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卷二十四 本紀第二十四 莊烈帝二

Volume 24 Annals 24: Emperor Zhuanglie 2

Chapter 24 of 明史 · History of Ming
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Chapter 24
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1
Annals of Emperor Zhuanglie, Part Two.
2
西 西 西西 殿 鹿
In spring of the eleventh year, on dingchou of the first month, Hong Chengchou routed the rebels at Zitong, and they fled back into Shaanxi. On dinghai superfluous posts in the Nanjing administration were abolished. In the second month, on jiachen, Zhang Renxue, the touring investigating censor of Henan, was transferred to serve as regional commander. In the third month, on wuyin, He Fengsheng retired. That month Li Zicheng emerged from the Tibetan frontier at Taozhou; regional commander Cao Bianjiao pursued him, broke his force, and drove him back through the passes toward Xihe and Li County. In the fourth month of summer, on xinchou, Zhang Xianzhong pretended to submit at Gucheng, and Xiong Wencan accepted the surrender. On wushen Zhang Zhifa retired. On jiyou Mars was seen in retrograde, and the emperor charged his ministers to examine themselves and reform. On the guihai new moon of the fifth month the court tested selected examination officials by policy essay at the Central Left Gate. In the sixth month, on guisi, fire broke out at the Anmin Works, breaching the city wall and wounding more than ten thousand people. On renyin Kong Zhenyun retired. On yimao Minister of War Yang Sichang, Minister of Revenue Cheng Guoxiang, Vice Minister of Rites Fang Fengnian, and Vice Minister of Works Cai Guoyong were all promoted to minister of rites; vice minister of punishments Fan Fucui was made vice minister of rites; all five were also appointed grand secretaries of the Eastern Lodge with seats in confidential state deliberations. Yang Sichang retained control of the Ministry of War. That month severe drought and locust swarms struck the two metropolitan regions, Shandong, and Henan. In the seventh month of autumn, on yichou, Junior Mentor Huang Daozhou was demoted to surveillance commission assistant registrar for attacking Yang Sichang over his premature return from mourning. In the eighth month, on wuxu, as omens and disasters mounted, the emperor withdrew to ritual seclusion at Yongshou Palace and again charged his ministers to examine themselves and reform. On guichou Fu Guan retired. On wuwu judicial executions were suspended. The roving rebel Luo Rucai and others marched from Shaanzhou against Xiangyang. In the ninth month drought and famine gripped Shaanxi and Shanxi. On xinsi Great Qing forces crossed at Qiangziling; Jizhou-Liaodong grand coordinator and vice minister of war Wu Aheng was killed. On guiwei the capital was placed under martial law. In the tenth month of winter, on guisi, Lu Xiangsheng marched in with reinforcements and was received in audience at the Hall of Martial Eminence. On jiawu the court requisitioned horses for war. Lu Xiangsheng and Gao Qiqian were given joint charge of the relief armies. That month Hong Chengchou and Cao Bianjiao routed the rebels on the southern plain at Tong Pass, and Li Zicheng fled with only a handful of horsemen. In the eleventh month, on wuchen, Great Qing forces took Gaoyang, and retired grand secretary Sun Chengzong was killed. On wuzi Lu Xiangsheng was removed from command but ordered to redeem himself through service. Liu Yuliang volunteered to take the field in person, and the court assented. That month Luo Rucai submitted. In the twelfth month, on gengzi, Fang Fengnian was dismissed from office. Lu Xiangsheng was defeated at Julu and killed. On wushen Sun Chuanting was appointed vice minister of war to direct the relief armies. Hong Chengchou was recalled to help defend the capital. That year Turfan and Ryukyu sent tribute missions.
