The Jegoye Assassination Incident
"Why the long face?"
"Ten thousand isn't enough. Twenty thousand. No, at the very least, can we arm twenty thousand men?"
"I'm telling you, this is seriously tough. Developing the Iron Cannon barrels alone was no easy feat. While we've been cranking out cannons on one side, we've rushed barrel development on the other, and we did manage the prototypes you ordered. But honestly, even thousands of them is a stretch."
Just as I thought. Well, by this era's standards, it is damn hard.
"What do you need?"
"Resources are one issue, but to make that many, we'd have to strip every tree from the golden mountains bare. And we don't have enough artisans either."
"If we solve those, is it doable?"
Resources shouldn't be a problem—we've got this weird overproduction miracle going on. So yeah, probably.
"That's the bare minimum requirement, but realistically, ten thousand is the max. Even if we scrape together twenty thousand by force, don't we need spares?"
Tsk. True. How does Kim Jun know this better than me, a modern guy? I was the fool thinking future tech would solve everything.
"But you're planning to fight the Mongols in open fields?"
"We have to. Just defending won't cut it."
Our situation's better than original history, but the whole country would still get scorched. We need to annihilate them in a decisive field battle. Think of the Great Victory at Gwiju. One battle wiped out the Khitan's elite army of 100,000, and they never dared large-scale wars again. If we just hole up in defenses without settling it in the field, the invaders will ravage the entire land. Goguryeo got laid waste fighting Sui-Tang, and the real Goryeo-Mongol wars turned the country to rubble with scorched-earth tactics. Better to crush them decisively in the open once.
"Defending against the Mongols just scorches our land. Even if we hold, it's no win. We need one big victory to break them."
And their homeland stays intact while we bleed cash. So yeah, smash them in a field battle. It's unavoidable war. If we strut too much and end up like the fallen Western Xia, fine—but fight once, and if it flops, switch to Ganghwa Island defense like in original history. No harm.
"Won't they come in waves, second and third invasions?"
"They will. But the Mongols don't have endless manpower. There's a limit."
Plus, if we beat them, they'll stop treating Goryeo as a sideshow on the way to Jin and start taking us seriously. That buys Jin breathing room, and their strategy grinds to a halt. Block them two or three times, and opportunity knocks. A few wins on the northwest front, and we push into Dongjin lands and Liaodong. Even in original history, Kim Heoje gathered 10,000 to cross the Amnok River and hit fortresses, so Goryeo troops can manage it.
"For that decisive battle, what scale are you envisioning?"
"If the Mongols invade Goryeo, they'll send 20-30,000 cavalry. Fewer than against the Khitans last war, but matching numbers in open field is tough. Since it's our turf, leverage numbers. At least 100,000."
100,000 troops: 80% infantry, 10% cavalry, plus Wagon Fort units and support. Special musket units under Iron Cannon elites. Iron Cannons (musketeers) 20,000, spearmen 50,000, cavalry 10,000, wagon troops 5,000. Wagons at least 500 for wagon fort formation. Artillery elites with 50 cannons. That's my plan. For sure victory, the Choi clan mobilizes full force.
"These Iron Cannon elites are the musketeers?"
"Right. Musketeers 20,000, spearmen 50,000, cavalry 10,000, wagon unit 5,000—with at least 500 wagons for the Wagon Fort Formation."
Spearmen heavy for tercio formation. Shields too, of course. Ideal numbers, anyway—not filling 20,000 musketeers is fine.
"And 50 cannons. Fifty units."
"Yep."
"Can Goryeo swing this right now?"
"If Iron Cannon production maxes at 10,000 mixing muskets and cannons, the rest is doable."
We're already expanding the army big-time. Free public slaves and draft them—solid.
"This Iron Cannon wagon fort has to hurt the Mongols. But can it counter their horse archer tactics?"
"You know your stuff. Yeah! Mongols excel at hit-and-run archery, lures, mobility, scouts disrupting. But they've got zero experience with gunpowder weapons."
And their supply limits for long wars are obvious. They can't linger. So they have to fight on our favorable terrain. Alright, solve Kim Jun's issues. I headed to Byeokrando's Song merchants.
"Hey, can you supply this much?"
"Timber and iron? Hmm, not impossible."
"And manpower too?"
"How many? Short on slaves?"
