Chapter 14: [The Rescue of Sulryul-pyeong]
"If you truly wish to help me, will you follow behind me? As you can see, this young one is still inexperienced on horseback, so the rear is insecure," Daemun-jin instructed.
"I will follow the orders of Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
Daemun-jin, the governor of Buyeo Province, had in the original history returned to the capital due to internal conflicts just before Balhae's fall. At that time, the province's forces were depleted, and Yelü Aboqi's Khitan troops attempted to seize Buyeo. The local lord fought valiantly until the end but perished, leaving Yelü Aboqi with a grievous wound in that battle.
Despite this painful history, the present Daemun-jin had now allied with the Crown Prince to strike at the Khitan remnant.
"Who is their commander?"
"The Khitan remnants are led by Yelü Aboqi. He is barely over twenty this year," Eulbu reported.
At the mention of Yelü Aboqi, Da In-seon's expression twisted violently, enough to make everyone around shiver. It was a look of meeting the mortal enemy of his parents. The soldiers swallowed hard, fully understanding the intensity of the Crown Prince's resolve.
All present shared the same thought:This man will certainly defeat the Khitan.
Since the enemy consisted of remnants, Balhae had a manageable situation. Their number was barely 20,000—enough for even Balhae's standing army to handle. However, because the enemy commander was Yelü Aboqi, Da In-seon planned to personally engage in the battle.
"I will cut down his head myself. And accept any Khitans fleeing from Yelü Aboqi," he declared.
"Could they not be spies?"
"They number only a few dozen. Even if they are spies, I will defeat Yelü Aboqi's 20,000 before they can assault the city."
If the number was only a few dozen, there was no harm in accepting them into Balhae. Moreover, Da In-seon already had a good idea of who these Khitans seeking asylum would be.
"Crown Prince, you should not personally lead the campaign against the bandits!"
"If we planned to defend the city, why would I have brought this many troops? Since you've agreed to follow, let Buyeo Province be managed by its governor. Together, we shall deal with them directly," Da In-seon replied.
I cannot let him escape. Even if he loses his base, I must strike him with my own hand to settle this personal grudge.
Having incarnated as Da In-seon was one thing, but Yelü Aboqi had left him the title of a fallen king's heir. That alone made Da In-seon determined: unless he personally severed Yelü Aboqi's head, the unexperienced hatred would not be satiated.
Furthermore, the enemy had nothing to lose. If they ravaged the Liaodong plains, infrastructure could be destroyed just as Goguryeo's forces once did against the Tang. Therefore, Da In-seon needed to decisively defeat the Khitan remnants and personally strike down Yelü Aboqi.
"Where are the enemy's positions?" he asked.
"They are crossing the Liao River, heading toward Buyeo Fortress," Eulbu answered.
Just like the original history. The difference is, they are not 200,000 strong, and we are thoroughly prepared.
Indeed, Yelü Aboqi's historical march toward Buyeo Fortress had unfolded similarly. The difference now was clear: the Khitan forces, though mobile and dangerous, were numerically inferior and destined to be defeated.
Still, as a northern nomadic people, the Khitans could not be underestimated. These were survivors of Tang General Zhu Zhenchong's campaigns—a tough adversary. Yet Da In-seon had outfitted 10,000 Malgal soldiers from Balhae's trade fleets in full Goguryeo-style armor, ensuring a qualitative advantage.
"Crown Prince, how will we engage them?"
"I will lead the central army of 4,000. Eulbu and Aruji will command the left and right wings, 3,000 each. When I engage the enemy head-on, you shall sweep in from the sides like the wings of a crane."
"The enemy numbers 20,000. You will face them head-on?"
Although Da In-seon's troops would hold their ground, with the Buyeo forces in the rear, the enemy they would face was double their number. Daemun-jin worried: how much could a 13-year-old truly accomplish against such a force?
"The rear is under the governor's command. These are merely remnants. If danger arises, he will commit his soldiers to finish the enemy with us."
"Crown Prince! The Khitan seeking asylum have arrived! They are being chased by the remnants! We must support them!"
The Malgal scout urgently reported.
Da In-seon immediately rode forward with dozens of fully armored soldiers to meet the Khitans seeking asylum—the Sulryul clan. Bearing a Uyghur surname, they were fleeing Yelü Aboqi's pursuing remnants.
As Khitans had long been Balhae's mortal enemies, the Sulryul clan's attempt to defect drew Yelü Aboqi's wrath.
"Seize the traitors seeking Balhae!"
"Kill them all! Anyone pledging to Balhae is our enemy!"
As the Sulryul family neared Buyeo Fortress, Yelü Aboqi's pursuers closed in. With the fortress within reach, escape seemed almost impossible. Sulryul Pago cursed under his breath, knowing that had they moved faster, disaster could have been avoided.