3
使 西
In spring of the twelfth year, on the jiwei new moon of the first month, the emperor declined the usual New Year congratulations from his ministers, citing the nation's hard times. On gengshen Great Qing forces entered Jinan; Prince Zhu Youshu of De was taken prisoner, and administrative commissioner Zhang Bingwen and others were killed. On wuchen Liu Yuliang and Sun Chuanting assembled one hundred eighty thousand men at Jinzhou but dared not move forward. On dingchou Hong Chengchou was reassigned as grand coordinator of Ji and Liao, and Sun Chuanting as grand coordinator of Baoding, Shandong, and Hebei. In the second month, on yiwei, Liu Yuliang was dismissed. The Great Qing army withdrew northward. In the third month, on bingyin, they marched out through Qingshan Pass. In all they had thrust two thousand li inland over five months and seized more than seventy cities in the metropolitan region and Shandong. On bingzi the empress dowager Xiaochun was given her full posthumous honorific, and the decree was promulgated throughout the realm. In the fourth month of summer, on wushen, Cheng Guoxiang retired. That month Zuo Liangyu attacked and forced the rebel chief Li Wanqing to submit. In the fifth month, on jiazi, Rites vice ministers Yao Minggong and Zhang Sizhi and war vice minister Wei Zhaosheng were all made ministers of rites and grand secretaries of the Eastern Lodge with seats in confidential deliberations. On yichou Zhang Xianzhong rose again at Gucheng; Luo Rucai and others answered his call, and Fang County was taken. On yihai Sun Chuanting was stripped of rank; soon afterward he was arrested and imprisoned. In the sixth month drought and locusts ravaged the metropolitan region, Shandong, Henan, and Shanxi. On jiyou elite detachments were drawn from the garrisons for drill, and the training levy was imposed again. In the seventh month of autumn, on renshen, Zuo Liangyu marched against Zhang Xianzhong and was routed at Luohou Mountain; regional commander Luo Dai was captured and executed. Xiong Wencan was stripped of rank and soon imprisoned. In the eighth month, on guisi, the court decreed the execution of grand coordinator Yan Jizu and thirty-two other officials who had failed on the frontiers—including regional commanders Ni Chong and Zu Kuan and eunuchs Deng Xizhao and Sun Maolin—all of whom were put to death in the marketplace. On jihai half of the previous year's land tax was remitted in forty prefectures and counties, including Tang. On renzi Grand Secretary Yang Sichang was placed in supreme command of the campaign against the rebels, with all grand coordinators and subordinate commanders under his orders. On the jiashen new moon of the tenth month of winter Yang Sichang took command at a grand assembly in Xiangyang. On jiawu Zuo Liangyu was appointed General for Pacifying the Bandits. On bingshen the Imperially Approved Complete Book of the Four Affairs for Protecting the People was finished and promulgated throughout the realm. In the eleventh month, on xinsi, the emperor offered sacrifice to Heaven at the southern suburb. In the twelfth month Luo Rucai raided into Sichuan. On bingwu Minister of War Fu Zonglong was imprisoned. That year Ryukyu sent a tribute mission.
4
西 西 西西 綿 崿
In spring of the thirteenth year, on yiyou of the intercalary first month, famine relief was issued at Zhending. On wuzi grain was distributed to starving people in the capital. On guimao famine relief was sent to Shandong. On the renzi new moon of the second month the emperor sacrificed to the sun at the eastern suburb. On wuwu Shaanxi Three Frontiers grand coordinator Zheng Chongjian routed Zhang Xianzhong at Agate Mountain in Taiping County, driving him toward Guizhou. On wuyin, after prolonged drought, the emperor called for blunt counsel. In the third month, on jiashen, the court prayed for rain. On bingxu violent winds and dust storms swept the land, and the emperor ordered a review of the prisons. On wuzi the eunuch overseers at the regional garrisons were recalled. On bingshen Wei Zaode and others received the advanced scholar and other degrees in varying ranks. On wuxu famine relief was issued in the metropolitan region. On dingwei overdue taxes in three Hebei prefectures were remitted. In the fourth month of summer, on wuwu, Jiangxi grand coordinator Xie Xuelong and Huang Daozhou, whom he had recommended, were arrested. On jimao Personnel minister Xie Sheng was moved to minister of rites, and Rites vice minister Chen Yan was retained in his post while also joining the Eastern Lodge as grand secretary with a seat in confidential deliberations. In the fifth month