Patent of Office Making Choe Yugong Grand Master of Upright Counsel, Senior General of the Heungwi Guard, and Director of the Treasury崔愈恭爲正議大夫興威衛上將軍判大府事官誥
云云。掌機務而納言。尙書謂之喉吻。董軍師而謹衛。上將譬則爪牙。雖支體之用惟均。顧防捍之備尤急。須選百夫之特。益崇萬乘之威。具官某。嚼鐵剛腸。凌雲壯志。學子房書一卷。素自祕於心機。彎顔高弓六鈞。未嘗露其手段。仁必有勇也。故剛柔相濟。才堪經遠也。故文虎兼資。爰自先朝。昵陪密仗。及尹千人而軍政肅。坐令霸上爲兒。出帥百里而仁化行。復見南陽有父。方憩召公之樹。入登韓信之壇。乃者當頑胡蹈境之時。受陪邑統兵之寄。築城百雉而不日能辦。則賊難思犯。提卒千羆而倍道兼進。則虜輒見俘。玆西土之完固也。惟爾之功。抑東鄙之守禦也。繄卿是賴。載嘉顯烈。擢置峻班。俾兼錢府之權。佇贍國泉之用。可特授云云。
And so forth.
Taking charge of the business of state and reporting and bearing up the sovereign's words, the Minister is called the throat and the mouth; leading the soldiery and guarding it with care, the Senior General is matched with claw and fang. Though the uses of the limbs be said to be even, yet looking at it, the furnishing that wards and guards is the more urgent. One outstanding among a hundred men must needs be chosen, that the awe of a lord of ten thousand chariots be exalted the more.
So-and-so, holding such offices, has within a firmness that could chew iron, and holds a stout purpose that would pierce the clouds. He learned the one volume of Zifang (子房), but from the first kept it hidden within his breast; and though he draws the six-gyun bow of Yan Gao (顔高), he has never shown off that skill. It is a rule that a worthy man must have courage, and in him firmness and gentleness have aided each other; and because his talent is such as can look far ahead, he is furnished with letters and with the military arts together.
From the time of the late king he attended the sovereign's state escort close by. Governing a thousand men, his army's discipline was solemn, so that the soldiers of Bashang (霸上) he made, sitting still, into a mere children's game; and going out and governing a district of a hundred li, his worthy teaching was practised, so that men saw again that in Nanyang (南陽) there was a magistrate like a father. He was just then resting beneath the gamdang tree of the Duke of Shao (召公) when he came within and mounted the platform of Han Xin (韓信).
Of late, when the fierce barbarians trampled upon our borders, he received in a subordinate district the charge of leading soldiers. He built a wall a hundred chi long and was able to finish it in not many days, so that the enemy did not venture to think of transgressing against it; and he led a thousand soldiers like bears and went forward by forced marches, so that the barbarians were at once taken captive. That the western land is whole and firm is your merit alone, and the keeping of the eastern border was leaned upon you, my lord, as well.
Therefore, holding his manifest merit beautiful, I choose him into a high rank and have him hold besides the authority over money and goods, awaiting his making ample the uses of the state's housekeeping. It may be especially bestowed. And so forth.
嗚戲。怙寵不戒。則若捨轡馭駿而欲行于遠。居位能卑。則如計級升梯而徑登於高。宜勖乃心。無替予訓。
Ah, to trust in the sovereign's love and not be careful is like letting go the reins and driving a fine horse, meaning to go far; and to be in a place and yet be able to make oneself low is like counting the steps and climbing a ladder, so that one comes straight to the high place. It is right that you strive to order your heart and not fail my teaching.