The Dae Ma-do Conquest Decided and Lady Gang's Demise
A few days after the event, the official report submitted by Choi Un-hae arrived at the Secretariat. It detailed how Min Mu-jil and Kim Man-ho had achieved a great victory against the Japanese pirates, and how Choi Un-hae, upon arriving, had mopped up the remaining stragglers. The report also noted the number of enemy dead and confirmed that the pirate forces on Dae Ma-do and Iki Island had been drastically reduced. It went straight up to the Secretariat, where everyone rejoiced over the tremendous win.
They had all been racking their brains over the express envoy document issue, so this joyous news was a welcome relief. Upon hearing of it, Min Je sent a man to inform Yi Bang-won, who immediately headed to the Secretariat to meet Nam Jae.
"Lord Jeongan-gun, what brings you here?"
Yi Bang-won emphasized the necessity of the Dae Ma-do Conquest to Nam Jae and recommended Kim Sa-hyeong as the commander.
Nam Jae nodded in agreement. "Lord Jeongan-gun, you speak truly. With the pirates' forces greatly diminished, now is the time to strike a decisive blow at Dae Ma-do and Iki Island, ensuring they never threaten Joseon again. As Right Prime Minister, he will fairly select talent and command the army well. I'll return to the Secretariat right away and discuss this with the ministers."
"I leave it in your hands, Lord Sam-sa Left Deputy Commander Nam Jae."
"No need to worry."
Afterward, Nam Jae returned to the Secretariat and argued for the need of the Dae Ma-do Conquest before the ministers, who all nodded in approval—even Jeong Do-jeon. The ministers then went straight to Yi Seong-gye and formally petitioned for the conquest, calling it a perfect opportunity to distract from the chaotic politics surrounding the express envoy document and to eradicate the loathsome pirates once and for all. Nam Jae especially recommended Kim Sa-hyeong as commander, insisting that with him at the helm, victory was assured.
Yi Seong-gye, eager to demonstrate the mighty military might of the Joseon he had founded by subjugating the pirates, accepted. "I approve your petition for the Dae Ma-do Conquest. I appoint Right Prime Minister Kim Sa-hyeong as Commander of the Five Provinces' Armies and Navy, and Sam-sa Left Deputy Commander Nam Jae as Provincial Army and Navy Overseer. Assemble the warships of the five provinces and conquer Dae Ma-do and Iki Island."
"Yes, Your Highness."
And so, Joseon's first overseas expedition—the Dae Ma-do Conquest—was decided.
Afterward, as Kim Sa-hyeong began organizing the army roster, an unexpected issue arose: Yi Seong-gye intervened heavily in the personnel assignments. Originally, trusting Kim Sa-hyeong's integrity and fairness, Yi Seong-gye had intended to let him handle all appointments upon naming him army and navy commander. But Queen Consort Lady Gang, dragging her ailing body to him, insisted that people close to the crown prince must participate to bolster his authority—and this swayed Yi Seong-gye.
Of course, true to his reputation as an undefeated general, Yi Seong-gye assigned competent military experts, but as a result, Min Mu-gu and Min Mu-jil were excluded. Jeong Do-jeon's faction member Yi Mu, appointed as inspector general by Yi Seong-gye, had blocked them.
And this was at Lady Gang's instigation. With Kim Sa-hyeong and Nam Jae participating in the expedition, completely excluding Yi Bang-won's people was impossible, but through Yi Mu as inspector general, they could screen mid-level commanders. Thus, Lady Gang and Jeong Do-jeon had aligned to fully exclude the Yeheung Min clan, Yi Bang-won's core supporters.
The news reached Yi Bang-won and Min Da-yeon, who quickly grasped the intent and flew into a rage.
"Lady Gang is now meddling even in military affairs? Does she not know the bounds of the geumdo? With her deathbed illness, has she truly lost her mind?"
Min Da-yeon, seething beside him, said, "My lord, why not seek help from Right Army Regulator Yi Cheon-u? As my sister's husband, he will aid us."
"Better to meet Senior General Sin Geuk-rye as Mu-jil suggested. Asking Cheon-u too soon is risky—Jeong Do-jeon might pull some scheme, and we need Cheon-u for later."
Min Da-yeon harbored some doubt but decided to go along with it for now. Yi Bang-won then met Sin Geuk-rye and explained the situation.
"I'll do as Lord Jeongan-gun wishes. I'll bring both of your brothers-in-law as my deputy commanders."
Yi Bang-won was surprised by the swift reply. Sin Geuk-rye added, "Though I'm the queen consort's cousin, I'm on Lord Jeongan-gun's side—worry not."
Afterward, Sin Geuk-rye informed Kim Sa-hyeong that he would take Min Mu-gu and Min Mu-jil as his deputies and received approval.
The news reached Jeong Do-jeon, who was shocked and confronted Sin Geuk-rye. "Why them?"
"They have ample experience fighting pirates, so I want them along. Is there a problem, Lord Sambong?"
"Those men are from the Min clan. Do you not know how wary the queen consort is of that family?"
"That's no concern of mine. The Dae Ma-do Conquest must succeed for Joseon's sake, so I'm taking the talent we need."
"You..."
"Whom I bring as my deputy is my call as Center Army Regulator. And with approval already granted, I ask Lord Sambong not to interfere—no matter your title as Deputy Minister of Military Affairs."
Jeong Do-jeon felt utterly blindsided. He hadn't expected the queen consort's own relative to defy him like this. Sin Geuk-rye, as Center Army Regulator, would command the central forces in the expedition and had the authority to appoint his own deputies. Jeong Do-jeon's faction had appointed him to bolster the crown prince's power, but it had backfired spectacularly, giving Yi Bang-won's side a boost instead.
