1
安南,古交阯地。 唐以前皆隸中國。 五代時,始為土人曲承美竊據。 宋初,封丁部領為交阯郡王,三傳為大臣黎桓所篡。 黎氏亦三傳為大臣李公蘊所篡。 李氏八傳,無子,傳其婿陳日炬。 元時,屢破其國。
Annan was the old land of Jiaozhi. Before the Tang dynasty, it was wholly under Chinese administration. During the Five Dynasties, a local leader named Qu Chengmian first wrested control of the region. Early in the Song, Ding Bo Linh was invested as Prince of Jiaozhi; three reigns later the senior minister Le Huan seized power. The Le clan likewise held power for three generations until the senior minister Li Gongyun overthrew them. The Li family ruled for eight generations; when the line died without a male heir, rule passed to the son-in-law Chen Rijiu. Under the Yuan, the imperial armies repeatedly crushed the kingdom.
2
以寧等至,日煃先卒,侄日熞嗣位。 遣其臣阮汝亮來迎,請誥印,以寧等不予。 日熞乃復遣杜舜欽等請命於朝,以甯駐安南俟命。 時安南、占城構兵,帝命翰林編修羅復仁、兵部主事張福諭令罷兵,兩國皆奉詔。 明年,舜欽等至告哀。 帝素服禦西華門引見,遂命編修王廉往祭,賻白金五十兩、帛五十匹。 別遣吏部主事林唐臣封日熞為王,賜金印及織金文綺紗羅四十匹。 廉既行,帝以漢馬援立銅柱鎮南蠻,厥功甚偉,命廉就祀之。 尋頒科舉詔于其國,且以更定嶽瀆神號及廓清沙漠,兩遣官詔告之。 日熞遣上大夫阮兼、中大夫莫季龍、下大夫黎元普等謝恩,貢方物。 兼卒於道,詔賜其王及使臣,而送兼柩歸國。 頃之,復仁等還,言卻其贐不受,帝嘉之,加賜季龍等。
By the time Zhang Yining and his party reached Annan, Chen Ri Kui was already dead, and his nephew Chen Ri Xiao had taken the throne. He sent his minister Ruan Ruliang to receive the envoys and request investiture and the royal seal, but Yining and his colleagues refused. Ri Xiao then dispatched Du Shunqin and others to petition the court for recognition, while keeping Yining in Annan to await the imperial response. Annan and Champa were then at war; the Emperor ordered the Hanlin compiler Luo Furen and the Ministry of War clerk Zhang Fu to command both sides to lay down arms, and both kingdoms complied. The following year Shunqin and his party arrived to report the bereavement. The Emperor received them in mourning dress at the West Hua Gate, then sent the compiler Wang Lian to conduct the rites of mourning, with fifty taels of silver and fifty bolts of silk as condolence gifts. He also sent Lin Tangchen of the Ministry of Personnel to invest Ri Xiao as king, bestowing a gold seal and forty lengths of gold-woven silk and gauze. Once Lian was on his way, the Emperor recalled how the Han general Ma Yuan had set up the Bronze Pillar to subdue the southern tribes, a deed of great renown, and ordered Lian to worship at that site as well. Shortly afterward the examination edict was issued in Annan, and when the court revised the titles of the sacred mountains and rivers and celebrated the pacification of the desert, envoys were sent twice to announce these changes. Ri Xiao sent Senior Grand Master Ruan Jian, Grand Master Mo Jilong, Junior Grand Master Li Yuanpu, and others to offer thanks and present tribute goods. Jian died en route; the court ordered gifts for the king and the mission, and had Jian’s coffin escorted back to Annan. Before long Luo Furen and his party returned, reporting that they had declined gifts pressed upon them; the Emperor praised their conduct and ordered additional rewards for Jilong and the others.
3
四年春,遣使貢象,賀平沙漠,復遣使隨以寧等來朝。 其冬,日熞為伯父叔明逼死。 叔明懼罪,貢象及方物。 逾年至京,禮官見署表非日熞名,詰得其實,詔卻之。 叔明復朝貢謝罪,且請封。 其使者抵言日熞實病死,叔明遜避於外,為國人所推。 帝命國人為日熞服,而叔明姑以前王印視事。 七年,叔明遣使謝恩,自稱年老,乞命弟耑攝政,從之。 耑遣使謝恩,請貢期。 詔三年一貢,新王世見。 尋復遣使貢,帝令所司諭卻,且定使者毋過三四人,貢物無厚。
In the spring of the fourth year, Annan sent tribute elephants to congratulate the court on pacifying the desert, and again dispatched envoys who came to court with Yining’s party. That winter Ri Xiao was driven to his death by his uncle Chen Shuming. Fearing imperial punishment, Shuming sent elephants and other tribute goods. When they reached the capital more than a year later, the ritual officials noticed the memorial was not signed in Ri Xiao’s name; once the facts were established, the court ordered the tribute turned away. Shuming again sent tribute to court to beg forgiveness and to request formal investiture. His envoys claimed on arrival that Ri Xiao had truly died of illness, that Shuming had modestly withdrawn, and that the people had urged him to take power. The Emperor ordered the people of Annan to mourn Ri Xiao, while allowing Shuming to govern provisionally with the former king’s seal. In the seventh year Shuming sent envoys to give thanks, saying he was aged and asking that his younger brother Ri He be appointed regent; the court agreed. Ri He sent envoys to offer thanks and to ask when tribute missions should be sent. An edict fixed tribute at once every three years, requiring a new king to appear in person at investiture. Soon Annan sent tribute again; the Emperor ordered the relevant offices to tell them to withdraw, and limited missions to no more than three or four envoys with modest gifts.
4
十年,耑侵佔城,敗沒。 弟煒代立,遣使告哀,命中官陳能往祭。 時安南怙強,欲滅占城,反致喪敗。 帝遣官諭前王叔明毋構釁貽禍,以叔明實主國事也,叔明貢方物謝罪。 廣西思明土官訴安南犯境,安南亦訴思明擾邊。 帝移檄數其奸誑罪,敕守臣勿納其使。 煒懼,遣使謝罪,頻年貢奄豎、金銀、紫金盤、黃金酒尊、象馬之屬。 帝命助教楊盤往使,令饋雲南軍餉,煒即輸五千石于臨安。 二十一年,帝復命禮部郎中邢文偉齎敕及幣往賜。 煒遣使謝,復進象。 帝以其頻煩,且貢物侈,命仍三歲一貢,毋進犀象。 時國相黎季犛竊柄,廢其主煒,尋弑之,立叔明子日焜昆主國事,仍假煒名入貢。 朝廷不知而納之,越數年始覺,命廣西守臣絕其使。 季犛懼,二十七年遣使由廣東入貢。 帝怒,遣宜詰責,卻其貢。 季犛益懼,明年復詭詞入貢。 帝雖惡其弑逆,不欲勞師遠征,乃納之。 大軍方討龍州趙宗壽,命禮部尚書任亨泰、御史嚴震直諭日焜,毋自疑。 季犛聞言,稍自安。 帝又遣刑部尚書楊靖諭令輸米八萬石,餉龍州軍。 季犛輸一萬石,饋金千兩、銀二萬兩,言龍州陸道險,請運至憑祥洞。 靖不可,令輸二萬石于沲海江,江距龍州止半日。 靖因言:「日焜年幼,國事皆決季犛父子,乃敢觀望如此。」 時帝以宗壽納款,移兵征向武諸蠻,遂諭靖令輸二萬石給軍,而免其所饋金銀。 明年,季犛告前王叔明之訃。 帝以叔明本篡弑,弔祭則獎亂,止不行,移檄使知之。
In the tenth year Ri He attacked Champa and was defeated and killed. His younger brother Wei took the throne and sent envoys to report the bereavement; the Emperor ordered the eunuch Chen Neng to conduct the mourning rites. Annan had grown overconfident and sought to destroy Champa, only to suffer a crushing reverse. The Emperor sent officials to warn the former king Shuming not to stir up trouble, noting that Shuming still effectively ruled; Shuming sent tribute to beg forgiveness. The Siming native official in Guangxi complained that Annan had crossed the border, while Annan accused Siming of frontier harassment. The Emperor issued a proclamation listing their fraud and crimes and ordered border officials to refuse their missions. Terrified, Wei sent envoys to apologize and for years sent tribute including eunuchs, gold and silver, purple-gold platters, golden wine cups, elephants, and horses. The Emperor sent instructor Yang Pan as envoy and ordered Annan to supply the Yunnan army; Wei at once delivered five thousand piculs of grain to Lin’an. In the twenty-first year the Emperor again sent Xing Wenwei of the Ministry of Rites with an imperial letter and gift silks. Wei sent envoys to give thanks and again offered elephants. Finding the missions too frequent and the gifts excessive, the Emperor restored the three-year tribute cycle and forbade rhinoceros horn and elephants. By then the chief minister Le Qui Li had seized power, deposed King Wei, and soon murdered him; he set Shuming’s son Ri Kun to govern while still sending tribute under Wei’s name. The court knew nothing of this and accepted the missions; only years later did they discover the truth and order Guangxi officials to bar Annan’s envoys. Fearing punishment, Qui Li in the twenty-seventh year sent envoys to offer tribute through Guangdong. The Emperor was enraged, sent officials to rebuke him, and refused the tribute. Qui Li grew more frightened still; the following year he again sent tribute with deceitful explanations. Though the Emperor loathed his murder and usurpation, he was unwilling to dispatch armies on a distant expedition and therefore accepted the tribute. As the main forces were suppressing Zhao Zongshou of Longzhou, the Emperor ordered Ren Hengtai and Yan Zhenzhi to assure Ri Kun that he need not fear the court. When Qui Li heard this, he felt somewhat reassured. The Emperor also sent Yang Jing of the Ministry of Justice to demand eighty thousand piculs of grain for the Longzhou army. Qui Li sent only ten thousand piculs and offered one thousand taels of gold and twenty thousand taels of silver, pleading that the overland route to Longzhou was dangerous and asking that grain be shipped to Pingxiang Cave. Jing refused and ordered twenty thousand piculs delivered to the Tuohai River, only half a day from Longzhou. Jing reported: “Ri Kun is young and all affairs are decided by Qui Li and his son, yet they dare stall in this fashion. As Zongshou had surrendered, the Emperor redirected troops against the Xiangwu tribes and told Jing to take twenty thousand piculs for the army while waiving the gold and silver offered. The following year Qui Li announced the death of the former king Shuming. Because Shuming had originally usurped and murdered his sovereign, the Emperor held that mourning rites would reward rebellion and refused to perform them, notifying Annan by proclamation.
5
思明土官黃廣成言:「自元設思明總管府,所轄左江州縣,東上思州,南銅柱為界。 元征交阯,去銅柱百里立永平寨萬戶府,遣兵戍守,令交人給其軍。 元季喪亂,交人攻破永平,越銅柱二百餘里,侵奪思明所屬丘溫、如嶅、慶遠、淵、脫等五縣地,近又告任尚書置驛思明洞登地。 臣嘗具奏,蒙遣楊尚書勘實。 乞敕安南以五縣地還臣,仍畫銅柱為界。」 帝命行人陳誠、呂讓往諭,季犛執不從。 誠自為書諭日焜,季犛貽書爭,且為日焜書移戶部。 誠等復命,帝知其終不肯還,乃曰:「蠻夷相爭,自古有之。 彼恃頑,必召禍,姑俟之。」 建文元年,季犛弑日焜,立其子顒。 又弑顒,立其弟案,方在繈褓中,復弑之。 大殺陳氏宗族而自立,更姓名為胡一元,名其子蒼曰胡,謂出帝舜裔胡公後,僭國號大虞,年號元聖,尋自稱太上皇,傳位,朝廷不知也。
Huang Guangcheng, native official of Siming, stated: “Since the Yuan set up the Siming Pacification Commission, its Left River prefectures and counties were bounded on the east by Shangsi and on the south by the Bronze Pillar. When the Yuan attacked Jiaozhi they advanced a hundred li past the Bronze Pillar to establish the Yongping Stockade office, stationed troops there, and required the Jiaozhi people to provision the garrison. In the late Yuan turmoil Jiaozhi forces overran Yongping and, pushing more than two hundred li past the Bronze Pillar, seized Siming’s districts of Qiuwen, Ruyao, Qingyuan, Yuan, and Tuo; they had lately also claimed Minister Ren had established a relay station on Siming’s Deng territory. I have already submitted a full memorial and the court sent Minister Yang to verify the facts. I beg that Annan be ordered to return the five districts and that the Bronze Pillar again be fixed as the border. The Emperor sent envoys Chen Cheng and Lü Rang to instruct Annan, but Qui Li stubbornly refused. Cheng wrote personally to instruct Ri Kun; Qui Li replied with a disputing letter and even drafted a memorial for Ri Kun to the Ministry of Revenue. On their return the Emperor knew Annan would never restore the territory and said, “Barbarians fighting among themselves is nothing new. They trust in their stubbornness and will bring ruin upon themselves; we may wait for now. In the first year of the Jianwen reign Qui Li murdered Ri Kun and set up his son Yong. He then murdered Yong and set up his younger brother An; while An was still an infant in arms, he murdered him too. He slaughtered the Chen clan and seized the throne, changing his name to Hu Yiyuan and naming his son Cang Hu Di, claiming descent from Lord Hu, scion of Emperor Shun; he usurped the title Great Yu, adopted the reign title Yuansheng, soon called himself Retired Emperor, and passed rule to Di—yet the court knew nothing.
