I Became a Fallen Noble of Goguryeo

Chapter 27: Recruitment Exam (1)

Lunar March 3rd.

The so-called Samjinnal.

In the 21st century, it was treated as something like, ‘Oh, does such a day even exist?’, but in this era, Samjinnal was regarded as quite an important day that signified the coming of spring.

It was even given the rather romantic name, Season of Treading on Green,踏靑節.

In Silla, they performed rites for the Wind Spirit around this time to shake off winter’s filth, while Goguryeo, true to being a martial state, tested martial skills before the Heavenly Ancestor Haemosu and selected outstanding men as talents.

Thus, in the Lelang Plain near the Pyeongyang Fortress, this year’s recruitment exam had begun.

“Whew, just in time.”

Since it was only about a day’s ride from Gromchon, I was able to arrive without any issues.

The moment I entered the test grounds, people’s gazes focused on me.

“What the… that size?”

“Some giant showed up? Isn’t he the biggest of everyone here today? He’s nearly eight chi tall!”

I was already a giant at 190cm, and with my recent balanced training and weightlifting, my frame had grown even broader.

It was natural that the Goguryeo people, who revered strength, would be impressed.

‘Luckily… no one seems to recognize that I’m Ondal.’

Well, of course.

In this era, there was no SNS, no TV, no photographs.

One might know the names of famous people, but it was nearly impossible to know their faces or appearances in detail.

Besides, I had only come to Pyeongyang four years ago, and in that time I had grown rapidly from long training and weightlifting, so my appearance had changed quite a lot.

Naturally, no one would recognize me.

After all, even in the Ondal Yeoljeon, people didn’t know Ondal’s identity until he revealed it himself by saying, ‘I am Ondal.’

‘So many people. But where do I register?’

As I was looking for the registration desk, I suddenly noticed a familiar face.

Or to be exact, a familiar set of teeth.

“Huh? Aren’t you Soyong?”

“Wha, wha… you… or rather, sir, who are you?”

It was Soyong from Beomchon, his missing teeth showing in shock.

Seeing him dragging a cart with supplies and a shabby bow strapped to his back, it seemed he had come to take the exam.

‘…I thought he was completely done for.’

As far as I knew, this guy had aimed for success and diligently attended the Scholarly Academy, but because of his careless tongue, he was abandoned by his backer, the merchant Jin Wootae.

Yet perhaps unwilling to waste all that time at the Academy, he too had shown up at this recruitment exam.

“Good timing, let’s—”

“Kyaaaah!”

The moment Soyong saw me, he bolted.

What the? Had I ever hit him before? Or did he get dragged into trouble because of me?

Hmm, both, actually.

No wonder he wanted to run… but I wasn’t about to let him escape.

“Hey, you, where are you running?”

I grabbed him by the scruff of the neck as he tried to flee.

“Where are you going? We’re still village mates, after all.”

“I, I mean, I’m from Beomchon….”

“Beomchon or Gromchon, it’s just one mountain apart, isn’t it? We’d sometimes gather for stone battles, share wild ginseng.”

I grinned at him.

“So, guide me a bit.”

The reason I caught Soyong wasn’t just to ask for directions.

‘Yeon Jayu told me. I must hide my identity.’

Fortunately, I hadn’t visited Pyeongyang Fortress many times, so most people didn’t know me, but Soyong was different.

This guy knew me.

If he went around spreading my name, I’d be in serious trouble.

Especially since the Grand Elder might be targeting me, that would be dangerous.

“From now on, don’t call my name.”

“Huh? Then what should I call you? Prince Consort?”

“Are you crazy? Just call me Kim Insam.”

“Kim Insam? Who’s that… ah, understood.”

Quick-witted, sharp.

I liked that.

“And, the directions.”

“Three hundred paces ahead, then to the right.”

“You’re coming with me.”

“…Follow me then.”

Surprisingly obedient, Soyong guided me along.

“We’ve arrived at the destination….”

Even his manner was excessively polite.

No wonder.

In the past, I had been a ‘fallen noble,’ so he could treat me lightly… but now, I was the prince consort.

This was why, in a stratified society, having power was everything.

“This is the registration place.”

“So it was on that hill. Thanks.”

