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Zheng-tong: Year 8, Month 5, Day 8

5 Jun 1443

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Imperial orders of instruction were sent to Mo-he Bi-gai, the king of the country of Champa. The orders read: "Previously, in response to enfeoffment and the conferral of sacrifices, you, king, sent your nephew Qie-yang-le-cui and others to present a memorial and offer local products as an expression of gratitude for the Court's kindness. From these actions, your loyal heart can be seen. I have already ordered officers to feast and reward those you sent and to send them home. From now on, king, you should become increasingly sincere in respecting Heaven, in serving the superior and in protecting the people, so as to manifest my will of looking on all equally. As to your memorial advising of your desire to recover land which the country of Annam occupied formerly, your father and grandfather did not attempt to recover it, and there must have been a reason for that. Now, you have newly inherited the fief. Maintaining good relations with neighboring states and protecting your territory is of prime importance. If each side quarrels with the other, it certainly will not be beneficial to the people. I rely on grace and trust in pacifying and encouraging the multitude of states. You king, should manifest my supreme will. Examine this and implement it. I have also ordered that Qie-yang-le-cui take with him variegated silks and the requested fine horses and that, on his return, he confer these on you, king, and your consort. They are for your receipt."

Ying-zong: juan 104.3b-4a

Zhong-yang Yan-jiu yuan Ming Shi-lu, volume 27, page 2102/03

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Preferred form of citation for this entry:

Geoff Wade, translator, Southeast Asia in the Ming Shi-lu: an open access resource, Singapore: Asia Research Institute and the Singapore E-Press, National University of Singapore, http://epress.nus.edu.sg/msl/reign/zheng-tong/year-8-month-5-day-8, accessed January 22, 2019