Speaking of ancient barbarian tribes, there were many different kinds, each with their own languages. They all lived in valleys, primarily found at the borders of five provinces: Jingzhou, Xiangzhou, Yongzhou, Yingzhou, and Sizhou. During the Song Dynasty, Mei Chongsheng of the Xiyang barbarians was granted the title of Gaoshan Marquis, Tian Zhisheng as Weishan Marquis, and Mei Jiayang as Hanshan Marquis.
After Emperor Taizu ascended the throne, officials reported that the titles of these tribes should be dealt with according to the previous rules. After discussion, the ministers believed: "The titles of the minority ethnic groups on the border have always had rules to follow; the hereditary succession of chiefs is recorded in historical books. Now that the emperor has changed, the previous enfeoffment records are automatically void, but Mei Chongsheng and the other tribal leaders remained loyal to the court and must be rewarded; their status must be elevated, contrary to the usual practices. Therefore, their titles should be retained to civilize these barbarian tribes." So the emperor issued an edict declaring, "We shall retain their titles!" As a result, Tian Zhisheng was appointed Fuguo General and Huben General, while retaining the titles of both general and marquis.
In the second year of the Jianyuan era, enemies from the north invaded Yuzhou and Sizhou. The news spread to the barbarian areas, saying that the enemies were coming soon. It was also heard that the government had conscripted all the common folk to fight. Qin Yuan, a tribal leader from Nanyang, saw that the local counties were caught off guard, so he took the opportunity to attack Tongyang. County magistrate Jiao Wendu was killed in action. The tribes from Sizhou allied with the invaders to attack Pingchang Garrison, but Garrison Commander Gou Yuanbin managed to repel them. Qin Yuan also overran the Baifang Stockade in Linju, killing over a hundred people. The northern barbarian Wen Miande attacked Wenyang, and the Prefect of Wenyang, Dai Yuansun, realizing he was outmatched, abandoned Wenyang and retreated to Jiangling. The Jingzhou Inspector, Prince Yuzhang, sent Middle Army Advisor Liu Pinxu with a thousand troops to deal with Wen Miande. Upon arriving in Dangyang, Wen Miande surrendered. Liu Pinxu took command of his tribe and stationed him in Wenyang City, tasked with ensuring the safety of merchant routes and maintaining clear roads. Realizing the tide had turned against him, Qin Yuan fled.
Wenyang lies to the west of Linju, spanning about two hundred li. The waterways are narrow, permitting only single-file passage, with several spots that are impassable even on horseback. Nonetheless, the paddy fields there are incredibly fertile. During Huan Wen's reign, Wenyang was carved out and established as a commandery. Wenyang borders Xincheng in Liangzhou to the northwest, to Nanxiangcheng to the northeast, and shares borders with Bajun and Wujun to the south. The mountain tribes in these regions are quite fierce, often taking over strategic spots as bandits.
Since the Tai Shi period of the Song Dynasty, the tribal leaders of the barbarians in Bajun and Jianping repeatedly rebelled against the Zongtou. At that time, the governor Shen Youzhi cut off their supply of salt and rice and launched multiple campaigns, but he was never successful. In the third year of Taixing in the Jin Dynasty, Xiang Hong, Xiang Ruo, and other leaders from the Jianping Yi tribe went to the court to request official positions. The official Zhang Liang believed that "barbarians should not be given military positions," so Emperor Yuan of Jin specially appointed Xiang Hong as the General of Zhechong and the Marquis of Dangpingxiang, and allowed him to come to the court and gave him court attire. This Zongtou emerged later. Later, the Taizu established Bazhou to deter those barbarian tribes.
The barbarian Tian Sipiao from Yuxi in Wuling also emerged to wreak havoc and plunder the populace. The Neishi Wang Wenhe led troops to suppress, deep into the heart of barbarian territory, but the barbarians cut off his food and supply lines from behind. Prince Yuzhang sent the Zhongbing Canjun Zhuang Ming to lead five hundred men, together with one thousand troops stationed in Xiangzhou, to rescue Wang Wenhe. Tian Sipiao fought with Wang Wenhe and was shot to death by crossbow arrows, and the barbarians surrendered.
