1
黃宗載顧佐 〈（邵玘陳勉賈諒嚴升）〉 段民 〈（吾紳）〉 章敞 〈（徐琦劉戩）〉 吳訥 〈（朱與言）〉 魏驥魯穆耿九疇軒輗 〈（陳復）〉 黃孔昭
Huang Zongzai and Gu Zuo (Shao Qi, Chen Mian, Jia Liang, and Yan Sheng)]〉 Duan Min (Wu Shen)]〉 Zhang Chang (Xu Qi and Liu Kan)]〉 Wu Ne (Zhu Yuyan)]〉 Wei Ji, Lu Mu, Geng Jiuchou, and Xuan Ni (Chen Fu)]〉 Huang Kongzhao
2
黃宗載，一名垕，字厚夫，豐城人。 洪武三十年進士。 授行人。 奉使四方，未嘗受饋遺，累遷司正。
Huang Zongzai, also called Hou, whose courtesy name was Houfu, came from Fengcheng. In the thirtieth year of the Hongwu reign he passed the jinshi examination. He was appointed a Bearer of Tributes. On missions throughout the realm he never accepted gifts, and was repeatedly promoted until he became Director.
3
永樂初，以薦為湖廣按察司僉事。 巨奸宿猾多謫戍銅鼓、五開間，陰持官吏短長。 宗載榜數其罪，曰：「不改，必置之法。」 眾莫敢犯。 武陵多戎籍，民家慮與為婚姻徭賦將累己。 男女至年四十尚不婚。 宗載以理諭之，皆解悟，一時婚者三百余家。 鄰邑效之，其俗遂變。 征詣文淵閣修《永樂大典》。 書成，受賜還任。 董造海運巨艦數十艘，事辦而民不擾。 車駕北征，征兵湖廣，使者貪暴失期。 宗載坐不舉劾，謫楊青驛驛夫。
Early in the Yongle reign, on recommendation he was made Assistant Regional Inspector of Huguang. Many great villains and hardened rascals had been banished to garrison the region between Tonggu and Wukai, where they secretly held officials' weaknesses over them. Zongzai posted their crimes one by one, declaring: "If you do not reform, you will surely be punished by law." None dared defy him. Wuling had many households on the military register; common families feared that marriage ties would burden them with corvée and tax obligations. Men and women reached forty years of age still unmarried. Zongzai reasoned with them until all understood; in a short time more than three hundred families married. Neighboring counties followed his example, and the custom was transformed. He was summoned to the Wenyuan Pavilion to help compile the Yongle Dadian. When the work was finished, he received imperial rewards and returned to his post. He oversaw the building of dozens of great seagoing vessels for the maritime transport service; the work was completed without troubling the people. When the imperial carriage campaigned north, troops were levied in Huguang, but the envoys were greedy and violent and missed the deadline. Zongzai was punished for failing to impeach them and was demoted to a post courier at Yangqing Station.
4
尋起御史，出按交阯。 時交阯新定，州縣官多用兩廣、雲南舉人及歲貢生員之願仕遠方者，皆不善撫字。 宗載因言：「有司率不稱職。 若俟九年黜陟，恐益廢弛。 請任二年以上者，巡按御史及兩司核實舉按以聞。」 帝是之。 及歸，行李蕭然，不攜交阯一物。 尚書黃福語人曰：「吾居此久，所接御史多矣，惟宗載知大體。」 丁祖母憂，起復，改詹事府丞。
Before long he was reinstated as a censor and sent to inspect Jiaozhi. Jiaozhi had only recently been pacified; prefectural and county officials were mostly drawn from provincial graduates of the two Guangs and Yunnan and from annual-tribute students who wished to serve in distant places—all were poor at governing and comforting the people. Zongzai therefore memorialized: "The local officials are generally unfit for their posts. If we wait for the nine-year cycle of promotion and dismissal, I fear government will grow still more lax. I ask that for those who have served two years or more, touring censors and the two provincial commissions verify the facts and report recommendations for promotion or impeachment." The Emperor approved. On his return his luggage was bare; he brought not a single thing from Jiaozhi. Minister Huang Fu said to others: "I have lived here a long time and met many censors, but only Zongzai understands the larger principle." After mourning his grandmother he was recalled from mourning and transferred to Assistant Director of the Household of the Heir Apparent.
5
洪熙元年擢行在吏部侍郎。 少師蹇義領部事，宗載一輔以正。 宣德元年奉命清軍浙江。 三年督采木湖湘。 英宗初，以侍郎羅汝敬巡撫陜西，坐事戴罪辦事。 汝敬妄引詔書復職，而吏部不言，為御史所劾，宗載及尚書郭琎俱下獄。 未幾，得釋，遷南京吏部尚書。 居九年，乞休，章四上，乃許。 九年七月卒於家，年七十九。
In the first year of Hongxi he was promoted to Vice Minister of Personnel at the traveling court. Junior Tutor Jian Yi headed the ministry, and Zongzai assisted him in setting affairs straight. In the first year of Xuande he was ordered to inspect military households in Zhejiang. In the third year he supervised timber cutting in Hunan and Hubei. Early in Yingzong's reign, Vice Minister Luo Rujing, who was touring Shaanxi as grand coordinator, was punished for an offense and continued to serve while bearing the mark of guilt. Rujing falsely cited an edict to resume his full position, yet the Ministry of Personnel said nothing; impeached by censors, both Zongzai and Minister Guo Jin were imprisoned. Before long they were released, and Zongzai was transferred to Minister of Personnel at Nanjing. After nine years he asked to retire; he submitted four memorials before permission was granted. In the seventh month of the ninth year he died at home, aged seventy-nine.
6
宗載持廉守正，不矯不隨，學問文章俱負時望。 公卿大夫齒德之盛，推宗載雲。
Zongzai upheld integrity without affectation or compliance; in learning and letters alike he enjoyed high contemporary repute. Among ministers and grandees eminent in years and virtue, it was said, none ranked above Zongzai.
7
顧佐，字禮卿，太康人。 建文二年進士。 除莊浪知縣。 端陽日，守將集官僚校射。 以佐文士，難之。 持弓矢一發而中，守將大服。
Gu Zuo, whose courtesy name was Liqing, came from Taikang. In the second year of the Jianwen reign he passed the jinshi examination. He was appointed magistrate of Zhuanglang. On the Double Fifth Festival the defending commander gathered officials for an archery contest. Because Zuo was a literary gentleman, the commander made things difficult for him. Zuo took up bow and arrow and hit the target with one shot; the commander was deeply impressed.
8
永樂初，入為御史。 七年，成祖在北京，命吏部選御史之才者赴行在，佐預焉。 奉命招慶遠蠻。 督采木四川。 從北征，巡視關隘。 遷江西按察副使，召為應天尹。 剛直不撓，吏民畏服，人比之包孝肅。 北京建，改尹順天。 權貴人多不便之，出為貴州按察使。 洪熙元年召為通政使。
Early in the Yongle reign he entered service as a censor. In the seventh year, when Chengzu was in Beijing, he ordered the Ministry of Personnel to select talented censors for the traveling court; Zuo was among them. On imperial orders he recruited the Qingyuan tribes. He supervised timber cutting in Sichuan. He followed the northern campaign and inspected passes and forts. Promoted to Vice Regional Inspector of Jiangxi, he was summoned to serve as Governor of Yingtian. Upright and unyielding, officials and commoners feared and respected him; people compared him to Lord Bao the incorrupt judge. When Beijing was made the capital, he was appointed Governor of Shuntian. The powerful found him inconvenient, and he was sent out as Regional Inspector of Guizhou. In the first year of Hongxi he was summoned to serve as Commissioner of the Court of Transmission.
9
宣德三年，都御史劉觀以貪被黜，大學士楊士奇、楊榮薦佐公廉有威，歷官並著風采，為京尹，政清弊革。 帝喜，立擢右都御史，賜敕獎勉。 命察諸御史不稱者黜之，御史有缺，舉送吏部補選。 佐視事，即奏黜嚴豈、楊居正等二十人，謫遼東各衛為吏，降八人，罷三人； 而舉進士鄧棨、國子生程富、謁選知縣孔文英、教官方瑞等四十余人堪任御史。 帝使歷政三月而後任之。 居正等六人辨訴。 帝怒，並諸為吏者悉戍之。 既而豈自戍所潛還京，脅他賄，為佐所奏，且言豈謀害己。 詔戮豈於市。 帝北巡，命偕尚書張本等居守。 還復賜敕。 令約束諸御史。 於是糾黜貪縱，朝綱肅然。
In the third year of Xuande, Censor-in-Chief Liu Guan was dismissed for greed; Grand Secretaries Yang Shiqi and Yang Rong recommended Zuo as fair, incorrupt, and formidable, distinguished at every post; as capital governor he cleared government and reformed abuses. The Emperor was pleased and immediately promoted him to Right Censor-in-Chief, bestowing an edict of commendation and encouragement. He was ordered to inspect censors who were unfit and dismiss them; when posts fell vacant, nominees were sent to the Ministry of Personnel for selection. As soon as Zuo took office, he memorialized to dismiss Yan Qi, Yang Juzheng, and twenty others, banishing them to various Liaodong garrisons as clerks, demoting eight, and dismissing three; and recommended more than forty others—including jinshi Deng Qi, Imperial Academy student Cheng Fu, petitioning magistrate Kong Wenying, and instructor Fang Rui—as fit to serve as censors. The Emperor had them train in government affairs for three months before appointing them. Juzheng and six others pleaded their case. The Emperor was angry and sent all who had been made clerks to frontier garrison duty. Later Qi secretly returned from the garrison to the capital, extorted bribes from others, was denounced by Zuo, and Qi also claimed that Zuo had plotted against him. An edict ordered Qi executed in the market. When the Emperor toured the north, he ordered Zuo, together with Minister Zhang Ben and others, to remain and guard the capital. On his return he again bestowed an edict. He ordered Zuo to discipline the censors. Thereupon corruption and license were rooted out, and court discipline was restored.
