Chapter 146
Chapter 146
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 146
Chapter Title: Gomokhae Tribesmen at Liaodong
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“What’s going on? Chief Bu-sang.”
“We got an urgent message from Yoksal at Liaodong Fortress. A band of nomads showed up there at dawn five days ago.”
“An invasion?”
“According to Yoksal’s report, it was about a hundred Gomokhae tribesmen. Not an invasion—they came asking for help.”
“Help?”
“They said the Tang were harassing them, so they fled.”
“The Tang?”
I asked in surprise, and Bu-sang, the Chief of the Central Armory Division, nodded.
“Yoksal says communication’s rough because the interpreter isn’t fluent. Anyway, they don’t seem like they’re here to plunder, so he’s housed them temporarily and put them under watch. The problem is...”
Bu-sang cleared his throat briefly before continuing his report.
“Right after they arrived, Tang spies ramped up their activity. And there’s a report that other Gomokhae tribesmen are stirring up the northern border, supposedly looking for them.”
“Looking for them?”
“It’s not confirmed, but that’s how it seems for now.”
It didn’t add up. Unlike settled farmers, nomads didn’t cling to land. And they didn’t go chasing after those who’d wandered off far away. It was suspicious enough that these Gomokhae had fled all the way to Liaodong Fortress—and now the Tang and other Gomokhae were mobilizing to find them?
“It’s a tricky situation to just ignore.”
“That’s why Yoksal contacted the Central Administration Bureau right away. He wants it handled quickly.”
“When’s the council meeting?”
“We could request one, and it’d happen in a few days. But it’s too vague to make a decision on this alone.”
“Then I should go meet these Gomokhae at Liaodong Fortress myself.”
“It’d be good to send someone to check it out.”
“Perfect. I’ll go.”
Bu-sang frowned at my words.
“Do you really need to go yourself?”
“I was planning to anyway. If the council can’t decide, better to see for myself. I’ll leave the Central Administration Bureau in your hands.”
Bu-sang thought for a moment, then nodded.
“All right. Safe travels.”
We exchanged a few more words before I returned to the mansion. I’d already sent word ahead to meet Father Yeon Gaesomun at Binyeon Pavilion. I also ordered Seon Do-hae to stand by. Back at the mansion, I headed straight to Binyeon Pavilion.
Father, who’d been waiting, was dozing by the brazier. Even wrapped in a thick bearskin coat, he still seemed to feel the chill. He opened his eyes at the sound of my approach and donned the jowugwan from the table beside him—a gold circlet adorned with crow feathers, ridiculously small on his head. Everyone wore them small, though, so I held back a laugh. Father Yeon Gaesomun yawned and asked,
“You’re heading to Liaodong Fortress?”
“Yes. From there, I’ll probably cross into Silwi or Gomokhae territory.”
“We’ve weathered the crisis, but we haven’t fully secured our position yet.”
“I know, but the movements to the north aren’t normal.”
Father Yeon Gaesomun sighed at my stubbornness.
“If you insist, then go carefully.”
We talked briefly about family matters. Afterward, I went to see my wife and son, but my mind was already on Liaodong Fortress.
Three days later, I crossed Botong Gate with Geom Mojam and my retainers, passing over Botong Bridge. Ariyeong waited on the other side with a group of merchants. But instead of merchants’ vibes, they had the sharp eyes of warriors. Ariyeong, mounted on a white horse, wore orange pants and jacket with a wide-brimmed leather hat. She’d heard I was going to Liaodong and asked to join. As I approached, I called out,
“You’re really coming along?”
“The atmosphere’s tense. I should go too.”
I spoke briefly with her, then gave orders to Seon Do-hae, who’d followed.
“Tell General Yang Man-chun to rest a few days when he returns, then catch up.”
Seon Do-hae acknowledged, and I turned my horse north alongside Ariyeong. By the roadside, a father and son wearing hoods were repairing a bukyeong storage loft. I watched them briefly before picking up speed. Ariyeong, riding beside me, asked,
“I heard news of victory from the south.”
“Looks like General Yang Man-chun pulled it off.”
“Ansi Fortress’s youngest son had a reputation for troublemaking. You turned him into a great general overnight.”
“He’s always been smart and good at handling soldiers. People just couldn’t see it past his odd behavior.”
“Impressive, either way.”
Ariyeong’s praise and admiring gaze made me uncomfortable. I smiled vaguely and kept my distance. That first evening, a messenger arrived: Yang Man-chun was returning to Jang-an Fortress soon. With the south sorted, I slept soundly at the inn.
* * *
Fifteen days after leaving Jang-an Fortress, we reached Liaodong Fortress.
