Chapter 242
Chapter 242
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 242
Chapter Title: Yi Hwan's Proposal
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Early in the dawn, Yi Hwan, who had risen earlier than usual, stepped outside into the biting cold air.
After a few steps,
"Having trouble sleeping?"
Go Mi stood before him.
"I woke up early because I had something to think about. Want to walk with me?"
"Yes."
The two headed side by side toward the outskirts of the camp.
The path that the warriors had cleared until late evening was now piled up to their knees again with the snow that had fallen overnight.
"If Tae Mu-rang requests a truce, will you accept? Since he proposed the meeting first, it seems like he's thinking of a truce."
"I plan to accept. But I have no intention of just letting it slide. They started the war, so they should take responsibility."
"How?"
"That's what I'm pondering."
"Ah...."
Whooo!
Perhaps because it was dawn, the wind felt even colder. Yet the two walked calmly side by side over the snow.
"If the war ends like this, it feels so anticlimactic. A blizzard stopping a war... There really hasn't been anything like this in all of history."
"The first snow came too early. And as a massive blizzard at that. Even Tae Mu-rang couldn't have anticipated this. In any case, ending the war without sacrifices isn't bad for us."
"That's true, but...."
Go Mi trailed off.
Yi Hwan turned to look at her.
"Something's bothering you, I see."
"Qin and Zhao are both watching this place. If we just let the Blue Wolf Tribe go like this, won't they look down on our Yeon Kingdom? That's what's on my mind."
Heh.
"Is the gaze of foreign powers that important?"
"Isn't it a matter of national pride?"
"The warriors are also citizens of our Yeon Kingdom. As long as no blood is shed, that's enough."
"I agree."
"Don't worry. I'll definitely secure something that upholds our national pride."
"How?"
"I told you, I'm thinking about it."
"...."
Go Mi soon lowered her head.
"I'm sorry. It feels like I've interrupted you unnecessarily."
"If you're sorry, then help me think about what we should demand from the Blue Wolf Tribe as the price of the truce."
"Understood."
Swish...
Snowflakes swept up by the wind enveloped the two.
Yi Hwan stood still, but Go Mi used her internal energy to block the flakes. For a moment, steam swirled around them.
"Get into the habit of conserving your energy. Internal energy isn't infinite."
"....Yes."
The two continued walking.
But there was no more conversation. It was time to find the best possible price.
* * *
By morning, the wind had stopped.
But the blizzard continued. The vast plain was buried under such a massive amount of snow that ordinary people couldn't even walk.
Yi Hwan headed toward the distant rocky mountain. Five others, including Jo Cham, followed behind.
Tae Mu-rang had arrived first.
He had set up a table under a large bamboo umbrella and was sitting there. As agreed, each side had five people, and Tae-seon was one of them.
Tae Mu-rang rose from his seat to greet Yi Hwan.
"Welcome."
"Sorry I'm late."
"We just arrived a bit early."
The two sat facing each other. The others stood behind Yi Hwan and Tae Mu-rang respectively.
Tae Mu-rang spoke first.
"May I ask one thing?"
"Ask away."
"Was everything up to now your will?"
"Yes."
Tae Mu-rang glanced at Jo Cham. Jo Cham merely gave a slight fist salute and said nothing.
He couldn't help but be inwardly surprised.
'To have the world's Jo Cham in the back.'
When the war began, his mind had been fixed only on Gwak Chung-mu, Jo Cham, and Jeong Cheon, who had led the reinforcements.
Though Yi Hwan had proven his exceptional martial prowess by defeating even the rumor-spreaders, the influence of individual force in war had its limits.
On the other hand, Gwak Chung-mu, Jo Cham, and Jeong Cheon were not only outstanding in martial arts but also seasoned commanders with long battlefield experience.
It was natural for Tae Mu-rang to be more wary of them than Yi Hwan.
But that judgment had been a mistake. The one he truly needed to guard against was Yi Hwan right before his eyes.
Hiding his inner shock, Tae Mu-rang said,
"The weather is harsh, so shall we get straight to the point?"
