Chapter 98
Chapter 98
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 98
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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As I stepped aside, Crown Prince Uija spoke up.
"A delegation has arrived to escort me back. I need to head straight to the guest quarters, so let's say our goodbyes here."
"I'll stop by to see you off when you depart."
"I'd appreciate that. I've learned so much from you."
"It's all thanks to your trust in me."
"Let's join forces to solidify the alliance between Baekje and Goguryeo."
"I'll be Your Highness's strength."
Crown Prince Uija exchanged farewells with my father and headed side by side toward the main gate. The gates swung open, revealing the carriage waiting outside. As he walked with Father Yeon Gaesomun, Crown Prince Uija turned back to look at me. I waved from where I stood watching, and he broke into a wide smile, waving back before vanishing from sight.
Finally, we've cleared this hurdle.
I let out a sigh of relief just as Seon Do-hae entered through the main gate. Behind him trailed a group of sturdy men, all with darkly tanned faces and arms thick with muscle. Spotting me, Seon Do-hae hurriedly bowed his head.
"Master. I've brought the shipwrights from the Maemul Merchant Guild as requested."
I'd given the order just yesterday, and here he was delivering by morning. It made me think he was staking his life on earning my trust. I said to Seon Do-hae,
"Eat something first since it's early. Have breakfast, then come to Binyeon Pavilion. Take your time."
"Understood."
I filled my stomach with a simple porridge breakfast, spent a brief moment with my wife and son, then headed to Binyeon Pavilion. As expected, Seon Do-hae and the craftsmen were already there. Behind the anxious Seon Do-hae, the craftsmen looked around in bewilderment. As I entered, Seon Do-hae approached with his head bowed.
"I explained things on the way over, and they say they have something to report."
I looked their way after hearing Seon Do-hae, and the eldest among the Maemul Guild craftsmen stepped forward, bowing deeply.
"This humble one has been wielding a plane and building ships since I could walk. But the vessel you described... it's simply impossible to construct."
"Is that so?"
I tried to keep a calm face, but disappointment was inevitable. Perhaps sensing it, the old craftsman bowed even lower.
"My deepest apologies. But covering it with a roof and then plating it in iron would make the ship too heavy—not to mention the risk of capsizing when turning."
"Is there truly no way to prevent that?"
"If it's absolutely necessary, we'll attempt it somehow, but we can't guarantee success."
Ham-a had always managed to build whatever I needed, so I'd never worried about issues like this before.
Is this the limit of a liberal arts background?
I tried not to show it, but the old craftsman kept bowing repeatedly, apologizing nonstop. Seon Do-hae, listening in, pressed him over and over if there was no solution. But the old man just repeated that it was too difficult. Then, a young craftsman suddenly piped up.
"Wouldn't Abiryu be able to do it?"
"Abiryu?"
I muttered the name—I'd heard it somewhere before—when the old craftsman clicked his tongue.
"Why bring up nonsense and disturb the lord's mood?"
"No, it's true—only someone like Abiryu could build a ship like that."
Hearing the young man's grumble, I beckoned him over. The young craftsman, wearing a blue headscarf, approached with a bow.
"Who's this Abiryu you mentioned?"
"He worked with us until last year. Always spouting odd ideas and meddling in others' work."
"What kind of odd ideas?"
"He suggested using cart wheels instead of oars to move the ship, or building one that travels submerged. And he talked about armoring the roof with metal to create a warship that could withstand enemy attacks—just like you described."
A wheel-driven ship was a paddle steamer, and a submerged one sounded like a submarine or semi-submersible. It was fascinating that someone in the 7th century could conceive such things. And then I recalled where I'd heard the name Abiryu.
He was a relative by marriage during King Gogukcheon's reign. Held the post of Minister of External Affairs, threw his weight around thanks to his family background, then rebelled alongside his crony Left Gaeryeo.
But King Gogukcheon crushed the rebellion, and both lost their lives. To restore order, the king sought out talent, and that's when the famed statesman Eulpa-so was recommended. It couldn't actually be that Abiryu, so I chalked it up to an amusing coincidence. Lost in thought, I heard Seon Do-hae's urgent voice.
"I'll track him down somehow. Just give me a little time."
After hearing Seon Do-hae, I turned to the young craftsman.
"Where did this Abiryu disappear to?"
"His mother died last year, and he vanished. Rumors say he went down to the capital, or even crossed the sea to Wa."
"Wa, huh."
Seon Do-hae would have handpicked the guild's top craftsmen. Yet here they all were saying it was impossible—except one mentioning this guy.
I need to find him first.
I sent the craftsmen back and kept Seon Do-hae behind. To the visibly anxious man, I offered praise first.
"No one handles tasks this swiftly like you do."
