Usurpation of Mongolia: My father-in-law is Genghis Khan

Chapter 152 Goryeo Sends Silla Beauties, Shocking the Southern Song Dynasty: The Mongols Conquered Such a Vast Territory?

The impact of these western expedition soldiers was not limited to the people of Hebei and Shandong, but also extended to the Song Dynasty in the south, which was seeking only to live in peace, Goryeo in the east, which had been making small moves, and the various Tibetan tribes that had been divided for more than four hundred years.

One month later, in Goryeo, at the residence of the powerful minister Choi Woo.

"Twenty thousand taels of gold, eighty thousand taels of silver, one hundred and twenty thousand strings of copper coins, one thousand fine horses, twelve bushels of pearls, forty-eight catties of top-quality ginseng, two hundred pairs of pigeons, three thousand otter pelts, fifteen thousand bolts of fine silk, twenty thousand bolts of fine ramie, four black bears, two tigers, five hundred sika deer... Is that really all?"

Cui Yu, his face full of sorrow, looked at his two trusted subordinates, Cui Zi and Li Kui.

Cui Yu was living a pretty good life.

Originally, Goryeo was ruled by military officials. Choi Woo's father, Choi Chung-heon, participated in the war between civil officials and military officials to seize power. He eventually seized control of the country's military power, deposed King Myeongjong of Goryeo, and installed a new king, becoming the de facto first ruler of Goryeo.

Two years ago, Cui Zhongxian passed away, and Cui Yu inherited everything from him.

Although Goryeo still had to submit to the Mongols and pay some tribute, Choi Woo was not under much pressure.

Upon the return of the Mongol army from their expedition to Khwarazm, Emperor Puxianwannu of Dongzhen Kingdom demanded that Goryeo present lavish gifts. Cui Yu didn't take it too seriously; he felt that adding 50% more to the tribute agreed upon with Muqali would be sufficient.

Temujin was not satisfied. "Come on, attack!"
Isn't Dongjin Kingdom blocking Goryeo's way?

Besides, what kind of country is Goryeo?
In the past, they had fought against the powerful Liao and Jin dynasties.

Although Goryeo paid tribute to the Liao and Jin dynasties, it gained six prefectures in Jiangdong from the Liao and Baozhou from the Jin. Goryeo lost face but gained substance; it not only did not suffer a loss but actually profited.

Now that Mongolia has risen to power, how much stronger can it be than the Jin and Liao dynasties?
Goryeo was accommodating to the Mongols, submitting to them and paying tribute. However, if the Mongols' demands went too far, Goryeo was not one to be trifled with!
Therefore, although Cui Yu received Puxian Wannu's order, he did not put any effort into presenting Genghis Khan with a congratulatory gift.

However, as Goryeo spies reported the sights and gains of the soldiers on the western expedition, Choi Woo was completely flustered.

The Mongols were completely different from the Jin and Liao dynasties!

Destroying a country is as easy as eating beans!

When Genghis Khan got angry, he destroyed Goryeo. Was that really much more difficult than destroying those Western countries?
It's probably even easier!
It's important to understand that the countries Genghis Khan conquered were located thousands of miles away. Goryeo and Mongolia were separated only by the Eastern Jin Kingdom!

Moreover, look at the spoils of the soldiers on the western expedition; each ordinary soldier received five hundred taels of silver. What could Cui Yu have done with the gifts he originally prepared? Was it enough to feed beggars? Genghis Khan would probably be even angrier if he saw this.

Therefore, Cui Yu ordered his two trusted subordinates, Li Kuibao and Cui Zi, to increase the value of the gifts prepared for Genghis Khan and prepare an extremely important congratulatory gift.

As a result, this is it?
They even brought in 500 wild deer to make up the numbers. Genghis Khan was rich and powerful, would he lack a few hundred wild deer?
Isn't this a joke?
“Indeed, that’s all we have.” Choi Ja quickly kowtowed and reported, “Our Goryeo Kingdom is small and poor, and we really can’t scrape together much wealth. Since you ascended the throne, Privy Councilor…”

"Stop talking! Stop talking! I know everything."

