Chapter 66
Chapter 66
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 66
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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He bent down low to peer at our group, then bellowed in a thunderous voice.
"You Goguryeo dogs aren't even fit to surrender! The Dalhol Lord will soon arrive and sever every last one of your heads. Retreat now, and I'll let you go peacefully!"
Yang Man-chun, listening in, muttered with a look of utter disbelief.
"What a bold dream."
The soldier who'd been urging surrender turned to me. He meant it was time to head back, but I wanted one more try. I urged my horse forward and gazed up at the gate tower.
"Hear me, captain of Silla! This army has come with overwhelming preparations. I don't want to see innocent soldiers and civilians die in vain. Surrender."
"Hmph! Better to die a loyal servant of Silla than live as a Goguryeo dog. No more words—begone."
"Understood. I need to report to the general. What's your name?"
"I am Silla's Great Tiger Piljip. Tell your general I'm waiting."
"Very well."
There was no point in saying more. As I turned my horse around, Geom Mojam stuck close behind me, ready to block any arrows that might fly our way.
Back at the main camp, Ham-a and the craftsmen from Sui Captive Village were assembling the Yeon Clan Cannon. Soldiers wielding axes had felled nearby trees, carving and shaping the wood into parts.
Ham-a spotted me and wiped the sweat from his brow.
"One will be finished by tomorrow."
"Got it. Good work."
Flames were rising around Niha Fortress. Iri's Malgal warriors were looting and setting fires. Most Silla civilians had fled inside the fortress or south, so it was mostly empty houses they were smashing and burning.
As dusk fell, the returning Malgal warriors dragged in a few Silla stragglers—mostly elders and children. I ordered a tent cleared to hold them and instructed that they be given water and food. The first day of the siege passed like that. All through the night, cheers and torches lit up Niha Fortress. They were probably trying to boost morale. Aside from posting guards against a night raid, I told everyone to rest.
The next day, around noon, the first Yeon Clan Cannon was finally complete. One end held a wooden box filled with stones; the opposite end of the long arm—what I called the "arm"—was connected with leather straps like a Western sling. A jar filled with Goguryeo Fire was loaded in. The firing mechanism had evolved: a pin inserted into a hole in the pillar, then pulled out. I'd vaguely recalled the details and described them, and it had turned out astonishingly similar to the original Hwihwipo model. Ham-a's brilliance hit me anew. He packed stones into the counterweight box, pulled the strap to raise the arm, and looked at me.
"Don't mind me—keep going."
Ham-a placed the jar of Goguryeo Fire on the leather cradle. He signaled and stepped back. His assistant touched a torch to the cloth sealing the jar's mouth. The Goguryeo Fire-soaked cloth ignited in an instant. Holes perforated the rim around the mouth, and flames roared through them. Another of Ham-a's ideas: the holes improved combustion, and even if the jar didn't shatter, the fire could seep out.
A cough made me turn. The three generals stood side by side. Sobuson, who'd cleared his throat, asked,
"What an odd-looking cannon."
"It's the Yeon Clan Cannon."
Anho, beside him, asked,
"No one pulls it by hand?"
"That wooden box at the end does the work. Pull it up with the strap and release—the weight drops, flinging the load on the other end far away."
"No manpower needed, then. Hand-pulled ones don't fly as far."
"This'll reach 200 paces. And since it's firing jars instead of stones, with good aim, even farther."
"Lit jars don't spread much fire when they break."
I shook my head at Anho's words.
"We mixed sulfur and pine resin into the oil inside. It won't go out easily."
As we talked, soldiers gathered one by one, murmuring in anticipation. Ham-a shouted to the crowd,
"Firing! Master!"
I nodded instead of replying. Ham-a yanked the wooden peg from the hole. The strap released, and the stone-filled box plummeted under gravity. By lever principle, the opposite arm whipped the jar skyward with a whoosh. The leather cradle's strap snapped loose, sending the flaming-tailed jar soaring. The soldiers erupted in awe as it arced through the air.
