DISINTEGRATION OF THE EARLY CHaSON 91although the basic quota of troops in peacetime was supposed to be 180,000
men with another 320,000 support personnel - a total of 500,000 men - after
the war there were barely 60,000 men left.^98 In short, once the national crisis
was over, demoralization of the troops and their commanders undermined gov-
ernment plans to rebuild the army.
Yu Songnyong's Plan for Wall Construction. Yu Songnyong also realized from
observing the superiority of the Japanese in the construction and use of fortifi-
cations that a plan of major reconstruction of old and new forts had to be insti-
tuted to strengthen Korean defenses. He criticized the Korean troops because
they simply piled up earth, scraps of wood, and branches instead of construct-
ing palisade walls, and punched holes in existing walls for shooting their guns.
Yu felt that Korea did not have knowledge of the best architectural plans for
wall construction, which required crenellated sections to be placed at regular
intervals along a wall, proper dimensions for the height of the wall and the crenel-
lated sections that would allow troops standing on the edge to be beyond the range
of most fire from below and to have a free range of fire in shooting against an
attacking enemy down below. Promontories jutting out from the main wall should
be placed at intervals to allow a pattern of cross fire against an attacking force,
and inner walls should be added to provide an extra dimension of protection as
well. Korean walls at the time were so low that the defenders on the top were
inundated by enemy shot and arrows and had to creep around on their knees to
avoid being hit. Yu himself did build a wall in the Chinese style at Anju near the
Yalu River, and he also recommended extensive artillery training, but Anju was
never attacked, and Yu's plans were never implemented by the government.^99
Yu Songnyong, who might have played an important role in rebuilding
national defense, was unfortunately impeached by the censorate for seizing power
and forming a clique, fouling up national policy, working hand-in-glove with
Shen Wei-ching, stripping men of their office warrants unjustly, and other charges
in 1598 as soon as the Japanese began their retreat. Despite the defense of for-
mer Censor-General Kim Uong, he was finally dismissed and stripped of his
own warrants, and the chance for significant reform was delayed. '00