The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 130

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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 Undefeated – Episode 130

Chapter 130 – Yi So Takes Command of the Western Military Unit

Orders went out for the generals of the Western Military Unit to gather at the Command Center. As they filed in one by one, they all froze in shock.
General-in-Chief Jin Seong-ju knelt before them in restraints, and behind him sat Yi So in a chair of command.
As the generals entered, Gwan Ji-baek locked the doors behind them, and martial artists took their positions at the threshold.
“Your Highness……”
The generals stared, pale with astonishment, between Yi So and Jin Seong-ju. Jin Seong-ju’s face had flushed crimson with rage, and he seemed to want to speak, but with his vitals suppressed, it was useless.
Gwan Ji-baek spoke coldly to the assembled generals.
“Disarm Command. Execute immediately.”
“……!”
“Any who refuse will be branded traitors.”
Clang! Clang!
The generals all drew their swords at once and lowered them to the ground. Yet a few still hesitated.
They were Jin Seong-ju’s closest confidants.
Yi So addressed them without emotion.
“Do you wish to face Nine-Clan Extermination? If that is your desire, then keep your swords drawn.”
“……!”
Clang! Clang!
At last the remaining generals laid down their weapons.
Yi So called out toward the door.
“Enter.”
The door swung open.
One officer and five warriors stepped inside.
“Tell them in detail what you have witnessed.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
The officer began his account to the assembled generals.
“Before launching the Surprise Attack Strategy, I received Your Highness’s orders to scout the primary defensive fortress of Zhao Kingdom, which was our initial target. Upon arrival, we confirmed that all the intelligence provided by the General-in-Chief was false.”
The generals stirred uneasily.
“The enemy was prepared as though they knew in advance that our forces would come—they had deployed several times their usual numbers for a thorough defense. Had we relied solely on the intelligence the General-in-Chief gave us and proceeded to that location, our army would have faced annihilation.”
The officer shouted toward the door.
“Bring them in!”
All eyes fixed on the entrance.
Moments later, two Zhao warriors, covered in blood, were dragged inside.
Yi So turned to them with a question.
“How did you know we were coming to attack that location?”
“We common soldiers know little of such matters. We only know that in recent days, reinforcements kept arriving to guard the main garrison. When we asked why, we were told that soon the forces of Yen would launch a surprise attack.”
The other warrior spoke, trembling with fear.
“They said the Crown Prince of Yen would come, and martial artists from the main garrison were also brought in in great numbers!”
“What?!”
“How could Zhao have known such a thing?!”
The generals erupted in consternation. Several of them turned their gaze toward Jin Seong-ju and shook their heads gravely.
Yi So opened his mouth.
“My decision to undertake this personal campaign was made only yesterday through a key commanders’ conference. Yet the enemy already knew days in advance that I would go. I’m certain you all understand what this means.”
“Then you are saying the General-in-Chief colluded with the enemy?”
“If the General-in-Chief did not, then one of you did.”
“……!”
Yi So’s gaze turned to ice.
“Those among you who approved of my personal campaign—step forward now.”
Several generals’ faces drained of color.
“I do not seek to assign blame. Come forward.”
At last, a few generals stepped to the front. Yi So regarded them coldly and sent a Sound Transmission to one of them.
[Confess that the General-in-Chief colluded with the enemy. Swear your loyalty to me. If you do so, you shall be forgiven. This is a promise I make to you as the Crown Prince—believe it.]
His frame trembled.
The face of the general who received the Sound Transmission convulsed. Torn by terrible conflict, his eyes shook violently.
But that moment did not last long.
Thud!
The general fell to his knees.
It was the moment Jin Seong-ju’s entire world collapsed—a soldier who had abandoned his duty to collude with politics.

