Personnel Recommendations and Gunpowder Production
Upon arriving in Joseon and heading to Hanyang, Yi Bang-gwa, who had become king, along with Yi Bang-won and a host of others, welcomed us back.
Yi Bang-gwa in particular looked immensely pleased as he grasped our hands in greeting.
"You've worked hard. Truly hard."
"Not at all, Your Highness."
"Let's head into the palace and talk it over."
And so we returned to Gyeongbok Palace, where we gave a detailed report on the negotiations in the privy chamber.
Once the briefing wrapped up, smiles lit up the faces of Yi Bang-gwa and Yi Bang-won.
Yi Bang-won spoke up. "Your Highness, the envoy delegation has achieved great success this time. Not only did they bring back the detained envoys, but they also resolved the tribute issue cleanly. It would be fitting to bestow substantial rewards."
"Lord Jeongan speaks truly. I shall host a grand banquet. And matching silver rewards as well—handle it as you see fit, Lord Jeongan."
"Yes, Your Highness."
With that, we enjoyed the feast.
At the banquet, they peppered us endlessly with questions about what had transpired in Ming, keeping me quite busy with answers.
After reveling through the night, I went home, reunited with Yeo-ul, paid respects to my parents, and handled various other matters. There was no time to rest.
Some days into this routine, Yi Bang-won summoned me, and I entered the palace for a private audience. He brought up the sakbeon policy being plotted by Jeong Do-jeon's inner circle.
"Indeed, Mu-jil. From you and Jo Jun's reports, it's clear civil war is imminent. At the very least, it'll erupt this year."
"Yes. And it seems they'll start the policy not with Prince Yan, but with some other regional king first."
"Hm. Hitting Prince Yan right away would be too risky, and they fear the other kings allying with him. If Prince Yan and the rest united their forces, even Zhu Yunwen would face a tough fight."
"Exactly right, brother-in-law."
I couldn't help but marvel each time at his sharp judgment.
"For now, we'll just keep watching the Central Plains and focus on our own tasks. No matter how I look at it, this civil war will drag on. But Mu-jil, is artificially cultivating wild ginseng really feasible?"
"Yes."
I explained the method in detail.
"Worth trying. Put it in writing and submit it to me. We'll implement it as is."
"Understood."
It wouldn't cost much, after all.
"Are you still compiling Jeong Do-jeon's books on the side?"
"Yes. I worked on them in Ming too, and just finished recently."
I promptly presented the compiled volumes.
He skimmed through them with a satisfied expression.
"You've done splendid work. Busy enough in Ming, yet handling this too."
Then he mentioned Park Po. So the fool had blabbed after all. No sense at all—worse than even Mu-gu.
Yet from Yi Bang-won's tone, it seemed the emphasis was on not shirking duties. As a meritorious retainer, one ought to work diligently, he kept stressing.
The father of King Sejong, through and through. Yi Bang-won did wring every last drop from his officials, after all.
He sighed heavily afterward.
"Is something the matter?"
He spoke of Yi Seong-gye. He'd visited with gifts from Ming to mend fences, but reconciliation had failed.
I hadn't expected success anyway. Yi Seong-gye wouldn't yield until his final desperate throes.
While the First Strife of the Prince's Palace could be prevented through upcoming personnel reforms, I worried over what form his last stand might take.
"I'll handle this myself. And soon, we'll relocate the capital back to Gyeongseong."
"Relocating to Gyeongseong, Your Highness?"
"Yes. I like Hanyang, but since my brother Bang-gwa wishes to return there, I'll indulge him. We'll discuss it in the Royal Council right after the envoys return and make the move."
Yi Bang-won truly had a soft spot for Yi Bang-gwa—I'd noticed it many times. But there was reason: brotherly affection, yes, but more importantly, Yi Bang-gwa's position.
Most officials, including the yangban, backed Yi Bang-won, but the Gabyulcho troops staunchly supported Yi Bang-gwa. As Joseon's elite force, they couldn't be ignored.
Thus, Yi Bang-won often accommodated Yi Bang-gwa's wishes. Moreover, he planned to pass the throne to him eventually.
"Is there anything specific I should do?"
It felt like digging my own grave, but after hearing about Park Po, I wanted to prove my diligence.
Yi Bang-won looked pleased.
"Before the move to Gyeongseong, we'll reestablish the Office of Gunpowder and Firearms. I'll serve as Chief Supervisor, but you'll be appointed Supervisor. Handle all its affairs."
"Yes, brother-in-law."
Just what I'd hoped for.
"Joseon lacks talent. If you know any suitable for the Office of Special Counsel or the Ministry of Military Affairs, recommend them to me. I'll take a look."
Suitable talent, huh. I'd already pulled one from the Office of Special Counsel. And for the Ministry...
"Brother-in-law, may I recommend someone from the Ministry? I'm not affiliated there myself."
"Didn't you serve as a secretary there before? No issue."
"Understood."
After our meeting, I sought out the talents I'd marked.
And shortly after, in February 1399, just as Yi Bang-won predicted, we relocated the capital back to Gyeongseong.
Yi Seong-gye fiercely opposed the return, but it was an empty echo. He complained about deciding the move alone, but was effortlessly dismissed.
I'd never dreamed he'd lost so much influence. His conduct since the crown prince's enfeoffment was pathetic, even pitiable.
