Chapter 328
Chapter 328
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 328
Chapter Title: Dragon-Tiger Army
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“General! Yeon Kingdom forces are approaching!”
“What?”
Gwak Chi, momentarily flustered, soon dismissed it as no big deal. If Yeon Kingdom troops had already arrived, they were surely a small detachment that had rushed over from nearby. The other generals around him thought the same.
But the follow-up report made Gwak Chi’s eyes bulge.
“The enemy numbers at least ten thousand!”
“……!”
Gwak Chi’s deputy general cried out in greater shock.
“Are you certain?”
“Yes! You should come see for yourself right away!”
The deputy general looked to Gwak Chi.
Gwak Chi kicked off the ground and leaped up. Everyone followed suit, launching themselves after him.
Moments later, upon reaching the mouth of the gorge, Gwak Chi spotted the Dragon-Tiger Army charging amid clouds of dust and trembled in his eyes.
“What in the world is this? How could so many troops arrive in such a short time!”
“It seems they must have coordinated in advance! Perhaps they deliberately lured us into the gorge, knowing these forces would come?”
“……!”
At that moment, one general spotted something and smirked.
“Look at that banner. It’s the banner of the Dragon-Tiger Army, the weakest unit in the Southern Legion. No need to worry too much about them.”
“Oh! It’s definitely the Dragon-Tiger Army’s banner!”
Everyone’s expressions eased.
Back when Yi Hwan’s forces were mockingly called a puppet army, the Dragon-Tiger Army had such a poor reputation that even allies avoided standing alongside them in battle.
Though they had recently transformed dramatically and shone brightly against the Dark Heaven Cultists, with few chances to see real action since, their reputation hadn’t improved much among Zhao Kingdom troops, let alone Yeon Kingdom forces.
Gwak Chi breathed a sigh of relief.
“I was worried it might be Jeong Cheon, but the Dragon-Tiger Army? No concern there.”
He issued orders to his generals.
“Leave three thousand to block the gorge. The rest sweep away those Dragon-Tiger Army scum!”
“Yes!”
* * *
Ju Tae tilted his head.
“Something’s happening, huh? Did troops from the Southern Legion arrive?”
“Looks that way, judging by the forces at the entrance shifting direction.”
From their position, they couldn’t see the Dragon-Tiger Army descending.
Kim Mu-gwan narrowed his brow.
“They have no intention of retreating. That means the incoming Southern Legion troops aren’t that numerous. Otherwise, they’d have pulled back before getting surrounded.”
“Hmm…….”
That was when Go Mi and Hwa Ryeong approached from behind. Everyone’s eyes widened.
“Weren’t you heading to the Commander?”
“That’s right.”
“But why are just the two of you coming down?”
“The Commander decided to join the Dragon-Tiger Army directly.”
“The Dragon-Tiger Army? No other units are coming?”
“Yes. When we checked earlier, no other banners were in sight.”
Ju Tae frowned and muttered.
“So that’s why they’re not just holding back but even leaving troops at the gorge entrance.”
At Ju Tae’s words, Park Ji-mun voiced his doubt.
“What does that mean?”
“Well…… the Dragon-Tiger Army isn’t exactly a strong unit…… No, they sent a messenger ahead, so why wouldn’t General Jeong Cheon come himself and instead send the Dragon-Tiger Army?”
Ju Tae had no idea how much the Dragon-Tiger Army had changed, so he couldn’t fathom Paeng Mu-wi’s reasoning.
With Yi Hwan in danger, it should have been Paeng Mu-wi himself or Jeong Cheon with an elite unit.
Go Mi spoke up.
“They probably just arrived first after spotting the smoke. Surely Commander Paeng didn’t send only the Dragon-Tiger Army?”
“Hmm.”
Go Mi stepped forward and looked down at the Zhao Kingdom troops. Hundreds right in front, and thousands more lining up to the gorge mouth.
As Ju Tae said, they showed no sign of advancing out of the gorge.
“They’re underestimating the Dragon-Tiger Army, alright.”
“Surely it’s not really just the Dragon-Tiger Army coming?”
