1
熹宗，達天闡道敦孝篤友章文襄武靖穆莊勤悊皇帝，諱由校，光宗長子也。 母選侍王氏。 萬曆三十三年十一月，神宗以元孫生，詔告天下。
Emperor Xizong—honored after death as one who reached Heaven, expounded the Way, and united deep filial piety, sincere friendship, manifest culture, supporting martial accomplishment, tranquil solemnity, and diligent reverence—was named Zhu Youjiao and was the eldest son of Emperor Guangzong. His mother was Attendant Wang of the Wang clan. In the eleventh month of Wanli thirty-three, upon the birth of his eldest grandchild, Shenzong issued an edict announcing it throughout the realm.
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四十八年，神宗遺詔皇長孫及時冊立，未及行。 九月乙亥，光宗崩，遺詔皇長子嗣皇帝位。 群臣哭臨畢，請見皇長子於寢門，奉至文華殿行禮，還居慈慶宮。 丙子，頒遺詔。 時選侍李氏居乾清宮，吏部尚書周嘉謨等及御史左光斗疏請選侍移宮，御史王安舜疏論李可灼進藥之誤，「紅丸」、「移宮」二案自是起。 己卯，選侍移仁壽殿。 庚辰，即皇帝位。 詔赦天下，以明年為天啟元年。 己丑，以是年八月以後稱泰昌元年。 辛卯，逮遼東總兵官李如柏。 甲午，廕太監魏進忠兄錦衣衛千戶。 封乳保客氏為奉聖夫人，官其子。 冬十月丙午，葬顯皇帝、孝端顯皇后於定陵。 戊申，遼東巡撫都御史袁應泰為兵部侍郎，經略遼東，代熊廷弼。 辛酉，御經筵。 壬戌，禮部尚書孫如游兼東閣大學士，預機務。 丁卯，噦鸞宮災。 十一月丙子，追諡皇妣孝元貞皇后，生母孝和皇太后。 十二月辛酉，方從哲致仕。
In Wanli forty-eight Shenzong's deathbed edict ordered that the eldest imperial grandson be invested as heir apparent without delay, but the measure was not carried out before his death. In the ninth month, on yihai, Guangzong died; his deathbed edict installed the eldest imperial son as emperor. After the ministers had finished mourning attendance, they asked to see the eldest imperial son at the bedchamber gate, escorted him to the Wenhua Hall to perform the rites, and then returned him to the Ciqing Palace. On bingzi the deathbed edict was promulgated. At the time Attendant Li still occupied the Qianqing Palace; Minister of Personnel Zhou Jiamo, Censor Zuo Guangdou, and others memorialized demanding that she move out, while Censor Wang Anshun memorialized on Li Kezhuo's error in administering medicine—thus arose the two controversies known as the Red Pill Case and the Palace Transfer Case. On jimao the Attendant moved to the Renshou Hall. On gengchen he ascended the throne. An edict proclaimed amnesty throughout the realm and declared the following year Tianqi one. On jichou the court ruled that from the eighth month of that year onward the reign would be styled Taichang one. On xinmao Regional Commander Li Rubai of Liaodong was arrested. On jiawu the elder brother of the eunuch Wei Jinzhong was granted hereditary appointment as battalion commander in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The wet-nurse Ke Shi was enfeoffed as Lady Fengsheng, and her son was given an official post. In the tenth month of winter, on bingwu, Emperor Shenzong and Empress Xiaoduanxian were buried at Dingling. On wushen Yuan Yingtai, grand coordinator of Liaodong, was made vice minister of war and put in charge of Liaodong affairs, replacing Xiong Tingbi. On xinyou the emperor attended the Classics Lectern. On renxu Sun Ruyou, minister of rites, was also made grand secretary of the Eastern Pavilion and admitted to confidential state deliberations. On dingmao the Huanyuan Palace was destroyed by fire. In the eleventh month, on bingzi, posthumous honors were granted to the imperial mother as Empress Xiaoyuanzhen and to his birth mother as Empress Dowager Xiaohe. In the twelfth month, on xinyou, Fang Congzhe retired from office.
