The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 134

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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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Red Dragon Martial Emperor, Chapter 134

Chapter 134 – Buying Time

The Empress’s face, white as jade, flushed crimson.
The carrier pigeon clutched in her hand crumbled to ash and scattered.
The pigeon had been sent by Hwa Ryeong, and the message it carried told of those who had moved against Yi Hwan—all dead. The Empress sat motionless, eyes closed, for a long moment.
The atmosphere grew so grave that those watching her dared not ask what had happened.
How long did that suffocating silence stretch? At last, the Empress opened her eyes.
“Is there truly no one in the Northern Military Unit who can communicate with us?”
A middle-aged official answered carefully.
“Your Majesty certainly has forces loyal to you. However, the messenger pigeon routes have been under strict control for some time now, making communication difficult. It seems the pigeon Hwa Ryeong used was the last one.”
A thin wisp of smoke rose.
Smoke curled from the armrest of the chair the Empress had been gripping. It was a replacement—the previous one had burned away not long before.
Only then did the middle-aged official venture to ask.
“Did they fail?”
“The Fourth Prince—those who moved against him are all dead. Only that girl, Hwa Ryeong, survives.”
“……!”
The room stirred with alarm.
“Then send stronger ones, Your Majesty.”
At those words, the Empress fell silent again, her jaw tightening. She was struggling to master her emotions, but the anger that had flared once would not easily fade.
‘I orchestrated the game precisely as I wished. Yet events are spiraling in an entirely unforeseen direction.’
The Western Military Unit had fallen under the Crown Prince Yi So.
The Northern Military Unit, too, appeared to be flowing in a direction favorable to Yi Hwan. And the movements of Zhao Guang, the Crown Prince of Zhao Kingdom—they had yet to even catch a shadow of him.
‘In the end, this is the price of not truly understanding their capabilities. Especially the Crown Prince—I gravely underestimated that one.’
Although the assassination had failed, Yi Hwan remained in the Empress’s mind a mere secondary piece.
Even now, she believed that once she disposed of the Crown Prince Yi So, Yi Hwan would follow as an afterthought, a mere dividend.
“Concentrate all strength in one direction.”
“Your command, Your Majesty.”
“Let the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince of Zhao be for now. Instead, select the strongest fighters from the Western Military Unit and send them. Soon the assault from Zhao Kingdom will begin—we can exploit that moment to achieve our aim without difficulty.”
“Yes, Your Majesty!”
“And send word through the pigeons Hwa Ryeong used, commanding her to return at once.”
“Understood.”
Once all had withdrawn from the hall, the Empress sank deep into her chair, her gaze dimming.
‘Those two were masters stronger than Hwa Ryeong. Yet they joined forces and still failed……’
Though she had resolved to set Yi Hwan aside for now, an inexplicable dread and dissatisfaction lingered, refusing to lift.
She fell into contemplation once more.
Some time passed in silence.
“You there!”
At her call, the middle-aged official reentered the hall. The Empress issued her command at once.
“Investigate the surroundings of Gwak Chung-mu, General-in-Chief of the Northern Military Unit. The moment you find even the smallest flaw, bring it to me. I must shake him first and drive a wedge between him and that one.”
“General Gwak is known for his integrity. There is scarcely……”
“Then fabricate something if it doesn’t exist!”
“……Yes.”
“And spread a rumor through the Imperial Palace of Zhao Kingdom—say that Crown Prince Zhao Guang is hiding in the Northern Military Unit. Do it swiftly.”
“If that happens, won’t Zhao concentrate their forces on the Northern Military Unit instead of the Western Front? In that case, wouldn’t the Crown Prince have an easier time? Is that acceptable?”
“Even if Zhao reinforces the Northern Military Unit, they won’t reduce the troops on the Western Front. Do as I command.”
“……Understood.”
The middle-aged official withdrew again. The Empress emptied her cold tea, then rose with a sweep of her sleeve.
“I will go to the hot springs.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”

