THE RIVER BETWEEN

"For such a powerful stronghold that we possess as Shilla, I am in deed very curious as to how it could just be abandoned and on whose orders Yushin was working on because I remember very well that they weren't mine." Queen Seondeok replied.

"They weren't your orders Your Majesty." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"Were they yours?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Not at all Your Majesty." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

"Then if they were not yours and I don't think that they were Sangdaedeung Eulje's whose were they?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Pardon me Your Majesty." Galmunwang Gukban replied, "They were Seungman's orders." He added.

Queen Seondeok's eyes were wide open.

"What?" She said so surprised.

"Yes." Galmunwang Gukban confirmed.

"Why and when did you all come up with this?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Seungman and Yushin before he left and he went for the the battle they met and when they did, I witnessed them." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

"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.

"That all went down?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Yes." Galmunwang Gukban replied.

"I don't care whatever your intentions of hers were but regardless of the situation at least if you must then you should talk to me first.

I already have so much that is already going on in my mind so if you do not at least confide some things in me then that betrays the type of relationship that we have between the both of us." Queen Seondeok said.

"My apologies Your Majesty." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"This could be a state of national emergency but there has to be maintenance of both hierarchy to ensure stability.

My duty might not involve governing when it comes to military affairs but to ensure that the state is governed is something that falls directly into my responsibility and it can not be breached by urgency which is undecided because when you do that it makes myself appear to be too virtual a monarch and it makes you all seem rather frivolous and barbaric without a social order." Queen Seondeok said.

"Don't worry Your Majesty, I understand." Galmunwang Gukban said.

"After everything is past this is a very important issue that I am going to discuss with the both of you including Seungman." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." Galmunwang Gukban said as he bowed his head and he stood up and walked out of the room leaving the Queen alone.

Gopheung Rang hurriedly walked into the Queen's presence once again that she looked up at him.

"What now?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Your Majesty, Kim Chunchu." Gopheung Rang replied.

"Chunchu, what has happened to that child?" Queen Seondeok asked as she stood up from her seat.

"His Highness has left in a fit of rage to join the forces that have positioned themselves at the East side if the Naktong River." Gopheung Rang replied.

"You let him go?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"It's not like I could stop him Your Majesty because by the time that I was informed he was ready far outside Seoraebeol." Gopheung Rang replied.

"Forget it." Queen Seondeok said.

"What's the situation at Naktong River?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"It has been fortified and it's not so far from Seoraebeol, the current of the water is very violent and barricades have been set up already.

The Fortresses that stand around can stretch a war for close to two years which beats the record of the Paekche army that is settled in the valley outside Sokham.

Without food reserves the arny won't last long enough and food has to be moved from Daeya Fortress which upon it's capture had less food supplies left." Gopheung Rang replied.

"Will this be a good war tide on our side?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"The terrain I know won't be too good for the Paekcheans and if most of them are countered before the day tomorrow ends then automatically the King Uija won't exceed behind that line his campaign by force shall have come to an end." Queen Seondeok said.

"In five days we have already lost forty of our strongholds if he breaks that one I do not know what we are going to do?" Queen Seondeok said.

"They have gone for so long without rest they must be worn out by now and they could have come very far with their success but they have suffered very brutal casualties that they themselves they can't be consoled." Gopheung Rang replied, "I have every reason to believe that they might have won the battles but they are going to lose the war." he added.

"Perhaps if I had listened to Seungman and we had already moved everything away the enemy would have been in a more desperate situation." Queen Seondeok said.

"It seems so Your Majesty but we haven't lost as much as we have expected and to resurrect from this after math with time it might be much easier for us than it shall be for Paekche because with Queen Eun Go as regent in Sabi over the past few days along with her son, there seems to be so much tension that as amounted amongst the aristocrats especially when they heard about the Sokham Fortress incident." Gopheung Rang said.

"What about Seungman, is there any news from Tang?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Not yet Your Majesty." Gopheung Rang replied.

