96 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
Tojŏn, and that is a ruse to implicate us in this case. The situation has
become very urgent. What would you do?”
T’aejo replied, “Since life and death depend on the will of Heaven, I have
no choice but to accept what is given to me.” Then he told His Majesty to go
back quickly to his thatched hut and finish the rites of mourning for his
mother. His Majesty requested T’aejo to allow him to stay and look after
him, but T’aejo persistently refused his request. Feeling helpless, His Majesty
went back to his old house in Sunggyori and, being worried and cautious,
could not decide what to do, while sitting in the reception room. A little
later, he heard someone knocking at the gate. He hurried out to find Chŏng
T’ak, chief of the Prosperity Expansion Warehouse (Kwanghŭngch’ang).
Chŏng T’ak asserted, “The interests of the people can be decided at any
moment. When the scheming of petty-minded people becomes as egregious
as this, how can you leave? Are kings and feudal lords and generals and
state councilors any different in their origins?”
His Majesty immediately returned to T’aejo’s residence and discussed
the matter with the former king, Yi Hwa, and Yi Che. When they decided to
make Yi Turan kill Mongju, Turan said, “How can I dare do things that His
Lordship does not know about?” His Majesty replied, “Though my father
does not allow me, I have no choice but to remove him. I will take full
responsibility.”
Then His Majesty called his subordinate named Cho Yŏnggyu. He said,
“Everyone knows that our Yi family rendered great service to the royal
family, but we are now falsely accused by petty people. If we are to die
without having a chance to defend ourselves, those petty people will cer-
tainly bring disgrace to our family name. Then how can our posterity know
the truth? I have many people around me, but why is it so hard to find a man
who will work for our Yi family?” Yŏnggyu replied resolutely, “I will do
whatever you want me to do.”
His Majesty ordered Yŏnggyu, Cho Yŏngmu, Ko Ryŏ, Yi Pu, and others
to run to the Privy Council and slay Chŏng Mongju. Pyŏn Chungnyang
alerted Mongju of the plan, prompting Mongju to visit T’aejo at his private
residence under the pretext of inquiring after his health. The true intention
of his visit was to ascertain the situation. T’aejo treated him as usual.
Yi Hwa said to His Majesty, “This is the right time to act if you want to
kill him.” After the decision was made, Hwa said to His Majesty, “What
will you do if our action incurs the wrath of His Lordship?” The plan seemed
to be momentarily put on hold, when His Majesty said, “No matter what