Chapter 101
Chapter 101
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 101
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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"No, that's not it."
"You're always lost in thought about something else."
"All that's in my head is you and Hunchung."
I said it playfully, and my wife knew full well it wasn't entirely true. Still, she didn't seem to mind, chuckling as she patted my shoulder.
"You used to seem so emotionless, but now... I love it."
I couldn't bring myself to tell her that the Yeon Namsaeng from back then was different from who I was now. Just then, Hunchung, who had been sleeping, opened his eyes and started kicking his arms and legs. Overwhelmed with joy at seeing my own bloodline in action, I heard my wife ask,
"But why are you looking for Abiryu?"
Her unexpected question made my throat tighten up.
"How do you know that name?"
"I don't really know him, but you've been mumbling 'Abiryu' in your sleep. Several times."
"Ah."
In my frantic search, he'd even shown up in my dreams a few times. I'd chase after him desperately, only for him to slip farther away, and I'd never quite catch him. Apparently, I'd talked in my sleep, and she'd heard it. It was so ridiculous I had to laugh, but my wife, who had been shaking our son Hunchung's hand, spoke up.
"It was pretty funny."
"What was? My sleep-talking?"
"No, the name itself."
"What's so special about Abiryu?"
"There were people with that name back in my hometown of Naesoseong."
"It's probably someone else. He's a shipbuilder—there's no way he'd be in Naesoseong."
My wife shot me a sideways glance at my response.
"Oh, come on, you know Naesoseong connects right to the Yalu River. They build a lot of ships there too."
"They build ships?"
"Yes. A little ways up from Gukdongdaehyeol, there's a place where they make them. I remember going there as a kid with my father—the name stuck out because it was so unusual."
Her words made me sit up straight.
"For real? But it's not just one person? Why'd you say 'people'?"
"A bunch of shipbuilders lived there together, and the best one was called Abiryu. The name got passed down through generations."
I couldn't believe it.
"Talk about the lamp being darkest under the nose."
But one question lingered.
"Then why didn't Father find him when he sent people looking?"
My wife let out a deep sigh.
"The Yeon family isn't very popular in Naesoseong. They probably didn't cooperate."
"R-Right."
I couldn't hide my expression. After all, it was my father who had accused my wife's Naesoseong-based family of treason and brought them down. But she gently stroked my cheek anyway.
"Is he that important to you?"
"Desperately so."
"Then send someone to Naesoseong. If my relatives step in, he'll come out of hiding for sure."
"You'd do that for me?"
"Of course. Don't worry."
Lying back on the bed, I shot both hands up in triumph. Seeing it, my wife smiled softly and whispered to our son Hunchung,
"Look at your dad, Hunchung. He's this incredibly powerful and lofty figure outside, but at home, he's just like a big kid."
"Hey now, even to your own son, you shouldn't spill secrets like that."
She burst into a wide grin. Feeling so happy at the sight, I lay there with my arm as a pillow, grinning back. As his parents laughed, Hunchung wriggled and laughed along too.
A week later, my close aides all arrived. Yang Manchun, his face even more tanned and dark, beamed as he pulled me into a hug.
"Hey, buddy! How've you been?"
"Bored without you. How's things in Liaodong?"
As I clapped his back, Yang Manchun flashed his teeth in a grin.
"All sorts. Some were grateful for the supplies, others griped about the weird stuff we brought."
It might've been a natural reaction from people who couldn't see the future, but it still irked me a bit. Gidoryang said much the same.
"Quite a few warriors showed interest in the Yeon Clan Palace and Yeon Clan Cannon. But among the barracks supervisors and novice soldiers, plenty dismissed it as nonsense. The bolt weapons got a good reception across the board, though."
All in all, not bad for a first go. They had no real reason to embrace the Great King's orders wholeheartedly, especially the execution grounds supervisors and novices. I mulled over the tasks ahead and the hurdles to clear. Meanwhile, Go Jeong-ui, Go Yeonmu, and Ham-a returned from their vacations with bright faces and joined us. We exchanged updates. I passed on letters from Ita-in of Onsa Gate and Sobuson. They asked to be called if war broke out again. Thinking of the three brought back memories of their reliable performance at Niha Fortress. With an even tougher battle ahead, I sent replies promising to summon them soon. The long-quiet Binyeon Pavilion buzzed with chatter as everyone shared their stories. As expected, Go Jeong-ui and Go Yeonmu had kept researching the flying chariot in my absence. They proceeded to pester Ham-a with their results from both sides.
That was when Geom Mojam opened the door and stepped in.
