Volume 148 Biographies 36: Yang Shiqi, Yang Rong, Yang Pu

楊士奇楊榮曾:孫旦楊溥附:馬愉

Yang Shiqi; Yang Rong (see the biography of Sun Dan); Yang Pu (with appended biography of Ma Yu)

楊士奇

Yang Shiqi

楊士奇，名寓，以字行，泰和人。早孤，隨母適羅氏，已而復宗。貧甚。力學，授徒自給。多游湖、湘間，館江夏最久。建文初，集諸儒修《太祖實錄》，士奇已用薦征授教授當行，王叔英復以史才薦。遂召入翰林，充編纂官。尋命吏部考第史館諸儒。尚書張紞得士奇策，曰：「此非經生言也。」奏第一。授吳王府審理副，仍供館職。成祖即位，改編修。已，簡入內閣，典機務。數月進侍講。

Yang Shiqi, whose personal name was Yu but who was known by his style name Shiqi, came from Taihe. Orphaned young, he went with his mother when she married into the Luo family, but later reverted to his birth clan. The family was desperately poor. He applied himself to learning and earned a living as a schoolmaster. He traveled widely through the lake districts and Hunan, spending the longest stretch as a tutor in Jiangxia. Early in the Jianwen era, when scholars were gathered to compile the Veritable Records of Taizu, Shiqi had already been recommended and summoned to a professorship and was preparing to leave, but Wang Shuying recommended him again for his gifts as a historian. He was then called to the Hanlin Academy to serve as a compiler. Before long the Ministry of Personnel was instructed to rank the historians in the institute. When Minister Zhang Yi read Shiqi's examination paper, he remarked, "This is not the writing of a pedantic classicist." He ranked him first in his report. Shiqi was made assistant judge on the staff of the Prince of Wu, while continuing his academy duties. After Chengzu acceded, he was promoted to compiler. He was soon chosen for the Grand Secretariat, where he handled affairs of state. Within a few months he was promoted to attendant lecturer.

永樂二年選宮僚，以士奇為左中允。五年進左諭德。士奇奉職甚謹，私居不言公事，雖至親厚不得聞。在帝前，舉止恭慎，善應對，言事輒中。人有小過，嘗為揜覆之。廣東布政使徐奇載嶺南土物饋廷臣，或得其目籍以進。帝閱無士奇名，召問。對曰：「奇赴廣時，群臣作詩文贈行，臣適病弗預，以故獨不及。今受否未可知，且物微，當無他意。」帝遽命毀籍。

In Yongle 2, when the heir apparent's staff was chosen, Shiqi was appointed left vice director of the palace secretariat. In the fifth year he was promoted to left mentor of the heir apparent. Shiqi served with exceptional discretion: at home he never discussed official business, so that even his nearest kin knew nothing of state affairs. In the emperor's presence he was deferential and measured, answered well, and his counsel was invariably on target. He often shielded colleagues from blame for small mistakes. Xu Qi, the Guangdong provincial commissioner, sent gifts of Lingnan products to court officials, and someone obtained the list of names and submitted it to the throne. The emperor noticed Shiqi's name was missing and summoned him to ask why. He answered, "When Xu Qi left for Guangdong, the ministers wrote parting poems and essays; I was ill at the time and took no part, which is why my name alone is absent. Whether he has accepted anything since is unclear in any case, and the gifts are slight; there is surely no ulterior motive." The emperor at once ordered the list burned.

六年，帝北巡，命與蹇義、黃淮留輔太子。太子喜文辭，贊善王汝玉以詩法進。士奇曰：「殿下當留意《六經》，暇則觀兩漢詔令。詩小技，不足為也。」太子稱善。

In the sixth year, when the emperor toured the north, he left Shiqi with Jian Yi and Huang Huai to assist the crown prince. The crown prince loved belles lettres, and his tutor Wang Ruyu won favor by teaching him poetry. Shiqi said, "Your Highness ought to focus on the Six Classics, and in spare moments study the edicts of the Former and Later Han. Poetry is a minor accomplishment and not worth your effort." The crown prince agreed that this was sound advice.

初，帝起兵時，漢王數力戰有功。帝許以事成立為太子。既而不得立，怨望。帝又憐趙王年少，寵異之。由是兩王合而間太子，帝頗心動。九年還南京，召士奇問監國狀。士奇以孝敬對，且曰：「殿下天資高，即有過必知，知必改，存心愛人，決不負陛下托。」帝悅。十一年正旦，日食。禮部尚書呂震請勿罷朝賀。侍郎儀智持不可。士奇亦引宋仁宗事力言之。遂罷賀。明年，帝北征。士奇仍輔太子居守。漢王譖太子益急。帝還，以迎駕緩，盡征東宮官黃淮等下獄。士奇後至，宥之。召問太子事。士奇頓首言：「太子孝敬如初。凡所稽遲，皆臣等罪。」帝意解。行在諸臣交章劾士奇不當獨宥，遂下錦衣衛獄，尋釋之。

Earlier, when Chengzu first raised his army, the Prince of Han had fought bravely and won distinction. The emperor had promised that if their cause succeeded, the Prince of Han would be made heir. When he was passed over, he grew resentful. The emperor also favored the young Prince of Zhao with special indulgence. The two princes therefore worked together to undermine the heir, and the emperor began to waver. In the ninth year, on returning to Nanjing, he summoned Shiqi and asked how the crown prince had governed in his absence. Shiqi spoke of the heir's filial devotion and added, "Your Highness is gifted by nature: any fault he commits he recognizes, and once he recognizes it he corrects it. His heart is set on caring for others; he will never betray the charge Your Majesty has given him." The emperor was reassured. On New Year's Day of the eleventh year, a solar eclipse occurred. Minister of Rites Lü Zhen urged that the New Year court audience not be canceled. Vice Minister Yi Zhi objected that this would not do. Shiqi also cited Emperor Renzong of Song and argued strenuously against holding the audience. The celebration was canceled. The following year the emperor marched north on campaign. Shiqi again remained to assist the crown prince in the capital. The Prince of Han's accusations against the heir grew fiercer. When the emperor returned, he imprisoned the entire eastern-palace staff, including Huang Huai, on the charge that the welcome had been tardy. Shiqi arrived later and was spared. The emperor summoned him and questioned him about the heir. Shiqi kowtowed and said, "The crown prince's filial devotion is unchanged. Any delay in the welcome was entirely our fault." The emperor's anger subsided. Officials with the imperial entourage memorialized in succession that Shiqi ought not to have been pardoned alone; he was sent to the Embroidered-Uniform Guard prison but released shortly afterward.

十四年，帝還京師，微聞漢王奪嫡謀及諸不軌狀，以問蹇義。義不對，乃問士奇。對曰：「臣與義俱侍東宮，外人無敢為臣兩人言漢王事者。然漢王兩遣就籓，皆不肯行。今知陛下將徙都，輒請留守南京。惟陛下熟察其意。」帝默然，起還宮。居數日，帝盡得漢王事，削兩護衛，處之樂安。明年進士奇翰林學士，兼故官。十九年改左春坊大學士，仍兼學士。明年復坐輔導有闕，下錦衣衛獄，旬日而釋。

In the fourteenth year, after returning to the capital, the emperor had heard vague reports of the Prince of Han's designs on the succession and other disloyal conduct, and he questioned Jian Yi. Jian Yi would not speak, so the emperor turned to Shiqi. He replied, "Jian Yi and I both serve the eastern palace; no outsider dares discuss the Prince of Han with either of us. Yet the emperor twice ordered the Prince of Han to take up his fief, and both times he refused. Now that he knows Your Majesty plans to move the capital, he has asked to remain and guard Nanjing. Your Majesty alone can judge what he intends by this." The emperor said nothing, rose, and withdrew to the palace. Within days the emperor had uncovered the full story, stripped the prince of two guard regiments, and transferred him to Le'an. The following year Shiqi was promoted to Hanlin academician while keeping his previous post. In the nineteenth year he was made grand secretary of the left Eastern Palace, retaining his academician title. The next year he was again imprisoned in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard prison for failures in tutoring the heir, and released after ten days.

