Book XIV 793
and wheat crops suffered losses. Right now, hungry people are crying for
food. Unable to fill their stomachs, how can they expect to find seed for their
autumn plowing? And that being so, how can you collect the so- called pay-
ment in advance?
“Nothing would benefit the people more than your forgiving them of all
their taxes and thereby allowing them a chance to recover. And no famine
relief would be more urgently needed than that. Since the magistrate is sup-
posed to share the burden of worries about the state with his sovereign, I
cannot keep quiet about what I have seen. So I dare to make this request at
the risk of my life, sincerely hoping that it will be conveyed to the highest
authorities and implemented.” When the governor sent this petition to the
Privy Council, the Privy Council, finding it reasonable, in turn reported it
to the king and reduced the taxes of various provinces.
The governor of Kyŏngsang Province requested famine relief to save
starving people, and Left Chancellor Cho Chun and others spoke to the
king: “There are so many starving people in every province, and if we try
to save all of them, there will be nothing left in the government warehouses.
What shall we do?” The king replied, “Provide relief as long as reserve
grain is left in the warehouse.”
7th Day (Imo)
There was rain.
A private slave named Omadae is beheaded for beating his father.
9th Day (Kapsin)
There was rain.
The king paid a visit to the West River to watch twenty grain ships arrive
from Kyŏngsang Province.
10th Day (Ŭlyu)
There was rain.
A water clock was installed in the belfry.