Chapter 111
Chapter 111
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 111
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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“What’s that?”
Silla troops were disembarking from the warships in orderly lines, heading up toward Danghang Fortress. But they vanished between rocks shaped like turtles. There was a bit of brush, but not nearly enough to conceal dozens of men. Geom Mojam, on the verge of heading down, asked.
“Master?”
Before he could press why I wasn’t descending, I cut him off.
“Look over there. The Silla navy’s climbing up to those rocks and then disappearing.”
“Where?”
“Right there! By the turtle-shaped rock.”
Geom Mojam craned his neck to peer out and muttered.
“You’re right.”
“You said there’s only one path from the port up to Danghang Fortress, right?”
“Yes. It’s the one skirting the surveillance outpost on that left hill, following the ridgeline all the way to the gates.”
I’d pored over countless reports on Danghang Fortress and its port, learning there was just one connecting route. Yet it seemed there was a path in an unexpected spot. It didn’t take long to grasp what that meant.
“Well, I’ll be damned.”
Tension easing, I draped one arm over the roof and muttered to myself. Then I pricked my finger on a broken dagger tip.
“Ow! That stings.”
“Are you all right?”
Geom Mojam asked, startled, but laughter bubbled up instead of a reply. I’d just cheated death and slain a man with my own hands, yet here I was wincing over a mere pinprick.
Is this what war feels like?
To lighten the mood, I teased Geom Mojam, who was eyeing me with concern.
“You’ve got soot on your face.”
“You’re covered in it too, Master. Especially your nose.”
He mimed rubbing his nose and gestured for me to hurry down. As I descended the stairs, he closed the hatch. The acrid stench of Goguryeo Fire swirled inside the Fire Ghost Ship as it launched. But it was the smell of victory too. At the bottom of the stairs, Abiryu sat slumped, clutching one arm.
“You okay?”
“Th-think my arm’s broken.”
His face twisted in pain, so I quickly ordered splints applied. Then Geom Mojam and I inspected the Fire Ghost Ship. It had performed better than expected, and the soldiers and laborers had all pulled their weight. Shame the Box Cart had no chance to shine, but there’d be other opportunities. As I checked the interior for repairs, Geom Mojam’s voice called out.
“Master. Come to the bow for a moment.”
I rushed forward. Geom Mojam stepped aside from the captain’s observation window, where he’d been scanning outside, and said.
“A ship flying Baekje colors is approaching from the south.”
A vessel neared from the south, past the burning docks. A Baekje flag was staked at its prow. Two of Gaodohan’s warships approached it. Moments later, a skiff launched from the Baekje warship and headed our way.
“What’s this about?”
I asked Geom Mojam, but he shook his head.
“No idea.”
I opened the roof hatch to get a better look at the approaching skiff. A familiar face rode aboard.
“No way! Buyeo Seung, is that you?”
“It’s been a while, General.”
Buyeo Seung, standing at the gunwale, bowed in greeting. He wore scale armor with a wide-brimmed helmet like a baseball cap, fitted with long metal plates. Blood and grime stained his armor and helm from fierce combat. Lifting his head, he pointed toward the shore.
“I watched your victory from up there.”
“Is that so? What’d you think?”
“A warship breathing fire? Truly impressive.”
“Thanks. Took some effort to build.”
“The troops cheered when it split that blazing Silla flagship in two. Bursting through the smoke and flames—it was downright chilling.”
I decided not to mention it stemmed from their ridiculous blunder.
“How’s the situation on land?”
“Crown Prince Uija sent me to fetch you.”
“Perfect timing. I had things to discuss anyway.”
“We’ll come alongside. Hop down.”
“Got it.”
As I descended, the captain shouted to open the forward door below the dragon head. The anchor port swung wide, and Buyeo Seung’s skiff drew near. A crewman hooked a ladder with a grapnel. I ordered Ham-a to keep watch over the ship and Abiryu, bandaged up, to rest. Then I climbed down the ladder into Buyeo Seung’s skiff. We sat along both sides to row, with high prow and stern to slice through waves perfectly. Once Geom Mojam boarded too, Buyeo Seung shouted.
“Turn her about! To the Crown Prince!”
The rowers on both sides stroked forward and back, swinging the boat around. Gaodohan’s warships were entering the harbor mouth we’d blasted through earlier aboard the Fire Ghost Ship.
“Now the Silla navy will have to punch through here if they come.”
I grinned at Buyeo Seung’s words.
