Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: The Envoy's Deception
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After hearing my story, Seongchung's expression soured.
"Oh, it's a misunderstanding."
"If you'd come and gone by ship, you could have made it onto my schedule regardless of your illness. It wouldn't be hard to find out when you departed either. So cut the pointless, half-baked excuses."
"I have committed a grave sin worthy of death. Please behead me."
"You're a subject of Baekje, so your life and death are in the hands of Arah and the Crown Prince, not me. Don't bother with sloppy apologies—go back and relay my words accurately. That's your job. Or..."
I stared straight into Seongchung's eyes. One thing that had confused me was now crystal clear, thanks to a phrase from the report sent by the intelligence agent in Sabi Fortress.
"Do you deliberately want to die by my hand? To sever ties between me and the Crown Prince?"
Seongchung, whose eyes had reddened with hatred toward me, looked startled. Just in case, I gripped the blade of Jumong's spear and watched him closely.
"Everything was suspicious, and my suspicions were right. You arrived late on purpose to irk me, which was odd. Then, for such a sensitive matter, instead of someone I know like Buyeo Seung or Gwisil Boksin, some random person shows up. And right away, you spout nonsense to provoke me."
I added, watching Seongchung who had clamped his mouth shut.
"You're no envoy from the Crown Prince or Arah. This was a scheme by Upper Councilor Sa-taek Ji-jeok."
Seongchung turned his head away now. He cleared his throat lightly, and Geom Mojam entered from outside.
"Bind this man and imprison him. And summon Seon Do-hae."
"Understood."
I said to Geom Mojam as he approached.
"He might bite his tongue to kill himself, so gag him and keep him under constant watch. The crime of insulting Arah and the Crown Prince will be dealt with on their end."
"Yes."
Seongchung, seized by Geom Mojam, suddenly looked at me.
"Do you have something to say?"
"I have words to report and questions to ask. Please grant me this."
Geom Mojam shook his head as if to say no. But his eyes weren't red, and he had no weapon drawn. I told Geom Mojam to sit beside me, then rested my chin on my hand and gazed at Seongchung.
"Explain why you came and your purpose, and I'll answer your questions. First, my question: Are you truly Seongchung?"
"Thank you truly. I am indeed Dal-sol Seongchung."
"As an official, you should be loyal to Arah and the Crown Prince. What scheme brings you here?"
"The nobles of the Eight Great Clans, led by the Sa-taek clan, are anxious."
"Anxious about what?"
"About Baekje being swayed by Goguryeo."
I scoffed at Seongchung's words.
"Would you say such things even after meeting Arah and the Crown Prince in person? Truly foolish and ignorant."
"No one knows better than we do how exceptional Arah and the Crown Prince are. That's precisely why we're anxious."
It was an unexpected answer, but I decided to hear him out.
"Continue."
"All things in the world must maintain balance. The realm divided among Baekje, Goguryeo, and Silla must have its reasons."
"Of course. Hasn't it held for centuries?"
"When heroic lords become rulers, they seek to shatter that balance. Baekje's Arah, King Geunchogo, did so. Goguryeo's Emperor Gwanggaeto did the same. And Silla's King Jinheung as well."
"Wouldn't any ruler want to expand their territory and command the world?"
Not just in the East—Alexander the Great and countless monarchs in the West tried to conquer the world. Most failed, of course.
"In the process, countless people die or are wounded. When commoners are conscripted for war, they can't farm, leading to famine and plunging the world into misery."
"So you came to me, willing to sacrifice yourself to prevent war?"
"Yes. No matter how hard we try to stop it, with Goguryeo on our side, the view is that we hold the advantage. This is to overturn that."
"So you think you can live peacefully with Silla at your side?"
"Not exactly, but a prolonged war benefits no one."
"There's no such thing as something good for everyone in this world. I understand your sentiment, but haven't you considered that a drawn-out standoff would waste even more lives and resources?"
"Baekje and Silla have clashed for centuries, yet neither gained the upper hand."
As someone who knew how that standoff would end in just a few decades, I couldn't help but scoff.
"Just because it was that way in the past doesn't mean it will be forever. What if Silla allies with Tang?"
"For what purpose?"
"To attack us. If Tang finds it hard to strike us alone, they'll seek allies. If they choose Silla over Baekje and Silla demands we attack Baekje together in exchange?"
"No army would move for such an absurd reason."
"It's not absurd. During Sui, they promised to support an attack on Goguryeo but did nothing. What if Tang wants to aid Silla against Goguryeo but Baekje is in the way, so they propose a joint attack?"
