The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 40

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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 40

Chapter 40 — The Appointment Letter

I’ve uncovered the movements of the person you seek from a month ago. Dongchang is mobilizing on a grand scale, so I should have good news for you soon.

‘A month back — that’s getting quite close.’
The letter from Yi So crumbled to ash and scattered. At that precise moment, Cheol Mu-ok entered.
“Dinner is ready.”
“Good.”
Before stepping outside, Yi Hwan relayed the contents of the letter to Cheol Mu-ok.
“So Dongchang has tracked down the vagrant’s movements from a month ago.”
“Is that so? If they’ve gotten that far back, we may find the rest soon enough.”
“Let’s hope.”
“Dongchang’s intelligence network truly lives up to its reputation. Already tracing movements from a month back — remarkable.”
“That’s precisely why they exist.”
The two stepped outside together.
Behind the Barracks, a table had been fashioned from a log split in half; on days without rain or wind, they typically took their meals and tea there.
Today, Cha Jung-gyeong joined them as well. His recovery had progressed faster than expected, and now he could walk on his own.
Just as they were about to begin eating, Go Mi arrived.
“I’ll return once you’ve finished your meal.”
“Just eat with us.”
“…Yes. Thank you.”
Song Cheon-mu hastily brought a chair. Go Mi snatched the one intended for Yi Hwan’s side and sat across instead.
“Is this more urgent than dinner?”
“I believe it is.”
“Then let’s hear it.”
“I’ve identified the martial artists in the Jona Kingdom army. They’re called Blood Ghosts — they appear to be professional assassins who formerly operated within the Evil Sects Martial World. The man Your Highness killed was their leader, and approximately forty of them are currently confirmed to remain in the Jona military encampment.”
Everyone marveled at how much she’d uncovered in so short a time.
“How on earth do you find out things like that? Did you plant someone in the Jona army?”
“I must ask your understanding — that’s classified.”
“Can even the Embroidered Uniform Guard manage something like that?”
“Those fools couldn’t come close.”
Go Mi’s tone turned ice-cold, and Yi Hwan laughed softly at her response.
“Well then, let’s eat!”
Dinner began.
After a good while had passed, Go Mi broached another subject.
“The Jona Royal Palace seems to be in considerable turmoil.”
“So they’re tearing each other apart over the seat of power too?”
“The conflict between the Crown Prince and the Prince of the South has reached a serious level.”
The Prince of the South referred to the Crown Prince’s uncle — in other words, the Jona Emperor’s younger brother.
“And the deceased General Commander of Jona was affiliated with the Crown Prince. Both factions are now locked in political maneuvering to install their own candidate as his successor. It seems Jona hasn’t launched an offensive precisely because the new General Commander hasn’t yet been decided.”
Yi Hwan set down his chopsticks and stared at Go Mi intently. At his obvious gaze, she showed a flicker of discomfort.
“Did you learn this since arriving here?”
“Yes.”
Yi Hwan was struck with fresh admiration.
How long had she been with the Southern Army Corps, and already she’d gathered so much intelligence? And not just any intelligence — she’d managed to uncover the palace intrigues unfolding within Jona itself.
‘With an intelligence network like that, wouldn’t she be better off assisting the Crown Prince directly?’
Go Mi ventured softly:
“I have a request.”
“Speak.”
“Please allow my bodyguards to participate in your training sessions.”
“Your bodyguards? The Yong Ho Corps? Or these men here?”
“These individuals, sir.”
Song Hoe and Song Cheon-mu brightened at once. But Cheol Mu-ok, who oversaw their instruction, thought otherwise.
“Training is not something to be undertaken carelessly with others.”
“I posed the question to His Highness. And since I hold an official post, perhaps you ought to adjust your tone accordingly.”
……
Cheol Mu-ok turned to Yi Hwan with a bewildered expression. Yi Hwan smiled and spoke.
“That’s right. Since Beiwol holds such a high rank, we should certainly show proper respect in our manner and conduct. The same goes for everyone else.”
“Yes!”
“Understood.”
Yi Hwan fixed his gaze on Go Mi and asked.
“Have all the warriors of Beiwol mastered the Imperial Palace Martial Arts?”
“Yes, they have.”
“Then training together won’t amount to much. These men are training in Martial World Martial Arts, not the Imperial Palace variety. As you know, there’s a marked difference between the two disciplines.”
“That isn’t the reason I made this request.”
“Then what is it?”
“The army corps hasn’t yet established itself properly, so we lack a suitable place to train. I considered using the spaces other units occupy, but they all seem reluctant to have us there.”
This was a reason Yi Hwan hadn’t anticipated. Cheol Mu-ok’s expression finally shifted to one of understanding.
Yi Hwan turned back to Cheol Mu-ok and asked.
“Any objections?”
“None at all. With such a reason, I’m willing to train with you.”
Yi Hwan turned his gaze back to Go Mi.
“Do it together.”
“Thank you.”
She clasped her fist in salute toward Cheol Mu-ok and spoke.
“We’ll try not to cause any trouble. I’d be grateful for your help.”
“Trouble? I think I was overly stern without understanding the circumstances. Please accept my sincere apology.”
The atmosphere warmed at once, and everyone resumed their meal.
Song Hoe and Song Cheon-mu’s faces were beaming. In contrast, Cha Jung-gyeong looked plainly disappointed.
Only they knew the reason why.

