Part 1 - The Death of Jeong Do-jeon
Stepping into the room where Jeong Do-jeon lay, he glared at us with burning eyes.
"I have no desire to live in disgrace. Kill me."
The annals had lied after all. Though, it did make sense—this man begging for his life would have been out of character.
At that moment, Yi Bang-won spoke up. "You reached this sorry state because of the wrong choice you made. You never should have set up Yi Bang-seok as crown prince."
"Indeed, if it had been Prince Yeongan, none of this would have happened."
Wait, were you originally on Yi Bang-gwa's side? I hadn't known that.
"But it was Father's decision. Who am I to question it? Choosing the next sovereign is his prerogative, not mine. However, because of that, power has fallen into the hands of the one man I least wanted to see it wielded by. A ruler should possess virtue, yet Prince Jeongan lacks it entirely. He is a man who will resort to any means for his ends and thus utterly unfit to be sovereign."
Yi Cheon-u spat a curse at those words, but Yi Bang-won held him back.
"That thinking is precisely what's wrong. This Joseon needs a strong king."
"You are mistaken. It needs a virtuous king—one worthy of entrusting the realm to his ministers, one capable of selecting such ministers. Prince Jeongan, you possess the least of those virtues. And as for the company you keep... no need to even mention them."
His gaze shifted to me. He truly despised me with every fiber of his being.
"The king you desire is nothing but a puppet for you to manipulate. He is unfit to rule this Joseon. What Joseon needs is a powerful monarch! One strong enough to crush the Japanese pirates and Jurchens, to stabilize this land!"
From this exchange, it was clear the two could never coexist. Jeong Do-jeon, with his minister-centric vision, versus Yi Bang-won, championing a king-centered realm. Personally, I sided with the latter. The 19th century might be another story, but this was the 14th. Only a strong monarchy and centralized power could propel the nation forward.
Yi Bang-won pressed on with the debate. "Very well. I do not hesitate to use any means for my goals. And as king, to make this Joseon prosperous and mighty, I will spare no method. If there is truth in your ideals, I will adopt it without reservation. But..."
"But?"
"Your legacy of honor... I will erase it. No more nonsense about running the realm through ministers. As long as this Joseon endures, you will be remembered forever as the traitor who plotted against royal kin—in the very Joseon you designed. That is your punishment, your recompense for tormenting me. Yet I will spare your house's line. This is respect due to one of Joseon's founding merits."
Jeong Do-jeon burst into loud laughter. Relieved his lineage would continue, perhaps?
"Then who will kill me? Will you do it yourself, Prince Jeongan?"
"No. You will die by the hand of the man you hate most. Mu-jil will kill you."
Oh ho? So that's why he'd used Yi Cheon-u for Shim Hyo-saeng earlier.
"Not my hand, but your brother-in-law's. A shame, but if it's Mu-jil, I suppose I must accept."
Yi Cheon-u accepted faster than expected.
"Of all people, him."
Jeong Do-jeon reacted with fierce intensity. Yi Bang-won and Yi Cheon-u both looked satisfied.
"I've said all I came to say. Mu-jil, speak your piece. Surely you have much to get off your chest?"
Jeong Do-jeon glared at me. "I've said it before, but I regret not killing you sooner."
I shot back openly with venom. "Why do you hate me so much?"
"Have I not already told you? We have no need for capable Yeheung Min clansmen. Your clan is an old force that must vanish—a noble house, a powerhouse of the aristocracy."
"Our house may be aristocratic, but we are yangban. Many yangban come from such backgrounds, don't they?"
No—Jo Jun and Kim Sa-hyeong were both from powerhouse families. Even your own ally, Yi Jik, hailed from the Yi clan of Seongju, the pinnacle of late Goryeo power under Yi In-im. Why single out our clan?
"Yours stands at the very apex among them. It would surely obstruct reform the most. Thus, it must disappear. Yet by some cruel twist of heaven, the prince tied to your house has seized this Joseon. How lamentable. Now Joseon will be no different from Goryeo."
