* * *
"Ah, I'm really screwed here."
What do you expect me to do? I probably won't die, but there's always that one-in-a-million chance.
Even if that blockheaded goddess made my body tough as steel, it's a different story if ranged attacks work.
Could my body actually withstand a hail of arrows on the battlefield? The more I think about it, the more variables there are.
"Wait, no — if I could die from an arrow, that wouldn't actually be so bad, would it?" After all, I could just as easily get hit by a catapult stone and die.
Having already died once and even attempted suicide, I doubt a rain of arrows would scare me much now. Might as well give it a try.
If I die on the battlefield beside Shin-geom, that incompetent ruler will surely drag the country down just as in actual history.
"Truth is, betrayal on the battlefield is an option. But if I just casually flip sides like flipping a hand, Wang Geon will write me off as the kind of man who changes masters whenever it suits him."
That's the worst possible outcome.
Above all, relations with Goryeo have recently grown increasingly hostile.
No — things had already been growing tense for some time. Starting in 920, Later Baekje began attacking Silla, and Goryeo sent reinforcements, signaling the coming of war.
A war bound to erupt.
A war for supremacy over the Three Han. Silla was already little more than a hollow shell, but regardless — a clash with Goryeo was clearly imminent.
"Better take out some insurance."
In modern reckoning, the current year is 920. This is the period of the Third Battle of Daeya Fortress. In this battle, it won't be Shin-geom who goes — it will originally be Yang-geom.
Surely they won't send me there.
The Third Battle of Daeya Fortress ultimately ends in a Later Baekje victory. Still, I suppose I need to maintain appearances?
From Wang Geon's perspective, it would be better for a capable man to be the one who surrenders to him. So I should aim to distinguish myself in a clever way.
The Battle of Daeya Fortress wouldn't necessarily need my help.
"Yeah. Attacking Japan? That's nonsense. It has to be Naju." After Naju fell, Later Baekje became permanently vulnerable from the rear.
Just look at its position on a map. It's perfectly placed to strike from behind at any moment.
To the east, Silla — nothing but a hollow shell. To the north, Goryeo. Below, Goryeo again, occupying Naju. Later Baekje is in danger on all sides.
"What if we announce we're attacking Daeya Fortress, but strike Naju instead?"
Silla is a crucial business partner for Goryeo. From Goryeo's perspective, keeping Silla alive is an absolute necessity. So if Baekje sends a large army toward Daeya Fortress, Goryeo will center its strategy around Daeya Fortress.
That would create an opening to reclaim Naju. After all, Naju and Baekje are right next to each other.
The local nobles of Naju switched their allegiance to Goryeo ultimately because of conflicts with Later Baekje.
So winning them back through persuasion alone would likely be difficult. It would be more advantageous to launch the Naju campaign early.
"After that, I need to properly establish trade with Japan."
21st-century Japan has territorial and historical disputes with Korea. But present-day Japan is a different matter.
If the Japan of the future is a petty nation desperately trying to bury the brutal legacy of Japanese imperialism, the Japan of today maintains a delicate relationship with the Korean Peninsula — neither hostile nor particularly warm.
Since Baekje had been friendly with Japan, perhaps if present-day Baekje were to proclaim itself the successor to the ancient Buyeo-dynasty Baekje and invest in Japanese diplomacy, it could gain an ally.
These are the people who admired the name "Japan" — a former state name of Baekje — and adopted it for themselves. It's not impossible.
"What about Balhae?"
Late as it may be — what if we establish diplomatic relations with Balhae now and use that leverage to hold back the Liao Dynasty?
"We have about six years left. With some preparation, it might be possible."
I thought about it briefly, but Balhae's case might be a bit difficult.
Goryeo stands in the way. If we aid Balhae, Baekje's homeland becomes vulnerable.
Even before its collapse, Later Baekje was a nation that mobilized 100,000 troops under Shin-geom — but if its main forces are withdrawn, it will crumble like autumn leaves before Goryeo.
If only we could contain the Liao somehow, then Balhae could pressure Goryeo from above, Japan could contain Silla, and Baekje would finally have room to breathe.
