I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 372 The Torrent of Rise and Fall
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The Song army captured Kaijing without bloodshed. Wang Kai held a snow-white lamb by the hand, its neck tied with a vermilion knot, swaying gently with his steps; his right hand held the edge of a plain wooden coffin, its body unpainted and bound only with coarse hemp rope, exuding a desolate sense of submission in the morning light.

At this moment, Wang Kai had already removed his jade belt and sable crown, wearing only a light gray cloth robe, and his steps were hurried, showing no trace of imperial majesty.

Li Ziqian, who was accompanying them, held the Goryeo national seal, while Kim Bu-sik held the hastily written letter of surrender. Both of them looked dejected and lost, no longer possessing their former majesty.

Wanyan Zongya, Zheng Zhichang, and other Jin and Goryeo ministers who had rendered meritorious service in surrendering the city followed behind Wang Kai and his two companions to welcome the surrender.

Upon reaching the Song army's front lines, Wang Kai first personally handed a lamb to a general under Zhong Shizhong's command. The lamb's fat wool was warm to the touch, symbolizing his sincerity in offering the lamb as a tribute to the nation. He then bent down and stroked the coffin, his voice trembling slightly: "If the Song army seeks to hold Goryeo accountable for its past transgressions, I am willing to die for my country, only to save the lives of the people of Gaegyeong."

After saying this, Wang Kai took the national seal and the letter of surrender from Li Ziqian and Jin Fushi. He raised his hands above his head and said with a choked voice, "King Wang Kai of Goryeo wishes to lead the five provinces, two borders and four capitals (namely, the five provinces of Xihai, Yangguang, Jeolla, Gyeongsang and Jiaozhou, and the eastern border, northern border, Gaegyeong, Seokyeong, Tokyo and Nanjing) into the territory of the Great Song Dynasty and become its vassal forever." The ink on the words was not yet dry, and even the ink on the national seal stamped at the end was still a little damp.

It can be said that from this moment on, Goryeo was, in a sense, already a fallen kingdom.

Of course, even a centipede with a hundred legs doesn't die easily.

Moreover, although Gaegyeong was the capital of Goryeo, it was ultimately just one of the five provinces, two regions, and four capitals of Goryeo, and the Song Dynasty currently only occupied a part of Gaegyeong.

Crucially, behind this war lay a contest of politics, culture, and many other aspects between the two countries. In addition to conquering other regions of Goryeo, the Song Dynasty also needed to handle the subsequent matters with great care.

The Goryeo royal palace in Gaegyeong has now been transformed into a temporary council hall for the Song Dynasty.

Wu Yong once again emphasized the importance of public trials, the emancipation of slaves, and the distribution of land through work relief, stressing that this was the supreme instruction of Emperor Zhao Yu of the Song Dynasty.

After the military meeting concluded, Wu Yong and the Song Dynasty officials he brought with him immediately implemented the Song Dynasty's system throughout Goryeo.

They first seized the mansions of Goryeo nobles one by one, rescued all the slaves, burned the slave contracts in public, and announced that the slaves would henceforth become registered citizens of the Song Dynasty, entitled to land, participate in work relief, and obtain all the rights of ordinary citizens of the Song Dynasty.

Next, Wu Yong and others held a special imperial examination in Gaegyeong, authorized by Zhao Yu, and declared that this first examination was only open to commoners and slaves from Goryeo.

— Zhao Yu had actually sent a thousand students to govern Goryeo, but these students were still too few compared to the entire Goryeo region. The key issue was that they were not familiar with Goryeo and needed locals who were familiar with Goryeo to assist them.

At the same time, Huang Jingchen's confidants and officials from the Ministry of Revenue, who had accompanied the army, immediately inventoried the grain and wealth that Goryeo had accumulated in Kaesong for more than two hundred years.

Shockingly, the grain stored in the official granaries within the capital city alone amounted to more than five million shi (a unit of dry measure).

