[sd: (14 r.)] Our former deputy-governor Pih ling was about this time removed from his situation in the three _Këang_ to become governor-general of the two Kwang.[59] People said, now that Pih comes we shall not be overpowered by the pirates. Old men crowded about the gates of the public offices to make enquiries; the government officers appeared frightened and held consultations day and night, and the soldiers were ordered by a public placard to hold themselves ready to march. "Since the death of Wang pëaou," it was said, "all commanders were unfortunate. Last year _Kw[)o] lang lin_ was killed in the battle at _Ma chow_; _Tsuen mow sun_ was unlucky at _Gaou kow_, _Url lin_ ran away like a coward at _Lang pae_, and now _Ting kwei_ has [Sidenote: (14 v.)] again been routed at _Kwei këa_. If the valiant men let their spirits droop, and the soldiers themselves become frightened at these repeated defeats, the pirates will certainly overpower us at last; we can really not look for any assistance to destroy them. We must try to cut off all provisions, and starve them." In consequence of this, all vessels were ordered to remain, or to return into harbour, that the pirates might not have any opportunity to plunder, and thus be destroyed by famine. The government officers being very vigilant about this regulation, the pirates were not able to get provisions for some months; they became at last tired of it, and resolved to go into the river itself.[60] [Sidenote: 1809.] The pirates came now into the river by three different passages.[61] [sd: (15 r.)] The wife of Ching y[)i]h plundered about Sin hwy, Chang paou about Tung kwan,[62] and O po tae about Fan yu[63] and Shun tih, and all other smaller places connected with Shun tih; they were together explored by the pirates, who guarded the passage from Fan to Shun. [Sidenote: 1809.]