The One Who Swallowed Mount Tai

The chaos in Xuzhou had still not subsided.

Even after the Yellow Turbans fell, their roots remained, and now bandit groups and nomadic tribes had tangled together, sucking the blood from the common people.

"Xuzhou... remains in turmoil."

A government official, dressed neatly in his official robes, knelt and reported. The atmosphere in the imperial court was heavy. The emperor seated upon the highest dragon throne—Emperor Ling—said nothing, merely tapping his fingers slowly against the armrest. His expression showed neither interest nor will. The man called the father of all people was once again nothing more than a spectator.

"Xuzhou is a granary of the empire."

"Though we drove out the Yellow Turbans, their remnants still swarm."

"Tax revenue has been cut off, and the number of starving people continues to grow."

When one official spoke, others chimed in, nodding their heads.

"If we cannot stabilize Xuzhou, next year's financial situation will be dire."

"It's not just the Yellow Turban remnants. There are bandits and foreign tribes as well..."

"Xuzhou is currently a scene of utter pandemonium."

The court ministers expressed concern over Xuzhou's situation, yet none stepped forward to offer a solution. Xuzhou was dangerous. Even the government forces that had driven out the Yellow Turbans had grown sick of it and washed their hands of the matter.

Emperor Ling, who had been watching this scene with boredom, finally opened his heavy mouth from atop the dragon throne.

"Who will go?"

His dignified voice echoed through the court. However, none of the ministers occupying their seats spoke first. A chill settled over the assembly. Going to Xuzhou was no different from walking straight into a den of tigers.

"The people are the foundation of the state... If we cannot care for the people, how can we sustain the nation?"

"But who exactly can overcome this crisis?"

Quiet sighs flowed among the officials. The responsibility was heavy and the benefits uncertain. Everyone remained silent.

At that moment, one seasoned minister cautiously spoke up.

"What if we send Do Gyeom?"

All eyes in the court turned to him at once.

"Do Gyeom has accumulated military merit by greatly defeating the Qiang tribes in Yangzhou. He should be more than capable of pacifying Xuzhou."

"Though his family background is modest, it is said that a gentleman takes virtue as his foundation. In terms of character, it would be difficult to find anyone better than Do Gyeom."

Several ministers nodded slowly.

"If it's Do Gyeom..."

"Yes, Do Gyeom should be able to do it."

"He could stabilize Xuzhou."

The conclusion flowed as naturally as a river. The court ministers waited only for the emperor's approval.

Emperor Ling still looked down at the court with an indifferent face. His fingers, which had been tapping the armrest, paused as he spoke shortly, as if annoyed.

"...Approved."

-Tap.

An indifferent command. But that was enough. The imperial seal was stamped on the decree. Now Do Gyeom would head down to Xuzhou to restore order.

The ministers leaving the court walked with light steps—the gait of men who had successfully pushed their burden onto someone else. Yet those with sharp ears whispered among themselves.

"Xuzhou isn't the only problem."

"I heard new bandits are swarming in Taishan as well."

"Jang Yeon, was it? Or the Flying General..."

"As the saying goes, when the root rots, the branches and leaves wither. We should nip small ills before they grow large."

There was a brief murmur, but it soon died down. The court paid no attention to something as trivial as Taishan. Their only concerns were Xuzhou and tax revenue. Nothing more.

Taishan. This place, embracing countless steep valleys, had seen travelers pass through for over a thousand years. But those climbing Taishan these days carried a deeper fear than even during the Yellow Turban Rebellion.

"Did you hear?"

"They say bandits are swarming Taishan again."

"Yellow Turban remnants?"

"No, supposedly even worse than that."

"Jang Yeon? They call him the Flying General."

In the corner of the market, the name 'Jang Yeon' spread from the mouths of people coming and going between taverns and alleyways.

-The Flying General, Jang Yeon. A new bandit leader who had gathered forces centered around Taishan. His army numbered in the tens of thousands, and they said nothing remained wherever they passed.

"He supposedly led fifty cavalrymen and broke through tens of thousands of bandits."

"For a bandit, they say he's as brave as a general."

"Bandits being brave? What nonsense..."

Farmers clutched their hoes with hardened faces and whispered. Women carrying children on their backs narrowed their eyes and gripped their water jars tighter.

"Bandits again."

"As if the Yellow Turbans weren't enough, now bandits are everywhere."

Dark shadows fell across the people's faces. To them, Taishan was no longer the mountain of the gods. It had become a mountain of bloody death.

But not everyone was lost in fear. A group of merchants descending from Taishan straightened their clean clothes, unable to hide their pleased smiles.

"The roads should open up properly now."

"The Yellow Turbans and other bandits only plundered in hordes, but this Jang Yeon of Taishan has established some order, from what I hear."

"They say if you just pay the passage fee, there's no plunder or robbery."

At their words, merchants by the roadside, porters, and even a few local officials pricked up their ears.