10
居歲餘，奸吏奏佐受隸金，私遣歸。 帝密示士奇曰：「爾不嘗舉佐廉乎？」 對曰：「中朝官俸薄，仆馬薪芻資之隸，遣隸半使出資免役。 隸得歸耕，官得資費，中朝官皆然，臣亦然。 先帝知之，故增中朝官俸。」 帝嘆曰：「朝臣貧如此。」 因怒訴者曰：「朕方用佐，小人敢誣之，必下法司治！」 士奇對曰：「細事不足幹上怒。」 帝乃以吏狀付佐曰：「汝自治之。」 佐頓首謝，召吏言：「上命我治汝，汝改行，吾當貸汝。」 帝聞之益喜，謂佐得大體。 或告佐不理冤訴。 帝曰：「此必重囚教之。」 命法司會鞫，果千戶臧清殺無罪三人當死，使人誣佐。 帝曰：「不誅清，則佐法不行。」 磔清於市。
After somewhat more than a year, a corrupt clerk reported that Zuo had accepted money from his runners and sent them home privately. The Emperor secretly showed the memorial to Shiqi, saying: "Did you not recommend Zuo as incorrupt? He replied: "Metropolitan officials' salaries are thin; servants supply funds for horses, fodder, and fuel. Half the servants are sent home after contributing capital to buy exemption from corvée. The servants can return to farming, officials gain funds—this is so for all metropolitan officials, and I am no different. The former Emperor knew this, and therefore increased metropolitan salaries. The Emperor sighed: "Court ministers are this poor. He angrily told the accuser: "I am just now employing Zuo; petty men dare slander him—you shall be handed to the judicial authorities! Shiqi replied: "Such a small matter is not worth troubling Your Majesty's anger. The Emperor then handed the clerk's report to Zuo, saying: "Deal with this yourself. Zuo kowtowed in thanks, summoned the clerk, and said: "The Emperor ordered me to discipline you; reform your conduct and I will spare you. Hearing this, the Emperor was still more pleased and said that Zuo understood the larger principle. Someone reported that Zuo would not hear grievances of injustice. The Emperor said: "This must be a serious criminal coaching the charge. He ordered the judicial offices to investigate jointly; indeed Thousand-Commander Zang Qing, who had killed three innocent men and deserved death, had someone slander Zuo. The Emperor said: "If Qing is not executed, Zuo's authority cannot be upheld. Qing was dismembered in the market.
11
八年秋，佐有疾，乞歸。 不許。 以南京右都御史熊概代理其事。 逾年而概卒。 佐疾良已，入見。 帝慰勞之，令免朝賀，視事如故。
In the autumn of the eighth year Zuo fell ill and asked to retire. Permission was not granted. Xiong Gai, Right Censor-in-Chief of Nanjing, was appointed to act in his place. After more than a year Gai died. Zuo had fully recovered and came to audience. The Emperor comforted him, exempted him from court congratulations, and ordered him to conduct affairs as before.
12
正統初考察御史不稱者十五人，降黜之。 邵宗九載滿，吏部已考稱，亦與焉。 宗奏辨，尚書郭琎亦言宗不應與在任者同考。 帝遂責佐。 而御史張鵬等復劾宗微過。 帝以鵬朋欺，並切責佐。 佐上章致仕去。 賜敕獎慰，賚鈔五十貫，命戶部復其家。 十一年九月卒。
Early in Zhengtong, fifteen unfit censors were inspected and demoted or dismissed. Shao Zong had completed nine years of service and had already been rated by the Ministry of Personnel, yet he was included among them. Zong memorialized in his defense; Minister Guo Jin also said Zong should not be evaluated together with those still in office. The Emperor thereupon rebuked Zuo. Censors Zhang Peng and others again impeached Zong for minor faults. The Emperor regarded Peng as forming a faction to deceive him and sharply rebuked Zuo as well. Zuo submitted a memorial to retire and left office. He was granted an edict of commendation and consolation, given fifty strings of cash, and ordered that the Ministry of Revenue restore his household registers. In the ninth month of the eleventh year he died.
13
佐孝友，操履清白，性嚴毅。 每旦趨朝，小外廬，立雙藤戶外。 百僚過者，皆折旋避之。 入內直廬，獨處小夾室，非議政不與諸司群坐。 人稱為「顧獨坐」雲。 然持法深，論者以為病。
Zuo was filial and friendly, upright in conduct and pure in integrity, and stern by nature. Each morning when he went to court, he would stand outside the small outer lodge with a pair of rattan screens. All officials who passed by would turn aside to avoid him. When he entered the inner duty lodge, he stayed alone in a small side room and would not sit with the various offices in a group unless discussing policy. People called him "Gu the Solitary Sitter," it was said. Yet he was severe in applying the law, which critics regarded as a fault.
14
時雩都陳勉、嶧縣賈諒先後為副都御史，與佐同舉臺職，而蘭溪邵玘官南京，與佐齊名，繁昌嚴升名亦亞於玘。
At that time Chen Mian of Yudu and Jia Liang of Yixian had successively served as Vice Censor-in-Chief; they were raised to censorial posts together with Zuo, while Shao Qi of Lanxi served at Nanjing and was equally famous with Zuo, and Yan Sheng of Fanchang was ranked just below Qi.
15
玘，字以先，永樂中進士。 授御史。 仁宗監國，知其廉直。 每法司缺官，即命玘署，有重獄輒付之。 歷仕中外，所過人不敢犯。 宣德三年由福建按察使入為南京左副都御史。 奏黜御史不職者十三人，簡黜諸司庸懦不肖者八十余人，風紀大振。 居二年，以疾卒官。 玘負氣，好侮同列，治獄頗刻深。 然持身廉潔，內行修，事母以孝聞。
Qi, courtesy name Yixian, became a jinshi during Yongle. He was appointed censor. When the Renzong was supervising the state, he knew Qi's integrity and uprightness. Whenever the judicial offices lacked an official, he would order Qi to act in the post; serious cases were always entrusted to him. Serving inside and outside the capital, wherever he went people did not dare offend him. In the third year of Xuande he entered Nanjing from Regional Inspector of Fujian as Left Vice Censor-in-Chief. He memorialized to dismiss thirteen unfit censors and to weed out more than eighty incompetent and unworthy officials of various offices; discipline was greatly restored. After two years he died in office from illness. Qi was overbearing in spirit and liked to humiliate his colleagues; in trying cases he was rather harsh and severe. Yet he kept himself pure and incorrupt, cultivated his inner conduct, and was renowned for filial devotion to his mother.
16
陳勉，與玘同年進士。 仁宗初，以楊士奇薦，由廣東副使擢左副都御史。 信、豐諸縣盜起，命勉撫之。 招徠三千六百余人，亂遂定。 景泰初，仕至南京右都御史，掌院事。 致仕，卒。 勉外和內剛，精通法律，吏不敢欺。
Chen Mian became a jinshi in the same year as Qi. Early in the Renzong reign, on Yang Shiqi's recommendation, he was promoted from Vice Commissioner of Guangdong to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief. Bandits rose in the counties of Xin and Feng; he was ordered to pacify them. He recruited more than three thousand six hundred people, and the disorder was settled. Early in the Jingtai reign he rose to Right Censor-in-Chief of Nanjing and headed the censorate. He retired and died. Mian was outwardly mild and inwardly firm, thoroughly versed in the law, and clerks did not dare deceive him.
