I had people investigate Balhae's situation within the city.
"Did you find out?"
"Due to the Khitan's instigation, some of the Mohe people are showing signs of trying to break away from Balhae."
"Only some?"
"Yes. Right now it's mainly the Heishui Mohe. The Balhae Ministry of War is mobilizing other Mohe tribes to subjugate them."
Well, I'd already heard this briefly from the Balhae navy. Within the next few years, Balhae needs to reach a point where they can "withstand" the Khitan, if not achieve a definitive victory.
Only if they can withstand them can we more clearly receive Balhae's help, bestow greater favors, and with luck, even interfere in Balhae's internal affairs.
"Your Highness, do you have some plan in mind?"
As I curled up the corner of my mouth meaningfully, Choi Seung-woo's question came.
A plan. Of course I have one.
"For now, let's leave Balhae as is. All they need to do is defeat the Khitan. We can't interfere in everything happening inside Balhae."
"That's right. And we shouldn't have our feet tied here right now."
We don't have much time. It would be more beneficial to do only what needs to be done and return.
He's a monarch in his own right—he'll handle internal unity himself. The internal conflict is just one hypothesis for Balhae's fall anyway, and hard to see as the decisive blow.
It's time. Choi Seung-woo and I had an audience with Dae Inseong to discuss the alliance.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Thanks to the Khagan's generous hospitality to these outsiders, it's an honor."
"Baekje's Left Minister seems quite good at flattery."
I don't know about flattery, but this man does make people feel good.
"Well then. There was someone I wanted to introduce. My son, Crown Prince Dae Gwanghyeon. Crown Prince,"
Dae Inseong introduced me to Balhae's Crown Prince Dae Gwanghyeon.
"Yes, Your Majesty. Pleased to meet you. I am Dae Gwanghyeon, Crown Prince of Balhae."
"I am Buyeo Geumgang, fourth prince of Baekje. I greet Your Highness the Crown Prince of this great nation."
Looking closely, he indeed looks the part.
His face is exactly the face of someone who would lead refugees into exile when the nation falls.
A weak and feeble face.
He's probably somehow involved in Balhae's power struggles too.
But what does it matter? In history, he led refugees and submitted to Goryeo anyway. That's the extent of how he's remembered.
"Recovering Liaodong is also only possible after defeating the Khitan—that's our current situation. Let's set aside the Pyongyang issue for now."
As expected.
However, what concerns me now is the troop situation.
"Then is the Baekje-Jin alliance to be formed on the basis of an offensive and defensive military alliance?"
"It would seem so."
"May I know Jin's current military strength?"
"Ha, how long has it been since we formed the alliance and you're already asking about our military situation. Aren't you planning to report it to the Khitan?"
The old minister who appeared to be prime minister grumbled at me accusingly, saying nothing to his master who started the quarrel first.
Looking at actual history, this person is probably the one who led Balhae's last army and fought the Khitan forces at Sanggyeong. This must be 'Nosang.'
According to one theory, he's someone who may have colluded with the Khitan.
"To doubt our brother nation Baekje. Nosang, watch your tongue."
"However, Your Majesty."
"Buyeo Geumgang. I've seen your character, but my ministers seem not to. Can Baekje speak first?"
Dae Inseong. This man knows how to use his head, unlike what you'd expect from a doomed monarch.
"Our nation Baekje, excluding forces at the borders with Silla and Goryeo, could support Jin with up to 30,000 troops."
"Thirty thousand while managing a two-front war. That's quite a large army."
In truth, that 30,000 is an exaggeration.
At most, we could send 20,000. No, we never fielded 30,000 troops even on the Goryeo front.
We fielded 100,000 in one decisive battle, but that was when Shin Geom stubbornly mobilized total forces to face Goryeo.
"Then I should give an answer too. Ministry of War, how many troops can we field now?"
"Currently, there are 80,000 troops under Grand General Dae Munjin at Buyeo-bu, and 20,000 troops at Seogyeong Amnok-bu and Junggyeong Hyeondeok-bu. We can also mobilize 10,000 troops from Mohe tribes including Sumal and Baesan."
As expected, having lost Liaodong, Balhae's forces are considerably fewer than Goguryeo's.
There's probably some exaggeration mixed in. Realistically, it's less than that.
A few thousand troops would be sufficient to restrain Goryeo. They'd want to maintain dignity as a brother nation to us.
Still, just looking at troop numbers, it's not small. Even if these are exaggerated, that military strength alone could conquer the Three Han. It's just fewer troops compared to their predecessor Goguryeo. That doesn't mean they're weak.
Wouldn't it be better to strike the Khitan first before they move?
...No, such a gamble with the nation's fate isn't good.
"Indeed, Jin is a great nation. Even Goryeo doesn't have such forces."
Choi Seung-woo frowned.
Baekje is already struggling against Goryeo—can Baekje properly function as Jin's ally? Will Balhae fall to the Khitan? He's probably fortune-telling in his mind.
"You must send word if the Khitan invade."
"I will."
In actual history, Balhae would collapse while sending that envoy.
When the Khitan seriously invade, would envoys sent while watching the Khitan's mood arrive in Baekje on time?
Considering the time Baekje would need to organize support forces, Balhae couldn't hold out.
Not knowing how history will flow, I must be ready to cause chaos at any time.
For that, I'll need to use Japan too.
"Then are you returning to Baekje now?"
"No. These outsiders must go to Japan."
"Ah, Japan was Baekje's ally too."
Dae Inseong nodded.
According to Japanese records, Balhae at the time also tried to ally with Japan to face the Khitan. Perhaps Dae Inseong is thinking of realizing this through me now.
