506. King Sansang Concession

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One of King Sansang's advisors, named Dal Gae, stepped forward and said his opinion to King Sansang and the court. "The Han even though embroiled in interval infighting, are still strong enemies, and they know our position is weak. But this peace, though humiliating, will give us the breathing room we need. Once we have regained our strength, we will be able to renegotiate from a position of power, or perhaps even take back what was lost."

King Sansang nodded. "Exactly. This peace is not permanent. It is merely a respite, a time for us to gather our strength and prepare for the future. We will comply with their demands for now, but we must use this time wisely. Our tribute will be sent, our hostages chosen, and the trade routes opened. But while we outwardly comply, we will rebuild in secret. Our armies will train, our weapons will be forged, and when the time comes, Goguryeo will rise again."

His words gave some comfort to the court, though the bitterness of the situation still lingered in the air. The king turned to Mo Du, his trusted advisor. "Mo Du, see to it that the hostages are chosen carefully. They must be of noble birth, but ensure that their loss does not necessarily cripple us. We cannot afford to send our strongest or most influential families to Xiangping, while at the same time offending the Han by sending unknown hostages."

Mo Du bowed deeply. "I will make the arrangements, my king. The hostages will be selected with care, and the tribute will be prepared without delay."

Satisfied, King Sansang rose from his throne, signaling the end of the session. The courtiers and generals began to file out of the throne room, their expressions grim but resigned. As they left, the king remained behind, his thoughts drifting to the future.

He knew that the Han, in particular Gongsun Gong would be watching Goguryeo closely, ready to pounce at any sign of betrayal. But King Sansang was determined to play the long game.

He would keep his enemies close, giving them what they demanded for now. In the meantime, he would rebuild his kingdom's strength in secret, biding his time until Goguryeo was ready to strike back.

As the king looked out over the mountains in the distance, where Xiangping lay far beyond, he knew that the peace they had negotiated was fragile at best. The Han forces were powerful, and Gongsun Gong had proven himself a formidable adversary. But Goguryeo had endured countless challenges over the centuries, and managed to dominate the Korean Strait for centuries, this would be no different.

The kingdom would bend, but it would not break. When the time was right, the strength of Goguryeo would once again be unleashed, and the Han would see that their victory was only temporary. Until then, they would wait, watching and preparing in the shadows. The game of politics and war was not one of brute force, but of patience, and King Sansang knew that the future belonged to those who could play the long game.

As King Sansang stood by overlooking the mountains, the quiet breeze carried with it the weight of his thoughts. His gaze was fixed on the horizon, where the distant peaks seemed to blend with the sky, representing the formidable challenges that lay ahead. Though his court had left, the burden of leadership remained heavy on his shoulders.

The threat of the Han and the humiliation of sending noble hostages gnawed at him, yet he knew that survival often required sacrifice, and this peace was a necessary evil.

Lost in his thoughts, he didn't notice the soft footsteps of Queen Woo approaching until she was standing beside him. Her presence was calming, like a gentle balm for his troubled mind. Her handmaidens, who trailed behind her, stood at a respectful distance as she joined her husband in silence. She gazed at him with her serene eyes, noticing the furrow in his brow.

"Is something troubling you, my lord?" she asked quietly, her voice tender yet filled with a quiet strength that had always comforted him.

King Sansang turned to face her, his expression softening. In his eyes, Queen Woo was not just a consort but his greatest confidante. Her beauty was known throughout the lands, unmatched by any in his kingdom, yet it was her intelligence and unwavering loyalty that he cherished most.

She had once been the wife of his older brother, King Gogukcheon, before his untimely death during the rebellion that nearly tore Goguryeo apart. Sansang had inherited both the throne and the responsibility of protecting the kingdom, but in Queen Woo, he had found a partner who shared his burdens.

"These mountains," he began, his voice low, "they remind me of the strength our people have shown over the years. How we have risen against countless challenges and adversities. But now, it feels as though we are bending, forced to kneel before the Han just to survive. I wonder, have I done the right thing? Agreeing to their demands, sending our own noble blood as hostages?"

Queen Woo listened attentively, her eyes never leaving his face. She could see the conflict within him, the struggle between pride and pragmatism. After a moment, she stepped closer and gently placed her hand on his arm.

"My lord," she said softly, "you have done what is necessary to ensure the survival of our people. This peace, though bitter, will give us the time we need to rebuild and strengthen our kingdom. You are not bowing to the Han; you are securing the future of Goguryeo. Without time to heal and recover from the rebellions and defeats, we would be vulnerable to their attacks. But with time, we can rise again."

Her words were measured, and carefully chosen to offer reassurance without dismissing the gravity of the situation. King Sansang looked into her eyes, and the doubt that had clouded his mind began to lift.

She was right, of course. Survival was paramount, and the current situation, while humiliating, was a means to an end. His people needed him to make these hard choices, even if they weighed heavily on his heart.

