46 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
Your loyalty beats the sun in its brightness,
And your bravery that cut down the enemy raises the wind.
The red bow in your hand shines with glory,
And the arrows with white feathers look fiercely intimidating.
Once you returned triumphantly, the state regained its peace.
When you mounted your horse, we knew this would happen.At the end of Koryŏ, the government lacked enlisted soldiers and let some
military commanders recruit their own troops locally and command them
under a system called p’aegi.^109 Generals Ch’oe Yŏng, Pyŏn Annyŏl, Chi
Yongsu, U Innyŏl, and others often mistreated their officers and men when
they were not satisfied with their performance. They not only cursed them
but also whipped them, and sometimes even tortured them to death. Such
mistreatment caused deep resentment among the soldiers under their
command.
T’aejo’s character was strict and reserved. When he sat down, he always
closed his eyes so that he appeared authoritative and intimidating. However,
when he met with the people, he looked kind and benevolent, mixing with
them easily. For that reason, people were eager to follow him, though they
feared him.
T’aejo was the only commanding general who treated his soldiers with
respect and dignity. So the officers and soldiers led by other generals wanted
to serve under his command.
In the seventh month of the eighth year (1382) of King U, the king
appointed T’aejo the commander-in-chief of the Northeast Region. At that
time, a Jurchen named Hubadu seized some residents of the Northeast
Region and took them away to his land. Since T’aejo’s family had governed
the Northeast for generations, enjoying the support of the people, the gov-
ernment sent him to comfort and soothe the people who had suffered from
the incursions. Earl of Hansan [Yi Saek] saw him off by composing a poem.Since Songhŏn^110 outshines his colleagues by his daring spirit,
He alone is entrusted with the great wall of ten thousand li.
How busy he has been repulsing the enemies!
When he returns, we will enjoy spring-like days of peace together.- It also means a list of soldiers in private armies.
- T’aejo’s pen name.