Page "Empress Dowager Ci'an" Paragraph 25

" Ding Baozhen now reports that the eunuch was arrested in the T ' ai An prefecture and has been summarily beheaded.

Our dynasty's house law is most strict in regard to the proper discipline of eunuchs, and provides severe punishment for any offences to which they may commit.

They have always been sternly forbidden to make expeditions to the provinces, or to create trouble.

Nevertheless, An Dehai actually had brazen effiontery to violate this law, and for his crimes his execution is only a fitting reward.

In future, let all eunuchs take warning by his example ; should we have further cause of complaint, the chief eunuchs of the several departments of the household will be punished as well as the actual offender.

Any eunuch who may hereafter pretend that he has been sent on imperial business to the provinces shall be cast into chains at once, and sent to Beijing for punishment ".