1
明以武功定天下，革元舊制，自京師達於郡縣，皆立衛所。 外統之都司，內統於五軍都督府，而上十二衛為天子親軍者不與焉。 征伐則命將充總兵官，調衛所軍領之，既旋則將上所佩印，官軍各回衛所。 蓋得唐府兵遺意。 文皇北遷，一遵太祖之制，然內臣觀兵，履霜伊始。 洪、宣以後，狃於治平，故未久而遂有土木之難。 于謙創立團營，簡精銳，一號令，兵將相習，其法頗善。 憲、孝、武、世四朝，營制屢更，而威益不振。 衛所之兵疲於番上，京師之旅困於佔役。 馴至末造，尺籍久虛，行伍衰耗，流盜蜂起，海內土崩。 宦豎降於關門，禁軍潰於城下，而國遂以亡矣。 今取其一代規制之詳，及有關於軍政者，著於篇。
The Ming won the empire by force of arms, swept away Yuan institutions, and established guard-and-battalion garrisons from the capital to every prefecture and county. Regional commands controlled them in the field, the Five Chief Military Commissions at court, while the twelve guards forming the emperor's personal forces stood outside that system. On campaign a general was named supreme commander, guard and battalion troops were called up under him, and when the army returned he surrendered his seal and every soldier went back to his home garrison. In essence it carried forward the idea behind the Tang militia armies. After Yongle moved the capital north he kept Taizu's framework, but eunuchs were already watching the troops—the first trace of frost on the path to ruin. After Hongxi and Xuande the court grew complacent in peace, and within a few years came the catastrophe at Tumu. Yu Qian formed regiment camps of picked troops under a single chain of command so soldiers and commanders trained together—a sound arrangement. Under Chenghua, Hongzhi, Zhengde, and Jiajing the camp system was reworked again and again, yet military power only declined. Garrison troops wore themselves out on capital rotations, while metropolitan forces were ground down by corvée assignments. In the closing years muster rolls were empty for years, ranks thinned, bandits swarmed, and the empire came apart. Eunuchs opened the gates to the enemy, the imperial guard broke at the city wall, and the dynasty fell. This chapter records that dynasty's institutions in detail, together with what bears on military administration.
2
京營侍衛上直軍皇城守衛京城巡捕四衛營
Capital Garrison · Palace Escort and Direct-Duty Forces · Imperial City Guard · Capital Patrol · Four Guard Camps
3
京軍三大營，一曰五軍，一曰三千，一曰神機。 其制皆備於永樂時。
The metropolitan forces comprised three great camps: the Five Armies, the Three Thousand, and the Divine Engine. The full system was put in place under Yongle.
4
初，太祖建統軍元帥府，統諸路武勇，尋改大都督府。 以兄子文正為大都督，節制中外諸軍。 京城內外置大小二場，分教四十八衛卒。 已，又分前、後、中、左、右五軍都督府。 洪武四年，士卒之數，二十萬七千八百有奇。
Taizu first set up a marshal's headquarters over all regional forces, then renamed it the Chief Military Commission. He made his nephew Wen Zheng chief commander with authority over all forces inside and outside the capital. He established major and minor drill grounds inside and outside the capital to train the forty-eight guards in turn. Later it was split into five commissions—Front, Rear, Central, Left, and Right. In Hongwu 4 troop strength stood at just over 207,800.
5
成祖增京衛為七十二。 又分步騎軍為中軍，左、右掖，左、右哨，亦謂之五軍。 歲調中都、山東、河南、大寧兵番上京師隸之。 設提督內臣一，武臣二，掌號頭官二，大營坐營官一，把總二，中營坐營官一，馬步隊把總各一。 左右掖、哨官如之。 又有十二營，掌隨駕馬隊官軍，設把總二。 又有圍子手營，掌操練上直叉刀手及京衛步隊官軍，設坐營官一，統四司，以一、二、三、四為號，把總各二。 又有幼官舍人營，掌操練京衛幼官及應襲舍人，坐營官一，四司把總各一。 此五軍營之部分也。 已，得邊外降丁三千，立營分五司。 一，掌執大駕龍旗、寶纛、勇字旗、負御寶及兵仗局什物上直官軍。 一，掌執左右二十隊勇字旗、大駕旗纛金鼓上直官軍。 一，掌傳令營旗牌，御用監盔甲、尚冠、尚衣、尚履什物上直官軍。 一，掌執大駕勇字旗、五軍紅盔貼直軍上直官軍。 一，掌殺虎手、馬轎及前哨馬營上直明甲官軍、隨侍營隨侍東宮官捨、遼東備御回還官軍。 提督內臣二，武臣二，掌號頭官二，坐司官五，見操把總三十四，上直把總十六，明甲把總四。 此三千營之部分也。 已，徵交阯，得火器法，立營肄習。 提督內臣、武臣，掌號頭官，皆視三千營，亦分為五軍。 中軍，坐營內臣一，武臣一。 其下四司，各監槍內臣一，把司官一，把總官二。 左右掖、哨皆如之。 又因得都督譚廣馬五千匹，置營名五千下，掌操演火器及隨駕護衛馬隊官軍。 坐營內臣、武臣各一，其下四司，各把司官二。 此神機營之部分也。 居常，五軍肄營陣，三千肄巡哨，神機肄火器。 大駕徵行，則大營居中，五軍分駐，步內騎外，騎外為神機，神機外為長圍，週二十裡，樵採其中。 三大營之制如此。
Yongle raised the number of capital guards to seventy-two. He also split infantry and cavalry into a central corps and left and right flank and outpost wings—the Five Armies proper. Each year troops from Zhongdu, Shandong, Henan, and Daning rotated to the capital for duty under this camp. It had one eunuch superintendent, two military officers, two signal officers, a great-camp commander with two platoon chiefs, a central-camp commander, and separate horse and foot platoon chiefs. The left and right flank and outpost wings had the same officer structure. Twelve additional camps handled the emperor's escort cavalry, each with two platoon chiefs. The Encircling Handlers Camp drilled palace halberd guards and capital foot troops under one camp commander and four numbered sections, each with two platoon chiefs. The Junior Officer and Attendant Camp trained young capital officers and designated heirs under one camp commander and four section chiefs. Such were the subdivisions of the Five Armies Camp. Later three thousand surrendered border tribesmen were organized into a camp divided into five sections. The first section carried the great procession dragon banners, imperial pennants, valor flags, seal bearers, and palace troops with Armory Bureau equipment. Another held the twenty companies of valor flags on left and right, great procession banners and drums, and their direct-duty troops. Another handled signal flags and placards and palace troops with armor and regalia from the Imperial Workshop and wardrobe offices. Another carried great-procession valor flags and the Five Armies red-helmet palace guard. The fifth managed tiger-slayers, horse litters, vanguard cavalry in bright armor, Eastern Palace attendants, and troops back from Liaodong garrison duty. Its staff comprised two eunuch superintendents, two military officers, two signal officers, five section commanders, thirty-four drill platoon chiefs, sixteen palace-duty chiefs, and four bright-armor chiefs. Such were the subdivisions of the Three Thousand Camp. After the Jiaozhi campaign fire-arms techniques were adopted and a dedicated training camp was formed. Its eunuch superintendents, military officers, and signal officers mirrored the Three Thousand Camp, likewise organized as five armies. The central corps had one eunuch camp commander and one military officer. Below it four sections each had a firearms eunuch, a section officer, and two platoon chiefs. The flank and outpost wings followed the same pattern. Five thousand horses from Commissioner Tan Guang led to a camp called the Five Thousand Subordinates, drilling firearms and imperial escort cavalry. It had one eunuch and one military camp commander, with four sections each led by two section officers. Such were the subdivisions of the Divine Engine Camp. In peacetime the Five Armies practiced formations, the Three Thousand patrol drills, and the Divine Engine firearms. On imperial campaigns the great camp sat at the center, the Five Armies ringed it—infantry inner, cavalry outer—the Divine Engine beyond the horse, then a twenty-li cordon for wood and forage within. Such was how the three great camps were arranged.
