It Became a Symbol of the Bronze Age - Chapter 356



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Episode 356. A Just War (3)

Gongsun Seopung’s expression darkened as he heard the story of the siege through handicrafts.

“You’re going to burst the dam while it’s raining?”

“That’s not all. We’ll burst the dam and block the drainage. And there’s a perimeter wall.”

I felt a little uncomfortable saying that. The first reason is because of the person who created the strategy I was referring to.

First of all, among the three countries of Korea, China, and Japan, there is no one in Korea who is famous for this ‘siege through water’.

General Gang Gam-chan used water to tie down the Sobae-ap army in the Battle of Heunghwajin and then defeated them with cavalry, but this was a surprise attack using water, not a siege.

But there is one each in Central Plains and Japan.

First of all, there is Cao Cao in the Central Plains.

During the Battle of Xia Fei, he controlled Lu Bu’s army through water. He is one of the three main characters in Romance of the Three Kingdoms and is a famous named as a married woman killer.

Maybe I hated it because of the early bird strategy?

Of course not. He’s a married woman killer and has had some beefs with Goguryeo… but that’s okay.

Actually, I wrote Cao Cao’s strategy quite well. The pretext for the current war, the Heavenly Emperor, is also the work of Master Cao.

And there is no use or refusal of Cao Cao’s strategy in the first place. There are few records of it, and it is just about using water to conquer it – that’s all. You can’t use this strategically.

That’s why I checked the relatively detailed records of Japan. Cao Cao is a fairly famous person, but by Korean standards, anyone who used the craftsmanship in Japan would be called a more famous person than Cao Cao.

That’s understandable, the person who is famous for handicrafts in Japan is probably Hideyoshi Fujimura, who would definitely have a close match with Hirobumi Ito if there was a vote on ‘The Japanese Person Koreans Hate the Most’.

Because it was Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

***

In Aesop’s Fables, written by Aesop of Greece, there is a passage like this.

-A needle thief becomes a cattle thief.

And there is a similar saying in Japan.

-The needle merchant becomes the shogun.

This is the story of Toyotomi Hideyoshi.

Koreans usually think of Hideyoshi as a ‘retard who started the Imjin War to eat up India without even knowing where he was,’ but… that’s not all.

If Toyotomi’s abilities had been weak, he would not have been able to succeed Oda Nobunaga and dominate the Warring States period.

In East Asia, if there is anyone famous for being promoted from one person to another, it would be General Won Gyun, but even Won Gyun was not able to become a king.

Even if you have excellent teeth, you can’t become the best in the world, but you can be one of the best among ten thousand people. So, Toyotomi had other talents besides teeth.

That’s the point of it being an unusual strategy.

Toyotomi was a brilliant mind and was good at improvising. After unifying the country, when the country was in turmoil, he came up with a plan to ‘borrow Joseon land and invade India’. If that is improvisation, then it is an idea that an ordinary person would not be able to come up with.

And the battle that reached the peak of this siege was the Battle of Takamatsu Castle.

At that time, Takamatsu Castle was surrounded by mountains and rivers like present-day Gyehyeon, and was called an impregnable fortress. It was defended by only 5,000 men, but 30,000 were in trouble.

Hideyoshi’s vassal saw this and said:

-There’s a lot of water around here, so won’t the water level rise during the rainy season? Just flood it? Since it’s surrounded by a fortress anyway, I guess all you have to do is blow up the embankment a bit?

Hideyoshi must have thought this was the right thing to do, because he built a huge embankment in 12 days and then destroyed it when it rained, thereby capturing the castle.

And the method I referenced is this battle.

It’s a bit awkward because it had to be Hideyoshi… but compared to Cao Cao’s Battle of Xiapi Castle, the record was quite detailed.

‘At that time, it was said that the Takamatsu Castle was 2.7km long, 7m high, and 10m wide. It was completed in 12 days.’

Rather than having nothing at all, it is better to have a record that includes the specifications, length, and construction date.

Of course, Asadal could not build the embankment in just 12 days.

This was possible because the Japanese at the time were crazy civil engineering masters who were able to fill in two moats of Osaka Castle in one night.

I tried construction with a similar feeling, but Asadal took about three months, not 12 days.

It wasn’t just a simple construction period… it took a long time because it had to be moved around because it would collapse when built and go to the Dragon Palace again when built.

But after all the hardships and suffering comes happiness.

Asadal eventually discovered a tributary that was ‘perfect for blocking water’ and succeeded in blocking it.

Right now, most of the waterways in Gyehyeon are in Asadal’s hands… and the sky is covered with dark clouds.

“Oh, it’s the perfect weather for crafts.”

To the point where those words just come out naturally.

