1
十二年春正月庚寅，思州苗平。 辛丑，發山東、山西、河南及鳳陽、淮安、徐、邳民十五萬，運糧赴宣府。 二月己酉，大閱。 庚戌，親征瓦剌，安遠侯柳升領大營，武安侯鄭亨領中軍，寧陽侯陳懋、豐城侯李彬領左、右哨，成山侯王通、都督譚青領左、右掖，都督劉江、硃榮為前鋒。 庚申，振鳳翔、隴州饑，按長吏不言者罪。 三月癸未，張輔俘陳季擴於老撾以獻，交阯平。 庚寅，發北京，皇太孫從。
In the twelfth year of Yongle, in the first month of spring, on gengyin, the Miao of Si Prefecture were brought to submission. On xinchou one hundred fifty thousand laborers from Shandong, Shanxi, Henan, Fengyang, Huai'an, Xuzhou, and Pizhou were levied to haul grain to Xuanfu. In the second month, on jiyou, the emperor held a grand military review. On gengxu he took the field in person against the Oirats; Liu Sheng, Marquis of Anyuan, commanded the main camp, Zheng Heng, Marquis of Wu'an, the center, Chen Mao of Ningyang and Li Bin of Fengcheng the left and right scouts, Wang Tong of Chengshan and Tan Qing the left and right wings, and Liu Jiang and Zhu Rong the vanguard. On gengshen famine relief was sent to Fengxiang and Longzhou, and supervising officials who had concealed the distress were punished. In the third month, on guiwei, Zhang Fu seized Chen Jikuai in Laos and brought him in captive; Annam was pacified. On gengyin the emperor departed Beijing, and the heir apparent's son went with him.
2
夏四月甲辰朔，次興和，太閱。 己酉，頒軍中賞罰號令。 庚戌，設傳令紀功官。 丁卯，次屯雲谷，孛羅不花等來降。 五月丁丑，命尚書、光祿卿、給事中為督陣官，察將士用命不用命者。 六月甲辰，劉江遇瓦剌兵，戰於康哈裏孩，敗之。 戊申，次忽蘭忽失溫，馬哈木帥眾來犯，大敗之，追至土剌河，馬哈木宵遁。 庚戌，班師，宣捷於阿魯臺。 戊午，次三峰山，阿魯臺遣使來朝。 己巳，以敗瓦剌詔天下。
In the fourth month of summer, on the new moon of jiachen, he encamped at Xinghe and reviewed the host in full. On jiyou he issued the army's regulations for rewards and punishments. On gengxu he appointed officials to relay commands and register achievements in the field. On dingmao he encamped at Tunyungu, and Bolbuqa and his fellows submitted. In the fifth month, on dingchou, ministers, the Director of Imperial Banquets, and supervising secretaries were made battle supervisors to watch whether troops obeyed or disobeyed. In the sixth month, on jiachen, Liu Jiang met Oirat forces at Kangharihai and routed them. On wushen he encamped at Hulunbuir; Mahamu attacked in force and was shattered; the pursuit ran to the Tula River before Mahamu escaped under cover of night. On gengxu the columns turned homeward and the triumph was proclaimed to Arugtai. On wuwu he encamped at Sanfeng Mountain, and Arugtai dispatched envoys to pay homage. On jisi an imperial proclamation spread word of the victory over the Oirats to the empire.
3
秋七月戊子，次紅橋。 詔六師入關有踐田禾取民畜產者，以軍法論。 己亥，次沙河，皇太子遣使來迎。 八月辛丑朔，至北京，禦奉天殿受朝賀。 丙午，蠲北京州縣租二年。 戊午，賞從征將士。 九月癸未，郭亮、徐亨備開平。 丙戌，靖州苗平。 甲午，費瓛鎮甘肅，劉江鎮遼東。 閏月甲辰，以太子遣使迎駕緩，徵侍讀黃淮，侍講楊士奇，正字金問及洗馬楊溥、芮善下獄，未幾釋士奇復職。 甲子，召吳高還。 丁卯，都督硃榮鎮大同。
In the seventh month of autumn, on wuzi, he encamped at Hong Bridge. He decreed that soldiers of the six armies passing the frontier who trampled crops or took private livestock would answer under martial law. On jihai he encamped at Shahe while the crown prince sent envoys to meet him. In the eighth month, on the new moon of xinchou, he reached Beijing, took the throne at Fengtian Hall, and received the court's homage. On bingwu land tax in Beijing's prefectures and counties was remitted for two years. On wuwu the emperor rewarded the troops who had marched on the expedition. In the ninth month, on guiwei, Guo Liang and Xu Heng were posted to guard Kaiping. On bingxu the Miao of Jingzhou were brought to submission. On jiawu Fei Ying was stationed in Gansu and Liu Jiang in Liaodong. In the intercalary month, on jiachen, because the crown prince's welcome had been dilatory, Huang Huai, Yang Shiqi, Jin Wen, Yang Pu, and Rui Shan were cast into prison; Shiqi was soon freed and returned to his post. On jiazi Wu Gao was summoned back to court. On dingmao Zhu Rong was posted to garrison Datong.
4
冬十一月甲辰，錄因。 庚戌，廢晉王濟熺為庶人。 庚申，蠲蘇、松、杭、嘉、湖水災田租四十七萬九千余石。
In the eleventh month of winter, on jiachen, the emperor reviewed criminal cases. On gengxu Prince Jin, Ji Xi, was reduced to commoner rank. On gengshen more than four hundred seventy-nine thousand piculs of grain rent were forgiven on fields flooded in Suzhou, Songjiang, Hangzhou, Jiaxing, and the lake districts.
5
是年，泥八剌國沙的新葛來朝，封為王。 彭亨、烏斯茂入貢。 真臘進金縷衣。 琉球中山王貢馬。 榜葛剌貢麒麟。
In that year Shakti Simha of Nepal came to court and was invested as king. Envoys came with tribute from Pahang and Wusimao. Cambodia sent robes woven with gold thread. The king of Zhongshan in the Ryukyus presented horses. Bengal sent a qilin as tribute.
