The sea wind blows over a thousand miles, from the bright red altar of the southern mountains, to the white desolate ice fields of the northern land. The cold, hoarse prayers of the old grandmother had long dissipated in the biting wind. Where the sea wind falls, it cos upon a newly frozen seaside stream, and lands on the Ocean-Blocking Sea Ship with five masts, where it hears another devout, hoarse plea.
"Oh mighty Water Tanbu God! I implore you, have rcy on your humble servant, and rid of the misfortune of the dead upon ... Savior of the suffering, White-Robed Guan Yin! I beg you, save from this journey of hardship... Ah! I, Kim Sun-su, kowtow to the deities!"
The icy sea wind freezes the earth, freezes the North Sea, and also freezes the repair of the worn Ocean Shielding Ship in the mouth of the small river. The shipwright, Kim Sun-su, wrapped in a blood-stained deerskin robe, knelt on the cold deck, and kowtowed repeatedly to two divine wooden plaques he had carved with his own hands, muttering to himself, sotis praying to the "Water Tanbu" Witch God of the Korean countryside for good fortune, and sotis to the compassionate Guan Yin Bodhisattva for a safe return.
In this era, the once flourishing Goryeo Buddhism had already retreated from the royal court under the suppression of the Li Dynasty. Monks of various sects fled into the mountain forests, barely maintaining their religious inheritance, and humbly drawing closer to the common villagers. anwhile, in the Korean countryside, various kinds of Witch God beliefs continued unabated, growing more prosperous as the hardships of the lower-class people increased.
As for Korean Confucianism, which currently occupied the court, only the upper two classes, the "Two Classes" and "middle class" lords, had the qualification to bow and worship! Neither "Scholar King" Confucius, "Literary Marquis" Choi Chiwon, nor "Grand Scholar Marquis" Seol Chong had anything to do with the common people or the "white-clothed commoners," let alone the "untouchables" who were not considered human.
"I beseech you! Water Tanbu God! Do not let the terrifying, man-eating barbarians catch up again!... I implore you! Guan Yin Bodhisattva! Let survive the winter, and return alive!... I do not want to die here, to be eaten by wicked spirits!"
Shipwright Kim Sun-su kowtowed continuously, crying a ss of snot and tears. Then, these tears and snot all froze on his wrinkled, blood-stained robe, turning into strips of ice.
On the northern side of the Kamchatka Peninsula in November, it was already colder than the Victory Mountain Manor at its coldest! Not to ntion Kim Sun-su’s forr hotown of Gyeongsang South Province, and the warm Sakai Port where he had long resided.
As a skilled master shipwright, his life after being kidnapped to Wa Country, although not luxurious, could at least be considered modestly prosperous. It wasn’t until two years ago, ordered by the temple to board the sea ship, drifting on the icy North Sea, that he truly understood what it ant to live in fear, to have sleepless nights, to sleep close to the ten Kings of the Afterlife!
"Alas! Water Tanbu God! ... Last year’s voyage to the Shandan tribes of the Eastern Sea and the various Ezo Tribes of Birch Tai was still alright... This year, coming to the north side of the North Sea, encountering the snowfield deer Ezo, they are truly man-eating barbarians, wicked demons! ... Not to ntion the great waves that can swallow sea ships, and the bitter cold that can freeze ears off... Ooh! Compassionate Bodhisattva, save !"
Recalling the recent sudden attack, and the fellow sailor taken by the snowfield deer Ezo, shipwright Kim Sun-su beca grief-stricken and cried even more sorrowfully. It was said that these northern deer Ezo could eat people alive! And if eaten, wouldn’t one fall into the animal path and never rise in the next life?...
Bodhisattva! The dangers and hardships of this extre north voyage this year have truly exceeded his worst nightmares!
This year in early April, just as the ice floes were lting, the Ocean Shielding Ship set sail northward from Victory Mountain Manor of the Kaozaki clan, carrying thirty crew mbers, ample food, and cargo. Half of them were the samurai, guides, and apprentice sailors of the Kaozaki clan, while the other half were the Monk Soldiers, shipwrights, and seasoned sailors of the great rchant Mori no Kiyoshi. Naturally, Kim Sun-su was also a mber of Mori no Kiyoshi’s party, and the most professional technician, a shipwright capable of repairing the Ocean Shielding Ship!
The Ocean Shielding Ship first sailed north along the Kutadai Peninsula, conducted so trade with the surrounding Ezo Tribes, but the yield was minimal. Then, in mid-May, the Ocean Shielding Ship reached the opposite side of the Kutadai Peninsula, and with a Shandan Tribe, completed the trade agreed upon last year, obtaining a genuine, breedable Jurchen Stallion!
Obtaining the white Jurchen Stallion, the ship magistrate and captain Murakami Kitamichi was overjoyed, open two jars of rice wine, and allowed the crew to celebrate! That night, he drank rice wine, his face flushed, and unusually addressed Watanabe Masumi as "Sir."
"Mr. Watanabe! With this sturdy white stallion, even if the upcoming northward voyage yields no outstanding fox or sable furs, I can at least give a ’mission accomplished’ report to the family head!"
"Oh! Hachiman Mahasattva bless! This white stallion is as tall as a person! ... Why not call it ’High White Cloud’ or ’Great White Deer Fur’?"
Monk Soldier Watanabe Masumi gazed intently at the person-tall Jurchen Stallion, greedily wishing to ride it. Unfortunately, Murakami Kitamichi just grinned and handed the Jurchen Stallion over to Sukeichiro, the group leader of horse attendants. Then, with a serious face, he told Watanabe Masumi earnestly.
"Mr. Watanabe, the Buddha is my witness! A samurai’s promise, we agreed... This Jurchen Stallion is to be presented to Lord Nobuhiro of the family head. As for its na and arrangents, naturally, it is up to Lord Nobuhiro to decide!"
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