Side story 216. Seventy-Two Demon Generals (6)
Lee Cheon-sang had no choice but to acknowledge that Seo Pil would be of great help to him.
‘It’s definitely different.’
He had no idea about the Seventy-Two Horsemen. In the first place, the Seventy-Two Horsemen was just a title and not an organization in itself.
There were several voices from the higher-ups saying that they should create an organization to manage them separately. There was even a fairly active movement to name the organization Shinjangbu (神將部).
But the organization was never created because it was thought to be too money-consuming.
“But that’s just an excuse.”
“excuse?”
“Yes. The Seventy-Two Horsemen do nothing else. They are intertwined as one, yet they live completely individual lives, and each of them resides in a different place.”
“… … !”
“So to speak, the title of Majang is nothing more than a title. It is nothing more than a mask worn by those who have merit in martial arts but no place to go in order to obtain a decent title.”
“It’s like a beggar wearing silk clothes.”
“You can see it that way. As a result, the Seventy-Two Horsemen are people who have no use for anything other than martial arts. They became Horsemen because they wanted to prove their usefulness.”
Lee Cheon-sang tilted his head.
“It’s hard to understand at first. In an organization, the individual character and work-processing ability of each member are just as important as strength, but in any case, the martial arts skills of the horse leaders are considerable. In particular, aren’t the top horse leaders all top-notch masters?”
If they have that much power, then they are talented people that each organization would covet, regardless of their personal character and vision.
Seo-pil said with a hardened expression.
“I know this may offend you, but let me give you an example of one person.”
“… … .”
“Would you like to use the Yang Baek-ho Commander-in-Chief in various organizations of the civil war?”
With that one word, Lee Cheon-sang understood.
Yang Baek-ho is a capable person. If he didn’t have that much ability, it would have been difficult for Lee Cheon-sang to become friends with him.
However, in other organizations of the civil war, Yang Baek-ho’s presence cannot help but be unpleasant.
Yang Baek-ho was a person who could cause many problems because he was right. In fact, he was a person who had moved from one organization to another in the civil war, and was forced out by the organization leader’s recommendation or coercion, and ended up as the commander of the external war. And it wasn’t Yang Baek-ho’s fault. It was proof that the Cheonmasingyo was corrupt.
“There are quite a few people like that in the Seventy-Two Horsemen. Of course, they are not the only ones like that. Among them, there are those who are completely ignorant of anything other than martial arts, and there are also those who have extremely unusual personalities.”
Lee Cheon-sang, who was nodding, suddenly remembered something and asked.
“Hongsan was a mid-to-upper-ranking horseman. However, he belonged to an organization called the Twelve Zodiac Gods.”
“There are a few people like that. They hold the position of a leader, but at the same time, they have a foothold in other organizations. Of course, they don’t brag about it openly.”
“Come to think of it, it’s strange. Hongsan belonged to such an organization, so why didn’t he give up his position as the leader?”
“Perhaps it is for the same reason that I am trying to persuade my lord now.”
Since Hongsan also did not belong to any organization in the civil war except for the Twelve Zodiac Signs, it meant that he obtained the position of Majang and created an excuse to participate in the civil war.
The Zodiac itself is a secret organization. If you are a masked member of an organization known to only a few people, there is good reason why you should normally belong to another organization in the civil war.
“My lord intends to engage in civil war. I still do not know my lord’s true intentions. However, there must be a good reason for him to be in civil war.”
This means that the position of the Seventy-Two Horsemen can soon become a badge that guarantees life in the civil war.
“If so, what should be done with the Seventy-Two Horsemen?”
“The method is simple.”
Seo-pil’s eyes sparkled.
“You just have to fight one of them and win.”
“It couldn’t be simpler. If that’s true, then the existence of the Seventy-Two Horsemen will actually change a lot.”
“That’s not true. As I said, the Seventy-Two Horses is an unbecoming position for a master who has nowhere else to go to try to hold on to the last string. However, I understand that the rankings change quite a bit because everyone values their rank.”
“I heard that there are some people who were selected from the Seventy-Two Horsemen. If that’s true, then it seems like there will be people who will do anything to get a spot in the Seventy-Two Horsemen every year.”
“It’s not like that doesn’t exist, as you said. However, when people gather together, there is bound to be a hierarchy and perceptions.”
“recognize?”
“The Seventy-Two Horsemen currently seen by the Cheonmasingyo are a place where incompetent people gather who have nothing to show for other than martial arts. There are many more people who would rather be transferred to the outer army and live comfortably than become horsemen to survive in the civil war.”
“Would you rather be the head of a snake than the tail of a dragon?”
“Yes.”
Lee Cheon-sang’s eyes sparkled.
What did you feel from Seo-pil speaking calmly?
“If you serve me as your lord and intend to achieve something beyond that life, it will not stop at simply becoming a Seventy-Two Horse General.”
“… … ?!”
“I think you have something else in mind.”
Seopil couldn’t help but be inwardly impressed by Lee Cheon-sang’s insight.
Of course, he didn’t show it. There would be many things to admire about each other in the future. He shouldn’t show his feelings rashly until they become familiar with each other. That was Seo-pil’s way of life.
“Let me ask you something. Do you know who was the one who tried to create the Seventy-Two Horsemen into an organization called Shinjangbu?”
“Of course I don’t know.”
“I’m going.”
“… … !”
“And the person who rejected it also receives it.”
“Honestly, I thought Hwanheewonju was against it.”
