Chapter 30: Famous General and Incompetent General (1)

A month passed in the blink of an eye in their repetitive daily routine.

As the Hui Dynasty had made no moves yet, everyone in the garrison was dedicated to training, preparing for the threats to come. The members of the Wolf Fang Squad focused on group combat drills, including shield work and battle formations.

So-mu was also incredibly busy. The task that occupied most of his time was tutoring So-so. The supreme master of the jianghu was personally tutoring his daughter one-on-one all day—a privilege that even his squad members had never enjoyed. Furthermore, he personally assisted her in regulating her breathing to help her accumulate internal energy rapidly. Because her body was free of any impurities, her speed of internal cultivation far outpaced that of the squad members. This, combined with her innate talent, yielded terrifying results.

With each passing day, So-so’s sword strikes grew heavier as she began channeling her internal energy into her weapon. Although it was a blunt practice sword, it carried enough force to shatter a thick wooden beam with a single strike.

“Yah! Yah!”

Keeping his left hand behind his back, So-mu easily parried her strikes and called out, “Heavy as a rock! Fluid as water!”

Clang! Clang! Clash!

The ring of clashing steel grew faster and more frequent.

“A little faster!”

Clash! Clash! Clash!

So-so thrust her blade forward five times in a single breath. Her speed was truly breath-taking.

“Channel the grandeur of the ocean waves into your sword!” So-mu commanded.

Suddenly, So-so halted mid-stance. “What are waves?”

So-mu realized his mistake and paused. Of course, growing up in the inland regions, So-so had never seen the sea.

“There is a place called the sea,” So-mu explained. “It is a body of blue water so vast that you cannot see the end of it. The high crests of water that rise and fall there are called waves.”

“I want to see the sea…” So-so murmured.

“I will definitely take you to see it one day.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Sighing inwardly, So-mu realized he had dug himself into a hole. Hanzhong was located deep within the interior of the Central Plains. While there were rivers nearby, reaching the ocean was no simple task. The thought of running all the way to the coast with So-so on his back already gave him a headache.

‘I am going to exhaust myself on our next leave…’

Just then, So-so lunged at him.

“Distraction is death!” She cried, launching a surprise attack.

She was copying his own favorite warning. It was a swift, threatening strike.

“You little cheat,” So-mu smiled, parrying the blade. Since his counterattack carried no real force, he could halt it at any moment.

His blade curved, heading toward her neck. Anticipating the move, So-so ducked low to let the strike slip past, then lunged forward. So-mu was impressed by her agility, which was like that of a flying squirrel.

But he had no time to admire her. Suddenly, So-so clenched her left fist and drove it toward his abdomen.

“Mountain-Cleaver!” She yelled.

Boom!

So-mu was forced back half a step by the impact. He had purposely let the blow land to test her strength.

“Oof. Where did you learn that?”

His Dantian still tingled from the heavy blow. Had he been a lesser martial artist caught off guard, the strike would have caused a serious injury.

So-so stood with her hands on her hips, her chin held high with pride.

“I learned it from Uncle Il-gwang! The first form of the Mountain-Cleaving Fist!”

It was exactly as he had suspected. Although she was primarily learning swordplay, there was no harm in mastering a close-quarter fist technique for self-defense.

However, all of So-so’s techniques were highly lethal. If she used them carelessly, she could easily hurt someone innocent.

“Impressive, So-so. But tell me, when are you allowed to use your martial arts?”

“To protect myself and the people I love! And to fight bad guys!”

“Yes, remember that well. But when the moment comes where you must fight, you must not hesitate. That is enough training for today. Rest for a bit, and we will practice your internal cultivation this evening.”

“Yes, Father!”

With that, So-so immediately began to walk away.

“Where are you going?” So-mu called out.

“To go play!” She chirped.

In a military camp filled with gruff soldiers, where could a little girl possibly play?

For the past month, So-so had been slipping away to wander the camp whenever she had free time. Since everyone in the garrison knew her, So-mu wasn’t worried about her safety. Rather, he was worried about what kind of mischief she might cause.

Her martial arts level was already such that almost no one in the garrison could match her. Aside from a few members of the Wolf Fang Squad and Adjutant Yang Yeon-jeong, no one could stop her if she decided to run amok.

‘Well, she is at the age where she is curious about everything.’

After some thought, So-mu decided to follow her secretly.

So-so walked through the camp with confident steps, clearly having a destination in mind.

Ten minutes later, she arrived at the kitchens. She greeted the cooks familiarly, indicating this was far from her first visit.

‘Was she hungry? She is at the age where she eats a lot, but…’

Emerging from the kitchens with a rice ball in each hand, So-so looked around, deciding on her next move.

She began munching on one of the rice balls as she walked deeper into the camp. She passed the supply depots and the officers’ quarters. A few sentries watched her, but none tried to stop her. Instead, they exchanged friendly greetings with her.

When she reached her final destination, So-mu’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

‘Surely not?’

It was General Jang-yang’s office. So-mu wondered if he should step in and drag her away.

Perhaps because the building was grander than the others, it had drawn her curiosity. Deciding to watch a bit longer, So-mu concealed his presence and leaped onto the roof.

So-so pushed open the door without hesitation.

“Haha! So-so, you’ve come,” Jang-yang’s warm voice echoed from inside.

“Hehe. What are you doing, Grandpa?”

“Hmm. I am reviewing the list of supply shipments.”

“Do you want one? It’s a rice ball.”

“Haha. Well, if you are giving me a rice ball, this grandpa must give you something in return.”

