344 t h e a n n a l s o f k i n g t’a e j o
Taizong called ‘the best way that Yŏnsu can take.’ If Yŏnsu had followed
the chancellor’s advice, Taizong would have withdrawn his army, because
he could not wait until the grass dried and water froze. Though the relief
army [led by Yŏnsu] was defeated from outside [the fortress], Ansi Fortress
was able to survive without surrendering to the enemy because it refrained
from attacking the enemy recklessly. So Taizong finally withdrew his armies
back to his country, after displaying their power under the ramparts, making
lame excuses that winter comes early in Liaodong.
“The reason that Taizong, with his intelligence and boldness, and Li Ji,^16
with his courage and wisdom, were unable to take that single fortress of
ours was because the fortress was on rugged terrain, well stocked with pro-
visions, and courageously defended by our soldiers, wasn’t it?
“Now our dynasty has newly established laws and institutions, and when
it comes to the ways of raising armies to defend the country against the
enemy, they are more detailed and meticulous than ever. However, when it
comes to places to store provisions and station troops, the situation remains
unchanged. This is why I dare to decide to make this presumptuous pro-
posal despite my foolishness and inexperience.
“Last winter, I traveled to the northern part of our district for inspection
and observed the topography of that region. A fortress was situated on a
rugged mountain, and I found a good place for storing military provisions
and weapons. The fortress is 150 li away from Hwaryŏng to the east and
only three or four post- horse stops from Sŏngju to the west. This is indeed
a strategic point connecting the Northeast and Northwest Regions. Sages
said that a little preparation can save a lot of trouble, and the School of the
Military (Pyŏngga) teaches that one can win the war only when he carries
himself as if he faced the enemy. If event such as attacking Ansi Fortress
happen, battles can be won when one takes an appropriate measure that can
be found in the advice of Chancellor Ko. If there are no provisions for emer-
gency, how can we deal with the crisis?
“In my humble opinion, if the grains produced from the eight districts of
Koksan, Ich’ŏn, Hyŏpkye, Suan, Samdŭng, Sŏngju, Yangam, and Sudŏk are
all set aside for military provisions and the officials of the Quartermaster
Bureau personally visit these places to collect the grains and transport them- Originally called Li Shiji (594―669), he became one of the most outstanding generals
during the reign of Taizong. He served as the commander of the army against Koguryŏ and
eventually took it over in 668.