616 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
State of Jin. Taking notice of him in the military camp, the Duke of Jin
asked, “Who is the one who wears a cap worn by the people of the
south?” The office concerned said, “He is a captive of the State of Chu
presented by the State of Zheng.” The Duke of Jin called the captive
and asked some questions. Though Zhongyi was originally a musician
[yŏngin] who was base in status, the words he spoke were all reason-
able and free from prejudice or ignobility. Despite being a slave, he
was a superior man as far as the way he thought and spoke was con-
cerned. When the Duke of Jin spoke to Fan Wenzi about Zhongyi,
Wenzi knew that Zhongyi was an extraordinary person. Wenzi said to
the duke, “Why don’t you send him back to his country? Since the
State of Jin and the State of Chu have been at war for many years,
numerous lives have been lost and injured and the harmony between
heaven and earth has been harmed. If this man is allowed to return to
his country, the military conflicts between Jin and Chu will certainly
come to an end no matter how hard they have fought.”
The Duke of Jin took the advice and returned the captive to the
State of Chu after treating him hospitably. Not long after Zhongyi
returned, the State of Chu sent an envoy to express its gratitude for
the return of Zhongyi. Thereafter, the soldiers were sent home and the
war stopped, and there were no problems of fighting a war for several
decades. This shows an instance in which even a man of base social
status can bring peace to the state if he possesses the virtue of a supe-
rior man.
The few Chosŏn scholars [mentioned earlier], therefore, are no better
than the musician of the State of Chu who was base in social status.
Hence, I intend to hold them here in our capital to prevent them from
attending the king [of Chosŏn].
There is an old saying: “One should assist his lord by leading him
with the “Way” (Dao) and not pretending to be strong throughout the
world by displaying his military power.” Those few scholars [of Chosŏn]
tried to serve their king without considering the strength [of their coun-
try] and dared to pretend to be strong, acting defiantly by using frivo-
lous and insulting language [in drafting memorials submitted to the
suzerain state] and consequently bringing disasters to their people.
You officials of the Ministry of Rites should send a letter to the king
of Chosŏn and tell him that it is not necessary for them stay in China,
so have him give them low- level positions.