The Conquest of Tsushima Concludes
Upon arriving at Tsushima, Nam Jae and the left and right army commanders, who had heard the news in advance, greeted us warmly.
"Commander, you've successfully subjugated Ikido. Our congratulations."
"It's thanks to everyone's hard work. Especially these two, who made the greatest contributions."
He praised Min Mu-gu and me, recounting our feats, and everyone marveled. They were particularly thrilled to hear that the pirate leader of the Goto Islands had been killed.
"It's a blessing that vile thief is dead."
Everyone knew how ruthless the Goto pirates were, so no wonder they were overjoyed at their leader's death. Their faces lit up. Even Yi Mu, Jeong Do-jeon's friend, looked pleased. Pirates truly were the common enemy.
Min Mu-gu was in for a promotion this time. He was currently rank 6, but with good fortune, he might climb to rank 5.
After brief greetings, we headed to the Tsushima lord's castle to discuss the agreement forged on Ikido and the local situation.
The castle wasn't particularly grand, but the command post had enough seats for all of us—likely arranged by Nam Jae or Yi Mu.
Kim Sa-hyeong then outlined the agreement's terms, and everyone nodded. It didn't stray far from our established framework anyway.
"So, what's the situation here?"
"Yes, we've secured most of it. But the Tsushima lord has fled to the mountains and is holding out."
He'd tried to defend the castle at first, but abandoned it as soon as the cannons arrived. Many of his pirates had been captured during the retreat.
The pirates really feared cannons. They fled the moment they appeared.
"How long has he been in the mountains?"
"About ten days."
He'd retreated there on the day we crushed the pirate alliance fleet. He'd taken some provisions, but they must be running low by now.
Apparently, the Tsushima lord had even brought his wife and children. It made sense—if we installed his son as a puppet, he'd be cast aside like an unwanted duck egg in the Nakdong River.
"With his family in tow, their food must be dwindling."
Kim Sa-hyeong seemed to share my thoughts. One general suggested a direct assault, but Nam Jae opposed it.
"This battle is already won. There's no need to press it at the cost of our men's lives. Besides, it's midwinter—they can't hold out forever."
True enough. Then Yi Mu spoke up.
"They're just remnants anyway. Only three or four hundred left, most already our prisoners. It doesn't make sense to wait days for such a small force. We held back before because we were awaiting news from Ikido, minimizing losses. But now Ikido is subjugated and the pirates crushed. We should sweep the remnants, force the Tsushima lord to kneel, and end this. Mobilize all forces and attack now."
He pointed out our daily grain consumption, urging a swift conclusion so we could return to Hanyang. It was a valid point—the kingdom's finances were a stark reality.
Many generals sided with Yi Mu. It didn't make sense to tie down an army of over ten thousand for a mere few hundred.
Yi Cheon-u argued especially fiercely, clearly eager for glory.
After much deliberation, Kim Sa-hyeong decided on the attack, likely swayed by fiscal concerns.
We divided the troops and ascended the mountain to eliminate the remnants. We committed part of the center army and most of the left and right wings, splitting into ten units of seven hundred each to encircle and climb from all sides.
I went with Yi Cheon-u. We mounted the head of the infamous Goto pirate leader on a spear, proclaiming Ikido's fall and urging surrender as we climbed.
We encountered small groups of enemies, but our spear-and-bow formations crushed them easily.
Yi Cheon-u, climbing with me, remarked, "Most must be at the summit. We've only captured about ten in total so far."
"Yes, seems that way."
The Tsushima lord was up there. Feels like Ma Su for some reason—just a passing thought.
Climbing in winter was no joke. The slippery slopes slowed us more than expected, and the cold bit deep. Hope I never have to do this again.
Finally, we spotted the pirates at the peak—clearly the Tsushima lord's diehards. Three other units arrived, and we agreed to strike simultaneously.
At the appointed time, Yi Cheon-u blew the horn, and we charged. I drew my sword against the Tsushima pirates but killed few.
"Those who surrender will live! Lay down your arms!"
We'd induced surrenders that way. Tsushima had already lost over a thousand in battle. Kim Sa-hyeong had ordered us to kill sparingly—too many deaths would make governing impossible—so we offered mercy to those who yielded, and we followed suit.
Exhausted by cold and hunger, convinced of defeat, most pirates surrendered. Even mid-level officers rushed to do so.
