1
茹常嚴震直張紞 〈（毛泰亨）〉 王鈍鄭賜郭資呂震李至剛方賓吳中劉觀
Ru Chang, Yan Zhenzhi, and Zhang Dan. (Mao Taiheng)]〉 Wang Dun, Zheng Ci, Guo Zi, Lu Zhen, Li Zhigang, Fang Bin, Wu Zhong, and Liu Guan.
2
茹常，衡山人。 洪武中，由監生除承敕郎，歷通政使。 勤於職，太祖賢之。 二十三年拜右副都御史，又試兵部尚書，尋實授，加太子少保。 及惠帝即位，改吏部，與黃子澄不相能，刑部尚書暴昭發其贓罪，出掌河南布政司事。 尋復召為兵部尚書。
Ru Chang was from Hengshan. Under Hongwu he entered service as a Directorate student, was appointed a drafter of imperial rescripts, and eventually became Commissioner of the Office of Transmission. Diligent in office, he won Taizu's esteem. In year twenty-three of the reign he was made Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, then given a probationary appointment as Minister of War, which soon became permanent, with the additional title of Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. When Emperor Hui acceded, Chang was moved to the Ministry of Personnel but clashed with Huang Zicheng; Minister of Justice Bao Zhao then exposed his graft, and he was posted to head the Henan provincial administration. He was soon recalled as Minister of War.
3
燕兵至龍潭，帝遣常及曹國公李景隆、都督同知王佐詣燕軍議和。 常等見成祖，伏地流汗，不能發一言。 成祖曰：「公等言即言耳，何懼至是。」 久之，乃言奉詔割地講和。 成祖笑曰：「吾無罪而削為庶人，今救死，何以地為！ 且皇考封諸子，已各有分地矣。 其縛奸臣來，吾即解甲謁孝陵歸藩。」 常等唯唯頓首還。
When the Yan forces reached Longtan, the emperor dispatched Chang with the Duke of Cao, Li Jinglong, and Assistant Commissioner-in-Chief Wang Zuo to sue for peace with the rebel army. Chang and his party met the Prince of Yan and prostrated themselves, sweating so profusely they could not speak. The prince said, "Speak if you have something to say—why such terror." At length they stated their commission: to cede territory and conclude peace. He laughed and replied, "I was stripped of my rank though guilty of nothing; now I fight for my life—what use is land to me! Besides, when my late father enfeoffed his sons, each already had his own domain. Bind up the traitorous ministers and deliver them, and I will lay down my arms, pay homage at my father's tomb, and return to my fief." Chang and his companions murmured agreement, kowtowed, and withdrew.
4
還朝，坐不送趙王，遣歸裏。 既而為家人所訟，逮至京。 釋還。 過長沙不謁谷王，王以為言。 時方重藩王禮，谷王又開金川門有功，帝意向之。 陳瑛遂劾常違祖制，逮下錦衣獄。 常知不免，命子銓市毒藥，服之死。 時永樂七年二月也。 法司劾銓毒其父，請以謀殺父母論。 後以銓實承父命，減死，與兄弟家屬二十七人謫戍廣西河池。 仁宗立，釋還。 宣宗與所沒田廬。
Back at court he was punished for failing to escort the Prince of Zhao and sent home. Soon afterward his own household sued him, and he was brought to the capital. He was released and sent home again. Passing through Changsha he failed to call on the Prince of Gu, who complained of the slight. The court was then emphasizing princely protocol, and the Prince of Gu had the added credit of opening the Jinchuan Gate, so the emperor gave weight to his account. Chen Ying then impeached Chang for violating ancestral institutions, and he was imprisoned in the Brocade Guard jail. Seeing no escape, Chang had his son Quan buy poison and took it to die. This was in the second month of Yongle year seven. The judicial offices charged Quan with poisoning his father and sought conviction for plotting parricide. Because Quan had acted only on his father's orders, the death sentence was commuted, and he with twenty-seven brothers and dependents was exiled to garrison duty at Hechi in Guangxi. When Renzong acceded, they were released and allowed to return. Xuanzong restored their confiscated fields and dwellings.
5
瑺居官謹慎，謙和有容。 其死也，人頗惜之。
In office Chang had been careful, modest, and forbearing. His death was widely regretted.
6
嚴震直，字子敏，烏程人。 洪武時以富民擇糧長，歲部糧萬石至京師，無後期，帝才之。 二十三年特授通政司參議，再遷為工部侍郎。 二十六年六月進尚書。 時朝廷事營建，集天下工匠於京師，凡二十余萬戶。 震直請戶役一人，書其姓名、所業於官，有役則按籍更番召之，役者稱便。 鄉民訴其弟侄不法，帝付震直訊。 具獄上，帝以為不欺，赦其弟侄。 已，坐事降御史，數雪冤獄。
Yan Zhenzhi, whose style was Zimin, was from Wucheng. Under Hongwu he was chosen as grain chief from among the wealthy households; year after year he delivered ten thousand piculs to the capital without a single late shipment, and the emperor took note of his ability. In year twenty-three he received a special appointment as Councillor of the Office of Transmission and was soon promoted to Vice Minister of Works. In the sixth month of year twenty-six he was promoted to minister. The court was then absorbed in construction and had assembled more than two hundred thousand artisan households from across the empire at the capital. Zhenzhi proposed registering one man per household with name and trade on file, then calling them in rotation when labor was needed—a system the conscripts found workable. When villagers from his home district accused his brother and nephews of misconduct, the emperor put Zhenzhi in charge of the inquiry. He reported the full findings, and the emperor, judging that he had not shielded his kin, pardoned the brother and nephews. He was later demoted to censor for an offense but repeatedly secured reversals of wrongful convictions.
