Chapter 48 The Great Southern War

Chapter 48: The Great Southern War

When I was young, a saying similar to a proverb circulated: ‘Don’t waste your breath on anyone who hasn’t read Romance of the Three Kingdoms at least three times.’

Back then, I believed it wholeheartedly, bought the book, and read it three times over. But later, when I found out it was just a marketing ploy by publishers to sell more copies, I felt utterly betrayed.

‘Later, they started saying, “Don’t hang out with people who’ve read Romance of the Three Kingdoms more than three times.”’

Anyway, reading Romance of the Three Kingdoms, you see massive armies of half a million or a million troops mobilized as if it were nothing. That’s pure bullshit.

Because, considering China’s GDP and population at the time, those numbers are absurd.

Mobilizing armies on that scale consumes enormous amounts of resources and manpower.

And it’s the same for our Nine Dragon City.

“This is never-ending…”

All the warriors of the Outer Court gathered before the city gates to inspect the endless stream of incoming supplies.

Heeeee! Moo!

The carts laden with supplies were heavy; horses and oxen bellowed and screamed from all directions, while people bustled about carrying the loads.

“When the hell is this going to end?”

Yang Gang, his mouth practically hanging open, blurted out the question.

“I don’t know, man. It’ll end when all the supplies come in.”

“Ugh.”

He let out a sigh and selected a sack of rice, stabbing it with his sword.

He was checking to see if any spies were hiding inside.

Perhaps because a full-scale war with Namcheongung was imminent, security was tighter than ever before.

When the merchant caravans loaded with supplies reached the gates of the outer city,

the outer city guards thoroughly searched the goods before allowing passage.

Workers waiting inside would then take over the entire cart and the horse pulling it, moving them to the storage yard prepared within the inner city.

Even the workers weren’t just randomly selected; they were exclusively residents living in the outer city.

This was to completely block any infiltration by spies.

Of course, there would be infiltrators who had been planted from the start.

“I’m not a spy! I’m truly innocent!”

“We know everything. Just follow quietly. Resistance is futile.”

Just like that worker being dragged away by the Red Dragon Corps warriors over there.

Thanks to this, the Red Dragon Corps, tasked with rooting out spies, moved with a ferocity unprecedented.

One fortunate thing was that, perhaps because they’d been preparing for this purge for quite some time, they never took innocent people.

Though there were cases where spies from factions other than Namcheongung were captured.

Perfect control of information.

That was the current state of Guryongseong.

Because of this, the atmosphere in the outer city was more ominous than ever.

Neighbors who exchanged greetings just yesterday.

Regular customers who visited the inn daily.

The old woman selling goods at the market stall.

All of them, fearing they might be suspected of being spies, avoided even glancing at each other on the street, let alone exchanging greetings.

Instead, they watched each other suspiciously, ready to report anyone who seemed even slightly off.

‘Damn this war.’

It was a bitterly disheartening sight.

A week passed like this.

By the time supplies were piled sky-high at the stockpile site set up in the heart of the fortress.

“The operation has been ordered.”

The military department had issued the operation.

At Garip’s single statement, the squad leaders gathered at headquarters looked at him with expressions thick with tension.

“Our assigned mission is supply. The key is to deliver the materials to the right places as quickly as possible.”

“Is there a unit moving with us?”

“No. The supply mission rests solely on our Oedang.”

“……Hmm, a dangerous mission, indeed.”

Lee Jo-jang voiced his concern at Garyp’s explanation.

It was only natural.

With the scale of the operation this large, the Namcheongung bastards would likely have already sensed we were planning a full-scale offensive.

Since supply is the most crucial element in a full-scale war, it was highly likely they would dispatch special detachments to launch relentless attacks.

In such a situation, attempting supply runs with only the Oedang warriors was tantamount to sacrificing their lives to break through the enemy’s interference.

All the squad leaders nodded in agreement with Squad Leader Yi’s concern.

“Our intelligence operatives and the Heuksanho have already infiltrated enemy territory. They will move as much as possible to block the enemy’s special detachments. Of course, they won’t be able to block them all, so each squad must be fully prepared for ambushes.”

The moment the name ‘Black Mountain Tigers’ was mentioned, the squad leaders cried out in awe.

“Black!”

“Mountain!”

“Tigers!”

I was equally stunned.

The Black Mountain Tigers were the Lord’s personal elite force, composed solely of warriors beyond peak strength.

That meant…

‘The Lord has gone all-in.’

It meant there would be no retreating mid-battle with some half-joking suggestion like, “How about we call it a draw?” like during the previous siege of the Jianchang Branch.

The squad leaders nodded resolutely at Garyp’s explanation.

Their expressions seemed a mix of relief at the news of the Black Mountain Tiger’s deployment and tension stemming from the danger of all-out war.

After receiving the deployment date and several instructions, that day’s meeting concluded.

Just as they were about to leave headquarters in the heavy atmosphere, Baekgong’s voice called out.

“The Deputy Commander and Squad Leader remain.”

A moment later.

As Garip and he sat facing each other, Baekgong opened his mouth with a calm expression.

“There is a special mission.”

The situation felt strangely reminiscent of something from the past.

Tension surged from his heart, racing up to the frontal lobe of his brain.

Just as expected.

Bukgung Baek pointed precisely at a corner on the map.

It was a mountain in the southernmost part of Yunnan Province, precisely one day’s journey from Nantian Palace.

“Depart immediately and build a secret base here at Songshan. Who will go?”

A quest of S-rank difficulty, suddenly thrust upon them.

“Here?”

