Entry

Zhong Fan, a director in the Ministry of Justice, and others, memorialized that they had investigated the claims made by the Censor-in-Chief Wang Shu, grand coordinator of Yun-nan that the Grand Defender and Eunuch Director Qian Neng had sent the guard commander Guo Jing with a jade belt, mang -dragon robes, dogs and horses to have private contacts with the king of the country of Annam, and that he had sent Lu An, Su Ben and others to have dealings with Gan-yai, Meng-mi and other yi , and other matters, and found them all to be true. The Censorate requested that Neng and the others be arrested and sent to the capital for punishment of their crimes. The Emperor especially pardoned Neng and issued Imperial orders severely castigating him. The orders read: "The judicial offices have memorialized that they have investigated the charges that you had violated the law and have found them all to be true, while noting that the memorials which you submitted against the grand coordinator were all false. Your crimes are obvious. I originally intended to have you brought fettered to the capital to be punished in accordance with the law. However, considering that you have long been in the border regions, I am bending the law and am leniently pardoning you. You must properly carry out the duties of grand defender and pay attention to the local people's wishes. You must firmly control your subordinates and not allow them to cause trouble in the local guards or offices. The native officials are beyond the pale of culture (化外之人), and since the time of my ancestors they have only been required to offer regular tribute, and this is how they are restrained. These areas differ from the inner territory of the country. In future, in all matters, you must openly deliberate with the Qian-guo Duke Mu Cong, the regional inspecting censor and the officials from the three offices, and must send honest and capable officers from the three offices to soothe and instruct people and investigate matters. You are not to arbitrarily send vagrant ruffians. If your previous extortion and swindling give rise to troubles or rebellion, and if, by any chance there are losses, on whom shall the blame lie! You have been warned. Be very careful!"