In the first year of Yongming, Zongtou allied with the Qianyang barbarian Tian Douqu and others; over five thousand people rebelled together. The Governor of Badong, Wang Tunan, sent the Prefect Sima Liu Shengshou and others to clear paths in the mountains and assault their strongholds. Zongtou set the fort ablaze at night and escaped.
In the third year of Yongming, the barbarians Chen Shuang and Li Da from Xiangchuan emerged to raid the counties. Governor Lu Anguo attempted to suppress them, but was unsuccessful. In the fourth year of Yongming, Governor Liu Shilong led a large force to quell the rebellion.
In the fifth year of Yongming, the barbarians from Yongzhou and Sizhou colluded with northern enemies to assist the savage Huan Tiansheng in his rebellion.
In the sixth year of Yongming, the court appointed Tian Sili, the Protector of Beisuian Zuo County, as the acting Prefect, and the former Ning Shuo General Tian Luowang as the acting Prefect of Xinping Zuo County, both of whom were barbarians from Yingzhou.
In the ninth year of Yongming, Wang Sengxu, the Interior Minister of Anlong, mobilized the populace and dispatched Wan Minhe, the commander of the Kuancheng garrison, to lead eight hundred villagers from one barbarian tribe to attack another tribe of twelve hundred villagers. They were defeated, Wan Minhe was injured, and they lost their horses and weapons. The relevant authorities requested his dismissal.
In Xiyang, Mantian Yizong, originally a meritorious subordinate of Shen You, later became the commander of the garrison forces under the King of Linchuan. He subsequently defected to Northern Wei and was appointed as the governor of Dongyu Province. In the third year of Jianwu, Northern Wei sent Yizong to attack the defending army of Longcheng in Sizhou, but was defeated by the chief commander, Zhu Sengqi.
The customs of the barbarians include wearing cloth garments and going barefoot, some with topknots, and some with short hair. Their weapons are decorated with gold and silver, shields made of tiger skin, skilled with crossbows, fierce, and prone to looting.
Goryeo, a country of the Eastern Yi tribes, borders Northern Wei to the west. In the late Song Dynasty, Goryeo King Le Lang Gong Gao Lian was appointed as the Commissioner, Cavalry Attendant, Commander of the troops in Yingping and Erzhou, Grand General of Chariots and Cavalry, and Supervisor of the Imperial Guard. In the first year of Jianyuan, he was promoted to Grand General of Cavalry. In the third year of Jianyuan, Goryeo paid tribute to Northern Wei, sending envoys by sea, with ongoing diplomatic exchanges and tribute sent to Northern Wei. However, Goryeo was powerful and maintained its independence from Northern Wei.
The Northern Wei court established embassies of various countries, with the Qi embassy taking the top spot and the Goguryeo embassy coming in second. In the seventh year of Yongming, the Southern Ping military officer Yan Youming and the auxiliary official Liu Sixiao were sent to the Northern Wei. A grand banquet was held by the Northern Wei, attended by envoys from Qi and Goguryeo. Yan Youming said to the Northern Wei's official Pei Shuling, "We are here to visit your country on behalf of the Emperor of Qi. We are in opposition to the Northern Wei, and smaller barbarian states are not qualified to be compared with us, let alone Goguryeo, which is a small country submissive to our dynasty, having the audacity to sit on equal footing with us today." Liu Sixiao said to the Southern Secretary Li Sichong of the Northern Wei, "When we receive envoys from the Northern Wei, we never treat them like we would treat smaller states, and you should know that." Li Sichong replied, "Indeed, it is so; only the chief and deputy envoys cannot enter the hall. The seating arrangement is quite elaborate, clearly reflecting the hierarchy." Liu Sixiao added, "When Li Daogu visited the Northern Wei, he was treated differently due to his attire. The Northern Wei envoys must be dressed in ceremonial attire; how can they allow themselves to be disrespected?" Yan Youming then said to the Northern Wei Emperor, "Only Qi and Northern Wei can be on par; how can the small barbarians on the border dare to be compared with us?"
