Book IX 589
returned [from China]. The government made them settle down in two dis-
tricts, Ch’ungju and Ch’ŏngju, providing them with land, housing, food,
and clothing.
The king paid a visit to the downtown section to see the newly made bell.
He ordered the people to ring the bell four or five times to test out its sound,
and the bell cracked. He told them to cast another one.
5th Day (Sinmyo)
The Privy Council requested that all the eunuchs, regardless of their rank,
be required to wear official uniforms when they greeted Chinese envoys.
Cho Sun dissuaded the king from granting the request.
9th Day (Ŭlmi)
Both men and women were prohibited from wearing yellow robes and using
costly trappings for their horses.
The Board of Punishments punished the two slaves of Yu Wŏnjong with one
hundred strokes of the paddle and three years of hard labor for making false
accusations.
11th Day (Chŏngyu)
Chinese envoy Niu Niu, assistant director of the Seals Office (Shangbaosi),
and palace attendants, including Wang Li, Song Boluo, and Yang Tiemuer,
arrived. The king greeted them, leading out all officials as far as Pansongjŏng
Pavilion. Arriving at the Hall of Diligent Government of Kyŏngbok Palace,
the Chinese envoys delivered the imperial message they brought. The mes-
sage read: “Since all the eunuchs who came from your country are free to
stroll and look around the imperial palace as they please, the eunuchs we are
sending to you should be allowed to enjoy the same privilege to see your
royal palace as much as they want. Then it will be convenient for us to
become a family through marriage in the days ahead.”
The Chinese envoys also delivered an official letter from the Chinese
Ministry of Rites, and it read as follows:
“Men Kexin, minister of rites, along with other officials, received an
instruction from the emperor: ‘Last time I told Yi So- and- so [T’aejo] to
send us the ones who drafted the controversial memorials congratulating