The Annals of King T\'aejo. Founder of Korea\'s Choson Dynasty - Byonghyon Choi

256 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o

Tojŏn spoke to the king: “Since Yŏngji has served as military commander

of the Northwest Region for a long time, he is well known to the Chinese.

Hence, we should not send him too hastily.”^53

The king soon summoned Yŏngji and let Yi Yŏm take Yŏngji’s place

visiting China with his memorial expressing gratitude to the emperor.

The king reproached Yi Kyŏk, education officer of the school in the Eastern

Ward, saying, “Why did you allow such a mischievous young student to

visit the monastery and defile and damage the holy place?” He intended to

have him beaten with a paddle but gave it up. Then he ordered the schools

in the five wards [in Seoul] not to allow their students to visit or stay at

Buddhist temples.

21st Day (Pyŏngin)

The king ordered that Yi Haeng^54 be physically punished by one hundred

strokes with a paddle and exiled to Uljin^55 after having all of his properties

confiscated.

22nd Day (Chŏngmyo)

The king sent Chŏng Sang, director of palace attendants, to Royal Preceptor

Chach’o and invited him to Hoeam Monastery to see him.

23rd Day (Mujin)

The king appointed surveillance commissioners of various provinces sepa-

rately. He appointed Pak Sin, third inspector (sisa) of the Office of the

Inspector-General, to Kyoju- Kannŭng Province; Kwŏn Munŭi, vice minister

53. The Northwest Region or P’yŏngan province of Chosŏn shares the border with China.
    Since Ch’oe Yŏngji served as military commander of the region for a long time, and there were
    often disputes over the territories as well as Jurchen residents along the border, Chŏng Tojŏn
    thought it was not advisable to send Ch’oe Yŏngji to China as an envoy.


54. An academician of the Office of Royal Decrees and Historical Records who served as
    royal secretary, and concurrently historian, during the reign of King Kongyang. In his draft of
    the Veritable Records, he wrote that T’aejo was responsible for the death of King U and King
    Ch’ang. King Kongyang was the one who actually ordered their deaths.


55. A district in North Kyŏngsang Province.