Book XIII 757
Chŏng Tojŏn, chief pacification and surveillance commissioner of the North -
east Region, and Yi Chiran, provincial military commander, returned to
court after completing their mission. Bestowing on each a saddled horse,
the king held a banquet for them. The king said to Tojŏn, “The service that
you have rendered is greater than that of Yun Kwan. What Yun Kwan did
was only constructing Nine Forts [in occupied areas] and setting up some
memorial stones. You, however, fixed the boundaries of all the districts and
post roads as well as the titles and ranks of the local officials and, conse-
quently, made Sakbang Province [Hamgyŏng Province] no different from
any other province. Your service, therefore, is hardly insignificant.”
The king also said to Nam Ŭn, Lord of Ŭisŏng, “Though honest advice is
unpleasant to the ears, it is profitable for good conduct. So I want you min-
isters to speak out without hesitation.” Then he said to Yi Munhwa, chief
royal secretary, “The words unpleasant to the ears usually come from the
Censorate. However, since I am impatient by nature, I often fail to show my
tolerance. As you alone are beside me, dare to speak out with no fear.”
Ŭn came forward and said, “If Your Majesty were not in control of the
army before your enthronement, how would you be able to have a day such
as today? I, too, would not have been able to be here with you today. At the
time when the dynasty was newly founded, you had various merit subjects
take control of militia units, which was understandable under the circum-
stances. Years have passed since then, and the time has finally arrived to
abolish the provincial military commissioner system. If you bring those
militia units together to form a regular army, it will be much safer.” The
king said, “Who says that Nam Ŭn is not realistic? His remarks should be
kept in mind for a long time.”
The Office of the Inspector-General impeached Song Kyŏl, third inspector.
Kyŏl was mean and ignorant. Sitting in the main office, he ordered a junior
official to bring the stirrups of a newly made saddle. Laying the stirrups on
the table, he showed them to the bailiff on duty (ch’amdae kamch’al) and
asked, “How do you like the stirrups?” Bailiff Cho Kyesaeng spoke to his
colleagues about Kyŏl’s behavior and did not go out to greet him when Kyŏl
came to work at the Office of the Inspector-General.
21st Day (Mujin)
After leaving the hot springs, the king arrived at Ch’ŏnsin Monastery.