CIVIL WAR
"Heed my orders and those of you that resist shall be rebels to our Heavenly Kingdom, open the Palace gates and we shall spare you but should you fail to do so then we shall penetrate with everyone out here at full force." Galmunwang Baekban threatened.
Everyone beholding it they bowed their heads.
Seungman and Gopheung had ridden their horses for a while and they stopped at a distance when they beheld in front of themselves a large group of aristocrats who stood their in wait.
Seungman unmounted her horse and she walked up to General Sokham who was the man leading them.
"Your Highness." He said as he bowed his head.
"Rise." Seungman said and General Sokham complied as he stood up.
"How many are they?" Seungman asked.
"One hundred thousand soldiers." General Sokham replied.
Hearing that Seungman got the token that she had tucked into her dress and she raised it up into the sky.
The aristocrats and their private armies along with the National troops beholding what was in her possession they went down on their right knees and bowed their heads.
"Long Live Your Highness, we await your command?" They all said and she looked at the large battallion which stretched for more than ten miles.
"We go to war." Seungman replied as she smiled ghastly.
"Your Highness, what should we do?" Alcheon Rang asked.
"Man the Palace." Princess Deokman replied.
Ichan Chilsuk turned around and he looked at Yushin Rang while Princess Deokman gazed at the both of them.
At that moment the yells of the people outside the Palace had only grown louder and louder.
Immediately, the people rushed over towards the entrance and at that moment the guards at the battlements moved aside while the Archers stood in their positions.
Aiming for the Ground right in front of the citizens they shot arrows of fire which temporarily repelled the strikers.
"If you set another foot closer then your own blood shall be upon your very hands, this is our final warning." Yushin Rang said.
At that moment someone threw a stone and flying towards him Yushin Rang bent his head as the stone missed.
Before long, the other people started throwing rocks at the Archers on top of Banwolseong Palace's walls and Ichan Chilsuk unsheathed his sword.
"Her Highness in killing the last Seonggol Prince has sinned against heaven and she can not be spared as well, if I don't rebel today then I am afraid that History shall call me a coward and the very man that brought upon Shilla the Calamity of the Female Ruler Jin." Ichan Chilsuk said.
"Open the gates he yelled at the lion Corps that followed him.
At that very moment they turned against the Shilla Palace guards and they launched themselves towards them being led by Soseok Rang.
"Your Highness." Alcheon Rang said, "You knew all along that Chilsuk would rebel?" He asked.
"Let the wolves remove the wool and when we can guarantee that they have all been exposed we shall orchestrate our final move." Princess Deokman said.
A few of the Hwarang hurriedly rushed towards Princess Deokman and Alcheon Rang stood right in front of her.
"Don't worry Your Highness, I shall on this day protect you even if I have to die doing it." Alcheon Rang said as Princess Deokman also picked up a sword.
Alcheon Rang launched himself at the them and he started cutting through their abdomens and slitting their throats with the edge of his sword.
"How could you call yourself loyal when on this auspicious day you choose to rebel?" Yushin Rang asked as he faced Ichan Chilsuk on the battlements.
"Shilla gave me nothing and it has never been the natural law for women to promote order like Shao and Yun?" Ichan Chilsuk replied.
"Today it is me against you because I assure you that history shall besmirch you of your every accomplishment even as a Wonsanghwa." Yushin Rang said.
"Even you should defeat be inevitable Gukseon Yushin, either way I regret that if I don't rebel today then someone else will tomorrow." Ichan Chilsuk said as the two clashed with one another they finally looked each other in the eye while trying to push themselves back behind.
"It doesn't matter which day that comes, I'll be proud that I stood by Her Highness Princess Deokman's side and I'll always be there to fight for her all the days of her life." Yushin Rang said.
"That is if I don't bury you today." Chilsuk Rang said and at that moment the both of them raised their right legs and kicked one another as they stumbled backwards.
The other guards positioned themselves in front of Yushin Rang while the few other Lion Corps stood in front of Chilsuk Rang.
Seokpum Rang was fighting so hard and he and his force were trying to penetrate the guards that stood between them and the Palace gates.
