1
王彰魏源金濂石璞王巹羅通羅綺張固張瑄張鵬李裕
Wang Zhang, Wei Yuan, Jin Lian, Shi Pu, Wang Ji, Luo Tong, Luo Qi, Zhang Gu, Zhang Xuan, Zhang Peng, and Li Yu
2
王彰，字文昭，鄭人。 洪武二十年舉於鄉，補國子生。 使山東平糴，以廉幹稱，擢吏科源士。 逾年，革源士，改給事中，累遷山西左參政。
Wang Zhang, whose style name was Wenzhao, came from Zheng. He passed the provincial examination in the twentieth year of the Hongwu reign and entered the Imperial Academy as a student. While on assignment in Shandong to stabilize grain purchases, he won a reputation for integrity and ability and was promoted to a junior post in the Personnel Section of the Censorate. A year later, when the yuanshi post was abolished, he was appointed supervising secretary and eventually rose to become Left Vice Commissioner of Shanxi.
3
永樂五年召為禮部侍郎。 父喪，服除，改戶部。 陝西大疫，奉使祀西嶽。 新安民鬻子女償賦。 彰奏為蠲除，贖還所鬻。 改右副都御史。
In the fifth year of the Yongle reign he was called to the capital as Vice Minister of Rites. After his father's death he completed the mourning period and was reassigned to the Ministry of Revenue. During a severe epidemic in Shaanxi, he was dispatched on a mission to offer sacrifices at Mount Hua. In Xin'an, commoners were selling their children to pay off tax arrears. Zhang memorialized for tax remission and had the sold children bought back and restored to their families. He was then appointed Right Vice Censor-in-Chief.
4
陝西僉事馬英激肅州番為變，殺御史及都指揮。 彰劾英，置極典。 又劾御史陳孟旭受賕枉法、文獻盜銀課、及金吾指揮李嚴逐母不養，皆坐死。 他所論劾甚眾。 十一年從帝北巡。 彰有母年八十餘矣，命歸省，賜其母冠服金幣。 諭之曰：「君子居官不忘親，居家不忘君。 凡所過，民安否，吏賢不肖，悉以聞。」 彰還，奏事稱旨。 久之，進右都御史。
Ma Ying, an assistant commissioner in Shaanxi, provoked the Subei tribes at Suzhou into revolt and killed a touring censor and the regional commander. Zhang impeached Ma Ying and had him executed under the harshest statute. He also impeached Censor Chen Mengxu for bribery and corruption, Wen Xian for embezzling silver from the tax levy, and Jinyu Guard Commander Li Yan for abandoning his mother without support; all were put to death. His impeachments and prosecutions were numerous besides these. In the eleventh year he accompanied the emperor on the northern inspection tour. Zhang's mother was more than eighty years old, so he was ordered home on leave and the court bestowed on her ceremonial dress, gold, and silk. The emperor told him: "A gentleman in office must not forget his parents, and at home he must not forget his sovereign. Wherever you go, report fully on whether the people are secure and which officials are capable or corrupt. When Zhang returned and reported, his memorials met with the emperor's approval. After some time he was promoted to Right Censor-in-Chief.
5
十九年，帝遣廷臣二十六人巡撫天下，彰與給事中王勵往河南。 終明世，大臣得撫鄉土者，彰與葉春而已。 河南水災，民多流亡，長吏不加恤。 彰奏黜貪刻者百餘人，罷不急之征十餘事。 招復流民，發廩振貸，多所全活。 還朝，命督餉北征。 仁宗即位，河溢開封，命彰與都指揮李信往振恤。
In the nineteenth year the emperor sent twenty-six court officials to serve as grand coordinators throughout the empire; Zhang and Supervising Secretary Wang Li were assigned to Henan. Through the entire Ming period, only Zhang and Ye Chun among senior ministers were permitted to oversee their home regions. When floods struck Henan, large numbers of people became refugees, yet the local authorities offered them little relief. Zhang memorialized for the dismissal of more than a hundred corrupt and harsh officials and for the repeal of more than ten nonessential levies. He recalled refugees, opened granaries for relief grain and loans, and thereby saved a great many lives. After he returned to court, he was ordered to supervise grain supplies for the northern expedition. After Emperor Renzong ascended the throne, the Yellow River burst its banks at Kaifeng, and Zhang was sent with Regional Commander Li Xin to provide disaster relief.
6
宣德元年五月，命彰自良鄉抵南京巡撫軍民。 尋以所言率常事，降敕切責，令詳具利病以聞。 復諭侍臣曰：「兩京相距數千里，驛使往來為擾，或遘水旱，小民失所，朝使還及御史巡曆皆不以告，故遣彰往視。 今所奏多細故。 大臣如此，朕復何望！ 卿等當悉朕意，君臣同體，勿有所疑。」 尋召還，命與都督山雲巡山海至居庸諸關隘。 逾二月還，奏將士擅離者，帝命逮治。 遂命兵部三月一遣御史、給事中點閱。 明年四月卒於官。
In the fifth month of the first year of Xuande he was ordered to oversee troops and civilians from Liangxiang south to Nanjing. Soon afterward, because his reports were largely routine, the emperor issued a stern edict rebuking him and ordering detailed accounts of what helped or harmed the people. He also told his close ministers: "The two capitals lie thousands of li apart, and constant courier traffic is a burden. When floods or drought strike and commoners lose their livelihoods, returning envoys and touring censors report nothing, which is why I sent Zhang to look into conditions. Yet what he has reported is mostly petty detail. When a senior minister behaves like this, what can I still expect! You must all understand my intent: ruler and ministers share one body, and you should harbor no doubts. He was soon recalled and ordered, together with Regional Commander Shan Yun, to inspect the frontier passes from Shanhaiguan through Juyong and the other garrisons. After more than two months he returned, reported officers and men who had deserted their posts, and the emperor ordered them arrested and punished. The Ministry of War was then ordered to send censors and supervising secretaries every three months for inspection. He died in office the following fourth month.
