Chapter 225: Did You Have to Do That (2)
The ones who were busiest were, of course, the members of the Wolf Fang Squad.
Clutching their flags, the squad members spent the entire day running here and there, occupied with helping deploy the formations.
Only after four days did they finally get a breathing room. The soldiers had adapted to the formations, making them much easier to command.
The squad members gathered in a field tent to take a brief rest.
“I’m exhausted.”
“Especially those guys from the state of Po. Their training is a complete mess. They don’t listen to instructions.”
“Still, aren’t they much better compared to when we started?”
As the squad members chatted, the tent flap opened, and someone walked inside.
He was the man with the most robust and massive frame in the entire Allied army. He was the Deputy Commander of the Wolf Fang Squad and Captain of Discipline, Il-gwang.
“Good job, everyone. You don’t have to wave those flags anymore.”
The squad members let out cheers.
“Oh! Really?”
“Finally, this job is over!”
“Haha. Yes!”
Il-gwang thumped his chest and said, “And our Commander has prepared a special treat for you as a reward. Come on out.”
The squad members were puzzled.
While it was true they had worked hard, receiving special treatment out of the blue was uncharacteristic of So-mu.
However, there was no reason to refuse. The squad members scrambled to follow Il-gwang.
They arrived at a tent filled with food.
What caught their eyes first was golden-brown roasted pork, a food rarely seen on the battlefield.
“What a stroke of luck!”
“Are we really allowed to eat this?”
Seeing Il-gwang already gnawing on a pig’s trotter, they had no reason to hesitate.
As if by agreement, the squad members began stuffing meat into their mouths.
They all wore bright, happy smiles—until a voice spoke.
“Eat up. Starting today, you will be executing special missions at the front lines.”
The stiffened squad members turned around.
So-mu had approached silently and was standing behind them with his hands clasped behind his back.
“I knew there was no such thing as a free lunch.”
“I had a feeling something was off.”
So-mu chuckled and sat on a nearby stool.
“It seems you haven’t heard. The scouts we sent out recently have been disappearing. They were likely eliminated by the Hui’s special forces.”
In battle, reconnaissance is one of the most critical aspects.
If you lose the reconnaissance battle, there is no hope. The Wolf Fang Squad was the only combat unit capable of countering the Hui’s special forces.
As expected, the squad members actually welcomed the news. Somewhere along the line, they had begun to enjoy combat.
“So they dared to target our scouts?”
“We will show them what we’re made of. But first, let us finish this food.”
So-mu nodded and looked at Il-gwang.
“Just in case, you should go with them.”
“The Hui’s special forces, you say? Leave it to me. I’ll find them all and kill them today,” Il-gwang said, tearing into the pig’s trotter with a fierce look that was incredibly reassuring.
“Don’t overdo it. Finish your meal.”
With those words, So-mu stepped out of the tent, satisfied.
If Il-gwang and the Wolf Fang Squad were on the move, there was nothing to worry about.
‘Now, all that’s left is to wait.’
He headed toward the command tent, which was located in the center of the camp and was the largest and sturdiest structure.
Since the commanders were busy inspecting their respective divisions, the tent was empty.
He sat in the commander’s chair, leaned back, and closed his eyes.
‘I must kill him in this battle. Only then can we seize the momentum of this war.’
There were only three individuals who posed a direct threat to the state of So.
The first was the Leader of the Neo-Demonic Cult, who was also the Emperor of the Hui Dynasty. The second was Saimu’ali, who had invaded Goryeo and was fighting a prolonged war. And the third was Wanyan Hui, whom they had targeted this time.
If they could eliminate him, the balance of power would tilt completely in their favor.
As So-mu steeling his resolve, a voice spoke.
“Ah. It seems I have disrupted your rest.”
The person who had entered the command tent was General Yue Fei, the commander of the volunteer army.
Pleased to see him, So-mu stood up to welcome him.
“Not at all. Please, sit here.”
Yue Fei was a senior disciple of the same master as Jang-yang, a battle-hardened veteran who had proven his capabilities on countless battlefields. Therefore, So-mu showed him genuine respect.
“I had an inkling, but the training and morale of the So soldiers transcend imagination. You must have gone through a lot of trouble to raise such a powerful army.”
“I did very little. I merely created the environment, and they grew on their own.”
“Hahaha. You are still modest despite being the supreme commander.”
A faint smile appeared on So-mu’s face.
“I wonder if you should be the one sitting in this seat. Why did you yield the command to me?”
“First, I am not regular military, so I am not qualified. Second, your capabilities are more than sufficient. And there is one more thing.”
“…?”
So-mu waited quietly for him to continue.
“We need a hero to unite the Allied Forces. Who could be a better fit than you?”
“A hero in front of General Yue Fei? I wouldn’t dare.”
Yue Fei smiled sheepishly and changed the subject.
“Haha, my friend… If you don’t mind, why don’t we tour the camp together?”
“Very well. Lead the way.”
Stepping outside, the two walked around the camp, inspecting various locations.
First, they visited the center, occupied by the army of the state of So.
Along the perimeter, soldiers were digging ditches to deter enemy horses.
They were also placing dense wooden fences at key points, all designed to counter cavalry.
Since the main force of Luoyang was cavalry, this was only natural.
“What do you think?”
“The defenses are better prepared than anywhere else. Excellent.”
Yue Fei nodded in satisfaction.
Soon, they passed by the catapult unit. Light catapults mounted on carts, known as Whirlwind Cannons, were lined up in formation.
