Emperor of Steel [EN]: Chapter 152

2. Back to the Southern Continent

1

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!

A massive ship sliced through the endless expanse of the sea.

It crashed against waves that would capsize any ordinary vessel, yet it didn’t even shudder.

This massive ship was none other than the Symphonia Royal Navy’s warship, the Hayreddin… no, the Osterho.

Luke, deeming it inappropriate for his nation’s warship to bear the name of a pirate king, had it renamed.

“My lord, I never imagined you’d name it after me.”

Luke chuckled at Hwangbo-sung’s words. Hwangbo-sung had become quite fluent in the Rhodisian language.

“I just couldn’t think of a better name.”

‘Oster’ was the nickname given to the old Hwangbo-sung from the future.

It was an ancient word meaning ‘south,’ and the Baroque Empire’s army, unaware of the old Hwangbo-sung’s true identity, had written it on his wanted poster.

Luke felt both gratitude and guilt towards the future Hwangbo-sung, who had sacrificed himself for him.

That’s why he readily bestowed his nickname upon the Symphonia Kingdom’s finest warship.

Of course, the ministers, unaware of the circumstances, simply assumed that Luke had named the ship that way because he was heading to the Southern Continent on an expedition.

“But, I heard you got scolded by the Queen.”

“She said I was overdoing it.”

After returning from the Holy Empire, he hadn’t had a proper rest before fighting Arsen.

After that, he had been leading the reconstruction efforts before setting off on a personal expedition to the distant south.

Naturally, Reyna couldn’t help but worry about her husband’s health.

“She grumbled that she might become a widow. She used to be so gentle, but lately, she’s become quite fierce.”

“Hahaha. My lord, that’s perfectly normal.”

“Normal, you say?”

“Yes, in my hometown, there’s a saying that women ‘evolve’ into ‘aunties’ after marriage.”

Once married, women have to take care of and manage the household.

If children are born, childcare is added to the list.

Naturally, they become more resilient, and overall, they become more tenacious and fierce.

A mother protecting her children is stronger than anyone in the world.

“So, that’s why you’re still not married.”

“W-what are you talking about, my lord! I have a purpose and a maiden I fancy, but I need my parents’ permission…”

Hwangbo-sung, startled by the joke, made excuses left and right.

But Luke wasn’t listening.

He was lost in thought, recalling past events.

Reyna, who had gone missing because of the fairies and then reappeared, had become the Pope of the Holy Empire.

At first, he had tried to bring her back to the Rakan Territory.

However, Reyna had chosen to stay, saying that being in the Holy Empire was how she could help Luke.

‘Instead of managing the household, she took on the ailing Holy Empire to help me.’

Reyna had faced various hardships while managing a nation.

Moreover, she had worried countless times because of Luke’s constant travels.

Perhaps thinking she might become a widow without even getting married, she had insisted on secretly holding a wedding ceremony.

Recently, she had even adopted Karen as her daughter, suddenly gaining a child.

‘Was that it? Is it all because she became an ‘auntie’?’

The change in Reyna, who had once been as pure as a flower, was, upon reflection, due to his own obsession with revenge and ideals.

He had no right or qualification to complain that his wife had become fierce.

“I should buy her a nice gift when I return. I hear there are rare medicinal herbs called wild ginseng in Yemaek, right?”

“Yes, besides wild ginseng, there are also elixirs like the elixir of immortality and the ‘Jade Nectar’ that enhance the inner energy of martial artists and grant immortality to ordinary people. And…”

“And?”

“In Yemaek, there are many strong women, not just ‘aunties.’ Among the past Taehwangs [Great Kings], there were also queens, and there was even a noble who advocated polygamy who was beaten to death by women on the street.”

“…Is that perhaps the legendary land of women? Like the Amazons or something?”

“I haven’t heard of such a story.”

After talking with Hwangbo-sung, Luke glanced at the sea for a moment before turning his gaze to the deck.

On the clean deck, without a single mast, the knights were engrossed in their training.

No matter how large the Osterho was, it was still a ship.

With limited space and most of the interior filled with Gigantes [large, powerful war machines] and military supplies,

the knights, restless, spent their days training on the deck.

