1
兵七 〈（召募之製）〉
Military Affairs VII (Recruitment Regulations)
2
召募之製起於府衛之廢。 唐末士卒疲於征役，多亡命者，梁祖令諸軍悉黵麵為字，以識軍號，是為長征之兵。 方其募時，先度人材，次閱走躍，試瞻視，然後黵麵，賜以緡錢、衣履而隸諸籍。 國初因之，或募土人就所在團立，或取營伍子弟聽從本軍，或募饑民以補本城，或以有罪配隸給役。 取之雖非一途，而伉健者遷禁衛，短弱者為廂軍，製以隊伍，束以法令。 當其無事時，雖不無爵賞衣廩之費，一有征討，則以之力戰鬥，給漕免，而天下獷悍失職之徒，皆為良民之衛矣。
Recruitment as an institution began when the fubing garrison system was abandoned. In late Tang, troops exhausted by constant campaigning often fled. The Later Liang founder ordered every army to tattoo unit marks on recruits' faces, creating the standing expeditionary forces. At muster they first measured stature, then tested running, leaping, and eyesight; only then were faces tattooed, cash and kit issued, and names entered on the rolls. Early Song kept these methods: peasants might be recruited and formed locally; sons of serving soldiers could enlist with their parent commands; famine refugees might fill home garrisons; or convicts could be assigned as labor troops. Recruits came from many channels, but the fit went to the Palace Guards, the less robust to the Provincial Corps, organized in companies and governed by strict regulations. Peacetime still brought costs for ranks, rewards, and rations; but in war these men fought and moved supplies, turning the empire's toughest unemployed into protectors of ordinary citizens.
3
初，太祖揀軍中強勇者號兵樣，分送諸道，令如樣招募。 後更為木梃，差以尺寸高下，謂之等長杖，委長吏、都監度人材取之。 當部送闕者，軍頭司覆驗，引對便坐，分隸諸軍。
Taizu first picked the army's strongest men as "model soldiers," sent them to each circuit, and ordered recruitment to match those standards. Later wooden staffs graded by height—the "graded-height staffs"—replaced the models, and circuit administrators and camp supervisors measured recruits against them. Recruits sent to court were re-tested by the Military Appointment Bureau, presented before the emperor at informal audience, and assigned to regiments.
4
真宗祥符中，重定等杖，自五尺八寸至五尺五寸為五等，諸州部送闕下，及等者隸次軍。
Under Zhenzong in the Xiangfu period, height standards were reset in five grades from five foot eight to five foot five; prefectures sent qualified men to court and slotted them by grade.
5
仁宗天聖元年，詔京東西、河北、河東、淮南、陝西路募兵，當部送者刺“指揮”二字，家屬給口糧。 兵官代還，以所募多寡為賞罰。 又詔益、利、梓、夔路歲募民充軍士，及數即部送，分隸奉節、川效忠、川忠節。 於是遠方健勇失業之民，悉有所歸。
In Renzong's first Tiansheng year, circuits from Jingdong through Huainan to Shaanxi were ordered to recruit; men sent to court were tattooed "Command," and their families received rations. Officers returning from duty were rewarded or penalized according to their recruitment totals. Another edict required Yi, Li, Zi, and Kui to raise troops yearly; once quotas were met, recruits were sent to court and assigned to the Fengjie, Chuan Loyalty, and Chuan Dedication armies. Thus fierce, jobless men from remote circuits all gained employment.
6
慶曆七年，諸路募廂軍及五尺七寸已上者，部送闕下，試補禁衛。
In Qingli 7, Provincial Corps men and recruits five foot seven or taller were sent to court for testing into the Palace Guards.
7
至和元年，河北、河東、陝西募就糧兵，騎以四百人、步以五百人為一營。
In Zhihe 1, Hebei, Hedong, and Shaanxi raised "grain-paid" troops, with four hundred cavalry or five hundred infantry per battalion.
8
嘉祐二年復定等仗，自上四軍至武肅、忠靖皆五尺已上，差以寸分而視其奉錢：一千者以五尺八寸、七寸、三寸為三等。 奉錢七百者，以五尺七寸、六寸、五寸為三等。 奉錢五百者，以五尺六寸、五寸五分為三等。 奉錢四百者，以五尺五寸、四寸五分為二等。 奉錢三百者，以五尺五寸、四寸五分、四寸、三寸、二寸為六等。 奉錢二百者，以五尺四寸、三寸五分、三寸、二寸為四等。 不給奉錢者，以五尺二寸或下五寸七指、八指為等。 唯武嚴、禦營喝探以藝精者充，諸司筦庫執技者不設等杖。
In Jiayou 2 height standards were revised again: from the Upper Four Armies through Wusu and Zhongjing all required five foot or more, with pay graded by fractions of an inch—for a one-thousand-cash stipend, three grades at five foot eight, five foot seven, and five foot three. For seven hundred cash, three grades at five foot seven, five foot six, and five foot five. For five hundred cash, three grades at five foot six and five foot five and a half. For four hundred cash, two grades at five foot five and five foot four and a half. For three hundred cash, six grades from five foot five down to five foot two. For two hundred cash, four grades from five foot four to five foot two. Men without stipends were graded at five foot two or below, down to five foot seven or eight tenths of a cun. Only Wuyan and imperial scout units took men chosen for skill; warehouse clerks and technical specialists were exempt from height grading.
9
七年，御史唐介言：“比歲等募禁軍多小弱，不勝鎧甲，請以初創尺寸為定，敢議減縮者，論以違製。 ”詔：“禁軍備戰者，宜著此令。 其備役雄武、宣敕六軍、搭材之類，如軍馬敕。”
In year 7, Censor Tang Jie reported that recent Palace Guard recruits were often too slight for armor and urged locking heights to the original standards, with penalties for anyone who tried to lower them. The court replied that combat-ready Guards should follow this rule. Reserve units such as Xiongwu, Xuanchi Six Armies, and labor corps would follow separate cavalry regulations.
10
治平二年，募陝西土民、營伍子弟隸禁軍，一營填止八分。 又遣使畿縣、南京、曹、濮、單、陳、許、蔡、亳州募民補虎翼、廣勇，人加賜絹、布各一。
In Zhiping 2, Shaanxi locals and soldiers' sons filled Palace Guard battalions only to eighty percent of quota. Envoys also recruited around the capital and in Cao, Pu, Dan, Chen, Xu, Cai, and Bo to fill Huyi and Guangyong units, with an extra bolt of silk and cloth per man.
11
治平四年，詔延州募保捷五營，以備更戍。 熙寧元年，詔諸州募饑民補廂軍。
In Zhiping 4, Yanzhou was ordered to raise five Baojie battalions for rotating frontier service. In Xining 1, all circuits were told to recruit famine refugees into the Provincial Corps.
12
二年，樞密院言：“國初邊州無警則罷兵，今既講和，而屯兵至多，徒耗金帛。 若於近裏糧賤處增募營兵，但令往戍極邊，甚為便計。 ”帝與文彥博及韓絳、陳升之、呂公弼等議之，或以為自古皆募營兵，遇事息即罷，或以為緣邊之兵不可多減。 乃命彥博等詳議以聞。
In Xining 2, the Bureau of Military Affairs noted that early Song had demobilized frontier troops in peacetime, yet after the peace treaty garrisons had swollen, wasting vast sums. Raising more troops in cheap-grain districts inland and posting them only on the far frontier would be far more efficient. The emperor consulted Wen Yanbo, Han Jiang, Chen Shengzhi, and Lü Gongbi; some argued camp armies had always been hired and discharged after crises, others that border forces could not be cut deeply. He ordered Yanbo's group to study the matter and report back.
13
三年七月，詔京西路於有糧草州軍招廂軍，共三萬人為額。 十一月，知定州滕甫乞下本路依舊制募弓箭社，以為邊備。 從之。
In month 7 of Xining 3, Jingxi was told to raise Provincial Corps in grain-rich prefectures, cap thirty thousand. In month 11, Dingzhou prefect Teng Fu asked to restore local archer militia recruitment for border defense. The request was granted.
14
四年十二月，樞密院言：“在京係役兵士，舊額一萬八千二百五十九人，見闕六千三百九十二人，若招揀得足，即不須外路勾抽，以免不習水土、凍餒道斃之患。 欲於在京及府界、京東西、河北招少壯兵，止供在京功役，不許臣僚占差，不過期年，可使充足。 卻對減在外招募之數，樁管所減糧賜上供，以給有司之用。 ”從之。
In month 12 of year 4, the Bureau reported capital labor troops were 6,392 below their 18,259 quota; filling them locally would spare men the diseases and deaths of long transfers. They proposed recruiting young men near the capital for capital labor only, barred from official drafts, to reach full strength within a year. External recruiting would be cut correspondingly, and saved rations banked for court ministries. The plan was approved.
15
五年，權發遣延州趙禼招到漢蕃弓箭手人騎四千九百八十四，為八指揮，遂擢吏部員外郎，加賜銀絹二百。
In year 5, acting Yanzhou commissioner Zhao Qi raised 4,984 Han and tribal archers in eight commands; he was promoted to Vice Minister of Personnel with two hundred bolts of silver silk.
16
七年，分遣使臣諸路選募熙河效用，先以名聞。 河北、河東所募兵悉罷。 八年，詔軍士祖父母、父母老疾無侍丁而應募在他處者，聽徙。
In year 7, envoys were sent to circuits to scout and recruit Xihe auxiliaries, names to be reported in advance. Hebei and Hedong recruiting was halted entirely. In year 8, soldiers with aged, ill parents lacking caregivers at home could transfer to posts nearer kin.
