Subjugating the Jeonju Ho Clan
The road to Jeonju had been long and grueling. Without cars or trains, it was bound to be tough—but marching with a thousand troops made it even worse. It was an awkward number, really. Not enough to go all-out against the Ho clan, but if they defied orders, these thousand men would raze Jeonju to the ground.
"Couldn't we just have the magistrate arrest the clan head? It seems like you're making quite a big move this time, my lord."
"What power does a magistrate have? They've got their own private soldiers."
"I heard you were leading this operation yourself, miss."
Leading it? Not quite. This was about rooting out future traitors. Who knew how much Yi Seonggye might play a role in this altered history? Better safe than sorry. She had no intention of letting the Goryeo she'd built fall into his hands.
Heh heh heh. As if. "I'd never. I'm only here as the Cannon Separate Supervisor to witness the Iron Cannon Separate Elite's performance."
In this battle, she planned to test the Iron Cannon Separate Elite's true power. Yes, the cannons. Those cannons would take down Iansa of Jeonju. Of course, if he surrendered to the royal forces on his own, that would be ideal. But she doubted it. No matter how she thought about it, these guys wouldn't go down quietly.
That was the nature of the Ho clans—local tyrants who played king in their domains even with swords at their throats. Would they give up that power willingly?
"I see. It feels like your heart lies with the young lady, who is the Cannon Separate Supervisor."
"As if."
"Please take good care of things, miss."
Jusuk was trying to cozy up to her. Smart man. He could see she was the heir apparent. Better to get on her good side early.
"Don't attack Jeonju right away, okay? We should give them three chances first. Keep the troops camped outside for now."
"What if they're preparing defenses?"
"That's why a delicate woman like me has to step up."
Jusuk scowled like the job was a hassle, but whatever. He'd chosen this path—let him tough it out.
She'd already notified Jeonju's magistrate of her arrival, so meeting him was easy.
"Will you become Jeonju's magistrate?"
"Yes, Cannon Separate Supervisor. My lord."
The magistrate eyed her briefly before bowing hastily. He clearly chafed at calling a much younger woman "my lord."
"I hear Yi Yangmu and his son Iansa are a headache."
"Indeed. They ignore the court's orders completely."
So Iansa wasn't some big shot after all. No hesitation needed to grab him, then. Anyway, if Japanese pirates or Jurchens became problems later, she could conquer Japan in her lifetime and fully absorb the Jurchens. Problem solved.
"Can't you arrest them with your own forces?"
"With their private soldiers? Even if I wanted to follow your orders, my lord, the Ho clans hold all the power here. It's impossible."
Figures. Even the local magistrate was helpless against their private armies. Military subjugation it was, then.
"Come with me to meet these bastards."
"Yes, my lord. I'll gather what few soldiers I have and prepare."
"Good. Kim Jun, help him out."
"Yes."
Stepping out of the government office, clear weather greeted her. Soon, cannon fire would echo through here. When it did, Yi Yangmu and Iansa would be branded Goryeo traitors.
"What's this? Jeonju has such a beautiful lady?"
Some ugly bastard was ogling her up and down, staring right at her face. He reeked of "I love women," the desperate kind.
She didn't mind admirers, but this lowlife trying to hit on her? Disgusting.
"Who are you to stare at a woman's body like that?"
"Hahaha! Your voice is like a nightingale's—no celestial fairy could compare."
And then the creep grabbed her wrist? Kim Jun was still wrapping up with the magistrate. She'd left her sword behind, too.
"Let go of my hand."
She could smack him herself, but if word spread, better to yell and call Kim Jun.
"Feisty wench. In Jeonju, you'd be begging to impress our clan. You even have a servant, but you know who's really in charge here, right? Even the magistrate can't touch Iansa!"
The young punk smirked, flaunting his power. Ah, so this was him. Impressive in front of the Choe regime? Hardly. And this was Yi Seonggye's ancestor. Well, no family produces only greats. Kings ranged from tyrants to sages—what made Yi Seonggye's kin saints? This scum would surrender to the Mongols later, no doubt.
"Cannon Separate Supervisor! Are you all right?!"
Perfect timing—the magistrate rushed out. Kim Jun drew his sword and stood by her side. The ugly bastard finally released her and backed off a few steps.
"Cannon Separate Supervisor? What's that?"
"Show respect! This is the Cannon Separate Supervisor dispatched from the Security Command! The daughter of his lordship!"
The magistrate barked, and Iansa blinked before stammering.
"H-his lordship? Why would the Security Command...!"
His face changed now. Mention of "his lordship's daughter" sobered him like a splash of cold water—he recoiled in shock.
"Unbelievable. I wondered who was defying my father's orders, and it's trash like you. Bold move. I won't forget this. Security Command troops are already marching on Jeonju—choose wisely. Magistrate, Supervisor, you should go too, just in case."
"Y-yes!"
