The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 2

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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 2

Chapter 2 — Into Battle

For generations, Yeon Kingdom and Cho Kingdom had contested the border that lay between them, their enmity unceasing.
While full-scale war had never come to pass, skirmishes erupted with grim regularity, and the toll in fallen warriors was beyond counting.
Yet these conflicts never escalated to total war, for the three kingdoms that divided All Under Heaven—Yeon, Cho, and Jin—possessed near-equal strength.
Should two of them wage all-out war, the balance of power would shatter in an instant, leaving the third kingdom free to seize dominion over all.
Thus, for nearly two centuries, the unspoken law among the three was to avoid such catastrophe.
The man charged with defending the Southern Region was Hwang Ho, a figure of imperial connection whose martial prowess and strategic acumen earned the deepest trust of the emperor himself.
He was also known to share an especially close bond with Crown Prince I So, and in the military structure, he stood as I Hwan’s direct superior.
This same Hwang Ho now furrowed his brow.
“I gave orders that no one was to be admitted?”
“Yes. The fact that even the physician was turned away suggests his condition is better than expected.”
“Good news, then. Still, have the physician keep close watch—take no chances.”
“Understood, General. Though, if I may—”
“Speak.”
“Would it not be wise to use this opportunity to send the Crown Prince back to the Imperial Palace? Though he has been spared death, he will find it difficult to take up the sword again. Perhaps you could persuade him, sir.”
“Do the other commanders share this sentiment?”
“Frankly, sir, there is no one in this camp who welcomes his presence here.”
It was true.
Every officer in the camp had grown to resent I Hwan—not merely because he was an imperial prince, difficult to approach.
“You despise him because he holds no power and cannot advance your careers?”
“Surely, General, he is a burden to you as well.”
At those words, Hwang Ho’s eyes narrowed to slits, sharp as blades.
“General!”
Another officer rushed in.
“What has happened?”
“The western garrison has been attacked by Cho forces and completely routed!”
“What?”
“It appears the Black Tiger Squad has moved directly against them.”
“Those cursed dogs—”
The Black Tiger Squad was among the elite units of Cho Kingdom, fearsome in martial prowess and merciless in spirit—demons incarnate to the soldiers of Yeon. Across countless battles, their blades had claimed countless lives, and it was they who had brought I Hwan to the brink of death.
It was they who had dealt him those grievous wounds.
Tremor—
Hwang Ho’s eyes quivered with fury.
“If you will permit it, General, I shall ride out and drive them back myself.”
“No. Our first priority is to rescue the warriors scattered in the mountains, fleeing before the enemy. Move with haste!”
“Yes, sir.”
The officer departed in urgency.
Hwang Ho clenched his fist and brought it down hard upon the table.
“You—convene a war council at once!”
“Yes, General!”

