Jin, the Indispensable Money Pouch
***
Even to survive against the Mongols, Jin would periodically plunder Song whether they offered tribute in paper money or not. In time, even the Mongols would have no choice but to focus on internal governance to stabilize their conquests. Rather than wiping out the terminally ill empire of Jin, it could be fully transformed into a puppet state. How many nations built purely on military might had crumbled in the past? The Yuan dynasty's rule was so wretched that the Ming rose after just a century—but at least by Kublai's era, the savage rampages halted.
"The greatest threat to our Goryeo is Song, with its vast population and abundant resources. If they ever learn our technologies, they could surpass us in an instant. As long as Jin survives and keeps bleeding Song dry, we can weaken Song's power."
In return, Song's technological progress might accelerate, but the one with more to lose plays by different rules. Song would inevitably bolster its military, warping into a distorted economic structure. Especially if it's purely defensive survival—that could be an opportunity for us Goryeo.
"Does that mean this is an opportunity for our Goryeo, my lord? Song is still a great power. If they advance through war, the technological edge we've seized becomes precarious. Wouldn't the world realign around Song, shortening our golden age?"
Yi Jang-yong had struck right at the heart of it. As expected of a man who even served as prime minister in the original history.
"The tax commissioner has a point. But it's not that simple. I plan to sell iron cannons to Song."
Just offload some outdated matchlocks or cannons. We could produce export versions inferior to our own.
"Wouldn't that make it even more dangerous? As we said before, if technology leaks—"
Kim Jun still had a ways to go.
"A valid concern, but that's an immediate issue. It changes when Jin's plundering of Song continues and we sell them weapons. We've already perfected our iron cannon production system, but Song, in the midst of war, might decide it's cheaper to buy from Goryeo than develop it themselves."
Technology leakage is inevitable anyway. So why not sell it dearly to a nation far removed from us and not immediately hostile?
"Then—"
Well, let's think about it here. Importing being cheaper than domestic production is common even in the 21st century. If buying is cheaper, why not? Especially to fend off Jin's annual invasions, they'd have no choice but to urgently import weapons from Goryeo.
"Song will have no choice but to depend on us militarily. This isn't mere speculation—it's certainty. Developing it and building a systematic production system, or buying dearly from Goryeo—which is cheaper? The answer's obvious, isn't it?"
Once dependence starts, it's hard to break free. When relying on Goryeo becomes the norm, "We'll just keep buying their expensive weapons!"—that's how it goes.
"Now, let's think further. Do you think Jin will sit idly by while Song's military grows strong? Jin, having clashed with Song for so long, knows better. If Song commits fully to war, Jin will probably raid and destroy forges capable of weapon production, kill or abduct artisans—that's plundering, right?"
In other words, Jin becomes our delicious money pouch. Song won't produce enough weapons to stand against Jin. With Jin bearing down and weapons scarce, what happens? Inevitably, to defend the nation, they'll import from abroad. And right across the sea lies Goryeo, basking in its golden age after smashing Mongol armies twice, with rumors of wonder weapons. If I were them, I'd pay premium prices to stock up.
"When the Central Plains fracture, we've always thrived. Goguryeo did, and so has our Goryeo. But unification brings danger. Goguryeo fell that way, and Balhae couldn't fully reclaim Liaodong against Tang, collapsing to the Khitans after just two centuries. To fend off the Mongols, we incidentally seized Liaodong and even leveraged the Jurchens of Apkai Plain for stabilization. To maintain our golden age, we must make strategic choices. Song mustn't perish, but it can't stay too weak either."
We need to become the true balancer. Song absolutely cannot fall. They tried allying with the Mongols but failed. Having botched their own northern expedition, they know they can't handle Jin alone. The Mongols are rage-fueled berserkers who invade over trifles. Even after crushing them with overwhelming force, suspecting Song over mere fireworks? How paranoid can they get?
"War between Song and Jin is inevitable anyway."
Jin started with banners of reclaiming old territories, but that's it. Jin's a subcontractor to the Mongols, living on borrowed time. Song got wrecked picking fights with Jin, so now they'll cower and defend—that much is clear.
"War drives technological progress. But Jin will ultimately castrate Song's combat ability, turning it into a golden goose that lays eggs for plundering. If we sell Song just enough for defense and tell Jin we're watching their moves?"
"Won't Jin complain?"
Jin? Hmm? What could Jin possibly do?
"Jin can't touch us. Why? Because we've shown them by beheading Mongol commanders after smashing their armies twice."