“Hyah! Tornado Slash!”

“Hmph. I won’t fall for such tricks.”

While sparring with Shirley, Count Lenard easily evaded her halberd attacks, which she swung like a windmill.

However, Shirley didn’t stop there and continued to spin like a top, chasing after Lenard.

‘Yikes, this is no joke!’

Lenard, who had initially underestimated her, changed his expression as Shirley transformed into an aura-infused whirlwind and continued to press him.

Clang! Fwoooosh-!

Eventually, the whirlwind attack created by the halberd collided with Lenard’s sword, sending out a large spark.

Just as a flustered Lenard was about to counterattack, Shirley suddenly retreated.

It wasn’t because she thought her attack had gone too far.

It was because she had lost her sense of balance from spinning continuously.

“Oh dear… I’m dizzy…”

“Whoa! Danger!”

As the human top staggered towards them, the knights scattered in panic.

Then, they were startled to see Luke behind them and shouted.

“Your Majesty, please get out of the way!”

“There’s no need to get out of the way…”

Luke, well-versed in both swordsmanship and magic, was the undisputed strongest superhuman in the Symphonia Kingdom.

He could block a Spear Master’s clumsy attack with his eyes closed.

Moreover, the commander of the Royal Guard, Hwangbo-sung, was by his side.

Having trained diligently, he had received the ‘Brain Freeze Technique’ from his future self and had become a powerhouse on par with a Fist Sage.

As if showing off his skills, he simply grabbed Shirley’s Tornado Slash with his aura-infused hand.

“It’s foolish to use a technique you can’t handle! Does a master who knows how to control ki [internal energy] not know that!”

“Hee hee… I’m sorry.”

Still dizzy, Shirley listened to Hwangbo-sung’s scolding and lecture without being able to stand straight.

After being scolded for a while, Shirley regained her sense of balance and charged at Lenard again with renewed vigor.

Hwangbo-sung frowned, displeased by the sight.

“Your Majesty, I’m not sure if the selection of this expeditionary force is truly adequate.”

“Even if it’s not adequate, there’s nothing we can do. We’ve already come this far, and we can’t turn back.”

Although Hwangbo-sung might be dissatisfied, Luke had put considerable thought into the selection of this expeditionary force.

It was, after all, an expedition across the continent.

Therefore, he had chosen those with extensive experience in participating in wars in other countries.

As a result, among the Sword Masters, Lenard, who had experience as a mercenary in the Southern Continent, and Shirley, who had often been assigned special missions in the Baroque Empire in the past, were selected.

He would have liked to bring everyone else with him if he could.

However, he couldn’t leave the Symphonia Kingdom empty, so he only brought Hwangbo-sung and these two.

‘Besides, I heard there are many master-level warriors in the country of Yemaek.’

According to what he had heard from Hwangbo-sung and Zhuge Soha, who was also participating in this expedition, Yemaek was a small country but produced many outstanding martial artists.

“I heard that the Sword Saint Yeon Garam is also from Yemaek?”

“Yes, Your Majesty. He was also great, but the current Taehwang of Yemaek, Biryu, is said to be so skilled with a bow that he can shoot down stars.”

Traditionally, Yemaek had many renowned archers, and the bows made in this country were considered the best in the Southern Continent.

“Moreover, they are also skilled in making weapons, including cannons. About 30 years ago, when they were suppressing the Yamatai pirates, they used several turtle-shaped ironclad ships.”

“Oh, ironclad ships!”

Ironclad ships also existed in the Rhodisian continent.

They were ships with iron or copper plates on their decks or surfaces to prevent fire attacks.

The problem was that these armored ships were slow and were only used for limited purposes.

Mainly for breakthroughs or charges in naval battles.

Moreover, they were several times more expensive than other ships of the same size, so they couldn’t be built in large numbers.

‘I heard it was a small country, but it might be richer than I thought.’

Perhaps this expedition might yield more than he had anticipated.

With that thought, Luke smiled inwardly and turned his gaze south, asking.

“How much longer until we arrive?”

