Chapter 16: Anger Swallows Fear (1)
The powerful roll of drums echoed throughout Hanzhong Fortress. The army led by General Jang-yang began its march to war.
A massive crowd gathered on the streets to watch them pass. The outcome of this battle would decide their very fate. The citizens cheered desperately for the marching troops, as though they themselves were about to enter the fray.
“General! You must win!”
“Defeat those wicked invaders of the Hui Dynasty!”
“Please return safely!”
General Jang-yang and a vanguard of a hundred cavalry led the column, followed closely by his adjutant, Yang Yeon-jeong, commanding the spearmen. Behind them marched the sword infantry, the largest division, forming the core of the army.
The recruits of the first through fifth groups of the sword infantry carried heavy shields, tasked with maintaining the front lines.
While experienced officers were assigned to lead twenty-four of the groups, Group 16 alone was composed entirely of recruits. Commander Wi Jin-cheol had stubbornly insisted on leading Group 16 himself, treating them almost as his personal guard.
As the march began in earnest, tension and anxiety flushed the faces of the soldiers. Lacking the access of high-ranking officers, the common soldiers had no idea how the war was actually progressing. They wondered how large the enemy force was, whether they were marching to their doom, or if they had any chance of victory. Though fear gripped their hearts, the cheers of the citizens lining the streets gave them courage.
Group 16 marched near the middle of the column. Scanning the crowd with a calm, expressionless face, So-mu’s gaze paused on a nearby merchant. The man, carrying a large sack of fresh fruit, was eagerly handing apples to the passing soldiers.
“Thank you, brave soldiers. Thank you…”
The citizens were well aware that many Song generals had abandoned Hanzhong and the rest of Shaanxi Province. They knew that General Jang-yang alone had remained behind to fight and protect them.
Receiving a fresh apple from the merchant, So-mu stared at the man thoughtfully.
‘If we lose, this merchant will lose everything and meet a tragic end. The same fate awaits every citizen on this street. Knowing this, how can anyone claim that the perils of the martial world are more terrifying than the struggles of common men?’
So-mu turned his gaze to the opposite side of the street. Nearby, a frail, elderly woman was pacing back and forth, peering into the ranks. The white-haired woman, her back bent with age, clutched a small bundle in her hands, searching desperately for someone. Her pale complexion and weak pulse, visible to So-mu’s trained eyes, showed she was gravely ill. So-mu wondered why she had dragged her sick body to the crowded street.
Suddenly, her face lit up, and she limped eagerly toward the passing soldiers.
“Cheoldu!” She called.
It was Cheoldu, the recruit from Hanzhong.
So-mu recalled the conversations among the squad members in the barracks. Cheoldu had mentioned that he lived alone with his grandmother.
Seeing the old woman, Cheoldu’s eyes instantly welled with tears.
“Grandmother! Why are you here?”
“Oh, my boy! Are you hurt anywhere?”
“Ugh, I told you not to come out to crowded places like this!”
The grandmother pressed the small bundle into Cheoldu’s hands.
“Don’t skip your meals. Eat this when you get hungry.”
Cheoldu bit his lip to hold back his tears.
“Don’t worry about me. Go back home, quickly!”
Because he could not break formation, Cheoldu was forced to keep marching forward. His grandmother, forgetting her own pain, limped along beside him, refusing to let go of his hand.
“Cheoldu, my boy… if you ever feel sick, tell the general. The general is a good man; he will let you return home.”
“Grandmother! Do you think the general has time to worry about a single soldier?”
“Just don’t worry about me. Remember what I told you, alright?”
Finally, Cheoldu could no longer contain his emotion, and tears streamed down his face.
“And… I requested them to send my pay home starting next month. You can finally visit the physician and get treated.”
Cheoldu had volunteered for the army solely to earn the money needed to treat his grandmother’s illness.
“My proud grandson… you must protect the general at all costs…”
Ultimately, the grandmother had to let go of his hand as her frail, limping body could no longer keep pace with the marching column.
Such scenes were not limited to Cheoldu. Throughout the ranks, soldiers were shedding tears as they bid farewell to their loved ones. Watching them, So-mu felt a heavy sensation in his chest.
‘I cannot slaughter the entire Hui army by myself. Nor can I save every Song soldier. It is the way of the world that one conflict ends only for another to begin. As a simple soldier, I should remain a silent observer, flowing with the tide. But if our army is defeated and this land is trampled, can I truly stand by and watch?’
He lacked the conviction to remain indifferent. Contrary to his original intentions when he joined the army, his heart was pulling him in a different direction. Peering through his disheveled hair, So-mu looked up at the sky.
‘Why is there no world where everyone can live in peace and share a laugh under the same sky? Is there truly no way to bring a permanent end to this endless cycle of war?’
A cool breeze swept across the plain, as if to soothe his troubled mind. The wind, carrying So-mu’s silent sigh, drifted forward to comfort the marching men.
While he was lost in thought, the vanguard of the army cleared the fortress gates. Atop the walls, sentries stood vigilant. General Jang-yang’s total force, including recruits and regular soldiers, numbered fifty-three hundred men. Three hundred had been left behind to maintain order within Hanzhong.
