The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 150

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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 150

Chapter 150 — Counterattack

Four days later, in the morning, Go-mi came to find Yi Hwan.
“The situation appears far more serious than we initially understood.”
“Tell me.”
“There are a substantial number of non-Han officers within the Gold Guard, and for some time now they’ve been staging a protest demanding the abolition of discrimination against Han officers. Upon further investigation, it became clear that Yeom Hong-bo has been making frequent contact with instructors of non-Han origin. It appears his machinations were indeed at work.”
Yeom Hong-bo, mentioned again.
Yi Hwan’s brow furrowed.
“He meant to shake the very foundations.”
“Will you simply dispatch Yeom Hong-bo to the Northern Military Unit?”
“Though he acted with the intent to slander me for the Empress, from a third party’s perspective, someone had to do what needed doing. If I kill such a man, I risk drawing the very backlash I’m trying to avoid.”
“Then remove him quietly.”
At Go-mi’s words, a smile touched the corner of Yi Hwan’s mouth.
“That’s unexpected. I never thought to hear such a thing from you.”
“Yeom Hong-bo is the most dangerous type of man—evil cloaked in righteousness, one might say. I’ve seen too many of his kind. Whenever I’ve left such men unchecked, the outcome has always been catastrophic.”
“There’s no need to worry. I’ve already sent a dispatch to General-in-Chief Gwak; he’ll handle it appropriately.”
Yi Hwan took a sip of tea.
Clink.
“Make contact with Hwa-ryeong. See what’s happening and how things stand.”
…….
Go-mi’s expression changed instantly.
Yi Hwan’s brow drew tight. “Why is your relationship with her so strained?”
“She is a woman who has betrayed once. Who can say whether she will betray you again?”
“That doesn’t seem to be her nature. So try to get along with her.”
“I will take my leave then.”
Go-mi rose to her feet.
“Make contact and report back on what you find.”
……Yes.
Bang!
The door closed louder than usual. Yi Hwan gave a wry smile.
‘Women, truly.’
Yi Hwan finished the remainder of his tea and stood.
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae were waiting outside.
“Has everyone assembled?”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan made his way to the Training Ground at the command post.
Nearly two thousand soldiers had gathered in the Training Ground.
They were the warriors who had staged a strike over the matter of salary increases—or in other words, those who had fallen for Yeom Hong-bo’s agitation.
What was striking was that not a few of the commanding officers who held central roles within the Gold Guard were among them.
When Yi Hwan entered the Training Ground, the soldiers rendered a military salute.
“Respectfully!”
‘Even the discipline has fallen to pieces,’ Yi Hwan thought.
Yi Hwan fixed his gaze on Yeom Hong-bo and the officers standing at the front.
“Have all the soldiers on the list responded to the summons?”
“All present, sir.”
Yi Hwan studied the assembled warriors.
All held their breath, wondering what he would say. Yi Hwan opened his mouth.
“Effective immediately, you will all be dispatched temporarily to the Northern Military Unit. The officers before you will oversee the transfer.”
Murmur!
The soldiers stirred with agitation.
Yeom Hong-bo and the officers with him went visibly pale. Just as Yeom Hong-bo was about to protest, Yi Hwan continued.
“The permanent transfer of Gold Guard units is prohibited by law. Therefore, your deployment is temporary in nature. Your conduct during this assignment will be reflected in future evaluations and considered in any future salary adjustments. Go there, learn all you can, and apply it to the advancement of the Gold Guard. That is all.”
Yi Hwan turned on his heel and departed.
“My lord!”
Yeom Hong-bo rushed forward, but Cheol Mu-ok blocked his path, forcing him to step back.

Cheol Mu-ok gathered his inner strength and called out to the soldiers one final time.
“Refuse, and it is insubordination. Desert, and it is desertion. I trust you understand what I am saying.”

