It Became a Symbol of the Bronze Age - Chapter 347



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Episode 347. Show Me The Money (3)

“…Are you now asking me to give up the land of Gyehyeon that I conquered to those barbarians?”

“Yes.”

Donggwaka spoke confidently. Although he is a hardliner, he is the type to say what he wants to say even if it means holding a knife to his throat.

“Gye-hyeon is the furthest north from my country, and between Gye-hyeon and my country are the Hae-ha-seup-ji and Je-su. Therefore, even if we give Gye-hyeon to you, it will be difficult for those barbarians to invade us.”

“Hey you, think before you speak! Don’t you know how rugged and important Gyehyeon is?”

“If we were to deal with Asadal alone, it would be right to defend Gyehyeon. However, we now have as enemies not only Asadal but also all the feudal lords of the land. Please think about the distribution of troops.”

“Army distribution?”

“Anyway, what’s important to us is not the Gye-hyeon in the north, but the Hwa-buk in the southeast.”

Donggwak-ah told me her plan.

“Ask the Yongjeok for help, and promise them Gyehyeon in return. On a small scale, it can prevent Asadal from getting their help, and on a large scale, it can make them fight Asadal.”

“Asadal and Sanyong are close, but can that be achieved with just one Gyehyeon?”

“Even if a tiger and a wolf are friendly, would they be okay if they share the same meat? That Sanyong will want a place to settle down, and Asadal cannot connect Naeminbu and the mainland without taking Gyehyeon. In the end, since it is land that both of them need, the two will inevitably fight.”

“Then what will happen to the people there?”

When Kang So-baek asked, Dong-gwak-ah answered.

“The people there were once the Yeonran people… and even the outstanding national people among them have already been relocated to Imchi. All that remains are the commoners at best.”

“Do you really not know that the will of the people is the will of heaven?”

“Only for the time being.”

“For the time being? That brief momentary delay could cause you to turn away from the will of Heaven. The people will regard me as someone who sold their land and will not trust me. People from all over the world will not join the military service of my country and will run away to avoid worldly corruption. What will you do?”

“How could it be a big problem to embrace those who were originally enemies and make them great officials and scholars? In fact, it is not the first time for us. Didn’t the King of Yan make the Chinu faction of the Sanyong great officials during the Je-Yeon War? This is rather an issue that should be praised as inclusion, and not something to belittle.”

Things that already have a precedent can be done a little more easily.

Donggwaka said.

“For now, just think about blocking Asadal’s invasion. If you sow discord between Asadal and Sanyong to block their advance, and in the meantime annex Lu and connect Je, Lu, and Song, you will soon be no different from the loser of the Central Plains. Then, take over all of the fertile North China. Heaven’s will will not turn away, and even if it does, it will return immediately if you take over North China. If the owner of the most fertile land does not have Heaven’s will, to whom will Heaven’s will go?”

“That’s a pretty good plan.”

Kang So-baek just laughed.

If what he wanted was the well-being of the people.

It would have been unthinkable to force some of the people into submission to the barbarians.

What he wants is not the people, but the will of heaven, the hearts of the people.

“Tell Gongsun Seopbong of Gye-hyeon to go north immediately and put the plan into action. We must somehow prevent Asadal from invading the north!”

If only I could keep this heavenly heart.

If we can take over North China based on that will.

It wasn’t that difficult for Kang So-baek to give up one or two Gye-hyeon.

***

The early Spring and Autumn Period in Yuan history.

To learn about the names of my country, the fastest way is to borrow the words of the Yuan historian Guan Yi.

-To make my country rich and powerful, the five of you, Gongja Seongbo, Yeongcheok, Seopbong, Binsumu, and Donggwaa, will be enough!

Including Guan Yi, who said this, there were six named people who helped Duke Huan of Qi and led the Qi Dynasty to its heyday.

Unfortunately, half of this is not available in my country.

The narrator, Guan Yu, was the first to steal it.

Yeong-cheok has become the leader of the martial arts world and is now in Pa-chok, not in Je-na-ra. Po-suk-ah, who said this, is now in Asadal, not Je-na-ra. And Gong-ja Seong-bo has not even been born yet.