17
賈諒，字子信。 永樂中由鄉舉入太學，選侍皇太孫說書，擢刑科給事中。 宣德四年劾清軍侍郎金庠受賄，罷之。 郎中胡玨、蕭翔等十一人，御史方鼎三人，以不職被劾。 帝未信，命諒及張居傑密察之。 得實，悉貶官。 明年又劾陽武侯薛祿朋比不敬。 廷中肅然。 尋拜右副都御史。 偕錦衣指揮王裕、參議黃翰、中官張義等巡視四川、江西、湖廣，按治豪強不少假。 正統二年，江北、河南大水，命諒及工部侍郎鄭辰往振。 芒、碭山盜為患，諒捕獲甚眾。 四年還至德州，卒。 諒內行修，當官有風采。
Jia Liang, courtesy name Zixin. During Yongle he entered the Imperial Academy through the provincial examination, was chosen to attend upon the heir apparent in lecturing, and was promoted to Supervising Secretary of the Bureau of Punishments. In the fourth year of Xuande he impeached Vice Minister Jin Xiang of the Military Household Bureau for accepting bribes and had him dismissed. Directors Hu Jue and Xiao Xiang and eleven others, and Censors Fang Ding and three others, were impeached for incompetence. The Emperor did not yet believe it and ordered Liang and Zhang Jujie to investigate secretly. The facts were confirmed, and all were demoted. The next year he again impeached Marquis Xue Lu of Yangwu for forming factions and showing disrespect. The court was awed into order. Soon he was appointed Right Vice Censor-in-Chief. Together with Brocade Guard Commander Wang Yu, Commissioner Huang Han, eunuch Zhang Yi, and others he toured Sichuan, Jiangxi, and Huguang, punishing powerful wrongdoers without leniency. In the second year of Zhengtong great floods struck north of the Yangtze and Henan; Liang and Vice Minister Zheng Chen of Works were ordered to provide relief. Bandits on Mang and Dang mountains were causing trouble; Liang captured very many of them. In the fourth year, on returning to Dezhou, he died. Liang cultivated his inner conduct and showed distinction in office.
18
嚴升，建文時進士。 歷官大理寺右少卿。 清軍蘇、松，執法不撓。 調南京僉都御史，與玘同心治事。 剛果自信，嘗著《神羊賦》以見誌焉。
Yan Sheng became a jinshi in the Jianwen reign. He served as Right Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. Inspecting military households in Suzhou and Songjiang, he enforced the law without yielding. Transferred to Vice Censor of Nanjing, he worked in concert with Qi. Bold, resolute, and self-confident, he once composed the "Rhapsody on the Divine Goat" to express his intent.
19
段民，字時舉，武進人。 永樂二年進士。 選庶吉士。 與章敞、吾紳輩俱讀書文淵閣，又俱授刑部主事。 民旋進郎中。
Duan Min, courtesy name Shiju, was a man of Wujin. In the second year of Yongle he became a jinshi. He was selected as a Hanlin Bachelor. Together with Zhang Chang, Wu Shen, and others he all studied in the Wenyuan Pavilion, and all were appointed Section Chiefs in the Ministry of Punishments. Min was soon promoted to Director.
20
山東妖婦唐賽兒作亂，三司官坐縱寇誅，擢民左參政。 當是時索賽兒急，盡逮山東、北京尼及天下出家婦女，先後幾萬人。 民力為矜宥，人情始安。
The sorceress Tang Sai'er raised rebellion in Shandong; officials of the three commissions were executed for allowing the bandits to escape, and Min was promoted to Left Commissioner. At that time the search for Sai'er was urgent; nuns in Shandong and Beijing and Buddhist and Daoist women throughout the empire were all arrested, numbering tens of thousands in all. Min exerted himself to show mercy, and popular feeling was calmed.
21
車駕北征，餉舟由濟寧達潞河，陸挽出居庸至塞外。 民深計曲算，下不擾而事集。 既還，敕與巡按御史考所過府縣吏廉墨以聞。
When the imperial carriage campaigned north, supply boats went from Jining to the Lu River, and overland transport carried goods out through Juyong to beyond the passes. Min planned deeply and calculated carefully; the people below were not troubled and the task was accomplished. After returning, he was ordered together with the touring censor to examine the integrity or corruption of officials in the prefectures and counties they had passed through and report.
22
宣德三年召入京，命署南京戶部右侍郎，逾年實授。 又明年改刑部。 初，二部皆以不治聞。 民至，紀綱修舉，宿弊以革。 上元人有為侄毆者，憤甚，詣通政司告。 時方令納米贖罪，而越訴禁甚嚴，犯者戍遼東。 民上言：「依定例，卑幼之罪得贖，而尊長反遠竄，揆於理有未安，請更擬。」 帝是之。 帝以民廉介端謹，特賜敕，令考察南京百官。 八年，詔書罪囚自十惡外並減一等。 有重囚三十余人，例不得赦，民亦減其罪。 後有旨報決，乃復追還，而逃已數人。 民自陳狀，給事中年富等劾民。 帝知民賢，不問。
In the third year of Xuande he was summoned to the capital and ordered to act as Vice Minister of Revenue at Nanjing; the next year he received substantive appointment. The year after that he was transferred to the Ministry of Punishments. At first both ministries were known for poor administration. When Min arrived, regulations were restored and long-standing abuses were reformed. A man of Shangyuan had been beaten by his nephew and, greatly angered, went to the Court of Transmission to lodge a complaint. At the time grain was being accepted in lieu of punishment for crimes, while transgressions in lodging complaints were strictly forbidden; offenders were sent to garrison Liaodong. Min memorialized: "According to the established rule, the junior's offense may be redeemed, yet the senior is instead banished far away; measured against reason this is not sound. I request a revised ruling. The Emperor approved. Because Min was incorrupt, upright, and careful, the Emperor specially granted him an edict ordering him to inspect all officials at Nanjing. In the eighth year an edict reduced by one grade all convicted criminals except the ten abominations. More than thirty serious offenders, who by rule could not be pardoned, had their sentences reduced by Min as well. Later an order came to carry out execution; they were pursued and brought back, but several had already escaped. Min submitted a statement of the facts; Supervising Secretaries Nian Fu and others impeached him. The Emperor knew Min was worthy and did not inquire.
23
九年二月卒於官，年五十九。 貧不能殮，都御史吳訥裞以衣衾。 帝聞，命有司營葬。 成化間，葉盛請褒恤不果。 其後百有余年，始追謚襄介。
In the second month of the ninth year he died in office, aged fifty-nine. Too poor to provide a coffin, Censor-in-Chief Wu Ne presented garments and bedding. When the Emperor heard of it, he ordered the relevant offices to arrange the burial. During the Chenghua reign Ye Sheng requested posthumous honors, but it did not come about. More than a hundred years later he was at last given the posthumous title Xiangjie.
24
吾紳，字叔縉，衢州人。 官刑部主事，治獄有聲。 歷郎中，拜禮部侍郎。 成祖謂呂震曰：「紳出自翰林，可佐卿典禮矣。」 既而為震所擠，出為廣東參政。 尋召為南京刑部侍郎，奉敕考察兩廣、福建方面官。 有故人官參政，素貪黷，權要多為之地。 紳至，竟黜之，時稱其公。 復改禮部。 正統六年卒於官。
Wu Shen, courtesy name Shujin, was a man of Quzhou. Serving as Section Chief in the Ministry of Punishments, he gained renown in trying cases. He rose to Director and was appointed Vice Minister of Rites. Chengzu said to Lü Zhen: "Shen came from the Hanlin Academy and can assist you in ritual matters. Soon he was squeezed out by Zhen and sent out as Commissioner of Guangdong. Soon he was recalled as Vice Minister of Punishments at Nanjing and, by imperial order, inspected regional officials of the two Guangs and Fujian. An old acquaintance served as Commissioner and had long been greedy and corrupt; powerful men interceded on his behalf. When Shen arrived, he dismissed him anyway; at the time he was praised for his fairness. He was again transferred to the Ministry of Rites. In the sixth year of Zhengtong he died in office.
25
紳清強有執，淡於榮利。 初拜侍郎，賀者畢集。 而一室蕭然，了無供具，眾笑而起。
Shen was clear-minded, forceful, and principled, and indifferent to fame and profit. When he was first appointed Vice Minister, congratulators all gathered. Yet the room was bare, with nothing at all to serve guests; everyone laughed and rose to leave.
26
章敞，字尚文，會稽人。 由庶吉士授刑部主事。 山西盜發，捕逮數百人。 敞察其冤，留詞色異者一人，余悉遣出。 明日訊之，留者盜，余非也。 遷郎中，改吏部。
Zhang Chang, whose courtesy name was Shangwen, came from Kuaiji. Having served as a junior compiler, he was appointed principal clerk in the Ministry of Punishments. When bandits broke out in Shanxi, the authorities arrested several hundred people. Chang saw they had been wronged. He kept one man whose speech and manner seemed suspicious, and released everyone else. Questioned the next day, the man he had kept proved to be the robber; the others were innocent. He rose to director and was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel.
