Chapter 20: The Wolf's Fangs (1)
The pursuit of the fleeing Hui soldiers ended after an hour (half a shichen). They could have slain more of the enemy, but time was not on their side. Another enemy column was already marching toward them through Shiquan County. Therefore, General Jang-yang’s army had to quickly return to Hanzhong Fortress.
The march from Mount Jeonggun back to Hanzhong could be completed in a single day. The expressions on the faces of the returning soldiers were highly animated. The thrill of victory had not yet subsided, and the atmosphere in the ranks was thick with excitement.
It was only natural: a force of five thousand recruits had inflicted a crushing defeat upon an army of twenty thousand. In contrast, the Song forces had suffered only five hundred casualties. Furthermore, they had secured about two thousand prisoners, a truly miraculous achievement.
Before long, the sturdy walls of Hanzhong Fortress came into view. Atop the walls, about a hundred sentries stood guard, their faces tense. Even under the scorching sun, their posture remained undisturbed.
The moment they spotted their army’s banners, the sentries jumped with excitement.
“Our army has returned!”
“We won the battle!”
“Woahhhhh!”
Someone shouted down from the watchtower, “Hey! Open the gates immediately!”
Inside the fortress, a wave of celebration was already unfolding.
The citizens had been waiting on the streets since early morning, eagerly anticipating their return like children waiting for their parents.
As General Jang-yang and his soldiers entered through the gates, the citizens erupted into cheers, many weeping with joy. Crowds lined both sides of the streets, shouting in celebration and handing the soldiers food and various supplies. Seeing such a passionate welcome, the soldiers’ hearts welled with warmth.
So-mu, marching in the middle of the column, glanced to his right. He spotted Il-gwang sniffling, clutching a steamed bun in his hand. Having grown up as an orphan in the back alleys, Il-gwang had never experienced such warmth and hospitality in his entire life, and the emotion had completely overwhelmed him.
Seeing the massive, bull-like man sniffling, So-mu could not help but chuckle.
“Haha! Il-gwang, are you crying?”
It had been a long time since So-mu, who rarely showed any emotion, laughed so freely.
“Who’s crying? I just got something in my eyes, that’s all.”
Cheong-hae giggled from the side. “Sure, Brother Il-gwang. I saw you. You were definitely crying.”
“You little rat! What do you know? Keep quiet!”
Il-gwang raised a fist the size of a child’s head, threatening Cheong-hae. The surrounding recruits of Group 16 burst into laughter.
“Haha, I saw it too.”
“Pfft, me too.”
“Why, you bastards!” Il-gwang growled.
As Il-gwang bickered with the squad members, So-mu looked back.
“Cheoldu. Your grandmother is over there.”
Everyone turned their eyes to where So-mu pointed. A white-haired old woman with a bent back was searching desperately through the ranks.
“Grandmother! Why are you here?” Cheoldu called out.
Seeing him, she smiled warmly and limped toward him.
“Cheoldu!”
“Ugh! I told you to stay home! This is embarrassing, seriously.”
The grandmother immediately began scanning Cheoldu’s face, checking him for wounds.
“Oh, my boy! You aren’t hurt anywhere, are you?”
“Look, I’m fine. No one in our squad was hurt.”
The grandmother looked at Il-gwang and bowed repeatedly. She likely assumed the largest man in the group was the commander.
“Please take good care of our Cheoldu, officer. He’s still young…”
Feeling incredibly awkward, Il-gwang cleared his throat.
“Ahem! Well… don’t worry. I am looking after him.”
Cheoldu frowned, unhappy with his grandmother bowing to his companions.
“Ugh! Just go home, Grandmother. Stop coming out to crowded places like this.”
Cheoldu waved his hand, urging her to head back. Watching them, So-mu smiled gently at Cheoldu.
“I envy you, Cheoldu. At least you have family to complain to.”
“I’m sorry, Leader. My grandmother always tends to worry too much…”
“You aren’t being honest with your own feelings,” So-mu murmured. “None of us know when we might die in this war. Think about what your greatest regret would be if you were to die today.”
Cheoldu fell silent, pondering So-mu’s words. Suddenly, his eyes widened. The regret So-mu spoke of hit him instantly.
Turning back toward his retreating grandmother, Cheoldu shouted at the top of his lungs:
“Grandmother! I will definitely return safe and sound, so make sure you stay healthy!”
Hearing his shout, the grandmother turned and waved, a bright smile gracing her face.
Passing through the streets of Hanzhong, the army assembled at the parade grounds. Standing on the raised platform, General Jang-yang scanned the ranks before turning to his administrator.
“What is our casualty count?”
“Four hundred and eighty-seven, General.”
Although an enemy force of twenty thousand had been virtually annihilated, their own losses were less than ten percent. It was an incredible achievement, yet Jang-yang’s expression remained grim. His heart was heavy for the fallen soldiers and the families they left behind.
‘We should return their bodies to their hometowns, but with the enemy still nearby, we cannot afford to do so. It is truly lamentable…’
Taking a deep breath, Jang-yang projected his voice so every soldier could hear.
“We have achieved an unprecedented victory, but many of our comrades have fallen to secure it! To honor their sacrifice, I, Jang-yang, will ensure that the families of those who died for their country receive two years’ worth of grain and wages!”