Goguryeo people wear loose pants and a hat made of bamboo strips called a "je." They understand the Five Classics. Once, a Goguryeo envoy in the capital was jokingly asked by the Ministry of Personnel Wang Rong, "Your clothing isn't very stylish and isn't good for your health. What are you wearing on your head?" The Goguryeo envoy replied, "This is a remnant of an ancient hat."
Gao Li lived for over a hundred years and passed away quietly.
In the first year of Longchang, Goguryeo King Gao Yun was appointed as the commissioner, cavalier attendant, commander of military affairs in Yingping and Pingzhou, Grand General of the East, King of Goguryeo, and Duke of Lelang, holding a prestigious position!
In the third year of Jianwu... (329 characters missing, specific content unknown)... In any case, they've accomplished significant military feats that will be remembered in history.
Sister Jin and her three companions truly risked their lives to eliminate a major threat to the nation, brave and decisive, standing shoulder to shoulder with renowned generals; they are truly the guardians of our nation! Their contributions to the country should be recognized and rewarded. Therefore, in line with tradition, we recommend their promotion. We hope the emperor will approve and agree to our promotion proposal.
General Ning Shuo and Princess Jin have loyally served the country, with outstanding military accomplishments. We now propose promoting her to Champion General, Grand General, and King of the Capital Han.
General Jianwei, Marquis Yugu, has loyally served the emperor from a young age, demonstrating unwavering loyalty and notable accomplishments. We now propose promoting him to General Ning Shuo and King A Cuo.
General Jianwei Yu Li has consistently proven to be loyal and dependable, talented in both civil and military affairs. We now recommend promoting him to Dragon Soaring General and King Mile.
General Guangwu Yu Gu has always been dedicated to serving the nation and has made substantial contributions to the enforcement of national policies. We now propose promoting him to General Jianwei and Marquis of Fusi.
Minister Mou Da presented: "The generals I dispatched: General Jianwei, Prefect of Guangyang and Chief Clerk Gao Da, General Jianwei, Prefect of Korea and Chief of Staff Yang Mao, and General Xuanwei and Staff Officer Hui Mai, these three individuals possess noble character, unwavering loyalty, and a strong reputation. They were previously dispatched to the Song Dynasty during the Taishi period, and this time they were sent on my mission, braving storms and obstacles to achieve the best outcomes; they deserve to be promoted and honored. According to the previous practice, I request that they be temporarily appointed to higher positions. Furthermore, the blessings from above are abundant, and the people are eagerly anticipating this, especially since they have personally come to the court yet have not received any favor. I hope Your Majesty will extend special grace and absolve them of any wrongdoing."
Gao Da has been serving on the frontier for many years, working diligently and conscientiously. He is now temporarily appointed as General Long Xiang and Prefect of Daifang Commandery. Yang Maoping has a clean and upright character, never neglecting his official duties. He is now temporarily appointed as General Jianwei and Prefect of Guangling. Hui Mai is meticulous and thorough in his duties, having made significant contributions multiple times. He is now temporarily appointed as General Guangwu and Prefect of Qinghe. The Emperor approved their appointments and granted them military titles, appointing them as Prefects.
Next, Mou Da was appointed as Imperial Commissioner, Commander-in-Chief of the Baekje troops, and Grand General of the Eastern Garrison. The Assistant Imperial Secretary Sun read out the imperial edict, officially conferring the title of King of Baekje upon Mou Da's grandfather, Mou Du. The edict stated, "Your family has been loyal and hardworking for generations, with accomplishments widely recognized. The borders are secure, and tribute has never ceased. In accordance with ancestral customs, we officially confer upon you the title of king. Remember, treasure this honor and exercise great caution!" After the edict was issued, Mou Da formally ascended to the throne as King of Baekje in the name of his grandfather Mou Du, and received the royal seals, insignia, bronze tiger tally, and bamboo tally of his coronation. "Accepting the coronation is truly wonderful!"
