Chapter 463 : Government Posts (3)

Once ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Wi Jin-hak's shocking announcement passed, Il-mok snapped back to his senses and cried out in a rush.

"T-this ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍task is far too heavy a burden for someone like me to carry. Please, withdraw it, Your Majesty."

The ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍moment Il-mok finished speaking, Wi Jin-hak burst out laughing for some reason.

"Hahaha. ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍What do the rest of you think? Does the position of Grand Preceptor seem too much for the Left Guardian to handle?"

As ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍Wi Jin-hak asked the crowd gathered in the hall, Il-mok quickly turned to look at them too, but the answer he was hoping for never came.

"Given ‍​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the achievements the Left Guardian made during the war, this humble one believes it is the perfect fit."

"The Left Guardian should be more than capable of mediating between the various ministries."

Not a single person objected or claimed that the position of Grand Preceptor was excessive, even when it meant a young man not even thirty years of age would be sitting on a throne of power right beneath the Holy Emperor.

"Hahaha. Since everyone recognizes the Left Guardian's ability and achievements, I hereby appoint Left Guardian Il-mok to the position of Grand Preceptor."

To Il-mok, Wi Jin-hak's hearty laughter sounded almost like the laughter of the King of Hell himself.

‘'I-It's fine. It's probably just an honorary title. I-If all I'm doing is mediating a little, there won't be that much work, right?'’

While Il-mok was busy performing Olympic-level mental gymnastics to escape reality, Wi Jin-hak's voice struck his ears again.

"Furthermore, the Grand Preceptor shall be granted the power to appoint anyone, save for the Ministers themselves. All of you will consult with the Grand Preceptor to staff your lower-ranking officials so your ministries may begin operations immediately."

The power to appoint everyone except the Ministers. Since each Minister already had the power to appoint anyone below their own deputy, it seemed like it shouldn't make much difference.

But in reality, this might as well be called the new unchecked power.

There was only so much competent talent to go around, and many new ministries to fill. Naturally, every Minister would fight tooth and nail to secure the smartest officials for their own departments. And smack in the middle of this turf war was the Grand Preceptor, armed with the ultimate authority over appointments and mediation.

The moment people realized what that combination actually meant, they swarmed Il-mok without exception.

'Hah... I hate my life.'

Surrounded on all sides by people chanting his name, Il-mok could only squeeze his eyes shut and accept his miserable fate.

***

While Il-mok was being tortured by the cabinet ministers and unwillingly dragged into birthing the empire's new bureaucracy into existence, an imperial decree from Wi Jin-hak arrived in the border region once governed by the Western Military Command.

"It's an order from the Cult Leader. We're to join forces with the Northern Military Command and drive out the Mierqi."

Because the decree had been written before Wi Jin-hak declared himself the Holy Emperor, Jong-ri Chu read it using the title of Cult Leader.

"Bah! Are you telling me we have to sit here and wait again?! Why wait when I can just march out there and slaughter them all right now!"

Baek Un-hak let out a blatant sigh after hearing Dokgo Ryong’s complain.

"Is your head just for decoration, Right Guardian? And a pretty ugly decoration at that. The enemy forces are entirely cavalry. If we recklessly abandon these walls to charge at them, they'll just slip past our flanks and massacre innocent civilians."

The front they had to defend was wide and the enemy cavalry was far too mobile, so they had no choice but to keep holding their ground. In the meantime, it fell to Baek Un-hak and Jong-ri Chu’s responsibilities to hold back Dokgo Ryong from doing anything stupid like charging straight into enemy territory. After Baek Un-hak's tirade, Jong-ri Chu spoke up to smooth things over.

"If the Northern Military Command really does join us, the gaps in our line will be remedied immediately. Once that happens, you'll be completely free to charge out and kill to your heart's content."

Maybe it’s fate or maybe it’s the heavens taking pity on them, but they somehow managed to hold Dokgo Ryong back and keep the line steady for two more days. Then a messenger carrying a flag marked with the character for North arrived at their fortress.

