Entry

The Qian-guo Duke Mu Sheng, regional commander of Yun-nan, memorialized: "I joined with the Commissioners -in-chief Mu Ang and Fang Zheng and led the troops on expedition to attack Lu-chuan. On the third day of the first month (17 Jan 1439), Zheng attacked the former major fort, destroying it. He then pursued the bandits to Kong-ni. There, the bandits intercepted him and used their elephant force to launch an attack. Our army was greatly defeated and subsequently lost the areas which Zheng had occupied. Now, the bandit's forces are becoming increasingly powerful and it is requested that further government troops be deployed to eliminate this bandit." The memorial was sent to the Court ministers for discussion. The Ying-guo Duke Zhang Fu and others requested, in accordance with Sheng's proposal, the selection and deployment of 31,500 government troops from Hu-guang, 10,000 from Gui-zhou and 8,500 from Si-chuan, and that the Commissioners-in-chief Wu Liang and Ma Xiang be recalled to lead the troops to Yun-nan where they would be subject to the orders of Sheng and so on. The Emperor approved this. Thus, Liang and Xiang were called back to the capital. Investigating censors and other officials were separately sent to select troops and to await orders of deployment. In addition, Imperial orders were sent to Sheng and so on. The orders read: "The man bandit Si Ren-fa has engaged in destruction and troops must be used to eliminate him. If you do not prepare grain supplies in advance and only think of immediate needs, it will be a mistake. The Ministry of Revenue was ordered to conduct an investigation and it was found that, at the end of the 12th month in the second year of the Zheng-tong reign (25 January 1438), there were 541,540 shi of grain in the granaries of the guards and battalions under the Yun-nan Regional Military Commission. It is not known how much has ben expended. The amount of grain harvested and put in store during the third year of the Zheng-tong reign (1438/39 has not been calculated. When these orders arrive, you are to make overall calculations and advance estimates of the total amount of grain which will be needed. This will facilitate the making of plans and the arranging of transport and storage. The grain will be sent to Jin-chi where it will be stored in preparation for use. If there is not sufficient grain, send an urgent memorial so that decisions can be taken. You must not procrastinate or be negligent in this matter."