NOVEL NEXT Ch. 24
Chapter 24: King Gwanggaeto (1)
Yeon Jayu, who came to see me, appeared modest.
Instead of splendid silk garments, he wore hemp cloth with a “gal” (a fur garment, the origin of the word ‘brown’) draped over it, and a satgat on his head instead of a crown.
He wore only one crookedly positioned sword and came without any bodyguards, suggesting he had come in secret.
‘Well, with that body, what bodyguard would he even need.’
My impression when I last saw Yeon Jayu was simply, ‘If I fight him, I’ll lose.’
But now that I had begun learning martial arts, I saw him differently.
If I approached him, I could even see how he’d draw his sword and where he’d strike to kill me.
‘Even Master Yeombu said he could hardly guarantee three wins out of ten fights against Yeon Jayu.’
It was understandable.
Looking at me, Yeon Jayu let out a soft chuckle.
“Are you trying to see where to stab?”
“I have no reason to, but yes, I was observing.”
I had heard a lot about Yeon Jayu from Boknyeo.
That he was one of the closest confidants of Go Yangseong.
There was little reason to be wary of him anymore.
Yeon Jayu let out another faint laugh.
“Before, you had a reason to stab me but didn’t look for a spot to do it. Now, you don’t have a reason, yet you’re looking. So, can you see a place to stab?”
“Not yet, Middle Elder of Jungri Bureau, sir.”
“Hmm, seems Yeombu is teaching you well. Still, that title’s too long—just call me Eastern Division Leader.”
As expected, it was Go Yangseong and Yeon Jayu who had placed Yeombu with me.
I nodded.
“Yes, Eastern Division Leader.”
“Good. Follow him well and learn. I don’t know if he’s the best warrior, but he’s certainly the best teacher. If you hadn’t taken him, I would’ve spent a fortune to make him my retainer. Anyway, that aside… when will the agricultural treatise be complete?”
The matter of the agricultural book had already been reported to Go Yangseong by Boknyeo.
Naturally, Yeon Jayu also knew.
“It will be completed soon.”
“Good. And the Princess?”
“She went to Pyeongyang to get paper for the agricultural treatise.”
“Oh dear, poor timing. It’d be easier to talk if she were here.”
I asked,
“Did you come to see me about the agricultural treatise?”
“That’s part of it… but there’s another matter.”
Yeon Jayu, sitting on the edge of the wooden floor, let out a deep sigh.
“Lately, the political world has been a bit unsettled.”
“Is there any reason for unrest? You are respected by both the Domestic Fortress Faction and the Pyeongyang Faction.”
“That used to be true…”
At those words, Yeon Jayu shook his head.
“Not anymore.”
After Go Yangseong began reinstating members of the Domestic Fortress Faction,
The second and third sons of that faction were once again able to set foot in Pyeongyang Fortress.
Why not the first sons, you ask?
Because those men had to inherit tax villages back home.
For nobles of the Domestic Fortress, central politics were never meant for the eldest sons.
“So this is Pyeongyang Fortress!”
Thus, after nearly thirty years, the Domestic Fortress Faction members set foot in Pyeongyang again and were utterly shocked.
Was it because they were moved by returning to Pyeongyang after so long?
Or because the distant Jang’an Fortress was being constructed?
Sadly, neither.
What shocked them was a particular story.
“What the hell… King Jumong wasn’t from Northern Buyeo but Eastern Buyeo?”
Eastern Buyeo was a state founded two hundred years ago by refugees from Buyeo fleeing the invasion of Murong Hui, the leader of the Murong Xianbei, who had allied with Okjeo.
Murong Hui later invaded Goguryeo as well, and according to a somewhat psychic-sounding record, tried to rob the tomb of the 12th King Seocheon and was attacked by the ghost of the king, fleeing in terror.
The important point here isn’t the shamanic power of Goguryeo, but that by the time Eastern Buyeo was established, Goguryeo was already under the rule of its 14th king, King Bongsang.
