Book VI 445exile, and Yi Inim and Cho Minsu,^79 who had been placed in confinement,
were all pardoned and received back their letters of appointment from the
government.
The king dispatched Ch’oe Yongso,^80 former minister of works, to Japan
and let the Privy Council send a letter to Minamoto Ryōshun, governor of
Kyushu. The letter was as follows:
“Cho Chun, chancellor of Chosŏn, and others reply to the letter of
Honorable Governor Minamoto. Our envoys brought your letter, and we are
pleased to find that you are well.
“We are extremely grateful that you sent back seven hundred of our people
who had been taken away to your country. We are also very pleased to hear
that you will send more Korean people in the future when you gradually
gather them together. Furthermore, you will crack down on Japanese marauders
so that there might be no permanent rift between the two countries. As you
are serious about improving our relationship, we are delighted and gratified.
“Our navy commanders have recently captured Japanese marauders on a
number of occasions and decided to send more battleships to seize their
remnants. The general opinion in the court was to approve the idea, but our
government stopped short of taking further action after receiving your
letter. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the wicked pirates were suppressed and
the worries on the borders removed by tightening control of them, as you
mentioned in your letter?
“We are also grateful for your precious gifts. So we are sending Ch’oe
Yongso, former minister of works, to express our gratitude and offer
some of our local products to Your Excellency. We would be happy if you
accepted them.”
12th Day (Muin)
A rainbow appeared in the west.- According to the Encyclopaedia of Historical Figures of Korea (Han’guk minjok tae-
baekkwa), Yi Inim and Cho Minsu died in 1388 and 1390, respectively. However, this state-
ment in the Annals of King T’aejo contradicts the time of their death. - Ch’oe Yongso (?–1422): an official of late Koryŏ and early Chosŏn. After returning
from Japan, he served as discussant of the Security Council and governor of Kangwŏn
Province. Being implicated in the conspiracy of Prince Panggan during the Second Strife of
Princes in 1400, he was briefly imprisoned but released by T’aejong when the latter ascended
the throne. Later, he served as minister of works and visited Ming China as envoy to extend
congratulations on the New Year.