What In The World Are You Doing? (5)

“Commander.”

Hwang Bo-Ung turned at the voice calling out to him.

“You should mount a horse, even now. Walking like a common soldier does not befit your dignity.”

“…”

“For the task we must undertake starting now, morale is crucial. Please, if only for the sake of the soldiers.”

At those words, Hwang Bo-Ung looked back.

Red flags rose proudly into the air. Yet, compared to the grandeur of those flags, the appearance of the men carrying them was utterly wretched.

Their weapons were old and rusted, and the armor they wore was tattered in places, barely serving its purpose as protection.

Though an army of this scale was on the move, not a single person could be seen on horseback, and the hollow cheeks of the soldiers, whose eyes still flashed with a sharp light, clearly betrayed a state of exhaustion.

At best, they looked like a defeated army. In coarser terms, they resembled a peasant rebellion.

Yet it could not be helped.

Even if they departed, the northern frontier could not be left empty. All usable weapons and horses had been left behind with those who remained. Only then could the small number of troops there hope to put up even a slight defense against the enemy.

The weapons they would use were being prepared at their destination. That would suffice.

“I beg of you, Commander.”

At his adjutant’s bowed plea, Hwang Bo-Ung silently turned his head back to look ahead. After a long silence, a heavy voice issued from his lips.

“There is no need.”

“Commander.”

“If I must manufacture dignity that is not there simply by mounting a horse, then I have lived my life wrongly thus far.”

“…”

“These men know me better than anyone else. If I must borrow the majesty of a horse even before such men, the failure of our task is as clear as day. This is not a homecoming for a joyous occasion; is there any need for brocaded robes?”

At those words, the adjutant lowered his head.

“I was merely…”

“I know.”

Hwang Bo-Ung shook his head.

“You need not worry. I will not fall until I have fulfilled my final mission. Even if the King of Hell himself comes to find me, I will turn him away.”

“Commander…”

“There is not much time left.”

The old Commander’s dry eyes turned toward the land stretching out before him.

This unremarkable place was what he had protected his entire life. And now was the time to achieve the final goal that would punctuate his existence.

“Do not stop. Advance. We have no retreat left.”

A fierce light burned within his wrinkled, elderly eyes.

“The northern army is a powerful force.”

“I know. You already told me.”

“I mean, they are a powerful force beyond comparison.”

“I told you I know.”

“And such a powerful force is right near the imperial palace.”

“……Huh?”

At the bewildered gazes turning toward him, Jwa Go-Hak cleared his throat as if to say he expected as much.

“So, that poses more of a threat than you might think…”

“Wait, is this bastard joking with me right now? What kind of nonsense is that?!”

“Calm down, Chung Myung.”

“Hey, you punk, it’s been like that since the old days, so what do you expect me to do?”

“That’s right… That is true. It’s been like that since the old days. That’s why it wasn’t a problem. Back in the days when the Emperor himself ventured out to the northern frontier on a personal campaign, full of ambition to make those lands our own.”

“……Huh?”

Chung Myung’s eyes narrowed slightly.

“And yet… the Emperor of the present day has no particular interest in such things. He has no intention of conquering the north, believing that if he has the time and money for it, it’s better spent elsewhere.”

“Ah…”

“How do you suppose the northern army looks in the eyes of such an Emperor?”

“Well…”

When Chung Myung turned to look at his fellow sahyung and sajaes, everyone chimed in one by one.

“Rice-munching parasites?”

“Potential bandits?”

“Warmongers?”

“……The phrasing is a bit extreme, but I suppose it’s not entirely wrong. Even an army of the exact same nature will be interpreted differently depending on how those viewing it perceive them.”

“Wow…”

When Chung Myung looked at Jwa Go-Hak with an absurd expression, Jwa Go-Hak turned his head away with a flushed face. It seemed even he felt a bit embarrassed.

“No, wait a minute. Even so, that doesn’t make sense, does it? The whole reason the northern army is so strong and large in the first place is because the enemies they have to fight are strong.”

