Chapter 160
Upon Seo Seons command, a group of soldiers started to run towards the Eastern Palace. Yangnyeong, watching them, muttered with a frosty expression.
Its a shame, hes such a clever child.
That was the end of Yangnyeongs sentiment. His gaze returned to the Geunjeongjeon Hall.
Little brother, you wouldnt have run away, would you?
Boom! Bang, bang, bang!
But soon after, from the direction of the gate leading to the Eastern Palace, loud gunshots and explosions began to be heard.
Whats happening?
Yangnyeong and Seo Seon, who had been looking towards the Central Palace, turned their eyes towards the Eastern Palace.
There, behind shields that seemed even sturdier than the ones they had made, they could see the figures of Hyang and the Crown Princess Consort, ceaselessly firing their muskets at the soldiers.
What the
* * *
Following behind the shields, Hyang and his party reached the gate leading from the Eastern Palace to the Geunjeongjeon Hall and spotted soldiers rushing towards the Eastern Palace.
Prepare for battle!
Prepare for battle!
Click! Click!
Following Hyangs command, the echo of his order was followed by the loud noise of cocking rifles.
Click!
After loading his rifle, Hyang looked at the opposing shield and smirked.
Peoples thoughts are all the same, arent they? Throw the grenades!
Throw the grenades!
Upon Hyangs command, a few handpicked Inner Palace Guards took out grenades and unscrewed the back caps. Hyang jokingly yet seriously said to them,
Show them the skills you boasted about in the local stone wars.
Yes, Your Highness!
As the soldiers came within 20 steps, Hyang gave the order.
Throw!
Throw!
Something flew over the shields, causing the surrounding soldiers to be startled and look at it.
Whoa! Be careful! It looks like they are hurling stones!
Ssssss!
Just then, with a strong smell of gunpowder, smoke started to rise from the end of a sack, and a soldier exclaimed in alarm,
Is, is this?
Argh!
In an instant, with a loud blast, the bodies of those who had been staring blankly were caught in the explosion and hurled in all directions.
Boom! Bang, boom!
The grenades thrown by the Inner Palace Guards shattered the line of the soldiers shields. As the shields fell over from the explosion of the grenades, Hyang promptly pulled the trigger.
Fire!
Bang! Bang! Rat-a-tat!
With the firing from Hyang, the Crown Princess Consort, and the Inner Palace Guards, the soldiers running towards the Eastern Palace screamed and fell to the ground.
Hyang, having crushed the soldiers rushing towards the Eastern Palace and reaching the gate leading to Geunjeongjeon, saw soldiers swarming into the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon.
Annihilate the traitors!
Annihilate them!
* * *
Ah
Watching Hyang attacking the soldiers from the direction of the Eastern Palace, Seo Seon sighed in disbelief.
That Crown Prince
Weve been hit hard. Tch!
Yangnyeong, smacking his lips, surveyed the battle situation.
Although they had crossed the Geunjeongmun Gate with great momentum, most of the Inner Palace Guards were already entrenched in the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon.
Especially, the Inner Palace Guards, like themselves, had set up large shields even bigger and sturdier in front and were aiming their muskets. Seeing this, the soldiers hesitated and watched cautiously.
Yangnyeong shouted angrily at this sight.
What are you doing! Geunjeongjeon is right in front of us! Stopping here only leaves execution as our fate! Bet everything on this fight! Their muskets will also take time to reload! Charge!
At Yangnyeongs command, Nam Jun-seok yelled,
Its now or never! Victory brings you wealth and glory! Charge!
Encouraged by Yangnyeong and Nam Jun-seoks words, the soldiers started charging with curses.
Damn it all! Better to die this way than that!
Its do or die!
Charge!
As the soldiers charged, the Inner Palace Guards simultaneously pulled their triggers.
Rat-a-tat-tat!
Aargh!
Ugh!
Shield bearers!
Rolling.
As the soldiers shields advanced again, the Inner Palace Guard commander ordered his troops.
Throw the grenades!
Throw!
Boom! Bang!
The grenades thrown by the Inner Palace Guards caused the soldiers shield line to collapse.
Dont stop!
Charge! Charge!
Despite the shield line collapsing from the grenade explosion, the soldiers continued to charge.
Seeing this, the Inner Palace Guards standing right behind their shield line drew out their horse muskets and simultaneously pulled the triggers.
Bang, rat-a-tat-tat!
The Inner Palace Guards who fired six shots in an instant stepped back, and the next line of guards came forward to fire their horse muskets.
As the firing continued, the soldiers forces rapidly diminished.
