Land Reclamation
Land reclamation *** Well, that makes sense. It's exotic, so it's bound to draw attention. The problem, though, is that the Crown Prince—who'll become Wonjong later—is showing interest too.
Originally, in this world's history, he was supposed to marry my daughter, who doesn't exist here. But since that didn't happen, it looks like he's fallen for this foreign beauty instead.
"Military Regent. Who is that woman?"
Look at him, staring openly at her. Hmm, maybe I can turn this to my advantage. Imagine both father and son falling for a Bulgarian girl—what a hilarious scandal that would be. The royalist faction would lose their minds. Either way, it wouldn't hurt me. Personally, I'm no purist about bloodlines. Even 21st-century Korea's turned multicultural thanks to low birth rates and immigration policies—pure ethnic homogeneity went down the drain ages ago. A little mixing here won't change much.
"She's a woman from the nation of Bulgaria, now destroyed by the Mongols. We took her in out of pity."
"I see. She's certainly different from Goryeo women."
"Your Highness, I understand your interest in her. But taking a foreigner as your primary consort wouldn't do. You should marry her properly."
Wouldn't a proper Goryeo woman make a better primary consort? He was fated to marry my daughter originally, but that seems delayed now. Word is, in this world, there were even talks of marrying me. He's awfully young—21st-century standards would call it criminal. Still, she's pretty enough; not a bad match. But I'm the heir to the military regime. No reason to tie myself to some powerless prince.
"Come to think of it, I hear the Military Regent hasn't married yet."
"I've wedded the nation itself—what can I do?"
If it were just about physical pleasures, fine. But in this era, marriage means bearing children, which binds you to that path. Even with wet nurses for childcare, the pregnancy period is the issue. I've said it a dozen times. Does Goryeo look stable right now? True enough, but for the Choe regime's legitimacy, it's unavoidable. An unmarried woman might seem odd, but my circumstances are special—no grounds for criticism.
"What about our Crown Prince? You're a kingdom-toppling beauty, and though he's still untested, he's quite the man, isn't he?"
The emperor says this while subtly trying to pair me with the prince. The kid's too young to grasp women or the military regime's power, so he won't meet my eyes directly, but his blushing face says it all. The emperor hasn't given up on me yet—suspicious as hell. He wouldn't really try to bind me to the royal house, would he?
"Your Majesty, a marriage to the royal house would be a great honor. But state affairs keep me too busy to fulfill a wife's duties. Your Majesty."
"Mm, unavoidable, then. Prince, I know you're taken with her, but first take a proper queen, then think of these women."
"Yes, Father."
What? So he was the one who wanted to marry me? Could be political ambition. Or maybe genuine attraction. Or just picking the best strategic match. Who knows.
"I may seem demure, but I'm still a young woman of marrying age. Spending nights with Your Highness, the grandson of the throne and future heir, I worry I might commit some impropriety. I beg Your Majesty's merciful understanding. In exchange, these women will enter the royal household."
And so, over a dozen women entered Goryeo's palace. The emperor's already shown suspicious behavior. In a pinch, they could act like darughachi spies for Mongol oversight. The rest became my attendants. I considered placing some in brothels or estates, but that felt off. Their looks are too striking. And on the surface, they don't seem that impressive. With diehard military holdouts still around, who knows how they'd fare.
"Impressive, Lady. The Crown Prince seems smitten."
"To me, he's just a kid."
Again—he was supposed to marry my daughter? Sure, I might not be that historical father's daughter. Different name, different person. Still, a relationship with the prince feels weird. If I immerse myself in the original history, it'd be like mother-in-law and son-in-law. Absolutely not.
"But doesn't the prince have political motives?"
"Oh? Jealous?"
Kim Jun loses it whenever it concerns me.
"Ahem. Jealous? No way. I just mean, is the prince approaching you deliberately?"
"Suspicious, yeah. Gotta stay cautious."
But what could that kid do? In original history, Wonjong ended the military regime with Mongol backing, when it was already weakened. Kim Jun toppled the Choes but got killed by Im Yeon, who died easily, then Im Yeomu fell to Wonjong. During the Choe regime's prime, Wonjong couldn't even speak up. Guard against him, but don't overestimate.