“It will take five days to reach the Southern Continent, and then another three days to travel by land to the border where Yemaek and the Song Empire are facing off.”

Thanks to the new technology called the screw, the voyage that used to take two weeks had been shortened to one week.

However, they still had eight more days to go.

“Tsk, I hope a war doesn’t break out in the meantime.”

According to what he had heard, Yemaek’s military strength was weaker than that of the Song Empire.

If the two countries clashed head-on, Yemaek would be defeated.

Therefore, Luke hoped in his heart that war would not break out until they arrived.

2

Around the time Luke was heading to the Southern Continent,

Emperor Rudolf of the Baroque Empire was busy suppressing the rebel forces.

“Those rat-like things…!”

When he first set out to suppress the rebellion, he thought he could easily wipe out the peasant rebels, who were like vermin.

They had clearly won every battle.

No, more often than not, they would be terrified and run away at the mere mention of the suppression force.

However, the rebellion did not subside.

No sooner had the main force of the suppression army led by the Emperor passed than the rebel forces would return and wreak havoc.

They targeted the squads left behind by the suppression force for maintaining order and attacked them relentlessly.

They seemed to know that they had no chance of winning in a head-on fight, so they attacked by poisoning wells and food supplies or detonating explosives buried in the ground.

There were even cases where they disguised themselves as villagers, treated them generously, and then nailed the doors and windows of their lodgings shut and set them on fire while they were sleeping.

“There’s no other way, Your Majesty! We must wipe them out!”

Dirk, the commander of the Central Army, insisted on a scorched-earth strategy.

He had taken over the Central Army from Count Ferrero and had been promoted from Baron to Count.

However, his way of thinking hadn’t changed at all from when he had massacred the sick in the capital.

“The main force of the rebels is made up of peasants. We must make an example of these ignorant people.”

“Aren’t we already making an example?”

Count Voltaire, who had been listening nearby, retorted bluntly.

As he said, in the occupied territories, those who had led the rebellion were being identified and executed, along with their families and even their relatives.

If they had no relatives, they would seize and kill the neighbors next door, as they were accused of aiding the rebellion.

“Didn’t you hear me? We must wipe out not only the families and relatives of the rebellion leaders but also the entire villages where the rebels came from. All of them!”

“So, you’re saying we should kill all the peasants in the Empire?”

“Of course, it would be problematic to kill them all. We need to leave those who will farm and pay taxes. But if we burn about a dozen villages as an example, that should be enough…”

‘He’s a complete madman!’

Voltaire frowned in disgust.

It was obvious that a hardline suppression would not solve the problem.

The reason for the rebellion was the harsh taxation and the continuous wars.

Now, they needed to appease the people rather than suppress them.

However, Emperor Rudolf and Commander Dirk were ignoring this.

In particular, Dirk was making all sorts of absurd claims and inciting Rudolf, perhaps in an attempt to curry favor.

Fortunately, the cruel Emperor hadn’t completely lost his reason.

Even though he was determined to tear the rebels apart, he wasn’t foolish enough to cut open the goose that laid the golden eggs.

“We should try to appease them for now.”

“Huh? Your Majesty, are you serious?”

Rudolf nodded at Count Dirk’s wide-eyed question.

“They must be struggling to fight against me. So, if we appease them and propose negotiations, they will respond.”

According to the Empire’s intelligence reports, the Volga Republic and the Kingdom of Lybia were behind the rebellion.

They would certainly not stop at just providing weapons and military supplies.

They would try to unite the peasant rebels who had risen up in various places and turn them into a force that even the Imperial Army would struggle to handle.

If they were not careful, they might start clamoring for independence, like Symphonia and the Kingdom of Lybia.

“So, we need to appease them and draw them out. Draw them out, identify the ringleaders, and strike them all at once.”

‘He’s planning a fake negotiation.’

Even Count Voltaire thought it was a good idea.

However, the problem was that betraying them after proposing negotiations was the most despicable thing to do.

“Your Majesty, I believe it is a good method, but I am concerned that it might tarnish Your Majesty’s dignity.”

