THE VICTORY OF NAKTONG RIVER

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.

The waves washed the place clean as it obliterated nearly all his troops they were carried down stream.

Some of their heads came in collision with the rocks that were nearby and for the others they were unable to be revived from the force.

General Kim Seohyeon led his team as they darted along the path while they came face to face with the reinforcements.

He held out a bow and arrow and aiming it at. the General who ride ahead of him, he let go and shot him down.

The foot soldiers charged towards him angrily and surrounding his horse he waved around his sword and he killed those that were around him as he went deeper and deeper into the army whose formation had already been distorted.

He ceased the reins of his horse while it stood on its two hind legs while loudly neighing that the enemy was slowly starting to scatter while the other Generals on their horses launched themselves towards him.

General Kim Seohyeon turned his stead around along with his people and they charged away while the Paekcheans still pursuing them another force of a few hundreds caught up to them from behind and the battle raged.

The river had calmed down and there were a large number of Paekchean troops that turned to the woods and made their way around the border of huge rocks as they rushed to the side of their King.

"Your Majesty." They said as they took on positions right in front of him and their counterparts who had at least managed to make it safely across the Naktong River had attacked the Shillans who being so prepared they slew them all.

"Your Majesty, at this rate the Catapults can not accompany us and for the case of the the battering Rams it's going to be more difficult to move them around the rocks." Gyebaek said.

"Your Majesty." A messenger suddenly cried out as he bowed his head while going onto his knees.

"What's wrong with you?" King Uija asked.

"Your Majesty, the reinforcements are under attack." The messenger replied and King Uija was infuriated as he raised his hand with his sword and he pointed it at the Fortress.

"We're all surrounded." King Uija said.

"Your Majesty." Gyebaek said.

"Our troops?" King Uija said.

"We should retreat." General Yunchung said.

"No." King Uija replied.

"Your Majesty." Gyebaek pleaded.

"One thousand Taels of gold to anyone that can deliver the head of Kim Yushin to me on a mast." King Uija ordered.

The soldiers gathering around out of the fifty thousand that comprised of the original cavalry only twenty thousand had remained.

"Charge." King Uija ordered and at once the Paekcheans made their attack towards the other side of the river.

"Archers ready." Kim Yushin said and they all prepared their arrows as they pointed them towards the sky slightly while facing the direction of their invaders.

The Paekcheans got closer with their shields as they rushed up towards the barricades.

"Fire." Yushin Rang ordered and at once releasing all the arrows they flew up like a very thick cloud that hovered above the enemy.

A few of the soldiers in their attack they halted while the arrows descended onto them like rain with fire and they were burnt and shot dead.

The whole Frontline was clear that as the first set of archers withdrew, another set of them stepped from behind and they succeeded their counterparts in the strife as they also aimed at the very position where their predecessors had aimed at them and there letting go of the fire arrows there was another massive episode following the appearance of another cloud of arrows.

The second Frontline was struck down to about a quarter while those that had tried guarded with their shields but either parts of their feet or legs were struck or the arrows had managed to penetrate.

There was still another force that persisted to Storm the area they were already in close proximity to the first set of barricades that protected the Fortress' wall.

Kim Yushin picked up a bow and an arrow and he aimed while the men who were already so close to the wooden barricades nearly went behind them.

He fired at one of the barricades and it immediately caught fire and it had been wet with petroleum and there on the ground where a small but fairly wide stream had been dug the fire burnt to cut off a few of the Paekcheans.

The Shilla archers were in position again as Yushin was ready to Command the third cloud of arrows towards them.

From behind the Paekcheans another force arrived and there right behind King Uija's battallion was Kim Chunchu along with Junghwan Rang and Kim Yongsu.

They charged towards the vast army while Gyebaek and the others forming a circle they stretched outwards towards the Shilla troops and with their Spears they repelled them and caused them to turn around a little.

Kim Seohyeon along with Kim Yongchun prepared the second attack on the advancing reinforcements and with a cart that was stationed right in between they spaced out while they tied very heavy nylon ropes to other two.

The three Carriages colliding with the army they swept them off their feet and intentionally tripped them that they fell onto the ground.

Clearing the path, Kim Seohyeon and Kim Yongchun charged right behind them as they slew the falling Paekcheans one by one mercilessly.

The battle had only intensified and however much they were trying to resist the Shilla soldiers the Paekcheans were already being defeated as the war tides were in the defenders' favour.

Yushin gave another order and the archers fired the third wave of arrows thereby striking down the third Frontline.

Other members of the Hwarang emerged from the woods and there coming into a very close collision with the Paekcheans the open war was at its peak while the sentinels that guarded the Fortress armed themselves inside.

