666 - The Outcast Writer of a Martial Arts Visual Novel

"The barbarians have suddenly gone mad?" A storm fiercer than the winter's cutting winds is sweeping across the northern lands. The unexpected uprising by the Jurchens has put the military camps in Liaodong on high alert. "They are engaging in simultaneous raids." "But why? Didn't we pass this fall without incident? Why are the Jurchens mobilizing all at once in midwinter?" There's an old saying about autumn being a time of plenty. It's the harvest season. Barbarians often bring their well-fed horses to raid farmers' grains in spring and summer. That's why military officers always stay vigilant in the fall. However, the current situation is peculiar. Isn't it winter now? Riding horses in the cold season seems unusual even for the Jurchens. For a novice military officer, this was a tale too difficult to comprehend. "It's because... the winter market that was supposed to be held by Moyong Sega has been canceled." The soldier cautiously pointed out what he believed to be the root cause of the current events. "They're rioting just because the market isn't being held?" The newly assigned officer to Liaodong could only tilt his head in confusion at the reason. "You might not be aware since you're new, but winter is a harsh season even for nomadic tribes. There's no grass for nourishment, no milk to be obtained. They prepare food for the winter by slaughtering the precious horses and sheep raised throughout the year." "I know about red and white foods." In summer, they consume milk, and in winter, meat. The officer recalled this from his training. "Because surviving winter is difficult for them, they resort to raiding in autumn, during harvest. Until now, they obtained what they needed through the market, which kept things settled." The new officer, having heard there was nothing to worry about this autumn, felt relieved. However, autumn raids were a bloody annual occurrence here. "They expected to secure food supplies but, with the market not happening, the fire was lit under them." "This is not a trivial matter. Some Jurchens must be running low on their winter supplies..." "Isn't that not much of a problem, then?" The officer, unlike the serious soldier, responded with an indifferent expression. "Pardon...?" "If the authorities hold the market, it will be fine. We know the solution, so what's the worry?" "Where would the funds for that come from?" "Isn't it a market? Obviously, through barter..." The idea was to buy goods at the market and trade them for profit. To people from other regions of the central plains, this was too obvious, but the soldier could only sigh deeply at the new officer. "We're struggling just to make ends meet. We bring the goods the barbarians desire from the central plains to the market and then sell the goods from the nomads back in the central plains. There's no profit, only massive losses!" Liaodong is a poor region with little arable land. Even the officers here couldn't rely on supplies from the capital and had to manage through tenant farming. Talking about markets was out of the question. "Wait... So an ordinary clan was doing what even the government couldn't handle?" It was only then that the new officer grasped the situation, left speechless. "It's Moyong Sega! Rumor has it they could fill a pond with silver." "I've heard tales of Silver Surfer... They say the children of Moyong Sega skate on boards over silver." "It was because it was Moyong Sega that it was plausible. Now that their shield is gone, the nomads are running wild." "Sigh..." "This is no time to sigh. Arm yourself quickly. You won't be seeing your bed for a while." The new officer hurried outside the camp. Though he was bundled enough to withstand arrows, the northern cold made him hunch his shoulders. It was only then that he realized where he had been assigned. A place to accomplish military feats or return as a cold corpse. The frontier of the central plains. Liaodong. —— "What on earth is happening!!!" The Jurchen uprising quickly reached the higher echelons of the military. The Commander, overseeing the government forces stationed in Shenyang, the capital of Liaodong, also tightened his expression and convened an emergency meeting. "Commander. The Jurchens are raiding as if they were a swarm of locusts." "Have they formed a coalition?" The scale seems too vast for a mere raid. If the Jurchens have unified into one power, it might require beyond just quelling the raids; they may need to request reinforcements. The Commander asked with a tense expression. "Rather than moving in perfect unison under a leader, it's more like they're rushing out of desperation. It seems everyone is acting to secure food before the days get even colder." "Unbelievable. I thought we’d have a