Chapter 4: The Measure of a Sovereign
Balhae – Upper Capital, Yongcheon Prefecture
Returning to the capital after his meeting with Sullyulpyeong, Dae In-seon knelt before a man wearing a golden crown, bowing deeply.
The man glaring sharply at him, as if ready to strike, was none other than Dae Hyeon-seok, the 14th King of Balhae.
"You've completely drained this father's patience! As the Crown Prince, you run about like an untamed colt! Do you even have a shred of common sense?"
'Wow… the king really sounds like that? Is he this angry?'
No sooner had he arrived in the capital than he was summoned to the throne room by the king's command. Dae Hyeon-seok was waiting, his face flushed red with anger.
Naturally so—his son, the Crown Prince, had gone missing for over a month without any news. Dae Hyeon-seok had gone to great lengths to cover up the prince's absence, even persuading the ministers with the explanation that "the Crown Prince has gone on an inspection tour." Yet no minister could truly be fooled.
The king still remembered clearly: the faces of the chieftains and nobles, who had shown compassion despite the prince's reckless actions, even when they could have challenged the king's patience. 'You've done well,' their expressions had seemed to say, and Dae Hyeon-seok had never forgotten them.
"I apologize, Your Majesty. But there were matters I had to verify personally."
"Are these matters important enough to warrant the ministers' scolding?"
Though at the peak of his anger, the king tried to suppress it, giving the Crown Prince the chance to explain himself.
But what came from Dae In-seon's mouth was far from a mere excuse—it was almost unbelievable.
"Your Majesty, a period of turmoil is approaching. We must prepare accordingly, ensuring we survive the whirlwinds of fate."
"What are you talking about?"
Turmoil? Dae Hyeon-seok sank onto the throne with a puzzled expression, unable to understand his son's words.
Yet Dae In-seon pressed on, explaining both the current realities and the path Balhae should take in the days to come.
"The world today is an era of uncertainty. In the lands of the Three Han, the old Baekje has risen again. To our west, the Khitan are stirring. South of the Great Wall, the Tang Dynasty—Your Majesty is aware—has been devastated by the Huang Chao Rebellion, with several emperors replaced in succession. This signals the collapse of Tang's supremacy."
"…And your point?"
Dae Hyeon-seok, encountering his son's transformed demeanor after so long, decided to listen first, curious about what argument his child would present. He braced himself for some grandiose excuse, but he was also silently hopeful. Perhaps, just perhaps, his son might make sense.
"We, too, appear outwardly stable, yet signs of internal division with the Malgal remain. We must correct these and assert our heritage as descendants of Goguryeo to strengthen and enrich our nation."
Dae Hyeon-seok's jaw dropped.
As a ruler, he knew better than anyone that Balhae claimed to inherit Goguryeo's legacy. But in practice, Balhae could not openly proclaim this abroad. The Tang, who had destroyed Goguryeo, still existed in the Central Plains, and Silla, aligned with Tang, ruled over the lands of the Three Han. Any declaration of Goguryeo's legacy would isolate Balhae and provoke Tang, while Silla's reaction was unpredictable. Even using the name Balhae required reluctant recognition.
Yet here was his son boldly claiming that Balhae could thrive, even beyond the glory of its founders, by taking advantage of the current decline of Tang and Silla.
A fire ignited in Dae Hyeon-seok's chest.
Indeed, history showed that once the Central Plains weakened, decades of chaos followed. Ancient Goguryeo had exploited such turmoil to reach its peak. Now, with Silla's fortunes waning and uprisings in the former Baekje territories, Dae In-seon saw the perfect opportunity for Balhae's renaissance.
Despite his youth, Dae In-seon spoke with a conviction even his father could respect. No other figure in Balhae—not the Sogmalbu nor the other seven Malgal tribes—could proclaim such ambition.
"What exactly do you aim to achieve?"
"To unify the nation internally and bring peace within, and externally to subjugate the lands of the Three Han, consolidating them under the banner of Goryeo."
Dae Hyeon-seok, overwhelmed by the Crown Prince's audacity, could hardly find the words to reprimand him. He wanted only to understand the scope of his son's vision for Balhae.
"Do you truly believe that is possible?"
"With Silla's decline over a thousand years and our strength, what could possibly prevent Balhae from achieving it?"
'Unlike when he ran off to the capital before, his eyes now carry weight. This is unmistakably the gaze of a sovereign.'
The king could not fathom how his son had changed so drastically. Perhaps it was the exposure to the wider world that tempered him. Eulbu, who had accompanied him, was a fierce military man from the Heuksubu clan, but hardly someone who could provide civil instruction. Dae Hyeon-seok concluded that Dae In-seon's transformation came from his own insight and observation.
There was no reason left to punish him. Instead, he had returned enlightened and deserved praise. Could such a figure arise in contemporary Balhae? Not likely. At least, none like Dae In-seon.
Yet Dae In-seon's words also revealed an ambition beyond the scope of a Crown Prince. His dreams were vast—beyond mere kingship.
"You seem so confident… Do you desire the throne?"
"Such absurd words! Should it not be Your Majesty's achievements that are realized?"
Though he subtly avoided claiming ambition, his words did not reflect a refusal of kingship. Dae In-seon already envisioned a future Balhae, analyzing neighboring nations and planning far ahead.