He was treating us like utter corruption. But considering how I'd lived so far, we hardly deserved that label.
"No more words. Kill me. Especially you."
After that, he ignored everything I said. What a bastard. With Yi Bang-won, it had been ideological clash; with me, pure loathing.
Yi Bang-won cut in. "Enough of this. Mu-jil, drag him to the mountains and finish him. Leave no grave—let the mountain beasts devour him. Then come to the palace."
"Yes, brother-in-law. Shall I go alone?"
"Yes. We've wasted too much time on him. Cheon-u and I must meet Prince Bang-gwa. Handle it yourself and report back. Bring the blade that kills him unwashed."
Ah, meeting Yi Bang-gwa—that's crucial. It was the very justification for this uprising: installing him as crown prince. Jeong Do-jeon was done for anyway.
"Understood, brother-in-law."
Time to bootlick a bit. Truth be told, Yi Bang-won's presence had kept me from speaking freely. I bound Jeong Do-jeon and hauled him straight to the mountains.
Once there, I faced him. "Jeong Do-jeon, any last words?"
"None. Kill me."
"Then I'll speak. You white-on-the-outside, black-hearted wretch—or black through and through? Your deeds were never clean anyway. This is all because of your arrogance and hubris."
No response. He'd decided to ignore me outright, but I'd make that impossible.
"Jeong Do-jeon, after you die, I'll shatter your reputation completely."
He scoffed.
"I'll spread the truth—that you sent assassins to kill Yi Jong-hak. That you ordered Yi Saek's death, commanded the beating deaths of Yi Sung-in and others. I'll expose it all, demolish every shred of honor you hold as a loyal subject."
His pupils trembled. Yes, that was his greatest weakness. And when the time was right, I'd tell Yi Bang-won too—which was why I'd held back earlier.
"Even that won't cover everything."
"Won't it? I will make this Joseon mighty and prosperous—stronger than you ever dreamed. And you? I'll erase you utterly."
"You, of all people?"
"Yes, me."
"Absurd. How could someone like you? Impossible. You, who tried to block the Liaodong campaigns—you making it happen?"
He still dreamed on, even after my explanations. Dreams were free, after all. Ignoring him, I drew my sword and plunged it into his heart.
"We'll see who truly makes Joseon strong!"
I drove it deeper.
"Ask your comrade Po-eun Jeong Mong-ju in the afterlife."
I kicked Jeong Do-jeon away and yanked the blade free. He twitched briefly, then breathed his last.
Thus, Jeong Do-jeon died.
With his death, an era ended. The age of Yi Seong-gye and Jeong Do-jeon closed; Yi Bang-won's began. And in that era, I would claim a pivotal place—dangers of purge notwithstanding. But I would succeed spectacularly, proving Jeong Do-jeon's vision wrong. Without fail.
Gripping the bloodied sword, I descended the mountain. Time to head to the palace. I had Yi Seong-gye's downfall to witness.
I made for the palace.
While Min Mu-jil wrapped things up and headed for the palace, Sin Geuk-rye and Yi Geo-i led troops to seize the Three Armies Command.
Having taken it, they used the Ministry of Military Affairs to control every soldier in the capital.
"It's over, Commander (Yi Geo-i)."
"So it is, Senior General (Sin Geuk-rye). Shall we head to the palace now?"
"Yes, that seems right. With the Three Armies secured, we're all to gather at the palace."
"Indeed. Let's see how my son (Yi Ae) fares."
Sin Geuk-rye and Yi Geo-i led part of their forces toward the palace.
Meanwhile, Min Da-yeon arrived at Jo Jun's residence with Min Mu-gu—and armed retainers in tow.
"Princess, what is the meaning of this?"
Min Da-yeon informed Jo Jun of the uprising, declaring the capital fully secured.
"Thus, Left Prime Minister, I ask you to join our cause."
"This is..."
"About to call it treason? Then... Mu-gu, give him a sword."
