Dongjin Expedition
Originally, at this time, Liaodong was caught in a power struggle between the Khitan unrest and Dongjin (Dongha). And Dongjin's capital should have been Nanjing (Yenji, Jilin Province) in this era, pushed back by the Mongols. But the reason Posan Manno was in Yoyang now was ultimately due to our influence. Just seeing how Posan Manno had returned to Yoyang because of Goryeo's changes showed that he was wary of us. Moreover, the fact that Yoyang, which should have fallen to the Dongyo, had become the capital again suggested that the Mongols might have handed it over as a condition for supporting Dongjin.
Anyway, it seemed Posan Manno had secured Yoyang and made it the capital again, which meant he had some sense that he couldn't ignore Goryeo. After all, on the map, Dongjin's Nanjing was right up against Goryeo's Haju (Hwa Prefecture)—a place that would be hard to defend if Goryeo's army seriously marched north. Even Yoyang Fortress had crumbled just like this. And only after Yoyang fell did the reality sink in that they had gone ahead and conquered all of Liaodong.
So, it was time to decide. Whether to fully incorporate this Liaodong into Goryeo. Or not. Or maybe just take a portion and call it keeping the national policy—we've done enough. But one thing was certain: if not now, the day to fully occupy Liaodong would never come. The problem was the opponent being the Mongols. Whether this would turn into a midsummer night's dream or not depended on the next war. The Mongols would now see us as a dangerous element and throw a real punch. If Salitai had been a jab, the next one would be serious. Then, the battlefield wouldn't be the Korean Peninsula—it would clearly be this Liaodong.
With us effectively having occupied Liaodong now, the difficulty of war with the Mongols would rise.
"Then, we need to reach a conclusion here. Whether to withdraw our forces from this Liaodong land, or somehow hold onto it."
In any case, the 'Dongjin conquest' had succeeded. The minimum objectives were achieved, so securing the Korean Peninsula alone and retreating to defend against the Mongol army along the Amnok River and Dumangang River was one option.
"Isn't it obvious we should take it, my lord?"
"Yes, but to do that, we'll have to fight the Mongols at least one more time. And fighting in this Liaodong, not our own land—I'm not sure how much advantage we can leverage. But if not now, who knows when we could recover this land."
On top of that, the Mongols would come before we could stabilize Liaodong. Before Goryeo officials were dispatched and influence took hold. So, before then, we needed to fully recognize the status of the Dongjin generals we'd won over, appoint them as local officials, dispatch administrators, and stabilize things until the Mongol invasion.
"So, the Fire Cannon Commander's words mean it's a gamble with the national fortune: defend Liaodong, or since we've achieved the Dongjin expedition, merge only part and pull back. One or the other."
I nodded at Kim Heeje's words.
"With Goryeo's current capabilities, we can secure the old Northeast Nine Castles and the entire Amnok River as our border. Will you safely settle for that, or use this chance to bring the Dongyo region under our influence and desperately defend Liaodong? We must choose one."
They say they withdrew due to supply issues, but even when King Gongmin occupied Liaodong, it took considerable effort to defend it. Even if King U's Liaodong conquest had succeeded, they would have faced constant Ming attacks. Our situation now was better than that era. But again, the problem was the opponent: the Mongols.
Am I being too scared? We can't underestimate the Mongols who toppled Jin and Song and campaigned to the Western Regions. We caught them with the tercio formation last time, but we can't let our guard down.
Choi U pondered deeply, over and over. It must be a tough dilemma. Whether to overextend for Liaodong or not. Jin was already in a neither-here-nor-there state for a long time. Taking Liaodong by force would mean ongoing national exhaustion in the short term, but long-term gains. Honestly, like in the war with the Khitans, just claiming victory and pulling back was best. If we take it, we should be content with securing the entire Korean Peninsula.
"I cannot abandon Liaodong."
Choi U set reclaiming Liaodong as the goal. Well, from now on, we'd have to keep gambling with the national fortune anyway. Of course, we wouldn't just die at the whims of the great powers like late Goryeo. But who knows how the Mongols would react. Even with 30,000 troops annihilated, they still had forces trampling Jin. If they finished off Jin and came to Liaodong, or worse, came straight at us first? But even though it happened unexpectedly, if not now, there was no answer.
Thanks to that bastard Salitai coming straight down from Hamsinjin, some villages might have been plundered by the Mongols, but Goryeo now had sufficient supplies. The issue was what to do with Liaodong, recovered unexpectedly during the Dongjin subjugation. Goryeo was different from Goguryeo or Balhae. We'd lost Liaodong to nomads for too long, and during the Liao era, the Jin had relocated all Balhae people from Manchuria to the Central Plains. When Balhae people surrendered to Goryeo, they assimilated easily, but with virtually no Balhae people left in Manchuria now, how long would it take to assimilate that land? Moreover, it was now Jurchen territory. So, assimilating Manchuria for Goryeo essentially meant assimilating the Jurchens, which would take a long time. At least now, instead of full incorporation, granting Jurchens local official positions was working—thank goodness. They had no choice if they wanted to survive. As I said before, if not now, who knows when we could recover Manchuria. In other words, thanks to the Mongols rising from the steppes, this world's Goryeo could extend to Liaodong. We needed to keep exploiting this, showing the Jurchens that Goryeo was their only option.
Assimilation itself would take time, so using religion was one method.