"Yes."
Tae Mu-rang continued immediately.
"I'll be direct. The Blue Wolf Tribe wishes to end this war here if your side accepts."
"What if we don't?"
"....!"
Had they not expected this response? Tae Mu-rang and the others showed a flicker of dismay.
But Tae Mu-rang soon regained his characteristic composure.
"You intend to continue the war?"
"Truth be told, I was planning a surprise attack yesterday. If your envoy hadn't arrived just in time, I'll leave what would have happened to your imagination."
"Hey!"
Tae-seon bristled and stepped forward.
But Tae Mu-rang restrained her, and she returned to her place.
Yi Hwan ignored Tae-seon entirely and stared straight at Tae Mu-rang as he continued.
"You started the war. Now that things have turned against you, you want to end it? Even you must think that's unreasonable."
At this point, there was no reason to continue the meeting.
But Tae Mu-rang did not lose his composure. After all, the Blue Wolf Tribe was the one in need.
"Tell me what you want."
"As you know, our Yeon has a peace treaty with Zhao. That means we can pour everything into this war with the Blue Wolf Tribe. What do you think the outcome would be?"
"Continue."
Yi Hwan took a sip of the tea that had already gone cold.
Thud!
"I have a proposal."
"A proposal.... Let's hear it."
Yi Hwan spoke right away.
"We will recognize the Blue Wolf Tribe and its six subordinate tribes as a single nation and establish official diplomatic relations. However, you must become a vassal state of our Yeon Kingdom."
Boom!
Tae Mu-rang, the ruler of the world, widened his eyes. Tae-seon behind him did the same.
Yi Hwan continued calmly.
"If you become our vassal state, we will actively support your nation's founding, and if a conflict arises with Zhao in the future, we will send troops to protect you. Of course, you must fulfill your duties as a vassal state in return."
Silence fell for a moment.
In fact, Jo Cham and the others were just as shocked as the Blue Wolf Tribe. Recognizing the northern tribes as a nation was not something even Yi Hwan, as the real power, could decide alone.
Thus, everyone except Yi Hwan was swept up in tremendous shock.
'Even if we conquer the north, the benefits to Yeon Kingdom aren't great. Turning the north into allies without losses would bring even greater gains.'
The reason Yeon had tried to conquer the Blue Wolf Tribe so far was simply to avoid having another enemy above them while facing Zhao and Qin.
The barren northern lands held little appeal for Yeon Kingdom.
On the other hand, allying with the northern tribes would check Zhao and even deter invasions from the outer northern forces like the North Sea Ice Palace, who eyed the central plains.
But for the Blue Wolf Tribe, they couldn't end the war with Yeon until they reclaimed the southern regions.
However, if Yeon offered benefits equal to those southern regions?
The Blue Wolf Tribe would have no reason to fight Yeon.
'In the end, what the northern tribes want is stability.'
Though the Blue Wolf Tribe had united other tribes and built some power, they still fell short compared to the central plains' three kingdoms.
Even if they won against Yeon Kingdom's Northern Legion in this war, it was obvious that if Yeon's Central Army, Western Legion, and Southern Legion gathered, the Blue Wolf Tribe would suffer even greater disaster.
The military power of the central three kingdoms vastly outmatched the north.
The north had avoided conquest so far not out of fear, but because Yeon, Qin, and Zhao had to check each other and couldn't spare many troops.
The northern tribes knew this too, which was why they had long dreamed of establishing a nation that wouldn't bow to the central plains for stability.
But a nation required more than people and land.
The north had many outstanding warriors, but lacked talent in governance. It was natural, as they had been raised with spears and swords rather than brushes.
But if Yeon provided support, the northern tribes' long-cherished dream of founding a nation could become reality.
It was an offer attractive enough to make giving up the southern regions worthwhile.
Of course, this was Yi Hwan's thinking, and whether Tae Mu-rang accepted remained to be seen.
Whooo.
Yi Hwan indifferently watched Tae Mu-rang lost in thought.
