As Prophet - Chapter 141
Only Noblemtl
Episode 141. The Three Military Commands and Gyeonggi Provincial Office
I ran north across the government street. I ran to the Samgunbu on the left side of Gwanghwamun and heard the sound of fighting. Unlike Hanseongbu, there were soldiers there so it seemed like they had responded to it.
When Dalcheon led his troops, dozens of black men were running wild among the soldiers of the Samgunbu. There was no clear line of battle, and they were fighting each other, entangled, and the ones who fell were the soldiers of the Samgunbu.
“All troops! Gather in two rows!”
The 50 cavalry that entered the Samgunbu at Dalcheon’s command lined up in a long line with their backs to the wall.
“The front line, carry spears, the second line, carry bows!”
The soldiers who knew how to block and attack quickly prepared. However, the wide courtyard was in a state of chaos, so they could not attack. Dalcheon asked for a bow, hung it on the bowstring, and shot. An arrow struck the shoulder of one of the black men, and as he flinched, a spear pierced his stomach.
“Hoo.”
Dalcheon rounded his mouth and aimed at them one by one. He took into account the movements of the unmanned men and shot them accurately, and each time, the soldiers rushed in and slaughtered them. He took advantage of the moment when the men who had been shot stopped moving. He did not miss the moment when their movements became distorted and struck them, so three or four of them fell down in no time.
In front, a bearded general was fighting the enemy. Dalcheon ordered his soldiers to fire.
“Don’t shoot your own troops. Shoot when you get the chance.”
Twenty-five men aimed their bows. In a fast-moving melee, they were afraid to shoot arrows for fear of hitting their own troops, but Dalcheon hit them hard, and the soldiers followed suit. They shot at them with extreme caution. Thanks to this, the tide of battle, which had been falling behind, began to turn around.
Dalcheon hit the neck of the guy fighting the commander. The commander’s sword cut off the guy’s neck. The old general looked back at Dalcheon and smiled awkwardly.
As Dalcheon’s soldiers hit a few more, they charged at the cavalry. Did they wait for that? They stabbed their spears into the chests of the men who came out while harming their own troops. The different heights and lengths seemed unfamiliar to them, so they stabbed without any countermeasures, and when the soldiers of the three military units attacked their relaxed postures as they came out, they collapsed helplessly. Even in the midst of this, concentrated fire continued, and as the soldiers of the three military units joined in, more than a dozen people fell.
“Your Majesty! Space is limited, but we must form a line.”
Dalcheon, who had come closer without me noticing, made a suggestion.
“This is good.”
“I think we should retreat to the fence.”
“Ohhh.”
When I’m in a hurry, nothing can be more welcome than being told the right answer.
“All troops, retreat to the fence!”
“Back off!”
“Back off!”
“Back off!”
“Back off!”
The soldiers of the three armies retreated. They did not let them retreat, but followed them and swung their swords with extreme cruelty. They threw their whole bodies and swung their swords, just like the Japanese. The commander-in-chief sent his armored men to the front of the battle line, and about thirty black warriors separated.
Dalcheon ran in and separated them.
“Prepare to fire! Shoot!”
As I shouted while pulling them apart, arrows flew towards them. It was impossible to dodge arrows flying from all directions. As the enemy was divided into us and the enemy, they collapsed rapidly. I tried to dig into the dense group of our troops, but I couldn’t get into the middle of them where they were shoulder to shoulder and swinging their swords, so I just swung my swords and became arrow food. If even one arrow hit, the soldiers would rush in and kill them. They didn’t just kill them because they had been hurt. I kept hitting them, stabbing them, stabbing them again, and the black group became terrified and eventually surrendered when only about ten people were left. Most of the dozens of people lying in the wide yard were our troops.
Dalcheon approached the governor, who was in a state of panic.
“We have been waiting for the right moment to assemble. Please gather the troops without delay.”
“I will do as the wise man says.”
