1
Emperor Jing—honored after death as Gongren Kangding Jing—was named Zhu Qiyu and was the second son of Emperor Xuanzong. His mother was Worthy Consort Wu. When Yingzong ascended the throne, Zhu Qiyu was enfeoffed as Prince of Cheng.
2
正統十四年秋八月，英宗北狩，皇太后命王監國。 丙寅，移通州糧入京師。 徵兩畿、山東、河南備倭運糧諸軍入衞，召寧陽侯陳懋帥師還。 戊辰，兵部侍郎于謙為本部尚書。 令羣臣直言時事，舉人材。 己巳，皇太后詔立皇子見深為皇太子。 卹陣亡將士。 庚午，籍王振家。 辛未，右都御史陳鎰撫安畿內軍民。 壬申，都督石亨總京營兵。 乙亥，諭邊將，瓦剌奉駕至，不得輕出。 輸南京軍器於京師。 修撰商輅、彭時入閣預機務。 是月，廣東賊黃蕭養作亂。 九月癸未，王即皇帝位，遙尊皇帝為太上皇帝，以明年為景泰元年，大赦天下，免景泰二年田租十之三。 甲申，夷王振族。 庚寅，處州賊平。 癸巳，指揮僉事季鐸奉皇太后命，達於上皇。 甲午，祭宣府、土木陣亡將士瘞遺骸。 乙未，總兵官安鄉伯張安討廣州賊，敗死。 指揮僉事王清被執，死之。 辛丑，給事中孫祥、郎中羅通為右副都御史，守紫荊、居庸關。 甲辰，遣御史十五人募兵畿內、山東、山西、河南。 都督同知陳友帥師討湖廣、貴州叛苗。 乙巳，遣使奉書上皇。 丙午，苗圍平越，調雲南、四川兵會王驥討之。 參議楊信民為右僉都御史，討廣東賊。
In the eighth month of Zhengtong fourteen the Yingzong Emperor was borne north; the Empress Dowager charged the Prince of Cheng with regency. On bingyin grain stores at Tongzhou were shifted into Beijing. Armies from the metropolitan districts, Shandong, and Henan assigned to anti-pirate grain transport were ordered into the capital guard; Chen Mao, Baron of Ningyang, was told to march home. On wuchen Yu Qian, vice minister of war, was promoted minister of war. The court commanded all officials to speak plainly on affairs of the day and put forward able men. On jisi the Empress Dowager had Zhu Jianshen, the emperor's son, named crown prince. The court granted relief to the families of troops killed in action. On gengwu Wang Zhen's estate was inventoried and confiscated. On xinwei Chen Yi, right censor-in-chief, was dispatched to reassure army and populace in the capital region. On renshen Shi Heng was made commander-in-chief of the capital camps. On yihai border commanders were warned not to venture out rashly should the Oirats march the captive emperor before them. Arms and equipment from Nanjing were shipped to Beijing. Shang Lu and Peng Shi, compilers of the Hanlin Academy, joined the Grand Secretariat to deliberate state secrets. In that month Huang Xiaoyang raised rebellion in Guangdong. In the ninth month, on guiwei, the Prince of Cheng took the throne as emperor, saluted the captive Yingzong as Retired Emperor from afar, declared the next year the first of Jingtai, proclaimed an amnesty, and cut field tax for Jingtai two by one-third. On jiashen the house of Wang Zhen was annihilated to the last male. On gengyin the Chuzhou rebels were suppressed. On guisi Ji Duo, a commandant, delivered the Empress Dowager's words to the Retired Emperor. On jiawu the court sacrificed to the dead of Xuanfu and Tumu and interred such bones as could be gathered. On yiwei Zhang An, Baron of Anxiang and overall commander, marched against Guangzhou rebels, was beaten, and died. Commandant Wang Qing was taken and killed. On xinchou Sun Xiang, supervising secretary, and Luo Tong, director, were made right vice censors-in-chief to hold Zijing and Juyong passes. On jiachen fifteen investigating censors were sent to levy men in the capital region, Shandong, Shanxi, and Henan. Chen You, vice regional commander, took the field against Miao rebels in Huguang and Guizhou. On yisi messengers were dispatched with written greetings to the Retired Emperor. On bingwu Miao forces besieged Pingyue; Yunnan and Sichuan troops were called up to campaign under Wang Ji. Yang Xinmin, a participating secretary, was made right vice censor-in-chief and sent against the Guangdong rebels.
