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

Chapter 209 Three Kills of Goryeo People! The Goryeo court was even more ruthless than the Mongols!
Ögedei Khan's total force for this expedition to Goryeo was 125,000, including 105,000 steppe warriors and 20,000 vassal troops from various groups such as Han, Khitan, and Khwarazmian.

When Ögedei Khan's attack on Gaegyeong failed, he left only 20,000 vassal troops to monitor the city, while the rest of his forces conquered other cities in Goryeo.

The Gaegyeong Castle of Goryeo was built more than two hundred years ago during the reign of Emperor Hyeonjong of Goryeo, using 304,400 laborers and taking three years to complete.

This city has a circumference of 41 li and 22 city gates, named: Chongren, Xuanqi, Baoding, Guangde, Deshan, Huibin, Xianxi, Tai'an, Hongren, Gande, Baotai, Xuanyi, Suanni, Dingping, Xianyan, Ci'an, Zhangyi, Yingyang, Anhe, Chengdao, Huichang, and Anding.

The city was garrisoned by 50,000 elite Dongjin soldiers, 100,000 Goryeo soldiers, and more than 500,000 non-combat personnel.

Such a vast city could not possibly be completely impenetrable by the 20,000 Mongol vassal troops.

They were merely monitoring the movement of large groups of troops within the city; they couldn't even block traffic between the inside and outside.

Therefore, ever since Zhao Shuo, Ögedei, and Tolui divided their forces, nobles who had fled from various cities in Goryeo and envoys from cities in the north and south seeking help have been pouring into Gaegyeong.

How to do?How to do?
The original plan of the Goryeo court was to defend Gaegyeong (Korean capital) while relying on monks and nobles in various regions to delay the Mongol advance. If necessary, they could even send a small number of elite troops to kill traitors and deter those who would betray the country.

But once Zhao Shuo's strategy was implemented, all those nobles and monks were slaughtered. Who would organize a resistance?
Oh, and there's also the traditional Goryeo art of feigning surrender while secretly stalling for time.

Why did the Mongol conquest of Goguryeo take so long, according to historical records?
Isn't it because the Koreans surrendered on one hand, but on the other hand, they engaged in various forms of veiled obstruction and delaying tactics?
However, Kim Yun-hou's arrow completely eliminated that possibility. Seriously, with the Mongol Khan near death, what choice did Goryeo have but to perish?

As recorded in history, will the capital be moved to Ganghwa Island?

That's completely impossible.

It's a very simple logic: how much grain could Ganghwa Island produce to supply the Goryeo Dynasty's army? Historically, the Goryeo Dynasty was able to hold Ganghwa Island because nobles from all over Goryeo supported the dynasty and were willing to provide supplies.

Otherwise, they could starve to death!

Inside Yeonsu Palace, Jeongyangjeon Hall, Gaegyeong, Goryeo.

"Since the time of our Goryeo, the Mongols have been extremely tyrannical, slaughtering every city that refused to submit. Later, Kim Yun-ho shot Ögedei Khan with an arrow at Guizhou City. After a brief retreat, they not only sent Zhao Shuo with 80,000 troops, but also intensified their cruelty towards the people. Now, they are building mounds of skulls in the south and skull towers in the north. What should we do?"

The King of Goryeo addressed the powerful minister Choi Woo and Emperor Dongjin, Bohyang Man-nu, with his questions.

Although he had been in power for nearly twenty years, he had no real power. All the power was in the hands of the powerful minister Cui Yu, who made all the decisions on important state affairs.

But wasn't Goryeo about to perish? Wasn't there still Emperor Dongjin, Bo Xianwannu?
Choi Woo was unwilling to take the blame for the fall of Goryeo, nor did he want to directly negotiate with Bo Seon Man-nu and cause a rift. Therefore, he returned some power to the king, allowing him to preside over the meeting that would determine the fate of Goryeo.

Cui Yu said, "Although the Mongol army is powerful, they are not without weaknesses. Now, Ögedei, Tolui, and Zhao Shuo have divided their forces into three routes to attack Goryeo. Why don't we attack one of their routes?"

Pu Xianwannu snorted coldly and said, "How can we attack? There are still 20,000 Mongol troops outside. If our main force of cavalry moves out, the Mongols will be on guard first."

"Even if we manage to avoid the cavalry's notice, who will we attack after we send out our troops? Ögedei or Tolui? These two are not far apart. If we attack one, the other, being composed of cavalry, will certainly be able to provide support in time."

"As for attacking Zhao Shuo? They have 80,000 troops, and their fighting strength is no less than that of the Mongols. You Koreans can go and fight if you want, but we Dongzhen Army will not go."

The king looked distressed and said, "So, are we just going to wait to die in Gaegyeong?"

"Didn't we already ask the Song and Fusang for help?" Pu Xianwannu frowned. "The envoys sent to these two countries haven't made a move yet?"

