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28 book I CHAPTER : TRAVELING TO THE POST The Magistrate Who Travels to Assume His Post Should Appear Austere and Benign but Very Reticent, as Though He Were a Mute. The magistrate should always start his travel early in the morning and stop early in the evening. It is acceptable for the day to break as soon as he mounts his horse and for the sun to linger when he dismounts. Summoning the chief clerk, he strictly instructs him, “If the servants are finished with their meal, have them bring mine right away. Since it is ideal that the day break when I mount my horse, use your good judgment in doing what you have to do.” If the magistrate, inexperienced in the affairs of his subordinates, rises early and, without prior notice, rushes to have breakfast and jumps on his horse, his servants have no choice but to rise up and follow him before they finish their meals. The magistrate should not gallop on horseback. If he does, he will appear insincere and impatient in people’s eyes. When he passes through narrow winding roads, he should not look back. If he does, those who follow him have to dismount from their horses [as a sign of respect] even if the ground is messy with mud. Always mindful of their situation, he should not only try not to look back but also to turn away purposely so that others can feel comfortable during the trip. When they are on the road, he should not reproach the clerks and attendants who do not bend their backs toward him. Additionally, he should just keep silent as though he were a deaf-mute. The three daily meals taken on the road during the trip should not exceed four dishes per meal, which include a bowl of soup, a dish of kimchi, and a bowl of soybean sauce. The four dishes indicate two dou and two bian [two different types of ancient ritual vessels]. Whether he eats at a restaurant or at a roadside kitchen, he should eat no more and no less than four dishes. As for the goods required for this purpose, he should leave everything in the charge of his servants, saying not a word with regard to those items even if there is a little waste. If his district is poor like Mokch’ŏn and Yŏngi and his stipend is meager, his regular meal should be limited to two dishes. In our custom, when the magistrate goes out to inspect his district, an official leading his carriage shouts aloud in order to announce the magistrate’s presence. This custom was originally intended to keep the people quiet, but it seems to backfire. When his carriage arrives at the outskirts of a town, the magistrate 69. Districts in South Ch’ungch’ŏng Province. 70. Since the stipend of the magistrate was paid from the reserve grain (yuch’imi) of his district, its amount depends on the financial status of the district. Assuming Office 29 should summon the chief clerk and tell him: “Since I have no taste for your practice of announcing my arrival by shouting, shout only once when you pass through the villages, and only three times when you pass through the towns or when you enter or leave them, or when you enter or leave the post stations. If you exceed the limit I have outlined, you shall be punished.” Classic of Poetry says, “I heard that you were leaving for a distant region, but I heard only the news, not a sound.” The traveling of a superior man should be solemn and dignified in this way. According to our customary fondness for noisiness , when a band of servants escort their magistrate, they chatter and babble about all sorts of things. Onlookers will be little impressed by the magistrate because his carriage lacks solemn dignity. He who is thoughtful and dignified would not enjoy such noises. A magistrate must be able to think about the welfare of his people and use all his knowledge and concentration even when on horseback. In the face of constant disruption, how can he come up with fine and sensible ideas? When Lü Huiqing was appointed prefect of Yanzhou, he was supposed to pass through Xidu on his way to his post. At that time Zheng Yichuan heard the news and said to his disciples: “I have heard the name of Lü Jifu [Lü Huiqing] but have never seen him in...

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