Patent of appointment making Jeong Gongsu Senior General of the Sinho Guard丁公壽爲神虎衛上將軍官誥
云云。由霸以降。用虎之邦。董千軍之勇也。不若選賢將而任焉。責萬人之效也。孰與賞元庸之最者。具官某。早懷康濟國家之志。動有扇揚中外之名。出百里而茇召棠。民蒙膏潤。按一方而攬范轡。吏挾霜寒。屬金國剖分之時。當朔郵守禦之寄。疾游兵之行掠。則盡俘而汛掃。哀窮將之來投。則親唁而賑賙。彼旣生還。德爾大惠。凡有事則輒報。其爲利者亦多。名爲他國之防。實吠我家之盜。是汝之權時講好致然也。肆擢置千人之尹。職帶烏臺。未幾除三品之資。權兼鳳省。尋提節鉞。復鎭邊關。或轉籌油幕而坐折姦萌。或馳檄氈廬而捕還逋俗。是實奇功之卓爾。豈將常調以答之。故越諸先進而超授官階。欲肅爾庶寮而申以風憲。果騰茂實。克副精掄。玆降命於中宸。俾卽眞於上將。可特授云云。嗚戲。爵爲砥而礪世者。朕之柄。忠貫日而事君者。臣之心。勉服寵榮。益堅操守。云云。
And so forth.
Ever since the age of the overlords (霸者), in a state that uses force, to command the valor of a thousand soldiers is not so good as choosing a worthy general and entrusting it to him; and as for laying upon a man the charge of ten thousand men's achievement, what is it beside rewarding the one who has won the foremost merit?
So-and-so, holder of such-and-such office, early on cherished the will to bring the state to peace and rescue it, and when he stirred he had a name that spread within and without. Going out to a district of a hundred li, he lodged beneath the Duke of Shao's sweet-pear tree, and the people received his rich and moistening virtue; inspecting a whole province, he took up Fan Pang's (范滂) reins, and the clerks lived with a chill about them like frost.
Meeting the time when the Jin dynasty was breaking apart, he took on the charge of guarding the northern frontier. Hating the plundering of roving soldiers, he captured them all and swept them clean; pitying destitute generals who came to take refuge, he comforted them in person and aided them generously. Once those men had returned alive, they counted your great kindness a virtue, and whenever there was anything afoot they would at once report it, so that the benefit was great as well. In name it was a defense against another country, but in fact it was as though they barked at the thieves of our own house; and this came about because you weighed the moment and concluded friendship.
Thereupon he was chosen and placed in the office that governs a thousand men and made to hold a post in the Censorate; and before long he was granted the third rank and made to serve provisionally in the Secretariat as well. Next he grasped the tally and axe and once again held down the frontier passes. Sometimes he turned the counting-rods within his tent and, without rising, snapped off the sprouts of treachery; sometimes he sent dispatches galloping to the felt tents of the barbarians and had fugitive people seized and brought home. This is truly outstanding merit — how should it be repaid with an ordinary promotion?
Therefore he is advanced past those who came before him, and rank is conferred on him out of turn; and so that he may keep all the officials in awe, the Censorate post is entrusted to him again. Fair substance did indeed show itself and answered to the intent of our careful selection. And so a command goes forth from the palace, that he take up in due form the seat of Senior General. It may be specially conferred. And so forth.
Ah, to make office a whetstone and grind the age upon it is the handle I hold; to have loyalty pierce the sun and so serve one's sovereign is the heart of a subject. Strive to receive favor and glory, and hold your guard the firmer. And so forth.