Water Buffaloes and the Lure of the Open Sea
It had been a while since the provincial Ho clans made the trek up to Gaegyeong. They had no choice—the summons came from the Choe regime itself, straight from the successor. They couldn't ignore it.
"The Military Regent called for us, right? That daughter of his."
"He's the one who made us raise those water buffaloes in the first place."
"But why drag us all the way here?"
"Probably to haul us off and execute us for getting in the way of that Hangul thing or whatever."
Ever since Iansa, the Ho clans had been trembling in their boots. They felt lucky they hadn't truly crossed the line. The rumors of Iansa and his son's heads on display in the market of Jeonju were gruesome enough to chill the blood.
"Nah, no way. We didn't rebel with weapons like Iansa. It was just a minor scuffle, right?"
The Ho clans wanted acknowledgment of their local influence, but without giving the Choi family any pretext to strike. That was all they asked for—no lies, just that one thing.
Truth be told, they arrived in Gaegyeong feeling deflated. What if they ended up like Iansa, heads rolling at a moment's notice? Especially now, with the regime controlling even Yodong, where those ferocious Jurchens followed orders, their forces numbering nearly 150,000 in that region alone.
Gaegyeong itself had changed beyond recognition compared to before. It looked like a developed city now.
And Choi Yeon herself, the regime's successor, possessed a beauty unmatched by any other woman.
"It's a pleasure to meet the Ho clans, who wield considerable influence in Goryeo's provinces. Some of you may know me, but I am Choi Yeon, the Military Regent who will lead this nation of Goryeo into the future."
They'd heard. The new head of the Choi family was a woman.
The Ho clans had doubted her achievements at first, but after experiencing the water buffaloes, abolition of slavery, and currency reforms firsthand, they had no choice but to believe.
And there was that indescribable dignity beneath her stunning beauty. Behind her stood the Byeolcho soldiers with swords at their waists, ready to behead anyone who misspoke.
Naturally, heads bowed.
"What business brings us here, my lord?"
"We trust you'll hear our voices on the matter of the Hyanggyo academies."
They grumbled a bit, clinging to their last shred of pride. If she had any conscience, she'd at least accommodate the academies reasonably.
"Now Yodong's borders are secure. We've revived the glory of old Goguryeo, and even the Southern Song is buying our weapons. Before that, Byeokrando buzzed with trade, and along the steppe routes, merchants from Daeshikguk and Goryeo cross paths endlessly every day."
Sudden tangent. What was this woman thinking?
"Goryeo's victories in war and our overflowing treasury all stem from trade and commerce."
Where was she going with this setup?
"Why bring that up so abruptly?"
"Let's be frank. You're throwing tantrums because you want a cut when we build those Hyanggyo, right?"
"Ahem. When you put it so bluntly..."
"What we're discussing next ties right into that. It could be a golden opportunity for you Ho clans."
"What kind of opportunity?"
It probably wouldn't be much different from the water buffalo nonsense.
The only gain from those buffaloes was meat from the ones that died. Sure, it led to new recipes for buffalo meat, but that grated too.
"The regime will develop ships going forward. Preparations are already in place. These vessels will serve as warships and trade ships."
"What are we supposed to do with ships?"
"This time, we're venturing beyond Byeokrando and the Silk Road—out into the wider world."
Goryeo's current trade was limited to the Silk Road and Byeokrando. The international port at Byeokrando kept expanding, though.
"Hm. And how does that make it an opportunity for us?"
"Invest."
"Invest?"
They asked what "invest" even meant, and Choi Yeon shot them a pitiful look, like they were hopeless for not knowing. What could they do? It was a new word.
"Investment means allocating your assets now—family wealth, whatever—so you can reap more later."
"In other words, you're just taking our stuff again."
How much more did this damn regime want to squeeze from them? They'd thought it would be simple, but raising those freakish cows had cost them a fortune. They had to keep them alive, after all. They'd even shared buffalo-rearing tips among clans, and now they were all here together because of mutual contacts.
"If you pour your wealth into this shipbuilding policy, we'll form merchant fleets to send abroad. Any profits? They'll go back to you Ho clans here, proportional to your stake."
"Hah. After the damage those buffaloes caused?"
"Frankly, we didn't use them to threaten you with swords. You all raised them voluntarily, didn't you? The regime is deeply grateful. Thanks to you, Goryeo's agriculture has improved immensely."
No point arguing further. Let's hear what she had to say.
"Please continue. What exactly do you want from us?"
Fine, they'd listen first, whatever they decided later.
"We'll establish the Haedong Trade Bureau for seafaring merchant fleets—state-sanctioned special merchant companies. Ship construction will be handled by regime shipyards, but unlike naval vessels, these trade ships will fall under the Bureau."
"And then?"
"You'll invest in construction costs, outfitting, crew wages, and trade goods procurement."
