102 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
my subjects?” Then he shed a few teardrops. Consequently, he abdicated
and departed for Wŏnju. Various officials reverently carried the royal seal
and placed it in the hall of the queen dowager. They then proceeded to their
respective posts to carry out their duties, receive their orders, and make
decisions accordingly.
On the thirteenth day (Imjin). The queen dowager appointed T’aejo over-
seer of personnel and state affairs (kamnok kuksa) by announcing a royal
decree.
On the sixteenth day (Ŭlmi). Pae Kŭngnyŏm, Cho Chun, and Chŏng
Tojŏn, along with Kim Sahyŏng, Yi Che, Yi Hwa, Chŏng Hŭigye, Yi Chiran,
Nam Ŭn, Chang Sagil, Chŏng Ch’ong, Kim Inch’an, Cho Inok, Nam Chae,
Cho Pak, O Mongŭl, Chŏng T’ak, Yun Ho, Yi Mindo, Cho Kyŏn, Pak P’o,
Cho Yŏnggyu, Cho Pan, Cho On, Cho Ki, Hong Kilmin, Yu Kyŏng, Chŏng
Yongsu, Chang Tam, An Kyŏnggong, Kim Kyun, Yu Wŏnjŏng, Yi Chik, Yi
Kŭn, O Sach’ung, Yi Sŏ, Cho Yŏngmu, Yi Paegyu, Yi Pu, Kim No, Son
Hŭngjong, Sim Hyosaeng, Ko Yŏ, Chang Chihwa, Ham Purim, Han
Sanggyŏng, Hwang Kŏjŏng, Im Ŏnch’ung, Chang Sajŏng, Min Yŏik, other
major and minor officials, hallyang,^2 and retired elder statesmen (kiro) sol-
emnly carried the state seal with them as they proceeded to T’aejo’s estate.
People filled the village lanes to watch the procession.
Inspector-General Min Kae alone was not pleased, and his displeasure
showed on his face. With his head inclined to one side, he said nothing. Nam
Ŭn wanted to strike him dead, but His Majesty [T’aejong] said, “It would
not be in accord with righteousness if you killed him,” and labored to dis-
suade him [from doing so].
On the same day, various wives of T’aejo’s kinsmen happened to be vis-
iting T’aejo and Consort Kang, and the latter were about to serve them with
a simple meal of rice and water. The ladies, however, became frightened [by
the sight of the approaching throng] and scattered through the north gate.
T’aejo closed the gate and would not receive any visitors. Toward eve-
ning, Pae Kŭngnyŏm and others pushed open the gate and entered the inner
yard. As they placed a royal seal on the floor of the large hall, T’aejo became
alarmed and immediately lost his composure.
He held onto Yi Ch’ŏnu and barely managed to walk out the door of his
sleeping chamber. The hundred officials [i.e., all, the various] assembled- “Locally based former central officials and provincially domiciled children of central
officials.” (Duncan, p. 147)