* * *

Go-mi stood watching Hwa Ryeong, who lay on the bed with arms crossed, her discomfort plain on her face. She could not understand why Yi Hwan had taken her in.
“It’s uncomfortable. You’re staring so intently.”
“What is your purpose?”
“Purpose? I merely grasped the hand of salvation the High Prince extended to me. And your words seem rather brief, don’t they?”
“A position like that is rank enough to speak down to the swordmasters of Man-hwa Palace. You know that as well as I do.”
“I’ll grant it. If you’re the leader of the Bi-wol Organization, you have more than enough claim to the title.”
Go-mi’s eyes shifted.
She’d jumped to conclusions thinking Hwa Ryeong might know her true identity, but it seemed the woman knew all along.
After all, wasn’t she still wearing the Face Mask?
“How did you know I’m the leader of Bi-wol?”
“Don’t underestimate Man-hwa Palace’s intelligence network. That place is far more remarkable than the world realizes.”
“Then you’ll have to tell me everything that makes it so remarkable.”
“Of course. But once my body recovers a bit. Right now, even speaking like this is torture—I could die from the pain.”
Whish!
Go-mi hurled something she’d been holding at Hwa Ryeong—a small pouch containing medicinal pills to aid in healing internal injuries.
“Medicine?”
“I wouldn’t give it to you if it weren’t for the Grand General’s order to keep you alive. Personally, I’d prefer you dead.”
“Is it because you don’t trust me?”
“There are people I trust. You aren’t one of them.”
Bang!
Hwa Ryeong managed a bitter smile as Go-mi shut the door behind her with violence and left.
She lay back on the bed and exhaled heavily.
“Don’t blame yourself like that. I’m confused too—so confused I could die from it.”
Taking Yi Hwan’s hand had been a betrayal of the Empress, if betrayal was the word. That word was carved into Hwa Ryeong’s heart like a blade into bone.
“Ah……”
With a deep sigh, Hwa Ryeong pushed herself up and drew a pill from the pouch, tossing it into her mouth.
The pill dissolved the moment it touched her saliva, slipping smoothly down her throat.
A cool energy spread rapidly through her body.
But it didn’t last.
Hwa Ryeong’s face flushed crimson. Her insides began to roil as if boiling water had been poured into them, and a searing pain tore through her.
That was when—
“Perform Qi Circulation properly. Mess it up and your intestines could dissolve.”
Go-mi’s voice drifted in from beyond the door.
‘Wretched girl, you should have warned me sooner.’
Hwa Ryeong scrambled off the bed and crossed her legs in lotus position. She cupped her hands in a circle and drew them up to her dantian, entering the Qi Circulation technique.
Already, her entire body was drenched in cold sweat from the intensity of the pain.
‘It hurts……’

* * *

Whoosh!
Yi Hwan rose, his training complete.
Pitter-patter!
Sweat fell from his face like rain.
‘At some point, I stopped making progress. What exactly is the problem?’
His Inner Method had grown steadily weaker these days, until it had nearly vanished altogether. What troubled him most was that he had no idea why.
Of course, his current level was enough to earn him the title of master throughout the land, but Yi Hwan could never be satisfied with that. Unless he fully restored himself to his former state, there would always be a gnawing unease at the core of his being.
Creak!
Yi Hwan stepped out into the Military Barracks’ rear yard. He lay down directly onto the snow piled in one corner.
Thump!
He cooled his scorching body this way. How long had it been since then?
“Grand General, may I come out?”
Go-mi’s voice came from beyond the door.
“It’s fine.”
Go-mi stepped into the rear yard.
Yi Hwan, buried in snow, watched her approach.
“Did you deliver the medicine?”
“Yes.”
“You still don’t seem satisfied.”
“She’s a woman I cannot trust. The moment she recovers, she’ll flee to the Empress’s side.”
“We’ll see about that soon enough. So—how are things with the Zhao Kingdom?”
Go-mi’s expression hardened as she continued.
“Their forces are swelling by the day. Yesterday alone, several hundred martial artists newly joined their ranks.”
“They’re nursing quite the grudge after their last defeat.”
“Zhao Kingdom’s total military strength reaches two million. Even if only one hundred thousand of those were to advance here, the Northern Military Unit might lack the capacity to withstand them.”
“That sounds like you’re saying this place could become as fierce a battlefield as the Western Front. Do you believe it will come to that?”
“I can only hope it does not.”
Yi Hwan rose to his feet.
The frost that had clung to his skin melted away rapidly, trickling down like perspiration.
“Is your training progressing well?”
“I am working at it diligently.”
“I’ll send word to the Crown Prince. Wait a moment.”
“Yes.”