That year, the Wei Kingdom sent hundreds of thousands of cavalry to invade deep into its territory. Mou Da immediately dispatched several generals including Sha Faming, Zan Shouliu, Xie Likun, and Mu Ganna to lead the army, delivering a crushing defeat to the Wei army and quelling their arrogance.
In the second year of Jianwu, Mou Da submitted a memorial to the court, saying, "Since I was granted my title, my family has enjoyed the emperor's favor for generations, and I have been honored to hold important positions, working hard to defend the borders and fend off foreign invasions. Previously, my brothers and sisters were also recognized and promoted by the court, and the people lived in peace and prosperity. In the year of Gengwu, the northern tribes refused to back down, mustered their forces, and invaded, approaching the border. I dispatched Sha Faming and his troops to fight, launching a night attack on the enemy, sending them fleeing in chaos. We pursued and killed them, leaving a trail of enemy corpses. This battle completely shattered their pride. Now, the border is peaceful and stable, all thanks to their efforts! To recognize their achievements, I propose promoting them. I request to appoint Sha Faming as the General of Conquering Barbarians and give him the title of King Mile; appoint Zanshouliu as the General of Peaceful Country and give him the title of King Bizhong; appoint Jielikun as the General of Martial Might and give him the title of Marquis Fuzhong; Muganna has also made military contributions before and captured Taifang, I request to appoint him as the General of Broad Might and give him the title of Marquis Mianzhong."
He continued in his memorial, "The generals I dispatched, Longxiang, and the Prefect and Chief of Staff of Yelang, Mu Yi, Jianwu General, Prefect of Chengyang and Sima Wang Mao, as well as the Staff Officer, Zhenwu General, Prefect of Korea Zhang Sai, and the Yangwu General Chen Ming, have all worked diligently and loyally in their roles, facing danger fearlessly and putting themselves at risk. This time they were sent out, facing the storms and challenges, doing their jobs well and performing exceptionally; they should also be promoted. I ask the court to promote them and grant them new titles." The emperor approved his request and awarded them their new military titles.
The Kingdom of Kala is a descendant of the Three Han. In the first year of the Jianyuan era, the king of Kala, Hezhi, sent envoys to pay tribute. The emperor issued a decree: "I have just ascended the throne not long ago, and the remote regions have come to pay tribute, showing good customs. King Hezhi of Kala has traveled a long way, demonstrating his loyalty. He is appointed as the Vice-General of the Kingdom and remains the king of his own country."
The Wa Kingdom is located on an island in the southeast direction of Daifang. Since the end of the Han Dynasty, it has been ruled by a queen. Their customs are recorded in historical books. In the first year of the Jianyuan era, the court appointed an imperial envoy, and the military commander of the six kingdoms of Wa, Silla, Na, Kala, Qin, and Han, as the Grand General of the East, and granted the title of Wushou, the King of Wa, as the Grand General of the East.
The Kingdom of Linyi is located south of Jiaozhou, and it is over three thousand li by boat along the sea route. It shares a border with Jiude County to the north and was known as Linyi County during the Qin Dynasty. Linyi established itself as a kingdom during the late Han Dynasty. It was not until the fifth year of the Taikang period of the Jin Dynasty that it began to pay tribute to the court.
In the first year of the Yongchu era of the Song Dynasty, King Fanyang of Linyi was born. His mother dreamed that someone was placing a golden mat underneath him, glistening beautifully. In Chinese, we refer to this as purple gold, but in Linyi, it is called "Yang Mai," so he was given this name. After Yang Mai died, his son succeeded him and missed his father dearly, so he also changed his name to Yang Mai.
