Chapter 20: [Yu Geum-Pil and Park Sul-Hee]
"Your Majesty, why do we not advance further?"
"We have reached Pyeongju, but if I force submission through violence, how will the people of this land view me?"
Dae In-Seon had swiftly marched down to Pyeongju, bringing the surrounding local lords to their knees, yet halted upon arrival.
Pyeongju was the hometown of Wang Geon's general, Yu Geum-Pil. The army was now quite close to Songak.
Along the way, there had been no notable battles. Most of the local lords surrendered, and those who resisted quickly capitulated the moment the Eight Banner Army arrived.
Thanks to this, there had been no bloodshed—so far. But Wang Ryung in Songak was a different matter.
As Gungye's subordinate, should he raise troops in his support, the Eight Banner Army could suffer casualties.
'War naturally brings bloodshed, yet this land has been mine for three years already. I hope they surrender without making trouble.'
Why Wang Ryung continued to support Gungye remained a mystery.
Clearly, Wang Ryung had placed great trust in Gungye, even offering him Songak as a base to become king. But the times had changed. Central Korea now belonged to Goryeo. Wang Ryung, knowing this, supporting Gungye was a path to ruin.
"Do you have a plan in mind?"
"Let the lords who have surrendered and their people receive support from Pyeongyang and Namhaebu. Only the resisting lords will be punished. As for Gungye, I have a scheme. Aruji, select nimble soldiers from the Jeongnam-gi unit and post these wall scrolls across the region."
"What is this, Your Majesty?"
Dae In-Seon handed Aruji a large number of scrolls.
The quantity was considerable, and the contents were far from ordinary.
Though he had brought the Eight Banner Army, the main purpose was psychological—using their imposing presence and status as Goryeo's royal troops to compel local lords into submission. If blood were to be shed, it would be minimized. Even in capturing Gungye, Dae In-Seon intended to use every possible tactic.
"Gungye calls himself the Maitreya, proclaiming kingship and deceiving the people with contradictory ideals. The people of Samhan must not be misled by his honeyed words. They are to welcome the Taewang of Goryeo… no, you will see for yourselves as you carry these scrolls."
"U-Understood, Your Majesty!"
"These fools treat the Taewang like a companion. In any case, Lee Jae-Chun's men are here. Take them and distribute the scrolls throughout the provinces."
Dae In-Seon immediately summoned Lee Jae-Chun's men to accompany Aruji, ensuring the scrolls would be sent across the nation.
Following orders, Aruji selected soldiers from the Jeongnam-gi unit and sent them out with Lee Jae-Chun's merchants to every region.
Yet the Eight Banner commanders, being Malgal by birth, were eager to act as Goryeo's royal troops. They wanted combat, but their lord, the Taewang, still had not engaged in battle, leaving them impatient.
It was not dissatisfaction with Dae In-Seon—they merely felt deprived of glory, which rightly belonged to them if fighting the lords.
"When will we see battle? The soldiers are growing restless!"
"I am well aware. Wang Ryung will likely remain loyal to Gungye to the end. When you crush his forces and capture Gungye, you will fight to your heart's content. And the enemies you face will not be mere local lords or petty bandits."
"Enemies exist?"
Dae In-Seon did not consider Gungye, Wang Geon, or Wang Ryung as true enemies. Their cause had effectively ended when Silla ceded the land north of Jukryeong to Goryeo. They had become nothing more than a rogue force on foreign soil.
The one worthy of the term "enemy" was Gyeon Hwon. To stabilize the populace north of Jukryeong and establish Goryeo's administration, troops needed to be stationed. If Gyeon Hwon attempted to strike against Goryeo, complications would arise.
This was precisely where the Eight Banner Army was necessary.
"When the lands north of Jukryeong are fully consolidated, they will border Baekje. Gyeon Hwon will inevitably challenge us. That will be the time for a spirited battle. Until then, exercise patience."
"Your Majesty! The lords of Pyeongju have come to pledge their allegiance!"
"Ah, the lords of Pyeongju?"
Coincidentally, the local lords of Pyeongju also submitted.
Most had already doubted Gungye's legitimacy. They had heard rumors of the Goryeo Taewang's character. Watching Gungye proclaim kingship on Goryeo's land, their perception was reduced to simple ambition. Aligning with him would make them complicit in a band of robbers. Submitting to Dae In-Seon in this moment was a logical choice.
