1
硃亮祖
Zhu Liangzu
2
硃亮祖，六安人。 元授義兵元帥。 太祖克寧國，擒亮祖，喜其勇悍，賜金幣，仍舊官。 居數月，叛歸於元，數與我兵戰，為所獲者六千余人，遂入宣城據之。 太祖方取建康，未暇討也。 已，遣徐達等圍之。 亮祖突圍戰，常遇春被創而還，諸將莫敢前。 太祖親往督戰，獲之，縛以見。 問曰：「爾將何如？」 對曰：「生則儘力，死則死耳！」 太祖壯而釋之。 累功授樞密院判。
Zhu Liangzu was a native of Lu'an. The Yuan court appointed him marshal of the righteous-army forces. When the Taizu took Ningguo, he captured Liangzu. Delighted by his fierce courage, he rewarded him with gold and coin and restored him to his former post. After a few months he defected back to the Yuan and fought our forces repeatedly, taking more than six thousand prisoners. He then entered Xuancheng and seized it. The Taizu was then occupied with the capture of Jiankang and had no time to deal with him. Afterward he sent Xu Da and others to besiege the city. Liangzu sallied out to fight. Chang Yuchun was wounded and pulled back, and none of the other generals dared press forward. The Taizu went in person to direct the assault, captured him, and had him bound and brought before him. He asked, "What do you intend to do?" Liangzu answered, "While I live I shall give my utmost; when I die, so be it!" The Taizu was impressed and set him free. For accumulated merit he was appointed vice-director of the Bureau of Military Affairs.
3
從下南昌、九江，戰鄱陽湖，下武昌。 進廣信衛指揮使。 李文忠破李伯升於新城，亮祖乘勝燔其營落數十，獲同僉元帥等六百余人、軍士三千、馬八百匹，輜重鎧甲無算。 伯升僅以數騎遁。 太祖嘉其功，賜賚甚厚。 胡深請會兵攻陳友定，亮祖由鉛山進取浦城，克崇安、建陽，功最多。 會攻桐廬，圍余杭。 遷浙江行省參政，副李文忠守杭州。 帥馬步舟師數萬討方國瑛。 下天台，進攻台州。 國瑛出走，追至黃岩，降其守將哈兒魯，徇下仙居諸縣。 進兵溫州。 方明善拒戰，擊敗之，克其城。 徇下瑞安，覆敗明善於盤嶼，追至楚門。 國瑛及明善詣軍降。
He followed the campaigns that took Nanchang and Jiujiang, fought at Lake Poyang, and captured Wuchang. He was promoted to commander of the Guangxin Guard. When Li Wenzhong defeated Li Bosheng at Xincheng, Liangzu pressed the advantage and burned dozens of enemy camps. He captured more than six hundred men including a vice-censor-in-chief and marshal, three thousand troops, eight hundred horses, and incalculable stores of baggage, armor, and equipment. Bosheng himself escaped with only a handful of horsemen. The Taizu commended his achievement and rewarded him very generously. When Hu Shen asked for combined forces to attack Chen Youding, Liangzu advanced from Qianshan to take Pucheng and captured Chong'an and Jianyang, contributing more than any other commander. He joined the assault on Tonglu and helped besiege Yuhang. He was transferred to administrative commissioner of the Zhejiang branch secretariat and served under Li Wenzhong in the defense of Hangzhou. He led a combined force of tens of thousands of cavalry, infantry, and ships against Fang Guoying. He captured Tiantai and pressed on to attack Taizhou. Guoying fled. Liangzu pursued him to Huangyan, accepted the surrender of the defending general Ha'erlu, and brought the counties around Xianju under control. He then advanced on Wenzhou. Fang Mingshan resisted, but Liangzu defeated him and took the city. He brought Rui'an under control, routed Mingshan again at Panyu, and pursued him as far as Chumen. Guoying and Mingshan then came to the camp and surrendered.
4
洪武元年，副征南將軍廖永忠由海道取廣東。 何真降，悉定其地。 進取廣西，克梧州。 元尚書普賢帖木兒戰死，遂定郁林、潯、貴諸郡。 與平章楊璟會師，攻克靖江。 同廖永忠克南寧、象州。 廣西平。 班師，太子帥百官迎勞龍灣。 三年封永嘉侯，食祿千五百石，予世券。
In the first year of Hongwu he served under the southern expedition general Liao Yongzhong and took Guangdong by sea. When He Zhen surrendered, the whole region was brought under control. He then advanced into Guangxi and captured Wuzhou. The Yuan minister Puxian Timur was killed in battle, after which Liangzu secured the prefectures of Yulin, Xun, and Gui. He joined forces with the pacification commissioner Yang Jing and captured Jingjiang. Together with Liao Yongzhong he took Nanning and Xiangzhou. Guangxi was fully pacified. On the army's return, the crown prince led the officials out to welcome and honor them at Longwan. In the third year he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongjia with an income of 1,500 piculs of grain and granted a hereditary patent of nobility.
5
四年伐蜀。 帝以諸將久無功，命亮祖為征虜右副將軍。 濟師至蜀，而明升已降。 徇下未附州縣。 師還，以擅殺軍校，不預賞。 八年同傅友德鎮北平。 還，又同李善長督理屯田，巡海道。 十二年出鎮廣東。
In the fourth year the court launched the campaign against Shu. Because the generals had long failed to make progress, the emperor appointed Liangzu right vice-general of the expedition against the barbarians. By the time his forces reached Shu, Ming Sheng had already surrendered. He then brought the remaining unsubmitted prefectures and counties under control. On the army's return he was excluded from the rewards because he had executed military officers on his own authority. In the eighth year he joined Fu Youde in garrisoning Beiping. After returning he again worked with Li Shanchang to supervise military colonies and patrol the coastal routes. In the twelfth year he was sent out to command Guangdong.
6
亮祖勇悍善戰而不知學，所為多不法，番遇知縣道同以聞。 亮祖誣奏同，同死，事見同傳。 帝尋悟，明年九月召亮祖至，與其子府軍衛指揮使暹俱鞭死。 御制壙志，仍以侯禮葬。 二十三年追論亮祖胡惟庸黨，次子昱亦坐誅。
Liangzu was fierce and skilled in battle but unlearned, and much of what he did was unlawful. The magistrate of Fan Prefecture, Dao Tong, reported him to the throne. Liangzu lodged a false accusation against him, and Tong was put to death. The affair is recorded in Tong's biography. The emperor soon realized his error. In the ninth month of the following year he summoned Liangzu and had him and his son Xian, commander of the Palace Guard, beaten to death. The emperor composed an epitaph for his tomb and still buried him with the rites due a marquis. In the twenty-third year Liangzu was posthumously condemned as a member of Hu Weiyong's faction, and his second son Yu was executed as well.
