Chapter 30
Chapter 30
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 30
Chapter Title: Liaodong's Military Parade
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The last group consisted of archers with bows slung over their shoulders.
As expected, they wore red turbans instead of helmets and sleeveless armor. Their bows hung from their shoulders, and quivers full of arrows dangled from their waists.
Once all the infantry had marched out through the gates, the clowns appeared. Adokbang's expression shifted oddly at the sight.
A clown in an enormously tall conical hat and barefoot was hopping and skipping about.
Loud laughter erupted from the onlookers.
Following them came more clowns tossing blades into the air or passing them between each other. Even a fire-breather showed up.
After the clowns had passed, the cavalry on horseback made their entrance.
'Here they come at last.'
Many modern people saw Goguryeo's heavy cavalry as its symbol, likening the horse and rider both clad in armor to tanks. Sure enough, the heavy cavalry led the way.
They wore helmets with red ear guards and armor that fully encased their arms and legs.
Their horses were armored everywhere except the legs, with massive flags attached to their tails.
A timely gust made the flags flutter, adding to the intimidation. But their numbers were fewer than expected.
"Fewer than I thought."
Geom Mojam responded to my mutter.
"They don't need to be numerous."
"You mean they're useless?"
"Not exactly, but both horse and rider are weighed down by armor, so they can't move for long. They can't even gallop fast."
"Makes sense."
In movies and dramas, protagonists soared around in heavy armor.
But in reality, just a few minutes in heavy armor left you gasping for breath.
'And that's without holding a weapon. Madness.'
Still, the armored cavalry—also called Gaema Warriors—drew the biggest cheers and attention.
"They can still deliver a decisive counterpunch, right?"
"Of course. During the Great King Dongcheon's time, the Gaema Warriors led the charge at Yangmaek and crushed the Wei army."
Go Jeong-ui, who had been listening, chimed in and continued eagerly.
"Fully encased in armor, arrows can't penetrate them. And with their horses also plated in iron, they can smash through shield walls easily."
"But since they can't sustain movement for long, you have to time their deployment perfectly."
The English words kept slipping out, which was annoying.
Fortunately, Go Jeong-ui let it slide. Or rather, he was too focused on his own points to notice.
After the heavy cavalry passed, light cavalry with sleeveless armor and short spears appeared, followed by mounted archers carrying bows instead.
They formed the cavalry's main force, pursuing enemies and striking from afar.
In Goguryeo, where the bow was the primary weapon, mounted archers held particular importance.
Go Jeong-ui echoed the sentiment.
"Light cavalry are more useful than heavy ones. They can harass and break the enemy."
"So heavy cavalry are useless?"
"If used well, maybe, but most don't know how."
A snicker escaped me at the words of a mere thirteen-year-old kid.
"Sounds like a keyboard warrior."
"What?"
Go Jeong-ui finally shot back a question. I brushed it off as nothing and turned back to the field.
The soldiers, having exited the gates in formation, looked up at the gate tower.
Yoksal Mokgesu, the commander of Liaodong Fortress, seated on his chair, slowly rose and raised his hand. Trumpeters behind him blew long blasts on their horns in unison.
The deep tones reverberated across the plain. The soldiers roared in response. Then the ranks began to divide.
The infantry pulled to one side, forming a shield wall.
Spearmen took the front, axemen behind them, archers further back, and swordsmen at the flanks.
"Perfectly disciplined."
As I muttered watching the formation shift, Geom Mojam replied.
"You can't win battles without proper formations."
Movies and dramas showed one-on-one duels or chaotic melees. But such fights were impossible in reality.
No one had eyes in the back of their head, and there wasn't space for it anyway.
Opposite the infantry, the cavalry assembled—heavy cavalry in the center, mounted archers to the rear, light cavalry up front.
"Infantry versus cavalry."
Mokgesu, standing on the tower of Liaodong Fortress, nodded. A soldier beside him swung a large yellow flag left and right.
"Here we go."
The light cavalry charged the shield wall with a shout, kicking up clouds of dust. The following cavalry nocked arrows and mimed shooting.
"Light cavalry charging, mounted archers providing cover."
Geom Mojam nodded at my question.
"Their role is to probe the enemy lines first and find weaknesses."
The light cavalry reached the shield wall and jabbed with their spears. The clash of spear tips against shields echoed like thunder.
It was mock combat and training, but quite fierce. Occasionally, a cavalryman pierced by a thrusting spear fell from his horse.
Conversely, infantry were bowled over by horses. Amid the fierce back-and-forth, the heavy cavalry began to advance slowly, following their lead officer to the right.
