Volume 146 Biographies 34: Zhang Wu, Chen Gui, Meng Shan, Zheng Heng, Xu Zhong, Guo Liang, Zhao Yi, Zhang Xin, Xu Xiang, Li Jun, Sun Yan, Chen Xu, Chen Xian, Zhang Xing, Chen Zhi, Wang You

張武陳珪孟善鄭亨徐忠郭亮〈（趙彜）〉張信〈（唐雲）〉徐祥李浚孫巖〈（房勝）〉

Zhang Wu; Chen Gui; Meng Shan; Zheng Heng; Xu Zhong; Guo Liang (Zhao Yi) Zhang Xin (Tang Yun) Xu Xiang; Li Jun; Sun Yan (Fang Sheng)

陳旭陳賢張興陳誌王友張武，瀏陽人。豁達有勇力，稍涉書史。為燕山右護衛百戶。從成祖起兵，克薊州，取雄縣，戰月漾橋，乘勝抵鄚州。與諸將敗耿炳文於真定。夾河之戰，帥壯士為前鋒，突陣，佯敗走。南軍追之，武還擊，南軍遂潰。攻西水寨，前軍夜失道，南軍來追。武引兵伏要路，擊卻之。戰小河，陳文歿於陣。武帥敢死士自林間突出，與騎兵合，大破南軍，斬首二萬級，溺死無算。累授都督同知。成祖即位，論功封成陽侯，祿千五百石，位次朱能下。是時侯者，陳珪、鄭亨、孟善、火真、顧成、王忠、王聰、徐忠、張信、李遠、郭亮、房寬十三人，武為第一。還守北平。永樂元年十月卒。出內廄馬以賻，贈潞國公，謚忠毅。無子，爵除。

Chen Xu; Chen Xian; Zhang Xing; Chen Zhi; Wang You. Zhang Wu came from Liuyang. He was open and generous, brave and strong, and had some acquaintance with books and history. He served as a centurion in the Yan Mountain Right Guard. He followed the future Yongle Emperor in raising troops, captured Jizhou, took Xiongxian, fought at Yueyang Bridge, and pressed on in victory to Mozhou. Together with the other generals he defeated Geng Bingwen at Zhending. At the battle of Jiahe he led stalwart men as vanguard, burst into the enemy formation, and feigned defeat in retreat. The southern army pursued him; Wu counterattacked, and the southern army then collapsed. In the assault on the western water camp the vanguard lost its way at night, and the southern army came in pursuit. Wu led troops in ambush along a critical road and beat them back. At the battle of Xiaohe, Chen Wen fell in battle. Wu led dare-to-die troops bursting out from the woods, joined with the cavalry, and routed the southern army, beheading twenty thousand and drowning countless others. He was repeatedly appointed assistant regional commander. When the Yongle Emperor took the throne, his merits were assessed and he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Chengyang with an income of fifteen hundred piculs, ranking below Zhu Neng. At that time there were thirteen marquises—Chen Gui, Zheng Heng, Meng Shan, Huo Zhen, Gu Cheng, Wang Zhong, Wang Cong, Xu Zhong, Zhang Xin, Li Yuan, Guo Liang, and Fang Kuan—and Wu ranked first. He returned to hold Beijing. He died in the tenth month of Yongle 1. Imperial stable horses were sent out as funeral gifts; he was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Lu and given the posthumous title Zhongyi. He had no sons, and the title was abolished.

陳珪，泰州人。洪武初，從大將軍徐達平中原，授龍虎衛百戶，改燕山中護衛。從成祖出塞為前鋒，進副千戶。已，從起兵，積功至指揮同知。還佐世子居守。累遷都督僉事，封泰寧侯，祿千二百石。佐世子居守如故。永樂四年董建北京宮殿，經畫有條理，甚見獎重。八年，帝北征，偕駙馬都尉袁容輔趙王留守北京。十五年命鑄繕工印給珪，並設官屬，兼掌行在後府。十七年四月卒，年八十五。贈靖國公，謚忠襄。

Chen Gui came from Taizhou. Early in the Hongwu reign he followed Grand General Xu Da in pacifying the Central Plain, received appointment as a centurion in the Longhu Guard, and was then transferred to the Yan Mountain Central Guard. He accompanied the future Yongle Emperor on campaigns beyond the frontier as vanguard and was promoted to deputy chiliarch. He then joined the prince's rebellion and, through accumulated merit, rose to vice commander. He returned to assist the heir apparent in defending the capital. He was promoted in stages to vice commissioner-in-chief, enfeoffed as Marquis of Taining, and granted an income of twelve hundred piculs. He continued to assist the heir apparent in defending the capital as before. In Yongle 4 he oversaw construction of the Beijing palaces; his planning was methodical, and he won high praise. In the eighth year, when the emperor marched north, he joined Imperial Son-in-Law Commandant Yuan Rong in assisting the Prince of Zhao in holding Beijing. In the fifteenth year the court ordered a Works Office seal cast for Gui, established a staff under him, and had him concurrently manage the rear headquarters at the mobile court. He died in the fourth month of the seventeenth year, aged eighty-five. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Jing and given the posthumous title Zhongxiang.

子瑜嗣。二十年從北征。失律，下獄死。兄子鐘嗣。再傳至瀛，歿土木，贈寧國公，謚恭湣。弟涇嗣。天順六年鎮廣西。明年九月，瑤賊作亂，涇將數千人駐梧州。是冬，大藤賊數百人夜入城，殺掠甚眾。涇擁兵不救。征還，下獄論斬。尋宥之。卒。子桓嗣。弘治初，鎮寧夏。中貴人多以所親冒功賞，桓拒絕之，為所譖，召還。卒。數傳至延祚，明亡，爵除。

His son Yu succeeded to the title. In the twentieth year he joined the northern campaign. He violated military discipline, was thrown into prison, and died there. His elder brother's son Zhong succeeded to the title. Two generations later the line reached Ying, who died at Tumu; he was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Ning and given the posthumous title Gongmin. His younger brother Jing succeeded to the title. In Tianshun 6 he took command in Guangxi. The following ninth month, when Yao rebels rose in revolt, Jing led several thousand men and encamped at Wuzhou. That winter several hundred Great Vine bandits entered the city by night and killed and plundered on a large scale. Jing held his troops back and did not come to the rescue. Recalled from the field, he was imprisoned and sentenced to decapitation. He was soon pardoned. He died. His son Huan succeeded to the title. Early in the Hongzhi reign he took command in Ningxia. Many eunuchs had their favorites claim merit rewards falsely; Huan refused them, was slandered, and was recalled. He died. Several generations later the line reached Yanzuo; when the dynasty fell the title was abolished.

