The Red Dragon Martial Emperor - Chapter 76

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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 Martial Emperor, Episode 76

Chapter 76—Yi Tae-ji’s Command

Mun Chi-yong entered Yi Tae-ji’s chambers.
“Your Highness, a grave matter may be taking shape.”
“A grave matter?”
“I happened upon an acquaintance earlier and heard that the Crown Prince’s Palace intends to appoint the Fourth Prince as commander of the Gold Guard.”
“What?”
Yi Tae-ji’s face flashed with shock for a moment, then settled into a faint smile.
“Nonsense. How could that fool lead the Gold Guard? There’s nothing to worry about. Even if the Crown Prince’s Palace makes the appointment, the Gold Guard will refuse him. The generals of the Gold Guard live by their pride alone—they’d never accept such an amateur.”
Bang!
Yi Tae-ji struck the table, letting out a scoff.
“Hmph! So now that everything else has failed, he’s wielding appointment authority as a weapon? Pathetic wretch.”
“Yet it would be wise to prepare for contingencies, Your Highness. If—however unlikely—the Fourth Prince becomes commander of the Gold Guard, ten thousand elite soldiers would fall under the Crown Prince’s command.”
“That’s precisely why I won’t allow it.”
Yi Tae-ji sank deeper into his chair, his eyes growing distant. He’d scoffed openly enough, but his true thoughts were far from dismissive.
‘Could he have sensed that we’re after the commander’s position and moved first?’
In truth, the position of Gold Guard commander mattered as much to the Empress and him as the Southern Army Division itself. If he could bring the Gold Guard under his command, he would control both the security of the Imperial Palace and the Imperial Capital—an overwhelming advantage in his rivalry with Yi So.
His fingers twitched.
Irritation suddenly flickered across Yi Tae-ji’s gaze.
“If that old fool hadn’t foolishly divided some of his appointment authority to the Crown Prince, it would have been ours long ago.”
“If I may be so bold as to speak, Your Highness.”
“Go on.”
Mun Chi-yong steadied his breath and continued.
“Removing the General seems the most certain solution. So long as he lives, such incidents will recur. Would it not be best to eliminate the source of trouble entirely? If you grant permission, I shall send word to the Southern Army Division at once.”
Yi Tae-ji’s eyes went cold and silent. Mun Chi-yong waited for his answer.
After a long moment of deliberation, Yi Tae-ji spoke abruptly.
“Aren’t the Fourth Prince’s bodyguards said to be masters?”
“Yes. I’m not certain where the General obtained them, but they are no ordinary men.”
“Can your direct subordinates handle the matter cleanly, without complications?”
“Set your mind at ease. Given the gravity of this, I’ll dispatch only the strongest.”
“I can trust you?”
“If you entrust this to me, I will deliver the result you desire.”
A cold smile played across Yi Tae-ji’s lips.
“So I become an elder brother who has killed his younger brother.”
“A wise ruler does not concern himself with personal sentiment. Leave the dirty work to me and keep your gaze fixed only on the greater prize.”
“Very well. I grant it.”

