While Joseon was bustling with various affairs, a thundercloud that would bring a storm was growing in size north of Mount Baekdu.
“Beile[Lord title]. We have captured the traitors.”
“Is that so?”
Upon his subordinate’s report, ntemu rose from his seat and stepped outside.
In the wide yard in front of the wooden house where ntemu resided, four bloodied n were kneeling with their hands tied behind their backs, surrounded by ntemu’s personal guards who exuded a nacing aura.
Seated on a chair brought by his subordinate, ntemu addressed the captives.
“Why have you betrayed your brothers?”
At ntemu’s question, the man on the far right protested loudly.
“We did not betray anyone!”
“Did not betray?”
“That’s right! We rely wanted to enter Joseon because it was difficult to live here! It is our nature to leave when life becos tough!”
“That may be true. However, betraying and killing your brothers is unacceptable.”
The man raised his voice again at ntemu’s words.
“He betrayed us! When we tried to leave, he attempted to take the furs we had collected at a dirt-cheap price! So, when we protested, he drew his sword first! We only resisted to survive!”
ntemu shook his head at the man’s protest.
“Those who died at your hands were the Han who led you and his brothers who held the Ming Emperor’s decree. The Han deceiving the tribesn? Who would believe that?”
The man spat on the ground at ntemu’s words.
“Ptooey! Then kill us! Why waste ti if you won’t believe us anyway? There is no Han who deceives the tribesn? Hah! Look at yourself first, Beile! You took our well-living brothers to Kaiyuan and sold them as arrow fodder in the war between the Ming and the Mongols!”
“Kill them!”
Enraged by the man’s words, ntemu imdiately ordered his subordinates.
As soon as ntemu’s command was given, the subordinates beheaded the n without hesitation.
“Throw their corpses in the field to feed the beasts.”
“Yes, sir.”
At ntemu’s order, the subordinates tied ropes to the dead n’s legs and attached the ropes to their saddles. Holding the severed heads in one hand, the subordinates mounted their horses and rode off towards the plains.
***
Returning inside, ntemu sat on a chair and let out a long sigh.
“Huu~”
ntemu’s face, filled with remorse as he gazed into the distance, seed to have aged several years.
“Was it a mistake…?”
The cry of the man who had just died, accusing him of selling his kinsn as arrow fodder, kept echoing in ntemu’s mind.
He was well aware that this was a rumor circulating among the tribesn these days.
Clutching his head with both hands, ntemu muttered.
“There was no other choice at the ti…”
***
When ntemu t Yi Seong-gye, he had just started leading the tribe. As a young tribal leader, ntemu had made a na for himself by cleverly trapping and killing the tribe’s enemies, and releasing survivors in exchange for ransom. As the tribe grew in size, ntemu settled in Hoeryeong and beca a subordinate of Yi Seong-gye, known as the “Tiger of Liaodong.”
After Joseon was founded and Yi Seong-gye disappeared into history, the Yongle Emperor of Ming extended his hand to ntemu.
However, ntemu refused the Yongle Emperor’s proposal.
“I will live as a Joseon subject.”
Despite rejecting the proposal, the pressure from the Yongle Emperor intensified. Moreover, the Taejong in Gyeongseong was Taejong, not Yi Seong-gye.
Eventually, ntemu had no choice but to join hands with the Yongle Emperor.
Later, when Joseon discovered ntemu’s alliance with Ming, a series of revenge attacks followed, and the conflict between the two could only be resolved through Ming’s diation.
However, knowing that Joseon could attack again at any ti, ntemu had to leave Hoeryeong and head west.
Settling in Kaiyuan, where Aruktai had established himself, ntemu was able to expand his tribe’s size with Ming’s support.
“If I grow the tribe like this and return to the Ussuri River, even Joseon won’t be able to act recklessly.”
However, Ming betrayed ntemu’s expectations.
-If ten thousand Jurchen gather, the world cannot withstand them.
This was a common saying in Ming.
Knowing how the Song Dynasty had suffered at the hands of the Jin Dynasty, a Jurchen state founded by Aguda, Ming prevented the Jurchen forces from growing too powerful.
With this goal in mind, when ntemu’s Odoli tribe grew in strength, Ming conscripted the Odoli warriors for conflicts with the Mongols or imposed the role of a first line of defense against the southward-advancing Mongols.
On the other hand, they also exploited the weakness of the Jurchens living in harsh environnts.
The Jurchens had to trade with Ming rchants to obtain the necessities they needed. And the Jurchen rchants who wanted to trade with Ming rchants needed a permit issued by the Ming Emperor, known as the Imperial Decree.
With this Imperial Decree, Ming controlled and manipulated the Jurchens. If they were even slightly displeased, they would revoke or refuse to issue the decree.(Note 1)
In the end, ntemu had no choice but to return to the Ussuri River once again.
“At least I returned with a thousand warriors, unlike when I barely left with five hundred. I suppose that’s a consolation?”
Comforting himself in this way, ntemu, who had returned to the Ussuri River, imdiately sent an envoy to Joseon to inform them of his submission.
“I will live as a loyal subject of Joseon. If necessary, you may take my son as a hostage.”
