Chapter 362
Chapter 362
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 362
Chapter Title: Jo Yun's Special Order
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The Yeon Kingdom army arrived at the plain and began to rest.
As everyone sated their hunger with dry rations, there were some who huddled in one corner, groaning in pain.
They were a white-robed man and a blue-robed man.
Surprisingly, they were the very ones who, under Jo Yun's orders, had been watching the Golden Army headquarters in an attempt to kill Cha Ryong and Ban Go.
A few days earlier, as they approached near the headquarters again to seek another opportunity, they were captured by Yi Hwan and his close aides who had been lying in wait.
The others were all killed on the spot.
The white-robed man, who had led the group, glared with twisted eyes at Yi Hwan, who was leisurely drinking water from a distance.
Even now, he could scarcely believe it. Yi Hwan's terrifying martial prowess had utterly shattered his conviction that he would die before being captured.
“Urk!”
As excruciating pain surged again, the white-robed man gritted his teeth and let out a groan.
Ju Tae approached.
“Does it hurt a lot?”
“Why are you dragging us along?”
“If you're curious, ask the lord later. For now, drink this.”
Toss!
A water pouch dropped in front of him.
“……!”
In that instant, the eyes of the white-robed man and blue-robed man changed. It was because they hadn't had even a single sip of water since their capture until reaching this place.
There was no resisting thirst.
“Share it and drink carefully. There's no more water until tomorrow.”
The blue-robed man said laboriously.
“First…… you drink.”
The white-robed man drank half and passed the pouch to the blue-robed man. The blue-robed man shook out and drank every last drop.
Whoosh!
This time, two chicken legs fell before them.
“Chew slowly and thoroughly. If you choke after days of starving, there's no medicine.”
“……!”
There was no resisting hunger either.
* * *
“What do you plan to do with them?”
Go Mi asked.
Yi Hwan replied calmly as he chewed on jerky.
“When we reach the destination, I'll cut off their heads and deliver them to the Zhao Kingdom camp.”
Kim Mu-gwan asked.
“There's quite a distance from the destination to the Zhao camp. How will you deliver them?”
“You and Ju Tae will handle it.”
“…….”
Heh.
“There are others I'll assign separately, so don't worry about it. Alright! If you've rested enough, everyone up.”
“Yes.”
A short while later, the Yeon Kingdom army resumed its march. The white-robed man and blue-robed man moved with difficulty, their hands bound and chains on their ankles.
After several days like that, the Yeon Kingdom army arrived at the border region between Hunan and Chongqing.
Yi Hwan issued orders to set up camp on the plain and headed to the border area with Go Mi, Ju Tae, and others.
Namgung Jang-cheon, following behind, said.
“Cross that mountain straight ahead, and you're in Chongqing.”
“To head to the Chi-su River, we'll need to go down southwest.”
“That's right. But didn't you say we weren't moving all the way to Chi-su?”
“Correct. But if we just stay put here, the Zhao Kingdom army will catch wind and start moving again once they hear. We need to make it look like we're heading to Chi-su so they feel properly threatened.”
“Ah…….”
Yi Hwan watched for a long while before returning to the camp.
* * *
Tremble……
The report in Crown Prince Jo Gwang-mu's hand shook faintly. The report conveyed that Yi Hwan had led the great army down to the Chongqing border region.
Woo Mun-sul muttered in a somber tone.
“If that man has personally led the great army down, it might not be just a simple threat.”
“Do you think the Yeon Kingdom will directly intervene in the war?”
“Yi Hwan harbors resentment toward us over what happened at Chi-su, so we can't rule out that possibility.”
It hadn't been long since Yi Hwan had been in peril due to Dong Ja-ryang, Do Geom, and Yi Tae-ji under Qing Ying-ma's orders.
Woo Mun-sul had no choice but to consider the possibility that Yi Hwan might directly join the war as part of his revenge.
Jo Gwang-mu nodded gravely and continued.
“For now, we must watch their movements closely. If the Yeon Kingdom army heads this way…… we may have to abandon Chi-su and withdraw our forces.”
“Your Highness, that…….”
“Preventing our troops' sacrifices comes first. We can always retake a mere Chi-su anytime. So cast aside any lingering attachment.”
“Understood.”
Jo Gwang-mu leaned deeply back in his chair, pressing his brow with one hand. Then he soon chuckled.
“Why do you laugh?”
“I was just thinking about the Qin Emperor for a moment. To so readily allow the Yeon Kingdom army to set foot on their own territory. If I knew his capacity was this limited, perhaps I should have moved against Qin long ago. Father could have managed it capably.”
Thud!
Jo Gwang-mu shot up from his seat.
“I need to see the Commander.”
“If you wait, I'll summon the Commander.”
“I can't summon and dismiss a busy man like that.”
Jo Gwang-mu stepped outside and mounted his horse. Woo Mun-sul and the escorts swiftly mounted as well.
Commander Gwak Beom was facing off against the Qin Kingdom army south of Chi-su.
Thud thud thud!
* * *
Yi Tae-ji narrowed his brow as he watched Jo Gwang-mu's figure rapidly heading south.
“Looks like something's happened. For His Highness the Crown Prince to rush out like that.”
Do Geom also furrowed his brow.
“Indeed. He rarely leaves the camp, so what could make him depart in such haste…….”
Trailing off, Do Geom shot up from his seat.
“I'll go check.”
Yi Tae-ji watched Do Geom's back as he headed to the intelligence officer's tent, then soon flopped back down.
At that moment, someone approached. It was Yi Tae-ji's close aide.
“Did you find out?”
