Entry

Zheng-tong: Year 3, Month 8, Day 3	(23 Aug 1438)

Imperial orders of instruction were issued to Yang Wei-xi-sha, the king of the country of Java. The orders read: "You, king, have repeatedly sent your envoy Ya-lie Ma-hong to come to the capital and offer tribute to the Court. From these actions, your fine desire to respectfully serve the Court has been observed. However, recently, when the envoy Zhan Wei (Alt: Zhan Zheng) was returning home and he arrived at Pu-yang Postal Relay Station in Fu-jian, he drank wine excessively and became intoxicated. He proceeded to act wildly and, seizing a knife, killed several people and then killed himself. How can such evil and violent people be sent as envoys? Thus, I am especially instructing you, king, that in future when you send persons, choose them carefully."

Ying-zong: juan 45.2a

Zhong-yang Yan-jiu yuan Ming Shi-lu, volume 24, page 867

Geoff Wade, translator, Southeast Asia in the Ming Shi-lu: an open access resource, Singapore: Asia Research Institute and the Singapore E-Press, National University of Singapore, http://epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/entry/722, accessed March 17, 2010.

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