294 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
Heaven assisted a virtuous general and had his righteous banners turn
around.
One who was guilty was driven out, and the other who committed
treason killed.
The emperor was pleased and bestowed his generosity [upon our
kingdom],
Acknowledging His Majesty as the rightful sovereign of our
people.
Since both the people and the state have their lord to depend on,
May his kingdom last forever!(This song is about the momentous decision made by the king to stop the
military campaign against Ming China.)27th Day (Kyŏngo)
The king issued a royal decree: “To evaluate officials for their contributions
and have them rewarded is originally in the law. Especially at the beginning
of founding the new dynasty, it is indispensable that their contributions be
evaluated and rewarded. U Innyŏl, chief magistrate of Kaesŏng, is by nature
gentle and dignified and prescient. He was my old friend from the days
when I served as general or councilor, always supporting and protecting me,
which was his contribution.
“Kim Sahaeng, director of the Directorate of Palace Attendants, in the
situation in which I had just ascended the throne and the rules and regula-
tions for affairs inside the palace were not fully in order, established ways
to take control of them and thereby assist the king from the inside, either
making cuts where there was excess or adding where there was lack, based
on the rites and ceremonies of the previous dynasty when it flourished.
Hence, his contributions deserve to be recorded.
“Yun Sang and Yi Kwang, associate directors of the Directorate of Pal ace
Attendants; An Kŏ, administrative director of the Directorate of Palace Atten-
dants; and others assisted greatly [in dealing with internal palace affairs]—
though their contributions could not equal [those of Kim Sahaeng]—and
therefore their contributions also deserve to be recorded.
“Eight people, including Kwŏn Chunghwa, left director of the State
Finance Commission, and Sŏng Sŏngnin, former assistant chancellor, have
always supported me since the days when Sin U usurped the throne. Then,