AN EYE FOR AN EYE
The Queen stood while she faced the mirror, her servants Boyeong and Eun Hye tending to her they helped her dress up into her pure white armour.
She looked at herself while she recalled the words that her father had once told her.
"I don't have the power to command your life and stop you from doing whatever you want and if you are determined that you are going to go and become a warrior then if you are not confident about your return into my arms you can tell me and I'll be prepared for the worst." Moo Mak had once said.
"I only trained you to protect You my child and so that when I am gone you can protect yourself, sadly, I never trained you to even once in your life devote your all and try to protect Shilla." he'd at one time cautioned.
"Which type of King does Shilla need?" She'd asked.
"Shilla needs a warrior one." Queen Seondeok had replied to her before she'd breathed her last.
They were about to tie her arms when she halted.
"Let it be." She said and bowing their heads they withdrew while Gopheung Rang walked into the room.
"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed his head.
"What is it?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"Sangdaedeung Alcheon is here to see you." Gopheung Rang replied.
"Let him in." Queen Jindeok said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Gopheung Rang replied as he bowed his head and he withdrew from the room while Sangdaedeung Alcheon stepped inside with his silver and brown suit of armor as well
"Your Majesty." He Said.
"Alcheon Rang." Queen Jindeok replied while he walked closer and closer to her.
"May I help you?" Sangdaedeung Alcheon asked.
"Yes." Queen Jindeok replied as Alcheon took the other pieces of the white armour and he started thing them onto the Queen's hands.
"Your Majesty, how unsettled my heart is." Sangdaedeung Alcheon said.
"There is nothing more uneasy in life than knowing that there is a purpose that you must fulfill but in the end you keep on trying to ignore it." Queen Jindeok replied.
"You're not running away from something." Alcheon Rang remarked.
"I have decided to embrace the warrior inside." Queen Jindeok replied.
"It must have been a very difficult task." Sangdaedeung Alcheon remarked.
"It wasn't easy." Queen Jindeok replied.
"But why now Your Majesty, of all the other times?" Sangdaedeung Alcheon asked.
"Did I tell you why I too had deserted the sword and the battlefield?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"No Your Majesty." Sangdaedeung Alcheon replied.
"At the time that Galmunwang Baekban had killed my father I was so angry and when he staged that resistance I was all the more loathsome when it came to him.
He had had his own reasons and I too believe that he loved Shilla just as much as we did because he one time talking to me when I had just come to Seoraebeol made me realize that at least I could see a ruler in his visage." Queen Jindeok said.
"But Your Majesty hated him back then." Sangdaedeung Alcheon said.
"Galmunwang Baekban deprived me of everything that I would have treasured in this life, a childhood, a family, a name and lastly the life of my Father." Queen Jindeok replied, "I got so selfish that I slew him but I was haunted right there with his corpse in front of me, that much of a killer I had become and there were those words that he had said to me himself." She added.
"IN ITS TWENTIETH GENERATION A UNIFIED SHILLA SHALL FALL AT THE HANDS OF A FEMALE RULER JIN?" Sangdaedeung Alcheon recited.
"You now know much better." Queen Jindeok replied.
"You were afraid" Sangdaedeung Alcheon Asked.
"I thought that I too needed redemption as much, I mourned, reformed myself, read and studied sutras and other forms of literature and philosophy to develop my knowledge and bring my country greatness and prosperity under myself." Queen Jindeok replied. "I have seen death, I have tolerated bloodshed, I have embraced loneliness, I have treaded through fire, look me in the eye and be kind when you say, was it our love that relieved me or was it the same feeling that became my greatest burden."
"All that for what?" Sangdaedeung Alcheon asked, "I see that through Your Majesty's diplomacy Shilla can blossom with so much life than it ever had before and with that alone Shilla itself has been peaceful at just the mere dawn of your reign, it is my affection to Your Majesty that has perhaps been the support to propel you this far." He added.
"But where are the lands that King Jinheung Conquered?" Queen Jindeok asked while Sangdaedeung Alcheon kept quiet.
"All my life my enemies forced me to bury the very people that I cherished and dearly loved, they took everything with them because I had forfeited the sword.
At times I feel most regretful for the battle on the East side of the Naktong River having occured without my presence and for having leaned on other people while I could have done so much more with these bare hands of mine to turn Shilla into the very paradise that I dreamed of." Queen Jindeok added.
