The Old Man's Gift
The Khitans are important too, but first things first—we need to decide on a location for the shipyard.
"What about the mouth of the Yeongsan River in Naju? The southern coast would work too. Materials are easy to procure there, and Naju has a traditional maritime base. There's flat land for food production, and the river makes it simple to bring in timber from the interior."
Yi Jang-yong, as expected. He's sharp. No wonder he became a prime minister-level official in the original history.
"Hmm, alright then. We need numbers, so let's try both spots. You manufacturers handle the details. I'll appoint you as the Shipyard Overseer."
This should give him enough authority to get things done.
"Next up is the navy, I suppose. We're managing Liaodong right now, so we can't expand it massively, can we?"
"Right."
"Our current naval forces number in the thousands—at least on paper. The real problem is they might be even fewer."
Thousands, and possibly even fewer. Hmm. Still, better to know now than never. I thought they'd evaporated entirely, so this isn't bad. Compared to the numbers mobilized during the Sambyeolcho rebellion later on, it's actually decent.
"Why is that?"
"Frequent internal strife, wouldn't you say?"
In other words, the military coup. He glances at me while saying it—makes me feel a bit guilty.
"There's no law against expanding the navy, but recruiting the manpower is the issue. Even if we trust the Jurchens, to guard the Liaodong border, we need at least some Goryeo natives on the front lines, don't we?"
Basically, with our focus on the army right now, how do we build up the navy in the time we'd spend filling its ranks?
"I'm aiming for at least 30,000 to 50,000 for the navy minimum."
"Hmm, that's quite a lot."
"The borders have expanded—we have no choice."
Guarding the sea is crucial, and thinking ahead to the future, we must grow the navy. 30,000 to 50,000 is a perfectly reasonable number. It's essential for sea dominance anyway.
"We could manage it if we secure the manpower, but that's the sticking point. We might need to scale back the target or find another way."
He's hinting at it constantly—recruiting that many seems tough.
"Even 30,000 is a stretch?"
"50,000 is the problem. 30,000 we could probably scrape together. The question is how to do it—though I'm not even from that department. I'm just estimating based on the budget. Your Ho clan can handle the investments or whatever. But it could lead to excessive military spending."
I see. So, we need some gullible fool who'll work extra hard for us.
"What if we bring in the Khitans from Liaodong?"
The Khitans in Liaodong could fill out the navy nicely, right?
"Those bastards we'd sooner tear apart? Come to think of it, the population census in Liaodong was spotty in some areas."
"You mean the Khitans?"
If we add their numbers to ours, don't we have a massive population? From what I recall, there were quite a few on the Liaodong Peninsula back then. I don't know all the history, though—what can you do?
"Yes. Records show we could tally the Han and Jurchen populations naturally after conquering Dongjin, but the Khitans only fully came under our influence after the second war with the Mongols."
"So we don't even know their numbers?"
They set up their own puppet state, of a sort. That means they've got a solid population base. What if we use them for the navy and tough labor, in exchange for Goryeo citizenship perks?
"Local Jurchen officials estimated a few hundred thousand, but we need to verify that."
"Then we can fill the navy ranks. We give them jobs in exchange for loyalty to Goryeo."
Plus, station them at sea—think they'll rebel easily then? To be safe, we could hold their families as hostages. Not a bad idea.
"That would solve the manpower issue, but your thinking is certainly... unique."
"I am a bit unique."
Yi Jang-yong sighed, as if it wasn't exactly praise.
"Very well. I'll dispatch someone to Liaodong first to get an accurate headcount."
Yi Jang-yong bowed his head and quietly withdrew.
That Yi Jang-yong—he's damn good at his job. Should I work him like Huang Hui?
A few days holed up in the Military Regent's office.
For now, we'd fill half the navy with Khitans. Plans were set to build the keel shipyard down south by the sea, and Yi Jang-yong had headed to Liaodong to survey the Khitan population.
A Khitan navy should work out fine. Nomads might get seasick, sure, but their combat prowess is top-notch.
Still, even if things go smoothly up to here, there's a problem: no staple crops.
It's been ages since I had sweet potatoes or potatoes. I'm trying to kick off the Age of Exploration to open new routes, but right now, reaching South America—hell, even America—is a pipe dream.
Crossing the ocean straight across takes months, and resupply? Forget it. Going up via the Kurils to Kamchatka and down to Alaska might solve water, but the odds are abysmal. You'd have to hug the coast for ages. Maps or no maps, ships in this era aren't advanced enough.
"The real shame is that this country's called Goryeo."
