Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 488

488. Rapidly Changing War Situation

Having left Beijing, Yun-hyun headed to Hangzhou with Geko.

Inside the carriage speeding along the main road stretching south, Yun-hyun stared silently outside with a stiff expression.

“What did Irun say?”

Geko suddenly asked.

Yun-hyun replied in a quiet voice, “He didn’t say much. Only that the time is near. The time for me to settle things with Ildaesang-in.”

Geko snorted.

“Hmph, is he trying to imitate a divine being now? Saying what everyone already knows.”

Yun-hyun smiled.

Geko’s complaint was actually evidence that he thought of Irun with special affection.

Originally, Geko was completely indifferent to other people.

“How did you stop the Demonic Sect in the past?”

Geko asked again.

The person who dealt with the Demonic Sect in the past was Irun.

“At the time, the Demonic Sect was doing everything they could to raise the Demon Lord’s Army.”

The Demon Lord leads the forces of the Demonic Sect.

Okro Jin-in, an elder of the Gongdong Sect, had said that when the Demon Lord led the demon soldiers, there was no one in the world who could stand against them.

“So?”

“So, the Demonic Sect actually succeeded in raising the Demon Lord. But the problem was that they didn’t anticipate the existence of Irun.”

Geko could easily guess what would follow.

Geko chuckled and said, “Irun defeated the Demon Lord.”

“Yes.”

Just as the Blood Demon was the core power of the Blood Sect, the core of the Demonic Sect was the Demon Lord.

When the Demon Lord was defeated by Irun, the Demonic Sect lost the ability to raise new demon soldiers and went into a long silence.

Just as the Blood Sect, having lost the Blood Demon to Chun Il-geom, Neung Se-young, had been hiding its presence until now.

“So what about now? Did they raise the Demon Lord again?”

“It seems a little different.”

“Different?”

Yun-hyun nodded.

“Instead of awakening a powerful, small number of Demon Lords, it seems they have raised a very large number of demon soldiers. If you compare it to the Murim world [martial arts world], it’s like accepting many low-level warriors instead of one master.”

Geko frowned.

Considering that the Demonic Sect’s forces were threatening Nanju, it certainly seemed plausible.

“But if they do that, the limitations will be clear, won’t they?”

A sect with many low-level warriors can quickly increase its power based on numerical superiority.

However, such growth soon reaches its limit.

Low-level warriors alone cannot elevate a sect beyond mediocrity, and if a conflict breaks out with another sect, the problem becomes serious.

It is difficult to be aggressive relying only on numerical superiority, and if the opponent has even a single master, the very existence of the sect may be shaken.

Isn’t that why large clans and sects do everything they can to nurture masters?

“That’s why the Demonic Sect is aiming for Nanju. Once they occupy Nanju, it’s as good as gaining Gansu.”

The Demonic Sect’s forces aiming for Nanju was, in a way, an accurate judgment.

Due to the geographical characteristics of Gansu, if Nanju is obtained, the entire Gansu falls into the hands of the Demonic Sect.

“While concentrating their forces on Nanju to block the entry of government troops, they are trying to dominate the entire Gansu from behind and build up their strength.”

If they concentrate their forces on Nanju, the southern entrance of the narrow and long Hexi Corridor, it would not be difficult for the Demonic Sect to block the advance of government troops.

In the meantime, the Demonic Sect can freely dominate the entire Gansu, which is isolated from the central government, and build up its strength.

For the Demonic Sect, it was truly the optimal situation.

“That makes sense.”

Geko frowned and continued, “But will the imperial family just let that happen?”

The Demonic Sect’s movement was tantamount to creating an independent territory solely for the Demonic Sect in Gansu.

The imperial family would never tolerate it and would not stand still.

“Of course, that’s right. That’s why this movement of the Demonic Sect requires a premise.”

“What premise are you talking about?”

“The premise that the world will become chaotic. To the extent that the imperial family cannot pay attention to the Demonic Sect.”

Geko’s expression hardened.

Chaos to the point where the imperial family cannot pay attention to the Demonic Sect was something that even Geko, who had experienced the Great War between Righteous and Evil, could not help but be surprised by.

Yun-hyun continued with a calm expression.

“And that chaos will probably be caused by Ildaesang-in.”

If Ildaesang-in throws the world into chaos, the Demonic Sect will be able to build up its strength more easily.

Originally, the Demonic Sect preys on people’s exhausted minds.

“Hmm.”

Geko let out a soft groan.

