Letter to the Inspectors of the Four Provinces移四道巡察使文
國之所以維持綱紀者只在於上下相承禮敬相接之間近來綱紀解弛百度廢墜內外上下之間禮貌蕩然無復有敬愼之意紀綱之廢實在於此姑以文報一事言之方伯之於體察使守令之於觀察使階級有序不可相混以。中朝文移之體觀之如軍門號令則自總兵提督以及布政衙門皆敬愼不敢視爲等夷雖自相往來文移語及上司則必皆上書於他行不得連書可知紀綱之行雖在文字之間不敢輕忽近觀各處監司粘移報狀守令其於上司衙門例皆連書詞說倨傲略無敬愼之意極爲慢忽此事如此他可類推以此。朝廷之令不行於外方監司之令不行於守令守令之令不行於民間將帥之令不行於褊裨褊裨之令不行於軍卒下陵上替不可收拾良可寒心本府猥當重任他事百不整頓而先言文報之事捨重言輕間未免不知類之譏然小事尙未能正則何望於大事哉自今凡文移等事自監司以下一切依前日下四道體察使入。啓所定規例施行而守令文報中如有不遵式例仍舊傲慢者觀察使毋得上使
What upholds the discipline of a state lies only in this: that high and low are joined to one another and meet with ritual respect. Of late discipline has slackened and every rule has fallen in ruin. Between inner and outer, high and low, the forms of courtesy have been swept away as though washed off, and there is no longer any intent of respect and care. The collapse of discipline lies truly in this.
Take first the single matter of official dispatches. In a provincial governor's dealings with the Field Marshal, and a magistrate's dealings with the Provincial Governor, the ranks have their order and may not be mixed together. Look at the manner in which documents pass in the court of China: in such things as the commands of the military office, from the Regional Commander and the Supreme Commander down to the Provincial Administration Office, all are respectful and careful and dare not regard themselves as equals. Even in documents that pass back and forth, whenever the words touch upon a superior they must all begin a new line and be written higher, and may not be written on continuously. From this one may know that the working of discipline, though it lie between the written graphs, is not dared to be taken lightly.
Lately I have seen the reports forwarded under cover by the governors of several places. In addressing the offices of their superiors the magistrates as a rule write straight on without a break, and their words are haughty, with not the slightest intent of respect and care. This is utterly careless. If this matter stands so, the rest may be inferred.
For this reason the commands of the court are not carried out in the provinces, the commands of the governor are not carried out upon the magistrates, the commands of the magistrates are not carried out among the people, the commands of the commanders are not carried out upon their aides, and the commands of the aides are not carried out upon the soldiers. Those below slight those above and those above fall in ruin, past all mending. It is truly disheartening.
This office, holding presumptuously a heavy charge, has not set in order a hundred other matters, and yet speaks first of the matter of dispatches. It will not escape the mockery of having cast aside the weighty and spoken of the light, of not knowing one thing from another. Yet if even a small matter cannot be set right, how is a great one to be hoped for?
From now on, in all forwarding of documents, let the governors and all below them act in accordance with the rules laid down and reported to the Field Marshal of the Four Provinces on an earlier day. If among the dispatches of the magistrates there are any that do not follow the set forms and remain haughty as before, the Provincial Governor shall ……
Interlinear notes 2
四月四日
The base text breaks off at 「觀察使毋得上使」 and the words that follow are missing. The sense is not clear, so it is left as it stands.
The fourth day of the fourth month.