784 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
Ceremonies, Chŏng Anji, administrator of the Court of Interpreters, and
Ch’oe Ho, a retinue member in charge of managing equipment, carry it to
the Ming capital. To our surprise, on the nineteenth day of the twelfth month
of the same year, a Chinese envoy named Yuan Gen arrived with Ch’oe Ho,
a retinue member in charge of managing equipment who originally had fol-
lowed Yu Ho, carrying a letter from the Ministry of Rites, which demanded
that those who drafted the [controversial] memorial be sent to the Ming
court to give their explanation.
“Yun Kyu, Kong Pu, and Yun Su, who conspired to make fun of the
Chinese when they jointly drafted the memorial, presented themselves
before the king and Chinese envoy Yuan Gen, and they said, ‘Though we
were together in drafting the memorial, it was Cho Sŏ that actually led the
discussion throughout the process.’
“As a result, on the twenty- fifth day of the same month, our king sum-
moned interpreter Kwak Haeryong and ordered him to take Cho Sŏ [myself]
to China with the following instruction: ‘Since you have visited the Ming
capital many times, you must be good in Chinese. That was the reason I had
you escort Kim Yakhang to the Ming capital last year. Later, our envoys No
Indo, Chŏng Ch’ong, and O Segyŏm visited the Ming capital, but they were
not allowed to return home. I am afraid that the Chinese, after detaining
them, may try to use them as their guides to invade our land. I am now
sending you to the Ming capital, escorting Cho Sŏ, and the reason is that I
want you to speak with the Chinese to find out what they have in mind and
report back to me when you return.’ For the reasons stated above, Kwak
Haeryong escorted me to the Ming capital, and the purpose was also to get
some information on the situation in China. I confirm that what is stated in
this deposition is all true.” The deposition made by Kwak Haeryong was
found to be quite the same as that of Cho Sŏ.15th Day (Sinyu)
There was frost. A meteor emerged from Cassiopeia Constellation (Wangliang)
and flew to the north.^9Minister- without- Portfolio Yi Ŭng was exiled to Hamju; Kim Yongsam,
manifestly expedient general, to Kanghwa; Chi P’aan, to Amnyung as a- According to Chinese astrology, this could be a sign of war. Wangliang was a famous
charioteer during the Spring and Autumn Period.