3
冬十月戊申，也先擁上皇至大同。 壬子，詔諸王勤王。 乙卯，于謙提督諸營，石亨及諸將分守九門。 丙辰，也先陷紫荊關，孫祥死之，京師戒嚴。 丁巳，詔宣府、遼東總兵官，山東、河南、山西、陝西巡撫及募兵御史將兵入援。 戊午，也先薄都城，都督高禮、毛福壽敗之於彰義門。 己未，右通政王復、太常少卿趙榮使也先營，[一]朝上皇於土城。 庚申，徵兵於朝鮮，調河州諸衞土軍入援。 于謙、石亨等連敗也先眾於城下。 壬戌，寇退。 甲子，出紫荊關。 丁卯，詔止諸王兵。 瓦剌可汗脫脫不花使來。 辛未，昌平伯楊洪充總兵官，都督孫鏜、范廣副之，剿畿內餘寇。 十一月癸未，修沿邊關隘。 辛卯，毛福壽為副總兵，討辰州叛苗。 壬辰，上皇至瓦剌。 乙未，侍郎耿九疇撫安南畿流民，賜復三年。 十二月庚戌，尊皇太后為上聖皇太后。 辛亥，王驥為平蠻將軍，充總兵官，討貴州叛苗。 都督同知董興為左副總兵，討廣東賊，戶部侍郎孟鑑參贊軍務。 癸丑，尊母賢妃為皇太后。 甲寅，立妃汪氏為皇后。 丙辰，大赦。 己未，石亨、楊洪、柳溥分練京營兵。 戊辰，祭陣亡官軍於西直門外。
In the tenth month of winter, on wushen, Esen marched the Retired Emperor to Datong. On renzi princes throughout the realm were ordered to muster in aid of the court. On yimao Yu Qian assumed supreme direction of the capital armies while Shi Heng and the other commanders garrisoned the Nine Gates. On bingchen Esen broke through Zijing Pass; Sun Xiang fell; Beijing went on full alert. On dingsi regional commanders of Xuanfu and Liaodong, grand coordinators on four circuits, and censors recruiting levies were all commanded to hurry reinforcements to the capital. On wuwu Esen closed on the city; Gao Li and Mao Shoufu beat him back at Zhangyi Gate. On jiwei Wang Fu, right vice commissioner of the transmission office, and Zhao Rong, vice minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, entered Esen's camp and were received by the Retired Emperor at Tucheng. On gengshen levies were ordered in Korea and native forces from the Hezhou guards were called to the capital's aid. Below the walls Yu Qian, Shi Heng, and their colleagues drove Esen's army back again and again. On renxu the enemy lifted the siege and withdrew. On jiazi the Oirat host passed out by Zijing Pass. On dingmao the court ordered the princes' relief columns to stand down. Toghtoa Bukha, khan of the Oirats, dispatched an embassy. On xinwei Yang Hong, Baron of Changping, became overall commander with Sun Tang and Fan Guang as lieutenants to clear stragglers from the capital region. In the eleventh month, on guiwei, border fortifications along the frontier were rebuilt. On xinmao Mao Shoufu was appointed deputy overall commander against the Chenzhou Miao. On renchen the Retired Emperor was brought into Oirat territory. On yiwei Geng Jiuchou, vice minister, settled refugees in the southern metropolitan district and gave them three years without tax. In the twelfth month, on gengxu, the empress dowager was elevated supreme empress dowager. On xinhai Wang Ji received the title General Who Pacifies the Barbarians and overall command of the Guizhou Miao campaign. Dong Xing, vice regional commander, became left deputy overall commander against Guangdong rebels; Meng Jian, vice minister of revenue, joined the staff. On guichou the emperor's mother, Worthy Consort Wu, was made empress dowager. On jiayin Consort Wang was installed as empress. On bingchen a general pardon was proclaimed. On jiwei Shi Heng, Yang Hong, and Liu Pu were assigned to drill the capital camps by rotation. On wuchen the court sacrificed to the war dead west of Xizhi Gate.
