Memoirs of the Heavenly Khan

Chapter 489 I'm Not That Kind of Person

Goguryeo.

Pyongyang!
The current King of Goguryeo, King Anwon, Go Bo-yeon, inherited the throne from his elder brother, King Anjang.

After King Jangsu's death, the Buyeo people submitted to Goguryeo after its kingdom was destroyed, and Goguryeo's territory and national strength reached their peak.

Goguryeo was subsequently unable to expand outwards, and internal strife intensified.

King Anzang was assassinated, and Gao Baoyan then ascended the throne of Goguryeo.

However, the internal strife within Goguryeo did not stop there; on the contrary, it intensified.

Gao Baoyan had no choice, because in fact, Goguryeo was no longer able to expand outwards. It was locked in a stalemate with Silla and Baekje in the south, and could not gain much from its northern territory. Going east to cross the sea and fight Japan was too risky, and Goguryeo's navy was not strong enough to support such a plan. The only place it could covet was the west.

The land of Hebei was exceptionally wealthy, which is how the Tuoba clan established their imperial dynasty.

Of course, the Tuoba clan was also very clear about the path they had taken to rise to power, thus blocking the path for those who came after them.

The Rouran are a typical example.

Goguryeo had been a kingdom for hundreds of years, but its memories of the west were not good, and it had teetered on the brink of destruction several times over the centuries.

When the Northern Wei was powerful, Goguryeo dared not look westward; when the Northern Wei declined, Goguryeo dared not make any moves.

Internal strife within Goguryeo was one reason, while the natural barrier of Liaoze was also a difficult hurdle to overcome.

However, the situation within Goguryeo has become increasingly tense recently.

Large-scale wars cannot be kept secret, because prior mobilization is impossible to conceal.

Gao Baoyan sat on the throne, listening to the reports from his court officials, growing increasingly irritated with each word.

"Report from Beisha City: Murong Shaozong is building warships and training a navy in Guang Prefecture. There are already more than a hundred warships in the port."

Bishachen was the most important city of Goguryeo on the Bohai Sea coast and an important node for maritime trade. It was opposite Gwangju across the Bohai Sea, and the merchants' exchanges never stopped, so they could know each other's movements.

"Report from Fuyu City: The Tiele tribes in the northern desert have been summoned by the King of Qin and have shown signs of raiding eastward."

"Wuliluo City reports that the Governor of Yingzhou, Kezhuhunyuan, is conscripting soldiers from the Khitan and Xi tribes, and a large amount of supplies has also been transported to Yingzhou."

……

All signs indicate that the Northern Dynasty is about to wage war against Goguryeo.

The Goguryeo of today is not the same Goguryeo that received the blessings of the god Gwanggaeto; facing the enemy army coming from the west, it is somewhat lacking in spirit.

For over five hundred years since its founding, Goguryeo has had almost no victories, except for a hundred years ago when it allied with the Northern Wei to destroy the Later Yan and obtain Liaodong, in order to deal with the enemy forces in the west.

Therefore, Goguryeo, which did not accept the gifts from the god of the moon, always maintained a humble attitude, submitting to the Northern Wei and Southern Liang dynasties and paying tribute.

The relocation of the capital to Pyongyang was also partly motivated by a desire to avoid the risks of war.

Seeing the worried and fearful officials, Gao Baoyan stood up and said:
"I have long known that Da Yeshuang was originally a bandit from the borderlands. Once he gained power, he dared to imitate Cao Cao and Wang Mang, threatening the emperor and causing immense suffering to the people. My Gao clan has committed no wrong and yet we are being attacked. This is an unjust army. My ministers, do not worry, Heaven will surely punish them!"

Although Gao Baoyan's words were righteous and awe-inspiring, the officials below him were not all fools.

Doesn't that mean you have no idea how to deal with it?
After bidding farewell to his ministers, Gao Baoyan returned to the inner palace and met with his first wife.

