Ch.163Alliance (6)

# Jin Dynasty’s Reinforcements Thwarted

As the Jin Dynasty’s reinforcement troops were being dismantled by the Song Dynasty, Goryeo’s army was heading toward Liaodong.

The person leading this Liaodong army was none other than Wang Gotae.

“Finally, we’ve reached the plains.”

Jung Jung-bu and Yi Go nodded at Wang Gotae’s words.

These two men were participating in this battle as Wang Gotae’s adjutants.

Wang Gotae, or rather Belgutei, was the son-in-law of the imprisoned king but was clearly a foreigner.

Of course, through the Gyeongin Coup, he had essentially been recognized as a Goryeo citizen, but the perception of him as a foreigner still lingered faintly.

Because of this, low-ranking soldiers might question being commanded by a foreigner.

Jung Jung-bu and Yi Go were acting as a kind of lubricant, eliminating this gap and allowing Wang Gotae to command the army more effectively.

Anyway, thanks to the assistance of these two men, Wang Gotae was able to quickly occupy territories that were essentially empty.

After occupying this area, they crossed Baekdu Mountain and arrived at the vast plains.

From here on, it was time for Wang Gotae, a man of Mongol origin, to shine.

“Cavalry, gather separately here.”

At Wang Gotae’s command, the cavalry gathered in one place.

Some of these cavalrymen were Mongol cavalry who had followed Wang Gotae to Goryeo, while the rest were Goryeo cavalry.

Numerically, Goryeo cavalry far outnumbered the Mongols, but in terms of individual skill, the Mongol cavalry were overwhelmingly superior.

The nomadic cavalry were people who had honed their martial skills riding horses every day on the vast plains.

So even though the Goryeo cavalry were excellent, it was difficult for them to match the nomadic cavalry who had grown up to be outstanding hunters and warriors since they took their first steps.

Wang Gotae was well aware of this fact.

So he deliberately placed ten Goryeo cavalrymen under each Ulus cavalryman who had followed him.

Just like the Ulus’s arban.

In other words, the excellent Ulus cavalry became squad leaders commanding 10 Goryeo cavalrymen each.

“We’ll travel throughout Liaodong and eliminate the Jin Dynasty’s influence.”

Jung Jung-bu and Yi Go were greatly surprised by Belgutei’s words.

This was understandable because even though the Jin Dynasty was currently at war, it seemed impossible to occupy the vast Liaodong territory with such a small force.

“That seems difficult.”

“Even with the help of the Mongol cavalry, it would be challenging.”

Belgutei shook his head at this.

Then he looked at them and continued.

“Our goal is not to conquer Liaodong, but only to eliminate the Jin Dynasty’s influence.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?”

“Yes, it is.”

“It’s slightly different. When we erase the Jin Dynasty’s influence, there will naturally be those who will help us.”

Belgutei’s words were true.

While the Liaodong region is known as the place where the Jurchen people rose to prominence, in reality, it was a place where various nomadic tribes had emerged.

The Mongols too had originally started not on the Mongolian steppes but in Mongol Shiwei located north of Liaodong.

Anyway, many ethnic groups lived together in Liaodong.

The Jurchen were just one of those tribes.

Joining hands with forces that hold animosity toward the Jin Dynasty and establishing a state through alliance—this was Belgutei’s plan.

“Are there people who hold animosity toward the Jin Dynasty?”

To Jung Jung-bu’s question, Belgutei immediately nodded.

“The Khitan people.”

At Belgutei’s words, Yi Go and Jung Jung-bu opened their eyes wide.

This was because Khitan and Goryeo were nations with a history of bitter enmity.

They had actually fought several wars, and Goryeo had suffered great damage as a result.

Therefore, they couldn’t understand why the descendants of the Khitans would help Goryeo.

“Do you really think the Khitan people will help Your Highness?”

To Yi Go’s question, Belgutei nodded.

“I fully understand the bad blood between Goryeo and Khitan. However, the Khitan people will become citizens of the Liaodong state, which inherits the legitimacy of Khitan, not Goryeo, so they will naturally help.”

If a modern person heard Belgutei’s words, they might call it nonsense.

However, in this era, it was possible because the concept of ethnicity was very vague.

Therefore, while the Khitan people had the concept that they were the Khitan ethnicity and descendants of those who established the Liao Dynasty, it didn’t extend to the level of needing to preserve their ethnic identity as Khitans.

This was because among the Khitan people, there were those from fallen Balhae and those of Jurchen origin.

As a result, this was less about ethnic identity and more about affiliation—that is, a strong identity with the state to which they belonged.

The Khitan were a nomadic state that developed based in Liaodong.

The concept was that Belgutei, a fellow nomad, would absorb them as the king of the Liaodong state with the same legitimacy.

While there might be animosity toward Goryeo, their animosity toward the Jin Dynasty was much greater.

“The Jin Dynasty used all sorts of means and methods to turn the Khitan people into Jurchen people. Among those methods was oppression.”