Since they were also deployed on the left and right wings, this was nothing new.
What drew Yue Fei’s attention was the cavalry unit positioned at the rear.
Although their numbers were relatively small, they were the only cavalry the Allies possessed, making them a precious asset.
Upon spotting So-mu and Yue Fei, Han Baek, the commander of the cavalry, bowed.
“I heard that the cavalry of So has never lost a battle, and they look indeed impressive. But what are those spears the riders are holding?”
So-mu took one of the spears and explained its design.
“It is a new weapon called the Fire Spear. A gunpowder canister is attached to the tip, designed to detonate when a cord is pulled. Although it is a one-time use, it will be highly effective.”
The smile never left Yue Fei’s face.
As they moved to other locations, the bond between the two grew closer.
“I can rest easy now. I will entrust the lives of our volunteer army to you.”
“Please offer your advice as a senior commander.”
Yue Fei’s experience as a former Grand General of the Song Dynasty was a valuable asset to the Allies.
After an hour of inspection, they returned to the command tent.
Soon, the other commanders gathered. They put their heads together and discussed tactics until nightfall.
Just as the day’s work was winding down.
The tent flap was suddenly ripped open.
Rip—!
Someone entered, panting heavily.
“Those bastards in red armor, the Red Tiger Soldiers, were the culprits!”
It was Il-gwang. His black armor was stained with blood, and his hands were covered in it.
The commanders turned their attention to him.
One of the nearby commanders asked in confusion, “What do you mean?”
“The ones who killed our scouts. The Wolf Fang Squad killed them all, so you don’t have to worry about them anymore.”
The Red Tiger Soldiers were not opponents that ordinary soldiers could handle.
Yet, the Wolf Fang Squad had eliminated this headache in less than a day.
The commanders cheered in delight.
“That is wonderful news!”
“Haha! You have worked hard.”
“Now our scouts can reconnoiter in peace.”
As the mood brightened, So-mu spoke to the gathered commanders from his seat.
“From now on, we will organize and deploy scout units on a large scale. Make sure everything is prepared without fail.”
“Understood. We will prepare accordingly.”
“We will not miss a single movement of the enemy.”
***
So-mu spent most of his time in the command tent.
As a watertight surveillance network was established, meaningful intelligence continued to arrive.
Three days later, the news they had been waiting for finally came.
Cheol-du of the Wolf Fang Squad rushed in and shouted, “Commander, the enemy will arrive in an hour!”
They had only learned of the enemy’s approach an hour beforehand.
This was not due to slow communications. Rather, it was because the Hui army was marching at an unbelievable speed.
Without a change in expression, So-mu set his teacup down.
“It’s the cavalry, right?”
“Yes. The cavalry will arrive first, and the infantry will arrive with the supply train by evening.”
“Good job. There is no need to panic. Prepare as we trained.”
Shortly after Cheol-du left, the sound of drums began to echo.
Throughout the camp, the movements of busy soldiers could be felt.
So-mu picked up his teacup again and took a slow sip.
‘Wanyan Hui. The time has come to settle our unfinished duel.’
Even as the enemy drew near, his movements were relaxed.
A moment later, he left the command tent and walked to the front of the center division, where the commanders were waiting.
Every face was tense.
Everyone stood in silence, waiting for the approaching enemy.
After about fifteen minutes, the ground began to vibrate.
Rumble—!
A rumbling sound grew louder, like an approaching tidal wave.
As time passed, So-mu could feel the soldiers’ heartbeats accelerating.
Seeing this, So-mu channeled his deep internal energy and shouted, “Do not waver! Trust in yourselves! Trust in the comrades beside you! We are stronger than the enemy!”
His resonant voice echoed not only through the center but also to the left and right wings.
Feeling his formidable aura, the soldiers let out a massive shout, dispelling their fear in an instant.
“Woahhh!!!”
“Aaaaah!!!”
The sound of the enemy hooves was completely drowned out by the roar.
Soon, the enemy emerged from a cloud of dust.
Cavalrymen in formation appeared endlessly.
At a glance, it was a massive force of over fifty thousand.
Normally, they would have charged immediately to maintain their momentum, but they halted three thousand feet away. Seeing the Allies’ defensive posture, they must have judged that a charge wouldn’t be easy.
Examining the enemy commanders, So-mu murmured with a dark expression, “The center is led by Wanyan Hui. The right wing is Bai Miaozhen. And the commander of the left wing is… Ma Xu?”
Although he had never seen Ma Xu’s face, he deduced it from the emblem on the division’s flags.
He knew Ma Xu’s division well, having fought them at Hangu Pass. Ma Xu, a tactician more cunning than Bai Miaozhen, was their greatest headache.
No matter what strategy they devised, deceiving his eyes would be extremely difficult.
The two armies stared at each other, maintaining a set distance.
After a long silence.
A man clutching a long spear rode forward. It was Division Commander Ma Xu.
He swept his gaze over the Allied formation.
So-mu’s brows furrowed.
He wanted to charge out and kill him, but Wanyan Hui and other masters were standing guard behind Ma Xu, so it wouldn’t be easy.
Watching the man reconnoiter them so casually, Il-gwang couldn’t hold back and shouted a provocation.
“What are you looking at, you water deer-looking bastard?”
Ma Xu turned to look at Il-gwang. He then curled one side of his mouth into a sneer.
“Amusing. Very amusing.”