Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1111

“There!”

“Indeed.”

Many people had gathered at the North Gate of the Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Palace guards, as a precaution, concentrated their forces on the east, west, and south, while the Murim Alliance [Martial Arts Alliance] forces lined up behind the North Gate, preparing for the upcoming battle.

Yang Cheon’s eyes, gazing at the distant mountain range from the northern ramparts, were colder than ever.

“I can feel it. The intense military discipline. And the fiery energy that fuels that discipline.”

Yeonwi nodded.

“They don’t seem to have any intention of hiding it.”

“They must have thought we wouldn’t have our forces ready. But even considering that, they seem too confident.”

Though hidden by the mountain range, the enemy’s numbers seemed far greater than expected.

With that many troops, it would be impossible to conceal their military presence in the first place. Unless they were complete fools, they would have assumed that there were supreme masters of martial arts within the Imperial Palace. And, as a precaution, they would have to charge in like a tidal wave the moment they came within a certain distance.

Decisively, those who had betrayed them would also know that the leader of the Shin Hwa Church [Divine Transformation Church] had sided with the Central Plains. Even if they knew that the leader of the Shin Hwa Church had a problem with his upper dantian [energy center], attacking the Imperial Palace all at once was still the most logical option for them.

“I don’t know what they’re thinking, but we are fully prepared, so all that’s left is to fight.”

“That’s right.”

“However, I’m concerned that the enemy didn’t make the most logical choice. If we knew the reason, our preparations could be different, and we could prevent unnecessary sacrifices of our troops, regardless of the outcome.”

“The Clan Leader is right.”

In any battle, even if victory was certain, one had to be tense and vigilant.

Still, Yang Cheon had confidence. He couldn’t help but feel that way, as there were at least six supreme masters of martial arts in the Imperial Palace right now.

Once the battle in the northeast was over, even the Ice Palace Lord would return, making it seven. It was generally accepted that one supreme master was comparable to the power of a large martial arts sect, so simply looking at the numbers, it was like having seven large sects gathered.

Of course, the Power Minister and the Sword Immortal would not participate in the battle unless it was the worst-case scenario. Those two had to protect the Emperor.

Still, there were five supreme masters. All of them had clear roles, so they wouldn’t be deployed to the front lines unless absolutely necessary, like the Power Minister and the Sword Immortal. However, their presence alone was enough to keep the morale of the Imperial Palace from falling.

“Where is Ho-Jeong right now?”

“He is overseeing the troop formations of the Murim Alliance.”

Yang Cheon’s face clouded over.

“He must still be tired.”

How extreme must his fatigue have been to make him sleep like the dead for five days? And he wasn’t even injured anywhere.

He slept for five days, so he must be refreshed? Of course, one could think that way. However, Yang Cheon was not looking at the aftermath of the five days, but focusing on the fatigue itself that had caused Yeon Ho-Jeong to pass out for five days.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was the core of the current Murim forces. If he were to feel tired from unnecessary things, that would also be a problem.

“You can leave him be.”

“Hmm.”

“Considering his personality, it would be more of a problem if you told him to just rest.”

“The Clan Leader is right.”

Yang Cheon, who had been glaring at the mountain range, turned his head.

“It doesn’t seem like they’ll attack right away. Let’s discuss why they aren’t launching a surprise attack. Clan Leader, please keep an eye on the enemy’s movements from here.”

Yeonwi smiled.

“Don’t worry. As the Murim leader of this northern battle of the Imperial Palace, I will hold my position well.”

Yang Cheon smiled faintly and then descended from the ramparts.

Left alone, Yeonwi looked back at the mountain range.

‘I know there are far more troops than expected. But it’s hard to know the exact number.’

At times like this, the ability of his Mind Sword was more of a curse.

His Mind Sword was close to a superpower that was difficult to explain with logic. It could be seen as intuition, or an incomprehensible insight.

The problem was that even Yeonwi didn’t know when or how that ability would manifest.

Since Yeonwi himself had obtained that ability, it usually manifested as ‘anxiety’ when danger was near. However, sometimes that anxiety wouldn’t activate even in critical situations.

Since it was an intuition that popped up randomly, it would be better to live as if that ability didn’t exist. Especially in a massive battle like this, it was better to completely ignore it.

He knew that in his head, but Yeonwi couldn’t ignore the Mind Sword’s ability that could appear at any moment.

Intuition was also a part of Yeonwi’s abilities. It wasn’t something that could be ignored just by wanting to.

‘Whatever it is, it’s clear that I need to stain my sword with blood. I just need to focus on that. Let’s focus on reason rather than intuition.’

Watching the other side of the mountain range where the enemy had gathered, Yeonwi reviewed the strategies and tactics he had prepared for a long time.

* * *

“This is strange.”

Gi Cheon-Woong frowned.

“The ordinary followers of our church don’t learn such things, but the followers who have mastered martial arts also learn basic strategies and tactics. Among them, there are many who are born with a talent for military strategy, and those people are assigned to the military department to devise numerous strategies.”

“Hmm.”

Yang Cheon habitually stroked his beard.

Gi Cheon-Woong shook his head.

“But the current situation is difficult for me to understand. The surprise attack on the northern part of the Imperial Palace doesn’t require such outstanding military strategy. The tactical abilities of the commanders who lead the troops on the front lines are absolutely prioritized.”

