NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17
“Master. Where do you plan to infiltrate?”
“South and north.”
Geumcheon Gang looked down at the map in front of him, pointing to the south and north of Hainam Island. Samho, who had asked the question, looked at where he pointed and expressed his doubts.
“Isn’t it too far?”
“Because it’s far, we must go that way. Our direction is already determined, so they will surely strengthen the boundaries to the north and west. We’ll draw their attention with a small flanking force from the north, and infiltrate from the south in the meantime.”
“Once we land, the distance to the Hainan Sword Sect will be the shortest, so if we push hard, we’ll arrive in no time.”
“Our goal is to erase the Hainan Sword Sect from the Central Plains as quickly as possible.”
“…The decoy will become a sacrificial card, then.”
“To win, sacrifices must be made.”
Geumcheon Gang looked at his gathered subordinates with a wistful expression.
“If we don’t win, we will all die.”
“Even if we win… there will be no victory without shedding blood.”
Geumcheon Gang blankly gazed at the waves crashing against the cliffs. The time to land on Hainam Island and cross those waves was not far off.
“Who will become the decoy?”
“Master! I’ll do it!”
“Shibyulho.”
Starting with Shibyulho, members of the Black Night Team began to rise, one after another. When ten people stood up, Geumcheon Gang called them over.
“Being the decoy is no different from walking into fire. You might die pointlessly without doing anything. Even so, do you still volunteer to be the decoy?”
“Just give it to me! I’ll show them!”
The first to stand, Shibyulho, answered with a thunderous voice. Satisfied with his response, Geumcheon Gang smiled and took a wooden box from his bosom.
When he opened the lid of the box, the smell of gunpowder wafted out, revealing three spherical objects the size of baseballs.
Carefully, he took one and placed it in his subordinate’s hand.
“It’s a precious item. Use it wisely.”
“Understood!”
Geumcheon Gang handed over the precious item, distributed sparingly by the Demonic Sect, to his subordinate and turned away.
“Set sail. The sun will set soon. May Lord Seonghua watch over us.”
“Heavenly Demon Reincarnation! Ten Thousand Demons Bow Down!”
The cries of the Black Night Team shattered with the waves, sinking into the underwater depths.
“…Have you heard the term ‘weigoujiaozhao’ before?”
“weigoujiaozhao.”
No matter the origin, it’s a term referring to an indirect tactical move.
“I’ve heard of it.”
The day after I ordered poison, I immediately sought out the Sect Leader while helping with war preparations, an idea having emerged in my mind.
“We know they’re going to invade Hainam Island. And…”
“They also know we’re aware of this. Correct?”
“Yes.”
If both sides are aware of the potential for attack and defense, what moves can we make? My conclusion was that there was no better option than a feint.
Perhaps on land there might be other options, but given the special environment of an island, this was the wisest choice. Splitting into two even groups could be a method, but…
This method carried a fatal problem and had a lower probability of selection.
Because even if the enemy’s forces number in the hundreds, dividing them in half means increasing the likelihood that if one side is exterminated, the other could fall under pressure from their numbers.
So my expectation was that they’d opt for a feint.
“Hmm…your point is valid. But if it’s true, there is a major issue. We must guard four positions, but if your assumption holds, they will come from two directions.”
There’s no way to know where they’ll enter.
The best we can do is either guess through luck or, assuming they know the geography, calculate the shortest approach.
“The closest landing point to the Hainan Sword Sect is the southern dock. If they want to act as quickly as possible, the south is the most advantageous.”
“But they could strike unexpectedly from the west or east, couldn’t they?”
“Therefore, communication is key. Be certain to place at least three highly perceptive individuals at each lookout post. They should ignite a fire immediately if any signs are spotted, signaling the news.”
There’s no ignoring that possibility.
Unfortunately, because of this possibility, we cannot avoid dispersing some forces.
If we are each individually attacked, it will be truly challenging.
Perhaps we should consider ourselves fortunate that this is an island? Though the strategic options are reduced because water surrounds us on all sides.
If we had cannons, things would be different. Even for the demonically sized Heavenly Demon Sect, it would be impractical to deploy cannons.
Deploy cannons and you invite the army, not the martial world.
Even if the Demonic Sect members are insane, they certainly wouldn’t wish to fight the army.
“Understood. I shall inform them accordingly. Fishermen are currently diligently extracting the poison to use on the enemy. They volunteered, intending to use it themselves.”
