Chapter 92
Chapter 92
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 92
Chapter Title: A Hollow Conclusion
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Dawn dyed the entire world red.
Jo Gwang simply ate breakfast and donned his armor. Pa Pa handed him the sword she had meticulously polished since dawn.
"Why polish a sword that's about to get dirty again so carefully?"
"This sword is a sacred relic symbolizing Your Highness. It must always be handled with care."
A faint smile tugged at Jo Gwang's lips.
Clang.
He soon took the sword and stepped out of the tent.
The generals were already prepared for battle, waiting for Jo Gwang to emerge.
Jo Gwang made eye contact with each general one by one, then gazed at the troops lined up black along the ridge.
'We'll settle this today.'
As Jo Gwang steeled his resolve and was about to issue the advance order to the generals—
Thud thud thud!
A single rider galloped up like the wind.
The shout from the horseback figure changed the expressions of Jo Gwang and everyone else.
"An imperial edict! An imperial edict!"
'Imperial edict?'
Jo Gwang's eyes shifted.
The generals exchanged glances and murmured uneasily.
Whoosh!
One general leaped down before Jo Gwang. Jo Gwang silently met the general's gaze.
The general pulled the message tube from his shoulder and handed it to Jo Gwang. Since it contained the imperial edict, Jo Gwang knelt and received it with both hands.
Everyone focused on Jo Gwang.
Anyone would feel the same.
'What command has His Majesty issued?'
Jo Gwang steadied his breathing quietly, then opened the tube, pulled out the scroll inside, and unrolled it.
His eyes, scanning from top to bottom, began to tremble faintly.
Pa Pa, watching, was suddenly overcome with deep unease. If it were good news, Jo Gwang wouldn't react like that.
Jo Gwang's face flushed red. He then squeezed his eyes shut and bowed his head.
"Your Highness..."
Pa Pa didn't dare approach.
Jo Gwang's aura was like that. He looked up at the general who had brought the messenger and asked, grinding out the words.
"Is this truly a command from His Majesty?"
"Yes. His Majesty handed the decree to me personally."
"Was my uncle there?"
"Southwest King did not enter the palace that day."
Tremble...
Jo Gwang's flushed face began to twitch. Then, flames erupted from the scroll in his hand.
The flames spread to his sleeve.
"Your Highness!"
Pa Pa rushed forward and extinguished the fire.
One general, who had been watching breathlessly, asked cautiously.
"What has happened, Your Highness?"
Jo Gwang did not answer.
The atmosphere prevented the general from asking more.
Whoosh!
The wind swept over Jo Gwang's entire body. Fine dust that had risen slightly settled on his neatly tied hair.
Jo Gwang's lips parted.
Then came words that shocked everyone.
"The entire army, withdraw."
"......!"
"Your Highness!"
"It's an imperial edict. Obey."
Jo Gwang turned and entered the tent.
Where he had knelt, the half-burned scroll lay unrolled.
By imperial decree: Imperial Prince Gwang shall immediately withdraw his forces and return to the palace to pay respects to Us.
* * *
The Zhao Kingdom army that received the imperial edict.
Reactions among those heading west were sharply divided. Those mainly lamenting were the warriors who followed Jo Gwang.
Even among Southwest King's generals, some showed similar reactions.
They were the ones with close ties to the vanguard that had been annihilated. Regardless of politics, they had dreamed of revenge more than anyone. Having to retreat without even a chance left a bitter taste.
Jo Gwang, riding in the palanquin on the retreat, was silent. Knowing his feelings better than anyone, Pa Pa couldn't easily speak.
Jo Gwang spoke first.
"My uncle must have learned I've seized this place and advised His Majesty, with no intention of giving me a chance."
"Haa..."
Pa Pa could only let out a deep sigh.
She had been thinking the same.
"That's why I hurried to settle it before it reached that man's ears."
Jo Gwang's tightly clenched fists trembled faintly. In hindsight, the vanguard's pathetic annihilation was the real regret.
If they had succeeded properly, the battle would have ended yesterday.
Just one day's difference.
That time had snatched the opportunity from Jo Gwang. He bit his lip, swallowing his uncontrollable rage over and over.
But that didn't calm his heart.
The rage turned to fury, directed not at Southwest King, but at Yi Hwan.
"Pa Pa."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"Stay here."
"......"
"Bring me Yi Hwan's head. It doesn't matter how long it takes—use any means necessary and bring it to me."
"Disloyal elements lurk everywhere in the kingdom, eyeing Your Highness. This servant must stay by your side..."
"He's the one who stole my chance. And the one who devoured thirty thousand warriors. I can't just leave him be. This is an order from me as Crown Prince—obey, Pa Pa!"
"......!"
The fury in Jo Gwang's contorted eyes fully transmitted to Pa Pa.
Pa Pa soon bowed her head.
"Understood. I shall sever that man's head and present it to Your Highness."
Pa Pa stayed behind.
With three others, like extensions of himself.
Pa Pa did not rise from her prostrate position until the palanquin carrying Jo Gwang vanished from sight.
* * *
"Great Prince!"
Go Mi burst in.
Yi Hwan, about to don his armor and step out, looked at her with puzzled eyes. For the always composed Go Mi, this was truly unexpected.
"Has the sky fallen?"
"The Zhao Kingdom army is retreating!"
"What?"
"I suspected a feint and pursued, but the entire army passed the valley and kept heading west! If it were a feint to deceive us, they wouldn't move that far!"
