WIP - The Tiger and the Magpie - A Korean Manchuria TL

[Višeslav]

This is my first TL. Basically, the idea is that Korea controls large parts of southern Manchuria and "outer Manchuria" (Primorsky Krai & Sakhalin). The Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo and Balhae and some proto-Korean kingdoms controlled the region for about 2000 years before the Khitan conquest in 926. The POD is Yun Gwan (a general working for the kingdom of Goryeo) not being recalled from Manchuria in 1107 after the Jurchens surrendered to him, instead being allowed to stay and negotiating a peace deal with the Liao Khitans (see "Plot against Yun gwan" or look him up to learn why this didn`t happen OTL).

Keep in mind, I don't want this to be too much of a wank. Just want to see what would happen if the Koreans continued to control southern Manchuria.

I'm looking for feedback regarding my writing and the plausibility of the TL. I am not Korean, nor am I an expert on the language or the country`s history, so I will inevitably have some mistakes.


I'm not sure which format to use. I wrote about the same events in a "history book" or "wiki" format and from the point of view of Yun Gwan (mostly thinking back to prior events). I personally like the history book style, but I want to know what you all think. [edit: I've decided already]

The Tiger and The Magpie - A Korean Manchuria TL
Ch I: The Magpie Flies North​

The expansion of medieval Korea

The early 12th century AD is generally seen as Korea’s formative period. It is the time in which the kingdom began to grow into the regional power that it has been for most of its history. However, it is doubtful that anyone before 1108 would have predicted the little kingdom's growth.​

The Jurchen invasion


In 1100, after a hundred years of peace, Goryeo’s army was miniscule, and the kingdom’s foreign relations had long been limited to trade with China and Japan. In 1105, the Khitan Liao dynasty expanded east towards Goryeo, and attacked China. The Liao emperor forced the Song Chinese to recognize the Liao as their equals. With this expansion, Goryeo’s land routes to china were cut, and the Jurchens tribes, who lived north of the kingdom, under the patronage of the Liao, began to raid the southern lands. This culminated in the Jurchen invasion of 1107. The future looked bleak for Goryeo.


It was during this invasion, however, that the nation’s “savior” would show himself. General Yun Gwan (Hangul: 윤관) (Jurchen: Gwan Khan, 관칸), a minor nobleman from the central west coast, managed to, through a few devastating attacks, convince the Jurchens that despite their initial victory, they would be unable to control Korea. The Jurchen forces pulled out soon after. But Yun Gwan was not done.


The Northern/Buyeo Campaign

He followed the retreating Jurchens north, augmenting the large cavalry force which he had trained during the invasion specially to combat the Jurchens. Prior to his regiment, cavalry had been a weak point of Goryeo’s army. Gwan moved north of Goryeo’s border, going farther north than any Korean army had travelled since the collapse of the kingdom of Balhae, which had ruled the area prior to the Khitans. He quickly and decisively defeated the Jurchens, seizing the outer Cheolli Jangseong (thousand mile wall), a series of old fortification built by the Korean kingdom of Goguryeo, which controlled the north in the ancient period. There, he built nine great fortresses to defend the newly conquered lands. The Jurchens chieftains formally surrendered to Yun Gwan.


Plot against Yun Gwan


While Yun Gwan was in the north, it seems that his enemies in the royal court had attempted to convince King Yejong to discharge Gwan from his post. This would have been disastrous for the kingdom, as he would have to return south with his army for a hearing, which would leave Goryeo’s new possessions undefended. Fortunately, Yun Gwan’s allies had managed to dissuade the king, telling him to wait for Gwan’s return, by which time he had by merit of his new conquest, gained the king’s favour.


Treaty of Ansi

In 1108, Yun Gwan received the king’s permission to negotiate with the Liao. He met with representatives of the northern emperor on the 12th of August. This day is still celebrated as a regional holiday in northern Korea. Under the treaty, the former lands of Balhae were “returned” to Korea (all Jurchen tribes previously protected by the Liao were made subjects of the kingdom of Goryeo). The treaty further guaranteed peace between the Liao and Goryeo, and allowed Korean merchants to pass through the Khitan Empire.


