Book XIV 785shepherd; Yi Tŭkhang, assistant magistrate of Kyŏnghŭng Prefecture, to
Ongjin; and Kim Yŏnu, manifestly expedient general, was imprisoned in
the Capital Constabulary Prison.
Yi Ŭng and others were the men who followed the king from the days
prior to his enthronement. Returning to the Northeast Region after bidding
farewell, Ŭng forcibly seized post- horses and acted violently at the post sta-
tion. Nevertheless, his colleagues, including Kim Yongsam, did not stop him.
Having heard of it, the king ordered the officers of the Capital Constabulary
to immediately run after them and arrest them. He had them thrown into jail
and each exiled later to distant districts.
Sŏn Yunji, post- station master (chŏngyŏksa) of Right Kyŏnggi Province,
and Chŏn Tŭkkyŏng, post- station clerk of Ŭn’gye,^10 were beaten with a
paddle for providing horses to those who had no permits for using them.
16th Day (Imsul)
The king ordered the Two Departments to report the good and bad in the
administration as well as the benefits and abuses against the people.The pine trees on the guardian mountains [of Hansŏng] withered and died,
while frost fell during the summer. As a result, the king sent Yi Munhwa,
chief royal secretary, to relay his orders to the Privy Council: “Let the for-
tress construction supervisors of the capital who were dismissed or sent away
to the provinces previously all be pardoned of their offenses. Pardon should
also be extended to Kim Sŏ. Have him report back to his original post after
due punishment. As for the officials who were driven out to the provinces,
submit a detailed report on their mistakes and their seriousness.”
Receiving the royal instruction, the Privy Council spoke to the king
through a memorial: “Since Your Majesty has already shown fear and regret,
you had also better inquire about the good and bad in the administration as
well as the benefits and abuses against people.” The king followed the advice.The king ordered all (literally a hundred) officials and retired senior offi-
cials to gather in the court and discuss the matter of sending away the three
officials, including Kong Pu, to the Ming capital. The majority said that
they had no choice but to send them, and only ten officials or so, including- Located in Hoeyang, Kangwŏn Province.