Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1380. I have to make it like that (5)
Editor: Hoamzz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
Ppudeudeuk.
The hawk that landed on Ho Gamyeong's wrist tilted slightly. It pecked Ho Gamyeong's forearm several times, perhaps displeased that after flying such a long distance, it had landed on the shaky arm of someone moving quickly.
Only when Ho Gamyeong discreetly offered some prepared raw meat did the hawk finally calm down and start tearing into it nonchalantly.
Lightly stroking its head with his index finger, Ho Gamyeong reached for the small tube tied to the hawk’s ankle and pulled out the message inside. His eyes immediately lowered.
Staring at the letter with half-closed eyes, he seemed to be deep in thought before giving an almost imperceptible nod. Then he pulled out a small fine-tipped brush from within his sleeve.
Sararak.
He wrote something on a small piece of paper, waved it in the air a couple of times to dry it, then quickly rolled it up and stuffed it into the small tube attached to the hawk’s leg.
Click.
Securing the lid tightly to ensure it wouldn’t come loose, he ran his hand down the hawk’s back before lifting his arm. The hawk, seemingly reluctant to leave the raw meat it was still eating, hesitated a few times before finally soaring high into the sky and disappearing into the thick darkness.
“Attention.”
"Yes!"
The adjutants following closely behind sharpened their eyes at his voice.
"We're changing formation."
"Yes?"
“Divide the forces to the left and right, centered around the main force. Each unit will form a wide horizontal line.”
The unexpected order made the adjutant's exchange puzzled glances.
"Any questions?"
“Um... Advisor-nim. If we spread out horizontally, our pursuit speed will decrease."
“It doesn’t matter. They won’t be able to move quickly anymore either.”
That makes sense. The area they had passed through so far was essentially unclaimed territory from Evil Tyrant Alliance’s perspective, but from now on, they would be entering the Yangtze River region, where the enemy had concentrated their forces.
Naturally, they would have to clash with the scattered Evil Sects members they had deployed, and their advancing speed would inevitably slow.
"But in that case, wouldn’t it be better for us to increase our speed instead?"
At those words, Ho Gamyeong glanced back. The adjutant who met his indifferent gaze flinched and lowered his head.
"You seem to not understand."
"Due to my inadequacy....”
"Changing formation means changing tactics, and changing tactics means the objective has changed."
“...Then?”
“When the hunt is over, it’s time to spread the net.”
As Ho Gamyeong looked forward again, his eyes held a chilling coldness that he hadn't shown to his adjutants.
"Now we surround and annihilate them."
“Yes, Advisor-nim!”
Voices filled with determination rang out. The corners of Ho Gamyeong's eyes twitched briefly.
From the moment they had failed to wipe out the enemy in the canyon, his authority had vanished. All that remained was to thoroughly execute Jang Ilso's orders.
The orders he received from Jang Ilso were straightforward.
'Attack from behind them.'
But if he break this down a little more, the meaning changes a little.
'Follow closely behind them, attack and put pressure on them.'
And if you add Ho Gamyeong’s interpretation, the meaning changes even more.
‘Press them from behind so they can’t think of anything else, and drive them all the way… to the Yangtze River.’
If anyone else had heard this command, they would have thought it was sheer lunacy. Isn't reaching the Yangtze exactly what those escaping Mount Hua group want most?
Can pressuring someone to do what they want be called 'pressure'? Can you really call it a ‘pursuit’ when you’re driving them toward where they want to go?
This wasn’t even tactics. The essence of strategy is to prevent the enemy from achieving what they want.
But Ho Gamyeong didn't think so. No, that's not all. Even those who pointed fingers saying the orders made no sense would quietly lower those fingers upon learning that the one who gave these orders was Paegun.
Ho Gamyeong knew.
The key is 'pressure.' No, perhaps a more accurate expression would be 'control.'
By sticking close to them and continuously injecting psychological pressure, Evil Tyrant Alliance could secure one definite thing.
That is, preventing them from suddenly doing crazy things like they have been until now.
'It's absurd.'
If it was Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword he had observed thus far, he could have suddenly turned west while going up the Yangtze River and gone to Yunnan, or even heading east to board a ship and sail north to Zhejiang instead.
No, that fellow might even calmly turn completely around, break through the pursuing Myriad Man Manor, and return to Hainan Island.
It doesn’t make sense? How many times has that guy done things that don’t make sense?
If anything, not doing something absurd would be more suspicious.
The Yangtze River is full of enemies. So why on earth should Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword go to the Yangtze River, where enemies are swarming?
Because even Evil Tyrant Alliance would find it difficult to completely block the vast Yangtze?
No. If it were Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, he would probably say this: Blocking off the Yangtze River is dozens of times easier than blocking off the ocean, so why should I go in the direction that’s convenient for the enemy?
For an ordinary person, the idea of detouring around the Yangtze was unthinkable, but for Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, it was nothing special.
Because he’s the kind of person who chooses the shortest route to get to Hainan Island by moving in a straight line through the enemy-infested deadly zone from the Yangtze River to Hainan Island.
If his only perfect aim was truly 'the safest escape method,' bypassing the Yangtze would be the most correct choice.