I. The Empire of Great Liao hereby rescinds all guarantees and protections granted to the Jurchen people. All treaties between the two are declared Null and Void

II. The Empire of Great Liao formally recognizes all territories previously controlled by subjugated Jurchen tribes to be the sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Goryeo

a. This includes all former Liao dominions east of the old Cheolli Jangseong

b. The eastern border of these lands is defined, by this treaty as the East sea [sea of Japan] and their northern limit as the the Black Dragon River [the Amur]

III. The Empire of Great Liao and the Kingdom of Goryeo shall remain in a state of peace unless one is provoked by the other through direct military aggression.

IV. The Empire of great Liao will allow merchants from Goryeo to pass through its lands

- Excerpt from the Treaty of Ansi



Incorporation of the new lands

After the signing of the Treaty of Ansi, the Koreans began to organize their new territories. From the new lands, only one province was created, Yonyeong [the Liaodong peninsula]. The rest of the north was organized into two “Governorates”, which were under military administration. Yun Gwan was made governor of Puyŏ [inner Manchuria] and Anju (aka Black River Governorate) [Primorsky Krai/Outer Manchuria], and his descendants would rule as the lords of those regions for centuries to come.


In 1111, Yun Gwan returned to Korea to formally receive his new titles and bring his family north. It was at this time that those who had conspired to have him removed from his post were accused of being Liao spies, and were put to death. The Buyeo Yuns would, under Gwan, become the most powerful noble family in Korea.


In 1112, a royal decree granted land in the north to any Koreans willing to settle there. Yun Gwan’s soldiers all established farms in the area as well. The Jurchens, despite being nominally loyal to the king in Gaegyeong, they seemed to view their conqueror, Yun Gwan as their real ruler. Texts from this period note Jurchens referring to the warlord as Gwan Khan or Kwan Khan.

Map:
​

Note on bias


It is important to note that Yun Gwan has been idealized in most contemporary Korean and Chinese records, and that everything we know about him should be taken with a grain of salt. After all, he is one of Korea’s most important national heroes, comparable only to king Sejong the great and admiral Yi.


Summary:


· Yun Gwan subdues the Jurchens with his new cavalry force, occupying the roughly what had once been the Manchurian territories of Goguryeo (as he did OTL)

· The construction of nine fortresses in the north is completed (as it was OTL)

· King Yejong does not order Yun Gwan to return to Korea, Gwan remains a general (OTL he returned home, was discharged from his post due to his enemies' influence in the royal court. He then returned to his hometown and died a year later (possibly poisoned))

· Yun Gwan maintains control of Korea's now heavily fortified northern holdings (which were essentially given back to the Jurchens OTL)

· A treaty is signed with the Liao Khitans (the Jurchens’ overlords), giving Goryeo all Liao lands east of the Korean-occupied territory (since the eastern lands were now connected to the Khitan homeland by a tiny strip of land between the Amur river and the Korean zone of occupation, and were essentially uncontrollable).
· The new lands are organized as Yonyeong province and the Puyŏ and Anyuan governorates, and Yun Gwan is put in charge of integrating them

· The Koreans can now effectively trade with the Song again, which was the main goal of the expedition. Korea becomes wealthier

· Much of Gwan's army settles down in the new lands. Being largely empty, many Korean settlers are given cheap farmland in the area in an attempt to stabilize Korean control in the area

 

[Germania09]

Loving it so far.

