Chapter 2: Meeting Lee Seong-gye
It was absurd—like the waters of the East Sea and Mount Baekdu drying up.
And God did not bless me, so this situation was vivid reality.
Of course, I still had Choi Sang-han's memories.
The problem was Jeong Do-jeon's memories. They were almost a blank slate. The funny thing was that the letters were written one by one. For example, the moment I saw Yi Bang-won's face, all the information was filled in.
Also, despite inhabiting Jeong Do-jeon's body, his vast academic achievements felt like floating in the air. I had to read books in a library or hear someone speak to recall them. In other words, if I did nothing, Jeong Do-jeon was just Choi Sang-han.
Jeong Do-jeon's body, and memories hidden like books in a library.
They clung to my senses vividly.
It was ridiculous, but this was reality.
Then I remembered what that weird junior said.
"That bastard told me to give it a try, right?"
Unbelievable as it seemed, that appeared to be the start.
"Yi Bang-won."
He told me to try.
If I could really pull it off, maybe I could return to modern South Korea?
A ridiculous thought, but it was the only plausible assumption I could cling to.
And first, I had to survive.
Yi Bang-won was unpredictable. In theory, he could be subdued, but in practice, it wouldn't work.
So I had to stick to Yi Bang-won like glue.
The timing was awful.
I became Jeong Do-jeon just as I was alone with Yi Bang-won, screaming like a madman.
Embarrassed, I tried to calm him and promised to continue later.
He might have felt irritated, but my nose was three spans long, so I had no choice. And actually, I knew why Yi Bang-won had come to Jeong Do-jeon.
It was right after the founding of Joseon. He probably wanted someone to support him in the crown prince appointment.
"Still… what if he was really offended?"
A chill ran down my spine.
…And the most unfair part was yet another.
A 20-something Choi Sang-han had possessed an old Jeong Do-jeon.
It should have been Yi Bang-won instead. Damn it.
Ha-ryun asked urgently without looking around.
"Sir, how did it go?"
"Sam-bong sir played a trick."
"A trick?"
The more he thought about it, the more ridiculous it seemed; Yi Bang-won laughed bitterly.
"Before we could even start, he said his body wasn't well and issued a guest ban."
"A guest ban?"
"Yes."
"Could it be a cold dismissal?"
"No, not at all."
Ha-ryun rubbed his thumb and forefinger lightly.
Nothing could be taken lightly in such a serious political situation.
Especially if one was a power figure like Jeong Do-jeon, close to the heart of authority.
As Ha-ryun pondered, Yi Bang-won's self-mocking voice echoed through the room.
"My appearance must be laughable. Jeong Do-jeon, who became my enemy killing Po-eun Jeong Mong-ju. I went urgently, but now thinking calmly, Sam-bong sir wouldn't have petitioned to make me crown prince, would he? How much must he have laughed at me, thinking I came to beg like a miserable dog."
"…Sir. That might not be the case."
"Oh… might not be?"
"Sir. It was just a guest ban."
"What do you mean?"
"The official didn't beat around the bush. He expressed refusal via a guest ban. Strange, isn't it? Even more, Sam-bong sir owes you because of Po-eun Jeong Mong-ju. If he had ignored you completely, he would have rejected immediately."
"That means…"
Ha-ryun rolled his eyes and slapped his knee.
"It's possible."
Ha-ryun had a point.
Yi Bang-won's face, stiff with frustration, brightened instantly.
"If you see a way I should act, tell me. If there's a way to win over Sam-bong sir's heart, I'll do it. Right now, he's the only one who can turn this game around."
"I know Sam-bong sir well. He told you to wait, so waiting is all that's needed."
"I will follow your advice."
I trudged along.
Walking through Gaegyeong, the heart of 500 years of Goryeo and the early Joseon royal capital.
I started doing anything that might help recall Jeong Do-jeon's buried memories.
And seeing the lives of Gaegyeong's citizens firsthand…
"Worst."
Truly the worst.
The late Goryeo to early Joseon period I'd read about in texts was a mess.
Seeing it in person, it was incomparably worse. Words couldn't capture the horror.
Most of the people hadn't eaten for days. I couldn't tell if this was a human settlement or a land of skeletons and zombies.
If the capital was like this, the provinces were even worse.
It was literally hell on earth.
"The guy advocating the conquest of Liaodong and the Chief Minister Total Management System in such a world must be insane."
I frowned.
I shook my head and moved on.
I wasn't sure if I walked or if Jeong Do-jeon's instincts led me.
My steps stopped in front of the main palace in Gaegyeong.
Looking at the palace that endured 500 years of Goryeo's sins…
"Sir. How did you know to come here?"
Someone spoke, breaking my thoughts.
I blinked and stared.
"His Majesty requests your presence."