“There’s a head over there.”
The commander takes a deep breath and chuckles. His white beard flies in the wind, and the man feels light as if he could fly.
“We have a true man.”
“Never mind. The Hanseongbu over there was also attacked. So they killed all the people who were capable of doing the work, all the workers.”
“Oh my, that guy is going to have a hard time.”
“The battle will take place right in front of the Samgunbu. It will be a bloody fight to take this place.”
“Yes.”
The commander-in-chief said something else.
“The students are not ordinary.”
“why?”
“Hmm… … It seems that they saw His Majesty, who had stepped down as the king, going to Heungcheonsa Temple. They are writing a petition with the thought that this is a rebellion and oppression by force. They might line up in a column of 20 in front of Gwanghwamun and scream.”
“Whew. Could you tell me about what happened earlier?”
“I heard the news as I was coming out.”
“Who is the leader?”
“Of course it’s that person named Yeo-ui, right?”
“How can those who want to overturn things on this occasion have such leisure?”
“You must take care of His Majesty the King’s safety. Otherwise, the political situation may face a backlash.”
Dalcheon pressed his forehead with his fingertips. It was a habit he had when he had a headache.
“So there are things that cannot be swept away.”
“It’s up to the elders to step forward. What would a young me know?”
“You speak as if you know everything about the world, but now you lower yourself because you are young? You should take care of His Majesty the King.”
“Whew. Then should I call them? I don’t think I have the capacity to take care of Heungcheonsa… … .”
“If rebels, Confucian scholars, and Jurchen come, the streets of Hanyang will be a sight to behold.”
Dalcheon criticized the commander-in-chief.
“So please do your best. I mean, in advance.”
“Just because you have military power, you can’t do anything. Being checked is part of your daily routine. Even yelling in a bar is considered a crime.”
“Oh, don’t say such things now. Make it clear now. You really have to make it clear. You might not even be able to say things like, “I didn’t know this would happen,” or “I couldn’t do it because of that.” You saw those black drones earlier, right? Hundreds of them are coming.”
“Hanyangseong will become a sea of blood.”
The old man’s lonely face turns towards the palace.
“Why? Are you going to bow?”
“I feel like that. How can something be crushed like this overnight?”
“Don’t just complain, and if you think the Commander-in-Chief has a stake, bring everyone together. There’s no need to say that it can’t be done because it’s a concurrent position or something. You have to protect it even if you have to bring in the people in white clothes on the street. No matter what, isn’t the actual work of the Joseon military being handled by the Three Military Departments?”
“Okay, okay. Okay.”
The commander-in-chief waved his hand and entered the headquarters building. It seemed as if he was annoyed by the situation.
* * *
“I have to go to the Gyeonggi Provincial Office.”
Yoo Seok-do’s expression distorted as if he was in trouble. He had to be there. He was the only person he could rely on in case of an emergency.
“Can you not go?”
“Well, that would be nice, but I don’t think things are that different here. They’re probably under attack there too. I know you want to be there, but it’s war.”
“Okay, then. You have to come right away.”
“All right.”
After comforting Yuseokdo like a child, he left Gwanghwamun. Nothing happened while turning from Jonggak to Donuimun. There was chaos on one side, but it was extremely quiet. It was peaceful. It meant that someone was controlling the situation. Dalcheon’s eyes quickly scanned the white waves. It was not easy to find meaningful signs in a pile of people. This is because the warmth of each person combined to form an invisible but irreversible large wave.
“Let’s hurry.”
He ran quickly along the new road and passed Sajikdan. After passing Donuimun and even the pharmacy intersection, nothing happened. Dalcheon tilted his head. Did they miss the importance of the camp? It was called Seongjeosipri. No matter how much the wall blocks it, as long as the gate is open, it is the same living area. There is no problem for soldiers to come and go. But they missed the camp?
