Rescript Not Allowing Yu Eonchim (柳彥琛) to Decline the Offices of Grand Master of Upright Counsel and Acting Senior General of the Gate Guard Command柳彥琛讓正議大夫監門衛攝上將軍不允批答
云云。朕觀魏黃初中。獨以曹眞爲上將軍。唐高祖亦置天策府上將軍。其後遂省。唯我國所以恒置上將軍者。其意若曰。若將軍有功。則可以大將處之。大將有功。則將何以復加。故設斯爵。以答大將之元功茂烈耳。豈宜人授其職耶。卿生長名家。熏習善訓。撿身持法。勿隳乃父之風。寫字綴詞。不讓文臣之手。然不喜腐儒之挾策。乃獨希飛將之立功。早戴鶡冠。久陪龍仗。當東都之犯順也。麾百騎而出平梟獍。及北虜之肆淫也。尹千人而往掃犬羊。載惟積累之功。何吝甄崇之典。玆加峻級。用示異恩。秩視八座之資。班在九卿之右。是猶慊爾。何以讓爲。云云。
And so forth.
As I see it, in the Huangchu years of Wei only Cao Zhen (曹眞) was made Senior General; and Gaozu of Tang too set up a Senior General of the Celestial Strategy Prefecture, but afterward did away with it in the end. That our country alone keeps a Senior General always is for this reason. If a general has merit, he may be treated as a Great General; but if a Great General has merit, what shall then be added to him? Therefore this office is set up only to repay the foremost merit and the abundant achievement of a Great General; how should the post be given to every man?
You, my lord, were born and bred in a renowned house and were steeped in good teaching. You kept yourself in hand and held to the law, and did not let your father's bearing fall; in writing characters and in composing you fall no way behind the hand of a civil official. Yet you did not care, as a rotting scholar does, to carry books under your arm, but hoped, like a general single and swift, to set up merit. Early you wore the cap of a military officer and long attended the sovereign's state escort.
When the Eastern Capital rebelled, you commanded a hundred horse, went forth, and put down a savage band; and when the barbarians of the north ran wild as they pleased, you led a thousand men, went, and swept away a crowd like dogs and sheep. Thinking upon merit heaped on merit, how should I be sparing of the law that chooses a man out and exalts him?
Therefore I add a high grade to show you an uncommon favour. Your grade matches the rank of the Eight Seats, and your place in the ranks is above the Nine Ministers. Even this is yet too little; why do you decline it?
And so forth.