Return Of The Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1381

The preparations were complete. Five days of planning had led to this moment.

Flap, flap. The sound of wings cut through the tense silence.

A hawk landed on Ho Gamyung’s wrist. It tilted its head. The hawk seemed annoyed. It had flown far, only to land on an arm that moved too much. It pecked Ho Gamyung’s arm sharply.

Ho Gamyung quickly offered the hawk some raw meat. He had prepared it earlier. The hawk calmed down. It started to eat the meat, tearing at it without much care.

Ho Gamyung gently stroked the hawk’s head with his finger. Then, he opened the small tube tied to the hawk’s ankle and took out a letter. His eyes lowered as he read.

He looked at the letter, eyes narrowed. He thought for a moment. Then, he nodded very slightly, so small it was hard to see.

Scritch scritch!

He wrote something on a small piece of paper. He shook it in the air a few times to dry the ink. Then, he quickly rolled it up and pushed it into the small tube attached to the hawk’s leg.

Click.

He closed the lid tightly. He stroked the hawk’s back and raised his arm. The hawk hesitated, not wanting to drop the meat it was still eating. But then, it soared high into the dark sky and disappeared.

Attention.

Yes!

The adjutants, who had been closely following him, perked up at his voice.

Change formation.

Yes?

Divide the troops to the left and right, putting the main force in the middle. Each army’s formation will be long and horizontal.

The adjutants looked at each other, confused by the sudden order.

Questions?

Um… Strategist. If we spread out horizontally, our pursuit speed will decrease.

It doesn’t matter. They won’t be able to move quickly either.

That made sense. The area they had passed through so far was practically undefended territory for the Sahe Guild. But from now on, they would be entering the Yangtze River region, where troops were concentrated.

Naturally, they would clash with the groups scattered there, and their speed would slow down.

But in that case, wouldn’t it be better to increase our speed instead?

Ho Gamyung looked back at him. The adjutant flinched. He lowered his head, feeling Ho Gamyung’s cold stare.

It seems you don’t understand.

I am lacking…

Changing the formation means the strategy has changed. And changing the strategy means the objective has changed.

…In that case?

If the herding is over, we must cast the net.

A chilling coldness flickered in Ho Gamyung’s eyes as he looked forward again. The adjutants didn’t see it.

Now, we encircle and destroy them.

Yes, Strategist!

A resolute voice rang out. Ho Gamyung’s eyes twitched briefly.

Ever since they failed to destroy them in the canyon, he felt he had lost control. All that was left was to follow Jang Il-so’s orders.

The order he received from Jang Il-so was very simple.

Attack them from behind.

If you explained it more, the meaning would change a little.

Follow closely behind them, attacking and pressuring them.

And if Ho Gamyung added his own thoughts, the meaning would change even more.

Pressure them from behind so they can only focus on escaping, and must… be forced towards the Yangtze River region.

If anyone else heard this order, they would think it was crazy. Wasn’t the Yangtze River exactly where the Mount Hua group escaping from Jiangnan wanted to go?

Could pushing them to do what they wanted be called ‘pressure’? Could driving them to the place they wanted to go be called ‘pursuit’?

This didn’t even feel like a real strategy. Usually, strategy is about stopping the enemy from getting what they want.

But Ho Gamyung did not think so. Even those who said the order made no sense would be quiet if they knew the Defeated Lord gave the order.

Ho Gamyung knew.

The key was ‘pressure.’ Or maybe ‘control’ was a better word.

By constantly putting them under pressure, the Sahe Guild could be sure of one thing.

That was to stop them from suddenly doing something crazy, like they had before.

It’s absurd.

If it was the Mount Hua Sword Saint, he might suddenly turn west towards Yunnan while heading to the Yangtze. Or he might turn east and take a boat from the East Sea to Zhejiang and go north.

No, that person might even turn around and fight through the Myriad Man Clan chasing them, and go back to Hainan without hesitation.

Does it seem strange? How many times has that person done something that made sense before?

Thinking the opposite way, it would be stranger if he didn’t do such a thing.

The Yangtze was full of enemies. So why would the Mount Hua Sword Saint have to go to the Yangtze, which was overflowing with enemies?

Because even the Sahe Guild couldn’t completely block off the wide Yangtze?

