I Became a Fallen Noble of Goguryeo

Chapter 18: Departure

569 A.D.

With Wang Jun and the remnants returning, Pyeongyang Fortress was thrown into chaos.

"Hey, aren’t the Silla bastards coming for us right now? If they cross the Kaema Plateau, they’re right at Pyeongyang!"

"Are you crazy? If they come in here, they’re all dead!"

Their judgment was correct. Silla wouldn’t invade. But inflicting damage on another country didn’t always require physical means.

"The Silla bastards planted a stele again!"

"Again?"

Once again, Kim Sammaekjong planted the 'Maun Pass Inspection Stele' and the 'Hwangcho Pass Inspection Stele' one after the other.

He was so delighted that he even engraved the name of his commander, Kim Muryeok, along with the names of a fortune teller and a pharmacist who came with him.

To the prideful people of Goguryeo, this had more impact than a physical attack.

"Another one, another damn stele!"

"In my opinion, these bastards have no confidence in winning. That’s how weak countries behave. They want to go to war, but don’t think they can win. So they plant these big steles, thinking of them as swords, and that thrill of driving them into the ground…."

"Who hit that bastard in the head?"

By now, no one even remembered how many steles had been planted, and the people of Goguryeo coughed up blood from frustration.

"Didn’t His Majesty already suggest accepting the Domestic Fortress faction nobles to prevent things like this?"

"It was the Pyeongyang faction that opposed it, wasn’t it? And isn’t it weird that Wang Jun went without the Eastern Division Leader?"

"Did they lose to Silla over a petty internal struggle?"

"What is Wang Jun doing if not following the example of the late Go Haemyeong? Did he leave even his spear and the horse that was to charge with it behind in his escape from the Silla bastards? Want to borrow mine?"

No matter how noble one was, one couldn’t simply ignore the criticism of the commoners.

They were the heavy infantry, the core of the standing army.

Most of those who had gone to the Kaema Plateau front this time were commoners.

The reason nobles were respected in Goguryeo was because they served as officers in wartime.

The fact that such people had lost favor with the commoner-soldiers meant that the power of Wang Godeok and the entire Pyeongyang faction was effectively halved.

Goyangseong didn’t miss this golden opportunity.

"Wang Jun. The damage?"

With a cold question, the defeated general Wang Jun replied.

"The stronghold was taken, but the dispatched military guards returned safely with minimal losses. The civilian casualties were not severe. The hunters hid in the mountains early on, and the farmers succeeded in evacuating to the East."

"The East? Why the East?"

"Well, it seems Yeon Jayu made preparations in advance."

Praising his political rival with his own mouth was utterly revolting, but he had no choice.

"So, the damage is nearly none…."

"Ho, to phrase defeat without even a fight in such a way. You clearly have more talent in literature than in warfare. Or perhaps this too is the Buddha’s blessing? In that case, instead of giving you a hereditary village allotment, I should have granted a field to a temple."

Goyangseong looked down at Wang Jun with a biting sneer.

"I distinctly ordered the Grand Marshal to take a few Domestic Fortress nobles with him. I use those with ability — that fairness and integrity is the national policy I seek. If that was difficult, I at least told you to take Eastern Division Leader Yeon Jayu as a deputy. But you and the nobles opposed it."

Wang Jun didn’t make any excuses. Goyangseong clicked his tongue.

"…Respecting the field commander is a long-standing custom, so I allowed it too, but now I deeply regret it. What will you do from now? After Han River and Kaema Plateau, what’s next? Pyeongyang? Domestic Fortress? Will you lose both by fighting among yourselves?"

In Joseon, such criticism would have been expressed quite academically, but Goguryeo’s political rhetoric was more direct — especially when angry.

No one dared open their mouth in response to that reprimand.

Everyone present bore some responsibility for the defeat.

Except for one.

"May I, Yeon Jayu, say a word?"

That is, except for Middle Elder Yeon Jayu of the Jungri Bureau.

