Chapter 160: Violating the Palace (6)
At Seo-seon's command, a group of private soldiers began running toward Donggung Palace. Watching them, Yang-nyeong muttered with a cold expression.
"Truly a sharp child. What a pity."
That was the extent of Yang-nyeong's sentiment. His gaze fixed again on Geunjeong Palace.
"Brother. Surely you haven't fled?"
Kwang! Tang-tang-tang!
However, before long, intense gunshots and explosions began to be heard from the direction of the gate leading to Donggung Palace.
"What is happening?"
Yang-nyeong and Seo-seon, who had been watching Junggung Palace, turned their gaze toward the Crown Prince's quarters.
There, behind shields that looked even sturdier than the ones they had created, the figures of Hyang and the Crown Princess could be seen.
Hyang and the Crown Princess were continuously firing their muskets at the private soldiers.
"What in the..."
* * *
Following behind the shields, Hyang's group arrived at the gate leading from Donggung Palace to Geunjeong Palace and discovered private soldiers running toward Donggung Palace.
"Prepare for battle!"
"Prepare for battle!"
Click! Click!
At Hyang's command, responses followed, and the sounds of hammers being cocked rang out loudly.
Click!
Having lowered and raised the hammer to finish loading, Hyang looked at the opposing shields and chuckled.
"People's thoughts really are all the same... Grenades!"
"Grenades!"
At Hyang's command, several pre-selected Naegeumwi soldiers took out grenades and unscrewed their rear caps. Hyang tossed them a half-joking, half-serious remark.
"Show me the stone-throwing skills you bragged about from village stone fights."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
When the private soldiers entered within twenty paces, Hyang gave the order.
"Throw!"
"Throw!"
When something flew over the shields, the nearby private soldiers were startled and looked at it.
"Whoa! Careful! Looks like they're throwing stones!"
Hiss-s-s-s!
At that moment, when smoke began to rise from the end of the sack along with the acrid smell of gunpowder, a soldier shouted with surprised eyes.
"Th-this is?"
"Ugh!"
In an instant, along with a loud explosion, the bodies of those staring blankly were caught in the blast and flew in all directions.
Kwang! Kwa-kwang!
The grenades thrown by the Naegeumwi soldiers shattered the private soldiers' shield formation. As the shields fell from the grenade explosions, Hyang immediately pulled the trigger.
"Fire!"
Tang! Tang! Ta-tang!
At the gunfire from Hyang, the Crown Princess, and the Naegeumwi soldiers, the private soldiers running toward Donggung Palace fell to the ground with screams.
Having crushed the private soldiers swarming toward Donggung Palace and arriving at the gate leading to Geunjeong Palace, Hyang saw private soldiers gathering in the front courtyard of Geunjeong Palace.
"Annihilate the rebels!"
"Annihilate them!"
* * *
"Well, I never..."
Seeing Hyang charging in while striking down private soldiers from the direction of Donggung Palace, Seo-seon was so dumbfounded he let out a sigh.
"That Crown Prince is..."
"Took a hit, I see. Tsk!"
Smacking his lips, Yang-nyeong assessed the battle situation.
Though they had crossed Geunjeong Gate with great momentum, most of the Naegeumwi had already set up formations in the front courtyard of Geunjeong Palace.
In particular, seeing the Naegeumwi who, like themselves, had positioned large shields—looking even larger and sturdier—in front and were aiming muskets, the private soldiers also stopped their advance and were watching warily.
Seeing this, Yang-nyeong shouted in anger.
"What are you doing! Geunjeong Palace is right before your eyes! Stopping here means nothing but execution! Risk everything on this one battle! Anyway, reloading their muskets takes just as much time! Charge!"
At Yang-nyeong's command, Nam Jun-seok shouted.
"It's all or nothing! If you win, wealth and glory will be yours! Charge!"
At Yang-nyeong and Nam Jun-seok's words, the private soldiers began to charge forward with curses.
"Damn it! Whether we die this way or that way!"
"It's all or nothing!"
"Waaaah!"
When the private soldiers charged, the Naegeumwi all pulled their triggers simultaneously.
Ta-ta-tang!
"Aaak!"
"Kuk!"
"Shield bearers!"
Rumble.
When the private soldiers' shields moved forward again, the Naegeumwi commander ordered the soldiers.
"Throw grenades!"
"Throw!"
Kwa-kwang! Kwang!
The private soldiers' shield formation collapsed from the grenades thrown by the Naegeumwi soldiers.
"Don't stop!"
"Charge! Charge!"
Though the shield formation was destroyed by the grenade explosions, the private soldiers kept charging.
At this sight, the Naegeumwi soldiers standing right behind the shield formation took out their multi-shot muskets and pulled their triggers all at once.
