Entry

Previously, in the 27th year of the Jia-jing reign (1548/49), Annam was due to come to Court to offer tribute. However, as the Commander Mo Fu-hai had died, his son [Mo] Hong-yi had taken on control of state affairs and sent the chieftain-envoy (使目) Li Guang-ben and others with local products to offer in tribute. When the latter reached Nan-ning Prefecture in Guang-xi, the defence officials advised. The Ministry of Rites held that as the title had not yet been fixed, the envoy should remain at Nan-ning and that the defence officials should be ordered to send a despatch to Annam, requiring investigation as to the appropriate heir. Subsequently, in the 30th year (1551/52), the investigations were completed and Hong-yi was appointed as Commander. It was appropriate that he go personally to Zhen-nan Pass to collect the despatch of appointment. It happened that at that time his country was in disorder, the Liang-shan road was blocked and for a long time Hong-yi did not come to the pass. Guang-ben and the others remained at Nan-ning for 15 years, where most of his attendants died. Hong-yi then implored the regional officials to put forward a request on his behalf. It was commanded that Guang-ben and the others be permitted to come to the capital to offer tribute, but that the official despatch allowing Hong-yi to inherit the post would not be issued until he personally came to the pass.