Book VII 481
Tojŏn reported the matter to the king after discussions with the chancel-
lors. He said, “The best thing to do is not to dispatch officials to the prov-
inces and instead let the local officials carry out the head count of the
military personnel.” The king followed the advice.
Yi Mindo, Lord of Sangsan, died. Mindo was a native of Hejian, China, and
the son of Gongshu, area commander chief of Qingyuan Route of the Yuan
dynasty. After his father died while on duty, he was appointed associate
prefect of Zhuozhou. However, the Yuan government was in disarray at that
time. So he stayed with his mother’s family in Mingzhou. When Sŏng
Tŭkchun, envoy of the previous dynasty, returned home after visiting the
domain of Zhang Shicheng,^23 Mindo asked to accompany him and came to
Koryŏ. He gained a reputation for his skill in medicine and fortune- telling,
often producing good results. Consequently, he was appointed vice super-
visor of the Astronomical and Meteorological Observatory and supervisor of
the Palace Medical Office. Afterwards, he rose to the rank of prefect of
Chahye Special Prefecture while concurrently serving as director of the
Palace Medical Office. When the king [T’aejo] was staying at his private
home out of public view, Mindo explained to him the dynastic changes
throughout history, secretly wishing to recommend that T’aejo be seated on
the throne. After the king ascended the throne, he joined the file of merit
subjects and rose to the rank of discussant of the Security Council. Since the
family seat of his wife was Sangju, he was enfeoffed as Lord of Sangsan. He
died at the age of sixty, and the king posthumously promoted him to assistant
chancellor and granted the title of Chikhŏn. He had a son named Chin.
Ch’a Chun, navy myriarch of Kyŏnnaeryang,^24 Kyŏngsang Province, cap-
tured two [invading] Japanese vessels.
12th Day (Ŭlsa)
The king dispatched a royal messenger to bestow wine and colorful silk on
Ch’a Chun. He also bestowed the same amount of wine and silk on An
- Zhang Shicheng (1321–1367) was a leader of the Red Turban Rebellion in the late Yuan.
He expanded his domain significantly by 1363 and declared himself the king of Wu. He was a
main rival of Zhu Yuanzhang, later founder of the Ming, who started an uprising from Nanjing.
- A narrow strait located in modern Kŏje City. It leads to Hansan Island, where the naval
Battle of Hansan Island took place during the Japanese invasion of Korea in the late 16th
c e n t u r y.
