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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 10
Chapter Title: Great King Namsaeng
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I was lost in idle thoughts when the door slid open. A young boy in his early teens, wearing a topknot, stood there. The boy stepped inside and bowed to Lee Mun-jin.
"Did you summon me, Scholar?"
"Bring the New Annals."
The boy bowed again and vanished. I knew about the New Annals, but I put on a face like it was the first time I'd heard of them and asked Lee Mun-jin.
"What are the New Annals?"
"It's the national history newly compiled by order of His Majesty the Great King. To find answers in the lessons of the past."
A moment later, the boy returned carrying five volumes in a silk pouch. Lee Mun-jin glanced at the books on the floor.
"We transcribed the bamboo annals onto paper scrolls and named them the New Annals."
"I see. Are you giving these to me?"
"Didn't you say you wanted to find answers?"
"I did, but..."
"Please find those answers and protect this kingdom and its people."
Those were incredibly dangerous words. I instinctively glanced at the boy who'd brought the books. But he kept a perfect poker face. Lee Mun-jin cleared his throat lightly and continued.
"That boy's name is Go Jeong-ui. From a humble family, but sharp as a tack."
I remembered the name Go Jeong-ui.
'I figured he'd be an old advisor type, but he's just a kid.'
Go Jeong-ui blinked at my stare. I blinked back playfully, and he widened his eyes in surprise.
"Take him under your wing. It's a waste for a boy like that to spend his life reading sutras in a temple."
"Does he have the skills to stay by my side?"
Go Jeong-ui answered himself.
"I've mastered not only the Bamboo Annals and New Annals, but all sorts of historical records."
He was a real historical figure anyway, so I had to use him. But I wanted to look a little cool doing it.
"I don't know about your skills yet, but I like your guts."
Lee Mun-jin, watching, looked pleased. That sparked an idea.
'Rumors of me gathering talent regardless of status wouldn't hurt.'
In this era of rigid class systems, even a hint of breaking them down caused a stir. I could use that as a weapon. Of course, as Yeon Gaesomun had warned, they might underestimate me. But I had the ability to see those red eyes.
On the way home, Go Jeong-ui walked beside the cart, books on his back. I hadn't gained much from meeting National Academy Scholar Lee Mun-jin. But even a scholar from the academy was worried about the current state of affairs. In our condition, repelling a Tang invasion was impossible.
"But that could be my opportunity."
To seize it, I needed to show I could overcome the crises ahead. To gather the people's support and talented individuals, as Lee Mun-jin said. I pondered what to tackle first. Yeon Gaesomun's coup and the war were still over a decade away.
"Short if it's short, long if it's long."
There wasn't much I could do right away. My position in the household wasn't solid either. My father, Yeon Gaesomun, was inscrutable, and my brothers had red eyes. They'd lived like utter failures for so long that even small changes drew suspicious looks.
"I need to secure the household first."
One misstep, and I'd be done before even leveling up. Lost in thought, the cart came to a stop. The creak of the main gate opening echoed. The cart entered the estate and halted as the curtain was drawn back. Geom Mojam, bowing low, announced,
"We've arrived."
Stepping out, I saw Adokbang and Ham-a waiting at a distance, bowing. Adokbang had something like an iron club slung over his shoulder.
"How is he?"
I asked, looking at Adokbang. Geom Mojam shook his head.
"Plenty of strength, but no martial arts training."
"I can teach him jujutsu."
"Teach me too, then."
I couldn't help chuckling at Geom Mojam's eager eyes.
"Sure. The boy from Jeongneung Temple will work under me too, so prepare quarters for him."
"I'll get it ready. What skills does he have?"
"He can summon wind and rain with sorcery."
It was a blatant joke, but he blinked as if believing it. I turned to Go Jeong-ui, brushing dirt off my leather shoes.
"Can you write well? Draw?"
"Well enough."
No humility there. But as long as he did good work, it was fine. Standing before the two, Go Jeong-ui quickly fell in beside me.
"Jeong-ui, change into simple clothes and come to my quarters. Ham-a too. Adokbang and Geom Mojam, prepare to learn jujutsu and follow."
All four replied in unison and dispersed. Time was short, but I'd take it slow.
"First, build reliable aides. Then perfect some showcase new technologies."
In that process, I needed to earn Father Yeon Gaesomun's trust. Only then could I win the succession struggle. And at the right moment, rein in his rampage.
"He doesn't seem the type to listen, though."
He didn't look as brutish or violent as I'd imagined. That made it worse. There was an endless cold weight to his hunger for power. Probably from fending off checks from the royal house and other clans.
In my past life as Yeon Taehwan, failure meant prison at worst. But here...
"Lose the power struggle here, and it's all over."