Basically, the Jurchen people were absolutely fewer in number compared to the Han people, who were the ruled class.

Because of this, the Jin Dynasty had continuously tried to win over the Khitan people, who shared the same nomadic culture, to increase their influence over the Han people.

These methods of persuasion included giving official positions or bribing with wealth.

This was only part of it; the Jin Dynasty mainly used methods like eliminating the Khitan script and suppressing Khitan culture.

As a result, the Khitan people’s anger toward Jin rule was indescribable.

Belgutei wanted to use these people.

“If we use our cavalry to erase the Jin Dynasty’s influence spread throughout this area, the Khitan people will help us.”

“But what if they harbor other intentions?”

“That’s right. The Khitan people are vicious.”

From the perspective of Goryeo people who had suffered from Khitan invasions for a long time, it was difficult to trust the Khitans.

“They have no choice but to follow me. Because I am the son of the legitimate ruler of the steppes, the Gurkhan.”

Belgutei proudly stated that the Khitan people would follow him because he was the son of Yesugei.

Someone else might have said this was nonsense.

But looking at the details, one could see that Belgutei’s claim was not unfounded.

First of all, Yesugei was the Khagan of the steppes.

This meant he was the official successor to the position of Great Khan of the steppes, which the Liao Dynasty had once claimed.

Of course, the Jin Dynasty was the same, but the Ulus had higher legitimacy.

The reason was that the Mongols had conquered Western Liao.

Additionally, Yelu Zhilugu, the son of the Western Liao emperor, personally acknowledged defeat and recognized the Gurkhan as the only Khagan of the steppes.

And he had changed his name to Yelu Chucai and was following Belgutei’s half-brother, Temujin.

“Moreover, my brother is the Khan of Western Liao.”

Temujin was the Khan of Western Liao, directly appointed by Yesugei.

Belgutei’s status on the steppes was indescribably high as he was from the same family and of the same generation as the Khan of Western Liao.

“For these reasons, the Khitan people will follow me.”

At Belgutei’s words, Jung Jung-bu and Yi Go had no choice but to nod.

The Golden Clan was a family chosen by heaven. Belgutei, from such a family, was following heaven’s command to rule the Liaodong land.

The justifications he mentioned were the evidence.

Without heaven’s selection, one person could not have so many justifications.

* * *

“The Mongol attacks have suddenly intensified! Sir!”

At his adjutant’s words, Wanyan Liang swallowed his saliva.

Then, with a restless expression, he looked toward where Prince Wanyan Shunan was.

“Your Majesty. You must quickly return with your army of 650,000. If not, the capital will be completely fallen to the Mongols.”

The Grand Chancellor muttered these words to himself, trying to compose himself.

“Open the gates again and dispatch quick infantry to ravage the enemy.”

The adjutant showed reluctance at this.

Wanyan Liang glared at him, asking what he was doing.

“I apologize, sir. Those who returned from battle… are spreading this news and eroding the morale of the entire army.”

Wanyan Liang’s strategy and tactics were excellent.

With such outstanding strategy and tactics, he had completely ravaged the Mongol army.

Although they suffered heavy casualties, they were able to stop the Mongol army’s attack.

He even managed to bring back some of the infantry who were essentially as good as dead from that hellish battlefield.

Up to this point, it seemed like Wanyan Liang had done something incredible.

But the reality was different.

The infantry who survived the terrible battlefield were terrified by the formidable presence of the Mongol army and had lost their spirit.

They were even telling other soldiers about the situation, eroding the morale of the entire army.

“Why weren’t those who returned from the battlefield isolated separately!”

In response to the Grand Chancellor’s anger, the adjutant had no choice but to make excuses.

“Until reinforcements arrive, every single person is precious… it couldn’t be helped. Sir. Please punish me.”

At the adjutant’s words, Wanyan Liang could no longer be angry.

As he said, in the current situation in the capital, every single person who could hold a weapon was valuable.

In a situation where it was unknown when reinforcements would arrive, having few soldiers meant defeat.

Therefore, he couldn’t blame the adjutant too much.

“A battle is about to begin, so I won’t punish you.”

“Thank you, sir.”

“Instead, achieve merit in this battle. I will erase your sin with that merit.”

“I will devote my life to the battle.”

The adjutant bowed and went outside.

After he left, Wanyan Liang let out a deep sigh and composed himself.

“This is the critical moment.”

And he hypnotized himself.

Reinforcements are coming. Prince Wanyan Shunan is coming to save the capital with an army of 650,000.

So hold on.

If they hold on, the Jin Dynasty will win.

“My role is to hold until then.”

Wanyan Liang said these words and took a deep breath.

Then he opened his eyes wide and drew his sword.

The transparent sword reflected him.

It showed Wanyan Liang’s face, stained with blood.

On his sword,

The fate of the Jin Dynasty hung.

The world did not choose the Mongols.

The master of the world is still the Jin Dynasty.

Whether this was true or not didn’t matter.

It just had to be so.

That was the only reason Wanyan Liang lived.