episode_0059

“Did you call me, Your Highness.”

I paid a courtesy call to King Hoe.

King Hoe and Woongsim briefly waved their hands and accepted my military service.

“Defeated, defeated. No one should know what I say from now on. Do you understand?”

King Hoe sent everyone out except Song Yi and me and said so.

“Yes, you say so.”

Sensing that King Hoe’s mood was different from usual, he lowered his posture even further and spoke politely.

King Hoe looked at me with sad eyes and slowly opened his mouth.

“The situation is not good.”

I waited for what King Hoe would say next.

She couldn’t have called me just to say something obvious.

“More than you know.”

Woongshim approached the map and scanned the area with his finger.

“The destruction of the troops led by General Hang and the defeat of Jinseung and Wu Guang caused fear among the warlords. As the Jin Dynasty’s counterattack continues successfully, they are hesitating.”

After saying this, Woongshim took a deep breath and shook his head.

“No, not exactly. They are already hatching. They have already given up on advancing towards the Jin Dynasty and are focused on maintaining the territory they have gained. The banner of extermination of Qin that was first put forward had already been abandoned, and negotiations began by contacting the dogs of the Qin Dynasty.”

A deep shadow fell on Woongshim’s face.

“Probably not a bad thing from the Qin Dynasty’s perspective. Rather than losing everything, it would be better to recognize the control of the warlords, strengthen their power, and reunify.”

Woongshim continued his explanation slowly.

“And it’s not a bad thing from the warlords’ perspective. As long as they only show nominal loyalty to Emperor Li, there is no reason for the Qin Dynasty to care about what they do. Rather, there is a high possibility that they will instigate fights with the aim of creating a plan of defeat by repeating antagonism and battles between them.”

I got goosebumps all over my body.

Nominal son of a thousand.

Warlords who engage in battle after securing dominance within their own territory.

They will become warlords who prey on each other.

The war becomes more intense because no one is overwhelming.

No matter how ignorant a country was of history, Chohanji was very similar to the ‘history’ that even a country that only scratched the surface of knew.

‘Three Kingdoms.’

In a novel, it would span dozens of volumes, but in a textbook, the history is summarized in one line.

Although it is not a historically important period, that excessively difficult period may now be repeated.

‘Absolutely not.’

Fixation of wires. The prolonged turbulence could never be tolerated.

A period of turmoil that would never help no matter which wish you had, whether you hoped for peace or you hoped to become emperor.

I could never watch it unfold like that.

‘…Is there a card that can turn this situation around?’

I gritted my teeth and desperately shook my head.

However, the time given to me to think was not very long.

“So, I would like to ask you, Paegong.”

Woongshim’s stern voice struck my ears.

“Recommend someone who will be helpful to me.”

“…”

I was momentarily speechless and could only stare at Woongsim.

“I know that you have wide feet and are close to many useful talents. Maybe you can recommend someone who can help me advance.”

Woongshim continued speaking.

“I have a lot of bravery, but I lack wisdom. Let us strengthen our military’s weaknesses.”

I rolled my head until my forehead felt hot to read Woongsim’s intentions.

In a short moment, a thousand thoughts came and went, and I was finally able to guess why Woongshim had made this suggestion to me.

‘There is no one I can trust.’

King Hoe is a monarch in name, but to put it bluntly, he is nothing more than a beggar.

He has no knowledge of proper monarchy and has no respect for the generals gathered under the banner of Constant Liang.

The only thing I can trust is Song Yi. However, even Song Yi only functioned as a focal point for the nobility by borrowing the name of a prestigious family.

Song Yi, who did not have a strong relationship with the generals, and furthermore, did not have a deep understanding of the art of war, would not be able to select a useful talent.

However, it would not have been possible to select generals directly under Xiang Liang who were overtly loyal to Xiang Liang rather than to King Huai.

It would be even more untrustworthy in the case of villas that, let alone being loyal, do not know when they will turn you around.

‘So it’s me.’

It is difficult to say that I am a general directly under Xiang Liang, and I can be said to be a subordinate, but I have a close relationship with King Huai.

In addition, I am somewhat distant from the complex political relationships within the Xiangliang Army, so I am the only ally they can trust.

“…”

I calmly organized my thoughts.

