This study attemps to analyze the international situation and the expedition to Dongnyeong Office during the reign of King Gongmin. At the time of the campaign, the international circumstances were changing very rapidly: the establishment of the Ming ...
This study attemps to analyze the international situation and the expedition to Dongnyeong Office during the reign of King Gongmin. At the time of the campaign, the international circumstances were changing very rapidly: the establishment of the Ming Dynasty(明) in the south of the Great Wall of China, the Yuan Dynasty’s retreat into the northern region and its decrease in overall power. In the Northern Yuan Dynasty(北元), meanwhile, Ayushiridara(아유시리다라) succeeding Emperor Shundi(順帝) won Köke Temür(쿠케테무르) and Nahachu(나하추) over to his side, thereby recovering national power and subsisting. At that time, King Gongmin of the Goryeo Dynasty had tried to restore autonomy through reform from the early days of his reign and seek benefit in the relationship with the Yuan Dynasty. In 1368, when the Ming Dynasty dispatched an envoy to the Goryeo Dynasty, the government, in response to this, removed the era name of the Northern Yuan Dynasty and began to use that of the Ming Dynasty. It is the expedition to Dongnyeong Office that accomplished in these fluctuations of the international situation.
On the one hand, due to success in the campaign, the Goryeo Dynasty could not only take drifting people of Goryeo back, but also embrace the Jurchen people, thereby achieving the enhancement of labor force and tax revenue. In addition to this, as a result of the expedition,Yi, Seonggye(李成桂) could be more important person. At first, he, as one of local powers in Dongbukmyeon(동북면) and the son of Yi, Jachun(李子春), had been assigned only to purge survival powers of Liaodong and defend the Red Turban invasions before then. However, after the campaign, he was able to extend his influence by bringing around Jurchen soldiers, thus took an active part in repelling Japanese raiders. Consequently, he became a representative of the leadng armed powers.
On the other hand, the successful expedition to Dongnyeong Office brought international isolation to the Goryeo Dynasty, directly contrary to its purpose. Accordingly, the Ming Dynasty attempted to conciliate Liu Yi(劉益), one of local powers in Liaodong in the course of the expedition. After then, the Ming Dynasty started to change the policies on Lioadong, which was to take control of Liaodong. According to this change, the successful campaign of Goryeo could be a major threat to the acquirement of Liaodong for the Ming Dynasty. Thus, on July 1373, the Hongwu Emperor(洪武帝) condemned the Gorye Dynasty. Not only that, the expedition to Dongnyeong Office threatened various powers in Liaodong. In fact, changing his friendly attitude, Nahachu invaded Goryeo on January 1372. Afterwards, the King Gongmin’s assassination caused more complicated international situation.