Cui Yu knew perfectly well what Cui Zi wanted to say.

Since his accession to the throne, in order to gain a good reputation and prepare for his usurpation of power, he presented most of the gold, silver and precious objects accumulated by his father, Choi Chung-heon, to the King of Goryeo. He also returned the land and people that Choi Chung-heon had plundered to the nobles and greatly increased the treatment of his Choi family private soldiers.

As a result, Cui Yu's reputation improved, but the problem was that he ran out of money.

Now, what can he offer as a congratulatory gift to Genghis Khan?
Therefore, when Cui Yu saw the gift list, he wasn't furious, but rather filled with sorrow. He knew that this was all he had left.

"How about this."

Choi Woo gritted his teeth slightly and said, "The congratulatory gift to Genghis Khan is a matter of life and death for Goryeo. I must do my utmost, and the King must do even more! All the gold, silver, and precious objects that I originally offered to the King, he must hand them over and give them to the Mongols! Moreover, those nobles must also give them away..."

What Cui Yu originally wanted to say was, "Those important people also have to bleed money."

But he hesitated after saying that.

These Goryeo nobles are short-sighted and stingy; how could they possibly see the fatal crisis facing Goryeo?
Moreover, the nobles of Goryeo all commanded large numbers of private soldiers.

Cui Zhongxian was once incredibly powerful, able to seize land and people from these nobles. Cui Yu, having just come to power, lacked prestige and didn't dare to openly confront these nobles. Otherwise, he wouldn't have returned the land and people that Cui Zhongxian had forcibly seized so soon after assuming the throne.

However, even if these benefactors didn't spend their own money, the gifts they sent to Genghis Khan still wouldn't be enough! What to do?
"Privy Councilor, I have an idea."

Li Kuibao, another of Cui Yu's trusted confidants, suddenly spoke up.

Li Kuibao and Cui Zi are different.

Choi Jae's current official position is Pingzhang Zhengshi, the prime minister of Goryeo. He is in charge of preparing the gifts for Genghis Khan.

Li Kuibao held the prestigious official positions of Baowenge Daizhi and Zhizhigao, a position of high rank and prestige. He was only assisting in preparing gifts for Genghis Khan, which is why he hadn't spoken until now.

He began, “If the Privy Councilor forces those nobles to present gifts, it could cause a huge uproar. But who says gifts can only be gold and silver? What we in Goryeo are most famous for are not these things, but our women. During the Tang Dynasty, Silla maids were very famous!”

"Yes! That makes sense!"

Cui Yu's eyes lit up, and he said, "It's all thanks to you, Li Kuibao, that you immediately thought of women. Yes, Goryeo has many beauties, so why should Genghis Khan be dissatisfied? Those nobles may be reluctant to part with their wealth, but if they are reluctant to part with even women, that would be too unreasonable. Here's what we'll do: you'll be in charge of finding three hundred beauties as a congratulatory gift for Genghis Khan."

Lee Kyu-bo was able to write articles at the age of nine, and was known as a "prodigy" by the Goryeo people. He could remember everything he read, whether it was classical Chinese literature, Buddhist or Taoist books. He was simply destined to be a great master of Goryeo literature.

Unfortunately, after the age of fourteen, this person indulged in pleasure and neglected his studies, failing the imperial examinations repeatedly. It wasn't until he was thirty that he finally worked hard and became the top scholar in the imperial examinations.

Now that Cui Yu has asked Li Kui to gather beauties, he is truly making the best use of Li Kui's talents.

Li Kui continued, "I believe that three hundred beauties are not enough; perhaps five hundred would be more appropriate. This is because these beauties serve not only as part of the congratulatory gift but also for other purposes."

"Does the Privy Council think that the fact that those beauties have gained Genghis Khan's favor might affect the Mongols' attitude towards Goryeo?"

"It's not just Genghis Khan, but also other Mongolian nobles. If those nobles were to receive a whispered message from my Goryeo beauties in their pillow talk, would they be able to say a few good words for Goryeo in front of Genghis Khan? Therefore, not only must the beauties be of the highest quality, but they should also not only be given to Genghis Khan, but also to other Mongolian nobles."