孟善，海豐人，仕元為山東樞密院同僉。明初歸附，從大軍北征，授定遠衛百戶。從平雲南，進燕山中護衛千戶。燕師起，攻松亭關，戰白溝河，皆有功。已，守保定。南軍數萬攻城，城中兵才數千，善固守，城完。累遷右軍都督同知，封保定侯，祿千二百石。永樂元年鎮遼東。七年召還北京，須眉皓白。帝憫之，命致仕。十年六月卒。贈滕國公，謚忠勇。子瑛嗣。將左軍，再從北征，督運餉。仁宗即位，為左參將，鎮交阯。坐庶兄常山護衛指揮賢永樂中謀立趙王事，並奪爵，毀其券，謫雲南。宣德六年放還，充為事官於宣府。英宗即位，授京衛指揮使。卒，子俊嗣官。天順初，以恩詔與伯爵。卒，子昂嗣。卒，爵除。

Meng Shan came from Haifeng and served the Yuan as vice commissioner of the Shandong Bureau of Military Affairs. Early in the Ming he submitted, followed the great army on the northern campaign, and was appointed a centurion in the Dingyuan Guard. He followed in pacifying Yunnan and was promoted to battalion commander of the Yan Mountain Central Guard. When the Prince of Yan's army rose he attacked Songting Pass and fought at the Baigou River, achieving merit in both. Thereafter he held Baoding. Tens of thousands from the southern army assaulted the city; the garrison numbered only a few thousand, yet Shan held firm and the city remained intact. He rose in stages to assistant commander of the Right Army and was enfeoffed as Marquis of Baoding with an income of twelve hundred piculs. In Yongle 1 he was stationed in Liaodong. In the seventh year he was recalled to Beijing; his beard and eyebrows had turned white. The emperor pitied him and ordered him to retire. He died in the sixth month of the tenth year. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Teng and given the posthumous title Zhongyong. His son Ying succeeded to the title. He commanded the left army, twice joined northern campaigns, and supervised transport of provisions. When Emperor Renzong took the throne he served as left vice general and was stationed in Jiaozhi. Because his elder half-brother Xian, commander of the Changshan Guard, had in Yongle plotted to enthrone the Prince of Zhao, his title was also stripped, his patent destroyed, and he was banished to Yunnan. In Xuande 6 he was released and returned, and served as a probationary officer at Xuanfu. When Emperor Yingzong took the throne he was appointed guard commander of the capital guard. He died; his son Jun succeeded to the post. Early in the Tianshun reign, by an amnesty edict he was granted an earldom. He died; his son Ang succeeded. He died, and the title was abolished.

鄭亨，合肥人。父用，洪武時，積功為大興左衛副千戶。請老，亨嗣職。洪武二十五年，應募持檄諭韃靼，至斡難河。還，遷密雲衛指揮僉事。

Zheng Heng came from Hefei. His father Yong, in the Hongwu period, rose through accumulated merit to deputy chiliarch of the Daxing Left Guard. When he sought retirement on grounds of age, Heng succeeded to the post. In Hongwu 25 he answered a recruitment call, carried an edict to instruct the Tartars, and reached the Onon River. On his return he was transferred to vice commander of the Miyun Guard.

燕師起，以所部降。戰真定，先登，進指揮使。襲大寧，至劉家口，諸將將攻關，成祖慮守關卒走報大寧得為備，乃令亨將勁騎數百卷旆登山，潛出關後，斷其歸路。急攻之，悉縛守關者，遂奄至大寧。進北平都指揮僉事。夜帥眾破鄭村壩兵，西破紫荊關，掠廣昌，取蔚州，直抵大同。還戰白溝河，逐北至濟南，進都指揮同知。攻滄州，軍北門，扼餉道東昌。戰敗，收散卒，還軍深州。明年戰夾河、槁城，略地至彰德，耀兵河上。還屯完縣。明年從破東平、汶上，軍小河。戰敗，王真死。諸將皆欲北還，惟亨與朱能不可。入京師，歷遷中府左都督，封武安侯，祿千五百石，予世券。留守北京。時父用猶在，受封爵視亨。

When the Prince of Yan's army rose, he surrendered with the troops under his command. At the battle of Zhending he was first over the wall and was promoted to commander. On the strike toward Ning they reached Liujiakou. The generals were about to assault the pass, but the Prince of Yan feared the garrison would flee to warn Ning and allow it to prepare defenses, so he ordered Heng to lead several hundred crack horsemen, roll up their banners, climb the mountain, slip out behind the pass, and cut off their line of retreat. They pressed the attack hard, bound every defender at the pass, and then swept on to Ning. He was promoted to vice commander of the Beijing metropolitan command. By night he led his troops to rout the army at Zhengcun Dam, broke Zijing Pass to the west, raided Guangchang, took Weizhou, and drove straight to Datong. He returned to fight at Baigou River, pursued north as far as Jinan, and was promoted to metropolitan vice commander. In the assault on Cangzhou he encamped at the north gate and choked the supply route at Dongchang. After a defeat he gathered the scattered troops and withdrew the army to Shenzhou. The next year he fought at Jiahe and Gaocheng, overran territory as far as Zhangde, and displayed his army's strength along the river. He returned and encamped at Wan County. The next year he followed in the capture of Dongping and Wenshang and encamped the army at Xiaohe. They were defeated in battle and Wang Zhen was killed. All the generals wanted to withdraw north, but Heng and Zhu Neng alone refused. On entering the capital he rose in stages to left regional commander of the central command, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Wu'an with an income of fifteen hundred piculs, and granted a hereditary patent. He remained behind to hold Beijing. At that time his father Yong was still alive and received a noble title equal to Heng's.

永樂元年，充總兵官，帥武成侯王聰、安平侯李遠備宣府。亨至邊，度宣府、萬全、懷來形便，每數堡相距，中擇一堡可容數堡士馬者，為高城深池，浚井蓄水，謹瞭望。寇至，夜舉火，晝鳴炮，並力堅守。規畫周詳，後莫能易。三年二月召還，旋遣之鎮。七年秋，備邊開平。

In Yongle 1 he served as supreme commander, leading Marquis of Wucheng Wang Cong and Marquis of Ping'an Li Yuan to defend Xuanfu. When Heng reached the frontier he surveyed the terrain at Xuanfu, Wanquan, and Huailai. Wherever several forts stood at intervals, he chose one that could hold the troops and horses of several forts, built high walls and deep moats, dug wells to store water, and kept careful watch. When raiders came they lit beacon fires by night and fired cannon by day and defended together with all their strength. His planning was thorough; afterward no one could improve on it. In the second month of the third year he was recalled, and soon afterward was sent back to his command. In the autumn of the seventh year he prepared the frontier at Kaiping.

