Entry

As the major chieftain Dao Bian-man and others of the Meng-yang Military and Civilian Pacification Superintendency in Yun-nan had secretly concealed the bandit son Si Ji-fa, the Emperor sent them orders of instruction. The orders read: "Meng-yang is an office established by the Court. You, Dao Bian-man, and the others have dared to oppose the Court's orders. This is the first reason you are to be subject to punishment. Si Ji-fa is the son of a bandit, and yet you have allowed him freedom and not captured him. This is the second reason you are to be subject to punishment. Meng-yang's land was, in the past, attacked by Si Ren-fa and subsequently your pacification superintendent Dao Meng-bin was treated with kindness in Yun-nan. However, you formed a rival gang to feud with him. This is the third reason you are to be subject to punishment. The Yun-nan regional commander and other officials have for successive generations governed your land. When they received orders to capture the bandit son, you did not accord with the tactics they had worked out. This is the fourth reason you are to be subject to punishment. You thought that because of the mountains and rivers and the dangerous roads, the government troops could not easily reach you and believed that because of the weather, the miasmic vapours and the heat, the government troops could not long remain there. When powerful you put up opposition, but when weak you fled. You certainly will not know that in ancient times Ma Yuan went and marked the distant frontier with a bronze pillar. He passed through difficulties and dangers without injury. Zhu-ge Liang crossed the Lu River in the fifth month and, despite the heat, came to no harm. Both were able to destroy the man and the yi and open up territory. Now, the great generals have the opportunity for a decisive victory. You know this from the previous Lu-chuan battles. You should repent your crimes and make an effort to change calamity to good fortune. Now, if Si Ji-fa can personally come to the Court, I will, as previously stated in orders, appoint him to a post, give him land and send him back to govern and live off (lit. to eat off) that land. If he is unwilling to come out, it would be best if you captured him and presented him to the Court. If you capture Si Ji-fa, you are to advise the government troops, so that they can receive him. If you prevaricate or delay things or report that he has fled to another place, the Court will indeed order the senior generals to lead the Great Army directly to your place and attack you with a combined force. At that time, it will be too late for repentance. You should consider this carefully!"