Entry

The Yun-nan Grand Coordinator Chen Yong-bin memorialized: "The Ava rogues of Ava-Burma joined together with Mu-bang and other yi and attacked Man-mo with a force of over 100,000 men. They claimed: `The mining officials ordered us to kill Si Zheng so that the road could be travelled.' At that time, the border generals had received my orders to make know the crimes of the chieftain Zheng. If Ava had no ulterior motives, the troops should have rolled up their armour and returned to Ava. However the remained in and have occupied Man-mo. If the territory of Man-mo is lost, we will then certainly lose the three pacification commissions and then lose Teng-yue and Yong-chang. Then the whole of Yun-nan will be subject to calamity. This all began with the opening of the precious stone mines. Those who are in charge of the border forces only concern themselves with the border. When bandits enter, they attack them. Those who are in charge of procurement concern themselves only with precious stones and when the bandits enter they do not want them attacked. This inevitably leads to the impeding of actions. Such impediments are continuous and they result in the obstructing and weakening of defences. The Ava-Burma cavalry has been able to range far and wide. Even with skilled and brave soldiers, how can plans be made? Under the pretext of procurement, real calamities have been brought to the borders. I know that this is not what Your Majesty intended. It is humbly hoped that an Imperial order will be swiftly issued requiring that procurement from the precious stone mines be stopped. In this way, the border generals and officials will be able to put all their efforts into defence duties and the South-west will again become secure." There was no response to the memorial.