Chapter 287
Chapter 287
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 287
Chapter Title: Proposing the Second Stratagem
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Whoosh!
A fierce wind battered the battlements, where a general stood watch.
Clad in resplendent golden armor, he cut an imposing figure with his longsword that appeared a full foot longer than any ordinary blade.
It was none other than Wei Ziguan, commander of the Qin Kingdom's Golden Army.
His eyes widened in astonishment.
"What did you say? The Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince is joining forces with us?"
"Yes. His Majesty just granted permission."
"Does that mean he has already paid his respects to His Majesty?"
"Yes, General."
"And how many men did he bring with him?"
"They say fewer than ten."
Wei Ziguan's expression was a complex mix of emotions—neither welcoming nor hostile.
'Did Yuan Gaise take the stratagem he devised and claim it as his own?'
The events at the Ten Thousand Great Mountains had already reached the imperial capital: how Yuan Gaise had used Yi Hwan's stratagem to strike at the fanatics' main headquarters, then withdrawn his forces.
"Since an imperial edict has been issued, shouldn't we station the Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince at your side, General?"
"The man most trusted by the Yeon Emperor must be treated with the respect due his station. Report to me the moment he arrives."
"Yes, General."
Wei Ziguan turned his gaze back to the smoke-shrouded district.
His deputy general asked cautiously.
"Is that wise? There's a risk our military secrets could leak to the Yeon Kingdom."
"His Majesty, who surely knows that, still approved it—which means he's just as desperate. This mess is all our fault, so what choice do we have? We must obey the edict."
"But..."
"Enough!"
Wei Ziguan continued in a resolute tone.
"In overcoming the crisis facing our nation, what does it matter if it's a foreign army? If he provides a stratagem to suppress these fanatics like he did at the Ten Thousand Great Mountains, I'd kowtow to him ten or a hundred times."
"General, over there..."
Wei Ziguan looked where his deputy pointed. Figures were approaching the city gates.
"That must be the Yeon Great Prince's entourage."
"Seems like it."
Clang!
Wei Ziguan grabbed the longsword propped beside him and descended from the battlements.
* * *
Yi Hwan watched the general descending from the battlements.
[That's Wei Ziguan, head of the Golden Army. He's said to be as good as enemies with Yuan Gaise.]
'He'd better be different from Yuan Gaise.'
Clang! Clang!
Wei Ziguan approached with the jangle of metal and bowed his head.
"I am Wei Ziguan, commander of the Golden Army."
"I am Yi Hwan."
"I just received the imperial edict. Shall we ascend together?"
Yi Hwan followed Wei Ziguan up the stairs.
He had a favorable impression of the general's demeanor in receiving him. It might have been mere formality, but at least it didn't smack of Yuan Gaise's narrow-mindedness.
That said, doubts lingered about his competence—he had failed in the initial suppression and allowed more Dark Heaven Cultists into the capital.
[That guy's different. What a relief.]
Go Mi nodded at Hwa Ryeong's transmitted voice.
She had some intelligence on Wei Ziguan, but not his exact temperament. Still, as Hwa Ryeong said, he seemed cut from different cloth than Yuan Gaise, which eased her mind somewhat.
Once atop the battlements, Yi Hwan asked directly.
"Have you tallied the number of fanatics who have entered the imperial capital?"
"We estimate around forty thousand. It's not an insurmountable number, but... the bastards have cunningly scattered themselves amid the densely packed civilians, making suppression difficult."
This was the exact problem Yeon Kingdom had faced.
At the time, Yi Hwan had accepted civilian casualties and taken a hardline approach, but he couldn't demand the same of a foreign nation.
"What of the other cities? The ones near the capital."
"From what we've ascertained so far..."
Wei Ziguan answered Yi Hwan's questions without hesitation, his attitude polite and deferential. Competence aside, Yi Hwan appreciated this aspect.
Once the briefing ended, Yi Hwan posed one more question.
"Assuming we commit to defending only the Imperial Palace for the time being, how many troops can you spare for other regions?"
"Hmm..."
After a moment's thought, Wei Ziguan replied.
"About a hundred thousand, I believe."
"I'll share my thoughts—adopt them or not as you see fit after hearing me out."
Yi Hwan laid out his idea without delay.
"Leave only the bare minimum to defend the Imperial Palace and send reinforcements to the cities around the capital. If we can't suppress the fanatics rampaging here right away, we should tackle what we can, step by step, don't you think?"
"What if the fanatics swarm the palace while our forces are stretched thin?"
"They're hiding among civilians and causing chaos because they know they can't win a frontal battle. Leave enough troops for a standoff, and they won't dare assault the palace."
"Hmm..."
Yi Hwan turned to Wei Ziguan and continued.
"I'd like to survey the battlefield myself, but I'll need a Golden Army banner to avoid friendly fire."
"You can review the battlefield through reports. Please stay here. If anything happens to the Great Prince..."
Yi Hwan smiled faintly.
"If that were the case, I wouldn't have come."
"...Understood. Then I'll assign you some escorts."
Soon after, a dozen warriors bearing banners gathered below the walls, along with one officer.
