Chapter 153
Chapter 153
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 153
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng 153
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dust clouds and the sound of galloping hooves echoed, but the identity of the approaching riders remained a mystery. It was still too early in the dawn for a clear view. Geom Mojam narrowed his eyes, straining to make them out, but he failed.
"Can't confirm them."
"Could it be Asilbul or Ariyeong?"
I asked with a mix of hope, but Geom Mojam bit his lower lip and shook his head.
"No idea."
"What about the chance they're reinforcements for the enemy?"
"Look down there."
Geom Mojam pointed toward the base of the hill and added,
"They're watching that direction too, spears and bows trained on it."
Sure enough, some of the attackers had turned toward the rising dust, on high alert. It hit me immediately.
"They don't know who those riders are either."
"Seems that way."
A sudden wildcard for both sides. Watching the approaching dust and the wary enemy, I made up my mind.
"We attack them."
Geom Mojam blinked in shock.
"Us?"
"We don't know if those riders are foes or friends. Some of them will break off to intercept."
"Likely. They're scattered now—easy pickings if we hit them piece by piece."
No sooner had Geom Mojam finished than a group of attackers mounted up and charged out. He peered closely and reported,
"About half of them went."
"If we charge now, they'll think it's a pincer and panic. Strike one spot in their lines, seize it, and the rest won't move easily."
"But—"
"They've got horses there. We take those and bolt for Buyeo Fortress."
"Won't they chase?"
"If those newcomers are on our side, the enemy won't dare move freely. Chasing us risks getting flanked. And if I'm their target..."
I paused to gather my thoughts and continued,
"They might think I'll stay put until everyone's gone, then slip away another way. Even if they pursue, they won't all commit."
It wasn't fear holding Geom Mojam back—his priority was my safety above all. I felt the danger too, deep down, but one thing gave me certainty.
No nausea.
At least it meant I wasn't making a fatal mistake. Meanwhile, the dust clouds slowed. The attackers advancing on them halted too, forming a standoff. Roughly a kilometer off—even if we attacked, they couldn't wheel back instantly. Seeing that, Geom Mojam hardened his resolve, turned, and rallied his men. Yang Manchun approached from where he'd been scanning elsewhere.
"We attacking?"
I relayed my talk with Geom Mojam. Yang Manchun wiped bloodied sword on his sleeve.
"I'll lead. You stick behind me."
"Could be risky."
"To protect you, that's the price."
Ansi Fortress's hero—the man even Tang Taizong couldn't best—offering to shield me touched me deeply. He smirked at my expression.
"What's with the face?"
"Just moved. Don't die. You've got too much left to do."
"Fine, I'll live long enough to see you smear shit on walls again."
We chuckled together until Geom Mojam returned with his men. Grim-faced beside him stood Ita-in, Go Dol-bal, and Gi Do-ryang. Geom Mojam stepped forward.
"Ready, Master."
"Let's go. We survive together."
"We can die. But you must live."
Geom Mojam drew his sword with finality.
"Move! Target those bastards by the campfire below. Cut them down, grab their horses, and ride west to Buyeo Fortress."
Exhausted and wounded, they nodded silently. Geom Mojam bellowed,
"Protecting the Master is priority one! Arrows come? Block with your bodies!"
"Yes!"
"Strength gone? Grab an enemy and hang on. That's how the Master lives."
"Yes!"
"Remember: We're his shield."
He pointed at me.
"This is Goguryeo."
"Yes!"
The final shout was a raw cry. Sword raised, Geom Mojam pointed downhill.
"Charge!"
He and his men surged like one body. Yang Manchun grumbled,
"They stole the lead."
Ita-in and Go Dol-bal flanked me.
"You two guarding me?"
"Wish I could sprout wings for you."
Ita-in joked, swinging his sword. Below, Geom Mojam and his men clashed fiercely with the campfire group. The attackers outnumbered them slightly, but our side fought tooth and nail. Yang Manchun especially shone, wielding a fallen foe's spear with valor. Midway down, Gi Do-ryang sniped with the Yeon Clan Cannon in both hands.