 

[Višeslav]

The Tiger and The Magpie - A Korean Manchuria TL
Point of View format
​

General Yun Gwan looked through the small windows of the fortress at Ansi. The rain had finally cleared up. He would have to get ready to go. He looked at the little shred of the landscape that the window allowed him to see. The land here is flatter than the mountains that were once Goryeo’s border. Better for his cavalry contingent but harder to defend. That’s why he had built Ansi and it’s eight sisters. A messenger came to him. The man bowed. “General.” He said “I come here from Gaegyeong with an important message from lord Hwang.” Byun Hwang was Gwan’s good friend. A nobleman from an old family who spent much time in the king’s court at Gaegyeong. He was not the sort of man to send messages into a warzone without good reason. Yun Gwan unfurled the scroll and read it. He was astonished at what it said, but also relieved. All of his hard work had almost been undone. He had powerful enemies in Gaegyeong, and while he had been on campaign, they had been busy. They had tried to have him discharged from his post. Hwang had managed to convince the king of the folly of this idea. Yun Gwan was grateful for his friend’s loyalty and his majesty’s wisdom. He knew the king was not stupid enough to leave such a large new territory unprotected, as it would be if he returned to Gaegyeong for a hearing. He would write the king, giving him a report of the situation in the north, and thanking him for his trust. However, he had more important things to get to at the moment.​

He was to meet with an emissary from the self-styled “emperor” of these northern barbarians that called themselves the Liao (Khitans). Gwang found it funny that these savages saw fit to style themselves after the sons of heaven of great Song, Goryeo’s longtime allies. As he walked down to the courtyard, Gwan thought about how the Song emperor would have reacted to hearing of his victory. Surely he would be happy that these pretenders to the heavenly throne had been weakened. Because of the Liao, Goryeo had been cut off from the middle kingdom, unable to trade with them by land. He wondered if the Song were at all affected by this distancing. He was pulled out of his thoughts by a young soldier. One of the locals by his appearance. His armor wasn’t the best. Likely a conscript. Yun Gwan followed him “Strange folk, these Jurchens…” he thought to himself. He knew, from the historical writings that they had been the kings of Koguryeo, one of Goryeo’s predecessors, but he could scarcely imagine people more different from his own. They lived in a state between civilization and barbarism never fully leaning towards one. Unlike the savages that surrounded them, they had permanent homes and towns and raised crops, however, here their tribes had not been united into a coherent state for centuries, their economy was largely based around raiding, and they put much more value on feats of strength than on art. That last bit he could at least understand. He could not say the same their many bizarre customs, such as their religion with its many spirits and dancing wizards [Shamans]. Like their uncivilized neighbors, the Jurchens are excellent horsemen. That was one advantage they had over his army. Fortunately, they were terribly disorganized. United under one banner, they would be deadly. These fine warriors could be a great asset to the kingdom. The only challenge would be turning them into Koreans. Yun Gwan looked up again. The representatives of the Liao, the Jurchens’ former overlords, were waiting for him in one of their round tents. He had the treaty prepared for them to sign.

I. The Empire of Great Liao hereby rescinds all guarantees and protections granted to the Jurchen people. All treaties between the two are declared Null and Void

II. The Empire of Great Liao formally recognizes all territories previously controlled by subjugated Jurchen tribes to be the sovereign territory of the Kingdom of Goryeo

a. This includes all former Liao dominions east of the old Cheolli Jangseong

b. The eastern border of these lands is defined, by this treaty as the East sea [sea of Japan] and their northern limit as the the Black Dragon River [the Amur]

III. The Empire of Great Liao and the Kingdom of Goryeo shall remain in a state of peace unless one is provoked by the other through direct military aggression.

IV. The Empire of great Liao will allow merchants from Goryeo to pass through its lands

- Excerpt from the Treaty of Ansi
​

 

[Višeslav]

Sorry for the lack of an update. one should be coming tomorrow. I will continue in the history book format. Sorry Kasumigenx.

The next part deals with:

• A Jurchen revolt after Yun Gwan's death
• The fall of the Khitans
• The rise of a second (albeit short-lived) Uyghur empire [lmao, well that didn`t happen. Though it still could I guess]
  
• Korean settlement in unincorporated northern lands (farther than Yun Gwan's conquest)
• maybe the unification of the mongols

 

[kasumigenx]

Sorry for the lack of an update. one should be coming tomorrow. I will continue in the history book format. Sorry Kasumigenx.

