Southern Coast of Joseon
Late Autumn 1837
The wind shifted before dawn, carrying a sharper bite than the days before. It wasn't strong, but it was enough for the men on the shoreline to notice. They pulled their cloaks tighter as they took their positions, boots pressing into the damp sand as they settled in. The sea stretched out ahead of them, calm and steady, but no one looked at it the same way anymore.
The ships were still there.
They had not moved for days.
At first, their presence had felt heavy, something that drew every eye and made every man uneasy. Now, that feeling had settled into something quieter, but no less serious. The ships had become part of the horizon, but no one forgot why they were there.
They were waiting.
And so was Joseon.
---
At first light, movement began inland.