But no matter how good the weather is for crafts, it would be a good idea to have a meeting before being attacked. I told Gongsun Seopung.

“If our handicraft industry succeeds, Gyehyeon will become a land of nothing.”

This water dam is not like the one in the ninja manga where water comes rushing in and floods everything. That would happen only if Chiang Kai-shek burst the Yellow River Dam like he did during the Second Sino-Japanese War.

Just breaking a levee would never produce that level of impact force.

Pre-modern handwork was at best used to fill water ‘up to ankle level’, and in fact, this was sufficient.

“The moment we drain the water, your castle will rot and decay. The roots of the plants will be submerged in water and rot, and your crops will fail. When the water rises and humidity rises, the grain in the storehouse will begin to rot… If the drains that are supposed to carry the sewage to the river are blocked, the sewage water will flow back and cause disease.”

In a word.

If you plow the land once, it instantly becomes a wasteland where nothing can be made.

‘This is also the part where the ‘handicraft world’ first appears in East Asian history.’

If we go back to the myths of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors era, there are frequent anecdotes about summoning dark clouds to drown the enemy… but since this is in the realm of myth, let’s skip it.

The first anecdote about the handicraft world is that of Emperor Guangwu, the founder of the Later Han Dynasty, the all-time greatest monarch in Chinese history. It may sound strange at first.

Of course, as I said above, Cao Cao is famous.

But there is good reason for that.

‘After all, Emperor Gwangmu didn’t use water.’

During the war to restore the Han dynasty, Emperor Gwangmu ignored his subject’s advice that “the enemy troops are encamped east of the Yellow River, so if we use water bombs, we can turn them all into fish food.”

-If that’s the case, even if you win, there’s nothing to gain. I won’t use such cruel methods.

Me too.

“I don’t want to use this method either.”

At this, Gongsun Seopbung gritted his teeth.

“Is this what you were aiming for from the beginning?”

“That’s right. If we want to conserve Asadal’s machinery and gunpowder as much as possible while not losing the people’s trust, I can’t think of any other way.”

“That’s ridiculous. If the waters come over Gyehyeon as you say, there will be tens of thousands of refugees. Will the people still support you then?”

“Well… that’s not wrong.”

If this happens, the public sentiment that Asadal has captured will be greatly shaken.

“But haven’t we been waiting all this time?”

“…what?”

“At first, you thought that if you held out, reinforcements would come. However, we told you that we had blocked the supply and urged you to surrender, but you did not listen.

Perhaps you thought that if we looted and such, the volunteers would come out. However, we did not do that, and instead, the Yeonseo Daebu was driven out. Even when we informed you of this, you did not surrender.

Perhaps you wanted the support of Gowabi. That is why we captured Gowabi. And yet, you still do not surrender.

And we waited. In the meantime, we never let a single stray stray past your walls. And now, kindly informing you of the handiwork, we are urging you to surrender for the last time.”

I’ve done enough. Do you think I’ve been doing nothing wrong up until now?

“If we had laid siege by throwing shit at the enemy from the beginning, you, with your ability, could have easily turned the people of this castle into warriors who hate Asadal. However, the art of war is different.

The effect will be immediate, and even you will not be able to unite the inside during this time. So, I will make a final request. Please surrender.”

At those words, Gongsun Seopbong’s expression crumpled.

And then, after two hours,

“…I surrender.”

He eventually expressed his intention to surrender.

It was worth it.

Some people speculate that this is why, despite the usefulness of handcrafting, there are few records of people being ‘hit’ by handcrafting.

If you come out with a handmade angle, no matter what you do, it’s a losing situation.

***

“…throw down your weapons. I surrender.”

At the same time, those guarding Gyehyeon threw their weapons outside the wall as if they had been waiting for it.

With a clang-clang sound, countless swords were piled up.

Some of them shed tears, but they threw down their weapons even as they cried. They fought when Gongsun Shibong told them to fight, and surrendered when he told them to surrender.

‘You’re outstanding.’

Looking at that figure, I thought that it was indeed Gongsun Seopung. It was not for nothing that Guanwu praised him as one of the six pagodas of his country.

I met Gongsun Seopbong. He had his hair in a bun and came to me and bowed his head. In the Korean peninsula, where people wear their hair in a bun even if they die, bun-hair is used to describe a rather humiliating situation, but in the Central Plains, where there is no culture of bun-hair, it is just because they are having a hard time.

“Please, take good care of my subordinates.”

“That’s amazing.”

Hanho said.

“Until the very end, you never ask about your own treatment.”

Gongsun Seopbong was also a great general of Gye-hyeon, and he must have seen many great generals, including Yeonseo Daeboo, suffer humiliation.

