Chapter 737
by karlmaksThe novel has already been fully translated up to the final chapter. You can access it on my Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/c/caleredhair
Beishan rode his horse to the gates of Ryukyo City.
Outside the city, the King of Goryeo, leading Goryeo’s officials of all ranks, waited to receive him.
Beshan’s eyes first fell upon the King of Goryeo, who wore a bright yellow robe, but his gaze lingered only briefly before shifting to the Goryeo Queen beside the King of Goryeo.
Immediately, a smile played on Beishan’s lips, and his mind began to savor the memory of this woman’s charm in bed.
The King of Goryeo felt Beshan’s gaze, and a strong sense of humiliation surged in his heart.
When the Golden Tent Khanate helped Goryeo attack Japan, Beishan had been staying in Ryukyo City. At that time, Ryukyo City could be said to be Beishan’s royal capital rather than his own.
During this period, Beishan ran rampant, even having affairs with his Queen.
This matter naturally did not escape his eyes, but even so, what could he do? He could not resist, nor was he willing to let the scandal spread throughout Ryukyo City.
Because either way, it would harm his authority, and what were women compared to power?
“Prince Beishan, I have prepared a banquet in the palace and your favorite seafood. Please grace us with your presence,” the King of Goryeo said with a fawning expression.
Now, Goryeo was in turmoil, with the wolf of Japan in front and the tiger of the Great Yu Empire behind. If he still wanted to maintain his current position, he could only rely on the Golden Tent Khanate.
“Thank you, King of Goryeo.”
Beishan gave a lukewarm smile. In his heart, this Goryeo was merely a slave of the Golden Tent Khanate; there was no need for respect.
After saying this, Beishan suddenly embraced the Goryeo Queen around her waist, lifted her onto his horse, and rode off, regardless of the King of Goryeo’s and the officials’ horrified expressions.
The barbarian cavalry, seeing this, burst into wild and unrestrained laughter, urging their warhorses to follow Beishan towards the Goryeo royal palace.
The Queen, held by Beishan on the horse, showed no fear. Instead, she let out a peal of bell-like laughter. The King of Goryeo’s face was extremely mortified, but he forcibly suppressed his anger.
The ministers looked at each other, but no one dared to say another word.
In fact, they had grown accustomed to the Golden Tent Khanate’s barbaric ways. Every time the Golden Tent Khanate’s cavalry took up residence in Ryukyo City, some Goryeo women would commit suicide out of shame and indignation. As for why, many knew full well.
Taking a deep breath, the King of Goryeo ignored the officials and went directly to the royal palace. He knew very well that this time would surely be the same as the previous defense against Japan.
During the war, Beishan would be stationed in Ryukyo City, while his army would be responsible for attacking Haigucheng. He only hoped that this alliance could retake Haigucheng in one fell swoop.
However, this time his idea was wrong. After Beishan enjoyed the beauty and delicacies in the royal palace, he left Ryukyo City and headed towards Haigucheng.
For Beishan, he had never considered Japan a true enemy, but the Great Yu Empire was different.
In recent years, the humiliation of defeat had always lingered in his mind, making him unable to hold his head high among the princes.
Now that the Great Yu Empire’s army had appeared on Goryeo’s territory, this was an opportunity for him to wash away his shame.
Leaving the city, Beishan followed the large army grandly towards Haigucheng. This time, with Goryeo’s thirty thousand men added, he had a total of eighty thousand men to attack Haigucheng.
Moreover, this time, to take Haigucheng, he had specifically mobilized a large number of cannons. It could be said that he approached this battle with absolute confidence in victory.
…
Haigucheng, Yue Yun waited anxiously throughout the night. In the early morning of the next day, he stood on the pier with dark circles under his eyes.
According to the movements of the barbarian army, the main army would arrive at Haigucheng this afternoon. By then, his six thousand musketeers would be unable to defend Haigucheng.
He admitted that firearms were powerful, but based on his experience fighting pirates at sea over the years, firearms were merely an advantage.
In certain situations, firearm units could still be defeated, as his warships had nearly been captured by pirates many times.
So, in his opinion, it was the same on land, and the risks were even greater than at sea.
“General, the barbarian army is about to arrive. Do we really have to defend Haigucheng?” Xie Yuan came up behind Yue Yun, a hint of worry on his face.
Yue Yun nodded, “Haigucheng must be defended. Otherwise, all our efforts to open up a trade port with Goryeo this time will be in vain.”
Xie Yuan said no more, but followed Yue Yun’s gaze towards the sea. It was empty, nothing there.
Yesterday, Yue Yun had told them about the reinforcements. Upon learning that the barbarians were reinforcing Goryeo, Ye Qingyun also received orders to lead over twenty thousand men towards Haigucheng.
Haigucheng in Goryeo had high walls and thick defenses. With Ye Qingyun’s forces added, there was hope of blocking the barbarian attack.
However, the barbarians were about to reach the city walls, and their reinforcements were nowhere in sight.
Just as the two were feeling anxious, a mast suddenly appeared on the sea, followed by a merchant ship.
Seeing this, Yue Yun immediately picked up his telescope and looked into the distance. On the leading merchant ship, he saw Ye Qingyun.
“Finally, they’re here.” A weight lifted from Yue Yun’s heart.
Xie Yuan let out a slight breath. “General, we can hold Haigucheng now.” To be honest, he had been very worried about the impending battle just now, as the numerical disparity was too great. But now that reinforcements had arrived, he suddenly felt confident.
The elite force led by Ye Qingyun had fought from south to north, and from east to west; they could be said to be battle-hardened veterans.
“Hehe, there’s no problem with Haigucheng this time. We must also seize the opportunity to take Bisa Castle again, and let the King of Goryeo and the barbarians taste our might,” Xie Yuan said loudly.
At this moment, on the leading merchant ship, Ye Qingyun’s expression was somewhat strange.
The reason for this strangeness was not because they were on a merchant ship, but rather because of the slave-catching ships that accompanied them on this journey.
When they set off, Liang Dahai ships had followed them closely, seemingly wanting to gain protection from their ships.
And what surprised him most was that. Liang Dahai, who had previously been actively catching slave, was now on the same ship as him, dressed like a merchant, not a slave trafficker.
“General Ye, this time His Majesty has ordered me to recruit Goryeo people from Haigucheng to work as laborers in the Great Yu Empire. Whether I can recruit them this time depends on the General.” Liang Dahai said, grinning.
Ye Qingyun rolled his eyes. Although they both served Xiao Ming, Ye Qingyun still looked down on Liang Dahai, the slave trafficker.
He snorted and said, “My fighting skills are as high as your refuge-catching skills. You should worry about how to recruit fifty thousand Goryeo laborers.”
Liang Dahai was already accustomed to being looked down upon. He also knew very well that his refuge-catching was a disreputable business. but its all in the past.
Chuckling twice, Liang Dahai looked ahead. In a blink of an eye, Haigucheng was upon them.