822 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
had had drinks at the house of Kim Chungsŏng, who was newly appointed
as bailiff. On their way home, they passed by the house of Cho Chun, and
Pu said, “Though he built such a large house, how long can he live there? It
will certainly fall to somebody’s lot in the days to come.” Chŏn conveyed
Pu’s remarks to Yangsu, and Yangsu in turn to Kim Pun. Since Pun was a
disciple of Chun, he informed Chun of Pu’s remarks.
When Chun finally made a report to the king of Pu’s remark, the king
became furious and said, “Chun is one of the most outstanding dynasty-
founding merit subjects who will be with the nation, whether in joy or
sorrow. To say that Chun’s fortune will not last long is to say that the fortune
of the Chosŏn dynasty is short- lived.” Then he immediately gave orders to
behead Pu.
Someone recommended that Chun ask the king to spare Pu’s life; how-
ever, Chun was hesitant and took time to visit the palace. Pu was executed
in the meantime, and the efforts to save Pu’s life also ceased. After this,
people regarded Chun as a heartless person because he did not hurry to visit
the palace and ask the king to save Pu’s life. Chŏn and Yangsu were pun-
ished differently for failing to report directly to the authorities, and eighteen
bailiffs, who were at the party, were dismissed from office for having drinks
with Pu.
The king said to Yi Munhwa, chief royal secretary: “Last time when
Chŏn Si uttered reckless words, I supposed there must have been a leader,
but the interrogator was unable to find him out, which was disgusting. So I
said to forgive them all. Now, Kim Pun made a report of another case of
reckless words that were spoken by Kim Pu this time, so Kim Pun certainly
deserves to be awarded a promotion.”
Earlier, Nam Ŭn and Chŏng Tojŏn had gotten together and talked about
the idea of attacking Liaodong, and Ŭn secretly said to the king, “Cho Chun
and Kim Sahyŏng always chose to be different in their opinions.” Incidentally,
Chŏn Si was arrested for making critical remarks related to the royal tomb
of the king’s grandmother, and during the ensuing investigation, the names
of Yu Wŏnjŏng, Cho Hwa, and Sin Hyoch’ang were mentioned. Wŏnjŏng
was close to Chun, Cho Hwa was Chun’s nephew, and Hyoch’ang was the
son- in- law of Kim Sahyŏng. Hence, Nam Ŭn tried to further implicate the
above three men in the incident by torturing Si, but the latter had nothing to
say about them. Since Ŭn was a man dearly trusted by the king, the king did
not punish him.