Chapter 182
Chapter 182
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 182
Chapter Title: Beheading the Emperor
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“You don't mean...”
I said to Kim Yushin, who had turned away from me.
“My target is the Tang Emperor, Li Shimin. To be precise, his head.”
Kim Yushin swallowed hard upon hearing my answer. Ga Do-han, Geom Mojam, Go Jeong-ui, and Go Yeon-mu, who had overheard from nearby, did the same. Kim Yushin finally pulled himself together and asked,
“The Tang Emperor himself. Do you think that's possible?”
“Because he's the Heavenly Khan and Supreme Strategist? Underestimating the enemy will lead to defeat, even against the Heavenly Khan or Supreme Strategist.”
“Even so.”
“I guarantee it, but after crossing the Yo River, he'll burn the pontoon bridges.”
“The pontoon bridges?”
“Exactly. It's both a declaration of no retreat and a show of confidence. That will end up being his downfall.”
“Honestly, I thought just winning would be a challenge, but you're aiming even higher.”
“The Tang won't give up.”
To be exact, Li Shimin, his sons, and daughters-in-law wouldn't. After 645, the Tang had worn down Goguryeo through a war of attrition, inflicting steady damage that ultimately led to Goguryeo's fall in 668. It wasn't enough to simply win; I had to wipe out the Tang leadership entirely.
“Not just the Tang Emperor, but his close aides too—Zhangsun Wuji, Li Shiji, Li Daozong, Qibi Heli, Zhang Liang, Zhang Jian, and Zheng Mingzhen. I'll cut their heads off if I can.”
Kim Yushin was left speechless at my blunt declaration.
“If we pull that off, it'd be a perfect victory.”
“Right. The core of the Tang imperial family would be gone.”
“Hoping for internal strife?”
“Right before mobilization, Li Shimin deposed his eldest son, Li Chengqian, and made his ninth son, Li Zhi, the crown prince. But if Li Shimin doesn't return alive, and his aides are dead, what do you think happens?”
Kim Yushin answered my question immediately.
“A fight for the throne would break out.”
“Exactly. Not just the deposed crown prince Li Chengqian, but the fifth son, Prince Jian Li Wu, and the third son, Prince Wu Li Ke—plenty of sons will vie for it.”
“Buying time, then.”
“Destroying the Tang is tough, but at least we can fracture them, drain their strength, and ensure they never attack Goguryeo again.”
“If we manage that, it'd be a victory beyond our dreams.”
I nodded, lost in thought. Somehow, we had to hold out until 670, when Tubo rose to power. In the meantime, I planned to plant safeguards in Liaodong and northern China to keep them at bay.
Geom Mojam, who had been watching, muttered,
“The Master is thinking on a grand scale.”
“Just thrashing to survive.”
At that moment, a commotion erupted at the entrance to the temple we were using as headquarters. As Geom Mojam went to check, I turned to Go Jeong-ui and Go Yeon-mu.
“Stop fighting and make more flying chariots. Select pilots and start training them.”
“How many?”
I thought it over before answering Go Yeon-mu's question.
“The more, the better. Focus especially on training pilots.”
“Got it. They need to be light, so kids it is.”
“Not too young. At least fifteen. And they have to volunteer.”
Go Jeong-ui, overhearing, snickered.
“Why make it so complicated?”
“You nearly died riding that thing. It's extremely dangerous, so at least they should know what they're getting into. Right?”
As I spoke to Go Jeong-ui, Geom Mojam returned with someone. I was shocked to recognize Yang Man-chun.
“What brings you here?”
“I should be defending Liaodong Fortress, so I'm sorry. But the news was too good—I wanted to report it in person.”
I could guess from Yang Man-chun's beaming smile, but I played dumb.
“No problem. What had you rushing here?”
“A few days ago, our scouts spotted a Tang cavalry unit near the Yo River, just about a hundred riders, like you predicted.”
“And?”
Yang Man-chun, thrilled, replied,
“We chased them frantically and barely caught up. They resisted desperately, so after surrounding them and demanding surrender, they kept fighting. We smashed them with whips. Then a captured prisoner told us something astonishing.”
“What?”
“Guess who was among the dead Tang cavalry?”
“Want me to take a shot? Prince Kangha, Li Daozong?”
Yang Man-chun's eyes widened at my words.
“How did you know?”
“You looked that happy, so it had to be someone of that caliber.”
I grinned, and Yang Man-chun shook his head in admiration.
“Nothing gets past you. That's why I came myself.”
A staff officer behind Yang Man-chun held a wooden box—likely containing Prince Kangha Li Daozong's head. Go Jeong-ui rushed over, flipped open the lid, and jumped back.
“Whoa, a real human head.”
“Not just any head—Prince Kangha Li Daozong. Know who he is?”
Go Jeong-ui looked blankly at me instead of answering Yang Man-chun.
