Chapter 358
Chapter 358
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 358
Chapter Title: Turn Yi Hwan's Heart
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The next morning.
Namgung Jang-cheon and Danri Mok visited the Golden Army headquarters.
Even though an expulsion order had been issued for them to leave today, Yi Hwan had anticipated their arrival from the start.
"Have you come to say goodbye before departing?"
"There is something we wish to discuss."
"If it's about the request for assistance, I won't hear it."
"We would be grateful if you would at least listen."
Yi Hwan stared at the two men for a moment. Then, as if unable to resist, he relented a step.
"What is it?"
"If you accept the request for assistance, we will offer two hundred thousand gold taels, five thousand horses, and thirty thousand silver taels in return."
A scoff escaped Yi Hwan's lips.
It was a genuine laugh from the heart.
"That seems too stingy as compensation for intervening in a war with the Zhao Kingdom. It makes me wonder if the Qin Emperor truly sees the situation as dire."
"......"
"You must have been banking on our past connection, but I'm sorry—my mind hasn't changed in the slightest. You should head back now."
Namgung Jang-cheon continued in a resolute tone.
"If only Northern Yeon would make a move, the Zhao Kingdom wouldn't dare send down any more troops! If the reward is insufficient, we will request more!"
At that moment, Danri Mok cautiously stepped forward.
"If there is anything you desire, please tell us. We will relay it immediately."
"What if I want Won Gae-se's head?"
"......Pardon?"
Namgung Jang-cheon and Danri Mok's eyes widened in shock.
"I'm joking. As I said before, I cannot accept the request for assistance. So, shouldn't you hurry back and fight? Talents like you are surely needed, even if just one more."
Faced with Yi Hwan's firm attitude, Namgung Jang-cheon swallowed a sigh that threatened to burst forth.
Yi Hwan felt inwardly apologetic as he looked at them. But to obtain what he needed, he had no choice but to treat them coldly first.
* * *
Leaving Yi Hwan's office, Namgung Jang-cheon gazed at the sky with a hollow expression.
"We buttoned the first button wrong from the start. He was already in a foul mood, and now we've only made it worse..."
"Sigh, you're right."
Neither could bring themselves to leave. But after seeing Yi Hwan's resolute demeanor, they couldn't muster the resolve to prostrate themselves again.
"What can we do? It's our own mess, so we have no choice but to return. At least we'll report every detail to His Majesty the Emperor upon our return. So that scoundrels like these never represent the kingdom again."
The two trudged weakly toward the main gate.
It was then.
"What did the Great Prince say?"
Go Mi approached.
Namgung Jang-cheon and Danri Mok cupped their fists toward her.
"It's been a long time, Moon Lord."
"Isn't now the time for greetings?"
Danri Mok spoke with a hollow expression.
"Well... We made various proposals, but he said the reward was too meager."
"What was the reward?"
Danri Mok answered about the reward. As soon as he finished, Go Mi delicately furrowed her brow.
"No wonder the Great Prince said that. But even before that—why didn't you propose that from the beginning? Were you planning to haggle with the Great Prince?"
"......That was never our intention."
"Are you leaving today?"
"If we can't pay our respects to His Majesty the Emperor, we probably have no choice."
"You will never see His Majesty the Emperor. His Majesty has entrusted everything to the Great Prince."
"......"
Go Mi's gaze shifted slightly. Then, she casually remarked.
"Go tell the head of the envoy. The Great Prince desires something else entirely."
"What is it?!"
Namgung Jang-cheon's and Danri Mok's eyes changed in an instant.
Go Mi spoke as if she had been waiting.
"Iron from the Stone Gate mines. That should turn the Great Prince's heart. This is my final advice, given our connection—don't make any more mistakes. Farewell."
Namgung Jang-cheon and Danri Mok watched Go Mi's retreating figure as she headed toward Yi Hwan's office, their gazes settling.
"Will he really accept if we offer iron?"
"Before that, we should worry if His Majesty will even approve giving away the iron. Weapon production is directly tied to national strength, so he won't relinquish it easily."
"That's not for us to worry about. Let's at least inform the head of the envoy. He'll handle the rest."
"......Agreed."
As he walked, Namgung Jang-cheon glanced back at Yi Hwan's office several times.
What troubled him as much as the rejected request was Yi Hwan's cold attitude. For Namgung Jang-cheon, who had secretly admired him, Yi Hwan's icy demeanor—chilling to the bone—pierced his heart.
'It's all our own doing. Who can we blame? Sigh...'
* * *
"I've relayed the condition as instructed. But it feels like too obvious a ploy—I'm a bit uneasy."
"Sometimes, the most straightforward and obvious methods are the surest. In any case, now we just wait for their response."
"If they accept, have you decided on the quantity?"
"I've told Hanjo to calculate how much iron is needed to produce thirty thousand swords. He'll bring the answer soon, so let's wait."
Go Mi's eyes widened round.
"The amount needed for thirty thousand swords?"
"Why, is it too little?"
"Isn't it too much?"
"To tie down the Zhao Kingdom's feet, that's the price we must pay."
"It would be great if it works, but..."
"The head of the envoy can't decide on this alone, so seeking the Emperor's permission via express messenger will take time. See to it that they're not inconvenienced in the meantime, Moon Lord. But don't treat them too well."
"Understood."
Yi Hwan finished the remaining tea and asked something else.
"How's the enemy situation?"
"The latest report is from three days ago—the Zhao Kingdom's army is advancing east, not south. As we predicted before, their next target seems to be Jeong-an."
