Chapter 56
Chapter 56
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 56
Chapter Title: Coup Considerations
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In the end, Li Zhi, the nephew of Chancellor Zhangsun Wuji and King of Jin, ascended to the position of crown prince in 644.
He would later become Emperor Gaozong of Tang, the husband of Empress Wu Zetian.
Tremendous power struggles unfolded in this process. Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, had gone through utter chaos to make King of Jin Li Zhi the crown prince, but he deeply distrusted him. That's why, while he was still alive, he wanted to settle affairs with the neighboring states.
'The Tang invasion of Goguryeo the following year is proof of that.'
No matter what Yeongnyu King did, it couldn't stop the Tang invasion. The Tang justified it as punishing Yeon Gaesomun's coup, but even without the coup, their invasion was only a matter of time.
Seeing me lost in thought, Yeongnyu King spoke.
"I've heard your words well. But they differ from my thinking, so I won't hear more."
"I apologize for troubling you."
I saw no need to say more either.
'The option of persuading Yeongnyu King to prepare for war is off the table.'
I followed him back to the jade throne and bowed with my father, Yeon Gaesomun.
Yeongnyu King, slouched sideways on the throne, gazed at us—his eyes, briefly clear moments ago, had reddened again.
As we stepped outside, the eunuch who had taken Jumong's spearhead earlier was waiting.
With a gaunt hand hidden in his sleeve, he pointed toward the left corridor.
"This way, please."
As he turned to leave, I asked,
"What about my spearhead?"
The eunuch spun around and glared at me.
"Retrieve it at the palace gate."
His sharp, unexpected retort startled me slightly.
My father, Yeon Gaesomun, gripped my shoulder. Not intending to anger him, I nodded and turned away.
We walked the creaking corridor, just as it had groaned on the way in, when Yeon Gaesomun muttered,
"He's grown bolder. Or has he always been this way, and I never noticed?"
"I kept it hidden."
"I've never seen the Great King converse this long."
"Even at Grand Council meetings?"
"He mostly stays silent. The Great King keeps his words for another mouth."
I knew exactly who that was and smirked faintly.
Seeing my smile, my father Yeon Gaesomun sighed.
"I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I didn't expect such open opposition."
He grimaced and added,
"It seems..."
That word sparked "coup" in my mind.
In that instant, I instinctively grabbed my father's hand.
"Ride back with me in the carriage later. I have something to say."
"Very well."
As we walked the corridor chatting, I spotted Yeon Jeong-du heading down the one we'd entered from.
He wore red official robes cinched with a black belt, topped by a crimson official hat.
Spotting him, my father Yeon Gaesomun halted. Yeon Jeong-du stopped as well.
The two, pausing almost in unison, locked eyes in a glare.
'This feels like a standoff where pistols or swords might come out.'
Instead of drawing weapons, they battled with stares. The lethal intensity in their entangled gazes made even me shrink back.
After a long silent duel, they nodded curtly as if by agreement and went their separate ways.
'Whoa, cool as ice.'
Exiting the inner palace, Yi Mangjin—one of ours—was waiting.
Unlike before, my father Yeon Gaesomun said nothing.
At the palace gate, Geom Mojam and his men awaited. As the gates opened, Yi Mangjin handed me Jumong's spearhead.
"Safe travels to both of you."
After farewells, my father Yeon Gaesomun and I boarded the same carriage.
As Geom Mojam reached to close the curtain, Yeon Gaesomun waved him off.
"Leave it open."
"Yes, sir."
Geom Mojam stepped quietly ahead. My father Yeon Gaesomun looked at me.
"When discussing important matters with someone, keep surroundings visible like this."
"Not in a room?"
"Then you can't tell who's eavesdropping. So keep windows and doors open, or go to open places like hunting grounds or polo fields. Understood?"
"I'll keep that in mind."
Truly, the savvy of a power player.
'Much to learn.'
As I pondered inwardly, my father Yeon Gaesomun asked,
"What did you want to say?"
"Are you considering any drastic measures?"
"Drastic measures?"
"Like a coup."
His face twisted at my blunt question.
"Don't throw words like that around lightly."
"That's why I'm asking carefully."
While preparing to change history, what weighed on me most was Yeon Gaesomun's coup in 642.
Forced or not, Tang Taizong Li Shimin used it as a pretext for invasion. The real issue was within Goguryeo.
'Samguk Sagi says 100 died; Nihon Shoki says 180.'
And the highlight: Yeongnyu King himself.
Dramas and films of this era often show elegant suicide. One drama, Kingdom of the Winds, had a subordinate kill him accidentally.
