October 927 King Kyon of Later Baekjae had taken down the weak Silla empire, and now he threatened Wang’s Goryeo. Determined to stop Kyon’s advance and to possibly unite the peninsula under Goryeo, Wang and his cavalrymen rode warily into the Silla mountain range. Dark, billowing smoke drifted from the burning forts and loomed ominously above the forces. As the men continued forward, the air thickened with heat, and the lush greens took on charred edges. Until at last, at the

July 24, 918 The four generals and Commander Wang gathered gloomily under candlelight. “King Kung Ye must be overthrown,” General Sin spoke. “The man not only claims he is the Buddha, but he has slaughtered his family as well. We four have decided that you, Commander, shall be our new King. We have already gathered our forces.” The other generals nodded. Wang raised his eyes and struck a cold gaze into each of the generals, lingering on Sin, who stared back with a blazing in