[The Three Kingdoms] Golden Sun Exhibition

21 – Tiger Hunting (3)

Late at night.

“The moon is particularly bright.”

I took Sama Wi up the mountain. There was a small cabin on the mountain, on the way up from Shin-ya to the north, which Sama Hwi had prepared, and we took shelter in it temporarily.

What to hide? It was just one of the various temporary shelters that I had earnestly asked Sama Hwi to prepare, just in case.

“I never thought we would use this place first.”

“Where did you think we’d use first?”

“The south. Or the west. Perhaps the shelters on the way to Hyungnam and the Army, or maybe the one on the way to Sangyong. I planned to flee that way when Dong Tak came.”

Logically thinking about Dong Tak’s tyranny, there would be more occasions to go down south from Hyungju. But, we ended up visiting one of the shelters I had prepared in the north of Hyungju, before the south.

“Let’s unpack first.”

“Yes, master.”

Sama Wi sat down next to me. We sat on the wooden bed – there were no blankets – prepared in the cabin, catching our breath.

“I’m sorry, Wiya. I’ve been worrying whether it was wrong to trouble you with all this. You are in the midst of growing, yet I make you move around at night.”

Samage was quite tired.

No matter how much his strength had been honed through farming, it was a bit much for a child to be forced to march at night.

“It’s fine. There’s nothing we can do now that it’s come to this. To be blunt, it wouldn’t be impossible for Sonkyeon to capture and torture Hwangjo, forcing him to dishonor our teacher, would it?”

“Exactly. If that happens, I would end up being executed. As a secretary who almost drove Sonkyeon into a corner.”

In case Hwangjo loses and dishonors our teacher.

-Has Hwangjo targeted me with this plot? Absolutely not. Investigate. And find out who. We will certainly catch the one who resorted to such trickery.

For daring to move against Sonkyeon, Sunnyu and I would be labeled traitors and executed.

If you look at it positively, you might portray a grandiose figure by saying ‘Work for me!’ However, if I refuse, I could be declared a potential enemy and lose my head.

‘Does Sunnyu know? He might not. But if we investigate, it will all come out.’

Regarding Sunnyu, while Hwangjo might not know details down to his name, he could find out by investigating one or two people who attended the water mirror academy.

Even though he might not dare to commit such a blasphemy, he might seize Samahwi as well and torture him to utter our names.

Anxiety.

I formed a plan, but the anxiety of not knowing what would happen made me leave the academy with Samage.

Samahwi decided to take Sunny to hide for a while.

If Hwangjo is caught, as the one suspected of plotting, I will definitely be pursued by Sonkyeon, and if things go wrong, Sunnyu might be pursued by Sonkyeon as well.

-Catch him before he runs too far!

And right now.

While he wouldn’t touch the Water mirror teacher, Samahwi, for now, just in case, he decided to entrust himself to someone who can assure his safety-a close friend of shin ya.

Samahwi wanted to stay at the academy, but with my earnest pleading, Sunnyu decided to take Samahwi elsewhere to hide.

But did they manage to hide properly?

Could they have stubbornly returned to the academy?

Anxiety clogs up my mind.

If only I could clearly know the result of the battle, it would be a relief, but I have no way of knowing.

All I can do is pray that Hwangjo indeed overcomes Sonkyeon.

If Hwangjo gets killed, I wish Upyo or at least someone else would step up and defeat Sonkyeon.

If Upyo loses and Yangyang castle falls into the hands of Sonkyeon, I can only hope that Sonkyeon sneers,

“Ha ha, trying to defeat me with such a shallow trick. He’s incompetent. Don’t bother with him,”

and dismisses us as mere country bumpkins.

“…I’m really not suited to devising strategies.”

I feel guilty that due to me, Samahwi, Sunnyu, and Samage have to leave the academy with such burdened hearts.

“I’m sorry to the Water mirror teacher, and to teacher Sunnyu. I’m really sorry.”

“You don’t need to apologize, teacher.”

“Even so, with things as they are, I can’t help but worry.”

Creating strategies really isn’t in my nature. How can I pronounce a great enterprise when I tremble with uncertainty over the outcome?

“Human affairs aren’t set like formulas, but in cases like this, I really wish there were a correct answer. This… my heart hurts too much.”

“Are you alright. Would you like me to support you?”

“No, it’s not that severe. I’m just…to be honest, I’m really scared. Ha ha, who knew a teacher could be such a coward.”

“That’s not true!”

Samage scolded me.

“Your plans are excellent, teacher. I guarantee it. Even though General Hwangjo might lack ability, it’s your plan and that of teacher Sunnyu’s that fills in gaps. Please believe. Sonkyeon will retreat.”

“Are you certain?”

“I’m certain. There can’t be any ‘if’s in this.”

Sama Ui’s eyes were truly, and bizarrely, filled with conviction.