6
思明所轄祿州、西平州、永平寨為所侵奪,帝諭令還,不聽。 占城訴安南侵掠,詔令修好。 陽言奉命,侵掠如故,且授印章逼為屬,又邀奪天朝賜物。 帝惡之,方遣官切責,而故陪臣裴伯耆詣闕告難,言:「臣祖父皆執政大夫,死國事。 臣母,陳氏近族。 故臣幼侍國王,官五品,後隸武節侯陳渴真為裨將。 洪武末,代渴真禦寇東海。 而賊臣黎季犛父子弑主篡位,屠戮忠良,滅族者以百十數,臣兄弟妻孥亦遭害。 遣人捕臣,欲加誅醢。 臣棄軍遁逃,伏處山谷,思詣闕庭,披瀝肝膽,輾轉數年,始睹天日。 竊惟季犛乃故經略使黎國髦之子,世事陳氏,叨竊寵榮,及其子蒼,亦蒙貴任。 一旦篡奪,更姓易名,僭號改元,不恭朝命。 忠臣良士疾首痛心,願興吊伐之師,隆繼絕之義,蕩除奸凶,復立陳氏後,臣死且不朽。 敢效申包胥之忠,哀鳴闕下,惟皇帝垂察。」 帝得奏感動,命所司周以衣食。 會老撾送陳天平至,言:「臣天平,前王日烜孫,奣子,日煃弟也。 黎賊盡滅陳族,臣越在外州獲免。 臣僚佐激于忠義,推臣為主以討賊。 方議招軍,賊兵見迫,倉皇出走,竄伏岩穀,萬死一生,得達老撾。 恭聞皇帝陛下入正大統,臣有所依歸。 匍匐萬里,哀訴明庭。 陳氏後裔止臣一人,臣與此賊不共戴天。 伏祈聖慈垂憐,迅發六師,用章天討。」 帝益感動,命所司館之。
Luzhou, Xipingzhou, and Yongping Stockade under Siming were seized; the Emperor ordered their return, but Annan refused. Champa complained of Annan’s raids; an edict ordered both sides to make peace. Di pretended to obey yet continued his raids, issued seals to force submission, and even seized gifts sent by the imperial court. The Emperor was about to send a stern rebuke when former tributary official Pei Bozhe arrived at court to plead his case, saying, “My grandfather and father were both chief ministers who died serving the throne. My mother was a near relative of the Chen clan. As a boy I attended the king in a fifth-rank post; later I served Vice Military Commissioner Chen Kezhen as his deputy. At the end of the Hongwu era I replaced Kezhen in guarding the eastern coast against pirates. Then the traitor Le Qui Li and his son murdered the sovereign and usurped power, butchering the loyal; hundreds of families were wiped out, and my brothers, wives, and children perished as well. They sent men to seize me, intending to torture me to death. I fled my post and hid in the mountains, yearning to reach the capital and lay bare my heart; only after years of wandering did I behold the imperial sun. Qui Li is the son of former pacification commissioner Le Guomao, whose family served the Chen for generations and enjoyed honor; his son Cang too held high office. In a single stroke they seized the throne, changed their names, usurped titles and reign eras, and defied the court. The loyal gnash their teeth in anguish and long for punitive armies to restore the Chen line, sweep away the traitors, and set up a Chen heir; I would die content. I dare follow Shen Baoxu’s example and cry out at the palace gates; may Your Majesty look upon me with pity. Deeply moved, the Emperor ordered the relevant offices to provide clothing and food. At that moment Laos presented Chen Tianping, who said, “I, Tianping, am grandson of the former king Ri Xuan, son of Yong, and younger brother of Ri Kui. The Le rebels exterminated the Chen house; I alone survived in a distant district. My followers, moved by loyalty, urged me to lead them against the rebels. As we were raising troops the rebels closed in; I fled in terror to mountain caves, barely surviving, and reached Laos. I have heard that Your Majesty has ascended the throne; at last I have a sovereign to whom I may turn. Having crawled ten thousand li, I come in sorrow to plead before the imperial court. I alone remain of the Chen line; I cannot share heaven with this traitor. I beg Your sacred mercy to pity me and swiftly send the imperial hosts to execute Heaven’s judgment. The Emperor was moved still more deeply and ordered that he be housed at court.
7
方遣使賀正旦,帝出天平示之,皆錯愕下拜,有泣者。 伯耆責使者以大義,惶恐不能答。 帝諭侍臣:「父子悖逆,鬼神所不容,而國中臣民共為欺蔽。 一國皆罪人也,朕烏能容。」 三年命御史李琦、行人王樞齎敕責,令具篡弑之實以聞。 雲南寧遠州復訴侵奪七寨,掠其婿女。 遣其臣阮景真從琦等入朝謝罪,抵言未嘗僭號改元,請迎天平歸,奉為主,且退還祿州、寧遠地。 帝不虞其詐,許之。 命行人聶聰齎敕往諭,言:「果迎還天平,事以君禮,當建爾上公,封以大郡。」 復遣景真從聰等還報,迎天平。 聰力言誠可信,帝乃冬天平還國,敕廣西左、右副將軍黃中、呂毅將兵五千送之。
Di had just sent envoys for the New Year audience; the Emperor displayed Tianping before them; all were stunned and bowed, and some wept. Bozhe upbraided the envoys on grounds of righteousness; terrified, they could not reply. The Emperor told his attendants, “Di and his father have rebelled against Heaven; even ghosts and spirits abhor them, yet the whole country joins in deceit. The whole kingdom are criminals; how can I spare them? In the third year he ordered Li Qi and Wang Shu to deliver an imperial rebuke demanding a full account of the usurpation and murders. Ningyuan Prefecture in Yunnan again reported that Di had seized seven stockades and abducted a son-in-law’s daughter. Di sent Ruan Jingzhen to accompany Qi’s party to court, claiming he had never usurped titles or changed reign eras, offering to welcome Tianping and restore him as king, and promising to return Luzhou and Ningyuan. The Emperor, unsuspecting treachery, agreed. The Emperor sent Nie Cong with an imperial letter stating: “If you truly restore Tianping and honor him as sovereign, you shall be made Senior Duke and granted a great fief. Di again sent Jingzhen back with Cong’s party to confirm and escort Tianping home. Cong insisted Di could be trusted; that winter the Emperor sent Tianping home, ordering Huang Zhong and Lü Yi of Guangxi with five thousand troops as escort.
8
四年,天平陛辭,帝厚加賚,敕封順化郡公,盡食所屬州縣。 三月,中等護天平入雞陵關,將至芹站,伏兵邀殺天平,中等敗還。 帝大怒,召成國公硃能等謀,決意討之。 七月命能佩征夷將軍印充總兵官,四平侯沐晟佩征夷副將軍印為左副將軍,新城侯張輔為右副將軍,豐城侯李彬、雲陽伯陳旭為左、右參將,督師南征。 能至龍州病卒,輔代將其軍。 入安南坡壘關,傳檄數一元父子二十大罪,諭國人以輔立陳氏子孫意。 師次芹站,遂造浮橋于昌江以濟。 前鋒抵富良江北嘉林縣,而輔由芹站西取他道至北江府新福縣,諜晟、彬軍亦自雲南至白鶴,乃遣驃騎將軍硃榮往會之。 時輔等分道進兵,所至皆克。 賊乃緣江樹柵,增築土城於多邦隘,城柵連九百餘里,大發江北民二百余萬守之。 諸江海口皆下木樁,所居東都,嚴守備,水陸兵號七百萬,欲持久以老官軍。 輔等乃移營三帶州個招市江口,造戰艦。 帝慮賊緩師以待瘴癘,敕輔等必以明年春滅賊。 十二月,晟次洮江北岸,與多邦城對壘。 輔遣旭攻洮江州,造浮橋濟師,遂俱抵城下,攻拔之。 賊所恃惟此城,既破,膽裂。 大軍循富良江南下,遂搗東都。 賊棄城走,大軍入據之,薄西都。 賊大燒宮室,駕舟入海。 郡縣相繼納款,抗拒者輒擊破之。 士民上書陳黎氏罪惡,日以百數。
In the fourth year Tianping bid farewell at court; the Emperor lavished gifts upon him and invested Di as Duke of Shunhua, granting him all subordinate prefectures and counties. In the third month the escort entered Jiling Pass; near Qin Station Di’s ambush slew Tianping, and the Ming force was beaten back. Enraged, the Emperor summoned Zhu Neng, Duke of Cheng, and others and resolved on war. In the seventh month Neng was appointed commander-in-chief as General Who Pacifies the Yi; Mu Sheng, Marquis of Siping, was left deputy; Zhang Fu, Marquis of Xincheng, right deputy; Li Bin and Chen Xu staff generals—to lead the southern expedition. Neng reached Longzhou and died; Fu assumed command. At Polei Pass Fu issued a proclamation listing twenty crimes of the Hu father and son and announced the court’s aim to restore the Chen line. The army camped at Qin Station and built a pontoon bridge on the Chang River. The vanguard reached Jialin north of the Fu River while Fu marched west to Xinfu; Sheng and Bin came from Yunnan to White Crane, and Zhu Rong was sent to unite the columns. Fu’s columns advanced on several routes and carried every position. The rebels fortified the river with palisades and earthen walls at Duobang Pass for nine hundred li, drafting over two million northern civilians to garrison them. They drove stakes at every estuary, fortified Dongdu, and claimed seven million troops by land and sea to exhaust the Ming army. Fu shifted camp to Gezhao Market and built a fleet. Fearing delay until plague season, the Emperor ordered the rebels crushed by the next spring. In the twelfth month Sheng camped north of the Tao River opposite Duobang. Fu sent Xu against Taojiang, bridged the river, and stormed the city. This was their chief stronghold; once it fell, their courage collapsed. The main force marched down the Fu River and assaulted Dongdu. The rebels fled; the army occupied Dongdu and pressed Xidu. They burned the palaces and fled by sea. Districts submitted one after another; resisters were crushed. Each day hundreds of locals memorialized the Le clan’s crimes.
9
五年正月大破季犛于木丸江,宣詔訪求陳氏子孫。 於是耆老千一百二十餘人詣軍門,言:「陳氏為黎賊殺盡,無可繼者。 安南本中國地,乞仍入職方,同內郡。」 輔等以聞。 尋大破賊于富良江,季犛父子以數舟遁去。 諸軍水陸並追,次茶籠縣,知季犛走乂安,遂循舉厥江,追至日南州奇羅海口,命柳升出海追之。 賊數敗,不能軍。 五月獲季犛及偽太子于高望山,安南盡平。 群臣請如耆老言,設郡縣。
In the fifth year’s first month Qui Li was routed at Muyuan River and an edict sought Chen heirs. More than eleven hundred elders came to camp saying the Chen line had been exterminated by the Le rebels. Annan was always Chinese land; we beg to return to direct administration. Fu reported their petition. Soon the rebels were routed again at the Fu River; Qui Li and his son escaped in a few boats. Pursuers learned Qui Li had fled to Yian, followed the Jujue River to Qiluo estuary, and sent Liu Sheng after him by sea. Repeatedly beaten, the rebels could no longer hold an army. In the fifth month Qui Li and the false crown prince were taken at Gaowang Mountain; Annan was pacified. The ministers asked to establish prefectures and counties as the elders had requested.
10
六月朔,詔告天下,改安南為交阯,設三司:以都督僉事呂毅掌都司事,黃中副之,前工部侍郎張顯宗、福建布政司左參政王平為左、右布政使,前河南按察使阮友彰為按察使,裴伯耆授右參議,又命尚書黃福兼掌布、按二司事。 設交州、北江、諒江、三江、建平、新安、建昌、奉化、清化、鎮蠻、諒山、新平、演州、乂安、順化十五府,分轄三十六州,一百八十一縣。 又設太原、宣化、嘉興、歸化、廣威五州,直隸布政司,分轄二十九縣。 其他要害,咸設衛所控制之。 乃敕有司,陳氏諸王被弑者鹹予贈諡,建祠治塚,各置灑掃二十戶。 宗族被害者贈官,軍民死亡暴露者瘞埋之。 居官者仍其舊,與新除者參治。 黎氏苛政一切蠲除,遭刑者悉放免。 禮待高年碩德。 鰥寡孤獨無告者設養濟院。 懷才抱德之彥敦遣赴京。 又詔訪求山林隱逸、明經博學、賢良方正、孝弟力田、聰明正直、廉能幹濟、練達吏事、精通書算、明習兵法及容貌魁岸、詔言便利、膂力勇敢、陰陽術數、醫藥方脈諸人,悉以禮敦致,送京錄用。 於是張輔等先後奏舉九千餘人。 九月,季犛、蒼父子俘至闕下,與偽將相胡杜等悉屬吏。 赦蒼弟衛國大王澄、子芮,所司給衣食。
On the first of the sixth month the court announced Annan renamed Jiaozhi with three commissions: Lü Yi military, Zhang Xianzong and Wang Ping civil, Ruan Youzhang surveillance; Pei Bozhe right assistant; Huang Fu overseeing both civil offices. Fifteen prefectures were set up governing thirty-six zhou and 181 counties. Five zhou were placed directly under the provincial commission with twenty-nine counties. Strategic points were garrisoned with guards and battalions. Murdered Chen princes received posthumous titles, temples, tombs, and twenty sweeping households each. Slain clansmen received posthumous ranks; exposed dead were buried. Incumbent officials remained and served with new appointees. Le exactions were abolished and prisoners freed. The aged and worthy were honored. Poorhouses were set up for widows, orphans, and the destitute. Talented men were escorted to court. Edicts sought recluses, scholars, filial sons, the capable, clerks, mathematicians, strategists, physicians, and more—all to be summoned to court. Fu and others recommended over nine thousand men. In the ninth month Qui Li and Cang reached the capital in bonds with Hu Du and other false officials. Cang’s brother Cheng and son Rui were pardoned and provided for.
11
六年六月,輔等振旅還京,上交阯地圖,東西一千七百六十里,南北二千八百里。 安撫人民三百一十二萬有奇,獲蠻人二百八萬七千五百有奇,象、馬、牛二十三萬五千九百有奇,米粟一千三百六十萬石,船八千六百七十餘艘,軍器二百五十三萬九千八百。 於是大行封賞,輔進英國公,晟黔國公,餘敘賚有差。
In the sixth year’s sixth month Fu returned with the map: 1,760 li by 2,800 li. They reported 3.12 million people pacified, 2.875 million barbarians captured, vast herds, grain, ships, and arms. Fu became Duke of Ying, Sheng Duke of Qian, and others were rewarded by rank.
12
時中朝所置吏,務以寬厚輯新造,而蠻人自以非類,數相驚恐。 陳氏故官簡定者,先降,將遣詣京師,偕其党陳希葛逃去,與化州偽官鄧悉、阮帥等謀亂。 定乃僭大號,紀元興慶,國曰大越。 出沒乂安、化州山中,伺大軍還,即出攻盤灘咸子關,扼三江府往來孔道,寇交州近境。 慈廉、威蠻、上洪、天堂、應平、石室諸州縣皆向應,守將屢出討,皆無功。 事聞,命沐晟為征夷將軍,統雲南、貴州、四川軍四萬人,由雲南征討。 而遣使齎敕招降者予世官。 賊不應,晟與戰生厥江,大敗,呂毅及參贊尚書劉俊死之。
Central appointees sought leniency, yet locals, feeling alien, were often terrified. The Chen defector Jian Ding was to be sent to court but fled with Chen Xige and joined Deng Xi and Ruan Shuai of Huazhou to rebel. Ding proclaimed himself emperor of Great Yue with the era Xingqing. He raided from the mountains, seized Xianzi Pass, blocked Sanjiang, and harried Jiaozhou. Several prefectures joined him and Ming garrisons failed to suppress him. Mu Sheng was ordered to lead forty thousand troops from the southwest. Envoys offered hereditary rank to defectors. The rebels refused; Sheng was crushed at Shengjue River and Lü Yi and Liu Jun were killed.
