Chapter 118
Chapter 118
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 118
Chapter Title: Siege of Chiljung Fortress
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The man who had possessed Eulji Mundeok's body set out on a long journey to return to the time before the possession. But no one believed he had actually gone back to his original world. Now, it was time to forget Yeon Taehwan, the dirt-poor kid from modern Korea.
'If I'm going to adapt and survive here, I have to embrace this era's values—at least for now.'
Ham-a, sensing how resolute I was, stopped trying to dissuade me. But Geom Mojam, standing nearby, raised his voice in protest. I talked him down with a simple line.
"You'll be right by my side."
"It's still too dangerous."
"I've never once felt in danger with you watching my back."
I meant every word. It must have gotten through to him, because Geom Mojam backed off. Just as we were wrapping things up, Ita-in—the officer in charge of the southern camp—showed up out of nowhere. He glanced up at the Eight-Wheeled Cart and got straight to the point.
"I heard you're using this to assault Chiljung Fortress."
"Tomorrow."
"Let me lead the way and scale the walls first."
"That's way too risky."
It was the truth. In movies or dramas, anyone but the hero charging the walls first was cannon fodder. And this wasn't some script—even a protagonist wouldn't dodge every arrow or sidestep every spear thrust. But Ita-in wouldn't let it go.
"Last time, I couldn't rack up any real merits. This time, I need to come back with something to show for it."
I got where he was coming from, but I still wanted to talk him out of it. He had his reasons, just like I had mine for digging in my heels.
"Fine. Just make sure your armor's fastened tight."
Ita-in slapped the backsword at his hip.
"Don't worry. I'll smash 'em all with this."
He let out a booming laugh and headed off. Then General On Sa-mun arrived. I filled him in on the all-out assault planned for tomorrow and said I'd take the western ridge myself. He echoed what his men had said.
"Isn't that dangerous?"
"It's a battlefield—of course it's dangerous. But I can't just duck it while everyone else fights."
"Still, think it over."
"They sent a Deputy Commander from Jang-an Fortress to spy on us. If I slink back empty-handed, those vultures waiting in the wings won't let me off easy. I have to seize this fortress."
I laid it out plain and simple, and General On Sa-mun couldn't argue anymore.
"Then we win tomorrow, no question. I'll lead the main force against the north gate and draw their eyes."
"I trust you. Have your troops ready to pour in the moment the west wall cracks."
"I'll leave two thousand infantry in camp."
"Thank you, General."
"Get some solid rest tonight. Tomorrow's gonna be a long one."
After our talk, I scanned the area. There was Deputy Commander Bu-sang, standing awkwardly—the same guy who'd picked a fight with me on day one and then holed up in his tent. Spotting him sparked an idea. He must have felt my stare; he turned away uncomfortably and ducked back inside.
The next day, clad in full armor and helmet, I stood before the western ridge of Chiljung Fortress. General On Sa-mun's main force had been hammering the north gate since early morning. Ita-in and roughly a thousand soldiers clustered around the Eight-Wheeled Cart. Its base was hollow, with a crossbar rigged for men to grip and push. We'd picked the strongest soldiers and laborers for the job. Ladders and steps led all the way to the top—but to keep the weight down, no one had climbed aboard. We'd snuck them up last night. Ita-in, Geom Mojam, Ham-a, Go Jeong-ui—they were all looking at me. I swallowed hard and waved them forward.
"Advance!"
Shield-bearers formed up around the Eight-Wheeled Cart as the archers Gido-ryang had trained loosed bolts from Yeon Clan Crossbows. Chiljung Fortress was ready for us—arrows rained down like they'd been waiting. The soldiers and workers inside heaved with all their might, shoving the cart forward. I'd worried that many men might not be enough to budge it. But my fears were unfounded; it inched ahead. The leather covering and lightweight planks must have trimmed the weight. With grunts of "Heave-ho!", it picked up speed. Arrows and stones flew from the fortress, but the leather shed the arrows, and the stones barely dented it.
"So far, so good."
I let out a breath of relief as the cart accelerated toward the ramp we'd built on the western ridge. My heart was in my throat the first time it crested—would it stall or tip? But it sailed right over and kept climbing. It nearly ground to a halt midway, but the waiting soldiers rushed in from behind and shoved it through.
