No Need for a Butcher's Knife to Kill a Chicken
Our army's strategy was set. To check Liu Biao's forces, Sun Ce and Zhou Yu would lead 20,000 troops to Gangha County, while Taesa Ja and I set out for Ogun, where Yan Baekho held sway, to fully secure Dongdong. The goal of this campaign was to seize Ogun under Yan Baekho and Hwegye under Wang Lang, solidifying our hold over all of Dongdong.
The night in Suchun was deep, but the lantern in my office showed no sign of dimming. Maps of Ogun and Hwegye lay spread across the desk, cluttered with tiny flags. Silence broke as a knock sounded at the door.
"Inspector General Seowon, are you still awake?"
It was Zhou Yu's voice. I opened the door to welcome him. He was impeccably dressed as always, but faint traces of regret and anguish lingered around his eyes. I set down my brush and poured him tea. He thanked me, fiddled with the cup, and fell silent for a long moment before speaking softly.
"Sending my uncle to Jingzhou along with me, while you and Taesa Ja head to Dongdong—it's flawless strategy, both tactically and in terms of justification. Truly befitting Inspector General Seowon."
"Gongjin, what are you trying to say?"
Zhou Yu gave a wry smile at my question.
"I know what worries you, Inspector General. The atmosphere in Suchun between Lord Yuan Shu's old retainers and the new generals loyal to my uncle isn't ordinary. The more merits my uncle racks up, the deeper that rift will grow."
Zhou Yu's eyes wavered. He hadn't voiced it, but he had read my arrangements. The cold calculus of sending his uncle to the treacherous lands of Gangha to dilute his power and pit him against the massive wall that was Liu Biao.
"You're truly a man of ice, Inspector General. You value my uncle's talents more than anyone, yet you slap the shackles on him first to keep that talent from becoming a curse."
"Gongjin, I cherish your uncle just as you do. I'm merely seeking a path where everyone survives. Liu Biao in Gangha is a formidable foe, but with you and your uncle, you can surely overcome him."
Zhou Yu caught the subtle dismissal in my words, smiled, and rose. He clasped his hands in a formal bow.
"I can only hope your keen insight proves true, Inspector General."
The gates of Suchun Castle opened, and Sun Ce and Zhou Yu departed for Gangha County to check Liu Biao. As we mustered our forces to march on Ogun, Taesa Ja came to me.
"Inspector General, Yan Baekho's band numbers over 10,000. Conquering all of Ogun with just 10,000 men—won't that be too much?"
"General Taesa, no matter how much Yan Baekho styles himself a king, he's still just a bandit at heart. His underlings are no more than worthless weeds. With a famed general like you at my side, what is there to fear? These 10,000 can utterly crush those tens of thousands of bandit scum and have plenty left over."
Taesa Ja swallowed dryly. He stared at me blankly for a long while, then bowed his head deeply as if ashamed.
"No, sir. With your divine strategy and valor, you'd sweep away such rabble in an instant. I've overrated the enemy and troubled you needlessly."
"No. Arrogance is the root of ruin; we must never underestimate the foe. Your caution is most appropriate, General. But this time, I have good reason for confidence, so trust in me and watch."
Taesa Ja saluted and headed to the vanguard. This subjugation force totaled 10,000: 2,000 cavalry, Taesa Ja's 2,000 archers, and 6,000 infantry. At the rear trailed hundreds of wagons pulled by infantry—not loaded with arrows or rations, but with picks and seeds forged in Suchun's smithies.
Inside Ogun Castle, Yan Baekho drowned his anxiety in endless cups of wine. The news of Yuan Shu's great army arriving was bad enough, but the report that they carried no siege weapons drove him madder still.
"They come without siege engines? Are they mocking me, or is there some scheme afoot?!"
His brother Yan Yeo stepped forward. A martial artist renowned across Ogun.
"Brother, let me go probe their intentions myself. If they're underestimating us, I'll sever Seowon's head right there and bring it back."
"Excellent! Truly my brother Yan Yeo. How could I not feel at ease with your prowess and courage? Go and show Seowon what Ogun's finest warrior is made of!"
Yan Yeo sneered inwardly and spurred his horse toward Seowon's camp. To him, Yuan Shu's army was nothing but a ragtag bunch addicted to Suchun's luxuries. So he believed as he entered the camp's perimeter. But as he passed the stockade, the arrogance slowly drained from his face. An eerie silence dominated everything. Passing between the rigidly aligned ranks, he swallowed dryly without realizing it. The pressure was worlds apart from viewing from the walls. As he neared the central command tent, cold sweat beaded on the back of his hands. Entering Seowon's tent, sword at his side, he stared at Seowon, swallowing to hide his tension and feigning calm.