13
七年,敗書聞,益發南畿、浙江、江西、福建、湖廣、廣東、廣西軍四萬七千人,從英國公輔征之。 輔以賊負江海,不利陸師,乃駐北江仙遊,大造戰艦,而撫諸遭寇逋播者,遂連破慈廉、廣威諸營柵。 偵其党鄧景異扼南策州盧渡江太平橋,乃進軍咸子關。 偽金吾將軍阮世每眾二萬,對岸立寨柵,列船六百餘艘,樹樁東南以扞蔽。 時八月,西北風急,輔督陳旭、硃廣、俞讓、方政等舟齊進,砲矢飆發,斬首三千級,生擒偽監門將軍潘低等二百餘人,獲船四百餘艘。 遂進擊景異,景異先走,乃定交州、北江、諒江、新安、建昌、鎮蠻諸府。 追破景異太平海口,獲其党范必栗。
In the seventh year forty-seven thousand more troops were levied and Zhang Fu marched again. Fu camped at Xianyou, built a fleet, pacified refugees, and broke rebel stockades. Learning Deng Jingyi held Taiping Bridge, he advanced on Xianzi Pass. Ruan Shimei held twenty thousand men, six hundred boats, and stake barriers. In the eighth month a northwest gale aided Fu’s fleet; three thousand were slain and four hundred boats taken. Jingyi fled; Jiaozhou and other prefectures were secured. Jingyi was routed at Taiping estuary and Fan Bili captured.
14
時阮帥等推簡定為太上皇,別立陳季擴為帝,紀元重光。 乃遣使自稱前安南王孫,求封爵。 輔叱斬之,由黃江、阿江、大安海口至福成江,轉入神投海口,盡去賊所樹樁柵。 十餘日抵清化,水陸畢會。 定已奔演州,季擴走乂安,帥、景異等亦散亡。 於是駐軍,捕餘黨。 定走美良縣吉利柵,輔等窮追及之。 定走入山,大索不得,遂圍之,並其偽將相陳希葛、阮汝勵、阮晏等俱就擒。
Ruan Shuai made Ding Retired Emperor and set up Chen Jikuo with the era Chongguang. They sent envoys claiming Chen descent and begging investiture. Fu executed the envoys and cleared stakes from the estuaries. After ten days they reached Qinghua and united. Ding fled to Yanzhou, Jikuo to Yian, and the rest scattered. The army camped and hunted remnants. Ding fled to Jili stockade and Fu pursued relentlessly. Ding hid in the mountains; the siege captured Chen Xige, Ruan Ruli, Ruan Yan, and others.
15
先是,賊党阮師檜僭王,與偽金吾上將軍杜元措等據東潮州安老縣之宜陽社,眾二萬餘人。 八年正月,輔進擊之,斬首四千五百餘級,擒其党范支、陳原卿、阮人柱等二千餘人,悉斬之,築京觀。 輔將班師,言:「季擴及党阮帥、胡具、鄧景異等尚在演州、晙安,逼清化。 而鄧熔塞神投福成江口,據清化要路,出沒乂安諸處。 若諸軍盡還,恐沐晟兵少不敵。 請留都督江浩,都指揮俞讓、花英、師祐等軍,佐晟守禦。」 從之。 五月,晟追季擴至虞江,賊棄柵遁。 追至古靈縣及會潮、靈長海口,斬首三千餘級,獲偽將軍黎弄。 季擴大蹙,奉表乞降。 帝心知其詐,姑許之,詔授交阯布政使,阮帥、胡具、鄧景異、鄧熔並都指揮,陳原樽右參政,潘季祐按察副使。 詔既下,念賊無悛心,九年復命輔督軍二萬四千,合晟軍討之。 賊據月常江,樹樁四十餘丈,兩崖置柵二三里,列船三百餘艘,設伏山右。 秋,輔、晟等水陸並進,阮帥、胡具、鄧景異、鄧钅容等來拒。 輔令硃廣等連艦拔樁以進,自率方政等以步隊剿其伏兵,水陸夾攻。 賊大敗,帥等皆散走。 生擒偽將軍鄧宗稷、黎德彝、阮忠、阮軒等,獲船百二十艘。 輔乃督水軍剿季擴,聞石室、福安諸州縣偽龍虎將軍黎蕊等斷銳江浮橋阻生厥江交州後衛道路,遂往征之。 蕊及範慷來拒,蕊中矢死。 斬偽將軍阮陀,獲偽將軍楊汝梅、防禦使馮翕,斬首千五百級,追殺餘賊殆盡。 慷及杜個旦、鄧明、阮思瑊等亦就擒。
Earlier Ruan Shiguan had held Yiyang with over twenty thousand men. In the eighth year’s first month Fu slew four thousand five hundred and executed two thousand captives, raising a victory mound. Fu reported Jikuo and allies still threatened Qinghua. Deng Rong blocks Shentou and raids Yian. If all withdraw, Sheng cannot hold. Leave Jiang Hao, Yu Rang, Hua Ying, and Shi You with Sheng. The request was granted. In the fifth month Sheng pursued Jikuo to Yujiang and the rebels fled. At Guling and the estuaries three thousand were slain and Li Nong captured. Hard pressed, Jikuo begged surrender. The Emperor suspected deceit but temporarily appointed Jikuo and his chiefs. In the ninth year Fu was again ordered with twenty-four thousand men to join Sheng. They fortified Yuechang River with forty-zhang stakes, stockades, three hundred boats, and ambushes. In autumn Fu advanced; Shuai and others resisted. Fu’s fleet pulled the stakes while infantry cleared ambushes. The rebels were routed and scattered. Deng Zongji, Li Deyi, Ruan Zhong, and Ruan Xuan were captured with 120 boats. Fu turned to Li Rui, who had cut the Rui River bridge behind Jiaozhou. Rui and Fan Kang resisted; Rui died of an arrow wound. Ruan Tuo was beheaded, Yang Rumei and Feng Xi captured, and fifteen hundred slain. Kang, Du Gedan, Deng Ming, and Ruan Sizhen were captured.
16
十年,輔督方政等擊賊舟於神投海,大敗之,擒偽將軍陳磊、鄧汝戲等。 阮帥等遠遁,追之不及。 輔軍至乂安土黃,偽少保潘季祐等請降,率偽官十七人上謁。 輔承制授季祐按察副使,署乂安府事。 於是偽將軍、觀察、安撫、招討諸使陳敏、阮士勤、陳全勖、陳全敏等相繼降。 明年,輔及晟合軍至順州。 阮帥等設伏愛子江,而據昆傳山險,列象陣迎敵。 諸軍大破之,生擒偽將軍潘徑、阮徐等五十六人,追至愛母江。 賊潰散,鄧钅容弟偽侯鐵及將軍潘魯、潘勤等盡降。 明年春,進軍政和。 賊帥胡同降,言偽大將軍景異率党黎蟾等七百人逃暹蠻昆蒲柵。 遂進羅蒙江,舍騎步行,比至,賊已遁。 追至叱蒲捺柵,又遁。 昏夜行二十餘里,聞更鼓聲,輔率政等銜枚疾趨,黎明抵叱蒲幹柵,江北賊猶寨南岸。 官軍渡江圍之,矢中景異脅,擒之。 鎔及弟鈗亡走,追擒之,盡獲其眾。 別將硃廣追偽大將軍阮帥于暹蠻,大搜暹人關諸山,獲帥及季擴等家屬。 帥逃南靈州,依土官阮茶匯。 指揮薛聚追獲帥,斬茶匯。 初,鄧鎔之就執也,季擴逃乂安竹排山。 輔遣都指揮師祐襲之,走老撾。 祐踵其後,老撾懼官軍躪其地,請自縛以獻。 輔檄索之,令祐深入,克三關,抵金陵個,賊黨盡奔,遂獲季擴及其弟偽相國驩國王季揝,他賊盡平。 明年二月,輔、晟等班師入京。 四月復命輔佩征夷將軍印,出鎮。 十四年召還。 明年命豐城侯李彬代鎮。
In the tenth year Fu routed rebel boats at Shentou Sea and captured Chen Lei and Deng Ruxi. Ruan Shuai fled beyond reach. At Tu Huang in Yian, Pan Jiyou and seventeen officials surrendered. Fu appointed Jiyou surveillance vice commissioner over Yian. Then Chen Min, Ruan Shiqin, Chen Quanxun, Chen Quanmin, and others surrendered in turn. The following year Zhang Fu and Mu Sheng joined forces and advanced to Shun Prefecture. Ruan Shuai laid an ambush on the Aizi River, held the heights of Kunzhuan Mountain, and deployed war elephants against the Ming forces. The Ming armies crushed the rebels, took fifty-six prisoners including the false generals Pan Jing and Ruan Xu, and pursued them to the Aimou River. The rebels broke and fled; Tie, the false marquis and younger brother of Deng Rong, along with Pan Lu, Pan Qin, and others, all submitted. The following spring the army marched on Zhenghe. The rebel leader Hu Tong surrendered and reported that the false grand general Jing Yi had fled with Li Chan and seven hundred followers to the Kunpu stockade among the Xian tribes. The army pressed on to the Luomeng River, left their horses and continued on foot—but the rebels were already gone. The pursuit reached the Chipuna stockade, only for the rebels to escape once more. After marching twenty-odd li through the night and hearing watch-drums, Zhang Fu led Fang Zheng and others in a silent forced march; at dawn they reached the Chipugan stockade, where rebels north of the river still held camps on the south bank. Government troops crossed the river and besieged the camp; Jing Yi was struck in the side by an arrow and taken prisoner. Deng Rong and his brother Yun tried to flee but were captured along with all their men. Deputy General Zhu Guang pursued Ruan Shuai among the Xian tribes, searched the mountains of the Xian Pass, and captured Shuai along with the families of Chen Ji Kuo and others. Ruan Shuai fled to Nanling Prefecture and took shelter with the native official Ruan Chahui. Commander Xue Ju ran Shuai down and killed Chahui. When Deng Rong was captured, Chen Ji Kuo had fled to Zhupai Mountain in Yian. Zhang Fu sent Regional Commander Shi You after him; Chen Ji Kuo fled into Laos. Shi You pressed the pursuit; fearing a Ming incursion, the Laotians offered to bind Chen Ji Kuo and hand him over. Zhang Fu ordered Shi You to push deep into Laos; after taking three passes and reaching Jinlingge, the rebels scattered. Chen Ji Kuo was captured along with his younger brother Ji San, the false chancellor and King of Huan, and the remaining rebels were pacified. The following February Zhang Fu and Mu Sheng led the army home to the capital. In the fourth month Zhang Fu was again invested with the seal of General Who Expands the Yi and sent back to garrison Jiaozhi. In the fourteenth year he was recalled to court. The following year Li Bin, Marquis of Fengcheng, was appointed to succeed him.
17
交人故好亂。 中官馬騏以採辦至,大索境內珍寶,人情騷動,桀黠者鼓煽之,大軍甫還,即並起為亂。 陸那阮貞,順州黎核、潘強與土官同知陳可論、判官阮昭、千戶陳忷、南靈州判官阮擬、左平知縣范伯高、縣丞武萬、百戶陳已律等一時並反。 彬皆遣將討滅之,而反者猶不止。 俄樂巡檢黎利、四忙故知縣車綿之子三、乂安知府潘僚、南靈州千戶陳順慶、乂安衛百戶陳直誠,亦乘機作亂。 其他奸宄,範軟起俄樂,武貢、黃汝曲起偈江,儂文曆起丘溫,陳木果起武定,阮特起快州,吳巨來起善誓,鄭公證、黎侄起同利,陶強起善才,丁宗老起大灣,范玉起安老,皆自署官爵,殺將吏,焚廬舍。 有楊恭、阮多者,皆自稱王,署其党韋五、譚興邦、阮嘉為太師、平章,與群寇相倚,而潘僚、范玉尤猖獗。 僚者,故乂安知府季祐子也,嗣父職,不堪馬騏虐,遂反。 土官指揮路文律、千戶陳苔等從之。 玉為塗山寺僧,自言天降印劍,遂僭稱羅平王,紀元永甯,與范善、吳中、黎行、陶承等為亂,署為相國、司空、大將軍,攻掠城邑。 彬東西征剿,日不暇給。 中朝以賊久未平,十八年命榮昌伯陳智為左參將,助之。 又降敕責彬曰:「叛寇潘僚、黎利、車三、儂文曆等迄今未獲,兵何時得息,民何時得安。 宣廣為方略,速奏蕩平。」 彬皇恐,督諸將追剿。 明年秋,賊悉破滅,惟黎利不能得。
The people of Jiaozhi had long been restive. When the eunuch Ma Qi arrived to procure tribute goods and looted the province for treasures, unrest spread; as soon as the main army withdrew, rebels rose everywhere. Ruan Zhen of Lu Na, Li He and Pan Qiang of Shun Prefecture, Chen Kelun, Ruan Zhao, Chen Xiong, Ruan Ni, Fan Bogao, Wu Wan, Chen Yilü, and others all rebelled at once. Li Bin sent generals to suppress each rising, but rebellion continued unabated. Le Loi, district inspector of Olai; Che San, son of the former Simang magistrate Che Mian; Pan Liao, prefect of Yian; Chen Shunqing of Nanling; and Chen Zhicheng of the Yian Guard also seized the moment to rebel. Other rebels followed: Fan Ruan in Olai, Wu Gong and Huang Ruqu in Jiejiang, Nong Wenli in Qiuwen, Chen Muguo in Wuding, Ruan Te in Kuaizhou, Wu Julai in Shanshi, Zheng Gongzheng and Li Zhi in Tongli, Tao Qiang in Shancai, Ding Zonglao in Dawan, and Fan Yu in Anlao—all proclaiming titles, killing officials, and burning settlements. Yang Gong and Ruan Duo each declared themselves king, appointing Wei Wu, Tan Xingbang, and Ruan Jia as grand tutor and grand chancellor; they backed one another, but Pan Liao and Fan Yu were the most violent. Pan Liao was the son of the former Yian prefect Pan Jiyou; he had inherited his father's office but rebelled under the eunuch Ma Qi's oppression. The native official commander Lu Wenlü, company commander Chen Tai, and others joined him. Fan Yu had been a monk at Tushan Temple; claiming heaven-sent seal and sword, he styled himself King of Luoping with the reign era Yongning, rallied Fan Shan, Wu Zhong, Li Xing, and Tao Cheng, and appointed them chancellor, minister of works, and grand general while raiding towns across the province. Li Bin was fighting rebels on every front and could scarcely keep pace. In the eighteenth year the court sent Chen Zhi, Earl of Rongchang, as left regional vice commander to assist Li Bin. An edict rebuked Li Bin: "The rebels Pan Liao, Le Loi, Che San, and Nong Wenli remain at large—when will the armies stand down and the people live in peace? Lay out your strategy and report when the rebels are utterly destroyed. Li Bin, terrified, pressed his generals to hunt the rebels down. The following autumn nearly every rebel band was crushed—only Le Loi remained at large.