"And what of the hostages?" he asked after a pause. "It is not just any noble families that we must send. The Han will expect hostages of significance, people whose absence will ensure our compliance. But we cannot afford to send those who hold too much influence or power within our kingdom."

Queen Woo nodded thoughtfully, her gaze shifting toward the mountains as she considered his words. "Leave the selection of the hostages to Mo Du and me," she said after a moment. "We will choose carefully—those of noble birth, but not those whose absence will cripple our ability to govern or defend ourselves. We must be strategic in this. The Han will expect loyalty, but we must ensure that our strength remains intact here at home."

Her offer to assist in the selection of hostages touched King Sansang deeply. Though he had always known her to be wise, her willingness to shoulder this burden with him was a reminder of how lucky he was to have her by his side. He felt the weight of his responsibility lessen slightly in her presence.

Unable to suppress his gratitude, he reached out and pulled her into an embrace, a gesture of affection that surprised not only his wife but also the few courtiers who had lingered nearby. Queen Woo, usually so composed, blushed at the unexpected display of emotion, and the courtiers, out of respect, turned their backs to give the royal couple a moment of privacy.

"Thank you," King Sansang whispered as he held her. "For standing by me through all of this. I do not know what I would do without you."

Queen Woo, though flustered by the public nature of the embrace, smiled softly and rested her head on his shoulder for a brief moment. "We are in this together, my lord," she replied quietly. "We will weather this storm as we have weathered others before it. Goguryeo has endured through much worse, and with time, we will rise stronger."

After a moment, they parted, and Queen Woo glanced toward the handmaidens, signaling that it was time to return inside. The king watched her walk away, her grace and elegance evident in every step. She had always been more than a queen to him; she was his anchor, the one person who understood the full weight of the crown he bore.

Meanwhile, in a different part of the palace, Mo Du was busy making the preparations as King Sansang had commanded. He had already begun compiling a list of potential hostages, young male and female nobles from various families, carefully selected to satisfy the Han's demands without giving away too much of Goguryeo's strength. The challenge lay in balancing the need to comply with the terms of the treaty while also ensuring the kingdom's resilience.

As he worked, he thought about the larger picture. Mo Du had been by King Sansang's side for many years, serving not only him but also his predecessor. He knew that while the current peace was a necessity, it was fragile.

The Han, despite their internal struggles, remained a powerful force. They would not hesitate to crush Goguryeo if they sensed any weakness or betrayal. But Mo Du was a patient man, something he shared with King Sansang, and he understood the value of playing the long game.

He recalled the king's words earlier in the day. Goguryeo was not broken; it was only bending to the winds of circumstance. In time, the kingdom would regain its strength. But for now, survival depended on making the right moves, choosing the right people to send as hostages, and ensuring that Goguryeo's true strength remained hidden from the Han's watchful eyes.

In the following days, preparations for the tribute and the selection of hostages began in earnest. Queen Woo worked closely with Mo Du, ensuring that each family affected by the selection was treated with dignity and that the chosen hostages understood the role they would play in securing Goguryeo's future.

Some families were reluctant, fearing for the safety of their sons and daughters, but Queen Woo's calm and reassuring presence helped to ease their concerns.

She met with the young male and female nobles personally, speaking to them of duty and honor. She reminded them that they were not being abandoned but were playing a crucial role in the survival of their kingdom. Her words, spoken with conviction and compassion, left a strong impression on the hostages, who, though fearful, understood the gravity of their situation.

One evening, after a long day of overseeing the preparations, Queen Woo returned to King Sansang's chambers. She found him seated by the window, once again staring out at the mountains. This time, however, there was a different look in his eyes. He seemed more at peace, more resolute in his decision.

"Everything is in order," she said as she joined him by the window. "The hostages have been selected, and the tribute will be ready to send by the end of the week. Our people understand the necessity of what we are doing."

King Sansang nodded, reaching for her hand. "I could not have done this without you," he said sincerely. "Your strength has been my own."

They stood together in silence for a moment, watching as the last light of the sun dipped below the horizon. The future was uncertain, but for now, they had done what was needed to protect their kingdom.

In the shadows, Goguryeo would prepare for the day when it could stand tall once more, no longer bound by the demands of the Han. King Sansang knew that the road ahead would be long and filled with challenges, but with Queen Woo by his side and the strength of his people behind him, he was ready to face whatever came next. The kingdom would endure, as it always had, and when the time was right, it would rise again, stronger and more resilient than ever.

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Name: Lie Fan

Title: Overlord Of The Central Plains

Age: 32 (199 AD)

Level: 16

Next Level: 462,000

Renown: 1325

Cultivation: Yin Yang Separation (level 9)

SP: 1,121,700

ATTRIBUTE POINTS

STR: 951 (+20)

VIT: 613 (+20)

AGI: 598 (+10)

INT: 617

CHR: 96

WIS: 519

WILL: 407

ATR Points: 0