Chapter 1 (1/2)

Chapter 1: Shocking News of Three Deaths

At that time, the modern-day Korea was already there

Taejo of Joseun1 founded Korea on the 25th year of the Ming Dynasty En, in 1392 He requested a nawu issued the imperial decree: “For the name of the country in the east, only Korea is the most beautiful and has an illustrious history This can be the name of the country now, and of the ancestors in the past” From henceworth, Korea became the name of the country, and was used all the way to present day Of course, the Korea peninsula was completely unified at that time, and did not rattle their sabers at each other like North and South Korea do now

Our story begins with this new dynasty

On a winter day of the 29th year of En, thick clouds hovered low in the sky, and the frigid as piercingly cold It was the coldest season of the year Layers of ice and snow had accumulated in the capital, Seoul, and the streets were barren of people Birds and beasts were scarcely found in the outskirts, and no other color azed around It was as if it was a pure, snohite world, colass

Located in the northern part of Seoul, the Gyeongbok Palace3 rapped in swirls of glea kicked up by the wind The white snow covered the originally red and green palace roof, with only the scarlet red door standing out particularly conspicuously The Gwanghwamun, the htly, with only Heungnyeuards stood at the door, and they were so cold that they’d shrunk their necks in and arched their waists They continuously rubbed their hands and huffed over the sky, “Looks like it’ll snow again…”

At thisby with the coach finally at the Heungnyeroup of imperial maids dashed out fronized that the sanggung4 (i Tidao, was the one with the reet the Tidao? It’s quite cold today” Sanggung Zheng looked at hie with two maids The four eunuchs also leapt up onto the horses and called out to the coach, “To the manor of the Coe and four horses hurtled out of the Heungnyeht for the manor of the Commander of the Left Army of the Capital

The manor of The Coyi, was located in the northeast corner, not far fro As the Cao fao, many flowers, shrubs, and trees that were yet to be planted, littered the yard Although anized

There was a s Buddha off on the side of the main hall Mistress Cao was a pious believer in the Caoxi school of the Zen sect, which was a branch of the Central Plains sect Mistress Cao had brought her daughter Lotus into the fa to Buddha, and reciting the “Diamond Sutra”, “The Sutra”, and the “Vimalakirti Sutra”, the two of them had sat down in meditation All the servants had left with only the maid Shan Xi in attendance The hall was devoid of sound, with only theshutters often sounding against the frigid wind

In the silence, Mistress Cao suddenly called out, “Lotus!”

Lotus opened her eyes and saw Mistress Cao gazing upon her with an uneasy face She hastily got up and walked over to ask, “Are you alrightunwell?”

Mistress Cao raised her head to look at Lotus, opening herthe prayer beads, and sighed “I don’t knohat’s wrong, or what’s happening today – I’ a bit with anxiety and fear”

Lotus sat down next to her htly rubbed Mistress Cao’s shoulders “Don’t worry too o at it slowly”

Mistress Cao squeezed Lotus’ hand in return and sighed again “Why on earth would I be worried about meditation I’m worried about the house’s master, and your two brothers”

How could Lotus not understand why her hed so She too orried about her father and brothers She always prayed for them to be safe and sound when they worshi+pped Buddha everyday She knew that it was at odds with meditation, but she was unable to lay down her worries She comforted softly, “Don’t worry mother, father is well seasoned on the battlefield, and has fought e and small battles It’s merely japanese Pirates this time, they will surely be fine”

In the latter half of the Koryo dynasty5, the scourge of japanese Pirates had becoly worse This band of unscrupulous bandits would rob, kill, burn, and raid without abandon whenever they eneral population on the shore suffered greatly, and experienced unspeakable horrors King Taejo had sent soldiers several times, and had suffered both wins and losses This, in turn, spurred the japanese Pirates to becoly ra, still a vice envoy then, led the ar defeat of the japanese Pirates at the Cholla province – where they burned five hundred shi+ps to the ground and killed their leader, Azhi Batu This hen the japanese pirates finally left the Korean peninsula and coeneral population lived at peace for many years

But, during the autumn of this year, a band of japanese Pirates who crewed more than one hundred shi+ps, estiain landed at the Cholla province Their leader, Azhi Taibiao, called hieance Not only did he raid, burn, and slaughter the local officials and citizens, his actions were incredibly cruel and bloodthirsty The Korean court was incensed, and the entire gathering of civil and nments

Although Cao Mengyi was elderly, he never refused to shoulder his responsibilities as the first general He also had great experience fighting against the japanese Pirates, and was i the aryi’s two sons, Cao Min and Cao Xiu, followed their father into battle Cao Min was the eldest son of the Cao faHe was appointed as a lieutenant this tiest son and, at fourteen years old, o years younger than Lotus It hadn’t been in the plan for hio this tioing to fight the japanese Pirates The Cao fayi thought it was a good thing to toughen hi as well Madame Cao had cried until her eyes were red, but still hadn’t been able to keep Cao Xiu behind

“Lotus, I know it’s the japanese Pirates, but they’ve been gone for four months already It’s almost New Year’s… I wonder if they’ll be back in tiot up and walked to the front of the Buddha status as she talked, reverently and respectfully burning another three sticks of incense She piously kneeled down and chanted softly “Merciful Buddha, please forgive your disciple’s ignorance I pray for the early success ofthe japanese Pirates, and pray for the well being of Korea’s citizens”

Lotus knelt down behind her mother and prayed silently Strands of incense smoke circled the hall as unli eyes