If it were the Mount Hua Sword Saint, he would say it would be much harder to block off the sea than to block off the Yangtze. So why should he go in a direction that was easy for the enemies?

For ordinary people, going around the long Yangtze would be impossible. But for the Mount Hua Sword Saint, it was nothing.

He was the kind of person who would choose the most direct path, even if it was dangerous. He might travel straight through a deadly area full of enemies, from the Yangtze all the way to Hainan. He would want to get to Hainan as quickly as possible.

If he was really thinking of the ‘safest escape,’ then going around the Yangtze would be the best choice.

Thinking about all of this, Jang Il-so’s orders and actions became clearer.

Precisely.

Understanding this, Jang Il-so’s orders and actions became much clearer.

It’s about reducing the number of variables.

Red Fox sat across from Jang Il-so in the large carriage. A small tea table sat between them. Red Fox looked confused.

…Variables, you say?

Yes.

Jang Il-so nodded, looking bored. It wasn’t a slow nod, but anyone watching him would think he was always tired of everything.

What do they call it in strategy?

…I…

Red Fox hesitated, pursing his lips.

He knew something about strategy. He had to know it to lead his men. Jang Il-so liked men with martial skills, but he didn’t like men with only martial skills.

I’m not going to discuss strategy with you, Guild Leader.

Haha! Haha!

Jang Il-so laughed as if he found it funny.

Red Fox knew that laughter didn’t mean he was happy with the answer.

People say some are careful of flattery, but everyone likes praise.

But that wasn’t true for Jang Il-so.

Being powerful was normal for him, like breathing. His importance was clear. That’s why praise didn’t make him happy. It would be like being happy for just breathing.

I find it amusing every time I hear these words.

…Did I make a mistake…?

I don’t know much about strategy. I would have learned it if I needed to, but there was never a need.

Red Fox held his breath. But his eyes were asking. How could he make fun of those who knew strategy so easily?

After all, strategy is used by people. So it’s easy if you only know people. Remember. If you want to win against an enemy, just remember two things.

May I ask what they are?

One thing is clear: do what your enemy hates.

Red Fox nodded.

This was how Jang Il-so always acted. It was hard to understand how he got there, but in the end, he always did what bothered his enemy the most.

Do you know what the other one is?

…I don’t know.

Hmm. This next thing is even more important, but people often don’t understand it, even when they hear it.

Red Fox looked hopeful. He thought he might learn the secret of Jang Il-so’s strategies.

But Red Fox was disappointed.

People, you see.

Yes, Guild Leader.

They don’t even know themselves well.

…Yes?

Red Fox looked confused. What was he talking about?

No, you are the same.

…It’s just that the words are too simple to understand…

Hmm. How can I explain it better? Right. This might be easier to understand. People, you see. They always lie to themselves too.

Jang Il-so stopped talking for a moment, then smiled and asked.

It happens a lot. Imagine the most good and honest scholar in the world. What would you think of him?

Well… I would think he was great.

Why?

Isn’t being virtuous something that deserves respect?

Jang Il-so laughed softly.

Yes, that’s right. But… do you think that scholar really wants to be virtuous and follow Confucianism?

Yes?

Being the most virtuous person in the world means virtue is almost like an illness. What such a person really wants is usually not virtue itself, but to be seen as virtuous.

…

Everyone is the same. They achieve great things when they really want something. So what would that virtuous person truly want?

Well…

Red Fox’s face hardened.

Fame…

That’s right. Such a person wants too much fame. But… maybe they don’t think so. They would think they are just following their own rules. They even trick themselves.

Red Fox sighed. Even after hearing this, it was hard to understand. It meant he had to really know what people were hiding in their hearts.

So, are you saying the Mount Hua Sword Saint, the one leading Hainan, is hiding something behind his good deeds?

That’s too obvious. Because that child has a disease in his head. But what we should pay attention to here is something else.

Jang Il-so smiled eerily.

Have I ever said that that child and I are similar?

…You have said it a few times.

Red Fox was puzzled. Why would Jang Il-so think so highly of someone like that?

It’s as it sounds. That child and I are perfectly the same, especially in one way.

Are you talking about brilliance?

Brilliance? He laughed loudly. ‘Brilliance? Haha!’

Jang Il-so laughed as if he was dumbfounded.

No, that’s not it. The thing that child and I have in common is…