27
宣德六年擢禮部侍郎。 偕徐琦使安南，命黎利權國事。 利遣人白相見禮，敞曰：「汝敬使者，所以尊朝廷，奚白為？」 利聽命，趨拜下坐。 啖以聲色，不為動。 還致厚贐，不受，利以付貢使。 及關，悉閱貢物，封其贐，付關吏。 利死，子麟嗣，敞復奉詔往，卻贐如初。
In the sixth year of the Xuande reign he was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites. He went to Annam as envoy alongside Xu Qi, charged with authorizing Le Loi to govern the country. Le Loi sent a man to describe the ceremony of their audience. Chang replied, "You honor the envoy to honor the throne. What need is there to explain? Le Loi complied, hastened forward, bowed, and took a seat below him. They tried to tempt him with music and beautiful women, but he would not be swayed. On the homeward journey they pressed rich parting gifts on him, but he refused them, and Le Loi handed the gifts to the tribute envoy. At the frontier he inspected all tribute items, sealed the parting gifts, and delivered them to the border officers. After Le Loi's death, when his son Lin succeeded, Chang was again dispatched by imperial command and refused gifts just as he had before.
28
正統初，纂洪武以來條格，使諸司參酌，吏無能為奸。 尚書胡濙寬大，敞佐以嚴肅。 二年十二月卒。 子瑾亦累官至禮部侍郎。
In the early Zhengtong period he compiled administrative regulations dating from the Hongwu reign, had the departments review them, and clerks could no longer practice fraud. Minister Hu Ying was easygoing and generous; Chang supported him with stern discipline. He died in the twelfth month of the second year. His son Jin likewise advanced step by step until he became Vice Minister of Rites.
29
徐琦，字良玉。 先世錢塘人，其祖謫戍寧夏，遂家焉。 幼力學，通經史。 永樂十三年舉進士，授行人。 歷兵部員外郎。 明敏有斷，居官務持大體。 宣德六年擢右通政。 副敞使安南，亦不受饋。 還拜南京兵部右侍郎。 八年，帝以安南貢賦不如額，南征士卒未盡返，命琦復往。 時黎利已死，其子麟疑未決。 琦曉以禍福，麟懼，鑄代身金人，貢方物以謝。 帝悅，命落琦戍籍，宴賚甚厚。
Xu Qi, whose courtesy name was Liangyu. His forebears came from Qiantang; his grandfather was exiled to garrison duty in Ningxia, and the family made its home there. From boyhood he studied hard and mastered the classics and histories. In the thirteenth year of Yongle he became a jinshi and was appointed Bearer of Tributes. He held the post of vice director in the Ministry of War. Keen and resolute, he always kept the larger principles in view while in office. In the sixth year of Xuande he became Right Vice Commissioner of the Office of Transmission. Serving as Chang's deputy on the Annam mission, he too accepted no gifts. On his return he took office as Right Vice Minister of War at Nanjing. In the eighth year, because Annam's tribute and tax payments fell short and soldiers from the southern expedition had not yet all returned, the Emperor ordered Qi to go again. By then Le Loi was dead, and his son Lin remained hesitant and unresolved. Qi explained to him the consequences of fortune and ruin. Lin grew fearful, cast a golden substitute figure, and sent local products in apology. The Emperor was pleased, ordered Qi's name struck from the garrison rolls, and entertained and rewarded him generously.
30
正統初，與工部侍郎鄭辰考察南畿有司，黜不法者三十人。 時災異屢見，琦陳弭災十事。 悉嘉納。 五年命參贊南京機務。 十四年進尚書，參贊如故。 有言往年分調南京軍，家屬悉宜北徙，朝議欲行之。 琦奏：「安土重遷，人之情也。 今驟徙數萬眾，人心一搖，事或叵測。」 事得寢。 軍衛無學校，琦請天下衛所視府州縣例皆立學。 從之。
At the start of Zhengtong, together with Vice Minister of Works Zheng Chen he inspected officials in the southern capital region and removed thirty who had broken the law. As omens and portents recurred, Qi submitted ten proposals for averting disaster. The Emperor praised and accepted them all. In the fifth year he was assigned to assist in Nanjing military affairs. In the fourteenth year he was promoted to minister, while continuing his assisting duties as before. Some argued that families of troops previously transferred to Nanjing ought all to be relocated north, and court opinion leaned toward doing so. Qi memorialized, "People naturally cling to the land they know and dread being uprooted. To uproot tens of thousands at once would unsettle hearts, and the consequences could become impossible to foresee. The proposal was abandoned. Since military guards lacked schools, Qi asked that guard posts throughout the realm follow prefectures, departments, and counties in establishing schools. His request was granted.
31
景泰元年，靖遠伯王驥贊機務，琦專理部事。 驥解任，琦仍參贊。 四年三月卒，年六十八。 謚貞襄。
In the first year of Jingtai, Jingyuan Earl Wang Ji assisted in military affairs, while Qi handled the ministry's affairs himself. When Ji left office, Qi resumed his assisting duties as before. He died in the third month of the fourth year, at the age of sixty-eight. He was posthumously titled Zhenxiang.
32
敞、琦皆以使安南不辱命著稱。 安南多寶貨，後使者率從水道挾估客往以為利，交人頗輕之。
Chang and Qi were both renowned for serving as envoys to Annam without dishonoring their commission. Annam abounded in precious goods, and later envoys often traveled by water with merchants to turn a profit, so the Annamese grew to hold them in contempt.
33
弘治時，侍講劉戩往頒詔，由南寧乘傳抵其國，交人大驚。 戩依舊制，受陪臣拜謁，不交一語，越宿即行，饋遺一無所受。 使人要於途，固致之，卒麾去，與敞、琦皆為交人所重。 戩，字景元，安福人。
During Hongzhi, Lecturer Liu Kan went to proclaim an edict, traveling by post from Nanning into their country, and the Annamese were greatly astonished. Kan followed the old protocol, received the bows of accompanying ministers, spoke not a single unnecessary word, left after one night, and refused every gift offered. When people waylaid him on the road and pressed gifts on him, he finally waved them off. Like Chang and Qi, he won the respect of the Annamese. Kan, whose courtesy name was Jingyuan, came from Anfu.
34
吳訥，字敏德，常熟人。 父遵，任沅陵簿，坐事系京師。 訥上書乞身代。 事未白而父歿，訥感奮力學。
Wu Ne, whose courtesy name was Minde, came from Changshu. His father Zun had served as registrar of Yuanling and was imprisoned in the capital for an offense. Ne submitted a memorial asking to take his father's punishment upon himself. Before the matter was resolved his father died. Grief-stricken, Ne threw himself into his studies.
35
永樂中，以醫薦至京。 仁宗監國，聞其名，命教功臣子弟。 成祖召對稱旨，俾日侍禁廷，備顧問。
During Yongle he was recommended for his medical skill and came to the capital. While Renzong was supervising the state, he heard Ne's name and ordered him to teach the sons of meritorious officials. Chengzu summoned him for audience, was pleased with him, and had him attend daily within the palace as an adviser.
36
洪熙元年，侍講學士沈度薦訥經明行修，授監察御史。 敬慎廉直，不務矯飾。 宣德初，出按浙江，以振風紀植綱常為務。 時軍犯逃者，往往令家人妄訴，逮系至千人。 訥請嚴禁，即冤不得越告。 從之。 繼按貴州，恩威並行，蠻人畏服。 將代還，部民詣闕乞留。 不許。 五年七月，進南京右僉都御史，尋進左副都御史。
In the first year of Hongxi, Academician Lecturer Shen Du recommended Ne for classical learning and upright conduct, and he was appointed investigating censor. Respectful, cautious, honest, and upright, he never put on airs. At the start of Xuande he inspected Zhejiang, devoting himself to restoring discipline and upholding moral order. At the time army deserters often had relatives lodge false accusations, and as many as a thousand people were seized and imprisoned. Ne asked for a strict ban—even the genuinely wronged might not appeal beyond proper channels. His request was granted. He next inspected Guizhou, blending kindness with severity until the frontier peoples feared and submitted. When his term was ending and he was to return, local people went to court to beg that he be retained. The request was denied. In the seventh month of the fifth year he was promoted to Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief at Nanjing, and soon after to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief.
37
正統初，光祿丞董正等盜官物，訥發之，謫戍四十四人。 右通政李畛者，奉使蘇、松，行事多不謹。 訥微誡之，畛不悅，誣訥稽延詔書等事。 訥疏辯。 互為臺省所劾，俱逮下獄，既而釋之。 英宗初禦經筵，錄所輯《小學集解》上之。 四年三月，以老致仕，以朱與言代。
At the start of Zhengtong, Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices Dong Zheng and others stole official goods. Ne exposed them, and forty-four men were sent to garrison duty. Right Vice Commissioner Li Zhen, sent on mission to Suzhou and Songjiang, conducted himself with little care. Ne quietly admonished him. Zhen took offense and falsely accused Ne of delaying the edict and other offenses. Ne submitted a memorial defending himself. They impeached each other before the censorate and ministries, were both arrested and imprisoned, and were later released. When Yingzong first attended the classics lecture, Ne presented his compilation, "Collected Exegesis on the Elementary Learning." In the third month of the fourth year he retired because of age, and Zhu Yuyan replaced him.