"You're too kind, Master."
"The intelligence network isn't fully in place yet, so I'll speak with Father to help track him down."
"Understood."
He said he understood, but the disappointment was plain to see. Still, I had no intention of burdening Seon Do-hae with too much at once. I dismissed him and caught my breath when Geom Mojam entered.
"The lord has returned."
"Already? Court over so soon?"
I hurried to the main gate and saw Father descending from his carriage. There stood my two younger brothers, Nam-geon and Nam-san, whom I hadn't seen in ages, lined up side by side. As Father Yeon Gaesomun climbed the steps, they approached to greet him. But he glanced at me, muttered a word or two to them, and continued up. The two, faces full of disappointment, stared blankly at Father's back—and me beyond him.
"You're back early, Father."
"We'll talk on the way to Binyeon Pavilion."
His curt tone suggested trouble. I followed silently, and Father's irritated voice rang out.
"Only Crown Prince Uija was granted an audience in the Amyeong Hall."
"Weren't we supposed to meet together?"
"Right before, the order came down for Uija alone. A blatant insult to me."
Classic King Yeongnyu. He left open fights to his close aide, Senior Central Administrator Yeon Jeong-du, while slyly needling from the shadows.
"Crown Prince Uija is on our side anyway. Don't take it to heart."
"Of course. He even said not to worry before going in. To maintain the Baekje alliance, they need you—no more provocations likely. But this insult... I can't bear it."
"They're resorting to petty tactics because they can't challenge us directly."
"I'm trying to let it slide with that in mind. But that's not all."
"Something else?"
Father sighed deeply, halting before Binyeon Pavilion.
"He's been summoning Yeon Jeong-to frequently under the pretext of marriage talks."
"Uncle?"
"Yes. The guy's inscrutable—even as kin, I can't trust him."
In truth, when Goguryeo fell, Yeon Jeong-to surrendered to Silla with the twelve southern fortresses. The next year, he went as envoy to Tang and never returned, likely staying in Chang'an and mingling with nephews Yeon Namsaeng and Yeon Namsan until his death. Records don't confirm, but he seemed sharp, always knowing which side to pick for survival. Even when we'd met before, he cowered before his brother Yeon Gaesomun yet held his own views.
The king must sense something similar and is testing him.
Geom Mojam opened the door to Binyeon Pavilion. Father sighed as he said,
"Looks like I need to summon Jeong-to and give him a stern warning. Seems he's gotten too full of himself as a royal in-law."
"No."
Father Yeon Gaesomun eyed me as I cut in sharply.
"Why not?"
"The king might be aiming for exactly this. If he truly wanted to sway him, he wouldn't have been so sloppy as to let it reach your ears."
Father pondered my words, then nodded.
"True enough."
"This is the king's scheme to drive a wedge between brothers. Now more than ever, you must treat Uncle well. He's even married into the royal family—what would he think if his elder brother scolded him?"
"But it's infuriating. I already yielded on the state marriage."
"People forget favors quickly but hold grudges forever."
"You're right. I'll send Jeong-to a gift soon."
"Thank you, Father. Bestow favors to win hearts."
"I will. It's reassuring having you by my side."
I soothed Father Yeon Gaesomun as best I could while we talked. A few days later, a court official arrived. He appointed me commander of the army to strike Silla alongside Baekje. The news was brought by none other than Lee Mun-jin, who seemed to have stopped by on other business as well. The three of us shared a simple dinner while chatting. Lee Mun-jin removed his black official hat and sighed.
"Aigoo, the palace atmosphere these days is suffocating."
"Why's that?"
As Father Yeon Gaesomun offered him maekjeok—Goguryeo-style bulgogi—Lee Mun-jin fanned himself with his hand and tsked.
"Why do you think? Because of the lord's eldest son. Not content with toppling Niha Fortress, he even got the Baekje crown prince to visit in person."
"So that's why they met Uija alone, excluding me?"
Lee Mun-jin chewed on the maekjeok before replying.
"Truth be told, they didn't want to meet the crown prince either."
"A crown prince from another kingdom comes personally, and they won't even see him? That's a grave breach of etiquette."
"Exactly. They'd always meet Tang envoys no matter how low-ranking, but balk at Baekje's crown prince? What will people think? Palace officials like me pleaded until our mouths went dry to make it happen."
Father Yeon Gaesomun gave Lee Mun-jin a sympathetic look at his lament.
"You did well."
"Just look after my boy."
Father glanced at me, saying not to worry. What I should say was obvious. As Lee Mun-jin ate maekjeok and sipped his drink, I replied,
"He's been in my inner circle for a long time. I'll keep him close and use him importantly, so rest easy."
"He talks about you nonstop anyway. Says you're like an immortal descended from the heavens."