Luo Rucai attacked Kuizhou; Qin Liangyu, the female commander of Shizhu, fought him in repeated engagements and drove him back. On jiashen the emperor sacrificed to Earth at the northern suburb. On gengxu Yao Minggong retired. On the xinhai new moon of the sixth month regional commanders led by He Renlong pursued the rebels on several fronts, routed them, and drove Luo Rucai toward Daning. On gengwu Cai Guoyong died. On xinwei Xue Guanguan was dismissed from office. On the gengchen new moon of the seventh month locust-catching campaigns were launched across the metropolitan region. On jichou state funds were dispensed to counties and prefectures stricken by locusts. On xinmao Zuo Liangyu and capital-garrison commander Sun Yingyuan routed Luo Rucai at Xingshan. Luo Rucai retreated to Wushan and joined forces with Zhang Xianzhong. In the eighth month, on jiaxu, famine relief was sent to the region north of the Yangzi. In the ninth month Shaanxi government forces besieged Li Zicheng in Fish-Belly Mountain in Ba county, but Zicheng broke out and escaped. On guisi Zhang Xianzhong took Dachang; regional commander Zhang Ling was killed in the fighting. He soon overran Jianzhou and Mianzhou as well. In the tenth month of winter, on guichou, Xiong Wencan was put to death in the marketplace. In the eleventh month Yang Sichang marched his army into Chongqing. On dinghai the emperor offered sacrifice to Heaven at the southern suburb. On wuzi Nanjing was struck by an earthquake. On the dingwei new moon of the twelfth month the court tightened the ban on unauthorized copying or transmission of military dispatches. On xinhai Zhang Xianzhong took Luzhou. On yimao Xue Guanguan was arrested. That month Li Zicheng marched from Huguang into Henan, swelling his ranks with starving refugees; he seized Yiyang and Yongning in succession, killed Prince Zhu Cairuo of Wan'an, overran Yanshi, and his power surged. That year drought and locusts struck the Two Capitals, Shandong, Henan, Shanxi, and Shaanxi, and people resorted to cannibalism.
5
使 西
In the spring of the fourteenth year, first month, on xinsi, the court offered prayer for grain at the Southern Suburb. On jichou regional commander Meng Ruhu pursued Zhang Xianzhong to Huanglingcheng in Kaizhou, was defeated, and vice commander Liu Shijie and others were killed; the rebels then drove eastward. On bingshen Li Zicheng captured Henan; Prince Fu Changxun was killed, and former minister of war Lü Weiqi and others died with him. In the second month, on jiyou, citing hard times and repeated portents, the emperor issued an edict of stern self-reproach, suspended executions for the year, and reduced all criminal sentences by one degree. On gengxu Zhang Xianzhong captured Xiangyang; princes Xiang Yiming and Guiyang Changfa were both killed, and vice commissioner Zhang Kexian and others died defending the city. On wuwu Li Zicheng attacked Kaifeng, but Prince Zhou Gonggong and investigating censor Gao Mingheng drove him back. On yichou Zhang Xianzhong captured Guangzhou. On jisi the emperor summoned the grand secretaries, the Nine Ministers, and the censors to the left chamber of Qianqing Palace. The emperor ordered chief commandant of the imperial son-in-law Ran Xingrang and others to carry treasury silver to relieve the Henan princes of the imperial clan who had suffered in the disaster. On the bingzi new moon of the third month Yang Sichang returned from Sichuan and died at Jingzhou. On yiyou the court offered prayer for rain. On bingshen Hong Chengchou assembled the armies of eight garrisons at Ningyuan. On dingyou Zheng Chongqian was arrested and imprisoned; soon afterward he was executed in public. In the fourth month of summer, on renzi, Great Qing forces attacked Jinzhou, and Zu Dashou held the defense. On jiwei Ding Qirui, grand coordinator of the Three Frontiers and vice minister of war, was appointed minister of war and supreme commander to campaign against the rebels. In the fifth month, on gengchen, Fan Fucui retired from office. Fu Zonglong was released from prison, appointed vice minister of war, and given overall command of Shaanxi Three Frontiers military affairs to campaign against Li Zicheng. On wuzi the court offered sacrifice to Earth at the Northern Suburb. In the sixth month drought and locusts afflicted the Two Capitals, Shandong, Henan, Zhejiang, and Huguang, and bandits rose in Shandong. In the seventh month of autumn, on jimao, Li Zicheng attacked Dengzhou, but Yang Wenyue and regional commander Hu Dawei defeated him. On renyin Hong Chengchou marched to relieve Jinzhou and encamped at Songshan. That month the Grand Canal