The next part deals with:

• A Jurchen revolt after Yun Gwan's death
• The fall of the Khitans
• The rise of a second (albeit short-lived) Uyghur empire
  
• Korean settlement in unincorporated northern lands (farther than Yun Gwan's conquest)
• maybe the unification of the mongols

I prefer the wiki/history book format.

 

[Višeslav]

I thought it was you that had voted for point of view format since nobody else liked it.

 

[Višeslav]

The Tiger and The Magpie - A Korean Manchuria TL
Ch II: The Taming of the Tiger​

Yun Gwan’s rule in the north


Yun Gwan held immense power in Buyeo and Anju, he was permitted to do as he pleased unless his actions were in direct conflict with a royal decree. Despite his great autonomy, Gwan proved himself to be loyal to King Yejong. He could easily have made himself king of a restored Balhae, or Khan of a Jurchen state, but did not. He saw it as main duty to incorporate the northern lands into Goryeo not just politically, but also culturally. He worked to settle Koreans into the new lands, and began to build roads connected to those in peninsular Korea. During his reign as lord protector of the north, about 50,000 Koreans moved to the north, including almost all of Yun Gwan’s army of 17,000 and the soldiers’ families. He also continued to fortify his domain.


During his rule, there was relative peace in Buyeo and Anju. While the war was a recent memory, and it could be said that the Jurchens feared the Korean army, there was more to this peace than just fear. Yun Gwan was seen by the Jurchens as their leader. They had surrendered to him, and since then, he had according to all accounts treated them fairly, despite the mass importation of Koreans. The Jurchens refer to him as Gwan Khan, styling him after their kings. The centralization of the government and better infrastructure did not only benefit Korea, but offered Jurchen farmers better protections and a larger market to sell to. Mining also developed in the mineral-rich region of Balhae ([southern Manchuria] Puyŏ and Anju). While many mines were owned directly by the Yun clan, local chieftains that had been quick to surrender or had supported the Koreans were given control of some mines, while those chiefs who had resisted occupation were dead, and thus unable to cause trouble. Most dissatisfaction cam from other Tungusic peoples in the far north who found it hard to integrate their nomadic lifestyle into this increasingly centralized society, however, even they soon developed into a successful merchant class, with caravans travelling from the Tarim basin to Busan.

However, all of this pales in comparison to Yun Gwan’s most popular policy. In Goryeo, slavery was widespread, and it was common practice to take slaves from conquered populations. However, Yun Gwan had other plans. He wished to make the Jurchens Korean, not into a distinct and rebellious underclass. He forbade the taking of slaves from Balhae after the signing of the treaty of Ansi. Slaves however would still be a major one of the Balhae region’s exports. In a single stroke of genius, Yun Gwan satiated both the Jurchens’ need to raid and Korea’s need for slaves, sending raiding parties north of the black river (Amur) to enslave the northern “savages”. The slaves that were not sold were put to work in the new mines. The slave miners would be overseen by mixed Jurchen and Korean Chungin and Sangmin (commoners and Bourgeois (non-noble upper class).


Yun Gwan did not live long after the expedition though, dying in 1122. After his death, new troubles would plague the north. It was clear that his son, Yun Min was far less capable than his father.


Yun Gwan’s status in the south

In the south, Yun Gwan was largely idolized. He was seen as a brave war hero and exemplary lord. He was recorded as a wise, just, benevolent, yet potentially dangerous man. The perfect leader. A number of poems were written about his campaign, and remained popular for many years. He rarely visited the south, but would bring the king lavish gifts of slaves, horses, fine metal products, Chinese silk, pottery, Jurchen rugs, and some more exotic goods acquired through trade with the Song when he did. Yun Gwan grew his influence in the south by convincing the king to replace the “treacherous” lords he had executed after his campaign with his allies (avoiding giving those posts to his relatives to make his control of the government less overt). Gwan’s son, Yun Min kept many of these alliances, but they weakened as he was unable to maintain the personal friendships with most of those lords that his father had.


