The Tale of the Patriotic Woman

by Jang Ji-yeon · 2026-08-25

At that time, France was still in the Middle Ages.

Everyone was devoted to the heavenly gods and deeply immersed in religion, which was common in the era before civilization opened up.

The name of the general was known throughout the world, and even children and messengers knew it.

Some said that the heavenly god came down to the world to save France.

Others said that a wicked devil was enchanting people with evil sorcery.

Various rumors swirled around chaotically.

The general understood this state of public sentiment and thought.

‘I must shake the people's hearts with righteousness and correct the chaotic rumors.’

Thus, he composed a proclamation and hung it at the village entrance on the main road, spreading it to various regions.

The proclamation read as follows.

‘It is sorrowful. France is unfortunate, the royal line is severed, the people are wandering, the capital has fallen, and the king has fled.’

‘Truly, it is time for our people to lie on thorns and chew on gall to repay our enemies.’

‘I have upheld the heavenly mandate and harbored a heart of loyalty since my youth.’

‘I dare to gather the righteous army to reclaim our homeland, wash away the shame of defeat against the strong enemy nation, and rescue our compatriots from calamity.’

‘All the people of France bear the duty to love their country and rise up with the spirit to repel the thieves.’

‘If you hear the rumors, stand up, and if you see the proclamation, respond with your voice.’

‘Let us turn back the mad waves and accomplish the sacred task. It is sorrowful, my compatriots.’

People from all over saw this proclamation, regardless of gender.

The love for the country surged, and many wept.

They wished to see the general at least once, as if they were meeting the heavenly god.

The general heard the rumors and rejoiced inwardly, thinking of another plan.

‘Today, the public sentiment is boiling like this, so there must be a foundation to reclaim the country.’

‘However, the hearts of people are unpredictable.’

‘Public sentiment always sways according to understanding and power, and many do not realize that the country is suffering and surrender to the enemy nation.’

‘I must seize this moment when the military's might is strong and the morale is high.’

‘With a stirring speech, I will awaken the loyalty of the soldiers.’

‘On one hand, I will make the people feel ashamed of becoming someone else's servant,’

‘and on the other hand, I will make the enemy nation realize that there are people in France, so they cannot look down on us like livestock.’

The general immediately summoned the military officers to post notices everywhere and spread the word.

It was announced that a speech meeting would be held in the fields of Shiryong Village on the first day of May this year.

Once this military order was issued, rumors spread.

People of all ages and genders gathered in groups from each province and county.

Everyone wanted to hear the general's speech.

Meanwhile, the French officials who had surrendered to England were still holding their positions.

They left the local governors, military officers, and general officials untouched,

so they were acting as spies under the orders of England.

In the meantime, suddenly, a remarkable female general appeared, and rumors spread that she was performing miraculous deeds and extraordinary sorcery.

Each person secretly sent someone to observe her movements.

The British camp must have already heard the strange rumors about the general.

However, the Arian Fortress held firm and was not easily captured,

so they were solely focused on gathering troops from various places to launch a full-scale attack on the Arian Fortress.

Thus, they had no time to pay attention to anything else.

Moreover, they considered the general to be nothing more than a frail woman and did not take her seriously at all.

They left her actions unchecked and did not take precautions.

In that very gap, the general finally achieved great success; how could it not be said to be the will of heaven?

The hot blood filled in the intestines flowed down as tears,

how could one bear to hand over a whole landscape to another's hands?