peaceful year... Are the defenses sufficient?" While the Commander felt slightly relieved, he continued to monitor the unexpected chaos. "While the people within the city should be fine, it's difficult to move the troops in this winter." Settled agricultural people can hardly match nomadic horse riders. Liaodong's policy towards the Jurchens has always focused on defense. Moreover, the biting winter wind spells further non-combat losses if the troops are moved recklessly. Stuck in a precarious situation, a lamenting sigh echoed in the room. "Why won't Moyong Sega hold the market now of all times!" The Commander pointed out the reason for the current predicament. "They held it once in the spring. Perhaps holding it twice a year is too burdensome." "That's reasonable, but..." The Commander, who had raised his voice, mellowed upon understanding the circumstances. Though the market was allowed by the government, it couldn't be forced upon Moyong Sega. Who would willingly bear the losses to hold a market? To fulfill what the Jurchens in Manchuria lack? Only Moyong Sega could make such things possible in Liaodong. "Thanks to Moyong Sega, peace was obtained, but the barbarians causing havoc was an annual thing, wasn't it?" "No matter the reason, it's perplexing why Moyong Sega, who has closely collaborated with the government, would act this way so suddenly." "That's exactly my point. Subordinate, why have you been so silent?" The Commander gazed at his aide, who seemed contemplative and unusually silent today. "Ah... It's just that my stomach is unsettled..." "Take care of yourself; we're about to get busy. Let's send someone to Moyong Sega. Coax them gently while mentioning the notion of war funding." To mobilize the troops, they needed resources. Given these unexpected military movements, assistance from Moyong Sega was essential. "It seems... they have already been approached, but they declined." "What? They can't even provide war funds?" "As you know, there are internal power struggles within Moyong Sega itself. It's likely due to that." "Ah, you mean the sibling rivalry." The Commander's brows furrowed. Given his close ties with the head of Moyong Sega, the ongoing succession conflict between the children was particularly troubling. "The woman responsible for opening the market is Moyong Sang Ah, while Moyong Bi, the actual operator, seems to oppose it. Rumor suggests it's due to financial mismanagement." "For a true citizen of the central plains, loyalty to the nation should be a given! Is Moyong Bi the one causing the obstruction?" "Now that the head is bedridden, naturally, things fall in line with the acting head's decisions." "Subordinate?" "My apologies, that was a slip of the tongue." The Subordinate, wary of the Commander's fiery gaze, quickly bowed, attempting to defend the acting head who had been generous with bribes. "Commander! News has just arrived from Moyong Sega regarding this incident." A flustered officer entered the tent, addressing the Commander in an urgent tone. "What is it?" "It appears someone among the officers attempted to dishonor Lady Moyong." "...!" Everyone present was taken aback, their eyes widening in shock. "The lady, who has faithfully contributed funds for the country's cause, reached her limit of humiliation and shame..." Who would dare commit such an atrocity? Moyong Sang Ah, who generously contributed to the troops suffering at the frontier and extended her utmost hospitality to officers working far from home, was a woman of unquestionable patriotism despite being born a woman. The Commander's hands trembled with rage as he slowly identified the culprit, ultimately singling out an official who had gone pale and was bowing his head. "Subordinate. Was it you?" "Commander, I can explain!" "This scoundrel!!!!" A spear soared over the table from beside the Commander. "Eeeek!" The Subordinate managed to dodge the flying spear but could not escape the Commander's wrath. "Take this man and lock him up immediately!" "I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Budget issues or internal struggles within a family might have been acceptable. However, a subordinate's misconduct was something the Commander, who led the army, could not ignore. "How could such a thing happen!!! I'll go make amends myself!" ** YW9peUx5cktZYXhyU2hzY1VsMkQ0Yi9yV1orODBuUnRScmFjTTNiTzBUamQrKzlsak9PejRXMHlNSVQxdUsrVw "Master, the Commander is here." Though the decision of one woman had stirred all of Liaodong, the expression of the woman who gave the command remained calm. "Let him in." "Ahem!" Despite commanding the military power of Shenyang, the Commander approached Moyong Sang Ah with evident apprehension. "You came." "I heard a scandal as a Commander that I should have never heard." "As a woman, it is merely