Chapter 1541
Isn’t that good? (1)
The situation in Kaifeng was a mess.
Hong Daekwang’s face was turning ashen with distress.
“Reporting! An Evil Sect has appeared near Nanjing. Their number is estimated to be under thirty!”
“We have reports that individuals, presumably from Haomun, are attacking nearby sects in Handan! The exact number of enemies is unknown!”
“Urgent news! There’s an attack! Reports have come in that Xuzhou is under assault! The identity and number of the attackers are unknown!”
“This… this is insane…”
Hong Daekwang’s eyes quivered as he looked at the map of the Central Plains spread out before him.
The large map was gradually being stained red in various places. The locations where enemies were attacking were increasing even at that moment.
It was as if the entire Gangbuk was engulfed in flames.
“Sect Leader!”
“Quiet! I’m trying to think!”
Hong Daekwang shouted, biting his lip.
‘How on earth?’
His blood ran cold.
Pung Yeong Shin Gae, who had been silently watching the flustered Hong Daekwang, let out a short sigh. It was understandable for the young leader to be so bewildered. Just as he was about to speak to calm Hong Daekwang…
“Compile all incoming reports!”
A swift and clear voice burst from Hong Daekwang’s mouth.
“The first thing is to assess is the number of enemies! From the places that reported an attack, sort out the ones where the enemy numbers were not reported and send carrier pigeons! Use any means necessary! Mobilize everything, even the highest priority resources, to figure out the enemy’s numbers! Immediately!”
“Yes!”
“Once the numbers are determined, use Sangbogak [상보각(想報閣) – information processing pavilion] to find out the distribution of the Evil Sects who infiltrated Gangbuk!”
Even before he could get a response, Hong Daekwang swiftly added more instructions.
“Without waiting for the analysis results, report to Cheonumaeng starting with the locations where the enemy numbers have been identified! Ignore all formalities and protocols! Use every possible method to convey the situation as quickly as possible. Report every single piece of new information immediately!”
“Yes, Sect Leader!”
The beggars dispersed in perfect order.
“Sect Leader! What about Gupailbang?”
“Use the remaining carrier pigeons and manpower to inform them as well!”
“But, Sect Leader, the Beggars Sect is already allied with Cheonu…”
“You wretched beggar! Do affiliations matter when lives are at stake? How have you survived all this time with that mindset?”
Hong Daekwang’s sudden outburst caused the beggar, now pale with fear, to hastily bow his head.
“I’m-I’m sorry!”
“Instead of apologizing, go do something! Hurry! Even a moment’s delay could be irreparable!”
“Yes!”
During this exchange, the map of the Central Plains that Hong Daekwang was watching continued to be marked in red.
‘Damn it…’
Although Hong Daekwang was now the Sect Leader of the Beggars Sect, he honestly did not expect Sangbogak to provide a proper analysis.
If the Beggars Sect had that kind of capability in the first place, they wouldn’t be living off scraps while holding such a significant informational advantage.
Therefore, his job was merely to uncover and relay every detail. Cheonumaeng would be the ones to devise a strategy.
“…Do something about this, Hwasan Shinryong.”
With a nervous heart, his tightly bitten lower lip turned pale.
❀ ❀ ❀
With a steady stream of carrier pigeons arriving, Hyun Jong murmured in a daze.
“This, this is…”
The sudden eruption of the situation seemed to have momentarily frozen his mind. At that moment, Tang Gunak quickly turned his gaze to Im Sobyong.
“Nokrim King! The enemy is…”
“Hold on.”
But Im Sobyeong firmly silenced Tang Gunak. Gripping his fan with such intensity it seemed it might snap, he fell into deep thought before nodding.
“Based on the reports so far, it appears that the forces of Sapaeryeon who were in Zhangjiajie and those remaining in Gangnam have crossed the river in large numbers and moved into Gangbuk.”
So far, this was obvious information.
“Judging by the situation, the enemy seems to have split into smaller groups and spread across the entire northern region. We need to respond to this situation!”
