593.people of the sea.
About one shijin had passed since the enemy force came into sight.
They were troops hardened by consecutive victories in the naval battles of Seungju and Paeju.
They were people of the sea.
Oars came to their hands before words ever did.
On the western plain, thousands of enemy soldiers were advancing on foot.
Park Seong-jin issued his order.
"Everyone out.
Today is not a battle of the sea, but a battle on land."
Boatmen, gunners, archers, and swordsmen lined up on bare earth.
Those who belonged on water assembled on the wide plain before the west gate of Jinju Fortress.
Boatmen still smelling of brine took their places.
Gunners stood with soot still clinging to the hands that had handled cannon.
Archers who once held shipboard bows formed ranks.
Even the spearmen once called cavalry of the decks aligned themselves.
The strange formation faced the western field in rigid silence.
The soil beneath their feet felt unfamiliar.
Someone muttered,
"This land feels too quiet."
Another replied,
"That plain will be shaking soon enough."
A brief ripple of laughter passed through the ranks.
Gestures meant to hide tension spread quietly.
Park Seong-jin walked slowly between the lines.
To the gunners, he said,
"Oarsmen are shield-bearers today.
Set the gun carriages down and take spears in hand."
To the boatmen, he said,
"Use the legs that once leapt decks to break through enemy formations."
To the archers, he said,
"Shoot at the same angles you used at sea.
Their shields are lighter than our arrows."
His tone was blunt.
It carried the confidence that fighting on land might feel awkward, but was nothing beyond them.
Shoulders eased.
The line between sea and land vanished.
Japanese spears and long pikes recovered at Seungju were brought out.
They felt long in naval hands.
They were the only weapons available.
The pike instructor raised his voice.
"Front rank, set your shafts.
Rear rank, close in half a step."
As the boatmen planted their spears, creaking sounds echoed across the ground.
On deck, they would have had to fight for balance.
Today, the earth held them steady.
Those who once handled cannon, fire arrows, and stone throwers repositioned ground crossbows.
Crossbows brought from Daehan were carried forward.
Ship-mounted weapons became instruments of a single strike on land.
The crossbow captain spoke.
"Whether on water or earth, a bolt that strikes ends a life."
The soldiers fitted the heavy bolts.
They locked in place with a solid click.
When preparations ended, Park Seong-jin climbed to higher ground and looked over them.
"You standing here are, of course, naval troops."
All breath stilled.
"Today, you are Goryeo's shield and Goryeo's spear.
With the hands that guarded ships at sea, guard this land."
From boatmen to archers, crossbowmen, and gunners, spears rose slowly.
A new army took shape along the line.
Their numbers were few.
Boatmen formed the majority.
Then a frost-edged drumbeat echoed faintly from the horizon.
Dust rose.
In the sunlight, a chain-like column of infantry filled the western plain as it advanced.
They were men driven ashore after losing their ships.
A force born of despair pressing from behind.
Watching them, Park Seong-jin murmured,
"Let it end here, on the soil of Jinju."
The soldiers straightened their spears.
As wind passed, spearpoints brushed and hissed like waves.
As Jin Chong finished speaking, the signs in the dust grew clearer.
A gray surge rolled over the entire western plain.
Park Seong-jin drew in a slow breath.
The weight of those numbers settled upon the line.
If they collided here, some would fall and the formation would break.
His expression remained calm.
He withdrew the calculation that would have fed his men into death.
Jin Chong spoke in a low voice.
"General, the disparity in numbers is too great.
If we engage on the plain, we will collapse.
We should fall back to the fortress."
A very brief silence passed.
In that instant, Park Seong-jin finished his assessment.
The cannon were still aboard ship.
Crossbows were too few.
Naval troops could hold only by locking together on land.
Artillery engineers and gunners were Goryeo's future.
His answer fell cleanly.
"We withdraw."
Shoulders dropped visibly.
Park Seong-jin shouted.
"Fall back to the fortress.
Raise spears.
Withdraw in formation.
Left wing first.
Maintain the line."
Boots struck dust.