Things were moving too dynamically.
Yesterday I screamed in front of Yi Bang-won, today I had to meet Lee Seong-gye.
Lee Seong-gye, the founder of Joseon.
His achievements as a monarch were staggering.
With incredible insight, he bypassed the elder sons of his first wife to appoint the youngest son of his second wife as crown prince. This led to Yi Bang-won's Prince's Rebellion. Truly admirable.
His reign as a monarch was absurdly brilliant.
Even before founding Joseon, he had earned titles:
[Invincible Rising General]
[The Greatest Warrior in Korean History]
Though less known due to his founder title, Lee Seong-gye was among Korea's strongest warriors.
He fought most military forces across East Asia during late Goryeo.
And never once lost.
Swinging his sword like a beast, his tactical sense wiped out tens of thousands with every campaign. People called him 'Invincible Rising General'—not an exaggeration.
At the end of Goryeo, his military skill was crucial for the nation's survival. Without him, Goryeo would have fallen to Japanese pirates or Honggeon rebels.
Ironically, Goryeo's royal heritage was ultimately defeated by him.
Well, Goryeo would have fallen anyway without Lee Seong-gye.
Better to fall to him than to invaders, who would have made the country historically shameful.
Hence the jokes about Lee Seong-gye rampaging in late Goryeo.
Later generations compared his strategy to Yi Sun-sin, his personal combat to Cheok Jun-gyeong.
The term that stuck with me most was:
[Human Weapon]
His strength was so extreme it felt like even his brain was muscle.
Seeing him in person made me tremble slightly.
…but now, this human weapon sat in Gang-an Hall, pretending to read a book.
"Bang-won… no, Jeongan-gun went to see him?"
I focused on Lee Seong-gye's fingers.
Those fingers were made for wielding a sword, not turning pages.
I was certain he'd tear the book by mistake.
"Your Majesty."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing significant."
Lee Seong-gye stopped flipping the book.
He looked at me with a piercing gaze, unblinking.
"Do you ask to make him crown prince?"
"My body was unwell, so I postponed the matter."
Hearing me, Lee Seong-gye's eyes softened.
Then he fiddled with the book again, turning pages unnecessarily.
"Good. That way, unnecessary thoughts are prevented."
"…"
"You should have reprimanded him a bit, though, to wake him up."
"Ah…"
"Why? Are you really unwell?"
Feigning a struggle with the book, Lee Seong-gye said casually:
"Soon, the decree for crown prince appointment will be issued."
"Really?"
"As discussed, Bang-seok will be crown prince, prepare accordingly."
Historically, appointing Yi Bang-seok and removing Yi Bang-won would have been the easiest path.
Knowing the rebellion in advance lets you prevent it.
Even if you couldn't kill Yi Bang-won, you could corner him.
Facing the iron-blooded Yi Bang-won was intimidating.
But seeing Lee Seong-gye in person today, I was certain—no one could stop him. Not even Yi Bang-won.
The easy path.
The tempting path.
But I had made a promise with that damn junior: create a Taejong Yi Bang-won without the Prince's Rebellion.
So no more deliberation.
It couldn't be helped.
"Your Majesty."
"What is it?"
I watched him carefully.
Leaning slightly, I waited for his fingers to stop, signaling the start of discussion.
I had to persuade him.
I made up my mind.
"The crown prince should be Jeongan-gun."
I focused my gaze.
His fingers stopped flipping.
The debate…!
Suddenly, where his fingers had been, Lee Seong-gye's face appeared.
His lips moved.
"Sam-bong…"
He pushed the book aside, spread his hand, and pressed it against the floor, slowly crawling toward me…
…meeting my eyes.
A dry swallow got stuck in my throat.
In that brief moment, Lee Seong-gye's face came close.
He leaned forward, almost nose-to-nose.
And his mouth twisted as he spoke:
"Are you insane?"
…Definitely a mistake.
Author's Note: Chapter 2
Lee Seong-gye (이성계): Founder of Joseon, historically decisive in appointing crown princes and suppressing uprisings. Known as "Human Weapon" and "Invincible Rising General."
Jeongan-gun (정안군): Historical figure, chosen as crown prince in this story's alternate plot.
Yi Bang-seok (이방석): Crown prince candidate in historical context.
Gang-an Hall (강안전): Hall in the palace where Lee Seong-gye is depicted reading a book.
Gaegyeong (개경): Early Joseon and late Goryeo capital, where protagonist observes society's condition.
Sam-bong (삼봉): Honorific reference to Jeong Do-jeon.
Ha-ryun (하륜): Political figure and ally in strategic discussions.
This chapter emphasizes historical politics, the immense military and strategic presence of Lee Seong-gye, and the protagonist's struggle to act in this volatile reality.