"…Though it may be late now, I also prepared by establishing some ties with the Domestic Fortress nobles."

"You did?"

At those words, the Pyeongyang faction glared at Yeon Jayu.

This bastard took out insurance behind our backs?

But the moment they heard his next words, their expressions changed completely.

"Many nobles of Pyeongyang supported me in this."

Yeon Jayu’s insurance wasn’t personal but collective. He didn’t name the nobles who helped him, and Goyangseong didn’t press for details.

The Pyeongyang faction quickly understood this. That list hadn’t been finalized yet. And many nobles wanted their names included on the list of "those who helped Yeon Jayu."

Of course, not everyone could be included.

'…That bastard?'

The current State Minister Wang Godeok and the old ministers of the Pyeongyang faction, including Wang Jun, glared at Yeon Jayu as if they would kill him. They were, in crude terms, "bitten by the hunting dog."

They had been the ones who had brought in Yeon’s family during the Rebellion of Chugun and Segun to bolster forces against the Domestic Fortress faction.

Wang Godeok in particular had placed Yeon Jayu in charge of Goguryeo’s central intelligence as Middle Elder to check the King’s power.

But instead of acting as they wished, Yeon Jayu subtly sided with King Goyangseong. Wang Godeok tried to eliminate him.

For that reason, they had insisted on placing command not with Yeon Jayu of the East, but with Wang Jun — even though they hadn’t considered it a risky choice at the time.

But Wang Jun failed, and instead, Yeon Jayu’s power grew.

They had put the hunting dog in the pot, but the fire hadn’t been hot enough, and the dog leapt out and bit the master’s arm.

Now they were supposed to go under that dog?

Neither pride nor the situation allowed it.

Yet even they couldn’t open their mouths now.

All legitimacy was on the other side, and without legitimacy, even tongues and blades were useless.

Though they had suffered a defeat, peace unexpectedly followed.

Had Goyangseong clenched his teeth and declared normalization of Mount Maun to kick Silla out, it wouldn’t have been possible…

But he decided to let Silla be for now.

A full-on war with Silla now would only benefit Baekje’s Buyeo Chang. This was the charm of the Three Kingdoms.

So instead of declaring war on Silla, Goyangseong sent formal envoys to express his opinion.

[Dear Silla. Congratulations on your new land.]

He said this without secretly stabbing them in the back.

This mixed strategy of diplomacy and aggression was a brilliant tactic not only used by Goguryeo and Baekje, which inherited Goguryeo’s blood, but also by the hunchback nation built in Pyeongyang 1,500 years later — though this time, it was a genuine gesture of congratulations.

It wasn’t that Goyangseong had gone mad — it was more accurate to say there was a tacit deal with Kim Sammaekjong.

Right now, Kim Sammaekjong was excitedly going around planting inspection steles, claiming “I conquered this place!”

But everyone knew that Silla couldn’t govern that land for long.

‘What Kim Sammaekjong wants isn’t a stronghold, but legitimacy.’

Through this battle, Kim Sammaekjong had proven, “Our Silla can function fine without Isabu.”

And the fact that the leading figure was not a traditional true-bone noble but a royal loyalist of Gaya descent, Kim Muryeok, made it even better.

Now, no one could challenge his kingship.

And for Goyangseong, this was not a bad outcome either.

Now Goyangseong could naturally seize control of state affairs by saying, “You Pyeongyang faction bastards, didn’t I say we should have allied with the Domestic Fortress faction from the start?”

“We will begin discussions centered on nobles from the Domestic Fortress faction who are essential to national defense. Middle Elder of Jungri Bureau, did you bring the records?”

“I brought the military registries from the time of King Gwanggaeto and King Jangsu, when Domestic Fortress and Pyeongyang were unified, Your Majesty.”

Naturally, Yeon Jayu, who had already formed ties with the Domestic Fortress faction, stood at the forefront, and Supreme Chancellor Wang Godeok had nothing to say.

