Treatise on Armament Technology: Military Logistics and Provisions

Ancient Methods for Military Colony Provisions

For each ox, a daily ration of five shengA unit of volume; approximately 1 liter of beans is provided. This supplemental feeding begins on the first day of the tenth month and ceases on the first day of the fourth month This covers the late autumn, winter, and early spring when grazing is scarce and the animals need strength for the upcoming spring plowing.

The total requirements for a standard unit are as follows:

• Daily consumption: Three shiAlso known as a "picul" or "dan"; equal to 100 sheng.
• Monthly consumption: Ninety shi.
• Six-month total: Five hundred and forty shi.

Procedures for Harvest Assessment

When the harvest is about to begin, the grain in the military colony fields must first be bundled while still standing. To ensure accuracy in measurement, use a rope with a total length of 374 feet, 5 inches, 3 fen, and 3 hao. Take one-quarter of this length—which is 93 feet, 6 inches, 3 fen, and 4 hao—to measure the sides. Drive stakes into the four corners This specific measurement defines the perimeter of one standard square mu of land. Within the area marked by the rope is exactly one mu of land.

In the presence of the colony official, the fields are to be categorized into three grades: superior, medium, and inferior. The grain is then gathered into bundles, each measuring three feet and seven inches in circumference. By counting these bundles, the productivity of the three grades of land can be determined.

Quality Control and Sampling

Under the supervision of the colony official, the grain samples original: "苗子" (miaozi), referring here to the grain threshed from the sample area to serve as a benchmark for the total yield are threshed. The volume must be measured exactly in shi, dou1/10th of a shi; approximately 10 liters, and sheng.

The administrative protocol for these samples is as follows:
1. Prepare two silk bags, each containing a portion of the grain sample.
2. One bag is presented to the official in charge of the colony; the visiting envoy shall seal it in the official's presence.
3. The other bag is presented to the visiting envoy; the colony official shall seal it in the envoy's presence.

If there is any later concern regarding loss, waste, or discrepancies in the stores, one dou of the grain sample shall be taken and measured against the current stock in the presence of the colony official to verify the quality and volume.