Wubei Zhi (Vol. 49)

To examine these matters with precision and to weigh them thoroughly, there is no better way than to personally visit the sites and measure them in detail. One must consult with the public, spread the word in the streets, record the findings in the registers, and report clearly to the officials, stating: "In such-and-such township, there were originally this many forts. This specific one was established because its design 制 (zhì): The formal regulations or architectural standards governing the construction of a fortification. makes it suitable to keep; these others, because they are underpopulated or have lost their strategic advantage original: "失險" (shī xiǎn). Refers to the loss of natural or man-made defensive superiority, such as a wall crumbling or a hill being bypassed., should be abandoned."

For those forts that are kept, if they are sufficient to contain [the populace], then delineate their layout. If they are not sufficient to contain them, then open them up and expand them. For those to be abandoned, dismantle their walls in order to make the ground level. Move the materials to be used for other needs and plow the former residential sites to show the people that they shall not return. In this manner, divided loyalties are removed, the people's resolve is fixed, and the forts are truly consolidated.

Part Three: The Allocation of Housing —. The "allocation of housing" original: "分廬" (fēn lú). The systematic distribution of living quarters among the displaced population within the new fort walls. refers to how a fort, once completed, accommodates the multitude. Now, families vary in wealth, land varies in size, and the number of adult males 丁 (dīng): Men of military or labor-service age, used here as a unit to measure the size and needs of a household. varies.

Currently, the wealthy possess grand halls, private chambers, ritual courtyards 壇場 (tán chǎng): Areas designated for family rituals, offerings, or public gatherings., orchards, and vegetable gardens within the fort, while the poor do not even have enough space to house their own bodies. Where land is plentiful, the thoroughfares and alleys 衢巷 (qú xiàng): The network of main roads and smaller side streets within a settlement. are scattered like stars original: "星散" (xīng sàn). A metaphor for a layout that is too spread out, making it difficult to defend or organize., but where space is narrow, people are huddled together original: "屯萃" (tún cuì). A chaotic or overly dense clustering that leads to poor sanitation and internal strife. without relief. This is a situation that cannot be left without a proper arrangement.