Chapter 80
Chapter 80
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 80
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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"Then I'll go meet Satak Jijik and Prince Kyogi."
"Good. See them and carefully assess whether they'll truly ally with us, and if they do, whether it'll benefit us. Of course, the final decision will be mine."
It was irritating how he hammered home that the ultimate authority rested with him, but I understood. This was a chance to meet Crown Prince Uija again and discuss in advance what would happen after King Mu's death.
"Understood."
"This time, you'll lead the delegation."
Yeon Jeong-du, who had driven the point home, suggested a short break before standing up. As the rest period arrived, everyone relaxed and chatted idly. Naturally, Deputy Commander Bu-sang followed Yeon Jeong-du right out the door. I let out a sigh myself, and Go Hye-jin quietly spoke up.
"Why did you agree to it?"
"We had to go to Baekje again anyway."
"If it fails, you'll be held accountable."
Go Yeon-su chimed in as well.
"They'll use every trick to sabotage you."
I had discussed this exact point with Go Jeong-ui beforehand. It was our countermeasure for bringing up the Thousand-Li Great Wall and the Baekje issue. The conclusion was that we had to accept one or the other. Otherwise, they might just derail the whole thing. If it came to choosing one, I picked Baekje. It wasn't a bad idea to visit once more before Crown Prince Uija ascended the throne. We had to settle the Silla problem before Tang invaded, no matter what.
'Mobilizing Goguryeo troops for an attack would take too long and invite interference.'
All that was left was to use Baekje. And far more efficiently and aggressively than in history.
"I've always had that in mind."
When I spoke confidently, Go Hye-jin added another worried remark.
"You'll face interference on the way there too."
"That's why I plan to disguise ourselves as merchants again this time."
Baekje and Goguryeo weren't connected by land, so we had to go by sea. I figured disguising as merchants like last time would work. But the moment I mentioned it, my head suddenly spun.
'Why is this happening out of nowhere?'
I tried to pull myself together, but the pain intensified, and nausea hit me too. As I grimaced suddenly, Go Yeon-su and Go Hye-jin looked alarmed.
"Hey, what's wrong all of a sudden?"
"You didn't drink anything poisoned, did you?"
Even as they exchanged words, the headache persisted. Finally, I managed to swallow hard.
"I'll need to find another way."
Just like that, the throbbing pain vanished in an instant. The nausea cleared up completely. I wiped my mouth with the back of my hand and thought.
'Heavenly Palace patch, huh.'
The second ability it granted was headaches and nausea for bad decisions. I took a deep breath and looked at the two of them.
"Looks like I need to find a different method. Please don't worry too much."
Go Yeon-su nodded with a relieved expression.
"Good to hear. You're the one who'll shape our future. Be careful."
"I will."
For now, I scrapped the plan to hug the coastline by merchant ship like last time. That meant finding another route. Shortly after, Yeon Jeong-du returned, and the meeting resumed. Deputy Commander Bu-sang, who had stepped out and come back, went straight to his seat without even glancing at me. But something was off.
'His eyes aren't red.'
It meant no hostility toward me. Even after I'd humiliated him twice in these meetings.
'Either he's a real idiot, or...?'
Maybe he wasn't truly loyal to Yeon Jeong-du. It was intriguing, but there were more pressing matters.
"If we can't go by sea, we'll have to take another path."
I muttered with my arms crossed, and Chief of Central Administration Yeon Jeong-du looked at me.
"Junior Central Administrator."
"Yes."
I looked up and replied, and he spoke calmly.
"I'll report to the Great King, so prepare to go to Baekje."
"I need something."
"What?"
"Proof that I have authority."
"Why?"
"Meeting Prince Kyogi, Crown Prince Uija, or Satak Jijik isn't hard. But they won't believe a Junior Central Administrator can decide policy."
As I answered, I glanced at Deputy Commander Bu-sang. He nodded with his hand on his chin. It seemed like agreement, or at least he was listening. Chief Yeon Jeong-du asked.
"Alright, what do you need?"
"Give me your seal or stamp as Chief. Or authority to sign documents."
"Hey, what are you planning to do there?"
Yeon Jeong-du looked incredulous.
"Secure a way to protect Goguryeo. When Tang invades, Silla will respond and push north. Facing enemies on both fronts means we can't fight advantageously."
No country short of a superpower like America could handle a two-front war. Germany lost both world wars that way. Goguryeo had suffered the same in its war with Tang.
"I know that well. But will Baekje move as we want?"
"That's why I need leverage to convince them. Baekje hates Silla to the bone right now, but they won't move for our sake."
