BES: Chapter 11

Over the course of the next three days, I took my Minghan to join Uriyangkidai and the other commanders as we ventured out of Zhending City at the head of the Army, heading northeast for Goryeo. I had inspected my own troops the previous night before we left and had found my single Minghan of One-Thousand Troops to have been largely drawn from Yan Orda. Six hundred were a mix of Jurchens, Manchus, and Mongols from Liaoning, while the rest were a mix of Han Chinese Infantry and Korean Archers from the area along the north and west of the Bohai Sea. Really, this could have been considered something of a territorial Minghan for me in my capacity as Prince of Yan.

What intrigued me the most was that the Korean Infantry wasn't fond of Goryeo. Instead, they were descendants of those who had followed Yang-gŏm and Yong-gŏm during the Civil War in Later Baekje that had ended with Goryeo conquering Later Baekje and the exile of both Yang-gŏm and Yong-gŏm. Apparently, they were the descendants of those followers of Yang-gŏm and Yong-gŏm who had followed their leaders into Exile before settling in Current-Day Yan Orda in what had then been the lands of the Liao Dynasty. They were eager to avenge their ancestors' defeat at the hands of Goryeo. They were equipped with Korean Bows and Arrows along with Brigandine Armor, and led by a Noble named Yi Hwŏn, a distant descendant of Yang-gŏm, who would act as one of my lieutenants within the Minghan. Yi Hwŏn was an expert marksman and knew how to command archers in the field, though he had never commanded so many at once before.

The Han Chinese in my Minghan, meanwhile, were mostly men drawn from Dadu and the other cities of Yan Orda. Most had a trade that they knew aside from soldiering, and a few were engineers, though obviously not a full engineering corps, as command of something like that would be the purview of generals and not of a mere aide like myself, even if I was a Prince. They were equipped with Ji-style halberds and lamellar armor, and were led by a local Han Noble named Jing Dan, who was hoping to earn back his legal status of nobility by leading the Han Chinese Contingent of my Minghan in war, after his family had been stripped of their legal status of nobility during the Conquest of the Jin. Jing Dan was a swordsman who had studied both swordsmanship and engineering and who seemed to have a decent level of charisma to command troops.

In the meantime, my cavalry troops were divided roughly into thirds, with Two Hundred Jurchen Cavalrymen under Suike of the Jiagu Clan, Two Hundred Manchu Cavalry under Eje of the Uya Clan, and Two Hundred Mongol Cavalrymen, which were to be commanded directly by me as a bodyguard unit. All were equipped with Lamellar Armor and carried lance, sword, and bow. All were mounted on horseback, as was tradition on the Steppe.

As I led my Minghan to join the army of five tumen, fifty thousand troops, to face off against King Gojong of Goryeo and his twenty thousand soldiers, I got to know my Lieutenants a bit better, which was just as vital as getting to know the general staff. Guanxi went both ways, after all, and given how many Han Chinese were in my Minghan, it was a good idea to keep that in mind. As for the invasion, it should be a walkover, but as I had studied my history, I knew that wouldn't be the case, thanks to Gwangmu Island and King Gojong largely retreating there. Fortunately, we had something that the Mongols hadn't had the first time around, thanks to my efforts. I could see them now, as we joined with the rest of the army near the logistics base at the mouth of the Tonghui River, where it flowed into the Bohai Sea, on the third day of our journey.

The half-lateen, half-junk sails and the sleeker, Sixteenth-Century, European-style hulls that I had sketched out for Liau Yong Cho, with their decks mounting not only early cannons, a refinement of the Wuwei Bronze Cannon that I had helped Liau Yong Cho figure out, but also Hwacha, which had been refined from my sketches and descriptions by Liau Yong Cho, were docked out in the Bohai Sea. There weren't many of them compared to the fleet of normal junks present, perhaps fifteen compared to the sixty junks, but they were crewed with Hokkien Crews at my suggestion, who had been paid handsomely to sail them. These were our secret weapons to compel King Gojong to leave Gwangmu Island.

