Kim WÃ Ânsul (, before 660-675?) was a Silla military commander who served under Silla's 30th ruler, King Munmu, and played a major role in defending the kingdom against Tang China's invaders after the conquest of both Goguryeo and Baekje by the year 668.He was the second son of the Silla General Kim Yu-sin.
Kim WÃ Ânsul was the second son of General Kim Yu-sin, and direct descendant of King Suro, the founder of Geumgwan Gaya. Kim WÃ Ânsul was a member of the Silla's Jinggol class, and rose to the rank of Low-level general by the time of Goguryeo's fall to the Silla-Tang Alliance.
In 660, the kingdom of Baekje fell to the armies of the Silla-Tang Alliance. Baekje was then followed by the kingdom of Goguryeo, which fell in 668 to the Silla-Tang Alliance as well. General Kim Yu-sin's reputation as the greatest general of Silla rose during these Unification Wars.
General Wà Ânsul was near Baeksu Castle in August of the year 672, fighting Tang dynasty troops. Silla troops seemed to be winning the battle at the beginning. However, they chased the retreating Chinese troops and fell into a trap that killed seven generals and countless soldiers. As Wà Ânsul realized that defeat was unavoidable, he prepared to die by jumping into the enemy lines. His staff, however, blocked him and said, âÂÂIt is not difficult for a brave man to die. WhatâÂÂs more difficult is to choose when to die. Dying worthless is worse than revenging later." Wà Ânsul answered, âÂÂA man never lives a humiliating life" and then whipped his horse to make a dash. His staff, however, held the horse by the bridle and did not let go. Wà Ânsul could not die at the battle and returned to Gyeongju.
Kim Yu-sin, a former hwarang, asked King Munmu to execute WÃ Ânsul for retreating from battlefield instead of dying with honour. He was earnest about the execution because Silla lost as many as seven generals in the battle. King Munmu, however, refused to punish WÃ Ânsul. However, his father, Kim Yu-sin, disowned WÃ Ânsul as his son. Being ashamed of himself and afraid of facing his father, WÃ Ânsul hid in a secluded area.
In June 673, people witnessed several dozen crying soldiers in armor with weapons in their hands walking out of Yu-sin's home. Then, they vanished without a trace. Hearing about the strange incident, Yu-sin said, "They were the heavenly guardian soldiers who protected me. Now, my luck ran out. I shall die very soon." On July 1, 673, General Kim Yu-sin died at 79.
WÃ Ânsul returned home to attend his father's funeral. However, his mother, Lady Chiso, rejected him, although he was accused wrongfully of being a coward. She said, "How can I be the mother of a son who was not a son to his father." Kim WÃ Ânsul cried and returned to his hiding place.
In September 675, WÃ Ânsul returned to fight the invading Tang at the Battle of Maeso. He fought as if anxious to die on the battlefield. As a result, he achieved a great victory over the Tang troops. When the war was over, Kim Chunchu awaited his presence to award him in Gyeongju highly. He, however, never returned to Gyeongju and went deep into the mountains regretting his impiety to his parents.
Kim WÃ Ânsul spent the rest of his days, starving in the mountains, and died in an unknown year at an early age.