明年，帝北征，命亨督運。出塞，將右哨，追敗本雅失裏。大軍與阿魯臺遇。亨帥眾先，大破之。論功為諸將冠。其冬仍出鎮宣府。十二年復從北征，領中軍。戰忽失溫，追敵中流矢卻，復與大軍合破之。二十年復從出塞，將左哨，帥卒萬人，治龍門道過軍，破兀良哈於屈裂河。將輜重還，擊破寇之追躡者，仍守開平。成祖凡五出塞，亨皆在行。

The next year the emperor marched north and ordered Heng to supervise transport. Beyond the frontier he commanded the right wing, pursued, and defeated Buyanshirid. The main army encountered Arughtai. Heng led the troops forward first and inflicted a crushing defeat. In the reckoning of merit he stood at the head of all the generals. That winter he again took command at Xuanfu. In the twelfth year he again joined the northern campaign and led the central army. At Hulunbuir he was struck by a stray arrow while pursuing the enemy and fell back, then rejoined the main army and together they defeated the enemy. In the twentieth year he again marched beyond the frontier, commanded the left wing, led ten thousand troops, cleared the Longmen route for passing armies, and defeated the Uriankhai at the Qulie River. He led the baggage train back, defeated the raiders who pursued them, and again held Kaiping. Of the Yongle Emperor's five campaigns beyond the frontier, Heng was present at every one.

仁宗即位，鎮大同。洪熙元年二月，頒制諭及將軍印於各邊總兵官。亨佩征西前將軍印。在鎮墾田積谷，邊備完固，自是大同希寇患。宣德元年召掌行後府事。已，仍鎮大同，轉餉宣府。招降迤北部長四十九人，請於朝，厚撫之，歸附者相屬。九年二月卒於鎮。

When Emperor Renzong took the throne, he was stationed at Datong. In the second month of Hongxi 1, imperial instructions and general's seals were issued to the supreme commanders on each frontier. Heng wore the seal of Forward General for the Western Campaign. While in command he opened fields and stored grain; frontier defenses were complete and secure, and from then on Datong rarely suffered from raids. In Xuande 1 he was recalled to manage affairs of the rear headquarters at the mobile court. Shortly afterward he again commanded at Datong and transferred grain supplies to Xuanfu. He induced forty-nine tribal chiefs of the northern frontier to submit, memorialized the court, and treated them generously; those who came over to allegiance followed one after another. In the second month of the ninth year he died in his command.

亨嚴肅重厚，善撫士卒，恥掊克。在大同時，鎮守中官撓軍政，亨裁之以理，其人不悅，然其卒也，深悼惜之。贈漳國公，謚忠毅。妾張氏，自經以殉，贈淑人。子能嗣，傳爵至明亡。

Heng was stern, grave, and weighty in character, skilled at comforting his troops, and ashamed of skimming from them. While at Datong the eunuch superintendent interfered in military affairs; Heng restrained him with reason. Though the man was displeased, when Heng died he mourned him deeply. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Zhang and given the posthumous title Zhongyi. His concubine Lady Zhang hanged herself to follow him in death and was posthumously granted the title Shuren. His son Neng succeeded; the title passed down until the dynasty fell.

徐忠，合肥人，襲父爵為河南衛副千戶。累從大軍北征，多所俘獲，進濟陽衛指揮僉事。洪武末，鎮開平。燕兵破居庸、懷來，忠以開平降。從徇灤河，與陳旭拔其城。李景隆攻北平，燕師自大寧還救。至會州，置五軍：張玉將中軍，朱能將左軍，李彬將右軍，房寬將後軍，忠號驍勇，使將前軍。遂敗陳暉於白河，破景隆於鄭村壩。白溝河之戰，忠單騎突陣。一指中流矢，未暇去鏃，急抽刀斷之。控滿疾驅，殊死戰。燕王乘高見之，謂左右曰：「真壯士也！」進攻濟南，克滄州，大戰東昌、夾河。攻彰德，破西水寨，克東阿、東平、汶上，大戰靈璧。遂從渡江入京師。自指揮同知累遷都督僉事。封永康侯，祿一千一百石，予世券。

Xu Zhong came from Hefei and inherited his father's post as deputy chiliarch of the Henan Guard. He repeatedly joined the great army on northern campaigns, took many prisoners, and was promoted to vice commander of the Jiyang Guard. Late in the Hongwu reign he was stationed at Kaiping. When the Yan army broke Juyong and Huailai, Zhong surrendered Kaiping. He followed the drive on the Luan River and, with Chen Xu, captured its city. When Li Jinglong attacked Beijing, the Yan army returned from Ning to relieve it. At Huizhou they organized five armies: Zhang Yu commanded the center, Zhu Neng the left, Li Bin the right, Fang Kuan the rear; Zhong, famed for fierce valor, was placed in command of the vanguard. He then defeated Chen Hui at the Bai River and routed Jinglong at Zhengcun Dam. At the battle of Baigou River, Zhong charged the enemy lines alone on horseback. An arrow struck one of his fingers; with no time to pull out the head, he drew his knife and cut it off at once. He spurred his horse at full gallop and fought on to the death. The Prince of Yan, watching from high ground, said to those beside him, "A true stalwart!" He advanced on Jinan, captured Cangzhou, and fought major battles at Dongchang and Jiahe. He attacked Zhangde, broke the West Water Stockade, captured Dong'e, Dongping, and Wenshang, and fought a great battle at Lingbi. He then followed the army across the Yangtze and into the capital. From vice commander he rose in stages to vice commissioner-in-chief. He was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yongkang with an income of eleven hundred piculs and granted a hereditary patent.

忠每戰，摧鋒跳蕩，為諸將先。而馭軍甚嚴，所過無擾。善撫降附，得其死力。事繼母以孝聞。夜歸，必揖家廟而後入。儉約恭謹，未嘗有過。成祖北巡，以忠老成，留輔太子監國。永樂十一年八月卒。贈蔡國公，謚忠烈。

In every battle Zhong shattered the enemy vanguard and plunged through the ranks ahead of all the other generals. Yet he governed his troops with great strictness, and wherever he marched there was no disturbance. He was skilled at winning over those who surrendered and drew their utmost loyalty. He was famed for filial devotion to his stepmother. When he came home at night he always bowed at the family shrine before entering the house. Frugal, restrained, and reverently careful, he was never known to err. When the Yongle Emperor toured the north, Zhong's seasoned steadiness led the emperor to leave him behind to assist the crown prince in supervising the state. He died in the eighth month of Yongle 11. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Cai and given the posthumous title Zhonglie.

傳爵至裔孫錫登，崇禎末，死於賊。從兄錫胤嘗襲侯，卒，無子。其妻朱氏，成國公純臣女也。夫歿，樓居十余年，不履地。城陷，捧廟主自焚死。

The title passed down to his descendant Xideng, who at the end of the Chongzhen reign was killed by rebels. His cousin Xiyin had once succeeded to the marquisate; he died without sons. His wife was Lady Zhu, daughter of Duke of Cheng Chunchen. After her husband died she lived in an upper story for more than ten years without setting foot on the ground. When the city fell she embraced the ancestral tablets and burned herself to death.