6
十三年春正月丙午，塞居庸以北隘口。 丁未，馬哈木謝罪請朝貢，許之。 壬子，北京午門災。 戊午，敕內外諸司蠲諸宿逋，將士軍官犯罪者悉宥之。 二月癸酉，遣指揮劉斌、給事中張磐等十二人巡視山西、山東、大同、陜西、甘肅、遼東軍操練、屯政，核實以聞。 甲戌，命行在禮部會試天下貢士。 癸未，張輔等師還。 戊子，論平交阯功，賞賚有差。 三月己亥，策士於北京，賜陳循等進士及第、出身有差。 丙午，廣西蠻叛，指揮同知葛森討平之。
In the thirteenth year of Yongle, in the first month of spring, on bingwu, the mountain passes north of Juyong were sealed. On dingwei Mahamu begged pardon and sought leave to present tribute at court, and the request was granted. On renzi fire destroyed the Meridian Gate at Beijing. On wuwu an edict forgave accumulated tax arrears throughout the bureaucracy and granted amnesty to soldiers and officers guilty of offenses. In the second month, on guiyou, Liu Bin, Zhang Pan, and ten others were dispatched to tour Shanxi, Shandong, Datong, Shaanxi, Gansu, and Liaodong, verifying troop training and garrison agriculture. On jiaxu the traveling secretariat of Rites examined tribute students from throughout the empire. On guiwei Zhang Fu's army came back to court. On wuzi rewards for the pacification of Annam were apportioned according to merit. In the third month, on jihai, the palace examination was held at Beijing; Chen Xun and the new jinshi were graduated as Presented Scholars and Regular Graduates in their several ranks. On bingwu Guangxi tribes rose; Commandant Ge Sen crushed the revolt and restored order.
7
夏四月戊辰，張輔鎮交阯。 五月丁酉朔，日有食之。 乙丑，鑿清江浦，通北京漕運。 六月，振北京、河南、山東水災。
In the fourth month of summer, on wuchen, Zhang Fu was posted to garrison Annam. In the fifth month, on the new moon of dingyou, the sun was eclipsed. On yichou the Qingjiangpu channel was opened to carry tribute grain to Beijing. In the sixth month relief was extended to flood victims in Beijing, Henan, and Shandong.
8
秋七月癸卯，鄭和還。 乙巳，四川戎縣山都掌蠻平。 八月庚辰，振山東、河南、北京順天州縣饑。 九月壬戌，北京地震。
In the seventh month of autumn, on maoyin, Zheng He came back from the sea. On bis the Shanduzhang tribes of Rong County in Sichuan were subdued. In the eighth month, on gengchen, famine relief was sent to Shandong, Henan, and the Shuntian districts around Beijing. In the ninth month, on renxu, an earthquake struck Beijing.
9
冬十月甲申，獵於近郊。 壬辰，法司奏侵冒官糧者，帝怒，命戮之。 及覆奏，帝曰：「朕過矣，仍論如律，自今死罪者皆五覆奏，著為令。」 十二月，蠲順天、蘇州、鳳陽、浙江、湖廣、河南、山東州縣水旱田租。
In the tenth month of winter, on jiashen, the emperor hunted near the capital. On renchen the judiciary reported officials who had stolen state grain; enraged, the emperor commanded their execution. On reconsideration the emperor said, "I was wrong—sentence them as the code provides. Hereafter every capital case must pass five reviews before execution," and he made the rule permanent. In the twelfth month land tax was forgiven on fields stricken by flood or drought in Shuntian, Suzhou, Fengyang, Zhejiang, Huguang, Henan, and Shandong.
10
是年，琉球山南、山北，爪哇西王，占城，古裏，柯枝，南渤利，甘巴裏，滿剌加，忽魯謨斯，哈密，哈烈，撒馬兒罕，火州，土魯番，蘇門答剌，俺都淮，失剌思入貢。 麻林及諸番進麒麟、天馬、神鹿。 琉球中山入貢者再。
In that year tribute came from Ryukyu's southern and northern courts, Java's western king, Champa, Calicut, Cochin, South Pacifier, Gambali, Malacca, Hormuz, Hami, Herat, Samarkand, Huozhou, Turfan, Samudera, Andkhui, and Shiraz. Malindi and other overseas realms sent qilin, heavenly horses, and spirit deer. Zhongshan in the Ryukyus presented tribute on two occasions.
11
十四年春正月己酉，北京、河南、山東饑，免永樂十二年逋租，發粟一百三十七萬石有奇振之。 辛酉，都督金玉討山西廣靈山寇，平之。 三月癸巳，都督梁福鎮胡廣、貴州。 壬寅，阿魯臺敗瓦剌，來獻捷。
In the fourteenth year of Yongle, in the first month of spring, on jiyou, famine gripped Beijing, Henan, and Shandong; delinquent rents from the twelfth year of Yongle were canceled and more than one million three hundred seventy thousand piculs of grain were distributed in relief. On xinyou Jin Yu led troops against brigands on Guangling Mountain in Shanxi and subdued them. In the third month, on guisi, Liang Fu was posted to garrison Huguang and Guizhou. On renyin Arugtai routed the Oirats and sent envoys bearing news of the triumph.
12
夏四月壬申，禮部尚書呂震請封禪。 帝曰：「今天下雖無事，四方多水旱疾疫，安敢自謂太平。 且《六經》無封禪之文，事不師古，甚無謂也。」 不聽。 乙亥，胡廣為文淵閣大學士。 六月丁卯，都督同知蔡福等備倭山東。
In the fourth month of summer, on renshen, Lü Zhen, Minister of Rites, memorialized for the feng and shan rites on Mount Tai. The emperor replied, "Even if arms are still, flood, drought, and plague afflict the provinces—I dare not proclaim an age of peace. Besides, the Six Classics know nothing of feng and shan; to break with precedent for empty ceremony would be folly. The request was refused. On yihai Hu Guang was appointed Grand Academician of the Wenyuan Pavilion. In the sixth month, on dingmao, Cai Fu and fellow officers were stationed to guard Shandong against wokou.
13
秋七月丁酉，遣使捕北京、河南、山東州縣蝗。 壬寅，河決開封。 乙巳，錦衣衛指揮使紀綱有罪伏誅。 八月癸酉旦，壽星見，禮臣請上表賀，不許。 丁亥，作北京西宮。 九月癸卯，京師地震。 戊申，發北京。
In the seventh month of autumn, on dingyou, envoys were dispatched to hunt locusts through the prefectures and counties of Beijing, Henan, and Shandong. On renyin the Yellow River broke through at Kaifeng. On bis Ji Gang, commander of the Embroidered-Uniform Guard, was put to death for his offenses. In the eighth month, at dawn on guiyou, a longevity star was seen; the Ministry of Rites asked to memorialize felicitations, but the emperor refused. On dinghai work began on Beijing's western palace. In the ninth month, on maoyin, an earthquake struck the capital. On wushen the emperor departed Beijing.
