One year and four months later, in July 1396, Min Mu-jil gazed at the completed fortress with deep satisfaction. He'd poured his blood and sweat into it over that time, and Busan-jin was finally done. How grueling it had been... Honestly, he'd invested more effort into building this stronghold than training the soldiers.
And he'd done a decent job equipping it, too. Of course, it wasn't a stone castle carved from granite—there was no money or time for that. Instead, he'd built an earthen rampart and ringed it with sturdy wooden palisades. As long as the enemy had no gunpowder weapons or siege equipment, it wouldn't fall easily. The Japanese pirates wouldn't have gunpowder anyway, and even if they brought ladders on their ships, defending against them shouldn't be too hard.
At that moment, Choi Yun-deok spoke up. "Still, things have gone well here."
Yeah. Not just the fortress construction—he'd also been steadily cutting down the pirates who raided in between. Everything was progressing nicely.
"True. It's just a shame about the merits we've earned. Your brother has racked up quite a few by subduing so many pirates."
Starting last winter, the pirates had been rampant in Jeolla Province, and Min Mu-gu had claimed substantial achievements. By comparison, Min Mu-jil's were fewer.
"Well, a large-scale invasion should be coming soon. Didn't the prisoners say there was a drought on Tsushima?"
Min Mu-jil had wondered why they'd invade Dongnae from Tsushima at this time of year, but the drought there explained it. A pity for them, sure, but that didn't justify plundering someone else's land. He'd have to kill them all.
"Yes. So they'll target this place first, the closest to Tsushima. That's certain."
"Right. We've prepared thoroughly enough. If we fight smart, we'll win."
"Plus, we can request reinforcements from my father."
"Good point."
Choi Yun-deok's father, Choi Un-hae, was the Yeongjin-gun Defense Commander for Gyeongsang Province right now. A quick request, and reinforcements would make short work of the pirates. Sueong, with its naval base, was also heavily fortified—complete with cannons and fire ships. They were ready for anything.
Then Choi Yun-deok added, "But the capital..."
"Yeah..."
Choi Yun-deok rarely brought up politics in front of him. But this was a massive crisis, so even he was worried.
Last July's move to Hanyang wasn't the issue—they'd announced it openly. The real problem was the Pyojeonmun Incident that had rocked the Joseon court this year and would for years to come.
Early this year, they'd sent Jeong Chong, the Academician of the Office of Royal Records, to Ming as an envoy. Emperor Hongwu had granted investiture but withheld the formal patents, so they were demanding them. But Hongwu claimed the memorial they'd sent mocked him and detained the envoy.
Things had been quiet last year, but now Hongwu was finally losing it.
"Why is he doing this, brother?"
"How should I know what's in Hongwu's head?"
Of course, Min Mu-jil knew the real reason all too well. Hand over Jeong Do-jeon. Hongwu wanted to kill him if he came. Min Mu-jil understood the grudge against Jeong Do-jeon, but things had been quiet lately—why flip out now? Jeong Do-jeon had been lying low, avoiding military actions out of deference to Hongwu. He was still pushing assimilation policies with the Jurchens, though.
Anyway, Hongwu was overstepping with this interference in internal affairs. Min Mu-jil hated Jeong Do-jeon too, but demanding a whole kingdom's prime minister like this was blatant bullying. What a petty bastard.
"I hope it gets resolved somehow."
"Who knows."
Min Mu-jil knew exactly how it would play out—it wouldn't be settled until Hongwu died, so Choi Yun-deok's wish was in vain.
Speaking of which, Min Da-yeon had sent word of three developments. First, Yi Bang-won's supporters were gaining strength. Jeong Do-jeon had been checking their clan, but Yi Bang-won's backing among the scholars grew daily—especially after his successful diplomacy in Ming. Folks like Gwon Geun had already aligned with him through the Min family. No wonder Jeong Do-jeon and Queen Gang were going mad. They'd thought crushing the Mins would work, but Yi Bang-won was securing scholar support on his own.
Was that why Jeong Do-jeon hated Min Mu-jil more? For helping Yi Bang-won rack up achievements?
Second, a Ming envoy was coming soon. Third, Queen Gang was finally falling ill. Min Da-yeon fretted over the envoy but was overjoyed about the queen's sickness—the glee seeped through her letter. It was full of vicious barbs: a lowborn upstart getting her due from heaven. "Heaven's punishment" meant it was fatal, and sure enough, she'd die around now.
Dragging up her status was low, but Queen Gang's behavior had been repulsive. Persecuting their clan through Jeong Do-jeon was bad enough, but her strutting around like a founding merit was infuriating. As Min Da-yeon said, the Gok-san Gang were upstarts themselves, and her uncle Gang Yun-chung had been a slave. Lowborn fit.
Queen Gang hadn't really helped Yi Seong-gye gain power in the central court. By their marriage, he was already a Second-Grade Junior Commander of the Security Command—what could she do? His real foothold came from Choi Young. But with Choi Young dead, she couldn't claim that credit, so she hogged it shamelessly. No conscience.
Anyway, with her sick, a death notice should come soon. Min Da-yeon was probably throwing a secret party.
But what nonsense would the Ming envoy spout? If memory served, it'd just be more demands for Jeong Do-jeon.
Whatever. Min Mu-jil had preparations here. A massive pirate fleet was coming soon.
