As Prophet - Chapter 201



Only Noblemtl

Episode 201. I was scammed by them.

“Whew. I misunderstood you because I didn’t know you had such deep thoughts. I won’t tell you not to leave Hanyang anymore.”

“Yes. I don’t know where or how it will explode. I hope I can escape leisurely without panicking and maintaining my forces. I want to abandon this unstable castle even now.”

“Loyalty!”

The commander bowed his head deeply. He wanted to punish the traitors immediately, but he was frustrated because he didn’t know who they were. He glared at the civil officials nearby.

“Don’t let your guard down, even if it means getting through tonight safely. I really hope it’s not today.”

“Loyalty!”

The commander got up and walked to the front of the castle wall. He didn’t really want to see anything. There was an ongoing effort to save those who were dying in the battle just a little while ago. He leaned against the darkness and pulled out his comrades who had fallen into traps, and treated the wounds of his comrades who had been pierced. However, even that was not enough, as the Joseon archers on the wall occasionally shot arrows and hit them. He kept checking the situation.

The commander-in-chief rang the gong.

“Stop attacking. They are enemies, but they are still human. Let your comrades be rescued, and only shoot at enemies that approach within 50 shots.”

“Loyalty!”

The order was given and the North Korean army stopped firing. Even then, the guy with red eyes didn’t stop shooting, but a gun ran over and hit his head, stopping him.

I know why. It’s probably because a comrade got hurt right next to him. At first, he’s usually relaxed. He moves around listlessly, and only when his comrade gets hurt and dies does he start shooting properly. That’s war.

Behind him, Dalcheon muttered as if talking to himself.

“Just leave it alone. Why would it be like that?”

“Military orders are strict.”

“I don’t understand why such strict orders were imposed only on the military officials and not on the civil officials.”

“Whew. Stop resting and go to the main camp.”

“Is this the headquarters?”

“That’s where the news is the fastest. It’s where all the information is gathered, so even if you sit still, you can see what’s going on in each battlefield at a glance.”

The commander came closer and held out his hand. Dalcheon did not refuse the hand he extended. He stood up with a grunt.

* * *

Back at the training camp. Lee Ki-moon ordered his soldiers to find holes where the enemy might come out. Soldiers with long probes were poking the ground here and there.

“Phew.”

I sighed. Why is it called a training center again? It is a time when we know all too well how pathetic it is to have an unmanned person without real power. They say they are called the elders of the province, but they do not have a single soldier under their command. It is a place where generals who have to go somewhere else stay for a while and then go.

When the king’s breath is on them, they can shrug their shoulders and host various events, but it was a training center where nothing happened for a year. The original mission was to take tests and practice martial arts.

The most important thing is to conduct military service examinations, but there have been few military service examinations in the past few years. The special examination that was held recently was the first in five years. Since we are also hiring the examinees for the Royal Guard and the Special Guard, the position of the training center has become even narrower.

Yeonmu is an effort to maintain and develop military power. We do the monthly training on our own, and we also do the inspection of weapons such as the Royal Guard and the Gyeomsa uniforms on our own.

Some say that it is a disadvantage caused by long-term peace, but who would refuse peace? The moment you say that, no one is at fault, but in the end, you are neglecting their interests.

Something had to be done, but there were no troops or soldiers to do it, and there was no way to do it. They said it was because of the long peace, and each military camp divided up the duties of the training center. They quietly informed us that they would do it on their own, but we couldn’t bring up the Gyeongguk Daejeon.

It was in that context that I tried to send a small number of people to the academy to teach them. I was worried that the training center might disappear. I sent a few generals and they became really great soldiers, but they are no longer my children. They listen to the words of the governor more than mine. The only distinction is between the role of the training center and the generals who studied there for a while.

It’s a world where neither this nor that works. I can’t tell if it’s the way the world is or if I’m just greedy.

“None. Not a single rat.”

“yes.”

“Yes. I think it’s a good thing that you put in the effort.”

“Still, it is an order. Keep searching.”

“Loyalty!”

Not far away, I saw a signboard that read Yonggangmun (用康門). I thought, “Who wrote that?” and shook my head. I’m getting old and my mind is getting blurry, so I can’t remember. When I remember the author and the writer, I feel clear, but I can’t remember the word. My mind is not at ease, so I think of something I did in vain. Did they hope for Kang (康) to be comfortable in the training center? So they gave him no role and made him a figurehead. Was that what peace was? Was the reality of the peace that the warriors achieved by sacrificing their lives ultimately some kind of naturalness that prevented the warriors from running wild?

I have to finish what I’ve done. I waved my hand while looking out over the wide smokescreen, and my subordinates came running.

“Loyalty! Did you call?”

“Everyone, gather here fully armed. Immediately, and all at once!”

“Loyalty!”

Is it because it’s the night sky? The whistle is unusually loud. I close my eyes. It was a few months ago that they asked for my cooperation. They said it was to protect the country. They took advantage of the soldiers’ characteristic of blinking when they talk about their country and loyalty. However, it was a rebellion, and it was to protect our country.

He said he wanted to open a passage inside the inner wall of the training center’s lecture hall, and all I did was nod absentmindedly. If I could pray for the peace of the country by nodding, I would do it hundreds of times. I didn’t think they were them. I didn’t know they were going to use it as a passage for those barbarians. I measured precisely and determined the best place to strike from behind Gwanghui Gate, a place where travelers wouldn’t notice.

[Flashback] ‘What should I do?’

‘I plan to hide the troops here. It’s not at all strange to have troops in a training camp, so they won’t be noticed.’

‘Are you just providing the location?’

‘Yes.’

