Chapter 181
Chapter 181
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 181
Chapter Title: Naval Maneuvers at Bisa Fortress
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"It'll be perfect for breaking the enemy's spirit before the battle even starts."
He added,
"Sometimes, even a big fish gets caught in the net."
"You sound just like a fortune-teller who can see the future."
"I've been blessed by King Chumo."
"I'd heard the rumors, but I see it's true."
I exchanged laughs with Kim Yushin. Meanwhile, letters and reports from Liaodong and Chang'an piled up like mountains. Behind the Golden Hall, Go Jeong-ui and Go Yeonmu were bickering over the flying chariot. Time was steadily flowing toward war.
A few days later, a welcome visitor arrived. While I was having tea with Kim Yushin in the Golden Hall, Gadohan suddenly appeared from the direction of the stone pagoda. Apart from his half-gray beard having turned fully white, he looked just the same as before. Dressed in the light leather armor favored by the navy and wearing a helmet, Gadohan stopped at the foot of the stairs.
"I've come at the command of the Grand Commander and Senior Central Administrator."
"It's been a while. This is my friend, Kim Yushin."
Gadohan glanced to the side and said,
"I've heard much about you. I'm Gadohan."
"So you're the general who smashed the Silla navy at Danghangpo."
"You're too kind. It would have been impossible without the Fire Ghost Ships our master created."
Kim Yushin waved off Gadohan's response.
"Even so, moving and commanding the ships is the general's duty. Glad to meet you."
"With General Yushin on our side, we couldn't feel more secure."
"Come inside. We have things to discuss."
As Gadohan climbed the stairs and entered the Golden Hall, his face lit up in surprise.
"I heard this was the enemy headquarters, but it's truly impressive."
"To win a battle, you need to know everything. Come over here where the map is."
Gadohan stood before the massive map that had replaced the Buddha statue and, true to a navy commander, scrutinized the sea routes.
"If it's the Pyongyang Expedition marching on Pyongyang, do you think they'll attack Chang'an Fortress directly like they did with the Sui?"
"It's probably just named that way. They'll definitely head for Bisa Fortress instead."
"That treacherous place?"
"Actually, there are collaborators inside."
"Spies, you mean?"
I nodded at Gadohan's startled question.
"From officials to merchants, quite a few."
"Why not arrest them right away?"
"If we do, they might not come to Bisa at all. We'll round them up just as the enemy sets out."
"As shrewd as ever."
"Thank you. I called you here to figure out how to crush the navy attached to the Pyongyang Expedition assembling off Bisa Fortress."
"What's the scale, and who's the commander?"
I paused to recall at Gadohan's question.
"Minister of the Board of War, Jang Ryang, will likely command. He's a founding merit of Tang and former governor of Lu Commandery. The forces will be forty thousand conscripted from the south, plus three thousand mercenaries from Lu'an and Chang'an. About five hundred warships."
"Five hundred ships means roughly eighty to ninety men per vessel. Even if we mobilize every warship we have, it's barely a hundred."
"No plans for a head-on clash. We'll use a dozen Fire Ghost Ships for a surprise attack."
"Fire Ghost Ships alone can't take down a fleet of five hundred."
"Of course. We'll maximize fire attacks. Burning their warships will tie their feet."
Gadohan glanced at Kim Yushin before asking,
"Like at Danghangpo?"
"Ideally."
In actual history, it was a night raid by Jeong Myeong-jin, subordinate to Jang Ryang, that captured Bisa Fortress. But even a night raid couldn't take it in one go. They wore down the defenses and took it, but Jang Ryang's Pyongyang Expedition stalled at Gwan'an Fortress.
Modern historians also note that a separate Tang navy under General Gu Hyo-chung was defeated by the Goguryeo navy while heading south.
I wanted to prevent Bisa's fall and block Jang Ryang's navy. That way, I could focus entirely on the Tang army coming by land, with one variable eliminated.
Gwan'an Fortress had no spy activity and was well-prepared for defense. In history, it fought but held. If Jang Ryang's force couldn't reach it, we'd reduce risks and could send reinforcements if needed. Gadohan pointed at Bisa on the map after hearing my explanation.
"For hundreds of ships to anchor off Bisa, the only spot is around Cheolsan Island."
"Exact position?"
"North of Bisa. Cheolsan Island stretches like a breakwater, so from there to the shore, the waves are calm."
"How many can anchor?"
"At least three hundred. And from there, there's a direct path to Bisa's west gate."
"The only land route from the coast to Bisa?"
"You know it well. If they land suddenly with twenty to thirty thousand Tang soldiers pushing up and insiders open the west gate in response, it'd be over before we could react."