"I hope that at least she made it." Queen Seondeok said.

Kim Chunchu and Geumyang arrived at the military encampment of Shilla that had stationed itself along the Eastern bank of the Naktong River.

The moment that his horse rode through the gates of the Fortress Yushin Rang who was talking to a couple of soldiers nearby noticed his presence.

Kim Chunchu unmounted his stead and Yushin Rang walked up to him.

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

"Yushin Rang." Kim Chunchu said.

"What are you doing here, if anything happens you should be back in Seoraebeol." Kim Yushin said.

"My daughter and her husband were slain mercilessly and they wete humiliated, for me to sit there and do nothing without even at least trying to initiate an attempt of vengeance makes me feel so cowardly I can not let them die in vain and allow the men that brought them to a tragic end to take away their home and kill the other people that they themselves love and cherish." Kim Chunchu replied bas he marched up to the stairs that led towards the battlements.

"Your Highness, I risk my life to protect you because for the future of Shilla you are more important and I had promised your aunt." Yushin Rang said.

"And you are out here fighting for her Yushin, your heart and hers are both sincere to one another you'd sworn that you would stand by her side even when each and every other person is gone and she is quite lonely." Kim Chunchu said.

Yushin Rang halted.

"That devotion that you have towards my aunt and her Shilla is the devotion that I have towards my daughter and my first wife Yushin Rang and to understand me as a father then you must know it that even I like yourself can neither rest and neither can I slumber when things slowly start to crumble and fall apart." Kim Chunchu added as he stood and faced in a distance across the vast hills where Sokham Fortress' soot covered dark castle stood.

"What's the situation of the Paekche army?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"They are nestled in the valley and there is too possibilities either they are going to make a surprise attack at night or with day break tomorrow then it is going to be on our side an open war." Kim Yushin replied.

"You Generals can command, all there is for me to do is to kill and slice each and everyone of those filthy Paekcheans with the edge of my sword and rest assured that i'll spare no effort in doing so." Kim Chunchu said.

"Yes Your Highness." Kim Yushin replied.

"I swear that the day that I become King of Shilla, should there be a purpose set in my life it shall be first to capture Paekche and burn it all to the ground with King Uija in it he'll curse so much as the last of his cries shall be the ones to give my soul satiety as his descendants become slaves like the ones that he has made of the children of Shilla." Kim Chunchu said angrily as he clenched his fist.

"At last." Bidam Rang said as he smiled heartily.

"What's wrong your Excellency, your visit to the Palace must have been quite interesting." Yeomjong remarked.

"Who would have thought that everything would choose the most dramatic day to erupt?" Bidam asked.

"Your Excellency, you seem, a bit too excited." Yeomjong remarked.

"The News has already reached Her Majesty and who would have thought that Yushin Rang himself would be in the position to initiate a scorched Earth policy against Paekche without the Queen's consent?" Bidam said.

"Your Highness, if originally the plan was to topple Seungman, now that Yushin Rang has involved himself with minimal effort you might have toppled him as well." Yeomjong remarked.

"Don't rejoice yet." Bidam replied, "Anything can happen?" He added.

"But that doesn't change the fact that they went behind Her Majesty's back and deliberately made a decision on behalf of the state without first consulting with her thoughts on it." Yeomjong said.

"As it is right for the Queen the situation is most unbearable in her eyes I can't help but feel that I must become the most loyal when all the others start to pursue much higher than her expectations and possess ulterior motives of their own." Bidam said so heartily.

"Your Excellency, judging by the look on your face do you have feelings for Her Majesty?" Yeomjong asked.

"What are you saying?" Bidam asked.

"You know that rather than marry she chose a life of chaste." Yeomjong said, "As the female King of Shilla with no intention of sharing her power with anyone else, she can't necessarily marry a man." He added.

"Just because she can't marry it doesn't mean that she can't love anyone." Bidam replied.

"Perhaps you are right Your Excellency." Yeomjong said, "So you intend to use Her Majesty's grace and favour for your own benefit." He asked.