"Take care, Great Prince."
"I'll be back."
Wei Ziguan watched Yi Hwan's figure heading into the city with his aides, then let out a quiet breath.
His deputy asked.
"That's a risky stratagem. Assuming the fanatics won't swarm the palace is pure speculation, isn't it?"
Wei Ziguan did not reply.
"Just ignore him. For now, the best course is to buy time as per His Highness the Crown Prince's plan and wait for reinforcements."
"I'll make the decision. You head to the command post and focus on gathering intelligence."
"...Yes."
Once the deputy departed, a soft sigh escaped Wei Ziguan's lips, followed by a shadow of anguish in his eyes.
'Even if I adopt the Great Prince's stratagem, His Highness the Crown Prince would never accept it...'
Wei Ziguan's torment stemmed from the Crown Prince.
In truth, the Golden Army's current strategy of prioritizing palace defense originated from the Crown Prince's directive.
Even Wei Ziguan couldn't defy the man who would soon rule this land. As a result, they had failed to block the influx of fanatics from other regions early on.
Crunch.
His lips paled under clenched teeth.
'Those are the problem. Those cunning snakes blocking His Highness's eyes and ears...'
Wei Ziguan shut his eyes tightly, thinking of the power brokers around the Crown Prince.
At that moment.
"General!"
The deputy, who had gone to the command post, came rushing back. Wei Ziguan opened his eyes.
"What is it!"
"Grand Marshal Yuan Gaise was gravely wounded in a fanatic ambush!"
"What!"
"According to the express report, the White-Clothed Sword God and other experts had already departed for the capital first— that's when they struck!"
"Does it say anything about his condition!"
"It's... grave. They say recovery is uncertain!"
Tremble...
Wei Ziguan's eyes and beard quivered faintly. Though a rival in normal times, Yuan Gaise and his forces were indispensable now.
Rumble!
Thunder crashed suddenly, and the sky darkened. Rain began to pour.
Whoosh!
'This can't go on!'
"I'll seek an audience with His Highness the Crown Prince."
"Yes, General!"
* * *
He possessed striking looks rivaling the legendary beauty Ban An, his slightly upturned eyes lending a ruthless air that was his only flaw.
Crown Prince Liang Wu of Qin Kingdom's slender eyes widened. Yet his voice remained calm, belying his expression.
"You said his condition is critical?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Absurd. A man commanding a hundred thousand troops falls to a mere ambush."
At that, a middle-aged man standing behind Liang Wu spoke up.
"The Grand Marshal is resilient—he will surely recover. Please don't worry too much."
"If his state is truly dire, he can recover at a nearby camp while his forces return."
"A man of his insight will handle it. Let's wait."
Liang Wu shifted topics abruptly.
"I hear the Yeon Kingdom's Great Prince has arrived. Have you met him?"
"Yes. We spoke briefly just now, and he set off to survey the battlefield in the city."
"How far did His Majesty permit him to go?"
"I'm not privy to that... But the Great Prince proposed a stratagem. Would you care to hear it?"
"Speak."
Wei Ziguan relayed Yi Hwan's stratagem in full. As he did, a faint smile played on Liang Wu's lips.
"So, since we can't suppress the capital's fanatics immediately, divert spare troops to clear other regions first—is that it?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"What do you think, General?"
"I find it sound. Suppressing unrest near the capital would block further fanatic incursions and bolster our reinforcements."
The middle-aged man interjected again.
"It's dangerous. If the fanatics concentrate on the palace, it could spell disaster."
"The remaining forces can adequately defend the palace, Your Highness."
Liang Wu asked.
"Rumors say fanatics lurk in the northern mountains. Have you properly scouted there?"
"...!"
"If the rumors hold, defending the palace with a hundred thousand troops absent would be far from easy. We'll disregard his stratagem."
"Your Highness!"
"We can't stake the palace's safety on a foreigner's plan. Withdraw."
Crunch!
Wei Ziguan bit his lip and rose.
Wei Ziguan trudged heavily toward the gates. Two ministers approached him.
Rage flickered in his eyes as he regarded them. Ignoring their greetings, he strode out.
'Cunning snakes.'
They were the Crown Prince's most trusted confidants.
* * *
Crown Prince Liang Wu smirked.
"Absurd. To think he'd waltz right in here."
He referred to Yi Hwan.
The middle-aged man chimed in.
"Indeed. Even with His Majesty's permission, he can't take center stage. It's a matter of national pride, Your Highness."
Liang Wu sank deep into his chair, his gaze steadying. Silence stretched. As the middle-aged man opened his mouth to speak.
"First, find out exactly how far His Majesty permitted him."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Then, find an opportunity to invite him to the Crown Prince's Palace. He's a guest, after all—best to extend a courteous invitation."
"Understood. I'll see to it."
The middle-aged man departed.
Liang Wu interlaced his fingers, furrowing his brow slightly.
"He's not here just to help us—uncovering his true aim comes first. If he harbors impure motives..."
For an instant, Liang Wu's eyes flashed with the glint only an expert could muster.
But it faded quickly, and he leaned back, muttering.
"For now, we need to suppress these mad bastards..."