The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 39

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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 39

Chapter 39 — The Sowing Discord Strategy

Peng Wuwei was buoyed by dreams of becoming Commander.
Yet conflict churned within him.
‘I must become Commander through a method everyone acknowledges. Only then can I lead the army properly afterward. But those two…….’
Peng Wuwei disapproved of the approaches Ying Hozhong and Mo Zaihuang had proposed. Yet he could not refuse them, not when the Three Families’ safety hung in the balance.
‘Cursed be this predicament…….’
Just then, a warrior stepped through the entrance.
“The Prince seeks you.”
‘Why does he summon me again!’
After being called before so many times, mere mention of it set his blood on fire.
‘Should I ignore it?’
Torn between going and staying, Peng Wuwei’s eyes hardened as he rose abruptly to his feet.
Thud!
‘This is the last time I play along with his games.’
At last, Peng Wuwei donned his outer robe and left the barracks. Just then, Ying Hozhong was stepping out and they met face to face.
“Where are you headed?”
“To see the Prince.”
“Has he summoned you again?”
“He has. I’ll be back once I’ve seen to it.”
Peng Wuwei set off alone toward Li Huan’s quarters. Watching his retreating figure, Ying Hozhong’s lips curled into a smirk.
‘And there he goes, trotting along obediently after being so thoroughly toyed with.’
Whoosh.
Mo Zaihuang drew near to Ying Hozhong’s side.
“The Prince has called for him again, it seems?”
“Indeed.”
“I wonder what expression he’ll wear when he returns this time. Hehehehe.”

* * *

Li Huan and Peng Wuwei sat facing each other.
Today it was wine.
“Have a cup.”
“I’m on duty. I’m grateful for the gesture, but I must decline.”
“Is that so?”
At this point, Peng Wuwei tensed slightly.
The expected words were: ‘Well then, I suppose there’s no help for it. You’d best return to your post.’ It was always the same.
‘If he does it again, Prince or no Prince, I won’t answer another summons!’
Clench!
Thick veins rose along Peng Wuwei’s hands as he rested them beneath the table.
“Cold water then?”
“I’ve just had some. I’m fine, thank you.”
Peng Wuwei, who had steeled himself thoroughly, was now an iron wall.
Li Huan leisurely drained his cup, then clasped his hands together and tilted his body back.
“Have you received any word from the Imperial Palace regarding the next Commander?”
“I haven’t.”
“No? I’ve made inquiries through several channels, and I’m told the next Commander has already been decided. A messenger supposedly left the Imperial Palace to deliver the Appointment Decree from the Grand Inspector…….”
“Is that truly so?”
“Why would I lie to you? Still, it’s strange. On a matter of such importance, even if others might not know, the Deputy Commander of the Jinyi Wei surely would. You haven’t heard anything?”
“Given how urgent the matter is, it seems Mo Zaihuang wasn’t contacted separately. Had he known, he would naturally have informed me.”
Yet even as he spoke these words, Peng Wuwei felt something deflate within him.
‘What he says is true. On something like this, there’s no way Mo Zaihuang wouldn’t know. So why hasn’t he told me anything?’
Suspicion, already blooming in the soil of his resentment toward Mo Zaihuang, began to spread unchecked.
“I believe I may have overstepped.”
Li Huan continued smoothly.
“Well, circumstances being what they are, there may be some slight delay. Let’s wait a bit longer. In any case, I hear you’re among the foremost candidates for the next Commander. Let me offer you a drink in congratulations.”