郭亮，合肥人，為永平衛千戶。燕兵至永平，與指揮趙彜以城降，即命為守。時燕師初起，先略定旁郡邑。既克居庸、懷來，山後諸州皆下。而永平地接山海關，障隔遼東。既降，北平益無患，成祖遂南敗耿炳文於真定。既而遼東鎮將江陰侯吳高、都督楊文等圍永平，亮拒守甚固。援師至，內外合擊，高退走。未幾，高中讒罷，楊文代將，復率眾來攻。亮及劉江合擊，大敗之。累進都督僉事。成祖即位，以守城功封成安侯，祿千二百石，世伯爵。永樂七年守開平，以不檢聞。二十一年三月卒。贈興國公，謚忠壯。妾韓氏自經以殉，贈淑人。

Guo Liang came from Hefei and served as battalion commander of the Yongping Guard. When the Yan army reached Yongping he and Commander Zhao Yi surrendered the city and was immediately ordered to hold it. At that time the Yan army had only just risen and first subdued the neighboring commanderies and districts. After Juyong and Huailai were taken, all the prefectures beyond the mountains submitted. Yongping adjoined Shanhaiguan and barred off Liaodong. Once it had submitted, Beijing was all the more secure, and the prince then marched south and defeated Geng Bingwen at Zhending. Before long the Liaodong frontier generals, Marquis of Jiangyin Wu Gao and Regional Commander Yang Wen, besieged Yongping, and Liang defended with great firmness. Relief troops arrived; inner and outer forces struck together, and Gao withdrew. Before long Gao was slandered and dismissed; Yang Wen replaced him as commander and again led troops to attack. Liang and Liu Jiang struck together and inflicted a great defeat. He rose in stages to metropolitan vice commander. When the Yongle Emperor took the throne, for his merit in defending the city he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Cheng'an with an income of twelve hundred piculs and a hereditary earldom. In Yongle 7 he held Kaiping and was reported for lack of discipline. He died in the third month of the twenty-first year. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Xing and given the posthumous title Zhongzhuang. His concubine Lady Han hanged herself to follow him in death and was posthumously granted the title Shuren.

子晟當嗣伯，仁宗特命嗣侯。宣德五年，坐扈駕先歸革爵，尋復之。無子，弟昂嗣伯，傳爵至明亡。

His son Sheng should have succeeded to the earldom, but Emperor Renzong specially ordered him to succeed to the marquisate instead. In Xuande 5 he was stripped of his title for returning ahead of the emperor while escorting the imperial procession, but soon had it restored. Having no sons, his younger brother Ang succeeded to the earldom; the title passed down until the dynasty fell.

趙彜，虹人。洪武時，為燕山右衛百戶。從傅友德北征，城宣府、萬全、懷來，擢永平衛指揮僉事。降燕，歷諸戰皆有功，累遷都指揮使。成祖稱帝，封忻城伯，祿千石。永樂八年，鎮宣府，嘗從北征。坐盜餉下獄，得釋。尋以呂梁洪湍險，命彜鎮徐州經理。復以擅殺運丁、盜官糧，為都御史李慶所劾。命法司論治，復得釋。仁宗立，召還。宣德初卒。子榮嗣。數傳至之龍。崇禎末，協守南京，大清兵下江南，之龍迎降。

Zhao Yi came from Hong. In the Hongwu period he served as a centurion in the Yan Mountain Right Guard. He followed Fu Youde on the northern campaign, helped fortify Xuanfu, Wanquan, and Huailai, and was promoted to vice commander of the Yongping Guard. He surrendered to the Prince of Yan; through battle after battle he earned merit and rose in stages to metropolitan commander. When the Yongle Emperor took the throne he was enfeoffed as Earl of Xincheng with an income of a thousand piculs. In Yongle 8 he was stationed at Xuanfu and once joined a northern campaign. For embezzling provisions he was imprisoned and then released. Shortly afterward, because the Lüliang rapids were treacherous in flood season, Yi was ordered to take command at Xuzhou to manage the works. Again, for killing transport laborers on his own authority and stealing official grain, he was impeached by Censor-in-Chief Li Qing. The judicial offices were ordered to try him, but he was again released. When Emperor Renzong took the throne he was recalled. He died early in the Xuande reign. His son Rong succeeded to the title. Several generations later the line reached Zhilong. At the end of the Chongzhen reign he helped defend Nanjing; when the Qing army descended on Jiangnan, Zhilong went out to surrender.

張信，臨淮人。父興，永寧衛指揮僉事。信嗣官，移守普定、平越，積功進都指揮僉事。

Zhang Xin came from Linhuai. His father Xing was vice commander of the Yongning Guard. Xin succeeded to the post, was transferred to hold Puding and Pingyue, and through accumulated merit was promoted to metropolitan vice commander.

惠帝初即位，大臣薦信謀勇，調北平都司。受密詔，令與張昺、謝貴謀燕王。信憂懼不知所為。母怪問之，信以告。母大驚曰：「不可。汝父每言王氣在燕。汝無妄舉，滅家族。」成祖稱病，信三造燕邸，辭不見。信固請，入拜床下。密以情輸成祖，成祖戄然起立，召諸將定計，起兵，奪九門。成祖入京師，論功比諸戰將，進都督僉事。封隆平侯，祿千石，與世伯券。

When Emperor Huidi had just taken the throne, ministers recommended Xin for strategy and courage, and he was transferred to the Beijing regional command. He received a secret edict ordering him to plot against the Prince of Yan together with Zhang Bing and Xie Gui. Xin was anxious and fearful and did not know what to do. His mother wondered at this and questioned him; Xin told her. His mother was greatly alarmed and said, "No. Your father always said the royal aura is in Yan. You must not act rashly and destroy the whole clan." The prince feigned illness; Xin thrice visited the princely residence but was declined an audience. Xin pressed his request firmly and entered to bow below the couch. He secretly disclosed the situation to the prince, who started up in alarm, summoned the generals to settle plans, raised troops, and seized the nine gates. When the prince entered the capital his merit was assessed alongside the other battle generals, and he was promoted to metropolitan vice commander. He was enfeoffed as Marquis of Longping with an income of a thousand piculs and a hereditary earl's patent.

成祖德信甚，呼為「恩張」。欲納信女為妃，信固辭，以此益見重。凡察藩王動靜諸密事，皆命信。信怙寵頗驕。永樂八年冬，都御史陳瑛言信「無汗馬勞，忝冒侯爵，恣肆貪墨，強占丹陽練湖八十餘里、江陰官田七十余頃，請下有司驗治。」帝曰：「瑛言是也。昔中山王有沙洲一區，耕農水道所經，家僮阻之以擅利。王聞，即歸其地於官。今信何敢爾！」命法司雜治之。尋以舊勛不問。二十年從北征，督運餉。大閱於隰寧，信辭疾不至，謫充辦事官。已而復職。

The Yongle Emperor was deeply grateful to Xin and called him "Kind Zhang." He wished to take Xin's daughter as consort, but Xin firmly declined, and for this was all the more esteemed. Whenever secret intelligence about the princely domains was needed, Xin was put in charge. Relying on imperial favor, Xin grew rather arrogant. In the winter of Yongle 8, Censor-in-Chief Chen Ying reported that Xin "has no merit of horses sweating in battle yet shamelessly holds a marquisate, acts wantonly and is corrupt, and forcibly occupies more than eighty li of the Danyang training lake and more than seventy qing of Jiangyin official fields; I request that the relevant offices verify and try him." The emperor said, "Ying is right. In former times the Prince of Zhongshan had a sandbank tract through which farming waterways passed, and his household slaves blocked it to monopolize the profit. When the prince heard of it he at once returned the land to the government. How dare Xin do such a thing now!" He ordered the judicial offices to try him on combined charges. Shortly afterward, because of his old merit, he was not prosecuted. In the twentieth year he joined the northern campaign and supervised transport of provisions. At the great review at Suining, Xin pleaded illness and did not attend; he was demoted to serve as a staff officer. Shortly afterward his post was restored.