7
彰嚴介自持，請托皆絕，然用法過刻。 其母屢以為言，不能改。 時劉觀為左都御史。 人謂「彰公而不恕，觀私而不刻」雲。
Zhang was stern and upright and refused all private solicitations, yet he applied the law with excessive harshness. His mother admonished him repeatedly, but he could not change his ways. At the time Liu Guan served as Left Censor-in-Chief. People said of them: "Zhang is fair but unforgiving; Guan is partial but not harsh."
8
魏源，字文淵，建昌縣人。 永樂四年進士。 除監察御史。 辨松江知府黃子威誣。 奏減浙東瀕海漁課。 巡按陝西。 西安大疫，療活甚眾。 奏言：「諸府倉粟積一千九十余萬石，足支十年。 今民疫妨農，請輸鈔代兩稅之半。」 從之。 涼州土寇將為變。 亟請剿，亂遂息。 兩遭喪，俱起復。 洪熙元年出為浙江按察副使。
Wei Yuan, whose style name was Wenyuan, came from Jianchang County. He received his jinshi degree in the fourth year of the Yongle reign. He was appointed an investigating censor. He cleared Prefect Huang Ziwei of Songjiang from a false accusation. He memorialized for a reduction of the coastal fishing tax in eastern Zhejiang. He served as touring inspector of Shaanxi. During a severe epidemic in Xi'an, he treated the sick and saved a great many lives. He memorialized: "The prefectural granaries hold more than 1,900,000 shi of grain, enough to supply the region for ten years. Because the epidemic is hindering farming, I ask that paper money be accepted in lieu of half the land and labor taxes. The court approved his proposal. Local bandits in Liangzhou were on the verge of revolt. He urgently requested a punitive expedition, and the unrest was quickly suppressed. He twice left office for mourning and on both occasions was recalled before the mourning period ended. In the first year of Hongxi he was posted as Vice Commissioner of the Zhejiang Surveillance Commission.
9
宣德三年召署刑部右侍郎。 五年，河南旱荒，民多轉徙。 帝以源廉正有為，命為左布政使，俾馳驛之任。 時侍郎許廓往撫輯，廷議又起丁憂布政使李昌祺原官。 源與廓、昌祺發倉廩，免逋賦雜役，流民漸歸。 雨亦旋降，歲大豐。 居三年，召還，授刑部左侍郎。 明年，永豐民夏九旭等據大盤山為亂。 帝以源江西人，命撫之，都督任禮帥兵隨其後。 未至，官軍擒九旭，因命二人采木四川，兼飭邊務。
In the third year of Xuande he was summoned to serve as acting Right Vice Minister of Justice. In the fifth year drought and famine struck Henan, and large numbers of people migrated elsewhere. Seeing Yuan as incorrupt, upright, and effective, the emperor appointed him Left Administrative Commissioner and ordered him to take up the post by express relay. Vice Minister Xu Kuo was then sent to pacify the region, while court debate also turned on reinstating Li Changqi, the administrative commissioner then in mourning, to his former post. Yuan, together with Xu Kuo and Li Changqi, opened granaries, remitted tax arrears and miscellaneous levies, and refugees gradually returned home. Rain soon followed, and the year brought a great harvest. After three years he was recalled and appointed Left Vice Minister of Justice. The following year Xia Jiuxu and others among the people of Yongfeng seized Dapan Mountain and rebelled. Because Yuan was a native of Jiangxi, the emperor ordered him to pacify the rebels while Regional Commander Ren Li led troops in support. Before he arrived, government forces had already captured Jiuxu, so both men were ordered to procure timber in Sichuan and also to oversee frontier affairs.
10
歲旱，錄上疑獄，且請推行於天下，報可。 旋坐決獄不當，與侍郎何文淵俱下獄。 得宥，復以上遼王貴烚罪狀，不言其內亂事，與三司官皆系詔獄。 累月，釋還職。 源在刑部久，議獄多平恕。 陝西僉事計資言，武臣雜犯等罪，予半俸，謫極邊。 源以所言深刻，奏寢之。 郎中林厚言禁刁訟、告訐及擇理刑官、勘重囚務憑贓具四事，皆以源議得施行。 六年以足疾命朝朔望。 八年致仕，卒。
During a drought year he submitted a register of doubtful cases and asked that the practice be extended empire-wide; the court approved. He was soon imprisoned together with Vice Minister He Wenyuan for improper judgments in criminal cases. He was pardoned, but was imprisoned again together with the three-commission officials because, in reporting the crimes of Prince Gui Juan of Liaodong, he had failed to mention the prince's internal rebellion. After several months they were released and restored to their posts. Yuan served for a long time in the Ministry of Justice and generally favored lenient judgments. Ji Zi, an assistant commissioner in Shaanxi, proposed that for miscellaneous offenses by military officers, offenders receive half pay and be banished to the farthest frontier. Yuan regarded the proposal as excessively harsh and memorialized to have it tabled. Director Lin Hou proposed four measures—banning vexatious suits and malicious accusations, selecting qualified criminal judges, and requiring that serious cases be investigated strictly on the basis of physical evidence—and all were adopted and implemented on Yuan's recommendation. In the sixth year, because of a foot ailment, he was ordered to attend court only on the first and fifteenth of each month. In the eighth year he retired and soon died.
