Book I 129
“The ones who committed crimes before the twenty-eighth of the seventh
month of the twenty-fifth year (1392) of the reign of Hongwu, regardless of
whether their crimes were discovered, shall be all pardoned except those
who committed crimes subject to the death penalty.”
This royal decree was drafted by Chŏng Tojŏn. Because Tojŏn had har-
bored personal resentment against U Hyŏnbo for many years, he had tried
every possible means to ruin his family, without much success. Around this
time, after making an extensive list of proposals, he finally found a chance
to destroy him by including his name on the list of ten people who were to
be punished by death.
The king ordered Royal Secretary An Kyŏnggong to read the royal decree.
While listening to it, he was surprised and said, “How can the crimes of
these people deserve the death penalty? I will not allow any further discus-
sion on it.”
Tojŏn and others again requested that the king punish them by lowering
the grade of their crimes. The king replied, “Even if the crimes of the Count
of Hansan [Yi Saek], U Hyŏnbo, and Sŏl Changsu are reduced to the lower
grade, they shall not be punished physically. Do not bring this matter up
anymore.” Tojŏn and others again requested that the king physically punish
the remaining people. This time the king did not disallow their idea because
he believed that those who suffered the penalty of being beaten with a heavy
paddle would not die.
The official ranks for all civil and military officials became established as
follows. The civil officials (tongban): Rank 1a: specially appointed bulwark
grand master for splendid happiness (t’ŭkchin poguk sungnok taebu) and bul-
wark grand master for state affairs (poguk sungjŏng taebu). Rank 1b: grand
master for splendid happiness (sungnok taebu) and grand master for state
affairs (sungjŏng taebu). Rank 2a: grand master for illustrious government
(chŏnghŏn taebu) and grand master for assisting toward fundamental laws
(chahŏn taebu). Rank 2b: grand master for supporting tranquility (kajŏng
taebu) and grand master for supporting probity (kasŏn taebu). Rank 3a:
grand master for government overall (t’ongjŏng taebu) and grand master for
of King Kongyang and rose to minister of punishments. Working together with Chŏng Mongju
and Yi Saek, he tried to stabilize state affairs in crisis. After Koryŏ collapsed, he retired to
Tumundong, where the old officials loyal to Koryŏ lived.
- Chŏng Hŭi (?): a disciple of Chŏng Mongju. He served as second and third inspector.
He impeached Cho Chun and Chŏng Tojŏn and was exiled.