However, Gongsun Seopbong never once asked, “What will you give me if I surrender?” All he asked was that his subordinates be safe.

I asked.

“I want to hear the reason for your surrender.”

“Didn’t you say you were doing handicrafts?”

“I thought that when they heard the news of the crafts, the soldiers in the castle would rebel on their own. However, it seems that that is not the case now.”

Looking at the current situation, even if they had been defeated, Gongsun Seopbong’s soldiers would have chosen to fight. If so, they would have been able to restrain Asadal’s forces for at least a few more days.

“Is this for the people?”

“That’s really funny. Isn’t it natural for a ruler to do something for the people?”

“…You are a royal family, you must have a family in Imchi.”

It is different from the Yeonseo Daeboo. At least the Yeonseo Daeboo had his family members in the provinces. However, the royal family of Gongsun Seopung is all in Imchi.

“So, it’s actually a good thing.”

“What do you mean?”

“I am a royal family after all. Even if I am defeated so pitifully, my family will not be dismissed.”

“…Asadal will attack Imchi?”

“I trust the spirit you have shown. You will not attack and plunder the unarmed people there. And, the law of honor is to value the people more than your own family.”

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What should I say?

Even though he is the enemy leader, I respect him.

I asked.

“Brother, what should I do with the interest?”

Hanho answered.

“Take the commanders, including Gongsun Seopbong, to the nearby Yeo Seobu. The rest can have their weapons confiscated and left in the castle. Can’t we just tell the officers of Go and Bi to command them?”

At Han Ho’s words, the soldiers tied Gongsun Seopbong’s arms. Han Ho shouted when he saw this.

“Hey you, what are you doing?”

“Huh? Well, you told me to tie it up…”

“When did I tell you to tie it up?”

Hanho said.

“Even though he is an enemy general, he is worthy of respect. I will not forgive you for treating him like that!”

In that way, Gongsun Seopbung slowly moved towards Asadal, riding in a magnificent chariot that was unusual for a general.

In the place where the drum symbolizing the great father of my country used to stand, the new flag of Asadal began to wave.

“Have you broken all the water barriers?”

“Yes. It’s all been demolished. Now, even if it rains, Gyehyeon won’t be flooded.”

“We’re halfway done now.”

Asadal had achieved half of its goal.

***

The organization of the Asadal Army is simple.

First of all, the nominal head is the president.

And just as Alexander was called Shahanshah, Pharaoh, Hegemony, etc. in different regions, he was also called Great One, Hanga, Tangri, etc. in different regions.

Some people even call him ‘Hanho’.

However, while the words used to address the president are all over the place, the words used to address the military are unified.

First of all, the commander is called the Grand Modal.

Below him is the commander of the legion (Golga), who leads an army of up to ten thousand men.

Below this, there is a thousand-man commander (Zmunga) leading a thousand-man brigade (Zmun).

Below him is a centurion (onga) leading a regiment (on) of one hundred men, and they are usually collectively called ‘ga’.

And the official language of Asadal is a northern language, but since that time has not been around for long… most units are organized according to their place of origin.

So, when you are a senior officer, you usually know how to speak both the Northern dialect and your home language. Also, the role of teaching the Northern dialect to soldiers is mainly taken on by the senior officers.

For Asadal men, the military is a gateway to learning the mainstream language, and for Asadal, it functions as a melting pot that naturally allows people from various cultures to mingle.

In fact, in Asadal, there were quite a few heroic(?) tales like [I became a bureaucrat in the Northern dialect I learned in the military!], and those who had served in the military would often talk in the Northern dialect and tease those who had not served, saying, “You don’t know these words, do you? You’ll learn everything when you go!”

And now.

Asadal Sae (3) Golnim, and Oi and Gaji, who belonged to Sae (3) Zmun Neri (4) On, who belonged to Geumgang, who had a history of holding a stable position in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula, felt absurd.

“They said we won.”

“I know.”

“I just dug the ground…?”

Oi and Gaji, who are from the southern part of the Korean peninsula, are famous among the soldiers. This is not because they fought well, but because they are pitiful.

To begin with, the war broke out the day before his discharge. Because of that, his discharge was delayed and he is now at the front.

And the cucumber is the opposite. The war broke out on his first day of enlistment. Of course, ordinary people would say, ‘The eggplant is more pitiful,’ but that’s not necessarily the case.

Asadal didn’t receive any reinforcements after the war. That means Oi would remain the youngest until the end of the war. Because of that, the question of which of the two was more pitiful became a good source of entertainment for the Asadal soldiers.

And the two of them were quite skeptical about the outcome of this battle.

“There wasn’t a single battle.”

“I know…”

“But, there is a reward.”

“I know…”

Eggplant kept saying nothing but ‘that’s it’.