With that, he readied military drills. The pirates would arrive any day now.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇While Min Mu-jil conducted drills in Dongnae, the Joseon court was in chaos. A Ming envoy had demanded Jeong Do-jeon and the Pyojeonmun drafters, but worse: the Ming envoy Yu Yu had gone to Prince Jeong-an Yi Bang-won's residence and performed kodurae—prostrating fully on the ground.
The demand for Jeong Do-jeon was excessive but predictable from Hongwu's temper. But a Ming envoy prostrating to Yi Bang-won at his home stunned the entire court. It couldn't be the envoy's whim; it was Hongwu's will. And Hongwu had openly declared he didn't recognize the current crown prince, treating Yi Bang-won as Joseon's heir instead.
This hit especially hard for the ailing Queen Gang.
"That brat Bang-won must have schemed something in Ming. And that Min Mu-jil surely whispered nonsense to Hongwu there, winning him over."
Jeong Do-jeon had heavily checked the Min family, Yi Bang-won's biggest backers, but the scholars still rated him highly. Some quietly hoped to replace the crown prince with him. Queen Gang had been stewing over this, falling ill—now this pushed her to the brink.
"We have to eliminate the Min clan and Yi Bang-won somehow. Only then is our crown prince safe."
Then Yi Seong-gye arrived to check on her condition. "My queen. Feeling any better?"
"Your Highness, news of Prince Jeong-an has made me worse."
Yi Seong-gye's face darkened. Queen Gang sowed discord, suggesting Yi Bang-won had acted like crown prince in Ming, prompting this. Weeping over the crown prince despite her frailty, she swayed Yi Seong-gye. He soon summoned Yi Bang-won.
"Father. You called for me?"
"What the hell did you do in Ming for their envoy to prostrate to you here?!"
Yi Bang-won was floored. Yu Yu's bow had shocked him too. Why had Hongwu pulled this?
"I merely handled state affairs there, Father. This is Hongwu's cunning ploy."
Yi Seong-gye raged more, but Yi Bang-won protested his innocence. Finally, Yi Seong-gye shifted. "Fine, whatever. But why haven't you visited the queen? You killed Poeun and showed no loyalty—now you neglect filial piety too?"
Yi Bang-won ground his teeth at Queen Gang. He had no desire to visit, but with Yi Seong-gye pressing, he bowed and went with Min Da-yeon.
But Queen Gang scolded him: visiting to mock her? Seeing him worsened her illness. Yi Bang-won snapped back, just as Yi Seong-gye arrived. Furious, Yi Seong-gye berated him harshly.
Yi Bang-won tried explaining, but Queen Gang whispered poison in a dying voice. Yi Seong-gye ignored him, scolding fiercer and banning him from the palace for now. He nearly stripped his Defense Commander post too, but Min Da-yeon's kneeling plea saved it.
Back home, Min Da-yeon wept in frustration. "His Highness went too far. After all you've done for him, he won't even hear you out? Does he care nothing for his sons now?"
Yi Bang-won was deeply hurt. He hadn't expected this from his father. Closing his eyes briefly, he said, "I felt a twinge of guilt over the great cause... but no more."
"My lord."
"I'll prepare meticulously and slaughter Jeong Do-jeon and his lot, wipe out Queen Gang's sons. They'll pay for persecuting me."
"Yes, my lord."
Min Da-yeon finally relaxed. Yi Bang-won, who'd been quietly building strength, now gripped the sword like he had for Jeong Mong-ju's assassination.
Afterward, she contacted her father for funds, while Yi Bang-won met allies to discuss the Pyojeonmun crisis.
Meanwhile, Yi Bang-won conferred with Ha Ryeon and Gwon Geun.
Ha Ryeon suggested, "Prince Jeong-an, what if we send our own envoy?"
"To probe Hongwu's intentions?"
"Yes. Is this truly about the memorial, or Jeong Do-jeon? Yu Yu's prostration points to the latter, but we should test the waters. It'll clarify our next steps."
Yi Bang-won nodded—it made sense.
"Who should go?"
"I'll go," Ha Ryeon said.
Gwon Geun interjected, "Lord Ho-jeong, that lacks pretext. Prince Jeong-an, send me. I reviewed the memorial—plenty of justification."
"Too dangerous for you, Lord Yang-chon."
"I disagree with Lord Ho-jeong but agree we must send someone. Jeong Do-jeon won't go, so it's me. I planned to petition His Highness tomorrow. Please allow it, Prince Jeong-an."
"Lord Yang-chon, thank you. I'll repay this handsomely later."
"No need, Prince Jeong-an."
Gwon Geun met Yi Seong-gye, offering to go persuade Hongwu. Harried by the pressure, Yi Seong-gye apologized profusely, sending him off with lavish gifts including gold.
Jeong Do-jeon, to weaken Yi Bang-won, appointed Ha Ryeon to the Bureau of Diplomatic Correspondence and sent him along. Yi Bang-won gnashed his teeth but was powerless—Jeong Do-jeon still gripped real power, backed openly by Yi Seong-gye and Queen Gang. Yi Seong-gye remained angry at him too.
Yi Bang-won was left short on advisors. Min Da-yeon said, "We should summon Mu-gu and Mu-jil. Their terms end in three months—have them assist you directly. Jeong Do-jeon won't credit their achievements properly and will reassign them to backwater posts. Plenty of time to aid you."
"Jeong Do-jeon might just leave your brothers in the provinces, but if possible, have them come help."
Min Da-yeon immediately wrote to Min Mu-gu and Min Mu-jil: forget other plans, come to Hanyang at term's end to serve Yi Bang-won. She added to scout ways as well.
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