Return of The Mount Hua – Chapter 1541. Isn't that good enough? (1)
Editor: Hoamz
Co-Translator: Xoxo
The situation in Kaifeng was a sight to behold.
Hong Dae-gwang's face was turning deathly ashen.
"Report! A group of Evil Sects has appeared near Nanjing. Their numbers are estimated to be under thirty!"
"This is a report that those presumed to be from Hao Sect are attacking nearby sects in Handan (한단(邯郸))! The enemy's numbers have not been confirmed!"
Urgent report! Enemy attack! A report has come in that Xuzhou (서주(徐州)) is under attack! The enemy’s identity and numbers are unknown!”
“Th- This is crazy…”
Hong Dae-gwang's eyes trembled violently as he stared at the map of Jungwon spread before him.
The large map was now bathed in red. The places where enemies had attacked were gradually increasing even at this very moment.
As if they were going to completely cover all of Jungwon north of the Yangtze River.
"Sect Leader!"
“Shut up! I’m thinking!”
Hong Dae-gwang snapped before biting his lip hard.
'Just how?'
His blood ran cold.
Wind Shadow Divine Beggar, who had been silently watching the panicked Hong Dae-gwang, let out a short breath. As a young new sect leader, it was understandable that he would be flustered. It was just as he was about to open his mouth to calm Hong Dae-gwang.
“Consolidate the incoming reports!”
A swift and clear voice burst from Hong Dae-gwang's mouth.
"What we need to grasp first is the enemy's numbers. Among the places from which reports of attacks have come, select those where enemy numbers haven't been reported and send messenger birds! Use whatever means necessary! Mobilize express messengers or whatever you have and find out the enemy’s numbers first! Now!”
“Yes!”
"As soon as numbers are grasped, mobilize the Intelligence Pavilion (상보각(想報閣)) to discover the distribution of Evil Sects that have infiltrated Gangbuk!"
Before an answer could even come, Hong Dae-gwang quickly added instructions.
"Without waiting for analysis, report to Heavenly Comrade Alliance where enemy numbers are known! Ignore all formalities and protocols! You must inform them of this situation by mobilizing every fastest method of communication. Update them with every new piece of intelligence immediately!"
"Yes!"
The beggars shot out in a disciplined manner.
“Sect Leader! What about Ten Great Sects?”
"Mobilize the remaining messenger birds and personnel to inform them too!"
“But, Sect Leader. Beggar Union has already...”
"You beggar bastard! Are affiliations important when people’s on the line? How have you managed to beg and survive with that kind of sense!"
When Hong Dae-gwang exploded, the ashen-faced beggar hastily bowed his head.
“I’m, I’m sorry!”
“Don’t waste time apologizing and do something! Hurry! Even a moment’s delay will be irreversible!”
"Yes!"
Meanwhile, the Jungwon map that Hong Dae-gwang was looking at continued to turn red.
'Damn it...'
Although Hong Dae-gwang was Beggar Union's sect leader, honestly, he didn't expect the Intelligence Pavilion to provide proper analysis.
If Beggar Union had that kind of capability to begin with, they wouldn’t have spent years cleaning up after Shaolin despite having the upper hand in intelligence gathering.
So what he had to do was simply reveal and deliver everything in detail. Heavenly Comrade Alliance would be the one to make the decisions.
"...Do something about this, Mount Hua Divine Dragon."
His lower lip, bitten hard in his anxiety, turned white.
* * *
At the messenger birds flying in succession, Hyun Jong muttered as if in a daze.
“Th- This…”
The situation happened so suddenly that it felt like his mind turned blank.
Then Tang Gun-ak's gaze quickly turned to Im Sobyeong.
“Nokrim King! The enemy is….”
“Just a moment.”
But Im Sobyeong firmly cut off Dang Gun-ak’s words. Clutching his fan so tightly it threatened to snap, he finally nodded after a moment's thought.
“Based on the reports we’ve received so far, it appears that Evil Sects staying in Zhangjiajie and Evil Sects forces remaining in Gangnam have crossed the river en masse and moved to Gangbuk."
This much was obvious.
"Judging by the situation, it seems the enemy has spread out in small groups across Gangbuk rather than moving as one large force. We need to respond this!"
