Chapter 78
Chapter 78
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 78
Chapter Title: The Baekje Alliance Dilemma
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There, the characters for Baekje were written.
"Why Baekje?"
"They still haven't reached a conclusion even after the last envoy returned."
"You mean the alliance with Baekje?"
"Yes."
"Why can't they decide on that? To check Silla, that's the only way."
"There's growing opinion that we can't trust Baekje."
"In international relations, who talks about trust? It's about what's necessary and what's not."
"You're right, but Baekje has fought against us before."
"That was ages ago. Even if it becomes an issue, we can deal with it after resolving the immediate Silla problem."
As I got heated up, Go Jeong-ui made a calming expression and added,
"Baekje feels the same way about us."
"They don't trust us?"
Go Jeong-ui nodded instead of answering.
"Who's saying that?"
"A significant number of the Eight Great Castles nobles, led by Satak Jijik."
"What's their real reason for opposing?"
"I'm not entirely sure. But there's talk it's because of the prince next in line for the throne, Gyogi."
"Why Gyogi Prince?"
"They believe allying with Goguryeo would hinder Gyogi Prince's ascension."
"They think we'll interfere?"
"King Mu has spent his life attacking Silla, from the Battle of Amak Fortress onward. But nobles like Satak Jijik hated that."
"Makes sense. Their situation is similar to ours."
"They seem to believe that allying with us would lead to even stronger attacks on Silla."
"Indeed, King Mu is from a collateral royal line, so his legitimacy is weak. To solidify power, he needs victories in war."
"It hasn't been very successful so far. But there have been some achievements."
"They must think Prince Uija, if he becomes king, will continue King Mu's policies."
"Yes. And since Uija is already crown prince, he doesn't need to make deals with the nobles."
"On the other hand, Gyogi Prince absolutely needs the nobles' support to claim the throne."
"So those supporting Gyogi Prince are lukewarm on the alliance with us."
"Doesn't matter anyway. Prince Uija will ascend and purge the opposition."
Scholars argued that King Uija's actions led to Baekje's downfall. But with Tang allying with Silla, Baekje's fall was inevitable. Hearing my response, Go Jeong-ui shook his head.
"I see it that way too, but the problem is they might insist on allying with Baekje immediately."
"The Senior Central Administrator?"
"Yes. And they might assign it to you, Master."
"Me?"
"Didn't you meet Prince Uija at Mireuk Temple when you went to Baekje before?"
"Yeah. We nearly died together."
Go Jeong-ui grimaced, recalling the incident.
"That's why they'll give it to you. To negotiate with Uija's haters like Satak Jijik."
"And leak info to Silla in the process. Like last time."
"More than likely."
"The road there will be trouble, the road back too, and Baekje itself."
"They know you're close to Prince Uija, so Satak Jijik will nitpick no matter what."
"What if I fail? They won't kill me, right?"
"Probably not, but they could strip you of your Junior Central Operations Officer position."
"How many people have died over this crap!"
As I fumed, Go Jeong-ui quietly replied,
"Seeing you this angry, the Senior Central Administrator really got under your skin."
"Can't I just meet Prince Uija and sort it out?"
"He's practically under house arrest at Mireuk Temple right now."
"It's protection, not house arrest!"
"That's the view of someone like you who knows the inside story. Most people only believe what they see. They'll exclude you from the start."
"So I have to negotiate an alliance with people who won't even meet me."
"Not full documents, but at least a positive response."
"One mountain after another."
"And another after that."
I wanted to smack Go Jeong-ui for his snide remark, but held back.
The next day, I headed to the Central Administration Bureau early in the morning, seeing off by my wife. Upon arrival, as expected, I was notified of a senior-level meeting attended by the Senior Central Administrator. I went to a grand hall with a long corridor similar to the Dark Shadow Hall.
Inside the door opened by the eunuch, there was a long passageway-like space lined with black lacquered desks. Officials were seated in rows according to their robe colors. Go Yeonsu, son of the Northern Division Leader, and Go Hyejin, son of the Southern Division Leader, sat side by side and made eye contact with me. Go Yeonsu pointed to the seat next to him. As I sat, a maid with twin braids poured tea. I gave her a grateful nod and took a sip when the Senior Central Administrator entered.
The Central Administration Bureau officials rose in unison. Seeing this, I hurriedly stood, spilling my teacup. I quickly righted it and pretended nothing happened. The seated Senior Central Administrator spoke.
