Part 1 - Jeong Do-jeon: Demanding the Liaodong Conquest
Four months later, in December, the Joseon court erupted in chaos. Emperor Hongwu of the Ming had executed the envoys Jeong Chong, Kim Yak-hang, and No In-do, who had been detained.
Hongwu flew into a rage, claiming that the phrasing in the letter brought by the Cheonchusa envoy mocked him. He cited it as a failure to treat seriously the incident with the black garments he had bestowed, and executed the envoys as an example. He then dispatched another envoy, demanding that Jeong Do-jeon be brought to the Ming without fail. If not this time, he warned, there would be no mercy.
The Joseon court was furious at this outrage of killing envoys from another state. In the meetings to discuss countermeasures, denunciations of Hongwu's barbarity filled the air—nearly without exception.
As the condemnations of Hongwu raged on, Jo Jun spoke up.
"But we cannot spend all our time denouncing the Ming Emperor. He has clearly demanded that we send Sambong, so we must devise a response."
"I have no intention of yielding to Hongwu's demands," Yi Seong-gye declared.
At that moment, Nam Eun interjected.
"Your Highness, Sambong is currently at Hwaryeong. Why not summon the man himself first and hear his thoughts? Regardless of the circumstances, the Ming Emperor is demanding him now, so it seems we should bring him to court."
Shim Hyo-saeng, Yi Mu, and others voiced agreement, and even the senior officials who despised Jeong Do-jeon could not deny the need to summon him. It made no sense to discuss accepting or rejecting the Ming Emperor's demand without the party in question present.
In the end, Yi Seong-gye ordered Jeong Do-jeon summoned to the capital.
Meanwhile, Min Mu-jil heard the news.
So Jeong Do-jeon is finally coming back. Hongwu really is a cheat code. He's forcing the return of Jeong Do-jeon, whom most of the court hates. A fitting show of presence from the most powerful figure in early Joseon.
But seriously, is that bastard Hongwu even human? I knew he'd kill the envoys, but executing diplomats is an outrage even enemy nations wouldn't commit.
No wonder even the Sinocentrists who revere the Middle Kingdom have so many who hate the Ming. It's not as intense as anti-Chinese sentiment in my past-life Korea, but anti-Ming feelings run deep. Thanks to Hongwu, it's clear China needs to be broken into pieces to curb its bullying. That's the joy of the masses.
And after pondering for months, I've pieced together why Jeong Do-jeon pushed for the Liaodong conquest and prepared so early. I'll discuss it with the family later.
Anyway, thanks to this damn Hongwu, Jeong Do-jeon is returning to Hanyang. And today is the day.
Of course, I have no desire to face him, so I'll avoid him as much as possible.
But most annoyingly, Jeong Do-jeon came straight to me—right to my workplace.
"Why on earth have you come?"
"I wanted to see you. Have you been well?"
"I've been too well."
"Hm? I doubt that."
This son of a bitch... He knows full well.
I Jeong had been appointed as Pan-uiheung Samgunbusa and tormented me relentlessly. No way I'd been well. This bastard.
Even though he'd been there for the Jeong Mong-ju assassination, no one hounded me as obsessively as Jeong Do-jeon. He'd reject the paperwork I'd organized, make me redo it endlessly, and torment me in every way. And not just that—he'd berate me publicly in front of crowds.
This had to be at Jeong Do-jeon's orders before he left. He'd warned that my presence would make his time away from Hanyang uncomfortable. Heungan-gun I Jeong, now firmly in the Jeong Do-jeon faction, was carrying out his master's will. Because he's the son-in-law of the king, I've held my tongue.
Of course, Jeong Do-jeon's faction didn't target just me. Shim Hyo-saeng, as Pansamsasa, immediately exiled Yi Suk-beon, Park Eun, and Heo Jo to the provinces. Yi Suk-beon wasn't my concern, and Heo Jo's sharp tongue made it predictable, but Park Eun was regrettable. I'd only just pulled strings with Grandee Nam Jae to bring him to the capital, and now they demoted him again. It was clearly payback for leading the charge in the last impeachment wave against Jeong Do-jeon. He's one of my closest friends alongside Choi Yun-deok—truly heartbreaking.
When I went to console him, he took it in stride, numb from repeated provincial demotions. I'll make sure he joins the Princes' Revolt and gets merit status. In original history, he didn't, I think?
For now, let's chase out this Jeong Do-jeon bastard first.
"So why did you come to see me?"
"No respect for your superior."
"I don't feel like showing respect to someone who says my existence is the problem. Besides, you're not even Pan-uiheung Samgunbusa anymore—hardly my superior."
"We'll be seeing each other often. That attitude will cause problems. Especially since you have important work ahead."
I thought he'd exclude me from the Liaodong campaign, but maybe not?
"Anyway, see you later."
No. I only want to see you when I kill you.
Jeong Do-jeon left with a rotten smirk. What a mood-ruiner first thing in the morning.
After he departed, I continued my work. With that bastard back, a massive upheaval was coming. He'd surely push for the Liaodong conquest. Its impact would rival Hongwu's envoy executions.
I don't know what possessed him to say it, but that would be his worst self-inflicted wound. Now I just wait.
A few days later, Jeong Do-jeon appeared at court, joined by numerous officials in the throne room to debate the crisis. And their views aligned: Jeong Do-jeon could not be sent.
Even his opponents rejected sending him in the face of Hongwu's absurd tyranny. No matter how much they hated him, this was too far. Jo Jun and Kim Sa-hyeong argued vehemently against it, unifying the court.
Jo Jun even proposed restoring Jeong Do-jeon to court to signal their intent to Hongwu. Though some resisted, he pressed on.
Yi Seong-gye then said, "Indeed, the Left Prime Minister is right. Let us proceed as he suggests. But are there no other countermeasures?"
