Entry

The Investigating Censor Yang Bai-zhi, regional inspector of Shan-dong memorialized: "The Eunuch Directors Jin Yi and Chen Hao were sent as envoys to Korea. En route, they engaged in extortion, and in Liao-dong alone their spoils totalled over 1,000 (liang of silver?). The spoils from other areas can be imagined. Currently, when the Court needs to send envoys to the various fan countries such as Champa, Annam and Melaka, it always employs Han-lin officials, supervising secretaries or Messengers to proceed there with the orders. Korea is, far more than these various countries, a state which upholds propriety. Yet solely in its case are eunuchs sent as envoys. This brings great disgrace to our country and harms its majesty. It has been heard that the king of the country of Korea had long wanted to request enfeoffment, but was afraid of the greedy extortion of the envoys. Therefore, he delayed until now. In that country there is a saying that for one enfeofffment, the country must endure shortages for five years. Thus they do not respect China and instead submit to those in the distance. It is requested that in future when envoys are to be sent to Korea, only those who have been selected from the civilian official metropolitan graduates be approved. Eunuchs who disgrace the country's orders should not be sent." When the memorial was submitted, it was ordered that the contents be notified to the relevant offices.