Shortly after ascending to the throne, Yeongjo pursued a policy of equal recruitment, believing that factional strife was detrimental to the country's development.
As a result, the common people who couldn't afford the military fabric tax became wandering outcasts, some of whom formed bandit groups and attacked government offices and landlords.
During that time, the bandit group in Jeongeup, Jeolla Province, consisted of over 100 members carrying spears and cannons, and their leader wore armor and rode a horse, indicating a considerable scale and command structure.
The Noron faction, following the incident known as "Jeongyudokdae," put King Gyeongjong on the throne and then supported Crown Prince Yeongjo as the next successor.
In response, the Noron faction expedited the enfeoffment of Yeongin-gun and the appointment of a regent based on the reason that King Gyeongjong had no heir and was plagued by illnesses.
Shortly after his ascension, King Yeongjo released Min Jin-won, who had been exiled due to the Sinimsa incident, despite opposition from the Noron faction.
[4] Musindang advocated the illegitimacy of Yeongjo's succession to the throne and decided to support Lee Tan, the great-grandson of Crown Prince Sohyeon, as their candidate.
Starting from 1725 (1st year of Yeongjo's reign), Park Pil-hyeon and others based on the Dangun ideology selectively identified individuals in various regions who were considered sympathetic to the regent's power.
[4] However, Musindang's rebellion plan faced obstacles when the Jeongmi Hwangguk (change of government) took place in 1727 (the third year of Yeongjo's reign), leading to the downfall of the Noron regime.
The central leadership maintained close contact with Yi Saseong, who was serving as a Pyeongan soldier at the time, and they also prepared for rebellion with figures like Park Pil-hyeon, who was in Taiin.
Particularly, Park Pil-hyeon, Lee Yu-ik (李有翼), and Shim Yu-hyeon, both members of Musindang felt threatened by the sudden death of King Gyeongjong and the potential loss of their political positions, planned to recruit the excluded Namin members and sought to eliminate Yeongjo and the Noron faction, trained soldiers and stole gunpowder in Damyang to transport it to Hanyang for the rebellion.
[2] Park Pil-hyeon also formed alliances with Song Ha in Gobu, Kim Su-jong in Buan, and Yang Ik-tae in Sunchang, and they circulated forged documents in Jeonju and Namwon, claiming that Yeongjo assassinated Gyeongjong.
[4] In early March 1728, about 300 soldiers, including yangban (aristocratic class) and about 50 cavalry, gathered at the assembly points in Anseong, Pyeongtaek, Yangseong, and Goesan.
The propaganda had a significant effect, and rumors about the rebels were exaggerated and spread, causing administrative and security paralysis in the southern part of Gyeonggi Province and some areas in Hoseo.
However, Yi Ung-bo succeeded in raising troops in Anum and Geocheong, but it was difficult for the rebel forces in these areas to expand to other regions due to geographical conditions.
[4] On March 14, their intentions were exposed, and supporters such as Choi Gyu-seo (崔奎瑞) from Bongjo-ha (奉朝賀), and Kim Jung-man (金重萬) from Yangseong-in (陽城人) actively advocated for the gathering of troops in various regions.
[2] In the capital, Lee Ha (李河), Yang Myeong-ha (梁命夏), and Yun Deok-yu (尹德裕) were involved, while in the provinces, Jeong Jun-yu (鄭遵儒, later renamed Hwalyang) in Anseong, Na Man-chi (羅萬致) in Eunjin, Jo Deok-gyu (趙德奎) in Yeosu, Im Seo-ho (任瑞虎) in Icheon, Jeong Se-yun (鄭世胤) in Anseong, Lee Ho (李昈) in Jinwi, Min Won-bo (閔元普) in Chungju, Yi In-jwa in Cheongju, Shin Cheon-young (申天永) in Cheongju, Kim Hong-su (金弘壽) in Sangju, and Lee Il-jwa (李日佐) in Gwacheon participated.
As a result, incidents of rumors and anonymous letters occurred throughout the country, and they recruited private soldiers (家丁) and slaves, as well as mobilizing bandits (明火賊) and others as an army.
[2] They strengthened the defense of the castle gates through the Military Training Agency, Capital Garrison and the Royal Guard Command from the Five Army Camps and dispatched troops to various fronts.
The moderate faction, including Soron, moved quickly to stabilize public opinion and dispatched a punitive force of 2,000 troops, led by Oh Myeong-hang, to suppress the rebellion.
This background indirectly demonstrated the intention to undermine the legitimacy of the rebellion by showing that the policy of equal recruitment extended beyond the factions and embraced talent from all sides.
Park Pil-hyeon, who was being exiled while armed, intended to enter Jeonju with about 30 soldiers, but he disbanded when the mobilization of troops in Taein failed.
They also arrested residents of Hanyang, descendants of rebel sympathizers such as Yun Hyu and Yi Uijing, and families of Kim Il-kyeong and Mok Ho-ryong.
[6][3] Yi In-jo and Park Jong-won, the leaders of the rebels, led a small group of soldiers and retreated into the mountains of Cheongryongsan, waiting for reinforcements from Juk-san's army.
Additionally, he ordered Min Je-man, "Lead the military forces in Anseong and head south to create a diversion and block the enemy's escape route."
They wrote a report, enclosing the heads of Park Jong-won and others, and sent it to military official Shin Man in Seoul for urgent transmission.
On the other hand, the implementation of the Tangpyeong policy, which had been advocated since the beginning of King Yeongjo's reign, could further solidify the justification and strengthen royal authority, contributing to the stability of the political situation.
[2] The rebellion of Yi In-jwa, which once boasted its power by occupying Cheongju Castle, ultimately failed due to the defeat in the battles of Anseong and Juk-san.
The failure can be attributed to conflicts among the leadership, a passive attitude towards the rebellion by the central ruling class through the surrender of the capital, and the absence of a unified preparation system.
However, due to difficulties in achieving solidarity with other rebel forces in Yeongnam and Honam, as well as preemptive actions by the government, their plans were disrupted.