“Commander Paeng reveres the Great Commander like the heavens. He wouldn’t send only them.”
“I hope you’re right…….”
Go Mi glanced toward where Jo Seok was.
Having heard Southern Legion troops had arrived, Jo Seok and the others were visibly relieved.
‘What if it really is just the Dragon-Tiger Army?’
* * *
Thud thud thud!
Song Hoe charged at the forefront.
Generals flanked his left and right, while the Dragon-Tiger Army shifted into attack formation as they ran.
Cha Jung-kyeong and Song Cheon-mu rode side by side.
“That’s a decent-sized force!”
“They seem tense.”
“Not at all!”
“Heh heh heh.”
Cha Jung-kyeong was utterly relaxed.
But despite his words, Song Cheon-mu was inwardly on edge. This was his first large-scale battle.
He had followed Yi Hwan through many battlefields in the past, but never truly fought in one.
Clench!
Song Cheon-mu gritted his teeth.
‘No need to be nervous. Just fight as we trained.’
That was when it happened.
“It’s the Great Commander!”
* * *
The two forces charged toward each other.
In the midst between them stood a single man: Yi Hwan.
Song Hoe’s eyes widened.
“The Great Commander is there! Pick up the pace!”
“Pick up the pace!”
Thud thud thud!
Song Hoe turned back and shouted again.
“We must deliver a warhorse to the Great Commander! Hurry!”
“Yes!”
One cavalryman leaped from his horse. The rider beside him seized the reins of the vacated warhorse and charged ahead first.
Thud thud thud!
Song Hoe fixed his blazing eyes on the Zhao Kingdom troops furiously bearing down from behind Yi Hwan.
‘The Dragon-Tiger Army will never disappoint the Great Commander!’
Meanwhile, spotting Yi Hwan, Cha Jung-kyeong and Song Cheon-mu exchanged glances and fiercely spurred their warhorses’ flanks, racing to reach him first.
“What are you doing with the enemy right ahead? Do you want to break formation!”
“……!”
Cha Jung-kyeong and Song Cheon-mu hastily slowed, dipping their heads slightly toward the general. In their excitement, they had momentarily forgotten formation discipline.
* * *
Yi Hwan gazed at the Zhao Kingdom troops charging fiercely.
Numerically, the two sides were evenly matched for now. The question was how much the Dragon-Tiger Army had grown.
Gwak Chi’s unit was renowned even among Zhao Kingdom forces, so the old Dragon-Tiger Army would stand no chance. But Yi Hwan believed in them.
‘Don’t disappoint me, Dragon-Tiger Army.’
Thud thud thud!
“Great Commander!”
As a warrior led a horse up, Yi Hwan leaped aboard.
“Return to your position.”
“Yes, Great Commander!”
Shing.
Yi Hwan drew his sword.
The Zhao Kingdom troops were now about a hundred paces away. The Dragon-Tiger Army approached from a similar distance beyond him.
Yi Hwan locked eyes with Song Hoe.
At that moment, armored cavalry from the Dragon-Tiger Army moved forward to the front line. They were heavy cavalry specialized for breakthroughs.
‘Predictable tactics will only invite counterattacks, Song Hoe.’
As if reading his mind?
Thud thud thud!
More heavy cavalry peeled off from the Dragon-Tiger Army’s flanks, spreading out horizontally like wings.
A faint smile tugged at Yi Hwan’s lips.
‘Not bad.’
Song Hoe wasn’t extending the line wide but focusing solely on the center—a tactic most effective for shattering the enemy’s core.
To recognize this upon entering the field and immediately adjust formation confirmed Song Hoe’s command skills had reached the level Yi Hwan desired.
But he couldn’t relax yet.
‘If the troops can’t back up the tactics…….’
The strategy would be worthless.
Yi Hwan eyed the Zhao Kingdom troops.
The two forces would clash soon.
He had no intention of just watching.
Chirrrk.
Energy surged along the blade.
‘I’ll end this here and head for the enemy commander.’
* * *
Gwak Chi frowned at Yi Hwan standing alone ahead.
“Why is that guy there…….”
It made no sense.