Wang sighed and said, "The Song envoy will not be able to return. The Song court has been terrified by Zhao Shuo. Our envoy arrived in Lin'an and was immediately detained as soon as he explained his purpose. He did not even get to see the Song emperor. Three days later, he was beheaded and his head displayed outside the Meridian Gate. This news was urgently sent by my Goryeo spies in the Song."

Cui Yu interjected, "That's not surprising. If the Song Dynasty really had the guts, would it have allied with the Mongols to destroy the Jin Dynasty? When the court sent envoys to the Song Dynasty, it was just a desperate measure."

Pu Xianwannu asked unwillingly, "What about Fusang?"

“The one in charge in Japan is not their Emperor, but the Kamakura Shogunate,” Cui Yu said bitterly. “The current ruler of the Kamakura Shogunate is the Shogun Fujiwara no Yoritsune, who is only eleven years old this year. After discussing with his ministers, he also refused our request to send troops. He simply said that if we can’t hold out, we can seek refuge in Japan.”

"Then let's go to Japan!"

Since Pu Xianwannu had already lost his base, he said indifferently, "Going to Japan is much better than waiting to die in Korea, isn't it?"

Wang shook his head and said, "How easy is that? The ancestral tombs of my Goryeo are on the ground, how can we give them up? Besides, our Goryeo navy is weak, and we have even fewer ships that can cross oceans. We can only transport two or three thousand people at a time, what can that do?"

"Two or three thousand people..."

Pu Xianwannu is now filled with deep regret.

Why didn't he kill the Mongol envoy and frame Goryeo in the first place? Even if the Mongols had designs on Dongjin, they could have surrendered, couldn't they?

Later, when the Mongols destroyed the Eastern Jin Kingdom, he still had the opportunity to surrender to the Mongols while leading an army of 50,000 in Goryeo!
However, now that the Goryeo man Kim Yun-hou has shot that arrow, the possibility of reconciliation with the Mongols has been eliminated, and he has also been implicated!

Puxian Wannu stamped his foot and said, "If all else fails, let's fight the Mongols! Tomorrow I will lead the Dongzhen army to wipe out the 20,000 Mongol troops outside the city first, and then attack Tolui's army! A real man should die a glorious death!"

"Even if we're going to try, we can't go this far."

Cui Yu then revealed his thoughts, saying, "Our Goryeo is doomed, but we can't let the Mongols get away with this so easily!"

"what do you mean……"

"Kill the surrendered Goryeo people! All those who surrender to the Mongols are traitors and must not be spared. Didn't the Mongols destroy the walls of all the surrendered cities? We'll send troops back to slaughter every last Goryeo person who has submitted to the Mongols!"

hiss~~
Upon hearing this, the once-powerful warlord Pu Xianwannu gasped in shock and exclaimed, "Killing your own people? You're all that ruthless?"

Choi Woo, however, said matter-of-factly, "Goryeo people who are not loyal to Goryeo have no reason to exist. If we don't kill them, why should we keep them to provide manpower and food to help the Mongols? Besides, aren't the Mongols trying to force us to abandon Gaegyeong and fight them with our main force? We will not let them have their way!"

"What happened after you killed these Goryeo people?" Pu Xianwannu pressed.

Cui Yu said, "Then, leave the main force to defend Kaesong to the death, so that both the Mongols and Zhao Shuo will pay a heavy price. In addition, starting today, we will secretly dig a tunnel to the outside of Kaesong. When the Mongols break through Kaesong, we will escape through the secret tunnel and cross the sea to Japan."

After a pause, Choi Woo sneered, "My Goryeo is doomed, but the Mongols won't gain anything either. They'll only get scorched earth!"

"Okay, let's do it this way."

Since it was a Korean who died, Pu Xianwannu didn't care.

Three days later, Pu Xianwannu led his 10,000 elite cavalrymen, and Cui Yu's son-in-law Jin Ruoxian led 5,000 Yebiechao, also all cavalrymen, out of Gaegyeong.

Liu Heima, leading 20,000 Mongol vassal troops, attempted to intercept them but failed. He then quickly rode to deliver a message to Ögedei, Tolui, and Zhao Shuo.

Fifteen thousand elite cavalrymen, though not a large number, were certainly enough to arouse the three men's suspicion. After receiving the news, they dispatched scouts to search for the cavalry's whereabouts.

However, what the three did not expect was that after leaving Gaegyeong, this elite Goryeo army broke up into smaller groups and headed towards the cities that had already been captured by the Mongols.

In the northern part of Goryeo, there is Hwangju City.

Huangzhou can no longer be considered a city.

When the Mongol army arrived at Huangzhou, the Huangzhou garrison commander Cui Xi chose to surrender, and the entire city was preserved.

However, later, Ögedei Khan ordered the demolition of the city walls of Huangzhou and the killing of all the nobles and monks in the city. Only a Darughachi named Hulanchahan and five Mongol soldiers were left to guard the city and maintain a symbolic presence.

