Yǒngcóng

Yongcong lies among the hills and river valleys of the Dong country in southeastern Guizhou. Its hereditary chieftaincy formed part of the network of local offices under Liping. In 1431, after the local chief Li Ying died without an heir, the Ming court ordered the native office converted into a county governed by an appointed magistrate. The transition took several years to complete, and Yongcong continued as a county through the Qing, linking the surrounding villages to the prefectural seat at Liping.