Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1086

The moment war broke out, the Imperial Palace, the Martial Alliance, the Black Demon Fortress, and the Beggars’ Union released their well-trained carrier pigeons and falcons into the world.

The training itself was ordinary, but the trained birds were akin to semi-spiritual creatures. The unique carrier pigeons, carefully managed from their bloodline, flew more than three times the distance of ordinary carrier pigeons.

This was why the Imperial Palace could quickly receive information from Gansu and Shaanxi. Of course, there was a difference of a few days, but being able to obtain detailed information in just three or four days across this vast continent was a tremendous advantage.

It was the power of the Central Plains, which had been preparing for war for years.

However, even with such amazing information-handling capabilities, it still took time to relay the information.

In other words, no matter how fast the information was delivered, the events that occurred in each region had to be managed by those responsible for that region.

“Are you sure it’s alright?”

Even with Yeon-wi’s question, Yeon Ho-Jeong couldn’t easily answer.

After receiving the information from Gansu, he immediately unfolded the map of the Central Plains and realized the seriousness of the situation.

“Even now, we should make solid preparations in the central region…”

“That won’t be necessary.”

“What do you mean?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed to Gansu with a serious face.

“Those guys won’t cross over to Sichuan. The roads are too treacherous. Rather, they would be easily caught by Sichuan’s intelligence network while crossing, making it impossible to take advantage of a surprise attack.”

“A surprise attack?”

“Out of five thousand, two thousand were left behind, and three thousand moved. The fact that they split their forces means they intend to launch a surprise attack without the enemy knowing.”

Yeon-wi nodded.

“You’re right. Then?”

“If they are aiming for the central region, they will come down through Shaanxi. If not, they will break through Shaanxi and pressure the Jongnam [a famous mountain and sect] and Hwasan [another famous mountain and sect] sects from above and below with ten thousand cavalry.”

Yang Cheon’s eyes narrowed.

“…That’s a bit strange.”

“Indeed.”

Yeon-wi, who had been lost in thought, also nodded.

“Yes, it is strange.”

Taegong asked,

“This old man doesn’t quite understand. Could you please explain?”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s finger, which had been pointing at Gansu, moved to the southwest of Shaanxi.

“Three thousand troops bypassed and went south of Gansu… From Gansu’s perspective, they’ve been hit hard. To think they would leave two thousand behind and move, it’s not a tactic one would easily choose without considerable courage.”

“I understand that five thousand troops are a lot if they are many, and few if they are few.”

“That’s right. But considering the entire region, it’s not a large number at all. Yet, they split that many troops in two.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“To attack Shaanxi from above and below with this many troops? It doesn’t make sense. This is a matter of absolute numbers, not just force. They can inflict damage, but not enough to change the entire war situation in Shaanxi.”

“Hmm, is that so?”

“It’s also too few to push into the central region. If a supreme master were with them, they could inflict considerable damage, but the Martial Alliance has two supreme masters right now. The difference in troop numbers is also incomparable.”

Taegong’s eyes flashed.

“So, if they’re not troops to be used and discarded, there’s no reason to break through to another region.”

“Exactly. Considering the total forces of the three sects, twenty thousand troops may not be that many. But it’s also not a number you’d send just to make a threat. Crucially, this battle is the first engagement.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s index finger circled around Qinghai, moved south of Gansu, and then immediately moved north.

“The Gansu forces would have formed a thorough defensive formation to face the enemy forces coming from the northwest. But to be attacked from behind here? It will cause tremendous damage.”

“Hmm.”

A serious look appeared on Taegong’s old face.

“But the forces of the Gansu martial artists are not weak either, are they? Although it’s a surprise move, I believe they can sufficiently defend against an attack from the rear.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong smiled wryly.

This was why war command had to be done by warriors who had experienced actual combat. More than anything else, war was an area that could not be mastered with books and theories alone.

“If you only think about numbers, that’s true, but this is war. In an extreme environment where you don’t know when or how you’ll die, even the best-trained warriors are bound to be nervous, and that nervousness will push their masters to the brink of life and death.”

“Hah!”

“A unit that was fully prepared, focusing on the front, is attacked from the rear? Even if they manage to recover, they will suffer at least 30% damage, and if they panic and get swept away, more than half can be destroyed in an instant.”

Seriousness clouded Taegong’s face.

“Then isn’t that a big problem?”

Yang Cheon said,

“It is a big problem, but the extent of the damage can vary depending on the formation.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Yang Cheon looked at Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong placed three different-colored command sticks on the map in order.

“Battles between groups are organized into various formations depending on the terrain and the characteristics of the soldiers. The most common of these is the horizontal formation of the first, second, and third lines.”

“Horizontal formation…”

“When facing the enemy, if the first line at the front seems to be pushed back, the second line is deployed to reinforce the force. If the second line can’t handle it, then the third line is deployed.”

“Huh!”

“Even if troops aren’t deployed, the mere fact that there are strong support troops in the rear boosts the morale of the army. Conversely, if it’s just a first-line fight without support troops, it’s no different from a last stand.”

A last stand.

It meant a situation where they had to fight to the death because there was nowhere to retreat.

