840 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
with nice words. Quickly surveying the forces of Prince Chŏngan, which
appeared to be weak, Wi said, “All due measures will be carried out when
day breaks.” He figured that when daylight broke, the weakness of Prince
Chŏngan’s forces would become apparent and then the hearts of the people
would not follow him. Prince Chŏngan sent him to the Privy Council. Prince
Hoean requested that Prince Chŏngan send a man to behead him.
Prince Chŏngan ordered Cho On to bring armored royal guards on night
duty. On immediately sent senior officers into the palace and brought them
all out. Consequently, the armored guards south of the Hall of Diligent
Government all came out, taking off their armor and throwing away their
weapons. They were told to go home.
Earlier, Yi Mu, observing that the forces of Prince Chŏngan were weak,
pretended to be dizzy [because of his arrow wound]. He had a man hold his
arm and said to Prince Chŏngan, “The arrow wound hurts so much. Please
allow me to take a rest in the lounge of the Privy Council.” Prince Chŏngan
said, “Go ahead.” A little later, Mu heard that Wi had been executed. He
immediately came back out to return to Prince Chŏngan.
At dawn the next day, the king called Sŏkchu [fourth royal secretary] to
the palace. He also called Munhwa early in the morning. As Munhwa pro-
ceeded to the open pavilion in the west, the crown prince, Pangbŏn, Hwa,
Yangu, and Chong, as well as the high officials of the Security Council,
including Chang Sagil, Chang Tam, and Chŏng Sinŭi, had already arrived
ahead of him. Everyone—starting from the princes, officials of the Security
Council, and major and minor eunuchs down to the palace slaves—was
dressed in armor and carrying swords. Only Cho Sun, Kim Yuk, Sŏkchu,
and Chungnyang wore no armor at all.
Sŏkchu delivered the royal order to Munhwa, saying, “The king wants
you to draft a royal decree.” When Munhwa appeared reluctant to carry out
the royal order, Sŏkchu said, “The royal decree composed by Lord of Hansan
[Yi Saek] when [King Kongmin] executed three military generals can be
your model.”^43
Munhwa asked, “So you know what it was about?” Sŏkchu replied, “The
merit of defeating the enemy may last one generation, but the heart that
betrays the king cannot be forgiven for ten thousand years. That was the
main point of that royal decree.”- The three military generals are An U, Yi Pangsil, and Kim Tŭkbae, who made great
contributions in defending the country against invading Red Turban bandits.