"Yes. We're going as envoys to re-establish diplomatic relations."
"Then don't take the route you came from Baekje. Last time you were lucky, but if unlucky, you might encounter Khitan forces. Take the eastern sea route. We'll prepare the ship and navigators."
Balhae, true to being the Flourishing State of the East, excelled at sea too.
However, crossing directly through the East Sea to Japan is quite perilous.
According to records, when first going to Japan, they drifted and only a few survivors barely managed to deliver the state document to Japan.
It seems dangerous. But it's better than the Amnok River area where Khitan forces are openly present—better to take a Balhae ship with skilled navigators.
"The Khagan's heavenly grace covers the sky."
"In return, you must also convey our Balhae's intentions to Japan."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
As I thought, Dae Inseong attached envoys to send to Japan along with Balhae's state document to us.
But that envoy turned out to be quite a big shot.
"I am called Dae Bong-ye. I greet Prince Geumgang of Baekje."
A man with a robust build and sharp eyes. Unlike Dae Inseong, he seemed suited to be a civil official.
"Someone with the Dae surname must be Balhae royalty. I look forward to working with you."
"Why so formal between fellow royals? Our Balhae navigators are known throughout the world. Now, we depart tomorrow, so let's have some drinks."
Dae Bong-ye. A person dispatched as a New Year's envoy to Tang in 897.
Famous for being rejected when he requested that Balhae's envoy be placed higher than Silla's envoy.
His subsequent activities are unknown.
Unknown even in actual history, so if he's alive until now, he probably either surrendered to Liao when Balhae fell or died.
"Wait, you said Dae Bong-ye?"
Choi Seung-woo suddenly joined the conversation.
"Who are you?"
"This outsider is Baekje's Left Minister Choi Seung-woo. Might you be the one dispatched as New Year's envoy to Tang?"
Did Choi Seung-woo know him?
Ah, timeline-wise, they would know each other.
If Choi Seung-woo was in Tang when he went as New Year's envoy, it matches.
"Choi Seung-woo—that Silla man who passed the Binggong examination? But now you're Baekje's minister?"
"Since Silla's national fortunes have declined, shouldn't one follow the new master who will lead the Three Han?"
"You speak such words before our nation?"
"Hahaha, Baekje and Great Jin are brothers, one body. You speak hurtful words."
"Hmm. Right, right. Come, let's drink."
"Yes."
Dae Bong-ye didn't spare praise for Balhae.
Overflowing with pride for his country. Balhae's glorious history, even King Mu of Balhae's preemptive strike against Tang.
And so the night passed.
I spoke discreetly only to Choi Seung-woo while boarding the massive ship docked at the port before Namgyeong.
"We must hurry, Left Minister."
I made it clear to Choi Seung-woo who followed.
"What do you mean?"
"After establishing diplomatic relations with Japan, we must immediately go to Baekje and drill the troops."
Since I might get involved in succession struggles within Baekje too, I must be careful about building military forces.
At minimum, if Shin Geom keeps me at his side and lets me lead, that might work.
"Is it because Balhae is militarily inferior?"
"Balhae's situation seems quite dire. Starting with Yelu Abaoji's unification, the Khitan have built powerful forces. Right now, with the nation's fortunes declining, Balhae has this level of forces—with what power could they have taken Liaodong when it was intact? They are strong."
Once nomadic forces gain momentum, they become formidable.
Balhae isn't weak. They're descendants of Goguryeo and ruled the Mohe, predecessors of the Jurchen who would later establish Jin and Qing, the continental conquerors.
However, the problem is that the Mohe are divided under Balhae at this time.
If only they were united, defeating the Khitan wouldn't be difficult.
"Do you believe the Khitan have more troops than Balhae?"
"Yes. We must mobilize even Japan to face the Khitan."
If these three nations—Balhae, Baekje, and Japan—create an anti-Khitan front, even the Khitan would find it burdensome.
At minimum, the Khitan won't be able to treat Balhae carelessly for a while. It would be good if we could buy even a little more time.
Then I need to decide too.
Just until Balhae. Just prevent Balhae's destruction.
Sanggyeong Yongcheon-bu
Balhae's Khagan Dae Inseong was stamping his feet in frustration.
At this time when even the Heishui Mohe are breaking away, he'd hastily proceeded with the Baekje alliance. Was this the right choice?
"Your Majesty. Will Baekje truly keep their promise?"
"It's bluffing. But if we request support, they'll at least maintain appearances."
Even managing a two-front war, Later Baekje is still Baekje rebuilt from divided Silla. Militarily, they wouldn't completely overwhelm Goryeo or Silla.
"Would just that be enough?"
"We've lost our sea routes. Our navy can only train on rivers. Well, even with sea routes, receiving support from the Central Plains would be difficult, but if Baekje sends a navy to strike Liaodong, wouldn't that work?"
The Khitan have just acquired Liaodong. They don't have a proper navy yet. Then even if Baekje's forces number only tens of thousands, striking Liaodong by surprise and dealing a blow to the Khitan wouldn't be difficult.
"No matter how large an army the Khitan have, if Baekje and we strike from both sides, it will be burdensome for the Khitan."
"The Khitan spies will learn of this too."
One reason for Balhae's decline was Khitan spies deeply infiltrated within Balhae.
They were instigating discord between Goguryeo-descended and Mohe-descended people, causing friction between the ruling and ruled classes.
Dae Inseong knew of this problem early on, but amid continuing royal authority weakening and power struggles, he couldn't deal with them while consolidating royal power.
At this time, forming an alliance with Baekje to use them in reverse—how wonderful could it be?
Would you like me to continue with an