仁宗即位，擢禮部侍郎兼華蓋殿大學士。帝御便殿，蹇義、夏原吉奏事未退。帝望見士奇，謂二人曰：「新華蓋學士來，必有讜言，試共聽之。」士奇入言：「恩詔減歲供甫下二日，惜薪司傳旨征棗八十萬斤，與前詔戾。」帝立命減其半。服制二十七日期滿，呂震請即吉。士奇不可。震厲聲叱之。蹇義兼取二說進。明日，帝素冠麻衣絰而視朝。廷臣惟士奇及英國公張輔服如之。朝罷，帝謂左右曰：「梓宮在殯，易服豈臣子所忍言，士奇執是也。」進少保，與同官楊榮、金幼孜並賜「繩愆糾繆」銀章，得密封言事。尋進少傅。

When Renzong acceded, Shiqi was promoted to vice minister of rites and grand secretary of the Huagai Hall. One day the emperor was in the informal audience hall while Jian Yi and Xia Yuanji were still reporting on affairs. Seeing Shiqi approach, the emperor said to them, "The new Huagai grand secretary is here; he is bound to have honest counsel. Let us hear him together." Shiqi came in and said, "The grace edict reducing annual levies was issued only two days ago, yet the Department for Economizing Fuel has ordered eight hundred thousand jin of jujubes collected—this contradicts the earlier decree." The emperor immediately ordered the levy cut in half. When the twenty-seven-day mourning period ended, Lü Zhen urged the emperor to resume normal dress at once. Shiqi objected. Lü Zhen shouted him down. Jian Yi presented both sides to the emperor. The next day the emperor held court wearing plain mourning dress. Of the entire court, only Shiqi and the Duke of Ying, Zhang Fu, dressed in mourning as well. After court the emperor told his attendants, "With the late emperor's coffin still in the hall, how could any loyal subject propose changing dress? Shiqi was right to insist." He was promoted to junior guardian; he and his colleagues Yang Rong and Jin Youzi were given silver seals inscribed "Correct faults and rectify errors," with the privilege of submitting sealed memorials. He was soon promoted to junior tutor.

時籓司守令來朝，尚書李慶建議發軍伍余馬給有司，歲課其駒。士奇曰：「朝廷選賢授官，乃使牧馬，是貴畜而賤士也，何以示天下後世。」帝許中旨罷之，已而寂然。士奇復力言。又不報。有頃，帝御思善門，召士奇謂曰：「朕向者豈真忘之。聞呂震、李慶輩皆不喜卿，朕念卿孤立，恐為所傷，不欲因卿言罷耳，今有辭矣。」手出陝西按察使陳智言養馬不便疏，使草敕行之。士奇頓首謝。群臣習朝正旦儀，呂震請用樂，士奇與黃淮疏止。未報。士奇復奏，待庭中至夜漏十刻。報可。越日，帝召謂曰：「震每事誤朕，非卿等言，悔無及。」命兼兵部尚書，並食三祿。士奇辭尚書祿。

When provincial and prefectural officials came to court, Minister Li Qing proposed assigning surplus army horses to local governments and taxing them annually for foals. Shiqi said, "The court selects men of talent for office only to set them herding horses—this honors livestock and debases scholars. What lesson would that teach the empire and posterity?" The emperor orally agreed to cancel the plan, but nothing more was heard. Shiqi pressed the matter again. Again he received no reply. Shortly afterward, at the Sishan Gate, the emperor summoned Shiqi and said, "Did you think I had truly forgotten? I heard that Lü Zhen, Li Qing, and their faction dislike you. I knew you stood alone and feared they would harm you, so I did not want to cancel the plan solely on your advice. Now I have grounds to act." He handed him a memorial from Shaanxi surveillance commissioner Chen Zhi on the burdens of horse-rearing and told him to draft an edict abolishing the policy. Shiqi kowtowed in gratitude. The ministers were rehearsing the New Year's court ceremony when Lü Zhen proposed using music; Shiqi and Huang Huai memorialized against it. No reply came. Shiqi memorialized again and waited in the courtyard until the tenth watch of the night. Approval finally came. The next day the emperor told him, "Lü Zhen misleads me on every issue; without your counsel, I would have had no way to undo the damage." He was appointed concurrent minister of war with three stipends. Shiqi declined the ministerial stipend.

時有上書頌太平者，帝以示諸大臣，皆以為然。士奇獨曰：「陛下雖澤被天下，然流徙尚未歸，瘡痍尚未復，民尚艱食。更休息數年，庶幾太平可期。」帝曰：「然。」因顧蹇義等曰：「朕待御等以至誠，望匡弼。惟士奇曾五上章，卿等皆無一言。豈果朝無闕政，天下太平耶？」諸臣慚謝。是年四月，帝賜士奇璽書曰：「往者朕膺監國之命，卿侍左右，同心合德，徇國忘身，屢歷艱虞，曾不易志。及朕嗣位以來，嘉謨入告，期予於治，正固不二，簡在朕心。茲創製『楊貞，一印賜卿，尚克交修，以成明良之譽。」尋修《太宗實錄》，與黃淮、金幼孜、楊溥俱充總裁官。未幾，帝不豫，召士奇與蹇義、黃淮、楊榮至思善門，命士奇書敕召太子於南京。

Someone then submitted a memorial praising the reign as an age of peace; the emperor showed it to the ministers, and all agreed. Shiqi alone said, "Although Your Majesty's grace reaches every corner of the realm, refugees have not yet returned home, the land has not yet recovered from war, and the people still lack enough to eat. Give the realm a few more years to recover, and true peace may then be within reach." The emperor said, "You are right." Turning to Jian Yi and the others, he added, "I treat you with complete sincerity and look to you for honest counsel. Shiqi alone has memorialized five times, yet none of you has said a word. Do you truly believe the court has no faults and the realm is already at peace?" The ministers withdrew in shame to apologize. That April the emperor sent Shiqi an imperial letter: "When I bore the charge of regency, you stood at my side in loyal unity, giving yourself to the state and forgetting your own safety. You endured repeated trials without wavering in purpose. Since my accession your wise counsel has guided me toward good government. Your steadfast integrity has earned my deepest trust. I have had a seal inscribed 'Yang Zhenjie' made for you. May we continue to refine each other's virtue and earn the renown of a wise ruler and loyal minister." He soon helped compile the Veritable Records of Taizong, serving as chief compiler alongside Huang Huai, Jin Youzi, and Yang Pu. Before long the emperor fell ill. He summoned Shiqi, Jian Yi, Huang Huai, and Yang Rong to the Sishan Gate and ordered Shiqi to draft an edict calling the crown prince from Nanjing.

