WAR OF THE NATIONS

"Your Majesty, for this war we are not ready and all that I am saying is that we still nourish our troops a bit longer that we might in the future drag on the war even if for fifty years without having to be affected by famine." Seungman proposed.

Queen Seondeok looked at the two and they were all confident in their own words.

"Your Majesty, please reconsider and we should send troops and stand our ground ." Sangdaedeung Eulje said.

"What will you do if we lose out in this war by force?" Seungman asked, "Can you bear that responsibility?" She added.

"Your Majesty, defeat and humiliation without a try us not something that I can withstand, should we lose out on this war then I shall automatically resign from my position as Sangdaedeung." Sangdaedeung Eulje replied as he stared at Seungman fiercely.

"Order." Queen Seondeok said as she turned and looked at Sangdaedeung Eulje.

"I wish to know those of you who say that we should go ahead with this." Queen Seondeok added.

"Your Majesty, myself." Sangdaedeung Eulje replied and a large mass of all the other Courtiers Seconded his idea.

"For this I am hesitant but if the majority rules it then there is no option that you leave for me to give my consent to this." Queen Seondeok said.

"Thank you Your Majesty." The Courtiers said as they bowed their heads.

"If perhaps you can not refrain from your decision then I won't stop you as well, but should our people perish in vain then their blood is on your hands." Seungman said.

"This Assembly is hereby dismissed." Queen Seondeok said as she stood up and she walked out of the room while everyone else followed but Seungman remained in the throne room alone.

She turned around and she looked at the throne which shone before her eyes in all its magnificence but unable to bear the heavy burden that was on her heart she started to become teary as she turned around slowly and she walked out as well.

Queen Seondeok was walking towards her Chambers and Bidam was right by her side.

"Your Majesty." He said noticing that she was somewhat lost in her own thoughts.

"Yes." Queen Seondeok replied.

"How uneasy you must be." Bidam remarked.

"Seungman has her reasons." Queen Seondeok said.

"The Courtiers have their own as well Your Majesty." Bidam replied.

"It doesn't matter, she foresaw this war much earlier than everyone else and for eight years now she has been planning it entirely in her head." Queen Seondeok said.

"Have you not faith in your People?" Bidam asked.

"Faith is one thing and the strength is another." Queen Seondeok replied.

"Regardless which is which in the end it is either glory or disaster to Shilla." Bidam Said.

"Those people took sides, why didn't you?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Because whichever it was that pleased your Majesty I would comply but had it been for myself to choose Your Majesty then my side would be an antagonistic party to Her Highness'." Bidam replied.

"Whichever it is that you must choose, I have lost sight of the road and perhaps I am overly afraid." Queen Seondeok said.

"Why?" Bidam asked. "If we succeed in this battle then I am just as assured as Seungman is that we shall have very many casualties." Queen Seondeok replied.

"Then you fear that not so long after Gorguryeo shall strike as well?" Bidam asked.

"Perhaps." Queen Seondeok replied, "The past decade ever since I ascended the throne has been most turbulent and on many occasions I have proven my strength and prevailed yet consequently the gain that Shilla has had has been less than it's loss." She added.

"Things could be different but you don't have to worry Your Majesty because as always you'll have me." Bidam said.

"For that I am very grateful but could you dear to bear this burden of mine?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"I know that over the past few days you haven't had a very good sleep and I know as well that your health is not the very best, I know that you have fallen many times and I know that your joints ache each time you move around so frequently without having to sit or lie down for a while." Bidam replied.

"Your Concern moves me." Queen Seondeok said.

"Because I know how much you love Shilla and that without you, Shilla is not itself." Bidam said.

"My power is too much but the more that I wield it the more my insides crumble." Queen Seondeok Said.

"I hope to be more than your friend, I hope to work hard for Your Majesty all my life, I hope to lift you up each time that you stumble and to be that shoulder that you have never had when you feel so sad and lonely." Bidam said.

"Thank you." Queen Seondeok said as she finally halted outside her Chambers and she turned around and looked at him.

