Chapter 113
Chapter 113
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 113
Chapter Title: Victory at Danghangseong
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Armored Crown Prince Uija sat on a folding chair in front of the long hall. I approached in a single stride and bowed my head.
"Congratulations on your victory, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
"It's thanks to you. If you hadn't told me about that secret passage, the battle would've dragged on forever."
"I was worried the fighting wouldn't stop until dawn."
"They held out tenaciously. In the end, they climbed up to that pavilion and dug in. Anyway, Danghangseong is ours now. And thanks to you, we've got the Danghang cannons in hand too."
"A splendid start."
It was pretty much the whole thing, but with more victories ahead, I kept my mouth shut. A soldier fetched water from Danghangseong's well, and Crown Prince Uija took a sip before handing me the cup.
I drained the rest and respectfully returned the empty cup. The Baekje soldiers around us erupted in cheers.
"Hooray!"
"Long live Crown Prince Uija! Long live Baekje!"
Basking in the cheers from all directions, Crown Prince Uija turned to me.
"We've taken this place, so I'll leave a garrison and head to Gajamseong."
"You're planning to take that one too?"
"Gajamseong's changed hands multiple times. This time, I'm claiming it for good."
"I wish you certain victory, Your Highness."
"What about you?"
"I'll leave this place in your hands too, Your Highness, and head to the front lines."
"Gwanmiseong? Chiljungseong? Or Maesoseong?"
"I'll swing by nearby Gwanmiseong first, then on to Chiljungseong."
"Understood. If we spot any Silla troop movements, I'll let you know right away."
"We'll pass on any intel we get as well."
"Let's win this together and share the glory."
Crown Prince Uija extended his hand. As I bowed politely in farewell, it hit me. He'd deliberately chatted with Goguryeo's top general right in front of his own troops. Once word spread, the crown prince's prestige would soar.
'Not just anyone becomes the next Arah.'
I bid him farewell and turned away. Buyeo Seung saw me off all the way outside the gates. Geom Mojam and I headed down to the harbor and boarded the waiting ship.
"Not the Fire Ghost Ship. Let's go to Ga Do-han's lead warship."
"Got it."
At Geom Mojam's order, the helmsman turned the rudder. As we drew near Ga Do-han's warship, instead of a rope ladder, the hatch to the anchor well swung open. We pulled alongside, grabbed the hands of the navy soldiers reaching out, and climbed inside. Waiting Ga Do-han general asked,
"Welcome aboard. Did the Baekje forces take Danghangseong?"
"We pulled off a night raid and opened the gates."
"I never thought Danghangseong would fall so easily."
I replied breezily to his admiring words.
"Now it's our turn."
"Of course. Does our navy stand by here?"
"The Baekje navy should come north tomorrow. Once they arrive, we'll head north."
"To Gwanmiseong?"
I nodded at Ga Do-han's question.
"First to Gomukgeun-hyeon. We'll leave a few ships there for support, then the rest go up Chiljungha to Gwanmiseong."
"To aid General Sobu-son there?"
"Can't climb those cliffs anyway, so we'll lob Goguryeo Fire at them and block any escape attempts."
"Understood."
"Thanks to you, we secured the Danghang cannons. I won't forget it."
Ga Do-han chuckled at my praise.
"My men and I just smashed two fleeing Silla ships trying to escape. The rest was all you, General, and those Fire Ghost Ships. Warships that breathe fire? Our navy is invincible now."
I answered the heartily laughing Ga Do-han general.
"That ship still needs a lot of work. But it can catch enemies fleeing downriver like before. I'll be on the Fire Ghost Ship, so rest easy. You can rotate the troops ashore too."
"Will do."
With talks done, I boarded my ship again. Having to handle what modern phones, messengers, or emails could do in person was such a hassle. But no fixing that, so I let it slide.
Back on the Fire Ghost Ship, exhaustion hit hard. I got the captain's okay and crashed in my cabin. My mind raced with thoughts until I closed my eyes.
"It's April 11th today, so four days till the attack kicks off. Leaving tomorrow makes it three."
All three generals were reliable, but who knew what curveballs the front lines might throw? Especially how fast Silla caught on and reacted.
'Kim Yu-sin would definitely find a countermeasure.'
Repeating Kim Yu-sin and Kim Chun-chu's names, I drifted off.
I woke to distant cheers outside. Opening my eyes, I locked gazes with Geom Mojam entering the captain's quarters.
"What's that noise?"
"Sounds like the Baekje warships have arrived."
Stretching, I climbed up to the Fire Ghost Ship's open deck. Over thirty Baekje warships steamed north in line. Cheers rose from the Baekje troops at Danghangseong.
"Time to shove off. Geom Mojam!"
"Yes, Master!"