In Lin Yi, there is a mountain of gold, where gold flows down like water from the mountain into the bay. They practice the Nigan faith and cast a massive Buddha statue made of gold and silver with a diameter of ten zhang. In the 22nd year of Yuanjia, Tan Hezhi, the governor of Jiaozhou, led an army to attack Lin Yi. Yang Mai sought to exchange ten thousand catties of gold, one hundred thousand catties of silver, and three hundred thousand catties of bronze to reclaim Rinan County. The minister, Doseng Da, advised against this, but Yang Mai did not listen. Tan Hezhi defeated the Qiong Rong region in northern Lin Yi, seized countless treasures of gold and silver, destroyed the large gold statue, acquired tens of thousands of catties of gold, with other spoils piled high like mountains. Tan Hezhi later fell ill and died, reportedly due to offending the Hushen.
In the second year of Xiaojian, the court appointed Fan Longba, the chief historian of Lin Yi, as General of Yangwu.
Yang Mai's descendants have always ascended to the throne, but they previously held no formal titles. Later, a Lin Yi native named Fan Dangenchun led a rebellion and took the throne. In the ninth year of Yongming, Fan Dangenchun sent people to offer tribute including gold mats. The emperor issued an edict stating, "Although Lin Yi is located in a remote area, it has always been submissive to the court. Dangenchun sincerely presented tribute this time and brought his officials to come together, demonstrating commendable conduct, deserving of praise. He should be granted a title to reflect the court's favor. He is hereby appointed as General-in-Chief, Commander of the Coastal Forces, General of Annan, and King of Lin Yi." Later, Fan Zhunong, a descendant of Fan Yangmai, rallied the people to revolt, defeated Fan Dangenchun, and recovered Lin Yi. In the tenth year of Yongming, the court appointed Fan Zhunong as General-in-Chief, Commander of the Coastal Forces, General of Annan, and King of Lin Yi. In the second year of Jianwu, he was promoted to General of Zhen Nan. In the first year of Yongtai, Fan Zhunong went to the court, but drowned in a storm at sea. The court then allowed his son, Fan Wenkuan, to succeed him, appointing him as Acting General, Commander of the Coastal Forces, General of Annan, and King of Lin Yi.
During the Jianxing period of the Jin Dynasty, a Yi tribe leader named Fan Zhinu from Rinan often interacted with merchants and learned about the advanced systems of the Central Plains region. He encouraged the king of Linyi, Fan Yi, to construct cities and palaces. This king of Linyi wore a hat resembling a Buddhist crown and dressed himself in fragrant jewelry. The people of Linyi were known for their fierce character, accustomed to mountain living, skilled fighters, and used conch shells as battle horns. Most of them went naked, since the climate was warm year-round, and they had never experienced frost or snow. Women held a high status, while men had a lower status, and their leaders were called Brahmins. They practiced cousin marriages, with women sending go-betweens to propose marriage. When a woman got married, she wore a long, wide dress made from blue fabric, stitched together like a well railing, with flowers and jewels adorning her head. The Brahmin would hold the hands of the bride and groom, have them shake hands and recite spells to wish them a happy marriage. When someone died, they would cut their hair as a sign of mourning, then cremate the body and bury the ashes in the wilderness. Legend has it that a bird called Lingjiu, found in distant lands, would fly to the home of the deceased, consume all the flesh, and then depart. The deceased's bones would be cremated into ashes and scattered into the sea for burial. They considered dark skin to be beautiful, a common belief in many southern countries. In Quliceng, they set up an eight-foot pole to measure the sun's shadow at noon, discovering that it was eight inches southward.