“The towering walls are as imposing as ever.”
Near the end of spring, no trace of winter remained. A chill in the occasional breeze recalled it faintly.
Passing through the east gate into the outer city, the bustle from years ago hit me. On one side, a crowd including westerners juggled swords and breathed fire. Nearby, an acrobat in ragged pants and a long trailing hood danced on stilts. Distracted by Liaodong’s unique scene—different from Jang-an—a subordinate of Geom Mojam returned from contacting Yoksal. After speaking with him, Geom Mojam reported,
“They’re housed separately. The leader’s at an empty temple north of the outer city.”
“Let’s go there.”
I led with Geom Mojam and his men. Ariyeong rode up beside me.
“Why do you think they came here?”
“We’ll find out when we meet them.”
The small temple abutted the north outer wall, guarded by Yoksal’s soldiers. Half were protecting the temple; the other half watching it. Garadal, in charge of surveillance, approached and bowed as we arrived.
“Welcome, Lord Chief of Central Administration.”
“The Gomokhae are inside?”
“Yes.”
“You’re not guarding them—you’re watching them?”
“It’s complicated. A few days ago, someone tried breaking in. Yesterday, one of the Gomokhae inside tried slipping out.”
“I’ll meet them.”
“Be careful.”
“Dangerous?”
“I’d say so. The most dangerous time hunting is when the prey’s superficially wounded by spear or arrow.”
“They’re desperate, then.”
“Exactly. Animals or men, when death’s near, they fight like cornered beasts. That’s these Gomokhae.”
Garadal’s words showed the situation was more tangled than I’d thought.
“Who’s their leader?”
“An older man in his fifties. The interpreter who knows their tongue says he’s called Asilbul.”
“Asilbul?”
The only Gomokhae I knew was Gadoja, who surrendered to the Tang in 648. Meeting him came first. Garadal assigned an interpreter, who stood before me tense-faced. In a hooded robe, with Liaodong still chilly, he wore a leather vest. I dismounted at the gate. We’d say I was a low-level Central Administration Bureau official, not the Chief. Geom Mojam stood tensely beside me. Ariyeong dismounted too.
“Stay outside, just in case.”
“Understood.”
The interpreter knocked. The gate opened slowly. He spoke to the Gomokhae who answered. The man glanced at me suspiciously, eyes not reddening. Big build, messy hair bound by a leather strap. Not a total savage like in plays or tales, but rough compared to neat Goguryeons.
He stepped aside, gesturing us in. In the temple courtyard, dozens of Gomokhae in tanned leather clothes and baggy pants milled about—some wrestling shirtless, others tending weapons. They eyed us. At the interpreter’s question, the big gate-opener pointed to the priests’ quarters and led the way. I asked the tense interpreter,
“You’re taking me to Asilbul?”
“Yes.”
At the steps to the quarters, he shouted at the guard. The door opened, revealing an elderly Gomokhae. Asilbul, white-haired with large gold earrings, descended and stood before me. His nomad-sharp gaze tensed Geom Mojam. But no reddened eyes—no killing intent toward me. He sat in a folding chair brought by the gate-opener and looked up. Geom Mojam muttered low,
“They don’t even bring a chair for a guest.”
I signaled him to hold. Asilbul spoke to the interpreter through his folding chair. The interpreter nodded and asked me,
“Where are you from?”
“Tell him I’m from the Central Administration Bureau in Jang-an Fortress, a subordinate of Chief Bu-sang.”
Asilbul spoke again after hearing.
“He asks if you can help them.”
“Tell him I need to know what’s going on to help.”
Asilbul stared piercingly after the interpreter relayed. I met his gaze steadily. He looked away and spoke. The interpreter looked troubled.
“He says you’re deceiving him.”
“On what basis?”
“Your eyes look shifty.”
“Tell him judging people by eyes can lead to big embarrassment.”
“Pardon?”
I glared at the startled interpreter.
“This is Goguryeo soil, and they’re under our protection. Why so scared?”
“These guys really don’t care who they kill.”
Geom Mojam menaced the pale interpreter.
“Don’t talk back. Relay it.”
The interpreter stammered it out. Asilbul glared fiercely up at me. I eyed the shaking man.
“If they want help, have them say what they need. Otherwise, they’ll be expelled beyond the border.”
Under Geom Mojam’s prodding, the ashen interpreter translated. Asilbul shot up from his chair. His men edged closer. Geom Mojam hand on his sword, stepped in front.
“Run for the gate if things go south.”
“It’s fine. He’s just testing us.”
Asilbul’s eyes never reddened. He was probably probing me.