Battle of Gwiju
How vast was Goryeo? No matter how wide, they could march south and reach Seogyeong and then Gaegyeong in no time.
"Who's their commander?"
"It's Choi U, the power behind the throne in Goryeo."
Choi U, the military strongman who pulled the strings of Goryeo's king. As expected, that meant he'd brought Goryeo's entire army. Of course he would—the top dog in Goryeo wouldn't lead just a fraction of his forces. A sinister smile curled across Salitai's lips.
"Looks like he's brought everything he's got. Where should we hit them?"
"It'll be Gwiju, Marshal!"
Not far on the map. Fine, Gwiju it was. Not far at all. Why drag out a war with Goryeo? They'd already been stuck at Hamsinjin for what felt like a month. Better to smash their main force outright. Crush the enemy swiftly, shatter Goryeo's morale.
"Good. Abandon Cheolju and Jeongju. March south immediately, smash those bastards, head to Gaegyeong, and force the Goryeo king to surrender!"
No need to linger at Hamsinjin. Just charge down and fight.
"Why not bypass Gaegyeong since it'll be empty of troops and strike from behind?"
"No. Goryeo's real power lies with that military regent Choi U. You think a guy who props up and topples kings would bat an eye if we took Gaegyeong?"
Salitai's prediction wasn't wrong. If this were before the reforms, when public sentiment blamed the Choi clan, maybe. But the forced reforms under the Choi regime had won the people's loyalty. Even if the king were captured, the army wouldn't stand idle—they'd rally around another royal in the provinces. Better to cripple Goryeo's war machine and take Choi U's head. Of course, unlike that simplistic thinking, Gaegyeong held 5,000 reserves who could hold out until the main army returned.
"So we'll thoroughly smash Goryeo's ability to wage war. Grab that Choi U guy, and Goryeo won't just be a vassal—they'll be annexed outright."
"Yes, Marshal!"
In original history, neither Hamsinjin nor Cheolju had fallen. The Mongol army of 30,000 had left some Dongjin forces behind and marched south unchecked.
Gwiju currently hosted Goryeo's 100,000-strong army. The Mongols probably saw Goryeo's forces as rabble. They might ignore us and push for Gaegyeong, but 5,000 Byeolcho Army troops guarded the capital and could hold until we returned. Would the Mongols really ignore 100,000 Goryeo soldiers? No—their goal was likely total devastation on the way south. In original history, they'd taken Hamsinjin, Cheolju, Jeongju, and Pyeongju. But after dallying at Hamsinjin, the sight of 100,000 troops loomed large. They'd see it as Goryeo's full strength, commanded personally by the Choi regent Choi U. From the Mongol perspective, they couldn't pass that up. Annihilate this force, and they'd seize control of the war. No way they'd miss it.
For us, it prevented our lands from being ravaged, and victory would end the campaign quickly. Not bad at all. In the end, both sides wanted a decisive clash. We had to crush them utterly here. Unfortunately—or fortunately—the Goryeo army here was elite, drilled relentlessly. No real combat experience, but plenty of simulations against Jurchen raiders. No room for complacency, but no lack of confidence either.
We moved with ruthless efficiency the moment we arrived at Gwiju.
"Mines laid!"
"Wagon Fort Formation and Iron Cannons inspected multiple times!"
"Gunpowder checked—artillery and volleys ready anytime!"
Preparations complete. Mines planted to catch the Mongols no matter their approach. Cleanup would be a nightmare later, but victory first.
"Where's Salitai's army?"
"An hour from Gwiju, milady."
Here it comes. Time to face the world's Mongols head-on.
"Alright, let's get set."
I took direct command of one wagon fort alongside the artillery overseers—top generals like myself. All that remained was fighting and smashing the Mongols. Real war would be different. Bloody chaos. Countless Goryeo soldiers dying in pools of blood. Maybe even me.
Suddenly, I felt the chill of a blade at my throat. Given Mongol tendencies, our 100,000 would be massacred. Especially me—they wouldn't leave a woman like me untouched. They'd toy with me like a plaything. That explained why Injun stuck so close. To guard me if things went south.
"Mongols approaching!"
