General Introduction (Ch’ongsŏ) 59A man who came from Isŏng^125 said, “These days the fortress of Liaodong
is almost empty because its troops left to subjugate barbarians that are far
distant. Only a commander stays inside, watching the fortress. If your large
army arrives there, it can capture the fortress without fighting.” Extremely
pleased with the information, Yŏng rewarded the man with many gifts.
U prohibited the use of the regal name “Hongwu”^126 and ordered our
people to wear the clothes of Mongolia again. He always went out to
Pubyŏngnu Pavilion on the Taedong River and had Chinese barbarian music
played. Personally playing the barbarian pipe and making the entertainers
display all their skill, he enjoyed outings so much that he forgot to return to
his palace. Yŏng also went to see the king every day, leading his troops, and
joined the king in debauchery, playing the pipe, drinking, and womanizing.
Even worse, he killed people recklessly. As this happened and grew worse,
people began to complain. U sent his royal messenger to various generals
and distributed gold and silver wine cups to them.
In the fifth month, our army crossed the Yalu River to arrive at Wihwa
Island [which is located in the middle of the river], but the number of
deserters grew to the point that they practically lined the roads. Nothing
could dissuade them from running away, even though U had ordered that
desertion was punishable by beheading. The commanders of both the Left
and Right Armies submitted a memorial to the king: “Though we crossed
the Yalu River by raft, we are still facing with large rapids. The heavy rain
has flooded the river, and hundreds of soldiers drowned while crossing. The
next rapids that we are to go across are even deeper and more dangerous.
Unable to negotiate it, we decided to wait a while and are now simply using
up our provisions. Many more great rivers await us before we reach Liaodong,
and we expect to have great difficulties in the days ahead.
“A few days ago we submitted a detailed report on the difficulties we are
going through, but we have not received any instructions from you yet, and
we are very much concerned. Fully aware that it is disloyal not to report
what needs to be reported, how can we hide what is in our minds even if it
costs us our lives?
“The best way for a small country to survive is by serving the great
(sadae). Since the unification of three kingdoms, our country has served the
- An earthen fortress in Chasan County of North P’yŏngan Province. It is located 30 li
south of the county. - The regnal name of Zhu Yuanzhang (1328–1398), the founder of the Ming dynasty.