The Tsushima lord shouted, "Don't surrender! You'll just be their slaves, toiling eternally!"
If I were in command, maybe—but Kim Sa-hyeong planned to release them. Should I ship them to labor camps anyway?
Yi Cheon-u seized the moment, charging in. After a brief clash, he captured the lord. Thirsty for merit, he'd claimed the prize.
Yi Cheon-u fought impressively. I thought myself decent with a blade, but he outshone me. The lord put up a fight, yet fell in seconds.
With him taken, the rest surrendered. The conquest of Tsushima and Ikido was complete.
Casualties were lighter than expected. We'd check other units later, but here it was just thirty. We'd captured around two hundred prisoners, thanks to Yi Cheon-u's quick capture. Some injuries from the winter climb, though.
We descended with the lord and prisoners. Handing him to Kim Sa-hyeong, he beamed.
"The campaign is over. Well done, all. Rest today."
Kim Sa-hyeong announced the victory, ordering ample food and drink for the troops.
I drank with Min Mu-gu, Yi Cheon-u, Sin Geuk-rye, and others.
Yi Cheon-u said, "You've all earned great merit—promotions await. You two brothers-in-law might even get generalships."
Generals? That'd be a 10th-rank Hogun post—junior rank 4. Possible?
Sin Geuk-rye thought so too. This expedition dwarfed Park Wi's; Kim Sa-hyeong would report our feats accurately.
Min Mu-gu was already savoring the broth of promotion dreams. I'd fought aiming for the Yiheung Guard, so I hoped too—but Hogun felt a stretch.
We reveled in high spirits. The next day, I watched Kim Sa-hyeong interrogate the lord.
"Tsushima lord, why did you lead pirates and disturb Joseon's lands?"
"To survive. Drought starved us—I did what I could."
Piracy's all you're good for, huh? Bold. Why not just behead him? Prop up the kid puppet, kill him off later if he rebels, annex outright.
The lord continued, "But now it's done. I'll accept your judgment, Excellency. Spare only my young son."
"No thought of submitting as a vassal? You'd keep your status, and your son safe."
His eyes twitched. "Not to enslave us?"
"Submit, keep your rank, open a path to live. What say you?"
He bowed without hesitation. "I'll submit."
What a letdown—brave act crumbled. Protecting his power all along. But he's dangerous. History shows these types strike from behind. Original timeline had another expedition under Sejong—he can't be trusted. Must warn Yi Bang-won later: annex or raze Tsushima.
The lord received the same terms as Ikido's: hand over pirate overseers, copper, sulfur; release Ming and Joseon captives.
We freed sixty Ming subjects and forty-three Joseon ones. The conquests ended.
December 15th. Forty days since departing Geoje on November 5th—faster than planned.
We began withdrawals from the 16th. I left first—fitting, as Dongnae's magistrate, to prepare there for the assembling army before heading to Hanyang together.
Boarding ship, Zhu Yuan Zhang crossed my mind. Would he view our ploy favorably? The man's character worried me.
Speaking of, what of the tribute letter incident? There should be word by now.
Around this time of Joseon's triumphant Tsushima conquest, in Ming's Nanjing, Ha Ryeon and Gwon Geun were explaining the tribute letter to Zhu Yuan Zhang.
Despite their earnest defense, the emperor retorted, "Your words defy reason. Do you take me for a fool unable to grasp such subtlety? Mocking my learning?"
He openly rebuked them, then eyed Gwon Geun. "I hear you're skilled at poetry. Let me see."
Issuing a prompt on the spot, Gwon Geun composed twenty-four poems matching the rhyme. Impressed, Zhu Yuan Zhang added three of his own, feasting the envoys lavishly, taken by Gwon Geun.
Beyond the poems, investigations confirmed Ha Ryeon and Gwon Geun weren't Jeong Do-jeon's faction—key to his favor. He criticized the letter as an attack on Jeong Do-jeon, hoping to stoke internal strife by praising Gwon Geun.
Soon after, he summoned Ha Ryeon alone. "You're Ha Ryeon?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Your Joseon has been campaigning Tsushima over a month. Correct?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
"Gwon Geun pleases me—I'll keep him. You may return. Send someone who can properly account for this Tsushima venture. If untainted intent, it should be done by now. If the outcome satisfies me, all released, letter forgotten. If not, no mercy."
"Understood."
Ha Ryeon received the edict and returned to Joseon.