14
冬下月丁丑，次鳳陽，祀皇陵。 癸未，至自北京，謁孝陵。 十一月壬寅，詔文武群臣集議營建北京。 丙午，召張輔還。 戊申，漢王高煦有罪，削二護衛。 徙山東、山西、湖廣流民於保安州，賜復三年。 十二月丁卯，鄭和復使西洋。
In the lower month of winter, on dingchou, he encamped at Fengyang and offered sacrifice at the imperial mausolea. On guiwei, back from Beijing, he performed rites at the tomb of the founding emperor. In the eleventh month, on renyin, civil and military ministers were summoned to conference on constructing Beijing. On bingwu Zhang Fu was recalled to court. On wushen Zhu Gaoxu, Prince of Han, was punished by the removal of two guard units. Displaced subjects from Shandong, Shanxi, and Huguang were resettled in Bao'an Prefecture and granted three years without corvée or tax. In the twelfth month, on dingmao, Zheng He put to sea again on a voyage to the Western Ocean.
15
是年，占城、古裏、爪哇、滿剌加、蘇門答剌、南巫裏、浡泥、彭亨、錫蘭山、溜山、南渤利、阿丹、麻林、忽魯謨斯、柯枝入貢。 琉球中山入貢者再。
In that year tribute arrived from Champa, Calicut, Java, Malacca, Samudera, South Lamuri, Brunei, Pahang, Ceylon, Malindi, South Pacifier, Aden, Malin, Hormuz, and Cochin. Zhongshan in the Ryukyus sent tribute on two occasions.
16
十五年春正月丁酉，大祀天地於南郊。 壬子，平江伯陳瑄督漕，運木赴北京。 二月癸亥，谷王橞有罪，廢為庶人。 丁卯，豐城侯李彬鎮交阯。 壬申，泰寧侯陳珪董建北京，柳升、王通副之。 三月丁亥，交阯始貢士至京師。 丙申，雜犯死罪以下囚，輸作北京贖罪。 丙午，漢王高煦有罪，徙封樂安州。 壬子，北巡，發京師，皇太子監國。
In the fifteenth year of Yongle, in the first month of spring, on dingyou, the emperor offered the great suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. On renzi Chen Xuan, Earl of Pingjiang, took charge of the Grand Canal and sent timber north to Beijing. In the second month, on guihai, Zhu Gaochou, Prince of Gu, was stripped of rank and reduced to a commoner. On dingmao Li Bin, Marquis of Fengcheng, was posted to garrison Annam. On renshen Chen Gui, Marquis of Taining, was put in charge of building Beijing, with Liu Sheng and Wang Tong as his deputies. In the third month, on dinghai, Annam for the first time sent examination graduates to the capital. On bingshen convicts below the death penalty for mixed offenses were permitted to work off their sentences on projects at Beijing. On bingwu Prince Han, Zhu Gaoxu, was demoted and transferred to a fief at Le'an. On renzi he began a northern progress, leaving the capital while the crown prince governed as regent.
17
夏四月己巳，次邾城。 申禁軍士毋踐民田稼，有傷者除今年租。 或先被水旱逋租，亦除之。 癸未，西宮成。 五月丙戌，至北京。 六月丁酉，李彬討交阯賊黎核，斬之。 己亥，中官張謙使西洋還。 敗倭寇於金鄉衛。
In the fourth month of summer, on jisi, he encamped at Zhucheng. He forbade troops to tread on standing crops, and wherever fields were harmed the year's land tax was canceled. Back rent owed from earlier flood or drought was forgiven as well. On guiwei the Western Palace at Beijing was finished. In the fifth month, on bingxu, the court reached Beijing. In the sixth month, on dingyou, Li Bin marched against the Jiaozhi bandit Li He and executed him. On jihai the eunuch Zhang Qian came back from the voyage to the Western Ocean. Wokou were routed at Jinxiang Guard.
18
秋八月甲午，甌寧人進金丹。 帝曰：「此妖人也。 令自餌之，毀其方舊。」 九月丁卯，曲阜孔了廟成，帝親制文勒石。
In the eighth month of autumn, on jiawu, a man from Ouning offered an alchemical golden pill. The Emperor said, "This is a charlatan. Make him swallow his own drug, and burn every formula he keeps. In the ninth month, on dingmao, the Confucius temple at Qufu was completed, and the Emperor wrote the commemorative text himself and ordered it cut into stone.
19
冬十月，李彬敗交阯賊楊進江，斬之。 十一月癸酉，禮部尚書趙羽兵部尚書，巡視塞北屯戍軍民利弊。
In the tenth month of winter, Li Bin crushed the Jiaozhi rebel Yang Jinjiang and put him to death. In the eleventh month, on guiyou, Zhao Hu was moved from the Ministry of Rites to the Ministry of War and dispatched to review the welfare of frontier garrisons and their settled populations.
20
是年，西洋蘇祿東西峒王來朝。 琉球中山、別失八里、琉球山南、真臘、氵孛泥、占城、暹羅、哈烈，撒馬兒人貢。
In that year the eastern and western kings of Sulu in the Western Ocean presented themselves at court. Tribute arrived from the central king of Ryukyu, Beshbalik, the southern king of Ryukyu, Zhenla, Brunei, Champa, Siam, Herat, and Samarkand.
