King Mu武王

King Mu (武王), whose name was Jang (璋), was the son of King Beop. His bearing and his carriage were outstanding and bold, and his will and his spirit were those of a man of great parts. In the year after King Beop ascended the throne the king died, and his son succeeded to the throne.

In the third year, in autumn, the eighth month, the king sent out troops and surrounded Amaksanseong of Silla. Jinpyeong, the king of Silla, sent several thousand picked horsemen to hold them off in battle, and the Baekje troops got no advantage and came back.

Silla built the four fortresses of Sota, Oeseok, Cheonsan and Ongjam and raided and pressed hard upon the land of Baekje. The king was angry, and he commanded Haesu the jwapyeong to lead forty thousand foot and horse and go forward and attack those four fortresses. Geonpum and Mueun, generals of Silla, led their men and held them off in battle. Haesu got no advantage, and he drew his troops back into the great marsh west of Cheonsan and hid soldiers there and waited.

Mueun rode on the strength of his victory and led a thousand armored men and came in pursuit as far as the great marsh, and the hidden soldiers rose up and struck them hard. Mueun fell from his horse, and his soldiers were startled and did not know what to do.

Gwisan, the son of Mueun, cried out in a loud voice. "I once received this teaching from my master, 'When a man goes out to war, there must be no drawing back.' How should I dare to run and draw back and let my master's teaching fall?" He gave his horse to his father, and at once, together with Chuhang the junior general, he swung his spear and fought with all his strength and died.

The soldiers that were left saw this and roused themselves the more, and the Baekje army was beaten, and Haesu barely got away and came back alone on horseback.

In the sixth year, in spring, the second month, Gaksanseong was built. In autumn, the eighth month, Silla raided the eastern border.

In the seventh year, in spring, the third month, a rain of earth fell on the royal capital and the day was dark. In summer, the fourth month, there was a great drought and the year was one of famine.

In the eighth year, in spring, the third month, Yeon Munjin the hansol was sent to enter Sui and bring tribute. Wang Hyorin the jwapyeong was also sent to enter and offer tribute, and with it to ask that Goguryeo be attacked. Emperor Yang allowed it, and had him spy out the movements of Goguryeo.

In summer, the fifth month, Goguryeo came and attacked Songsanseong but could not bring it down, and moved on and fell upon Seokduseong, and took captive three thousand men and women and went back.

In the ninth year, in spring, the third month, an envoy was sent to enter Sui and bring tribute. Pei Qing of Sui, gentleman of the forest of letters, went as envoy to the country of Wa and passed along the southern road of Baekje.

In the twelfth year, in spring, the second month, an envoy was sent to enter Sui and bring tribute. Emperor Yang of Sui was about to campaign against Goguryeo, and the king had Guk Jimo enter and ask the date of the campaign. The emperor was pleased and gave him rich rewards, and he sent Xi Lü, gentleman of the works bureau of the department of state affairs, to take counsel with the king.

In autumn, the eighth month, Jeogamseong was built. In winter, the tenth month, Gajamseong of Silla was surrounded, and Chandeok the lord of the fortress was killed, and that fortress was wiped out.

In the thirteenth year the six armies of Sui crossed the Liao, and the king set his troops in strict array on the border and gave it out that he was helping Sui, but in truth he held to both ends. In summer, the fourth month, lightning struck the southern gate of the palace. In the fifth month there was a great flood, and the houses of the people were washed away and sunk.

In the seventeenth year, in winter, the tenth month, Jakgi the dalsol was commanded to lead eight thousand troops and attack Mosanseong of Silla. In the eleventh month the earth shook in the royal capital.

In the nineteenth year Byeonpum and others, generals of Silla, came and attacked Gajamseong and took it back, and Haeron fell in the fighting.

In the twenty-second year, in winter, the tenth month, an envoy was sent to enter Tang and presented a gwaha horse.

In the twenty-fourth year, in autumn, troops were sent to raid Neukno county of Silla.

In the twenty-fifth year, in spring, the first month, a great minister was sent to enter Tang and bring tribute. Gaozu thought well of his loyal earnestness, and he sent an envoy and invested him as Prince of the Commandery of Daebang and King of Baekje. In autumn, the seventh month, an envoy was sent to enter Tang and bring tribute. In winter, the tenth month, the six fortresses of Sokham, Aengjam, Gijam, Bongjam, Gihyeon and Yongchaek of Silla were attacked and taken.

In the twenty-sixth year, in winter, the eleventh month, an envoy was sent to enter Tang and bring tribute.

In the twenty-seventh year an envoy was sent to enter Tang and presented myeonggwang armor, and with it he made complaint that Goguryeo blocked the road and would not let them come and pay court to the great country. Gaozu sent Zhu Zishe, gentleman attendant of the mounted escort, and by edict he admonished Baekje and Goguryeo and settled their grudge.

In autumn, the eighth month, troops were sent and attacked Jujaeseong of Silla, and Dongso the lord of the fortress was seized and killed. In winter, the twelfth month, an envoy was sent to enter Tang and bring tribute.

In the twenty-eighth year, in autumn, the seventh month, the king commanded Sageol the general to take two fortresses on the western border of Silla and to carry off more than three hundred men and women.

The king wished to take back the land that Silla had raided and seized, and he raised troops in great force and went out and camped at Ungjin. Jinpyeong, the king of Silla, heard of it and sent an envoy to tell Tang of the danger. The king heard this and thereupon stopped.

