386 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
10th Day (Kimyo)
The Censorate and the Board of Punishments submitted a memorial to the
king: “These days we have troubled you through our memorials on the
matter of eliminating the Wang clan. Having failed to receive your permis-
sion, we feel disappointed and frustrated.
“As we reflect quietly, Your Majesty has been extremely fair in treating
the Wang clan, without showing any suspicion or envy of them. Even King
Tang and King Wu, notwithstanding their virtue, could not surpass you in
generosity. Nevertheless, the Wang clan never appreciated it and instead
caused trouble.
“Last time, our two offices jointly submitted memorials to punish them,
and we finally had some branch members of the clan executed. However,
the rest of the clan members are still alive in various places, and therefore
we are worried that some unexpected troubles will break out if there is a
crisis. According to an old saying, ‘a man pushed into predicament seeks
ways to survive.’
“We request that Your Majesty think over the matter deeply and decide
according to what is right, ordering the responsible office to arrest King
Kongyang and his son as well as other members of the Wang clan and have
them permanently eliminated. If you do so, it will be extremely fortunate
for the state.” The king said, “I already prohibited the three offices from
submitting memorials jointly. Why are you doing this again?” Then he kept
the memorial to himself.11th Day (Kyŏngjin)
The Privy Council made a proposal to the king: “Agriculture is the founda-
tion for producing provisions and national revenue as well as for raising an
army. If farmland is wasted and granaries are empty, what good is it to have
impregnable fortresses and advanced weapons? Hence we request that all
miscellaneous expenditures and sacrifices not specified in the law be strictly
prohibited except those related to tribute to the king, official sacrifices,
entertainment of state guests, and certain expenditures unavoidable in run-
ning the capital and local governments.
“Moreover, last year we had drought early in the year and floods later,
which seriously damaged crops. Furthermore, the people recruited to work
on the construction of the walls lost a chance to plant seed in the fall months.