Book VI 45916th Day (Sinsa)
Yi Sung, chancellor- without- portfolio, died. The government assisted his
funeral and posthumously awarded him with the title of Anjŏng. Sung was
a native of Kosŏng and the son of Chancellor Am. He was by nature gentle
and reputed to be an excellent archer. He had three sons, Min, Ch’i, and Hŭl.
19th Day (Kapsin)
The king wanted to travel to Kwaju^103 to see the future site of his royal tomb,
but Censor Chang Chihwa^104 and others said, “The trip can be dangerous
even if your royal carriage uses a boat to get there. Moreover, we are afraid
that the ice of the river is not frozen solid yet. How can you cross the river?”
The king postponed his travel plans.
20th Day (Ŭlyu)
There was mist. The king had his royal carriage stand by rather than make
a trip to Kwaju, which included a river crossing. Yi Sukbŏn,^105 left reminder,
spoke to the king: “When Your Majesty tried to cross the frozen river yes-
terday, we tried to stop you from risking the danger. When you finally
granted our request, we were deeply moved. You are now trying to cross the
river once again in this cold weather. The waters of the river are deep and
wide. If the horses happen to slip and fall, your person will be in danger.
Furthermore, the soldiers who escort you will have to take off their clothes
and jump into the freezing water. We beseech you to consider our request.”
The king finally gave up making his trip.After the Chosŏn dynasty was founded, he visited Ming China as envoy. After his return
home, however, he was impeached and dismissed for conducting secret trading during his
diplomatic mission as well as seizing from others a plot to build a house. In 1399, he was
involved in the attempt to murder Cho Pak and exiled to Ch’ŏngju.- An old name for Kwach’ŏn.
- Participating in enthroning T’aejo, he became a dynasty- founding merit subject third
class. He was related to Prince Pansŏk by marriage and was killed during the First Strife of
Princess in 1398. - Yi Sukbŏn (1373–1440): an official of early Chosŏn. Loyal to Prince Muan (later King
T’aejong), he played a crucial role in removing Chŏng Tojŏn and Nam Ŭn, who supported
Prince Pangsŏk for the throne during the First Strife of Princes. He also helped eliminate Pak
P’o, who instigated Prince Panggan to become the king. Consequently, he became minister of
war and fourth state councilor. However, he was stripped of his office and sent into exile in
1417 for being arrogant and acting lawlessly.