7
二十八年討龍州，使震直偕尚書任亨泰諭安南。 還，條奏利病，稱旨。 尋命修廣西興安縣靈渠。 審度地勢，導湘、漓二江，浚渠五千余丈，築渼潭及龍母祠土堤百五十余丈，又增高中江石堤，建陡閘三十有六，鑿去灘石之礙舟者，漕運悉通。 歸奏，帝稱善。
In year twenty-eight, during the campaign against Longzhou, he was sent with Minister Ren Hengtai to deliver instructions to Annam. On his return he memorialized point by point on what helped and what harmed the realm, and the emperor approved. He was soon ordered to repair the Ling Canal at Xing'an in Guangxi. Surveying the terrain, he directed the Xiang and Li rivers, dredged more than five thousand zhang of canal, built one hundred fifty-odd zhang of earthen dikes at Meitan and the Dragon Mother Shrine, raised the mid-river stone dike, erected thirty-six pound locks, and removed reef stones that blocked shipping, so that grain transport ran clear throughout. He reported on his return, and the emperor commended the achievement.
8
三十年二月疏言：「廣東舊運鹽八十五萬余引於廣西，召商中買。 今終年所運，才十之一。 請分三十萬八千余引貯廣東，別募商入粟廣西之糧衛所，支鹽廣東，鬻之江西南安、贛州、吉安、臨江四府便。」 帝從之。 廣鹽行於江西自此始。
In the second month of year thirty he memorialized: "Guangdong formerly shipped more than 850,000 salt certificates' worth of salt to Guangxi for merchants to bid on. In a full year today barely a tenth of that volume moves. I propose storing 308,000-odd certificates in Guangdong, recruiting merchants separately to deliver grain to Guangxi grain guards, issuing salt in Guangdong, and selling it in the Jiangxi prefectures of Nan'an, Ganzhou, Ji'an, and Linjiang, which would be far more workable." The emperor approved. This was how Guangdong salt first came to be marketed in Jiangxi.
9
其年四月擢右都御史，尋復為工部尚書。 建文中，嘗督餉山東，已而致仕。 成祖即位，召見，命以故官巡視山西。 至澤州，病卒。
In the fourth month of that year he was made Right Censor-in-Chief and soon restored as Minister of Works. Under Jianwen he had supervised grain shipments in Shandong before retiring. When Chengzu acceded he was summoned and sent to inspect Shanxi in his former ministerial capacity. He fell ill and died at Zezhou.
10
張紞，字昭季，富平人。 洪武中，舉明經。 為東宮侍書，累遷試左通政。 十五年，雲南平，出為左參政。 陛辭，帝賦詩二章賜之。 歷左布政使。 二十年春入覲，治行為天下第一，特令吏部勿考。 賜璽書曰：「曩者討平西南，命官撫守，爾紞實先往，於今五年。 諸蠻聽服，誠信相孚，克恭乃職，不待考而朕知其功出天下十二牧上。 故嘉爾績，命爾仍治滇南。 往，欽哉。」 紞在滇凡十七年，土地貢賦、法令條格皆所裁定。 民間喪祭冠婚鹹有定制，務變其俗。 滇人遵用之。 朝士董倫、王景輩謫其地，皆接以禮意。
Zhang Dan, whose style was Zhaoji, was from Fuping. Under Hongwu he passed the Mingjing examination. He served as a scribe in the heir apparent's household and rose to acting Left Vice Commissioner of Transmission. In year fifteen, after Yunnan was pacified, he was posted as Left Administrative Vice Commissioner. At his farewell audience the emperor composed two poems and bestowed them on him. He rose to Left Provincial Administration Commissioner. In the spring of year twenty he presented himself at court; his governance ranked first in the empire, and he was specially exempted from the Ministry of Personnel's performance review. An imperial sealed letter read: "When the southwest was pacified I appointed officials to govern it; you, Dan, were the first to go, and five years have passed. The tribes obey, trust is mutual, and you discharge your duties with due reverence; without any review I know your merit surpasses every provincial governor in the land. I therefore commend your record and command you to continue governing southern Yunnan. Go, and take this charge to heart." Dan spent seventeen years in Yunnan, setting land assessments, tribute schedules, statutes, and regulations. He prescribed fixed forms for funerals, sacrifices, capping, and weddings among the populace, striving to reshape local custom. The people of Yunnan followed them. Court officials banished there, such as Dong Lun and Wang Jing, he always received with courtesy.