General Kim Yushin seemed to spectate and watch as it was his turn to feel the defeat of his enemy and the undoubted victory of his men.

Kim Chunchu stood face to face with General Yunchung as he tightly held onto his sword.

He pointed it at him before he gathered every bit of courage that he could find and charged towards him.

General Yunchung returned the favour as he acquisced to charge from the opposite direction on his stead as well.

The two collided with their swords clashing with one another as they went past each other.

Their horses turned around and they charged towards each other a second time and while Kim Chunchu brought down his sword vertically, with a horizontal wave General Yunchung guarded but Chunchu couldn't let go that easily.

He countered the deflection as he rested the edge of his sword onto the shoulder of General Yunchung which though being guarded by his armour it received a shallow cut that he bled mildly.

Kim Chunchu angrily threw a fist which General Yunchung ceased with his hands and then gathering all the strength that he could find he launched the both of them off the horses they landed onto the ground.

They orchestrated a fist fight as each trying to lay a punch on the other they guarded vigorously with kicks and blows to their heads and abdomens.

General Yunchung throwing a punch Kim Chunchu ceased it at its head and there with his leg he tripped the older man and threw him to the ground while resting his palm onto his chest.

Kim Chunchu determined to moved it upwards to crush his windpipe the old man ceased his arm and twisting it he forced him to the ground while he positioned himself right above him.

Kim Chunchu still stubborn he threw a series of punches which forced his enemy to loosen his grip eventually with both his legs he kicked him and he staggered away and fell onto the ground.

A series of Paekchean troops moved in front of their generals with their Spears pointed towards Kim Chunchu and they threw themselves at him.

Kim Chunchu moving backwards a number of Shilla soldiers positioned themselves right in front of him as well and they launched themselves towards the Paekcheans as the two antagonistic parties clashed and massacred one another.

King Uija making an example of the Shilla soldiers he halted when he looked around.

His tens of thousands of men had already been killed as their bodies graced the soil of Shilla with blood flowing out of their wounds ut blended with the waters of The Naktong River and turned them red as well.

There were arrows everywhere and a fire dying out at the barricades of Shilla.

He had reached so far but none of his men had even managed to lay their hand at the walls of the Fortress that stood between them and a few other fortifications.

Had the heavens been on his side in the war, he would have at least advanced and Captured Seoraebeol for himself before the second dawn.

Alas his Generals who were fighting alongside him tirelessly and sustaining some minor injuries from the Shilla men who were much more hard headed than he had expected.

All hope was lost that it was evident in the eyes of everyone that there was no hope for he was already fighting a long lost battle.

Kim Chunchu with so much fury charged while King Uija was watching and as he attacked General Yunchung he started by throwing some dust towards his eyes.

While General Yunchung guarded with his fist he waved his sword and running it through his bowels it was enough to wind up the life of the old man.

While the Impact was apparently seen by nearly everyone including the Paekcheans they halted when their great General was falling down into his knees and blood was rushing out from his abdomen along with his bowels.

Kim Chunchu's anger far from calmed he turned around.

"This is for my daughter and her husband." He said as he slew the old man's neck his blood spilled right into his face and his head jumped off and landed onto the ground.

Everyone was alarmed while King Uija stood unable to do a thing while The Shilla Soldiers advanced and surrounded him in the process of himself giving horror to the Paekcheans.

It seemed that for a moment he had lost it because he couldn't let the body of them man fall down he had it supported by a pear through it's chest before it landed and one by one he started cutting off limb by limb, piece by piece when General Yunchung's blood gushed out like a fountain.

He was far from convinced he went further and further ahead to run his sword through him not shedding a tear but smiling with anger as he breathed heartily.

The old General was finished off totally and his body was beyond recognition.

The scene had put the battlefield to a halt and once Kim Chunchu was convinced that he was done with his arch nemesis he turned around and he looked at King Uija who being able to do nothing at all was already entirely surrounded by his soldiers that were willing to defend him with their own lives.

Kim Chunchu pointed his sword at him.

"Attack." He ordered the Shilla Soldiers and without hesitation they all threw themselves at the Paekcheans while the battle resumed once again.

Every last bit of composure lost Kim Chunchu charged along with them making a very brutal scene and a bloody one that Kim Yushin from the Fortress walls looking down at him he was unable to believe it.

The Paekcheans were pushing back slowly and slowly with their King and his Generals as others were buying the time for them with their necks and limbs.

"Your Majesty, we must live to fight another day, if we continue right now then this battle shall have cost us much more than it would have given." Gyebaek said.