Yes, the Supreme Chancellor was still Wang Godeok.

In the past, if you didn’t like the Supreme Chancellor, you could challenge him with a sword and physically “impeach” him like a true tough guy, but after 2,000 people died in the Rebellion of Chugun and Segun, the rule changed.

Now, the Supreme Chancellor could not be impeached — he had to serve his full term no matter what.

Wang Godeok had recently won re-election, securing an additional three-year term.

In that time, there was no just cause to oust him.

Of course, if he resigned voluntarily, that would be the end of it, but Wang Godeok didn’t resign — he held on to his position.

He must still have some lingering ambition, right? Goyangseong didn’t bother pushing any further either.

Expelling the Supreme Chancellor by violating rules would be too far removed from the fairness and integrity that Goyangseong advocated.

But that was the limit.

His son, Wang Jun, was dismissed from his post as Grand Marshal due to his defeat, and this dealt a severe blow to Wang Godeok’s succession plan.

“Who should we side with now?”

“Isn’t Lord Wang Godeok still going to serve as Supreme Chancellor for over three more years? Though he stumbled, his influence is still strong.”

“But Lord Wang Godeok has no heir, right?”

“Besides, if you don’t side with Yeon Jayu now, can you withstand His Majesty’s wrath? Is Wang Godeok going to protect your family?”

Thus, among the Pyeongyang nobles, many began siding with the rising power Yeon Jayu instead of the fading Wang Godeok.

The list of ‘Pyeongyang nobles friendly with the Domestic Fortress faction’ under Yeon Jayu’s wing was updated daily, growing little by little.

So within the Pyeongyang faction, a division emerged: the anti-Domestic group of the Lelang Wang clan, and the pro-Domestic group of the Eastern Yeon clan.

As the Eastern Yeon clan gained strength, the Domestic Fortress faction, which had been holding its breath until now, cautiously began taking steps toward Pyeongyang.

“The price of Grand King mushrooms will likely be lower than last year. Hm, this mushroom porridge is quite delicious.”

A retainer of Yeon Jayu, who had come to purchase mushrooms, said while blowing on his spoon.

Along with an increase in Grand King mushroom logistics, the demand for luxury goods had decreased due to the recent war.

Originally, in this era, money was spent either on war or luxury.

So when war broke out, there was naturally less money for luxury.

But conversely, grain prices had gone up.

Just like people rush to buy instant noodles when something happens to the country, many were now stockpiling grain.

‘Good thing I spread the Dispute Law.’

If I had relied on Grand King mushrooms alone, my divine insight might have come into question.

“But don’t go directly to Pyeongyang Fortress. Your reputation there isn’t good.”

“Oh? Didn’t His Majesty use this defeat as a reason to advocate for reconciliation with the Domestic Fortress faction?”

“That’s the problem.”

Yeon Jayu’s retainer said.

“This time, those being newly appointed from the Domestic Fortress faction are from quite large families, and they are involved in national defense. So even if you’re from the Pyeongyang faction, it’s hard to insult them outright. Thus, instead, they seem to be taking it out on you.”

So… because they can’t openly badmouth the powerful Domestic faction nobles, they’re satisfied insulting a fallen noble like me instead? Seriously, that’s absurd.

“What kind of rumors are going around?”

“They say you bowed your head to the enemy who killed your parents. They say you walk around Gromchon with dung on you like a fool. There’s talk that a noble’s descendant gathers tree bark.”

What the heck?

None of it is made up?

“…That’s not a rumor though?”

“Then are you really walking around with dung on you?”

He stepped back from me as if I were an Indian dish made with the left hand.

I waved my hand.

“I wash thoroughly.”

“Don’t wave that hand!”

“No, I said I wash thoroughly!”

I spoke in disbelief.

“Why would I randomly smear dung on myself and gather tree bark? It’s for fertilizer. If you compost dung well and mix it with tree bark, plants grow better.”

I revealed the secret.

There was no need to hide it. Everyone in Gromchon knew how to make compost anyway.

