Book V 385The letter was as follows: “On the twenty- fourth day of the second month
of the twenty- seventh year (1394) of the reign of Hongwu, Yang Wen, left
commissioner of the Chief Military Commission of the Left Army and
others received an imperial decree at Fengtianmen Gate. In the decree, the
emperor said, ‘In recent days our armed forces at the borders in Ganpu and
other places captured five bandits, including one named Hu De. They stated
in their depositions that they had been sent by the Koryŏ officials in charge
of border defense to plunder our coastal areas and gather information.
Therefore, the Chief Military Commission of the Left Army should make a
list of people involved in banditry and send it to Yi, the king of Chosŏn, so
that he may know what has happened. Let him capture and send us all the
culprits after reviewing their names on the list.’
“Since our Military Commission has now made a list of culprits’ names
based on the depositions made by Hu De and others and officially sent it to
you, you shall transport them under escort and hand them over to us. The
ones you shall send are twenty- five in total.”
After the ritual of greeting the Chinese envoys was over, the king held a
banquet for them. Ch’oe Yŏn and others were all originally Koreans who
had gone over to China to become eunuchs.
6th Day (Ŭlhae)
The government established the Horse Purchasing Office for Tribute
Payments (Chinhŏn kwanmaso) and ordered the officials of various ranks,
both currently employed and on inactive service, to donate horses in accor-
dance with their ranks.
9th Day (Muin)
The government elevated the status of Imju^72 to prefecture because it was
the birthplace of Chin Hallyong, imperial envoy from China, and the envoy
requested the change.
Kim Pin’gil, assistant navy commander of Chŏlla Province, captured three
Japanese ships. The king sent a royal messenger and bestowed royal wine,
silk, a silver belt, and a silver bowl on him.
- Also called Imch’ŏn, it is now part of Puyŏ, the old capital of Paekche.