Chapter 56 : New Tactics
Chapter 56: New Tactics
A son was born.
Boknyeo gave birth to a baby boy.
“So that means… I’ve become a father?”
I froze at those words.
Maeng Sap chuckled as he looked at me.
“What’s wrong with this guy?”
Had I stayed frozen too long?
Go Jaemu nudged me and said,
“His name is On’an.”
“Wan’an?”
“No, On’an! It means warm and peaceful.”
That name was probably chosen by Go Yangseong himself. He used to go around saying he’d name his grandson personally.
‘Still, On’an, huh… Not Onsamu?’
Onsamu, in the original history, was a Grand General of Goguryeo who was defeated by Xue Rengui during the Goguryeo–Tang war eighty years from now.
There’s no recorded connection to Ondal… but the records on Goguryeo’s On Clan mention only two people—Ondal and Onsamu—both of whom were military commanders.
That’s why historians speculate that “there’s a significant possibility they were of the same bloodline.”
I, too, had never seen another On Clan member in Goguryeo’s political sphere aside from myself, so I couldn’t help but wonder—
Could my son be Onsamu?
Eighty years from now might be a bit of a stretch age-wise… but considering people like King Jangsu and Isabu were active even in old age, maybe it wasn’t so far-fetched.
But my son was not Onsamu.
He was On’an.
‘If Onsamu really were my descendant, he might be my grandson, not my son.’
Bloodlines are a terrifying thing. Here I am thinking about my grandson before even seeing my son’s face.
But it couldn’t be helped.
Even without laying eyes on him, the child already felt carved deep into my chest.
I asked,
“How’s the baby? Is he healthy? What about Boknyeo?”
“They’re both doing well. She drinks almost three bowls of seaweed soup a day. I hear the milk’s flowing fine too. And the baby cries so loudly that people in Pyeongyang can’t sleep at night.”
They’re both healthy.
Hearing that set my heart at ease.
“Here, the princess asked me to give this to you.”
He handed me a piece of paper.
I hurriedly read it. It said:
[Not a daughter, but a son! I’m happy about it, but don’t be too disappointed. He’s so cute! His name is On’an. Father named him.
Your friends have helped me so much. It seems you made good friends at the Academy.
Yeon Jayu sends seaweed every day. Apparently, you told him to make sure I had plenty of seaweed and beef when the baby was born?
We stir-fry it with pork and vegetables just like you said, and it’s delicious.
My dear, I miss you.]
All sorts of mundane, trivial things.
But perhaps it’s those mundane, trivial things that truly matter in life.
Aren’t these the things we risk our lives for?
“Hey, are you crying?”
Go Jaemu asked.
I nodded.
“Yeah, I’m crying. You guys should try having a kid.”
“…Tch.”
“Anyway, thanks for the good news.”
At that moment, a deep yearning swelled in my chest.
Watching the refugees here, I was struck again by the horrors of war.
I wished my child would live not through war,
But through a mundane life—
And die a mundane death…
“Thank you both for coming all the way here.”
“Both? There’s one more.”
“One more?”
“Yeah. He passed out and is sleeping. No matter how much of a genius he is, he’s still a kid.”
“A genius… could it be?”
“Who else? It’s Eulji Mundeok, of course.”
Eulji Mundeok was here.
---
Just like in the original history, Eulji Mundeok was a prodigy.
“By the end of second year, Dr. Lee Shin said there was nothing more to teach him besides social skills—and that wasn’t something he could teach anyway.”
“Was he really that good?”
“Yeah. So in third year, Go Heul himself came to teach him once or twice a month.”
That meant Eulji Mundeok was effectively Go Heul’s direct disciple.
In 21st-century terms, he was that student the professor had a special fondness for.
But in Goguryeo, while there was a National Academy, there was no Graduate School.
Eulji Mundeok graduated top of his class instead of becoming a slave, and once word spread that he was the prized pupil of the proud Go Heul, offers came pouring in.
Although he was a collateral branch, he still carried the blood of the Eul Clan, descended from Eulpaso,
And being born in Pyeongyang made him part of the Pyeongyang Faction.
From the Jungri Bureau to the Royal Army, everyone wanted Eulji Mundeok to start his career with them.