"You wait and see after this war." Bidam replied, "Yushin Rang, Seungman, Alcheon, Sangdaedeung Eulje and Galmunwang Gukban will all be no match for me." Bidam said confidently.

"I hope so Your Excellency." Yeomjong remarked.

Seungman and Alcheon Rang were travelling back towards Shilla and they halted at the border when Seungman got out of the Palanquin and she walked up to a small cliff that overlooked the vast expanse of the land in a distance.

Alcheon Rang noticing that she needed someone to perhaps talk to he approached her and he stood and looked at the land in a distance as well.

"Isn't it beautiful?" Seungman asked.

"Yes." Alcheon Rang replied.

"Your Highness, what is on your mind?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"I won't lie to you there is so much." Seungman replied.

"Confide in me Your Highness." Alcheon Rang said.

"All this is the land that we boast and to Gorguryeo it must be a price for allegiance, to Tang however what they want in exchange is honour and desertion of our pride to worship them." Seungman replied

"Who would understand how fulfilling it is for a woman's name to go down in history, who would understand that men could at times be as weak as they think us to be?" Seungman asked.

"There was never a day I didn't cherish the soil beneath my feet, there was never a day that I didn't think of the life that the water of river Han gave me and my people.

At last the odds are against us with Gorguryeo in the North and Paekche advancing Southwards, we are pushed towards the ocean but even there a lands end there is a cliff so high and rocks stationed right underneath.

I can't understand why I feel that my courage is leading Shilla to it's own doom." Seungman said.

"Who says so?" Alcheon Rang asked.

Seungman kept quiet.

"I never get tired to watch you or to have the courage to remind you that I'll always be there to fight by your side.

Your concerns are much too unfeasible because that's what you believe it to be.

You I know can lead this Country to so much greatness unlike some of the men that have come on before, it is you yourself that can fluorish it and can give it so much peace and stability Your Highness.

It's not just because you are a woman but because you are wise and smart, even if not the wisest but you possess for me a remarkable ruler I have beheld in my envisage." Alcheon Rang replied.

"How loud are the drums of war, where are the laws of diplomacy, all I see is silence and the lands shining in their splendour while being fought for they have no concerns.

So as the earth lies it remembers it's own and buries it's children, along with their fruits it fluorishes on the blood that flows from their corpses and their animals' carcasses." Seungman remarked as she turned around.

"Enough already." She said, "Seoraebeol for us is awaiting." She added.

"What shall we tell her Majesty?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"Nothing much of the sort, just that His Majesty the Tang Emperor needs some time to think." Seungman replied as she continued to her Palanquin.

Queen Seondeok knelt down in front of her father's portrait, there she looked at it surrounded by so many candles and his plaque just right there in front of her with incense sticks burning and offerings having been laid down.

"Father, are you there?" She asked.

There was silence that followed which compelled her to bow down her head.

"I hope that you hear me and today that you see how far your beloved Deokman has come." Queen Seondeok said.

There was still silence but she stared intently at the portrait as though expecting an answer when all that she beheld was a majestic smile it wore along with those phoenix robes that were no different from her very own.

"Here is Shilla, our Shilla which I inherited from you, there are our enemies King Uija and in the North Gorguryeo Perhaps preparing an attack I'm advance.

Your Grandchildren along with my brothers and sisters are awaiting the fate that has been laid down for them, similarly as the nation's Female King I am here to do the very same.

Fight along with us and let not the enemy come so close, for today I have realised that it was not I who chose to wear then Crown but the Crown itself chose me." Queen Seondeok said.

She stared again much harder and harder and at that moment there was a mild wind that rushed through the room that the flames that were dancing above the candle were partially moved.

She'd felt it but she didn't know if it was an answer though she continued to speak up.

"Today fight alongside us and let us guard this vast Kingdom and the frontier lands that our Great King Jinheung conquered." Queen Seondeok said.

Kim Yongsu stood at the battlements and there in a distance he started hearing the sound of troops marching.

