Book VIII 549
“Since the king is sitting deep in the heart of the palace, it is impossible
for him to know every little thing. Hence, he must visit the people and ask
them for their opinions if he wants to know what is good or bad. Then he
will have no problem in understanding the situation of the people and will
not make mistakes in governing them. The reason our dynasty made it a
rule to hold a morning audience six times a month was not only for having
a meeting between the king and his officials, but also for discussing state
affairs.
“Since Your Majesty meets with your ministers every day and discusses
the ways of governing the state, there is no doubt that you are carrying out
state affairs as you should. Nevertheless, how can it possibly be conveyed to
Your Majesty in detail what is happening to numerous officials as well as
the common people, including their successes, failures, sufferings, and so
forth? We request that, when the morning audience is over, Your Majesty go
into the main audience hall and sit on the throne. Then you let your minis-
ters and officials speak out about what is in their minds and listen to them
patiently. If you accept their opinions generously and put them into prac-
tice, there will be communication between the king on top and the people
down below.
“Since the magistrates of local districts directly deal with the common
people, they know well what is profitable or not, or good or bad [for the
people], but their knowledge and experience cannot reach Your Majesty
because they stay far away from you. We request that all the local magis-
trates, hereafter, be required to submit a written report to Your Majesty
regarding what the people like or dislike, or whether or not certain public
policies are working, or which measures are to be implemented or elimi-
nated for the people. Then the real situation of the people can be conveyed
to you without interruption.”
The king said, “Since I discuss the state affairs with grand councilors
every day, it is not necessary for me to see ordinary officials personally. In
the case of local magistrates, let them submit their reports to me.”
Pak Sin, chief of the Criminal Administration Bureau of the Board of Pun-
ishments, and others submitted a memorial to the king: “We have heard that
a ruler who inherits the throne in a time of peace should govern the state in
the same way as his predecessors, and a ruler who inherits the throne in a
time of trouble should change the way of his predecessors in governing the
state. This refers to the case of the sage emperors of the Three Dynasties,