Part 1: Yi Bang-won's Faction - The Plot to Raise Arms Begins
"Jeong Do-jeon knows that the Hongwu Emperor's health is failing. As everyone knows, the Hongwu Emperor is not the type to entrust military affairs to others, yet Zhu Yunwen is handling them now, so Jeong Do-jeon must believe the emperor will die soon. His plan is to seize Liaodong amid the ensuing strife between the Yan King and the new emperor."
Yi Bang-won pondered those words deeply.
"That view isn't entirely without merit, but it's far too reliant on hopeful speculation. The Hongwu Emperor could live much longer, and civil war might not erupt immediately. If Zhu Yunwen has any brains, eliminating the Yan King would be child's play."
But Zhu Yun-wen lacks the brains to do it.Indeed, Joseon would benefit if Zhu Yun-wen became the Ming emperor.My father thinks so too.
"It's overly optimistic conjecture," my father said. "Even if things unfold as hoped and we conquer Liaodong, once the civil war ends, Ming will never relinquish it. They'll dispatch a massive army to crush Joseon, and we'll perish defending against it. Your Highness is an invincible general. You wouldn't endorse such wishful thinking."
"The real key comes next."
Everyone focused intently.
"What if we use the Liaodong conquest as a pretext to abolish private armies?"
The room fell silent in shock.
"Abolish private armies?"
"Yes. Jeong Do-jeon might be sincere about conquering Liaodong. But as Father says, His Highness is an unbeatable commander. He won't buy into Jeong Do-jeon's hopeful guesses. However, if they enact private army abolition to prepare for it, the story changes. Using the conquest as cover to strip princes, royal kin, and merit nobles of their power sources would secure the crown prince's position—or so His Highness might think. Jeong Do-jeon's faction likely shares that view."
Blending my future knowledge with Yi Seong-gye's, Jeong Do-jeon's, and his allies' actions, that's the conclusion I reached. Like King Hyojong's northern expeditions, the Liaodong campaign is a facade—an internal pretext to abolish private armies and stabilize the crown prince's authority. Yi Seong-gye isn't blind to our growing faction. That's why he accepted it despite Jo Jun and Kim Sa-hyeong's fierce opposition. It's all for private army abolition.
He might have thought, What if the Hongwu Emperor really dies later? Should we try it then? But for now, this fits.
Jeong Do-jeon's allies think the same. If they truly aimed for Liaodong, they wouldn't have slacked on formation training as the annals record. The conquest is just an excuse for abolition—which is why they supported it. Jeong Do-jeon seems genuine, though. I'll have to confront him harshly—no, denounce him—when we meet.
They all mulled it over. Then Yi Bang-won spoke.
"Hm. Let's watch Father's reaction before deciding. We might be jumping to conclusions."
Logically sound, though I suspect Yi Bang-won has other ideas.
After some Jeong Do-jeon bashing, we parted. But as Yi Bang-won left, he said privately,
"Brother-in-law, I'm convinced you're right. But discussing further now isn't timely, so I cut it short. We'll talk properly later."
"Yes, brother-in-law."
"I always trust your exceptional talents. Show them when the time comes."
"Yes, brother-in-law."
Yi Bang-won is definitely plotting a coup. He'll discuss it only with those who'll mobilize troops. Soon enough, the rebellion plotting begins. I'm looking forward to it—killing Jeong Do-jeon. All the grudges I've built up... Just thinking of him makes my teeth grind.
Back home, I closely observed the reactions. Opinions ranged from "Jeong Do-jeon has finally lost it" to "We still need to show something to the Hongwu Emperor." But the consensus: Jeong Do-jeon is mad. I wasn't too worried, figuring Yi Seong-gye would reject it.
That illusion shattered soon enough.
Yi Seong-gye soon convened a court council for a major announcement. I wanted to attend but couldn't as a mere rank-5 official. Guess I'll wait.
Yi Seong-gye called the court council, and officials gathered in the throne room. Spotting Jeong Do-jeon, most heavyweights glared with hatred.
The majority doubted Liaodong's conquest was feasible—national power gap too vast. They assumed Yi Seong-gye knew and would quash it, perhaps exiling Jeong Do-jeon outright.
Yi Seong-gye arrived and dropped a bombshell.
"I find Sam Bong's proposal reasonable. Worth considering."
"Your Highness! It's impossible. Please reconsider!"
Jo Jun and Kim Sa-hyeong protested immediately.
"I'm not finished!"
Yi Seong-gye snapped openly, silencing the room.
"But we'll solicit the ministers' views. Discuss it in the Six Departments."
The ministers sighed in relief—no one in the departments would support it.
Then another shock: "To that end, we'll recall Jeong Do-jeon to the departments. I'll reappoint him as Deputy Commander of the Three Armies Command. Discuss Liaodong with him there."
