The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 101

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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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The Red Dragon Martial Emperor — Episode 101

Chapter 101 — Treatment Befitting the Grand Commandant

“He took his own life. He had something in his mouth—there was no time to stop him.”
Yi Hwan stared at Hwang Po-in’s corpse, his brow narrowing slightly.
“A shame. If we’d captured him alive, we might have learned who he really was.”
“My apologies.”
“Can’t stop a man determined to die. Let’s go.”
“Shall we head to the marketplace district, sir?”
“No point today. We’ll skip it.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan resumed walking.
The sudden commotion had drawn a crowd of onlookers, among them soldiers of the Gold Guard who maintained order in the city.
“Halt!”
The soldiers moved to block their path.
Yi Hwan stopped and regarded them evenly.
“Disarm yourselves and raise both arms above your shoulders. Resist, and we’ll take your heads.”
Clang-clang-clang!
The soldiers leveled their sharp blades at Yi Hwan’s brow.
Cheol Mu-ok stepped forward.
“This is the prince who will soon become the Guard Commander. Lower your weapons!”
“……!”
Clank-clank!
The soldiers scrambled to sheathe their swords in panic.
Yi Hwan asked calmly.
“You’re with the Gold Guard?”
“Yes, sir!”
“You always patrol in numbers like this?”
“That’s correct, sir!”
There were five soldiers in all, each solidly built with sharp, alert eyes.
“Two of you stay and secure the scene. The rest, come with me.”
“……Sir?”
“What—don’t want to?”
“No, of course not, sir!”
Two soldiers rushed toward the scene while the others fell in behind Yi Hwan, visibly tense. How could they not be? He was about to become their Guard Commander—a man who held their very lives in his hands. To have drawn steel on him was no light matter.

“How many men cover this district?”
“About three hundred, rotating through patrols, sir!”
“Any soldiers lost to these criminals recently?”
“Around twenty have fallen in recent months, sir!”
It was a considerable number.
As Yi Hwan made his way back to his residence, he pressed them for details. From the conversation, it became clear that the Gold Guard’s discipline was far worse than he’d expected.
‘The current Guard Commander has strong political leanings, or so I’ve heard.’
The current Guard Commander was effectively suspended from duty.
Yi So had exposed his corruption through investigative channels and brought it into public light—precisely to clear the way for Yi Hwan’s appointment.
Yi So had explained it plainly.
Until now, the Guard Commander had wielded considerable political influence, and had promoted men of like ideology within the ranks, allowing discipline to erode badly. Moreover, once Yi Hwan took command, that rot would have to be cut out immediately.
Yi So had even cautioned that the organization’s entire structure might need overhauling.
‘A man who drags the kingdom’s security apparatus into politics deserves nothing less than death.’
One of the soldiers ventured to ask cautiously.
“When will you be taking office, sir?”
“Soon.”

* * *

The official residence Yi So had arranged was impressive in scale. It consisted of one grand central hall surrounded by a ring of ten smaller halls, arranged like fortifications.
Yi Hwan felt a quiet stir of admiration.
“The entire structure forms a single formation.”
“These halls have been standing for quite some time. I’m curious what purpose they served before. Built this way, they must have housed something of considerable importance.”
Yi Hwan had heard nothing of this from Yi So beforehand.
He strode directly inside.
Passing through the main gate, which loomed like a fortress gate, he found dozens of commanders arrayed in formation.
“Hail!”
The commanders executed a military salute toward Yi Hwan.
Evidently Yi So had tipped them off in advance.
“Glad to see you all.”
“Welcome, sir! Prince!”
Yi Hwan fixed his gaze on the commander standing at the front. His youth was striking, matched only by the intensity burning in his eyes.
“I am Son Young, deputy commander who will have the honor of serving you going forward! It is a great privilege to meet you!”
Yi Hwan grasped it in an instant.
That Son Young was a man from the Crown Prince’s faction.
“Let’s step inside.”