4
是年，琉球中山、占城、烏斯藏、撒馬兒罕入貢。
That year embassies came from Chuzan of Ryukyu, Champa, U-Tsang, and Samarkand.
5
景泰元年
Year one of Jingtai
6
In the first month of spring in Jingtai one, at the new moon on dingchou, the New Year audience was canceled. On xinsi fortifications at Changping were raised. On renwu the emperor offered at the Ancestral Temple. On bingxu he performed the suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. In the intercalary month, on jiayin, Oirat bands struck Ningxia. On guihai the court ordered that palace graduates need not be held to a fixed quota. On gengwu Guo Deng, commander at Datong, routed the Oirats at Shawo and again at Kaolaoshan; he was made Baron of Dingxiang. That month grain tax was forgiven in flood-hit Daming, Zhending, Kaifeng, and Weihui. In the second month, on wuyin, he performed the spring plowing rite. On guiwei posted rewards promised safe return to subjects and troops held in enemy hands. On bingxu Shi Heng was titled Grand General Who Pacifies the North and marched to patrol the Datong front. Yang Neng, vice commandant, became mobile corps general with patrol duty at Xuanfu. On renchen the eunuch Xi Ning was put to death. In the third month, on jiyou, Oirat forces raided Shuozhou. On xinhai the court enrolled and ennobled the kin of ministers who perished at Tumu. On guichou the Oirats struck Ningxia and Qingyang; on yimao they struck Shuozhou again. On guihai overdue taxes and the summer assessment were forgiven in the capital region.
7
夏四月丙子，廣東都指揮李昇、何貴帥兵捕海賊，戰死。 辛巳，瓦剌寇大同，官軍擊卻之。 丁亥，保定伯梁珤代王驥討貴州叛苗。 戊子，大理寺丞李茂錄囚南京，考黜百司，訪軍民利病。 丙申，瓦剌寇雁門。 己亥，都督同知劉安充總兵官，練兵於保定、真定及涿、易、通三州，僉都御史曹泰參贊軍務。 庚子，振山東饑。 辛丑，振畿內被寇州縣。 癸卯，瓦剌寇大同，郭登擊卻之。 五月乙巳，免山西被災稅糧。 瓦剌掠河曲、代州，遂南犯，詔劉安督涿、易諸軍禦之。 戊申，瓦剌寇雁門，益黃花鎮戍兵衞陵寢，癸丑，董興擊破廣東賊，黃蕭養伏誅。 壬戌，振大同被寇軍民。 丙寅，侍郎侯璡、副總兵田禮大破貴州苗。 辛未，瓦剌遣使請和。 六月壬午，瓦剌寇大同，郭登擊卻之。 丙戌，也先復擁上皇至大同。 丁亥，左都御史陳鎰、王文以鞫太監金英家人不實下獄，尋釋之。 戊子，瓦剌寇宣府，都督朱謙、參將紀廣禦卻之。 戊戌，免山東被災州縣稅糧。 己亥，給事中李實、大理寺丞羅綺使瓦剌。
In the fourth month of summer, on bingzi, Li Sheng and He Gui, Guangdong regional commanders, took the sea rebels and were killed. On xinsi Oirat columns hit Datong; the garrison drove them off. On dinghai Liang Bao, Baron of Baoding, relieved Wang Ji in the Guizhou Miao campaign. On wuzi Li Mao, an assistant director of the Court of Judicial Review, reviewed cases in Nanjing, graded the bureaucracy, and investigated grievances of army and people. On bingshen the Oirats raided Yanmen. On jihai Liu An, vice regional commander, became overall commander to train forces at Baoding, Zhending, and Zhuo, Yi, and Tong; Cao Tai, vice censor-in-chief, joined his staff. On gengzi grain was issued to relieve famine in Shandong. On xinchou the court aided counties in the capital region plundered by the enemy. On guimao the Oirats again struck Datong; Guo Deng beat them back. In the fifth month, on yisi, field tax was forgiven in stricken parts of