The Tale of the Patriotic Wife
by Jang Ji-yeon · 2026-08-25
The people in the speech hall argued and volunteered to become soldiers for the commander.
The commander spoke to them.
“If you are now entering the crowd to go to the battlefield for the country,”
“you must swear to die together and unite your strength to defeat the enemy.”
“From today, form ranks, obey the military orders, and do not disrupt the discipline.”
As the march began that day, people from nearby and distant villages came out carrying supplies and weapons.
The footsteps of those offering to the commander did not cease.
The commander set up camp ten miles away from the Arian Fortress and surveyed the enemy camp.
The mountains and fields were completely filled with British soldiers.
Flags and spears blocked the sunlight, and the sound of drums and cheers shook the heavens and the earth.
Among them, only one lonely fortress was engulfed in tragic despair.
The commander called the generals to discuss.
“The situation of the British army is extremely formidable.”
“They are all agile and skilled fighters, and well-equipped with weapons, so based on the situation alone, we cannot win.”
“We have only our passionate blood that loves the country and our bare fists.”
“We can only move forward, risking our lives.”
“Even if swords and spears are like thickets and arrows and bullets fall like rain, do not think of taking a single step back.”
“Let us only move forward.”
Thus, everyone organized their gear and charged into the enemy camp.
Every person had passionate blood boiling for their country, with only thoughts of dying and no thoughts of living.
The agile energy seemed to pierce the sky, as if one person could match a hundred.
No matter how many and agile the British soldiers were, how could they withstand those fighting to the death?
The commander’s advancing force resembled a tide rushing in.
The British soldiers naturally split to one side and scattered chaotically.
Meanwhile, it had already been seven months since the fortress of Arian was besieged.
No troops from elsewhere came to rescue them, and even the supply routes were cut off.
With both the general and the soldiers exhausted from hunger, the situation was extremely precarious, on the verge of collapse at any moment.
Unable to contain his worries, the duke climbed alone to the battlements to survey the enemy camp.
At that moment, a general suddenly caught his eye.
Dressed in a golden helmet and silver armor, sitting high on a white horse, he wrapped a long sword in his right hand and held a flag in his left.
Charging forward like a tiger, the troops scattered like autumn leaves in the wind, dividing like waves.
The duke was greatly astonished and filled with doubt.
“Who could such a heroic general possibly be? Could it be a dream?”
Rubbing his eyes and looking closely, he realized it was indeed the female general.
While he was still in disbelief, the general had already reached the city gates.
The duke hurriedly opened the gates to welcome the general and listened to the details of the situation.
Everyone in the fortress admired the general's patriotism and loyalty.
“The general is a heroine unlike any other in history, a hero unmatched in the world.”
“If it weren't for the general, the people of Arian would have all become fish on a chopping board, and France would have been destroyed.”
“Heaven has sent the general to save our France.”
Then they joined hands and offered wine to feed the soldiers.
The general spoke.
“The enemy troops are still outside the fortress.”
“I shall do my utmost to sweep away the enemy and reclaim our territory, so that the king and his subjects may rejoice together.”
Immediately, he donned golden armor, mounted his white horse, and held a sword in his right hand and a flag in his left.
He commanded the troops to open the gates and charged out, clashing left and right.
The British general divided his troops to spread out wings on both sides and fought back.
The commander drove the cavalry and pierced through the center.
The British soldiers gathered from all directions, competing to capture the commander.
However, the commander's body was like a flying swallow, flashing in the east and then in the west.
Every time the blade of the sword gleamed, the enemy soldiers' heads fell like autumn leaves.
The British general and soldiers became dazed, losing their formation and composure.
Only then did the commander turn the cavalry to strike left and right, calling the infantry to press forward and backward.
The British army suffered a great defeat and fled in disarray.
The commander seized all their supplies and weapons and brought them into the fortress.
The soldiers inside the fortress, who had been starving for a long time, saw the mountain of provisions and also witnessed the defeat of the British army.
The sound of cheers rose like thunder, and their bravery increased a hundredfold.
The next day, the commander fought the British army again and won once more after several exchanges.
As the British army fled, the commander led his generals and charged after them.
At that moment, suddenly, an ambush arose, and arrows rained down like a storm.
The commander did not fear and cut through left and right.
Then an arrow flew and struck his left arm, causing the commander to fall from his horse.
The British general seized the commander's flag and fled.
The commander leaped up and mounted the saddle again.
With his right hand, he pulled out the arrow and threw it away, tearing his golden outer garment to bind his arm.
Then, as if he were flying, he drove his horse to strike the British general, reclaiming the flag and returning to the main camp.
Both sides of the army watched this and all spoke in unison.
“The commander is a spirit, not a human.”
The British general, having been defeated by the French several times, finally realized he could not win.
He gathered the remaining troops and fled across the Laaar River.
The date was May 8, 1429.
Finally, the siege of the Arian fortress was lifted.
The French people honored the general by calling him "Arian."
They erected a large stone to inscribe his achievements and commemorated it for eternity.
They held a feast for three days, raising their glasses and shouting cheers while holding hands.
From that time on, there was no one who did not follow the general's orders.
They planted the seeds to revive the country overnight,
and erected a monument that would never be forgotten for generations.