THE FALL OF DAEYA

"I understand that Your Majesty." Seungman remarked.

"For decades those that preceded me tried and they never surrendered, they fought to their last breath that when I think of it is much better if I had Paekche to vanquish me rather than give up the wealth and the pride of my people.

If in his eyes I am just a woman let me be so but the rest of the world won't call me too weak my pride is just as much as his and I as well consider myself to be just as stubborn as he might be." Queen Seondeok said.

"That's the very least of our worries Your Majesty because there is something much bigger for us to show our concern as well." Kim Chunchu said.

"What more is there that you have to tell us?" Seungman asked.

"Yon Kaesomun's sword once drawn out can not return to it's scabbard without tasting blood, he has said that within free days if we can not hand over the Lands of the Han River basin to him then he is going to join forces with Paekche and tear us down to Seoraebeol itself taking them back by force." Kim Chunchu replied.

"Then let him." Queen Seondeok said angrily as she stood up from her seat. "All my life I have been stubborn and even if it is to lose Shilla I am prepared for the worst because I have devouted all my strength to the welfare of the country and I have no regrets.

If I must lose out in the end then I assure you that I shall die resisting until the day that I am led to my own grave." Queen Seondeok said.

"What are we going to do now?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"For Paekche and Gorguryeo to consider an alliance then we should fail no more let us send an envoy to Tang once again.

This time I am very certain that the Tang Emperor shall intervene." Seungman replied.

"All other envoys have failed." Queen Seondeok said.

"Not anymore because I believe that I have had about enough myself." Seungman replied as she stood up.

"What are you going to do Your Highness?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"At this time turbulence is at its worst that there is no other choice left and no one can do the job much better for us other than ourselves." Seungman replied as she looked at the Queen, "Your Majesty, I am requesting that you send me this time around to Tang as a Shilla envoy." She added.

"Emperor Taizong is already reluctant to accepting me as the Female King of Shilla, sending a woman to his court shall be provoking his wrath that I doubt he will let it slide.

Further more if he forsakes assistance at this point in time then how can we ever forgive ourselves for being too impulsive and hasty and Shilla shall ease to exist at our very own hands" Queen Seondeok said.

"If we do not so anything sooner or later to the eyes of the people the Calamity of the Female Ruler Jin shall be upon our land reigning as an inconsolable scourge." Seungman replied, "Besides he doesn't have to know that I am a woman." She added.

"Can you Your Highness?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Like it or not for the sake of Shilla I must." Seungman replied.

"Fine then, I'll grant you your wish on one condition." Queen Seondeok said.

"Whatever you say Your Majesty." Seungman replied.

"Alcheon Rang shall come with you." Queen Seondeok added.

"Yes Your Majesty." Seungman acquisced as she bowed her head.

"You depart tomorrow." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, in my opinion I don't think that we can afford to just watch this day go by, I believe that if we must act then it should be now." Seungman said.

"Fine then." Queen Seondeok said, "Whatever you do take care of yourselves." she added.

"Don't worry Your Majesty, I assure you that I shall return with good news." Seungman promised as she bowed her head and swiftly she walked out of the room.

Queen Seondeok and Kim Chunchu were left alone inside.

"Your Majesty, I am sorry that I couldn't be of any help." Kim Chunchu said.

"You tried your level best and for that I should laud your efforts Chunchu, however in this battle for the Nation do not be discouraged, rather prepared to unsheath your sword from it's scabbard and when the time is right join the battle as well." Queen Seondeok replied.

"Hmm." Kim Chunchu muttered as he nodded his head.

"I know that you too are as desperate as I am but regardless of the situation one day when you'll look back on this day you'll be glad and I hope it shall be a time when you shall have brought Shilla her full glory." Queen Seondeok said as she took his arm.

"Thank you." Kim Chunchu said.

"You are going where my child?" Lady Wolmyeong asked.

"Mother, I must go to Tang." Seungman replied.

"What you are doing is something that isn't safe." Lady Wolmyeong said.