“Let me remind you again — I cannot speak freely while on duty…….”
“Are you going to keep making me feel unwelcome?”
Li Huan picked up the wine bottle.
Peng Wuwei hesitated before reaching for the cup. He still hadn’t shaken the nightmare of that diarrhea.
But he couldn’t refuse forever.
‘What the hell. I’ll take my chances.’
Eventually, Peng Wuwei grasped the cup in both hands and extended it forward.
Glug, glug.
Clink!
Li Huan set down the bottle and turned to Song Hui. Song Hui placed a small golden box on the table.
Li Huan slid the golden box toward Peng Wuwei.
“A modest gift, but please accept it as a token of my sincerity.”
“What is this?”
“Open it and see.”
Peng Wuwei opened the golden box.
“……!”
His eyes widened, and for an instant, a glimmer of greed flickered across them.
Inside the box lay a Night Pearl — and not just any Night Pearl, but one twice the size of those commonly seen.
“When you become Commander of the Southern Military Corps, your personal expenses will be considerable. Though it’s little enough, please use this to help cover them.”
“Why are you giving me this?”
“I’ll be direct. Once you become Commander, guarantee me that I’ll retain all the privileges I’ve enjoyed until now. If you give me your word, I’ll add another one later.”
‘So it’s a bribe, then……. But then again, Huang Ho is dead — the man he trusted. He’d grasp at any lifeline.’
Peng Wuwei swallowed hard, forcing down the dryness that had risen to his throat. Li Huan continued, studying him intently.
“Keep this secret from Mo Zaihuang. If the Jinyi Wei gets wind of this, won’t it cause me trouble?”
“There’s no question about it. If you wish it, I’ll accept with gratitude.”
Peng Wuwei tucked the golden box inside his robe.
“If we stay together too long, they might grow suspicious. You should go now.”
“Yes. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Peng Wuwei stepped outside in excellent spirits.
That was when it happened.
“You should spend the bribes on Ying Hozhong and Mo Zaihuang instead of the Left Commander. According to intelligence my office has gathered, those two are pulling the Left Commander’s strings.”
A whispered voice slipped into Peng Wuwei’s ear like a dagger.
He stiffened.
‘What did he say?’
Peng Wuwei quickly channeled his Internal Energy to heighten his hearing to its limit.
Li Huan’s voice continued.
“What are you saying? How dare you claim they pull the Left Commander’s strings. Does that make sense?”
“I understand it’s hard to believe, but it’s the truth. Ying Hozhong and Mo Zaihuang are working in concert, manipulating the Left Commander through honeyed words into doing their bidding. Furthermore, though Ying Hozhong has not yet received an official post and remains silent, once he does, he harbors ambitions to seize the position of Commander of the Southern Military Corps. This intelligence was obtained through movements by Bi-Wol, so you must trust it.”
“So you’re telling me I’ve just wasted money on the wrong person?”
“Yes. Next time, have the Left Commander called back and recover it, my lord.”
“Then why didn’t you tell me sooner!”
“I meant to inform you, but I missed the opportunity when you called for the Left Commander.”
The conversation ended there.
Peng Wuwei’s eyes narrowed to slits.
‘Intelligence obtained through movements by Bi-Wol?’
His expression, clouded with doubt moments before, suddenly flushed red with rage.
‘These bastards dare toy with me?’

