514 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
and then, appointing supervisors among unemployed sons of civil and mili-
tary officials or regular officials who are attentive and honest. For those who
are unable to come to the relief centers, being too old and sick or starved or
ashamed because of their yangban status, relief should be provided sepa-
rately. The magistrate who performs an outstanding job in saving people
from starvation in his district shall be reported with his name and official
title as well as the number of people that he has saved so that the informa-
tion can be used as a reference for his promotion. The magistrate who
neglects providing relief to starving people and thereby causes their death,
however, shall be punished by beating with the heavy stick along with the
supervisor of famine relief [whom he has appointed]. Further, the magis-
trate shall be dismissed from office and the supervisor of famine relief
assigned to the navy, and their names and official titles shall be reported.”The Privy Council reported to the king a proposal made by Chŏng Pun,
former vice commandant, and the proposal was generally like this:
“One of the best ways to promote agriculture is to construct embankment
dams. Though the magistrates are responsible for promoting agriculture,
they do not pay much attention to it. Since embankment dams are designed to
prevent drought and flood, I request the Privy Council to give orders to pro-
vincial governors and let them have magistrates of counties and districts in
their domains appoint supervisors of agriculture (kwŏnnonggwan) among the
unemployed officials who are capable and honest and, during the agricul tural
off- season, conserve snowmelt water by constructing embankment dams.
“What is important here is to make embankment dams so sturdy and
tight that they do not have water leaks. Additionally, the weep holes of the
dam should be made of stones and connected to the ditches, whose tops
parallel the height of the dam. Inside the ditches, a wooden structure is built
that has three to five holes to release water. Outside the ditches, another
wooden structure is made with water outlets so that the water inside dam
can be always released and regulated. In addition, a part of the embankment
dam on one side should be made a few feet lower than the other parts so that
water can be overflowed whenever the dam is flooded.
“The supervisor of agriculture is supposed to manage the water supply,
having a few households under his command. When agriculture starts in
the spring, farmers ask the supervisor to release the water of the reservoir,
and the supervisor opens the outlets of the dam one by one and distributes
water to those who need it. Then the water can be saved with no waste.