Subduing the Qing: Starting as the King of Joseon

Lee Sun is reborn—into the body of his namesake, King Sukjong of Joseon. His new life coincides with the Revolt of the Three Feudatories, a rebellion that has Emperor Kangxi stretched thin and desperately redeploying troops from Liaodong, leaving the region dangerously undermanned. To all outward appearances, the new king busies himself with recruiting a royal football team and renovating the Western pavilion as diversions for his court. Behind this facade, however, he secretly amasses firearms, recruits Dutch and Spanish artillery craftsmen, and drills a disciplined line-infantry army of his own. With the domestic political arena firmly in his grip and secret alliances forged with the Three Feudatories, he bides his time for the perfect moment to seize Liaodong and stake his claim to the Central Plains. In his conviction, Joseon—descended from the bloodline of Jizi of the ancient Shang dynasty—is destined to return to the Middle Kingdom, expel the barbarian conquerors, and restore rightful rule over all of China.