In other words, claiming that King Jumong was from Eastern Buyeo is as absurd as saying Wang Geon was from Joseon.
And normally, absurd claims can be explained by political motives.
“No way, the Pyeongyang Fortress people?”
“Who else but them!”
If the Pyeongyang Faction’s foundation was their wealth as merchants, then the Domestic Fortress Faction’s foundation was their bloodline pride of having established Goguryeo together with King Jumong from Northern Buyeo.
That’s why the newly ruling Pyeongyang Faction altered the origins of not just King Jumong but also Geumwa and Daeso from the founding myth, changing them to be from Eastern Buyeo.
It wasn’t hard for the Pyeongyang Faction, who had a tight grip on Pyeongyang.
Even in the 21st century, the Chinese think Confucius is Chinese simply because they live in China—didn’t they believe Koreans claiming Confucius was Korean were serious?
Maybe there was a slip-up somewhere, because a few odd articles about Northern Expeditions against Eastern Buyeo remained…
Still, at least within Pyeongyang, the re-registration of King Jumong’s origin as Eastern Buyeo could be considered a complete success.
And upon hearing this, the Domestic Fortress Faction ground their teeth in rage.
“Th-those bastards deserve to be stoned to death!”
“Should we dig up the Gwanggaeto Stele right now? It says in bold that King Jumong was from Northern Buyeo! What’s this cursed Eastern Buyeo nonsense! Eastern Buyeo didn’t even exist when King Jumong was alive! That’s like saying a son gave birth to his father!”
“Why don’t they just say Dangun and Gija were from Eastern Buyeo too?”
Having had their own history stolen in a flash, they went searching for the shameless culprit behind this act.
“Yeon Jayu, that bastard was from Eastern Buyeo, wasn’t he? He did this to cover up his own lowly origins!”
“Pretending to help us all the while doing this kind of crap behind our backs!”
“I didn’t know you were this kind of person!”
They rushed to Yeon Jayu’s house and threw their weapons down at his doorstep with loud clanks.
When the story ended, I was a bit dumbfounded.
“…Why in the world did you do such a thing?”
“I didn’t. It was Wang Godeok’s scheme to check Northern Buyeo. Besides, I don’t even like Eastern Buyeo.”
“But it’s your homeland?”
“It’s a fallen nation. Wang Godeok picked Eastern Buyeo not because of me, but because it was the most plausible among the leftover Buyeo states. Isn’t it better than Southern Buyeo—Baekje—which is just ridiculous, or Galsa Buyeo, which is barely known beyond its name? What else, Dumakru?”
“Then why didn’t you just say so to the Domestic Fortress Faction?”
“Who’d believe that?”
But people tend to identify the person who benefits most from a crime as the culprit.
And it was an undeniable fact that the one who benefited most from this was Yeon Jayu, a man of Eastern Buyeo origin.
“Anyway… because of this, many from the Domestic Fortress Faction who had followed me have now left and rallied around Northern Division Leader Gosan.”
“Gosan?”
“He’s the one who would have married the Princess if it hadn’t been for you.”
Yeon Jayu listed Gosan’s specs.
“He’s a descendant of the Sunno Tribe, which was located west of the Gaero Tribe when Goryeo was founded, and has produced Prime Ministers for generations. His father recently passed, so he became Northern Division Leader at a young age. He’s a bit older than you, has outstanding looks and unmatched bravery, and thus has many supporters.”
The mom’s friend’s son… no, wait. Those types usually don’t come from great families too. He’s more like a character straight out of a comic.
“They say when he put on an iron helmet and shouted ‘Domestic Fortress Faction, gather!’ the entire faction rallied to him instantly.”
Yeon Jayu let out a deep sigh.
“And that guy is now attacking the Pyeongyang Faction, using the claim about King Jumong’s origin as justification.”
“So, we brought in the Domestic Fortress Faction but are now ending up fighting them… is that the gist of it?”
