Chapter 103
Chapter 103
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 103
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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The next day, I rode in a carriage to the palace with my father.
Over tea the evening before, I'd pondered how to steer the conversation with the Great King. My wife watched over me as I did, cradling Heonchung in her arms. I'd prepared one item to seize the initiative in that discussion, and when my wife saw it, she let out a gasp of admiration. Watching her reaction, I couldn't help but smile, convinced things would go smoothly again this time.
Since this was a formal entry to the palace, I donned an orange official robe and topped it with a black horsehair hat lined in black silk. I'd known from my modern days that official robes were graded by rank, but it wasn't quite to that extent.
Anyway, I climbed into the carriage decked out in this cumbersome getup laden with ornate decorations. My father, riding in the same carriage, opened the window and sat across from me. What we'd prepared all yesterday was rolled up tight and loaded onto another carriage following behind.
"Word from I Mangjin. The Chief of Central Administration has entered the palace as well."
The thought of facing them both at once made me a touch tense. Noticing this, my father, Yeon Gaesomun, said casually,
"Looks like the Great King called him in because he can't handle you alone. He'll probably have the Chief hurl the harsh words while he fires off mild rebukes."
It was pretty amusing to see a good cop, bad cop routine straight out of a Hollywood flick playing out in seventh-century Goguryeo. As these thoughts swirled in my head, the carriage arrived at the palace in the inner citadel of Jangan Fortress.
Once it stopped, I stepped down using the footstool Geom Mojam had placed there and handed the blade of Jumong's spear to I Mangjin, who had come out to greet us. Bowing his head, I Mangjin said,
"The Eastern Division Leader is to wait, by imperial decree."
I'd half-expected as much, but my father Yeon Gaesomun's expression darkened. Leaving him behind, I Mangjin quickly led the way. The skinny eunuch who'd been following with the rolled papers tucked under his arm came along. There, I parted from my father and trailed after I Mangjin toward the Shadow Hall.
This time, I had to go alone without my father, which left me more than a little on edge, though I tried not to show it.
Fortunately, having been through it once before, the gloom of the Shadow Hall didn't feel so alien. I passed through the grand gate guarded by spearmen and walked the long corridor of the Shadow Hall. The creaking underfoot with every step was still grating on the ears. Adding to that was the palpable tension radiating from the imperial guards waiting in the side rooms along the corridor.
I Mangjin reached the door at the end of the long corridor, bent at the waist, and announced,
"Your Majesty, the Great King. Junior Central Administrator Yeon Namsaeng has arrived."
A curt voice from inside said to enter. I Mangjin carefully pushed the door open with one hand and whispered,
"Go on in. They're both there."
The moment I stepped inside, a thick, suffocating darkness enveloped me.
'Feels just like my old life.'
A faint light glimmered from deeper within. Walking slowly toward it, I spotted the Great King seated on the jade throne by a window at the back, with the Chief of Central Administration Yeon Jeong-du standing beside him. The Great King, in wide orange silk trousers, a black robe embroidered with gold thread, and a golden crown, still exuded immense charisma. The two, who had been talking, fell silent at the sight of me.
'They look just like villains plotting mischief only to get caught by the sheriff.'
I took a light breath and bowed my head.
"Junior Central Administrator Yeon Namsaeng greets Your Majesty the Great King and the Chief of Central Administration."
Then I prostrated myself before the Great King. As I rose, the eunuch who'd followed placed the rolled papers beside me and withdrew. Seeing this, the Great King nodded slightly. As if on cue, Yeon Jeong-du standing nearby spoke up.
"I hear an envoy from Baekje has arrived?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Guisil Boksin, a royal of Baekje and captain of Arah's royal guard, visited my residence in secret."
"If an envoy from Baekje has come, shouldn't it be reported at once? Why speak of it only now?"
Gritting my teeth inwardly at the nitpicking from the start, I replied,
"It was at Baekje's request. They insisted on absolute secrecy to prevent any leaks."
"And reporting to me and the Great King is what?"
"If we report directly, perhaps not. But with intermediaries involved, secrets can slip out unnoticed, like rats or birds. That could doom the whole endeavor before it even begins—like those Nangdang spies from Seorabeol who showed up when I went to Niha Fortress last time."
Come to think of it, the Chief had said he'd investigate his own circle for Silla spies. But there'd been no word since. Either he hadn't found any, or he'd leaked the secret himself. The Great King, who'd been listening, shot a glance at Yeon Jeong-du before asking me,
"What exactly did Baekje demand of us?"
"They proposed we strike Silla together next spring."
"Next spring?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. They didn't specify a date, but we can assume it'll be around March or April at the latest."
"It's July now, so about half a year away."
Mulling it over, the Great King asked again,
"What of the scale and attack points?"
