750 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
28th Day (Ŭlsa)
The king dispatched General Yŏn Sajong to offer a sacrifice for Sŏ Inbi, late
supervisor of the Directorate for Fisheries and Natural Resources. The
prayer [that he personally wrote] read as follows:
“As far as personal affection is concerned, no one is closer than an old
friend, and in the case of favors and gratitude, no one can match the consis-
tency you showed from start to finish. Therefore, granting this favor, I
intend to demonstrate how deeply I have cared for you.
“You, Inbi, are by nature so diligent and frugal that you are capable of car-
rying out whatever task you may be given, and your talent combined with
courage is outstanding enough to defend against the enemy. From the days
before I ascended the throne, you have long served as my personal security
guard, and your zeal for your work was absolutely admirable. So I bestowed
on you the title of minor merit subject and made you a member of the royal
guard. Though you were unable to join the highest- ranking officials, how can
I forget your dedicated service? I am grieved by the news of your unexpected
death. I specially send General Yŏn Sajong to perform a service before your
coffin. If your soul is still there, it will allay my grief and sense of loss.”29th Day (Pyŏngo)
Scheduled to leave for the hot springs in P’yŏngju, the king reported to the
spirits at the Royal Ancestral Shrine. The king was pleased to find that the
mound behind the Royal Ancestral Shrine was made fast and bestowed a set
of robes upon Yi Kŭn, who supervised the construction.The king had the daughter of Wŏn Sang follow the royal carriage, dressed
in men’s clothes.^15The Office of the Inspector-General requested that the various districts and
counties of each province not be allowed to provide supplies to the royal
tour. The king granted the request.Chŏng Tojŏn, chief pacification and surveillance commissioner of the
Northeast Region, received a personal letter from the king and expressed
his gratitude through a memorial.- Four days earlier, the king accepted her as a royal concubine. The reason he ordered
her to follow him dressed in men’s clothing is not clear.