That is, there are three left.

Donggwaka, Gongsonseopbung, and Binsumu.

Even Poongbaek couldn’t bring them to Asadal.

First of all, let me talk about Donggwak-ah.

The surname Donggwak is a fairly common surname in my country.

The meaning of the name is ‘east of the castle’, so it can be easily found by people living east of the castle.

The history of the Yuan Dynasty says that Kang So-baek gave the surname ‘Donggwak’ to his son who was in charge of the east and called him ‘Donggwak Daebu’.

It would be nice if the name was a little more unique, but the name Ah-yi is also quite common… It’s literally like looking for ‘Min-su from Ansan’.

Poongbaek just gave up cleanly.

However, the reason for giving up on Gongsunseobung is a little different.

As can be seen from Gongsun Wuji, who held the throne for one year before Jiang Xiaobai, Gongsun was a collateral descendant of the king.

I can’t bring you back even if I die.

And, as with the history of the original.

Gongsun Seopung, who was appointed upon the recommendation of Posuk, was ruling Gyehyun to the fullest extent of his ability.

However, the letter that had just arrived to him was enough to make Gongsun Seopbong flustered.

“…Abandon Gye-Hyeon?”

Gongsun Sheep thought this was nonsense, but that was what his heart said. His mind realized that this was not an entirely nonsensical act.

And, he had no intention of betraying his blood relative, Kang So-baek. It was a bit heartbreaking, but if it had already been decided, it would be right to follow.

“I will go and come back myself.”

The one who supported this was the last named person of my country.

Binsumu was 45 years old this year.

***

Of course, diplomacy is not something you can do in the 21st century by just getting on a plane and going. You have to move, either on horseback or by cart.

Of course, there are many threats lurking along the way, but Binsumu has walked this path on his own.

Since it was a procession for peace, he couldn’t send just anyone, but he couldn’t send someone as important as Donggwak-ah or Seop-bung either… so he was the only one who could do it.

And Binsumu was a capable man. He traveled the grassland ‘safely’ with the help of a group of Sanyong traders near Gyehyeon.

“Who are you, walking through this cold winter meadow?”

“We are the people of Mujong! We are bringing an envoy from our country!”

“An envoy from my country? Yes, go. Even though they are currently enemies with our benefactor, Asadal… In any case, we cannot harm our guests.”

Looking at the tribes he met on the grasslands here and there, Binsumu was greatly surprised.

“Was the meadow ever this peaceful?”

It wouldn’t be easy to just come with the Sanyong people. The grasslands aren’t that easy.

This should be interpreted differently.

There is some order in the meadow.

‘…Is it Asadal?’

No matter how much I think about it, that’s all there is to it. So, Asadal’s influence in the grasslands must be beyond imagination.

Binsumu’s head became complicated.

At the place where we arrived after riding the cart for 30 days, many tribal chiefs and elders were gathered.

In that respect, Binsumu felt anticipation. Wasn’t it because they had gathered this winter to hear what he had to say?

‘There is hope!’

Thinking so, Binsumu relayed his country’s position.

“This time… please do not accept Asadal’s offer of peace. If so, I will give you Gyehyeon.”

At those words, many chieftains and old women who were obviously the mothers of chieftains laughed.

“How funny! That’s exactly what Guan-o said when he came here! He really is talking about Gye-hyeon!”

That couldn’t be considered an answer.

But, more than any answer, it helped me understand the current situation more clearly.

‘…So, you saw through everything we were going to say and told us in advance?’

At that moment, Binsumu’s feeling was similar to that of a rapper who prepared a lot of diss rap, only to see his opponent diss him and use all of it as self-diss.

No matter what you say here, the other person will react with something like, ‘Oh, I’ve heard that before. Asadal is amazing!’… What on earth are you talking about?

***

As Binsumu had expected, Guan Yu gathered the chieftains of the grasslands and held a meeting exactly two weeks before Binsumu arrived.

“We ask for your help in this battle against our country.”

Guan Yi first distributed the two carts full of valuables to the chieftains. The chieftains’ mouths dropped open as they received golden ornaments, steel swords, and black horn bows.

