Chapter 140
Chapter 140
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 140
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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"Take it."
He pulled it from his bosom and tossed it over—it was the spearhead of Jumong's Spear. It seemed he had separately retrieved what he'd left with the gatekeeper on his way into the palace. Yi Maengjin's tossed spearhead landed in my hand. The moment the palace guard warrior saw it, he thrust his blade into Yi Maengjin's side.
"Urk!"
Yi Maengjin swallowed a groan and collapsed. In that instant, I yanked out Jumong's Spearhead and wrapped the leather strap around my wrist.
"Take him down!"
Jumong's Spearhead slipped from my hand like a living thing, piercing the throat of the approaching palace guard who had his spear leveled. It slid out smoothly, spun through the air, and plunged into the armpit of another guard closing in from the side. Targeting gaps unarmored by their plate, Jumong's Spearhead left the palace guards defenseless as they fell one by one. After slitting the last one's throat, it obediently returned to my hand. The lone elderly eunuch who remained stood there trembling. It seemed he'd been spared because the spearhead posed no apparent threat to me. I spoke lowly to the old eunuch.
"Open the bolt."
The old eunuch, who seemed about to say something, turned and struggled with grunts to unfasten it. As the gate swung open, Geom Mojam entered from outside, sword drawn.
"Master! Are you all right?"
"I'm fine."
Geom Mojam, who had come in with the retainers, stood by my side. A sense of security naturally eased my expression. Seeing the fallen Yi Maengjin, Geom Mojam's face hardened.
"He died protecting me. Please take good care of his body."
"Understood. And that eunuch?"
Before Geom Mojam could finish, I said,
"Kill him. Not quickly—make it as painful as possible."
Geom Mojam acknowledged and approached the old eunuch. I shouted at the eunuch, who cried out for mercy.
"You don't deserve to live!"
Then I turned and exited the palace. From behind came the old eunuch's shrill, piercing scream mingled with the sickening slice of flesh being carved. Hurrying into the carriage, Geom Mojam yelled to depart. The wheels jolted harshly, and the forgotten pain in my lower abdomen surged back.
"Ugh."
Looking down, I saw blood seeping through my jacket. Pressing one hand to my stomach, I swallowed the agony.
The estate was tightly guarded by retainers. Passersby, gripped by fear, detoured far away. There stood my father, Yeon Gaesomun, in his armor outside the main gate. As the carriage halted and the door opened, Father rushed over in a single stride.
"Are you all right?"
His face grew fierce upon seeing the wound on my lower abdomen. I hastened to reply.
"The wound's just acting up."
"What in the world happened? I heard from Geom Mojam that something had gone wrong."
"It's a long story. Let's head to the Biyeon Pavilion."
"Very well."
Father issued orders, and the retainers helped me to the Biyeon Pavilion. Shortly after arriving, the physician entered. As he carefully removed my jacket and examined the wound, Father strode in. The physician turned quickly and reported.
"It's just the old injury flaring up. No need for excessive worry."
"That's a relief."
The physician swiftly bandaged it and withdrew. The moment the door clicked shut, Father growled.
"Damn it all—striking me in the back like this. I'll storm the palace right now and sever the Great King's head."
His words made my wound throb with shock. It felt like Father's coup might advance by years.
"No, you must hold back."
"You nearly died twice. I can't let this slide."
"If I'd died, that'd be one thing, but I didn't. We all need to survive."
"There's no world where everyone survives. It's win or lose, nothing more."
"Instead of that, please gather the heirs of the division leaders."
"Not the leaders themselves, but their heirs?"
"Yes—the son of the Northern Division Leader, Go Yeonsu; the son of the Southern Division Leader, Go Hyejin; and the son of the Western Division Leader, Bu Sang. I'll try to persuade the leaders through them."
"All right. I'll assemble the retainers to guard this place like a fortress."
"I beg you, Father. And absolutely do not make a move."
At my repeated pleas, Father reluctantly nodded.
"So be it."
As I wrapped up with Father, my close aides poured in. None could hide their shock and alarm. I spoke first to them.
"I didn't die, so calm down."
"How can we possibly calm down?!"
Go Dolbal spoke in an angry tone. But my gaze turned to I Ta-in standing beside him. His eyes were bloodshot, as if he'd heard the news.
"Your father died protecting me."
"I heard. Permit me my revenge."
"The old eunuch and the palace guards—Geom Mojam and I took care of them all."
"It's as good as the Great King killing my father himself."
In normal times, it would have been shocking, but I Ta-in and the others spoke as if it were natural. As the mood turned perilous, I took a firm stance.