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天啟元年春正月庚辰，享太廟。 壬辰，追諡伍文定等七十三人。 壬寅，御史王心一請罷客氏香火土田，魏進忠陵工敘錄，不報。 二月甲辰，言官請複當朝口奏及召對之典，從之。 己未，御經筵。 閏月乙酉，以風霾諭群臣修省。 丁亥，孫如游致仕。 丙申，除齊泰、黃子澄戚屬戍籍。 戊戌，昭和殿災。 三月乙卯，大清兵取瀋陽，總兵官尤世功、賀世賢戰死。 總兵官陳策、童仲揆、戚金、張名世帥諸將援遼，戰於渾河，皆敗沒。 壬戌，大清兵取遼陽，經略袁應泰等死之。 巡按御史張銓被執，不屈死。 丙寅，諭兵部：「國家文武並用，頃承平日久，視武弁不啻奴隸，致令豪傑解體。 今邊疆多故，大風猛士深軫朕懷，其令有司於山林草澤間慎選將材。」 丁卯，京師戒嚴。 夏四月壬申朔，日有食之。 甲戌，禁抄發軍機。 丙子，遼東巡撫僉都御史薛國用為兵部侍郎，經略遼東。 參議王化貞為右僉都御史，巡撫廣寧。 戊寅，募兵於通州、天津、宣府、大同。 甲午，募兵於陝西、河南、山西、浙江。 戊戌，冊皇后張氏。 五月丁未，貴州紅苗平。 甲寅，禁訛言。 辛酉，陝西都指揮陳愚直以固原兵入援，潰於臨洺。 未幾，寧夏援遼兵潰於三河。 六月癸酉，何宗彥入閣。 丙子，硃國祚入閣。 熊廷弼為兵部尚書兼右副都御史，經略遼東。 辛巳，兵部尚書王像乾總督薊、遼軍務。 秋七月乙巳，沈飀入閣。 八月丙子，擢參將毛文龍為副總兵，駐師鎮江城。 戊子，杭州大火，詔停強造。 癸巳，停刑。 九月壬寅，葬貞皇帝於慶陵。 乙卯，永寧宣撫使奢崇明反，殺巡撫徐可求，據重慶，分兵陷合江、納溪、瀘州。 丁卯，陷興文，知縣張振德死之。 冬十月戊辰，御史周宗建請出客氏於外，不聽。 給事中倪思輝、硃欽相等相繼言，皆謫外任。 丙子，史繼偕入閣。 乙酉，奢崇明圍成都，布政使硃燮元固守。 尋擢燮元僉都御史，巡撫四川。 石砫宣撫使女土官秦良玉起兵討賊。 壬辰，葉向高入閣。 十二月丁丑，巡撫河南都御史張我續為兵部侍郎，提督川、貴軍務。 陝西巡撫移駐漢中，鄖陽巡撫移駐夷陵。 湖廣官軍由巫峽趨忠、涪討賊。 庚辰，援遼浙兵嘩於玉田。 辛卯，以熊廷弼、王化貞屢議戰守不合，遣使宣諭。 是年，安南、土魯番、烏斯藏入貢。
In Tianqi one, in the first month of spring, on gengchen, the emperor sacrificed to the imperial ancestors at the Grand Temple. On renchen posthumous honors were granted to Wu Wending and seventy-two others. On renyin Censor Wang Xinyi memorialized to abolish Ke Shi's endowed incense lands and fields, and Wei Jinzhong's merit record for tomb construction was submitted for promotion—but the court gave no reply. In the second month, on jiachen, remonstrance officials asked that the rites of oral memorial at court and summoned audience be restored; the request was granted. On jiwei the emperor attended the Classics Lectern. In the intercalary month, on yiyou, a wind haze prompted an edict urging the ministers to practice self-examination and reform. On dinghai Sun Ruyou retired from office. On bingshen relatives of Qi Tai and Huang Zicheng were restored from exile registers. On wuxu the Zhaohua Hall was destroyed by fire. In the third month, on yimao, Qing forces captured Shenyang; Regional Commanders You Shigong and He Shixian died fighting. Regional Commanders Chen Ce, Tong Zhongkui, Qi Jin, and Zhang Mingshi led relief forces into Liaodong, fought at the Hun River, and were all defeated and killed. On renxu Qing forces captured Liaoyang, and Commissioner-in-Chief Yuan Yingtai and others died. Touring Censor Zhang Quan was captured and, refusing to submit, was put to death. On bingyin an edict addressed to the Ministry of War read: "The state has always used civil and military talent together; but after years of peace, military officers came to be treated like slaves, and brave men lost heart. Now the frontiers are troubled on many sides; the shortage of fierce warriors weighs deeply on Our heart—let officials carefully seek commanders among the hills, forests, and wild country. On dingmao the capital was placed under martial alert. In the fourth month of summer, on the renshen new moon, there was a solar eclipse. On jiaxu the court forbade copying and leaking military intelligence. On bingzi Xue Guoyong, grand coordinator of Liaodong, was made vice minister of war and put in charge of Liaodong affairs. Assistant Administrator Wang Huazhen was made right assistant censor-in-chief and grand coordinator of Guangning. On wuyin the court began recruiting troops at Tongzhou, Tianjin, Xuanfu, and Datong. On jiawu troops were recruited in Shaanxi, Henan, Shanxi, and Zhejiang. On wuxu Empress Zhang was invested. In the fifth month, on dingwei, the Red Miao of Guizhou were pacified. On jiayin the court forbade the spreading of slanderous rumors. On xinyou Chen Yuzhi, regional commander of Shaanxi, led Guyuan troops east to reinforce Liaodong, but they broke and fled at Linming. Not long after, Ningxia relief troops bound for Liaodong broke and fled at Sanhe. In the sixth month, on guiyou, He Zongyan entered the Grand Secretariat. On bingzi Zhu Guozuo entered the Grand Secretariat. Xiong Tingbi was made minister of war and also right vice censor-in-chief, with overall charge of Liaodong affairs. On xinsi Wang Xiangqian, minister of war, was put in overall command of military affairs in Ji and Liaodong. In the seventh month of autumn, on yisi, Shen Lü entered the Grand Secretariat. In the eighth month, on bingzi, Assistant Regional Commander Mao Wenlong was promoted to vice regional commander and stationed his force at Zhenjiang city. On wuzi a great fire broke out in Hangzhou, and an edict halted forced labor construction projects. On guisi executions were suspended. In the ninth month, on renyin, Emperor Guangzong was buried at Qingling. On yimao She Chongming, pacification commissioner of Yongning, rose in rebellion, killed Grand Coordinator Xu Keqiu, seized Chongqing, and sent columns to capture Hejiang, Naxi, and Luzhou. On dingmao Xingwen fell, and Magistrate Zhang Zhende died defending it. In the tenth month of winter, on wuchen, Censor Zhou Zongjian memorialized that Ke Shi be sent out of the palace, but the court did not listen. Supervising Secretaries Ni Sihui, Zhu Qinxiang, and others remonstrated in turn, and all were demoted to posts outside the capital. On bingzi Shi Jijie entered the Grand Secretariat. On yiyou She Chongming besieged Chengdu, and Provincial Administrator Zhu Suanyuan held the city firm. Soon Zhu Suanyuan was promoted to assistant censor-in-chief and made grand coordinator of Sichuan. Qin Liangyu, the female native official of Shizhu pacification district, raised troops to campaign against the rebels. On renchen Ye Xianggao entered the Grand Secretariat. In the twelfth month, on dingchou, Zhang Woxu, grand coordinator of Henan, was made vice minister of war and put in overall charge of military affairs in Sichuan and Guizhou. The grand coordinator of Shaanxi shifted his headquarters to Hanzhong, and the grand coordinator of Yunyang shifted his to Yiling. Huguang government troops marched through the Wu Gorge toward Zhongzhou and Fuling to attack the rebels. On gengchen Zhejiang relief troops bound for Liaodong mutinied at Yutian. On xinmao, because Xiong Tingbi and Wang Huazhen repeatedly clashed over strategy, the court dispatched envoys to convey the imperial will. That year Annam, Turfan, and U-Tsang sent tribute missions.
