The First War
Ten Days Later
Finally, the Black Wind Brigade confidently crossed the border with Mongolia. However, even after two days of continuous advance, they had yet to encounter any Mongolian soldiers. Instead, they occasionally came across simple Mongolian herders tending to their horses and sheep. Surrounding the Black Wind Brigade were one hundred ten-man squads, maintaining a tight reconnaissance network that constantly reported the situation to the general. Then, an urgent message arrived from the 73rd squad.
"There are approximately 20,000 Mongolian troops lying in ambush at Jinryeong Pass.
— Squad Leader Jang Pa (장패) of the 73rd Squad"
Deputy Commander Ok Yeom-wang (옥염왕) Ma Gil-soo (마길수), a general, looked at General Ok.
"General, should we advance into Jinryeong Pass? The Black Wind Brigade should be able to break through easily…"
"No, there's no need to take unnecessary risks by entering Jinryeong Pass. It's a treacherous valley. If we're attacked by the ambushing enemy, it will be extremely disadvantageous for us in heavy armor. To attack the enemy above, we would need to deploy light-footed tactics, but can we achieve speed while wearing such heavy gear? On the other hand, if we take off our armor, we have to worry about enemy arrows…"
General Ok Young-jin pulled out a map from his pocket and continued speaking.
"Let's head towards the Ocheon River (오천하) and bypass Jinpung Ridge (진풍령)."
"But taking the route to Jinpung Ridge means we will have to detour nearly 400 li (approximately 160 kilometers)."
"Still, the only loss will be a few days, and we can avoid significant damage. There's no need to enter a known ambush and risk death."
"We won't die, will we? Of course, there may be some losses, but that amount is manageable…"
"Whether it will be a manageable loss or a more significant one, nobody knows. The enemy is likely well aware of our movements and has prepared accordingly, so it's best to retreat."
"If you insist…"
"Instead, since our infantry is slow in advancing, we'll pretend to head toward Jinryeong Pass to buy time. In the meantime, we'll send two squads to seize control of Jinpung Ridge. Then, when we turn toward Jinpung Ridge, the enemy will be caught off guard…"
"That's a brilliant plan."
"However, let's make sure to remind the leaders of the two squads to be cautious in case of any unforeseen events. They should avoid falling into the enemy ambush… If we start suffering minor damages from the few enemies in front of us, it will be hard to avoid a real defeat in a critical battle later on."
"I'll keep that in mind."
Fortunately, there were only about a thousand Mongolian troops stationed at Jinpung Ridge as a stopping force, and there was no significant ambush. Therefore, the Black Wind Brigade managed to pass through Jinpung Ridge without incurring any major losses. Once they crossed Jinpung Ridge, they surged forward with incredible speed into the remote area where Cheoljincheon lay. Along the way, they seized food supplies like horses and sheep from every Mongolian tribe they encountered. Given the uncertainty of how long the war would continue, they needed to conserve supplies as much as possible, even with rear support available.
Finally, the main forces of Cheoljincheon and the Black Wind Brigade met near the Jinryeong River. It had been 15 days since they crossed the Mongolian border. Since Mongolia was a country made up of numerous small tribes, which was hardly worthy of being called a nation, meeting them meant that this territory now belonged to Cheoljincheon. The place where they confronted each other was a relatively small plain around the Jinryeong River. However, it was wide enough for a large army to engage in cavalry combat. General Ok Young-jin gazed at the countless Mongolian soldiers.
"More than I expected..."
At that, Lieutenant General Ma Gil-su nodded.
"Yes, it looks like there are at least 100,000. Since our numbers are small, it seems they plan to push forward with sheer force from the start."
"Right, there are probably around 110,000. This battle should be quite entertaining. Have we heard from the reconnaissance teams?"
"I've received reports that there is a Mongolian settlement about a hundred li behind their camp. It's estimated to have around 5,000 residents."
"That's quite a large tribe. What's unusual about it?"
"There are no men at all. It seems they've all been sent here."
"Hahaha, all of them, huh... To gain the upper hand, we'll need to turn that village into an example after this war."
"Indeed, you are correct."
"How far have the reconnaissance teams gone?"
"They've gone about 150 li from here."
"By tomorrow, tell all but 20 reconnaissance teams to gather behind the enemy and ambush them if they split off."
"Yes."
"They'll be confident in their numbers and will likely challenge us at dawn. Normally, night battles are fought by the side with fewer numbers. We'll pull some troops here to feign an assault while shouting alternately, which will probably keep them awake tonight. They won't show signs of fatigue at first, but after a long fight, they'll naturally tire more quickly. A full-scale battle will start tomorrow morning. Although it's highly unlikely, we must be thoroughly on guard against a surprise attack from the enemy!"
