War Is Making the Enemy Mad - 5
We exchanged awkward glances with the Jiayu Garrison Commandant. He and I were comrades-in-arms, brothers forged in the fires of the "Jiayu Incident." Survivors of a miracle against that fossil of a Hwagyeong master, Koke Temur. We shared a deep bond and sense of camaraderie, parting with promises like, "Let's meet again once we've both been promoted!"
With his abilities and lineage, the commandant was bound for higher office—either in the capital or at one of the Army Inspectorates. Who could've guessed we'd reunite here at Jiayu Pass, of all places? Not me, and certainly not him.
"Hm. So you're the Jiayu Garrison Commandant!"
The silence broke thanks to Grandfather.
"M-My apologies, Your Highness! To stand before you and fail to offer proper greetings first—what insolence! I have no words, even if I had ten mouths!"
Snapping to his senses, the commandant bowed his head in haste. No matter how startled he was by my presence, Grandfather was the highest authority here. Protocol demanded he greet Grandfather first, not me.
Still, it was hard to blame him. The historical commandant was infamous for his oversized ego, but the one I knew was no slouch in etiquette, intelligence, or situational awareness. For him to slip up like this meant he was truly rattled.
"Heh heh, no matter. Raise your head. It's only natural to be pleased at seeing a comrade who endured that dire crisis with us."
Thankfully, Grandfather didn't chide him either. He clapped the commandant's shoulder with genuine warmth, no veiled barbs.
"Moreover, our eldest grandson faced a grave peril here, yet thanks to you, he overcame it unscathed. Standing firm with sword in hand against that wretch Huangua Chemo—what valor, what spirit! Truly admirable."
"You honor me too greatly, Your Highness!"
The commandant bowed even deeper at Grandfather's praise.
"Come now, I said raise your head."
His voice softened further. A young warrior willing to battle a Hwagyeong master for Grandfather's heir; impeccable manners; a booming, resonant voice. The commandant embodied the triad that won Grandfather's favor.
Grandfather, being from the old school, always admired a thunderous voice as the mark of a true man. He praised the courteous as well-raised, too.
'He might head to a real Inspectorate soon.'
The commandant had already caught the Emperor's eye during the Jiayu Incident alongside me. Now he'd won Grandfather's too. Once the Mongol war wrapped up, he'd likely transfer out of Jiayu Pass—perhaps with a promotion to boot.
Not immediately, of course. With Mongols potentially pushing south toward Jiayu, swapping commanders mid-crisis would be unwise.
"That said, Your Highness, it is an unparalleled honor to serve you, but for one as busy as yourself to come to this remote frontier fills me with both joy and deep shame. And with the Embroidered Uniform Guard no less—has some issue arisen at Jiayu Pass unknown even to this humble officer?"
After the warm exchange, the commandant ventured cautiously. Grandfather nodded; it was a fair question.
Jiayu wasn't some capital gateway like Shanhaiguan—it was the ragged edge of Gansu, a frontier of frontiers. For a founding merit holder like Grandfather to visit, accompanied by the Emperor's personal guard? Not to panic would be weirder. Only a bureaucrat indifferent to life or career would stay calm.
And the commandant was very much attached to both.
"Rest easy—there's no trouble at Jiayu. With a spirited, capable officer like you holding the line, how could there be? His Majesty harbors no worries about its defenses either."
"I am deeply grateful."
"We're simply en route to Beukhaebinggung. We stopped by on the way."
His eyes widened, pupils darting as he processed it.
"Since Yangyang Wang struck the southwest steppes, the Mongols' range has shrunk dramatically. At swift pace, Your Highness can reach Hanhai without clash."
'Oh.'
He volunteered exactly the intel we wanted, unprompted. A sharp, perceptive official indeed.
Yangyang Wang's fireworks must've been effective. Our strike on the Mongol heartland had been exploited by Koke Temur, but a Hwagyeong leading elites would've inflicted real damage. Or perhaps the west was a backwater they abandoned or starved of resources—explaining why they hadn't recovered.
"Is that so? Glad to hear it. Thanks for the good news."