"You must be tired Your Majesty, please rest and perhaps together we shall hope for the best." Bidam said

"You also take care." Queen Seondeok said with a simple smirk on her face before she turned around and ascended the stairs to her own Chambers while Bidam watching her going inside he smiled heartily.

Bidam turned around and for the first time he felt so much sincerity that he walked away content while the Queen though inside she stared at him walking away from her slowly and slowly that she couldn't help but feel herself to be so strange.

Seungman angrily strode into her room while her father followed.

"My dear." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"No." Seungman replied as she sat down at the table and smacked it with her fist.

"Calm down." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"Father, Calm down?" Seungman asked. "Is that even a possibility right now?" She added.

"There is not much that we can do, the Majority ruled." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"Majority? Ruled?" Seungman said, "No." She replied.

"Even if you cursed, at this point the order has been passed it can not be reversed at all." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"How can the majority rule, what is it that they know about Shilla, what is it that they know about our heavenly Kingdom?" Seungman asked as she pointed outside. " For ages we fought and for so long at least in nearly every battle I drenched the soil of this land in my blood all for nothing.

This is what King Uija of Paekche wanted, a justified cause for war when he attacks and we retaliate then there would be no turning back right now.

As I watch everything that I built the past eight years coming to waste father you expect me to calm down right now?" She asked

"You have your reasons and they have theirs." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"But taking responsibility is not enough for them and perhaps even myself being angry isn't an option either, I could never forgive them if we failed but all the more I would never forgive myself for not having the power to dictate abd stop them from digging our own grave." Seungman remarked.

"You must then turn a blind eye." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"I can not." Seungman replied, "my heart can only keep bleeding when Shilla is at war and patience itself has failed these men that they have absolutely lost their minds because of being over confident in themselves." She added.

"I understand Your Highness, I know your concerns, but nothing can go as you wish every time unless you yourself gained possession of this country." Galmunwang Gukban said.

Seungman bowed her head as she massaged her brow.

"I had always thought that perhaps if U could secure as much wealth for this country as possible then she would in a swift wave take over Samhan and unite it.

Now that Her Majesty over depended on Tang in the end the Great Emperor Tian Kehan has failed us all we are in this fight ourselves and the temples that she has built defend us no more being buildings of luxury and extravagance they shall all be looted." Seungman said.

"You can't even look her in the eye and tell her a thing." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"I can't even look her in the eye and say that at this time I choose to stand against her will." Seungman replied.

"What are we going to do?" Seungman asked.

"Except for the military supplies all the others should be brought away from the West because I fear with all my heart that the Shilla I want to protect is going to be torn by this war." Seungman replied.

"Have you the hope that it can be rejuvenated?" Galmunwang Gukban asked.

"Perhaps." Seungman replied, "But if we can have somewhere to continue from after the first impact it is much better than starting over again." She added.

"Very well my dear." Galmunwang Gukban said as he held his daughter's hands together and looked her in the eyes.

"Please don't sulk." He said.

"For your sake father, I'll try my best." Seungman replied.

"Among the things that Moo Mak upon his return to us told me that he loved about you since you were young was your smile which to him turned a bad day good and brought life when there was only darkness." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"I wish that he too was here, sometimes I feel that the debt of blood that was paid wasn't enough." Seungman said.

"You'll never feel adequate with this life no matter how hard you try." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"I realise because first I thought I'd confine this warrior within me with ease ever since his departure as he dreaded it entirely but now all these people around me and the Courtiers, the Tang Emperor, and the Paekcheans are making it hard for me." Seungman said.

"Similarly I thought that I too could desert the battlefield way before you were born but later I noticed that no matter how hard I tried to run away I only ended up at the battlefield time and again." Galmunwang Gukban said, "There are things that you can never suppress and if time itself grants you a deeper revelation of what each one of those things is then I assure you this that my dear, regardless of the situation in the very end they shall be the very things that you'll embrace." He added.

Bidam was seated in his Chambers and there he consequently smiled at himself as he recalled the words that Queen Seondeok had once told him.

