Chapter 106
Chapter 106
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 106
Chapter Title: Assault on the Seven Strongholds
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“Then you know how well the soldiers from Ansi Fortress and the surrounding castles ride horses.”
“So, we can arm them with mounted cart weapons?”
“With that?”
I’d been worried Yang Manchun might refuse, but fortunately, he grinned broadly and nodded.
“Hell, they were perfect for cracking Silla bastards’ skulls. Just make ’em for me, and I’ll put ’em to good use.”
“Thanks.”
While I was at it, I decided to resolve one more nagging issue. I glanced at Adokbang, who was sitting quietly in the corner. He rose cautiously.
“You saved my life once, and you’ve been loyal, so I’ll reward you. I’m appointing you as commander of a cart weapon unit.”
It was a lower rank than a regular cavalry officer, but for a man who’d performed acrobatics by spinning cart wheels, it was an extraordinary promotion. Still, I couldn’t keep him as a bodyguard forever. Overwhelmed with emotion, Adokbang shed thick tears. Watching him sparked another idea.
“Gather up foreigners like you, or poor folk who want to become soldiers. Tell them they can rise through the ranks by earning merits.”
Everyone else looked baffled, but Adokbang got it right away.
“They’ll all love that.”
It was Goguryeo’s version of a foreign legion—the kind I’d once dreamed of joining. In an era without welfare, famines killed the starving by the masses, and a single dose of medicine was a luxury for the sick. Desperate folks flooded into Chang’an Fortress seeking work, and I planned to recruit some into the army. It would reduce the need to draw from the regular forces and give jobs to the destitute.
Impulsive, maybe, but that’s the power of authority.
As I fell silent and watched, my subordinates sprang into action.
Two weeks later, Bin Yeon Pavilion was abuzz. The three generals from Liaodong had arrived. They hadn’t changed much since last year and approached me, bowing their heads.
“Hey, why the sudden formality?”
On Sa-mun, speaking for the trio, replied.
“It’s our thanks for remembering us, and a pledge of greater loyalty going forward.”
Even their speech had grown more deferential. It was fine for younger ones like Eobi-ryu, who’d joined last and was in his mid-thirties, but hearing elderly generals like these use honorifics felt awkward. Still, if they insisted, I couldn’t refuse. I gripped On Sa-mun’s hands tightly.
“If that’s your intent, I accept. Be my spear and sword in this war, too.”
“Of course. We’ll smash the Silla scum again.”
An-go, his skull-like face unchanged, laughed heartily. So Bu-son, whose beard had grown even thicker, chimed in.
“Don’t forget about me.”
I led the three to the large table in the center of Bin Yeon Pavilion. With all the map consultations, I’d had a big table installed there. An-go glanced at the map and blurted out.
“The Seven Strongholds, eh?”
“Yes. Our targets for this campaign are their fortresses.”
On Sa-mun muttered as he eyed the marked spots on the map.
“Gwanmi Fortress, Maeso Fortress, and Chiljung Fortress. None of them will be easy.”
“This time, we’re attacking alongside Baekje. Silla won’t mount a proper defense.”
Just then, Geom Mojam entered with a sealed bamboo slip. I told the generals to wait and broke the seal. It was a letter in Hangul from Seon Do-hae, who’d gone to Baekje with Gwisi Boksin. It listed Baekje’s intended targets.
“Danghang Fortress is obvious, and Gajan Fortress...”
Gajan was the fortress King Mu had assaulted three times but failed to hold after initially capturing it in the first battle.
“Worth another shot.”
The next name was familiar, too.
“Doksan Fortress?”
To modern folks, it evoked General Kwon Yul’s stand against the Japanese at Doksan in Osan during the Imjin War. But the one in the letter was likely the Doksan near Okmun Valley.
If it’s that one...
Checking the timeline, it was 636—right on the nose.
And May, no less. Perfect match with actual history.
Baekje General U-so led 500 troops into Okmun Valley near Doksan, only to be ambushed and annihilated by Silla’s Kim Al-cheon and General Piltan.
The Silla Annals credit Queen Seondeok’s foresight, but nah—intel just leaked.
It nagged at me, but I decided not to interfere. Some failures were necessary to avoid exposing my foreknowledge. The next target stood out.
“Daeya Fortress!”