"Please withdraw Your Majesty." The Generals pleaded with him.

"Think about Your wife and your sons at home, let not the disaster that befell King Songmyong befall you as well and plunge Paekche into chaos." Another said.

"Please reconsider Your Majesty." Others continued to tell him as he watched his men risking their lives for him even though he was stubborn there was no way that he was willing to keep up the fight.

General Yunchung was already dead and could his pieces rest well or be gathered again.

"For the Forty fortifications that we have Conquered it is worth our time, I upon this war concede the defeat of River Naktong all of us should fall back." King Uija said.

His heart bleeding at the heavy loss eventually he resigned the fight while they hurriedly rode past the boulders behind they headed away while the Shilla troops pursued them for a while.

"Victory is ours." Kim Yongsu shouted as he raised his sword in the air and the rest of the surviving Shilla Soldiers were very pleased as well with their efforts.

Kim Yushin watching as the enemy was retreating off the soil of his motherland he gazed in a distance as he looked at the evening sky the day would soon come to an end with Shilla itself truimphant.

Queen Seondeok was still seated in her room when Boyeong hurried up to her.

"Your Majesty." She said as she smiled brightly when not so long after she was inside Gopheung Rang followed.

"What is it?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"At the battle of Naktong River." Gopheung Rang replied eager to give the news.

"What happened there?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"King Uija was given a bloody defeat." Gopheung Rang replied and at once Queen Seondeok stood up her eyes teary while a gentle smile graced her face.

"King Uija, defeated?" She said in disbelief.

"Yes Your Majesty." Gopheung Rang confirmed.

The Queen ceased the arm of her chair as she leaned over.

"The Shilla, our Shilla, the one for which we have fought to Protect, she is victorious." Queen Seondeok remarked.

"Shilla won?" Seungman said in disbelief.

"Yes Your Highness." Alcheon Rang replied as he smiled happily.

"At last." Seungman remarked.

"That was all that we ever wanted." Alcheon Rang said.

"Yes." Seungman agreed.

"I have heard that thanks to Yushin Rang's great commanding skills the Paekcheans were defeated before they even had a chance to come into a range of two hundred metres from the walls of the Fortress and the casualties that they have suffered have been quite heavy." Alcheon Rang said.

"This expedition though giving them castles and lands has been in vain especially without adequate food supplies and perhaps the Scorched Earth Policy that was initiated by Yushin Rang at Sokham Fortress was the most brutal ulcer to them." Seungman said.

"But King Uija is a war monger, many of his men were killed he is definitely going to exact revenge for them one day." Alcheon Rang said.

"Let him do so." Seungman replied, "These wats shall deplete Paekche's national treasury until the kingdom itself can not stand much longer then she shall fall.

I shall also get my vengeance for the Forty Fortresses that we have lost this time around." Seungman added.

"Your Highness, we should celebrate." Alcheon Rang said.

"We still have much more time to celebrate, when is Yushin Rang and all the other Generals returning to Seoraebeol?" Seungman asked.

"I don't know but it is most likely to be tomorrow at daybreak." Alcheon Rang replied.

"Upon their return there are still a lot of things to be handled I am afraid that there are still things I must resume and preparations that I must make." Seungman said.

"What do you mean Your Highness?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"I asked Yushin Rang to initiate the Scorched Earth Policy at Sokham against the Queen's orders and I am afraid that the action itself despite the victory can't be overlooked and ignored someone is bound to bring it up either way." Seungman replied.

"Who?" Alcheon Rang asked.

"That's what I want to know." Seungman replied.

"Shilla prevailed and Paekche lost the battle at Naktong so badly." Yeomjong said.

"That's a very good thing." Bidam said.

"Your Excellency, with this one battle Yushin Rang himself is going to be popular amongst the people in the capital upon his return tomorrow." One of the Courtiers that had gathered in the room said.

"So?" Bidam asked.

"Shouldn't we be concerned that his popularity shall make him very difficult for us to tackle him!" Another asked.

"Your Highness his fame amongst the people should be laden with fierce resistance from us." Another added.

"You all worry a bit too much." Bidam replied.

"Your Excellency." Yeomjong said.

"It is a good thing if he is famous amongst the people because that popularity that he has to boast is the very seed that we need to sow the best form of discord between both Her Majesty and himself." Bidam said.

The Courtiers seemed to be understanding what he was trying to say.

"If Her Majesty is pleased with Yushin Rang it is a very good thing but need we recall that he initiated a scorched Earth policy at Sokham Fortress against the Queen's orders?" Bidam asked.

"We are all forgetting that he might have brought Victory to Shilla but no man is above the law and because of what he did he orchestrated a very big violation which demands punishment regardless of the position that he holds and when he is punished what do you think the people will do?" Bidam asked.