"The common people call him a bandit, but to merchants like us..."

"He's practically a benefactor."

Laughter burst out somewhere. While the fearful commoners trembled, those who followed the scent of money already had their eyes gleaming toward Taishan.

Jang Yeon of Taishan. Though called a bandit, in reality his operation was far more systematic than other bandit groups. They established rules and exercised control instead of simple plunder.

"They're less like bandits and more like an army."

Someone muttered quietly.

"A man named Jang Yeon has appeared in Taishan."

"He has united the bandit groups and is now making his name known throughout Xuzhou, Yanzhou, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠and Qing Province."

Officials in Xuzhou, generals of the Yellow Turban suppression forces in Yanzhou, and even some ministers in the Luoyang court began mentioning the name 'Jang Yeon.'

However—

"A bandit is still just a bandit, isn't he?"

"If he's not pointing his blade at the court like the Yellow Turbans, there's no need to bother with him."

"Even if he makes a racket, in the end he's nothing but a bandit."

The Yanzhou generals leading the Yellow Turban suppression forces simply let the rumors about Taishan pass by. What mattered to them now was not the bandits of Taishan, but the Yellow Turban remnants still running rampant.

"If they're just committing banditry and staying quietly ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠holed up in the mountains... then leave them be."

And so, neither the court nor Yanzhou paid any attention to Taishan.

Not yet...

Taishan Commandery, Bonggo County, Governor's Residence.

Taishan Governor Jang Geo stopped flipping through his documents. Among the pile the official had brought, one report in particular caught his eye.

— A bandit leader called Jang Yeon is expanding his forces throughout the Taishan region.

— Known as the 'Flying General,' his forces number in the tens of thousands.

Jang Geo twisted one corner of his mouth upward.

"The Flying General, huh..."

He knew that after the Yellow Turbans scattered, all sorts of riffraff had flocked to Taishan. But a bandit gaining a name for himself was another matter entirely.

"No matter what name a bandit acquires, in the end he's still just a wild beast."

Jang Geo gave a bitter smile.

"Even if they dominate the mountain, have they forgotten there is a governor here who receives the court's mandate?"

-Thud.

He slammed the report down on the desk and muttered coldly.

"Even if a wind shakes Taishan, it cannot disturb the order of the world."

To him, Jang Yeon was nothing more than a passing breeze.

Yanzhou. Jo Jo also received a report about Jang Yeon.

"A man called the Flying General has appeared in Taishan."

"He has gathered bandit groups, his forces reaching tens of thousands, and is making his name known in the directions of Xuzhou and Qing Province as well."

Jo Jo showed no particular reaction even after hearing the report.

"A bandit is just a bandit."

At his short words, his subordinates bowed their heads solemnly.

"The Yellow Turbans denied the emperor. But bandits have no intention of overthrowing the state. We're already overwhelmed trying to clean up the Yellow Turban remnants. We have no energy to spare worrying about mountain bandits committing robbery."

Jo Jo stroked his chin and added indifferently.

"Even if they run wild, they won't be able to raise a righteous cause like the Yellow Turbans."

His subordinates nodded at those words.

"They're just bandits holed up in the mountains committing robbery. For now, leave them be."

Finally, Jo Jo tossed the report onto his desk and muttered.

"Once the world is stabilized, that sort of bandit..."

To Jo Jo, Jang Yeon was nothing more than a mere bandit.

Yangzhou. In a quiet military camp, Hwangbo Sung was still in his military uniform, organizing military dispatches with his brush.

"Yangwu Colonel Do Gyeom seeks an audience with the General!"

At his subordinate's shout, Hwangbo Sung set down his brush and looked up. Soon after, Do Gyeom entered with a stiff expression, dressed neatly in official robes.

"General Hwang."

"Yes, what brings you here?"

Hwangbo Sung greeted Do Gyeom while remaining seated. Do Gyeom observed proper etiquette for a moment before immediately getting to the point.

"The court has issued an order for this humble one to go to Xuzhou."

Hwangbo Sung nodded quietly.

"Xuzhou is still a chaotic place. Yellow Turban remnants, bandits, foreign tribes... all tangled together in that land."

Do Gyeom listened silently before finally speaking.

"However, General. Yangzhou is not at ease either. Han Sui's movements are suspicious. The barbarians' movements are also far from normal."

Strength entered Do Gyeom's voice.

"At a time like this, is it right for me to go to Xuzhou? Is leaving Yangzhou truly in the court's best interest?"

A brief silence settled. Hwangbo Sung looked at Do Gyeom with a heavy gaze. Then he slowly opened his mouth.

"A general follows the court's orders. The reason the court is sending you to Xuzhou is not simply to govern Xuzhou alone."

Hwangbo Sung continued calmly.

"If Xuzhou falls into chaos, Yanzhou and Qing Province will also shake. If Yanzhou and Qing Province shake, the entire Central Plains could fall into turmoil."

Do Gyeom listened to Hwangbo Sung's words with a stiff expression.

