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Administration of Military Affairs 629 The following happened when Min Yŏgŏm was magistrate of Kwaksan. He was always diligent and never neglected military readiness. Hence he used to speak to his colleagues, the magistrates of neighboring districts, as follows: “Since we are all called to defend the king and the country in times when many things are taking place, I want you to behead me if I withdraw in a crisis. I will do the same if you withdraw.” Later, when Yi Kwal came to inspect the district as vice supreme field commander, he strictly ordered his officers not to abuse the people, and when he became a rebel leader, he invited all except Min Yŏgŏm to join him because he knew well that Min was not the kind of person to be persuaded easily. Even if Local Rebels Have Already Been Suppressed, Popular Feeling Can Still Be Suspicious and Afraid. Hence It Is Important to Show Trust to Those Who Are So Changeable and Pacify Them. When Yi Suil became provincial military commander of North Hamgyŏng Province, local people secretly crossed the river and surrendered themselves to the barbarians in the north. Previously the traitor Kuk Kyŏngin and his coconspirators had captured the prince and handed him over to the Japanese enemy. When the war was over, the people were naturally scared, and that was the reason that they decided to escape. But Commander Yi comforted them with kind words, so within a month the situation had calmed down. CHAPTER : DEFENDING THE DISTRICT AGAINST ENEMY ATTACK (It is hard to discuss military affairs in their entirety since they are too extensive and complicated. Therefore, I discuss only a few things that are very obvious among the duties of the magistrate.) 119. An official of the mid-Chosŏn period. His courtesy name was Unch’on. He also served as magistrate of Ulsan. 120. Yi Kwal (1587–1624) was a military official of the mid-Chosŏn period. As provincial military commander of P’yŏngan Province, he rendered a service in the restoration of Injo; however, he was extremely dissatisfied with the reward that he received. Thus he rose in rebellion and once captured Seoul. However, he was defeated at the battle of Anhyŏn and was assassinated by one of his own men. 121. Originally a member of the literati of Chŏnju, he was banished to Hoeryŏng, North Hamgyŏng Province, and served as a yamen clerk until the Japanese invasion in 1592. Capturing a Korean prince who took refuge in his town, he surrendered himself to the Japanese. However, he was murdered by the local Righteous Guerrilla Army. 630 book VIII When There Is a Foreign Invasion, the Local Magistrates Must Defend the Districts of Which They Are in Charge, and Their Responsibility Does Not Differ from That of Commanding Generals and High Officials. The following happened when Hao Zhao of the Wei kingdom was defending Chencang. Zhuge Liang advanced to Sanguan and surrounded Chencang with twenty or thirty thousand soldiers under his command. Zhuge Liang tried to conciliate Hao Zhao, but the latter refused to give in. Hao Zhao’s army was no more than several thousand. Driving mobile siege ladders and ramming vehicles up to the fortress wall, Zhuge Liang’s army launched an attack, and Hao Zhao responded with fire arrows that burned the ladders and the soldiers on them. Hao also destroyed the ramming vehicles by hurling stones. This time Zhuge Liang built an archery tower 100 chi tall and had the soldiers discharge arrows from the tower. At the same time he filled the moats with dirt and ordered his soldiers to climb the fortress walls. Watching this, Hao Zhao immediately built another wall inside the fortress. Then Zhuge Liang dug a tunnel to infiltrate the fortress, but Hao Zhao also blocked the tunnel by filling it with dirt. They exchanged attack and counterattack day and night for twenty days. The government of Wei dispatched Zhang He to save Hao Zhao, but Zhuge Liang, running out of military provisions, withdrew his army before Zhang He’s relief army arrived. The following happened when Shen Pu of the Song dynasty was magistrate of Xuyi. At that time the region of Jianghuai was peaceful. As soon as he took office , however, Shen Pu spent his time and energy on military readiness, believing that his district was a strategic point. Thus he repaired fortress walls, dug moats...

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