"Yes."
General Ok Young-jin pointed to the encamped Mongolian army and explained the detailed strategy.
"When the enemy attacks tomorrow, we'll hold them off there and then immediately deploy 8 celestial units to create chaos. The remaining 1 celestial unit will circle back to separate the rear from the main force while attacking, and at that moment, we'll launch another ambush from behind... It seems we can take advantage of their confusion due to the cut-off communication with Cheoljincheon and thoroughly demolish them."
"That's a brilliant plan. Which celestial unit do you intend to send to flank them?"
"Is the 7th celestial unit currently on reconnaissance?"
"Yes."
"Then let's utilize the 8th celestial unit."
"Not the 4th celestial unit? Among all the celestial units, they are the strongest."
"No, deploy the 4th celestial unit at the front lines, engaging the enemy directly. That might reduce our losses. And instruct the commander of the 4th celestial unit to place the Slaughter Hundred Unit at the very front."
"Excuse me? That's General Gukgwang, whom you cherish. Why place him in the most dangerous position...?"
"People are meant to be utilized, not kept idle."
"Understood."
While discussing various strategies, a messenger rushed in.
"I report to the general. There are 20,000 enemy troops approaching from the rear."
He handed over a small piece of paper. General Ok Young-jin read it carefully and scoffed.
"Hmph! These guys are quite amusing."
"What's the matter?"
"20,000 enemy soldiers are approaching from behind."
"Excuse me?"
"This means the total army Cheoljincheon gathered is 130,000 from the start. Judging by the direction they're coming from, it seems that the ambushers from Jinryeong Valley released their ambush when we turned this way and are following us."
"That's a good strategy. We need to prepare for those 20,000 as well…"
"If the enemy pressures us from two directions, it's not going to be a simple matter... Contact the elite troops and tell them to ambush 30 li behind in the woods with 5,000 soldiers and launch a surprise attack on the enemy. And, and…"
"Sending just infantry would make them easy prey. But sending the Black Wind Brigade that way could also be a problem."
"Hm, send the 5th celestial unit that way. And you take charge of the rear."
"Understood."
"When the engagement begins, set the signal by lighting a fire. The enemy might evade combat and try to ambush us from behind, so we should be prepared."
"Understood!"
As morning arrived the next day, both sides began to deploy widely and prepare for a confrontation. The Mongolian side, confident in their numbers, took the straightforward approach. As the surroundings brightened, the Mongolian cavalry charged forward. The sound of thousands of horses galloping shook the ground.
Following General Ok Young-jin's orders, the elite troops formed the front line with large square shields, while those behind them lined up with long spears, grounding the handles and raising the spearheads in preparation for the cavalry's charge. The archers stood ready, their arrows nocked. Behind them, a hundred crossbows awaited their moment to unleash a barrage of bolts, all fully loaded with arrows. Behind the crossbows stood nearly 8,000 members of the Black Wind Brigade.
Crossbows, also known as nu, are massive devices with multiple giant bows that cannot be drawn by a person. They can simultaneously fire about ten longer arrows than standard ones. Although their range is greater than that of a bow, their accuracy is somewhat reduced. However, since they don't aim at individual targets, the probability of hitting an approaching mass of enemies is high, making it less of a concern.
As the Mongolian cavalry approached, the crossbows fired first, toppling numerous horses in a spectacular display. Despite suffering such heavy losses, the Mongolian charge did not cease. As the Mongolian troops drew closer, the archers began to release their arrows, while the Mongolian cavalry rushed in, shooting arrows wildly. The Mongolian cavalry could handle their bows freely while galloping, as they lived with their horses from birth to death, excelling in horsemanship.
Only after the Mongolian and elite troops clashed did the Black Wind Brigade join the fray. The Black Wind Brigade attacked widely, flanking the enemy on both sides. No matter how numerous and strong the Mongolian troops were, they couldn't quickly suppress the skilled Black Wind Brigade.
As the cavalry battle began, Ma Hwa was captivated by Gukgwang, who rushed forward, wielding his long blade. Although Mongolian arrows flew towards him, Gukgwang deflected them with the narrow edge of his shield or caught them at an angle with his blade. This technique of deflecting arrows required little strength and was highly effective when faced with other enemies. However, Ma Hwa thought that showing such skilled swordsmanship couldn't be achieved without years of practice, so he used the shield to block arrows.
"Of course. He must have some confidence, which is why he's not using his shield…"
Gukgwang's martial arts were truly astonishing. No one could withstand the blows from Gukgwang's long blade. The enemy charging in without knowing better found their swords and shields shattered. However, it was rare for him to target both a sword and shield together; most of the time, he would pierce the opponent's openings in an instant, surprising his subordinates.
"Hwa Gyeong is truly terrifying... Can I reach that level?"