* * *

Yeong Ho-chung and Mo Jae-hwang shared a meal and conversation.
“For the past few days, the General seems off somehow. He hasn’t been joining us for meals or tea at all, has he? Do you have any sense of what might be troubling him?”
In response to Mo Jae-hwang’s question, Yeong Ho-chung shook his head.
“I’ve wondered the same thing and requested a private audience several times, only to be refused each time. Now that I think about it, it seems to have started ever since he returned from meeting the Prince.”
“Surely the Prince didn’t try to win him over?”
“If it’s the Prince we’re talking about, he’s no one to grind his teeth over — there must be some other reason. If you’re truly concerned, perhaps you should look into it yourself.”
“I’ll do that. I’ll investigate it.”
Indeed.
Peng Mu-wi had seemed out of place these past few days. Whenever they went to find him, he refused to meet them with one excuse or another.
The two of them hadn’t thought much of it at first. But as time wore on, questions began to form.
Mo Jae-hwang smiled coldly.
“If he knew that whether he becomes General Commander or not rests in my hands, what sort of expression do you think he’d make?”
“Well, there’s probably nothing particularly unusual about it, so let’s not take it too seriously.”
A while later, the two finished eating and drank tea.
Then a bodyguard entered.
“The General has gone to the Prince’s barracks.”
“Is that so? Did the Prince summon him again?”
“Yes.”
Yeong Ho-chung and Mo Jae-hwang exchanged glances.
“Very well. You may go.”
As the bodyguard left, Mo Jae-hwang’s eyes darkened and he murmured.
“What exactly is going on between him and the Prince?”
“You seem unusually suspicious. The General isn’t that sort of man. And he neither has the nerve nor the ability to betray the Crown Prince, so perhaps we should observe a bit longer.”
“Perhaps so.”
Yeong Ho-chung remained unbothered. But Mo Jae-hwang began to suspect more intensely.
His distinctive instinct had awakened.
‘There’s definitely something there.’

* * *

Today, Peng Mu-wi drank the tea Yi Hwan had offered without hesitation. After some further conversation, he returned to the barracks.
Cheol Mu-ok spoke.
“Your manner toward the Prince has clearly changed. But why did you summon him today?”
“The drug’s effects are wearing off.”
“The drug’s effects? Ah, you mean the Mind-Control Drug you had mixed into the wine back then?”
“It was hastily prepared, so its potency isn’t complete. That’s why it needs to be administered periodically—a drawback, I admit. But it seems about time we delivered the Appointment Letter.”
“Do you believe the three of them have broken their alliance?”
“Rather than a complete break, now is when they’ll begin to suspect each other. Peng Mu-wi has avoided meetings with Yeong Ho-chung and Mo Jae-hwang for days now, so by this point they must be growing suspicious themselves. Let’s observe for a few days more.”
“Understood.”
Cheol Mu-ok was inwardly astonished.
In truth, though it might seem like nothing at all, it was never easy to execute. There was no feat more difficult than moving the human heart.
Yet the situation was unfolding exactly as Yi Hwan intended.
‘And all he did was administer the Mind-Control Drug and speak a few words.’
Then Yi Hwan broached another subject.
“I’ve been thinking about something lately.”
“What might that be?”
“The current Yeon Kingdom restricts Imperial family members from maintaining private forces by law. Especially for a illegitimate son like myself—I cannot even keep bodyguards without the Emperor’s permission. Of course, there’s no such constraint here. So I was wondering: what if we cultivated a faction of our own?”
“Here, you mean?”
“The safest place from the Imperial Palace’s gaze.”
“I am in favor, sir. Give the order and I will bring my people here at once. As you say, this place lies beyond the Palace’s surveillance, and if we disguise them as troops of the Southern Army Corps, there should be no complications.”
In truth, Yi Hwan had lately come to feel the necessity of power. Not desperate, precisely, but he often found himself thinking that with a faction behind him, he could steer any situation toward his desired outcome.
‘I need power to intervene more actively in the Crown Prince’s succession struggle. And for the future, I must build this foundation now.’
Yi Hwan’s resolve hardened.
“Very well. Bring your people here.”
“I shall obey.”

