Chapter 197
Chapter 197
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 197
Chapter Title: Strategic Gambit at Gaemo Fortress
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“I'll be looking forward to it. Have Godolbal lead Gaemo Fortress's cavalry and join Geulgeul Jung-sang.”
I watched Godolbal nod in acknowledgment, then turned to Cheoryeo Geunji.
“Now that Baekam Fortress is out of danger, I can spare some troops.”
“How many will you need, sir?”
“About three thousand infantry.”
“That should be manageable.”
“They'll move out with the cavalry tomorrow. See to the preparations.”
As I spoke with Cheoryeo Geunji, Go Jeong-ui tugged at my sleeve.
“This time, I want to come along too.”
“Can you assist General Kim Yu-sin?”
“Of course. There's so much I can learn by watching him.”
“Get ready to depart, then. We'll head to Gaemo Fortress first and link up with Lord Yu-sin.”
“Wow!”
Go Jeong-ui was so thrilled that he raised both arms and cheered. The tense atmosphere lightened considerably thanks to him.
The next day, we left Baekam Fortress—Geulgeul Jung-sang, Godolbal, Geom Mojam, and Go Jeong-ui included. Five thousand infantry and cavalry came with us. Cheoryeo Geunji and the soldiers of Baekam Fortress, along with the civilians, all came out beyond the walls to see us off. Having won a victory and taken some rest, morale was sky-high.
As we marched east from Baekam Fortress toward Gaemo Fortress, messengers arrived one after another. Nak Sang-gwan, having received our orders, reported that he was holding position for now. Kim Yu-sin, who had departed from the capital with thirty-five thousand troops and advanced near Gaemo Fortress, had also halted about fifty ri away and set up camp.
A message came from Sinseong as well, confirming that the Tang forces were withdrawing as expected. Two to three thousand troops had been left behind to cover the retreat, but they planned to attack and crush them soon. We replied asking them to come to Gaemo Fortress after their victory.
After several days of marching, we arrived at Kim Yu-sin's camp south of Gaemo Fortress. Go Jeong-ui, spotting the camp from afar, let out an exclamation.
“The camp is flawless.”
“I was thinking the same.”
Kim Yu-sin waited for us outside the camp. He approached as I dismounted and bowed politely.
“I greet the Grand Commander and Senior Central Administrator.”
“You've had a hard journey here, General.”
“I've heard the news. You took the head of Gyepil Haryeok, the vanguard commander of the Yodong March?”
I handed my reins to a soldier and replied.
“He fell to Godolbal's spear.”
“The troops' morale soared when they heard.”
“Good. Now the real battle begins.”
“The Tang army is concentrating their full strength here as well. They've even halted their assaults on Gaemo Fortress since yesterday. I'll explain in the command tent.”
“Understood.”
We entered the camp while exchanging words. Tension hung thick in the air with the enemy so close. Yet Kim Yu-sin remained calm, his demeanor easing the pressure that felt ready to burst. He chatted and laughed with the passing soldiers, but the moment we stepped into the command tent, he let out a held breath. Inside was his younger brother, Kim Heum-sun, who had fled to Silla with him. Kim Heum-sun, looking tense, bowed his head in greeting. Kim Yu-sin spoke cautiously.
“I brought him along because he's brave and experienced.”
“He'll be a great help.”
“Thank you. Come this way.”
In one corner of the tent was a detailed model replicating Gaemo Fortress and the surrounding terrain, just like the one I'd seen at Bin Yeon-gak. Kim Yu-sin stood before it, hands on his hips.
“The Tang army is currently encamped in the open fields about fifteen ri southwest of Gaemo Fortress. Their total force is around forty thousand infantry and cavalry combined. Reports indicate the troops that besieged Sinseong are en route—about ten thousand strong.”
“I ordered General Onsamon at Sinseong to pursue and attack the retreating Tang forces as far as possible. They won't all make it here.”
“That's fortunate. Also, the Tujue tribesmen who attacked Hyeondo Fortress and the Cheolrok tribe to the north of Gaemo Fortress have joined us. Even a few hundred surviving Cheolrok cavalry from Baekam Fortress have returned.”
“That brings us to around fifty thousand in total.”
“Thousands have been killed or wounded in the assaults on Gaemo Fortress. I hear General Ganghwak, the blunt commander and overall supervisor, was struck down by an arrow from the fortress.”
“Gaemo Fortress is holding strong.”
“What about reinforcements on our side?”
“Ogol Fortress is sending troops—about ten thousand, though they won't arrive immediately. General Onsamon from Sinseong will bring another five thousand or so.”
“With the troops you brought, we're at forty thousand now. We're outnumbered for the moment, but as time passes, we'll gain the advantage.”
“And Nak Sang-gwan is waiting to the north.”
“If needed, Gaemo Fortress's garrison could sally forth as well.”
“Exactly.”
Kim Yu-sin fell deep into thought, staring at the model of Gaemo Fortress and its surroundings. Then, unexpectedly, he met my eyes and said,
“We have a Tang spy in our camp.”
“A spy?”
“I've known for a while, but thought we could use him, so I kept him around.”
He glanced at his brother, Kim Heum-sun.
“He's the one who approached him.”
“Me?”
“Yes. He promised to take him to the Tang if he provided information. Said the Tang were better than Goguryeo.”
