Book X 627
7th Day (Sinmyo)
The king paid a visit to the belfry and saw the newly made bell.
8th Day (Imjin)
The planet Venus appeared in the sky during the daytime.
9th Day (Kyesa)
Japanese marauders with sixty ships arrived at Ch’uksan Island^32 of Yŏnghae
[Strategic Military Prefecture], and their chief, named Hayashi On, sub-
mitted a letter to Governor Han Sangjil: “We intend to surrender ourselves
to your authorities. If your country grants us a corner on the border, pro-
viding provisions, we will not dare to betray you and will also prevent other
thieves from what they are doing.”
After Sangjil made a report to the king, the king gave him permission to
accept the offer from the Japanese. At that time, Ch’oe Unhae, provincial
military commissioner; Yu Yang, magistrate of Kyerim; Yun Chŏ, magis-
trate of Andong; and others established a military camp in the west of
Yŏnghae, fighting against the Japanese. They were defeated. So, when they
heard that the chief of the Japanese enemy wanted to surrender himself
by sending his man, they did not believe the offer of the surrender. Unlike
others, however, Yang alone said, “Since it is not unprecedented to receive
the surrender of the enemy, resorting to the dignity and trust one has, how
can you lose a good opportunity because of your suspicion?” Then he imme-
diately ran a horse toward the enemy.
When he had one of his men shout at them, “The magistrate of Kyerim is
here,” five leaders of the Japanese came out of their boats with hundreds of
their soldiers. They all took off their armor and bowed down, standing in a
line and awaiting orders. When Yang explained to the Japanese the advan-
tages gained by surrendering, urging them to surrender, the leaders of the
Japanese marauders were pleased and finally decided to surrender them-
selves and released all the Korean people that they held as captives.
- It is located 10 li east of Yŏnghae. The island on the sea resembled an ox, so it was
called Ch’uksan. A Chinese character ch’uk 丑 signifies ox. Yŏnghae is located in North
Kyŏngsang Province.
