The Barn Burns -1-
Laughter echoed from the sarangbang, along with the clinking of cups. A burnt smell wafted from the kitchen. After the battle, Mother and the Gabyulcho had gathered at home for a feast. Unlike her usual stern demeanor, Mother was relaxed, downing drinks freely. There was a meowing sound. But in this gender-reversed world, is it okay for pregnant women to drink?
Anyway, I'd tried to go out yesterday to see what was happening, but I couldn't leave the house at all. Mother had warned the household slaves in advance, fearing I'd sneak out, and the doors were locked tight. From inside the house, I could see the battle, but only as distant specks clashing—like watching ants fight from afar. Even that was barely visible from my southwest-facing room, so I had to go to Second Sis's room to catch a glimpse.
And the next day, I regretted going out to the camp. Split-open skulls rolling like tumbleweeds was nothing unusual. Corpses with their bellies torn by horses, guts spilling out, littered everywhere. Unlike me, dry-heaving the whole ride on horseback, the farmers were hauling those grotesque bodies to their fields. A girl of five or six was even stripping armor off a decapitated head, wrapping it in her skirt hem.
I asked a family crossing the road, each carrying severed limbs and heads from Jurchen corpses.
"Mind if I ask why you're not just burying the bodies there but cutting them up to take home?"
"Oh. Hello, young master."
They hadn't expected me to speak to them. The whole family froze in surprise before the father replied.
"If you leave them, they rot and stink. Bury them, and the smell's less, plus they fertilize the soil for better crops next year. The armor fetches a good price to help make ends meet..."
"If Fourth Sis Bang-an heard that, she'd have thrown a fit, saying you're not even human or some such nonsense."
"She already did... on her way past."
"Oh, really? Let me apologize on her behalf."
I gave a light nod, and he managed a weary smile. Then he stared at the ground. His wife nudged him a few times until he looked up, resolute, and asked me,
"Are you heading to the camp, perhaps with the elders?"
"Yeah. Why, something wrong on the way?"
"No, but if you could pass a message...?"
"You'd be better off telling Second Sis Bang-eun. Mother doesn't listen to me. Especially not this year with the poor harvest—requests to lower rent are a hard no."
The parents flinched. It wasn't the first such plea. The peasants had high hopes that begging the youngest son would tug at Mother's heartstrings enough to cut the rent.
"Still, I'll mention it. Not sure if I'll even get to see her."
I rode off again. I felt their eyes on my back but ignored it. In the distance, the palisade and a long plume of gray smoke came into view. From behind the camp, I heard cows being slaughtered. Hanging upside down, their carcasses bled out, filling the air with the scent of blood and roasting meat.
As I neared the entrance, two Jurchen guards slammed their spear butts into the ground. Then a gaunt, pretty-boy-looking Jurchen with long black hair smirked faintly.
"Halt. No men allowed here."
Is she nuts?
"Who's your chieftain?"
"That'd be me."
"What the...?"
Before I could retort, Second Sis Bang-eun strode out from the entrance. She shook her head at the Jurchen.
"Enough joking, Yeojeong. Open up."
The long silver-haired Jurchen—apparently Yeojeong—giggled with her companion before clearing the barricade. Inside, the smell of grilling beef grew stronger. One spot had a whole cow roasting on a spit.
"Must've been a big win."
"Indeed. We took 152 prisoners, and aside from about 25 casualties on our side, no major injuries or deaths. A great victory."
"Mother happy about it?"
"...Mm."
She fell silent. No surprise there. Satisfaction didn't exist for Yi Seong-hye. Her mind was rooted in neurotic perfectionism, climbing toward a fruit of blatant ambition that bordered on unpleasant. That relentless drive toward an unknowable 'end' always demanded support—overwhelming skill, untouchable power, or talent far beyond others. But she lacked overwhelming talent, so she needed flawless results that even the peaks of their fields couldn't always produce.
