Chapter 306
Chapter 306
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 306
Chapter Title: Jang Cheonjo's Choice
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Yi So had prepared a separate space in advance for when Yi Hwan entered the palace. Right in the middle of the garden, he had built an exquisite pavilion.
Yi Hwan and Yi So sat facing each other there.
In the midst of their casual conversation, Yi Hwan pulled out the letter from Yi Seong-ji. After hearing the full explanation, Yi So furrowed his brow and murmured.
"Forgiveness..."
Yi Hwan had not revealed his own thoughts first. Yi So would heed whatever opinion Yi Hwan offered, but since this matter involved treason, he believed it shouldn't be handled that way.
"I want to hear your thoughts."
"Since it's a matter related to treason, I will follow Your Majesty's will."
Yi So smiled faintly.
"The fact that the Third Prince sent the letter to you instead of me must have its reasons. No need to hold back—speak freely."
Yi Hwan took a sip of tea.
Clink.
"When I was in the Qin capital, he came to see me. He asked about the families of the warriors under his command, their well-being."
"I see."
"He looked very weary. Perhaps the warriors under the Third Prince were just as exhausted."
Yi Hwan met Yi So's gaze and shared his thoughts.
"To be precise, Hong Seon and Yi Tae-ji were the ones who led the treason, while Yi Seong-ji was swept up in it. So, wouldn't it be fitting to grant this request? If we consider his feelings and bestow grace upon him, at least his sentiments toward Your Majesty and me could change. I believe even the late Emperor would have wished for that."
"...Yes. He would have. Then let us do so."
Yi So smiled and continued.
"You could have just asked for that from the start."
"How could I speak lightly on a matter involving treason?"
It was then. Gwan Ji-baek approached.
"Your Majesty, Commander Gwak has arrived."
"Bring him here."
"Understood."
Summoning Gwak Chung-mu, who should have been in the north, into the palace was to officially appoint him to the remaining vacant position of Grand Marshal.
At any other time, he couldn't have left his post, but thanks to the Northern Yeon forces keeping the Zhao Kingdom in check, it was possible. However, Gwak Chung-mu was unaware of this.
Moments later, Gwak Chung-mu entered.
"Loyalty!"
He dropped to one knee before Yi So and bowed his head.
"Welcome, General."
Gwak Chung-mu also bowed once to Yi Hwan. Yi Hwan smiled and greeted him in return.
"It's been a while, Commander."
"Rise, General."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Gwak Chung-mu stepped up into the pavilion. His seat had already been prepared.
Gwan Ji-baek also joined them.
After some brief exchange of pleasantries, Yi So got to the main point. Upon hearing he was to be enfeoffed as Grand Marshal, Gwak Chung-mu showed a greatly surprised reaction.
Yi So smiled and said.
"My brother has strongly recommended you for the position. Of course, I too consider you the right man for it."
Gwak Chung-mu gazed at Yi Hwan with reddened eyes.
Yi Hwan gave a faint smile and said.
"Is there any general in this kingdom more suited to the role of Grand Marshal than you, Commander? I thought not, so I dared to bring it up to His Majesty."
"......!"
"Let us do well from here on."
Following Yi Hwan's words, Yi So added one more thing.
"As you have until now, protect the north well so the people can sleep with legs outstretched, Grand Marshal."
"Your grace is boundless, Your Majesty!"
* * *
Yi Hwan and Gwak Chung-mu walked side by side.
Gwak Chung-mu's face was still flushed. Though hailed as Yeon Kingdom's greatest general, his staunchly upright nature had earned him many political enemies, leading to the common belief that further advancement was impossible.
He himself had thought the same.
Yet, with Yi So's ascension and the sweeping changes in the court, he had risen alongside Yi Hwan to the pinnacle of the military.
"Soon, generals from the Northern Yeon will come to the Northern Legion. I plan to teach them our army's tactics and cultivate them into a powerful ally."
