Genius Martial Arts Trainer

The first national undertaking launched after Emperor Taiping’s reign began. The northern expedition.

What remained after five years of war was a victory paid for entirely in wounds.

Of course, the imperial family proclaimed it on a grand scale.

His Majesty the great Emperor had driven away the northern barbarians and restored peace to the people.

The war had indeed ended in victory.

Every one of the great tribes among the northern nomads had been annihilated, and more than a few of the smaller tribes had also been swept away.

The problem was that despite winning such a victory, there was nothing left to gain from it.

The northern grasslands were barren to begin with, so even when the empires of the Central Plains possessed overwhelming power, they had never particularly coveted those lands.

They merely cleared the areas around the border from time to time in preparation for nomadic invasions, or sowed discord among the nomadic tribes and incited them to fight one another. They did not commit the folly of invading the grasslands themselves and waging war there. Considering the money and manpower required for such a war, the losses far outweighed the gains.

And that was precisely what the outcome of this war had demonstrated.

Countless young men had lost their lives on the battlefield, and the military funds consumed by the war surpassed imagination.

There had also been spoils taken from the slaughtered nomads, but compared to what the empire had spent on the war, they amounted to no more than a drop in the ocean.

In the end, the insufficient military funds had to be wrung from the people through enormous taxes, and from around the third year of the war onward, anguished cries rang out throughout the country almost every day.

Therefore, despite the victory, no one except the people living near the border rejoiced over it.

They merely breathed sighs of relief.

Now that the war was over, perhaps the world would finally become a little easier to live in.

***

The League Leader Hall of the Zhengmu League.

Mujin, now the father of no fewer than three children, was meeting alone with Zhuge Muhuan, who still maintained his commitment to lifelong bachelorhood.

“Whew. Now that the war is over, we can finally set one burden aside.”

Upon hearing that the war in the north had ended, Mujin spoke with a sigh.

Public order throughout the Central Plains had steadily deteriorated over the past five years.

As it became harder to make a living, the number of people turning to crime had increased exponentially.

'At least Mugung’s venture succeeded to some extent.'

The Foolish Old Man Road Party had properly established itself throughout the Central Plains and guided many people away from the path of crime, preventing matters from reaching the absolute worst.

For roughly the first two years, opening a road through a single mountain had taken anywhere from half a year to a full year. But after about two years, the number of bandits—or rather, Road Party members—who had accumulated at least a little internal energy increased, and the speed at which they expanded their territory rose exponentially.

It had now been about four years since Mugung began the Foolish Old Man Road Party project. The number of mountains occupied by the Foolish Old Man Road Party had already surpassed ten.

Of course, considering the enormous size of the Central Plains, controlling a dozen or so mountains did not grant them any particularly great influence.

In any case, Mugung was reforming those who had hidden themselves in the mountains, while the Zhengmu League and the Southern Heavenly Society intervened in villages and cities to prevent the worst possible outcomes.

But just as even those efforts were beginning to reach their limits and horrific incidents started erupting throughout the Central Plains.

The damned war finally came to an end.

At Mujin’s sigh of complaint, Zhuge Muhuan opened his fan and spoke.

“We do not yet know whether we will truly be able to set one burden aside, or whether an even greater problem will come.”

“......Have you obtained separate information?”

“For now, I understand that most of them have been sent back to their hometowns. Except for those who wished to remain in the military, of course.”

“Then what became of all the troops stationed in the north?”

“For the time being, it appears they are returning to the places where they were stationed before the war.”

Mujin nodded at Zhuge Muhuan’s explanation.

Mujin also understood what Zhuge Muhuan was trying to say.

Now that the north had been completely pacified, there was no longer any need to maintain a large garrison there.

Of course, some smaller tribes still remained, so a certain amount of defense was necessary, but leaving only the bare minimum of troops would be sufficient.

The crucial question was where the remaining military power would be deployed.

