Chapter 19: [Merchant Lee Jae-Chun]
In truth, with the current strength of the Eight Banner Army, toppling Gungye's forces would not have been a difficult task.
Even if Gungye's army and Yang Gil's troops were combined, they would not reach ten thousand, and the two factions were still entangled in constant conflict. On the other hand, Goryeo had already consolidated the Heuksu Malgal and Khitan forces, and its internal affairs were stable, allowing its military might to be focused entirely on the Korean Peninsula.
By pulling the main troops from Liaodong, Goryeo could field up to a hundred thousand in a single campaign.
In Dae In-Seon's mind, the simulation of Gungye's army being swept away was already complete.
He glanced at the commanders of the Eight Banner Army after gathering the local nobility, noticing how restless and fidgety they were.
"Do you wish to fight?" he asked.
"Southward! We must advance south, Your Majesty!"
"We are ready to lay down our lives for the Great King, yet is this not a little… anticlimactic?"
"You must march forward!"
'With our current strength, striking Gungye's forces is not difficult. But Wang Geon is an exceptional commander, and he has brilliant subordinates. Even if Yang Gil agrees to a temporary truce, the situation could worsen. I doubt Yang Gil would shield Gungye, but having an insurance policy will serve us well.'
Calming the overzealous Eight Banner commanders, who were unnecessarily eager for combat, became another of Dae In-Seon's tasks.
Yet, the ease with which Pyeongyang had been taken left him uneasy about the battles ahead.
The adversaries were none other than Wang Geon, who would later become the emperor of Goryeo. Even if Gungye, the self-proclaimed Maitreya, were ignored, generals like Wang Geon, Bok Ji-Gyeom, and Yu Geum-Pil posed a significant threat.
After newly appointed administrators were dispatched to Pyeongyang and Goryeo troops from Namhaebu stabilized the local populace, the Eight Banner Army could resume its southward advance.
News of this also reached Gungye's camp.
"Is it true… that the Taewang of Goryeo is personally leading the army south?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. They say the force exceeds thirty thousand and consists solely of elite troops who previously conquered the Heuksu Malgal and Khitan."
"Then did Silla truly return the territory north of Jukryeong to Goryeo?"
The announcement caused chaos in Gungye's ranks.
Realistically, it wouldn't take long for Dae In-Seon's Eight Banner Army to strike from the rear. The entire army consisted of cavalry. Poorly trained local troops could not hope to match their mobility, and Gungye's forces were already exhausted from fighting Yang Gil.
"Indeed. Pyeongyang has already been occupied, and Goryeo administrators have been dispatched," came the report.
"By all that is holy! We have just been pressing Yang Gil, and now this calamity? How can the king of Malgal dare to confront this Maitreya?"
Gungye had been pushing Yang Gil hard, but the intervention of the Tang merchant supporting him aside, the opposing force was now a royal army with legitimate authority. Victory seemed possible—but only until Dae In-Seon arrived.
"Your Majesty, you must act! Immediate measures are necessary!"
"Given that Dae In-Seon's army numbers in the tens of thousands, perhaps negotiating a truce with Yang Gil would be the prudent course," suggested Wang Geon.
However, Gungye's mind was far from receptive. Calling himself the Maitreya, he had come this far and was on the verge of realizing his ideal kingdom, only to be blocked by Dae In-Seon, a Malgal king whose forces numbered in the tens of thousands. Naturally, he frowned.
The Gungye camp, unprepared for such a swift move by the Goryeo king, remained silent, unable to propose an effective countermeasure. They had dismissed Goryeo as merely another Malgal nation, viewing themselves as the sole bearers of legitimacy. Any land given by Silla was assumed to be mere rumor spread by alliances.
"They claim to be the descendants of Goguryeo. By their logic, occupying this land is not entirely wrong…"
"Then does this mean our sovereign is mistaken?"
"No. They are simply ahead in terms of legitimacy. From Silla's perspective, we are rebels, and this land has passed to Goryeo. They have ample reason to suppress us."
Wang Geon remained rational despite the outrage of the Gungye-aligned lord, Kim Sun-sik of Myeongju.
Even if one refused to acknowledge it, the reality could not be changed. Had he defeated Yang Gil and consolidated central Korea earlier, he might have used all means to challenge Goryeo, but now he was still locked in a stalemate with Yang Gil, and a protracted conflict had sapped his strength. With Goryeo's army advancing, he was left with no maneuvering room.
"…Am I, the Maitreya, expected to compromise with Yang Gil?"
"There is no alternative. The first priority is repelling the Goryeo king's army. We know this land better than he does. With proper use of terrain, we can resist."
Wang Geon proposed reconciliation with Yang Gil to Gungye, but he himself was desperate. If Dae In-Seon reached Songak, his father, Wang Ryung, would be in danger.
Though he longed to dash to Songak immediately, this required Gungye's approval to make peace with Yang Gil. Compromises might need to be made in the process.