Choi Woo nodded repeatedly and said, "That makes sense! Absolutely! Goryeo doesn't ask for anything else, only to preserve everyone's wealth and honor as a vassal state of the Mongols. With these beauties whispering in our ears, how could the Mongols refuse such a small request?"

He increasingly felt that offering beauties to the Mongols was a brilliant move.

In fact, historical records show that one of Goryeo's secrets to protecting itself from the Mongols was to offer them a large number of beautiful women and eunuchs. By the late Yuan Dynasty, more than 80% of the eunuchs in the court were from Goryeo. Empress Qi, the wife of Emperor Shun of Yuan, was one of the beauties offered by Goryeo.

Lee Kyu reported: "Therefore, I wonder if I could summon Kim Wan-yong, the most beautiful woman in Goryeo?"

"What? Kim Wan-yong?" Choi Woo frowned slightly and said, "She is the daughter of the Minister of Rites of Goryeo. If we summon her, I'm afraid Minister Kim will be unhappy, won't he?"

Jin Wanrong was the daughter of Jin Xuan, the Minister of Rites of Goryeo.

Not only was she exceptionally beautiful, but she also possessed a unique fragrance. In addition, she came from a scholarly family and was exceptionally talented, which led some to haile her as "the most beautiful woman in Goryeo." Noble young men pursued her like fish crossing a river.

Li Kui replied, “I admit that summoning Jin Wanrong will likely displease Minister Jin. In fact, from now on, Minister Jin and I may become mortal enemies. However, Jin Wanrong is known as the most beautiful woman in Goryeo. Who else should we choose if not her? Moreover, I do not intend to offer her to Genghis Khan, but to Zhao Shuo, the Mongol prince consort.”

Cui Yu asked, "Why?"

"It's a very simple logic. Genghis Khan is old, how much enthusiasm can he have for women? It would be too difficult for Jin Wanrong to win Genghis Khan's favor. On the other hand, Zhao Shuo, the Mongolian prince consort, is in his prime and has a better chance of succeeding."

"Furthermore, Privy Councilor, consider this: Zhao Shuo is the greatest warrior of the Mongols, and he also holds the largest fiefdom in the Mongols. I'm afraid he is also the one most enthusiastic about our Goryeo lands. If we don't appease Zhao Shuo, Goryeo will still be in great danger."

"Furthermore, Temujin is getting old and might pass away any day. Who knows which prince will inherit Temujin's throne? On the other hand, Zhao Shuo, the Mongol prince consort, is sitting comfortably in the water and is probably the one who can speak up for Goryeo the most. Can we afford not to invest heavily?"

After pondering for a long time, Cui Yu finally nodded and said, "Alright, then we shall summon Jin Wanrong and present her to Zhao Shuo, the Mongol prince consort."

"The Privy Councilor is wise!"

……

……

Meanwhile, in Xiangyang, Southern Song Dynasty: "Look at this, everyone! This is the current territory of Mongolia!"

Veteran general Zhao Fang presented a rough map to his two trusted generals.

This Zhao Fang is no ordinary person.

He was a talented writer and a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations) during the Song Dynasty. Xin Qiji, after reading his essays, exclaimed in praise: "His arguments are eloquent and inspiring!"

In terms of military strategy, he rose through the ranks to become the Military Commissioner of Jinghu and concurrently the Prefect of Xiangyang. He not only relieved the siege of Zaoyang several times, but also once defeated the famous Jin general Pusan ​​Anzhen. The Battle of Zaoyang, in which the Jin state suffered its greatest defeat in the past four years, with losses exceeding 50,000 men, was commanded by Zhao Fang.

Zhao Fang's current official positions are Academician of the Huiyou Pavilion and Commissioner of the Jinghu Military Region. As an Academician of the Huiyou Pavilion, he can already be regarded as one of the prime ministers of the Song Dynasty.

Most importantly, Zhao Fang is good at discovering and promoting talent.

Hu Zaixing, a famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty who repeatedly defeated the Jin army and terrified the Jin people, was promoted by Zhao Fang.