6
洪熙時，始命武臣一人總理營政。 宣德五年，以成國公硃勇言，選京衛卒隸五軍訓練。 明年，命科道及錦衣官核諸衛軍數。 帝之徵高煦及破兀良哈，皆以京營取勝焉。 正統二年，復因勇言，令錦衣等衛、守陵衛卒存其半，其上直旗校隸錦衣督操，餘悉歸三大營。 土木之難，京軍沒幾盡。
Under Hongxi a single military officer was first put in charge of camp administration. In Xuande 5, at Duke of Cheng Zhu Yong's urging, capital-guard troops were assigned to the Five Armies for training. The following year censorial and Embroidered Uniform Guard officers were told to audit every guard's strength. Campaigns against Gao Xu and victories over the Uriankhai both relied on the capital garrison. In Zhengtong 2, again at Yong's urging, palace and tomb guards kept half their rolls; palace banner troops stayed under the Embroidered Uniform Guard for drill, and everyone else rejoined the three great camps. At Tumu the metropolitan army was nearly annihilated.
7
景帝用于謙為兵部尚書，謙以三大營各為教令，臨期調撥，兵將不相習，乃請於諸營選勝兵十萬，分十營團練。 每營都督一，號頭官一，都指揮二，把總十，領隊一百，管隊二百。 於三營都督中推一人充總兵官，監以內臣，兵部尚書或都御史一人為提督。 其餘軍歸本營，曰老家。 京軍之制一變。 英宗復闢，謙死，團營罷。
Emperor Jing made Yu Qian Minister of War. Qian argued that the three camps' separate commands and last-minute mobilization meant troops and officers never trained together, and asked to pick 100,000 elite soldiers for ten regiment camps. Each camp had a regional commander, a signal officer, two commanders-in-chief, ten platoon chiefs, one hundred company leaders, and two hundred squad leaders. One of the three camps' commanders served as supreme commander under eunuch supervision, with the Minister of War or a censor-in-chief as superintendent. All other troops stayed in their home camps—the 'old home' reserve. The metropolitan army system was transformed overnight. After Yingzong's restoration Qian was executed and the regiment camps were disbanded.
8
憲宗立，復之，增為十二。 成化二年復罷。 命分一等、次等訓練。 尋選得一等軍十四萬有奇。 帝以數多，令仍分十二營團練，而區其名，有奮、耀、練、顯四武營，取、果、效、鼓四勇營，立、伸、揚、振四威營。 命侯十二人掌之，各佐以都指揮，監以內臣，提督以勳臣，名其軍曰選鋒。 不任者仍為老家以供役，而團營之法又稍變。 二十年，立殫忠、效義二營； 練京衛舍人、餘丁。 二營，永樂間設，後廢，至是復設。 未幾，以無益罷。 帝在位久，京營特注意，然缺伍至七萬五千有奇，大率為權貴所隱佔。 又用汪直總督團營，禁旅專掌於內臣，自帝始也。
When Chenghua took the throne the system was restored and expanded to twelve camps. In Chenghua 2 they were abolished again. Troops were ordered trained in first- and second-grade tiers. Selection soon yielded just over 140,000 first-grade troops. Finding the numbers excessive, the emperor kept twelve regiment camps with distinct names: four martial camps (Exertion, Radiance, Drill, Display), four valor camps (Seize, Fruit, Effect, Drum), and four awe camps (Establish, Extend, Raise, Quake). Twelve marquises commanded them, each with a commander-in-chief, eunuch supervision, and a meritorious grandee as superintendent—the force was called the Selected Vanguard. Unfit soldiers stayed in the old-home pool for corvée, and the regiment system shifted once more. In year 20 the Utmost Loyalty and Devoted Service camps were set up; to drill capital-guard attendants and surplus household sons. Both camps dated to Yongle, had been abolished, and were now restored. Soon they were scrapped as useless. After a long reign the emperor still watched the capital garrison closely, yet rolls showed 75,000 vacancies—mostly nobles hiding soldiers on their estates. Wang Zhi was put in charge of the regiment camps—eunuch monopoly of the imperial guard began with this reign.
9
世宗立，久之，從廷臣言，設文臣知兵者一人領京營。 是時額兵十萬七千餘人，而存者僅半。 專理京營兵部尚書李承勳請足十二萬之數。 部議遵弘治中例，老者補以壯丁，逃、故者清軍官依期解補。 從之。 十五年，都御史王廷相提督團營，條上三弊：一，軍士多雜派，工作終歲，不得入操。 雖名團營聽徵，實與田夫無異。 二，軍士替代，吏胥需索重賄，貧軍不能辦，老羸苟且應役，而精壯子弟不得收練。 三，富軍憚營操徵調，率賄將弁置老家數中，貧者雖老疲，亦常操練。 語頗切中。 既而兩郊九廟諸宮殿之工起，役軍益多。 兵部請分番為二，半團操，半放歸，而收其月廩僱役。 詔行一年。 自後邊警急，團營見兵少，僅選騎卒三萬，仍號東西官廳。 餘者悉老弱，仍為營帥、中官私役。
After Jiajing took the throne, the court eventually appointed one literati official versed in military affairs to head the capital garrison. Authorized strength stood above 107,000, but barely half were actually on the rolls. Li Chengxun, the Minister of War in charge of the capital garrison, asked to restore the full 120,000-man establishment. The ministry cited Hongzhi practice—replace elderly soldiers with young men and have clearing officers deliver deserters and dead rolls for timely replacement. The emperor approved. In year 15 Censor-in-Chief Wang Tingxiang, superintendent of the regiment camps, listed three abuses: first, soldiers were diverted to odd jobs year-round and never drilled. Though listed as regiment troops ready for call-up, they were indistinguishable from farmhands. Second, at rotation time clerks extorted heavy bribes; poor soldiers could not pay, so the old and weak filled the ranks while fit young men never entered training. Third, rich soldiers bribed officers to list them in the old-home pool and avoid drill; the poor, however old and worn, drilled constantly. His analysis struck home. Then work began on suburban altars, the Nine Temples, and palace projects, and ever more soldiers were pressed into labor. The Ministry of War proposed splitting rotations: half would drill with the regiments, half go home while their monthly grain pay funded hired labor. An edict put the plan in force for one year. Later, as border alarms mounted, the regiment camps could field few troops; only 30,000 cavalry were picked, still called the Eastern and Western Staff Halls. Everyone else was old or weak, kept as private servants for camp commanders and eunuchs.