at Linqing ran dry. A great plague broke out in the capital. In the eighth month, on yisi, relief troops fought at Songshan; Yang Guozhu, regional commander of Yanghe, was defeated and killed. On xinhai Xue Guanguan was ordered to take his own life. On xinyou reconstruction of the Imperial Academy was completed, and a libation sacrifice was offered to Confucius the First Teacher. On jiazi regional commanders Wu Sangui and Wang Pu fled from Songshan, and the armies broke and fled in the night. That month Zuo Liangyu routed Zhang Xianzhong in a great victory at Xinyang. In the ninth month, on dingchou, Fu Zonglong led his army to Xincai and joined forces with Yang Wenyue, grand coordinator of Baoding and vice minister. On jimao they encountered the rebels; He Renlong's division broke and fled, Zonglong was surrounded, and Wenyue withdrew to Chenzhou. On jiashen Zhou Yanru and He Fengsheng returned to the Grand Council. On xinmao the prince Cijiong was enfeoffed as Prince Ding. On renchen Fu Zonglong broke out of the encirclement and hurried toward Xiangcheng, but was captured and killed. The rebels massacred the populations of Xiangcheng, Shangshui, and Fugou. On wuxu Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai captured Yexian; defending general Liu Guoneng was killed. That month government troops defeated Zhang Xianzhong at Wangyunzhai in Yingshan. On the guimao new moon of the tenth month of winter there was a solar eclipse. In the eleventh month, on bingzi, Li Zicheng captured Nanyang; Prince Tang Yulang was killed, and regional commander Meng Ruhu and others died in the fighting. In the twelfth month Li Zicheng captured Weichuan, Xuzhou, Changge, and Yanling in succession. On jiazi Xie Xuelong and Huang Daozhou were released from exile. Li Zicheng and Luo Rucai jointly besieged Kaifeng; Prince Zhou Gonggong and grand coordinator Gao Mingheng held the defense.
6
西 西 西 調
In the spring of the fifteenth year, first month, on guimao, Sun Chuanting was appointed vice minister of war and ordered to lead the capital army to relieve Kaifeng. On yiyou Yang Wenyue relieved Kaifeng; the rebels lifted the siege and marched south to capture Xihua. On wuzi tax arrears dating from more than twelve years back were remitted throughout the realm. That month Shandong bandits captured Zhangqiu and Dongping and plundered grain transport vessels on the canal. Eunuchs Wang Yumin and Liu Yuanbin led palace troops to join government forces in eastern Shandong and pacified the rebels. In the second month, on wushen, relief was extended to the pacified rebels of Shandong. On guichou Wang Qiaonian, grand coordinator of Shaanxi, reached Xiangcheng and encountered the rebels; He Renlong and others fled back through the passes, and Qiaonian was surrounded. On dingsi the city fell; he was captured and killed. On wuwu Great Qing forces captured Songshan; Hong Chengchou surrendered, while grand coordinator Qiu Minyang, regional commanders Cao Bianjiao and Wang Tingchen, and vice commanders Jiang Zhu and Rao Xun and others were killed. That month Sun Chuanting was given overall command of Three Frontiers military affairs. In the third month Li Zicheng captured Chenzhou. On dingchou Wei Zhaosheng retired from office. On jimao Zu Dashou surrendered Jinzhou to the Great Qing. On xinmao Li Zicheng captured Suizhou, Taikang, Ningling, and Kaocheng. On renchen the prince Cizhao was enfeoffed as Prince Yong. On bingshen Li Zicheng captured Guide. That spring bandits in Jiangbei captured Hanshan and Hezhou, and Nanjing was placed under martial alert. In the fourth month of summer, on guihai, Li Zicheng again besieged Kaifeng. On yichou Xie Sheng was struck from the official rolls. In the fifth month, on jisi, Sun Chuanting entered the passes and executed He Renlong. On jiaxu Zhang Xianzhong captured Luzhou. On dinghai Wang Pu was executed in public. In the sixth month, on wushen, He Fengsheng retired from office. On guichou Zhang Sizhi retired from office. On jiayin an edict ordered a three-year suspension of executions throughout the realm. On jiwei supervisors of the heir apparent Jiang Dejing and Huang Jingfang, together with vice minister for military administration Wu Shen, were all appointed ministers of rites and grand secretaries of the Eastern Lodge with seats in state deliberations. On gengshen an edict ordered Sun Chuanting to march out of the passes. Vice minister of war Hou Xun took command of Zuo Liangyu's army to relieve Kaifeng. On renxu, over the collective recommendation for grand secretary, minister of personnel Li Rixuan and six others were imprisoned and banished in varying