Book 10: Chapter 25: Allied Forces

A man with blood-red eyes was staring blankly into empty space.

The specialty of the Valley of Sin.

The effect of the poppy was absolutely clear.

Even standing still, his rough heartbeat felt as if it was piercing through the crown of his head.

It did not matter who the opponent was.

A feeling that he would never lose.

No, an elation as if he could beat anyone to death in a single blow filled his body.

“Uwoooooo…!”

So he blocked the massive rock that flew through the air head-on.

* * *

With a boom a roar close to an explosion rang out, and dirt dust rose.

In the distance, the shattered body parts scattered and a spray of blood fluttered.

“Nice!”

Cheers erupted from Yeon So-hyeon's artillery crew.

“To hit on a zeroing shot!”

Far away.

Soon, along with thick dirt dust the fortified building located in the upper stream of the Valley of Sin crumbled down.

“They completely smashed it!”

The crew chief shouted pleasantly.

“You rascals! Well done! When the situation ends later, I'll slaughter a pig!”

The cheers of the crew members grew even louder, and the crew chief shouted in a ringing voice.

“Maintain launch angle! Load one shot!”

The crew members, hurrying the loading task, were sweating profusely on their soot-blackened faces, yet they let out silly grins.

“It was like that during training too. The body just remembers it.”

“Aigo. We did this for years, how could we forget it?”

Everyone here.

Though they had not spent enough time together to get close, they were strangely in perfect sync.

It was because they were former combat engineers who had participated in the Northern War.

“That's true.”

The person pulling the rope through the pulley chuckled.

“To think that I applied for daily construction work and ended up building and firing catapults in the middle of Luoyang.”

“It was something I never imagined in my dreams.”

The one pulling the rope with him said.

“I thought being dragged to the battlefield did nothing to help my life.”

“Thanks to this, we even get to receive combat pay, so what complaint could we have?”

As long as it made money, Luoyang was a place teeming with poor people pulling carts filled with corpse heads.

“Check finished!”

“Loading complete!”

The hefty combat pay promised by the House of Benevolence and Love.

That combat pay led to an overwhelming participation rate of the poor laborers.

“Long live the House of Benevolence and Love!”

Hearing someone shout that, the crew chief grinned and shouted.

“Show those parasite-like bastards of Luoyang the taste of boulders filled with the mercy of the Medicine Fairy!”

* * *

The rooftop of Yeon So-hyeon's business headquarters.

Boulders continuously crossed the empty air.

At the target upper stream of the valley, dirt dust rose along with continuous explosions.

“It is not even the military, such nonsense…”

One of the members of Yeon So-hyeon's new alliance families muttered so, but there was no returning answer.

“……”

Everyone was simply dazed.

Holding onto the rooftop railing, they could only watch the sight of the fortified upper stream of the Valley of Sin being battered by the catapults.

“It is beyond expectations. Excellent.”

Standing behind them with his hands clasped behind his back, Yeon So-hyeon praised.

“We merely selected those with no problems on record and rearranged their organization.”

The old man standing beside Yeon So-hyeon was reporting in a low voice.

“Since they did not particularly need any grandiose training either.”

“Your humility is excessive, Old Strategist.”

Elder Yeom's martial group, the War Advisory Council.

The reason the Old Strategist of that War Advisory Council stayed in the Valley of Sin during this time, rather than beside Elder Yeom, was precisely to prepare for today.

“The materials for constructing the catapults were brought in under the pretext of rebuilding the Valley of Sin.”

Factually, at the raw material stage, there was no difference between a building and a catapult.

“And the precision parts were smoothly procured from workshops in Luoyang.”

The business department of the House of Benevolence and Love.

The execution of tasks by the Tea Fan Maidens was excellent.

“Well. What I actually did was merely clasping my hands behind my back and nagging.”

Though he expressed it as nagging how could Yeon So-hyeon not know that taking responsibility and supervising all of it was the most difficult task.

“Since proper engagement has not even started yet, I will receive the praise after the battle ends.”

While saying the battle had not even started, his tone was confident of victory.

At the reliable tone of the old man who had rolled on the battlefields all his life, Yeon So-hyeon smiled.

“Let us do so.”

And, in the meantime.

The Patriarchs of Yeon So-hyeon's new alliance families finally escaped the shock brought by the appearance of the catapults.