"Not at all, Your Highness! If only I could escort you to Hanhai myself—such regret that I cannot!"
"As if you'd actually go—empty words!"
Grandfather roared with laughter, pounding his back. Mercifully, no "Want to come along?" followed.
As the commandant said, the Mongol west was quiet. Traces of Yangyang Wang's raids dotted the path sparsely. True to Mongol form—more beasts than people—we encountered wildlife aplenty, but:
- Kki-ing!
- Hiiihiiing...
- Moomoooh...
At Kki-ing-i's majestic cry, the beasts meekly bowed and turned away. An astonishing sight; I couldn't help but marvel. Ferocious wildlings tamed so easily.
Was it because Kki-ing-i was a spirit beast?
'Or the qilin's influence.'
Kki-ing-i had met the king of furred beasts. If it carried the qilin's scent, to these creatures, Kki-ing-i was nobility favored by the king—submission natural.
Well done, my Kki-ing-i. Bringing you was a wise choice.
"Thanks to you, we'll travel easy."
- Nng.
I stroked its neck in thanks, but Kki-ing-i's response was lukewarm. It huffed a prim snort and turned away, as if to say it didn't care about my comfort—only its own discomfort.
I knew exactly why, so I chuckled sheepishly.
Kki-ing-i was a prime victim of this Beukhaebinggung trip.
"Sorry. I had no choice."
- Kki-ing.
Another sulky cry. Fair enough. My sudden detour had dragged it to this frozen exile. From cozy Giwangjeo or Akwangjeo to barren north—who wouldn't gripe?
With Kki-ong-i back home with Yi Yeon, it was family separation for them too, mirroring mine. Thus, Kki-ing-i had sulked since leaving Kaepyeong.
Yet it still tolerated my touch. Grateful for that.
"Heavens. For the greater good, but it feels like we've split two innocent spouses."
Watching wryly, Grandfather chuckled and patted Kki-ing-i's neck. It flinched instinctively at the Hwagyeong's hand but didn't tremble—familiar from Giwangjeo days.
"Forgive us. It's for Daesong, land of your king. Bear it a little."
He whispered in its ear, invoking the qilin in Gonghuwon for extra persuasion.
- Kkiiiii-ing...
A plaintive whine at Grandfather's apology and comfort. Acceptance or fear? Either way, submission achieved.
- Kki-ing, kkiiiii-ing.
"There, there. No fighting among us."
- Kkii-ing~
I patted as it nuzzled my chest. Grandfather's words had sunk in late: I might be its master, but before him, we were equals in victimhood.
Yeah, I get you're miffed at me—we're in the same boat. Let's get along...
"Your Highness, Lord Right Deputy Censor-in-Chief. Hanhai approaches."
Soon after master and mount reconciled, an Embroidered Uniform Guard on patrol swooped in to report. Yangyang Wang's spectacle and diversions toward Hebei-Shanxi had let us slip through Mongols more smoothly than expected.
Beukhaebinggung boasted a splendid history and tradition. Long before those horse-riding fiends yammered of blue wolves or white deer, we had held this northern sea as incumbents.
Yet those barbaric, child-killing mongrels disrespected us, oppressing us—even subjugating us by force once. If they were human, such acts would be unthinkable.
We of Beukhaebinggung sought not expansion, but communal harmony—a noble pursuit. We never attacked those horse-obsessed perverts first; they picked a fight with peaceful us and enslaved us like dogs. Absurd!
They should have respected us: natives and incumbents of the north sea, elders of the northern steppes, symbols of peace.
"Palace Lord. Guests have arrived."
"Guests?"
"Yes. From south of the Great Wall."
And perhaps because I'd cursed those horse-riders so much, their nemeses—the farmers—had come calling. Farmers of Song, was it? Decades since we last minded the central plains; memory faded.
'Central folk all the way here, regardless.'
I stroked my chin, pondering. With horse-riders stirring oddly lately, central visitors spelled ties to our banner of peace.
"Far-traveled guests merit a meeting. Bring them in."
"Yes, Palace Lord."
Details would come after seeing them, of course.