Shanxi. Oirat bands looted Hequ and Daizhou and turned south; Liu An was ordered to lead the Zhuo–Yi corps against them. On wushen the Oirats hit Yanmen and the Huanghua garrison was strengthened to protect the tombs; on guichou Dong Xing crushed the Guangdong rebels and Huang Xiaoyang was beheaded. On renxu the court aided Datong's army and people after the raids. On bingyin Hou Jin, vice minister, and Tian Li, deputy commander, inflicted a heavy defeat on the Guizhou Miao. On xinwei the Oirats dispatched envoys to seek peace. In the sixth month, on renwu, the Oirats raided Datong and Guo Deng drove them off. On bingxu Esen once more escorted the Retired Emperor to Datong. On dinghai Chen Yi, left censor-in-chief, and Wang Wen were jailed for an unfounded inquest into eunuch Jin Ying's family, then freed. On wuzi the Oirats struck Xuanfu; Zhu Qian, regional commander, and Ji Guang, participating general, turned them back. On wuxu field tax was forgiven in afflicted Shandong counties. On jihai Li Shi, supervising secretary, and Luo Qi, assistant director, were dispatched to the Oirat court.
8
In the seventh month of autumn, on gengxu, Hou Jin and Fang Ying broke the Guizhou Miao, seized their leader, and sent him to Beijing. On gengshen Yang Shan, right censor-in-chief, and Zhao Rong, vice minister of works, went on embassy to the Oirats. The court stopped drafting Shanxi civilians to haul grain to Datong. On guihai Li Shi and Luo Qi came back from their mission. On jisi Yang Shan reached the Oirat camp; Esen agreed to send the Retired Emperor home. In the eighth month, on guiyou, the Retired Emperor left the Oirat lands. On wuyin the court offered sacrifice at the altars of soil and grain. On jiashen Lecturing Reader Shang Lu was sent to welcome the Retired Emperor at Juyong Pass. On bingxu the Retired Emperor came back to the capital; the Emperor met him at the Eastern Peace Gate and installed him in the Southern Palace, then led the whole bureaucracy in audience. On gengyin a general amnesty was proclaimed. On xinmao Vice Minister of Justice Jiang Yuan was also appointed Hanlin academician, entered the Grand Secretariat, and joined in state deliberations. In the ninth month, on guichou, Wang Lai, grand coordinator of Henan, was put in overall command of Huguang and Guizhou to suppress rebel Miao.
9
In the tenth month of winter, on xinmao, the court held a prison review. On guisi overdue taxes in the capital region were forgiven. In the eleventh month, on xinhai, Minister of Rites Hu Ying asked that all officials observe the Retired Emperor's longevity festival. In the twelfth month, on bingshen, he again asked that at next New Year's the officials attend the Retired Emperor at the Yan'an Gate. Both requests were refused.
10
是年，朝鮮貢馬者三。
That year Korea presented tribute horses three times.
11
景泰二年
The second year of the Jingtai reign.
