Chapter 86
Chapter 86
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 86
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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"They must have gotten word from Goguryeo and mobilized. Only a very few people know that I'm heading overland instead of by sea."
Kim Chun-chu frowned at my response.
"You should head back now and check on things there. We've gone and exposed a valuable agent on a pointless errand."
I shook my head at Kim Chun-chu's words.
"It was probably just something from the Great King or the Central Administration Bureau anyway. Catching small fry like that wouldn't do much good."
"With so many people out to kill you, it looks like your road ahead will be rough."
Kim Chun-chu offered words of comfort. But inwardly, I thought it was far better than remaining a traitor who sold out his country as in the original history. What was truly astonishing was that after Goguryeo's fall, Namsaeng and his young brother Yeon Namsan had stayed together in Chang'an, the Tang capital. No matter how vast Chang'an was, they must have crossed paths.
'I wonder if he attended Yeon Namsaeng's and his mother's funerals. Did the children at least keep in touch?'
Lost in such thoughts, I replied to Kim Chun-chu.
"We're all in the same boat."
"Suppose so."
Kim Chun-chu let out a hearty laugh, and Kim Yu-sin, who was following along, gave a wry smile as well. These two had seized control of Silla by overcoming the complexes of being the grandson of a deposed king and a descendant of a surrendered Gaya king.
'True victors in the game of life.'
But for me to claim victory, I had to bring ruin upon these two. The gloomy yet tense conversation came to an end as night deepened. The vanguard and his men ahead reported finding a suitable farm shed for lodging. A little farther on, a few rundown thatched houses appeared. The family of owners, hastily evicted, had moved to a nearby home. We tethered the horses in one corner of the yard and lit a bonfire. Perhaps because the weather was still chilly, our group and Kim Yu-sin's retainers gathered around the crackling flames. The vanguard opened the door.
"It's humble, but please rest well. I'll see you off at dawn tomorrow."
"Thank you."
"I'm grateful you remembered my son's name."
The vanguard smiled brightly.
"When I asked about notable figures in Seorabeol, someone mentioned your son's name. They said he's a loyal subject and filial son, so he must be a reliable one."
"He's still lacking in many ways."
After exchanging well-wishes with the vanguard, I entered the room. Inside the house, supported by a few pillars, were straw mats and other furnishings. Even so, as I prepared to lie down, I felt sorry for those who'd been chased out. But I needed a good rest to hit the road again tomorrow. Seon Do-hae, arriving late, peered into the glowing hearth and spread a quilt over the mats.
"Sleep here. The fire's heated it up nicely."
"Got it. You get some rest too."
"Those two could have your head in an instant if they wanted. How can you sleep?"
"Not sleeping won't keep my head on my shoulders anyway."
I smiled faintly in reply, but I had my reasons for confidence. Neither Kim Yu-sin's nor Kim Chun-chu's eyes had turned red. I lay down under the quilt atop the mats.
'Meeting Kim Yu-sin and now Kim Chun-chu too—what a jackpot.'
But since our fates weren't destined to end well, my heart grew heavier. Outside the door, my retainers and Kim Yu-sin's exchanged words as they stood guard. Fears of what lay ahead mingled with the tension of having survived death, lulling me to sleep.
The next day, the moment I opened my eyes, the vanguard slid the door open.
"Did you sleep well?"
I really wanted to cough and clear my throat but held back and answered.
"Just woke up."
"I've prepared warm water outside. Wash up lightly and have some rice gruel. We'll depart soon."
"How long until the Baekje border?"
"Half a day should suffice."
"Too short."
My response carried layers of meaning, leaving even the vanguard hesitant to reply. He bowed awkwardly and vanished, leaving the half-open door behind. Stretching as I stepped out, the lingering chill hit me. Yesterday's bonfire still burned. Kim Yu-sin and Kim Chun-chu, emerging from another room, were washing their faces. They beamed back when I greeted them. Having historical figures from books greet me in person was thrilling. We bantered while washing up and filled our stomachs with the gruel the retainers had prepared. Departure preparations wrapped up in a flash. Kim Yu-sin and Kim Chun-chu urged me to ride again, but I refused citing my attire. Kim Yu-sin scowled.
"Since assassins already tried despite your disguise, it's pointless. Better to leave Silla territory as quickly as possible."
In the end, I agreed to ride the horse Kim Yu-sin had prepared.
As I mounted and took the lead with my retainers, Kim Chun-chu spurred his horse to my side. He probably wanted to talk while traveling together. Nor did I intend to avoid it. Sure enough, before we'd gone a few steps, Kim Chun-chu spoke up.
"Do you truly believe Tang will invade Goguryeo?"
"It's only a matter of time."
"The Great King and his close aides don't seem to think so."
"Whether they believe it or not doesn't matter much. If the Tang Emperor decides to march, he marches."