* * *

Yi Hwan and Gwak Chung-mu sat facing each other.
Yet Gwak Chung-mu’s expression was drawn far tighter than usual—if anything, he looked angry.
“Is something the matter?”
“A letter has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
Gwak Chung-mu withdrew the letter and extended it. After Yi Hwan examined its contents a moment later, his brow furrowed.
“Is everything written here true?”
“How could it be? Not a single matter concerns the Colonel.”
“Then it appears the Empress has been playing games, but there’s no real danger in that, is there? We’re at war, and one cannot simply summon the Crown Prince away from his military post during wartime.”
Yi Hwan spoke, then furrowed his brow anew.
“No, wait. The Crown Prince’s son—that could prove problematic.”
…….
The letter detailed alleged misconduct involving Gwak Chung-mu and incidents involving his son. Of course, none of it was true, but it was something Gwak Chung-mu could not help but take to heart.
“I’m sorry this has happened.”
“……Yes?”
“It’s likely my fault. She must have thought that shaking the Crown Prince would weaken his ties to me. In truth, such tactics are predictable, but they’re also devastatingly effective.”
Yi Hwan let his words trail away.
This was not a matter to be dismissed lightly. At present, there was no one in the Imperial Palace or the Capital to protect Gwak Chung-mu’s son.
Neither he nor the Crown Prince could act freely—both were bound to the battlefield, leaving almost no one to check or counter the Empress’s arbitrary will.
‘Is this something we simply have to endure?’
When Yi Hwan fell silent, his brow still creased, Gwak Chung-mu spoke up.
“The Colonel is fine. Please do not worry yourself, Your Highness.”
“I’m not fine.”
Yi Hwan rose and walked toward the window.
Gwak Chung-mu and Go-mi watched him, waiting for him to speak.
After a moment, Yi Hwan turned back to Gwak Chung-mu and spoke.
“We must evacuate the Crown Prince’s family to a safe place at once. The first priority is to prevent them from becoming a bargaining chip in the Empress’s hands.”
“Is there truly any safe place in the Capital, which the Empress rules?”
“There is. If the Crown Prince consents, I will act on it immediately.”
“As for protecting my family, the Colonel will follow Your Highness’s wishes.”
“Good. And there is something else you must do.”
“What is that?”
Yi Hwan returned to his seat and continued speaking.
“Send a messenger pigeon to the Empress. Tell her that the Colonel will enter the Palace to clearly and definitively address all these matters—and that until then, if she will show patience, he pledges his loyalty.”
“I cannot leave the military camp!”
“Of course you need not go to the Palace. Once the Colonel swears his allegiance, the Empress will feel assured and move carelessly. She will likely respond through her reply to convey what she wants from you.”
“Something telling me not to support Your Highness, no doubt.”
Yi Hwan nodded silently, and Gwak Chung-mu spoke with grim resolve.
“Understood. I will send word to the Imperial Palace at once.”
Yi Hwan turned to Go-mi. Go-mi stepped forward and relayed to Gwak Chung-mu the report she had given to Yi Hwan. When the report concluded, Gwak Chung-mu’s face hardened once more.
“I thought they would deploy only enough troops to pin us down…….”
“How much military strength is stationed on the Northern Frontier?”
“If we count all three positions, it should amount to around one hundred thousand.”
The Northern Frontier was garrisoned not because of Zhao Kingdom, but to hold back the barbarians who constantly threatened the north of the Central Plain.
The same applied to Zhao Kingdom, whose borders partially overlapped with that frontier.
“Can we not withdraw forces from there?”
“If we withdraw, the barbarians will not sit idle. However, if we are careful to avoid suspicion, I believe we might manage to pull about that number.”
“We will need to call them in regardless. If this position falls, everything becomes meaningless.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan and Gwak Chung-mu continued their discussion on another matter. The expression on Go-mi’s face as she watched them was peculiar.
‘At some point, the Grand General began to lead every situation. Has the General-in-Chief been swayed by the Grand General’s presence? Or has he been completely overwhelmed by him, just like the General-in-Chief of the Southern Military Unit?’
Go-mi thought the former was more likely. Gwak Chung-mu was not a man to be overwhelmed, no matter how highborn his opponent. Yet the possibility of the latter refused to leave her mind. What if it were truly so?
‘Could the Grand General really be using sorcery to manipulate minds?’
Though she ought to have grown accustomed by now, Go-mi found herself still unable to suppress her shock each time she encountered such a situation.
It was then that Yi Hwan turned to look at her.
“Will you be going out again today?”
“Yes. I plan to move once the sun sets.”
“Take Ju-tae with you. Go and find out the reason behind Zhao Kingdom’s sudden military buildup—without fail. The boy has a talent for extracting information from people, so he’ll prove quite useful.”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan finished his remaining tea and rose to his feet.
Gwak Chung-mu escorted Yi Hwan beyond the command tent. He watched the Grand General’s retreating figure as he headed toward the barracks, then exhaled softly.
‘Blood cannot lie, as they say. The more I see him, the more he reminds me of His Majesty in his younger days.’

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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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