Meng Zongzheng was not only a famous general of his time, but also the father of Meng Gong, a famous general of the Southern Song Dynasty known as the "Master of Mobile Defense".

With Zhao Fang in charge, the Jinghu region of the Song state was as stable as Mount Tai.

However, Zhao Fang is too old. He is already eighty-eight years old this year, with white hair and beard. He probably doesn't have many days left to live.

The closer he got to death, the more worried Zhao Fang became about the affairs of the country. After the Mongols returned from their westward expedition, he sent countless spies to Shandong and Hebei to gather intelligence on the Mongol westward expedition and assess the Mongol army's combat strength.

The more Zhao Fang assessed the situation, the more surprised he became.

The Mongol soldiers' spoils were incredibly rich! The Han Chinese of Hebei and Shandong were deeply moved by these gains, and countless people were eager to serve the Mongol army and join the Han Eight Banners. How could the Jin dynasty, with its meager strength, withstand a single blow from the Han Eight Banners?
Once the Jin dynasty is destroyed, it will be the Song dynasty's turn.

Also, the Mongol territory is just too big!

Based on the descriptions of the spies, Zhao Fang drew a map of the Mongol territory.

It stretches 20,000 li from east to west and 10,000 li from north to south!
Although the territory of the Song Dynasty was not small, it was less than 20% of that of the Mongols. What a huge difference that was.

There are also the majestic Caucasus Mountains, the vast Caspian Sea, the mysterious Black Sea, the city of Daerban with only two walls clinging to the mountains and the sea, and the black soil so thick it seems to drip oil... Zhao Fang had never seen or even heard of any of these things before.

All he knew was that the "Tocharian" kingdom, which was recorded in historical records, was just one of the fiefdoms that Zhao Shuo had been granted.

The world is so big!
Zhao Fang, one of the prime ministers of the Song Dynasty and a regional commander who could stand alone, had now become a frog in a well!
The map had such a powerful impact on Zhao Fang that it took him several days to recover before he finally showed it to his two trusted generals, Meng Zongzheng and Hu Zaixing.

"This...this...the Mongols' territory is too big!"

Hu Zaixing, who often led his troops into battle and fought his way through mountains of corpses and seas of blood, couldn't help but gasp when he saw the map. He said, "General Zhao, are you sure that our Song Kingdom is so small, yet the Mongol territory is so vast?"

Zhao Fang nodded and said, "Zaixing, you have absolutely no need to doubt the authenticity of this map. I drew it myself based on information gathered by seventy-eight spies. With so many Han soldiers speaking with one voice, how could it be fake?"

Meng Zongzheng said in a deep voice, "Isn't this equivalent to the Mongol army expanding its territory in the past four years, equivalent to opening up two parts of China's territory? In other words, the combined territory of our Great Song and Jin Kingdom is only half of what the Mongols have expanded in these four years?"

Zhao Fang smiled wryly and said, "Although I am unwilling to believe it, it is the truth. The Mongols' achievement in expanding their territory this time is unprecedented in history and can truly be called earth-shattering."

"It's not just the Mongols who are powerful, is it?" Hu Zaixing said somewhat unconvinced. "I've heard that the most skilled fighter among the Mongols is the imperial son-in-law Zhao Shuo. That Zhao Shuo is very likely a descendant of Emperor Taizu of our Great Song Dynasty."

Zhao Fang waved his hand and said, "Rumors shouldn't be taken at face value. Whether Zhao Shuo is a descendant of Emperor Taizu is another matter. However, the Eight Banners Han Army under his command are indeed all Han Chinese. In this western expedition, the Han Army fought countless fierce battles and was definitely the main force of the Mongol army."

"In other words, it's not that we Han people can't fight, it's just... it's just..."

Meng Zongzheng thought for a long time but still couldn't figure out how to phrase it.

The Han Chinese were so capable under Zhao Shuo, conquering two territories of ancient China. How come they became so pathetic under the Song Dynasty? First, they were utterly defeated by the Liao Dynasty, and then they lost Hebei, Shandong, Shanxi, and Shaanxi to the Jin Dynasty. The Song court could only eke out a living in Lin'an.
What can it be "just"? A systemic problem, of course!
It's a problem between the emperor and the officials in the court!
Zhao Fang could guess Meng Zongzheng's thoughts and said solemnly, "There is no 'only'. We are paid by the emperor, and our only duty to be loyal to the emperor is to repay the country with our lives."