宣宗即位，修《仁宗實錄》，仍充總裁。宣德元年，漢王高煦反。帝親征，平之。師還，次獻縣之單家橋，侍郎陳山迎謁，言漢、趙二王實同心，請乘勢襲彰德執趙王。榮力贊決。士奇曰：「事當有實，天地鬼神可欺乎？」榮厲聲曰：「汝欲撓大計耶！今逆黨言趙實與謀，何謂無辭？」士奇曰：「太宗皇帝三子，今上惟兩叔父。有罪者不可赦，其無罪者宜厚待之，疑則防之，使無虞而已。何遽加兵，傷皇祖在天意乎？」時惟楊溥與士奇合。將入諫，榮先入，士奇繼之，閽者不納。尋召義、原吉入。二人以士奇言白帝。帝初無罪趙意，移兵事得寢。比還京，帝思士奇言，謂曰：「今議者多言趙王事，奈何？」士奇曰：「趙最親，陛下當保全之，毋惑群言。」帝曰：「吾欲封群臣章示王，令自處何如？」士奇曰：「善，更得一璽書幸甚。」於是發使奉書至趙。趙王得書大喜。泣曰：「吾生矣。」即上表謝，且獻護衛，言者始息。帝待趙王日益親而薄陳山。謂士奇曰：「趙王所以全，卿力也。」賜金幣。

When Xuanzong acceded, Shiqi again served as chief compiler of the Veritable Records of Renzong. In Xuande 1, the Prince of Han, Zhu Gaoxu, rebelled. The emperor led the campaign in person and crushed the rebellion. On the return march the army halted at Danjia Bridge in Xian County. Vice Minister Chen Shan came to meet the emperor and urged that the Princes of Han and Zhao had acted in concert, proposing a surprise attack on Zhangde to seize the Prince of Zhao. Yang Rong strongly supported the plan. Shiqi said, "Charges must be grounded in fact. Can we deceive Heaven, Earth, and the spirits?" Rong snapped, "Are you trying to sabotage the grand strategy? The rebels themselves say the Prince of Zhao was in on the plot. What more pretext do we need?" Shiqi replied, "Taizu had three sons; Your Majesty has only two surviving uncles. The guilty cannot be pardoned, but the innocent should be treated generously. If you have doubts, guard against them—but that is all that is needed. Why rush to arms and offend your grandfather's spirit in Heaven?" Only Yang Pu sided with Shiqi. They were about to enter and remonstrate. Rong went in first, Shiqi followed, but the gatekeepers refused them entry. Jian Yi and Xia Yuanji were soon summoned instead. They relayed Shiqi's argument to the emperor. The emperor had never intended to punish the Prince of Zhao, and the plan to move troops was dropped. After returning to the capital, the emperor recalled Shiqi's counsel and asked him, "Many at court are still pressing the case against the Prince of Zhao. What should I do?" Shiqi said, "The Prince of Zhao is your closest kinsman. Your Majesty should protect him and not be swayed by popular clamor." The emperor said, "What if I seal up the ministers' memorials and send them to the prince, letting him judge his own case?" Shiqi said, "An excellent plan—and it would be even better to add a personal letter from Your Majesty." Envoys were sent with the letter to the Prince of Zhao. The prince was overjoyed when he received it. Weeping, he said, "I am saved." He immediately submitted a memorial of thanks and offered to surrender his guard regiments, and the accusations finally died away. The emperor grew closer to the Prince of Zhao and colder toward Chen Shan. He told Shiqi, "The prince owes his safety to you." He rewarded him with gold and silks.

時交阯數叛。屢發大軍征討，皆敗沒。交阯黎利遣人偽請立陳氏後。帝亦厭兵，欲許之。英國公張輔、尚書蹇義以下，皆言與之無名，徒示弱天下。帝召士奇、榮謀。二人力言：「陛下恤民命以綏荒服，不為無名。漢棄珠厓，前史以為美談，不為示弱，許之便。」尋命擇使交阯者。蹇義薦伏伯安口辨。士奇曰：「言不忠信，雖蠻貊之邦不可行。伯安小人，往且辱國。」帝是之，別遣使。於是棄交阯，罷兵，歲省軍興巨萬。

Jiaozhi rebelled repeatedly at this time. Repeated large expeditions ended in defeat and ruin. Li Li of Jiaozhi sent envoys falsely proposing to restore a descendant of the Chen dynasty. The emperor too had grown weary of war and was inclined to agree. The Duke of Ying Zhang Fu, Minister Jian Yi, and others all argued that withdrawal would be unjustified and would only show weakness to the world. The emperor summoned Shiqi and Yang Rong for counsel. Both argued strenuously: "Your Majesty would spare the people's lives to pacify a distant province—that is justification enough. When the Han abandoned Hainan, historians praised it as wisdom. This is not weakness—agreement is the prudent course." He soon ordered an envoy chosen for Jiaozhi. Jian Yi recommended Fu Bo'an for his gift of speech. Shiqi said, "Without loyalty and trustworthiness, an envoy cannot go even to barbarian lands. Bo'an is a scoundrel who would only bring shame on the empire." The emperor agreed and chose someone else. Jiaozhi was abandoned, the armies withdrawn, and millions in military expenditure saved each year.

五年春，帝奉皇太后謁陵，召英國公張輔、尚書蹇義及士奇、榮、幼孜、溥，朝太后於行殿。太后慰勞之。帝又語士奇曰：「太后為朕言，先帝在青宮，惟卿不憚觸忤，先帝能從，以不敗事。又誨朕當受直言。」士奇對曰：「此皇太后盛德之言，願陛下念之。」尋敕鴻臚寺。士奇老有疾，趨朝或後，毋論奏。帝嘗微行，夜幸士奇宅。士奇倉皇出迎，頓首曰：「陛下奈何以社稷宗廟之身自輕？」帝曰：「朕欲與卿一言，故來耳。」後數日，獲二盜，有異謀。帝召士奇，告之故。且曰：「今而後知卿之愛朕也。」帝以四方屢水旱，召士奇議下詔寬恤，免災傷租稅及官馬虧額者。士奇因請並蠲逋賦薪芻錢，減官田額，理冤滯，汰工役，以廣德意。民大悅。逾二年，帝謂士奇曰：「恤民詔下已久，今更有可恤者乎？」士奇曰：「前詔減官田租，戶部征如故。」帝怫然曰：「今首行之，廢格者論如法。」士奇復請撫逃民，察墨吏，舉文學、武勇之士，令極刑家子孫皆得仕進。又請廷臣三品以上及二司官，各舉所知，備方面郡守選。皆報可。當是時，帝勵精圖治，士奇等同心輔佐，海內號為治平。帝乃仿古君臣豫游事，每歲首，賜百官旬休。車駕亦時幸西苑萬歲山，諸學士皆從。賦詩賡和，從容問民間疾苦。有所論奏，帝皆虛懷聽納。