"Look at the eight banners and the Samjok-o banner. The army's discipline is intimidating. Just watching them sends shivers down my spine."
"Indeed. They cannot be compared to Gungye or Silla's forces. They number over thirty thousand, do they not?"
"Had we stayed with that monk, our lands would have already fallen beneath the hooves of the Eight Banner cavalry!"
The Pyeongju lords, guided into the Eight Banner camp, silently praised their own decision to side with Goryeo over Gungye. The army's discipline alone made them curious about their ruler's character.
Among them, two young men stood out, eyes gleaming as they followed the Eight Banner soldiers, as if resolute in their choice.
"Are you the lords of Pyeongju?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. Pyeongju pledges loyalty to you."
Meeting Dae In-Seon directly, the Pyeongju lords swallowed nervously.
Though young in appearance, his armor and presence exuded authority. His gaze seemed to pierce through them. Even more striking, the Eight Banner generals displayed unwavering obedience. The lords resolved never to make an enemy of Dae In-Seon.
"They say you served Wang Ryung and Gungye. Explain why you surrender to me."
"Three years have passed since Your Majesty obtained the lands north of Jukryeong from Silla. How could we defy the rightful ruler? We served under Gungye only to prevent these lands from being taken and to offer them to Your Majesty."
"Reasonable. Indeed, had you refused me, Gungye's forces would have swept through. I understand your position. Very well. From this moment, you are Goryeo officials, and I shall assign your positions. Even with a change of rulers, your status remains secure."
Dae In-Seon had little patience for opportunistic lords. Yet driving them away risked alienating the populace under their rule. He preferred to minimize damage, as population equaled national power.
"Your Majesty's grace is as vast as the heavens! May I make one humble request?"
"Speak."
"I wish to become Your Majesty's general. I will serve as your sword, defeating traitors and leading the campaign against Baekje!"
Dae In-Seon pondered the young man before him.
Among Wang Geon's generals from Pyeongju, Yu Geum-Pil should have been there. Historically, he had served Gungye before entering Wang Geon's service. Could this truly be him, or another?
"Bold youth. State your name."
"I am Yu Geum-Pil of Pyeongju!"
"…Hmm?"
'Yu Geum-Pil? Really him? Why is he here? Shouldn't he be under Wang Geon? This is… confusing.'
Faintly, Dae In-Seon suspected it, yet seeing him here was unexpected.
The very Yu Geum-Pil who had once intimidated local chieftains into loyalty now stood before Dae In-Seon.
"I am Park Sul-Hee. I too wish to become Your Majesty's sword!"
'Why are you here? My blood pressure just shot up. History has changed too drastically. Are they spies?'
Given Gungye's current situation, he lacked the resources to deploy spies. With Yang Gil present, there was no room for provocations. Indeed, both had severed ties with Gungye and returned home.
Historically, they had been Gungye's generals. After Dae In-Seon gained the lands north of Jukryeong, they had recoiled at Gungye's desperation to establish a kingdom. Moreover, seeing local lords anticipate Dae In-Seon's movements and Gungye's use of force shocked them.
"You were once Gungye's protectors. Why pledge to me?"
"I did follow Gungye, but he was no kingly figure. Since Your Majesty obtained the lands north of Jukryeong, Gungye has called himself Maitreya, claiming divine purpose."
"Indeed, a lunatic monk. And so you submit to me?"
Dae In-Seon, having lived in Korea, knew Gungye's nature well. History and dramas had painted his eccentricity vividly. Even comedic depictions, like punishing ministers for a cough, still made Dae In-Seon chuckle.
He sensed Gungye's madness accelerating; otherwise, these two would never have submitted so easily.
"Is that all of it? We know of Your Majesty's campaigns against the Heuksu Malgal and Khitan years ago. You greatly expanded Goryeo's territory and showed mercy even to declining Silla. How could one not revere the master of Samhan? Since then, I have admired you and sought to become your sword."
"Very well. Park Sul-Hee, speak now."
"A ruler beloved by the people is a true king. Gungye, through ongoing battles with Yang Gil, has lost the people's trust. Many lords and commoners have pledged to Your Majesty. How could anyone follow a band of robbers without divine mandate?"
If the two had still served Gungye, they would either be beside him or opposing Dae In-Seon. Acquiring both was unnervingly easy, and though Dae In-Seon hesitated, he had no generals of comparable caliber and knew their historical accomplishments—he could not afford to dismiss them.