The Annals of King T\'aejo. Founder of Korea\'s Choson Dynasty - Byonghyon Choi

412 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o

4th Day (Sinch’uk)

The officials of the Privy Council inspected Sŏnjae [which the Astronomical

and Meteorological Observatory recommended as the site of the new cap-

ital] and found that it was not good. Nam Ŭn, right director of the State

Finance Commission, reprimanded Yi Yangdal, [an official of the Astro-

nomical and Meteorological Observatory]: “You people pretend to know

about geomancy and have deceived the king several times, recommending

the wrong places for the site of the new capital. You need to be severely

punished so that other people can be warned against such trickery.”

5th Day (Imin)

The officials of the Privy Council visited Puril Monastery [the site of the

new capital recommended by the Astronomical and Meteorological Obser-

vatory] and found that it was not good either.

The envoys from Thailand (Sŏmnagok), including Chang Sado, returned

and reported, “In the twelfth month last year we arrived in Japan along with

Pae Hu, a [Korean] envoy on a mission to pay a courtesy visit (hoeryesa),

but we were waylaid by bandits, who robbed us of all gifts and belongings.

If you provide us a ship, we would like to return to our country as soon as

the winter is over.” Then they presented a sword, armor, some copperware,

and two dark- skinned servants.

When the king held the morning audience, he ordered the Board of Rites

to let the envoys from Thailand join our officials when there was morning

audience.

Locust swarms ravaged regions of Yŏnan and Paekchu.^13

A large flock of crows descended on the capital center.

7th Day (Kapchin)

The residents of Cheju Island, including Ko Pongnye, arrived and presented

one hundred horses. The king bestowed 100 kok of rice upon them.

13. Also called Paech’ŏn County, Paekchu is a district bordering Yŏnan, Hwanghae
    Province.