"We all have been selfish for Shilla just as I have been selfish for Your Majesty." Sangdaedeung Alcheon said.
"It was after Queen Seondeok died at the hands of Bidam that made me realize that in this chaotic world the only way to establish peace is with the very sword that I had resented and I had tried to hard to run away from and because of that, I realised that to be a warrior wasn't something that I merely wanted to be but it was my calling for this country, to embrace and become the very white warrior that I had seen in my dreams since I was a young girl." Queen Jindeok said.
Sangdaedeung Alcheon picked the helmet and at the Queen herself he smiled.
"Other Queen's might be known for their wisdom, kindness and virtue but contrary to them all you are the very first that I have seen to be known for being a warrior." Sangdaedeung Alcheon while he placed it on the Queen's head.
"Thank you so much." Queen Jindeok said as she turned around and she looked at herself in the mirror while she smiled so pleased at the sight herself.
"Let's go Your Majesty, let's bring glory to this our Heavenly Kingdom of Shilla, let's fight for it." Sangdaedeung Alcheon said.
"Yes." Queen Jindeok replied.
"The Queen led a retinue of her finest soldiers with a white cape that was hanging at her back while she strode through the hallways of Wolseong Palace and she approached the side of Hwarang Arena.
There she marched down through the entrance and she stood at the platform where she beheld the Hwarang and all the other soldiers of Shilla that were standing right in front of her.
She halted as all the others stood right behind her.
"Your Majesty." They all said as they went down onto their right knees and they bowed their heads to her.
She raised her hands up to the sky and they all stood where they were as they stretched out across the entire place.
"All you that are gathered here are the most brave, most loyal and most true soldiers of this our Heavenly Kingdom of Shilla.
You are all that she has left to protect her wives, her children, her elderly fathers and all her lands that stretch far from the Eastern coast to the West.
For decades and for centuries, all the great Sovereigns that preceded me they guarded this land with their every might and devoted their every strength just so that we could all proudly stand here today and own up to the luminous legacy that they lived to give us.
They taught us to be brave, to be martyrs and at the same time to be Filial children.
Where is it that we shall choose to stand, not in the pages of oblivion but in the pages of history, the history of the three Kingdoms.
There we can stand along with those that preceded us, their we can bring justice to the blood that they shed and there we can fulfill the dream that they had and the purpose for which they lived and fought hard with their strength and all their lives.
From us so much was lost, from us so much stolen, at the point that we were once plunged into crisis, we survived and then we lived as we waited for this very day, the day that shall change each and everything that we have ever seen or heard of in the pages of History.
We are going to bring down Paekche to it's knees, we are going to crush it down to the very last bit and we are going to take back everything that she had taken from us.
There is no turning back from them, because they are cowards and they hide behind their masks while we are warriors that possess a more grandiose ambition and a very great dream, we are not as strong as the warriors of King Jinheung only much stronger than all those that have ever lived.
They despise us for having a female King but this female King along with you shall show the world today that we are forever strong and great regardless of who is ruling and that as Shilla we are going to rise above all the other Kingdoms of the Samhan." Queen Jindeok said as she tightened her grip on her sword and pulling it out of the scabbard she raised it into the sky.
The Hwarang raised theirs as well as they shouted loudly while the other troops stamped the ground with their Spears.
King Uija and his troops marched through the streets of Sabi as they were headed Westwards towards Sangju which was right on the Western Frontier.
The streets as they left were unlively with the people looking at them the place was rather drab and the streets themselves muddy with the businesses so stagnant.
The markets themselves were empty and the King who didn't seem to notice how bad the situation was he rode his black stead proudly and his golden suit of armour as he advanced further.
Queen Jindeok riding through the gates of the arena onto the streets was welcomed and hailed by the people who orchestrated a very lively scene with flowers being thrown in the air towards both herself and her people.
She smiled once in a while yet she too was proud as she rode on amidst the worship of the people.
"What a very beautiful country!" Sangdaedeung Alcheon exclaimed.
"All these people, they are looking at us." Kim Yushin said.
"It's a big battle we are going for, win or lose, regardless of the outcome we must die bringing glory to Shilla." Gopheung Rang said.
"This had never been a sight that I too expected, at the moment it feels like I am living a dream that I never had." Damhyeong said.
