Entry

Zhang Ming-gang, vice minister of the right in the Ministry of War and supreme commander of Guang-dong/Guang-xi, advised: "The territory of Qin Subprefecture adjoins the Jiao yi. The two regions are connected by land and water routes and there is no clear division between them. When the major troubles erupted, defence was very difficult (Alt: very tight). The following remedial arrangements are proposed to facilitate long-lasting peace on the border: 1. Restoring dong officials. The four dong are all under Qin Subprefecture's jurisdiction and each dong follows its old yi customs. We should appoint a dong official in each, charge them with restraining the people of the dong, paying poll-tax, establishing bao-jia arrangements and prohibiting the people from having contact with the foreign yi or from leading them into calamitious actions. They should also be required to maintain links with each other and provide assistance to one another. If over a period of three years no incidents occur, a request for examination should be submitted to the two offices and headwear and belts should be conferred. 2. Stopping trade. Whenever there is profit to be made, that is where people's minds move. Further, the cunning yi are like wild dogs. Is it possible to toss them a bone and to prohibit the trade without them wrangling? It is only the three villages of Hao-ya (Alt: Hao-liao), Ti-ji and Song-jing which belong to the yi and which have always relied on trade for a living. If this is prohibited, they will be angered. However, if we give them oxen and seeds to help them earn a living, and soothe them in various ways in order to calm their disaffection, they will be happy to give their allegiance to China, and there will thus be no danger of calamity resulting from efforts to expand their territory ..." The memorial was sent to the relevant office for deliberation.