The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 15

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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 Supremacy, Chapter 15

Chapter 15 — The Stratagem

Lee Hwan and Jung Cheon sat across from each other.
Jung Cheon gazed at the steam rising above his teacup, hesitating for a moment before broaching the subject.
“Since we cannot know when the enemy will strike again, it would be wise for the Crown Prince to return to the Main Camp.”
“You speak from concern for me?”
“Of course. What could matter more than the Crown Prince’s safety?”
“I appreciate your concern, General. But I will not leave.”
“Crown Prince, this place is far too dangerous. Unlike the Main Camp, we are vulnerable to enemy ambush here.”
Lee Hwan leaned back slightly and continued.
“Whatever the risks, how could I—bearing the title of Crown Prince—flee to safety in the Main Camp? I cannot tarnish not only my own honor as a prince of the Imperial Household, but the honor of the realm itself.”
……
Mentioning the Imperial Household was nearly a trump card. The moment those words left Lee Hwan’s lips, Jung Cheon found himself speechless.
He had no choice but to yield.
“Very well. In that case, I must ask that you refrain from leaving the Fortification.”
“Understood.”
Jung Cheon rose to his feet.
“General.”
“Yes, Crown Prince?”
“Why do we fight so fiercely over this Gorge, which has no military or strategic value whatsoever?”
“It is a matter of pride, if you will.”
“Whose pride?”
“Narrowly speaking, the Southern Army Corps. But broadly, the pride of the nation itself.”
Lee Hwan let out a soft laugh.
“Thousands of warriors have died for this trifling pride of yours. Very well. Go now.”
As Jung Cheon withdrew, Lee Hwan opened the window. A thick stench of blood mixed with the wind and struck him full in the face.
‘Nothing changes, whether then or now. Those who conduct the affairs of state remain ever the same.’
“Crown Prince.”
Cha Jung Kyung appeared suddenly before him, caked in mud—he must have come straight from reinforcement work.
“What is it?”
“What shall we do with the prisoners the Yong Ho Army captured?”
In this battle, the Yong Ho Army had taken dozens of enemy soldiers alive. Thanks to this, the perception other units held of them had shifted considerably. In truth, nearly everyone had doubted the Yong Ho Army would fight properly at all.
That such a unit should capture so many prisoners was cause for genuine astonishment.
‘That’s it. I can use the prisoners.’
A faint smile spread across Lee Hwan’s lips as an idea took shape in his mind.
“Clear out one of the buildings and lock them in there.”
“Understood.”
Common soldiers among the prisoners were treated as war prizes. Thus it was customary that the unit which captured them held the right to dispose of them as they saw fit.
“Jung Kyung.”
“Yes?”
“Where is your home province?”
“Sichuan. But why do you ask about my—”
“Never mind. Go on now.”
……

* * *

That night, two figures made their way toward an old building at the far end of the Yong Ho Army barracks.
They were Song Cheon Moo and Cha Jung Kyung.
But both wore the uniforms of Zhao soldiers, and their faces were so caked with dried mud that they were utterly unrecognizable.
Song Cheon Moo spoke first.
“Did the Crown Prince devise this operation himself?”
“Yes. But is it not somewhat ingenious?”
“Certainly, it is most clever.”
“Then let us carry it out without error. He has entrusted us with this task—we must not let him down.”
“Understood.”
A short time later, Cha Jung Kyung entered the building.
Once the door closed, Song Cheon Moo slipped around to the back. There he waited for his moment to act.
Song Cheon Moo thought of Lee Hwan and tilted his head in wonder.
‘The rumor about an incompetent Crown Prince—it was completely false.’
Song Cheon Moo had seen it clearly: the Martial Prowess Lee Hwan displayed on the battlefield.
Most striking was the sight of him standing alone against an enemy commander everyone else avoided—even now, the memory sent a thrill down his spine.
‘Still, no matter how lowborn, he carries the Emperor’s blood……’

