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Wan-li: Year 33, Month 9, Day 15

26 Oct 1605

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The Ministry of War memorialized: "Duo Han, a member of the Long-chuan native-official ruling family, was formerly a minister of the Han. Then he gave his allegiance to the crafty Ava-Burmese and guided Ava in pursuing and killing Si Zheng. He then occupied and took possession of Man-mo. When our troops advanced along three routes and besieged his walls, he led his forces in fleeing to Ka-kan and requested troops from Ava. His intention was to again engage in intimidation. This certainly cannot be tolerated by the laws of the state and he must be subject to Heaven's punishment. This person is most crafty and his tribe most strong. When we pursued him, he fled and when we withdrew he came forward. If we wanted to wage a major campaign, the problem would lie in the insufficiency of troops. If we wanted to defend for a long period, the problem would lie in that grain supplies could not be maintained. The expeditions against Lu-chuan in the early days showed the problems. Fortunately, the grand coordinator, grand defender and the circuit officials combined their efforts in planning, and they all sent clerks deep into these areas to make known Imperial grace and majesty and issue instructions in terms of what would bring calamity and what would bring prosperity. Thereupon, the yi chieftain Man Pa and others killed Meng Jia and others, a total of three persons, and took Duo Han and his family into custody. They also brought yi products, elephants and boxed heads, and came to allegiance. This is what the laws call `subduing troops without warfare'. If it had not been for the great efforts of the civil and military officials, this result would not have been achieved. The successes in the recovery of territory and the capture of chieftains are worthy of record, but the remedial defence measures still require arrangement. We should wait until the area is at peace and only then issue bountiful rewards to the personnel who have realized achievements. As to Duo Han, while his crimes cannot be pardoned, it may appear that we are executing someone who has surrendered. I am afraid that this will obstruct the desire of the other chieftains to incline towards culture. Thus, the request by the grand coordinator and grand defender that he be exiled to the distance should be approved. As to Man Pa and so on, they are the descendants of Si Zhe and the heirs of dependent yi. Now, they have again opposed Ava-Burma's killing and rebellion, and it can be seen that they have not forgotten the Han. We should make arrangements for them to live and grow their food in the area of Man-mo." An Imperial order was issued noting that as Duo Han had stood in awe of Imperial majesty and come to allegiance, his death sentence was being leniently commuted and that he was to be sent to Yong-chang Prefecture and detained there, so as to manifest the Court's benevolence in not executing those who surrender. All other matters were approved in accordance with the proposals.

Shen-zong: juan 413.7a-b

Zhong-yang Yan-jiu yuan Ming Shi-lu, volume 114, page 7743/44

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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/wan-li/year-33-month-9-day-15, accessed January 22, 2019