First Jurchen Revolt/ Yun civil war


Yun Gwan had two sons, his eldest, Yun Min, was guaranteed to succeed his father. He married one of the king’s cousins, and had lived much of his life in Papyeong, in the peninsula. His second son, Yun Dae, was more oriented towards the north. Having been born in 1101, he had lived about half of his life in Balhae [Manchuria]. Yun Dae had many friends among the Jurchen nobility, and was married to the princess of the Boljok tribe, the most powerful Jurchen clan. (Note: both had both Jurchen and Korean concubines, being more than wealthy enough to support a larger family, but only one wife each). In 1122, it was Yun Min who would succeed his father.

(Left) A painting of Yun Min (right) A portrait of Yun Dae

Yun Min began his reign as lord protector of Balhae by continuing his father’s projects, however, he soon began to raise taxes to pay for a number of projects in Tongyeong [Tongzhou], the regional capital. The tax raise was unpopular, but understandable, and would likely have been overlooked had it not been for his other mistakes. In 1124, Min began to seize mines that had been given to Jurchen chieftains by his father. Among these chieftains was Yun Dae’s close friend Boljok Hanpu. Min would either keep them under Yun control, give them to his friends from the peninsula, or give them to his favoured concubines’ fathers. Yun Min’s nepotism and his disrespect for the Jurchen nobility would spark an uprising only 17 years after the peace of Ansi.


In 1125, the Jurchens and many Koreans, dissatisfied with Min’s governorship, rose in revolt. The goals of the first Jurchen rising were not coherent. The unifying feature of the rebel groups was their anger at Yun Min. The first act of rebellion was when on June 15th, the citizens of a village in the northeast lynched a tax collector. Soon after this, many Jurchen chieftains raised armies and seized back the mines that they had previously owned. Yun Min attempted to prevent this by promising slaves freedom in exchange for defending the mines. This failed, however, the overseers would often not arm the slaves, and would simply let the Jurchen militias in.


Upon hearing about the death of the tax collector (a royal official) the king began to raise an army of 30,000 from the southern provinces. It seemed like the uprising was doomed, however, while the army was mobilizing, the rebels were not idle. In July, Yun Dae ordered the soldiers under his command (The Byeolmuban, the elite force of 17,000 created by his father) to seize a mine that had belonged to the Boljok tribe. With Dae’s support, the rebels again had a chance at defeating the retaliatory force.


The rebels would pledge themselves to Yun Dae, however they remained disorganized. Half of them wanted to establish an independent Balhae with Yun Dae as khan. The other half, and, presumably Yun Dae himself, wished for Dae to replace his brother as governor of Buyeo and Anju, and undo Yun Min’s policies. The Jurchens viewed Yun Dae as the legitimate heir, as he was the strongest son of Gwan Khan.


Rebel Victories


Yun Min and Yun Dae first clashed at Dongpyeong Bridge, the battle was a decisive rebel victory, with Min’s numerically superior army being bottlenecked. As he retreated through the Yongcheon commandery, Yun Min lost almost a quarter of his army due to cavalry hit and runs and Jurchen guerilla attacks. The rebels now controlled most of northeastern Balhae.


The Southern army

The Papyeong Yuns for the most part supported Min, as he had made many of them rich. The exception was Yun Gwans’ first cousin, Yun Hyun Ki. He refused to give his soldiers to the war effort, and was executed for treason by royal forces. When the southern army arrived, it managed to reinforce Min’s forces sufficiently to prevent the rebels from taking Jianju, a town between Anju and Buyeo. The army could not, however, force the rebels to surrender. Meanwhile, northern forces continued to lose ground to the rebels elsewhere, but at a slower rate. The generals from the south were much better commanders that Yun Min. After a month long siege of Jianju, and ever slower advancement on other fronts, Yun Dae decided to negotiate, hoping to get favourable terms for the rebels if he surrendered while he had the upper hand. He only asked to deal with the king directly and not his generals, who had shown themselves to be quite ruthless towards any resistance. The king obliged him. During the negotiations, Dae looked for a compromise. He was not after personal power, simply justice for his friends and their people. He is quoted as telling the king:


“My liege, the solution to our predicament can be seen plainly by any man who can count. We have two Governorates and two would-be governors. There should be no quarrel here.”