"In a very long while not even my sister Cheonmyeong or my cousins Seungman could show their concern over me and do what you did today." Queen Seondeok had said.

"You are the first person to do so Bidam, others call me Your Majesty and they smile where they have to because they know it's what I want to see, none of them could value what I need and to be sincere the toll on my health is too much but for this Shilla that I love I have not to waver and fall short of my duties." She'd added.

"Your devotion gave me what I was looking for all these years." Queen Seondeok had said.

"What Your Majesty?" He'd asked, "Is it peace or someone with whom you share a common mind?" He'd added so sincerely.

"Someone that I can trust." Queen Seondeok said, "Someone with whom I can share my devotion towards this nation and someone with whom I can stand and unite our people." She added.

Bidam smiled widely and it si happened at that moment that Yeomjong walked in on him.

"Your Excellency." He called and Bidam at once turned around and looked at him.

"You don't have to walk in when you feel like." Bidam said.

"I am afraid that if I were to knock then I would spend the entire day standing at the door." Yeomjong said.

"It would be a pity." Bidam said.

"If I may ask Your Excellency, what is the happy occasion?" Yeomjong asked.

"I'd never expected that this Bidam who is a nobody in the end would be the very Female King's favorite." Bidam replied.

"You have Her Majesty's favour but are you sure to have consolidated Power as well?" Yeomjong asked.

"Did you not hear that we are going to war?" Bidam asked.

"I heard your Excellency that the King of Paekche personally led his troops from Sabi and they are most likely to attack." Yeomjong replied.

"They certainly will and whether we win or lose the result shall be to our own advantage." Bidam replied.

"Your Excellency, what's on your mind?" Yeomjong asked.

"Logically Sangdaedeung Eulje has grown too old and he has pushed my people towards the battlefield, I too couldn't acquisce with is countering this battle because I know that Shilla isn't ready to drag a military campaign at this rate that I am much disappointed in Her Majesty yet I don't let it show." Bidam replied.

"Somethings never change and others you have in common like those that preceded you." Yeomjong said.

"I didn't just want power because I wished to survive, I too wanted it because I wished that one day I'd be the guardian of this Heavenly Kingdom, Sangdaedeung Eulje has jeopardized that deep desire of mine that I feel I have to one way or another get back at him." Bidam replied.

"What are you going to do Your Excellency?" Yeomjong asked.

"Have a little patience and with time I'll let you know as well." Bidam replied as he clenched his fists angrily.

Queen Seondeok stood in the Hwarang Arena and there her troops had gathered as she stood on top of the platform and looked down at them.

"Today, a threat is upon our land and those Paekcheans march towards our borders.

At this time we ourselves won't stand idle as well and neither shall we just look on for the glory that our forefathers brought on before we are determined to defend what is ours again.

Like we have defeated Paekche before we shall defeated it once again and I assure you that when the glorious morning sun shall rise above Shilla, the invaders shall have been defeated." Queen Seondeok said.

"Hoorah." The troops yelled as they raised their swords in air and they stamped the ground with their Spears.

"Today we march onward." Queen Seondeok said and at once the troops were led by General Kim Yongsu, Kim Seohyeon, Kim Yushin and Kim Yongchun started to march out through the gates of the arena.

The troops walked through the streets amidst the attention of the people who raising their hands up to the sky prayed.

The children stared as the Generals rode through the streets and Seungman and Alcheon Rang stood at the Pavilion on Ganglyeoghan Palace and watched them as they rode past them.

"Your Highness, contain your grief." Alcheon Rang said.

"There's way too many of them." Seungman replied, "All of these are the Innocent children of Shilla whom I have failed." Seungman replied.

"You have failed no one." Alcheon Rang said.

"Yes I have." Seungman replied.

"You don't know that." Alcheon Rang said.

"I don't need to know it, I need to feel it, they underneath that armour are afraid, they trust not in their skills and their prowess, they tread greatly doubting if they are going to make it alive, that is the foundation of this Shilla." Seungman replied.