Even more astonishingly, this was only the grain stored in the official granaries. Subsequent investigations by officials of the Ministry of Revenue revealed that high-ranking officials and nobles in Kaifeng had far more grain hidden in their private homes than was stored in the official granaries.

—In Yi Ziqian’s mansion alone, the “Thousand Granary” was a special granary that stored 800,000 shi of millet; dozens of Goryeo officials, nobles, wealthy families, and merchants stored more than 100,000 shi of grain.

After questioning, Wu Yong and the others quickly learned that the reason why every family of these Goryeo nobles stored up grain was mainly because it was a chaotic time and the price of grain was rising again and again. They wanted to make a fortune from the war and also wanted to prepare for any eventuality.

After all, once war breaks out, city gates are closed, trade routes are cut off, and food prices will skyrocket, eventually leading to a situation where "it is impossible to exchange grain for gold."

It's important to understand that for soldiers defending a city, food is the foundation that gives them the confidence to take up arms. If their supply lines are cut off and their provisions run low, even the bravest soldiers will feel fear.

How can one wield a spear or draw a bow on an empty stomach? Throughout history, many cities have fallen not because of the enemy's bravery, but because the city's food supplies ran out, the soldiers were too hungry to lift their shields, and the people were so hungry that they resorted to cannibalism, ultimately leaving them no choice but to open the gates and surrender.

For ordinary people, food is their only hope for survival.

— Under the flames of war, fields would be trampled flat by horses' hooves, farmhouses would be burned down, and if there was not a single grain of food left in the house, one could only drag one's wife and children to flee everywhere. On the way, one would either die from stray arrows or starve to death in the wilderness. Only two or three out of ten would survive.

In short, the grain and provisions of just one city, Kaesong, were almost enough to support the Song Dynasty in pacifying the entire Goryeo Kingdom.

Besides grain, the military equipment, supplies, and strategic materials in the official granaries also delighted the officials of the Song Dynasty.

Inside the armory, Goryeo bows and crossbows were piled up like mountains, their arrowheads polished to a gleaming cold light; in the warehouse of the textile bureau, the finest Goryeo silks were piled up to the beams, each bolt bright in color, no less than the silks and satins of Bianliang; and there were countless gold, silver and jewels, antiques and cultural relics treasured by the imperial court.

Furthermore, the wealth possessed by high-ranking officials, noble families, wealthy households, and magnates in Goryeo was in no way inferior to that of the Goryeo government, and in fact, it was three to five times greater.

In short, the wealth obtained from Gaegyeong alone should have been enough to support the Song Dynasty's conquest of Goguryeo.

Meanwhile, officials and craftsmen from the Ministry of Revenue, Ministry of Works, Ministry of Transportation, and Ministry of Railways of the Great Song Dynasty had also arrived in Kaijing. They brought blueprints and instruments and first surveyed Licheng Port—the original port was still somewhat small and insufficient for the Great Song Dynasty's needs. Minister of Works Li Jie personally planned and ordered the construction of three deep-water wharves, which could accommodate hundreds of Great Song treasure ships at the same time; he also built sheltered harbors around the port to prevent ships from being damaged by sea storms in autumn and winter.

The construction of the railway was of paramount importance.

Officials from the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Ministry of Railways surveyed the area along the Yalu River and finally determined the route: starting from Shenyang Prefecture in Liaodong, crossing the Yalu River Bridge, passing through Gaegyeong, and then extending southeast to Gyeongsang Province and Jeolla Province.

—The immediate priority is to build the railway from Shenyangfu to Licheng Port, which will not only facilitate the timely transfer of supplies but also lay the foundation for the subsequent completion of the entire line.

The craftsmen immediately broke ground and started construction. People along the railway line, hearing that they could earn food, wages, and even land by building the railway, responded to the call and became laborers...

At the same time, Chen Gou, who had also entered the city, instructed the Ministry of War to recruit the freed slaves and civilians in Gaegyeong to continue building the Guiyi Army. He ordered Zhong Shizhong to lead 50,000 Song soldiers and the reorganized Guiyi Army northward quickly, striving to establish contact between Goryeo and Liaodong as soon as possible...