7
周德興
Zhou Dexing
8
周德興，濠人。 與太祖同里，少相得。 從定滁、和。 渡江，累戰皆有功，遷左翼大元帥。 從取金華、安慶、高郵。 援安豐，征廬州，進指揮使。 從討贛州、安福、永新，拔吉安。 再進湖廣行省左丞。 同楊璟討廣西，攻永州。 元平章阿思蘭及周文貴自全州來援，德興再擊敗之，斬硃院判。 追奔至全州，遂克之。 道州、寧州、藍山皆下。 進克武岡州，分兵據險，絕靖江聲援。 廣西平，功多。 洪武三年封江夏侯，歲祿千五百石，予世券。
Zhou Dexing was a native of Hao. He came from the same village as the Taizu, and the two had been close since youth. He followed the campaigns that secured Chu and He. After the crossing of the Yangzi he fought in battle after battle with distinction and was promoted to grand marshal of the left wing. He took part in the capture of Jinhua, Anqing, and Gaoyou. He relieved Anfeng, campaigned against Luzhou, and was promoted to commander. He joined the campaigns against Ganzhou, Anfu, and Yongxin and captured Ji'an. He was further promoted to left vice-minister of the Huguang branch secretariat. Together with Yang Jing he campaigned in Guangxi and attacked Yongzhou. The Yuan pacification commissioner Aslan and Zhou Wengui marched from Quanzhou to relieve the city, but Dexing defeated them again and beheaded the vice-censor Zhu. He pursued the fleeing enemy to Quanzhou and captured the city. Daozhou, Ningzhou, and Lanshan all submitted. He advanced and captured Wugang Prefecture, posted troops at the strategic passes, and cut off reinforcements to Jingjiang. When Guangxi was pacified, his contributions were among the greatest. In the third year of Hongwu he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiangxia with an annual income of 1,500 piculs of grain and granted a hereditary patent of nobility.
9
是歲，慈利土酋覃垕連茅岡諸寨為亂，長沙洞苗俱煽動。 太祖命德興為征南將軍，帥師討平之。 明年伐蜀，副湯和為征西左將軍，克保寧。 先是，傅友德已克階、文，而和所帥舟師未進。 及保寧下，兩路軍始合。 蜀平，論功，帝以和功由德興，賞德興而面責和。 且追數征蠻事，謂覃垕之役，楊璟不能克，趙庸中道返，功無與德興比者。 復副鄧愈為征南左將軍，帥趙庸、左君弼出南寧，平婪鳳、安田諸州蠻，克泗城州，功復出諸將上。 賞倍於大將，命署中立府，行大都督府事。 德興功既盛，且恃帝故人，營第宅逾制。 有司列其罪，詔特宥之。 十三年命理福建軍務，旋召還。
That year the Cili tribal chief Tan Hao rallied the stockades of Maogang and other strongholds in revolt, and the Miao of Changsha Cave rose as well. The Taizu appointed Dexing southern expedition general and sent him with an army to suppress the uprising. The following year, in the campaign against Shu, he served under Tang He as left general of the western expedition and captured Baoning. By then Fu Youde had already taken Jie and Wen, but the fleet under Tang He had not yet advanced. Only after Baoning fell did the two armies finally join. After Shu was pacified, the emperor judged that Tang He's success owed chiefly to Dexing. He rewarded Dexing and rebuked Tang He to his face. He went on to recount Dexing's campaigns against the tribal peoples, noting that in the Tan Hao affair Yang Jing had failed to prevail and Zhao Yong had turned back midway. No other commander could match his record. He again served under Deng Yu as left general of the southern expedition, leading Zhao Yong and Zuo Junbi out from Nanning to pacify the tribal peoples of Lanfeng, Antian, and neighboring prefectures and to capture Sicheng Prefecture. Once more his achievements surpassed those of every other commander. His reward was twice that of the chief commander, and he was ordered to act as director of Zhongli Prefecture and discharge the duties of the chief military commission. Dexing's achievements were now immense, and counting on his long friendship with the emperor, he built a residence that exceeded what the regulations allowed. The responsible officials reported his offenses, but an edict specially pardoned him. In the thirteenth year he was ordered to oversee military affairs in Fujian, but was soon recalled.
10
明年，五溪蠻亂。 德興已老，力請行，帝壯而遣之，賜手書曰：「趙充國圖征西羌，馬援請討交址，朕常嘉其事，謂今人所難。 卿忠勤不怠，何忝前賢，靖亂安民，在此行也。」 至五溪，蠻悉散走。 會四川水盡源、通塔平諸洞作亂，仍命德興討平之。 十八年，楚王楨討思州五開蠻，復以德興為副將軍。 德興在楚久，所用皆楚卒，威震蠻中。 定武昌等十五衛，歲練軍士四萬四千八百人。 決荊州岳山壩以溉田，歲增官租四千三百石。 楚人德之。 還鄉，賜黃金二百兩，白金二千兩，文綺百匹。 居無何，帝謂德興：「福建功未竟，卿雖老，尚勉為朕行。」 德興至閩，按籍僉練，得民兵十萬余人。 相視要害，築城一十六，置巡司四十有五，防海之策始備。 逾三年，歸第，復令節制鳳陽留守司，並訓練屬衛軍士。 諸勛臣存者，德興年最高。 歲時入朝，賜予不絕。 二十五年八月，以其子驥亂宮，並坐誅死。
The following year the peoples of the Five Streams rose in revolt. Dexing was already old but begged to be allowed to go. The emperor was moved and sent him off, writing in his own hand: "Zhao Chongguo planned the campaign against the Western Qiang, and Ma Yuan asked to attack Jiaozhi. I have always admired such deeds and considered them beyond what men of today can do. Your loyalty and tireless diligence do not fall short of those earlier worthies. To pacify disorder and secure the people depends on this campaign." When he reached the Five Streams, the rebels all scattered and fled. At the same time the cave peoples of Shuijinyuan, Tongtaping, and other districts in Sichuan rose in revolt, and Dexing was again ordered to suppress them. In the eighteenth year Prince Zhu Zhen of Chu campaigned against the tribal peoples of Sizhou and Wukai, and Dexing was again appointed vice-general. Dexing had long served in Chu and used only Chu troops, and his authority awed the tribal regions. He organized fifteen guards including Wuchang and each year trained 44,800 soldiers. He breached the Yueshan Dam in Jingzhou to irrigate fields, increasing official grain rent by 4,300 piculs a year. The people of Chu were deeply grateful to him. When he returned home he was granted 200 taels of gold, 2,000 taels of silver, and 100 bolts of patterned silk. Before long the emperor told Dexing, "The work in Fujian is not yet finished. Though you are old, I still ask you to go for me." Dexing went to Fujian, mustered and trained men according to the registers, and raised a militia of more than 100,000. He surveyed the strategic points, built sixteen walled posts, and established forty-five patrol offices, completing the coastal defense system. After more than three years he returned home and was again ordered to command the Fengyang garrison headquarters and train the troops of its subordinate guards. Of the meritorious ministers still living, Dexing was the oldest. Whenever he came to court on the annual schedule, gifts and grants never ceased. In the eighth month of the twenty-fifth year, because his son Ji was implicated in a plot against the palace, both father and son were executed.