But with the fortress nearly at hand and Sulryul-pyeong carrying the token given by the Crown Prince, survival remained possible. Pago entrusted his daughter's safety to Da In-seon and prepared to face the pursuers with his retainers.
"Pyeong-ah! You go ahead! Protect her!"
"Father! Father, what about you?"
"Hurry! Deliver her safely to the Crown Prince of Balhae and tell him to defeat Yelü Aboqi! He is dangerous!"
As the retainers scrambled to escort Sulryul-pyeong, the Khitan remnants surrounding them suddenly began to collapse under a barrage of arrows.
Thud! Thud!
The arrows did not miss. Da In-seon, fully armored, had drawn his bow and struck the Khitan pursuers with unerring accuracy, knocking many from their mounts.
Realizing Da In-seon had arrived, the Khitans saw the massive red flag of a three-legged crow—the Samjogo—wielded by his soldiers. Terror gripped them.
"W-what is that flag?!"
"Damn it! Retreat! Inform Yelü Aboqi! It's the Balhae army!"
As the Khitans turned, Da In-seon's cavalry relentlessly pursued, throwing spears and striking with swords. The remnants were annihilated.
"Are we… alive?"
"It seems so… But who are these soldiers…?"
The Sulryul family, touching their necks in relief, blinked at the heavily armored troops, astonished at their appearance.
Among them, Sulryul-pyeong looked tearfully at Da In-seon. Finally, the man who had orchestrated chaos to draw the Tang into action—and indirectly rescued her—was before her.
"Thank you. But who are you? We sent people to Buyeo Fortress," Pago asked.
"This is His Highness, the Crown Prince of Great Balhae! Show respect!"
At Da In-seon's subordinate's command, all present except Pago and Sulryul-pyeong bowed in respect.
"Oh, never mind. No need for formalities with my son-in-law. You've taken longer than I expected, though," Pago grumbled.
"This feels strange, meeting a Crown Prince of Balhae for the first time and calling him my son-in-law," Sulryul-pyeong added, a hint of blush on her cheeks.
Da In-seon, sweating under his helmet, maintained composure, carefully trying to reassure them.
"Sulryul-pyeong, why the scowl?" he asked.
"It's natural. The man I confessed to set a trap—wasn't it you, Crown Prince? You moved the Tang to strike at the Khitan," she scolded.
This man is cunning beyond reason. He doesn't seek to conquer the world—he toys with it. Moving the Tang, leveraging his own country… he plays with everything as if it's a game.
Pago realized this rescue was orchestrated entirely by Da In-seon. His craftiness and audacity were beyond imagination.
Da In-seon smiled faintly and reassured them.
"I had to act quickly, though I hadn't expected to move this fast. Normally, I would have sent my troops ahead to rescue you before the Tang arrived. Sulryul-pyeong, I will do anything for you. Let your anger go now."
Sulryul-pyeong, still fuming at the trap, gradually allowed herself to be guided by the Crown Prince onto his horse.
Arriving at the Balhae camp near Buyeo Fortress, Da In-seon handed the newly arrived Khitans to his troops for protection.
"Ensure the Khitans seeking asylum are well-protected here. Especially the Sulryul family—they are close to me. Not a finger shall be laid upon them."
"Understood!"
"Where are you headed next?" Sulryul-pyeong asked cautiously, as Da In-seon remained mounted.
"I am going to confront Yelü Aboqi and cut him down. Stay here with your father safely. Once the task is done, I will take you back to the capital."
"It's dangerous!"
"They persecuted you for pledging to Balhae. Fear holds no sway here. Trust me and wait."
Sulryul-pyeong had already witnessed soldiers fall while defending her. Even the Crown Prince could be struck by arrows or pierced by spears. Yet, seeing his resolve gave her reassurance.
Da In-seon raised his voice to rally his troops:
"Soldiers of Balhae! Bandits have set camp outside Buyeo Fortress! They dare assemble in our territory! I, the Crown Prince of Balhae, promise rewards for each head brought back. Risk your lives and annihilate them!"
The Balhae cavalry, divided into left, center, and right wings, surged forward. Their overwhelming formation startled the newly asylum-seeking Khitans, some even falling over in surprise.
Pago watched closely, unsure if this man was worthy for his daughter. Anyone could see that the Crown Prince of Balhae seemed overqualified in comparison. Yet, there was no denying his extraordinary capability.
"This is impressive," Pago murmured.
"Father, will the Crown Prince survive?" Sulryul-pyeong asked.
"Do not worry. He is a formidable man. Not one to fall here."
Later, Pago would hear of Da In-seon manipulating the Tang and seizing land from Silla, nearly fainting at the audacity.