The Crown Prince harbored dreams that surpassed merely maintaining the throne. Unlike his father, who would stabilize Balhae, Dae In-seon sought to craft a grand historical narrative.
Was it a father's duty to encourage this or to be cautious? His son's dream was not impossible, but if Balhae fell while testing such ambitions, even the ancestors in the afterlife would not be pleased.
Yet fathers wish to support their sons. Dae Hyeon-seok felt the same. If Dae In-seon would lead the nation, he wished to help as much as possible.
"You sly one. You surely know such things are impossible even for a Crown Prince. Are you attempting succession?"
"If it leads to Your Majesty's glory, that is enough. I am already the Crown Prince—why covet Your Majesty's position?"
Dae Hyeon-seok closed his eyes briefly, pressing his hand to his head.
He could not gauge the Crown Prince's inner motives. Yet in Dae In-seon's eyes, there was no thirst for immediate power, only a desire to achieve his dreams for Balhae.
Of course, it was contradictory. One could hardly envision grand ambitions without some desire for the throne.
'Does this child wish to be more than just the king of Balhae? Could it be that he dreams of the entire world? He may wish to become the emperor who leads all, not merely the sovereign of Balhae.'
Of course, this was Dae Hyeon-seok's own speculation. In reality, Dae In-seon intended to either save the country or, failing that, flee to Goryeo.
'If it all falls apart, I won't be blamed. I can live vicariously through my father, and if it fails, I'll simply shift responsibility and flee south.'
Unlike his cunning son, Dae Hyeon-seok wanted to test his abilities. Though the throne would eventually pass to him, if Dae In-seon truly had the makings of a sovereign, he could also solve the kingdom's ongoing problems.
It was essentially placing a burden on his son, but Dae Hyeon-seok needed to be certain before passing the throne.
Opening his eyes, he approached the Crown Prince.
"You speak well. Very well. Then I shall grant you authority to resolve the disputes with the Malgal."
Dae In-seon's eyebrows twitched slightly, but a smile soon spread across his face.
It was a challenging task, but resolving it was essential for stabilizing the country and laying the foundation for Balhae's revival. If it failed, it would be recorded under Dae Hyeon-seok's reign. For Dae In-seon, there was nothing to lose.
The king, unaware of his son's intentions, had assigned him a difficult task.
"Whatever the decree commands, I shall carry it out, Your Majesty… if only…"
"If only what?"
"Please release the unfortunate Eulbu from prison."
Having assigned Dae In-seon the task of mediating disputes with the Malgal, Dae Hyeon-seok was testing the Crown Prince's abilities. Balhae, despite enjoying prosperity over several generations, had been plagued by noble conflicts, and tensions with the Malgal had grown significant.
After leaving the throne room, Dae In-seon tilted his head, thoughtfully reviewing the king's orders.
'The king wants to see if I have the makings of a sovereign. With the crumbs I've been given, handling the Khitan should be straightforward once I become king.'
In the south, the Later Three Kingdoms were emerging, soon to be unified by Goryeo. Though northern campaigns were central to Goryeo's policy, they could not attack Balhae openly, as Balhae was considered kin. If so, Dae In-seon's Balhae could enjoy peace and stability.
Arriving at the prison where Eulbu was held, the boy—dressed in striking attire—ran toward him.
"Brother! Weren't you in Khitan until now?"
"Oh, isn't this Bong-ye? How have you been?"
"Thanks to you, I was scolded for not properly taking care of you. You should have taken me with you!"
Dae In-seon could only give a wry smile at his younger brother, Dae Bong-ye, who was spirited and carefree, without ambition to threaten the Crown Prince's position.
'Ah, that explains why he didn't focus on study. I can understand why father grew weary.'
With a playful younger brother and a cousin like Bong-ye, it was surprising that the throne remained intact.
"Haha! Don't worry so much. Once I ascend the throne, I'll appoint you to a diplomatic post abroad."
"Really? Then I want Tang or Wa!"
In history, Dae Bong-ye did indeed serve as an envoy to Tang, so this was feasible.
"Very well. I must go now, as per the king's decree."
"Understood, brother. I'll go meet the king too."
After a brief reunion with Bong-ye, Dae In-seon continued toward the Crown Prince's residence, reflecting.
'Becoming Dae In-seon in this timeline is very different. Father is Dae Hyeon-seok, and Dae Wi-hae is my uncle. Did my uncle take the throne for me because I'm young? He seems as uninterested in power as Bong-ye. Still, father now knows I'm more than a mere boy. History may change, but this works to my advantage. Khitan and Malgal problems are next.'
As he freed Eulbu and walked toward the palace, Dae In-seon noticed his uncle Dae Wi-hae and approached him.
"Crown Prince, isn't it?"
"Uncle, long time no see."
"Haha! Did you not receive enough scolding from my brother today?"
Dae In-seon and Dae Wi-hae shared a cordial relationship, strengthened by family ties with Bong-ye. Their smiles reflected familiarity and trust.
"Yes. And I've received quite the task."
"A task? What do you mean?"
Curious, Dae Wi-hae listened as Dae In-seon recounted his conversation with Dae Hyeon-seok.
Apart from envisioning Balhae's future, he focused only on the immediate Malgal issue, sparing Dae Wi-hae from unnecessary concern.
Nodding in interest, Dae Wi-hae's expression grew intrigued.