Book II 223treated their subjects like Yue Yi^100 and Tian Dan,^101 respectively. And even
worse, he turned his merit subjects into the meat on a cutting board. This
was evidence that Heaven was tired of the member of the Wang clan for his
misrule and aided Your Majesty to accomplish your great design for a new
dynasty.
“Being diligent in the affairs of state and frugal in domestic affairs, Yu of
Xia could inherit the seat of Yu Shun. Listening to remonstrances with tol-
erance and never hesitating to correct his mistakes, Tang of Shang replaced
the Xia dynasty. Overthrowing Shang and pacifying the world, King Wu
could establish the Zhou dynasty. Keeping wise councilors close and alien-
ating petty people, the Former Han achieved prosperity. Associating with
petty people and alienating wise councilors, the Later Han declined and
collapsed.
“Now Heaven has already made Your Majesty rule the Three Han [Korea],
serving the people as their parent. We, therefore, request that Your Majesty
emulate the benevolent rule of the three sage kings, admonishing yourself
against the gains and losses of the Former and Later Han dynasties. It would
be extremely fortunate if you would always keep that in mind and act cau-
tiously in whatever you do, setting an example for your sacred posterity for
a hundred thousand generations.
“I think to myself quietly, since Your Majesty founded a new dynasty
with the Mandate of Heaven, how I could make contributions to it, however
little they may be. Your Majesty bestowed your favors on your foolish sub-
ject too excessively, appointing me to the high position of chancellor as well
as tutor of the crown prince, which are grave responsibilities. You also had
my small contributions recorded and placed my name on top of the dynasty-
founding merit subject list, bestowing upon me lands and slaves. Despite
the fact that the rewards I received were already too extreme, you added to
them a fief of one thousand households, with tax villages of three hundred
territory of Yan. However, due to the misconduct of Qi troops during the conquest, a revolt
took place and it eventually led to Yan recovering its territory. Thereafter, Zhao became the
new king of Yan and successfully invaded and conquered Qi with the help of his brilliant gen-
eral Yu Yi.- Also known as Lord Guojun, Yu Yi was an official of the state of Yan during the
Warring States period. With the support and trust of King Zhao of Yan, and making alliances
with neighboring states (including Zhao, Wei, Chu, Han, and Qin), he defeated the powerful
Qi forces and seized as many as seventy towns in 284 b c. - A general of Qi, well known for a spectacular military tactic called “Fire Cattle
Columns,” who recovered lost territory in battles with Yan forces.