11
惠帝即位，召為吏部尚書。 詔征遺逸士集闕下。 紞所選用，皆當其才。 會修《太祖實錄》，命試翰林編纂官，紞奏楊士奇第一。 士奇由是知名。
When Emperor Hui acceded, he was recalled as Minister of Personnel. An edict summoned reclusive scholars to the capital. Every man Dan recommended was well matched to his abilities. During the compilation of the 《Veritable Records of the Taizu Emperor》 he was asked to examine Hanlin compilers and ranked Yang Shiqi first. Shiqi thereby came to prominence.
12
成祖入京師，錄中朝奸臣二十九人，紞與焉。 以茹常言，宥仍故職。 無何，帝臨朝而嘆，咎建文時之改官制者。 乃令紞及戶部尚書王鈍解職務，月給半俸，居京師。 紞懼，自經於吏部後堂，妻子相率投池中死。
When Chengzu entered the capital, twenty-nine Jianwen ministers were listed as traitors, Dan among them. On Ru Chang's intercession he was pardoned and kept in office. Soon afterward, at court the emperor sighed and blamed those who had reformed the bureaucracy under Jianwen. He then ordered Dan and Minister of Revenue Wang Dun to step down, granting half pay and requiring them to remain in the capital. Terrified, Dan hanged himself in the ministry's rear hall; his wife and children then drowned themselves in a pool one after another.
13
紞在吏部，值變官制，小吏張祖言曰：「高皇帝立法創制，規模甚遠。 今更之，未必勝，徒滋人口，願公力持之。」 紞不能用，然心賢祖，奏為京衛知事。 後紞死，屬吏無敢視者，唯祖經紀其喪。 世傳燕師入京，紞即自經死； 嚴震直奉使至雲南，遇建文君悲愴吞金死。 考諸國史，非其實也。
While Dan was at the Ministry of Personnel during the bureaucratic reforms, a junior clerk named Zhang Zu said, "When the founding emperor legislated and established institutions, his vision reached far ahead. Today's changes may not improve on them and will only breed talk; I urge you to hold firm against them." Dan could not heed him, yet admired him inwardly and had him appointed registrar of the capital guards. After Dan's death none of his subordinates dared attend the body; only Zu arranged the funeral. Popular tradition holds that when the Yan army entered the capital Dan hanged himself at once; and that Yan Zhenzhi on a mission to Yunnan encountered the Jianwen emperor, who in grief swallowed gold and died. Examination of the official histories shows neither story to be true.
14
時有毛泰亨者，建文時為吏部侍郎，與紞同事。 紞死，泰亨亦死。
There was also Mao Taiheng, who under Jianwen had been Vice Minister of Personnel and served alongside Dan. When Dan died, Taiheng died as well.
15
王鈍，字士魯，太康人。 元末猗氏縣尹。 洪武中，征授禮部主事，歷官福建參政，以廉慎聞。 遣諭麓川，卻其贈。 或曰：「不受恐遠人疑貳。」 鈍乃受之。 還至雲南，輸之官庫。 二十三年遷浙江左布政使。 在浙十年，名與張紞埒。 帝嘗稱於朝，以勸庶僚。
Wang Dun, whose style was Shilu, was from Taikang. At the end of the Yuan he had been magistrate of Yishi County. Under Hongwu he was summoned to a principal clerkship in the Ministry of Rites and rose to Fujian Administrative Commissioner, renowned for integrity and prudence. On a mission to instruct Luchuan he refused their gifts. Someone said, "If you refuse them, the distant peoples may suspect disloyalty." Dun then accepted them. On reaching Yunnan he deposited them in the government treasury. In year twenty-three he was transferred to Left Provincial Administration Commissioner of Zhejiang. Ten years in Zhejiang left his reputation equal to Zhang Dan's. The emperor once praised him at court as an example to the bureaucracy.
16
建文初，拜戶部尚書。 成祖入，逾城走，為邏卒所執。 詔仍故官。 未幾，與紞俱罷。 尋命同工部尚書嚴震直等分巡山西、河南、陜西、山東，又同新昌伯唐雲經理北平屯種。 承制再上疏言事，皆允行。 永樂二年四月賜敕以布政使致仕。 既歸，郁郁死。
At the outset of Jianwen he was appointed Minister of Revenue. When Chengzu entered the capital, Dun fled over the city wall but was seized by patrol soldiers. An edict restored him to his former office. Soon he was dismissed along with Zhang Dan. He was soon ordered with Minister of Works Yan Zhenzhi and others to tour Shanxi, Henan, Shaanxi, and Shandong, and with the Baron of Xinchang, Tang Yun, to oversee garrison farming in Beiping. Commissioned by the throne, he memorialized again on policy matters, and every proposal was approved. In the fourth month of Yongle year two he received an imperial letter permitting retirement at his former rank of provincial commissioner. After returning home he died of melancholy.