At that, I lifted my head and looked at the Chief of Central Administration beside the Great King.
"Please dismiss the Chief of Central Administration."
The Chief's face changed upon hearing this.
"What did you say?"
As the Chief Yeon Jeong-du's voice rose, I answered calmly,
"Raising your voice before the Great King—how insolent."
Realizing his blunder, Chief Yeon Jeong-du hurriedly bowed his head. The Great King gave a faint smile.
"It's forgivable compared to your father's rudeness."
Then he turned to Yeon Jeong-du.
"But ensure it never happens again."
"My deepest apologies, Your Majesty."
Gazing down at the bowing Chief, the Great King looked back at me.
"Why demand the Chief's dismissal?"
"This spring, while disguised and crossing Silla territory to reach Baekje, I was ambushed by assassins."
"Assassins?"
"Yes. Few knew I'd be going to Baekje by land rather than sea. I concluded there must be a Silla spy within the Central Administration Bureau."
This was tantamount to accusing the Chief, head of the bureau. In modern terms, it was like a manager calling out his direct boss, the department head, in front of the CEO. But I had solid grounds, so I pressed on. The Great King pondered briefly, then eyed the Chief.
"What do you make of the Junior Administrator's claim?"
"I see it as baseless conjecture, Your Majesty. The leak could have come from his own retainers, yet he keeps blaming the bureau."
"Would my retainers be mad enough to join an assassination plot against me? Besides, no one knew my destination except those I took with me."
"How can you be so sure?"
"And how can you, Chief, swear no leak came from the bureau? Even the sturdiest fortress crumbles from a single small hole. The Central Administration Bureau serves closest to Your Majesty and is the core of all government offices."
I glanced at the Great King's face. Expressionless, but he showed no sign of stopping me, so I pushed harder.
"Yet secrets leak out so easily, and here you sit making excuses. Truly regrettable."
Chief Yeon Jeong-du's face boiled with rage, on the verge of exploding. Small wonder—he'd been scolded by a subordinate right before the Great King. But this was the plan I'd cooked up ever since learning they'd both see me together: humiliate the Chief to drive him out or shut him up. Reading my intent to some degree, the Great King smiled slyly.
"It seems today's seat is a bed of nails for the Chief."
"N-no, Your Majesty. Forgive the Junior Administrator's impertinence. It's all my failing."
The Great King said no more on the matter and turned to me.
"The prerequisite for allying with Baekje was a joint strike on Silla, correct?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"And they named you specifically."
"That's right."
"Thus, command of the Silla invasion force naturally falls to you, Junior Administrator."
"A grave responsibility weighs heavy on my shoulders."
"Nonsense. You look utterly unburdened. Shall we hear your plan, Junior Administrator? Oh, and Chief—"
As his position turned against him, Yeon Jeong-du lifted his head. Watching the mix of anticipation and anxiety on his face, I marveled anew at the Great King.
'He doesn't blindly trust even his closest aides.'
Unlike me, who trusted mine without question. But considering the throne he sat on, his way might be the right one.
"Stay here. But clamp down on leaks so thoroughly that this never comes up again."
With a sigh of relief, the Chief replied,
"Understood, Your Majesty."
The Great King looked back at me. Impressed once more by how he handled his aide, I spoke up.
"I've brought something to show Your Majesty. Unrolling it requires hands. Could you summon the eunuch who entered with me earlier?"
"Of course."
As if ears had been listening within, the door opened, and the skinny eunuch entered. He always scowled at me and talked back; I'd deal with him someday. Pointing to the bundle beside me, I told the bowing eunuch,
"Pick that up with both hands and stand before me."
"This?"
"It's the Great King's command."
A sharp bark, and the skinny eunuch scrambled up, lifting the bundle. The paper, wound around a central wooden spindle, unfurled with a rustle. It was like a Joseon-era memorial scroll or those chart-style documentaries from the '80s. The first sheet showed a map centered on Jangan Fortress extending south. The Great King exclaimed in admiration.
"How did you come up with something like this?"
I thought of it as an ancient PowerPoint but answered differently.
"I puzzled over how to make it easy to grasp at a glance."
"A map of the south?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. The Silla fortresses we'll hit alongside Baekje."
"Quite a few."
Nodding at the Great King's question,
"I plan to strike as many areas as possible to block Silla reinforcements."
"True. Silla tends to hunker down in their fortresses until relief arrives, then counterattack. Our weary troops end up routed."
I agreed with the Great King. It was Silla's defensive tactic I'd learned from Go Jeong-ui.
"Exactly. So this time, we'll turn their tactic against them."
"How so?"
Intrigued, the Great King leaned forward from his throne.
"By scattering attacks across as many regions as possible. Force Silla to agonize over where to send reinforcements."
Yeon Jeong-du, who'd been listening, cut in again.