Entry

The Yun-nan Grand Coordinator Chen Yong-bin memorialized: "Ava and Meng-nai have raised troops and engaged in attacks against each other. When there is contention between the yi and di, it benefits China. Meng-nai has made a pact with Siam as enemies of Ava. They are on the side of the Court and are loyal. Ava has intimidated Mu-bang to force it to wage an attack on Meng-nai. This is aimed at reviving Ava-Burma and is rebellious. If, with the support of the Imperial Ancestors and Your Majesty's blessing, the Ava chieftain dies at the hands of Meng-nai, that will be a fortunate thing. If perchance, Meng-nai is defeated, the Ava chieftain will gather together the Ava-Burma gang members and start nibbling away at China's territory. At that time, if we have not made appropriate defence arrangements, and the Ave-Burmese cavalry ranges far and wide, it will be like the Si Ren-fa affair of old. Can such a thought fail to chill the blood? We have already, in accordance with the situation, selected some knowledgable and able men and sent them by side-roads to Meng-nai and to the countries of Siam and Bo-ni to arrange the combining of forces and to advise that on the day that Ava-Burma is destroyed, there will be no niggardliness in the division and conferring of [Ava-Burma's] territory. Also, we have instructed Mu-bang that it is not permitted to assist in rebellion. If the Ava chieftain takes Meng-nai, he will water his horses at the Jin-sha River. It is there that our troops will have to attack him. However, at Teng-chong, the troops number less than 7,000 and it will be necessary to deploy yi troops who are experienced in warfare. There will need to be at least 20,000 men and they will require 200,000 (shi?) of grain rations. Yun-nan's strengths are exhausted. It is requested that the Ministry of Revenue and Ministry of Works be ordered to arrange for an emergency loan of 100,000 jin from each of the two neighbouring provinces of Guang-xi and Si-chuan to assist in alleviating the emergency. In this way, when the enemy is engaged, it will not be necessary to send out calls for emergency supplies." The Ministries of War and Revenue jointly re-submitted the memorial noting: "It should be considered having the two provinces each supply a loan of 50,000 liang. If solely yi troops are employed to attack the yi, the silver should be returned forthwith. If there are incursions into the inner territory, urgent notification should be sent, so that further arrangements can be made. Meng-nai has come to the allegiance of the Han and provides a screen for us. Whenever it has to fight, we must assist it, deploy troops, arrange grain and engage in expeditions of elimination as conditions require. Firstly, we must notify Meng-nai to link up with the various yi and to put all its efforts into cutting off the attacks. Secondly, we must strongly urge Mu-bang to coordinate by joining the expedition. Thirdly, we must send a despatch to the supreme commander of Guang-dong/Guang-xi requiring him to notify the countries of Siam, Bo-ni and Champa to join forces in a pincer attack. When the Ava chieftain is pacified, promotions should be made, rewards provided and the territory distributed. In all of this we should be generous. If Ava and Meng-nai both withdraw their troops, it will still be necessary to deploy and advance troops and cavalry and give special attention to maintaining our defences. The troops certainly must not induce troubles, as that could give rise to territorial ambitions by others. Even less should they just play with the bandits and thereby foster subsequent calamities." This was approved.