Entry

The Ministry of Revenue re-submitted a request from the Yun-nan grand coordinator and regional inspector that Yun-nan be exempted from the additional gold demands. The Emperor did not approve this...The Grand secretary Zhang Ju-zheng and others held: "Yun-nan actually does not produce any gold and every year it has to purchase it, which brings difficulties to the people. For successive years, the region has had poor harvests and the yi have been stirred up. Each time we read the memorials from the grand coordinator and the regional inspector, we feel concerned. Yun-nan was formerly the South-western yi and it was our dynasty which first brought it within the empire. There, the yi and the guo live mixed together, and formerly they did not have to carry out transportation duties or pay money and grain. Sometimes there is disorder and it is necessary to employ troops to bring peace. This is a great waste of China's finances.....The shoots of rebellion have already sprouted in Long-chuan and Mu-bang...It is requested that there be gracious approval of the ministers' request and that Yun-nan be exempted from the extra amount as proposed. If there happens to be a shortfall in the amount necessary for annual use, then as the grand coordinator and regional inspector suggest, they should send this amount to the capital and the Ministry of Revenue can purchase it." This was approved.