"But I must protect this Shilla so that additionally I can protect you." Seungman replied.

"No." Lady Wolmyeong said, "I got you back not so long ago that you can not just expect me to let you go, do you think that if something bad were to happen to you then I would forgive myself?" She added.

"If something bad were to happen to you too mother I wouldn't forgive myself, to watch as Shilla that I love and Shilla this great Nation and heavenly Kingdom that I fervently cherish is torn down by the Paekcheans and those men from Gorguryeo is a sight I can not bear I'd rather die that witness such awfulness." Seungman remarked.

"Of all decisions that you choose to make why must it be this one?" Lady Wolmyeong asked.

"For so long I have held myself back and right now I can hold myself back no more, perhaps it is what I was born to do or it could be my calling but to abandon my people I am confident that was not the reason that my heart led me Seoraebeol in the first place and it isn't the type of greatness for which heaven bestowed me upon this land." Seungman replied.

"I am worried." Lady Wolmyeong said.

"You are not alone my dear so am I." Seungman replied.

"You girl." Lady Wolmyeong said.

"Even when it seems too risky an encounter at least the least that you can do to give my heart some peace is to believe in me." Seungman said.

"Alright, just this once I want to believe in you and I'll try but promise me that no matter what happens you take care of yourself and put your life ahead of anything else." Lady Wolmyeong said.

"Don't worry mother, I promise." Seungman replied.

Lady Wolmyeong pulled her into a hug while she basked in her warmth as well.

"If there is a day that I hated more than death itself in my entire life then it was a day where with you I had to say good bye, a day where I was uncertain of safety because of chaos and a day where I grieved because when you came back to me I had sworn that I'd never let you go.

I should be the proudest mother in the world, I am so proud because you have grown into a very fine woman.

Rise up and fulfill your destiny for I hope that in all things you know that both your father and I shall be waiting for your safe return." Lady Wolmyeong said.

"I'll be back mother." Seungman replied as the two of them finally pulled apart she turned around and she walked away towards the exit of Ganglyeoghan Palace.

She was dressed in purple and red robes and she wore a thin fake beared and moustache.

She'd made quite a handsome disguise as she halted right in front of Alcheon Rang who stared back at her.

"Your Majesty, it is time." Alcheon Rang said.

"Let's go." Seungman replied.

"Are you ready?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"We are never ready, just prepared." Seungman replied as she walked past him and she climbed into her Palanquin.

Alcheon Rang got into another that was right behind hers and their small procession started while they were already set on their way to the Tang Dynasty through Danghang Fortress in the Namyang bay.

Queen Seondeok kept on pacing around her room until Gopheung walked in.

She rushed up to him.

"How is everything?" She asked.

"Fear not Your Majesty, Lady Seungman and Alcheon Rang have already set off." Gopheung Rang said.

"I hope that for them success comes so naturally, they are Shilla's last hope to regain stability." Queen Seondeok said.

"You should take care of yourself Your Majesty." Gopheung Rang said.

"Don't worry, I will." Queen Seondeok replied, "All that is left for us to do is to pray that at this time heaven is on our side and that by the gods we ourselves are not deserted." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Gopheung Rang replied.

"You may leave, if there is any update from the battlefield then make haste and inform me." Queen Seondeok said.

"Don't worry Your Majesty, I'm off to it right now." Gopheung Rang replied and bowing his head he walked out of the room while Queen Seondeok turned around and she settles down in one of the chairs that were right there.

"Seungman you girl, Seungman my dear cousin, please take care of yourself because if anything were to happen to you I don't think that I could ever forgive myself." Queen Seondeok said as her eyes grew teary.

The Archers at the battlements were in position while the force of General Yunchung which comprised ten thousand troops (10,000) had made an advancement.

About one thousand foot soldiers were sent ahead and right at the top of the battlements Kim Chunchu's son in law took the command.

While the enemy advanced and got much closer and closer, he gave the order for the Archers to fire at once and with their arrows released from their bows the day sky was darkened by arrows as they were determined to resist even if it took then an entire night.

Yushin Rang and the other Generals were waiting south when one of the soldiers rushed up to them.

"Your Excellencies." He said as he bowed his head.

"What have the scouts said?" General Kim Yushin asked.

"The large force of King Uija has split into two, a very large part of it though headed this way about ten thousand soldiers are headed further south and their movements are still uncertain." The soldier replied.

"We are concentrated here as our main point of resistance and themselves launching a direct full-scale campaign why would they have to go further South in another branch?" Kim Yongsu asked.

"That's Impossible?" Kim Yushin said when a certain thought occurred to him at that very moment.

"Perhaps they plan to make a surprise attack from behind when we don't expect it." Kim Yongchun said.

"In these parts the terrain itself is very rough which would give us a geographical advantage despite it being one of the closest routes to Seoraebeol, our resistance if choosing to collapse from here then they would march to the capital with mild resistance further on." Kim Seohyeon said.

Yushin Rang ran from the battlements into the General's room while all the others followed him.

Eventually getting inside he halted at the small map that was displayed in the centre which marked most of the areas Throughout the land.

"What's this Your Excellency?" the others asked.

"Perhaps King Uija wishes to capture Shilla in more than two ways." Yushin Rang replied as he picked up a small red flag and he placed it further south.

"Our Primary stronghold which we Conquered from Gaya was Daeya Fortress and if Daeya Fortress falls then one way or another our Western Frontier in resistance shall be insufficient we'll have no choice but to move upwards." Yushin Rang said.

"So this is a double prong technique?" Kim Seohyeon said.

"It must be because if both forces are headed towards us and attacking at our most vital points in the south then I must say Sokham and Daeya falling to the hands of Paekche our Southern borderline shall have been distorted." Yushin Rang replied.

"Though alert would Daeya Fortress hold them off any longer?" Kim Yongchun Asked.

"We could send there reinforcements because it is just too vital to be lost." Kim Yongsu said.

"But can they make it in time?" Yushin Rang asked.

"Why not?" Kim Yongchun asked.

"The Paekcheans are travelling at speeds of forty five kilometres per hour and their cavalry being a light one though possessing some deadly weapons a heavy attack is something I am uncertain the Generals of Daeya Fortress can Command." Kim Seohyeon replied.

"We at least need to try." Kim Yushin said, "If it's not yet too late then now isn't the time for us to give up." He added.

"I believe so too." Kim Yongsu said.

Hardly had they spoken when the doors were flung open and a soldier walked in.

"Your Excellencies." He said as he bowed his head.

"What is it?" Kim Seohyeon asked.

"Daeya Fortress." The messenger replied.

"What happened?" Kim Yushin asked.

"Daeya Fortress is under siege." The messenger replied.

"No." Kim Yongchun said.

"They were already prepared." Kim Yushin said.

"That means that regardless of the situation we can not send their reinforcements to aid their defense as the Paekche troops have already isolated it by now it stands a lone castle." Kim Seohyeon said.

"So offensive." Kim Yongchun said.

"We must prepare ahead." Kim Yushin said.

"What are we going to do now?" Kim Seohyeon asked.

"In a matter of time to maintain Sokham Fortress is going to be a fruitless struggle we must exact our revenge." Yushin Rang said.

"What are we going to do?" Kim Seohyeon asked his son, "What are you thinking Yushin?" He added.

"We have had to much to lose and perhaps it shall be on me that Her Majesty should put the blame but if we can not hold Sokham Fortress any longer then I believe that we could turn it into a strategic suicide for Paekche and move North to the East of the Naktong River." Yushin Rang replied.

"That's not a Royal order, you realise that you have made it your own." Kim Seohyeon said.

"In troubled times like this there is no such thing as consideration only a clear conscience and mine tells me that if we must at this point we can not retain Sokham with River Naktong as a natural defense line we can defend it with our lives and the war shall shift into our favour." Yushin Rang replied.

