The Battles of Kokusen’ya – Episode Two

(Toyohara Kunichika, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)

After crossing the stormy sea, Ro Ikkwan and his son Watonai finally reached the coast of China with Princess Sendan. The land was under the control of the Tartars. Many villages were in ruins, and fear was widespread. They went ashore secretly and traveled inland to find Ro Ikkwan’s old friends who had once served the Ming dynasty. Along the way, they saw people starving and homes destroyed. Watonai saw this and swore to bring peace back to the country.

They decided to visit a general named Kan Ki, who once served the Ming emperor but had surrendered to the Tartars. Ro Ikkwan believed that if Kan Ki returned to the Ming side, many soldiers would follow him. Together, they could rebuild their country.

On their journey, Watonai showed great courage. When a tiger attacked some villagers in a bamboo forest, he fought it with his bare hands and killed it.

“The tiger hurts people just like the Tartars do,” he said.
"I will protect this land with my own hands," he said.

People began to see him as a hero who might save their nation.

After several days, they arrived at the gate of Shishi Castle, which was ruled by Kan Ki. The castle was heavily guarded, and the gates were closed. Ro Ikkwan sent a message to the castle, telling Kan Ki who he was and asking for a meeting. But Kan Ki was being watched by the Tartars and could not act freely. Still, in his heart, he wanted to help Ro Ikkwan.

Inside the castle lived Kan Ki’s wife, Kinshōjo. She was the daughter of Ro Ikkwan, which made her Watonai’s older sister. When she learned that her father and brother were alive, she cried in secret.

“I want to help them,” she thought, “but my husband serves the enemy. What should I do?”
Her heart was torn between loyalty to her husband and love for her family.

That night, Kan Ki sat alone, thinking deeply.

“I hate that I surrendered to the Tartars,” he said to himself.
"But if I fight back, the people in this castle will die," he said to himself.

Then Kinshōjo came quietly to him and said,
“My father has come to see you. He still believes in your honor. Please, return to the Ming side.”

Kan Ki was moved, but he also feared that if he acted now, everyone in the castle would be killed. He hesitated, trapped between fear and duty.

Outside the castle, Ro Ikkwan and Watonai made camp under the night sky. The old man fell asleep from exhaustion. Watonai sat by the fire, sharpening his sword. He looked up at the moon and said to himself,
“I will do whatever it takes to fulfill my father’s wish.”

The full moon rose through the clouds and shone on his face, lighting the start of his destiny.

In the next episode, Kinshōjo’s sacrifice will change everything and lead to the tragedy known as “The Flowing Crimson.”