In those days, a Kokushi did not leave for the assigned province (called yonin [remote appointments]) and sent out a mokudai (deputy kokushi, or a deputy provincial governor) instead, who was a deputy and also director to the assigned province.
同じ頃、国司が任国へ赴任せず（遙任という）、目代という代理人兼監督者を現地派遣していた。