Chapter 12: Too Easy a Negotiation
"If you agree to this, our Goryeo is also willing to sell an abundance of weapons to Silla at a favorable price."
Although fully authorized to act independently, Da Wi-hae was carefully following the instructions his eccentric nephew, Dae In-seon, had given him.
As the envoy of Goryeo, Da Wi-hae deliberately used a historical tactic: recalling how Yeon Gaesomun had demanded that Kim Chun-chu hand over the lands north of Jukryeong. By bringing up "the lands north of Jukryeong," he purposefully provoked Silla's court, reminding them of old grievances.
"Goryeo has an abundance of weapons? Why so many weapons?"
"Lands north of Jukryeong? Those were once ours, the territory of our ancient kingdom!"
Da Wi-hae subtly glanced at the agitated Silla ministers, a faint, smug smile on his lips. It was the same cold, cunning smile that Dae In-seon always wore. Anyone could tell it was intentional, and Choi Chi-won, foaming with indignation, was no exception.
He wanted to argue that the lands were no longer under Silla's control, so Goryeo might as well take them—but Da Wi-hae restrained himself, knowing that showing Goryeo's hand too early would weaken his leverage.
His next task was clear: to display Goryeo's strength.
"Our kingdom had been preparing for war with the Tang Dynasty, but unforeseen upheavals have forced us to pause and observe the situation. Therefore, we can supply your nation with arms."
"War with Tang? Does Goryeo even have that capability?"
Realistically, Goryeo's population could not support a full-scale invasion. Occupying territory would require sending troops from Liaodong deep into Central Plains, straining supply lines that Goryeo simply could not maintain. Even though Goryeo had enjoyed relative stability under Dae In-seon's regency, that stability was limited to former Buyeo and Goguryeo lands. Maintaining control over the former Liaodong territory would be nearly impossible.
In other words, Da Wi-hae was bluffing.
His uncle had taught him: in diplomacy, always exaggerate the big things and minimize the small. And it was working.
"Our Crown Prince has already eradicated the roots of the Heuksu Malgal, stabilizing the kingdom. Meanwhile, the Tang Dynasty struggles to control regional governors. How could Goryeo stand idle in the face of past humiliations suffered by the Go family of old Goryeo?"
The Silla court descended into chaos at once. The mention of avenging the Go family's historic humiliation resonated with them.
How did Goguryeo fall? Betrayal from Yeon Nam-saeng played a part, but when Tang advanced from Liaodong, Silla had pressed from below, contributing to its catastrophic defeat. Dae In-seon knew all this history, and Da Wi-hae, guided by his nephew's instructions, conveyed as much as possible.
Choi Chi-won glared at Da Wi-hae as if he were an enemy, and rightly so—the statement was clearly aimed at Silla. As a loyal official, his outrage was justified.
Still, it was merely barking; Da Wi-hae had presented himself as a Goryeo envoy proposing an alliance to prevent chaos among the Three Kingdoms. The pretext sounded reasonable. Had Goryeo intended to attack Silla, Da Wi-hae would have declared war instead.
Silla's nobles and the queen, sensing the chill in the air, grew curious about Dae In-seon. What could he possibly want from Silla?
"The Crown Prince of Goryeo has grand ambitions. We understand your intentions. But this concerns the fate of our nation. We will discuss and decide among the ministers. In the meantime, a banquet will be arranged for Goryeo's envoys, so please rest comfortably."
Da Wi-hae bowed to the queen and followed a Silla courtier to the envoy quarters.
From what he observed, Silla was far from helpless, but it was weak enough to make one doubt that it had once unified the Three Kingdoms. Only Seorabeol seemed properly maintained. Da Wi-hae began to understand why Dae In-seon claimed he could unify the Samhan once more.
He had never doubted his nephew's ambition, but at best, Da Wi-hae had assumed Dae In-seon could merely recover old Goguryeo lands. Seeing Silla firsthand, however, made it clear: success would not be difficult. Even on entering Seorabeol, Silla's disorder was apparent.
The "Silla pirates," akin to Japanese Wako pirates, were numerous. In the original history, their rapid increase in the late Silla period reflected the kingdom's weak control over its provinces. The pirates' strength alone made it clear how frail Silla's central authority had become.
