Chapter 106: Fall of Goryeo

Xu Da was already waiting at the Military Camp outside the city.

"Xu Shu!" Zhu Yong dismounted and saluted.

Xu Da laughed as he helped him up: "Prince has achieved another great feat, crossing the river to defeat the enemy, capturing several cities in succession; the Goryeo Army is terrified."

"Xu Shu, you flatter me; taking Pingrang so quickly is the real great achievement," Zhu Yong said with a simple smile.

The two entered the Central Command Tent.

Inside the tent, the assembled generals gathered, including Chang Yuchun, Lan Yu, Li Wenzhong and others.

"Prince has arrived, just in time; let's discuss the next step. Goryeo Wang Zhuan has retreated to Kaicheng, gathering about thirty thousand remnants. Kaicheng is the old capital of Goryeo, its defenses are strong and hard to assault,"

Xu Da pointed at the map and said.

Chang Yuchun said, "A direct assault would cause too many casualties; better to besiege, cut off their grain routes, and wait for them to fall into disorder."

"A siege takes too long; His Majesty wants a swift decisive battle and we can only encircle three sides," Xu Da shook his head and said.

Zhu Yong looked at the map and suddenly asked, "Xu Shu, is the Goryeo Navy still present?"

Xu Da was startled and replied, "The main force of the Goryeo Navy is around Busan, about a hundred warships. What's the matter?"

"I have an idea: send a detachment to sail around and land behind Kaicheng, striking from both sides," Zhu Yong said earnestly.

The generals' eyes lit up.

"Good plan... the Goryeo Army's attention is on land, the sea is empty; if a surprise force lands from the rear, it will surely disrupt their deployment," Li Wenzhong approved.

"Who will go?" Xu Da asked.

The generals eagerly volunteered for battle.

Zhu Yong said, "I'll go! I've never fought a war from a ship before!"

Xu Da pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Very well, Yong Er is good at tough battles. After landing, a rapid beachhead must be established; the pressure is great. I'll give you twenty thousand men and fifty warships. Is that enough?"

Xu Da paused briefly, nodded and said, "Very well, Yong Er excels at hard battles; after the landing we must quickly establish a beachhead, the pressure is not small."

"I will lead the main force in a feint on the front, to fix the Goryeo Army. You will land at Incheon, thrust straight into the rear of Kaicheng; after ten days, we will launch a coordinated final assault," Xu Da said.

"Understood!"

With the plan set, the generals each prepared.

Zhu Yong returned to his own camp and summoned his subordinates.

"Zhang Wu, Chen Heng and Chang Mao, follow me across the sea; Wang Gui, you lead five thousand men to hold Pingrang, guard the prisoners and transport Grain and Fodder."

"Affirmative!"

"Elder Brother, you are familiar with Liaodong; after I leave, you will assist Xu Shu in defending the rear against Nüzhen remnants," Zhu Yong said to Wang Baobao.

Wang Baobao solemnly replied, "King Wu, rest assured; this humble officer will not disappoint the trust placed in me."

That night, Zhu Yong led twenty thousand elite troops to slip away from the Military Camp, heading toward the eastern coast.

On November 20, they reached the Incheon coast.

Fifty warships were already waiting there.

Most of these vessels were captured Goryeo warships, with some belonging to the Great Ming navy.

Zhu Yong, seeing so many ships for the first time, smiled naively, "Huge indeed."

They boarded and raised the sails.

Twenty thousand troops and horses boarded the fifty ships and sailed southwest.

The sea was rough; many Northern Region soldiers suffered seasickness and vomited.

Zhu Yong also felt uneasy at first, but his constitution was exceptional and he adapted quickly.

After two days of sailing, on October 21, the fleet arrived in the waters west of Kaicheng.

The coastline was visible far off.

"General, ahead is the landing point; on the shore there is a Goryeo Army outpost of about five hundred men," the guide reported.

"Eliminate them," Zhu Yong said simply.

Fifty warships ran aground, and the Ming troops poured out.

The Goryeo outpost had not reacted before it was overwhelmed.

Zhu Yong led his forces ashore, swiftly securing the beachhead.

"Zhang Wu, lead five thousand men to the left and seize that high ground; Chen Heng, lead five thousand men to the right and block the road; Chang Mao, you take the remaining troops and follow me to advance ten li and set up camp,"

The outpost's Goryeo Army hadn't yet reacted when it was engulfed.

The Ming troops moved swiftly; in half an hour they established a solid landing zone.

Zhu Yong stood on the heights, looking at the distant Kaicheng city walls.

