Chapter 22: [The Monk's Rebellion]
"Furthermore, the letter states that after the conquest of Baekje, you would be appointed governor of Mujinju, or of Seorabeol if Silla is annexed. Failing that, a prestigious position in the capital will be granted, and my daughter will marry Your Highness, Daebongye."
"Quite generous. Understood. Aside from this, any other requests?"
The conditions were exceptional, yet Yang Gil's focus was not on wealth. His desire was revenge against Gungye and the Wang family.
If he could not punish them personally, entrusting the task to Da-Inseon was acceptable. Having sworn loyalty, he fully committed to aiding Da-Inseon.
"While you rest, distribute these placards wherever your soldiers can reach."
The Eight Banner Army unloaded a massive bundle, which Yang Gil opened. A scroll fell into his hands, and he laughed, surprisingly hearty for his age.
"Ha ha ha… that monk will be furious. How amusing, a diversion for this old man after idle years."
The placards branded Gungye a heretic, now distributed across southern Sakju. In an instant, Gungye's claim as Maitreya collapsed.
Word spread nationwide: "Gungye pursues impossible ideals, calling himself Buddha—madman!"
Lords began doubting their allegiance.
"What reason remains to follow Gungye?"
"Even our people question him. How can he claim to be Maitreya yet be defeated by a mere bandit lord?"
"Indeed. How can the reincarnation of Buddha lose to a mere rogue force?"
Loyal lords slowly abandoned him.
Wang Ryung was surrounded by the Eight Banner Army. Sakju lords defected, and Gungye's remaining support shrank further. Yang Gil's defensive stance left him to bear losses alone.
Gungye, wavering, became a madman chasing utopia. Even his army began deserting.
His command realized the grim reality.
"What shall we do, General Wang? Is there no solution?"
"…My father may already be dead."
Wang Geon, monitoring Songak, had gathered intelligence.
Dae In-Seon's forces had eliminated lords supporting Wang Ryung and were besieging the city, constructing siege engines.
Attempting to rescue Wang Ryung was impossible; the Eight Banner Army was nearly impenetrable.
Gungye and Wang Geon had underestimated him.
"Where did it all go wrong?"
"Now is not the time to lament. Decisions must be made."
"Decisions? You mean surrender?"
Even within Gungye's ranks, surrender was discussed. Once a movement born of high ideals, it was now merely a cult, outnumbered and abandoned.
Wang Geon knew it all along: Gungye could not succeed once Dae In-Seon moved south.
Yet hope for a miracle kept him following.
Now it was over. Dae In-Seon's army approached, and Gungye, claiming Maitreya, failed to respond.
Public perception outside Songak treated him as a heretical cult leader.
"…Perhaps we were doomed from the start. In numbers, in cause… he is a true sovereign."
"General Wang, are you speaking disrespectfully before His Majesty?"
General Bae Hyun-Kyung glared, but Wang Geon continued.
"The villages see us as madmen. Even the Taewang is mocked as a presumptuous gambler. This is all Dae In-Seon's doing."
"And Yang Gil? Did he not promise all of Sakju?"
"Yang Gil refuses to aid us."
Gungye had offered truce until Dae In-Seon could be blocked.
Of course, Yang Gil, sworn to Da-Inseon, would not accept. Gungye could not imagine this, believing he would receive help.
"In times like these, should we not cooperate?"
"He trembles with rage, claiming betrayal by Your Majesty. Do you expect him to comply?"
"Am I truly to surrender? I, the Maitreya, must kneel before a Malgal king?"
Gungye shook his head in scorn.
Surrender was impossible. Dreams of the Pure Land could not end by yielding to another king.
His commanders saw his resolve but understood the army's fate: now merely a large bandit force.
Gungye's ambitions of overthrowing Silla and creating a utopia crumbled under Dae In-Seon. Lords deserted him, leaving only a few Songak supporters.
With dreams unattainable, Gungye descended into madness, laughing wildly.
"Your Majesty?"
"No! I have not even realized my dream. I will not stop! I will settle this with Dae In-Seon!"
"Do you truly intend this?"
"When they attack Songak, I will strike from behind!"
The commanders swallowed in fear. Victory was impossible.
The people had abandoned them, lords had defected, and losses from Yang Gil's defense had been heavy. Even a direct confrontation with Dae In-Seon was hopeless; his forces exceeded thirty-six thousand. Combined with lords or twenty thousand troops in Pyeongyang, Songak would be utterly destroyed.
The commanders watched their irrational leader with sorrow.
"Your Majesty, Gungye's army is moving."
"Withdraw Jeong Hwang-Gi's unit, with Yu Geum-Pil and Park Sul-Hee."
"Orders, Your Majesty?"
"They plan to strike front and rear. Once siege engines are ready, we will capture Songak. When Gungye attacks from behind, Hwang-Gi's unit will annihilate them. The pruning is done; now we harvest."
The Eight Banner generals had awaited this day.
They had long watched Gungye and Wang Ryung defy Dae In-Seon and were eager for vengeance.
"Excellent plan, Your Majesty!"
"Send envoys urging surrender to Gungye."
"Why bother? They will refuse."
"We need a pretext for execution."
Da-In-Seon had repeatedly offered surrender; Gungye always rejected them. It mattered little—the purpose was to justify action.
'No matter how often I offer surrender, Wang Ryung's lies cause civilians to mock me as Malgal Emperor. Then they must die. If a father is killed, how could I spare Wang Geon?'
Initially, Dae In-Seon intended to force Wang Ryung to surrender and recruit Wang Geon as a general.
Wang Ryung ruined that plan. Late surrender would not be accepted. Though the Later Three Kingdoms left the rear unstable, Goryeo historically refused Balhae's aid. Facing Later Baekje while claiming Goguryeo succession, refusing aid surprised Dae In-Seon.
'Wang Geon also despises Balhae's claim. Politically or personally, he cannot be trusted.'
This was Dae In-Seon's personal judgment. He could not allow bias but recognized Wang Geon as a future threat.
Gungye was never fit for kingship yet seized power by killing his master. Balhae's aid request was secondary; even if it happened, he could not recruit Wang Geon, the man who had killed his master, as general.
'Wang Geon only excelled in Korea. By comparison, Yelü Abaoji or I are far superior. Goryeo's reliance on Liao makes him irrelevant.'
Dae In-Seon dismissed Wang Geon. For Balhae, Korea was small. Wang Geon claiming kingship meant little.
"Inform our allied lords: we will punish Wang Ryung, former Gungye supporter. They should provide supplies and troops."
"Is our army not sufficient?"
Indeed, the Eight Banner Army alone could capture Songak within hours.
Yet influential lords remained. They needed to witness consequences for defiance.
"We are testing loyalty. Capturing this city before them ensures no alternative thoughts arise."
"I will obey your command, Your Majesty."
Lords loyal to Dae In-Seon supplied troops and provisions to assist, understanding it as a demonstration of what happens to rebels.