* * *

Manhwa Palace.
The Empress’s face twisted as she listened to the middle-aged official’s report.
“You’re telling me Yeom Hong-bo has been dispatched to the Northern Military Unit?”
“Yes, Your Majesty. Five other commanders and nearly two thousand soldiers have all been sent on temporary assignment.”
“Outrageous! The law explicitly forbids deploying the Gold Guard as a military unit! Go at once and have them recalled!”
“The matter is, Your Majesty, that it has been arranged as a temporary dispatch—there is no legal violation whatsoever.”
“What?”
“We consulted with the Board of Punishment and the Board of Rites, and both confirmed that a temporary dispatch presents no legal impediment.”
……!
The Empress’s eyes reddened slightly—a tell that appeared whenever anger seized her.
Crunch.
The delicate hands in her lap tensed, fine veins rising beneath the skin.
The official ventured another matter.
“This morning, the Gold Guard submitted a request for increased budgetary allocation—three million silver currency additional, beginning next year.”
“Preposterous! Absolutely not!”
The official continued, his expression strained as the Empress dismissed the proposal with a snort.
“If Your Majesty refuses, I fear you may bear the full brunt of the backlash from the Discipline Movement that General Yeom initiated. It is possible the Prince himself requested this increase precisely to provoke such a situation.”
……!
The Empress’s eyes narrowed.
“If it appears you have refused to increase the budget and therefore cannot raise salaries, then……”
Crunch.
Tendons rose in the Empress’s hand as she gripped the armrest.
‘He has exploited the fact that budgetary authority rests with Manhwa Palace—he requested this increase not for the soldiers’ sake, but to turn the blame back upon me.’
Since the Emperor had withdrawn into seclusion, the Empress had seized control of finances first. For a woman to command the treasury was unprecedented in Yen’s history. Thus, fiscal authority had become a weapon as formidable as a hundred thousand soldiers.
Throb.
As the situation turned against her—a reversal of her own stratagems—a headache bloomed where none had existed before.
‘To fall to him again……’

* * *

Good news arrived.
The requested budgetary increase had been approved. Yi Hwan immediately summoned his senior commanders.
“Beginning next year, the soldiers’ salaries will be raised. However, the increase will be graduated according to their usual performance and contributions, so evaluate them fairly and equitably.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Thank you, my lord!”
The commanders beamed with satisfaction.
In truth, they were the ones who had suffered most during the Discipline Movement while Yi Hwan was absent.
As all rejoiced, Yu U-seong spoke, his expression grave.
“I confess I worry this may appear to strengthen General Yeom’s position. After all, he did not initiate the Discipline Movement for the soldiers’ benefit, did he?”
“There is no cause for concern. We need only evaluate him fairly. Now, return to your units at once and relay this news to the soldiers.”
“Yes, my lord!”
“Thank you, my lord! Because of your kindness, the officers can now take heart!”
Shortly after, all departed save Yu U-seong.
Yu U-seong asked quietly.
“The budget truly was increased?”
“Precisely as I requested—three million silver currency in additional allocation.”
“I confess I am surprised. I had thought the Empress would refuse outright.”
“In truth, I hoped she would refuse. My intention was to turn all blame upon her.”
“I had not realized you harbored such thoughts. Either way, it seems you could not lose—the outcome must benefit you regardless.”
“Precisely so.”
Yu U-seong smiled at the elegant calculation.
At that moment, Go-mi entered.
“My lord, Yi Hwang-ja has been ambushed on his way home. Unidentified attackers set upon him.”
“Yi Hwang-ja?”
“Yes. The battle was quite fierce—it appears that several of the martial artists escorting him have been killed or wounded.”
“Is the second prince unharmed?”
“Yes, sir. He sustained only minor injuries, it seems.”
Yi Hwan settled back into his chair, his brow narrowing slightly.
“It wasn’t the Crown Prince, surely. But then, who would have targeted the second prince?”
“Forgive me, sir—why are you certain it wasn’t the Crown Prince Palace?”
“The Crown Prince isn’t the sort to do such a thing. And Go-mi would know that better than anyone, wouldn’t she?”
“Then the third prince seems the likeliest suspect. I heard he was badly scarred on the face by ruffians attacking the Southern Military Unit.”
Yi Hwan nodded slowly in silence.
“If the second prince suspected the third prince was behind the assassination attempt, then this could work in our favor. Nothing wounds a kingdom quite like internal conflict. Still, let’s dig a little deeper just to be safe.”
“Understood, sir.”
“But don’t venture into dangerous territory. Both sides will be on edge right now.”
“I understand. Also, the Crown Prince has left the Western Military Unit and is returning home. Unless something urgent comes up, he should enter the palace in two days.”
“Well done. Shall we go visit your sister’s house?”
“Of course.”