"They found the weak spot."
"Something like that."
While chatting with Geom Mojam, I glanced at Go Jeong-ui. He stood with arms crossed, looking displeased.
Meanwhile, the heavy cavalry picked up speed and reached the right flank of the shield wall. As expected in a drill, the infantry fell back.
With the shield wall broken, the infantry scattered and retreated. And with that, the military exercise concluded.
Mokgesu looked at me with satisfaction.
"What do you think of Liaodong Fortress's soldiers?"
I hadn't noted anything particular while inspecting the gear, but I praised them anyway.
"As renowned, truly unmatched. Most reassuring."
Believing it sincere, Mokgesu beamed. I added a few more compliments to lift his spirits and rose to leave.
He invited me to the banquet, but I excused myself with feeling unwell and returned to my lodging at the guest house.
Back at the guest house, I ate lightly and gathered my men. Then I asked Geom Mojam,
"What'd you think?"
"As rumored, good equipment and perfectly coordinated. Especially the heavy cavalry—they're in top shape."
"Well-trained, then?"
"Liaodong has plenty of iron. They equipped their armor excellently."
My gaze turned to Gido-ryang beside Geom Mojam.
"What about the bows?"
"Seemed made from ox horns. Quivers of leather, and they had various arrowheads."
"Craftsmanship?"
"Didn't see them shoot, but in sieges or defenses, it's more about volley fire than individual skill."
Go Jeong-ui wore a grim expression throughout our talk.
He was the chattiest in Goguryeo, second to none, so it was odd. I prodded,
"Something to say?"
"The training was too sloppy."
Differing from Geom Mojam and Gido-ryang, I pressed,
"How so?"
"Who attacks Liaodong Fortress? Tang China. They come in hundreds of thousands at least, right?"
"Probably."
"Fighting them in open fields is folly."
"So, you mean defend the walls."
Go Jeong-ui boomed in a voice belying his small frame.
"Exactly. Liaodong is crucial in every way—it must be held."
"And no wall-defense drills, so you're dissatisfied."
"Plus, the training itself felt performative, like a show for someone. I didn't like it."
"Not realistic?"
"Of all places, Liaodong can't afford this."
My subordinates mostly nodded at Go Jeong-ui's words.
It was a serious issue. In fact, about ten years later, in 645, Liaodong would fall.
After a moment's thought, I turned to Ham-a.
The usually silent Ham-a flinched under my gaze.
"Think of weapons suited for wall defense."
"What kind?"
"Anything—scale up the crossbow I showed you, tweak the Yeon Clan Cannon, whatever."
Ham-a nodded and reached into his bosom, pulling something out.
"What's that?"
"Spearhead quiver."
The handed-over quiver was leather, reinforced with iron studs at the edges.
A ring at the top made it easy to hang from a belt. The spearheads inside had leather-wrapped bases.
A metal ring at the end connected to a long leather thong for throwing far.
The thong's end formed a loop for the wrist. It looked premium and fit my hand perfectly.
"Good work."
Ham-a's face lit up awkwardly at the praise.
I pondered where to attach it and tried my belt—it fit snugly.
Spinning around with it on my belt, everyone chimed in that it suited me.
"We're leaving Liaodong now."
"Where to?"
I answered Geom Mojam's question instantly.
"Ansi Fortress."
Go Jeong-ui jumped in.
"To meet Yang Manchun?"
"Yeah, he said come to Ansi if I want to see him."
"Even so, do we have to?"
"Am I not allowed to meet him?"
"No gain in it."
"Then I shouldn't meet you either?"
"What do I offer compared to him?"
Go Jeong-ui retorted sharply. I shot back with a mischievous grin.
"I don't think you do."
"It's not about thinking—it's facts."
Laughter bubbled up at Go Jeong-ui, refusing to yield an inch.
In modern records, he was just a crafty old prime minister in brief mentions. But in person, he was a smart, talkative kid.
Seeing my expression, Go Jeong-ui grumbled.
"Please don't look at me like that."
"Like what?"
"Like you know something."
Hearing his sulky reply confirmed he was a genius.
'No wonder Lee Mun-jin assigned him to me.'
With that, the talk ended, and my men left to prepare departure.
I sent word to Commander Mokgesu that we'd leave tomorrow, then entered my room. Grasping Jumong's spearhead, I practiced swings.
"Feels awkward."
I'd dabbled in jujutsu, but never swordsmanship. It felt off.
Practice would improve it, I figured, and slid it back into the quiver.