"As I have already told you, Taijo was a wise youth. He did not rush
headlong into the accomplishment of the purpose hinted at by the hermit.
Had he done so, and at that time attempted to dethrone the king, he
would certainly have been overpowered and slain.

"He took a more deliberate and sensible way. First he enlisted in the
army of the king. As he was a young man of courage and strength, he was
not long in securing advancement. He rapidly rose through the various
grades, until he finally held the chief command of the army as
lieutenant-general.

"Of course Taijo did not reach this high station in a month, nor in a
year, but many years went by before he attained such an exalted place.
Meanwhile he married and had children. Several of these children were
daughters."

Wang Ken did not say right here, what he might have said with
truth,--that in Korean families girls are considered of very little
consequence. But in this case Taijo's daughter proved to be of much help
in making her father the king of Cho-sen.

"One of these daughters was married to the reigning king. Thus Taijo
became father-in-law to his sovereign. You can easily see that in this
relationship he must have had a large influence both over the king and
over the people.

"Being a brave man and courageous fighter, Taijo was idolized by his
soldiers. He was also very popular with all the people because he was
always strictly honest and just in all his dealings with them.