Once clear of the gates, the army quickened its pace, marching at full speed. A day later, they arrived at their destination.
It was a vast plain bordered by the rugged slopes of Mount Jeonggun. Off to one side, the rushing waters of the upper Yangtze River flowed in the distance. This plain was a strategic bottleneck that any army seeking to attack Hanzhong had to cross.
As the soldiers took a brief rest, General Jang-yang and his commanders gathered. Commander Baek Moon-hwi, leader of the scouts, spoke with a grim expression.
“General, fortunately we arrived ahead of them. The enemy forces will arrive in about one shichen (two hours).”
“Well done,” Jang-yang replied. “Before the battle begins, have all scouts join the sword infantry. We will need every blade we can muster.”
“Understood, General.”
Jang-yang nodded, placing his hands behind his back as he studied the surrounding terrain. A few minutes later, he turned his gaze to Yang Yeon-jeong.
“Even though the enemy is arrogant, if they see our main force waiting here, they might suspect an ambush. Can your unit reach their positions without being spotted by the enemy scouts?”
“Do not worry, General,” Yang Yeon-jeong replied confidently. “This is our home, the land we grew up in. We know every fold and ravine where we can conceal ourselves. Even if they search the area, a force of our size will remain completely invisible.”
Jang-yang nodded in satisfaction.
“Depart immediately, Adjutant. The high peaks of Mount Jeonggun offer a clear view of this plain. Wait for the most opportune moment, then strike the enemy’s rear. You are the finest commander in our army, and I trust you will succeed.”
“Leave it to me, General.”
Yang Yeon-jeong placed her hand over her heart, bowed respectfully, and departed to assemble her fifteen hundred spearmen for the march up Mount Jeonggun.
Once she had gone, Jang-yang turned to Jin Lip, commander of the archers.
“I know the archers are not suited for close combat, but we have no choice. Once the enemy is in range, unleash three salvos, then fall back to support the rear of the sword infantry.”
“Understood, General.”
Jang-yang then looked at Han Baek, commander of the cavalry. A prominent scar, unconcealed by his helmet, ran down his face. Han Baek was a veteran commander, second in experience only to Jang-yang. He was a man of few words, known for his stoic, heavy demeanor.
“Though our cavalry numbers only a hundred, I know that under your leadership, they will fight with the strength of a hundred men each. When the spearmen launch their ambush, charge the enemy’s flank and tear through their formation.”
“Understood.”
Even after delivering the order, Jang-yang’s eyes remained fixed on Han Baek.
“Commander Han Baek.”
Han Baek looked up, sensing the gravity in the general’s voice. “Yes, General?”
“Most of your cavalry will likely not return alive today.”
“I know.”
Hearing the veteran reply without a single trace of hesitation, Jang-yang felt a sharp pang in his chest. He spoke in a strained, quiet voice.
“I am sorry.”
“It has been an honor to serve under you, General.”
With the plans for the other units finalized, Wi Jin-cheol stood at attention, waiting for his orders with a solemn expression.
“I have assigned the scouts and archers to support you, Wi Jin-cheol, but your total force still falls short of thirty-five hundred men. Facing an army of twenty thousand head-on with such numbers is a suicidal task.”
“I will not retreat a single step, General, even if my head is severed from my shoulders.”
“No, that is not what I want.”
“I have already prepared to lay down my life today. Give your orders, General.”
Jang-yang took a deep, heavy breath, his eyes turning pensive.
“It pains me to assign the most dangerous task to you.”
“I am prepared for any duty, General.”
“Within your sword infantry, you have a special squad that you have trained with great care. I have seen their extraordinary skill. When Yang Yeon-jeong and Han Baek strike the enemy’s rear and flanks, the enemy formation will buckle. At that moment, you must lead your special squad, break through their lines, and take the head of the enemy general. It will be a daunting task, but it is our only path to victory.”
Breaking through a massive host of twenty thousand with a mere hundred men to decapitate the enemy commander was an almost impossible feat. The enemy general would undoubtedly be surrounded by powerful guards and officers. Even if they miraculously succeeded, survival was highly unlikely. Though the general called them a “special squad,” it was, in truth, a suicide mission.
Yet, it was indeed their best chance at turning the tide of the battle.
Wi Jin-cheol declared solemnly, “No matter who the enemy general is, his head will fall by my blade.”
Pleased by his resolve, Jang-yang nodded and asked, “By the way, how did you foresee this situation and prepare such an elite squad in advance?”
Wi Jin-cheol paused, hesitating. Since he had already boasted about it earlier, it would be awkward to admit that the recruits of Group 16 had simply trained themselves to such a level of strength.
“I believed that a specialized unit was the only way to overcome our numerical disadvantage, General.”
“You have done well, Commander Wi Jin-cheol. Thanks to your foresight, we now carry a sliver of hope. You have worked hard…”
As Jang-yang patted his shoulder, Wi Jin-cheol felt a surge of emotion and silently renewed his resolve.
With all the preparations complete, a sense of calm settled over General Jang-yang. There was nothing left to do but fight with everything they had. He looked at his commanders one last time and spoke.
“Wherever you stand, and wherever you go, I will be with you. Even if it is hell itself.”