Ch.115Diplomatic Battle (2)

Temujin established a new department called the Chukbu immediately after conquering Western Liao, and was using it to implement road reforms and postal relay stations throughout the territory.

From an outside perspective, the policy implementation seemed almost excessively rapid.

Temujin instinctively knew this was pushing things too far. Nevertheless, he had his reasons for forcing through these policies.

“War with the Jin Dynasty is now unavoidable.”

Temujin said this while looking at the letter in his hand. This letter had been found in Kuchlug’s room.

The contents were truly shocking. It revealed that the Jin Dynasty had been the power behind Kuchlug, supporting him in killing the emperor of Western Liao and usurping the throne.

“With Kuchlug dead, the Jin will make their move soon. War will be inevitable.”

It had been barely a week since the war with Western Liao ended. Yet Temujin was already preparing for the next conflict.

The Jin Dynasty was indeed a formidable opponent.

To reiterate, the Jin Dynasty was the military superpower of the era that had defeated both the Song Dynasty and the Liao Dynasty. If they were to engage in all-out war with such a nation, the casualties would be incomparably greater than those suffered in the wars against Western Xia and Western Liao.

Therefore, Temujin was trying to connect all of Western Liao to the Ulus to prepare for war with the Jin. Road improvements and postal relay stations were necessary to continuously support troops and military supplies.

While lost in these thoughts, he sensed someone approaching from outside. Temujin hid the letter in his chest and stood up.

He then showed proper respect to Yesugei, who entered through the door.

“I pay my respects to the great Gur Khagan.”

When Temujin showed his respect, Gur Khagan Yesugei gestured in response to his courtesy. Then with a warm smile, he patted Temujin’s shoulder.

“There’s only you, me, and Munglig here. No need for excessive formality.”

“But still…”

“In a place like this, I want to share the bond between father and son. Must I issue a khagan’s order for you to comply?”

Yesugei spoke with a playful tone. Temujin smiled and shook his head.

“Of course not, Father.”

Munglig, who was standing right beside them, nodded approvingly. Then, with a proud expression toward Temujin, he spoke.

“You’ve truly become a proper adult now. Well, you were already an adult, but you’ve become even more of one.”

“What do you mean by that, Uncle?”

Munglig laughed awkwardly.

“Anyway, I want to congratulate you, but the right words aren’t coming easily.”

“You don’t need to be modest. Modesty doesn’t suit someone who achieved the greatest military accomplishment in this conquest.”

“Haha! Is that so?”

As Munglig shrugged his shoulders in response, Yesugei frowned and scolded him.

“Must you boast like that in front of the boy?”

“Come on. Temujin achieved the greatest military feat this time, so what’s wrong with receiving a little praise from him? Brother?”

“Your tongue just keeps getting longer.”

Yesugei said this and then sighed. He turned his head to look at Temujin.

“Anyway, I heard you discovered something, so I came with Munglig. What did you find that requires such an urgent discussion?”

“Well…”

Temujin said this as he pulled the letter from his sleeve. Then he carefully presented it to Yesugei.

“This is…”

“A letter found in Kuchlug’s room.”

“So it seems.”

Yesugei quickly read through the letter. Then he let out a sigh.

“So we cannot avoid all-out war after all.”

“That’s right, Father. News of Kuchlug’s death and Western Liao’s absorption into the Ulus will soon reach the Jin Dynasty. Then they will surely mobilize their forces to prevent this.”

Temujin’s prediction, though extreme, was the most likely outcome in the current situation. The fundamental reason the Jin Dynasty had manipulated Kuchlug from behind the scenes to usurp the Western Liao throne was to prevent the expansion of the Ulus.

Now that the original plan had failed and Kuchlug was dead, the Jin Dynasty had no choice but to take direct action.

“So that’s why you ordered officials to improve roads and establish postal relay stations.”

Temujin nodded at Yesugei’s words.

“Truly my son. Your foresight is a gift from God, Tengri, and our ancestors—and that’s no exaggeration.”

“You flatter me, Father.”

“No. Your decision will allow us to respond more effectively to the Jin Dynasty’s attack.”

Of course, Temujin’s orders wouldn’t be implemented immediately, so it would take time. But even considering that, there was no harm in preparing from now.

They had to prepare in advance, not knowing when the Jin might come.

Anyway, Temujin, Yesugei, and Munglig discussed the Jin Dynasty. They debated how to prepare for their invasion.

During this discussion, Yesugei posed a question to Temujin.

“This doesn’t seem like an issue the three of us can resolve alone.”

“Then should we convene a kurultai…”

“No. That could cause chaos throughout the Ulus.”

The very fact that the Jin Dynasty might invade could cause panic in the Ulus. Of course, it wasn’t something that could be hidden, but it had only been a week since the war ended.

There was no reason to deliberately spread information that would cause chaos in such a state.

“But we can’t just do nothing, so let’s call the advisors and ask for their opinions.”

Temujin nodded at Yesugei’s words. He sent a servant to summon Bo’orchu and Elunka, the Central Secretariat officials.

Upon receiving the summons, the two arrived at the meeting place and showed proper respect.

“I have arrived at the Gur Khagan’s command.”

“I heard it was urgent.”

