338 – War never again? – 1
I casually looked out the window and saw a sky that rarely even had clouds. It’s almost summer, but there’s not a single cloud. I don’t know if I should like it because it’s sunny or hate it because it’s hot.
Of course, in normal times, I seldom go out of the building, so I would say so, but unfortunately, even this calm weather is bothering me now. I wonder if the word “Before the storm” Is used in such a case.
“Severe cold will come to the north soon. My nephew is aware of it too.”
In the meantime, his head pounded as he remembered what Hyeon-myeong-gong said during the school trip.
‘Damn it.’
I let out a sigh. The fact that Hyungyeong-gong drives away drunkenness and pronounces it clearly is an unusual thing, but it must be related to the north.
Simply ‘Something will happen soon.’ If it is the same remark, it can be comforted that it is still in the estimation stage. However, Hyungyeonggong correctly pointed to the north. No matter how light it may seem, it is not someone who will play around with something like this, so it is in fact in the final stage.
Even after returning to the academy after the school trip, Ma Jong-gong’s expression was unusual.
‘Dukes know.’
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Hyeonmyeong’s words, Majong’s silence. It is right to think that at least all of the 5 dukes heard something.
On the other hand, except for the dukes, no abnormalities were felt anywhere. He didn’t even know anything about Chief 2, who was in charge of information, and he had secretly asked the head of the intelligence department a while ago, but he thoroughly avoided answering. The dukes who reign next to the emperor, except for some departments operating in the north, seem to have gone into information control.
In this situation, there is no way to access the information. The emperor made up his mind and entered into an embargo, but if the inspector general disobeyed, his head would be broken.
‘At this time of year, of course.’
I’m going crazy. After a while, it’s the anniversary of the end of the war, so I have to go to the shrine, but it’s just bittersweet to have to meet them in such an awkward situation.
The north, which had barely managed to calm down by killing Kagan, became noisy again. How the hell can you say something like this to them? What shame can I have to say that the peace achieved by death is about to be shaken again?
‘I should have killed him.’
He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. If there is a disturbance in the north, Dorgon must be the culprit.
If I count the number of times I have been with that bastard, ten fingers are not enough. There were plenty of opportunities to kill that much, but I failed to kill the last one and came to this point. It wouldn’t have been so daunting if the other runners had survived.
The other eight runners are mere tribal chiefs or warriors, so they have no justification to control the north. However, Dorgon is the heir to the Gaar tribe who first united the nomads, the kinsman of the kagan, and one of the protagonists against the Empire. Having this crazy title, existence itself is a symbol of anti-imperial.
‘If we rise properly, ten thousand units will gather.’
It is impossible to deal with a small number of elites when they gather on that scale. This is a world where no individual can beat a group no matter how good they are.
Kagan almost became the only individual to defeat the group, but even that kagan died, further highlighting the group’s strength. That’s why, if the disaster in the north flows into the worst situation, the empire will have to squeeze its forces again after three years of the end of the war. It’s something to be excited about.
“Brother, we’re here!”
“Ah, are you here?”
While I was tapping the desk with my fingers and organizing my thoughts, the class members rushed in after class.
‘Let’s wait.’
He hurriedly corrected his hard expression and put on a smile. Yes, waiting is best. If you can’t get information even if you struggle, you have to wait for information control to be lifted. If you act strangely, you will only incur the Emperor’s wrath.
And if, just in case– wouldn’t it be possible to make a judgment that the northern anomaly could be dealt with by a small number of elite ships?
…I can’t really expect much.
I tried to keep a smile on my face for the past few days. If I was even a little expressionless, Ma Jong-gong noticed. That’s just the default expression.
But I understand. How embarrassing it would be if he heard information that he should have kept completely silent, but his lover couldn’t hear it even though he wanted to. I want to tell you with personal feelings, but it is a fact that I know and Ma Jong-gong knows that moving with personal feelings on a matter like this is very annoying.
So what should I do? I should be smiling as if nothing happened. In fact, since I have shaken off my lingering attachment to information control, I really don’t mind.
“Sweetheart. I want to attend this memorial service, too. Would you like to come with me?”
Instead, ‘The information control will not be released before the worship service.’ He told me indirectly. From the perspective of Majonggong, this seems to be the maximum.
“I’m fine. I haven’t even gotten a teleport wizard yet, thanks.”
When I thanked him with a smiling face, Ma Jong-gong also smiled.
Anyway, what kind of trouble is this because of this bastard, Dorgon? I’m just making it difficult for Ma Jong-gong.
***
The world tree incident caused by the director of the inspection department was treated as ‘something like that’.