embarrassing." What scandal could he possibly mean? Moyong Sang Ah didn't bother asking further. Even the rumor reaching the military barracks was part of her scheme. "The one to be embarrassed should be me, not you. I have already imprisoned the Subordinate." "Is that so." Though Moyong Sang Ah replied without a flicker of emotion, as if nothing had occurred, her eyes — the windows to her heart — could not hide a depth of sorrow. Her gaze was like the fragile flutter of a flower blooming in winter. Her beauty, unmatchable by any description, stirred the heart of the usually steadfast Commander, even amidst battles. "Ha... Knowing the loyalty of Moyong Sega, I will punish the Subordinate severely, so let this anger..." "How can someone of your rank pretend to know nothing?" "What?" "Moyong Sega cannot contribute even a single coin as war funds for now." "What do you mean?" "The government requested half of our private soldiers, yet you truly feign ignorance?" "Requested troops from Moyong Sega? By whom?" This was news to the Commander. "...You deprive me of my dignity by making me recall such shameful memories." Unable to contain her disgust, the most beautiful woman in martial arts quivered. "The Subordinate, perhaps? Surely not him?" "He said it was decided by the higher-ups. He laid out only two choices, acting quite confidently without any basis." "It wasn't just him..." This was not something the Subordinate could have done on his own. The Commander looked at Moyong Sang Ah with a face filled with shock. "As a woman leading a clan, how could I make such a choice?" In a world where, like a scholar's loyalty to the emperor, a woman's chastity was highly esteemed, sacrificing one's honor would be preferable to losing it. "Ha ha ha. Ha ha ha ha ha!" Realizing that the root of the problem lay in his subordinates and their cohorts made the Commander laugh bitterly. "Loyalty to the royal family doesn't change. It's just difficult to maintain internal discipline when half the elite forces, funded entirely from family resources, are gone." "I will root out everyone involved in this incident." The Commander's eyes burned with resolve. How far did the involvement go? Could officials managing the military system of not just Shenyang but all of Liaodong be implicated? It didn't matter. If it triggered the Jurchens into uprisings, it was not something to be overlooked. "In the name of the Commander overseeing the military of Shenyang in Liaodong, I offer my assurance." "I will await your decision, Commander." With a composed farewell from the stunning beauty, whose loyalty to the royal family and dedication to her duties was unwavering, the Commander turned and left. —— "The ones who conspired with the Subordinate have been demoted to the front lines." The anticipated news finally reached Moyong Sang Ah's ears some time later. "Increase the usual contributions to the authorities, announce the opening of the market to the Jurchens, and ensure the Chang Pong units apply just the right pressure." Nodding slightly, Moyong Sang Ah continued in a nonchalant tone. "I never expected you to actually spread those rumors." Though she had narrowly avoided disgrace, even the spread of rumors could be a severe blemish for a woman. Startled, the Chang Pong unit leader spoke. "There's no rumor more damning than being someone who devours her husband for breakfast." With a bitter smile to herself, Moyong Sang Ah muttered cynically. "My lord!" "It was an action our superior deemed necessary. As a wife, how could I hesitate to wallow in the mud?" "..." "Don't worry too much. What might be a weakness for a woman becomes a strength for the owner of Chang Pong." She did what needed to be done. As a so-called wicked woman who allegedly killed her husband, how could she hesitate? At the end of it all, she needed to be able to declare that she upheld the superior's words as she stood before the fiery abyss. "Truly... remarkable. Despite your immense wealth, I didn't think you'd manage to stir both the Jurchens and the government forces." "It's nothing significant." The supposed villainess smiled bitterly at the subordinate who couldn't stop being impressed. The only reason one cannot buy something is simply not having enough money to pay for it. 'Superior.' She used her wealth to maneuver people and escape trouble. It was merely a crude imitation of what the superior would have known to do brilliantly. "Carry on with your task." "I have something to report." "Is there another issue?" Was there another problem after resolving the previous crisis in the dead of winter? Fortunately, the Chang Pong unit leader's face was alight with peculiar excitement. What could it be? "The group sent to Sichuan Tangga is returning." This was the news Moyong Sang Ah had been waiting for.