10
二十九年，俺答入寇，兵部尚書丁汝夔核營伍不及五六萬人。 驅出城門，皆流涕不敢前，諸將領亦相顧變色。 汝夔坐誅。 大學士嚴嵩乃請振刷以圖善後。 吏部侍郎王邦瑞攝兵部，因言：「國初，京營勁旅不減七八十萬，元戎宿將常不乏人。 自三大營變為十二團營，又變為兩官廳，雖浸不如初，然額軍尚三十八萬有奇。 今武備積馳，見籍止十四萬餘，而操練者不過五六萬，支糧則有，調遣則無。 比敵騎深入，戰守俱稱無軍。 即見在兵，率老弱疲憊、市井遊販之徒，衣甲器械取給臨時。 此其弊不在逃亡，而在佔役； 不在軍士，而在將領。 蓋提督、坐營、號頭、把總諸官，多世冑紈胯，平時佔役營軍，以空名支餉，臨操則肆集市人，呼舞博笑而已。 先年，尚書王瓊、毛伯溫、劉天和常有意振飭。 然將領惡其害己，陰謀阻撓，軍士又習於驕惰，競倡流言，事復中止，釀害至今。 乞大振乾綱，遣官精核。」 帝是其言，命兵部議興革。
In year 29, when Altan invaded, Minister Ding Ruokui counted fewer than sixty thousand men in the camps. Driven through the gates, the men wept and would not advance; the generals exchanged pale glances. Ruokui was executed for the failure. Grand Secretary Yan Song then called for a thorough shake-up to set things right. Vice Minister Wang Bangrui, acting head of the War Ministry, said: "At the founding the capital garrison fielded at least seven or eight hundred thousand crack troops, and seasoned commanders were never scarce. After the three great camps became twelve regiment camps, then two staff halls, quality had slipped, yet authorized rolls still listed over 380,000. Today defenses have rotted away: rolls show barely 140,000, drillable men perhaps sixty thousand—pay is drawn, but no army can be sent. When enemy horsemen rode deep inland, attack and defense alike reported no troops. Those who did appear were mostly old, weak, or street peddlers, with armor and weapons scrounged at the last minute. The fault lies not in desertion but in diversion to private labor; not in the rank and file but in the officers. Superintendents, camp commanders, signal officers, and platoon chiefs were mostly hereditary nobles who kept soldiers as private servants, drew pay on ghost names, and at drill hired marketplace crowds to shout and caper for show. Ministers Wang Qiong, Mao Bowen, and Liu Tianhe had often tried to restore discipline. Officers sabotaged reforms that threatened them; soldiers, used to arrogance and sloth, spread rumors until every effort collapsed—leaving today's disaster. I beg Your Majesty to restore imperial authority and send officials for a thorough audit. The emperor agreed and ordered the Ministry of War to draft reforms.
11
於是悉罷團營、兩官廳，復三大營舊制。 更三千曰神樞。 罷提督、監槍等內臣。 設武臣一，曰總督京營戎政，以咸寧侯仇鸞為之； 文臣一，曰協理京營戎政，即以邦瑞充之。 其下設副參等官二十六員。 已，又從部議，以四武營歸五軍營中軍，四勇營歸左右哨，四威營歸左右掖。 各設坐營官一員，為正兵，備城守； 參將二員，備徵討。 帝以營制新定，告於太廟行之。 又遣四御史募兵畿輔、山東、山西、河南，得四萬人，分隸神樞、神機。 各設副將一，而增能戰將六員，分領操練。 大將所統三營之兵，居常名曰練勇，有事更定職名。 五軍營：大將一員，統軍一萬，總主三營副、參、遊擊、佐擊及坐營等官； 副將二員，各統軍七千； 左右前後參將四員，各六千； 遊擊四員，各三千。 外備兵六萬六千六百六十人。 神樞營：副將二員，各統軍六千； 佐擊六員，各三千。 外備兵四萬人。 神機營亦如之。 已，又定三大營官數：五軍營一百九十六員，神樞營二百八員，神機營一百八十二員，共五百八十六員。 在京各衛軍，俱分隸三營。 分之為三十營，合之為三大營。 終帝世，其制屢更，最後中軍哨掖之名亦罷，但稱戰守兵兼立車營。
The regiment camps and two staff halls were abolished and the three great camps restored. The Three Thousand Camp was renamed the Divine Pivot. Eunuch superintendents and firearms supervisors were removed. A military superintendent of capital garrison affairs was created, filled by Marquis of Xianning Qiu Luan; and a civil assistant superintendent, filled by Wang Bangrui. Twenty-six deputies and staff officers served beneath them. Later the ministry placed the four martial camps in the Five Armies central corps, the four valor camps in the outpost wings, and the four awe camps in the flank wings. Each wing received a camp commander commanding regular troops for city defense; and two brigade generals for field service. With the new camp system fixed, the emperor announced it at the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Four censors recruited 40,000 men from the capital region, Shandong, Shanxi, and Henan for the Divine Pivot and Divine Engine. Each camp gained a deputy general and six combat generals to lead training. The grand commander's three-camp force was called Drill Braves in peacetime; titles changed when mobilized. Five Armies Camp: one grand commander over 10,000 men, overseeing deputies, brigadiers, strikers, and camp officers of all three camps; two deputy generals of 7,000 each; four brigade generals—left, right, front, rear—of 6,000 each; four mobile strikers of 3,000 each. Reserve strength: 66,660 men. Divine Pivot Camp: two deputy generals of 6,000 each; six assistant strikers of 3,000 each. Reserve strength: 40,000. The Divine Engine Camp followed the same pattern. Officer posts were then fixed: Five Armies 196, Divine Pivot 208, Divine Engine 182—586 total. Every capital guard was assigned to one of the three camps. Thirty sub-camps divided them; three great camps united them. The system changed repeatedly until, late in the reign, central/outpost/flank names were dropped for combat, garrison, and chariot troops.
12
故事，五軍府皆開府給印，主兵籍而不與營操，營操官不給印，戎政之有府與印，自仇鸞始。 鸞方貴幸，言於帝，選各邊兵六萬八千人，分番入衛，與京軍雜練，復令京營將領分練邊兵，於是邊軍盡隸京師。 塞上有警，邊將不得徵集，邊事益壞。 鸞死，乃罷其所置戎政廳首領官之屬，而入衛軍則惟罷甘肅者。
Traditionally the Five Commissions held seals and registers but did not drill troops; drill officers had no seals—military administration with office and seal began with Qiu Luan. Favored by the throne, Luan brought 68,000 border troops on rotating capital duty, mixed with metropolitan troops, and put border armies under capital command. Frontier generals could no longer mobilize their men, and border defense collapsed. After Luan died his military-administration chiefs were abolished; only the Gansu rotating garrison among border troops in the capital was dismissed.
