Monochrome Sovereign (Novel) - Chapter 170 - Tying the Knot (4)
Chapter 170 – Tying the Knot (4)
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Translated by Heavenly Cat
Edited by Celestial Knight
Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net
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Three days later.
“What?”
Murong Jun’s expression became fierce in an instant.
“There’s talk about delaying the dispatch of the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Armys?”
“That is correct.”
“What crazy bastard in the world spat out such a reckless remark?”
Murong Jun rarely got angry.
It was understandable. Not only the dispatch timing of the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Joint Force, but even the target had been decided.
Especially that target was a venomous group counted within ten fingers for being a headache even in Murim. They flash in the east and flash in the west with elusive movements, but they had even heard their movement route and the place they would stay for a month from a reliable informant.
It ends if they just strike exactly that place. Anyway, the Evil-Annihilating Army will stand in the vanguard, and after they splendidly finish them off, all the merit will go to Murong Yu, the Grand Commander of the Joint Force.
Starting with that, he was planning to slowly make known the majesty of the Demon-Sweeping Army and the value of Murong Yu, but to delay the dispatch timing?
“That is…”
Murong Jun’s number one confidant, Ho-gyeong, spoke with a troubled look.
“First of all, the one who mentioned that story first is said to be the Sect Leader of the Emei Sect.”
“Abbess Bok-ho?!”
“That is correct.”
His soaring anger subsided at once.
There weren’t only High Envoys in the leadership of the Murim Alliance. The heads of each organization were decided through personnel placement based on ability and reputation, and among them, there were quite a few who spread an elegant reputation that even the High Envoys could not treat carelessly.
If the story came out, he thought it would probably come out from them. But the Sect Leader of the Emei Sect?
‘There is something.’
He smelled something unusual. The sharp resourcefulness that made him who he is today sensed an ominous feeling.
Murong Jun, who was lost in thought for a moment, said.
“It is a matter that hasn’t even gone through the High Envoys meeting, so there is no way such a grave story would have circulated. Didn’t someone intentionally spread it?”
“That’s…”
Ho-gyeong spoke with a sullen face.
“Among the soldiers belonging to the Evil-Annihilating Army, there are lay disciples of Emei. Our side’s person heard the sound of them conversing in the dining hall.”
Murong Jun’s eyes shone coldly.
‘Greenhorns?’
He knew that among the soldiers belonging to the Evil-Annihilating Army, there was not a single person who had accumulated proper years of experience.
“Go and receive the personal details of the Emei Sect lay disciples. As quickly as possible.”
“Understood.”
Half a day passed like that.
“Clan Head.”
Ho-gyeong handed over a few documents.
Starting with Song Yeon-gyeong, it was a document containing the personal details of the Emei Sect lay disciples. Their martial arts level, personality, position in the sect, etc., were written in detail.
In an instant, a bluish energy arose from Murong Jun’s hand who was examining the documents for a long while.
Pak! Hwareureureu.
A threatening electric light flashed, and the documents turned into a handful of ashes and disappeared.
“When did you say the High Envoys meeting is?”
“It’s noon two days from now.”
After reviewing the dispatch preparation matters of the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Armys at that meeting, they were scheduled to dispatch exactly five days later.
‘It is hard to grasp just by looking at the positions or personalities of the greenhorns. If so…’
Murong Jun looked at the documents piled on one side. They were documents containing agenda items to propose at the last High Envoys meeting before the dispatch.
“What about Master Kong-kong?”
“He is currently at his residence.”
“Go and deliver this. Tell him to pull it forward to tomorrow morning since there is an urgent matter.”
* * *
The next morning, the High Envoys gathered in the meeting room of the Martial Sage Hall.
Master Kong-kong opened his mouth.
“Yes, for what matter did High Envoy Murong summon us?”
Before answering, Murong Jun looked around at the High Envoys.
His eyes stopped at Abbess Bok-ho.
‘…’
Abbess Bok-ho had a quite peaceful look. She didn’t seem too surprised even by the suddenly advanced meeting.
Murong Jun’s eyes deepened.