“You bet. They’ll have their work cut out.”
The warships parted for our skiff. Gaodohan even called out to return safe as I passed, offering a salute. I’d planted the Great King’s flag on him amid poor first impressions, but he’d done his part. When the skiff beached, Buyeo Seung dismounted first and pointed to prepared horses.
“Mount up. I’ll escort you to the Crown Prince.”
“Lead on.”
Buyeo Seung mounted after seeing Geom Mojam and me up. Then he bellowed.
“To the Crown Prince!”
Galloping south along low hills overlooking the sea, we spotted Danghang Fortress jutting from the promontory’s end and Baekje forces besieging it below. Goguryeo Fire streaked from our Yeon Clan Cannons. Countless corpses littered the slopes below. As I stared, Buyeo Seung explained.
“The Silla troops had camped at the base of the fortress.”
“So the clash happened there.”
“Yes. Battle yesterday.”
“Looks like a few hundred at least.”
“Around two thousand. Fortress is small, so reinforcements couldn’t get inside, it seems.”
“So they camped outside and waited.”
“Thought they’d dug in with stakes and trenches, but they charged out of nowhere. Caught us off guard at first.”
“I see.”
“Their initial momentum was fierce, but the Crown Prince held like Mount Tai, driving them back.”
“Glad to hear it. Fortress is compact—ripe for taking.”
“They’re already rattled from our Goguryeo Fire barrages. Hard to extinguish.”
“And they just watched their navy annihilated right before their eyes in the sea battle.”
“Unbelievable sight. Ships spewing fire that burns even on water. You seem heaven-sent, General.”
I chuckled at Buyeo Seung’s praise.
Not entirely wrong.
But I replied solemnly on another note.
“Heaven sent the Crown Prince.”
“Of course. Arrows fell right at his feet in this fight, yet he didn’t flinch.”
Listening to Buyeo Seung, I inferred Baekje’s internal strife. The backlash after King Mu formally named Crown Prince Uija heir must’ve been fierce. Attacking Silla was their countermove.
No room for retreat or defeat from Uija’s position.
Dying on the battlefield might even bring relief. That’s why he stood unmoving amid falling arrows. He couldn’t budge. Retreat meant not just military defeat, but political ruin.
Lost in such thoughts, we reached Crown Prince Uija’s Baekje camp. Battle’s aftermath lingered: wounded lined one side. In a makeshift forge, bare-chested smiths hammered at weapons.
Uija’s command tent dominated the center. It was spacious, with a massive Baekje Crown Prince Uija flag flapping beside it. Seated on a chair out front, receiving a messenger’s report, Uija lit up at the sight of Buyeo Seung and me, rising with a grin. Helmet off but armor on, it gleamed golden—lacquered with the precious seven-year tree sap from Baekje, no doubt.
As I stared through the armor, Uija laughed heartily and offered a seat.
“Looks good, eh? I’ll gift you one.”
“My thanks, Your Highness. It suits you perfectly.”
He beamed as I sat and offered compliments.
“Truth be told, I was a bit scared. Stands out too much.”
“A general who catches the eye on the battlefield? That’s a boon. Your men fighting for their lives will draw courage from it.”
“Right. Buyeo Seung’ll shield me from any arrows.”
“Congratulations on the victory. First battle won strong—more to come.”
“Figured they’d hunker down, but they surged out. Buyeo Seung took their commander’s head up front, buying us breathing room.”
That explained the blood on Buyeo Seung’s gear. Catching my glance, he humbly chalked it up to luck. Uija leaned back in his chair, grinning wide.
“Heard you fought well too.”
“Just got lucky. With our navy holding the harbor now, we’ll stand guard till your fleet arrives from Baekma River.”
“They’re marching north already. Here by tomorrow.”
“Then we’ll hold till then and withdraw.”
“Appreciated. Anything you need, just say. Supplies aplenty.”
“Thank you.”
I turned to gaze at Danghang Fortress. Four Yeon Clan Cannons below the hill alternated firing Goguryeo Fire. Trailing long tails, it arced onto walls and beyond. Men atop frantically beat flames with mats, only for the mats to ignite. Thick smoke billowed from within—fire raging uncontained. Uija’s face lit with satisfaction.
“Purgatory inside by now.”
“Press harder while they’re reeling.”
“Naturally. Soon as we regroup, we advance.”
Seizing the opening, I voiced what I’d been itching to say.
“The enemy’s likely thinking the same.”