"P-please, hear me out! I really didn't know!"
Laying it on thick scared him pale as a ghost—he grasped the gravity now.
"Threatening a woman and defying the court? No remorse, just living comfortably. No point talking. Consider this notice: before the subjugation army arrives, liquidate your assets and hand them over."
The final ultimatum. Unlike before, this meant surrendering everything and leaving—stripping the Ho clan's foundation bare. Could Yi Yangmu, local kingpin, give up his lands and private soldiers?
Yi Yangmu and Iansa had no real choices left. The Security Command had dispatched an army—who knew its size? But if battle came, they'd lose. A local Ho clan's rabble couldn't match the Choe family's elite guards. This was no half-measure.
Plus, Iansa had insulted Choi U's favored daughter. No mercy—she demanded everything.
"How many could they have sent? Even a thousand—we can rally everyone in Jeonju and fight! If they've arrived, hold them off and negotiate with the Security Command!"
Iansa still saw hope. Jeonju's people were all under the Yi house. Could they hold out in an uprising?
"Hah, no helping it."
Yi Yangmu and Iansa chose to defend Jeonju. Rebellion declared. And naturally, this was the chance Choi Yeon wanted to test her cannons' performance.
"They've rejected amnesty and chosen the death penalty. Let 'em have it, General Jusuk. Begin the attack."
"Yes, miss."
Jusuk's subjugation army launched the assault. The problem? These weren't ordinary troops. It was the Iron Cannon Separate Elite's debut—fifty-odd matchlock gunners and a dozen cannons.
BOOM! KABOOM!
Iron balls from the cannon barrels shredded the wooden barricades the Yi private soldiers had thrown up. Those directly hit were pulped on the spot. Even the Iron Cannon Separate Elite and regular troops, who'd heard test fires, marveled at the roar.
"That thing's thunderous. The miss's creation, huh?"
"Yes."
Her first real combat use, but damn, it worked great. As long as you ignored the weight, these cannons were damn useful. Watch them scatter every time a shell landed.
No matter their loyalty to the Jeonju Yi, a brand-new weapon terrified them.
"Look at Iansa's men fleeing in panic. What a weapon."
Iron balls slamming everywhere—who wouldn't freak? Not real walls, just hasty barricades—smashed easily. The rattled retainers milled about in chaos.
"Wh-what the hell is this?! What's flying at us?!"
"Th-the heavens are angry!"
"Gaaah!"
Meanwhile, archers loosed arrows. As they rained down like biblical hail, the panicked soldiers turned into pincushions.
Then the matchlock men fired in volley.
BANG BANG! BANG BANG!
The Jeonju Yi retainers dropped like flies to weapons they'd never seen. Jusuk wouldn't miss the opening.
"No need for more arrows. Send in the armored cavalry now. Cavalry, charge!"
Security Command horsemen surged forward. Once breached, it was over. The gap widened, and commoners fled every which way. They were in it for survival, after all. Even if Iansa had cared for his followers, who’d stick with a clan angering heaven?
"The heavens are angry!"
"It's because the masters defied the court!"
"I knew this day would come!"
Some soldiers still resisted. They made perfect targets for matchlocks—mowed down by gunfire.
Non-resisters were treated as victims of the Iansa Ho clan. Soon, they captured the fleeing Yi Yangmu and Iansa.
"Sp-spare us!"
"We'll surrender all our assets!"
Yi Yangmu was one thing, but Iansa? She hated his face more every time. Hadn't he tried manhandling her just days ago? And this resistance? Probably his idea. No sane person chooses rebellion otherwise.
Messing with her was a grave sin. Whatever. She'd let him stew in it.
She stared down at Iansa silently. Even in original history, this coward fled arrest out of fear. Think about it: did the magistrate really crush him just on connections from quarreling with a gisaeng? No smoke without fire. There must've been dirt on Iansa, something that made him bolt.
Probably too distant an ancestor for records, but to her, Iansa was no good man. In original history, he justified surrendering to Mongol demands by dragging along the locals, and his son later whined to the court about why they had no choice. Like a rapist listing reasons he "had" to rape, or a murderer excusing murder.
"We took Mongol offices after becoming a vassal—what choice did we have?!" As if Goryeo's king could say anything to that. Did regions resisting Mongols hate their people or forget how to surrender? Some even held without officials—people alone. If it was truly for the folk, why take Mongol posts?
No matter how she sliced it, Iansa was scum like unlucky Hong Bokwon or Jo Sukchang. They'd buried him because he was Yi Seonggye's ancestor. Joseon itself was a backstabbing dynasty that shouldn't have risen—a family that 500 years later betrayed its people to Japan. Kim Chun-chu at least had the excuse of fractured Three Hans identity back then, but Yi Seonggye betrayed King Gongmin's grace, who accepted his traitorous clan, with his coup.
No mercy, not with justification. Even after twice, thrice reconsidering, she had to eliminate all variables.