“Chaos that will disturb the world… It’s not an easy task, but if it’s Ildaesang-in, it’s not like there’s no way.”

Ildaesang-in had already disturbed the Murim world through Mun-hwang.

The recent rise of the Blood Sect and the Demonic Sect was also his intention.

Ildaesang-in is actually causing great chaos in the world.

“But that also has another premise.”

At Yun-hyun’s words, Geko wore a puzzled expression.

But soon, he let out a chuckle.

“The premise of ‘you’.”

“That’s right.”

Yun-hyun smiled.

“All of that only holds true under the premise that I cannot stop Ildaesang-in.”

“Hmm.”

Geko smiled.

There were no words, but his expression held unwavering trust towards Yun-hyun.

Clatter, clatter.

The carriage carrying the two sped along the main road.

Yun-hyun turned his head and looked outside.

The scenery of the main road flashed before Yun-hyun’s eyes, but Yun-hyun’s heart was heading towards distant Nanju in Gansu.

***

Gansu Province, Nanju.

Commander Yu Bung-gul was sitting leisurely in a large mansion that he had forcibly requisitioned.

In front of him were greasy dishes and precious liquor, and in front of the people lined up to his left and right were also liquor and food.

“I would like to thank everyone once again for coming to this gathering [자리 – jari in Korean].”

Yu Bung-gul, with a sharp impression, said with a smile.

“I am truly moved that you are so willing to cooperate with the affairs of the court. Hahaha.”

Yu Bung-gul burst into hearty laughter.

However, the expressions of those sitting were not very bright.

They, the influential figures and wealthy people of Nanju, had already received a notice from Yu Bung-gul to hand over half of their assets.

As local leaders, it was natural to cooperate with the affairs of the government, but Yu Bung-gul’s demands were too excessive.

Naturally, the expressions of the leaders could not be good.

“Don’t worry too much.”

Yu Bung-gul smiled.

He looked at the leaders and said in a subtle tone, “As long as you are cooperative with the affairs of the court, the unfortunate accident like last time will never happen again.”

At those words, the complexions of the leaders turned even paler.

The first thing Commander Yu Bung-gul did upon arriving in Nanju was not to repair the fortress or redeploy the soldiers.

Having seized all authority in Nanju, he summoned the local leaders and wealthy people and pressured them to ‘voluntarily’ hand over half of their assets.

‘Gwan Dae-in [respected elder],’ who had the most influence in Nanju, not only flatly rejected the proposal but also openly expressed his anger to Yu Bung-gul.

And a few days later, ‘Gwan Dae-in’s’ mansion was burned down and his family members were brutally murdered.

The whole of Nanju was in shock, but the result announced as the investigation was absurd.

It was said that it was the work of ‘rebel followers’ who had secretly infiltrated Nanju.

As evidence, the heads of the criminals were even hung up, but no one among the leaders believed the story.

Commander Yu Bung-gul, who held all authority in Nanju in one hand, had shown the leaders a lesson.

“Oh dear, everyone must be hungry, but I’ve been talking for too long. Come on, eat quickly. It’s a time of war, so I regret that I couldn’t call the courtesans. Hahaha.”

Nominally, this was a meeting between Commander Yu Bung-gul and the local leaders.

But it was clear to anyone that it was a banquet.

A banquet that only one person, Commander Yu Bung-gul, could enjoy.

“I have one question to ask…”

‘Jang Dae-in [respected elder],’ one of the leaders, said.

Yu Bung-gul smiled with a glass of liquor in his hand.

“Speak.”

“There are widespread rumors that those who have set up camp towards Nanju are not ordinary farmers but the forces of the Demonic Sect. There are even those who have witnessed demons.”

At those words, the other leaders also nodded.

The fact that the ‘rebel followers’ who had set up camp outside the fortress were the forces of the Demonic Sect was no longer a secret.

“Moreover, I heard that the Gongdong Sect also took this matter seriously and even sent elders, but Commander Yu turned them away.”

Jang Dae-in spoke cautiously.

“The Gongdong Sect has been a respected sect in Gansu for generations. So please reconsider…”

Thump.

Jang Dae-in, who was speaking, flinched.

Yu Bung-gul, who had put down his glass, closed his eyes for a moment.

And opening his eyes, he slowly opened his mouth.

“First, this is a rebellion, not some Demonic Sect. I will never tolerate the word Demonic Sect being mentioned for any reason in the future.”

Yu Bung-gul’s eyes were fierce.

His expression, with the smile gone, even felt murderous.