Outrage erupted. Not just the conquest, but Jeong Do-jeon's return—nothing they wanted.
Seeing the backlash, Yi Seong-gye smirked inwardly. The conquest debate and Jeong's recall were smokescreens for the true goal: private army abolition. While ministers fixated on those, he'd strike suddenly.
Of course, he'd consulted Jeong Do-jeon.
Yi Seong-gye didn't rate Liaodong's chances—too optimistic, ignoring future Ming retaliation. But one petition point hit home: private army abolition.
Despite efforts, the crown prince's authority remained shaky. Building Lady Gang's tomb inside the capital to bolster it and secure succession hadn't worked. Many royal kin and merit nobles still backed Yi Bang-won, son of a consort.
He couldn't purge them all, so he agonized. Abolition solved it instantly: Transfer all private troops to the Three Armies as state forces, install Jeong Do-jeon, Nam Jae, Sim Hyo-saeng—crown prince allies—as commanders. No more worries. Military power is everything.
But outright abolition lacked pretext, so he used Liaodong. It wasn't impossible without, but the conquest and Jeong's return made it smoother, ensuring confiscated troops stayed as state forces.
Jeong's recall was partly a ploy, partly sincere—he volunteered as the shield, and Yi Seong-gye honored that loyalty. He had no intention of discarding his trusted vassal and friend, the crown prince's pillar.
Thus, Yi Seong-gye pushed through amid protests, ignored the fury, and left.
Ha Ryeon, witnessing it, muttered,
"A blatant diversion."
He agreed with Min Mu-jil's private army abolition read. But how? Yi Seong-gye's moves confirmed it: Distract with conquest and recall, then hit with abolition.
"No time. We must prepare countermeasures."
He rushed to Yi Bang-won, who nodded.
"Right, Lord Hojeong. Announcing abolition early would spark backlash, so Father's diverting eyes for a sudden strike."
"Indeed, Lord Jeongan. What now?"
Yi Bang-won led Ha Ryeon aside.
"If Jeong's return, Liaodong, and abolition proceed, we're dead. Even if conquest happens, they'll ship us princes to rot there. If not, they'll cripple us first, leaving us dangling. Only option: meticulously prepare and raise arms."
Yi Bang-won always planned rebellion. They handed him pretexts on a platter—especially Jeong handling abolition, perfect justification.
"Then summon Pyeongando Defense Commander Yi Geo-i and Senior General of Dragon and Tiger Guard Sin Geuk-rye."
"Come to my father-in-law's house with them. We discuss with him and my brothers-in-law."
Yi Bang-won sent word for Min Mu-jil to come to Min Je's. Then he headed there with Min Da-yeon.
Min Je, Ha Ryeon, Min Mu-gu, Min Mu-jil, Sin Geuk-rye, Yi Geo-i—to plot rebellion details, timing, everything.
Ha Ryeon, Min Mu-gu, Sin Geuk-rye, Yi Geo-i, and me. Add Yi Suk-beon, and it's the core of the First Princes' Revolt. Yi Bang-won gathered us to strategize execution.
My prediction nailed it—Yi Seong-gye's diversion with Jeong's return and Liaodong bait. Clever head on those shoulders.
Yi Bang-won spoke.
"You know by now: It's just diverting eyes for private army abolition. Then use those troops for Liaodong—and our heads."
We nodded vigorously. It all fit the sequence.
Ha Ryeon must've explained already.
"Stealing our private armies to hold knives to princes' and merit nobles' throats—who owns this country, Yi or Jeong?"
Sin Geuk-rye and Yi Geo-i nodded. They trembled at Jeong's name too.
"He's dragging the realm to ruin with his absurd Liaodong claim just to save his skin. Daring to crown a consort's son as heir and manipulate via him—we must correct it."
"What will you do, Lord Jeongan?"
"Remove the traitorous Jeong Do-jeon and his ilk, install rightful eldest Yi Bang-gwa as crown prince, and right all wrongs. What say you?"
"We follow Lord Jeongan's righteous cause. What next?"
No dissent—they're committed rebels.
But Yi Bang-gwa as heir? Stinks of pretext.
"Prepare to rise. Let's discuss. Second brother-in-law, you first. You pierced their intent earliest—what's your plan?"
"Brother-in-law, before acting, they'll notice. We must fix their gaze—divert troops or hide arms."
Nods all around. Fool the enemy first.
"Spot on. Any methods?"
"Yes. I'll lay mats in the palace with my officials, petition against Liaodong's impossibility and Jeong's return. He hates me enough to fixate. Use that window to move."
"Perfect," they chorused. Me, Jeong's top hate target—irresistible bait.
His loathing for me is infamous. No denials.
"That works. Now the rest. Let's firm up strategy."
And so we delved into the remaining plans.