Chapter 25 – Gap Reforms
Dae Inseon had wondered if the central regions of the Korean Peninsula, acquired through war, would have suffered from upheaval and chaos. To his relief, aside from Songak and Sakju, most areas were reasonably intact. Nevertheless, to win the hearts of the people in those regions, Goryeo released stored grains to the populace.
While Dae Inseon had much to consider in terms of internal administration, his immediate priority was to address the most pressing issue: the rumor that the Dae royal family were Malgal by blood. The lineage of Dae Jo-yeong, the founder of Goryeo, provided convenient grounds for rebellion. Indeed, even Wang Rung had used this as a pretext to challenge Dae Inseon and other local lords—so it had to be corrected before it became a real problem.
Without delay, Dae Inseon summoned his uncle, Dae Wihae, to gather all records related to Dae Jo-yeong and investigate his origins.
"Now then… our founder, Dae Jo-yeong, was a Sogmal Malgal, wasn't he?" Dae Inseon asked casually.
Calling the king "founder" like he's just a buddy… and this isn't even the first time.
Dae Wihae cleared his throat lightly before replying.
"It's not certain whether he was Sogmal Malgal or a Goryeo person. He could have been a Goryeo descendant living among the Sogmal Malgal, or a Sogmal Malgal under Goryeo's control, treated as a Goryeo subject."
What Dae Wihae reported matched exactly what the future Dae Inseon already knew. Historical records listed Dae Jo-yeong as a Goryeo person, but only as a Sogmal Malgal-affiliated Goryeo subject. It was unclear whether he originated from Goryeo living among the Malgal or from the Malgal under Goryeo's influence.
"So he must have been from the Sogmal tribe, then," Dae Inseon concluded.
"And why would Your Majesty think so?" Dae Wihae asked cautiously.
"Making a person's origins so ambiguous suggests he wanted to maintain a certain unease as the ruler of a Goguryeo successor state. His conscience wouldn't allow him to claim outright that he was a Goryeo subject, so he phrased it as a Goryeo individual based in Sogmal territory. Of course, this is merely a plausible explanation. Founding rulers often manipulate the record to ensure legitimacy. Whether by blood he was Goryeo or Malgal, it's clear he had deep connections to the Malgal."
Dae Inseon, with memories from the future, already understood this history.
Wang Geon's ancestor, for instance, was said to be the Tang Dynasty Emperor Shuzong; his son married the daughter of the Dragon King of the West Sea, producing Wang Geon's grandfather. It was an obvious myth to legitimize lineage. Likewise, Gyeon Hwon claimed descent from Buyeo Yung to secure his own legitimacy. Every ruler had reasons to manipulate ancestry to strengthen their claim.
Dae Inseon could do the same.
I never thought there'd be no record of Dae Jo-yeong in this era. It's not really a problem, but someone like Wang Rung could become a nuisance.
"However, Your Majesty, if our founder truly was Malgal, would the Goryeo people have followed him so loyally? Even his name isn't exactly Goryeo-style," Dae Wihae pressed.
"That may be true. But the point is that our founder's origins could cast doubt on Goryeo's claim as the legitimate successor of Goguryeo," Dae Inseon explained.
"So, Your Majesty, do you believe the Dae family were Malgal?" Dae Wihae asked.
Dae Inseon crossed his arms and closed his eyes. If his bloodline is Malgal, that could always be used as a pretext for unrest. Should Baekje or Silla ever rise claiming this, I'd be ruling the Samhan people under the banner of a Malgal—or worse, the Yeojin.
Yet Dae Inseon was still the young man from modern Korea. Not patriotic per se, but proud of his people.
After a moment's thought, he opened his eyes.
I can just manipulate the record as I like. Malgal or not, legitimacy is what matters. The Khitan and Yeojin were already close to our people anyway. Any deception would be justified.
"Nothing comes from nowhere, but for now, let's adjust the records a bit. From now on, in future chronicles, Dae Jo-yeong will be described as a Goryeo general who also served as the Sogmal Malgal commander in Sogmal territory. The term 'Malgal' is derogatory now, so we'll call them Yeojin instead. From here on, Goryeo, Khitan, Yeojin, and naturalized Han people will all be considered part of the new Han and incorporated into the Samhan."
"Your Majesty, what about the growing population of the Samhan people?" asked Left Minister Choi Seung-woo, stepping forward this time.
Dae Wihae and Choi Seung-woo each had their roles, assisting Dae Inseon in executing his reforms. With Goryeo now controlling the central peninsula, the population had swelled. Choi Chi-won of Silla had been displeased, but it was clear that the people of the central regions preferred Goryeo's rule.
Including displaced Khitan, Goryeo's population now reached 5.1 million. Such a sharp rise created immense administrative complexity.
The nobles are weakened and cannot speak out. Now is the time to push reforms. Do everything at once.
