11 - The Fourth Day (Twelth Day of the Intercalary Second Month)

Summary

THE KING MOURNS FOR HIS DECEASED FATHER AT HYEOLLYUNGWON TOMB

ON THE SECOND day in Hwaseong, Jeongjo was scheduled to pay his respects to his father at Hyeollyungwon Tomb in the morning, and attend two rounds of military practice in the afternoon and at night. As the horn sounded three times at four forty-five in the morning, the king, dressed in military attire, left for his father’s tomb, Hyeollyungwon, on horseback, accompanied by his mother.

The royal procession passed through the three gates of the rural palace, exited the fortress through Paldalmun, and headed south along today’s Jeongjo-ro Road (King Jeongjo’s Road). The king rested for a while at what is today’s Maegyosageori Intersection, served his mother refreshments, and then gave the following command to Sim Hwan-ji, Minister of War and Controller of the Palace Dispensary:

I would be overjoyed to see my mother stay healthy throughout the journey. However, when I just went to check on her before her palanquin departed, her voice did not sound at all good. I am saddened to say, therefore, that she is not feeling well. So please go to the tomb ahead of us to prepare a cup of herbal tea for her and wait for us there.

The royal procession resumed and passed Sangryucheon and Haryucheon Villages along a stream with banks of willow trees, then crossed Hwanggyo and Daehwanggyo Bridges and climbed Ongbong Hill, these last three on land currently inside Suwon Military Airfield. When the procession ascended Yugeunhyeon Hill and reached Yugeungyo Bridge, Jeongjo ordered everyone to dismount. He then passed over Mannyeonje Dam on foot and arrived at the entrance of Hyeollyungwon Tomb. He first entered the tent before the shrine, and escorted his mother inside. He served her the herbal tea he had ordered earlier. When a superintendent of Jeongniso brought porridge, he said, ‘Since my mother is not feling well, she cannot have porridge now.