Requesting That the Superintendent Be Urged to Advance the Army請速懇請於經略以圖進兵狀
臣將兵部牌文謄書上送提督今此擧措每以爲非其本意出於經略指揮勢難自由以此爲辭今雖懇請於提督而勢無所益臣前日呈文云將在軍君令有所不受苟有可乘之機豈能千里請戰提督不答其意可知大槪主張之權在於經略故得以此爲言且牌文內有候本部議處之語似有可議之端。朝廷急速懇請於經略有萬分可望痛迫之中更爲陳達
Your servant has copied out the paiwen (牌文) of the Board of War (兵部) and sends it up. The Commander-in-Chief always says that this proceeding is not his own intent but comes from the military commissioner's (經略) direction, and that in the state of things it is hard for him to act as he pleases, and he makes this his excuse. It being so, though one should now entreat the Commander-in-Chief, it would add nothing to our condition.
Your servant submitted a paper the other day saying, "When a commander is with his army there are things in which he does not receive even the sovereign's order. If there is truly an opening to be seized, why should he ask leave to fight from a thousand li away?" The Commander-in-Chief gave no answer, and his intent may be known.
In general the authority to decide lies with the military commissioner, and so he makes this his talking point. Moreover there are words within the paiwen saying, "Wait upon this headquarters to deliberate and dispose," so that there seems to be a thread that may yet be argued. If the court entreats the military commissioner in haste, one thing in ten thousand may be hoped for. In the midst of pain and urgency your servant lays this before you again.
Interlinear notes 1
四月十九日
The nineteenth day of the fourth month