Chapter 141
Chapter 141
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 141
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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"How exactly do you plan to negotiate? The Great King is hunkered down tight right now. If we make any hasty moves, we might just hand him an excuse or spark a misunderstanding."
"Even if we send someone, he'll probably think we're spying."
"He's tried to assassinate you twice himself, so he might assume we're trying to take him out the same way."
Go Hyejin, who had heard about the assassination attempts, chimed in.
"On top of that, who would dare enter the imperial palace for negotiations? Especially after you've nearly died twice."
"First, we need to monitor the movements of the troops stationed around the capital. This could drag on."
Go Yeonsu responded to my words.
"Don't worry about that. They're all sitting tight, watching and waiting."
"Until a winner emerges?"
"Even though the Great King appointed them, each division leader has their own ties, long or short, with the nobles. If they blindly follow his orders and something goes wrong, it could doom not just them but their entire clans. So they'll be cautious."
Go Hyejin and Bu Sang nodded in agreement with Go Yeonsu's explanation. Goguryeo was a state where the Great King and his ministers each held their own domains in governance. But power was something even fathers and sons couldn't share without strife. The golden age under King Jangsu had come precisely because royal authority was strong then. The Great King dreamed of reviving that era.
'That's not wrong in itself, but his methods are.'
A stifling silence hung over us until Bu Sang spoke cautiously.
"If everyone agrees, I'll ask my father to make contact with the Great King. We have to avert disaster first. If word of this reaches Silla, who knows what they'll do. And the Tang, too."
"I agree."
Go Hyejin, who had been listening to us, spoke up.
"I understand your intentions, but this could play right into the Great King's schemes."
"You mean dragging things out?"
"Exactly. He's the sovereign, and we're his subjects. To outsiders unaware of the circumstances, we could look like rebels."
Go Yeonsu wore a similar expression but couldn't hide his worry.
"We can't just storm the palace, though."
Even decades ago, when nobles fought over succession, no one attacked the palace. The Great King had simply barred the gates and waited out the battles. Directly assaulting him was bound to be a heavy burden. I steeled my resolve and looked at Bu Sang.
"Then please convey our intentions to the Great King."
"What conditions shall I present?"
"We'll guarantee his position and the Crown Prince's. In return, he hands over the Central Administration Bureau and abides by the Great Council's decisions."
Bu Sang pondered my words for a moment.
"Not a bad deal, but he won't accept it outright. He'll try to negotiate, buying time in hopes the situation shifts."
"Shifts how?"
Bu Sang stroked his beard thoughtfully before answering Go Hyejin's question.
"By persuading the provincial governors or waiting for us to fracture."
"Then we need to warn him. Make it clear he has no choice but to accept our terms."
"The most effective way would be to attack the palace, but that risks him misunderstanding it as us pretending to negotiate while plotting his demise."
It was a genuine dilemma, just as Bu Sang said.
"To steer negotiations in our favor, we need to show strength, but that could lead to misunderstandings."
"Or he might pretend to misunderstand and stall anyway."
The situation was turning out more tangled than I'd expected when the door to Bin Yeon Pavilion rattled. I glanced over as it opened, revealing Geom Mojam looking flustered.
"Master. Go Jeong-ui and Go Yeonmu request an audience."
I was about to tell him to wait when a sudden wave of nausea surged up. It wasn't the pain from the wound in my lower abdomen—this was the warning signal I got for bad decisions. I barely swallowed it down and told Geom Mojam.
"Let them in."
Geom Mojam stepped aside, and Go Jeong-ui and Go Yeonmu entered. Go Yeonmu, Go Yeonsu's half-brother, exchanged nods with him before standing before me alongside Go Jeong-ui.
"Master. We have a way to negotiate with the Great King."
"How?"
Go Yeonmu glanced around slyly before whispering his answer. I couldn't help but chuckle.
"You think that'll work?"
Go Jeong-ui replied in his stead.
"Of course. We need a quick resolution anyway, don't we?"
"True enough."
Our earlier discussion had revolved around that very issue. Yet these two youngsters had proposed an unexpected solution. I looked at them fondly, but Go Jeong-ui seemed to read my mind.
"Thinking the kids did pretty well, huh?"
Caught off guard inwardly, I showered them with praise.
"No, it's just that your unforeseen solution impresses me."
Fortunately, Go Yeonmu jumped in.
"We can prepare right away."
"How long will it take?"
They exchanged glances and held up two fingers in unison.
"Two days?"
"Yes."
"Got it. See it through properly."
"Thank you."
They bowed together and hurried out. Buoyed by this surprise solution, I returned to my seat and looked at the three in turn.
"We'll negotiate with the Great King. We'll preserve his position and the Crown Prince's, take the Central Administration Bureau, and ensure he doesn't oppose the division leaders' views in the Great Council."
Go Yeonsu frowned.
"That's not bad, but will he accept so readily?"