“No, it is not. Rather, the Hwanheewonju agreed to the creation of the Shinjangbu. The money was only a primary issue, and the Hwanheewonju was for the Shinjangbu itself. She is the same now, and she has not changed in the past.”
I thought so. Baek So-dam’s ambiguous and strong personality was definitely not created overnight.
“What is the reason?”
“It’s simple. If we create an organization called the Shinjangbu and unite the Seventy-Two Horsemen, then naturally there will be people who will reach out to them.”
“Yeah… … .”
Lee Cheon-sang, who was speaking, soon nodded.
“I see. I wanted to know who was reaching out to the Seventy-Two Horsemen.”
“To be exact, there was one person we were chasing at the time. But we couldn’t finish him off. It was too uncomfortable to leave him alone, but there was no solid evidence to charge him with and get rid of him, and his position was significant.”
“… … .”
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“At that time, he needed a master. The Seventy-Two Horsemen boasted tremendous power as a unit, regardless of the importance of their use. Furthermore, the Hwanheewonju was also planning to actively spend funds for them, so anyone would have their eyes on them.”
The scale of trapping varies.
“The idea of building a new branch and then dismantling it means the military has achieved what they wanted.”
“Yes. So I made all sorts of excuses and buried the theory of the creation of the Shinjangbu with my own hands.”
“But now I think differently.”
“Of course.”
Seo-pil’s two eyes, which were extremely sharp, were filled with confidence.
“I know that you don’t like this kind of play. But from now on, it’s not a play. Neither I nor you can die until I get what I want. So I will risk my life to get this done.”
For one’s own purposes, not loyalty.
Lee Cheon-sang liked Seo-pil’s words. Sincerity is always welcome.
“But you won’t have the strength.”
“Even though I don’t have any, my lord has many people around him.”
Lee Cheon-sang understood who Seo Pil was talking about.
“I need to meet Baek Won-ju.”
“Yes.”
Seo-pil bowed his head.
“I will meet Baek Won-ju and negotiate. Then, my lord, you can choose a suitable man from the Seventy-Two Horses and fight him.”
“hmm.”
It was only after half an hour that Lee Cheon-sang, who had been lost in thought for a moment, opened his mouth again.
“The sooner the better. The commander must have reported my dismissal to his superiors, so someone there might think that I should not be present in the civil war.”
Seo-pil’s eyes sparkled. Once again, he was amazed at Lee Cheon-sang’s intelligence.
“Of course. It is possible that one of them will order the top horseman of the Seventy-Two Horsemen to attack the lord. If they succeed in doing so, he can tempt them by saying that they will be allowed to join his retinue.”
“That is, if you surprise me and render me incapacitated, I won’t be able to challenge any of the Seventy-Two Horsemen, so the faster the better for me and them.”
“That is a wise decision.”
“In the meantime, as the leader of the Yaksha Commandery, I was able to participate in the internal war with the permission of the Commander and as a guest of Elder Baekgolshinma. I may still exist as a guest, but depending on the situation, there is a possibility that I may have to cut ties with the Elder.”
“That’s exactly why I recommended the Seventy-Two Horsemen position. To be honest, Elder Baekgolshinma is overdoing it right now.”
“How long can an unqualified person stay in a civil war?”
“It shouldn’t last more than a day. Of course, this varies from person to person. If the higher-ups want to raise an issue, it can become a problem at any time.”
“Can’t you get the position of horse keeper while maintaining your guest seat?”
“Of course, there is that method. However, in that case, dirty talk may come out that Elder Baekgolshinma is using the Seventy-Two Horsemen to do tricks.”
“It’s a question of how to sway public opinion.”
“That’s correct. Right now, my lord is safe because he is here, in the residence of Elder Baekgolshinma. Even if you maintain your position as a guest, the moment you leave here, attacks will come against you and Elder Baekgolshinma.”
It meant that he would have to temporarily break his bond with the White Bone God and engage in a duel with one of the Seventy-Two Horsemen.
It wasn’t that difficult. The question was whether one of the Seventy-Two Horsemen would accept the challenge of the Two Heavenly Kings.
“Someone above may have secretly given orders not to allow my lord to challenge me. At least that’s what I would do.”
“It’s not difficult to pick a fight.”
“I absolutely trust you in that regard, my lord. However, you must choose the person.”
Seo-pil took out a neatly folded piece of paper from his bosom.
“I have researched the horse stables in preparation for such a situation.”
It meant that he had thought about what to do with Lee Cheon-sang if he accepted him.
Lee Cheon-sang’s eyes lit up as he read the letter he received from Seo-pil. The letter contained the personal details of more than half of the horsemen, as well as their personalities.
Lee Cheon-sang pointed out one of them.
“Poisonous Dragon Nine Whips, Ordinary.”
A meaningful light appeared in Seo-pil’s eyes.
“I am a person who left the school a month ago on business outside the school. My rank is 22nd.”
“The next part is striking.”
“They say he goes to the Central Plains twice a year. There is a rumor that he goes there often, but it is only a pretense, and in reality, he cannot overcome boredom and seeks revenge on his murderous intentions.”
I could tell what kind of person he was without having to hear anything more.
“And this morning, I heard from a reliable junior in the intelligence service that Beom-sang entered central Guangdong half a day ago.”
“I guess the orders from above weren’t relayed.”
“If someone above me was going to give the order not to challenge my lord, I am one of the people most likely to not follow that order.”
Lee Cheon-sang has risen.
“Let’s get moving right away.”