Provisions
of making fire
In making response fire is to be made within the furnace to enable smoke
to rise above the chimney. Fuel wood should be placed above the earthen
furnace. In case only one fire is needed one man should be in charge
for lighting and extinguishing it. In case of two fires, two men are
to be in charge. In case of three, an equal number of men will be put
in charge. During the fog and cloudy weather, the smoke can hardly be
seen from afar, messenger should be sent to inform the next station.
When weather becomes clear, smoke is to be made according to regulation.
When 50-500
enemy cavalry or infantry invade the territory one column of smoke is
to be made. When 500-3,000 enemy come, two columns of smokes are to
be made. Should 500-1,000 cavalry drive southward, three columns of
smokes are to be made. Should 3,000 cavalry come, three columns of smoke
are to be made. Burning four smokes mean the approaching enemy are numbered
over 10,000.
One column of smoke is a signal the prefecture and county under whose
jurisdiction the furnace is placed. Two or more columns of smoke is
a signal to the capital. The prefecture, county and township from which
the signal is sent should dispatch messenger to inform the royal court.
If the enemy retreats, after making the smoke as a direct signal to
the capital, one column of smoke is again to be made to signal retreat.
The enemy invasion is signaled by making smoke three times and extinguishing
it three times. To signal that all is well two columns of smokes should
be made and extinguished.
According
to the book "Tong Dian": beacon fire site is located in strategic
spot on mountain. It can also be built on elevated plain, if there is
no mountain. Below the site is a stable for horses and sheep.
A fire
is made in the morning and evening to signal all is well. Should this
"all is well"signal fail to be lighted, the beacon fire site
is regarded as overrun by the enemy.
Each beacon
fire site is manned by six persons, who keep vigil day and night by
turn. The head of the crew is a man who knows military intelligence and
sends or receives messages.
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