Chapter 39
Divide and Conquer
Peng Mu-Wei, filled with dreams of becoming the Grand Marshal, was caught in inner conflict.
“I must become the Grand Marshal in a way everyone acknowledges. Only then can I properly lead the army later. But those guys…”
Peng Mu-Wei was displeased with the methods of Ying Ho-Chung and Mo Jae-Hwang, but for the sake of the clan’s stability, he couldn’t outright refuse.
“Damn it…”
At that moment, a warrior entered.
“Sir, the General is calling for you.”
“Why is he looking for me again?!”
Having been summoned multiple times before, even hearing the word “called” made him irritated.
“Should I just ignore it?”
Hesitating over whether to go, Peng Mu-Wei braced himself and stood abruptly.
Thud!
“This will be the last time I entertain your games!”
Ultimately, Peng Mu-Wei put on his outer garment and left the barracks. Just then, Ying Ho-Chung happened to step outside and encountered him.
“Where are you going?”
“To meet the General.”
“Looking for the General again?”
“Yes. I shall be back shortly.”
Peng Mu-Wei headed alone toward Yi-Hwan’s barracks. Watching him, Ying Ho-Chung smirked.
“And yet, he still runs off just because he’s called.”
Swoosh.
Mo Jae-Hwang approached Ying Ho-Chung.
“So, the General has called again, it seems?”
“Yes.”
“I wonder what expression he’ll return with today. Hehehe.”
Yi-Hwan and Peng Mu-Wei sat face-to-face. Today, it was over drinks.
“Have a drink.”
“I’m on duty. I’ll gratefully accept in spirit.”
“Really?”
Peng Mu-Wei felt a twinge of nervousness. He expected Yi-Hwan’s response would be: “Then there’s no choice. Go back.” He had always been treated this way.
“If that happens again, I won’t respond to any calls from the General ever again!”
Tightly gripping the table, thick veins bulged on Peng Mu-Wei’s hands.
“Plain water?”
“I just drank; I’m fine.”
Prepared and determined, Peng Mu-Wei was an unyielding wall.
Yi-Hwan leisurely finished a cup of alcohol, clasped his hands, and leaned back.
“Have you received any notice from the Imperial Palace regarding the next Grand Marshal?”
“No.”
“Really? From what I’ve gathered, the next Grand Marshal has already been decided, and a messenger has left the palace to deliver the commission to the Grand Marshal…”
“Is that true?”
“Why would I lie to a General? Still, it’s odd. For a matter this important, someone like the Vice-Commander of the Golden Guards should have known. Did you hear nothing?”
“It seems, due to urgency, Mo Jae-Hwang wasn’t contacted separately. If he had known, he would have told the Chief.”
Though he said this, Peng Mu-Wei felt a chill in his heart.
“He’s right. If this is true, Mo Jae-Hwang could not have been unaware. But why didn’t he tell me anything?”
His suspicion of Mo Jae-Hwang began to grow uncontrollably.
“It seems I may have made a mistake.” Yi-Hwan continued.
“Well, circumstances might delay things slightly. Wait a bit longer. By the way, I heard the General is likely the next Grand Marshal. Consider this a preemptive congratulations—have a drink.”
“I told you, I’m on duty…”
“Still going to be stubborn?”
Yi-Hwan placed a bottle on the table.
Peng Mu-Wei hesitated to take it, the nightmare of diarrhea still fresh in his memory.
But he couldn’t refuse forever.
“Damn it, whatever.”
Finally, he grasped the cup with both hands and extended it.
Clink.
Yi-Hwan set down the bottle and glanced at Song-Hoi, who placed a small gold box on the table. Yi-Hwan slid the box toward Peng Mu-Wei.
“It’s a small token. Please accept it.”
“What is this?”
“Open it.”
Peng Mu-Wei opened the box.
“…!”
His eyes widened with a glint of greed. Inside was a Night-Eye Pearl, twice the size of ordinary ones.
“When you become the Grand Marshal of the Southern Army, it will cost you, so consider this a small supplement.”
“Why… give this to me?”
“To put it bluntly, if you become Grand Marshal, I will guarantee all you’ve enjoyed so far. If I keep my word, I’ll give you another later.”
“So, it’s bribery… Of course, with Emperor Hwang gone, he’d want some lifeline.”
Peng Mu-Wei swallowed hard. Yi-Hwan watched him closely and continued.
“Keep this secret from Mo Jae-Hwang. If the Golden Guards find out, it will trouble me.”
“Of course. I’ll accept it gratefully.”
Peng Mu-Wei pocketed the gold box.
“If we linger too long, those two might get strange ideas. Go now.”
“Yes, I will take my leave.”
Peng Mu-Wei left with a very joyful heart.
Then…
“You should bribe Ying Ho-Chung and Mo Jae-Hwang instead of the General. According to my investigation, they are controlling the General.”
A soft whisper entered Peng Mu-Wei’s ear like a dagger.
Twitch.
“What?”
He immediately heightened his senses. Yi-Hwan’s voice continued.
“What nonsense! Controlling the General? Do you think that’s possible?”