13
隆慶四年，大學士趙貞吉請收將權，更營制。 極言戎政之設府鑄印，以數十萬眾統於一人，非太祖、成祖分府分營本意。 請以官軍九萬分五營，營擇一將，分統訓練。 詔下廷臣議。 尚書霍冀言：「營制，世宗熟慮而後定，不宜更。 惟大將不當專設，戎政不宜有印，請如貞吉言。」 制曰：「可」。 於是三大營各設總兵一，副將二。 其參佐等官，互有增損，各均為十人。 而五軍營兵，均配二營，營十枝，屬二副將分統。 以侯伯充總兵，尋改曰提督。 又用三文臣，亦稱提督。 自設六提督後，各持意見，遇事旬月不決。 給事中溫純言其弊，乃罷，仍設總督、協理二臣。
In Longqing 4 Grand Secretary Zhao Zhenji asked to recover command authority and reform the camps. He argued that offices, seals, and several hundred thousand men under one commander betrayed Taizu and Yongle's intent to divide commissions and camps. He proposed five camps of 90,000 men, each under a general for training. The court was ordered to deliberate. Minister Huo Ji said: "The Emperor Shi fixed the camp system after careful thought—it should not change. Only the grand commander should not stand alone, and military administration should have no seal—as Zhenji urged. The decision: "Approved." Each of the three great camps received a supreme commander and two deputies. Staff officers were adjusted to ten per camp. Five Armies troops were split into two camps of ten companies each under two deputies. Marquises and earls served as supreme commanders, soon retitled superintendents. Three civil officials were added, also called superintendents. With six superintendents, each pushed his own view and decisions stalled for months. Censor Wen Chun exposed the problem; the six posts were abolished and superintendent plus assistant restored.
14
萬歷二年，從給事中歐陽柏請，復給戎政印，汰坐營官二員。 五年，巡視京營科臣林景暘請廣召募，立選鋒。 是時，張居正當國，綜核名實，羣臣多條上兵事，大旨在足兵、選將，營務頗飭。 久之，帝厭政，廷臣漸爭門戶，習於偷惰，遂日廢弛。 三十六年，尚書李化龍理戎政，條上京營積弊。 敕下部議，卒無所振作。 及兵事起，總督京營趙世新請改設教場城內，便演習。 太常少卿胡來朝請調京軍戍邊，可變弱為強。 皆無濟於用。
In Wanli 2 the military seal returned and two camp-commander posts were cut, at Censor Ouyang Bai's request. In year 5 Inspector Lin Jingyang called for wider recruitment and a Selected Vanguard. Under Zhang Juzheng's rigorous governance, officials proposed filling ranks and picking generals; camp discipline improved somewhat. As the emperor lost interest in rule, factional quarrels and laziness set in and discipline collapsed. In year 36 Minister Li Hualong listed the capital garrison's accumulated abuses. Ministries were ordered to act, but nothing changed. When war broke out Superintendent Zhao Shixin asked to move drill grounds inside the walls. Vice Minister Hu Laichao proposed sending capital troops to the frontier to strengthen defenses. None of it helped.
15
天啟三年，協理侍郎硃光祚奏革老家軍，補以少壯。 老家怨，以瓦礫投光祚，遂不果革。 是時，魏忠賢用事，立內操，又增內臣為監視及把牌諸小內監，益募健丁，諸營軍多附之。
In Tianqi 3 Assistant Superintendent Zhu Guangzuo proposed abolishing the old-home pool and recruiting young men. Old-home troops rioted and stoned Guangzuo; the reform failed. Wei Zhongxian ran inner-court drill, added eunuch overseers, recruited strong men, and camp soldiers flocked to him.
16
莊烈帝即位，撤內臣，已而復用。 戎政侍郎李邦華憤京營弊壞，請汰老弱虛冒，而擇材力者為天子親軍。 營卒素驕，有疑其為變者。 勳戚中官亦惡邦華害己，蜚語日聞。 帝為罷邦華，代以陸完學，盡更其法。 京營自監督外，總理捕務者二員，提督禁門、巡視點軍者三員，帝皆以御馬監、司禮、文書房內臣為之，於是營務盡領於中官矣。 十年八月，車駕閱城，鎧甲旌旗甚盛，羣臣悉鸞帶策馬從。 六軍望見乘輿，皆呼萬歲。 帝大悅，召完學入御幄獎勞，酌以金卮，然徒為容觀而已。
Emperor Chongzhen removed inner eunuchs, then brought them back. Vice Minister Li Banghua, furious at the garrison's decay, asked to purge weak and ghost rolls and build a true imperial guard. Camp soldiers were arrogant; some feared he would provoke mutiny. Nobles and eunuchs slandered Banghua daily for threatening their interests. The emperor dismissed Banghua for Lu Wanxue, who rewrote every rule. Beyond superintendents, arrest, gate, and roll-inspection posts all went to eunuchs—camp affairs were wholly inner-court affairs. In the eighth month of year 10 the emperor inspected the walls in splendid armor while officials rode in escort. Six armies sighted the carriage and shouted "Long live the Emperor!" The emperor delighted, summoned Wanxue to reward him with a golden cup—but it was only pageantry.
17
時兵事益亟。 帝命京軍出防剿，皆監以中官。 廩給優渥，挾勢而驕，多奪人俘獲以為功，輕折辱諸將士，將士益解體。 周延儒再入閣，勸罷內操，撤諸監軍。 京兵班師還。 時營將率內臣私人，不知兵。 兵惟註名支糧，買替紛紜，朝甲暮乙，雖有尺籍，莫得而識也。 帝屢旨訓練，然日不過二三百人，未昏遂散。 營兵十萬幸抽驗不及，玩愒佚罰者無算。 帝嘗問戎政侍郎王家彥，家彥曰：「今日惟嚴買替之禁，改操練之法，庶可救萬一，然勢已晚。」 帝不懌而罷。 十六年，襄城伯李國禎總戎政，內臣王承恩監督京營。 明年，流賊入居庸關，至沙河。 京軍出御，聞砲聲潰而歸。 賊長驅犯闕，守陴者僅內操之三千人，京師遂陷。
War grew ever more pressing. Capital troops were sent to fight under eunuch supervision. Well paid and arrogant, they stole others' captives for credit and humiliated officers until morale collapsed. Zhou Yanru returned to office and urged ending inner drill and eunuch overseers. Capital troops came home from the field. Camp commanders were eunuchs' clients who knew no warfare. Men held names only to draw pay; substitutes changed daily—rolls existed but no one knew who served. The emperor ordered drill, but only two or three hundred men trained daily and left before dusk. Of 100,000 soldiers most evaded inspection; countless shirked drill unpunished. Asked by the emperor, Vice Minister Wang Jiayan said only banning substitutes and fixing drill might help slightly—and it was already too late. The emperor was displeased and dropped the subject. In year 16 Marquis Li Guozhen managed military affairs under eunuch Wang Chengen. Next year rebels took Juyong Pass and reached Shahe. Capital troops marched out, fled at the sound of guns, and returned. Rebels rode to the palace; only three thousand inner-drill men held the walls—and the capital fell.
