Eulji Mundeok was a highly skilled military commander who also possessed deep philosophical and poetic talents.
When the Sui army invaded, he led a daring mission into the enemy camp to scout their status while pretending to surrender.
He followed a brilliant withdraw-and-exhaust strategy, drawing the enemy deep into Goguryeo territory before crushing them at Salsu.
His famous poem mockingly sent to the Sui general Yuwen Shu is one of the most celebrated literary works in Korean history.