King Naemul and Gim Jesang奈勿王金堤上

King Naemul〔Also called King Namil.〕 and Gim Jesang.

In the thirty-sixth year after King Namil, the seventeenth king, ascended the throne, a gyeongin year, the King of Wa sent an envoy to the court, who said,

"Our lord has heard of the great king's divine holiness, and has sent us to report the crimes of Baekje to the great king. We ask that the great king send one prince to show his sincere heart to our lord."

So the king sent his third son Mihae〔Also called Mitohui.〕 to Wa. Mihae was ten years old.

Since his speech and bearing were not yet fully formed, the inner minister Bak Saram was made deputy envoy and sent with him.

The King of Wa held him and did not send him back for thirty years.

In the third year after King Nulji ascended the throne, a gimi year, King Jangsu of Goguryeo sent an envoy to the court, who said,

"Our lord has heard of the outstanding wisdom and talent of the great king's younger brother Bohae, and wishes to be on close terms with him. So he has sent this humble servant to ask earnestly."

The king heard this and thought it very fortunate. With this he agreed to open friendly relations, and had his younger brother Bohae go to Goguryeo, sending the inner minister Gim Mual to assist him.

King Jangsu also held him and did not send him back.

In the tenth year, an eulchuk year, the king called together his ministers and the brave men of the country and gave a banquet in person.

When the wine had gone round three times and all the music first began, the king shed tears and said to his ministers,

"Long ago my holy father gave his whole heart to the affairs of the people, and so he sent his beloved son east to Wa, and died without seeing him again.

Also, since I came to the throne, the armies of our neighbors have been very fierce and the fighting has not ceased.

Only Goguryeo spoke of being on close terms. I trusted those words and sent my own brother to Goguryeo, but Goguryeo too holds him and does not send him back.

Though I sit in wealth and honor, not a day has ever passed that I could forget for a moment and not weep.

If I could see my two brothers and give thanks together at the shrine of the former king, then I could repay the kindness of the people of the state. Who can carry out this plan?"

Then all the officials said, "This is truly no easy matter. It needs a man of wisdom and courage. We think that Jesang (堤上), Governor of Sapna Commandery, is the one."

So the king summoned him and asked. Jesang bowed twice and answered,

"I have heard that when the lord is troubled, the servant is disgraced, and when the lord is disgraced, the servant dies.

If one acts only after weighing whether a thing is hard or easy, that is called disloyal. If one moves only after reckoning life and death, that is called lacking courage.

Though I am unworthy, I wish to receive the command and go."

The king thought this very admirable. They shared a cup and drank, clasped hands, and parted.

Jesang received the command before the screen and hurried straight by the northern sea road, changed his clothes, and entered Goguryeo.

He went to where Bohae was, and together they planned the day of escape. First they agreed that on the fifteenth day of the fifth month he would come back, moor his boat at the inlet at Goseong, and wait.

As the appointed day drew near, Bohae claimed sickness and did not attend court for several days. Then in the night he fled and reached the seashore at Goseong.

The king learned of it and sent several dozen men after him.

At Goseong they caught up with him.

But while Bohae was in Goguryeo he had always shown kindness to those around him, so the soldiers pitied him and all pulled off their arrowheads before they shot.

So at last he escaped harm and returned.

Once the king had seen Bohae, he thought all the more of Mihae. Glad on one side and sad on the other, he shed tears and said to those around him,

"It is like one body having only one arm, one side of a face, one eye. Though I have gained one, I have lost one. How could I not feel the pain?"

At this Jesang heard these words, bowed twice, and took leave of the court.

He mounted his horse and, without stopping at his house, went straight to the shore at Yulpo.

His wife heard of it and galloped after him as far as Yulpo, but saw that her husband was already on the boat.

His wife cried out to him with all her heart, but Jesang only waved his hand and did not stop.

When he reached the state of Wa he said falsely, "The King of Gyerim killed my father and elder brother without cause, so I fled and came here."

The King of Wa believed him, gave him a house, and let him live at ease.

Jesang always attended Mihae as they roamed the seashore, catching fish and birds, and whatever they caught he always presented to the King of Wa.

The king was very pleased and had no suspicion.

Then one morning the dawn fog lay thick.

Jesang said, "Now you can go."

Mihae said, "Then let us go together."

Jesang said, "If I go with you, I fear the Wa people will notice and pursue us. I ask to stay behind and hold off the pursuit."

Mihae said, "Now you and I are like father and brother. How could I abandon you and go back alone?"

Jesang said, "If I can save your life and comfort the great king's heart, that is enough. Why should I wish to live?"

He took wine and offered it to Mihae.

At that time a man of Gyerim named Gang Guryeo was in the state of Wa, and he was sent along with him.

Jesang went into Mihae's room and stayed there until the next morning.

When the attendants wished to go in and see him, Jesang came out and stopped them, saying, "Yesterday he ran about hunting and is very ill. He has not yet risen."

When the sun began to sink, the attendants thought it strange and asked again.

He answered, "Mihae left long ago."

The attendants ran to tell the king, and the king sent horsemen after him, but they could not catch him.

Then they imprisoned Jesang and asked him, "Why did you secretly send away the prince of your country?"

He answered, "I am a subject of Gyerim, not a subject of the state of Wa. I only wished to fulfill my lord's purpose. How could I dare speak of it to you?"

The King of Wa was angry and said, "Now you have already become my subject, yet you say you are a subject of Gyerim. Then you shall surely receive all five punishments. If you say you are a subject of the state of Wa, you shall surely be rewarded with a rich stipend."

He answered,

"I would rather be a dog or a pig of Gyerim than a subject of the state of Wa.

I would rather take the rod of Gyerim than take the rank and stipend of the state of Wa."

The king was angry and ordered the skin stripped from the soles of Jesang's feet, and reeds cut so that he was made to walk over them.〔Now there are red marks on the reeds, and people say it is the blood of Jesang.〕

He asked again, "Of what country are you a subject?"

"A subject of Gyerim."

He had him stand on heated iron and asked, "Of what country are you a subject?"

"A subject of Gyerim."

The King of Wa knew that he could not be bent, and burned him to death on Mokdo (木島).

Mihae crossed the sea and came back, and had Gang Guryeo go ahead to tell the country.

The king was startled and overjoyed. He ordered the officials to welcome him at Gulheol Station, and the king and his own brother Bohae welcomed him in the southern fields.

They entered the palace, held a banquet, and declared a great amnesty throughout the country.

Jesang's wife was invested as Great Lady of the State, and his daughter was made the wife of Lord Mihae.

One who discussed it said, "Long ago the Han minister Zhou Ke (周苛) was captured by the Chu army at Xingyang.

Xiang Yu said to Zhou Ke, 'If you become my subject, I will make you Marquis of Ten Thousand Stipends.' Zhou Ke cursed him and would not bend, and was killed by the King of Chu.

Jesang's loyalty is no less remarkable than that of Zhou Ke."

At first, when Jesang set out, his wife heard of it and went after him, but could not catch him.

She came to the sand south of the gate of Mangdeok Temple and lay down and wailed long.

Because of this the sand was named Jangsa (長沙).

Two kinsmen took her under the arms to bring her home, but she stretched out her legs, sat, and would not rise.

That place was named Beoljiji (伐知旨).

Long afterward the wife could not bear her longing. She took her three daughters up Chisul Ridge and died weeping bitterly as she gazed toward the state of Wa.

She then became the Holy Mother of Chisul (鵄述神母), and her shrine still stands today.