Entry

When the Annam envoys who had come to offer felicitations on the coming New Year's Day arrived, the Emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites to bring Chen Tian-ping to show them. The envoys recognized him as the former king's grandson and, amazed and confused, they bowed down, while some were moved to tears. Pei Bo-qi also enquired of them about the Grand Precepts of Right Conduct but they were all fearful and could not reply. The Emperor was advised of this and he spoke to his attending officials, saying:

"Hu Di of Annam formerly said that the Chen line had been broken and that he, as the son of a woman of the Chen family, was temporarily handling state affairs. He requested that he be conferred with orders as the king's successor. I was strongly suspicious and made enquiries of the the attendant ministers and elders. They all said that that what Hu Di had said was correct. As I had said that a son-in-law of the Chens could rule the country, it was also logical that Di, as the son of a woman of the Chen family could inherit the title. Thus I issued orders to enfeoff him. Who could have known that he had killed the ruler and usurped the throne, changed the dynastic title and adopted a reign title, treated the people cruelly and attacked neighbouring states! The spirits of Heaven and Earth will not tolerate this. Even the ministers and people are deceitful. That is a country full of criminals. How can this be tolerated!"