“······You seem full of complaints.”

How could I not be dissatisfied? I had to infiltrate the heart of the battlefield with a bunch of useless nobodies who could barely dig a hole.

I wanted to argue right then and there, but summoning superhuman patience, I cautiously questioned him.

“It’s not that… I just think it might be too dangerous…”

“Dangerous or not, it must be done.”

Bukgung Baek’s declaration. I immediately glanced at Garip.

It seemed I was going to be the one left holding the bag, just like last time.

But my worries were unfounded.

“I’ll go.”

“The Deputy Leader?”

Good heavens, Garip was volunteering himself.

Stunned, I gaped at him. Garip was smiling bitterly. Bukgung Baek frowned at him.

“It will be dangerous. I think it would be better for Jin Jo-jang to go.”

“Though Jin Jo-jang’s martial arts are formidable, he is still young and inexperienced. I believe my going increases the chances of success.”

“···Is that so?”

Bukgung Baek gave a slight nod and continued.

“Understood. Instead of Squad Leader Jin, the Deputy Chief will go. But you must return alive. Without you, managing the Outer Hall would become difficult.”

Hearing his somewhat solemn words, he thought.

Wait, does that mean I can die?

* * *

On the night of the third day after Garip led twenty aces from each division out of the castle.

Dong! Dong!

With the sound of a great drum, a banner painted with nine vibrant dragons was raised. This marked the departure of nearly two thousand warriors from Guryongseong Castle.

Watching this from the castle walls, the reality of war truly sinking in.

“You seem tense.”

“Wouldn’t it be stranger not to be tense?”

“After all, isn’t a warrior someone who lives on the edge of a blade? Try not to be too tense.”

Bukgungbaek descended the ramparts, putting on an air of coolness.

Honestly, no matter how much I think about it, I can’t figure out why that man lives like that.

“Huh.”

Was it because I had to head to the battlefield tomorrow?

My heart stirred violently.

‘This won’t do.’

I’d thought of it as some kind of flag and tried not to go, but I changed my mind.

Before leaving for the battlefield, I wanted to see the person I longed to see with my own eyes one more time.

‘Yook, the General…’

The moment I made up my mind, I dashed straight towards Honghwa Pavilion.

Today, I would finally tell her how I felt.

Arriving at the Honghua Pavilion.

The door was firmly shut, likely closed due to the war, but I didn’t care.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

I pounded on the door, and a middle-aged man, his eyes heavy with sleep, appeared.

It was Wang Shu, a worker at the Honghua Pavilion.

“What on earth…! Isn’t that Master Jin? What brings you here?”

I immediately wanted to ask him to call Chief Yook, but the words wouldn’t come out easily.

“Ahem, oh, today… Are you open?”

Wangsu responded awkwardly to my carelessly blurted-out words.

“What can I say… Honghwa Pavilion isn’t operating for the time being.”

“…Is that so? Can’t be helped.”

“Yes.”

After a moment, I mustered my courage and managed to open my mouth.

“Is everyone doing well? It’s been a long time since I saw Chief Yook, especially.”

“Of course. However, he has returned to the Red Dragon Pavilion to lend a hand.”

At the mention of Liu Jin Hua’s absence, a cold winter wave washed over a corner of my heart.

‘Ah, love is so very far away.’

Perhaps sensing my disappointment, Wangsu cautiously spoke.

“Um, Lady Lu is still inside…”

“I don’t need it!”

The unnecessary mention of Jihwa-ran made me blurt out loudly without thinking.

“Hiccup!”

Wangsu seemed startled and hiccupped.

“Hm, hm, I’m sorry. My voice got louder unintentionally.”

“Hiccup! It’s fine… Hiccup! ····It’s fine. Hiccup!“

”······Well then, see you next time. I won’t forget today’s incident and will properly apologize later.“

Just as I turned to leave, carrying that lonely feeling, a clear voice called out from behind.

”Senior?”

It was Jik Hwaran.

I considered just ignoring her and walking away, but she was my beloved Yook Jin-hwa’s boss.

Which also meant she was the boss of the person who would soon become my wife.

I greeted her as calmly as possible.

“Hwaran, huh? Where are you headed this late?”

“I just have some business at the Red Dragon Hall. What brings you here, Senior?”

“I need to see someone…”

At that, Jie Hualan’s eyes lit up and she nodded.

“Hmm, are you leaving tomorrow?”

“Yes. I don’t think I’ll be able to return for a while.”

“Someone you want to see before leaving for the battlefield… I can guess roughly what it’s about.”

Her attitude, as if she knew something, made my heart skip a beat.

“Is… is that so?”

What? Could she have noticed the connection between me and the Sixth General?

“Hehehehe, hehehehe.”

Just as I couldn’t hide my flustered feelings, Jik Hwa-ran flushed and smacked my shoulder hard enough to make a thud.

“Senior, you really should tell us right away when something like that happens.”

I’m busted.

Well, there’s no helping it now.

I’ll just have to break through head-on.

“Ahem, I suppose I was a bit short-sighted. What do you say now that I know?“

”Of course it’s fine! Let me see… Today doesn’t seem like the right day. Come find me after the war ends.”

At her promise to personally become Cupid for love once the war ended, I quietly nodded.

Still, who would’ve thought that clueless Jik Hwaran would notice the connection between me and Yook Jonggwan.

It seems the saying that humans are evolving creatures isn’t wrong after all.

“Then I’ll come find you after the war ends.”

“Yes! You absolutely must come?! Absolutely!”

I get it, so tone it down a bit. It feels like a death flag is about to be planted.