Not so long about a kilometre away in the valleys between both Sokham Fortress and the Eastern shores of the Naktong River, he started to see Paekchean army flags and banners rising while a very large strip of soldiers about twenty minutes away started to approach them.

He immediately sounded the gong so loudly that the noise itself alerted everyone who was in the Fortress.

Kim Yushin and Kim Chunchu hurriedly walked up the stairs of the battlements and standing there in a distance they beheld the enemy that was approaching them.

"It is them." Yushin Rang said, "It is Paekche." he added.

"Hearing those two sentences Kim Chunchu clenched his fists and looked up at the sky.

"My dear child, I am going to avenge you." He said.

"Everyone fall into positions." Yushin Rang said.

"Is General Kim Yongchun's team ready?" Yushin Rang asked.

"Yes Your Excellency, everything is in place and the trap itself has already been set." One of the Commanders replied.

"How fast is the river going to be?" Yushin Rang asked.

"Very fast the impact could obliterate very many of them." The other replied.

"And the mobile unit?" Yushin Rang asked.

"It has already been dealt with." The Commander replied.

"It seems that everything is already in place." Yushin Rang said.

"Yes Your Excellency, all that is left is a close combat war." The Commander replied.

"Yushin Rang turned and looked ar Kim Chunchu.

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

"Have you any orders for me?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"There is one thing that we are lacking." Yushin Rang replied.

"What is that Yushin Rang?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"Boulders." Yushin Rang replied.

"Boulders?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"There is a hill that is very steep nearby and there are about eight to ten huge rocks at the top, we need them to crush the enemy and we also need them to serve as the primary outer wall to guard our barricades." Yushin Rang replied.

"You already have many barricades, of what use are you going to need those rocks?" Kim Chunchu asked.

"You'll see Your Excellency, I'll send someone with you." Yushin Rang replied.

"Alright." Kim Chunchu acquisced.

The sounds of the gongs that came from across the river were very loud that King Uija and his entire battallion could hear them from where they were.

"So the Shillans have spotted us?" King Uija said.

"I think so Your Majesty." General Yunchung replied.

"Sadly they can not contend with our might." King Uija remarked.

"After all we boast the most remarkable retinue Your Majesty and there are more reinforcements on the way." General Gyebaek said.

"Unlike the petty wars that we have fought so far I know that this one is going to be a very interesting one." King Uija said.

"I think so too Your Majesty." General Yunchung replied as they continued.

Seungman's Palanquin had already made its way through the gates of Seoraebeol and it halted right in front of Wolseong Palace.

Seungman got out of the Palanquin as she was escorted by her retainers Haesul Rang and Damhyeong along with Alcheon Rang while they walked through the Courtyard to the Queen's Chambers.

Seungman arriving outside she stood there as she caught sight of Gopheung Rang whose eyes couldn't look directly into hers.

She could feel that something was not right from the aura that everyone kept on giving off.

"Is Her Majesty inside?" Seungman asked Gopheung.

"No Your Highness." Gopheung Rang replied.

"Where is she?" Seungman asked.

"I don't know Your Highness but if you are willing then you can wait for her because she won't be gone for so long." Gopheung Rang replied.

"Sure." Seungman replied as she raised up her eyes to the doors of the Queen's Chambers.

A short while later she sensed a similar presence that was coming towards her she turned around and looked on her right as she saw the Queen approaching her.

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

"Seungman?" Queen Seondeok called a bit surprised.

"I'm sorry if I kept you waiting for so long Your Majesty." Seungman said.

"The journey made by a Diplomat isn't that easy I feel that I should be the one apologising for keeping you waiting instead." Queen Seondeok said.

"Don't worry about me Your Majesty, I am at your service." Seungman said.

"Come with me." Queen Seondeok said as she turned around.

Seungman followed her a bit hesitant but she wasn't going to defy what sounded like a Royal Command, instead she was going to comply.

The two walked alone and they stopped at the top of the balcony that overlooked Seoraebeol.