"Can you never find peace in your heart?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"Where is peace?" Seungman asked, "Before us right now there is war." She added.

"At least if they win it won't be in vain." Alcheon Rang said.

"Win or lose the result is the same because you yourself will notice after we have been rendered weak not so far from now Gorguryeo shall follow and constantly for Her Majesty, in history this shall be the biggest blot on her escutcheon." Seungman replied as she shed a tear.

Alcheon from where he stood he found himself so uneasy that he moved closer and he pulled Seungman into a hug.

"Regardless of who you are, I don't care how heavy your heart could be, deep down if I must lose my head for holding you like this as long as you can be calm then I'd die with it as the best memory I ever had." Alcheon Rang said.

Seungman held him tightly.

"I too don't want to regret this but if I can feel your warm embrace now then when I can not in the future I don't want to look back at this moment and regret why I didn't accept it." Seungman replied.

"Things might not be easy but I also know that you aren't the type of person to give up a fight that easily, there must be something that you can do right now." Alcheon Rang said.

Seungman closing her eyes with her head against his chest a couple of thoughts occurred to her at that very time.

Eventually she pulled apart.

"Something that I can do right now." She said as her face lit up while she looked at Alcheon Rang, "That's it." She added.

"There's something?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"I need to see both Her Majesty and Kim Chunchu right now." Seungman replied.

"There could still be some hope?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"It's not too late as it has occurred to me but if we can hold on an immense impact much longer then there is a chance of saving ourselves from this crisis." Seungman replied.

"Let's go to the Palace right away." Alcheon Rang said.

"Yes." Seungman replied as they hurriedly descended the stairs from the pavilion.

Bidam stood right outside the Royal Investigations Bureau and there he watched closely as the Shilla soldiers marched past him and they were headed out of the City.

"Her Majesty really made up her mind." Yeomjong muttered to him.

"It seems so." Bidam said.

"But King Uija of Paekche is a well known war monger and by now I am sure that with his alliance with Tang a bit finalized he has just nothing more to fear but rather boost his confidence." Yeomjong said.

"If the earth was scorched then without resources the enemy wouldn't survive any longer." Bidam remarked.

"You mean to say that rather than full surrender it shall he our last resort Your Excellency?" Yeomjong asked.

"Why would Seungman save that much and why would she strive to accumulate that wealth in the first place?" Bidam replied.

"I see." Yeomjong Said, "But the Queen's order was to charge and defend offensively." he added.

"Yet I don't believe that the soldiers possess an intention of fighting." Bidam said.

"That could be fatal." Yeomjong said.

"Then by all means why not save the lives of my people and tackle another powerful piece in the game?" Bidam asked as he smiled ghastly.

"What do you want me to do Your Excellency?" Yeomjong asked.

"Consequently a false rumour with time shall appear real and we must make it that way." Bidam replied.

"Are you talking about Her Highness Seungman?" Yeomjong asked.

"Seungman is just as ambitious as Her Majesty and to the both of us she is a plausible threat which if not taken care of right now could constitute our future demise.

We too can not be careless to let it slide automatically and we can not just sit and watch her own ascension to prominence in this time because if as she had foreseen it came to pass then she'd most certainly be elevated to greatness as a result of her keen foresight." Bidam replied.

"How are we going to do that Your Excellency?" Yeomjong asked.

"Have our own people within the troops spread the word and letters saying that head to head combat isn't the very best, at worst the earth must be scorched to let the enemy lose so much more." Bidam replied.

"No intention to fight." Yeomjong said, "if they try to find out who was responsible and it is Her Highness, in violation to the Queen's orders then she must bear the punishment for her own sons and whether the Queen wanted it or not she would doubt her and limit her political strengths." He added.

Bidam smiled ghastly.

"Get to it." He ordered.

"Yes Your Excellency." Yeomjong replied as he bowed his head and walked away leaving Bidam smiling at himself.

"If it's to hit two birds with one stone, this time I have hit three Your Majesty." Bidam said to himself as he watched while the army slowly continued it's march past him.

