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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 2
Chapter Title: The Last Command
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Clank! Clank! Clank!
The metallic clang of armored horses echoed at a steady rhythm. At the head of the column, Go Jincheon and Yeon Hwigaram rode toward the sea, following the sudden command of Emperor Bojang. Beside them were Eulji Buru and Uru, each with a red flag bearing the three-legged crow tied to their back.
"General!"
A scout who had ridden ahead was galloping back toward them. The only thing that could be in front of them was the enemy. Yeon Hwigaram spurred his horse forward to meet him.
"Enemies?"
The scout quickly answered Yeon Hwigaram's urgent question.
"General Yeon, about five hundred cavalry are chasing a carriage. And the carriage appears to have come from Pyongyang Castle."
"Fleeing again…"
Go Jincheon's voice, low and laced with self-mockery, sounded from behind Yeon Hwigaram. Since arriving, all they had seen were the corpses of aristocrats who had died trying to escape Pyongyang Castle. But the soldier hastily refuted the notion.
"The carriage bears the Emperor's flag."
"What did you say?"
A carriage bearing the Emperor's flag meant that Emperor Bojang or someone of equivalent status was inside. At the very least, it could be the Son of Heaven.
"Hya!"
Th-th-thump!
The moment they heard the words, the cavalry, led by Jincheon, spurred their horses into a gallop. Their foremost duty was the protection of the Emperor of Gauri.
"Giddy-up!"
Eight horses galloped, panting heavily. At some point, many had died, and the number of cavalrymen escorting the carriage had dwindled to about fifty. Even then, most had an arrow or two lodged in their bodies.
"General! I will buy us some time. Please, go on ahead!"
"You!"
As the distance to the pursuing enemy cavalry seemed to shrink, the Vice-Captain of the Royal Guard turned his horse around and charged toward the enemy without waiting for his captain's permission. The Captain of the Royal Guard could say nothing more, merely clenching his teeth and shedding tears of blood as he desperately guarded the carriage and galloped on.
Whoosh!
"Ah!"
Just after the Vice-Captain charged back to face the enemy, the sound of arrows slicing through the wind came from the sky. The startled Captain of the Royal Guard, Dae Mudeok, gripped his spear tightly and stared ahead.
"Gaaah!"
"Kill them all!"
"Aaargh!"
Even as screams erupted from behind where the Vice-Captain and his men engaged the enemy, Captain Dae Mudeok did not look back. The ones who had loosed the arrows were coming into view. Before his eyes, the image of the red three-legged crow, kicking up a cloud of dust, grew clearer and clearer.
The sight of the royal guardsmen battling the Tang cavalry behind the carriage came into the view of Go Jincheon's riders. Recognizing the man leading the carriage escort as Captain Dae Mudeok, Jincheon urged his horse to go even faster.
"We will charge after a single volley."
At Jincheon's command, Uru was the first to nock an arrow. The arrow he fired shrieked as it flew, grazing over Mudeok's head and piercing the skull of an enemy soldier.
"Do not let a single one escape. Kill them all."
"Yah!"
"Hiyah!"
Neigh!
Th-th-th-thump.
As Jincheon's order fell, the cavalrymen swept past Mudeok, who had recognized them, and charged into the fray.
"You bastards! Die!"
Thwack!
"Gaaah!"
Eulji Buru, who had galloped past the carriage and straight into the pursuing soldiers, swung his massive great axe, cleaving through an oncoming Tang soldier and his horse. He then pressed forward, relentlessly shattering shields and swords alike.
"Grand Commander Go Jincheon!"
"Captain of the Royal Guard!"
"The carriage… It is a command from His Majesty the Emperor."
"Who is it?"
Despite it being the Emperor's command, Jincheon asked calmly. Mudeok hesitated for a moment, a worried look on his face, before handing him a letter from the Emperor.
"The Son of Heaven…"
"…Yes."
Jincheon's face remained impassive as he read the letter. Only his calm eyes seemed to gleam.
They rode alongside the carriage for more than half a day, never stopping. Their white breastplates were now stained with crusted blood, and only a few arrows remained in their quivers.
"General, Tang forces in a defensive formation are visible ahead."
"Damn it! Those bastards, I'm gonna smash their skulls!"
"Wait up! You gotta leave some for me!"
Undeterred by the sight of the Tang army ahead, Buru and Uru charged forward as if competing in a hunt.
"Hwi."
"Yes, General."
"Take charge of the carriage."
"Yes."