“Asadal is our old friend. We cannot refuse. Our tribe will take the lead.”

The first to say so were the Sanyong clan’s Mujong faction. They are the closest to Asadal.

Asadal also treated them well and did not disturb them living in the land of Yoseo where Gojuk used to be.

“We too.”

In addition, several tribes that had been recognized by Asadal as having positions such as bangju or khan and were building up their power through the steppe route came forward.

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“Thank you for your words.”

At that point, Guan Yi waved his hand.

“First, please listen to our story.”

“What are you talking about?”

Mujong Gulga was puzzled. Even though he said he would help, he waved his hand first? However, the story that followed was quite surprising.

“I think they will ask for a similar favor from my country too. Asking me to help them.”

“My country has done nothing for us.”

“There is something I can do.”

Guan Yi said.

“They will probably give you a discount.”

“If it’s Gyehyeon…”

“Yes. It was the former capital of the Yan Kingdom.”

At those words, the expressions on the chieftains’ faces became mysterious.

No matter how much they are nomads who value godliness, they are still in a position to lead the tribe.

In the meantime, it’s hard not to be shaken by the delicious meat called Gyehyeon that suddenly fell out.

Guan Yi said.

“You might hesitate.”

“…Honestly, it’s a bit like that.”

Gulgaga said.

“If it were me, I would have taken the promise without saying anything. If I had done that, half of us would have sided with you anyway because we couldn’t break our promise.”

“However, we already know what our country will give us. If we take your promise without telling you this, it would be a clear betrayal.”

“…Then, please tell me.”

Gulga asked.

“Is there any reason why we should help Asadal by giving up Gyehyun?”

“That’s what I came to tell you.”

Guan Yi said.

“You all have your own power in the grasslands, and you have your own territories, either implicitly or explicitly. However, Gyehyeon is a completely new land. Who can decide who will be the owner of that land?”

“…I can’t do it.”

“Yes. In the end, what my country wants is for you to fight over Gyehyeon. If that happens, the tribes of the grasslands will not be able to help Asadal, and Asadal will also suffer considerable damage from the war.”

It’s not just that Sanyong’s support force is gone.

Asadal Line, the back of the head becomes quite a concern.

The major tribes will probably lose some control over the surrounding minor tribes as they fight over the territory.

The possibility that those small tribes would leave ‘Asadal, which is empty because they are attacking their own country’ alone is… honestly, low.

It’s not that I don’t trust them. If they’re a group, it can’t be helped. Just looking at Asadal, didn’t public opinion boil over as soon as my country was vacant?

In addition, if the tribes start fighting because of Gyehyeon, the situation along the grassland road that Asadal has solidified so far will become considerably ambiguous.

“I understand you all. Gyehyeon is a land that invites greed. Since Asadal wants to eat Gyehyeon, it is impossible for me not to understand.”

“Do you want Gye-Hyeon too?”

“I hope that Gyehyeon will be able to do it, and even Imchi will be able to do it.”

“If it’s Imchi, isn’t it the capital of my country?”

“Yes. Asadal’s goal is to occupy Gye-hyeon, to have access to the Jin Dynasty over the Taihang Mountains, and to have access to the Lu Dynasty over Taishan. Of course, to you, it may sound like Asadal is eating all the delicious things.”

“Hmm, hmm.”

Several chieftains cleared their throats.

It roughly means ‘correct’.

At that point, Guan Yi said:

“But, was the Asadal you knew like that? Was it an inconsiderate country that monopolized the most delicious things like wolves on the plains, treated you like hawks and eagles, and threw only the scraps at you?”

“…No, no. Absolutely not.”

“This time it’s the same.”

Guan Yi said.

“This time we have opened up the spice route. Cloves and nutmeg come in from there. However, to sell them ‘better’, we need the meadow route.”

The chieftains interpreted this in two ways.

First, there is the import through nutmeg and cloves.

The wealth they bring is truly immense.

Guan Yi is saying, “Instead of ruining the grassland road by eating Gyehyeon, why don’t you come with us and continue to reap the benefits of the grassland road?”

And those who were a little wiser than this focused on the ‘better’ part of Guan Yi’s words.