* * *

The snow had stopped, and even the scattered flakes that lingered had swept away, leaving a world that gleamed with blinding beauty.
“Magnificent.”
Go-mi was captivated, if only briefly, by the landscape of pure white.
But the enchantment shattered quickly.
“Moon-joo, an official letter has arrived from the Western Military Unit.”
One of Bi-wol’s warriors entered.
Go-mi straightened her expression and turned. The warrior handed her a message tube containing the official letter.
The red cord binding the message tube reflected in Go-mi’s eyes.
‘So the Crown Prince himself sent word.’
The red cord was a sort of emblem that symbolized Crown Prince Yi So.
“I’ll return after meeting with the prince.”
Go-mi headed straight for Yi Hwan’s barracks. As she leaped over a small stream running through the center of the military camp, a figure appeared before her.
It was Hwa-ryeong.
Go-mi stopped in her tracks.
Hwa-ryeong spoke.
“May I ask you something?”
“I’m sorry, but I’m a bit busy right now.”
“It will only take a moment.”
“What is it?”
“I was checking a roster of the people who came with the prince, and I found something odd—who are these people?”
Hwa-ryeong held out a sheet of paper. Two names were written on it.
They were aliases for Jo Gwang and Papa.
Go-mi answered calmly.
“They’re martial artists the prince keeps as private soldiers. What’s strange about that?”
“Could I meet them?”
“You’ll have to ask the prince directly about that. What do you think he would do if his second brother’s confidant grew suspicious of the private soldiers he keeps? Well then.”
Bang!
Go-mi pushed off the ground and sprang into the air.
It was then.
Feeling a chilling force streak toward her legs, Go-mi twisted her body in midair and landed. She placed her hand on her sword hilt and called out coldly.
“What do you think you’re doing!”
“So you are indeed a master. I only tested your skill because I was curious—don’t be upset. I’ll see you again later.”
Go-mi watched keenly as Hwa-ryeong turned away smiling. But she needed to deliver Yi So’s official letter to Yi Hwan at once, so she soon turned back herself.
Meanwhile, Hwa-ryeong’s brow furrowed slightly.
‘Private soldiers, martial artists, she said? That makes it even more suspicious.’

* * *

“Heh heh heh.”
A smile played at Yi Hwan’s lips as he read the official letter. Cheol Mu-ok asked.
“Is it good news?”
“The Crown Prince has swallowed up the Western Military Unit.”
“What?”
“What do you mean, swallowed it? You mean the Western Military Unit, sir?”
As Yi Hwan handed the official letter to Cheol Mu-ok, Ju-tae and Go-mi hurried over to his side.
A moment later, having confirmed the letter’s contents, the three of them opened their eyes wide.
“So the Crown Prince had quite a move in reserve! Ha ha ha!”
“This means we need not worry about His Highness the Crown Prince any longer.”
“Don’t be careless yet. The Crown Prince’s immediate enemy is still the Zhao Kingdom. Well, having removed the enemy from within, the situation is certainly much better than before.”
Yi Hwan paused and furrowed his brow.
He had noticed Go-mi’s eyes reddening at the edges.
“You seem happy.”
“Yes, I am. At least now those who will become loyal servants of the realm will not face harm.”
“As I said, it’s too early for relief. Perhaps the Central Army, upon learning the news, may withhold further support, and the Empress will not simply stand idle either.”
“Still, I am glad.”
“…….”
Yi Hwan could see afresh how deep Go-mi’s loyalty to Yi So ran.
“Fetch me brush and ink.”
“Yes.”
A short time later, Yi Hwan composed a letter and sent it off by official dispatch. When Go-mi returned, she spoke of her dealings with Hwa-ryeong.
“That woman is suspicious of the Zhao Kingdom’s Crown Prince and Papa. I claimed she was just a common soldier serving the Crown Prince, but we should keep watch on her.”
“Why not simply eliminate her when the opportunity arises?”
“That’s not a bad option.”
“Shall I handle it?”
“Not now. Don’t act without direct orders from me.”
“……I understand.”
Yi Hwan rose and draped his outer robe across his shoulders.
“Shall I try eating at the Military Camp Dining Hall for a change?”
“I thought you decided to eat in the Barracks because the soldiers felt uncomfortable?”
“I’ll go to the Officers’ Dining Hall.”
“…….”

* * *

The moment Yi Hwan entered, the officers preparing their meal rose as one from their seats.
General-in-Chief Gwak Chung-mu was not there.
“May I join you for a meal?”
“Please, sit.”
As Yi Hwan took his seat, a server brought out the dishes. Surprisingly, the meal was little different from what the soldiers ate.
‘Even General Hwang Ho didn’t hold himself to this standard.’
Yi Hwan found himself newly respecting Gwak Chung-mu’s character.
“The fare is meager, Your Highness.”
“Not at all. This is more than sufficient.”
The officers waited for him to lift his chopsticks. Before he did, Yi Hwan addressed them all.
“From now on, pay closer attention to maintaining communication with the Western Military Unit. Central Command will not be sending further support, so coordination with them is vital. Is that clear?”
“The Western Military Unit has been lukewarm to our overtures. Our General-in-Chief has sent Official Letters several times, but they haven’t answered once.”
“That may have been true until now, but things will change from here on. Now, let us eat.”
The meal began.
Usually the officers would have been loud and boisterous, but because of Yi Hwan’s presence, not even the sound of chewing filled the air.
Yi Hwan gave a bitter smile.
‘I shouldn’t come here either.’
Just then, the server returned with a bottle of spirits.
“Allow me to serve you a drink with your meal, Your Highness.”
“Is there more of this?”
“We brew it ourselves, so we have plenty.”
“Then pour everyone a cup.”
“Is that permissible?”
The officers’ expressions brightened at once.
Yi Hwan turned to an officer at a nearby table.
“Doesn’t the General-in-Chief allow spirits with meals?”
“He does permit a few cups.”
“Then why the hesitation just now?”
At that moment, Go-mi’s voice reached him through Soul Transmission.
[When you arrived, they all hid the bottles beneath the tables.]
Yi Hwan’s gaze naturally drifted downward. Sure enough, bottles were tucked between the table legs and chair frames.
[You might find it better to take your meals in the Barracks as before.]
[Am I being a burden here too?]
[Yes, it appears so. You make everyone nervous, Your Highness.]
“…….”