As they cut down enemies around them, his subordinates occasionally stole glances at Gukgwang's swordsmanship. When Gukgwang entered the thick of the enemy, he drew his Mookhon sword from his waist and began to slash down all visible foes. Gukgwang moved as broadly as possible, cutting down Mongolian troops while protecting his subordinates. Wherever there were many Mongolian soldiers, Gukgwang would leap in, slaughtering a considerable number before hastily moving to another dangerous spot. As a result, despite wearing only light armor, the poor horse visibly tired under the weight of Gukgwang's armor.
Gukgwang knocked down two charging Mongolian soldiers and seized a horse to mount. In prolonged cavalry battles, it is essential for Black Wind Brigade members to dismount their tired horses and switch to fresh ones. To prevent their horses from getting harmed by enemy arrows during the initial charge, thick armor was fitted on them, and the riders wore medium armor, causing the horses to tire quickly. However, it was impossible to return to the main force to swap for reserve horses... The best method was to seize the enemy's horses.
As Ma Hwa watched Gukgwang's movements in a daze, a Mongolian soldier charging right next to him fell after being struck by a sword. Im Chung, having taken down the Mongolian soldier rushing at Ma Hwa, shouted at him, snapping him back to reality.
"Hey, do you want to die? How can you get distracted while fighting? Damn it! This is the third time!"
Suddenly brought back to his senses, Ma Hwa pointed at Gukgwang, shaking his head in awe.
"Look! Every move is so beautiful! The essence of the Huangong martial arts is right there!"
Im Chung, tangled up with a charging Mongolian soldier, responded while deflecting attacks.
"Huangong martial arts?"
"Yeah, it's flashy but without any unnecessary moves, utterly perfect…"
"Damn it!"
Im Chung cursed and pushed the opposing Mongolian soldier back. After a few exchanges of blows, the opponent's weaknesses began to reveal themselves.
Thud! After taking down the Mongolian soldier, he tilted his head in confusion.
"Is that really Huangong martial arts? Not a single person has ever risen to the level of Hwa Gyeong through Huangong martial arts in the history of the martial world. Don't think you can fool me by claiming to be from the Cheongseong Sect!"
"No, it's real," came the reply.
"Stop spouting nonsense and focus on the opponent right in front of you. I've never heard of the royal family training someone of that caliber."
...
Ma Hwa twitched his lips, trying to think of a retort, but he couldn't voice it, as that would break the promise he made with General Ok Yeong-jin. General Ok Yeong-jin was observing the battle from the rear.
"They're quite skilled…"
Zhang Jiao, the commander of the Eighth Heavenly Army, who was waiting beside him, stepped forward.
"General, please give the order to advance."
"Why? Are you getting antsy watching everyone fight?"
"Yes, it's already been three hours since the battle began. Why haven't you given the order to deploy?"
"Hmm… just look at that."
"Pardon?"
"I never thought Huangong martial arts would be so beautiful."
"What do you mean?"
"Look at that person over there."
"Oh, you mean Gukgwang, the White Blade Leader of the Four Slaughters. It's true he possesses exceptional martial arts, but if he keeps using that energy-concentrating sword technique against barbarians, he'll soon exhaust his true energy and suffer."
Hearing this, General Ok Yeong-jin smiled softly. Though his thoughts differed, he saw no need to voice them. Even from the rear, he could see Gukgwang, covered in blood from his black armor, moving through the battlefield, swinging his long blade. A group of enemy generals charged at Gukgwang, but only more bodies fell.
'If that guy hadn't shown up, it would have been a tough fight. It's true that Cheol Jin-cheon has gathered more troops than I expected.'
At that moment, a soldier reported, pointing towards the forest in the rear.
"General, flames are rising from behind!"
"Hmm, they've finally arrived. Zhang Jiao!"
"Yes."
"Tell General Song to redirect some elite troops to the rear in preparation for a surprise attack."
"Yes, sir!"
While the Mongolian soldiers were engaged with the Black Death Squad, the archers, spearmen, and shield bearers of the elite troops moved their crossbows and half of their forces to set up a defensive line against the Mongolian cavalry that would come from the rear.
"The question is how much they will push back… If there are too many enemy troops, you'll have to handle it," one soldier said.
"I've been waiting for you to say that."
However, even after nearly half a shichen had passed, the enemy troops did not emerge from the forest. Perhaps the enemy thought that with our 110,000 strong forces here, there was no need to join their main force after annihilating only the Black Death Squad, which was lying in ambush.
Ok Yeong-jin, observing the battlefield descending into chaos, made a decision.
'I can't delay any longer… If I wait any longer, the soldiers will exhaust themselves, and it will be useless.'
"Zhang Jiao!"
