Entry

Imperial orders of instruction were sent to Si Ren-fa, the Lu-chuan Pacification Superintendent. The orders read: "Formerly, when my forbears were on the throne, you were able to respectfully carry out your duties in sending tribute to the Court and the Court treated you with grace. You grew increasingly respectful as time went by. Since I came to the throne, I have carried on the wishes of my forbears and, in my rule of the Chinese and the yi, have not differentiated between the near and the distant. Recently, the Yun-nan regional commander and the grand defender have memorialized that you have taken it upon yourself to raise troops and cavalry and have attacked Meng-ding, Meng-yang and such regions, killing and carrying off their people. They requested that the Great Army be despatched to punish your crimes. However, I embody Heaven's love for all living things and, knowing that if the Great Army was despatched, the injury of innocent people could not be avoided and that men would be separated from their fathers, mothers, wives and children, I could not bear to do it. I thus sent a person with Imperial orders to instruct you in the hope that you would come to your senses, repent and act loyally. I noted that, if you did, all your past offences would be forgiven and not be investigated. Now, you have sent the chieftain Tao-meng Dao Pai-ben and others to the capital to come to Court and offer tribute. The Court does not anticipate deceit and cannot bear to punish you. Thus, the envoys you sent are being leniently sent back and have been ordered to take these Imperial orders for your instruction and also to confer variegated silks on you and your wife. You should think about your errors, examine your faults and try to turn over a new leaf. In this way, you will not be turning your back on the special treatment being shown to you."