17
子淪，永樂四年進士。 仁宗時遷鄭王府左長史，數以禮諫王。 嘗擬荀卿《成相篇》，撰十二章以獻。 語切，與王不合。 召改戶部郎中。 英宗即位，擢戶部右侍郎，巡撫浙江，有惠政。 母喪起復，入覲，留攝部事。 尋以老乞歸，卒。
His son Lun passed the metropolitan examination in Yongle year four. Under Renzong he became Left Administrator of the Prince of Zheng's household and repeatedly admonished the prince on ritual grounds. He once modeled Xunzi's "Chengxiang" chapter and composed twelve chapters for presentation. His language was blunt, and he fell out with the prince. He was recalled and made a director in the Ministry of Revenue. When Yingzong acceded he was promoted to Right Vice Minister of Revenue, toured Zhejiang as grand coordinator, and won a reputation for benevolent rule. Recalled from mourning for his mother, he presented himself at court and was kept on to administer the ministry in the minister's stead. He soon asked to retire on grounds of age and died.
18
三年秋，代李至剛為禮部尚書。 四年正月，西域貢佛舍利，賜因請釋囚。 帝曰：「梁武、元順溺佛教，有罪者不刑，紀綱大壞，此豈可效！」 是年六月朔，日當食，陰雲不見，賜請賀。 不許。 賜言「宋盛時嘗行之。」 帝曰：「天下大矣，京師不見，如天下見之何？」 卒不許。
In the autumn of year three he replaced Li Zhigang as Minister of Rites. In the first month of year four, when the Western Regions presented Buddhist relics, Ci asked that prisoners be released. The emperor said, "Emperor Wu of Liang and Emperor Shun of Yuan were drowned in Buddhism; criminals went unpunished and state discipline collapsed—how can we imitate that!" That year on the first day of the sixth month an eclipse was due, but clouds hid the sky; Ci asked that congratulations be offered. The request was denied. Ci said, "In the Song at its height this was done." The emperor replied, "The realm is vast; if the capital did not see it, what of all the places that did?" In the end he still refused.
19
賜為人頗和厚，然不識大體，帝意輕之。 為同官趙羾所間，六年六月憂悸卒。 帝疑其自盡。 楊士奇曰：「賜有疾數日，惶懼不敢求退。 昨立右順門，力不支仆地，口鼻有噓無吸。」 語未竟，帝曰：「微汝言，幾誤疑賜。 賜固善人，才短耳。」 命予葬祭。 洪熙元年贈太子少保，謚文安。
Ci was mild and generous by nature but lacked a sense of the larger pattern, and the emperor thought little of him. Slandered by his colleague Zhao Huo, he died in the sixth month of year six from anxiety and dread. The emperor suspected suicide. Yang Shiqi said, "Ci had been ill for days, too fearful to ask to retire. Yesterday at the Right Shun Gate his strength failed and he collapsed; he exhaled but could not draw breath." Before he finished, the emperor said, "But for you I would nearly have wrongly suspected Ci. Ci was a good man, only limited in talent." He ordered funeral rites and sacrifices. In Hongxi year one he was posthumously made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent with the posthumous title Wen'an.
20
郭資，武安人。 洪武十八年進士。 累官北平左布政使，陰附於成祖。 及兵起，張昺等死，資與左參政孫瑜、按察司副使墨麟、僉事呂震率先降，呼萬歲。 成祖悅，命輔世子居守。
Guo Zi was from Wu'an. He passed the metropolitan examination in Hongwu year eighteen. He rose to Left Provincial Administration Commissioner of Beiping and secretly aligned himself with Chengzu. When war broke out and Zhang Bing and others were killed, Zi with Left Vice Commissioner Sun Yu, Surveillance Vice Commissioner Mo Lin, and Assistant Commissioner Lu Zhen were the first to surrender, crying "Long live the emperor!" Chengzu was pleased and ordered him to assist the heir apparent in holding the capital.
21
資治錢谷有能稱，仁宗嘗以問楊士奇。 對曰：「資性強毅，人不能幹以私。 然蠲租詔數下不奉行，使陛下恩澤不流者，資也。」
Zi had a reputation for competence in fiscal affairs; Renzong once asked Yang Shiqi about him. He replied, "Zi is forceful and resolute; no one can sway him with private interest. Yet when edicts remitting rent came down again and again he did not enforce them—it is Zi who keeps your grace from reaching the people."
