“It was a war Joseon lost for nothing other than loyalty to the Ming”

“The war where Joseon sat crouching at Namhan Mountain Fortress, only to lose in the end”

Koreans commonly consider the 1636 Qing Invasion of Joseon like this. Before imagining Joseon’s desperate resistance at Namhan Mountain Fortress, we have to examine what the Qing prepared for the invasion. The Qing, staking all, planned and carried out a bold strike that led to Joseon’s great distress.

The Qing’s plan was to prevent Joseon’s king from taking refuge at Ganghwado Island.

If King Injo had managed to flee to Ganghwado Island, the 1636 Invasion probably would have unfolded like the 1627 Qing Invasion. The 1636 Invasion started from a rapid strike: The Qing’s scheme for winning was a strike that prevented King Injo from fleeing to Ganghwado Island. This strike determined the whole fate of the 1636 Invasion. This episode delves into the Qing’s cunning scheme.