"In other words, in this situation where we're pinned on three sides, we can actually turn it around and put pressure on all of them."
Let's be frank. Goryeo's national power cannot surpass that of the Liao Dynasty. Especially before unification, there's no way present-day Goryeo could stop the Liao.
According to the original history, the Liao wouldn't attack us until the era of the Liao-Goryeo Wars anyway. But if Balhae falls, the Liaodong corridor closes.
Of course, Balhae is already under considerable pressure from the Khitan.
Though the Khitan seemed to destroy Balhae in a matter of days, their preparatory groundwork alone took twenty years.
"Ah, forget it."
It should be fine to prepare when there are three years left. For now, my task is figuring out how to manage diplomacy while Gyeon Hwon prepares for war.
* * *
Time passed idly.
I tried to find a way to escape Wansanju, but there was no suitable pretext and no gap to slip through. Being a prince, quite a number of people hovered around me at all times.
"Your Highness."
"What is it?"
"His Majesty seems to be preparing to attack Silla soon."
"Is that so?"
Well, the time has come, so only natural.
With Goryeo and Silla allied, we're isolated. Time to find an escape route. Should I seize this moment too?
"Yes. It appears he is organizing troops to attack Daeya Fortress."
"Daeya Fortress. So it has finally come to this."
"Huh?"
"No — never mind. I must see His Majesty."
No — before that, it would be better to meet Shin-geom first. Shin-geom won't fully trust me. It's better if I bring this up myself first.
I sought Shin-geom out; he welcomed me warmly.
"Brother. Are you aware that Father is preparing to attack Daeya Fortress now?"
"Yes. I plan to go. With you."
Please, spare me.
"Daeya Fortress is important, but what about Naju?"
"Naju? Now that you mention it, I suppose you have a point. Fine. Let's go see Father."
His response was quite warm when I offered to accompany him.
* * *
"What? You want to go to Naju?"
"Yes, Father. Together with Geumgang, I will conquer Naju and make it Baekje's territory."
"Hmph. Naju, Naju. Why? At a time when the bonds between Silla and Goryeo are strengthening, would it not be better to attack Daeya Fortress?"
That victory for Baekje is already set in stone. And securing full maritime control through Naju is critical, especially for trade.
"It's a diversionary tactic, Your Majesty."
"A diversionary tactic?"
"Attack Daeya Fortress while simultaneously striking Naju."
"Heh heh, it seems Prince Geumgang still cannot read the world. Prince. If Baekje attacks Daeya Fortress, Goryeo will descend upon us. How could we spare troops to send to Naju?"
Just as he was making that argument with great confidence, Neunghwan poured cold water on the whole idea.
Still, I thought it might just be possible.
If we hold firm, strike Daeya Fortress hard and fast, and use our southern forces to attack Naju at the same time — it's achievable. Baekje has the national strength for it.
"That may be true. But wouldn't Wang Geon, desperate to protect Silla, send his army regardless?"
"And yet you propose we push forward knowing this?"
"Yes, Your Majesty. If we capture Naju, we reclaim the maritime rights lost to Goryeo. Naturally, the sea routes will open up."
In any era, the sea matters enormously.
Open sea routes mean secured maritime trade lanes, enabling exchanges with the Central Plains and even outreach to Balhae. Capturing Naju would not only free up the choked trade routes but also ease military operations. We could even strike into Liaodong once the Khitan occupy it.
Of course, Goryeo remains an obstacle — but we must act first and see what happens.
If it fails, it fails. If Goryeo unifies the peninsula, so be it. I'll just hold out.
In other words, I'll do what a prince ought to do, but whether Baekje falls or not is none of my concern.
"State your intentions."
"Though our nation might call Silla nothing but a hollow shell, it still stands there irritatingly, sheltering behind Goryeo's protection. Goryeo, meanwhile, presses us from both north and south. Therefore, we too must form our own alliances."
"Are you speaking of Japan?"
Japan must certainly be included.
"Not only Japan. I wish to ally with the true Goryeo — in the north."
