General Introduction (Ch’ongsŏ) 71
T’aejo was crossing Hakp’o Bridge in Anbyŏn,^140 on his way to see
Ch’ongsŏkchŏng Pavilion in T’ongch’ŏn,^141 when his horse misstepped and
stumbled from the bridge. T’aejo alertly leapt from the horse onto the bridge,
grabbed its ear and mane with his hands, and held it suspended in the air. He
ordered his attendant to draw his [T’aejo’s] sword and cut the rope attached
to the saddle. Then he released the horse, and it fell into the water. Having
been submerged in the water momentarily, the horse came up to the surface
and swam out.
Kongyang appointed T’aejo chancellor, but T’aejo declined his appoint-
ment. So the king appointed T’aejo as acting chancellor, and Sim Tŏkbu as
chancellor.
In the twelfth month, Yun Hoejong, vice director of the Court of Royal
Entertainment (Sajae puryŏng), submitted a memorial requesting that
former kings U and Ch’ang be put to death. Kongyang asked each of his
ministers his opinion, but they all kept silent. T’aejo alone spoke: “This is
not a matter that can be decided easily. We already reported to the [Chinese]
court that we had exiled them to Kangnŭng, and we cannot suddenly change
that detail now. Besides, why should you worry when we are with you, even
if U attempts to raise a disturbance? Kongyang replied, “U killed many
innocent people, so it is proper that he should be punished for what he did.”
He finally gave the order to have him executed.
Kongyang issued a royal decree, and here is the summary: “As King
Kongmin unfortunately passed away without an heir, Yi Inim placed Sin U
on the throne to seize power, falsely changing his surname from Sin to
Wang. When U, being mad and reckless, tried to invade Liaoyang [Liaodong],
Chancellor Yi [Sŏnggye] and others persuaded their troops to turn around
and march back, arguing that the military expedition [against China] would
bring disaster to the country. Later, people wanted to choose the new king
from among the members of the royal Wang clan. Cho Minsu, however,
prevailed on the people to choose Ch’ang, the son of U, as the new king
because he was a blood relative of Yi Inim. As a result, sixteen years have
passed since the sacrifices to the royal Wang clan were last offered.
“Chancellor Yi, in his loyalty and patriotism, joined Sim Tŏkbu, Chŏng
Mongju, and others to devise a plan to save the country. Upholding the
- A strategic prefecture located in South Hamgyŏng Province.
- Located in Kangwŏn Province.