Martial God of the Sun and Moon - Chapter 345

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 345
Ji-myeol Magoon swept aside the tent flap roughly and entered the barracks.
“My Lord, I come to—”
“Send messengers to the Four Heavenly Kings at once.”
“Yes, yes?”
“I just returned from personal reconnaissance and encountered Dokgo Myeong.”
At Ji-myeol Magoon’s words, shock painted itself across the faces of the Pacheonggun soldiers.
“W-what do you mean by that?”
“Dokgo Myeong—that man went out and conducted a detailed reconnaissance of our allied forces.”
“You mean he discovered everything?”
“The opposite! The exact opposite!”
Elation colored Ji-myeol Magoon’s voice.
“He’s firmly believing our deception about joining Soxing! The Left Army will swallow the bait without suspicion. Now we gather every reserve unit we’ve set aside and prepare for decisive battle.”
The Left Army had taken the bait.
No, it wasn’t merely taking the bait—they appeared to have misread our intentions and would commit their full strength.
‘We can act even more aggressively. Whether it’s the reserve units prepared for unforeseen circumstances or the troops we throw to Seoho as bait, we can use them all without concern.’
Now that it was certain the Dokgo Family would pursue them, there was no need to waste manpower on needless stratagems.
“Wait just a moment, please!”
Of course, even in this mad place, there was one person clinging to reason.
“Is there no possibility this is a deception by Dokgo Myeong? He would have no reason to speak so openly.”
“A deception, you say. That’s certainly possible.”
“Then—”
“But if we actually move as I’ve described, the enemy will believe we’re proceeding with our original plan.”
The logic had many gaps in its middle.
Yet the soldier who had raised the objection could only close his mouth upon seeing the brilliant gleam in Ji-myeol Magoon’s eyes.
“If they also believe our movements are a deception and don’t pursue us, then Pacheonggun simply joins with the Moyong Family head. After all, the Dokgo Family has no choice.”
“But what if, by some chance, the Left Army has grasped our entire scheme and launches a counterattack? We don’t know how much of our situation they’ve observed—”
“If they’ve learned everything, then yes, that’s possible. But it’s impossible unless that man has infiltrated our main camp and grasped the movements of all Four Heavenly Kings.”
Could one infiltrate the enemy camp before a decisive battle? How would they know what’s happening inside?
Unfortunately, they judged Dokgo Myeong far too reasonably. They never imagined he would simply commit that insane act.
“If we account for every minor variable, nothing can proceed. Send the messengers to the Four Heavenly Kings now. Quickly!”
Regrettably, there was no one among those in Pacheonggun bold enough to raise further objections to Ji-myeol Magoon.
And that was their greatest weakness.
* * *
Chaos had also erupted in the Dokgo Family’s Left Army.
“Assemble everyone.”
“Everyone? How many?”
“Everyone who commands—all of them! Not just the leadership, but all the subordinate commanders too. That’s the only way to save time.”
“Understood.”
At Dokgo Myeong’s words, Dokgo Gun immediately issued orders, and unexpected turmoil erupted in the Left Army’s encampment.
Clang! Clang clang clang!
“All units assemble! Everyone of captain rank and above, assemble! Hurry! Now!”
“Yes, yes!”
Soldiers, the commanders of the Twelve Armies, and their subordinate captains all rushed to gather at the headquarters tent.
“Bring the maps! Torches and tables too!”
“The tent is too cramped? Just cut it open and clear the sides! We don’t have time to worry about such details now!”
“Time! How much time do we have left?”
“About two hours and a half remaining, sir!”
In an instant, the central tent transformed into a massive war council chamber with its walls torn open.
All eyes fixed upon Dokgo Gun and Dokgo Myeong standing side by side at the head of the assembly.
“I will not entertain questions. I will not repeat myself. I have personally witnessed and verified everything with my own eyes, so simply accept it as fact and commit it to memory.”
Dokgo Myeong, alongside Geum Seok-du who had joined late, poured out everything they had observed and heard in one continuous stream.
“The enemy was preparing to move their forces toward Xoxing. However, it appears they have no intention of actually withdrawing their main forces.”
“Small elite units were dispersed across key positions, including Xihu.”
“The Four Heavenly Kings, captains of high rank, and the masters known as Natchal have vacated their positions in the enemy camp.”
“It seems certain that Bloodfiend is not on this front. He made no mention of that creature whatsoever.”
“We encountered Jimeol Magoon midway and spread false intelligence…”
Due to Dokgo Myeong’s stern demeanor, no one dared ask questions hastily, yet every mouth moved several times in barely suppressed shock.
‘What in the world is this!?’
