Entry

The Qian-guo Duke Mu Cong, regional commander of Yun-nan, and others memorialized: "Under Lin-an Prefecture and Jian-shui Subprefecture, there are the greater and lesser five territories (大小五邦之地), which border the country of Annam. Sui-fu Subprefecture of Annam has sent a despatch claiming that these places are called by the names Upper Zhou, Lower Zhou, Lin Xun and Wang, that they are subordinate to that subprefecture and have for generations paid taxes to it. We sent a despatch to that country instructing it to send orders of warning and to castigate the subprefecture for using base language. Recently, that country has sent a despatch to us, noting: `The villages and stockades of the two areas are all the Court's territories and the people of the two areas are all the Court's subjects. The local authorities have been warned not to transgress the borders or incite trouble. The local authorities have been warned not to transgress the borders or incite troubles. If their words were base, it is because they are habituated to low practices. There is not need to castigate them for this.' The greater and lesser five territories are in extremely difficult and dangerous terrain. They are of utmost important areas for controlling the man and the yi. Previously, we had not heard of Upper Zhou, Lower Zhou and the other names and we fear that they are planning a surprise attack. We have already ordered the local officials to prepare the border defences. This is respectfully advised." The memorial was passed down for deliberation and the Ministry of War re-submitted a memorial noting: "The Jiao people are very guileful. Perhaps they are offering peaceful words in order to delay our border defence preparations. Further orders of warning should be sent." The Emperor approved the proposal. It was further ordered that in future, if any subprefecture or county should encounter such a matter, it was only permitted to inform a higher office and to wait for arrangements to be made. They were not permitted to rashly send despatches back and forth as that could give rise to border troubles.