Entry

The envoy Ya-lie Jia-en and others whom had been sent by Du-ma-ban, the Western king of the country of Java, came to Court to admit guilt. Previously, the Western king had been involved in battle with the Eastern king and the Eastern king had been eliminated. At the time, the envoy who had been sent by the Court to the various fan countries was passing through where the Eastern king had ruled. The government troops went ashore to trade and 170 of them were killed by the troops of the Western king. When the Western king heard of this, he was frightened and at this time the envoy he had sent came to admit guilt. The Emperor sent an envoy with Imperial orders of instruction to Du-ma-ban. The orders read: "You reside in the Southern Ocean and have been able to to fulfil your tributary functions. Envoys have come and gone and they have been received and sent off with ceremony. I have been pleased with you. You have recently engaged in battle with the Eastern king and were involved in the killing of over 170 men who had been sent by the Court. There is no doubt as to your guilt. Both you and the Eastern king were enfeoffed by the Court. However, you acted on the basis of greed and anger and without authority eliminated him and occupied his land. You have acted against Heaven and violated orders. Is there anything more serious than this? Just as I was about to raise an army to punish you, Ya-lie Jia-en and the others whom you sent, came to Court and advised your admission of guilt. I have seen that you are capable of repenting your mistakes and I have thus leniently stopped the despatch of troops. But what of the 170 people who died innocently? You mu st immediately pay 60,000 liang of gold as compensation for their lives and to atone for your crime. In this way, you will be protecting your land and your people. Fail to comply and there will be no option but to despatch an army to punish your crime. What happened in Annam can serve as an example!"