11
王弼，其先定遠人，後徙臨淮。 善用雙刀，號「雙刀王」。 初結鄉里，依三台山樹柵自保。 逾年，帥所部來歸。 太祖知其才，使備宿衛。 破張士誠兵於湖州，取池州石埭，攻婺源州，斬守將鐵木兒不花，拔其城，獲甲三千。 擢元帥。 下蘭溪、金華、諸暨。 援池州，復太平，下龍興、吉安。 大戰鄱陽，邀擊陳友諒於涇江口。 從平武昌，還克廬州。 拔安豐，破襄陽、安陸。 取淮東，克舊館，降士誠將硃暹，遂取湖州。 遷驍騎右衛親軍指揮使。 進圍平江，弼軍盤門。 士誠親帥銳士突圍，出西門搏戰，將奔常遇春軍。 遇春分兵北濠，截其後，而別遣兵與戰。 士誠軍殊死斗。 遇春拊弼臂曰：「軍中皆稱爾健將，能為我取此乎？」 弼應曰：「諾。」 馳騎，揮雙刀奮擊。 敵小卻。 遇春帥眾乘之，吳兵大敗，人馬溺死沙盆潭者甚眾。 士誠馬逸墮水，幾不救，肩輿入城，自是不敢復出。 吳平，賞賚甚厚。
Wang Bi's family was originally from Dingyuan and later moved to Linhuai. He was skilled with paired sabers and was known as "King Double-Saber." At first he rallied his neighbors and, relying on Santai Mountain, built palisades to defend themselves. After more than a year he led his followers to join the cause. The Taizu recognized his ability and assigned him to the palace guard. He defeated Zhang Shicheng's forces at Huzhou, took Shidi in Chizhou, attacked Wuyuan Prefecture, beheaded the defending general Temür Buqa, captured the city, and seized three thousand suits of armor. He was promoted to marshal. He captured Lanxi, Jinhua, and Zhuji. He relieved Chizhou, recovered Taiping, and captured Longxing and Ji'an. At the great battle on Lake Poyang he intercepted Chen Youliang at the mouth of the Jing River. He took part in the pacification of Wuchang and on the return march captured Luzhou. He took Anfeng and defeated the forces at Xiangyang and Anlu. He secured Huaidong, captured Jiuguan, accepted the surrender of Shicheng's general Zhu Xian, and then took Huzhou. He was transferred to commander of the personal guard of the Valiant Cavalry Right Guard. He advanced to besiege Pingjiang, with Bi's army posted at Pan Gate. Shicheng personally led elite troops in a breakout, fought his way out the west gate, and was about to flee toward Chang Yuchun's camp. Yuchun divided his troops at the northern moat to cut off their retreat while sending other forces to engage them. Shicheng's army fought with desperate fury. Yuchun clapped Bi on the arm and said, "The whole army calls you a stalwart commander. Can you break them for me?" Bi answered, "I will." He spurred his horse forward and charged, swinging his paired sabers. The enemy gave ground. Yuchun led the main force in pursuit. The Wu army was routed, and a great many men and horses drowned in Shapen Pool. Shicheng's horse bolted and threw him into the water; he was barely rescued. He was carried back into the city in a litter and never dared come out again. When Wu was pacified, he was rewarded very generously.
12
從大軍征中原，下山東，略定河南北，遂取元都。 克山西，走擴廓。 自河中渡河，克陝西，進征察罕腦兒，師還。 洪武三年，授大都督府僉事，世襲指揮使。 十一年副西平侯沐英征西番，降朵甘諸酋及洮州十八族，殺獲甚眾。 論功，封定遠侯，食祿二千石。 十四年從傅友德征雲南，至大理，土酋段世扼龍尾關。 弼以兵由洱水趨上關，與沐英兵夾擊之，拔其城，擒段世，鶴慶、麗江諸郡以次悉平。 加祿五百石，予世券。 二十年，以副將軍從馮勝北伐，降納哈出。 明年復以副將軍從藍玉出塞。 深入不見敵，玉欲引還。 弼持不可，玉從之。 進至捕魚兒海，以弼為前鋒，直薄敵營。 走元嗣主脫古思帖木兒，盡獲其輜重，語在玉傳。 二十三年奉詔還鄉。 二十五年從馮勝、傅友德練軍山西、河南。 明年同召還，先後賜死。 爵除。 弼子六人，女為楚王妃。
He followed the main army in the campaign against the Central Plains, swept through Shandong, secured northern Henan, and then took the Yuan capital. He took Shanxi and drove off Köke Temür. From Hezhong he crossed the Yellow River, took Shaanxi, advanced to Chaghan Nur, and then returned with the army. In the third year of Hongwu he was appointed associate director of the chief military commission, with hereditary succession as commander. In the eleventh year he served under the Marquis of Xiping Mu Ying in the campaign against the western tribes, accepting the surrender of the chiefs of Duogan and the eighteen clans of Taozhou. The slaughter and captures were immense. For his merit he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Dingyuan with an income of 2,000 piculs of grain. In the fourteenth year he followed Fu Youde into Yunnan. At Dali the tribal chief Duan Shi held Longwei Pass. Bi led troops along the Er River toward Shangguan and, attacking from both sides with Mu Ying's forces, took the city and captured Duan Shi. The prefectures of Heqing, Lijiang, and the rest were then pacified in succession. His income was increased by 500 piculs of grain and he was granted a hereditary patent of nobility. In the twentieth year he served as vice-general under Feng Sheng on the northern campaign and accepted the surrender of Naghachu. The following year he again served as vice-general under Lan Yu on an expedition beyond the frontier. After advancing deep into the steppe without finding the enemy, Yu wanted to turn back. Bi insisted they could not withdraw yet, and Yu agreed. When they reached Buyur Lake, Yu made Bi the vanguard and sent him straight at the enemy camp. The Yuan heir Tögüs Temür fled, and all his baggage was captured. The full account is given in Yu's biography. In the twenty-third year he was ordered by edict to return home. In the twenty-fifth year he joined Feng Sheng and Fu Youde in training troops in Shanxi and Henan. The following year both were recalled and, in succession, ordered to take their own lives. His title was abolished. Bi had six sons, and one daughter became consort to the Prince of Chu.