“Exactly. It’s a common occurrence.”
“Then isn’t the solution simple? Just apologize and revert King Jumong’s origin.”
“Didn’t the Princess teach you any politics?”
Yeon Jayu said,
“The only reason the Domestic Fortress Faction can flow in again is because I’m suppressing the discontent within the Pyeongyang Faction. But if I apologize as you say, I’ll lose my position as the faction leader. The moment I’m removed, all that pent-up resentment will explode. And then what? The same disaster from 30 years ago will repeat.”
So if Yeon Jayu apologizes, things won’t end with handshakes and peace.
Instead, he’ll be ousted from his position that currently acts as a brake within the Pyeongyang Faction, and things will spiral into chaos and bloodshed.
In short, for the sake of the Domestic Fortress Faction, Yeon Jayu must not apologize to them.
God, is this what politics is?
It’s disgustingly annoying.
“Eastern Division Leader, did you not anticipate the Domestic Fortress Faction’s backlash?”
“I did, roughly. That’s why I initially tried to marry Gosan to the Princess.”
Ah, right.
And that plan went awry because of me.
“Of course, I’m not saying it’s your fault. That marriage did weaken Wang Godeok’s faction quite a bit. Still, it wouldn’t be fair to say there’s no issue at all. For now, even Gosan knows he can’t act carelessly against me, so we’re just growling at each other. But this could blow up any time. There are foolish hero wannabes in both factions. And I think you’re the only one who can fix this.”
“Me?”
“Yes. Your roots are with the Domestic Fortress Faction. Since your maternal grandfather died under my orders, you can’t be part of the Pyeongyang Faction.”
“That’s correct.”
“But at the same time, your family wasn’t deeply involved in the Rebellion of Chugun and Segun. You’re also the Emperor’s son-in-law. With that background, you’re in a position to shift the current dynamics.”
I summarized his point roughly.
“So basically… you’ll lead the Pyeongyang Faction, I’ll lead the Domestic Fortress Faction, and together we’ll unify Goryeo. Something like that?”
“Hoho, you’re quite spirited for someone who hasn’t even been appointed to a position yet.”
Yeon Jayu chuckled faintly.
“I’m already the figurehead of the Pyeongyang Faction, but whether you can control the Domestic Fortress Faction is another matter. It’s like a child who just picked up a bow claiming he’ll hunt a tiger. It’s laughable to even expect it.”
“…Then?”
“Just stir things up a bit within the Domestic Fortress Faction. Be a bridge.”
So, I was to gain support within the Domestic Fortress Faction and build my own base of power there.
Even that minimal bridge would help prevent another round of bloodshed caused by a lack of communication, as in the past.
At that point, I asked what I had been wondering.
“What is it that you wish for, Eastern Division Leader? A unified Goryeo?”
“No, that’s just a step along the way. What I truly wish for…”
Yeon Jayu said,
“…is Goguryeo during the reign of King Gwanggaeto.”
My conversation with Yeon Jayu continued for quite a while.
“Two hundred years ago, when King Gwanggaeto invaded Eastern Buyeo, the Yeon Clan resisted until the end but was ultimately defeated. The problem came afterward.”
Yeon Jayu ground his teeth.
“At the time, the Eastern Buyeo aristocrats called the Amlu, those bastards placed all blame on our clan—who had fought the hardest for Eastern Buyeo—and offered us up to Goguryeo. Everyone thought our clan was finished. They thought we’d end up as gravekeepers.”
King Gwanggaeto had a hobby of conscripting the conquered peoples as guards for the royal tombs of Goguryeo.
He brought in people from Baekje, Silla, and Malgal, and the number supposedly exceeded 300 households.
“However, the result was the opposite. King Gwanggaeto, instead of punishing our clan that fought against him, recognized our valor and appointed us to the position of Eastern Division Leader. It was the cowardly Amlu who became tomb guardians.”
Damn, that's something to admire.
As I listened to the story, I realized there were parts that overlapped with me.
