Bachelor Swordsmanship Remastered [EN]: Chapter 499

499. Fall

The government army, having initiated their military action, recaptured the capital with overwhelming force.

Furthermore, they achieved the remarkable feat of subduing all three thousand cavalrymen scattered throughout the capital.

This was the result of thorough preparations against the cavalry, thanks to Yunhyun’s advice, and the willing cooperation of disciples from the Tang Clan, Mount Emei, and Mount Kunlun.

With the government forces advancing with cannons, the supreme masters wielding their sword energy, and the active participation of Taoists and monks possessing the auras of dispelling evil and subduing demons, the capital’s cavalrymen were subdued with minimal resistance.

Thus, within three days of the military action’s commencement, no cavalrymen remained in the capital.

Although many lives were lost and the streets were burned, they succeeded in driving out the demonic cult’s forces from the capital.

A grand mansion in Chengdu, Sichuan.

Inside the mansion, which was being used as a temporary provincial command center, the local dignitaries of Sichuan were gathered.

The provincial commander, Deng Chofan, spoke with a smile.

“I am grateful, Imperial Envoy. If not for your presence, how could I, Deng Chofan, have recovered the capital so easily? I am truly grateful.”

“It is nothing. I did very little.”

Yunhyun replied with a smile.

“It is all thanks to your loyalty.”

At those words, Wang Anmin, the Provincial Administration Commissioner, and Yi Yungeol, the Provincial Inspector, cleared their throats.

Yunhyun had made it clear that he intended to give them credit as well.

“Ahem, there are many martial artists who contributed to the recovery of the capital, so wouldn’t it be right to reward them as well?”

The Provincial Inspector, Yi Yungeol, subtly suggested to the provincial commander, Deng Chofan.

Deng Chofan nodded as if he had been waiting for the suggestion.

“Of course, we must. I am already planning to petition the court for rewards. Hahaha.”

The exploits of the supreme masters who participated in the capital’s recovery left a strong impression on everyone.

The martial arts of the supreme masters, wielding sword energy and Taoist energy to cut down the demonic beings, were reminiscent of legendary generals from stories.

Moreover, the sight of monks and Taoists with the auras of dispelling evil and subduing demons eliminating the cavalrymen greatly boosted the morale of the government forces.

It was because the cavalrymen, who would not die even when beheaded, were rendered helpless by the attacks of the monks and Taoists.

“Of course, I will not forget to report the achievements of the Imperial Envoy as well.”

The provincial commander, Deng Chofan, looked at him intently.

That meant he would be at odds with those who claimed to be the power brokers of the current court.

The expressions of Wang Anmin, the Provincial Administration Commissioner, and Yi Yungeol, the Provincial Inspector, hardened, but Yunhyun quietly spoke.

“There is no need to mention my contribution.”

With a gentle expression, Yunhyun continued.

“I did not do it to receive a reward, but as someone living in this land, it is only natural to do what I had to do.”

“Hmm.”

The provincial commander, Deng Chofan, could not hide his admiration.

“You are truly a righteous man. Now I understand why so many people greatly trust the Imperial Envoy.”

Originally, government officials do not trust martial artists.

However, Yunhyun was someone who had been granted an official position by the Emperor and had provided practical help in the recovery of the capital.

Deng Chofan’s praise was genuine.

At that moment, Wang Anmin, the Provincial Administration Commissioner, let out a soft sigh.

“The recovery of the capital is truly a joyous occasion. However, I am daunted by the prospect of rebuilding it.”

While the provincial commander, Deng Chofan, had achieved great merit, rebuilding the capital was the responsibility of the Provincial Administration Commissioner, who was in charge of administration.

The streets were unlikely to be intact, as the cavalrymen had set fires and the government forces had fired cannons.

Even the local dignitaries’ government offices had been burned down, so what more needed to be said?

It was no wonder that the Provincial Administration Commissioner, Wang Anmin, looked grim.

“Sichuan’s tax revenue is not abundant. Moreover, all the supplies that had been stored in the capital were burned in this incident, so we do not have the capacity to handle the major task of rebuilding the capital. Perhaps the Imperial Envoy has a good solution?”

Yunhyun was lost in thought for a moment.

The most certain way was to request support from the central government.

However, now that Public Servant Park had lost power, could that request really be accepted?

Rather, they might be reprimanded for failing to prevent the ‘rebellion’.

Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang Anmin’s concern was precisely that point.

“…Actually, I have some connections with merchant guilds.”

