The Order of Goryeo
“They won’t come to our lands. If we can’t subdue them, does it mean we should get along nicely instead?”
I still couldn’t forget how that daughter of Choi U had humiliated me. But if it truly was a nation worth that much fury, then maybe I could let it slide.
“And merchants from Goryeo’s Trading Office have offered ginseng to you, Great Khan.”
“Ginseng? You mean that elixir called the herb of immortality?”
“Yes. Goryeo’s ginseng is so superior that the dynasties of the Central Plains have prized and purchased it from ancient times right up to now.”
In truth, ginseng had been renowned since the Three Hans era. It had even gone up as tribute to China or been traded as a famous commodity.
“But is it really a medicine for immortality?”
“To be precise, they say it’s a cure-all that restores vitality. It’s regarded as the finest medicinal herb in the East.”
“Are you saying I should commend those merchants?”
“We hear they’re merchants from the institution called the Trading Office, which supervises and manages merchants established by the Governor of Yodong.”
In other words, this ginseng tribute was no different from a gift sent by that damned wench. Toying with me whenever she pleased, and now sending expensive medicine? My head boiled with rage just thinking about it.
But what could be done about it now? If they were offering tribute, it had to be accepted.
“Have the Chief Secretary receive it. No matter our peace with Goryeo, I can’t accept it personally. Since it’s tribute, issue an appropriate reward.”
In short, it was a matter of pride—he’d accept it, but not directly. If he did, that daughter of Choi U or whatever her name was would mock him endlessly.
“Understood, Great Khan.”
“Great Khan! Great Khan!”
“What is it?”
“Wan An Jin-hwa-sang’s forces have pushed our army back dozens of li!”
Wan An Jin-hwa-sang’s Imperial Army? I’d heard he was a famed general of Jin, but to that extent?
“Speak sense! Most of North China lies under Mongol hooves—what forces could they possibly have?”
“While our cavalry panicked from the fireworks Goryeo sells, they ambushed us.”
Goryeo scum sold goods to the Jin dogs? Sure, we hadn’t imposed a total trade ban, but anyone with eyes should know better than to trade with them.
“Even now, you say we should stay friendly with Goryeo? Cut off the hands and feet of those firework-peddling merchants at once!”
“For now, summon the merchants and investigate.”
With no choice, he decided to interrogate the ginseng tribute merchants.
“Are you lot mocking the Great Mongol Empire?”
“Great Khan, now that Goryeo has made peace with the Mongols, how could we supply fireworks to Jin? Especially for military use—even our Governor of Yodong never imagined such a thing.”
Ögedei had seen fireworks himself and knew what they were. Clearly toys for amusement. They did look like something children would love. The merchants pleaded so desperately that he calmed somewhat.
But one issue remained unresolved.
“You admit handing them over, don’t you?”
“Great Khan, that’s not true. Our firework trade partners are Western merchants via the Silk Road through Mongol lands, and Song.”
Japan too, but they didn’t mention it. The Khan wouldn’t think that far anyway.
And sure enough, at the mention of Song, Ögedei’s face hardened.
“Then why do the Jin have them?”
“Probably Song merchants passed them along?”
With his tone softening at last, Song was duly named.
“Then trading with Song merchants—isn’t that forbidden?”
“No, Great Khan—we have to make a living. How could we stop? Will the Mongols buy up all our fireworks instead?”
“What? We Mongols cherish Goryeo so much we even issue transit passes, and this is how you repay us!”
It was so outrageous Ögedei nearly lopped off the merchants’ heads right there. But...
“Even if they go to Jin, Song won’t sell them for pennies—Jin’s in no position to buy much anyway. And the Mongols could trade large quantities for military use, no?”
“Hm?”
He’d summoned them to berate, but it made sense on second thought. Jin was barely clinging to life. Song merchants wouldn’t just hand fireworks over—they’d sell dear. A burden for Jin. And if the Mongols bought in bulk for war...
Not a bad deal. In the end, Mongol firework trade on the steppes was limited to Mongols and their Arabian subjects. Naturally, they had to favor Goryeo in return. Silk Road trade rights, even Mongol soldiers as escorts. Of course, it doubled as surveillance on Goryeo merchants, but for the traders, it cut escort costs.
Thus, Choi Yeon’s Trading Office gained great favor in Mongol lands.
Only one problem: The fireworks Mongol troops carried proved useless against Jin forces, who already knew of their existence.
Wan An Jin-hwa-sang of Jin was making his name known. Performing miraculous defenses, repelling Mongol armies.
Of course, it wasn’t a complete rout. Just minor counterattacks—Jin lacked the strength to reclaim lost lands.
What could this Han-ized Jin do anyway? The mighty Jurchen cavalry that founded Jin now flew under Goryeo’s Phoenix Cavalry banners and Abkai Hehe faith.
The reason lay with Jin’s Hailing Emperor, who’d relocated the capital to Zhongdu mid-reign, appointing Han, Balhae, and Khitan men to key posts once reserved for Jurchens. Pro-China, he aggressively imported Chinese systems.
In other words, like other nomadic states, Jin Sinicized. Sure, it brought administrative reforms and centralization, but his reckless Southern Song invasion backfired into rebellion and death.
