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Zheng-tong: Year 3, Month 6, Day 7

28 Jun 1438

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The Qian-guo Duke Mu Sheng, regional commander of Yun-nan, and others memorialized that Si Ren-fa, the Lu-chuan Pacification Superintendent had repeatedly attacked Nan Dian, Gan-yai, Teng-chong, Lu-jiang and Jin-chi. The Emperor sent Imperial orders to Sheng and so on to take the earliest opportunity to pacify or capture him. Also, Imperial orders were sent to Si Ren-fa, noting:

"Recently, Nan Dian and other areas have memorialized that you have attacked and occupied their land, harassed their people, stolen their elephants and horses, harmed officials and clerks and destroyed government boats guarding the river ports. You have also built mountain forts to obstruct communications. As you have not observed the laws and regulations, the grand defender and the regional commander have repeatedly requested permission to use the government troops to punish your crimes, and they wish to eliminate you in a sudden strike. I manifest Heaven's love for living things and I am concerned that if the Imperial army is despatched, it would be impossible to avoid harming the innocent. Also, my heart could not bear taking people away from their fathers, mothers, wives and children. Now, I am especially sending persons to soothe and instruct you. If you are able to change your ways, move towards culture, observe the established patterns, release the people you have carried off and return the land you have attacked and occupied, then all your crimes will be pardoned. If you stupidly persist in your ways and do not repent, it will be necessary to raise an army for an expedition to eliminate you. At that time, it will be too late for regret."

Ying-zong: juan 43.2b

Zhong-yang Yan-jiu yuan Ming Shi-lu, volume 24, page 832

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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/zheng-tong/year-3-month-6-day-7, accessed January 22, 2019