17
九年，詔選補捧日、天武以下諸軍闕，馬軍三分補一，步軍十分補五。
In year 9, vacancies in Pengri, Tianwu, and subordinate guards were to be filled at one-third for cavalry and half for infantry.
18
元豐二年二月，經製熙河路邊防財用司言：“岷州┒川、荔川、閭川砦，通遠軍熟羊砦，乞置牧養十監，募兵為監牧指揮。 其營田乞依官莊例，募永濟卒二百人，其永濟卒通以千人為額。 ”從之。 七月，沿邊安撫司言：“北邊州軍主管刺事人乞給錢三千，選募使臣職員或百姓為之，以鉤致敵情。 仍選通判及監官考其虛實，以行賞罰。 ”從之。 是年，以兗、鄆、齊、濟、濱、棣、德、博民饑，募為兵，以補開封府界、京東西將兵之闕。
In the second year of Yuanfeng-II, the Xihe frontier finance office asked for ten pasture supervisors at Minzhou and Tongyuan stockades, staffed by recruited pasture troops. For farming they wanted two hundred Yongji soldiers per estate, up to one thousand Yongji troops total. Approved. In month 7, border officials asked three thousand cash each for intelligence officers, recruited from officials or civilians to spy on enemies. Assistant prefects and supervisors would verify reports for rewards or penalties. Approved. That year famine in Yan, Yun, Qi, Ji, and other circuits led to recruiting refugees to fill capital and Jingdong unit vacancies.
19
三年，又詔：“府界諸路將下闕禁軍萬數，有司其速募之。 ”又詔：“河北水災，闕食民甚眾，宜寄招補軍。”
In year 3, an edict noted ten thousand capital-region Guard vacancies and ordered rapid filling. Another edict directed Hebei flood victims without food into provisional army recruitment.
20
四年，京東、西路以調發兵將，累請增戍。 朝廷以兵員有數，多寢其章。 然州郡實有負山帶海，奸盜所窺，亦當過為之慮，其令益廣應募者，與免貼軍及他役一年。 六月，詔：“在京奉錢七百以下，選募馬步軍萬五千人； 開封府界及本路共選募義兵保甲萬人； 如涇原五千人不足，於秦鳳路選募。”
In year 4, east and west Jingdong repeatedly asked for more garrison troops after troop deployments. The court, holding to fixed troop ceilings, usually ignored these requests. Still, coastal and mountain prefectures faced bandits and deserved consideration: widen recruitment and grant one-year exemptions from tied-garrison duty and other labor duties. In month 6, an edict ordered recruiting 10,500 capital infantry and cavalry among men paid under seven hundred cash. The capital district would also raise ten thousand militia and baojia troops. Shortfalls in Jingyuan's five thousand would be made up from Qinfeng.
21
五年五月，同提舉成都府等路茶場蒲宗閔乞自秦州至熙州量地裏遠近險易，置車鋪二十八，招刺兵士。 從之。 八月，詔開封府界、京西招軍依式賜外，仍增錢千。 十二月，詔京城四面巡檢募士於四門，取民年三十五以下者。 又詔河北立額步軍，各於逐指揮額外招百人。
In year 5-V, tea commissioner Pu Zongmin proposed twenty-eight relay depots from Qinzhou to Xizhou with recruited escort troops. Approved. In month 8, recruits in the capital district and Jingxi received an extra thousand cash beyond standard bounty. In month 12, capital patrols recruited men under thirty-five at the four city gates. Hebei also set infantry quotas, allowing each command one hundred men above establishment.
22
五年，詔一歲內能募及百人者，加秩一等。 四月，河東路經略司請以麟州飛騎、府州威遠子弟二十五以下剌為兵。
In year 5, officers who recruited a hundred men within a year gained one rank. In month 4, Hedong asked to enlist Linzhou Feiqi and Fuzhou Weiyuan youths under twenty-five.
23
七年，廣西都鈐轄司言：“本路土兵闕額數多，乞選使臣往福建、江南、廣東招簡投換兵四千人。 ”詔於江南、福建路委官招換。
In year 7, Guangxi reported large native-troop vacancies and asked to recruit four thousand transfer soldiers from Fujian, Jiangnan, and Guangdong. Jiangnan and Fujian officials were ordered to conduct transfers.
24
八年四月，河東路安撫使呂惠卿言：“河東敢勇以三百人為額，請給微薄，應募者少。 臣頃在鄜延路日，奏請增三等請給，借支省馬給七分草料，置營教習，自後應募者眾。 願依陝西路已得指揮。 ”從之。
In year 8-IV, Hedong pacifier Lü Huiqing said dare-brave troops, capped at three hundred, drew few recruits because pay was low. On Zhiyan he had raised pay three grades, loaned provincial horses at seventy percent fodder, and set up a training camp—after which enrollment surged. He asked to apply the same Shaanxi rules to Hedong. Approved.
25
哲宗元祐元年三月，詔河北保甲願投軍人及得上四軍等杖事藝者，特許招填，合給例物外，更增錢五千，中軍以下三千。 比等杖短一指，射保甲第一等弓弩，並許招刺。 從右司諫蘇轍請也。 六月，門下侍郎司馬光言：“諸州軍兵馬全欠，不足守禦之處，量與立額招添。”
In Yuanyou 1-III, Hebei militia volunteers meeting Palace Guard height and skill standards got extra bounties—five thousand cash above Central Army level, three thousand below. Men one finger short who could draw first-grade militia bows might still enlist. This followed a memorial from Right Remonstrance Su Che. In month 6, Vice Minister Sima Guang urged circuits with wholly inadequate garrisons to set quotas and recruit replacements.
26
八年，樞密院言：“今新招兵士多是饑民，未諳教閱，乞自今住營州軍差官訓練，候半年發遣赴軍前。 ”紹聖元年，樞密院乞立招禁軍官員賞格，如不及數，罰亦隨之。
In year 8, the Bureau noted new recruits were often famine refugees untrained in drill and asked garrison prefectures to train them six months before front-line deployment. In Shaosheng 1, the Bureau proposed reward-and-punishment standards for recruitment officers missing quotas.
27
四年，熙河蘭岷路都總管、提點熙河蘭岷等路漢蕃弓箭手司言，蘭州金城關欲招置步軍保捷四指揮、馬軍蕃落一指揮，從之。 詔陝西路添置蕃落軍十指揮，各以五百人為額，於永興軍、河中、鳳翔、同、華州各置兩指揮，並隸住營州軍將下統製訓練，委逐路所屬都總管司選官招人。 初，三省、密院欲以牧地募民牧養馬，久而未集，曾布以謂不若增騎兵為簡便。 兼土兵乃勁兵，又諸路出戍者已竭，及建此議，眾翕然皆以為允，帝亦樂從之。 蓋牧租見存者七百萬，歲額一百七十萬，而十指揮之費二十五萬而已，故可與募人養馬之法兼行也。
In year 4, the Lanzhou frontier office approved four Baojie infantry and one tribal cavalry command at Jincheng Pass. Shaanxi was told to add ten five-hundred-man tribal commands at five prefectures, trained locally and recruited by the frontier commander. The Secretariat and Bureau had long tried recruiting herdsmen without success; Zeng Bu argued expanding cavalry was simpler. Native troops were the empire's best fighters, and expeditionary pools were drained; the plan won universal assent, including the emperor's. Pasture rents held seven million with 1.7 million annual income, while ten new commands cost only 250,000—so both cavalry expansion and civilian horse programs could coexist.
28
徽宗崇寧元年，湖北都鈐轄舒亶奉旨相度召募施、黔州土丁，致討辰、沅山徭，每州無過七百人。 緣徭賊深在溪洞，險阻不通正軍故也。
In Huizong's Chongning 1, Hubei commander Shu Dan was ordered to raise Shi and Qian native levies against Yao rebels, capped at seven hundred per prefecture. Yao raiders hid in ravines where regular armies could not operate.
29
三年，京東等路招軍五萬，馬軍以崇捷、崇銳名，步軍以崇武、崇威名。
In year 3, Jingdong and other circuits raised fifty thousand troops: cavalry named Chongjie and Chongrui, infantry named Chongwu and Chongwei.
30
四年七月，熙河蘭湟路轉運使洪中孚自河東入覲，帝問崇威、崇銳新兵教閱就緒否。 中孚曰：“教閱易事也。 臣不知藝祖取天下之兵與神考所分將兵曾無減損，若未嚐減損，似不須增。 蓋兵貴簡練不貴多，今遽增二軍，所費至廣，臣不知獻議者於經費之外別有措置，或隻仰給朝廷也。 ”帝愕然曰：“初議增兵，未嚐議費，可即罷去。 ”中孚曰：“惰遊之卒不復安於南畝，今一旦罷遣，強者聚而為盜，弱者轉徙，則重為朝廷憂。 不若使填諸營闕； 無闕，聽於額外收管，不一二年盡矣。 ”帝稱善。 九月，詔：“近降指揮，在京、諸路招崇捷、崇武等指揮十萬人，又招效忠、蕃落指揮及額內不足人數，慮卒難敷額，可先招崇捷、崇武十萬人。 候人數稍見次第，即具申取旨。”
In year 4-VII, Xihe commissioner Hong Zhongfu, arriving from Hedong, was asked whether the new Chongwei and Chongrui units were drilled. Zhongfu replied that drilling them was easy. I do not know whether the armies Taizu used to conquer the empire and those Shenzong gave to commanders were ever cut; if not, expansion may be unnecessary. Armies should be lean, not massive; adding two corps now costs dearly—I wonder whether planners have funding beyond the regular budget or expect the court to pay. The emperor was taken aback. "When we first debated expanding the army, no one talked about cost—call it off at once." Zhongfu replied that idle soldiers would not simply return to the fields; if abruptly discharged, strong men would band together as robbers and weak ones would become refugees, creating fresh troubles for the court. It would be better to use them to fill vacancies in the camps. Where quotas were full, hold the surplus until openings appeared; within a year or two the excess would disappear naturally. The emperor approved. In the ninth month an edict noted that recent orders had called for recruiting one hundred thousand men into Chongjie, Chongwu, and related commands in the capital and every circuit, along with Xiaozhong and tribal units to cover quota shortfalls. Because filling every slot at once seemed impractical, Chongjie and Chongwu were to raise the first hundred thousand. Once recruitment showed steady progress, officials were to submit a full report for the emperor's decision.