‘There is a need for disruption. ‘You need a strategist.’

I burst into laughter inside.

‘Are you too lucky?’

According to my vague knowledge of Chohanji, I have already become friends with the heroes who played the biggest role in the founding of the Han Dynasty.

The problem was that they were giants that would be difficult for me, who was at best the ruler of Paehyeon, to utilize in earnest.

But what if I can use my heroes to move the army under King Huai, the largest of the current rebel forces?

It was truly a luck I couldn’t have hoped for.

I tried to hide my laughter and opened my mouth in a serious manner.

“Leave the grand strategy to Zhang Liang.”

“…Langryang?”

Song Yi narrowed his eyes and thought for a moment.

“Are you referring to that strange-haired woman who often talked to you?”

I nodded at Song Yi’s words.

“Yes, I am.”

I confirmed what he said.

“Although Zhang Liang lacks quick wits, he has a better eye for the game than anyone else and is skilled at planning the big game. Let him be your advisor by your side and borrow his wisdom. I am sure Zhang Liang will prepare the way for His Majesty.”

“…good.”

King Hoe thought for a moment and nodded.

It is not difficult to provide a position as a simple advisor, rather than giving him a formal position, so he may be able to give such an enthusiastic acceptance.

I continued my recommendation slowly.

“And there is a child named Soha who is currently ruling the castle in Paehyeon. Although the child is small and looks weak, he has the talent to feed an army. Let him be in charge of logistics so he can feed the soldiers. Then our army will never go hungry even if it travels 10,000 miles.”

This was a sort of game-winner.

Handling logistics is a critical task for any military throughout the world.

It may be difficult to land such a key position based solely on my recommendations.

If King Hoe listens to my recommendation here, he will be able to throw the bomb, which is the next step. If not, crouching would be a good option.

“Good.”

King Hoe nodded so calmly that even I was surprised.

“Charge.”

Even Song Yi called King Huai with a puzzled look on his face.

However, King Huai shook his head resolutely and interrupted Song Yi’s words.

“I have already decided to trust Paegong, and Paegong is recommending the best person to fulfill my faith. If I ignore this person’s advice now because it is difficult to fulfill it, what kind of subject will give me advice in the future?”

King Hoe said that and turned his gaze to me.

“Keep recommending.”

“Yes.”

I bowed my head and started talking again.

“Lastly, this is the person I would like to recommend as a general.”

“…General?”

Unlike Song Yi, who held the title of Commander-in-Chief, Xiang Liang did not have an official title.

However, everyone knows that Xiang Liang acted like a general.

What I said just now was no different from clearly stating the vacancy in the position of Hang Liang and at the same time saying that I would appoint someone to fill the vacant position.

A proposal that is certain to stimulate the generals who were loyal to Xiang Liang.

“…good.”

“Your Majesty!”

But this time too, King Hoe nodded.

Song Yi shouted in horror, but King Huai shook his head again.

“Are you going to make me repeat the same thing?”

“Your Majesty, I advise you at the risk of your life. The position of general is never so easily decided…”

“Noisy!”

King Hoe rejected Song Yi’s remonstrance without a word.

“Say it, defeated. Who should I appoint as general?”

King Hui said so, ignoring Song Yi’s repeated attempts to dissuade him.

“Yes.”

My winning strategy.

A secret move to prevent the advent of the Three Kingdoms structure.

“Jipgeukrang, please seat Hanshin in the position of general.”

It’s our baby. A loner who lacks social skills. An outsider who is a coward and a coward.

It was Hanshin.

There was a heavy silence in the military tent.

*****

Zhao Go had no choice but to remain silent.

No one would be able to easily answer what the father and daughter sitting in front of him were saying.

Because he made such a huge statement.

Jo Go bit his lip.

A wealthy man who suddenly became the center of attention in Hamyang by appearing out of nowhere and paying a huge amount of bribes to officials.

Jo Go looked at the father and daughter and barely opened his mouth.

“Say it again. What on earth did you just say?”

Jo Go said that, praying that he was crazy and had misheard.

But his hopes were dashed in vain.

The father laughed and the daughter opened her mouth.

“Yes.”

said the woman.

“I want to buy an empire.”

The woman laughed.

“Are you willing to sell it?”

Yechi said.