In autumn, the eighth month, the king's nephew Boksin was sent to enter Tang and bring tribute, and Taizong said that Baekje and Silla had been enemies for generations and had raided and struck each other many times, and he gave the king a letter under the seal and said.

"The king has been lord of his land for generations and has held and comforted the eastern frontier. The corner of the sea is far and wide, and wind and wave are hard and barred, yet his loyalty and earnestness are utter, and the tribute of his office has come one upon another. I think upon his fair purpose, and I am much gladdened and comforted.

I have humbly received the command of favor and have come to reign over all the regions, and I think to widen the straight way and to love and nourish the people, so that wherever boat and cart pass and wherever wind and rain reach, each may fulfill its nature and all be brought to peace.

Kim Jinpyeong, the king of Silla, is my frontier subject and the king's neighbor country, yet I hear always that he sends out troops and does not cease to campaign and strike. He trusts in arms and takes ease in cruelty, and this goes much against what I had hoped. I have already faced the king's nephew Boksin and the envoys of Goguryeo and Silla, and I have told them all by command to be at peace, and I have granted that all be in accord. The king must forget that former grievance and know my true mind, and make the feeling of neighbors thick between you, and stop the fighting at once."

For this the king sent an envoy and offered up a memorial of thanks. Though outwardly he spoke of following the command, inwardly he was in truth at enmity as before.

In the twenty-ninth year, in spring, the second month, troops were sent and attacked Gajamseong of Silla, but they did not win it and came back.

In the thirtieth year, in autumn, the ninth month, an envoy was sent to enter Tang and bring tribute.

In the thirty-first year, in spring, the second month, the palace of Sabi was made over. The king went to Ungjinseong. In summer there was a drought, and the work at Sabi was stopped. In autumn, the seventh month, the king came back from Ungjin.

In the thirty-second year, in autumn, the ninth month, an envoy was sent to enter Tang and bring tribute.

In the thirty-third year, in spring, the first month, the eldest son Uija was invested as crown prince. In the second month Macheonseong was built anew. In autumn, the seventh month, troops were sent out and struck at Silla, but they got no advantage. The king hunted on the plain of Saengcho. In winter, the twelfth month, an envoy was sent to enter Tang and bring tribute.

In the thirty-fourth year, in autumn, the eighth month, a general was sent to attack Seogokseong of Silla, and in thirteen days he took it.

In the thirty-fifth year, in spring, the second month, Wangheungsa was finished. That temple looked out upon the water, and its colored ornament was grand and fair. The king would take a boat and go into the temple and offer incense.

In the third month a pond was dug south of the palace, and water was drawn into it from more than twenty li away, and willows were planted on the four banks, and an island was raised in the middle of the water in likeness of Fangzhang, the mountain of the immortals.

In the thirty-seventh year, in spring, the second month, an envoy was sent to enter Tang and bring tribute.

In the third month the king took the ministers of his right hand and his left and went out to feast by the northern shore of the Sabi river. On the two banks strange crags and odd stones stood mingled together, and among them were strange flowers and rare grasses, like a painted picture. The king drank wine and was glad to the utmost, and he played the geomungo and sang of himself, and those who followed him danced again and again. The men of that time called the place Daewangpo.

In summer, the fifth month, the king commanded Uso the general to lead five hundred armored men and go and fall upon Doksanseong of Silla. Uso came to Ongmun valley, and as the day grew dark he loosed the saddles and let the soldiers rest. Alcheon, a general of Silla, led troops and came upon them secretly and cut them down. Uso climbed upon a great rock and drew his bow and fought back, but his arrows were spent and he was taken.

In the sixth month there was a drought. In autumn, the eighth month, a feast was given to the many ministers at the Manghae tower.

In the thirty-eighth year, in spring, the second month, the earth shook in the royal capital. In the third month it shook again. In winter, the twelfth month, an envoy was sent to enter Tang and presented iron armor and a carved axe. Taizong comforted him generously and gave him a brocade robe and three thousand lengths of colored silk.

In the thirty-ninth year, in spring, the third month, the king floated a boat on the great pond with the women of the inner palace.

In the fortieth year, in winter, the tenth month, an envoy was again sent to Tang and presented golden armor and a carved axe.

In the forty-first year, in spring, the first month, a comet appeared in the northwest. In the second month the young of the noble houses were sent to Tang and he asked that they might enter the state academy.

In the forty-second year, in spring, the third month, the king died. His posthumous title was made Mu (武). The envoy entered Tang in white clothes and offered up a memorial, saying, "Buyeo Jang, a subject outside the ruler's own land, has died."

The emperor performed the rite of mourning at the Xuanwu Gate and sent down an edict. "In the way of cherishing the far off, nothing comes before the command of favor, and in the duty of adorning a man's end there is no bar though the region be distant. The late Pillar of State, Duke of the Commandery of Daebang and King of Baekje, Buyeo Jang, set ladders on the mountains and sailed the sea and received the calendar from afar, and he presented treasures and offered up writings and held firm from beginning to end. Suddenly he has come to his death, and our grief is deep. It is fitting to add to the customary measure and to show forth both sorrow and honor, and therefore we grant him after death the title of grand master of the glorious light." What was given for the funeral was very rich.