In the spring of the fifth year, while accompanying the empress dowager to the imperial tombs, the emperor summoned the Duke of Ying Zhang Fu, Minister Jian Yi, Shiqi, Yang Rong, Jin Youzi, and Yang Pu to pay court to the empress dowager at the traveling palace. The empress dowager received them with warm praise. The emperor also told Shiqi, "The empress dowager said that when my father was crown prince, you alone dared speak unwelcome truth. He listened to you, and nothing went wrong. She also urged me to welcome honest counsel." Shiqi replied, "These are words of great wisdom from the empress dowager. I hope Your Majesty will take them to heart." He soon issued an edict to the Court of State Ceremonial. Because Shiqi was elderly and ill, he was not to be impeached if he arrived late at court. Once the emperor went out incognito and visited Shiqi's home at night. Shiqi rushed out to greet him and kowtowed. "Your Majesty, how can you risk the person who embodies the state and the ancestral temple?" The emperor said, "I simply wanted a word with you—that is why I came." A few days later two thieves with subversive plans were captured. The emperor summoned Shiqi and told him the story. He added, "Now I understand how much you care for my safety." With floods and droughts recurring across the realm, the emperor summoned Shiqi to discuss an edict of relief, remitting disaster-area taxes and penalties for shortfalls in official horse quotas. Shiqi also urged canceling overdue fuel and fodder levies, reducing official-field quotas, clearing backlogged cases, and cutting corvée burdens to extend the emperor's benevolence. The people rejoiced. More than two years later the emperor asked Shiqi, "The relief edict has been in force for some time. Is there anything more we can do for the people?" Shiqi said, "The earlier edict reduced rents on official fields, but the Ministry of Revenue still collects at the old rate." The emperor said angrily, "Implement it at once. Anyone who blocks it will be punished by law." Shiqi also urged resettling refugees, investigating corrupt officials, recommending men of literary and martial talent, and allowing descendants of families punished with capital crimes to enter government service. He also asked that officials of the third rank and above and provincial commissioners each recommend men they knew for provincial and prefectural appointments. All were approved. At that time the emperor devoted himself to good government, Shiqi and his colleagues worked in concert, and the realm was hailed as well governed. The emperor revived the ancient custom of ruler and ministers sharing leisure, granting officials ten days' holiday at the New Year. The emperor would visit the Western Park and Longevity Hill, accompanied by all the Hanlin academicians. They composed poetry together and calmly discussed the people's hardships. Whatever they proposed, the emperor listened with an open mind and accepted.

宣宗崩，英宗即位，方九齡。軍國大政關白太皇太后。太后推心任士奇、榮、溥三人，有事遣中使詣閣諮議，然後裁決。三人者亦自信，侃侃行意。士奇首請練士卒，嚴邊防，設南京參贊機務大臣，分遣文武鎮撫江西、湖廣、河南、山東，罷偵事校尉。又請以次蠲租稅，慎刑獄，嚴核百司。皆允行。正統之初，朝政清明，士奇等之力也。三年，《宣宗實錄》成，進少師。四年乞致仕。不允。敕歸省墓。未幾，還。

When Xuanzong died, Yingzong acceded at the age of nine. Major military and civil affairs were referred to the grand empress dowager. The empress dowager placed her full trust in Shiqi, Yang Rong, and Yang Pu. On important matters she sent palace envoys to the Grand Secretariat for consultation before deciding. The three men in turn acted with confidence and spoke their minds freely. Shiqi first urged drilling troops, strengthening frontier defenses, appointing a Nanjing coordinator of military affairs, dispatching civil and military officials to pacify Jiangxi, Huguang, Henan, and Shandong, and abolishing the secret police. He also urged staged tax relief, careful handling of criminal cases, and strict auditing of government offices. All were approved. The clarity of government at the start of the Zhengtong reign was largely due to Shiqi and his colleagues. In the third year, when the Veritable Records of Xuanzong were completed, he was promoted to junior preceptor. In the fourth year he asked to retire. The request was denied. He was permitted to return home to tend his family's graves. He soon returned to court.

是時中官王振有寵於帝，漸預外庭事，導帝以嚴御下，大臣往往下獄。靖江王佐敬私饋榮金。榮先省墓，歸不之知。振欲藉以傾榮，士奇力解之，得已。榮尋卒，士奇、溥益孤。其明年遂大興師征麓川，帑藏耗費，士馬物故者數萬。又明年，太皇太后崩，振勢益盛，大作威福，百官小有牴牾，輒執而系之。廷臣人人惴恐，士奇亦弗能制也。

By then the eunuch Wang Zhen had won the emperor's favor and gradually intruded on outer-court affairs, urging the emperor to rule his ministers harshly. Many senior officials were thrown into prison. The Prince of Jingjiang, Zhu Zuojing, secretly gave Yang Rong a gift of gold. Yang Rong had been away visiting his family's graves and knew nothing of it when he returned. Wang Zhen tried to use the incident to destroy Yang Rong, but Shiqi intervened forcefully and the matter was dropped. Yang Rong soon died, leaving Shiqi and Yang Pu increasingly isolated. The following year a major campaign was launched against Lucchuan, draining the treasury and costing tens of thousands of men and horses. The year after, the grand empress dowager died. Wang Zhen's power grew unchecked. He ruled by terror, and any official who crossed him was seized and imprisoned. Court officials lived in fear, and even Shiqi could no longer restrain him.

士奇既耄，子稷傲很，嘗侵暴殺人。言官交章劾稷。朝議不即加法，封其狀示士奇。復有人發稷橫虐數十事，遂下之理。士奇以老疾在告。天子恐傷士奇意，降詔慰勉。士奇感泣，憂不能起。九年三月卒，年八十。贈太師，諡文貞。有司乃論殺稷。

Shiqi was now elderly, and his son Yang Ji was arrogant and violent, once killing a man in an act of bullying. Censors memorialized in succession to impeach Yang Ji. The court held off on immediate punishment and sealed the memorials to show Shiqi. More accusers came forward with dozens of charges against Yang Ji's bullying and cruelty, and he was at last arrested and brought to trial. Shiqi was on sick leave, suffering from age and illness. The emperor, not wishing to distress Shiqi, issued an edict to comfort and reassure him. Shiqi wept in gratitude and grief, and was so overcome with sorrow that he could not get out of bed. He died in the third month of the ninth year of Zhengtong (1444), at the age of eighty. He was posthumously honored as Grand Preceptor, with the posthumous name Wen Zhen ("Cultured and Steadfast"). The officials then condemned Yang Ji to death and executed him.

初，正統初，士奇言瓦剌漸強，將為邊患，而邊軍缺馬，恐不能御。請於附近太僕寺關領，西番貢馬亦悉給之。士奇歿未幾，也先果入寇，有土木之難，識者思其言。又雅善知人，好推轂寒士，所薦達有初未識面者。而于謙、周忱、況鍾之屬，皆用士奇薦，居官至一二十年，廉能冠天下，為世名臣雲。

Early in the Zhengtong reign, Shiqi had warned that the Oirat were growing stronger and would menace the borders, and that with the frontier armies short of horses they might prove unable to defend against them. He urged that horses be issued from nearby imperial stud farms and that all horses sent as tribute from the western tribes be allocated to the border forces. Soon after Shiqi's death, Esen did invade, bringing the Tumu Crisis—and those who had understood his warning remembered what he had said. He also had a gift for judging character and delighted in advancing obscure scholars; some men he recommended to high office he had never even met in person. Yu Qian, Zhou Chen, Kuang Zhong, and others like them all rose through Shiqi's patronage; they served in high office for one or two decades, their integrity and competence unmatched in the empire, and became the era's most celebrated statesmen.

次子道，以廕補尚寶丞。成化中，進太常少卿，掌司事。

His second son, Dao, entered service as Assistant Director of the Imperial Secretariat by virtue of his father's rank. Under Chenghua he was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites and served as acting head of the ministry.

