Part 1: The Spark of Ming's Civil War
Eventually, I headed to Sinam Temple to attend to Yi Seong-gye. Sinam Temple was a monastery in Gyeonggi Province, a place he visited with remarkable frequency. The reason was simple: it was somewhere he had often gone with his late wife from the Gang Clan. But it was rare for him to venture out so openly at dawn like this. Who could he be planning to meet?
Upon arriving at Sinam Temple, sure enough, Yi Seong-gye was offering a Buddhist rite. And there was one other person present: Grand Master Muhak. So this time, he came here to meet Grand Master Muhak. I waited for the rite to conclude before offering my greetings. He looked at me and said,
"For you to come all the way here."
"Your Supreme King, why offer rites at such an early hour?"
"You're truly something else. Now you're even following me to temples?"
"Please forgive me, Your Supreme King."
"No. What fault is yours? It's the one who wields the sword that's the problem. Or is it the sword itself? It's all that bastard's doing."
Yi Seong-gye certainly didn't harbor any particular dislike for me. He just truly despised Yi Bang-won.
"Did that bastard Bang-won tell you not to even visit temples now?"
"No, that's not it. He worries the night roads are too cold for you."
"Lies. That scoundrel wouldn't say such a thing."
"Your Supreme King, please head back inside now."
"I'll stay a bit longer. The mountains and rivers remain the same, but I alone am left behind. I'm merely soothing this loneliness—don't mind me."
With that, he returned to his rites. But those words of his sounded like, You lot have killed everyone off, leaving me utterly alone and miserable. In any case, I couldn't just leave like this, so I had to wait. How was I supposed to handle the backlog of work? I'd probably need to pull a few all-nighters.
Yi Seong-gye frequented not just Sinam Temple but several monasteries, for a variety of reasons. He was deeply devoted to Buddhism himself, and these were the surest places to avoid Yi Bang-won, the Buddhist-hater. Aside from the occasional meetings with Grand Master Muhak or Yi Ji-ran, he hadn't done anything particularly noteworthy or problematic. Come to think of it, Yi Ji-ran apologized to Yi Seong-gye every time they met, atoning for his inaction during the First Prince's Rebellion. But Yi Seong-gye didn't particularly blame him. He simply labored under the misconception that Yi Bang-won had threatened him with a sword. It was a massive misunderstanding, but there was no easy way to correct it, so we let it be.
I'd worried he might try to mobilize the Jurchens through Yi Ji-ran, but Yi Ji-ran was in poor health these days, so there was little cause for concern. He didn't seem inclined to such schemes anyway, so we were just keeping an eye on him. After waiting outside for quite some time, Yi Seong-gye finally finished his rites and emerged, startled to see me still there.
"You truly never tire, do you? Still waiting, are you?"
"Yes, Your Supreme King."
"Every time I see you, it's a marvel. No, the likes of you Yu-ja-ran folk can't stand even a moment in a temple, and you're Min Je's son, aren't you?"
My father's infamous hatred of Buddhism was well-known. In fact, it was rare to find a Confucian scholar in this era who actually liked Buddhism. Were there any at all?
"This humble servant doesn't hate Buddhism itself so much. I just despise its practices."
"Is that so?"
I explained that I loathed the way they accumulated land and usury, using it to swell their ranks of slaves, but if they mended those ways, I held no particular enmity toward them. He nodded.
"There's truth in that. At least you can be reasoned with."
"I am grateful, Your Supreme King."
Afterward, I escorted Yi Seong-gye back. On the way, perhaps bored, he asked me to recount the old days of meeting Zhu Yuanzhang. As I obliged, he soon grumbled,
"That bastard really is irredeemable. Pig of a man, Zhu Yuanzhang."
"Yes, Your Supreme King."
Yi Seong-gye's next greatest hatred after Yi Bang-won was reserved for Zhu Yuanzhang. He believed none of this would have happened without him. That seemed to be why he never looked poorly on me for speaking ill of Zhu Yuanzhang.
"You certainly have a way with words."
"Thank you, Your Supreme King."
In this fashion, we conversed as we entered the palace, only for Yi Bang-won to emerge and greet us. Yi Seong-gye's face immediately soured.
"Your Supreme King, the weather is cold—please don't overexert yourself."
"None of your concern. If you're so worried, grant me a favor."
"What favor, sire?"
