Directory_and_Chronicle_1850 — Page 167

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Notice of Japan in the Hai-kwoh Tú Chi

MARCH.

ed: "Wang Chih and the rest are registered subjects of China. When they talked of exerting themselves thus in evidence of their submis- sion, they should have forthwith disbanded their troops: but without saying aught upon this subject, they have simply requested leave to bring tribute, and open a trade, in covert imitation of dependent states. Their craftiness is beyond the reach of speculation, and it is therefore the duty of the Board to direct the governor-general (whose memorial they were considering), to make the power of the state to be feared, to push forward its defenses with energy, and to write to Wáng Chih and the rest, and desire them to prove that they are in earnest by extir- pating the pirates, and destroying their haunts in Chusan. Should perfect tranquillity be restored to the maritime districts, favor and re- compense will of course follow thereon."

At this time Chehkiáng, on both sides of the river, was harassed by the Japanese. In the district of Tsz'-kí, they burned and massacred with great ferocity, and also in that of Yuyau, though to a less ex- tent. In the west of the province, Cheh-lin, Chápu, Wú-chin, and Tsau-lin, were all haunts of these marauders, of whom, from first to last, upwards of twenty thousand had come. In the 7th moon, Tsung Hien, who had received the Imperial commands to devise some feasi- ble policy without delay, reported that the pirate chief Máu Hái-fung, after Chin Koyuen's return, had defeated the Japanese once in Chu- san, and again at Lih-piáu; and had sent some of his band to call upon the several islands in the Emperor's name to unite their troops (or subjects) in the common cause, and to exert themselves in token of their allegiance; for all which service he requested that be might be handsomely rewarded. The Board desired Tsung Hien to do what might seem to him good.

At this time Sü Hái, Chin Tung, and Máyeh were beseiging Tung hiáng with their combined forces. Tsung Hien found means to set them against one another, and Sü Hai consequently seized Chin Tung and Máyeh to testify his own submission, and cut off all their fol- lowers at Chápú. Not long after this, the army came upon Sü Hái himself at Liáng-chwáng: he was beheaded, and his band utterly annihilated.

The south of Kiángnán and the west of Ch.shkiáng were now tolerably free from pirates; but in the north of the former province, after overrunning Tán-yáng, and pillaging Kwa-chau, where they burned the grain-junks, the Japanese renewed their inroads in the spring of the following year (1556). They invaded fü-káu and Hái. mun, assaulted the town of Tung-chau, and after plundering Yang-