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Yun Gyeongbok stepped closer and asked Yi In-jung in a low voice.A general who had led the Battle of Gaowu Fortress to a swift victory must surely have another special plan in mind.
"What is today's operation?"
Yi In-jung shook his head.
"None. There is no operation. We need to watch how this turns out."
The unexpected answer made Yun Gyeongbok frown.
"It would only add emptiness to emptiness. There is no operation. I only hope no one gets hurt."
His tone had changed.
Yun Gyeongbok fell silent for a moment.He knew that someone who seeks victory through battle is dangerous—but someone who intends to do nothing is even more so.
"What happened?"
Yi In-jung tilted his chin toward the center of the camp, toward Tokto's command tent.
"They say everyone must gather to show that the Great Yuan Empire still stands strong."
"Isn't it strong?"
"Well. Is it? Hard to say. After the Battle of Gaowu, the disappointment was great."
Yi In-jung looked toward the ramparts.
"This isn't the empire we once knew. The army has grown weak. It's no longer the army it used to be."
Before the morning mist had even lifted, the drums sounded.
If an army is so rotten that it orders a retreat even as its own troops break through the walls and push inside, is there any reason to fight with full strength?
Instead of thinking about how to win the war together, they worry about who gets the credit.
They fight alongside men who believe that even in defeat, Goryeo must not be allowed to claim the achievement.
Should we really risk everything with such people?
If they hadn't sent Park Seong-jin to kill those who raised the retreat signal, the Goryeo troops inside the walls might have been wiped out.
If we were annihilated, they would have claimed that we disobeyed the retreat order.
Dudung. Dudung-dudung. Dudung.The rhythm was no different from yesterday.
It was an order to do the same thing again.
The soldiers donned their armor in silence, dragging their damp boots as they stepped out of the encampment.On their faces was not the look of men heading into battle, but of men preparing for labor.
"Load the stones.""Fix the horn bows.""Archers forward."
A stone was set on the cradle of the huihui trebuchet.As the wind scattered, the air split.
Boom.
The walls of Luhap Fortress trembled.
Layers of brick shattered, and gray dust burst outward.
"The wall is collapsing.""Only the outer layer."
The words passed without much care.The soldiers' eyes were already accustomed to dust.
Even if it collapses, they rebuild it immediately.Their technique is good.
Park Seong-jin was replacing the bowstring behind the trebuchets.There was no tremor in his fingertips.
"It's hitting less than yesterday," Song I-sul said, lifting his head.
"Those meant to be hit have already been hit."
Stones flew, arrows followed.The noise faded into background, and the day flowed in a fixed rhythm.
Around midday, Yi In-jung spoke.
"There's a crack near the gate. Hit only that spot today."
The order was passed along.Fireballs flew in succession, collapsing a pavilion.
Some soldiers stacked the fallen stones to form a defensive wall.There was no trace of emotion on their faces.
By sunset, the bombardment ceased.As the soldiers withdrew, someone said,
"We're finishing early today."
A few laughed.
Park Seong-jin wiped the blood from his thigh.There was no need to tell whether it was his own.
Another day had passed.
The next day followed the same flow.
Each time the huihui trebuchet's base shook, the stakes snapped.A stone the size of a human head was set into the frame.
"Release."
The air split.The stone flew and smashed into the wall.
Kwang.
Three launched at once.The arrows of the old crossbowmen burrowed into the gaps between stones.
Red flags and white flags mixed within the clouds of dust.
As Park Seong-jin carried stones, the back of his hand split open.With a blood-smeared hand, he pushed another stone into place.
"Fire."
A section of the wall collapsed.
"Assault unit, advance."
Spearmen pushed forward through the dust.They fell, and they rose again.
By sunset, the arms of the trebuchets were worn thin, on the verge of breaking.The triple cords had split, and resin seeped from the wood.
As they replaced the ropes, soldiers said,
"We worked a lot today too."
"Tomorrow, we'll work even more."
That was how the day's battle was concluded.
Stones and blood, dust and sweat.The war was wearing itself down, its voice growing ever quieter.