18
利初仕陳季擴為金吾將軍,後歸正,用為清化府俄樂縣巡檢,邑邑不得志。 及大軍還,遂反,僭稱平定王,以弟石為相國,與其党段莽、范柳、范晏等放兵肆掠。 官軍討之,生擒晏等,利遁去。 久之,出據可藍柵行劫。 諸將方政、師祐剿獲其偽將軍阮個立等,利逃匿老撾。 及政等還,利潛出,殺玉局巡檢。 已,復出掠磊江,每追擊輒遁去。 及群盜盡滅,利益深匿。 彬奏言:「利竄老撾,老撾請官軍毋入,黨盡發所部兵捕利。 今久不遣,情叵測。」 帝疑老撾匿賊,令彬送其使臣至京詰問,老撾乃逐利。 二十年春,彬卒,詔智代彬。 二十一年,智追利於甯化州車來縣,敗之,利復遠竄。 明年秋,智奏利初逃老撾,後被逐歸瑰縣。 官軍進擊,其頭目范仰等已率男婦千六百人降,利雖求撫,願以所部來歸,而止俄樂不出,造國器未已,必當進兵。 奏至,會仁宗以踐阼大赦天下,因敕智善撫之,而利已寇茶籠州,敗方政軍,殺指揮伍雲。
Le Loi had first served Chen Ji Kuo as a Golden Guard general, then submitted to the Ming and was made district inspector of Olai in Qinghua Prefecture—but he remained bitter and discontented. When the main army withdrew, he rebelled, styled himself Pacification King, made his brother Shi chancellor, and with Duan Mang, Fan Liu, Fan Yan, and others unleashed his men in plunder. Government troops captured Yan and others, but Le Loi got away. Before long he reappeared at the Kelan stockade and resumed raiding. Fang Zheng and Shi You captured his false generals Ruan Gelì and others, but Le Loi fled into Laos. Once Fang Zheng withdrew, Le Loi stole out and murdered the Yuju district inspector. He soon raided along the Lei River again, always melting away whenever troops gave chase. As the other rebel bands were wiped out, Le Loi buried himself deeper in hiding. Li Bin reported: "Le Loi has fled to Laos, which asks that Ming troops stay out and promises to hunt him with its own forces. But month after month has passed without his surrender; their intentions are deeply suspect. The Emperor suspected Laos of sheltering the rebel and had its envoy brought to the capital for questioning; only then did the Laotians expel Le Loi. In the spring of the twentieth year Li Bin died, and Chen Zhi was appointed to succeed him. In the twenty-first year Chen Zhi routed Le Loi at Chelai in Ninghua Prefecture, but Le Loi escaped once more. The following autumn Chen Zhi reported that Le Loi had first fled to Laos, been expelled, and returned to Gui County. Government troops pressed the attack; chieftains such as Fan Yang had already surrendered with sixteen hundred followers. Le Loi asked for amnesty and promised to submit, yet he would not leave Olai and kept forging royal regalia—the army had to advance. The memorial arrived just as Renzong proclaimed a general amnesty on his accession; the Emperor ordered Chen Zhi to offer Le Loi lenient terms—but Le Loi had already raided Chalong, routed Fang Zheng, and killed Commander Wu Yun.
19
利未叛時,與鎮守中官山壽善。 至是壽還朝,力言利與己相信,今往諭之,必來歸。 帝曰:「此賊狡詐,若為所紿,則其勢益熾,不易制也。」 壽叩頭言:「如臣往諭,而利不來,臣當萬死。」 帝頷之,遣壽齎敕授利清化知府,慰諭甚至。 敕甫降,利已寇清化,殺都指揮陳忠。 利得敕,無降意,即借撫愚守臣,佯言俟秋涼赴官,而寇掠不已。 時洪熙改元,鑄將軍印分頒邊將,智得征夷副將軍印,又命安平伯李甯往佐之。 智素無將略,憚賊,因借撫以愚中朝,且與方政迕,遂頓兵不進。 賊益無所忌,再圍茶籠,智等坐視不救。 閱七月,城中糧盡,巡按御史以聞,奏至而仁宗崩。 宣宗初即位,敕責智及三司官。 智等不為意,茶籠遂陷,知州琴彭死之。 尚書掌布按二司陳洽言:「利雖乞降,內攜貳,既陷茶籠,復結玉麻土官、老撾酋長與之同惡。 始言俟秋涼,今秋已過,復言與參政梁汝笏有怨,乞改授茶籠州,而遣逆党潘僚、路文律等往嘉興、廣威諸州招集徒眾,勢日滋蔓。 乞命總兵者速行剿滅。」 奏上,為降敕切責,期來春平賊。 智始懼,與政薄可留關,敗還,至茶籠又敗。 政勇而寡謀,智懦而多忌,素不相能,而山壽專招撫,擁兵晙安不救,是以屢敗。
Before his rebellion Le Loi had been friendly with the garrison eunuch Shan Shou. Shan Shou now returned to court and assured the Emperor that Le Loi trusted him and would submit if he went to reason with him. The Emperor replied: "This rebel is cunning; if we are taken in, his power will only grow and he will be harder to subdue. Shan Shou kowtowed and said: "If I go and Le Loi does not submit, I deserve death." The Emperor assented and sent Shan Shou with an edict appointing Le Loi prefect of Qinghua, offering lavish reassurances. Before the edict even arrived, Le Loi was raiding Qinghua and had killed Regional Commander Chen Zhong. Le Loi showed no sign of surrender; he used the offer of amnesty to string the garrison along, claiming he would take office once the weather cooled, while continuing to raid. Under the new Hongxi reign, fresh general's seals were cast for frontier commanders; Chen Zhi received the seal of Deputy General Who Expands the Yi, and Li Ning, Earl of Anping, was sent to assist him. Chen Zhi was no soldier; afraid of the rebels, he played along with the pacification talk to mislead the court, clashed with Fang Zheng, and refused to move his troops. Emboldened, the rebels besieged Chalong again while Chen Zhi and his officers looked on without lifting a hand. After seven months the city ran out of provisions; the touring censor reported the crisis—but the memorial reached the capital only as Renzong lay dying. When the Xuande Emperor took the throne, he rebuked Chen Zhi and the provincial commissioners. Chen Zhi ignored the rebuke; Chalong fell, and Prefect Qin Peng died defending it. Minister Chen Qia, who oversaw the provincial and surveillance commissions, reported: "Le Loi feigns surrender while plotting treason; having taken Chalong, he has allied with the Yuma native official and Laotian chiefs. He had promised to surrender once the weather cooled; autumn passed and he pleaded a feud with Vice Commissioner Liang Ruhe, asked for Chalong instead, and sent Pan Liao and Lu Wenlü to rally recruits across Jiaxing and Guangwei—the rebellion spread daily. I beg that the commander-in-chief be ordered to crush them at once. The memorial prompted a stern imperial rebuke, with a deadline of the following spring to crush the rebels. Chen Zhi at last moved; he and Fang Zheng fought at Keliu Pass, were beaten back, and lost again at Chalong. Fang Zheng was brave but rash, Chen Zhi timid and jealous—they had never cooperated—while Shan Shou clung to pacification talk and kept his troops at Juan without aiding them; hence the repeated defeats.
20
宣德元年春,事聞,復降敕切責。 時渠魁未平,而小寇蜂起,美留潘可利助逆,宣化周莊、太原黃庵等結雲南寧遠州紅衣賊大掠。 帝敕沐晟剿寧遠,又發西南諸衛軍萬五千、弩手三千赴交阯,且敕老撾不得容叛人。 四月,命成山侯王通為征夷將軍,都督馬瑛為參將,往討黎利。 削陳智、方政職,充為事官。 通未至,賊犯清化。 政不出戰,都指揮王演擊敗之。 詔大赦交阯罪人,黎利、潘僚降亦授職; 停採辦金銀、香貨,冀以弭賊,而賊無悛心。 政督諸軍進討,李安及都指揮于瓚、謝鳳、薛聚、硃廣等先奔,政由此敗,俱謫為事官,立功贖罪。 未幾,智遣都指揮袁亮擊賊黎善於廣威州,欲渡河,土官何加伉言有伏。 亮不從,遣指揮陶森、錢輔等渡河,中伏並死,亮亦被執。 善遂分兵三道犯交州,其攻下關者為都督陳濬所敗,攻邊江小門者為李安所敗,善夜走。 通聞之,亦分兵三道出擊。 馬瑛敗賊清威,至石室與通會,俱至應平寧橋。 士卒行泥濘中,遇伏兵,大敗。 尚書陳洽死焉,通亦中脅還。 利在乂安聞之,鼓行至清潭,攻北江,進圍東關。 通素無戰功,以父真死事封。 朝廷不知其庸劣,誤用之。 一戰而敗,心膽皆喪,舉動乖張,不奉朝命,擅割清化以南地予賊,盡撤官吏軍民還東關。 惟清化知州羅通不從,利移兵攻之不下。 賊分兵萬人圍隘留關,百戶萬琮奮擊,乃退。 帝聞通敗,大駭,命安遠侯柳升為總兵官,保定伯梁銘副之,督師赴討,又命沐晟為征南將軍,興安伯徐亨、新甯伯譚忠為左、右副將軍,從雲南進兵,兩軍共七萬餘人。 復敕通固守,俟升。
In the spring of Xuande 1, when the news reached court, the Emperor issued another stern rebuke. The chief rebels were still loose while lesser bands multiplied; Mei Liu and Pan Keli aided the revolt, and Zhuang of Xuanhua and Huang An of Taiyuan joined Yunnan's Red-Clad bandits of Ningyuan in wide-ranging raids. The Emperor ordered Mu Sheng to pacify Ningyuan, sent fifteen thousand southwestern troops and three thousand crossbowmen to Jiaozhi, and forbade Laos to shelter rebels. In the fourth month Wang Tong, Marquis of Chengshan, was named General Who Expands the Yi, with Ma Ying as vice commander, to march against Le Loi. Chen Zhi and Fang Zheng were demoted to probationary service. Before Wang Tong's arrival the rebels struck Qinghua. Fang Zheng held back, but Regional Commander Wang Yan drove the rebels off. An amnesty was proclaimed for Jiaozhi; Le Loi and Pan Liao were promised posts if they surrendered; Tribute levies of gold, silver, and aromatics were suspended in hopes of ending the rebellion, but the rebels would not relent. Fang Zheng led an advance; Li An and regional commanders Yu Zan, Xie Feng, Xue Ju, and Zhu Guang broke and ran, and Zheng was routed. All were demoted to probationary service to redeem themselves by merit. Soon Chen Zhi sent Regional Commander Yuan Liang against the rebel Li Shan at Guangwei; as Liang prepared to cross the river, the native official He Jiakang warned of an ambush. Yuan Liang ignored the warning; Tao Sen and Qian Fu crossed the river, walked into an ambush, and were killed; Liang himself was taken. Li Shan then split his force into three columns against Jiaozhou; the column at Xiaguan was beaten by Commissioner Chen Jun, the column at Bianjiang's lesser gate by Li An, and Shan fled by night. Wang Tong likewise divided his army into three columns and counterattacked. Ma Ying defeated the rebels at Qingwei, joined Wang Tong at Shishi, and both marched to the Yingping Ning Bridge. Trudging through mud, the soldiers walked into an ambush and were routed. Minister Chen Qia was killed; Wang Tong was wounded in the side and retreated. Le Loi, in Yian, heard the news and marched swiftly to Qingtan, struck Beijiang, and advanced to besiege Dongguan. Wang Tong had no record of military achievement; he held his title only because his father Wang Zhen had died in service. The court, unaware of his incompetence, had placed him in command by mistake. One defeat broke his nerve; he defied orders, unilaterally ceded everything south of Qinghua to the rebels, and pulled all officials, soldiers, and civilians back to Dongguan. Only Qinghua Prefect Luo Tong held fast; Le Loi shifted to besiege him but failed to take the city. The rebels sent ten thousand men to besiege Ailiu Pass; Platoon Commander Wan Cong fought them off and they withdrew. Horrified by Wang Tong's defeat, the Emperor appointed Liu Sheng, Marquis of Anyuan, commander-in-chief with Liang Ming, Earl of Baoding, as deputy, and dispatched Mu Sheng as General Who Expands the South with Xu Heng and Tan Zhong as deputies from Yunnan—more than seventy thousand men in all. Wang Tong was ordered to hold his ground until Liu Sheng arrived.
21
二年春,利犯交州。 通與戰,斬偽太監黎秘及太尉、司徒、司空等官,獲首級萬計。 利破膽奔遁,諸將請乘勢追之,通逗留三日。 賊知其怯,復立寨濬濠,四出剽掠。 三月復發三萬三千人,從柳升、沐晟征討。 賊分兵圍丘溫,都指揮孫聚力拒之。 先是,賊以昌江為大軍往來要道,發眾八萬餘人來攻,都指揮李任等力拒,殺賊甚眾。 閱九月,諸將觀望不救,賊懼升大軍至,攻益力。 夏四月,城陷,任死之。 時賊圍交州久,通閉城不敢出,賊益易之,致書請和。 通欲許之,集眾議,按察使楊時習曰:「奉命討賊,與之和,而擅退師,何以逃罪!」 通怒,厲聲叱之,眾不敢言,遂以利書聞。
In the spring of Xuande 2, Le Loi struck Jiaozhou. Wang Tong met him in battle, killed the false grand eunuch Li Mi along with grand commandant, minister of education, and minister of works, and claimed ten thousand enemy heads. Le Loi broke and ran; his officers urged a hot pursuit, but Wang Tong held back for three days. Seeing his timidity, the rebels rebuilt fortifications and sent raiding parties in every direction. In the third month thirty-three thousand more troops were dispatched under Liu Sheng and Mu Sheng. The rebels split their army to besiege Qiuwen; Regional Commander Sun Ju held them off. Earlier the rebels, treating the Chang River as the army's lifeline, had sent more than eighty thousand men against it; Regional Commander Li Ren and his men fought hard and killed great numbers. Nine months passed while the generals looked on without relief; the rebels, dreading Liu Sheng's arrival, redoubled their assault. In the fourth month the city fell and Li Ren died defending it. The rebels had long blockaded Jiaozhou; Wang Tong shut the gates and would not come out, and they grew bolder, sending a letter to sue for peace. Wang Tong wanted to agree and called a council. Surveillance Commissioner Yang Shixi said, "We were sent to crush the rebels. To make peace and withdraw on our own—how do we answer for that?" Wang Tong erupted and shouted him down; no one else spoke, and he forwarded Le Loi's letter to the throne.