However, Sejong refused.
“How could I take the son of one who has received an official post from the superior state of Ming as a hostage and have him reside in Hanseong? I do not permit it.”
Although he refused, Sejong provided ntemu with adequate food and clothing.
However, ntemu, who learned of all this news through his son, could understand Sejong’s intention.
“Yi Bang-won and his son still want my head!”
In the end, ntemu had no choice but to stay put in the Ussuri River.
However, as Sejong carried out the reformation plan and strengthened national defense, ntemu began to feel a threat to his survival.
In particular, the news that Sejong had obtained a decree from the Xuande Emperor allowing him to reclaim the birthplace of Yi Seong-gye’s family was the worst news for ntemu.
After that, as the Orankhai tribes around ntemu defected to Joseon, their territories beca Joseon’s land.
Moreover, ntemu’s relatives, the Odoli tribes, began to surrender to Joseon one by one.
The ntemu tribe had beco isolated.
***
“Huu~. Where did I make a mistake?”
Regretting his past actions, ntemu soon shook his head vigorously.
“No! I have always chosen the best course of action for the tribe! And the sa goes for now!”
ntemu rose from his seat and went outside.
“Chungseon! Chungseon! Where are you?”
At ntemu’s call, his son Chungseon ca running and knelt down.
“Did you call for , Father?”
“Gather your brothers by this evening and summon Pancha!”
“Yes, Father!”
***
That evening, ntemu’s children and his half-brother Pancha gathered at ntemu’s house.
“The ti has co for us to make a choice for the survival of our tribe.”
At ntemu’s words, the faces of his children and Pancha turned grave.
After a brief silence, Pancha, representing those gathered, posed a question.
“By choice, do you an we will clash with Joseon?”
“We strike them hard and retreat to Geonju. Or we can go to Kaiyuan.”
“The fortresses built by the Joseon bastards are impregnable. And even if we gather all our warriors now, we barely exceed seven hundred. Of course, if we scrape together everyone, we can reach twenty-five hundred, but…”
Pancha trailed off. That number of twenty-five hundred included boys who had just co of age. They knew how to handle horses, bows, and swords, but they had never experienced real battle.
ntemu nodded at Pancha’s point.
“Scraping together like that will lead to great losses. But seven hundred is far from enough, so let’s at least reach a thousand.”
“It’s still reckless.”
“I’m well aware of that too. That’s why I…”
ntemu paused for a mont to catch his breath before continuing.
“I will join hands with Manchu.”
“You an Manchu?” Pancha responded with an uncomfortable expression at ntemu’s words.
“Yes, Manchu.”
“Beile, Manchu leads a large tribe of over ten thousand households. He won’t be easy to sway. If things go wrong, we will be the ones bleeding while Manchu reaps the benefits.”
“I know. But there’s no other way. With the forces we have, we cannot face Joseon.”
Chungseon, ntemu’s son, posed a question at his father’s answer.
“Then why don’t we simply leave this place?”
“Regardless of the reason, our tribe is Joseon’s Fanhu (barbarians in charge of border defense). If we leave this place without reason, Joseon will pursue and kill us, claiming that we have betrayed them again.”
“Even though you hold an official post from Ming?”
“Joseon has the justification.”
“…”
Chungseon looked troubled by ntemu’s words.
“But will Manchu even agree to this?”
At Pancha’s point, which he had been pondering, ntemu provided the reason.
“He has no choice but to agree. Since those damned Joseon bastards started cultivating ginseng, the number of Ming rchants visiting Liaodong has decreased, and they have been constantly losing out in trade. And…”
ntemu paused to wet his throat before revealing the most compelling reason for Manchu’s participation.
“Manchu knows very well. That after , it’s his turn. And that the place he is in now is closer to Joseon than to Ming.”
At ntemu’s words, Pancha and ntemu’s children fell silent.
They, too, were well aware that their tribe was now backed into a corner.
The Orankhai tribes surrounding their tribe had already beco Joseon’s faithful hunting dogs. And other Odoli tribes, who shared the sa bloodline as them, were also defecting to Joseon.
They could not be certain that even their fellow kinsn would not slaughter them as Joseon’s spearn and swordsn.
Allying with Manchu was not very appealing either. Although ntemu said such a thing would not happen, it was almost certain that Manchu would use them as arrow fodder.
However, there was no other choice.
Eventually, Pancha spoke as the representative.
“I will prepare the warriors. When do you plan to depart?”
“We will depart tomorrow.”
“Understood.”
“Keep in mind that Joseon must not find out until we carry out the plan.”
“I will bear that in mind.”
The faces of those leaving ntemu’s house after the eting were filled with worry, concern, and unease.
“Huu~”
Pancha, who had been gazing at the sky with a long sigh, glared at the south and muttered.
“Even when surrounding an enemy, one should leave at least a minimal path of retreat, as the military texts have taught…”
It was a remark full of resentnt towards Sejong, who forced them to choose between withering to death and dying in battle.
***
The next morning, as soon as the day dawned, ntemu set out with his escort warriors towards the Pazhu River, where Manchu’s tribe was located.
***
Note 1: /
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