No way. Choe clan has slaves overflowing. Soon we'll make history as the first to mass-liberate private slaves.
"Need a few hundred artisans for weapon production."
But they must be loyal to Goryeo. Possible? On that, the Song merchant rolled his eyes thoughtfully, then spoke cautiously.
"Plenty of artisans fled from Jin. Song's not short either, and since Jin was our enemy, shipping them to Goryeo's easy."
Recent Jurchens crossing borders, yeah. Some Jin folk probably hit Song too.
"For real?"
"Yes. They're refugees; employ them, and they'll be loyal."
"Good."
So expanding production with artisans is feasible. In three years, train up, and it syncs perfectly with Mongol invasion.
"Preparing for war?"
Can't spill full details on mass gun production.
"Mongols pressuring Goryeo. Took a ton of soap recently. Better prep, just in case."
Mask it all; Song merchant's jaw dropped. They near-monopolize soap trade—Goryeo falling hurts them. So they must help.
"Damn, those bastards hitting Goryeo too? Got it. Can't let Goryeo fall; I'll help as much as I can."
Song's doomed future too—pot, kettle. Anyway, revised the Iron Cannon wagon fort strategy. Combine musketeers and artillery elites into 10,000 Iron Cannon unit. Opponent's not a massive horde; we can manage.
Meanwhile, Mongols sent envoys again. Over the Jegoye murder.
"Your Majesty. Our envoy Jegoye is dead."
"Th-that so?"
"Happened crossing Goryeo's border—how can you feign ignorance? Great Mongolia won't stand for this."
Mongols dispatched investigators. Know what? In original history, Choi U shot arrows to drive them off. But not here. Choi U stabilized the military regime, led its golden age—but only for the clan. For the country? Meh. Chasing envoys screams "empty skull." Ganghwa move was regime protection, really. Goryeo had no choice but anti-Mongol resistance, field battles impossible, so island defense was genius. Anyway, irony: they handed over Jegoye's body.
"Not Goryeo's doing. Why kill a brother nation's envoy?"
"So you're claiming no involvement?"
"Left heavy tribute but took most soap. Looks like they targeted the soap."
Goryeo had to explain. Civil officials wined/dined them, explanations on loop. Meanwhile, capital troops locked down the palace—no emperor access. Palace eunuchs who aided him quietly buried too.
"Even so, could be Goryeo folk?"
Mongols pushing to pin it on us. Grabbing war pretext. We deflect maximally. Slither like loaches. Delay the inevitable war as long as possible—till Mongols crack and declare first. Till we can't hold.
"Lately, Jin remnants and Dongjin troops cross borders often. Our people wouldn't. We investigated: no soap dumped near border. Looks like Jin holdouts or Dongjin bandits."
"Goryeo's just guessing."
"We'll send envoys to meet your Khan soon."
Mongols couldn't press more. Our excuse had legs, and new envoys promised—no whining from "superior" nation. Father explained to Mongols adequately, then urgently summoned me. Lately, leaning on me hard. Mountain spirit helps me, so to him, I'm the conduit.
"Sent envoys, but those bloodthirsty barbarians stay quiet?"
"They won't touch envoys bearing tribute."
Shove soap at them, bow low—"we innocent!" What can Mongols do? No instant attack.
"But war's about the strong seizing pretext."
True. Modern powers invade small fry on any excuse. We're not ready. Grovel to Mongols, deflect arrows to Dongjin, dodge probes.
"Investigate Jegoye's body?"
"No separate records."
Whew. If secret letters with emperor chats, instant invasion pretext. None? Lucky.
"Just explain and done. They won't war immediately."
"Why?"
"Merchants say this Genghis Khan's hitting some western 'Khwarezm' now."
"Jin victors striking elsewhere too?"
Timing right? Even if off, Genghis dies soon, delays. Reassure Father.
"Mentioning Dongjin means Mongols probe them too. Their relations soured lately."
"Can't spit on smiling face. Low posture buys time."
Goryeo invasion prep maxes at 27 years—Genghis dies. After, more delay. Even irrational charge like Opium War, similar to original history.
"Build strength meanwhile."
"Yeah. Iron Cannons good, but plan?"
"Need 10,000+ for real power."
Wagon forts and long-spearmen hold cavalry; muskets and cannons from behind. Pour fire on horse, fierce melee, then our cavalry flanks from rear. How's that?