The day after the fall of Gaegyeong, all the royal and royal families of Goryeo, including Wang Kai and Wanyan Wule, as well as noble families such as Yi Jagyeom and Kim Bu-sik, were sent on treasure ships bound for the Song Dynasty.

The treasure ship cut through the waves, its hull as steady as flat ground. Wang Kai, holding onto the railing, gazed at the unfathomable blue sea below, feeling a tremor in his heart. He had never seen such a massive ship before.

—The largest cargo ship in Goryeo was only half the size of this, while the treasure ships of the Song Dynasty could carry hundreds of people and supplies and sail smoothly. The decks were so wide that they could accommodate knights riding horses, and the cabins were as neat as a mansion on land. Even the sea breeze seemed to be blocked by the hull.

His gaze shifted to the Li Lin cannons on either side of the ship's hull. The cannons, cast in bronze, gleamed coldly, their muzzles pointing slanted towards the sky. Their menacing appearance filled him with fear.

He suddenly realized that Goryeo's surrender was not accidental. The fact that such giant ships could sail across the sea and weapons could blast open fortified cities had already determined the difference in strength between the two countries.

Once upon a time, he listened to the advice of Wanyan Wule, Wanyan Zongya, Li Ziqian, Jin Fushi, and others, and vainly thought that he could deal with them with the grain and fodder of Gaegyeong and the hundreds of thousands of troops of Goryeo. Now, even from his perspective as a nine-year-old boy, this was nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

'I hope His Majesty the Emperor of the Great Song Dynasty is a kind and compassionate person and will not make things too difficult for me…'

The sea breeze seeped in through the cracks in the window, carrying a salty chill. Li Ziqian leaned against the cabin wall, looking out the porthole into the distance. He couldn't see any land in the sea and sky blending into one. The fear that welled up in his heart was even greater than when he was waiting for the surrender notice in the Gaegyeong Palace.

He recalled how Zhao Yu had destroyed Qinghai-Tibet, Goryeo, and Liao, imprisoning their royal family, clan, and some nobles in Bianliang (Kaifeng), and taking all the royal daughters, clan daughters, and noble daughters into his harem. He guessed that he and his children and grandchildren would likely also be imprisoned in Bianliang, and that his wives, concubines, four daughters, several granddaughters, daughters-in-law, and granddaughters-in-law would likely enter Zhao Yu's harem. The once illustrious Incheon Yi clan, which had been prominent for hundreds of years, might be coming to an end.

He recalled that he had once been the most powerful minister in Goryeo, ruling for many years. He had even thought that after a few more years, once he had made some more preparations, he would depose his grandson and son-in-law and become the King of Goryeo himself. But now, every rocking of the treasure ship reminded him that all his plans had come to naught. He could only cling to the last vestiges of hope and eke out a living in a foreign land.

'Our Li family rose to prominence and grew strong through marriage alliances. Now that things have come to this, we still need to rely on marriage alliances to save ourselves...'

The Goryeo Incheon Yi clan, also known as the Gyeongwon Yi clan, rose to prominence and political power primarily through marriage alliances with the Goryeo royal family.

In the early years of the Goryeo Dynasty, Yi Heo-gyeom married the granddaughter of King Gyeongsun, the last king of Silla. His daughter then married Kim Eun-bok. The three daughters born to Kim Eun-bok and Yi Heo-gyeom's daughter all became consorts of King Hyeonjong of Goryeo. As a result, Yi Heo-gyeom was greatly favored and was appointed to positions such as Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel and Grand Pillar of State. The Gyeongwon Yi clan thus began to rise to prominence.

During the reign of King Munjong of Goryeo, Yi Heo-gyeom's grandson, Yi Ja-yeon, had three daughters selected to enter the palace and become his concubines. His eldest daughter, Queen Inye, gave birth to three sons, who later became King Sunjong, King Seonjong, and King Sukjong. Yi Ja-yeon rose in status because of his daughters and was honored as a meritorious official who assisted the world and protected the nation. He was promoted to the rank of Grand Tutor and Grand Master of the Palace, concurrently serving as the Chief Secretary and Supervisor of the National History. He was also granted the title of Duke of Gyeongwon.

