Entry

On this day, the Qian-guo Duke Mu Sheng, regional commander of Jiao-zhi, did battle with Jian Ding, the Jiao-zhi bandit leader at Sheng-jue River and was defeated. The Assistant Commissioner-in-chief Lu Yi; the Minister of War Liu Jun; and Liu Yu, the administration vice commissioner of Jiao-zhi, were killed. Yi had his origins in Xiang-cheng, He-nan and initially he was a company commander in the Ji-yang Guard. When the Emperor pacified the internal troubles, Yi accompanied the punitive expedition and realized outstanding achievements on several occasions. He moved up through the ranks and reached the position of vice commissioner. In the third year of the Yong-le reign (1405/06), he was promoted to assistant commissioner-in-chief and, together with Huang Zhong, drilled troops in Guang-xi. Also, together they took troops to escort Chen Tian-ping, a grandson of the former king of Annam, back to his country. Zhong violated the Emperor's orders and Yi was unable to convince him to act otherwise. Thus, they were defeated at Ji-ling. His offences were forgiven and he followed the expeditionary force in his original capacity. As his transgressions were minor, it was ordered that he take on the post of rapid-attack commander. After Jiao-zhi was pacified, as Yi had realized great achievements, he was put in charge of the affairs of the Jiao-zhi Regional Military Commission. Yi was extremely brave and a skilled strategist. He died deep in the thick of battle with the bandits. Jun had his origins in Jiang-ling, Hu-guang. He passed the metropolitan examinations in the yi-chou year of the Hong-wu reign (1385/86) and was appointed as a secretary in the Ministry of War. He was successively promoted to vice minister of the left and then, during the Jian-wen reign, to chancellor (侍中). When the [present] Emperor came to the throne, Jun was promoted to minister. He was careful and meticulous, and was diligent in his duties. He was an able strategist and skilled in meeting emergencies and he gained trust in the post. Initially, when the regional commander was sent on expedition against Jiao-zhi, Jun was ordered to go as military affairs adviser and he proved of great assistance. When Jiao-zhi was pacified, he returned and rewards were conferred upon him. He then returned to Jiao-zhi to assist Sheng with military matters. When Sheng was defeated, Jun was surrounded and he took his own life. Yu had his origins in Wu-cheng, Shan-dong. From a supervising secretary in the Office of Scrutiny for Personnel, he was promoted to commissioner of the left in the Office of Transmission and then to administration vice commissioner of the left in the He-nan Provincial Administration Commission. He was then transferred to administration vice commissioner of the right in Jiao-zhi. Yu was harsh and showed little mercy, but he was brave in his actions. Wherever he went, the officials and people feared him. At this time he died together with Jun.