In the early hours of the western corridors of Kaegye province, Young-Sik, and his valiant men had fortified a camp and erected a barricade, determined to stem the relentless tide of the Aranese forces. Captain Gi, riding the majority of the previous night, dismounted after arriving at their camp and strides into the command tent, where the prince and his generals were deep in the art of war planning.
With a firm grip, he presented the prince with a tightly rolled parchment, bearing the day's grim report from the front lines. Young-Sik unfurled the document, his eyes scanning the stark details. "General Yang and the eastern forces have successfully repelled the Aranese advance, yet the northern legion under General Kuk was decimated," he read aloud, the weight of the news heavy in the air.
"Your Highness, the Aranese forces retaliate with every advance we attempt, leaving us at an impasse. Decisive action is imperative to shift the momentum of this war," General Ka cautioned the prince.
"Captain Gi, was our hypothesis valid?" Prince Young-Sik pressed his trusted commander.
"Yes, Your Highness. The blockade you instituted has forced their fleet into the fishing village within the corridor, and now they are searching for other entry points into our lands," Captain Gi replied, gesturing to a spot on the map. "Based on their current maneuvers, they are likely planning to concentrate their main forces here, with intentions to circle back to the corridor and trap us in a pincer."
"It is as predicted, they could not exit the corridor, they are looking for alternate routes so that they could bypass our main forces" Young-Sik stared at the map, looking at the troop placements of the Aranese forces
"Your Highness, won't the enemy forces, look for a second entry point?" A General worriedly asked
"It's unlikely they will spread their forces thinly, but your point is valid" The prince looks at Captain Gi's direction "Captain, take a platoon and go further south along the coast. Scan the area for possible enemy vessels" The captain bowed and swiftly exited the command tent to do as he was commanded.
Outside, Captain Gi went straight to the cavalrymen where a lieutenant greets him with a bow. "I need ten of you fastest riders. Send them by the gates, we leave for the south-western coasts before noon"
Captain Gi fixes his eyes on the Western Corridors; he can see the burning villages and hear the cries of the people. Despite the distance, he could hear the faint sound of steel crashing with steel. "Heaven help us defend our nation" He whispered to himself, he then turned around and returned to the command tent.
Back in the capital, King Man-Ju announces his plans for his grand wedding with Lady Ji-Hye. The news made several ministers especially Minister Lim and his cohorts smile. The right-wing ministers however were all stunned, and disgusted with the king's plans. "Your Highness, let me be the first to congratulate you, may the heavens bless you and the future Queen with a strong lineage" Minister Lim exclaimed proudly
King Man-Ju beamed at the Minister, soon to be his father-in-law. "Your kind wishes, Minister, warm my heart," he expressed. Yet, a glance at the right-wing ministers revealed their somber faces, devoid of any cheer. "Minister Im, my venerable teacher, does the news of your student's impending marriage not bring you joy?" he asked, laced with sarcasm.
Minister Im, undeterred, stepped forward with conviction. "Your Highness, we are pleased, and the law requires a grand celebration for any royal marriage. In light of our ongoing conflict with the Aranese, can we justify the expenditure when every resource must be directed towards the prince's war efforts?"
Minister Lim and most of the left-wing ministers glared at Minister Im as if what he said was blasphemous and disrespectful to the King. "Have you no shame minister Im? Are you suggesting that our King wed like a commoner?" Minister Gi declared
"Shut your mouth, you sniveling coward!" Minister Shin interjected, "You spurt nonsense with that foul breath of yours, we are merely advising the King to concentrate our resources to help the prince defend our country from these hostile invaders. I have half the mind to send you to war, maybe your foul mouth can scare the Aranese into leaving our country!"
The King focused on Minister Go, "And you Minister Go? Do you share the same sentiments as your contemporaries?"
"With all due respect You Highness, I share the same ideals as Minister Im and Minister Shin, for now, our priority should be the war. Every help and support should be directed to Prince Young-Sik" Minister Go said defiantly
King Man-Ju laughed at what the three ministers had said "So the three of you are suggesting that I as the King could not or should not dote upon myself on my joyous day and just give everything to the prince simply because he is leading the defense of our country?"
The King's expression immediately turned dark as he shouted "I AM THE KING!" Man-Ju shouted; he sneered as he scanned the courtroom. "It is my privilege as king to do whatever I want! I hereby place these three ministers on suspension and they are to be confined within their houses! No one from their estate can leave until the war is over. Perhaps the three of you should give up your pay and donate it to the prince. How dare you three suggest I can't do whatever I want with my treasures!"
"Your Highness, this is a mistake, please listen to us, and reconsider, the fate of our nation comes first, your Highness, help the prince!" The three ministers cried out as they were led by the palace soldiers out of the courtroom.
Man-Ju glared at the ministers "Should anyone even think that I can't use my treasures for whatever I want, will be whipped and thrown to the dungeons! Do you all hear me?" He roared using intimidation to sway everyone to his favor. The room fell silent, within the crowds, Minister Lim grinned as three of Prince Young-Sik's most staunch allies were removed.