When the two arrived, Temujin began explaining the reason for the gathering on behalf of Yesugei. When he mentioned the possibility of a Jin invasion, Elunka and Bo’orchu nodded calmly, as if they had already anticipated it.

Yesugei, with an intrigued expression, questioned Bo’orchu.

“Judging by your expression, you seem to have predicted this already. Am I right?”

“The Gur Khagan is correct. In fact, I’ve been thinking this way since Kuchlug usurped the throne.”

“Since Kuchlug usurped the throne?”

“Yes. Kuchlug was merely a wanderer, expelled from the Ulus and drifting from place to place. I always wondered how he suddenly managed to win the heart of Xiao Apgang, who was the military governor of Western Liao.”

“That’s certainly true.”

Elunka also expressed agreement with Bo’orchu’s explanation.

“I share the same thoughts as the Central Secretariat official. So I believed someone must have been behind him. If it was someone with enough power to shake a country like Western Liao… it could only be the Jin Dynasty or the Song Dynasty.”

Projecting influence onto another country was difficult. Only two neighboring countries could accomplish such a challenging task.

The Song Dynasty and the Jin Dynasty.

Among them, the Song Dynasty had friendly relations with the Ulus, making it highly unlikely they would support Kuchlug, who was on bad terms with Yesugei.

And from the perspective of the Central Plains people, it didn’t make sense that they would even know Kuchlug, who was just one of many nomads.

“I’ve heard both of your opinions. So how do you think we should solve this problem?”

At Yesugei’s question, the two fell into thought for a moment. Soon, Elunka offered his answer first.

“I believe we should continue the policies currently being implemented by His Highness Temujin, the Khan of Western Liao, while expanding reconnaissance activities against the Jin Dynasty.”

It was an answer befitting Elunka, the leader of the Tamma. His opinion was a very reasonable response in the current situation.

Again, the Jin Dynasty hadn’t invaded yet. But the Ulus wasn’t in a position to launch a preemptive strike against the Jin Dynasty either.

So Elunka suggested maintaining the current state of tension while monitoring the Jin Dynasty’s situation.

“What is the Central Secretariat’s opinion?”

“My opinion is the same as Lord Elunka’s. However, I would like to add one more thing.”

“Add one more thing… what would that be?”

“Diplomacy.”

“Diplomacy?”

At Yesugei’s question, Munglig and Temujin also looked at Bo’orchu with curious expressions. Bo’orchu answered without delay.

“The Jin Dynasty’s main enemy was originally the Song Dynasty. In that state, as the Ulus forces with good relations with the Song expanded, they tried to check this expansion by using Kuchlug to prevent our growth. But this method failed, and eventually the Jin Dynasty became diplomatically isolated.”

As Bo’orchu said, there were no longer any countries friendly to the Jin Dynasty in their vicinity. Moreover, with all their borders blocked by the Ulus and the Song Dynasty, it was difficult for them to establish friendly relations with other powers.

“All of the Jin Dynasty’s borders are now blocked by the Ulus and the Song Dynasty. They are isolated both diplomatically and militarily.”

After saying this, Bo’orchu took a moment to catch his breath. Then, looking at everyone, he murmured softly.

“Of course, with the exception of just one country.”

“Where is that?”

The impatient Munglig questioned him. To his question, Bo’orchu revealed the name of one country.

“Solongos.”

* * *

Solongos, meaning “the land where rainbows appear.”

In my time, it was called Goryeo.

It felt strange to hear the name Goryeo from Bo’orchu’s mouth.

This was because while it was familiar in my mind, it felt distant emotionally and physically.

To begin with, it was difficult for me to feel patriotism toward a country like Goryeo. It wasn’t Joseon, but a completely unfamiliar country suddenly claiming to be my ancestor.

Because of this, when I heard the name Goryeo, I only felt a sense of familiarity without any other emotions. My consciousness had already completely settled into Yesugei’s body.

“Solongos shares a border with the Jin Dynasty and is their vassal state. However, relations between Solongos and the Jin Dynasty are poor, to the extent that there was a war near the border until recently.”

From Goryeo’s perspective, they could never truly accept the Jin Dynasty as their suzerain state. This was because the Jin were once merely a band of bandits who plundered near the Northeastern Nine Fortresses.

Later, Goryeo witnessed with their own eyes how the Jin Dynasty overthrew the Liao Dynasty and even pushed the Song Dynasty south of the Yangtze River. Despite observing the rise and fall of these powers with their tremendous military might right next door, Goryeo still did not recognize them as a true suzerain state.

Of course, that didn’t mean they accepted the Song Dynasty as their suzerain either. At this time, Goryeo was diplomatically independent and stubborn.

“If we form an alliance with Solongos and all three countries pressure the Jin Dynasty, they won’t rashly invade the Ulus.”

Preventing invasion through diplomacy alone was absurd. But as Bo’orchu said, it could prevent the Jin Dynasty from suddenly invading the Ulus.

If they suddenly raided the Ulus, the Song Dynasty or Goryeo would target their rear, so the Jin Dynasty would certainly try to appease either Goryeo or the Song to prevent such a situation.

Of course, the Jin Dynasty might go crazy and invade anyway. But from the Ulus’s perspective, they needed that moment of hesitation when the Jin were deciding whether to attack or not.

“I will follow the Central Secretariat’s proposal. Send envoys to Solongos.”