Flail Cavalry and the Byeolcho Regime
I'd even introduced flails to further boost the combat power of our cavalry. That's right—flail cavalry.
"The lady has arrived!"
"The Khan has come!"
"You lot, it's the Governor-General!"
Waaaaaaaaah!
As I stepped out to the outskirts of Yoyang Fortress, where the cavalry were training, I was at the peak of popularity. The fervent cheers from the Choi clan's cavalry dispatched from the Capital Bureau. Even as an idol among the Jurchens, my fame was unmatched.
The cavalry I'd raised in Liaodong numbered a staggering fifty thousand on their own. Ten thousand were from Goryeo proper, but considering that in original history, the Sambyeolcho had numbered only a few thousand at most, this was an enormous expansion of cavalry forces in Liaodong alone. Fourty thousand of them were Jurchen cavalry, including some Khitan remnants from the former Jin army. All of them waving Goryeo's phoenix banners—what a magnificent sight.
And among them, another ten thousand were iron cannon heavy cavalry: two thousand from the Goryeo army and eight thousand Jurchen heavy cavalrymen. To counter the Mongols, I'd raised not just simple iron cannon elites but cavalry on this scale—wasn't that substantial? Flail one-trick pony cavalry struggled against Mongol horse archers, but flail cavalry backed by gunfire? That changed everything.
"You are the mighty cavalry legion defending this land of Goryeo, from the southernmost tip of Tamna to this Yoyang! Be they Samhan folk or Jurchens, all are Goryeo's proud cavalry—stay ever vigilant against foreign invaders!"
Waaaaaaaaah!
After a bit of lip service and watching the flail cavalry drill, I was genuinely impressed. The way they smashed a displayed Mongol suit of armor to pieces in seconds—truly befitting the Jurchens' mastery of cavalry.
I was quite satisfied.
"To absorb the Jurchens so quickly in such a short time... impressive, my lady."
"It's not that impressive. I just used a little cheat."
I gave an appropriate response to Kim Jun's admiration.
"A cheat?"
"Ah, you mean the Abkai Hehehe."
Even for their self-esteem, when the Jurchens propped me up, I had to push forward.
The Meng'an Mouke system—originally the Jin's reformed administrative and military structure under tribal chiefs. Moukes under Meng'ans, administratively called Meng'an bureaus and Mouke bureaus, militarily Meng'an armies and Mouke armies. It was meant for ruling Jurchens and Khitans, while Bohai and Han peoples got the Zhou-hyun system.
Funny how it basically divided sedentary farmers from nomads, right? This dual governance ultimately hindered national unity and fueled Jin's decline. At a glance, it seemed to preserve each ethnicity's legitimacy—like maintaining the combat prowess of nomadic Jurchens and Khitans.
But it bred discrimination and conflict. Meng'an-Mouke affiliates got tax breaks, land grants, and privileges, while sedentary Han-like farmers faced harsh taxes and discrimination.
Under Goryeo, though, it was different. The powerful military regime built by Goryeo's warrior government—precisely strengthened by this era's military reforms, anyway. Incorporating them unified combat power.
The Byeolcho Army selected the exceptional. Sure, the Second Army and Six Divisions were also Byeolcho, but they guarded the Capital Bureau and imperial house separately. We split into Samhan Byeolcho and Liaodong Byeolcho, gathering Liaodong's finest into Liaodong Byeolcho, and similarly for Samhan Byeolcho. Residence determined it, stripping ethnicity of meaning in the military system.
"Goryeons and Jurchens are one and the same—why keep a Meng'an-Mouke military system?"
Strictly speaking, Meng'an-Mouke served the ruling Jurchen elite. But now Liaodong entered Goryeo's era: Goryeons as rulers, Jurchens as subjects. Those who'd surrendered via Dongjin couldn't claim Meng'an-Mouke perks, so countless sought Goryeon status for equal benefits.
Thus, the expanded Byeolcho Army became a single military class transcending ethnicity, shedding outdated privileges. Administration uniformly adopted the Zhou-hyun system. No ethnic distinctions: Byeolcho for the central army, Zhou-hyun for governance. How perfect was that?
The Jurchens, who surrendered to Goryeo but still eyed Goryeons warily—how delighted they'd be. To prove no regional discrimination, we encouraged Goryeon migration to Liaodong and Jurchen to Goryeo; those fearful Jurchens shed tears of gratitude.
"Without ethnic bias, any elite warrior can exist under the single Byeolcho military class."
Unlike fools like Emperor Hailingwang who started Sinicization. Ugaha's Jurchen Byeolcho forces were fully integrated under Byeolcho. This propaganda accelerated Jurchen elite-ification—their innate prowess making Byeolcho membership a path to Goryeo's upper crust.
Goryeons, unwilling to lag, flocked in, expanding Byeolcho further. Local armies under provincial commands subdivided elites into central and provincial Byeolcho, guerrillas into local Byeolcho—all under the Capital Bureau overseeing Byeolcho.
I'd already told Father: we couldn't repeat Jin's mistakes.
"I never imagined institutionalizing the Byeolcho System like this."