* * *

“Damn it.”
The moment Cha Jung Kyung entered with a curse, the prisoners sprang to their feet and bowed their heads—a reflexive gesture at the sight of his Captain’s uniform.
Cha Jung Kyung waved a dismissive hand, his expression flat.
“Never mind the formalities in a place like this. Sit down, all of you.”
“Captain, what’s to become of us now?”
“How should I know? Bad luck, you die. Good luck, you find a way to survive. At least we were taken prisoner by Yeon’s Crown Prince—there’s a chance he’ll show mercy. That’s something.”
“But Captain, how did you come to be captured?”
“I came after a Black Tiger Unit deserter, and got unlucky enough to be taken myself. Damn it. I thought he might have defected to Yeon, but word was he’d already fled this area for Sichuan. If I’d known sooner, I never would have come here, and I wouldn’t be in this mess. Hell!”
“At least they haven’t killed us outright. As long as we’re alive, there’s always a way forward, isn’t there?”
“Is there anyone here who believes in Buddha?”
“Yes! There are!”
“Then pray for your lives. Beg to be spared.”
That was when a dull sound echoed from outside.
Thud-thud!
It sounded like something falling.
The door swung open and someone burst in—Song Cheon Moo.
As everyone’s eyes widened in shock, Song Cheon Moo pressed a finger to his lips and spoke in a low, urgent voice.
“I’ve dealt with the guards. Everyone must leave this place quickly.”
“……!”
“Stop dawdling! Move!”
Before he could finish, the prisoners bolted barefoot from the building. One of them called back to Cha Jung Kyung.
“Go, Captain! Hurry!”
“I’ll follow. Get out first—and when you do, don’t look back. Run straight to the Main Camp where Jongsa is. Understand?”
“Yes! We’ll see you at the camp!”
The prisoners vanished from the building in seconds. Cha Jung Kyung and Song Cheon Moo glanced at each other and smirked.
“That was quite the performance.”
“You’re one to talk. Heh heh heh.”

* * *

Lee Hwan watched as Song Cheon Moo and Cha Jung Kyung entered through the door.
Song Cheon Moo smiled as he spoke.
“It went perfectly.”
“Once they reach the Main Camp and spread word that I’ve returned home, Zhao’s army will stop searching for me.”
“You did well.”
“Thank you, Your Highness.”
“You did it for me, so there’s no need for thanks. Now go wash off that stench.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
As Song Cheon Moo and Cha Jung Kyung left for the back courtyard, Lee Hwan lay back on the bed.
‘Now I only need to worry about them.’
Lee Hwan thought of the man he’d faced on the battlefield—the one who’d easily killed Hyeol Poin, whom he’d found so deeply unsettling.
When their eyes had met at the inn, he’d expected strength, and he’d been right. But seeing that strength in action left a heaviness in his chest.
‘I’m not yet ready to face a master of that caliber. Still, I made good progress in this battle.’
His clash with the enemy commander had yielded more fruit than he’d anticipated. The only regret was that the appearance of Hyeol Poin’s forces had prevented him from continuing the fight.
A faint smile crossed his face.
‘Reborn in this weak body, my circumstances have become rather laughable.’