A moment of silence enveloped everyone. However, Jo Geol shouted in disbelief.
“No, how is that possible? Are we all blind here? How could such a number of Evil Sects infiltrate Gangbuk without anyone noticing?”
“It is possible.”
“I’m not denying what has happened, but I simply cannot understand it. Unless we missed something crucial…”
“It is possible.”
“Chung Myung?”
Chung Myung, who had been sitting with a stern face and arms crossed, finally spoke.
“Under normal circumstances, it would be difficult. Even though the number of martial artists sects is small, they are spread across the entire Central Plains, so avoiding all their eyes would be impossible.”
“Exactly!”
“Yes, if they were spread across the entire Central Plains.”
At that moment, Jo Geol’s face hardened. He understood the meaning of Chung Myung’s words.
“General is correct.”
For those who had not yet understood, Im Sobyeong elaborated.
“It’s impossible to monitor the entire Yangtze River, but even if the river were breached, it wouldn’t be a significant problem. As the General mentioned, during such times, not only the Beggars Sect but also all martial arts sects serve as a surveillance network.”
Several people nodded. This was common knowledge.
What they observed would be relayed to the nearest major sect, and that major sect would spread the information throughout the world via the Beggars Sect. This was the true meaning of the Inescapable Net Formation [천라지망(天羅地網)].
“But now it’s different. Now…”
Tang Gunak continued Im Sobyeong’s explanation.
“All those martial artists are gathered in one place.”
“Exactly.”
Cheonumaeng and Gupailbang.
These two groups had competitively drawn in the small and medium-sized sects. Those who would have revealed the enemy’s movements, even at the cost of their lives, had abandoned their homes.
Im Sobyeong glanced at Tang Gunak.
“And… even the common people living along the Yangtze River have moved in large numbers.”
Tang Gunak muttered with a stern face.
“But no matter what, this extent is…”
“Because it’s not a large number.”
“What do you mean?”
“If the invading enemy were a single sect, whether they crossed the river or passed through Sichuan, it would be difficult to conceal their entry into Gangbuk. Even if it were not a sect but a single group or a unit, it would be the same. If they had gathered even ten people, they would have been discovered.”
Im Sobyeong’s gaze shifted to Chung Myung, his eyes oddly chilling.
“But if the number is extremely small, then even if it’s enemy territory, they can infiltrate without being detected. We have already proven that. Paegun would surely have realized this as well.”
“But wasn’t that possible because those who went to Hainan were exceptional?”
“No. For Sapa, it is even easier.”
Im Sobyeong replied firmly to Hyun Jong’s question.
“Gangnam is a place where the Just Sects cannot set foot. No matter how well they disguise themselves, it’s difficult to completely hide their aura and awkwardness. So, they must avoid being seen by people entirely.”
“That makes sense.”
“But in Gangbuk, the Evil Sects already exist. No, we don’t even have to go far – Nokrim is there as well.”
Indeed. Hyun Jong had to agree, his face hardening.
Even if someone had spotted a few scattered enemies, they wouldn’t have found it particularly strange.
After the Yangtze River Disaster, such scenes had become common even in Gangbuk.
“But…”
Taaaaap.
Just as Jo Geol was about to raise another question, Chung Myung slammed the table with his palm. As all eyes turned to him, he spoke in a chilling voice.
“How they managed to launch the attack is not important. What’s done is done, and what’s left is how we respond.”
Everyone agreed. They had been talking too much out of shock, but as Chung Myung pointed out, there was no time to waste.
Chung Myung gestured toward Im Sobyeong.
“Tell us. What should we do?”
“We must not move.”
Im Sobyeong’s words caused Seol Sobaek to shout in surprise.
“Aren’t we gathered here to stop them? How can you say we shouldn’t move? Even now…”
“Yes. Civilians will continue to die.”
Im Sobyeong cut Seol Sobaek off, as if he had anticipated the reaction.
“But our movement to quell this situation is exactly what the enemy intends.”
“Explain in more detail.”
“With Sapaeryeon’s attacks occurring across the entire Central Plains, we must stop them. But to block all these places, we must inevitably divide our forces. In doing so, our system will fall apart.”
