Chapter 148: The Japanese Commander Will Only Be Half Saved [2]
He said they were going to open his head.
The meaning carried within that statement was one thing, but the phrasing itself was far too rude, especially for someone of such high standing as a daimyō like Kuki Yoshitaka.
"What did he say?"
Because of that, Sayaga, who had ended up serving as interpreter, could hardly put his dilemma into words. If he translated it exactly, it was obvious they would get angry. But if he said nothing, what was about to happen next was even more frightening.
Is he really going to open his head...?
No matter how fluent Sayaga was in Joseon speech, it was not his native tongue. So interpreting a word like kkanda, which carried all sorts of meanings, was extremely difficult. Judging only from what Kanghyeok was doing with his hands, it did not look like he meant to step on his head, but there was no way to know what exactly he would do.
"Th-that... I do not understand."
In the end, Sayaga decided to answer honestly. The Moritaka he knew might get angry even at strangers, but if he thought someone was lying to him, he would cut them down. In other words, his temper was filthy, and when a powerful man had a filthy temper, one had no choice but to endure it.
"You don't know? Ah... he's shaving your father's head right now."
"Oh. That does seem to be it."
"'Oh, that does seem to be it'? There are so many daimyō yet to meet from now on...!"
Moritaka exploded at Sayaga's overly calm tone.
Japanese people of the time, especially wokou with swords at their waists, were generally like this. Not everyone possessed the refinement and learning of Sayaga. Japan, after long years of war, was an era where the sword was far closer and more fearsome than the brush.
Of course, Sayaga too was a man who had seen war. There was no reason for him to cower before someone merely yelling without even drawing a sword.
"Perhaps what he said earlier meant shaving the head. If that is the treatment method... would it not be better to wait and see?"
"A treatment method...?"
"Yes. He said that physician is among the very best in Joseon. So he must have some extraordinary qualities."
"Hmm."
Moritaka tilted his head. All his life, he had only ever injured others, never healed them. So when it came to treatment methods, he was a complete outsider.
"Is that so?"
"It must be. He has healed princes and high officials alike, so you may trust him."
"Mm... understood."
Moritaka still looked displeased, but for now he nodded.
Watching the two of them, Kanghyeok shook his head.
Conversations between fools who know absolutely nothing are always amusing. How could shaving the head possibly be treatment... I'm really going to open his head now. They'll faint.
Kanghyeok toyed with the scalpel and looked around. Now that he was actually about to cut, he hesitated a little. That one-eyed bastard in particular looked like the sort who would charge in without thinking.
"Mm. Sayaga."
"Yes, yes."
"What I am about to do will be difficult if there are too many people around, so have them step back."
"The people...?"
"Yes. Otherwise, I cannot save him."
"Hah. Understood."
If Kuki Yoshitaka died here, not only Sayaga but also the domain lord So Yoshitoshi would be in trouble. After all, Yoshitoshi was only the lord of a small island called Tsushima, while Yoshitaka was foremost among Hideyoshi's retainers.
"What? You want me to send the men out?"
"Yes. He says they will interfere with the treatment..."
"Is it a difficult treatment?"
Even as he asked, Moritaka felt a twinge of guilt, because the scene of his father collapsing earlier came back to him.
His eyes rolled back all of a sudden... then his arms and legs had started convulsing.
His life had not been especially long, but even so, it was the first time he had ever seen anything like that. He had immediately gone looking for a physician, but in his head he had already started imagining what would come after his father's death.
That would be a problem for me right now.
Yoshitaka's fame shook the realm, but Moritaka did not yet have that status. Even the warriors gathered here now would not swear wholehearted loyalty to Moritaka. To win their hearts, he would have to distinguish himself in the next war somehow. And for that, his father had to remain alive.
The Kanpaku did promise him the post of Supreme Commander of the Navy. If he were the son of the supreme commander, would it not be easier to earn merit? He might even become the daimyō of Joseon lands, something he had always coveted. If things went well, they might even advance into Ming.
Once his thoughts reached that point, he became determined to cooperate with this physician no matter what.
"Alright. I alone stay here. Everyone else, out."
"What? But—"
"It is the way to save my father, so do it."
"Ah... understood."
Sure enough, the retainers' loyalty toward Yoshitaka was tremendous. There was no need to explain further. He only had to mention that it was for Yoshitaka's life.
Listening to their exchange, Kanghyeok steeled himself once more.
You bastards. Just wait till you get a taste of Master Dongpa's fine prescription.
He intended to ruin them all by soaking them in steroids. But before he could proceed that way, there was something he had to do first.
I need to save this man first if I want them to listen.
If Yoshitaka died after his head had been opened, it would all be for nothing. In the worst case, he might have to take the now-lone Moritaka hostage and flee to where the domain lord was. What came after that would have to be dealt with then.
"Alright, then. Shall we cut?"
Only after everyone except Moritaka had left did Kanghyeok finally take up the scalpel.
"What did he just say?"
Moritaka asked what jjaenda meant, and Sayaga fell into uncertainty once more.
Does he mean to run? Or to cut?
Somehow both interpretations seemed persuasive. It explained why he had sent the people away. If he intended to run, fewer people was better. And if he intended to cut...