"My brother is a merciful man. If the Inspector General withdraws, he'll cede Ogun's fertile eastern lands and offer massive tribute yearly. No need to spill soldiers' blood beneath these high walls, right?"
From the moment Yan Yeo arrived until he spoke, Seowon said nothing. He merely sorted documents on the table, treating Yan Yeo as air. Only then did Yan Yeo realize he'd been ignored; his face flushed red.
"Are you even listening?! The Inspector General fears not this Yan Yeo's martial prowess, it seems!"
At those words, Taesa Ja hurled a spear-tip. It flew swift and embedded right before Yan Yeo's feet. Yan Yeo cried out at the incoming projectile.
"What is the meaning of this?! Is this how you treat an envoy?!"
Taesa Ja chuckled in disbelief.
"You dare place your name alongside our Inspector General here? Skulking in the boonies like petty thieves, playing king in make-believe—truly blind to your station!"
Suppressing his boiling killing intent, Yan Yeo forced a grin. He cleared his throat and tossed out his prepared challenge.
"Inspector General, why waste precious time on petty words? True men settle it with weapons! Here and now, cross swords with me and decide the victor. If my blade bests you, swear to strike camp and return to Suchun at once!"
Seowon's eyes narrowed. A heavy pressure emanated as he rose slowly. Just then, Taesa Ja, at his side, stepped half a pace forward. Gazing at Seowon reaching for his scabbard, he bowed formally.
"Inspector General, allow me to step in. To kill a chicken, why use a bull-slaying blade? It ill befits your precious sword to be stained with such rabble's blood."
Seowon eyed Taesa Ja briefly, then sat back down. Taesa Ja turned slowly to face Yan Yeo, hand already on his sword hilt.
"A duel, you say? Fine, I accept. But it won't be me—Taesa Ja here will face you."
Yan Yeo inwardly rejoiced. He'd feared Seowon deep down. Before Yan Baekho, he was bold, but rumors of Seowon slaying the famed Xiliang general Hua Xiong had swept Dongdong. He tensed to draw his sword. But in that instant, Taesa Ja's shoulder twitched faintly, and Yan Yeo's vision filled with white flash.
'...?'
Yan Yeo stood dazed. Taesa Ja had already sheathed his blade and retreated behind Seowon impassively. 'What was that? He hasn't even swung yet? They say Taesa Ja chilled Qi Ling to the bone at Gwangneung, but it's all empty hype!' Yan Yeo opened his mouth to scoff. But no sound escaped—not even a wheeze. Strange. He was shouting, yet his tongue felt numb. Then it began: the tent ceiling receded slowly. No, the ceiling wasn't moving. Seowon, seated and gazing down, seemed to grow taller. Seowon's red robe brushed past, and he loomed gigantic, blotting the sky. 'Was Seowon always this tall...?' Thought halted there as Yan Yeo's vision flipped wildly. A dull thud, and the world spun. Thud, roll. Yan Yeo's head parted from his body and tumbled across the ground. In his last sight, embedded in the dirt, was his own headless corpse convulsing, spraying blood like a fountain.
Seowon gazed indifferently at the rolling head and ordered Taesa Ja.
"General Taesa, shout that the Virtuous King of Dongdong's brother has returned, box this head, and hurl it over the walls."
At Seowon's chilling command, Taesa Ja swiftly bagged the head in a small chest. Moments later, he galloped to Ogun's walls, flinging the heavy box toward the battlements with a thunderous roar.
"Hear this, Virtuous King of Dongdong! Your brother Yan Yeo insulted the Inspector General and paid the price! In consideration of your bond, gaze once more upon your brother's face!"
The box tumbled over the wall, lid popping open. Out spilled Yan Yeo’s head, twisted in terror. Chaos erupted atop the walls. The mighty warrior of Dongdong, beheaded after a single meeting—it struck Yan Baekho with far greater horror.
"Y-Yan Yeo is dead? Impossible! It can't be!"
Watching from the ramparts, Yan Baekho's face drained from earthen to ashen.
"They're not human! Ghosts—demons!"
Yan Baekho lost all will to fight. No time even to mourn his brother. That night, he fled through the back gate with his closest aides, seeking refuge with Wang Lang in Hwegye. The next dawn, with their lord gone, Ogun's gates swung wide under the magistrate's orders. Before them knelt Ogun's official, trembling hands offering the seals of office. Seowon reined in before him; the man prostrated as if to crack his forehead on the ground.
"I-Inspector General... Spare my life alone, I beg—let Ogun's people live. They are innocent."
Dust caked the official's brow; his fingers shook uncontrollably against the earth. Seowon approached, grasped both shoulders, and raised him.
"Lift your head. The lies with bandit Yan Baekho—why visit it on the innocent folk?"
Yuan Shu's banners rose high on Ogun's ramparts. Seowon's gaze turned toward Hwegye, held by Wang Lang.