“…”
“Dispersing our forces in the first place is considered the worst strategy in military tactics. Particularly, when forces are divided into such small groups, they are powerless in large-scale confrontations. There’s only one reason Jang Ilso would do something so foolish: to force us to disperse as well.”
“Hmm.”
Tang Gunak let out a low hum. Im Sobyong continued speaking.
“They will advance through that gap. If our system is broken at that time, we will have to endure much greater losses than anticipated. What we must confront is not the scattered, inept enemies, but the main forces stationed in Zhangjiajie. Do not forget this.”
Unlike his usual self, Im Sobyeong’s voice was uncharacteristically resolute. It was almost a threat to prevent any dissent.
The senior members of Cheonumaeng fell into deep contemplation.
“We won’t have to wait long. The main force of Sapaeryeon in Zhangjiajie will inevitably move. It’s a battle of patience. The first to move loses.”
Chung Myung, with his arms crossed, couldn’t suppress a chuckle.
“A fire has broken out in my house, and the first to move loses?”
“Yes.”
“And if we burn to death?”
“How is that different from being stabbed to death?”
Their gazes briefly clashed in midair.
Surprisingly, it was Chung Myung who backed down first. He leaned back into his chair and closed his eyes.
Instead, Baek Cheon spoke up.
“Nokrim King. No, Commander.”
“Please speak, Vice Sect Leader.”
“As per the reports, attacks are happening everywhere, but the numbers at each location seem relatively small.”
“That is correct. So, they are a bait…”
“In that case, can we not respond with a similarly small number of our forces?”
“…”
“If we allocate just one or two sects separately…”
“No.”
Baek Cheon, exuding a heavy aura, stared intently at Im Sobyeong. But Im Sobyeong remained resolutely firm.
“No response until the main force of Sapaeryeon moves.”
“Commander!”
“More people will die! Don’t you understand?”
Im Sobyeong’s sharp voice echoed loudly. Even Five Swords, who had been inwardly agreeing with Baek Cheon, flinched and bit their lips.
Im Sobyeong took a long breath, as if to cool his heated mind.
“…Ultimately, those who have infiltrated will be like salt thrown into the sea. Impressive as they may seem now, such numbers cannot achieve anything significant. I understand your concern, Vice Sect Leader. But let’s wait a little longer.”
Baek Cheon, who had been staring at Im Sobyeong with sharp eyes, sighed. Regardless of what was right, this was a wartime situation, and he could not undermine the authority of the Commander, Im Sobyeong.
“I understand.”
Im Sobyeong gripped his fan tightly.
“Paegun is not a patient man either. Once he moves, he will act even more destructively than before. So, we must endure just a little longer. The moment he moves, we will definitely counterattack.”
The words sounded like a declaration, almost a vow. And what was most deeply embedded within them was… hatred for Jang Ilso. Understanding this well, the senior members of Cheonumaeng could only nod in agreement.
It was at that moment.
“Reporting! An urgent message from the Beggars Sect!”
“What does it say?”
It was Gwak Hoe who burst through the door. He was pale as he read the dispatch he held. Despite his desperate attempts to control it, his hands were trembling.
“Sapaeryeon is crossing in large numbers from south of the Yangtze River!”
“What?”
“The number of ships is difficult to count, definitely in the hundreds! The location is…”
Everyone collectively held their breath, as if on cue.
Finally, Gwak Hoe’s strained voice rang out.
“From Yueyang to Changzhou. The entire Yangtze River!”
It was as if a thunderbolt had struck the meeting room.
“The entire Yangtze River? Is that true?”
“Yes!”
Chung Myung’s gaze slowly drifted toward the window. The darkness that had covered the world was lifting, and dawn was breaking.
Chung Myung bit his lip hard.
“Well…”
The red dawn, signaling morning, looked to Chung Myung like a menacing flame set to consume the world.
‘Jang Ilso.’
Chung Myung’s gaze turned southward, his eyes filled with intense hatred.
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