When Jeok Wigang readily agreed, Zhu Seogi smiled the happiest smile in the world.
Seeing Zhu Seogi like that, Jeok Wigang smiled as well.
The warmth in his heart came from knowing the man sincerely liked him.
It felt as though they truly were brothers.
This, too, must be fate.
Zhu Seogi spoke carefully to Jeok Wigang.
“Would you call me Brother?”
“If you speak more comfortably to me, I will.”
“Very well.”
“Brother. From now on, you need not feel awkward with this little brother. Treat me comfortably. From this moment on, I am your little brother.”
“Hahahaha! Thank you. Truly, thank you!”
The moment the word Brother came from Jeok Wigang’s mouth, laughter as though Zhu Seogi had gained the whole world filled the great hall.
“There has never been another day as joyful as today. The finest thing I have ever done in my life was meeting you, little brother.”
“I am deeply honored.”
“Little brother! You must come visit often. Do you understand?”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“Ahem. When it is only the two of us, do not use such stiff words as Your Majesty anymore. Call me again. Brother.”
At Zhu Seogi’s words, Jeok Wigang smiled and said,
“Yes, Brother.”
“Hahahahaha!”
Zhu Seogi laughed heartily, truly delighted.
Now he could send Jeok Wigang off with an easy heart.
The Jeok Wigang he knew would never stand idle if his brother were placed in danger.
On top of that, the countless ministers in the imperial palace would now have no choice but to obey the Emperor’s words.
Because the Emperor was Jeok Wigang’s sworn elder brother.
What if they did not obey?
Jeok Wigang would come for them.
“Little brother! Travel safely.”
“Yes, Brother. I will return.”
*****
In the Left Army Governor’s Office, Military Governor Yi Seongan was holding a meeting with his staff officers.
“So. Has there been word from the other governor’s offices?”
“They are still watching one another for now.”
“Fools. In matters like this, the one who steps forward first at the beginning gains the highest merit.”
“It seems they mean to watch what we do, then join if they judge there is a chance of victory.”
“Pathetic. This is not a time to sit around watching others. At this rate, everything we have enjoyed until now will vanish, yet they are merely watching for the right moment. I am ashamed that vessels like that are military governors of the same rank as me.”
“Comparing you to the other military governors is an insult, my lord. Please never even think of making that comparison.”
“Hohoho. Do you truly think so?”
“I do.”
Yi Seongan smiled brightly, pleased by Strategist Yu Baek’s words.
“We do not have time to wait like this. Word of our movements has surely already reached the imperial palace. You must hurry.”
At another staff officer’s words, the expression that had brightened darkened once again.
“My lord! This is a matter of preserving the order of the world. You must not hesitate.”
“That is correct. The fact that the other military governors are hesitating means they have no intention of stopping us. Advance proudly.”
“Behind you stand us and an army of one hundred thousand.”
At his staff officers’ words, confidence gradually filled Yi Seongan, and he sprang up from his seat.
“Good! We march on the Imperial Capital at once! Make preparations!”
“Yes!”
The moment the staff rose from their seats, someone rushed inside in a panic.
“Urgent report!”
“What is it?”
“We have received word that the Rear Army and Central Army are also dissatisfied with the Emperor’s actions. It appears that if we move, they will naturally join us.”
At the welcome news that had suddenly flown in, Yi Seongan’s mouth widened until it seemed it would split his face.
The staff officers rushed to congratulate him.
“Congratulations, my lord. It seems even heaven is helping you.”
“It seems heaven, too, has been angered by the Emperor’s tyranny. You may advance with an easy heart now.”
“Kahahaha! Is that so? All of you, send this fact to the Front Army and Right Army immediately. Then they, too, will try to join forces with us.”
“Are we not setting out immediately?”
“No. If possible, it would be better for all of us to go together. We must show the Emperor properly so he will never again implement such absurd policies. Have everything fully prepared so we can set out at any time.”
“Yes!”
*****
CLOP— CLOP—
Jeok Wigang lay on the cart pulled by Wind-Heaven, gazing up at the sky.
Beside Jeok Wigang sat Ye Yahyeon and Son Gang, while Taecheon and Chu Sohwan sat on the front seat of the cart.
Before they left, they had already settled the hierarchy.
At first, Jeok Wigang had thought to set the order by when he had accepted each of them, but Taecheon, Chu Sohwan, and even Ye Yahyeon seemed uncomfortable with that, so he set the hierarchy by strength.
Once he did that, everyone was satisfied, and they quickly grew close, as though they had known one another for a long time.
Jeok Wigang spat out the pine needle he had been chewing and said,
“How nice would it be if everyone in the world had hearts as clear as that sky?”
Ye Yahyeon responded to Jeok Wigang’s words.
“If that were so, the world likely would not have developed the way it has now. Is it not because desire exists, and because envy and jealousy exist, that the world developed like this?”
“Is that so? Huh. They do say every being exists for a reason. Everything has its use in its own way.”
“Is that not true of me and Brother Son Gang as well? Who could have known that we would do something useful for this world?”
“True. When I think about it, bonds between people really are strange.”
At Jeok Wigang’s words, everyone nodded.
They were moving peacefully like that when—
Prrrrrrr—
A hawk rapidly descended toward the cart and perched on Ye Yahyeon’s forearm.
Ye Yahyeon took the paper from the tube tied to its leg and read it.
“It says the Front Army and Right Army have joined the Left Army. Their current force is said to be roughly three hundred thousand.”
“Where are they?”