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二年春正月丁未，延綏總兵官杜文煥、四川總兵官楊愈懋討永寧賊。 丁巳，大清兵取西平堡，副將羅一貴死之。 鎮武營總兵官劉渠、祁秉忠逆戰於平陽橋，敗沒。 王化貞走閭陽，與熊廷弼等俱入關。 參政高邦佐留松山，死之。 壬戌，振山東流徙遼民。 癸亥，兵部尚書張鶴鳴視師遼東。 乙丑，京師戒嚴。 河套部犯延綏。 永寧賊將羅乾象約降，與官軍共擊賊，成都圍解。 二月癸酉，水西土同知安邦彥反，陷畢節、安順、平壩、沾益、龍里，遂圍貴陽，巡撫都御史李枟、巡按御史史永安固守。 戊寅，免天下帶徵錢糧二年及北畿加派。 禮部右侍郎孫承宗為兵部尚書兼東閣大學士，預機務。 己丑，孫承宗兼理兵部事。 三月丁酉朔，劉一燝致仕。 甲辰，陽武侯薛濂管理募兵。 兵部侍郎王在晉為尚書兼右副都御史，經略遼、薊、天津、登、萊軍務。 甲寅，賜文震孟等進士及第、出身有差。 丁巳，敕湖廣、雲南、廣西官軍援貴州。 是春，舉內操。 夏四月甲申，京師旱。 五月戊戌，复張居正原官。 己亥，錄方孝孺遺嗣，尋予祭葬及諡。 丙午，山東白蓮賊徐鴻儒反，陷鄆城。 癸亥，秦良玉、杜文煥破賊於佛圖關，官軍合圍重慶，復之。 六月戊辰，徐鴻儒陷鄒縣、滕縣，滕縣知縣姬文胤死之。 加毛文龍為總兵官。 貴州總兵官張彥芳為平蠻總兵官，從巡撫都御史王三善討水西賊。 己巳，前總兵官楊肇基、游擊陳九德帥兵討山東賊。 秋七月甲辰，松潘副使李忠臣約總兵官楊愈懋謀复永寧，不克，皆死之。 賊攻大壩，游擊龔萬祿戰死，遂陷遵義。 癸丑，沈飀致仕。 乙卯，神宗神主祔太廟。 庚申，援黔兵潰於新添。 癸亥，武邑賊於弘志作亂，尋伏誅。 八月庚辰，孫承宗以原官督理山海關及薊、遼、天津、登、萊軍務。 九月甲午朔，光宗神主祔太廟。 壬寅，御史馮英請設州縣兵，按畝供餉，從之。 乙卯，封皇弟由檢為信王。 停刑。 冬十月辛未，水西賊犯雲南，官軍擊敗之。 辛巳，官軍复鄒縣，擒徐鴻儒等，山東賊平。 壬午，總兵官魯欽代杜文煥為總理，援貴州。 十一月癸丑，硃燮元總督四川軍務。 十二月己巳，王三善、副總兵劉超敗賊於龍里，貴陽圍解。 是年，暹羅入貢。
In Tianqi two, in the first month of spring, on dingwei, Regional Commanders Du Wenhuan of Yansui and Yang Yumao of Sichuan campaigned against the Yongning rebels. On dingsi Qing forces captured Xiping Fort, and Vice General Luo Yigui died defending it. Regional Commanders Liu Qu and Qi Bingzhong of Zhenwu Camp fought the enemy at Pingyang Bridge and were defeated and killed. Wang Huazhen fled to Lüyang, and he and Xiong Tingbi and others all withdrew inside the frontier passes. Vice Commissioner Gao Bangzuo remained to hold Songshan and died there. On renxu relief was extended to Liaodong refugees who had fled into Shandong. On guihai Zhang Heming, minister of war, went to Liaodong to inspect the armies. On yichou the capital was again placed under martial alert. Ordos tribes raided Yansui. Luo Qianxiang, a Yongning rebel general, agreed to defect and, fighting alongside government troops, helped break the siege of Chengdu. In the second month, on guiyou, Anbangyan, native vice prefect of Shuixi, rebelled, overran Bijie, Anshun, Pingba, Zhanyi, and Longli, and then besieged Guiyang; Grand Coordinator Li Zong and Touring Censor Shi Yongan held the city firm. On wuyin the court remitted two years of supplemental tax collections throughout the realm and additional levies in the northern capital region. Sun Chengzong, vice minister of rites, was made minister of war and also grand secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, and admitted to confidential state deliberations. On jichou Sun Chengzong was also put in charge of Ministry of War affairs. In the third month, on the dingyou new moon, Liu Yipeng retired from office. On jiachen Xue Lian, Marquis of Yangwu, was appointed to oversee troop recruitment. Wang Zaijin, vice minister of war, was promoted to minister and also right vice censor-in-chief, with overall charge of military affairs in Liaodong, Ji, Tianjin, Deng, and Lai. On jiayin Wen Zhenmeng and others received jinshi titles and palace degrees according to merit. On dingsi an imperial order directed Huguang, Yunnan, and Guangxi government troops to reinforce Guizhou. That spring the court conducted internal military drill exercises. In the fourth month of summer, on jiashen, drought struck the capital. In the fifth month, on wuxu, Zhang Juzheng's original offices were restored posthumously. On jihai surviving descendants of Fang Xiaoru were officially registered, and soon sacrificial honors, burial grants, and a posthumous title followed. On bingwu Xu Hongru, a White Lotus rebel in Shandong, rose in rebellion and captured Yuncheng. On guihai Qin Liangyu and Du Wenhuan routed the rebels at Fotu Pass, and government troops converged on Chongqing and recovered the city. In the sixth month, on