"Moreover, among the thirteen provinces of the empire, Xuzhou is one of the most fertile. If that place falls into chaos, the entire empire will suffer poverty."

Hwangbo Sung continued.

"I will protect Yangzhou. You should not worry too much and quickly pacify Xuzhou."

Do Gyeom clenched and unclenched his fist.

"I will keep it in mind."

A short answer. But suppressed emotion lingered within it. Hwangbo Sung nodded and reached out to lightly pat Do Gyeom's shoulder.

"Xuzhou is currently no different from a lawless land. Yellow Turbans, bandits, and foreign tribes. Just as I appointed you as Yangwu Colonel, the court also believes in your ability."

Do Gyeom bowed deeply.

"Yangwu Colonel Do Gyeom will obey the command."

That night, Do Gyeom quietly left the camp. Standing under the moonlight, he looked up at the sky once before turning his horse's head and heading toward Xuzhou. He had no idea what awaited him at the end of that road.

Taishan. The thousands of valleys and rugged terrain had now submitted under a single name.

The Flying General, Jang Yeon.

Checkpoints had been established at every mountain pass throughout the Taishan region. Flags hung at every checkpoint. The white character 'Flying' on a black background fluttered in the wind, slicing through the air.

Yellow Turban remnants and bandits alike had now submitted under my control.

"Pay the passage fee!"

At the booming voice, the merchants' procession came to a halt. Not a single person complained. Control instead of plunder. Order instead of slaughter. Taishan was no longer a bandit's land but was becoming the heart of a new warlord faction.

In various parts of the mountain, former bandits were now forming formations and training. Old spears and crude shields. But they were clearly marching in steady rhythm and charging on command.

I watched the training scene with a strange smile.

It's only this much for now, but at least they've become guys who properly follow orders now.

And at that moment, a familiar system window notification slammed into my mind.

I slowly closed my eyes and opened them again.

I'm no longer a mountain bandit but a bandit warlord now. And now this Taishan is completely my territory.

The wind swept across the mountain slopes. I stood against the wind, looking down at the foot of Taishan.

Then suddenly, the sound of urgent footsteps rang out.

"Boss! Urgent news!"

The guy who came running breathlessly shouted.

"They're sending Yangwu Colonel Do Gyeom from Yangzhou down to Xuzhou! He's received the court's order to pacify Xuzhou!"

I frowned. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Then I looked to the side. So-yeon and Yu Byeok had already approached my side.

"Do Gyeom..."

So-yeon muttered lightly.

"It seems the court has chosen the right person."

Yu Byeok also spoke calmly. Neither of them showed any great signs of anxiety. But I knew. I knew what kind of man Do Gyeom was. And that this was his prime period.

Fuck... Our forces have grown, but we're still far from being able to call this a proper army. Do Gyeom? Wasn't this bastard supposed to take longer to get here?

I clenched my fist tightly and then released it.

"We need to contact Jang Wu-gak."

"Jang Wu-gak of Jizhou?"

Yu Byeok, who had been listening from the side, tilted his head.

"Is there really a need to contact Jang Wu-gak?"

"We're both Black Mountain Bandits, and the court sending Do Gyeom to Xuzhou means they're trying to stabilize the region to some extent."

Yu Byeok and So-yeon still had questions on their faces, as if they hadn't fully grasped the situation yet.

"Do you think Do Gyeom will simply pacify Xuzhou and stop there? Of course this is Yanzhou so it's under the Yanzhou Inspector's jurisdiction, but our guys are collecting passage fees from Xuzhou merchants too. You think he'll just let that slide?"

Only then did Yu Byeok and So-yeon make expressions of understanding.

"We call ourselves Black Mountain Bandits, and Jang Wu-gak of Jizhou is also a Black Mountain Bandit. Moreover, if all the self-proclaimed Black Mountain Bandits from Jizhou, Bingzhou, Yanzhou, and Qing Province gather their heads together, their numbers aren't something to ignore."

"So by allying with Jang Wu-gak, you're trying to prevent Do Gyeom from recklessly checking Taishan?"

So-yeon asked, as if she had read my inner thoughts.

"That's right. Since Jang Wu-gak of Jizhou has the larger force, I'll nominate that bastard as the leader of the alliance. Even if that bastard and I just hold hands, there won't be anyone within the Black Mountain Bandits who would dare challenge us."

"But do we really need to nominate Jang Wu-gak as the leader?"

Yu Byeok ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spoke as if he found it somewhat unsatisfactory, but I didn't allow any objections.

"Then if I say I'll be the leader, would Jang Wu-gak yield? That bastard's group alone has thirty thousand heads. Thirty thousand."

So-yeon seemed to accept it, but Yu Byeok nodded with a slightly regretful expression. I immediately had a letter prepared. A proposal for alliance with Jang Wu-gak and the declaration that I would nominate him as leader. Soon a messenger carrying the letter disappeared into the darkness.