"Considering how popular the people themselves take him to be they would think it unfair and unjust." Yeomjong said.

"To the people the Female King shall be no more than an inconsiderate monarch and when resistance piles up like this in their hearts whom do you think Her Majesty shall hold responsible?" Bidam asked.

"Yushin Rang." One of the Courtiers said.

"When the time is right then it would be believable that in Her Majesty's eyes Yushin Rang tried to instigate a rebellion and in so doing when she topples him without that much support we could use it as an excuse to topple her Majesty as well." Bidam added.

The Courtiers looking at one another would concur with Bidam's assumptions.

"But Her Majesty really trusts Yushin Rang." a Courtier said.

"Trust itself can be broken and especially by doubt which was certainly ignited by the Sokham Fortress incident.

Let alone that with popularity people fear and once people fear something, then they seek to destroy it before it can on the other hand turn into the very weapon that could kill them." Bidam replied.

It was very early in the morning when the people lined the streets of Seoraebeol while the warriors that had returned from the war marched in truimphantly.

They were led by General Yushin who was travelling along with Kim Chunchu, his father Kim Seohyeon, Kim Yongsu, Kim Yongchun and General Sokham as well.

Along with them were a large number of the Hwarang who had returned as well and as they walked by the people shedding flowers and heralding them they'd boast a little bit with pride and raise up their necks while smiling a bit to the rest of their fans.

They halted at the gates of Wolseong Palace and there they unmounted their horses while the Hwarang themselves continued towards the direction if their arena the Generals were led through the Courtyards to the Direction of the throne room.

Queen Seondeok was seated on her throne and her cousin Seungman stood right by her side with the other Courtiers while the doors of the throne room were opened and through them Yushin Rang and the other Generals walked up to the very front and they halted in their footsteps.

Queen Seondeok looked at them with a smile on. her face.

"Greetings Your Majesty." He said, "Yushin Rang and all the others behind me are reporting a victory." He added as he went onto his knees leading all the others they followed his example and they bowed their heads to her.

"Rise up." Queen Seondeok said and they all complied as they stood up on their feet.

"On behalf of all the people of our Heavenly kingdom and our forefathers that founded this very great nation I thank you all for the effort that you have put in to defend it from traitors from the bottom of my heart." Queen Seondeok added.

"Your welcome Your Majesty." They all said in unison.

"Elsewhere the people trembled with fear, Tang and Gorguryeo abandoned us and while the people themselves ran away you of all the soldiers that stand in Shilla preserved your ground." Queen Seondeok remarked.

"Your Highness, we are all citizens of Shilla, we bleed when the nation loses its finest that I believe we can not just stand by and watch when foreigners threaten the peace of your people abd loved ones." Kim Yushin said.

"Chunchu, for a Royal you have exhibited courage and bravery, Generals Kim Seohyeon, Kim Yongsu and Kim Yongchun have shown us persistence and perseverance, General Sokham wise and diligent as you are and Yushin Rang yourself a great Military leader I do believe that you should all be rewarded." Queen Seondeok said.

"Pardon me Your Majesty." Sangdaedeung Eulje said.

"What is it?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"All these men are worthy of praise for their meritorious service to the country and they have once again saved Shilla from invasion by the foreigners." Sangdaedeung Eulje said.

"Yes." Queen Seondeok replied.

"However Your Majesty considering hierarchy I am forced to believe that the saints before is have also sinned." Sangdaedeung Eulje said.

"Please present their misconduct to me, I am all ears already." Queen Seondeok said.

"Reliably everyone is informed that you never gave an order to abandon any of our Fortresses especially Sokham which in the time of King Jinheung was a major stronghold for our Kingdom." Sangdaedeung Eulje said.

"Yes." Queen Seondeok replied.

"However Yushin Rang didn't just abandon it but he also initiated a scorched Earth Policy which in it's nature created so much damage that needs some time to be undone." Sangdaedeung Eulje added.

"Yes Your Excellency." Queen Seondeok replied.

That is like an act of treason and I believe that regardless of the fruitful result, to set an example and maintain the standard of the Royal crown he should face punishment with his subordinates who didn't advise him rightfully." Sangdaedeung Eulje said.

"Yes Your Majesty." The other Courtiers acquisced to the demand as well.

"If I must punish then I will but considering that they have worked hard enough already I believe that I should also try and reward with prudence." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." The supporters of Yushin Rang and Galmunwang Gukban spoke in his favour while Seungman smiled.