wuchen, Xu Hongru captured Zou and Teng counties, and Ji Wenyin, magistrate of Teng county, died defending it. Mao Wenlong was promoted to regional commander. Regional Commander Zhang Yanfang of Guizhou was made pacification commissioner and joined Grand Coordinator Wang Sanshan in campaigning against the Shuixi rebels. On jisi former Regional Commander Yang Zhaoji and Guerrilla Commander Chen Jiude led troops against the Shandong rebels. In the seventh month of autumn, on jiachen, Vice Commissioner Li Zhongchen of Songpan and Regional Commander Yang Yumei plotted to recover Yongning; they failed, and both died. The rebels attacked Daba; Guerrilla Commander Gong Wanlu died fighting, and Zunyi fell. On guichou Shen Liu retired from office. On yimao the spirit tablet of Shenzong was enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. On gengshen troops sent to relieve Guizhou broke and fled at Xintian. On guihai the Wuyi rebel Yu Hongzhi rose in revolt and was soon put to death. In the eighth month, on gengchen, Sun Chengzong retained his original rank and took charge of military affairs at Shanhaiguan and in Ji, Liaodong, Tianjin, Deng, and Laizhou. In the ninth month, on the jiawu new moon, the spirit tablet of Guangzong was enshrined in the Imperial Ancestral Temple. On renyin Censor Feng Ying requested that militia be established in prefectures and counties with supplies levied per mu of land, and the request was approved. On yimao the emperor's younger brother Zhu Youjian was enfeoffed as Prince of Xin. Executions were suspended. In the tenth month of winter, on xinwei, Shuixi rebels raided Yunnan and were defeated by government troops. On xinsi government troops recovered Zou County, captured Xu Hongru and others, and the Shandong rebellion was suppressed. On renwu Regional Commander Lu Qin replaced Du Wenhuan as overall commander and marched to relieve Guizhou. In the eleventh month, on guichou, Zhu Xieyuan was made grand coordinator of Sichuan military affairs. In the twelfth month, on jisi, Wang Sanshan and Vice Regional Commander Liu Chao defeated the rebels at Longli and lifted the siege of Guiyang. That year Siam sent tribute.
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三年春正月己酉，禮部侍郎硃國禎，尚書顧秉謙，侍郎硃延禧、魏廣微，俱禮部尚書東閣大學士，預機務。 乙卯，紅夷據澎湖。 貴州官軍三路進討水西，副總兵劉超敗績於陸廣河。 二月乙酉，贈卹鄒縣死難博士孟承光及母孔氏，子弘略。 是月，停南京進鮮。 三月癸卯，朝鮮廢其主李琿。 是春，振山東被兵州縣。 夏四月庚申朔，京師地震。 己巳，硃國祚致仕。 五月辛丑，四川官軍敗賊於永寧，奢崇明走紅崖。 秋七月辛卯，南京大內災。 壬辰，奢崇明走龍場，與安邦彥合。 丁酉，安南寇廣西，巡撫都御史何士晉禦卻之。 己亥，史繼偕致仕。 九月癸巳，給事中陳良訓疏陳防微四事，下鎮撫司獄。 冬十月乙亥，京師地震。 丁丑，停刑。 閏月壬寅，以皇子生，詔赦天下。 是月，王三善剿水西，屢破賊，至大方。 十一月丁巳朔，祀天於南郊。 十二月癸巳，封李倧為朝鮮國王。 戊戌，京師地震。 庚戌，魏忠賢總督東廠。 是年，暹羅、琉球入貢。
In spring of Tianqi three, on jiyou of the first month, Vice Minister of Rites Zhu Guozhen, Minister Gu Bingqian, and Vice Ministers Zhu Yanxi and Wei Guangwei were all made grand secretaries of the Eastern Pavilion with the rank of minister of rites and joined in affairs of state. On yimao the Red Barbarians occupied the Pescadores. Guizhou government troops advanced against Shuixi on three routes, but Vice Regional Commander Liu Chao was defeated at Luguang River. In the second month, on yiyou, posthumous honors were granted to the licentiate Meng Chengguang, who had died defending Zou County, and to his mother Lady Kong and his son Honglue. That month deliveries of fresh produce to Nanjing were suspended. In the third month, on guimao, Korea deposed its ruler Li Hun. That spring relief was sent to Shandong prefectures and counties ravaged by war. In the fourth month of summer, on the gengshen new moon, the capital was shaken by an earthquake. On jisi Zhu Guozuo retired from office. In the fifth month, on xinchou, Sichuan government troops