Entry

It was Imperially commanded that the government troops who had returned from Jiao-zhi were to be gathered and employed in the military guards where they were at this time. Previously, the Emperor had proclaimed that the troops who had gone on expedition to Jiao-zhi or subsequently proceeded there were to return to their original units. Following this, some troops went back to their villages and did not go back to their original guards. As those involved included many crack troops and, in consideration of the problems of replacing these troops, the Auxiliary Ministry of War requested permission to order the relevant officials of the military guards to visit the villages nearby their guards. The soldiers found who had originally been in nearby guards were to be ordered to return to their guards, while those who had been in distant guards were to be employed in the guards where they were at this time. These arrangements would also apply to those liable for military service as replacements for troops killed in battle. The Emperor approved this and said: "If they again refuse to do service, they are to be charged with desertion or punished for the crime of replacing strong troops with weak. If their relatives or neighbours hide them or do not turn them in, they are to be punished for the same crimes."