Traveling southwest from Linyi for over three thousand li, you will arrive at Funan. Funan is located south of Rinan, in the bay of the Western Barbarians, covering an area of over three thousand li. There is a great river flowing into the sea from the west. Legend has it that in the earliest days of Funan, a woman named Liuye served as queen. Later, a man from Jiguo named Huntian dreamed that a god gave him a bow and instructed him to sail out to sea. The next morning, Huntian discovered the bow beneath a tree in the temple and sailed to Funan. When Liuye saw the approaching ship, she led her soldiers to intercept it. Huntian raised the bow and shot an arrow from a distance, piercing the ship and striking a person on board. Terrified, Liuye surrendered. Huntian married Liuye but found her nudity unappealing, so he draped her in cloth to cover her. Huntian then ruled the kingdom, and his descendants carried on his legacy. Later, after King Pankuang's death, the ministers crowned his great general Fanshiman as king. When Fanshiman fell ill, his nephew Zhan seized the throne and murdered Fanshiman's son Jinsheng. More than a decade later, Fanshiman's other son, Chang, killed Zhan. He cut open Zhan's belly with a knife, declaring, "You killed my brother; today, I will avenge my father and brother!" Consequently, Zhan's general Fanxun killed Chang. The ministers crowned Fanxun as king during the era of the Wu Kingdom and the Jin Dynasty. Funan continued to pay tribute to the imperial court during the Jin and Song dynasties. As the Song Dynasty neared its collapse, a Funan king named Qiaochen Rushayebamo sent envoys to Guangzhou for trade. An Indian monk named Nagasena boarded the Funan king's ship to return to his homeland but encountered a storm that blew him to Linyi, where he was robbed of everything. After learning he could reach Funan, Nagasena spoke in detail about the wise emperor of China.
In the second year of Yongming, the monk Nāgārjuna wrote a letter to the Chinese emperor, saying, "May the heavens bless us with favorable weather and peace in the land. Wishing Your Majesty good health, safety for the Crown Prince, and well-being for the concubines in the palace. May civil and military officials live in harmony, may the people live and work in peace, may there be abundant harvests, no disasters, and peace for the nation. Our country also enjoys favorable weather and the people are happy, all because of Your Majesty's grace."
He also said, "I previously sent people to Guangzhou for business, and the monk Nāgārjuna boarded our ship to return to Funan, but we encountered a storm at sea and ended up in Linyi. The king of Linyi seized our goods and Nāgārjuna's personal belongings. Nāgārjuna came from China and saw the prosperity of China, the flourishing of Buddhism, the abundance of monks, and the thriving of Buddhist practices, the king's majesty and the nation's well-ordered affairs, Your Majesty's compassion for the people, which has won their hearts. If Your Majesty could wield such influence as he described, it would be tremendous! Hearing this made me very happy, and I hope to have the opportunity to meet Your Majesty, receive Your Majesty's grace, and bless our country. So I sent Nāgārjuna to meet Your Majesty, offer some small gifts, express our loyalty, and explain the situation. The gifts are humble; I hope Your Majesty will forgive us."
He also said, "I have a slave named Jiuchouluo. He escaped, ran to another place, conspired with rebels, attacked Lin Yi, and proclaimed himself king; he is disloyal and unjust, having committed a grave crime. Lin Yi was defeated by Tan and Guo before and then surrendered to China, but now this rebellious slave Jiuchouluo is very arrogant. Lin Yi and Funan are neighboring countries. Being far from the court, he is completely disobedient. Lin Yi is your vassal state, so I am reporting this specifically. I heard that Lin Yi has not paid tribute for several years and wants to cut off relations with the court. Can a lion tolerate a mouse being so arrogant in its presence? I hope the emperor will dispatch troops to deal with this traitor, and I will do my best to assist, ensuring the submission of all neighboring states. If the emperor wants to appoint another person as the king of Lin Yi, please issue a decree. If you don't want to send troops, I hope the emperor will send a small number of troops to assist me, pursue, and eliminate the traitor. After pacification, I will offer five patalas of gold as tribute. Now I am sending envoys to show my loyalty; the writing is not complete, and I ask for Your Majesty's understanding. Nagasena and his companions also submitted a petition, begging for the emperor's mercy." Finally, he presented a gold-carved statue of a dragon king, a sandalwood statue, two ivory pagodas, two pairs of ancient shells, two pieces of glassware from Su Shuo, and a piece of betel nut carved from agate.