defeated the rebels at Yongning, and She Chongming fled to Hongya. In the seventh month of autumn, on xinmao, the Nanjing Imperial Palace suffered a fire. On renchen She Chongming fled to Longchang and joined forces with An Bangyan. On dingyou Annam raided Guangxi, and Grand Coordinator He Shijin drove the invaders back. On jihai Shi Jixie retired from office. In the ninth month, on guisi, Supervising Secretary Chen Liangxun memorialized on four matters of preventive vigilance and was imprisoned by the Brocade Guard. In the tenth month of winter, on yihai, the capital was shaken by an earthquake. On dingchou executions were suspended. In the intercalary month, on renyin, because a prince had been born, an edict proclaimed amnesty throughout the realm. That month Wang Sanshan suppressed Shuixi, repeatedly defeated the rebels, and advanced as far as Dafang. In the eleventh month, on the dingsi new moon, Heaven was sacrificed to at the southern suburb. In the twelfth month, on guisi, Li Zong was enfeoffed as king of Korea. On wuxu the capital was shaken by an earthquake. On gengxu Wei Zhongxian was made director-general of the Eastern Depot. That year Siam and Ryukyu sent tribute missions.
6
四年春正月丙辰朔，長興民吳野樵殺知縣石有恆、主簿徐可行，尋伏誅。 乙丑，王三善自大方旋師遇伏，被執死之，諸官將皆死。 庚午，何宗彥卒。 二月丁酉，薊州、永平、山海關地震，壞城郭廬舍。 甲寅，京師地震，宮殿動搖有聲。 帝不豫。 三月丁巳，疾愈。 庚申，杭州兵變。 是月，京師屢地震。 夏五月甲寅朔，福寧兵變，有司撫定之。 六月癸未，左副都御史楊漣劾魏忠賢二十四大罪，南北諸臣論忠賢者相繼，皆不納。 丙申，大雨雹。 杖殺工部郎中萬燝，逮杖御史林汝翥。 秋七月辛酉，葉向高致仕。 癸亥，河決徐州。 振山東飢。 冬十月，削吏部侍郎陳於廷、副都御史楊漣、僉都御史左光斗籍。 十一月己巳，韓爌致仕。 是月，貴州官兵敗賊於普定，進至織金，破之。 十二月辛巳，逮內閣中書汪文言下鎮撫司獄。 丙申，硃國禎致仕。 癸卯，南京地震如雷。 是月，兩當民變，殺知縣牛得用。
In spring of Tianqi four, on the bingchen new moon of the first month, the Changxing commoner Wu Yeqiao killed Magistrate Shi Youheng and Clerk Xu Kexing and was soon put to death. On yichou Wang Sanshan, withdrawing from Dafang, fell into an ambush, was captured and killed, and all his officers and generals died with him. On gengwu He Zongyan died. In the second month, on dingyou, Ji Prefecture, Yongping, and Shanhaiguan were shaken by earthquakes that damaged city walls and buildings. On jiayin the capital was shaken by an earthquake, and the palace buildings swayed with audible tremors. The emperor fell ill. In the third month, on dingsi, he recovered from his illness. On gengshen the troops at Hangzhou mutinied. That month the capital was repeatedly shaken by earthquakes. In the fifth month of summer, on the jiayin new moon, the troops at Funing mutinied, and the local authorities pacified them. In the sixth month, on guiwei, Left Vice Censor-in-Chief Yang Lian impeached Wei Zhongxian on twenty-four great crimes; officials north and south memorialized against Zhongxian in succession, but none of their remonstrances was accepted. On bingshen heavy hail fell. Wan Zhang, director in the Ministry of Works, was beaten to death, and Censor Lin Rushu was arrested and beaten. In the seventh month of autumn, on xinyou, Ye Xianggao retired from office. On guihai the Yellow River burst its banks at Xuzhou. Relief was sent to the hungry in Shandong. In the tenth month of winter Vice Minister of Personnel Chen Yuting, Vice Censor-in-Chief Yang Lian, and Assistant Censor-in-Chief Zuo Guangdou were struck from the rolls. In the eleventh month, on jisi, Han Kuang retired from office. That month Guizhou government troops defeated rebels at Puding, advanced to Zhijin, and broke them. In the twelfth month, on xinsi, Grand Secretariat clerk Wang Wuyan was arrested and imprisoned by the Brocade Guard. On bingshen Zhu Guozhen retired from office. On guimao Nanjing was shaken by an earthquake like thunder. That month the people of Liangdang rose in revolt and killed Magistrate Niu Deyong.