“Second, how dare those insignificant Taoist rabble try to interfere in the affairs of the military? If those who are living by clinging to the Emperor’s grace interfere without knowing their place, I, as the Commander, will severely punish them regardless of who they are!”

Those words were no different from a threat.

People couldn’t even breathe properly, and Jang Dae-in, who had spoken, lowered his head deeply.

Pour.

A maid next to Yu Bung-gul filled his glass.

The maid was also trembling, perhaps because she was frightened.

Yu Bung-gul looked at the maid with a subtle gaze.

“…Well, there’s no need to worry so much.”

Yu Bung-gul, who had been looking at the maid’s plump chest, turned his eyes to the leaders.

“I am about to open the fortress gates and go out to sweep away all those wicked people. Of course, that is only possible with your cooperation.”

Yu Bung-gul smiled subtly and raised his glass.

The expressions of the leaders were complicated.

Some sighed in relief, but others still had uneasy expressions.

Although Commander Yu Bung-gul oversees the three armies of Gansu, Sichuan, and Shaanxi, in reality, it is only the government troops of Sichuan and Shaanxi, excluding the Gansu border defense forces.

If the opponents were ordinary farmers, there would be no problem, but if that were not the case, going out of the fortress of Nanju could be inviting disaster.

The ‘rebel followers,’ who were rumored to be the forces of the Demonic Sect, must have been staying still until now thanks to the fortress of Nanju.

“No, why aren’t you all eating?”

Yu Bung-gul said to the leaders who were deep in thought.

“Surely you don’t mean to say that you can’t drink the liquor that I, Yu Bung-gul, am giving you?”

“H, how could that be?”

Jang Dae-in jumped up and said.

Clang.

“Everyone! Let’s all raise our glasses in advance to celebrate Commander Yu’s victory! Congratulations on Commander Yu’s victory!”

The leaders all stood up without exception.

Clang, clang.

“Congratulations!”

“Congratulations on Commander Yu’s victory!”

The leaders shouted with all their might, fearing that they might be seen in a bad light by Yu Bung-gul.

It was a bizarre sight of celebrating victory before even fighting, but Yu Bung-gul wore a broad smile.

“Hahaha. Jang Dae-in’s words are indeed correct. How can one achieve victory without the conviction of victory? The morale of the army is an absolute factor in victory or defeat.”

Swish.

Yu Bung-gul leisurely rose from his seat.

And he extended his glass towards the leaders.

“I, Yu Bung-gul, will definitely bring victory. Let’s enjoy a really proper banquet then, not like this! Hahaha.”

Yu Bung-gul laughed heartily and drank his liquor.

The leaders also brought the glasses they were holding to their mouths.

However, their expressions were bitter.

This was because even the cost of preparing this gathering [자리 – jari in Korean] was borne by the leaders.

Thinking about the money that would be spent in the future, the leaders had to force the liquor down their throats.

***

Contrary to his boastful words, Commander Yu Bung-gul did not move his troops easily.

He continued to force ‘voluntary cooperation’ from the leaders and held banquets every day under the guise of meetings.

Of course, all the expenses for the banquets had to be paid by the leaders of Nanju.

And a month later, Yu Bung-gul suddenly ordered an expedition.

It was as if he had been waiting for the time until now, but Yu Bung-gul’s true feelings were different.

‘I can’t stay in this remote corner forever.’

Although he was being treated like a king, he couldn’t help but feel uncomfortable in this remote Nanju.

Moreover, he thought that after pacifying this disturbance and delivering the victory report to the Emperor, he would enjoy a splendid life in Beijing, so he wanted to leave Nanju as soon as possible.

The judgment that there was nothing more to squeeze out of the leaders also played a part in Yu Bung-gul’s decision.

Rumble, rumble.

With the heavy sound of the carriages carrying the cannons, Commander Yu Bung-gul led his troops out of Nanju with dignity.

Although the Gansu border defense forces were missing, and not all troops from Sichuan and Shaanxi were mobilized, Yu Bung-gul’s forces still numbered thirty thousand.

“Waaaaa!”

“Hooray! Hooray!”

The majesty of the armed thirty thousand government troops was truly enormous, and the people of Nanju shouted in unison.

Everyone thought that the chaos would soon end, and Commander Yu Bung-gul was also confident of victory.

However, the news that came a few days later betrayed everyone’s expectations.

The thirty thousand government troops had fallen into the Demonic Sect’s trap and were defeated absurdly.

The shock of the defeat swept through Nanju, and the situation began to deteriorate rapidly.