Report on the Return of the Two Ming Squad Commanders Who Had Been Halted at Anju安州留住唐把總二人還歸狀
昨日二更唐人二名自嘉山來到今曉留館把總孫榮姜安等率其所屬軍人百餘名盡爲還去莫知其由臨去出示總兵傳諭節度使李薲處小帖故傳書輸上所云檢牌似無益於戰用恐被責怒令安州措辦四十餘箇以示孫榮等今此帖文內又乞多造處置極難唐將擧止不可料度大抵恥其無功而歸罪我人以爲自護之計傳聞之說極多駭愕。國事不幸每每如此徒切悶歎卽今潦雨已霽道路方通正當乘時勦賊之期而聲援不接衆心疑懼前頭之事有難期必痛陳事情更請援兵事望。朝廷商量處置
Yesterday in the second watch two Ming men came from Gasan. At dawn today the Squad Commanders Sun Rong (孫榮) and Jiang An (姜安), who had been lodged at the government office, went back, taking with them all of the hundred-odd soldiers they led, and the reason is not known. On leaving they produced a small warrant that the Regional Commander had issued to Army Commander Yi Bin (李薲), so a copy of that writing is sent up herewith.
The so-called inspection tallies (檢牌) seem unlikely to be of any use in battle, but for fear of being reproached your servant had some forty of them prepared at Anju and shown to Sun Rong and the others. Yet in this present warrant they ask again that many be made, which is extremely hard to arrange. The conduct of the Ming commanders cannot be fathomed. In the main it is a scheme to cover themselves by shifting the blame onto our men, out of shame at having no achievement; and in what is reported at second hand there is much that is deeply startling. The misfortune of the state's affairs is time and again like this, and one can only be vexed and lament.
Now the seasonal rains have already cleared and the roads are just opening, and this is precisely the season to seize the moment and strike the enemy; but the supporting force does not come on, so that the hearts of the multitude doubt and fear, and what is to come is hard to assure. As for earnestly setting forth the circumstances and asking again for relief troops, your servant asks that the court weigh and dispose of it.
Interlinear notes 2
七月二十日
The twentieth day of the seventh month
檢牌 — this appears to be a tally used in the Ming camps, but the source text gives no explanation. — translator