Chapter 26
Chapter 26
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 26
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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My procession, with five swords at my side, cut straight through the streets of Jangan Fortress and out via Botong Gate. We then crossed the Botong River flowing before the walls.
After traversing the wooden bridge, we headed north. Joining the household guards waiting outside swelled our ranks to well over a hundred. Common folk lined the streets, watching from afar.
"They look just like idols."
I finally understood what it felt like to draw everyone's attention. My shoulders naturally puffed up with pride.
From snot-nosed kids with twin buns to matrons in skirts etched with water-drop patterns, all gazed at me with eyes full of respect and envy.
At the front rode flag-bearers with the Yeon clan emblem emblazoned on their banners, side by side on horseback. Behind them came the military band with horns and drums. The pounding rhythm felt just like the blaring horn of a Viki car.
"Now I get why high-ranking folks in the Joseon era had someone shouting ahead during processions."
I muttered idly to myself when Go Jeong-ui caught up alongside.
"What have you been mumbling about to yourself since earlier?"
"I've been wondering how best to scold you."
I scowled as I spoke, but it wasn't enough to faze Go Jeong-ui.
"You should be grateful to have a genius like me as your strategist. Why think of punishing me?"
"Because your words rub me the wrong way."
"Everyone else is lining up, convinced you're the next Eastern Division Leader."
"True enough. But you're as insolent as ever."
"That's exactly why you need me by your side. I never change."
"That sounds less like loyalty and more like your personality."
"My master taught me never to hold back harsh words from superiors."
"You need to know the difference between harsh truth and nonsense."
Geom Mojam, listening to our bickering from nearby, smirked and covered his mouth with his hand.
After some playful jabs, I launched a real barrage of questions at Go Jeong-ui.
"Have you studied?"
"Studied what?"
"I told you to study military history."
"Do I need to? It's all up here already."
He tapped the side of his head, topped with a ceremonial hat. Annoyingly cocky—the best in Goguryeo, I had to admit. But his arrogance matched his smarts, and his insights belied his young age. That's why I'd decided to keep him close for war strategy research.
'Without machine guns or bombs, brains are all I've got.'
Plus, Eastern classics detailed war outcomes but skimped on processes. I had questions aplenty.
Luckily, National Academy Scholar Lee Mun-jin's gifted New Annals covered some ground. Still, gaps remained, so I figured chatting with Go Jeong-ui would help.
"How do you beat an enemy army in open battle?"
"Encirclement and annihilation is the surest path to victory. Otherwise, kill or capture their general. Failing that, shatter their units and reap a huge toll."
"If it were that easy, no generals would ever lose. Get specific."
"When fighting in open fields, ambush is best."
He nailed the point in one stroke. Quite the contrast with Seon Do-hae at our first meeting. Seon had those bloodshot eyes and seemed to hide something. Go Jeong-ui, cocky and smug as he was, cut straight to the core—and hid nothing.
"Be more specific."
"During King Jungcheon's reign, Wei general Ulji Hae invaded. The Great King selected elite light cavalry and ambushed them in Yangmaek Valley."
"Did the enemy spring the trap?"
"Hook, line, and sinker. Eight thousand heads rolled. Ambushes pierce enemy defenses and let you pick the terrain. King Jungcheon's cavalry were light-armed jeonggi, not heavy cheolgi."
"What's the difference?"
He replied as if I should know.
"Cheolgi means ironclad heavy cavalry—also called gaema. Jeonggi are lighter-armed riders."
"So light cavalry for a valley."
Go Jeong-ui looked impressed at my response. Infuriatingly so—I briefly fantasized having Geom Mojam lop his head off.
"Exactly. Yangmaek's valley has sheer cliffs on both sides and no outlet. Once ambushed, you're done."
"Hence the eight thousand necks."
"It avenged King Dongcheon's defeat against Wei a decade earlier."
He added,
"That's how we should fight."
"Against whom?"
"Who else? Tang."
"You think war with Tang is inevitable?"
He nodded at my question.
"Some Central Administration officials are optimistic. But all things considered, conflict's unavoidable."
"Why?"
I knew history's course but played dumb.
Go Jeong-ui shrugged nonchalantly.
