Entry

It was ordered that when ships from fan countries came bringing those who were to offer tribute at the Court, and were carrying trading goods, they were to be taxed at two parts in ten, and that the amounts to be sent to the capital and to be stored to cover military expenses were to be the same as under the old regulations. Such ships were not to be obstructed by the new regulations. Previously, evil persons of Guang-dong/Guang-xi had privately traded in fan goods, linked up with the external yi, joined with those coming to offer tribute in order to seek profits, beguiled people into absconding, kidnapped or purchased boys and girls, and came and went engaging in evil activities and bringing harm to the people. The Assistant Administration Commissioner Chen Bo-xian requested that these activities be forbidden and punished and that if those fan and yi who should be offering tribute come at other than the stipulated frequency, they be stopped and sent back. At that time, the Administration Commissioner of the Right Wu Ting-ju had plausibly argued about benefits to be gained and requested that all ships be received. The grand coordinator, regional inspector and the Ministry of Revenue were all deluded and this proposal was approved. Not many years later, the Fo-lang-ji troubles started. The Vice Commissioner Wang Hong put forth all his efforts to eliminate or capture them, but was just able to defeat them. Thus, every year much money was spent on building ships and casting guns for defence. Also, because of the Fo-lang-ji, all of the fan and yi who were supposed to come to bring tribute were blocked and the ships and goods did not arrive. What was initially a source of benefits thus gave rise to unending troubles and all of this was Ting-ju's fault.