Part 1: Private Armies Purged – Impeachments and Counterplots
Part 1 began with the abolition of private armies, and afterward, I diligently pursued impeachments. Of course, Jeong Do-jeon's faction kept being a nuisance, but they couldn't drag me down. I'd threatened to spread the truth about Yi Seok and Yi Sung-in far and wide if they tried. Naturally, I had no intention of actually bringing it up. It wasn't because I liked Jeong Do-jeon. Mentioning it would hurt Nam Jae. He knew the facts but never told Yi Seong-gye. Nam Jae was the most generous minister in the Do-dang toward me, and we were close on a personal level too. I couldn't repay kindness with enmity. It was just a tool to shut Jeong Do-jeon up. And since it actually worked, it was a perfect success.
Of course, if they tried to kill me, all bets were off. I'd unleash even bigger bombshells. In any case, thanks to me drawing all the aggro, Jeong Do-jeon's faction had their eyes fixed squarely on me. According to the spies Min Mu-gu had planted, they were digging into my background nonstop. Go ahead, dig away. I'd lived squeaky clean out of fear of being purged by Yi Bang-won, so there was nothing to find.
Anyway, here I was again today. I could've skipped since I'd already siphoned off all my private troops, but I showed up just to piss off Jeong Do-jeon's crew. I was about to launch into another impeachment when suddenly Kim Sa-hyeong came to see me. What was this about?
"Right Prime Minister, what brings you here?"
"Wouldn't it be best to call it quits now?"
"What do you mean by that?"
"His Highness is furious. But considering your merits, he's letting this one slide. So why not stop here? I'll block the Yodong conquest somehow. If you keep going, it'll really get dangerous."
So Jeong Do-jeon had stirred Yi Seong-gye against me. And in the midst of it, Yi Seong-gye had said he'd overlook it just this once. Did merits really change how you were treated? Or did Yi Seong-gye himself feel my arguments weren't wrong?
"What about Jeong Do-jeon?"
He shook his head. Even Kim Sa-hyeong couldn't touch that one. No surprise—YI Seong-gye would never abandon Jeong Do-jeon. That was what led to his downfall, after all. Fine, I'd done enough anyway. Time to fold. Kim Sa-hyeong was close with my father and had always treated me well, so giving him face wasn't a bad move.
"Then, Right Prime Minister, could you grant me one favor later?"
"Of course. Tell me anything. I'll do what I can."
He looked thrilled—must've been through hell with Yi Seong-gye.
"I'll ask when the time comes."
"Good. One thing I know for sure: I'll block that Yodong conquest."
We'd see about that.
"Understood."
Afterward, I convinced the officials who followed me to halt the impeachments. They resisted at first, but when I asked them to consider the Right Prime Minister's dignity, they agreed readily. This is why you should live righteously.
Once we dispersed, I met Yi Bang-won, and he treated me like a triumphant general.
"Thanks to you, brother-in-law, everything's sorted. You really drew all the attention from Jeong Do-jeon's faction."
"What about Jo Yeong-mu?"
"I'll recruit Jo Yeong-mu once the private army abolition is underway. Knowing him, the moment his troops are dissolved, he'll see Jeong Do-jeon as an archenemy. He'll join us gladly then."
They already weren't on good terms. Whatever—Yi Bang-won would handle it.
Min Da-yeon, standing nearby, shook her head.
"But Mu-jil, how did you hold back all this time? You said everything you wanted. Just like the old you."
That was because I knew Jeong Do-jeon was doomed.
"My lady, Mu-jil didn't say anything wrong. It was refreshing—suited me just fine. Now we just wait for the private army purge."
"Yes, brother-in-law."
"They'll start with us princes, right?"
"Yes, probably."
Obviously. It was all about bolstering the crown prince openly. And so we waited for the private army abolition to unfold. This was going to be a spectacle.
Some time passed, and Yi Seong-gye summoned his key ministers to the side hall, announcing he had something important to discuss. Once they were all gathered, he revisited the Yodong conquest debate. Most ministers opposed it vehemently. Jo Jun and Kim Sa-hyeong led the charge, and some even recited verbatim what I'd thrown at Jeong Do-jeon. Yi Seong-gye watched intently.
"Having observed the debates on the Yodong conquest, I believe it's worth attempting."
The ministers were stunned. No one but Jeong Do-jeon's faction supported it, and now Yi Seong-gye was spouting nonsense.
"To verify if it's truly feasible, we'll conduct formation drills. Princes, royal kin, meritorious retainers, and garrison commanders—surrender all your private troops' rosters, weapons, and soldiers to the Three Armies Bureau. Command of all soldiers will transfer there immediately. Led by the Inspector of the Three Armies Bureau and the Commander of the Capital Garrison, we'll drill formations. Obey."
Yi Hwa spoke up.
"Your Highness, what is this decree? Must we hand over all our private troops to the Three Armies Bureau?"
"You've heard correctly, Prince Ui-an. Submit your troop rosters, weapons, and soldiers. From now on, the Three Armies Bureau will exercise all military command. Your private troops will become state troops. You'll request forces through the bureau when needed."
Yi Seong-gye's response shocked the royal kin and retainers in the hall. Surrender their greatest power just like that? They could barely keep their composure.
"I'll send the Inspector of the Three Armies Bureau and others to the princes' residences first. Convert your private troops to state troops, then we'll proceed to royal kin, retainers, and commanders."
With that, Yi Seong-gye left the hall. The ministers could only stare at the empty throne.
