Black Corporation: Joseon [EN]: Chapter 160

160. Committing Treason (6)

Seo Seon’s command sent a group of soldiers running toward the East Palace. Yangnyeong, watching them, muttered with a chilling expression.

“He was a truly bright child; it’s a pity.”

That was the end of Yangnyeong’s sentiment. His gaze returned to Geunjeongjeon.

“Younger brother, you wouldn’t have run away, would you?”

Thwack! Bang, bang, bang!

However, not long after, intense gunfire and explosions erupted from the gate leading to the East Palace.

“What’s going on?”

Yangnyeong and Seo Seon, who had been looking at Junggungjeon, turned their gazes toward the East Palace.

There, behind shields that looked even sturdier than the ones they had made, were Hyang and the Crown Princess Consort.

Hyang and the Crown Princess Consort were relentlessly firing their handheld cannons at the soldiers.

“What…”

* * *

Following behind the shields, Hyang’s group arrived at the gate leading from the East Palace to Geunjeongjeon and discovered the soldiers rushing towards the East Palace.

“Prepare for battle!”

“Prepare for battle!”

Clank! Clank!

In response to Hyang’s command, the sound of cocking mechanisms echoed loudly.

Clank!

Having lowered and raised the trigger guard to finish loading, Hyang smirked at the shields opposite them.

“It seems everyone thinks alike… Throwing grenades!”

“Throwing grenades!”

At Hyang’s command, several Imperial Guardsmen, pre-selected, took out throwing grenades and removed the rear caps. Hyang threw them a joke that was also serious.

“Show them the stone-throwing skills you used to show off in the village stone fights.”

“Yes, Your Highness!”

When the soldiers came within 20 paces, Hyang gave the order.

“Throw!”

“Throw!”

As something flew over the shields, the surrounding soldiers looked at it in surprise.

“Oops! Be careful! It looks like they’re throwing stones!”

Fsssh!

At that moment, a soldier cried out in surprise as a smoky smell of gunpowder filled the air and smoke rose from the end of the grenade.

“T, this?”

“Ugh!”

In an instant, the bodies of those who were blankly staring were caught in the explosion and scattered in all directions with a deafening roar.

Bang! Thwack!

The throwing grenades thrown by the Imperial Guardsmen shattered the soldiers’ shield line. As the shields fell from the explosion of the throwing grenades, Hyang immediately pulled the trigger.

“Fire!”

Bang! Bang! Rat-tat-tat!

The soldiers rushing towards the East Palace fell to the ground with screams from the gunfire of Hyang, the Crown Princess Consort, and the Imperial Guardsmen.

Having crushed the soldiers rushing towards the East Palace, Hyang’s eyes, reaching the front of the gate leading to Geunjeongjeon, saw the soldiers swarming into the courtyard of Geunjeongjeon.

“Annihilate the rebels!”

“Annihilate!”

* * *

“Huh…”

Seo Seon sighed in disbelief at the sight of Hyang breaking through the soldiers from the direction of the East Palace.

“That Crown Prince…”

“He got one over on us. Tsk!”

Yangnyeong, clicking his tongue, surveyed the battlefield.

They had crossed Geunjeongmun [the main gate of Geunjeongjeon] with great momentum, but most of the Imperial Guardsmen were already entrenched in the courtyard of Geunjeongjeon.

In particular, the soldiers hesitated, watching the Imperial Guardsmen with large shields—even bigger and sturdier than their own—aiming their handheld cannons at them.

Seeing this, Yangnyeong shouted.

“What are you doing! Geunjeongjeon is right in front of you! If you stop here, all that’s left is execution! Bet everything on this one battle! Their handheld cannons take time to reload too! Charge!”

At Yangnyeong’s command, Nam Jun-seok shouted.

“It’s now or never! Victory means wealth and glory for you! Charge!”

At the words of Yangnyeong and Nam Jun-seok, the soldiers cursed and began to rush forward.

“Damn it! Whether we die here or there!”

“It’s now or never!”

“Uwaaaa!”

As the soldiers charged, the Imperial Guardsmen pulled the triggers simultaneously.

Rat-tat-tat!

“Agh!”

“Ugh!”

“Shieldbearers!”

Thud.

As the soldiers’ shields moved forward again, the Imperial Guard captain ordered his men.

“Throwing grenades! Throw!”

“Throw!”

The throwing grenades thrown by the Imperial Guardsmen collapsed the soldiers’ shield line.

“Don’t stop!”

“Charge! Charge!”

Although the shield line collapsed from the explosion of the throwing grenades, the soldiers continued to charge.

Seeing this, the Imperial Guardsmen standing directly behind the shield line on the Imperial Guard side took out horse-mounted cannons and pulled the triggers simultaneously.

Bang, rat-tat-tat!