"I want to go to Hanyang. I wish to visit the tomb of my late Queen Sinui. Besides, it's a place where I won't have to see you, so I could live comfortably."
At that, Yi Bang-won replied,
"This is the place for Your Supreme King to reside. The day will come when you may go to Hanyang. Please endure until then."
"So you're saying you'll let me go to Hanyang once you become king? If you ascend and go there, I'll stay right here. Anywhere you're not is where I belong."
With that, Yi Seong-gye headed straight to his Supreme King Palace. Though we'd prepared a banquet, he had no intention of drinking face-to-face with Yi Bang-won and simply returned. Reconciliation between those two seemed utterly hopeless.
Yi Bang-won, looking troubled, turned to me.
"You've had it rough."
"Not at all, my lord."
In truth, Yi Bang-won had been pleading for forgiveness at Yi Bang-gwa's behest lately, but Yi Seong-gye wouldn't hear of it. The only terms he offered were abdication from the crown prince position. And Yi Bang-won would never accept that, so they were at an impasse.
Afterward, Yi Bang-won and I discussed various matters. Were there any secret meetings Yi Seong-gye was holding? Aside from Yi Ji-ran and Grand Master Muhak, none—he seemed relieved. Then I returned to the Chungchuwon and got back to work.
But it was around October now, so the Jingnan Rebellion should have broken out by this point... Our spies would bring word, along with the envoys returning around December. For now, just focus on the tasks at hand. We could prepare once the news arrived.
While Min Mu-jil toiled away during this period, just as he had anticipated, civil war erupted in Ming. Countless regional kings had finally bowed to the imperial court's reduction policies, leaving only Prince of Yan. Realizing the blade was now aimed at him, Prince of Yan Zhu Di prepared for rebellion.
Then, unexpected fortune smiled upon him. His own son, Zhu Gaochi—who had come to Beiping for Zhu Yuanzhang's funeral—was detained as a hostage by Je Tae. But Hwang Ja-jing insisted on releasing him to reassure Prince of Yan, and Emperor Zhu Yunwen accepted the advice, allowing Zhu Gaochi to return to Beiping.
Soon after, in the seventh month, Zhu Di slew the inspectors Sa Gwi and Jang Byeong who had come to monitor him, then raised arms under the pretext of purging the traitorous ministers Je Tae and Hwang Ja-jing who manipulated affairs at the emperor's side. Word reached Nanjing immediately. Je Tae promptly branded them rebels and insisted on dispatching a punitive force, brimming with confidence of victory. Emperor Zhu Yunwen agreed, igniting the civil war.
As the Ming court scrambled, Zhu Di moved with astonishing speed. He led his forces to seize Geyong Pass and Tongzhou, dismantling the surveillance network of the regional kings that had bound him, and secured a full army of 150,000.
Learning this, the Ming court appointed Lord Jinghyeong Gyeong Byeong-mun as Supreme Commander of the Punitive Forces, with generals like Yi Geon, Yeongchung, and Pyeong-an under him, assembling a 300,000-strong northern expeditionary army for Beiping. But Zhu Di, following Jang Ok's stratagem, struck before they could fully assemble, shattering them piecemeal and slaughtering over 30,000.
Gyeong Byeong-mun withdrew to focus on defense, forcing Zhu Di to temporarily pull back against the stubborn resistance. The Ming court then mobilized even larger forces and replaced Gyeong Byeong-mun with Yi Gyeong-ryung as Supreme Commander. Je Tae had vehemently opposed Yi Gyeong-ryung, but Hwang Ja-jing pushed it through.
By November, Joseon had pieced together the situation through spies and envoys. Crown Prince Yi Bang-won immediately summoned the court officials for a council. They decided to observe while sending a congratulatory envoy to gauge the situation. Afterward, Yi Bang-won gathered his close aides in secret: Ha Ryeon, Yi Cheon-u, Sin Geuk-rye, Min Mu-gu, Min Mu-jil, and Park Eon.
The Jingnan Rebellion had finally erupted. Well, it would henceforth be remembered as Zhu Di's Rebellion. The intelligence we had was limited—Zhu Di's early victories and the replacement of Gyeong Byeong-mun with Yi Gyeong-ryung—but I knew the Jingnan Rebellion's course in detail, so no issue there.
Yi Bang-won spoke.
