As Prophet - Chapter 179



Only Noblemtl

Episode 179. Don’t Cross Swords with Me

If they succeed, it would be fine, but if they fail, the Baek clan will not be able to live and breathe on Joseon soil. But who would think of such a thing? They would only think of winning and succeeding. What would happen if a 20,000-strong army defeated a Joseon army of less than a few thousand?

“What will happen if you succeed?”

“The return of the king is the task of reinstating the king who has been deposed.”

“No way. No matter what excuse you make, His Majesty the King’s younger sister, Yeoui, will ascend to the throne. I can’t just leave it to see if that happens… … .”

“It’s about putting things right.”

“No. It’s a mess. There’s one more difficult thing. Have you thought about the intention of Nohoraha Special Forces, who are asking for help?”

“You are having a hard time fighting against the Ming army. When the work is done, Joseon will have to help them again.”

Dalcheon shook his head.

“Joseon helps the Jurchen and fights the Ming? Can that be possible? Will the Liaodong Commander-in-Chief just sit there? The war will continue.”

“There are those who submitted to Joseon and those who submitted to Ming. There are those who submitted to both sides. This is Lee Yi-Je’s method. Appeasing them by giving them official posts means giving them the right to trade. Because if you trade, something happens. But in the meantime, there are those who accumulated wealth. If all that wealth was converted into military power, can that be explained?”

“You know better than anyone that Joseon is completely unprepared. The Northern Expedition, the recovery of Liaodong, the recovery of the old territory, all are good. To confront the Ming now is to drastically change the existing foreign policy. It is not a matter of right or wrong, but an issue that should be discussed in the current government.”

“We will discuss that. That is also why you came here in person, Nohoraha.”

“Leading 20,000 troops?”

“After the usurper is overthrown and His Majesty the King is restored to the throne, discussions will then proceed.”

It’s no use talking to dreamers. Dalcheon changed the direction of the conversation.

“Do you think you can win this battle?”

“This is a battlefield that cannot be lost. No one knows Hanyang’s military power better than anyone else, and it must have become even weaker as it has been devastated by war.”

Dalcheon shook his head.

“I’m here. You didn’t keep that in mind.”

“I’m trying to persuade you to join the ranks of the counter-revolutionaries. Please help me.”

“It’s unfortunate. I’m really worried about how I can prevent the Baek family from being beheaded on the streets of Hanyang starting tomorrow. Please leave the military camp and return immediately. If you confess your past crimes and help in this battle, your punishment may be reduced. Your Majesty has already abdicated. Legitimacy lies there.”

“It was usurped by force.”

“You believe their words more. You will meet me on the battlefield.”

“Are you threatening me?”

“Yes, it is a threat.”

“Okay.”

“You can win the battle, but you will ultimately lose the war.”

“On what basis?”

“We’ve called up the army during the busy farming season. They have to go back quickly. And the peninsula has already been defeated, so there aren’t many soldiers left. They’re destroying the organizations that have been built up over the years, one by one. There won’t be anywhere to set foot.”

“Do you know how many soldiers we can mobilize in Hanyang?”

“Military secrets cannot be leaked to the enemy.”

“Heh heh.”

“Above all, do not cross swords with me.”

“That’s scary.”

“I will meet Mr. Nohoraha.”

“What are you going to do when you meet me?”

“I will inform you of the situation and tell you to withdraw your troops.”

“We’ve come this far, should we just back out without getting anything?”

“Well, it’s better than being ruined.”

“You’re so confident.”

The conversation didn’t continue. Dalcheon had to get up and leave behind a string of threatening remarks.

“I’m going.”

“… … .”

“If things don’t go your way, return to your hometown. It’s not like you can’t handle the death penalty alone.”

“You are talking nonsense. If you have no place to go, then do as you please.”

Dalcheon disappeared as soon as he left the tent. It was so fast that it was hard to believe that a person had ever been there. He skipped from tent to tent like the wind. It seemed like the person had no weight. He landed on the tent made of cloth, but it didn’t sag at all.

Dalcheon stopped in front of Nohoraha’s tent. There was a large tent in the center, surrounded by six tents as if guarding it, and the Jurchen’s nimble warriors were guarding it like an iron wall.

Dalcheon revealed himself in front of the barracks that appeared to be the entrance.

“Who are you?”

“I would like to see Khan. He will know me as the true man of Taebaek.”

“Taebaek Jinin?”

The sentry ran behind Dalcheon to report the spirit he was emitting without knowing it, and the report was relayed back inside. From the half-opened barracks, Nohoraha Special Forces jumped out.

“A true man? A true man has come? Come on in!”

Dalcheon slowly approached Nohoraha, who was wandering around.

“Oh, the real person has arrived. You were very young when I saw you last time.”

“It’s been many years. Thank you for remembering.”

“How did you come? No, this is not the time. I will invite you inside.”

He didn’t go in even though he was told to. Dalcheon stood behind him politely.

“Ahahaha! You’re still the same.”

A dozen or so young Jurchen generals were gathered in the tent where they were welcomed. When Nohoraha Teuk-a tried to introduce Dalcheon, Dalcheon waved his hand.

“I want to have a private conversation with Khan.”

“They are like my real brothers.”

“It’s a battlefield.”

The weight of words will depend on how appropriately they reflect the situation and convey the essence. At the mere mention of battlefield, other generals stood up.

I sat down in the seat that Noh Ho-ra-ha-teuk-a guided me to.

“What about you, adults?”

“You sat down a long time ago. That was the last time I saw you in Hwanin. You returned quickly and a few days later you sat down. A rainbow of five colors crossed the sky, and a heavenly song continued for three days. You pitched a white tent, sat in the center, looked up at the sky, and then went to the heavens and earth. Only your clothes and shoes remained.”

