General Introduction (Ch’ongsŏ) 47
Since the survival of the state is now at stake,
May you spearhead attacks like a god of war!
Since we have served two kings together, nurturing our friendship,
Let me see you off by composing these few words.In the eight month of the ninth year (1383) of Sin U, Hubadu invaded Tanju
(Tanch’ŏn)^111 once again. Jintongbuhua,^112 vice myriarch [of Tanju], was in
collusion with the enemy and pretended to have been captured by them,
taking all his properties with him. Yuk Yŏ, senior myriarch [of Tanju];
Hwang his Hŭisŏk, senior myriarch of Ch’ŏngju; and others fought against
the invaders, but they were all defeated.
At that time, Yi Turan was in mourning for his mother and stayed in
Ch’ŏngju. T’aejo summoned Turan through a messenger. In his message to
Turan, T’aejo said, “When state affairs are urgent, you cannot stay home wear-
ing mourning clothes. I want you to change your clothes and follow me.”
Turan took off his mourning clothes and spoke to Heaven, bowing and cry-
ing. Then he immediately followed T’aejo, carrying his bows and arrows.
T’aejo’s army ran into Hubadu’s in the plain of Kilchu, and Turan spear-
headed the attack against Hubadu. Turan, however, was utterly routed and
retreated. When T’aejo arrived on the scene a little later, Hubadu was
waiting for him astride a black mare. He wore three layers of heavy armor
and a mantle of red fur. Underrating T’aejo and his ability, he first galloped
toward T’aejo, brandishing his sword and leaving his troops behind. T’aejo
also galloped up on horseback toward his opponent. They struck at each
other, but their swords only flashed in the air as they missed their targets.
Before Hubadu remounted, T’aejo, who was on horseback, wheeled
around and shot him in the back with an arrow. But the armor worn by
Hubadu was too thick to penetrate. So T’aejo shot his horse with an arrow,
and as his horse fell down, Hubadu also fell to the ground. The moment
T’aejo tried to shoot another arrow at him, a number of Hubadu’s soldiers
rushed to his rescue and carried him away. By that time, T’aejo’s soldiers
had also arrived. Leading his troops, T’aejo struck down the fleeing enemy,
and Hubadu barely escaped.
After the military campaign was over, T’aejo submitted to the king a
proposal to secure our borders:
- Located in South Hamgyŏng Province.
- A Jurchen chief who invaded Chosŏn.