11
金濂，字宗瀚，山陽人。 永樂十六年進士，授御史。 宣德初，巡按廣東，廉能最。 改按江西、浙江。 捕巨盜不獲，坐免。 盜就執，乃復官。 嘗言郡縣吏貪濁，宜敕按察司、巡按御史察廉能者，如洪武間故事，遣使勞賚，則清濁分，循良勸。 帝嘉納之。 用薦遷陝西副使。
Jin Lian, whose style name was Zonghan, came from Shanyang. He received his jinshi degree in the sixteenth year of Yongle and was appointed a censor. Early in the Xuande reign he toured Guangdong and was ranked foremost for integrity and competence. He was reassigned to tour Jiangxi and Zhejiang. When he failed to capture a major bandit, he was dismissed from office. After the bandit was captured, he was restored to office. He once argued that because prefectural and county officials were often corrupt, the Surveillance Commission and touring censors should identify the upright and capable, as in the Hongwu precedent, and send envoys to reward them; thus the worthy and the corrupt would be distinguished and good governance encouraged. The emperor praised and adopted his proposal. On recommendation he was promoted to Vice Commissioner in Shaanxi.
12
八年秋拜刑部尚書，侍經筵。 十一年，安鄉伯張安與弟爭祿，詔逮治。 法司與戶部相諉，言官劾濂及戶部尚書王佐，右都御史陳鎰，侍郎丁鉉、馬昂，副都御史丁璿、程富等，俱下獄。 數日，釋之。
In the autumn of the eighth year he was appointed Minister of Justice and attended the imperial Classics Lecture. In the eleventh year Earl Zhang An of Anxiang disputed his stipend with his younger brother, and an edict ordered both men arrested and tried. The judicial offices and the Ministry of Revenue blamed each other; remonstrating officials impeached Jin Lian along with Minister of Revenue Wang Zuo, Right Censor-in-Chief Chen Yi, Vice Ministers Ding Xian and Ma Ang, and Vice Censors-in-Chief Ding Xuan and Cheng Fu; all were imprisoned. After several days they were released.
13
福建賊鄧茂七等為亂，都督劉聚、都御史張楷征之，不克。 十三年十一月大發兵，命甯陽侯陳懋等為將軍往討，以濂參軍務。 比至，御史丁瑄已大破賊。 茂七死，餘賊擁其兄子伯孫據九龍山，拒官軍。 濂與眾謀，羸師誘之出，伏精兵，入其壘，遂擒伯孫。 帝乃移楷討浙寇，而留濂擊平餘賊未下者。 會英宗北狩，兵事棘，召還。 言者交劾濂無功，景帝不問，加濂太子賓客，給二俸。 尋改戶部尚書，進太子太保。
Deng Maoqi and other rebels in Fujian rose in revolt; Regional Commander Liu Ju and Censor-in-Chief Zhang Kai campaigned against them without success. In the eleventh month of the thirteenth year the court mobilized a large army, appointed Marquis Chen Mao of Ningyang and others as generals to suppress the rebels, and assigned Jin Lian to assist in military affairs. By the time they arrived, Censor Ding Xuan had already inflicted a major defeat on the rebels. After Maoqi died, the remaining rebels rallied behind his elder brother's son Bosun, who held Jiulong Mountain and resisted government forces. Jin Lian and the commanders devised a plan to feign weakness and lure the rebels out, then ambush them with elite troops, storm their stronghold, and capture Bosun. The emperor then transferred Zhang Kai to suppress bandits in Zhejiang and left Jin Lian to finish off the remaining unrebelled forces. When Emperor Yingzong went north on campaign and was captured at Tumu, the military crisis became acute and Jin Lian was recalled. Critics repeatedly impeached Jin Lian for achieving nothing, but Emperor Jingdi ignored the charges, appointed him Household Companion of the Heir Apparent, and granted him double salary. He was soon transferred to Minister of Revenue and promoted to Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent.