"Everyone stand your ground." General Kim Yongsu said as all the other Royal guards that had guarded Ilsan Palace positioned themselves right in front of King Jinpyeong's Chambers where he was with Princess Cheonmyeong and Kim Yongchun along with the Eunuch and Royal physician watching the inconscious King.
The sound of the blades within the walls only grew louder and louder as Galmunwang Baekban watched from where he was standing as the Royal guards and the Lion Corps slew themselves.
"Your Highness, what are we waiting for?" Haek Ga asked.
"Patience." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"They shall be the very people to open the doors and invite us inside." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"Such a remarkable stratagem, the very people that her Highness placed at the gate were the very people that wete supposed to be the first to betray her and let in her enemies." Haek Ga said.
"That's not the most interesting part." Galmunwang Baekban said.
"Which one is Your Excellency?" Haek Ga asked.
"There is no one to save her because even the Hwarang are trapped inside the Arena without any possibility of them escaping." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"Congratulations Your Highness." Haek Ga said.
"I think it's too early, the fun has just started." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
Princess Deokman was still standing there when one of the Royal guards ran up to her.
"Your Highness." He said as he bowed his head.
"Where are the rest of the Hwarang?" Princess Deokman asked.
"The rest of the Hwarang have been trapped inside the Arena and all the entrances and the exits have been jammed." The guard replied.
"Is the sky falling down?" Princess Deokman asked angrily.
"No Your Highness." The guard replied.
"Are the Arena's doors made of gold or diamonds?" Princess Deokman asked once again.
"No Your Highness." The guard replied.
"You come to me to tell me such nonsense?" Princess Deokman said.
"No Your Highness, my sincerest apologies." The guard replied.
"Go to those Nangdos and their leaders and tell them that of they can not open the doors that are made of wood I have given them a Royal order to break them down." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." The guard replied as he bowed his head and he walked away.
Alcheon Rang was surrounded by about ten Nangdos at the same time and catching a glimpse of one who was approaching Princess Deokman, the descended their swords upon him but he guarded with his own.
Gathering all the strength that he could find, He pushed them all away as Princess Deokman seeing her attacker she swang her sword and also cut his lower abdomen before she turned and cut off his head.
The blood spilled on her hands and at that moment Seokpum Rang and his Nangdos had already penetrated to the gates of the Palace.
Yushin Rang seeing the awful sight descended the stairs and ran towards Seokpum Rang and his men.
"Open the door." Seokpum Rang said as he flung himself towards Yushin and their swords collided with one another.
"Where is your loyalty to Shilla?" Yushin Rang asked.
"My loyalty is to a man which as a Gaya descendant you wouldn't know because you have been entirely charmed by that Woman." Haek Ga replied as they struck each other's swords.
"The other Nangdos had already removed the logs that were holding the gates and flung them open while Princess Deokman was watching.
Galmunwang Baekban staring at the path that had been paved by the citizens that had rushed in he smiled as he slowly after them led his troops inside as well.
"It's too Late." Seokpum Rang said as Yushin and Alcheon Rang along with all the other Royal guards withdrew and they surrounded Princess Deokman with their swords pointed at the people who were inside and we're already positioning themselves with their garden tools in front of Princess Deokman.
"We shall Protect Your Highness with our lives today." Alcheon Rang said and at that moment Galmunwang Baekban walked in with his supporters and his private armies.
"Your Excellency." Princess Deokman said.
"There is no need for formalities right here." Galmunwang Baekban said.
"Why?" Princess Deokman asked, "Are you afraid to call me a Princess?" She added.
"Galmunwang Baekban is afraid of nothing." He said.
"Except the female Ruler Jin." Princess Deokman said.
"No." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"Then why lead the masses here to apprehend me?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Because for a Princess you have defiled the code of conduct for us Shilla Royals." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"Is a coup the respectable code of Conduct for us Shilla Royals?" Princess Deokman asked.
"When the state is unstable someone must get up to restore law and order." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"How unstable is Shilla?" Princess Deokman asked.
"A female King can not rule for the Calamity of the Female Ruler Jin shall be upon us all." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"Because I am a woman?" Princess Deokman asked.
