Part 1 - The Beginning of Military Reforms
Arriving at the queen's palace with Crown Prince Yangnyeong in tow, Min Da-yeon lit up at the sight of him.
"My little prince. Come here, dear."
She pulled him into a tight embrace, then turned to me with a warm smile.
"And Mu-jil's here too. What brings you two together?"
I explained about his writing practice, and she beamed at the neat characters, her face full of pride. Then she repeated Yi Bang-won's exact words from earlier, not missing a single syllable. What could I even call this? Father and son? Or soulmates? As we chatted back and forth, Yangnyeong piped up.
"Studying letters is so boring, Mother."
"Is it? But it's something you must do. A crown prince has to work hard at his studies."
Then Yangnyeong suggested learning from Min Mu-gu would be fun. What the hell? Was this kid some kind of water ghost dragging my brother down with him? After all that, he'd go on to call his two uncles arrogant scum who deserved to die? Truly repulsive. It wasn't like he'd left his humanity tucked away in Min Da-yeon's womb.
Anyway, no matter what, I wasn't letting Min Mu-gu teach him. Just then, Min Da-yeon spoke.
"Better the second uncle than the first. He's capable and will be a great help to you when you're older. Study hard until then. Learn properly from your second uncle."
Thank goodness. Even Min Da-yeon had no intention of handing him over to Min Mu-gu. The problem was me. I had to escape this situation somehow. Being around that water ghost was making me deeply uncomfortable. Time to bolt.
"Your Majesty, I'll take my leave."
"All right. See you later, Mu-jil."
I slipped out of the queen's palace. Somehow, I had to find a way to avoid that clingy spirit.
After that, I received leave from Yi Bang-won and went falconry with Min Mu-gu for the first time in ages. He seemed thrilled to be out hunting with his little brother again. After enjoying the hunt, we ate the meal I'd cooked, and he said,
"It's fun to go hunting just the brothers like this after so long."
"Yeah, brother. How was the trip to Ming?"
Min Mu-gu had recently returned from Ming as an envoy of gratitude. I'd planned to recommend him, but Yi Bang-won, pleased with his recent conduct, appointed him as chief envoy himself.
"It was great. Nothing much happened. Oh, Mu-jil, you're really close with that Hubu Shangshu Je Tae. When I said you were my brother, he treated me well. Thanks to you, I met a lot of people."
Je Tae had recently transferred to Hubu Shangshu. That was because Cheol Hyeon had been promoted to Bingbu Shangshu. In the suppression army under Gwak Yeong's command as supreme commander, the two standouts were Weiguo Gong Seo Hwi-jo and Cheol Hyeon. Cheol Hyeon had performed brilliantly—from holding the collapsing front line in the previous battle onward—so Emperor Jianwen summoned him to the capital, appointed him Bingbu Shangshu, and ordered him to devise strategies for the suppression army.
Je Tae became Hubu Shangshu in turn, which was effectively a promotion considering it was the top among the Shangshu positions. Hwang Ja-jing had also returned to Libu Shangshu for his merits in eliminating the Princely Kings. Anyway, half of Ming's Six Ministries Shangshu knew me, which wasn't bad for me at all. Plus, with Cheol Hyeon pulled from the front lines, Zhu Ti got a breather, and the civil war was dragging on. Emperor Jianwen's trolling skills were truly impressive. If Hebei got laid to waste like this, it was all good for me.
Anyway, seeing Je Tae treat Min Mu-gu well meant he still wanted to keep ties with me.
"Mu-jil, I finally get why you go to Ming. Their pleasure houses are way better than Joseon's."
He'd enjoyed himself thoroughly.
"Brother, let's drop that topic."
"Fine, you rascal."
"Brother, are you satisfied with life right now?"
"Living like this isn't bad. I'm content. It'd be even better if I could go to Ming as an envoy now and then. But there's something that worries me."
"What's that?"
"His Highness the Crown Prince neglecting his studies. He really needs to work hard..."
As expected, our clan's biggest landmine was Crown Prince Yangnyeong. He was spiraling into depravity, while Prince Chungnyeong showed perfect form by contrast, putting Yangnyeong's position at risk. That's why Min Mu-gu had overreached to protect the crown prince, earning Yi Bang-won's ire and getting purged.
"His Highness will handle it himself, so you don't need to worry, brother. It's not good for us to step in."
"Right. I'll follow my little brother's advice. He's still young; he'll improve with time."
Yeah. I just hoped Min Mu-gu wouldn't get dragged in by that water ghost. The moment he did, the whole clan would follow.
After falconry with Min Mu-gu and resting at home, my vacation ended before I knew it. I returned to the Ministry of Military Affairs and dove back into work—specifically, military system reforms.
Yi Bang-won had first renamed the Cheongchongjin to Wonangjin. After discussions with the court ministers, they settled on it because the spearmen risked their lives to protect the archers and gunners, while the archers and gunners provided covering fire for the spearmen—evoking the devoted mandarin duck couple famous for their loyalty.
Wonangjin was Qi Jiguang's anti-wokou formation, but I hadn't expected it to be used like this. And it fit perfectly. Without the spearmen desperately shielding the gunners and archers with their long spears, and without the gunners and archers covering those spearmen, the formation couldn't hold. A satisfying name.
Come to think of it, Yi Seong-gye must have been pissed. He'd wanted to name it Songheonjin after his art name, Songheon. But it got shot down easily. Honestly, Songheonjin was too forced; of course it was rejected.
Anyway, I compiled a formation manual detailing the Wonangjin's organization and distributed it to the Dotongje, the Sangjanggun of each Guard, and the Daejanggun, telling them to review it. Much of it came from consultations with the Dotongje and Sangjanggun, so they already knew the content well. I'd just organized it into an easy-to-remember manual. A brief summary:
1. The basic unit of Wonangjin is the company, totaling 200 men. Five companies form a battalion, and five battalions form one Guard.
2. Infantry Guards consist of four Wonangjin battalions, with the fifth being a cavalry battalion. The strategic unit is limited to one Guard.
3. Each infantry company comprises 40% spearmen, 40% archers and matchlock gunners, and 20% flag-bearers, commanded by armored officers. Cavalry battalions retain the existing structure.
4. One Guard is commanded by a Sangjanggun, assisted by Daejanggun, Hogun, and senior armored officers.
4. (Note: The central army's four Guards—Yihung Siwi-sa and Chungjwa Siwi-sa—are cavalry-focused and do not follow Wonangjin. The remaining two central Guards—Geumgun and capital defense—are also exempt. Thus, Wonangjin applies only to the Left Army's three Guards and Right Army's three Guards.)
I'd introduced the terms "company" and "battalion"—straightforward and intuitive. I'd also detailed finer points. For now, they were to trial it and identify improvements. Central Army Dotongje Sin Geuk-rye responded,
"Understood, Minister of Military Affairs. This shouldn't be difficult. We'll train and report any issues right away."
"Yes, do that, Central Army Dotongje."
The other senior generals, starting from Sim In-bong, saw no major problems. They suggested illustrating it for the soldiers to avoid confusion, which I agreed with. I ordered the ministry to create diagrams easy for troops to understand.
And so the military reforms began. We also standardized cavalry lances to 11 cheok 3 chon (3.5m) and introduced horseback flails. Flails were easy to make and highly effective, so we'd prepped them early. With curved swords and flails, cavalry would be versatile. We regulated long spear and armor specs for spearmen too.
We posted recruitment notices for artillery specialist units and such, keeping me busy. Of course, Yi Seong-gye was quite sulky—his pet Songheonjin hadn't been adopted. Hearing "Wonangjin," he'd sniped at Yi Bang-won: "Cherish your wife like a mandarin duck." But when I promised to name a future policy after Yi Seong-gye's art name, he calmed down. Hmm, any good policies? Shipbuilding was something I desperately wanted, but how?
