A statement discussing the clothing and rations of Ren Conghai and others of the Tianzheng Army奏論天征軍任從海等衣糧狀
1Two hundred and eighty-seven men of the Tianzheng Army
天征軍都將任從海及節級軍將並官健摠二百八十七人
Ren Conghai, Chief General of the Tianzheng Army, together with the sub-officers, the officers and the regular soldiers, two hundred and eighty-seven men in all.
2Restore the rations Xichuan cut off
右臣得都將任從海及節級狀。稱自赴征行。已逾五載。累曾沿海襲賊。上江防虞。去年軍都放廻本道。從海等且在當府。願隨行營者。各得家信。知西川已停衣糧。伏緣從海等皆是貧寒。更無營業。彼處父母親屬。便須委壑塡溝。請具奏論。乞還衣糧者。謹按史記釋云。天子車駕所至。則人臣爲僥幸。賜人爵有級數。或賜田租之半。故因謂之幸也。伏以任從海等萬里從戎。五年于役。不辭艱險。願盡勤勞。今者身在東吳。職居西蜀。此方苦於羇旅。彼已停其衣糧。遠路音書。難寫征人之恨。貧家親戚。先懷餓殍之憂。伏遇陛下暫幸龜城。未廻龍闕。三川草木。別有光榮。萬戶烝黎。永能蘇息。而任從海等久離本鎭。不睹殊恩。望雨露之均沾。恨煙波之迥隔。固堪傷憫。輒具奏論。伏乞聖慈允臣所請。特令本道却給全糧。所冀鳳駕巡遊。士卒皆知其有幸。鴻慈煦育。君親必表於無私。謹具錄奏聞。伏聽勑旨。
For the above: your servant has received a statement from Chief General Ren Conghai and the sub-officers, which says: "Since we set out on campaign more than five years have passed. Again and again we raided the rebels along the coast, and we stood guard on the upper river. Last year the army command sent the men back to their own circuit, but we stayed on at this headquarters, wishing to follow the field camp. Each of us then had word from home and learned that Xichuan has already stopped our clothing and rations. we are all destitute and have no other livelihood, so our parents and kin in that place must soon be cast into the valleys and the ditches. We beg that this be set out in full and reported, and that our clothing and rations be restored." Your servant respectfully looked into the commentary on the Shi ji, which says: "Wherever the carriage of the Son of Heaven arrives becomes good fortune for his subjects, for he grants men rank by degrees and sometimes grants half the tax on their fields. This is why it is called a visitation of fortune." Your servant humbly considers that Ren Conghai and the others followed the army ten thousand li and have been in service five years. They did not shrink from hardship and danger, and they wished to give all their labor. Now their bodies are in Dongwu while their posts are in Xishu. Here they suffer the life of a wanderer, and there their clothing and rations have already been stopped. A letter over a far road can hardly write out the bitterness of a man on campaign, and the kin in a poor house already hold the fear of starving to death. Your Majesty has for a time come to Guicheng and has not yet returned to the Dragon Palace. The grass and trees of Sanchuan have a glory of their own, and the common people of ten thousand households can revive for good. Yet Ren Conghai and the others have long been away from their own garrison and have not seen this rare grace. They look for the rain and the dew to wet all alike, and they grieve that the mist and waves cut them off so far. This truly deserves pity and sorrow, and so your servant sets it out and reports it. I humbly beg that your sagely kindness grant what your servant asks, and give special order that their own circuit restore their rations in full. What is hoped is that on the progress of the Phoenix Carriage the soldiers may all know their good fortune, and that in the warmth of your great kindness a ruler who is as a parent may surely show that he has no partiality. I respectfully set this down and report it. I humbly await the imperial command.