Contrary to the expectations of his ministers, Gao Baoyan was unsure how to respond.

In fact, Go Bo-yeon wanted to use the external crisis to unify Goguryeo internally.

Goguryeo was divided into five parts.

The royal family resided in the Guilou tribe, the Juennu tribe in the north, the Guannu tribe in the south, the Shunnu tribe in the east, and the Xiaonu tribe in the west.

Aside from King Gao Baoyan, the leaders of the other four tribes wielded immense power, each controlling the major city of Nüsa, and possessing their own armies and territories.

The Goguryeo royal family had always wanted to send members of the royal family to directly control the other four tribes and achieve de facto centralization of power.

Gao Baoyan's attempt to win over the power of various ministers through marriage alliances was an experiment.

However, Gao Baoyan gradually discovered that while this approach reduced the hostility of various factions towards the royal family, the struggles in the court became increasingly fierce.

His first wife, having no children, actually gave him a chance to breathe.

However, Gao Baoyan was not enjoying any tenderness at this time; instead, he had to beg his first wife. More accurately, he had to beg his father-in-law.

Why is Your Majesty acting this way?

Facing Gao Baoyan, who was bowing to her, the First Madam felt somewhat flustered.

“Dao Yeshuang has come with an army, and our Goguryeo is in grave danger! At this critical moment, the assistance of the Lord of Buyeo City is of paramount importance.”

"I understand Your Majesty's intentions, but what do you desire from me?"

"Tell your father that I can appoint him as the chief of the Juennu tribe. As long as he defeats the army of Da Yeshuang, I can appoint him as the chief of the Da Dui Lu."

The First Madam, with a solemn expression, bowed.

"I understand."

……

Fuyu City.

Li Ayao excitedly planned to slip away, but was stopped by his father, Nursawushi of Fuyu City.

"Where do you want to go now? Come inside with me, your older sister has written!"

Upon hearing this, Li Ayao said "Oh," went into the house, and saw her sister's letter, which surprised her somewhat.

"Does the king wish to bestow upon my father the title of Grand General Lu?"

The position of Daede-ro was similar to that of a prime minister and was the most important position below the king in Goguryeo. In the past, the Daede-ro was appointed by the victor in inter-tribal conflicts.

Wu Shi, however, replied leisurely:

"Being the head of the Lu family isn't an easy job."

He was well aware that in Pyongyang today, Dae-dui-ro was a position that shielded Gao Baoyan from fire.

"What does Father mean?"

"I am not interested in Da Lu, but I am very interested in Da Jia of the Jue Nu tribe."

Over the years, Wu Shi followed Li Shuang's advice and used the fact that his daughter had no children to his advantage in the Goguryeo court, maneuvering among other forces to gain benefits. In the local area, he also won over the Khitan, Xi, Mohe and other tribes, and amassed a powerful army.

Today, it is undoubtedly the largest force in the Jue Nu tribe.

Li Ayao remained silent. Wu Shi looked at his daughter and asked:

"What do you think?"

Back then, Li Ayao was captured and taken to Taiping Village, a humiliation Wu Shi always felt. But unexpectedly, after returning from Taiping Village, Li Ayao seemed to have gained some insight.

Over the years, thanks to Li Ayao's wisdom, her clan has continued to grow stronger. Even now, Wu Shi is reluctant to marry her off.

"Father, do you really want to hear this?"

"What are you saying? Otherwise, why would your father be looking for you!"

Li Ayao paused for a moment and then said:

"Father, why don't you wait a little longer? What that bastard gave you might be something you can't refuse."

"What are you saying? Is Father that kind of person?"

Shortly afterward, a report came from outside.

The King of Qin sent a secret letter.

Wu Shi opened the letter in front of his daughter, and gradually, his breathing became heavy.

"What did that bastard give Father?"

"The King of Buyeo is hereby granted the surname Li, which shall be hereditary without fail!"

……