14
時四方用兵，需餉急，濂綜核無遺，議上撙節便宜十六事，國用得無乏。 未幾，上皇還。 也先請遣使往來如初，帝堅意絕之。 濂再疏諫，不聽。 初，帝即位，詔免景泰二年天下租十之三。 濂檄有司，但減米麥，其折收銀布絲帛者征如故。 三年二月，學士江淵以為言，命部查理。 濂內慚，抵無有。 給事中李侃等請詰天下有司違詔故。 濂恐事敗，乃言：「銀布絲帛，詔書未載，若概減免，國用何資？」 於是給事中御史劾濂失信於民，為國斂怨，且訐其陰事。 帝欲宥之，而侃與御史王允力爭，遂下都察院獄。 越三日釋之，削宮保，改工部。 吏部尚書何文淵言理財非濂不可，乃復還戶部。 濂上疏自理，遂乞骸骨，帝慰留之。 東宮建，復宮保。 尋復條上節軍匠及僧道冗食共十事。 五年卒官，以軍功追封沭陽伯，諡榮襄。
With campaigns on every front and supplies urgently needed, Jin Lian audited accounts exhaustively and proposed sixteen measures of frugality and practical economy, so that state finances did not run short. Before long the former emperor returned from captivity. Esen asked to restore diplomatic exchanges as before, but the emperor firmly refused. Jin Lian memorialized again in protest, but the emperor would not listen. When the emperor first took the throne, he issued an edict exempting one-third of the empire's land tax for the second year of Jingtai. Jin Lian ordered local officials to reduce only grain taxes in rice and wheat, while silver, cloth, silk, and fabric levies collected in commutation were exacted as before. In the second month of the third year, Academician Jiang Yuan reported the matter, and the emperor ordered the ministries to investigate. Jin Lian was inwardly ashamed but denied any wrongdoing. Supervising Secretaries Li Kan and others asked that officials throughout the empire who had violated the edict be investigated. Fearing exposure, Jin Lian argued: "Silver, cloth, and silk were not mentioned in the edict; if all were reduced, how would the state meet its expenses? Supervising secretaries and censors then impeached Jin Lian for breaking faith with the people, stirring public resentment, and denounced his private misconduct. The emperor wished to pardon him, but Li Kan and Censor Wang Yun argued forcefully, and he was sent to the Censorate prison. Three days later he was released, stripped of his Grand Guardian title, and transferred to the Ministry of Works. Minister of Personnel He Wenyuan said finances could not be managed without Jin Lian, so he was restored to the Ministry of Revenue. Jin Lian memorialized in self-defense and then requested retirement; the emperor comforted him and kept him at his post. When the heir apparent was formally established, his Grand Guardian title was restored. He soon memorialized again with ten proposals to economize on military artisans and redundant Buddhist and Daoist clergy. In the fifth year he died in office; for military merit he was posthumously enfeoffed as Earl of Shuyang with the posthumous title Rongxiang.
15
濂剛果有才，所至以嚴辦稱，然接下多暴怒。 在刑部持法稍深。 及為戶部，值兵興財詘，頗厚斂以足用雲。
Jin Lian was resolute and talented; wherever he served he was known for strict administration, yet he was often violent and angry with subordinates. While in the Ministry of Justice he applied the law with some severity. As Minister of Revenue during wartime financial strain, he is said to have collected rather heavily to make ends meet.
16
石璞，字仲玉，臨漳人。 永樂九年舉於鄉，入國學。 選授御史。
Shi Pu, whose style name was Zhongyu, came from Linzhang. In the ninth year of Yongle he passed the provincial examination and entered the Imperial Academy. He was selected and appointed an investigating censor.
17
正統初，歷任江西按察使。 三年坐逸囚，降副使。 璞善斷疑獄。 民娶婦，三日歸寧，失之。 婦翁訟婿殺女，誣服論死。 璞禱於神，夢神示以麥字。 璞曰：「麥者，兩人夾一人也。」 比明，械囚趣行刑。 未出，一童子窺門屏間。 捕入，則道士徒也。 叱曰：「爾師令爾偵事乎？」 童子首實，果二道士匿婦槁麥中。 立捕，論如法。 在江西數年，風紀整肅，雖婦豎無不知石憲使者。
Early in the Zhengtong reign he served as Surveillance Commissioner of Jiangxi. In the third year he was demoted to vice commissioner after a prisoner escaped under his supervision. Shi Pu was skilled at resolving doubtful criminal cases. A man took a wife; on the third day she returned to her parents' home for a visit and vanished. Her father sued the son-in-law for murder; the son-in-law falsely confessed and was sentenced to death. Shi Pu prayed to the gods and dreamed that a deity showed him the character mai (wheat). Shi Pu said: "Mai means two people flanking one person. At daybreak he had the prisoner shackled and hurried toward execution. Before they left, a boy was peeping through the door screen. They seized him; he was a Daoist novice. He shouted: "Did your master send you to spy on us? The boy confessed at once; two Daoists had indeed hidden the woman in a stack of wheat straw. They were immediately captured and sentenced according to law. After several years in Jiangxi, discipline was so strict that even women and children knew Surveillance Commissioner Shi.
18
七年遷山西布政使。 明年，以朝廷歲用物料，有司科派擾民，請於折糧銀內歲存千兩，令官買辦，庶官用可完，民亦不擾。 從之。
In the seventh year he was transferred to Administrative Commissioner of Shanxi. The next year, because the court's annual material needs led local offices to impose levies that harassed the people, he asked that 1,000 taels be set aside yearly from commuted grain silver for official purchases, so government needs could be met without burdening the populace. The court approved his proposal.
19
工部尚書王巹以不能屈意王振，十三年致仕去。 璞為振所善，遂召為尚書。 明年，處州賊葉宗留作亂，總兵官徐恭等往討，以璞參其軍事。 師未至，宗留已為其党陳鑒胡所殺。 巡撫張驥招降鑒胡，賊勢稍息。 璞等逗遛無功，為御史張洪等所劾，詔俟師旋以聞。
Minister of Works Wang Ji, unable to defer to Wang Zhen, retired in the thirteenth year. Shi Pu, favored by Wang Zhen, was summoned to serve as minister. The next year the bandit Ye Zongliu rebelled in Chuzhou; Regional Commander Xu Gong and others campaigned against him, with Shi Pu assisting in military affairs. Before the army arrived, Zongliu had already been killed by his follower Chen Jianhu. Grand Coordinator Zhang Ji induced Chen Jianhu to surrender, and the rebellion gradually subsided. Shi Pu and the others dallied without success and were impeached by Censor Zhang Hong and others; an edict ordered them to report after the army returned.
