The Ancient Lands of Goguryeo
The victories in the western Yeo-Mong War and the Eastern Jin expedition had elevated the prestige of the Choi regime to unprecedented heights. Amid this sky-piercing momentum, the reforms were finalized, winning the people's hearts firmly to the Choi clan. Even Emperor Gojong had no choice but to personally venture outside Gaegyeong to welcome the triumphant Choi U.
It was a monumental national achievement. Even Jin, Goryeo's nominal overlord, was on the brink of collapse at the hands of the Mongols—yet those same Mongols had been crushed in Goryeo. "This feat will be praised for generations," the civil officials of the Choi regime chimed in unison.
But that was the extent of it. Gojong's role ended there. From rewarding merits to postwar reconstruction, everything fell under Choi control.
"Your Majesty is the emperor of this land. How can you concern yourself with such trivial matters?"
"But still, the Iron Cannon Adjutant is the daughter of Grand Marshal Choi. She's a woman, is she not? Entrusting her with all of Yodong—will that truly be alright?"
A woman she may be, but Choi Yeon was the daughter of the Choi house and the foremost contributor to elevating the nation to this point. Officially, much of the credit went to Choi U, but no one in the court was ignorant of Choi Yeon's achievements. Whispers were already circulating that Choi U's daughter had led the Choi regime to its golden age.
Gojong had glimpsed her once or twice during Choi U's audiences. No matter how great a woman's contributions, could she truly govern all of Yodong? But Choi U, his momentum piercing the heavens, fixed his gaze and spoke firmly.
"Your Majesty, more than half the credit for this war belongs to my daughter. From the battlefield strategies to the iron cannons and wagon fort formation, and even the Eastern Jin expedition—she was involved in everything. Even the soap Your Majesty uses was her creation. Are you doubting my daughter's abilities? If even the king cannot trust his most capable subject, one destined to lead this nation, how can we proceed?"
Gojong had fretted over a woman ruling the ancient Goguryeo lands, but Choi U dismissed it outright. His words were tantamount to declaring Choi Yeon his successor. No one could lightly challenge the heir of the Choi regime.
"Ah, no, it's not that."
In the end, Gojong could press no further. After all, the national policy set by King Taejo Wang Geon—to recover Goguryeo's lost territories—had been fulfilled not by the Wang clan, but by the Chois, who now managed those very lands.
"Hmm, we must assimilate the Jurchens."
"This Hunminjeongeum that Lady Choi sent... it's unlike anything we've seen."
"If it's true, it should be easy to learn."
"Will a script created by the lady truly take hold among the people? Abandoning Hanja like this... we should decide carefully."
Yes, that's how it will be. Discarding Hanja, used for so long, wouldn't be easy. Choi Yeon had made Hunminjeongeum simple to learn, but it was still premature for the Goryeo heartland. Better to broach it in court first and pilot it in Yodong.
"It's the unifying script for the Three Hans and the Jurchens. We should test it first with the Jurchens in Yodong."
"Yes, and merchants say Jin has sent an envoy—via sea, with traders' help, since the land routes are blocked."
"No doubt requesting reinforcements or something about Yodong."
"Likely so."
According to Choi Yeon, Jin no longer warranted attention. Even without Mongol interference, its fate was sealed. No need to prop it up as overlord anymore.
"Hmm, then we proceed as discussed."
Her daughter had foreseen this: Jin, desperate, would send someone to Goryeo demanding recognition of their Yodong conquests. Choi U's ambition had led to sudden rule over Yodong, but she had anticipated it—they must stabilize it somehow. Since the die was cast, they had to try.
How vast was Goryeo's territory now? The entire Korean Peninsula was secured. The regions where General Yun Gwan once led 170,000 troops north to build the Nine Northeastern Castles, spilling blood in fierce battles with the Jurchens, had fallen with ease. The Mongol defeat and Eastern Jin's collapse had paved the way. Defending those castles against Jurchens was hellish enough; pioneering them had led to their abandonment. But with Jurchen submission, holding them was pure gain.
"What are you staring at so intently, Governor?"
It was Kim Injun. Rewarded for protecting her in the last war, he'd been promoted to Byeolchodo-ryeong. His slave papers had long been burned, yet he still trailed her like a shadow. Well, with Chunsim recently summoned too, it wasn't just him.
But hmm. When did this kid change his name? Kim Injun sounded off—the middle syllable grated.
"From now on, your name is Kim Jun, not Kim Injun."
"Out of a clear blue sky, what—"
"Every time I say Injun, it bugs me."
"Sigh."
Suddenly renamed, Kim Jun scowled but soon sighed... What the hell? Who does this punk think he is, sighing in front of me? In the old military regime days, his head would've rolled.