"Yes!"
"Leave only two hundred elite troops and separate the enemy's rear from their main force. Then push back the rear troops."
"Yes!"
With the battle order finally given, Zhang Jiao was excited as he led the eight hundred elite troops into the battlefield. It was at this moment that the balance of the battle, which had been evenly matched in a war of attrition, suddenly collapsed. As the Eighth Heavenly Army broke through the enemy lines, approaching the rear forest, the enemy troops were momentarily thrown into disarray. However, since they only numbered around eight hundred, they didn't seem overly worried.
A group of Mongolian soldiers rushed to intercept the Eighth Heavenly Army, but they could not slow down their advance. Soon, the rear troops clashed with the Eighth Heavenly Army—twenty thousand against eight hundred. From the start, it was an uneven fight. Yet the eight hundred soldiers of the Eighth Heavenly Army fully utilized their powerful martial arts, spreading out widely to avoid being encircled while engaging in fierce combat with the enemy's rear troops.
At that moment, another heavenly army emerged from the forest behind the Mongolian troops, and the situation changed rapidly. Suddenly ambushed by new enemy forces from the rear, the number of twenty thousand proved to be of no help. The newly ambushed heavenly army charged forward, cutting down everything in their path. Before long, the generals positioned at the back fell victim to the Black Death Squad.
As chaos erupted from behind, the Mongolian soldiers in the main force began to panic, unsure of the safety of Cheol Jin-cheon. Seizing the opportunity, the Black Death Squad intensified their attack, pushing the enemy back. As the enemy became disoriented from the rear ambush, their morale soared, granting them newfound strength.
The Mongolian rear was thrown into complete disarray by the surprise attack from the two thousand Black Death Squad soldiers. As they escorted the severely injured Cheol Jin-cheon in retreat, the remaining main force fell into confusion. The Black Death Squad seized this opportunity, relentlessly pushing the enemy back until the main force of the Mongolian army began to withdraw.
When the main force crumbled, the chaos was beyond control. This was not merely a retreat; it was a flight. The Black Death Squad desperately chased after the fleeing enemies, engaging in a brutal pursuit.
The greatest losses don't occur during a direct confrontation. In a head-on battle, it's challenging to inflict losses of more than fifty percent. However, if you pursue a retreating enemy, you can cause casualties exceeding fifty percent. While shooting arrows while fleeing is difficult, it's easy to shoot while chasing. In cavalry pursuits, arrows are essential weapons.
Mongolian soldiers use large bows. It's not that large bows are more powerful than smaller ones; rather, it's due to their lack of skill that they can't create powerful yet compact bows.
In mounted archery, the horn bow is indispensable; it's a highly resilient bow made from buffalo horns. Due to its elasticity, a smaller bow can shoot arrows far, making it ideal for situations where movement is limited, like when riding a horse. Historically, the horn bow from Goryeo was considered the best, and no matter how skilled the craftsmen from the Central Plains were, they could not match the skills of the Eastern Barbarians, known for their bows. Thus, all members of the Emperor's directly controlled Black Death Squad used horn bows imported from Goryeo, and significant bribes had to be given to Goryeo's high officials to import as many as ten thousand bows.
The horn bows, which were so difficult to procure, displayed their full power. Countless enemies fell, and the number of seized horses was incalculable. Once the battle subsided, General Ok Yeong-jin smiled with satisfaction as he received reports of the results. In this single battle, they had nearly annihilated 90,000 enemies. The 20,000 troops that had approached from the rear suffered a sudden attack from the ambushing units and, after a prolonged battle, their morale rapidly plummeted when they learned of the Mongolian main force's defeat, leading to their complete collapse.
General Ok Yeong-jin glanced over the enemy leaders kneeling before him and commanded, "Behead them all and make it a public example."
"And Zhang Jiao!"
"Yes."
"Your unit should be less fatigued, so hurry and seize the village about a hundred li ahead. Make sure not a single person escapes."
"Yes!"
After Zhang Jiao dashed off, the remaining units began beheading all the injured Mongolian soldiers and prisoners scattered across the battlefield while gathering the spoils and setting off toward the village.
Upon arriving at the village, General Ok Yeong-jin summoned all the heavenly army leaders. Once the heavenly army leaders and their deputies had gathered, General Ok Yeong-jin spoke.
"Plunder the village and kill all useless old and weak people. Capture the valuable young women and children and transport them back to our homeland as slaves. If anyone wishes to take a woman, they may do so."
At this, Zhang Jiao, who had been protecting the village without causing any inconvenience until now, voiced his dissatisfaction.
"If we do that, this tribe will be completely destroyed. Even if they are savages, that seems a bit much…"
"I understand your feelings, but this is to set an example. This is what happens when they defy us."
"Understood."