Would the soldiers be returned to industry and agriculture so that they could revive the economy, which had been withering away during the war?

Or would the empire invade somewhere else?

“Obtaining information is important, but first we must prepare for the worst.”

“That is true.”

When Mujin nodded at Zhuge Muhuan’s words, Zhuge Muhuan spoke as though he had only just remembered something.

“Hmm. Come to think of it, I obtained information that the imperial family will soon hold a victory celebration.”

“A victory, is it.”

The thought of celebrating a victory that had left nothing but wounds drew a hollow laugh from Mujin.

Facing Mujin, Zhuge Muhuan snapped his fan shut and spoke.

“Therefore, should we not begin preparing an event of our own?”

“An event?”

Mujin tilted his head, then belatedly remembered something and answered.

“You mean the Martial Arts Tournament?”

“That is correct.”

“You wish to hold the Martial Arts Tournament in times like these?”

“It is precisely because these are times like these that we must hold it.”

“But do we not still have around two years remaining?”

The Zhengmu League had been established under the justification that its predecessor, the Martial Alliance, had become corrupt, but it intended to continue at least the tradition of the Martial Arts Tournament.

And the Martial Alliance had traditionally held the Martial Arts Tournament once every ten years.

The problem was that the Martial Arts Tournament at which Hyuncheon had stepped down as League Leader and Mujin had been elected in his place had taken place roughly eight years ago.

Mujin was pointing out that moving it forward by two years might undermine the tradition.

On top of that.

“Moreover, everyone must be deeply scarred by the war. Would it truly be appropriate to hold such an event?”

In response to Mujin’s two concerns, Zhuge Muhuan shook his head.

“Why do you think the imperial family is going out of its way to hold such a grand victory celebration? Of course, it is nothing more than a spectacle for the people, but that itself gives it meaning. It clearly conveys that the war is now over.”

“A spectacle, yet meaningful.......”

As Mujin stroked his chin and spoke, Zhuge Muhuan added.

“Furthermore, should we not give the martial artists who suffered during this war at least some time to rest?”

“Hmm. That is certainly true.”

Whether they had been dragged onto the battlefield or had remained in the Central Plains and struggled to maintain public order.

Every one of them had risked their lives and worked themselves to the bone for the past five years.

It did seem necessary to hold a great festival for their sake.

“And most importantly, if we hold the Martial Arts Tournament, the people of all the major families and sects spread throughout the Central Plains will gather.”

Mujin immediately understood what Zhuge Muhuan was trying to say.

“Indeed. That alone would give us sufficient reason to hold it.”

The family heads and sect leaders of the major factions would gather. Or at the very least, figures of elder rank would attend.

If the Zhengmu League could convey its intentions to those people, there could be no greater gain.

It would greatly help the major powers scattered throughout the vast Central Plains move in a unified manner.

“Then when would it be best to hold the Martial Arts Tournament?”

“For now, we must remain mindful of the imperial family, so how about scheduling it after the imperial victory celebration has ended?”

Mujin nodded at Zhuge Muhuan’s proposal.

***

Several days later.

A magnificent victory celebration was held in Beijing, where the imperial family resided.

Beginning with commendations for the generals who had distinguished themselves in the war, various events were held, and festivities spread beyond the Forbidden City throughout all of Beijing.

And around that time, another piece of news was spreading throughout the Central Plains.

And around that time, another piece of news was spreading throughout the Central Plains.“Brother Jang. Have you heard? They say the Zhengmu League is holding a Martial Arts Tournament.”

“I see.”

At the man’s indifferent reply, the excited speaker added.

“If they hold the Martial Arts Tournament, naturally they will also hold the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering, will they not? Since you distinguished yourself so greatly in the north, Brother Jang, you may achieve tremendous results at the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.”

“Oh?”

The man who had seemed largely uninterested, Jang Geunsu, finally showed some interest.

Jang Geunsu was a martial artist who had served for several years as a member of the Flying Dragon Unit in the northern grasslands after being conscripted by the imperial family.