20
已而景帝嗣位，召還。 論功，兼大理寺卿。 尋出募天下義勇，還朝。 會中官金英下獄，法司劾璞嘗賂英，遂並下璞獄，當斬，特宥之。 出理大同軍餉。 敵犯馬營，命提督宣府軍務。 至則寇已退，還理部事。 加太子太保，給二俸。
Soon afterward Emperor Jingdi succeeded to the throne and recalled them. When merit was assessed, he was concurrently appointed chief minister of the Court of Judicial Review. He soon went out to recruit volunteer troops throughout the empire and then returned to court. When the eunuch Jin Ying was imprisoned, the judicial offices impeached Shi Pu for bribing him; Pu was imprisoned and sentenced to death but was specially pardoned. He was sent out to administer military provisions at Datong. When the enemy raided Maying, he was ordered to supervise military affairs at Xuanfu. By the time he arrived the enemy had already withdrawn, and he returned to handle ministry affairs. He was promoted to Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and granted double salary.
21
河決沙灣，命治之。 璞以決口未易塞，別浚渠。 自黑洋山至徐州，以通漕艘，而決口如故。 乃命內官黎賢等偕御史彭誼助之。 于沙灣築石堤以禦決河，開月河二，引水益運河以殺水勢，決乃塞。 璞還言：「京師盜賊多出軍伍。 間有獲者，輒雲『糧餉虧減，妻孥饑凍故』。 又聞兩畿、山東、河南被災窮民多事剽掠，不及今拊循，恐方來之憂甚于邊患。 口外守軍，夜行晝伏，艱苦萬狀。 今邊疆未靖，宜增餉以作士氣，乃反減其月糧，此實啟盜誤國之端，非節財足用之術。」 帝深納其言。 沙灣復決，璞再往治之。 以母憂歸，起復。
When the Yellow River burst its banks at Shawan, he was ordered to remedy the flood. Shi Pu judged the breach difficult to seal and instead dug a separate channel. From Heiyang Mountain to Xuzhou he opened a channel for grain transport, while the breach remained unsealed. The court then ordered the eunuch Li Xian and others, together with Censor Peng Yi, to assist him. At Shawan they built stone dikes against the broken river, opened two crescent canals, and diverted water into the Grand Canal to reduce the flood force until the breach was sealed. On his return Shi Pu reported: "Most thieves in the capital come from the military ranks. When some were captured, they would say, 'Our provisions were cut and our wives and children were starving and freezing.' He also heard that in the capital regions, Shandong, and Henan, many disaster-stricken poor had turned to plunder; unless comforted now, he feared domestic troubles would exceed border threats. Garrison troops beyond the passes traveled by night and hid by day in hardships beyond description. With the frontier still unsettled, rations ought to be increased to raise morale, yet monthly grain was reduced—this truly invites banditry and harms the state; it is no way to economize effectively. The emperor deeply accepted his advice. When Shawan burst again, Shi Pu went again to remedy it. He returned home to mourn his mother and was recalled from mourning to resume office.
22
王巹，郿人。 永樂中鄉薦，曆山東左布政使，所至有惠政。 正統六年入為工部侍郎，代吳中為尚書。 歸家十五年卒。
Wang Ji came from Mei. During Yongle he passed the provincial examination and served as Left Administrative Commissioner of Shandong, earning a reputation for benevolent governance wherever he served. In the sixth year of Zhengtong he entered the capital as Vice Minister of Works and replaced Wu Zhong as Minister. He returned home and died fifteen years later.
23
羅通，字學古，吉水人。 永樂十年進士。 授御史，巡按四川。 都指揮郭贇與清軍御史汪琳中交通為奸利，通劾奏，逮治之。 三殿災，偕同官何忠等極陳時政闕失。 忤旨，出為交阯清化知州。
Luo Tong, whose style name was Xuegu, came from Jishui. He received his jinshi degree in the tenth year of Yongle. He was appointed investigating censor and toured Sichuan. Regional Commander Guo Yun and troop-clearing Censor Wang Linzhong engaged in corrupt dealings; Luo Tong impeached them and had them arrested and tried. When the three main palace halls burned, he joined colleagues such as He Zhong in strongly criticizing current policy failures. He offended the emperor and was posted as prefect of Qinghua in Jiaozhi.
24
正統初，遷兵部郎中，從尚書王驥整飭甘肅邊務。 從破敵于兀魯乃還，以貪淫事為驥所覺。 驥遣通奏邊情，即疏通罪。 下獄，謫廣西容山閘官。 已，調東莞河泊所官。 九年，都督僉事曹儉薦其有文武才，乞收用。 吏部執不可。
Early in Zhengtong he was transferred to director in the Ministry of War and followed Minister Wang Ji in reorganizing the Gansu frontier. After returning from defeating the enemy at Wulunai, his greed and licentious conduct were discovered by Wang Ji. Wang Ji sent Luo Tong to memorialize on frontier conditions and at once exposed Tong's own crimes. He was imprisoned and demoted to gate officer at Rongshan in Guangxi. He was later transferred to officer of the Dongguan River Depot. In the ninth year Regional Commander Cao Jian recommended him for civil and military talent and asked that he be employed. The Ministry of Personnel refused.