"Will they all come to the Northern Legion?"
"Half will come to the capital."
Yi Hwan pulled a book from his bosom.
"What is this?"
"I've refined the existing tactics into new ones. Read it carefully, and if you find any shortcomings, tell me immediately."
"Oh! Is that so?"
Gwak Chung-mu was greatly pleased. Having already witnessed Yi Hwan's abilities in the Northern Legion, he held high expectations for tactics devised by him personally.
"I won't be able to attend the appointment ceremony. It seems you, Grand Marshal, will head north right after as well, so let's meet again when the opportunity arises."
"I look forward to the day we meet again, Great Prince."
Yi Hwan turned to leave.
Gwak Chung-mu called out to him.
"Great Prince."
He bowed deeply to Yi Hwan, who had turned around.
"With you by His Majesty's side, my heart is truly at ease. Thus, I shall devote myself fully to my duties without further worry for the imperial family's safety—please watch over me."
Yi Hwan smiled and departed.
Moments later, Gwan Ji-baek approached Gwak Chung-mu. He smiled and asked.
"How did it feel the first time you met the Great Prince in the north long ago?"
"You want an honest answer?"
"Of course."
Gwak Chung-mu recalled the past with an awkward smile.
"I was anxious. Very much so."
"Hahaha! Was that the case?"
"Looking back now, it seems that was my own incompetence and limitation in foresight. To think I failed to recognize the one who would become a dragon."
As he spoke, scenes from when Yi Hwan first arrived at the Northern Legion flashed through Gwak Chung-mu's mind like a panorama.
Yi Hwan had been an utterly unnerving figure back then. Yet now, he stood as the sun of Yeon Kingdom alongside Yi So.
"Seeing His Majesty and the Great Prince seated side by side was truly a sight to behold. The warmth in His Majesty's eyes when looking at the Great Prince... how could it be so tender?"
"His Majesty truly trusts and cherishes the Great Prince. Just before the late Emperor passed, he instructed to always keep the Great Prince close. In that short time together, the late Emperor saw it too—the Great Prince's exceptional abilities, and perhaps something even more."
"Did the late Emperor pass peacefully?"
"Yes. Very peacefully."
"Haa..."
A sigh escaped Gwak Chung-mu's lips. His eyes gradually reddened.
"You should go pay your respects. The late Emperor must be waiting for you too, Grand Marshal."
* * *
The border region between Yeon Kingdom and Qin Kingdom.
The blue-robed man who had killed a warrior of the Danri Family and fled looked troubled as he gazed at the figures gathering at the foot of the mountain.
"Have I underestimated Qin's warriors too much?"
He had absolute confidence in his lightness skill. Thus, he was certain that mere imperial hounds would not be able to pursue him.
Yet the Danri Family's pursuit was relentless. They utilized their knowledge of the local terrain to optimal effect, chasing him along the best routes.
The serious issue was that the Danri Family had not only requested assistance from other martial sects and clans but had also mobilized warriors from the court, gradually forming an encirclement net. Now, even the mountain paths offered no escape.
"To think the Danri Family would even move the court."
Whoosh!
A fierce wind whipped through.
The blue-robed man glanced north. Crossing that mountain range, which stretched like a barrier, would take him into Yeon Kingdom territory. Unfamiliar with Qin's geography, he had been chased all the way here by chance.
The blue-robed man hesitated.
If he crossed the border into Yeon Kingdom, the pursuit would end.
But doing so would make it difficult to fulfill Jo Yun's order to shake Qin's martial world any further.
No, even if he somehow evaded them and returned to Qin, with the court now involved, he would be hunted wherever he went in Qin, rendering further missions impossible.
"To think that I, Jang Cheonjo, would face such a crisis because I couldn't control a moment of excitement."
Heh.
The blue-robed man, Jang Cheonjo, gave a wry smile.
Having earned recognition for his abilities and risen to Vice Leader, he had been appointed commander of this operation, seizing a great opportunity—only to ruin it all in a fit of anger.
