《明史·列传·卷一百四十八》
嗣昌认为湖北土地广阔，难以制服贼兵，驱使他们进入四川，因四川地势险峻交通不便，贼兵无法施展，官军压境就能大获全胜；又考虑四川有重兵把守险要，贼兵将返回湖北搞破坏，就调出四川的精锐兵力一万多人听自己使用。四川的军队这下软弱无力，不能抵挡贼兵了。
嗣昌以楚地广衍，贼难制，驱使入蜀，蜀险阻，贼不得逞，蹙之可全胜，又虑蜀重兵扼险，贼将还毒楚，调蜀精锐万余为己用，蜀中卒自是益疲弱不足支矣。
Sichang believed that Hubei's land was vast, making it difficult to suppress the bandits, and he drove them into Sichuan. Because of Sichuan's rugged terrain and poor transportation, the bandits were unable to take action, and the imperial army would be able to achieve great victories if they closed in. He also considered that Sichuan had a large number of troops guarding the dangerous terrain, and the bandits would return to Hubei and wreak havoc. So he transferred more than 10,000 of Sichuan's elite troops to be used by himself. Sichuan's army was now weak and unable to resist the bandits.