Boatmen's hands trembled on spear shafts.
Cold sweat gathered on archers' palms.
The instinct to flee and the discipline of formation fought within the same bodies.
Cries rang from the rear.
"Match pace.
If we break, the line is cut."
Those who glanced back saw the black wave closing in across the western plain.
"Uoooooo—"
The earth shook even without hooves.
Park Seong-jin turned back for only a moment, then shouted again.
"Keep your stride.
Hold formation."
The walls of Jinju Fortress drew near.
Soldiers on the gate signaled.
"The gate is open."
Someone sobbed,
"We'll live now."
Park Seong-jin shouted again.
"Tighten it to the end.
This is when we are thinnest."
Teeth clenched.
Feet matched pace.
Sweat blurred vision.
Park Seong-jin ordered,
"Invert spear shafts."
Metal clicked as shafts shifted.
At the gate, defenders shouted,
"Hurry inside.
They're pursuing."
Park Seong-jin covered the rear to the last.
"Everyone in.
Last twelve, hold the back with me."
The soldiers poured into the fortress.
As the final rank crossed the threshold, Park Seong-jin lowered his hand.
"Close the gate."
The gate slammed shut with a thunderous crash as the vanguard of the Japanese closed to within dozens of paces.
Stones struck the gate.
Blades clashed.
Shouts erupted at once.
From the walls, arrows poured down.
Inside, legs gave out.
Some collapsed.
Some gulped water.
Some poured ragged breath over their armor.
Park Seong-jin said quietly,
"Live today, so there can be a next."
Eyes turned toward him.
A thin layer of trust settled over fear.
He climbed the rampart, brushed dust from the railing with the back of his hand, and looked west.
The western plain of Jinju became a sea of dust.
Dust surged like waves.
Within it, men, banners, and spearpoints churned and swayed.
A soldier on the wall cried out with a trembling voice.
"They're coming."
Thousands of infantry emerged from the haze.
Their banners were mismatched.
The sound was closer to the howling of beasts than the crash of surf.
"Uoooooo—"
Hands on the wall shook.
The air grew heavy.
Park Seong-jin slowly swept his gaze across the field.
Song I-jeong spoke.
"Their road ends at Busan Port.
They'll seize ships there and cross to Tsushima."
Park Seong-jin exhaled shortly.
"The force has grown."
The enemy banners surged.
A Japanese commander in leather armor stepped forward.
He shouted.
"Open the gate.
Surrender, and your lives will be spared."
The magistrate whispered, his face drained of color.
"General, what shall we do."
Without looking at him, Park Seong-jin replied.
"Go back.
If you remain on this land, you die here."
The commander bared his teeth in a grin.
"That one is an impostor mimicking Park Seong-jin.
Overrun them."
The drums thundered.
Thousands of feet moved at once.
The gate trembled.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
At that moment, a single figure descended from the west gate tower.
Using gyeongsin-sul, he stepped through empty air.
Against the dark blue sky, a large blood-red cloak lashed in the wind.
Thousands of eyes locked onto him.
He landed slowly upon the ground.
It was Park Seong-jin.
He spoke clearly.
"I am Park Seong-jin, Jungnangjang of the Goryeo Army.
I bear the command to pacify the Japanese of the southern seas."
A great murmur swept the enemy ranks.
"…That's him."
"The one who washed Nangju in blood."
"They said he was a demon."
Park Seong-jin spoke forward, eyes fixed ahead.
"Turn north now, break east through the pass.
Cross the mountains and return to the sea.
I will leave the road open."
The Japanese commander shouted,
"Attack."
They charged toward Park Seong-jin.
At that instant, a rain of arrows fell from the walls, meant to cover the lone figure below.
Pipipipipip.
The front ranks fell.
The rear climbed over them.
Park Seong-jin lifted his fingers slightly.
A commander's neck snapped as he collapsed to the ground.
The battlefield froze.
Enemy breathing thinned all at once.
Park Seong-jin said quietly,
"Go back."
Another rain of arrows poured from the walls.
He stepped forward and raised his spear in hand.