7
五年春正月癸亥，大清兵取旅順。 戊寅，以慶陵工成，予魏忠賢等廕賚。 是月，總理魯欽、劉超等自織金旋師，為賊所襲，諸營兵潰。 三月甲寅。 釋奠於先師孔子。 丙寅，賜餘煌等進士及第、出身有差。 甲戌，硃燮元總督雲、貴、川、湖、廣西軍務，討安邦彥。 丁丑，讞汪文言獄，逮楊漣、左光斗、袁化中、魏大中、周朝瑞、顧大章，削尚書趙南星等籍。 未幾，漣等逮至，下鎮撫司獄，相繼死獄中。 夏四月己亥，削大學士劉一燝籍。 五月癸亥，給事中楊所修請以「梃擊」、「紅丸」、「移宮」三案編次成書，從之。 乙丑，祀地於北郊。 庚午，行宗室限錄法。 六月丙戌，硃延禧致仕。 秋七月壬戌，毀首善書院。 壬申，韓爌削籍。 甲戌，追論萬曆辛亥、丁巳、癸亥三京察，尚書李三才、顧憲成等削籍。 八月壬午，毀天下東林講學書院。 削尚書孫慎行等籍。 戊子，禮部尚書周如磐兼東閣大學士，侍郎丁紹軾、黃立極為禮部尚書，少詹事馮銓為禮部右侍郎，並兼東閣大學士，預機務。 己亥，魏廣微罷。 壬寅，熊廷弼棄市，傳首九邊。 九月壬子，遼東副總兵魯之甲敗沒於柳河。 冬十月己卯，兵部尚書高第經略遼、薊、登、萊、天津軍務。 丙戌，停刑。 庚寅，孫承宗致仕。 丙申，逮中書舍人吳懷賢下鎮撫司獄，杖殺之。 庚子，以皇子生，詔赦天下。 十一月壬子，周如磐致仕。 十二月乙酉，榜東林黨人姓名，頒示天下。 戊子，戍前尚書趙南星。 是年，琉球、烏斯藏入貢。
In spring of Tianqi five, on guihai of the first month, Qing forces took Lüshun. On wuyin, because the Qingling Mausoleum project had been completed, Wei Zhongxian and others received hereditary honors and rewards. That month Overall Commander Lu Qin, Liu Chao, and others withdrew from Zhijin, were ambushed by rebels, and the troops of all camps broke and fled. In the third month, on jiayin, sacrifice was offered to Confucius, the supreme sage and teacher. On bingyin Yu Huang and others received jinshi ranks, palace degrees, and provincial degrees according to merit. On jiaxu Zhu Xieyuan was made grand coordinator of military affairs in Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, Huguang, and Guangxi to campaign against An Bangyan. On dingchou the case of Wang Wuyan was decided; Yang Lian, Zuo Guangdou, Yuan Huazhong, Wei Dazhong, Zhou Chaorui, and Gu Dazhang were arrested, and Minister Zhao Nanxing and others were struck from the rolls. Before long Yang Lian and the others were brought to the capital, imprisoned by the Brocade Guard, and died one after another in prison. In the fourth month of summer, on jihai, Grand Secretary Liu Yijin was struck from the rolls. In the fifth month, on guihai, Supervising Secretary Yang Suoxiu requested that the three cases—the Club Assault, the Red Pill, and the Palace Transfer—be compiled into a book, and the request was approved. On yichou Earth was sacrificed to at the northern suburb. On gengwu the restricted enrollment law for the imperial clan was put into effect. In the sixth month, on bingxu, Zhu Yanxi retired from office. In the seventh month of autumn, on renxu, the Shoushan Academy was demolished. On renshen Han Kuang was struck from the rolls. On jiaxu the three Beijing personnel evaluations of Wanli's xinhai, dingsi, and guihai years were reconsidered, and Ministers Li Sancai, Gu Xiancheng, and others were struck from the rolls. In the eighth month, on renwu, Donglin lecture academies throughout the realm were demolished. Minister Sun Shenxing and others were struck from the rolls. On wuzi Minister of Rites Zhou Rupan was also made grand secretary of the Eastern Pavilion; Vice Ministers Ding Shaoshi and Huang Liji were made ministers of rites; Junior Mentor Feng Quan was made right vice minister of rites; and all three also served as grand secretaries of the Eastern Pavilion and joined in affairs of state. On jihai Wei Guangwei was dismissed. On renyin Xiong Tingbi was executed in the public market, and his head was sent to the nine border regions. In the ninth month, on renzi, Liaodong Vice Regional Commander Lu Zhijia was defeated and perished at Liuhe. In the tenth month of winter, on jimao, Minister of War Gao Di was made commissioner for Liaodong, Ji, Deng, Laizhou, and Tianjin military affairs. On bingxu executions were suspended. On gengyin Sun Chengzong retired from office. On bingshen Secretariat drafter Wu Huaixian was arrested, imprisoned by the Brocade Guard, and beaten to death. On gengzi, because a prince had been born, an edict proclaimed amnesty throughout the realm. In the eleventh month, on renzi, Zhou Rupan retired from office. In the twelfth month, on yiyou, the names of Donglin faction members were posted and promulgated throughout the realm. On wuzi former Minister Zhao Nanxing was banished to frontier service. That year Ryukyu and U-Tsang sent tribute missions.