"Signal Ga Do-han to depart. Destination: Gomukgeun-hyeon."
"Understood. Our war begins now."
I gave an excited Geom Mojam a sly smile and yawned.
"Wake me when we get there."
With the first button sewn on right, the tension melted away. I yawned again, headed to the captain's quarters, and lay on the bunk. Amid the creaking oars and murmurs, I fell back asleep.
The next afternoon, the northward fleet reached Gomukgeun-hyeon. It was a throwaway pawn, but I wondered how the landing troops had fared. Luckily, they'd taken it with no trouble and held over a hundred prisoners. Two days till the April 15th kickoff, so we took a short break. We sent up the prisoners and the now-unneeded Fire Ghost Ships. Wounded Abiryu went with them. The long-shore-deprived navy troops grinned nonstop, in high spirits. I took a breather ashore too, mulling the coming battles.
After two days on Gyodongdo, we boarded Ga Do-han's warship at dawn and pushed upriver. Left was Goguryeo land, right Silla, so troops mostly hugged the left bank. Vast floodplains spread out, prone to monsoon submersion. Mudflats and reeds appeared. Unnamed birds soared overhead. Gwanmiseong sat perfectly at the confluence of Chiljungha (Imjin River) and Arisu (Han River). It'd been a fierce Goguryeo-Baekje battleground under King Gwanggaeto the Great; now Silla held it. As we ascended, land appeared dead ahead.
'That's the spot I took the bus to Heyri Village from in my past life—Free Road.'
Recalling my previous life's memories, I eyed the shore. A stone-walled fortress topped the cliffs, fireballs arcing toward it. General Sobu-son's Goguryeo forces had begun the siege. From the watchtower, I shouted to Ga Do-han,
"Stop outside their shooting range first and drop anchor."
"Got it. Mind if we test Goguryeo Fire on the way in?"
Odd request, but I agreed readily. Ga Do-han urged haste; troops bustled prepping the Yeon Clan Cannon. Too tall risked tipping the ship, and heavy stone counterweights bogged it down. So we kept it low, using onboard weapons and anchors as weights instead.
Grunting, the soldiers hooked the anchor and cranked the wheel. Prep done, they loaded a jar of Goguryeo Fire from the hold and lit it. At Ga Do-han's beaming command to fire, the counterweight dropped, hurling Goguryeo Fire toward Gwanmiseong. A bit short, but it cleared the wall and landed inside. The navy troops threw arms up in cheers. I clapped too, then hopped into a skiff. Goguryeo cavalry clustered on Gwanmiseong's left along Chiljungha. As we neared, a familiar, welcome face appeared. Yang Man-chun, mounted flail raised high, yelled,
"Hey! Over here. Here!"
I waved back.
"Come to greet me? I'm touched to tears."
"Figured you'd get lost."
Laughing heartily at Yang Man-chun's grin, I laughed too. The boat docked; Geom Mojam and Ham-a disembarked with me. Mounting horses Yang Man-chun brought, I asked,
"Situation?"
"We've got the land side surrounded. Wanted a plains showdown, but the cowards tucked tail."
I snickered at his crestfallen face. How did this thrill-seeking glory hound become Ansi Fortress's hero? Clueless why I laughed, Yang Man-chun said,
"Let's head to base camp. Too close to Gwanmiseong here."
"Right."
Riding fast, one of Yang Man-chun's men ahead yelled,
"Enemies!"
"What?"
Startled, Yang Man-chun looked where his man pointed. Twenty-odd Silla cavalry charged from Gwanmiseong.
"Damn! Hidden sally port."
The streaking Silla riders cut off our path. Yang Man-chun fumed,
"Silla bastards really grind my gears."
"What now?"
Numbers even, but they held the high ground advantage. They'd probably spotted Yang Man-chun fetching me from the boat and sortied on impulse. Returning to the ship crossed my mind, but my ride had already shoved off. Calling it back felt mistimed. As I pondered, Yang Man-chun gripped his mounted flail tighter.
"What else? Time to test this baby in real combat."
He bellowed to his men,
"Line up single file and break through. Protect this guy—that's the goal. Got it?"
His troops roared assent. Yang Man-chun grinned fiercely.
"Keep up, buddy."
He hoisted his flail high.
"Charge!"
Yang Man-chun led; his men fanned wide and accelerated. I yelled to Ham-a and Geom Mojam,
"Let's go!"
Centered on Yang Man-chun, his squad picked up speed. The Silla riders atop the hill charged down. Staying put would've let momentum crush them, they figured. Closing in, Yang Man-chun and his men swung flails overhead. The Silla cavalry drew swords in response.
"Come to think of it, no Silla spears."
That would've crippled Yang Man-chun's crew, but without, terrain aside, we had a shot. Still couldn't shake the fear.