I Became a Fallen Noble of Goguryeo

Chapter 14: Tiger Village

“What a ridiculous thing to say.”

Yeon Jayu sneered after hearing my words.

“It’s true that Kim Sammaekjong is gathering troops, saying he’ll strike Kaema Plateau. But it’s merely a show of force.”

Yeon Jayu saw this as a kind of WWE.

It was understandable.

“To the south of Kaema Plateau lies Hanseong (漢城—one of the Three Capitals of Goguryeo, located in today’s Hwanghae Province. It just shares the name with Baekje’s Hanseong), to the west is Pyeongyang Fortress, and to the north is the Domestic Fortress. Even if it’s occupied, how long could it be held?”

Hamgyeong Province was land Silla could seize but not maintain. That was true even in the history I knew.

In real history, King Jinheung entered Kaema Plateau but didn’t hold it long. Seeing how he let it go without fuss, he likely had no regrets.

So this too was more a ‘political’ act than a ‘military’ one.

I aligned my points accordingly.

“Even just pointing a spear at the heart of Goguryeo—wouldn’t that be enough to elevate Kim Sammaekjong’s prestige to the heavens? Moreover, Kim Sammaekjong must overcome the absence of Kim Isabu.”

There was no need to elaborate on Isabu’s achievements.

In his 30s, he conquered Usan-guk.

In his 40s, he subjugated all of Geumgwan Gaya.

In his 50s and 60s, he led the unification campaigns across the peninsula.

Near his 70s, he even toppled Daegaya before passing away not long after.

Every campaign he led ended in victory. If Kim Yushin was the general who achieved the unification of the Three Kingdoms for Silla, then it was Isabu who laid the groundwork. That’s no exaggeration.

That’s why King Jinheung’s reign heavily relied on Isabu.

But now Isabu had returned to the earth.

It was like suddenly losing the team’s ace. For King Jinheung, it was essential to demonstrate that Silla remained strong even without Isabu.

“Kaema Plateau, long part of Goguryeo’s territory since Great King Daemusin subdued the Kaema Kingdom, is perfect to show that strength.”

“Hmph… Even if they seize it, they’ll lose it again soon. Still, do you think it’ll play out like you say?”

“The conquest may be the king’s achievement, but losing the region would be the fault of the nobles in charge of defending it. What is there to worry about?”

I quickly added more.

“And if Silla somehow reaches Kaema, the current King will likely blame the defeat on Goguryeo being split in two and unable to concentrate its forces.”

“That would prove the King was right to try incorporating the Domestic Fortress Faction.”

“Yes. When that time comes, people of Pyeongyang will believe that trouble arose because the nobles didn’t heed the King’s command. And in the midst of that… what if there’s one promising noble who did obey the King?”

“…He would become the new center of gravity for the Pyeongyang Fortress Faction. Is that why we should accept you?”

“Exactly.”

“However, I think you’ve missed the most important thing.”

Yeon Jayu snapped his fan shut.

“Do you really think our Goguryeo would lose to those Silla bastards?”

“We’re bound to lose.”

I already knew Silla would win.

So then.

“Wang Jun knows nothing of Kaema Plateau. How could he make sound military decisions? It would’ve been better to send you, Yeon Jayu, instead of Wang Jun.”

As for the reasoning—I could tailor it to suit the audience.

Yeon Jayu asked.

“Pfft, puhaha!”

At that moment, Yeon Jayu burst into laughter.

Not a sneer, but a hearty laugh.

“You, are you content just selling mushrooms? Come serve under me. I’ll guarantee your success.”

Serve under him, huh.

If one were to become a vassal of Yeon Jayu, a man with immense influence in Goguryeo, it would be better than being most nobles.

For a fallen noble like me, it was a tempting offer.

“Wouldn’t it be better for you to keep me separate rather than making me your vassal? That way, you can take me in or discard me whenever it suits you.”

I refused the offer.

Yeon Jayu chuckled.

