Clearly, I'd been possessed into Min Mu-jil, Yi Bang-won's brother-in-law. Just a short while ago, I was an ordinary guy living in South Korea. Sure, my life had gone to hell. Orphaned, I'd thrown everything into stocks on margin and gotten wrecked. Some idiot said margin trading turns into debt trading eventually, and sure enough, that's exactly what happened—my debts just piled up. Light? Bullshit. I was one step away from checking the Han River's water temperature.
So, getting possessed didn't feel unfair. It was like starting a new life. And the timing? Late Goryeo to early Joseon. I was thrilled to witness that era firsthand. I even told the entity that possessed me as much. Plus, it promised three possessions total—three lifetimes sounded amazing. It even hinted that if I did well, the next one could be into a king, and there'd be gifts at the end.
Then the possession happened, and my first target was Min Mu-jil. Really? Min Mu-jil? The younger brother of Queen Won-gyeong, a key merit subject who helped put Yi Bang-won on the throne. But in the end, he gets purged by King Taejong Yi Bang-won himself.
Yi Bang-won earns his "Kill Bang-won" nickname by slaughtering all four of Queen Won-gyeong's younger brothers, and eventually smashing her daughter-in-law's Cheongsong Sim clan too. As his brother-in-law—an in-law who could make him twitch in his sleep even in broad daylight—this was insanely high difficulty. I'd been excited about a fresh start, but now it was diving into the Han River or drinking poison. The only difference? Living a bit longer as Min Mu-jil. But dead is dead, right?
Especially since I'd possessed him during King Gongyang's reign. In other words, long after he'd already become Yi Bang-won's brother-in-law. No escaping that faction now. If I weren't his brother-in-law, maybe I could've tried something else.
The entity hadn't broken its promise—it specified late Goryeo to early Joseon. Still, I was pissed. Handing me a life with zero freedom felt like a massive fuck-you.
This was a situation where rejecting the possession made sense, but reality said otherwise. The possessor had clearly told me to work hard, or it'd dump me somewhere regrettable next time. I'd brushed it off then, but now? Terrifying. That thing would possess me into a slave without batting an eye. No matter how tough Min Mu-jil's life was, it beat slavery.
After agonizing, I decided to live as Min Mu-jil. Survive the purges. Sky-high difficulty, but with future knowledge, it wasn't impossible. Plus, as some kind of perk, Min Mu-jil's memories lingered in my head—not bad. That's how I stayed sane.
So, I mapped out my plan. I'd come down with a fever during possession and was just recovering, so I told everyone I was resting in my room with books. Father Min Je approved, giving me time. After a few days, here's what I concluded:
First, Yi Bang-won has to become king. If he does, my purge odds are over 80%, but if he fails, it's 100%. Yi Seong-gye favors Yi Bang-seok as crown prince. A King Yi Bang-seok would definitely eliminate his half-brothers, making Yi Bang-won's in-laws prime purge targets. Dodge the 100% death flag first—Yi Bang-won must win.
Ridiculous choices, but what can you do? Key is surviving the purge after he becomes king.
Step one: Split off from Father Min Je's house immediately. Crown Prince Yangnyeong grows up here. He was raised under Min Mu-gu and me, so Yi Bang-won preemptively purges us to stop us riding Yangnyeong's coattails later. Distance from Yangnyeong is essential—handle it via marriage and moving out later.
Next: Become a field general, not a political soldier. Min Mu-gu and I were classic regime guardians—expendable once we outlived our use. Especially as twitchy in-laws. Yi Bang-won needed us to seize power but saw us as obstacles after. Break that by specializing in wako pirates and Jurchens.
Yi Bang-won was hypersensitive to pirates and Jurchens—especially Jurchens. He pushed hard against them, even risking Ming clashes and bluffing shamelessly. A Jurchen expert would be a welcome asset.
Still, play some political role minimally—join the First Princes' Revolt. Skip the Second. From Yi Bang-won's view, someone who drew steel on his full brothers for power might threaten his sons too. Half-brothers are different. Use Jurchen issues to bow out then.
Stay away from court. Yi Bang-won suspects in-laws on sight. Ties into the specialist role—get posted to the frontiers naturally.
Shut ears and mouth on royal succession. An in-law chiming in? Begging for death. Any king would react the same.
Live cautiously, humbly. And retire at the right time. Even perfect compliance gets you killed, like Ha Ryeon. "Ha on" becomes "Ha off"? Just retire. He won't kill a quiet retiree.