I answered by looking at Bu Sang.
"Leave the negotiations to the Western Division. Don't sweat the minor details."
"What if he refuses?"
I grinned at Bu Sang's question.
"Tell him he'll receive a warning from the heavens."
All three looked baffled.
Once the meeting ended and they left, exhaustion and pain crashed over me. I desperately wanted my wife's comfort, but duty came first. I issued detailed orders to my returning aides.
"Yang Man-chun, head to Liaodong first and check on Ansi Fortress and the others."
"You want me to brief them on the situation here?"
"Yes. It's far, but just in case—tell them not to move until things clarify here."
"Don't we need reinforcements? I could ask my father and bring some from Ansi."
I smiled at Yang Man-chun's concern.
"It'll be sorted before they arrive."
"Understood. I'll leave at dawn tomorrow."
"Take Go Dol-bal too, to meet your old comrades."
"Yes, sir."
"Seon Do-hae, have the messengers spread word of this incident far and wide."
"Serials have already been dispatched."
"Check for any movements from Seorabul or Sabi Fortress too."
"I'll report as soon as I hear."
"Gi Do-ryang, track the movements of the retainers who followed Yeon Jeong-du."
"I'll contact my old comrades."
"Tell them since their master's dead, if they surrender to me without resisting, I'll forgive them."
"The suddenness will have them rattled. I'll calm them down."
"I Ta-in."
I paused and looked at him. He seemed worn out from his father's funeral.
"Go to Gwanmi Fortress, Chiljung Fortress, and Maeso Fortress under Chiljung-ha. Meet the generals."
"What should I tell them?"
"Explain what's happening in the capital and have them stand by. Warn them nearby fortresses might attack or send assassins on the Great King's orders."
"No need for reinforcements?"
"Calling up troops everywhere would only escalate things."
"Understood."
"Go with Adokbang."
Adokbang nodded and agreed. Finally, I turned to Ham-a and Eo Bi-ryu.
"You two, bring the family and comrades inside the manor. Best to ride out the storm."
They acknowledged, ending the meeting. As they all filed out, the pain I'd been holding back surged. The physician returned, changing the blood-soaked cloth. Supported by Geom Mojam, I headed to my wife's quarters. Around the manor, mobilized retainers held torches on guard. Their rhythmic chants drifted like ghosts in the darkness. My wife, pacing anxiously outside her door, burst into tears at the sight of me. I comforted her.
"What are you crying for? I'm not dead yet."
"My heart aches so much. Father-in-law and Mother-in-law died so suddenly, and now you nearly joined them."
I'd forgotten she had trauma from losing close ones. I sent Geom Mojam away and entered with her. Heon Seong and Heon Chung were asleep. I soothed my wife as she wept quietly, not wanting to wake the children, repeating to myself that all would be well. Thus passed a day escaped from death.
The next day, word came that Bu Sang's father, Bu Gi-tae the Western Division Leader, had entered the palace, met the Great King, and returned. Bu Sang visited Bin Yeon Pavilion and relayed the results.
"Not good."
"He refuses to yield?"
"He flew into a rage, vowing to behead the traitors and wipe out their kin. Even my father gave up hope."
"Does the Great King have any aces left?"
"No. Yeon Jeong-du's death left the Central Administration Bureau effectively leaderless—that was the knockout blow. If he'd lived, he might have found a way out."
"But he won't give up easily."
"Of course not. Power doesn't work that way. He tried to kill you twice just to hold onto it."
Realizing it was time to act, I responded to Bu Sang's words.
"Understood. Make one last contact. Tell him if he rejects our terms, a warning will come from the night sky."
"A warning from the night sky?"
Bu Sang looked curious but I said no more. After he left, I rose. Geom Mojam watched worriedly.
"Are you all right?"
His face looked even paler.
"Your tone drips with guilt."
"I failed to protect my master. I'm to blame."
"No one could have stopped that. Don't dwell on it."
"But..."
"It's in the past. Just do better from now on. To the polo field. It's ready there, right?"
"So I'm told."
Supported by Geom Mojam, I headed to the polo field. The retainers who usually galloped there were now armed with spears and swords, patrolling the manor. Upon arrival, I saw Go Jeong-ui and Go Yeonmu slumped in chairs, dozing after staying up all night. Go Jeong-ui woke first at my footsteps, rubbed his eyes, and nudged Go Yeonmu. The latter yawned widely, stretched, and stood.
"Pulled an all-nighter?"
I asked, standing before them. Go Jeong-ui picked at his eye gunk with his pinky as he replied.
"Lots to check."
"Looks like we'll have to use it."
"Perfect—the wind's blowing toward the palace," Go Jeong-ui said. Go Yeonmu looked up at the sky.
"Moon's out, so it should reach without issue."
Even so, my worries weren't few. Sensing my concern, they forced smiles. Then Go Jeong-ui spoke.
"I'll pilot the Flying Chariot."