22
升奉命久,俟諸軍集,九月始抵隘留關。 利既與通有成言,乃詭稱陳氏有後,率大小頭目具書詣升軍,乞罷兵,立陳氏裔。 升不啟封,遣使奏聞。 無何,升進薄倒馬坡,陷歿,後軍相繼盡歿。 通聞,懼甚,大集軍民官吏,出下哨河,立壇與利盟誓,約退師。 遂遣官偕賊使奉表及方物進獻。 沐晟軍至水尾,造船將進,聞通已議和,亦引退,賊乘之,大敗。
Liu Sheng had been under orders for months; only after the armies gathered did he reach Ailiu Pass in the ninth month. Le Loi, already in secret accord with Wang Tong, pretended the Chen line had an heir; with all his chiefs he petitioned Liu Sheng to halt the war and restore a Chen descendant. Liu Sheng left the letter unopened and sent a courier to report to the Emperor. Soon afterward Liu Sheng pushed on to Daomapo, was ambushed and killed, and the rear guard was destroyed in turn. Terrified by the news, Wang Tong mustered soldiers and civilians, went to the Xia Shao River, and swore a pact with Le Loi to pull back the army. He then dispatched officials with rebel envoys to submit a memorial and tribute. Mu Sheng's force reached Shuiwei and was preparing boats to advance; learning Wang Tong had already sued for peace, he withdrew too, and the rebels fell on him and routed him.
23
鴻臚寺進賊與升書,略言:「高皇帝龍飛,安南首朝貢,特蒙褒賞,錫以玉章。 後黎賊篡弑,太宗皇帝興師討滅,求陳氏子孫。 陳族避禍方遠竄,故無從訪求。 今有遺嗣皓,潛身老撾二十年,本國人民不忘先王遺澤,已訪得之。 倘蒙轉達黼宸,循太宗皇帝繼絕明詔,還其爵土,匪獨陳氏一宗,實蠻邦億萬生民之幸。」 帝得書頷之。 明日,皓表亦至,稱「臣皓,先王暊三世嫡孫」,其詞與利書略同。 帝心知其詐,欲藉此息兵,遂納其言。 初,帝嗣位,與楊士奇、楊榮語交阯事,即欲棄之。 至是,以表示廷臣,諭以罷兵息民意。 士奇、榮力贊之,惟蹇義、夏原吉不可。 然帝意已決,廷臣不敢爭。 十一月朔,命禮部左寺郎李琦、工部右侍郎羅汝敬為正使,右通政黃驥、鴻臚卿徐永達為副使,齎詔撫諭安南人民,盡赦其罪,與之更新,令具陳氏後人之實以聞。 因敕利以興滅繼絕之意,並諭通及三司官,盡撤軍民北還。 詔未至,通已棄交阯,由陸路還廣西,中官山壽、馬騏及三司守令,由水路還欽州。 凡得還者止八萬六千人,為賊所殺及拘留者不可勝計。 天下舉疾通棄地殃民,而帝不怒也。
The Court of State Ceremonial forwarded Le Loi's letter to Liu Sheng. It said in part: "When the August Emperor took the throne, Annan was first to pay tribute and was honored with a jade seal. Later the Le usurpers seized power by murder; the Taizong Emperor marched to destroy them and searched for Chen descendants. The Chen clan had fled far to escape the calamity, and none could be found. Now a survivor named Chen Hao has been found—he hid in Laos for twenty years, and our people, remembering the old king's grace, have traced him at last. If this may be conveyed to the throne and the Taizong Emperor's mandate to restore a broken line honored, it would bless not only the Chen house but millions in this frontier realm." The Emperor read it and nodded. The next day Chen Hao's own memorial arrived, calling himself "your subject Hao, legitimate grandson of the former king Hue in the third generation"—much the same as Le Loi's letter. The Emperor knew it was a ruse but wanted a pretext to stop the war, and accepted the story. From the start, speaking with Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong about Jiaozhi after his accession, he had wanted to give it up. Now he showed the memorial to the court and explained his wish to stop the war and spare the people. Shiqi and Rong strongly agreed; only Jian Yi and Xia Yuanji dissented. The Emperor's decision stood, and the ministers did not press the matter. On the first of the eleventh month he named Li Qi and Luo Rujing chief envoys and Huang Ji and Xu Yongda deputies, to carry an edict comforting the people of Annan, pardoning all crimes, and ordering a full report on any Chen heir. He also instructed Le Loi in the principle of restoring a fallen line and ordered Wang Tong and the provincial officials to withdraw every soldier and civilian north. Before the edict arrived Wang Tong had already quit Jiaozhi, marching back to Guangxi by land while the eunuchs Shan Shou and Ma Qi and the provincial officials sailed to Qinzhou. Only eighty-six thousand got out; those killed or held by the rebels were beyond count. The empire condemned Wang Tong for surrendering the province and ruining the people, but the Emperor did not rebuke him.
24
三年夏,通等至京,文武諸臣合奏其罪,廷鞫具服,乃與陳智、馬瑛、方政、山壽、馬騏及布政使弋謙,俱論死下獄,籍其家。 帝終不誅,長系待決而已。 騏恣虐激變,罪尤重,而謙實無罪,皆同論,時議非之。 廷臣復劾沐晟、徐亨、譚忠逗留及喪師辱國罪,帝不問。
In the summer of the third year Wang Tong and the others reached the capital; officials impeached them jointly, and at trial they confessed. Wang Tong, Chen Zhi, Ma Ying, Fang Zheng, Shan Shou, Ma Qi, and Provincial Commissioner Yi Qian were all sentenced to death, imprisoned, and their estates seized. In the end the Emperor did not put them to death; they were left in prison awaiting sentence. Ma Qi's brutality had helped spark the revolt and his guilt was grave, yet Yi Qian was innocent; sentencing them alike drew widespread criticism. Ministers again impeached Mu Sheng, Xu Heng, and Tan Zhong for delay and for losing armies and disgracing the realm, but the Emperor took no action.
25
琦等還朝,利遣使奉表謝恩,詭言皓於正月物故,陳氏子孫絕,國人推利守其國,謹俟朝命。 帝亦知其詐,不欲遽封,復遣汝敬、永達諭利及其下,令訪陳氏,並盡還官吏人民及其眷屬。 明年春,汝敬等還,利復言陳氏無遺種,請別命。 因貢方物及代身金人。 又言:「臣九歲女遭亂離散,後知馬騏攜歸充宮婢,臣不勝兒女私,冒昧以請。」 帝心知陳氏即有後,利必不言,然以封利無名,復命琦、汝敬敕諭再訪,且以利女病死告之。
When Qi and his party returned, Le Loi sent envoys with thanks, falsely claiming Chen Hao had died in the first month, that the Chen line was extinct, that the people had pressed Le Loi to rule, and that he awaited imperial orders. The Emperor knew the fraud and would not enfeoff him yet; he sent Rujing and Yongda again to tell Le Loi to search for the Chen house and return all officials, civilians, and their families. The next spring, when Rujing returned, Le Loi again claimed no Chen survivors remained and asked for a separate appointment. He also sent local tribute and a gold figure to stand in for himself. He added: "My nine-year-old daughter was lost in the turmoil; I later learned Ma Qi took her back as a palace maid. Overcome by a father's grief, I venture to ask her return." The Emperor knew Le Loi would never admit any Chen survivor, yet had no grounds to enfeoff him; he sent Qi and Rujing to search again and told Le Loi his daughter had died of illness.
26
五年春,琦等還,利遣使貢金銀器方物,復飾詞具奏,並具頭目耆老奏請令利攝國政。 使臣歸,帝復以訪陳氏裔,還中國遺民二事諭之,詞不甚堅。 明年夏,利遣使謝罪,以二事飾詞對,復進頭目耆老奏,仍為利乞封。 帝乃許之,命禮部右侍郎章敞、右通政徐琦齎敕印,命利權署安南國事。 利遣使齎表及金銀器方物,隨敞等入貢。 七年二月達京師,比還,利及使臣皆有賜。 明年八月來貢,命兵部侍郎徐琦等與其使偕行,諭以順天保民之道。 是年,利卒。 利雖受敕命,其居國稱帝,紀元順天,建東、西二都,分十三道:「曰山南、京北、山西、海陽、安邦、諒山、太原、,明光、諒化、清華、晙安、,順化、廣南。 各設承政司、憲察司、總兵使司,擬中國三司。 東都在交州府,西都在清華府。 置百官,設學校,以經義、詩賦二科取士,彬彬有華風焉。 僭位六年,私諡太祖。 子麟繼,麟一名龍。 自是其君長皆有二名,以一名奏天朝,貢獻不絕如常制。 麟遣使告訃,命侍郎章敞、行人侯璡敕麟權署國事。 明年遣使入貢謝恩。
In the spring of the fifth year, when Qi returned, Le Loi sent tribute of gold and silver vessels and a polished memorial, with chiefs and elders asking that he be empowered to govern. When the envoys came back, the Emperor again mentioned searching for Chen heirs and returning Chinese subjects—but without much force. The next summer Le Loi sent envoys to apologize, evaded both demands with smooth words, and again had chiefs and elders petition for his enfeoffment. The Emperor then agreed and sent Zhang Chang and Xu Qi with an edict and seal appointing Le Loi provisional administrator of Annan. Le Loi sent envoys with a memorial, gold and silver vessels, and tribute to accompany Zhang Chang to court. They reached the capital in the second month of the seventh year; on their return Le Loi and his envoys were both rewarded. The next August they came to tribute; Xu Qi of the Ministry of War and others were sent with their envoys to instruct them in ruling by Heaven's will and guarding the people. That year Le Loi died. Though Le Loi had accepted the imperial commission, at home he called himself emperor, took the era name Shuntian, built eastern and western capitals, and divided the country into thirteen circuits: Shannan, Jingbei, Shanxi, Haiyang, Anbang, Liangshan, Taiyuan, Mingguang, Lianghua, Qinghua, Jun'an, Shunhua, and Guangnan. Each circuit had an administrative commission, a surveillance commission, and a regional military commission—mirroring China's three offices. The eastern capital stood at Jiaozhou Prefecture, the western at Qinghua Prefecture. He staffed a full bureaucracy, opened schools, and recruited officials by examinations in the classics and poetry— cultivated, with a clear Chinese cast. He had reigned in all but name for six years and was posthumously styled Taizu. His son Lin succeeded him; Lin also went by the name Long. Henceforth each ruler kept two names, reporting one to the court; tribute continued on the usual schedule. Lin sent envoys with news of Le Loi's death; Zhang Chang and Courier Hou Jin were dispatched to authorize Lin as provisional ruler. The next year he sent envoys to court with tribute and thanks.
27
正統元年四月以宣宗賓天,遣使進香。 又以英宗登極及尊上太皇太后、皇太后位號,並遣使表賀,貢方物。 閏六月復貢。 帝以陳氏宗支既絕,欲使麟正位,下廷議,鹹以為宜。 乃命兵部右侍郎李郁、左通政李亨齎敕印,封麟為安南國王。 明年遣使入貢謝恩。 時安南思郎州土官攻掠廣西安平、思陵二州,據二峒二十一村。 帝命給事中湯鼐、行人高寅敕麟還侵地。 麟奉命,遣使謝罪,而訴安平、思陵土官侵掠思郎。 帝令守臣嚴飭。 七年,安南貢使還,令齎皮弁冠服、金織襲衣賜其王。 是歲,麟卒,私諡太宗。 改元二:紹平六年,大寶三年。 子濬繼,一名基隆,遣使告訃。 命光祿少卿宋傑、兵科都給事中薛謙持節冊封為國王。 濬遣將侵佔城,奪新州港,擄其王摩訶賁該以歸。 帝為立新王摩訶貴來,敕安南使,諭濬歸其故王。 濬不奉詔,侵掠人口至三萬三千餘,占城入訴。
In the fourth month of Zhengtong 1, on the Xuande Emperor's death, he sent envoys to offer incense. He also sent envoys with congratulations and tribute for the Yingzong Emperor's accession and the elevation of the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Dowager. In the intercalary sixth month he sent tribute again. Since the Chen line was extinct, the Emperor wished to invest Lin fully; the court debated the matter and all agreed. He then sent Li Yu and Li Heng with an edict and seal to invest Lin as King of Annan. The next year he sent envoys to court with tribute and thanks. An Annan native official of Silang Prefecture then raided Anping and Siling in Guangxi and seized two vales and twenty-one villages. The Emperor sent Supervising Secretary Tang Nai and Courier Gao Yin to order Lin to return the seized land. Lin complied and sent envoys to apologize, but also complained that Anping and Siling officials had raided Silang. The Emperor ordered the frontier governors to restrain their men. In the seventh year, when Annan's tribute envoys returned, they carried leather caps and robes and brocade court dress for their king. That year Lin died and was posthumously styled Taizong. His reign used two era names: six years of Shaoping and three of Dabao. His son Jun succeeded—Jun also went by Jilong—and sent envoys with news of the death. Song Jie of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and Xue Qian, supervising secretary of the Ministry of War, were sent with credentials to invest him as king. Jun sent troops into Champa, seized Xinzhou Harbor, captured King Mohe Bengai, and carried him off. The Emperor enthroned Mohe Guilai and told Annan's envoys to order Jun to restore the deposed king. Jun defied the edict, abducted over thirty-three thousand people, and Champa appealed to the Ming court.
28
景泰元年賜敕戒濬,迄不奉詔。 四年遣使賀冊立皇太子。 天順元年遣使入貢,乞賜袞冕,如朝鮮例,不從。 其使者乞以土物易書籍、藥材,從之。 二年遣使賀英宗復辟。 三年十月,其庶兄諒山王琮弑之而自立。 濬改元二:大利十一年,延寧六年。 私諡仁宗。 琮,一名宜民,篡位九月,改元天與,為國人所誅,貶厲德侯,以濬弟灝繼。 灝,一名思誠。 初,琮弑濬,以遊湖溺死奏。 天朝不知,將遣官弔祭。 琮恐天使至覺其情,言禮不吊溺,不敢煩天使,帝即已之。 使者言濬無子,請封琮。 命通政參議尹旻、禮科給事中王豫往封。 未入境,聞琮已誅,灝嗣位,即卻還。 灝連遣使朝貢請封,禮官疑其詐,請命廣西守臣核實奏請,從之。 使臣言:「禮,生有封,死有祭。 今濬死既白,請賜祭。」 乃命行人往祭。 六年二月命侍讀學士錢溥、給事中王豫封灝為國王。
In Jingtai 1 the court sent Jun a warning edict; he still refused to comply. In the fourth year he sent envoys to congratulate the crown prince's investiture. In Tianshun 1 his envoys asked for dragon robes and a crown like Korea's; the request was denied. His envoys requested books and medicines in exchange for local products; the court agreed. In the second year he sent envoys to celebrate the Yingzong Emperor's restoration. In the tenth month of the third year his half-brother Liangshan Prince Cong murdered him and seized power. Jun's reign used two era names: eleven years of Dali and six of Yanning. He was posthumously styled Renzong. Cong, also called Yimin, ruled nine months under the era Tianyu before his own people killed him; he was demoted to Marquis of Lide and Jun's brother Hao succeeded. Hao also went by the name Sicheng. When Cong murdered Jun, he first reported that Jun had drowned on a lake outing. The Ming court, unaware, prepared to send officials to mourn and sacrifice. Cong feared an imperial envoy would expose him; he claimed ritual forbade mourning drownings and begged the court not to send one—the Emperor let it drop. His envoys claimed Jun had no heir and asked that Cong be invested. Yin Min and Supervising Secretary Wang Yu were dispatched to invest him. Before crossing the border they learned Cong was dead and Hao had succeeded, and turned back. Hao repeatedly petitioned for investiture; rites officials suspected fraud and asked Guangxi officials to verify; the Emperor agreed. The envoys said, "By ritual the living are enfeoffed and the dead mourned. Jun's death is now known— we ask for funeral rites. The court then sent a courier to perform the rites. In the second month of the sixth year Qian Pu and Supervising Secretary Wang Yu invested Hao as king.