‘She knew.’
She already knew how he was going to come out.
‘Abbess Bok-ho is not a person with outstanding political skills. She is a person who has lived her entire life for the Righteous Path and chivalrous deeds.’
There are exactly three High Envoys he thoroughly excluded in the process of drawing several High Envoys as allies.
They were exactly Shaolin, Wudang, and Emei.
The heads of these three sects are not easily swayed. Approaching them carelessly could rather cause a backlash.
So he was being cautious, but to think he would get hit in the back of the head in this way.
‘If this matter is not what Abbess Bok-ho intended.’
His eyes headed to Yeon Wi.
‘Not the Yeon Clan Head.’
In some sense, he is a harder human than Abbess Bok-ho. Besides, he was the father of the Evil-Annihilating Army Commander Yeon Ho-jeong. He couldn’t easily mention matters related to the Evil-Annihilating Army even because of laws and face.
‘The possibility of it being the Peng Clan Head would also be slim, and…’
His eyes finally headed to Zhuge Wen-hu.
His figure of drinking a sip of tea with slow movements was truly like the reincarnation of Zhuge Liang.
‘It’s the Strategist.’
Doubt appeared on Master Kong-kong’s face.
“High Envoy Murong?”
“…I will tell you.”
Murong Jun spoke with a somewhat stiff face.
“Recently, regarding the illegal…”
He conveyed the contents written on the documents he brought in detail one by one.
The volume was quite a lot, and among them, there were also serious issues. Since there were also issues that would negatively affect the livelihood of the people right away, the atmosphere of the meeting room became quite heavy.
However, the High Envoys knew. That the reason Murong Jun advanced the meeting wasn’t only because of the contents written in those documents.
Even if one is not skilled in politics, there is an atmosphere understood after going through meetings for several months. The High Envoys waited persistently until Murong Jun’s true intention came out.
A moment later.
“These are all the agenda items to present today.”
“Is that so.”
“Yes, and…”
Murong Jun’s eyes shone.
“Lastly, I would like to discuss the dispatch timing of the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Joint Force.”
Doubt appeared on the face of the Mount Hua Sect Leader, Immortal Yong-hwa.
“Wasn’t the dispatch timing of the Joint Force set for five days later?”
“Of course that is so. However, I thought it was right to go through the meeting even one day earlier, and then deliver the operational details to the soldiers of the Joint Force.”
“Mmm.”
“The Evil-Annihilating Army has matched their hands and feet while experiencing actual combat for several months. However, the Demon-Sweeping Army is not like that. Since the number of personnel is also large, my thought is that there is a need to give them even one day more of leeway.”
Immortal Yong-hwa nodded his head.
“Those are right words. Actually, there are worrisome aspects just by sending them out in a state where they haven’t even received proper training. However, since Army Commander Murong’s martial arts and presence seen at the foundation ceremony were truly impressive, I think we can be relieved about that part.”
“That is correct.”
Murong Jun smiled.
“Besides, aren’t the ones making up the Demon-Sweeping Army uniformly experts with resounding reputations in Jianghu. If Army Commander Murong leads them well, they will be able to accomplish the mission without any particular damage.”
Immortal Yong-hwa smiled back.
“However, gaining about one more day of time would likely be helpful to the morale of the entire army. I agree with High Envoy Murong’s opinion.”
“Thank you.”
It is truly a good thing to have a person to accompany politically.
Moreover, the Mount Hua Sect was historically a sect that contested for the Number One Sword Sect Under Heaven along with the Wudang Sect. Since the sect leader of such a sect sympathized, several High Envoys nodded their heads in turn.
It was then.
“I have something to say regarding that part.”
Murong Jun’s eyes flashed.
‘As expected, it is you.’
Zhuge Wen-hu opened his mouth.
“I will speak straightforwardly. How about delaying the dispatch timing of the Demon-Sweeping and Evil-Annihilating Army a little?”
Namgung In frowned.
“Why do you mean to delay the already confirmed dispatch timing?”
Zhuge Wen-hu wore a relaxed smile.