21
十六年春正月甲寅，交阯黎利反，都督硃廣擊敗之。 甲戌，倭陷松門衛，按察司僉事石魯坐誅。 興安伯徐亨、都督夏貴備開平。 二月辛丑，交阯四忙縣賊殺知縣歐陽智以叛，李彬遣將擊走之。 三月甲寅，賜李騏等進士及第、出身有差。 都督僉事劉鑒備邊大同。 夏五月庚戌，重修《太祖實錄》成。 丁巳，胡廣卒。
In the sixteenth year, first month of spring, on jiayin, Li Li of Jiaozhi rebelled, and Regional Commander Zhu Guang beat him back. On jiaxu the Japanese seized Songmen Guard, and Surveillance Vice Commissioner Shi Lu was put to death for dereliction. Earl Xu Heng of Xing'an and Regional Commander Xia Gui took up defense at Kaiping. In the second month, on xinchou, bandits in Simang County, Jiaozhi, slew Magistrate Ouyang Zhi and rebelled; Li Bin sent officers who scattered them. In the third month, on jiayin, Li Qi and the new jinshi were graduated into the Presented Scholar and Regular Graduate ranks as their marks allowed. Regional Commander Liu Jian garrisoned the Datong frontier. In the fifth month of summer, on gengxu, the revised Veritable Records of Taizu were finished. On dingsi Hu Guang died.
22
秋七月己巳，敕責陜西諸司：「比聞所屬歲屢不登，致民流莩，有司坐視不恤，又不以聞，其咎安在。 其速發倉儲振之。」 贊善梁潛、司諫周冕以輔導皇太子有闕，皆下獄死。
In the seventh month of autumn, on jisi, an edict upbraided the Shaanxi authorities: "We hear that your districts have suffered repeated crop failure, so that people roam starving, while officials look on without succor and never inform the throne—whose fault is this? Open the granaries at once and give relief. The tutors Liang Qian and Remonstrance Officer Zhou Mian were judged to have failed the Crown Prince in instruction; both were thrown into prison and died there.
23
冬十二月戊子，諭法司：「朕屢敕中外官潔己愛民，而不肖官吏恣肆自若，百姓苦之。 夫良農必去稂莠者，為害苗也。 繼今，犯贓必論如法。」 辛丑，成山侯王通馳傳振陜西饑。
In the twelfth month of winter, on wuzi, the judiciary was told: "We have again and again ordered every officer to live cleanly and cherish the people, yet the worthless still swagger as they please while the folk endure misery. A careful farmer uproots the tares that choke the crop. From this time forward, anyone guilty of graft shall be dealt with by the full penalty of the code. On xinchou Earl Wang Tong of Chengshan rushed by relay to bring famine relief to Shaanxi.
24
是年，暹羅、占城、爪哇、蘇門答剌、泥八剌、滿剌加、南渤利、哈烈、沙哈魯、千里達、撒馬兒罕入貢。 琉球中山入貢者再。
In that year envoys came from Siam, Champa, Java, Samudera, Nepal, Malacca, Lambri, Herat, Shahrukh, Qilida, and Samarkand. The central king of Ryukyu sent tribute twice.
25
十七年春二月乙酉，興安伯徐亨備興和、開平、大同。
In the seventeenth year, second month of spring, on yiyou, Earl Xu Heng of Xing'an took charge of the garrisons at Xinghe, Kaiping, and Datong.
26
夏五月丙午，都督方政敗黎利於可藍柵。 六月壬午，免順天府去年水災田租。 戊子，劉江殲倭寇於望海堝，封江廣寧伯。
In the fifth month of summer, on bingwu, Regional Commander Fang Zheng routed Li Li at Kelan stockade. In the sixth month, on renwu, the grain tax was waived for Shuntian fields ruined by flood the year before. On wuzi Liu Jiang destroyed a wokou force at Wanghai'ao, and Liu Jiang was created Earl of Guangning.
27
秋七月庚申，鄭和還。 八月，中官馬騏激交阯乂安土知府潘僚反。 九月丙辰，慶雲見，禮臣請表賀，不許。
In the seventh month of autumn, on gengshen, Zheng He came home from the voyage. In the eighth month the eunuch Ma Qi goaded Pan Liao, the indigenous prefect of Yian in Jiaozhi, into revolt. In the ninth month, on bingchen, felicitous clouds were seen; the Ministry of Rites asked to memorialize congratulations, but the Emperor would not allow it.
28
冬十二月庚辰，諭法司曰：「刑者，聖人所慎。 匹夫匹婦不得其死，足傷天地之和，召水旱之災，甚非朕寬恤之意。 自今，在外諸司死罪，鹹送京師審錄，三覆奏然後行刑。」 乙未，工部侍郎劉仲廉核實交阯戶口田賦，察軍民利病。
In the twelfth month of winter, on gengchen, the judiciary was instructed: "The sages weigh every stroke of the lash. When innocent men and women perish, Heaven and Earth lose their balance and drought and flood follow—nothing could be further from Our will to temper justice with mercy. Henceforth every death sentence in the provinces must be forwarded to the capital for rehearing, and the sentence may be carried out only after threefold memorial and assent. On yiwei Vice Minister Liu Zhonglian of Works audited Jiaozhi household rolls and land tax and surveyed conditions among soldiers and civilians.
29
是年，哈密、土魯番、失剌思、亦思弗罕、真臘、占城、哈烈、阿魯、南渤利、蘇門答剌、八答黑商、滿剌加入貢。 琉球中山入貢者四。
In that year tribute came from Hami, Turfan, Shiraz, Isfahan, Zhenla, Champa, Herat, Aru, Lambri, Samudera, Badakhshan, and Malacca. The central king of Ryukyu sent tribute four times.
30
十八年春正月癸卯，李彬及都指揮孫霖、徐謜敗黎利於磊江。 閏月丙子，翰林院學士楊榮、金幼孜為文淵閣大學士。 庚辰，擢人材，布衣馬麟等十三人為布政使、參政、參議。 二月己酉，薄臺妖婦唐賽兒作亂，安遠侯柳升帥師討之。 三月辛巳，敗賊於禦石柵寨，都指揮劉忠戰沒，賽兒逸去。 甲申，山東都指揮僉事衛青敗賊於安丘，指揮王真敗賊於諸城，獻俘京師。 戊子，山東布政使儲埏、張海，按察使劉本等坐縱盜誅。 戊戌，以逗留徵柳升下吏，尋釋之。
In the eighteenth year, first month of spring, on guimao, Li Bin with Regional Commanders Sun Lin and Xu Yan beat Li Li on the Lei River. In the intercalary month, on bingzi, Yang Rong and Jin Youzi of the Hanlin Academy were appointed Grand Secretaries of the Wenyuan Pavilion. On gengchen talent was sought out; thirteen men in plain dress, among them Ma Lin, were raised to provincial administration posts. In the second month, on jiyou, the witch Tang Sai'er stirred up revolt at Botai, and Earl Liu Sheng of Anyuan marched against her. In the third month, on xinsi, the rebels were beaten at Yushi stockade, but Regional Commander Liu Zhong was killed in the fighting and Sai'er got away. On jiashen Wei Qing, regional commander of Shandong, routed the rebels at Anqiu, and Commander Wang Zhen routed them at Zhucheng; prisoners were sent to the capital. On wuzi the Shandong provincial administrators Chu Yan and Zhang Hai, Surveillance Commissioner Liu Ben, and others were put to death for letting the rebels roam unchecked. On wuxu Liu Sheng was arrested for tardiness in the campaign, but was soon freed.