“Yes. They're pursuing people suspected to be Qin Kingdom soldiers from the Chongqing side, but we haven't confirmed their exact identities.”
“What good is that if you miss the most important part?”
“The Zhao Kingdom army also doesn't know the exact identities of those being pursued. I'll confirm and report as soon as new information comes in.”
“Good work. Go rest.”
“Yes.”
Yi Tae-ji was still searching for Yi Seong-ji's whereabouts. While first checking the prisoners, he had spotted one of Yi Seong-ji's close aides and questioned him.
*I only saw him slip north amid the chaos.*
That was the entirety of the response.
Still, it was a faint lead, so he was continuing to have those managing Qin Kingdom intelligence look into it.
*Is he trying to cross into Hunan?*
Yi Tae-ji speculated that Yi Seong-ji might have moved east from Chongqing toward Hunan.
He thoroughly ruled out the possibility of heading north continuously to Hubei Province in Yeon Kingdom territory. He would be captured and executed for treason if caught by Yeon.
At that moment, Do Geom returned.
Yi Tae-ji sat up. Do Geom sat beside him and spoke.
“It seems Yi Hwan of the Yeon great army has personally led troops down to the Chongqing border region.”
“……!”
“The situation doesn't look good. I wonder if this might spark a war across the realm.”
“If a war across the realm breaks out, you'll call in all your people?”
He meant the Blood Demon's followers.
“Of course.”
“Mind if I ask how many there are?”
“Some are out in the western regions and Xinjiang, so I don't know the exact number either.”
“Are there any stronger than you?”
“I don't know, but naturally there are, right? What am I?”
Heh.
“You seem overly humble.”
“Humble…….”
Suddenly, Yi Tae-ji's eyes changed subtly.
“When will you show it?”
“Show what?”
“Your true strength.”
“……!”
For a split second, Do Geom's eyes wavered faintly, like someone caught.
It was then. A warrior rushed up like the wind.
“You're to assemble at once.”
“Who?”
“The Elder has called.”
Do Geom subtly furrowed his brow.
“Do you know what's happened?”
“I don't.”
“Got it, you can go.”
“It was 'at once.'”
“You want me to say it twice?”
“……Yes. Understood.”
The warrior left.
Do Geom looked down at the reclining Yi Tae-ji and asked.
“Why do you think I'm hiding my strength?”
“Just a hunch. But I became certain seeing your reaction just now.”
Heh.
“Skipping out this time too?”
“I'm not one of your people yet, so go alone.”
Do Geom turned.
Yi Tae-ji's words followed.
“I'll decide after seeing your true strength. Whether to join you or not.”
Do Geom gave no reply.
He merely smiled very faintly.
* * *
Blood Demon's followers gathered in the massive tent.
The blue-robed Elder Sima Hyeon spoke to them all in a solemn tone.
“A special order has come.”
“From His Highness the Crown Prince?”
“From the lord.”
“……!”
Everyone showed a light reaction of surprise. Jo Yun in the capital had issued a special order.
After a moment of silence, Sima Hyeon continued.
“We're going to the Qin imperial palace.”
“No way the lord's special order is to bring back the Qin Emperor's head?”
“Correct.”
“……!”
This time, all were stunned.
Do Geom asked.
“Are we all going together?”
Sima Hyeon shook his head and said.
“Me, you, and Dong Ja-ryang. Just the three of us.”
At those words, Dong Ja-ryang openly showed his displeasure. Do Geom glanced at him and asked something else.
“Why this sudden special order? It'll be harder to block the White-Clothed Sword God brothers without us.”
“I agree.”
Dong Ja-ryang said indifferently.
Then words from Sima Hyeon that stunned them all again.
“Nothing's fully decided yet, but we may abandon Chi-su and withdraw. If so, the rest will head north.”
“Why the sudden retreat? Is it because the Yeon Kingdom army came down to Chongqing?”
“The reinforcements coming down turned back due to North Yeon's movements. Plus, a few days ago, Qin's famed general Wei Ji-gwan joined with a hundred thousand troops. That completely breaks the numerical balance. If the Yeon Kingdom army joins in too, won't His Highness be in danger?”
The mood split between those who nodded and those still unable to comprehend.
Sima Hyeon continued.
“His Highness the Crown Prince and the strategist left to discuss this with the Commander. A decision will likely come tonight.”
Do Geom asked.
“When do we leave?”
“Right now.”
Dong Ja-ryang's face twisted again.
But he didn't voice complaint. No, he couldn't. Sima Hyeon wasn't the type for that.
A black-robed man asked.
“Are three enough? If retreating anyway, take a few more.”
“More people don't raise success odds. Fewer can move more secretly and swiftly.”
“……Yes.”
“Take care, Elder.”
“You too, Pavilion Master.”
Dong Ja-ryang raised his hand.
“What?”
“Can't we at least eat before going? My stomach's been upset since evening; I haven't eaten…….”
Wrinkles formed on Sima Hyeon's brow. But he soon nodded.
“We leave in one hour. Spread the word.”
“Yes.”
* * *
Do Geom sought out Yi Tae-ji again.
Yi Tae-ji was dozing reclined. But he slightly raised his head at the footsteps.
“Why the assembly?”
“A special order came down. So we must part for a bit.”
“A special order you can't tell even if asked?”
Do Geom just smiled.
Yi Tae-ji asked no more.
“I don't know what it is, but I hope you return alive.”
“Got it.”
One hour later, Do Geom, Sima Hyeon, and Dong Ja-ryang left the camp. And another hour after that, Jo Gwang-mu and Woo Mun-sul returned, and the retreat order was immediately issued.