25
景泰元年召還。 時楊洪督京營，命通參軍務兼理院事。 言：「諸邊報警，率由守將畏徵調，飾詐以惑朝廷，遇賊數十輒稱殺敗數千。 向者德勝等門外不知斬馘幾何，而獲官者至六萬六千餘人。 輦下且然，何況塞外。 且韓信起自行伍，穰苴拔於寒微，宜博搜將士中如信、苴者，與議軍事。 若今腰玉珥貂，皆苟全性命保爵祿之人，憎賢忌才，能言而不能行，未足與議也。」 意蓋詆謙與石亨輩。 謙疏辨，言：「概責邊報不實，果有警，不奏必致誤事。 德勝門外官軍升級，惟武清侯石亨功次冊當先者萬九千八百餘人，及陣亡三千餘人而已，安所得六萬之多？ 通以為濫，宜將臣及亨等升爵削奪。 有如韓信、穰苴者，乞即命指薦，並罷臣營務，俾專治部事。」 疏下廷議。 廷臣共言謙及石亨、楊洪實堪其任； 又謂通志在滅賊，無他。 帝兩解之。 尋敕謙錄功，不得如從前冒濫，蓋因通言而發也。 給事中覃浩等言通本以知兵用，不宜理院事，乃解其兼職。
In the first year of Jingtai he was recalled to court. At the time Yang Hong supervised the capital army; Luo Tong was ordered to assist in military affairs and concurrently handle court business. He said: "Frontier alarms mostly arise because garrison commanders fear mobilization, embellish reports to deceive the court, and claim to have killed thousands when they meet only dozens of enemies. Previously outside Desheng Gate, no one knew how many enemy heads were taken, yet more than 66,000 men received promotions. If this is so even at the capital, how much more so beyond the frontier passes. Moreover, Han Xin rose from the ranks and Rang Ju was chosen from humble origins; the court ought to search broadly among officers and soldiers for men like them and consult them on military affairs. As for those today who wear jade belts and ermine hats, they seek only to preserve their lives and salaries, hate the worthy and envy talent, and can speak but not act—they are unfit for consultation. His meaning was clearly aimed at Yu Qian and men such as Shi Heng. Yu Qian memorialized in defense: "To blame frontier reports generally as false—if a real alarm goes unreported, disaster will certainly follow. Outside Desheng Gate, among those promoted, only 19,800-odd men ranked after Marquis Shi Heng of Wuqing on the merit register and the more than 3,000 killed in battle—whence 60,000? Luo Tong regarded this as excessive and said generals and Heng and the others ought to have promotions and enfeoffments reduced or revoked. If there are men like Han Xin and Rang Ju, I beg they be named and recommended at once, and that my camp duties end so I may devote myself to ministry affairs. The memorial was sent down for court deliberation. Court officials jointly said Yu Qian, Shi Heng, and Yang Hong were truly equal to their tasks; they also said Luo Tong's aim was to destroy the enemy and that he had no other motive. The emperor reconciled both sides. Soon he ordered Yu Qian to record merit without the former excessive inflation—issued because of Luo Tong's words. Supervising Secretaries Tan Hao and others said Luo Tong had been employed for military knowledge and should not handle court affairs; his concurrent post was removed.
26
塞上軍民多為寇所掠。 通請榜諸邊能自歸者，軍免戍守三年，民復徭役終身。 又請懸封爵重賞，募能擒斬也先、伯顏帖木兒、喜甯者。 已，又言：「古之將帥務搜拔眾才，如知山川形勢者可使導軍，能騰高越險者可使覘敵，能風角鳥占者可使備變。 今軍中未見其人，乞敕廷臣各舉所知，命總兵官楊洪、副將孫鏜同臣考驗。」 詔皆行之。
On the frontier many soldiers and civilians were plundered by raiders. Luo Tong asked that proclamations be posted on all frontiers offering that those who surrendered voluntarily would have soldiers exempted from garrison duty for three years and civilians restored to corvée for life. He also asked that sealed noble ranks and heavy rewards be offered to anyone who could capture and kill Esen, Bayan Temur, and Xining. He also said: "Ancient generals sought out many talents—those who knew terrain could guide armies, those who could climb and cross hazards could spy on the enemy, and those who read winds and birds could prepare for changes. Today such men are not found in the army; I beg that court officials recommend those they know and that Regional Commander Yang Hong and Deputy Commander Sun Yong examine them with me. An edict ordered all these measures carried out.
27
宣府有警，總兵官硃謙告急。 廷推都督同知范廣帥兵往，以通提督軍務。 寇退，駐師懷來、宣府，以邊儲不敷，召還。 六月，于謙以山西近寇，請遣大臣往鎮，楊洪亦乞遣重臣從雁門關護餉大同。 帝以命通。 通不欲行，請得與謙、洪俱。 謙言國家多難，非臣子辭勞之日，奏乞躬往。 帝不允，卒命通。 通本謙所舉，而每事牴牾，人由是不直通。
When Xuanfu reported an alarm, Regional Commander Zhu Qian sent an urgent report. The court recommended Vice Commissioner Fan Guang to lead troops there, with Luo Tong supervising military affairs. After the raiders withdrew, the army remained at Huailai and Xuanfu; because frontier stores were insufficient, they were recalled. In the sixth month Yu Qian, because Shanxi lay near the enemy, asked that a senior minister be sent to garrison it; Yang Hong also asked that a senior minister escort provisions to Datong through Yanmen Pass. The emperor ordered Luo Tong to go. Luo Tong did not wish to go and asked to accompany Yu Qian and Yang Hong. Yu Qian said the state faced many hardships and this was no time for subjects to shirk duty; he memorialized asking to go in person. The emperor refused and ultimately ordered Luo Tong to go. Luo Tong had originally been recommended by Yu Qian, yet opposed him on every matter; people therefore disapproved of Luo Tong.