“So, you really don’t want to be a vassal. You’re the first to ever refuse my invitation.”

“It’s better for both of us that way.”

“Alright. Then all I have to do is buy your mushrooms? Though, I am curious about how to cultivate them.”

“I never said I cultivated them.”

“Then did the mountain go mad and spit out dozens of times the usual mushroom yield two years in a row?”

Damn, sharp old man.

Yeon Jayu grinned slyly.

“Fine. Leave the mushrooms. I’ll sell them well. I’ll send payment later with some private soldiers.”

“Well, about the price…”

“At the very least, I’ll pay better than Jin Wootae.”

For now, that was enough.

After everyone had left Yeon Jayu’s residence.

From behind him, a door opened and a boy with a topknot popped out.

“Father, I have a question.”

“Ah, Taejo.”

This was Yeon Jayu’s eldest son, Yeon Taejo.

Yeon Jayu always had his son Yeon Taejo by his side whenever something happened.

This was Yeon ga’s method of education, and Yeon Jayu’s father had done exactly the same to him.

“What are you curious about?”

“Why did you lie? You had already prepared for Daemodal’s defeat and gathered the Domestic Fortress faction nobles, hadn’t you?”

“Huh.”

Yeon Jayu looked at his ten‑year‑old son.

Among children of his age, he was on the clever side, but he was still far from mature.

“Listen, Taejo. What is dignity?”

“Isn’t it being loyal to everyone?”

“That’s wrong.”

Yeon Jayu said.

“Receiving loyalty from rascals only offends the master’s dignity. Choosing those worthy of loyalty—that is true accomplishment.”

“…Then Father, were you testing me?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

Yeon Jayu said.

“If that brat had been a piglet willing to throw himself at the enemy for comfort, I would never have accepted him. But that brat wasn’t like that.”

“If not a pig, then a tiger?”

“Well… it’s hard to tell whether a young one is a tiger or a wildcat just by looking. You’ll only know after it grows more, right?”

Yeon Jayu said that and looked at his son.

Those words were also meant for Yeon Taejo.

Sensing that gaze, Yeon Taejo drew his lips inward with a pout.

“…If possible, I’d prefer a tiger over a wildcat.”

“What would you do with a wildcat, and what about a tiger?”

“If it’s a wildcat, I’d leave it behind; if it’s a tiger, I’d keep it by my side.”

“A tiger might bite you.”

“What’s more terrifying than a tiger right in front of you is a tiger hidden in the bushes. If you don’t know whether it’s enemy or ally, wouldn’t it be best to keep it close where you can see?”

Only then did Yeon Jayu laugh.

It seemed his child was not a piglet after all.

“You asked me to become a Yeon ga retainer, but I just walked out?”

The villagers asked incredulously.

From the perspective of Bear Village villagers, it made no sense to refuse the request of Yeon Jayu, noble of Pyeongyang Fortress and Middle Elder of Jungri Division of the Eastern army.

“If you become Yeon Jayu’s retainer, even a mid‑rank noble wouldn’t dare act rashly….”

It could have been a good opportunity for me.

If I became Yeon Jayu’s retainer, using my future knowledge I could help him.

Even ginseng agriculture alone could be a money‑spewing fountain in this era, no?

This was about three years ahead of my plan, so Goguryeo’s standing would rise that much faster.

But I don’t know if standing is the most urgent thing now.

Goguryeo didn’t collapse because of insufficient standing, did it?

‘…It collapsed because of aristocratic power struggles.’

Since King Jangsu’s move to Pyeongyang Fortress, the conflict between the new Pyeongyang‑faction nobles and the old Domestic Fortress‑faction nobles continued.

The rebellion of Chugun and Segun which ruined me, the Ganjuli Rebellion later, those too—but the most famous was clearly the Yeon Gaesomun Rebellion during the reign of King Yeongryu.