"That was a close one."
More arrows whistled toward the cart as it topped the ramp. At closer range, short javelins joined the barrage. Soldiers around it started dropping. Even so, no one fell back. They bellowed "Advance!" till their throats were raw, pushing in grim silence. At last, the Eight-Wheeled Cart thudded against the wall. Silla fire intensified as Ita-in and a dozen handpicked men scrambled up the ladders. I shouted to Ham-a, shield in hand.
"Let's climb."
"Right behind you."
Geom Mojam followed, another shield ready, a burning log clenched in his teeth. Deputy Commander Bu-sang brought up the rear, dragged along half against his will. Geom Mojam led us up the ladders to the topmost platform. At the forward corner, something Ham-a had rigged last night lay hidden under a straw mat. I propped up a spare shield for cover and peeked over at Chiljung Fortress. Silla troops were packed thick along the wall where the cart had latched on. Ham-a called out.
"That's a ton of them."
"Figured as much. They've been expecting something here for days."
I turned to Deputy Commander Bu-sang, who was shivering in the corner.
"Pull off the mat."
"M-mat?"
Frozen in terror, he barely managed to yank it free. There sat Ham-a's Goguryeo Fire launcher—smaller than the shipboard model. Geom Mojam transferred his flame to a fresh torch and handed it over. I yelled at the Deputy Commander.
"Slowly turn the wheel at the back."
He flinched at an arrow zipping past his ear, shoulders hunched.
"Th-this one?"
"Yes—steady and slow, don't stop."
Torch in one hand, fingers on the canister plug in the other, I glanced at Ham-a. She mirrored my stance and shouted.
"Ready!"
"On three, then. One, two, three!"
I yanked the plug and dashed to the nozzle. Flame bloomed at the tip. The Deputy Commander's face lit up with shock.
"What in the world...?"
"Grip it tight."
I ripped out the stopper. Goguryeo Fire roared from the tube, hosing the battlements. The Silla troops clustered there to repel us took the full blast.
"F-fire!"
"Fall back!"
"It's hot!"
Their screams rang clear. I could see men writhing as the flames licked them. The stench hit next—burning flesh, melting leather and metal.
'Not like the Battle of Danghangpo.'
That had been at range, muffled inside the ship. This was up close, raw and real. At least a hundred Silla soldiers were melting in the inferno. Someone wailed for his mother. A few, unable to bear it, hurled themselves off the wall. It was gruesome just to watch; the pain they felt had to be unimaginable. It tore at me, but I couldn't waver. I told Ham-a to keep firing and swung the launcher side to side, spreading the blaze as wide as possible. Fire poured down like rain on charred corpses. Survivors shrieked and retreated—the flames wouldn't die even if they rolled or doused themselves. The Silla troops who'd watched their comrades burn alive were visibly breaking. I bellowed downward.
"Now!"
The drawbridge-like ramp dropped. Ita-in charged across first, backsword and shield raised.
"Ita-in of Buyeo Fortress! Who dares stand in my way?"
His dozen men followed over the wall into Chiljung Fortress. Ladder after ladder brought more troops swarming up into the foothold they'd secured. Cheers erupted from the soldiers below the cart. I yelled down.
"Move it! Get over that wall!"
They climbed like ants, flooding inside. The first wave tangled with late-arriving Silla reinforcements—but fighting from within the fortress, they held firm. Ita-in led from the front, hacking throats and rallying his men. I caught my breath when the still-shaking Deputy Commander finally lost it and retched. He'd been a pain, hounding me as the Chief of Central Administration's lackey, but seeing him suffer tugged at me. I patted his back.
"You alright?"
He squeezed his eyes shut and nodded. Even I, steeling myself for war, struggled with the reek. The troops, though? To them it smelled like victory—they poured over without a care. Ita-in finally shattered the Silla line blocking him and bolted along the wall toward the watchtower. I shouted to Geom Mojam.
"Fetch those two thousand from camp—and alert General On Sa-mun."
"Come down with me."
He eyed me warily, afraid I'd slip inside.
"Relax. I'm staying put."
"Wait here."
Geom Mojam descended the ladders. I peered into Chiljung Fortress. Goguryeo troops were fanning out along the walls, shoving back the scattered Silla defenders.