638 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
authorities mobilized soldiers, they fixed the number of soldiers [to be mobi-
lized] recklessly, and it produced abuses, which were not few.
“Now, we have already made complete military and household records of
the people. Based on those records, the provincial military commissioner
should assign the number of soldiers to be mobilized. He should train sol-
diers during the agricultural off- season and either attack or defend against
the enemy by mobilizing them during a crisis.
“If it happens that the magistrate and the military commissioner fail to
send officers and soldiers in time or repair weapons and armor improperly,
or if they send only old and infirm soldiers, their offenses should first be
discussed in accordance with the law and then they should be reported to
the governor.
“And if it also happens that the provincial military commissioner hesi-
tates to take immediate action despite reports that the enemy is approaching,
fails to do his best in the battle, raises troops for no reason, musters the
entire forces when the enemy are few in their number, goes hunting at an
inappropriate time, or allows officers to roam throughout the province when
they have no official businesses to carry out, the governor should conduct
investigations and indict his offense.
“It is also essential for the magistrate to know the exact number of resi-
dents in his district. [Hence] the household register in each province is
required to show the individuals belonging to each household. However, the
magistrate tends to forget the general intent behind the law of making
household records and tries to recruit all the members of each household for
every military affair or corvée labor project, depriving them of the time to
look after their crops and thus causing their financial ruin.
“From this day forward, the members of a household, including sons,
sons- in- law, brothers, and nephews who are aged below sixty and above six-
teen, regardless of whether they live together, should perform military ser-
vice under the name of the household head. A cavalry soldier who is on
active duty shall be provided with four support personnel (pongjok);^12 a
cavalry soldier who is not on active duty, three support personnel; an infan-
try soldier, two support personnel; and a soldier who has neither paternal
nor maternal relatives, just like the regular soldiers, a single support per-
sonnel.
“When the people are called up for corvée labor, support personnel should
be excluded, and when they are called to military service, the number of- “Support personnel” here indicates support taxpayers for duty soldiers.