‘The Four Heavenly Kings have abandoned their posts?’
‘And they spread false intelligence? No, more than that…’
A flood of intimate information that could never be gleaned from distant reconnaissance alone.
“…That concludes my report. That fool Jimeol Magoon fell for my deception.”
The soldiers, who had been frantically recording Dokgo Myeong’s every word with fine brushes, lost their composure and alternated their gaze between him and their papers.
Clap!
“What matters most now is determining exactly what strategy the enemy has devised.”
Dokgo Myeong clapped his hands to restore everyone’s focus.
Dokgo Gun, seated at the head, issued his orders in a tone slightly faster than usual.
“This aligns with the intelligence we had gathered. Everyone, present your theories quickly. No need for formality.”
“Could they be sending forces to our rear?”
“That’s impossible. Rather, to strike at our flank…!”
“By that logic, the enemy would have no reason to move toward Xoxing! Isn’t this a trap they’ve set?”
As if waiting for their cue, voices erupted from all directions.
Everyone present was either among the family’s finest strategists or seasoned martial artists with years of experience. Unlike Pacheonggun’s forces, they could distinguish truth from falsehood in intelligence and identify countless hidden meanings and variables within it.
Thus an hour passed.
The Left Army reached the answer.
“The forces heading toward Xoxing are the bait.”
“The forces scattered in the rear are the real threat.”
“When our main forces pursue Pacheonggun from behind, they plan to encircle us from both sides along this narrow passage and engage us in battle.”
With that conclusion reached, several people turned their gaze toward Dokgo Gun.
“If this is true, we must discard all the plans, formations, and deployments we’ve established thus far.”
“What are your thoughts on this, Captain?”
Ak-i was right.
But whether to trust this completely and move the army accordingly was an entirely different matter.
“Cheonma Sect Leader.”
Dokgo Gun regarded Dokgo Myeong with his usual inscrutable gaze.
“You alone have faced Ji-myeol Magoon. Speak. How certain are you that this plan we’ve deduced is sound?”
At Dokgo Gun’s words, all eyes converged on Dokgo Myeong.
Dokgo Myeong clamped his mouth shut, his eyes bloodshot, staring down at the map on the table.
Thump-thump.
His heart raced wildly.
Cold sweat trickled down his spine, and his palms grew clammy.
“That’s it.”
“…?”
“These bastards—this is what they were planning. This is it, this is exactly it!”
Dokgo Myeong cried out.
“This is correct. It’s precisely the kind of plan those Jeongheol Sect dogs would concoct.”
“What is your reasoning?”
“It’s a crude, brute-force tactic built on human wave assaults.”
Rather than seeking victory through proper confrontation, they’re willing to sacrifice their own soldiers to win decisively and seize all the spoils—such despicable ambition.
Exactly like those wretches.
Moreover.
“This is the Cheonma Sect’s methodology.”
“The Cheonma Sect?”
“If you simply scale it up and add human wave tactics, it’s precisely the strategy I would have devised. Especially the way they use a small force to block a larger army…”
“They were conscious of you?”
“They’re desperate. They’ve suffered at my hands far too bitterly!”
“How certain are you?”
“If this were a gamble, I’d wager everything I own—even sell my blood debt.”
Crack!
The edge of the table he’d been pressing with both hands shattered from the force.
Dokgo Gun nodded.
“Good.”
He swept all the documents related to the existing plans off the table onto the floor.
Whoosh!
Papers scattered and fluttered across the ground.
“Now that the enemy’s scheme is clear, discard all previous plans. I shall issue new orders from this moment.”
“…!”
“Given the urgency, I entrust detailed judgments to the field commanders. Commanders of the Twelve Armies, my subordinate leaders—can I trust in your capabilities?”
After a moment of silence, a roar erupted.
“Yes!”
The air grew thick and heated.
A gamble where you know your opponent’s hand cannot be lost—no martial artist could help but thrill at a victory already assured.
“I will divide the Left Army into three forces instead of twelve.”
Dokgo Gun spoke calmly, unmoved by the fervor around him.
“My first army will advance with me toward Seoho. To deceive the enemy, we will pursue Pacheonggun’s main force according to their own stratagems.”
This was a unit designed to conceal the fact that we had seen through their strategy. Yet precisely because of this, it needed to concentrate our finest warriors.
But the true main force lay in my second and third armies.
“My second army will move immediately and ambush along Pacheonggun’s anticipated route of retreat, striking their front. Together with the pursuing first army, we will encircle them from both sides.”
A reverse encirclement.
A stratagem that turned the enemy’s own plan against them.
“And at that moment, the third army, moving alongside the second, will execute a flanking assault to annihilate the enemy as swiftly as possible.”