In Silla, an animal too good at finding the way would be executed, but in Goguryeo, it was only proper to praise it.

“Those sitting there are the test-takers. Three hundred spots, all filled. We’ll have to push someone out. Maybe that weakling over there?”

“No, the one beside him.”

“Hmm? That one’s a big fellow. Looks like he’s even a Domestic Fortress noble.”

“Perfect.”

I walked up to that guy and spoke.

“Hey, that’s my seat.”

“What? I don’t know where you crawled out from, but do you know who I am? I am… ugh!”

I didn’t feel like hearing his full name.

I simply grabbed him and threw him aside, and the examiner who had been watching approached as if he had expected it.

“Leave the talking to that side, and just take the red tassel from the one you just knocked down and pin it on your chest.”

“Don’t we write down names?”

“You state your name only after passing. What use is it to know the names of those who can’t even make it? You’re number 100, just remember that.”

Impressed by this thoroughly Goguryeo-style method, I pinned the red tassel marked with the character for hundred on my chest.

I had learned since coming here that Goguryeo people truly loved the color red.

Their flags were red, their tassels were red, even the ends of the Gaema Cavalry’s armor were decorated in red.

‘…This feels very much like Pyeongyang.’

Apparently, the love for red wasn’t so different between this era and the 21st century.

Soyong sat right next to me.

“You passed too? Number 105?”

“Yes. I just beat that guy.”

“Impressive?”

“I also studied at the Scholarly Academy.”

Well, though he lost to me, that didn’t mean he was weak.

At the very least, he was more than capable of knocking down the average guy from Gromchon.

“Then why sit beside me? Weren’t you avoiding me?”

“Come on, you know how it is… we know each other, right? I even guided you here.”

So, he was sticking close to me to avoid unnecessary fights.

“And it’s not like I’m asking you to fight in my place. Just saying, let’s chat.”

“Even that alone makes others stay away, right?”

“That too… but anyway, do you see over there? They all look like sons of the Domestic Fortress Faction.”

“You can tell nobles apart just by their faces?”

“You get a sense of it by looking. Seems like hardly any of the Pyeongyang Faction nobles came this time.”

The nobles of Goguryeo were divided into the Domestic Fortress Faction and the Pyeongyang Faction.

As with any alliances and political factions, the inner workings were complicated, but if we took the recent Rebellion of Chugun and Segun as the standard…

The Pyeongyang Faction consisted of the new nobles of Pyeongyang, who held the Central Division among the five provinces, along with the Eastern Division represented by Yeon Jayu and the Southern Division based in Hanseong.

The Domestic Fortress Faction, on the other hand, centered around the Northern Division near the Domestic Fortress, the traditional nobles of the former five tribes, along with figures from the Western Division based in Liaodong.

As usual, factions were split between north and south.

The differences in latitude made for very different lifestyles, and indeed the ways of life in Domestic Fortress and Pyeongyang were quite distinct.

The fact that hardly any of the ruling Pyeongyang Faction nobles were seen at this recruitment exam could also be explained by those lifestyle differences.

‘The Pyeongyang Faction… probably just didn’t want to suffer needlessly.’

When it came to large-scale military matters such as commanding armies, building supply lines, or forming battle formations, the Pyeongyang Faction had advantages over the Domestic Fortress Faction.

They grew up reading works like Sunzi’s Art of War and Wuzi’s Art of War, and Pyeongyang, with its freeholding farmers, had developed strong heavy infantry.

But that was only in terms of large-scale warfare.

In individual combat, especially in cavalry skills, the Pyeongyang Faction could not match the Domestic Fortress Faction.

For the Pyeongyang nobles, horse riding and archery were things to be learned, but for the Domestic Fortress nobles, they were simply daily life.

‘They must have experienced it all—tigers, wolves, constant raids from Malgal and Khitans, and endless small-scale bloodbaths.’

That saying, “Domestic Fortress men have killed an average of five,” wasn’t just empty words.

Of course, as someone from the Domestic Fortress Faction myself, I had also killed five bandits.

So, when it came to war, perhaps things were different… but in this recruitment exam, where personal combat skills were the focus, the Pyeongyang Faction couldn’t hope to win, so they simply chose not to participate.