degrees. On jiazi the court offered sacrifice to Earth at the Northern Suburb. That month an altar was built for the emperor to sacrifice in person to civil and military officials who had died in service. Shanxi regional commander Xu Dingguo marched to relieve Kaifeng but was routed at Qinshui, and Ningwu troops were routed at Tanhuai. In the seventh month of autumn, on jisi, the armies of four garrisons under Zuo Liangyu, Hu Dawei, Yang Dezheng, and Fang Guo'an were routed at Zhuxian Town. In the eighth month, on gengxu, troops at Anqing mutinied and killed commander Xu Liangxian; government forces then pacified the mutiny. On yichou Huang Daozhou was released from exile and restored to office. On dingmao minister of war Chen Xinjin was imprisoned; soon afterward he was executed in public. In the ninth month, on renwu, the rebels breached the Yellow River to flood Kaifeng. On guimao the city walls collapsed, and several hundred thousand soldiers and civilians drowned. On jichou Sun Chuanting led his army toward Henan. On xinmao Fengyang regional commanders Huang Degong and Liu Liangzuo routed Zhang Xianzhong in a great victory at Qianshan. In the tenth month of winter, on xinyou, Sun Chuanting was defeated at Yexian and fled back into the passes. In the eleventh month, on dingmao, Liu Chao, the regional commander sent to relieve Bian, seized Yongcheng and rebelled. On gengwu treasury funds were issued to relieve the princes of the imperial clan, troops, and civilians who had suffered at Kaifeng. On renshen Great Qing forces crossed the frontier by several routes, and the capital was placed under martial alert. Titled nobles were ordered to hold the Nine Gates in separate posts, and eunuch Wang Chengen supervised the defense of the city. An edict called for recommendations of men fit to serve as supreme commander and great general. On wuyin levies were ordered from the various garrisons to march to the relief of the capital. On gengchen Great Qing forces captured Jizhou. On dinghai Zhao Guangbian, grand coordinator of Ji, took command of the relief troops. On wuzi Zhang Xianzhong captured Wuwei. On jichou Fan Zhiwan, supervisor-general of Liaodong, marched in with relief forces. In the intercalary month, on guimao, the emperor issued an edict blaming himself and calling for forthright counsel. On renyin Great Qing forces marched south, and many commanderies and counties south of the capital region fell one after another. On dingsi dismissed generals were reappointed to service. That month Li Zicheng captured Runing; former grand coordinator Yang Wenyue and commissioner Wang Shizong refused to submit and were killed. In the twelfth month Great Qing forces advanced toward Cao and Pu; Shandong prefectures and counties fell in succession, and Prince Lu killed himself together with his household. On jisi Li Zicheng captured Xiangyang and held it. Zuo Liangyu fled to Chengtian and soon afterward withdrew to Wuchang. The rebels split their forces to strike Dean, Yiling, and Jingmen, then captured Jingzhou. On guisi the Xian Mausoleum was burned.
7
殿 退退 西使 使 西 退
In Chongzhen sixteen, in the first month of spring, on dingyou, Li Zicheng captured Chengtian; grand coordinator Song Yihe, garrison commander Shen Shoucong, and others were killed. On gengshen Zhang Xianzhong captured Qizhou. On the yichou new moon of the second month there was a solar eclipse. On jisi Fan Zhiwan and Zhao Guangbiao joined forces at Pingyuan. In the third month, on gengzi, Li Zicheng killed Luo Rucai and absorbed his following. On renyin Grand Secretary Wu Lin was ordered to take supreme command against the rebels. On dingwei the rebels captured Wugang and killed Prince Min, Qi Bian. Zhang Xianzhong captured Huangzhou. In the fourth month of summer, on dingmao, Zhou Yanru volunteered to take supreme command, and the court assented. On xinmao Great Qing forces marched north; at Luoshan regional commanders Zhang Dengke and He Yingjian were defeated and killed, and the armies of the eight garrisons all fled in rout. That month Liu Chao was suppressed. On the guisi new moon of the fifth month Zhang Xianzhong captured Hanyang. On renyin Zhou Yanru returned to the capital. On bingwu Hanlin academician Wei Zaode was made junior mentor and concurrently grand secretary of the Eastern Pavilion with a seat in confidential state affairs. On wushen Wu Lin was dismissed. On dingsi Zhou Yanru was dismissed. On renxu Zhang Xianzhong captured Wuchang, drowned Prince Chu Hua Kui in the Yangzi, and retired grand secretary He Fengsheng and others were killed. In the sixth month, on guihai, an edict remitted the three levies