episode_0018

I’m not saying this out of resentment, but my father is truly harsh.

Anyway, I enjoyed this situation because it meant I didn’t have to go back to my distant hometown that takes a month to reach, I could avoid seeing my unpleasant brother, and I could escape the annoying custom of ancestral rites.

“Madam? I intend to take a break and get some fresh air.”

As the sun set and April arrived, I finally made my decision.

Although I wanted to stay and watch Miok’s playful antics a little longer, there were things I needed to do.

“Master? Are you going hunting tigers again?”

“No. Just planning to travel around the provinces, strengthen ties with familiar military officials, and such.”

“When will you return then?”

“I should be back within a month at the earliest.”

Most likely, when I return, I’ll come back with news of a successful hunt.

Before leaving, I hugged Gemi tightly, planted a big kiss on Miok’s cheek leaving a wet mark, and set off from home.

Accompanied by the young and sturdy servants, Gabak-i and Bokjong-i, who had been following me like shadows, we departed.

Aside from the riding horse, there were two packhorses; one laden with a sword, bow, and a thousand arrows I had prepared for my own use.

Over the past year, I had prepared two types of arrows—one regular and the other small ones for shooting quickly.

It cost quite a sum to prepare them in bulk.

The other packhorse carried pine pollen powder and iron oil.

This too was something I diligently prepared over the past year.

Of course, I paid for it, but it was the servants who did the work.

In addition to the provisions, I also brought along introductions similar to business cards to visit the military officials who had given me maps before.

I met with the Chungcheong Province and Jeolla Province military officials through these introductions.

They held such high positions that it felt wasteful to gift them the valuable tiger skins I had obtained from hunting.

Yet, I gave them as bribes since one of them would likely be the one writing the reports on the incident later.

Afterwards, I met with Jung Jindo, the Chungcheong Province Inspector, over drinks to expand my network.

At the end of April, I went to the scene of the incident at Dodu-eumgot and met Manho-in Kim Sung-gil, exchanging greetings and presenting him with a gold ornament.

‘Is this enough?’

#

-May 4th

As reported, the Chungcheong Province Military Official appeared at the Joseon Court in response to the Wae-seon’s presence at Gyeongsang.

-May 5th

As reported, the Jeolla Province Military Official informed the court that 39 Wae-seon ships were anchored near a nearby island, preparing for any potential actions.

Meanwhile, I, who had been waiting at Dodu-eumgot, stood armed at the harbor overlooking the sea on the early morning of May 5th.

Because on this day, according to history, the Wae forces came to Dodu-eumgot for plundering.

Around me were over two hundred arrows laid out.

When I left Hanyang, I brought over a thousand arrows. Why only these now?

It was because, in case of enemy attack, I couldn’t defend a single position continuously, so I divided the arrows into various locations to fight while retreating.

Since my current location was where I would shoot arrows first and face enemies coming from the sea, I had the most arrows here.

Having arrived at Dodu-eumgot ten days earlier, I thoroughly examined every detail.

So, I planned my escape route after carefully studying where the enemy would dock their ships, which path they would take, and how the residents’ houses were arranged.

After assessing all situations meticulously, I set up my escape route.

I also hid dozens of arrows at a central point.

In the final spot, I concealed my favorite weapon, the spear called Wol-do.

Perhaps at the last stand, I would have to fight to the death with the equipment of a battlefield master.

‘The military officials need to appear at the right moment.’

Fighting as if prepared for death, because one might actually die.

Although Gebok and Bokjong were present, they had nothing on them.

“You don’t know how to fight, so when the Japanese ships appear, hurry to the fortress and inform them.”

“But, Lord. Will the Japanese really appear?”

“Haven’t you heard the rumors? More than a few have seen Japanese ships.”

If the local fishermen reported sightings to the authorities, it meant that Japanese ships were frequently spotted in the area, and indeed, rumors were rife near the port.

“However, why would they appear here?”

Gebok asked cautiously.

“There’s no law saying they shouldn’t appear. Since I am here, we must prepare to defend this place against the enemy.”