38
訥博覽，議論有根柢。 於性理之奧，多有發明，所著書皆可垂於後。 歸家，布衣蔬食，環堵蕭然。 周忱撫江南，欲新其居，不可。 家居十六年而卒，年八十六。 謚文恪，鄉人祀之言偃祠。
Ne was widely read, and his arguments rested on firm foundations. In the subtleties of moral principle he made many original contributions, and the books he wrote were fit to be handed down. At home he wore plain cloth and ate simple food, and his bare room was austere. Zhou Chen, pacification commissioner of Jiangnan, wished to rebuild his house, but Ne would not permit it. He lived at home sixteen years before he died, at the age of eighty-six. He was posthumously titled Wenge, and the people of his district sacrificed to him at the shrine of Yan Yan.
39
朱與言，字一鶚，萬安人。 永樂九年進士，授湖廣按察僉事。 宣德中遷四川副使。 合州盜起，督吏目熊鼎斬六十余人，賊勢遂衰。 事聞，擢鼎合州同知。 雅州妖人為亂，與言執送京師，境內以寧。 正統元年召為南京右副都御史，入代訥領院事。 年老致仕，卒。 與言剛方廉慎，為政務大體。 數建白，多切時弊。 家居門庭清肅，鄉人有不善，惟恐與言知之。
Zhu Yuyan, whose courtesy name was Yie, came from Wan'an. In the ninth year of Yongle he passed the jinshi examination and was appointed Assistant Surveillance Commissioner of Huguang. During Xuande he was transferred to Vice Commissioner of Sichuan. When bandits rose in Hezhou, he supervised Clerk Xiong Ding in beheading more than sixty men, and the rebels' strength waned. When the report reached the court, Ding was promoted to Assistant Prefect of Hezhou. When sorcerers in Yazhou stirred up rebellion, Yuyan arrested them and sent them to the capital, and the region was pacified. In the first year of Zhengtong he was summoned as Right Vice Censor-in-Chief at Nanjing and entered office to replace Ne as head of the censorate. He retired in old age and died. Yuyan was upright, principled, honest, and cautious, and in governing he kept to the larger principles. He repeatedly offered proposals, many of which struck at the abuses of the day. At home his gate and courtyard were stern and orderly; neighbors who misbehaved feared above all that Yuyan might find out.
40
魏驥，字仲房，蕭山人。 永樂中，以進士副榜授松江訓導。 常夜分攜茗粥勞諸生。 諸生感奮，多成就者。 召修《永樂大典》。 書成，還任。 用師逵薦，還太常博士。 帝謂曰：「劉履節為御史九年，高皇帝方授是官，不輕予人也。」
Wei Ji, whose courtesy name was Zhongfang, came from Xiaoshan. During Yongle, as a jinshi on the supplementary list, he was appointed instructor at Songjiang. He often brought tea and porridge at midnight to encourage his students. The students were stirred to effort, and many went on to success. He was summoned to help compile the "Yongle Dadian." When the compilation was finished, he returned to his post. Recommended by Shi Kui, he returned to the capital as Erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. The Emperor told him, "Liu Lujie was censor for nine years before Gaozu granted this post. Such an office is not lightly given."
41
宣德初，遷吏部考功員外郎，歷南京太常寺少卿。 正統三年，召試行在吏部左侍郎，逾年實授。 屢命巡視畿甸遺蝗，問民疾苦。 八年改禮部，尋以老請致仕。 吏部尚書王直言驥未衰，如念其老，宜令去繁就簡。 乃改南京吏部。 復以老辭，不允。 十四年進尚書。 英宗北狩，驥率諸司條上時務，多施行。 景泰元年，年七十七，致仕。
At the start of Xuande he became Vice Director of the Ministry of Personnel's Merit Office, and later served as Vice Minister of the Nanjing Court of Imperial Sacrifices. In the third year of Zhengtong he was summoned for trial appointment as Left Vice Minister of Personnel at the temporary capital, and after more than a year received formal appointment. He was repeatedly sent to inspect lingering locusts in the capital region and hear the people's hardships. In the eighth year he was transferred to the Ministry of Rites, and soon after asked to retire because of age. Minister of Personnel Wang Zhi said Ji was not yet failing; if the Emperor thought of his age, he should be moved from heavy duties to lighter ones. He was accordingly transferred to the Nanjing Ministry of Personnel. He again pleaded old age, but the request was denied. In the fourteenth year he rose to minister. When Yingzong marched north on campaign, Ji led the ministries in submitting proposals on current affairs, many of which were carried out. In the first year of Jingtai, at the age of seventy-seven, he retired.
42
驥居官務大體。 在太常，山川壇獲雙白兔，圻內生瑞麥，皆卻不進。 在吏部，有進士未終制，求考功。 同官將許之，驥持不可。 法司因旱恤刑，有王綱者，惡逆當辟，或憫其少，欲緩之。 驥曰：「此婦人之仁，天道不時，正此故也。」 獄決而雨。
In office Ji always upheld the larger principles. At the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, when white rabbits appeared at the mountain-and-river altars and auspicious wheat sprang up within the capital bounds, he refused to report them. At the Ministry of Personnel, a jinshi who had not yet completed mourning asked to join the Merit Office. His colleagues were about to agree, but Ji held that it could not be allowed. Because of drought the judicial offices showed leniency in punishments. One Wang Gang, guilty of wicked rebellion and due for execution, was pitied for his youth, and some wished to delay his sentence. Ji said, "That is a woman's kindness. Heaven's seasons are untimely precisely because of such indulgence. The sentence was carried out, and rain fell.
43
正統中，王振怙寵，淩公卿，獨嚴重驥，呼「先生」。 景泰初，以請老至京師。 大學士陳循，驥門生也，請間曰：「公雖位冢宰，然未嘗立朝。 願少待，事在循輩。」 驥正色曰：「君為輔臣，當為天下進賢才，不得私一座主。」 退語人曰：「渠以朝廷事為一己事，安得善終。」 竟致仕去。
During Zhengtong, Wang Zhen relied on imperial favor and bullied the high ministers, yet he alone treated Ji with respect and called him "Sir." At the start of Jingtai, having asked to retire, he came to the capital. Grand Secretary Chen Xun, Ji's former student, asked him privately, "Though you hold the rank of chief minister, you have never long held court office. Please wait a little longer—the matter rests with men of our rank. Ji said sternly, "You are a chief minister. You should advance worthy talent for the realm, not show private favor to your own patron." On leaving he told others, "He treats the affairs of court as a private matter. How can such a man end well?" In the end he retired and departed.
44
驥端厚祗慎。 顧勁直，好別白君子、小人。 恒曰：「無是非之心，非人也。」 家居，憂國憂民，老而彌篤。 蕭山故多水患，有宋時縣令楊時湖堤遺跡。 驥倡修螺山、石巖、畢公諸塘堰，捍江潮，興湖利。 鄉人賴之。 居恒布衣糲食，不殖生產。 事兄教諭騏，雖耄益恭。 時戴笠行田間。 嘗遇錢塘主簿，隸訶之。 答曰「蕭山魏驥也」。 主簿倉皇謝慰而去。
Ji was dignified, steady, and reverently cautious. Yet he was forcefully upright and liked to distinguish clearly between noble men and base ones. He always said, "A man without a sense of right and wrong is not truly human. At home he worried for state and people alike, and grew only more earnest in old age. Xiaoshan had long suffered floods, and traces still remained of the lake embankment built in Song times by Magistrate Yang Shi. Ji led repairs on the Luoshan, Shiyan, and Bigong dikes and weirs to hold back the river tide and restore the lake's benefits. The people of the district came to rely on them. In daily life he wore plain cloth, ate coarse food, and did not accumulate property. Toward his elder brother, Instructor Qi, he grew only more deferential even as both men aged. Even then he wore a bamboo hat and walked through the fields. Once he encountered the registrar of Qiantang, and a clerk shouted at him. He replied, "Wei Ji of Xiaoshan." The registrar hurriedly apologized and withdrew in distress.