Staring at it in a distance the place still looked peaceful despite the war.

"Is there anything that you have to say to me?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"The Tang Emperor said that he'll think about it." Seungman lied.

"That's good, that's much better." Queen Seondeok remarked.

"However if it is to think about it isn't Your Majesty afraid of Tang ignoring us?" Seungman asked.

"At least for now I can be thankful." Queen Seondeok said.

"Why?" Seungman asked.

"Yushin Rang gave the orders to abandon Sokham Fortress following the fall of Daeya in which Chunchu's daughter and son in law were murdered.

However in abandoning it he launched a scorched Earth policy." Queen Seondeok replied.

"I see." Seungman said.

"Is there something that I should know?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Perhaps Your Majesty." Seungman replied.

"Tell me what it is." Queen Seondeok said.

"To be very frank Your Majesty, I'll not lie to you and I shall confess here and now that I was the one who told Yushin Rang to carry out that scorched Earth policy if things got to their worst." Seungman replied.

"Right now we have retreated to fortify the land beyond the East side of the Naktong River and as I speak we are looking at an open war." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your Majesty, we must live to fight another day." Seungman said.

"That I understand but even up to now I still ask myself why did you have to take it upon yourself to issue a retreat order to a General without my consent?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Pardon me Your Majesty but someone must take the fall." Seungman replied.

"Take the fall, what do you mean?" Queen Seondeok Asked.

"Remember when Your Majesty asked me if I would help you and I assured you that I would wholeheartedly.

The pressure of Sangdaedeung Eulje pushed Your Majesty hard enough you were against the wall and acquisced to a head on battle with Paekche despite ourselves being in a very poor Military condition.

In issuing this order Sangdaedeung Eulje can take the blame for I'll advising the King and I could take the blame for our loss of Sokham Fortress to the enemy while Your Majesty through it all shall have to be rendered blameless in this situation." Seungman replied.

"You think about the futures of other people but why don't you think of yours?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"You are the great and the wise Female King of Shilla and I am only a subordinate who is your cousin, Shilla needs you much more than she has ever needed me." Seungman replied.

"You don't realize your value to Shilla you foolish girl, everything that I am doing for Shilla I am also doing for you." Queen Seondeok said.

"I am so sorry Your Majesty if I made you seem so unimportant in this decision but it isn't something that I regret because as long as my enemy loses then along with Shilla I would drag down Paekche that she wouldn't have the chance to engulf us all on her own." Seungman replied.

"Enough." Queen Seondeok said, "I don't wish to be blameless." She added.

"Regardless of the situation at hand someone will bring this up one way or another but let us not look into it that much because what matters is the war at hand Your Majesty." Seungman said.

"Beyond that point how do you expect me to protect you?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Don't worry Your Majesty, I can protect myself." Seungman replied.

The Paekcheans had moved for a while and they were on a path that was going through the woods.

There in the surrounding trees Junghwan Rang positioned himself with a series of other Hwarang., themselves covered in grass and having painted their faces green as well.

As the Paekcheans were about three quarters into the woods, Junghwan Rang raised his right arm and the archers picking up their bows they aimed for the enemy army.

Junghwan Rang waved his right arm and releasing their arrows they fired at some of the Paekcheans who still marching they started to fall to the ground.

The last quarter of the army was thrown into chaos as the arrows only flew at them more and more.

The horses broke loose as they rode on faster and faster.

There a small mobile unit launched itself at King Uija and all his other forces head on and Judging from the rider on the horse it must have been Kim Yongchun.

The Paekcheans who were in a strife to turn back around another force that was led by General Kim Seohyeon already made its attack on the injured part of the troops that a soldier from behind rushed up to King Uija at the front.

"Your Majesty." He said.

"What's going on behind there?" King Uija asked.

"We have been surrounded by Shilla soldiers at the back." The soldier replied.

"No turning back." King Uija said as he caught sight of the force that was charging towards them.

He unsheathed his sword and he raised it into the sky.