* * *

I Hwan emerged from his quarters.
Hwang Ho, mindful of his status as a crown prince, had granted him a pavilion rather than a common barracks as his lodging.
Thump—
The soldiers snapped into military salute as he passed.
It was the Yong-Ho Army, the unit under I Hwan’s command. Yet their eyes held no warmth, no welcome.
Drawing on the memories of this body, I Hwan recognized the cold distance and walked straight past them toward Hwang Ho’s quarters without acknowledging their salute.
The soldiers exchanged confused glances. The I Hwan they knew had always been gracious even to the lowest-ranking officers of other units.
When I Hwan reached the general’s pavilion, the sentries posted outside bowed their heads respectfully.
“Welcome, Crown Prince.”
“Where is the General?”
“He is in a strategy meeting at present.”
As I Hwan made to enter, the guards moved to block his path.
“My apologies. There were strict orders that no one was to be admitted…….”
Until now, this man’s master had never attended such a conference. Of course, had he thrown his weight around and demanded entry by rank, it would have been possible—but that “fellow,” whose nature wouldn’t allow it, had always deferred to the generals’ wishes and failed to claim his rightful privileges.
Or rather, it was more accurate to say he had avoided it of his own accord.
‘A weakling. Dismissed at the Imperial Palace though he is undoubtedly a prince. He should have claimed everything he could, indulged in everything available to him.’
“Stand aside.”
“Ah!”
The warriors blocking the entrance fell back.
I Hwan pushed open the tent flap without hesitation and stepped inside. Hwang Ho and three generals sat within.
They regarded I Hwan’s arrival with displeasure—all except Hwang Ho, whose face brightened.
“How fortunate to see you looking so vigorous once more, Da-gun.”
“Much obliged.”
“We offer our congratulations on your recovery.”
The three generals offered their courtesies with reluctant courtesy.
I Hwan pulled up an empty chair and sat. “I heard on the way here. The Black Tiger Squad has struck again?”
Every face in the tent changed. It was the shift in I Hwan’s tone and presence that did it.
Though others might not have understood, Hwang Ho was I Hwan’s direct superior here. Even as a prince and Da-gun, one could not treat him carelessly.
‘Forget any notion of that meek creature from before.’
I Hwan spoke with perfect composure.
“This is urgent, is it not? Then let us resume the conference.”
Hwang Ho addressed the displeased generals.
“Very well. We shall reconvene.”
The conference resumed. I Hwan listened in silence until the moment came to designate which units would participate in the operation.
“I wish to participate in this operation as well.”
“……!”
Every face in the room went rigid.
Hwang Ho smiled faintly, his voice measured.
“Da-gun, you lack experience in field operations, which makes this inadvisable. The Yong-Ho Army even more so. An operation against the Black Tiger Squad is far too dangerous. For your own safety, I cannot permit it. I trust you understand.”
‘I expected nothing less.’
I Hwan had foreseen this response.
But he had no intention of backing down quietly. No—he had to go, without exception.
To find the man who had used the Talhon-gi and struck down this body’s master.
“I won’t ask for the Yong-Ho Army to join the operation. If you fear for my safety, I can simply fight alongside your strongest unit, can I not? And I have three witnesses here to swear that I volunteered myself. Should anything go wrong, the blame cannot possibly fall on you.”
Hwang Ho studied I Hwan in silence for a moment, then asked abruptly:
“Is this about revenge?”
“Of course. I’m the realm’s Da-gun by title—if I’ve been struck once, it’s only natural I return the blow in kind. For the sake of the army’s morale, if nothing else.”
The generals nearly smiled despite themselves. Their eyes betrayed their skepticism—when had he ever cared about such things?
“I understand your feelings, but this is a genuinely perilous operation, Da-gun. You could lose your life.”
“What’s the difference between dying in disgrace, swallowing humiliation, and dying on the battlefield while settling a debt? His Majesty would likely agree with me.”
“……!”
At the mention of the Emperor, every face hardened.
In the end, Hwang Ho accepted I Hwan’s will.
“Very well. You shall move with General Jung Cheon, then.”
“General!”
One of the generals cried out, his shock evident.
It was Jung Cheon, a commander of considerable renown.
He was among the finest of the Southern Region army’s generals, possessing both martial prowess and strategic brilliance in equal measure. However, his excessively cold temperament made him a man many in the ranks preferred to avoid.
“The decision is made. Comply.”
“…….”
The conference concluded shortly after. Hwang Ho watched I Hwan’s retreating back as he left the tent, his brow knitting slightly.
“What in the world has happened? His very gaze has become that of a different person entirely…….”

Song Hoe’s eyes widened like a calf’s.
“I’ll handle this alone. You stay here and look after the unit.”
“Da-gun! Why would you volunteer for such a dangerous operation? The Black Tiger Squad is the Cho Kingdom’s elite—even General Jung Cheon’s forces dare not guarantee victory against them!”
“Don’t worry. I’ll come back alive.”
“Then I’m coming with you!”

“The old man wouldn’t allow it.”
He meant Hwang Ho.
“Da-gun, perhaps you should choose your words more carefully…….”
“Who’s listening?”
I Hwan strapped on the armor he’d removed earlier. Song Hoe tied the fastenings while exhaling long sighs.
I Hwan broached another subject.
“The soldiers seem quite discontent.”
“They can’t enter the field, so they have no chance to earn merit, and believing that’s why they can’t be promoted—well, it’s unavoidable. Especially the Gyo-wi officers; many of them have watched classmates advance, so I suspect they feel it even more keenly.”
“Do you feel the same way?”
“No, sir. I’m thoroughly satisfied with my current position.”
“You mean that sincerely?”
“Da-gun!”
“I believe you.”
I Hwan continued speaking as he fastened his shoulder guard.
“But tell me—do you think those men could actually earn merit if they went into operation at their current level?”
“Some of the Gyo-wi officers possess considerable martial prowess.”
“I mean the ordinary soldiers, not them.”
“Well…….”
“If they want to rise in rank, they’d better train themselves to exhaustion starting now. A unit only becomes truly strong when each individual warrior reaches a certain threshold. Take them into operation at their current level, and they won’t advance—they’ll all be headed for the grave instead.”
“……Yes, sir.”
“I’ll be back.”
Thump!
As I Hwan left the barracks, Song Hoe’s brow furrowed.
‘How could he change so completely overnight? It’s not just his speech and manner—even his inner self seems different.’