29
憲宗踐阼,命尚寶卿淩信、行人邵震賜王及妃彩幣。 灝遣使來貢,因請冕服,不從,但賜皮弁冠服及紗帽犀帶。 成化元年八月以英宗賓天,遣使進香,命赴裕陵行禮。
When the Chenghua Emperor took the throne, he sent Ling Xin, Chamberlain for Imperial Seals, and the courier Shao Zhen to grant colored silks to the king and queen. Hao sent tribute envoys and asked for full court regalia; the court refused, granting only a leather-cap ensemble, gauze cap, and rhinoceros-horn belt. In the eighth month of Chenghua 1, after the Yingzong Emperor's death, envoys were dispatched to offer incense and were instructed to perform rites at Yuling.
30
灝雄桀,自負國富兵強,輒坐大。 四年侵據廣西憑祥。 帝聞,命守臣謹備之。 七年破占城,執其王盤羅茶全,逾三年又破之,執其王盤羅茶悅,遂改其國為交南州,設兵戍守。 安南貢道,故由廣西。 時雲南鎮守中官錢能貪恣,遣指揮郭景齎敕取其貨。 灝素欲窺雲南,遂以解送廣西龍州罪人為詞,隨景假道雲南入京,索夫六百餘,且發兵繼其後,雲南大擾。 兵部言雲南非貢道,龍州罪人宜解廣西,不必赴京。 乃令守臣檄諭,且嚴邊備。 灝既得憑祥,滅占城,遂侵廣東瓊、雷,盜珠池。 廣西之龍州、右平,雲南之臨安、廣南、鎮安,亦數告警。 詔守臣詰之,輒詭詞對。 廟堂務姑息,雖屢降敕諭,無厲詞。 灝益玩侮無畏忌,言:「占城王盤羅茶全侵化州道,為其弟盤羅茶悅所弑,因自立。 及將受封,又為子茶質苔所弑。 其國自亂,非臣灝罪。」 中朝知其詐,不能詰,但勸令還其土宇。 灝奏言:「占城非沃壤,家鮮積貯,野絕桑麻,山無金寶之收,海乏魚鹽之利,止產象牙、犀角、烏木、沉香。 得其地不可居,得其民不可使,得其貨不足富,此臣不侵奪占城故也。 明詔令臣復其土宇,乞遣朝使申畫郊圻,俾兩國邊陲休息,臣不勝至願。」 時占城久為所據,而其詞誕如此。
Hao was bold and domineering; confident in Annan's wealth and armies, he repeatedly threw his weight about. In the fourth year he seized Pingxiang in Guangxi. On hearing this, the Emperor ordered frontier officials to stand ready. In the seventh year he crushed Champa and took King Panluo Chaan captive; three years later he invaded again, seized King Panluo Chayue, renamed the kingdom Jiaonan Prefecture, and posted a garrison. Annan's tribute missions had long traveled through Guangxi. The Yunnan resident eunuch Qian Neng was rapacious; he sent Commander Guo Jing with an imperial edict to extort goods. Hao had long coveted access to Yunnan. Citing the escort of Longzhou convicts to the capital, he followed Guo Jing through Yunnan on the way to Beijing, requisitioned over six hundred bearers, and trailed the party with troops, throwing Yunnan into turmoil. The Ministry of War replied that Yunnan was not the tribute route, that Longzhou prisoners should be handled in Guangxi, and that they need not be sent to Beijing. Frontier officials were ordered to rebuke Annan by proclamation and tighten border defenses. Having seized Pingxiang and conquered Champa, Hao raided Qiong and Lei in Guangdong and looted the pearl beds. Longzhou and Youping in Guangxi and Lin'an, Guangnan, and Zhen'an in Yunnan also sent repeated alarms. The court ordered frontier officials to demand explanations, but he answered with evasions. The court indulged him; though edicts went out again and again, none spoke harshly. Emboldened, Hao claimed: "Champa's King Panluo Chaan had encroached on the Huazhou route and was murdered by his brother Panluo Chayue, who then seized the throne. Just as he was to be invested, he was murdered again by his son Chazhi Tai. Champa had torn itself apart; this was no fault of mine, Hao said." The Ming court saw through the lie yet could not confront him, urging only that he return the seized lands. Hao submitted a memorial claiming: "Champa is poor country—few stores in its homes, no mulberry or hemp in the fields, no gold in the hills, no profit from sea salt or fish; only ivory, rhinoceros horn, ebony, and agarwood. Its land could not be settled, its people could not be ruled, its goods could not make us rich—this is why I did not seize Champa, he said. The imperial edict commands me to restore their territory; I beg that envoys be sent to demarcate the border so both realms may live in peace—this is my deepest wish." Champa had been under his control for years, yet he spoke in this preposterous way.
31
先是,安南入貢,多攜私物,道憑祥、龍州,乏人轉運,輒興仇釁。 會遣使賀冊立皇太子,有詔禁飭之。 十五年冬,灝遣兵八百餘人,越雲南蒙自界,聲言捕盜,擅結營築室以居。 守臣力止之,始退。 灝既破占城,志意益廣,親督兵九萬,開山為三道,攻破哀牢,侵老撾,復大破之,殺宣慰刀板雅、蘭、掌父子三人,其季子怕雅賽走八百以免。 灝復積糧練兵,頒偽敕于車裏,征其兵合攻八百。 將士暴死者數千,咸言為雷霆所擊。 八百乃遏其歸路,襲殺萬餘人,灝始引還。 帝下廷議,請令廣西布政司檄灝斂兵,雲南、兩廣守臣戒邊備而已。 既而灝言未侵老撾,且不知八百疆宇何在,語甚誑誕。 帝復慰諭之,迄不奉命。 十七年秋,滿剌加亦以被侵告,帝敕使諭令睦鄰保國。 未幾,使臣入貢,請如暹羅、爪哇例賜冠帶。 許之,不為例。
Previously Annan's tribute missions often carried private merchandise; along the Pingxiang and Longzhou routes, labor shortages repeatedly sparked clashes. When envoys were dispatched to congratulate the crown prince's investiture, the court issued an edict forbidding the practice. In the winter of the fifteenth year Hao sent over eight hundred soldiers across Yunnan's Mengzi frontier, claiming to pursue bandits, and without permission built camps and houses to occupy. Frontier officials forcibly halted them, and they withdrew. After conquering Champa, Hao's ambitions swelled; he personally led ninety thousand men, cut three mountain routes, broke through Ailao, invaded Laos, and routed the enemy, killing Pacification Commissioner Daobanya and his sons Lan and Zhang; the youngest, Payasai, fled to Baibai. Hao stockpiled grain, drilled troops, issued a forged edict in Chelai, and summoned its forces to join the assault on Baibai. Several thousand troops died suddenly in camp; all said lightning had struck them down. Baibai cut off their retreat and ambushed them, killing more than ten thousand; Hao then withdrew. The Emperor referred the matter to court debate; the proposal was that Guangxi's administration commission rebuke Hao and order him to withdraw, while Yunnan and the two Guang provinces need only tighten defenses. Hao then claimed he had never invaded Laos and did not even know where Baibai lay—outright nonsense. The Emperor again sent soothing edicts, but Hao never complied. In the autumn of the seventeenth year Melaka too complained of invasion; the Emperor sent envoys urging neighborly peace. Soon tribute envoys came asking for caps and belts on the same terms as Siam and Java. The request was granted once, but not established as precedent.
32
孝宗踐阼,命侍讀劉戩詔諭其國。 其使臣來貢,以大喪免引奏。 弘治三年,時占城王古來以天朝力得還國,復訴安南見侵。 兵部尚書馬文升召安南使臣曰:「歸諭爾主,各保疆土享太平。 不然,朝廷一旦赫然震怒,天兵壓境,如永樂朝事,爾主得無悔乎?」 安南自是有所畏。 十年,灝卒,私諡聖宗。 其改元二:光順十年,洪德二十八年。 子暉繼,一名鏳,遣使告訃,命行人徐鈺往祭。 尋賜暉皮弁服、金犀帶。 其使臣言,國主受王封,賜服與臣下無別,乞改賜。 禮官言:「安南名為王,實中國臣也。 嗣王新立,必賜皮弁冠服,使不失主宰一國之尊,又賜一品常服,俾不忘臣事中國之義。 今所請,紊亂祖制,不可許。 然此非使臣罪,乃通事者導之妄奏,安懲。」 帝特宥之。 十七年,暉卒,私諡憲宗,其改元曰景統。 子氵牽繼,一名敬甫,七月而卒,私諡肅宗。 弟誼繼,一名璿。
When the Hongzhi Emperor took the throne, he ordered Reader-in-Waiting Liu Zhan to proclaim an edict to Annan. When Annan's envoys arrived with tribute, they were excused from formal audience because of court mourning. In Hongzhi 3, Champa's King Gulai, restored to his throne with Ming support, again accused Annan of invasion. Minister of War Ma Wensheng summoned Annan's envoys and said: "Tell your king to keep to his borders and live in peace. Otherwise, if the court should one day thunder in anger and imperial armies march to your frontier as in the Yongle era, will your king not rue it?" After this Annan showed some restraint. In the tenth year Hao died and was privately styled Sheng Zong. His reign used two era names: ten years of Guangshun and twenty-eight of Hongde. His son Hui succeeded—also called Zheng—and sent envoys with news of the death; the courier Xu Yu was dispatched to offer sacrifice. Hui was soon granted a leather-cap ensemble and a gold rhinoceros-horn belt. His envoys complained that the king's investiture robes were no grander than those of his officials and asked for a change of grant. The Ministry of Rites replied: "Annan is called king in name but is in truth a subject of the Ming. A newly enthroned king must receive the leather-cap regalia befitting sovereign dignity, and also first-rank everyday dress reminding him of his subject status. The request would overturn precedent and must be denied. This was not the envoys' fault but the interpreters' who prompted the improper request—they should not be punished." The Emperor granted them special pardon. In the seventeenth year Hui died and was privately styled Xian Zong; his era name was Jingtong. His son Qian succeeded—also called Jingfu—and died within seven months; he was privately styled Su Zong. His younger brother Yi succeeded—also called Xuan.
33
武宗踐阼,命修撰倫文敘、給事中張弘至詔諭其國。 誼亦遣使告訃,命官致祭如常儀。 正德元年冊為王。 誼寵任母党阮種、阮伯勝兄弟,恣行威虐,屠戮宗親,鴆殺祖母。 種等怙寵竊權,四年逼誼自殺,擁立其弟伯勝,貶誼為厲湣王。 國人黎廣等討誅之,立灝孫晭,改諡誼威穆帝。 誼在位四年,改元端慶。 晭,一名瀅,七年受封,多行不義。 十一年,社堂燒香官陳皓與二子昺、升作亂,殺晭而自立。 詭言前王陳氏後,仍稱大虞皇帝,改元應天,貶晭為靈隱王。 晭臣都力士莫登庸初附皓,後與黎氏大臣阮私裕等起兵討之。 皓敗走,獲昺及其党陳璲等。 皓與升奔諒山道,據長寧、太原、清節三府自保。 登庸等乃共立晭兄灝之子譓,改諡晭襄翼帝。 晭在位七年,改元洪順。 譓將請封,因國亂不果。 以登庸有功,封武川伯,總水陸諸軍。 既握兵柄,潛蓄異志。 黎氏臣鄭綏,以譓徒擁虛位,別立其族子酉榜,發兵攻都城。 譓出走,登庸擊破綏兵,捕酉榜殺之,益恃功專恣,遂逼妻譓母,迎譓歸,自為太傅仁國公。 十六年率兵攻陳皓,皓敗走死。
When the Zhengde Emperor took the throne, he ordered Compiler Lun Wenxu and Supervising Secretary Zhang Hongzhi to proclaim an edict to Annan. Yi too sent envoys announcing a death, and officials were ordered to perform the usual funeral rites. In Zhengde 1 he was invested as king. Yi favored his mother's relatives, the brothers Ruan Zhong and Ruan Bosheng, who ruled brutally, slaughtered royal kinsmen, and poisoned his grandmother. In the fourth year Zhong and his faction, abusing imperial favor, forced Yi to suicide, enthroned his brother Bosheng, and demoted Yi to Prince Li Min. Li Guang and others overthrew them, enthroned Hao's grandson Chieu, and restyled Yi as Emperor Weimu. Yi reigned four years under the era Duanqing. Chieu, also called Ying, was invested in the seventh year and ruled unjustly. In the eleventh year Chen Hao, a She Hall incense officer, rebelled with his sons Bing and Sheng, killed Chieu, and seized the throne. Claiming Chen descent, he styled himself Emperor Dayu, took the era Yingtian, and demoted Chieu to Prince Lingyin. Chieu's minister Mo Dengyong, Chief Palace Attendant, first backed Chen Hao, then joined Le ministers including Ruan Siyu in arms against him. Chen Hao was routed; Bing and his ally Chen Jin were taken. Chen Hao and Sheng fled toward Lang Son and held Changning, Taiyuan, and Qingjie. Dengyong's faction then enthroned Hue, son of Chieu's elder brother Hao, and restyled Chieu as Emperor Xiangyi. Chieu reigned seven years under the era Hongshun. Hue sought investiture, but civil war prevented it. For his service Dengyong was made Earl of Wuchuan and given command of all land and naval forces. With military power in hand, he began to plot usurpation. Le minister Zheng Sui, deeming Hue a puppet, set up his kinsman Youbang and marched on the capital. Hue fled; Dengyong routed Zheng Sui, captured and killed Youbang, grew bolder with power, forced Hue's mother into marriage, restored Hue to the throne, and took the titles Grand Tutor and Duke of Renguo. In the sixteenth year he attacked Chen Hao, who was defeated, fled, and died.
