Book VI 415Sutra in gold and to make four copies so that they can be kept in the Buddhist
monasteries and read once in a while. Prior to this, Pyŏn Hon ran away after
committing some wrongdoings. Since he was good at calligraphy, the king
summoned him to join the others in making copies of the sutra.
The king ordered all officials to donate cast iron items in their possession to
the Directorate for Armaments, in accordance with their rank, so that mili-
tary weapons could be manufactured.
18th Day (Ŭlmyo)
The Office of the Inspector-General submitted the results of its investigation
on those who committed irregularities relying upon the influence of envoys
from Ming China. The king said, “Those who committed the most serious
abuses should be put to death. Those who tried to acquire government posts
should be sent away to serve in the navy. [Envoy] Hwang Yŏnggi made contri-
butions to the country and moreover did not ask for many favors. So those who
sought favor from him should be excluded from the ones to be punished.”Yi Mindo, minister of taxation, requested that paper currency be used.19th Day (Pyŏngjin)
The king planned to inspect Muak personally to make a final decision con-
cerning the site of the new capital, so the Remonstrance Bureau of the
Chancellery submitted a memorial: “The weather is still extremely hot for
the royal carriage to travel, and the farmers are also too busy to give their
time [to the construction work]. It will not be too late to wait until the middle
of the eighth month to visit the site. The king followed the advice.21st Day (Muo)
The Righteousness Flourishing Three Armies submitted a memorial to the
king: “At the end of the former dynasty, the pubyŏng military system fell
into serious disarray. As our dynasty has just become established, we must
abolish old abuses and enact new laws. Since tightening discipline among
royal guards to prepare for unexpected crises and strengthening the nation
by raising the dignity of the king are extremely important, everyone must
do his utmost.
“Nevertheless, some ignorant people who became royal guards simply
forget the reason they were appointed to the post of captain or chief and