12
In the second year, in the first month of spring, on gengxu, he offered the great suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. On renzi the throne ordered officials marked for dismissal at the audience circuit to haul grain beyond the frontier passes. In the second month, on xinwei, the court made the seasonal offering to Confucius. On xinmao, after a celestial omen, the Emperor entered a period of rectification and ordered the court to draft measures of leniency and relief across the administration. On guisi the throne told grand coordinators in the capital region and Shandong to nominate able officials for farm promotion, to assign wasteland to the people, and to lend oxen and seed. In the third month, on renyin, Ke Qian and other jinshi received metropolitan graduate and lower degrees in graded ranks.
13
In the fourth month of summer, on yiyou, Liang Bao, Wang Lai, and others broke the Pingyue Miao and sent captives to the capital. On jiawu Oirat forces raided the Horse Camp at Xuanfu; the Emperor ordered Mobile-Column General Shi Biao and others to patrol the border. On yiwei Shi Heng was told to choose capital troops for training, and Minister Shi Pu was made supreme commander. In the fifth month, on yisi, work went forward on the walls of Guyuan. At the new moon of the sixth month, wuchen, an eclipse was predicted but never appeared. On jimao the throne ordered every Guizhou guard to revive its garrison farms.
14
In the seventh month of autumn, on wushen, the Miao of Puding, Yongning, Bijie, and neighboring districts rose again; Liang Bao and others kept forces in the field to crush them. In the eighth month, on renshen, Nanjing suffered an earthquake. On xinsi the midday audience at court was restored. In the ninth month, on yimao, every department was forbidden to recall men still in mourning.
15
In the tenth month of winter, on jichou, grain tax was waived in the stricken districts of Shanxi. In the twelfth month, on gengyin, Vice Minister of Rites Wang Yining and Libationer Xiao Zi were also appointed Hanlin academicians, entered the Grand Secretariat, and joined in state deliberations. That month Esen murdered his khan Toghon Buhua.
16
是年，安南、琉球中山、瓦剌、哈密入貢。
That year embassies came from Annam, Ryukyu Chuzan, the Oirats, and Hami.
17
景泰三年
The third year of the Jingtai reign.
18
In the third year, in the first month of spring, on bingwu, he offered the great suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. In the second month, on yiyou, Vice Censor-in-Chief Liu Guangheng held a prison review at Nanjing. On wuzi Revenue Minister Jin Lian was jailed for defying an edict, then soon freed. In the third month, on wuwu, Mao Fushou campaigned against the Bama Miao in Huguang and defeated them.
19
In the fifth month of summer, on jiawu, Crown Prince Jianshen was demoted to Prince of Yi and the Emperor's son Jianji was named crown prince. Empress Wang was deposed and the crown prince's mother, Lady Hang, was made empress. The Retired Emperor's sons Jianqing and Jianchun were enfeoffed as Prince of Rong and Prince of Xu. A general amnesty was proclaimed. On bingshen the Shawan embankment was finished. On xinchou refugees in Henan who went back to farming were given grain by head for five years. On yisi one descendant each of the houses of Yan and Mencius was appointed to office. In the sixth month, on yihai, provincial grand coordinators were no longer summoned to the capital for joint deliberation. That month torrential rain broke the Yellow River at Shawan.
20
In the seventh month of autumn, on yiwei, Censor-in-Chief Wang Ao was put in overall command of the Two Guangs. On renyin Wang Yining died. In the eighth month, on yichou, grain relief was sent to the flood districts of Xu and Yan. On wuchen Censor-in-Chief Hong Ying and Ministers Sun Yuanzhen and Xue Xilian, among others, were dispatched across the provinces to examine local officials. On dingchou flood districts in both capital regions received relief and had grain tax waived. On yiyou relief was opened for displaced people in the southern capital region, Henan, and Shandong. In the ninth month, on gengyin, Jiang Yuan was recalled from mourning. On xinmao, after the Nanjing earthquake, flooding on the Two Huai, and the river breach, Censor-in-Chief Wang Wen was sent to tour the stricken districts and restore order. On yiwei relief was sent to stricken counties in both capital regions, Shandong, Shanxi, Fujian, Guangxi, Jiangxi, and Liaodong. In the intercalary month, on guiwei, the Chuzhou silver mines were opened. That month banditry broke out in Fujian.