All the key positions were vying for him.
“But this kid rejected them all and volunteered for the Northern front with you. Said something like, ‘Something big is going to happen here soon, and I can’t miss it.’”
However, marching north was tough for a mere fifteen-year-old. He had collapsed asleep in a cart.
Still, it’s his growth period, so sleeping a lot is normal.
‘Looking at him like this, he’s still just a kid…’
I waited in front of him, just like Liu Bei did in front of Zhuge Liang, until he woke from his light nap.
Three visits?
This was Eulji Mundeok we were talking about.
Why not thirty visits?
“You sleep well?”
“Ah… I’m sorry.”
Eulji Mundeok wiped his drool as he got up.
I extended my hand toward him.
“Anyway, I’m glad you’re here. I’m counting on you.”
“You’re counting on me… I should be the one asking that.”
“Still, what made you come all this way? I heard lots of people wanted you in the capital.”
“Politics aren’t my thing. Honestly, I find it exhausting trying to please others.”
Eulji Mundeok blinked.
“But I’m pretty confident in warfare. So, I heard you’re planning a new strategy?”
Talking about strategy the moment he arrives.
So very Eulji Mundeok.
---
Maeng Sap, Go Jaemu, and Eulji Mundeok.
Among them, Maeng Sap and Go Jaemu received the same junior elder rank as I did.
It was expected. Go Jaemu was the son of the Southern Division Leader, and Maeng Sap, the son of the Western Division Leader.
With their backgrounds, rapid promotion was almost guaranteed.
The surprising part was that Eulji Mundeok received the middle elder rank, not junior.
“Based on grades alone, junior elder would’ve been appropriate. But General Go Heul objected.”
“Why?”
“Said it’s not good for a kid to jump ahead too fast.”
Hmm, that made sense. Given Eulji Mundeok’s abilities, his rise was certain.
Giving him a more measured image might actually work in his favor.
In any case, the four of us gathered in Gun’an Fortress,
And talked just like we did in our Academy days.
Meaning…
“Instead of organizing Gaema Cavalry and light cavalry into separate corps as we do now, you’re suggesting forming units with both types of troops together?”
We talked strategy.
Eulji Mundeok gave a thoughtful hum and quickly understood my idea.
“That’s the so-called Guai-zama tactics. You used to go on about that all the time back at the Academy.”
“Exactly. To stop cavalry, infantry units already mix slow spearmen and fast sabermen. Mixed formations like these have already proven more effective than single-type units. What I’m suggesting is applying that principle to cavalry formations as well.”
I tried my best to persuade Eulji Mundeok. His role was crucial to finalizing this tactic.
I had forcibly learned the Jin dynasty’s tactics from the Khan,
But applying them to real battle was a whole different matter.
‘Like the difference between an idea and a finished product.’
Just like with the baby arrow. I had the initial idea,
But it needed someone like Wang Jun, the best expert in the field, to complete it as a tactic.
As before, I would provide this “idea” to Eulji Mundeok, and leave the completion to him—Goguryeo’s greatest general in the future.
Of course, the current Eulji Mundeok wasn’t yet the seasoned veteran he would be as the CEO of Salsu Waterpark,
But he had already rewritten every record related to strategy at the Academy.
That was more than enough to place my trust in him. Even the proud Go Jaemu and Maeng Sap listened closely whenever Eulji Mundeok spoke of tactics.
‘During our Academy days, Yeon Taejo didn’t react well to Guai-zama tactics. What about Eulji Mundeok?’
I looked at Eulji Mundeok with great anticipation.
He pondered for a moment and then spoke.
“The concept itself… certainly seems plausible.”
Just as I expected!
Eulji Mundeok said,
“The pride of Goguryeo is undoubtedly the heavily armored Gaema Cavalry, but the light cavalry of the Malgal also plays a crucial role in our overall combat strength. The armored cavalry of the Western Lands outnumber the Gaema Cavalry significantly.”
“Exactly.”
“With your strategy, based on battlefield scenarios, two light cavalrymen and three heavy cavalrymen could adequately face five enemy heavy cavalry. That’s using cheaper light cavalry to defeat expensive heavy cavalry—a value that should never be overlooked. However, the question is whether this would work in practice…”
“It will.”