“By any chance… is that why you accepted me, the child of your former enemy, my maternal grandfather?”
“Well, I can’t say it had nothing to do with it.”
In other words, Yeon Jayu, descendant of those saved by King Gwanggaeto, was imitating his actions and finding personal satisfaction in doing so.
“If I were to speak of that man’s accomplishments, there wouldn’t be enough night to finish, but if I had to choose the greatest among them, it would be none other than creating Goryeo’s worldview.”
Worldview.
The lens through which a nation sees the world; its vision.
“Compared to the grand worldview established by him, the current arrogant western lands’ worldview is narrow-minded beyond measure, not even fitting their territory.”
Nowadays, Goguryeo refers to the central plains more as the western lands, not as "Zhongyuan" (Central Plain).
I asked,
“…What do you mean by the narrow-mindedness of the western lands?”
Yeon Jayu's face brightened visibly at the timely question.
“Of course, you know about Goryeo but not much about the western lands, or about their pettiness.”
This was rather ironic… honestly, it was the opposite.
What I knew about Goguryeo’s worldview amounted to what was in the history textbooks: “Goguryeo had an independent worldview different from the Central Plain.”
On the other hand, I knew a lot about the Sinocentric worldview of the western lands.
Half the reason I got dumped here might’ve even been due to that very Sinocentrism of the Public Security goons.
To defend myself a little—Goguryeo’s worldview is historical knowledge in the 21st century, while Sinocentrism is still very much alive today.
It’s more accessible.
Yeon Jayu continued,
“To the westerners, there is only one world. Everything else is Yi-Rong-Man-Jeok—barbarians. They see everything outside their world as uncivilized. What a laughable idea! If there is only one world, how can you know its greatness? Without outer edges, how can there be a center? Without stars in all directions, how can the Northern Dipper reign as the celestial core?”
If there is only one world, there’s nothing to compare it to.
Without comparisons, you can't discern superiority.
“But Goryeo knows there are many worlds. There’s the world ruled by the Grand King, the world ruled by the Emperor in the west, and the world ruled by the Khagan on the steppes. Because many worlds exist, we can know our shortcomings and strive to improve, and we can recognize our greatness and continue it. King Gwanggaeto realized this early and rode his horse to proclaim it to all corners.”
Maybe calling Yeon Jayu a Gwanggaeto maniac was wrong.
This was beyond admiration or affection—it was faith.
The name of his god was King Gwanggaeto Damdeok, and the name of his religion was Goguryeo’s worldview.
Yeon Jayu spoke solemnly, like a pope reading the scriptures.
“Thus, Goryeo respects the various other worlds. You can see this even in Goryeo’s tribute relations. The westerners demand warhorses from the nomads—what does it mean to take horses from people who can't survive without them?”
“That they refuse to acknowledge their way of life.”
“Exactly. And what about Goryeo? We only collect one bolt of cotton cloth per ten households every three years. And afterward, we respond with even more iron goods.”
Yeon Jayu continued,
“And not only that! Though Goryeo began with the Heavenly Emperor Haemosu, after gaining Pyeongyang, we honored Gija’s deity. After receiving the Khitan, we honored their Khagan god. We accepted their gods. Because of this, many from the borderlands volunteered to lead their troops under Goryeo during war. But!”
Suddenly, Yeon Jayu clenched his fist.
“What has become of that great nation now?”
He slammed the floor.
Bang—!
With his strength, the wooden floor cracked open immediately.
“It has split in half… like this floor!”
Did he just destroy the floor to make a metaphor?
No, seeing how the simile came after the smash, maybe he thought to use the destruction once it happened.
“You can’t place anything on a split floor. Goryeo is like that now.”
Before I could respond, Yeon Jayu passionately continued.
“After Goryeo was split into north and south, the Turks attacked from the north and Silla surged from the south. When I was young, I saw the stele erected by King Jangsu in Ubeol (Chungju), but my son never saw it. Because we lost Ubeol to the Silla bastards! And that old fool Wang Godeok still talks nonsense about how the Domestic Fortress Faction is no good!”