45
成化七年，御史梁昉言：「臣先任蕭山，見致仕尚書臣魏驥裏居，與裏人稠處，教子孫孝弟力田，增堤浚湖，捍禦災患。 所行動應禮法，倡理學，勖後進。 雖在林野，有補治化。 驥生平學行醇篤，心術正大。 諳世事，瞭國體。 致仕二十余年，年九十八歲，四方仰德，有如卿雲。 百年化育，滋此人瑞。 臣讀前史，有以歸老賜祿畢其身者，有尊養三老五更者，有安車蒲輪召者，有賜幾仗者，上齒德也。 驥齒德有余，爵在上卿，可稱達尊。 乞下所司，酌前代故事施行。」 帝覽奏嘉嘆。 遣行人存問，賜羊酒，命有司月給米三石。 使命未至而驥卒。 賜祭葬如禮，謚文靖。 其子完以驥遺言詣闕辭葬，乞以其金振饑民。 帝憮然曰：「驥臨終遺命，猶恐勞民，可謂純臣矣。」 許之。 蕭山民德驥不已，詣闕請祀於德惠祠，以配楊時。 制曰「可」。
In the seventh year of Chenghua, Censor Liang Fang memorialized, "Your subject formerly served in Xiaoshan and saw retired Minister Wei Ji living among his neighbors. His conduct accorded with ritual and law. He promoted Neo-Confucian learning and encouraged the young. Though he lived in the woods and fields, he still aided good governance. Throughout life Ji's learning and conduct were pure and sincere, and his mind and methods were upright and magnanimous. He understood worldly affairs and grasped the larger shape of the state. More than twenty years after retirement, at ninety-eight years of age, men everywhere honored his virtue as they might auspicious clouds. A hundred years of nurturing virtue had produced this treasure among men. Your subject reads the histories of old: some men were granted stipends after retiring home until death; some were honored as the Three Elders and Five Geng; some were summoned with cushioned carriages and reed-wheeled carts; some were given ceremonial staffs—all to honor age and virtue. Ji had surplus age and virtue, and his rank was that of a senior minister—he could truly be called a man of eminent dignity. I beg that the responsible offices consider precedents of former ages and carry them out. The Emperor read the memorial and praised it with admiration. He sent an envoy to inquire after Ji, bestowed sheep and wine, and ordered local offices to supply three shi of grain each month. Before the envoy arrived, Ji died. Sacrificial rites and burial were granted according to ritual, and he was posthumously titled Wenjing. His son Wan, following Ji's last wishes, went to court to decline burial honors and asked that the gold be used to relieve famine victims. The Emperor said sadly: "Even in his final command Ji feared troubling the people. He may truly be called a pure minister. The request was granted." The people of Xiaoshan, never ceasing to honor Ji's virtue, went to court to ask that he be sacrificed to in the Dehui Shrine alongside Yang Shi. An edict said, "Approved."
46
魯穆，字希文，天臺人。 永樂四年進士。 家居，褐衣蔬食，足跡不入州府。 比謁選，有司饋之贐，穆曰：「吾方從仕，未能利物，乃先厲州裏乎？」 弗受。 除御史。 仁宗監國，屢上封事。 漢王官校多不法，人莫敢言。 穆上章劾之，不報，然直聲振朝廷。
An edict said, "Granted." Lu Mu, whose courtesy name was Xiwen, came from Tiantai. At home he wore coarse cloth and ate plain food, and never set foot in the prefecture or district offices. When he went to await appointment, the local offices offered parting gifts. Mu said, "I am just entering service and have not yet benefited others—must I first harm my district? He refused them. He was appointed censor. While Renzong was supervising the state, he repeatedly submitted sealed memorials. Many of the Prince of Han's military officers and clerks acted unlawfully, and no one dared speak out. Mu submitted a memorial impeaching them. There was no response, yet his reputation for uprightness shook the court.
47
遷福建僉事。 理冤濫，摧豪強。 泉州人李某調官廣西，其姻富民林某遣仆冘李於道，而室其妻。 李之宗人訴於官，所司納林賂，坐訴者，系獄久。 穆廉得其實，立正林罪。 漳民周允文無子，以侄為後，晚而妾生子，因析產與侄，屬以妾子。 允文死，侄言兒非叔子，逐去，盡奪其資，妾訴之。 穆召縣父老及周宗族，密置妾子群兒中。 鹹指兒類允文，遂歸其產。 民呼「魯鐵面」。 時楊榮當國，家人犯法，穆治之不少貸。 榮顧謂穆賢，薦之朝。
He was transferred to Assistant Surveillance Commissioner of Fujian. He redressed wrongful imprisonment and crushed powerful families. A man of Quanzhou surnamed Li was transferred to an office in Guangxi. A wealthy in-law surnamed Lin sent a servant to waylay Li on the road and took his wife. Li's clansmen appealed to the authorities, but the office accepted Lin's bribe, punished the accusers, and kept them imprisoned for a long time. Mu investigated, learned the truth, and immediately punished Lin according to law. Zhou Yunwen of Zhang had no son and adopted his nephew as heir. In old age a concubine bore a son, so he divided property for the nephew and entrusted the concubine's son to him. When Yunwen died, the nephew claimed the child was not his uncle's son, drove him away, seized all the property, and the concubine appealed. Mu summoned the county elders and Zhou clansmen and secretly placed the concubine's son among a group of children. All pointed to the child as resembling Yunwen, and his property was restored. The people called him "Iron-Faced Lu." At the time Yang Rong held power, and when his family members broke the law Mu punished them without leniency. Rong reconsidered, judged Mu worthy, and recommended him to court.
48
英宗即位，擢右僉都御史。 明年奉命捕蝗大名。 還，以疾卒。 命給舟歸其喪。
When Yingzong ascended the throne, Mu was promoted to Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief. The next year he received orders to capture locusts in Daming. On his return he died of illness. Orders were given to provide a boat to return his coffin.
49
始穆入為僉都御史，所載不過囊衣，尚書吳中贈以器用，不受。 至是中為治棺衾，乃克殯。 子崇誌，歷官應天尹，廉直有父風。
When Mu first entered office as Assistant Censor-in-Chief, he carried no more than a bag of clothes. Minister Wu Zhong offered him utensils, but he would not accept. Now Zhong prepared coffin and shroud for him, and only then could he be buried. His son Chongzhi rose through office to Prefect of Yingtian, honest and upright in his father's manner.
50
耿九疇，字禹範，盧氏人。 永樂末進士。 宣德六年授禮科給事中。 議論持大體，有清望。
Geng Jiuchou, whose courtesy name was Yufan, came from Lushi. At the end of Yongle he became a jinshi. In the sixth year of Xuande he was appointed supervising secretary in the Office for Ritual Affairs. In discussion he upheld the larger principles and enjoyed a reputation for integrity.
51
正統初，大臣言兩淮鹽政久壞，宜得重名檢者治之，於是推擇為鹽運司同知。 痛革宿弊，條奏便宜五事，著為令。 母喪去官，場民數千人詣闕乞留。 十年正月起為都轉運使。 節儉無他好，公退焚香讀書，廉名益振，婦孺皆知其名。
At the start of Zhengtong the high ministers said the salt administration of the two Huai regions had long been corrupt and required a man of weighty name to rectify it. Jiuchou was therefore chosen and appointed Associate Salt Transport Commissioner. He vigorously reformed longstanding abuses, submitted five practical measures, and had them established as regulations. When he left office for his mother's mourning, several thousand salt-field workers went to court to beg that he be kept. In the first month of the tenth year he was recalled as Commissioner of Transport. Frugal and without other indulgences, after official hours he burned incense and read books. His reputation for integrity grew ever stronger, and even women and children knew his name.
52
以事見誣，逮下吏，已，得白，即留為刑部右侍郎。 屢辨疑獄，無所撓屈。 禮部侍郎章瑾下獄，九疇及江淵等議貶其官。 瑾婿給事中王汝霖銜之，與同官葉盛、張固、林聰等論刑部不公。 九疇、淵遂劾盛等，且言汝霖父永和死土木，嬉笑自如，不宜居職。 時景帝新立，急於用人，置汝霖等不問，瑾如奏。 鳳陽歲兇，盜且起，敕往巡視招撫。 奏留英武、飛熊諸衛軍耕守，招來流民七萬戶，境內以安。
Because of a false accusation he was arrested and handed to the judicial officers. Afterward he was cleared and retained as Right Vice Minister of Punishments. He repeatedly resolved doubtful cases and yielded to no pressure. When Vice Minister of Rites Zhang Jin was imprisoned, Jiuchou together with Jiang Yuan and others discussed demoting his rank. Jin's son-in-law, Supervising Secretary Wang Rulin, resented this. Together with colleagues Ye Sheng, Zhang Gu, Lin Cong, and others he argued that the Ministry of Punishments was unjust. Jiuchou and Yuan therefore impeached Sheng and the others, and further said Rulin's father Yonghe had died at Tumu yet Rulin had laughed and joked as usual and was unfit for office. At the time the Jing Emperor had newly ascended and was eager to employ men. Rulin and the others were set aside without inquiry, and Jin was dealt with as memorialized. In Fengyang the harvest failed and bandits were about to rise. An edict ordered him to go inspect, recruit, and pacify. He memorialized to retain the garrison troops of Yingwu, Feixiong, and other guards for farming and defense, and summoned back seventy thousand households of displaced people. The region was thereby pacified.