I couldn’t say it outright, but in the Battle of Jupilsan, the Tang dynasty used this very light-heavy cavalry mixed formation to thoroughly outmaneuver our Gaema Cavalry.
Eulji Mundeok stared at me.
“You seem certain. Again.”
“Yes.”
“Hm…”
Eulji Mundeok said,
“…To employ both types together, the military organization would first need restructuring. The cooperation system between troop types would also need improvement. And…”
“Wait. Shouldn’t we ask the most important question first?”
It was Go Jaemu who interrupted.
“Before that… did you get permission for this?”
Right.
This was the military.
You needed permission even to take a dump.
And the only one here with the authority to approve this was… none other than Yoksa Go San.
If Go San didn’t approve it, even if I were Napoleon and Hannibal combined, I couldn’t do anything.
But I wasn’t unprepared.
“My aides, Woongbeom and Hosan, are working on something. Once everything is ready, I’ll go ask for permission.”
“Working on something?”
Maeng Sap looked puzzled.
“What kind of preparations do you need just to get permission?”
---
A few days later, during a staff meeting.
“…I believe there will be war. And if the armored cavalry of Northern Zhou invades, we’ll need tactics to counter them.”
I presented the Guai-zama tactics to Go San. As soon as he heard it, he scoffed.
“So this is your proposal? You want to command 120 Gaema Cavalry and 180 light cavalry—just as a newly minted junior elder? Unbelievable. Even a clan chief only leads 100 men. Did you secretly get promoted to elder without my knowledge?”
“I won’t be alone. It’ll be me, Maeng Sap, Eulji Mundeok, and Go Jaemu—four of us. Including 100 logistics troops to support the cavalry, we can keep the total exactly at 400.”
Of course, it was theoretically possible—but honestly, it was overstepping.
In 21st-century terms, it was like a platoon leader in charge of 50 men saying, “Give me 50 tanks.”
Go San rubbed his forehead.
“You know you’re being unreasonable, right? Ondal, I feel like you’re putting yourself in a situation you can’t handle.”
“Responsibility, you say?”
But I hadn’t come without a plan.
“Just give me a moment. I’ll show you how I take responsibility.”
Saying that, I stepped out of the tent, and returned dragging the “preparation” behind me with a rope slung over my shoulder.
The generals’ eyes widened.
“That’s…”
“A coffin, isn’t it?”
Correct. A coffin—custom-made to fit my size exactly.
Go San blinked.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“This is my coffin. If I fail, I’ll lie in it.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“There are moments in a man’s life when he must stake his life. When was that moment for you, Yoksa-nim? For me, it’s now!”
If it were the 21st century, this would be utter nonsense.
But this was a macho society.
And I had the historical Ondal as my precedent.
In King Yeongyang’s reign, Ondal was only an elder,
But thanks to the coffin performance, he secured a general’s position beyond his rank.
Then surely, I could do the same.
“The moment we give up is when the war ends! I won’t give up! Who am I? Say my name!”
Go Jaemu and Maeng Sap, watching this unfold, understood what needed to be done.
“I—I’ll stake my life too! He’s my friend!”
Maeng Sap, moved by my display of masculinity, jumped into the coffin first.
Go Jaemu hesitantly stepped forward.
Even Eulji Mundeok sighed and stood in front of it.
The image of the Grand King’s son-in-law, the sons of the Southern and Western Division Leaders, and plain old Eulji Mundeok all huddled around one coffin—
It moved even the other generals.
“Huh, reminds me of my youth.”
“That kind of guts is what you need.”
Suddenly, the mood shifted in my favor.
It definitely wasn’t because I slipped ginseng into their pockets. Goguryeo men were just naturally romantic.
Just look at the Battle of Baekhapya. When Buyeo Chang challenged them to single combat, Goguryeo took it seriously—and lost the battle.
Their warrior spirit is the real deal.
For them, instead of lengthy academic explanations about mixed cavalry tactics, a simple “Then I’ll die” worked better.
“So you’ve got confidence, huh?”
Sensing the shift, Go San looked at me and my comrades.
