Chapter 170
Chapter 170
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 170
Chapter Title: Negotiations with Kim Chun-chu
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Seon Do-hae, who had been sitting there from the start, burst into hearty laughter at my joke. But Deputy Supreme Commander Bu-sang looked utterly baffled. Seong-chung, the butt of the joke, just sat there impassively.
The star of the joke, Kim Chun-chu, arrived in Chang'an Fortress ten days after reaching Su Valley Fortress. Since it was an unofficial visit, he rode in a curtained carriage quietly and stayed at the guesthouse in the inner citadel. First, an official from the Balwi Envoy Corps in charge of receiving diplomatic envoys greeted him. In the afternoon, the Western Division Leader, who served as Chief of the Great Council, paid a visit. The next day, a meeting with the Great King at the palace was scheduled. But I deliberately avoided seeing him. When Seon Do-hae asked in surprise, I replied nonchalantly.
"It's not me who's missing out."
Sure enough, a few days later, word came that he wanted to meet. I didn't respond at first, but after a second message a few days later, I sent word that I'd make time. Three days after that, I dispatched someone to the guesthouse to invite him to my estate two days hence. I'd dragged it out for nearly half a month. It probably wouldn't shake Kim Chun-chu's resolve, but I wanted to make it clear who held the upper hand.
I had Seon Do-hae and Deputy Supreme Commander Bu-sang sit to my left and right, waiting in the Binyeon Pavilion. Shortly after, word came that Geom Mojam had arrived, and the doors opened. Kim Chun-chu strode in majestically through the doors opened by Geom Mojam. Even the East Asian historical records, which rarely describe appearances, had character evaluations of Kim Chun-chu. Adding in eyewitness accounts, he wasn't some drop-dead gorgeous hunk, but he had the kind of looks that won people over. Paired with his silver tongue, he could even make enemies like him. If Kim Yu-sin was a razor-sharp sword, Kim Chun-chu was a brush dancing across the canvas of the world.
He was dressed in official robes, though they differed from the costumes in historical dramas. The Tang Dynasty wouldn't adopt a different style of official attire for a few more years, so he still wore the traditional form. A spacious purple robe over baggy yellow pants. He wore a ceremonial hat like a jougwan, but flat-topped, with white feathers tucked into both sides. It looked a bit ridiculous, and Seon Do-hae covered his mouth with his sleeve to stifle a laugh. But Kim Chun-chu ignored it, exchanged polite greetings, and took a seat in the empty chair. He took a sip of the prepared tea.
I introduced Seon Do-hae and Bu-sang, then leaned back, fingers interlaced, gazing at Kim Chun-chu. It was a signal for him to speak first, and he caught on with a broad, easy grin.
"Long time no see, Chief of Central Administration."
"It's been years already."
"If I'd known a day like this was coming, I would've treated you better back then."
His tone was impeccably polite, but layered with complex meanings. There was a hint of resentment at the poor reception, and a subtle threat that playing hardball wouldn't benefit either side. I smiled back.
"I hear you regretted not killing me then."
"What are you saying? Now that you've risen so high, I trust you won't forget the man who spared your life."
He spoke with a touch of levity to lighten the awkward tension—far different from chatting with the late Yeon Jeong-du or the Great King. Seeing my tension, Kim Chun-chu grinned.
"Why so nervous?"
"Good question. You should be the one on edge. In any case, I'm truly sorry and saddened by the deaths of your son-in-law and daughter."
Bringing up his deceased daughter and son-in-law brought a flicker of sorrow to his eyes. He nodded in acknowledgment, then leaned back on the armrest, eyeing me.
"I've met the Great King and the Chief of the Great Council since arriving, but they all claim to have no power. Strange, so I asked around, and they all pointed this way, saying the true master of Goguryeo resides in the Binyeon Pavilion."
It was cheeky, a jab tossed out casually. Seon Do-hae and Bu-sang's faces stiffened, but I brushed it off.
"Sounds like Silla. They say the two Kim clans run the country there too."
Kim Chun-chu waved it off at my words.
"Come on, that's nonsense. If Yu-sin and I really ran Silla, would we even need to come to Goguryeo?"
"Even country masters have to act when they lose a place like Daeya Fortress."
I reminded him subtly of his predicament. He let out a deep sigh.
"True enough. So let's cut the flowery talk."