Baekje had once promised Emperor Yang to attack Goguryeo when Sui invaded. They hadn't mobilized, but with history changing, we had to be cautious. Chief Yeon Jeong-du pondered silently before speaking.
"I'll report to the Great King and get back to you."
"And I'll keep the delegation small, with people I choose."
"Won't they look down on us?"
"Last time we crossed the sea to Baekje, Silla nearly killed us. More people means more risk. If you insist..."
I turned to look at Deputy Commander Bu-sang.
"I'll take Deputy Commander Bu-sang."
Bu-sang's expression turned ambiguous at being singled out. But Yeon Jeong-du raised a hand to refuse.
"Bu-sang outranks you. You have to lead, so I can't allow it."
"Understood."
It was a good chance to probe his intentions, but no dice. Chief Yeon Jeong-du stood and said.
"Winter's coming, so the delegation departs next spring. This concludes today's meeting."
Yeon Jeong-du rose with an unmistakably displeased look. Seeing it, Go Yeon-su chuckled.
"He's pissed because he can't run things his way anymore."
Go Hye-jin couldn't hold back her laughter either.
"Thanks to you, the Chief's got a headache coming."
Both wore delighted expressions, and the other division leaders murmuring a few steps away didn't seem hostile. But watching them, I felt no joy.
'They just need someone to fight their battles.'
Resentment toward Great King and his limb, Chief Yeon Jeong-du, ran deep, but they wouldn't openly rebel. So they were thrilled I stepped up. No blood on their hands anyway. That thought made Go Yeon-su and Go Hye-jin look less appealing as they laughed in front of me.
'But I need to build my faction now, so no choice.'
After the meeting, as I left Central Administration, Geom Mojam waited by the cart. I gave instructions to Geom Mojam as he opened the door.
"Where's Kim So-un, that Langdang deputy I interrogated before? Sent far away?"
Geom Mojam thought briefly before answering.
"Still in Jang'an Fortress, probably."
I sat in the seat and said.
"I have a job for him. Bring him."
Geom Mojam closed the curtain.
"Got it."
Back at the estate, I went straight to my wife. Her belly was noticeably swollen now, making movement difficult. The nursemaid said birth was imminent, and I sighed in relief. I could witness it before heading to Baekje. With that weight off my chest, I returned to Bin Yeon Pavilion. Go Jeong-ui waited there, reading a wooden tablet. He looked up.
"Thousand-Li Great Wall? Or Baekje?"
"Baekje."
Go Jeong-ui's face barely changed, as if he'd half-expected it.
"Departing next spring. I'll lead the delegation."
As I watched him while speaking, Go Jeong-ui replied immediately.
"I get seasick bad, so I can't go this time."
"Really?"
But I had an ace up my sleeve.
"Then I'll take Go Yeon-mu."
As expected, he bristled instantly.
"What do you need that brat for?"
"You're not going, so him at least."
"He'll get seasick worse than me."
"Then we'll go overland."
Go Jeong-ui looked shocked.
"Pardon? Through Silla?"
"Yeah."
"Dozens of times riskier than by sea."
"I know."
"Plus, you killed their Langdang chief. If Silla catches you, it's the axe."
"That too. But if we go by sea again, Silla's entire navy might be waiting off Hyeolgu Island."
"True."
"So, overland it is."
"Got a plan?"
"Weren't you not going?"
"Seasickness is why. Overland, I can manage."
I smiled slightly at his determined face.
"Not because of Go Yeon-mu?"
"He's still a kid."
Laughing at his irritation, I knew I'd hit the mark. Then the door to Bin Yeon Pavilion opened, and Geom Mojam brought in Kim So-un. Dressed in plain hemp top and pants with worn straw sandals, no one would guess he was once a soldier. Dragged in, he knelt before me. Geom Mojam behind him said.
"Brought him."
"Get a chair and have him sit."
Geom Mojam fetched a chair and placed it nearby. Kim So-un cautiously rose and sat.
"Doing alright?"
"Yes, getting by."
"Good. Heard you're headed to the border forts soon."
"Pardon?"
Kim So-un's eyes widened in surprise.
"Guess you didn't hear. Makes sense—no need to tell a slave where he's going."
I subtly shifted blame to Geom Mojam.
"Right?"
Geom Mojam, sharper now, nodded in agreement instead of speaking. It wasn't true, but a ploy to squeeze Kim So-un. As expected, his face hardened.
"I-Is that true?"
"It's cold and barren there, no people. Even Goguryeans avoid it, so they send captives and slaves."
Kim So-un started to speak but shut his mouth. He seemed ready to plead but figured it futile. Satisfied I'd scared him enough, I got to the point.