仁宗即位，加少師，並支二俸，與世侯券。宣德元年，從征樂安。三年，帝巡邊，征兀良哈，命居守。明年督軍萬五千人浚河西務河道。正統七年五月卒於南京。贈鄖國公，謚恭僖。

When Emperor Renzong took the throne he was made Junior Preceptor, granted two salaries together, and given a hereditary marquis patent. In Xuande 1 he joined the campaign against Le'an. In the third year the emperor toured the frontier and campaigned against the Uriankhai; Xin was ordered to remain and hold the capital. The next year he supervised fifteen thousand troops in dredging the Hexiwu canal. He died at Nanjing in the fifth month of Zhengtong 7. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Duke of Yun and given the posthumous title Gongxi.

子鏞，自立功為指揮僉事，先卒。子淳嗣，傳爵至明亡。

His son Yong, who through his own merit had become vice commander, died before him. His son Chun succeeded; the title passed down until the dynasty fell.

有唐雲者，燕山中護衛指揮也，不知所自起。成祖既殺張昺、謝貴等，將士猶據九門，閉甕城，陳戈戟內向。張玉等夜襲之，已克其八，惟西直門不下。成祖令雲解甲，騎馬導從如平時，諭守者曰：「天子已聽王自制一方。汝等急退，後者戮。」雲於諸指揮中年最長，素信謹，將士以為不欺，遂散。時眾心未附，雲告以天意所向，眾乃定。雲從成祖久，出入左右，甚見倚任。先後出師，皆留輔世子。南兵數攻城，拒守甚力，戰未嘗失利。累遷都指揮使。成祖稱帝，封新昌伯，世指揮使。明年七月卒。賜賚甚厚。

There was one Tang Yun, commander of the Yan Mountain Central Guard, of whom it is not known whence he came. After the prince had killed Zhang Bing, Xie Gui, and others, the officers and soldiers still held the nine gates, closed the barbican gates, and arrayed spears and halberds facing inward. Zhang Yu and others attacked by night; they had already taken eight gates, but Xizhi Gate would not fall. The prince ordered Yun to remove his armor, ride on horseback and guide the procession as on ordinary days, and tell the defenders, "The Son of Heaven has already allowed the prince to rule a region on his own. You must withdraw at once; those who linger will be executed." Yun was the eldest among the commanders, was always trusted and careful, and the officers and soldiers believed he would not deceive them, so they dispersed. At that time loyalty was still unsettled; Yun told them where Heaven's intent lay, and the troops then settled. Yun had long served at the prince's side and was greatly relied upon. Whenever the prince marched out on campaign, Yun was left behind to assist the heir apparent. The southern army repeatedly assaulted the city; he defended with great force and never lost a battle. He rose in stages to metropolitan commander. When the prince became emperor he was enfeoffed as Earl of Xinchang with hereditary metropolitan command. He died in the seventh month of the following year. The gifts bestowed on him were very generous.

徐祥，大冶人。初仕陳友諒，歸太祖於江州，積功至燕山右護衛副千戶。成祖以其謹直，命侍左右。從起兵，轉戰四年，皆有功，累進都指揮使。成祖即位，論功封興安伯，祿千石。時封伯者，祥及徐理、李浚、張輔、唐雲、譚忠、孫巖、房勝、趙彜、陳旭、劉才、茹常、王佐、陳瑄十四人，祥第一。祥在諸將中年稍長。及封，益勤慎。永樂二年五月卒。年七十三。

Xu Xiang came from Daye. He first served Chen Youliang, submitted to the founding emperor at Jiangzhou, and through accumulated merit rose to deputy chiliarch of the Yan Mountain Right Guard. The prince, because he was careful and upright, ordered him to attend at his side. He followed in raising troops; through four years of campaigning he had merit in all of them and rose in stages to metropolitan commander. When the Yongle Emperor took the throne his merits were assessed and he was enfeoffed as Earl of Xing'an with an income of a thousand piculs. At that time fourteen men were enfeoffed as earls—Xiang together with Xu Li, Li Jun, Zhang Fu, Tang Yun, Tan Zhong, Sun Yan, Fang Sheng, Zhao Yi, Chen Xu, Liu Cai, Ru Chang, Wang Zuo, and Chen Xuan—and Xiang ranked first. Among the generals Xiang was somewhat older in years. Once enfeoffed he became all the more diligent and careful. He died in the fifth month of Yongle 2. He was seventy-three years old.

孫亨嗣。十二年從北征，為中軍副將。至土剌河，獲馬三千。還守開平，將輕騎往來興和、大同備邊。後屢從出塞。宣德元年，以右副將征交阯，無功，奪爵。英宗即位，復之。正統九年，征兀良哈，出界嶺口、河北川，進侯。出鎮陜西，召還。天順初卒，謚武襄。

His grandson Heng succeeded to the title. In the twelfth year he joined the northern campaign as deputy commander of the central army. At the Tula River he captured three thousand horses. On his return he held Kaiping and led light cavalry back and forth between Xinghe and Datong to prepare the frontier. Afterward he repeatedly marched beyond the frontier. In Xuande 1, as right deputy commander he campaigned against Jiaozhi without success and was stripped of his title. When Emperor Yingzong took the throne the title was restored. In Zhengtong 9 he campaigned against the Uriankhai, went out through Jieling Pass and the Hebei River valley, and was promoted to marquis. He took command in Shaanxi and was then recalled. He died early in the Tianshun reign and was given the posthumous title Wuxiang.

子賢嗣伯，以跛免朝謁，給半祿，卒。子盛嗣，卒，無子。再從弟良嗣。良祖母，故小妻也。繼祖母，定襄伯郭登女。至是其孫爭襲。朝議以郭氏初嘗適人，法不當為正嫡，良竟得嗣。良時年五十，家貧，傭大中橋汲水。都督府求興安伯後，良乃謝其鄰而去，僉書南京中府。忤劉瑾，革祿二百石。傳爵至明亡。

His son Xian succeeded to the earldom; because he was lame he was excused from court audience and given half salary; he died. His son Sheng succeeded; he died without sons. His second cousin Liang succeeded to the title. Liang's paternal grandmother had been a former concubine. His step-grandmother was the daughter of Earl of Dingxiang Guo Deng. At that point their grandsons disputed the succession. Court discussion held that because the Guo lady had once been married to another man, by law she could not be the legitimate principal wife, and Liang ultimately obtained the succession. Liang was then fifty years old, his family was poor, and he hired himself out at Dazhong Bridge to draw water. The regional military commission sought a descendant of the Earl of Xing'an; Liang then thanked his neighbors and left, and was appointed secretary at the Nanjing central command. He offended Liu Jin and had two hundred piculs of his salary cut. The title was transmitted until the Ming fell.