‘Besides, the Pyeongyang Faction doesn’t even need the recruitment exam.’

In Goguryeo, the recruitment exam wasn’t the only way to enter the Taehak, the state academy for training officials.

In fact, the recruitment exam was the minor route.

‘Most entered through the Scholarly Academy, temples, or recommendations from influential officials.’

In the old days, when the Domestic Fortress Faction was absent in Pyeongyang and the recruitment exam was dominated by the Pyeongyang Faction, things might have been different… but now, with the current balance, it was far easier to just get a recommendation letter and enter Taehak rather than risk humiliation.

‘In truth, the same applies to the Domestic Fortress Faction as well.’

Children of influential Domestic Fortress families, the ones already called “great men,” had already received recommendation letters and were just waiting to enter Taehak.

The Domestic Fortress nobles who showed up for the recruitment exam weren’t the most powerful, but rather the lesser nobles.

Thus, the recruitment exam now essentially consisted of two groups: lesser nobles of the Domestic Fortress Faction, and commoner sons like Soyong, who sought a once-in-a-lifetime chance at success.

And most of those commoners wore the look of the hopeless.

“Wait, then who are those strong-looking guys? Can Malgal tribesmen even participate in the exam?”

“Shut your mouth! Those are Domestic Fortress nobles! How dare you call nobles Malgal!”

“We have to fight them? Seriously?”

Aside from war, which was an irregular occurrence, the recruitment exam was the best opportunity for commoners to rise in status.

With good results, they could even step into the world of nobles.

Even just showing decent skills could get them into a noble’s private guard or the royal army, opening the door to success.

So, naturally, wrestlers, martial artists, hunters, and even bandits, rogues, and traveling merchants all flocked here.

‘No wonder the streets have been quiet lately. The bandits must have been busy preparing for the exam.’

But who did they end up facing in the exam grounds?

“Didn’t you say you caught a tiger last time?”

“Yeah, it died after three arrows hit it.”

“Pah, I missed out because the Blackwater Malgal raided us and I was busy cutting throats!”

…Murder machines from the Domestic Fortress, who had seen and survived every kind of battle.

This year’s recruitment exam had suddenly turned into an inferno, like a scorching trial of fire.

Soyong let out a long sigh beside me.

“I scraped together everything I had just to come here, but what now? Do you think I can pass?”

“Suit yourself.”

“There are some parts where people work in teams… perhaps you don’t need a follower?”

Wow, look at this guy.

He was someone who would never go hungry wherever he went.

Buuuu-!

Dududududung-!

At the sound of the massive horn and drums, we knelt down.

For before us stood Grand King Go Yangseong.

Of course, he hadn’t come alone.

Beside him was a large man who looked about five years younger than me.

Judging from his attire, he must have been Crown Prince Go Daewon, the man who would later become King Yeongyang.

And to his right, lined up, were the nobles of the Pyeongyang Faction, led by Wang Godeok, the Grand Elder in his later years.

Tch, even saying “Grand Elder in his later years” gave me chills.

‘Was Yeon Jayu further back?’

That was only natural.

In terms of influence, Yeon Jayu was on equal footing with Wang Godeok, but in formal rank, he was only fifth, holding the post of Middle Elder of the Jungri Bureau.

Thus, among the Pyeongyang Faction standing on the right, the front rows were mostly occupied by the old, while the further back one looked, the younger they became.

‘Because offices were proportional to age.’

Of course, as befitted noble society, the Pyeongyang Faction also frequently passed offices from father to son.

But it wasn’t done carelessly.

Even Yeon Namsaeng, the son of Grand Prime Minister Yeon Gaesomun, had started as a low-ranking Attendant Official of the 14th rank, before steadily climbing through Junior Elder, Elder, Head of Nobility Council, and Prime Minister, until he finally became Grand Prime Minister.

Of course, he rose at a staggering pace—becoming Attendant Official at nine, Middle Junior Elder at fifteen, Middle Elder at eighteen, Middle Head of Nobility Council and General at twenty-three, Grand General of the Three Armies and Prime Minister at twenty-eight.

He was essentially Chief of Staff before even turning thirty.

Thinking about it made me feel bitter.

It would have been better if I had been born as Yeon Namsaeng.