Meanwhile, the mystery riders from the dust veered right, slowing. The attackers facing them had no choice but to follow. I muttered,
"Don't know whose side they're on, but they're helping us."
"Looks like it. Time to head down."
Go Dol-bal twirled his spear. We descended. An attacker charged up swinging. Go Dol-bal's spear pierced throat and flank; he crumpled, gushing blood. Struggling to rise, the man's neck half-severed by Ita-in's sword. Ita-in kicked the corpse aside, then bisected another's waist. The bisected torso tumbled downhill.
By the time we reached the bottom with my two guards, the campfire area was cleared. Over forty attacker corpses littered the ground; Geom Mojam and his men stood blood-soaked. More than thirty sound horses waited. Geom Mojam approached.
"Mount up, quick."
"Yeah. Everyone, out of here."
We mounted hastily and galloped west toward Buyeo Fortress. Dead and wounded littered our path, but we pressed on. I left silent apologies in my heart. Other attackers tried pursuit, but the mystery force maneuvered perfectly between, halting them.
"Chase us, and their rear's exposed."
Glancing back, Geom Mojam replied to my words,
"More like they'd get massacred."
Indeed, clashes broke out. Arrows flew; many attackers tumbled from saddles. Our group, down to about thirty, raced west. Days away, I feared, but soon we met Asilbul's band. He paled at our reduced numbers.
"You alright?"
"Hit by unknowns."
"We sensed trouble, were scouting. No pursuit?"
"Mystery group pinned them midway."
"Really? Come with us to Buyeo Fortress."
"Good plan. Contact with Ariyeong's group?"
"They're trailing us. I'll send word to link up."
"They might catch up anytime—hurry."
"Understood. Sorry we failed you like this."
I shook my head at Asilbul.
"Who could've foreseen? We'll sort what went wrong later."
Asilbul wheeled his horse, shouting. His Heryang-a tribesmen surrounded us and accelerated west. I sighed in relief; Yang Manchun approached.
"Heard something odd fighting those guys."
"What?"
"Stabbed one in the chest; he gasped 'Mama' dying."
"Mama?"
"Means mother."
Yang Manchun coughed and added,
"In Chinese."
"Using Goguryeo arrowheads but speaking Chinese?"
"Yeah. Dressed Khitan-style too. Some real Khitans maybe, but..."
I finished his thought.
"Chinese mixed in."
"Seems so. Timing was too perfect."
"They waited at the perfect spot?"
"Yeah. Vague area between Buyeo and Cheokseong Fortresses. Reinforcements from either too slow."
"Coincidence?"
"Too neat. We'll investigate back in Buyeo."
"Got it."
My heart weighed heavy. Rescuing the Heryang-a's Gerheung had cost dozens. Yang Manchun caught my mood and grinned.
"Don't beat yourself up. Your call wasn't wrong."
"The dead haunt me."
"See it as saving more lives. Leaders who dwell breed bigger losses later."
His words steadied me. En route to Buyeo, we met a Goguryeo cavalry unit. Their lead general wore a golden helmet.
"From Yoksal. Heard of trouble."
Over a thousand strong, they eased worries. I briefed them, sent a detachment for wounded and enemy traces, then headed to Buyeo. More reinforcements joined midway, letting us breathe.
We merged with them toward Buyeo. Many wounded, survivors fatigued—we eased pace. At sunset, horn blasts from the rear. Pursuit. Riding beside Geom Mojam, I turned. On a low hill we'd passed, a lone spearman atop horseback. Bold, chasing a thousand-plus Goguryeo troops solo. Backlit by sun, just a shadow.
"Who?"
Ita-in peered, shook head at my mutter.
"Can't see."
Rear riders charged to capture. The mystery pursuer reared his horse high, then vanished. So swift, uphill scouts searched vainly. Unable to find, they turned back. Watching, Yang Manchun said,
"Gutsy bastard."
"Wonder who."
Yang Manchun wryly smiled at me.
"We'll find out soon enough."