“Actually, I had been pondering about that part since before. In the case of the Evil-Annihilating Army, they sortied from the alliance without even a foundation ceremony and established countless merits. Since the faces of the soldiers making up the Demon-Sweeping Army are also outstanding, there would be nothing they couldn’t do.”
“Those are right words.”
“However, the situation then and now is different. When the Evil-Annihilating Army dispatched, it was a time when the system of the alliance had not been established, but right now a definite system and organization chart are established, aren’t they.”
Yeon Wi asked briefly.
“Are you saying there is no need to overdo it necessarily?”
“That is correct.”
The Kongtong Sect Leader, Deung Cheon-gyo, frowned.
“The ability of the Demon-Sweeping Army Commander Murong Yu is excellent. If the already decided dispatch timing is delayed, the heated morale will collapse.”
“Just as High Envoy Deung said, Army Commander Murong’s ability is excellent, so he will be able to console the collapsed morale well.”
“I think it is a useless act though.”
It was a quite rough remark. It was a tone befitting the Kongtong Sect Leader who was second to none in being rough.
The Wudang Sect Leader Immortal Seung-hyeon said.
“Strategist Zhuge.”
“Please speak.”
“Even this lacking person thinks that delaying the dispatch timing will be a problem. Of course it would be good if preparations are made more thoroughly, but isn’t it too much to adjust the timing coming now when there are not even a few days left until the dispatch?”
Zhuge Wen-hu nodded his head.
“Is that so?”
“I think so.”
“Well, that part also bothered me too.”
Zhuge Wen-hu stood up and took a fist salute.
“It seems I didn’t want to take an adventure in a situation where the organizational system of the alliance was established. Please forgive my hasty remark.”
It was a clean apology.
Most of the High Envoys smiled and said it was fine, but Murong Jun couldn’t do so.
‘What is it?’
Murong Jun’s eyes narrowed.
‘He gives up already? There’s no way that would be it?’
Looking at Abbess Bok-ho’s expression, the answer comes out. It was clear that Zhuge Wen-hu was even foreseeing that he would advance the meeting.
“Ah! Since the talk about the dispatch timing came out just in time, taking this opportunity, I also have one thing to propose.”
Murong Jun flinched.
‘Propose?’
What is it? That reaction coming out as if he was waiting for it?
In an instant, Murong Jun felt his spine turn cold.
‘Was he really waiting?!’
Spreading the rumor to advance the meeting, and even the talk about the dispatch timing, were they all bait?
‘…For what in the world?’
Zhuge Wen-hu smiled and said.
“It is nothing else but talk about the Alliance Leader’s Department. Would you like to hear it once?”
Interest arose on the faces of the High Envoys.
Master Kong-kong nodded his head.
“It was a part that had to be discussed someday. Yes, what part are you thinking of proposing?”
“The position of Alliance Leader is a truly honorable position. However, even if the system is established, it is clear that no matter who becomes the Alliance Leader, it will be somewhat hard for them to lead the first Murim Alliance. Not because they lack ability, but in terms of experience.”
“So?”
“So I propose.”
Zhuge Wen-hu said calmly.
“How about creating two Vice Alliance Leader positions in the newly established Alliance Leader’s Department?”
Not one, but two.
Looking at the sparkling eyes of the High Envoys, Murong Jun was captivated by one thought.
I was hit.
* * *
“Vice Alliance Leader… I understand, but why did you push for two instead of one?”
“It is to guard against the concentration of power.”
“But even if it’s the Alliance Leader, he can’t ignore the High Envoys, right?”
“However, if the number of those supporting the Alliance Leader among the High Envoys becomes a majority, what do you think will happen?”
“…!”
“A checking force must unconditionally be made. A powerful organization only has meaning when it exists solely for the world. It means it shouldn’t be swayed by one person’s political ability.”
“Heo-eo.”
Yeon Ho-jeong smiled coolly and looked out the window.
The sunlight is very good.
“If the Alliance Leader is truly a good person, wouldn’t he be able to embrace the opposing faction too?”