Report That the Ming Generals Turned Back Not for Want of Grain天將已定旋師非緣糧餉乏絕狀
今見提督咨文緣各處運糧不繼難於前進至有還師之語垂成大功將虧一簣云。朝廷遠在凡百措置全委于卿而莫重芻糧不爲趁措至於提督移咨有此旋師之意予心尤爲缺然卿宜竭其心力十分周旋無使乏絕事本月初三日左副承旨成貼有。旨書狀臣在開城府祇受京畿人力殫竭彼此輸運之間不無淹留遲滯之事至於近日則南方運糧連續來泊時在江口者米豆幷一萬餘石提督還師之計不必在於糧餉乏絕不幸自碧蹄輕進一跌之後遽爲退縮自碧蹄退坡州自坡州退東坡自東坡退開城其意可知今日已定旋師之計臣呈文陳辭前後懇乞力已竭矣自中已定之計不以微言而有所移易大事將去莫非臣等無狀之罪伏地痛泣不知所達
"Now, looking at the Commander-in-Chief's dispatch (咨文), it is said that in many places the carrying of army grain is not kept up and that it is hard to advance, and there are even words of turning the army back, so that the great merit all but accomplished is to crumble for want of one basketful. The court is far off and all the provision has been left wholly to you, yet the fodder and army grain, than which nothing is of greater moment, have not been provided in time, and it has come to this, that the Commander-in-Chief sends a letter showing his intent to turn the army back; my heart is the more grieved. You ought to spend heart and strength and manage it in full, that nothing may fall short." — such were the orders, written out and sent down by the Left Deputy Royal Secretary on the third day of this month, which your servant received at Gaeseong.
In Gyeonggi the strength of men is spent, and in the carrying this way and that there has not been wanting some hanging back and slowness. Of late, however, the army grain carried from the south has arrived one load after another, and what lies at the river mouth alone, rice and beans together, is ten thousand odd sacks. The Commander-in-Chief's design of turning the army back is certainly not from the grain having run out. Unhappily, since he went forward lightly at Byeokje (碧蹄) and was once thrown down, he has shrunk back all at once, withdrawing from Byeokje to Paju, from Paju to Dongpa, and from Dongpa to Gaeseong; so that his intent may well be known.
Today it has already been settled that the army shall be turned back, so your servant sent up a letter stating the circumstances and pleaded earnestly first and last and spent all his strength; but as it is a design already settled among themselves, trifling words change nothing. The great work has come to be ruined, and it is all the guilt of your servants' unworthiness. Prostrate on the ground and weeping in pain, he knows not what to report.