Chapter 41
Operation Execution
Pang Muwei stared down at the appointment letter, lost in deep thought.
Although he had achieved what he wanted, he couldn’t feel purely happy. It was because of Ying Hoochong and Mo Jaehwang.
“If what the Grand General said is true, this is not something I can just ignore…”
At that moment, the deputy entered.
“What’s the status of the orders?”
“In the past few days, the two of them have met six times in total, five of which were late at night in Mo Jaehwang’s barracks. They are together even now.”
A twitch.
Pang Muwei’s eyebrows slightly rose.
The deputy continued his report.
“And it seems they are watching us.”
A twitch.
“What? Watching us?”
“I saw a few scouts enter the forest. I followed them and confirmed that they climbed the trees and have been observing us. It started right after you returned from meeting the Grand General.”
“Those bastards…”
The words Lee Hwan had said flashed one by one in Pang Muwei’s mind, and his eyes flared with anger.
The deputy asked,
“Are they really harboring any improper intentions?”
“I hoped not, but it seems they are. Otherwise, why would they be spying on me?”
“Isn’t that normally what the Golden Guard does?”
“Did Mo Jaehwang monitor Ying Hoochong?”
“That….”
Gulp!
Pang Muwei downed his drink straight from the bottle and said, calming his gaze,
“For now, pretend you don’t know anything until I issue further orders.”
“Yes, General.”
After the deputy left, Pang Muwei finished the remaining alcohol and sank deep into his chair.
“Ying Hoochong… he must have provoked him. Ever since the Ying family claimed superiority over the Pang family, they must have been furious that he had to follow my orders.”
In the martial world, the Hebei Pang family and the Ying family were on equal footing among the Five Great Families. Until a few years ago, their power was nearly balanced. But after Pang Muwei received his rank and was appointed Left General, the balance of power shifted.
Meanwhile, no one in the Ying family, including Ying Hoochong, had ever received an official rank, so they weren’t even considered as candidates for the position of Chief of the Southern Army.
“Throughout history, our Pang family has always been the strongest. But how should I handle this matter?”
Killing Ying Hoochong would be a simple solution. But if Mo Jaehwang noticed and reported to Lee Hwanja, everything would fall apart, and the Pang family could also be in danger.
“Do I have to kill Mo Jaehwang too?”
As Pang Muwei’s thoughts became a tangled mess, Lee Hwan sat down to meet with Jang Han, who had been sent from Cheolmuok and the Crown Prince’s Palace.
Lee Hwan and Jang Han sat facing each other, with Cheolmuok sitting beside Jang Han, pouring wine into Lee Hwan’s cup.
Clink.
Jang Han’s gaze fell on the martial uniform lying in a corner of the barracks. Surprisingly, the uniform belonged to the soldiers of Zhao.
Thud.
After finishing his cup, Lee Hwan looked directly at Jang Han and asked,
“Do you know about Ying Hoochong?”
“Yes. I verified it through my contacts before coming here.”
“If you were to attempt an assassination, would you be confident of success?”
“…Yes?”
Jang Han’s eyes widened.
“Don’t think of anything else. Just tell me whether you’re confident or not.”
“If he is alone, it won’t be difficult. But without a legitimate reason, I cannot follow any order, even from the Grand General.”
“I will explain the reason later. Think carefully and answer again. This is not the time for pride.”
“Last year, I assassinated someone stronger than Ying Hoochong. Not a drop of blood was shed then.”
His tone carried strong pride.
“Good enough.”
Cheolmuok asked,
“Will you kill Ying Hoochong?”
“No. I’ll kill Mo Jaehwang.”
Jang Han looked shocked again.
“He is the Deputy Commander of the Golden Guard. Why would you want to kill him?”
“Have you forgotten the purpose for which the Crown Prince’s Palace sent you here?”
“How could I forget?”
“Precisely because of that purpose.”
“…!”