A bit of a tangent, but thanks to him, Jin became Chinese-ized—and lost its signature Jurchen combat prowess.
Now Jin struggled mightily against the Mongols.
In such a state, what could Jin achieve? Even under Wan An rule, the populace was mostly Han. Had Jurchens still dominated, things might’ve differed—no such utter devastation from the Mongols.
But conversely, Goryeo’s Yodong governance was an opportunity for Jurchens.
Most of Manchuria—even old Goguryeo’s Buyeo lands—now fell under Goryeo.
In this situation, I’d favored the Jurchens. With Jin so feeble, there was much to exploit. Like fully shattering Jurchen support for the Wan An clan.
“The Three Hans and Jurchens united once more under one banner—what a stirring sight! Goryeo has at last restored old Goguryeo’s glory, and the Jurchens join in harmony. Goryeo will never force Jurchens into Goryeo garb. Unlike the Wan An clan, who shifted their capital to China, Sinicizing themselves and scorning the Jurchens of old Goguryeo lands. The Wan An owed their empire’s founding glory to those very Jurchens, yet ignored them—small wonder they now fall to the Mongols.”
My words drew cheers from many Jurchens.
It was a declaration: I would never abandon them. No Sinicization. While fostering enmity toward Wan An, drawing them into Goryeo’s order.
“Jurchens can rise to Goryeo’s highest offices. And as Goryeo subjects now, no discrimination against Jurchens whatsoever.”
Jurchen officials showered applause.
Jurchens weren’t fools. They knew I was next in line as regent, so they trusted my pledge.
Bonus: It recalled Abkai Hehe too.
“Since time immemorial, Tianxia stood divided by Qin Shi Huang: non-Han north of the Great Wall, Han south. Yet Wan An, born north of the Wall, insisted on descending south. Forsaking their roots, they lost Heaven’s Mandate—what could be more natural? Goryeo, northern folk who moved south to the peninsula, never abandons our roots—we unite with Jurchens. That’s why Goryeo and Jurchen officials together created Hunminjeongeum.”
To convince Jurchens not yet exposed to Hangul, Goryeo vowed to preserve their legitimacy.
Road networks now linked to Yodong, save border fringes.
I steadily pursued integration without forced Goryeo-ization or Jurchen-ization—respecting cultures to stabilize Yodong.
The Trading Office especially circulated economy in Yodong, with Jurchen officials and merchants aboard.
New border forts underwent repairs, complete with batteries for iron cannons.
“Jin’s holding out somehow. Now the Mongols can’t dare ignore us further. Even after losing Yodong, they manage this much.”
Kim Jun’s diplomatic insight had sharpened nicely.
“No matter how routed, they’ve hunkered in Zhongyuan’s heartland—they’ll endure as long as they can.”
“Didn’t expect them to so readily accept Yodong as our land.”
“That’s how desperate they were. Fleeing bandits to a place on fire—trading their old homes and families for survival? Not a bad deal.”
“I see.”
“Jin clings to old Yan territories now. Mongol pressure will end them. But Song’s the real issue.”
No matter Mongol’s brief pause, they held superiority. Jin couldn’t revive. Even without Mongol prodding, internal revolt could topple them.
Would Song just watch? After Jingkang Incident felled Northern Song, they revived south—but harbored no grudge against Jin? They’d groveled in tribute, but with Jin weakened...
Neutral for now, but Song would likely ally with Mongols. Just as against Liao—they’d joined Jin in pincers, only to greedily lose everything to Jin.
This time too, they’d grasp Mongol hands to crush Jin.
Thus, I’d planted seeds of doubt in Mongol minds toward Song: Song merchants supplied Jin fireworks against Mongols.
Mongols eyed fireworks militarily now—misunderstanding inevitable.
Would Mongols truly ally with Song? They’d already invaded Goryeo on some dogshit pretext. Why not hit Song next? Plunder alone would fill their coffers.
“Still, if Jurchen distinctiveness persists, won’t that unsettle us somewhat?”
Yi Jang-yong, newly assigned to Yodong Governorate. In original history, he’d lingered as a mid-rank official during anti-Mongol resistance, but here he oversaw Yodong finances as tax commissioner.
From his view, loose Jurchens posed future risks.
“That’s why we migrate freed slaves to Yodong en masse. Natural cultural blending leads to natural Goryeo-ization.”
No different from spreading Goryeo flocks across Manchuria. And wasn’t Abkai Hehe Goryeo-born? I hadn’t banned traditional garb or discriminated, laying the groundwork anyway.
Inevitable. Still, I cared for Jurchens—letting their women wear native dress two or three days a week.
Yodong had Khitans and Hans too, but Han refugees sought shelter willingly—no rebellion there. Khitans? A scant few remained; they knew misbehaving meant slaughter, so no demands for their culture.
The Khitan issue needed solving. Where to use them...
“Governor, why not issue paper currency over coins now? Yodong logistics are primed—ripe for trial.”
“Hm, true. Goryeo’s scale demands it now. Handle that well.”
“Understood, Governor.”
“With infantry and artillery bolstered, time to strengthen cavalry combat power.”
Cavalry dispatched from the Cavalry Bureau—Jurchen-manned—were fierce. Sims against Mongol POWs? They held their own.