"So you'll place the resulting fleets under the Haedong Trade Bureau."
If the Trade Office managed Silk Road merchants, the Maritime Trade Bureau would oversee sea-going fleets.
"We'll issue shares—call them ship equity certificates—for your investments. When these fleets trade with Daeshikguk or unknown lands and return, we'll deduct taxes from sales profits and divide the rest precisely by share count."
Even if they distrusted it and assumed a scam, they'd get extra returns. After all the regime had taken, they couldn't afford to bite, but...
"In short, one ocean crossing nets you more profit than ten years of slave labor. I have the tech to build far-ranging ships, but you have the funds to develop and load those massive vessels. The world has changed. Goryeo will promote trade even more. We'll become masters of the seas."
Goryeoins as masters of the sea. With the royal house descended from the Dragon King of the West Sea, it was an irresistibly appealing vision.
"You can really build such ships?"
As if expecting the question, the Military Regent had her Byeolcho soldiers fetch items: a modest water tank and two small ship models.
What did she plan to do with those?
"This is the ship we'll develop. It's already in design. See? Different from any you've known. This is a keel ship—with a backbone frame, unlike flat-bottomed vessels."
"What's the difference?"
"This is a scaled-down flat-bottomed ship; that's a scaled-down keel ship. Watch."
She fanned the water, creating waves that swamped the models. The flat-bottomed one capsized; the keel ship righted itself. As if Goryeo's royal ancestor, the West Sea Dragon King, guarded it.
"Flat-bottomed ships can't go far, but keel ships can. Our ships will venture out directly for greater profits. I have the tech; you have the funds. What do you say?"
"Even if it's hard to believe, what happens then?"
One Ho clan head, scarred by the buffaloes, asked skeptically.
Obviously a matter of trust.
"That's why it's about trust. Invest now, and you get preemptive purchase rights. When ships return loaded, original investors pick the best goods first. The first ten get gold plaques granting warehouse priority. Plus, we'll engrave your family names or crests on new keel ships. Your honor as founding investors will pass down generations."
It sounded plausible, especially with her alluring voice adding persuasion. Infuriatingly effective.
"Who prepares trade goods for Daeshikguk or wherever?"
"The state will supply Goryeo celadon, ginseng, soap, lacquerware, and such. Add your specialties, and you'll earn higher dividends. Your choice. Refuse? Then fund the Hyanggyo instead. If you're content with just that."
The new Regent's mocking gaze—treating them like inferiors beneath even her, a woman. It stung, but the offer tempted. The Ho clans pondered deeply.
The Ho clans were smacking their lips. Yes—my words were starting to hook them.
No risk of failure anyway, and even if there was, these clans had nothing left to offer or rebel with. So what?
"Merchant fleets depend on your investments, but we're aiming for the year after next."
At that moment, my planted influencers stepped forward—regime plants, pre-recruited.
"We'll invest first."
Their declarations for priority rights stirred the room. People are like that: once one steps up, others think, Why not us? I exploited it perfectly. More clans followed.
"We'll invest."
"Excellent. That's the spirit of Goryeo's Ho clans. A bold move for the nation."
"Ahem. Understood."
One by one, over ten committed. They had the cash.
With their help, Yi Jang-yong wouldn't gripe about funding everything himself.
"With sufficient investment, we'll select shipyard sites and build a new southern port."
"I see."
Opening new sea routes alone outshone original Korean history.
Not just Arabia via cargo limits—we'd pioneer Southeast Asian routes separately. Precisely, to cut out Song merchants middlemanning from our Trade Office and go direct with our own fleets.
"They'll blaze new routes to places like Siam or Goryeo. Early investors reap big. So—still opposing the Hyanggyo?"
Back to ports, and the equation changed.
"What if we invest in the Hyanggyo too?"
"Help spread Hangul through them first, and we'll reward you there too."
Listen to the regime, and you'd pave a road to wealth. Not as before, but riches aplenty.
Problem: This wasn't just for Ho clans. I'd pitch it to wealthy Trade Office merchants too.
Thus, the age of great voyages dawns.
Keel ship budget? Covered, with extra from me.
I grinned, turning to Yi Jang-yong, who'd watched in bewilderment.
"How's that? Sufficient, right?"
"Provincial clans handing over their wealth willingly. Unbelievable."
Yi Jang-yong seemed pleased at fleecing them. My achievement in budget allocation for keel ships?
"I've reviewed your ship blueprints, Regent. Too risky near Mongols—must place them in the South Sea."
True. Yodong Peninsula especially. Khitans held sway there historically. Some still lived there, submissive now, but once Dongyo puppet state under Mongol control. Goryeo's strength kept them in line, but hypothetically... risky.
They'd stayed neutral in Greater Khingan battles, as I recalled. Mainly horse breeders.
Maybe load them on ships later too?