Yunhyun, who had been fiddling with his teacup, quietly offered.

“Since merchant guilds cannot do without money transactions in everything, they have interesting practices. For example, they hand over goods after receiving a guarantee of payment even if they do not have the money at the moment, or they trade guarantees from reputable merchant guilds like silver [using a trusted guild’s reputation as collateral].”

Wang Anmin wore a puzzled expression.

Hadn’t such practices of merchant guilds existed for a long time?

“What does that have to do with this…?”

“Where is there a place with as much credit as the government office? If you guarantee payment, the merchant guilds will gladly bring supplies to the capital.”

The expressions of the Provincial Administration Commissioner, the Provincial Inspector, and the provincial commander were not good.

To government officials, merchants were those who loved money and sought profit, and there was only the choice of keeping a distance and treating them strictly or colluding with them to accumulate wealth.

Moreover, the local dignitaries had to guarantee payment, so their expressions could not be good.

“Well, but the guarantee…”

Provincial Inspector Yi Yungeol hesitated and tried to say something.

“It is not you who are guaranteeing it personally.”

Yunhyun continued in a calm voice.

“What is important is the guarantee with the seals of the Sichuan Provincial Administration Office, the Provincial Inspector’s Office, and the Provincial Command Office. It is not you personally, but the local government of Sichuan that is making the guarantee.”

“But in the end, we have to pay it back within the deadline, don’t we?”

“Not necessarily.”

Yunhyun smiled as he answered the Provincial Inspector’s question.

“It is enough to have a condition that the payment will be made whenever requested after a certain period. The merchant guilds will try to hold on to this guarantee for as long as possible. They might even like it more than money.”

The merchant guilds would not refuse a guarantee with the seals of the local government offices overseeing the entire Sichuan province.

In particular, merchant guilds associated with Sichuan might prefer to trade with this guarantee rather than money.

However, the expression of Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang Anmin was still not good.

“I understand what the Imperial Envoy is saying, but dealing with merchant guilds is difficult. They are very cunning and cannot be trusted at all…”

“If that is the case, there is a suitable person.”

Yunhyun said in a soft voice.

“It is the Chief Inspector of the current Hoam Merchant Guild, Il Ayeong. She is in charge of monitoring the affairs of the merchant guild and uncovering corruption, so she is more familiar with the affairs of the merchant guild than anyone else. She is also the daughter of my respected sworn brother, so she is trustworthy.”

The eyes of the Provincial Administration Commissioner and the Provincial Inspector flashed with interest.

The Hoam Merchant Guild was one of the largest merchant guilds in the world.

If she was the Chief Inspector of such a merchant guild, she was certainly the right person.

Yunhyun picked up his teacup and muttered quietly.

“Although my sworn brother has already passed away, Public Servant Park knows her well.”

“Oh.”

The face of Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang Anmin brightened.

If she was the daughter of the Imperial Envoy’s sworn brother and Public Servant Park knew her, it would be impolite to doubt her any further.

“Thank you. I, Wang Anmin, will definitely ask for your help, Imperial Envoy.”

Wang Anmin even put his hands together to show his respect.

“I understand. It is for the people of Sichuan, so I will gladly do so.”

Yunhyun also put his hands together and returned the greeting.

Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang Anmin burst into laughter.

“Hahaha. The Imperial Envoy is truly a blessing to Sichuan. What would Sichuan have become if not for you? Thank you, thank you very much.”

It was a somewhat exaggerated compliment, but no one could refute it.

Yunhyun smiled and held his teacup.

The local dignitaries were happy, but the number of people who had lost their lives in this incident was countless.

Despite the rising soft tea fragrance, Yunhyun’s heart was heavy.

It was then.

Thud.

A government official entered through the door.

He was one of the senior officials assisting the Provincial Administration Commissioner.

Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang Anmin frowned.

“What is it? I strictly ordered no one to enter…”

“B, big trouble.”

The official said in a trembling voice.

His face was pale blue.

“Lanzhou… Lanzhou has fallen.”

The shock swept through Yunhyun and the local dignitaries.

“What?”

“What are you talking about! Isn’t something being misreported?”

Provincial Inspector Yi Yungeol and provincial commander Deng Chofan shouted in astonishment.

However, the senior official trembled and replied.

“No. Lanzhou fell three days ago, and the Commander-in-Chief escaped Lanzhou and set up camp in the direction of Xi’an. The procession of refugees heading to Sichuan is endless.”