Aside from that, the camp of fifty thousand troops was a sight to behold, banners fluttering in the breeze that showed men from all over the empire were present here. My Uncle Mongke had not only drawn men from my Father's portion of the Empire, but also Khwarzmian Infantry and Dzungar Cavalry from the lands of what would become the Chagatai Khanate if the future remained the same, Cuman and Kipchak Cavalry along with Russian and Ruthenian Infantry from the Golden Horde that Ariq Boke had sent over, as well as Persian Cavalry and Kwarzmian Infantry from the lands that would become the Eastern Ilkhanate eventually if History didn't change, though not many, as my Uncle Hulegu was busy conquering the rest of the Future Ilkhanate and couldn't spare much. It was all very impressive, not least of which was my father's contribution to the Army, which included the same Han Chinese Siege Engineers and Infantry, Korean Archers, and Mongol, Jurchen, and Manchu Cavalry present within my own Minghan, but also included a Tibetan contingent of cavalry and infantry as well that my Brother, Dorji, had sent along as a token contribution.

It was the Empire made manifest on the field to finally tear down one of its most recalcitrant vassals, and that was all very impressive. As I led my men into camp, my Lieutenants obviously agreed with that sentiment, speaking up as we brought my Minghan into the army properly.

"This looks like quite the undertaking, Your Highness, wouldn't you agree?" Questioned Jing Dan affably.

The Wiry Han Chinese Officer's hair was cut short, and he bore no beard, instead being immaculately coiffed and shaven, as he didn't want to give anyone anything to grab onto in battle. He was also quite vain, even if he wasn't annoying about it, carrying a silvered mirror with him to help him maintain proper hygiene, or so he said. Personally, I figured some folks just liked to spend time in front of a mirror, but that was just my take.

"It does, though I have to say that it's warranted." I concurred.

"King Gojong ought to know when he's beaten." Scoffed Eje of the Uya Clan.

The Bull of the Uya Clan was almost the exact opposite of Jing Dan's immaculate appearance. Eje kept his hair wild and beard long, like some sort of barbarian out of fiction. Personally, I felt it matched his more stubborn and gruff personality compared to Jing Dan's more affable one. They didn't call him the Bull of the Uya Clan for nothing, either, as he was large and burly compared to Jing Dan's wiry frame.

"I have to agree with Eje. This is the fifth time we have had to go in to chastise the Koreans. Their island has made King Gojong cocky. They won't be so cocky anymore, soon, though. Not with those floating fortresses." Smirked Suike of the Jiagu Clan.

The Jurchen Noble was neither wiry like Jing Dan, nor burly like Eje, but was average height and build, with hair cut short, but also a beard to match. However, he was known to be an excellent all-around cavalry commander, compared to Jing Dan's Engineering Focus and Eje's straightforward combat prowess. His hazel eyes shone with a cunning glint, and he was known to employ ambush tactics and other types of tactical skullduggery.

"Much as I hate to say it, that describes the Goryeans completely. They unified the peninsula over the corpses of four other states and in defiance of the Great Liao. They have cockiness down to a science." Grumbled Yi Hwŏn.

My Korean Lieutenant wore his hair in a warrior's topknot and was wiry and small like Jing Dan was, with an emphasis on looks like Jing Dan had, as well. However, his personality wasn't nearly as affable as Jing Dan's was, being slightly sour most of the time. That was putting it mildly, as in the three days I had known my Lieutenants, it had become very clear that Yi Hwŏn could be something of a snarky grump when he wanted to be.

"I suppose it's all the better that we're headed to deal with them, then, isn't it?" I queried, getting a round of nods from my Lieutenants.

There was little enough time for idle conversation as we entered the Camp, however, because my Lieutenants and I almost immediately had to get the Minghan settled in camp. That was the work of most of a day, as supply had to be organized, horses had to be stabled, tents had to be pitched, and all of it done in an orderly enough way that things could easily be defended in the event of an ambush. By the time we had our thousand men settled in and our section of the camp organized, the sun was beginning to set.