18
大率京軍積弱，由於佔役買閒。 其弊實起於紈胯之營帥，監視之中官，竟以亡國云。
In sum the capital army failed through corvée diversion and bought substitutes. The rot began with noble camp commanders and eunuch overseers—and ended in the dynasty's fall.
19
京營之在南者，永樂北遷，始命中府掌府事官守備南京，節制在南諸衛所。 洪熙初，以內臣司守備。 宣德末，設參贊機務官。 景泰間，增協同守備官。 成化末，命南京兵部尚書參贊機務，視五部特重。 先是，京師立神機營，南京亦增設，與大小二教場同練。 軍士常操不息，風雨方免。 有逃籍者，憲宗命南給事御史時至二場點閱。 成國公硃儀及太監安寧不便，詭言軍機密務，御史詰問名數非宜。 帝為罪御史，仍令守備參贊官閱視，著為令。
The southern capital garrison: after Yongle moved north, princely-estate officials garrisoned Nanjing and commanded southern guards. Under Hongxi eunuchs took over the garrison. At Xuande's end a military-affairs coordinator was added. Under Jingtai a joint garrison officer was added. Late in Chenghua the Nanjing War Minister coordinated military affairs with special rank among the five ministries. The capital's Divine Engine Camp had a Nanjing counterpart, drilling with large and small training grounds. Soldiers drilled constantly, resting only in wind and rain. Emperor Xian ordered southern censors to inspect both drill grounds when deserters appeared. Duke Zhu Yi and eunuch An Ning claimed military secrecy made censorial roll checks improper. The emperor punished the censor yet ordered garrison officers to inspect—made permanent regulation.
20
嘉靖中，言者數奏南營耗亡之弊。 二十四年冬，詔立振武營，簡諸營銳卒充之，益以淮揚趫】捷者。 江北舊有池河營，專城守，護陵寢。 二營兵各三千，領以勳臣，別設場訓練。 然振武營卒多無賴子。 督儲侍郎黃懋官抑削之，遂嘩，毆懋官至死。 詔誅首惡，以戶部尚書江東為參贊。 東多所寬假，眾益驕，無復法紀。 給事中魏元吉以為言，因舉浙直副總兵劉顯往提督。 未至，池河兵再變，毆千戶吳欽。 詔顯亟往，許以川兵五百自隨，事始定。 隆慶改元，罷振武營，以其卒千餘仍隸二場及神機營。
Under Jiajing memorialists repeatedly decried the southern camp's decay. In winter of year 24 the Quake Martial Camp was formed from elite troops plus Huai-Yang swift runners. The Chihe Camp north of the river had guarded cities and imperial tombs. Each camp fielded 3,000 men under meritorious commanders on separate drill grounds. But Quake Martial troops were mostly ruffians. Vice Minister Huang Maoguan cut their pay; they rioted and beat him to death. The ringleaders were executed and Revenue Minister Jiang Dong made coordinator. Dong was too lenient; the troops grew bolder and ignored discipline. Censor Wei Yuanji recommended Deputy Commander Liu Xian of Zhe-Zhi as superintendent. Before Liu arrived, Chihe troops mutinied again and beat Company Commander Wu Qin. Xian was ordered to proceed at once with 500 Sichuan troops; order was restored. At Longqing's inauguration Quake Martial Camp was abolished; its thousand-odd men joined the two drill grounds and Divine Engine.
21
萬歷十一年，參贊尚書潘季馴言：「操軍原額十有二萬，今僅二萬餘。 祖軍與選充參半，選充例不補，營伍由是虛。 請如祖軍收補。」 已而王遴代季馴，言：「大小二場，新舊官軍二萬三千有餘。 請如北京各邊，三千一百二十人為一枝，每枝分中、左、右哨，得兵七枝。 餘置旗鼓下，備各營缺。」 從之。 巡視科臣阮子孝極論南營耗弊，言頗切中，然卒無振飭之者。 已，從尚書吳文華請，增參贊旗牌，得以軍法從事，兼聽便宜調遣。 三十一年，添設南中軍標營，選大教場卒千餘，設中軍參將統練。 規制雖具，而時狃苟安，闒茸一如北京。 及崇禎中，流寇陷廬、鳳，踞上流，有窺留都意。 南中將士日夜惴惴，以護陵寢、守京城為名，幸賊不東下而已。 最後，史可法為參贊尚書，思振積弊，未久而失，蓋無可言焉。
In Wanli 11 Coordinator Pan Jixun said drill troops were authorized at 120,000 but only 20,000 remained. Hereditary and selected recruits split the rolls; selected men were not replaced, hollowing the camps. He asked to refill them like hereditary troops. Wang Lin succeeded Pan and reported 23,000 old and new troops on both drill grounds. He proposed Beijing's model: 3,120 men per company in central, left, and right wings—seven companies total. The rest served under banners to fill vacancies. The court approved. Censor Ruan Zixiao decried southern decay accurately, yet nothing changed. Later Coordinator Wu Wenhua gained signal banners, military-law authority, and discretionary command. In year 31 a southern central standard camp formed with 1,000 elite troops from the great drill ground. Rules existed, but complacency made Nanjing as rotten as Beijing. Under Chongzhen rebels seized Luzhou and Fengyang and eyed Nanjing from the upper Yangzi. Southern troops trembled daily, guarding tombs and the secondary capital while praying rebels would not march east. Finally Shi Kefa tried reform as coordinator but failed quickly—little more need be said.
22
侍衛上直軍之制。 太祖即吳王位，其年十二月設拱衛司，領校尉，隸都督府。 洪武二年，改親軍都尉府，統中、左、右、前、後五衛軍，而儀鑾司隸焉。 六年，造守衛金牌，銅塗金為之。 長一尺，闊三寸。 以仁、義、禮、智、信為號。 二面俱篆文：一曰：「守衛」，一曰：「隨駕」。 掌於尚寶司，衛士佩以上直，下直納之。 十五年，罷府及司，置錦衣衛。 所屬有南北鎮撫司十四所，所隸有將軍、力士、校尉，掌直駕侍衛、巡察緝捕。 已又擇公、侯、伯、都督、指揮之嫡次子，置勳衛散騎舍人，而府軍前衛及旗手等十二衛，各有帶刀官。 錦衣所隸將軍，初名天武，後改稱大漢將軍，凡千五百人。 設千、百戶，總旗七員。 其眾自為一軍，下直操練如制，缺至五十人方補。 月糈二石，積勞試補千、百戶，亡者許以親子弟魁梧材勇者代，無則選民戶充之。
The system of palace escort and direct-duty forces. When Taizu became King of Wu, the Arch Guard Office was set up in the twelfth month under the military commission. In Hongwu 2 it became the Personal Guard Command over five guard armies, with the Ceremonial Guard Bureau beneath. In Hongwu 6 gilded copper guard plaques were cast. Each was one foot long and three inches wide. They were numbered Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, and Trustworthiness. Both sides bore seal script: "Guard" and "Escort the Carriage." The Imperial Seals Office held them; guards wore them on duty and returned them after. In Hongwu 15 the command and bureau were abolished for the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Fourteen north and south posts held generals, strongmen, and guardsmen for escort, palace guard, patrol, and arrest. Later heirs of nobles became meritorious-guard cavalry attendants; the Front Army and twelve guards including Banner Hand had sword officers. Embroidered Uniform generals were first Heavenly Martial, later Great Han Generals—1,500 men. They had thousand- and hundred-household chiefs and seven chief banner officers. They drilled off duty; vacancies were filled only at fifty short. Pay was two piculs monthly; merit could promote them; tall kinsmen or civilians filled deaths.