If the soldiers’ morale was so high that they were willing to risk their lives, they might achieve unexpected results due to their strong mental fortitude.

However, in most cases, when a last stand is made, the morale of an army with no way out plummets. This is because there are no second or third-line allies to help from the rear.

In other words, clashing with the enemy in that state means charging to their deaths. It’s a situation where morale can’t help but drop.

“But in the case of Gansu, they have stretched the distance between the second and third lines quite far. Although it’s also due to the terrain, it’s to prepare for a possible attack from the flanks, as martial artists have exceptionally keen senses.”

“They’ve made the house thick [a metaphor for a strong defense].”

“That’s right. If a fight breaks out in the first line at the front, rapid support is possible due to the sound and momentum, even if the distance is far.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong frowned.

“But if they go around the outer wall of that thick house and come back up from the end of Gansu, the problem becomes serious.”

Taegong exclaimed.

“The long distance of the horizontal formation is a weakness… !”

“That’s right. Moreover, the Gansu forces have dispersed their troops by creating a final fourth line. Naturally, the power and number of the fourth line are the lowest.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong removed the command sticks one by one.

“If three thousand troops launch a surprise attack from the rear, the fourth, third, and second lines will collapse in order. They wouldn’t even imagine that a battle would have broken out, so the second and third lines will try to send scouts to the rear to find out the cause.”

“Time!”

“That’s right. Time is crucial in battle. Even if they go to help right away, it’s not enough, but if they cautiously send scouts, the enemy’s three thousand troops can sweep up like a storm.”

“Ha, but the Tang Clan… !”

“The Tang Clan Head has taken Nokpung and Noksu [likely names of elite units]. This means that unlike the main Gansu force, they will be responsible for a surprise attack that utilizes mobility. Since this information itself came from the Tang Clan Head, Nokpung and Noksu will face the remaining two thousand troops.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes wavered.

“If they can’t stop all two thousand troops, they can strike from the flank and inflict even greater damage on the second and third lines. If that happens…”

Bang!

Yeon Ho-Jeong slammed the map. The command sticks that had been set aside scattered in all directions.

“Gansu’s first battle is over. Even if they annihilate the enemy without leaving a single one alive, this should be considered a defeat.”

If one region is devastated, there will be no troops to stop the enemy even if they deploy again.

In other words, a clear path to the Central Plains would be opened. If reinforcements are sent to stop that, a power vacuum will occur in other regions, creating a foundation that makes it easier to break through than in the first battle.

Moreover, the fact that they swallowed one region in the first battle will greatly boost the morale of the enemy forces.

Naturally, from the Central Plains’ perspective, no place should be breached.

“Th-then what should we do? We can’t send troops right now, can we?”

“It is a concern, but…”

Yeon Ho-Jeong sighed.

“We have to trust them. There are many people with excellent strategic and tactical skills, such as the young alliance leader of the Martial Alliance heading to Shaanxi and the Tang Clan Head fighting in Gansu.”

They had to trust and wait. The war had just begun.

In the first battle, each person had to properly demonstrate their abilities, which would change their roles in the battles that followed.

“The information from Gansu will be analyzed after the battle is over. From now on, we will focus on the war in Shaanxi and here, Hebei.”

* * *

“Hmm?”

Dong-gun, who had just given the order for the warriors to eat, turned around with an inexplicable sense of unease.

“Elder, the meal is here.”

“…”

“Elder?”

“Huh? Ah, yes. Thank you.”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

Dong-gun took a deep breath.

“I must be nervous. I’m reacting sensitively to the sound of the wind and the temperature.”

The swordsman smiled wryly.

“We didn’t even realize you were like that, Elder.”

“A leader of a unit shouldn’t show such a side. I’m only saying this because it’s you.”

“Honestly, we’re worse. Everyone is trying not to show it, but they’re all on edge.”

“This is the first large-scale battle of this kind, isn’t it? It’s on a different level than suppressing nearby black forces or bandits. Moreover, their power is…”

That’s when it happened.

‘…!?’

The unease that had been creeping up from his lower back suddenly shot up to his neck.

Dropping his meal, Dong-gun quickly ran to the rear, over a hundred paces away, his eyes wide open as if they would tear.

It was the enemy.

They were coming up a low hill, but there was no sound of footsteps and no dust was rising. Yet, their speed was like lightning.

Dong-gun shouted without realizing it.

“Enemy… !”

Thwack!

At the same time as a flash of light, a fist-sized hole was punched through Dong-gun’s chest.

The one leading the three thousand demons, running at the front.

He didn’t exude any aura, but his presence was terrifying. The moment you saw him, he emitted an immense pressure that bound a person’s body.

A figure as imposing as a man. He carried a large horse-slaying blade on his back and held a black bow in both hands.

Dong-gun’s life was taken by a single arrow shot from it.

The woman’s mouth opened.

“The festival begins.”

A voice as low as a general’s.

With the spreading, deep voice, a chilling murderous intent rose from the bodies of the three thousand demons.

Whoosh!

They were different from the beasts led by Yabaekdo. They were demons with sound minds, with imposing figures, holding horse-slaying blades like a woman.

The Third Commander, Jihuma, began to sweep through the fourth line, leading three thousand demons.