"You weren't born a man but I was and I have the very hallowed bone that you boast about possessing yourself.
I am qualified to sit on that throne as well and I must bring justice to the Seonggol Prince who died at Your Highness' hands." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"If you move one step closer then I shall personally end your life." Alcheon Rang said.
"Alcheon?" Princess Deokman called and at once he turned around and looked at her.
"Remember what I told you." Princess Deokman said.
"Then you would know much better than anyone else that if it is absolute trust that you mean you'd be willing to listen to my every command and put your lives on the line." He recalled Princess Deokman saying.
"When you can resist then resist with everything that you have but should I give you an order to stop Alcheon Rang then please for my sake you must listen because if you don't that could besmirch us of everything that we have worked for." Princess Deokman had gone ahead to command him.
"Pardon me Your Highness." Alcheon Rang said.
"Drop your weapons." Princess Deokman said and all those that were surrounding her looked at her rather puzzled including Yushin Rang.
"Your Highness?" Yushin said.
"I said drop your weapons.' She commanded.
"Yes Your Highness." Kim Yushin replied and they all returned their swords into their sheaths and they dropped them onto the ground.
Princess Deokman raised her hands up towards the heavens and closing her eyes she took a deep breath before she opened them.
"Here I am and all these people fighting alongside me believe me to be innocent, do as you please for I am the one that you want but let these people go." Princess Deokman said staunchly.
"You can even command in such a situation?" Galmunwang Baekban added.
"Are you the one possessing the seal of our Heavenly kingdom?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Your Highness, have you no eyes?" Galmunwang Baekban said.
"Bring my chair." Princess Deokman ordered and the other guards that were behind her raised brought a small wooden chair and place it on the very platform in the centre of the Courtyard where Princess Deokman was standing.
While everyone was watching her she lifted her dress and she sat down.
"I am listening." Princess Deokman said, "what have you to say to me?" She asked.
"How ignorant can you be?" Haek Ga said.
"You are only a subordinate and I was asking your Master." Princess Deokman said.
"Calm down Your Highness." Galmunwang Baekban said. "Everyone knows that you wanted to rule Shilla and upon the birth of a Royal son with the sacred bone you deliberately murdered him." He added.
"Other than giving me a baseless accusation why don't you show the people evidence?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Yes Your Highness." Yushin Rang said, "where is your evidence?" He asked.
"I have a witness who can verify that you were in Ilsan Palace last night and you can begin by telling us whether you were there." Galmunwang Baekban said.
"I was." Princess Deokman replied.
"Good." Galmunwang Baekban said.
"There were other people that were there with me." Princess Deokman said.
"They were all your subordinates?" Galmunwang Baekban asked.
"Yes." Princess Deokman replied.
"Would they have killed the child without Your Command and even if they did then as their Master you are responsible for your misconduct, the mother Queen Sungman has been devastated to the point of losing her sanity and can Your Highness defend herself by saying that she would have killed her own son to frame you when not even a beast can kill it's own?" Galmunwang Baekban asked.
"You have your claim and I have mine regardless, but why is the Royal seal in your possession?" Princess Deokman asked.
"The question should be why isn't it in your possession unless the King didn't approve of you having it in the first place because he noticed that as long as you were alive then to Shilla you were not a blessing but the greatest Calamity that has ever befallen it." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"Calamity?" Princess Deokman said as she laughed.
"Your Highness, admit your guilt and be punished, refrain from the path of sin and die in peace." The Courtiers said.
"And was your loyalty to his Majesty or to his brother?" Princess Deokman asked angrily as she stood up.
"He possesses the Royal seal and you don't." The Courtiers said.
"Why would the King give him the seal and not you and he lives far from the Palace he knows better than anyone else why would he steal it and if I am right have you any document from His Majesty that asks you to assume power from him?" Galmunwang Baekban asked.
He had just spoken like this when there was an explosion in the sky.
Everyone looked up in a distance to see what it was and three clouds of green smile were up in the air.
Looking at them Princess Deokman smiled.
The Aristocratic troops that were being led to Seoraebeol in favour of Galmunwang Baekban halted at once when they noticed the clouds.
