The Story of Hong Gildong (12 page)

The mourning son looked around and saw that the terrain was rough and full of sharply protruding peaks.

He criticized Gildong for choosing such an inappropriate site. “How could you be so ignorant as to think that this would make a good location for our parents' grave?”

Gildong pretended to be disappointed and replied, “Brother, I am saddened that you do not see this place for what it is. Allow me to display my power to you.”

He picked up an iron hammer and shattered the rocks around them until the land became pristine and luminous. He then dug a hole of several
cheok
in the ground, which raised a red mist that reflected the starlight of the constellations of the dipper and the ox. A pair of white cranes appeared and flew away.

The mourning son took Gildong's hand and spoke to him. “How impressive you are, my wise brother. What better place can there be than this?”

Gildong feigned concern. “There is no better land than this in Joseon, but I know of another site that is ten times greater. The only problem is that it is very far away. What do you think, older brother?”

The mourning son replied, “I would follow you without hesitation even if the place you speak of is a thousand
ri
away.”

Gildong spoke to him. “Indeed, hundreds of
ri
away, there is a site that is so auspicious that our family will produce kings, lords, generals, and ministers from generation to generation. So I bid you to take charge of our father's body and follow me to the place.”

The next day, as they were about to depart with the deceased's body, Gildong went to the minister's wife and spoke to her. “It has been almost ten years since this lowborn son left his mother. I am loath to strain our relationship further by parting from her again. So I bid you to allow me to take her with me so that we can prepare the feast for Father's monumental tablet
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and go through the funeral rites together. I believe that is the right thing to do.”

The minister's wife gave him permission, and he took leave of her the same day. Gildong, his mother, and the mourning son left the house, escorting the deceased's body to Seogang, where Gildong's generals were waiting with a ship. They dismissed the household servants and guards who had come with them before they went aboard. The ship then headed out to the endless sea with its mast to the wind and went forth like a tempest toward a faraway destination.

Many days later, they came across tens of ships that had sailed out to meet Gildong, to greet him upon his safe return from his journey and to bring him food to eat. They escorted the ship with the deceased's body to an island, where countless soldiers took up the coffin and carried it forth. Gildong cast aside his monk's garb and put on funeral clothes before he led everyone up a mountain, to a place that was the most radiant of lands. The gravesite that was built there was as magnificent as a royal tomb, inspiring the amazed mourning son to praise all of its fine qualities. Gildong
commanded his soldiers to finish preparing the site as he and his family went through the funeral rites until it was finally time to lower the coffin into the ground. The mourning son and Gildong wailed together as they offered up sacrifices. The majesty of the ceremony was without equal.

After the rituals were completed, Gildong led his mother and older brother down to his house, where Lady Bek and the concubines Jeong and Jo awaited them in a row at the courtyard. They greeted their mother-in-law and brother-in-law and offered them decorous condolences, commending them for the great care with which they had escorted the deceased's body to its final resting place. They then served them food and drinks. Chunseom knew not how to feel as she experienced both joy and sadness in the company of three such fair daughters-in-law. Then distinguished visitors arrived at the gate to offer their condolences, so that the grandness of the occasion knew no bounds.

After some time, the mourning son thought he should return to his own country, so he spoke to Gildong. “Since I have buried my father here I do not wish to leave, but it pains me to stay when I know that the great wife
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is waiting for me with an anxious heart.”

As Gildong made arrangements for his brother's departure, the mourning son spoke again. “The mountains here are grand and the waters vast, but I feel such sadness from not knowing when we will see each other again.” And his tears fell like rain.

Gildong consoled him. “Older brother, do not grieve so. Our father is buried in a radiant place so our family will produce kings, lords, ministers, and generals from one generation to the next, and no harm will come to you from the false charges of others. So I bid you to return safely to the great wife and console her well. I also wish you a long and healthy life. I will make certain that proper rites are performed at our father's grave with the utmost care, as I look forward to the day when mother, son, and brothers will meet again.”