Yeon Jayu’s body trembled.
“These things never happened when King Gwanggaeto was alive!”
I refrained from pointing out that he himself wasn’t born back then either.
Author’s Notes
There is quite a bit of debate about King Jumong’s origin.
On the Gwanggaeto Stele and in the tomb epitaph of Moduru from King Jangsu’s reign, it is clearly stated that King Jumong was from Northern Buyeo. However, from Samguk Sagi and Samguk Yusa, compiled later, he and Geumwa and Daeso appear as being from Eastern Buyeo, which was founded 300 years later.
It’s commonly thought that this Eastern Buyeo origin theory began after King Jangsu’s reign—the time when the Yeon Clan and other Pyeongyang aristocrats started to seize central power, which is why the two are often linked.
There really are odd records about conquering Eastern Buyeo.
Murong Hui was the 4th leader of the Murong Clan. After invading Buyeo, he invaded Goguryeo twice. Both times he was defeated by Shinseong Governor Go Noja.
For reference, the famous event of Domestic Fortress falling and the Queen Mother and Prince being taken away by Murong Xianbei wasn’t during the 14th King Bongsang’s reign but under the 16th King Gogukwon.
At that time, Murong Huang, the son of Murong Hui, was leading the Former Yan (also called Yan-Murong). General Go Mil of Goguryeo played a key role in preventing total collapse.
About the “Upper Go Clan” in On Dal Yeoljeon—“Upper Division” refers to the Sunno Tribe. The Sunno Tribe was initially considered the Eastern Division among the five territorial tribes centered around Domestic Fortress.
Later, when Goguryeo expanded and moved its capital to Pyeongyang Fortress, the five tribes were seemingly reorganized into provincial regions.
The specific location of these provinces is unknown, but if Pyeongyang was considered Central, and the Yeon Clan—likely from Eastern Buyeo—ruled Hamgyeong and East Manchuria as Eastern Division Leaders, then Domestic Fortress area likely became the Northern Province. Liaodong would be the West, and Hansung area the South.
In the Ye-Tang War period, we even see a Northern Yoksal named Go Yeonsu—another sign. So in this work, Gosan of the Upper Go Clan is set as a Northern Division Leader descended from the Sunno Tribe.
Southern Buyeo (南夫餘) was a temporary name for Baekje used by King Seong. It likely aimed to show resistance against Goguryeo, which had conquered Buyeo.
Galsa Buyeo was founded by Daeso’s brother and was absorbed by Goguryeo in less than 50 years.
Dumakru is a northern force still existing during this narrative’s setting, said to be a group formed by Northern Buyeo refugees, Khitans, and Shiwei nomads—but even this is uncertain.
If the records are true, they existed from King Gwanggaeto’s era to Tang China’s—a span of 300 years—but records are sparse. Aside from a tribute mission by Chief Nakgaejae, there’s little mention of external relations or conflicts.
The Jangsu Stele is also called the Chungju Goguryeo Stele or the Jungwon Goguryeo Stele. Due to the name “Jungwon,” some mistake it for being in China, but it’s located in Chungcheongbuk-do’s Jungwon County.
The term “barbarian” (오랑캐) didn’t exist in this era.
There are two theories for its origin: from “Urangkai,” how Mongols were called in Goryeo, and from the Jurchen group “Warangka” (兀良哈 in Chinese characters).
Thus, it’s a term from Goryeo or Joseon times. In this era, the derogatory terms for outsiders were 이융만적 (Yi-Rong-Man-Jeok).
Goguryeo called Silla “Dongyi” (Eastern Barbarians), while Baekje called Goguryeo “Maekjeok” (Maek Barbarians).
Even Yamato (Japan) called the Emishi to their east “Dongyi.” The “征夷大将軍” (Shogun) title’s “征夷” came from there.