* * *

Several days later, in the Southern Army Division.
A messenger sent by Crown Prince Yi So sought out Peng Wu-wei. Peng Wu-wei received them with due courtesy. Even a General-in-Chief must tread carefully before an emissary of the Crown Prince.
The messenger spoke.
“I understand the General is away. Might I know when he will return?”
“That is… even I cannot say. He left the camp on personal business more than a fortnight ago.”
“More than a fortnight? Then where has he gone?”
“He did not tell me either.”
The messenger’s expression grew uneasy.
Peng Wu-wei asked carefully.
“May I ask what brings you to seek the General?”
“I’m afraid I cannot say.”
“Of course.”
“Then we shall wait in the General’s quarters. We shall take our leave now.”
As the messenger departed, Peng Wu-wei narrowed his brow and murmured to himself.
“What could the Crown Prince’s Palace want with the General? This is maddening.”
Then it came.
“General-in-Chief, an official dispatch has arrived from the Imperial Palace.”
“From the Imperial Palace? Could the Crown Prince have sent it?”
“See for yourself.”
Peng Wu-wei immediately unfolded the Official Dispatch that his officer handed him. As expected, it was from Yi Tae-ji.
As Peng Wu-wei read slowly through it, his eyes suddenly widened in shock.
‘What is this? Kill the Crown Prince’s messenger along with Yi Hwan?’
That was it. The dispatch contained orders to kill the Crown Prince’s messenger silently the moment they arrived with Yi Hwan. Peng Wu-wei felt his breath catch in his throat.
“What is the matter, sir?”
“Ahem! It’s nothing. You may go now.”
“But your expression—what did it say……?”
“I said go!”
“Yes, sir!”
The officer hurried out.
Peng Wu-wei read through the dispatch once more, his hands and eyes trembling.
‘Kill the Crown Prince? How am I supposed to kill him? How?’
He downed a gulp of cold water.
Peng Wu-wei drained the cup in one long swallow. Yet his mind would not settle, and his heart only hammered harder against his ribs.
Then it happened.
Click.
The door opened and figures entered.
“Didn’t I tell you to leave!”
Peng Wu-wei’s eyes snapped wide open as he began to rage. But it was not his officer—these were men radiating an unsettling presence.
“How dare you enter without permission! Do you know where you are?”
“We received orders from above to assist the General-in-Chief and have come to pay our respects.”
“……!”
“We apologize for not announcing ourselves beforehand due to the sensitive nature of this matter.”
The contents of the dispatch he had read just moments before flooded back into Peng Wu-wei’s mind, word by word.

The General-in-Chief need not act directly; those I am sending will handle it themselves, so all you need do is manage the aftermath cleanly once it is done…… [The rest omitted.]

‘Curse it…….’

* * *

At that same moment, in the barracks of the Gold Guard Unit Command.
Tremor.
Wi Sa’s hands shook faintly as he read the dispatch. He had assumed command of the Southern Army Division’s Gold Guard Unit Command in place of the dead Deputy Commander.
His wavering eyes were filled with shock and disbelief.
‘Kill the Crown Prince and the messenger from the Crown Prince’s Palace?’
The same orders had reached him as had reached Peng Wu-wei.
If it was a command from the Crown Prince, he would have thrown himself into flames without hesitation. But killing Yi Hwan was an entirely different matter. No matter that Yi Hwan was illegitimate—he was still the Emperor’s son.
Clench.
Wi Sa shut his eyes.
For the first time, he regretted having assumed leadership of his men in place of the dead Deputy Commander.
‘I cannot do this. I must speak with the General-in-Chief!’
Wi Sa pushed himself up from his seat but could not take a single step. Men were already entering through the door.
“Who are you?”
“We come from the Imperial Palace.”
“Did the Crown Prince send you?”
“Yes.”
Baek Po-in glanced briefly at the dispatch in Wi Sa’s hands and asked:
“Have you confirmed His Highness’s intentions?”
“I have just now.”
Baek Po-in regarded Wi Sa silently for a moment. Wi Sa could not meet his gaze and looked away.
“If you wish not to do this, you may step aside. But know that you alone will bear full responsibility for what happens after.”
“……!”

* * *

Crack!
“Straighten your back!”
“Your stride is too narrow!”
Crack!
“Ugh!”
Song Hoe brought the staff down mercilessly on Cha Jung-gyeong’s head. Cha Jung-gyeong couldn’t take it and collapsed to the ground, cradling his skull between both hands.
“Please, stop hitting my head!”
“What? You’re talking back?”
Song Cheon-mu stepped in.
“Perhaps we should rest a moment.”
“If we’re going to beat the Zhao Kingdom stench out of this brat, he needs more grinding! Get up! Won’t you get up?”
“I don’t want to.”
“This one keeps resisting?”
That was when it happened.
Yeo Mu-sa from the inn stepped out into the backyard.
“A guest has arrived.”
“A guest?”
“Yes. A general is looking for you.”
“Understood.”
Crack!
“Argh!”
Song Hoe landed one more blow on Cha Jung-gyeong’s head before heading into the main building. Cha Jung-gyeong glared at Song Hoe’s retreating back, his chest heaving.
“Ugh, just like that.”
“Bear with it. He does it all for our sake, doesn’t he?”
“For our sake, my foot. Honestly, if I weren’t bound by rank, I’d tear off my insignia and throw it at him.”
Then Yeo Mu-sa spoke.
“Why don’t you wash up?”
“…Do I smell that badly of sweat?”
“Yes. Quite a lot.”
“Ah, I see.”
Song Cheon-mu rose with an embarrassed expression. Cha Jung-gyeong followed suit, springing to his feet, and the two of them dashed toward the river like wind.
Yeo Mu-sa watched them go, her lips pursing slightly.
“They have no idea how precious private training is. Tch!”
Yeo Mu-sa rested her chin in both hands and gazed southward.
“I wonder when our commander will return.”