Once upon a time, an immortal from the Naga country came to the capital city, claiming that their country worships the deity Moheshvara, who frequently descends upon Mount Modan. The place is warm all year round, and the trees remain evergreen. The immortal submitted a memorial, which read: "May auspicious blessings protect the world and deliver all beings. This is because the heavens acknowledge good deeds. The holy mountain is called Modan, where auspicious trees flourish abundantly. Moheshvara descends as a divine being. The land is graced with blessings, and the people live in peace and prosperity. It is because of these blessings that I have come to pay my respects. The Bodhisattva embodies compassion, starting practice from the mortal world. With a Bodhi mind, transcending the two vehicles, accumulating merits over lifetimes, cultivating the six paramitas. Diligently striving to transcend the cycle of rebirth, offering wealth and life selflessly. Without fear of life and death, liberating all beings across the six realms. Mastering the ten stages of spiritual practice, ultimately guiding humans and gods. Perfecting merits, attaining enlightenment. Complete with all kinds of wisdom, blessings shining on the world. Beings are met with karmic conditions, receiving teachings and remedies accordingly. The Buddha's teachings spread throughout the ten directions, saving all without exception. Your Majesty, spreading the great way with wisdom, flourishing the Three Jewels. Your boundless compassion extends to all, your influence resonates throughout the realm. The cities and towns of your realm are virtuous and just. Like the King of the Heavens, the most respected among the heavens. Your Majesty leads all the people, and the hearts of the world turn towards you. Your wise and boundless love extends even to my small country."
After reading the memorial, the emperor ordered a reply, saying, "The divine blessings have descended upon the Kingdom of Nagara. Although our customs and traditions differ, I am deeply gratified. I am aware that Jiuchouluo has betrayed the Kingdom of Nagara, occupied Linyi, and gathered forces to pillage, and indeed they should be punished. Although they are in a remote location and have previously paid tribute, since the end of the Song Dynasty, there have been frequent wars, interruptions in maritime traffic, and the imperial court's influence has not penetrated deeply. I intend to use civil governance to win over the distant people and do not wish to resort to military action at this time. Since the king of Nagara sincerely came to court and requested our troops to march, I have ordered the Ministry of War to extend a proper welcome. Punishing rebels and pacifying the loyal is the law of the land, and I hope you will accomplish great deeds and live up to my expectations. The Nagara Immortal has frequently traveled between our two nations and is more familiar with our situation; therefore, let him provide a detailed report to me." The emperor also bestowed upon the Nagara Immortal five pieces each of crimson, yellow, and green silk brocade.
The Funanese people are quite clever and cunning. They use tactics to capture neighboring residents who do not submit to their rule and then exchange them for gold and silver silk. Wealthy men wear satin garments, while women wear headscarves. Poor people wear simple cloth garments, adorn themselves with gold and silver jewelry, and use gold and silver utensils. They cut down trees to build houses, with the king residing in a tall pavilion surrounded by a wooden fence. Along the coast, there are large bamboo leaves, eight or nine feet long, which they use to build houses. Commoners also reside in similar pavilions. Their boats measure eight or nine zhang in length and five to seven feet in width, with bows and sterns resembling fish. The king travels on elephants, and women can also ride them. Cockfighting and hunting are their pastimes. They have no prisons, so if someone is sued, they throw a gold ring or an egg-sized gold ring into boiling water and have the parties fish it out. Another method involves having the accused walk seven steps while holding a hot iron chain - the guilty will suffer burns, while the innocent remain unharmed. They are required to swim - the righteous will float, while the unrighteous will sink. They produce sugarcane, pomegranates, oranges, and betel nuts, with various birds and animals resembling those in China. The Funanese are kind-hearted yet not skilled in warfare, often oppressed by the Kingdom of Lin Yi and unable to maintain relations with Jiaozhou, resulting in them rarely sending envoys.