With only those words to Yeon Hwigaram, Go Jincheon spurred his horse on, galloping after them.
Buru's imposing frame, as broad as it was tall, was enough to intimidate any opponent. Seeing him, a general from the Tang formation boldly spurred his horse forward.
"I am Wi Chunghyeon, General of the Guard of the great Tang Dynasty! Let us see if a lowly soldier of Gauri can cross swords with me! Hahaha!"
"You son of a bitch!"
Annoyed by the Tang general's incessant shouting as he charged forward, Buru let out a coarse curse and tightened his grip on his great axe. As the Tang general's horse closed in, the great axe in Buru's hand sliced through the air.
"Hahaha! Take my blade!"
"Shut your mouth!"
Shiiink!
Crunch!
"Guh!"
The great axe that cut through the air also cut through the torso of the oncoming Tang general. Glancing at the general's body as it fell with his horse, Buru snorted and muttered.
Clatter.
"In Tang, they fight with their mouths?"
Leaving the Tang general lying on the ground, Buru kicked up a cloud of dust and accelerated toward the Tang formation, shouting loudly.
"I am Eulji Buru! I'm gonna crush you all!"
The Tang camp, flustered by the sight of Buru, who had dismembered their boastful general in a single blow and was now charging like a demon, erupted with shouts to rally the soldiers.
"Ra-raise the pikes! Shield bearers to the front!"
"Uwaaaaah!"
Spurred on by their officers, the soldiers roared as if to forget their fear and raised their anti-cavalry pikes, but fear was already spreading across their faces.
The cavalry they were trying to stop was no ordinary force; they were the armored cavalry of Gauri, rulers of the continent. And among them, they were the ones known as War Demons—the Black Armored Ghost Cavalry.
"Draw your bows!"
Th-th-thump!
Eulji Uru, following close behind Eulji Buru, raised his Maek Bow. At his signal, the riders all released their reins and raised their own bows. As Uru's bowstring was drawn taut, so were everyone else's. Staring at the front line, a playful tone crept into Uru's voice.
"That little punk holding the flag is mine, got it?"
Twang!
Th-th-thump!
No sooner were the words spoken than the bowstring was released. As Uru's arrow flew through the air, a volley of arrows followed as if on cue, streaking across the sky.
Whizzzz!
"Guk!"
With the head of the Tang standard-bearer snapping back as a signal, the incoming arrows turned the Tang formation into a hellscape of skewered bodies. And then, the black calamity descended upon them.
"Hya!"
Th-th-th-thump!
"St-stop them!"
Crunch!
"Aaargh!"
Every time Go Jincheon's spear swept out, three or four soldiers were skewered and thrown aside. Buru's axe made no distinction between man and horse; anything it touched, it split. Uru's arrows always pierced at least two men before they stopped.
As the distance closed, Yeon Hwigaram put away his bow and drew the hand axe from his belt.
"Throw!"
At Hwigaram's command, the cavalrymen following him drew their own axes and hurled them in unison at the disoriented Tang soldiers.
Thwack! Thwack!
"Gaaah!"
"My shouldeeeer!"
The volley of axes shattered what little will to resist the Tang soldiers had left. Seeing the axe blades buried in the skulls of their comrades, they no longer had the courage to block the path. All that remained were pitiful souls screaming to survive, scattering in every direction.
Having broken through the enemy lines, they reached the eastern coast of Pyongyang Castle, where ships had been prepared.
"Quickly, get His Highness the Son of Heaven onto the ship!"
"Shield bearers and axemen, maintain formation and retreat to the ships."
"Hurry!"
The horses were exhausted from the ceaseless gallop, and the soldiers' bodies felt as heavy as lead, but this was no time to consider such things. They hastily boarded the ten or so ships, first embarking the newborn Son of Heaven who had escaped Pyongyang, and busied themselves with preparations to sail south along the sea route.
"Captain Dae Mudeok, what did His Majesty the Emperor say he would do?"
Go Jincheon, who had remained expressionless amidst the soldiers preparing for withdrawal, quietly posed the question to Dae Mudeok, who stood silently beside him.
Dae Mudeok was a commander who had never left Emperor Bojang's side in all his years of service. For that reason, Go Jincheon hadn't pressed for details even as they were being pursued. He trusted him that much. That was why he had simply followed the order, said to be from the Emperor, and galloped here, escorting only the Son of Heaven who was said to have been born a few days ago.
At Jincheon's question, a troubled look flickered in Mudeok's eyes, but he quickly composed himself and answered as if it were nothing.
