1592 The Empire We All Dreamed of - Chapter 2
Only Noblemtl
(02)
Survival comes first
Purrrrrr.
The steed trotted roughly, its head jerking threateningly, blowing wind into Jiwoo’s face.
“You survived.”
The general stroked the horse’s neck to calm it down and glanced at the armor of the Japanese general loaded onto the cart.
“And you even took the Japanese general’s head. You’ve earned a merit.”
“General Guk-saeng personally killed the enemy general.”
Jangsu Kang Moon-woo chuckled and glanced at the barracks in the distance.
“I guess Aesong did a good job.”
“……”
Cavalry Captain Kang Moon-woo’s cold gaze was directed at Ji-woo.
“I hope that the one who eats the rust of the court will not waver even an inch.”
“I am not very educated, so I cannot speak indirectly. I can only devote my utmost efforts to destroying the enemy.”
“Yes. General Jeong also said that destroying the Japanese came first.”
Kang Moon-woo, who had been glaring at Ji-woo for a moment, turned the reins.
Warm, warm.
‘No, I think survival comes first.’
Jiwoo’s eyes sank deeply.
The same goes for Kang Mun-u (姜文佑), and the General Jeong he speaks of, Jeong Mun-bu (鄭文孚), was a civil servant who served as the Bukpyeong-sa (北評事) of Hamgyeongbuk-do. During the Imjin War, he drove out the Jurchen, beheaded the leaders of the rebellion, and completely drove the Japanese out of Hamgyeong-do.
His truly unbelievable achievements are recorded on the Bukgwan Battle Monument and passed down to future generations.
However, he was still a criminal who had lost the early battle and had taken refuge with the rebels, and was training volunteers to try to make a comeback.
‘Joseon was truly a country of scholars.’
Jiwoo admired it in another sense.
The noble scholars of Joseon were not the weak image he had in the past.
His well-fed body was larger than that of the average Joseon people, and his upper body, trained with a bow, was described as broad. In addition to the writings of Confucius and Mencius, many of them had studied military books, so they were capable of playing the role of a general.
Indeed, the group that exploited the country was also scholars, and those who plundered the family fortune and stood before the righteous army were also scholars.
“Khuhhhh.”
“Ugh, Mother.”
The groans of the wounded woke him from his reverie.
About twenty people were lying in one place, and a person who seemed to be a doctor was treating them.
However, the level of surgical medicine at that time was not good even to Jiwoo, who was an outsider.
A bearded congressman applied crushed herbs to a soldier with a large wound on his stomach and wrapped it in a muslin cloth to stop the bleeding.
“Don’t move and just hold on for a bit.”
“Ugh, ugh.”
When pressure was applied to the abdomen, blood flowed back into the victim’s mouth.
Jiwoo stared at the sight for a moment and then checked his surroundings.
‘Seven people have internal injuries, they give up.’
They may look fine now, but they can’t be saved anyway. They are the ones who will suffer for a long time and die.
The surrounding area was covered in blood and the panting volunteers looked hopeless.
‘Failed to stop the excessive bleeding.’
His gaze was focused on those who were in relatively good condition.
“There! Bring me clean water.”
“Yes, yes. You guys, follow me.”
A lumberjack working nearby took the prisoner to the stream.
“You pick up a stick. Something about the size of your forearm would be good.”
“Hey, what about the broken spear?”
“Okay. Cut it into pieces and bring it to me.”
I approached the soldier who was leaning against a tree stump and panting for breath. Judging from the scarf on his forehead and the bow next to him, he was likely a nobleman.
“Your shin is broken.”
Jiwoo knelt down on one knee and met the man’s eyes.
“If you leave it like this, you’ll become disabled. But if you endure the pain for a little while, you’ll be able to walk normally.”
“Whew, whew. I believe in the Supreme Commander.”
Jiwoo smiled bitterly inside.
Although they have only won a few small battles, they show great confidence in themselves.
The man writhed as he grabbed the leg that had been returned and regained his position.
“Ugh.”
“Just a moment, just a moment. It’ll be over soon.”
“Khuh-huh.”
As the man gritted his teeth and endured it, Jiwoo’s hand movements became even faster.
He got up from his seat, having secured the splint and wrapped it with a cloth.
“Let’s move by cart.”
Leaving the man nodding weakly behind, he went back to fixing the splint on the man with the broken arm next to him.
“Nari, I brought you some water.”
“Clean the wounds of those injured over there. Never touch them, but run water over them to wash them away.”