34
嘉靖元年,登庸自稱安興王,謀弑譓。 譓母以告,乃與其臣杜溫潤間行以免,居於清華。 登庸立其庶弟廣,遷居海東長慶府。 世宗踐阼,命編修孫承恩、給事中俞敦詔諭其國。 至龍州,聞其國大亂,道不通,乃卻還。 四年夏,譓遣使間道通貢,並請封,為登庸所阻。 明年春,登庸賂欽州判官唐清,為廣求封。 總督張嵿逮清,死於獄。 六年,登庸令其党危範嘉謨偽為廣禪詔,篡其位,改元明德,立子方瀛為皇太子。 旋鴆殺■,諡為恭皇帝。 逾年,遣使來貢,至諒山城,被攻而還。 九年,登庸禪位於方瀛,自稱太上皇,移居都齋、海陽,為方瀛外援,作《大誥》五十九條,頒之國中。 方瀛改元大正。 其年九月,黎譓卒于清華,國亡。
In Jiajing 1 Dengyong declared himself Prince of Anxing and plotted to kill Hue. Warned by Hue's mother, he fled with minister Du Wenrun by hidden paths and took refuge at Qinghua. Dengyong enthroned his younger brother Guang and installed him at Changqing Prefecture in Haidong. When the Jiajing Emperor took the throne, he ordered Compiler Sun Chengen and Supervising Secretary Yu Dunzhao to proclaim an edict to Annan. At Longzhou they learned Annan was in chaos and the road blocked, and turned back. In the summer of the fourth year Hue sent envoys by hidden routes to tribute and seek investiture, but Dengyong blocked them. The next spring Dengyong bribed Qinzhou assistant magistrate Tang Qing to petition investiture for Guang. Grand Coordinator Zhang Jing arrested Tang Qing, who died in custody. In the sixth year Dengyong had his agent Wei Fan Jiamo forge Guang's abdication, seized the throne, adopted the era Mingde, and made his son Fang Ying crown prince. He soon poisoned Guang and posthumously styled him Emperor Gong. A year later he sent tribute envoys; at Lang Son they were attacked and driven back. In the ninth year Dengyong abdicated to Fang Ying, styled himself Retired Emperor, moved to Duqi and Haiyang to bolster his son, wrote fifty-nine articles of the Great Admonitions, and issued them nationwide. Fang Ying adopted the era Dazheng. That September Hue died at Qinghua, and the Le dynasty fell.
35
十五年冬,皇子生,當頒詔安南。 禮官夏言言:「安南不貢已二十年,兩廣守臣謂黎譓、黎■均非黎晭應立之嫡,莫登庸陳皓俱彼國纂逆之臣,宜遣官按問,求罪人主名。 且前使既以道阻不通,今宜暫停使命。 帝以安南叛逆昭然,宜急遣官往勘,命言會兵部議征討。 言及本兵張瓚等力言逆臣篡主奪國,朝貢不修,決宜致討。 乞先遣錦衣官二人往核其實,敕兩廣、雲南守臣整兵積餉,以俟師期,制可。 乃命千戶陶鳳儀、鄭璽等,分往廣西、雲南,詰罪人主名,敕四川、貴州、湖廣、福建、江西守臣,預備兵食,候徵調。 戶部侍郎唐胄上疏,力陳用兵七不可,語詳其傳中,末言:「安南雖亂,猶頻奉表箋,具方物,款關求入。 守臣以其姓名不符,拒之。 是彼欲貢不得,非負固不貢也。」 章下兵部,亦以為然,命俟勘官還更議。
In the winter of the fifteenth year, after a prince was born, an edict was to be sent to Annan. Ritual official Xia Yan argued: "Annan has not tribute for twenty years; Guang officials say neither Hue nor Guang was Chieu's legitimate successor; Mo Dengyong and Chen Hao are usurpers; envoys should investigate and identify the culprits. Since earlier envoys could not pass, missions should be suspended for now. Seeing Annan's rebellion plainly, the Emperor ordered an urgent investigation and told Xia Yan to confer with the Ministry of War on military action. Xia Yan and Minister of War Zhang Zan insisted that usurpers had seized the throne, tribute had ceased, and Annan must be punished. They asked that two Embroidered Uniform Guard officers verify events on the ground and that Guang and Yunnan officials muster troops and stores pending campaign orders; the Emperor agreed. Company Commanders Tao Fengyi and Zheng Xi were sent to Guangxi and Yunnan to demand the culprits' names, and officials in Sichuan, Guizhou, Huguang, Fujian, and Jiangxi were told to prepare troops and supplies for mobilization. Vice Minister Tang Zhou memorialized with seven arguments against war, detailed in his biography; he concluded: "Though Annan is torn by strife, it still sends memorials and gifts and knocks at the border seeking admission. The frontier officials turned them away because the names did not correspond. They wanted to tribute but were blocked, not that they willfully withheld tribute. The memorial went to the Ministry of War, which concurred; further discussion was ordered once the investigators returned.
36
十六年,安南黎甯遣國人鄭惟僚等赴京,備陳登庸篡弑狀,言:「寧即譓子。 譓卒,國人立甯為世孫,權主國事。 屢馳書邊臣告難,俱為登庸邀殺。 乞興師問罪,亟除國賊。」 時嚴嵩掌禮部,謂其言未可盡信,請羈之,待勘官回奏,從之。 尋召鳳儀等還,命禮、兵二部會廷臣議,列登庸十大罪,請大振宸斷,克期徂征。 乃起右都御史毛伯溫于家,參贊軍務,命戶部侍郎胡璉、高公韶先馳雲、貴、兩廣調度軍食,以都督僉事江桓、牛桓為左、右副總兵,督軍征討,其大將需後命。 兵部復奉詔,條用兵機宜十二事。 獨侍郎潘珍持不可,抗疏切諫。 帝怒,褫其職。 兩廣總督潘旦亦馳疏請停前命,言:「朝廷方興問罪之師,登庸即有求貢之使,宜因而許之,戒嚴觀變,以待彼國之自定。」 嚴嵩、張瓚窺帝旨,力言不可宥,且言黎寧在清都圖恢復,而旦謂彼國俱定,上表求貢,決不可許。 旦疏遂寢。 五月,伯溫至京,奏上方略六事,以旦不可共事,請易之,優旨褒答。 及兵部議上,帝意忽中變,謂黎寧誠偽未審,令三方守臣從宜撫剿,參贊、督餉大臣俱暫停,旦調用,以張經代之。 時御史徐九皋、給事中謝廷■以修省陳言,亦請罷征南之師。 八月,雲南巡撫汪文盛以獲登庸間諜及所撰偽《大誥》上聞。 帝震怒,命守臣仍遵前詔征討。 時文盛招納黎氏舊臣武文淵得其進兵地圖,謂登庸以可破,遂上之朝。 廣東按臣餘光言:「莫之篡黎,猶黎之篡陳,不足深較。 但當罪其不庭,責以稱臣修貢,不必遠征,疲敝中國。 臣已遣使宣諭,彼如來歸,宜因以撫納。」 帝以光輕率,奪祿一年。 文盛即傳檄安南,登庸能束身歸命,籍上輿圖,待以不死。 於是登庸父子遣使奉表乞降,且投牒文盛及黔國公沐朝輔,具述黎氏衰亂,陳皓叛逆,己與方瀛有功,為國人歸附,所有土地,已載《一統志》中,乞貰其罪,修貢如制。 朝輔等以十七年三月奏聞,而黎寧承前詔,懼天朝竟納其降,備以本國篡弑始末及軍馬之數、水陸進兵道里來上。 俱下兵部,集廷臣議。 僉言莫氏罪不可赦,亟宜進師。 請以原推咸甯侯仇鸞總督軍務,伯溫仍為參贊,從之。 張經上言:「安南進兵之道有六,兵當用三十萬,一歲之餉當用百六十萬,造舟、市馬、制器、犒軍諸費又須七十余萬。 況我調大眾,涉炎海,與彼勞逸殊勢,不可不審處也。」 疏方上,欽州知州林希元又力陳登庸可取狀。 兵部不能決,復請廷議。 及議上,帝不悅曰:「朕聞卿士大夫私議,鹹謂不當興師。 爾等職司邦政,漫無主持,悉委之會議。 既不協心謀國,其已之。 鸞、伯溫別用。」
In the sixteenth year Le Ninh sent Zheng Weiliao and others to court with a full account of Dengyong's usurpation and murder, saying: "Ninh is Hue's son. After Hue died, the Annamese installed Ninh as heir and put him in charge of government. He repeatedly appealed to frontier officials for help, but Dengyong intercepted and killed every messenger. He pleaded for a punitive expedition to destroy the usurper at once. Yan Song, then running the Ministry of Rites, doubted their account and asked to detain them until the investigators returned; the Emperor agreed. Fengyi's team was soon recalled; the rites and war ministries convened the court, listed Dengyong's ten crimes, and urged decisive action and a fixed campaign date. Mao Bowen was recalled from retirement as military adviser; Hu Lian and Gao Gongshao were sent ahead to Yunnan, Guizhou, and Guang to mobilize supplies; Jiang Huan and Niu Huan were named deputy commanders pending appointment of a supreme commander. The Ministry of War then issued twelve operational guidelines under imperial order. Only Vice Minister Pan Zhen dissented, memorializing forcefully against the war. The Emperor stripped him of office in anger. Pan Dan, grand coordinator of Guang, urged canceling the campaign: "Even as we mobilize, Dengyong sends tribute envoys; we should accept them, stay on alert, and let Annan settle itself. Reading the Emperor's mind, Yan Song and Zhang Zan insisted there could be no pardon, noting that Le Ninh at Qingdu sought restoration while Pan Dan wrongly claimed Annan was stable and petitioning for tribute—which must be refused. Pan Dan's memorial was ignored. In May, Bowen reached court with six strategic proposals, declared Pan Dan impossible to work with, and was warmly praised when he asked for a replacement. When the ministry's plan reached him, the Emperor abruptly reversed course: Le Ninh's claims were unverified; frontier officials should pacify as needed; military advisers and supply chiefs were suspended; Pan Dan was reassigned and Zhang Jing replaced him. Censor Xu Jiugao and Supervising Secretary Xie Tingfan, in austerity memorials, also called for canceling the southern campaign. In the eighth month Wang Wensheng, Yunnan's grand coordinator, reported capturing Dengyong's spies and a forged Great Admonitions. The Emperor was furious and ordered frontier officials to resume the punitive campaign as previously commanded. Wensheng had enlisted Le loyalist Wu Wenyuan, obtained a campaign map, judged Dengyong beatable, and sent both to court. Guangdong censor Yu Guang argued: "Mo seizing power from Le is like Le seizing it from Chen—not worth dwelling on. Punish their absence from court, demand submission and tribute, and spare China a distant war that would drain her strength. I have already sent envoys to proclaim the imperial will; if they submit, we should accept and pacify them. The Emperor judged Yu Guang rash and docked his salary for a year. Wensheng proclaimed to Annan that if Dengyong surrendered and handed over his maps and territories, his life would be spared. Dengyong and his son then sent envoys with surrender memorials and petitions to Wensheng and Prince Mu Chaofu of Qian, recounting Le decline, Chen Hao's revolt, their own merits, popular support, and lands already in the gazetteer; they begged pardon and restoration of tribute. Chaofu reported this in the third month of year seventeen; fearing acceptance of the surrender, Le Ninh submitted a full account of usurpation, troop counts, and invasion routes by land and sea. Both were referred to the Ministry of War for a court conference. All agreed the Mo usurpers were unpardonable and urged immediate advance. They recommended Xianning Marquis Qiu Luan as supreme commander with Bowen as adviser; the Emperor agreed. Zhang Jing calculated: "Annan has six invasion routes; we need three hundred thousand men, 1.6 million in annual rations, and over seven hundred thousand more for ships, horses, arms, and rewards. Massing troops to cross tropical seas puts us at a grave disadvantage against a rested enemy; this must be weighed carefully. As that memorial arrived, Qinzhou Prefect Lin Xiyuan also argued forcefully that Dengyong could be defeated. The Ministry of War could not decide and sought another court conference. When the conference report arrived, the Emperor was displeased: "I hear you officials privately agree war is unwise. You hold the realm's affairs yet offer no leadership, deferring everything to committee. Since you cannot unite in service to the state, drop the matter. Assign Luan and Bowen elsewhere."
37
十八年冊立皇太子,當頒詔安南。 特起黃綰為禮部尚書,學士張治副之,往使其國。 命甫下,方瀛遣使上表降,並籍其土地、戶口,聽天朝處分,凡為府五十有三,州四十有九,縣一百七十有六。 帝納之,下禮、兵二部協議。 至七月,綰猶未行,以忤旨落職,遂停使命。 初,征討之議發自夏言,帝既責綰,因發怒曰:「安南事,本一人倡,眾皆隨之。 乃訕上聽言計,共作慢詞。 此國應棄應討,宜有定議,兵部即集議以聞。」 於是瓚及廷臣惶懼,請如前詔,仍遣鸞、伯溫南征。 如登庸父子束手歸命,無異心,則待以不死,從之。 登庸聞,大喜。
In the eighteenth year, with investiture of the crown prince, an edict was to be sent to Annan. Huang Wan was specially appointed Minister of Rites, with Academician Zhang Zhi as deputy, to envoy to Annan. Hardly had the order been issued when Fang Ying surrendered, registering lands and population for imperial disposal: fifty-three prefectures, forty-nine subprefectures, and 176 counties. The Emperor accepted and referred the matter to the rites and war ministries. By July Wan still had not left; dismissed for defying the throne, the mission was canceled. The war had originally been Xia Yan's proposal; after rebuking Wan, the Emperor erupted: "On Annan, one man led and all followed. You then mocked the throne and traded private counsel, writing insolent memorials together. Whether to abandon or punish Annan needs a firm decision; the Ministry of War must conference and report at once. Zan and the terrified court asked, as before, to send Luan and Bowen south. If Dengyong and his son surrendered in good faith, their lives would be spared; the Emperor agreed. Dengyong was overjoyed.