At that very moment, a messenger riding on a brown stead approached General Eupseong who was commanding Galmunwang Baekban's reinforcements.
The messenger halted on his stead and then he got off as he quickly approached General Eupseong.
"Your Excellency." He said as he went on his knees.
"What is it?" General Eupseong asked.
"Your Excellency, fifty thousand soldiers are marching towards our direction right now and they are being led by General Gopheung." The messenger replied.
"Fifty thousand troops?" General Eupseong replied.
"Your Excellency, His Highness Galmunwang Baekban had said that should everything come to it's worst then we must return to Dosal Fortress at once and there we shall await his command." The Commander that was next to him said.
"Is there no way out for him?" Another Commander asked.
"We are his followers and he still has a justified claim, he had promised that even on his own, he could still make an escape to join us." General Eupseong replied.
He was still talking when another Messenger rode towards him and he gor off his stead and also bowed down in front of his horse.
"What's the matter?" General Eupseong asked.
"Your Highness, another force of fifty thousand soldiers led by Kim Seungman are marching towards Seoraebeol right now." The messenger replied.
"What?" General Eupseong asked.
"One hundred thousand troops, we can only amount to a fourth of their size." General Eupseong said.
"They all all composed aristocrats owning large private armies and even smaller officials have invested in the entire force along with the National army as well." The messenger said.
"Even if we want to risk and deliver Galmunwang Baekban from Seoraebeol then we won't be able to make it back to Dosal Fortress in one piece and if we must penetrate the attacking force then I am very much afraid that we won't succeed against that large number.
Either way our last option is to fall back as soon as possible and get to Dosal Fortress where preparations were already made, it would be our most favourable position right now." General Eupseong said.
"Yes Your Excellency." His Commanders replied.
"Let's head for Dosal Fortress at once." General Eupseong commanded.
"Yes Your Excellency." They all replied as the army quickly shifted its course of direction and they started moving Northwards.
Galmunwang Gukban's Ganglyeoghan Palace had already been surrounded by a small force that belonged to Galmunwang Baekban and it was being commanded by General Pocheon.
"Come out Galmunwang Baekban or else we are going to have to break into your residence by force." General Pocheon ordered and at that moment the green clouds were up in the sky and the signal was seen by Galmunwang Gukban who was standing with Damju and Moo Mak.
"Your Excellency, there is your signal." Moo Mak said.
"Wonderful." Galmunwang Baekban said as he turned around and he faced the people that were nestled in his Courtyard.
Close to fifteen thousand soldiers stood up to his inner most courtyard and they were all armed with swords, shields, spears bows and arrows.
"Everyone, get into your positions." Galmunwang Baekban ordered and they all unsheathed their swords as others pointed their spears at the gates.
"Today we are going to penetrate that small barricade outside this palace by force." Galmunwang Gukban said.
"Hoorah." The soldiers shouted and their cries came up to Banwolseong Palace.
General Pocheon who was outside with a group of soldiers stood their and they waited to see the reaction of Galmunwang Gukban following the very loud applause that came from inside and the stamping if feet and spears which indicated the presence of a very large force.
Everyone who was outside was temporarily frightened.
Galmunwang Gukban with his two hands he flung the gates open and at once without any hesitation the soldiers marched out of his compound and took General Pocheon's small force by surprise.
"Withdraw." General Pocheon shouted as he and his men ran away in the direction of Banwolseong Palace while they were being pursued.
Galmunwang Baekban turned and looked at Princess Deokman
"Bring the Royal seal." Princess Deokman commanded and there right by her side they brought a small box and opening it there was a brilliant glow that emerged from inside that filled the air as Princess Deokman held the seal from where it was and raised it up into the sky.
"You even have the audacity to fabricate such a solemn thing to our Heavenly kingdom." Princess Deokman said and at once the Common people that were inside went on their knees and they bowed their heads.
"You even dare to organize a coup against His Majesty the King's wishes." Princess Deokman added while the people turned around and looked at him.
"You have corrupted Courtiers and innocent people to fulfill your own selfish desires and given the fact that already what you have in your possession is something that is very fake you dare to point fingers in the Royal Princesses of Shilla?" Princess Deokman shouted angrily.
