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Geun-Tae would not pass up an opportunity to test one’s durability and strength. It was vital on the battlefield. Despite his current disabled state, the Earth Tribe’s general kept his suave gusto in place for the sake of his people and his king. A king that was a hell of a lot worth it compared to the wimpy II that ruled the land previously. Wimpy II was since all the tribes fell into turmoil. It was a surprise that the Kai Empire didn’t claim them as a part of their territory already. Perhaps it was the legacy of Yon-Hi or the concept that no matter what, Kohka has and will always belong to the Kai Empire. This was set in stone until Soo-Won took the throne.
Rumors spread about on what death brought upon the stupidly pathetic king before. Death by disease? Old Age? Murder? Did Soo-Won kill the king? Or did general Hak did and took the princess with him? Geun-Tae didn’t care about the drama of the sky tribe. No king would have been better than that chubby weakling spoiling his daughter. The son of Yon-Hi has proven to be more than capable. He was his father’s son. Fierce, cunning, and devoted to the growth of Kokha and restoring her former glory. Seemingly gentle like his mother. Geun-Tae liked that about the kid. He even gave a test to Geun-Tae while aiding his failing economy a while back.
The man wanted nothing more than to face the young king in battle to truly test his strength! It would be an epic battle of glory and pride!
Alas…he was confined to a chair. A mobile one with a pair of wheels that allowed the general to move about on any kind of even surface, but he was confined nonetheless. His legs were healing from a stupid sprain that occurred not too long ago. Caused by the falling of a pile of rocks from the Earth tribe mines. Thankfully, no one else was hurt. He intended and attempted to walk unscathed, as he would from the battlefield…yet his ankles had other plans. Which included him collapsing face-first into the floor if he attempted to walk about like normal.
His men cried out in horror. They acted as if his life was in danger when it was his pride. That was worth more than his life. His movement was now confined to such a chair. Although, having his adorable and cute wife doting on him was an extra plus. It could have been happening because he was home more often so she could spend more of her time and energy doting on him. He was also her new taste tester for her floral teas. But he made sure no one was around to see him enjoying such a cup. Not that he would admit her cute attention sent a wave of butterflies in his stomach. Never!
"Thank you for traveling all this way General Geun-Tae," the young king of Kohka said. A meeting of the five generals was over and the men were leaving the table in the center of the king’s hall. Two generals had already left the hall, promising to come back to share a farewell to the king. A set of hot tea was in the center of the dark wood table. The plans discussed were to occur in the future, well after Kohka had become more stable. Which will officially begin once the Kai Empire was subdued. For that to occur, the tribes needed to become stronger. A long list that was effectively being taken care of.
The Earth Tribe general was more than confident that the young king would ensure that happened quickly. If only his stupid ankle healed just as quickly.
"Of course your majesty," the older man responded with a courteous bow from his seat. "I apologize for my unsightly appearance."
"No need to apologize. It is actually my turn to do so since I called you here to Hiryuu palace while you were in such a painful state."
"Bah!! It's alright!! Just a new way of running around for the time being!"
King Soo-Won smiled sweetly, reminding the general of his father. "Thank you once again general." His blue eyes widened in curiosity as he spoke, "May I ponder as to how you got into such a state?"
Geun-Tae was about to answer honestly until he noticed his old colleague Judo talking with the Water Tribe leader from across the room. "What can I say, the wife likes to keep me busy!" The other two men froze as he raised his voice so they could hear him. "Sometimes it's hard to keep up! If I was single like General Judo-" the man flinched, "-then I wouldn't be reduced to such a state!"
"Why do you always have to bring up the fact that I am not married!?" Judo roared.
An Joon-Gi frowned deeply and covered his mouth with his blue sleeve, muttering, “Disgusting talk…” He looked to King Soo-Won who innocently awed at General Geun-Tae's wisdom.
"Is that so general? Wow, I never knew!" An Joon-Gi walked to the king and began speaking in a lower voice as Jude seethed with growing rage. Geun-Tae smirked as he watched the other approach him. He prepared himself for the battle of banters to begin to tease the single general even more.
Before Judo could retort, King Soo-Won spoke, "I wonder if such a way of moving would be efficient on the battlefield…" The other men gasped and screeched in horror. Judo became red from horrifying embarrassment while An Joon-Gi opened his eyes. A rare sight. Geun-Tae choked on his own spit.
“Your majesty! What are you saying!?” Judo cried out.
Soo-Won walked to Geun-Tae and patted the handles of the man’s mobile chair. “I meant this. I wonder if we could implement something similar on the battlefield.”
Thank the heavens that is what he meant. Right? Right?! Catching his breath, Geun-Tae looked up and scooted his position closer to the king. "Ah, this thing?"
The other generals approached to listen in as the young man continued speaking, "One could ride such a means of transportation and attack enemies while doing so. I wonder if it is more efficient than shooting arrows on horseback. Wich would save time in training for battles to shoot arrows while moving and may save on resources while opening a new line of war production for our nation. Perhaps such a device could hold more than one person…"
Half of what was said made sense to the general. He looked up dubiously at the young king and said, "...so what would you suggest?"