"I'd never thought that I would ride down this very street again, it is now that I realise it more than ever, I am riding on to my destiny." Queen Jindeok said as they continued out of Seoraebeol.
King Uija and his troops arrived at Seolbong Mountain Fortress and the gates being opened the King rode in while on the other side, Queen Jindeok and her troops arrived at Sangju.
They gathered into a room and there they looked at the map that was laid out in front of them.
"Your Majesty, what are we going to do?" Alcheon Rang asked.
The Queen studied the map and her eyes moved up to the northwest.
"Where is a primary Fortification of Paekche?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"That's Kwansanseong." Yushin Rang replied.
"Wasn't it the first place that they took from us?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"Yes Your Majesty." Sangdaedeung Alcheon replied.
"Kwansanseong is surrounded by a few hills and the terrain there is a bit rough so it isn't a place that is easy to take, however should it fall into our hands then we shall have a way of paralyzing Paekche's troops along the Western Frontier." Queen Jindeok said.
"But Kwansanseong being fairly isolated we could cut off our supply from Sangju." Yushin Rang said.
"If we can take it we can deploy a defensive unit that could do the job." Queen Jindeok said.
"Then how are we going to take Kwansanseong Your Majesty?" Kim Seohyeon asked.
The Queen looked and studied the map clear.
"Water." She replied.
"How Your Majesty?" Kim Yongsu asked.
"The rivers flow towards our direction and if we hold back the river then the water shall flow backwards, at that rate we'll flood Kwansanseong and then we'll take Paekche by surprise." Sangdaedeung Alcheon said.
"No." Queen Jindeok rebuked.
"Why your Majesty?" Sangdaedeung Alcheon asked.
"That's a good and effective stratagem." Kim Yongsu added.
"Except that if Paekche is aware that we are attacking it's most likely to consider that possibility as well and we shall find them very prepared." Queen Jindeok said.
"If we are prepared or not, they are much weaker than we are at the moment there is no way that they could possibly win against us." Kim Yongsu said.
"To gain Victory while minimising the number of casualties is my primary concern at the moment, if we can maintain very large numbers throughout then I assure you that we shall be in the position to drag this campaign longer and fortify all the areas that we would have recaptured." Queen Jindeok replied.
"Then what are we going to do Your Majesty?" Haesul Rang asked.
"I have already considered something." Queen Jindeok Said as she picked up a small piece of wood and she placed it at the mouth of the river.
"We block the river and give hundred Soldiers shall be stationed right at the bottom, another five hundreds shall be stationed in the hills that are north of Kwansanseong and then a force of four thousand troops shall station themselves at the West side of the valley." Queen Jindeok replied.
"All three directions." Kim Yushin said.
"It shall be very hard for the enemy to distinguish between which side to fortify and which one to give up we'll capture the Fortress and take it by surprise." Queen Jindeok replied as she smiled ghastly.
"What about the rest of the army?" Damhyeong asked.
"We shall position ourselves here in the enemy's eyes." Queen Jindeok replied.
"Night time approached and as the river was already blocked the water level was rising and flowing backwards.
The guards that stood at the Fortress of Kwansanseong looked in a distance at the river and there underneath the moonlight they could see shadows of people approaching.
A large number of soldiers had positioned themselves on the Southern wall and they were hiding behind the battlements.
One of the sentinels that was on standby was shot down and before long all the others were shot down as well eventually the Shilla soldiers certain that the Paekcheans were not watching they started running towards the Western wall and by surprise exposed in the surrounding fields the Paekcheans emerged from their hideout behind the battlements and aiming arrows at the enemy they shot at the Shilla troops.
They positioned their shields in front of them and they guarded against the impact of the arrows as they turned around and they formed a very large circle which they enclosed their shields.
The arrows raining down had a mild impact on them.
The Shilla archers within the circle were able to aim from the spaces that were in between and firing at the Paekcheans who also hid behind the battlements while part of their soldiers were shot down.
The army throughout the Fortress had concentrated themselves Southwards and there in the North Western Hills there were torches and banners in place, the altitude being fairly high it was very difficult for those in the valley to shoot upwards.
There another set of archers of Shilla positioned themselves as they aimed their arrows up at the skies with fire they slowly started firing at Kwansanseong from above as well.
The soldiers were thrown into panic as the warning Gong on the Northern wall was sounded at once and the soldiers were thrown into panic at that very moment while the army of five hundred troops descended from the Hilltop and they started climbing up the Northern wall of the Fortress.