22
震嘗三奉命省親，兩值關中饑，令所司出粟振之，還始以聞。 然無學術，為禮官，不知大體。 成祖崩，遺詔二十七日釋缞服。 及期，震建議群臣皆易烏紗帽，黑角帶。 近臣言：「仁孝皇后崩，既釋缞服，太宗易素冠布腰绖。」 震勃然變色，詆其異己。 仁宗黜震議，易素冠布腰绖。 洪熙元年，分遣群臣祀嶽鎮海瀆及先代帝王陵，震乞祀周文、武、成、康。 便道省母，私以妻喪柩與香帛同載。 祀太廟致齋，飲酒西番僧舍，大醉歸，一夕卒。
Zhen was three times ordered home to visit his parents; twice he encountered famine in Guanzhong, ordered local offices to release grain for relief, and reported only after returning. Yet he was unlearned; as a ritual official he lacked a sense of the larger pattern. When Chengzu died, his testamentary edict ordered mourning hemp shed on the twenty-seventh day. When the day came, Zhen proposed that all officials switch to black gauze caps and black horn belts. A close minister said, "When Empress Renxiao died, after shedding mourning hemp Taizu changed to a plain cap with cloth waist sash." Zhen flushed with anger and denounced him as dissenting. Renzong rejected Zhen's proposal and adopted the plain cap with cloth waist sash. In Hongxi year one, when officials were dispatched to sacrifice at sacred mountains, rivers, and seas and at former dynasties' imperial tombs, Zhen asked to sacrifice to Kings Wen, Wu, Cheng, and Kang of Zhou. Taking a convenient route to visit his mother, he privately loaded his wife's coffin on the same cart as the incense and silks for sacrifice. After fasting for sacrifice at the Imperial Ancestral Temple he drank at a Western monks' lodge, returned drunk, and died overnight.
23
震為人佞諛傾險。 永樂時，曹縣獻騶虞，榜葛剌國、麻林國進麒麟，震請賀。 帝曰：「天下治安，無麒麒何害？」 貴州布政使蔣廷瓚言：「帝北征班師，詔至思南大巖山，有呼萬歲者三。」 震言：「此山川效靈。」 帝曰：「山谷之聲，空虛相應，理或有之。 震為國大臣，不能辯其非，又欲因之進媚，豈君子事君之道？」 郎中周訥請封禪，震力贊之，帝責其謬。 震雖累受面斥，然終不能改。 金水河、太液池冰，具樓閣龍鳳花卉狀。 帝召群臣觀之。 震因請賀。 不許。 而隆平侯張信奏太和山五色雲見，侍郎胡濙圖上瑞光榔梅靈芝，震率群臣先後表賀雲。
Zhen was fawning, flattering, and treacherous by nature. Under Yongle, Caoxian presented a zouyu, Banggela and Malin presented qilin, and Zhen asked that congratulations be offered. The emperor said, "When the realm is at peace, what harm if there is no qilin?" Guizhou Provincial Commissioner Jiang Tingzan said, "When the emperor returned from the northern campaign, as the edict reached Dayan Mountain in Sinan, 'Long live the emperor!' was heard three times." Zhen said, "This is the mountains and rivers manifesting their spiritual power." The emperor said, "Sounds in valleys echo in empty spaces—there may be reason in that. Zhen is a great minister of state; he cannot tell falsehood from truth and wishes to use it for flattery—is this how a gentleman serves his ruler?" Director Zhou Ne requested the Feng and Shan sacrifices; Zhen strongly endorsed the proposal, and the emperor rebuked the absurdity. Though repeatedly rebuked to his face, Zhen never changed. Ice on the Jinshui River and Taiye Pool formed shapes of towers, pavilions, dragons, phoenixes, flowers, and plants. The emperor summoned officials to view them. Zhen again asked that congratulations be offered. The request was denied. Yet the Marquis of Longping, Zhang Xin, reported five-colored clouds on Mount Taihe; Vice Minister Hu Ying presented a painting of auspicious light, langmei, and spirit fungus; and Zhen led officials in successive memorials congratulating the clouds.
24
成祖初巡北京，命定太子留守事宜。 震請常事聽太子處分，章奏分貯南京六科，回鑾日通奏。 報可。 十一年、十四年，震再請如前制。 十七年，帝在北京，因事索章奏，侍臣言留南京。 帝忘震前請，曰：「章奏宜達行在，豈禮部別有議耶？」 問震。 震懼罪，曰：「無之，奏章當達行在。」 三問，對如前。 遂以擅留奏章，殺右給事中李能。 眾知能冤，畏震莫敢言。 尹昌隆之禍，由震構之。 事具《昌隆傳》。 夏原吉、方賓以言北征餉絀得罪，以震兼領戶、兵部事。 震亦自危。 帝令官校十人隨之，曰：「若震自盡，爾十人皆死。」
When Chengzu first toured Beijing, he ordered arrangements for the heir apparent's stay behind. Zhen proposed that routine matters be left to the heir apparent, that memorials be filed separately in Nanjing's six censorate offices, and that on the emperor's return they be submitted together. Approval was granted. In years eleven and fourteen Zhen again requested the same arrangement. In year seventeen the emperor was in Beijing; needing memorials on a matter, attendants said they were in Nanjing. The emperor forgot Zhen's earlier proposal and said, "Memorials ought to reach the traveling palace—does the Ministry of Rites have some separate view?" He questioned Zhen. Fearing punishment, Zhen said, "No such thing; memorials ought to reach the traveling palace." Asked three times, he gave the same answer. Right Supervising Secretary Li Neng was then executed on the charge of arbitrarily retaining memorials. Everyone knew Neng was innocent, but fearing Zhen none dared speak. Yin Changlong's downfall was engineered by Zhen. The affair is set forth in the biography of Yin Changlong. Xia Yuanji and Fang Bin were punished for speaking of shortfalls in northern campaign provisions; Zhen was put in charge concurrently of the Ministries of Revenue and War. Zhen also felt himself in peril. The emperor ordered ten guard officers to follow him, saying, "If Zhen kills himself, all ten of you die."
