Book XIV 777himself in this way, and his sincerity was able to impress Heaven so that it
finally allowed rain and the people did not have to suffer damage.
“As we prostrate ourselves and recall, since Your Majesty rose to the throne,
there have been construction projects every year, and the people have had
no time to rest. Concerned about this problem, Your Majesty released the
people from these projects except the professional artisans (kongjang),
unemployed people, and Buddhist monks, whom you had employed after
providing supplies. Nevertheless, the number of people working at various
places still numbered in the thousands. Since they have been working hard
for several years, separated from their wives and children and leaving their
parents behind, how can they not be resentful?
“People say, ‘One must not worry about trivial complaints and petty
abuses if he wants to lay down a foundation for thousands of generations.’
In our opinions, however, such a foundation cannot be established all at
once. Fortunately, since the royal palace is now completed and the city walls
already constructed, it would not be too late if you were to take a few years
break before you continue the construction work.
“We request that Your Majesty, revering the anger of Heaven and emu-
lating the heart of King Tang, stop all the current construction work and
return the workers to their homes to look after their families. Then their com-
plaints and resentments will cease, and peace and harmony will be restored.
“We urge you to abolish the [current] Directorate for the Palace Con-
struction (Kunggwŏl chosŏng togam) and replace it with the Directorate for
Palace Maintenance (Sŏn’gonggam) so that the latter can be responsible for
palace construction as it used to and give people a break for a while.”
The king ordered that those recruited as substitutes for runaway monks
and the 27 monks with wives and children as well as 545 unskilled artisans
be released.
The government had the administrators (p’an’gwan) of Namwŏn and
Kwangju removed.
5th Day (Sinhae)
Paying a visit to the South Gate of the royal palace, the king watched an
organized stone fight. Military Commissioner Cho On led the stone-
throwing battalion, and Yi Kŭn, director of the Security Council, com-
manded officers of various guard units. Positioning themselves on the left