"Civil war has broken out in Ming after all."
"Yes, my lord."
"We've dispatched secretly trained spies and grasped the broad strokes, but we need more precise information."
"Of course, my lord."
"The Minister of State will go as congratulatory envoy and investigate thoroughly."
"Yes, Your Highness."
We hadn't named the envoy at the court council, but everyone assumed it would be me. No one had deeper connections in Ming, so it made sense. Yi Bang-won wasn't even hiding it. Probably held off at council to finalize the rest of the entourage.
Come to think of it, I was heading to Ming again. Then Ha Ryeon chimed in.
"And now we can intensify our campaigns against the Jurchens. It's time to dispatch the Border Army."
Yes, time to subjugate the Jurchens while we had the chance. Total conquest was impossible, but securing those in the Six Garrisons area was feasible. Preemptively opening the Four Armies and Six Garrisons like in King Sejong's era wouldn't hurt.
"Who should we send?"
Min Mu-gu and Sin Geuk-rye volunteered. Min Mu-gu stepping up? Probably eyeing more merit fields from subduing the Jurchens. They were manageable this era. Yi Bang-won decided,
"This time, Senior General Min Mu-gu should go. The Army Commander had best support from the capital."
"Understood."
Min Mu-gu was heading to the front lines. Do well. Yi Bang-won continued,
"We'll need to pardon Jo Yeong-mu too. We require someone for the Northwest Front."
"Northwest Front?"
"Yes. With this massive war, expect hordes crossing from Liaodong. We must settle them. Pardon Jo Yeong-mu and put him on it—he knows the northern lay well."
True, Jo Yeong-mu's return was due. He'd mellowed plenty by now. If not, ship him back out. Amid various discussions, Yi Bang-won turned to me.
"Minister of State, whatever you need for the envoy mission, ask and it shall be yours. Get the full picture."
"Yes, my lord."
We concluded and prepared separately. I was appointed deputy envoy, with Yi Cheom as chief. Yi Cheom, once of Jeong Mong-ju's faction, had idled in minor posts until Gwon Geun's recent recommendation elevated him to Deputy Chief State Councillor. How did all those who opposed the revolution with Jeong Mong-ju end up siding with Yi Bang-won? Did they hate Jeong Do-jeon that much? The moderate literati's mindset was baffling. In any case, unlike Jo Jun, Yi Cheom was just for show. I'd handle the real matters—that's why Yi Bang-won named him chief.
Once decided, I went home and told Han Yeo-ul I'd be off to Ming again. She simply wished me a safe trip. I'd expected whining over her pregnancy, but she showed unexpected resolve. Probably because there was no mortal peril.
I also paid respects to Min Da-yeon, now Crown Princess Consort. She was beaming ear to ear these days. Still was.
"Just handle it like last time, Mu-jil."
"Yes, Crown Princess Consort."
"Good."
She preferred the title to "sister," clearly. She assured me Father would watch over Yeo-ul and she'd manage the household—no need to worry. Unnecessary, but nothing amiss, so I nodded. Still, I fretted over my sole heir being Yeo-ul's unborn child. Min Mu-gu had three kids already, and even Mu-hul—four years my junior—was a father. Mu-hul's wife was Yi Jeok's daughter, spared from the First Prince's Rebellion and betrothed post-pardon.
She even suggested taking a concubine. Surprising. Wasn't this the Min Da-yeon who'd later explode over Yi Bang-won's consorts? With heirs aplenty, why the fury? I'd see when the time came. Not my problem to handle.
Min Da-yeon gave me travel funds. "Use it well."
"No need, Crown Princess Consort. His Highness said he'd provide ample."
"Rejecting your sister's gesture?!"
Suddenly "sister" again, and angry. I accepted.
"I know you're incorruptible, but never refuse family goodwill."
"Yes, Crown Princess Consort."
"Good. You and Mu-gu bear heavy duties—do them well."
"Yes."
Back to envoy preparations, Yi Seong-gye suddenly summoned me. Why now?
"Your Supreme King, what brings you to call for me?"
"I hear you're going as congratulatory envoy."
"Yes, that's correct."
He stared right through me.
"You truly do resemble him."
"What do you mean?"
"You're like the Three Fengs."
Was that an insult? From Yi Seong-gye's view, a compliment. But one that brought me no joy. Undeterred, he continued.