The war had ended, and he had recently returned to his hometown. Drinking with old friends he had not seen in years was gradually becoming his daily routine.

After living a life in which seeing blood was commonplace and he constantly worried about when the mounted tribes might attack, he found it difficult to adjust for a while once peace returned.

And while spending every day drinking like this, he had heard an interesting piece of news from a hometown friend.

Jang Geunsu had been conscripted while still in his late teens, so he was only twenty-three now.

He was well within the age range permitted to participate in the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering.

'After suffering so much on the battlefield, it would not be bad to make my name known throughout the Central Plains.'

It was a kind of desire for compensation.

He had been dragged onto the battlefield through imperial conscription and suffered like a dog, yet no one acknowledged him.

At best, only the comrades who had suffered alongside him in the Flying Dragon Unit knew his name to some extent.

Once he returned to the Central Plains, he discovered that most people who had received no news from the battlefield merely praised the names of those who had lived ‘peacefully’ in the Central Plains.

Childish rumors about someone punishing wicked black-path bastards, or some family’s child possessing outstanding talent.

“Hahaha. How could greenhorns who know nothing of the horrors of the battlefield possibly be my match?”

At Jang Geunsu’s proud declaration, the men drinking around him burst into hearty laughter.

“Indeed! Hahaha. Brother Jang may be young, but judging by experience alone, it would be insulting to call you merely one of the rising talents.”

“Quite right! Now that I think about it, Brother Jang participating in the Dragon and Phoenix Gathering might be considered cheating!”

In high spirits, Jang Geunsu ordered more alcohol, and not long afterward, once the entire group had become thoroughly drunk.

Someone who had been secretly watching them slipped out of the inn.

***

“Hmm.”

Mujin let out a peculiar sound of contemplation as he examined the compiled reports arriving from across the Central Plains.

“It seems the martial artists who went to the north harbor considerable resentment.”

The letter Mujin was reading contained the story of Jang Geunsu.

More precisely, there were countless similar cases, so it was a report compiling them all.

“Such is human nature. It is only natural to desire compensation in proportion to one’s suffering.”

“......The problem is that those who remained in the Central Plains were not simply living in comfort either.”

“Yes. One wrong move, and the martial artists may divide into two camps.”

“And the imperial family may attempt to approach those who participated in the war.”

At Mujin’s words, Zhuge Muhuan nodded.

There was no question that those who had suffered for years on a battlefield where life and death hung in the balance had rendered tremendous service.

But those who had remained in the Central Plains had not been idle.

Under such circumstances, if those returning from the north continued insulting and disparaging those who had remained behind, even the people who initially sympathized with them would inevitably grow angry.

“It seems deciding to hold the Martial Arts Tournament was the right choice after all.”

In that sense, choosing to hold this tournament might prove to have been a brilliant move.

“The original purpose of the Martial Arts Tournament was to unite the orthodox factions, so we should use this opportunity to soothe their resentment.”

“You are entirely correct.”

Immediately after they exchanged those words, a strange silence settled between them.

“.......”

“.......”

How long had they remained locked in a staring contest?

Mujin spoke first.

“Chief Strategist.”

“Yes, League Leader.”

“You should devise a plan, should you not?”

“......Even if we handle the details, should you not at least determine the broad framework?”

“Did I not already give you one? Devise a way to soothe those who were conscripted and sent to the north during the Martial Arts Tournament. Ah! But you must not favor only them too openly. Those who remained in the Central Plains may take offense.”

“.......”

At the sight of Mujin folding his arms and staring at him as though he had completed all his duties, Zhuge Muhuan sighed and rose from his seat.

'This damned position of Chief Strategist. I should just quit.'

He could not bring himself to say it aloud.

They said the brush was mightier than the sword, but the fist was always closer than the law.

And the fist of the Leader of the Zhengmu League was one capable of smashing swords apart.