Episode 35. Didn’t they tell you to keep the enemy close?
Poongyeoncho nodded while staring at the fairly high mountain and asked.
“Sim No-je, do you know anything about red bonds?”
“I don’t know much about it, but I have heard of the name Chae Ju-in, Tongcheonhyeolbu Hyukryunhu.”
“Wow! You must be pretty good with an axe. I can see it reaching the sky.”
As Poongyeoncho nodded, a group of people slowly approached from behind. Judging from the flags planted on the carriage, they seemed to be a national flag.
just as expected?
A man in his late forties, with a brave appearance, approached me quickly and spoke to me.
“Haha! Hello. My name is Lee Moon-yeop, the leader of the Phoenix Kingdom. Although I am not good enough, my friends in the martial arts world call me Yoo Woon-byeolgeom.”
Lee Moon-yeop briefly looked into the backgrounds of the Five Bong Ten Heroes.
When I met a dozen or so unfamiliar warriors during my march – and that too in front of Mt. Palgong – I was suddenly scared. That was why I stepped forward first to greet them.
He let out a sigh of relief as he confirmed that the eyes of a dozen or so people were gleaming with light. His past experiences had convinced him that they were the unmanned members of the Jeongpa.
The fourth son, Heo Im-dal, who happened to be nearby, responded with an indifferent expression.
“I see. We are disciples of the Biryongmun. We are on our way to find the Seungcheonmun in Namjikryeoseong.”
“The Gate of Ascension?”
Lee Moon-yeop looked at the Five Bongsipgeol with slightly surprised eyes.
Heo Im-dal felt a bit uneasy because the other person was delighted, but he nodded his head because it was a bold move.
“yes.”
Then Lee Moon-yeop asked with sparkling eyes.
“What’s going on at the Ascension Gate?”
“Ah, that’s… … .”
Heo Im-dal, who had been speaking with great enthusiasm, trailed off. This was because no one had ever shown interest like this before.
Tak Go-myeong stepped forward to replace Heo Im-dal, who was hesitating.
“I can’t tell you because it’s part of the text.”
Then, Lee Moon-yeop realized his mistake and blushed.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I heard that there is a Seungcheonmun on my wife’s side, so I’m glad to see you.”
It was a long time ago so I don’t remember clearly, but Seungcheonmun wasn’t a Sapa. If they were, I would have remembered it clearly.
Tak Go-myeong smiled and nodded.
“Haha, I see. I was on my way to find you after you asked for help. The main text and the Ascension Gate are like family.”
Lee Moon-yeop’s face brightened at the words, ‘We are like one family.’
“I see. Are you guys also climbing Mt. Palgongsan today?”
“Are you planning to do that?”
“Ah! In that case, how about you come with us? I heard that the bandits in Palgongsan are on the rise these days. We’ve come prepared, but I think it would be better if there were more people.”
“I will tell you something.”
“Oh, yes, I would really like you to come with me. Please take care of me.”
Tak Go-myeong went to Poongyeon Elementary School, leaving behind Lee Moon-yeop who was even bowing.
“Brother, did you hear? The leader of the Phoenix Kingdom wants to cross the mountain with us. What should we do?”
Poongyeoncho’s gaze turned to Gumilbokgeom Simyanggak. It was to consult his experienced advice.
Sim Yang-gak, a thief to the core, answered without hesitation.
“This is like a pumpkin rolling in with a vine. If a red herring appears, you can attack from behind depending on the situation, and if nothing else comes up, you can just quietly go over the mountain.”
Then, Heo Im-dal, who had a brilliant mind, opposed it.
“That doesn’t seem right. Didn’t the people from Daebyeol Mountain say before, ‘Don’t hike in the areas of other mountains?’ If this is the area of Jeoksa Mountain, you might end up doing something good and getting cursed at.”
There was some truth to what he said, so Poongyeoncho couldn’t jump to a conclusion.
Of course, a ‘good deed’ is helping the enemy and striking a chord. However, if the enemy shamelessly refuses to share the wealth, it could end with nothing but being cursed at.
As the worries grew longer, the third son, Ma Hyeong-do, said something.
