Treatise on Military Preparedness, Volume 204

Records of Strategic Surveying

original: "Zhandu" (占度). This section of the work deals with military geography, mapping, and the assessment of terrain for defense and troop movement.

Surveying, Section 16

Garrisons and Fortifications, Part 1

original: "Zhencheng" (鎮成). This refers to the "Nine Garrisons" (Jiu Zhen) system, a series of strategic military districts along the Great Wall established to defend against northern incursions.

Master Mao says: The greatest threat to the realm lies in the Northwest. Therefore, the Imperial AncestorReferring to the Hongwu Emperor, the founder of the Ming Dynasty (reigned 1368–1398). gave instructions, noting that the northern and western tribes are in close proximity to our northwestern borders. Because there have been wars for generations, one must select capable generals and train the soldiers at all times, maintaining constant and cautious preparedness. How grand are these Imperial words! No one who rules the Central Kingdom should ever forget them.

Therefore, I have arranged this section by listing the maps of the various garrisonsZhen (鎮): Massive administrative military districts responsible for defending specific sectors of the frontier., followed by the commanders, then the castles and forts, then the troops and horses, and finally the grain and provisions, all organized according to their official duties.