Book V 353invaded consecutively. Having practiced some martial arts, I was assigned
to lead the army to battle, but my rank was not very high. During the sixteen-
year period starting from the death of King Kongmin to the rule of the false
king U who usurped the throne, powerful officials such as Yi Inim, Im
Kyŏnmi, and Yŏm Hŭngbang all abused their power, causing harm and
damage to the people until they brought themselves to self- destruction.
“Being discreet and free from mistakes, I was appointed vice chancellor
(sumuhasijung)^26 and participated in the government for the first time.
However, Ch’oe Yŏng, with the support of the false king U, unexpectedly
contrived an outrageous scheme to raise an army to attack Liaodong, China.
Believing that it was inappropriate for a small kingdom to dare to violate
the territory of the suzerain state, I persuaded my colleagues and other
commanders and marched back home with our army. As a result, the false
king U realized that he had made a mistake, and Ch’oe Yŏng was punished
with death.
“The people of the country had Wang Yo, a descendant of the royal Wang
family, rule the state provisionally, with Chŏng Mongju as his chancellor.
However, disregarding the lesson from the failure of Ch’oe Yŏng, Mongju
conspired with Wang Yo to attack Liaodong once again. Their reckless plan
drew criticism from the people. Consequently, Wang Yo retired to his pri-
vate residence, and Mongju was put to death. Now people concluded that
they were unable to find a man of virtue among the royal Wang clan who
could meet their expectations, and at the same time they decided that the
seat of the head of state could not remain unoccupied even for a day. So all
the officials of high and low ranks, as well as hallyang and retired senior
officials, importuned me to ascend the throne and assume control of state
affairs. Then I immediately submitted a memorial for your permission, and
you graciously granted my request.
“Being originally a military person, I have little knowledge and under-
standing. Besides, my forefathers who served in the Koryŏ dynasty had no
power to rely on. Under the circumstances, I was fortunate to receive great
favors from you and finally arrived at where I am. Hence, my sincerity
towards Your Majesty is as clear as the sun in the sky. If I continued to con-
trive cunning schemes against you notwithstanding the foregoing incidents
- The word su prefixing the title of sijung, or chancellor, means acting or probationary.
However, su sijung here indicates one of the two chancellors, whose rank was lower than
the other.