25
震有精力，能強記，才足以濟其為人。 凡奏事，他尚書皆執副本，又與左右侍郎更進叠奏。 震既兼三部，奏牘益多，皆自占奏，侍郎不與也。 情狀委曲，千緒萬端，背誦如流，未嘗有誤。 嘗扈北狩，帝見碑立沙磧中，率從臣讀其文。 後一年，與諸文學臣語及碑，詔禮部遣官往錄之。 震言不須遣使，請筆劄帝前疏之。 帝密使人拓其本校之，無一字脫誤者。
Zhen had vigorous energy and a powerful memory; his talent matched his character. When reporting affairs, other ministers held duplicate copies and entered in turn with their vice ministers to report in layers. With three ministries under his charge, memorials multiplied; he reported on all of them himself while vice ministers stood aside. Circumstances however complex, he recited from memory without a single error. Once on a northern hunt the emperor saw a stele standing in the desert and led his attendants in reading its inscription. A year later, speaking with literary officials about the stele, he ordered the Ministry of Rites to send an officer to record it. Zhen said no messenger was needed and asked for brush and paper to transcribe it before the emperor. The emperor secretly had a rubbing made and compared; not a single character was missing or wrong.
26
子熊。 宣宗初立，震數於帝前乞官，至流涕。 帝不得已，授兵科給事中。
His son was Xiong. When Xuanzong had just acceded, Xiong repeatedly begged for office before the emperor, even to tears. The emperor, having no choice, appointed him supervising secretary in the Bureau of Military Affairs.
27
李至剛，名鋼，以字行，松江華亭人。 洪武二十一年舉明經。 選侍懿文太子，授禮部郎中。 坐累謫戍邊，尋召為工部郎中，遷河南右參議。 河決汴堤，至剛議借王府積木，作筏濟之。 建文中，調湖廣左參議，坐事系獄。
Li Zhigang, personal name Gang, known by his style, was from Huating in Songjiang. In Hongwu year twenty-one he passed the Mingjing examination. Selected to attend Crown Prince Yiwen, he was appointed a director in the Ministry of Rites. Implicated in a case, he was banished to frontier garrison duty; soon recalled as a director in the Ministry of Works, he was transferred to Right Administrative Vice Commissioner of Henan. When the river broke the Bian dike, Zhigang proposed borrowing stored timber from princely mansions to build rafts for rescue. Under Jianwen he was transferred to Left Administrative Vice Commissioner of Huguang and imprisoned for an offense.
28
成祖即位，左右稱其才，遂以為右通政。 與修《太祖實錄》，朝夕在上左右，稱說洪武中事，甚見親信。 尋進禮部尚書。 永樂二年冊立皇太子，至剛兼左春坊大學士，直東宮講筵，與解縉後先進講。 已，復坐事下獄，久之得釋，降禮部郎中。 恨解縉，中傷之。 縉下獄，詞連至剛，亦坐系十余年。 仁宗即位，得釋，復以為左通政。 給事中梁盛等劾至剛輩十余人，當大行晏駕，不宿公署，飲酒食肉，恬無戚容。 帝念至剛先朝舊人，出為興化知府，時年已七十。 再歲，歿於官。
When Chengzu acceded, those around him praised his talent, and he was made Right Vice Commissioner of Transmission. Helping compile the Veritable Records of the Taizu Emperor, he was at the emperor's side day and night recounting Hongwu-era affairs and won great trust. He was soon promoted to Minister of Rites. In Yongle year two, when the crown prince was installed, Zhigang was made concurrently Grand Academician of the Left Spring Office and lectured at the heir apparent's hall, taking turns with Xie Jin. He was later imprisoned again for an offense, released after a long interval, and demoted to director in the Ministry of Rites. He resented Xie Jin and worked to slander him. When Jin was imprisoned, his testimony implicated Zhigang, who was also held for more than ten years. When Renzong acceded he was released and restored as Left Vice Commissioner of Transmission. Supervising Secretary Liang Sheng and others impeached Zhigang and more than ten colleagues: when the late emperor lay dying they did not stay in the public offices but drank and ate meat with untroubled faces. Mindful that Zhigang was a holdover from the previous reign, the emperor posted him as prefect of Xinghua at the age of seventy. Two years later he died in office.