* * *

Yi Hwan received a thorough briefing from Son Young.
Among it lay matters of considerable weight. What drew Yi Hwan’s focus was the presence of Yi Hwang-ja’s men within the Gold Guard.
“Here is the register.”
Son Young placed the list on the table.
Opening the register revealed dozens of names and titles written in dense lines.
“These are definitely Yi Hwang-ja’s commanders?”
“Yes. Without question, Yi Hwang-ja’s commanders. The Crown Prince is already aware of their presence.”
Yi Hwan handed the register to Cheol Mu-ok, then posed another question to Son Young.
“I hear you coordinate intelligence with the Gold Robed Guard. If we’re weighing priorities, which channel carries more weight?”
“They’re roughly equal. However, Yi Hwang-ja’s commanders obtain most of their intelligence from the Gold Robed Guard. Of course, they rarely share major information with us.”
“Two households under one roof, then.”
“I’m ashamed to say it, but yes.”
“Noted.”
Son Young ventured a question.
“I heard that upon your arrival, you would be granted the position of Grand Commandant. Is that true?”
“Not Grand Commandant exactly, but treatment befitting that rank. Don’t let it go to your head.”
“Even so, the Gold Guard’s standing will rise considerably. I must inform the others of this good news at once!”
Son Young beamed as though the matter were his own triumph. And with good reason—the Gold Guard of this era had grown in size while declining in status.
The shift had come when they expanded from the Emperor’s personal bodyguard to managing security across the Imperial Capital and surrounding cities.
Of course, the commander’s excessive political maneuvering had spawned many enemies as well.
Yi So’s intention to grant Yi Hwan a rank befitting the Grand Commandant was precisely to elevate the Gold Guard’s prestige and maximize Yi Hwan’s influence. Such unprecedented favoritism had no precedent in Yen’s history.
‘The Crown Prince wields his power without restraint. Perhaps his strongest asset is the appointment authority the Emperor has partially surrendered to him.’
Clink.
Yi Hwan set down his teacup and continued speaking.
“Once the formal appointment ceremony is complete, I’ll meet with the commanders.”
“Understood. Rest easy for now.”
Son Young withdrew.
Yi Hwan threw open the windows of his quarters. He glimpsed several commanders who had gathered near the hall quietly turning back.
Doubtless Yi Hwang-ja’s men.
Cheol Mu-ok spoke.
“Given the number of Yi Hwang-ja’s commanders present, I’ll strengthen security for a time. For that, we should station ourselves in the adjacent chamber.”
“Do so.”
“Yes.”
“Without my command, try to avoid confrontation if possible. If we attempt to negotiate and determine it won’t work, we can deal with them then.”
“Understood.”
“I’m going to rest now. You’re dismissed.”
“Yes. Rest well.”

* * *

Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae stepped out into the courtyard of the Grand Hall.
Guards stood watch at various points, including the main gate. The two took seats at a table in the courtyard.
“The Crown Prince seems to have made proper preparations. That much trust in his lord, then?”
“Of course. Because the lord is the most reliable ally His Highness could ask for.”
“Thanks to him, even we’ve risen in station. It feels strange—I thought I’d never set foot in the Imperial Palace in my whole life.”
“It’s extraordinary. In truth, a prince of the imperial house becoming Guard Commander is the first such occurrence in history. I’ve heard that the founding emperor prohibited it by law to suppress imperial ambitions, but who could have guessed the Crown Prince would overturn it?”
“Perhaps because he’s desperate enough? After all, the Second Prince has the Empress backing him from behind.”
“True enough. In any case, things will get busy for us going forward. Though that’s better than boredom, I suppose.”
Ju-tae glanced at the Grand Hall and broached a different topic.
“Honestly, it would be nice if he told us his plans—what he intends to do and how.”
“What does it matter? We need only obey our orders. Just think of it simply.”
The two exchanged idle talk. Perhaps an hour passed like this?
Go-mi crossed the Main Gate.
Behind her came some thirty warriors of the Bi-wol organization. The two men rose from their seats and offered the Fist Salute.
“Is the young prince inside?”
Cheol Mu-ok nodded silently, and Go-mi asked again.
“Has a place been arranged for us to stay?”
“We don’t know that either…….”
It was then that Cheol Mu-ok’s face grew troubled.
Yi Hwan’s voice came drifting through a window on this floor.
“Have them use the entire first floor.”
…….
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae exchanged wide-eyed glances.
‘He could hear us from up there?’
‘Certainly there’s been a change since the internal injury. Or perhaps he was hiding his abilities all along.’
‘I mean, it would be nice if he’d just lay everything out plainly. Why does he have to hide so much?’
‘Tell him directly.’
‘……Never mind.’