"Did they definitely pass the valley?"
"Yes!"
'What is this now?'
Yi Hwan furrowed his brow and sat in a chair. Then he stood again and removed his armor.
Cheol Mu-ok took the armor and asked.
"Do you really think they're retreating?"
"If they passed the valley, it's definite. Something must have happened on their end."
Yi Hwan uncorked a liquor bottle on the desk and drained it in one go.
Thud!
"Perhaps an imperial edict ordering retreat?"
"Considering Jo Gwang was ready to fight to the death even after losing his commander, an imperial edict seems most likely. Otherwise, why pull back after coming this far?"
"I think so too."
Go Mi, having regained her composure, continued.
"Perhaps Southwest King moved the Emperor to deny the Crown Prince any chance. Word of the Crown Prince seizing the camp must have reached Southwest King's ears."
Yi Hwan nodded silently.
"If the Crown Prince crushed us, it could be his opportunity. Southwest King moved to prevent that."
"Yes."
It was plenty convincing.
Yi Hwan gave a wry smile.
"A hollow conclusion."
"Doesn't that fit the Zhao Kingdom Crown Prince more than us?"
Ju Tae muttered with a frown.
"I thought we'd finally get a proper fight, and now they retreat?"
"Indeed."
Go Mi was dumbfounded.
Not a single person showed even the slightest relief at the enemy's retreat.
'These people are genuinely disappointed.'
Ju Tae and Cheol Mu-ok were the same.
"Moon Lord."
"Yes."
"Go inform the Commander of the enemy's retreat."
"Understood."
"Mu-ok, go tell the quartermaster to prepare a feast."
"A feast?"
"We won, after all. We should celebrate. Tell him to empty every storehouse and prepare lavishly."
"Understood."
* * *
Thud thud thud!
Warhorses charging, kicking up dust.
The Northern Legion's twenty thousand elites raced toward the Southern Legion without rest.
How far had they gone?
"Just over that pass is the Southern Legion!"
"Pick up the pace!"
"Increase speed!"
Thud thud thud!
The general leading the twenty thousand elites crested the pass first.
Moments later, a horrific scene unfolded before him.
Countless corpses blanketing the ground, their spilled blood dried black over the earth—it pierced the general's eyes like daggers.
'Are we too late!'
The general looked toward where the Southern Legion should be. Unlike this slaughterhouse, the sky there was pristine.
'Why is it so quiet? It can't be over already. Please hold on.'
The general galloped madly.
Thud thud thud!
Moments later, the first to enter the Southern Legion's main camp, the general's eyes widened.
"......!"
The Southern Legion, which should have been ravaged by war, was utterly peaceful. Every place looked intact and clean, as if no battle had occurred.
The general reined in at the tall stockade.
Neigh!
"State your affiliation!"
A general atop the stockade shouted.
"From the Northern Legion! What in the world happened? Where are the Zhao Kingdom forces?"
"They retreated!"
"......!"
"You should've come sooner! You would've seen quite the show! Hahaha!"
"......!"
* * *
The general sat face-to-face with Paeng Mu-wi.
Hearing the full story from Paeng Mu-wi, the general couldn't hide his astonishment.
'The Great Prince led the army? Can I believe this?'
"The Great Prince will arrive soon, so wait just a bit. Thanks for coming like this—I'll convey my personal thanks to the Commander later."
"We had to come, of course. But didn't the Central Army send reinforcements?"
"None at all."
Paeng Mu-wi continued with a scowl.
"With Her Majesty the Empress's supporter as their Commander, sending any would be the real surprise. Rotten lot anyway."
Then Yi Hwan entered through the door.
The general quickly stood and bowed.
"I see the Great Prince."
Yi Hwan sat in the seat of honor.
"From the Northern Legion?"
"Yes, Great Prince. On the Commander's order to aid the Southern Legion. He asked understanding that recent suspicious movements by the northern barbarians prevented sending more troops."
"Sending reinforcements voluntarily without a request. Grateful indeed."
Paeng Mu-wi smiled as he spoke.
"Commander Gwak is that kind of man! The finest soldier in our Yeon Kingdom."
Yi Hwan looked straight at the general and asked.
"No word from the Second Prince's side?"
"......"
"So there was."
The general finally answered.
"Truth be told, we received Her Majesty the Empress's order not to send reinforcements."
"That figures."
Yi Hwan was curious about the Northern Legion's Commander here. His memories held no information on him.
'Defying the Empress's order to send aid. The Crown Prince's Palace would be pleased.'
"Congratulations on the victory, Great Prince!"
"It's hardly a full victory. Still, thank you. Convey my thanks to the Commander when you return."
"Yes! Great Prince!"
Yi Hwan instructed Paeng Mu-wi.
"They must be tired from the long journey, so open the storehouses and provide liquor and food."
"Understood!"
"Rest easy, then."
Once Yi Hwan left, the general looked at Paeng Mu-wi and asked.
"Has he always been like that?"
"You asking in a good way?"
"Of course, Commander."
Heh.
"He's several times more impressive than reports suggest. Just watch—the Great Prince will be Yeon Kingdom's treasure in time. So your Commander picked the right side. Heh heh heh."
'Side? The Great Prince is that significant?'
The general couldn't understand Paeng Mu-wi's excited, self-boasting demeanor.
The Paeng Mu-wi he knew was extremely rude, arrogant, and aggressive. He was also known to be on the Second Prince's side.
'What in the world happened? Our intel on allies can't be this wrong.'