* * *

The following morning, an Imperial messenger entered the military encampment.
News of his arrival was swiftly relayed to Peng Mu-wi and the others.
Yi Hwan summoned Peng Mu-wi to his quarters. Jung Cheon was already there.
“You called for me?”
“Please, sit.”
A servant entered with tea moments later. Unlike before, Peng Mu-wi drank it without hesitation.
Jung Cheon spoke.
“Congratulations, General.”
“Congratulations? What do you mean all of a sudden?”
Jung Cheon opened the Scroll Case and withdrew the Appointment Letter it contained, laying it on the table.
“See for yourself.”
Peng Mu-wi’s eyes flashed.
There was no need to examine it further—he could tell at once that it was his appointment as General Commander of the Southern Army Corps.
‘At last, I become General Commander of the Southern Army Corps.’
To Peng Mu-wi, whose face glowed with suppressed elation, Jung Cheon continued in a solemn tone.
“I trust you will lead the Southern Army Corps well. I myself shall do my utmost to support you.”
“Thank you, Jung Cheon!”
Seeing Jung Cheon—a near rival until now—offer genuine congratulations, Peng Mu-wi was deeply moved.
Clink.
Just then, Yi Hwan, who had been silent until now, set down his teacup and spoke.
“I trust in the General Commander’s ability, but there is one thing that troubles me.”
“…….”
“Do you remember what I said before?”
“You mean Yeong Ho-chung and Mo Jae-hwang?”
“Yes. I am gravely concerned that the General Commander—or rather, the new Commander—might be manipulated by them. I hear that lately you’ve stopped conversing with them altogether.”
“I too have heard such talk. The other officers are equally concerned.”
Jung Cheon chimed in to support him.
Peng Mu-wi’s eyes hardened, and his voice grew firm.
“Now that I am General Commander, I shall never allow myself to be swayed by them. They are not men of whom such a thing could be said, sir.”
“Of course I trust the Commander. Men from Hubei have long held foremost place in valor and honor beneath heaven. Yet with the safety of the Southern Army Corps at stake, how could I not be concerned? As you know, this place is like my own home.”
“My sentiments are no different from yours, sir.”
Jung Cheon offered his support once more.
Peng Mu-wi spoke with even greater firmness.
“Should they show any sign of disloyalty, I will exercise the authority of General Commander, and if they undermine military discipline, I shall impose appropriate punishment!”
“Can I trust the Commander’s word?”
“Believe in me, Your Highness!”

* * *

Peng Mu-wi withdrew, leaving Jung Cheon alone.
Unlike moments before, Jung Cheon’s expression had darkened into something grave. Yi Hwan studied him intently, then smiled faintly.
“You’re still troubled, General?”
“I fear the Left General may not act as Your Highness intends. Should matters go awry, the entire front won’t escape the consequences—only the Southern Army Corps. If the Left General moves now to exploit his authority as General Commander and replace the heads of key units, the damage becomes catastrophic.”
“That won’t happen. Besides, Peng Mu-wi will prove himself a faithful General Commander of the Southern Army Corps, not the Crown Prince’s instrument.”
“Sir?”
Jung Cheon’s eyes widened in astonishment.
Yi Hwan spread his palm and smiled broadly.
“My hand is as wide as Buddha’s palm. Hehehehe.”
……
Yi Hwan met Jung Cheon’s gaze directly and asked, “The Crown Prince’s Palace placed its trust in General Yi. But he has departed, and now you alone remain worthy of that trust. So I ask you: may I trust in your loyalty to the Crown Prince’s Palace?”
“Commander, I swear by Heaven itself!”
“That suffices.”

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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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