40. [Bluffing Power]
No matter how weak Silla's scheming queen seemed, Queen Jinseong was still the ruler of a thousand-year-old dynasty. Capturing her would be like tearing out the heart of Silla itself, and it would allow for vengeance for King Uija. Yet, contrary to expectations, the Silla rebels struggled against the Hangu Banners, composed of infantry, and despite suffering heavy losses, the Hangu Banners managed to evacuate the queen along with the pro-Goryeo ministers from Seorabeol.
Dae In-seon had underestimated the hastily assembled Hangu Banners, but they were composed of exiles who had fought in the central plains; they were hardly weak.
Frustrated but undeterred, Ken-hwon gave orders to his generals:
"Then let us march toward Seorabeol. The moment the thousand-year kingdom falls to Baekje is at hand."
"Your Majesty, but the King of Goryeo is said to lead a large army to rescue Silla."
News had reached the Baekje camp that Goryeo forces were advancing south. Though numbering over forty thousand, the Baekje-Wa allied force opposing them was roughly equal, giving the Baekje army confidence.
Compared to historical records, the scale was drastically different. As Goryeo under Dae In-seon grew stronger, the battles with Baekje had escalated. The war had shifted from minor skirmishes to full-scale conflict, signaling the imminent collapse of the Later Three Kingdoms.
"Pajinchan, is this true? Ha… now you say so? It's like locking the barn after losing the cow."
"Not entirely, Your Majesty. If the queen joins forces with the King of Goryeo, Silla will not fully belong to us."
Nung-hwan's pointed reminder added fine wrinkles to Ken-hwon's face. If Queen Jinseong went to Dae In-seon rather than him, the neutral Silla nobles would naturally side away from Baekje—a major setback.
"…Hmm. For now, we shall unite with the Wa forces at Geumseong."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
With nothing else immediately possible, the Baekje army advanced toward Geumseong to prepare for the confrontation with Goryeo.
Meanwhile, Dae In-seon's army advanced slowly. Following Yu Geum-pil's advice, they took their time; the enemy forces would inevitably consolidate, and rushing could bring them straight into a fortified Baekje-Wa position at Geumseong.
If they had arrived swiftly at Seorabeol, the Hangu Banners would have had to face the combined enemy without breathing room, allowing Baekje and Wa to strengthen their formations. From the moment Seorabeol fell to rebels, Dae In-seon's original plan of defeating the Baekje-Wa army with reinforcements while Silla held Seorabeol had become irrelevant.
"Your Majesty, all enemy forces have now joined."
"…A quick decisive strike is impossible, then?"
"While a full-scale battle could mobilize the pro-Goryeo Silla nobles, our own losses would be considerable."
All commanders in the Goryeo camp bit their lips. The Silla rebellion had disrupted operations. Even with a full engagement, they could not overwhelm the Baekje-Wa coalition numerically.
Dae In-seon realized the danger and decided to pull back temporarily.
"…If it's too late, there's nothing we can do."
"Y-Your Majesty! Are you abandoning Silla?"
"Of course not. Fighting recklessly would harm both Silla's people and our own forces. We must change strategy."
He gave a brief reply to the pitifully frowning Queen Jinseong, then drew a prepared letter—essentially an imperial decree.
"Have a plan, Your Majesty?"
"Well… you'll see in time. Aruji, send this letter to Lee Jae-chun's guild in Gaegyeong."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Dae In-seon handed the scroll to Aruji and glanced at Choi Chiwon, who could not forget the sly smile playing on Dae In-seon's lips.
It was the smile of someone clearly plotting something. Choi Chiwon suspected that while Goryeo was not in immediate danger, Dae In-seon was preparing a strategy to deal with the situation—if he were truly abandoning Silla, he would not have prepared at all.
"What strategy are you planning, Your Majesty?"
"Choi Ichan, the principle is to make small things appear large and large things appear small. I intend to try a little bluff."
"A bluff, Your Majesty?"
"You'll see. Oh, and we'll need some Silla forces as well."
Following Dae In-seon's command, the army halted near Geumseong and took defensive positions. Outwardly, it seemed they had stopped because the enemy numbers were uncertain, prompting Ken-hwon and his generals to openly mock Dae In-seon and the Silla queen.
Yet this marked the beginning of a new battle.
Rumors spread throughout Silla that Goryeo would send reinforcements.
"Did you hear? Goryeo's sending support."
"I thought they'd halted their advance?"
"They're waiting for reinforcements to join before moving down. The queen is already with the Goryeo camp—of course support will come."
The rumors escalated: if Goryeo sent an army to wipe out the Baekje-Wa forces at Geumseong, Silla citizens began to hope for salvation.
"Not from Gaegyeong, from the north," one said.
"The north? From Liaodong?"
The northern army meant Goryeo's Liaodong forces. The Manchu Banners were elite, but the main power of Goryeo lay in Liaodong. Historically, the Liaodong army had defeated vast numbers of Sui and Tang forces, and now, stationed there, they could confront the central plains.
The available force numbered around 100,000, and with minimal garrison left behind, up to 150,000 could be deployed.
The approach of the Liaodong army was not something the Baekje-Wa coalition could ignore.
Merchants who had fled after the rebellion began preparing to leave, having received news from traders moving between Goryeo and the central plains.
"Let's also leave Silla quickly."
"Yes. With Goryeo raising a large army amid the chaos, this place will soon be in ruins."
"…What do you mean? Goryeo is raising a massive army?"
Disguised as merchants, Baekje soldiers overheard the news and confronted the traders.
"Have you not heard? Goryeo is mobilizing 150,000 from Liaodong."
"Is… that true?"
The Baekje troops were shocked. Even with the rebels, victory over Goryeo was no guarantee.
"Of course. Any reputable merchant would know via the Goryeo prefectures of Yeongju and Buyeo. The rumor spread quickly, so there's no need to stay in Silla to face certain defeat."
As merchants prepared to leave, the Baekje army hurried to Geumseong.
News reached Goryeo's camp as well, prompting Choi Chiwon to seek audience with Dae In-seon.
"Your Majesty, if you move the Liaodong army south, who will defend Goryeo's north?"
"Move them south? Who said that?"
"Your Majesty, did you not command it?"
Choi Chiwon opposed removing the main army. Liaodong had historically blocked central plains armies from advancing into the Three Han lands; leaving it undefended risked the north.
Yet Dae In-seon merely smiled, leaving Choi Chiwon bewildered.
"Why would we move the Liaodong army? Feeding 200,000 men in the field is impossible."
"…Huh?"
Dae In-seon's bluff left Choi Chiwon dumbfounded. While Goryeo had sufficient forces, provisioning such a massive army on the march was impossible. Supplies were already stretched feeding the 45,000-strong army in Kaegyeong.
Dae In-seon looked at Choi Chiwon, amused. The scholar, who had once competed with Balhae through civil service exams, failed to see the bluff.
"It's a bluff. Simply a bluff."
"…Your Majesty, will this strategy even work? Ken-hwon will not be deceived."
"Indeed. Ken-hwon won't believe it… but Baekje generals and the Wa forces will. They are unaware of Goryeo's true condition. Japan has no reason to risk defeat—they only came for spoils. That is the point I exploit."
Unlike Baekje, Japan could simply return home after taking what they wanted at Geumseong. The resulting confusion in the Baekje-Wa command marked the start of Dae In-seon's cunning plan.