"Your Majesty, I know there should be redemption for them but I am reliably informed that the order came from Lady Seungman." Sangdaedeung Eulje said.

"It came from me." Seungman replied confidently.

"That means that she should too atone for her misdemeanor." Sangdaedeung Eulje said.

"Prior to the war which I was against Your Majesty I wish to remind us all that Sangdaedeung Eulje had made to us a promise." Seungman said and the old man bowed his head.

"What matters is that a victory was consolidated for Shilla." Lord Heumbahn defended.

"Victory?" Seungman said.

"Yes Your Highness." Lord Heumbahn replied.

"Approximately Forty thousand soldiers lost their lives defending the Forty Fortresses which has entirely depleted the army and cut it down by a Third.

The grain that was captured can it be accounted for, this policy itself has weakened the army brutally and it has also drained out treasury our Victory itself was because we were too smart but our early rash action of sending soldiers to fight at these Fortresses nearly doomed the fate of this Kingdom because had it not been for the strong frontier at the East side of the Naktong River being impenetrable then Seoraebeol would have been exposed to capture.

Because of one hasty mistake like this the fate of our people would be doomed and our civilization which we prize the most of all for more than half a millennium would cease to exist." Seungman said

"I am the Female King of Shilla and I am for my own word so I must keep it, you are old and the responsibility of the Monarchy should burden you no more.

I can not be impartial when it comes to me people and how can I find peace in my soul if I never granted you this opportunity to retire and enjoy the very last days of your life?" Queen Seondeok asked.

"Your Majesty is most considerate." Seungman said.

"If I may Your Majesty, I also feel that my time is up and I am quite sickly." Galmunwang Gukban said. "If your Majesty is willing please respect my resignation and let me at least enjoy the twilight years of my life." He added.

"Your age prizes some of Shilla's most remarkable talents but looking back at the victories that were consolidated for this our Heavenly Kingdom today I have a reason to believe that there is a new generation of leaders that have been moulded and are ready to lead this country to much greater things." Queen Seondeok said.

"Watch Your step Your Majesty, at last the fate of Shilla can land in the right hands." Sangdaedeung Eulje said.

"Then being considerate I wish to reward to remarkable talents the first being Lady Seungman who has tirelessly restored our waning relationship with the great Tang and in due course has accomplished a trying task to make the Tang Emperor finally recognize me as a legitimate ruler of this our heavenly kingdom of Shilla." Queen Seondeok said.

"I do believe that Her Highness is most capable as the finances of the state need someone to look after them and there is no one that is better at managing it than Lady Seungman." Queen Seondeok said.

"Thank you Your Majesty." Seungman said.

"I hereby bestow upon you the honorary titles of Galmunwang and I appoint you the Minister of State and finance." Queen Seondeok said.

"Thank you Your Majesty." Seungman replied as she bowed her head.

"Since Sangdaedeung Eulje is wise and smart I have a good successor for you in mind." Queen Seondeok said.

"Your wish is my command." Sangdaedeung Eulje said.

"I shall give you three acres of land to settle North East of Seoraebeol and enjoy the very last years of your life while considering His Excellency the Minister in charge of the Royal Investigations Bureau to assume the position as overall seer of the state as Sangdaedeung Bidam." Queen Seondeok said.

The Courtiers and all other people were surprised as a few of them looked at one another even the followers of Bidam were as marvelled yet he himself at first not moved showed signs of retaining his composure as though he hadn't heard.

Seungman only smiled fairly at the sight as she studied Bidam who confidently stepped out and bowed his head to her.

"Thank you Your Majesty." He said with sincerity in his eyes.

"Bidam is a morally upward man, smart and intelligent, he is beloved by the people and above all he is wise and caring while devoted to all his duties.

He shows so much commitment in each and everything that he does which I do believe makes him the most remarkable talent that can see to this most ordurous task." Queen Seondeok said.

"If Her Majesty wills then with all my heart I shall follow and I shall devote my effort to build for her a sustainable Kingdom and for Her Majesty I shall certainly guard it well." Bidam said as he bowed his head.

"In consideration of the punishments that I shall offer I shall see to it that each of these individuals is laden with the responsibility of ensuring the utmost strength and security of our military force they shall be tasked to train and manage ten thousand soldiers within the course of the year." Queen Seondeok said.

"Yes Your Majesty." They all said as they went down on their knees while Yushin bowing her head raising it up he looked at the Queen in all her Royal splendour.

"Thank you so much, Your Majesty." He thought to himself inwardly as he smiled, "I shall get the whole world and give it to you even if I had to bring it before your grave." He added.

Queen Seondeok smiled.

"Yes." She thought to herself, "What shall the both of you give me." She added.