Chapter 173
Chapter 173
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 173
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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Messengers arrived one after another, delivering their reports. Upon hearing that Kim Chun-chu was dead, Kim Yushin had withdrawn the army southward to below Niha, just as expected. But word came that they had set up in a battle formation, ready to push north again at any moment.
"As expected of Kim Yushin."
The meeting place, where they would also hand over Kim Chun-chu's body, was set for Mari Mountain, north of Chiljungha. Geom Mojam's men had gone ahead to Mari Mountain, pitching camp and scouting the surroundings. You could see they were on high alert after having been badly burned once before. Just as they were nearing Mari Mountain, an unexpected group joined them.
"What brings you here?"
In response to my question, Geolgeol Jung-sang, who had come with a few of his own men, replied with a cheerful expression.
"I heard you were going to meet the hero of the south, so I tagged along."
"Your curiosity must be the greatest in Goguryeo."
"Is it just Goguryeo? No one in the north or Tang would follow either."
He boasted shamelessly, but Geolgeol Jung-sang slipped naturally into the group. Geom Mojam and his men, who had fought alongside him before, accepted them as comrades without issue.
Finally arriving at Mari Mountain, a strange tension hung in the air. To the south of Mari Mountain, ten thousand Silla troops had set up camp. In contrast, my group numbered only a few hundred. Geom Mojam had been uneasy the whole way, but matching numbers on our side would only arouse Kim Yushin's suspicions. In the end, it was decided that only Kim Yushin and I, each with one attendant, would go up Mari Mountain.
Mari Mountain was more of a hill, just dozens of meters high. There wasn't a single tree or blade of grass, so everything was clearly visible from the surroundings. That made ambushes or sudden attacks impossible. Here and there on the hill were marks where Geom Mojam's men had stabbed the ground with spears. Go Jeong-ui, catching sight of the Silla forces arrayed to the south, let out a gasp of admiration.
"The countless soldiers look like a single entity."
"Are your eyes going bad? You're still young—what a shame."
When I teased him and he scowled in annoyance, Go Yeon-mu spoke up instead.
"Their formation is orderly, with no gaps I can see."
"Kim Yushin is a once-in-a-millennium general, after all."
"I get that he's exceptional, but do you rate him that highly?"
The Kim Yushin of 640 hadn't yet made his mark. I brushed it off vaguely and turned to Gi Do-ryang. He shot a flare arrow into the sky. In response, a flare rose from the Silla ranks south of Mari Mountain. It was the signal that both sides were ready to meet.
I spurred my horse forward, and Geom Mojam followed, driving the cart bearing Kim Chun-chu's body. Being a low hill, the cart had no trouble ascending. As Geom Mojam and I pulled the cart up Mari Mountain, two horses approached slowly from the south. One was Kim Yushin in golden armor; the other seemed a commoner, clad in leather armor and wearing a forward-brimmed hat.
As the two quickened their pace and crested the hill, Geom Mojam unloaded his horse from the cart and came to my side. Just in case, I slipped out the blade of Jumong's spear from behind my belt and looped the leather strap around my wrist. Kim Yushin reined in his horse after charging straight up the hill. His expression was so intricate it was impossible to read, but surprisingly, his face didn't flush red.
'Even in this moment, he doesn't lose his cool. Impressive.'
He hadn't earned his place in history as a peerless general for nothing. Kim Yushin approached to within a dozen paces and cried out in a voice thick with emotion.
"Lord Namsaeng! How could you be so cruel to me? I deeply regret granting your request to let your forces pass through Silla territory!"
I didn't answer right away but exchanged glances with the commoner. Then I looked at Geom Mojam. He shouted,
"First, confirm Lord Chun-chu's body."
The commoner dismounted and approached. He carefully opened the coffin on the cart. Then, in a voice choked with grief, he called to Kim Yushin.
"It's Lord Chun-chu. My lord."
Kim Yushin's face grew somber. It wasn't just the loss of a friend—it felt deeper, like the grief of losing a powerful political ally.
The two had moved as one, using the queen to seize control of Silla's government. But the queen's illness had worsened, and now Kim Chun-chu was dead. For Kim Yushin, it must have felt like all his limbs had been severed. And the man responsible was standing right in front of him—no wonder it wouldn't be odd if he drew his sword and lunged. So I held my tongue and watched. If Kim Yushin's eyes turned red, I planned to use Jumong's spear blade right then. But even as he vented his rage, his eyes never reddened. Unable to hold back any longer, Kim Yushin shed tears.
"Lord Namsaeng, you have brutally crushed my dream."
"What dream was Lord Yushin pursuing?"
At my sudden question, Kim Yushin faltered. I pressed the advantage.
"Were you dreaming of becoming king of Silla? That was a dream fit for Lord Chun-chu, not you."
"Do you think I've shed blood and sweat just to become king?"
"Then was it to rack up merits, rise high, and command the world? You're already in such a position—though you know better than I how precarious it is."
