《周礼·夏官司马·候人&司右》
负责接受被包围城邑的投降。挈壶氏掌管在打成的水井上悬挂水壶做标志以使军士们前来汲水，在当宿营处悬挂马辔做标志以使军士们前来宿营，在存放军粮处悬挂畚做标志以使军士们前来领取粮食。
以设侯人，若有方治，则帅而致于朝。及归，送之于竟。环人掌致师，察军慝，环四方之故，巡邦国，搏谍贼，讼敌国，扬军旅，降围邑。挈壶氏掌挈壶以令军井。
They were responsible for accepting the surrender of besieged cities. The Qiehufu were in charge of hanging a water jar on a well to indicate to the soldiers where to draw water, hanging horse reins in a place where they camped to indicate to the soldiers where to camp, and hanging a basket in a place where military food was stored to indicate to the soldiers where to get food.