With those thoughts, I entered my quarters. The main room was vast enough for foot volleyball. A waiting maid brought a basin of water. I washed my hands simply and dried them with a silk towel.
"Shall I prepare tea?"
I nodded instead of answering and sat. Soon, the door opened, and Go Jeong-ui, Ham-a, Geom Mojam, and Adokbang entered one by one. Go Jeong-ui set brush, ink, and paper on the desk. I showed him the Yeon Clan Cannon drawing I'd made with my sister Yeon Suyeong last time. His eyes widened in surprise.
"What is this?"
"Yeon Clan Cannon. We need to build this first."
"Me?"
"With Ham-a, the best craftsman in Sui Captive Village."
Go Jeong-ui glanced at Ham-a beside me and smirked.
"With this lowly fellow?"
Thinking his hands needed work, I snapped back.
"I decide who's lowly and who isn't."
Of course, it was a mimic of the Nazis' infamous line. But in this atmosphere, it landed well. Go Jeong-ui paled and quickly replied.
"Ah, understood."
As I glared, he bowed his head. Watching him, I felt a strange thrill. A real historical figure was submitting to me.
'So this is what it feels like to move history.'
Ambition bubbled in my chest. I was starting to feel what it would be like to change history and stand at its center.
Just then, the maid entered with tea, softening the mood. Looking at the Yeon Clan Cannon sketch, I said,
"Start with a small version for testing—no, trials. If it works, scale up."
Ham-a peered over silently, head tilted.
"This design could hurl stones farther."
"And more accurately. Not stones, though—oil jars would fly even farther."
That sparked the memory of Greek Fire. The flamethrower that defended Constantinople from invaders for over a millennium. The problem? No clue on the recipe. The Byzantines guarded it fiercely. Still, I'd try making something.
"Sulfur, pitch, resin, saltpeter, and petroleum."
Go Jeong-ui reacted first, grabbing a brush to jot it down. Annoying, but quick on the uptake.
"Add Goguryeo Fire too."
"Yes."
Hearing his meek reply, I turned to Ham-a.
"Build a size we can fire first. But note dimensions on every part drawing."
"For mass production later?"
"Exactly. So it can be built from blueprints alone."
"By when?"
"As soon as possible."
"Ten days."
"Really?"
No factories, no machines. Yet Ham-a showed no fear.
"I'll gather tools from Sui Captive Village tomorrow."
"Good. Tell Geom Mojam what you need. And one more thing."
"Yes?"
"Know how to make a crossbow?"
"I've made a few."
"Perfect."
I looked at him, and Go Jeong-ui swiftly unrolled fresh paper.
"Planning to load short bolts and fire. How to build it?"
"Why short bolts?"
I almost snapped at the backtalk, but it was a fair question, so I held back. Words were tricky, so I eyed Geom Mojam.
"Fetch a bow, arrows, and some halved short bamboo. Arrow-length."
"Got it."
Glancing at Geom Mojam leaving, I continued.
"Lighter weight flies farther. Faster too."
I'd seen it in videos back in the modern day. Short bolts were quick and ranged well.
"Short bolts can't draw a bowstring. But a crossbow prod can handle it."
Lee Mun-jin knew talent. Soon, Geom Mojam returned with bow, arrows, and split thin bamboo.
"Halve an arrow."
Geom Mojam drew his dagger and cut one as instructed.
"Fit the fletched end into the bamboo, then draw with the bowstring. Can you?"
"One moment."
If not, I'd demo like in the video. But after some grunting, Geom Mojam slotted the bolt into the bamboo tube and drew successfully.
"Shoot the wall!"
My order barely out, he released. The bolt shot from the tube and thudded into the wall, feathers quivering. Geom Mojam noted,
"No iron tip, and it still stuck."
"Speed?"
"Twice an ordinary arrow."
"Short, so hard to see?"
"Dodging would be tough."
"Call those short bolts 'bolts.' The halved bamboo is a 'bamboo tube.'"
"Bolt in tube, and it fires."
"But drawing and shooting a bow is exhausting."
"Mastering it properly takes over ten years."
"How long for crossbows with bolts?"
"A month. Easy to handle."
"Why not use them, then?"
"Reloading takes too long."
The videos said the same. Drawing the string was hard. Solutions came to mind.
'Goat's foot lever from the West, or Instant Legolas.'
I recalled the rapid-reload from Lord of the Rings' Legolas. But later for that. Dumping too much at once might seem suspicious.
"Ham-a'll make some. Practice with the other guards. Keep it secret."
"This'll make us all sharpshooters like gods."
Mid-conversation with Geom Mojam, the door burst open. Thinking it the maid with more tea, I said without looking,
"Put it down and leave."