What mattered in fertilizer was not the recipe, but ‘how well it was composted, when and how much to apply.’

“You fertilize grain with dung for a good harvest?”

His mouth dropped open.

Was it because he was amazed by the “innovation”?

Well, he was surprised at least.

“How can you do such a thing to food people eat? Are you insane? Don’t tell me — the porridge I just drank!”

He suddenly gagged.

I patted his back, but realizing that my hand was also touched by compost, he ran off yelling for me not to come near him.

‘This is how innovation works.’

It’s a mistake to think that if you make something amazing, people will immediately follow.

Most people want to keep doing things the way they always have.

Especially if the innovation involves putting poop on food.

What moves people in times like this is authority, but my authority only extended within Gromchon.

It wasn’t enough to convince outsiders.

Besides, the fertilizer success had only happened once so far.

Once falls within the range of coincidence.

To be believable, it had to maintain similar results for at least three years.

‘Anyway, I have to wait until the ginseng grows. The timing works out just right.’

Reactions might be lukewarm now, but if I succeeded with ginseng after shiitake mushrooms and compost?

Even a fool would have to acknowledge me. Honestly, even a fool could recognize it at that point.

If Yeon Jayu had risen through ironworking skills, I would rise through agricultural technology.

‘Besides, by then Goyangseong’s Domestic Fortress faction reconciliation policy would’ve progressed quite a bit.’

That would truly be… the moment to step outside of Gromchon.

Time flew by, and it was now 571.

Goguryeo’s political order had changed drastically.

As expected, Silla couldn’t hold Maun Pass for long. They probably never intended to in the first place.

But just as a bruise remains even after the punch is gone, though Silla had left, the Maun Pass Inspection Stele remained.

Goyangseong, rather than yanking it out like a rotten tooth, cried "Washing away humiliation and preparing for revenge," and used it as justification to appoint Domestic Fortress faction members. (Thanks to that, the Maun Pass Inspection Stele still remains in the 21st century.)

As the Domestic Fortress faction’s influence rose, ironically, my reputation in Pyeongyang Fortress plummeted.

"Ginseng, just don’t go to Pyeongyang. Even the neighborhood kids are cursing your name."

"I’m not going anyway. Yeon’s family and the others are taking care of the goods for me."

Despite Yeon Jayu being busy these days, he handled things properly. Thanks to that, I didn’t have much trouble — but it still felt absurd.

Do you guys even know me?

That question was meaningless. Of course they didn’t.

Just like how kids kick around a ragged old soccer ball when there’s no better one, because no one could criticize the Domestic Fortress faction openly, they simply grabbed me and vented on me instead.

My name had basically become a common noun meaning "Domestic Fortress faction."

‘Well, I guess it’s not entirely a bad thing.’

I’m not trying to say that bad publicity is still publicity. It’s more about the politics.

Thirty years ago, the Domestic Fortress faction and the Pyeongyang faction clashed with swords. But now, it wasn’t a sword fight — it was a petty pride match.

Which meant that integration was proceeding rather smoothly.

‘It’s largely thanks to Goyangseong.’

Goyangseong didn’t push through reforms recklessly. He calibrated his moves so that his appointments of the Domestic Fortress faction felt like "rational national defense reinforcement," not "political aggression."

Because of Wang Godeok’s faction. Though they’d been hit, they were still the group that had ruled Pyeongyang for 30 years.

Even a ruined rich family can live off its leftovers for three years — would these political monsters collapse in just one go?

If Goyangseong had moved too radically, or if the Domestic Fortress faction had pushed out the entrenched Pyeongyang faction, Wang Godeok’s camp might have made a comeback.

Goyangseong didn’t want to give them any opening for that.

So instead of indiscriminately appointing Domestic Fortress people, he expanded the routes for appointment.

He opened up the existing recruitment system, increased enrollment in the Taehak, and declared that he would accept the Domestic Fortress faction.