But that didn't mean I'd help him. The moment he reclaimed power, my clan would be annihilated, and I'd face dismemberment. No chance of aiding him—better to sabotage.
Even on the eve of the move, Yi Seong-gye visited Gang Clan's tomb, weeping in grief.
Yi Bang-won, witnessing it upon returning to Hanyang, vowed to relocate the grave elsewhere immediately.
Once he became King Taejong, he'd demolish it. Then Jeongneung would rise, and the stone from Gang Clan's tomb would pave Gwangtong Bridge over Cheonggyecheon.
Anyway, we relocated to Gyeongseong, and right after, I introduced my selected talents to Yi Bang-won.
First, Maeng Sa-seong from the Office of Special Counsel—a historically famed figure, so I picked and presented him immediately. Yi Bang-won was quite satisfied.
Next, Byeong Gye-ryang. I'd heard the name in my past life, so I watched closely; he'd contributed greatly to the envoy's diplomatic documents. His prose was stunning—even the picky Jo Jun praised him lavishly. I introduced him straightaway, and Yi Bang-won raved over his writing, declaring intent to employ him.
Heo Jo I'd planned to recommend too, but Park Eun had beaten me to it; Yi Bang-won naturally sent him to the Office of Censors.
Hwang Hui had been scooped by someone else as well.
Then a military man: Yi Cheon-u. The capable officer who shone in Kings Taejong and Sejong's eras, famed as a technician too. Yi Bang-won approved heartily.
These three shared a trait: all kin to our former enemies.
Maeng Sa-seong had wed Choi Yeong's daughter; Byeong Gye-ryang had alerted to Jeong Mong-ju's assassination and was brother to Byeong Jung-ryang, purged as Jeong Do-jeon's ally; Yi Cheon-u's maternal uncle was the notorious late-Goryeo villain Yeom Heung-bang, one of the three great traitors with Yi In-im and Im Gyeon-mi.
Recommending them signaled embracing even foes' kin, and Yi Bang-won nodded in agreement.
Finally, I introduced Choi Yun-deok, whom I cherished like a brother. As early Joseon's top general, he merited employment regardless of our bond. Stigmatized by Jeong Do-jeon due to our friendship, his Tsushima exploits unrecognized—he deserved recompense now.
With talents recommended, I plunged back into busy days: senior general duties, managing Ming diplomacy via the Office of Special Counsel, and Office of Gunpowder work.
I was at the Office now.
Yi Cheon-u greeted me upon arrival.
"Has the Supervisor arrived?"
"Yes."
After recommending him to Yi Bang-won, I'd placed him straight here. A fine general, but an exceptional technician.
"How's the ratio change working?"
"Power's definitely improved over before."
Joseon-era gunpowder ratios were roughly saltpeter 78 : charcoal 15 : sulfur 7.
But I knew 75:15:10 optimal.
We're producing it that way now.
And not powder form, but granular (corned).
Granular outperformed powder inherently.
Powder black powder—well-mixed though it was—resisted moisture poorly, handled awkwardly, components separated unevenly, hard to store.
Granular fixed those flaws.
Turning powder to granules was called corning: easier storage, moisture resistance, plus boosted power—essential.
Then Yi Cheon-u and other officers spoke.
"Do we really need to store powder this way? We'll lose some in the process."
Granular's sole drawback: about 10% loss from original volume.
But I had a way to silence complaints.
"Ming does it that way—think they store it so pointlessly? This powder originated in the Central Plains. If they keep it thus, why all the talk?"
Not a lie. Ming already used granules in humid areas.
Invoking Ming shut mouths instantly—they obeyed.
Beyond that, boosting production: first, more powder needed.
Thus, crafting saltpeter from scratch, not just dug earth.
Controlled saltpeter beat crude.
Mine centered on urine and wood ash.
Gunpowder's core: nitrate production and reaction medium.
Europeans post-Lavoisier's chemical revolution discovered urine key to saltpeter.
Saltpeter's nitrates from nitrogen compounds; urine's ammonia provided them, yielding nitrates with potassium from ash aiding reaction.
Bacteria maturation needed, of course—hence zafuragi additives.
Results wouldn't show immediately; 1-2 years ripening required. Wait it out.
Cannon upgrades ongoing too, but stumped, so left to technicians.
Jang Yeong-sil essential. At just 14, couldn't exploit yet—time needed.
Thus passed my hectic days.
Days later, Yi Bang-won summoned me.
"What is it, brother-in-law?"
"Mu-jil, I read Jeong Do-jeon's compiled books. Plenty useful—especially on local systems and central bureaucracy. Could implement as is."
"Yes."
"And Mu-jil, come autumn personnel shuffle, no posting you to the Northeast Frontier. You're busy with the Office of Gunpowder, Office of Special Counsel—can't send you. Time to stop provincial postings. Your wife must be lonely alone."
Ah, I'd wanted Northeast to fight Jurchens. Begged him, yet cut off.
True, I'd piled on responsibilities...
"Instead, assist at my side. Best there."
"Understood."
"Soon, when dividing merit fiefs, I'll adjust your office too. Wait for it."
I returned to work.
Days later, Yi Bang-won summoned abruptly.
Mu-gu, Yi Cheon-u, and I went to his residence.
"What is it, brother-in-law?"
We three puzzled by the sudden call—then came the bombshell.
"I wish to discuss something confidentially with you all: the abolition of private armies."
It had finally come. Yi Bang-won's private army purge.