Da Wi-hae stayed in Silla for several weeks. His son, Dae Bong-ye, exhausted from the journey, finally regained energy and marveled at Seorabeol's grandeur. Though the kingdom was in decline, Seorabeol's streets, tiled houses, and vibrant culture still impressed him.
"Father! Why don't we have anything like this in our country?" Dae Bong-ye exclaimed.
"We must learn from this in Goryeo," Da Wi-hae replied.
"When we return, I'll tell the Crown Prince to improve our capital!" Dae Bong-ye said, eyes sparkling with excitement.
While Dae Bong-ye indulged in Seorabeol's pleasures, Da Wi-hae was summoned by the queen again.
"The lands north of Jukryeong cannot currently be managed by us."
"Does that mean these lands are already beyond Silla's control?"
"Indeed. Bandits run rampant there. If you grant those lands to our kingdom, we shall gladly accept your proposal."
The queen's answer was straightforward. The lands north of Jukryeong had once been taken from Goguryeo by Silla. Da Wi-hae could press the issue further, but as a Goryeo envoy, he restrained himself. Dae In-seon's advice came to mind:
"Guests are kings. Treat the Silla people kindly, sell them what we don't need, and let them face Gyeon Hwon themselves."
At this point, pushing too hard could harm both the alliance and the ongoing negotiations. Best to follow his nephew's strategy.
"Her wise judgment will please our Crown Prince. How shall we handle the deployment of our troops?"
"Two hundred at Daeya Fortress, two hundred in Seorabeol, and one hundred for my personal guard."
The queen's allocation revealed that even the palace had too few soldiers. The Hwarang were no longer elite warriors but decadent courtiers, and the central army was near nonfunctional. The queen needed capable, battle-hardened troops from Goryeo for her protection.
"Understood. We will select elite troops from our Capital Garrison to guard Your Majesty, Seorabeol, and Daeya Fortress. Silla's army will guide us at Daeya Fortress."
"And let it be clear, this is not because we are your vassals!"
"Ha! Choi, if you think us your vassals, would a royal envoy propose such terms?"
Da Wi-hae silently repeated Dae In-seon's mantra: "Guests are kings."
"Since you call yourselves Goryeo and plan to strike Tang, we are certainly not your enemies! What game is this?" Choi Chi-won pressed, still skeptical.
"We have long maintained exchanges. Silla is not Tang, however; it is one of the Samhan. Blood ties can make neighbors closer than mere proximity," Da Wi-hae replied, calming Choi's anger.
Choi Chi-won, practical despite his outrage, realized that Silla could not even control the lands north of Jukryeong. Bandits and local militias had risen—an effective microcosm of Central Plains chaos. Silla could not change this reality. With Gyeon Hwon consolidating power in Gyeongsang Province, it was wise to cede the northern lands and form an alliance with Goryeo.
Goryeo's demand for the lands north of Jukryeong gave sufficient justification for this course of action.
The remaining obstacle was Gyeon Hwon. Choi Chi-won anticipated that he would eventually establish Later Baekje. Aligning with Goryeo and securing weapons was a necessary measure.
"And what of the weapons?"
"Spears, swords, Goryeo composite bows, and crossbows are available. Cavalry mounts, if desired, can be provided as well."
Da Wi-hae displayed Goryeo's military wealth with subtle bravado. The supply of spears and swords was ample; the bows and crossbows were limited. Still, showing Goryeo's capability reassured Silla.
Choi Chi-won raised an eyebrow but ultimately agreed to purchase spears and swords, coordinating quantities via official channels.
"Very well, we will take spears and swords. We will send a formal request to your military office soon."
"Understood, Your Majesty. When shall we take control of the lands north of Jukryeong?"
"They are already beyond our control. Goryeo may handle it as it sees fit."
With the queen's decree, the lands north of Jukryeong were effectively ceded to Goryeo.
Da Wi-hae, though pleased with the acquisition, worried about Dae In-seon's reaction. His nephew deeply cared for the people; deploying troops to suppress bandits would inevitably lead to complaints.
After a few days, Da Bong-ye dragged Da Wi-hae home to report the outcome.
"Hahaha! Uncle, this is amazing! Exactly what I wanted!"
"Huh?"
Dae In-seon, upon hearing the report, was overjoyed.