Entry

On this day, the Jiao-zhi Vice Commissioner Chen Zhong did battle with the bandits and was killed. Zhong had his origins in Lin-huai. Initially he was a deputy battalion commander in the Kuan-he Guard and realized achievements in pacifying the internal troubles. He was promoted to vice commander of the Sui-de Guard, but for involvement in an offence, was banished to Guang-xi. He accompanied the regional commander of the expedition to Jiao-zhi and, at Ge-zhao Town, took his force on the river in small boats and destroyed Li Ji-li's river fort. He accompanied the sea-crossing general in attacking Duo-bang City and was first to scale the walls. In all of the battles, he threw himself into the thick of the fighting. He was then re-instated as the vice commander of the Jiao-zhou Left Guard. When the Imperial army defeated the bandits at Xian-zi Pass and at the various sea-ports, Zhong realized repeated achievements. In the naval battle in the seas off An-mo (安謨海洋), Zhong linked his battle ships and killed or captured a large number of the enemy. He was also involved in defeating the bandits the Qi-luo and He-hua Sea-ports and at Mt. Kun-zhuan and other places. In the capture of the Li bandits, both father and son, and the capture of Chen Ji-kuo and Ruan Shuai, Zhong also played a part. He was then promoted to vice commissioner of Jiao-zhi. He went on expedition to Dong-chao Subprefecture where he captured the false bureau head (知院) Ruan Shi and the senior Dragon-Tiger General Wu Zhong. At this time, the rebellious bandit Li Li had engaged in banditry in Qing-hua. Zhong did battle with him but was struck by a flying spear and killed. When the event was advised, the Ministry of Rites was ordered to provide rewards in excess of those normally provided in honouring the dead.