The Imperial Guardsmen, having fired six shots in quick succession, retreated, and the Imperial Guardsmen standing in the next row came forward and fired their horse-mounted cannons.

As the firefight continued, the soldiers’ forces were rapidly depleted.

“This is dangerous…”

“Uwaaaa!”

As the demoralized soldiers were cautiously watching, a loud shout erupted from behind.

“Huh?”

Grand Prince Yangnyeong and Seo Seon, turning their heads at the shout from behind, wore dismayed expressions.

The Royal Guards, who were known to have left the palace, had returned.

* * *

“Fortunately, we didn’t miss our chance.”

The Training Captain, in charge of the Royal Guards, let out a sigh of relief.

After leaving Hanyang [old name for Seoul], the Royal Guards rode their horses at full speed towards Gyeonggi-do Gwangju.

The Royal Guards headed to the Gyeonggi Garrison in Gyeonggi-do Gwangju.

“Reinforce the troops at the Gyeonggi Garrison to suppress the rebels!”

The junior officers and soldiers followed the Training Captain, diligently riding their horses, without much suspicion.

This was because they had gathered troops and gone into battle in a similar way whenever there were invasions by Japanese pirates.

The Royal Guards, who had left Hanyang early in the morning, were able to reach the Gwangju Garrison before sunset that day.

This was because all the Royal Guards who had left the palace were cavalry and artillery soldiers. Even in the early Joseon period, the main force of the Joseon army was cavalry in both quantity and quality, and the Royal Guards were a prime example of this.

The Training Captain, upon arriving at the Gyeonggi Garrison, immediately sought out the Gyeonggi Provincial Military Commander.

That evening, all the officers of the Royal Guards, regardless of rank, were summoned.

“We will be holding a meeting regarding the upcoming operation. All officers are to attend the meeting.”

Following the order delivered by the messenger, the officers of the Royal Guards, who had been resting, gathered in the inner quarters of the government building where the Gyeonggi Provincial Military Commander was staying.

“Is everyone here?”

“Yes!”

After confirming that all the officers of the Royal Guards had gathered, the Training Captain took out a small piece of paper from his pocket.

“Those whose names are called, step forward.”

The officers called out by the Training Captain numbered five. After confirming the officers who had come forward, the Training Captain ordered the soldiers around him.

“They are traitors! Arrest them immediately!”

“Yes, sir!”

In this way, the Training Captain sorted out the Royal Guard officers who were in league with Seo Seon and divided the Royal Guards to move.

“Send two squads to the house of the criminal Yangnyeong and another two squads to the house of the criminal Seo Seon in Icheon. Arrest everyone inside the houses and search the houses to secure all material evidence related to the rebellion! Execute all those who resist! This is a royal decree!”

“Yes!”

Following the Training Captain’s order, the Royal Guards raided Grand Prince Yangnyeong’s house in Gwangju and Seo Seon’s main residence in Icheon.

“The remaining troops will now return to the capital immediately!”

Following the Training Captain’s order, the remaining Royal Guards immediately left the Gyeonggi Garrison and marched north.

The Royal Guards moved along a different route than when they came down. Using side roads, the Royal Guards crossed the river near Paldang, passed through Wabu-eup, bypassed Hanseong, and headed north. The Royal Guards, passing through Sukcheongmun, the northern gate of Hanseong, hid in the nearby forest. They chose this place because there was almost no traffic of people.

“As soon as there is an incident in the palace, we will rush down. Until then, don’t even breathe!”

“Yes!”

Although it was not easy for cavalry to hide in the mountains, the Royal Guards, befitting their reputation as an elite force, quietly concealed themselves.

Two days later, as soon as the sound of drums and explosions signaling an incident in the palace rang out, the Training Captain mounted his horse.

“Move out! Protect His Majesty!”

“Uwaaaa!”

Not long after Chuseok [Korean harvest festival, similar to Thanksgiving], relying on the still bright moonlight, the Royal Guards began to ride their horses towards the palace.

* * *

As the Royal Guards rushed in through Geunjeongmun, the battle came to a temporary standstill. As the battlefield quieted down, Sejong, protected by the Imperial Guards, rose to his feet.

“Is it time for me to step in?”

Just then, Hyang’s shout echoed through the courtyard of Geunjeongjeon.

“Who said to stop the barrage! The rebels’ handheld cannons are still targeting His Majesty! Do not stop the barrage! Continue the barrage!”

Simultaneously with the shout, Hyang raised his rifle and pulled the trigger towards a soldier holding a two-barrel cannon nearby.

Bang!

As a signal of Hyang’s shooting, the Imperial Guard’s shooting, which had stopped for a moment, resumed.

Bang, bang! Rat-tat-tat! Bang, bang!

