Park Roejang took out a roll of sheepskin from his pocket and used his fingernail to untie the knot of the damp hemp rope.
The nautical chart had been coated with tung oil, but the edges were still wet. Fortunately, the markings for the waterways and reefs were still legible.
The two men each held down one corner, spreading the drawing out on the fallen reeds.
Twelve beacon towers are lined up along the coast, and berths are marked next to three water fortresses.
"The water gates have been sealed off, and even the merchants who transported goods for us are being investigated."
As he said this, he glanced towards the shore.
" Gu Mochen isn't dead. He'll tell everyone what we did sooner or later. If the Central Secretariat Department mobilizes all the coastal garrisons to patrol the sea, how many more days can this shipping route hold out?"
Inukami Jusaburo pulled half a barley cake from his leather bag.
The pancake was too cold to bite, so he broke off a piece and put it in his mouth. After chewing for a while, he finally turned his gaze to the Jia River Estuary.
The area is rocky and the waterways are narrow, so large ships dare not proceed at night.
"Therefore, we cannot stay on shore."
Inukami Jusaburo swallowed the crumbs of biscuit, the coarse crumbs scraping his throat and causing pain.
It points to a small island outside the Jia River Estuary.
"Change ships here and head back to Tsukushi."
Park Roejang frowned.
"Where are the goods in the warehouse? How much money did we spend to get in touch with those people who wanted to buy medicine?"
"They've almost found everyone, and you're still thinking about those boxes of medicine?"
Inukami Jusaburo looked up at him, a few crumbs of dry biscuit still stuck to his lips, which he hadn't wiped away.
"If Great Yan dares to deploy its navy, then we'll actually have something to do."
"What's up?"
"Send fast ships back to inform the daimyo and guardians of the islands that the Great Yan is about to Haidong."
"At that point, the fishing grounds will be lost, and so will the gold and silver. Let's see if they'll still be willing to hoard their grain and provisions."
The sea breeze lifted the corner of the painting, Inukami Jusaburo pressed down with a palm.
"They can fight for years over a few plots of land. But when the big ships from outside arrive, they have to protect their own property first."
Park Roejang did not respond.
Inukami Jusaburo transferred the remaining dough to his left hand, and with his free finger, he drew a line along the coastline.
"The shipping route is also in our hands. If they want to probe the true strength of Great Yan, they'll have to come and ask."
You want to use this to recruit people?
"What the island lacks is never samurai who dare to kill."
Inukami Jusaburo chuckled.
"Giving those homeless wanderers a meal and a way out is far better than you and me scrambling in the mud and selling quack medicine."
Park Roejang stared at the picture of Tsukushi for a while before reaching out and rolling up the sheepskin.
"Let's get on the ship first."
The two men were running out of food and water, while the search on the shore was drawing ever closer.
Even the best plans have to get past this hurdle.
The tide crashes onto the rocky beach, dragging pebbles behind it as it recedes, making a rustling sound.
At the end of the waterway, half of a black sail finally came into view.
A small, covered Xiaochuan circled the reef, its Silla merchant flag at the bow mostly wet, with three black lines stuck to the flagpole.
Park Roejang pushed aside the reeds to see the oarsman's face before standing up.
The boatman used a long pole to slowly bring the boat to the edge of the mudflat, and then threw over a cable.
Inukami Jusaburo climbed onto the boat first.
His boots were so deep that he almost fell back into the mud when he tried to pull his feet out, and he only managed to steady himself by holding onto the gunwale.
Park Roejang then climbed onto the deck and stuffed the nautical chart into his pocket.
Offshore.
The boatman didn't immediately start rowing; instead, he glanced into the cabin.
Inukami Jusaburo stopped wiping his hands.
"What's wrong?"
The wooden planks in the hold were pushed aside, and a sailor climbed up, holding onto the hatch. He stepped barefoot onto the wet planks, his legs buckling, and he knelt down.
The man's lips were pale, and his old clothes were not yet completely dry.
Inukami Jusaburo recognized that face.
Why are the people who should be guarding the Tsukushi grain ship here?
The sailor dragged out a wet cloth bag and bent down to untie the rope.
