The Legend of Red Cloud - Chapter 82

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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 82. Rear Area Reconnaissance
Do Jin, the Ja Ha Sword, submitted an operational plan to Ja Jeon Geom Wang, who commanded the Hyeol Gwi Dae.
Ja Jeon Geom Wang read through the plan and asked a question.
“Will it work?”
“We’ll have to make it work.”
At the Ja Ha Sword’s answer, Ja Jeon Geom Wang asked again.
“It would be good, but……. I’m worried that if Tae Geuk Geom Wang or that bastard gets involved, our people will just get shredded.”
“We’re not targeting the Maeng Ui Dan. We’re targeting the warriors of the Baek Ui Ryeon who are being newly recruited. There’s no reason we’d get entangled with them, is there?”
At the words of the Ja Ha Sword, who now held the position of new leader among the Black Ghosts, Ja Jeon Geom Wang, who had been deliberating for a moment, turned his gaze toward Mo Yong Ji Eun, who was stationed as the Ming Ma of the Ming Ma Gak.
“What do you think?”
Even as Ja Jeon Geom Wang ignored Gwan Hong, the director of Ming Ma Gak, and asked Mo Yong Ji Eun instead—knowing full well Gwan Hong’s expression had turned deeply sullen—his eyes remained fixed on Mo Yong Ji Eun’s lips.
Mo Yong Ji Eun, whose expression had been uncomfortable, finally spoke.
“If we stage some movement at Saja Plain to capture the Maeng Ui Dan’s attention, I believe it’s entirely feasible.”
“A diversion operation……. Not bad. Command will be…….”
The Ja Ha Sword stepped forward before Ja Jeon Geom Wang could finish.
“I will lead the Black Ghosts to strike the Baek Ui Ryeon.”
The word “dangerous” rose straight to Ja Jeon Geom Wang’s throat, but he forced it back down.
To speak that way in a place where so many eyes were watching would easily invite misunderstanding—that he only looked after his own faction.
In the end, the attack on the newly arriving Baek Ui Ryeon warriors fell to the Black Ghosts led by the Ja Ha Sword, while the diversion operation at Saja Plain was assigned to the Mil Gui, recently rebuilt.
The operation was executed immediately upon approval.
It was because intelligence indicated that the Baek Ui Ryeon’s reinforcements would arrive at Saja Plain soon.
Following Ja Jeon Geom Wang’s order to commence operations, Geum Mil led the Mil Gui, rebuilt to a strength of 150 warriors, toward Saja Plain.
Half the force was positioned openly in front of Saja Plain, while the other half was pushed into Saja Pavilion itself.
The Maeng Ui Dan, which operated spy networks in all directions, immediately detected the movements of the Hyeol Gwi Dae.
***
“What in the hell are these bastards up to?”
At Tae Geuk Geom Wang’s question, the strategist Gong Chan answered carefully.
“Perhaps they’re trying to seize favorable positions before the Baek Ui Ryeon’s reinforcements arrive?”
“Favorable positions……. Saja Pavilion may be an awkward place, but if the Hyeol Gwi Dae seize and hold it, it would certainly be inconvenient for us. What forces can we deploy, and at what strength?”
“According to our spy reports, the ones the Hyeol Gwi Dae deployed this time are the Mil Gui. The force we can send to counter them is the Mang Ui Dae.”
Tae Geuk Geom Wang nodded at Gong Chan’s assessment.
“Then send the Mang Ui Dae to Saja Plain. The problem is Saja Pavilion…….”
“Shouldn’t the Mang Ui Dae handle that as well?”
At Gong Chan’s puzzled question, Tae Geuk Geom Wang—offering no answer—turned to look at the director of the Jeok Myeol Dae, who sat some distance away.
“You say we deploy the Mang Ui Dae in response, but isn’t Saja Pavilion originally the front yard of the Jeok Myeol Dae?”
At Tae Geuk Geom Wang’s question, Hwang Cheol, who commanded the Jeok Myeol Dae, quickly answered.
“That’s certainly true, but…….”
“What? Scared?”
“Scared? Is that something you eat?”
At Hwang Cheol’s snort, Tae Geuk Geom Wang flashed a grin and asked.
“Then how about taking Saja Pavilion?”
Even knowing it was a provocation, Hwang Cheol bit at the bait.
“Understood. I will take it.”