31
五年，詔：“抑勒諸色人投軍者，並許自身及親屬越訴，其已剌字，仍並改正。”
In the fifth year an edict declared that anyone of any status who had been forced into the army might appeal for himself or his kin, and that men already branded with military tattoos were also to have the matter corrected.
32
政和二年，廣西都鈐司奏：“廣西兩將額一萬三百餘人，事故逃亡，於荊湖南北、江南東西寄招，緣諸路以非本職，多不用心。 今兵闕六分，欲乞本路、鄰路有犯徒並杖以下情重之人，除配沙門島、廣南遠惡並犯強盜凶惡、殺人放火、事幹化外並依法外，餘並免決刺填。 ”從之。
In Zhenghe 2 the Guangxi command reported that its two generals were authorized more than 10,300 men, but deaths and desertions had forced recruitment onto Jinghu and Jiangnan circuits, where officials treated the work as outside their main duties and gave it little attention. With six tenths of the force now missing, they asked to fill quotas from this circuit and its neighbors by drafting serious offenders sentenced to exile or beating, except men sent to Shamen Island or remote Guangnan, violent robbers, murderers, arsonists, cases touching foreign affairs, and others barred by law; all the rest were to be spared flogging and branding and assigned directly to service. The request was granted.
33
四年，中衛大夫童師敏言：“東南州郡例闕廂軍，凡有役使，並是和雇。 若令諸郡守臣並提刑司措置招填，庶可省費。 ”從之。
In the fourth year Central Guard Grandee Tong Shimin observed that southeastern prefectures usually had no garrison troops and relied on hired labor for every task. If prefects and circuit judicial commissioners were ordered to recruit and fill those quotas, the state might save considerable expense. Approved.
34
宣和元年，高陽關路安撫使吳玠奉手詔招填諸路禁軍闕額，以十分為率，招及四分以下遞展磨勘年，七分以上遞減磨勘年。 高陽關路河間府、滄、霸、恩州、信安軍招填數足，乞行推賞。 從之。
In Xuanhe 1 Wu Jie, pacification commissioner of the Gaoyang Pass circuit, received a handwritten edict to fill forbidden-army vacancies across the empire. On a scale of ten parts, officials who filled four tenths or less would have their merit-review cycles lengthened step by step, while those reaching seven tenths or more would have them shortened. Hejian, Cang, Ba, En, and the Xin'an Army on the Gaoyang Pass circuit had filled their quotas and asked for promotion rewards. The request was granted.
35
二年，手詔：“比聞諸路州軍招置廂軍河清、壯城等，往往怯懦幼小，不及等樣，虛費廩食，不堪驅使。 今後並仰遵著令招填，如違戾，以違製論。”
In the second year a handwritten edict complained that circuits and garrisons raising garrison units such as river-clearing and wall-guard corps were enrolling timid, undersized youths who failed to meet standards, wasted rations, and could not be put to use. Henceforth all recruitment was to follow the standing regulations, with violations punished as breaches of imperial orders.
36
四年正月，兩浙東路鈐轄司奏：“乞將溫、處、衢、婺州元管不係將禁軍六指揮，更招置增為十指揮，並以五百人為額，凡五千人，庶成全將。 及更於台州招置不係將禁軍一指揮，以四百人為額。 ”從之。 三月，臣僚言：“竊聞道路洶洶相怖，雲諸軍捉人刺涅以補闕額，率數人驅一壯夫，且曳且毆，百姓叫呼，或齧指求免。 日者，金明池人大和會，忽遮門大索，但長身少年，牽之而去，雲‘充軍’。 致賣蔬茹者不敢入城，行旅市人下逮奴隸，皆避藏恐懼，事駭見聞。 今國家閑暇，必欲招填禁旅，當明示法令，賚以金帛，捐財百萬，則十萬人應募矣。 捉人於途，實虧國體，流聞四方，傳播遠邇，殊為未便。 伏望亟行禁止，以弭疑畏。 ”時寶籙宮道士張繼滋因往尉氏，亦被刺涅，事聞，手詔提刑司根治。 四月，臣僚因言：“招刺闕額禁軍，樞密院立限太遽，諸營弗戢，人用大駭。 幸不旋踵德音禁止，群情悅服。 其已被刺涅而非願者，頗亦改正，尚有經官求免而未得者。 輦轂若此，況其遠乎？ 竊聞小人假借聲勢，因緣奪攘，所在多有，若或哀鳴得脫，其家已空。 今往來猶懷畏避。 伏望聖明特賜戒敕，應在外招軍去處，毋得橫濫。 ”從之。
In the first month of the fourth year the Eastern Liangzhe command asked to expand six existing non-jianjiang forbidden-army commands at Wen, Chu, Qu, and Wu into ten commands of five hundred men each, totaling five thousand, so as to complete a full general's force. They also sought to raise one more non-jianjiang forbidden-army command at Taizhou with a quota of four hundred. The request was granted. In the third month officials reported widespread panic on the roads: armies were seizing men and branding them to cover quota shortfalls, often with several soldiers dragging and beating one able-bodied man while he screamed and some even bit their fingers begging to be spared. At a recent great gathering at Jinming Pool, soldiers suddenly sealed the gates and swept the crowd, hauling off every tall youth they found with the cry that he was being drafted. Vegetable sellers stopped entering the city, and travelers, shopkeepers, and even servants hid in terror—a spectacle that horrified all who saw it. The empire was at peace; if the court truly wanted to fill the capital guard, it should publish clear rules, pay generous bounties in gold and silk, and spend a million in cash—then a hundred thousand men would enlist willingly. Snatching men on the highways truly shamed the state, and word of it spread everywhere, near and far, to the court's great detriment. They begged the throne to forbid the practice at once and restore public confidence. About then the Baolu Palace Daoist Zhang Jizi was branded while traveling to Weishi; when the case reached the throne, a handwritten edict ordered the judicial commissioners to investigate it to the full. In the fourth month officials added that when the Bureau of Military Affairs set overly tight deadlines to tattoo recruits and fill forbidden-army shortfalls, the camps ran wild and the populace was terrified. Fortunately an imperial grace edict soon forbade the practice, and public opinion settled. Many men who had been branded against their will had already been released, though some who had appealed to the authorities were still waiting. If such abuses occurred at the capital, what must be happening in the provinces? Petty men everywhere were abusing their power to seize victims, and even when a man escaped after pleading, his household was often already ruined. Travelers still moved about in fear. They asked the emperor to issue a special warning that recruiting parties in the provinces must not exceed their authority. The request was granted.
37
七年，減掖庭用度，減侍從官以上月廩，罷諸兼局，有司據所得數撥充諸路糴本及募兵賞軍之用。
In the seventh year the court cut Inner Palace spending, reduced the monthly stipends of attendants and higher officials, abolished concurrent bureaus, and directed the savings toward grain-purchase funds and recruitment bounties on the circuits.
38
欽宗即位，詔守令募州縣鄉村土豪為隊長，各自募其親識鄉里以行。 及五十人以上先與進義副尉，三百人以上與承信郎，募文武官習武勇者為統領。 行日，所發州軍授以器甲，人給糧半月，地裏遠者，所至州縣接續批支。 京畿輔郡兵馬製置使司言：“諸路召募敢勇效用，每名先給錢三千，赴本司試驗給據訖，支散銀絹激賞。 若監司、知通、令佐並應有官人，能召到敢勇效用事藝高強及二百人以上者，乞與轉一官，每加二百人依此。 或監司、郡守、州縣官以下應緣軍期事件，稍有稽緩，並依軍法。 ”從之。
When Qinzong took the throne, he ordered magistrates to enlist local strongmen as squad leaders, each to raise men from his own neighborhood. Leaders who raised fifty men received the rank of Advance Righteousness Vice Commander, and those who raised three hundred received Trustworthy Gentleman; civil and military officials versed in arms were recruited as unit commanders. On the day they marched, the issuing prefecture or garrison supplied arms and armor and half a month's rations, with counties along the route continuing payment for men coming from far away. The Capital Region Pacification Bureau reported that dare-brave volunteers recruited on the circuits were to receive three thousand cash in advance, then report to the bureau for testing and certification before receiving silver and silk bonuses. Officials who raised two hundred or more skilled dare-brave volunteers were to receive one rank of promotion, with the same reward for every additional two hundred. Any surveillance commissioner, prefect, or county official who delayed matters tied to the military deadline would be punished under military law. Approved.