"I hate logistics work." Sighed Yi Hwŏn, complaining.

"You're not the only one." Scoffed Eje of Clan Uya.

"It's necessary." I pointed out.

"Prince Dalai is correct, it is necessary, and all the grumbling in the world won't stop that fact from being true." Affirmed Jing Dan.

"Still, I wish we had a dedicated supply officer." Huffed Suike of the Jiagu Clan.

"That's not something they give a mere Minghan." Admonished Jing Dan.

"It would be nice just once to be an exception." Groused Yi Hwŏn.

"You'd think that with the Prince here, that might even happen." Nodded Eje of Clan Uya.

"I'm not sure they would make that exception even for Prince Dalai." Pointed out Suike of the Jiagu Clan.

"Suike's right. I'm not even my father's heir. That's my brother, Dorji. If you're looking for special treatment, I won't be the reason why." I shrugged.

"Too bad." Griped Yi Hwŏn.

Before the others could begin a round of new grumbling, however, a messenger arrived at our section of camp, bearing the Emblems of the Generals of the Army of Goryeo, as this expedition was being called by the administration of the Empire. He couldn't be much older than twelve, but that was Old enough to act as a messenger, even if he was still a year off from being sent to a more active, frontline combat role.

"Pardon me, but is Prince Dalai here?" Asked the Messenger.

"I am Prince Dalai." I confirmed.

"General Uriyangkidai wants you at the Command Pavilion so that they can begin the Council of War." Informed the Messenger.

"I see. Well, it seems I've been summoned." I nodded at my Lieutenants.

"Better you than me." Smirked Suike of Clan Jiagu.

"Indeed. I'm not made for the politics of running an army." Huffed Eje of Clan Uya.

"And I don't need to draw that sort of attention to myself." Added Jing Dan.

"Good luck in that nest of vipers. I hear it's supposed to be like the Imperial Court in miniature." Smirked Yi Hwŏn.

"Your confidence truly knows no bounds." I deadpanned.

And with that, I followed the Messenger out of our section of the camp and up toward the hill overlooking the Bohai Sea. At the top of the hill, a massive yurt-style pavilion was laid out for the Generals of the Army to gather in. The General Staff was all from my Father's section of the Empire, but there would be leaders of contingents from all over the Empire present for the formal Council of War. Would it really be a nest of vipers like Yi Hwŏn claimed? Surely my status as the son of Kublai Khan and the Aide of Uriyangkidai would protect me? As I wondered that, however, my mind flashed back to the previous debacle with Gongsun Ping, and I knew that wouldn't be the case. My rank and status would provide me no protection from Military Politics here.

As I entered the Pavilion and took my place next to Uriyangkidai, I saw various commanders from Kwarzmia, Dzungaria, Persia, Russia, Tibet, the lands of the Cumans, and the territories of the Kipchaks, and elsewhere. All of whom seemed to have different reactions to a boy of thirteen joining them. Of these, though, it was a Cuman in chainmail armor with a stereotypical Cuman mustache and a Tibetan in a Robe and Mirror Armor whose head had been shaved bald that actively showed signs of disgust at my entrance, wrinkling their noses at me as I took my place next to Uriyangkidai. A commander from my Brother's Territory and one from that of my Uncle Ariq Boke's territory.

"Let's begin the War Council, we have little enough time as it is." Intoned Uriyangkidai.

As he said that, I was resolved to watch out for the Cuman and Tibetan Commanders. If they meant to harm my prospects for command or to actively harm me as a person, I would need to be ready for that.

Only time would tell. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the first part of the War with Goryeo. I had to cut it in half and leave the actual War Council for later, since I'm still on my ten-day trip to Ireland and Scotland and have to be ready for an activity in an hour or so. In this chapter, we meet Dalai's subordinates for the campaign, and also get our first glimpses at two potential political opponents he'll face during the campaign.

At any rate, the next chapter will include the War Council Proper, with the Generals and Sub-Commanders actively discussing how to prosecute the war with Goryeo.

Stay tuned. . .