Postwar Reforms and the Mongol Envoy

Even if it was a different Kim Jun from my original world, how could I possibly marry him? More importantly, if I had children, the Choe regime's hereditary succession could continue indefinitely. Even if the father was a Kim, the child would still be mine, preserving the system. To prevent that, it needed to be severed at some point. My ultimate goal was a constitutional monarchy. I didn't want my children bearing the Choe name and inheriting power. What I aimed for was a prime minister ruling the nation with the endorsement of civil and military officials—a kind of republican system for this era. Nationwide elections were impossible now. For starters, I wanted a framework where capable prime ministers were acclaimed by bureaucrats. In that process, it didn't matter if they were Goryeo natives or Jurchens. Anyone devoted to Goryeo's prosperity was fit to lead.

"If I bore a child here, it would just perpetuate a simple military junta's succession. That's not good. The Goryeo of the next era should be governed not by a misguided military regime, but by talents selected by officials."

Just raising a child out of wedlock might work, but no. Above all, the Jurchens now propping me up had to integrate into Goryeo society later. If they only followed the Choe clan, it could become dangerous. Thinking about it, that made sense. Even if I'd been born in a man's body, I couldn't have children. To end the martial regime, there could be no succession. Of course, the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠U-bong Choe line would continue through my younger brothers, but to halt Choe hereditary rule, I couldn't have kids. Bluntly put, with the Choe clan's authority piercing the heavens right now, wouldn't my child naturally inherit it? To avoid succession, I simply couldn't have any. What a shame.

In any case, the war was over, and full authority over Yodong had come to me.

"My goal is a mighty Goryeo where Jurchens participate in politics, and no one faces discrimination."

The Choe regime, starting from Jeong Jung-bu and passed down, had major flaws. It could never escape the limitations of a martial regime. I considered adopting Japan's shogunate system, but how long would that last? Had any shogunate endured as long as a dynasty? Sure, with systematic preparation, maybe. But the shogunate's existence itself was the problem. Look at the Meiji Restoration—the flawed military regime was overthrown. They split into factions opposing or yielding to the West, hardliners and softliners, but the Edo shogunate was a military government, giving reformers the perfect pretext to topple it. If the shogunate had been a parliament upholding the emperor, would it have fallen so easily? In the end, legitimacy was everything.

Building a perfect military regime was hard. The system was inherently unstable. Even if my father and the Choe regime represented a stable phase of martial rule, that was only within its framework—the nation as a whole was rotting. It could give malcontents a pretext to rise against the Choe regime later. The country would plunge into chaos, so abolishing hereditary succession was right. Even if I lived a full life, I couldn't defy the tide of history. A counter-revolution? That just meant continuing the same dynastic state. Fundamentally, it wouldn't achieve what I wanted. Whether shogunate or dynasty, it might hold in my era, but it wouldn't last. So, constitutional monarchy it was. Stagnant water rots, after all. I didn't think highly of the Yi Joseon, but how long could King Wang's Goryeo endure? Could they hold Yodong? Their current status? To lead the nation to strength, we couldn't rely on hoping for sage kings every time—that wasn't realistic. At minimum, no nepotism: no installing children of great parents as officials just because their folks were awesome. Select only talent. Goryeo folk, Jurchens, naturalized Han Chinese or even Japanese—it didn't matter. Even the Mongols had Yalu Choeje, and plenty of Han talents served Yuan China. In original history, when Southern Song fell, the Mongols used Han armies in the Battle of Yishan and co-opted technicians. In the future, Jurchens should claim seats in Goryeo's parliament.

"Right here, many Jurchen officials are present. I, Yodong Governor-General Choi Yeon, want you all to become the foundation stones of the mighty Goryeo I'll build."

The Jurchen officials gazed at me with deeply moved expressions. Don't look at me like that. It wasn't because I particularly liked Jurchens—it was the flow of the times. Three million Goryeo natives had limits. To expand territory, we had to cooperate with other peoples.

"We merely follow the Governor-General."

"No matter what anyone says, the Jurchens need Abkai Hehe now. We just obey your orders."

In the recent victory, how they looked at me must have been like how people once looked at Yi Seong-gye. He was worshipped by Jurchens too, after all. Not all, but anyway—these folks would greatly aid the constitutional monarchy I'd establish later.

"If Jurchens want to integrate into Goryeo society, we must spread Hunminjeongeum widely. Teach it to the newly surrendered Jurchens."

"As you command."

"Yodong needs land reform too."

With the war over, the Mongols couldn't target Goryeo for a while. Jin couldn't come easily either. We'd shown our ability to check the Mongols in the second Goryeo-Mongol ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠War, so Yodong had to be recognized as ours. For the next decade or so, we needed to fully integrate it. Then Yodong would return to the Korean fold.

"Won't Jin rebel later?"