31
夏五月壬午，左都督硃榮鎮遼東。 庚寅，交阯參政侯保、馮貴禦賊，戰死。 六月丙午，北京地震。
In the fifth month of summer, on renwu, Left Regional Commander Zhu Rong took command in Liaodong. On gengyin the Jiaozhi vice administrators Hou Bao and Feng Gui met the rebels in battle and were killed. In the sixth month, on bingwu, an earthquake struck Beijing.
32
秋七月丁亥，徐亨備開平。 八月丁酉朔，日有食之。 九月己巳，召皇太子。 丁亥，詔自明年改京師為南京，北京為京師。
In the seventh month of autumn, on dinghai, Xu Heng again took up the Kaiping garrison. In the eighth month, on dingyou, the new moon, the sun was eclipsed. In the ninth month, on jisi, the Crown Prince was called to court. On dinghai an edict declared that from the next year the southern capital would be Nanjing and Beijing would become the capital.
33
冬十月庚申，李彬遣指揮使方政敗黎利於老撾。 十一月戊辰，以遷都北京詔天下。 是月，振青、菜饑。 十二月己未，皇太子及皇太孫至北京。 癸亥，北京郊廟宮殿成。
In the tenth month of winter, on gengshen, Li Bin dispatched Commander Fang Zheng, who defeated Li Li in Laos. In the eleventh month, on wuchen, the removal of the capital to Beijing was proclaimed throughout the empire. In that month famine relief was extended to Qing and Lai prefectures. In the twelfth month, on jiwei, the Crown Prince and the imperial grandson reached Beijing. On guihai the suburban temples and palace halls at Beijing were finished.
34
是年，始設東廠，命中官剌事。 古麻剌朗王來朝。 暹羅、占城、爪哇、滿剌加、蘇門答剌、蘇祿西王入貢。
In that year the Eastern Depot was founded and eunuchs were charged with secret investigation. The king of Kamalagun presented himself at court. Tribute arrived from Siam, Champa, Java, Malacca, Samudera, and the western king of Sulu.
35
十九年春正月甲子朔，奉安五廟神主於太廟。 禦奉天殿受朝賀，大宴。 甲戌，大祀天地於南郊。 戊寅，大赦天下。 癸巳，鄭和復使西洋。 二月辛丑，都督僉事胡原帥師巡海捕倭。 三月辛巳，賜曾鶴齡等進士及第、出身有差。
In the nineteenth year, first month of spring, on jiazi, the new moon, the spirit tablets of the five temples were enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. The Emperor held court at Fengtian Hall for New Year felicitations and gave a great feast. On jiaxu he offered the great suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. On wuyin he proclaimed a general amnesty for the empire. On guisi Zheng He set out again for the Western Ocean. In the second month, on xinchou, Regional Commander Hu Yuan took a fleet to scour the coast for wokou. In the third month, on xinsi, Zeng Heling and the new jinshi were graduated into the Presented Scholar and Regular Graduate ranks as their marks allowed.
36
夏四月庚子，奉天、華蓋、謹身三殿災，詔群臣直陳闕失。 乙巳，詔罷不便於民及不急諸務，蠲十七年以前逋賦，免去年被災田糧。 己酉，萬壽節，以三殿災止賀。 癸丑，蹇義等二十六人巡行天下，安撫軍民。 五月乙丑，出建言給事中柯暹，御史何忠、鄭維桓、羅通等為知州。 庚寅，令交阯屯田。
In the fourth month of summer, on gengzi, fire destroyed the Fengtian, Huagai, and Jinshen halls, and the Emperor bade his ministers lay every fault before him without reserve. On yisi he ordered an end to burdensome or needless projects, canceled tax arrears dating before the seventeenth year, and remitted last year's grain tax on disaster-stricken land. On jiyou came the imperial birthday, but celebration was suspended because of the palace fire. On guichou Jian Yi and twenty-six others were sent on circuit through the empire to comfort soldiers and civilians. In the fifth month, on yichou, the remonstrating censor Ke Xian and censors He Zhong, Zheng Weihuan, Luo Tong, and others were banished to prefectural posts. On gengyin garrison farming was imposed in Jiaozhi.
37
秋七月己巳，帝將北征，敕都督硃榮領前鋒，安遠侯柳升領中軍，寧陽侯陳懋領御前精騎，永順伯薛斌、恭順伯吳克忠領馬隊，武安侯鄭亨、陽武侯薛祿領左右哨，英國公張輔、成山侯王通領左右掖。 八月辛卯朔，日有食之。
In the seventh month of autumn, on jisi, as the Emperor prepared to take the field against the north himself, he appointed Zhu Rong regional commander of the vanguard, Liu Sheng of Anyuan to the central army, Chen Mao of Ningyang to the imperial horse guard, Xue Bin of Yongshun and Wu Kezhong of Gongshun to the cavalry wings, Zheng Heng of Wu'an and Xue Lu of Yangwu to the left and right scouts, and Zhang Fu the British Duke and Wang Tong of Chengshan to the left and right flanks. In the eighth month, on xinmao, the new moon, the sun was eclipsed.
38
冬十一月辛酉，分遣中官楊實、御史戴誠等核天下庫藏出納之數。 丙子，議北征軍餉，下戶部尚書夏原吉、刑部尚書吳中於獄，兵部尚書方賓自殺。 辛巳，下侍讀李時勉於獄。 甲申，發直隸、山西、河南、山東及南畿應天等五府，滁、和、徐三州丁壯運糧，期明年二月至宣府。
In the eleventh month of winter, on xinyou, eunuch Yang Shi, Censor Dai Cheng, and others were sent in separate missions to audit provincial treasuries. On bingzi, as the northern expedition's logistics were debated, Revenue Minister Xia Yuanji and Justice Minister Wu Zhong were imprisoned, and War Minister Fang Bin took his own life. On xinsi the reader Li Shimian was cast into prison. On jiashen levies of labor were raised in Zhili, Shanxi, Henan, Shandong, and the southern capital districts, together with Chuzhou, Hezhou, and Xuzhou, to haul grain to Xuanfu by the second month of the coming year.