Kim Gyeongson and Kim Jun, who helped perfect it, along with Kim Yunhu still leading vanguard troops, were floored.
"Use what's useful to the max. Only possible because we're a warrior regime."
It could turn militaristic, but once Jurchens assimilated, it was done. To maintain a standing army of at least two hundred thousand defending Liaodong, this was necessary. Byeolcho for elite forces, Zhou-hyun for tax equality. Goryeo's unified tax code simplified Jin's dual mess from Meng'an-Mouke.
Jin Kaifeng
"Every day, more people migrate to Goryeo. What in the world is going on? We're already short on soldiers!"
"Your Majesty, investigations show it's mostly from regions beyond our control."
"That's not the point. Why are even Jurchens going to Goryeo?"
Of course, clinging to the strong was nature's way. Jin's era had passed; fleeing to Goryeo—with military might rivaling or surpassing the Mongols—was only natural. Especially for northern Jurchens: a pretext of returning to their homeland.
"Anything but Goryeo mocking us while pretending respect, ignoring Jurchens covertly. How do they rule to pull this off?"
"They've integrated Jurchens under their warrior regime's Byeolcho military system. No ethnic discrimination—a single military class. Administration unified under Zhou-hyun."
"And it works?"
"In our Jin, Jurchens rule; in Goryeo's Liaodong, Goryeons do. Offering equality? Jurchens naturally follow."
"Pitiful. Doesn't this mean Heaven's mandate has shifted to Goryeo?"
What could they do without power to protect the people? Wan An Jinhwasang and officials sighed. Jin barely held by military rule amid endless Mongol wars—why Wan An Jinhwasang could even face the emperor.
"At least Goryeo's not hostile—how fortunate."
"What do you mean?"
"Song shows signs of marching north."
Song had long coveted old Northern Song lands. Jin knew, but lacked conquest power; Song wouldn't cross if Jin stayed strong.
"Song? Mongol war unfinished, and now Song moves?"
"Yes, inevitably."
"We can't block both! Goryeo won't shield us from Mongols like before."
Goryeo had withdrawn post-war. That alone saved Jin's lifeline—no blaming them. But it didn't secure it. With Song advancing too? Past Emperor Taizu's Jin might manage; now? Doubtful. Easier to block Song, perhaps.
"We'll block Song with all we have, but Mongols overwhelm us."
"From Goryeo's view, our fall to Mongols hurts them. Can't we get help?"
Mongols gave Goryeo concessions grudgingly—they hated Goryeo. To block Mongol revenge someday, Goryeo needed Jin holding Mongols. Unless Song was stopped outright, pray Mongols stayed away.
Mongol Karakorum
Ogodei had lately grown displeased with damn Goryeo. No, always had been—ever since that Goryeo wench mocked him, right up to now. Seeing Goryeo trade with Saracens via Mongol routes was absurd. Even snatching scholars Mongols brought for themselves. How to endure?
Old Goryeo would've been crushed long ago. But Mongols were conquering Jin, planning western campaigns—no provoking Goryeo. All they could do was squeeze merchants.
Of course, first tormenting Yalu Choeje, who'd pushed Goryeo friendship.
"Rumors say all western scholars we brought are going to Goryeo?"
"Unavoidable, Great Khan."
Unavoidable. If forced to choose, Goryeo over Mongols—seemed stronger than the Mongols who'd dragged them. Natural to seek refuge. Goryeo probably accepted them deliberately.
Yalu Choeje, architect of Goryeo peace, scrambled excuses to dodge political fallout.
"It's human nature, is it not? Goryeo has many able bureaucrats. If we employ more, why stay only in Goryeo? Besides, Choi Yeon—the daughter of the warrior regent, Liaodong Governor-General—loves pursuing knowledge. Likely her influence."
No gain clashing with Goryeo. Endure now, revenge later.
Blocking this Great Khan, itching daily to strike Goryeo, exhausted Yalu Choeje. Exaggerating "stealing everyone"—few fled Mongol fear anyway.
"Even so, Goryeo profits off us Mongols! Well? Speak."
Ogodei glared at ginseng tribute merchants. Profiting via Mongol transit—insulting the Mongol Empire.
"Great Khan, Goryeo trades with distant Daesik via your Silk Road, but we've traded via Byeokrando all along. Half-true, half-false on profiting from Mongols."
"Glib tongue!"
Goryeons all had sharp mouths.
"Great Khan, Goryeo gains more from Song than Silk Road."
"What?"
"Song's population exceeds eighty million; Goryeo targets that market for massive profits."
In that case, Mongol gains were minor. Seemed mocking, but reality.
"Then why take our people?"
"They came freely; we just opened the path. Especially since the Governor-General loves glass, calling in glass artisans to Liaodong."
Again, helpless against Goryeo merchants.
"Listen, Chief Secretary."
"Yes, Great Khan."
"How long must we tolerate those Goryeo bastards rampaging?"
Yalu Choeje didn't love Goryeo either. But what to do? Goryeo held the upper hand now, Mongols the lower. Who foresaw this pebble? If Goryeo stayed quiet, fine—but they profited furiously, as if foreseeing Mongol invasion. Laughable.