Chapter 174
Chapter 174
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 174
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng 174
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Shocked, Kim Yushin stared at me with a face drained of all color.
"A king?"
"That's right. I'll grant you a fief. Not land in Silla or Gaya, mind you."
"Do you really think I'd betray them just for some land?"
I burst out laughing at Kim Yushin's indignation.
"If the queen dies and you win the civil war, you won't need to flee. In that case, forget everything I told you. But..."
I paused for emphasis before continuing.
"If you lose the civil war, don't even think about dying. Take your family and your men and cross the border. I'll put in a good word for you ahead of time."
"I've never fought a battle thinking I'd lose."
"Of course. But the fight that breaks out after the queen dies won't be just any battle—it'll be a civil war. The people who've helped you until now, the ones who've followed your orders, they'll become your enemies. The Hwabaek Council is set up so that the opposition leaders and the true bone nobles designate the successor, after all."
Kim Yushin fell silent. It wasn't wrong, and there was justification for it too. No need to press him further, so I wrapped up the conversation.
"If things go as I say, you must flee here. Then we can fight even bigger battles together."
"Is fighting Tang my battle?"
"If Tang swallows up Goguryeo, do you think Baekje or Silla will be safe? When the lips are gone, the teeth feel the chill."
The idiom "lips and teeth" perfectly described Goguryeo's position and fate among the three kingdoms. Kim Yushin nodded as if he understood. After I bid him farewell, he turned away without a word. The Bi-ryeong-ja gave the parting words on his behalf and pulled the cart away. And so ended my fateful, decisive meeting with Kim Yushin. I turned my horse around and descended Mari Mountain. Go Jeong-ui, who had been watching, asked.
"What did you talk about?"
"It's a secret."
"Come on, you can't keep secrets from your closest aide!"
"Who said you're my closest aide?"
He froze at my icy smile and question. I wasn't serious—it was just teasing—so I quickly changed my expression.
"I told Kim Yushin to flee to Goguryeo if he loses the civil war."
"You kill Kim Chun-chu but keep Kim Yushin by your side? What kind of twisted idea is that?"
"I think so too. But Kim Chun-chu can't be kept as a subordinate, while Kim Yushin can."
"Why?"
"He has nowhere to lean on. So in the end, he'll turn his back on Silla. Kim Chun-chu worried about Silla even in his dying moments."
With that, we roughly concluded the talk and hurried toward Gwanmi Fortress. Riding all the way to Liaodong would take too long, so we planned to sail to Bisa Fortress and then go overland from there.
Gwanmi Fortress, which I'd visited after a long time, had not only Sobu-son but also General An-go and General On Sa-mun present. General On Sa-mun greeted me with a hearty laugh.
"Welcome, Chief of Central Administration."
"Good to see you, Generals."
"We rushed here as soon as we heard the news."
These were the generals who'd fought alongside me during the most crucial early days of the Niha Fortress battle, so the reunion felt fresh. After a brief chat, I entrusted them to treat Kim Yushin well if he came over and boarded the ship. On the river where the Chiljung-ha and Ari-su met, a single warship was docked, and a familiar face waited there.
"General Ga!"
It was Ga Do-han, the naval commander who'd earned merits in the Danghang-po capture operation. I'd doubted him at first, but he'd proven his exceptional command skills. His beard had grown even fuller since a few years ago as he smiled and bowed.
"Greetings, Chief of Central Administration."
"Didn't expect you to come yourself."
"I wanted the honor of escorting you personally. I'll see you safely to Bisa Fortress."
"Much appreciated."
After the greetings, I entered the prepared captain's cabin with Go Jeong-ui and my aides who had followed. As the ship slowly set off and exited the Ari-su, we began heading north with the waiting warships. I lay on the bunk and finally got some long-overdue rest.
A few days later, we arrived at Bisa Fortress. Now part of Chinese territory in modern times and called Daheishan Fortress, it sat atop dizzyingly steep mountains. It had fallen to the Tang army's assault during their 645 invasion.
'Building a fortress in a place like that, or stubbornly conquering it—both sides are impressive.'
At the same time, I wondered why it had fallen so easily to the Tang army. I asked Go Yeon-mu beside me.
"What could cause a fortress like that to fall with little resistance?"
Go Yeon-mu, gazing up at Bisa Fortress on the mountaintop, replied.
"If the fortress lord gives up resistance and opens the gates, it's possible."
I almost blurted out Baekam Fortress but held back and asked.
"Any other possibilities?"
"If there were enemy spies inside who colluded from within, it could have fallen with minimal losses."
Baekam Fortress records said the lord surrendered, but Bisa had seen actual fighting. So the latter was more likely. I committed Go Yeon-mu's words to memory and headed for Liaodong Fortress.
The road along the Yoha was bustling with travelers. There were plenty of carriages and carts, including a good number of the single-wheeled carts I'd spread around before. Midway, I switched from horseback to a carriage when I got tired. Go Jeong-ui teased me, saying I'd gotten old.
Upon arriving at Liaodong Fortress, the familiar Yaksal waited outside the gates. Seeing his awkward expression, I guessed the situation.