"No, Geumgang. What kind of madness is that? Goryeo is our enemy. What you're saying is completely contradictory."
Shin-geom stared at him with the expression of a man watching a fool.
"Brother. I said the true Goryeo."
"It seems Prince Geumgang is referring to Balhae, which shares a border with Goryeo." As expected of Pajinchan. He truly lives up to his reputation as one of Silla's Three Great Ministers.
"Yes. Pajinchan is correct. I am speaking of Balhae."
"Balhae. Balhae? Hmm."
"It takes only a little thought to see it clearly. No matter how much Wang Geon proclaims himself the successor to Goguryeo, he ultimately emerged from a Silla noble background. And even if the Paeseo nobles call themselves descendants of old Goryeo — how can they compare to the people of Balhae, who hold the vast expanse of Liaodong? Wang Geon's Goryeo is mostly made up of Silla people, but Balhae is different. They are the true Goryeo. We — the successors of the Go clan's Goryeo and the Buyeo clan's Baekje — should renew the Yeje Alliance."
At those words, the entire assembly fell completely silent.
Some officials murmured among themselves, seeming to agree.
"However, Balhae is not in a position to aid us. I understand they are currently engaged in bloody conflict with the Khitan in Liaodong."
As if I didn't know that. The alliance with Balhae is merely to borrow its name.
Regardless, even diminished from its peak, Balhae is still a great nation.
A nation so vast that a fragmented Silla dare not rival it. Even Goryeo itself falls short of Balhae.
"Yes. We shall only borrow their name."
"Borrow Balhae's name, just as Silla borrows Goryeo's name?"
"However formidable the Khitan may be, could they possibly challenge Balhae?"
"I suppose not."
In truth, Balhae will perish in six years — but if I say that, no one will believe me, and even if they did, they'd question why we'd ally with a nation doomed to fall.
"But would Balhae even agree to an alliance with us? Your intentions are truly admirable. However, I understand that the Gadokbu, Dae Inseon, is by no means an easy man to deal with."
"That is precisely why we will give Balhae what it desires — our cooperation in repelling the Khitan." By now, Yelü Abaoji of the Khitan would have already thoroughly laid the groundwork for Balhae's destruction.
"You argue convincingly. But what about Goryeo standing between us?"
"Balhae and Goryeo cannot truly be enemies, but neither can they be close allies. Think about it — it's quite simple. Balhae proclaimed itself the successor to Goguryeo and was sometimes called Goryeo by outsiders. Didn't Wang Geon also claim the name Goryeo?"
Although records from this era are scarce, it is doubtful that relations between Goryeo and Balhae were truly amicable.
Even as Balhae bled fighting the Khitan, it would not simply overlook Goryeo sharing its border.
Even if Balhae had appealed for support out of desperate necessity, would Balhae ever recognize a peninsular state named Goryeo that claimed succession to Goguryeo?
"Hmm."
"Furthermore, Balhae long sought to build a grand anti-Khitan front by leveraging the Central Plains, the Hae tribes, and Silla. Given the recent fragmentation of the Three Han and Goryeo's refusal to answer Balhae's call for support, the Gadokbu is likely quite displeased. And reclaiming Naju is not merely about restoring our nation's maritime rights — that land is also a granary, and naturally, we would be free to harass Goryeo at will in the waters off its own coast."
For instance, staging an attack like the Battle of Yeseonggang.
Frankly speaking, even if Shin-geom had been Wang Geon's equal, unifying the Three Kingdoms during Wang Geon's lifetime would have been impossible. Baekje on the brink of destruction still mobilized nearly 100,000 troops — with a leader of Wang Geon's caliber, the outcome would have been entirely different.
"That makes sense too. Geumgang. I thought you were simply holed up in your quarters not moving a muscle and getting fat. But you were reading the world."
"You flatter me."
"Then, Father — shall we attack Daeya Fortress and Naju simultaneously?"
"Yes. Shin-geom. Let us do so. What is there we cannot accomplish?"
At that moment, a thought suddenly flashed through his mind.
What if I went down to Naju, caused chaos, and then vanished?