Chapter 66 – They Did Not Persuade the Tribes; They Changed the Structure and Made an Army
Wugaimai tilted his head slightly.
"Isn't this something everyone already knows? It's not that we refuse to do it—we simply lack the resources."
The two brothers rode side by side on their way back.
Aguda spoke.
"We know it, yet we fail to act. I was taken aback when I heard that our warriors—the bravest among the Jurchen—tremble in fear. But thinking on it, it is the truth. No one speaks of it, but there is truth in Lee Young-woo's words. We turned away, as if it were not our concern."
"Traditionally, a warrior prepares his own weapons and equipment."
Aguda replied,
"And so everything is uneven. We hear that we are a people who can only plunder, not wage war."
Wugaimai chuckled.
"You seem to like him."
"I do. He admits his own shortcomings. He is honest."
"There are many honest men."
"It takes courage to speak like that. Words like his expose a man, yet he still chooses to speak the truth."
"You have a keen eye for people."
"Let us try things his way. If it works, we follow it."
"Did he truly say that?"
Aguda looked up at the sky.
A lone cloud drifted, and above it a hawk circled.
There was prey below.
"The reason we fail to do what must be done is simple. We lack resources."
"That is true."
"That too was his point."
"If we had resources, would everything be solved?"
"Not entirely. But we could begin. Bring armor from Western Xia. We will attempt to replicate it."
"Yes."
"Also gather Goryeo bows of every type. One kind alone is not enough."
"Yes. And the horses?"
"Send word to all under our command. Secure as many horses as possible. Those who fail to bring reserve mounts will not be tolerated."
"Will two be enough?"
"We need mounts for the final charge, and pack horses as well."
"We set the standard first. Whether it is possible comes later. Organization should have been done long ago."
What was obvious had not been seen.
Only through Young-woo's words did it come into focus.
"We were too bound by blood and tribe."
"We had reason. For plunder."
The two laughed.
Their thinking had changed.
From plunder to war.
They had long considered many things, yet now everything felt simple.
It was because of their meeting with Young-woo.
They had taken a long road to reach something so obvious.
The objective was clear.
Transform the tribes into a military force.
If they refuse, strike.
Move before they expect it.
Do not rely on persuasion.
Wugaimai spoke.
"He is remarkable."
"I thought him young and unrefined. He grasped the essence."
"Then it is war?"
"We will strike them."
Wugaimai asked,
"And the organization?"
"We group them into units of ten households, then a hundred, then a thousand. Not by blood, but by combat function. Each unit will have fixed commanders."
"So it comes down to appointments?"
"It is a matter of command. Whose orders are followed. We have done this partially. The rest simply joined battles and took their share of spoils."
"They must follow appointed commanders, not tribal elders. Only then can we mobilize them at any time."
"Some tribal leaders will serve as commanders. Not all."
Once the framework was set, everything began to flow.
Wugaimai continued.
"They must always be ready for battle. Train constantly. Maintain their equipment. This is no longer a temporary force—it becomes a standing army."
Aguda added,
"Tactics must be strengthened. Advance, fire, withdraw—repeat. Train to break the enemy through repetition. Archery and cavalry will form the core."
"Our weakness in breakthrough remains a concern."
"That is why we need sages. If we had men like those of Goryeo, we could end battles decisively."
"Shall we request their help?"
"They will not move. Wealth, honor, desire—none of these sway them."
Men who have rejected all that others seek cannot be moved by what men can offer.
Wugaimai spoke.
"If it is necessary, we must try. This is a war that carries the fate of our people."
"Will you take that task?"
Wugaimai frowned.
His elder brother always gave him the hardest tasks.
To persuade such men would be the most difficult of all.
They existed for Goryeo.
They did not belong here.
They had come only to aid Goryeo's war.
When peace settled, they would leave.
Even now, if they returned to their homeland, it would not seem strange at all.