This is dangerous
Uwaaaah!
While the demoralized soldiers hesitated, a loud cheer burst out from behind.
Huh?
Turning their heads towards the cheer, Grand Prince Yangnyeong and Seo Seons expressions turned to dismay.
The Golden Army, which was thought to have left the city, had returned.
* * *
Fortunately, we havent missed the opportunity.
The commander in charge of the Golden Army let out a sigh of relief.
After departing from Hanyang, the Golden Army had galloped at full speed towards Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province.
The destination of the Golden Army was the Gyeonggi Military Camp located in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.
Reinforce our troops at the Gyeonggi Military Camp and suppress the traitors!
The mid and low-ranking commanders and soldiers, without any doubt, followed their training commander, earnestly riding their horses.
The reason for this was that whenever there were invasions by Japanese pirates, a similar method was used to gather troops for battle.
The Golden Army, having departed from Hanyang early in the morning, was able to reach Gwangju Garrison before sunset that day.
This was possible because the entire dispatched Golden Army consisted of cavalry and artillerymen. Even in the early Joseon period, the main force of the Joseon army in both quality and quantity was the cavalry, and the Golden Army was a prime example of this.
Upon arriving at Gyeonggi Garrison, the training commander immediately sought the Gyeonggis Military Governor.
That evening, all military officers of the Golden Army, regardless of rank, were summoned.
There will be a meeting about the operations to be conducted in the future. All military officers are to attend.
Following the order conveyed by the messenger, the officers of the Golden Army, who were resting, gathered in the inner quarters of the command post where the Gyeonggis Military Governor was staying.
Has everyone assembled?
Yes!
Once it was confirmed that all the officers of the Golden Army had gathered, the training commander took out a small piece of paper from his pocket.
Those called upon, step forward.
The number of officers called out by the training commander was five. After confirming the officers who stepped forward, the training commander ordered the surrounding soldiers.
These are traitors! Bind them immediately!
Yes, sir!
In this way, the training commander weeded out the Golden Army officers who were in collusion with Seo Seon and then split the Golden Army into different groups.
Send 2 units to the residence of the criminal Yangnyeong, and send another 2 units to the residence of the criminal Seo Seon in Icheon. Bind everyone inside the houses, search the houses, and secure all evidence related to the treason! Execute anyone who resists! This is a royal command!
Yes, sir!
Following the commanders order, the Golden Army raided the house of Grand Prince Yangnyeongn in Gwangju and the ancestral home of Seo Seon in Icheon.
The remaining troops will return to the army immediately!
Following the commanders order, the remaining troops of the Golden Army immediately left Gyeonggi Garrison and marched northward.
The Golden Army moved via a different route than the one they had taken to come down. Using back roads and crossing the river near Paldang, the Golden Army passed through Wabueup, circumventing Hanyang to the north. Having passed through Sukjeongmun1, the northern gate of Hanyang, the troops concealed themselves in a nearby forest. They chose this location because it was an area with almost no pedestrian traffic.
As soon as theres trouble in the palace, well push down immediately. Until then, not even a breath should be heard!
Yes, sir!
Hiding the cavalry in the mountains was not an easy task, but fitting their reputation as elite troops, the Golden Army quietly concealed themselves.
Two days passed, and as soon as the sound of drums and explosions signaling turmoil in the palace were heard, the training commander mounted his horse.
Were moving! Protect His Majesty!
Uwaaaah!
Not long after Chuseok, still relying on the bright moonlight, the Golden Army spurred their horses and began to race towards the palace.
***
As the Golden Army poured in through the Geumjeongmun Gate, the battle temporarily subsided into a lull. As the battlefield quieted down, King Sejong, who had been under the protection of the Inner Palace Guards, got up.
Is it time for me to step in?
Just then, Hyangs shouting resonated across the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon.
Who ordered to stop the bombardment? The traitors muskets are still aiming for His Majesty! Do not stop the bombardment! Fire!
Simultaneously with his shout, Hyang raised his rifle and aimed at a soldier nearby holding a musket, pulling the trigger.
Bang!
With Hyangs shot as a signal, the momentarily ceased firing of the Inner Palace Guards resumed.
Bang, bang! Rat-a-tat-tat! Bang, bang!
Following Hyang, the Inner Palace Guards who had accompanied him and those blocking the front of Geunjeongjeon resumed firing at the soldiers. The Golden Army, who had been holding the rear, also began firing at the soldiers.
Do not stop the bombardment!
Hyang continued to pull the trigger and shouted.
When you have to shoot, shoot! Dont talk! Why does the villain boss die! Its because they blabber at crucial moments and get killed!