"Tang wouldn't move."
I wagged my finger at Seongchung, whose face had paled.
"Foolish. Tang's movements are focused on attacking us. They'll invade within a few years. We'll win, of course, but Tang won't give up—like Sui. They might ally with Silla then. Silla is already on the brink of collapse."
In actual history, Silla was cornered by Baekje and Goguryeo, though less severely than now. I asked the shocked Seongchung.
"If Silla attacks from the east and Tang crosses the sea from afar, how could Baekje hold them off?"
"Tang would be exhausted from the sea voyage. And Silla would have to breach countless fortresses to reach Sabi."
"That's if numbers are even. Tang will mobilize at least 100,000, Silla around 50,000. If those forces hit from both sides and you fail to hold at Tanheon and Gibeolpo, can Baekje survive?"
"Tang has no interest in distant overseas lands. If you apologize and surrender, they'll withdraw."
"Of course. But would Silla withdraw quietly?"
Seongchung failed to answer properly again.
"Th-that..."
"They'll try to destroy Baekje and claim its lands. The people will be slaughtered or live as slaves in torment. All symbols of Baekje will vanish."
"W-we'd just sit idle?"
"Of course you'd resist. But if Sabi falls and the royal family is captured or killed, what focal point remains for resistance?"
Revival movements would persist, and Wa would send aid, but even that couldn't prevent Baekje's fall. Knowing the future, I spoke with conviction, leaving Seongchung trembling in fear.
"Hard to believe."
"Don't believe if you don't want to. But didn't you risk your life coming here out of love for Baekje?"
"Yes."
"You say that, yet you ignore Baekje's real peril. You don't love Baekje—you're trapping it in your narrow framework. A stubborn fool, perfect for manipulation by the likes of Sa-taek Ji-jeok."
"I came of my own volition."
"Sure. But who tipped you off that Baekje was sending an envoy to me?"
It was easy to deduce, but Seongchung looked utterly shocked.
"Sa-taek Ji-jeok and his followers, no doubt. You must have felt proud, sacrificing your life for Baekje by coming to me. But in truth, you're just a pawn for those like Sa-taek who hinder Arah and the Crown Prince."
"N-no, that's not..."
"Silla itches to erase Baekje at every chance, yet Baekje is fractured and oblivious. The Crown Prince is pitiable. Truly pitiable."
His logic thoroughly dismantled and mocked, Seongchung seemed to suffer a complete mental breakdown. Geom Mojam gripped his sword hilt tensely, unsure what Seongchung might do. I looked at the dazed man with pitying eyes. Despite other motives, I fully recognized his love for Baekje through his resolute end.
"Daeya Fortress will fall soon."
"Daeya is impregnable. It won't fall easily. The Upper Councilor said the siege would drag on, killing and wounding many."
"No matter how high the walls, if those inside turn traitor, it's hard to defend. Once Daeya falls, Silla's Kim Chun-chu and Kim Yu-sin will be desperate."
"Indeed. Daeya's lord, Kim Pum-seok, is Kim Chun-chu's son-in-law."
"To overcome the crisis, Kim Chun-chu will come to Goguryeo."
"Here?"
I grinned at the startled Seongchung.
"He can't very well surrender to Baekje, can he? He'll probably try to persuade me with logic like yours—about maintaining balance among the three kingdoms. If I buy it, cut ties with Baekje, and turn away, you'd get your desired picture: mutual standoff, balance intact."
"You'd side with Silla?"
"Why not? I aided the Crown Prince to check Silla via Baekje. But if Baekje says it's unnecessary, do I need to intervene?"
"W-would you truly?"
"Easier than Silla. They at least fought to endure. But Baekje has too many turncoats."
I mocked him openly, but Seongchung was too shocked to react.
"Mobilize army and navy to strike the Ari River area. Silla attacks from Gajam Fortress region. Can Baekje hold both?"
I had no intention of doing so, but if it happened, Baekje couldn't stop it easily. I pressed the pale, speechless Seongchung.
"And I'll secretly contact Sa-taek and the other Eight Great Clan nobles: oust Arah and the Crown Prince, and the war ends. Baekje would erupt in civil strife. Silla wouldn't miss that chance."
"Th-that's absurd."
"Believe it or not, I don't care. But denial doesn't change reality. Can Baekje troops defend better than Silla's? I'm curious how many will dare risk their only life against my unquenchable Goguryeo Fire."
I exploited Seongchung's profound love for Baekje. Pale as a ghost, he prostrated flat on the floor.