When we think about all of this, the direction Jang Ilso gave and the intention behind his actions are more than clear.
That is....
❀ ❀ ❀
"To reduce the number of variables."
Inside a large carriage, Jeok Ho, sitting across from Jang Ilso with a small tea table between them, showed a puzzled expression.
“...Reducing the number of variables, you say?”
"That's right."
Jang Ilso nodded with an unperturbed face. It wasn’t a particularly slow nod, yet anyone watching would naturally assume that boredom was something he lived with constantly.
"What does art of war say about this?"
“...I....”
Jeok Ho hesitated slightly, his lips twitching.
He too wasn't ignorant of the art of war. To lead subordinates, one had to know it, whether they wanted to or not. It might also be because Jang Ilso valued subordinates with martial prowess but didn’t particularly care for those who only had martial prowess.
"I dare not discuss military strategy before you, Ryeonju-nim."
“Hahahahaha.”
Jang Ilso burst into laughter, as if amused.
Jeok Ho knows. That laughter certainly didn't come from satisfaction with the answer.
They say while there may be those who guard against flattery, none truly hate it. After all, everyone likes being praised.
But that doesn't apply to Jang Ilso.
His high position was as natural to him as breathing, and his greatness was a given. Thus, he takes no joy in it. After all, it would be strange to feel pleased at being praised for breathing well.
“I find it amusing every time I hear something like this.”
“...Did I make a mistake…?”
"I don't know much about art of war. I would have learned it if necessary, but I've never particularly needed it."
Jeok Ho held his breath. But his eyes were asking, how then could you so thoroughly manipulate and overwhelm those who have mastered art of war?
"In the end, strategy is something people use. So if you understand people, it's simple. Remember this. If you want to defeat your enemy, you only need to remember two things.”
"May I ask what those are?"
"One is obvious. Just do what your enemy hates the most.”
Jeok Ho nodded at this.
This was similar to Jang Ilso's principle of action. While the process was often hard to understand, looking back at the results, Jang Ilso always did what his enemies found most uncomfortable.
"Do you know what the other one is?"
“...I don’t.”
“Hmm. Actually, this is somewhat more crucial, but most people don’t understand it, even when I tell them."
A slight expectation appeared on Jeok Ho's face. He thought that perhaps this answer would reveal the secret behind the strategies Jang Ilso had shown so far.
But his expectations were utterly shattered.
"People, you see."
“Yes, Ryeonju-nim.”
"They don't even know themselves well."
“...Pardon?”
A look of puzzlement crossed Jeok Ho's face. What was this sudden, out-of-nowhere statement?
"Tsk, tsk. You’re just the same.”
"....That's, rather it's so simple that I can't quite understand...."
“Hmm. How can I make it easier to understand… Ah, yes. This might make it a bit clearer. People, you see, always lie to themselves.”
Jang Ilso paused for a moment and then smiled faintly and asked.
“It’s a common occurrence. If there were the most incorruptible scholar in the world, what would you think of him?"
"Well... I would consider him remarkable."
“Why?”
“Isn’t integrity itself worthy of respect?”
Jang Ilso chuckled softly.
“Right, of course. But… do you think what that scholar truly desires is his integrity and the path of Confucianism?”
"What?"
"To be called the most incorruptible in the world means his incorruptibility is pathological. What such a person truly wants usually isn't incorruptibility itself, but rather his incorruptible self."
“....”
“Everyone is the same. People achieve great things when they desperately want something. Then what does that incorruptible person truly, desperately desire?"
“That’s....”
Jeok Ho's face hardened.
“Honor....”
"That's right. Such a person desires honor to an excessive degree. But… he probably doesn’t think so himself. He’d believe he’s simply adhering to his principles. Even deceiving himself in the process.”
A sigh escaped Jeok Ho's lips. It's difficult even after hearing the answer. Ultimately, wasn’t this about fully understanding what lies hidden within a person’s heart?
“If that’s the case, does it Mount Hua Chivalrous Sword, who’s leading Hainan now, is hiding something beneath his Chivalrousness?”
"That much is obvious. The child is sick in the head. But what we should focus on here is something else."
The corner of Jang Ilso’s mouth curled up eerily.
"Have I ever mentioned that that child and I are similar?"
“...You’ve mentioned it a few times.”
Even Jeok Ho found it puzzling. Why would Jang Ilso, a figure of such stature, give such high praise to someone so insignificant?
“I meant it literally. That child and I are exactly the same in one particular way.”
"Do you mean in brilliance?"
"Brilliance? Hahahahaha!"
Jang Ilso laughed as if it were absurd.
"No, no. Not that. The point where that child and I are the same is......"
His eyes drew an arc in a way that was both alluring and eerie.
“...We trust no one. Not a single soul in this world, not even a grain’s worth.”
|Note
Consider supporting me by subscribing on Patreon for 5$. The Patreon membership for Mount Hua and Infinite Mage is the same. The benefit:
Advance chapters of Mount Hua : 76
Advance chapters of Magic Realm Convenience Store Worker : 144 Chapters
Thank you for the Chapter """