General Introduction (Ch’ongsŏ) 63way by removing vehicles piled on the roads. The elderly and the young
climbed the hill to watch the army, shouting and jumping for joy.
Cho Minsu’s army had a large black banner, and T’aejo’s a large yellow
banner. Minsu’s black banner reached Yŏngŭisŏ Bridge, but his army suf-
fered defeat by Ch’oe Yŏng’s army. A little later, however, the yellow banner
of T’aejo’s army appeared on top of South Mountain after crossing Sŏnjuk
Bridge.
An So, a general under Ch’oe Yŏng’s command, initially captured South
Mountain with his veteran soldiers. However, he fled the moment he saw
T’aejo’s yellow banner.
T’aejo’s army finally climbed the hill north of Ambang Monastery and
briefly sounded the conch shell. A trumpet was the normal instrument used
when armies announced their arrival in those days, but T’aejo always had
the conch used for his troops. The capital residents knew by the distinctive
sound of the conch that it was T’aejo’s army.
T’aejo’s troops quickly and utterly surrounded the royal garden. King U,
Consort Yŏng, and Ch’oe Yŏng were in Octagon Hall (P’algakchŏn), and
three or four officers including Kwak Ch’ungbo went into the Hall and
searched out Yŏng. As U bade farewell, sobbing and holding the hands of
Yŏng, the latter bowed down to the king twice and finally came out, fol-
lowing Ch’ungbo.
T’aejo said to Yŏng, “It was not my intention to bring about this distur-
bance. It was inevitable because you not only acted against a great cause but
also threw the country and the people into crises and troubles until their
complaints and resentment reached Heaven. Farewell, farewell.” They both
cried, looking at each other. In the end, T’aejo banished Yŏng to the district
of Kobong [Koyang].^128
Much earlier, Chancellor Yi Inim said, “Yi [Yi Sŏnggye], director of the
State Finance Commission will become the king.” Though Yŏng was angry
when he heard those words, he did not dare mention them. Now he lamented,
“Inim’s words, indeed, have turned out to be true.”
Two commanders-in-chief and thirty-six commanders went to the royal
palace and expressed their gratitude by bowing to the king. Yi Saek, Lord
of Hansan, called upon T’aejo with retired ministers and grand councilors
of the Chancellery and the Security Council. T’aejo spoke with Saek for
some time and gave orders for withdrawing his troops from the royal palace.
- Located in Koyang County, Kyŏnggi Province.