The rope was tangled, and the more he tried to untangle it, the less he could. Finally, the boatman handed him a small knife.
The cloth bundle was opened, revealing a piece of charred wood about a foot long inside.
The broken surface was covered with torn splinters, but half of a merchant's brand remained on the side, with three copper nails next to it, one of which was clearly crooked.
Inukami Jusaburo squatted down and wiped the mud off the brand.
He had even scolded the shipwright for those three patch nails when he inspected the ship last year.
The half-eaten piece of bread in his hand fell onto the deck.
"Who gave you permission to dismantle our ship?"
The sailor looked up at him, his lips moving slightly.
"It wasn't dismantled... The ship crashed into the shore and broke apart."
"Which shore did it crash into?"
"Harbor."
Inukami Jusaburo stopped his outstretched hand.
The sailor swallowed, his throat still dry and sore.
"Half a month ago, the landslide on the shore of Hizen caused a major earthquake, followed by two days of shaking.
The houses along the harbor collapsed, and people ran outside. Then the tide suddenly receded, revealing a large beach.
He took a few breaths, his fingers gripping the damp cloth tightly.
"Some people went down to collect the fish. Not long after, the wave came back, overflowed the breakwater, and pushed the boat ashore."
Inukami Jusaburo gripped his shoulders.
Where is the granary?
The sailor remained silent.
He increased the pressure on his hand.
"Our Inukami's granary is behind the rocky slope!"
"That's all."
The sailor was squeezed so tightly that he shrank back, but didn't dare to break free.
"The water has receded, and the walls have collapsed. The younger ones went back to look, and all the grain sacks were soaked in the mud. The survivors were fighting with knives."
The long pole outside the cabin bumped against the gunwale.
Inukami Jusaburo released his grip and looked down at the charred piece of wood.
The boatyard is still there.
"On the banks of Hizen and Chikuzen, all seven shipyards that repaired our ships reported the disaster. I personally witnessed two of them being washed away, and the rest were mentioned by those who escaped; I couldn't go and check on them."
"The mooring point to the south?"
"Have no idea."
"Isn't there anywhere to stay?"
The sailor lowered his head.
"The piers and granaries in the ports we're familiar with are all destroyed, and the navigation markers are nowhere to be found. Some of the surviving large ships are stranded on the shore, while others have blocked the waterways, so no one dares to venture in rashly."
Inukami Jusaburo wanted to ask more, but before he could, he inhaled a breath of cold air.
The boatman lowered the cabin curtain to block the wind from getting in, but the corner of the curtain was still trembling.
Park Roejang hadn't spoken until now, when he finally looked at the sailor.
How did you get here?
"The younger one was originally watching over the shuttle boat at sea and escaped the first wave. Later, he went ashore to look for someone, but couldn't find them, so he went back to the boat."
The sailor wiped his face.
"We didn't have enough food and water, and after drifting for several days, we were saved when we encountered a merchant ship belonging to the Park Family."
Inukami Jusaburo propped himself up on his knees and stood up.
The Xiaochuan rocked, and his shoulder bumped against the cabin wall, making a creaking sound from the wooden planks.
He could point out all the supply ports on the nautical chart with his eyes closed.
Where to exchange fresh water, where to load rice, and which shipyard could repair sails overnight—these had been calculated countless times.
Right now, they can't even find a suitable berth to provide assistance.
Inukami Jusaburo touched the hilt of the sword, pressed his thumb against the guard, and then slowly released it.
The piece of charred wood was still lying at his feet.
Park Roejang glanced at him, then withdrew his hand from his narrow sleeve, pressing his fingertips against the mechanism.
The metal parts clicked together softly, the sound drowned out by the tide outside the cabin.
There might be other good ports besides Tsukushi.
We can find another port, or another person willing to sell grain, but that will take time.
Their remaining rations might not even last them this long sea voyage.
Park Roejang took half a step forward.
"Brother Inu, don't think about going back to Tsukushi yet."
"Those ports are in such a state, what will you eat if you take your men back? What will you use to repair the ships?"
Park Roejang tightened the soaked nautical chart, his tone softening slightly.
"You should come back to Goryeo with me first; it's better than being stuck here waiting for the soldiers to search."