832 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
than one among the stepbrothers of the crown prince who can receive the
Mandate of Heaven.” Upon hearing that, Tojŏn said, “They are to be removed
pretty soon. Why should you worry?” Having learned about the conspiracy,
Yi Hwa, Prince Ŭian [T’aejo’s stepbrother], secretly passed the information
to Prince Chŏngan.
About this time, eunuch Cho Sun announced the king’s instruction, which
said, “My illness being serious, I want to see nobody. No one except the
crown prince will be allowed to see me.” Both Kim Sahaeng and Cho Sun
were members of the clique led by Tojŏn. Tojŏn, Ŭn, Hyosaeng, Yi Kŭn
(director of the Security Council), Yi Mu (former assistant grand councilor),
Chang Chihwa (Lord of Hŭngsŏng), Yi Chik (Lord of Sŏngsan), and more
gathered to plot day and night at the house of Nam Ŭn’s concubine—which
was in Songhyŏn—under the pretext of paying a visit to inquire after the
king’s health. They decided to have Pangsŏk, Yi Che, Pak Wi (chief military
commissioner of the Royal Guard), No Sŏkchu (fourth royal secretary), and
Pyŏn Chungnyang (fifth royal secretary) stay in the palace and lure the
princes by sending notice of the king’s critical condition. Then palace slaves
and armored soldiers could attack the princes as soon as they entered the
palace, and Tojŏn, Ŭn, and others could join the attack from the outside.
They set the Kisa day for the day of action.
Some time earlier, Prince Chŏngan had secretly told Yi Sukbŏn, magis-
trate of Ansan, “In ordinary times the wicked gang behaves normally, but
they will certainly take action when the king falls seriously ill. If I call you,
you should come immediately.” So, at this time, Prince Chŏngan called
Sukbŏn by dispatching [his brother- in- law] Min Mugu, and Sukbŏn finally
arrived.
Now, the king’s illness became so critical that the princes, the king’s
sons- in- law, and his step- brothers—including Prince Chŏngan, Prince Igan
Pangŭi, Prince Hoean Panggan, Lord of Ch’ŏngwŏn Sim Chong, Lord of
Sangdang Yi Paekkyŏng, Prince ŬianYi Hwa, and Yi Che—all gathered
and stayed overnight at the western hall outside the main gate leading to
the Hall of Diligent Government. On the evening of this day, Min Mujil
[Prince Chŏngan’s brother- in- law] proceeded to the private residence of
Prince Chŏngan and had a long talk with his sister, Lady Min, the wife
of Prince Chŏngan. Then, Lady Min summoned a servant named Sogŭn
and said, “Hurry to the palace and tell your lord to come home right away.”
Sogŭn replied, “When all the princes are gathered in a hall, what should I
say to my lord to have him come home?” Lady Min said, “If you tell him in