"Even I believe that there is not much we can do but of Sokham Fortress to Paekche is going to be a strategic suicide then you're implying that we employ.....?" Kim Yongchun said.

"A scorched Earth policy." Yushin Rang replied.

At that point His mind drifted away to a small memory in which he recalled talking to Seungman in private before they set on for the war.

"Remember the song of the Hwarang." Seungman said, "If we can not surrender we must embrace demise." She added.

"We shall win." Yushin Rang said.

"We are not ready for a victory." Seungman replied, "If we do then the wars shall have exhausted our defense in a matter of time Paekche might reorganize itself and Gorguryeo might march down on us as well to try and reclaim the lands of the Han River basin." Seungman replied.

"What do you propose that we do?" These are the Queen's orders after all." Yushin Rang remarked.

"If we must then we can consider a strategic suicide for Paekche, we could lose just as much but it shall demoralise the Paekcheans and that shall be the most hurtful loss to them." Seungman replied.

"You want me to Command a scorched Earth policy?" Yushin Rang asked.

"Yes." Seungman replied, "Beyond that I trust your capabilities but to guard against this aggression I had most of the parts around Seoraebeol Fortified in the hands of Paekche it shall be impenetrable having exhausted much of their efforts." Seungman replied.

Yushin Rang was drawn back.

"I would like to oppose but right now it's not the Queen's order that matters, rather it is the safety of the state that we can not jeopardize." Kim Yongsu said.

"I also agree." Kim Yongchun Seconded the thought.

"We mustn't make haste because I know that Sokham and Daeya won't hold on any longer they must be fighting with their lives." Kim Seohyeon said.

"Give command to all the other soldiers within the Fortress to carry out each and everything from the food to the weapons themselves and gather outside the Fortress in thirty minutes." Yushin Rang said.

"Yes Your Excellency." The messenger replied.

"Tell them to fill all the rooms and the buildings with the horses' hay and we abandon Sokham but we leave it on fire." Kim Yushin added.

"Yes Your Excellency." The messenger replied as he bowed his head before he turned and walked out of the room.

"We only hope that Daeya can hold on much longer." Kim Yushin added.

The Paekcheans were being showered in arrows but they showed no signs of retreat at all.

General Yunchung have an order and his shield bearers carrying with themselves very long shields they positioned them both in front and also over their heads to construct a wall of their own.

On his Command the archers behind the temporary arrow barricade filled the gaps that had been left as they aimed at the archers of Shilla on the battlements and on his order once releasing their arrows into the air, they flew towards Kim Chunchu's defense and they knocked down a part of it.

Most hid themselves behind the battlements while the shield bearers scattered in their formation and another part of the Cavalry attacked with their wooden posts they were headed for Shilla's barricades outside.

The Paekchean archers had to reload their bows and ceasing that opportunity, Kim Chunchu's son in law gave the command arrows were shot towards the patched parts of the soil that were wet containing small streams of petroleum.

Some of the Paekcheans were scorched and the land around Daeya Fortress was covered in fire though the Fortress still stood unburnt while dancing at the edge of the dusk that was beginning to occupy the sky.

The Paekcheans were committed that if it was to perish in the flames then they were gladly going to do so.

The rest of the Cavalry launching a full scale attack while the Shilla Archers were trying their best to hold off a few, they took with themselves ladders as a few extinguished the mild fire which hampered them from the mighty Fortress.

They positioned their ladders against the wall and one by one they started climbing up the ladders.

Send the rocks and hot water and topple those ladders." Kim Chunchu's son in law ordered and the others who were defending the Fortress complied.

There was a strong defense line that had positioned itself right outside the gate and it slew the Paekcheans who were advancing mercilessly as it held them back it succeeded with the first band of a thousand Soldiers that had been hurled at them proving to be somewhat impenetrable.

The course itself was already violent another force of two thousand was up against them but most of their strength needed replenishment as they were tired.