‘Who asked for it?’

‘He is the king’s friend. Prince Ilseong said he would definitely come visit me sometime. He also added that it has been too much trouble lately.’

The words of the man who said, “What kind of scholar is this?” were cunning, wicked, cowardly, and therefore very effective. They touched the sense of entitlement of the unmanned man.

[Reminiscence] ‘There are many times when I wonder if this is a country. It needs to be established right away, but it is unfortunate that the unmanned people are being left out.’

Dojeong remembered laughing. Ilsunggun is absolutely not the kind of person to say such things. He is arrogant, haughty, and a person without anything to show for himself. I named Ilsunggun what I wanted to say. I had a letter from Ilsunggun, so there was no reason not to believe him. He used the expression “patriot” to describe someone who was concerned about the future of the country. Where did that letter go…?

The thoughts are not continuous. In the meantime, the soldiers have gathered. The number of ordinary soldiers is small, and most of them are of the rank of Daejeong or higher. They are a manpower that can command as long as they are given soldiers, but since there are no soldiers, they have been acting as ordinary soldiers for a long time.

About a hundred people gathered. They wore armor as instructed and wore their official weapons correctly. The only flaw was that they didn’t have shields. We can’t make our commanders carry shields that no one wants to carry. In some ways, they are the most difficult type of unit, and I think they are the most hated low-level unit.

The hardest thing in the world is to change someone’s mind. You can force them to do it, but is it really necessary now?

“The reason we were sent here was to find the enemy’s secret route. He told us to find it quickly because he thought they might pop out at any moment. It’s truly shameful. Their secret route is heading towards the training center… … . It wouldn’t have been possible without internal support.”

“No, that can’t be true.”

“Right now, surround the back yard of the shaman’s office like an iron wall.”

“Do you have any information?”

Dojeong Lee Ki-moon hit his knee with his baton. There was a cracking sound and the chaotic air became stiff.

“Let’s go!”

“Loyalty!”

Those who had been scurrying around here and there ran behind the shaman. They surrounded the yard and took up positions where they could shoot, such as on the fence and roof. About a hundred people formed a three-dimensional shooting position. Since they were armed, there were almost no people holding spears in front. They seemed to believe that they could cut them down with the swords in their hands.

Lee Ki-moon closed his eyes. He felt nothing, but he knew where they had measured. It was near the chimney leading to the backyard. He often worked in the shaman’s office, so he remembered the place where the worms were placed. He used it as an excuse to study even on cold days, but he mostly used it to do chores.

Lee Ki-moon pointed to one side.

“Poke around there! Around the chimney!”

“Loyalty!”

Those guarding the gate of the training center were the lowest-ranking military officers. Without saying a word, they ran over and started poking at me, but their expressions were strangely distorted. They stopped abruptly, stuck the iron skewers into the ground, and slowly turned their heads.

“Here it is. This is where it goes in.”

“Back off!”

The two men stepped back.

“torchlight!”

“Loyalty!”

Two guys ran and brought back a whole cauldron filled with torches.

“Light it!”

When he lit the fire, the surroundings became bright. Lee Gi-moon brought something that could burn and lit it. A blind man approached him.

“The true man detonated the Jincheon Thunderbolt.”

“Do we have Jincheonrye?”

“doesn’t exist.”

“however?”

“Should I go and ask for one?”

“I don’t think there will be time for that.”

“I need to contact headquarters.”

Lee Ki-moon looked around the audience and shouted at the top of his voice.

“It was our mistake! We’re going to finish it. Are you dissatisfied?”

Samang placed his clenched fist on his left chest.

“Loyalty! But I still have to tell you.”

Lee Ki-moon bit his lip.

“okay!”

“Loyalty!”

As soon as the words of permission were given, Samang ran out. He got on the horse that had been playing behind the fence and ran away.

* * *

Samyeong ran to the main camp and looked for Jinin. Dalcheon, who was sitting shabbily on one side of the barracks used as a conference room, slowly got up.

“Loyalty! This is the training center’s motto.”

“Thank you for your hard work.”

“It looks like they’re going to come out to the training center.”

Dalcheon tilted his head.

“Did you find it? Amro?”

“Everyone gather in the backyard of the shaman’s office and wait for them to come out.”

“What happened?”

The narrator briefly explained the events of the evening. Dalcheon nodded with a meaningful expression. Baek Ijeong, who was quick-witted, whispered softly.

“It’s the same. I got scammed by them.”

It was as if he was asking for recognition, since his own father Baek Sa-ban had also been deceived. Dal-cheon remembered the name of Lee Gi-moon that he had seen on the list. Could those who cooperated in that way be called traitors?

Dalcheon looked deeply into Sameng’s eyes.

“But why are you contacting me now?”

“That’s it… … .”

Samang stammered. Even if it is a truth that everyone knows, it is difficult and uncomfortable for me to confess it with my own mouth.

“It was our fault, so let’s fix it ourselves,” he said.

“Oh my.”

A sigh came out of nowhere. Nothing came to mind. Dalcheon went to the center of the tent. The messenger ran ahead. They were waiting, looking in this direction, at a distance of less than ten feet.

“Loyalty!”

“Cavalry squadron! All personnel! Assemble at the training center’s shaman hall.”

As if the messenger had been waiting, he shot firecrackers high into the sky. Looking closely, their shape resembled a magic wand. When lit, they flew away, spewing white smoke and transparent white flames behind them.

“What is that? Isn’t it a new weapon?”

“I asked for a few. I can contact you quickly no matter where you are in Hanyang.”

It exploded again with a loud popping sound high in the sky, sending star-like fireworks pouring out in all directions.