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Both the Vice Minister Wu Gui-fang, military superintendent of Guang-dong/Guang-xi, and the Censor-in-chief Wang Dao-kun, former grand coordinator of Fu-jian, advised victory at the bay of Mt. Wang-qiao. Dao-kun had, in accordance with a report by the Assistant Commissioner Bi Jing-li, initially advised that Wu Ping had been captured alive. Gui-fang alone doubted this and held:

"Ping has long been known as a treacherous bandit and would not have been willing to surrender to Fu Ying-jia's force to face certain public execution and public display. It appears that the initial claim that he was captured alive is false and not to be believed. There is another account which holds that he drowned himself, but this is also only based on reports supplied by the bandits. At that time, in the conflagration of wind and fire it would have been dark and difficult to distinguish things. How could it be definitely known that he is dead? Thus Ying-jia is being impeached for the crime of reckless reporting. Tang Ke-kuan did not take the opportunity of victory to pursue the bandits, and punishment for him should also be deliberated upon."

The memorial was sent to the Minister of War Yang Bo and others who responded, saying:

"The repeated reports from the various generals of Fu-jian and Guang-dong advised that Ping was certainly dead. There was only any doubt when Gui-fang noted that the advice was not factual. The naval ships of the various routes have expended much effort and a great amount of funds in their tasks over a long period. If indeed the bandits have been pacified, but we now have internal dissension, the campaign will have been purposeless. It is requested that the Guang-dong regional inspecting censor be instructed to examine the matter to determine whether Wu Ping did in fact drown himself and whether the remaining bandits have been pacified. He should also list the achievements and transgressions of the various officials from the two provinces and memorialize requesting rewards and punishments. Also, the achievements of Annam in providing troops to assist in the elimination of the bandits should be discussed."

The Emperor approved the ministry's proposals.