No one replied. Jeong Do-jeon's return felt improper, but they had no alternatives.
Jeong Do-jeon spoke. "Your subject Jeong Do-jeon reports: Hongwu's atrocities cannot be answered with mere words. We must take another path."
"What path is that?"
"Hongwu's barbarity demands not the brush, but the sword in response. I strongly petition to raise an army and strike Liaodong."
Yi Seong-gye started in surprise. "What did you say? Strike Liaodong?"
"Yes, Your Highness. We must etch into Hongwu's mind that Joseon is no pushover, so he never dares such outrage again. I beseech Your Highness's permission."
The other officials doubted their ears. Hongwu's excess was egregious, but attacking Liaodong out of nowhere?
Jo Jun challenged, "Sambong, do you realize what you're saying?"
"I do."
Jeong Do-jeon turned to Yi Seong-gye. "Your Highness, I have long observed the Jurchens in the Northeast Frontier and Liaodong's state. The Jurchens are already under our influence, and of the Ming's 20 zhi huisi in Liaodong, only 6 function properly. At most, that's 5,000 per commandery—30,000 total. Moreover, the Ping'an who oversaw Liaodong is now in Nanjing. If we mobilize a great army with Jurchen aid, we can strike Liaodong, seize Shenyang, and more. I petition once again: raise the army and conquer Liaodong."
Ha Ryeon countered, "No, it cannot be. Your Highness knows better than anyone: the previous dynasty attempted Liaodong twice, with disastrous results."
"The circumstances now differ."
Kim Sa-hyeong pressed, "How so?"
"Goryeo faced wako pirate threats from the rear then; now, post-Tsushima conquest, that danger is gone. Goryeo lacked grain; we have 500,000 seok. The Ming then mobilized hundreds of thousands against Northern Yuan with Nan'gu and others near Liaodong; they lack leisure for that now. And the Ming's overall situation has changed."
"How has the Ming's situation changed?"
Ignoring him, Jeong Do-jeon addressed Yi Seong-gye. "Your Highness, I shall compile a memorial separately."
"Do so. Court is adjourned."
All paid respects and departed. Expressions were grim, but Jo Jun looked utterly shocked.
Meanwhile, Nam Eun caught Jeong Do-jeon. "Brother, do you truly intend the Liaodong conquest?"
"Nam Eun, gather our people. I'll explain."
Nam Eun brought Shim Hyo-saeng, Yi Geun, Jang Ji-hwa, Yi Mu, and others.
"Liaodong's commanderies are as I described—few operational. Conquest won't be hard."
"Even so, the Ming will retaliate with a million-strong army later. Why?"
"The Ming cannot cross the Yalu. Civil war will erupt first."
"What do you mean?"
"I planned this later, but circumstances shifted. Hongwu is gravely ill."
"What?"
"Hongwu is paranoid, handling everything himself. But the Cheonchusa said what? Military affairs are now under Grandson Zhu Yunwen. Military matters, no less—that's proof Hongwu is dying. He won't last past next August."
"Then we just endure. Once he's gone, it ends. No need to overreach."
"Once the grandson ascends, what of the fen wang? Zhu Yunwen will purge them to solidify imperial authority—history proves it. The princes will resist, sparking civil war. We conquer Liaodong in the interim."
Nam Eun persisted. "Even so, we can act then. Isn't it too soon?"
"We must eliminate opponents first. Under the pretext of Liaodong, convert their private troops to state forces entirely. They'll lose power to shake the Crown Prince or us—their strongest weapon gone."
Only then did Jeong Do-jeon's followers grasp his intent: exploit Ming civil war for Liaodong, but mainly dismantle rivals' private armies. Nam Eun, Shim Hyo-saeng, and the rest pledged to follow.
They began preparing to persuade Yi Seong-gye—and separately Jo Jun and Kim Sa-hyeong. Winning those two would ease things.
Meanwhile, at Min Je's house gathered Yi Bang-won, Ha Ryeon, Gwon Geun, Min Da-yeon, Min Mu-gu, and Min Mu-jil to discuss Jeong Do-jeon's Liaodong proposal.
Jeong Do-jeon dropped a nuclear bomb right away.
Everyone's faces screamed, Has he lost his mind?
Min Da-yeon spoke. "Hongwu and Jeong Do-jeon—both mad? One slaughters envoys in barbarity, the other spouts nonsense about conquering Liaodong? Especially Jeong Do-jeon—how does he plan to face Ming wrath? He's lost it."
Even Min Da-yeon is shocked. She doesn't mince words, but calling someone mad publicly is rare.
The others nodded in agreement. The shock ran deep. I get it—even studying history, I thought he'd lost it.
But has Jeong Do-jeon gone mad? His position is worse than original history. Public enemy in the Censorate and Six Ministries, yet this push? Betting on Yi Seong-gye and Nam Eun?
"Mu-jil seems unfazed. Did you expect this? No, impossible."
"A few days ago, Jeong Do-jeon told me we'd meet often and I'd have important work. I suspected some scheme, military-related perhaps, but not Liaodong. At most, Tsushima or Jurchen subjugation."
Of course I knew, but play dumb. Can't look insane.
"That bastard again on my brother-in-law... What's your take? What do you make of Jeong Do-jeon's thinking?"
They'd already dismissed it as madness without me. "I agree it's mad. Liaodong is feasible, but the aftermath will devour Joseon. Still, I understand his reasoning."
Min Da-yeon looked at me pityingly. "I Jeong tormented you so much, you've gone peculiar. Understanding Jeong Do-jeon? We need a physician."
Why treat me like I'm ill? Understanding him makes me crazy? Eerily accurate?
"I'm fine. Let me explain."
Then I began laying it out for them.