"His Majesty commanded that I relay his further orders after we have departed."
"Is that so."
"Yes, it is the solemn command of the Emperor."
In contrast to Mudeok, who bowed his head, Jincheon's posture was utterly confident. It was a clear indication that Jincheon's position was far higher than that of the Captain of the Royal Guard.
Turning his gaze from Mudeok, who offered no further response, Jincheon simply watched his men board the ships.
"Board the ships!"
"Hurry up and board!"
"We're setting sail!"
"Raise the anchor!"
Dark clouds were gathering in the sky, but there was no time to delay. There were sporadic attacks from Tang soldiers, but they were surprisingly few. That fact weighed strangely on Jincheon's mind. Unaware of his thoughts, the Fleet Commander ran up, bowed his head, and gave his report.
"Grand Commander, we are ready to set sail."
"Give the order."
Hwigaram's voice cut through Jincheon's complex thoughts, putting an end to his deliberation.
"Set sail."
"Set sail."
"Yes, sir!"
As Hwigaram relayed Jincheon's command, the Fleet Commander gave a short, firm reply and ran off. Finally, the ten large vessels carrying Gauri's elite began their voyage into the sea where a rough wind was blowing.
"General, please go to your cabin and rest now."
"…I will go see His Highness the Son of Heaven."
He had yet to properly see the Son of Heaven while riding. For a mere general to say he would see the Son of Heaven in person might sound disrespectful to the royal family, but Dae Mudeok, the Captain of the Royal Guard, simply nodded quietly and complied.
"Please follow me."
"…"
Mudeok bowed respectfully and led the way, with Jincheon following silently behind.
He quietly opened the door and entered the cabin, where several court ladies and the Son of Heaven's wet nurse were present. According to Dae Mudeok, the mother had not come, as her body, having just given birth, would only have been a burden.
"May I hold him?"
"Yes."
Those were his first words upon seeing the baby wrapped in a dragon-patterned cloth. This, too, was a disrespectful request. Yet no one challenged his words.
Jincheon took the child in his arms and looked at him, studying him slowly. The baby in his arms was exhausted and sleeping soundly, breathing softly.
"His name?"
Without taking his eyes off the child, Jincheon asked for his name. Mudeok handed him a letter bearing the Emperor's seal.
"His Majesty the Emperor asked me to give you this."
Jincheon quietly accepted the letter and slowly unfolded it.
[This will likely be my final command.
Even amidst this war, Hwanin has blessed us with a new life. I have named this child Eulji. I give you my final command: take this child and the remaining people, and go far… to a very distant place, and live a peaceful life. This is the last command of an older brother to the younger brother who has protected Gauri, leaving behind the throne of the Emperor.
Please take care of Eulji.]
Go Jincheon's face contorted severely as he read the letter. It was an order to flee. The one he could never properly call 'brother' was now calling himself that. The words struck him like a dagger.
In the years when he could have called him brother, Jincheon was growing up on the battlefield. When they met after he had come of age, the man was already sitting on the throne of the Emperor. Go Jincheon was of the Emperor's blood, but he was an illegitimate son. And Yeon Hwigaram was the illegitimate son of Yeon Gaesomun, while Eulji Buru and Uru were descendants of an illegitimate line of General Eulji Mundeok.
They were all illegitimate sons.
Slowly folding the letter, Jincheon raised his head and fixed his eyes on the now-faint shoreline as he spoke.
"Dae Mudeok, what of Pyongyang Castle?"
"…Please kill me."
Grief etched itself onto the aged face of the middle-aged man as he barely managed to reply.
Thick tears streamed down his face.
In the year 668, the 900-year history of Gauri, which had succeeded Northern Buyeo, vanished along with the flames that engulfed Pyongyang Castle. And the last fleet of ten or so ships slowly advanced into the approaching storm.
"Gweeegh!"
"Hey, you little brat, don't puke so messily!"
"Uweeegh!"
"Damn kid, you're splattering everywhere!"
Whether it was the effect of the storm, Uru was busy heaving over the railing, his vomit alternating between the sea and the deck. Buru stood beside him, holding onto him out of concern that he might fall overboard, all the while chattering endlessly. But after a few times, Buru lost his patience and grabbed a passing sailor.
"Hey, you. Isn't there anything we can do about this?"
But instead of the answer he wanted, he received even worse news.
"General, more importantly, you must go inside your cabin. A storm is coming."
"Uweeegh!"
"That kid… he's really letting it all out."
Annoyance was plain on Buru's scowling face.
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