They tried with a few tens and just about halfway into the hundreds the Paekcheans were too many and far too aggressed the inevitable was the crumbling of the defensive line though showing some signs of great resistance it was insufficient in conquering the invaders the last handful of the barricade warriors was surrounded that they began throwing their lives while the land feasted on their blood.

Kim Chunchu's son in law noticing that they could hold no longer he turned around and looked at the Commanders that were right next to him.

"Regardless of the situation don't stop until you have toppled all those ladders and kill whoever it is that lands on these battlements." He ordered.

"Yes Your Excellency." The Commanders replied in unison as he hurriedly descended the stairs until he was in the courtyard where another force was positioned.

"How many of these are left?" He asked one of the Commanders.

"Three Thousand five hundred." The commander replied.

The young man moved to the platform that was stationed right ahead of them were he was most confident that they could see him from.

"Listen to me you brave men of Shilla and the blood of its ancestors, fathers of it's children, brothers to it's women and husbands to all it's wives.

Before us all the enemy from all sides has surrounded us and in this fight if we can not secure the frontier right now then our brothers won't be able to defend our families back at home.

Each of you is fighting for you family and on this day I assure you that in our blood we shall spell the foundation for the Unification of the three Kingdoms of the Samhan, stand your ground even in front of the enemy that when the loss is past in the dark of night, by dawn Shilla in the whole battle shall have emerged Victorious." He said.

"Hoorah." The soldiers shouted as they raised their swords into the air and they stamped the ground with their Spears.

They faced the gates as they readied themselves with their weapons at hand while the massive gates of Daeya started to crumble with the rest of the Shilla soldiers doing their best to hold their locks in position having put their a lot of wagons and carriages and furniture.

The gates shook over and over but the Paekcheans were finding it hard to get in while at the battlements the Commanders were trying their best to topple the attackers but they couldn't hold them off for much longer.

The Paekcheans had eventually landed on them and their swords and spears clashed as the battlements were baptised with blood.

Eventually after a prolonged strike the hinges that supported the gates themselves were destroyed and the whole gate collapsed as it created an entrance through which the Paekcheans entered.

It was about 8:00pm in the night and the war had already exploded on a very large scale.

Kim Chunchu's son in law was already making his way through the enemy as he slew him down, the blood spilled from the necks that he'd cut open on to his face while Kim Chunchu's daughter was still confined in a small tower within the Fortress that was stationed on the east side.

There along with her were some one hundred soldiers and as she trembled with fear there was a sudden impact that was made on the doors of the tower from outside.

The enemy was still persisting as Kim Chunchu's son in law came face to face with General Yunchung who stared intently at him.

The old man launched himself at the young boy and as their swords clashed they came face to face with one another.

"I'll kill you on this day and I shall bring glory to Shilla." He said.

"I'll kill you today and I shall bring glory to Paekche." General Yunchung said as they both raised their right legs and kicked one another they stumbled backwards before regaining their equilibrium.

They all tightened their grips on their swords and they sprang at one another with Kim Chunchu's son in law Landon a vertical attack General Yunchung's was a horizontal one.

General Yunchung deflected the attack as he turned around with a spinning kick in which he was able to land it onto his attacker.

Trying to guard against the attack with his sword, Kim Chunchu's son in law put it right in front of himself but the impact itself launched him at at distance.

General Yunchung made a spinning attack with his sword and Kim Chunchu's son in law leaped into mid air dodging the attack that in a very short while he landed onto his feet.

Kim Yushin and all the other Shilla soldiers had already started to put in place a series of barricades on the Eastern part of the Naktong River as the Paekcheans that were being led by King Uija continued marching towards Sokham.

As the battallion progressed further and further, a messenger who was riding on a brown stead rode up to them.

He halted and he got off his horse while he quickly went down onto his knees he bowed down his head to the King.

"Greetings Your Majesty." He said.

"Tell me, what's the situation at Sokham?" King Uija asked.

The messenger looked down.

"Did you not hear my question?" King Uija asked.