38
十九年,伯溫等抵廣西,傳檄諭以納款宥罪意。 時方瀛已卒,登庸即遣使請降。 十一月率從子文明及部目四十二人入鎮南關,囚首徒跣,匍匐叩頭壇上,進降表,伯溫稱詔赦之。 復詣軍門匍匐再拜,上土地軍民藉,請奉正朔,永為籓臣。 伯溫等宣示威德,令歸國俟命。 疏聞,帝大喜,命削安南國為安南都統使司,授登庸都統使,秩從二品,銀印。 舊所僭擬制度悉除去,改其十三道為十三宣撫司,各設宣撫、同知、副使、僉事,聽都統黜陟。 廣西歲給《大統曆》,仍三歲一貢以為常。 更令核黎寧真偽,果黎氏後,割所據四府奉其祀事,否則已之。 制下,登庸悚惕受命。
In the nineteenth year Bowen reached Guangxi and proclaimed amnesty for those who submitted. Fang Ying was already dead; Dengyong at once sent envoys to surrender. In the eleventh month he led his nephew Wenming and forty-two officials into Zhennan Pass, bound and barefoot, crawling to the surrender altar; Bowen proclaimed their pardon. At headquarters they prostrated again, submitted land and population registers, and pledged to accept the calendar and remain vassals forever. Bowen proclaimed imperial mercy and sent them home to await orders. The Emperor was delighted and reduced Annan to a Pacification Commission, appointing Dengyong Pacification Commissioner at vice-second rank with a silver seal. Usurped institutions were abolished; thirteen circuits became thirteen Pacification Offices with standard posts, all subject to the Pacification Commissioner's appointment. Guangxi would supply the calendar annually; triennial tribute remained the rule. Le Ninh's identity was to be verified; if he was truly Le blood, four prefectures would support his rites—otherwise the offer would lapse. Dengyong accepted the decree in fear and trembling.
39
二十二年,登庸卒,方瀛子福海嗣,遣宣撫同知阮典敬等來朝。 二十五年,福海卒,子宏瀷嗣。 初,登庸以石室人阮敬為義子,封西寧侯。 敬有女嫁方瀛次子敬典,因與方瀛妻武氏通,得專兵柄。 宏瀷立,方五歲,敬益專恣用事。 登庸次子正中及文明避之都齋,其同輩阮如桂、範子儀等亦避居田裏。 敬舉兵逼都齋,正中、如桂、子儀等禦之,不勝。 正中、文明率家屬奔欽州,子儀收殘卒遁海東。 敬詭稱宏瀷歿,以迎立正中為詞,犯欽州,為參將俞大猷所敗,誅死。 宏瀷初立時,遣使黎光賁來貢,至南寧,守臣以聞。 禮官以其國內亂,名分未定,止來使勿進,而令守臣核所當立者。 至三十年事白,命授宏瀷都統使,赴關領牒。 會部目黎伯驪與黎甯臣鄭檢合兵來攻,宏瀷奔海陽,不克赴。 光賁等留南寧且十五年,其偕來使人物故大半。 宏瀷祈守臣代請,詔許入京,其都統告身,仍俟宏瀷赴關則給。 四十三年,宏瀷卒,子茂洽嗣。 萬曆元年授都統使。 三年遣使謝恩,賀即位,進方物,又補累年所缺之貢。
In the twenty-second year Dengyong died; Fuhai, Fang Ying's son, succeeded and sent Ruan Dianjing and others to court. In the twenty-fifth year Fuhai died; his son Honglie succeeded. Dengyong had adopted Ruan Jing of Shishi and enfeoffed him Marquis of Xining. Jing's daughter married Fang Ying's second son Jingdian; through Lady Wu he monopolized military power. Honglie was only five when enthroned; Ruan Jing grew ever more dictatorial. Dengyong's second son Zhengzhong and Wenming withdrew to Duqi; Ruan Rugui, Fan Ziyi, and others retired to the countryside. Ruan Jing marched on Duqi; Zhengzhong and the others resisted but were defeated. Zhengzhong and Wenming fled with their families to Qinzhou; Ziyi gathered remnants and escaped to Haidong. Ruan Jing falsely claimed Honglie dead, invaded Qinzhou to install Zhengzhong, was defeated by Yu Dayou, and executed. At Honglie's accession he had sent Le Guangben to tribute; at Nanning frontier officials reported his arrival. Ritual officials, citing civil war and unsettled succession, barred the envoys and ordered frontier officials to verify the rightful ruler. By the thirtieth year the matter was settled; Honglie was appointed Pacification Commissioner and told to receive his commission at the border pass. But Le Bolí and Zheng Jian combined forces against him; Honglie fled to Haiyang and could not come to the pass. Guangben and his party stayed at Nanning nearly fifteen years; most of their companions died. Honglie asked frontier officials to petition for him; the court allowed Guangben into the capital but withheld the commission until Honglie came to the pass. In the forty-third year Honglie died; his son Maoqia succeeded. In Wanli year one he was appointed Pacification Commissioner. In year three he sent envoys to thank the court, congratulate the accession, present gifts, and make up years of missed tribute.
40
時莫氏漸衰,黎氏復興,互相構兵,其國益多故。 始黎甯之據清華也,仍僭帝號,以嘉靖九年改元元和。 居四年,為登庸所攻,竄占城界。 國人立其弟憲,改元光照。 十五年廉知寧所在,迎歸清華,後遷于漆馬江。 甯卒,其臣鄭檢立寧子寵。 寵卒,無子,國人共立黎暉四世孫維邦。 維邦卒,檢子松立其子維潭,世居清華,自為一國。
The Mo clan waned as the Le revived; they warred on each other and the realm grew ever more chaotic. When Le Ninh held Qinghua he still claimed imperial title and in Jiajing year nine adopted the era Yuanhe. Four years later Dengyong attacked him and he fled into Champa territory. The Annamese installed his brother Xian and adopted the era Guangzhao. In the fifteenth year Lian Zhi located Ninh and restored him to Qinghua; later he moved to Qima River. After Ninh died, Zheng Jian installed his son Chong. Chong died childless; the people installed Weibang, fourth-generation descendant of Le Hui. After Weibang died, Zheng Jian's son Song installed Weitan at Qinghua as a separate realm.
41
萬曆十九年,維潭漸強,舉兵攻茂洽,茂洽敗奔嘉林縣。 明年冬,松誘土人內應,襲殺茂洽,奪其都統使印,親黨多遇害。 有莫敦讓者,奔防城告難,總督陳蕖以聞。 松復擒敦讓,勢益張。 茂洽子敬恭與宗人履遜等奔廣西思陵州,莫履機奔欽州。 獨莫敬邦有眾十余萬,起京北道,擊走黎党範拔萃、范百祿諸軍,敦讓得復歸。 眾乃推敬邦署都統,諸流寓思陵、欽州者悉還。 黎兵攻南策州,敬邦被殺,莫氏勢益衰。 敬恭、敬用屯諒山高平,敬璋屯東海新安,懼黎兵追索,竄至龍州、憑祥界,令土官列狀告當事。 維潭亦叩關求通貢,識以國王金印。
In Wanli year nineteen Weitan grew strong, attacked Maoqia, and drove him to Jialin County. The next winter Song used local collaborators in a surprise attack that killed Maoqia, seized the Pacification seal, and slaughtered many of his kin. Mo Dunrang fled to Fangcheng to report the crisis; Grand Coordinator Chen Qu informed the court. Song captured Dunrang and grew ever more powerful. Maoqia's son Jinggong and kin Lvxun fled to Silang in Guangxi; Mo Lvji fled to Qinzhou. Only Mo Jingbang commanded over one hundred thousand men; rising in Jingbei Circuit he routed Le generals Fan Baocui and Fan Bailu, restoring Dunrang. The people then made Jingbang acting Pacification Commissioner; exiles in Silang and Qinzhou all returned. Le forces attacked Nance Prefecture; Jingbang was killed and Mo power waned further. Jinggong and Jingyong held Gaoping in Langshan; Jingzhang held Xin'an in Donghai; fleeing Le pursuit to Longzhou and Pingxiang, they had native officials petition the authorities. Weitan also came to the pass seeking tribute, presenting a royal golden seal for identification.
42
二十一年,廣西巡撫陳大科等上言:「蠻邦易姓如弈棋,不當以彼之叛服為順逆,止當以彼之叛我服我為順逆。 今維潭雖圖恢復,而茂洽固天翰外臣也,安得不請命而扌間然戮之。 竊謂黎氏擅興之罪,不可不問。 莫氏孑遺之緒,亦不可不存。 倘如先朝故事,聽黎氏納款,而仍存莫氏,比諸漆馬江,亦不翦其祀,于計為便。」 廷議如其言。 明年,大科方遣官往察,敬用即遣使叩軍門告難,且乞兵。 明年秋,維潭亦遣使謝罪,求款。 時大科已為兩廣總督,與廣西巡撫戴耀並以屬左江副使楊寅秋,寅秋竊計曰:「不拒黎,亦不棄莫,吾策定矣。」 兩遣官往問,以敬恭等願居高平來告,而維潭求款之使亦數至。 寅秋乃與之期,具報督撫。 會敬璋率眾赴永安,為黎氏兵擊敗,海東、新安地盡失,於是款議益決。 時維潭圖恢復名,不欲以登庸自處,無束身入關意。 寅秋復遣官諭之,其使者來報如約,至期忽言于關吏曰:「士卒饑病,款儀未備。 且莫氏吾仇也,棲之高平,未敢聞命。」 遂中宵遁去。 大科等疏聞,謂其臣鄭松專權所致。 維潭復遣使叩關,自己非遁。 大科等再遣官諭之,維潭聽命。
In year twenty-one Chen Dake of Guangxi argued: "Barbarian realms change rulers like chess pieces; their internal strife is not our measure—only rebellion against us or submission to us counts. Weitan may seek restoration, but Maoqia was the court's own vassal—how could he be killed without imperial leave? The Le usurpers' crime of unauthorized war, I submit, cannot go unanswered. The Mo clan’s surviving line also had to be preserved. If, as in earlier reigns, the Le were received while the Mo were left in place—as at Qima River their rites were not extinguished—the arrangement would serve all sides. The court debated and adopted this view. The following year, before Da Ke could send investigators, Jingyong sent envoys to the military gate pleading distress and begging for troops. The next autumn Weitan too sent envoys to apologize and sue for peace. Da Ke was now governor-general of Guangdong and Guangxi; with Surveillance Commissioner Dai Yao he left affairs to Vice Commissioner Yang Yinqiu, who decided: “Reject neither Le nor Mo. Yinqiu sent officials twice; Jinggong’s party said they would live at Gaoping, and Weitan’s peace envoys kept coming. Yinqiu set terms with both sides and reported to Da Ke and Dai Yao. When Jingzhang marched on Yong’an and was crushed by Le troops, losing Haidong and Xin’an, peace terms were all but settled. Weitan, claiming restoration, refused to rank himself with Dengyong and would not come to the border in person. His envoys promised compliance, yet on the appointed day told the border guards the army was sick and gifts unready. The Mo are our enemies; we dare not accept them at Gaoping. They fled at midnight. Da Ke reported that Zheng Song’s dominance had caused the flight. Weitan sent envoys again, denying that he had fled. Officials were sent again, and Weitan submitted.
43
二十五年遣使請期,寅秋示以四月。 郕期,維潭至關外,譯者詰以六事。 首擅殺茂洽,曰:「復仇急,不遑請命。」 次維潭宗派,曰:「世孫也,祖暉,天朝曾錫命。」 次鄭松,曰:「此黎氏世臣,非亂黎氏也。」 然則何宵遁,曰:「以儀物之不戒,非遁也。」 何以用王章,曰:「權仿為之,立銷矣。」 惟割高平居莫氏,猶相持不絕。 復諭之曰:「均貢臣也,黎昔可棲漆馬江,莫獨不可棲高平乎?」 乃聽命。 授以款關儀節,俾習之。 維潭率其下入關謁禦幄,一如登庸舊儀。 退謁寅秋,請用賓主禮,不從,四拜成禮而退。 安南復定。 詔授維潭都統使,頒曆奉貢。 一如莫氏故事。 先是,黎利及登庸進代身金人,皆囚首面縛,維潭以恢復名正,獨立而肅容。 當事嫌其倨,令改制,乃為俯伏狀,鐫其背曰:「安南黎氏世孫,臣黎維潭不得蒲伏天門,恭進代身金人,悔罪乞恩。」 自是,安南復為黎氏有,而莫氏但保高平一郡。
In the twenty-fifth year he asked for a date; Yinqiu named the fourth month. Weitan arrived at the pass and was questioned on six counts. On killing Mao Qia he said revenge had brooked no delay. On his lineage he claimed to be the hereditary grandson of Hui, once invested by the court. On Zheng Song he said he was a hereditary Le minister, not a rebel. Asked about the midnight flight, he said gifts were unprepared, not flight. On royal seals he said they were temporary copies already destroyed. Only on leaving Gaoping to the Mo did he still resist. They said: “Both are vassals; if the Le once lived at Qima River, why not the Mo at Gaoping? He then consented. He was taught the rites of submission at the pass. Weitan entered the pass and performed the same rites Dengyong had used. He asked Yinqiu for equal courtesy as host and guest; refused, he bowed four times and withdrew. Annan was pacified once more. Weitan was appointed Pacification Commissioner and ordered to receive the calendar and offer tribute. The arrangement followed the old Mo precedent. Le Loi and Dengyong had presented bound substitute golden figures; Weitan, claiming restoration, stood upright. Officials deemed him arrogant and made him prostrate; his back was inscribed with a formula of repentance. Henceforth Annan was Le’s again; the Mo held only Gaoping.
44
二十七年,維潭卒,子維新嗣,鄭松專其柄。 會叛酋潘彥構亂,維新與松移保清化。 三十四年遣使入貢,命授都統使。 時莫氏宗黨多竄處海隅,往往僭稱公侯伯名號,侵軼邊境,維新亦不能制。 守臣檄問,數發兵夾剿,雖應時破滅,而邊方頗受其害。 維新卒,子維祺嗣。 天啟四年,發兵擊莫敬寬,克之,殺其長子,掠其妻妾及少子以歸。 敬寬與次子逃入山中,復回高平,勢益弱。 然迄明之世,二姓分據,終不能歸一雲。
In the twenty-seventh year Weitan died; Weixin succeeded under Zheng Song’s dominance. When Pan Yan rebelled, Weixin and Song withdrew to Qinghua. In the thirty-fourth year tribute envoys came and he was confirmed as Pacification Commissioner. Mo kinsmen along the coast often styled themselves nobles and raided the border beyond Weixin’s control. Border troops crushed them repeatedly, yet the frontier still suffered. Weixin died and Weiqi succeeded. In Tianqi year 4 troops attacked Mo Jingkuan, killed his eldest son, and seized his family. Jingkuan fled to the hills with his second son and returned to weakened Gaoping. Through the Ming the two houses remained divided and never reunified.
45
安南都會在交州,即唐都護治所。 其疆域東距海,西接老撾,南渡海即占城,北連廣西之思明、南寧,雲南之臨安、元江。 土膏腴,氣候熱,穀歲二稔。 人性獷悍。 驩、演二州多文學,交、愛二州多倜儻士,較他方為異。
Annan’s capital was Jiaozhou, site of the Tang protectorate. East to the sea, west to Laos, south across the sea to Champa, north to Guangxi and Yunnan. The land was rich, the climate hot, and grain yielded two harvests a year. The people were fierce by nature. Huan and Yan had many scholars; Jiao and Ai many spirited men—unlike elsewhere.