General Introduction (Ch’ongsŏ) 7they visited him in Aldong. The friendly relationship continued even after
Ikcho succeeded Mokcho. As Ikcho’s authority and dignity grew strong, the
subordinates of various chiliarchs increasingly wanted to follow Ikcho.
Because of this, several [Jurchen] chiliarchs conspired to remove Ikcho.
They said, “Since Yi [Ikcho] is not a member of our people, and his growing
power will no doubt be a threat to all of us in days ahead, why don’t we get
rid of him and divide his property among us with the help of from the people
residing deeply hidden somewhere?”^35 Then they said to Ikcho, “We plan to
hunt in the north, so we request that our meeting be suspended for twenty
days.” Ikcho granted their request.
However, they did not return even though the fixed date had passed.
Therefore, Ikcho decided to personally visit Hyŏnsŏng to find them, but he
found no one there except women and elderly and weak men. He asked a
woman [about the people he was looking for] and she replied, “I guess they
are greedily trying to catch as much wild game as they can, so they have not
returned yet.” On the way home, Ikcho came across an old woman who car-
ried a water jar on her head and a brass bowl in her hand. Being thirsty,
Ikcho wanted to get some water from her. The old woman first cleaned the
bowl and then presented him with water. She said, “Don’t you know what is
going on? The people you look for did not go hunting but they went off to
recruit soldiers who can help them in their fight against you. They are now
supposed to be back in three days, and I don’t dare hide this from you
because I admire the dignity and virtue of your honor.”
Ikcho hurriedly returned home and ordered all his people, including his
family, to leave their place of residence. He had them put everything they
had on boats and sail down the Tumen River until they arrived at Chŏkto
Island,^36 which he designated as their meeting place. Ikcho, meanwhile,
crossed the Kayangt’an Rapids, taking his wife, Lady Son, with him. As he
looked down at Aldong after climbing a hill, he saw it filled with enemy
soldiers, and the vanguard which appeared to be over three hundred soldiers
- Initially, support from Yuan authorities enabled Yi Haengni and his father Yi Ansa
with his Korean followers to settle down in Aldong, which was originally Jurchen territory.
However, as the power and influence of the Yuan government declined throughout the region,
the Jurchens began to think about driving the Koreans from their lands. It appears that their
first target was Yi Haengni, the leader of the Korean people (Sanggak Lee, 25). “The people
residing deeply hidden somewhere” seem to refer to the Jurchens who lived scattered in the
region. - Located 40 li south of Kyŏnghŭng Strategic Prefecture.