Entry

The Fu-jian Grand Coordinator Shang Zhou-zuo advised: "In the sixth month (Jul/Aug 1622), the 'red yi' entered our territory of Peng-hu and their special envoy requested permission to trade. Their words were respectful and submissive. However, when they saw that their request had not been approved, they suddenly sent five ships to attack our Liu-ao. Liu-ao is very close to Zhang-pu and the situation was perilous. Cheng Zai-yi of that circuit and the Regional Vice Commander Zhang Jia-ce defended against them on all sides, and the Squad Leader Liu Ying was able, through planning, to sink one of their ships and capture or behead over 10 of their men. The bandits then did not dare to further spy on Tong-shan, but took their ships out into the ocean, laying anchor at the old Wu Yu. That place is separated from the Central-left Battalion by only one day's sailing and the Central-left Battalion is the gateway to Tong-an and Hai-cheng. The ocean-going merchants congregate at Hai-cheng and the yi had long been salivating. With the guidance of evil persons, they made plans and combined their forces. Subsequently, they attacked the Central-left Battalion and occupied the inner harbour. There was no day which was without battles. They then landed on the shore and attacked Gu-lang Yu, burning the valuables, houses and ships of the ocean-going merchants. They then anchored at Gui Yu and began spying on Hai-cheng. Our troops then attacked them in a pincer movement from within and outside, and the yi, alarmed and unsettled, fled. They then returned to Xia-men and entered Zeng-jia Bay. There they were immediately blockaded and they were subject to death and injury inflicted by the government troops. By advancing, they had nothing to plunder, and by retreating they had no hope. Thus they sent a person to admit their guilt and to again request permission to trade. Although there is no precedent whereby the yi have been allowed to trade in the inner territory, of those Fu-jian merchants who have been issued warrants to trade with Batavia, there are none who have not traded with these yi. Now, we should only allow the issue of the warrants permitted under the old regulations and those traders who formerly traded to that place should continue to go to Batavia to trade. We should not permit the opening of a trading centre in our inner territory. The yi should be instructed to swiftly leave Peng-hu, hoist their sails and return home. If they claim that they must await news (候信), they must be required to go out to sea and wait at another port. As long as it is not one of the places we guard, they should be allowed to select a place to lay anchor. We need to firmly guard the strategic places so as to strengthen our frontiers. In imitation of the "scorched-field" method in the Northern areas, we should gather up the people and livestock. We should spy on them and when we see them attacking, we could either take advantage of them climbing into small boats (乘下艇) or lure them into coming ashore and set plans to capture them. If they undertake not to make trouble, we will only need to govern them through indirect governance." It was Imperially commanded that the Ministry of War examine and deliberate on the proposals and then report to the throne.