李濬，和州人。父旺，洪武中燕山左護衛副千戶。濬嗣官，從起兵，奪九門。招募薊州、永平壯勇數千人，破南軍於真定。從收大寧。鄭村壩之戰，帥精騎突陣，眾鼓噪乘之，大捷。轉戰山東，為前鋒。至小河，猝與南軍遇，帥敢死士先斷河橋，南軍不能爭。成祖至，遂大敗之。累遷都指揮使，封襄城伯，祿千石。永樂元年出鎮江西。永新盜起，捕誅其魁。尋召還。三年十一月卒。

Li Jun came from Hezhou. His father Wang, in the Hongwu period, was deputy chiliarch of the Yan Mountain Left Guard. Jun succeeded to the post, followed in raising troops, and seized the nine gates. He recruited several thousand stalwart men from Jizhou and Yongping and defeated the southern army at Zhending. He followed in recovering Ning. At the battle of Zheng Village Dam he led elite cavalry in a charge through the enemy formation; the troops shouted and pressed the advantage, winning a great victory. Campaigning through Shandong, he served as vanguard. At Xiaohe he suddenly encountered the southern army; he led dare-to-die troops to cut the river bridge first, and the southern army could not contest it. When the prince arrived he then inflicted a great defeat. He rose in stages to metropolitan commander and was enfeoffed as Earl of Xiangcheng with an income of a thousand piculs. In Yongle 1 he went out to command in Jiangxi. Bandits rose in Yongxin; he captured and executed their ringleader. Shortly afterward he was recalled. He died in the eleventh month of the third year.

子隆，字彥平，年十五嗣封。雄偉有將略。數從北征，出奇料敵，成祖器之。即遷都，以南京根本地，命隆留守。仁宗即位，命鎮山海關。未幾，復守南京。隆讀書好文，論事侃侃，清慎守法，尤敬禮士大夫。在南京十八年，前後賜璽書二百余。及召還，南都民流涕送之江上。正統五年入總禁軍。十一年巡大同邊，賜寶刀一，申飭戒備，內外凜凜。訖還，不僇一人。明年卒。子珍嗣。歿於土木，贈侯，謚悼僖。無子。

Zilong, whose courtesy name was Yanping, succeeded to the title at the age of fifteen. He was a man of imposing build with a gift for generalship. He took part in many northern campaigns, striking with surprise and reading the enemy well, and the Yongle Emperor held him in high regard. When the capital was moved, the emperor regarded Nanjing as the dynasty's foundation and ordered Long to remain there as garrison commander. After Emperor Renzong came to the throne, he was appointed to command the garrison at Shanhaiguan. Before long he was once again posted to defend Nanjing. Long was a reader who loved letters; in council he spoke with easy confidence, and he was scrupulous and law-abiding, showing particular respect for the scholar-official class. Over eighteen years in Nanjing, he received more than two hundred sealed edicts from the throne. When he was recalled to court, the people of the southern capital wept as they escorted him to the river. In the fifth year of the Zhengtong reign he was appointed to command the imperial guard armies. In the eleventh year he inspected the Datong frontier, received an imperial sword, and issued stern orders on defense; throughout the command, officers and men alike were brought to strict attention. By the time he returned, he had not punished a single man. He died the following year. His son Zhen succeeded to the title. He died at Tumu, was posthumously raised to marquis, and given the posthumous name Daoxi. He left no son.

弟瑾嗣。成化三年，四川都掌蠻叛，命佩征夷將軍印，充總兵官往討。兵部尚書程信督之。師至永寧，分六路進。瑾與信居中節制，盡破諸蠻寨。前後斬首四千五百有奇，獲鎧仗、牲畜無算。分都掌地，設官建治控制之。師還，進侯，累加太保。弘治二年卒。贈芮國公，謚壯武。瑾性寬弘，能下士。兄璉以貌寢，不得嗣。瑾敬禮甚厚。璉卒，撫其子鄌如己子。瑾子黼嗣伯，數年卒。無子，鄌得嗣。

His younger brother Jin succeeded to the title. In the third year of Chenghua, when the Duzhang tribes of Sichuan rose in rebellion, he was ordered to take the seal of the General Who Pacifies the Yi and go as overall commander to suppress them. The Minister of War, Cheng Xin, served as supervising secretary of the expedition. When the army reached Yongning, it advanced in six columns. Jin and Cheng directed operations from the center and overran every tribal stockade. They took more than four thousand five hundred heads in all, along with incalculable quantities of armor, weapons, and livestock. They partitioned the Duzhang territory, appointed officials, and established civil administration to keep it under control. After the army returned, he was promoted to marquis and was repeatedly given the additional rank of Grand Protector. He died in the second year of the Hongzhi reign. He was posthumously created Duke of Rui and given the posthumous name Zhuangwu. Jin was open-handed by nature and knew how to treat talented men with respect. His elder brother Lian was passed over for the succession on account of his unimpressive appearance. Jin treated him with exceptional respect and generosity. When Lian died, he raised Lian's son Xi as though the boy were his own. Jin's son Fu succeeded to the earldom but died within a few years. Fu left no son, and Xi succeeded to the title.

四傳至守锜，累典營務，加太子少保。崇禎初，總督京營，坐營卒為盜落職，憂憤卒。子國禎嗣。有口辯。嘗召對，指陳兵事甚悉，帝信以為才。十六年命總督京營，倚任之，而國禎實無他能。明年三月，李自成犯京師。三大營兵不戰而潰。再宿，城陷。賊勒國禎降，國禎解甲聽命。責賄不足，被拷折踝，自縊死。

Four generations later the line came down to Shouqi, who repeatedly commanded camp affairs and was given the additional rank of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. Early in the Chongzhen reign he was put in overall charge of the capital garrisons, but was removed from office when soldiers under his command turned to banditry; he died soon after, consumed by grief and anger. His son Guozhen succeeded to the title. He was a fluent and persuasive speaker. When summoned to audience, he laid out military matters in exhaustive detail, and the emperor came to believe he was a man of real ability. In the sixteenth year he was appointed to command the capital garrisons and was heavily relied upon, though in fact Guozhen had no other talent to speak of. The following March, Li Zicheng marched on the capital. The troops of the three great garrisons broke and fled without offering battle. Two days later the city fell. The rebels demanded that Guozhen submit; he laid down his arms and awaited their orders. When his bribes proved insufficient they tortured him until his ankles were broken, and he hanged himself.