"You'll be a real headache, won't you?"
"That's the fate of nations, always has been. We must rally and find countermeasures."
"Remarkable words. Everyone's just focused on clinging to their family power."
"You need a country to have power. If Tang invades Goguryeo, what will Silla do?"
"We'll see when the time comes. What's the use in deciding now?"
True to his reputation, Kim Chun-chu slipped away smoothly.
"If you don't side with Goguryeo, Silla will face a great crisis. Think carefully."
"What power do I have? I'm just the grandson of a deposed king."
Watching Kim Chun-chu answer hollowly, he felt like a finely honed blade.
"My trip to Baekje is deeply tied to Tang's invasion."
"To ally with Baekje and prevent Tang's invasion while Silla responds to it, right?"
True to form, Kim Chun-chu struck the core. I couldn't help but laugh.
"As expected of Lord Chun-chu. So, what would you have us do?"
"Join us to destroy Baekje—simple enough."
"Heavens, even if Baekje proposed it, we'd have to think twice. Who knows how wildly a bridleless Silla would buck without Baekje to hold it?"
"Expecting us to stand idle without even that much—too much to ask."
My chest tightened. They were just waiting for Crown Prince Uija to ascend as Arah. Silla had to be pushed to the brink for us not to worry about our rear in the war with Tang to come. Long-term, quenching the urgent Tang fire would leave Silla next in line.
'Baekje would stay put if we guaranteed up to the A-ri River area, but Silla's different.'
It was once a nation that paid tribute to Goguryeo and sent royals as hostages. Hunched down like that, it seized the chance to tear out Goguryeo's throat. Then it backstabbed its ally Baekje. It expanded to the A-ri River area, Hasla, and Biyeolhol, even swallowing Gaya.
'Like a rags-to-riches upstart drunk on greed.'
Baekje wasn't 100% trustworthy either, but Silla was utterly unreliable. Paradoxically, because their ambitions were vast, they banded tightly, and had talents like Kim Chun-chu and Kim Yu-sin.
"What are you thinking so deeply about?"
When Kim Chun-chu asked casually, I snapped out of it and replied nonchalantly.
"How about dividing north and south along the A-ri River?"
"That'd be too much loss for us. At minimum, yield up to Sugok Fortress."
"Sugok to Jang'an Fortress is but one step."
"Do you know Goguryeo troops once garrisoned Seorabeol?"
"If King Gwanggaeto the Great or King Jangsu had resolved firmly back then, Silla as we know it wouldn't exist."
"That's Silla's fortune. In any case, if Tang targets Goguryeo again, the three kingdoms will be swept into stormy waves once more."
"That's why we lower the sails to avoid drifting away. If the ship capsizes, the innocent people drown too."
It was the truth. After Goguryeo's fall, aside from those who joined Balhae's founding, the rest were dragged far away by Tang. Simply for being Goguryeons, they had to spend their lives thousands of li from home.
"The only way Goguryeo weathers the storm is allying with Silla. Why not see that Baekje lacks honor?"
"To demand honor between nations, the other side must assure they won't betray you. How can Silla give us that assurance?"
"I'll report to the queen. We'll find some way."
"You think men like Bidam or Yeom Jong will just stand by?"
"Aren't you in the same boat? They say the Great King is itching to devour you."
"Can't argue when even in Silla territory, assassins strike at me."
I burst into laughter, and Kim Chun-chu chuckled along, calling it bold. Then he asked again.
"If the Great King insists to the end there's no war, what then?"
"The Great King once lured Naheo's navy to Jang'an Fortress as crown prince and crushed it. He claims no war publicly, but prepares inwardly."
"The Thousand-li Wall? Stretching one wall across a thousand li against hundreds of thousands—utter folly."
"Wouldn't it benefit Silla if Goguryeo takes a hit from Tang?"
"Short-sighted. If Tang swallows Goguryeo, think we'll be spared?"
I nearly asked if that's why they allied with Tang to destroy Goguryeo, knowing full well. But I couldn't mention the future, so I let it pass.
"Then help ensure Goguryeo doesn't fall."
"Give us cause to help, and Yu-sin and I will petition the queen to aid Goguryeo at the forefront."
"Perhaps I should visit Goguryeo once and talk it over."
"If the chance arises, no reason to hesitate."
In fact, after Daeya Fortress fell, Silla had come seeking alliance with Goguryeo. Whether it'd play out similarly remained to be seen. Midway through our long talk with Kim Chun-chu, the procession halted. Kim Yu-sin wheeled his horse around to us and pointed ahead with his reins.
"There—a small stream, and beyond it, Baekje's Sokjin Fortress. Up to here is our land, but the woods before the fortress aren't."
Kim Yu-sin's face looked poignant, whether from the stinging afternoon sun or his own station. It differed even from Kim Chun-chu's as grandson of a deposed king.