General Introduction (Ch’ongsŏ) 85dynastic restorer, on the other hand, not only rescued the dynasty [from
turmoil and disintegration] but also treated his merit subjects so well until
the end of their lives that posterity praised him.
“To speak of the merit subjects at that time, the fates of Han Xin^172 and
Zhou Bo^173 were not as good as that of Zhang Liang,^174 who preserved his
life by retiring from state affairs early. Kou Xun and Deng Yu^175 cannot
match the example of Yan Ziling,^176 who declined public life in favor of
honorable reclusion. Though ignorant, Your Servant desires to emulate
Zhang Liang and Yan Ziling. So Your Servant requests that Your Majesty
act as Emperor Guangwu did.
“In the sixth month of the Pyŏngsin year (1356), receiving orders from
King Kongmin, Your Servant joined his late father, Yi Ansa, in restoring our
old territory by capturing Ssangsŏng Commandery, and using our remaining
strength, we expanded the territory up to Ch’ŏngju [Pukch’ŏng]^177 and estab-
lished our villages as well as peace in the border region. The cessation of
troubles in the east pleased King Kongmin, who granted the title ‘Grand
Master for Glorious Happiness’ (Yŏngnok taebu) to my father, and in addi-
tion, he appointed him director of the Directorate for Palace Maintenance
and concurrently garrison commander of Sakbang Province. He also pro-
moted me, extraordinarily, to the position of steward-bulwark of state
(chaebo), skipping ranks even before Your Servant reached the age of thirty.
However, my failure to contribute thereafter had me constantly worried.
“In the Mujin year (1388), the one with a false family name [King U]
raised an army to invade China, but no one dared to remonstrate with him,
and the country was on the brink of ruin. Your Servant was the first to point
- A famous military general who served Emperor Gaozu. Despite his great contribu-
tions to the founding of the Han dynasty, he roused the Gaozu’s suspicions and was eventually
executed. - He was instrumental in Emperor Wen becoming emperor but was falsely accused of
treason. - Also known by his courtesy name Zhang Zifang, he was a strategist and statesman in
the early Han. He played a major role in defeating Xiang Yu, the rival of Gaozu, but, foreseeing
trouble, he opted for early retirement soon after the Han was established and consequently was
able to preserve his life. - Famous generals who served Emperor Guangwu during the power struggle with
Emperor Gengshi. - A friend of Emperor Guangwu. He first met Liu Xiu, later Emperor Guangwu, at the
state academy in Changan. Emperor Guangwu summoned him to serve in his government, but
the latter ran away to live in retirement. - Ch’ŏngju here indicates Pukch’ŏng in South Hamgyŏng Province.