Subsequently, the marriage alliance between the Gyeongwon Yi clan and the Goryeo royal family was further strengthened. The daughter of Yi Ja-yeon's eldest son, Yi Jeong, became the wife of King Seonjong; the daughter of his third son, Yi Seok, became Queen Sasuk, the principal wife of King Seonjong; and the daughter of his sixth son, Yi Hyo, became the wife of King Sunjong. Through these marriages, the Gyeongwon Yi clan built a powerful group that influenced the Goryeo court, and most of its descendants held important positions in the court.

During the reign of Li Ziyuan's grandson, Li Ziqian, because his elder sister was a concubine of King Hyeonjong and his cousin was King Hyeonjong's principal wife, he rose from Minister of Revenue to Chief of the Central Secretariat, becoming a very important figure in the court.

Later, Yi Ja-gyeom married his eldest and second daughters to King Yejong of Goryeo, becoming the most powerful minister in Goryeo.

When King Yejong of Goryeo was captured by the Jurchens, Yi Ja-gyeom married his third and fourth daughters to Wang Kai, wielding immense power and controlling the Goryeo government together with his cronies, including Tak Jun-kyung.

Now, Li Ziqian believes that his Incheon Li clan can replicate its success in the Song Dynasty by relying on women.

Yi Ja-gyeom did not think he was delusional, because Jo Yu had already captured all the daughters of the Incheon Yi clan and would definitely take them all into his harem.

Li Ziqian believed that among all the women in the Li family, there must be one or two, or even more, who would win Zhao Yu's favor.

'At that time, the Li family will replace the Zhao family as the ruler of the Song Dynasty...'

Kim Bu-sik stood on the other side of the deck, watching the waves cleaved by the treasure ship. His expression was solemn but showed no sign of panic. The sea breeze lifted the corner of his robe. Although his past vigor in the Goryeo court, where he had advocated resistance against the Jin and Song dynasties and denounced the pro-peace faction, had been somewhat worn down by his circumstances, his eyes still held an unyielding stubbornness.

He had never considered family interests like Li Ziqian had, and at this moment he was focused on how to secure a chance for Goryeo to survive.

He unconsciously tapped the side of the boat with his fingertips, repeatedly rehearsing in his mind what to do after arriving in Bianliang City.

"Our Goryeo may submit to the Song Dynasty and pay tribute, but our foundation cannot be severed. Now we are all prisoners; crying and pleading are useless, flattery is futile. Only by demonstrating sincerity that the Song Dynasty cannot refuse can we hope to restore our kingdom."

"We can maintain the tributary system; we can keep the annual tribute. All we need is for the Song Dynasty to give Goryeo a way out."

'Compared to imprisoning a group of useless royal relatives, having a compliant vassal state continuously pay tribute and provide assistance is clearly more in the interest of the Song Dynasty…'

The waves crashed against the ship's hull, the treasure ship like a moving cage, carrying these fallen Goryeo people toward an unknown fate. They had once been kings, powerful ministers, and loyal subjects, but now they were all prisoners of the Song Dynasty.

The Li Lin Cannon on the deck stood silently, as if proclaiming the hegemony of the Great Song Dynasty. Meanwhile, everyone in the cabin was experiencing humiliation and despair on the boundless sea. The glory of the past was like the waves at the stern, fleeting in an instant, leaving only a heart full of sorrow and fear for the future.

Of course, some people still harbor unrealistic fantasies, believing that they have left the small island of Goryeo that confined them and stepped onto a bigger stage.

In the dust of national ruin and family destruction, some groveled for personal gain, some steadfastly mediated, some wept in fear, some struggled to survive, some succumbed to depravity, and some upheld their integrity. But in the end, all these were nothing more than a sigh in the torrent of a collapsing era, a sigh that could not withstand the rise and fall of dynasties...

……

(End of this chapter)