Flags fluttered atop the walls as the garrison patrolled back and forth.

They still did not know that enemies had already arrived behind them.

"Send the order: rest for one night, tomorrow build the camp and hold firm, awaiting Xu Shu's signal,"

Flags fluttered atop the city wall as the garrison patrolled back and forth.

That night, Zhu Yong sat in the camp, studying the map.

Kaicheng is surrounded by mountains on three sides and faces the sea on one, making it easy to defend and hard to attack.

But a landing from the sea bypasses the most formidable defenses.

"General, there are Goryeo civilians," a sentinel reported.

Zhu Yong stepped out of the tent and saw several elderly Goryeo farmers being brought in, kneeling on the ground trembling.

But landing from the sea bypassed the most perilous defensive line.

"General, there are Korean civilians," the sentry reported.

Zhu Yong stepped out of his tent and saw a few elderly Korean farmers being brought in, kneeling on the ground trembling.

"Ask them where the Kaicheng grain and fodder depot is," Zhu Yong said to the interpreter.

The interpreter, after inquiring, reported: "They say most of Kaicheng's grain and fodder is stored in the Yongfeng Warehouse west of the city, with about two thousand defenders."

Zhu Yong's eyes lit up.

"Tomorrow, first strike Yongfeng Warehouse."

…

October 23, morning.

Zhu Yong led Five Thousand Elite Soldiers in a sudden raid on Yongfeng Warehouse.

The defending troops were caught off guard, and the warehouse gate was breached.

Two thousand defenders resisted for an hour, suffering over half casualties, and the remainder surrendered.

Zhu Yong ordered the granary opened and the food distributed to the Goryeo civilian laborers accompanying the army.

"Tell the people of Kaicheng that Great Ming does not kill the surrendered, does not seize grain, only punishes the chief evildoers; if Kaicheng surrenders, lives and property will be spared."

The news spread quickly.

Inside Kaicheng, Wang Zhuan of Goryeo learned that the rear had been attacked and the granary seized, and was shocked pale.

"When did the Ming army cross the sea, and why has no one reported back..."

The minister, trembling, said: "His Majesty, the Ming army landed at Incheon, moved swiftly, the outpost was annihilated, and no news could be sent back…"

"Useless one, what now? We have Xu Da in front, Zhu Yong behind, and the granary has been taken again…" Wang Zhuan shouted in fury.

"His Majesty, we can only hold to the death…" someone said.

"Hold? Hold what? The grain and fodder lasts only half a month, we are besieged on two sides, how can we hold? Who originally said we should attack Great Ming's territory?"

Wang Zhuan sank into his seat, his eyes filled with despair.

…

November 26, Xu Da's main force launched a feint attack on Kaicheng's front.

Catapults and ladders advanced together, creating a massive spectacle.

The Goryeo army defended with full force.

At the same time, Zhu Yong launched the real attack from the rear.

Five Thousand Ming troops surged against Kaicheng's West Gate.

Zhu Yong rode ahead on horseback, smashing the city gate with Double Hammers.

The defending troops scattered.

Ming forces poured into the city.

"Surrenderers are not killed!" Zhu Yong shouted.

Goryeo soldiers abandoned their weapons one after another.

From the direction of the royal palace, shouts of slaughter rose.

Goryeo King Wang Zhuan, under the protection of his personal guard, attempted to break out through the East Gate.

Just as he stepped out of the palace gate, he met Zhu Yong.

"Goryeo King, surrender!" Zhu Yong said.

Wang Zhuan looked at the blood-soaked young commander before him, gave a wry smile and said, "You are Prince Wu."

"Yes."

"Defeated at your hands, it is no injustice; I… surrender." Wang Zhuan let out a long sigh, dismounted, removed his side sword, knelt on the ground and spoke.

The king surrendered, and the remaining defenders lost all will to fight, surrendering en masse.

November 27, noon, Kaicheng fell.

Goryeo, perished.

Zhu Yong stood before Kaicheng's royal palace, watching the ground covered with kneeling surrendered officials and generals.

In the distance, Xu Da's main army was entering the city through the East Gate.

"Prince, well done!" Chang Yuchun shouted from afar.

Zhu Yong gave a simple smile.

This battle spanned from August to November, from Liaodong to Goryeo.

Northern Extermination of Jurchen, Southern Pacification of Goryeo.

He accomplished it.

Sunlight shone on his face, somewhat dazzling.

Yet he smiled broadly.

Because the day of his return home was now a step nearer.