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The Ministry of War advised: "Man-mo and Yi-xi are key areas for the three pacification commissions and are closely linked with Teng-yue. Previously, as Ava linked up with the various yi and fought and feuded with and killed Si Zheng, Duo Han, a member of their rebellious gang, occupied Man-mo and obstructed our strategic routes. They are currently pursuing and attacking Si Hong and their intention is to swallow up Yi-xi and then to gradually nibble at the inner territory. Now, above, the grand coordinator and grand defender have made plans and, below, the prefects and generals have coordinated their strategies. First Duo Han will be attacked and then the rebellious chieftains will see the situation and flee by night. Subsequently, assistance can be given to Si Hong, and the Ava-Burma bandits will then throw down their weapons and flee. Thus Man-mo will be recovered, Yi-xi will be saved and the area between Teng-yue and Yong-chang will at last see some rest. We are only concerned that Duo Han will flee without doing battle, and that Ava instead of providing reinforcements will itself defend the area. The situation is very difficult to gauge. Thus in respect of the defence policies which have been proposed, plans must be made in advance. Having government troops on guard requires much in terms of funds and provisions. Si Zheng's son and younger brother have always been enemies of Ava-Burma. But calling together the former chieftains and coercing them by using the government forces is not a good policy. The grand coordinator has proposed selecting the yi Si Li, who has given us his allegiance, to engage in herding and agriculture there and wishes to use yi people to reside in and defend the area. Various opinions should be collected on the two policies and a decision taken so that remedial arrangements can be implemented. We humbly suggest that as the grand coordinator is performing duties in the region, his observations will no doubt be accurate and his plans will indeed be good. One needs to first obtain something before concerning oneself with retaining it. In accordance with what has been proposed, the most appropriate policies should be chosen and implemented. As to the mistakes, the circuit has already been instructed to ascertain the facts relating to Commandant Li Tian-chang. The results will be memorialized separately. The defending troops must be kept in position and only if autumn and winter pass without alarms should their withdrawal be considered. Those personnel who have been of great service should, if things remain at peace for three years, be rewarded in accordance with the precedents. In this way, people will know both encouragement and warning and the border calamities will thereby be quelled." The Emperor said: "Approved".