The Mongols Begin to Move - 2
Dal-i, that guy, suddenly showed up in Kaepyeong. Normally, us Iseongwangs are busy guarding our own territories, and Dal-i, in charge of Habuk, is especially the type to stay glued to his seat. He's got the heavy duty of keeping both the Mongols and Goryeo in check, after all. It's a burden too great for one man, but there's no helping it. Dal-i's a Hwagyeong master, so his martial prowess is formidable, but his true genius lies in commanding troops—best among us all. Even Taizu entrusted him with command on days when massive battles loomed.
Such a man came to Kaepyeong of his own volition—not summoned by His Majesty, but by his own will.
"The Mongols have begun to move."
Huh.
And the moment all the kings gathered in the throne room at Dal-i's request, that dreadful topic burst forth.
So they've finally made their move.
The unit led by Koke Temur that had appeared near Shanhaiguan like it was scouting. The skirmish at Jiayu Pass and Koke Temur's emergence. It was a clear sign that a large-scale disturbance was imminent, so it wasn't surprising that the Mongols were finally stirring. Still, it was disheartening to see the disaster we'd hoped would never come actually arrive.
"The Mongols have moved, you say. Jung San Wang, are you certain?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. It's from joint reports out of Shanhaiguan and Guyongguan."
Dal-i bowed at His Majesty's reconfirmation.
Reports from the key border strongholds of Shanhaiguan and Guyongguan—the judgment from Dal-i, who would have received them first. That made the Mongol unrest an undeniable truth. If we couldn't trust the on-site reporting and assessments, what could we trust?
"Hundreds of fierce beasts rampaged at Shanhaiguan, and over fifty hawks caused havoc at Guyongguan. Our Habuk troops routinely conduct beast hunts as training to protect the people. This isn't something that could happen naturally."
"Zim is well aware of how Habuk's soldiers devote themselves day and night to the citizenry. A mass beast uprising in Habuk is far from normal."
"As Your Majesty says, this is no natural occurrence. We judge it to be artificial disturbance from outside forces, not internal unrest."
The word "artificial" drew sighs from the other kings as well. Habuk, beasts, artificial. Put those three together, and the culprit was obvious.
"We can't rule out Goryeo entirely, can we?"
Uryang-i's point was valid—it could be someone other than we expected—but,
"I considered Goryeo at first too, but no matter how many times I review it, the odds are low. Goryeo's plagued by beasts even in their capital, with tigers showing up. They're too busy exterminating every one they see to send hundreds across the border. It's unlikely."
"On the contrary, isn't their frequent beast problem what created an environment for mass taming?"
"No."
Sa-seong-i answered Uryang-i's follow-up.
"Don't you know Goryeo's temperament yet? When beasts pour in en masse, they slaughter them all for hides and meat. They're not the type to focus on risky taming without guaranteed success."
"...True. That makes sense."
Uryang-i nodded with a reluctant expression at the assessment that Goryeans chase sure gains. Spot on. From what we'd seen, Goryeo prioritized immediate, certain profits over distant, uncertain futures.
"Besides, didn't Goryeo just fight massive sea raiders on their home soil recently? They even invaded and burned Tsushima in retaliation. After back-to-back defense and offense, they wouldn't touch our Daesong."
"Dong-gu Wang is right. And it hasn't been long since they seized Liaodong and the western reaches. No reason for them to stir external trouble and invite unease."
Okjin-i joined Sa-seong-i in defending Goryeo's innocence. Strange, really. These guys had never even been to Goryeo, yet they knew its affairs so well. Anyone would think Daesong's archenemy was Goryeo, not the Mongols. Of course, without the Mongols, Goryeo would've filled that role.
"In any case, all signs point to the Mongols, not Goryeo. No other power can match their beast-handling prowess anyway."
Dal-i turned back to His Majesty and bowed.
"Your Majesty. After lying dormant, they've stirred again following the minor clash at Jiayu Pass. It means their preparations are complete. A massive southward advance could happen today."
"Considering the sorcery found at Hengshan, the beasts they've deployed aren't ordinary. High chance they've mass-produced spirit beasts or equivalents."
"It started with just hundreds, but the Mongol steppes hold beasts beyond counting. Tens of thousands, even hundreds of thousands could swarm over the Great Wall."
