Ch.292Downfall (2)

# Hope.

It was a magical word that gave the illusion that anything could be achieved.

Even those who seemed on the verge of death regained their vitality because of this word.

This meant the revival of the Song Dynasty.

That’s why everyone in the Central Plains couldn’t help but rejoice.

Except for one person.

“His Majesty the Emperor has truly accomplished something great.”

“Indeed, General! Thanks to His Majesty’s legendary victory, all people of the Central Plains have gained hope!”

“Hope…”

Maeng Gong muttered quietly with a troubled expression.

Seeing this, when the messenger tried to say something, Maeng Gong quickly changed his expression.

“Your Excellency?”

“I’m sorry. I should be quickly conquering Sichuan to help His Majesty… I feel guilty for failing to do so.”

At this, the messenger immediately erased his suspicious look.

“As expected of the loyal Governor, a faithful servant of Song. Reclaiming Sichuan is only a matter of time, so please don’t worry too much.”

“Thank you for saying so.”

After saying this, they exchanged a few more words.

Then Maeng Gong gave the messenger wine and meat to rest.

When the messenger disappeared, Maeng Gong collapsed into his seat.

“The Song Dynasty is doomed.”

If others heard this, they would point fingers at him as a traitor.

But Maeng Gong didn’t even have the energy to care about such glances.

Because he could clearly see that his homeland, the Song Dynasty, was about to perish.

As Maeng Gong sat there in despair,

Godal, his guard warrior and general who had been waiting outside, entered the room.

“I heard something outside… Your Excellency! What’s wrong?”

“It’s nothing.”

Maeng Gong said this while trying to stand up by himself.

But contrary to his will, his body wouldn’t obey his commands.

Alarmed, Godal immediately helped Maeng Gong to his feet.

With Godal’s help, Maeng Gong stood up, took a few steps, and then slumped down into a chair.

“Are you alright? Perhaps a chronic illness…”

“No. I’m just shocked, that’s all.”

“Shocked… what did the messenger just say? Did the Mongols do something?”

Maeng Gong shook his head.

“Then did the Jin Dynasty attack from behind?”

“No.”

“Then what on earth…”

Maeng Gong looked around.

Then he spoke to Godal in a low voice.

“Can you swear to heaven and earth that you will never tell anyone what I’m about to say?”

“W-what do you mean by…”

“Promise me. Otherwise, I won’t speak.”

Faced with Maeng Gong’s firmness, Godal looked troubled.

But since he had received favors from Maeng Gong before, he nodded immediately.

“I swear to heaven and earth.”

“Good.”

Maeng Gong took a deep breath before speaking.

“His Majesty has won.”

“Ah! You mean the Battle of Changsha? Isn’t that a joyous occasion, that His Majesty has won?”

“Yes. It’s a happy, happy occasion. But for me, it’s a sad one.”

“Could you explain what you mean, Your Excellency?”

At those words, Maeng Gong stood up, walked unsteadily to the map, and stood before it.

Then he picked up a brush soaked in ink and circled the location of Hunan Province.

“This is where His Majesty is.”

“Y-yes.”

“Everything else has been destroyed by the Mongols. Thoroughly, at that. Most of the people there are dead, and those who somehow survived have scattered and become refugees.”

“They may have become refugees, but hearing the news of His Majesty’s victory, they’re all gathering in Hunan Province. If they gather there and join forces…”

At Godal’s words, Maeng Gong used his brush to draw black lines across the entire territory of Southern Song, outside of Hunan Province.

It was an action that made him look like a madman. Godal’s expression couldn’t help but turn serious at this sudden behavior.

“If we join forces and fight, we might defeat the Mongols. But! Our country currently doesn’t have the strength to maintain this power!”

“What do you mean… ah…!”

Countless refugees are flocking to Hunan Province.

But Hunan Province doesn’t have the capacity to accommodate them.

“We will eventually have to engage in an all-out war with the Mongols just to survive. If we don’t take what they have, we’ll starve to death.”

As Maeng Gong said this, he pointed to a candle with his finger.

There was only a moth rushing toward it, knowing it would burn to death.

* * *

“This is serious, Gurkhan. The Goryeo army has been defeated, they say.”

“Is that so?”

At Gurkhan’s words, the messenger wore a puzzled expression.

Usually, one would be angry in such a situation, but Gurkhan was calm as if he had predicted this situation.

It wasn’t just the messenger who was surprised by his behavior.

Munglig, who had been harassing the Emperor’s retreat on Yesugei’s orders, was also there.

“Brother. Isn’t this a big problem?”

“Yes. It’s a big problem.”

“We should bring the Goryeo general immediately for questioning.”