On February 4th 1123, an agreement was reached. Yun Dae was made to reaffirm his allegiance to the king, and pay for the reconstruction of any fortifications damaged by rebel forces. In exchange, he was made governor of Anju, and the mines seized by Min were, by royal decree, returned to the chieftains who had “showed themselves to be friends of Goryeo”. Some contingents refused to surrender, but complete peace was reached after five months of military occupation in the area.

Summary

• Yun Gwan dies
  
• Yun Gwan's eldest son and heir, Yun Min is incompetent and nepotistic
• The Jurchens and many Koreans ries in revolt against Yun Min, wishing to replace him with Yun Dae, his brother
  
• The rebels initially advance quickly but are brought to a stand still by an army from the south
• A compromise is reached, splitting the territory between the two brothers, and forbidding the northern governors from seizing property from Jurchen nobles without justification

 

[Wolttaire]

Where did he get the money to pay for the great fortresses?

 

[Višeslav]

Where did he get the money to pay for the great fortresses?

who, which fortresses? Yun Gwan's nine? or the newer ones?

 

[Wolttaire]

who, which fortresses? Yun Gwan's nine? or the newer ones?

both

 

[Višeslav]

both

I'm not sure about the nine. But it did happen OTL, I just need to find where the money came from. The later ones could be funded through various methods. There is of course taxation (albeit less of it than his son imposes later), there is also the fact that as lord of Balhae, he owns most of the resources, I said that the Yun clan (so essentially Yun Gwan) owns a lot of mines, with most others belonging to Jurchen nobles. I would assume he is involved in the slave trade which he stimulates and earns something from that.

Is that good enough? (that's what is already mentioned)

If it isn't, how do I fix that problem? I do want realism after all, not a surprise donation from an ASB.

 

[Višeslav]

The Tiger and The Magpie - A Korean Manchuria TL
Ch II: The Taming of the Tiger - Part ii: The Wild North​

The Black River Settlements


After Yun Gwan’s pacification of the north, Korean fishermen began to take advantage of the rich waters of the Sea of Japan (also known as the Korean Sea). During Yun Gwan’s reign, small villages began to develop along the coast just north of Goryeo’s territory. These villages were mostly temporary, serving as homes and resupply stops during the fishing season (while fishing did not stop at any point in the year, in the summer, when the ice melts and the fish spawning (mating) season starts, longer voyages were undertaken, some lasting the whole summer). A few people would remain in these villages year round to gather or produce the supplies that the fishermen would need during their long trips. These settlements existed separately from the Kingdom of Goryeo and any other state, despite being largely inhabited by Koreans.

The settlements would conduct trade with the local Tungusic peoples, however many tribes remained hostile towards the Korean settlers, slowing down settlement of the area. A number of smaller trading posts began to form along the Black River [Amur]. Over time, the black dragon coast [northern Primorsky krai] developed a significant Korean population. This consisted of fishermen and criminals fleeing punishment in the south.

During Yun Min’s reign, some who wished to avoid overtaxation emigrated to the Black river settlements. While most returned after Yun Dae’s rebellion, the idea of a life without lords or taxes appealed to many, and the population of the Black River settlements quickly rebounded due to migrants from all over Korea. Some of Yun Dae’s supporters who had not been pardoned also took their clans to make their homes in this unclaimed land. The permanent population would come to be mainly made up of fugitives and tax evaders. The families of fishermen remained in the coastal towns, but a criminally inclined almost minarchist sentiment took over the region. The far north also became a popular place for pirates to find shelter, though they would almost always leave before the water froze.


“These towns are a disgrace. They are ugly, poverty stricken, disgusting dens of immorality. They contain little more than thieves, filth, and slimy oversalted fish.”