Anyway. While lingering in Gaegyeong, there's more to do. We planned to spread Buddhism and Abkai Hehehe in Yodong, but Goryeo Buddhism hasn't taken root there. Actually, thanks to me, Abkai Hehehe shamanism has spread wide. To change that, we need a new approach. Right—after consulting Father, I decided to play the land reclamation card.
"Reclaim temple lands? Is that even feasible?"
"I know Father's views on Buddhism. But don't they hold too much land? Not all, but reclaiming some would enrich the national treasury. At minimum, redistribute it to the people."
The original gyeonjeonbeop gave land to officials. Not here—that's off the table. It's nationalization in name only; I'll rename it too.
"I know what you're thinking. But will the Buddhists accept it?"
Even the military regime compromised with Buddhism. Monks once rebelled to kill Choi Chungheon, but the Choes still negotiated.
"Just the land. We'll expand their influence. They'll like that."
"How?"
Now he hangs on my every word—Buddhist alliances be damned, Father's daughter comes first.
"Many Jurchens in Yodong revere me, but Buddhist forces have shrunk. We sent monk-soldiers, but they're more fighters than clergy."
Kim Yunhu and his monk-soldiers even train their own. With Mongols, Jurchens, Khitans, and Goryeo tangled in Manchuria, isolated monks joined him, turning temples into Shaolin-like strongholds. Surface-level normal, but with soldier training. Can't rely solely on Jin-era temples—our mainland Buddhism must advance. Time to fully integrate the Jurchens too.
"And?"
Father's intrigued, tilting his head.
"Reclaim the land, but spread Goryeo Buddhism to convert more Jurchens."
Jin-era Buddhism is trustworthy enough, right? First, survey before reclaiming. Gyeonjeonbeop: Abolish private fields, nationalize all land, grant usage rights in the capital region based on officials' ranks, active or retired. It redistributed private land via nationalization and cut exploitation by reducing tribute rates. But limited to capital region—why? To stop yangban officials building local power bases. Unnecessary now. Slavery's abolished, currency reformed, hojok clans weakened. No old power left. No need for capital limits. My selected central officials manage provincial rights, collect taxes in cash only—no rice or cloth. Nationalized land turns freed slaves into tenant or independent farmers. First, seize from Buddhists.
Once I dropped the nationalization anchor, the "great" Buddhist monks came calling. Father might compromise, but I played it cool. They showed up.
"What have we done wrong to deserve this?"
Nothing wrong. But why do monks need so much land? I won't suppress like Joseon, but I won't let Buddhism devour the nation either. Goryeo's land isn't infinite—barely a chunk of the Central Plains. Monks hog too much.
"Our land isn't as vast as the Central Plains. Isn't it wrong for Buddhism to hold so much? Or did Buddha decree monks must hoard fields?"
Buddha sucking the people's blood dry? Roughly. How to argue that?
"That's too harsh!"
"We'll leave enough for basic temples. I'm not killing Buddhism. Reclaim land, cap future acquisitions by law—but I'll help expand Goryeo Buddhism."
To grow influence, don't stagnate in Goryeo—look farther. No point gobbling tiny Goryeo plots. I hinted heavily; they surrendered.
"What's the method?"
About time. No more posturing.
"Yodong, secured by us, had thriving Buddhism under Jin, but it's weak now. Expand there."
Give up land, play in bigger waters. Manchuria has temples—save northern souls.
"Mm."
"With your vast holdings, less land for the people. Buddha comforts the masses—hoarding breeds suspicion. Jin remnants are dangerous for Goryeo and you alike."
Some pushback: "Seeing us as corrupt? Military thugs saying this?" I let it slide. So what? Who's making Goryeo prosper? They even smell my soap—using it while complaining?
"Understood. We'll prepare the monks."
Buddhism settled. Land monopoly leaves nothing for people—what now? Rebel, and it's "Buddha hates Goryeo's prosperity!" Win-win.
"It worked out."
"What if they'd rebelled?"
My uncle, Privy Council Vice Minister Jeongan, clutched his chest in relief.
Rebel? "I'd spread word: 'Buddhists grabbing land, can't give more to you.' Monks' heads roll that day."
Freed slaves wouldn't sit idle.