* * *

The following evening, in the Zhao military camp.
A commander arrived at Jongsa’s quarters.
“We’ve uncovered Cha Jung Kyung’s whereabouts.”
“Is that so?”
“Contrary to expectations, he didn’t defect to the Yeon forces. It appears he’s headed for Sichuan—his homeland.”
“Sichuan?”
“Yes. One of the Black Tiger Unit members we’d sent to capture Cha Jung Kyung was among those taken prisoner by the Yeon army. During this fortification battle, those captured prisoners mentioned it when they were apprehended.”
Jongsa sprang to his feet.
“Bring him here at once! I need to verify this information thoroughly!”
“That’s the problem—several were discovered attempting escape and didn’t make it back. That Black Tiger Unit member… he couldn’t get out either. It seems he met with an accident.”
At the commander’s words, Jongsa’s brow furrowed.
“I wish we could have verified the source more carefully. Still, if he’s headed to Sichuan where he has roots, the intelligence does hold credibility.”
“I’ll dispatch people to Sichuan immediately to track him down.”
“Proceed with haste.”
“Yes, Jongsa.”
Once the commander had left, Jongsa’s face cleared as if a weight had lifted from his shoulders. He snapped his fingers, and Hyeol Poin appeared.
“Congratulations, Jongsa.”
“Don’t congratulate me yet. Not until I’ve captured him and found the Jang Bo Do. First, call back all the men we’ve sent across to Yeon territory.”
“Understood.”
“Go have someone bring wine. It’s time I had a drink.”
“Yes.”
Once Hyeol Poin had disappeared, Jongsa exhaled with relief. In truth, his mind had been consumed not by the highland battle against Yeon, but by thoughts of the Jang Bo Do that Cha Jung Kyung had stolen.
Now that they’d found his trail, he could breathe easier.
“What if he’s already done something to it?”

* * *

The next morning, the rain had stopped and the sun rose.
Though the weather had cleared, the stench of blood still hung in the air.
The soldiers returned to reinforcing the fortifications, many sweating profusely as they cleared corpses.
Lee Hwan sat in a chair before his quarters, sipping tea while surveying the fortification in all directions.
Countless soldiers labored not far away, yet none bore resentment toward Lee Hwan. A Crown Prince was exempt from such work.
Then a commander approached hurriedly from ahead.
The commander bowed to Lee Hwan before speaking with a somewhat firm tone.
“Some of the Yong Ho Army prisoners escaped last night. Were you aware of this?”
“I was just informed a moment ago.”
“Forgive me, but I must ask for details on what happened.”
“The sentries were somewhat lax in their vigilance. It was a matter of inexperience, so let’s leave it at that.”
“A prisoner escape cannot simply be overlooked, Your Highness.”
“Then are you suggesting I bear responsibility for it?”
As Lee Hwan’s eyes and tone turned cold, the commander’s face hardened.
“I will speak to General Hwang about this personally. You may go.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
Overwhelmed by Lee Hwan’s aura, the commander turned away without saying all he’d meant to say. He felt profoundly disconcerted.
‘What is this presence…?’
He had never been so thoroughly dominated by anyone.
As he walked on, the commander absently glanced down at his palm and flinched.
“…!”
Sweat had gathered in his palm.

* * *

General Peng Muwei was in a foul mood.
Since his first operation with the Southern Army Corps had ended in embarrassment due to dysentery, he’d steeled himself to demonstrate his true capabilities in the second operation.
Yet the second battle had concluded without him showing much at all. At least their forces had won—had they lost again, his standing would have plummeted further.
“Why does everything keep falling apart? Damn it!”
Gulp-gulp!
Peng Muwei drained an entire cup of lukewarm water.
‘That first incident wasn’t mere dysentery. Someone who envied me must have poisoned my food. I’m certain of it.’
Peng Muwei had begun to suspect belatedly. Once suspicion took root, every commander in the camp seemed suspect.
And finally, he recalled the matter involving Lee Hwan.
‘That’s right! That very day, after I drank the tea he gave me, I came down with dysentery not long after. Now that I think of it, something felt off from the moment he summoned me, spoke those few words, and told me to leave.’
“Captain!”
“Yes, General.”
“Find out whether there’s anyone around the Crown Prince who handles poison.”
“Suddenly, why would you—”
“When I give an order, you obey. Don’t ask questions.”
“Understood, sir.”
Gulp, gulp!
Crack!
‘If it becomes clear that someone tampered with the tea I drank, no matter how much of a Crown Prince he is, there’s no way he gets away with this.’
Crunch!
In that instant, thick tendons bulged across Peng Muwei’s fist, broad as a cauldron lid.

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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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