180 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
“Since military affairs are an important priority of the government, the
office that seizes control of the army and the office that commands the army
have existed separately. Military commissioners of various provinces these
days directly dispatch official notices to local governments and recruit navy
soldiers, army soldiers, and miscellaneous labor forces to meet their needs
and send them to Hanyang. If the Japanese suddenly invade the coast, who
will fight them?
“Hence, we request that the military commissioners of various provinces
be allowed to recruit soldiers after reporting to the Privy Council and obtain-
ing royal permission. The current practice of recruiting soldiers should be
strictly prohibited, and if anyone violates this injunction, please let the Office
of the Inspector-General conduct investigations concerning it.”The king held a banquet for the wives of dynasty-founding merit subjects in
the quarters of Consort Hyŏn.^2423rd Day (Sinch’uk)
The king had the morning audience suspended because it was the anniver-
sary of [his former wife] Consort Chŏl’s death.^2524th Day (Imin)
Pae Kŭngnyŏm, Cho Chun, and others, officials of the Privy Council, made
twenty-two proposals in a memorial to the king.
“1. School is the foundation of enlightening the people, and agriculture
and sericulture are the source of food and clothing. We should foster men of
talent by building schools and promote the livelihood of the people.
“1. In evaluating the job performance of magistrates, such things as how
well they managed the land and how much the resident population increased
should be given foremost priority.
“1. When a magistrate is replaced by a new one, laxity of discipline can
take place in his performance. From now on, the magistrate should be
required to depart for the place of his appointment after completing the
transfer of duties.- T’aejo’s second wife, Queen Sindŏk.
- Queen Sinŭi (1337–1391 AD): T’aejo’s first wife and the mother of five princes,
including Yi Pangwŏn (later King T’aejong).