210 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
of his debt and the wages that he should be paid. If they find that he has paid
off his debt, they should order the creditor to release him from slavery. They
should also prohibit the creditor from recklessly holding a person as his
slave for the interest on the principal loan. Make your royal decree into law
that regulates the problems of unjust slavery, and if there is anyone who
violates it, punish him for the charges of forcing a man of good status into
slave r y.”
The king said, “As for the matter concerning the lewd sacrifices, send
it to the Board of Rites to make rules for regulating it in detail and
report to me.”18th Day (Ŭlmi)
The king visited Such’ang Palace and held a ceremony to commemorate the
birthday of the eldest grandson of the Chinese emperor.19th Day (Pyŏngsin)
There was a ring around the sun.The king instructed: “Hwang Hŭisŏk, discussant of the Security Council,
made contributions to protecting me against dangers in the days when I was
out of public view. In the previous dynasty, when Chŏng Mongju and others
seized power and secretly instigated censors, conspiring to remove loyal
subjects, I had an accident and fell off my horse, unable to rise. So I was
vulnerable to attack from the cunning people at any moment. Hŭisŏk, in
this situation, trained his soldiers to protect me and prevented the wicked
people from carrying out their conspiracy. His contributions, therefore, are
great. When Left Chancellor Pae Kŭngnyŏm and others recommended that
I be elevated to the throne, Hŭisŏk was unable to attend the meeting because
his mother had died. However, if he had not protected me previously, how
could I stand here today? I have recently appointed him as minor merit sub-
ject but feel very inadequate in repaying my gratitude to him. So I intend to
raise his status from minor merit subject to dynasty-founding merit subject
second class, based on the example of merit subject Yun Ho.21st Day (Musul)
The king held the morning audience.