Joseon Military Officer, Establishing Balhae - Chapter 320



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Episode 320

Secret Negotiation (3)

As the meeting ended, construction company representatives gathered around Lee Ha-ryun. The Pyongyang Construction representative spoke first.

“This is the water supply system that was just introduced. Can you tell me where the next target is?”

Seoul is currently bustling. This is because the metropolitan water supply system has just recently started operating in the Gangbuk area.

It was six years since construction began. Because of this, the streets of Gangbuk were like a construction site. They dug around the roads and buried water pipes, and they also rebuilt the sewage system that had been built during the early stages of city construction.

Currently, the Seoul Metropolitan Government is properly separating and treating wastewater. Since it has a wastewater treatment facility, the sewage produced in Seoul is discharged into the Nuri River (Hunchun River) or the Duman River in a fairly clean state.

The tap water source for the Gangbuk area of ​​Seoul was a reservoir built on the upper reaches of the Cheongsongcheon River in the northern part of Hada-hyeon. The water was blocked by building a levee in the valley, and the water collected here was sent to a water purification plant in Habuk-dong, Hada-hyeon, and then sent to various parts of the Gangbuk area through water pipes.

At the same time as these large-scale construction projects, individual water pipe construction projects began in large buildings and private homes. Although small in scale, the very same facilities that Balhae had first introduced in Josan City began construction in Seoul.

And when the construction was completed and tap water was first supplied, all the residents of Seoul Byeolbu were amazed at its convenience. Now, there was no need to draw water from the communal wells located throughout the city; instead, water came out just by turning on the tap at home.

It wasn’t just the citizens who were surprised. Construction companies quickly realized how much business value there was in building this water system.

Another company representative also asked Lee Ha-ryun.

“When will the Gangnam area be completed?”

“I think it might be possible next year?”

In the Gangnam area, a separate water source was created in the valley near Sajeong, and other construction projects are almost complete. In other words, tap water will be supplied to all of Seoul by next year.

“And the next planned location is Gyeongheung City in the East Sea. The design work has already been completed.”

“So when will the business participation notice be posted?”

“I’ll be there by the end of the year.”

“Where to go after Gyeongheung?”

“Haha! Please ask the Ministry of Construction about that later.”

Lee Ha-ryun burst into laughter when he heard the enthusiasm of these businessmen. Certainly, the Balhae economy had now completely established its system and was developing more rapidly thanks to private capital. The enthusiasm of these businessmen was proof of this.

“You are truly amazing. Wasn’t it Your Majesty the Empress and the Minister of State who devised this water supply system? When construction was underway all over Seoul, I wondered why we were going through all this trouble to build a water supply system, but now that I’ve seen the results, isn’t it a whole new world?”

Kim Deok-shin, the head of Goryeo Sangdan, said with an expression of admiration.

“I feel embarrassed when you say that.”

“I hope that in the future, you will give our construction companies equal opportunities to participate in the business.”

“Of course it should be like that.”

In fact, as always, the first construction project was undertaken by the public enterprise Balhae Construction Corporation. Whenever new civil engineering and construction technologies were applied, the first construction project was always undertaken by this public enterprise. The business experience gained in the process was passed on to private companies to carry out the next project. Since this company was a public enterprise, there were many cases where prisoners of war or prisoners sentenced to hard labor participated as workers.

“As soon as the design is completed, a bid notice will be posted for each city, so please participate then. As you know, we don’t give more than two bids to one company, so many companies will have their turn.”

“Haha! I understand, Your Majesty.”

The construction company representatives were very pleased with Lee Ha-ryun’s words that opportunities would be shared equally.

* * *

From the south, the 18th and 27th Divisions of the Reserve Army were advancing, while the 25th and 26th Divisions led by Taegeon and the 14th Division of the Reserve Army following from the rear were advancing in a northwesterly direction and moving straight towards Nurhachi.

As soon as Taegeon’s troops crossed the Songhua River, they encountered a fairly wide basin, which Taegeon named Aha – the future Zhengwu (Jingwei) County of Baishan City in China. This was a result of the future Meng River, a tributary flowing into the Songhua River from the west, being named Aha River.

The moment the Balhae army, which had camped for a day in Aha, was about to begin marching again, scouts active in various areas of the front brought messengers from the Later Jin Dynasty.

The envoy of the Later Jin was Hong Taiji. The success of this meeting was so important that Nurhachi sent his son.

Since the prince came as a messenger, Taegeon dealt with him directly. Taegeon silently examined Hong Taiji’s appearance.

Hong Taiji’s mother was the princess of Yehe. Therefore, among Nurhachi’s many sons, her maternal family was the most famous, and in short, she possessed excellent bloodlines. Among the four states of Haeseok and Jurchen, Yehe was the most powerful, so Nurhachi, who had to unite these tribes, naturally came to cherish Hong Taiji.

Moreover, Hong Taiji possessed the qualities of a capable monarch who was both civil and military, as well as politically capable. Because of this, Joseon had to kneel before him in actual history.

Taegeon felt a strange emotion when he saw Hong Taiji. If history had continued as it was, he would have brought the humiliation of Samjeondo to King Injo in 20 years. But now, Hong Taiji, still a young man, had come to Taegeon to beg for reinforcement.

