Chapter 198
Chapter 198
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 198
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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He dismounted from his horse and spoke.
"Some of the Cheolruk and Eastern Tujue have run off. They came expecting loot and spoils of war, but realizing it won't pan out, they've deserted."
"How many?"
"Just a few dozen for now, but it'll grow as time passes. Those bastards have an uncanny nose for which way the wind is blowing."
I asked the man who had dismounted again.
"Bad news?"
"Reinforcements have arrived. The scouts I sent north spotted them."
"How many?"
He leaned in close and whispered.
"Thirty to forty thousand."
"Damn it!"
The curse slipped out amid this unexpected turn. Then, it hit me—back in 645, the Liaodong campaign hadn't mobilized sixty thousand but a hundred thousand. Pushing down my irritation, I turned to Nak Sanggwan.
"We'll be facing nearly twice our number. Come with me to see General Kim Yushin."
I headed to the command tent with Nak Sanggwan. General Kim Yushin's face twisted upon hearing the report.
"An unforeseen variable."
"Should we scrap the entire plan?"
Kim Yushin pondered for a moment before replying.
"Li Shimin would pick one of three options."
"Which?"
"First, link up with the reinforcements and come straight here. With seventy or eighty thousand, they could pinch us front and rear."
"What then?"
"We'd have to evade. Getting surrounded on both sides means annihilation."
"Second option?"
"After linking up, send one or two myriad as a pinning force here, then join the rest to assault Gaemo Fortress."
Nak Sanggwan turned to me after hearing Kim Yushin out.
"That means committing everything to taking Gaemo. We'd be hard-pressed to hold."
"Exactly. Losing Gaemo puts us in a panic."
I looked to Kim Yushin with a heavy heart.
"Third?"
"Hand Gaemo to the reinforcements and come here themselves."
"Splitting forces fifty-fifty."
"Right. The third means they'll fight us here without shifting elsewhere."
"Which strategy will they choose?"
"If they're in a hurry, the last one. Win once, and Gaemo's theirs."
"They won't drag it out, then."
"One can hope."
I answered Kim Yushin's concerns at once.
"I'll follow your lead."
"Key is how they deploy those reinforcements. Scouts should have eyes on them by tonight."
Despite the surprise, Kim Yushin didn't panic or show shock. Who knows what brewed inside, but his calm facade eased my mind. Kim Yushin is Kim Yushin, I thought as I left the tent. Behind the soldiers digging trenches and erecting palisades, the sun dipped low.
The next day, from dawn, scouts slipped in and out of camp repeatedly. Around noon, I was summoned to the command tent. Geom Mojam and I entered to find Kim Yushin turning from his talk with Go Jeong-ui.
"Come in."
"Enemy movements?"
"Scouts' reports point to the third option."
I grinned unwittingly, my spirits lifting.
"Splitting fifty-fifty?"
Kim Yushin nodded.
"Sending the fresh troops to siege Gaemo, while prepping the rest to march. They'll bolster numbers, of course—fifty to fifty-five thousand, roughly."
"Feeding the spies false intel paid off."
"That, plus circumstances nudged them that way. They figure we'll fall back if they mass everything."
"To avoid us harassing their flanks."
"If they think one victory solves it all, that's the call. Their scouts are eyeing our camp now. Let them look."
"I'll pass the word."
"When battle joins, they'll charge to breach our line. Ours is thin and wide—they'll think punching one spot does it."
"And cavalry to hit our rear, probably."
"We'll lure them into the woods. Rear must stay secure for that."
"Nak Sanggwan, Geokgeok Jungsang, and Go Dolbal have it covered with me."
"Go Dolbal takes our right flank; my brother Heumsoon the left. They might bypass the camp itself—need cavalry there."
"Done. I'll stick with Nak Sanggwan and Geokgeok Jungsang."
"I'm counting on you."
"Likewise."
The brief—not quite a full war council—ended, and we stepped out. Geokgeok Jungsang and Nak Sanggwan approached.
"They'll hit soon. We block cavalry swinging around through the woods for their rear attack."