"Yes, sister."
Min Mu-gu tossed a blade at Jo Jun's feet.
"If you deem it treason, take that sword and fight us. Or kneel, offer it to Prince Jeongan, and pledge your loyalty."
Min Da-yeon had already persuaded Kim Sa-hyeong, sending him to the palace with Park Po under escort. She'd treated him far more cordially than this—out of respect for his ties to her father, his past aid, his benevolent nature... and because he'd knelt to her without much resistance.
But Jo Jun faced raw coercion. Partly personal grudge for once recommending Min Mu-jil, but not solely that. It was to crush his spirit, ensure the founding merits wouldn't act rashly and would obey Yi Bang-won. No more relying on Yi Seong-gye's favor for unilateral decisions—this was a stern warning.
Yi Bang-won had approved; he too saw the need to humble the founding trio (Jeong Do-jeon, Nam Eun, Jo Jun), singling out the survivor. Min Da-yeon took the role, under the pretext of aiding Min Mu-gu.
She fixed Jo Jun with her gaze. "Left Prime Minister, take that sword and fight us, or stand with us, endorse the uprising, and claim top merit. Your choice."
As Jo Jun hesitated, she added, "I'll help you decide swiftly. Mu-gu, draw your sword."
Min Mu-gu and the nearby officer unsheathed theirs, aiming at Jo Jun.
"What say you?"
Jo Jun submitted. He was sharp; at this point, it was over—resistance futile. He guessed the harshness too: a preemptive strike against future Jeong Do-jeon-style antics.
Cursing Jeong Do-jeon inwardly, he knelt before Min Da-yeon. "I will obey you, Princess. At the palace, I endorse all Prince Jeongan commands."
Min Da-yeon beamed. "A wise choice, Left Prime Minister. Mu-gu, sheathe your blade and escort him courteously."
"Yes, sister."
Watching this, Jo Jun understood why Min Mu-jil spoke so eloquently before Zhu Yuan-zhang. Surviving under such a fearsome Min Da-yeon had honed him. Court life ahead would be rough; once this passed, he'd resign strategically, showing proper deference.
Min Mu-gu led Jo Jun to the palace.
Min Da-yeon murmured, "It's finished. Jeong Do-jeon—my husband and Mu-jil handled him. The uprising is done. My queen's throne is within reach."
She'd always coveted the highest seat for a woman: queen consort. As queen, she'd aid King Yi Bang-won and etch herself as a model consort in history. Her dream neared; joy swelled within.
"And our Yeheung Min clan will stand second only to the royal house—the queen's kin, house of merits, cradle of talents."
She was confident. Her brothers Min Mu-gu and Min Mu-jil would earn top merits here, advising Yi Bang-won with prowess. Especially Mu-jil, architect of this coup and Ming diplomacy expert. Yi Bang-won had repeatedly promised him that role post-uprising; he'd shine.
"We'll eclipse the Gang clan or Jeong Do-jeon with our clan's true caliber."
Vowing this, she set off with her retainers to meet Yi Bang-won before the palace.
Meanwhile, Gyeongbok Palace was surrounded by forces under Ha Ryeon, Yi Suk-beon, Park Eun, Yi Yang-u, and others.
Ha Ryeon commanded flawlessly, encircling it airtight.
Seeing this, Park Wi realized Yi Bang-won's rebellion. He informed Yi Seong-gye.
Bedridden, Yi Seong-gye raged at the news. "Bang-won dares rebel? That wretch! Summon I Je, Jo Yeong-mu, Jo On, Yi Cheon-u at once. I will not forgive him!"
But it was mere wishful thinking. Jo Yeong-mu, Jo On, and Yi Cheon-u were already with Yi Bang-won. Yi Cheon-u had slain Jeong Do-jeon's faction alongside him; Jo Yeong-mu and Jo On had defected with the palace guards the moment Park Wi left for Yi Seong-gye.
The Royal Guard's actual commanders—all but I Je—had sided with Yi Bang-won.