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Cheng-hua: Year 18, Month 8, Day 13

26 Aug 1482

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The Qian-guo Duke Mu Cong, regional commander of Yun-nan, and others memorialized: "When returning from Laos, the Guard Commander Pan Qi died in Meng-gen. The Mian script despatch from the Pacification Superintendent Pa-ya Sai, which he carried, described the invasion by the Jiao people and stated that the various officials who had been sent in the past had promised that troops would be supplied in assistance and noted that the troops of the various yi had been assembled to await the assistance. It also noted that Che-li intends to attach itself to Jiao-zhi and requested that persons be sent to instruct them. Previously, Che-li also reported that several hundred thousand Jiao troops had been stationed on the Laos border. In addition, Ba-bai reported that the Jiao people had invaded Meng-ban and other areas in Laos (Alt: Laos and Meng-ban). However, Yang Min, a soldier who accompanied Qi, said that neither the previous reports nor the current despatch could be trusted, that Pa-ya Sai was planning to avenge the killing of his father and elder brother and that he wants Yun-nan to despatch troops to assist him." The memorial was sent to the Ministry of War, which advised: "The words of the yi are often guileful and it is very difficult to approve their request. However, when the distant people come to lay plaint, it is appropriate to show them kindness and sympathy. We should have Cong and so on send a despatch requiring Laos to soothe the difficulties and suffering and to not instigate border troubles. Ba-bai and Che-li should be instructed to think about their close links with us and to not harbour dual loyalties. Also, Cong and so on should be required, when sending persons to these areas, to select honest and cautious persons, so that instances of benefit-seeking do not occur." The Emperor said: "In previous times, the feuding and killing between the man and the yi was seen as a way to destroy their gangs (黨) and was regarded as beneficial to China. I certainly do not see things thus. The various yi of Jiao-zhi and Laos have been subject to China for years. I see them all as my children and desire to quickly end the enmity. This is China's way. Cong and so on are to be ordered to send persons to instruct them, so that both of them guard their own territories, maintain good relations with their neighbours and protect their people. Also, as the Ministry of War has suggested, the persons sent to deliver these instruction should be very carefully selected."

Xian-zong: juan 230.3b-4a

Zhong-yang Yan-jiu yuan Ming Shi-lu, volume 48, page 3936/37

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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/cheng-hua/year-18-month-8-day-13, accessed January 22, 2019