13
藍玉，定遠人。 開平王常遇春婦弟也。 初隸遇春帳下，臨敵勇敢，所向皆捷。 遇春數稱於太祖，由管軍鎮撫積功至大都督府僉事。 洪武四年，從傅友德伐蜀，克綿州。 五年從徐達北征，先出雁門，敗元兵於亂山，再敗之於土剌河。 七年帥兵拔興和，獲其國公帖里密赤等五十九人。 十一年同西平侯沐英討西番，擒其酋三副使，斬獲千計。 明年，師還。 封永昌侯，食祿二千五百石，予世券。
Lan Yu was a native of Dingyuan. He was the younger brother of Chang Yuchun's wife; Chang Yuchun held the title Prince of Kaiping. He first served under Yuchun's command. In battle he was fearless, and wherever he fought he prevailed. Yuchun repeatedly commended him to the Taizu, and through accumulated merit in command and pacification posts he rose to associate director of the chief military commission. In the fourth year of Hongwu he followed Fu Youde in the campaign against Shu and captured Mianzhou. In the fifth year he followed Xu Da on the northern campaign, advancing first through Yanmen Pass, defeating Yuan forces at Luan Mountain, and defeating them again on the Tula River. In the seventh year he led troops to capture Xinghe and took fifty-nine prisoners including the state duke Temürichi. In the eleventh year he joined the Marquis of Xiping Mu Ying in the campaign against the western tribes, capturing their chief the third vice-commissioner. Beheadings and captures numbered in the thousands. The following year the army returned. He was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongchang with an income of 2,500 piculs of grain and granted a hereditary patent of nobility.
14
十四年，以征南左副將軍從潁川侯傅友德征雲南，擒元平章達里麻於曲靖，梁王走死，滇地悉平。 玉功為多，益祿五百石。 冊其女為蜀王妃。
In the fourteenth year, as left vice-general of the southern expedition, he followed the Marquis of Yingchuan Fu Youde into Yunnan. He captured the Yuan pacification commissioner Darmi at Qujing; the Prince of Liang fled and died, and all of Yunnan was pacified. Yu's contributions were the greatest, and his income was increased by 500 piculs of grain. His daughter was made consort to the Prince of Shu.
15
二十年，以征虜左副將軍從大將軍馮勝征納哈出，次通州。 聞元兵有屯慶州者，玉乘大雪，帥輕騎襲破之，殺平章果來，擒其子不蘭溪還。 會大軍進至金山，納哈出遣使詣大將軍營納欸，玉往受降。 納哈出以數百騎至，玉大喜，飲以酒。 納哈出酌酒酬玉，玉解衣衣之，曰：「請服此而飲。」 納哈出不肯服，玉亦不飲。 爭讓久之，納哈出覆酒於地，顧其下咄咄語，將脫去。 鄭國公常茂在坐，直前砍傷之，都督耿忠擁以見勝。 其眾驚潰，遣降將觀童諭降之。 還至亦迷河，悉降其餘眾。 會馮勝有罪，收大將軍印，命玉行總兵官事，尋即軍中拜玉為大將軍，移屯薊州。
In the twentieth year, as left vice-general of the expedition against the barbarians, he followed the great general Feng Sheng against Naghachu and encamped at Tongzhou. Learning that Yuan troops were encamped at Qingzhou, Yu took advantage of a heavy snowfall to lead light cavalry in a surprise attack, killing the pacification commissioner Guolai and capturing his son Bulanxi. When the main army reached Jinshan, Naghachu sent envoys to Feng Sheng's camp to submit. Yu went to accept the surrender. Naghachu arrived with several hundred horsemen. Yu was delighted and offered him wine. Naghachu poured wine in return. Yu removed his own garment and offered it to him, saying, "Please put this on and then drink." Naghachu refused to put it on, and Yu would not drink either. After a long exchange of courtesies, Naghachu overturned his wine on the ground, turned to his men with angry words, and was about to leave. The Duke of Zheng, Chang Mao, was present. He stepped forward and struck Naghachu, wounding him. The commander Geng Zhong seized him and brought him before Feng Sheng. His followers panicked and scattered. Yu sent the surrendered general Guan Tong to persuade them to submit. On the return march to the Yimi River, the rest of his forces all surrendered. When Feng Sheng was found guilty, his seal as great general was revoked. Yu was ordered to act as commander-in-chief, and soon afterward was appointed great general in the field and moved his camp to Jizhou.
16
時順帝孫脫古思帖木兒嗣立，擾塞上。 二十一年三月，命玉帥師十五萬征之。 出大寧，至慶州，諜知元主在捕魚兒海，間道兼程進至百眼井。 去海四十里，不見敵，欲引還。 定遠侯王弼曰：「吾輩提十余萬眾，深入漠北，無所得，遽班師，何以覆命？」 玉曰：「然。」 令軍士穴地而爨，毋見煙火。 乘夜至海南，敵營尚在海東北八十余里。 玉令弼為前鋒，疾馳薄其營。 敵謂我軍乏水草，不能深入，不設備。 又大風揚沙，晝晦。 軍行，敵無所覺。 猝至前，大驚。 迎戰，敗之。 殺太尉蠻子等，降其眾。 元主與太子天保奴數十騎遁去。 玉以精騎追之，不及。 獲其次子地保奴、妃、公主以下百余人。 又追獲吳王朵兒只、代王達里麻及平章以下官屬三千人，男女七萬七千余人，並寶璽、符敕金牌、金銀印諸物，馬駝牛羊十五萬余。 焚其甲仗蓄積無算。 奏捷京師，帝大喜，賜敕褒勞，比之衛青、李靖。 又破哈剌章營，獲人畜六萬。 師還，進涼國公。
At that time the late emperor's grandson Tögüs Temür had succeeded to the Yuan throne and was raiding the frontier. In the third month of the twenty-first year he was ordered to lead an army of 150,000 against him. Setting out from Daning and reaching Qingzhou, his scouts learned that the Yuan ruler was at Buyur Lake. Taking a side route, he pressed forward day and night to Baiyan Well. Forty li from the lake, with no enemy in sight, he wanted to turn back. The Marquis of Dingyuan Wang Bi said, "We have led more than a hundred thousand men deep into the northern desert without gaining anything. If we withdraw now, how can we answer to the throne?" Yu said, "You are right." He ordered the soldiers to cook in sunken pits so that no smoke or flame would be visible. Marching by night they reached the south shore of the lake. The enemy camp was still more than eighty li to the northeast. Yu made Bi the vanguard and sent him galloping straight at the enemy camp. The enemy assumed our army lacked water and fodder and could not penetrate so far, and made no preparations. A great wind raised sand and blotted out the daylight. The army advanced without the enemy noticing. When the Ming forces suddenly appeared before them, the enemy was thrown into panic. They met the attack but were defeated. The grand preceptor Manzi and others were killed, and their followers surrendered. The Yuan ruler and the crown prince Tianbaonu fled with only a few dozen horsemen. Yu sent elite cavalry in pursuit but could not overtake them. He captured the Yuan ruler's second son Dibaonu, along with the consort, princesses, and more than a hundred members of the court. In further pursuit he captured the Prince of Wu Dorji, the Prince of Dai Darmi, and three thousand officials down to the rank of pacification commissioner, along with 77,000 men and women. He also seized the imperial seal, tallies, edicts, gold plaques, gold and silver seals, and more than 150,000 horses, camels, cattle, and sheep. Their armor, weapons, and stored supplies burned were beyond reckoning. When the victory was reported to the capital, the emperor was overjoyed. He issued an edict of praise and compared Yu to Wei Qing and Li Jing. He also broke the camp at Qarčang and took 60,000 captives and livestock. On the army's return he was promoted to Duke of Liang.