“But-“

Suddenly.

Sama Ui hugged me.

She pulled my face to her chest and patted my back.

“Master, am I shaking right now?”

“…no.”

Sama Ui’s body was no different from usual. She was quiet and calm, without ever shaking with fear or anxiety like me.

“I am not anxious. The master has created a venue for General Huangjo to use all his power, and Teacher Sunyu’s strategy is something that General Huangjo can successfully carry out if he just properly trains the soldiers.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“It’s a decision made based on comprehensive judgment of everything. So don’t be too anxious. You said yourself, didn’t you? A strategist does not plan operations assuming they will fail.”

“hahahaha, yes. That’s true.”

Perhaps it was due to Sama Ui’s words filled with confidence.

I was able to unload a little bit of the burden on my heart thanks to Sama Ui’s conviction.

“…really, you’re going to become a great person. Bravo for being bold, something a criminal like me couldn’t even think of.”

I reached my hand out and stroked Sama Ui’s head. It was a sign of gratitude for receiving comfort from her, and a proclamation to myself as well.

“Sure. There’s no need to be anxious, when I, your own master, am with you.”

“Yes. Master, rely on me if you’re anxious.”

Even a child like this believes in my strategy this much, I can’t possibly feel apprehensive about myself!

“Well, let’s believe that Huangjo wins. You never know, Huangjo might reap the joy of killing Son Gyeon. Yes, it’s ‘Jinin Sadaecheonmyeong,’ isn’t it? If all the things are planned by humans, but ultimately, it’s the sky that grants them….”

Hmm?

“……a star?”

“Yes?”

“Why is that star falling… hold on, Uiya. Wait a second.”

I looked up at the sky.

In the dark night sky, the twinkling moon was falling.

“…Uiya, do you believe in astronomy?”

“I do not. To be honest, I don’t agree with the phrase ‘Jinin Sadaecheonmyeong.’ If the will of the heavens is determined, then what’s the point of humans struggling?”

Sama Ui firmly grasped my face. Her expression was really distorted as if she would cry.

“If heaven’s will is that Son Gyeon will seize Hyeong Ju, then the strategic wisdom that you and Teacher Sunyu put your minds together to come up with becomes meaningless, wouldn’t it?”

“What if it’s the opposite?”

“Excuse me?”

For a moment, Sama Ui cocked her head.

She was about to cry but stopped suddenly as if she had realized something.

In her eyes, reflecting my face, I was clearly smiling.

“What if heaven’s will is that Son Gyeon dies today?”

“……Son Gyeon’s death isn’t destined but a result of combined willpower and effort from many people.”

Sama Ui looked up at the night sky with me and grinned.

“If heaven is helping us, we have no reason not to take that help.”

Thump, thump.

The sound of hooves echoed from afar.

“Hide, Uiya!”

I drew the sword I had prepared for any unforeseen circumstances. I knew not how to brandish it and had never swung it at anyone before, but having it was better than not.

“Master Geum!”

“Master Sunyu?”

The woman who had ridden to the evacuation point was Sunyu.

She sat atop her horse, smiling broadly, looking elated without a thought of dismounting.

“We’ve succeeded! It seems that General Hwangjo…!”

Soongan, whose courtesy name was Mun Dae.

“It looks like we’ve scored a tremendous victory!!”

Died in battle.

* * *

Soongan, having received five thousand soldiers from Won Sul, attacks Ganghwa.

Eupyo, Hwangjo is defeated by Soongan and retreats to YangYang, losing half of his army.

Soongan, encircles YangYang and requests reinforcements from Won Sul.

Eupyo, in order to ask Won Sul for reinforcements, commands Hwangjo to break the encirclement.

Eupyo, Hwangjo breaks the encirclement but is chased by Soongan. He flees to Hyeon San.

Eupyo, Hwangjo’s hidden troops throw rocks at Soongan.

Soongan, is hit in the head with a rock thrown by Hwangjo’s soldier and falls.

Won Sul, upon hearing the news of Soongan’s death, retreats his army.

* * *

“No way, Hwangjo did this…?”

Hearing the news, I couldn’t help but think this.

“It really happened.”

Whether it was the result of human will converging as one or the aid of the heavens. Everything ended in the most ideal form I had desired, and I felt greatly relieved.

“Hwangjo won?”

“Yes! He ambushed Soongan at Hyeon San, lured him in and killed him with a rock. Soongan’s army reportedly retreated as soon as Soongan died.”

“Isn’t this a trick? Aren’t we the fish caught by their bait?”

“Nothing like that. Oh, you worrywarts.”

Eupyo’s army had defeated Soongan’s.

“Master, congratulations! …Master?”

“No way, Hwangjo really won?”

That’s why people study warfare.

“I wonder how he really won.”

I was shaking with excitement all over.

“Oh, I see.”

This must be the thrilling victory people speak of at the gambling table.