Soon after, Jeong Do-jeon and his allies marched soldiers to the princes' homes, confiscating rosters, troops, and weapons. Yi Bang-gwa, Yi Bang-ui, and Yi Bang-gan couldn't resist "by His Highness's order" and surrendered everything. Even Yi Bang-won resisted at first but yielded when Jeong Do-jeon came personally, though it was all an act. We'd hidden some troops and gear beforehand to avoid suspicion.
Yi Bang-won gathered his half-brothers. The room filled with outrage over the purge.
Yi Bang-gwa vented.
"We've always obeyed Father! But now he takes our private troops? I've shared life and death with my Ga-byeolcho guards my whole life—taking even them is too much. What have we done wrong?"
If even the ever-obedient Yi Bang-gwa was furious, the others were livid. Yi Bang-gan openly cursed Jeong Do-jeon; even Yi Bang-ui, who shunned politics, joined in.
"This is all because Jeong Do-jeon blinded Father with his impossible Yodong nonsense. Bang-won, what do you think?"
Yi Bang-won replied.
"It's not just that. They took our brothers' troops but left Bang-beon's intact—in fact, stronger. It's clear intent to target us."
Indeed, while all Queen Sinbi's sons lost their troops, Yi Bang-beon's were preserved—and bolstered. The brothers nodded.
Yi Bang-gan said.
"Enough—let's protest to Father!"
"Bang-gan, what—?"
Yi Bang-gwa panicked, but Yi Bang-gan ignored him and headed to the palace, dragging Yi Bang-ui and Yi Bang-won along.
Soldiers blocked them, but Yi Bang-gwa stepped forward.
"I'm Prince Yeong-an. I must see Father—stand aside."
The Capital Garrison parted ways. As their commander and heir to the Ga-byeolcho, who'd shared life and death with them, Yi Bang-gwa was untouchable by Jeong Do-jeon or crown prince loyalists.
The Queen Sinbi princes pleaded with Yi Seong-gye to rescind the order, but...
"That's my decision. Why meddle? Go."
Yi Bang-gan pressed.
"Father, then why spare only Bang-beon's troops? Why take ours? It's unfair!"
"My decision. Not yours to question. Daring to protest before your king? Leave now, or face consequences."
Yi Bang-gwa led his brothers out. As they left, he complained about Jeong Do-jeon's overreach, but Yi Seong-gye ignored him.
"Bang-won, you stay."
Yi Bang-won approached, only for Yi Seong-gye to slap him hard.
"Bang-gwa always obeys me—this must be your doing. You incited Bang-gwa, Bang-ui, and Bang-gan! Arrogant fool."
"Father, I'm innocent. Why blame me for everything?"
"Who else, then?"
"Jeong Do-jeon. He's persecuting us over his absurd Yodong conquest. Even Bang-gwa-hyung's had enough."
"One more word, and no mercy. I know you put Min Mu-jil up to impeaching Sambong. This is your last warning—stay out. No more palace visits. You're banned again. Out!"
Yi Bang-won bowed and returned home.
"It went as planned, but damn, what a mood."
Yi Seong-gye was right, of course. Inciting his brothers against Jeong Do-jeon's faction was the goal. But seeing the overt persecution stung.
"This mess stems from Father's stubborn choice of the unfit Bang-seok as crown prince. I'll pay it back in full when the time comes, Father."
Yi Bang-won vowed. He watched the purge unfold: princes first, then royal kin, who erupted in fury—but Yi Seong-gye played dumb. The princes and kin only grew angrier at Jeong Do-jeon.
Then Yi Bang-won heard shocking news: after Yi Cheon-u, Jeong Do-jeon's faction targeted my troops next—not other kin. With a heavily armed Capital Garrison in tow.
"Mu-jil over the kin? Jeong Do-jeon really hates him. Poor Mu-jil. I'll give him a shot at revenge later."
Yi Bang-won resumed arming up.
Meanwhile, I faced Jeong Do-jeon at my home.
The private army purge had begun, and backlash was beyond imagination—especially against Jeong Do-jeon, who'd led it with brute force. Yi Cheon-u was so pissed he warned him to watch his back at night. And now he was here for my troops. Impressive. Me, right after Yi Cheon-u? Skipping other kin? With a battle-ready army too?
"My lord, aren't the kin's troops the priority? Why come for mine?"
"You're the biggest thorn, so I came. You maintain far more troops than your roster claims—a strong force, too. A mere fifth-rank official with nearly two hundred? Must start with you."
He really hated my guts. But he didn't know the exact number. I had three hundred now.
"Did you bring armed soldiers to threaten everyone like this?"
"Special courtesy for you."
Courtesy my ass. Good thing I'd sent Han Yeo-ul to her father's. She'd have fainted.
"Take them."
"No resistance? Unexpected."
"You came ready to kill if I did, right?"
He said nothing—silent affirmation.
"One more thing: you're headed to Chungcheong Province."
What? Why suddenly?
"His Highness approved. We considered farther south, but he nixed it, so Chungcheong it is. Next year, maybe your favorite Dongnae."
"Worried I'd misuse my junior military appointments as Bingjo Chamui?"
"You know it."
He was checking me hard. But... this was what I wanted. I'd planned to ask Kim Sa-hyeong for Chungcheong. I'd even thought of volunteering since they lacked leaders. Jeong Do-jeon was handing it over. He feared my schemes as Bingjo Chamui—not wrong; I'd have done it if Chungcheong was blocked. Thanks anyway.
Of course, I had to act pissed. Looking pleased would raise flags.
"My lord, you're something else."
"Drop any thought of that old threat. I've handled it."
Even destroyed evidence. Busy man. I ground my teeth theatrically; he smirked and took my troops, weapons, and roster.
Sure enough, I was appointed magistrate of Chungcheong. Thanks a bunch.