29
至剛為人敏給，能治繁劇，善傅會。 首發建都北平議，請禁言事者挾私，成祖從之。 既得上心，務為佞諛。 嘗言太祖忌辰，宜效宋制，令僧道誦經。 山東野蠶成繭，至剛請賀。 陜西進瑞麥，至剛率百官賀。 帝皆不聽。 中官使真臘，從者逃三人，國王以國中三人補之。 帝令遣還，至剛言：「中國三人，安知非彼私匿？」 帝曰：「朕以至誠待內外，何用逆詐。」 所建白多不用。
Zhigang was quick and resourceful, able to handle complex affairs, and skilled at adapting to circumstances. He was the first to propose making Beiping the capital and asked that memorialists be forbidden to advance private motives; Chengzu agreed. Having won the emperor's favor, he strove to flatter. He once proposed that on Taizu's death anniversary the Song practice be followed and monks and Daoists ordered to chant sutras. When wild silkworms in Shandong formed cocoons, Zhigang asked that congratulations be offered. When Shaanxi presented auspicious wheat, Zhigang led the officials in congratulations. The emperor refused every proposal. A palace eunuch was sent to Zhenla; three attendants fled, and the king replaced them with three subjects of his own. The emperor ordered them sent back; Zhigang said, "These three Chinese men—how do we know they are not persons he secretly concealed?" The emperor said, "I treat all with utmost sincerity—what need for contrary suspicion?" Most of his proposals went unheeded.
30
妻父麗重法，至剛為乞免。 帝曰：「獄輕重，外人何以知之？」 至剛曰：「都御史黃信為臣言。」 帝怒，誅信。 初，至剛與解縉交甚厚。 帝書大臣姓名十人，命縉疏其人品，言至剛不端。 縉謫廣西，至剛遂奏其怨望，改謫交阯。
His father-in-law Li was sentenced to heavy punishment; Zhigang begged exemption. The emperor said, "Whether a case is light or heavy—how can outsiders know?" Zhigang said, "Censor-in-Chief Huang Xin told me." The emperor was furious and executed Xin. At first Zhigang and Xie Jin were close friends. The emperor wrote ten ministers' names and ordered Jin to assess their characters, calling Zhigang not upright. Jin was banished to Guangxi; Zhigang then memorialized that he harbored resentment, and the banishment was changed to Jiaozhi.
31
方賓，錢塘人。 洪武時由太學生試兵部郎中。 建文中，署應天府事。 坐罪戍廣東。 以茹常薦，召復官。 成祖入京師，賓與侍郎劉俊等迎附，特見委用，進兵部侍郎。 四年，俊以尚書出征黎利，賓理部事，有幹才，應務不滯。 性警敏，能揣上意，見知於帝，頗恃寵貪恣。 七年進尚書，扈從北京，兼掌行在吏部事。 明年從北征，與學士胡廣、金幼孜、楊榮，侍郎金純並與機密。 自後帝北巡，賓輒扈從。
Fang Bin was from Qiantang. Under Hongwu he entered service as an Imperial Academy student and was given a probationary appointment as director in the Ministry of War. Under Jianwen he acted in the affairs of Yingtian Prefecture. Convicted of an offense, he was banished to garrison duty in Guangdong. On Ru Chang's recommendation he was recalled to office. When Chengzu entered the capital, Bin with Vice Minister Liu Jun and others went out to welcome him and was specially entrusted, rising to Vice Minister of War. In year four Jun marched against Li Li as minister; Bin managed the ministry with administrative talent and handled affairs without delay. Alert and keen, he could gauge the emperor's intent, won favor, and rather relied on it to be greedy and unrestrained. In year seven he was promoted to minister, accompanied the court to Beijing, and concurrently managed the traveling palace Ministry of Personnel. The next year he joined the northern campaign and with Academicians Hu Guang, Jin Youzi, and Yang Rong and Vice Minister Jin Chun shared confidential counsel. Afterward, whenever the emperor toured the north, Bin always accompanied him.
32
十九年，議親征。 尚書夏原吉、吳中、呂震與賓共議，宜且休兵養民。 未奏，會帝召賓，賓言糧餉不足，召原吉，亦以不給對。 帝怒，遣原吉視糧開平，旋召還下獄。 賓方提調靈濟宮。 中使進香至，語賓以帝怒。 賓懼，自縊死。 帝實無意殺賓，聞賓死，乃益怒，戮其屍。
In year nineteen a personal campaign was discussed. Ministers Xia Yuanji, Wu Zhong, Lu Zhen, and Bin agreed it would be better to rest the army and nourish the people for the time being. Before they could memorialize, the emperor summoned Bin, who said provisions were insufficient; Yuanji was summoned and gave the same answer. The emperor was furious, sent Yuanji to inspect grain at Kaiping, then recalled him and imprisoned him. Bin was then supervising arrangements at the Lingji Palace. When a palace messenger arrived to offer incense, he told Bin of the emperor's anger. Terrified, Bin hanged himself. The emperor had not intended to kill Bin; hearing of his death he grew only angrier and desecrated the corpse.
33
中勤敏多計算。 先後在工部二十余年，北京宮殿，長、獻、景三陵，皆中所營造。 職務填委，規畫井然。 然不恤工匠，又湛於聲色，時論鄙之。
Wu Zhong was diligent, keen, and skilled in calculation. He spent more than twenty years in the Ministry of Works; the Beijing palaces and the Chang, Xian, and Jing mausoleums were all built under his direction. Though his duties were piled high, his planning was orderly. Yet he showed no compassion for artisans and was steeped in music and women; contemporary opinion despised him.