Moritaka certainly looked highly skilled. But one-on-one, Sayaga himself would probably not be able to match him. As for Yeoni and Makbong, who were both at least twice the swordsmen Sayaga was, there was no need even to mention them.
"Mm."
"Mm? What does that mean...? Ah, ah?"
There was no need to hear the meaning of jjaenda through Sayaga's mouth. Kanghyeok was about to show it himself anyway.
Why does this idiot keep asking? Surely he does not think shaving the head is how one treats an unconscious man.
Ignoring Moritaka's cry, Kanghyeok began cutting.
His skill was as fluid as it could be, so much so that for a moment Moritaka even forgot he had intended to stop him. Even to eyes that had spent a lifetime cutting flesh, it was masterful beyond words. No, he was a supreme master unlike any Moritaka had ever seen.
"Uh..."
Moritaka could not even think of stopping him and could only gape. Taking advantage of that moment, Kanghyeok made a long incision in Yoshitaka's scalp. Bright red blood dripped down.
Tap, tap.
Yeoni wiped the blood away with practiced hands, then added sutures here and there. These were not sutures to close the incision, but sutures to clamp off the blood vessels along the cut edge.
"Oh. I didn't even tell you to, but you're doing well."
"It's all thanks to what you taught me, young master."
"Right. Your teacher is rather outstanding."
"Yes, well."
The sight of the two of them looking so peaceful while cutting into a man's head left Moritaka completely speechless. Even Sayaga could not bring himself to think about interpreting anymore.
In the meantime, Kanghyeok picked up a hammer and chisel.
"Now then, shall we open it?"
Only then did Sayaga fully understand what Kanghyeok had meant by opening the head. By then, it was already far too late. Without giving anyone a chance to stop him, Kanghyeok struck the exposed white skull with the chisel.
Clang, clang.
Crack, crack.
The sound of the hammer striking the chisel and the bone being carved away echoed through the room.
"H-he... is he insane?"
Only then did Moritaka come fully to his senses and immediately rush toward Kanghyeok. But Sayaga quickly blocked him.
"Let me go!"
"You must not. That too is probably part of the treatment."
Sayaga recalled the incident aboard ship on the way to Tsushima. The man who had been hit in the abdomen by the rope survived. And that was a man who had been coughing up bloody foam. In all Sayaga's long experience at sea, such a thing should have been impossible. No matter how strong or remarkable a man was, once it reached that state, he would not last a day. But Kanghyeok's medical skill, close to divine wonder, had saved even such a person, though he had cut open the belly and sent blood flying.
"Shut up, let me go!"
But Moritaka had never yet seen the full extent of Kanghyeok's abilities. So he thrashed about furiously, and it was terribly irritating.
Hammering is harder than cutting with a blade. Normally I'd just split it comfortably with a drill, and here I am doing it with a hammer... and the bastard doesn't even know enough to be grateful.
An ungrateful bastard needed to be taught a lesson.
Kanghyeok glanced at Makbong, who was standing around resting. This was not the sort of fellow who should be taking a break.
"Hey. Does he still have spontaneous breathing?"
"What? Yes. For now."
"Then quiet that one down."
"That one...? Y-you mean him?"
Makbong pointed at Moritaka with eyes that plainly said he could not believe this. Kanghyeok might have felt nothing much, but to Makbong, Moritaka and the warriors under him had looked overwhelmingly formidable.
"Yeah. Chop him in the back of the neck. You're good at that."
"I mean, I am good at it... but even so, doing that to him here..."
"Just hit him first. If this man survives, then everything is okay."
"Uh... yes, well. Understood for now."
Still tilting his head, Makbong got to his feet. Then he slowly walked toward Moritaka.
Moritaka's mouth was already clamped shut by Sayaga.
"Mmph, mmph!"
"Really now, how nice it would've been if you'd just stayed quiet. Then you wouldn't even have to get hit."
With a look that said this is all your fault, Makbong looked down at the edge of his hand. Calling it an "edge" was generous. It was far too thick. His forearm was sturdy. More than anything, his martial skill was considerable.
Whoosh.
The sound of air being torn was followed by a dull impact.
Thud.
At the same time, Moritaka collapsed across Sayaga's arm.
"This... if we do this..."
Sayaga could not finish the sentence and looked at Kanghyeok.
Without even glancing that way, Kanghyeok replied, "It's fine. If this man lives, he'll keep quiet."
"That may be true... but if someone comes in midway..."
"Lay him over there. Let's make him look like an unfilial son."
"Hah..."
"Figure it out yourselves. I'm busy."
As if it were of no importance at all, Kanghyeok resumed hammering. Sayaga looked at him resentfully, but in the end did as he was told. Together with Makbong, he laid the unconscious Moritaka carefully on the floor. Seen this way, the man really did look like a worthless son. Right beside him his father was in the middle of surgery, yet the son was sprawled out fast asleep.
"There. Gauze and the metal suction tube."
Of course, Kanghyeok could not have cared less. Once he held the scalpel, both his strength and his weakness were the same: he thought only of the patient and the surgery before him.
By now he had already removed a circular piece of bone. Inside, a mass of bright red blood had pooled.
"The tube, quickly!"
At his urging, Yeoni handed him the metal tube. Normally, the correct method was to remove blood inside the skull with suction. But there was no way Joseon had such an object. So as a desperate measure, they had fashioned this tube instead.
"Here it is."
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