Even faster than expected. Close call—if we'd been slower, the mines wouldn't be set. But we made it. Now, fight.
"They're finally coming. Battle stations! We must win decisively!"
A half-victory against these Mongols? They'd return. We needed total, perfect triumph. Even then, they'd come back—but we needed time to grow stronger. At minimum, inflict near-annihilation.
"Defend the wagon forts with iron cannons, counterattack, and drive them back."
Strategy locked: Mines to sow chaos, wagon forts to skewer them like hedgehogs. Then counterstrike. All set.
"To your positions. Crush the enemy and claim victory!"
The iron cannon commanders moved out.
"Whew. This is tense. Huh?"
Wait—why was my wagon fort front and center? Why us up front? Sure, we'd fight anywhere, but the front took the brunt. Damn, bad placement. Of all spots. Screwed. Totally screwed. Not just because of that—really screwed. I'd taken this fort to oversee personally. Dad probably didn't realize either.
"Milady, pull back now?"
Injun's words made me pause, then shake my head. Too late—enemies could swarm the gap. Mid-commander swap would rattle the troops. Only option: me stepping up. Keep them from reaching me. Shields in between. Doable.
"Too late. We'll make it work."
Might as well fight. Winds favored them—flags whipping that way. They'd start with arrows. We just hold until they close. Avoid stupid mistakes, and defense holds.
Mongol camp at Gwiju
Salitai's army faced off against Goryeo's 100,000 at Gwiju.
"Ha, impressive setup. 100,000, they say. The regent himself leads them—quite the elite force."
"But look at that."
"Wagons? Think those toys can stop us? Better to defend from a fortress."
What else but idiocy? Still, Salitai respected Choi U's resolve. Personally leading 100,000 to offer up to the Mongols. And the center was wide open. For wagon defense, better to stretch long around the commander, no? Not that it'd matter much.
"Pathetic. Leaving the center empty?"
Break the center, hit command. Choi U there. Capture him, end the war.
"Probe them. Send cavalry."
Mongols always tested foes at battle's start. Loose arrows at the wagons. Shots embedded or flew inside, but no real damage.
"Tighten the wagon forts!"
Hard to see, but they reinforced against the volley. Laughable—defense only. Outnumbered and still like this? They knew they couldn't win.
Salitai figured the center held only Choi U's guards—Hamsinjin-level at best. Obvious. Relying on fodder up front.
He sneered at Choi U's plan. Probes continued, but Goryeo just hunkered down like mice. Blocking arrows for survival—anyone could. But pinned behind wagons, their offense was limited. Sure, long-range archery from afar would bleed them, but...
Tired of it? No way the mighty Mongols backed off.
"Split the army. Tangwutai's center cavalry breaches the middle; flanks pressure the wagons."
Outnumbered? Pressure all sides. Not hit-and-run—full melee. Mongols excelled there too. Not just bows.
"Yes, Marshal!"
"Tangwutai! Breach center, grab Choi U at the rear."
"Yes, Marshal!"
Whatever the wagons for—defend and counter cavalry, probably. Peninsula rats.
Tangwutai's cavalry plunged in.
"Coward Goryeo dogs! Leaving the center open?!"
Mongol momentum halted. Boom—hooves hit the minefield. Explosions roared.
"What?! What's that?! What's happening to our cavalry?!"
Cavalry in the center stepped on something, tumbling forward.
"What the hell? Even caltrops wouldn't..."
Repeated breaches failed. Inner wagons closed, spearing the panicked riders.
Flanks gripped wagons but gained little.
"Flank cavalry can't break through!"
Revise strategy. Center easiest—but blocked. Goryeo's plan: if foes rushed center, side forts pinched them. Command actually rearward for that.
To win, Mongols had to crack the wagons first.
"Commit supporting infantry! Just overrun those wagons!"
Mongols pressed. Spears from wagons hamstrung horses—not crippled, but slowed charges. Goryeo lacked combat experience beyond Khitans, and most here hadn't even that.
Battle joined: Wagons held defensively. But pressure mounted. No counter—just block. Foes swarmed harder.
Are we about to break?
Choi Yeon, watching, grabbed a spear and advanced.