Queen Seondeok was seated in her Chambers but the words thay Seungman had said in the Court room still lingered through her head.

"We can not defend for much longer so should our stand prove inefficient then I suggest that we retreat first the weapons and the food and have them transported to the nearby reserves to protect the Capital." She'd said.

"Looking at the bigger picture winning one war isn't something that we are After, what plagues our minds is the Unification of the three Kingdoms of Samhan which could take more and more subsequent wars time in and time out, there isn't a truce for us to declare as it is and the battle for Unification of this peninsula could take even a hundred years." Seungman seemed to caution.

"Your Majesty, for this war we are not ready and all that I am saying is that we still nourish our troops a bit longer that we might in the future drag on the war even if for fifty years without having to be affected by famine." She'd added.

As the thoughts bombarded with her head she couldn't help but feel a rather mild headache striking her at that moment that Boyeong noticing she approached her master who massaged her brow.

"Your Majesty, are you alright?" She asked.

"I am fine, this situation is just too much for me." Queen Seondeok replied.

"You should have some rest." Boyeong said.

"At this point it isn't that easy and I don't think that it is also a luxury that I can afford when my people are going to war, my Courtiers thoughts are all paralleled and each having a good enough reason I must take the greater stand against this." Queen Seondeok said.

At that moment, the doors of her Chambers were opened and Eun Hye walked in.

"Your Majesty." She said as she bowed her head.

"What is it?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Lady Seungman, Kim Chunchu and Alcheon Rang are here and they are requesting to see you saying that it is a bit urgent." Eun Hye replied.

"In this state Your Majesty, I don't think that you should see them." Boyeong said.

"Don't be too afraid, those people are so effective when it comes to easing my mind that I can't help but listen to them at times like this, who knows, right now they might even have a solution to this." Queen Seondeok said as she turned and looked at Eun Hye.

"If you say so Your Majesty." Boyeong said.

"Let them in." Queen Seondeok said to her as she bowed her head and withdrew from her presence.

Shortly after, Seungman led the retinue inside and the three halted right in front of the Queen.

"Your Majesty." They said as they bowed their heads to her.

"Please have a seat." Queen Seondeok said and the three complied as Seungman took the seat on her right.

"What is it that you wished to talk to me about?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Your Majesty, I believe that there is a solution to this problem." Seungman replied.

"What more is it?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"If the Mighty Tang can not aquisce to strengthening it's ties with us since we have broken away from it then I suggest that we also cross it's bottom line and show it that our support on this peninsula is just as vital to it's might throughout the continent." Seungman replied.

"You want us to declare war with Tang?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Are you portending to a continental rebellion?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"Indirectly perhaps." Seungman replied.

"What do you mean?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"If we can not ally ourselves with Tang and she has allied herself with our enemy then I believe that we should do the same and ally ourselves with an enemy of Tang." Seungman replied.

Queen Seondeok looked at the other two.

"Who exactly do you mean?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"At this time if Paekche and Tang are allies then automatically in the eyes of Gorguryeo they are both her enemies." Seungman replied.

"So you are suggesting that we form an alliance with Gorguryeo?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"If it sounds infeasible then I can explain in detail that us orchestrating such a fine move in future it could force Tang to yield to our demands." Seungman replied.

"Why of all states Gorguryeo?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Tang can not accept your legitimacy on the Shilla throne because you are a woman, the current King of Gorguryeo is nothing but a ceremonial figurehead and the de facto ruler is a vicious war monger whom Tang is fearful of known as Yon Kaesomun." Seungman replied.

"You have been informed with the situation that was happening in their state." Alcheon Rang said quite pleased.

"That's how I was able to learn of the claims of King Uija to the throne of Shilla." Seungman replied.

"If Tang is really afraid of Yon Kaesomun then that means he has already taken a provocative stance against Tang." Queen Seondeok said.

"Up to now The Great Tian Kehan has refused to also ascent to the young King Pojang as the rightful King of Gorguryeo on the claims that he assassinated his own Uncle after conniving with a rebel to gain power by force." Seungman said.