39
靖康元年春正月，臣僚言：“諸路見招募人兵，緣逐處漕計闕乏，乞於近州應奉司及延福宮西城錢帛，並許請用，庶得速辦。 ”從之。 又詔：“龍猛、龍騎、歸遠、壯勇諸軍闕額，可行下諸路揀選配填。 ”又詔：“已降指揮，逐處各以召募效用敢勇武藝人數多寡等第推賞。 ”又詔：“聞希賞之人，抑勒強募。 自今並取情願，敢有違戾，當議重罰。 毋得將羸弱不堪出戰及已有係軍籍者一例充募。 ”及詔：“募武舉及第有材武方略，或有戰功、曾經戰陣，及經邊任大小使臣不以罪犯已發未敘，及武學有方略智謀，及曾充弓馬所子弟，及諸色有膽勇敢戰之人，度許赴親征行營司。 ”又詔：“募陝西土人為兵並使臣、效用等赴姚平仲軍使喚，其應募人修武郎已上二十貫，進義副尉以上十五貫，軍人、百姓十貫，並於開封府應管官錢內支。”
In the first month of Jingkang 1 officials noted that circuits were recruiting troops but local transport offices lacked funds, and asked permission to draw on nearby imperial tribute stores and the Yanfu Palace treasury in the west city so recruitment could proceed quickly. The request was granted. Another edict ordered circuits to select men to fill vacancies in the Dragon Fierce, Dragon Cavalry, Return Far, Strong Brave, and related corps. A further edict directed each locality to recommend rewards by rank according to how many skilled dare-brave volunteers it had raised under earlier orders. Another edict noted that men seeking promotion rewards were forcibly pressing recruits into service. Henceforth only willing volunteers were to be accepted, and violators would face severe punishment. Weak men unfit for combat and men already registered in the army were not to be enrolled indiscriminately. An edict also called for recruiting military examination graduates with proven talent and strategy, men with battle honors or field experience, frontier commissioners regardless of pending criminal cases, martial academy students of proven wit, former bow-and-horse institute trainees, and all other brave fighters willing to serve, and allowing them to report to the Personal Campaign Headquarters. Another edict ordered Shaanxi locals, commissioners, and volunteers to report to Yao Pingzhong's army, with recruits paid twenty strings if ranked Xi Wu Lang or higher, fifteen strings if Jin Yi Vice Commander or higher, and ten strings for soldiers and commoners, all from Kaifeng's official treasury.
40
四月，詔：“已降指揮發還歸朝人往大金軍前，如不願往，所在量給口券津遣； 元有官守人並不厘務，支奉給之半。 其願效力軍前者，許自陳。”
In the fourth month an edict ordered envoys returning from the Jin front to proceed as previously directed, but allowed men who refused to be issued travel vouchers and sent home. Officials who held posts were to suspend their duties and receive half pay. Men willing to serve at the front were permitted to volunteer.
41
五月，河北、河東路宣撫司奏：“河北諸州軍所管正兵絕少，又陝西遊手惰民願充軍者亦眾，祗緣招刺闕乏例物，是致軍額常闕。 今若給一色銀絹，折充例物犒設起發，召募人作義勇，止於右臂上刺字，依禁軍例物支衣糧料錢，陝西五路共可得二萬人，比之淮、浙等路所得將兵，實可使喚。 ”從之，詔遣文武官各一員前去陝西路募兵二萬人赴闕。 遂命趙鼎特除開封府曹官，種湘差宣撫司準備將領，並充陝西路幹當公事，專一募兵。 是月，遣戶部員外郎陳師尹往福建路募槍杖手。 都水使者陳求道言：“朝廷差官往陝西招軍，適當歲豐，恐未易招填。 若就委監司招募保甲，啖以例物，與免科差，以作其氣，可得勁兵五萬。 ”從之。
In the fifth month the Hebei-Hedong Pacification Bureau reported that Hebei garrisons held very few regular troops, while many idle men in Shaanxi were willing to enlist, but quotas stayed unfilled because standard enlistment gifts were lacking. If the court paid enlistment bounties in silver and silk, raised the men as Righteous Braves with a tattoo only on the right arm, and supplied clothing and rations at forbidden-army rates, Shaanxi's five circuits could furnish twenty thousand men far more useful than the general troops raised in Huai and Zhe. The proposal was approved, and the throne sent one civil and one military official to Shaanxi to raise twenty thousand men for the capital. Zhao Ding was specially appointed a Kaifeng prefectural clerk and Zhong Xiang a reserve general on the pacification staff, both assigned to Shaanxi solely to handle recruitment. That same month Household Vice Director Chen Shiyin was sent to Fujian to recruit spearmen and staff fighters. Director of Waterways Chen Qiudao warned that officials sent to Shaanxi to raise troops had arrived during a bumper harvest, when recruitment would be difficult. If surveillance commissioners were instead told to mobilize the baojia militia with enlistment gifts and corvée exemptions to stir their morale, fifty thousand strong fighters could be raised. Approved.
42
六月，樞密都承旨折彥實奏：“西人結連女真，為日甚久，豈無覬覦關中之誌？ 即今諸路人馬皆空，萬一敵人長驅，何以枝梧？ 言之可為寒心，朝廷似未深慮也。 河東、河塑之患已形，人故憂之； 陝西之患未作，人故忽之。 若每路先與十萬緡，令帥臣招募土人為保護之計，責以控扼，不得放令侵入，仍須朝廷應副。 漕司乘時廣行儲蓄，以為急務。”
In the sixth month Bureau Chief Zhe Yanshi warned that the western peoples had long been allied with the Jurchen and surely harbored designs on Guanzhong. Every circuit was now stripped of troops and horses; if the enemy drove deep into the realm, how could the court hold them off? The thought was chilling, yet the court seemed not to have weighed it seriously. The crisis in the Hedong region has already become visible, and the people are anxious; the danger in Shaanxi had not yet materialized, so people ignored it. If each circuit were given one hundred thousand strings upfront and its commander ordered to recruit local men for defense, hold the passes, and bar enemy entry, the court would still have to back the effort. Transport commissioners should urgently build up grain reserves while there was still time.
43
又開封府尹聶山奏：“招兵者，今日之急務。 近緣京畿諸邑例各招刺，至於無人就募，則強捕村民及往來行人為之。 遂致裏氓奔駭，商旅不行，殊失朝廷愛民之意。 檢準政和令，諸盜再犯杖以上、情理不可決放而堪充軍者，給例物刺充廂軍。 今京城裏外間有盜賊，皆是豪猾，無所畏憚，雖經斷罪，頑惡弗悛，若依上條刺充廂軍，不惟得強壯之用，又且收集奸黠不復為盜。 如允所請，則自內及外皆可見之施行。 ”從之。
Kaifeng Prefect Nie Shan also submitted that raising troops was the day's most urgent business. Recently every county around the capital had taken to branding recruits, and when no one volunteered they seized villagers and travelers off the roads. Country folk fled in panic and merchants stopped traveling, a gross betrayal of the court's duty to protect the people. Under the Zhenghe code, repeat thieves sentenced to flogging or worse who could not be released but were fit for service were to receive enlistment gifts and be branded into garrison corps. Bold, hardened thieves still prowled inside and outside the capital; though convicted, they remained unreformed. Drafting them into garrison service under that rule would not only supply strong recruits but also sweep the worst offenders off the streets. If approved, the policy could be applied from the capital outward for all to see. The request was granted.
44
七月，陝西五路製置使錢蓋言：“都水使者陳求道請招刺保甲五萬充軍。 緣比來陝右正兵數少，全籍保甲守禦，及運糧諸役差使外，所餘無幾，若更招刺五萬充軍，則是正丁占使殆遍，不唯難以選擇，兼慮民情驚疑，別致生事。 欲乞令州縣曉諭保甲，取其情願； 如未有情願之人，即乞令保甲司於正丁餘數內選擇。 通赴闕人共成七萬，可以足用。 ”從之。 是月，錢蓋奏：“陝西募土人充軍，多是市井烏合，不堪臨敵。 今折彥實支陝西六路銅錢各十萬緡，每名添錢十千，自可精擇少壯及等杖人，可得正軍一萬，六路共得六萬人。 ”從之。
In the seventh month Shaanxi Five-Circuit Commissioner Qian Gai reported that Director of Waterways Chen Qiudao had proposed branding fifty thousand baojia militiamen into regular service. Regular troops in western Shaanxi were already scarce and local defense depended entirely on the baojia; after grain transport and corvée duties almost no able men remained. Drafting fifty thousand more would leave few prime males to choose from, alarm the populace, and invite unrest. He asked that prefectures and counties explain the plan to the baojia and accept only volunteers; and if too few volunteered, that the baojia office choose men from the remaining pool of prime males. Together with men already bound for the capital, seventy thousand would be enough. Approved. That month Qian Gai reported that locals recruited in Shaanxi were mostly urban rabble unfit to face the enemy. If Zhe Yanshi allocated one hundred thousand strings of copper cash to each of Shaanxi's six circuits and added ten thousand cash per recruit, the state could carefully select able young men meeting standards and raise ten thousand regular soldiers per circuit, sixty thousand in all. The request was granted.
45
十月，樞密院奏：“召募有材武勇銳及膽勇人並射獵射生戶。 ”從之。 又奏：“福建路有忠義武勇立功自效取仕之人，理宜召募，除保甲正兵外，弓手、百姓、僧行、有罪軍人並聽應募。 如有武藝高強、實有膽勇、眾所推服、願應募為部領人者，依逐項名目權攝部領，各以所募人數借補官資。 ”從之。
In the tenth month the Bureau of Military Affairs proposed recruiting men of proven martial skill and courage, including hunters and professional hunting households. Approved. It also proposed recruiting in Fujian men of loyal spirit and martial merit who sought office through service, allowing archers, commoners, monks, and even convicted soldiers to enlist alongside the baojia regulars. Men of outstanding skill and recognized courage who volunteered to lead were to serve temporarily as unit commanders and receive provisional rank according to the number they raised. The request was granted.