"We now attack at full force to penetrate them." King Uija said.

"Your Majesty, can we really?" Gyebaek asked.

"The question is can they hold us back?" King Uija asked. "Our forces are much too stronger and once we have penetrated them I don't think they be

"We can't turn back now Your Majesty so its the only strike that we can take." General Yunchung said.

"Charge." King Uija commanded and his troops went on ahead of him while they collided with Kim Yongchun and his men.

The battle raged while King Uija and Gyebaek also involved themselves and Junghwan along with the other Hwarang were rushing through the woods on opposite sides of the small path that ran through them as they followed the charging army which being pursued by General Seohyeon and his men was starting to reduce.

The Cavalry itself being very long and facing tension from both sides it was compressed in between that it halted just as Junghwan Rang and the other archers did.

They positioned themselves once again and they aimed at the heart of the army and there they shot more and more arrows towards the Paekcheans that slowly they started to fall down onto the ground dead.

Yushin who was still watching from the battlements at the Fortress could hear the sound of the conflict that was nestled in the valley that was close by.

Kim Yongchun and his men nearly being penetrated he caught sight of his General still fighting his way through fiercely and slaying a large mass of the Paekcheans.

The war persisted while he smiled contented that he had seen what it was that he wanted.

He got a bow and an arrow and shooting it into the sky it released a thick cloud of red smoke which in a close range was spotted by Kim Chunchu who stood on the Hilltop with a couple of a hundreds soldiers.

"It's a signal." One of them said.

"Push down the rocks." Kim Chunchu ordered and the mej gathering all their strength they held the large rocks that were nearby each about Fifty fifty in number for the first four that they pushed them off their foundations.

The large rocks started rolling down as they gathered so much speed that the ground fairly shook and while the sound of swords and spears clashing covered them, by the time the Paekcheans looked up it was very difficult to maneuver yhr the attack.

The Rock crash landing on them divided the army into two distinct factions while it barricaded the larger part of it between the Western shore and the Naktong River.

Kim Yongchun and all the others trapped on the other side were subduing the Paekcheans and a few of their commanders while the Generals along with the larger faction were now facing the direction of the Shilla barricades and troops at the had stationed themselves at a distance outside the Fortress on the Eastern Shore of the Naktong River.

"Archers ready." Kim Yushin gave the order and the archers both at the battlements and behind the wooden barricades set their bows and arrows as they aimed at the Paekcheans.

Those with the shields moved to the front and they covering the rest of the head slowly started to advance towards the river while Yushin Rang got ready with his bow and arrow pointing at the enemy as well.

Kim Chunchu and his men started to descend into the valley while the Shilla mobile units withdrew from the conflicts while Junghwan Rang and his men that had hidden themselves in the woods emerged out from their hiding and they joined the massacres.

Kim Seohyeon who was leading another mobile unit of horsemen took them as they followed the direction from which a couple of flags that were being flown were coming from.

"It's the reinforcement troops." His subordinate said.

"Split into two." Kim Seohyeon said as they complied and he leading the other half he charged as they further moved around the hill.

The Paekcheans were still gathering and they had started to wade through the waters while they were certain to stand their guard and keep a very safe distance.

They crossed over while King Uija and Yunchung watched from a distance as the army went on and on.

Yushin smiled as they appeared to have been settled in the middle while trying to regroup themselves along the Eastern Shore.

He raised his bow and aimed his arrow at the sky while he shot it and released a thick green cloud.

"There's the signal." General Sokham said as he turned around and looked at his men.

"Break the dam." He ordered and the Shilla soldiers cracked the wooden structure that it eventually collapsed as a large mass of water that had been held back broke free.

The sound was loud along with the force that it produced and the Paekcheans who were still organising themselves along the shore and those that were still wading in the water looked up where the river was flowing from.

There a very tall wave was rushing towards them that they could do nothing more than stare at it while a few of them panicking to get out of the water and King Uija who staring at the large wave that advanced towards his men dropped his mouth.