* * *

Manwha Palace.
The Empress’s expression twisted further as she read through the Official Letter. It contained detailed accounts of the incident that had occurred in the Western Military Unit.
Crack!
The Official Letter crumbled to ash and scattered on the wind.
The Empress leaned her head against the chair and laughed with hollow resignation.
“So he did inherit his father’s blood after all—he kept one hidden talent up his sleeve.”
“What do you mean by that, Your Majesty?”
A middle-aged man standing before the Empress asked carefully.
“Jin Seong-ju fell to the Crown Prince’s hand. He tried to use the enemy’s blade to eliminate the Crown Prince, but ended up ensnared by his own scheme instead.”
“…General Jin is dead?”
“His collusion with the enemy has been exposed, so death is inevitable. But those Martial Artists around him—what were they doing? Tsk, tsk, tsk.”
The Empress clicked her tongue.
Surprisingly, she did not seem greatly enraged. It was as though she had merely lost something small.
The middle-aged man found her reaction puzzling.
“If the Crown Prince now controls the Western Military Unit, shouldn’t we revise our entire plan?”
“Our plan ends here. From this point forward, we must leave things to Zhao Kingdom. If we attempt anything further and it goes wrong, we ourselves could be caught in the backlash. Half the ministers of this nation still support the Crown Prince, after all.”
The Empress straightened in her chair and lifted the teacup from the table.
Clink.
“The Southwest King of Zhao Kingdom cannot simply ignore how far he has come. If he proceeds, he will concentrate his full strength on the Western Military Unit where the Crown Prince is. I’ve already heard rumors of such movements, so the outcome will not change.”
“Indeed. We have already obtained intelligence that nearly three hundred thousand troops have amassed in the region facing off against the Western Military Unit.”
At those words, a cold smile played at the corners of the Empress’s mouth.
“The Crown Prince, fallen gloriously while fighting for his nation. Perhaps that would be a better outcome for both us and him. Hehehehe.”
The Empress drained her teacup and asked about something else.
“Has there been no word from Hwa-ryeong yet?”
“No, Your Majesty. Not even a single message thus far, which suggests the situation is not favorable.”
A twitch crossed her face.
“Not even once? No contact at all?”
“None, Your Majesty. In truth, Hwa-ryeong is not a child who even fears you, is she not? Left unchecked, she would climb right over your head—we should send someone now to correct that arrogance of hers.”
“We must first see how matters unfold. Days have passed and she has not even sent a letter? As you say, it seems I must send someone. Still, are you monitoring the movements of Zhao Kingdom?”
“The Northern Military Unit launched a Surprise Attack that shattered Zhao Kingdom’s forward defensive lines. And it is said the Fourth Prince himself led that operation.”
Another twitch.
“Why are you only reporting this now?”
“I judged it to be unimportant. My apologies.”
The middle-aged man bowed his head.
Anger kindled in the Empress’s eyes.
“The Fourth Prince is as important as the Crown Prince! If he gains the hearts of the army there, he could become an even more troublesome obstacle than the Crown Prince. From today on, report his every movement without fail!”
“Understood, Your Majesty.”
Snap!
The Empress flicked her finger, and the wall behind split open as a Black-robed Person materialized like a ghost.
“You must go to the Northern Military Unit. Once there, cut off the Fourth Prince’s breath. As for Hwa-ryeong, you will take command of her.”
“Hwa-ryeong is not a child who will listen to my commands, Your Majesty.”
At those words, the Empress withdrew something from her bosom and handed it over.
“Show her this, and she will follow you as she would the heavens themselves. If she refuses to obey, you will handle it as you see fit.”
“I shall obey your command!”

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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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