King Samgeun三斤王

King Samgeun (三斤王) was the eldest son of King Munju. When the king died he succeeded to the throne. He was thirteen years old, and he left the affairs of the army and of the state wholly to Haegu the jwapyeong.

In the second year, in spring, Haegu the jwapyeong gathered a crowd together with Yeonsin the eunsol, held Daeduseong and rebelled. The king ordered Jinnam the jwapyeong to attack them with two thousand troops, but he could not overcome them. He then ordered Jinno the deoksol to lead five hundred picked troops, and they struck Haegu down and killed him. Yeonsin fled to Goguryeo, and his wife and children were seized and beheaded at Ungjin.

Kim Busik comments.

By the law of the Chunqiu, when a ruler is killed and the murderer is not punished, the blame is laid deeply, and it is held that there is neither subject nor son. Haegu killed Munju, and his son Samgeun came to the throne after him, and he not only failed to put Haegu to death but also gave him the government of the country, until Haegu held one fortress and rebelled, and only then were great troops raised a second time to overcome him.

This is what is meant by treading on frost and taking no warning until hard ice comes, and by not putting out a small flicker until it blazes up. What brings such things about comes on little by little. Even when Xianzong of Tang was killed, his murderer was barely put to death after three reigns had passed. How much more in a rough and out-of-the-way corner by the sea, with a child like Samgeun — what is there to say of it?

In the third month, on the first day, a giyu day, the sun was eclipsed.

In the third year, in spring and in summer, there was a great drought. In autumn, the ninth month, Daeduseong was moved to Dugok. In winter, the eleventh month, the king died.