"No." She said.
"This is the real deal." Galmunwang Baekban said, "That one is a fake." He added as he pointed at the one in Princess Deokman's possesion.
"Thrown it down." Princess Deokman ordered.
Galmunwang Baekban was hesitant until a common citizen stood up and grabbing the seal out of his grip he threw it down at once and it shattered on the hard concrete ground like glass.
Everyone was shocked.
"You dared to threaten the lives of Innocents into following you and how can you give justice to the dead when your words and actions are all covered in lies.
You never wished to give any justice here today placing spies in the Royal Palace to report everything to you they must have been the ones that orchestrated the poisoning of the young Prince so that you would frame me if they are loyal to neither the Queen nor my father nor myself then they are loyal to only you." Princess Deokman said.
"You traitor, you rebel." The people started shouting as they had been pumped up by their fellows in an instant the crowd that had cheered on Galmunwang Baekban was the very same one that had turned against them.
"You do not deserve to posses the hearts of our people and your counterfeit nature makes you unworthy to become the Ruler if our heavenly kingdom." Princess Deokman said.
"I have done Shilla a favour and I have Redeemed it from the path of destruction from greedy and Corrupt Courtiers like yourself you shall reign no more over us because the female Ruler Jin is bogus and you the conniving Scoundrel hold no place amongst us civilized people." Princess Deokman said.
At that moment the Eastern gates of the Palace were flung open and Bidam and all the other Hwarang rushed in with fury that the people started to direct their rocks at Galmunwang Baekban and his people.
"Withdraw." Galmunwang Baekban ordered and his soldiers holding up their shields they guarded him while he moved backwards out of Banwolseong with his supporters.
Slowly by slowly they started to massacre people which pushed away the others in the mob.
"Guards." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." they all replied as they bowed their heads.
"Cease these men and regardless of everything that might happen see to it that not a single one of them leaves Seoraebeol." Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." They all replied as they charged towards Galmunwang Baekban's and his fleeing Entourage.
They were still halfway through Seoraebeol and riding on horses and a few running on their feet while they were being chased by the Hwarang and the Royal guards right when they halted as General Pocheon's army collided with them Galmunwang Baekban halted while the soldiers in front of him were being led by his brother Galmunwang Gukban from Ganglyeoghan Palace.
"Your Excellency, what are we going to do?" Haek Ga asked.
"Where is Kim Chunchu?" Galmunwang Baekban asked.
"We lost him in the commotion and he has already fled most probably with our pursuers right now." Haek Ga replied.
Hardly hard he spoken when from the northern part of the Capital a large mass of flags were seen flying high through the building tops and looking on his left Galmunwang Baekban caught sight of Princess Seungman who being dressed in her white suit of armor and bearing her white banner was riding towards him with another force.
"Your Excellency, we have been surrounded." Haek Ga said.
"I am not blind and I can see that." Galmunwang Baekban said as they Soldiers crumped themselves together.
"All we that are here are not going to abandon you Your Excellency for we have survived on your favours for so long, as the worst has come out duty is to ensure that you safely make it to Dosal Fortress." General Pocheon said.
"Yes Your Excellency." The other Courtiers said in unison.
"We are already with you when if we wanted there is no future on the other side we can only resist until the end." others said.
"Yes Your Excellency." Others acquisced as they bowed their heads.
"I assure you that should Victory be ours this day then we shall all enjoy and live off the wealth of Shilla for Generations to come, we are going to penetrate here with our full force outwardly in all directions." Galmunwang Baekban said.
"Like a bomb?" Haek Ga Asked.
"Yes." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"We could lose half our men." General Pocheon said.
"As long as we can regroup outside the Capital twenty five miles north we are advantaged that we shall have mobilised either way." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"Yes Your Excellency." Everyone said in unison.
"This is an all out war." Galmunwang Baekban Said.
"Yes Your Excellency." Everyone replied as their attackers had closed in on them.
Galmunwang Baekban raised his sword in the air.
"Charge." He ordered and without any hesitation his men spread out outwardly to all the four directions from which they were being attacked.