"The reason I keep you all around is because I need you to stay level-headed in situations like this. We need the wisdom and courage to overcome the Great King's two assassination attempts—not blind rage."
My words silenced the aides. As quiet settled, Adokbang spoke in his halting speech.
"I lack wisdom. So let my courage lead—I'll charge the palace first. Trample it over my corpse."
"I gratefully accept your courage. But my goal isn't the palace."
Then I looked to Go Jeong-ui.
"How do you think the Great King will move?"
"Having failed two assassination attempts, he'll hold back for now."
"By sealing the palace gates?"
Go Jeong-ui nodded, and Go Yeonmu beside him added,
"And he'll shift the blame to someone else."
"To whom?"
"To anyone but himself."
"Any chance he'll take a hard line?"
"Even the palace guards would struggle against the Eastern Division's retainers."
"What if forces outside the capital join in?"
"We have to stop that."
"Defy a royal command?"
As Go Yeonmu hesitated, Go Jeong-ui interjected.
"Everyone will think of the clash between the Chaseon Army and the Segun Army. They'll be on edge over who emerges victorious."
"Between me and the Great King?"
"More precisely, between the Great King and the division leaders, starting with the East."
"They hold the justification."
As Go Jeong-ui fell silent, Seon Do-hae cut in.
"We'll deploy couriers to spread the word: the wicked Great King tried to assassinate Goguryeo's hero, General Yeon Namsaeng—not once, but twice."
The other aides nodded in agreement. Go Jeong-ui, who had been listening, chimed in.
"Excellent idea. We need to seize the people's hearts to stand against the Great King."
With the pain in my lower abdomen persisting, my head throbbed.
'Time is accelerating.'
It was early 638 now. Yet these two attempts on my life were veering history off course. Father's coup had nearly come four years early. If we fractured before facing Tang, it would be over. I'd been so cautious, but the foolish Great King had ruined it.
Anxiety from nearly dying for real, plus worries over what came next, made my head ache. At least I'd survived unscathed. But the Great King, facing loss of power, wouldn't stay quiet—he'd likely make a ruinous choice.
'That would plunge Goguryeo into a civil war unlike history.'
Tang wouldn't miss the chance, of course. War might erupt this year or next, not 645. They'd crushed Gogukseon in 640 and set up the Anseodo Protectorate, but they could target Goguryeo first. As I clutched my head, Go Jeong-ui and Go Yeonmu cried out almost in unison.
"There's a way."
I leaned in to hear, but the Biyeon Pavilion door opened as Geom Mojam shouted,
"The division leaders' sons have arrived."
Though I gave no order, my men rose and vacated the seats, which the heirs filled. To the left sat Go Yeonsu, son of the Northern Division Leader—tall, broad-shouldered, and robust. To the right, in contrast, sat Go Hyejin, son of the Southern Division Leader—short and lean. Facing me was Bu Sang, son of the Western Division Leader Bu Gi-tae and once a close aide to Yeon Jeong-du. All were stunned and slow to speak. Bu Sang, seated directly opposite, finally managed,
"I heard there was another ambush at the palace."
"It was in a wing behind the Amyeong Hall. The Great King's bastard son, Go Bokdeok—who led the first attempt—tried to kill me himself."
The brief account shocked them all. Go Yeonsu clenched his fist.
"Even if you're a thorn in his side, how can he persecute a division leader's heir like this?"
He'd avoided dangerous terms but hid none of his fury. That was why I'd summoned the heirs, not the leaders. The leaders, not being direct targets, might think differently, but the heirs' situations differed—especially with siblings as rivals. They feared being sacrificed for a brother as successor. Go Hyejin raised his voice too.
"I feel the same. Even for the Great King, this is unacceptable."
As they spoke in turn, Bu Sang, who had stayed silent, finally opened his mouth.
"I thought he'd summon you for reconciliation. This was truly unexpected."
"Even that was the strategist's ploy."
It was a scheme I never saw coming—without Channo, I wouldn't have escaped. Recalling it made my wounded abdomen throb again. As I winced, Bu Sang looked concerned.
"Are you all right?"
"I'll manage. Though the Great King tried to kill me twice, I don't want to escalate things."
Go Yeonsu frowned at the unforeseen stance.
"Let it go just like that? If we do, the emboldened Great King will turn his blade on us next."
"Of course not. We'll propose negotiations with the Great King."
"Negotiations? He'll just stab us in the back again."
This time Go Hyejin opposed too. But my resolve was firm. Using this to depose the Great King would bring chaos next. We couldn't make Hwan-gwon the Great King, and as in history, making the Sun King's son king was the last resort I'd avoid. As Go Yeonsu and Go Hyejin vehemently objected, Bu Sang cautiously asked while I pondered.