Book III 243
The king said, “Moving the nation’s capital is what powerful and flour-
ishing families dislike, so I know they are trying to find excuses to stop it.
Grand councilors and high officials have lived in Songdo for a long time,
and therefore they do not want to relocate. How can they be enthusiastic
about moving the nation’s capital, not to mention moving their households?”
The officials on the left and right all kept silent.
Nam Ŭn said, “Though unworthy, we presumptuously became merit sub-
jects and occupied high positions thanks to your generous favor. Even if we
move to the new capital, what can we lack, and how can we begrudge you
our lands and houses? Since your royal carriage is not far from Mt. Kyeryong,
we urge you to personally go down to look at the site. We will remain here
and take care of the bandits.”
The king said, “I am sure you also dislike moving the capital. Throughout
history, whenever dynasties changed and kings newly received the Mandate
of Heaven, they always moved the nation’s capital. The reason I am now in
a hurry to see Mt. Kyeryong is that I am anxious to have it done during my
reign. My heir will want to move the capital, respecting my will, but how
will he be able to do it if his officials are against it?” Then he gave orders to
turn around his royal carriage.
Nam Ŭn and others asked Yi Mindo to try fortune-telling, and Mindo
replied, “Consort Hyŏn will certainly recover from her illness, and the ban-
dits are not worth worrying about, either.” Then the officials had a discus-
sion and requested that the king carry out his trip to Mt. Kyeryong. The king
said, “Fine, but we will leave only after punishing Chŏng Yo.” Nam Ŭn said,
“Would it really be necessary to punish him?” The royal carriage finally left
and stayed in the field of Ch’ŏngp’owŏn.^24
2nd Day (Chŏngch’uk)
The king ordered Cho Pak, surveillance commissioner of Yanggwang
Province, to inspect the conditions of prison inmates.
3rd Day (Muin)
Kwak Haeryong,^25 an interpreter and a member of the diplomatic mission
led by Han Sangjil, envoy (chumunsa) on a mission to make a report to the
- A place near Mt. Tobong in Seoul.
- An interpreter of late Koryŏ. He served as director of the Directorate of Armaments.