With armies crashing in like storms from both sides, why stand there?
‘Could he be from Yeon Kingdom?’
The thought sparked a surge of inexplicable unease. What if Yi Hwan was Yeon Kingdom’s man, and Jo Seok had coordinated with him beforehand?
What if the Southern Legion troops weren’t just the Dragon-Tiger Army?
What if they had communicated in advance, knowing we’d come, and set a trap?
In an instant, Gwak Chi fell into confusion.
He glanced behind the Dragon-Tiger Army. Fortunately, no other troops were visible.
Gwak Chi’s eyes hardened again.
‘Those puny Dragon-Tiger Army rabble are no match for us!’
That was when it happened.
“General! Look to the left!”
At the general’s shout, Gwak Chi’s head snapped left. His eyes then widened massively.
Troops charged amid swirling dust.
What etched clearly in Gwak Chi’s widened eyes were two massive characters embroidered on a huge banner.
Jeong Cheon (鄭天).
The one man in Yeon Kingdom’s Southern Legion who used his own name as his unit banner.
The Southern Legion’s greatest general, Jeong Cheon, had arrived.
‘Jeong Cheon…….’
* * *
Jeong Cheon’s arrival.
A faint smile played on Yi Hwan’s lips.
‘He’s not one to sit idle.’
No matter how much the Dragon-Tiger Army had grown, Paeng Mu-wi wouldn’t send only them while Yi Hwan was being pursued by Zhao Kingdom forces.
Jeong Cheon was the same. As one who followed Yi Hwan more loyally than anyone, he had likely led his unit into the field first.
Thud thud thud!
Gwak Chi gritted his teeth, glaring at the storm-like Jeong Cheon.
Clench!
Jeong Cheon’s name—known for countless field victories through minimal troops and maximum mobility—was recognized by every Zhao Kingdom soldier.
Gwak Chi was no exception.
“Focus on Jeong Cheon’s unit!”
At Gwak Chi’s command, the formation that had adjusted for the Dragon-Tiger Army now concentrated forces toward Jeong Cheon’s approaching direction.
‘This might end anticlimactically.’
Yi Hwan prepared to start moving, matching the Dragon-Tiger Army’s speed.
“Great Commander!”
Song Hoe’s voice boomed. Their gazes clashed across the air.
“Come quickly, Song Hoe.”
Thud thud thud!
* * *
Jeong Cheon lowered his crescent blade, gazing at Yi Hwan merging with the Dragon-Tiger Army.
‘Good to see you again, Great Commander.’
How he had longed for Yi Hwan. The thought of sharing the battlefield with him set his blood aflame.
Jeong Cheon raised his crescent blade high, infusing it with attack intent as he roared.
“Cut the enemy’s waist! Pick up the pace!”
“Pick up the pace! Full speed!”
“Full-speed charge!”
Raaah!
Thud thud thud!
The Southern Legion’s strongest unit—perhaps the finest in all Yeon Kingdom—Jeong Cheon’s forces included numerous warriors from the Hebei Paeng Family.
* * *
Thud thud thud!
Yi Hwan rode just ahead of Song Hoe.
With the enemy right before them, Song Hoe’s eyes were already bloodshot.
Sharing the battlefield with Yi Hwan.
How he had yearned for this. His chest trembled, his breath ragged.
Yet as the unit’s commander, Song Hoe retained his cool-headedness.
“Spears!”
Clack clack clack!
Frontline warriors raised their long spears, aiming at the Zhao Kingdom troops.
Yi Hwan felt the Dragon-Tiger Army’s fervent power surging from behind and channeled energy into his sword.
Woooong!
The energy coiling around the blade stretched long.
His target was Gwak Chi. Cutting him down swiftly would make victory easier.
But then.
As if sensing his intent?
Men clad not in full armor but black robes with chest plates blocked Gwak Chi’s front.
“Disappointing. Is the famed fierce general Gwak Chi dodging combat and hiding behind others?”
Yi Hwan’s calm voice pierced the thunderous hoofbeats, drilling straight into Gwak Chi’s ears.
Twitch!
Gwak Chi’s eyebrow curved like a blade.