Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: Duel at the Relay Station
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At Geom Mojam's shout, I turned my head and spotted what looked like a relay station by the roadside. Of course, it wasn't anything like a modern subway station. Enclosed by a low wall, it was a place where traveling officials and wayfarers could rest their weary bones.
As if they'd been expecting my arrival, officials in robes of every color stood waiting at the entrance. When I drew near and dismounted, they bowed their heads in unison. I mumbled a quick word of thanks and headed inside.
I'd been too busy chattering with Go Jeong-ui to notice, but riding that horse had left my back stiff and sore. Geom Mojam, who'd checked the station first, spoke up.
"No abnormalities."
Geom Mojam and the retainers had completely surrounded one of the annex buildings. I opened the door and stepped in, spotting straw mats lining one wall and a simple sleeping platform. I plopped down on the edge of the platform for a quick rest when Geom Mojam entered.
"We'll have a light meal and then depart."
"My stomach's not feeling great, so keep it simple."
"Understood."
After Geom Mojam left, I flopped back onto the platform. As I turned my thoughts to touring the northern regions and preparing for the war ahead, I couldn't shake my doubts. Even if I developed new weapons and met the right people, could I really change history?
If only I had a game changer.
Even if a few machine guns dropped from the sky, turning the tide would be no easy feat. To make Goguryeo strong enough to repel the Tang invasion would take tremendous effort.
Damn. In other novels, this stuff was a breeze.
Suddenly, the urge to just give up washed over me. That's when a commotion erupted outside the door. Shouts rang out, followed by the clash of steel on steel.
"What the hell?"
Curiosity overrode any sense of danger as I bolted up. I flung open the door and stepped out to see Geom Mojam crossing blades with someone.
The stranger wore blue pants and a black jacket, his head wrapped in a scarf—a style you wouldn't see in Chang'an. The two circled each other, swords whipping through the air in swift arcs.
"Whoa!"
They moved too fast for the eye to follow easily, each strike aimed precisely at vital points. It wasn't some dramatic clash of blades like in a historical drama; the raw intensity had sweat beading on my palms.
"As far as I know, no one beats Geom Mojam."
My father's bodyguard Adokbang was strong, sure. But when it came to swords or any weapon, Geom Mojam was unmatched—even among our handpicked retainers. As I stood by the door watching the duel, Go Jeong-ui came panting up.
"Hey, you here to watch the swordfight too?"
"Are you insane?"
Go Jeong-ui hopped back, pointing at the two combatants.
"Do you know who's fighting Geom Mojam right now?!"
"Who?"
Frustrated, Go Jeong-ui pounded his chest at my question.
"Yang Man-chun, son of the lord of Ansi Fortress!"
"What?!"
I was stunned—it was that Yang Man-chun from the textbooks. In dramas, he was always some grizzled general, but this guy looked about my age, practically a kid. And this was far from Ansi Fortress; I hadn't expected him here.
In my shock, I dashed right between the two dueling figures.
"Stop! That's enough!"
They'd just finished circling and were rearing back for strikes. Without a second thought, I jumped in the middle. Razor-sharp blades halted inches above my head from both sides.
Go Jeong-ui, watching, screamed in shock and fainted dead away. I nearly pissed myself. Geom Mojam sheathed his blade and quickly stepped in front of me.
"D-dangerous, Master."
"I know. Put the swords away."
Geom Mojam sheathed his immediately, grabbed my arm, and pulled me back. His opponent lowered his sword too. Up close, the guy had a total playboy vibe.
His outfit seemed plain enough, but the scarf bore ornate patterns, and gold earrings gleamed from his ears. That wasn't all—a necklace of curved jade hung across his chest.
This isn't the guy I pictured.
He didn't look like the brave general who'd stand against Tang Taizong; more like a dandy who loved showing off. As I stared, he slid his sword into its scabbard and asked,
"You're the eldest son of the Eastern Division Leader's house?"
Unsure how to respond, I hemmed and hawed before managing,
"Y-yes."
"Your man's no ordinary swordsman. But for his master to be this reckless... he must have it rough."
Was that praise or mockery? Either way, excitement got the better of me. I stepped forward and grabbed both his hands.
"Great to meet you."
But he shook me off.
"A bit early for that—we're strangers."
In my head, I shot back, You have no idea how famous you'll become.
"I was on my way to meet you."
Yang Man-chun blinked in surprise at my abrupt words.
"What business does the Eastern Division Leader's eldest have with a lowly fortress lord's son from somewhere insignificant like Ansi?"
"W-well, I had some questions."