“Son of Prince Dongping Li Xiao, sixth cousin to the emperor.”
Go Yeon-mu gasped upon hearing me.
“For real? That's high up.”
“Not just high-ranking—his achievements are massive. He campaigned with the emperor, subduing Yu Heidie and Du Gundu, and joined the assault on the Eastern Tujue.”
“Wow!”
“He captured Hillig Khan alive and escorted him, and conquered the Tuyuhun too.”
Go Jeong-ui asked,
“How does a guy like that get caught scouting with so few men?”
“Emperor's orders. Li Daozong volunteered to lead, and it backfired.”
“Unbelievable.”
“He never dreamed he'd get caught.”
Yang Man-chun nodded at my words.
“If you hadn't ordered vigilance beforehand, we'd have missed him. We barely caught them right at the Yo River.”
“Who killed him? Time for rewards.”
“I finished him with my whip, but I couldn't have without my men.”
“I'll reward you, then you distribute to your subordinates.”
“Thanks. Wait until the war's over—I'll take it with a clear conscience.”
I agreed to his confident reply. Then Kim Yushin asked,
“What to do with Prince Kangha Li Daozong's head?”
“Send it back?”
“Maybe after the war, but not now.”
“They'd think we're cowering?”
“Exactly. No need to show weakness yet. We can be gracious after victory.”
He was pragmatic and insightful—perfect as a close ally. I smiled, and Kim Yushin added,
“The first name on your hit list is crossed off.”
“A brave one. If he'd survived, he could've been a major threat.”
I skipped mentioning his feats at Ansi Fortress, especially overseeing the earthen ramp. Still, eliminating such a dangerous figure eased my mind and gave me vague optimism for the war. With a lighter expression, I asked Yang Man-chun,
“Preparations going well?”
“Widened the moat as discussed and reinforced the watchtowers.”
“Goguryeo Fire?”
“Coming in steadily.”
“The emperor's personal guard—the Six Armies—will hit there directly. Desperate for glory, they'll risk everything to scale the walls. Be careful.”
“It's a flatland fortress, but the walls are high and sturdy. Even catapult stones won't topple them easily.”
“The strongest wall is the men defending it. Remember that.”
“Of course.”
“Thanks for the good news.”
Yang Man-chun looked pleased. After a few more words, he left. Watching his retreating figure, Kim Yushin said,
“In effect, the war has begun.”
I nodded instead of replying. In the original history, there was a record around 644 of Goguryeo's Yeon Gaesomun seemingly attacking Yingzhou of the Tang—similar to King Yeongyang leading the Malgal against Yingzhou during the Sui wars. But as not Yeon Gaesomun, I hadn't struck first. The Tang records didn't indicate much success anyway.
Lost in thought, I heard Kim Yushin murmur while gazing at the sky,
“Winter's coming early this year.”
He added,
“And with spring, they'll come.”
“We'll stop them somehow. We can.”
Kim Yushin just smiled up at the sky without replying. Gray clouds thickened as time passed, and about a month later, snow began to fall heavily. The time of war approached like a wolf.
Go Jeong-ui and Go Yeon-mu were busy testing flying chariots, reports piled up higher, and with Lady Ariyeong's help running the Maemul Merchant Guild, we transported munitions and food from Jangansung and the south to the Liaodong fortresses. Thanks to Baekje, the southern border was secure, allowing us to shift troops. Prince Uija, enthroned as King Mu in Arah, sent word not to worry about the south.
In the 645 war, Silla invaded Goguryeo's southern border to aid the Tang, lost some fortresses to Baekje's counterattack, but impressed the Tang. That had forestalled Goguryeo's doom.
Meanwhile, Tang Emperor Li Shimin, who had feasted the elders in Chang'an, finally moved. In February 642, he departed Luoyang. I held wooden slips detailing his mobilization of the 100,000-strong Six Armies and the navy under Pyongyangdao preparing to cross the sea, staring at them for a long time. Kim Yushin, returning from archery practice behind the Golden Hall, asked me, blankly gazing at the slips,
“What are you thinking?”
“How many will die.”
“War means death. Fearing it dooms you to loss—and defeat brings even more deaths.”
“True, but...”
Even after over a decade in 7th-century Goguryeo, my 21st-century South Korean values didn't fade easily. To me, Kim Yushin was a wise advisor.
Behind the snow-covered Golden Hall, a new flying chariot launched from its ramp. The pilots selected by Go Jeong-ui and Go Yeon-mu watched while warming by a bonfire.
Though I planned based on known history, some things deviated—like the war starting early. Another slip arrived amid my thoughts. Having checked the key intel, I casually broke the seal and read—then froze in shock. Kim Yushin, inspecting his bowstring, asked,
“What is it that surprises you so?”
“Looks like I have to go myself.”
“Where?”
I showed him the slip as I answered Kim Yushin's question.