66 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
“Over the past thirty years since he became a military commander in the
Kihae year (1359), he fought numerous battles but never lost. One of the
major battles was the invasion of the Red Turban bandits in the Sinch’uk year
(1361), in which the king was forced to abandon the capital and flee.
Chancellor Yi annihilated the wicked bandits and restored the capital,
assisting Grand Councilor Ch’oe Yŏng. When Mongolian Nahachu invaded
our northeastern border, our military commanders were all defeated and ran
away. As the invading army suddenly arrived at the borders of Koju,^133
seizing a chance for victory, Chancellor Yi marched his troops day and night
and finally repulsed the enemy. In the Kyemyo year (1363), Prince Tŏkhŭng,^134
the nothos, raised an army and invaded our western borders. Chancellor Yi
overcame the force of the rebel army, leading light cavalry troops. In the
Chŏngsa year (1377), Japanese marauders invaded Haeju. Many of our mili-
tary commanders were defeated and ran away, but Chancellor Yi alone held
fast, leading the attacks against the invaders until they were crushed. In the
Kyŏngsin year (1380), Japanese marauders landed at Chinp’o^135 and ram-
pantly burned and plundered our districts and villages, killing men and
women, frequenting the borders of Yanggwang, Kyŏngsang, and Chŏlla
Provinces. Consequently, the three provinces were thrown into turmoil, and
military commanders including Pae Ŏn and Pak Sugyŏng were defeated and
killed in battle. In these circumstances, Chancellor Yi devised a winning
plan. Leading his troops and risking his life, he completely crushed the
enemy forces at Inwŏl Post Station^136 after a hard battle. As a result, the lives
of the people were saved. When he marched his army, he gave orders to
observe the rules of discipline strictly so that none of his troops would
damage in the least the properties of the people. Hence, the people were
afraid of his authority and admired his virtue. Can the famous generals of
olden days be better than he? Although his achievements and services to the- An old name of Kowŏn in South Hamgyŏng province.
- The third son of King Ch’ungsŏn, Koryŏ’s 26th king. In 1351 when King Kongmin
ascended the throne, he went over to the Yuan dynasty and became designated as the king of
Koryŏ, flattering Emperor Shun, the 11th and last emperor of the Yuan dynasty (1260–1368)
and with the support from Empress Ki, the second wife of the emperor who was originally
Korean. In 1363, he invaded Koryŏ leading the 10,000 Mongol army stationed in Liaoyang.
Though he capured Ŭiju, North P’yŏngan province, in the first month of the year, the army he
led was soon defeated by the Koryŏ army led by Ch’oe Yŏng and Yi Sŏnggye and returned to
Yuan. Thereafter, he never attempted to invade Koryŏ. - Located south of modern Sŏch’ŏn county, South Ch’ungch’ŏng Province.
- Located in Namwŏn, North Chŏlla Province.