28
二年召還，仍贊軍務。 東宮改建，加太子少保。 上言：「貢使攜馬四萬餘匹，宜量增價酬之。 價增則後來益眾，此亦強中國弱外裔之一策。」 帝以所貢馬率不堪用，若增價正墮賊計，寢通奏。 四年進右都御史，贊軍務如故。
In the second year he was recalled and again assisted in military affairs. When the heir apparent establishment was rebuilt, he was promoted to Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. He memorialized: "Tribute envoys are bringing more than 40,000 horses; their purchase price ought to be raised. Raising the price would bring more later—this too is a way to strengthen China and weaken outer tribes. The emperor said the tribute horses were mostly unusable; raising the price would play into the enemy scheme, and Luo Tong's memorial was shelved. In the fourth year he was promoted to Right Censor-in-Chief while continuing to assist in military affairs.
29
通好大言，遇人輒談兵。 自陳殺賊功，求世襲武職，為給事中王竑所劾。 帝釋不罪。 天順初，自陳預謀迎駕，恐為石亨等所掩，乃授其二子所鎮撫。 三年致仕。 成化六年卒。 賜祭葬如例。
Luo Tong loved grand talk and discussed military affairs whenever he met anyone. He claimed credit for killing bandits and requested a hereditary military post; Supervising Secretary Wang Hong impeached him. The emperor pardoned him without punishment. At the beginning of Tianshun he claimed he had plotted to welcome the emperor back and feared being overshadowed by Shi Heng and others; his two sons were therefore granted hereditary posts as garrison commanders. In the third year he retired. He died in the sixth year of Chenghua. Imperial sacrifices and burial were granted according to precedent.
30
羅綺，磁州人。 宣德五年進士。 英宗即位，授御史，按直隸、福建，有能名。
Luo Qi came from Cizhou. He received his jinshi degree in the fifth year of Xuande. When Emperor Yingzong took the throne, he was appointed censor and toured Zhili and Fujian, earning a reputation for ability.
31
正統九年參贊寧夏軍務。 逾年當代，軍民詣鎮守都御史陳鎰乞留。 以聞，命復任。 尋擢大理右寺丞，參贊如故。 常以事劾指揮任信、陳斌。 二人皆王振黨。 十一年四月，信、斌訐綺不法事，下總兵官黃真覆核。 真謂綺常詈宦官為「老奴」，以激怒振。 召還京。 法司擬贖，振改令錦衣衛再鞫。 指揮同知馬順鍛煉成獄，謫戍遼東。 景帝立，綺訴冤，不聽。 尋用尚書于謙、金濂薦，召復故官，進右少卿，副李實使瓦剌。
In the ninth year of Zhengtong he assisted in Ningxia military affairs. After a year his term was due to end, but soldiers and civilians petitioned Garrisoning Censor-in-Chief Chen Yi to retain him. The court was informed and ordered him to continue in office. He was soon promoted to Right Assistant Minister of the Court of Judicial Review while continuing his assistant duties. He often impeached Commanders Ren Xin and Chen Bin on various matters. Both were partisans of Wang Zhen. In the fourth month of the eleventh year, Ren Xin and Chen Bin denounced Luo Qi for misconduct; Regional Commander Huang Zhen was ordered to review the case. Huang Zhen reported that Luo Qi often cursed eunuchs as old slaves, angering Wang Zhen. Luo Qi was recalled to the capital. The judicial offices proposed ransom, but Wang Zhen ordered the Embroidered-Uniform Guard to interrogate again. Commander Ma Shun fabricated the case into a conviction, and Luo Qi was banished to garrison the northeast. When Emperor Jingdi took the throne, Luo Qi appealed his injustice, but the appeal was denied. Soon, on the recommendation of Ministers Yu Qian and Jin Lian, he was recalled, promoted to Right Vice Minister, and served as deputy to Li Shi on a mission to the Oirats.
32
上皇還，以勞擢刑部左侍郎。 明年二月，出督雲南、四川軍儲。 已，代寇深鎮守松潘。 賊首卓勞糾他寨阿兒結等頻為寇，綺擒斬之。 土官王永、高茂林、董敏相仇殺，守將不能制。 綺搗永巢誅之。 又敗黑虎諸塞番，斬馘三百五十。 在鎮七年，威名甚震。
When the former emperor returned, Luo Qi was promoted to Left Vice Minister of Justice for his service. In the second month of the following year he went out to supervise military provisions in Yunnan and Sichuan. He later replaced Kou Shen as garrison commander of Songpan. Bandit chieftain Zhuolao joined other stockades such as Aerjie in frequent raids; Luo Qi captured and executed him. Native officials Wang Yong, Gao Maolin, and Dong Min were locked in mutual killing, which garrison commanders could not control. Luo Qi destroyed Wang Yong stronghold and executed him. He also defeated the Black Tiger stockades and other tribes, taking 350 heads. After seven years in the garrison, his prestige was greatly feared.
