Report on Receiving the Royal Directive After Vanguard Commander Shen Had Passed沈遊擊過去後有。旨祗受狀
沈遊擊過去緣由臣已爲狀啓未及發送伏承具宬賫來有。旨具審。下諭之意今日馳還肅川與都元帥金命元相議處置計料兵無多寡精鍊則可用戰無常勢乘機則可勝我兵與賊相持已五月餘兵猶未鍊機又屢失至於器械諸具一皆未備今日之事寒心者非一然惟坐而待亡孰與伐之故邇來將士頗願一戰而唐將之來適當此時處置之間妨碍牽制恐不得自由極爲悶慮
The circumstances of Vanguard Commander Shen (沈遊擊) passing through your servant had already set forth in a dispatch but had not yet managed to send, when, humbly receiving the royal directive that Gu Seong (具宬) brought, he looked fully into the intent of Your Majesty's words. He plans to hurry back to Sukcheon (肅川) today and to consult with the Supreme Commander Kim Myeongwon (金命元) and dispose of matters.
With troops it is not a question of many or few: trained to a fine edge they are usable; and in battle there is no fixed shape: seize the opening and one can win. Our troops have now stood against the enemy for five months and more, yet the troops are not yet trained, the openings have moreover been lost several times over, and when it comes to weapons and the various implements, not one of them is fully provided. In today's affairs the pitiable things are not one alone.
Still, how can sitting and awaiting ruin match striking? And so of late the commanders and troops quite hope for a single battle. Yet the coming of the Ming commanders falls just at this time, and it is to be feared that in the midst of our dispositions we shall be hampered and pulled about and unable to act as we would, which is deeply vexing and worrying.