“Oh, I see. I heard the news, but I didn’t think that was possible.”

Nohoraha Special Agent did not speak to Dalcheon. Dalcheon sighed, as if he was lamenting the old days. Nohoraha Special Agent offered words of comfort.

“It is said that only the branches do not go. How many rays of light did the mountain man spread to the world after ascending the Uhwadengseon? He will still be alive and breathing in our hearts, and in the air we breathe.”

“thank you.”

Dalcheon, who thought he had finished his rush, looked around the tent.

“I came here because I thought you might have to withdraw from the army.”

“Are you going to hand over the army? I came all the way here… … .”

“This is not the place for the Khan’s army.”

“Is that what you came here to say?”

Dalcheon nodded with a meaningful expression.

“I would like to hear the reason.”

“I don’t know the details of the situation before and after, but there were difficulties within Hanyang. It was only yesterday that the crown prince was killed and the grand prince took the throne. They are rooting out traitors and those who dreamed of a revolution. In short, the internal situation is not so good.

“If you come down with your army at a time like this, you will be helping them. If you think they would be a better choice for the Khan, then I have nothing to say, but if not, I hope you will reconsider.”

“Ugh… … . Have you heard the story behind it?”

“I don’t know much about it, but it was done by a man named Yeo-ui of Il-dae-gye. He was the uncle of the former king who had abdicated as the king. I thought he had been wandering the world after being defeated and pushed out in the war of succession, but it seems he had been dreaming of a rebellion in Hanyang. I guess he cooperated with them.”

“Yes. I didn’t know it was a revolution.”

“It’s a secret from the previous generation, but it doesn’t seem to be from the Lee family. It seems like no one knew about it.”

“That could happen.”

“I don’t know what would be good if Your Majesty the Khan helped create the Jeon clan’s country, but it wouldn’t be easy.”

“I understand that Hanyang Joseon is in great disarray and has almost no troops to fight back.”

“You came here thinking the house was empty.”

“That is not true. It is a country with potential. We may win the battle right now and take down the Hanyang city walls, but I think there will be chaos after that. That is the part of the grand plan. We will retreat as soon as we achieve what we want.”

“I just came to ask you to step aside now.”

“why?”

“It will not benefit the Khan’s country. I remember my teacher telling me not to get close to someone who is cruel and treacherous. It may serve the immediate benefit, but it is poison to the Khan who has great ambitions. Do you remember that?”

“So they struck the villages hard. They disrupted the market under the pretext of the emperor’s edict. They preyed on their own people.”

“These are the people.”

“It is a leap of logic to connect different political circumstances to human good and evil.”

“Is that so? Phew. I think I could tell what her dark intentions were just by looking at the silver mask covering her face.”

“Whew… … . The tribe has grown so large. It wouldn’t be enough to declare a nation.”

“It wasn’t a dream, was it?”

“Of course. I look forward to Joseon joining us.”

“Whew. I understand the Khan’s desire to realize his long-held dream. But why is the blade aimed at Joseon instead of the Liaodong Commander? It’s like being played with by the tongue of a cunning man.”

“It is very difficult for the True Man to oppose me like this. I have come this far and cannot just turn back.”

“Why? Is it better to tie up the king and the king-emperor like a dog and lead them forward like a dog?”

“How could we do that to Joseon? The Joseon royal family may not recognize it, but we consider them as our brother country. Although we are being called barbarians, I know that those with good intentions have not forgotten that we were together a long time ago.”

“What would the teacher say if he were there?”

“I still don’t know the meaning of the word ‘respected teacher’. Many of his words are very metaphorical and use metaphors, and in actual matters, he freely used ambiguous language that can be interpreted in various ways. I actually had several scholars study his words and reinterpreted them.”

He pretends to be innocent but doesn’t say what’s on his mind. There must be three or four snakes inside.

“There is no time. So-saeng is currently in Hanyang Joseon. If a battle starts, I may be able to win, but I cannot guarantee my life. He said that he has not properly learned the Taoist method and cannot compare to his teacher, but he has surpassed him in swordsmanship.

This is war. You never know when the blind sword will fly. We have many soldiers, so we will win the battle, but the Khan’s life and the important nobles will be buried here. If you must gain something by doing so, then advance as you are. I make this last request. You must return immediately.”

“Is this an ultimatum?”

Dalcheon smiled sadly.

“I don’t usually do that. I just sweep them away. You said that there’s no problem. However, I have an old relationship with the Khan… … Phew, relationships are really tough and difficult. I came to you in that name and requested a withdrawal. When I went to General Baek and told him the same thing, he said it was a threat. You know very well that I shouldn’t do that, right? I will pursue you to the end and destroy you all. Your hometown, nothing will remain. Win this war. I will show you what happens afterward. I promise.”

Dalcheon got up. Nohoraha’s hand trembled slightly. The mountain of Joseon, the great threat that its owner spoke of was by no means empty words. If they do, they will do it. They are the ones who followed Emperor Taizong of Tang to Luoyang a long time ago.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Don’t look back and immediately withdraw your troops. I’m not saying this because I’m worried about Joseon, but because I’m worried about Jurchen Joseon. Okay, that’s all.”

Dalcheon walked three steps and bowed politely. Nohoraha Teuk-ah was hastily trying to pay his respects, but Dalcheon was nowhere to be found.

Was he there? There was nothing left to prove that he had been there. The tips of my thin, trembling fingers recalled memories from long ago. My mind said no, but my body remembered. The unbearable force… … .