Book VI 399The king said, “You need to discuss further the use of silk, gold, silver,
beads, and jade of various kinds, as well as official uniforms, saddles, har-
nesses, and so on, and then report back to me. As for those who secretly
cross the border for trade, they should all be put to death regardless of the
amount of money or goods they have or the roles they have played in their
illegal activities.”The king appointed former minister Kim Yŏngnyŏl^1 as assistant navy com-
mander of the Right Kyŏnggi Province.Supreme General Yi Cho^2 visited Pak Tŏgi, former administrator of
Hanyang, and raped his daughter at night. Furious, the king ordered him
confined in the Capital Constabulary, but Cho ran away. Then the king com-
manded the officers of the Capital Constabulary to search the capital and
the rest of the country until he is found, saying, “Anyone who harbors Cho
shall be punished.”
Nam Ŭn, right director of the State Finance Commission, said to the king,
“Your Majesty seems determined to track Cho down, but what will you do
if he is caught?” The king replied, “I will have him punished according to
the law.”
Nam Ŭn responded, “If Your Majesty really punishes him, the special
relationship with family members will suffer. If you do not punish him, the
laws will prove to be useless. If Cho is not found, on the other hand, Your
Majesty can preserve the good relationship with your family members as
well as the integrity of the law. Why do you then try so hard to track
him down?”
The Office of the Inspector-General submitted a memorial to the king: “The
royal family members of the previous dynasty, including the queen and her
- Kim Yŏngnyŏl (?–1404): a military official of early Chosŏn. Proposing a good strategy
to repulse the Japanese marauders, he got promoted from assistant navy commander to navy
commander in 1395. However, making a grave mistake of some kind, he was exiled to Ongjin.
His career setback did not last long. He made contributions during the Second Strife of Princes,
assisting Prince Chŏngan, later King T’aejong, and became a merit subject with the title of
Lord of Ŭisŏng. - Yi Cho (?–1408): the eldest son of Yi Wŏn’gye, T’aejo’s stepbrother. He behaved law-
lessly and abused his power, so T’aejo did not like him. During T’aejong’s reign, he was exiled
to Yangju and later to Ongjin.