“Good. The Jeok Myeol Dae takes Saja Pavilion, the Mang Ui Dae takes Saja Plain. Move immediately.”
With the order from the faction leader falling, the assembled leaders scattered at once.
But Gong Chan remained in his seat.
Watching him, Tae Geuk Geom Wang asked.
“Why?”
“The Jeok Myeol Dae……. Is there a reason?”
“The Jeok Myeol Dae are the ones who’ve seen the most actual operations at Saja Pavilion.”
“Is that the only reason? As I already told you, the Mil Gui…….”
“Are difficult to face unless it’s the Mang Ui Dae?”
“Yes. But then why……?”
At Gong Chan’s question, Tae Geuk Geom Wang leaned back in his seat and answered.
“Suppose the Jeok Myeol Dae entered Saja Pavilion. If you were the Mil Gui, would you want to fight them?”
“Well, naturally not…….”
Gong Chan stopped mid-sentence and closed his mouth. The mischievous glint in Tae Geuk Geom Wang’s eyes, who smiled faintly, had just become visible.
Upon seeing that look, Gong Chan realized he was missing something.
After thinking for some time about what it could be, Gong Chan struck his knee.
“The Jeok Sa Jo!”
“Right. We know the Jeok Sa Jo isn’t in the Jeok Myeol Dae, but do they know it?”
Since Tae Geuk Geom Wang took office as the chief of the Maeng Ui Dan, the rooting out of spies had been proceeding at a furious pace.
Though it wasn’t made public, it was because of the considerable shock when Go Jang Myeong, the Flowing Sword who had been treated with the highest honor by the White Way, turned out to be a spy for the Gunmarim.
The number of spies from the Gunmarim that had been arrested as a result had already exceeded two figures.
Thus the intensity of the spy-rooting operation had escalated, and continued to do so even now.
Therefore, even if there were any spies who had managed to evade capture until now, they would find it impossible to move about as freely as they once had.
They couldn’t send out even a single message bird carrying intelligence.
Tae Geuk Geom Wang seemed intent on making full use of such circumstances.
“I bow before your wisdom, my lord. I shall ensure that both the Mang Ui Dae and the Jeok Myeol Dae receive proper support.”
“Good.”
Once Gong Chan left with his approval, Tae Geuk Geom Wang gazed steadily beyond the Saja Plain, where the Hyeol Gwi Dae was stationed, through the window, a faint smile crossing his lips.
“I can see right through you. You’ll likely aim for the rear, but you don’t even dream that he’s there. Hehehehe.”
Tae Geuk Geom Wang’s blood-red laughter settled over the Uiju Headquarters.
***
The Jeok Sa Jo, having left the encampment and moving to the rear, traveled more easily than when entering the Saja Plain.
There was no need to worry about enemies.
That said, the Jeok Sa Jo’s distinctive method of travel didn’t change, so they relied entirely on their physical stamina to move.
Of course, as rear-area reconnaissance demanded, they confirmed the surrounding terrain and geography, and scouted areas where ambush might be possible as they went.
Because of this, their pace remained slow even in the rear areas.
The newcomers found this unsatisfying.
In regions without enemies, they were moving forward while meticulously checking places that didn’t even need to be observed.
Many of the newcomers shook their heads at this.
But they couldn’t complain about thorough work, so they simply followed Jeok Sa’s path consistently.
Moving methodically this way, searching in all directions, Jeok Sa finally halted.
The sun was beginning to set.
So Jeok Sa, deciding to make camp by the small stream that flowed nearby, set down their loads.
The newcomers watched intently as the senior members skillfully pitched their personal tents.
They couldn’t understand why they were being so elaborate about it even now.
After all, the high-ranking members of the Dae Moon Pa would have had little reason to experience the fighting at the Saja Plain, which was commonly called a dogfight.
While these people looked on, Chul Ja Yong, who had just finished setting up Chul Ja Gyeong’s personal tent, busied himself putting up his own.
Unexpectedly, Jeok Sa came to help him.
Seeing something they’d never witnessed before, the team members couldn’t hide their puzzled expressions.
Among them, Dong Pil, as if discovering the reason, let out a strange sound.
“Ohhhhh…….”
Only then did the Jeok Sa Jo members realize that Jeok Sa was actually helping with Chul Ja Yong’s tent, not Chul Ja Gyeong’s, and they broke into quiet grins.