As the Imperial Guards who had followed Hyang and the Imperial Guards who were blocking the front of Geunjeongjeon resumed firing at the soldiers, the Royal Guards who were blocking the rear also began firing at the soldiers.

“Do not stop the barrage!”

Hyang continued to pull the trigger and shout.

‘When you have to shoot, shoot! Don’t talk! Why does the villain boss die! It’s because they hesitate and chatter at important moments!’

Hyang, recalling the famous lines from a Western movie and traditional clichés, pulled the trigger.

Clank!

“Court Attendant Go!”

“Yes!”

Hyang handed the empty rifle to the court attendant and, receiving a reloaded rifle, said to the Imperial Guard officer who was commanding beside him.

“I will go to see Father! Kill the enemies to the end!”

“I will attach troops to you! You guys, escort His Highness!”

“Yes!”

“Crown Princess Consort! Let’s go!”

“Yes! Everyone!”

Hyang and the Crown Princess Consort’s party ran towards Geunjeongjeon under the escort of Imperial Guardsmen.

* * *

Arriving quickly in front of Geunjeongjeon, Hyang shouted to the Imperial Guardsmen in front.

“Move aside! I must see Father!”

“Yes!”

As the Imperial Guardsmen cleared the way, Hyang ran towards Sejong.

Finding Sejong, Hyang immediately asked about Sejong’s safety.

“Father! Are you safe!”

“I am fine.”

However, not feeling relieved, Hyang examined Sejong’s body here and there.

“Phew~. It is the blessing of heaven.”

Confirming that Sejong was safe, Hyang let out a sigh of relief and gritted his teeth.

“Those bastards! Shieldbearers! Follow me!”

“Yes!”

“Court attendants, follow me too!”

“Yes.”

Taking the Imperial Guardsmen with shields, Hyang ascended the steps of Geunjeongjeon.

As he ascended the steps, the situation in the courtyard of Geunjeongjeon came clearly into Hyang’s view.

“Shield! Block well!”

“I will block with my life on the line!”

The Imperial Guardsmen with shields crouched behind the shields, and Hyang, hiding behind them, began to snipe at the soldiers.

The Imperial Guardsmen blocking the front of Geunjeongjeon, the soldiers who had sprung out from the East Palace, and the Royal Guards who had returned through Geunjeongmun began to pressure the soldiers. At that moment, a shout was heard from the direction of Junggungjeon.

“Kill the rebels!”

“Uwaaaa!”

“Barrage!”

Rat-tat-tat!

The Royal Guards who had sprung out from the direction of Junggungjeon also fired at the soldiers upon seeing them.

“No! The Royal Guards who should be escorting the Queen and concubines to safety…”

As Sejong expressed his doubts upon seeing the Royal Guards who had poured out from Junggungjeon, Soheon Wanghu’s voice was heard.

“Your Majesty! Where are you? Your Majesty!”

“Why is the Queen’s voice being heard from here?”

Sejong wore a perplexed expression at the sound of Soheon Wanghu’s voice, which should not have been heard.

After a while, Sejong could not close his mouth at the sight of Soheon Wanghu, who appeared under the escort of Imperial Guardsmen.

The wig she usually wore had disappeared somewhere. Wearing a dansam [a type of traditional Korean jacket] that seemed to have been put on in a hurry, she had a traditional sash around her waist and was holding a bow in her hand.

“Y, you. Wife…”

At the sight of Soheon Wanghu, Sejong forgot formalities and called Soheon Wanghu by the title he used during his days as a Grand Prince.

“Your Majesty, are you safe?”

“I am safe.”

Soheon Wanghu, confirming Sejong’s well-being by touching his entire body like Hyang, finally seemed to relax and sat down on the floor.

“Queen… Wife!”

“Your Majesty!”

While Sejong and the court ladies were supporting Soheon Wanghu, Hyang, who was looking at Soheon Wanghu with surprised eyes, gave a bitter smile.

“Come to think of it… Our mother was a strong woman.”

Soheon Wanghu was the one who had endured the hardship of her family being shattered by treason and had commanded the firefighting efforts while heavily pregnant when a large fire broke out in Hanseong.

The end of the battle that took place in the courtyard of Geunjeongjeon came with the appearance of Suyang.

“Kill the rebels!”

“Waaaaaa!”

The soldiers’ morale was completely broken at the sight of Suyang, who had rushed in with the soldiers guarding Myeongryegung.

However, there were also those who burned their fighting spirit to the end. It was Nam Jun-seok, who was commanding the soldiers.

“We’re going to die anyway, even if we surrender! Do your best to break through! Grand Prince and Seo Seon must live for us to live too!”

“Uwaaaa!”

The soldiers, who had become even more desperate in the hopeless situation, rushed at the Royal Guards to break through.

However, what came back to those desperate soldiers were throwing grenades and a hail of bullets.