In truth, it was a miscalculation by Jeong Do-jeon's faction—Sin Geuk-rye inwardly believed Yi Bang-won should be crown prince and disliked Jeong Do-jeon's actions. With Lady Gang gravely ill and Yi Bang-won actively seeking his aid, he seized the chance to firmly align with Yi Bang-won and acted swiftly.
Stunned, Jeong Do-jeon floundered but couldn't recklessly replace the prestigious Sin Geuk-rye without causing an uproar in military circles, so he backed down. Sin Geuk-rye then visited Yi Bang-won's residence, where he was warmly welcomed and feted. In time, he became a firm member of Yi Bang-won's faction.
With influential military figure Senior General Sin Geuk-rye now in his camp, Yi Bang-won's influence in the military surged.
Lady Gang, witnessing this series of events, raged at Yi Bang-won's schemes, but Jeong Do-jeon soothed her, promising to abolish private armies after the expedition to prevent such defiance. Interfering now would only disrupt the conquest, which even Jeong Do-jeon saw as necessary.
Convinced by his words, Lady Gang let it pass. But the strain had worsened her health severely; she could no longer move. Yi Seong-gye offered Buddhist rites for her recovery, but to no avail—she breathed her last on the 27th of the eighth month. Her dying words to Yi Seong-gye were a plea to kill Yi Bang-won for the crown prince's sake.
Grieving deeply, Yi Seong-gye postponed the Dae Ma-do Conquest until after her funeral, delaying it to the 5th of the eleventh month.
Meanwhile, Yi Bang-won and Min Da-yeon were overjoyed at the news of Lady Gang's death.
"Lady Gang hastened her own end and finally died, my lady."
Yi Bang-won was thrilled. With that venomous woman gone, it felt like a rotten tooth had been pulled.
"Indeed, my lord. With Lady Gang dead, Jeong Do-jeon alone cannot protect the crown prince."
"True, my lady. Though the expedition is delayed, it will happen, and when our people return with great merits, Jeong Do-jeon won't dare oppose us alone. Our great cause will be achieved within three years."
"Yes, my lord. I've been anxious until now, but I'm so relieved."
"As am I, my lady."
They basked in their happiness. But then unexpected news arrived: Yi Seong-gye stubbornly insisted on placing Lady Gang's tomb right in front of Gyeongbok Palace. Though it violated rites, he built it there anyway, along with nearby Heungcheonsa Temple. Meant to secure the crown prince's position, it instead provoked the staunchly anti-Buddhist scholar-officials, who swung even more toward Yi Bang-won—the political opposite of Lady Gang—backfiring on Yi Seong-gye's intentions.
Meanwhile, learning of this through Min Da-yeon, Min Mu-jil burst into laughter. In the end, things had gone just as he'd planned: he would join the Dae Ma-do Conquest, and Lady Gang had obligingly died at the perfect moment. Min Da-yeon, unable to contain her joy, had sent word immediately. She must have been truly elated—every letter brimmed with words like "joyful" and "happy."
Yi Seong-gye's recklessness was quite the spectacle too. A tomb smack in the capital? Rites be damned. From our perspective, though, it was all good. The temple only further riled the scholar-officials, tilting more toward our side. Moreover, Lady Gang's tomb was our ultimate hidden card—the initial forces for the First Princes' Revolt would come from those guarding it. Yi Seong-gye had dug his own grave, as it were. Like master, like man: Yi Seong-gye and Jeong Do-jeon were cut from the same cloth.
And Min Da-yeon... at the end of her letter, she actually thanked me. Had she ever thanked me before? "Well done" or "you've worked hard" was the extent of it. She must really mean it this time. Anyway, she credits Sin Geuk-rye joining our side with hastening Lady Gang's death, thanking me for the brilliant scheme. It probably did contribute—turning her own kin must have been a shock in her state. Though I knew he'd come around.
I'd suggested meeting Sin Geuk-rye for good reason. He's an exceptional general, backed by Yi Seong-gye himself, so I figured he'd be a commander in the expedition. Jeong Do-jeon's faction could block others, but Sin Geuk-rye was removable—and Lady Gang assumed her relative was loyal. Yet despite being her cousin, Sin Geuk-rye was a core Yi Bang-won ally who openly mobilized troops for him in the First Princes' Revolt, earning such merit he was later enfeoffed as a second-class contributor. His sister had even declared the family ruined if Yi Bang-seok became crown prince. That household never intended to back him. With Lady Gang dying, no need to pretend anymore—I predicted he'd join us, and he did.
I'd love to see Jeong Do-jeon's face. He tried excluding me and Mu-gu but personally slotted us into the vital center army. He must be grinding his teeth. Tough luck—it's done. After the conquest, Jeong Do-jeon will overplay his hand desperately. The express envoy personnel reports should arrive around then too.
Speaking of the roster, it's hilarious. Right Army Regulator Yi Cheon-u, tied to our clan, couldn't be excluded—that shows his standing. Jeong Do-jeon crammed in crown prince allies, but most will flip to Yi Bang-won later. Sin Geuk-rye is one, but the kicker is inspector general Yi Mu. A Jeong Do-jeon friend who soured on him and joined Yi Bang-won in the revolt. Jeong Do-jeon really knows how to make enemies—even friends turn.
Anyway, I'll rack up major merits in this conquest and return to Hanyang triumphantly. Unlike before, I won't bend to Jeong Do-jeon's threats—I'll press him hard. To that end, I'm rigorously training my private troops now. Time's on our side, thanks to Lady Gang's death delaying things.
After that, I kept drilling the soldiers, determined to claim great feats in the Dae Ma-do expedition.