At this, Gurkhan wore a contemplative expression for a moment.

And soon, as if he had decided something, he nodded.

“You’re right. Summon the Goryeo military commander.”

At the Khan’s command, Munglig immediately left the ger.

Shortly after he left, a Goryeo military commander in armor appeared.

“It is an honor to meet the great ruler of the four seas, Gurkhan.”

The Goryeo commander calmly performed the proper etiquette.

Seeing this, Munglig glared at him with fire in his eyes.

“Has Goryeo ignored the Mongols’ request! How could you lose to the Song Dynasty and boost their morale!”

When Munglig reproached him, the commander calmly replied.

“We were simply following the Khan’s orders.”

“You…!”

As Munglig was about to say something, Yesugei raised his hand.

Munglig then made a regretful expression and stepped back.

“What is your name?”

“I am Yoon In-cheom, Vice Prime Minister.”

“Yoon In-cheom… Are you a descendant of Yoon Gwan, who was the Prime Minister?”

At this, Yoon In-cheom showed a greatly surprised expression.

It was unexpected for the name of his father to come from the mouth of the ruler of the four seas.

“Yes, Gurkhan.”

“The son of Yoon Gwan, who was the Prime Minister… So it seems you understood my intentions right away.”

Gurkhan said this with a smile.

Yoon In-cheom then made a humble expression and bowed.

“I am glad to have pleased the Khan.”

“I am satisfied. No, it’s perfect.”

At this, Yoon In-cheom slightly glanced at the Khan.

And carefully spoke.

“Can you also give a definitive answer about the alliance between Goryeo and the Ulus?”

“Of course. Goryeo is an ally of the Ulus, and we will no longer test Goryeo.”

In fact, the Ulus had tested Goryeo several times.

So this answer could change at any time.

But since it was Gurkhan’s word, it would not change at least until he died.

Understanding this, Yoon In-cheom bowed and expressed his gratitude.

“Thank you, Gurkhan.”

Gurkhan raised his hand to accept his courtesy.

And looking at Yoon In-cheom, he spoke.

“Separately from that.”

When the Khan clapped his hands, treasures of gold and silver appeared behind him.

Seeing this, Yoon In-cheom showed a surprised and embarrassed expression.

“This is a reward for excellently following my orders.”

“I am not worthy of such a great reward.”

“If not you, then who?”

“Not me… please give it to my adjutant.”

“Your adjutant. Very well. I will follow your suggestion.”

Yoon In-cheom bowed several more times.

Gurkhan instructed him to return.

After the two disappeared, Munglig questioned the Khan.

“Giving a reward to a defeated general. It’s absurd.”

“He may have been defeated, but he fulfilled my purpose. So I must reward him.”

“What was your purpose?”

“Yes, please tell us.”

Elunka joined in with Munglig’s question.

The Khan nodded and immediately explained.

“By Goryeo’s defeat to the Song Dynasty, the Song Dynasty has revived around their Emperor.”

“Thanks to Goryeo’s defeat, Song people who were fleeing everywhere are all gathering in Hunan Province.”

“When they gather, they will form an army of at least several million.”

“Yes, at least tens of millions, up to hundreds of millions will gather.”

“Then won’t that be a major threat to the Ulus?”

“Of course it’s a threat. They’ll be unstoppable with their heightened morale.”

A momentum that could split bamboo.

Fighting an army with such momentum would be foolish.

At Gurkhan’s words, Munglig and Elunka were about to say something.

But Yesugei spoke faster.

“Prepare to retreat.”

“Brother!”

“Gurkhan!”

The two were greatly surprised at the word “retreat.”

It seemed absurd to retreat after pushing the Emperor all the way to Hunan.

“Do you have confidence in defeating hundreds of millions of soldiers gathered around the Emperor?”

“…”

“…”

“That’s why we’re retreating.”

The Khan’s words were concise.

But the looks on Elunka and Munglig’s faces still showed they needed more explanation.

“When we retreat, the enemy will reclaim the land we thoroughly destroyed. Land that has become so barren that not even a blade of grass grows.”

At Yesugei’s words, the two opened their eyes wide.

It seemed they were beginning to understand what he was trying to say.

“Even hundreds of millions of soldiers with high morale will eventually be defeated if they cannot eat.”

The Mongols had thoroughly destroyed the occupied territories.

They not only burned all the seeds to be planted in the land but also trampled the farmland with hooves and sprinkled salt.

Where there was water for farmland, corpses floated. They mixed it with filth to make it absolutely unusable water.

The land of the Song Dynasty had become uninhabitable.

“Hope. They will soon realize how futile it is.”

Hope gave them the belief that the current situation would change.

But that belief wouldn’t fill their hungry stomachs.