Chapter 58
Chapter 58
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 58
Chapter Title: Preparations for the Silla Campaign
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Go Yeonsu, who had been listening, cut in.
"Wouldn't the best approach be to rack up some military merit?"
Father agreed with Go Yeonsu's words.
"That's true enough. The Chief of Central Administration can't really argue against that."
"What if we attack and capture one of Silla's border fortresses to establish that merit?"
"But we can't move the royal army without approval from the Central Administration Bureau and the Great King."
"If we take responsibility for the troops and supplies from the Eastern Division, they won't be able to object."
"Us?"
"The fortress we capture will belong to the Great King anyway."
"No repercussions?"
As Father Yeon Gaesomun asked cautiously, Go Yeonsu smirked.
"Silla has a queen on the throne right now, doesn't she? They're too busy fending off Baekje's attacks to respond properly."
"I heard there was a rebellion even before the queen ascended."
"You're talking about the revolt led by Ichan Chil-suk and Achan Seok-pum."
"It was crushed in the end, but that won't be the last one."
I muttered to myself as I listened from the side.
'That queen is Queen Seondeok, surrounded by Kim Yu-sin and Kim Chun-chu. Underestimate her, and we'll pay dearly.'
Unlike my inner thoughts, the two were excitedly laughing and chatting away. Then Father looked at me.
"You'll have to head to the battlefield soon, son."
His tone was so casual, like he was suggesting a trip somewhere fun, that I was a bit startled.
'This decision will get hundreds, maybe thousands, killed.'
And it had been made in an instant, by just four people gathered together.
'Is this what history is?'
A slight tremor ran through my body, but at the same time, my heart grew cold.
'This is the moment history changes—and it opens a path to save Goguryeo.'
Father Yeon Gaesomun gazed at me with a gentle expression.
"Your first time on the battlefield will be scary. But you'll get used to it soon enough."
"I doubt war is something you get used to easily."
"What we're doing right now is war. We're just not swinging swords."
His words were so clear that I could only nod.
The very next day, preparations for deployment began unofficially. Father Yeon Gaesomun was busy sending letters and meeting people. In the meantime, rumors started to spread.
Yang Man-chun, whom I was playing polo with, had heard about it too and asked me.
"You're heading to the battlefield?"
"Probably."
"Take me with you."
"You been before?"
"That's why I'm asking to come along."
"It's a place where people kill and get killed."
"That's war, isn't it?"
I was a little shocked watching Yang Man-chun speak so matter-of-factly.
The modern notions from a world with human rights and where death wasn't commonplace hadn't fully faded yet.
After that day, Biyeon Pavilion became a sort of command headquarters. Everyone involved was summoned and participated.
Go Jeong-ui, in particular, was thriving like a fish in water.
"Thinking war is just for warriors is downright foolish. Wars are decided by strategy and logistics."
He grinned obnoxiously and pointed to his own head.
I wanted to smack him, but he wasn't wrong. It really did require massive supplies and intricate planning.
'Scenes you'd never see in movies or dramas.'
The first order of business was selecting the target.
The fortresses Goguryeo coveted from Silla were Chiljung Fortress and Bukhansan Fortress. But they had large garrisons and treacherous terrain, so they were ruled out early. Anything too small wouldn't clearly establish merit, so those were excluded too.
In the end, Go Jeong-ui picked one after much deliberation.
"It's a fortress in Silla's Dalhol Province. North of Niiha. It was originally our land before they took it."
Only after seeing the map Go Jeong-ui showed did I get a rough idea of the location.
'Around Goseong in Gangwon Province?'
I knew it vaguely from my military service in the Yulgok Unit.
While I was lost in old memories, Go Jeong-ui was already mapping out the advance route.
"We deploy from Jangansung, pass through Sugok Fortress. We can load some supplies on ships and send them south to lighten the burden."
"Impressive."
Not just me—Geom Mojam and even Seon Do-hae, who had been summoned, couldn't hide their admiration.
Go Jeong-ui brushed it off casually.
"This is just the beginning. First, we need the garrison numbers at Niiha Fortress and potential reinforcements. We also have to scout the routes they can take and who might come."
With that, he outlined the required troops.
"Siege warfare needs infantry as a must. Plus, the terrain around Dalhol Province is rugged, so not much room for cavalry."
"For a siege, we'll need a lot of archers."
Gi Do-ryang, who had been quiet, suddenly spoke up. He had brought the Yeon Clan Crossbow that Ham-a had improved.
It could now load and fire up to ten shots just by pulling the handle.
Ham-a said he was still refining it, but we'd test it in real combat and add improvements.
He apologized for not having Goguryeo Fire ready yet. But even in modern times, the exact recipe for Greek Fire was unknown.
'I'm a liberal arts guy anyway; I wouldn't know.'
But if Goguryeo Fire was this tricky, gunpowder would be even harder. My head started to ache at the thought.
Go Jeong-ui responded to Gi Do-ryang.
