Chapter 21: [The Malgal Emperor]
"But I do not know your abilities. Therefore, I will assign you to the Eight Banner Army, where you must lead the campaign against Gungye's forces and Baekje."
"Your Majesty, we are honored!"
"We shall follow your command, Your Majesty!"
"Then, Eulbu, assign Yu Geum-Pil and Park Sul-Hee to the Eight Banner Army. As for the remaining lords, return them to their original posts, raise the Goryeo flag on the fortifications, and oversee the welfare of the people."
Yu Geum-Pil and Park Sul-Hee departed the barracks with Eulbu, while the remaining Pyeongju lords performed a formal salute to the Taewang before leaving the Da-Inseon encampment.
'Yang Gil, who has come under my command, can later be appointed governor of Songak. As for Gungye, he's already losing his mind; even if I ordered him to surrender, he wouldn't comply. If I leave him alive, he could later morph into something akin to the White Lotus sect.'
Gungye fancied himself the Maitreya, dreaming of his utopia. To be obsessed enough to call himself Maitreya said all that needed to be said.
If remnants were left unchecked, a seed like the White Lotus could grow. If eliminated, it must be done completely.
Upon entering the Eight Banner Army, Yu Geum-Pil and Park Sul-Hee were astonished twice: first by the sheer scale of the army, and again when they received their assigned armor and weapons.
The army had recently begun distributing iron-plated armor alongside two-piece brigandine sets. Seeing the quality of the weapons and armor, both men felt a surge of excitement.
The army itself was well-organized, capable of immediate response to raids, and loyalty to Da-Inseon ran high. Around them, soldiers were eating dinner while praising the Taewang.
"Behold, Park Sul-Hee. This encampment is magnificent."
"Indeed. And I hear the Taewang himself led this army three years ago to defeat the Heuksu Malgal and the Khitan. I will do everything I can to aid His Majesty in unifying the Three Kingdoms."
"Likewise. Let us give it our all!"
Yu Geum-Pil and Park Sul-Hee were awed by the Goryeo army—something they had never seen before.
Having grown up with corrupt and feeble Silla troops, even the lords' private forces lacked proper equipment, uniforms, and weapons.
They felt as if they had been provincial bumpkins all along.
Eulbu, guiding the two men at the head of the Eight Banner Army, smirked at them. His smile was unsettling, the sort that could disturb even a strong man.
"Pity, you do not yet understand the Taewang."
"What do you mean?"
"Three years ago, when he was of an age to be learning in the royal palace, he led fifty thousand troops personally against the Heuksu Malgal. He commanded at the front, lured the enemy into traps, and crushed them utterly."
Yu Geum-Pil and Park Sul-Hee swallowed hard at the tales of Da-Inseon's feats.
He was only thirteen at the time—a child who should have been playing at home. Yet he had already taken the field.
"Ordinary children would be playing, yet the Taewang was so brave?"
"Not only that, he manipulated the Tang to strike the Khitan, using their own strengths against them."
"He controlled an entire kingdom as if it were his hand."
Faith in Da-Inseon surged in their eyes.
"He anticipated the Khitan remnants invading Liaodong and immediately mobilized ten thousand Gae-Ma warriors to annihilate them. You should have seen it firsthand. Truly, I am proud that this is my lord. Now, the Taewang's feats have only begun. Listen well."
That night, Eulbu recounted Da-Inseon's exploits to Yu Geum-Pil and Park Sul-Hee. He began with the tale of Da-Inseon sneaking out of the palace, leaving a deep impression on both men, unintentionally turning Da-Inseon into their object of fervent devotion.
Unlike in real history, the era of Dae's Goryeo had diverged sharply from the original Later Three Kingdoms timeline.
Da-Inseon supported the lords of Pyeongju to stabilize local governance, then led the Eight Banner Army to Songak.
"Time to see some movement. How fares Wang Ryung?"
"The man is insane, mocking Your Majesty as the Malgal Emperor while defending Songak. We need your order to take the city!"
'He may not be entirely wrong. Wang Ryung intends to portray Goryeo as a foreign, Malgal-influenced power. If the people resist, I must fight Wang Geon. But first, I need to deal with Wang Ryung's Songak.'