46
十一月，京城四壁共十萬人，黃人黃旗滿市。 時應募者多庸匄，殊無鬥誌。 閏十一月，何用王健募奇兵，雖操瓢行乞之人，亦皆應募，倉卒未就紀律。 奇兵亂，毆王健，殺使臣數十人，內前大擾。 王宗濋斬渠魁數人，乃定。 及出戰，為鐵騎所衝，望風奔潰，殲焉。
By the eleventh month a hundred thousand defenders manned the capital's four walls, and yellow-clad troops with yellow banners filled the streets. Most who enlisted were vagrants and beggars with no will to fight. In intercalary November He Li put Wang Jian in charge of raising irregular troops; even ladle-carrying beggars enlisted, and the unit was hurriedly assembled without proper discipline. The irregulars mutinied, assaulted Wang Jian, and slew dozens of court agents, throwing the Inner Front into chaos. Wang Zongsu beheaded several ringleaders and restored order. Sent into battle, they were overrun by heavy cavalry, broke and fled at first shock, and were wiped out.
47
十二月，詔：“諸軍詐效蕃裝，焚劫財物，限十日齎贓自首，與免罪。 ”仍召募潰兵收管。 給口食焉。
In December an edict declared that any troops who masqueraded as Jurchen raiders to loot would receive amnesty if they returned stolen goods and surrendered within ten days. Routed soldiers were also to be collected and registered. They were to receive rations.
48
逃亡之法，國初以來各有增損。 熙寧五年詔，禁軍奉錢至五百而亡滿七日者，斬。 舊制，三日者死。 初，執政議更法，請滿十日。 帝曰：“臨陣而亡，過十日而首，得不長奸乎。 ”安石曰：“臨陣而亡，法不計日，即入斬刑。 今當立在軍興所亡滿三日，論如對寇賊律？ ”樞密使蔡挺請沿邊而亡滿三日者斬。 安石曰：“沿邊有非軍興之所，不可一概坐以重刑。 本立重法，以禁避寇賊及軍興而已。 ”帝曰：“然。 ”文彥博固言：“軍法臣等所當總領，不宜輕改，如前代銷兵乃生變。 ”安石曰：“前代如杜元穎等銷兵，乃其措置失當，非兵不可銷也。 且當蕭俛時，天下兵至多，民力不給，安得不減？ 方幽州以朱克融等送京師，請毋遣克融還幽州煽眾為亂，而朝廷乃令克融等飄泊京師，久之不調，復遣歸北。 克融所以復亂，亦何預銷兵事？ ”彥博曰：“國初，禁軍逃亡滿一日者斬。 仁宗改滿三日，當時議者已慮壞軍法。 ”安石曰：“仁宗改法以來，活人命至多，然於軍人逃亡，比舊不聞加多，仁宗改法不為不善。 ”帝乃詔增為七日。
Desertion laws had been revised repeatedly since the dynasty's founding. In Xining 5 an edict decreed execution for Palace Guards on the five-hundred-cash pay grade who remained absent seven full days. Under the old rule, three days' absence meant death. At first the chief ministers proposed reform and asked that the limit be ten days. The emperor objected: "Men who flee during combat could still surrender after ten days — would that not reward cowardice?" Wang Anshi replied that desertion in battle already carried immediate execution regardless of days counted. Should we instead treat three days' absence during mobilization as desertion against the enemy, under the bandit-combat statute? Military Affairs Commissioner Cai Ting urged that frontier deserters absent three full days be beheaded. Wang Anshi countered that the frontier included many posts not under wartime mobilization, and heavy penalties could not be applied uniformly. The harsh law had been meant only to deter men from fleeing the enemy or wartime service. The emperor agreed. Wen Yanbo insisted that military law was the ministers' charge and should not be altered lightly, warning that past troop reductions had sparked uprisings. Wang Anshi answered that disasters like Du Yuanying's demobilization stemmed from poor execution, not from demobilization itself. Under Chancellor Xiao Fu the empire had fielded more soldiers than the populace could support — reduction had been unavoidable. When Youzhou sent Zhu Kerong and others to court with a plea not to return Kerong lest he stir rebellion in the north, the court instead kept them stranded in the capital, left them unassigned for years, and then sent them home again. Zhu Kerong's renewed revolt had nothing to do with troop reduction. Wen Yanbo cited the founding-era rule that Palace Guard deserters gone even one day were beheaded. Renzong had extended the limit to three days, and critics even then feared it would erode discipline. Wang Anshi replied that Renzong's reform had saved countless lives without any evident rise in desertions — it had been a sound change. The emperor ordered the limit raised to seven days.
49
元豐元年，知鄂州王韶言：“乞自今逃亡配軍為盜，聽捕斬，賞錢。 ”詔坐條劄韶照會：“如所犯情重，罪不至死，奏裁。”
In Yuanyong 1 Wang Shao, prefect of Ezhou, proposed allowing deserter-convicts turned bandits to be killed on capture, with a bounty offered. The throne replied with a formal note to Shao: offenses grave yet short of capital punishment were to be referred for imperial review.
50
三年六月，詔：“軍士、民兵逃亡隨軍效用，若首獲，並械送所屬，論如法。 雖立戰功不賞，仍不許以功贖過。 令隨軍榜諭。”
In the sixth month of year 3 an edict required that deserters who rejoined as volunteers be shackled and returned to their commands for punishment under the statutes. Battle honors would not be rewarded, and merit could not expiate the offense. The order was to be posted throughout the campaign camps.
51
四年，詔沈括：“奏以軍前士卒逃亡，潰散在路，本非得已，須當急且招安。 卿可速具朝旨出榜，雲聞戰士止是不禁饑寒，逃歸其家，可各隨所在城砦權送納器甲，請給糧食，聽歸所屬。 節次具招撫數以聞。”
In year 4 the throne instructed Shen Kuo to report that front-line deserters scattered along the roads had often fled from necessity and should be pacified at once. Shen Kuo was to issue a proclamation explaining that men had fled chiefly from hunger and cold, allowing them to surrender arms at nearby posts, draw rations, and rejoin their commands. He was to report recovery totals as they came in.
52
崇寧四年九月，樞密院言：“熙河都總管司舊無兵籍，乞令諸將各置籍，日具有無開收，旬具元額、見管及逃亡事故細目，申總管司，本司揭貼都簿，委機宜一員逐時抽摘點檢。 ”從之。
In Chongning 4, ninth month, the Bureau of Military Affairs noted that the Xihe headquarters lacked roster records and asked each commander to keep daily strength accounts, submit ten-day reports on quotas and desertions, post a master ledger, and assign an aide for spot inspections. Granted.
53
十月，尚書省言：“今所在逃軍聚集，至以千數，小則驚動鄉邑，大則公為劫盜。 累降指揮，許以首身，或令投換，終未革絕。 昔神宗以將不知兵，兵不知將，故分兵領將。 統兵官司，凡兵之事無所不統，則其逃亡走死，豈得不任其責？ 檢會將敕與見行敕令，皆未有將官與人員任責之法，致令來兵將不加存恤，勞役其身，至於逃避，而任職之人悉不加罪。 近日熙河一路逃者幾四萬，將副坐視而不禁，人員將校故縱而不問，至逃亡軍人所在皆有。 蓋自來立法未詳，兼軍中長行節級人員，將校，什長相統，同營相依，上下相製，豈得致其逃亡漫不省察？ 況招軍既立賞格，則逃走安可無禁？ 今參詳修立賞罰十數條。 ”並從之。
In October the Ministry of Revenue reported that deserters were gathering by the thousands, terrorizing villages or turning openly to robbery. Repeated amnesties allowing surrender or transfer had failed to stop the problem. Shenzong had separated command from troops precisely because officers and men did not know each other. Commands charged with every aspect of troop welfare surely bore responsibility for desertion and death in service. Neither regulations nor active code assigned accountability to commanders and staff, so officers overworked their men until they deserted while responsible officials went unpunished. Nearly forty thousand men had recently deserted in Xihe alone, while deputies looked on, staff winked, and fugitives filled the countryside. Vague laws and a chain of squad leaders, officers, and clerks bound to the same camp made unchecked desertion inexcusable. If recruitment brought rewards, flight surely demanded penalties. The ministry now drafted more than ten articles of reward and punishment. All granted.
54
五年，樞密院備童貫所言：“陝西等處差官招諭逃亡軍人，並許所在首身，更不會問，便支口券令歸本營。 邊上軍人憚於戍守之勞，往往逃竄於內郡首身，遂得口券歸營，恐相習成風，有害軍政。 乞自今應軍人首身，並須會問逃亡赦限，依今來招諭指揮：若係赦後逃亡，即乞依條施行。 ”從之。
In year 5 the bureau relayed Tong Guan's report that Shaanxi officials had been inviting deserters to surrender anywhere without interrogation and issuing travel rations for return to camp. Border troops, dreading garrison duty, were surrendering in interior prefectures to collect vouchers and return — a habit that would undermine discipline. He asked that all surrenders be reviewed against amnesty deadlines, with post-amnesty deserters punished under the statutes. Granted.
55
大觀三年，樞密院備臣僚言云：“自陝西路提點刑獄吳安憲始陳招誘逃亡廂禁軍之法，乃著許令投換改刺之令。 自此諸弊浸生，軍律不肅。 朝廷洞見其弊，已嚴立法，然尚有冒名一節，其弊未除。 請如主兵官舊曾占使書劄、作匠、雜技、手業之徒，或與統轄軍員素有嫌忌、意欲舍此而就彼，或所部逃亡數多，欲避譴責，輒將逃軍承逃亡之名便與請給。 既避譴責，又冒請受，上下相蒙，莫之能革，致使軍士多懷擅去之心者，良以易得擅住之地也。 若加重賞，申以嚴刑，庶革斯弊，有裨成法。 ”從之。
In Daguan 3 officials traced the problem to Judicial Intendant Wu Anxian's policy of luring provincial garrison deserters with transfer and re-enlistment. The practice had bred abuses and slackened discipline. The court had tightened the law, yet fraud in enlistment remained. Commanders were filling rolls with fugitives under false names to cover deserters, avoid censure, or shift troublesome men or skilled laborers between units. Officers evaded blame while drawing fraudulent pay; fraud became entrenched, and soldiers learned they could desert with impunity. He urged heavier rewards and stricter penalties to restore discipline. Granted.
