36 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
Ch’ŏn’gye was none other than Yaozhu [the grandson of Tojo, the founder of
T’aejo’s royal family].
In the third month of the third year (1377) of King U, Japanese marauders
invaded the Kanghwa Prefecture, throwing the capital into turmoil. The
king ordered eleven marshals, including T’aejo and Hwang Sang, Lord of
Ŭich’ang, to go down to the West River and demonstrate the majesty of our
military power.
In the fifth month [of the third year of King U], U Innyŏl, the military
commander of Kyŏngsang Province sent an urgent dispatch: “Our scouts
report that many Japanese ships are moving to our shore, covering the sea
stretching from Tsushima. They are so numerous that their masts can almost
touch one another. Please send us a general who can help us fight.”
Since Japanese marauders at that time could show up anywhere in the
country, the king ordered T’aejo to go out and repulse them. Though T’aejo
and his troops marched at full speed, it took time for them to get to the
besieged area, and the people who waited for them were in terror. Under the
circumstances, the urgent reports dispatched by Inyŏl kept coming in. T’aejo
redoubled his speed day and night and finally reached the base of Mt. Chiri,
where the enemy forces were massed.
T’aejo faced the enemy from a distance of about two hundred paces. One
of the enemy soldiers tried to insult him, baring his buttocks and slapping
it. Since it was a sign that the enemy was not afraid [of our forces], T’aejo
quickly shot an arrow that killed the man, shocking the enemy and badly
shaking their morale. He immediately attacked the Japanese invaders and
crushed them. The enemy scrambled up the steep mountain and got stuck
on a cliff. Unable to retreat any further, the enemy confronted T’aejo’s
troops squarely, holding out their swords and spears, which looked like the
spines on the back of hedgehogs. So our government troops could not climb
any further.
T’aejo ordered his officers to advance, leading the soldiers, but they
returned and reported, “The rocks are too tall and steep for our horses to
climb up.” T’aejo reproached them and this time ordered his eldest son [later
King Chŏngjong] to lead the assault on the Japanese, providing him with
brave soldiers. His son also called off his advance and returned to report
basically what the other officers had already said.
T’aejo said, “Let me find out personally if that is true.” A moment later,
he also said to his troops, “If my horse climbs up first, make sure that you
follow after me right away.” Whipping the horse, he galloped up the rise to