Chapter 7 – The War Council
Despite the earlier disturbance, the war council continued.
Naturally, the discussion turned to the results of the battle.
The Black-Robed Immortalshad played a role, but the defense of the South Gate owed much to the Fifth Company.
Though they had protested at the gate, the survivors had fought with the resolve to die.
That determination had made a difference.
Moreover, more than a hundred routed soldiers had held formation and continued fighting despite having no commander.
The generals acknowledged that.
Courage in battle was one thing.
But showing courage when there seemed to be no hope at all—
that was far more difficult.
Someone cautiously praised Yeong-woo.
"That fellow resisted earlier, but he did well. Without him, the South Gate might have fallen."
Park Cheol-gu curled his lips silently.
General Lee Hee-songspoke.
He was the lord of Hoeryeong and one of the central commanders of the Northeastern Army.
"Who is this Yeong-woo?"
Park Geun-su glanced at Park Cheol-gu before answering.
"The infantry were ordered to engage the enemy as commanded, but the formation collapsed."
"I see."
"With their firepower and armored cavalry, that outcome was inevitable."
"Now that we know, do not send troops outside the walls so carelessly again. In open ground we cannot defeat them."
Park Geun-su added quietly,
"The survivors fled toward the South Gate, and the enemy cavalry pursued them. At that time a soldier named Lee Yeong-woorallied the remaining men and resisted beneath the gate."
Moments like this allowed a man to make himself noticeable.
"Oh?"
"A mere soldier did that?"
Lee Hee-song already understood the general outline of the situation.
Yet he spoke as if hearing it for the first time.
"The Immortals came to assist, but the desperate resistance of those men protected the South Gate."
Park Cheol-gu's dull yellow eyes shot toward Park Geun-su.
Stop there.
Say more and you die.
Why mention it at all?
Speaking too much in council meetings was dangerous.
Every word could slip beyond a commander's control and create trouble for him later.
His wish was simple.
Survive one more day.
One more month.
No—one more year.
If that happened, that bastard above him might fall.
Then the seat would become his.
There were many rivals.
Few recognized his ambition.
But if he pushed forward carefully, tomorrow might be different.
For that reason, no one should speak unnecessarily in council.
He could not say that openly.
But as Park Geun-su continued speaking and Lee Hee-song kept asking questions, Park Cheol-gu's face darkened.
His already long and ugly face became even more sinister.
Lee Hee-song asked calmly,
"Why send the soldiers out in the first place? They were bound to die."
"You ordered us to probe the enemy."
"I said probe them. Did I say send them to die?"
The air in the hall grew cold.
"You sent out five hundred men and lost half of them."
"What will you report to headquarters?"
Park Cheol-gu answered quickly.
"Not five hundred exactly. Slightly fewer."
"Two hundred fifty casualties."
"The wounded are still returning. By morning the numbers may improve."
Park Geun-su lowered his head.
A lie.
Only one hundred fifteenhad returned.
That was the number he had counted.
A few more might survive and return individually.
But Park Cheol-gu reported numbers he himself had never confirmed.
Bastard.
Reducing casualty numbers was one of his talents.
Since Hoeryeong Fortress still stood, stragglers would continue returning.
Some wounded soldiers might yet survive.
All of his words served a single purpose:
Avoid punishment.
No one bowed more eagerly to those above.
Lee Hee-song turned to Park Geun-su.
"And?"
"I merely wished to say that they fought well despite lacking a commander."
Lee Hee-song laughed dryly.
"So what are you proposing?"
"Are you suggesting we promote that soldier to command?"
That was not what Park Geun-su meant.
But once praise appeared in council, the path ahead was obvious.
Promotion.
The word commandermade Park Cheol-gu's frightened eyes widen.
"No."
"He is not that capable."
"In fact, after returning he caused a disturbance, so we subdued him and placed him in prison. I was about to report it."
Lee Hee-song's eyes narrowed.
He was a man who believed strongly in hierarchy.
Disputing someone you disliked was acceptable.
Crossing the line was not.
"Prison?"
"You said he fought well. Yet you imprisoned him?"
Park Cheol-gu was fiercely competitive.
He destroyed rivals without regard for rank.
Anyone who might hinder his future career was removed.
Unless, of course, they bowed and submitted completely.
"You were at the East Gate, my lord. The situation on the ground was somewhat different."
"The soldiers caused a disturbance."
"A disturbance in wartime."
Lee Hee-song did not blindly accept the words of subordinates.
Especially not this one.
"Disturbance?"
"If soldiers cause a disturbance in camp, the penalty is death."
"So why did they do it?"
"They fought well, did they not?"
Kim Baek-su, a large man who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke.
"Why else?"
"They protested because the gate wasn't opened."
"They were told to die outside the walls."
"So they fought to survive."
"And because of that, the South Gate still stands."
Lee Hee-song asked quietly,
"Why wasn't the gate opened?"
Park Cheol-gu answered quickly.
"Two thousand enemy armored cavalry were right behind them."
"They were waiting for the gate to open."
Lee Hee-song understood immediately.
"So the infantry you sent out were defeated and returned."
"You refused to open the gate because the enemy cavalry was pursuing them."
"And this man—Yeong-woo—rallied the remaining soldiers and held the enemy beneath the gate."
"With the help of the Immortals, the South Gate survived."
Park Geun-su nodded quickly.
He did so discreetly so Park Cheol-gu would not see.
But Park Cheol-gu had already noticed.
Park Cheol-gu tried to add another excuse.
Lee Hee-song cut him off.
"So you opened the gate late."
"They came in and protested."
"And you, Nangjang Park Cheol-gu, decided to suppress the disturbance by throwing blood-covered soldiers into prison."
No one answered.
Anyone who spoke would face Park Cheol-gu's revenge later.
Seo Ui-taek of the West Gate clicked his tongue.
He was Park Cheol-gu's strongest rival.
"So that's the rumor I heard."
"You left your own soldiers outside the walls to die."
"Who would ever fight for you after that?"
Lee Hee-song turned toward him.
Seo Ui-taek was his junior from the same academy.
He trusted him deeply.
That trust made Seo Ui-taek far too comfortable speaking during council.
Which also made his relationship with Park Cheol-gu extremely poor.
Both men aimed for the same position someday.
Lee Hee-song spoke again.
"What was his name?"
"That soldier."
"Yeong-woo. Lee Yeong-woo."
"I do not recognize the name."
Park Geun-su answered cautiously.
"A low infantryman."
"Not someone who deserves the general's attention."
"I will speak with him and resolve the matter."
Lee Hee-song shook his head.
"He earned merit in today's battle."
"And yet he sits in prison?"
"How can we fight tomorrow like that?"
Park Cheol-gu's long head twisted uneasily.
Lee Hee-song said simply,
"Bring him."
Park Cheol-gu tried once more.
"He caused a disturbance."
"And even if he did?"
"He is dangerous."
"It is not a matter for you personally, my lord."
Lee Hee-song smiled faintly.
"Is that why you put him in prison?"
"There was a disturbance."
Lee Hee-song rose.
"Men like that often die quietly in cells."
"How many capable soldiers have we already lost that way?"
"I will go myself."
"Understood."
"Understood."