After the First Goguryeo–Tang War, King Yeongryu Go Geonmu and the conservative Domestic‑faction nobles chose a humiliating diplomacy toward Tang, and in response Yeon Gaesomun launched a coup, killing Yeongryu and over a hundred high officials, installing King Bojang.

Yeon Gaesomun then created the position of Grand Prime Minister and took it himself, succeeding in two successive wars with Tang.

But after his death, the conflict flared again.

Like Chugun and Segun’s rebellion, it was over the issue of succession.

“Do not quarrel over titles like water and fish; if you fail, you will surely become the laughingstock of neighboring countries.”

That was Yeon Gaesomun’s will, but like most such wills, it wasn’t honoured.

His eldest son Yeon Namsaeng inherited his position; while Yeon Namsaeng was away on inspection, his younger brothers Yeon Namgeon and Yeon Namsan staged a rebellion in Pyeongyang Fortress and took the Grand Prime Minister post.

Yeon Namsaeng fled to Domestic Fortress, and Yeon Namgeon killed Yeon Namsaeng’s son Yeon Hyeonchung in Pyeongyang Fortress, then prepared an army to punish Domestic Fortress.

Thus the fourth confrontation between Domestic‑faction vs Pyeongyang‑faction reignited.

At this point Yeon Namsaeng did not choose to lead Domestic fortress in fighting the Pyeongyang faction.

Because he had no chance of victory.

Until then he had 0 wins and 3 losses.

So Yeon Namsaeng trusted Domestic‑faction less than surrendering six fortresses to Tang.

Even Yeon Gaesomun’s brother Yeon Jeongto, watching his nephews’ war, also saw no solution and surrendered twelve fortresses under his control to Silla.

Before war even broke out, the northernmost frontline collapsed; Goguryeo essentially began the war already defeated.

‘If only this internal chaos hadn’t occurred, perhaps the Third Goguryeo–Tang War wouldn’t have happened at all….’

At the time Goguryeo fell, Tang was not in good shape itself.

In the north the Second Turkic Khaganate was rising, in the south Tibet was emerging.

But even with just ten thousand coins in your pocket, when a game goes on sale you impulse‑buy.

At the moment Yeon Namsaeng expressed intent to surrender, Emperor Gao Zong of Tang, like an impulsive shopper, dispatched troops to Goguryeo and ultimately destroyed it.

But the cost was high.

Goguryeo still held out stubbornly for two years.

Taking advantage of Tang’s attention on Goguryeo, Tibet and the Turks tyrannized Tang.

Thus Emperor Gao Zong earned the title in Tang history of the emperor who fought wars with the most countries.

Despite overthrowing Goguryeo amid these endless invasion requests, Tang failed to reap spoils.

Northern Korean Peninsula went to Silla; Manchuria’s land was entirely seized by Balhae, the second Goguryeo.

In other words, if the Goguryeo–Sui wars had been “full‑power central plains dynasty versus full‑power Goguryeo,”

the Third Goguryeo–Tang War at Goguryeo’s end was a fight between deranged Goguryeo and deranged Tang…

Between them, the less deranged Tang won—a fight where the less insane beat the more insane.

In other words.

If the internal aristocratic strife hadn’t existed, Goguryeo’s history might have continued further.

Ultimately for Goguryeo’s future, domestic reconciliation of the two factions matters more than standing.

How to solve that?

Honestly, I lack confidence to do it alone.

But I know who can.

‘Now Goguryeo’s Grand King is King Pyeongwon Goyangseong and his son King Yeongyang Godaewon.’

Those were the revived monarchs who, briefly, bridged the two factions and created a turning point to fight Sui.

Unfortunately in original history that reconciliation was temporary… but if with my knowledge I supported these two monarchs?

‘Couldn’t this reconciliation last longer than in the original history?’

That is why I didn’t serve under Yeon Jayu.

All that remains of Yeon Jayu in historical records are his name and his reappointment as Grand Prime Minister; nothing of his deeds.

To me, Yeon Jayu is almost an unknown man.

‘It’s not wise to invest in what you don’t know.’

