850 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
them was very close and sincere. However, he slandered them and made
them his enemies when he wanted to associate with Cho Chun.
Kim Chin, the father- in- law of U Yŏn, Tojŏn’s maternal grandfather, in
his early days became a monk and secretly committed adultery with the
wife of his slave named Sui and gave birth to a daughter, who later became
Tojŏn’s maternal grandmother. The descendants of U Hyŏnbo, being related
to Kim Chin by marriage, knew well this family history of Tojŏn. When
Tojŏn started his public career, the confirmation of his appointment hap-
pened to be delayed. Tojŏn suspected that the descendants of U Hyŏnbo had
to do with the delay of his confirmation, believing that they must have told
the authorities about his base origin. He harbored resentment and animosity
toward them for years until he rose to power. Then he at last fabricated the
crimes of the U Hyŏnbo family, instigating Hwang Kŏjŏng and others, and
killed five people, including U’s three sons and Yi Sungin. Afterward, he
conspired with Nam Ŭn and others to set up a young nothos of the king as
crown prince to wield his power, harming the members of the royal family.
When he failed in his attempt, he was put to death, along with his three sons.Nam Ŭn’s family seat was Ŭiryŏng of Chinju, and he was the son of Ŭlbŏn,
chancellor- without- portfolio. In the Kabin year (1374) during the reign of
King Kongmin, he passed the National Academy examination, and in the
Kyŏngsin year (1380) during the reign of the deposed king was appointed
superintendent of the Altar of Earth and Grain. In the Ŭlch’uk year (1385)
when Japanese marauders invaded Samch’ŏk County, the fortress, being
small, was hard to defend. Ŭn volunteered to fight the invaders. Upon
arriving in Samch’ŏk, the Japanese marauders suddenly appeared. Opening
the fortress gate, Ŭn led out ten or so mounted troops and launched a sur-
prise attack on the enemy, and the Japanese marauders ran away. After his
military feat was reported, he was recalled to court and promoted to super-
visor of the Royal Stables Court.
In the Mujin year (1388), he went to Wihwa Island, following the king,
and joined Cho Inok and others in submitting a proposal for marching the
army back home. He also secretly discussed the plan to enthrone the king
but dared not reveal it to the king out of fear because the king was solemn
and discreet. After returning from Wihwa Island, however, he secretly revealed
it to His Majesty [Yi Pangwŏn, later King T’aejong], and the latter warned
him not to tell anyone about it. In the Kisa year (1389), he was appointed
senior military protector of the Soaring Falcon Guard and, concurrently,