"How long to dock and disembark?"
"About two shichen."
Four hours, I thought inwardly, then asked,
"Just that for tens of thousands to land?"
"Assembling the troops after disembarking and forming attack lines takes time. They won't risk a small group first only to get ambushed."
After hearing Gadohan, I looked at Kim Yushin, who nodded in agreement.
"Twenty to thirty thousand would take about that long."
"We strike in that window. Right before they anchor there and start unloading."
"To do that, we need to wait nearby in advance."
"Any good spot?"
Gadohan scanned around and pointed south of Bisa at sea.
"Jangsan Archipelago could work. But there's a problem."
"What?"
"The Tang aren't fools; they'll definitely scout for ambushes here."
"Check it out first, you mean."
"Yes. If they spot one, they'll drive it off before anchoring at Cheolsan. I don't know Jang Ryang well, but he's not dumb enough to anchor knowing Goguryeo navy is nearby."
"Then we move into Jangsan after their scouts finish."
"Best option, but not easy. We need to know exactly when they finish scouting and withdraw."
"So we can prepare to launch."
"Right. We'd need to pull back at least to Seokseong's waters to evade their watch."
"Timing—or rather, synchronization—is the issue."
"Exactly."
"What if we know their movements in advance?"
Gadohan, not grasping my meaning, asked back.
"Even sending one scout ship, reporting back takes time. By then, the Tang will have reformed lines and attacked the fortress."
"True."
"Too late for a raid; we'd just burn empty ships. We could destroy supplies, but that's not the goal, right?"
"I'll shorten that time."
"Magic?"
"The magic's ready in the backyard."
There was a rear door beside the map. Stepping out revealed Go Jeong-ui and Go Yeonmu still arguing. Gadohan gaped at the launch platform and flying chariot behind them.
"What is that?"
"The magic to advance time. A sky-flying cart. The flying chariot."
"It flies?"
Go Jeong-ui halted his quarrel, bristling.
"Why not? I flew in it myself."
"My god. I heard the master can do anything, but I didn't believe it."
"Need good winds. But with multiples aloft, one should return."
Gadohan couldn't look away from the flying chariot.
"How fast?"
"With tailwinds, like a bird. Wait at Seokseong, launch when it returns—how long to Cheolsan?"
"One shichen."
"Before they unload."
"They'll send a small vanguard first to check for ambushes."
"Then we ambush to stall."
"They'll move cautiously. Forming up after landing takes time anyway."
"I'll tell the Bisa garrison commander."
"Ten Fire Ghost Ships can pass between Cheolsan and the coast, burning the anchored warships."
"Packed tight, they'll catch fire easily."
"Like a stack of kindling."
"Strip Fire Ghost Ships bare except for Goguryeo Fire."
"Attach one warship escort per Fire Ghost; should hold off attacks."
"Prepare it."
"Yes. By when?"
As I went to answer, Geom Mojam's shout announced a messenger. Seon Do-hae in Chang'an routed Yeongju meteor reports straight here. Intel from Yeongju agents arrived immediately.
Geom Mojam descended the stairs with a sealed wooden slip. Breaking the seal, I sighed unwittingly. Kim Yushin noticed.
"What news has you sighing?"
"The Tang Emperor hosted a feast for elders in Chang'an."
"A feast?"
"Building public support for conquering Goguryeo. It's only thirty years since Salsu wiped out the Sui army."
"Cunning fellow."
I recalled quietly. In history, Tang Taizong Li Shimin hosted elders in Chang'an in October 644. Next month, Jang Ryang was appointed overall commander of the Pyongyang Expedition and prepped the navy.
'It's fall 641 now, so spring next year.'
Without Father Yeon Gaesomun's coup and with Silla's queen dead, history had accelerated by years. The timeline sped up, but dates aligned, making it easier to track. Organizing my thoughts, I spoke.
"They'll reach Yeongju around February next year, cross the Yalu by April."
"Fighting in spring. Before summer rains, aiming to seize Chang'an."
Looking north at Kim Yushin's words, I replied,
"I'll let them cross the Yalu, but no further. They'll tangle in the web of our fortresses there and meet defeat."
"I trust your abilities, but don't get complacent. Anyway."
Kim Yushin paused briefly before asking,
"No plans to block at the Yalu? In the old Sui war, you inflicted heavy losses there."
I smiled faintly at his question.
"I did consider it. But to achieve my goal, I need to leave the Yalu open and lure them in."
"Scorched earth tactics? The distance is too short for that."
"My goal isn't just victory."
"Then?"
Kim Yushin's eyes widened, catching on.