The soldiers on the Western wall started to split while there was smoke rising in the valley on the East Queen Jindeok and a few of her Generals who were hidden within the woods noticed it.
They started marching immediately while the Paekcheans were focused on the other two sides while a group of riders streaked from the West on their horses with fiery Arrows at hand and they shot towards the Eastern wall of Kwansanseong.
The River having flooded had cut off Kwansanseong from any other nearby aid across the Western Frontier and with the other three directions being dominated by Shilla she was trapped in between.
Before the Northern wall would be reinforced, a Group of Shilla soldiers had already landed with General Alcheon and they were already slaying all the Paekcheans that had neared the place at that very moment.
Part of the Hwarang that were participating fought the Paekcheans towards the Eastern gates of the Fortress and arriving there the gates were opened while Queen Jindeok and the others stormed the Fortress by surprise.
Already excommunicated from Seolbong Fortress the Queen and her men massacred the Paekcheans from dusk until dawn and by morning, Kwansanseong had fallen to the hands of Shilla.
King Uija was seated inside the castle of Seolbong mountain when a messenger rushed in.
"How are the movements of the Shilla army along the Western border?" King Uija asked.
"Bad News Your Majesty." The messenger replied.
"Why, what happened?" King Uija asked.
"Kwansanseong was taken by surprise yesterday night by the Queen herself along with some of her Generals and the river flooded their is no way that we can march over to redeem it." The messenger replied.
"Kwansanseong is fallen?" King Uija asked.
"By daybreak it was already in the hands of our enemies." The messenger replied as the King stood up angrily.
"How is that even possible, that Fortress had five thousand soldiers?" King Uija asked.
"The army that attacked was very small but efficient, they were able to minimize casualties and at the same time take the place." The messenger replied.
"The movements along the border going Southwards were only decoys that were employed to confuse us, we anticipated an attack from Sangju their strongest military base but they started from the Northwest descending downwards." General Gyebaek said.
King Uija clenched his fists and at that very moment, there was another messenger that rushed into the room.
"Your Majesty." He said as he went onto his knees.
"What now?" King Uija asked.
"Dosal Fortress." The messenger replied, "Dosal has fallen into the hands of Kim Yushin." The messenger replied and the King smacked the table out of so much rage.
"What is this, what is happening?" He asked.
"Dosal has also fallen?" General Gyebaek said.
"It has been a very great fortification of ours and now that it is in Shilla's hands I have a reason to believe that this time around the Shilla archers have attacked with so much military vigour." General Pocheon remarked.
"We are delaying when right now we should react." King Uija said.
"Your Majesty, our defenses have been wiped out by surprise we should also take the chance to do unto Shilla the very same thing that they have done to us." General Gyebaek remarked when another messenger rushed into the room.
"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed his head.
King Uija unsheathed his sword and he looked at him.
"What has happened this time around?" He asked.
"A Shilla military camp has been spotted right outside the Baek Mountain Fortress." The messenger replied.
The King calmed down a little bit and he returned his sword into his scabbard as he sighed a little.
"At least we still have that one to defend." King Uija remarked.
"Your Majesty, if I may propose it looks like Shilla is conquering every Fortress strategically." General Gyebaek said.
King Uija looked at the map and studying it he noticed it as well.
"They are all mountains." He said.
"If the mountains fall into Shilla's hands they are much easier to defend than those Fortresses that are stationed within the valleys and rhe plain lands." Gyebaek remarked.
"So they are prolonging the war by doing so they are weakening our Eastern Frontier." King Uija said.
"What matters at the moment is the defense that we are giving these areas, if they penetrate that a direct attack is their last move for the battle." General Gyebaek said.
"We should also take our chances and Fortify the mountains as fast as possible so tell all the soldiers that are stationed at each and every mountain on Shilla's Western Frontier to monitor and watch the areas effectively." King Uija Said.
"Yes Your Majesty." General Pocheon said.
"If it is a war that the Queen of Shilla wants then it is a war that we are going to give her." King Uija remarked as he smiled ghastly.
"Your Majesty, at this rate we should attack Baek Mountain Fortress." Sangdaedeung Alcheon said.