楊榮，字勉仁，建安人，初名子榮。建文二年進士。授編修。成祖初入京，榮迎謁馬首曰：「殿下先謁陵乎，先即位乎？」成祖遽趣駕謁陵。自是遂受知。既即位，簡入文淵閣，為更名榮。同值七人，榮最少，警敏。一日晚，寧夏報被圍。召七人，皆已出，獨榮在，帝示以奏。榮曰：「寧夏城堅，人皆習戰，奏上已十余日，圍解矣。」夜半，果奏圍解。帝謂榮曰：「何料之審也！」江西盜起，遣使撫諭，而令都督韓觀將兵繼其後。賊就撫奏至，帝欲賜敕勞觀。榮曰：「計發奏時，觀尚未至，不得論功。」帝益重之，再遷至侍講。太子立，進右諭德，仍兼前職，與在直諸臣同賜二品服。評議諸司事宜，稱旨，復賜衣幣。帝威嚴，與諸大臣議事未決，或至發怒。榮至，輒為霽顏，事亦遂決。

Yang Rong, styled Mianren, was a native of Jian'an; his original given name was Zirong. He passed the jinshi examination in the second year of the Jianwen reign (1400). He was appointed a Compiler in the Hanlin Academy. When the Yongle Emperor first entered Beijing, Rong greeted him at his stirrup and asked: "Your Highness—will you visit the imperial tombs first, or ascend the throne first? Chengzu at once ordered his carriage to the tombs. From that moment he won the emperor's confidence. After taking the throne, the emperor selected him for the Wenyuan Pavilion and renamed him Rong. Among the seven grand secretaries, Rong was the youngest—quick-witted and sharp. One evening came word that Ningxia was under siege. The emperor summoned the seven secretaries, but all had gone home; only Rong was still there. The emperor showed him the report. Rong said, "Ningxia's defenses are solid and its garrison is battle-hardened. That report is more than ten days old—the siege will already be over. Before dawn, a dispatch arrived confirming the siege had been raised. The emperor said to Rong, "Your judgment was remarkably precise! When bandits broke out in Jiangxi, the court sent envoys to negotiate their surrender while ordering Regional Commander Han Guan to follow with an army. When news arrived that the bandits had submitted, the emperor wanted to issue an edict praising Han Guan. Rong objected: "When that report was sent, Han Guan had not even arrived—he cannot be given credit. The emperor thought even more highly of him and promoted him again to Reader-in-Waiting. When the crown prince was installed, Rong was made Right Mentor while retaining his earlier office; he and the other officials on palace duty were granted second-rank court dress. His review of departmental business pleased the emperor, who again rewarded him with robes and gifts of silk. The emperor's temper was formidable; when deliberations with his ministers reached deadlock he would sometimes explode in rage. But when Rong appeared, the emperor's face would soften and the business would promptly reach a decision.

五年，命往甘肅經畫軍務，所過覽山川形勢，察軍民，閱城堡。還奏武英殿。帝大悅，值盛暑，親剖瓜啖之。尋進右庶子，兼職如故。明年以父喪給傳歸。既葬，起復視事。又明年，母喪乞歸。帝以北行期迫不許，命同胡廣、金幼孜扈從。甘肅總兵官何福言脫脫不花等請降，需命於亦集乃。命榮往甘肅偕福受降，持節即軍中封福寧遠侯。因至寧夏，與寧陽侯陳懋規畫邊務。還陳便宜十事。帝嘉納之。

In the fifth year (1407) he was dispatched to Gansu to oversee military affairs, surveying terrain along the way, inspecting troops and civilians, and reviewing fortifications. On his return he briefed the emperor in the Hall of Martial Glory. The emperor was delighted. In the midsummer heat he personally sliced a melon and offered it to Rong. He was soon promoted to Right Sub-Reader while keeping his other posts unchanged. The following year, upon his father's death, he was granted official transport and returned home for mourning. After the funeral he was recalled from mourning to resume office. The year after that, when his mother died, he asked to return home for mourning. The emperor, with a northern campaign imminent, refused the request and ordered Rong to accompany him alongside Hu Guang and Jin Youzi. He Fu, regional commander in Gansu, reported that Toghon Taishi and others sought to surrender and were awaiting instructions at Yijinai (Ejin). Rong was sent to Gansu with He Fu to accept the surrender, carrying imperial credentials to ennoble He Fu as Marquis of Ningyuan there in the field. He continued on to Ningxia, where with Marquis Chen Mao of Ningyang he drew up plans for frontier administration. On his return he submitted ten practical recommendations for border policy. The emperor approved them with commendation.

八年從出塞，次臚朐河。選勇士三百人為衛，不以隸諸將，令榮領之。師旋，餉不繼。榮請盡以供御之余給軍，而令軍中有餘者得相貸，入塞，官為倍償。軍賴以濟。明年乞奔喪，命中官護行。還詢閩中民情及歲豐歉，榮具以對。尋命侍諸皇孫讀書文華殿。

In the eighth year (1410) he accompanied the emperor on campaign beyond the frontier, halting at the Lüqu River. Three hundred elite warriors were chosen as an imperial guard, placed outside the normal chain of command, with Rong put in charge. On the march home, supplies ran out. Rong proposed distributing all surplus provisions from the imperial commissary among the troops, allowing soldiers with extra rations to lend to comrades; once back inside the frontier, the government would repay them at double the amount. The army made it through on this arrangement. The following year he sought leave to rush home for mourning; the emperor sent a eunuch to escort him. When he returned, the emperor asked about conditions in Fujian—the people's welfare and whether harvests had been good or poor—and Rong answered in detail. He was soon assigned to tutor the imperial grandsons in the Hall of Literary Glory.

十年，甘肅守臣宋琥言，叛寇老的罕逃赤斤蒙古，且為邊患。乃復遣榮至陝西，會豐城侯李彬議進兵方略。榮還奏言：「隆冬非用兵時，且有罪不過數人，兵未可出。」帝從其言，叛者亦降。明年復與廣、幼孜從北巡。又明年征瓦剌，太孫侍行。帝命榮以間陳說經史，兼領尚寶事。凡宣詔出令，及旗志符驗，必得榮奏乃發。帝嘗晚坐行幄，召榮計兵食。榮對曰：「擇將屯田，訓練有方，耕耨有時，即兵食足矣。」十四年與金幼孜俱進翰林學士，仍兼庶子，從還京師。明年復從北征。

In the tenth year (1412), Song Hu, the Gansu frontier commissioner, reported that the rebel Lao Dehan had taken refuge with the Chijin Mongols and was threatening the border. Rong was again sent to Shaanxi to confer with Marquis Li Bin of Fengcheng on a plan of campaign. Rong reported back: "Deep winter is no season for war, and only a handful of men are guilty—the army ought not march. The emperor agreed, and the rebels surrendered as well. The following year he again joined Hu Guang and Jin Youzi on the northern inspection tour. The year after that came the campaign against the Oirat, with the heir apparent's son accompanying the army. The emperor had Rong instruct the heir in the classics and history during idle hours, and also placed him in charge of the Imperial Secretariat. No edicts, orders, banners, seals, or credentials could be issued without Rong's approval. One evening in the field the emperor summoned Rong to discuss troop supplies. Rong replied, "Select officers for frontier farming garrisons, drill the men properly, and sow and harvest on schedule—that alone will keep the army fed. In the fourteenth year (1416) he and Jin Youzi were both promoted to Hanlin Academician while retaining their posts as tutors; they returned to the capital with the emperor. The next year he again joined the northern campaign.

