Bound for the Northeast Frontier
Part 1
Min Mu-jil headed for the Northeast Frontier, but when he stopped by the queen's palace first, Min Da-yeon was already gone. He asked one of the senior court ladies, who looked furious and said she'd stormed off somewhere. Damn, one step too late. Her actions were lightning-fast. It had to be straight to Yi Bang-won. At least it was a relief that he was in Gangnyeong Hall. If she'd gone to his office while he was handling state affairs, the fallout would have been impossible to handle.
When he arrived, the eunuchs inside wore extremely awkward expressions, but they lit up at the sight of him. "What's going on inside right now?" "Well, it's Her Majesty the Queen..." No doubt she was screaming her head off. Just then, Yi Bang-won burst out of Gangnyeong Hall, his face thunderous.
"Your Highness."
"Ha. Mu-jil. Perfect timing. Take the queen back to her palace."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I'm always sorry to you."
"Not at all, Your Highness."
But was there really any need to apologize to him? He should be sorry to Min Da-yeon. No, she'd probably already said everything she needed to—appropriate or not—so it hardly mattered. In any case, he ordered the senior court ladies to fetch her, and Min Da-yeon looked absolutely livid. She glared at the Kim woman like she wanted to kill her. Terrifying. Still, after he calmed her down a bit, she finally returned to the queen's palace. There, she launched into her complaints.
From what he gathered, Yi Bang-won had claimed he had no idea she was Min Da-yeon's servant, which had set her off. "Does that even make sense?"
"Your Majesty, it's possible he truly didn't know. Men don't remember women unless they're beautiful." That was from personal experience. And Yi Bang-won didn't strike him as any different.
Then she demanded to know why he'd taken her to his chambers, and when he blamed the Kim woman's seduction, Min Da-yeon exploded. "Is that an excuse that holds water? Mu-jil, whose side are you on right now?!"
"My apologies, Your Majesty. In my view, it's the Kim woman's fault."
"Right, of course it is. That wench dared to flirt with my husband, trying to put herself above me? Outrageous."
What followed sounded like a full-blown shouting match. She didn't give details, but it was obvious: How dare you, after everything our family did to make you king? Blah blah about the clan's merits. It was maddening. She wasn't plotting to kill anyone, so why drag the family into it every time? Everyone knew Yi Bang-won despised women fluttering their skirts because of the Gang clan. Did she think she was the exception? Or that women's issues were somehow separate?
When she pointed out Yi Bang-won's womanizing, he tried to respond. "Your Majesty, it's not improper for a king to take concubines and secure heirs..."
"What did you just say?! So you're saying it's fine that he bedded that wench?!"
"No, that's not it—securing heirs is one of a king's duties."
"What heirs are lacking?! Mu-jil, what on earth are you saying?!"
"Well... Your Majesty, if you could just try to understand His Highness a little..."
"Whose side are you constantly taking?!"
It was infuriating. A raging Min Da-yeon was impossible to reason with—one hole plugged, another burst open. Why couldn't she get sick at times like this? Was it because his name was Mu-jil—no diseases? Come to think of it, Mu-gu's name was funny too: no worries. Yeah, he lived worry-free and dropped dead. After several more attempts, nothing worked. He gave up on persuading her. It was beyond his pay grade.
Later, Yi Bang-won looked in a foul mood too. This marital spat was definitely off his hands now. He'd learn firsthand what they meant by "shrimps' backs cracking in whale fights." The next day, word came that Min Da-yeon was out to beat the Kim woman to death, so he rushed to stop her. He half-believed she might actually kill her. He understood her outrage from her position, but beating her half to death crossed a line.
When he got there, she'd already laid into her somewhat. Her actions were too damn quick. Then Min Da-yeon said, "What infuriates me most is that a mere servant from our household dared flirt with His Highness, trying to place herself above my brothers. How dare she lord over her master? Does she have a death wish?"
Was that how it was? Her anger had a strangely persuasive edge. And honestly, it irked him a bit too. Had he picked up her mindset from hanging around? "Today, I'll make sure to correct that wench's behavior. What are you lot standing around for, senior ladies?!"
It hit him that she could really die, so he intervened immediately. Min Da-yeon suddenly looked shocked at him. "Mu-jil, what are you doing?"
"Please stop here, Your Majesty. No more—she could die. It's not a capital crime. Just send her back to her family as a servant."
She glared at him, then her eyes widened in surprise. What now? "Why have you gotten so thin?"
Her rage had subsided. Who else but her and her husband? She turned back to the Kim woman. "Since Mu-jil begs so earnestly, I'll spare you. Send that wench back to her family immediately."
The worst was averted. In the original history, she'd suffered even more harshly but survived to bear Prince Gyeongnyeong, so the Kim woman was tough as nails. Afterward, she was chased off to their father's house. Taking her to his home would have been weird—her original home was Father's, so it made sense there, but his own house? No.
He went to Father's to handle the aftermath and talked it over. Father said, "Outrageous, but you handled it well, Mu-jil. What now?"
"If she's pregnant, we must inform His Highness, so best to watch and wait."
Mother objected, but Father silenced her. "Mu-jil's right, dear. No matter how brazen the wench, if she's carrying the king's child, mistreating her harshly could spell disaster. Miscarriage would be harming royal blood—treasonous. Do as Mu-jil says."
