Report on Matters Settled after the Ming Army Withdrew天兵退後處置諸事狀
今此蔚山之役。天兵初日乘賊不意以兵馬蹂之賊倉皇不能支吾奔敗不暇外栅爲。天兵所奪賊被逐入內城魄喪膽破若於此時登時進薄則內窟可以卽破而貪其斬級擄掠之利未免遲徊於城外賊遂得入城閉門堅守天兵與我軍累日攻之且無器械內薄登城輒爲炮丸所傷不克而退死者日積於城下旣而左右道之賊從水陸來救其數極多。天將知其勢難遽卽回軍外賊與窟中之賊相應合攻。天兵與我軍之在箭灘者被害尤多而我軍則亦多乘亂逃走者初五日諸將金應瑞金大虛朴毅長高彥伯權應銖成允文鄭起龍李時言韓明璉具思稷李廷堅等皆會於慶州而散軍稍稍來集者總計八百餘名臣與都元帥權慄相議使之仍駐慶州鄭起龍則還右道更收餘兵以爲遮截之計而。天兵糧餉輸到慶州者尙多若留之恐爲賊所資令巡察使從事官成安義次知支給我軍之料江原道軍糧船運迎日者又三千石此距賊船往來處尤近卽傳令於左水使李雲龍使之護輸於寧海府藏置待令上道軍糧方輸在道者各令收拾還去道內人民竭盡心力男女老弱負戴追隨庶幾得見平賊之日不幸至此莫不驚駭皆有散潰之計可爲痛哭臣姑留慶州數日少定人心追後上去安東經理駐軍處以待。朝廷指揮計料
In this battle at Ulsan, on the first day the Ming troops took the gap when the enemy did not expect them and trampled them with horse and man, so that the enemy, panic-stricken, could not hold out and had not even leisure to flee and break; they lost the outer palisade to the Ming troops and were driven into the inner wall with their wits gone and their courage broken. Had they been pressed hard at once at that moment, the inner lair could have been broken there and then. But from greed for taking heads and for spoil they could not help lingering outside the wall, and the enemy at last got into the wall, shut the gate and held it fast.
The Ming troops and our troops struck for several days; but having no siege engines besides, whenever they drew near within and climbed the wall they were hurt by cannon and bullets and drew back without winning, and the dead piled up daily below the wall. Presently the enemy of the Left Province and the Right Province came by water and by land to the rescue, and their number was exceedingly great; and so the Ming commander, knowing that with such a posture the thing could not be done suddenly, turned his troops back at once. The enemy outside and the enemy within the lair answered one another and struck together, and the Ming troops and our troops who were at Jeontan suffered the more harm; and many of our troops besides fled in the confusion.
On the fifth the several commanders—Kim Eungseo (金應瑞), Kim Daeheo (金大虛), Bak Uijang (朴毅長), Go Eonbaek (高彥伯), Gwon Eungsu (權應銖), Seong Yunmun (成允文), Jeong Giryong (鄭起龍), Yi Sieon (李時言), Han Myeongnyeon (韓明璉), Gu Sajik (具思稷), Yi Jeonggyeon (李廷堅) and the rest—all gathered at Gyeongju, and those of the scattered troops who came in and gathered little by little were eight hundred and more in all. Your servant took counsel with the Supreme Commander Gwon Yul (權慄) and had them stay on at Gyeongju, and had Jeong Giryong go back to the Right Province to gather again the troops that remain and make that his plan for barring the crossing.
Of the Ming army's grain, much that was carried to Gyeongju is still there; and fearing that if it were left as it is it would become the enemy's capital, your servant had Seong Anui (成安義), the Inspector's staff officer, take charge of it and distribute it as rations for our troops. Of the Gangwon grain, what came by ship to Yeongil is three thousand seok besides; and since this place is nearer still to where the enemy's ships come and go, orders were at once sent to the Left Naval Commander Yi Unnyong (李雲龍) to convoy it to Yeonghae-bu and store it there and await command. The grain of the upper country that is just now on the road was each lot ordered gathered up and turned back.
The people of the province had given their whole heart and strength, men and women, the old and the weak bearing loads on their backs and heads and following after, in hope of seeing the day the enemy was put down; and now, when it has unhappily come to this, there is none who is not startled and afraid, and all harbor a mind to scatter and break up. It is enough to make one wail aloud.
Your servant means to stay a few days more at Gyeongju, until men's hearts are a little settled, and then to go up after them to Andong, where the Superintendent has halted his troops, and await the court's direction.