108 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
of the Right Army at that time, turned his army around, for the good cause
that it is wrong for our small state to violate the territory of the suzer-
ain state.
“Due to this incident, U finally realized that he made a grave mistake and
hurriedly abdicated his throne in favor of his son Ch’ang, but the people, on
the orders of Consort Dowager An, the widow of King Kongmin, installed
Great Lord Chŏngch’ang Wang Yo, a member of the royal Wang family, on
the throne temporarily [provisionally].
“Over the last four years on the throne, being confused and deranged, Yo
has failed to observe the law, rejecting honest and loyal subjects while
endearing himself to those who practiced defamation and flattery. Unable to
distinguish between right and wrong, he slandered meritorious subjects and
worshipped Buddha and spirits. Further, he made the lives of people miser-
able by recklessly ordering construction works and squandering the national
t re a su r y.
“His son Sŏk^8 was also so foolish and ignorant that he led a dissolute life
by drinking and womanizing. Furthermore, he tried to harm honest people
by gathering petty people around him.
“His followers, including Chŏng Mongju, also contrived a cunning plan
to cause trouble. They slandered meritorious subjects, including Yi [Sŏnggye],
Cho Chun, Chŏng Tojŏn, and Nam Ŭn to Yo, who was installed to assume
the affairs of state temporarily, so that they could induce Yo to have respon-
sible offices impeach them. Outraged by their treachery, the people killed
Mongju and his cohorts. Nevertheless, Yo, who was enthroned temporarily,
continued to be unrepentant and tried to kill many innocent people. People
across the country fell into a panic as they faced uncertain dangers and
harm. They finally reached consensus that this lawless situation must not be
allowed to continue. As a result, on the twelfth day of the seventh month of
the twenty-fifth year (1392) of the reign of Hongwu, they succeeded in
obtaining an order from Consort Dowager An of King Kongmin and made
Yo retire to his private residence.
“The kingship that takes charge of military and civil affairs should not be
vacant even one day, but the right person for the kingship cannot be found
in the royal Wang family. Only Chancellor Yi [Sŏnggye] has gained the
hearts of the people by bringing benefits to them and rendering services to
the country over the years.- He was the only son of King Kongyang born of Queen Sun. King Kongyang desig-
nated him crown prince upon his inauguration.