Chapter 350: v14c25 - The Seat of Honor
Volume 14 Chapter 25 – The Seat of Honor
Northern Luoyang.
The high plains.
*Rumble.* perhaps because the rainy season had suddenly drawn near, a torrential downpour was pouring down like a waterfall.
Although it was rain like the water of life for the farmers, to the people from the Third Young Master’s side dispatched to the scene, it was a line of rain they detested to the limit.
“The damage to the scene is too severe…!”
“Moreover, the danger of landslides is also growing…!”
The person in charge of the Strategist Department’s field investigation shouted from beneath a raincoat that had lost its function long ago.
“Under these circumstances, any further collection of evidence is meaningless! Evidence or whatever, it has all been washed away long ago!”
However.
The old man with the air of a Daoist immortal, who was taking the pouring rain as it was.
“Grand Tactician…!”
Grand Tactician Sima was not budging an inch from his spot.
“…….”
Where his gaze was directed lay the wreckage of the armored command carriage.
“Grand Tactician! At least an umbrella…!”
A strategist tried somehow to cover Grand Tactician Sima with an umbrella, but Grand Tactician Sima, with a firm expression, pushed him away and stepped forward.
“…Have you still not found his body?”
Whose body that hoarse voice was referring to was clear and obvious without even saying.
“I-I am sorry.”
The field investigation leader bowed his head as if he had no face to show, but grand Tactician Sima did not even spare him a glance.
“…Grand Tactician.”
An upper-ranked strategist, unable to watch any longer, stepped forward.
“As you know, not a single trace related to Grand Tactician Zhuge has been discovered.”
Straining his voice through the rain, he tried to persuade Grand Tactician Sima.
“Under such circumstances, to be certain that he passed away is—” grand Tactician Sima’s hoarse voice cut off his words at once.
“Nonsense.”
“Even the Zhuge Clan’s last resort was activated, and the carriage was destroyed and burned.”
In the old man’s gaze as he looked back at the upper-ranked strategist there was only glistening murderous intent and madness.
“And all the forces guarding him were slaughtered, yet Brother Zhuge could be alive?”
“I-I am sorry.”
Dare he say anything more?
The moment the upper-ranked strategist shut his mouth and bowed his head *Rumble.* along with a vibration far away on the ridge, a landslide occurred due to the pouring heavy rain, and trees caught in the earth and sand began to collapse and flow down.
“A-A landslide…?!”
“This place could also be dangerous! We must escape quickly…?!”
No matter how much internal energy a martial artist possessed, they were powerless before Mother Nature.
While the surrounding people panicked, a voice was heard.
“The situation is clear.”
Alone.
Without making even the slightest movement, Grand Tactician Sima spoke as if nothing were happening.
“Brother Zhuge seized an opportunity, and that opportunity was the Eldest Young Master’s trap.”
Piercing through the scene where the field investigation personnel were hurrying their withdrawal preparations, Grand Tactician Sima slowly stepped forward.
“Brother Zhuge…”
The strategists of the Strategist Department, who dared not move while leaving the Grand Tactician behind, had nothing else they could do but look at Grand Tactician Sima.
“…….”
“…….”
“That child…”
Grand Tactician Sima’s hand, full of the traces of time, caressed the framework of the carriage.
“He was not a child who should die like this in a place like this.”
The charred framework of the carriage touched by the old man’s hand collapsed futilely.
“That child was the one who, in the future, was supposed to move and coordinate Zhongyuan instead of this old man…”
Was it rainwater flowing from the old man’s eyes?
The sorrow of the old man, who had lost a successor to entrust the future to and a close friend who could be called a soulmate, was overflowing from every single word of that hoarse voice.
“He was a child who should not have met an untimely death in such a remote place…”
“Grand Tactician!”
The person in charge of the outer boundary came running and shouted.
“The scope of the landslide is spreading uncontrollably! We must withdraw right this instant!”
“I.”
Grand Tactician Sima ignored those words and spoke to the strategists.
“I will head to the north just like this.”
“Grand Tactician?!”
“What do you mean by…?!”
At those words, the strategists were shocked.
“It makes no sense! If the Grand Tactician leaves his post now, what are we to do about the situation at the Main Family?!”
Currently what was delaying the departure procedures of the Eldest Young Master’s main force, including the War Department, was purely the capability of Grand Tactician Sima.
If such a man were to leave Luoyang it was the same as having no effective delaying tactic anymore.
“Although we cannot dare fathom the sadness and anger of losing Grand Tactician Zhuge, for the Grand Tactician to head to the north now is—” at the suddenly thrown massive question, the strategists fell silent, unable to answer easily.
“What do you think will happen if the Eldest Young Master eventually succeeds in the Northern Expedition and returns to the Main Family?”
“…….”
“…….”
“Perhaps, I had been careless before.”
In the end, the one who opened his mouth again was Grand Tactician Sima.
“Although the Second Young Master’s side even had a bloodshed incident with the Eldest Young Master, most of their core figures survived.”
The Second Young Master was confined.
His mother, Grand Madame Ouyang, was imprisoned.
Most of the elders held responsibility, but that was strictly a matter within the framework of judicial procedures.
“The Eldest Young Master’s path until now was closer to a conciliatory policy to gather the Main Family’s forces rather than a hardline policy.”
That was why they had been careless and did not listen properly even to Grand Tactician Zhuge’s words warning of the Eldest Young Master’s danger.
“However, the Eldest Young Master from now on is different.”
The strategists’ gazes followed Grand Tactician Sima, toward the wreckage of the armored carriage.
“After he succeeds in the Northern Expedition and returns?”
Although things like evidence had been heavily damaged even looking only at the remaining traces, one could easily guess and more what a great devastation had occurred here.