The fishermen are also eager to protect Hainam Island.
“Please organize the collection of human excrement as well. Applying it to arrowheads will be highly effective.”
“Hmm…Very well.”
“Great Hero Wi, could you perhaps give advice on troop deployment?”
“Arrange the elders to participate actively. That would be best.”
Having skilled martial experts advance first minimizes casualties.
It may seem like we’re overusing the elderly, but they are willing to step forward. They wouldn’t stand idly by while the Demonic Sect aims to destroy their homeland.
“What will Great Hero Wi do?”
“I shall lead the main force.”
“…The vanguard is the most dangerous position.”
“I have always led from the front. Moreover, it’s better for morale if the person who devised the strategy leads rather than hides behind the lines.”
A knight always stands in the front.
And I have no intention of breaking that code.
“…Do not die.”
“Do not worry. I have survived worse situations.”
If you seek death, you will live. If you seek life, you will die.
Reflecting on a saying that I originally thought of as mere rhetoric but came to truly understand through two years of my life, I smiled.
“We will win.”
A starless, pitch-black night cloaked the sky.
On a medium-sized vessel, the ten members of the flanking force looked at each other.
“One last drinking session before we go all out.”
“Sam-samsihnho, where did you get the alcohol again?”
“I snuck it when we went to buy supplies last time. It’s called Chukyeopcheongju. Sounds delicious, doesn’t it?”
Sam-samsihnho proudly placed the ceramic bottle of Chukyeopcheongju on the floor. The sight of the fine liquor bottle caused the corners of the special force members’ mouths to rise unconsciously.
“Man, you know your stuff.”
“Did you join just to secretly drink this alcohol?”
“Pathetic…”
“Let’s take a sip. Even if we go, let’s at least wet our lips with something fine.”
“Sam-samsihnho, I love you!”
“You’re the best, as always!”
“Cancel that last statement!”
“Shut up, you guys. Get ready to drink.”
A task practically equivalent to suicide.
But to those who have been raised with no other way of life, there was no other choice to contemplate.
“So, I’ll start…”
Sam-samsihnho carefully unscrewed the cap of the Chukyeopcheongju, handling it as if it were fragile.
As soon as the cap was off, the intense aroma of Chukyeopcheongju filled the air.
“I’ll go first…”
As the purchaser, Sam-samsihnho had the privilege of the first sip. The newly-minted adult martial artist of the Demonic Sect poured the alcohol into a hidden white porcelain cup and downed it in one gulp.
“Wow, it’s really strong.”
Sam-samsihnho’s face turned bright red almost instantly, thanks to the 43 proof alcohol he had swallowed in one gulp. Chuckling softly, he muttered,
“This is what alcohol tastes like…”
“Next is me.”
Right next to him, Shib-yeongho cheerfully gulped down a cup of Chukyeopcheongju. The sweet yet strong aroma of medicinal herbs filled his mouth, turning his face red like an apple.
“If I could drink this every day, I’d have no regrets…”
At those words, Sam-samsihnho chuckled and replied,
“I always thought alcohol was tasteless, but it seems the alcohol in Shingang was just bad.”
“The cheap alcohol we’ve been drinking was the problem.”
“Quickly, pass the cup!”
Thus, the ten squad members each took a sip, and with flushed faces, stood up.
“Thanks to Sam-samsihnho, we’re getting spoiled at the very end.”
“C’mon, let’s hurry. The order will come soon.”
Wobbling slightly, they began preparations for departure as they always had.
Before long, the previously folded sail was spread out, and the ship began slowly moving forward.
“Refreshing~”
“So, what’s the plan? Shib-yeongho.”
“We’ll ram them.”
“What?”
“Just plow straight into them. Then we’ll show them the taste of the Wallbreaker Bomb.”
It was a reckless plan just hearing about it.
But among the ten members of the detachment, no one dared to challenge Shib-yeongho’s words.
“Right, if we’re going out, we might as well go out in style.”
“It’ll be a fantastic coming-of-age ceremony.”
Everyone chuckled, gazing toward the direction of Hainam Island.
“If anyone survives, let’s buy expensive alcohol and pour it into the sea. Don’t drink it all by yourself.”
The individuals, who were raised as swords only for the destruction of the Hainan Sword Sect, silently nodded their heads.