"Normally, the Great Kings would attend, but both are occupied. I'll preside over the meeting."
At Senior Central Administrator Yeon Jeong-du's words, everyone bowed their heads like in a historical drama and chorused their assent. I grumbled inwardly at his perfect timing. Yeon Jeong-du paused briefly, slowly scanning the attendees. Grand meetings were for division leaders headed by the Great Kings, while senior meetings were for the next tier, senior officials. But these seniors were from prominent families, many having advanced ranks, so they wielded no small influence, though not quite at grand meeting level.
'And Yeon Jeong-du controls it.'
As head of the Central Administration Bureau and presider of senior meetings, his influence as a close aide to the Great King was immense, allowing him to steer these gatherings.
'I've verbally bested him a few times, but he's still a formidable opponent.'
As I pondered, the meeting began. As expected, Yeon Jeong-du skillfully led it. He skipped unfavorable agenda items and steered favorable ones until he got the answers he wanted. One was the Thousand-Li Wall issue Go Jeong-ui had predicted.
"How long ago did the Great King issue the order, and the Thousand-Li Wall construction is still dragging? I judge it's because you seniors failed to urge and just stood by."
At Yeon Jeong-du's words, the seniors murmured and glanced around. He seemed to be pressing hard on purpose, so I listened impassively. He immediately addressed me.
"What does the newly appointed Junior Central Operations Officer think?"
"We should first discuss why the Thousand-Li Wall is needed."
"The Great King ordered it!"
"I'm curious if its value and utility have been sufficiently debated. Not a hundred or two hundred li, but a thousand li of walls along the Yoha River region—what exactly is the plan?"
"What plan! It's to block the enemy. The ones you say invade whenever they please."
Seeing him come on strong, I smirked inwardly. He was leveraging his presiding role, as anticipated.
'Right in the palm of Buddha's hand.'
I smiled and looked at Senior Central Administrator Yeon Jeong-du.
"Does it make sense to build a thousand-li wall when we don't know when or where the enemy will strike?"
"Makes sense? Are you defying the Great King's edict?"
"You keep mentioning His Majesty at the end of every sentence—it's grating. Senior Central Administrator."
As I pushed back harder, Yeon Jeong-du's face stiffened. The other seniors were equally shocked.
"You, you dare."
"I don't know what advice His Majesty received or how urgent it was. And edicts can change if his thoughts do. Isn't that right?"
"Th-that."
"And how many troops are needed to build and defend a thousand-li wall? If one section breaks, you'd have to abandon the rest and retreat. Then."
I turned to the seniors and added,
"The thousand-li wall becomes useless without ever being properly used. All that effort wasted. What's the real reason for building the Thousand-Li Wall?"
"To block the enemy, I said!"
"So how? How many soldiers to defend a thousand li? At least 150,000. That means emptying all other fortresses in Yodong. And the manpower and resources to build and maintain that length—do you know?"
It was what Go Jeong-ui had told me beforehand. They were building it, but everything was a mess. As expected, Yeon Jeong-du just glared without retort. I clicked my tongue inwardly.
'Pathetic fool. Squeezing countless people without even thinking of that?'
"So, does the Junior Central Operations Officer have a better plan?"
"Of course. Use the materials for the Thousand-Li Wall to reinforce existing fortresses and deploy siege weapons. Then gather 10,000 cavalry from the Xueyantuo, Khitan, and Malgal tribes into a separate unit."
"Can that stop hundreds of thousands?"
Some seniors chuckled at his mocking tone. He was confident in his presiding position to trip me up. As expected, I countered.
"Then can you guarantee a static wall line will stop them?"
"More realistic than your plan."
"Then let's make a bet, no, a game."
I looked at a sneering senior beside me. He shut up as I stared. It was his belt that caught my eye.
"Lend me your belt."
"B-belt?"
I abruptly asked for his belt, cleared the teacup from my desk, and dragged it to the center. I drew my long sword and marked lines. The attendees craned their necks curiously.
After about 20 marks, I took the belt, removed the dangling ornaments, and laid it over the lines. I divided the ornaments into two groups of five on each side. Yeon Jeong-du frowned.
"What are you doing?"
"This belt is the Thousand-Li Wall. I'll be Tang, you be Goguryeo, Senior Central Administrator. Rules: Each side advances one mark at a time—that's army movement. I win if I cross the belt, the wall. Block me before I move two spaces."