8
六年春正月戊午，修《三朝要典》。 丁卯，大清兵圍寧遠，總兵官滿桂、寧前道參政袁崇煥固守。 己巳，圍解。 二月乙亥，袁崇煥為僉都御史，專理軍務，仍駐寧遠。 戊戌，以蘇杭織造太監李實奏，逮前應天巡撫週起元，吏部主事周順昌，左都御史高攀龍，諭德繆昌期，御史李應升、周宗建、黃尊素。 攀龍赴水死，起元等下鎮撫司獄，相繼死獄中。 己亥。 祭日於東郊。 三月丁未，設各邊鎮監軍內臣。 太監劉應坤鎮守山海關，大學士丁紹軾、兵部尚書王永光等屢諫不聽。 論寧遠解圍功，封魏忠賢從子良卿肅寧伯。 庚戌，安邦彥犯貴州，官軍敗績，總理魯欽死之。 壬子，袁崇煥巡撫遼東、山海。 夏四月丁丑，命南京守備內臣搜括應天各府貯庫銀，充殿工、兵餉。 戊戌，丁紹軾卒。 五月戊申，王恭廠災，死者甚眾。 己酉，以旱災敕群臣修省。 癸亥，朝天宮災。 六月丙子，京師地震，靈丘地震經月。 壬午，河決廣武。 辛卯，《三朝要典》成，刊布中外。 閏月辛丑，巡撫浙江僉都御史潘汝楨請建魏忠賢生祠，許之。 嗣是建祠幾遍天下。 壬寅，馮銓罷。 壬子，硃燮元以憂去，偏沅巡撫都御史閔夢得代之。 是夏，京師大水，江北、山東旱蝗。 秋七月辛未朔，日當食，陰雲不見。 辛巳，下前揚州知府劉鐸詔獄，殺之。 丙戌，禮部侍郎施鳳來、張瑞圖，詹事李國𣚴，俱禮部尚書東閣大學士，預機務。 八月，陝西流賊起，由保寧犯廣元。 九月庚寅，顧秉謙致仕。 壬辰，皇極殿成，停刑。 己亥，魏良卿進封肅寧侯。 是月，參將楊明輝齎敕招諭水西賊，被殺。 是秋，江北大水，河南蝗。 冬十月戊申，進魏忠賢爵上公，魏良卿寧國公，予誥券，加賜莊田一千頃。 己酉，以皇極殿成詔天下，官匠雜流升授者九百六十五人。 癸丑，改修《光宗實錄》。 十一月庚寅，予魏良卿鐵券。 十二月戊申，南京地震。 甲子，潯州賊殺守備蔡人龍。 是年，安南、烏斯藏、琉球入貢。
In spring of Tianqi six, on wuwu of the first month, compilation of the Essentials of Three Reigns was undertaken. On dingmao Qing forces besieged Ningyuan; Regional Commander Man Gui and Ningqian Circuit Administrator Yuan Chonghuan held firm. On jisi the siege was lifted. In the second month, on yihai, Yuan Chonghuan was made assistant censor-in-chief with exclusive charge of military affairs and remained stationed at Ningyuan. On wuxu, on the petition of Suzhou-Hangzhou weaving commissioner eunuch Li Shi, former Yingtian governor Zhou Qiyuan, principal secretary in the Ministry of Personnel Zhou Shunchang, left censor-in-chief Gao Panlong, preceptor Miao Changqi, and censors Li Yingsheng, Zhou Zongjian, and Huang Zunsu were arrested. Panlong drowned himself; Qiyuan and the others were cast into the Brook of Purification prison and died there one after another. On jihai. The court performed the suburban sacrifice to the sun at the eastern altar. In the third month, on dingwei, eunuch officials were posted to supervise troops at the frontier garrisons. Eunuch Liu Yingkun was put in charge at Shanhaiguan; grand secretaries Ding Shaozhi and minister of war Wang Yongguang repeatedly remonstrated, but the emperor would not listen. For merit in breaking the siege of Ningyuan, Wei Zhongxian's collateral nephew Liangqing was enfeoffed as Earl of Sunning. On gengxu An Bangyan invaded Guizhou; government troops suffered defeat, and supervisor-general Lu Qin was killed. On renzi Yuan Chonghuan was appointed governor of Liaodong and Shanhai. In the fourth month of summer, on dingchou, the Nanjing garrison eunuch was ordered to seize stored silver from Yingtian prefectures to pay for palace works and military supplies. On wuxu Ding Shaozhi died. In the fifth month, on wushen, the Wanggongchang gunpowder works exploded; the dead were very numerous. On jiyou, because of drought, the assembled ministers were instructed to examine themselves and reform their conduct. On guihai the Chaotian Palace was destroyed by fire. In the sixth month, on bingzi, the capital shook with an earthquake; Lingqiu trembled for a full month. On renwu the Yellow River broke through at Guangwu. On xinmao the Three Dynasties Essentials was completed and circulated at home and abroad. In the intercalary month, on xinchou, Zhejiang governor Pan Ruzhen, an assistant censor-in-chief, requested that a living shrine to Wei Zhongxian be built; the request was granted. From that time on, such shrines sprang up nearly everywhere in the realm. On renyin Feng Quan was dismissed from office. On renzi Zhu Xieyuan left office to observe mourning, and Pian-Yuan governor and censor-in-chief Min Mengde took his place. That summer the capital region was ravaged by floods, while lands north of the Yangzi and Shandong were stricken with drought and locusts. In the seventh month of autumn, on the xinwei new moon, a solar eclipse was expected, but clouds hid it from sight. On xinsi former Yangzhou prefect Liu Duo was cast into the imperial prison by edict and put to death. On bingxu vice ministers of rites Shi Fenglai and Zhang Ruitu and grand mentor Li Guozhen were all made ministers of rites, grand secretaries of the Eastern Lodge, and entered state deliberations. In the eighth month bandits rose in Shaanxi and, moving from Baoning, raided Guangyuan. In the ninth month, on gengyin, Gu Bingqian retired from office. On renchen the Huangji Hall was completed, and executions were suspended. On jihai Wei Liangqing was promoted to Marquis of Sunning. That month assistant regional commander Yang Minghui was sent with an imperial edict to summon the Shuixi bandits to surrender and was killed. That autumn the north of the Yangzi was inundated, and Henan was plagued by locusts. In the tenth month of winter, on wushen, Wei Zhongxian was promoted to supreme duke; Wei Liangqing was made Duke of Ning; patents of nobility were granted; and an additional thousand qing of estate lands were bestowed. On jiyou, with the completion of the Huangji Hall, an edict went out to the realm promoting nine hundred sixty-five artisan and miscellaneous officials. On guichou the Veritable Records of Emperor Guangzong were ordered revised. In the eleventh month, on gengyin, an iron patent of nobility was granted to Wei Liangqing. In the twelfth month, on wushen, Nanjing was shaken by an earthquake. On jiazi bandits in Xunzhou killed garrison commander Cai Renlong. That year Annam, U-Tsang, and Ryukyu sent tribute missions.
