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

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

7th Day (Kyŏngsul)

The king replaced Kim Ipgyŏn with Yun Sadŏk for a diplomatic mission

to express his gratitude to the Chinese government for the payment for

horses.^2

13th Day (Pyŏngjin)

The status of Chiksan^3 was promoted from district to county because Ch’oe

Yŏn, a native of the district who had become palace attendant in the Chinese

court, came to visit Korea as an envoy and made the request.

The Privy Council presented a memorial to the king: “The purpose of

training soldiers in the art of war is to prepare for emergency. However, at

the end of the previous dynasty, the relaxation of order and discipline became

so serious that military training was neglected and the rules concerning the

disposition of troops and the art of war, which were instructed by the Mili-

tary Training Agency of the Central Army (Chunggun kunhuso),^4 have now

all become nothing but empty words and phrases. From this day forward,

the Military Training Agency should be allowed to recruit young people

from among the sons of the gentry and the royal guards (sŏngjunggwan)^5 of

various security divisions and teach them from books on military science

and the disposition of troops. If there is anyone who is outstanding, he should

be employed through examinations in accordance with the royal decrees

previously issued, and an inspector should be dispatched to the Military

Training Agency to daily supervise the training.” The king granted the pro-

posal as requested.

The surveillance commissioner of Sŏhae Province made a report: “Provincial

military commanders (Chi kunsa) Kim Kyun and Kim Kwŏn were defeated

in battle against the Japanese marauders.” The king said, “Listening to the

2. Kim Ipgyŏn was dispatched to China a couple of weeks earlier to celebrate the impe-
   rial birthday of the Chinese emperor.


3. A district in South Ch’ungch’ŏng Province. Now it was incorporated into Ch’ŏnan City.


4. “Chunggun kunhuso” is an old name for the Military Training Agency (Hullyŏn’gwan).


5. “The royal guards” here refers to the members belonging to various security divisions
   who either attend the king at close distance or serve as night guard.