Goryeo 1 — From Gangdong Fortress to the return to Gaegyeong高麗 一

Goryeo was in origin the land enfeoffed to Gija, and a separate branch of Buyeo once dwelt there. Its land reaches Silla in the east and Baekje in the south, both lying across the great sea; in the northwest it crosses the Liao River and touches Yingzhou, and the Malgal are to its north. The capital of the country is called Pyeongyang Fortress, which is the Nangnang Commandery of the Han. There is a river that rises from Baeksan of the Malgal, called the Amnok River, and Pyeongyang lies southeast of it, so they trust in it and hold it for a barrier. Later they widened their land still further and joined the three countries of old Silla, Baekje and Goguryeo into one. Their rulers were surnamed Go, and from the first founding of the country until the beginning of the Qianfeng years of the Tang the country fell. From the Chuigong years onward their sons and grandsons were again enfeoffed with that land, and afterward they were little by little able to stand alone. When the Five Dynasties came, the man who took the country in their stead and moved the capital to Songak was surnamed Wang, named Geon. From Geon down to Do (King Chungsuk) there were twenty-seven kings in all, and through more than four hundred years the surname was never once changed.

Their dealings with the Yuan began in the eleventh year of Taizu (Chinggis Khan), when the Khitan Jinshan, the marshal Liuge and others led a host of more than ninety thousand and fled into that country. In the ninth month of the twelfth year they took Gangdong Fortress and held it. In the thirteenth year the emperor sent Hazhiji (Kachiun), Zhala (Jala) and others to lead troops against them. A man of that country, Hong Daeseon, went to the camp and surrendered, and joined Hazhiji and the rest in surrounding and attacking the fortress. The king of Goryeo came out bearing oxen and wine to meet the royal army (王師), and he also sent Jo Chung, Commissioner of the Bureau of Military Affairs, Minister of Personnel, Senior General and Hanlim Academician Recipient of Edicts, to join in destroying Liuge. Zhala and Chung swore to be brothers. Chung asked leave to send tribute and levy (貢賦) every year. Zhala said, "Your country lies far off, and going and coming is hard. Each year you may send ten envoys to bring tribute." In the twelfth month Zhala sent a dispatch demanding army provisions, and a thousand gok of rice was sent. In the first month of the fourteenth year Yun Gongchwi, Acting Gate Attendant, and Choe Il, Recorder of the Secretariat, were sent to carry a document of peace to Zhala's field camp, and Zhala sent an envoy in reply. The king of Goryeo made Bak Siyun, Attending Censor, his envoy of welcome to receive him. The emperor also sent Pulidaiye bearing an edict to instruct them, and the king of Goryeo met him, bowed to him, and set out a feast.

In the ninth month the imperial younger brother (Otchigin), the Prince of the State, the marshal Hechen, the vice-marshal Zhala and the rest each gave letters and sent Qingduhusi, Commissioner Envoy, with nine others, ten men in all, to press them for tribute, and before long local goods were presented. In the ninth month of the fifteenth year the great chieftain officers Kangugu, Zhaoguyu and others pressed them again with letters from the imperial younger brother and the Prince of the State, and local goods were presented as before. In the seventh month of the sixteenth year an order came telling them of the campaign against the Jurchen (女直), and only then did they send up a memorial of congratulation. In the eighth month Zhaoguyu went as envoy to that country. In the tenth month Xisubugua and others followed as envoys. In the tenth month of the seventeenth year an edict sent Zhaoguyu with eleven others, twelve men in all, to that country to look into the truth of their submission. In the eighth month of the eighteenth year the commissioner Shanshudai with eleven others, twelve men in all, again pressed for tribute with letters from the imperial younger brother and the Prince of the State. In the second month of the nineteenth year Zhaoguyu and the rest went again as envoys to that country, and in the twelfth month they went once more; robbers killed them on the road, and from this time the exchange of envoys (信使) was cut off for seven years running.