“Okay, I understand.”
As he bowed and examined the injured, Jiwoo looked around and shouted.
“If you can move, go to the stream and wash yourself. Do not touch the wound, but wash the dirt with running water. Then, take a clean cloth and wrap it.”
“Don’t dawdle and get moving. You’ve never suffered a loss by listening to the orders of the commander.”
The wounded went to the stream one by one, and Maksoe went back and forth with two prisoners to draw water and wash the wounded.
Jiwoo continued to examine the injured while recalling modern knowledge.
When I bandaged the wound on my thigh with a cloth, blood oozed out.
“Ugh.”
“Don’t move! If you don’t want to become a cripple, just endure it.”
“Your Majesty, will our Yun Chan-i survive?”
“I’m fine. My father cut his arm too.”
Jeon Su-gil, who was a local official in Myeongcheon, was a man who armed his family’s slaves and joined the volunteer army. His only son followed his father to join the war, and the father and son had a deep affection for each other.
“If you wash it with soju as soon as you get back, there will be no problem. But more importantly, go to the military quarters and wash it under running water. Never touch the affected area.”
Fortunately, the rich man escaped tragedy. But that wasn’t the case for everyone.
“Oh my, Azubani, you have gone like this. How can I see my mother’s face like this?”
“Kuuuuuu.”
“Ugh.”
The cries of family, friends, and veterans, as well as the groans of the wounded, drowned out the atmosphere of victory. It was now a familiar sight.
He examined the injured people one by one without any expression on his face.
‘I did everything I could.’
In the meantime, two more seriously injured people lost their lives.
Jiwoo glanced at the dejected-looking congressman and turned his gaze to where the spoils were being collected.
Some soldiers were still taking the lives of the soldiers who were still breathing. Some gave up and went to rest comfortably, while others were groaning in pain and begging for their lives.
Human life was so easily taken away. It was not necessarily a characteristic of the times. War was always barbaric and cruel.
‘Now I have to worry about how I should die.’
Deeply sunken eyes stared somewhere across the battlefield.
In a battlefield where death is a daily occurrence, Jiwoo’s efforts to somehow find composure led him to constantly think.
The battlefield, which had finally been cleared up, was gloomy.
Unlike the Joseon dead who were buried in sunny places, the bodies of the Japanese soldiers were left naked in the cold ground.
There is no good will to bury them, and no firewood to burn. Freshly cut trees do not catch fire. Well-dried firewood is money, and I had no intention of spending money on the comfort of the Japanese.
His friend and subordinate, Chuksang, approached him, leading a horse.
“Team reorganization. The reorganization is complete.”
“Thank you for your hard work. Let’s use the horse to transport the injured.”
Jiwoo, who declined the reins offered by the ox, joined the trudging return procession.
“Thank you for your hard work, Commander Go Dae-jeong.”
“Thank you for your hard work.”
Familiar soldiers and volunteers approached him to speak.
I’ve become accustomed to the northern dialect and accent. Compared to ten years ago when I was treated as a mute due to the unfamiliar environment and language barrier, I now feel like a native.
Although they simply nodded silently, the rough men had eyes filled with trust.
“You go first and get the soju.”
Nod.
The beast, having understood the meaning of the words, rode away.
He scanned the wounded. He thought that if he returned quickly and disinfected them with alcohol, he could save seven people, or maybe ten if he was lucky.
“Oh my, oh my.”
“Ahhhh, Go Dae-jeong, I guess you’re going to die now.”
“Seeing that you have the strength to shout, I think you can catch dozens more Japanese.”
“Phehe, stop talking nonsense. I feel like my wound is going to split open.”
Most of the wounded who were supported or mounted on horseback would survive, but some would not.
The seriously injured people on the cart were dying without a groan.
‘The best we can do is disinfect.’
If you suture with silk thread, it will be more effective for the wound, but it is difficult to make people understand that.
However, it is possible to disinfect with alcohol. The Joseon Soju he tasted was just as good as the high-quality liquor he had experienced in the past. It was enough for disinfection.
However, it was uncertain whether soju could be secured.
The position of Daejeong (隊正) of the government army was an ambiguous position commanding 25 soldiers. Jiwoo’s position was ambiguous between those who supported the local power, the Guk clan, and Jeongmunbu, who gathered volunteer soldiers as defeated criminals.
When we arrived at Gyeongseong after walking for half a day, cheers erupted from the city walls.
“Viva.”
“Long live the Joseon army.”
