Chapter 133: Friend or Foe (2)
To become the emperor. Just hearing those words made the heart swell.
A subtle shift appeared in Liu Guangshi’s eyes.
Noticing this, So-mu waited calmly.
As expected, Liu Guangshi did not reveal his feelings openly but sent a sound transmission instead.
– How dare you discuss the imperial throne in my presence?
In the past, merely mentioning the imperial throne would have branded one as a rebel. But now, with the imperial family wiped out, this was an era where such talk was no longer a crime.
– I am only speaking the truth. Who else is qualified to succeed the late Emperor but you, General-in-Chief?
– Did Jang-yang say so?
Liu Guangshi implicitly looked down on Jang-yang. In his heart, he refused to recognize someone who had risen to the same rank as him through a sudden promotion.
– The Regional Commissioner said so. He stated that if the power vacuum drags on, the country will fall into chaos, so one of the four great generals must step forward.
– If you are mocking me, you had better prepare yourself.
Among the original four great generals of the Song Dynasty, the only ones remaining were Han Shizhong and Liu Guangshi. Yue Fei had become the leader of a volunteer army after being dismissed from office, and Zhang Jun was already deceased. Therefore, So-mu’s words were incredibly enticing.
If Regional Commissioner Jang-yang threw his weight behind him, there was nothing he could not achieve.
– Why would I mock you? However, must we continue to discuss this here?
There were too many watching eyes around. It was not a situation where they could converse leisurely via sound transmission.
Although doubt lingered on Liu Guangshi’s face, curiosity overwhelmed it.
“All of you, dismiss! And you two, follow me.”
Gesturing to So-mu and Il-gwang, he turned his back. His intention was to take them to his barracks.
Sima Zhe, the commander of the Yongmu Regiment, approached and asked:
“What should we do with these women?”
“Release them all.”
“Pardon…?”
“I said release them. Everyone standby until further orders.”
It was behavior unlike the usual General-in-Chief. Sima Zhe could only stare blankly at his retreating back.
Liu Guangshi walked ahead with his hands clasped behind his back, his shoulders squared as if he were already playing the part of the emperor.
A moment later, when they arrived at the barracks, So-mu and Il-gwang stood with their mouths agape.
Expensive luxury items such as silk and ivory were lined up starting from the entrance. Moreover, the barracks was filled with chests of treasure. Golden light glinted from the chests that had not been fully closed.
“Sit first, then we talk.”
Liu Guangshi leaned back in an armchair covered in tiger skin. His semi-reclining posture was arrogant to the extreme.
So-mu and Il-gwang sat across the ornate table. At this, Liu Guangshi narrowed his eyes and glared at Il-gwang, signaling whether it was appropriate for him to be present.
So-mu nodded and introduced him.
“This is Il-gwang, a Commander of the junior sixth rank and the vice-commander of the Wolf Fang Squad. He is a trustworthy man, so you need not worry.”
Liu Guangshi scanned Il-gwang thoroughly. With his restrained gaze and smooth eyes overflowing with vital energy, he was undeniably a master of the Transformation Realm.
“Absurd. To send the army’s greatest generals as mere messengers. Come to think of it, another one visited me not long ago.”
“Did you meet him?”
“I saw him briefly. He was a stubborn fellow. I wonder if he rested well and returned safely.”
To think he could play innocent after killing him. It was absurd, but confronting him about it was a matter for later.
“Then you must know why we have come.”
At that moment, Liu Guangshi’s brow furrowed.
“All of you seem to lack comprehension. If you came to babble the same words, just go back.”
“You must hear what I have to say, General.”
“I must have sent my reply several times already! Who on earth does Jang-yang think he is to order me to march?!”
Indeed, there was no direct chain of command between Jang-yang and Liu Guangshi. Thus, how could he feel pleased when Jang-yang repeatedly urged him to deploy?
However, to rescue the besieged Xiangyang Fortress, Liu Guangshi’s army had to move.
“If you wish to ascend the throne, General, you will need military achievements. If you win this battle, you will become a hero who saved the nation and gain the support of the people.”
As rumored, Liu Guangshi was a greedy man. At the mention of the throne, So-mu saw his pupils flicker subtly once more.
Yet, he was not easily swayed.
“Do you take me for a fool? Why would Jang-yang nominate me when he has nothing to lose?”
“The imperial family was massacred, and the Chancellor has vanished. To prevent the country from tearing itself apart, someone must step forward. General Han Shizhong has no interest in politics, so who else but you is qualified, General-in-Chief?”
Liu Guangshi crossed his arms and fell into deep thought. Suspicion still lingered in his eyes.
After another breath, he spoke.
“…I thought the Regional Commissioner of Anxi was eyeing that position himself.”
His tone and way of referring to Jang-yang had softened compared to earlier.
So-mu smiled inwardly and drew something from his robe.
“He is a man with no greed for power. He only cares for the safety of the nation. I have brought a letter written by the Regional Commissioner himself. It is a pledge that he will officially support you if you lead this battle to victory.”
Liu Guangshi snatched it up. It was indeed stamped with the official seal of the Regional Commissioner of Anxi. That meant he could not go back on his word.
As he read the contents, ambition began to surface on his face, along with a hint of concern.
“He knows how to read the trends of the times. But the condition is supporting Xiangyang… It will not be easy.”
“What is the problem?”
“It is already too late now that Wanyan Hui’s army has joined them.”
Liu Guangshi had a history of being crushed by Wanyan Hui, the grand general of the Jin Dynasty. Perhaps because of that, a hint of fear could be heard in his voice.
One undeniable fact was that while he had hesitated to march, the situation had only worsened. Frustration welled up inside So-mu, but he could not show it.
“How large are the enemy forces?”
“Since two allied armies have gathered in one place, we must assume there are at least two hundred thousand.”