- Gyeon Hyuk (Buddhist monk & scribe)​

Government of the Black river towns


The black river settlements were by the nature of their inhabitants ill suited for centralized government. However, due to frequent hostilities with the natives, some sort of cohesion was necessary. While each town’s government differed, they typically had a leader given the title of Guardian/Custodian of the town (this title was originally applied to those who stayed in the villages over the winter to keep them suitable for habitation). The guardian settled disputes and served as a military leader. He could be elected by universal manhood suffrage, be chosen by a council of elders, or be the patriarch of the town’s oldest family. Some towns chose their custodian through combat, whoever could defeat all of the other candidates in hand to hand combat would become the next mayor.

(above: ) A reconstruction of Bukju
​

The settlements as a whole had no central ruler, but almost all of them were in a sort of loose coalition after 1140. In 1138, a massive raid had threatened to destroy the black river villages. A third of the population was killed by the invaders and many villages were completely razed. Following the barbarians’ retreat, the village leaders met in the town of Bukju to discuss a military alliance. The Bukju accord functioned as a sort of constitution for the settlements, though it was memorized rather than written. Each village would raise a militia, which would serve both as a police force and a defensive army. In case of a large invasion, the settlements would defend each other. Apart from the military alliance, the Bukju accord set a few basic laws for the settlers.


1. Each village will raise a militia to protect its citizens and to protect itself and other villages from invasion

2. No man may rule over more than one village

3. No village may in any way attack or bully another

4. No man may continue to rule a village once its people decide that he has no place ruling it

a. Should he refuse to step down, he shall not be protected by the laws set herein

5. Murder is forbidden except as a legitimate act of vengeance

6. No man may f*ck a woman without her permission

a. No man may f*ck a child

7. A man is entitled to take whatever he wants from another, but so is he allowed to punish a thief that he catches however he sees fit

8. The village militia is to capture any who break these laws and subject them to a punishment chosen by the victim of the crime

9. The leading men of all the villages village will meet once a year in Bukju to review these laws



- The Bukju accords as recorded in the Goryeosa


Discovery of Hwataedo (Choga)


Around the same time of the establishment of the first of the black river settlements, Korean sailors sighted a large landmass east of Anju. This is generally assumed to be the island Hwataedo [Sakhalin]. The island was undoubtedly discovered in 1114, when a sizeable portion of Hwataedo’s west coast was depicted on a Korean map. In the late 1100s, the fishermen of the Black River settlements built a small settlement on the west coast of Hwataedo, however, due to a lack of resources, and the native’s unwillingness to trade, the settlement did not grow. A seasonal settlement was nonetheless maintained on the island. The locals call the island Choga, and it is labelled thus on the maps used by fishermen from the black river villages. To this day, Hwataedo is referred to as Choga in northern dialects of Korean.


The Black river settlements in contemporary culture
[This bit isn’t really important, it’s here to add some realism I guess]


In Politics


· The Black river settlements are largely brought up by libertarians, both in Korea and around the world as an example of a functional Minarchist society.

o The Korean libertarian party is called the “Black Dragon party” after the Black Dragon Coast settlements

· Many Korean nationalists wish to retake the Black Dragon coast, this is a major part of their revanchist plans


In literature and film



· The Black River settlements are featured heavily in Korean historical dramas.

· The Black river settlements have been discussed in many historical texts. One notable reference to them is in Dr. Jackson Hayworth’s book “A History of Northeast Asia from the stone age to today”, where he refers to the villages as “comparable to the American wild west. ‘The Wild North’ if you will.” A whole chapter is dedicated to the settlements (his interest in them may stem from his libertarian political views)

· The Black river settlements are a prominent part of the setting of the Japanese Manga “The Seven Seas” [I don’t think this is a real one. It’s intended as a copyright friendly one piece] and the Anime based off of it, which center around pirates, especially East Asian ones.