As I pondered, Yi Bang-won summoned all court officials for a major announcement.
"After much deliberation, I believe we need to build new warships."
Oh? Was Yi Bang-won backing me up? When he raised shipbuilding, the Two Sagas objected. He cut them off.
"But I acknowledge the financial burden you point out. Thus, I wish to investigate whether new ships are truly necessary."
What did he mean?
"I will dispatch envoys to Waeguk to rescue our Joseon people held captive there, while also probing whether their Jeongi Daejanggun wishes to establish friendly ties with Joseon. If they return our people and agree to friendship, we'll shelve new shipbuilding. But if they continue detaining our people or show hostility, we must punish them—and so we'll commence shipbuilding to exercise force against Waeguk."
Solid justification. Joseon's foreign policy principle was subservience to Ming and friendship with neighbors—maintaining amicable relations. If not, military action. Judging if Waeguk qualified for friendship, and sending a fleet to punish if not? Excellent thinking.
"What say you?"
The ministers and Six Ministries heads pondered, then Ha Ryeon led the agreement:
"Your Highness is right."
Most officials, including me, concurred.
"Then who should go as envoys? I think sending Two Sagas officials would also teach Waeguk the rites of diplomacy. Any volunteers from the Two Sagas?"
This was pressuring the Sahyeonbu and Saganwon: stop just opposing and take action. The Two Sagas officials looked flustered. No one wanted to go to the barbaric Waeguk, but backing out after agreeing would brand them as empty talkers, earning total disdain henceforth. Clever trap. This wasn't to help me—it was to tame the Two Sagas.
Then,
"Sahyeonbu Jibui Heo Jo volunteers to go to Waeguk as envoy. Please permit it, Your Highness."
Yi Bang-won seemed surprised. He hadn't expected volunteers from the Two Sagas.
"Are you sure?"
"It must be done. I believe I can persuade Waeguk through friendship policies. Please grant permission."
Heo Jo was an old fogey, but in a different league. Others just talked; he acted.
"Then I'll appoint Sahyeonbu Jibui as envoy. Select your own retinue and go to Waeguk. I'll provide ample funds."
"Yes, Your Highness."
And so Heo Jo headed to Waeguk. After more meetings, the audience ended, and I sought him out.
"You always exceed expectations, Jibui."
"You do the same to me, Minister, so we're even."
Is that so?
"Anyway, my opposition to you isn't personal grievance—merely differing views. I believe we can befriend Waeguk through enlightenment. Don't lump me with the other officials."
Fair enough. Even as a "friend," he used honorifics before me in the throne hall since my rank was higher—pure form.
Of course, he was wrong. Waeguk needed ruthless crushing before friendship was possible. But that's future knowledge; no blaming Heo Jo.
"Jibui, may I recommend someone?"
"Your recommendations are always welcome. Who?"
I suggested Yi Ye. In original history, he'd been envoy to Ryukyu and Waeguk multiple times—should help. He agreed. Fine—for now, getting along with Waeguk wasn't bad. Just briefly... The Shoni clan ruling northern Kyushu would pirate again anyway. Then we could smash them under the pretext of violating friendship, with ironclad justification. Even better.
Heo Jo was set as envoy, and once preparations were complete, the delegation departed under his lead. Before leaving, I privately tasked Yi Ye with gathering Waeguk intel for cross-verification against my knowledge.
Anyway, the envoys left, and I pressed on with military reforms. One day, a letter arrived from the Ganggye Garrison Commander. The Jurchens beyond Ganggye were acting suspiciously.
As expected. Time to start developing the Four Armies. Do all of Sejong's Four Armies and Six Garrisons now. But I needed to discuss with Yi Bang-won first. Military action beyond the Yalu River required Ming's approval.
So I went to see Yi Bang-won.