'It must be bewildering. He expected a demand for compensation, but instead, I offered a tremendous gift.'
After a few more breaths, Tae Mu-rang exhaled softly and asked,
"Before coming here, did you discuss this with the Yeon court?"
"No."
"What?"
"The court ministers won't object. It only needs His Majesty's approval."
"Then has the Emperor approved?"
"If I propose it, he will listen. That's why I'm saying this: if you accept the conditions, we will end the war here."
'End it' and 'we will end it for you' held completely different meanings. For the proud Blue Wolf Tribe, it could wound their pride, but no one bristled.
Being recognized as a nation.
That was what set the hearts of Tae Mu-rang and all the others ablaze.
Tae Mu-rang's silence dragged on. When Yi Hwan picked up his teacup again, the tea had turned to ice.
Whooo!
As snowflakes swept by once more,
Tae Mu-rang opened his mouth with resolute eyes.
"I accept the Great Prince's proposal."
* * *
Jo Cham laughed heartily.
"I never imagined this war would end like this. Truly impressive, Great Prince! Hahaha!"
With Jo Cham, their spiritual pillar, reacting this way, the subordinate generals were even more so.
Back in his tent, Yi Hwan held a light drinking session with his close aides.
Park Ji-mun joked,
"It's a shame the war ends like this. I wanted to show you our full strength."
The mood was cheerful.
In truth, when they first heard Yi Hwan's conditions, everyone had been shocked. But once they understood his intent, they thought there could be no better outcome.
Go Mi asked,
"Will you return to the Imperial Palace with the Blue Wolf Tribe's envoy delegation?"
"Yes."
Tae Mu-rang, having accepted, requested four days' grace to form the delegation, and Yi Hwan readily agreed.
Hwa Ryeong poured wine into Yi Hwan's cup and said,
"When this news spreads, Zhao will be in an uproar. They hoped we'd fight to the death and both suffer, but now they have an enemy above them."
"The Southwest King likely used this war to rally the turned public sentiment. In wartime, the people have no choice but to rely on the current power."
"Did you aim for that too?"
"It's the biggest gain. The Blue Wolf Tribe is a mild breeze, but Zhao is a typhoon that could swallow our Yeon Kingdom at any time."
"Heaven must really dislike that man. The All-Heavens Martial Conference was ruined by a massive earthquake, and this war by a blizzard. Who knows, maybe a typhoon will ruin something else someday."
"Now that you mention it. Heh heh heh!"
"Huh huh huh!"
With the war ended and the outcome favorable, the atmosphere was excellent.
Yi Hwan watched his rejoicing aides and fell into reminiscence.
'It's thanks to them.'
Yi Hwan had learned that the northern tribes earnestly desired to establish their own nation proudly because of his former subordinates from Daye Fortress.
Daye Fortress had northern tribesmen who had come down to the central plains, and they had unhesitatingly revealed their true feelings to Yi Hwan, which they wouldn't to other central plains folk.
Without those memories, Yi Hwan wouldn't have thought this far.
'They feel even more missed today.'
The drinking session lasted until dawn.
Today, Yi Hwan set everything aside and mingled with his close aides.
* * *
A few days later.
The Blue Wolf Tribe's envoy delegation entered the camp. Unexpectedly, Princess Tae-seon was with them.
Watching from his tent, Yi Hwan knew Tae Mu-rang was truly moved.
Cheol Mu-ok also looked quite surprised.
"If we change our minds, she could become a hostage, yet they send a princess. What should we make of this?"
"Sending their only princess with the delegation means they trust me. It's also a request to trust them that much."
"What if His Majesty refuses? What happens to her?"
"His Majesty is not one who wouldn't understand the benefits of making the Blue Wolf Tribe and all northern tribes vassal states. Knowing that allowed me to make this proposal."
"Indeed, with His Majesty's wise nature, he would approve for the peace and tranquility it brings to the northern people."
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
Meanwhile, Cheol Mu-ok's gaze on Tae-seon was somewhat peculiar—a look never seen from him before.