17
明年命督修四川城池。 二十三年，施南、忠建二宣撫司蠻叛，命玉討平之。 又平都勻，安撫司散毛諸洞，益祿五百石，詔還鄉。 二十四年命玉理蘭州、庄浪等七衛兵，以追逃寇祁者孫，遂略西番罕東之地。 土酋哈昝等遁去。 會建昌指揮使月魯帖木兒叛，詔移兵討之。 至則都指揮瞿能等已大破其眾，月魯走柏興州。 玉遣百戶毛海誘縛其父子，送京師誅之，而盡降其眾，因請增置屯衛。 報可。 復請籍民為兵，討朵甘、百夷。 詔不許，遂班師。
The following year he was ordered to supervise repairs to the walled cities of Sichuan. In the twenty-third year the tribal peoples of the Shinan and Zhongjian pacification commissions rebelled, and Yu was ordered to suppress them. He also pacified Duyun and the cave districts of Sanmao under the pacification commission. His income was increased by 500 piculs of grain, and he was ordered home by edict. In the twenty-fourth year Yu was ordered to administer the troops of seven guards including Lanzhou and Zhuanglang in pursuit of the fugitive bandit Qizhe's grandson, and in doing so overran the Hantong region of the western tribes. The tribal chiefs including Ha Zan fled. When the Jianchang commander Yue'er Temür rebelled, an edict ordered Yu to move his troops against him. By the time he arrived, the regional commander Qu Neng and others had already routed the rebel forces. Yue'er fled to Baixing Prefecture. Yu sent the centurion Mao Hai to lure and capture father and son, sent them to the capital for execution, and accepted the surrender of all their followers. He then requested additional garrison posts. The request was approved. He again asked to register the local population as soldiers for a campaign against Duogan and the various Yi peoples. The court refused permission, and he withdrew the army.
18
玉長身赬面，饒勇略，有大將才。 中山、開平既沒，數總大軍，多立功。 太祖遇之厚。 浸驕蹇自恣，多蓄庄奴、假子，乘勢暴橫。 嘗佔東昌民田，御史按問，玉怒，逐御史。 北征還，夜扣喜峰關。 關吏不時納，縱兵毀關入。 帝聞之不樂。 又人言其私元主妃，妃慚自經死，帝切責玉。 初，帝欲封玉梁國公，以過改為涼，仍鐫其過於券。 玉猶不悛，侍宴語傲慢。 在軍擅黜陟將校，進止自專，帝數譙讓。 西征還，命為太子太傅。 玉不樂居宋、潁兩公下，曰：「我不堪太師耶！」 比奏事多不聽，益怏怏。
Yu was tall and ruddy-faced, full of courage and stratagem, and possessed the talent of a great commander. After the deaths of Xu Da and Chang Yuchun, Yu repeatedly commanded large armies and won many victories. The Taizu treated him with exceptional favor. He gradually grew arrogant and willful, kept many estate slaves and adopted sons, and used his power to act with violent insolence. He once seized commoners' farmland in Dongchang. When a censor investigated, Yu flew into a rage and drove the censor away. On his return from the northern campaign he arrived at Xifeng Pass by night. The gate officers did not admit him promptly, so he unleashed his troops, broke through the pass, and entered. When the emperor heard of this he was displeased. There were also reports that he had violated the Yuan ruler's consort, who hanged herself in shame. The emperor sternly rebuked Yu. The emperor had originally intended to enfeoff Yu as Duke of Liang, but because of his offenses changed the title to Liang and had his misdeeds inscribed on the patent of nobility. Yu still did not reform. At court banquets his speech was arrogant. In the field he dismissed and promoted officers on his own authority and directed movements as he pleased. The emperor rebuked him repeatedly. On his return from the western campaign he was appointed grand tutor to the heir apparent. Yu resented ranking below the dukes of Song and Ying and said, "Am I unfit to be grand preceptor?" When he came to court, many of his proposals went unheeded, and he grew still more resentful.
19
二十六年二月，錦衣衛指揮蔣瓛告玉謀反，下吏鞫訊。 獄辭云：「玉同景川侯曹震、鶴慶侯張翼、舳艫侯硃壽、東莞伯何榮及吏部尚書詹徽、戶部侍郎傅友文等謀為變，將伺帝出耤田舉事。」 獄具，族誅之。 列侯以下坐黨夷滅者不可勝數。 手詔佈告天下，條列爰書為《逆臣錄》。 至九月，乃下詔曰：「藍賊為亂，謀泄，族誅者萬五千人。 自今胡黨、藍黨概赦不問。」 胡謂丞相惟庸也。 於是元功宿將相繼盡矣。 凡列名《逆臣錄》者，一公、十三侯、二伯。 葉升前坐事誅，胡玉等諸小侯皆別見。 其曹震、張翼、張溫、陳桓、硃壽、曹興六侯，附著左方。
In the second month of the twenty-sixth year the brocade-coated guard commander Jiang Huan reported that Yu was plotting rebellion. Yu was handed over for interrogation. The confession stated that Yu, together with the Marquis of Jingchuan Cao Zhen, the Marquis of Heqing Zhang Yi, the Marquis of Scullion Zhu Shou, the Earl of Dongguan He Rong, the minister of personnel Zhan Hui, the vice minister of revenue Fu Youwen, and others, plotted a revolt and intended to strike when the emperor went out for the plowing ceremony." When the case was complete, Yu and his associates were executed to the third degree. The marquises and lesser nobles punished by association were beyond counting. The emperor issued a hand-edict to the realm, publishing the written confession as the Record of Rebellious Ministers. In the ninth month an edict was issued: "The traitor Lan raised a rebellion. When the plot was exposed, fifteen thousand people were executed by association. Henceforth members of the Hu and Lan factions are altogether pardoned and will not be pursued." "Hu" refers to the chancellor Hu Weiyong. With this, the founding merit-holders and veteran generals were successively wiped out. Those named in the Record of Rebellious Ministers numbered one duke, thirteen marquises, and two earls. Ye Sheng had already been executed on other charges; the lesser marquises such as Hu Yu are recorded elsewhere. The six marquises Cao Zhen, Zhang Yi, Zhang Wen, Chen Huan, Zhu Shou, and Cao Xing are appended below.