56
四年，樞密院言：“諸路及京畿逃亡軍數居多，雖赦敕立限許首，終懷畏避。 若諸路專委知州、通判或職官一員，京畿委知縣，若招誘累及三百人以上，與減一年磨勘，五百人以上一年半，千人以上取旨推恩，於理為便。”
In year 4 the bureau reported that deserters remained numerous despite amnesty deadlines. It proposed assigning local officials to recruit deserters, with merit-review reductions for three hundred or more men and imperial honors for one thousand or more.
57
政和二年，臣僚言：“祖宗軍政大備，無可議者。 比多逃亡者，緣所在推行未至，及主兵司官遵奉未嚴故也。 其弊有六：一曰上下率斂，二曰舉放營債，三曰聚集賭博，四曰差使不均，五曰防送過遠，六曰單身無火聚。 似此雖具有條禁，而犯者極多。 欲乞下有司推究，除兵將官歲終立定賞罰條格外，詔諸路提刑司，每歲終將本路州軍不係將禁軍見管及逃亡人數，參互比較，具最多最少處各一州知、通職位姓名，申樞密院。 ”從之。
In Zhenghe 2 officials declared that founding-era military institutions had been sound. Recent desertions stemmed from lax enforcement by local and command officials. Six causes were cited: extortion, usurious camp loans, gambling, unfair assignments, excessive escort distances, and bachelor soldiers without family support. Though all were prohibited, violations were rampant. They asked for investigation, annual desertion comparisons by circuit judicial commissioners, and reports on best- and worst-performing prefectures. Granted.
58
三年十一月，開封少尹陳彥修言：“諸廂收到寒凍赤露共五千七百餘人，其間逃軍數多，合行措置。 今欲依押送逃軍格，每二十人各差使臣一員付與係押送人，各踏逐穩便官屋安泊，依居養法關請錢米存養，候晴和，管押前去。 所有沿路支破口券，並依本府押送逃軍法，請於合破口券等外，更量支盤纏。 ”詔：“每人支盤纏錢三百，衲襖一領，候二月晴暖即行發遣。”
In the eleventh month of year 3 Kaifeng Vice Prefect Chen Yanxiu reported more than 5,700 frostbite victims in the wards, many of them deserters requiring action. He proposed escorting them in parties of twenty to stable official shelters, providing relief rations under the residency-care law until fair weather allowed transit. Travel vouchers were to follow standard deserter-escort rules, with additional travel funds beyond the usual allowances. An edict granted each man three hundred cash, a padded jacket, and dispatch after fair weather in the second month.
59
四年，尚書省著令：“諸禁軍差發出戍未到軍前，或已到而代去半年以上，逃亡首獲，雖會恩，配如捕獲法； 上軍首身或捕獲，會恩，配依七日內法； 下軍本名應配者，配千里。 若本管輒停留，與同罪，雖該赦仍依配法。 ”從之。
In year 4 the ministry codified that deserters caught before reaching the front or after half a year of relief service were assigned per capture statutes even during amnesty. Upper-army deserters who surrendered or were captured during amnesty faced assignment under the seven-day rule. Lower-army men liable for assignment were sent a thousand li. Units that illegally detained deserters shared the guilt, and assignment stood even under amnesty. Granted.
60
五年，立錢監兵匠逃走刺手背法。
In year 5 a law was enacted to tattoo the backs of mint workers' hands if they fled.
61
宣和二年，手詔：“逃卒頗多，仰宣撫司措置以聞。 ”童貫言：“凡逃卒，冬祀大赦已有百日首身免罪之文，緣內有元犯雖首身，於常法尚合移降移配者，即未敢赴官自陳。 欲乞在京並京畿、京西、陝西、河東路逃軍，自今指揮到日，通未滿赦限共一百日，許令首身免罪，依舊軍分職次收管。 仍免本司本營問儅，及放免官逋。 如本犯經冬祀赦後，猶有移降移配，特與原免。 若限滿不首，則依常法科罪。 凡逃軍係在京住營，依限於在京首身者，令所隸軍司當日押赴本營。 若見出戍者，即破口券轉押赴本路駐泊州軍，並依前項指揮免罪，依舊收管。 凡逃軍在外，依限首身者，並於所在日破米二升，其縣、鎮、砦並限當日解本州軍，每二十人作一番，差職員管押，仍沿路給破口食，交付前路州軍，轉送住營去處。 如見出戍，即轉駐泊州軍收管。 凡首身軍人，並不許投換他軍。 凡所在當職官，如能於限內用心招收逃軍，措置轉送住營或出戍處收管，候滿，在外委提刑司，在京委開封府取索到營、出戍處公文，驗人數，最優者申宣撫司取旨推恩。 ”並從之。
In Xuanhe 2 an imperial note directed the Pacification Office to address rising desertions. Tong Guan replied that winter amnesties allowed hundred-day surrenders, yet men with prior offenses feared reduced sentences or reassignment and would not come forward. He asked a hundred-day surrender window for deserters in the capital region, Jingxi, Shaanxi, and Hedong, with restoration to original ranks. Replacement duties and official debts would be waived. Remaining penalties from pre-amnesty offenses would be specially waived. After the deadline, normal penalties would apply. Capital-based deserters surrendering in the capital were to be returned to camp the same day. Men on expedition were to be escorted via travel voucher to their garrison circuit and restored to duty with amnesty. Interior surrenders entitled men to two sheng of rice daily, same-day transfer in batches of twenty with escorts and travel rations to their home garrisons. Expedition troops were held at their staging garrison. Surrendering soldiers could not transfer to other units. Officials who successfully returned deserters within the deadline could earn honors verified by the judicial commissioners or Kaifeng prefecture. All granted.
62
三年，詔：“江、浙軍前等處應逃竄軍兵，並特放罪，許於本將見出軍路分州縣首身，依舊給請，隨處權行收管。 若走往他處，或於住營去處首獲，即令所在官司逐旋發遣赴本將應副使喚。 仍委逐路安撫、鈐轄、提刑司覺察，如所在輒敢隱芘，或逐司不行覺察，並論違製。”
In year 3 an edict pardoned deserters from Jiang-Zhe fronts, allowing surrender along expedition routes with restored pay and temporary local custody. Men captured elsewhere were to be sent promptly to their commander's summons. Pacification, command, and judicial officers were charged with oversight; concealment would be punished as a regulatory violation.
63
四年，臣僚言：“中外士卒無故逃亡，所在有之。 祖宗治軍紀律甚嚴，若在戍者還家，當役者避事，必有轅門之戮。 今既宥其罪，且許投換，不製於什伍之長； 既立赦限，又特展日，以寬其自首之期。 臣恐逃亡得計，其弊益滋。 乞除恩赦外不輕與限，使知限之不可為常，庶有畏懼。 ”從之。
In year 4 officials reported that desertion without cause was widespread throughout the empire. Under the founding emperors, military discipline was severe: garrison soldiers who went home or active-duty men who shirked service faced execution at the camp gate. Today they are pardoned and allowed to transfer to other units without permission from squad leaders; Amnesty deadlines were set—and then extended—to give deserters more time to turn themselves in. I fear deserters will take advantage of this, and the problem will only grow worse. Aside from general amnesties, please do not grant grace periods casually, so soldiers learn that leniency is not permanent and retain some fear of punishment. Approved.
64
五年，臣僚言：“今諸軍逃亡者不以實聞。 諸處冒名請給，至於揀閱差役，則巧為占破，甚不獲已，則雇募逋逃以充名數，旋即遁去，無復實用。 平居難於供億，緩急無以應用。 而奸人攘臂其間，坐費財賦。 雖開收勘斂，法製滋詳，而共利之人，一體傅會。 望賜處分，先令當職官核見實數，保明申達轉運司，期日委諸郡守貳點閱，仍關掌兵官司照會行下； 不可勾押至州者，差官就閱，期以同日究見的實。 稍涉欺罔，根治不赦。 監司使者分郡覆實，具數申達於朝，以待差官分按，必行罪賞，使官無虛費，而軍有實用，則紀律可明，國用可省。 ”詔送樞密院條畫措置。
In year 5 officials reported that deserters from the various armies were not being reported truthfully. Units everywhere drew pay under false names; at muster they padded the rolls, and when they could not, they hired fugitive deserters to fill quotas—who promptly fled again—leaving no one of real use. In peacetime the burden of pay was hard to sustain; in crisis there was no one to deploy. Meanwhile schemers inserted themselves and simply wasted state revenues. Though collection and verification procedures were introduced and regulations grew ever more detailed, those who profited from the fraud all colluded. We ask that responsible officials first verify actual head counts, certify them to the Transport Commission, and on fixed dates have prefectural deputies inspect the rolls, with military offices notified to enforce the order; Where soldiers could not be summoned to the prefectural seat, officials should inspect on site, with the same deadline to establish the truth. Any fraud should be thoroughly investigated and punished without pardon. Supervisory commissioners should verify by prefecture and report to court; dispatched inspectors should investigate by region and enforce rewards and punishments, so offices waste no funds, armies have real strength, discipline is restored, and state revenues are saved. An edict ordered the proposal sent to the Bureau of Military Affairs to draft implementing measures.