At least then, so long as I remembered to lock the doors, people would have said I did better than history.

‘Enough, no use in idle thoughts.’

I turned my eyes left, toward the Domestic Fortress Faction.

They were different from the Pyeongyang Faction in many ways.

First, there were fewer old men.

The elderly usually returned to their hereditary village allotments to live in comfort, rather than remaining in Pyeongyang to suffer needlessly.

It was the difference between central nobles and local nobles.

And unlike the Pyeongyang Faction, their order of standing wasn’t based strictly on age but rather on the influence of their family clans.

Still, no matter the case, it was unusual for the very front row to be occupied by someone who looked not even thirty.

It wasn’t hard to guess his identity.

‘That must be Go San of the Northern Division, who was originally supposed to marry Boknyeo.’

In the past, Domestic Fortress nobles rarely sent their eldest sons to the capital, and even if they did, once the heir became the clan head, he usually returned to the family estate.

But Go San was unusual.

Even though he had inherited the Northern Division leadership, he abandoned his homeland to serve in the central government.

He was clearly a responsible man.

‘His office is Chief Envoy of the Ministry of Carriages.’

The Chief Envoy was a sixth-rank position that assisted the Head of Nobility Council, equivalent to a vice-minister in the 21st century.

One more step up, and he would become Head of Nobility Council, gaining admission to the Jeja Council.

That alone was impressive, but the Ministry of Carriages oversaw all of Goguryeo’s horses, carts, and transport.

In a military state like Goguryeo, it was considered one of the most important ministries, alongside the Jungri Bureau, which handled intelligence, and the Ministry of Works, which oversaw weapons and construction.

In terms of both department and rank, his rise was almost as meteoric as the sons of Yeon Gaesomun.

Normally, Pyeongyang nobles should have opposed such rapid promotion fiercely, but they remained quiet.

‘Probably… because of me.’

In the matter of my marriage with Boknyeo—in other words, Princess Pyeonggang—the name of the Lelang Wang clan was omitted.

Instead, just like in the original Ondal Yeoljeon, Go San’s name was inserted, and it was said, “The princess ran away rather than marry the Upper Go clan.”

This meant Go San had become the most famous rejected man in Goguryeo.

To soothe that humiliation, they had no choice but to grant him rapid promotions.

Even Wang Godeok had no option but to agree.

If he opposed, the story might be corrected to say that it was the Lelang Wang clan, not the Upper Go clan, who had been rejected.

Since Go San’s roots were in the Domestic Fortress, public opinion in Pyeongyang didn’t matter much to him.

But for Wang Godeok, who was born of the Lelang Wang clan and a native of Pyeongyang, losing the people’s support would be his downfall.

It was, quite literally, an offer he could not refuse.

‘That Go San… will be my rival.’

Yeon Jayu had only asked me to form a pro-Pyeongyang faction within the Domestic Fortress Faction, but I had no intention of stopping there.

Of course, in my current position, a mere candidate who hadn’t even passed the exam calling a vice-minister his rival was laughable… but honestly, was I just a mere candidate?

After all, I was the prince consort.

A prince consort with no background, the perfect type to raise into a loyalist.

‘Right now, Go Yangseong seems set on making Go San the center of the Domestic Fortress Faction rather than me….’

But that was inevitable, since my marriage with Boknyeo had been half an accident.

For them to suddenly say, “We don’t need you anymore,” after already arranging things with Go San would be like inviting a Domestic Fortress rebellion—season 3—sixty years earlier than the Yeon Gaesomun Rebellion, following the Rebellion of Chugun and Segun and the Ganjuli Rebellion.

‘Besides, they can’t be sure yet whether I’ll be able to seize control of the Domestic Fortress Faction.’

To put it metaphorically, Go San was like a car that seemed unstable but might reach the destination, while I was like a car that was safe but whose ability to reach the destination was still in doubt.

But if today, starting with this recruitment exam, I proved my capabilities, Go Yangseong might very well switch to the “safer car,” me.

Once a certain level of performance was guaranteed, safety became the most important value of all.

‘And besides, a safer car isn’t necessarily slower.’

I was, after all, a man from the future.

The paths Goguryeo could take were already in my head.

And to make use of that future knowledge, today was more important than anything.