The mourning son still felt a great sorrow from having to
leave. He bade farewell to everyone before he and Gildong took the ceremonial litter
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carrying the monumental tablet of the deceased and returned to the gravesite. There, they wailed together in mourning once more before they went back down and loaded the litter onto a small ship.

The mourning son let out a sigh. “Our brotherhood, which is like the procession of wild geese,
118
is sundered north and south, so how sad I am.”

As they bade farewell to each other by the ship, Gildong spoke. “Older brother, I wish you a comfortable journey through the many
ri
of your way home, and many years of health as you take care of the great wife. Please await my invitation to return here.”

The mourning son replied, “Please find a way for me to visit our father's grave again.”

They wept as they said their final farewells, the tears that filled their eyes flowing ceaselessly. A great deal of gold, silver, and silk was put on board before the ship was sent on its way.

After many days, the ship arrived at the mourning son's home country, where he went to the great wife and told her everything that had happened. He then wrote a letter to Gildong and gave it to the sailors before sending them on their way. The minister's wife praised all that she heard.

 • • • 

And so, on Jae Island, Gildong made certain that proper rites were performed at his father's gravesite, while Lady Bek and the concubines waited on their mother-in-law with great care. The land was at peace with no sign of trouble anywhere.

As time flowed on, Gildong slept on a straw mat and an earthen pillow until he completed the three-year mourning period. Upon his return to the world, he put on clothing of auspicious design and oversaw the improvement of agriculture and martial discipline in his realm. Eventually, the island's military strength became as mighty as a mountain, its weapons were stocked in abundance, and the people were ready to be mobilized.

There was an island country near Jae, and its name was Yul. Its land stretched out for tens of thousands of
ri
, and its provinces were managed by no less than twelve governors. It did not pay fealty to a greater country
119
and its rulers governed with benevolence from one generation to another, so the place was wealthy and its people lived in peace.

And so Gildong conceived a grand plan and worked to perfect it every day. The well-organized army under his command amounted to a hundred thousand cavalrymen and a hundred thousand foot soldiers.

One day, he summoned his generals and addressed them. “If we decide to overrun the world, there is no force that can stop us. We can remain on this small island of Jae, but then we may miss out on a great destiny Heaven has in store for us. I have heard that the country of Yul Island is wealthy and its strength is that of a powerful state. What do you warriors think?”

A general replied in agreement. “What you speak of has been the wish of my lifetime. How can a true man find contentment in growing old while leading a leisurely and mediocre life? I bid you to take command of our troops immediately and lead us to victory.”

When Gildong saw that all were united in this purpose, he immediately set about raising his army. His placed his vice-general Mu Tong in charge of the advance guard, and organized the main body of his men into a formation composed of cavalry at the front and infantry in the rear. Gildong himself commanded the force in the center. On an auspicious day, he mobilized a powerful army of a hundred thousand. In the Year of the Blue Rat,
120
in the middle of the ninth lunar month, when the weather was warm and chrysanthemums were in full bloom, swords and spears were raised densely, and flags flew in a solemn manner. All of it resembled the military might of Ju Abu
121
of the state of Chu. Gildong led the army to a riverside, where men and supplies were loaded onto ships. They then put their masts to the wind and journeyed across the water.
When they arrived at their destination, they went forth with immense strength, the grand army sweeping across the land like an immense flood that no force could match.

The country of Yul Island had never experienced such a calamity before, so they could not resist the attack. Within months, Gildong accepted the surrender of about seventy castles, and he sent a letter to the King of Yul. The king's commander of gatekeepers brought the missive to the monarch, who opened it and read the following.

Hong Gildong, the leader of Hwalbindang from the Kingdom of Joseon, writes to the King of Yul.