In the eighth month of the third year of Taizong, Salita (Sartai) was ordered to attack that country. A man of that country, Hong Bogwon, came out to the army and surrendered, and the fifteen hundred households of registered people he led were gained; from the districts nearby too there were those who came and submitted. Salita then joined Bogwon in attacking the districts not yet come over, and he also sent A'ertu and Bogwon to reach the royal capital and summon its lord, Wang Cheol. Cheol sent his younger brother Wang Jeong, the duke of Hoean, to ask for peace, and it was allowed. Seventy-two darughachi were set over the capital, the prefectures and the counties to oversee them, and then the army was brought home. In the eleventh month the marshals Putao, Diju, Tanggu and others led troops to the royal capital, and Cheol sent envoys bearing oxen and wine to meet them. On the first day of the twelfth month he again sent envoys to comfort the marshals at the field camp. The next day his envoys entered the royal city with more than forty men sent by the marshals and handed over the documents. The day after that, Cheol sent Wang Jeong and the others to Salita's camp to feast the army.

In the first month of the fourth year the emperor sent an envoy with a sealed letter to instruct Cheol. In the third month Cheol sent Ji Uiwon, Palace Guard Commander, with the recorders Hong Geowon, Kim Gyeom and others, carrying the country's gifts and a document to Salita's camp. In the fourth month Cheol sent the general Jo Sukchang and the censor Seol Sin and others to bear a memorial and come to court. In the fifth month an edict came down again to instruct them. In the sixth month Cheol killed all seventy-two darughachi the court had set there and rebelled; then he led the people of the royal capital and of the several districts and counties and fled to an island in the sea (Ganghwa). Hong Bogwon gathered the people who were left and held them together, waiting for the great army. In the eighth month Salita was sent again to lead troops and punish them. He reached the south of the royal capital, and while attacking Cheoin Fortress he was struck by a stray arrow and died. The lieutenant Tiege gathered the troops and went back, and those who had already surrendered were put under Bogwon. In the tenth month Cheol sent the general Kim Bojeong and the director Jo Seojang to send up a memorial and state their case.

In the fourth month of the fifth year an edict instructed Cheol to repent his faults and come to court, and it counted out his five crimes. "Since the Khitan bandits were put down and Zhala was killed, you have never sent a single man to the palace. That is the first crime. When envoys were ordered to carry words of admonition and instruct you, you dared to shoot at them and turn them back. That is the second crime. You plotted the murder of Zhaoguyu, and then said the households of Wannu (Pusan Wannu) had killed him. That is the third crime. You were ordered to march your army, and you, Pil (弼), were ordered to come to court, yet you dared to resist and fled to the islands in the sea. That is the fourth crime. You did not gather and report the true number of your households, but dared to send up an idle report. That is the fifth crime." In the tenth month Cheol again sent troops and overran the surrendered people of Seogyeong and other places that had already come over, and plundered the house of Hong Bogwon.

In the sixth year Bogwon's request was granted: he led the people who had surrendered and moved to dwell in Dongjing, and was given a golden tally (金符) to wear.

In the seventh year Tanggu was ordered to lead troops with Hong Bogwon and attack them.

In the ninth year they took Yonggang, Hamjong and more than ten other fortresses.

In the fifth month of the tenth year Jo Hyeonseup, Yi Wonu and others of that country led two thousand men out and surrendered. They were ordered to dwell in Dongjing and to take their orders from Hong Bogwon, and silver tallies of the imperial presence were bestowed as well, for Hyeonseup and the rest to wear, so that they might call in the households not yet surrendered. Yi Gunsik and eleven others also came and surrendered, and were treated as Hyeonseup had been. In the twelfth month Cheol sent the general Kim Bojeong and the censor Song Eongi and others to bear a memorial and come to court.

In the fifth month of the eleventh year an edict summoned Cheol to court, and Cheol declined on account of his mother's funeral. In the sixth month he made No Yeon, Chamberlain for Guests, and Kim Gyeom, Vice Chamberlain for Guests, his tribute envoy and deputy, and sent them bearing a memorial to court. In the tenth month an order came telling Cheol to come in person the next year. In the twelfth month Cheol sent Wang Jeon (佺), the duke of Sinan, with Bojeong, Eongi and others, one hundred and forty-eight men, bearing a memorial and tribute.