“Is he planning to pour it on like this, destroy the defensive key points, and then push forward with the government troops?”

In response to what an elderly Patriarch muttered, someone answered this time.

“Well…”

He was the son-in-law of the Seo Family.

“Although he raised the chance of victory in a situation that was practically a certain defeat by destroying the prominent defensive key points.”

The Seo Family was the only family here related to the military.

“Is there some problem?”

Therefore, it was natural for questions and gazes to be focused on the members of the Seo Family.

Frowning and looking at the upper stream, he continued speaking.

“That narrow alleyway and steep slope of the upper stream of the valley remain the same. Even if the government troops pay an immense sacrifice, how much chance of success there will be…”

The son-in-law of the Seo Family was a battle-hardened general whose merits had been recognized on the battlefield.

“Indeed, is that so.”

“Meaning it is impossible to break through simply with government troops.”

Among the Patriarchs, no one bothered to refute his words.

“An immense sacrifice of the government troops?”

Just then, a clear laughter reached their ears.

Everyone's gaze turned to the owner of that laughter, the Eldest Young Master Yeon So-hyeon.

“This Eldest Young Master has no intention of sacrificing innocent government troops.”

Originally, the subjugation of the underworld was the duty of the authorities but Yeon So-hyeon had no intention of recklessly using the government troops, whose morale was low and training insufficient, to vainly throw away their lives.

“You will not sacrifice the government troops?”

On behalf of her husband who turned red after being directly refuted by Yeon So-hyeon in front of everyone.

The Acting Patriarch of the Seo Family spoke.

“Then, do you mean you will attack without a main force? Without troops to take charge of the vanguard, even the Eldest Young Master's armored carriages will not be of much use.”

“Indeed, the military Seo Family. It is just as you say.”

Unexpectedly yeon So-hyeon nodded readily.

“Armored carriages are not much different from cavalry. Once they lose their mobility, they will only be halted.”

At those words, the shoulders of the Seo Family's Acting Patriarch squared for no reason.

“However,” yeon So-hyeon's words did not end there.

Yeon So-hyeon shrugged his shoulders.

“when did this Eldest Young Master say there was no main force to take charge of the vanguard?”

“Although I have heard that a few martial artists, including the nuns of the Emei Sect, follow the Eldest Young Master.”

The son-in-law of the Seo Family, who had turned red at those words, spoke up again.

“Would it not be embarrassing to call a mere few martial artists a main force? There are many martial artists on the underworld's side as well.”

Whether he harbored being embarrassed by Yeon So-hyeon in his mind, his words were barbed.

“Of course that is true.”

When Yeon So-hyeon gestured, the Old Strategist signaled to the person standing on the rooftop watchtower.

“Is not the basic of combat the head count?”

As if responding to Yeon So-hyeon's words the red signal flag waving from the watchtower fluttered vigorously.

“Head count?”

Did the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family have anything that could be called a troop to fill the numbers?

Far away.

In the middle stream forward base that Yeon So-hyeon had reclaimed, a similarly large red flag fluttered.

And, from the forward base in the middle stream, and from around the forward base, fully armed troops began to pour out into the square.

“Just what are those troops?!”

“They are my troops who will take charge of the main force and form the vanguard.”

Looking at the sight of hundreds of people pouring out, Yeon So-hyeon spoke to the Patriarchs of the new alliance.

“They are armed with a faith and mental strength that is exceedingly devout and noble.”

Devoutness and noble faith.

And a sufficient head count.

Hearing up to there, there was no one stupid enough here not to notice their identity.

“The House of Benevolence and Love?!”

* * *

The middle stream of the Valley of Sin.

Near Yeon So-hyeon's forward base.

“It is the will of the Eldest Young Master! Government troops of the Security Annex, please wait here until further orders!”

What awaited the government troops of the Security Annex who arrived in the middle stream was a standby order.

Though it was a situation where the Eldest Young Master of the Sword Family was giving instructions to government troops no one paid attention to that.

“…Are all of these the Eldest Young Master's troops?”

Because the hundreds of troops before their eyes were enough to blow their minds.

“Senior. Those troops are probably the vigilance committee of the House of Benevolence and Love…”

The junior constable shook his head while speaking.

“But if it is that level of armament, it would be embarrassing to even call them a vigilance committee.”

