Chapter 64

Chapter 698: One General's Success, Ten Thousand Bones Wither (一將功成萬骨枯) One Battle's Victory, a Hundred Empty Jars (一戰功勝百空罐) (2)

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“Huh?”

Lee Doo was startled by Seol Myo’s words.

“Are you saying that our leader is still alive?”

“Is our leader the kind of person who would so easily pass away?”

“Well, that’s true. I’m relieved. Truly relieved.”

Lee Doo kept repeating, “I’m relieved,” and then suddenly asked,

“Are you saying that our leader has defected to Lü Bu?”

Lee Doo wore an expression of disbelief. The Zhaolong he knew was not the kind of person who would change his allegiance. How could a man who valued righteousness like his life defect to Lü Bu, with whom he had once clashed in battle?

“Shh! Lower your voice.”

“Brother, is that true?”

“It’s not unreasonable for you to doubt, but it’s true. Do you know about our leader’s master?”

Lee Doo shook his head.

“None of us knew about our leader’s background. He never told us, so we were all just curious... But where is our leader’s master?”

“Master of the Shangshan Zhao Clan.”

“Master of the Shangshan Zhao Clan... Isn’t that the pinnacle of spear techniques? Oh! No wonder our leader’s spear skills were so formidable...”

People from Guanzhong and Guandong often looked down on each other, but even those from Guanzhong had to acknowledge the spear techniques of the Shangshan Zhao Clan and the sword techniques of the Dongmuyang family.

“Why did you bring up the topic of our leader’s master?”

“The master of the Shangshan Zhao Clan has come. He took in our leader, who was an orphan, and taught him the secret spear techniques of Shangshan. He is both our leader’s benefactor and adoptive father.”

Only then did Lee Doo nod as if he understood.

Huang Baocong had indeed elevated Zhaolong to the rank of a general, but that favor paled in comparison to the favor of his master. Moreover, Zhaolong, being an orphan, did not even know his original surname and name. It was the Shangshan Zhao Clan that had taken him in and given him a new identity. It was entirely reasonable for him to have switched allegiances to repay the Zhao Clan.

Of course, those who followed the principles of Confucianism would prioritize loyalty to the emperor and their lord. But they were not such people; they were mere commoners who had nothing to do with Confucianism.

Thus, his reaction was natural.

“Brother, didn’t you tell the commander of this town that you had escaped from Lü Bu’s camp? It’s dangerous. Why did you come to a place where even Jiang Yidan is present?”

“Leader ordered me to assist Lü Bu. And the Red Silk Army here is actually not the Red Silk Army.”

At this, Lee Doo tilted his head in confusion.

“I don’t understand. If the Red Silk Army is not the Red Silk Army, then what do you mean?”

“The Red Silk Army that was guarding the supply convoy has already been annihilated by Lü Bu’s forces.”

Upon hearing the news of the Red Silk Army’s annihilation, Lee Doo’s eyes widened in shock. He instinctively covered his mouth to prevent an exclamation from escaping.

Lee Doo’s reaction was understandable. The idea that the Red Silk Army had been completely wiped out was hard to believe.

Lee Doo knew how formidable Lü Bu’s forces were. Even Zhaolong, whom he trusted like the sky, and Seol Myo, who seemed invincible in combat, had knelt before Lü Bu’s banner.

But the Red Silk Army was different. It was one of the two pillars that had enabled Huang Baocong to dream of ruling the world.

Talk of a long and illustrious history and tradition was irrelevant. The Red Silk Army’s prowess could be summed up in one phrase:

‘Unmatched and Unvanquished (全勝無敗).’

They had never lost a single battle in all their campaigns. This record proved their strength.

How could he believe that they had been completely wiped out?

“I can’t believe it. The Red Silk Army being annihilated... I heard that the number of Red Silk Army soldiers guarding the supply convoy was around ten thousand. How could they have been completely wiped out?”

“Unbelievable as it may be, it’s true. But there’s something even more astonishing. Listen without being surprised. A strategist of Lü Bu’s forces beheaded Che Zongwang, the commander of the Red Silk Army.”

* * *

Lee Doo’s mouth dropped open.

“A... A strategist fought and beheaded Che Zongwang, the commander of the Red Silk Army? Such an unbelievable thing...”

“Such an unbelievable thing actually happened. Che Zongwang’s head is pickled in salt and carried somewhere in the supply wagons. To avoid the smell, it’s probably close to the wagon carrying jars of alcohol.”

“Is there really such a thing in this world? The Red Silk Army is known for being undefeated. How could the commander’s head be taken by a strategist? Do Lü Bu’s forces even select their strategists based on bravery?”

If the story of Guo Jia obtaining Che Zongwang’s head were to become widely known, the reactions of those who heard it would likely be similar to Lee Doo’s.

Strategists study and apply methods of warfare, but they rarely take up arms themselves.

Yet, this strategist of Lü Bu’s forces had personally beheaded Che Zongwang, the commander of the Red Silk Army. How could one not be astonished?

“So, Lü Bu’s forces are that strong. I’ve heard that one of the Eight Generals of Lü Bu, who ranks last, defeated An Liang, a general of the Guandong forces...”

“If a strategist has the skill to defeat Che Zongwang, the generals must be even more formidable, and Lü Bu himself must be incredibly strong...”

“The saying that he is the bravest in the world is not a lie. Therefore, our leader’s decision to follow Lü Bu is a wise one.”