· Numerous documentaries have been made about the Black River settlements



Summary


· Fishermen established settlements along the coast north of Goryeo

· The settlements began to develop, existing outside of any kingdom

· Many fugitives and tax evaders fled to these newly built towns

· After a massive and devastating raid, the leaders of the settlements united into a loose military coalition and made some basic laws

· Korean fishermen sighted and settled part of the island of Hwataedo (Choga) [Sakhalin], becoming the first east Asian kingdom to discover the island

 

[Višeslav]

Sorry. I haven't had time to post updates. A bit of a middle eastern sidetrack is coming eventually, since the Seljuks benefit from some nice butterfly effects. Imma try to have something by next week.

 

[Višeslav]

The Tiger and The Magpie - A Korean Manchuria TL
Ch II: A Slain Tiger Still Bites - Part i: The Gathering Storm
​

The Second Khitan invasion

Prelude to invasion


Goryeo’s sudden growth had propelled the small kingdom to regional dominance, but this newfound power would not remain unchallenged. The Liao Khitans had long desired to retake the eastern lands conquered by Yun Gwan.

In the 1120s, during Yun Dae’s rebellion, the Liao had been unable to exploit the weakness of the Koreans. After the embarrassing failure of the invasion of Korea, Emperor Tianzhou’s adequacy was brought into question, and civil war erupted in the Liao Empire. Tianzhou was killed only 17 years after his coronation, and was replaced by one of his generals, a man named Yelü Dashi.

Dashi came to power in 1123, after 12 years of civil war. He proved to be a much more capable ruler than his predecessor. He reasserted Liao dominance over the western Xia, whose annual tribute was increased after a brief Khitan invasion. He waged war against the Jalayr Mongols between 1130 and 1135, and successfully incorporated their lands into the Liao Empire.

It would seem to the casual observer that the Khitans had shifted their focus westward and given up on Manchuria, but this was not the case. The Liao had expanded as far as they could without touching Korea. To go deeper into the northern plains would be useless for any advanced state, conquering the Xia was pointless, and attempting to control the Tarim basin would be madness. With a larger population to draw upon, the Khitans were ready to undo the embarrassment brought about by Yun Gwan. The final proof of Yelu Dashi’s worthiness would be the conquest of Goryeo.


Clarification:

Yelü Dashi becomes the Khitan leader ITTL because he was a skilled Khitan leader OTL (establishing the Western Liao empire after the Jin kicked the Liao out of northern china). He filled the Liao power vacuum OTL, so why not here? (If you think this is unrealistic, and someone else would be a more likely leader, feel free to tell me)


Summary:

• After the war with Korea, a civil war erupts in the Khitan empire because the Emperor made himself look weak by losing to such a small country
• A Khitan general fills the power Vacuum
• The Liao begin to rebuild, and reassert themselves as a major regional power
• After a few smaller wars, the Liao set their sights on Goryeo again

 

[Višeslav]

Questions about the Images:

I want to give the visuals for this TL a more uniform look, but I'm not sure how.

As you have probably seen, I've added that thing to the sides of the images, and that same symbol as a sort of watermark on the maps.

What do you think of that?

Should I use it?
Should it be red or dark blue?

Should I make the maps more uniform?
Should I change the style of the maps? (ie. give them all the old parchment texture, overlay the maps over geographic maps, or make the maps all simple with white or light gray backgrounds)

 

[Višeslav]

Sorry about the inactivity. I meant to post an update, but I was too busy working on the new map (which can be found in the first post). I'm considering doing a little language and culture update every once in a while, so I might post one of those before continuing the war with the Khitans.

 

[Stretch]

May I just say that initial map is simply stunning!

 

[Višeslav]

May I just say that initial map is simply stunning!

Thanks. I'm glad you like it.

[edit] I think you mean the second map. the first (the internal divisions one) is the lowest quality map in this thread. I`m probably gonna redo it soon.

 

[Stretch]

Thanks. I'm glad you like it.

[edit] I think you mean the second map. the first (the internal divisions one) is the lowest quality map in this thread. I`m probably gonna redo it soon.

Oh yeah, I completely missed that one. Definitely the second one.

 

[Višeslav]

To the few people who were actually interested in this TL, I apologize for leaving you on a bit of a cliffhanger. An update is coming.