Entry

The Regional Commissioner Lu He, an assistant regional commander of the Jin-chi/Teng-chong general administration circuit under Yun-nan, as well as the Assistant Administration Commissioner Guo Xu and the Surveillance Vice Commissioner Cao Yu, went to soothe and instruct Si Lu of Meng-yang. First, He went to Teng-chong, where people sent by Tao-meng Bu-song Men-li of Meng-yang came to deliver a letter in Mian script and present local products, so that they could spy on our situation. Thereupon, He instructed them in respect of what would bring calamity and what would bring prosperity and required them to return and advise Si Lu to withdraw his troops back across the river and to hand back Man-mo and other areas he had occupied. Then, He deployed yi troops from the three pacification commissions of Long-chuan, Gan-yai and Nan Dian and 1,000 elephants and horses to accompany the government troops in their drills, to show that an expedition was indeed imminent. At that time, Xu and Yu, who had brought Imperial orders of instruction to be publicly proclaimed, arrived at Gan-yai, and Bu-song Men-li accorded with the instructions and came there. Subsequently, they again issued instruction for Si Lu, as follows; "You earlier obeyed deployment instructions and came to provide support. This shows a loyal heart. As Meng-mi was causing trouble, you defeated them and this was indeed a proper action. However, you now still occupy our territory and are unwilling to go back across the river. This is indeed a crime. If you are able to obey the instructions of soothing in a timely way, you will be taking the opportunity to turn from calamity and pursue prosperity." Only then did Si Lu send Tao-meng Han-yue Meng Pa-mo to deliver a letter in Mian script and to offer silver utensils and other goods. Then, He and the others advanced along separate routes to Meng-lai on the Jin-sha River. Si Lu then sent the senior Tao-meng Lun-suo Pa-zhuo to again lead subordinates to meet them. Thereupon, He and the others instructed him as before. Si Lu obeyed the orders, returned Man-mo and other territory, a total of 13 areas which he had occupied previously, and withdrew his horses, elephants and yi troops back across the Jin-sha River. Then he sent Tao-meng, Zhao-gang and others to offer as tribute six elephants, 600 liang of silver as well as gold and silver wine utensils, a gold saddle, a gold hook, elephant tusks, peacock tail-feathers and other local products. The grand defender and grand coordinator advised of the events. They stated: "Man-mo and the other areas were originally subordinate to Mu-bang. It was only during the Cheng-hua reign (1465-87) that they came into Meng-mi's possession. In the 10th year of the Hong-zhi reign (1497/98), they were occupied by Si Lu and for repeated years, he has caused trouble. Now, there is peace. The land cannot be again given to Mu-bang or Meng-mi and it cannot be divided among the three pacification commissions of Long-chuan, Gan-yai and Nan Dian. A separate office should be established. However, the area is far in the distance, is miasmic and difficult to defend. We should provisionally have Teng-chong annually send 400 government troops to go and defend it in rotation, until further arrangements are made. Previously, Si Lu realized achievements in the pacification of Si Die. He has now accorded by repenting his crimes and offering tribute. It is requested that a title as well as headwear and a belt be conferred upon him and that Imperial orders of commendation and instruction also be conferred upon him." The Ministry of War jointly deliberated and advised: "Man-mo and the other places were originally a part of Mu-bang's territory. Under the great precepts of right conduct, the areas should be returned to Mu-bang. Now the grand defender and the grand coordinator want to bend to and accord with Si Lu's wishes and propose only sending temporary troop contingents in rotation to defend the area. We are afraid that this will result in damage to the Court's prestige. It is requested that the grand defender and grand coordinator be ordered to consider matters and to make proposals in accordance with the great precepts of right conduct, and then to memorialize their proposals. As to the conferral of headwear, a belt and a title, the tribute envoy has already said that Si Lu does not desire these. Such should not be lightly conferred. It is requested that orders of praise and encouragement be conferred and that the envoys be richly rewarded. Those yi-soothing officials who realized achievements should be promoted and rewarded at various levels as appropriate." This was approved.