* * *

It was an unusually clear day.
Yi Hwan entered the palace wearing armor that gleamed with lustrous sheen.
Today was the day he would officially assume the position of Guard Commander. Cheol Mu-ok, Ju-tae, and Deputy Commander Son Young followed behind.
How far had they walked along the marble-paved path?
Gwan Ji-baek approached from ahead.
“Welcome, young prince.”
“Has everyone assembled?”
“Yes. It should begin shortly. Please come inside.”
Yi Hwan proceeded toward the Inner Palace with Gwan Ji-baek.
Cheol Mu-ok, Ju-tae, and Son Young could go no further and waited outside.
Gwan Ji-baek explained the procedures briefly as they walked. Once the explanation concluded, Yi Hwan asked.
“Did the Second Prince come?”
“We just received word that he will not be attending.”
“He found it distasteful, then.”
At Yi Hwan’s remark, Gwan Ji-baek simply smiled.
Shortly after, Yi Hwan entered the midst of the assembled officials.
The atmosphere was as he had anticipated.
More than half were watching him with displeasure.
‘Certainly not encouraging.’
Yi Hwan offered the Fist Salute toward Yi So and lowered his head. Yi So received his bow with a solemnity unlike his usual demeanor.
Yi Hwan’s greeting went no further than that.
He bowed to no one else—not the Prime Minister, not anyone. The hall stirred at his arrogance, but once Yi So quashed the discord, the formal appointment ceremony began in earnest.

* * *

“The very air feels different here.”
Ju-tae looked around at the various reaches of the Multilayered Imperial Palace and shrugged his shoulders.
“No place for a person to live. How many must have died here already? They call it the palace built on blood for good reason.”
At Cheol Mu-ok’s words, Son Young’s expression grew uneasy. The three waited without further conversation for Yi Hwan to emerge.
How long had passed like this?
“Oh.”
Son Young’s eyes widened as he caught sight of someone.
Cheol Mu-ok asked him.
“What is it?”
“The Third Prince is coming.”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae turned their heads toward the direction of Son Young’s gaze. A handsome officer in official robes was walking toward them, accompanied by a middle-aged man dressed similarly.
It was Yi Seong-ji, the Third Prince.
Cheol Mu-ok’s eyes narrowed as he studied him.
‘Something feels……’
“His bearing bothers me for some reason.”
“There’s something odd about him, isn’t there?”
“Yes. It’s like watching a very handsome ghost walk by.”
Ju-tae seemed to feel the same unease.
Son Young gave them both a puzzled look. Yi Seong-ji had an undeniably virtuous expression and radiated a gentle presence.
Moreover, he possessed an unpretentious character, earning the respect of many within the palace. The only reason most people didn’t recognize him was that he engaged in almost no public activity outside the inner courts.
‘So the masters of the Martial World truly do see people differently.’
The three of them stared openly at Yi Seong-ji and the middle-aged man as they passed at a distance. They were far enough apart that no formal greeting was necessary.
“If he’s trained in martial arts, he must be quite accomplished. Something about his bearing suggests it.”
Cheol Mu-ok nodded silently, then turned to Son Young with a question.
“What sort of man is the Third Prince?”
“I don’t know him well, but I’ve heard he has no interest in power—unlike the Second Prince. There’s even a rumor that recently the Second Prince sought his help, and the Third Prince refused him coldly.”
“If he rejected the outstretched hand of his own brother, then his disinterest in power must be genuine.”
“Or perhaps not. He could be hiding ambitions. Men like that are usually the more dangerous ones.”
“Perhaps.”
Shortly after Yi Seong-ji disappeared into the palace, the three turned away. The waiting stretched on, tedious and empty. After a considerable time had passed, Yi Hwan finally appeared.
“He’s coming out!”
The three quickly approached Yi Hwan.
“Is it all finished?”
Instead of answering, Yi Hwan handed a seal badge to Cheol Mu-ok.
“What is this?”
Son Young answered instead, his expression brightening.
“It’s a seal badge that symbolizes a rank equivalent to Grand Commandant. Congratulations, my lord!”
“Congratulations!”
Despite their successive congratulations, Yi Hwan remained unmoved. His only desire was to escape the Imperial Palace as quickly as possible.
“Let’s leave this place first.”

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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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