General Introduction (Ch’ongsŏ) 81who had conspired with Yurin, confessed his crime. Kim Chongyŏn,^163
another conspirator, is now on the run from the authorities. The crimes of
the remaining offenders involved in this case, however, are not quite clear.
If they are tortured further during interrogation, I fear a serious mistake
could be made. Let everyone, except those who already confessed their
crimes, be exiled to different places.”
In the eleventh month, T’aejo rendered his resignation to the king because
of the incident of Yun I and Yi Ch’o, but the king appointed T’aejo as chief
director of the State Finance Commission.
Kim Chongyŏn went to Sŏgyŏng [P’yŏngyang] and conspired with
Chiliarch Yun Kwit’aek and Construction Director Cho Yu, who was under
the command of Tŏkbu, to kill T’aejo. Being afraid that the conspiracy
would be revealed, Kwit’aek secretly visited T’aejo and informed him of the
plot. “Chongyŏn is plotting against you together with Chancellor Sim
[Tŏkbu], Chi Yonggi, and others. Cho Yu also said, ‘I heard that Chancellor
Sim is going to raise an army conspiring with military commissioner Cho
Ŏn, Yu, and others. That certainly does not sound good for you.’ ”
When T’aejo secretly told Tŏkbu about what he had heard, Tŏkbu threw
Yu into jail. T’aejo said to the king, “Tŏkbu and I have served together in the
government, and there is no jealousy or suspicion between us. Therefore, I
beg you not to have Cho Yu interrogated and to help us [T’aejo and Tŏkbu]
continue our friendship.”
King Kongyang intended to release those involved in the case, but the
Office of the Inspector-General submitted a memorial requesting it be inves -
tigated. As a result, Yu was put to death by hanging, while Tŏkbu, Yonggi,
Cho Ŏn, and others were banished to distant parts of the country.
In accordance with the request from the Office of the Inspector-General,
King Kongyang ordered a number of military commanders to surrender
their official seals and stamps.
In the twelfth month, the king again appointed T’aejo chancellor as well
as commander-in-chief of all the armies. T’aejo declined his appointment,
submitting a letter to the king: “It is appropriate for His Majesty to bestow
rank and position on his subjects according to their merits, and the subjects
should not show off their services before His Majesty even when they have
- Kim Chongyŏn (?–1390): a military official of late Koryŏ. He served as military com-
mander of Chŏlla Province. Involved in the incident of Yun I and Yi Ch’o, he was arrested and
ran away to P’yŏngyang to hide in the house of former director Kwŏng Ch’ung. There he con-
spired with others to assassinate T’aejo. Betrayed by one of the conspirators, he was arrested
and died during the interrogation.