Entry

The Jing-yuan Earl Wang Ji, Minister of War and supreme commander of military affairs; the Regional Commander and Ding-xi Marquis Jiang Gui; and the Commissioner-in-chief Mu Ang memorialized: "We led the Great Army forward, joined with the yi troops of Mu-bang and other places and advanced to press Ava-Burma for the bandit leader Si Ren-fa. There were several battles in all of which we were victorious. The Ava-Burma people had used a large gold-parapet boat to take the bandit leader to Jiang Shang and, after sending spies to determine the strength of the Imperial army and whether it had grain supplies, they drew back and used another boat to take him back. We considered the matter deeply. The Ava-Burma people had an agreement with Mu-bang, that they should forward the bandit. They are related to each other and their lands are very close to each other. Mu-bang uses salt from the Ava-Burma people, while the latter use water from Mu-bang. They have good relations and are as close as lips and teeth. The two areas were formerly attacked by Si Ren-fa and his sons, and they did not have the strength to withstand the attacks. Now, the Ava-Burma people have Si Ren-fa in their hands. They truly desired of the government troops that, in the East, they eliminate Si Ji-fa and give Lu-chuan's land to Mu-bang and that, in the West, they eliminate the bandit's son Zhao San and give Meng-yang, Jia-li and such areas to Ava-Burma. They were willing to then send Si Ren-fa to the capital. If the two bandit sons were not eliminated, the roots of the trouble would still exist and they were afraid that feuding would again occur. Thus, they would not send us Si Ren-fa until the two were eliminated. Therefore, we directly attacked the bandit lair, killing and defeating the bandit followers and burning their boats and palisades. We captured Si Ren-fa's wives, children and relatives, chieftains and bandit followers, a total of over 90 persons, as well as 11 elephants. Only Si Ren-fa and Si Ji-fa have not been captured. Their relatives have all fled, they have no supplies of food or clothing and their land is all under the jurisdiction of other people. If they do not throw themselves into a watercourse or a ditch and die there, they will indeed be taken, bound and presented to the Court. This is all the result of Sagely perspicacity and spiritual might. Victory is respectfully announced." The Emperor ordered that the government troops who had realized achievements be promoted and rewarded in accordance with the precedents. The other matters were to be decided when Wang Ji and Jiang Gui returned.