Hong Taiji bowed politely, then raised his head and looked at Taegeon. He was slightly surprised by Taegeon’s appearance. He was very large and strong, and he looked very young for his age. Also, as expected from a brave warrior, his eyes radiated a sharp light. He even had a slight sneer, making him look even more majestic.

“Have you come to surrender?”

Taegeon immediately asked if they were willing to surrender.

“That’s not true. I admit that the situation is somewhat unfavorable, but our army still has sufficient troops.”

“If you are not going to surrender, then go back. We will capture Golminala and receive its surrender. So what is the point of negotiating like this?”

“Then your country will suffer great losses. Even if we lose our capital, we have more territory in the west. We also have a large number of cavalry with good mobility. Therefore, if you want to fight more, our Daegeum will maintain its troops intact and move to the west to continue to harass your country. So why fight more while enduring such losses? That is why I have come to ask for peace for the sake of both countries.”

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Hong Taiji even suggested that he might abandon the capital Golminala altogether.

“You’re saying we’re making peace now? The Jin Dynasty was the first to join hands with the Ming Dynasty and invade Balhae!”

“That was clearly a wrong decision. This is also the will of the Emperor. If peace is established in the future, I am willing to apologize for this choice. In any case, war broke out between the two countries because of it, but since the damage to both sides is not yet great, wouldn’t it be better to make peace at this point? If you wish, I can give you some territory as compensation for the damage.”

Hong Taiji even offered to cede territory. Taegeon was secretly impressed by Hong Taiji’s boldness. However, Taegeon had already made up his mind and did not fall for Hong Taiji’s proposal.

“Now is not the time. We have not yet subdued Ming. Neither has Joseon. So, go back for now. However, I highly value your sincerity in expressing your intention to strengthen the country first, so I will not reveal the fact of your visit to the outside world. Then, go back safely.”

Hong Taiji sent him an earnest look, but at Taegeon’s gesture telling him to step aside, he could not say anything more and had to leave the barracks.

“Haha! They say he is the most outstanding of Nurhachi’s sons, and he certainly lives up to his reputation. What do you think?”

Tae-Gun smiled and asked the head of the Military Intelligence Bureau, Lieutenant General Lee Mong-Ryeon.

“I felt that the diagnosis of reality was accurate, and the speech was clean and free of any unnecessary details.”

“Should I really go back?”

“yes?”

“I asked them if they would go back because I turned down their offer of reinforcements.”

“It is the stern command of the Great King, so how could I not return?”

“Really? Then it’s disappointing.”

Lee Mong-ryeon tilted her head at Tae-geon’s ambiguous words.

* * *

Hong Taiji, who had come out to the outskirts of the Balhae camp, gave instructions to Hurhan, who was accompanying him.

“It would be a good idea to pitch a tent here.”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

“I will not go back. I will follow them until the king calls me again.”

“Duichi Bailer. Do you really have to do that? Isn’t it too humiliating?”

At present, the four great warlords of the Later Jin Dynasty, or the four great Balers, are Shurhachi, Chuying, Mangultai, and Hong Taiji. Among them, Hong Taiji’s title was Duichi Baler.

If things had gone according to the original history, Shurhachi, Nurhachi’s younger brother, would have been killed by Nurhachi the previous year, and his son Amin would have had to take Shurhachi’s place. Chuying would also soon lose Nurhachi’s trust and eventually be killed by Nurhachi. However, since the fate of the members of the Later Jin had already changed significantly due to the rise of Balhae, the composition of the four major Balers also changed.

“If we fail to strengthen this time, our future is as good as gone.”

“Still, this is…….”

Hurun’s words trailed off with a gloomy expression.

“Haha! Let’s think back on the words of the King of Balhae. He clearly told us to go back first, and he also said that he would keep this meeting a secret. He also said that he highly values ​​our will to make peace. If that doesn’t mean that he intends to make peace, what else does that mean?”

“Well, that’s how it is. Then why didn’t you accept it right away?”

“They’re probably going to get more out of us. They’re going to force us to the brink of surrender and then do something about it.”

“Oh… Then we’ll be in an even more difficult situation.”

“So, I intend to advise my father not to fight the rear-advancing navy and to slowly retreat to Golminala.”

“Then please write a letter and I will send a messenger right away.”

Hong Taiji wrote a short letter and handed it to Hu Han.

Meanwhile, the tent had already been completed. Hong Taiji looked at the tent where he would stay for the night, then looked back at the Balhae army camp.

The Balhae army was also busy preparing for camp. And dozens of soldiers were standing in a relaxed posture, watching Hong Taiji and his party.

“Hahaha! My guess was right.”

“yes?”

“Look at them.”

Hurhan clicked his tongue when he saw the Balhae army’s border troops.

“Haha! Standing guard so laxly.”

“Doesn’t that mean you don’t care what we do?”

“Oh, I see. Now that I think about it, you didn’t kick me out. I would have done the same.”

“Let’s just follow them comfortably for now. Then, they’ll probably call me someday.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Hong Taiji recognized Taegeon’s consideration and felt a little hope rise in his heart.

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