Jiaozhou is situated at a strategic maritime crossroads, controlling many foreign countries. Therefore, they often do not obey the jurisdiction of the court. During the Taishi period of the Song Dynasty, after the death of Jiaozhou Governor Zhang Mu, the Jiaozhi people killed Zhang Mu's troops and rebelled against Jiaozhou. Several years later, Li Changren died of illness. His brother Li Shuxian inherited his position, but before he could issue orders, he asked the court to appoint a governor. The Song Dynasty appointed Shen Huan, the governor of Nanhai, as the governor of Jiaozhou, and appointed Li Shuxian as the Sima of Huanningyuan and the governors of Wuping and Xinchang. Once Li Shuxian received his appointment from the court, the people complied with him, so he led the army to defend the strategic location and did not allow Shen Huan to enter. Shen Huan lingered in Yulin until he eventually succumbed to illness. In the first year of the Jianyuan reign of the Song Dynasty, the court appointed Li Shuxian as the governor of Jiaozhou and pacified him. Li Shuxian accepted the appointment, but later cut off contact with foreign countries, and the tribute he sent began to dwindle. Emperor Song wanted to attack him. In the third year of Yongming, the court appointed Liu Kai, the Minister of Agriculture, as the governor of Jiaozhou, and mobilized the armies of Nankang, Luling, and Shixing counties to attack Jiaozhou. When Li Shuxian heard about this, he asked the court for a few more years and offered twelve sets of pure silver helmets and peacock feather ornaments, but Emperor Song refused his request. Fearing defeat by Liu Kai, Li Shuxian secretly returned to the court from Xiangchuan.
Six years later, Fang Fachen took over from Kai as the Prefect of Shixing. After taking office, Fachen fell ill and neglected his duties entirely, choosing instead to read books. The Chief Clerk, Fu Dengzhi, took advantage of this opportunity to consolidate his power, making unauthorized changes to military commanders and officials without Fachen's knowledge. The Military Records Officer, Fang Jiwen, informed Fachen of this, which angered him and led to Dengzhi being imprisoned. After being detained for more than ten days, Dengzhi bribed Cui Jingshu, Fachen's brother-in-law, to win his release. Subsequently, Dengzhi and his men attacked the Prefectural Government, captured Fachen, and falsely claimed, "You are unwell and should not be burdened with work," and then locked Fachen away in a secluded room.
Once Fachen recovered, he asked Dengzhi for books, but Dengzhi refused, arguing that reading could worsen his condition. Dengzhi then claimed that Fachen had a heart ailment and poor health, rendering him unfit for administrative duties. Despite this, the court appointed Dengzhi as the Jiaozhou Inspector. Upon returning to Lingnan, Fachen passed away. Fachen, a native of Qinghe, served as the Cavalry Commander-in-Chief under the Taizu Emperor during the Shengming era, eventually rising to the position of General of the Left Central Guard. Known for his integrity and simplicity, Fachen stood at an impressive height of eight feet three inches, always maintaining a humble and modest demeanor. The Inspector of Qingzhou, Ming Qingfu, was similarly outstanding, making them the only two men of their caliber in the court.
Historical records mention the incursions of barbarian tribes into the Central Plains as a general summary. However, regarding the diverse and exotic tribes in the south, each establishing their own nations on islands and possessing a wealth of rare treasures, there is no place quite like it. The mountains and seas are filled with an abundance of treasures, with merchant ships arriving from distant lands to trade goods in the southern provinces. As a result, Jiaozhou and Guangzhou have become incredibly prosperous, with the imperial treasuries overflowing with wealth. While some matters may not have been handled well, the court's teachings still managed to reach this region. Should we really rely on moral virtue to sway the distant barbarian tribes?
It is said: The boundary between Sizhou and Yongzhou extends to Hengyang in Jingzhou. The administrative divisions are intricate, with various tribes scattered throughout. The Yi tribes in the east are located overseas, near Jieshi Mountain and in the land of Fusang. The southern frontier stretches far into the vast ocean. They either actively pay tribute or come to submit and become vassals.