Mother nodded reluctantly, but her eyes said she'd show no mercy if no child came. It probably would. Then Mother sobbed, "His Highness went too far. How could he do this to our family? Especially to Her Majesty?"
Father didn't look pleased either. Nor did he. But then Father said, "Mu-jil, I'm done with court. I can't stand it anymore. I just want to rest at home."
He looked deeply disillusioned. "I'd like to rest too."
"What are you saying? You're not even thirty yet."
True, not quite thirty. But exhausted. After sending Mother away and calling in Mu-hul and Mu-hoe, Father said, "I have a bad feeling."
Mu-hoe startled. "What do you mean?"
"Just my sense. Seeing Her Majesty lately reminds me of the Gang woman. We all need to restrain ourselves, Mu-jil."
"Yes, Father."
"I'm most worried about you. What if you request leave from His Highness?"
"Yes, understood."
Time for a break. He'd die of frustration otherwise. Father warned everyone to lie low—his old sharp judgment seemed back. The problem was Min Da-yeon and Min Mu-gu... what to do with them?
He returned to the military office to work, planning to request leave when Yi Bang-won summoned him. "You came, Mu-jil?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I have nothing to say when I see you. Truly sorry."
He knew. "Not at all, Your Highness."
"It's about the Six Garrisons. The Jurchens there are acting suspicious." He showed a letter from Jo Yeong-mu. Other Jurchens were trouble, but oh? Mun Teo-mu sent men toward Liaodong? Caught red-handed. He'd been waiting for an excuse, and they handed it over. Didn't they know how closely he watched them?
"Jo Yeong-mu says he needs more men. Best if you go. I was going to send Sin Geuk-rye, but he's ill—only you left."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Sin Geuk-rye sick at a perfect time. Opportunity. "I'll appoint you Left Dotongje and Northeast Frontier Northern Commander. Take 4,000 from Yongwi and Yongmu Sunwisa to Ganggye. Handle things there."
"Yes, Your Highness."
"I'll have others prepare. Rest well."
Good—better than staying here. And Mun Teo-mu causing trouble? Time to crush him for good. No Nurhaci in this world. Just sorry to Han Yeo-ul—always off to the borders. Thus, he took the Left Dotongje post and headed northeast.
Before leaving, he said goodbyes. Han Yeo-ul barely blinked anymore—used to his frontier jaunts. Little Wol playing with her helped. Father was glad, probably pitying his suffering here. "Yeo-ul will manage; don't worry. Nor about her delivery," he said.
Min Da-yeon looked pained. "Mu-jil to the north? Feels awful. Why not send him south for rest?" Better than here, surely. "Sorry for yelling before. Only you think of me."
Whatever clicked that day, she kept apologizing since. Probably realized he was her biggest ally. Too late. While he was north, Yi Bang-won would scheme freely. And to avoid him getting dragged into her messes, Yi Bang-won sent him away. Despite saying no before. Sin Geuk-rye ill or not, he could've sent Yi Suk-beon, Yi Cheon-u—plenty options. Sending him confirmed it.
Did this mean he'd escaped the purges? No... can't relax. Still Crown Prince Yangnyeong to overcome. Without surpassing him, nothing was safe. Sure, retire before his rampage. Possible? He'd make it so.
After farewells to Min Da-yeon and prepping, Yi Seong-gye summoned him—too often. There, Yi Seong-gye said, "Leaving for the northeast without keeping your promise? When's the new food?"
"My apologies, Supreme King."
"Useless brat."
"Any advice on the Northeast Frontier, Supreme King?"
"What, ask me? You'll handle it fine."
High praise. "As I said, you're exceptional at military affairs—like Sambong." Jeong Do-jeon again—no cooldown. "One warning: don't treat the Jurchens too cruelly. Not like tying surrender flags to pirate ships."
"Yes, Supreme King."
"Don't be too harsh on the Nangbal tribe. They're not that dangerous." His explanation befitted the Jurchens' "great elder." He knew them inside out. Min Mu-jil memorized it fast—Yi's word as their overlord was gold.
"Truly grateful, Supreme King."
"Yeah. Didn't expect Bang-won to send you north. That guy..." Still hated Yi Bang-won. "Ming's brewing a massive war?"
"Yes, rumors say Zhu Yunwen's mustering 300,000 to attack."
Indeed mobilizing. Multi-front encirclement. Yi Seong-gye: "Zhu's done for soon."
We'll see. Normal reaction, but he trusted Zhu Yunwen to botch it—or at least not win. Either way, it eased his path. Rumors said Jianwen prepped defenses; Nanjing direct assault impossible. July rains anyway. They'd drag into prolonged defense, civil war endless. Perfect—he could head northeast carefree.
After bidding Yi Seong-gye farewell, he set off with 4,000 from Yongwi Sunwisa to the Northeast Frontier. En route, a thought struck: whoever possessed him into this backbreaking place—what hell for round two? Round one was bad; round two worse. Said it'd be as king next—maybe crown prince? If father like Yeongjo and him Sado-jae? Worse than this. Yeongjo cuz he'd block Sejo at all costs—no Yeongjo then. Worry later.
Choi Yun-deok in Ganggye? Long time no see.