"I suppose that the Incident of Xuanwu gate has crossed over into our lands as well." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yon Kaesomun is someone who desires to legitimize his place as the protector of Gorguryeo and is someone whose support could help us crush King Uija and his forces without suffering very heavy casualties.

We could repeat the same pact that had tried to settle between King Jinheung and King Pyeongwon." Seungman replied.

"Then how do you suppose that we should have Gorguryeo to back us right now?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"We can send an envoy from Yourself to discuss and settle matters diplomatically that we could gain assistance from Gorguryeo in repelling Paekche's attack." Seungman replied.

"Who can we send at this chaotic time and who is most capable?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"Do you have anyone in mind?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Your Majesty, in my humble opinion the one person that I see that could be fit for the job is Kim Chunchu." Seungman replied as she looked at him.

"I think I can take that responsibility." Kim Chunchu said.

"Kim Chunchu is very good when it comes to trying to strike a negotiation and he can contain his temper more than anyone else, he is quite smart and also he has some good diplomatic skills.

If we send him we can at least hope for the best as I would have gone but being a woman I feel that they won't take my proposal to be a very serious one." Seungman added.

"Very well then." Queen Seondeok said.

"But we must hurry Your Majesty because there isn't much time left right now and if we can not act much faster than expected then I am afraid that if we are too late then Paekche shall have its way before we can have ours." Seungman Said.

"I'll just go immediately." Kim Chunchu said as he stood up.

"You need to be careful." Queen Seondeok said, "You are my only sister's child and if anything happens to you I won't forgive myself and she won't forgive me as well." Queen Seondeok added.

"Don't worry about me Your Excellency, you can trust that regardless of the situation I can take care of myself." Kim Chunchu said.

"Alright." Queen Seondeok replied as Kim Chunchu bowed his head and he walked out of the room.

Queen Seondeok remained there alone with Seungman and Yushin Rang.

"We have been discussing what would happen if the negotiation goes according to our plan but what happens if the negotiation is unsuccessful?" Queen Seondeok asked.

Seungman looked gloomy as she bowed down her head.

"Then I am afraid Your Majesty that without any foreign aid in this battle we stand alone." Seungman replied.

"That can not happen." Queen Seondeok said.

"If we must then let's devote each one of our breaths up to the very last." Seungman remarked.

"Her Highness is right Your Majesty,we can not just give up now because the times are unfavourable." Alcheon Rang said.

"Should everything fail then we must retreat while launching a Scorched earth policy." Seungman remarked.

Queen Seondeok raised her head and she looked at Seungman.

"You can't be serious about this." Queen Seondeok remarked.

"I am Your Majesty because if we can not give all to the enemy then we must sacrifice it all that even he has nothing to live on." Seungman replied.

"By default he won't survive and the heavy investment in the war shall have been for nothing but a total loss." Alcheon Rang said.

"Yes." Seungman confirmed.

"We have fortified the Western part for ages, destroying it shall be making Shilla naked and prone to other invasions." Queen Seondeok said.

"From the capital I am confident that we can rebuild the Kingdom because if we lose out on our strongholds and the enemy gains possession of them resistance itself won't be worth it Your Majesty, like the song of the Hwarang is of we can not surrender then we must embrace demise though this time not wholeheartedly, we must also end the prosperity of the enemy." Seungman said.

"Her Highness is right." Alcheon Rang replied, "Other parts near Seoraebeol have been fortified." Alcheon Rang said.

"With this I disagree, to me every piece of land be it a handful that is branded as Shilla is too precious.

I can't tear down centuries of development even the rich fields, I can not bring down our civilization with one suicidal move like this that could hurt us just as much including our future generations.

If I must lose then I shall lose out with my pride." Queen Seondeok replied.

Hardly had she spoken when Gopheung barged into her quarters immediately.

"Your Majesty." He said as he went down onto his knees.

"What is it?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Kwansanseong Your Majesty, it has fallen." Gopheung replied and at once all the three stood up.

"What?" Queen Seondeok said so surprised.