"What could Jin say, after forcibly Han-ifying Balhae people by relocating them to the Central Plains? Look at the Northeast Nine Provinces—even Jin Taizong's brother groveled to our king to return them, but once Jin was founded, they got cocky. Jin's already collapsed in diplomacy, economy, military—many areas. Even without Mongol attacks, it'd take decades to rebuild."

Assuming a sage king even emerged from Jin. Jin's Aizong wasn't that great. Who knows without Mongol invasions, but anyway.

Now was the time to push Yodong integration policies, held back while awaiting Mongols. They wouldn't dare stir for the next decade. So, reforms.

"Last time, we beat down Posun Mannoh and Dongjin elites to distribute land to freemen, but now we'll implement the Equal-Field System."

"The Equal-Field System, you say?"

It had naturally taken hold in Goryeo with slave emancipation and the fall of noble houses.

"We'll reclaim land monopolized in Yodong, nationalize it, and distribute to soldiers, officials, and commoners."

Yodong had plenty of landowners. Confiscate theirs for Jurchen soldiers and officials.

"Allocate 15 to 50 gyeol per person for self-sufficiency in military grain and boosted loyalty. Then, via the Office-Land System, dispatch central officials; for Jurchen, Khitan, Han officials, 10 to 30 gyeol each to secure administrative talent."

"That secures soldiers' and officials' loyalty, but what of the farmers?"

Farmer policies too. No one in Yodong could challenge us now—make it solid.

"Implement assessed-field taxes: 2-3 seok per 10 gyeol, targeting 800,000 seok annually. Also, establish a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠National Tax Service and exchange here to handle taxes directly, plus grain-currency conversion."

""We obey.""

There, that should do it. Now, manage Yodong integration time well, and gleefully mock the incoming Mongol envoys.

"Governor-General! Mongols sent envoys! They want passage to Gaegyeong—permit entry?"

"They're envoys, so we should receive them. But stall, saying we need to verify authenticity. Assemble the Jurchen Byeolcho and all cavalry for training near Yoyang Fortress."

That'd make it look like we're mustering for war. Come on, then. I'd see the great Mongol minister Yalu Choeje myself.

Detained at the border for days, practically camping, Yalu Choeje finally got entry permission.

"Even for an enemy state, isn't this too rude to an envoy?"

"Hah! Considering the scandals your Mongol envoys caused in Gaegyeong, this is nothing!"

Yodong army general Kim Jun laughed mockingly at the border. Yalu Choeje bit his lip. Having seized total advantage, Goryeo was lashing out. He sighed. We should have hit Goryeo first. Better to target Jin, punish Goryeo later. The Khan had underestimated Goryeo. Anyway, before heading to Gaegyeong, he had to stop at Yoyang Fortress.

"What are all those troops?"

The war had ended in Goryeo's victory. Why this massive training near Yoyang?

"Can't you see? Training cavalry to attack your country. The Jurchen Byeolcho especially itch for revenge on Mongol forces. No formal exchanges yet, so the Governor-General thinks it's time to solidify the border."

This was bad. Even half of Goryeo's cavalry from the last war would delay Mongol Jin conquest. We had to placate Goryeo somehow. Having resolved to take responsibility, he had to act. Above all, he wanted to see that Choe father-daughter duo who'd so vexed Great Mongol. Not mere warlords—they'd defended the nation. Especially Choi U's daughter Choi Yeon: despite being a woman, she'd commanded an army, chased and slain Salitai, and this war, as supreme commander, repelled Subutai. Unforgivable. Subutai, victor in the West, subjugator of Khwarezm—sent 50,000 elite Mongols, not auxiliaries. And they were annihilated? Even worse.

"You filthy Mongols! All you know is swinging swords!"

Mongol warriors, captured, repaired roads outside the fortress under whips. What nation treated Mongol prisoners like this? Who was that woman? Curiosity piqued. Moreover, how quickly had Goryeo integrated Yodong's Jurchens? More stable than Mongol rule over Han in conquered Jin lands. Thus, Yalu Choeje entered the Yodong Governor-General's office.

"Welcome, Mongol Empire's Chancellor Yalu Choeje."

"!!!"

A pitifully beautiful woman, utterly unlike a battlefield, greeted him.

'She annihilated Mongol forces with that youthful face?'

Was she a stand-in? No—everyone deferred to her.

His post was Chief Minister of the Central Secretariat. Modeled after Tang's, it was Mongol's central administration; he was its top official—a chancellor rank. Yalu Choeje had reformed Mongol governance. Honestly, he was someone I needed to eliminate somehow, but no necromancer could revive the dead—clearly, Mongol momentum was broken. Just him coming personally proved it. This peace overture was sincere.

"It's an honor to meet Goryeo's heroine. I am Great Mongol's Chief ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Minister Yalu Choeje."

"So, why are you here?"

"Must I state it here?"

"Your Mongols caused such outrages in Gaegyeong; we want to verify first. I could handle it without bothering our emperor or your suzerain."

I smiled coolly.

"I can't show the state letter, but I came personally for peace."

Right. Peace. What else could you Mongols do to Goryeo now?