十六年，胡廣卒，命榮掌翰林院事，益見親任。諸大臣多忌榮，欲疏之，共舉為祭酒。帝曰：「吾固知其可，第求代榮者。」諸大臣乃不敢言。十八年進文淵閣大學士，兼學士如故。明年定都北京。會三殿災，榮麾衛士出圖籍制誥，舁東華門外。帝褒之。榮與幼孜陳便宜十事。報可。

In the sixteenth year (1418) Hu Guang died; Rong was put in charge of the Hanlin Academy and grew even closer to the emperor's confidence. Many ministers envied Rong and schemed to sideline him, jointly recommending him for chancellor of the Imperial Academy. The emperor replied, "I know full well he can do it—just find me someone to replace Rong. At that the ministers fell silent. In the eighteenth year (1420) he was promoted to Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion while retaining his Hanlin posts. The following year Beijing was established as the permanent capital. When fire destroyed the three main palaces, Rong directed the guards to rescue the archives and imperial documents and carry them outside the East Flowery Gate. The emperor praised him for it. Rong and Jin Youzi submitted ten practical policy recommendations. The emperor approved them all.

二十年，復從出塞，軍事悉令參決，賚予優渥。師還，勞將士，分四等賜宴，榮、幼孜皆列前席，受上賞。已，復下詔征阿魯台。或請調建文時江西所集民兵。帝問榮。榮曰：「陛下許民復業且二十年，一旦復征之，非示天下信。」從之。明年從出塞，軍務悉委榮，晝夜見無時。帝時稱「楊學士」，不名也。又明年復從北征。當是時，帝凡五齣塞，士卒飢凍，饋運不繼，死亡十二三。大軍抵答蘭納木兒河，不見敵。帝問群臣當復進否，群臣唯唯，惟榮、幼孜從容言宜班師。帝許之。

In the twentieth year (1422) he again joined the campaign beyond the passes; the emperor put him in charge of all military decisions and showered him with lavish rewards. After the army returned, the emperor held a feast for the troops in four tiers of honor; Rong and Jin Youzi both sat at the head table and received the highest gifts. Soon afterward another edict went out for a campaign against Arughtai. Some officials proposed re-mobilizing the militia conscripted in Jiangxi during the Jianwen reign. The emperor asked Rong's opinion. Rong said, "Your Majesty has allowed these people to resume farming for nearly twenty years—suddenly calling them up again would betray the trust of the empire. The emperor accepted his advice. The following year Rong again joined the frontier campaign; the emperor delegated all military affairs to him and summoned him at all hours, day and night. The emperor habitually called him "Academician Yang" rather than by his personal name—a mark of exceptional favor. The year after that he joined yet another northern campaign. By then the emperor had led five campaigns beyond the frontier; the troops endured hunger and frost, supplies failed to keep up, and as many as two or three in ten perished. The main force reached the Dalai Namir River but encountered no enemy. The emperor asked his ministers whether to press on; the rest murmured vague assent, but only Rong and Jin Youzi calmly advised withdrawal. The emperor agreed.

還次榆木川，帝崩。中官馬雲等莫知所措，密與榮、幼孜入御幄議。二人議：六師在外，去京師尚遠，秘不發喪。以禮斂，熔錫為椑，載輿中。所至朝夕進膳如常儀，益嚴軍令，人莫測。或請因他事為敕，馳報皇太子。二人曰：「誰敢爾！先帝在則稱敕，賓天而稱敕，詐也，罪不小。」眾曰：「然。」乃具大行月日及遺命傳位意，啟太子。榮與少監海壽先馳訃。既至，太子命與蹇義、楊士奇議諸所宜行者。

On the march home the army halted at Yumuchuan, where the emperor died. The eunuchs, led by Ma Yun, were at a loss; they withdrew with Rong and Jin Youzi into the imperial tent for a secret council. The two men agreed: with the entire army still in the field and far from the capital, they must keep the death secret. They prepared the body according to ritual, sealed it in a coffin wrought from molten tin, and loaded it onto an imperial carriage. At each camp they maintained the daily ritual of presenting meals to the emperor as though nothing were amiss, tightened military discipline, and kept everyone in the dark. Someone suggested sending a dispatch to the crown prince under cover of some other official business. The two men objected, "Who would dare! While the late emperor lived, an edict spoke with his authority—but to issue an edict after he has died would be a fraud, and the penalty for that would be severe. All present agreed: "Indeed." They then drew up a full account of the date of the late emperor's death and of his dying wish to pass the throne, and sent word to the crown prince. Rong and the assistant director Hai Shou rode ahead first to bear the tidings of the emperor's death. Once they arrived, the crown prince ordered them to confer with Jian Yi and Yang Shiqi on every measure that should be carried out.

仁宗即位，進太常卿，余官如故。尋進太子少傅、謹身殿大學士。既而有言榮當大行時，所行喪禮及處分軍事狀。帝賜敕褒勞，賚予甚厚。進工部尚書，食三祿。時士奇、淮皆辭尚書祿，榮、幼孜亦固辭。不允。

When Renzong ascended the throne, Rong was promoted to Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, his other posts unchanged. Before long he was further made Junior Tutor to the crown prince and Grand Secretary of the Jinshen Hall. Soon afterward word reached the court of how Rong had handled the mourning rites and military dispositions during the late emperor's funeral procession. The emperor issued an edict praising and rewarding him, with gifts of extraordinary generosity. He was promoted to Minister of Works and granted triple stipends. At the time Shiqi and Huang Huai both declined their ministerial salaries, and Rong and Jin Youzi likewise refused firmly. The emperor would not accept their refusals.

宣德元年，漢王高煦反。帝召榮等定計。榮首請帝親征，曰：「彼謂陛下新立，必不自行。今出不意，以天威臨之，事無不濟。」帝從其計。至樂安，高煦出降。師還，以決策功，受上賞，賜銀章五，褒予甚至。

In the first year of Xuande, Zhu Gaoxu, Prince of Han, rose in rebellion. The emperor summoned Rong and his colleagues to decide on a course of action. Rong was the first to urge the emperor to take the field in person, saying, "They assume Your Majesty has only just come to the throne and will surely not go yourself. Strike now when they do not expect it, and confront them with the majesty of Heaven—nothing will fail to succeed. The emperor adopted his plan. When the army reached Le'an, Gaoxu came out and surrendered. When the army returned, he received the highest reward for his counsel in the decision: five silver seals were bestowed, and praise and gifts were heaped upon him to a remarkable degree.

三年從帝巡邊，至遵化。聞兀良哈將寇邊，帝留扈行諸文臣於大營，獨命榮從。自將輕騎出喜峰口，破敵而還。五年進少傅，辭大學士祿。九年復從巡邊，至洗馬林而還。

In the third year he accompanied the emperor on a tour of the frontier as far as Zunhua. When word came that the Uriankhai were about to raid the border, the emperor left the civil officials who had accompanied him at the main camp and ordered Rong alone to follow. The emperor himself led light cavalry out through Xifeng Pass, defeated the enemy, and returned. In the fifth year he was promoted to Junior Tutor and declined the salary attached to his Grand Secretary post. In the ninth year he again accompanied the frontier tour, going as far as Ximolin before turning back.