* * *

“It seems he managed to cadge at least a cup of tea today.”
“Judging by the timing, it does appear so.”
“From the look on his face, today’s engagement doesn’t seem to have been particularly pleasant either. Ha ha ha.”
Ying Hozhong and Mo Zaihuang watched Peng Wuwei return, laughing. To Peng Wuwei’s eyes, their laughter seemed nothing but mockery.
Of course, if he’d returned before meeting Li Huan, he would never have thought such a thing.
‘Fine. Keep laughing all you want.’
Peng Wuwei suppressed his true feelings and headed for the barracks. Ying Hozhong and Mo Zaihuang met him along the way.
“You do seem to have gotten at least a cup of tea today? Ha ha ha.”
“We noticed a Dragon Well fragrance drifting about the Left Commander’s quarters — did you happen to be treated to that legendary Dragon Well Tea, General? How envious we are! Ha ha ha!”
“Hem! He was just rattling on about this and that, so I listened politely before taking my leave. Well then, I’ll see you later.”
Peng Wuwei withdrew to his quarters at once.
Ying Hozhong and Mo Zaihuang exchanged glances and shared a quiet laugh before returning to their respective posts.

* * *

Che Wuyu asked, his expression skeptical.
“Isn’t that an awfully blatant Sowing Discord Strategy? Will Peng Wuwei really fall for it?”
“If Peng Wuwei were in his right mind, of course he wouldn’t. But today’s Peng Wuwei is bound to swallow the bait.”
“What do you mean, sir?”
Li Huan picked up the wine cup Peng Wuwei had drunk from and turned it over in his hands, examining it from all angles.
“I added something to the wine.”
“Poison?”
“A kind of Mind-Altering Elixir. Once consumed, it clouds the judgment and makes emotional control difficult. And once suspicion takes root in a mind stripped of such control, it grows beyond all containment.”
“When did you prepare such an elixir, sir?”
“I made it myself.”
“You did?”
Li Huan spoke evenly to the wide-eyed Che Wuyu.
“The Poison King—that man taught me all sorts of things, and they’ve proven quite useful with Peng Wuwei.”
“Pardon? Who did you just say?”
‘Damn.’
Li Huan scrambled to cover his slip.
“Years ago, near the Imperial Capital, I met a martial artist who called himself the Poison King. I picked up a few things from him. It couldn’t possibly be the one you’re thinking of.”
“Ah, yes.”
Li Huan brought the cup to his lips.
‘That was close.’
Sip.
Clink!
“Commander.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
“You’re keeping the Appointment Decree safe, I trust?”
“Yes. It’s secured in a safe place. When would you like to present the Appointment Decree to the general?”
“Once the Sowing Discord Strategy is almost in its teeth, I think.”
Li Huan picked up his cup again.
“Your Highness.”
“What is it?”
“Have you… done things like this often before?”
“Things like what?”
“The taming of Peng Wuwei you’re carrying out now. Strategies to sow discord. To this officer’s eyes, you seem like a man who has done nothing but this his entire life.”
A soft laugh escaped him.
‘Hardly. In my time, a single word could overturn the world.’
Sip.
Clink!

* * *

A Letter of Transmission was placed in the hands of Crown Prince Li Suo. It had been sent by those who had departed for the Southern Military Corps to carry out a certain mission.
The letter detailed everything from the killing of the messenger to the reasons for Li Suo’s unexpected presence with Li Huan.
Zhang Shu asked, “Is it not welcome news?”
Instead of answering, Li Suo handed over the letter. Zhang Shu’s surprise was unmistakable once he had read its contents.
“To think Your Highness was already thinking along the same lines as we were. It is simply extraordinary.”
“I’m doing what I can. But I’m grateful it didn’t reach my brother instead.”
“Will those friends be all right staying with Your Highness?”
“Why would there be a problem?”
“So long as their identities remain hidden, there would be none. But should they be discovered even once, the repercussions would reach His Majesty himself.”
“They’re wearing Face Masks crafted by the greatest artisan alive. You need not worry. Even if their identities were exposed, these are capable enough to handle any fallout without issue.”
Li Suo walked toward the window and opened it.
Whoosh!
A wind that had torn through the Inner Palace swept softly across his face.
Just then, a warrior’s voice drifted in from outside.

“Your Highness, another Letter of Transmission has arrived from the Southern Military Corps.”
Zhang Shu stepped out and returned with the letter. Li Suo unfolded it at once.

I shall manage the affairs here without difficulty. Please concentrate on finding the person you asked me to locate before. And if there are things that might aid in strengthening my Internal Energy, I would appreciate your sending some.

It was from Li Huan.
That was the entirety of the message.
“Ha ha.”
Arrogant beyond measure, yet Li Suo found himself laughing aloud.
“What does it say?”
Li Suo handed the letter to him this time as well.
Zhang Shu let out a rueful smile.
“Even his correspondence—he writes like a completely different person.”
“When I think of that boy, my spirits lift for some reason. I keep finding myself smiling.”
“If you favor him so much, would it not be better to keep him at your side?”
“That boy would refuse, I suspect. I have a feeling about it. So I simply wait for the right moment.”
Li Suo turned and continued.
“I need to acquire things to aid in strengthening Internal Energy. How much can we procure?”
“Your Highness appears to be mistaken. Spirit Pills do not prove effective every time one consumes them, do they? Handled poorly, they might even produce the opposite effect.”
“That perceptive boy surely understands that much. From the look of it, he intends to distribute them among his subordinates.”
“Ah…….”
Zhang Shu realized that Li Suo’s regard for Li Huan ran deeper than he had known.
‘His trust has grown stronger since that young prince departed.’
Li Suo pressed on.
“On your way out, stop by the East Store and inquire after the progress of the matter I entrusted to you.”
“Understood.”
As Zhang Shu withdrew, Li Suo’s gaze drifted back toward the window.
A fly had flown in just then. A faint gleam crossed Li Suo’s eyes, and the fly scattered to ash in an instant. He lowered his hand and murmured to himself.
“My Dantian has fully recovered…….”

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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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