Thus, she saw others as mere materials for perfection. The clan was her perfect tool for ascent, hence her obsession. She rejoiced at Bang-ul's Seonggyun-gwan success because it filled the civil official gap in her imperfect house. Her Gaegyeong marriage likely aimed to plug the politics void. But even reaching perfect perfection and seeing that 'end' wouldn't bring happiness. Once she got there, how many family members would remain by her side?
I entered the command tent. Inside, Yi Seong-hye was flirting with her 21-years-younger husband from Gaegyeong. Mother... do you realize the man nuzzling your lap is the same age as your second daughter standing before you? Cat ears from mixed Japanese blood, freckles on his cheeks, moles under sharp eyes, pointless shark teeth. Stepdad... why the hell do I have to call this guy that and use formal speech? Did my real dad commit suicide or something?
"You're here. Come out, Hyeon-bi."
Meows and cutesy aegyo. I wanted to applaud Second Sis's patience for enduring this nightmare.
"Heard the battle ended, so I came. A great victory, they say."
"Great victory? Just the usual win. We didn't take the enemy leader's head or annihilate their army. If not for those farmers colluding with Ho Bal-do, we would've won outright. Starting today, maybe we behead the colluders."
The one on her lap rubbed his cheek against her thigh like a spoiled cat. Disgusting.
"What did you just say?"
"Nothing. But how are you so sure farmers colluded with Ho Bal-do?"
"How else would Liaodong raiders know Dongbuk-myeon's terrain? Traitors here must've guided them past our pursuit. We need to find and behead them."
Her eyes weren't joking. Gang Hyeon-bi nuzzled her lap again, feigning cuteness. Yi Seong-hye scratched his chin like a cat's.
"That alone seems excessive for execution, Mother."
"Twenty-five of my soldiers injured or dead. You expect me to overlook my retainers hurt by parasites on my land? And your lives are at risk too. What if some ignorant colluder ambushes you?"
Her brows furrowed. I caught Gang Hyeon-bi's wicked smile. Yi Seong-hye kept scratching.
"How's the gwag eo study going? Bang-ul was thrilled to hear you're preparing. Said you'll surely pass. I have no doubt either. Don't worry about the money borrowed from Bang-ik. I've covered it for her."
I was stunned. Had Gang Hyeon-bi pulled some scheme? In my daze, he chimed in. Sick of his aegyo, I stepped out, still bewildered. I crossed the chaotic camp to the horse lines, mounted up, and rode out.
The family from before stood in a neat line, hands clasped demurely. Still in grubby hemp rags, dirt under their nails. I waved them off with a smile; they couldn't hide their disappointment.
"Tried, but she wouldn't hear it. Mind your backs at harvest."
My conscience pricked a bit. They slouched homeward—probably the barn-like hut at the western foothills. I returned home.
A acrid smell pierced my nose from somewhere in the night sky. Third Sis Bang-ik approached, skewers in one hand, bottle in the other. Impressive how she wedged them between her fingers.
"Hey. Glad you're unhurt."
"Just shooting arrows from the rear—how'd I get hurt? Here, eat."
I took a beef skewer from the porch.
"Grown a bit, huh? Used to reach my waist; now you're at chest height. Secret growth potion?"
"Regular schedule from studying, probably. Anyway, good work."
"Yeah. Studies going well?"
"So-so. That book you got me helped more than expected. Oh, right—got something to show you."
"What? Let's see."
I fetched a brush from my room. Bang-an looked puzzled at it.
"Know what's inside the brush Big Sis bought?"
I uncapped it; cotton seeds spilled out. Bang-ik burst into mad laughter. I joined in. The thick, smoky smell grew heavier.
"Bet you know who used it before."
"And what're you gonna do with it? Plant it? You got no land or people."
"People I can buy cheap from the Jurchens."
"Just study hard."
She smacked my head and headed to her room, fanning her nose as she went. After she left, in the quiet, a drunk Yi Seong-hye's voice boasted about her new husband.
"This cute thing's good at more than aegyo. Who knew a man could capture Jurchens? Even if they were off-guard drinking water, it's impressive, right? Huh? Answer me."
Disgusting sounds followed, and the foul smell became unbearable. Wind from the west carried it, so I opened the west window. The barn was ablaze.