Everyone fell into brief silence. But only Jo-Gol shouted as if he couldn't understand.
"N- No, is that possible? It’s not like we’re all blind! Are you saying a force that size entered Gangbuk and no one noticed!”
“It’s possible.”
"I'm not denying what's happened, but I just can't comprehend it! Unless we're missing something...!"
"It's possible."
“Chung Myung-ah?”
Chung Myung, who was sitting in his chair with his arms crossed and a hardened face, opened his mouth.
"It would be difficult under normal circumstances. The number of martial artists may be small, but they are still spread throughout the entire Jungwon, so it’s impossible to evade all their eyes.”
“That’s what I’m saying!”
"Right. If they were spread throughout the entire Jungwon."
Jo-Gol's face hardened. He understood the meaning behind Chung Myung's words.
“General's words are correct."
For those who still don't understand, Im Sobyeong elaborated.
"Surveilling the entire Yangtze River is impossible in the first place, but even if the Yangtze is breached, it’s not a huge problem. As General said, in such wartime, not only Beggar Union but all martial artists' eyes become a surveillance network."
Several people nodded. Wasn’t that just common sense?
Anything seen would be reported to the nearest major sect, and that sect would spread the word through Beggar Union to all corners of Kangho. This was the true Heaven and Earth Net’ (천라지망(天羅地網)) that Kangho's history had proven effective.
"But not now. Now..."
Tang Gun-ak picked up where Im Sobyeong left off.
"Because all those martial artists are gathered in one place."
“That’s correct.”
Heavenly Comrade Alliance and Ten Great Sects.
Those two forces had competitively drawn in small and medium sects. The very people who would have staked their lives to track enemy movements had abandoned their posts.
Im Sobyeong took a quick glance at Tang Gun-ak.
“And… even the commoners living along the banks of the Yangtze River have moved away in large numbers.”
Tang Gun-ak muttered with a stern face.
“But even so, to this extent...”
"Because they're not in large numbers."
“What does that mean?”
"If the invading enemy units were at the scale of an entire sect, whether they crossed the river or came through Sichuan, concealing their entry into Gangbuk would be nearly impossible. Even if it weren't a single sect but a single platoon (대(臺)) or hall (각(閣), it would be the same. Even if just a hundred thousand people had gathered, they would have been discovered."
Im Sobyeong's gaze turned to Chung Myung. His eyes were strangely cold.
"If the numbers are extremely small, they can infiltrate undetected even into enemy territory. We've already proven that ourselves. Paegun must have realized it too."
“But wasn’t that possible because those who went to Hainan were exceptional?”
“No. It is actually easier for Evil Sects.”
Im Sobyeong answered Hyun Jong's question with certainty.
"Gangnam is a place where Righteous Sects can't set foot. No matter how much they disguise themselves, it's difficult to completely hide their aura and awkwardness. That’s why they must avoid being seen entirely.”
“I guess so.”
“But Gangbuk already has Evil Sects. No, without even needing to look far, there is Nokrim.”
Right. Hyun Jong had no choice but to agree with a hardened face.
Even if someone had discovered enemies moving in small groups of three to five, they probably wouldn't have found that fact particularly strange.
Because after the Yangtze River Disaster, such sights had become commonplace in Gangbuk.
"But..."
Thwang.
Just as Jo-Gol opened his mouth to ask another question, Chung Myung tapped the table with his palm. As all eyes gathered on him, he spoke in a cold voice.
"How they infiltrated doesn’t matter. It's already happened, and all that remains is how to respond."
Everyone agreed. They were so surprised that they ended up talking at length, but as Chung Myung said, there was no time for that now.
Chung Myung gestured with his chin toward Im Sobyeong.
"Tell us. What should we do?"
“We must not move.”
Seol So-baek was startled by Im Sobyeong's words and cried out in alarm.
“Aren’t we gathered here to stop them? But you say not to move? While this is happening…”
“Yes. The commoners will die.”
Im Sobyeong cut off Seol So-baek's words as if he already knew what would said.
“But for us to move to suppress this situation. That is the enemy’s intention.”
“Explain.”