“You are neither the leader nor an official of this village…”

“Must one be a leader or an official to defend against the enemy? Besides, I may lack an official title, but I am already a skilled warrior. I am ready to assume any official position at any time.”

“They say the Japanese swords are exceptionally well-crafted.”

As mentioned before, Japanese swordsmanship surpassed that of Joseon.

However, I was already well-versed in Japanese swords through the internet.

My offense was not with a sword but with a bow, and even in the final battle, I planned to fight with a spear rather than a sword.

“You’ve seen me diligently practice martial arts since you were young! I am also a skilled warrior. So, do not worry.”

“But…”

“Enough!”

I shouted loudly, unable to bear their constant complaints.

“If you continue to weaken my resolve, I will be the one to cut your throats first. Understood!”

The two fell silent only after my outburst.

However, they seemed eager to escape.

‘Today is my chance to gain an official position. I cannot miss it!’

I aimed the telescope towards the rising sun, eagerly anticipating the arrival of the Japanese ships.

Finally!

With the rising sun, the Japanese ships appeared on the horizon like a flock of birds.

“They’ve arrived! Both of you, quickly head to the fortress!”

“Yes!”

“Be careful, my lord!”

After hurriedly bidding farewell, they sprinted towards the fortress with all their might.

‘If only we had cannons, we could easily annihilate the Japanese along with their ships.’

If I were the ruler of this region, I would have prepared cannons and gunpowder instead of bows.

But as someone without an official position, I couldn’t recklessly produce gunpowder controlled by the state, and using cannons would be even more foolhardy.

For now, I waited for them to come closer.

When the enemy ships approached about 500 meters, I loaded a special arrowhead into the bow and aimed towards the Japanese ships.

Normally, the effective range of a longbow is around 300 meters.

However, with my strength and a specially crafted general’s bow, the arrow flew up to 500 meters.

That’s an incredibly long distance.

The distance from home plate to the outfield fence in a baseball field is roughly 100 meters.

So, this would be five times that distance.

Considering Lotte Tower is 554.5 meters tall, maybe that gives a better sense?

While I hadn’t measured my eyesight separately, it was likely well above 2.0, possibly reaching 5.0 to 6.0.

Mongolians are said to have 6.0 vision, so mine should be close.

With exceptional eyesight, I could clearly see the 500-meter distance.

Whooooosh.

Releasing the arrow, the sharp sound of the arrow cutting through the air echoed.

An arrowhead, which typically travels only half the length of a regular arrow, flew in an arc.

Objects flying swiftly like arrows create disturbances in the air around them, causing eddies that affect the flight path due to aerodynamic forces.

Hence, observing the flight of an arrow, one can notice it swaying left and right or up and down.

However, the length of the needle arrow is only half that of a regular arrow, so there is less drag.

Moreover, it is faster than a regular arrow, flies farther, and has a significant impact proportional to its speed.

Furthermore, the needle arrow is hard to detect due to its small size.

Because of its speed and size, it was nearly impossible to deflect with a sword or spear.

Even if one wanted to pick it up and use it, without a needle threader, it was unusable.

After the needle arrow flew at a speed even I, boasting exceptional eyesight, found hard to follow, and landed after falling…

“Kwaaah.”

Thud.

One of the Japanese pirates on the deck fell into the sea with a gasp for breath.

This was my first murder.

Though I had committed murder, there was no emotional change within me.

The lack of feeling came from killing from a distance with a bow, where the opponent’s death wasn’t palpable.

Moreover, weren’t they pirates who came to plunder!

They were cruel beings who had killed over three hundred civilians, not soldiers, in the previous war.

Hence, even if I had killed them at close range instead of from afar, I wouldn’t have faltered.

From successfully sniping at a distance of 500 meters, I continuously shot needle arrows into the needle threader without rest.

Pew, pew, pew…

Being a person of great strength, I had no difficulty drawing the bowstring.

Furthermore, my movements were so swift that the shooting speed was beyond what one could imagine a single person doing.