But Samguk Sagi records they killed the king, dismembered him, and dumped the pieces in a stream.
It might feel satisfying, but the aftermath couldn't be ignored.
'Victors become royal forces; losers, traitors.'
Though unrecorded, opposition and purges were inevitable.
The dead men's followers—100 or 180—wouldn't stay quiet unless all slain.
Liaodong Fortress, which held off Sui's million-man army for months, fell in two weeks. Many other defeats followed.
Chinese records may exaggerate, but it troubled me.
Even Ansi Fortress's Yang Man-chun, who turned the tide, had clashed with Yeon Gaesomun.
The biggest problem came after Yeon Gaesomun's death.
'Issues dormant in his lifetime erupted.'
Conflicts between Namsaeng and his brothers were personal but fueled by agitators.
Figures like Sinseong, Osa, and Yomyo, who later opened the gates. Quiet under Yeon Gaesomun, they rampaged after his death.
'And Goguryeo fell just years later.'
Today's Yi Mangjin and son Yita-in surrendered to Tang after defending Cheokseong.
His predecessor, sons of Goryang like Gojil and Goja, also surrendered. They died together suppressing Khitan rebels at Liaodong's Mami Fortress.
Born Goguryeons, dying for Tang.
'Perhaps even fighting Dae Joyeong's revival army.'
Knowing history and possessing Yeon Gaesomun's son, I could mitigate some.
But best: prevent the coup altogether.
Lost in these thoughts, my father Yeon Gaesomun's voice broke through.
"I'll answer carefully then. I believe the sword may be the best solution."
"It would start conflict, not resolve it."
"Today, the king insulted our father and son."
"He merely said he'd decide succession at Grand Council."
"Other division leaders didn't handle succession that way. Yet only our Eastern Division faces this."
"You think the king has ulterior motives?"
"Likely, Chief of Central Administration Yeon Jeong-du will meet other leaders secretly on the king's orders. He'll drag our issue out, persuading them."
"And then?"
"Like in my youth, I'll visit them, explain our case, and meet their demands."
Hearing Samguk Sagi's account firsthand felt surreal.
Recalling it darkened my father Yeon Gaesomun's face completely.
"If it happens across two generations, other leaders will look down on us. Our authority will wane."
"Dissatisfied factions will emerge one by one."
"Yes. External pressure breeds internal deviants."
He sighed deeply.
"Especially your brothers are a problem."
I couldn't say "spot on."
As I stayed silent, my father Yeon Gaesomun spoke first.
"I'll order increased surveillance on your brothers."
"If signs of mischief appear?"
"Don't worry. I'll handle it myself. Not a drop of blood on your hands."
Though I disliked my brothers, his vow to kill them personally felt uneasy.
"Is power always like this?"
My slightly queasy tone drew a surprised look from Yeon Gaesomun.
"Haven't you always despised your brothers? That's why our clan rose shoulder-to-shoulder with old houses so quickly."
"I just want our clan stable, the kingdom at peace."
"That requires blood. Recently, we caught retainers cozying up to the Chief of Central Administration—even some from my father's time."
"I had no idea."
"I'll handle it quietly. But if the Chief or king pushes like this, malcontents will multiply."
"Is that why you're considering a coup?"
"Power is balance. Share it properly, no quarrels. Monopolize it, and war ensues."
The best explanation of power's nature.
I nodded, and my father Yeon Gaesomun continued.
"Yet the king wants all power monopolized. Goguryeo is a union of tribes like the Gyeru. It can't be a state where one holds all."
I didn't fully agree, but it nailed Goguryeo's reality.
Still, to avert the coup, I persuaded.
"So we can't draw swords rashly. You're healthy, I'm young. Bide time patiently."
"Not planning now, of course. But constant retreat leads off cliffs—like yielding to Tang demands."
"I'll keep you from the cliff."
"Good. I trust you."
No mind-reading, but he seemed unlikely to act without consulting me.
A sigh of relief as the carriage halted at the estate.
The steward approached, whispering to Yeon Gaesomun.
"You've arrived."
"Where is he?"
"As ordered, in Binyeongeok Pavilion."
My father nodded instead of replying; the steward withdrew.
Stepping out, Yeon Gaesomun called to me descending behind.
"Follow me."
We climbed stairs into the vast estate—many areas I'd yet to explore.
'Yeon Namsaeng's memories are hazy; maybe I've been but forgotten.'
Passing the polo field, I saw bare-chested Yang Man-chun practicing jujutsu with retainers.
I waved in greeting and kept following my father.