39
是年，瓦剌賢義王太平、安樂王把禿孛羅來朝。 忽魯謨斯、阿丹、祖法兒、剌撒、不剌哇、木骨都東、古裏、柯枝、加異勒、錫蘭山、溜山、南渤利、蘇門答剌、阿魯、滿剌加、甘巴裏、蘇祿、榜葛剌、浡泥、古麻剌朗王入貢。 暹羅入貢者再。
In that year Taiping, the Virtuous Prince of the Oirats, and Batu Boluo, Prince of Anda, came to offer tribute. Envoys came from Hormuz, Aden, Dhofar, Las'a, Barbary, Mogadishu, Calicut, Cochin, Kayal, Ceylon, the Maldives, Lambri, Samudera, Aru, Malacca, Cambay, Sulu, Bengal, Brunei, and Kamalagun. Siam sent tribute twice.
40
二十年春正月己未朔，日有食之，免朝賀，詔群臣修省。 辛未，大祀天地於南郊。 壬申，豐城侯李彬卒於交阯。 二月乙巳，隆平侯張信、兵部尚書李慶分督北征軍餉，役民夫二十三萬五千有奇，運糧三十七萬石。 三月丙寅，詔有司遇災先振後聞。 乙亥，阿魯臺犯興和，都指揮王喚戰死。 丁丑，親征阿魯臺，皇太子監國。 戊寅，發京師。 辛巳，次雞鳴山，阿魯臺遁。
In the twentieth year, first month of spring, on jiwei, the new moon brought an eclipse; New Year audience was canceled and the ministers were told to examine their conduct. On xinwei he offered the great suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. On renshen Earl Li Bin of Fengcheng died in Jiaozhi. In the second month, on yisi, Earl Zhang Xin of Longping and War Minister Li Qing were put in charge of northern expedition grain, pressing over 235,000 laborers to move 370,000 piculs of grain. In the third month, on bingyin, an edict required officials to give famine relief before memorializing the throne. On yihai Aru Temür struck Xinghe, and Regional Commander Wang Huan fell in the fighting. On dingchou the Emperor marched in person against Aru Temür while the Crown Prince remained to govern. On wuyin he left the capital. On xinsi the army encamped at Jiming Mountain, and Aru Temür slipped away.
41
夏四月乙卯，次雲州，大閱。 五月乙丑，獵於偏嶺。 丁卯，大閱。 辛未，次西涼亭。 壬申，大閱。 乙酉，次開平。 六月壬辰，令軍行出應昌，結方陣以進。 癸巳，諜報阿魯臺兵攻萬全，諸將請分兵還擊，帝曰：「詐也。 彼慮大軍搗其巢穴，欲以牽制我師，敢攻城哉。」 甲午，次陽和谷，寇攻萬全者果遁去。
In the fourth month of summer, on yimao, he encamped at Yunzhou and held a grand inspection. In the fifth month, on yichou, he hunted at Pianling. On dingmao he held another grand inspection. On xinwei the host encamped at Xiliang Pavilion. On renshen the army was reviewed in full. On yiyou the host encamped at Kaiping. In the sixth month, on renchen, the Emperor ordered the host to leave Yingchang in square battle order. On guisi scouts reported Aruqtai's men assaulting Wanquan, and the generals begged leave to detach a column and strike back; the Emperor said, "A trick. They dread a thrust at their lair and mean only to pin our army in place—they would never dare take a walled town. On jiawu the host halted at Yanghe Valley, and the force that had threatened Wanquan melted away as he had said.
42
秋七月己未，阿魯臺棄輜重於闊欒海側北遁，發兵焚之，收其牲畜，遂旋師。 謂諸將曰：「阿魯臺敢悖逆，恃兀良哈為羽翼也。 當還師翦之。」 簡步騎二萬，分五道並進。 庚午，遇於屈裂兒河，帝親擊敗之，追奔三十里，斬部長數十人。 辛未，徇河西，捕斬甚眾。 甲戌，兀良哈余黨詣軍門降。 是月，皇太子免南、北直隸、山東、河南郡縣水災糧芻共六十一萬有奇。 八月戊戌，諸將分道者俱獻捷。 辛丑，以班師詔天下。 壬寅，鄭亨、薛祿守開平。 鄭和還。 九月壬戌，至京師。 癸亥，下左春坊大學士楊士奇於獄。 丙寅，下吏部尚書蹇義、禮部尚書呂震於獄，尋俱釋之。 辛未，錄從征功，封左都督硃榮武進伯，都督僉事薛貴安順伯。
In the seventh month of autumn, on jiwei, Aruqtai cast off his baggage beside the Kuoluan Sea and fled north; detachments burned the stores, drove off the herds, and the Emperor began the march home. He told his generals, "Aruqtai dares defy the throne only because the Uljin shield him. On the return march we shall cut those wings away. He chose twenty thousand foot and horse, divided them into five columns, and drove them forward together. On gengwu he met the foe on the Quir River, broke them in person, chased them thirty li, and took the heads of dozens of clan chiefs. On xinwei he swept the west bank of the river, capturing and slaying a great multitude. On jiaxu the surviving Uljin bands came to the camp gate and submitted. That month the Crown Prince remitted over 610,000 piculs of grain and fodder owed by flood-stricken counties in both capitals' districts, Shandong, and Henan. In the eighth month, on wuxu, every general on a separate route sent word of victory. On xinchou an edict announced withdrawal to the realm. On renyin Zheng Heng and Xue Lu were posted to hold Kaiping. Zheng He came home from the sea. In the ninth month, on renxu, the Emperor reached the capital. On guihai Yang Shiqi, grand academician of the Left Secretariat, was imprisoned. On bingyin the ministers Jian Yi and Lü Zhen were thrown into prison, but before long both were freed. On xinwei the rewards of the campaign were entered in the rolls: Zhu Rong, left commissioner-in-chief, was made Marquis of Wujin, and Xue Gui, vice commissioner, Marquis of Anshun.