"Whoa! Fire in the sky!"
We'd set up the Yeon Clan Cannon on a rock left of the west gate. A deep ravine in between made that section's walls lower, as the gorge served as a moat. That's why we'd placed it there. The blazing jar floated over the low walls as expected, smashing somewhere inside amid rising smoke and flames. The soldiers cheered as one. Ham-a, who'd watched tensely, broke into a grin.
"Master, it worked!"
"Good job. Set up a few more and keep firing."
"Yes, sir. Two more by tomorrow."
I left with a word of thanks, and Onsamen and the other generals dropped to one knee.
"What is this?"
"We'd heard rumors of your ingenuity, but not like this."
"Just scraps of knowledge."
It was true. Something I'd skimmed while writing back in modern times. But to them, it was a massive leap.
"Farther than men hurling stones by rope."
Onsamen rose, face alight with awe. Meanwhile, a second fiery jar launched. This one flew lower, striking the wall's parapet, but the sparks flying everywhere made it even more spectacular. Soldiers sang and danced. From inside, shouts to extinguish the flames rose with more smoke. I warned Geom Mojam watching nearby to stay vigilant for a raid. He leaned in and whispered,
"We've got someone inside."
"Who? No way."
Geom Mojam nodded instead of answering. I recalled the figure who'd quietly saved me during the first assassination attempt at the market.
"Channo?"
Another nod, no words.
'Not a ninja or anything.'
I muttered inwardly, then remembered a theory that ninjas originated on the Three Kingdoms' peninsula. No hard proof, but centuries of war demanded espionage networks. I'd scoffed at the time, but knowing Channo changed my mind.
By then, a third fiery jar sailed out, landing deep inside Niha Fortress. It hit true, igniting a massive blaze unlike before. The soldiers' cheers swelled. Godolbal, mixed in with them, bounded over excitedly.
"Did you see? It'll burn the whole fortress!"
"Not quite to ashes. But..."
I gazed past the roaring flames.
"It'll draw the relief force faster. Right to the spot we want."
"Morale's through the roof. They could win a charge right now."
"Stay cold in battle. Excitement leads to wounds or death."
"I'll remember, Master."
He grinned sheepishly at "Master"—a term for slaves or retainers, hinting he wanted to serve me.
Excited, Godolbal dashed back to the cannons. Watching him, I turned to the three generals.
"They might night raid. Keep watch tight, and from tomorrow, maneuver as if attacking Niha Fortress."
"Not actually assaulting?"
At Onsamen's question, I glanced at the cheering soldiers around the cannons.
"If needed, yes. For now, luring the relief force suffices. Expect a night raid tonight or tomorrow, plus a messenger."
"Those fires will call them."
"Exactly. And into our trap."
"Council tonight to reshuffle positions. We'll keep up the siege pretense."
"Send the Malgals far for plunder. It'll make the enemy desperate."
"Haste breeds mistakes. Plus, this land was Goguryeo's not long ago—now Silla's."
"Long fights breed resentment."
"Indeed. Even their captain Piljip knows, and the Dalhol Lord leading relief will too."
Onsamen grinned. His veteran instincts guided the war. I entrusted them and returned to my tent. Fiery jars kept sailing toward Niha Fortress amid rising smoke and flames.
Two days later, the relief force appeared—same day Maemul Merchant Guild ships from Booksung Castle hugged the coast. Per my request, their vessels bristled with war banners. Hard to tell cargo from warships at a distance, so it looked like reinforcements.
Iri's Malgal unit made contact on the shore. Watching our five Yeon Clan Cannons hurl fireballs in rotation at Niha Fortress, Itain appeared. I'd approved his scouting command two days prior, bored as he was. He approached briskly and knelt.
"Silla troops sighted."
"Finally!"
I was thrilled—they'd arrived almost exactly as predicted. The true target of this expedition. But Itain's face was grim. At my query, he spoke.
"The Dalhol Lord's force is larger than expected."
"How many?"
"Around five thousand."
"Five thousand? Not three—five?"