“It’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Ying Ho-Chung and Mo Jae-Hwang are working together, using flattery to manipulate him. Ying Ho-Chung hasn’t received an official post yet, but once he does, he aims to claim the Southern Army’s Grand Marshal position. This info comes from Bi-Wol; you must trust it.”
“So I wasted my money on the wrong person?”
“Yes. Next time, summon the General again to retrieve it.”
“Why wasn’t I told earlier?”
“I intended to, but you called the General before I could.”
The conversation ended there. Peng Mu-Wei’s eyes narrowed.
“Info obtained by Bi-Wol?”
A red flush spread across his face.
“These bastards dare toy with me?!”
“Looks like he got a drink today.”
“Judging by the time, it seems so.”
“Judging by his expression, it doesn’t seem like it was a pleasant visit. Ha ha ha.”
Ying Ho-Chung and Mo Jae-Hwang laughed as they watched Peng Mu-Wei return. To him, it looked like mocking laughter.
If he hadn’t met Yi-Hwan, he would never have thought that.
“Fine. Laugh all you want.”
Peng Mu-Wei hid his inner feelings and headed to the barracks. Ying Ho-Chung and Mo Jae-Hwang greeted him.
“Seems you had a drink, huh? Ha ha ha.”
“I noticed a fragrance of dragon-tea around the General’s quarters. Did you receive the rare dragon-tea? I envy you, General! Ha ha ha!”
“Cough! I was just listening while he rambled. See you later.”
Peng Mu-Wei went straight inside.
Ying Ho-Chung and Mo Jae-Hwang glanced at each other and smirked before returning to their positions.
Cheol-Mu-Ok asked skeptically:
“This is too blatant a divide-and-conquer strategy. Will Peng Mu-Wei really fall for it?”
“If he were fully aware, he wouldn’t. But today’s Peng Mu-Wei is destined to be manipulated.”
“What do you mean?”
Yi-Hwan rotated the cup Peng Mu-Wei had drunk from.
“I added something to the drink.”
“Poison?”
“A kind of mild drug. It clouds judgment and makes controlling emotions difficult. In such a state, even minor suspicion grows uncontrollably.”
“When did you prepare such a drug?”
“I made it.”
“Excuse me?”
Yi-Hwan calmly replied to the wide-eyed Cheol-Mu-Ok:
“I learned a few tricks from the so-called Poison King. They come in handy with Peng Mu-Wei.”
“Excuse me? Who did you say?”
“Ah! In the past, I met someone near Hwangdo who called himself the Poison King. Learned a few things. Not the one you’re thinking of.”
“Ah, yes.”
Yi-Hwan brought the cup to his lips.
“That could have been awkward.”
Clink.
“Chief.”
“Yes, General?”
“Keep the commission safe?”
“Yes, stored in a secure place. When will you deliver it to the General?”
“When the divide-and-conquer plan is almost complete.”
Yi-Hwan held the cup again.
“General.”
“Yes?”
“Have you done something like this before?”
“Like this?”
“Manipulating someone like Peng Mu-Wei using such schemes. You seem like you’ve done nothing else your whole life.”
He snickered. “Not likely. In my era, one word could turn the world upside down.”
Clink.
Prince Yi-So received a letter. It was sent by those who had left for the Southern Army for a mission.
The letter detailed everything from killing a messenger to the reason for staying with Yi-Hwan.
The commander asked:
“Bad news?”
Yi-So handed over the letter instead of answering. After reading, the commander could not hide his surprise.
“It’s amazing that His Highness thought the same as us.”
“I’m doing my best. Thankfully, my younger sibling didn’t discover it.”
“Will it be fine for them to stay with you?”
“No problem, as long as their identity isn’t revealed. If discovered, it could affect the throne.”
“They are skilled enough to handle it without issue, even if revealed. No worries.”
Yi-So opened the window.
A wind swept softly through the palace.
Then a warrior called out:
“Your Highness, another letter has arrived from the Southern Army.”
The commander brought it in, and Yi-So opened it immediately.
“I will handle the situation here. Focus on finding the person I requested earlier. Also, send anything that could help with cultivation.”
It was from Yi-Hwan. That was the entirety of the message.
“Haha.”
Despite its arrogance, Yi-So laughed.
“What’s in it?”
He handed it again; the commander smiled wryly.
“Even the letter seems written by a completely different person.”
“It lifts my spirits thinking of him. I keep smiling.”
“If you like him so much, why not keep him nearby?”
“I think he would refuse. So, I wait for the right time.”
Yi-So turned and continued:
“I need to get something to help with cultivation. How much can I get?”
“Your Highness is mistaken. Even if the potion is strong, more doesn’t mean better. It could backfire.”
“A clever boy would know. Likely for his subordinates.”
“Ah…”
The commander realized Yi-So’s faith in Yi-Hwan was greater than he knew.
“After your Highness visited, your trust strengthened.”
Yi-So urged:
“Stop by the school and check the progress of the task I requested.”
“Understood.”
The commander left. Yi-So looked out again.
A fly flew in. His eyes flashed. The fly turned to ash in an instant. He looked at his hand and murmured:
“The dantian has fully recovered…”