* * *

At word that Yi Hwan was coming, the entire Song household fell into bustling activity. Yi Young was wholly absorbed in preparing food, while Song Cheon-ho worked up beads of sweat cleaning the guest quarters where Yi Hwan would stay.
Seeing the household brim with such unusual vigor, Song Cheon-ho wiped his brow and smiled faintly.
“A home where people truly live ought to look like this, I suppose.”
Just then, a servant came running up.
“Wang Ji-gyeong has arrived, sir.”
“Show him in.”
Moments later, Wang Ji-gyeong crossed the threshold.
Two servants followed at his heels, their arms laden with packages.
“Welcome, Wang Ji-gyeong. Please, come in.”
“I heard the fourth prince was coming, so I rushed over at once! I haven’t arrived late, have I?”
“He won’t be here for a while yet. Let’s go inside first.”
Song Cheon-ho handed his pruning shears to a servant and ushered Wang Ji-gyeong into the main house.
Scarcely had they taken their seats when Song Cheon-ho spoke.
“Is it true the Yellow Dragon Guild Leader has been released?”
“Yes, sir. The Empress herself dispatched a special envoy to free him. In fact, the fourth prince will have much to ask about when he arrives.”
Yeom Yu-gwang, the Yellow Dragon Guild Leader who had been imprisoned by Yi Hwan, had been released just days earlier. The news had thrown both the Song household and Wang Ji-gyeong into a state of alarm.
Wang Ji-gyeong in particular was so fearful of retaliation that he had already bolstered his security with additional martial artists.
“That man won’t stay quiet—he never does. We can’t act carelessly because of the fourth prince, but I’m worried about you, Wang Ji-gyeong.”
“Word has it he’s summoned dozens of martial artists from Yao-ling Province—men who once dominated that region. I’ve reinforced my own forces as well, but I suppose we’ll have to wait and see how things unfold. At least we have one stroke of luck: the fourth prince has returned home at just the right moment.”
“I’ll speak with him once he arrives.”
“That’s precisely why I came hurrying over! By the way—has the Crown Prince also returned home?”
“I haven’t heard either way.”
“If he returned as well, it would be an even greater relief.”
And then—
“The fourth prince has arrived, sir.”

* * *

“Brother!”
Yi Hwan’s gaze fell on Yi Young emerging from the kitchen.
Her hands were dripping wet from cooking.
‘Has she lost weight?’
Yi Young’s face looked thinner than he remembered.
“Brother, you’re not hurt anywhere, are you?”
“As you can see, I’m fine.”
“Fourth prince!”
Song Cheon-ho emerged from the main house, Wang Ji-gyeong lumbering after him with a broad smile, nearly bounding forward.
“I bow before the fourth prince!”
“It’s been too long, Wang Ji-gyeong.”
“Seeing you safe and sound puts my mind at ease! When I heard you’d gone to the battlefield, I worried myself half to death—it’s made me positively gaunt!”
Yet to Yi Hwan’s eye, the man’s belly appeared to protrude even more than before.
Song Cheon-ho stepped forward.
“Do come inside, sir.”
Yi Hwan turned to look at Yi Young.
“Leave the arrangements to the staff. Come inside with me.”
“Yes, brother.”
Just then, a young girl bowed her head.
“Peng Ga-yeong greets Your Highness.”
Yi Hwan regarded the girl intently.
Peng Ga-yeong was the daughter of Peng Wu-wei, general of the Southern Military Unit. It was remarkable that such a striking beauty could be the offspring of Peng Wu-wei, who had the rough appearance of a bandit.
“How have you been faring?”
“Well enough, Your Highness. Lady Yi has taken such good care of me that I’ve had no cause for worry.”
“Come inside with us, then.”
As Yi Hwan entered the pavilion, Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae remained with the Song family’s remaining warriors, catching up on old times.
“Has anything of note occurred?”
“Nothing, sir. Assassins have been fewer lately. But is it true what they say—that you took the head of Han Seom, Zhao Kingdom’s fiercest general?”
“Has the rumor reached here already?”
“Of course. It’s the talk of all Chang’an at the moment.”
Ju-tae spoke up.
“What about our deeds? Has no word of them spread?”
“Not a whisper.”
“…Hmm. We’ve taken the heads of quite a few enemy commanders ourselves, yet the world shows no fairness, does it?”
Then one of the warriors broached a different subject.
“Yeom Yu-gwang, the Yellow Dragon Guild Leader, has been released. It’s said he’s been gathering numerous martial artists from throughout Yao-ling Province—it seems he may be targeting Wang Ji-gyeong.”
“The Empress must have released him.”
“The pattern’s plain enough. With our lord and the Crown Prince away, she thought it an opportune moment and set him free. This means we’ll have to capture and imprison him again, doesn’t it?”
“We’ll receive orders soon enough. Come, let’s go inside.”
“Enjoy your meal!”
Cheol Mu-ok and Ju-tae entered the pavilion as well.

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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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