“Let me get this straight. The Northern Military Command is heading this way after hearing the Cult Leader’s decree. Did I get that right?” Dokgo Ryong asked, summing up what the messenger had said.

And the messenger nodded. "That's correct, sir."                          

“Estimated time of arrival?”

"They should arrive by tomorrow evening."

As soon as the messenger's report ended, Dokgo Ryong grinned from ear to ear.

***

Dawn.

Two days later.

At a camp set up just beyond the border of the Central Plains.

"O’ Khan!!"

Startled by his subordinate's urgent shout, the Khan of the Merkit snapped his eyes open and shot upright.

"T-the Demonic Cult bastards are advancing from the wall!"

"What about that madman?"

"He's riding at the very front of their vanguard!"

The corner of the Khan's mouth curled into a crooked grin.

'Finally. The opening I needed before winter arrived.'

Nearly a month had passed since they'd chosen to strike the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult instead of the Han Dynasty. The raids had begun right after the harvest, and winter was creeping closer by the day, yet they still had nothing worth calling a real harvest of their own to show for it.

The biggest culprit behind their lack of success was the man called the Left Guardian of the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult. A terrifying monster who wielded incomprehensible martial arts.

Whether it was a blessing or a curse, that demon had left the borders shortly after the war began. But in his place, a crazy old man had stepped up to guard the North.

While he wasn't quite the nightmare the Left Guardian was, the Right Guardian was still an incredibly tough opponent. More than anything, the damage they'd already taken from the Left Guardian had been so severe that an all-out war simply wasn't an option, which was why they'd spent all this time relying on their mobility to wage war against the Demonic Cult.

But time wasn't on their side. Winters up north were unforgiving, and they had nowhere near enough supplies to get through one. He'd been debating whether he should sacrifice every warrior on the steppe in a desperate siege to breach those walls these past few days, and those fanatics had finally handed him the perfect chance he’d been waiting for.

"The main force will draw them in and buy us time! Tell the left and right flanks to spread out wide! They are to blow past their empty defenses and pillage everything in sight!"

As soon as the order left his mouth, the subordinate who'd brought the news sprinted back out. Soon after, the Merkit and the tribes under their command moved in perfect unison.

Just as they finished forming ranks and the two flanks began spreading wide, the crazy old geezer leading the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's charge crashed onto their camp.

"Get me your strongest warriors, you bunch of turtles! HAHAHAHA!”

In answer to Dokgo Ryong's roar, the nomads gladly responded with a volley of arrows, but Dokgo Ryong simply swung his greatsword in wide arcs.

"You think some cheap little trick like this can hurt me?!"

The arrows that had blanketed the sky bounced harmlessly off the shockwave of his greatsword. Dokgo Ryong finally reached the enemy lines with his trusted black horse and began rampaging through their ranks.

Slash!

No one could block a single one of his strikes, and a red path stained with blood and corpses opened up in his wake. Unwilling to watch his men get butchered in vain, the Khan spurred his mount forward from the center of the formation.

"Be ready to fall back on my signal!"

If he could kill the old madman, they could simply sweep through the enemy's main force right then and there. If things didn't go well, he'd draw the main force in just enough before pulling back completely. This was the greatest strength of the steppe warriors.

Seeing the Khan charging straight at him, Dokgo Ryong burst into a hearty laugh.

"Hwahahaha!! The turtle finally came out to play!!"

"I'll chop you to pieces and feed you to the eagles!!"

The Khan's curved blade met Dokgo Ryong's greatsword with a thunderous crash.

"Tngri, hear us!!"

"The Heavenly Demon Descend!! Ten Thousand Demons Obeys!!"

With the two as the signal, the clash between the two factions erupted in earnest.

***

A few hours later.

"Hyah!!"

The Khan of the Merkit was riding hard toward somewhere with his men guarding around him. A thin trickle of blood could be seen from the corner of his mouth from his fight with Dokgo Ryong.

"YOU BAAASTARD!!! GET BACK HERE!!"

From a distance behind him, Dokgo Ryong's roar kept coming.

