Monochrome Sovereign [EN]: Chapter 1118

The Fiery Demon King (8)

It was the hour of Chuk [1-3 AM].

Great Master Mu Heo, along with thirty hand-picked martial artists from the imperial palace, was the first to leave the city gates.

Only Yeon Ho-Jeong, his son, and Yang Cheon knew where he was headed. They believed it was best to limit information as much as possible, just in case.

After sending off Great Master Mu Heo, half an hour later,

The north gate of the imperial palace opened, and Yeon-wi led his troops out.

* * *

The Martial Alliance forces numbered two thousand, but they were backed by another two thousand from the imperial palace.

With the enemy’s numbers estimated to be at least twenty thousand, it was clear that the Martial Alliance forces alone could not win. Therefore, two thousand soldiers were drawn from the imperial palace guard, led by Hong-un, the strongest and most experienced of the three deputy commanders of the imperial palace guard.

‘This isn’t good.’

Before the departure, Hong-un had been fully briefed on the operation by Yeon Ho-Jeong.

Despite this, he was not confident. Of course, he didn’t show it in front of his subordinates, instead boosting their morale, but inwardly, he didn’t believe the chances of victory in this battle were high at all.

‘The enemy is estimated to be at least twenty thousand, possibly thirty thousand. Most of their soldiers are likely to have martial arts skills similar to or lower than our guards, but they have overwhelming numbers.’

Moreover, he had heard that the ‘Hwajeong’ [a technique that enhances regeneration] they had mastered granted them incredible regenerative abilities, making them virtually unkillable unless their necks were severed or their internal organs were severely damaged.

Of course, they wouldn’t die, but if their limbs were severed, they would lose their combat abilities.

The real problem was those who had mastered Hwajeong to the highest level. He had heard that they possessed the unbelievable ability to regenerate even severed limbs.

In other words, they were going to fight monsters that were hard to kill. Hong-un, and indeed no soldier in the world, had ever fought such a battle.

‘Decisively.’

Hong-un looked at Yeon-wi, who was riding his horse at the front.

A dignified back. A long, thick general’s sword at his waist, and the Heavenly Net Imperial Sword, the symbol of the empire’s military might, on his back.

‘There are at least two or more masters of the Supreme Extremes [a high level of martial arts mastery].’

Hong-un had witnessed Yeon-wi’s fighting in the imperial palace.

Even before reaching the Supreme Extremes, Yeon-wi’s martial arts were so powerful that it was no exaggeration to say that the god of war had descended upon him.

He had no particular strategy or tactics. He simply faced the enemy and unleashed overwhelming martial arts, his presence so imposing that the enemies couldn’t easily move.

In other words, Yeon-wi, regardless of his achieved level, was a fierce and powerful general who, just by being there, boosted the morale of his allies and instilled fear in his enemies.

‘It was said that Lord Yeon’s martial arts are comparable to Seongcheon, the strongest in the martial world. However, in a battle like this, the tactical abilities of the field commander are absolutely necessary.’

He believed in Yeon-wi’s character and martial arts. But if he were to believe in Yeon-wi’s tactical abilities, he would have to say no.

He couldn’t believe in something he had never seen. That was why Hong-un couldn’t shake off his unease.

‘The actual fighting will be led by the Martial Alliance forces. Our job is just to pressure the enemy with a military formation based on rapid information delivery.’

Hong-un sighed inwardly.

‘Could it be that we are the sacrificial lambs?’

From a strategic point of view, some military leaders use tactics that deliberately lead their units to defeat and retreat. Perhaps Yeon Ho-Jeong was using such a tactic.

Strategically, a military leader was someone who could sacrifice thousands of soldiers if it meant achieving victory. And a military leader had the right to do so for the sake of victory.

‘It would have been better if they had just told me outright.’

Hong-un was ready to give his life for the imperial palace. However, he was uneasy because he felt there was something he didn’t know.

‘No. I have stepped forward as a general in this battle. A general is someone who must command soldiers and take responsibility for the battle, but they must also be willing to be a pawn depending on the situation.’

His hand tightened on the reins.

‘Let’s believe. The Yeon family is said to have produced geniuses that are hard to come by even in the martial world. Even if I die, they are people who would give their lives for the imperial palace, so there’s no point in being anxious now.’

Just as Hong-un was settling his mind,

Thump.

The two thousand Martial Alliance troops stopped advancing.

Naturally, Hong-un and the two thousand imperial palace guards following behind also stopped.

At that moment, a huge golden flag was raised directly behind Yeon-wi.

Neigh!

Hong-un immediately spurred his horse towards Yeon-wi.

“Lord of the Martial Alliance.”

“You’ve arrived, General Hong.”

Yeon-wi looked at the mountain range.

“Do you sense the enemy’s presence?”

He could already sense the enemy’s military presence. What Yeon-wi was asking now was about the enemy’s aura. He was asking if he could sense where and how far the enemy was distributed using only his senses.

Hong-un quietly raised his senses.

After a moment,

“Yes, I can sense them.”

Yeon-wi smiled.

“Impressive. Considering General Hong’s level, sensing the enemy’s presence from this distance is no easy feat. I am impressed by the imperial palace’s divine skills.”

Hong-un’s face became awkward.

The National Protection Dragon Cloud Divine Art he had mastered was one of the three great divine arts of the imperial palace.

While it was good for offense, it was particularly specialized in defense, requiring a keen sense of the enemy’s attacks and presence, thus sharpening the five senses. Furthermore, if mastered, it could develop the sixth sense, allowing for absolute defensive capabilities.

“How much can you sense?”

“Even though it’s just a presence, it feels somewhat vague due to the distance. However, judging by the thickness… it seems the enemy’s numbers are around twenty thousand, as the Grand Military Advisor said.”