"Is Jeong-an militarily significant?"
"If they capture Jeong-an, they can completely block the path westward from Honam Province. Conversely, the Zhao forces could easily send troops to Guizhou Province, making it a substantial gain if seized."
"It would mean completely seizing the head of Guizhou Province."
"Exactly."
Yi Hwan leaned back in his chair, subtly settling his gaze.
"Is this a scheme from Crown Prince Jo Gwang's mind? Or is the military strategist Wu Mun-sul laying the board?"
"It has to be Wu Mun-sul, doesn't it?"
"If so, it's not a major issue. But if Jo Gwang is the one laying the board, then we've got another formidable foe beyond our expectations."
"There's almost no known information on Jo Gwang's abilities."
"Has intelligence activity in the Zhao capital become harder than before?"
"Yes. Due to a massive purge operation recently, nearly all our agents have been pulled back to Qin."
"Hmm..."
Yi Hwan crossed his arms and fell into thought.
Then, he promptly rose from his seat.
"Where are you going?"
"I need to see those fellows."
"Cha Ryong and Ban Go?"
"Yeah. Coming along?"
"No. I have other matters to attend to... Please go ahead."
* * *
A smile never left Ban Go's face.
Every time Cha Ryong saw him like that, he felt exasperated and incredulous.
Sizzle!
A savory aroma wafted continuously from the kitchen. Ban Go was cooking himself.
Cha Ryong sat on a chair in the backyard, gazing through the wide-open door at Ban Go humming a tune.
"Cut it out. Who said they're eating all that? Why are you grilling so much?"
"I'm going to eat it all."
A scoff.
Cha Ryong shook his head and stared blankly at the sky.
For some reason, today's cloudless blue sky irritated him. Was it an excess of delusion? It even felt like the heavens were mocking him.
'Why isn't he pressing me?'
Cha Ryong's gaze grew heavy as he thought of Yi Hwan, as if the lightness had never been.
Since Ban Go's arrival, neither Yi Hwan nor anyone else had interrogated him. Yang Chan visited once a day, but even he only checked if there were any inconveniences in daily life before leaving.
'Do they want me to submit completely in spirit?'
Just then, Ban Go emerged into the backyard with a tray. On it sat two plates of unidentified dishes.
"You must be starving—let's eat!"
"Go inside and grab some liquor."
"Got it."
Ban Go dashed into the room.
As Yi Hwan entered the backyard right after, Cha Ryong, who had been about to pick up his chopsticks, froze for a moment.
Yi Hwan sat across from him and took up his chopsticks.
"You made this yourself, I see."
"That kid did."
Yi Hwan popped a piece of meat into his mouth.
'...What is this taste?'
It was so excessively greasy he wanted to spit it out immediately, but unable to do so, Yi Hwan chewed and swallowed it roughly.
Ban Go returned to the backyard with the liquor and widened his eyes upon seeing Yi Hwan.
"Huh?"
"Bring one more cup?"
"Yes."
Cha Ryong couldn't help but smirk at Ban Go's meek, lamb-like obedience. Composing his expression, he asked.
"Why aren't you pressing me?"
"Should I?"
"......"
"Do you think I'm waiting for you to submit mentally and completely?"
"Wasn't that it?"
"Let's say half of it is."
"Tell me the other half."
"We'll see."
Ban Go returned with the cup, interrupting the conversation. Thus began the bizarre drinking session among the utterly mismatched trio.
After several rounds, Yi Hwan casually broached the topic.
"Have you ever met Crown Prince Jo Gwang?"
"The deposed Crown Prince?"
Cha Ryong shook his head.
"I saw him from afar long ago, but never met or spoken with him personally."
"Same here."
"But why do you ask?"
"He's here. The Third Prince Jo Seok, who defected not long ago, as well."
"......!"
"I'll arrange a meeting when the chance arises. Of course, only if your mind changes as much as I want."
"Why arrange for us to meet them?"
"They want to meet you. Though right now, it'd be awkward for me. There's an old woman by the Crown Prince's side who wants to grind you to dust and drink you down."
At those words, Cha Ryong's gaze shifted.
"Is Pa Pa here too, by any chance?"
"You know Pa Pa?"
"No warrior of Zhao doesn't know her."
"You're well aware she's someone who wouldn't hesitate to die ten or a hundred times for Jo Gwang. Right down to her brutal hands."
"......"
Thud!
Yi Hwan drained another cup and stood.
Ban Go rose with him, scratching his head.
"I have a favor to ask."
"Speak."
"The liquor is all gone. This is the last of it."
"I'll have more brought."
"Thank you!"
Ban Go grinned boyishly and brightly. Yi Hwan nearly instinctively patted his head.
"Nothing else you need?"
"If possible, some more meat too..."
"Got it."
Yi Hwan turned and left immediately.
Cha Ryong watched Yi Hwan's departing back, settling his gaze.
'Why mention the suddenly exiled Crown Prince? Is he threatening us with the fact that Pa Pa could kill us?'
"Why the long face?"
Cha Ryong turned to Ban Go.
"Enough already, you rascal."
"What did I do?"
"Don't wag your tail like a dog in front of the master."
"......"
"Is the liquor really all gone?"
"Yeah. This was the last."
Cha Ryong set down his gripped cup and leaned deeply back in his chair, lifting his gaze.
It was then. On the roof of the hall opposite the headquarters, someone was looking down at them.
'What is that?'