Book III 269envoy returned to your country, we heard no more about the matter, and,
even worse, the aforementioned incidents occurred. This is another sign of
disrespect for us.
“Ah! Towards the end of the Yuan dynasty, disturbances and wars started
breaking out, and people suffered from them. Warlords rose up in various
places and kept on fighting for over twenty years, killing or hurting one
another, but I have already suppressed them all. Thereafter, another twenty
years passed, and during these years barbarians in all directions caused
trouble on the borders, but they also have surrendered by now, and even
those on the islands across the seas come to pay tribute. In recent years
some wicked people committed treason, and therefore I captured them and
rooted them out completely.
“Now I intend to turn swords into ploughshares, comfort soldiers to
forget their past hardship, and look after the wounded so that they can spend
the rest of their lives at home. I also desire all my military generals to enjoy
peace, traveling around in light clothes and riding fine horses. Why are the
people of Koryŏ anxious to fight?
“I will soon report to the Lord on High and order my military com-
manders to march to the east to avenge the two incidents you dared to per-
petuate. If you want to prevent our army from coming, you have to return
all the Jurchens you took away as well as all the ones you lured prior to the
latest incident. Then our army will not cross your border.”
After the rite was over, the king entertained the Chinese envoys in the
royal palace. The two envoys were originally Koreans.Kim Sahaeng, director of the Directorate of Palace Attendants, spoke to the
king: “Many people from the Northwest Region who belong to the Royal
Clothing Office are missing.^79 We request that you allow our Directorate to
dispatch a man to the Northwest Region, let him go by post- horse, and have
him investigate the real situation closely.” The king replied: “This is a matter
- The meaning of this sentence is not clear. The Royal Clothing Office was the govern-
ment agency established in the first reign year of T’aejo in order to take charge of mainly all
the uniforms and clothes for those living in the palace, including the royalties. For this pur-
pose, one can suppose it hired various artisans, including tailors and weavers. If many of those
hired by this agency are from the Northwest, and they are missing, what could be the reason?
Were there some sort of mistreatments for them or did those people commit any irregularities
and disappear when their acts were discovered? What is also intriguing is that the king says it
is a private matter concerning the royal house while it doesn’t appear so.