Thirty years ago, due to the Rebellion of Chugun and Segun, the Domestic Fortress faction had been expelled from the central government.

Naturally, both the appointment system and the bureaucratic training center, Taehak, had excluded them.

Now, that was being rectified.

Moreover, with the previously marginalized Domestic Fortress faction reentering Goguryeo, the number of bureaucrats needed also increased proportionally.

So the justification for expanding Taehak and the appointment system was solid.

‘It’s good news for me too.’

Sure, my reputation seemed pretty bad right now, but there are ways to turn that around.

Five years ago, there wasn’t even a way for me to get appointed.

Compared to that, this was way better.

Besides, being called "filthy Domestic Fortress scum" was still an upgrade from "damned Domestic Fortress scum."

Hmm, positive mindset.

So while Goguryeo’s political world was "slowly" changing, Gromchon was changing rapidly.

"Foxtail millet rice! Foxtail millet rice!"

"Feed broomcorn millet to Yeong-woong or Hero! Bring foxtail millet rice now!"

Gromchon had long since crushed its old rival, Tiger Village, and become the wealthiest village in the area.

"How much land tax did you pay?"

"Haha, I paid three seok of millet. My land tripled."

"I paid five seok! Haha, you need to work harder!"

"By the way, I heard the next village’s crops failed."

"Well, we’ve got composting, so…"

Their taxes also increased. More land meant more land tax.

But thanks to composting and the two-year-three-field system, the yield per land unit had increased enough that they could smile while paying.

"This is all thanks to Kim Insam."

"Isn’t it Kim Insam who made us rich?"

"Maybe he’s the eighth Maitreya after the Seven Buddhas?"

"Hey! The monks will scold you if they hear that!"

"What do monks know?"

In contrast to my reputation in the capital, my reputation in Gromchon couldn’t get any higher.

This was what you call a solid foundation.

Moreover—

"Now that it’s five-year-old ginseng… it should be ready to harvest next year."

The ginseng was growing just fine.

At this point, I’d done pretty much everything I needed to in Gromchon.

Go Haemyeong was the son of King Yuri and was quite arrogant. He once broke a bow gifted by another country right in front of their envoy and said, “This bow’s so weak. Is this what you people shoot?”

Enraged, King Yuri said, “Because of you, we nearly had a war. Atone for your actions,” and handed him a sword.

One official told him, “Hurry and atone!” But Go Haemyeong shook his head and said, “I broke the Hwangryong Nation’s bow to retaliate for them insulting Goguryeo. If Father says I should die, then I shall.”

He even said a sword wasn’t enough and drove a spear into the ground and charged at it on horseback to die. Because he was killed by his father and had faults of his own, he’s often called “the Goguryeo version of Crown Prince Sado.”

Letters and stories from the Joseon period often contain Confucian metaphors, but the closer you get to Goryeo or the Three Kingdoms period, the more direct things get.

The term of the Supreme Chancellor was originally three years, and in the early days, they really did decide it through sword fights.

The Rebellion of Chugun and Segun was an extension of that, and even the King couldn’t intervene.

It was proof that royal power had plummeted. But in later times, these sword fights disappeared, either by mutual agreement or command.

Maps of Silla’s golden age during the Three Kingdoms period usually show Maun Pass as part of their territory, but in reality, Silla only held it briefly — just as shown in the story.

It was hard to maintain anyway, as can be seen in the map from Episode 17.

The dates may be fictional, but it’s true they couldn’t hold it for long.

Also, the fact that Goguryeo acknowledged Silla’s territorial gain despite losing land is recorded on the Hwangcho Pass Stele.

Goguryeo wasn’t in a position to go to full-scale war with Silla, so diplomatically, they had no choice.

Even when Silla took the Han River, Goguryeo acknowledged it to break the Naje alliance.

In this era, Goguryeo’s staple wasn’t rice but millet — specifically, foxtail and broomcorn millet.

Foxtail millet was soft and used for rice, while broomcorn was rough and made into gruel or porridge.