21
In the tenth month of winter, on wuxu, Censor-in-Chief Wang Wen was also appointed Hanlin academician, entered the Grand Secretariat, and joined in state deliberations. On bingchen Regional Commander Sun Tang and Commissioner Shi Biao held Datong together; Vice Commander Wei Ying with Commissioners Yang Neng and Zhang Qin held Xuanfu against Esen. At the new moon of the eleventh month, jiwei, there was a solar eclipse. On wuchen Regional Commander Fang Ying pacified the Miao at White Stone Cliff and neighboring strongholds. On jiaxu fugitives in the capital region, Shandong, and Shanxi were resettled, with tax and labor duties deferred for five years. That month grain tax was waived in the flood districts of Shandong and the Huai and Xu region. In the twelfth month, on guisi, regimented camps were first formed; Eunuch Ruan Rang, Regional Commander Yang Jun, and others were given separate commands, subject to Yu Qian, Shi Heng, and the eunuchs Liu Yongcheng and Cao Jixiang. That month autumn grain tax was waived in stricken Henan and Yongping.
22
是年，瓦剌、琉球中山、爪哇、暹羅、安南、哈密、烏斯藏入貢。
That year embassies came from the Oirats, Ryukyu Chuzan, Java, Siam, Annam, Hami, and Tibet.
23
景泰四年
The fourth year of the Jingtai reign.
24
In the fourth year, in the first month of spring, on xinwei, he offered the great suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. In the second month, on wuzi, the Miao of Wukai, Qinglang, and neighboring districts rose again; Liang Bao and Wang Lai marched against them. On gengxu autumn grain tax was forgiven in last year's disaster districts of Jiangxi. In the third month, on wuyin, the Jianning silver mines were opened.
25
In the fourth month of summer, on wuzi, the Shawan breach was closed. Grain from the Nanjing granaries was shipped to relieve Xuzhou. In the fifth month, on dingsi, the Xu and Huai granaries were opened for famine relief. On jisi Wang Wen was recalled from mourning. On jiaxu Xuzhou flooded again and hunger deepened. Grain from branch transport routes and from the salt levy was issued for relief. On dingchou the Huai'an granary was opened to relieve Fengyang. On yiyou the Shawan River broke its banks again. In the sixth month, on renchen, Personnel Minister He Wenyuan was jailed on a charge raised by Supervising Secretary Lin Cong and soon ordered to retire. On xinhai the unburied dead at Tumu, Datong, and Zijing Pass were interred.
26
27
In the tenth month of winter, on gengyin, the throne ordered every frontier garrison commander and grand coordinator to press farming and silkworm raising. On jiawu Lecturing Mentor Xu Youzhen was made left vice censor-in-chief to take charge of the Shawan breach. On wuxu Esen sent envoys to court. In the eleventh month, on xinwei, Crown Prince Jianji died. In the twelfth month, on yiwei, grain tax was waived in the disaster districts of Shandong. On yisi the frontier armies were given bounty gifts.
28
是年，琉球中山、安南、爪哇、日本、占城、哈密、瓦剌入貢。
That year embassies came from Ryukyu Chuzan, Annam, Java, Japan, Champa, Hami, and the Oirats.
29
景泰五年
The fifth year of the Jingtai reign.
30
In the fifth year, in the first month of spring, on wuwu, the Yellow River ran clear from Longmen to Ruicheng. On jiazi he offered the great suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. On renshen the Fuzhou and Jianning silver mines were shut. On jiaxu Marquis of Pingjiang Chen Yu and Academician Jiang Yuan were sent to restore order among troops and civilians stricken in Shandong and Henan. In the second month, on yisi, with the seasons out of balance, the Emperor ordered rectification and called for blunt memorials. In the third month, on renzi, Sun Xian and other jinshi received metropolitan graduate and lower degrees in graded ranks. On xinyou Academician Jiang Yuan sent relief to famine victims north of the Huai. Wang Wen comforted and consoled the Southern Capital district. On jiazi Ma Ang, vice censor-in-chief over the Two Guangs, defeated the Longshui Yao. On gengchen Burma seized Si Jifa.