The city gates were wide open, and the people came out to celebrate victory. They boldly used the word “Long Live” as if they were proudly showing that they were a force opposing the government.
The national hero riding the black horse waved his hand arrogantly, and Kang Mun-woo’s cavalry followed behind him.
Jiwoo’s eyes found the friend he had sent first. However, the bastard shook his head when he met his face.
“They say you can’t take out alcohol without an order.”
“Did you say that someone was dying?”
The bastard nodded his head.
“I will guide you.”
As if he had expected it, Jiwoo went forward without hesitation.
A procession of wounded men marched toward a heavily guarded warehouse.
“Tsk, tsk, tsk, what should I do? Put your arm around my shoulder.”
“Here’s some cool water. Let’s quench our thirst with this.”
Some of the people supported the soldiers.
The figure of the warehouse keeper fidgeting in the distance was visible.
“Go, Go Dae-Jeong, congratulations on your victory.”
“We need soju to treat the wounded. Open the warehouse.”
“Seo, I can’t do it without your permission. Please be considerate.”
It was obvious, but Jiwoo pretended not to know and kept nagging.
“These people need immediate treatment. I will take responsibility. Open the door.”
“That, that can’t be……”
As the commotion broke out, the crowd erupted in an uproar.
“What on earth does that mean?”
“I’ve heard that you can wash away wounds with strong alcohol.”
“But why aren’t you giving it to me?”
“Hey, we have to save people first.”
“Give me some alcohol! Save the soldier who risked his life to defeat the Japanese!”
“Open it! Open it!”
As the crowd began to voice their support for Jiwoo, the warehouse keeper became more and more pensive.
Jiwoo finally took out his sword.
“I’ll kill you first and then treat the soldiers. You’ll receive the punishment later.”
“Eek.”
The surprised warehouse keeper’s body froze.
Thud thud.
Jiwoo’s momentum as he approached step by step was fierce.
It felt like a knife fight was about to take place at any moment.
“Oh, what should we do? Shouldn’t we stop it?”
“That’s right. If we keep fighting like that, it seems like something big will happen.”
The people around them stamped their feet.
There were two people watching from one side. They were noblemen who were dressed quite neatly despite the wartime era.
“Oh, so that’s what it was like for General Ko Dae-jeong.”
“If you don’t stop this quickly, there will be a big problem. Excuse me for a moment.”
Former Bukpyeongsa Jeong Munbu stared blankly at Seongju, who was running out of breath.
Cavalry Captain Kang Moon-woo approached him.
“As you commanded, not a single one was allowed to escape.”
The head of the office nodded silently. His gaze was directed towards Jiwoo, who was holding a knife.
The cavalry captain stopped as he was about to say something.
“Tell me, author. What kind of person is this officer named Go Ji-woo?”
“He is a dangerous man who enjoys the trust of his soldiers.”
“……”
A short sigh escaped Jeongmunbu’s mouth.
‘If it is dangerous for a military officer to lead his soldiers with leadership skills, then who will take the lead in repelling the Japanese?’
The dilemma regarding military power in a war situation continued to bother him, but he did not show it.
This was followed by cool-headed thinking as a commander.
‘Can we defeat this rebel force and the enemy? Is it only natural to start by cutting off the leader’s head?’
His gaze followed Guk Se-pil, with whom he had just been chatting.
Kook Se-pil stopped next to Ji-woo, acting as if he was out of breath after running a short distance.
“Huk, huuk, listen here, Commander Go! Stop!”
“Your Majesty, have you arrived?”
Jiwoo put the knife away and lowered his head.
“I was not prepared. Hey, open the storage and take out the soju.”
“Okay, I understand.”
“I apologize for disregarding the procedure due to time constraints. I will wash away this sin by going to the battlefield and dying.”
Guk Se-pil waved his hand as if it was not worth it.
“You are not guilty. You only deserve the credit for winning the battle.”
The people cheered as the two men finished on good terms.
“Long live the Lord.”
“Long live the late President Go Dae-jeong.”
“Long live Joseon.”
This was Gyeongseong, North Hamgyong Province.
At the beginning of the war, Jeong Mun-bu, the Bukpyeongsa (北評事) who failed to gather troops, was no different from a criminal. So he relied on the traitor Guk Se-pil to gather and train volunteers. Taking advantage of this gap, a veteran military officer who had been steadily winning small victories was in charge of one axis of the force.
These people, who were living together in an uneasy cohabitation, were winning battle after battle against the enemy.