43
冬十月癸巳，分遣中官及朝臣八十人核天下倉糧出納之數。 十二月辛卯，硃榮鎮遼東。 閏月戊寅，乾清宮災。
In the tenth month of winter, on guisi, eighty eunuchs and courtiers were sent out to audit grain accounts in every storehouse under heaven. In the twelfth month, on xinmao, Zhu Rong took command on the Liaodong frontier. In the intercalary month, on wuyin, fire consumed the Qianqing Palace.
44
是年，暹羅、蘇門答剌、阿丹等國遣使隨貢方物。 占城、琉球中山、卜花兒、哈密、瓦剌、土魯番、爪哇入貢。
That year envoys from Siam, Samudera, Aden, and other realms arrived with tribute goods. Champa, Ryukyu's Zhongshan domain, Bughur, Hami, the Oirats, Turfan, and Java sent tribute missions.
45
二十一年春正月乙未，大禮天地於南郊。 癸卯，交阯參將榮昌伯陳智追敗黎利於車來。 二月己巳，都指揮使鹿榮討柳州叛蠻，平之。 三月庚子，御史王愈等會決重囚，誤殺無罪四人，坐棄市。
In the twenty-first year, on yiwei of the first month of spring, the Emperor sacrificed to Heaven and Earth in the southern suburbs. On guimao Chen Zhi, Baron of Rongchang and vice commander in Jiaozhi, routed Le Loi at Chelai. In the second month, on jisi, regional commander Lu Rong crushed the rebel Miao of Liuzhou and restored order. In the third month, on gengzi, the censors Wang Yu and his colleagues sat in joint judgment on capital cases and put four innocent men to death; for this they themselves were executed in the marketplace.
46
夏五月癸未，免開封、南陽、衛輝、鳳陽等府去年水災田租。 己丑，常山護衛指揮孟賢等謀逆，伏誅。 六月庚戌朔，日有食之。
In the fifth month of summer, on guimao, land tax from the previous year was remitted for flood-stricken prefectures including Kaifeng, Nanyang, Weihui, and Fengyang. On jichou Meng Xian and fellow commanders of the Changshan guard were found plotting treason and put to death. At the new moon of the sixth month, gengxu, the sun was eclipsed.
47
秋七月戊戌，復親征阿魯臺，安遠侯柳升、遂安伯陳英領中軍，武安侯鄭亨、保定侯孟瑛領左哨，陽武侯薛祿、新寧伯譚忠領右哨，英國公張輔、安平伯李安領左掖，成山侯王通、興安伯徐亨領右掖，寧陽侯陳懋領前鋒。 庚子，釋李時勉，復其官。 辛丑，皇太子監國。 壬寅，發京師。 戊申，次宣府，敕居庸關守將止諸司進奉。 八月己酉，大閱。 庚申，塞黑峪、長安嶺諸邊險要。 丁丑，皇太子免兩京、山東郡縣水災田租。 九月戊子，次西陽河。 癸巳，聞阿魯臺為瓦剌所敗，部落潰散，遂駐師不進。
In the seventh month of autumn, on wuxu, the Emperor again took the field against Aruqtai: Liu Sheng, Marquis of Anyuan, and Chen Ying, Baron of Sui'an, held the center; Zheng Heng and Meng Ying the left and right screens; Xue Lu and Tan Zhong the flanking guards; Zhang Fu and Li An the left and right wings; Wang Tong and Xu Heng the supporting wings; and Chen Mao, Marquis of Ningyang, the vanguard. On gengzi Li Shimian was freed and restored to his post. On xinchou the Crown Prince was left to govern the realm. On renyin the Emperor marched out from the capital. On wushen the host halted at Xuanfu, and an edict told the Juyong Pass garrison to refuse all official tribute trains. In the eighth month, on jiyou, the army was reviewed in full. On gengshen the frontier passes at Heiyu, Chang'an Ridge, and other defiles were sealed. On dingchou the Crown Prince remitted land tax for flood-stricken counties in both capitals and Shandong. In the ninth month, on wuzi, the host encamped on the Xiyang River. On guisi word came that the Oirats had broken Aruqtai and his tribes had scattered; the Emperor halted the advance and went no farther.
48
冬十月甲寅，次上莊堡，迤北王子也先土幹帥所部來降，封忠勇王，賜姓名金忠。 庚午，班師。 十一月甲申，至京師。
In the tenth month of winter, on jiayin, the host halted at Shangzhuang Fort; Esen Togan, a northern prince, brought his people in to submit, was made Prince of Loyal Valor, and received the imperial surname Jin with the personal name Zhong. On gengwu the army turned homeward. In the eleventh month, on jiashen, the Emperor reached the capital.
49
是年，錫蘭山王來朝，又遣使入貢。 占城、古裏、忽魯謨斯、阿丹、祖法兒、剌撒、不剌哇、木骨都束、柯枝、加異勒、溜山、南渤利、蘇門答剌、阿魯、滿剌加、失剌思、榜葛剌、琉球中山入貢。
That year the king of Ceylon came in person, and also sent a tribute mission. Tribute came from Champa, Calicut, Hormuz, Aden, Dhofar, Lasah, Barawa, Mogadishu, Cochin, Kayal, the Maldive isles, Lambri, Samudera, Aru, Malacca, Shiraz, Bengal, and Ryukyu's Zhongshan domain.