"Bad news Your Majesty." The messenger replied.

"Then tell me, what's the situation at Sokham?" King Uija asked.

"Shilla has abandoned the Fortress but Sokham itself is already in flames." The messenger replied.

"What?" King Uija said.

"Sokham is in flames." The messenger replied.

"Your Majesty, rather than watch the Fortress fall at our hands, they have decided to employ a Scorched earth policy." Gyebaek said.

"If this persists then I am afraid that our every effort to try and come this far shall have been fr nothing because without military supplies then we can't sustain this campaign." another of King Uija's Generals said.

The King massaged his brow as he closed his eyes and he took a deep breath.

"How fruitless, how absurd, how catastrophic it must have been that she has chosen to tear her skin to break my back." King Uija remarked as he opened them and got off his horse.

He walked up to the messenger who was still on his knees.

"Please rise." King Uija said.

"Yes Your Majesty." The messenger stood up and looking at the King he unsheathed his sword and slew him.

The messenger's blood spilled on the King's face.

"Do you know what he did wrong?" King Uija asked.

"No Your Majesty." Gyebaek replied.

"He reported bad news to me." King Uija replied as he turned around and he looked at everyone else.

"So far we have only been too sympathetic with Shilla and because of that we have been burning our own bridges." King Uija replied.

"What shall we do Your Majesty?" Gyebaek asked.

"When Daeya Fortress has fallen to us, we all gather and we strike Shilla." King Uija replied.

"Your Majesty." Gyebaek said.

"At full force we are going to penetrate Shilla's defenses and cross River Naktong towards Seoraebeol." King Uija replied.

"Yes Your Majesty." Everyone replied as they bowed their heads.

"We camp in the valley outside Sokham Fortress." King Uija ordered.

"Yes Your Majesty." Everyone said in unison as the King stared coldly at them with so much rage burning in his eyes.

Kim Chunchu's son was on his knees and he was watching as all his men were being slain.

They'd fought throughout the night and the stench of blood was prominent throughout the whole Fortress.

Along with the Paekcheans many of the Shilla soldiers had fallen and turned cold they were unable to move one way or another they could only grace the soil beneath them as a carpet on which the Paekcheans trode.

He had very many wounds on himself and as he bled his eyes looked up at the General Yunchung who was also covered in blood.

"Honey?" He heard someone calling him that he turned around and looked at his wife who was dragged to the battlefield as well and was thrown onto her knees.

"Dear." Kim Chunchu's son in law said as he shed his tears while he took the sword that was in his arms.

"Forgive this husband of yours who knows nothing about love bug is only a warrior." The young man said as he turned around and looked at General Yunchung who was approaching him slowly with his sword.

"Rather than die in disgrace, For Shilla I shall take my own life and leave you without satiety." The young man added as he raised his sword while General Yunchung trying to reach him as fast as he could he stubbed himself in his abdomen and he slit his bowels.

He fell to the ground and General Yunchung shouted with so much rage.

"To the very end he wouldn't hold his enemy's life in his own hands.

Kim Chunchu's daughter dragged herself across the ground towards her husband and she looked at him.

"Wake up." she shouted as she shook him violently but he showed no signs of movement he had already breathed his very last.

She looked at the sword that was in her husband's eyes right when General Yunchung looked the other side disappointed.

"I loved you with all my heart I was so ready even if to die for you, without you my life is meaningless as well." She said as she took the sword into her hands and General Yunchung turned to look at her.

"If there is another life, I want to be there with you, even in death or we are burning in flames of eternal Nirvana I want to be there with you because to the very end I have loved you even Paekche was nothing much that could ever come between us." She added as she also raised it into the air and she stubbed herself through the chest she fell down right by her husband's side.

Her face facing his and her eyes looking at his closed ones, it was as though he was sleeping he was nonetheless the most beautiful man that she had ever seen.

Tightening her hands around his and shedding her tears she slowly closed her eyes as she smiled having died so happily.