It was a staggering number. It was practically the main force of the Jin Dynasty gathered in one place.
“War is not fought with numbers alone. Surely you know this, General.”
“Of course, that is not the only issue. The number of supreme masters on our side is overwhelmingly lacking, so there is nothing we can do.”
“Do you mean General Han Shizhong is being pushed back?”
Who was Han Shizhong? He was one of the greatest generals of the era, who had achieved the profound realm. So-mu knew this well because he had seen him in person. He was the only person who had ever made So-mu’s own fighting spirit surge. Yet, Liu Guangshi remained stubborn.
“Even if Han Shizhong handles Wanyan Hui, we have no idea how many other Transformation Realm masters they have. The number of supreme masters is simply too lopsided.”
“Our squad will handle them. Do not worry about the imbalance of supreme masters.”
Liu Guangshi leaned deep into his chair and pondered for a moment.
He did not find it hard to reach a conclusion.
Breaking the silence, he spoke again.
“The two of you will not be enough.”
“Since the distance from Shaanxi to here is great, we cannot dispatch a large force. Therefore, only our elite troops will participate. They have undergone specialized training to deal with supreme masters.”
“You only speak with such confidence because you have not yet seen Wanyan Hui’s pet. You will understand once you experience it yourself. Mark my words, even that will not be enough.”
A pet out of nowhere. It was a riddling statement, so So-mu could not guess what he meant. He would just have to see for himself later.
Taking a deep breath, So-mu played his final card.
“The volunteer army led by General Yue Fei will also join us.”
At that, Liu Guangshi’s eyes snapped open.
“Is he truly coming as well?”
“Why would I lie?”
Although their numbers were few, Yue Fei was also a master of the Transformation Realm. Moreover, he was an outstanding strategist with a long record of victories. A glimmer of hope that they might actually win began to rise.
Liu Guangshi clasped his hands and fell into deep thought.
After about seven minutes, he finally spoke.
“I will march in ten days. You must keep your promise.”
“Of course. Only you, General, are capable of rebuilding this nation that has fallen into chaos.”
“Indeed. Who else but me is qualified?”
So-mu rose from his seat and drew one more letter from his robe.
“This is a strategy carefully devised by the Regional Commissioner. It would be appreciated if you would refer to it.”
“He prepared thoroughly, knowing I would move. I will read it later.”
Liu Guangshi took the letter and placed it on the table.
Though he pretended to be indifferent, it did not matter. He would not be able to resist reading it out of curiosity.
“Since there is much to prepare, we shall take our leave.”
“We will meet on the battlefield next.”
They had no more business here. So-mu and Il-gwang bid him farewell and left.
As soon as they cleared the camp, Il-gwang asked, unable to wait any longer:
“Did he fall for it?”
“Naturally. He has already taken the bait.”
Il-gwang chuckled, unable to hold back his laughter.
“Pfft. Sometimes you have a truly wicked streak, Chief. To think of using him like this.”
“Countless citizens shed tears of blood because of him. He must pay the price.”
“Naturally. To think he dares covet the throne with his meager worth.”
“Well… he might become emperor. That is, if he is still alive after the battle.”
Having achieved their goal, their steps were light. Now it was time to return to Chang’an.
Their speed as they deployed their lightfoot techniques was twice as fast as their journey here. They looked like two streaks of light cutting through the darkness. The wind howled and shrieked as they passed.
As their speed increased further, Il-gwang began to grow tired.
“Chief, why are you in such a rush?”
“There’s nothing wrong with going fast.”
“You just want to see So-so quickly, don’t you? Or is it your daughter’s master you want to see?”
At that moment, So-mu slowed down and matched his pace.
“How did you know?”
It was unexpected that Il-gwang had noticed his relationship with Seo-hwa. Even so, it was not a problem.
“At this point, only a fool wouldn’t know.”
“So-so doesn’t know yet. If we speak of it rashly, the child might be shocked.”
“Pfft.”
“Why are you laughing?”
“She will definitely love it, so hurry up and set a date.”
“Whew… I was planning to think about it after this battle.”
“Good thinking, Chief. But you know, I understand you want to see them quickly, but it seems you’ve forgotten something very important.”
At that moment, So-mu skidded to a halt.
By now, Seo-hwa and So-so would be eagerly waiting for their presents. In his haste, he had almost returned empty-handed.
“That was a close call.”
“I just saved you from being kicked out. Let’s go quickly. I have things to buy too.”
The two turned around and headed to a nearby town. They agreed to split up and meet at a designated spot.
About half an hour later, So-mu returned with a small bundle slung over his shoulder.
He had bought two green silk robes embroidered with cherry blossoms. It was a matching pair for Seo-hwa and So-so. The thought of master and disciple practicing in matching clothes made him smile.
So-mu arrived first, but even after waiting, there was no sign of Il-gwang.
He waited silently for an hour.
Finally, he sensed someone approaching at high speed.
When So-mu saw Il-gwang, an absurd look came over his face.
“Why did you buy so much?”
Behind Il-gwang’s back was an enormous bundle. It was a massive amount that looked like someone’s household moving goods. No one without martial arts training could have even lifted it.
“I’m donating it to Snow Flower Academy. Since they are orphans, they’ve probably never received presents… It’s pity…”
With this amount, he must have squandered his entire salary and even added his savings.
Although he surely bought it with good intentions, that could not be the only reason. So-mu could not help but feel a bit concerned.
“You’re doing this to win Teacher Cho-hee’s favor, aren’t you?”
At So-mu’s words, Il-gwang turned his head and avoided the question. Then, rushing ahead, he shouted:
“We’re late! Let’s hurry, Chief!”
So-mu chuckled and followed behind.
“Heh. Well, the children will be happy anyway.”