Tang-ta-ta-tang!
Having fired six shots in an instant, the Naegeumwi soldiers stepped back, and the next row of Naegeumwi soldiers stepped forward and fired their multi-shot muskets.
As this firefight continued, the private soldiers' forces were rapidly whittled down.
"This is dangerous..."
"Waaaaaaah!"
When the private soldiers, their momentum broken, were cautiously watching the situation, a loud battle cry erupted from behind.
"Hmm?"
Turning their heads at the battle cry from behind, Grand Prince Yang-nyeong and Seo-seon wore dismayed expressions.
The Royal Guards, who had been reported to have left the city, had returned.
* * *
"Fortunately, we didn't miss the timing."
The Training Commander in charge of the Royal Guards let out a sigh of relief.
After leaving Hanseong, the Royal Guards rode at full speed toward Gwangju in Gyeonggi Province.
The destination of the Royal Guards was the Gyeonggi Provincial Military Camp in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province.
"We will supplement our forces at the Gyeonggi Provincial Military Camp and suppress the rebels!"
The mid- and low-ranking commanders and soldiers followed the Training Commander without any particular suspicion, riding their horses diligently behind him.
This was because whenever there were Japanese pirate invasions, forces were gathered in a similar manner to go into battle.
The Royal Guards, having left Hanseong early in the morning, were able to arrive at the Gwangju Provincial Military Camp before sunset that day.
This was because all the Royal Guards who had left the city were cavalry and artillery. In the early Joseon period, the main force of the Joseon army in both quality and quantity was cavalry, and the representative example of this was the Royal Guards.
Upon arriving at the Gyeonggi Provincial Military Camp, the Training Commander immediately sought out the Gyeonggi Provincial Military Commander.
That evening, all military officers of the Royal Guards, regardless of rank, were summoned.
"A meeting regarding the upcoming operation will be held. All military officers are to attend."
Following the order delivered by the messenger, the Royal Guards officers who had been resting gathered at the inner quarters of the governor's residence where the Gyeonggi Provincial Military Commander was staying.
"Is everyone gathered?"
"Yes!"
Having confirmed that all the Royal Guards officers had gathered, the Training Commander took out a small paper from his bosom.
"Those whose names are called, step forward."
The officers called by the Training Commander numbered five in total. Having confirmed the officers who stepped forward, the Training Commander ordered the soldiers standing nearby.
"They are traitors! Seize them immediately!"
"Yes, sir!"
Having thus weeded out the Royal Guards officers who had been in collusion with Seo-seon, the Training Commander divided the Royal Guards to move.
"Send two squads to the traitor Yang-nyeong's residence, and another two squads to the traitor Seo-seon's residence. Bind everyone in the houses and search them to secure all physical evidence related to the rebellion! Execute all who resist! This is a Royal Command!"
"Yes, sir!"
Following the Training Commander's command, the Royal Guards raided Grand Prince Yang-nyeong's residence in Gwangju and Seo-seon's main family home in Icheon.
"The remaining forces will return to the capital immediately!"
Following the Training Commander's order, the remaining Royal Guards departed from the Gyeonggi Provincial Military Camp that instant and headed north.
The Royal Guards moved by a different route than when they came down. Using back roads, the Royal Guards crossed the river near Paldang, passed through Wabu-eup, and bypassed Hanseong to head north. Having passed through Sukcheong Gate, the northern gate of Hanseong, the Royal Guards hid themselves in a nearby forest. They chose this place because there was almost no pedestrian traffic.
"As soon as an incident occurs at the palace, we will charge down. Until then, don't even make a sound!"
"Yes, sir!"
It was not easy for cavalry to hide in the mountains, but living up to their reputation as elite forces, the Royal Guards hid quietly.
Thus, when two days passed and the sound of drums and explosions signaling an incident at the palace rang out, the Training Commander immediately mounted his horse.
"Move! Protect His Majesty!"
"Waaaaah!"
It was not long after Chuseok, so relying on the still bright moonlight, the Royal Guards began to ride their horses toward the palace.
* * *
As the Royal Guards poured in through Geumjeong Gate, the battle entered a temporary lull. When the battlefield quieted, Sejong, who was being protected by the Naegeumwi, stood up.
"Is it time for me to step forward?"
Just then, Hyang's shout rang across the front courtyard of Geunjeong Palace.
"Who ordered you to stop firing! The rebels' muskets are still aimed at His Majesty the King! Do not stop firing! Fire!"
Along with the shout, Hyang raised his musket and pulled the trigger at a private soldier holding a musket right nearby.
Tang!
With Hyang's shot as the signal, the Naegeumwi's gunfire, which had momentarily stopped, began again.
Tang-tang! Ta-ta-tang! Tang-tang!