My answer must've struck him as odd; he smirked and brushed past me, calling out loudly,
"If you've got questions, come find me at Ansi Fortress."
Hearing that, Geom Mojam whirled with a surge of irritation. Worried he'd chase and cut the guy down, I held him back.
"Easy."
"How can you stop me after that mongrel insulted us?"
"We can't just kill people. And mongrel?"
Geom Mojam sheathed his sword fully and answered.
"Word of his bad behavior's spread even to Chang'an."
"What?"
"A total playboy. He's stirred up every kind of trouble since he was a kid."
"For real?"
My disbelief prompted Geom Mojam to elaborate.
"Yes. Heard it straight from one of our retainers from Ansi. He's even caused incidents in Chang'an itself."
"Hard to believe."
"I had my doubts too... until I saw him myself. The rumors check out."
"Then how's Ansi Fortress supposed to hold?"
"Pardon? Yang Man-chun's the third son; he won't inherit the lordship."
Geom Mojam waved it off, changing the subject.
"His swordplay?"
"As nimble as they say. Loves swords and booze—spot on."
"Against you?"
"If I went all out, maybe. Strongest I've fought besides Master Channo."
His words gave me a headache.
A sword-slinging playboy named Yang Man-chun!
He was one of the few people I'd hoped to rely on, given how few allies I knew. But a troublemaking thug? My head throbbed. Oblivious to my thoughts, Geom Mojam looked concerned.
"You alright, Master?"
Not at all, but I forced out,
"Fine."
Then he suggested,
"This place feels off. Best we leave soon?"
"Yeah. Prep to depart."
As he turned with a loud "Yes, sir!", I called him back.
"Wait—why the swordfight?"
"He called me ugly."
The unexpected reply startled me. Geom Mojam quickly added,
"Kidding. He tried entering your annex, so I blocked him."
I shot a glare at Go Jeong-ui, who was pretending nothing happened at the annex door. I snapped,
"You."
"Huh? What?"
"Didn't you teach Geom Mojam to joke like that?"
"Jokes aren't taught."
His cheeky response made me laugh despite myself. It lightened my heavy mood. Geom Mojam left to prepare departure, and I asked Go Jeong-ui,
"Why was Yang Man-chun here?"
"Heading back to Ansi from Chang'an."
"What was he doing in Chang'an?"
Go Jeong-ui looked puzzled as he explained.
"He was a hostage there. Ansi's the Yang family's turf."
The answer reminded me of Goryeo's eccentric system of sending local elites' sons to the capital. It kept fathers from rebellion. Even Silla had something similar with acorns or whatever.
Goguryeo's no different.
Proud yet wistful at learning another tidbit.
How long till I know it all?
Geom Mojam returned to report preparations complete.
Outside, horses stood in a neat line, matched by the station officials who'd greeted us earlier. The old official bowed again.
"We've inconvenienced you—our deepest apologies."
I almost passed by but paused.
"It's not your fault. Don't trouble yourself."
Basic courtesy in modern times, but they were profoundly moved, prostrating themselves. They didn't rise until I mounted and said "good work."
At Geom Mojam's cry of "Depart!", the retainers at the entrance moved out slowly.
On the northward road, we passed fortress after fortress, mostly nestled at the foot of mountains to the right, with massive walls crowning the peaks and encircling everything below.
I hadn't grasped it at first, but Go Jeong-ui's explanations made it clear.
"Our lands slope high in the east and low in the west. Rivers flow east to west, linking up as they near the sea."
His words brought back school lessons on North Korean geography. Recalling the interconnected rivers, I marveled again at his smarts.
"Most fortresses south of the Yalu overlook those converging rivers from hilltops. To control the plains and roads along them."
"So they're not that large."
"Right. If enemies push this far, we fight from Chang'an."
"Where do we stop them before?"
"Liaodong Fortress, naturally."
"The one even the Sui Emperor couldn't take."
Playing knowledgeable, I earned an impressed look from Go Jeong-ui.
"Just because it held once doesn't mean it always will. My master said complacency in war leads straight to defeat."
"The National Academy Scholar was into warfare, huh."
"Didn't you know? Lee Mun-jin, my teacher at the academy, was General Eulji Mundeok's strategist."
In the end, I had to apologize to his grumpy face.
Thus, learning bits of Goguryeo one by one, we pressed north. We even toured a school pavilion, proving Korean zeal for education—humble-born kids studying writing made me itch to invent Hangul sooner.
And movable type.
To win wars and survive, fighting skill alone wouldn't cut it. The nation had to be shored up.
The to-do list's snowballing.
The catch? Most tasks required me to be king.
Naturally, one word surfaced in my mind.
Great King.