It is a general truth that no one man holds an absolute right to rule over a country. As such, Seong Tang brought down Geol, and King Mu brought down Ju.
122
From ancient times, the subjugation of one's enemy has been regarded as a legitimate task for one to engage in, so I raised a righteous army and crossed the waters to find that none can rival our strength. With one beat of our drum, about seventy castles have surrendered in the face of our magnificence. So I bid the King of Yul to take stock of his own skills and come quickly to meet us in battle to decide our final victory or defeat. If you are afraid to do so, then open up your gates promptly and surrender. Willingly abdicate your throne, and I will not only spare your life but also see to it that generations of your ancestors are honored and that your progeny enjoy much wealth and respect. If you decide to go against the will of Heaven and resist my command, you will be defeated in battle and your country will fall with the burning of jade and rock alike.
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You should consider this matter carefully.

The king could hardly contain his rage as he summoned his civil and military officials to consult with them. “An insignificant criminal has dared to act with such impudence. Who among you will swiftly capture this bandit and relieve the country of its worry?”

His officials replied, “If the great king should act out of momentary anger and risk everything by sending his troops out to fight, how embarrassing it would be to posterity if they were defeated. We should firmly close up the castle and not venture outside. Perhaps they will eventually leave on their own accord.”

The king spoke out in anger. “The enemy army will soon reach this castle. How can we not fight back and just wait for them to depart?” So the king mobilized his soldiers and led them personally to the field.

A soldier came to him with urgent news. “The enemy army has already taken many castles, and it is heading here on three different roads.”

The alarmed king hurriedly gathered his force and marched them to a place called Yanggwan, where he found the enemy already dug in at its sandy ground. The monarch set up his camp in the direction facing enemy headquarters and observed the formation of his opponent's force.

He laughed out loud and spoke. “How could I worry myself over such a mob?”

The next day, the king opened up the camp gates and went forth to provoke battle. Gildong put on dragon-scale armor and a golden helmet, took up his lance, and mounted a white horse with a bluish mane. He whipped the horse forward past his soldiers and loudly reprimanded the King of Yul. “Does the King of Yul not know of Hong Gildong of the Kingdom of Joseon? I received the command of Heaven and came here on a righteous cause. Yet you refuse to submit to fate and persist in resisting me. Stretch out your neck so that it may receive the blows of my sword.”

The King of Yul was infuriated by those words, so he charged and gave battle to his opponent. The two armies fought forty rounds with no decisive result, until Mu Tong arrived with the soldiers under his command and joined the fight by enveloping the enemy. The noise of gongs and drums shook heaven and
earth. The King of Yul took fright and turned his horse around to ride back to camp.

Suddenly, a violent wind arose and a dark mist filled the air in all directions so that the king could not find his way.

“King of Yul, do not run but surrender to me immediately,” a voice said with force like thunder.

The King of Yul lamented to Heaven, “I meet my doom from underestimating my enemy, so I have no one to blame but myself.”

He took up his sword and committed suicide. The entire country of Yul Island capitulated at once to Gildong, who led his men to the camp of his fallen enemy. He took the dead bodies of the King of Yul and his son
124
and gave them a royal funeral. The next day, Gildong gathered his three armies and entered the central castle of Yul Island, where he pacified the people and organized a congratulatory feast for his soldiers. He then granted various positions and titles to his generals, including Mu Tong, who was made a royal inspector tasked with touring the island to manage its populace.

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month of the year, Gildong made himself the king of the island and named his country Annam.
125
He appointed various people to government positions and invested the posthumous title of King Hyeondeok
126
upon his father and Queen Hyeondeok
127
upon the great wife. Gildong's own mother became the dowager queen, and his concubines Jeong and Jo were respectively entitled consort
chungryeol
of the left and consort
chungryeol
of the right,
128
while his father-in-law, Bek Yong, was made a grand lord of the court.
129
The gravesite of his father was named the Royal Tomb of Seol, where proper sacrifices were made and men were put on permanent guard. He then granted general amnesty to everyone on the island and had the royal palace thoroughly cleaned and washed. He finally sent envoys to Jae Island, to bring his family to him in a grand procession of the highest majesty. The dowager queen, the queen, and the two consorts all consoled him for
the hardship he had gone through, and they greatly enjoyed one another's company.