* * *

A small city half a day’s journey from the Southern Army Division.
Yi Hwan and his party eased their weary bodies with food and drink in that place.
Go Mi, who had joined them late claiming she had something to purchase, opened her mouth the moment she took her seat.
“There’s been another incident near the Imperial Capital—an assassination attempt on a member of the Imperial Family.”
At Go Mi’s words, Yi Hwan immediately thought of Yi Young. Those targeting the Imperial Family would surely know of her existence and whereabouts.
Cheol Mu-ok murmured thoughtfully.
“Is the Gold Guard asleep?”
“If the culprits are masters from the Martial World, even the Gold Guard won’t catch them easily. Especially with their hit-and-run tactics at unpredictable times, it’s bound to be more difficult.”
“Still, if the targets are already identifiable, shouldn’t the Gold Guard and other agencies have intensified protection for the Imperial Family?”
“That’s true, but…”
Cheol Mu-ok turned to Yi Hwan and spoke.
“Do not worry, sir. Our network will shadow her and guard her side like a whisper.”
Glug.
Yi Hwan drained his cup and opened his mouth.
“Wol-ju, investigate the temperament of the dead Imperial Family members first. Focus on finding out if there were any enmities they harbored or incidents they were involved in.”
“As you wish, General.”
That was when Ju Tae leaned in casually.
“If those killed were members of the Imperial Family close to the Crown Prince’s Palace, we have no choice but to suspect the Heir Apparent.”
“The one who died before was close to the Heir Apparent, so that possibility doesn’t hold.”
“Then could it be forces plotting treason?”
“It’s too early to say anything definitive. We can only observe until the picture becomes clearer.”
Yi Hwan refilled his empty cup.
Glug.
Then it happened.
Someone approached. Everyone turned their heads, and it was two officers in armor.
“Sir!”
They saluted Yi Hwan with a military bow.
Their voices rang out so sharply that everyone in the inn stopped eating and looked toward Yi Hwan.
“On leave?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Enjoy yourselves and come back in good spirits.”
Yi Hwan gestured with his eyes, and Ju Tae drew a purse from his pocket and handed it to the officers.
“No, sir! We couldn’t!”
“Take it.”
“Thank you, sir!”
Yi Hwan withdrew his gaze and was about to bring the cup to his lips when—
“Congratulations, General!”
Yi Hwan set down his cup and fixed his eyes on the officers.
“Congratulations for what?”
“Word has already spread widely among the officers that you’ll soon become the commander of the Gold Guard!”
……
Yi Hwan wondered what this was about.
Suddenly becoming commander of the Gold Guard? No one was more startled than Go Mi.
She understood better than anyone what kind of position the commander of the Gold Guard held.
‘It must be a rumor. That’s not a position the General can ascend to.’
Not from any disrespect for Yi Hwan—but the Gold Guard commander wielded such immense power that it had always been held by high court officials across generations.
Yi Hwan asked.
“Where does this rumor come from?”
“I have a friend among my colleagues who works in the Imperial Palace. The rumor is already spreading widely there too! They say the Crown Prince’s Palace will appoint you!”
‘The Crown Prince’s Palace is appointing me commander of the Gold Guard?’
Yi Hwan turned to look at Go Mi.
“Does the Crown Prince’s Palace have the authority to appoint the Gold Guard commander?”
“Several years ago, His Majesty granted the Crown Prince’s Palace a portion of appointment authority. If the Gold Guard commander’s position was included in what was granted, it would be entirely possible.”
Yi Hwan leaned back in his chair, his gaze dimming.
‘If this is true, then the Crown Prince was right—now is when he needs to find me.’
Tap.
“Let’s head to the barracks.”
“Yes.”

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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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