568 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
On the pyŏngin day [6th day of the third month] when he was ready to
cross the Yalu River, Yakhang said to Purim, “I hope that His Majesty keeps
men of virtue close while warding off petty people and carries out state
affairs and laws with justice and benevolence. He should not worry about
whether I die. I have long been determined to sacrifice my life for the
country. It will be fortunate if you convey my words to His Majesty.” Having
spoken these words, he left.The king inspected the construction of walls in the capital for three
straight days.25th Day (Kyechíuk)
The king gave orders to the Privy Council: “I have heard lately that a
majority of the magistrates are not doing their jobs properly. Send my orders
to each government agency to recommend talented men among the officials
outstanding both in literature and military affairs whose rank is below
grand master for excellent goodness [rank 2b] and above rank 6, for the
position of local magistrate. If someone recommends the wrong person, he
shall also be punished.”27th Day (Ŭlmyo)
The king ordered the offering of sacrifices to the wandering ghosts of con-
struction workers [killed during the wall construction project] at the three
sites outside the city walls and to have their families receive an exemption
from corvée duty for three years.28th Day (Pyŏngjin)
The workers recruited for the construction of walls in the capital were
released to go home.
The walls on the high and rugged places were constructed with rocks to
a height of 15 ch’ŏk, and their length totaled 19,200 ch’ŏk. The walls on the
flat terrain were constructed with earth to a height of 25 ch’ŏk. The width of
these walls is 24 ch’ŏk at the base and 18 ch’ŏk at the top, and they run for a
distance of 43,000 ch’ŏk. Viaducts were built over the drain, and stone walls
were constructed on both sides of the viaducts. These walls are 16 ch’ŏk
high and run a total of 1,050 ch’ŏk in length.