In original history, it fell in August 642 to Baekje’s Yun Chung, thanks to the garrison commander Pumseok’s atrocities prompting defections by Mocheok and Geomil. If Pumseok wasn’t in charge yet, the attack was doomed.
Need to intervene here.
Okmun cost just 500 lives, but a big one like Daeya would bleed them dry. After a moment’s thought, I scribbled a hasty Hangul reply on a blank slip: Daeya seemed premature; better targets elsewhere. I listed Goguryeo’s objectives, stressing that Danghang Fortress and port were paramount. Sealed it and handed it to Geom Mojam.
“Send it to Baekje via Maemul Merchant Guild.”
“Understood.”
Geom Mojam left with the slip. Meanwhile, the generals had been deep in discussion with Go Jeong-ui and Go Yeon-mu. Eavesdropping, I caught talk of logistics. Seasoned as they were, they knew supply lines mattered. As I approached, So Bu-son teased.
“What weapon will surprise the enemy this time?”
“I’ll rain fire from the sky.”
I mimed something dropping from above. Thinking it a joke, So Bu-son stroked his beard and chuckled. Go Yeon-mu cut in.
“He’s serious. We’ll hang Goguryeo Fire on sky lanterns, float them over, and drop them on their camps.”
So Bu-son stared at me, incredulous.
“Great General, is there nothing you can’t do?”
“Great General? I don’t even have a title yet.”
“Come on, commanding three generals—what else would you be?”
Soon everyone was calling me Great General. Embarrassed, I changed the subject.
“Total forces mobilized: around 20,000.”
“Including Malgal cavalry?”
I nodded at An-go’s question.
“Who else for scouting and pursuit? I’m recalling Iri, who earned merits last time.”
“Perfect. We’ve synced before; good to reunite.”
“Here’s the basic plan: Each of you leads 10,000 to 5,000 men to hit three targets simultaneously. I’ll attach my men—Go Dol-bal, Ita-in—and my friend Yang Manchun as vanguard commanders.”
On Sa-mun returned to the map table, studying it intently. He tapped it thoughtfully.
“None are pushovers. Splitting forces risks dilution. Better feint at two and concentrate on one—like Chiljung Fortress.”
“I’ve considered that. But if Silla gauges our numbers accurately, they’ll ignore the others and rush reinforcements to Chiljung.”
An-go, beside him, asked.
“I get sowing chaos in their relief forces. But our goal is capture. Some losses are inevitable.”
“With respect...”
I met their gazes squarely.
“These three aren’t what I truly want.”
“Then what’s the real prize?”
I pressed a finger to the map and slid it down below Gwanmi Fortress. So Bu-son spoke first.
“Isn’t this Danghang Port?”
“Right. Danghang Port and Fortress together.”
“Too close to Baekje—hard to hold.”
“We’ll hand it to them after.”
“Why attack it then?”
I paused before answering So Bu-son.
“To seize it from Silla and sever their ties with Tang.”
“Blocking Tang trade—that’s the war’s aim?”
On Sa-mun’s tone sharpened, chilling the room. I took a deep breath and faced them.
“If war erupts with Tang, we’ll focus north. Silla could ally with them and strike our southern border.”
“So feints everywhere else, real push at Danghang?”
“Yes. Capture the others if possible, no big loss if not. But I’d like Chiljung ideally.”
The generals’ faces grew grave in unison. My strategy deviated from the era’s norm of grabbing castles. But it was non-negotiable for me. Thankfully, On Sa-mun understood.
“I’ll take Chiljung. You two handle Maeso and Gwanmi.”
So Bu-son replied instantly.
“I like the sea. Gwanmi’s mine.”
An-go followed.
“Leaves Maeso for me.”
“Thank you all.”
“When do the troops arrive?”
I glanced at Go Jeong-ui, who answered promptly.
“Northern forces after harvest, around November. Southern levies assemble at Hanseong—modern Jaeryeong in Hwanghae Province.”
“We’ll drill them hard. Make winter feel scorching.”
An-go and So Bu-son cheered agreement. Seeing that, I knew we’d cleared the campaign’s biggest hurdle.
By my reckoning, the winter of 635–636 was frantic. Assembling and training a far larger army than last time demanded it. My experienced aides and generals handled their parts well. Baekje wired back: abandoning Daeya for elsewhere—likely eyeing Gajan, per Seon Do-hae’s vague Hangul note.