34
劉觀，雄縣人。 洪武十八年進士。 授太谷縣丞，以薦擢監察御史。 三十年遷署左僉都御史。 坐事下獄，尋釋。 出為嘉興知府，丁父憂去。
Liu Guan was from Xiong County. He passed the metropolitan examination in Hongwu year eighteen. He was appointed assistant magistrate of Taigu County and, on recommendation, promoted to investigating censor. In year thirty he was made acting Left Vice Censor-in-Chief. Imprisoned for an offense, he was soon released. He was posted as prefect of Jiaxing and left on mourning for his father.
35
仁宗嗣位，兼太子賓客，旋加太子少保，給二俸。 時大理少卿弋謙數言事，帝厭其繁瑣。 尚書呂震、大理卿虞謙希旨劾奏，觀復令十四道御史論其誣妄，以是為輿論所鄙。
When Renzong succeeded to the throne, he was made concurrently Guest of the Heir Apparent and soon added as Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent with two salaries. Vice Minister of Justice Yi Qian then spoke repeatedly on affairs, and the emperor grew weary of his tediousness. Minister Lu Zhen and Minister of Justice Yu Qian, seeking to please the emperor, impeached him; Guan further ordered censors of the fourteen circuits to denounce his falsehood, and for this was despised in public opinion.
36
時未有官妓之禁。 宣德初，臣僚宴樂，以奢相尚，歌妓滿前。 觀私納賄賂，而諸御史亦貪縱無忌。 三年六月朝罷，帝召大學士楊士奇、楊榮至文華門，諭曰：「祖宗時，朝臣謹飭。 年來貪濁成風，何也？」 士奇對曰：「永樂末已有之，今為甚耳。」 榮曰：「永樂時，無逾方賓。」 帝問：「今日誰最甚者？」 榮對曰：「劉觀。」 又問：「誰可代者？」 士奇、榮薦通政使顧佐。 帝乃出觀視河道，以佐為右都御史。 於是御史張循理等交章劾觀，並其子輻諸贓汙不法事。 帝怒，逮觀父子，以彈章示之。 觀疏辯。 帝益怒，出廷臣先後密奏，中有枉法受賕至千金者。 觀引伏，遂下錦衣衛獄。 明年將置重典。 士奇、榮乞貸其死。 乃謫輻戍遼東，而命觀隨往，觀竟客死。 七年，士奇請命風憲官考察奏罷有司之貪汙者，帝曰：「然。 向使不罷劉觀，風憲安得肅。」
At that time there was not yet a prohibition on official courtesans. At the beginning of Xuande, when officials feasted they vied in luxury, with singing girls before them. Guan privately accepted bribes, and the censors too were greedy and unrestrained. In the sixth month of year three, after court was dismissed, the emperor summoned Grand Academicians Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong to the Wenhua Gate and said, "Under the founding emperors, court ministers were careful and restrained. In recent years greed and corruption have become the fashion—why is this?" Shiqi replied, "It already existed at the end of Yongle; now it is only worse." Rong said, "Under Yongle, none exceeded Fang Bin." The emperor asked, "Who is worst today?" Rong replied, "Liu Guan." He asked again, "Who can replace him?" Shiqi and Rong recommended Commissioner of Transmission Gu Zuo. The emperor then sent Guan out to inspect the river works and made Zuo Right Censor-in-Chief. Censors Zhang Xunli and others then submitted successive memorials impeaching Guan and his son Fu for corruption and unlawful conduct. The emperor was furious, arrested father and son, and showed them the impeachment documents. Guan memorialized in defense. The emperor grew angrier still and produced ministers' secret memorials citing perversion of law and bribes up to a thousand taels of gold. Guan confessed and was sent to the Brocade Guard prison. The next year heavy punishment was planned. Shiqi and Rong begged that his life be spared. Fu was banished to garrison Liaodong and Guan ordered to accompany him; Guan died in exile. In year seven Shiqi asked that surveillance officials investigate and memorialize for dismissal corrupt local officials; the emperor said, "So be it. Had Liu Guan not been removed, how could surveillance discipline have been restored?"
37
贊曰：成祖封茹常，以事太祖有功。 然考之，未有所表見，意史軼之歟？ 嚴震直之於廣西，張紞之於雲南，治效卓然。 王鈍、鄭賜為方伯、監司，聲績頗著。 至其晚節，皆不克自振，惜夫。 郭資、呂震之徒，有幹濟才，而操行無取。 李至剛之險，吳中、劉觀之墨，又不足道矣。
The commentator says: Chengzu enfeoffed Ru Chang for merit in serving Taizu. Yet on examination nothing is recorded—has the history lost it? Yan Zhenzhi in Guangxi and Zhang Dan in Yunnan achieved outstanding governance. Wang Dun and Zheng Ci as provincial governors and surveillance commissioners won notable reputations. Yet in their later years none could rouse themselves—a pity. Men such as Guo Zi and Lu Zhen had talent for practical achievement, yet their conduct was not admirable. Li Zhigang's treachery and the corruption of Wu Zhong and Liu Guan are not even worth mentioning.