英宗即位，委寄如故。正統三年，與士奇俱進少師。五年乞歸展墓，命中官護行。還至武林驛而卒，年七十。贈太師，諡文敏，授世襲都指揮使。

When Yingzong ascended the throne, the confidence reposed in him remained unchanged. In the third year of Zhengtong, he and Shiqi were both promoted to Junior Preceptor. In the fifth year he asked to return home to tend his ancestral graves, and the emperor ordered eunuchs to escort him on the journey. On the way back he died at Wulin Post Station, at the age of seventy. He was posthumously ennobled as Grand Preceptor, given the posthumous name Wenmin, and his family was granted a hereditary post as regional commander.

榮歷事四朝，謀而能斷。永樂末，浙、閩山賊起，議發兵。帝時在塞外，奏至，以示榮。榮曰：「愚民苦有司，不得已相聚自保。兵出，將益聚不可解。遣使招撫，當不煩兵。」從之，盜果息。安南之棄，諸大臣多謂不可，獨榮與士奇力言不宜以荒服疲中國。其老成持重類如此。論事激發，不能容人過。然遇人觸帝怒致不測，往往以微言導帝意，輒得解。夏原吉、李時勉之不死，都御史劉觀之免戍邊，皆賴其力。嘗語人曰：「事君有體，進諫有方，以悻直取禍，吾不為也。」故其恩遇亦始終無間。重修《太祖實錄》及太宗、仁、宣三朝《實錄》，皆為總裁官。先後賜賚，不可勝計。性喜賓客，雖貴盛無稍崖岸，士多歸心焉。或謂榮處國家大事，不愧唐姚崇，而不拘小節，亦頗類之。

Rong served four reigns, thoughtful in counsel and firm in decision. Near the end of the Yongle reign, mountain bandits rose in Zhejiang and Fujian, and the court debated dispatching troops. The emperor was then on campaign beyond the frontier; when the memorial arrived, he showed it to Rong. Rong said, "These simple folk suffer under local officials and have been driven to gather together in self-defense. Send troops, and the rebels will only gather in greater numbers until the trouble cannot be undone. Send envoys to summon and reassure them, and there should be no need to resort to force. The emperor followed his advice, and the bandits indeed quieted down. When the court debated abandoning Annam, most ministers held that it could not be done; only Rong and Shiqi argued forcefully that the empire ought not wear itself out over a distant frontier land. Such was the seasoned steadiness he showed throughout. In debate he could be sharp and would not overlook others' faults. Yet when someone had provoked the emperor's wrath to the brink of unpredictable punishment, he would often steer the emperor's mind with a few subtle words, and clemency would usually follow. That Xia Yuanji and Li Shimian were not put to death, and that Censor-in-Chief Liu Guan was spared exile to the frontier—all owed to his intervention. He once told others, "Serving one's ruler has its proper form, and remonstrance has its proper method. To invite disaster through reckless bluntness—that I will not do. For this reason imperial favor toward him never wavered from first to last. In the revision of the Veritable Records of Taizu and of the Taizong, Renzong, and Xuanzong reigns, he served as chief compiler in every case. Imperial gifts bestowed on him over the years were beyond reckoning. By nature he loved to receive guests; though he stood at the height of rank and power, he showed not the slightest hauteur, and many scholars gave him their loyalty. Some said that in handling great affairs of state Rong was not unworthy of comparison with the Tang minister Yao Chong, and that in his disregard for petty proprieties he rather resembled him too.

家富，曾孫曄為建寧指揮，以貲敗。詳《宦官傳》。

The family was wealthy; his great-great-grandson Ye, commandant of Jianning, was brought down through corruption of wealth. For details, see the "Biographies of Eunuchs."

曾孫旦

Great-great-grandson: Dan

曄從弟旦，字晉叔，弘治中進士。歷官太常卿。以忤劉瑾，左遷知溫州府，治最，稍遷浙江提學副使。瑾誅，累擢至戶部侍郎，督京、通倉，出理餉甘肅。還，進右都御史，總督兩廣軍務。討平番禺、清遠、河源諸瑤。嘉靖初，遷至南京吏部尚書。張璁、桂萼驟進，旦率九卿極言不可。會吏部尚書喬宇罷，召旦代之，未至，為給事中陳洸所劾，勒致仕。年七十余卒。

Ye's younger cousin Dan, courtesy name Jingshu, passed the jinshi examination in the Hongzhi reign. He rose through the ranks to become Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. For offending Liu Jin he was demoted to prefect of Wenzhou; his administration ranked highest, and he was gradually promoted to Vice Commissioner of Education in Zhejiang. After Jin was executed, he was promoted in succession to Vice Minister of Revenue, put in charge of the Jing and Tong granaries, and then sent out to manage supplies in Gansu. On his return he was promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief and placed in overall command of military affairs in the two Guang provinces. He suppressed and pacified the Yao of Panyu, Qingyuan, Heyuan, and other regions. At the beginning of the Jiajing reign he was transferred to Minister of Personnel at Nanjing. When Zhang Cong and Gui E were suddenly elevated in rank, Dan led the Nine Ministers in declaring forcefully that this must not be allowed. When Minister of Personnel Qiao Yu was dismissed, Dan was summoned to replace him; before he could take up the post he was impeached by the supervising secretary Chen Guang and forced to retire. He died in his seventies.

楊溥，字弘濟，石首人。與楊榮同舉進士。授編修。永樂初，侍皇太子為洗馬。太子嘗讀《漢書》，稱張釋之賢。溥曰：「釋之誠賢，非文帝寬仁，未得行其志也。」採文帝事編類以獻。太子大悅。久之，以喪歸。時太子監國，命起視事。十二年，東宮遣使迎帝遲，帝怒。黃淮逮至北京系獄。及金問至，帝益怒曰：「問何人，得侍太子！」下法司鞫，連溥，逮系錦衣衛獄。家人供食數絕。而帝意不可測，旦夕且死。溥益奮，讀書不輟。系十年，讀經史諸子數周。

Yang Pu, courtesy name Hongji, was a native of Shishou. He passed the jinshi examination in the same year as Yang Rong. He was appointed a Compiler. At the beginning of the Yongle reign he served the crown prince as Reader-in-Waiting. The crown prince once read the Book of Han and praised Zhang Shizhi as a man of worth. Pu said, "Shizhi was indeed worthy, but without Emperor Wen's leniency and benevolence he could never have carried out his aims. He collected and arranged anecdotes of Emperor Wen and presented them to the crown prince. The crown prince was greatly pleased. After some time he returned home to observe mourning. At the time the crown prince was regent, and Pu was ordered to leave mourning and resume office. In the twelfth year, the Eastern Palace sent envoys to welcome the emperor too late, and the emperor was enraged. Huang Huai was seized, brought to Beijing, and thrown into prison. When Jin Wen arrived as well, the emperor grew still angrier and said, "What sort of man is Wen, that he should be allowed to attend the crown prince! The case was handed to the judicial offices for interrogation; Pu was implicated, seized, and imprisoned in the Embroidered Uniform Guard jail. Several times his family's food supplies were cut off. Yet the emperor's intent was unpredictable, and death might come at any hour. Pu only redoubled his resolve and never ceased his reading. Imprisoned for ten years, he read through the classics, histories, and masters several times over.

宣宗即位，弘文閣罷，召溥入內閣，與楊士奇等共典機務。居四年，以母喪去，起復。九年遷禮部尚書，學士值內閣如故。

When Xuanzong ascended the throne, the Hongwen Pavilion was abolished; Pu was summoned into the Grand Secretariat to manage state affairs together with Yang Shiqi and the others. After four years he left office upon his mother's death, then was recalled from mourning to resume duty. In the ninth year he was transferred to Minister of Rites while continuing to serve in the Grand Secretariat as before.