“Hmph, it’s not an international diplomatic matter, so what does it matter? And if we’re talking about being despicable, the rebels who revolted when I was about to punish the traitors are even worse.”

If the peasant rebels had heard this, they would have immediately flared up. Who would want to start a rebellion for the sake of it? They were exploited to the point where it was hard to make a living, and with the constant insistence on war, they rose up to survive.

“By the way, I heard that military funds are lacking,” Rudolf asked.

Count Voltaire replied, “Yes, due to the peasant rebellion, the crop harvest has been poor, and trade with other countries isn’t doing well either…”

Currently, the Baroque Empire was engaged in an all-out war, but for some reason, military funds were dwindling. From the beginning, to secure the insufficient military funds, they raised taxes and diverted all of the nation’s finances to the military. However, this, in turn, contracted the economy and production activities. This was because all the money that should have been invested in economic development went to military spending. As the national economy stagnated, it was only natural that military funds would be insufficient. However, Voltaire could not point this out. It was the Emperor’s decision, so pointing it out would be the same as criticizing him. To protect his neck, it was better to keep his mouth shut about it.

“If it’s lacking, we have to fill it somehow.”

“Surely, you’re not saying you’ll raise taxes again?” Count Voltaire looked at him in surprise. If taxes were raised any further, it was obvious that even those who had been quiet until now would join the rebellion. Fortunately, Rudolf’s idea was not that.

“We have already taken enough from the living, so now we will take from the dead.”

“What? What do you mean by that…?”

“What do I mean? What use is wealth or gold to the dead? Dig up the tombs and take it all!” At Rudolf’s command, not only Voltaire but even Dirk was speechless. Although cultures and values differ from country to country and race to race, there is one thing that is taboo. That is to sanctify the afterlife and not desecrate the dead. Unless a crime is revealed after death or a descendant commits treason, why would they rob graves for no reason? This was enough to turn even the nobles who supported the Emperor away.

“Your Majesty, no one will follow that order!”

“Then we’ll make them follow.”

“Do you think the nobles will be convinced by threats of force?” At Voltaire’s words, Rudolf scoffed.

“Who said anything about using swords? I will lead by example.”

“Yes? By leading by example, you mean…”

“Yes, start by digging up the imperial tombs.” Rudolf calmly ordered the desecration of his ancestors’ tombs. He gave specific instructions to Voltaire and Dirk, who couldn’t close their mouths.

“As I know, Emperor Carno, the founder of the nation, had a lot of burial goods. I heard that later emperors also offered enormous amounts of gold and jewels to the shrine that manages the imperial tombs.”

“H-However, Your Majesty…”

“It is to overcome the national crisis. The founder will also understand, so do not be afraid and carry it out.” As if to say he would not accept any further objections, Rudolf dismissed his vassals.

Soon after, the imperial tomb of Carno de Baroque, located near the imperial capital Nemesis, was torn down. And that was done by the Imperial Guard, who could be called the Emperor’s hands and feet. Many people at home and abroad were shocked and horrified by this outrageous act of impiety. They called Rudolf a wicked emperor or a mad emperor, saying he was crazy. However, Rudolf did not care. ‘After all, the victor writes history. If I become the final victor, I can wash away any stain.’ The emperor, who had gone down a path of no return to win. His ancestor and the victor of history, Carno de Baroque, paid a terrible price for the evil deeds he had committed in his lifetime. And that was not by the hands of someone who held a grudge against him, but by his own bloodline.

3

The border area between Yemaek and the Song Empire. There, the elite forces of the two countries were gathered. The Song Empire, boasting the largest population in the Southern Continent, mobilized a staggering 600,000 troops. In addition to the existing standing army, the number of troops conscripted from various regions was equivalent to several large cities combined. Among them, 100,000, called the Leopard Cavalry, were composed of volunteer martial artists from the Jianghu [a community of martial artists], and they were scheduled to lead the vanguard of this war. In response, Yemaek forward-deployed 100,000 troops and a separate force of 30,000 Jianghu warriors, including the Black-Clothed Immortals, to the border area. These forces included thousands of Taoists from both sides, and various weapons, including cannons and wooden oxen [a type of ancient Chinese transport], were also displayed. As elite troops and combat weapons gathered, the border area was filled with a grim killing intent, and the common people fled, carrying their belongings on their backs.