20
曹震，濠人。 從太祖起兵，累官指揮使。 洪武十二年，以征西番功封景川侯，祿二千石。 從藍玉征雲南，分道取臨安諸路，至威楚，降元平章閻乃馬歹等。 雲南平，因請討容美、散毛諸洞蠻及西番朵甘、思曩日諸族。 詔不許。 又請以貴州、四川二都司所易番馬，分給陝西、河南將士。 又言：「四川至建昌驛，道經大渡河，往來者多死瘴癘。 詢父老，自眉州峨眉至建昌，有古驛道，平易無瘴毒，已令軍民修治。 請以瀘州至建昌驛馬，移置峨眉新驛。」 從之。 二十一年，與靖寧侯葉升分道討平東川叛蠻，俘獲五千余人。
Cao Zhen was a native of Hao. He followed the Taizu in raising the army and rose through successive posts to commander. In the twelfth year of Hongwu, for his merit in the campaign against the western tribes, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Jingchuan with an income of 2,000 piculs of grain. He followed Lan Yu into Yunnan, took the Lin'an routes by separate columns, reached Weichu, and accepted the surrender of the Yuan pacification commissioner Yanaimadai and others. After Yunnan was pacified he asked permission to campaign against the cave peoples of Rongmei and Sanmao and against the western tribes of Duogan and Sinangri. The court refused permission. He also asked that the tribal horses obtained by the Guizhou and Sichuan regional commands be distributed to the troops of Shaanxi and Henan. He also reported: "The courier route from Sichuan to Jianchang passes the Dadu River, and many travelers die of miasmic disease there. According to local elders, an ancient courier road runs from Emei in Meizhou to Jianchang. It is level and free of miasmic disease, and he had already ordered troops and civilians to repair it. He asked that the relay horses on the Luzhou-Jianchang route be moved to the new station at Emei." The request was approved. In the twenty-first year he and the Marquis of Jingning Ye Sheng suppressed the Dongchuan rebels by separate routes and took more than five thousand captives.
21
尋覆命理四川軍務，同藍玉核征南軍士。 會永寧宣慰司言，所轄地有百九十灘，其八十余灘道梗不利。 詔震疏治之。 震至瀘州按視，有支河通永寧，乃鑿石削崖，令深廣以通漕運。 又辟陸路，作驛舍、郵亭，駕橋立棧。 自茂州，一道至松潘，一道至貴州，以達保寧。 先是行人許穆言：「松州地磽瘠，不宜屯種。 戍卒三千，糧運不給，請移戍茂州，俾就近屯田。」 帝以松州控制西番，不可動。 至是運道既通，松潘遂為重鎮。 帝嘉其勞。 逾年復奏四事：一，請於雲南大寧境就井煮鹽，募商輸粟以贍邊。 一，令商入粟雲南建昌，給以重慶、綦江市馬之引。 一，請蠲馬湖逋租。 一，施州衛軍儲仰給湖廣，溯江險遠，請以重慶粟順流輸之。 皆報可。
He was soon ordered again to oversee military affairs in Sichuan and, together with Lan Yu, to audit the southern campaign forces. When the Yongning pacification commission reported that its territory contained 190 rapids, more than 80 of which obstructed transport routes. An edict ordered Zhen to dredge and clear them. Zhen inspected the route at Luzhou and found a branch river connecting to Yongning. He cut through rock and trimmed the cliffs to deepen and widen the channel for grain transport. He also opened a land route, built relay lodges and postal stations, erected bridges, and laid plank roads. From Maozhou one route reached Songpan and another reached Guizhou, linking through to Baoning. Earlier the traveling official Xu Mu had argued that Songzhou's land was stony and barren and unsuitable for garrison farming. The three thousand garrison troops could not be supplied by grain transport. He asked to move the garrison to Maozhou so they could farm nearby." The emperor held that Songzhou was needed to control the western tribes and could not be abandoned. Once the transport routes were open, Songpan became a major stronghold. The emperor commended his efforts. The following year he memorialized on four matters. First, he asked to boil salt at wells in the Daning border region of Yunnan and recruit merchants to transport grain to support the frontier. Second, he proposed that merchants who brought grain to Jianchang in Yunnan be granted licenses for market horses at Chongqing and Qijiang. Third, he asked for remission of rent arrears at Ma Lake. Fourth, Shizhou Guard's grain stores depended on Huguang, but transport upriver was dangerous and distant. He asked to supply them with grain shipped downstream from Chongqing. All were approved.
22
震在蜀久，諸所規畫，並極周詳。 蜀人德之。 藍玉敗，謂與震及硃壽誘指揮庄成等謀不軌，論逆黨，以震為首，並其子炳誅之。
Zhen spent many years in Shu, and all his plans were extraordinarily thorough. The people of Shu were deeply grateful to him. When Lan Yu fell, Zhen and Zhu Shou were accused of inducing the commander Zhuang Cheng and others to plot sedition. Zhen was named chief among the rebels, and he and his son Bing were executed.
23
張翼，臨淮人。 父聚，以前翼元帥從平江南、淮東，積功為大同衛指揮同知，致仕。 翼隨父軍中，驍勇善戰，以副千戶嗣父職。 從征陝西，擒叛寇。 擢都指揮僉事，進僉都督府事。 從藍玉征雲南，克普定、曲靖。 取鶴慶、麗江，剿七百房山寨。 搗劍川，擊石門。 十七年論功封鶴慶侯，祿二千五百石，予世券。 二十六年坐玉黨死。
Zhang Yi was a native of Linhuai. His father Ju had served as a wing marshal in the pacification of Jiangnan and Huaidong and, for accumulated merit, rose to vice commander of the Datong Guard before retiring. Yi followed his father in the army. Fierce and skilled in battle, he succeeded to his father's post as deputy centurion. He campaigned in Shaanxi and captured rebel bandits. He was promoted to associate regional commander and then to associate director of the chief military commission. He followed Lan Yu into Yunnan and captured Puding and Qujing. He took Heqing and Lijiang and suppressed the stockades of the Seven Hundred Houses. He raided Jianchuan and attacked Shimen. In the seventeenth year, for his merit, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Heqing with an income of 2,500 piculs of grain and granted a hereditary patent of nobility. In the twenty-sixth year he was executed as a member of Yu's faction.
24
張溫，不詳何許人。 從太祖渡江，授千戶。 積功至天策衛指揮僉事。 從大軍收中原，克陝西，攻下蘭州，守之。 元將擴廓偵大將軍南還，自甘肅帥步騎奄至。 諸將請固守以待援。 溫曰：「彼遠來，未知我虛實，乘幕擊之，可挫其銳。 倘彼不退，固守未為晚也。」 於是整兵出戰，元兵少卻。 已而圍城數重，溫斂兵固守，敵攻不能下，乃引去。 太祖稱為奇功，擢大都督府僉事。
Zhang Wen's place of origin is not recorded. He followed the Taizu across the Yangzi and was appointed centurion. Through accumulated merit he rose to associate commander of the Tianche Guard. He followed the main army in recovering the Central Plains, took Shaanxi, captured Lanzhou, and was left to defend it. The Yuan general Köke Temür, learning that the main army had returned south, led infantry and cavalry from Gansu in a sudden assault. The other generals urged holding the city and waiting for reinforcements. Wen said, "They have come from far away and do not know our strength. If we strike them while they are still encamped we can blunt their momentum. If they do not withdraw, it will not be too late to stand on the defensive." He arrayed his troops and went out to fight. The Yuan forces gave ground. Before long the enemy surrounded the city in several rings. Wen gathered his troops and held firm. The enemy could not take the city and eventually withdrew. The Taizu called this a remarkable achievement and promoted him to associate director of the chief military commission.
