Book X 599
20th Day (Kihae)
The king reproached himself for natural disasters and sought straight advice
from his subjects. Chang Chach’ung, assistant director of the Security
Council, expressed his view in a memorial. He said, “When the nation is not
ruled properly, Heaven reacts with natural disasters.” The way he expounded
the correspondence between Heaven and mankind was quite extreme.
21st Day (Pyŏngja)
When the king ordered the Privy Council to discuss the idea of mobilizing
soldiers from various provinces to finish the construction of the walls in the
capital, most officials below the rank of assistant chancellor were opposed
to the idea. Then the king called the officials and said, “Having moved the
nation’s capital, I expect to finish the construction of the walls quite soon.
Under the circumstances, what is wrong with mobilizing soldiers from var-
ious provinces to complete the remaining construction work? Nevertheless,
you are all against the idea. How, then, can I move the capital here?”
U Innyŏl, left director of the State Finance Commission, replied, “We did
not mean to say that you should stop constructing the walls forever; we only
meant that you should wait until we have a good harvest.” Han Sangjil,
Chancellery scholar, also said, “We were opposed to the idea because this
year crops were poor as a result of the early drought and late rainy season as
well as the locust damage. So we request that you wait until next year to
finish the construction.”
The king said, “I already ordered the governors of various provinces to
provide provisions to the workers who would participate in the construction
of the capital walls.” An Ik, assistant grand councilor of the Chancellery,
said, “We were opposed to the idea without knowing that you had given
such an order. We all made a mistake.” Hearing what Ik said, the king was
somewhat mollified. He bestowed wine on the officials and sent them home.
24th Day (Kimyo)
The moon conceals Jupiter.
Kim Yŏngnyŏl, navy commissioner of Right Kyŏnggi Province seized two
Japanese ships on Ch’uja Island. They also captured three Japanese maraud-
ers alive.