Yodong Fortress. This famous border city and fortress was where the Yemaek army’s headquarters was located. But for some reason, a loud voice erupted from inside the headquarters building early in the morning.

“When will the reinforcements from the Northern Continent arrive?” The owner of the voice was Eulji Deokmun, the supreme commander of Yemaek. With piercing eyes and a mustache resembling a hedgehog, he was the current head of the prestigious Eulji family of Yemaek. At his question, Jo Wonrak, who was sitting at the conference table, replied with a troubled face.

“When I checked yesterday, they said it would take five more days.”

The journey doesn’t end just by crossing the sea. They had to land on the coast of Yemaek and then move to the battlefield on the border. The time it took for all of that was five days.

“Five days is too long, isn’t it?”

“It seems that they are not familiar with the geography here, and the steel giants, which they use as their main weapons, are so heavy that it takes quite a while to move them.”

“Damn it! We don’t know when the war will break out…” Eulji Deokmun frowned as if he didn’t like Jo Wonrak’s answer. The war clouds were gathering so thickly in the border area that it wouldn’t be strange if a war broke out right away. Already, the scouts of both sides were fiercely fighting to find out each other’s weaknesses. ‘It’s better to think of them as a reserve force for now.’ Eulji Deokmun was not only excellent in his own martial arts, but his forte was tactics and command. In addition, unlike his appearance, he was quite calm and meticulous, so he was a person who calculated all the variables of war. For him, the Symphonia expeditionary force led by Luke was a headache. It was not simply because he looked down on them, but because he did not know the exact number and strength of their forces. It was said that the king himself was leading the army, and that they were bringing a giant steel weapon called a Gigant, so even if their numbers were small, they were presumed to be a considerable elite force. ‘To have to turn such an elite force into a reserve when we’re short on troops…’ The initial battle was important in any war. The country that won the initial battle was more likely to win this war. Therefore, Eulji Deokmun was planning to gather as many troops as possible and crush the enemy at once to break their morale. ‘Tsk, it can’t be helped. I have no choice but to fight with the current forces.’ Shaking his head, he asked the woman in a blue Tang suit [a traditional Chinese jacket] who was sitting next to Jo Wonrak.

“Princess, have you heard anything about Yamatai or Cathay helping us?” The woman in the blue Tang suit was Princess Sohae, Jo Wonrak’s fiancée. She was also an excellent Taoist, and she had come to the battlefield to do her part.

“His Majesty the King sent envoys, but Yamatai did not respond, and Cathay only sent a reply saying that they would remain neutral, citing tribal disputes.”

“Tsk, those damned thieves!” The intentions of the two countries were obvious. They were waiting for the Song Empire and Yemaek to bite and fight each other and weaken. They had always been like that. They used to plunder whenever neighboring countries were in turmoil due to political upheaval or war. So much so that they would sarcastically say that the bandits on land were the best of Cathay, and the pirates at sea were the best of Yamatai.

“They really only know one thing and not two. If our Yemaek is destroyed by the Song Empire, they don’t know that they’ll be next…” At Eulji Deokmun’s lament, Jo Wonrak spoke again.

“How would thieves who only plunder other people’s property know the proverb of ‘if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold’? Rather, Supreme Commander, how is the defense preparation going?”

“We have gathered sufficient troops and supplies in each castle and fortress and are preparing for a long war. First, we will break the enemy’s vanguard, then lure and defeat the enemy who launches a wave of attacks, and then launch a counterattack.” Yemaek had a bad relationship with the Song Empire for a long time. So, they had built dozens of mountain fortresses and fortresses in the mountain range on the border, with double and triple layers. In the past, the two countries had fought a war. At that time, the Song Empire failed to properly pass through these border walls and was scattered. This was because if they attacked one castle, the troops stationed in the nearby castles and fortresses would come out and attack the flanks and rear. It was also not easy to ignore them and attempt a forced breakthrough. The longer the supply line, the easier it was to be cut off. In fact, there were times when troops retreated because their supply lines were cut off. It was more effective to use geographical and military advantages in this way than to fight a battle on a plain, so it became a common strategy for the Yemaek army to lure and defeat the enemy and then launch a counterattack. But this time, the situation was different. The number of troops mobilized by the Song Empire was several times greater than before. In addition, as many as 100,000 martial artists from the Jianghu had joined the war.