“They are gathering on the Dongting Lake plain. They likely intend to assemble there and advance all at once.”
“Really? That works out nicely. I wanted to see Dongting Lake anyway.”
“Shall we head to Dongting Lake?”
“Mm.”
*****
Yi Seongan smiled with satisfaction as he looked over the troops filling the wide plain.
He had become commander-in-chief of this revolution.
“It seems everyone has gathered.”
“Should we not begin advancing on the Imperial Capital soon?”
“The Rear Army and Central Army also say they will join once we advance, so we must hurry.”
The other military governors were getting anxious.
No matter who looked at it, was this not a revolution whose success was absolutely guaranteed?
If they wanted to gain even a little more merit, they had to march toward the imperial palace as quickly as possible.
The military governors of the Front Army and Right Army were regretting their hesitation.
If they had stepped forward decisively then, they would have been sharing merit from a position similar to Yi Seongan’s.
Now the world would revolve around Yi Seongan.
Even now, they had to make themselves look as good to him as possible.
“Our Right Army will take the vanguard.”
“What nonsense! Our Front Army will take the vanguard!”
At the two military governors’ argument, Yi Seongan laughed and said,
“Hahaha! Already? For now, let us go to the imperial palace and discuss it there. Who knows? The Emperor may come out with a white flag on his own.”
That much was certain.
Holding out in this situation would be foolish.
Yi Seongan stepped out before the soldiers lined up in orderly ranks.
“Soldiers! This land is now being stained with blood because of the treacherous subject Jeok Wigang. He disguises himself as a loyal subject, but in truth, he blinds His Majesty’s eyes, deceives the people, and undermines the foundation of the nation as a rebel. You are not mere foot soldiers. As sons of the people, as pillars of the nation, you are blades of protection called by the Mandate of Heaven. The path we walk today is no private war. It is the path to protect the imperial palace, set His Majesty right, and restore the collapsed way of the realm! Now our spears and swords will cut off the rebel’s breath, and our roar will tear through the darkness and resound through heaven and earth! Advance to the imperial palace! Punish the treacherous subject and set the world right!”
“Waaaaaaah!”
The soldiers’ morale soared to the heavens, and their shouts shook heaven and earth.
“All troops! Set out!”
At Yi Seongan’s command, the great army of three hundred thousand began to move.
Everything was going so smoothly that Yi Seongan felt as if heaven itself were moving for his sake.
He was watching the movement of the troops, feeling as though he had gained the whole world, when—
“Stop!”
VMMMM—
A voice like a heavenly general’s roar rang across the Dongting Lake plain.
“What?”
He turned his head toward the sound and saw one cart and five people standing there.
“It seems they used the Lion’s Roar.”
“Does that mean they are martial-world people?”
“It appears so. The Emperor likely sent martial-world people to stop us.”
“Hah! Do you think that makes any sense right now? What exactly are they going to do with only five people? We are three hundred thousand.”
“That is correct. It is not as though we know nothing of martial arts, either. No matter how strong their martial arts may be, fighting three hundred thousand elite soldiers is impossible.”
“On top of that, our army has learned formations for dealing with martial-world people, has it not? They will be able to do nothing.”
“What shall we do? Shall I order them removed?”
“Do that.”
Once Yi Seongan gave permission, the man quickly shouted,
“Remove them at once!”
At the order, a general at the front moved toward the five with an enormous spear in hand.
“Who are you bastards? Get out of the way at once! Otherwise, this Meteor Crescent-Moon Blade of mine will split you in two.”
At that, one of the five stepped forward.
“I have come to deliver an imperial order! Whoever is in command here, come running at once and receive the imperial order!”
At the words imperial order, the general smirked.
So they really were people sent by the Emperor.
“Are you martial-world people?”
“Half right. Half not.”
“What does that mean?”
“I am Ye Yahyeon, Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. And the person here is Lord Jeok Wigang, Grand Tutor Regent, the highest official rank in this nation. Get down from your horse at once and bow your head to the floor.”
“Grand Tutor Regent? Was there ever such an official rank?”
“It is an official rank personally created by His Majesty. The words spoken by the Grand Tutor Regent are imperial orders!”
“How absurd. Just how did he bewitch the Emperor for His Majesty to make such a nonsensical rank for him?”
Then he shouted loudly,
“This bastard is the rebel Jeok Wigang! I will capture him and become the foremost meritorious subject!”
With those words, he swung the enormous crescent-moon blade at Jeok Wigang with all his might.
The crescent-moon blade, strengthened by the general’s inner qi, was even wrapped in a bluish energy.
At this rate, it was obvious Jeok Wigang would be split in half in one strike.
THOOONG—
But the situation unfolded outside all expectation.
The general’s enormous crescent-moon blade rested against Jeok Wigang’s shoulder and did not move any farther.
“You said you’d split a man in two, didn’t you? With this much, you couldn’t even cut straw.”
The moment Jeok Wigang grinned, chills shot up the general’s spine.
He quickly withdrew the crescent-moon blade and was just about to swing again with all his strength when—
KWAANG!
With an explosive boom, dust rose thickly.
Through the dust, the general could be seen smashed into the ground along with his horse.
At the sight of the general unconscious and foaming at the mouth, the soldiers behind him began to waver.
“H-He sent him flying along with his horse with a punch...”
“General Jeon’s crescent-moon blade c-couldn’t cut him.”
“A m-monster...”
Yi Seongan’s shout rang into the ears of the wavering soldiers.
“Do not be shaken! Those men are martial-world people! Deploy the military formation for dealing with martial-world people!”