“That’s also true. So originally, a disaster should have happened long ago; the problem is that Commander Hwang Bo-Ung is a brilliant commander.”

“Huh? What does that even mean?”

“Even a brilliant commander needs to be brilliant in moderation, but Commander Hwang Bo-Ung is so exceptionally brilliant that… despite the reduced support, he smashed every single invading force to pieces.”

“Ah… So that’s how it went.”

“So the court’s stance is, ‘They’re defending so well even now, do we really need to send more support?’ and so they don’t send support, yet Commander Hwang Bo-Ung keeps beating back the ones who come to plunder…”

“A hellish, vicious cycle.”

“Is this the result of someone possessing not even a speck of flexibility?”

“Still, he couldn’t just lose on purpose.”

“Then is this a tragedy born of a man being simply too competent?”

Jwa Go-Hak lowered his head and let out a deep sigh.

“That vicious cycle has been going on for quite a long time now. By now, the Red Banner Army probably can’t hold out any longer either. They must have reached their limit.”

“By limit, you mean?”

“A crushing defeat.”

Chung Myung dropped the words in an indifferent tone.

Having witnessed similar situations a few times before, Chung Myung could easily understand. A place that somehow managed to hold on by grinding people down like that—once a breach is made, it doesn’t end with a modest defeat.

Just like a dike springing a leak that causes the entire structure to collapse in a chain reaction, a single defeat could cause those who had barely managed to hold on until then to collapse all at once.

And if what collapsed was the army guarding the north? That was bound to be a catastrophe so terrible it couldn’t even be expressed by the word tragedy.

“Hmm.”

Chung Myung shrugged.

“Well, if that’s the case, one thing explains itself.”

“What?”

“Why that man with such a fine reputation suddenly chose to rebel.”

“Ah.”

The Mount Hua disciples all nodded.

In a situation like this, no matter how loyal a person was, their loyalty and everything else were bound to be ground down to dust. To speak plainly, wasn’t this essentially stranding them in the desolate north and waiting for them to die?

“So he started this?”

“……I didn’t see it with my own eyes, but knowing Commander Hwang Bo-Ung as I do, he wouldn’t have cast aside his loyalty—at least not if it were just a matter of his own single life.”

“But in the face of the northern army’s imminent annihilation, he had no choice?”

Jwa Go-Hak did not answer. But his expression spoke volumes about the thoughts hidden deep within him.

“If that’s the case, couldn’t this be done without necessarily resorting to rebellion? Bringing an army is one thing, but couldn’t he just lodge a proper protest or offer a loyal remonstrance…”

“The very act of leading an army toward this place is treason. If that is true, Commander Hwang Bo-Ung will be subjected to death by a thousand cuts, and the punishment of exterminating his nine clans.”

“That’s brutal…”

Jo Gul, who had been listening quietly, scowled fiercely.

“What a stubborn old fogey. In that case, he should have just come alone long ago to request an imperial audience.”

“He did. But he was rejected every time.”

“Huh? Why?”

“……Because the Emperor stated that there is no need to grant an audience to a mere military man.”

Everyone’s jaws dropped open.

“W-what kind of bastard is that…”

“R-referring to the Emperor as a bastard! You irreverent wretch!”

“Well, think about it. An elderly Commander who has guarded the northern frontier for years asks for an audience, and he turns him down? You tell a man who came all that way just to turn back? What is he supposed to do, go back to the north and die? Is that it? Anyone with a shred of common sense couldn’t possibly do that.”

“Ahem.”

Jwa Go-Hak let out an awkward cough, seemingly embarrassed.

“The common sense of the imperial family and our common sense often differ.” That means they have no decency.“

“That’s not necessarily what I meant.”

“Then it means they’re out of their minds.”

“……That might be how it looks, but—”

“Oh? What was that? Did some outrageous blasphemy just come out of a scholar’s mouth?”

“Eek!”

Jwa Go-Hak gasped in horror and slapped his hand over his mouth. After mingling with these lunatics, he had been swept up in their pace without even realizing it.