Dalcheon, who arrived at the Gyeonggi provincial office, went to Seonhwadang. He heard that the governor was in Gwanpungak behind him, so he rode a horse and ran. The Gyeonggi provincial governor was giving a long speech to his subordinates in the empty Gwanpungak. Was he the kind of person who believed that things would get done if he gave a speech?
When the party entered on horseback, everyone was shocked. It was customary to dismount in the palace. I felt it was rude, and a part of Gamsa’s heart was gnawed at with concern that something important might be happening. I came down from Gwanpunggak and came out to greet them.
“What’s going on?”
“Is everything okay?”
“We are preparing as you said.”
Dalcheon looked around and ordered his men to look around the area.
“Please speak.”
“The Samgunbu and Hanseongbu were attacked by the enemy. Many of the staff members were injured and killed. I don’t know if the military gathering will be done properly. I thought the Gamyeong was also attacked, so I came here to provide support. However, since nothing happened, I think my prediction was wrong.”
“Two places were attacked?”
“Hansungbu was almost completely annihilated.”
“Oh my.”
“What should I think? Did they miss it?”
“Whew. You should think of it as a place where you can mobilize troops near Hanyang. Of course, Hanseongbu’s military function is weak, but in terms of numbers, you can’t think of it without considering the troops of Gyeonggi Gamyeong.”
One of the spleen soldiers who heard the conversation between the two raised his hand.
“Then they may have already sent messengers to the Money Gate. Didn’t you see the soldiers at the Money Gate when you came?”
“I didn’t pay attention to it.”
“They may have thought that if they could just stop Gamyeong’s troops from coming in, they could end the situation.”
“Oh my!”
The game inspector belatedly realized the importance of the matter and called in two secret agents.
“Take fifty soldiers and go to Donuimun. Make sure there are no other incidents.”
“Loyalty!”
Dalcheon took a deep breath and nodded. Of course it could be. I have to go. If we lock the gates and hold out at this time, the camp will have no countermeasures. Gwanghwamun will be waiting endlessly for troops that will never arrive…
“I must go. Your Majesty, gather the troops and secure the Donui Gate first.”
“debriefing!”
* * *
As expected, the gate was closed and they were shouting that all entry and exit was prohibited. One of the secret officers of the camp who went to check on the situation was trembling after being hit by an arrow, while another was shouting at the gate to be opened.
“Whew. It’s turning out as I worried.”
Dalcheon called the troops of the governor’s office back and withdrew the soldiers.
“Don’t scream, and take the injured person with two people. I saw a medicine bottle on the way.”
“Oh, yes.”
The spleen bowed its head. It was not a salute, but the peace had been too long.
“Please convey the situation here to the Lord. Send two men. We must hasten the gathering of the troops.”
“Loyalty!”
While the spleen was giving orders to the soldiers, he looked up at the gate tower.
The flag was still there, but a dozen or so armed soldiers could be seen on the gate tower. Two archers stood on each side of the ramparts, as if they had raised their shoulders on both sides. And between them, warriors dressed in black could be seen here and there.
“They’ve taken control of this place too.”
“No, he is the goalkeeper here.”
“He might have turned around after taking a bribe.”
“He is not the kind of person who would do that. He is such an honest person.”
“But why don’t you open the door at this hour?”
“That’s why I was asking.”
“Why did the comrade who was hit by the arrow do that?”
“Okay.”
“You wouldn’t be the kind of person who would do that, would you? But you did, right? Were you asked to not contact the camp if something like this happened and to just waste time here?”
“What are you talking about?”
“Send someone to send reinforcements. We will break through with force.”
“How can you climb that high wall…? It is the strongest of the four gates of Hanyangseong.”
“So you’re not going to do it?”
“That’s not it, but… … .”
“Either do it, or make way for someone else. Yes!”
Dalcheon put the story into words. Bijang was so surprised that he didn’t know what to do as his big eyes widened. What if a tiger roared right next to him? His legs were numb and he couldn’t move for a while.