31
In summer, the fourth month, on the new-moon day renwu, the sun was eclipsed. On xinmao Fang Ying routed the Caotang Miao and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Nanhe. In the fifth month, on jiazi, Zhang Lun of the Ministry of Rites and Censor Zhong Tong, for begging that the Prince of Yi be restored as crown prince, were cast into the Embroidered Uniform Guard prison. In the sixth month, on wuzi, prisoners were reviewed.
32
秋七月癸酉，振南畿水災。 八月丁酉，復命天下巡撫官赴京師議事。 九月壬戌，免蘇、松、常、揚、杭、嘉、湖漕糧二百餘萬石。
In the seventh month of autumn, on guiyou, grain relief was sent to flood-stricken districts of the Southern Capital. In the eighth month, on dingyou, touring commissioners throughout the realm were again ordered to the capital for deliberation. In the ninth month, on renxu, more than two million shi of transport grain were remitted for Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou, Yangzhou, Hangzhou, Jiaxing, and Huzhou.
33
In the tenth month of winter, on gengchen, Vice Censor-in-chief Liu Guangheng was assigned to tour Zhejiang and Fujian, charged solely with suppressing bandits. In the eleventh month, on wuwu, imperial weaving procurement for Suzhou, Songjiang, Changzhou, and Zhenjiang was abolished. In the twelfth month, disaster tax grain was remitted in the Southern Capital district and Zhejiang.
34
35
景泰六年
Jingtai 6
36
In spring of the sixth year, the first month, on wuwu, he offered the great suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. In the second month, on renwu, the eunuch Wang Cheng joined the judiciary and the Penal Affairs section in reviewing prisoners. Li Mao, assistant director of the Court of Judicial Review, and others reviewed prisoners in Nanjing and Zhejiang.
37
In summer, the fourth month, on the new-moon day bingzi, the sun was eclipsed. On xinsi an edict charged the Ministries of Revenue and War and the touring and surveillance officials and provincial administrations of the Two Capitals districts, Shandong, Henan, Zhejiang, and Huguang to lay out lenient relief measures and abolish non-urgent tasks. In the fifth month, on jisi, rain was prayed for at the Southern Suburb. In the sixth month, on yihai, Ting, descendant of the Song Confucian Zhu Xi, was appointed hereditary Five Classics doctor of the Hanlin Academy. On guiwei the Yellow River burst its banks at Kaifeng.
38
In the seventh month of autumn, on yihai, the Sha Bay breach dike was completed. On gengyin, because omens and disasters repeatedly appeared at Nanjing, the throne ordered officials to undertake self-reform. In the eighth month, on gengshen, Liao Zhuang, Nanjing assistant director of the Court of Judicial Review, was beaten at the palace gate for begging that the Prince of Yi be restored as crown prince; Zhang Lun and Zhong Tong were also flogged in prison, and Zhong Tong died. In the ninth month, on yihai, more than a million shi of rice and wheat were sent to relieve famine in Suzhou and Songjiang.
39
In the tenth month of winter, on wuwu, Shaanxi's disaster tax grain was remitted. In the eleventh month, on yihai, Fang Ying, Marquis of Nanhe, was made General Who Pacifies the Miao and overall commander to campaign against the Huguang Miao. In the twelfth month, on jisi, autumn grain tax was remitted in disaster-stricken districts of the Southern Capital.
40
是年，琉球中山、暹羅、哈密、滿剌加入貢。
That year Ryukyu's Zhongshan domain, Siam, Hami, and Malacca sent tribute missions.