As the Naegeumwi who had followed Hyang and those who had been blocking the front of Geunjeong Palace resumed firing at the private soldiers, the Royal Guards blocking the rear also began firing at the private soldiers.
"Do not stop firing!"
Hyang continued to pull the trigger and shout.
'When you have to shoot, shoot! Don't talk! That's why villain leaders die! They die from rambling on at crucial moments!'
Recalling the famous line from a Western movie and the traditional cliché, Hyang pulled the trigger.
Click!
"Chief Eunuch Go!"
"Yes!"
Handing the empty musket to the eunuch and receiving a reloaded musket, Hyang spoke to the Naegeumwi military officer commanding nearby.
"I will go to Father! Annihilate the rebel dogs to the end!"
"I will assign soldiers to escort you! Protect His Highness!"
"Yes, sir!"
"Crown Princess! Let's go!"
"Yes! Children!"
Hyang and the Crown Princess's party ran toward Geunjeong Palace under the escort of Naegeumwi soldiers.
* * *
Having quickly arrived in front of Geunjeong Palace, Hyang shouted at the Naegeumwi soldier standing at the front.
"Make way! I must see Father!"
"Yes!"
When the Naegeumwi soldiers cleared the path, Hyang ran toward Sejong.
Having found Sejong, Hyang immediately asked about his safety.
"Father! Are you unharmed!"
"I am fine."
However, not reassured, Hyang examined Sejong's body here and there.
"Phew~ It is Heaven's protection."
Having confirmed Sejong's safety, Hyang let out a sigh of relief and then ground his teeth.
"Those bastards! Shield bearers! Follow me!"
"Yes!"
"Eunuchs, follow as well!"
"Yes."
Taking the Naegeumwi soldiers carrying shields, Hyang climbed the stairs of Geunjeong Palace.
Upon climbing the stairs, the situation in the front courtyard of Geunjeong Palace came clearly into Hyang's view.
"Shields! Block well!"
"I will block with my life!"
The Naegeumwi soldier carrying the shield crouched behind the shield, and Hyang, hiding behind him, began sniping at the private soldiers.
The Naegeumwi soldiers blocking the front of Geunjeong Palace, the soldiers who had emerged from Donggung Palace, and the Royal Guards who had returned through Geunjeong Gate began to pressure the private soldiers. At that moment, a battle cry was heard from the direction of Junggung Palace.
"Annihilate the rebels!"
"Waaaaah!"
"Fire!"
Ta-ta-tang!
The Royal Guards who emerged from the direction of Junggung Palace also fired at the private soldiers.
"No! The Royal Guards who should be escorting the Queen and royal consorts to safety..."
When Sejong expressed doubt at the Royal Guards pouring out from Junggung Palace, Queen Soheon's voice was heard.
"Your Majesty! Where are you? Your Majesty!"
"Why is the Queen's voice coming from here?"
Sejong wore a perplexed expression at the voice of Queen Soheon, who should not have been there.
Moments later, seeing Queen Soheon appear under the escort of Naegeumwi soldiers, Sejong was left speechless.
Her usual gache was nowhere to be seen. Wearing what appeared to be hastily donned dansam with traditional outerwear draped over it, she held a bow in her hand.
"M-my dear. Wife..."
At Queen Soheon's appearance, Sejong forgot formalities and called her by the term from his days as a Grand Prince.
"Your Majesty, are you unharmed?"
"I am unharmed."
Like Hyang, Queen Soheon touched Sejong's entire body to confirm his safety, and only then did she seem to relax and sink to the ground.
"Queen...! Wife!"
"Your Majesty!"
As Sejong and the court lady helped Queen Soheon up, Hyang, who had been examining Queen Soheon with surprised eyes, smiled bitterly.
"Come to think of it... my mother was a woman warrior."
She was Queen Soheon, who had endured the hardship of her paternal family being destroyed after being implicated in a conspiracy, and had commanded firefighting operations while heavily pregnant when a great fire broke out in Hanseong.
The final act of the battle in the front courtyard of Geunjeong Palace came with Suyang's appearance.
"Annihilate the rebels!"
"Waaaaaah!"
Seeing Suyang, who had brought the soldiers guarding Myeongrye Palace and charged forward, the private soldiers' will to fight was completely broken.
However, there was one who burned with fighting spirit to the end. It was Nam Jun-seok, who was commanding the private soldiers.
"We're going to die even if we surrender anyway! Use all your strength to break through a path! Only if Grand Prince and Lord Seo-seon survive will we live!"
"Waaaaah!"
In the desperate situation, the private soldiers, now filled with desperate courage, charged at the Royal Guards to break through a path.
However, what awaited those private soldiers, filled with such desperate courage, was a shower of grenades and bullets.