The Mongols, who toppled countless nations with their atrocities, got utterly thrashed by Goryeo—like dust in a downpour. And not just thrashed: we took the heads of Salitai, trusted by Genghis, and Subutai, conqueror of nations. Both invasions, we killed their supreme commanders. To Jin, Goryeo < Mongol? Delusional—they can't handle a two-front war. Especially after our Liaodong push proved our expeditionary might. No reason for Jin to poke us. Even if it's infuriating, they must focus on bleeding Song. Mongols get Song's wealth through Jin, and we sell weapons to Song thanks to Jin. Above all, Emperor Aizong of Jin—if he knew the original history, he'd possess Emperor Injo and kowtow to me in gratitude. In his fall, he suicided, his head sent to Song; Emperor Lizong enshrined it in the imperial temple, declaring vengeance for Emperors Huizong and Qinzong. Sure, the Wan'an clan went beyond bullying Song with the Zhenguan coup—self-inflicted. Still, preserving their dynasty should earn my thanks. Though leading this doomed empire to survive the Mongols remains a task.
***
In Lin'an, capital of Southern Song, Emperor Lizong was seething with rage. The ambitious northern expedition had started strong but faltered because of Meng Gong and his subordinates Wang Jian, Zhao Fan, and Zhao Gui.
"Even if their army is elite, how can this be? Jin treats our lands like their backyard!"
"Execute us, Your Majesty!"
"Are you saying conquering Jin is truly impossible?"
Lizong swallowed his fury, glaring at Meng Gong and his pleading generals. Gauging the emperor's mood, Vice Commissioner of Military Affairs Sa Chongzhi ventured an opinion.
"Yangyang is already besieged. Those Jurchen bandits target only wealthy cities, and now they've hit Yangzhou too."
A man who'd earned merits against Jin and guarded against Mongols to rise to Vice Commissioner, Sa Chongzhi—recently promoted to Commissioner of the Imperial Guard for supporting the northern army—relayed frontline reports to the emperor.
"How, against foes barely clinging to life!"
"The Jin foes fight with backs to the wall, like cornered rats—we're outmatched. Moreover—"
"Moreover?"
"They're systematically trying to weaken us militarily."
That was the problem. Jin aimed to mold Song into a perfect golden goose for plundering: first emasculate their military to cripple northern ambitions, then make even defense against raids impossible.
"What does that mean?"
"They're unleashing cavalry to destroy forges and smelters, killing or abducting artisans, seizing weapons."
Weapon production facilities wrecked, artisans slain or kidnapped, arms confiscated.
"So they're thoroughly dismantling our military power to prevent any counterattack."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"I sought to capture that Wan'an leader and avenge our two emperors, but was that too greedy? Outrageous!"
"Your Majesty, execute this subject."
Meng Gong, humiliated by the failed northern expedition, felt death was too light. Failing to subdue Jin, despite no Mongols and mobilizing hundreds of thousands—only to be beaten by half as many Jin troops.
'Even Meng Gong can't do it.'
Meng Gong was renowned as a fierce general in Song. He'd expected Jin's Mongol-hardened generals to be tough, but not this tough.
"How can we make Jin withdraw their army?"
"They say increasing tribute paper money will make them retreat for now."
Increase paper money tribute. It wouldn't break their backs. Even if Jin took it, they'd need trade with Southern Song to survive—sending the paper money back to Song in a cycle. Still, it was tribute to Jin. Not harmless to the treasury.
"How severe is the damage this time?"
"We can't plan another northern expedition for years—at best, if Jin doesn't attack."
Would Jin stay quiet? Their repelling the expedition and pushing south to plunder said otherwise. Jin would replenish their depleted strength by ravaging Song; defense was Song's best bet now.
"What? Jin attacking again?"
"Their forces cross borders at will. To survive the Mongols, they'll keep targeting us."
Then what's the point of tribute? Better to bolster the military with that money. But could Song even do it now?
"They're destroying our forces—any countermeasures?"
"Regrettably, Your Majesty, Song has always been militarily weak, allying with that peninsular Goryeo since antiquity."
"Enough of that! I'm asking how to face Jin!"
"Our military is weak, but we have one thing that covers the seas: immense wealth, including the gold and silver Jin covets."
Who didn't know that? Lizong frowned at Sa Chongzhi's words.
"So? What then?"
"Goryeo hasn't just toppled countless nations—they smashed Mongol armies twice, even the one that drove Jin to the brink. The second time, even Subutai, destroyer of empires, met a screaming end. Proving their victories no fluke."
True enough. Even Jin, instigators of the Zhenguan coup, never dared invade Goryeo lightly. And now they'd crushed the nomads again.
"Use our vast wealth to hire their army?"
"Goryeo's run by martial generals now—direct army support's unlikely. But trading for their powerful new weapons that repelled the Mongols? Possible."
"New weapons in trade? Would they?"
"Goryeo incidentally took Liaodong; they're even accommodating the Jurchens there. Stabilizing it is urgent—they need Jurchen cooperation, which costs dearly. Add a premium, and why not sell?"
Just buy expensive. Goryeo-Song trade never included weapons anyway—plenty feasible.
"Handle this as envoy."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Ego-bruising to buy weapons from Goryeo, but what choice? To block Jin, rely on foreign arms for now.