23
永樂中，置五軍、三千營。 增紅盔、明甲二將軍及叉刀圍子手之屬，備宿衛。 校尉、力士歛民間丁壯無惡疾、過犯者。 力士先隸旗手衛，後改隸錦衣及騰驤四衛，專領隨駕金鼓、旗幟及守衛四門。 校尉原隸儀鑾司，司改錦衣衛，仍隸焉。 掌擎執鹵簿儀仗，曰鑒輿，曰擎蓋，曰扇手，曰旌節，曰旗幢，曰班劍，曰斧鉞，曰戈戟，曰弓矢，曰馴馬，凡十司，及駕前宣召差遣，三日一更直。 設總旗、小旗，而領以勳戚官。 官凡六：管大漢將軍及散騎舍人、府軍前衛帶刀官者一，管五軍營叉刀圍子手者一，管神樞營紅盔將軍者四。 聖節、正旦、冬至及大祀、誓戒、冊封、遣祭、傳制用全直，直三千人，餘則更番，器仗衣服位列亦稍殊焉。 凡郊祀、經筵、巡幸侍從各有定制，詳《禮志》中。 居常，當直將軍朝夕分候午門外，夜則司更，共百人。 而五軍叉刀官軍，悉於皇城直宿。 掌侍衛官輸直，日一員。 惟掌錦衣衛將軍及叉刀手者，每日侍。 尤嚴收捕之令，及諸脫更離直者。 共計錦衣衛大漢將軍一千五百七人，府軍前衛帶刀官四十，神樞營紅盔將軍二千五百，把總指揮十六，明甲將軍五百二，把總指揮二，大漢將軍八，五軍營叉刀圍子手三千，把總指揮八，勳衛散騎舍人無定員，旗手等衛帶刀官一百八十，此侍衛親軍大較也。
Under Yongle the Five Armies and Three Thousand camps were set up. Red-helmet, bright-armor generals and halberd handlers were added for palace guard. Guardsmen and strongmen were drawn from healthy civilians without criminal records. Strongmen first served Banner Hand, later Embroidered Uniform and Flying Dragon guards for escort drums, banners, and gate duty. Guardsmen belonged to the Ceremonial Bureau; when it became Embroidered Uniform Guard they stayed under it. Ten offices bore regalia—carriage, canopy, fans, banners, weapons, horses—and rotated summons every three days. Chief and junior banner officers served under meritorious kin. Six posts commanded Great Han generals and sword officers, Five Armies halberd handlers, and four Divine Pivot red-helmet generals. Full duty of 3,000 served major rites; otherwise rotations applied with differing gear. Suburban rites, lectures, and tours had fixed escort rules in the Treatise on Rites. Daily, on-duty generals waited at the Meridian Gate; at night a hundred men called the hours. Five Armies halberd troops garrisoned the imperial city by night. Palace-guard officers rotated one per day. Only Embroidered Uniform generals and halberd bearers attended daily. Arrest rules and absenteeism were strictly punished. Totals: 1,507 Great Han generals, 40 Front Army sword officers, 2,500 red-helmet generals, 502 bright-armor generals, 3,000 halberd handlers, plus unattached attendants and 180 sword officers—roughly the palace escort.
24
正統後，妃、主、公、侯、中貴子弟授官者，多寄祿錦衣中。 正德時，奏帶傳升冒銜者，又不下數百人。 武宗好養勇士，嘗以千、把總四十七人，注錦衣衛帶俸捨、餘千一百人充御馬監家將勇士，食糧騎操。 又令大漢將軍試百戶，五年實授，著為令。 幸竇開而恩澤濫，宿衛稍輕矣。 至萬歷間，衛士多佔役、買閒，其弊亦與三大營等。 雖定離直者奪月糈之例，然不能革。
After Zhengtong noble and eunuch kin often held nominal Embroidered Uniform posts. Under Zhengde hundreds held false titles from memorial promotion. Emperor Wuzong once registered 1,100 Imperial Stud warriors under forty-seven thousand- and platoon-chiefs with grain pay. Great Han generals trialed as hundred-household chiefs for five years before substantive rank—made regulation. Favors overflowed and palace guard grew lax. By Wanli guardsmen faced corvée diversion and bought substitutes like the three great camps. A rule stripped monthly grain from absentees, but the abuse persisted.
25
太祖之設錦衣也，專司鹵簿。 是時方用重刑，有罪者往往下錦衣衛鞫實，本衛參刑獄自此始。 文皇入立，倚錦衣為心腹。 所屬南北兩鎮撫司，南理本衛刑名及軍匠，而北專治詔獄。 凡問刑、奏請皆自達，不關白衛帥。 用法深刻，為禍甚烈，詳《刑法志》。 又錦衣緝民間情偽，以印官奉敕領官校。 東廠太監緝事，別領官校，亦從本衛撥給，因是恆與中官相表裡。 皇城守衛，用二十二衛卒，不獨錦衣軍，而門禁亦上直中事。 京城巡捕有專官，然每令錦衣官協同。 地親權要，遂終明之世云。 初，太祖取婺州，選富民子弟充宿衛，曰御中軍。 已，置帳前總制親兵都指揮使。 後復省，置都鎮撫司，隸都督府，總牙兵巡徼。 而金吾前後、羽林左右、虎賁左右、府軍左右前後十衛，以時番上，號親軍。 有請，得自行部，不關都督府。 及定天下，改都鎮撫司為留守，設左右前後中五衛，關領內府銅符，日遣二人點閱，夜亦如之，所謂皇城守衛官軍也。
Taizu created the Embroidered Uniform Guard solely for ceremonial regalia. Heavy punishments sent the guilty to the guard for interrogation—its criminal role began. Yongle relied on the guard as intimate agents. South posts handled guard criminal cases and artisans; north posts ran the imperial prison. Trials and memorials bypassed the guard commander to reach the throne. Harsh law brought terrible harm—see the Treatise on Punishments. The guard also investigated civilians, seal officers leading guardsmen by imperial order. Eastern Depot investigators used guard detachments, binding the guard to inner eunuchs. Imperial city guard drew on twenty-two guards, not Embroidered Uniform troops alone; gates were a direct-duty matter. Capital patrol had dedicated officers but often used Embroidered Uniform help. Proximity to power kept it dominant through the Ming. Taking Wuzhou, Taizu chose wealthy sons as palace guard—the Imperial Central Army. Later he set up the Front Headquarters Personal Army Commander. Later a Chief Pacification Office under the commission commanded patrol guardsmen. Ten guards including Golden Crow, Feathered Forest, Tiger Guard, and Army Guards rotated as the personal army. They could petition through their own offices, bypassing the commission. After conquest the office became Garrison Command; five guards held palace copper tallies with twice-daily inspection—the imperial city guard.