Da-Inseon rested his hand on his forehead, considering the unexpected resistance.
The commanders of the Eight Banner Army awaited his order, attentive to every gesture.
Though Malgal by origin, they were now fully Goryeo citizens after Balhae adopted the Goryeo name. Wang Ryung's insults—calling Da-Inseon a Malgal emperor—offended even them.
It was time to decide: spill blood, or first strike Gungye to force Wang Ryung into ruin.
The nearest target was Wang Ryung's Songak.
"Any word from Gungye's army?"
"Yang Gil holds the rear. That monk won't make a move."
"Hmm. Yu Geum-Pil and Park Sul-Hee, let's test their capabilities."
They had pledged loyalty to Da-Inseon under Eulbu's command.
Da-Inseon silently noted the irony: treating him like Gungye. Still, this secured two of Wang Geon's generals. Satisfaction was enough.
"Give the order!"
"I think these lords are too numerous. Perhaps we should reduce them a bit."
Da-Inseon had resolved to shed blood.
They were here to eliminate bandits; merely coaxing or accepting surrender would not assert the Taewang's authority. If blood must be shed, it would serve as a warning to other lords.
"Very well!"
"Move the forces of Jeong Hwang-Gi, Jeong Baek-Gi, and Jeong Hong-Gi to eliminate Wang Ryung's supporting lords. Claim the Gungye-controlled regions as ours. Inform Yu Geum-Pil and Park Sul-Hee that we are counting on them this time."
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
The Three Jeong commanders advanced near Wang Ryung's Songak, punishing lords as rebels. Most Pyeongju lords had already pledged to Da-Inseon, willingly opening paths for the army.
Gungye's forces were absent from Songak, leaving the Eight Banner Army free to sweep the region.
Wang Ryung had issued proclamations urging wavering lords to rise against the Malgal emperor, but these fell into Da-Inseon's hands, alerting him to the plot.
The message angered him further; being young, he was already heated. The very term "Malgal Emperor" provoked him.
"Ridiculous. Should I really deal with them as Malgal? Perhaps I should rename the nation the Great Jin Empire, treat them like true Malgal."
"Your orders, Your Majesty?"
"Send a letter to Yang Gil. If we intend to capture that wily old man in Songak, we cannot leave him as governor. Offer him a favorable post in the capital. Have the Eight Banner Army deliver my will directly."
"Orders received, Taewang."
"This old man truly overestimates himself. A mere Silla rebel dares defy me?"
The Eight Banner soldier received the letter and, following merchant Lee Jae-Chun, headed immediately south to Sakju, where Yang Gil awaited.
After delivering the letter, Da-Inseon dispatched Jeong Hwang-Gi, Jeong Baek-Gi, and Jeong Hong-Gi to burn the homes of rebellious lords under the pretense of punishing bandits.
The common people were spared, while lordly estates and wealth were redistributed or taken as spoils by the army.
"Your Majesty, we will follow you!"
"Please spare us!"
Those who belatedly pledged loyalty had their private armies disbanded to prevent aiding Wang Ryung. Their fealty was sworn under Goryeo's supervision in Pyeongyang.
"I have a wife and child!"
"Your family has already perished, as we learned from a surrendered soldier. Where is the defiance? Die!"
Those who resisted to the end were executed without mercy.
Such bloodshed struck fear into Wang Ryung's supporting lords. Some who remained neutral surrendered, while others recognized Da-Inseon as no trivial figure.
Yang Gil, stationed in Sakju, received Da-Inseon's letter.
Upon reading it, his eyes widened, and he asked the Eight Banner soldiers, "How enraged must the Taewang be to threaten burning Songak?"
"Wang Ryung, that treacherous old fool, mocked Goryeo as a Malgal nation, calling the Taewang its emperor, and incited the people to rise against him."
"That fool has made Songak untouchable."
Though disappointed, Yang Gil could not act. Wang Ryung had nurtured Gungye, and Wang Geon had constantly harassed him. Father and son combined to trouble Yang Gil, so he could not simply coerce Wang Ryung or siege him into self-destruction.