A thunderous cheer erupted from the ranks. For those with families, this promise allowed them to face the coming battles with peace of mind.
The administrator hastily approached the general and whispered in a low voice.
“General, if you pay such compensation every time a soldier dies, the army’s treasury will be depleted in no time.”
Jang-yang’s brow furrowed.
“Send the victory report to the imperial court, and request funds for fortifying the walls and constructing siege weapons. If that is still not enough, sell all the enemy’s severed heads to other generals.”
The severed heads of enemy soldiers represented honor, military merit, and money. Legions in various regions openly traded these heads at exorbitant prices. The heads of officers and generals were often sold for far more than their weight in gold. Giving up personal glory to secure military funds was a common practice.
“But General, if the imperial court discovers the truth, they will not let this pass.”
“Did I not tell you that I have already prepared to lay down my life?” Jang-yang replied coldly.
The administrator fell silent. It was not because he feared the general’s anger, but because he was deeply concerned for Jang-yang’s future.
No matter how great his victory was, distributing internal energy cultivation manuals—which were strictly reserved for high-ranking officers—to common soldiers was a capital offense.
The Emperor was surrounded by corrupt officials from the eunuch faction who excelled only at flattery. One could not expect mercy from their judgements, as they had no interest in the state’s welfare. Countless loyal officials had already met unjust deaths at the hands of those traitors.
Jang-yang turned his gaze back to the soldiers.
“You are no longer recruits! From this day forth, you are regular soldiers of the Song Dynasty who have defeated the elite host of the Hui Dynasty! You are the elites of the Jang-yang Army!”
“Woahhhhh!”
“Long live the General!”
The soldiers’ morale reached a new peak. As regular soldiers, they would now receive a proper salary and various military benefits. Once the cheering subsided, the administrator stepped forward to read a list of names.
“Those whose names are called, step forward!”
Everyone knew this was the distribution of promotions and rewards. About twenty names were called, including Il-gwang and Cheong-hae, who had slain enemy officers. However, So-mu’s name was not on the list. The recruits of Group 16 looked at their leader in confusion, but So-mu merely smiled and nodded, indicating he was fine.
“The bravery these men displayed on the battlefield has set an example for us all. As a reward, they are hereby appointed as squad leaders! Valor in battle will always be rewarded!”
A squad leader was responsible for commanding ten men. Although the title carried little weight in their current formation, it came with honor and a higher salary. Similar ranks existed within the Hui army, ranging from leaders of ten to leaders of ten thousand.
As the administrator finished reading, scribes draped black sashes over the promoted soldiers’ shoulders. Though the crowd cheered, many recruits looked confused. The hero who had saved them from the brink of despair had not been named.
But General Jang-yang was not finished.
“Leader of the sword infantry’s Group 16, step forward!”
Every eye scanned the crowd to find him. Because his armor and helmet had been destroyed in the duel, So-mu stood out, wearing only his red military uniform. Jang-yang looked down at him with a warm, satisfied smile.
“This soldier slew the enemy commander-in-chief, performing the greatest deed of this battle! His contribution is beyond measure. Therefore, he is hereby appointed as a centurion!”
The moment the general spoke, a deafening roar of cheers erupted from the army. It was the loudest, most passionate shout of the day.
“Woahhhhh!”
“Centurion So-mu!”
Leaving the cheering parade ground behind, Jang-yang walked with So-mu, patting him on the shoulder.
“You did well. If it were up to me, I would appoint you as a commander immediately, but my authority only goes so far. Anything beyond a centurion requires a formal petition to the imperial court. But I have no doubt you will reach that rank soon.”
At a general’s discretion, exceptional soldiers could be promoted up to the rank of centurion, though the number of such promotions was strictly limited by the size of the army.
“You praise me too highly, General.”
“Haha. There is no need for humility. Wi Jin-cheol told me he recognized your potential and trained you with care, but you have exceeded all my expectations. Tell me, how did you find the courage to face Muka?”
So-mu tilted his head slightly. He had never received any special training from Wi Jin-cheol. However, he saw no reason to correct the misunderstanding.
“I was fortunate to catch him off guard, General. If he had fought with full caution from the start, I would have been defeated.”
“It was a stroke of heaven’s luck. Muka saw you were a common soldier, let down his guard, and was caught by surprise. Regardless, you slew the enemy general, and that is an undeniable truth. Because of this, I have a favor to ask of you.”
“Speak, General. I will do whatever is required.”
“This battle has proven the critical need for a specialized strike force. To maximize their effectiveness, I plan to separate Group 16 from the main sword infantry and operate them as an independent special unit.”
“I believe that is an excellent plan, General.”
“And I want you to take command of this unit.”
“Commander Wi Jin-cheol might feel slighted when he wakes up,” So-mu noted.
“Haha. He will be thrilled. I will explain it to him. What should we name this new unit? Since you will be its captain, I will leave the naming to you.”
So-mu thought for a brief moment before speaking two characters.
“Wolf Fang.”
“Wolf Fang? The fangs of a wolf. A fitting name. To carry out special operations, you will need distinct uniforms. I will prepare them as a gift for your squad.”
So-mu nodded respectfully. “Thank you, General.”
“I am on my way to visit Commander Wi Jin-cheol now. Why don’t you join me? Since he favored you the most, just showing your face to him will give him strength.”