“Brother, aren’t there over twenty warriors in the Pyo country? If we include them, there are over thirty. Would the Red Army show its face? If we don’t have to meet the Red Army, we’re almost out of food, so why bury it and go… …”
When the topic of food came up, the five great men of the family each spoke up.
“If I go with Pyo-guk, will you share some with me?”
“They say they eat well.”
“It’s delicious. But it’s all the same until the stew cooks.”
“No, there are many different types. Their job is to move around.”
“Your Majesty is right. It’s better than us eating jerky every day.”
As interest in wealth waned, the conversation shifted to food. The five men of the Five Families were generally inclined to agree that “the food of the Five Families would be good.”
Poongyeoncho, who had been listening quietly, glanced at Yeonjeokha’s complexion.
Yeonjeokhado is concentrating on the story of eating while smiling.
When I see that, any desire to refuse company disappears.
If you are not going to visit the enemy’s camp, it seems like it would be okay to go over the mountain with the flag. As Ma Hyeong-do said, I was also concerned that the dry weight was slowly running out.
“Second, go and see if they can provide you with food while you’re going. If they can, go with them. If not, just tell them to go first.”
“All right.”
Tak Go-myeong hurriedly returned to Lee Moon-yeop.
After a while, Tak Go-myeong smiled awkwardly and said to Lee Moon-yeop, who was looking at him with expectant eyes.
“We are a bit short on food. If the government offers to share food, we will go together. If not, we will go to a nearby village.”
Lee Moon-yeop nodded as if he understood.
“Oh! In that case, we will provide you with food while we cross the mountain.”
Lee Moon-yeop added the clue, ‘While crossing the mountain.’
He himself was not confident that he could continue to feed eleven people.
Chief Inspector Lee Mun-yeop immediately returned to Bonghwangpyo and informed the Biryongmun of their joining.
One of the heads looked at the Five Fengshigeol with half-believing eyes and said.
“Chief Secretary, these are people I just met along the way. Are you sure it’s okay?”
“I know what Kwak Pyo-du is worried about. But think about it. If they were suspicious and followed you, wouldn’t that make you even more anxious? You can deceive everything else, but you can’t deceive their eyes. If you see their eyes, you’ll think it was a good idea to accompany them.”
“yes…….”
At the words of the general, Gwak Won-yi did not say anything further.
Since we had already decided to go together, I had to trust the experience and insight of the commander. Besides, I was reluctant to go into the mountains with those unmanned people following me, as the commander had said.
“Isn’t it better to keep the enemy close? It’s better to watch them from close range. It’s better than not knowing and getting stabbed in the back of the head.”
“I think what the Chief of Staff said is correct. I will look into it carefully.”
Only then did Kwak Won-yi’s expression relax.
***
Palgongsan Jeoksachae.
A thief, out of breath, ran into the hut of Chaeju Tongcheonhyeolbu Hyukryunhu.
“Huk! Huk! Master Chae, we have received a call from down the mountain. The Phoenix is coming.”
“Hehe, really? Then I should get ready.”
As Hyukryun-hu stood up, the bandit continued to speak.
“Um, but I heard there are quite a few armed people.”
“How much is it?”
“I’m over thirty.”
Hyukryun-hoo frowned.
I was planning to have a good run and participate in the Green Forest Tournament, but I feel bad because there are so many escorts.
Noh Yang-jin, who committed slaughter of debtors, blurted out a few words.
“With that many markers, the markers must be quite valuable. Should I take a stab at it?”
“Really? My heart is swayed when I hear that there are so many signs.”
Hyukryun-hoo’s eyes sparkled with greed.
“If we just let them go, they might think we’re funny. We have far more brains.”
As Noh Yang-jin gently teased him, the lion’s roar burst out of Hyuk-ryeon-hu’s mouth.
“Fuck! Who would laugh at a red-hot sack of rice? Gather everyone!”
“yes!”
The bandit who went outside lightly knocked on the bronze bell hanging in the hut.
Ding ding ding.
A bell, neither too small nor too loud, rang out around the mountain village.
Soon after, bandits swarmed in front of Hyukryunhu’s hut. There were a whopping sixty of them.
As usual, Noh Yang-jin caught the wind first.
