General Introduction (Ch’ongsŏ) 87
steadfast and faithful, relying on the principle of justice, the service that you
have rendered the state is great enough to support the sky.
“From the days of the former king on down to my reign, you have worked
so hard that you have brought peace to the state. In the Mujin year, you
stopped the military campaign against China, and in the Kisa year, you
established a plan for suppressing the disturbance. As a result, the state
could survive the crisis, and the people were rejuvenated.
“Furthermore, you trained armies for the defense of the state, which was
a right thing to do. Why should you worry about what others say? It is
appropriate for you to be cautious while in high positions, but whom should
I rely on in order to discuss the affairs of state?
“Ah! Emperor Guangwu did not force Yan Ziling to serve him out of
respect for his integrity, and the Han remained at peace without the Marquis
of Liu [Zhang Liang]. However, the situations and affairs in antiquity were
not the same as those in the present. I want you to hold unto your post and
carry out your duties according to my wishes.”
In the sixth month, the Censorate submitted a memorial to the king: “The
crime committed by U Hyŏnbo is the same as that of Yi Saek. Since Saek
was already dismissed, both of them should be banished to a remote region.”
Though the memorial was submitted as many as three times, it was pending,
with no answers.
At that time, His Majesty [King T’aejong] served as third royal secretary
(u taeŏn), and [King] Kongyang sent him to the house of T’aejo to persuade
the Censorate. T’aejo lamented, saying, “Does His Majesty believe that I
am behind the Censorate?” Then he immediately submitted a memorial to
the king with the intention to resign:
“If the state is to be governed well, the ruler would be wise to find men of
ability for his ministers, and if the most powerful position is to be filled
properly, there must be officials who are willing to concede their places to
men of wisdom. If one only seeks wealth and honor and loses the sense of
justice, one naturally disgraces one’s virtue.
“My ability is small, whereas my responsibility is large, and therefore,
people complain whatever Your Servant does. Your Servant is not like Guan
Zhong,^178 who fulfilled his duties on his own with has support from his lord,
- A statesman of the state of Qi during the Spring and Autumn periods of Chinese his-
tory. With the trust and support of Duke Huan of Qi, he instituted various reforms and suc-
ceeded in making the state of Qi the leader of the vassal alliance.