9
七年春正月辛未，振鳳陽飢。 乙亥，太監塗文輔總督太倉銀庫、節慎庫，崔文升、李明道提督漕運河道，核京師、通州諸倉。 辛卯，免榷潼關、咸陽商稅。 二月壬戌，修隆德殿。 三月癸酉，豐城侯李承祚請開採珠池、銅礦，不許。 戊子，澄城民變，殺知縣張斗耀。 是春，大清兵征朝鮮。 夏四月丁酉，下前侍郎王之寀鎮撫司獄，死獄中。 五月己巳，監生陸萬齡請建魏忠賢生祠於太學旁，祀禮如孔子，許之。 丙子，大清兵圍錦州。 癸巳，攻寧遠。 六月庚子，錦州圍解。 秋七月乙丑朔，帝不豫。 丙寅，罷袁崇煥。 己卯，封魏忠賢孫鵬翼為安平伯。 壬午，戍孫慎行。 丁亥，海賊寇廣東。 是月，浙江大水。 八月丙申，加魏良卿太師，魏鵬翼少師。 戊戌，中極、建極二殿成。 乙巳，召見閣部、科道諸臣於乾清宮，諭以魏忠賢、王體乾忠貞可計大事。 封忠賢侄良棟為東安侯。 甲寅，大漸。 乙卯，崩於乾清宮，年二十三。 遺詔以皇第五弟信王由檢嗣皇帝位。 冬十月庚子，上尊諡，廟號熹宗，葬德陵。
In the seventh year, in the first month of spring, on xinwei, famine relief was sent to the hungry at Fengyang. On yihai eunuch Tu Wenfu was made overall supervisor of the Taicang and Jieshen treasuries; Cui Wensheng and Li Mingdao were put in charge of the Grand Canal and ordered to audit the granaries of the capital and Tongzhou. On xinmao commercial taxes at Tongguan and Xianyang were remitted. In the second month, on renxu, the Longde Hall was repaired. In the third month, on guiyou, Li Chengzuo, marquis of Fengcheng, asked to open pearl beds and copper mines, but the request was denied. On wuzi the people of Chengcheng mutinied and killed magistrate Zhang Douyao. That spring Qing forces invaded Korea. In the fourth month of summer, on dingyou, former vice minister Wang Zhicai was cast into the Brook of Purification prison and died there. In the fifth month, on jisi, supervising student Lu Wanling asked to build beside the Imperial Academy a living shrine to Wei Zhongxian with rites modeled on those for Confucius; the request was granted. On bingzi Qing troops besieged Jinzhou. On guisi they attacked Ningyuan. In the sixth month, on gengzi, the siege of Jinzhou was lifted. In the seventh month of autumn, on the yichou new moon, the emperor fell ill. On bingyin Yuan Chonghuan was dismissed from office. On jimao Wei Zhongxian's grandson Pengyi was enfeoffed as Earl of Anping. On renwu Sun Shenxing was banished to frontier garrison duty. On dinghai sea bandits raided Guangdong. That month Zhejiang was devastated by floods. In the eighth month, on bingshen, Wei Liangqing was further made grand preceptor and Wei Pengyi junior preceptor. On wuxu the Zhongji and Jianji Halls were completed. On yisi ministers of the Grand Secretariat and censorate officials were summoned to the Qianqing Palace and told that Wei Zhongxian and Wang Tigān were loyal and fit to be relied on for weighty affairs. Zhongxian's nephew Liangdong was enfeoffed as Marquis of Dong'an. On jiayin the emperor sank into critical illness. On yimao he died in the Qianqing Palace at the age of twenty-three. The testamentary edict named the emperor's fifth younger brother, Prince Xin Zhu Youjian, to succeed to the throne. In the tenth month of winter, on gengzi, elevated posthumous honors were granted and the temple name Xizong conferred; he was buried at Deling.
10
贊曰：明自世宗而後，綱紀日以陵夷，神宗末年，廢壞極矣。 雖有剛明英武之君，已難復振。 而重以帝之庸懦，婦寺竊柄，濫賞淫刑，忠良慘禍，億兆離心，雖慾不亡，何可得哉？
Appraisal: From Shizong's reign onward, the institutions of the Ming daily declined, and by Shenzong's final years ruin was complete. Even a firm, clear-sighted, and martial sovereign could scarcely have revived them. Compounded by this emperor's feebleness and timidity, with consorts and eunuchs seizing power, rewards poured out without measure and punishments ran wild, loyal men met cruel ends, and the people turned away in their hearts—even if one did not seek ruin, how could it have been avoided?