"With Evil Sects uprising raging throughout Jungwon, we must stop them. But to cover all those fronts, we would inevitably have to split our forces repeatedly. Our structure would collapse in the process."
“...”
"Dispersing forces from the beginning is considered the worst thing in warfare. Especially forces split this finely cannot exert any power in large-scale clashes. There's only one reason Jang Ilso is doing such a foolish thing. He wants us to be dispersed as well.”
“Hmm.”
Tang Gun-ak let out a low hum. Im Sobyeong continued.
"They will advance in that gap. If our structure had collapsed at that time, we would have had to bear damage far greater than expected. What we must face are not those hapless pawns scattered in all directions, but the main force of the bastards staying in Zhangjiajie. Do not forget.”
Unlike usual, Im Sobyeong's voice was incredibly firm. Almost like a threat warning them not to even offer a vague objection.
All the senior members fell into deep contemplation.
“It won’t be a long wait. The main force of Evil Tyrant Alliance in Zhangjiajie will eventually move. It's a battle of patience. Whoever moves first loses."
Chung Myung, arms crossed, let out a snicker as if he couldn't hold back his laughter.
"My house is on fire, but whichever side moves first loses?"
"Yes."
"What if we burn to death in the meantime?"
“Then how’s that any different from being stabbed to death?”
Their eyes clashed briefly in the air.
Surprisingly, it was Chung Myung who yielded first. He leaned back as if burying himself in his chair and closed his eyes.
Instead, Baek Cheon opened his mouth.
“Nokrim King. No, Strategist.”
"Please speak, Acting Sect Leader."
“According to reports, attacks are occurring everywhere, but the enemy numbers at each location appear to be relatively small.”
"That's correct. So it's bait..."
"Then couldn't we also respond with only a very small number?"
“...”
“If we just set aside one or two sects…”
“No.”
Baek Cheon stared piercingly at Im Sobyeong while emanating heavy pressure. But Im Sobyeong remained as sharp and resolute as a blade.
“We will not respond in any way until the main force of Evil Tyrant Alliance moves.”
"Strategist!"
"More will die! Don’t you understand!"
Im Sobyeong's sharp voice finally rang out loud. Even Five Swords, who privately agreed with Baek Cheon, flinched and bit their lips.
Im Sobyeong took a long breath as if cooling his heated head for a moment.
“…In the end, the bastards who have invaded now will be like salt poured into the sea. They may look threatening now, but with those numbers, they won’t accomplish anything. I understand your concern, Acting Sect Leader. But let’s wait a little longer.”
Baek Cheon, who had been staring at Im Sobyeong with sharp eyes, sighed. Whatever was right, this was a wartime situation, and he could not undermine Im Sobyeong’s authority who bore the duty of strategist.
“I understand.”
Im Sobyeong gripped his fan tightly.
“Paegun is not a patient man. Now that he has made a move, he will try to move more destructively than before. So just be patient. The moment he moves, we will certainly counterattack."
It was words close to a declaration and an oath. And what was most deeply contained within it… was a hatred for Jang Ilso.
Knowing this fact well, the senior members of Heavenly Comrade Alliance could only nod their heads.
It was exactly when.
"Report! This is an express message from Beggar Union!"
“What is it?”
Gwak Hwe burst through the door. Ashen-faced, he read the dispatch he was holding. Despite his desperate efforts to suppress his trembling, his hands were shaking.
“E- Evil Sects are crossing the Yangtze in large numbers from the southern region!”
"What?"
"The number of ships is over hundred and cannot be measured! The location is..."
Everyone held their breath as if by agreement.
Soon, Gwak Hwe's voice that seemed ready to tear burst forth.
"From Yueyang to Changzhou. Th- The entire Yangtze River!"
It was as if lightning had struck the great hall.
"T- The entire Yangtze River region? Is that true!”
"Yes!"
Chung Myung's gaze slowly turned beyond the window. The darkness shrouding the world was lifting, giving way to the crimson light of dawn.
Chung Myung bit his lips tightly.
“Well done...”
The red dawn heralding morning now looked like an ominous flame that would consume the world to Chung Myung's eyes.
'Jang Ilso.'
Chung Myung’s gaze turned to the south. His two eyes were seething with a terrible hatred.
|Note
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