“With the return of the Ink Clowns, the Blue Claw Knights, and the Black Mane Knights, all forces active in the north have returned. There are some wounded, but no casualties, as we have thoroughly focused on returning.”
“Treat according to the severity of the injury, not the rank.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
The father briefly responds to the successful withdrawal report, and the Minister of Special Affairs bows and withdraws.
First of all, the disaster of five years ago was avoided. It can be said that it was a successful response because it prevented the collapse of the Special Forces force, which would have been numerous if it participated in the war.
‘…Successful.’
For a moment, I felt pitiful for myself to add the word success to a unilateral retreat of the Empire’s forces. If it wasn’t for the emperor, he would have laughed.
But it’s the north, not anywhere else. It was the north that barely escaped defeat, rather than a glorious victory that dealt a greater blow to the empire than the previous wars with the eastern kingdoms. The name Northern is still a nightmare for the imperial leadership.
“Prince.”
“Yes, Your Majesty the Father.”
And it must have been the same for the father, the father’s expression was harder than before.
“Those who have never been bound will not unite forever. But those who have been bound once can unite twice or three times.”
This may sound a bit out of the blue, but it is clearly aimed at the northern nomads.
Nomads who were subjugated by empires or former settled countries because they had never been able to form a single force. The nomads were united and rebelled against the empire. Although the rebellion ended in failure, the experience of integration and rebellion does not disappear.
That’s why my father treats this incident as a second reverse puncture incident. It’s foolish to think that those who once banded together and rebelled won’t do it a second time.
“What should I do with those who constantly try to unite?”
I bowed my head at those words. The current father was not an old monarch who was preparing to abdicate while handing over real power, but was the only ruler of the empire waiting for an answer from the successor.
“Please punish them firmly and make them realize that they too are just a page in the long history of the Empire.”
A relic that once threatened the life of the empire, a foreign substance nestled in the north that the empire needs to explore. A radical reply that there can be no compromise with such enemies.
Of course, it may be too aggressive for a leader who must consider all possibilities and seek the best way. There may still be a way to end things peacefully.
“Jim’s will is the same as that of the Crown Prince.”
However, the emperor wanted such an answer.
Because that is the way to spread the dignity of the imperial family and the steadfastness of Heaven’s Mandate.
***
The minister decided to prepare boyar wine to be used during the worship service.
Last year, I said I would prepare it, but I couldn’t find one that was released on the market, so I apologized to the Golden Ball. Last year, I succeeded in getting both, so I prepared 12 bottles of wine alone. He also seems to have thought that it would be better to prepare alone than to see that scene.
“Have you packed your things?”
“I can only go to my body, but what?”
Thanks to this, I was able to move lightly with both hands this year. Well, wouldn’t it be better for people in the capital to prepare rather than people coming from far away? Those guys will think so too.
Besides, when else would you accept a drink from your boss? Gerard also vowed to rob the minister’s purse after the war, but if he is treated with boyar wine every year, his wish will come true.
“It’s been a while since I’ve seen Eri.”
Seeing Ma Jong-gong smile softly, now I can even feel the wonder of Section 1.
She quickly called Ma Jong-gong her sister, and now she made her call her by her nickname. Contacting the communication port would be the only thing, but this level of intimacy? It’s just amazing.
‘Is the Crown Princess also possessed like this?’
I decided to think about it that way. Prince Majong was also possessed, but how can she not be called the Crown Princess?
“Come on, let’s go soon.”
“Yes.”
He nodded and took the hand held out by Lord Majong. In fact, if you are a magician of a certain level or higher, you can move other people without having to physically touch them, but wouldn’t it be better to grab them? At times like this, it’s good to have a little skinship.
Then, Jong-gong Ma, who held my hand, looked at me slightly and opened his mouth.
“By the way, baby, if I go to that child’s grave—”
“It’s okay. Let’s go next time.”
I feel sorry for Ma Jong-gong, who cautiously opened his mouth, but he firmly refused.
The child Prince Majong is talking about is Hecate. I too admit that lovers need to go to Hecate’s tomb, but the time is not now.
“There’s a minister at the shrine. It’s a place to introduce a lover, but it’s strange to have an old boss. Next time, let’s set a good day and go together.”
“…Yes, if that’s what Aga thinks.”
It is said that there is no need to make an important seat as if it were a trash can. Fortunately, Ma Jong-gong also respected my will, as if he understood my feelings.
‘The picture is strange.’
Introducing a lover at a shrine visit with an old business associate. No matter how you think about it, it’s a very strange picture. On top of that, it would be rude to add another purpose to the worship for those guys.
I’ll be in Jedo during vacation anyway, so I’ll be able to go then.