It was to the extent that the government troops, comparing their own armament with theirs, wore intimidated expressions.

“Just where on earth in Luoyang did the equipment to heavily arm that number of troops come from?”

They held short spears upright, carried large shields, and even wore swords at their waists.

Underneath the scale armor made of joined iron plates, they even wore thick leather armor.

The equipment of the House of Benevolence and Love's troops was accurate to be called heavily armed.

“…Looking at the condition, they do not seem to be new.”

At the words of Constable Park, who used his vision to examine them, the junior constable expressed doubt.

“If they are not new, where did they come from?”

His questions followed one after another.

“And no matter what, it would not be a quantity that could be obtained in the outskirts of Luoyang, right?”

And that question likewise came from the Patriarchs of Yeon So-hyeon's new alliance.

“They are items from the north.”

This time, Yeon So-hyeon personally answered their question.

“The north…?!”

A Patriarch of a merchant house associated with the north flashed his eyes.

“I see! Surely, in the north, there is a surplus of arms that were released during past wars!”

“But if it is a merchant group of a scale that handles that amount of quantity at once…?”

Moreover, it was not one or two.

Trading armaments in that quantity was a highly sensitive issue.

“Those armaments,” yeon So-hyeon gave a hint in answer.

“were sent by Dong Ga-hyu from the north.”

“If it is Dong Ga-hyu…”

“It is definitely a name I have heard somewhere…”

While the Patriarchs tilted their heads at the familiar name, the merchant Patriarch shouted with a shocked expression.

“The Great War Merchant of the north?!”

Upon hearing that moniker, the Patriarchs instantly recalled the name.

“You mean the owner of that great merchant group who is said to mine gold from a river flowing with blood?!”

“That merchant of death who is said to be present wherever there is combat in the north?!”

“Eldest Young Master!”

The merchant Patriarch associated with the north shouted to Yeon So-hyeon with an unbelieving expression.

“Do you have a relationship deep enough to conduct large transactions with the Great War Merchant of the north?!”

At those words, Yeon So-hyeon chuckled.

For the first and last time he met Dong Ga-hyu came to mind.

“Celebrating the end of the seclusion of the Great Eldest Young Master, the direct descendant of the Great Luoyang Sword Family, I pray that you will have great fortune in the future, live ten thousand years, and have everything go smoothly!”

The fellow who had appeared as if he would give up even his liver and gallbladder was currently in a state no different from having his life mortgaged to him.

“Or should I call him Arukutai of the Oirat Tribe?”

Because Yeon So-hyeon knew his identity.

Upon arriving in the northern lands, Dong Ga-hyu immediately sent a large quantity of armaments as Yeon So-hyeon ordered.

“Of course, we traded because we have a relationship.”

A meaningful smile hung on Yeon So-hyeon's lips.

“He and I maintain a very good relationship.”

“Oh, remarkable…!”

The Patriarchs whispered.

“To heavily arm that entire number of personnel, the cost must have been no small matter.”

“It is not to the extent of being expressed merely as no small matter. Indeed, a massive sum is required.”

“Does the Eldest Young Master possess a funding line we do not know of? Hidden sponsors perhaps?”

Their words were correct.

To Yeon So-hyeon, who had countless avenues where funds had to be spent, the money to arm that many troops was extremely burdensome.

'So I leased all those armaments free of charge.'

Although it is called a lease, the reality is extortion.

“Indeed. The skill unbefitting of his age was not merely an exaggeration in rumors.”

“To think he had a relationship with the Great War Merchant of the north…”

Everyone watched the atmosphere, quietly expressing admiration at Yeon So-hyeon's resourcefulness.

However, that was merely keeping up appearances.

Not everyone had completely accepted the current situation and Yeon So-hyeon's confidence.

“This Eldest Young Master has already equipped as much force as needed.”

Yeon So-hyeon had definitely said so.

“And recognize your position in this alliance.”

Words that felt arrogant.

However.

'…It seems still early to completely determine the chances of victory to this extent?'

Sensing the gaze of the Seo Family's son-in-law, Yeon So-hyeon wore a meaningful smile, as if reading his inner thoughts.

“Now, now.”

At Yeon So-hyeon's voice, everyone's gaze was focused.

“It seems the proper engagement is about to begin.”

Yeon So-hyeon raised his hand and pointed to the upper stream.