"My master said once a single state unites the Central Plains, they'll inevitably turn on us."
"Even if we don't invade first?"
"We're too close. After unification, they expand outward. We'll be the biggest thorn."
"Fair point. Han used flimsy pretexts to hit Joseon too."
"Tang can muster hundreds of thousands easily, with top generals. Head-on, victory's no sure thing."
"So we turtle in fortresses? That alone won't win."
"True. But lose the fortresses, and we lose everything."
Go Jeong-ui glanced right with finality. A gentle slope led to a grand palace at its end.
"Anhak Palace. Built when King Jangsu moved the capital to Jangan Fortress. They also fortified the mountain castle on Daeseong Mountain behind it."
I recalled this from Goguryeo history studies. The presumed throne hall stretched 87 meters—double Gyeongbokgung's Geunjeongjeon at 34 meters. Bigger even than Tang's Daming Palace throne hall, Hwaryeondeon.
"But soon after, they built the current Jangan Fortress."
"Because of Silla?"
He nodded.
"Yes. Silla seized the Ari River basin—modern Han River—and took Buyeolhol—now Gangwon Anbyeon—setting up Buyeolju prefecture. It sparked alarm."
"So they built Jangan with the palace inside walls."
Known as Pyongyang Fortress today, but Goguryeo called it Jangan mostly. I turned for a look. Towering walls rose high. Knowing when and how they'd crumble filled me with frustration.
"Thankfully, Silla and Baekje's mutual savagery bought breathing room. But losing territory weakened the royal prestige, leading to chaos that nearly toppled the kingdom."
I nodded along to his explanation. Around then, monk Hye-ryang of Goguryeo saw omens of doom and surrendered to Silla.
"Complicated."
"Splitting forces against south and north foes. Luckily, Silla and Baekje are blood enemies to tie them down."
"Fortresses gained even more importance."
"Precisely. Hold firm, blunt their spearhead, bleed their supplies on the march. When they weary and retreat, pursue and shatter. That's how we repelled them at Salsu."
"Not so simple. Tang will counter that."
"Of course. They watched Sui crumble to it."
His crisp reply tempted me to snap his neck. His sharpness bred jealousy in my ordinary past life. Quick-witted, he piped up.
"Why that look?"
Maybe he could spot bloodshot eyes like mine. I turned away hastily.
"Dust in my eye."
"Too unnatural."
"Can't you just let it slide?"
"Master said always watch closely."
Our banter trailed off as the scene sharpened into focus.
From the future with danger sense and little else, I needed to leverage people around me.
A small fortress crowned a hillside right of the road, size of Cheoin Fortress I'd once toured. Twin watchtowers, flags snapping in wind. Likely guarding and surveilling the route to Jangan.
Another similar one midway up the rear mountain. More forts dotted the path, large and small.
'No wonder Goguryeo's called the Kingdom of Fortresses.'
Composing myself, I eyed Go Jeong-ui again. He'd been staring into my eyes.
"What exactly happened after that lightning strike?"
"I fell into a deep sleep and woke up."
More happened, but no point sharing. He wouldn't believe it anyway. Mercifully, he didn't pry, shifting to his topic.
"If Tang invades, it'll differ vastly from Sui."
"How?"
"More thorough prep. Siege methodically, cut supply lines, push south."
"Likely the Tang Emperor himself leads."
I said casually; Go Jeong-ui jolted.
"No way."
"Wanna bet? Winner executes the loser."
"Absurd. Even if I won, how could I..."
"So you were planning to?"
I glowered; he waved frantically.
"When did I say that?"
"I can tell by your eyes."
"Even the Celestial Maiden of Gokdong Daehyeol couldn't."
"Who's that?"
I blurted, then regretted. His expression shifted oddly. I bellowed to cover.
"Forget her. Focus: how do we fight?"
"Meet her, and that'll vanish. She's truly clairvoyant."
"Got it. Continue."
"My throat's sore. Break?"
"Want eternal rest?"
"Too harsh on a kid?"
"Aren't you an old soul in a boy's body? Decades wise?"
"Thirteen this year."
As we squabbled, Geom Mojam shouted,
"Jamo Station!"