Romance of the Three Kingdoms: Became the Eldest Son of Sun Ce - Chapter 203



Only Noblemtl
Read Novel Noblemtl

Episode 203. Maintenance (5)

Ikju resembles the night.

The sharp shell reminds me of the rugged mountains of Yizhou, and the plump fruit inside reminds me of the rich basins of Yizhou.

In other words, if we can overcome this external terrain, we will be halfway to conquering Yizhou.

The situation is one where the friendly forces are backed by the supreme justification of the imperial edict.

Even if the people of Ikju were to settle down in Ikju and live comfortably among themselves, they would still tremble in fear before the stern imperial command.

Who in Yizhou would dare to establish a cause in front of the righteous government forces?

The number of troops there was so low that they could not be compared to our forces.

Even if the Yizhou soldiers fought well, they would only be able to defeat the friendly forces that had experienced countless battles, and even if Liu Zhang employed his generals, would they be able to defeat Zhou Yu right before his eyes?

Although the allies are predicted to have the upper hand… .

If there was a problem, it was that damn mountain range that was difficult to invade. That was why our troops had to be thoroughly prepared.

I looked straight into the fiery gaze of the fuel tank.

“In order to occupy Ikju, you would naturally advance westward against the river (Yangtze River) and the land route.”

“Of course. Since you mentioned preparation, let me ask you something. Are you sufficiently prepared for the conquest of Ikju?”

The focus was sufficient.

The administrators of that fertile province were Zhuge Liang and Pang Tong.

These two people are now in a situation where they are each holding their own and using Hyungju’s capabilities to the fullest to extract military supplies.

There was no way there would be a shortage of provisions. Even if there were, they could simply supply them from the reserves stored in Yangju.

That is, unless the supply route was blocked for unavoidable reasons, there would be no shortage of food.

“Don’t worry about the weight. We’ve accumulated a lot for this time. However, we’ll need a lot of warships for supply. So this time, I’ll ask. Have you prepared enough warships?”

When I pointed this out, Zhou Yu nodded slowly and said.

“I’ve been building the warships in Pa-yang just for this moment. There won’t be any shortage.”

And to pass through the rough roads of Ikju, a guide is absolutely necessary.

As it happened, our army had two guides from Ikju.

“There is a port chief named Seop-suk from Ikju in Jagwi-hyeon, Hyeongju. He is well-versed in the geography of Ikju, so use him as a guide and set out.”

“That’s good news.”

Joo-yu, who had been nodding to my words, soon asked with a questioning look.

“…But is that the thorough preparation you were talking about?”

Joo-yu’s eyes seemed to say that it was still not enough. I smiled at him and replied.

“Where, is that all? But anyone can see that they are going out through the rain….”

I continued speaking with a grin.

“I’m thinking of using people from Muling and Sanwol to cross Muling County.”

A few days ago, we met a general from the Sioux tribe. His boiling venom would make this possible.

Then, Joo-yu, who had been listening calmly, looked at me with a rare look of madness.

“…Do you really think that’s possible? To cross that rugged mountain path and go on an advance? How are you going to supply supplies, and how are you going to cross the mountain path carrying that heavy armor…?”

Zhou Yu’s words were a common thought in this era.

It is said that it is difficult to set out over that rugged mountain path.

That was true, but there was someone who successfully accomplished what everyone thought was impossible. And that too, decades later.

Anyway, if an old man in his seventies could march through the rugged Eumpyeong, how much less could young people do it?

Furthermore, the distance between Ikju Bureunghyeon and Mulinggun was much shorter than the distance the old man had marched. If the soldiers were from the noble Muling, it wouldn’t have been impossible.

After completing a series of ideas in my head, I met Zhou Yu’s eyes and answered with a definite answer.

“Then I must do it even more.”

The gas station manager laughed in vain, as if the absurdity of it was ridiculous.

“…what?”

I smiled broadly and spoke softly.

“Your Majesty, this is what you think. Who in Yizhou would have foreseen this and strengthened the defense of Buleung County?

If the Allies truly cross the mountain path of the Muryung Army… the repercussions on Ikju will be truly enormous. I am aiming for him.”

Joo-yu looked at me with a bewildered expression.

His slightly dazed gaze seemed to be reflecting not me, but someone beyond me… .

After a long time, Joo-yu blurted it out.

