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be warned and clearly admonished.
Since the political changes last autumn, the court and the officials both high and low have striven with one accord to carry on a well-ordered Government and no difference of any kind has arisen, yet the rebel Hong and his associates still continue their discussions on Reform and Conservatism.
The sacred rulers of our dynasty have handed down in uninterrupted succession rules which must be obeyed and followed. Moreover, in our desire to secure a settled Government, we have regarded the strengthening of the Army and the increasing of the revenues of the Empire as matters of great urgency, and the Empress Dowager has in her instructions insisted on the immediate importance of protecting our territories and maintaining friendly relations with our neighbours.
We now specially and clearly proclaim our injunctions, and publicly declare our wishes. You, our ministers and subjects, must on no account heedlessly give ear to false reports and thereby commit yourselves to reckless measures. Should any one again attempt to form wicked plots in order to incite the people to revolt and rebellion, the law of the land will most certainly overtake him. As to Hong Yau Wal and Leung Kai Chiu, they are rebels and lawless characters who have hitherto escaped the meshes of the law and are now reviling their pursuers. That they should escape the punishment of death is opposed to all principles of justice. Having learned that these rebels, still retaining their evil intentions, travel to and fro along the coast, we now instruct all the Viceroys and Governors of the Maritime Provinces