"Is Jin Dae-deok giving you headaches?"
"Don't even ask. He's throwing a fit, claiming he's no criminal. Even when I said the Chief of Central Administration was coming and to wait, he won't believe it."
"Typical Tang arrogance."
For the weary Yaksal's sake, we headed straight to the guesthouse. Opening the door, I was surprised to find it empty. A bit flustered, I asked the guesthouse official.
"Where's Jin Dae-deok?"
"He heard you were coming and just went back to his room."
"What?"
"He says he won't come out unless you apologize for making him wait so long."
Geom Mojam bristled at the official's hesitant report.
"How dare he demand an apology from the Chief of Central Administration!"
I stopped Geom Mojam, who looked ready to charge in, and beckoned the interpreter.
"Relay this loudly."
"Yes."
"The Tang envoy has come in person, but if he won't come out, we'll send him back to his country tomorrow."
The interpreter bellowed it out. After a pause, I gave a farewell.
"Safe travels."
As I turned to leave, the door to Jin Dae-deok's room flew open in a panic.
Even after tea was prepared, Jin Dae-deok remained silent. In his mid-to-late thirties, he had a ratty little mustache and sagging cheeks full of malice. As I leisurely sipped my tea and regarded him, he finally spoke. The interpreter translated immediately.
"He asks why you were so late."
"Tell him I had business in the south."
"He thought you were lying because you took so long to show."
"I am the Chief of Central Administration of Goguryeo and the eldest son of the Eastern Division Leader. I have no need to deceive anyone."
Jin Dae-deok spoke after hearing through the interpreter.
"He says he brings the emperor's edict."
"Tell him to take it to the Great King in Chang'an Castle. He'll depart tomorrow, so no mischief tonight—get some rest."
The interpreter, looking slightly troubled, relayed it quickly. As he did, I stood. Heading for the door, Jin Dae-deok said something rapidly, and the interpreter translated.
"He says Goguryeo has many beautiful rivers and mountains he'd like to see."
I already knew what he meant by that and gave my prepared response.
"Tell him the Great King is waiting, so he must hurry. Of course, we'll stop at worthwhile scenic spots along the way."
I ignored whatever Jin Dae-deok said next and left. Then I told Geom Mojam.
"They'll prepare something here in Liaodong Fortress. We'll use it tomorrow when we move, so practice ahead of time."
"Understood."
I took a deep breath as I walked slowly. The main event—the war with Tang—was right around the corner. For a moment, fear that I might not pull it off choked me. I'd done well so far, but the Tang war was incomparably more complex and fierce. And with me possessing this body, history was twisting; it felt like things would accelerate by years. Clearly, the first Tang war wouldn't be in 645 but sooner.
As I walked to clear my cluttered mind, a messenger came galloping from the opposite direction. He dismounted and presented a wooden slip. Go Jeong-ui took it, broke the seal, checked the contents, and handed it to me.
"A civil war has broken out in Silla."
"Past tense means it's over."
"Yes. Bidam and the true bone nobles won."
"The outcome?"
"The Hwabaek Council deposed the queen and named Alcheon as successor."
"Kim Yushin wouldn't sit still."
"Of course. He seized Wolseong and held out, but it was hopeless odds. The queen passed away amid it all."
"Right on cue."
"There was one strange thing."
"A meteor fell on Wolseong and then rose back to the sky?"
"How did you know? A meteor fell on Wolseong and ascended again, boosting Kim Yushin's side's morale. But Bidam's side exposed it as a kite trick."
I sighed in relief while listening to Go Jeong-ui's report. I'd worried if Bidam would really follow orders when passing the info, but he'd used it well enough to escape the crisis. Now Silla's civil war had ended as I wanted. No more allying with Tang. I suppressed my joy and spoke.
"He used his head well enough. So, what about Kim Yushin?"
"He shook off pursuers and escaped Seorabeol."
"He's coming to us. Treat him well once he crosses the border."
"You knew everything in advance?"
Go Jeong-ui asked with an impressed look.
"Of course."
I strolled on leisurely, leaving Go Jeong-ui with a sour expression.
The next morning, I waited for Jin Dae-deok at the guesthouse. He emerged through the main gate in yellow official robes and a hat. I had him mount the horse beside him, then turned my own. Yaksal, who'd come with us, watched the departing Jin Dae-deok with a relieved expression. As we left Liaodong Fortress heading south, Jin Dae-deok glanced back.
"What's that?"
Jin Dae-deok was eyeing the flagpoles wrapped in bolts of cloth, carried on the shoulders of the attendants.
"Something we might need."
My curt answer gave him no opening to pry further, so he changed topics. The interpreter cautiously relayed.
"He says he's heard Goguryeo has beautiful rivers and mountains. Many places he wants to see."
I knew exactly why he was going on about scenery and smirked.
"I bet."
Then I turned to Geom Mojam. He asked in his deep voice.
"Shall we begin?"
"Yeah, he seems itching for some sightseeing."
Geom Mojam shouted back to start. The attendants with the cloth-wrapped flagpoles surged forward in a rush.