53
兩淮自九疇去，鹽政復弛。 景泰元年仍命兼理。 尋敕錄諸府重囚，多所平反。 十月命兼撫江北諸府。
After Jiuchou left, the salt administration of the two Huai regions again grew lax. In the first year of Jingtai he was again ordered to administer it concurrently. Soon he received orders to review heavy prisoners in the various prefectures, and many were exonerated. In the tenth month he was ordered concurrently to pacify the prefectures north of the Yangzi.
54
三年三月代陳鎰鎮陜西。 都指揮楊得青等私役操卒，九疇劾之。 詔按治，且命諸邊如得青者，具劾以聞。 邊將請增臨洮諸衛戍，九疇言：「邊城士卒非乏。 將帥能嚴紀律，賞罰明信，則人人自奮。 不然，徒冗食耳。」 乃不增戍。 邊民春夏出作田，秋冬輒徙入塞。 九疇言：「邊將所以禦寇，衛民也。 今使民避寇失業，安用將帥？」 因禁民入徙。 有被寇者，治守帥罪。
In the third month of the third year he replaced Chen Yi as commander in Shaanxi. Regional Commander Yang Deqing and others privately used garrison soldiers for labor. Jiuchou impeached them. An edict ordered investigation and punishment, and further ordered that on the frontier any like Deqing should be fully impeached and reported. Frontier commanders requested increased garrisons at Lintao and other guards. Jiuchou said, "Frontier garrison soldiers are not lacking. If commanders can strictly maintain discipline and make rewards and punishments clear and trusted, then every man will exert himself of himself. Otherwise they are merely redundant mouths to feed. The garrisons were therefore not increased. Frontier people in spring and summer went out to work the fields, and in autumn and winter always moved into the passes. Jiuchou said, "The purpose of frontier commanders is to repel invaders and protect the people. Now to make the people flee invaders and lose their livelihood—of what use are commanders? He therefore forbade the people to move inward. Where there was invasion, the defending commander was punished.
55
四年，布政使許資言：「侍郎出鎮，與巡按御史不相統，事多拘滯，請改授憲職便。」 乃轉右副都御史。 大臣鎮守、巡撫皆授都御史，自九疇始。 有旨市羊角為燈，九疇引宋蘇軾諫神宗買浙燈事，事乃寢。 災異求言，請帝延儒碩，公賞罰，擇守令，簡將帥。 優詔報焉。
In the fourth year, Administrator Xu Zi said, "When a vice minister goes out to command, he is not unified with the touring investigating censor, and affairs are often constrained and delayed. Please instead appoint him with censorial authority. He was therefore transferred to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief. That high ministers on frontier command and pacification commissions were all granted the rank of censor-in-chief began with Jiuchou. There was an edict to purchase ram's horns for lamps. Jiuchou cited Su Shi's memorial to Emperor Shenzong against buying Zhejiang lamps, and the matter was dropped. When calamities and anomalies prompted a call for memorials, he asked the Emperor to extend audience to great scholars, make rewards and punishments public, choose prefects and magistrates, and select commanders. An edict of praise was returned.
56
天順初，議事京師。 帝顧侍臣曰：「九疇，廉正人也。」 留為右都御史。 罪人系都察院獄者不給米。 九疇為言，乃日給一升，遂為令。 已，上疏陳崇廉恥、清刑獄、勸農桑、節軍賞、重臺憲五事。 帝皆嘉納。 是年六月，御史張鵬等劾石亨、曹吉祥。 亨等謂九疇實使之，遂並下獄。 謫江西布政使，尋調四川。
At the beginning of Tianshun he discussed affairs in the capital. The Emperor looked at the attending ministers and said, "Jiuchou is an honest and upright man. He was retained as Right Censor-in-Chief. Prisoners held in the censorate's prison were not given grain. Jiuchou spoke on their behalf, and they were then given one sheng daily. This became regulation. Soon after he submitted a memorial setting forth five matters: honoring integrity and shame, clearing judicial prisons, encouraging farming and sericulture, restraining military rewards, and respecting the censorate. The Emperor praised and accepted them all. In the sixth month of that year, Censor Zhang Peng and others impeached Shi Heng and Cao Jixiang. Heng and the others said Jiuchou had actually instigated them, and all were imprisoned together. He was demoted to Administrator of Jiangxi and soon transferred to Sichuan.
57
明年，禮部缺尚書。 帝問李賢。 賢曰：「老成清介，無如九疇。」 乃召還。 既至，憐其老，改南京刑部尚書。 四年卒。 謚清惠。 子裕，自有傳。
The next year the Ministry of Rites lacked a minister. The Emperor asked Li Xian. Xian said, "For seasoned integrity and purity, none matches Jiuchou. He was therefore summoned back. When he arrived, the Emperor pitied his age and changed his appointment to Minister of Punishments at Nanjing. In the fourth year he died. He was posthumously titled Qinghui. His son Yu has his own biography.
58
軒輗，字惟行，鹿邑人。 永樂末年進士。 授行人司副。 宣德六年用薦改御史。 按福建，剔蠹鋤奸，風采甚峻。
Xuan Ni, whose courtesy name was Weixing, came from Luyi. At the end of the Yongle era he became a jinshi. He was appointed Vice Director of the Office of Bearers. In the sixth year of Xuande, on recommendation he was changed to censor. Inspecting Fujian, he rooted out corruption and cut down the wicked, and his bearing was very stern.
59
會稽趙伯泰，宋苗裔也。 奏孝宗、理宗及福王陵墓，俱為豪民侵奪。 御史王琳謂福王降於元，北去，山陰安得墓？ 伯泰不平，復訴。 帝命輗及巡按御史歐陽澄覆按。 輗言福王蓋衣冠之藏，伯泰言非誣。 詔戍豪民於邊，停琳等俸。 遭親喪，起復。 十三年奏陳四事，俱切時弊，帝悉從之。
Zhao Botai of Kuaiji was a descendant of the Song. He memorialized that the tombs of Emperor Xiaozong, Emperor Lizong, and the Prince of Fu had all been seized by powerful families. Censor Wang Lin said the Prince of Fu surrendered to the Yuan and went north—how could there be a tomb in Shanyin? Botai was indignant and appealed again. The Emperor ordered Ni and Investigating Censor Ouyang Cheng to reinvestigate. Ni said the tomb of the Prince of Fu was a burial of robes and regalia, and Botai's claim was not false. An edict banished the powerful families to the frontier and stopped the salaries of Lin and the others. When he encountered mourning for a parent, he was recalled before mourning ended. In the thirteenth year he memorialized four matters, all cutting to the abuses of the time, and the Emperor followed them all.
60
景帝立，以右副都御史鎮守浙江。 景泰元年命兼理兩浙鹽課。 閩賊吳金八等流劫青田諸縣，輗與原貞討平之。 賊首羅丕、廖寧八復自閩抵浙。 輗等防遏有功，進秩一等。 明年改督南京糧儲。 五年復改左副都御史，掌南院事。 考黜御史不職者數人。
When the Jing Emperor ascended, Ni was Right Vice Censor-in-Chief commanding Zhejiang. In the first year of Jingtai he was ordered concurrently to administer the salt tax of the two Zhe regions. The bandits Wu Jinba and others raided Qingtian and other counties. Ni together with Yuan Zhen suppressed and pacified them. The bandit chiefs Luo Pi and Liao Ningba again came from Fujian into Zhejiang. Ni and the others blocked them with merit and were promoted one rank. The next year he was transferred to supervise grain stores at Nanjing. In the fifth year he was again made Left Vice Censor-in-Chief and directed the southern censorate. He reviewed and dismissed several censors who were derelict in duty.
61
天順元年二月召拜刑部尚書。 數月，引疾乞歸。 帝召見，問曰：「昔浙江廉使考滿歸，行李僅一簏，乃卿耶？」 輗頓首謝。 賜白金慰遣之。 明年，南京督理糧儲缺官，帝問李賢，大臣中誰曾居此職者。 賢以輗對，且稱其廉。 乃命以左都御史往。 八年夏以老乞骸骨，不待報徑歸。 抵家趣具浴，欠伸而卒。
In the second month of the first year of Tianshun he was summoned and appointed Minister of Punishments. After several months he cited illness and begged to return home. The Emperor summoned him for audience and asked, "In old days when you were Zhejiang surveillance commissioner and your term ended, your luggage was only one basket—is that you? Ni bowed his head in thanks. He was granted white gold and sent away with consolation. The next year the post of supervisor of grain stores at Nanjing was vacant. The Emperor asked Li Xian which high minister had formerly held that office. Xian answered with Ni and further praised his integrity. He was therefore ordered to go as Left Censor-in-Chief. In the summer of the eighth year he begged to retire on account of age and, without awaiting reply, went straight home. On reaching home he hurried to bathe, stretched, and died.
