Report on the Timing of the Secret Advance進取軍機遲速狀

In the royal directive sealed on the ninth day of this month it was said: "Looking at the counsels lately submitted, all call the advance and attack urgent and press for it at every turn, which is like the battle at Tonggwan (潼關); yet to wait slowly is on the contrary like the business on the bank of the He (河水). Of the situation between these two you will have a settled view of your own. Seek out the able men in hiding, reckon up and join to you the righteous troops, keep order on the field and advance and destroy them." And in the directive of the fourteenth it was said: "Examine the particulars of it, and weigh whether to advance or to withdraw."

Your servant has weighed it over and over and closely with the Supreme Commander and the Inspector. In the situation of this day, neither to fight nor not to fight can be done. If we had a stout and open strength of our own and knew clearly that we should win, it would have been done long since; why should we have waited upon the Ming troops, staying the season and spending the days until two months were gone? It is only that our military strength is lonely and weak and our weapons unprovided, so that one false move would settle life and death at once; and that is why we meant to advance only after joining force with the Ming troops. The troops having long not come, and the cold being near spent, we thought rather to resolve upon death and fight one battle, leaving the reckoning of victory and defeat to Heaven; and this in general came of having no choice. It is for this too that your servant earlier laid his oppressed and urgent feeling before you several times and begged to hear the Ming commander's decisive word before disposing of matters.

Now the Ming troops have already crossed the river, and are at present engaging the several armies and moving much army grain, making it their settled plan to strike. So for our part, having already held out long, we should wait yet a while and look for an action secure in every part; we must not grow impatient over a few days and, going against the season, move rashly. How much more so when the enemy soldiers were few before and are many now, so that the strength needed to strike and take the place was easy formerly but is hard now.

Further, the household people of Shen Weijing (沈惟敬) are at present among the enemy and will surely hear this news. If the enemy learn that Shen Weijing's scheme has not sold and that the grand army is upon the border, they will think to ride the strength they have already gathered and plot to strike the first blow; and the business is then in the utmost peril and haste. Your servant reckons that although Shen Weijing erred in his scheme at the outset, the thing is already done; and so, if he be let go back for now and carry word, slackening the enemy's mind while the grand army advances quickly so that the enemy are afraid and dare not stir, it will also be convenient for taking the opening and advancing to strike, and seems a good plan.

In these few days the enemy soldiers have already gathered and the look of things is troubling. If the Ming troops do not advance quickly, it is to be feared there will be a regret beyond reaching. Let the court contrive it by every means, and have them press forward in a race with the season.