“Thank you!”

When So-so emerged from the office, she was holding a mooncake. It was a rich pastry filled with nuts and sweetened with honey, a treat usually reserved for the high-ranking officers. She had successfully bartered her rice ball. Giggling with delight, she skipped back toward the barracks, nibbling on the mooncake.

Watching her retreat, So-mu shook his head with a sigh.

Just then, his eyes narrowed as he spotted a messenger sprinting toward the office.

“General! A message from Xiangyang!”

“Bring it in,” Jang-yang replied.

A long silence followed inside the office. The General was likely reading the report. A moment later, Jang-yang’s voice erupted in disbelief.

“They want to launch an attack on Luoyang?!”

Luoyang was a strategic stronghold, heavily fortified by the enemy. For this reason, General Yue Fei had always advised capturing Chang’an Fortress and Kaifeng first to surround the city, and only striking Luoyang once Han Se-chung’s southern forces arrived.

“Shall I call a council, General?” The messenger asked.

“Assemble all the commanders immediately.”

The war room was nearby. As the commander of the Wolf Fang Squad, So-mu was also required to attend.

So-mu waited on the roof for about fifteen minutes before making his way to the war room. General Jang-yang was already waiting, and the other officers were filing in. Soon, the council was assembled.

“I have received orders from Grand General Yu Gwang-se. We are to dispatch troops to the Namso Plains within ten days. They intend to launch an assault on Luoyang.”

Adjutant Yang Yeon-jeong frowned. “I thought the Northern Expedition was to be delayed until General Han Se-chung’s forces arrived?”

“General Yue Fei did indeed advise that. However, it seems the imperial court has lost its patience and issued a direct decree to attack. And General Yu Gwang-se is not a man who has the courage to protest an imperial command.”

Commander Wi Jin-cheol sneered. “Those scholars in the court who only know how to argue on paper are taking the enemy far too lightly. If our garrison empties Hanzhong to join this assault, what is to stop the enemy forces in Chang’an Fortress from marching straight down and capturing this city?”

“Several other garrisons are also sending troops,” Jang-yang replied. “We do not need to send our entire force.”

“Since we must maintain Hanzhong’s defense, we should dispatch only a minimal contingent.”

“If anyone has a suggestion, speak up,” Jang-yang said.

The room fell silent. They needed to send a small force, but it had to be of sufficient quality to satisfy the Grand General. After a long pause, Yang Yeon-jeong broke the silence.

“What if we send the Wolf Fang Squad?”

Commander Baek Moon-hwi of the scouts objected immediately. “Sending a mere hundred men? How will we face the wrath of the Grand General if we send such a small force?”

Jang-yang shook his head, his gaze shifting to So-mu.

“The Wolf Fang Squad numbers only a hundred, but each of them is a warrior worth a hundred men. Once they see their performance on the field, any complaints will vanish.”

So-mu fell into thought.

He had no worries about the mission itself. War was always fought in the face of uncertainty. However, he had to consider So-so’s safety.

Fortunately, the enemy forces in Chang’an Fortress showed no signs of movement. While Hanzhong was safe for now, the situation could change at any moment.

“May I ask you to watch over my daughter, General?” So-mu asked.

Jang-yang nodded without hesitation. “Of course. So-so is already like a granddaughter to me. I swear on my life that I will keep her safe.”

With the General’s solemn promise, So-mu felt at ease. Although she had no battlefield experience, she was more than capable of protecting herself.

“Thank you, General.”

Jang-yang looked at him with a worried expression. “Yu Gwang-se and the other generals can be arrogant and stubborn. Now that General Yue Fei has been dismissed, their egos will be even greater. I advise you to ignore their posturing and remain flexible.”

Having delivered two massive victories, Jang-yang had been promoted two ranks. Yet, compared to powerful figures like Yu Gwang-se or Jang Jun, his influence was still like heaven and earth. Sending a mere centurion-level unit to their campaign was bound to draw their disdain.

But So-mu was a veteran who had survived the brutal politics of the jianghu.

“I understand, General. Do not worry.”

***

A regular march from Hanzhong to the gathering point would take over five days. If the Wolf Fang Squad used their light movement techniques, they could easily cover the distance in two. However, arriving exactly at the deadline would put General Jang-yang in a difficult position.

Five days later, the members of the Wolf Fang Squad assembled on the training ground, fully armed. Their black armor and helmets gleamed in the sun. The only addition to their gear was a sturdy shield strapped to their backs. General Jang-yang had insisted on providing them, noting that shields were essential for siege warfare. Several members held banners bearing the garrison’s emblem.

So-so watched them with a solemn expression. She knew her father would be away for at least a fortnight, perhaps even a month. The moment of departure had arrived. So-mu felt a heavy weight in his chest as he looked at her.

“So-so. The uncles and I have to go somewhere. It might take a bit longer this time.”

So-so seemed to have already guessed. So-mu had expected her to burst into tears, but she remained remarkably calm.

She narrowed her eyes and asked, “You are going to buy another gift for me, right?”

Indeed, during his last five-day absence, he had returned with the norigae ornament.

Il-gwang quickly stepped forward. “Aha! You figured it out? Nothing gets past our So-so, does it?”

“Hehe. I know everything!” She smiled.

So-mu had never been more grateful to Il-gwang. Letting out a sigh of relief, he said, “I wanted to keep it a secret, but you caught us. It is a very rare gift, so we have to travel quite far.”

So-so fell into thought, wondering who she would play with while they were gone.

“Sigh. I guess I’ll have to play with Grandpa for now.”