Translated by June Lee
Yi
Sun-sin
“Captain, the enemy is approaching.”
Our team’s lookout shouted down to me from the top of a tree.
“Okay everyone, this is it. Get
ready!” Crouching even lower down in the brush, my troop and I waited with baited
breath, straining our ears to hear the battle cry…
“Attack!” the enemy appeared at the
top of the hill, dashing madly towards us with their wooden swords waving in
the air.
Winking at my comrades, I thrust my
own wooden sword straight above my head, “Now is the moment! Counterattack!”
“Ahhhh!” the two lines of soldiers
raced towards each other, coming closer and closer to the moment of impact.
Concentrating fiercely, I raised my sword to knock away the first victim, when,
“Boys! Stop this nonsense! Who gave
you permission to ravage this path!” a tall scholar stepped between our troops
and glowered down at us.
Rather disappointed at the turn of
events, I stepped forward to address the nobleman. “But, we were only playing
war!”
“Playing war?! I was planning on
enjoying the warm day at this spot, so you boys run along and play somewhere
else.”
“Why don’t you find a more vacant bench to
rest at, sir?” One of the boys behind me piped up, and everybody in our group
became deathly still.
“Young boys are not supposed to
address their betters or elders in that manner.” Incredulous and furious, he
reached up for a low-hanging branch, as if to whip us for our insolence. My
playmates began to slowly back away, not daring to look the man in the eye.
Squeezing my lips together to keep from
shuddering, I boldly took another step towards the gentleman, and tried to
explain. “With all due respect sir, this place is a battleground. Although this
may seem like only child’s play, for us who will serve our country by joining
the army someday, this is very serious. We are training for our country.”
Without another word, the scholar immediately stood up from his bench, and with
a slight nod of approval at my words, turned to clear the area for us. As he
walked past, I could have sworn there was the hint of a smile tugging at the
edge of his lips. A warm feeling of pride filled my heart as I turned back to
my companions. “Okay, let’s do that attack one more time!”
In the end, my team emerged the
victors of our mock battle, and we gathered together by the stream to cool off
from the day’s excitement. The captain of the opposing side sat beside me as we
splashed our feet in the water. Suddenly, turning to me, he said, “You know
what, Sunshin? You’re going to be an incredible general. How many times have
you knocked us into the dirt with your strategies?” Face turning red, I grinned
at him, and was about to clasp his back in thanks, when he uttered a new
challenge. “I think it’s time we try a new battle game.”
‘I like this guy’s way of thinking…’
Unhesitatingly, I replied, “Great, what were you thinking of?”
With an almost sinister smirk
spreading across his face, he shouted, “To the archery range!”