"Just what I wanted. Tell me why you've come."
"Lately, Goguryeo and Baekje have teamed up to squeeze us. Baekje, fine—but Goguryeo joining in offers you no gain."
"Curious why you think that. You've reclaimed the Ari River basin, Adan Fortress... oh, and Hyeolgu Island's in your hands now too."
Instead of rebutting, he deftly changed the subject.
"Shouldn't Goguryeo be looking north now? Meddling in the squabbles of two southern kingdoms is a waste."
He was trying to persuade me masterfully. But to me, who knew exactly why he'd come to Goguryeo and what fate awaited the Three Kingdoms, it fell flat.
"Without Emperor Gwanggaeto's aid, Silla would've fallen to Later Yan and Baekje. But once you grew strong, you allied with Baekje to seize the Ari River basin and expand to the Biyeolhol area."
He showed no reaction to my barrage of facts. I paused for breath and wrapped up.
"Silla's too dangerous to just watch from afar."
"Emotions have no place in state affairs."
"Of course. So your visit has nothing to do with your daughter and son-in-law's deaths?"
He tried to hide it, but I saw the vein twitching near his eyebrow. No swords drawn, but the exchange was deadly. Clearing his throat, he steadied himself.
"I won't say it's entirely unrelated. But I've come for a path where Silla and Goguryeo can coexist. You say Silla's in danger, but isn't Baekje just as much? Baekje once pushed north, besieged Pyeongyang Fortress, and killed a Goguryeo king."
"I know. But Baekje never asked for help then betrayed us later, so no hard feelings there. Besides, Silla's the more immediate threat when settling old scores with Baekje."
"For centuries, the three kingdoms have checked each other, allying against whichever grew too strong. If that balance breaks, chaos follows."
It was logical enough, but I knew Silla was the one who'd shatter that balance and doom Baekje and Goguryeo.
"Balance always crumbles eventually. No matter our efforts, we can't rewrite history's flow."
He pondered my reply before speaking.
"From the first time I saw you, I knew you wouldn't stay just the Eastern Division Leader's heir. Ambitious talent is natural, but excess leads to breaking."
"Do you think I'm scheming to swallow Goguryeo? My sole dream is protecting our land from Tang invasion."
I stated it flatly, and he sighed deeply, sensing his eloquence wasn't working. If he knew why I was acting this way, he'd faint. I replied with a relaxed smile. He sipped his tea and spoke again.
"I suspected as much. We'll guard Goguryeo's rear."
"Heh, I'd sooner trust a cat with a fish market. Without losing Danghang Fortress, you'd be begging the Tang Emperor by now."
Even my sharp barb didn't faze him; he pressed on.
"Baekje once vowed to strike Goguryeo's rear when Sui invaded."
"I know. Silla was right there, hand raised, promising the same."
"Either way, Baekje growing too strong during a Tang invasion wouldn't benefit Goguryeo."
"Agreed. But Baekje needs more time to build that strength. Silla's still mighty."
He whined dramatically at my words.
"Thanks to you, Chief, Silla's a candle in the wind. Help restore the balance."
"You mean cut ties with Baekje?"
"Ally with us, and we'll give you more than Baekje ever did."
The core offer at last. Leaning back, I asked.
"What exactly?"
As I probed directly, he retreated as expected.
"First, halt attacks on Silla. I'll consult the queen upon return."
In actual history, his visit played out similarly. He'd come begging for aid, then balk at ceding territory, claiming he couldn't give away the king's land. He'd chosen the Goguryeo trip to dodge blame for Daeya's fall. Silla knew Goguryeo would demand payment anyway. From the records, I'd concluded Kim Chun-chu had no real intent to negotiate.
'Coming in a crisis without full authority? No deal possible.'
As the talks followed my script, I smiled smugly. Seeing it, he tensed slightly. In history, Yeon Gaesomun had demanded land north of Jukryeong Pass first. Kim refused, gaining a pretext against threats and a heroic survival tale to escape political peril. But I had no intention of dancing to his tune. As I stared silently, he calmly sipped his tea. Poise like that showed his iron will.
'A truly formidable man.'
Borrowing foreign might, he'd topple Baekje and Goguryeo, ending the Three Kingdoms. But from Goguryeo's view, he was a dire threat. I took a sip, shrugged.
"Understood. Safe travels back."