“With the large number of Song troops, it will be a really difficult battle.”

“We have been building and reinforcing fortresses for a long time, so it will be difficult to capture them with ordinary attacks.”

“I hope the war will end without too much damage on both sides…” Although he had taken refuge in Yemaek, Jo Wonrak had not completely turned his back on his homeland. Therefore, he could not help but worry about the soldiers who had been forcibly conscripted by Jo Wonkyun’s faction. Princess Sohae nodded in agreement with Jo Wonrak’s wish.

“Considering the future relationship between the two countries, the fewer the sacrifices, the better. The Song army’s morale will not be high either, as General Yi Yungmu suddenly resigned from his position as supreme commander. If the soldiers’ morale is low, they cannot fight a war for long, so I think the other side will retreat at an appropriate level rather than increase sacrifices.”

“I hope that’s the case.” At his fiancée’s words, Jo Wonrak thought to himself. Why did Yi Yungmu, who could be called the strongest warrior of the Song Empire, suddenly step down? Yi Yungmu usually had many complaints about the Crown Prince, but he was not close to Jo Wonkyun’s faction. Rather, he must have been displeased with Jo Wonkyun and Hwangbo Gwang’s tyranny. ‘But suddenly he stepped down and let the second brother’s faction take control of the military?’ What does this mean? Does Yi Yungmu have another plan, or did Jo Wonkyun’s faction take action to force him to step down? If it was the former, it was okay, but if it was the latter, he couldn’t help but feel uneasy. ‘General Zhuge said that it was revealed that the Hwangbo family was behind the strange zombies that appeared in the Zhuge family last time. If the power that the Hwangbo family holds in the dark is strong enough to remove General Yi Yungmu…’ Can he really be relieved about Yemaek’s war preparations? It was true that Yemaek had been steadily preparing for war. However, the Song Empire had also been continuously increasing its military spending despite its difficult domestic situation. And what if Hwangbo Gwang released a large number of zombies with strange abilities like last time? The Yemaek army, which had never fought against such an enemy, could be destroyed at once. ‘And if that monster appears without King Luke, then…’ Just as Jo Wonrak’s thoughts reached that point.

Bang! Suddenly, the conference room door opened, and an armed man rushed in.

“Urgent news! The Song army has begun to advance!”

“What?!” Eulji Deokmun, who had jumped up from his seat, received a detailed report from the armed man. The Song Empire army, which had crossed the border, was launching an offensive on all fronts at once. Five castles and fortresses were already under attack, and more places would be attacked as time went on.

“What about our casualties?”

“It’s still the initial battle, so there are no major casualties. The lords and generals who are commanding the troops in the fortresses are also responding according to the pre-arranged plan.”

“That’s a relief. Tell them to send more scouts so that we can understand the Song army’s movements in detail.”

“Understood, Supreme Commander!” As the armed man left after receiving the order, Eulji Deokmun moved the pieces on the war map, which was made of models, here and there. Princess Sohae asked him,

“Is the war finally starting in earnest?”

“That’s right, Princess. Now, the fate of our Yemaek and Song will be decided by this one war.” The winner would become the ruler of the Southern Continent. But the loser would be thoroughly trampled under the boots of the occupying forces.

“Supreme Commander, for the sake of the people, we must never lose this war.”

“Do not worry. Our army will surely win. So, please trust me and the soldiers.” Eulji Deokmun had already completed the analysis of all the strategies and tactics that the enemy could use. He had built a double and triple defense line, and he had installed a lot of flame magic and flying thunderbolts in the mountain gorges that they could use. If they used this place, he was planning to explode them all at once and bury them. Although their forces were inferior, he never thought that the Yemaek army would lose.