41
景泰七年
Jingtai 7
42
In spring of the seventh year, the first month, on jimao, Minister Shi Pu pacified the armies and people of Huguang. On renwu he offered the great suburban sacrifice to Heaven and Earth. In the second month, on gengshen, the Empress died. On jiazi work began on the Longevity Mausoleum. In the third month, on wuyin, Yunnan's disaster tax grain was remitted.
43
In the fifth month of summer, on wuyin, because of flood, drought, and omens, the throne ordered officials within and without the court to undertake self-reform. On xinmao Mian, descendant of the Song Confucian Zhou Dunyi, was appointed hereditary Five Classics doctor of the Hanlin Academy. In the sixth month, on gengshen, Empress Su-Xiao was buried.
44
In the tenth month of winter, on guimao, grain relief was sent to famine in Jiangxi. In the twelfth month, on jihai, Fang Ying inflicted a great defeat on the Huguang Miao. On wuwu grain relief was sent to flood disaster in the capital districts and in Shandong and Henan. On guihai the Emperor fell ill, and next year's New Year court audience was abolished. That winter disaster tax grain was remitted in the capital districts and Shandong, and overdue levies were forgiven as well.
45
是年，琉球中山、撒馬兒罕、烏斯藏入貢。
That year Ryukyu's Zhongshan domain, Samarkand, and Tibet sent tribute missions.
46
景泰八年
Jingtai 8
47
In spring of the eighth year, the first month, on wuchen, Jiangxi's disaster tax grain was remitted. On dingchou the Emperor, stricken with illness, lodged overnight in the Southern Suburb fasting lodge. On jimao officials begged that a crown prince be established; the Emperor would not consent. On renwu Military Marquis Shi Heng, Vice Censor-in-chief Xu Youzhen, and others welcomed the Retired Emperor back to the throne. In the second month, on yiwei, the Emperor was deposed as Prince of Cheng and moved to the Western Palace; Grand Empress Dowager Wu and those below all resumed their former titles. On guichou the Prince died in the Western Palace, aged thirty. He was given the posthumous title Li. The Longevity Mausoleum then under construction was torn down; he was buried on the Western Hills by princely rite, and two hundred households of the Wu-cheng Central Army were assigned to guard the tomb.
48
In the twelfth month of Chenghua 11, on wuzi, an edict said, "Our uncle the Prince of Cheng took the throne, quelled crisis and preserved the state, and settled altar and land—nearly eight years. In his final illness crafty ministers, greedy for merit, falsely raised slander and asked that his imperial title be struck. The late emperor soon knew their wrong; he often repented and in turn brought the traitors to justice; alas he ascended on high before the wrong could be fully righted. We, cherishing kinship, fulfill his intent: his imperial title may stand; deliberate his posthumous title and report." Thereupon supreme posthumous honors were raised. An edict charged the relevant offices to repair the mausoleum; sacrifices were to follow the rites of the imperial tombs.
49
贊曰：景帝當倥傯之時，奉命居攝，旋正大位以繫人心，事之權而得其正者也。 篤任賢能，勵精政治，強寇深入而宗社乂安，再造之績良云偉矣。 而乃汲汲易儲，南內深錮，朝謁不許，恩誼恝然。 終於輿疾齋宮，小人乘間竊發，事起倉猝，不克以令名終。 惜夫！
The appraisal says: When the Jingtai Emperor faced desperate crisis, he accepted commission as regent and soon took the throne formally to steady men's hearts—an expedient rightly taken. He trusted worthies earnestly and applied himself to government; though fierce enemies drove deep within the realm, altar and land knew peace again—the merit of restoration was indeed great. Yet he pressed urgently to change the heir, held the Southern Palace under stern lock, forbade court audience, and kindness between kin grew cold. At last, sick in the suburban fasting lodge, petty men seized the interval to strike; the affair rose in haste and he could not end with a fair name. A pity!