Yeon-wi nodded.

“You see well. What I sense is similar. However, since I have opened this place and am watching the enemy, their leaders must have noticed my presence.”

Yeon-wi, pointing to his head, showed no signs of anxiety or impatience.

Hong-un glanced at the Martial Alliance troops.

Surprisingly, the Martial Alliance troops were only slightly tense, and no one was frightened or anxious.

‘Impressive.’

It would be difficult to show such military discipline without sufficient combat experience, rigorous training, and absolute faith in their leader.

Hong-un was inwardly impressed by the strength of the righteous martial alliance, including Yeon-wi.

“But why did you call for me?”

It couldn’t have been just to sense the enemy’s presence.

Yeon-wi said calmly,

“You must have heard everything about this operation from the Grand Military Advisor.”

“Yes, I have.”

“Did you also hear that while the overall strategy is to follow the Grand Military Advisor’s plan, the moment we leave the city gates, we must strictly obey the orders of the field commander?”

“Of course.”

Hong-un said with a firm expression.

“The Grand Military Advisor particularly emphasized that point. He said that rapid operational orders are impossible from such a distance, and that while a large picture can be drawn, the ability of the commander at the center of the operation cannot be matched, so we must absolutely obey the commander’s orders.”

Yeon-wi nodded.

“Good. Then, call the medium-sized artillery from the rear of the imperial palace guard.”

Hong-un was puzzled, but he didn’t ask again.

After a moment,

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The artillerymen belonging to the guard were all large men.

There were five hundred of them, and each one was sweating profusely. On their backs, they carried iron weights of over ten ‘gwan’ [a unit of weight] and three stands weighing one ‘gwan’ each, and around their waists, they had five pouches of fire bombs cushioned with cotton.

It was fortunate that they had also trained in martial arts; otherwise, ordinary soldiers would have been exhausted by the time they arrived here.

Even then, it was only that weight because the imperial palace’s metallurgy had reached its peak. If they had been made of ordinary steel, two or three men would have had to carry each one.

“The range of the medium-sized cannons is said to be one hundred and twenty ‘jang,’ [a unit of length] correct?”

“That is correct.”

One hundred and twenty ‘jang’.

Considering the size of the cannons and the amount of gunpowder, it was an incredible range.

“We need to get within at least one hundred ‘jang’ to have a somewhat effective range.”

“That is correct. Moreover, they are all skilled artillerymen, and the firing precision of the medium-sized cannons, the Jungcheon cannons, is extremely high.”

It was a weapon of war that was incomparable to the cannons that Je Yeong-sa had, in terms of size, weight, firepower, and everything else.

The disadvantage was that while Je Yeong-sa’s cannons could be aimed and fired while moving, the Jungcheon cannons had to be set up on the ground before firing.

Yeon-wi nodded.

“From this moment on, fifteen hundred of the imperial palace guards will thoroughly protect the five hundred artillerymen.”

“Yes?”

“I will go to meet the enemy leader. The Martial Alliance troops will wait five hundred ‘jang’ away from the mountain range, and General Hong and I will take only the imperial palace guards and advance to one hundred ‘jang’ in front of the mountain range.”

Hong-un’s eyes wavered.

The five hundred artillerymen were another decisive weapon that could reduce the power difference by more than five times.

If five hundred Jungcheon cannons fired five fire bombs each, that would be two thousand five hundred shots. With that kind of firepower, if they hit properly, they could break down even an enemy force of ten thousand.

Since the enemy force was over twenty thousand, the combat power of five hundred artillerymen could reverse a losing battle in one go. But they were going to use those artillerymen from the very beginning.

‘This doesn’t make sense!’

But Hong-un couldn’t say those words.

Not only was it an order from the Grand Military Advisor Yeon Ho-Jeong, but there must have been a reason why Yeon-wi had brought up the topic of absolute obedience.

“I will follow the Lord of the Martial Alliance’s command.”

“I know your worries, General Hong.”

Hong-un was startled.

“But don’t worry and trust me. The right time to use the artillery is not when we are pushed back in battle, but right now.”

“I simply trust in the Lord of the Martial Alliance’s insight.”

With that, Yeon-wi and the two thousand imperial palace guards, including the artillerymen, began to advance at the front.

How long had they gone?

Whoosh!

The atmosphere of the battlefield changed due to a man who appeared from the top of the mountain range.

Swish, swish, swish.

Not only that, but hundreds of martial artists appeared to his left and right, each displaying an incredible aura as if they were worth a hundred men.

‘That’s him.’

Yeon-wi’s eyes gleamed.

A man emitting a particularly strong aura. Yet, as an individual, Yeon-wi didn’t feel the need to be particularly tense.

However, the faint alarm bell ringing in his upper dantian [an energy center in the body] was telling him that the enemy leader who had appeared was more dangerous than he seemed.

Yeon-wi walked towards the mountain range without paying attention.

The enemy leader, Cheol Heum-gi’s eyes flashed.

“Halt.”

Cheol Heum-gi’s voice, echoing from below the mountain range, was filled with intense authority.

However, Yeon-wi did not stop advancing. It was as if he was ignoring Cheol Heum-gi and the martial artists he led.

Cheol Heum-gi’s gaze sharpened.

Thwack!

He descended to the middle of the mountain range in an instant and reached out his hand towards Yeon-wi.

“If you come any closer, I will start attacking.”

Only then did Yeon-wi stop advancing.

The distance to the mountain range was one hundred and thirty ‘jang’.

“Who are you?”

At Cheol Heum-gi’s words, Yeon-wi said calmly,

“Retreat.”

“…What?”

“If you turn back now, you can avoid annihilation. Retreat.”

Murderous intent filled Cheol Heum-gi’s eyes.