65
七年二月，尚書省言：“開封府狀：‘乞應在京犯盜配降出外之人，復走入京投換者，許人告捕，科以逃亡捕獲之罪，酌情增配。 其官司及本營典首人員、曹級容庇收留，各杖一百； 因致為盜者，依差使配軍入京作過法，與犯人同罪。 罪止徒二年，不以去官赦原減。 及在京犯罪編管出外逃亡入京之人，雖有斷罪增加地裏條法，緣止是募告賞格太輕，是致往往復走入京。 欲乞元犯杖罪賞錢十貫，徒罪二十貫，流罪三十貫，並以犯事人家財充。 ’”從之。
In the seventh year, month 2, the ministry reported that Kaifeng Prefecture requested: those convicted of theft in the capital, exiled outside, and who then re-entered the capital to enlist elsewhere should be subject to informant capture, punished under deserter-capture statutes, and given an increased assignment. Officials and unit clerks who sheltered them would each receive one hundred strokes of the cane; Those who thereby turned to robbery would be punished under the statute for dispatched soldiers who commit crimes in the capital, with the same guilt as the offender. The maximum penalty was two years penal servitude, not reducible by amnesty upon leaving office. As for those convicted in the capital, placed under guarded exile outside, and who fled back to the capital—though statutes provided for increased assignment by region, rewards for informants were too light, and many repeatedly returned to the capital. They requested rewards of ten strings of cash for original cane offenses, twenty for penal servitude, and thirty for exile—all drawn from the offender's family property. Approved.
66
十二月，詔：“應諸路逃竄軍人或已該赦恩出首避免，卻歸出戍去處再行逃竄之人，令於所在去處首身，並特與免罪，於一般軍分安排，支破請給，發赴軍前使喚。”
In month 12 an edict ordered that deserters from all circuits—including those who had surrendered under amnesty but then returned to their garrison posts and deserted again—must surrender wherever they were found, would be specially pardoned, assigned to regular units, paid their rations, and dispatched to the front for service.
67
六月，詔：“應河東潰散諸路將佐，並仰逐路帥守發遣赴河東、河北製置司，以功贖過。 ”河北路製置司都統製王淵言：“被旨差充招集種師道等下潰散人馬，應援太原，限滿不首，即寄禁家屬，許人收捕赴軍前，重行處置。 ”從之。 仍自指揮到日，限以十日。 河北路製使劉韐奏：“近製置使種師中領軍到於榆次，失利潰散，師中不知存在。 奉旨，師中下應統製、將佐、使臣等，並與放罪。 臣按：用兵失主將，統製、將佐並合行軍法。 軍法行，則人以主將為重，緩急必須護救。 若不行軍法，緩急之際爭先逃遁，視主將如路人，略不顧恤。 近年以來，高永年陷歿，一行將佐及中軍將、提轄等未嚐罪以軍法，繼而劉法陷歿，今種師中又死王事。 若兩軍相遇，勢力不加，血戰而敗，或失主將，亦無可言。 榆次之戰，頃刻而潰，統製、將佐、使臣走者十已八九，軍士中傷十無一二，獨師中不出。 若謂師中撫禦少恩，紀律不嚴，而其受命即行，奮不顧身，初聞右軍戰卻，即遣應援，比時諸將已無在者。 至賊兵犯營，師中猶未肯上馬。 使師中有偷生之心，聞敗即行，亦必得出。 一時將佐若能戮力相救，或可破敵。 今一軍才卻，諸將不有主帥，相繼而遁。 其初猶有懼色，既聞放罪，遂皆釋然。 朝廷以太原之圍未解，未欲窮治。 今師旅方興，深恐無所懲艾，遇敵必不用命。 欲乞指揮，應種師中下統製、將佐並依聖旨處分，仍令軍前自效。 如能用命立功。 與免前罪； 今後非立戰功，雖該恩赦不得敘復。 仍乞優詔褒贈師中，以為忠義之勸。 ”詔：“種師中下統製、將佐並降五官，仍開具職位、姓名申尚書省，餘依劉韐所奏。”
In month 6 an edict ordered that dispersed officers from all circuits in Hedong be dispatched by their circuit commanders to the Hedong and Hebei preparation commissions to redeem their faults through merit. Hebei preparation commission supreme commander Wang Yuan reported: by imperial order he had been appointed to gather the dispersed troops under Zhong Shidao and others to reinforce Taiyuan; those who failed to surrender by the deadline would have their families detained, and informants were permitted to capture them and deliver them to the front for severe punishment. Approved. The deadline was set at ten days from the day the order arrived. Hebei commissioner Liu Ge memorialized: recently preparation commissioner Zhong Shizhong had led troops to Yuci, suffered defeat and rout, and Shizhong's fate was unknown. By imperial order, all commanders, officers, and envoys under Shizhong had been granted amnesty. Your subject observes that when an army loses its commanding general in battle, commanders and officers should all be subject to military law. When military law is enforced, men regard the commanding general as paramount and in crisis must protect and rescue him. If military law is not enforced, in crisis all scramble to flee first, treating the commanding general like a stranger and showing no concern at all. In recent years when Gao Yongnian fell in battle, his officers and central army commanders were never punished under military law; then Liu Fa fell; now Zhong Shizhong has died in the service of the state. If two armies meet when strength is insufficient, and men fight to the bloody end and lose, or lose their commander—nothing more need be said. At the Battle of Yuci the army broke in moments: eight or nine out of ten commanders and officers fled, scarcely one or two soldiers in ten were wounded, and only Shizhong did not escape. Even if one holds that Shizhong was insufficiently gracious in command and discipline was lax, he accepted his commission and marched at once, reckless of his life; hearing the right wing had broken, he immediately sent reinforcements—but by then none of the other officers remained. When enemy troops attacked the camp, Shizhong still refused to mount his horse and flee. Had Shizhong harbored any wish to save his own life, he would surely have escaped the moment he heard of defeat. If the officers at that moment had united to rescue him, they might have broken the enemy. Now as soon as one wing wavers, the officers, disregarding their commander, flee one after another. At first they still showed fear; once they heard of amnesty, they all relaxed entirely. The court, because the siege of Taiyuan was not yet lifted, did not wish to pursue the matter to the end. Now armies are being raised anew; I deeply fear there will be no deterrent, and when they meet the enemy they will surely not give their all. I request an order that all commanders and officers under Shizhong be dealt with according to the imperial will, yet still sent to the front to prove themselves. If they obey orders and achieve merit, their previous guilt shall be pardoned; henceforth, unless they establish battlefield merit, even if covered by amnesty they may not be restored to rank. I also request an exceptional edict to posthumously honor Shizhong as encouragement to loyalty and righteousness. An edict ordered that all commanders and officers under Shizhong be demoted five ranks, that a list of positions and names be submitted to the ministry, and that the remainder follow Liu Ge's memorial.
68
八月，河北、河東路宣撫司奏：“近據都統製王淵捉獲潰敗使臣，已管押赴宣撫副使劉韐軍前交割，依軍法施行外，訪聞尚有未曾出首將佐、使臣。 ”詔：“限今指揮到日更與展限十日，許令於所在州軍出首，仍依元降指揮免罪，特與支破遞馬驛券，疾速發赴軍前自效，候立功日優加推賞。 如再限滿日更不首身，當取見職名重賞購捕，定行軍法。 仍多出榜示諭。”
In month 8 the Hebei and Hedong pacification commission reported that supreme commander Wang Yuan had captured dispersed envoys and delivered them to deputy commissioner Liu Ge's army for execution under military law, but that officers and envoys who had not yet surrendered were still at large. An edict ordered that from the day it arrived ten more days be granted; they were permitted to surrender at their local garrison, would still be pardoned under the original order, would receive courier vouchers, and would be speedily dispatched to the front to prove themselves, with exceptional rewards upon merit. If after the extended deadline they still did not surrender, their names would be published and heavy rewards offered for capture, and military law would be enforced without exception. Many notices were also to be posted to publicize the order.
69
二年四月，詔：“訪聞諸處潰散軍人嘯聚作過，將百姓強刺充軍，驅虜隨行使喚，遇敵使前，害枉良民。 其令有司榜諭：被虜強刺之人許以自陳，給據各令歸業。 願充軍者，隨等杖刺填禁、廂軍，依條支給例物。 ”又詔：“昨逃亡班直、諸軍，雖已降指揮撫諭，並與免罪，發歸元處。 其管押兵官未有指揮，可候指揮到，許於所在官司自陳，亦與免罪。”
In the second year, month 4, an edict reported that dispersed soldiers gathering in bands were committing outrages, forcibly tattooing civilians as soldiers, driving captives as attendants, sending them ahead to meet the enemy, and harming innocent people. Authorities were ordered to post notices: those forcibly tattooed while captured might declare themselves and receive certificates to return to their occupations. Those willing to serve would be tattooed by rank and assigned to the forbidden or garrison armies, with standard provisions per regulations. Another edict addressed deserters among the palace guards and various armies: though orders had already been issued offering amnesty and sending them back to their original posts, escort officers who had not yet received orders might, once the order arrived, declare themselves at local offices and also be granted amnesty.
70
建炎初，招募多西北之人，其後令諸路州、軍、砦或三衙招募，或選刺三衙軍中子弟，或從諸郡選刺中軍子弟解發。 復詔滄、濱及江、淮沿流州軍，募善沒水經時伏藏者，以五千為額。 神武右軍統製張俊言：“牙軍多招集烏合之眾，擬上等改刺勝捷，次等刺振華、振武，庶得部分歸一訓練為便。 ”詔兩浙、江東，除江陰軍，各募水軍二百人。
At the start of the Jianyan era recruitment drew mainly on northwesterners; afterward circuits' prefectures, garrisons, and fortresses, or the Three Commands, were to recruit, or select sons of Three Commands soldiers for tattooing, or select sons of central army soldiers from various prefectures and dispatch them. Another edict ordered prefectures along Cangzhou, Binzhou, and the Yangtze-Huai waterways to recruit skilled divers who could hold their breath underwater for extended periods, with a quota of five thousand. Shenwu Right Army commander Zhang Jun reported that the guard corps had gathered much rabble and proposed reassigning superior men to Shengjie and second-rank men to Zhenhua and Zhenwu so that units could be unified for training. An edict ordered Two Zhe and Jiangdong, except Jiangyin Army, each to recruit two hundred naval troops.