In the third month of the twelfth year they again sent Jo Su, Right Grand Master of Remonstrance, and Kim Seongbo, Gate Attendant, and others, bearing a memorial and tribute. In the fifth month an edict came down again to instruct them. In the twelfth month Cheol made Song Eongi, Vice Chamberlain for Guests, and Gwon Wi, Attending Censor, his travelling envoys (行李使), and sent tribute. In that year Changju, Sakju and other districts were taken.

In the autumn of the thirteenth year Cheol sent his clansman's son (族子) Jun (綧) into the court as a hostage, calling him his own son.

In the times of Dingzong and Xianzong the yearly tribute did not come in, and so from the second year of Dingzong to the eighth year of Xianzong generals were ordered out four times to attack them, and the fortresses taken numbered fourteen. At the end of Xianzong's reign Cheol sent his heir Jeon (倎) to court.

In the third month of the first year of Zhongtong under Shizu, Cheol died. Jeon was ordered to return to his country and be king of Goryeo, and was sent back under the escort of troops, and a pardon was granted within his borders. The patent said:

"Since our Taizu Emperor opened the great enterprise, sage has followed sage, and in every generation there have been mighty deeds. He cut down the host of rivals and took all within the four seas, yet he never made killing his one delight. Of the vassal states and the ranked lords who were given the parted reed grass and granted land, and who passed their seats to their sons and grandsons, there are more than ten thousand li, and which of them was not a stubborn enemy in days gone by! Look at this, and the law of the ancestors (祖宗) is plain without a word spoken. Now, under the whole of heaven, the only ones not yet submitted as subjects are your country and the Song. What the Song trusts in is the Changjiang, and the Changjiang is no longer the barrier it was; what it leans on are Sichuan and Guangnan, and Sichuan and Guangnan cannot hold. The frontier garrisons have themselves taken down their fence, and the great army is camped already at the heart and belly. They are fish in the cauldron, swallows on the tent curtain, and their ruin lies between morning and evening.

You first came as heir, bearing gifts and offering your loyalty. You bound yourself and returned to the court, and holding back your grief you asked for your orders. Truly you are to be pitied. Therefore you are sent back to your country, to make your old borders whole again, to set your fields at ease and keep your household safe. This is to widen the great virtue that loves life, and to cast away the small grudges long piled up. For this reason the frontier generals have already been warned to draw in their troops and await orders, and when the east is settled the spears will be turned toward Qiantang (錢塘). About half a year later came word that your country was in disorder within and had broken the covenant, and the frontier generals asked again for a state of alarm. What is the reason for this? If it is truly disorder within, why did the powerful minister not set himself up, but set up the royal grandson? If it is an error of hearsay, why did the heir not go to his country, but linger on the border? Was it that the heir's return passed its appointed time, so that those about him grew suspicious of one another and worried beyond all measure? Thinking on it again, the worn-out people of the islands have long lain in mire and fire, and to press the soldiers to the end and punish without stop is not what is in my heart. Moreover, when rule loses its way, then all the crafty men of the world become enemies; but put a red heart into another's breast, and the restless will settle of themselves. Idle talk, why should it be weighed? I command the frontier commanders again, deciding out of my own heart: do not let runaways come between me and your ministers, and do not let flying words disturb a settled covenant. Deal only in sincerity, and ask nothing of any of it. It is fitting to spread a wide and open grace, and to make the teaching new for far and near. From the minister Kim Injun on down, all the branch parties, officials, soldiers and people within and without, whoever before the day this sacred order arrives was first in plotting disorder within, or held out against the royal army, or surrendered and then turned back to revolt, or killed at will for the sake of a feud, or having nowhere to go turned his back on his lord and fled, or unwillingly followed the crowd under compulsion, all the people of that country who have ever broken the law, be their crime light or heavy, are pardoned and set free."