At that moment, as Yang Gil was steadily losing ground in southern Sakju, Lee Jae-Chun appeared.
"General Yang Gil, I bring a decree from the Taewang of Goryeo to you."
"Goryeo? I thought you were a Tang merchant."
Though suspicious, Yang Gil had trusted Lee Jae-Chun for providing support. Yet now, invoking the Goryeo Taewang signaled that this man was no ordinary merchant.
Yang Gil quickly considered the implications. Why would the Taewang personally issue orders to him? While the reason remained unclear, one fact was undeniable: the young man before him was an official of Goryeo acting under the king's command.
"This may surprise you, General Yang Gil, but I am originally a merchant of Goryeo. I apologize for the deception. My sovereign feared that if Yang Gil were defeated by Gungye, the lands of Samhan would fall into the hands of a self-proclaimed Maitreya, causing suffering for the people. To avoid raising your suspicion, I presented myself as a Tang merchant."
"So Gungye's claim of being the Maitreya is truly dangerous… enough for the Taewang of Goryeo to intervene?"
Yang Gil had long held a grudge against Gungye, ever since the betrayal. He had meticulously observed Gungye, ready to strike at any opportunity. Naturally, he knew of Gungye's self-proclamation as Maitreya and king. The eccentricity of Gungye's actions enraged Yang Gil further.
Although Yang Gil disliked Gungye, he could sympathize with the idealistic vision of his kingdom. Few local lords dared dream of such a utopia. Most lords had rebelled against Silla for their own gain, but Gungye's idealism commanded a degree of respect.
"Yes. Lords seeking pragmatic gain versus Gungye's ideal kingdom. Many lords now side with Gungye, but conflicts are inevitable. One day, blood will be spilled."
"What exactly is the order from the Taewang of Goryeo?"
"All land north of Jukryeong, formerly Silla's, has been returned to Goryeo. Yet Yang Ryung and Gungye still run amok. The Taewang has thus personally led a campaign to subdue these outlaws. You, General Yang Gil, are to join as a loyal Goryeo official and help subdue these brigands."
The proposal from the Goryeo king was compelling. In Yang Gil's current reality, creating his own independent realm was no longer feasible. He had never sought to rule a kingdom; merely securing his own people's survival and dominating a small region would have sufficed. Yang Gil's ambition was tempered by pragmatism.
But the situation now was dire. Yang Gil's forces had suffered from continuous skirmishes with Gungye, and continued conflicts or betrayal from local lords could spell disaster.
It was time for a decisive choice: either fight desperately to defeat Gungye or face self-destruction. Yet, even if he defeated Gungye, failing to submit to the Taewang would make his future uncertain.
"…And if I refuse?"
"As stated, all lands north of Jukryeong are Goryeo's. Rising against this authority would brand you a rebel. If you prefer not to join Goryeo, you may go to Silla or Baekje, though you must not assist Gungye or Yang Ryung."
"How many troops does His Majesty command?"
Yang Gil's current army was barely a few thousand, less than four thousand combatants due to losses inflicted by Gungye's betrayal. Facing a numerically superior army would leave him helpless.
"The newly organized Manchurian Eight Banner cavalry, thirty-six thousand strong, have captured Pyeongyang and are advancing south."
"Thirty-six thousand?"
'At that scale, even negotiating with Yang Gil would be disadvantageous. If the Taewang's personal army is involved, the difference in quality and equipment is decisive. My uprising, though originally against Silla, would now make me a rebel. It is better to submit to the Taewang and strike against Gungye and Yang Ryung.'
Yang Gil knew Goryeo had recently strengthened its forces through merchants, but he had not imagined they could mobilize thirty-six thousand troops. Hearing this from Lee Jae-Chun, the Taewang's envoy, made it indisputable. At this scale, even the previously reluctant lords could quickly fall under the Taewang's sway.
Yang Gil faced a critical choice: reject the Taewang's favor and submit to Silla or Baekje, or serve the Taewang and enjoy wealth and influence.
Lee Jae-Chun delivered the final incentive.
"If you become His Majesty's vassal, you will be appointed Governor of Songak. If not, your noble status will be revoked in the capital."
Yang Gil, long resentful of Gungye and Yang Ryung, found this proposal irresistible. Receiving Songak—the stronghold of his enemies—and being made governor to rule it fully tilted his decision.
"…Very well! I shall await the Taewang's orders at all times!"
Lee Jae-Chun smiled at Yang Gil's choice and continued.
"A wise decision. However, it is not yet time. His Majesty wishes for you to rest your troops until you are ready. Once prepared, you will be tasked with subduing the scattered remnants of Gungye's forces. Until then, maintain your strength and await further orders."
"I shall convey my readiness to His Majesty. We are prepared to mobilize at any time."
Dae In-Seon, pleased that Yang Gil had been swayed using his personal grudges, received the news from Lee Jae-Chun with great satisfaction.