"From the capital Yongcheon-bu, Yeongju-bu, to Gaegyeong Songak-bu, every male and female over sixteen shall receive a 'hopae'—a personal identification certificate—to verify their status. We must also prepare for future conflicts with the Central Plains. Until now, Goryeo has tacitly permitted monogamy, but we will now allow polygamy. Families with a new birth will be exempt from taxes for one year."
"Your Majesty, what is a hopae?" Choi Seung-woo asked.
"A hopae is a certificate verifying status. Every Goryeo person will have one, simplifying census-taking and work allocation. The administrative office responsible—was it the Sinbu? I will issue a command, and Uncle, you will see it carried out."
The hopae system originated in the Yuan Dynasty but had also been used in Goryeo. In Korea, it was first implemented under King Gongmin, though initially limited. In Dae Inseon's era, it was expanded to all citizens—men and women alike—purely as a status verification tool.
This marked the start of Dae Inseon's policies that gradually eroded the significance of social rank.
Dae Wihae sighed deeply. His elder brother Dae Hyeon-seok had stepped back, leaving him to manage some affairs, but the eccentric king kept pushing, making him weary.
In contrast, when Dae Inseon displayed illustrations of the hopae system, Choi Seung-woo's eyes sparkled.
I never imagined Dae Inseon would drive internal reform this far. Even the queen hasn't done this. Only a king with true authority backed by military strength could attempt such revolutionary measures.
Choi Seung-woo swallowed his awe before speaking again.
"If the population grows too much, I question whether our current productivity can sustain them."
Dae Inseon reviewed the data Choi Seung-woo provided: census counts, arable land, and grain production. Feeding over five million people was already a challenge.
After checking, Dae Inseon returned the documents and spoke.
"Before that, we will implement the 'juhyeon' administrative system. Each 'bu' will oversee multiple 'juhyeon.' For the Khitan and Yeojin, we will apply the Maeng'an Mogeuk system. Their military will represent Goryeo. They require their own system."
"Your command will be carried out, Your Majesty."
Although all peoples were being incorporated equally into Goryeo, the Khitan and Yeojin's unique culture and military needed tailored administration. The Maeng'an Mogeuk system, used by the Jin Dynasty founder Agolta to manage nomads, suited this purpose.
But that wasn't all. Dae Inseon had not expected the population to reach five million. Han Chinese refugees fleeing turmoil were also arriving, swelling numbers further.
"With the population growth, we will also spread the transplantation method in agriculture, called 'mo-naegi.'"
"What is mo-naegi?" Choi Seung-woo asked.
"It is moving rice seedlings grown elsewhere to the paddies in spring. Compared to direct sowing, it increases yield."
Dae Inseon showed Choi Seung-woo and Dae Wihae illustrations of the process.
Their reactions differed: Dae Wihae simply observed silently, while Choi Seung-woo's eyes widened in excitement.
I thought this king only knew war. Turns out he's more capable than the Silla queen or Gyeon Hwon of Baekje. Coming to Goryeo was the right choice.
In this era, mo-naegi was revolutionary, promising significant productivity gains.
"That will require additional labor. A growing population means more work, as shown clearly in these illustrations," Choi Seung-woo noted.
"Furthermore, we must carefully construct a road network linking the Five Capitals and every bu. As the territory expands, roads are essential for citizens to move freely and for the nation to develop. The budget will be enormous—can you devise a way to fund it?"
"How about extracting wealth from Silla?" he suggested.
"What do you mean?" Dae Inseon asked.
It was a strategy he had considered: extracting funds from Silla to build roads connecting the expanded territory. The former Goguryeo lands were often rugged, so new roads would aid both transportation and economy. Tributary states, Yeongju, Khitan, Japan, and Silla already contributed administratively, economically, and militarily, but a more systematic road network was needed. The five main routes would serve as a foundation—once laid, connecting them would be easier, though still costly.
"Silla is weak now, but it is a thousand-year kingdom. How much wealth do their corrupt nobles hold? Alternatively, halt war temporarily, produce arms, and trade them with the Central Plains states to fill the treasury."
"We'll do both. First, gather merchants from Balhae and divide them into trade groups. Selling to those fighting each other will accelerate their conflicts. As for Silla, find a way to extract resources."
Eventually, Baekje will claim them, so I might as well profit first.
Gyeon Hwon's future capture of King Gyeongae of Silla was inevitable, but Dae Inseon had already prevented Balhae's collapse, altering history. Perhaps Gyeon Hwon might even attack Seorabeol sooner. With the future unpredictable, Dae Inseon resolved to extract as much as possible from Silla before its fall.
"Will trade be conducted under the merchants' names?"
"National credit is vital. If we directly trade in Goryeo's name, credibility will plummet. Instead, we'll assign merchant groups and conduct trade separately from Goryeo's official name."
Taking advantage of Tang-appointed local regimes, Dae Inseon summoned merchants from the northern, western, and southern capitals. This plan would ensure Balhae's treasury overflowed.