This happened in the state of Koguryo, during the time of King Temusinwan.
[Temusinwan ruled the country from 18 to 43].
Long ago, a neighboring state attacked Aknan, the domain of Temusinwan, and captured it. And the king decided to recapture his lands.
And in the country of the enemy at that time there was great unrest. The dynasty has fallen.
The war between the princes began. Power will not be shared in any way. They completely forgot about Aknan.
And in Aknan, in the royal palace, the bugle and drum are hidden. The power is magical in them. Everyone knows: the bugle will blow, the drum will thunder - it means the enemy is close. Temusinwan knows: as long as the horn and the drum are intact, he will not take Aknan. And this is what the king came up with.
He decided to send his son, the heir Ho Dong, to Aknan. The prince changed his clothes, did not recognize him, and set off on his way. The king ordered him to get into the palace, break the drum, and break the forge. Ho Don is seventeen years old, but he has plenty of strength and courage. Ho Don is well-trained in literacy, shoots accurately with a bow, and rides quickly on a horse. How pretty! The face is white, ruddy, the eyes are bright stars in the night; he will smile - like a small child, he will stand up to his full height - he has heroic strength. It’s not for nothing that he is called Ho Donom – a Beautiful Young Man.
Ho Dong came to the capital of Aknan and began to think about how to get to the royal palace. And just then a hunt was organized in honor of the spring sacrifice to the spirit of the Earth. Twice a year they make sacrifices to the spirit of the Earth - in spring and autumn.
In the spring they pray to the spirit for a good harvest, in the fall they give thanks for the harvest.
A crowd of people gathered for the hunt, apparently and invisibly. Prince Tsoi Ri rode ahead on horseback, followed by a whole retinue of officials and military leaders.
Prince Ho Dong also went hunting. I shot the animals - I can barely drag them. The prince noticed him, invited him to the palace and said:
– I see you are from Koguryo. Who are you?
The young man answers:
“I am Prince Ho Dong of Goguryeo.”
The prince cried out:
“Are you really that famous Prince Ho Dong?” Truly, there is no one equal to you in strength and beauty! “The prince said this and asked: “Why did you come to us, Prince Ho Dong?”
The young man bowed low and answered:
- I want to learn from you, to comprehend all sorts of sciences. Your country is famous throughout the world for its sciences.
The prince was delighted and said:
“If so, why didn’t your father, the most worthy of the worthy Temusinwan, notify me about this?” I would help you overcome all sciences.
Prince Ho Dong settled in his palace, he began to read books and comprehend science. And the prince has one thing on his mind: to give his daughter to Ho Dong as his wife in order to save his throne - the strong country of Koguryo has no equal.
And the prince’s daughter cannot be more beautiful.
Lives in the Ho Dong Palace, studies during the day, and searches for a bugle and drum at night.
The prince pleases the young man, shows him all sorts of honors, and invites the best teachers. Ho Dong prowls the palace like night. And in the palace, if there’s a gap, there’s a guard, and even an ant can’t get through. Ho Dong is looking, searching, searching every corner - there is neither a bugle nor a drum.
The young man was sad and did not know what to do. His father told him to get into the palace, break the drum, break the forge. He made his way into the palace, but couldn’t find the drum and horn. They are cherished like the apple of their eye.
And suddenly trouble befell him. The prince called the prince to his chambers and said:
“I want to give you my daughter as a wife.” She is not as good as you, but she is not ugly. If you agree, become my son-in-law.
Ho Dong is afraid here. Doesn't know what to do.
And the prince says again:
- I won’t rush you. Just think!
Ho Dong decided here that this could help the matter, and agreed, took the princess as his wife. And this must happen - he loved her with all his heart.
Just Ho Dong did not forget his father’s order, he remembers his duty to the country.
It’s hard for him to ask his beloved wife and find out where the bugle and drum are hidden. If she finds out about his deception, then their love will end. The prince knows neither sleep nor peace. He must not disobey the orders of his father, the most worthy of the worthy, Temusinwan. And every day he loves his wife more and more, he dotes on her.
He thought and thought and finally figured out what to do. He told his wife and father-in-law that he had to go home.
