Chapter 45
Chapter 45
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Truce Agreement
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It was a peaceful day.
An envoy from the Zhao Kingdom arrived at the Southern Legion camp. He was the new commander appointed to lead their forces in place of the previous one, who had been assassinated by Yi Hwan.
It was rare for a commander in charge of an entire legion to come as an envoy, so it drew intense interest from everyone.
Paeng Mu-wi sat face-to-face with the Zhao commander, flanked by key officers from both sides.
After formal greetings were exchanged, the Zhao commander spoke up before getting to the main point.
"Wasn't General Hwang Ho the commander?"
"The general is tied up with official duties in the Imperial Palace at the moment. I'm standing in for him as acting commander, so say what you have to say to me."
The Zhao commander wore a peculiar expression for a moment before cutting to the chase.
"I've come to ask your opinion on proposing a truce. If you accept, a two-year term would be ideal."
"The Qin Kingdom giving you headaches?"
"It's not quite a headache—more like a nuisance. You don't seriously think Qin is a match for us, do you?"
"You're proposing a truce just because it's a nuisance? Hahaha. And you expect me to believe that?"
"Whether you believe it or not is up to you. I've conveyed our intent. Now it's your choice whether we continue this war of attrition or agree to a truce."
A tense battle of nerves ensued.
The attending officers glared at each other, heating up the atmosphere. Jeong Cheon's demeanor was especially ferocious, bordering on murderous.
The Zhao officers staring at him felt the same intensity. And for good reason—Jeong Cheon was the man who had inflicted the heaviest losses on Zhao.
Meanwhile, Paeng Mu-wi was inwardly troubled.
*If only the Great Prince were here.*
He had informed Yi Hwan as soon as the Zhao envoy arrived. For some reason, though, Yi Hwan had told Paeng Mu-wi to handle it himself and stayed away.
Paeng Mu-wi, strong in martial prowess and bold in character but lacking in political acumen, could only agonize over how to achieve the best outcome.
That was when Jeong Cheon stepped forward.
"We can't accept it!"
"Stay out of this, General Jeong."
"Thousands of our warriors have died so far! Their restless spirits are watching us!"
The Zhao commander shot back coldly.
"We've taken heavy losses too. Especially to you, I'd wager?"
"Blame your own incompetence!"
"I could say the same to you."
"What did you say!"
Crash!
Jeong Cheon shot to his feet, knocking over his chair. The Zhao officers across from him reacted in unison.
Paeng Mu-wi raised his voice.
"If you interfere further, you'll have to leave, General Jeong!"
"You lot stay put too."
That was when it happened.
Jeong Cheon's voice transmission flowed into Paeng Mu-wi's ear.
[Use the atmosphere as an excuse to stall for time.]
"……!"
Paeng Mu-wi finally realized Jeong Cheon had a plan. He adopted a stern tone.
"We can't continue negotiations in this atmosphere. Let's take a break to cool our heads. Deputy General, serve refreshments to the envoys."
"Understood."
* * *
Go Mi entered Yi Hwan's tent.
Yi Hwan had been waiting for her.
"Last night, another ten thousand Zhao troops slipped away."
"You're certain?"
"Yes. I confirmed it myself."
Yi Hwan leaned back deeply in his chair with a faint smile.
"Just as expected—they're playing the obvious card. So how many troops remain in the Zhao camp now?"
"At most, not more than thirty thousand. We could overwhelm them if we attack."
"We could, sure. But we won't. With the Imperial Palace in chaos right now, stirring up the flames of war could backfire spectacularly."
This was the real reason Yi Hwan had opposed attacking when Zhao pulled back troops due to their clash with Qin. With Crown Prince Yi So's position unstable, escalation was too risky.
"What will you do?"
"First, let's hear them out."
Yi Hwan finished the last of his tea and stood. Cheol Mu-ok brought his outer robe and sword.
Soon, Yi Hwan headed to the command center where negotiations were underway, with Cheol Mu-ok and Go Mi following.
"No other news from the capital?"
"No. Nothing's come in yet."
Yi Hwan walked leisurely. Then, out of nowhere, he said something random.
"Don't you feel lonely rattling around in that big house all by yourself? Wouldn't it be nicer to live with a bunch of people bustling about?"
"I'll pass."
Go Mi rejected him outright, just like last time.
Moments later, Yi Hwan entered the command center courtyard.
"Salute!"
The officers bellowed in unison, snapping to attention. The Zhao officers just stared blankly at the entering Yi Hwan.
Jeong Cheon stepped outside.
Yi Hwan asked calmly.
"How's the negotiation going?"
"We took a break and reconvened just now. Please come in."
* * *
As Yi Hwan entered, the Yeon officers all rose and bowed their heads.
Paeng Mu-wi greeted him.
"Welcome, Great Prince."
Yi Hwan slowly scanned the Zhao officers. The Zhao commander and his men belatedly realized Yi Hwan was the Great Prince and stood to offer respects.
The Zhao commander was puzzled.
*Why is this puppet figure here? And what's with the way his officers are treating him?*
Their attitudes and expressions brimmed with utmost reverence. Paeng Mu-wi was especially deferential.
What followed was even more shocking.
"Have a seat."
When Paeng Mu-wi yielded his own seat to Yi Hwan, the Zhao commander couldn't believe his eyes.
*Yielding his seat? To the head of negotiations?*
In such situations, the highest authority typically belonged to the lead negotiator. Yielding one's seat to anyone short of the emperor was highly unusual.
Especially since Yi Hwan was the notoriously incompetent Great Prince, infamous even in Zhao.
* * *
Yi Hwan stared straight at the Zhao commander and asked.
"I hear you've come to propose a truce."
"Yes, Great Prince."
"Have you reached a conclusion?"
The Zhao commander gazed at Paeng Mu-wi and replied evenly.
"We haven't concluded yet, as there seems to be some misunderstanding of our intent."
"Is that so? Then let's start over."
"First, I need to confirm something."
"What?"
"Considering the truce's binding effect, are you the lead negotiator, Great Prince, or simply an observer? We need to clarify that."
Instead of answering, Yi Hwan turned to Paeng Mu-wi.
"Is it alright if I take over for the general?"
"Of course, Great Prince."
Yi Hwan turned back to the Zhao commander.
"Now?"
"Yes. Shall we begin again?"
Paeng Mu-wi first explained Zhao's terms. So far, the only condition was a truce.
Yi Hwan said calmly.
"State your conditions."
"If the truce is agreed, both sides withdraw from the neutral zone."
"That's all?"
"Yes."
Just then, an officer brought tea.
Everyone waited for Yi Hwan to speak. He took a slow sip before opening his mouth.
Clink.
"Then I'll state our conditions."
"We listen intently."
"Ah! Not conditions—demands, to correct myself."
"……Pardon?"
"Withdraw your camp two hundred li to the rear within a fortnight. If you advance even a step from there, the truce is void, and Zhao bears full responsibility for whatever follows. And one more thing. Yeon will continue holding this position."
"Ha!"
The Zhao commander looked dumbfounded, letting out a scoff. The other officers stared at Yi Hwan with expressions of utter disbelief.
Yi Hwan was unfazed.
"Let me correct that again."
"……."
"Not demands—threats."
"Great Prince!"
This time, even the Yeon officers were stunned.
Yi Hwan pressed on.
"Refuse, and we'll launch a full assault. Ah, of course, I promise not to harm you. Can't kill envoys, after all."
Boom!
"Are you joking right now!"
"Does it sound like a joke?"
Yi Hwan's demeanor turned icy in an instant. He snapped his fingers, and Go Mi entered, her face veiled in cloth.
*[Why the face veil...?]*
*[The intelligence chief must never show her face to the enemy.]*
"……."
Yi Hwan, slightly embarrassed but hiding it, continued.
"Moon Lord."
"Yes, Great Prince."
"How many troops in the Zhao camp?"
"At most, twenty to thirty thousand."
"You're certain?"
"I stake my life on it."
Yi Hwan turned back to the Zhao commander. His face flushed with rage and absurdity, his eyes trembling.
Go Mi had struck a precise blow.
Yi Hwan continued.
"I've agonized over it, you know. Kill you and your men here, then launch a full attack, and we could end this tiresome land grab. Ah! I almost forgot something."
Clink.
Yi Hwan toyed with his teacup and smiled coldly.
"Did you receive our gift alright?"
"……!"
"We sent it quick before it spoiled. Hope sprinkling it with lime powder did the trick."
He meant the head of the Blood Ghost leader and his ghosts. The Zhao officers ground their teeth.
But none dared glare at Yi Hwan openly like before.
The Zhao commander felt like he'd been struck with a blade.
*We pulled back troops so meticulously and secretly, yet he saw right through it...*
In truth, the remaining troops weren't twenty to thirty thousand, but just a bit over ten thousand.
If Yi Hwan wasn't bluffing, it was a force the Yeon Southern Legion could never withstand.
He was tempted to call the bluff, but if it wasn't one, they could die right here.
*Our intel must be wrong. This guy's... completely insane!*
Killing envoys was unthinkable in any era, but Yi Hwan seemed the type to do it anyway.
As confusion surged, the Zhao commander gritted his teeth.
Crunch!
That was when it happened.
*[Accept it. Or you'll never see home again.]*
Yi Hwan's voice transmission thundered in his ear, and his vision blurred instantly.
Zing!
'Ugh!'
Drip.
Sweat drenched the Zhao commander's face in seconds.
Yi Hwan's transmission continued.
*[Just pull back two hundred li, and nothing happens. You've climbed to commander—better enjoy your wealth and live out your days in comfort than die like a dog here, no? That's what I'd do.]*
Zing.
'Kuh!'
*[Time's short. Hold out longer, and your brain starts melting. Hahaha.]*
Squeeze!
The Zhao commander squeezed his eyes shut.
A feeble voice leaked from his lips.
"……We'll accept the conditions."
"Commander!"
"You can't accept, Commander!"
The Zhao officers jumped up. One, too agitated, nearly toppled backward as his chair wobbled.
"This is my decision. Obey it."
Meanwhile, Paeng Mu-wi, Jeong Cheon, and the Yeon officers were dumbfounded. They couldn't believe what they were seeing right before their eyes.
"General Jeong."
"Yes, Great Prince."
"Prepare the truce document."
"Understood."
* * *
Go Mi, standing beside Cheol Mu-ok, looked down at the top of Yi Hwan's head and let out a scoff.
*This makes any sense? They're actually accepting it?*
Even with troops pulled back for the clash with Qin, she'd thought they'd never agree. Two hundred li was basically the neutral zone.
Yet they accepted.
*What the hell is this guy...?*