“The light cavalry will be Malgal only. And the Gaema Cavalry will be mostly new recruits, volunteers only.”
“…You mean?”
“Fine, go ahead. You even brought a coffin—if I reject you before you open it, I’d look like the fool. But you’ll take full responsibility if you fail.”
In the end, he granted permission.
Dragging that coffin had paid off.
‘Or maybe… it was for another reason.’
Now that I’d brought out a coffin, I had no choice but to succeed.
From Go San’s perspective, I might have looked like someone recklessly gambling everything.
Especially since what I was proposing was a “new tactic.”
In Goguryeo, National Academy students and brash youths often came up with so-called “new tactics.”
Most of them failed.
Even though we were preparing for unrest, whether war with Northern Zhou would actually break out was still uncertain.
If it didn’t, my reputation would take a massive hit.
I’d be branded as the fool who overreacted to a war that never happened.
In Go San’s eyes, I had willingly bet all I had on a low-odds gamble—so there was no reason for him to refuse.
He might even be hoping I’d crash and burn.
‘Of course… that won’t happen.’
The Battle of Baesan would definitely occur.
I had the Guai-zama tactics, proven in the future,
And Eulji Mundeok, the guaranteed future general.
If I failed with these conditions?
That would be the same as saying, “You have no talent for war. Give up.”
And if that happened, I’d resign myself before Go San ever tried to block me.
No matter how much I shouted, I wouldn’t help Goguryeo.
It’d be better to go back to Pyeongyang and farm—that would help more.
So, in my view, this was something that ought to succeed.
If it failed, it would only prove that I was incapable of succeeding even at the obvious,
Helping me change paths quickly.
“I’ll stake my life and give it everything I’ve got.”
There was absolutely no reason not to do it.
---
Historical Notes:
1. There’s a popular belief that the Tang dynasty’s Chohakki mentions, “The people of Goguryeo saw whales eating seaweed for postnatal recovery and began eating it themselves.”
However, such content does not exist in Chohakki.
The earliest records of seaweed consumption appear around the Goryeo period, stating that all classes ate it.
The whale story first appears in Joseon’s Cheongseongjapgi, and does not mention Goguryeo.
So, while it's true that “our ancestors enjoyed seaweed for a long time,” the whale anecdote remains unverified.
Still, this only means the source is unclear—not that Goguryeo people didn’t eat seaweed.
Seaweed has been eaten on the Korean Peninsula since the Neolithic Age.
2. When one mentions the Malgal, the seven Malgal tribes centered around the Tumen and Amur Rivers are most famous.
However, Malgal populations were also widely spread across the regions near the Yalu River and Liao River in Liaodong–Liaoxi.
Dae Joyeong, who founded Balhae, also started from this area before moving east to establish Balhae in Dongmo Mountain.
No matter how much I shouted, I wouldn’t help Goguryeo.
It’d be better to go back to Pyeongyang and farm—that would help more.
So, in my view, this was something that ought to succeed.
If it failed, it would only prove that I was incapable of succeeding even at the obvious,
Helping me change paths quickly.
“I’ll stake my life and give it everything I’ve got.”
There was absolutely no reason not to do it.
---
Historical Notes:
1. There’s a popular belief that the Tang dynasty’s Chohakki mentions, “The people of Goguryeo saw whales eating seaweed for postnatal recovery and began eating it themselves.”
However, such content does not exist in Chohakki.
The earliest records of seaweed consumption appear around the Goryeo period, stating that all classes ate it.
The whale story first appears in Joseon’s Cheongseongjapgi, and does not mention Goguryeo.
So, while it's true that “our ancestors enjoyed seaweed for a long time,” the whale anecdote remains unverified.
Still, this only means the source is unclear—not that Goguryeo people didn’t eat seaweed.
Seaweed has been eaten on the Korean Peninsula since the Neolithic Age.
2. When one mentions the Malgal, the seven Malgal tribes centered around the Tumen and Amur Rivers are most famous.
However, Malgal populations were also widely spread across the regions near the Yalu River and Liao River in Liaodong–Liaoxi.
Dae Joyeong, who founded Balhae, also started from this area before moving east to establish Balhae in Dongmo Mountain.