The princess was upset and said:
- How can you leave me alone?
Ho Dong answers:
- I need to see my father.
The wife asks:
-What business do you have with him?
“I want to beg forgiveness from my father for marrying a tovoli without him, and to ask for my parents’ blessing so that my father will not be angry when we appear before his eyes.”
The princess did not answer anything, she cried bitterly.
Ho Dong hugged his wife and began to console her:
“I’m sad to be separated from you,” he says, “but there’s nothing to do!”
If Father blesses us, I’ll send a palanquin for you. Until then we will have to live apart.
The princess asks:
- Will he bless us, your father?
Ho Dong answers:
- Bless you, don’t be sad, my dear wife!
The princess says:
- Come back soon, my love! Every hour apart will seem like a year.
Give me the news as soon as possible!
The princess said nothing more.
And the prince did not contradict Ho Dong. The young man needs to meet his own father and receive his parents’ blessing.
He said goodbye to his wife Ho Dong and hit the road. When the king saw his son, he was overjoyed. Ho Dong told his father everything in order - how he got into the palace, how he settled there, how he searched for the forge and drum - he couldn’t find it. And he told about his plan.
Ho Dong lives in Kogure, and his wife sends him news every day by messenger.
She is sad in separation, and cannot wait for the blessing of the King of Koguryo. Only Ho Dong does not answer her for the time being.
Anxiety crept into the princess’s heart like a snake. She asks her beloved to come back, calls the heartless, swears eternal love.
A month passed, Ho Dong sent a message to the princess, He wrote that the king does not give his parental blessing. No matter how much Ho Dong asked, no matter how he begged, it was all in vain! It’s hard for Ho Dong to write this, it’s easier to cut off the hand that holds the brush, but nothing can be done. The king is ready to agree, but on one condition. Which one? Ho Dong does not dare to write to the princess about this. It is detrimental to the country of Aknan and to the princess herself.
The king is stubborn - you can’t persuade him, he stands his ground and won’t give in. He knows that his condition cannot be fulfilled! Apparently, Ho Dong won’t have to meet the princess in this life. Maybe they will find their happiness in another life? He wipes away bitter tears, says goodbye to his beloved forever, curses the unfortunate fate...
Ho Dong wrote a letter - my soul became heavy! He deceived his beloved wife! I used a trick.
The princess read the letter, burst into tears, and sent the news by messenger.
What kind of condition is this, he asks. Didn’t they take an oath of love and eternal fidelity to each other? Why doesn't he tell her the whole truth? She will spare no effort and will fulfill any condition! What won't you do for your loved one?
Ho Dong knew in advance what the princess would write.
And this is what he answered her:
The king said that a bugle and a drum were kept in the Aknan palace. They prevent our countries from living in harmony and trusting each other.
How can a Koguryeo prince marry an Aknan princess? After all, the drum and the bugle are the treasures of the country of Aknan! So we will have to submit to fate and live in separation, Hong Don finally decided.
Soon an answer came from the princess. She wrote to Ho Dong that she broke the drum and broke the horn. She has fulfilled her marital duty and can now become a subject of Kogurya.
Ho Don found out that there was no longer a drum or a bugle, and he led his troops to Aknan. He defeated the enemy, entered the capital, and hurried to the palace.
But his beloved princess is no longer alive.
The prince found out that his daughter had broken the drum and the bugle, and committed reprisals against her.
Standing in the middle of the hall, holding a bloody dagger in his hand. There is melancholy and despair in the eyes. Prince Ho Dong saw, as if he had woken up from a dream and said:
“Our struggle is over, prince.” What was supposed to happen happened. For the sake of selfishness, I gave you my only daughter as a wife. I was the first to plan evil and paid dearly for it. The ax I raised and fell on me.
The prince dropped the dagger and lowered his head. Then the victorious cries of the Koguryo warriors were heard from the city.
Night has come. Ho Dong climbed the fortress wall. He leaned on his heroic sword. He is sad and lonely.
It was late autumn. The silence around was broken only by the farewell cry of the cranes.
Ho Dong served his country faithfully. He conquered the lands of his ancestors.
Only he lived his entire life with longing in his heart!
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru