Entry

The Ministry of War re-submitted a memorial from the Yun-nan Regional Inspecting Censor Su Can: "I have personally examined the local situation and deliberated on measures appropriate to the times. I have distinguished the situation of the Southern yi and that of the Northern lu and weighed policies of regulation and pacification. There are four proposals: 1. Unifying the authority of military commanders. It is requested that one post of assistant regional commander be established in Teng-yue, with command of 2,000 troops, to provide support to Yi-xi and other offices. The posts at Yao Pass and Shun-ning/Meng-hua should be changed to commandant posts and they should both be subject to the orders of the assistant regional commander. 2. Economizing on military expenditure. It is requested that it be ordered that the military rations for the troops under the two assistant regional commanders at Teng-yue/Yong-chang and Lin-an be obtained locally so that long-distance cartage can be dispensed with. The silver in lieu of labour which the native offices provide should be changed to rice payments and this should be divided and stored for use as rations. 3. Not expanding the border regions. It is requested that the fields of Hu-sa and such places be given to Long-chuan and the fields of Meng-mao and such places be given to Duo An. The stockades of Zhan-xi and Yue-yuan should be returned to their original chieftains. The cause of the man and yi calamities has been eliminated. We should swiftly support the establishment of Han Song as ruler so that he can control the tribes and bring the yi people to peace. Also, the assistant regional commander's troops should be a force in the distance. All the posts of the postal relay offices on the distant border should be abolished. 4. Not making border appointments lightly. It is requested that two very capable commandants be selected for Jin-chi/Teng-chong and Lin-an. The Jin-chi/Teng-chong circuit should take control of Shun-ning/Meng-hua, while the Lan-cang Circuit should be transferred to Bei-sheng. This will facilitate deployments and assist in control. There should be an investigation once every three years and it should be advised that minor victories in capturing or beheading rebels are not to be randomly reported in order to obtain merit." It was Imperially commanded that the measures be implemented as proposed * A remarkably similar memorial, but recorded as being submitted by the Yun-nan Grand Coordinator Xiao Yan, can be seen at Shen-zong juan 208.2b-3a