"Master. Abiryu just arrived."
The name Abiryu silenced my chatting subordinates. As they watched, the door opened fully. Go Jeong-ui reacted first.
"Huh?"
He tilted his head in confusion. And rightly so—the real Abiryu was nothing like we'd imagined. I'd pictured a seasoned veteran craftsman, but in walked a middle-aged woman. She wore a red vest riddled with holes, tight-fitting top, and pants. Her hair was tied up haphazardly, with no jewelry on her ears or neck. Striding in confidently, Abiryu glanced around before heading straight for me.
"You're the one looking for me?"
"Wh-What? How dare you!"
Adokbang barked, but Abiryu ignored him.
"I've been hiding from the Yeon family, but your wife begged me so earnestly that I came."
"Thank you so much. Father personally apologized to my wife about your family."
"I heard. Amazing, isn't it? The mighty Eastern Division Leader Yeon Gaesomun apologizing."
"We have to hold people accountable for wrongs. Anyway, you hid so well we nearly gave up."
"Village tradition. We wander, never settling, building ships on the move."
"Is that how you ended up working with the Maemul Merchant Guild?"
"Had to, for medicine money for my daughter."
"I heard you shared some fascinating ideas back then."
Abiryu nodded.
"Yeah. But those idiots couldn't grasp it."
"I'm very interested in treadwheel-propelled ships and ironclad vessels."
"For what?"
"Fighting."
I beckoned Ham-a over.
"This is Ham-a. Sui Captive Village's top artisan, helping me craft all sorts of tools."
"If he's the best in Sui Captive Village, he must be skilled."
Ham-a flushed at the sudden praise.
"We need ships to carry the weapons Ham-a's made. Word is, no one in all Goguryeo can build them but you."
"Who said that?"
"Everyone. Even the shipwrights from Maemul waved it off."
"Flying ships or something?"
"Ironclad ships that can close in on the enemy."
"Close in for what?"
"We'll burn them with fire oil. And mount box crossbows to punch holes in their sides."
Abiryu crossed her arms, deep in thought.
"Then it'll need speed, so lots of rowers. That means fewer soldiers aboard."
"Just enough soldiers to handle the fire oil and box crossbows."
"What about enemies closing in?"
"Roof it over with lids, plate it in iron, and stud the top with iron spikes."
Ham-a pointed to the corner, mentioning a model he'd made. As we walked over, Abiryu muttered,
"That means keeping it low. How'd you think of iron plating and spikes?"
I couldn't tell her it was inspired by Admiral Yi Sun-sin's great turtle ship from 900 years in the future. Ham-a showed her the model of the fire turtle ship on the corner table. I thought it was decent enough, but Abiryu clicked her tongue right away. Embarrassed, Ham-a backed off, admitting he wasn't a shipbuilder and didn't know much.
"Got blueprints?"
Ham-a pulled a rolled sheet from a basket under the table. Abiryu unrolled it and looked at me, hands behind her back.
"Where's this ship for?"
"To take on the Silla navy."
"Iron plating will slow it down, even with tons of rowers. You think you can just issue orders from on high? Real battle's messier than that."
Her words were blunt and rough, but spot on. Still, her interest gave me hope for persuasion.
"Specifically, to break the Silla navy holding the harbor mouth. Speed isn't key—we need something with defensive power to withstand concentrated fire."
"How do you attack?"
"With Goguryeo Fire—that unquenchable flame. Pipe it through long tubes from the sloped roof, and any ship closing in becomes ash."
"Heard rumors you used something like that at Niha Fortress. Didn't believe 'em."
"It's much improved now. Straight shots for close ships from the roof, angled for those farther out."
Abiryu reached for the model. It was based on the octagonal turtle ships I'd seen in my modern life. Examining it closely with keen interest, she asked,
"Box crossbows on the sides here?"
"Yes. For any enemy ships Goguryeo Fire misses."
"Good. But iron on the roof means low profile and flat bottom."
"Flat bottom—you mean a flat-bottomed ship?"
"What's that?"
I cursed inwardly but explained quickly.
"A ship with a flat keel. Can it handle the weight?"
"Too heavy, and it'll sink, obviously. Pointed bottoms dig deeper, and sharp turns shift the high center of gravity—could capsize. So flat as possible."
True to her expertise, she nailed the issues. Inspecting the model, she set it back down.
"Model's not bad, but it'd sink the second it hit open water."
"That's why I sought you out. I'll make it happen for you to build it."
Her face lit up.
"Really?"
"Of course. But there's a condition."