To get staple crops, I need to reach America somehow. Spain had it easier—shorter distance to the New World, with handy stepping stones. From Goryeo? It's a vast, endless ocean.
That's the issue. Or maybe send convicts on an expedition? Better yet, build our own stepping stones.
Yeah, that's the best. The old stepping-stone tactic. Set up bases along the way for rest stops.
Not a bad plan. I'm so smart. Think about it—I've lived longer in this body than as a man in my past life, yet I remember all that modern knowledge. Impressive, right?
Self-praise aside, maybe catch a nap—then a white-robed, white-haired old man flickered into view.
Ah, that face. I know it well. How could I forget?
"Oh wow, you've grown into quite the beauty. If I'd been 5,000 years younger, I'd have made a move."
"Old man! You dumped me here and now you're living it up!"
It's been forever since I last saw that guy. Not even human, probably. Do you know how much time has passed since you tossed me here?
"Quit your whining, girl."
"Fine, I'm a girl here, point taken. Do you have any idea how hard it's been for me? Where the hell have you been?"
You abandon me here and live the good life? Look at you, fat and happy, you old coot.
"Eh, I've sent a lot of others besides you. Lately, the 20th-century ones have been real psychos. Gives me chills just thinking about it."
"Why Goryeo for me? Where's your conscience?"
"I made you a girl from the start, didn't I? The others possessed bodies—hilarious reactions. Anyway, beating the Mongol horde, securing Liaodong, even taking Subutai's head? Perfect timing and luck. You deserve a gift."
Like clearing achievements for rewards?
"Oh, really? A gift? Send me back?"
"Your soul's fully Choi Yeon now—can't do that."
"You con artist!"
"You weren't long for that world anyway. Be grateful."
I wasn't meant to live long? What does that mean?
"What are you talking about?"
"Nuclear bomb drops on you heading home from graduation."
What the hell happened? That's terrifying.
"Still feels unfair from my side."
"Problem is, I yanked you from your world. You won't age past that world's timeline—not till that era hits, anyway."
Wait, what? Immortal?
You forced me, a modern guy, into Choi Yeon, and now I'm like this?
"I have to live as a woman for another 800 years? Why send me to the Goryeo era?"
"Don't worry. Haven't you noticed something off?"
"Like what?"
"For a history buff, you know way too much."
True. I've glossed over it, but I wasn't even a proper history major.
"That's why I sent you. I don't pick just anyone—only guys who know this stuff. You hit the jackpot."
Yeah, my modern knowledge feels like it's all stored in my head like an infinite library. At this rate, I could spark an Industrial Revolution in a few centuries.
Wait, separate issue—that still leaves the country-building unfinished.
"I'm talented, sure, but..."
"Eh, well, anyway, that's how it is."
"How it is? What if people think I'm weird later?"
Hereditary rule becomes impossible. I'd have to pivot to a republic eventually, clean up at the right time. Then head to Liaodong, live like a goddess—or retire quietly somewhere peaceful.
Yeah, right. Bullshit. How do you last 800 years?
"It's a simulation of sorts. See if sending you to Goryeo creates a butterfly effect to avert that nuclear war with Russia, China, and North Korea."
"Realistically possible?"
"Why not?"
"Keep China fragmented to weaken it, maintain Goryeo as is, prop up the Mongols for endless European campaigns—no problem."
My plan: wedge China apart in this era. Jin's on borrowed time, but I'll lock them into endless civil war, splitting north-south like before.
Like how Jin tried fracturing the Mongols to stop unification—bought them hatred by being blatant. Do it slyly, business-like, no grudges.
Song prefers Made-in-Korea weapons since they can't produce their own. With their population, they might eventually, but once hooked, why make expensive knockoffs when Goryeo's taste is better?
Jin keeps raiding Song, stripping their arms—better buy just enough from Goryeo. Jin won't touch Goryeo, so can't block our weapons. Song prefers us too. Already civilian-focused Song weakens further.
My role: embed the divide now. Even if they unify later, Goryeo will have advanced, or become untouchable like Tang.
"Anyway, you're doing great. Long life means you'll do even better."
The old man smiled warmly, like I should keep at it, and patted my shoulder.
"No, fuck. Have you no shame?"
Me handling all that? Become the world's shadow puppetmaster? Nuclear development? Sure, long life means Industrial Revolution, but blocking nuclear war? Nonsense.
"That's why the gift. You're doing too well solo. Chief muskets, metallurgy for wire from animal fat, lacquer barbed wire like modern chain-link? Genius."
Is that genius-level? Tech uplift makes it natural. Preempt with future knowledge vs. stagnation—that's the diff. Barbed wire's not even started.