Wubei Zhi (Vol. 47)

New Treatise on Military Efficiency, Volume 3

If anyone is late for their shift, or if the gunpowder, slow match, or fuses they carry are not prepared according to regulations, or if they have become damp, wet, and unusable; if their rain gear is incomplete; or if those stationed outside the city abandon their posts to return home before their relief has arrived—all such individuals shall be punished under military law. They are to be bound and beaten with one hundred strokes, and have their ears cut off original: "割耳" (ge er); a common, severe disciplinary measure in the Ming military intended to mark the offender permanently for cowardice or dereliction of duty..

If their negligence leads to a failure in military operations, they shall be executed under military law as a public warning. For instance, if bandits approach and the scouts original: "伏路人" (fu lu ren); literally "those lying in wait on the road," referring to concealed sentries. stationed outside fail to secure vital passes or intersections, or if they sneak off to hide and sleep inside houses, sheds, gardens, or woods—thus neglecting their duty and allowing the enemy to reach the city walls and launch an attack—all such scouts shall be executed under military law as a public warning.

On the Assignment of Civilian Labor

Defending a city requires the assignment of crenel-guards original: "垛夫" (duo fu); civilian laborers assigned to defend the duo, the notched battlements atop a city wall. and organized laborers original: "編夫" (bian fu); people registered and grouped into defensive units.. In organizing this, one cannot simply rely on the number of households. There are cases where a single family occupies several rooms, and others where many families share a single room. This matter should be handled in the same manner as the appointment of cook-soldiers original: "火夫" (huo fu); military personnel responsible for camp chores and cooking, often the source for additional labor., by inquiring and hiring people for night patrols...

The vocabulary list below clarifies key technical terms used in the passage.