latelenovela Chapter 362 The Occupation of Southern Korea
Chapter 362 The Occupation of Southern Korea
On the summit of Changwon Castle, the heart of Park Man-in, the Goryeo general defending the city, sank into an abyss, despair freezing like frost between his brows. He stood alone atop the northern city wall, his gaze piercing through the swirling rain of blood, landing on the land being mercilessly trampled by the Japanese cavalry—the Goryeo reinforcements' banners swayed precariously in despair, the soldiers' cries and the thunder of hooves weaving a tragic elegy.
An indescribable urge surged within Park Man-in; he wanted to rush out of the city gates, to build a line of defense with his own flesh and blood, to save the warriors who also shared Goryeo blood. However, reason, like cold chains, tightly bound his steps. He knew that the few remaining Goryeo soldiers in the city were the last glimmer of hope protecting the walls and maintaining the city's safety. And after days of fierce fighting, this final barrier numbered less than three thousand; each life was as precious as a rare treasure, and could not be lost.
Beneath the city walls lay the dying embers of a fire; atop the walls lay his unwavering responsibility and steadfast commitment as a general. Park Man-in's gaze oscillated between despair and resolve. Finally, he took a deep breath, transforming his grief and indignation into a silent vow, to stand firm and protect this land about to be swallowed by the night, and the dignity that remained even in defeat.
With a deep voice, Park Man-in calmly ordered a Goryeo officer beside him: "Immediately dispatch a team into the city to select some houses for demolition in order to replenish the increasingly scarce stones and timbers on our city walls."
Soon after, piercing cries and clamor echoed through Changwon City, accompanied by the resounding collapse of dilapidated houses. Large slabs of bluestone and sturdy roof beams were quickly moved to the city walls. Although Park Man-in's decision was to sacrifice some civilian residences to meet urgent needs, these were mostly homes for the poor, while the mansions of wealthy Goryeo merchants and nobles remained unscathed.
On the city walls, the battle had reached its climax. Several Japanese warriors, their arms bare and skin covered in intricate tattoos, like beasts of the night, bravely climbed the ladders to the top of the walls. Their gleaming samurai swords, gripped tightly in their hands, flashed with a cold light; with a sudden swing, a Goryeo soldier fell, blood gushing forth, instantly staining a corner of the city wall crimson.
The fierce aura of the Japanese warriors, like a sudden storm, instilled fear in the surrounding Goryeo soldiers, causing them to involuntarily retreat step by step. It was in this fleeting moment that the Japanese army seized the opportunity, surging forward like a tidal wave, with more soldiers following closely behind, scaling ladders and attacking the city, determined to break through the fortress in one fell swoop.
Inoue Nobuyuki, who was directing the siege from below, was overjoyed upon seeing this. He roared, "Baka yarou! We've finally broken through! Warriors of Fusang, charge up from here!"
The iron hooves of the Japanese army tore a hideous gap in the western wall of Changwon City, like a beast breaking free of its cage. A large number of Japanese soldiers occupied this precarious defensive line, using it as a base to launch a multi-pronged attack. One force circled along both sides of the wall to encircle the city, while the other charged straight into the heart of the city, weaving a web of death. News of the city's fall swept through like a chilling wind, terrifying the Goryeo soldiers. They dropped their weapons and fled like headless flies into the depths of the city, clinging to any chance of survival.
Upon hearing the news, Park Man-in, the Goryeo general, donned heavy armor, his eyes blazing with fury. Without hesitation, he led his loyal personal guard, like a warrior going against the current, determined to reverse the defeat. Despite his exceptional martial skills and unparalleled bravery, the overwhelmingly superior Japanese army, like a raging sea, relentlessly engulfed him and his warriors in wave after wave of unstoppable force.
With Park Man-in's tragic demise, the defenses of Changwon City Gate collapsed, as if the floodgates of history had been ruthlessly opened. The Goryeo soldiers, their numbers reduced to less than a thousand, fled in panic, like startled birds, mingling with the distraught civilians, heading towards the vast northern lands.
Meanwhile, the Japanese cavalry, fresh from their triumphant return from the Daegu battlefield after repelling the Goryeo reinforcements, had barely ceased their thunderous hooves when they witnessed the Goryeo civilians surging out of the north gate. Their eyes held no pity, only cold-blooded fanaticism. The leading Japanese general, a cruel smile playing on his lips, a smile brimming with contempt for life and a desire for conquest, waved his hand without hesitation, ordering his cavalry to unleash a ruthless massacre upon these defenseless Goryeo civilians.
In that instant, swords clashed, blood stained the sky, and innocent cries intertwined with desperate wails, creating a horrific picture of hell on earth. The wheels of history rolled onward, and on this blood-soaked land, the brilliance and darkness of humanity, kindness and cruelty, were mercilessly magnified, becoming a painful memory that future generations can never forget.
After Changyuan City was occupied by the Japanese army, the second wave of Japanese troops also landed in Busan. After Nobuyuki Inoshita combined the two forces, his strength reached nearly 50,000 men.
The next day, as dawn broke, 40,000 Japanese cavalry, under the command of Inoue Nobuyuki, charged towards Daegu like a surging wave. Upon reaching the city, an unexpected scene unfolded before their eyes—Daegu had become a desolate, empty shell, devoid of human habitation, with only the wind echoing mournfully through the deserted streets.
It turned out that the general defending Daegu, upon learning the devastating news of the unstoppable advance of the Japanese army and the overnight fall of Changwon City, was gripped by fear like a plague. That very night, he made a horrifying decision—to massacre the entire city. Amidst the splattering blood and the cries of the city's inhabitants, his final farewell became the background music before his escape. He then led his trusted followers and the gold and silver he had amassed over the years, fleeing like a stray dog from the place he had personally pushed into the abyss, heading towards Cheongju. There, tens of thousands of Goryeo troops were stationed, a far more secure haven than his own isolated city.
Thus, Daegu was transformed overnight from a bustling border town into a desolate ghost town, leaving only the dust of history and lingering lamentations echoing in the empty city.
Although the Japanese cavalry easily captured Daegu without shedding a drop of blood, Inoue Nobuyuki's face showed no sign of pleasure. He had promised his soldiers that once Daegu fell, he would follow the example of Changwon and appease the uncontrollable fanaticism and restlessness in the hearts of the Japanese soldiers by massacring the city.
Within days, Jeolla and Gyeongsang provinces of Goryeo had fallen to the Japanese army. Forty thousand Japanese warriors advanced northward with unstoppable momentum, reaching the walls of Cheongju and besieging it. Inside Cheongju, officials were frantic, urgently sending a plea for reinforcements to the capital, Gaegyeong. They knew that the city's 20,000 Goryeo defenders were no match for the overwhelming force of the Japanese cavalry.