25
已，又命兼陝西行都督府僉事。 當蘭州之受圍也，元兵乘夜梯城而登。 千戶郭佑被酒臥，他將巡城者擊退之。 圍既解，溫將斬佑，天策衛知事硃有聞爭曰：「當賊犯城時，將軍斬佑以令眾，軍法也。 賊既退，始追戮之，無及於事，且有擅殺名。」 溫謝曰：「非君，不聞是言。」 遂杖佑釋之。 帝聞而兩善焉，並賞有聞綺帛。
He was later also appointed associate director of the Shaanxi branch military commission. During the siege of Lanzhou, Yuan troops scaled the walls by night. The centurion Guo You was drunk and asleep, but another officer on patrol drove them back. After the siege was lifted, Wen was about to execute Guo You. Zhu Youwen, administrative officer of the Tianche Guard, objected: "When the enemy attacked the city, executing Guo You would have been proper military law. Now that the enemy has withdrawn, killing him afterward serves no purpose and would be called unauthorized execution." Wen thanked him and said, "But for you I would never have heard this." He had Guo You beaten with the staff and released him. When the emperor heard of this he approved both men and rewarded Youwen with patterned silk.
26
其明年，以參將從傅友德伐蜀，功多。 十一年，以副將會王弼等討西羌。 明年論功封會寧侯，祿二千石。 又明年命往理河南軍務。 十四年從傅友德征雲南。 二十年秋帥師討納哈出余眾，從北伐，皆有功。 後以居室器用僭上，獲罪，遂坐玉黨死。
The following year he served as staff general under Fu Youde in the campaign against Shu and distinguished himself. In the eleventh year he served as vice-general with Wang Bi and others in the campaign against the western Qiang. The following year, for his merit, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Huining with an income of 2,000 piculs of grain. The year after that he was ordered to oversee military affairs in Henan. In the fourteenth year he followed Fu Youde into Yunnan. In the autumn of the twentieth year he led troops against the remnants of Naghachu's forces and took part in the northern campaign, distinguishing himself in both. Later he was found guilty of using a residence and furnishings that exceeded his rank, and was then executed as a member of Yu's faction.
27
陳桓，濠人。 從克滁、和。 渡江，克集慶先登。 從取寧國、金華。 戰龍江、彭蠡。 收淮東、浙西。 平中原。 累功授都督僉事。 洪武四年從伐蜀。 十四年從征雲南，與胡海、郭英帥兵五萬，由永寧趨烏撒。 道險隘，自赤河進師，與烏撒諸蠻大戰，敗走之。 再破芒部士酋，走元右丞實卜，遂城烏撒。 降東川烏蒙諸蠻，進克大理。 略定汝寧、靖寧諸州邑。 十七年封普定侯，祿二千五百石，予世券。 二十年同靖寧侯葉升征東川，俘獲甚眾。 就令總制雲南諸軍。 再平九溪洞蠻，立營堡，屯田。 還，坐玉黨死。
Chen Huan was a native of Hao. He took part in the capture of Chu and He. After the crossing of the Yangzi he was first over the wall at the capture of Jiqing. He took part in the capture of Ningguo and Jinhua. He fought at Longjiang and on Lake Poyang. He secured Huaidong and western Zhejiang. He helped pacify the Central Plains. For accumulated merit he was appointed associate director of the chief military commission. In the fourth year of Hongwu he took part in the campaign against Shu. In the fourteenth year he campaigned in Yunnan. Together with Hu Hai and Guo Ying he led fifty thousand troops from Yongning toward Wusa. The route was perilous and narrow. Advancing from the Red River, he fought a major battle with the tribal peoples of Wusa and routed them. He again defeated the Mangbu tribal chief, drove off the Yuan right chancellor Shibu, and fortified Wusa. He accepted the surrender of the tribal peoples of Dongchuan and Wumeng and advanced to capture Dali. He brought the prefectures and districts of Runing, Jingning, and neighboring areas under control. In the seventeenth year he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Puding with an income of 2,500 piculs of grain and granted a hereditary patent of nobility. In the twentieth year he campaigned in Dongchuan with the Marquis of Jingning Ye Sheng and took a great many captives. He was then placed in overall command of the armies in Yunnan. He again pacified the cave peoples of Jiuxi, established fortified posts, and opened military colonies. On his return he was executed as a member of Yu's faction.
28
硃壽，未詳何許人。 以萬戶從渡江，下江東郡邑，進總管。 收常、婺，克武昌。 平蘇、湖，轉戰南北。 積功為橫海衛指揮，進都督僉事。 與張赫督漕運，有功。 洪武二十年封舳艫侯，祿二千石，予世券。 坐玉黨死。
Zhu Shou's place of origin is not recorded. As commander of ten thousand households he followed the crossing of the Yangzi, secured the prefectures of Jiangdong, and was promoted to chief administrator. He secured Chang and Wu and captured Wuchang. He pacified Suzhou and Huzhou and fought campaigns across north and south. Through accumulated merit he became commander of the Henghai Guard and was promoted to associate director of the chief military commission. Together with Zhang He he supervised grain transport by water and distinguished himself. In the twentieth year of Hongwu he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Scullion with an income of 2,000 piculs of grain and granted a hereditary patent of nobility. He was executed as a member of Yu's faction.
29
曹興，一名興才，未詳何許人。 從平武昌，授指揮僉事。 取平江，進指揮使。 克蘇九疇炭山寨。 進都督僉事，兼太原衛指揮。 進山西行省參政，領衛事，為晉王相。 洪武十一年，從沐英討洮州羌，降朵甘酋，擒三副使等。 師還，封懷遠侯，世襲指揮使。 理軍務山西，從北征有功。 後數年，坐玉黨死。
Cao Xing, also known as Xingcai, was a man whose place of origin is not recorded. He took part in the pacification of Wuchang and was appointed associate commander. He captured Pingjiang and was promoted to commander. He captured the Tanshan stockade of Su Jiuchou. He was promoted to associate director of the chief military commission and concurrently commander of the Taiyuan Guard. He was promoted to administrative commissioner of the Shanxi branch secretariat, took charge of guard affairs, and became chancellor to the Prince of Jin. In the eleventh year of Hongwu he followed Mu Ying in the campaign against the Qiang of Taozhou, accepted the surrender of the chief of Duogan, and captured the third vice-commissioner and others. On the army's return he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Huaiyuan with hereditary succession as commander. He administered military affairs in Shanxi and distinguished himself in the northern campaign. Several years later he was executed as a member of Yu's faction.
