. He was all but certain his forces sent against Yi Hwan had failed.
And sure enough.
Thud thud thud!
A single rider burst through the blizzard.
One general shouted.
"It's General So Mun-gae's deputy!"
The man atop the horse looked on the verge of death at a glance. He had lost so much blood that a crimson trail marked his path across the plain.
Thump!
So Mun-gae's deputy dismounted in a heap and cried out toward Tai Mu-rang.
"The Yeon Kingdom's Fourth Imperial Prince has taken General So Mun-gae's head!"
"What?"
"We mistook Jeong Cheon's Southern Legion forces for the Fourth Imperial Prince's and ambushed them, suffering near annihilation. Then suddenly the Yeon Kingdom's Fourth Imperial Prince appeared and......"
So Mun-gae's deputy could say no more. His breath gave out.
Shock rippled through the assembled generals.
So Mun-gae was renowned even among the Blue Wolf Tribe as a powerhouse. For him to fall not to Jeong Cheon, but to Yi Hwan?
Yi Hwan's prowess was still largely unknown, so the shock to Tai Mu-rang and his generals was all the greater.
Stunned by the ill tidings, the generals could only stare at Tai Mu-rang.
"Jeong Cheon, who should be with the Southern Legion, came north? Does that mean the Zhao Kingdom's offensive is of no concern?"
"Something's off. There've been no reports of Southern Legion troops moving."
"We grew complacent. All of us."
Tai Mu-rang turned. The general he looked upon—a man overseeing intelligence—lowered his head with a stiff expression.
"I'll take your ear in place of punishment."
"Thank you, Your Highness!"
The general sliced off his own right ear. Blood poured forth, but he calmly wrapped the severed flesh in cloth and buried it in the earth. It was their custom.
Tai Mu-rang issued orders.
"Establish a camp here and make it our forward base. Relay that the front line is to be pushed this far. Also, send condolence payments to General So Mun-gae's family, and take his sons under my command."
The generals grew agitated at Tai Mu-rang's calm directives.
"Order a full assault at once, Your Highness!"
"We volunteers will lead the entire army and sweep away the Yeon Kingdom's Northern Legion!"
"Your Highness!"
But Tai Mu-rang remained ice-cold.
"Proceed as planned. Return to your posts."
"Your Highness!"
"That's an order!"
"......!"
On the battlefield, a military command was as fearsome as an imperial decree. The generals swallowed their fury and returned to their positions.
Tai Mu-rang headed for his tent.
En route, he instructed the intelligence general.
"Bring all enemy intelligence to my tent."
"Yes!"
* * *
Whoooosh!
Yi Hwan gazed westward across the blizzard-ravaged great plain, his eyes calm.
The transition from plain to forest was blackened by the Blue Wolf Tribe's encampments. Their extent was impossible to gauge.
"Impressive."
Go Mi spoke.
"Judging by the banners, it looks like every tribe of the North has come down."
As she said, seven massive banners fluttered across the vast camp—one for each tribe dwelling the great plain.
"This could turn into a tougher fight than expected."
"They're united as one force, but their wild natures make them hard to meld."
"Don't let your guard down. The fact that he unified such savage tribes demands even greater caution. It means the Blue Wolf Tribe's chieftain is no ordinary man."
"......Understood."
Yi Hwan cast a final glance at the largest banner flapping in the wind. Embroidered in blue silk fangs on a white field—that was the Blue Wolf Tribe's emblem.
"Moon Lord."
"Yes, Great Prince."
"The moment we enter camp, compile a report on the Blue Wolf Tribe."
"Understood."
"Let's head back."
All straightened from their bows.
* * *
The Yeon Kingdom's northernmost frontier.
Along the border abutting the great plain, a hundred thousand troops were garrisoned.
Belonging to the Northern Legion but operating under a separate command structure, their commander was General Jo Cham.
Though overshadowed by the giant Gwak Chung-mu, he was a renowned veteran in the Yeon Kingdom's military.
Whoooosh!
"Heaven must be aiding us."
"Indeed. Once the snow piles up, the enemy's cavalry loses its edge."
"Who'd have thought I'd live to hope for more snow."
A faint smile crossed Jo Cham's tigerish face.
"Still no word from the scouts?"
"Yes. Even at best speed, they won't return until dusk."
"What of the Great Prince? He should have reached headquarters by now, given when he left the capital."
"No word from headquarters yet."
Jo Cham's brow furrowed.
"I'm worried. The Great Prince displayed astonishing valor in the war against Zhao, but this conflict will unfold on entirely different terms."
"True. The northern barbarians have repeatedly inflicted heavy losses with their unpredictable tactics."
That was why this sector, though part of the Northern Legion, ran its own command. Treating the northern tribes like a standard war could spell disaster.
History was littered with such examples.
"Since the Commander trusts him absolutely, we should follow suit without doubt. His Majesty appointed him Grand Commander because he believes in his abilities, no?"
He said as much, but Jo Cham was deeply concerned. Could Yi Hwan truly aid against the Blue Wolf Tribe? What if some misfortune befell him?
His one comfort was Gwak Chung-mu's absolute faith in Yi Hwan.
"He saw it firsthand, so it must be certain."
Whoooosh!
The blizzard shifted like a gale, blanketing Jo Cham. His beard turned white in an instant. He withdrew his gaze from the plain.
Just then.
"General! A messenger from headquarters!"
"Yes?"
A general approached and bowed. Jo Cham demanded immediately.
"Has the Great Prince arrived?"
"Pardon? The Great Prince left ahead for here with his close aides, but he hasn't arrived?"
"He came straight here?"
"Yes. General Jeong Cheon arrived with Southern Legion elites and said as much."
"General Jeong Cheon is here?"
"Yes. But he said they encountered the enemy en route. The Commander ordered us to bolster rear defenses in case the foe circles behind."
Jo Cham's eyes widened.
"Is that true?"
"Yes. Three thousand of the thirty thousand elites fell in the clash."
Jo Cham and his generals couldn't hide their shock. Not at the three thousand dead, but that the enemy had reached the rear.
One general said gravely.
"The missing ten thousand seem to have vanished suddenly."
"Indeed. But how did they pierce our defensive lines?"
"We'll strengthen security at once."
"Check the beacon towers for anomalies too!"
"Yes!"
The generals hurried off.
Jo Cham stared at the plain, face rigid.
"They're fully prepared this time. Never before have they breached the northern defenses. And where the devil is the Great Prince? Surely nothing happened on the way north......"
Then a shout from the left.
"The scouts are returning!"
Jo Cham's gaze turned to the plain's left—the west.
Figures emerged through the blizzard.
"Returning this early from scouting means something's happened......"
* * *
"That's Commander Jo Cham."
Yi Hwan eyed the man the warrior indicated. Like most frontline generals, he cut an imposing figure.
Go Mi said.
"He's one of our Yeon Kingdom's top fierce generals. Even Commander Gwak places great trust in him."
Yi Hwan nodded silently and strode toward the fortress without hesitation.
Moments later, at the base of the wall, the warrior shouted toward Jo Cham.
"It's the Great Prince!"
Jo Cham's eyes flew wide in astonishment. He leaped down from the wall in a single bound, bowed deeply, and cried.
"Senior General Jo Cham greets the Great Prince!"
"Good to meet you."
"But why approach from that direction?"
"I went scouting with these fellows. We'll talk details inside."
"I'll escort you!"
Jo Cham turned and bellowed to the warriors atop the wall, infusing his voice with inner energy.
"The Great Prince has arrived! Open the gates!"
Boom!
The warriors' thunderous response seemed to bend even the raging blizzard.