In my previous life, my father lost a factory because he trusted a friend he thought he knew well.

If even a friend could betray, serving under someone completely unknown like Yeon Jayu is far too risky a gamble.

Of course if a gamble were the only option, I'd grit my teeth and throw the chips—but now there are safer assets in Goyangseong and Godaewon, aren’t there?

As far as the title of Grand King and their historical trajectory, investing in them is far more rational; even if by chance Yeon Jayu and I think alike, it’s the same logic.

‘Right now, my foundation is uncertain.’

A tree with shallow roots is bound to sway in the wind, and no matter how similar someone’s thoughts may be, it's rare for them to be exactly the same.

In a world like this, if you want to take initiative in your own affairs, you absolutely need a foundation.

‘Building a foundation before serving under someone and building it while under someone are as different as heaven and earth.’

Just look at Yeon Jayu.

What if he had no foundation like Yeon ga Ironworks or the Eastern Division?

He probably couldn’t have even imagined opposing Wang Godeok, who once supported him.

And if Yeon Jayu has Yeon ga Ironworks, then I have Bear Village.

Just as Yeon Jayu made Yeon ga Ironworks the best forge in Pyeongyang, I plan to make Bear Village the most advanced agricultural region in Pyeongyang.

A few days later, Bear Village.

When I saw the person Yeon Jayu had sent, my mouth fell open.

“…So you’re with the Domestic Fortress Faction?”

“That’s right. I am in the service of Lord Yeon Jayu as one of his household retainers, thanks to his grace.”

Suddenly, the back of my head felt numb.

‘…He got me.’

That guy Yeon Jayu had already expected Wang Jun to lose and quietly gathered the Domestic Fortress nobles before I even arrived.

I thought I had persuaded Yeon Jayu… but in reality, it had been more of a test by him.

And that wasn’t even the most surprising part.

“There are 900 bolts of fine cloth. Please check.”

“900 bolts…?”

My jaw dropped. Because it was too little?

No, the opposite. It was too much.

After calculating transport costs, labor costs, and Yeon Jayu’s cut, I estimated maybe 500 bolts at most.

Even 600 bolts would have been generous.

But 900?

‘He did say he’d offer more than Jin Wootae, but this isn’t just more—it’s way more.’

No matter how hard you squeeze, there’s no way to save double on transport or labor costs.

There could only be one conclusion.

“May I ask, how much did Lord Yeon Jayu take from this deal?”

“After taking some here and there, he kept about 40 bolts. Even that he handed out to the retainers.”

Yeon Jayu didn’t take any profit for himself and gave the cloth to me in full.

He didn’t take a loss, but he didn’t make a gain either. This couldn’t even be called business.

‘Money isn’t the goal. The goal is… the trust and admiration of merchants and retainers themselves?’

Though money is supposed to be a means, very few people truly act that way.

To most, money is the end goal.

But Yeon Jayu used money purely as a tool.

If he showed this much sincerity to a fallen noble from Bear Village like me, I could easily imagine how he treated his closest aides.

‘He’s truly a terrifying man.’

This was the moment I instantly understood how a backwoodsman from Eastern Buyeo like Yeon’s family became a top minister of Goguryeo in just a few decades.

Author’s Note.

There are two major “Hanseong”s in this era.

In the story, the Hanseong listed among Goguryeo’s Three Capitals—alongside Domestic Fortress and Pyeongyang Fortress—is Hanseong in Jaeryeong County, Hwanghae Province.

The other is Wiryeseong, the first capital of Baekje, which is also called Hanseong.

This is why Baekje is often called “Hanseong Baekje,” and they even use the same Chinese characters.

After it was taken by Goguryeo during King Jangsu’s reign, it was later lost to Silla during King Yangwon’s time, so during the story’s timeline, it’s Silla territory.

To avoid confusion going forward, I’ll use “Wiryeseong” when referring to Baekje’s former capital.

Please consider “Hanseong” to refer to the southern Goguryeo fortress.