30
同時以黨連坐者，都督則有黃輅、湯泉、馬俊、王誠、聶緯、王銘、許亮、謝熊、汪信、蕭用、楊春、張政、祝哲、陶文、茆鼎凡十余人，多玉部下偏裨。 於是勇力武健之士芟夷略盡，罕有存者。
Those punished at the same time by association with the faction included more than ten regional commanders: Huang Yu, Tang Quan, Ma Jun, Wang Cheng, Nie Wei, Wang Ming, Xu Liang, Xie Xiong, Wang Xin, Xiao Yong, Yang Chun, Zhang Zheng, Zhu Zhe, Tao Wen, and Mao Ding. Most had been junior officers under Yu. With this, the empire's bravest and most martial men were cut down almost to the last, and few survived.
31
謝成，濠人。 從克滁、和。 渡江，定集慶，授總管。 克寧國、婺州，進管軍千戶。 戰鄱陽，平武昌，下蘇、湖，進指揮僉事。 從大軍征中原，克元都，攻慶陽，搗定西。 為都督僉事、晉王府相。 從沐英征朵甘，降乞失迦，平洮州十八族。 洪武十二年封永平侯，祿二千石，世指揮使。 二十年同張溫追討納哈出余眾，召還。 二十七年坐事死，沒其田宅。
Xie Cheng was a native of Hao. He took part in the capture of Chu and He. After the crossing of the Yangzi he secured Jiqing and was appointed chief administrator. He captured Ningguo and Wuzhou and was promoted to centurion in charge of troops. He fought at Lake Poyang, pacified Wuchang, took Suzhou and Huzhou, and was promoted to associate commander. He followed the main army in the campaign against the Central Plains, took the Yuan capital, attacked Qingyang, and raided Dingxi. He became associate director of the chief military commission and chancellor to the Prince of Jin. He followed Mu Ying in the campaign against Duogan, accepted the surrender of Qishijia, and pacified the eighteen clans of Taozhou. In the twelfth year of Hongwu he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongping with an income of 2,000 piculs of grain and hereditary succession as commander. In the twentieth year he joined Zhang Wen in pursuing the remnants of Naghachu's forces and was then recalled. In the twenty-seventh year he was executed on a charge of misconduct, and his fields and residence were confiscated.
32
李新，濠州人。 從渡江，數立功。 戰龍灣，授管軍副千戶。 取江陵，進龍驤衛正千戶。 克平江，遷神武衛指揮僉事，調守茶陵衛，屢遷至中軍都督府僉事。 十五年，以營孝陵，封崇山侯，歲祿千五百石。 二十二年命改建帝王廟於雞鳴山。 新有心計，將作官吏視成畫而已。 明年遣還鄉，頒賜金帛田宅。 時諸勛貴稍僭肆，帝頗嫉之，以黨事緣坐者眾。 新首建言：公、侯家人及儀從戶各有常數，余者宜歸有司。 帝是之，悉發鳳陽隸籍為民，命禮部纂《稽制錄》，嚴公侯奢侈逾越之禁。 於是武定侯英還佃戶輸稅，信國公和還儀從戶，曹國公景隆還莊田，皆自新發之。 二十六年，督有司開胭脂河於溧水，西達大江，東通兩浙，以濟漕運。 河成，民甚便之。 二十八年以事誅。
Li Xin was a native of Haozhou. He followed the crossing of the Yangzi and won merit again and again. He fought at Longwan and was appointed deputy centurion in charge of troops. He captured Jiangling and was promoted to senior centurion of the Longxiang Guard. He captured Pingjiang, was transferred to associate commander of the Shenwu Guard, posted to defend Chaling Guard, and through successive promotions reached associate director of the central army military commission. In the fifteenth year, for constructing the Xiaoling Mausoleum, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Chongshan with an annual income of 1,500 piculs of grain. In the twenty-second year he was ordered to rebuild the Temple of Imperial Sovereigns on Jiming Mountain. Xin was shrewd and resourceful; the officials of the directorate of works merely carried out his finished plans. The following year he was sent home and granted gold, silk, fields, and a residence. By then the meritorious nobles were growing increasingly extravagant and overbearing. The emperor resented this, and many were punished by association in factional cases. Xin was the first to propose that dukes and marquises be allowed only fixed numbers of household retainers and ceremonial attendants, with any excess returned to government control. The emperor approved. All dependent households registered in Fengyang were released to commoner status, the Ministry of Rites was ordered to compile the Record of Regulations, and strict prohibitions were placed on ducal and marquis extravagance. Thereupon the Marquis of Wuding Ying returned tenant households to the tax rolls, the Duke of Xinguo He returned ceremonial attendants, and the Duke of Cao Jinglong returned estate lands—all at Xin's instigation. In the twenty-sixth year he supervised the opening of the Yanzhi River at Lishui, linking it west to the Yangzi and east to the two Zhe provinces to aid grain transport. When the canal was completed the people found it a great convenience. In the twenty-eighth year he was executed on a charge of misconduct.
33
贊曰：治天下不可以無法，而草昧之時法尚疏，承平之日法漸密，固事勢使然。 論者每致慨於鳥盡弓藏，謂出於英主之猜謀，殊非通達治體之言也。 夫當天下大定，勢如磐石之安，指麾萬里，奔走恐後，復何所疑忌而芟薙之不遺余力哉？ 亦以介胄之士桀驁難馴，乘其鋒銳，皆能豎尺寸於疆場。 迨身處富貴，志滿氣溢，近之則以驕恣啟危機，遠之則以怨望扞文網。 人主不能廢法而曲全之，亦出於不得已，而非以剪除為私計也。 亮祖以下諸人，既昧明哲保身之幾，又違制節謹度之道，駢首就僇，亦其自取焉爾。
The commentator says: A realm cannot be governed without law. In the founding age law was still loose; in days of peace it grew steadily stricter. That was simply the natural course of affairs. Commentators often lament that when the birds are gone the bow is stored away, attributing this to the suspicions of a brilliant ruler. That is not language that truly grasps how government works. When the realm was fully settled, secure as bedrock, and commanders across ten thousand li hurried to obey, what suspicions remained that would require cutting them down to the last man? It was also because men in armor are fierce and hard to tame. At the height of their power, each could win some measure of glory on the battlefield. Once they dwelt in wealth and honor, their ambitions sated and their spirits overflowing, drawing close bred arrogance and crisis, while keeping them at a distance bred resentment and defiance of the law. The ruler could not set aside the law to preserve them intact. That too arose from necessity, not from a private desire to eliminate them. From Liangzu downward, these men failed to read the signs that would have preserved them, violated the rules of restraint and proper measure, and went to execution together. They had brought it on themselves.