"What nonsense!"
"I've heard the queen's condition has worsened. Only one Sacred Bone remains. And unfortunately, it's a woman. Do you think the Hwabaek Council will approve?"
At my pointed question, Kim Yushin's face flushed red.
"Succession to the throne is decided by the previous king, not the Hwabaek Council."
"Oh? Then why was King Jinji deposed? By the Hwabaek Council, no less?"
Under my sharp tongue, Kim Yushin trembled, unable to retort. Finally, suppressing his emotions desperately, he said,
"Inheriting the throne as Sacred Bone is the royal family's ancient tradition. It's not for True Bone nobles to meddle in."
"Oh, Lord Yushin. Do you think wrapping it up like that will quiet the True Bone nobles' backlash? If Princess Seongman succeeds the queen and ascends as queen again, what do you think the True Bone nobles will shout?"
As Kim Yushin stood speechless, I bellowed,
"Women cannot rule well! A queen cannot govern the country properly."
By modern standards, it was outrageously sexist, but in those days, it was a rebel slogan with widespread support. Despite Kim Yushin's efforts, it was a near-disaster amid the joint Baekje-Goguryeo assault. To the Silla people of the time—especially those who hated the queen, Kim Chun-chu, and Kim Yushin—they must have truly despised them: an incompetent monarch and her favorite minister leading the country to ruin.
Hearing my shout, Kim Yushin gripped his reins, his hand trembling—perhaps to hide his fury. Of course, in actual history, Kim Yushin had crushed the rebels by setting Goguryeo signals ablaze in the sky. But those means were gone now. So I could taunt him freely. In fact, that was my main goal in coming: to incite Silla's internal strife and utterly smash Kim Yushin's faction.
'That way, Silla won't have even a sliver of a chance to ally with Tang.'
As I smiled smugly, Kim Yushin wore a bitter expression.
"If I'd known it would come to this, I would have desperately tried to stop Lord Chun-chu from going to Goguryeo."
"Water under the bridge."
"Lord Chun-chu trusted you."
"Far from it—Lord Chun-chu trusted only himself. That's why he thought he could return alive despite the danger. But you can't release a fierce beast you've taken into your bosom."
"I swore that if Lord Chun-chu didn't return on the promised date out of concern for his safety, I would attack Goguryeo."
"Listen. That would mean fighting me."
"I wanted to face you squarely."
"Oh? I have no intention of fighting you."
"What?"
"I'll order my forces to defend the borders and key fortresses tightly, then withdraw. Until you and your soldiers are exhausted. Ah! And I'll cut your supply lines from the rear. My men were impressed."
I gestured toward the Silla army south of Mari Mountain.
"They said it looked like a single body. But can you fight properly with no food and your rear threatened? And when they learn you've marched ten thousand north, do you think Sabi Fortress will sit idle?"
At my words implying Baekje wouldn't stay put, Kim Yushin flinched.
"They'll likely use Daeya Fortress as a base to strike Byeollyang Province right away. Once Byeollyang falls, it's straight to Seorabeol, isn't it? While you and your army wander Goguryeo's vast lands, Baekje's forces will march on Seorabeol."
Kim Yushin, listening, lost all expression—his mind reeling at the worst possible scenarios. Pulling himself together, he retorted,
"Don't underestimate Silla. If Lord Alcheon steps up, we can easily repel the Baekje army."
"If Lord Alcheon racks up merits repelling them, Silla will have found a new shield. To replace the troublesome shield named Kim Yushin."
"Troublesome, am I?"
"Lord Yushin! Face reality. No matter how hard you try, you can never become a true Silla man. You're just remnants of fallen Gaya royalty."
"How much do you even know about Silla!"
Hearing Kim Yushin's trembling voice, a thrill of satisfaction hit me—my provocations were landing.
"Of course, less than you. But the Silla to come will be very different from the one you know."
"My clan has served Silla since my great-grandfather."
"I know. Your grandfather was Kim Mumyeong, lord of Shinju Fortress and chief minister who beheaded King Seong of Baekje. But once the queen passes, those who hate you will bare their fangs and blades."
"I'm not afraid of any traitors."
"I have no doubt of your courage and ability. But the world doesn't always bend to our will, does it? If you lose the civil war, come to me."
Finally saying what I wanted, I felt relieved. Kim Yushin, meanwhile, looked aghast.
"You killed my father and my closest friend and in-law, Lord Chun-chu. Why would I ever put my trust in a man like you?"
"Then where will you go? To Baekje? Across to Wa? Tang isn't a bad option. But your father's death and your friend and in-law's death don't mean you're dead. You're alive, with family you must protect. And what of the soldiers who follow and fight for you?"
Kim Yushin had no answer to my questions.
"I've fought my whole life without ever thinking of defeat."
"Now's the time to start. The next war will be different in many ways."
I drove the wedge home into the pensive Kim Yushin.
"Bring everyone with you. Achieve merits under me, and I'll enfeoff you as King of Gaya."