“So, the Red Silk Army besieging Dongguan now must be Lü Bu’s forces?”

Seol Myo nodded at Lee Doo’s question, but his doubts only grew.

“But why aren’t they attacking Dongguan? If they had stormed in when the gates of Dongguan were open, they could have easily taken it, no matter how well-fortified it is...”

“I’m puzzled by that too. But they must have some strategy. The strategist who defeated the Red Silk Army with a strategy wouldn’t overlook a simple move, would he?”

“That’s true. Then, what should I do?”

“The strategist told me that there’s something I need to pass on to the commander of Dongguan through you.”

Hearing that he had a task, Lee Doo’s ears perked up. Since Zhaolong and Seol Myo had already decided to follow Lü Bu, Lee Doo’s fate was also sealed.

Contributing to Lü Bu’s success would also benefit Zhaolong and Seol Myo.

“Tell me. I’ll do my best.”

“Alright. The message is...”

* * *

Lee Doo left the room, pondering how to convey the message he had heard from Seol Myo to Sae Dong. But before he could take a few steps, he ran into No Buk. No Buk had been waiting for him to come out.

“Hey!”

No Buk gestured for Lee Doo to come closer. Lee Doo hesitated and stood in front of No Buk.

“What do you want?”

“What did you talk about?”

“What do you mean...?”

As Lee Doo trailed off, No Buk’s eyes narrowed.

“Tell me immediately what you talked about with Seol Myo.”

“It was a private conversation...”

“It doesn’t matter. Tell me everything.”

“We were both under the command of General Zhaolong. As fellow soldiers who had nearly died and then met again, how could we not talk about our past?”

Lee Doo fabricated a story on the spot.

“So?”

“Meeting again after nearly dying...”

As Lee Doo’s words trailed off, No Buk pressed him.

“What did you decide to do after meeting again?”

“...”

“Can’t you just tell me the truth?”

Lee Doo didn’t understand why No Buk was pressing him so hard. He hadn’t done anything to arouse suspicion.

But he realized that in Dongguan, guarded by Jiang Yidan, he would always be an outsider.

‘No Buk must be interrogating me because he suspects I might have leaked information to the Red Silk Army!’

Lee Doo guessed No Buk’s intentions and tried to deflect the suspicion with another excuse.

“What else could there be for men to share their feelings except alcohol? But...”

“Go on.”

“I’m just a lowly soldier here, so I can’t get any alcohol. General, can’t you give me a jar of alcohol out of the camaraderie we’ve shared?”

No Buk roughly grabbed Lee Doo by the collar.

“Have you ever seen a madman like you? Even if I had alcohol, I wouldn’t give it to a scoundrel like you.”

Lee Doo inwardly rejoiced at No Buk’s reaction.

“I thought there would be alcohol for the generals among the supply wagons.”

“Get out of here!”

No Buk gestured for Lee Doo to leave and then went straight to Sae Dong. Lee Doo watched No Buk’s back and inwardly rejoiced, while No Buk moved with a light heart.

“What did that guy say?”

“It seems that Zhaolong’s subordinates are just guests. They came here under the pretense of serving Seol Myo, but they are actually with the Red Silk Army.”

“Did that guy reveal anything about Dongguan to the Red Silk Army?”

“It doesn’t seem so. But what is there to reveal? He spends his days singing and staring blankly at the sky...”

Seeing Sae Dong’s expression sour, No Buk quickly changed the subject, trying to find something that would interest him.

“General, that guy said there’s a wagon full of alcohol among the supply wagons.”

“Really?”

A smile spread across Sae Dong’s lips.

Within Jiang Yidan’s forces, he was considered a troublemaker. But since coming to Dongguan, he hadn’t caused any trouble.

Was it because there were no forces attacking Dongguan?

No, that wasn’t it. Sae Dong’s troublemaking required one essential element: alcohol. When sober, he was just a bad-tempered man, but when drunk, he became a ‘dog’ in the vulgar sense.

There was no alcohol in Dongguan, and no nearby civilian homes.

Moreover, the military strategist had ordered that no alcohol be left in Dongguan, knowing that Sae Dong would cause major problems when drunk.

Swallow!

Sae Dong’s Adam’s apple bobbed up and down as he repeatedly swallowed his dry throat.

“There’s alcohol, you say? Fine! I’ve made up my mind!”

“What do you mean? Surely... No! The strategist has issued a ban on alcohol.”

“The strategist is in Hanguan, hundreds of miles away. How would he know if I take a sip here?”

Sae Dong said this and headed toward the line of supply wagons.

No Buk followed him, trying to dissuade him.

“You can’t touch the supplies, General.”

“Tsk!”

“No matter how you look at it, it’s not allowed. I received orders from the strategist. If the General gets drunk, my head will be on the line.”

“Tsk!”

Sae Dong glared at No Buk, who then tried to persuade him with different words.

“The alcohol in the supply wagons is surely meant for the generals. If it disappears, it won’t be overlooked.”

“Hey! You talk too much. Just one sip!”

“General, one sip from you would empty a whole jar. How could this guy not know that?”

Despite No Buk’s attempts to dissuade him, Sae Dong eventually found the wagon with the stacked jars of alcohol and picked one up, placing it on the ground.

Sae Dong opened the jar as if gently untying a lover’s sash. No Buk, standing nearby, recoiled in horror, covering his nose and mouth as a foul odor filled the air.