This city has lost all its defenses.

Jin Dayong is a leather craftsman in Huangzhou City. His wife died of illness ten years ago, leaving behind two daughters, Jin Shunying and Jin Yuying, with whom he struggles to make ends meet.

After the Mongol army occupied Huangzhou, he kept his two daughters' faces blackened and kept them away from the house to prevent them from being taken by the Mongol Darughachi. After all, his two daughters were fourteen and sixteen years old, and both were as beautiful as flowers.

That night, around the second watch.

"Charge! Kill!"

"Kill the traitors!"

"Leave no one alive! Leave no one alive!"

……

The sounds of battle cries reached Jin Dayong's ears; they were spoken in Korean.

Could it be that the imperial army has returned? Damn Mongols, you've finally met your match!
Jin Dayong was overjoyed, but he quickly closed the door tightly.

It's a very simple matter; Kim Dae-yong knew all too well what kind of people the Goryeo army was. Although he was inclined towards the Goryeo court, he also understood that these soldiers were probably not so merciful to ordinary Goryeo people.

"Shunying, Yuying, you two hurry up and hide in the cellar!" Jin Dayong woke up his two daughters and urged them.

His two daughters were so beautiful that they were in far greater danger to the imperial army than his pitiful possessions.

After his two daughters were hidden, Jin Dayong listened carefully to the sounds, hoping that the imperial army would quickly capture and kill the Mongols so that the war would pass quickly.

However, the more he listened, the more uneasy he felt. There were only less than ten Mongols, so why were they shouting battle cries for so long? Who exactly were the imperial troops killing?
Boom boom boom!
"Open the door! Open the door now! If you don't open the door, we'll set the house on fire!" A series of loud knocks and threatening shouts rang out outside the gate.

Jin Dayong dared not delay, quickly went into the courtyard, removed the bolt from the gate, opened it a crack, and said, "Sir, I am Korean, there are no Mongols hiding here..."

"Stop talking!"

Before he could finish speaking, four Goryeo soldiers outside the door suddenly pushed him, rushing into the courtyard and ransacking the room.

"Sir! Sir!"

Jin Dayong quickly took out a money bag from his pocket and handed it to the seemingly leading Goryeo soldier, saying, "As you can see, my family is very poor. This is all the money I have, and I am willing to give it all to you, sir."

"Is that all?" The Goryeo soldier took the money bag, snorted in dissatisfaction, and asked, "Is there anything else?"

"There really aren't any left."

Who else is in your family?

"Just me! I'm an old bachelor, and all my money has gone to pay tribute to the soldiers!"

"Fine, then you can go die!"

Swish!
The soldier suddenly drew his sword and slashed fiercely at Jin Dayong's neck!

"what!"

Jin Dayong was unable to dodge in time and was slashed in the left arm, which was severed at the root!

"No, you... what do you want to do?" Kim Dae-yong, enduring excruciating pain to avoid fainting, said, "I'm a law-abiding citizen of Goryeo! I've given you the money, why are you killing me?"

"Hmph, law-abiding citizen? You've become a compliant subject of the Mongols, what face do you have to call yourself a law-abiding citizen of Goryeo? The imperial court has decreed that all those who have sided with the Mongols, regardless of gender or age, shall be slaughtered!"

puff!
The Goryeo soldier struck again, hitting Kim Dae-yong squarely in the heart!
Pfft!
He then kicked Jin Dayong's body to the ground.

"Woo..."

Hearing the commotion outside, Jin Yuying knew that her father was probably dead and let out a cry of alarm, but her older sister Jin Shunying covered her mouth tightly.

That night, the two sisters were filled with anxiety, but dared not make a sound, for fear of attracting the attention of outsiders.

The two sisters didn't climb out of the cellar until the next morning when they could no longer hear any sound.

The entire courtyard had been burned to a white wasteland, with wisps of thin smoke still rising from it. The father, Jin Dayong, was now a charred corpse.

"Sister, what should we do! The Mongols are here, and they're going to kill those who don't surrender! The imperial army is here, and they're going to kill those who surrendered to the Mongols! Father is already dead, how are we going to live now!" Jin Yuying threw herself onto her father's body, crying as she looked at her sister.

Jin Shunying thought for a moment, gritted her teeth slightly, and said, "Now that things have come to this, the two of us... have no choice but to go find the Mongols."

"Mongolians? He...they..."

Thinking of the various terrifying legends about the Mongols, Jin Yuying turned pale with fright.

“They are indeed terrifying, but at least they don’t kill young women. We are so beautiful, they should spare us. At the very least, they should allow us to live near the military camp and be given some scraps. Otherwise, where can we go now? Stay in the city and be killed by the imperial army? Hide in the mountains, do you think two weak women like us can survive?”

"Okay... fine, I'll listen to my sister."

(End of this chapter)