Lee Hwan drained another cup of wine and continued,
“By now, Pang Muwei must be worried that Ying Hoochong might try to snatch the Southern Army Chief’s position and stab him in the back. But killing him worries about Mo Jaehwang, leaving him alive is unbearable… hehe.”
Jang Han asked,
“If you kill Mo Jaehwang, I’d like to know why you asked if I could kill Ying Hoochong.”
“Because Ying Hoochong is stronger than Mo Jaehwang. If you can kill him, Mo Jaehwang will naturally be easier.”
“….”
Cheolmuok asked,
“Will you leave Ying Hoochong alive?”
“Of course not. But he will be killed by Pang Muwei, not us, in a perfectly legal manner to avoid rumors.”
“Eh?”
“Bi-wol is already in motion. I’ll explain later; for today, only Mo Jaehwang will be eliminated.”
Lee Hwan looked Jang Han in the eyes.
“If it’s for the Crown Prince’s Palace, shouldn’t you be ready to risk your life?”
“I am always prepared for that.”
“Then don’t question the reason. Kill Mo Jaehwang. Removing them is the only way to prevent the Southern Army from falling into Lee Hwanja’s hands. Understood?”
Jang Han asked with determination,
“Is this really for the Crown Prince?”
“Do I need to prove it?”
“The Grand General’s word is enough.”
“The Crown Prince’s Palace promised to prevent the Southern Army from falling into Lee Hwanja’s hands. I’m fulfilling that promise. Partly for myself, too.”
Clench.
Jang Han bit his lips.
“Understood. I will follow the Grand General’s order.”
“Killing alone isn’t enough. If any trace raises suspicion, I’ll kill you.”
“Understood.”
Whoosh!
The night wind was strong.
Lee Hwan climbed to the barracks roof, surveying the darkened camp.
Cheolmuok joined him.
“Will it succeed?”
“Absolutely.”
“You seem to trust him too much. Wouldn’t it be safer if I acted now?”
“Don’t worry. If my eyes don’t deceive me, he is nearly your equal when it comes to assassination.”
“No way…”
At that moment.
Whoosh!
Gomi dropped beside Lee Hwan with the wind.
“As instructed, I placed the forged letter at Mo Jaehwang’s residence.”
“Good work.”
“May I ask something?”
“Go ahead.”
Gomi asked,
“If this goes wrong, not only the Grand General but also the Crown Prince could be in trouble. Why involve me in such a critical matter?”
“Because I trust you. And your skills too.”
“…!”
Gomi’s eyes widened slightly.
“Is that all?”
“Do you need another reason?”
“No.”
“Mo Jaehwang dies today.”
“…!”
Gomi snapped her head up, her eyes now filled with anger and doubt.
“You said I could kill him myself!”
“It just turned out that way as the plan developed. But don’t take charge of the Deputy Commander’s life later. After all, Mo Jaehwang follows the Deputy Commander’s orders. So the true enemy of Bi-wol is the Deputy Commander, right?”
“The Deputy Commander is just a puppet. Most of the Golden Guard’s decisions are carried out according to the Deputy Commanders, and Mo Jaehwang has played the most crucial role.”
“Really? That’s tricky.”
Lee Hwan felt genuinely troubled.
He had unintentionally broken his promise to Gomi. But he thought it would be fine as long as he promised the Deputy Commander’s life, so he hadn’t mentioned it beforehand.
“I’ll head down now.”
Gomi left, asking,
“Can I trust you?”
“Don’t worry. Even if the Grand General broke his promise, I won’t reveal the secret. I keep my word no matter what.”
Cheolmuok asked,
“Are you sure about this?”
“Planning to kill again?”
“It would be necessary if it causes trouble later…”
“Enough. She’s trustworthy.”
Lee Hwan turned his gaze toward Mo Jaehwang’s barracks. Without a single torch lit around it, the area was engulfed in pitch darkness.
“Of course, no torches. They need to move secretly to gather information every night. Lucky for me.”
Whoosh!