“Anyway, to sum it up: the northern army is on the verge of collapse right now, and if it collapses, a horrific catastrophe could occur. Is that it?”

“Yes. The northern enemies might invade and plunder the Central Plains, which would become a land without a master.”

“So you kept asking for support, and they kept ignoring it.”

“……Rather than ignoring it, um… the court lacked the capacity.”

“Bullshit. Is there any reason the capacity that was originally there would suddenly vanish?”

“State affairs are exceptionally complicated…”

Chung Myung clicked his tongue, looking as though he thought talking was useless.

“Oh, right. Understood. Let’s assume that’s the case for now. Anyway, so the old Commander finally snapped after all this time and is marching south with his troops?”

“……”

“Meanwhile, Affairs Head Do-Hyeon, who had practically half-seized control of the court, latched onto that old man since things had come to this, completely wiping out everyone he didn’t like, and that Hwang Bo… Hwang Bo…”

“Grand Commander Hwang Bo Ung of the Northern Iron Pillar.”

“Right. He’s trying to enthrone that fellow called Hwang Bo-Ung as Emperor?”

“Probably…”

“And what’s here is the proof and the preparation for it?”

Jwa Go-Hak slowly nodded with a heavy expression.

Having fully grasped the situation, Chung Myung nodded as if a decision had been made and turned to look at everyone.

“Conclusion reached.”

“Hm?”

“We can’t stop this. Let’s go home before the sparks fly onto us for no reason.”

“Nooooo!”

Jwa Go-Hak lunged like lightning, grabbing onto Chung Myung, who was turning away without a shred of hesitation, and refusing to let go.

“It’s treason! Treason!”

“So what? What does that have to do with us?”

“No matter how much you’re Taoists, surely you must have received grace from the country!”

“Go tell that to the local shrine. We haven’t received a thing.”

“Still, you have to do something! Anything!”

“Oh my, lowly Taoists like us shouldn’t be sticking our noses into state affairs like this. Now, now, stop acting like this, and why don’t you scholarly gentlemen discuss it among yourselves?”

Realizing that reasoning with Chung Myung was no longer possible, Jwa Go-Hak abruptly turned his head to look at the other Mount Hua disciples.

“S-someone do something! Do something!”

“Yoon Jong.”

“Yes, Sasuk.”

“Did you pack the luggage?”

“Of course. We can depart right away.”

“Then let’s hurry and pack up. If we stay here for nothing, the Sect Leader will give us a beating on our calves.”

“Yes, Sasuk!”

“Sasuk!”

Tang Soso protested at those words. A fleeting spark of hope flickered in Jwa Go-Hak’s eyes.

Ah, true, even if the others clearly reek of a lack of proper upbringing, this female Taoist clearly bears the marks of instruction from a prestigious sect. Naturally, her perspective must be different.

“The people coming from the north still have some time before they arrive, right?”

“……Well, that’s true. It’s not a short road, after all.”

“Then let’s go buy some souvenirs. We came all the way to Beijing, so if we go back empty-handed, how disappointed will the elders be? We should buy some gifts for the senior uncles too.”

“Ah… That’s right. Tsk, those who have received an education really are different.”

“Then let’s get moving.”

“Right.”

Led by Tang Soso, the Mount Hua disciples began walking back with light, bouncy steps.

“……”

Jwa Go-Hak, left all alone, and the Eastern Depot guards standing some distance away watched them blankly.

“They’re leaving.”

“They’re really leaving.”

“Wait, is it really okay to just let them go?”

“The leader told them to go.”

Hearing the desolate voices of the Eastern Depot men from behind, Jwa Go-Hak slumped backward.

Thump.

Sitting flat on the ground with his legs sprawled out, Jwa Go-Hak dropped his jaw and stared up at the sky, where the dawn was finally beginning to break.

“……Those rice-munching bastards.”

The scholar, whose phobia of Taoists had reached its absolute peak, could only tear at his own hair in frustration.