and all regular taxes for two years in the ravaged prefectures and counties of the metropolitan provinces. On jimao Fan Zhiwan was arrested and imprisoned. On bingxu lightning struck the beast finials of the Hall of Imperial Ancestors, and the emperor ordered repentance and reform. In the seventh month of autumn, on dingyou, the emperor personally tried Fan Zhiwan at the Central Left Gate. On yimao the emperor personally tried former director of personnel Wu Changshi at the Central Left Gate and summoned Zhou Yanru to stand trial. On jiwei the court forbade ministers to pay private visits to grand secretaries. From the second month until this month a great plague raged in the capital; the court released minor offenders, disbursed treasury funds for treatment, and buried the unburied dead of the five wards. On the renxu new moon of the eighth month Zuo Liangyu recovered Wuchang and Hanyang. On bingyin Zhang Xianzhong captured Yuezhou. On bingxu he captured Changsha. On gengyin he captured Hengzhou. In the ninth month, on bingshen, Zhang Xianzhong captured Baozing. On jihai Huang Jingfang retired from office. On xinchou Sun Chuanting recovered Baofeng, advanced to Jia County, and when Li Zicheng came out to fight, routed him. On gengxu Zhang Xianzhong captured Yongzhou; touring censor Liu Xizuo was killed. On xinhai Yang Tingjian and others received jinshi titles, palace degrees, and ranks according to merit. On renzi Sun Chuanting's army, short of provisions, withdrew; the rebels overtook them, fought again, and inflicted a crushing defeat; Chuanting fell back with the remnant to hold Tong Pass. That month Fengyang was shaken repeatedly by earthquakes. On the xinyou new moon of the tenth month of winter the imperial ancestors were honored at the Grand Temple. On bingyin Li Zicheng captured Tong Pass; supreme commander Sun Chuanting was killed. The rebels in succession captured Huazhou, Weinan, and Lintong. Officials were ordered to apply redemption fines to military pay. On wuchen Li Zicheng massacred Shangzhou. On gengwu Zhang Xianzhong captured Changde. On renshen Li Zicheng captured Xi'an; Prince Qin Cun Shu surrendered; grand coordinator Feng Shikong, surveillance commissioner Huang Jiong, and others were killed. On dingchou Zhang Xianzhong captured Ji'an. In the eleventh month, on jiawu, Li Zicheng captured Yan'an and soon after massacred Fengxiang. On renyin the court sacrificed to Heaven at the Southern Suburb. On xinhai Vice Minister of Personnel Li Jiantai and Vice Censor-in-Chief Fang Yuegong were both made grand secretaries of the Eastern Pavilion with seats in confidential state affairs. On guichou Fan Zhiwan and Zhao Guangbiao were executed in the marketplace; Wu Lin was exiled to Jinchi. On dingsi Li Zicheng captured Yulin; military vice commissioner Du Ren, retired regional commander You Shiwei, and others were killed. Ningxia and Qingyang fell in turn; Prince Han Tan Ji was taken captive. In the twelfth month, on renxu, Zhang Xianzhong captured Jianchang. On yichou Zhou Yanru, found guilty, was granted death. On dingmao Zhang Xianzhong captured Fuzhou. On xinsi the rebels crossed the Yellow River, captured Pingyang, and Shanxi prefectures and counties collapsed and surrendered one after another. On jiashen the rebels captured Ganzhou; grand coordinator Lin Rirui, regional commander Ma Kuang, and others were killed. On bingxu Zuo Liangyu recovered Changsha. That year Siam, Ryukyu, and Hami presented tribute. In Chongzhen seventeen, on the gengyin new moon of the first month of spring, fierce wind and haze arose and Fengyang was shaken by earthquake. On gengzi Li Jiantai volunteered to raise funds, train troops, and campaign against the rebels; the court assented. On yimao the emperor went to the Zhengyang Gate tower to see Li Jiantai off to the field. Nanjing was shaken by earthquake. On bingchen Minister of Works Fan Jingwen and Vice Minister of Rites Qiu Yu were both made grand secretaries of the Eastern Pavilion with seats in confidential state affairs. That month Zhang Xianzhong entered Sichuan. In the second month, on xinyou, Li Zicheng captured Fenzhou; a separate rebel column captured Huaiqing. On bingyin he captured Taiyuan, seized Prince Jin Qiu Gui, and grand coordinator Cai Maode and others were killed. On renshen the emperor issued an edict confessing his faults. On guiyou Lu'an fell. On yihai the court debated the defense of the capital. Li Zicheng attacked Daizhou; regional commander Zhou Yuji fought fiercely, and when provisions ran out he fell back to hold Ningwu Pass. On dingchou a separate rebel column captured Gu Pass and raided south