146
Notice of Japan in the Hải-hoon Tà Chí.
MARCH,
persuaded the Japanese pirates to join them that they might employ them as their men of valor. The Emperor went so far as to tempt him with an offer of the hereditary rank of earl, and a thousand pieces of money; but without effect. The government forces at this period were in fair order, and the Japanese, although fierce antagonists, were destroyed in large numbers; so that of the population of a whole is- land not a man would return; and as this was a constant occurrence, the people murmured against Wáng Chih, who himself began to be uneasy thereat. Tsung Hien, who was from the same district, and had housed his mother and family at Hángchau, now sent Tsiáng Chau to him with a letter from his relations, and Wang Chih being thus assured that his family had suffered no harm, was somewhat moved. Yuen 1-chin and the rest were likewise gratified at the permission given them to trade with China, and they sent their kinsfolk Shen Yau and others. forty in number, in a large vessel which they had built, and with them Wáng Chih and his party who came to offer tri- bute and to trade.
In the 10th moon of the 36th year (1556), these all arrived at Shán- káng, in Chusan, where the authorities supposing them to have come on a piratical expedition, turned out the garrison. Wáng Chih how ever dispatched Wáng Ngáu to present himself to Tsung Hien, who immediately dismissed him, and as Wáng Chih had expressed a wish that an officer of rank should be sent to his friends as a hostage, Hiá Ching, a chí-hwui,* was ordered to go to him as a pledge of good faith, which done, Wáng Chih, Tsing Mwán, and Tsingkí presented them- selves to the great satisfaction of Tsung Hien, who received them with the utmost politeness, and desired them to go and pay their respects to Wang Pun-kú, the Commissioner of Inquiry. He treated them as if they were subordinate officers, at which when informed of it, Wáng Ngáu and the rest were so enraged that they cut Hiá Ching to pieces, burned their ship, landed on the island, seized Shán-káng, and reso- lutely defended it for more than a year. New-comers from Japan ar- rived in large numbers, and made frequent descents upon the three districts in the east of Chehkiáng. Those at Shán-káng removed to Ho-mei, built fresh vessels, and made voyages.. Tsung Hien did not go in pursuit of them.
In the 11th moon, the pirates directed their course southward, and anchored at Wüyü in the department of Tsiuen-chau; they ravaged
A military officer of the rank of colonel or brigadier, under the Ming. The present dynasty has no such title in its army list.
+ Siun-ngan, a censor sent to make a circuit of inquiry into particular abuses.