Goryeo commander who helped repel the Red Turbans and led the campaign against Dongnyeongbu; northwestern commander-in-chief; posthumous title Chungmu
| Life | 1313 |
| Era | 고려 말 |
| Clan | 충주 지씨 |
Ji Yong-su (1313?-?) was a late-Goryeo general of the Chungju clan with the courtesy name Haseong, pen name Wolsong and posthumous title Chungmu. A member of the 16th generation, his grandfather was Ji Won-bu and his father Ji Hwan. His maternal grandson was Choe Man-ri, later a vice-director of the Hall of Worthies under King Sejong.
Under King Chungmok he was appointed to a tomb post, and under King Gongmin, when the Red Turbans invaded, he helped An U recover Gaegyeong and became a first-class merit subject. He later gained further merit titles for defeating the army of Prince Deokheung and rose through the Privy Council to associate councillor and Chief of the Chancellery.
In 1366 he defeated raiders who invaded Gyodong, and in 1369 he became supreme commander of the northwest and governor of Pyongyang. In 1370, when Giseinteimur of the Yuan invaded the border from Dongnyeongbu, he crossed the Yalu with Yi Seong-gye and others and is said to have won a great victory.
When the Red Turbans seized Gaegyeong under King Gongmin, Ji Yong-su joined An U in recovering it, was named a first-class Gyuui Seonryeok merit subject and made director of the Office of Guest Reception. When Prince Deokheung attacked with Yuan support he helped defeat that army, and the title Chuseong Gyuui Seonryeok was added. He was then promoted to associate commissioner of the Privy Council.
In August 1370, when Giseinteimur invaded the border from Dongnyeongbu, King Gongmin sent supreme commander Ji Yong-su, deputy commander Yang Baek-an, Im Gyeon-mi and Yi Seong-gye to attack. Ji Yong-su is said to have built a wooden bridge over the Yalu and moved the troops across over three days; an anecdote tells that during a drought-ending heat and thunderstorm the commander Yi Gu called the storm a good omen, lifting morale. After the great victory the king is said to have called him a general sent from heaven, and he rose to chancellor and was ennobled as Chungmu-gong.
His great-grandfather was Ji Heup, grandfather Ji Won-bu, a vice-chancellor, and father Ji Hwan; his mother was of the Changnyeong Jo clan. His sister married Seong Gong-pil of the Changnyeong Seong clan, an ancestor in the line of Seong Sam-mun. His daughter married Choe Ha and bore Choe Man-ri, known for his memorial against the creation of Hangul under King Sejong.
The location of his tomb was not confirmed in this research.
His son was Ji Chan and grandson Ji Won-jong; his daughter married Choe Ha, and their son was Choe Man-ri.