孫巖，鳳陽人。從太祖渡江，累官燕山中護衛千戶，致仕。燕師起，通州守將房勝以城降。王以巖宿將，使與勝協守。南軍至，攻城甚急，樓堞皆毀。巖、勝多方捍禦。已，復突門力戰，追奔至張家灣，獲餉舟三百。累擢都指揮僉事。論功，以舊臣有守城功，封應城伯，祿千石。永樂十一年，備開平，旋移通州。以私憾椎殺千戶，奪爵，安置交阯。已而復之。十六年卒。贈侯，謚威武。子亨嗣，傳至明亡，爵除。

Sun Yan was a native of Fengyang. He followed the founding emperor across the Yangzi, rose through the ranks to battalion commander of the Yanzhong Central Guard, and then retired. When the Prince of Yan raised his army, Fang Sheng, the garrison commander at Tongzhou, surrendered the city. The prince, knowing Yan to be a seasoned commander, put him alongside Fang Sheng to hold the city together. When the southern army arrived, it assaulted the city with great urgency and smashed the walls and towers. Yan and Fang held the city by every means they could devise. Later they sallied through the gate and fought hard, pursued the retreating enemy as far as Zhangjiawan, and seized three hundred supply boats. He was promoted step by step to vice commander of the regional military commission. When rewards were distributed, he was created Earl of Yingcheng with an income of one thousand piculs in recognition of his service as a veteran who had held the city. In the eleventh year of Yongle he took charge of defenses at Kaiping, and was soon afterward reassigned to Tongzhou. He bludgeoned a battalion commander to death over a private grievance, lost his title, and was exiled to Jiaozhi. Before long his title was restored. He died in the sixteenth year. He was posthumously raised to marquis and given the posthumous name Weiwu. His son Heng succeeded to the title, which passed down until the fall of the Ming, when the enfeoffment was abolished.

房勝，景陵人。初從陳友諒。來歸，累功至通州衛指揮僉事。燕兵起北平，勝首以通州降。成祖即位，以守城功，封富昌伯，祿千石，世指揮使。永樂四年卒。陳旭，全椒人。父彬，從太祖為指揮僉事。旭嗣官，為會州衛指揮同知，舉城降燕。從徇灤河，功多。力戰真定。守德州，盛庸兵至，棄城走。置不問。從入京師，封雲陽伯，祿千石。永樂元年，命巡視中都及直隸衛所軍馬城池。四年從英國公張輔征交阯，為右參將。偕豐城侯李彬破西都。師還，與彬各加祿五百石。已而陳季擴叛，復從輔往剿。輔還，又命副沐晟。八年以疾卒於軍。無子，封絕。陳賢，壽州人。初從太祖立功，授雄武衛百戶。從征西番、雲南；北征至捕魚兒海，皆有功。歷燕山右護衛指揮僉事。燕師起，從諸將轉戰，常突陣陷堅。軍中稱其驍勇。累遷都督僉事。永樂元年四月，成祖慮功臣封有遺闕，令邱福等議。福等言都督僉事李彬功不在房寬下，涇國公子懋、金鄉侯子通俱未襲爵，而陳賢、張興、陳誌、王友功與劉才等。於是封彬豐城侯，懋、通與賢等四人並封伯，祿皆千石。賢封榮昌伯。八年充神機將軍，從北征。十三年十一月卒。

Fang Sheng came from Jingling. He first followed Chen Youliang. He came over in submission and through accumulated merit rose to vice commander of the Tongzhou Guard. When the Yan army rose in Beijing, Sheng was the first to surrender Tongzhou. When the Yongle Emperor took the throne, for his merit in defending the city he was enfeoffed as Earl of Fuchang with an income of a thousand piculs and hereditary metropolitan command. He died in Yongle 4. Chen Xu came from Quanjiao. His father Bin followed the founding emperor and became vice commander. Xu succeeded to the post, served as vice commander of the Huizhou Guard, and surrendered the whole city to Yan. He followed the drive on the Luan River and achieved much merit. He fought fiercely at Zhending. Holding Dezhou, when Sheng Yong's army arrived he abandoned the city and fled. He was let off without inquiry. He followed in entering the capital and was enfeoffed as Earl of Yunyang with an income of a thousand piculs. In Yongle 1 he was ordered to inspect the troops, horses, and city defenses of the central capital and the directly administered guards and battalions. In the fourth year he followed the Duke of Yingguo Zhang Fu in campaigning against Jiaozhi as right vice general. Together with Marquis of Fengcheng Li Bin he captured the western capital. When the army returned, he and Bin were each granted an additional five hundred piculs of income. Before long Chen Jikuo rebelled, and he again followed Fu to suppress him. When Fu returned he was again ordered to serve as deputy to Mu Sheng. In the eighth year he died of illness in the army. He had no sons, and the enfeoffment ended. Chen Xian came from Shouzhou. He first followed the founding emperor in achieving merit and was appointed a centurion in the Xiongwu Guard. He joined campaigns against the western tribes and Yunnan; and on the northern campaign as far as Buyur Lake he had merit in all of them. He served as vice commander of the Yan Mountain Right Guard. When the Prince of Yan's army rose he followed the generals in campaigning, often bursting through enemy lines and breaking hardened positions. The army called him fierce and brave. He rose in stages to metropolitan vice commander. In the fourth month of Yongle 1 the emperor, fearing that meritorious ministers had been left out in enfeoffments, ordered Qiu Fu and others to deliberate. Fu and the others said that Metropolitan Vice Commander Li Bin's merit was not below that of Fang Kuan, that the sons of the Duke of Jing and Marquis of Jinxiang had not yet succeeded to their titles, and that Chen Xian, Zhang Xing, Chen Zhi, and Wang You had merit equal to Liu Cai and others. Thereupon Bin was enfeoffed as Marquis of Fengcheng, and Mao, Tong, and the four men including Xian were all enfeoffed as earls with incomes of a thousand piculs each. Xian was enfeoffed as Earl of Rongchang. In the eighth year he served as Divine Engine general and joined the northern campaign. He died in the eleventh month of the thirteenth year.

子智，前立功為常山右護衛指揮，嗣父爵。宣德中，以參將佩征夷將軍印，鎮交阯。怯不任戰，又與都督方政相失。黎利勢盛，不能禦，敗績。奪爵，充為事官。從王通立功。尋以棄地還，下獄。得釋。正統初，復為指揮使。

His son Zhi, who had earlier distinguished himself as commander of the Changshan Right Guard, succeeded to his father's title. During the Xuande reign he was posted to Jiaozhi as vice general with the seal of the General Who Pacifies the Yi. He proved too timid for combat and also fell out with the regional commander Fang Zheng. Le Loi's forces were in the ascendant; Zhi could not hold them back and was routed. He was stripped of his title and reduced to serving as a probationary officer. He served under Wang Tong and won distinction. He was soon thrown into prison for abandoning the territory and returning home. He was eventually released. At the start of the Zhengtong reign he was restored to the rank of guard commander.

