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Xuan-de: Year 9, Month 3, Day 9

17 Apr 1434

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The Assistant Commissioner-in-chief Shan Yun, regional commander of Guang-xi, memorialized: "Li Li of Annam has died. His eldest son is wild and incorrigible and the second son is young and weak. The evil ministers Li Wen and Li Cha have usurped power, formed cliques and recklessly engaged in feuding and killing. The good people are frightened and Ruan Shi-ning, a native official from Tuo County in Liang-shan Prefecture and Ruan Gong-ting, a native official from Qi-yuan Subprefecture have both led their families and tribes-people, totalling over 300 persons, in escaping the calamity and coming to allegiance. They now wish to reside in Long Subprefecture and in both Shang and Xia Dong Subprefecture in Tai-ping Prefecture, Guang-xi." The Emperor sent orders to Yun, saying: "Li Li was originally of a low and humble station. He noted that Chen Hao had the support of the people and earnestly requested that he be appointed as ruler. As I wished to bring rest to the people, I proclaimed the withdrawal of the troops and then ordered an investigation of the veracity of the claims, so that an appointment could be made. Li then suddenly memorialized that Hao had died. Hao's death was the work of Li! At that time, the Court wished to send troops, but it could not bear the suffering it would bring to all living things. Thus, manifesting Heaven's love for the living and spreading wide my great grace, I especially instructed that he temporarily take on the management of the affairs of the country. With actions as unrighteous as his, it is fitting that Heaven has destroyed him. You should alert the border troops and order that they be careful and firm in their defence. They must not be lax in this. As to Ruan Shi-ning and the others who have fled the calamity and come to allegiance, they should be well looked after and allowed to remain and settle where they wish. All of their food and other needs should be arranged by the officials. In this way, these people will be able to find their place and thereby we will not lose the trust of these distant people who have come to allegiance."

Xuan-zong: juan 109.3b-4a

Zhong-yang Yan-jiu yuan Ming Shi-lu, volume 21, page 2444/45

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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/xuan-de/year-9-month-3-day-9, accessed January 22, 2019