Entry

The Investigating Censor Hu Jie memorialized on four matters concerning Yun-nan: "1. Suppressing bandits. The Yun-nan people are honest and simple and are not by nature bandits. Recently in the inheritance of native-official posts in various areas, there have been repeated investigations of disputes and the matters have often been solved through bribery. Further, the local officials have made disparate demands and have been insatiable. It is only thus that the people have become bandits. It is requested that Imperial orders be sent to the grand defender and grand coordinator noting that in future when native officials advise of inheritance of a post, they are to instruct the prefecture or county to swiftly carry out an investigation and send a report. They are not to be permitted to solicit bribes or visit areas below the local administrative level. Anyone who receives bribes from the native officials or sends people to cause trouble in the areas should be impeached and punished in accordance with the regulations. If, at the upper level, the bribes are stopped, then at the lower level, the bandits will return to peace by themselves......" The Ministry of War re-submitted the memorial, noting: "Jie is from Yun-nan and is very familiar with the problems. His suggestions are all feasible. The pacification and surveillance officials should be instructed to fully implement these measures as proposed, and must not be perfunctory in this." This was approved by Imperial command.