英宗初立，與士奇、榮請開經筵。豫擇講官，必得學識平正、言行端謹、老成達大體者數人供職。且請慎選宮中朝夕侍從內臣。太后大喜。一日，太后坐便殿，帝西向立，召英國公張輔及士奇、榮、溥、尚書胡濙入。諭曰：「卿等老臣，嗣君幼，幸同心共安社稷。」又召溥前曰：「仁宗皇帝念卿忠，屢加嘆息，不意今尚見卿。」溥感泣，太后亦泣，左右皆悲愴。始仁宗為太子，被讒，宮僚多死詔獄，溥及黃淮一系十年，瀕死者數矣。仁宗時時於宮中念諸臣，太后亦久憐之，故為溥言之如此。太后復顧帝曰：「此五臣，三朝簡任，俾輔後人。皇帝萬幾，宜與五臣共計。」正統三年，《宣宗實錄》成，進少保、武英殿大學士。溥後士奇、榮二十餘年入閣，至是乃與士奇、榮並。六年歸省墓，尋還。

When Yingzong was first enthroned, he joined Shiqi and Rong in requesting that the classics lecture be instituted. They preselected lecturers, insisting on several men of solid learning and upright judgment, decorous in word and deed, seasoned and versed in the larger principles of state. They also asked that the inner eunuchs who attended the emperor day and night in the palace be chosen with care. The empress dowager was greatly pleased. One day the empress dowager sat in an informal hall; the emperor stood facing west and summoned the Duke of Yingguo Zhang Fu, together with Shiqi, Rong, Pu, and Minister Hu Ying. She addressed them: "You are aged ministers; the new ruler is young. I trust you will join in one heart to secure the altars of state together. She then called Pu forward and said, "Emperor Renzong often thought of your loyalty and sighed over it again and again; I never expected to see you still here today." Pu wept in gratitude; the empress dowager wept as well, and all those present were overcome with sorrow. At the beginning, when Renzong was crown prince, he was slandered; many of his palace staff died in the imperial prison. Pu and Huang Huai were each imprisoned for ten years and several times came near death. Renzong had often remembered these ministers within the palace, and the empress dowager had long pitied them—hence she spoke to Pu in this way. The empress dowager again turned to the emperor and said, "These five ministers were chosen across three reigns to assist those who come after. In the myriad affairs of state, Your Majesty should consult with these five ministers. In the third year of Zhengtong, when the Veritable Records of Xuanzong were completed, he was promoted to Junior Guardian and Grand Secretary of the Wuying Hall. Pu had entered the Grand Secretariat more than twenty years after Shiqi and Rong; only now was he placed on equal footing with them. In the sixth year he returned home to tend his ancestral graves, and soon came back.

是時，王振尚未橫，天下清平，朝無失政，中外臣民翕然稱「三楊」。以居第目士奇曰「西楊」，榮曰「東楊」，而溥嘗自署郡望曰南郡，因號為「南楊」。溥質直廉靜，無城府。性恭謹，每入朝，循牆而走。諸大臣論事爭可否，或至違言。溥平心處之，諸大臣皆嘆服。時謂士奇有學行，榮有才識，溥有雅操，皆人所不及雲。比榮、士奇相繼卒，在閣者馬愉、高谷、曹鼐皆後進望輕。溥孤立，王振益用事。十一年七月，溥卒，年七十五。贈太師，諡文定。官其孫壽尚寶司丞。後三年，振遂導英宗北征，陷土木，幾至大亂。時人追思此三人者在，當不至此。而後起者爭暴其短，以為依違中旨，釀成賊奄之禍，亦過刻之端也。

At that time Wang Zhen had not yet grown overbearing; the realm was at peace, the court committed no misgovernment, and officials and people everywhere spoke as one of the "Three Yangs." By their residences Shiqi was called "Western Yang," Rong "Eastern Yang," and as Pu sometimes styled himself by his ancestral district as Nanjun, he came to be known as "Southern Yang." Pu was plain, upright, frugal, and quiet, without hidden designs. By nature deferential and careful, whenever he entered court he walked along the wall. When the other ministers debated affairs and disputed points pro and con, disagreements sometimes even broke into open contradiction. Pu met them with equanimity, and the senior ministers all admired him for it. People said Shiqi had learning and moral stature, Rong talent and insight, and Pu refined integrity—qualities none could match. After Rong and Shiqi died in turn, the men left in the Grand Secretariat—Ma Yu, Gao Gu, and Cao Tai—were junior officials of little weight. Pu was isolated, and Wang Zhen's influence grew unchecked. In the seventh month of the eleventh year he died at the age of seventy-five. He was posthumously honored as Grand Preceptor with the posthumous title Wendi. His grandson Shou was appointed assistant director of the Imperial Seals Office. Three years later Wang Zhen led Yingzong north, and the disaster at Tumu nearly plunged the empire into chaos. Later generations reflected that if the three men had still been alive, matters would never have reached that pass. Yet later critics competed to expose their faults, blaming their habit of trimming to the emperor's mood for the eunuch disaster—a judgment that was itself excessively harsh.

附馬愉

Appended biography: Ma Yu

愉端重簡默，門無私謁。論事務寬厚。嘗奏天下獄久者多瘐死，宜簡使者分道決遣。帝納焉。邊警，方命將，而別部使至，眾議執之。愉言：「賞善罰惡，為治之本。波及於善，非法。乘人之來執之，不武。」帝然之，厚遣其使。

Ma Yu was dignified, reserved, and sparing of speech, and admitted no private callers at his gate. In council he always favored generous and lenient measures. He once memorialized that prisoners held too long were dying of neglect in jails across the empire, and urged dispatching commissioners on separate routes to review and settle cases. The emperor accepted the proposal. During a frontier alert, as generals were being appointed, envoys from another branch arrived, and many at court urged seizing them. Yu said, "Rewarding the good and punishing the wicked is the foundation of government. To harm the innocent in the process is unlawful. To seize envoys who come in good faith is unworthy of a great power." The emperor agreed and sent the envoys away with rich gifts.

贊曰：成祖時，士奇、榮與解縉等同直內閣，溥亦同為仁宗宮僚，而三人逮事四朝，為時耆碩。溥入閣雖後，德望相亞，是以明稱賢相，必首三楊。均能原本儒術，通達事幾，協力相資，靖共匪懈。史稱房、杜持眾美效之君，輔贊彌縫而藏諸用。又稱姚崇善應變，以成天下之務；宋璟善守文，以持天下之正。三楊其庶幾乎。

The historian comments: Under Chengzu, Shiqi and Rong served in the Grand Secretariat with Xie Jin and others; Pu had been a palace tutor to Renzong. All three served four reigns and became the elder statesmen of their age. Though Pu entered the cabinet last, his stature was nearly equal to the others; when the Ming speak of great ministers, they always name the Three Yang first. All rooted their governance in Confucian learning, understood the turns of affairs, supported one another, and served in loyal harmony without slackening. Historians said of Fang Xuanling and Du Ruhui that they gathered every excellence and offered it to their ruler, supporting and smoothing affairs while keeping their own contributions hidden. They also praised Yao Chong for adapting to change and accomplishing the empire's business; and Song Jing for preserving established institutions and upholding the empire's moral order. The Three Yang may be said to have come close to matching them.

Cite this Chapter