“…I didn’t want to say this to you…. But sometimes when I see you act that way…. You look exactly like my uncle. And that baseless stubbornness is even more so….”

I almost frowned at Joo-yu’s sudden harsh remark.

You can curse Sun Ce all you want, but how dare you insult me.

At that moment, I was overcome with anger, but I held on tight.

Yes, it wasn’t Sun Ce who couldn’t be returned, but Zhou Yu. I could tolerate this kind of thing once.

I managed to smile and replied.

“…Isn’t it only natural for a child to resemble his father?”

“That’s right, but…. Since you’ve been showing such an uncharacteristic side to me, I find myself blinking.”

Joo-yu got up from his seat and continued speaking with sparkling eyes.

“…Anyway, I understand what you’re saying. If we can cross the Muling River and cause confusion in the Burung Army as you say, the main force’s advance will be smoother. Well, do your best.”

In fact, this was tantamount to the tacit consent of the governor.

‘Gan Ning is going to have a hard time.’

It is not because I am a narrow-minded person that I chose Gan Ning.

Never.

***

I also talked to Joo-yu, and I called together the famous night market near Geon-yeop.

Still, it was a task to pass through a high and steep mountain path. We had to prepare at least the minimum equipment for climbing.

“There’s something you’ll need to make. A three-inch-long nail… Of course, the nail needs to be strong and sharp. And you’ll also need a loop at the end so you can tie a rope to it. Of course, you’ll also need a small hammer to pound the nail.

And the hooks and such that can be used to climb the rock face also need to be made very strong.”

Perhaps because they had placed so many orders at once, the night market workers’ faces were filled with confusion.

So in the end, I explained it to him by drawing the design on paper myself.

Then, they all began to nod their heads, as if they finally understood. Finally, one of the field marshals managed to ask out loud.

“…General. How many should I make by when?”

“Hmm, I need to make about 5,000 of them. Give me four months. Is that possible?”

Then, all the prostrate field marshals gasped in vain. The field marshal who had asked me the question spoke in a trembling voice.

“That, we alone are not enough to make 5,000 of them within the deadline. That, we have to work day and night to make that number… And the iron ore too….”

“Oh, were you worried about the number of craftsmen and iron ore? Don’t worry about that.”

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * Read Korean Novel * *
* * * Noblemtl dot com * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Most of the Sanwol tribe under my command were field men, and as for iron ore, there was a huge amount stored in Shinan County. All I had to do was use it.

When I explained this, the night watchmen remained silent as if they had nothing to say.

“If you succeed within the deadline, you will be rewarded, but if you fail, there will be a severe punishment. So, please try to make it well.”

“Understood, General!”

In this way, one by one, preparations for the conquest of Ikju were made step by step.

And after a while, I received a plausible prototype and took it to see Gan Ning.

***

After receiving a sumptuous welcome from the entrance of Gan Ning’s mansion, I headed to the reception room.

And soon after, Gan Ning appeared quickly and bowed his head.

“Why did your lord come to this shabby place? Without calling the warden!”

I responded to Gan Ning’s polite attitude with a smile.

“I came here because I have something to tell you in advance.”

“What do you mean by a promise?”

“Did you know that recently, the night watchmen near Geonup have been working day and night?”

“Ah, yes. I heard that the weapon repairs have been slightly delayed because of the construction of something. Of course, the repairs aren’t that delayed… But why are you suddenly mentioning the work of the night watchmen…?”

I said with a pretended embarrassed expression.

“Actually, that has something to do with you. Do you remember that Admiral Zhou stopped by Jianye a while ago?”

“Yes, I greeted the director too, so of course I remember.”

“For now, I’ll keep it to you. For now, we’ll be taking the land and sea route, but… I think the route taken by the Muling Army isn’t bad either. That’s why I’m telling you… You should attack the Ikju Buring County via the Muling Army’s mountain route.”

Gan Ning made a dumbfounded expression for a moment.

Gan Ning blinked his eyes as if to check if he had heard correctly, and then finally opened his mouth.

“…Are you saying that we have to go through the rugged Ikju mountain path?”

“I don’t think it’s impossible. Why is it difficult for you?”

Gan Ning couldn’t answer and just lowered his head. It seemed that he was acting this way because he was from Yizhou and knew the terrain of Yizhou well.

Gan Ning stares into space with a blank expression.

I clapped my hands with all my might.

match-

A clear applause echoed through the reception room.