Back in the barracks, Gomi drank the wine she had placed inside.
Gulp!
“Talking out of both sides of your mouth? You’re more cunning than a serpent!”
Gulp!
Her anger at Lee Hwan hadn’t subsided. Her disappointment and anger doubled because this happened when her feelings for him had been rising.
“He’s someone I must kill with my own hands. With my own hands…”
Mo Jaehwang’s sly face appeared in her mind, followed by the last moments of the former Moon Lord in her arms, replacing Mo Jaehwang’s face.
Crash!
The wine bottle shattered, splattering fragments onto Gomi’s martial uniform.
Clatter!
A soldier hurriedly opened the door.
“What’s the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“….”
The soldier glanced at the broken bottle and left the barracks.
Crush!
Gomi, still furious, clenched her fists and went outside. She stared at where Lee Hwan had been.
But he was already gone.
Bang!
Angry, she stomped the ground and turned back.
“It’s my fault for trusting the Crown Prince’s son.”
“Cheonmu.”
“Yes, Grand General.”
“Where’s the ear pick?”
“On the nightstand beside the bed.”
Lee Hwan found it and cleaned his ears.
“Who’s talking trash about me?”
The next day, the Golden Guard was in upheaval.
Mo Jaehwang was found dead, cold.
Lee Hwan calmly headed there. Pang Muwei and Ying Hoochong were rushing over.
Cheolmuok said,
“Shouldn’t we secure the letter first?”
“General Jeongcheon should already be there.”
“Ah, yes.”
Soon, they arrived, with guards and soldiers gathered.
Lee Hwan put on a serious expression and approached. Everyone bowed and made way.
Just then, Jeongcheon, exiting the barracks, exchanged a glance with Lee Hwan.
“Another act of Zhao’s assassins?”
“Seems so.”
Jeongcheon handed over something in his hand.
“There was a strange letter in Mo Jaehwang’s barracks.”
“What’s strange about it?”
“Check it yourself.”
Lee Hwan naturally took the letter. Pang Muwei and Ying Hoochong rushed over.
“What exactly happened?!”
Jeongcheon answered,
“It seems a Zhao assassin visited.”
He handed over a small ornament that would attach to a sword hilt.
Pang Muwei and Ying Hoochong’s eyes widened. The ornament was identical to the one left by the assassin who killed Hwang Ho.
Lee Hwan pretended to be surprised, then shouted coldly at the Golden Guard.
“How was your vigilance so poor that the Deputy Commander’s death went unnoticed until morning?!”
“….”
No one dared lift their head.
“General Jeong.”
“Yes, Grand General.”
“Lock these men in prison!”
“Yes!”
The soldiers dragged the guards away. Some resisted, but Jeongcheon personally subdued them.
Lee Hwan stared at Ying Hoochong.
He was pale and dumbfounded, only staring at Mo Jaehwang’s body, covered with cloth.
“His barracks were relatively close. Did you sense nothing unusual last night?”
“No, nothing at all.”
Lee Hwan looked at Pang Muwei.
Pang Muwei replied, equally surprised,
“Even I, as the commander, had no idea.”
“Of course, your position is far away, so it’s natural you wouldn’t know. That’s fine, let’s talk briefly.”
Lee Hwan took Pang Muwei a little away and handed over the letter Jeongcheon had found.
“General Jeong found it in Mo Jaehwang’s barracks.”
“What letter is this?”
“Read it.”
Pang Muwei opened the letter.
His eyes widened, and he gritted his teeth in an instant.
“Those bastards…”
“Nearly disaster struck. If we had been even slightly late, the letter would have reached Lee Hwanja, and your appointment would have been canceled.”
Shiver…
Lee Hwan stared at Pang Muwei, trembling with rage, and added,
“Since the appointment letter was delivered, you are already the Chief of the Southern Army. Handle Ying Hoochong yourself. As your first execution as Chief, treat it with utmost severity.”
“Understood!”
