Tajo is assigned to the wild tribe and routes them. He is then appointed general over all the north.

Next, Cheju Island (in the south) revolts and becomes a part of competing Yuan.

In 1364 Tajo leaves his station in the north to help drive out the Mongols. But in his absence, raiders from the north take over. He drives out the Mongols, then drives out the raiders. He is fast becoming Korea's hero.

Meanwhile, Japanese raids are causing many areas not to be able to pay the required revenue of rice to the government. The Capital panics. The pirates get closer to the capital, in Kaesong. They even begin setting up headquarters inside Koryu. An enemy that is allowed to become bolder and bolder will one day take all.

Other troubles in the palace: The King has no heir, so he begins to invite young men to be with the queen. It doesn't work. But one day a crafty Buddhist monk appears . Something goes off in the king. He believes he has actually seen this man in a dream saving his (the king's) life. He becomes devoted to him and lets him direct the kingdom in many ways.

Though the people hate this monk, Sindon, the king grows daily more attached. Eventually the Monk has a son through a concubine and the King claims the baby as his own.

The story of Korea thus adds another twist beyond the conflict and religious confusion... the primitive mindset that allows a dream to conquer all. People who want to believe will do so. Oh it is time for another hero in Chosun. Their history is filled with stories of this or that nobody who rose to power, and destroyed or saved the people. It's time for Someone to deliver Korea!

In 1368 the rising Ming dynasty finally drives the Mongolians away from Koryo. Japan recognizes the power shift and even brings gift to the Korean King. What a great time to talk about pirates, but Sindon, the king's personal hero, insults the Japanese envoy. Japanese living in Koryo now revolt.

1369. Of course the Ming now request allegiance from Koryo. So the King switches from the Mongolian to the Ming calendar, sends his congratulations, and a new era begins. The Chinese dress is adopted and actually passed down to the 20^th century. Hulbert says: "The Koreans today [early 1900's] are really more Chinese than the Chinese..."