Only then did Gan Ning look at me, and I spoke to him calmly.

“For now, I will supply you to Chunghyeon, Muling-gun. It will be difficult for you to go to Buring-hyeon from there though.”

“That, that….”

“The soldiers should be comprised of people from Muling and Sanwol as much as possible. That way, they will have no trouble walking the rugged mountain paths.”

Perhaps because my intentions seemed firm, Gan Ning opened his mouth to me with a complicated expression.

“…My lord. Why do you wish to abandon me? If you wish to abandon me, please bear with me.”

Gan Ning’s grandiose delusions were quite interesting, but I didn’t have time to hang out with them.

I answered with a hollow laugh on my lips.

“You, you have a knack for joking. But don’t joke like that. Why would I want to kill you? How much our army needs a passionate general like you.”

Gan Ning seemed pleased by my compliments, but then his expression darkened again.

“But how could you make me do such an impossible thing…?”

“Impossible? Why do you say it’s impossible? In my view, it’s something you can more than make happen with your abilities!”

“…My lord, how can we cross those rugged mountains and what kind of strategy can we use to capture Buleung County? By the time we reach Buleung County, we will have suffered great losses in troops. So how can we…?”

From Gan Ning’s perspective, it was quite possible to think like this.

By the way, didn’t you have a bad experience because of Son Ho a while ago?

Because of that, I could think that I was going to kick myself out. But why would I do that? It would take a lifetime to earn Gan Ning’s living expenses.

“You, you still don’t know the importance of this strategy. If you touch Bureunghyeon, how will you get out of Seongdo?”

Gan Ning, who had been thinking deeply with his head down, opened his mouth.

“Wouldn’t you rather move your troops to block or reclaim Burunghyeon?”

“Yes, in that case, Yizhou’s troops will naturally gather there. What if the governor of Zhou takes advantage of that opportunity and launches an offensive across the river?”

Needless to say, the defense of the Yizhou army, which was in contact with the Southern army, would become even weaker.

Gan Ning also realized this and answered with increasing confidence.

“…It will become much easier to occupy Gangju.”

“Don’t think of it as a death sentence. Right now, your role is essential to our army. The benefits our army can gain by crossing the mountain range of Yizhou, which everyone thinks is impossible, are enormous.

And you are worried about the loss of troops… Since most of the soldiers are from Muling and Sanwol, there won’t be a big loss. After all, it’s similar to their original hometown. And look at this.”

I comforted Gan Ning and showed him the prototypes I had prepared. Gan Ning’s eyes sparkled when he saw the tools, like a child who had just discovered a toy.

“With these tools, your campaigns will be a lot easier. Now, do you still think it’s impossible?”

“…No, it’s difficult, but there’s definitely a chance.”

“More than anything, if you overcome the rugged mountains of Yizhou and conquer it, your name will remain in history for thousands of years. Aren’t you greedy?”

Gan Ning was a local aristocrat who became a bandit.

Of course, he surrendered to the allies again and became a general, but he must have been burning with a desire for honor inside him.

The reason he fought with his life on the line all this time was probably his desire for honor.

An immortal reputation that will last for thousands of years to come.

Would Gan Ning really give this up?

He regained his usual confident demeanor and shouted loudly.

“No! The director can do it!”

“It’s nice to see you so confident. Okay, just do that.”

***

Not long after persuading Gan Ning, a letter of introduction from Zhuge Liang, who was staying in Jingzhou, arrived. To be exact, it was two young messengers.

The young man had a gentle expression, his eyebrows were white, and the other side looked proud. His chin was so high that he didn’t even realize it was sky-high, almost reminiscent of the amniotic fluid he once had.

Among them, a young man with pure white eyebrows spoke calmly.

“…I meet the great general. I am Ma Liang, introduced by Zhuge Liang, my courtesy name is Gye Sang. Behind him is my younger brother….”

At that moment, the man behind the horse spoke in a clear voice.

“Masok, the sleeping Yusang is yours, General.”

At that moment, I was filled with a sense of absurdity.

As I was planning a mountain march, didn’t the perfect person come into my hands?

Masok was a man who loved mountaineering to the point of disobeying the orders of Zhuge Liang, the brilliant leader of the Yuan Dynasty.

‘What if I order this guy to go on a mountain hike?’

I couldn’t help but laugh as the puzzle pieces fell into place on their own.

Read Novel Noblemtl
Read Novel Noblemtl