50
二十二年春正月甲申，阿魯臺犯大同、開平，詔群臣議北征，敕邊將整兵俟命。 丙戌，徵山西、山東、河南、陜西、遼東五都司及西寧、鞏昌、洮、岷各衛兵，期三月會北京及宣府。 戊子，大祀天地於南郊。 癸巳，鄭和復使西洋。 三月戊寅，大閱，諭諸將親征。 命柳升、陳英領中軍，張輔、硃勇領左掖，王通、徐亨領右掖，鄭亨、孟瑛領左哨，薛祿、譚忠領右哨、陳懋、金忠領前鋒。 己卯，賜邢寬等進士及第、出身有差。
In the twenty-second year, on jiashen of the first month of spring, Aruqtai struck at Datong and Kaiping; the court was ordered to debate another northern campaign, and frontier commanders were told to ready their hosts for the summons. On bingxu levies were drawn from the five regional commands of Shanxi, Shandong, Henan, Shaanxi, and Liaodong and from the guards of Xining, Gongchang, Tao, and Min, with orders to muster at Beijing and Xuanfu by the third month. On wuzi the Emperor sacrificed to Heaven and Earth in the southern suburbs. On guisi Zheng He sailed again for the Western Ocean. In the third month, on wuyin, the army was reviewed in full and the generals were told the Emperor would take the field himself. Liu Sheng and Chen Ying were given the center, Zhang Fu and Zhu Yong the left wing, Wang Tong and Xu Heng the right wing, Zheng Heng and Meng Ying the left screen, Xue Lu and Tan Zhong the right screen, and Chen Mao and Jin Zhong the vanguard. On jimao the palace examinations were held and Xing Kuan and his fellows were granted jinshi titles in their several ranks.
51
夏四月戊申，皇太子監國。 己酉，發京師。 庚午，次隰寧，諜報阿魯臺走答蘭納木兒河，遂趨進師。 五月己卯，次開平，使使招諭阿魯臺諸部。 乙酉，瘞道中遺骸。 丁酉，宴群臣於應昌，命中官歌太祖禦制詞五章，曰：「此先帝所以戒後嗣也，雖在軍旅何敢忘。」 己亥，次威遠州。 復宴群臣，自制詞五章，命中官歌之。 皇太子令兔廣平、順德、揚州及湖廣、河南郡縣水災田租。 六月庚申，前鋒至答蘭納木兒河，不見敵，命張輔等窮搜山谷三百里無所得，進駐河上。 癸亥，陳懋等引兵抵白邙山，以糧盡還。 甲子，班師，命鄭亨等以步卒西會於開平。 壬申夜，南京地震。
In the fourth month of summer, on wushen, the Crown Prince was left to govern the realm. On jiyou the Emperor marched out from the capital. On gengwu the host halted at Yinning; scouts reported Aruqtai had fled toward the Tala Namur River, and the army pressed on in haste. In the fifth month, on jimao, the Emperor encamped at Kaiping and sent heralds to call Aruqtai's tribes to submit. On yiyou the bones of the dead along the march were buried with rites. On dingyou he feasted his ministers at Yingchang, had eunuchs sing five verses the Taizu had composed, and said, "These were the Former Emperor's warnings to his heirs—even on campaign we dare not forget them. On jihai the host halted at Weiyuan Prefecture. He feasted the ministers again, composed five verses of his own, and had eunuchs sing them. The Crown Prince remitted land tax for flood-stricken districts in Guangping, Shunde, Yangzhou, Huguang, and Henan. In the sixth month, on gengshen, the vanguard came to the Tala Namur River and found no foe; Zhang Fu and others were sent to scour the valleys for three hundred li without success, and the host encamped on the riverbank. On guihai Chen Mao and his column pushed as far as Mount Baibang, then turned back when provisions ran out. On jiazi the army began its withdrawal; Zheng Heng and the foot regiments were ordered to rendezvous westward at Kaiping. In the night of renshen Nanjing was shaken by an earthquake.
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秋七月庚辰，勒石於清水源之崖。 戊子，遣呂震以旋師諭太子，詔告天下。 己丑，次蒼崖戍，不豫。 庚寅，至榆木川，大漸。 遺詔傳位皇太子，喪禮一如高皇帝遺制。 辛卯，崩，年六十有五。 太監馬雲密與大學士楊榮、金幼孜謀，以六軍在外，秘不發喪，熔錫為椑以斂，載以龍舉，所至朝夕上膳如常儀。 壬辰，楊榮偕禦馬監少監海壽馳訃皇太子。 壬寅，次武平鎮，鄭亨步軍來會。 八月甲辰，楊榮等至京師，皇太子即日遣太孫奉迎於開平。 己酉，次雕鶚谷，皇太孫至軍中發喪。 壬子，及郊，皇太子迎入仁智殿，加殮納辛宮。 九月壬午，上尊謚曰體天弘道高明廣運聖武神功純仁至孝文皇帝，廟號太宗，葬長陵。 嘉靖十七年九月，改上尊謚曰啟天弘道高明肇運聖武神功純仁至孝文皇帝，廟號成祖。
In the seventh month of autumn, on gengchen, the Emperor had a stele cut on the cliff at Qingshuiyuan. On wuzi Lü Zhen was dispatched to tell the Crown Prince of the withdrawal, and an edict announced it throughout the realm. On jichou the host halted at Cangya Post, and the Emperor fell ill. On gengyin he came to Yumuchuan and sank into grave illness. By testamentary edict he passed the throne to the Crown Prince and ordered mourning rites after the pattern left by the Hongwu Emperor. On xinmao he died, aged sixty-five. The eunuch Ma Yun secretly joined Grand Secretaries Yang Rong and Jin Youzi in hiding the death while the host was still in the field: tin was melted to fashion a coffin, the body was borne in the imperial litter, and at every halt the morning and evening meals were set out as though nothing had changed. On renchen Yang Rong and Hai Shou, vice director of the Imperial Horse Directorate, raced ahead to bring word of the death to the Crown Prince. On renyin the procession halted at Wuping, where Zheng Heng's foot soldiers came up. In the eighth month, on jiachen, Yang Rong and his party reached the capital, and that same day the Crown Prince sent the Grand Heir to meet the bier at Kaiping. On jiyou the host halted at Diaoe Valley; the Grand Heir came to the army and the mourning was proclaimed. On renzi, at the capital outskirts, the Crown Prince received the bier into the Hall of Benevolent Wisdom and laid the Emperor in the state coffin. In the ninth month, on renwu, he was given the posthumous title Emperor Wen, Cultivated in Pure Benevolence and Utmost Filial Piety, of Sagely Martial Divine Merit, Broadly Favored, Lofty and Bright, and Grandly Conforming to Heaven, with temple name Taizong, and was buried at Changling. In the ninth month of the seventeenth year of Jiajing the posthumous title was changed to Emperor Wen, Cultivated in Pure Benevolence and Utmost Filial Piety, of Sagely Martial Divine Merit, Broadly Favored, Lofty and Bright, and Grandly Initiating Conformity to Heaven, and the temple name was set as Chengzu.