Second Goryeo-Khitan War
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The Second Goryeo-Khitan War was an 11th-century conflict between the kingdom of Goryeo and Khitan forces near what is now the border between China and North Korea. The Goryeo-Khitan Wars began in 993 with the first campaign and ended in 1018 with the third campaign.
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[edit] Background
Expecting further Khitan incursions, King Seongjong ordered the construction of what became known as the Six Garrison Settlements to extend the power of Goryeo all along the banks of the Yalu River. Peasant laborers built massive fortresses in the coastal plains and foothills between the Ch'ongch'on and Yalu Rivers near the modern cities of Uiju, Yongch'on, Sonch'on, Ch'olsan, Kusong, and Kwaksan. With its modernized defensive fortifications completed, Goryeo reopened diplomatic relations with Song China. Khitan Emperor Shengzong viewed this defiant action and the growing strength of Goryeo forces stationed south of the Yalu River with alarm. He not only voiced displeasure over these developments, but demanded that Goryeo turn over its Six Garrison Settlements to the Liao empire. King Songjong immediately rejected his demand out of hand, thereby causing tensions between the Liao state and Goryeo to heighten once again.
[edit] The Invasion
Gang Jo's bloody coup in Kaesong provided the Liao emperor an opportune pretext to invade Goryeo under the guise of avenging King Mokjong's murder. In the winter of 1010, an army of 400,000 Khitan troops left the Naewon-song Fortress under the personal command of Emperor Shengzong and marched across the frozen Yalu River into the Goryeo frontier. General Gang successfully fought off the first Khitan assault from defensive positions around the Sonch'on Garrison. Undaunted, the Khitan warriors regrouped and launched a second attack. This time they overran the garrison and captured General Gang. Despite repeated demands from the Khitan emperor that Gang Jo vow allegiance to him, the heroic Goryeo general steadfastly refused to bow in submission. Emperor Shengzong executed him on the spot.
Emperor Shengzong's army defeated the Sunchun Garrison and easily pierced Goryeo's defenses, bypassing the coastal garrison at Kwaksan and pushing south to lay siege to the city of Pyongyang. Only a staunch defense by Goryeo defenders prevented the fall of the city. When news of Gang Jo's death reached the royal court at Kaesong, the government nearly panicked. The king's ministers clamored for an immediate and unconditional surrender. King Hyeonjong rejected the plea of his ministers and instead took the advice of one of his generals. Hoping to buy time for the remaining Goryeo forces to reorganize and counterattack when the Khitan thrust lost its momentum, Hyungjong directed the court to move far south to the port city of Naju.
[edit] Negotiations
Emperor Shengzong continued drive his forces southward. Khitan troops eventually reached the capital at Kaesong and took the city. The Khitan army savagely raped and pillaged its way through Kaesong. Hoping to end the hostilities, King Hyeonjong attempted to sue for peace. The Khitan emperor haughtily ordered Goryeo to cede the strategic border region then under the control of the Six Garrisons. He also demanded that if King Hyeonjong wanted the Khitan to withdraw from Goryeo, he should come to the capital at Liaoyang and show his obeisance to the Liao Dynasty. Hyeonjong knew full well that such an act would amount to acknowledgement of Goryeo's vassal status to the Liao emperor. The young king stubbornly refused such an absurd request and never took the royal journey north.
[edit] Aftermath
Despite their success on the battlefield, the Liao invasion brought the Khitan no particular advantage. After driving deep into the heart of Goryeo, Emperor Shengzong and his troops found themselves ever more dependent on thinly stretched supply lines that ran between the Naewon-song Fortress and Kaesong. Fearing that he might be cut off and isolated deep within Goryeo, Shengzong decided to withdraw his army. Goryeo's warriors counterattacked the Khitan mercilessly during its northward retreat and inflicted horrendous casualties. Between 20,000 - 30,000 Khitan soldiers reportedly died in their frantic attempt to recross the Yalu River into Liao.