“I think the same.”

“Of course, if they are confident, they could do that. Perhaps they don’t know that there is a supreme master of martial arts in the Imperial Palace. But no matter how confident they are, a strategist should always assume the worst-case scenario and act accordingly.”

“That’s right. That’s why I didn’t understand, and why I came to see the Church Leader before Ho-Jeong.”

Gi Cheon-Woong sighed.

“To be honest, I have studied strategy and tactics, but the abilities needed for the Church Leader are unparalleled martial arts, faith, and the ability to manage outstanding talents. I don’t have the eye of an outstanding military strategist.”

Yang Cheon smiled wryly.

“I didn’t come to the Church Leader expecting great strategic talent. Whatever the case, the Church Leader has ruled the Shin Hwa Church for a long time, so I just came to see if you could guess why they are acting this way.”

“I know. I regret that I don’t have any more answers to give you.”

“…I guess I’ll have to see Ho-Jeong.”

“Let’s go together.”

So, the two of them went to find Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Yeon Ho-Jeong was in the royal court, which had now become the strategy department. He had been looking over the troop formations of the Murim Alliance, and he had returned to the royal court to stare at a large map.

“Lord.”

“You’ve arrived.”

“How is your body?”

“My body is fine, but my head is on fire.”

He had also heard that the Shin Hwa Church forces were not launching a surprise attack right away.

Yang Cheon asked directly.

“What do you think?”

“I don’t know.”

He said it so decisively that it even felt arrogant. Yang Cheon felt embarrassed.

“Can’t you deduce anything?”

“That’s right.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed to the mountain range that stretched out beyond the northern part of the Imperial Palace.

“The straight-line distance from the North Gate of the Imperial Palace to this mountain range is a little over thirty li [approximately 12 kilometers]. Originally, there were military training grounds and such in between, but they are gone now. Therefore, there is only a vast plain between the North Gate of the Imperial Palace and the mountain range.”

It was a place where so much had happened that the terrain had changed over hundreds of years. In fact, it now served as a military training ground and a key point for extending east and west, but it was also an area where a large-scale battle could be fought when the enemy invaded.

Of course, it was unlikely that a battle would take place here. If the enemy had come this far, it meant that the Imperial Palace was completely unaware of the enemy’s presence, or that the enemy had crossed the mountain range in one fell swoop with an incredible mobile operation. Usually, the enemy would be annihilated by dispatching troops before a northern battle could even begin.

It was only natural. No matter how important a location was, one could not fight in front of the Imperial Palace where the Emperor resided.

“Ideally, it would be best to fight beyond the mountain range, but to be honest, the northern part of the Imperial Palace boasts such overwhelming defensive capabilities that even the most elite Murim forces would have a hard time breaking through. There is no other group that possesses this level of defensive capability. In the worst-case scenario, we could lure the enemy in and hold out.”

“In the worst-case scenario, we should.”

“That’s right.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong stroked his chin.

“If they were planning to launch a surprise attack on the Imperial Palace, they would have taken into account the five thousand troops approaching from the northeast. Of course, they would have also considered that the five thousand troops could be annihilated. However, even the most powerful forces would prefer to attack in conjunction with other allied forces.”

“So, you mean they are waiting for the five thousand Shin Hwa Church troops that entered Liaoning Province.”

“That’s right.”

“But the problem is…”

“They came too close.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong pointed behind the mountain range.

“They should have been stationed at least a hundred li [approximately 40 kilometers] away from the Imperial Palace. Especially this place, near the mountain with the river, is the best base for invaders. The Shin Hwa Church once occupied the Imperial Palace, so they would have studied all the strategic points to attack and the bases.”

“Hmm.”

“But the fact that they approached the mountain range just thirty li away from the North Gate is hard to understand. If they had any brains, they would never choose that method.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes flashed.

“It’s easy to think of them as fools, but we must never think that way. If this is not a normal choice, then we must deduce the situation where a choice that is not normal by common sense is the best choice for them.”

“We know that too. But no matter how much I think about it, I don’t understand.”

Yeon Ho-Jeong picked up the letters that were piled up on one side.

“I have read all the letters from the intelligence teams that have been exchanged for five days. Until yesterday, we didn’t even know where the enemy was, but thanks to them approaching and stationing themselves thirty li away, we were able to notice the enemy’s presence and prepare.”

“…”

“Logically, they would have been stationed a hundred li away until then. So, between yesterday and today, they must have faced a situation where narrowing the distance was the only way to benefit.”

Yang Cheon tilted his head.

“They might have brought firearms. Church Leader Gi, the Shin Hwa Church is also skilled in firepower, isn’t it?”

Gi Cheon-Woong nodded.

“Of course. Even before I came out, they were making small, medium, and large cannons one after another. They must have brought them to this war as well.”

“Then, trusting in their firearms…”

At that moment, Yeon Ho-Jeong shook his head.

“That’s not it.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s important that they showed remarkable movements between yesterday and today. Did they narrow the distance of seventy li just because they received support for firearms? Unless their firearms have a range of thirty li, the existence of firearms does not explain their approach.”

“Th, that’s right.”

It was an unexpected point. Yang Cheon, feeling embarrassed, cleared his throat.

Yeon Ho-Jeong’s eyes, looking at the map, deepened.

“There’s definitely something. A reason why they had no choice but to move.”