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Chen Yi, chief steward guarding the pearl-beds of Guang-dong, memorialized: "People from Nan-hai County were blown by the wind to the country of Annam, and there they were made to serve as soldiers by the king of that country. Later they escaped and, on returning, advised that over 100 Chinese persons whose ships had been blown there, had been detained and castrated or imprisoned." The memorial was sent to the Ministry of Revenue, which requested that despatches be sent to grand coordinators, grand defenders and other officials requiring them to prohibit soldiers and civilians from going abroad as merchants or having private dealings with fan countries, and also requested that the soldiers guarding the pearl-beds be instructed to devise means to prevent such contacts. This was approved.