Yamen were recently ordered in conjunction with the Grand Council to frame a set of regulations with reference to the traning of military students and they advocated that rifle practice and marksmanship be taught them. This is an important matter necessitated by the critical times we live in; but I, the Empress Dowager, am of opinion that, as the military examinations of students for degrees by the lifting of heavy stone weights, manipulation of the Great Sword Lochaber poleaxes) and buyii up grain at once and fill up their jes to the full extent demanded by Where there are no granaries_ steps must be taken immediately to supply the deficiency. These granaries are to be examined yearly and if any remissness be found the officials concerned will be severely punished. In this way alone may we hope to cope with any famine that shall in the future attack the country.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.