Hyang, recalling a famous line from a Western movie2 and the traditional clich, pulled the trigger.
Click!
Eunuch Go!
Yes!
Hyang handed his empty gun to the eunuch and received a reloaded rifle. He then spoke to the Inner Palace Guard officer who was commanding beside him.
I will go to see the Father! Keep annihilating the enemy forces until the end!
Ill assign troops to accompany you! You men, escort His Highness!
Yes!
Crown Princess Consort! Lets go!
Yes! Guys!
Hyang and the party of the Crown Princess Consort, escorted by Inner Palace Guard soldiers, hurried towards Geunjeongjeon.
* * *
Arriving quickly in front of Geunjeongjeon, Hyang shouted at the Inner Palace Guard soldiers standing in front.
Make way! I must see the Father!
Yes!
As the Inner Palace Guard soldiers cleared a path, Hyang ran towards King Sejong.
Upon finding Sejong, Hyang immediately inquired about his well-being.
Father! Are you unharmed?
I am fine.
But not quite reassured, Hyang carefully inspected Sejongs body.
Phew~. It is the mercy of Heaven.
Relieved that Sejong was safe, Hyang sighed with relief and then gritted his teeth.
Those scoundrels! Shield bearers! Follow me!
Yes!
Eunuchs too, follow!
Yes.
Carrying a shield, an Inner Palace Guard soldier followed Hyang up the stairs of Geunjeongjeon.
As they ascended the stairs, the situation in the courtyard in front of Geunjeongjeon became clear to Hyang.
Shields! Defend well!
I will defend with my life!
The Inner Palace Guard soldier crouched behind the shield, and Hyang, concealed behind him, began sniping at the soldiers.
The Inner Palace Guard soldiers blocking the front of Geunjeongjeon, the soldiers who had emerged from the Eastern Palace, and the Golden Army who had returned through Geunjeongmun Gate started to press the enemy soldiers. Then, a shout came from the direction of the Central Palace.
Annihilate the traitors!
Uwaaaah!
Fire!
Rat-a-tat-tat!
The Golden Army soldiers who had emerged from the direction of the Central Palace also opened fire upon seeing the enemy soldiers.
No! The Golden Army, who should be evacuating the Queen and the consorts
When King Sejong expressed his confusion upon seeing the Golden Army pouring out of the Central Palace, the voice of Queen Soheon was heard.
Your Majesty! Where are you? Your Majesty!
Why do I hear the Queens voice here?
King Sejong, perplexed at hearing Queen Soheons voice unexpectedly, was at a loss for words.
Shortly after, upon seeing Queen Soheon appear escorted by Inner Palace Guard soldiers, Sejong was speechless.
Her usual wig was nowhere to be seen, seemingly lost. Hastily dressed in a dansam with a jeontong (traditional wrap) around it, she held a bow in her hand.
[TL/N: Dansam is an outer lining garment. See /564x/85/99/d5/8599d5f3d9d28b70b29632218e86829e.jpg ]
My, my lady wife
Seeing Queen Soheon, Sejong forgot his formalities and called her by the title he used during his days as a prince.
Your Majesty, are you safe?
I am unharmed.
Like Hyang, Queen Soheon touched Sejong all over to ensure he was unharmed and then, finally relieved, slumped to the ground.
My wife!
Your majesty!
As Sejong and a court lady supported Queen Soheon, Hyang, who had been observing with astonished eyes, let out a bitter laugh.
Now that I think about it my Mother is indeed a warrior.
It was Queen Soheon who had endured the hardship of her family being destroyed due to treason3 and who had directed firefighting efforts while heavily pregnant during a great fire in Hanyang.
The final phase of the battle in front of Geunjeongjeon came with the arrival of Prince Suyang.
Annihilate the traitors!
Uwaaaah!
Seeing Prince Suyang rushing in with soldiers guarding Myeongnyeong Palace, the will of the enemy soldiers completely broke.
However, there was one who continued to fight till the end. It was Nam Jun-seok, commanding the soldiers.
Our lives are forfeit whether we surrender or not! Break through with all your might! We live only if His Highness the Grand Prince and His Excellency Seo Seon survive!
Uwaaaah!
In a desperate situation, the soldiers, driven to frenzy, charged at the Golden Army to break through.
But what came in response to these desperate soldiers was a barrage of grenades and bullets.
Sukjeongmun is one of the eight gates of Seoul which surrounded the olden city during Joseon period.[]A line from the character Tuco in the movie The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 1966[]Read the case of Shim On, the Queens father.[]
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