It was worth it. Even for Gaji, a third-year senior soldier, this was his first time experiencing war.

And, this type of battle was something he had never even imagined.

No, was there even such a thing as a ‘battle’ in the first place? The cavalry and the horsemen ran around here and there and fought small groups of troops, but… all the soldiers did was pull carts, dig the ground, and build dams.

“But, they said they’d give a prize?”

Asadal held a ceremony to reward meritorious deeds in order to lighten the mood.

The light cavalry of the plains (Chumomara) who shot and killed ten enemy cavalrymen, and Damdeok who led the Gaemamusa (Soemara) and made a great contribution this time received the award. Damdeok was appointed as the head of the Gaemamusa at a young age.

“The gallbladder deserves it.”

Since I have been in the military for a long time and can speak some Nordic, I understood the content well.

“…I don’t know.”

The newbie cucumber was still a bit unfamiliar with the northern language. Gaji asked.

“Isn’t it time for you to start listening too?”

“It’s… too far.”

Anyway, Oi thought it had nothing to do with him. All he had done was dig the ground.

But… that wasn’t the case.

“Soldiers of Asadal Saegol Saezmun Nerrion, come out and take your share!”

“huh?”

For a moment, Oi thought that he had misunderstood because he was not good at speaking the northern dialect, but he was wrong.

“What are you doing? Why aren’t you coming out soon!”

Because the eggplant led him.

The cucumber asked blankly.

“Do we have our share too?”

“I told you to come out because I’m here!”

“What did we do? We just dug up the ground.”

“I don’t know either. But in times like this, I just accept it with gratitude even though I don’t know much about it. Well, I guess our master brushed his teeth well.”

So, the two of them and about 100 other soldiers rushed out with my lord. Hanho said.

“You have done a great job in completing the embankment construction, and have contributed to our capture of Gyehyeon without shedding a single drop of blood. Usually, war is supposed to involve bloodshed, but I reward you as a reminder to always remember that true victory is winning without fighting.”

As he said this, Han Ho distributed wooden cards to the soldiers. These were exchange vouchers. If they returned to their home country, they could exchange them for silver coins.

“Congratulations.”

“thank you!”

The soldiers shouted at the top of their lungs. Who are we talking about?

Hanho, who was walking while looking at each person one by one, stopped in front of Oi.

“You’re the youngest in our army, right?”

“Yes, that’s right!”

“It couldn’t have been easy, but you did a great job.”

Hanho said.

“Besides, I heard from the person leading you that you were the first to pick up the shovel despite your young age.”

…it can’t be helped.

If I look to the right, all I see are seniors, and if I look to the left, all I see are seniors. How can I be a slacker?

Hanho said.

“So, I have two suggestions for you. When the war is over and I return, you can either quit the military right away… or you can stay in the military for 30 years.”

At first glance, you might think, ‘Is this a proposal?’

Unlike the 21st century, being a soldier in this era is the best path to success, and this is guaranteed by Hanho.

“I will stay in the military!”

The cucumber shouted like this.

Hanho laughed.

“Good. How could I not be happy when these outstanding people are supporting Asadal?”

So, the cucumber came down from the podium.

The eggplant said.

“…I will stay in the military.”

“Isn’t the military great? Besides, I was discharged the last of all the people gathered here anyway. Nothing has changed.”

…Well, that wasn’t wrong.

And a few days later.

“Reinforcements have arrived!”

In Asadal, five thousand newly conscripted soldiers and Hong Ik-ju arrived with forty wagons full of gold. Han-ho smiled broadly when he saw them.

“Oh, you came at just the right time.”

He rewarded the soldiers with wine, and gave the remaining wine to the people of Gyehyeon who were tired from the long war.

After months of hesitation, the faces of the people of Gyehyeon began to brighten after receiving a drink from Asadal.

From the next day, the sky began to drizzle. Hanho said.

“Tell the soldiers to rest until the rain stops. After that… we will advance to Imchi.”

Then Chow asked.

“Can you take over the throne this ‘easily’?”

“Easy? Did it look easy to you?”

Although no battles were fought, Asadal was truly suffering in the north. The soldiers worked all day long, and the sailors of the navy and the imperial court went back and forth dozens of times a day to transport cloves and sugar.

It was a victory that was literally won with as much sweat as blood, but without any blood being shed.

“But well… it’s fortunate that no blood was shed. However, Imchi won’t be like that.”

“I guess so?”

“Yes. It would be great if Kang So-baek were to stay locked up in the castle… but he’s not stupid. He wouldn’t stay locked up in the castle after seeing what’s going on in the north.”

So what happens next is a soldier-versus-soldier battle.

“There… we will bleed too.”

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