Of course, neither Jeok Sa nor Chul Ja Yong could smile.
Unlike those two, Chul Ja Gyeong approached Jeok Sa and said, ‘Help with mine tomorrow too,’ earning cheers from Dong Pil.
The expressions of the newcomers watching Chul Ja Gyeong and Jeok Sa were not pleasant.
It seemed the honey trap from the So Ju Cheol Bang was working.
Thus the first night of the Jeok Sa Jo’s rear-area reconnaissance, full of talk and activity, deepened into darkness.
***
The Jeok Sa Jo’s reconnaissance, beginning in the early morning, was applied without exception even in rear-area operations.
Among the Jeok Sa Jo members, who were taking down their personal tents, packing their loads, walking with them on their backs, and chewing hardtack, the newcomers moved with sullen expressions.
Because they had circulated their Internal Energy throughout the night to ward off the cold, they hadn’t caught a chill, but their muscles had inevitably stiffened more than usual.
It would have been nice to do Body Refinement then, but no personal maintenance time was given.
Then again, unlike the old members, Jeok Sa wouldn’t allow anyone to perform half-day Body Refinement in the middle of a mission, especially not on the roadside.
At least, unlike the old recruits of the past, these newcomers had brought hardtack along, so they didn’t go hungry.
The problem was that most had never eaten hardtack except in their youth, so they chewed it a few times before spitting it out.
Beyond the wretched taste, the hardtack was grueling to chew itself, so they thought it better to skip a meal or two than to eat it.
Seeing the newcomers’ behavior, Dong Pil offered some advice.
“Eat it even if it tastes bad. In the worst circumstances, the hardtack you throw away now might become your final strength.”
Some narrowed their eyes slightly at Dong Pil’s blunt tone, but no newcomer stepped forward to argue.
Of course, none of them started eating the hardtack again either.
Dong Pil, having observed the newcomers, grumbled.
“I give them words that turn to flesh and medicine, and for what…….”
Yi Song patted Dong Pil’s shoulder as he complained.
The reconnaissance, which had begun with poor morale from the start, proceeded no differently than the day before.
The Jeok Sa Jo continued their exhaustive search, covering even areas that didn’t need to be observed.
The newcomers watched this with dissatisfied expressions.
Observing them, Yi Song spoke to Jang Min Soo.
“No matter what our intentions are, we can’t leave things as they stand. Go ahead and assign some groups to conduct searches. Once they’re moving, their frustrations will settle down.”
Because Yi Song had spoken while looking at the recruits, Jang Min Soo quickly understood who was to be assigned the search.
Jang Min Soo watched Ryu for a moment—he stood silent even after hearing those words—then nodded.
“Understood.”
After offering a small smile to Yi Song, who was patting his shoulder reassuringly, Jang Min Soo turned toward the recruits.
The recruits straightened their posture at the sight of someone approaching them who held the official title of leader of the Jeok Sa Jo.
It was to avoid being singled out and cast aside for no reason.
Jang Min Soo addressed the recruits.
“Divide into three teams and conduct your searches, but don’t stray more than a hundred paces from the main unit.”
“How should we divide the teams?”
Jang Min Soo answered the first question.
“It’s up to you. However, Chul Ja Gyeong is to accompany the main unit.”
At Jang Min Soo’s words, one recruit voiced a complaint.
“You keep giving special treatment to only Chul Ja. That’s unfair.”
Jang Min Soo looked at the recruit who had raised the objection and spoke.
“Chul Ja Gyeong participates as a team member, not as a lady. The only reason I wanted her to move with the main unit was that she hasn’t learned martial arts yet and I was concerned she might hinder your mission. But if you have no objection, there’s no reason she can’t go with one of your teams.”
The recruit who had voiced the complaint answered.
“We’ll take on that burden.”
“Then that’s settled.”
Jang Min Soo withdrew cleanly and, passing Chul Ja Yong, whose expression was heavy with worry, spoke in a low voice.
“I’m sorry it turned out this way.”
Chul Ja Yong immediately shook his head in protest.
“No, that’s not it.”
Jang Min Soo patted the shoulder of Chul Ja Yong, who seemed to regret that his sister had become an obstacle, and ordered the operation to resume.
“Begin the search!”
At Jang Min Soo’s cry, the main unit divided in two and continued with the search.
The recruits, watching this unfold, exchanged glances among themselves, scattered into three groups, and began their search.

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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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