504 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
23rd Day (Ŭlyu)
Pak Hŏn, chief clerk of the Security Council, submitted a proposal to the
Privy Council that every standby troop (ikkun) of the Northwest Region be
trained again and chiliarchs appointed to lead them; also about changing the
prebendal system (chirokche) and such things as prohibiting falcon hunting.
The Privy Council reported the proposal to the king.26th Day (Muja)
Kim Yŏngsu, former vice commandant, was beheaded. Yŏngsu sent an anon-
ymous letter to An Kyŏngnyang, provincial military commissioner, with
the intention of slandering Ch’oe Yunji, chief patrolling pacification com-
missioner of the Northwest Region. In his letter, Yŏngsu said, “Yunji and
his son, being ambitious, are conspiring to commit treason.” So Kyŏngnyang
had Yŏngsu arrested and taken to the capital after binding him with shackles.
The king had Yŏngsu locked in the Capital Constabulary Prison and inter-
rogated. Then he summoned Yunji and told him about the accusation brought
against him. Utterly devastated, Yunji requested that he and his accuser be
cross- examined. The king said, “You and I are officially king and subject,
but father and son in terms of affection. Even if you are accused, how can I
suspect you?” Then the king immediately ordered the office responsible to
execute Yŏngsu and have his corpse on display.28th Day (Kyŏngin)
The Office of the Inspector-General impeached General Kim U, who had
abandoned his lawful wife to have his concubine take her place. It also
impeached Pyŏn Ong, former magistrate of Yean, for recklessly acquiring
rank land through cheating. The king ordered U to be fired and Ong exiled
to a distant district.The king bestowed wine and food upon supervisory officials and workers
engaged in the construction of the royal palace.The Office of the Inspector-General spoke to the king: “We request that here-
after all officials, regardless of whether they are incumbents or sinecure hold-
ers, be required to observe three years’ mourning for parents, setting up their
family shrines. The burial after three days and cremation should be prohib-
ited, and burial should take place three or two months after death.” The king
had the Privy Council discuss the matter and submit a report to him.