"Onward." Princess Seungman said as she commanded her battalion and they charged.
The market place in an instant had become a battlefield as everyone fought one another while a large number of people fell down dead.
In the commotion Galmunwang Gukban got off his horse and he faced his brother who was being guarded as well by his own people.
The two antagonistic parties ram towards one another and Haek Ga clashing with Moo Mak while Damju clashing with General Pocheon, Galmunwang Gukban clashed with his brother Galmunwang Baekban and with the contact that followed from their swords the battle got blood.
Seungman swang her metallic mast and she pierced about six soldiers and pulled it out while they feel down dead she launched herself in between that as they had closed in on her in a circle she shook it like a spring and she severed their necks from their bodies.
She then leaped into mid air and dashing on the heads of most them she gracefully landed on her feet after Piercing through those that had been lingering underneath her.
A large group of spear men pointed them towards her and she leaped into midair as she stepped onto them and forced them onto the ground.
With her spear at hand using it's base she cut through their faces and the blood was sprinkled onto her face.
"What's the status in the city?" Princess Deokman asked.
"Galmunwang Baekban's men are trying to penetrate and there is a bloody war on the streets."Haesul replied.
"What's the tide?" Princess Deokman asked.
"We are winning and most of the damage is on Galmunwang Baekban's side." Haesul Rang replied.
"Deploy a counter force to pursue because should he flee from Seoraebeol then our chances of of winning shall have become very slim we'd have to resort to the next plan.' Princess Deokman said.
"Yes Your Highness." Haesul Rang replied.
Galmunwang Gukban was clashing with Baekban and their swords had come into contact while they were fairly isolated from the rest of the combatting crowd.
"You took away my daughter from me for Seventeen whole years." Galmunwang Gukban said.
"That was your deliberate decision had I known that she was still somewhere out there alive then I would have hunted her down and I would have killed her with my own hands." Galmunwang Baekban replied as he swang his sword and Gukban guarded it with his own he threw a kick but it came into contact with his brothers and they both stammered backwards.
They charged to each other once again while Galmunwang Gukban applied every last bit of his energy onto his brother he finally put him down.
"Your grudge was because you couldn't be King, what did it have to do with my daughter?" Galmunwang Baekban asked.
"The world was too small for the both of us, it was our destiny that in this life we had to kill each other because one's existence meant the demise if another." Galmunwang Baekban said as he kicked Galmunwang Gukban who staggered backwards as his brother leaped into midair and descended upon him but he guarded with his sword.
"Like this you knew I would guard her, like this you know that I would devote my all to protect her." Galmunwang Gukban said as he threw a fist and punched his brother in the face he charged with his sword they clashed multiple times before stilling there again face to face." .
"Only one of us could become King, only one of us could rule this Heavenly Kingdom, whether it meant that I should turn against my family, that blood tie and suspicion suspicion was never eternal and neither was it something worth dying for, as long as I would have power I would protect those that I loved and as long as I gained possession of this country I'd guard myself, no one would be suspicious of me, no one would question me and because of that I had to be a rebel because your daughter's glorious fate was my vast disaster." Galmunwang Baekban replied.
"It will never be you." Galmunwang Gukban said.
"I will not stop until I rule." Galmunwang Baekban said.
Seungman noticed that in the strife her Uncle was pulling out a dagger from his clothes and Moo Mak noticed it as well.
"Your Excellency." Moo Mak called as he hurriedly rushed over to his master while Galmunwang Baekban brought the dagger towards his brothers chest.
Haek Ga followed him and as Damju pushed him away onto the ground and stabbed him with his sword, Moo Mak put himself in between and they stabbed his back while he shielded Galmunwang Gukban from the attack.
"Father?" Seungman said as she got angry and swinging her mast with all the strength and anger having built itself up within her, she stabbed and hit all the other soldiers away .
Galmunwang Baekban had his gap with some of his people and he got onto the nearby steads with General Pocheon and they rode away while the other Shilla soldiers pursued the last surviving lot of his army.
Galmunwang Gukban stared at Moo Mak in the eye and slowly the both of them fell to the ground.