of the capital region. On jimao ten inner eunuchs including Gao Qiqian and Du Xun were dispatched to supervise the frontier garrisons and key points near the capital. On renwu Zhending prefect Qiu Maohua killed Governor Xu Biao and ordered his subordinates to surrender to the rebels. On jiashen the rebels reached Zhangde; Prince Zhao Chang Ruan surrendered. On dinghai an edict called the realm to rush to the emperor's aid. The court ordered ministers to submit plans for war and defense. Left censor-in-chief Li Banghua and right sub-reader Li Mingrui urged removal to the south and that the crown prince take command in Jiangnan; both requests were refused. On wuzi Chen Yan retired from office. Li Zicheng captured Ningwu; Zhou Yuji fought fiercely and was killed. In the third month, on gengyin, the rebels reached Datong; regional commander Jiang Kui surrendered; Prince Dai Chuan Ji was killed; grand coordinator Wei Jingyuan was seized and hanged himself. On xinmao Li Jiantai memorialized requesting removal to the south. On renchen the court was summoned to the terrace platform; Jiantai's memorial was read aloud, and the emperor said: "The ruler of a state dies for the altars of soil and grain — whither shall I go?" Li Banghua and others again urged that the crown prince take command at Nanjing; the emperor would not listen. Jiang Dejing retired from office. On guisi regional commanders Wu Sangui, Zuo Liangyu, Tang Tong, and Huang Degong were all enfeoffed as earls. On jiawu troops of the various garrisons were summoned to reinforce the capital. On yiwei regional commander Tang Tong entered to defend the capital; he was ordered to guard Juyong Pass together with eunuch Du Zhijie. On wuxu eunuch Wang Chen'en was put in charge of the capital defense. On jihai Li Zicheng reached Xuanfu; supervising eunuch Du Xun surrendered; grand coordinator Zhu Zhifeng and others were killed. On guimao Tang Tong and Du Zhijie surrendered to Zicheng; the rebels then entered the passes. On jiachen Changping fell. On yisi the rebels attacked the capital; capital garrison troops broke. On bingwu, at sunset, the outer city fell. That evening Empress Zhou died. On dingwei, at dawn, the inner city fell. The emperor died on Wansui Hill; Wang Chen'en followed him in death. He wrote on his collar: "My meager virtue and slight person have offended Heaven, yet it is all my ministers who have misled me. At death I have no face to meet my ancestors; I therefore remove my crown and cover my face with my hair. Let the rebels dismember me as they will — do not harm a single one of my people. From Grand Secretary Fan Jingwen downward, several tens were killed. On bingchen the rebels moved the imperial coffins of the Emperor and Empress to Changping. The people of Changping opened Consort Tian's tomb to receive them. The Ming dynasty fell. That summer, in the fourth month, our Great Qing armies broke the rebels at Shanhai Pass; in the fifth month they entered the capital, gave the Emperor a proper reburial, ordered officials and commoners to mourn for three days, posthumously titled him Emperor Zhuanglie Min, and named his tomb Siling.
8
使
Appraisal: The Emperor came to the throne after Shenzong and Xizong, and was stirred to bold action. Early in his reign he thought deeply and ruled on his own, swept away traitors and the wicked, and the realm looked to him for peace. Alas, the great tide had already turned, and long-standing abuses could not be undone. At court, partisan factions wrangled without end. On the frontiers, generals grew arrogant and soldiers grew slack. War and famine were reported from every quarter, and roving rebels spread everywhere. Thus the state rotted to collapse beyond saving—a misfortune, indeed. Yet through seventeen years on the throne he kept clear of pleasure, drove himself with anxious vigilance, and gave his whole heart to rule. At court he sighed aloud, yearning for extraordinary men, yet raised the unworthy to office—and so only piled failure upon failure. Then he trusted eunuchs again, posted them to vital posts, and with every move misjudged and every plan awry. When his mandate ran out and fortune turned, he himself met disaster—was this not Heaven's decree? When at last the Mandate had found its lord and the evil air was swept away, the Emperor was given a posthumous title and a tomb, with rites accorded in full generosity. In this the sage dynasty's virtue shines beyond all ages; and one may see that though the Emperor suffered calamity, he did not dishonor himself—he stands as the righteous martyr of a fallen realm.
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