張興，壽州人。起卒伍，為燕山左護衛指揮僉事。從起兵，功多，累遷都指揮同知。從子勇，有力敢戰，從興行陣為肘腋。興嘗單騎追敵，被數十創，傷重不任戰。以勇嗣指揮使，代將其兵。再論功，興封安鄉伯。永樂五年正月卒。無子。

Zhang Xing was a native of Shouzhou. He rose from the ranks to become vice commander of the Yanshan Left Guard. He followed the prince in raising his army, won many honors, and rose through repeated promotions to assistant commander of the regional military commission. His nephew Yong was powerful and fearless in battle and marched at Xing's side as his right-hand man. Xing once charged the enemy alone and took several dozen wounds; his injuries were so severe that he could no longer take the field. Yong succeeded him as guard commander and took over command of his troops. When rewards were reckoned again, Xing was created Earl of Anxiang. He died in the first month of the fifth year of Yongle. He left no son.

勇嗣。永樂八年從北征，失律，謫交阯。赦還復爵，卒。子安嗣。正統十三年鎮廣東。黃蕭養寇廣州，安帥舟師遇賊於戙船澳。安方醉臥，官軍不能支，退至沙角尾。賊薄之，軍潰。安溺死。傳爵至光燦，死流寇。

Yong succeeded to the title. In the eighth year of Yongle he joined the northern campaign, broke discipline, and was exiled to Jiaozhi. He was pardoned, allowed to return, and had his title restored before he died. His son An succeeded to the title. In the thirteenth year of Zhengtong he was posted to command Guangdong. When Huang Xiaoyang threatened Guangzhou, An led the fleet and met the rebels at Dangchuan Bay. An was drunk and asleep at the time; the government forces could not stand their ground and fell back to Shajiaowei. The rebels pressed the attack and the army broke in rout. An drowned. The title passed down to Guangcan, who was killed by roving bandits.

陳誌，巴人。洪武中，為燕山中護衛指揮僉事。從起兵，累遷都指揮同知，封遂安伯。誌素以恭謹受知，戮力戎行，始終不懈。永樂八年五月卒。

Chen Zhi was a native of Ba. During the Hongwu reign he served as vice commander of the Yanzhong Central Guard. He followed the prince in raising his army, rose through repeated promotions to assistant commander of the regional military commission, and was created Earl of Suian. Zhi had long been valued for his respectful diligence; he gave his full strength on campaign and never slackened from first to last. He died in the fifth month of the eighth year of Yongle.

孫瑛嗣。屢從出塞，鎮永平、山海、薊州，城雲州、獨石。爽闿有將材。然貪殘，人多怨者。卒，子塤嗣。歿於土木，謚榮懷。弟韶嗣。卒。孫鏸嗣。總薊州兵。朵顏入寇，禦卻之。嘉靖初，敘奉迎功，加太子太保，進少保，委寄亞武定侯郭勛。嗣伯六十余年卒。又五傳而明亡。

His grandson Ying succeeded to the title. He took part in many campaigns beyond the frontier, held garrisons at Yongping, Shanhai, and Jizhou, and built fortifications at Yunzhou and Dushi. He was open-handed by nature and showed real talent as a commander. Yet he was greedy and brutal, and many under his command resented him. When he died, his son Xun succeeded to the title. He died at Tumu and was given the posthumous name Ronghuai. His younger brother Shao succeeded to the title. He died. His grandson Xian succeeded to the title. He took overall command of the Jizhou garrison. When the Tümed raided, he drove them back. Early in the Jiajing reign he was rewarded for helping welcome the new emperor, was made Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, advanced to Junior Guardian, and entrusted with responsibilities second only to Marquis of Wuding Guo Xun. He held the earldom for more than sixty years before he died. Five generations later the dynasty fell.

王友，荊州人。襲父職為燕山護衛百戶。從起兵，定京師。論功當侯，以驕縱，授都指揮僉事。及丘福等議上，乃封清遠伯。明年充總兵官，帥舟師沿海捕倭。倭數掠海上，友無功，帝切責之。已，大破倭。帝喜，降敕褒勞，尋召還。四年從征交阯，與指揮柳琮合兵破籌江柵，困枚、普賴諸山，斬首三萬七千余級。六年七月進侯，加祿五百石，與世券。明年，再征交阯，為副總兵。八年還，從北征，督中軍。別與劉才築城飲馬河上。會知院失乃幹欲降，帝令友將士卒先行，諭以遇敵相機剿滅。友等至，與敵相距一程，迂道避之應昌。軍中乏食，多死者。帝震怒，屢旨切責，奪其軍屬張輔。還令群臣議罪。已而赦之。十二年，坐妾告友夫婦誹謗。有驗，奪爵。未幾卒。仁宗即位，官其子順為指揮僉事。

Wang You came from Jingzhou. He inherited his father's post as centurion of the Yan Guard. He joined the rebellion and helped secure the capital. By merit he should have been made a marquis, but because of arrogance and license he received only the post of metropolitan vice commander. When Qiu Fu and others presented their recommendations, he was enfeoffed as Earl of Qingyuan. The next year he served as supreme commander, leading a fleet along the coast against the pirates. The pirates repeatedly raided the coast; You achieved nothing, and the emperor sharply rebuked him. Shortly afterward he inflicted a crushing defeat on the pirates. The emperor was pleased, issued an edict praising and rewarding him, and soon recalled him. In the fourth year he joined the campaign against Jiaozhi; together with Commander Liu Cong he united forces to break the Choujiang stockade, penned the enemy in the mountains of Mei, Pulai, and others, and took more than thirty-seven thousand heads. In the seventh month of the sixth year he was advanced to marquis, given an additional five hundred piculs of income, and granted a hereditary patent. The next year he campaigned against Jiaozhi again as deputy supreme commander. In the eighth year he returned, joined the northern campaign, and supervised the central army. Separately, together with Liu Cai, he built a fort on the Yinma River. When the court official Shinagan wished to surrender, the emperor ordered You to lead the troops forward first and instructed him to destroy the enemy whenever opportunity allowed. When You and the others arrived they were one day's march from the enemy, but took a detour to avoid them and went to Yingchang. The army ran short of food and many men died. The emperor was furious, sent repeated edicts of sharp rebuke, and transferred his army to Zhang Fu. On his return he ordered the ministers to deliberate on his punishment. He was soon pardoned. In the twelfth year a concubine accused You and his wife of slander, and he was implicated. The charge was verified and his title was taken away. He died soon afterward. When Emperor Renzong took the throne he appointed his son Shun vice commander.

贊曰：張武、陳珪諸人，或從起藩封，或率先歸附，皆偏裨列校，非有勇略智計稱大將材也。一旦遘風雲之會，剖符策功，號稱佐命，與太祖開國諸臣埒，酬庸之義不亦厚歟！

The appraisal runs: Zhang Wu, Chen Gui, and the others either followed the prince from the rise of his princely fief or were among the first to submit. All were staff officers and company commanders, without the courage, strategy, or wisdom that would mark them as great generals. Yet once fortune turned their way they received investiture, were recorded for merit, were styled founders of the new reign, and were ranked with Taizu's ministers who built the dynasty — was not the court exceedingly generous in rewarding their service!

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