‘That madman.’

The Khan was genuinely dumbfounded.

Their fight wasn’t one-sided and was actually a tie. In fact, Dokgo Ryong’s condition wasn’t any better than his. This whole raid and retreat was simply a part of his bait-and-switch tactic that should be common knowledge by now, and yet that crazy old bastard was still hounding him while screaming his throat hoarse.

"O’ Khan. Our harvest this time should be more than enough. All thanks to that idiotic man.”

They were currently racing toward a rendezvous point to secure a safe escape route for the cavalry wing they had secretly sent over the border to pillage.

The Khan nodded at his subordinate's optimism, though his mind was thinking of something else.

'We got the food we needed, but the real headache begins once we return to the north.'

The losses were far too heavy compared to what they'd gained.

'I have no choice but to focus on internal crackdowns to ensure a rebellion does not break out.'

Just as he was thinking he'd need to make examples of a few tribal chiefs, a scout shouted from up ahead.

"The left flank is returning!"

The Khan felt something was wrong. "This soon?"

Just plundering the military rations stored inside the wall wasn't enough. They had to advance past the walls into villages and towns to obtain food, cloth, and slaves before they could return. There was no way they could have finished the raid this quickly. 

The Khan channeled his internal energy into his eyes and stared hard at what lay ahead.

In his vision, a massive group of people are indeed heading toward them on horseback. But as he strained his eyes further, he could see the silhouettes of infantrymen marching behind the cavalry.

The Merkit does not have foot soldiers.

Soon after, a powerful voice erupted from the midst of the unidentified force.

"Slaughter these barbaric savages for daring to lay a hand on the people of the Central Plains!!"

That voice belonged to none other than the Commander of the Northern Military Command.

Only then did the Khan realize something had gone terribly wrong.

‘Don't tell me, the entire left flank we sent this way got wiped out?!’

Right at that moment, the crazy old man's roar came from behind him.

"BWAHAHAHA! HALT RIGHT THERE AND FIGHT YOU TURTLES!”

And from up ahead, the powerful voice of another old man erupted again.

"Don't leave a single one of them alive!!"

It was the ultimate definition of being caught between a rock and a hard place.

***

Around the time the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult scored a great victory with the Northern Military Command's help, Zhuge Mun finally returned to Beijing after his trip to the South.

He bowed to Wi Jin-hak to pay his respects, and Wi Jin-hak got straight to the point.

"How did the negotiations go?"

Perhaps because he knew Wi Jin-hak's temperament well, Zhuge Mun answered just as concisely. "They said their only goal is to protect the common people from corrupt officials and Wukou pirates."

"Hmm. Then they shouldn't have much objection to working with our Divine Cult."

"Correct. However, they replied that they wish to meet the Cult Leader in person before deciding anything permanent.”

Wi Jin-hak nodded at the explanation. "Even if they want an audience, the remnants of the Eastern Military Command are still out there, so it won't be easy for them to come right away. We'll need to send reinforcements and wipe out the remnants quickly."

Even before his words ended, a few of those gathered in the hall had their eyes light up. These are the people who haven't yet been appointed in the system.

For them, a final opportunity to achieve military merit had just presented itself.

Zhuge Mun kept his head bowed even as his eyes lit up.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty. And please, punish this foolish subject of yours for daring to address you as Cult Leader."

Zhuge Mun was sharp enough to instantly pick up on Wi Jin-hak’s use of royal etiquette.

"Hahaha. Think nothing of it. You were out in the field and simply missed the announcement. I would never punish you for that."

With a subtle nod from Wi Jin-hak, the Hidden Guard Pavilion Lord unfurled the scroll containing the organizational chart for the new government.

Zhuge Mun looked over the Heavenly Demon Divine Cult's central government structure, and even upon seeing Il-mok's name listed as the newly appointed Grand Preceptor, he showed no particular reaction.

Instead, he brought up a different topic entirely.

"Your Majesty. Now that you have claimed the throne, we must prepare to officially establish your era name. It is time to name your new empire and decide where to move the capital."