204 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
emperor, saying, “Do not find your enjoyment in idleness.”^63 Zhong Hui, in
the reign of Cheng Tang,^64 earnestly urged the king to listen to the remon-
strances from his subjects and said, “He who uses his own views becomes
smaller than he was.”^65 Notice that these admonishments were all directed
to outstanding rulers for fear that they would make a mistake. Therefore,
public opinion should not be absent from the state even a day.
“It may appear that there is nothing much to be said, since an outstanding
ruler and worthy officials now work together, and all the laws and ordi-
nances for good government are well in order. However, the reason we ear-
nestly request you to give your ears to what we have to say is that we want
to see that you are broad-minded enough to accept counsel displeasing to
you and to avoid growing complacent by making yourself humble.
“If Your Majesty keeps the door open for those who come to offer their
counsel, listens to them, and treats them with trust, nothing will be hidden
from you. Then you will be able to see the situation of the people more
clearly, and the vitality of the state will be well preserved.”
The king said, “Anything that concerns important state affairs must be
all reported.”The government dispatched Yi Ŭlsu, director of the Directorate for Fisheries
and Natural Resources, to Liaodong, China, on a mission to deliver one
thousand horses to the Chinese authorities.Ch’oe Yuryŏn, military commissioner of Kyŏngsang Province, sent three
Chinese men, including one named Li Shun, to the capital [Kaegyŏng]; they
were natives of Leqing District of Wenzhou Prefecture. Li Shun and others
were captured by the Japanese and taken to an island in the middle of the
sea. However, they escaped by a small boat that they stole from the Japanese
and arrived in Happ’o.^66 So our military commander, Yuryŏn, sent them to
Seoul. The king bestowed clothes and provisions upon them and ordered Yi
Ŭlsu to take them to the Ming capital.- Ibid.
- The founder of the Shang dynasty. He is also known as Tang the Martial (Wu Tang) or
the Martial King (Wu Wang). Zhong Hui is one of his royal advisors who assisted him in
founding the Shang dynasty. - Shu Ching: Book of History. Clae Waltham, p. 71.
- An old name for modern Masan or Ch’angwŏn, South Kyŏngsang Province.