Once Sejong ascends, relax. He doesn't purge in-laws. Then do whatever I want in Joseon.
Best plan I could devise. Not easy. Once this ends, I wanna punch that possessor.
For now, head south to hunt pirates. They're quiet now, but rampage next year. Join Kim Sa-hyeong's second Tsushima expedition via pirate suppression—perfect for building pirate expert cred without suspicion. Must join Tsushima; future knowledge shines there.
Big problem: Timing sucks. Before my fever, Yi Seong-gye fell from his horse. He's back in Gyeongseong now. Next: Jeong Mong-ju's death, masterminded by Yi Bang-won. Deep ties—my sister Min Da-yeon, Queen Won-gyeong.
Memories say before the fever, she'd already gotten Father's okay to mobilize the clan for Yi Bang-won. Devoted to the core. Whole clan all-in on him. Bitter laugh thinking ahead.
Clan might skip the assassination, but begging south now? Min Da-yeon would rage; Father too. No go. Stay home, read, train martial arts. Head south post-assassination.
No will or way to stop Jeong Mong-ju's death. Yi Bang-won's decided—impossible to block. Just watch.
So I read in my room. Min Mu-gu mentioned Yi Bang-won meeting Jeong Mong-ju recently—was that the famous Haeyega and Dansimga? Sucks missing it. Now he's probably with Yi Seong-gye. Wonder what they're saying.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇Meanwhile, as Min Mu-jil thought, Yi Bang-won was meeting Yi Seong-gye.
"So, Bang-won, what is it?"
"Father, I believe we must kill Grandee Poeun Jeong Mong-ju."
Yi Seong-gye roared in fury.
"Our house has always valued loyalty and filial piety from the start—how dare you speak so lightly of murdering a minister of state? Speaking of murder before your father—what madness is this? Jeong Mong-ju is not your concern. I will handle it. Return to the Northeast Frontier and finish your mother's three-year mourning!"
"Father, Poeun will never join us. Even if he twists his body a hundred times in death, he'll serve Goryeo. He cannot be swayed. I've confirmed it myself."
Yi Bang-won relayed Jeong Mong-ju's words. Yi Seong-gye softened.
"Bang-won, bringing me from Wallan Island to Gyeongseong was well done, and I am grateful. But Poeun is different. Trust my judgment."
"From Grandee Sambong Jeong Do-jeon on, all our allies are in prison. Will you abandon them?"
"Prince Jeong-chang dares not touch them. Most military authority is in my hands—he can't. It's futile thrashing. Once fully recovered, I'll free them and exact payment. I'll console our allies myself. Worry not."
"Killing Poeun is the surest way, Father."
"And who are you to judge? I judge; you obey. Since when did I say to surpass my thoughts? Your role is to aid me, not break my will. Passing the civil exams doesn't make you superior. Go to the Northeast, finish mourning, fulfill your filial duty. That's my command—obey!"
"Is it your personal bond with Poeun that makes you hesitate?"
Yi Seong-gye flared again.
"Poeun is my old friend, but that's not why. Personal ties? I killed even General Choi Young, whom I served as father! For the realm! Do I seem swayed by bonds? Leaving Poeun is my judgment. Stand down and return northeast!"
Yi Bang-won tried again, but Yi Seong-gye wouldn't budge, repeating the mourning order. Persuasion futile, Yi Bang-won bowed and left.
As he exited, Yi Bang-won muttered, "No matter how I see it, killing Jeong Mong-ju is right. Father's too bound by ties, whatever he claims."
With Jeong Mong-ju as the core of Goryeo loyalists, killing him would shatter them completely. Scattered, they'd pose no threat to founding a new dynasty. It'd also warn waverers like Sim Deok-bu leaning toward Prince Jeong-chang: We risk everything—even mercilessly killing Jeong Mong-ju. How far will you go? They couldn't match it; they'd hidden behind him, flapping gums.
One death to end it all—that was Yi Bang-won's calculus. Plus his own ambition. Brother Bang-yeon died young; as the clan's sole exam passer, it wasn't enough to inherit Father's mantle. Slaying Goryeo's last guardian would stamp his merit, proving no better successor.
Yi Bang-won craved the throne like Father—commanding the realm. Father's kingship was mere time away. He'd consulted elder brother Yi Bang-gwa, uncles Yi Hwa and Yi Ji-ran, brother-in-law I Je—they agreed. But Father's opposition worried him.
Stepping out, lost in thought, his wife Min Da-yeon arrived. Yi Bang-won smiled. His greatest ally had come.
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