It was a failure beyond any excuse, even by his own judgment.
Jang Cheonjo glanced north again. The sky over the mountain range, where snow had yet to fully melt, was as darkly dead as his mood.
'For now, head to Yeon Kingdom. My lord hates Yeon Kingdom the most anyway, so I'll carry out His Majesty's orders there and return to Qin when the chance arises.'
* * *
Warriors of the Danri Family arrived at the spot where Jang Cheonjo had lingered. Massive tracking hounds, reminiscent of wolves, barked incessantly toward the north.
Danri Mok followed behind.
One warrior shouted.
"It seems the bastard has gone north into Yeon Kingdom!"
Danri Mok caught his breath and stared north. His eyes subtly twisted with dismay.
'Can we catch him before he crosses into Yeon Kingdom? If he makes it there...'
Then a middle-aged man appeared. It was Danri Mok's uncle, Danri Hwang.
Danri Mok steadied his gaze and turned to Danri Hwang.
"The bastard has headed north."
"Is he planning to flee into Yeon Kingdom?"
"It seems so. If he crosses the border, pursuing him further will be impossible, won't it?"
Danri Hwang's face was overshadowed with dismay.
After a moment's contemplation, he continued.
"We have no choice but to request the Namgung Family's help... With their deep ties to the imperial family, if they petition His Majesty, cooperation with Yeon Kingdom might be possible. For now, pursue him to the end! Hurry!"
"Yes!"
Two signal flares burst into the sky.
Boom boom!
They signaled Jang Cheonjo's direction.
As the flares exploded, faint barking echoed from all directions. The scattered pursuers began moving upon seeing the signals.
In that moment, Danri Mok thought of Yi Hwan.
'Should I request it from him directly?'
* * *
A few days later, at the Golden Army headquarters.
Go Mi, who had been absent for a while, visited Yi Hwan's office.
Since the Reverse Heaven Society incident, Yi Hwan had rarely left headquarters, and today too, he did not set down his brush.
Having completed new tactics, he was now researching a few simple forms that warriors could easily learn, to strengthen the army's forces.
"It's Go Mi. May I enter?"
"Come in."
Go Mi entered.
Yi Hwan set down his brush and looked at her.
"I haven't interrupted you, have I?"
"No, I was just about to take a break. Sit."
Go Mi sat across from Yi Hwan. After a warrior served tea and left, Go Mi began her report immediately.
"Eight people have already fallen to those called the Sun-Moon Twin Swords. The eighth incident occurred just twenty li from the Hebei Paeng Family's territory."
"They don't plan to challenge the Paeng Family to a duel, do they?"
"Probably. And there's one strange phenomenon occurring."
"A strange phenomenon?"
"It's said that warriors in Hebei are starting to follow them. Their numbers are estimated to have already exceeded a hundred."
"Is that so? Hmm... Well, in the past, sects were formed that way."
Out of sympathy for a grand cause.
Or admiration for noble character.
Ordinary people often follow someone based on their ideology or personality.
But the martial world was different.
Even without a grand cause or admirable character, if one possessed overwhelming martial prowess, others would be drawn to it and follow—that was the martial world.
In his past era, followers gathered simply because of strength, forming factions and even sects in many cases.
"Was there such a thing in the past?"
Yi Hwan realized his slip.
"...I read about it in a book."
"Ah, yes...."
Clink.
Yi Hwan set down his teacup and leaned back in his chair.
The sudden appearance of these mysterious masters and their actions could not be ignored without knowing their intentions.
Even with the Non-Aggression between Court and Martial World declared, the existence of groups like the Dark Heaven Cult or Reverse Heaven Society made the emergence of an uncontrollable force something that could not be overlooked.
"For now, we need to properly identify who they are."
"How so?"
"By approaching them in exactly the same way they do."
Yi Hwan smiled as if he had thought of an amusing scheme, then lifted his teacup again.