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Yong-le: Year 2, Month 8, Day 3

7 Sep 1404

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An envoy was sent with Imperial orders of instruction for Hu Di, the king of the country of Annam. They read:

"Previously, as you had repeatedly attacked Champa, I instructed you to stress sincerity and maintain good relations. I received your memorial saying:`From now on, how could we dare not cease hostilities.' I was pleased that you were able to change your ways and sent orders to comfort and encourage you. Recently, Champa has again memorialized that this year you have again attacked their territory with a naval force and seized and carried off their people, that on the return of their tribute mission you intercepted and seized all the goods which had been conferred upon them and that you had forced the handing over of the king's headwear, robes and seal and ordered the king to become your subject. This is truly the ultimate demonstration of transgression of propriety and reckless outrage. Also, Si-ming Prefecture in Guang-xi has memorialized that you have grabbed their territory of Lu Subprefecture, Xi-ping Subprefecture and Yong-ping Stockade. This is Chinese territory. Your invasion and grabbing of it is unscrupulous outrage. Such actions invite sudden death. I am not unforebearing or one to quickly punish crimes and thus I am again handing down instructions. The spirits bring calamity to the dissolute and thus you should follow the illustrious way. You should quickly repent your former mistakes. If you do not, it will not be to the benefit of Annam."

Tai-zong: juan 33.5a

Zhong-yang Yan-jiu yuan Ming Shi-lu, volume 10, page 583

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Preferred form of citation for this entry:

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/reign/yong-le/year-2-month-8-day-3, accessed January 22, 2019