General Introduction (Ch’ongsŏ) 99grand councilor of the Chancellery; Kim Sahyŏng, commissioner of the
Capital Constabulary (Sun’gun chejo); and others to interrogate the mem-
bers of the Censorate. Kim Chinyang, left policy maker (chwa sangsi), con-
fessed: “Chŏng Mongju, Yi Saek, and U Hyŏnbo sent Yi Sungin, Yi
Chonghak, and Cho Ho to tell us, ‘Since Chief Grand Councilor Chancellor
Yi [Sŏnggye], who has taken advantage of his contributions to abuse his
power, is now seriously injured after falling from his horse, we must remove
Yi’s aides Cho Chun and others first before we finally strike down Yi
h i m s e l f. ”
As a result, Yi Sungin, Yi Chonghak, and Cho Ho were sent to the Capital
Constabulary Prison, and a little later, Left Policy Maker Kim Chinyang,
Right Policy Maker (u sangsi) Yi Hwak, Right Grand Master of Remonstrance
(u kanŭi) Yi Nae, Left Third Censor (chwa hŏnnap) Yi Kam, Right Third
Censor (u hŏnnap) Kwŏn Hong, Second Inspector (chibŭi) Chŏng Hŭi,
Third Inspectors (changnyŏng) Kim Myo and Sŏ Kyŏn, Fourth Inspectors
(chip’yŏng) Yi Chak and Yi Shin, Yi Sungin, and Yi Chonghak were all
banished to remote districts.
An official in charge of prosecuting the offenders said to T’aejo, “The
crime committed by Kim Chinyang requires the punishment of beheading.”
T’aejo replied, “I have disliked killing people for a long time. Chinyang and
others were only instigated by Mongju. How can I punish them recklessly?”
Then the official said, “If so, he should be beaten severely with a heavy
paddle.” T’aejo said, “Since I have already forgiven the offenders, is beating
him with a heavy paddle necessary?” Consequently, Chinyang and others
managed to avoid being put to death.
The king summoned Cho Chun and others back to the court and appointed
T’aejo chancellor. Though T’aejo resigned, the king did not accept his res-
ignation.
In the sixth month, Kongyang visited T’aejo at his private residence and
inquired after his health. When T’aejo [in the middle of his military cam-
paign against China] turned his army around at Wihwa Island to march
back home, Nam Ŭn secretly met with Cho Inok and others and decided to
recommend that T’aejo be declared ruler of Korea. After returning to the
capital, he told His Majesty [T’aejong] about the decision that he and others
had made. His Majesty warned, “Since it is a matter of grave importance,
you must be extremely careful.”
At that time, many people vied with one another to be first to recommend
T’aejo to the throne, and someone at a large assembly openly said, “Since