The third army would deliver the killing blow.
Pacheonggun, with so many of its Four Heavenly Kings and elite masters already depleted.
Even creatures like Bloodfiends and Natchals become nothing but a rabble without commanders. If three armies pressed from three sides, we would crush them like insects beneath a heel.
Yet there was a problem.
“Will the burden on the first army not become excessive? The enemy’s masters are formidable, and if the annihilation of Pacheonggun takes too long, the first army risks isolation.”
According to Dokgo Gun’s plan, the front lines would stretch into a long formation, each unit’s tail touching the next.
And the first army would have its rear completely exposed to the enemy’s elite forces pursuing from behind.
“I will hold the line and endure. It should be manageable.”
“Even so, the casualties…”
“Then the Cheonma Sect will provide support.”
Dokgo Myeong spoke without hesitation.
“If we aid you, we can buy time until Pacheonggun is annihilated.”
“Impossible.”
“Why not?”
“The Cheonma Sect excels against numbers rather than individuals. It would be more efficient for you to join either the second or third army and contribute to Pacheonggun’s destruction.”
It made sense.
Dokgo Myeong nodded in agreement.
“Then I will divide the Cheonma Sect into two groups.”
“Into two?”
“I will attach Cheolmu-baek and Ak-i with their subordinates to the first army. Additionally, someone of Ji-myeol’s caliber should suffice to make up for any shortage in expert strength.”
“Huh?!”
Dokgo Yeon, who had seated herself merely to observe, suddenly cried out in shock as her own name was mentioned.
“Brother! You’re abandoning me! After all the blood and sweat we’ve shed together as comrades, you betray me like this?!”
True to her nature as a madwoman, Dokgo Yeon unleashed her roar without a shred of tact.
“You have a separate task I’m entrusting to you, so it’s fine.”
“Is that so?”
Dokgo Gun offered a faint smile.
“That’s what I should be asking you.”
Thus, the broad strokes of the plan fell into place.
An hour had passed to reach this point.
Soon, the soldiers began discussing and relaying the details.
“If we achieve victory, we shall advance eastward immediately and support the main force currently attacking Xoxing!”
“Should the plan go awry, our best option is to seize West Lake, and if that fails, we retreat to Tianmu Mountain here as our secondary objective!”
“The reinforcements departing from Namchang shall be sent to the first army upon arrival!”
“There may be additional reinforcements we haven’t yet identified, so there’s no need to rush the fighting!”
Another half hour passed with these arrangements.
Then Dokgo Gun began appointing those who would command the three armies.
“As I mentioned, I shall take command of the first army. The second army shall be…”
All the leaders’ eyes gleamed.
“Muchen Sect Leader. I trust you.”
“I accept! I shall offer my life!”
He was a master of the outer sect’s main forces. Opinions varied among the leaders, but all acknowledged it was a fitting choice.
Now only one matter remained.
“Dokgo Yeon of the Bloodfiend Sect.”
“What? Me?”
“I entrust the third army to you.”
“What are you saying! I was supposed to go with the Cheonma Sect!”
“It is an order. The third army values combat prowess over intricate tactics. Your breakthrough power is rarely seen.”
“This…!”
Though others would covet such a position, Dokgo Yeon nodded reluctantly, her expression reluctant.
Meanwhile, Dokgo Myeong heard it as entrusting the third army to the Cheonma Sect.
Since Dokgo Yeon was not suited to lead many, he had carefully suggested she try direct command once.
‘Good. This is what I desired.’
Darkness slowly retreated.
Only half an hour remained until the scheduled time for the general offensive.
“Divide the existing twelve armies into three! Hurry! Quickly!”
“Send the Cheonkong Brigade that way! The Gwigap Brigade goes over there!”
“Keep provisions and medicine to a minimum! Travel as light as possible!”
Dawn arrived. The sky’s edge had already turned blue. It was time to depart.
“Cheolmu-baek.”
“I’m listening, Captain.”
“I’ll be leaving soon. Take good care of the men. Let’s meet alive.”
“Alive?”
Cheolmu-baek’s eyes gleamed even more brilliantly blue, catching the light of the rising sun.
“Let us meet in victory.”
“Your boasting has grown.”
Dokgo Myeong clasped hands with Cheolmu-baek once, then placed his hand on Dokgo Ak’s shoulder.
Before he could say anything, Dokgo Ak spoke first.
“Don’t worry. I’ll stick right by that bastard’s side and keep watch over him.”
“That’s reassuring. I’m counting on you.”
And so it was.
“Left Army! We march!”
The Second and Third Armies began their advance first, while the First Army departed a step behind.
At last, the end was in sight.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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