What does this mean?

Selling through the Meadow Road is the best way, but that means there are other sales routes besides the Meadow Road.

Some thought of the southern route to the Ona kingdom that Asadal had previously opened before opening the spice route.

If my country grows and takes over the inner kingdom, even if the northern route becomes unusable, I can continue to maintain the southern route.

Of course, they didn’t know anything about speedboats, but they knew that spices came from distant islands that took 30 days to get to. With such navigation skills, it wouldn’t be difficult to trade with the Wu nation on a large scale.

And those who were smarter than this went even further.

If you can sail for 30 days, why not sail for 60 days? If so, you might as well cross that sea and sell spices directly to a place called ‘Assyria’.

“The current situation before our eyes, and the import of spices that will continue to come in. You’re asking me to choose between the two.”

“Similar. The former has more problems. If it’s for Gye-Hyeon, you’ll fight each other, and even if someone wins… it’ll be an endless war.”

“…That’s only natural.”

“Besides, it will be difficult to rule. Just as it is difficult for settled people to rule over nomads, it will also be difficult for nomads to rule over settled people. The customs are too different.”

In fact, the Liao and Yuan dynasties had a hard time ruling the Central Plains. The Liao emperor even lamented, “It’s so hard to govern the Central Plains!”

The only exception was the Xianbei tribe that founded the Sui dynasty. Although the Xianbei tribe was a Mongolian-related ethnic group, they were basically a semi-agricultural, semi-pastoral, settled people.

Of course, Guan Yi does not know this historical fact, but if it is not historical, he would know it. It is the content of Poong Baek’s and its sequel .

Guan Yi remembered the shock he felt when he first saw the work.

There were some absurd developments, such as the protagonist’s country falling into ruin because the ruler’s son suddenly opened the city gates to the enemy, but… most of the events were so well-organized and seemed like real events that it was hard to believe that this was the work of one person.

In fact, when Guan Yi read these two books, he lamented, “There are such geniuses, and I am just an ordinary person.”

Of course, I lived with this book even in the midst of my busy schedule, so now its knowledge is put to use without a doubt.

“Besides, Jiang So-baek was just trying to put out the fire. If he were to take over all of Hwabuk after putting out the fire, would Jiang So-baek leave Gye-hyeon alone?”

Guan Yi said.

“If you are having a hard time right now and you absolutely must eat Gyehyeon, I don’t know… but honestly, it doesn’t seem like that. You are currently enjoying enormous wealth by trading with Asadal. In the midst of all this, do you really need to invade Gyehyeon and lose everything you have built up so far? And more than anything, the question is whether Kang So-baek will keep his promise.”

“but…”

This was the part that the chieftains hesitated about the most.

Why did the Kang So-baek incident occur?

There are quite a few complex reasons, but let’s put them all together.

This is because Kang So-baek broke his promise to the state of Noh to return the land of Munyang.

You’re saying that a promise made with a knife to my neck is invalid?

This kind of talk didn’t go down well even in the Central Plains. But the Sanyong were nomads.

The common mindset of nomads, including the Sanyong, is that it is better to just die than to make a promise that cannot be kept.

Guan Yi knew a little about these nomadic customs, so he spoke confidently.

“Munyang is an excellent land, but it cannot compare to Gyehyeon. Will Kang So-baek, who broke his promise to Munyang, keep his promise to Gyehyeon?”

The chieftains were troubled by this.

Of course, Kang So-baek said he would keep his promise.

The method was also determined.

When the army came down, they said, ‘We’ll give you the castle first.’

But is that really the case?

‘I have to choose between my country’s Gye-hyeon and Asadal’s grassland road… Even if I choose my country… will my country really give me Gye-hyeon?’

‘Could it be that they are pretending to be the lord of the castle, ambushing the soldiers, and then trying to cut off the power of the Sanyong in advance?’

‘If a guy can do something once, can’t he do it twice?’

In the end, the last weight on this scale was…

It’s not a calculation of ‘which one is more profitable?’

“I have fought in battles with the generals of Asadal in the past.”

It was credit.

It can’t be helped.

Trading…is an act that requires the premise that the other party is ‘trustworthy’.

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