* * *

“That fellow’s going with us?”
“So they say. He volunteered for it, talked about revenge—but it just makes things harder for us.”
“That’s exactly why I’m asking why it had to be our unit! Ugh!”
The soldiers of Jung Cheon’s unit, who were marching out with I Hwan, vented their complaints toward the approaching commander.
Meanwhile, soldiers from other units cast silent mockery and derision at Jung Cheon’s forces.
I Hwan walked through the middle of it all.
Though he heard ridicule directed at him from all sides, he paid it no mind and walked straight toward Jung Cheon’s unit.
With departure time drawing near, the commanders of each unit had gathered in one place to discuss the operation.
Everyone bowed their heads to I Hwan. Yet not a single face held genuine respect—merely the formal gestures one shows a prince.
Jung Cheon approached.
“An honor guard will accompany the da-gun. Whatever occurs until the operation concludes, you must remain with them at all times.”
“I understand.”
About thirty warriors drew near I Hwan’s side. Each bearing an extraordinary presence, they took on the duty of protecting him.
Thump-thump-thump!
At the sound of the war drum announcing departure, Jung Cheon’s unit was the first to leave the Military Camp. The other units followed, dispersing in different directions.
I Hwan called out to Jung Cheon, who moved ahead.
“General Jung.”
The reply that came back was cold.
“Personal conversation is forbidden during operations—please bear that in mind.”
I Hwan let out a soft laugh.
‘I’ll let it pass for now.’
It was then that mounted figures entered the path leading to the Military Camp.
I Hwan turned to look, and his eyes widened.
‘The Hebei Peng Clan?’
Most of the mounted figures wore the martial uniforms of the Hebei Peng Clan. Two centuries had passed, yet their garb remained unchanged.
They all escorted a single commander as they headed toward the Military Camp.
I Hwan’s gaze naturally turned toward the commander’s face.
With a massive frame and a Great Sword draped at his side that was as broad as an ordinary soldier’s back, he was unmistakably a member of the Hebei Peng Clan.
‘How pathetic.’
I Hwan once again felt keenly that his achievements, even when brought down through the fall of Hwasan and Yeon, had indeed collapsed thoroughly.
At that moment, voices of the commanders drifted over.
“So those are the soldiers of the Hebei Peng Clan who’ve entered service under the Crown Prince.”
“They certainly live up to the rumors—impressive bulk, all of them. But why would His Majesty send the Left General down here? Surely he doesn’t intend to place the Southern Region Army under the Crown Prince’s command?”
“Surely they wouldn’t do that. I hear they were sent down as a force to keep the Black Tiger Squad in check.”
“Is that so? Well, if it’s the Hebei Peng Clan, they’d certainly be of considerable help.”
“Can’t you officers keep quiet!”
At Jung Cheon’s sharp rebuke, the commanders fell silent.
I Hwan watched the retreating Hebei Peng warriors with a cold smile.
‘So those dogs have gone under the second prince’s command, have they?’
According to this body’s memories, the Crown Prince had despised his half-brother, the Fourth Prince, intensely.
Without any particular reason, he tormented him relentlessly, until the Fourth Prince became the one person he most wished to avoid.
I Hwan gazed at the Hebei Peng warriors, his smile faint and distant.
‘They still haven’t learned their lesson.’
Two centuries ago, the Hebei Peng Clan had been among the martial sects that had earned I Hwan’s displeasure.
They lorded their considerable strength over others and bullied them, and their constant brawling had grown so tiresome that even the Sword King—who rarely intervened—had once visited them in person to whip them into shape.
‘If they entangle themselves with me, they won’t escape as lightly as they did before.’

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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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