“They say that the Phoenix Flag is passing through Palgongsan. They say there are about thirty of them, but we can’t just let them go. We’re not blind either. Am I wrong?”
“you’re right!”
As his subordinates responded, a bitter smile appeared on Noh Yang-jin’s lips.
“Who is the owner of Palgongsan?”
“It’s a red bond!”
“Okay, today let’s teach those bastards a lesson about who owns Palgongsan!”
“Wow!”
At No Yang-jin’s instigation, the bandits waved their weapons and cheered.
As the atmosphere heated up, Noh Yang-jin slowly stepped back.
Soon, Hyukryun-hu took the lead holding a huge axe, and about sixty bandits followed him.
A oxcart from the Bonghwangpyo Kingdom entered Palgongsan Mountain.
In front and behind them, about thirty warriors armed with swords are walking in formation.
The five Bong Sip Geols happened to be walking in the front with the leader, Lee Moon-yeop. This happened because the leader, Lee Moon-yeop, was walking shoulder to shoulder with the five Bong Sip Geols.
Of course, it was according to the experienced Lee Moon-yeop’s intention, but the Oh Bong-sip-geol were not aware of it.
Sim Yang-gak glanced at Lee Moon-yeop with a laughable look, but that was all. Since he had no plans to raid Pyo-guk anyway, he decided to pretend not to know.
Has it been about an hour (two hours) since we entered Palgongsan?
Kururur.
A log rolled down onto the carriage road.
Then, as if out of nowhere, a spear flew in and stuck itself in the road.
A faded, lime-green rag hung from the window sill, dangling in a way that belied its age.
Anyone can see that it is a sign of the Green Forest. And it is a Green Forest with a long history and tradition.
The face of the two leaders, Lee Moon-yeop, was tense.
Poongyeoncho glanced at the Five Bongsipgeol with a troubled look on his face. It was not enough that they had entered another green forest area, but since they were also accompanying Pyo-guk, he was at a loss as to how to proceed.
Ssssssss.
Bandits with vicious faces appeared from all directions.
Chief Inspector Lee Moon-yeop bowed to the thieves and said:
“I am Lee Moon-yeop, the leader of the Bonghwangpyo Kingdom. I am known by the nickname of Yoounbyeolgeom in the martial arts world. It is an honor to meet the heroes of Palgongsan. I should have asked for your understanding before passing through the mountain, but I did not. Please be lenient.”
Chae Ju Hyukryun-hu, who had been among the bandits, came out with a walking gait.
“Hehehe, Lee Moon-yeop. Your liver is swollen. Did you think that if you increased the number of heads, you would be sent away quietly?”
“That’s not possible. I have prepared a separate gift to give to Grandmaster Hyuk.”
Lee Moon-yeop took out a leather pouch from his bosom and showed it to me.
“How much is it?”
“It’s one hundred nyang of silver.”
Hyukryun-hoo looked back and forth between the pocket and Yimun-yeop, his expression ambiguous. Of course, it was generous considering the toll for one country. However, when thinking about the money to be spent at the Green Forest Competition, it was still far from enough.
Debtor Noh Yang-jin suddenly intervened.
“There is a big event in Nokrim, so we need more money. So either give us a hundred nyang more, or leave the carriage and go back!”
Lee Moon-yeop frowned at the request for a hundred nyang more.
In fact, even a hundred nyang was not a small amount of money.
Besides, there is no guarantee that he will back down even if you pay him 100 more nyang as requested. The thieves of the Green Forest raise and lower the amount of money according to their mood.
It seems that negotiations will go well only if we show that we have no intention of being taken advantage of. To do that, the cooperation of the Biryongmun is essential.
Lee Moon-yeop, who was worried, decided to ask the thoughts of Pungyeoncho next to him.
“Feng Daxia, what do you think about them asking for a hundred more nyang? If you underestimate them even once, they will try to eat you up, even the shell… .”
Then, Poongyeoncho grabbed his beard with an embarrassed expression.
Judging from his expression, it seems that Lee Moon-yeop has no intention of readily handing over a hundred nyang.
I wanted to let it pass quietly, but I ended up getting involved in this kind of bargaining in someone else’s territory!
Wuxia,
