Requesting an Able Civil Official as Southern Army Commander請以文官之有才計者爲南兵使。啓
西北方近日形勢皆爲可虞然北方之憂尤劇於西方蓋西方則地連。上國老胡雖發必無空其巢穴而深入之理若咸鏡南道則從三水甲山直抵咸興其間道里甚近虜若窺覘虛實竊發乘虛則南北兩道將至隔絕而首尾不得相救此乃腹心之憂近者老乙可赤必要於惠山越邊屯聚設險又欲於政丞坡吾達整居耕種若其勢旣成之後則北方一帶藩胡皆將相率而歸之必爲後日難圖之患極爲可慮今之處此急之不可緩之亦不可唯當先固在我之勢而觀彼釁之淺深臨機善應不使滋蔓而已當此之時萬般計度不如擇一賢閫帥南道兵使邊良俊自初固有不堪之虞下去之後別無布置規畫之事且聞有輕率躁擾之病不得本處人心云安可望其撫輯民夷以舒。朝廷北顧之憂哉邊良俊似當遞差第其代求之於武將則極難得人雖文官而有弓馬之才且有籌度邊務之慮者則其措置規畫未必下於武將道內守令中似不無其人請問於備邊司諸臣急急處之責以完復南道之事則或可以收拾於萬一臣之計慮未知合宜與否然邊事至重故敢此上。禀
The posture of things in the west and in the north is all of it troubling of late, but the north's trouble is graver than the west's. In the west the land runs on to Ming (明) territory, so that even should the old barbarian stir, there is no likelihood of his emptying his own lair and coming deep in. But in South Hamgyeong the road running straight from Samsu and Gapsan to Hamheung is very near; so if the barbarians, spying out where we are full and where empty, should rise in secret upon a gap, the southern province and the northern province would be cut apart and head and tail could not come to each other's aid. This is the very trouble that lies within the belly.
Of late it is said that Nurhaci (老乙可赤) is gathering across from Hyesan and means to take up a position on difficult ground, and that he means also to settle at Jeongseungpa (政丞坡) and Odal (吾達) and there plough and sow. Once that posture is made, the barbarian settlements (藩胡) all along the northern region will every one of them lead one another and go over to him; it will surely become a trouble hard to deal with in days to come, and your servant is deeply anxious. In handling it now, neither haste nor delay will do. There is nothing for it but first to make our own posture firm and then, watching whether the opening on their side be shallow or deep, to answer well according to the signs and keep it from spreading.
At such a time all manner of calculation is worth less than the choosing of one worthy commander. Of Byeon Yangjun (邊良俊), army commander of the southern province, there was from the first the fear that he would not prove equal to it; since going down he has made no disposition or plan of his own; and he has besides the failing of being rash and hasty, so that it is said he does not win the hearts of the people there. How is one to hope that he will soothe and gather in both the people and the barbarians and so loose the court from its anxious looking northward? It seems Byeon Yangjun ought to be replaced.
Only, if his successor be sought among military officers, it is very hard to get a man. Even a civil official, if he have skill in bow and horse and can take the measure of frontier business, would surely not fall short of a military officer in disposing and planning; and it seems there are not wanting such men among the magistrates within the province. If the several officials of the Border Defense Council be asked and the matter dealt with urgently, and the charge of wholly recovering the southern province laid upon him, perhaps one part in ten thousand may yet be retrieved. Your servant knows not whether his reckoning be fitting or not, but as frontier business is of the gravest moment he ventures to submit this.
Interlinear notes 1
Banho (藩胡) — the Jurchen settlements that lived attached to the frontier