26
二十七年，申定皇城門禁約。 凡朝參，門始啟，直日都督、將軍及帶刀、指揮、千百戶、鎮撫、舍人入後，百官始以次入。 上直軍三日一更番，內臣出入必合符嚴索，以金幣出者驗視勘合，以兵器雜藥入門者擒治，失察者重罪之。 民有事陳奏，不許固遏。 帝念衛士勞苦，令家有婚喪、疾病、產子諸不得已事，得自言情，家無餘丁，父母俱病者，許假侍養，愈乃復。
In Hongwu 27 imperial city gate rules were fixed. At audience gates opened; duty commissioners and guard officers entered before officials. Troops rotated every three days; eunuchs needed tallies, weapons at gates meant arrest, negligence was heavily punished. Petitioners were not to be turned away. Taizu allowed leave for weddings, mourning, illness, or nursing sick parents.
27
先是，新宮成，詔中書省曰：「軍士戰鬥傷殘，難備行伍，可於宮牆外造捨以居之，晝則治生，夜則巡警。」 其後，定十二衛隨駕軍上直者，人給錢三百。 二十八年，復於四門置捨，使恩軍為衛士執爨。 恩軍者，得罪免死及諸降卒也。
When the new palace was built, Taizu ordered lodges outside the wall for wounded soldiers to work by day and patrol by night. Later twelve guards' escort troops on duty received three hundred cash each. In Hongwu 28 lodges at four gates let favor troops cook for guardsmen. Favor troops were men spared death or surrendered soldiers.
28
永樂中，定制，諸衛各有分地。 自午門達承天門左右，逮長安左右門，至皇城東西，屬旗手、濟陽、濟川、府軍及虎賁右、金吾前、燕山前、羽林前八衛。 東華門左右至東安門左右，屬金吾、羽林、府軍、燕山四左衛。 西華門左右至西安門左右，屬四右衛。 玄武門左右至北安門左右，屬金吾、府軍後及通州、大興四衛。 衛有銅符，頒自太祖。 曰承，曰東，曰西，曰北，各以其門名也。 巡者左半，守者右半。 守官遇巡官至，合契而從事。 各門守衛官，夜各領銅令申字牌巡警，自一至十六。 內皇城衛捨四十，外皇城衛捨七十二，俱設銅鐸，次第循環。 內皇城左右坐更將軍百，每更二十人，四門走更官八，交互往來，鈐印於籍以為驗。 都督及帶刀、千百戶日各一人，領申字牌直宿，及點各門軍士。 後更定都督府，改命侯、伯歛書焉。
Under Yongle each guard received a fixed sector. From Meridian Gate to imperial city east and west: eight guards including Banner Hand, Jiyang, Tiger Guard, Golden Crow, and Feathered Forest. East Flowery Gate to East Peace Gate: four left guards. West Flowery Gate to West Peace Gate: four right guards. Dark Warrior Gate to North Peace Gate: four guards including Golden Crow rear and Tongzhou. Guards held copper tallies from Taizu. Named Accept, East, West, and North for their gates. Patrol held left halves, garrison right halves. Patrol and garrison matched tallies before acting. Gate garrison officers patrolled nightly with numbered Shen plaques one through sixteen. Forty inner and seventy-two outer guard lodges rang copper clappers in sequence. A hundred night-watch generals and eight gate runners stamped registers each watch. Daily a commissioner, sword officer, and thousand-household chief inspected gates overnight. Later marquises and earls collected registers after commission reform.
29
洪熙初，更造衛士懸牌。 時親軍缺伍，衛士不獲代。 帝命選他衛軍守端、直諸門，尚書李慶謂不可。 帝曰：「人主在佈德以屬人心，苟心相屬，雖非親幸，何患焉。」 宣德三年，命御史點閱衛卒。 天順中，復增給事中一人。 成化十年，尚書馬文升言：「太祖置親軍指揮使司，不隸五府。 文皇帝復設親軍十二衛，又增勇士數千員，屬御馬監，上直，而以腹心臣領之。 比者日廢弛，勇士與諸營無異，皇城之內，兵衛無幾，諸監門卒尤疲羸，至不任受甲。 宜敕御馬監官，即見軍選練。 仍敕守衛官常嚴步伍，譏察出入，以防微銷萌。」 帝然其言，亦未能有所整飭。
Under Hongxi guard hanging plaques were remade. Personal-army rolls were short and guardsmen could not rotate out. The emperor wanted other guards on the End and Direct gates; Minister Li Qing objected. The emperor said: "A ruler wins hearts through virtue; if men are loyal, why fear they are not favorites? In Xuande 3 censors inspected guard soldiers. Under Tianshun one more supervising censor was added. In Chenghua 10 Minister Ma Wensheng said Taizu created a Personal Guard Command outside the five commissions. Yongle restored twelve personal guards and added thousands of Imperial Stud warriors under trusted ministers. Discipline had collapsed; warriors matched other camps; gate soldiers were too weak to wear armor. Imperial Stud officers should drill the troops on hand. Garrison officers should tighten formations and watch all comings and goings. The emperor agreed but still could not reform matters.
30
正德初，嚴皇城紅舖巡徼，日令留守衛指揮五員，督內外夜巡軍。 而兵部郎中、主事各一人，同御史、錦衣衛稽閱，毋攝他務。 嘉靖七年，增直宿官軍衣糧，五年一給。 萬歷十一年，於皇城內外設把總二員，分東西管理。 時門禁益弛，衛軍役於中官，每至空伍，賃市兒行丐應點閱。 叉刀、紅盔日出始一入直，直廬虛無人。 坐更將軍皆納月鏹於所轄。 凡提號、巡城、印簿、走更諸事悉廢。 十五年，再申門禁。 久之，給事中吳文煒乞盡復舊制。 不報。 末年，有失金牌久之始覺者。 梃擊之事，張差一妄男子，得闌入殿廷，其積弛可知。 是後中外多事，啟、禎兩朝雖屢申飭，竟莫能挽，侵尋以至於亡。
Early Zhengde tightened red-shack patrols under five Garrison Command commissioners nightly. A War Ministry director and clerk joined censors and the Embroidered Uniform Guard in audit, with no other duties. In Jiajing 7 direct-duty clothing and grain were raised and issued every five years. In Wanli 11 two platoon chiefs managed east and west inside and outside the imperial city. Gate control slackened; guards served eunuchs, rolls went empty, and marketplace boys stood inspection. Halberd and red-helmet men reported only at dawn; duty lodges were empty. Night-watch generals paid monthly silver to superiors. Roll call, wall patrol, registers, and running watch were abandoned. In year 15 gate control was proclaimed again. Later Censor Wu Wenwei asked to restore the old system entirely. The court did not reply. Late in the dynasty a lost gold plaque went unnoticed for ages. In the staff-blow affair madman Zhang Cha entered the hall—showing how far discipline had collapsed. Troubles multiplied; Chongzhen and Tianqi ordered reform repeatedly, yet decline still led to ruin.
