Book VII 495them to live together, but some of them committed treason, betraying your
kindness, and those who were involved in the treason were all put to death.
“Wang U was, in fact, the leader of that treasonous gang, but his life was
spared thanks to your generosity. Though this happened because of Your
Majesty’s unbounded generosity and benevolence, which is similar to heaven
and earth, nurturing all creatures, how is it possible that he [U] simply
forget the dynasty that lasted five hundred years just because of the momen-
tary grace he received from you? There will not be a day that he does not
think about ways to retaliate [in order to gain what he lost]. The reason that
he did not dare take action was only because he had failed so far to secure
enough strength to accomplish his goal. He has a brother [Wang Yo, former
King Kongyang] whom he loved dearly; his brother, uncommonly talented,
had gained the hearts of many followers.^37 There is a rumor that the resi-
dents of the northern border are now agitated.
“If he takes this opportunity and secretly rises in rebellion, gathering a
wicked gang of people, we are afraid that it will be too late to regret. If he
becomes so suspicious and worried that he chooses to run away crossing the
border, the troubles we have to face in the years ahead will be beyond
description. We urge Your Majesty to relocate Wang U and his two sons to
Kanghwa Island and have them confined there, restricting their activity as
well as the access of people so that the root of troubles can be eradicated.
“In our opinion, the reason that the month of April, which is supposed to
be filled with yang energy, is dreary and cold with hail has to do with the
treachery of wicked people. Prostrating ourselves, we beg Your Majesty to
give this serious thought.” The king did not grant the request.
26th Day (Kichíuk)
Censorial officials submitted a memorial to the king once again: “Yesterday
we requested that Wang U and his two sons be transferred [to Kanghwa Island],
fully explaining the reason, but Your Majesty did not grant us permission.
However, since this is a matter related to the security of the state, we cannot
leave it there and therefore risk our lives to make another request.
“Since we are convinced that Wang U will conspire to commit treason
sooner or later, he is our enemy who cannot live with us under the same sky.
When King Wu of Zhou started a revolution, he enfeoffed Wugeng, the son
- King Kongyang or Wang Yo was the younger brother of Wang U, and was dead at this
time. He was executed on the seventeenth day of the fourth month in 1394.