The Annals of King T\'aejo. Founder of Korea\'s Choson Dynasty - Byonghyon Choi

Book XIV 809

his illness, he should search for monk Ŭiun and come out to defend him -
self but has failed to do so.^22 We request that you allow us to reinterrogate
him so that we can expose his crime clearly and punish his wickedness.”
The king ordered him to be interrogated thoroughly but without using
t o r t u r e.

5th Day (Kiyu)

Kim Sŭng was appointed associate commissioner of the Security Council,

and Chŏng Chin assistant director of the Security Council. Chin was the

son of Chŏng Tojŏn. Kim Hŭisŏn was appointed magistrate of Wŏnju.

The king ordered Yun Ch’ang, third inspector, and Hŏ Chi, right rectifier of

omissions, to return to their posts. Ch’ang was the elder brother of Yun Su.

Before his departure, Kong Pu spoke to the king: “Su is leaving for the

Ming capital, but his brother Ch’ang, being reprimanded, is not allowed to

perform his duties. I urge you to reinstate him so that his mother can feel

bet ter.”^23 Having Ch’ang and others return to their posts, the king said, “Be

more diligent in doing your duties.”

The king ordered the Prosperity Expansion Warehouse to resume paying a

stipend to the mothers and wives of the dynasty- founding merit subjects

who became princess- ordinary and lady of the house.

The king called the chief officer of the Office of the Inspector-General and

ordered him to return the letters of appointment to eunuch Cho Sun and U

Hyŏnbo, former director of the State Finance Commission.

22. When Yu Yang served as magistrate of Kyerim, he sent monk Ŭiun to the Japanese in
    order to persudade them to surrender. However, both Ŭiun and the Japanese mysteriously ran
    away. For this incident, he was impeached less than a couple of months earlier.


23. Yun Su was one of the officials indicated by the Ming government as having allegedly
    conspired to insert insulting words in the felicitation memorial to the crown prince of Ming
    China. Thus, it was decided less than a month earlier that he be sent to the imperial court along
    with Yun Kyu and Kong Pu as the Ming government demanded. From the standpoint of the
    Chosŏn court, the Chinese demand was extremely unfair, and therefore the king and others
    regarded the three officials as unfortunate victims destined to sacrifice their lives for the
    country. Under this circumstance, Kong Pu made a request that the king pardon Yun Su’s
    brother.