"Yes!"

Meng Zongzheng and Hu Zaixing bowed and agreed.

Zhao Fang then continued, "There are two reasons why I showed you two this map. First, to tell you that the Mongols are extremely powerful. After they destroy the Jin Dynasty, they will definitely attack our Great Song. After you return, you two must diligently train your soldiers and not slack off in the slightest."

"Yes."

"Secondly, although the Mongols are powerful, the Han Chinese Eight Banners, even if they did not make up the majority of the credit for this western expedition, at least made up half. You two should not underestimate yourselves. If the Mongols attack our Great Song in the future, and you two step forward, they may not be able to come out unscathed."

"I will heed Commander Zhao's instructions!"

The two of them agreed again in unison.

However, Meng Zongzheng thought to himself, "If they really come at me head-on, I'm not afraid. But what about the imperial court? Remember how capable and valiant Yue Fei was? Wasn't he still held back by a foolish emperor and treacherous officials?"
Now that Your Majesty is seriously ill, I have heard that the treacherous minister Shi Miyuan is searching for children of the imperial family among the common people, preparing to establish them as Your Majesty's heirs.

It's really hard to say what this new ruler is like!
Alas, what a pity for my brave warriors. If they were under Zhao Shuo's command, they could have embarked on expeditions to distant lands, not only witnessing the vast world beyond China but also acquiring great wealth and even making a name for themselves in history.

Under my command, the future is uncertain!
……

……

Three days later, at the naval camp twenty miles outside Xiangyang City.

"Have you heard? Even the most ordinary soldiers of the Han Chinese Eight Banners made a fortune while accompanying the Mongols on their westward expedition!"

"Yes! Five hundred taels of silver! We're struggling to defend Xiangyang, and we don't even get two taels a month. It's truly infuriating to compare ourselves to others!"

"They not only made a fortune, but they also brought women! I heard that the female slaves they brought back were all handpicked, each one incredibly beautiful! They only paid five taels each when they bought them!"

"I also heard that a Han soldier was rewarded with a princess for his meritorious service!"

"She's a princess from Khwarezm! You know Khwarezm? It's like ancient Persia! That kid's really lucky! Tsk tsk tsk..."

……

The news of the Han army's Eight Banners returning from their campaign, along with their observations and achievements, has reached Xiangyang City and become a topic of conversation among the soldiers.

Who doesn't want to make a fortune?

Who wouldn't want a beautiful female slave?
Who wouldn't want to sleep with a beautiful foreign princess!
A group of soldiers were eating, holding their bowls and chatting excitedly. They looked like they wanted to be in their shoes, and their mouths were practically watering.

Only one ordinary soldier in his twenties couldn't stand this. Taking advantage of the fact that none of the soldiers were paying attention, he secretly slipped out of the military tent with his rice bowl.

This person's surname is Zhang, and his given name is Shijie!
Zhang Shijie, a naval general in historical records, was one of the famous "Three Heroes of the Late Song Dynasty," ranking alongside Wen Tianxiang and Lu Xiufu.

Unlike the ordinary Xiangyang soldiers who could only dream of joining, Zhang Shijie actually had the opportunity to join the Han Army Eight Banners.

He was a relative of Zhang Rou, a commander of the Han Army's Plain Blue Banner. In terms of seniority, he should call Zhang Rou his paternal uncle.

Back then, Zhang Rou was appointed as the magistrate of Dingxing County by Zhao Shuo. Military discipline was strict. Because Zhang Shijie violated military law, Zhang Rou gave Zhang Shijie twenty lashes.

Zhang Shijie was young and impetuous, and couldn't stand being slighted. After recovering from his injuries, he deserted and joined the State of Song.

He joined the army in Xiangyang as a refugee.

Nearly ten years have passed. Because there has been little fighting in Xiangyang, Zhang Shijie has had difficulty distinguishing himself and remains a common soldier.

(End of this chapter)