"Indeed, my lord. Since we've destroyed Dongjin, if we're blocking the Mongols, we must do it here in Liaodong. Entrust me with troops, and I will surely stop the Mongols at Yoyang!"
Kim Gyeongson and the other generals, their morale sky-high from the Gwiju victory, were all eager to fight the Mongols in Liaodong, eyes sparkling.
"From today, Yoyang Fortress shall be Goryeo's Northern Circuit. All other captured Liaodong fortresses shall revert to Goguryeo-era names. This is the national policy desired by King Taejo the Great."
"We obey your command, my lord!"
"Fire Cannon Commander. How shall we keep Liaodong in our hands?"
Father was thoroughly using me, the capable one in this affair, to protect the Choi regime. Historically, he wasn't the most reliable, but at least he promoted civil officials and kept useful people below him. Father's eyes probably saw me now as one of those useful ones. To him, I was an official of this country before being his child.
"Taking is easy, but holding is hard. We must prepare in a hurry from now. Summon Liaodong's generals to learn the terrain and features. And to assimilate the Jurchens into Goryeo, nothing beats religion. We must advance Goryeo's Buddhism to Liaodong."
"You're so busy."
He's saying that because he still sees me as lacking.
"No choice with the Mongols as opponent."
We should have selected officials for Liaodong in advance. Now it's gotten harder.
"We can't leave Gaegyeong too empty, so we can't stay in Liaodong until the next war."
"Then entrust the Northern Circuit Inspector or Circuit Commander to General Chaesongnyeon or General Ijaseong."
Liaodong should be handled as one unit first. Treat former Dongjin generals as Goryeo generals, give them autonomy in exchange for taxes, and set up a Circuit Command to oversee. For that, we need to elevate the Jurchens somewhat. Goryeo's main force is the Byeolcho Army. Local Byeolcho are elites selected from provincial armies, so only the conscripted Samnam Army lacks Byeolcho status. Incorporating Jurchens as Jurchen Byeolcho means accepting them as part of Goryeo and allowing them official positions and stipends.
"Incorporate the surrendered Jurchen forces into the Jurchen Byeolcho."
"Pardon? That's fully 20,000 men."
Entrusting 20,000 troops to me? A girl? Are you mad? I'll help until the Mongol issue is resolved, but I can't go gallivanting on horseback everywhere. I can command from the front, though.
"Also, send messengers to grant the titles of Grand General and Byeolchodo-ryeong to the Jurchen generals who greatly contributed to Yoyang's fall."
Essentially, greatly welcoming Jurchen generals to prepare for the next Mongol war. It was only natural, perhaps.
"To govern Liaodong, proper civil officials must be dispatched. We've absorbed bureaucrats under Posan Manno, but we need Goryeo officials too, and someone to oversee them."
How many people could do this? Entrusting it to martial officials might lose Liaodong back to the Mongols. At minimum, stabilize until they return. Isn't it just me? The mainland is already building roads, and I've passed on the gojeon method too. With this, maybe I can manage. I hate overreaching, but in this unprepared Goryeo, I'm the only one to handle this properly.
"I'll do it."
"Won't it be too hard for you? There's the Mongol threat."
That's why I must block them. Some info might have reached the Mongols already. Most died, survivors were rearguard, but iron cannons and wagon forts are likely known.
"I actively supported and cooperated in the Dongjin expedition, Father. And since you've decided to reclaim Liaodong, it's best I stay to stabilize it. This girl finds Liaodong too precious to lose."
Goryeo unprepared. At best, we've built national strength. Use that strengthened power to stabilize Liaodong with all our might. First, Yoyang was a key city in Liao and Jin times. Center Liaodong around Yoyang Fortress.
"But, Commander, you are a woman. How can you leave Gaegyeong for this place?"
"For the country, what distinction is there between man and woman?"
In the end, I decided to stay and stabilize Liaodong. Effectively, I'd be governing the region for the time being. Father left me thousands of elite Choi family guards for protection. Then the Goryeo main force withdrew. With 30,000 Goryeo troops remaining, plus 20,000 Jurchens, total forces to defend Liaodong: 50,000.
"My lord trusts me too much."
"Can you hold off the enemy from Liaodong?"
After Goguryeo and Balhae fell, the Korean people completely lost dominion over Liaodong. And now we'd recovered it.
"Kim Injun. You're still producing landmines, right?"
"Yes, Commander. Why?"
Even with proper management, landmines in this era might fail often.
"Trade's via Byeokrando anyway, and land routes have Mongols, so mines are fine. Set up a system to lay landmines in Liaodong too."
Bonus: put a trade port on the Liaodong Peninsula for trade bypassing land. No need for overland then. Above all, using the sea develops maritime trade and shipbuilding. Goryeo did international trade well, but Joseon stupidly stopped, fawning on China. Not me—make Liaodong Peninsula an international trade hub too. Gather Jurchens, match Joseon's population. With that power, annex Japan or take Kyushu, use millions as vassals. For that, maritime must develop absolutely. Land routes closed until Central Plains stabilize.
Thinking about it, yeah. Develop landmines and plant them across Liaodong plains—who could invade easily then?
"Aim for about 300."
"Bury them starting now?"
"No, if now, by Mongol arrival many will be duds. Pause production now, resume and bury when Mongol threat looms."
Doing it now, they'd just trample over. Useless dud mines have no point.
