Entry

Xia Zhi-shan, a director in the Ministry of Rites, and others were sent to go to Annam with an Imperial proclamation and enfeoff Hu Di as the king of the country of Annam. The proclamation read: "All those who are covered by Heaven and supported by the Earth are my people, and my accession as ruler accords with popular sentiments. Previously you, Annam, were a border prefecture. Because of popular sentiment, a king's fief was first conferred upon you during the Song dynasty. You are very close to China and have inclined towards our culture. In the early part of the reign of my Imperial father Tai-zu, you took the lead in becoming a subject. When I inherited the precious mandate, you Hu Di showed your loyalty and devotion and memorialized stating that the line of succession of the Chen kings had come to an end, that you as the son of a woman of the Chen family were handling the sacrifices and that this had been so for four years. I made enquiries of the people and what they advised tallied with your words. Now I am especially ordering that you be enfeoffed as the king of the country of Annam. Verily, doing good and bestowing blessings is indeed the illustrious way. Serve the superior and have sympathy for those below and continue to demonstrate the loyalty of your predecessors. Respect this!"