"Just hold?"
To Nak Sanggwan's question, I glanced at Kim Yushin's tent and replied.
"Till we win."
"They're attacking first?"
I nodded to Geokgeok Jungsang.
"They see odds in their favor. Fights always start that way."
"Scouted the line—palisades and pits, but too spread out. Breach one spot, and it crumbles."
Nak Sanggwan echoed Geokgeok Jungsang's worry.
"They've got a plan, but it's unnerving. Brute force won't guarantee victory."
"That's why they're splitting to hit us."
"I'll inspect with Asilbul. Duty calls first."
"Of course."
Geokgeok Jungsang left to check his Malgal warriors. Heart pounding at the massive clash ahead, I watched a flock of birds drift over the soon-to-be battlefield.
The next day, word came of Tang forces mobilizing. General Kim Yushin personally toured the forward palisades and pits. Watching from afar, Go Jeong-ui said to me.
"Time let them build plenty, but it's no fortress—limits to holding."
"Li Shimin knows, so he's splitting for the attack. Victories come from luring foes where you want them."
"Fall back, and it's straight into woods. Something's brewing there."
"Yep. Even drilled retreats, looks like."
Curious, but Kim Yushin said nothing. Still, exiles who'd fled with him were busy in the trees. Mid-chat with Go Jeong-ui, a signal arrow streaked up. He looked and spoke.
"Enemy approaching."
"Battle's on soon."
"We'll win, right?"
"Of course."
I clapped his broadened shoulder and headed to my men. There stood Geokgeok Jungsang, Nak Sanggwan, and Asilbul by their mounts in armor.
"Nak Sanggwan and Asilbul, right flank. Geokgeok Jungsang, left—hold them off. I'll watch the field, then join you."
They nodded, so I added.
"When it starts, expect cavalry probing our rear."
"We stop it."
"Till victory's decided. We're the real deciders here."
"Wish the master commanded directly—safer."
Nak Sanggwan's eyes agreed with Geokgeok Jungsang.
"He's capable. Do your jobs, no worries."
I reassured them and moved to the camp-center watchtower for the big picture. Twin pillars on a cart, with a turret between; haul ropes to raise it—mobile, placeable anywhere. Recalled from some ancient weapons encyclopedia.
Go Jeong-ui, Geom Mojam, and I climbed aboard. Gestured, and retainers winched the turret up. Locked it at the top with hooks. High ground plus height gave a clear view. Go Jeong-ui especially fussed.
"I see them."
"Me too."
Tang troops filled the plain before Cheolam Mountain—an endless human tide, cries indistinct.
"Gives me chills."
Go Jeong-ui grimaced. No wonder; he'd never faced such numbers—bit scared.
"Look below. We've got plenty too."
"True, but..."
I bucked up the trailing Go Jeong-ui and scanned the foe. Up front, shield-bearing infantry for the breach. Cavalry flanked for side threats. Our line stayed still.
As we held silent, Tang blew horns and drums, advancing. They held arrows till close too. Tens of thousands' footfalls rang clear up here—not horse-hooves, but thunderous. Camp hushed as foes closed endlessly. At arrow range, our shafts flew first. Bows snapped; arrows rained like hail. Tang raised shields in unison. Amid impacts, one soldier screamed, felled somewhere.
"Too few."
"They're ready."
As shielded foes neared, flank fire joined. Tang fell thicker. Then they loosed back. We hunkered behind shields and stakes—light losses. But aiming grew tough; they closed on palisades easier. Geom Mojam griped.
"Why no Goguryeo Fire?"
"Useless in open field. Dodge and done."
"Still, snag their ankles awhile?"
"No word, but he's got something."
Knowing Kim Yushin, I watched easy. Meantime, Tang vanguard neared stakes. They bridged pits for breach. Our men behind thrust spears and halberds. Tang corpses piled swift on bridges, filling gaps. Spotting the push, Kim Yushin rushed reinforcements. But Tang bridged more spots, assaulting wide. Crowds jammed narrows like traffic. I muttered unwittingly.
"Insane."