Letter to the Gyeonggi Inspector移京畿巡察使文

The training of the troops of the Left Camp of Gyeonggi has taken shape, but the soldiers of the Right Camp are still without order. The Defense Commander too has been replaced, and there is no one to take charge, which is deeply worrying.

In general the officials and the people of each district do not know the true intent of the regulations for military training. This method is convenient, easy, and simple; it is nothing like scraping soldiers together, nor is it the sort of thing where orders are sent out from the office gate to assemble men. Yet when the work is carried out much of its subtle principle is lost: some leave it in the hands of underlings, so that there is the trouble of disturbance and of men being left out; some look upon it as the same as drafting soldiers and sending them off to garrison duty, so that the hearts of the people are made uneasy. At every turn there is more than one thing amiss, and this is truly painful to the heart.

This comes of those in charge of affairs in each district not understanding the true intent of training troops. Let the magistrates, the commanders, and the military officers summon the squad leaders (gichong) and the company leaders (daechong), admonish them plainly and teach them earnestly, and have each take his own village as his unit, bound together as a village association is bound. In ordinary times let each practice at his convenience the skill he himself wishes; in the farming season allow them to return to the fields, so that plowing is not hindered. If the magistrate only applies the single matter of reward and punishment clearly to each company officer, so that the people know the way of encouragement and chastisement, then of themselves they will be diligent and there will be results. Make these circumstances known once more, point by point, and set things in order quickly.