Entry

Zhang Ding-si, a supervising secretary in the Office of Scrutiny for War and others advised: "The Mang chieftain has attacked the inner territory and Yue Feng of Long-chuan has assisted in the rebellion. Only now, when the bandits' strength has become great, have the grand coordinator and the grand defender requested the establishment of commanders' posts and the addition of troops. Their plans seem dilatory. The Grand Defender Mu Chang-zuo should be required to swiftly base himself in territory close by and arrange the deployment of native troops to occupy and defend the strategic areas, so that there can be timely defence against and elimination of the bandits. The funds needed for the grain and rewards should, as proposed, be taken from the retained mining taxes, and the border defence and rent silver. Although the three pacification commissions and Mu-bang have aligned their forces with Mang, this is not necessarily their true desire. We should permit atonement of their mistakes through the realization of achievements and advise them that if they are able to eliminate or pacify the two chieftains Mang and Yue, they will be rewarded as a testimonial to their achievements." This was approved.