71
紹興元年，廣東帥臣言：“本路將兵元五千二百，見千三百十九。 今擬將官駐紮諸軍洎本路州軍，以十分為率，各招其半。”
In the first year of Shaoxing the Guangdong commander reported that the circuit's garrison troops had originally numbered 5,200 but now stood at 1,319. He proposed that stationed officers and circuit prefecture garrisons each recruit half their quota on a ten-part basis.
72
二年，累降令行在諸軍，毋互相招收，及將別軍人拘執，違者行軍法。
In year 2 repeated edicts to the capital garrisons forbade recruiting from each other or detaining soldiers from other units; violators would face military law.
73
四年，詔：“所招河北人充河北振武，餘人刺陝西振華指揮。 沿江招置水軍，備戰艦，募東南諳水者充，每指揮以五百為額。”
In year 4 an edict ordered that recruited Hebei men fill Hebei Zhenwu units and that others be tattooed into Shaanxi Zhenhua commands. Along the Yangtze naval forces were to be established with warships; southeastern men skilled in water were to be recruited, with a quota of five hundred per command.
74
十年，詔三京路招撫處置使司招效用軍兵萬人，內招使臣二千員。
In year 10 an edict ordered the Three Capitals pacification commission to recruit ten thousand utility troops, including two thousand officer-envoys.
75
十五年，福建安撫莫將言：“汀、漳、泉、建四州，與廣東、江西接壤。 比年寇盜剽劫居民，土豪備私錢集社戶，防捍有勞，有司不為上聞推恩，破家無所依歸，勢必從賊。 官軍不習山險，且瘴癘侵加，不能窮追，管屬良民悉轉為盜。 請委四州守臣，募此遊手無歸勇健之人，各收千人，仍以效用為名，足可備用，實永久利。 ”詔令張淵同措置。
In year 15 Fujian pacification commissioner Mo Jiang reported that the four prefectures of Ding, Zhang, Quan, and Jian bordered Guangdong and Jiangxi. In recent years bandits had plundered residents; local strongmen spent private funds gathering community households for defense, but officials failed to report their merit; ruined and with nowhere to turn, they inevitably joined the bandits. Government troops were unused to mountain terrain and suffered malarial pestilence; unable to pursue to the end, all the civilians under their jurisdiction turned to banditry. He requested that the four prefectures recruit rootless strongmen, one thousand each, under the name of utility troops—enough for preparedness and a lasting benefit. An edict ordered Zhang Yuan to handle the matter jointly.
76
二十四年，殿前都指揮使楊存中言：“舊制，在京所管捧日、天武、拱聖、驍騎、驍勝、寧朔、神騎、神勇、宣武、虎翼、廣勇諸指揮禁軍內，捧日、天武依條升揀扈衛諸班直，拱聖、神勇以下升揀捧日、天武，除逃亡有故，僅千九百人。 請於今年分定月內招千人。”
In year 24 Palace Front commander Yang Cunzhong reported that under the old system, among the capital's Pengri, Tianwu, Gongsheng, Xiaoqi, Xiaosheng, Ningshuo, Shenqi, Shenyong, Xuanwu, Huyi, and Guangyong forbidden armies, Pengri and Tianwu selected men for palace guard duty and Gongsheng, Shenyong, and lower units selected men for Pengri and Tianwu; excluding deserters with valid excuse, barely 1,900 remained. He requested recruiting one thousand within the designated months of that year.
77
二十七年，楊存中奉旨，三衙所招效用兵令住招。 今闕六千七百二十六人，若不招填，兵數日損。 詔本司來年正月為始，依舊招募。
In year 27 Yang Cunzhong received an order that the Three Commands' utility recruitment should halt. The shortfall now stood at 6,726; if not recruited to fill, troop numbers would daily decline. An edict ordered this bureau to resume recruitment as before starting the first month of the following year.
78
乾道七年，馬軍司王友直言：“見管戰馬二千七百餘，止有傔馬六百餘人，請招傔兵千五百，並充雄威。 ”詔招千人，刺“步傔”二字。 步軍司吳挺言：“步司五軍，額二萬五千，見闕三千六百。 ”詔令招填。
In Qiandao year 7 Cavalry Bureau director Wang Youzhi reported that the bureau had more than 2,700 war horses but only 600-odd grooms, and requested recruiting 1,500 grooms, all assigned to Xiongwei. An edict ordered recruiting one thousand men, tattooed with the characters for foot groom. Infantry Bureau director Wu Ting reported that the five infantry armies had a quota of 25,000 but were currently short 3,600. An edict ordered recruitment to fill the quota.
79
淳熙十六年，殿前副都指揮郭鈞言：“淳熙五年住招兵，今逾十載，戰隊合用火分傔兵闕。 ”詔招千人。 紹熙二年，詔步軍司招軍千人。
In the first year of Chunxi6 deputy Palace Front commander Guo Jun reported that recruitment had halted in Chunxi year 5; now more than ten years had passed, and fire-team grooms for combat units were short. An edict ordered recruiting one thousand. In Shaoxi year 2 an edict ordered the Infantry Bureau to recruit one thousand soldiers.
80
寶慶二年，知武岡軍吳愈言：“禁衛兵所以重根本、威外夷，太祖聚天下精兵在京者十餘萬，州郡亦十餘萬。 嘉定十五年，三衛馬步諸軍凡七萬餘，闕舊額三萬，若以川蜀、荊襄、兩淮屯戍較之，奚啻數倍於禁衛？ 宜遵舊制，擇州郡禁兵補禁衛闕，州郡闕額帥守招填。”
In Baoqing year 2 Wugang prefect Wu Yu reported that palace guard troops strengthened the root and awed foreigners: Taizu had gathered more than 100,000 elite troops in the capital, and prefectures also held more than 100,000. In the first year of Jiading5 the Three Commands' horse and foot armies totaled over 70,000, short 30,000 of the original quota—compared with garrisons in Sichuan, Jing-Xiang, and the two Huai regions, were they not several times the palace guard? The old system should be followed: select prefecture forbidden troops to fill palace guard shortfalls, and have commanders recruit to fill prefecture shortfalls.
81
紹定四年，臣僚言：“州郡有禁卒，有壯城，有廂軍，有土兵，一州之財自足以給一州之兵。 比年尺籍多虛，月招歲補，悉成文具。 蓋州郡吝養兵之費，所招無二三，逃亡已六七。 宜申嚴帥臣，應郡守到罷，具兵額若干、逃故若干、招填若干、考其數而黜陟之。”
In Shaoding year 4 officials reported that prefectures had forbidden troops, city guards, garrison armies, and local militia, and that one prefecture's finances should suffice for one prefecture's troops. In recent years rosters were largely fictitious; monthly recruitment and annual filling had all become empty formality. Because prefectures begrudged the cost of maintaining troops, of those recruited barely two or three remained, while six or seven had already deserted. Circuit commanders should be ordered that every incoming or outgoing prefect must report authorized strength, desertions and deaths, and recruitment totals, with promotion and demotion tied to those numbers.
82
寶祐間，州郡闕守，承攝者遣令招刺，不詢材武，務盜帑儲。
In the Baoyou era, vacant prefectures were run by acting officials who ordered recruitment without testing ability, chiefly to loot public funds.
83
鹹淳季年，邊報日聞，召募尤急，官降錢甚優厚。 強刺平民，非無法禁。 所司莫能體上意，執民為兵。 或甘言誑誘，或詐名賈舟，候負販者群至，輒載之去； 或購航船人，全船疾趨所隸； 或令軍婦冶容誘於路，盡涅刺之。 由是野無耕人，途無商旅，往往聚丁壯數十，而後敢入市。 民有被執而赴水火者，有自斷指臂以求免者，有與軍人抗而殺傷者，無賴乘機假名為擾。
In the late Xianchun years, daily frontier alarms made recruitment desperate and court bounties unusually rich. Forcibly drafting civilians was already forbidden by law. Local offices ignored the court's intent and simply seized people for the ranks. Some lured men with smooth talk; others posed as traders, waited for porters to gather, and hauled them away; some bribed ferry crews to rush entire boats to their camps; some sent soldiers' wives to dress up and bait travelers on the road, then tattoo every man they caught. Fields stood empty of farmers and roads of merchants; men often marched into town only in bands of dozens for safety. Some captives drowned or burned themselves; others maimed their hands to escape; some fought recruiters and killed them; and hoodlums used the chaos to prey on the public.
84
考之舊制，凡軍有闕額即招填。 熙寧、元豐講求民兵之政，於是募兵浸減，而三衙多虛籍。 至於靖康，禁衛弱矣。 中興復用招募。 立等杖，選勇壯，核人才，驗虛實，審刺之法雖在諸屯，而已招者兵籍悉總於樞府雲。
Under the old rules, any unit short of quota was to recruit replacements. Xining and Yuanfeng reforms stressed militia, so hired armies shrank while the Three Palace Bureaus kept bloated, hollow rolls. By Jingkang the Palace Guards had withered. After the restoration the court returned to recruitment. Standards of height, courage, and fitness were restored and fraud was audited; although local camps still tattooed recruits, every enrolled man's record was held at the Bureau of Military Affairs.