Entry

The Xin-ning Earl Tan Zhong died. Zhong had his origins in Qing-liu, Chu Subprefecture...In the second year of the Xuan-de reign (1427/28), he was ordered to take up the post of deputy regional commander of the right and, together with the Qian-guo Duke and Regional Commissioner Mu Sheng, to mobilize the Yun-nan troops and proceed on expedition to Jiao-zhi. When they reached the Qing-shui River, it happened that the An-yuan Marquis had already been defeated and the bandit forces had combined their troops to guard the various strategic points (諸隘). Sheng and Zhong withdrew the army to Lin-an. Zhong was then ordered to drill the defence forces in Yun-nan. In the third year (1428/29), he returned to the capital. The Censorate and military officers submitted an impeachment against Zhong and so on noting that they had been dilatory in advancing the troops. Subsequently, he was sent to prison. Due to illness, he was released. Zhong was filial in serving his mother and his aim was to achieve a meritorious name. However, before he could do this, he died, aged 42. When the death was announced, sacrifices were conferred upon him and the Ministry of Works was ordered to arrange his funeral.