"Who said anything about attacking it?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"Your Majesty, the Fortress is less than a kilometre away and we are camping right here, it's quite obvious that it's Baek Mountain Fortress that we are attacking.
"This is not an obvious war, you should have realised it by now because there is no use fighting of our enemy already knows what we are planning, it's like running towards fire with hay." Queen Jindeok.
"Your Majesty, why aren't we attacking Baek Mountain Fortress when it is the nearest to us?" Haesul Rang asked.
"To satisfy your curiosity I'll let you all in on a secret." Queen Jindeok said as she looked at the map and she pointed at all the Fortresses that they had taken over.
"What is it Your Majesty?" Kim Seohyeon asked.
"What do all the Fortresses that we've taken share in common?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"They are all in mountains." Yushin Rang replied.
"It has become a pattern right now." Queen Jindeok remarked.
"A pattern that we must change." Yushin Rang said hinting on what the Queen was trying to imply.
"There are so many things that we must use to our advantage and the first is how keen the enemy is supposed to think." Queen Jindeok said with a smile on her face, "Up until now I intentionally ordered that we set a camp in a secret place sure enough that we'd be spotted by Paekche and this being a battle of surprises I am hoping that by now they are aware that it's the Baek Mountain Fortress that we are going to attack." She added.
"That way the would prepare in advance Your Majesty." Kim Yongsu said.
"And that is what I want." Queen Jindeok replied.
"Your Majesty, we can not spell our own doom by alerting the enemy." Kim Yongsu said.
"Baek Mountain Fortress isn't what I want at the moment, what I want is something else." Queen Jindeok replied as she placed a small red flag at another Fortress that was not so far from the Baek Mountain Fortress.
"Geumhyeon Fortress?" Yushin Rang asked.
"Yes." Queen Jindeok replied.
"Your Majesty, that Fortess isn't that strong to begin with, why must we attack it?" Kim Seohyeon asked.
"You are all hasty with your decisions and that is the primary reason as to why we could fail, what I want isn't just the Fortress but to weaken the entire Western Frontier upon which Paekche has situated her primary defenses against Shilla, that way if we must strike they'd least expect us and it would be another surprise that in the future I guarantee is going to be more and more costly to Paekche." Queen Jindeok said.
Very well Your Majesty.
The soldiers that were stationed at Geumhyeon Fortress watched the lands in a distance and themselves being bordered by a small hill and a couple of trees they were lousing around.
They were not more than two thousand soldiers that were in the Fortress but the hours of noon having approached a number of them were having lunch while the others were very busy napping and resting while telling each other stories.
All of a sudden arrows flew and they struck the guards that were watching at the battlements on the Eastside that they fell down right where all the other soldiers were.
The soldiers looked up at the sky as they heard very strange sounds and at that very moment, a very large pile of arrows darkened the sky above them.
"Take Cover." A few shouted as they dived away to find shelter while the arrows rained down on a number of them that were still filled inside.
The arrows falling very few of the soldiers could move so the wall was cleared for the Shilla troops to mount with their ladders without much interference and resistance.
The Shillans had already made their entrance into the Fortress within thirty minutes and the gates were opened as Queen Jindeok rode in with Kim Yushin and Sangdaedeung Alcheon as she slay the Paekcheans inside with the edge of her Sword.
At last halting in the middle her horse stood on its two hind legs and it neighed while she raised her sword in the air and she massacred the Paekcheans that were nearby.
The Shillans fairly larger than the Paekcheans in number slew them all and they were very swift with the light swords most being small easily maneuvered the attacks of the enemy as they launched themselves further at them the Paekcheans were all slain and defeated.
Haesul Rang led another team of troops who attacked Horogoro Fortress with a much similar strategy along with Gopheung Rang and Kim Yongsu and it had also fallen into the hands of Shilla.
King Uija stood at the battlements if Seolbong Mountain Fortress with Gyebaek as they watched the army that was patrolling outside in a distance.
At that moment, a Soldiers arrived and stood at the King's side with a scroll in his hands.
"Your Majesty." He said as he bowed his head. "A message for you." He added.
"Give it to your General." King Uija said and the man complied without that much resistance he handed it over to General Gyebaek who unsealed it and decided to read it with his own eyes.
"What does it say?" King Uija asked.
"Baek Mountain Fortress still stands unscathed by Shilla." General Gyebaek read and the King smiled.
"However...." General Gyebaek said and the King's smile immediately waned as though it had been non-existent before.