"I am not quite sure since I am not in the position that you are in."
The man hummed thoughtfully. "Would you like to try it out, your majesty?"
"Try what?"
"Moving about like I do, on two wheels."
Soo-Won hummed thoughtfully before clasping his hands in front of his lips. "Indeed, will that be all right?"
"Yes, anything to get some kind of thrill from this stupid wheelchair." Geun-Tae patted his lap. Soo-Won sat in said lap and adjusted himself so his legs were draped over one arm wrest. One arm was wrapped around the general’s shoulders. “You’re quite light your majesty,” Geun-Tae said.
“You think so?”
Judo dumbfoundedly stared at the two. “What is going on?” An Joon-Gi shook his head in similar disbelief. Geun-Taue grabbed the wheels at his side and began moving, at an annoyingly slow pace. Having someone in his lap made it more difficult to move about like before. They moved a few meters before Soo-Won hummed thoughtfully, causing the man to stop.
“This moves quickly when pushed by someone correct?”
“I guess…”
The king got off and walked behind Geun-Tae. “Mind if we go a little fast?”
Geun-Tae shrugged, “Go for it, your majesty.” This could be exciting, more so than sitting around. Well, he was still sitting but this sitting would have a greater purpose!
A few minutes later Geun-Tae let out a series of laughs. It was like he was on a trotting horse! Moving faster than a normal person, but not quite a gallop. They went around the room in constant circles with the table and two other generals in the center. They watched the duo in confusion. Soo-Won came to a stop after the tenth circle.
“We should be able to go faster!” Geun-Tae said enthusiastically. “I think I see what you are imagining your majesty! Moving at a great pace by rolling these down a hill and shooting off arrows to the enemy! The only issue is that we would need a hill, and how to deal with stopping them as they reach the bottom of a hill.”
Soo-Won hummed thoughtfully, “What if we made it more like a carriage?”
“Ooooh! I-” Geun-Tae paused and frowned, “-yeah I’m still a bit lost.”
The king took off his outer light kimono. “General Judo, can you come here please?” The sky general furrowed his eyebrows as he obeyed. Soo-Won instructed him to stand in front of general Geun-Tae and handed him the opposite ends of the fabric. He gave the earth tribe general the sleeves. An Joo-Gi followed Soo-Won’s beckoning. He took off his outer blue haori. Soo-Won wrapped it around Geun-Tae’s waist, tying him to the backrest of his chair.
“Alright, it looks secure enough,” Soo-Won said.
“I feel ridiculous,” Geun-Tae said.
“How do you think I feel!?” Judo exclaimed. “Your majesty, what is the meaning of this!?”
Ignoring their questions Soo-Won ordered calmly, “Run general Judo.”
“Huh?”
Geun-Tae raised one of his hands and said, “I think I need a whip, your majesty, to make this more realistic and effective! It also would give some more incentive to single pringle Judo.”
“I will murder you one of these days,” Judo muttered.
Thus began the duo began traveling around the hall in a grand circle, much as the king did so earlier. Judo ran faster while Geun-Tae began laughing.
King Soo-Won gave an ear to An Joo-Gi who inquired, “I believe I understand what you are trying to achieve here your majesty…But wouldn’t it be better if one was standing?” Soo-Won nodded in agreement. “We have the woodlands in the wind tribe and fine craftsmen in the water tribe. Perhaps we could design a standing carriage for our soldiers to ride on. Enhancing the economy of the wind and water tribes by getting the wood from the wind tribe and having the craftsmen in the water tribe work on these new carriages.”
“We would need multiple horses to pull such a carriage. A second individual could be on and fire spears or arrows while the other drives. Giving mobility to our soldiers, and-” his eyes shined with promise, “-battle strategies that were unimaginable before…”
An Joo-Gi hummed in agreement. “Such promise indeed…The Kai Empire doesn’t have such a thing…”
“We must keep this hidden from the public while we patten the idea. So when the time is right, we will strike. And no one will doubt Kohka’s strength.”
"AH!" The two men yelped as Judo turned sharply and almost ran Geun-Tae into a pillar.
The door opened and three men entered to find the sky tribe general pulling along the earth tribe general in a grand circle in the hall. The king’s advisor, Keishuk, who led the other men stared in shock. The younger men behind him looked over his shoulder in confusion as the pair of generals ran by.
“Faster bachelor Judo!”
“SHUT UP!”
Soo-Won noticed them enter and gave them a bright smile. “Welcome back generals. We have a few more things to discuss.”
The fire tribe leader, Kan Kyo-Ga, opened his mouth only to close it when silence came out. He pursed his lips for a few moments before opening it again. “Your majesty…it doesn’t have anything to do with General Judo and Geun-Tae running around like that…does it?”
Tae-Woo, the youngest out of all the generals laughed. “I kinda want to try, your majesty.”
Keishuk placed a hand on his forehead and let out a soft sigh. “Why is it, whenever I leave you for a few moments…something ridiculous happens?”
Soo-Won chuckled and twiddled with his light brown hair draped around his shoulder. “Aha! What can I say?”
“AHAHA! FASTER!”
“SHUT UP!”