31
嘉靖元年，復增城外把總一員，並舊為五，分轄城內東西二路，城外西南、東南、東北三路，增營兵馬五千。 又十選一，立尖哨五百騎，厚其月糈。 命參將督操，而監以兵部郎。 是時京軍弊壞積久，捕營亦然。 三十四年，軍士僅三百餘。 以給事中丘嶽等言，削指揮樊經職，而禁以軍馬私役騎乘。 萬歷十二年，從兵部議，京城內外盜發，自卯至申責兵馬司，自酉至寅責巡捕官，賊眾則協力捕剿。 是後，軍額倍增，駕出及朝審、錄囚皆結隊駐巷口。 籍伍雖具，而士馬實凋弊不足用。 捕營提督一，參將二，把總十八，巡軍萬一千，馬五千匹。 盜賊縱橫，至竊內中器物。 獲其□童索，竟不能得也。 莊烈帝時，又以兵部左侍郎專督。 然營軍半虛廩，馬多僱人騎，失盜嚴限止五日，玩法卒如故。
In Jiajing 1 a fifth outer platoon chief was added with 5,000 more troops across five sectors. One in ten formed five hundred elite scouts with higher pay. A brigade general drilled them under a War Ministry director. The capital army and patrol camp were both long corrupt. In year 34 only 300-odd soldiers remained. Censor Qiu Yue's memorial stripped Commander Fan Jing and banned private use of camp horses. In Wanli 12 the Horse Bureau answered for daytime theft and patrol officers for night; large bands were suppressed jointly. Rolls doubled; imperial outings and trials drew squads to every lane. Registers looked full, but men and horses were useless. Patrol camp: one superintendent, two brigade generals, eighteen platoon chiefs, 11,000 soldiers, 5,000 horses. Bandits ran rampant, even stealing inside the palace. Even with leads in hand, the culprits were never caught. Under Chongzhen a Vice Minister of War supervised the camp alone. Half drew empty pay; horses were ridden by hired men; five-day theft limits changed nothing.
32
四衛營者，永樂時，以迤北逃回軍卒供養馬役，給糧授室，號曰勇士。 後多以進馬者充，而聽御馬監官提調，名隸羽林，身不隸也。 軍卒相冒，支糧不可稽。 宣德六年，乃專設羽林三千戶所統之，凡三千一百餘人。 尋改武驤、騰驤左右衛，稱四衛軍。 選本衛官四員為坐營指揮，督以太監，別營開操，稱禁兵。 器械、衣甲異他軍，橫於輦下，往往為中官佔匿。 弘治末，勇士萬一千七百八十人，旗軍三萬一百七十人，歲支廩粟五十萬。 孝宗納廷臣言，核之。 又令內臣所進勇士，必由兵部驗送乃給廩，五年籍其人數，著為令。 省度支金錢歲數十萬。 武宗即位，中官寧瑾乞留所汰人數。 言官及尚書劉大夏持不可，不聽。 後兩官廳設，遂選四衛勇士隸西官廳，掌以邊將江彬、太監張永等。
Four guard camps: Yongle used surrendered northern troops for horse service, paid and housed as warriors. Later horse-presenters filled the ranks under Imperial Stud eunuchs—nominally Feathered Forest, not truly so. False roll claims made grain pay unauditable. In Xuande 6 Feathered Forest's three-thousand-household office commanded 3,100-odd men. Soon renamed Martial Flying and Flying Dragon guards—the four guard armies. Four guard officers became camp commanders under eunuchs on separate grounds—the forbidden troops. Their gear differed from other troops and was often hidden by eunuchs under the carriage. Late Hongzhi: 11,780 warriors, 31,170 banner soldiers, 500,000 piculs yearly. Emperor Hongzhi audited them at officials' urging. Eunuch-presented warriors needed War Ministry inspection before pay; rolls were checked every five years. Expenditure fell by hundreds of thousands yearly. At Wuzong's accession eunuch Ning Jin asked to keep cut rolls. Censors and Minister Liu Daxia objected in vain. Later four-guard warriors joined the Western Staff Hall under Jiang Bin and eunuch Zhang Yong.
33
世宗入立，詔自弘治十八年存額外，悉裁之，替補必兵部查駁。 而御馬監馬牛羊，令巡視科道核數。 既而中旨免核，馬多虛增。 後數年，御馬太監閔洪復矯旨選四衛官。 給事中鄭自璧劾其欺蔽，不報。 久之，兵部尚書李承勳請以選核仍隸本部，中官謂非便。 帝從承勳言。 十六年，又命收復登極詔書所裁者，凡四千人。 後五年，內臣言，勇士僅存五千餘，請令子侄充選，以備邊警。 部臣言：「故額定五千三百三十人。 八年清稽，已浮其數，且此營本非為備邊設者。」 帝從部議。 然隱射、佔役、冒糧諸弊率如故。 萬歷二年，減坐營官二員。 已，復定營官缺由兵部擇用。 其後復為中官所撓，仍屬御馬監。 廷臣多以為言，不能從。 四十二年，給事中姚宗文點閱本營，言：「官勇三千六百四十七，僅及其半。 馬一千四十三，則無至者。 官旗七千二百四十，止四千六百餘。 馬亦如之。 乞下法司究治。」 帝不能問。 天啟末，巡視御史高弘圖請視三大營例，分弓弩、短兵、火器，加以訓練。 至莊烈帝時，提督內臣曹化淳奏改為勇衛營，以周遇吉、黃得功為帥，遂成勁旅，出擊賊，輒有功。 得功軍士畫虎頭於皁布以衣甲，賊望見黑虎頭軍，多走避，其得力出京營上云。
Jiajing cut all beyond the Hongzhi 18 quota; replacements needed War Ministry approval. Inspecting censors were to audit Imperial Stud livestock. Later an inner edict ended audits; horse rolls were inflated. Years later Imperial Stud eunuch Min Hong forged an edict to select four-guard officers. Censor Zheng Zibi impeached him; no reply. Later Minister Li Chengxun asked to return selection to the ministry; eunuchs objected. The emperor sided with Chengxun. In year 16 4,000 men cut by the accession edict were restored. Five years later eunuchs said only 5,000 warriors remained and asked to fill ranks with kin for border alarms. Officials said the old quota was 5,530. The year-8 audit already exceeded it, and this camp was not for border defense. The emperor followed the ministry. Hidden practice, corvée diversion, and false grain claims continued. In Wanli 2 two camp-commander posts were cut. Later camp officers were chosen by the War Ministry. Eunuchs interfered again and authority returned to the Imperial Stud. Officials protested repeatedly without success. In year 42 Censor Yao Zongwen found 3,647 officer-warriors—barely half. Of 1,043 horses, none appeared. Of 7,240 officer-banners, only 4,600 odd. Horses were the same. He asked the judiciary to investigate. The emperor did not act. Late Tianqi Inspector Gao Hongtu asked to train bow, crossbow, short arms, and firearms like the three great camps. Under Chongzhen eunuch Cao Huachun renamed it Brave Guard Camp under Zhou Yuji and Huang Degong—a crack force that often beat bandits. Degong's men painted tiger heads on black cloth; bandits fled the black-tiger-head army—outperforming the capital garrison.