"However what?" King Uija asked.
"Horogoro Fortress and Geumhyeon Fortress....." General Gyebaek replied.
"What's wrong with them?" King Uija asked.
"They have fallen to Shilla Your Majesty." General Gyebaek replied and out of so much fury, the King turned around and he punched the wall behind him and his hand bled.
"Contain your anger Your Majesty, please contain your rage." General Gyebaek pleaded.
"Pass an order that whoever it is that can deliver to me the head of the Queen of Shilla I shall award them fifty thousand Taels of gold." King Uija told the messenger.
"Yes Your Majesty." The man replied as he bowed his head and he withdrew from the King's presence.
Queen Jindeok and her men gathered within her tent as they studies the map that was stationed right in front of them.
"What is it?" Queen Jindeok asked when he noticed a frown on Damhyeong's face.
"Your Majesty, the King of Paekche....." Damhyeong replied.
"What's with him?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"He has put a price on anyone of his Soldiers that can deliver him your head." Damhyeong replied.
Queen Jindeok laughed.
"A price, on my head?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"Yes Your Majesty." Damhyeong replied.
"So are you afraid?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"No." Damhyeong replied.
"Are you worried?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"No Your Majesty." Damhyeong replied.
"Tell me what's his price?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"Fifty Thousand golden Taels." Damhyeong replied.
"Is that my worth in the Paekche King's eyes?" Queen Jindeok asked.
"Perhaps Your Majesty." Damhyeong replied.
The Queen looked at all the others who were standing around her.
"Can you believe that is the worth of this woman's head in his eyes?" Queen Jindeok asked.
Everyone kept quiet.
"We know what it is that we are after and I understand that you are waiting for an order to attack from me." Queen Jindeok said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Everyone replied in unison.
"This is how the King of Paekche wishes to play so I shall play along as well." Queen Jindeok said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Haesul Rang remarked.
"Pass this order and tell everyone that I'll offer Five thousand Golden Taels to whoever presents the head of the King of Paekche to me." Queen Jindeok said.
"Yes Your Majesty." Everyone said in unison.
"Prepare for impact because in twenty minutes we are going to attack Baek Mountain Fortress after all this conquest is an eye for eye policy we have launched as Paekche had taken so much from us we'll take back just as much in return surely." Queen Jindeok added.
"Yes Your Majesty." Everyone said.
"Your Majesty, which technique are we going to use to capture it?" Yushin Rang asked.
"Don't worry about that, I'll personally brief each and everyone of you for we are going to employ the Heavenly spear technique." Queen Jindeok replied as she smiled ghastly.
The Paekchean scouts that were patrolling around heard the sound of troops that was marching heavily while they positioned themselves within the woods.
They caught sight of the Queen riding her stead with her mast at hand and they hurriedly made their way through and they rode up to Baek Mountain Fortress.
There getting off they were led into the military Chamber where they found General Gosong who was staring at the defensive map.
"Your Excellency." The messenger said.
"What is it?" General Gosong asked.
"The Queen of Shilla and her troops." The messenger replied.
"What's wrong with her?" General Gosong asked.
"Your Excellency, they are marching here from the East through the woods." The messenger replied.
"What?" General Gosong asked.
"Your Excellency, we have both confirmed with our own eyes." The Messengers replied.
"How sure can we be that this is not a ploy, do you even know how the Queen of Shilla looks like?" General Gosong asked.
"She is the only General in the Shilla army that wears a white suit of armour." The messenger replied.
"True." General Gosong replied.
"Kimhae?" The General called and one of his subordinates walked into the room.
"What is it Your Excellency?" Kimhae asked.
"Ask all the soldiers to be on standby, the Shilla army is a couple of minutes away from here." General Gosong ordered.
"Yes Your Excellency." Kimhae replied and bowing his head he hurried out of the room.
"What should I do to you if they don't turn up?" General Gosong asked the Messengers.
"Your Excellency, we only reported what we saw and we can not tell whatever it is that the Shillans are planning." The Messengers replied.
"Hurry up and get out." General Gosong said and at once the messengers standing on their feet they walked out of the room while himself having been left alone he sighed as he looked at the map keenly and he studied it carefully.
"What are you planning Your Majesty?" He asked himself but there wasn't a single reply he was able to receive except for the silence that was already pre existent in the room.