Anyway. What she was reading was a letter from her father. Its contents confirmed the borders at the Northeast and the Amnok River—solidifying the peninsula's hold. A bit plump, extending to Yoyang Castle.
"Hmm, timing is everything with people."
"Ta?"
"No, more like the timing and opportunity aligned perfectly. Think about it—from Taejo to now, over 300 years. How often did we actually reclaim Goguryeo lands? Gangdong's six prefectures were a handful, and the Nine Northeastern Castles failed."
But the Mongol rampage and Goryeo's awakening created massive synergy, propelling them to Yodong in one dash. Later, Yi Seonggye and his "four can'ts" nonsense—Joseon essentially abandoned Goguryeo territory. Considering that mess, life really was about timing.
She'd expected Jurchen chaos after Eastern Jin's fall, but no. Offer food to those surrendering, and they'd join rather than fight.
"Indeed. Without meeting Your Excellency, Goryeo might have perished."
Ironic, thinking of history's Kim Jun, but whatever.
"How many Mongols next time?"
"Hard to say. Wanting to finish Jin, I'd guess 50,000 to 100,000."
Many would be locally conscripted auxiliaries—pure Mongols maybe half. Still, not Khwarezm-scale. Ideally, crush them decisively next time, but even now's Goryeo couldn't manage that. Better to whittle them down.
They hadn't just repelled 30,000 and sent them packing—they'd annihilated them in open battle. The eastern front now worried the Mongols. Next invasion would be bigger. 50,000-100,000, including locals. Realistic.
If tens of thousands of elites, max 50,000 Mongols. They'd conscript auxiliaries retaking Yodong, then eye the heartland.
"If they keep coming?"
"If we just held till they tired and withdrew, they'd return anytime. But smash them again, and it's different."
Annihilate the next wave, and Mongols couldn't attack Goryeo anymore. Ögedei pushing third or fourth invasions? While fighting Jin? Possible, but poor return. Mongol might came from pure warriors. March into another empire's graveyard? Yodong offered less than Jin in resources and population. Weighing prestige, retaliation once more, then done. They couldn't prioritize Goryeo over Jin.
But if the next hit as hard as the first, they'd finish Jin first, postponing Goryeo. She hoped for delay.
Current situation: Yoyang now had a decent administration—thanks to not overreaching into all Eastern Jin lands. But fallout Jurchen bands were trouble. Bribing with food worked once or twice; absorbing all impossible. Assimilate fast.
Not her style, but enforce Abkaï Hehe and teach Goryeo tongue. She'd requested monks from home, planning temples. But look at those entering Yoyang streets—armed with spears and swords, in formation. Felt like Choi Chungheon's monk rebellions.
Monks for Buddhist assimilation, yet they looked ready to found Shaolin.
"It's an honor to meet the Yodong Governor. I am Kim Yunhu of the Small Vehicle Sect. I've gathered these martial monks to aid you."
Meeting Kim Yunhu like this—fate's prank? The monks were the issue. For unity via Buddhism, she might need more from home or local temple support. Hold off.
About 1,000 warrior monks. Not for constant war—might mesh with belligerent Jurchens.
The real headache: Jin refugees crowding into the Central Plains. Honestly, she wanted Jin to survive somehow. But they were a Jurchen dynasty. Suppose a genius sage emperor arose, rebuilding amid Mongol ruin. Then claimed Yodong back? Unless assimilated by then...
Hmm. Abkaï Hehe indeed. She hated playing god, but easiest path. Mongol timing helped, but stabilize fast or fail.
"From now on, Yodong unites under Abkaï Hehe and Buddhism—not the Wan An imperial house. Goryeons and Jurchens as one."
Surrendered Jurchen officials backed it. To Jin, they were traitors; stuck with Goryeo, better cooperate unless enslaved. Good they learned of Abkaï Hehe. Jin used it big—time to weaponize it, erase Wan An influence.
"We need hyanggyo schools too."
Hyanggyo—local academies, basically.
"Hyanggyo, milady?"
"History lessons ease Jurchen assimilation. I'll request officials from home."
Nothing beat historical unity: Goguryeo-Malgal, Balhae-Malgal, Goryeo-Jurchen. Most officials here were Eastern Jin or Jin holdovers—Jurchens. She favored them. Embrace via Abkaï Hehe or whatever—why scorn kin?
Yun Gwan slaughtered even pro-Goryeo Jurchen chiefs, funneling them to Wan An, birthing Jin. Hug them instead, and Wan An unification delays or fails. Goryeo unwittingly second fiddle in Jin's rise.
Jin's decline waning, but neglect them and new Jurchen states rise. She wouldn't repeat—embrace all.
Goryeo at least wasn't scorned by Jin, but Joseon? Scorned Jurchens, bootlicked Ming, soul-stripped by Qing. Caution in every detail.