October 927 King Kyon of Later Baekjae had taken down the weak Silla empire, and now he threatened Wang’s Goryeo. Determined to stop Kyon’s advance and to possibly unite the peninsula under Goryeo, Wang and his cavalrymen rode warily into the Silla mountain range. Dark, billowing smoke drifted from the burning forts and loomed ominously above the forces. As the men continued forward, the air thickened with heat, and the lush greens took on charred edges. Until at last, at the

July 24, 918 The four generals and Commander Wang gathered gloomily under candlelight. “King Kung Ye must be overthrown,” General Sin spoke. “The man not only claims he is the Buddha, but he has slaughtered his family as well. We four have decided that you, Commander, shall be our new King. We have already gathered our forces.” The other generals nodded. Wang raised his eyes and struck a cold gaze into each of the generals, lingering on Sin, who stared back with a blazing in

As the group approached a short hill, Shin saw a small figure in the distance approaching rapidly. He wiped away the sweat that hung on his brow and narrowed his eyes. He gave the signal to stop. Dismounting, Shin reached for his scabbard and tightened his— “Stop!” The figure yelled out. “I am Commander Yi.” Shin loosened his grip for a moment before tightening his grip again, tighter than before. This was the commander he was to meet at Choryeong Pass. Why was he here? “

Vice Minister of War Shin Rip headed the cavalry down the rugged, hilly path, clad in dark, heavy armor that twinkled with each plodding clop of his horse. The Japanese had already broken through Busan, but the critical Choryeong Pass had not yet fallen. His ragtag group of disheveled soldiers and countrymen was the last hope for the Joseon capital. Sweat clung to every brow as the monsoon season had blanketed the land in humidity. The men’s eyes lifted as they climbed over a

I wanted to repay them. It had been several years. I found a suitable job and got married. I remembered my great-grandmother and my own mother who had enabled this life for me. However, my great-grandmother passed too soon. I felt great sorrow in my inability to make it back sooner. For her well-being as well as my own, I tried my best to help my mother while she still clung to the world. My mother and father lived back in our countryside home. Walking up the hill, the sky

A long time ago… During the U.S. military regime in Korea, measles was running rampant. My neighborhood friends died off one by one. I often cried from the pain, and the neighborhood mothers cried with me, reminded of the young they couldn’t save. It seemed as though I was recovering, but then it suddenly worsened. My mother, determined to save me, carried me on her back and knelt in front of the village chairman, my great grandfather. She cried and cried and cried, pleadi

Everywhere Hak looked he saw remnants of his childhood: the smooth yellow dirt of the yard that was often laid with tables of crimson...

He had done this every day since her death. Her portrait stood at the head of the table, the warm smile shining over the multitude of traditional dishes he had prepared. He then lit the tried and true candles and bowed in commemoration with his son. But from his repeated ceremonies, the candle holder had become chipped and unbalanced. The candle toppled from its throne, and the fire spread rapidly, eager to escape its confines. It consumed the house; the historical pieces and

The afternoon Sun shone ahead, forcing Jo's eyes downward. As he walked forward, the sun’s heat imbuing into his hair, he stepped upon...