62
輗孤峭，遇人無賢否，拒不與接。 為按察使，嘗飲同僚家，歸撫其腹曰：「此中有贓物也。」 在南都，都御史張純置酒延客。 輗惡其汰，不往。 徹饌遺之，亦不納。 歲時詣禮部拜表慶賀，屏居一室，撤燭端坐，事竣竟歸，未嘗與僚友一語。 僚友聞其來，亦輒避去，不樂與之處。 量頗遍隘。 御史有訐人陰私者，輒獎其能。 嘗令御史劾南京祭酒吳節，節亦發輗私事，眾頗不直輗。 然清操聞天下，與耿九疇齊名，語廉吏必曰軒、耿。
Ni was solitary and austere. Meeting anyone, worthy or not, he refused contact. As surveillance commissioner he once drank at a colleague's home. On returning he stroked his belly and said, "Inside here are ill-gotten things. At the southern capital, Censor-in-Chief Zhang Chun set out wine and invited guests. Ni disliked his extravagance and did not go. When the feast was cleared they sent leftovers to him, but he would not accept. At the year's turn he went to the Ministry of Rites to submit the memorial of congratulation, withdrew alone to one room, removed the candles, and sat upright. When the business was done he went straight home, never speaking a word with colleagues. When colleagues heard he was coming, they too avoided him and did not care to stay in his company. His tolerance was rather narrow. When a censor exposed someone's private wrongs, he always praised his ability. Once he had a censor impeach Nanjing Chancellor Wu Jie. Jie also exposed Ni's private affairs, and many thought Ni was in the wrong. Yet his integrity was known throughout the realm. Together with Geng Jiuchou he was famed, and when men spoke of honest officials they always said Xuan and Geng.
63
陳復，福建懷安人。 輗同年進士，由戶部主事知杭州。 廉靜無私，獄訟大省。 日端坐堂皇，與曹掾講讀律令而已。 遭喪，部民乞留，詔起復，未幾卒。 輗倡僚屬助之，乃克斂。 吏民相率致賻，其子盡卻之，稱貸歸。
Chen Fu was a native of Huai'an in Fujian. A jinshi in the same year as Ni, he served as principal clerk in the Ministry of Revenue and governed Hangzhou. Honest, quiet, and without partiality, he greatly reduced lawsuits. Each day he sat upright in the hall, doing nothing but discuss law codes with his clerks. When he encountered mourning, the people of the district begged that he be kept. An edict recalled him before mourning ended, and soon after he died. Ni led the subordinates to assist, and only then could he be buried. Officials and people together offered funeral gifts. His son refused them all and borrowed money to return home.
64
黃孔昭，黃巖人。 初名曜，後以字行，改字世顯。 年十四，遭父母喪，哀毀骨立。 舉天順四年進士，授屯田主事。 奉使江南，卻饋弗受，進都水員外郎。
Huang Kongzhao was a native of Huangyan. Originally named Yao, he later used his courtesy name and changed it to Shixian. At fourteen he encountered the mourning for both parents and was wasted with grief to the bone. In the fourth year of Tianshun he became a jinshi and was appointed principal clerk in the Office of State Farms. Sent on mission to Jiangnan, he refused gifts and was promoted to Vice Director of the Office of Waterways.
65
成化五年，文選郎中陳雲等為吏所訐，盡下獄貶官，尚書姚夔知孔昭廉，調之文選。 九年進郎中。 故事，選郎率閉門謝客。 孔昭曰：「國家用才，猶富家積粟。 粟不素積，豈足贍饑； 才不預儲，安能濟用？ 茍以深居絕客為高，何由知天下才俊。」 公退，遇客至，輒延見，訪以人才，書之於冊。 除官，以其才高下配地繁簡。 由是銓敘平允。 其以私幹者，悉拒之。 嘗與尚書尹旻爭，至推案盛怒。 孔昭拱立，俟其怒止，復言之。 旻亦信其諒直。 旻昵通政談倫，欲用為侍郎，孔昭執不可。 旻卒用之，倫果敗。 旻欲推故人為巡撫，孔昭不應。 其人入都謁孔昭，至屈膝，孔昭益鄙之。 旻令推舉，孔昭曰：「彼所少者，大臣體耳。」 旻謂其人曰：「黃君不離銓曹，汝不能遷也。」
In the fifth year of Chenghua, Selection Director Chen Yun and others were impeached by clerks, all imprisoned and demoted. Minister Yao Kui, knowing Kongzhao's integrity, transferred him to Selection. In the ninth year he was promoted to director. By custom, selection directors usually closed their doors and refused visitors. Kongzhao said, "The state uses talent as a rich household stores grain. If grain is not stored in advance, how can it suffice for famine? If talent is not prepared beforehand, how can it serve when needed? If one merely treats deep seclusion and refusing guests as lofty, how can one know the worthy talent of the realm? After official hours, whenever a visitor came he would receive him, inquire about talent, and record it in a book. When appointing officials he matched their talent, high or low, to the complexity or simplicity of the post. Thereby appointments and promotions were fair and even. Those who approached him for private ends he entirely refused. Once he argued with Minister Yin Min until he pushed the desk in great anger. Kongzhao stood with hands folded, waited until the anger ceased, and spoke again. Min also trusted his honesty and uprightness. Min favored Transmission Commissioner Tan Lun and wished to use him as vice minister, but Kongzhao firmly refused. Min finally used him, and Lun indeed came to ruin. Min wished to promote an old acquaintance as pacification commissioner, but Kongzhao did not respond. That man entered the capital and visited Kongzhao, even kneeling. Kongzhao despised him all the more. When Min ordered a recommendation, Kongzhao said, "What he lacks is the bearing of a high minister. Min told the man, "As long as Huang remains in Selection, you cannot be transferred."
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為郎中滿九載，始擢右通政。 久之，遷南京工部右侍郎。 有官地十余區為勢家所侵，奏復之。 奉詔薦舉方面，以知府樊瑩、僉事章懋應。 後皆為名臣。 郎官主藏者以羨銀數千進，斥退之。 掘地得古鼎，急命工鐫文廟二字，送之廟中。 俄中貴欲獻諸朝，見鐫字而止。
After nine years as director he was finally promoted to Right Vice Commissioner of Transmission. After a long time he was transferred to Right Vice Minister of Works at Nanjing. More than ten plots of official land had been seized by powerful families. He memorialized and recovered them. By imperial order he recommended men for regional office, nominating Prefect Fan Ying and Assistant Surveillance Commissioner Zhang Mao. Both later became famed ministers. An official in charge of stores offered several thousand taels of surplus silver. He reprimanded and dismissed him. Digging the ground he found an ancient ding. He immediately ordered craftsmen to inscribe the two characters "Confucian Temple" and sent it to the temple. Soon a palace eunuch wished to present it to court, but seeing the inscription he stopped.
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孔昭嗜學敦行，與陳選、林鶚、謝鐸友善，並為士類所宗。 弘治四年卒。 嘉靖中，贈禮部尚書，謚文毅。 子俌，亦舉進士，為文選郎中。 俌子綰，以議大禮至禮部尚書，自有傳。
Kongzhao loved learning and honored conduct. With Chen Xuan, Lin E, and Xie Duo he was friendly, and all were honored by the scholar class. In the fourth year of Hongzhi he died. In the Jiajing era he was posthumously granted Minister of Rites with the title Wenyi. His son Fu also became a jinshi and served as Selection Director. Fu's son Wan, rising on the Great Rites controversy to Minister of Rites, has his own biography.
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贊曰：國家盛時，士大夫多以廉節自重，豈刻意勵行，好為矯飾名譽哉。 亦其淡嗜欲，恥營競，介特之性然也。 仁、宣之際，懲吏道貪墨，登進公廉剛正之士。 宗載佐銓衡，顧佐掌邦憲，風紀為之一清。 段民、吳訥、魏驥、魯穆爵然秉羔羊素絲之節。 軒、耿、孔昭矯厲絕俗，物不能幹。 章敞、徐琦、劉戩律己嚴正，異域傾心。 廉之足尚也卓矣。
The comment says: In the state's flourishing age, scholar-officials mostly valued themselves through integrity and restraint—was this deliberately striving to act uprightly and affect reputation? Rather, they had plain desires, shamed scrambling for gain, and their upright, solitary natures were simply so. In the Ren-Xuan era, greedy clerks were punished and upright, honest, and firm men were promoted. Zongzai assisted in appointments and Gu Zuo held the law of the realm, and discipline was cleared at a stroke. Duan Min, Wu Ne, Wei Ji, and Lu Mu each upheld the integrity symbolized by the lamb and plain silk. Xuan, Geng, and Kongzhao rigorously disciplined themselves beyond common custom and could not be swayed by worldly things. Zhang Chang, Xu Qi, and Liu Kan disciplined themselves with stern rectitude, and foreign lands were moved to respect them. How eminently integrity is to be honored!