From Dal-i onward, everyone began voicing the crisis's gravity. Truth be told, there was no hard evidence pinning it on the Mongols. If they'd captured and examined the rampaging beasts, maybe—but the field troops, startled by the sudden uproar, focused solely on extermination. By the time the Shanhaiguan and Guyongguan commandants ordered captures, nothing lived.
No smoking gun, but circumstantial evidence overflowed. If it wasn't the Mongols but some freak natural anomaly? That'd be a blessing. Better a brief stir among the kings than a Mongol invasion.
"Jung San Wang."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Since Taizu entered Peking and unified the realm, the barbarians north of the Great Wall dared not covet the Central Plains."
We—me, Ak Hyeon-i, the other Iseongwangs—bowed our heads at His Majesty's steady words.
"Barbarians who couldn't lift their heads before Taizu's lofty prestige now stir anew in Zim's reign. How lamentable. It is all due to Zim's inadequacies."
"Y-Your Majesty!"
"How can you say such things! The Mongol northern barbarians are lawless, rude, ignorant wretches who once clutched the Mandate of Heaven—or so they delusionally believe!"
"Indeed! Even Taizu, whose virtue blanketed the world, forced their submission through sheer force! They are blind to Your Majesty's exalted virtue, deaf to Your benevolent edicts!"
The throne room buzzed at His Majesty's self-reproach. Rightly so. His Majesty was a sage emperor, a wise ruler by any measure—endorsed by Taizu who seized the world by might, the Baekryeon Cult Leader who campaigned at his side as Taizu's son, and we founding merits who followed. For such a man to blame himself for barbarian unrest was truly lamentable.
"Your Majesty."
Thus, I broke the silence. The other kings would carry on without me, but I couldn't stay quiet now.
"Speak, Giwang."
Given the occasion, His Majesty addressed me formally, not as "old man" like usual. I nodded to him, then continued to soothe his troubled heart.
"Convene the ministers and proclaim the expedition. Smite the wretched horde blind to virtue despite their eyes, deaf to mercy despite their ears. Your Majesty's loyal subjects await Your command."
Ak Hyeon-i sighed softly beside me. Why? We gathered to say exactly this, didn't we? The Mongols siccing beasts and eyeing the Central Plains again—anyone could see it. Daesong's duty was to rip apart any barbarian daring to covet it.
It's practically tradition.
Regrettably, northern barbarians lusting after the prosperous Central Plains wasn't new. Just decades ago, this land was under Mongol rule; before that, Jurchens, and before them Khitans ran rampant. Especially pre-Sui, during the Five Barbarians' chaos—it peaked then. Even Han Taizu, who toppled the Western Chu Overlord and unified all under Heaven, suffered the Xiongnu.
No matter how virtuous the ruler, northern frenzy was an inescapable fate, a tradition.
"Your Majesty. If the northern barbarians forget past defeats, we remind them. Let them recall the steppes forever lie beneath the Central Plains. Your loyal vassals, myself included, stand ready to wield the sword at Your command. As Heaven's rightful sovereign, issue Your solemn edict!"
"Issue Your solemn edict!"
I prostrated first; soon, the others followed. I ignored the prickling side of my head. Ak Hyeon-i was miffed I'd skipped steps and gone straight for it. No choice. With His Majesty needlessly self-flagellating, how could a subject just watch? This shock therapy was for his own good; Ak Hyeon-i would understand in time.
"To be served by such spirited, loyal ministers—Taizu and Zim are truly blessed emperors."
His Majesty's voice softened from before. Shock therapy worked wonders. Dropping the expedition bomb left no room for self-reproach.
I woke to chaos. Summon orders went out to kings, dukes, marquises, and earls across Daesong, plus central ministry directors and commissioners.
What the hell.
The dizzying lineup made the tea in my mouth spill back into the cup unnoticed.
This caliber was like when Akrok Academy scholars debated murim policy before the throne, or when His Majesty truly laid out the big board.
What's going on?
That time had the clear pretext of throne room debate. What was it now?
...Come to think of it, Grandfather was off yesterday.
Usually ambling leisurely through Giwangjeo before slipping out, but yesterday he sat sternly in the pavilion. Damn. Thinking he needed space, I'd left him be. Should've asked what was up.