“And?”
“I told my brother, and he said to play along for now, so I have been.”
I looked back at Kim Yu-sin after hearing Kim Heum-sun's account.
“You're planning a reverse spy operation.”
“It's risky, but the most effective method.”
“What after feeding him the information?”
“Li Shizhi is a cautious man. But he has a critical mission: secure the right flank of the main Yodong force.”
“Correct.”
“So he'll do anything to accomplish it—right here.”
I finally grasped Kim Yu-sin's intent.
“You want to lure them into attacking first.”
Gazing at the model, Kim Yu-sin replied,
“If this standoff continues, Goguryeo forces will converge from all sides, forming a massive encirclement. Time is not on their side.”
“So they'll think striking quickly is the solution.”
“That's their generals' biggest flaw. In truth, the battle isn't the end—it's just the beginning.”
I nodded emphatically, resonating with Kim Yu-sin's perspective that transcended the era's mindset, and added,
“To make it stick, how about digging another trap?”
“What kind?”
“Spread word that the small force holding here is yours, while I take the main army back to Yodong Fortress.”
“That'll make them desperate.”
I chuckled at Kim Yu-sin's response.
“Desperate enough to commit to battle.”
Kim Yu-sin turned to Kim Heum-sun.
“Pass this along to him too. And tell him to hurry and slip away.”
“What if he insists I go with him?”
“Say you have to stay to avoid suspicion. Pretend you're trying to convince me to join him, and ask for time.”
Kim Heum-sun nodded slightly. After finishing with his brother, I asked Kim Yu-sin,
“Where's the most favorable terrain for us?”
He immediately pointed to a spot south of Gaemo Fortress.
“Jeokamsan Mountain. A low hill dotted with red rocks, surrounded by forests.”
“Tricky for large forces to maneuver.”
“Perfect for making it look like we're just buying time. The woods will hinder their cavalry from flanking us.”
Geulgeul Jung-sang spoke up.
“Tujue and Cheolrok riders can charge through thorny paths.”
“I know. That's why I chose it—for someone cautious like Li Shizhi to take the bait.”
“It'll look easy to defend on the surface, but with apparent gaps here and there?”
Kim Yu-sin nodded at my question.
“If your cavalry holds them off, we can buy time to smash their main force at Jeokamsan.”
“How?”
“Jeokamsan is rocky, making it hard to approach in formation. Flanked by forests, they'll funnel into the center the closer they get.”
“Endure it, then counter-encircle.”
“Li Shizhi's Tang elite are the best of the best. If we'd left Gaemo Fortress alone, it would've fallen in a fortnight.”
I agreed, knowing it had actually held for just over ten days before that hypothetical.
“Same here.”
“Luckily, our arrival made them abandon it for now. But if we withdraw, they'll resume the siege—and we won't stop them then. We must win this battle decisively.”
“With you here, victory is assured.”
“You're entrusting this fight to me?”
Kim Yu-sin asked, somewhat surprised. Instead of answering, I glanced at Go Jeong-ui beside me.
“He'll assist you. I'll take the cavalry and guard your rear.”
“Thank you for your trust.”
I smiled at his sincere words.
“I'm the grateful one—you came to us. Let's feed the Tang some false intel and wait. See if Li Shizhi bites.”
“Once the spy leaves, we'll shift camp to Jeokamsan and hold there.”
As I looked at the Gaemo model while Kim Yu-sin spoke, Go Jeong-ui grumbled beside me in a slightly dissatisfied tone.
“The plan's so perfect, I won't have any room to shine.”
“Give it your best anyway. You've always done well.”
Go Jeong-ui, now a sturdy young man in his twenties rather than a moody teen, sighed.
“Putting this pressure on me leaves no choice but to try hard.”
That night, the spy—having received the false information from Kim Heum-sun—slipped out of camp. Upon hearing he'd gone, Kim Yu-sin ordered the camp moved to Jeokamsan the next day. Watching the soldiers prepare to depart from my tent, I muttered,
“The decisive battle approaches.”
Geulgeul Jung-sang and Godolbal wore tense expressions, sharing the sentiment.
The next morning, the main force led by Kim Yu-sin marched to Jeokamsan—a modest hill barely worthy of the name, ringed by woods and rocks. Geulgeul Jung-sang grumbled upon seeing it.
“Nomads on horseback would curse this terrain.”
“Still, you can break through?”
“Of course.”
“They'll try to loop around via the woods behind. Hold until Kim Yu-sin crushes the Yodong main force.”
“Without Gyepil Haryeok, and after their big defeat, their momentum's broken.”
“Can't let our guard down, though.”
“Naturally.”
After half a day's march, we reached Jeokamsan. Kim Yu-sin set up camp with practiced ease, as if he'd scouted it before. Positioned where the hill met the forest, he deliberately spread it out to be visible. He added stockades and pits, making our defensive intent obvious to any observer. As I watched, a group of cavalry approached from afar. The watchtower signal flared, but they loosed a friendly signal arrow, dispelling the alert. Watching from before the stockades, I recognized them at once.
“It's Nak Sang-gwan.”
Caked in dust and sweat, he nimbly crested the rocky slope and reined in before the camp. Spotting me, he said immediately,
“I've got good news and bad news.”
“Good news first.”