“That sight is our future.”
In the minds of the strategists, a single word commonly rose.
Purge.
“…….”
“…….”
Grand Tactician Sima spoke.
“The Eldest Young Master must be stopped now, right now.”
He turned his body.
“This is our last chance.”
Receiving the pouring rain, he walked toward the carriage that was waiting.
“Tell them that I will entrust the matters at the Main Family to Elder Namgung Hyeok-cheon.”
* * *
The northernmost frontline of Zhongyuan.
The Grand General’s Headquarters.
“Although the preparations for the meeting are finished…”
Murong Ho, Murong Un-jeong’s younger brother, trailed off his words and asked Yeon So-hyeon, although his words were out of consideration in various ways, a strange gleam appeared in Murong Ho’s eyes.
“would it be alright for you not to relieve your travel fatigue, Eldest Young Master?”
“since the sun is currently in the middle of the sky and the situation is not good,” Yeon So-hyeon, who had not even changed his clothes, was resolute.
“My travel fatigue is not a problem. Guide me.”
“Understood, Eldest Young Master.”
Although his first appearance had been unusual because his birth was that of a noble son and he was even a figure who had received the Emperor’s power of attorney, he wondered if he had to treat him like the ‘high and mighty,’ but at those words, his sister following behind smiled silently.
“Anymore, useless consideration is not needed.”
“I will keep that in mind.”
Indeed.
More than what he had heard through rumors, this Eldest Young Master seemed to be no ordinary person.
“The Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family and the Acting Northern Grand General are arriving!”
When Murong Ho, who had opened the door of the council room beforehand, shouted like that the generals and administrative heads stopped their actions, stood up in perfect order, and welcomed the Eldest Young Master and the Acting Grand General.
However, the problem arose immediately afterward.
“…Uh, hm.”
Murong Ho, who was about to guide the Eldest Young Master to his seat, hesitated.
Naturally there was only one seat of honor and that seat was originally meant for the Northern Grand General, so until now, it was the seat where Murong Un-jeong, the Acting Northern Grand General, had sat.
“…….”
And that was not a mere seat, but was the same as deciding who would be the final commander in this Northern Grand General’s camp from now on.
“Please sit here, Eldest Young Master.”
“Hm. Thank you.”
However, at that moment murong Un-jeong naturally guided the Eldest Young Master to the seat of honor, and the Eldest Young Master also naturally took the seat of honor under her guidance.
“…….”
“…….”
What did that action signify?
While everyone was trying to fathom Murong Un-jeong’s intention, she first opened her mouth toward the crowd.
“The Eldest Young Master is not here merely as the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family.”
Before any potential dispute or subtle friction could even arise, she drew a clear line as sharp as a blade.
“It is the same as the Eldest Young Master having been commissioned as His Majesty the Emperor’s deputy, obeying his command,” she spoke, looking down overbearingly at the crowd with an attitude that brooked no counterargument.
“Clearly, the final decision-maker of this Northern Grand General’s Headquarters is the Eldest Young Master.”
At those words, Murong Ho scratched his beard awkwardly so that others would not notice.
‘I thought the two of them were spending time in the inner room like lovers meeting after a long time…’
It was clear that the two of them had already finished coordinating all these matters beforehand in the inner room.
“Therefore, if anyone disobeys the Eldest Young Master’s commands in the future, I will personally punish that crime strictly according to military law.”
“Loyalty!”
To that command, sharp as autumn frost, who would dare raise an objection?
No one was unaware of her fairness and uprightness, which resembled her father, the Northern Grand General, but speaking conversely, now that she had declared it like this, it was the same as saying that no one would dare ask for leniency.
“…….”
Of course apart from the line she had drawn and shown in the gazes of those looking at Yeon So-hyeon sitting in the seat of honor, toward the youth who was still merely in his teens, distrust and questioning remained as they were.
“…….”
‘I have heard the rumors that the Eldest Young Master’s abilities are outstanding, but…’
‘…Though his martial arts were indeed outstanding.’
*Rustle.* while Yeon So-hyeon turned over the documents placed before him, the people in the crowd exchanged glances.
‘No matter if he is a plenipotentiary deputy commissioned by His Majesty the Emperor…’
‘handing over the military command entirely is—’ abruptly.
“The document processing is a mess.”
At the Eldest Young Master’s words that popped out the people in the crowd clicked their tongues inwardly.
‘Oh dear.’
‘Is he planning to find fault first and establish discipline?’
Since they could not be unaware of the tactic commonly used by newly appointed officials in charge.
“The sentences are verbose and not clear at a glance. To think such empty formalities still remain in the military, which should only pursue efficiency.”
As the Eldest Young Master’s words continued, the face of the person in charge of the documents visibly worsened.
“I-I am sorry—” however, the Eldest Young Master’s action was something that broke expectations.
“Enough.”
“Take this.”
He pulled out a document from his bosom and handed it to the person in charge.
“T-This is…?”
“It is the report form actually used in my Administration Building. In the future, refer to that report and write all documents submitted to me accordingly.”
Thinking ‘Now I am dead,’ the person in charge, who had turned pale, stammered.
“D-Does that mean…?”
Beyond the document, Yeon So-hyeon’s gaze directed toward him.
“Did I speak in a difficult manner?”
That gaze was so chilling that the officer who had been rolling around on this harsh frontline reflexively straightened his waist and answered loudly.
“No, sir!”
“Good. Next.”
Momentarily.
Those who did not understand looked at the Eldest Young Master with blank faces.
“…Eldest Young Master. What do you mean by next?”
The Eldest Young Master clicked his tongue in a low voice, closed the documents he had finished reviewing, and said, and then, once more, he spoke toward the crowd.
“When I say next, you just move on to the next agenda item.”
“Next.”