If the government forces blocked the direction of Xi’an, the refugees would have no choice but to head south.

The government forces, who were on edge, were unlikely to let the refugees pass.

Rather, it would be fortunate if they were not suspected of being followers of the rebellion and harmed.

“We must come up with a plan immediately.”

Provincial Administration Commissioner Wang Anmin said.

The expressions of Provincial Inspector Yi Yungeol and provincial commander Deng Chofan also hardened.

With the capital burned down and refugees pouring in, it was truly adding insult to injury.

***

Beijing, the Imperial Palace.

The elderly Emperor was sitting on the high dragon throne with his eyes closed.

His wrinkled face and slender hands indicated that his health was not very good.

It was because even the best elixirs in the world could not stop the passage of time.

The officials lined up in front of him folded their hands and bowed their heads, unable to say anything.

They had already heard the news that Lanzhou had fallen.

In the heavy silence, the Emperor slowly raised his hand.

“Dismiss Commander-in-Chief Yu Bonggeol and immediately escort him to Beijing for interrogation.”

“Your Majesty!”

Minister of Rites Jang Wi said.

“The fall of Lanzhou is a regrettable event, but it is not the fault of the Commander-in-Chief. It is because the treacherous Taoists of Mount Kunlun colluded with the followers of the rebellion and opened the city gates, so you must punish them.”

Commander-in-Chief Yu Bonggeol immediately sent a report to the court.

The report stated that the Taoists of Mount Kunlun had disturbed the public sentiment in Lanzhou, colluded with the influential figures, and interfered with Yu Bonggeol in every way, eventually opening the gates of Lanzhou to the followers of the rebellion.

“Also, since changing generals during a war has always been a taboo in military strategy, it is right to give the Commander-in-Chief even greater authority and support to recapture Lanzhou.”

The voice of Minister of Rites Jang Wi was quite earnest.

It was truly the image of a loyal and devoted subject.

Swish.

The Emperor opened his eyes.

Although his face was old and wrinkled, his eyes were shining intensely.

“Collusion, you say?”

The Emperor said in a high and sharp voice.

Minister of Rites Jang Wi bowed his head.

“Yes. Those treacherous groups who have tarnished the name of Taoism…”

“Then why did those Taoists of Mount Kunlun help recover the capital?”

The Emperor said, interrupting Jang Wi’s words.

The report from Deng Chofan, the provincial commander of Sichuan, had already arrived at the central court.

Minister of Rites Jang Wi flinched.

However, he soon continued in a firm voice.

“Originally, monks and Taoists are cunning people who can deceive others. Although they helped the provincial commander of Sichuan, there must be an inside story…”

“This is.”

Swish.

The Emperor held up a scroll with his slender hand.

“This is the report from General Yang Cheonman of the Right Guard Command regarding the fall of Lanzhou. Do you know what is written here?”

General Yang Cheonman was one of the members of the suppression force dispatched to Lanzhou.

Jang Wi hurriedly opened his mouth.

“Your Majesty! Yang Cheonman is originally a member of the ethnic minorities of Gansu, and his origins are humble…”

“Commander-in-Chief Yu Bonggeol held banquets every day after suffering a major defeat in the initial battle, indulging in alcohol and women, plundering the property of the influential figures, and even neglecting the enemy forces heading to Sichuan.”

The Emperor said, glaring at Minister of Rites Jang Wi.

“Is the Minister of Rites now defending such a person? An incompetent person who lost Lanzhou, a strategic point in Gansu, to the enemies he dismissed as ignorant peasants?”

The Emperor’s eyes were blazing with anger.

“Y, Your Majesty. That is not the case…”

Flutter.

The scroll flew through the air.

The Emperor threw General Yang Cheonman’s report in front of Jang Wi.

“Look if you have eyes. The number of government soldiers who died at the hands of the so-called followers of the ‘rebellion’. If you show me that this number is false, I will gladly do as the Minister of Rites says.”

Jang Wi trembled all over.

Those words were the same as telling him to bring the dead government soldiers back to life.

There was no way to reverse the Emperor’s anger now.

Swish.

The elderly Emperor reached out his hand.

And quietly said.

“Bring Public Servant Park to me.”

The faces of the ministers changed all at once.

Discussing the affairs of the court with a eunuch instead of the ministers was nothing short of an insult.

“Th, that…”

The ministers, who were about to say something and raised their heads, met the Emperor’s gaze looking down at them.

It was the extremely cold and ruthless gaze of an absolute ruler who held the world in his hands.