After several weeks Jin-Ri looks on in disgust as the royal wedding between King Man-Ju and Lady Ji-Hye commences. "Such blatant disrespect to the prince," she thought to herself "Prince Young-Sik is out there on the frontlines risking his life for these...these sorry excuses for a human. Wasting money on lavish parties rather than using it to support the war efforts"
After calming down, she remembered the fates of Prince Young-Sik's three masters "They even suspended Yong's masters just because they have more common sense than all of them combined" She uttered to herself "Their supplies are probably dwindling by now, since I can't help Yong, I'll help his masters instead" She declared to herself with pride, but then she remembered something important "Where will I get money?" she scratched her head
A light bulb lit up inside Jin-Ri's head "Time to visit Yeng" She looked around her and saw everyone was enthralled by the celebration "I don't think they will miss me" She slowly walked back, since she was at the back of the line. She then made a mad dash away from the courtyard, and out of the gates,
At the Cherry Blossom, Yeng was still sleeping when she heard a knock on her door "Hey Yeng! Wake up it's me Jin-Ri!" she hollered while banging on her friend's door
The door slid open, to reveal a disheveled Yeng, her hair was unkempt, her make-up and lipstick all smudged and her clothes were in disarray "What do you want?"
Jin-Ri examined Yeng from head to foot "What happened to you, it looked like you were mugged?"
"I'm going back to sleep" Yeng exclaimed, turned around, and was about to close the door.
"Wait...wait! I need your help on something" She told Yeng who just looked at her, pondering if she should talk to Jin-Ri, after a while she gestured to her friend to come into her room
"What do you want?" Yeng asked while yawning, sleep still clinging to her, beckoning at her.
"I need to speak to Lady Hu" She eagerly replied
The answer to her question jogged her wide awake "The Lady Hu? Why would you talk to her?"
"I need money" She simply replied with a silly grin on her face
"And what was your plan? Waltz up to her and ask for money?" Yeng mentioned, mocking her friend's intention.
Jin-Ri gave a big sigh and started to say, why she needed the money "I need to borrow some money from her, it is for Yong's three masters they are under house arrest, and no one is even allowed to leave their place, they will starve if we don't help them" She explained
Yeng shook her head, unable to believe that Jin-Ri's story got to her "You know what, I'll get dressed and I'll take you to Lady Hu, but let me do the talking" Yeng offered, rummaging through her things looking for something appropriate to wear "I'm doing this so I can watch her throw you out" Yeng added, making Jin-Ri pout her lips.
Lady Hu was in her quarters checking some ledgers, when a knock on her door interrupted her "Who is that?" she asked irritatingly
"Lady Hu it is Yeng one of your ladies, a young court maiden is requesting to see you" Yeng mentioned outside Lady Hu's quarters.
"Court maiden? Could it be that country bumpkin?" She asked herself "Send her in" Lady Hu ordered. Fixing herself and storing away her ledgers, she waited for her visitor to enter.
Lady Hu heard the doors slide open and outside she saw Jin-Ri and Yeng in a deep bow "Miss Shameless, why are you here?" Lady Hu asked before taking a sip of her wine
"Can I borrow some money from you?" Jin-Ri shamelessly blurted out, Yeng quickly covered Jin-RI's mouth with her hands
Lady Hu spits out the wine she was drinking hearing the court maiden's request. After coughing several times, she asked Jin-Ri "What did you say?"
Yeng struggled to keep Jin-Ri silent "It's nothing, my lady, please pay no heed to her, we are here to ask assistance on behalf of Prince Young-Sik's masters"
Lady Hu raised a finger, a signal to Yeng to let Jin-Ri speak "Oh my gosh, you are shameless!" Lady Hu, paused for a while to cough some more "Why are you asking me for money? And for what?"
Jin-Ri explains her plans for the money she was borrowing "Well, it's not for me... it's for the prince's three masters. They were suspended and no one from their household could leave, not even to buy food."
"Let me stop you there. Correct me if I heard you wrong, but you plan to buy food for rich people?" Lady Hu asked, wanting clarification from the court maiden.
"Like I said, they were suspended and confined in their houses. I don't even know why the King would do that. Just because the three ministers suggested that winning the war should be the country's priority" She explained all the while pouting like a little girl. "If I can't help the prince with the war, then I'll help him by making sure the people that matter to him are taken care of"
"I can see why, this girl caught the prince's attention," Lady Hu told herself "So what's your plan?" she asked again
"I'll buy the food myself and bring it to the ministers' houses" Jin-Ri simply replied
"Big heart, no brain!" Lady Hu whispered while she shook her head "Let me take care of that before you hurt yourself, don't worry about the three ministers" She assured the court maiden
"Really? You'll take care of everything?" She squealed while bouncing with joy "You are so generous, you have a big heart" Jin-Ri approached Lady Hu and tried to embrace her, but Lady Hu jabbed her index finger on the court maiden's forehead to stop her approach.
"We're not that close for you to hug me," Lady Hu retorted as Jin-Ri rubbed her forehead. "You, Yeng, tell the kitchen head to come here, I need to speak with him," she said, dismissing the court maiden and Yeng.
Jin-Ri beaming with joy, stood up and bowed. She and Yeng were about to exit the room when Lady Hu called her. She turned around waiting for Lady Hu to speak "Should you need anything, let me know" Jin-Ri smiled and bowed in respect to Lady Hu, closed the doors, and left