"Of course. I'm planning to send at least a thousand archers."
As my head grew complicated and I frowned, Geom Mojam quietly interjected.
"Master."
"What?"
"Over there, we can't find a suitable weapon for Adokbang."
Geom Mojam glanced at Adokbang standing behind him.
He'd become much more refined, but he still looked burly and rough.
"His fists seem plenty strong."
"That's fine for bodyguard duty or street brawls. On the battlefield, even a brute can't last barehanded."
"What about a sword or spear?"
"He can't handle them. He's decent at jujutsu, but no talent for weapons."
"Give him a blunt weapon like an axe or mace."
"We did, but he won't even touch them for days."
"What, is that big lug sulking?"
His build was like an Artbox store manager, so imagining him pouting was funny. But Geom Mojam was serious.
"Everyone else has a cool weapon, and he's the only one without one, he says."
"Cute."
Whether Adokbang knew it was about him or not, he pretended otherwise. Looking closer, his eyes were puffy.
As I watched, a suitable weapon came to mind.
"Ham-a!"
"Yes, Master!"
"Paper!"
Ham-a quickly unrolled some paper. As he placed a paperweight on the corner, Go Jeong-ui handed over an ink-dipped brush.
I chuckled at his quick thinking.
"Thanks."
Go Jeong-ui looked at me with mild surprise.
I took the brush, thought for a moment, then sketched quickly. But no one could make it out.
Go Jeong-ui glanced at my face and asked.
"What's this? Just looks like lines."
"Well, it's a long pole connected by an iron chain to a short one. You swing the long one, and the short one whips around to smash the enemy."
"Like an iron flail?"
Go Jeong-ui caught on fast, as expected.
"Exactly. Make the short end iron with spikes, and it'll be even more effective."
Geom Mojam cut in as he listened.
"Perfect for a strong guy like Adokbang to swing."
"And the motion's simple."
I mimed swinging a flail with both hands. Go Jeong-ui, who had redrawn it with the brush, spoke up.
"What do you think? I've seen flails plenty, but never thought to use one as a weapon."
Of course, I hadn't invented it. China's Song Dynasty Emperor Taizu had formalized it, and it reached Korea during the Imjin War.
Goguryeo had mace relics from the capital, but I doubted they'd used flails yet. I glossed over the details.
"I'm pretty smart."
"That lacks credibility."
I considered flicking his forehead but held back since he'd drawn the flail perfectly.
"Connect the long pole and short end with an iron chain, but keep it as short as possible."
"Why?"
"So it doesn't tangle with the enemy's weapon in a fight."
Admiration rippled around the room. It was indeed a key feature of Joseon flails—too long a chain, and it could snag on the foe's gear.
Ham-a, seeing the flail sketch Go Jeong-ui had drawn, said.
"I'll make one right away."
Adokbang, watching, expressed his thanks. Go Jeong-ui sighed at the sight.
"The ground's gonna cave in."
"Master, the more I see you, the less I understand."
"Not the more charming?"
"You treat your subordinates so well and pay such close attention. You even thanked me just now."
"Isn't that obvious?"
"More often, it's not. I can't read your mind, but when I watch, you're so consistent."
He was as sharp as Lee Mun-jin had recommended. But telling the truth might cause issues, so I held back.
"Got weird after the lightning strike. One more, and I'll be back to normal."
"Then don't get struck again. It's best for you and all of us."
"Will it be up to me?"
"If needed, I'll take it for you. For Goguryeo's sake, you absolutely can't."
"That brings tears to my eyes."
Not just Go Jeong-ui—everyone around wore similar expressions as they looked at me.
'This pressure feels kinda good.'
It was a thrilling mix of expectation and burden I'd never feel in modern times.
Until Go Jeong-ui brought out a stack of scrolls, that is.
"What's that?"
"The generals coming on this campaign. Since you lack experience, we need to appoint one to command the army."
"Then what about me?"
"Next in line. But you'll make the real key decisions."
"So, pick a figurehead."
"A figurehead who loses his head if things go wrong."
"Cheeky kid saying scary stuff."
"It's the truth. The candidates know it too."
Unrolling the sealed scrolls revealed names and origins. Some were from wars against Tang.
'On Sa-mun—lost to Xue Rengui at Yeong Mountain in 659.'
I couldn't confirm the defeat, but his On clan name sparked rumors he was General On-dal's grandson. Being from Buyeo Fortress made it unlikely.
The next name was familiar too.
'So Bu-son from Bakjak Fortress—fought Seo Man-cheol in 648.'
According to Samguk Sagi, Bakjak held against a siege without falling. Chinese records claimed they took it and beheaded him.
A few names down was another I knew.
'An Go of Sinhyeon—attacked Khitan with Malgal tribes in 654.'
Goguryeo had pushed near the Shiramura River to hit Khitan forces that defected to Tang.
They lost to a counterattack by Governor Yi Gul-ga of Songmo, per records. But Chinese histories twisted even defeats into victories, so take with salt.