33
天順初，召為左副都御史，以功賜二品祿。 御史張鵬、楊瑄劾石亨。 亨謂綺與右都御史耿九疇使之，並下獄，降廣東參政。 綺鞅鞅未赴。 明年閏二月，綺鄉人告磁州同知龍約自京還，與綺言天子仍寵宦官，刻香木為王振形以葬。 綺微笑云：「朝廷失政，致吾輩降黜。」 奏上，捕綺下吏，坐死。 籍其家，陳所籍財賄于文華門示百官。 家屬戍邊，婦女沒入浣衣局。 憲宗立，赦為民，還其資產。
At the beginning of Tianshun he was summoned as Left Vice Censor-in-Chief and granted second-rank salary for merit. Censors Zhang Peng and Yang Xuan impeached Shi Heng. Shi Heng said Luo Qi and Right Censor-in-Chief Geng Jiuxiu had incited them; both were imprisoned and demoted to Administrative Vice Commissioner of Guangdong. Luo Qi was discontented and did not take up his post. In the intercalary second month of the following year, a townsman reported that Cizhou Subprefect Long Yue, returning from the capital, had told Luo Qi that the emperor still favored eunuchs and had carved fragrant wood in Wang Zhen likeness for burial. Luo Qi smiled and said: The court has lost proper governance, causing men like us to be demoted. When the report reached the throne, Luo Qi was arrested and executed. His household was confiscated, and the seized wealth was displayed at Wenhua Gate for officials. His family was banished to the frontier, and the women were sent to the laundry bureau. When Emperor Xianzong took the throne, he was pardoned, restored to commoner status, and his assets returned.
34
時與綺先後鎮四川者，張固，字公正，新喻人。 宣德八年進士。 正統初，授刑科給事中。 改吏科，奉命撫裕州流民。 景泰改元，給事中李實請於四川行都司設鎮守大臣，乃遷固大理右少卿，鎮建昌。 有政績。 三年還理寺事。 山東盜起，奉命督捕。 適霖潦災，流人載道，固盡心振釁，盜賊弭散。 還，卒於官。 固在諫職敢言，大臣多被彈劾，又劾都御史陳鎰等舉屬官出身掾吏者為知府。 自是掾吏不得曆知府，著為例。 英宗將北征，偕同官疏諫。 復辟，追念之，已卒。 遣使諭祭，官其一子。 子黼，仕至廣西按察使。
One who had earlier garrisoned Sichuan around the same time as Luo Qi was Zhang Gu, whose style name was Gongzheng, from Xinyu. He received his jinshi degree in the eighth year of Xuande. Early in Zhengtong he was appointed supervising secretary in the Penal Section. He was transferred to the Personnel Section and ordered to pacify displaced people in Yuzhou. When the reign title changed to Jingtai, Supervising Secretary Li Shi asked for a garrisoning senior minister at the Sichuan regional command; Zhang Gu was transferred to Right Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and garrisoned Jianchang. He achieved notable governance. In the third year he returned to handle court affairs. When bandits rose in Shandong, he was ordered to supervise their suppression. Continuous rain and flooding brought disaster, and refugees filled the roads; Zhang Gu devoted himself to relief, and the bandits dispersed. On his return he died in office. In remonstrance office he spoke boldly; he impeached many senior ministers and also impeached Censor-in-Chief Chen Yi for appointing former clerks as prefects. Thereafter clerks could not become prefects, and this was fixed as precedent. When Emperor Yingzong was about to campaign north, he joined colleagues in memorializing in protest. After the restoration the emperor recalled him with favor, but he had already died. An envoy was sent to offer sacrifices, and one son was given an official post. His son You rose to Surveillance Commissioner of Guangxi.
35
張瑄，字廷璽，江浦人。 正統七年進士。 授刑部主事，曆郎中，有能聲。
Zhang Xuan, whose style name was Tingxi, came from Jiangpu. He received his jinshi degree in the seventh year of Zhengtong. He was appointed a director in the Ministry of Justice and rose through the ranks with a reputation for ability.
36
景泰時，賜敕為吉安知府。 俗尚巫，迎神無休日。 瑄遇諸途，設神水中。 俄遘危疾，父老皆言神為祟，請復之。 瑄怒，不許，疾亦愈。 歲大饑，陳牒上官，不俟報，輒發廩振貸。
During Jingtai he was granted an imperial commission as prefect of Jian. Local custom favored shamans, and spirit-welcoming rites never ceased. When Zhang Xuan met them on the road, he set out a bowl of spirit-water. Soon he fell gravely ill; elders said the god was afflicting him and begged that the rites be restored. Zhang Xuan refused angrily, and his illness also recovered. During a great famine he reported to superiors and, without awaiting approval, opened granaries for relief grain and loans.
37
居八年，用薦擢廣東右布政使。 廣西賊莫文章等越境陷連山，瑄擊斬之。 又破陽山賊周公轉、新興賊鄧李保等。 既而大藤峽賊頻陷屬邑，瑄坐停俸。 成化初，韓雍平賊，錄瑄轉餉勞，賜銀幣，給俸如初。 瑄按行所部，督建預備倉六十二，修陂塘圩岸四千六百，增築廣州新會諸城垣一十二。 民德瑄，惟恐其去。 既轉左布政使，會滿九載，當赴京，軍民相率乞留。 巡撫陳濂等為之請，乃仍故任。
After eight years, on recommendation he was promoted to Right Administrative Commissioner of Guangdong. Guangxi bandit Mo Wenzhang and others crossed the border and seized Lianshan; Zhang Xuan attacked and beheaded them. He also defeated Yangshan bandit Zhou Gongzhuan and Xinxing bandit Deng Libao and others. Later Dateng Gorge bandits frequently seized subordinate districts, and Zhang Xuan had his salary suspended. At the beginning of Chenghua Han Yong pacified the bandits; Zhang Xuan merit in transporting provisions was recorded, and he received silver, silk, and restored salary. Zhang Xuan toured his jurisdiction, supervised construction of sixty-two reserve granaries, repaired 4,600 embankments and dikes, and strengthened twelve city walls in Guangzhou, Xinhui, and elsewhere. The people were grateful to Zhang Xuan and feared only that he would leave. After promotion to Left Administrative Commissioner, when his nine-year term ended and he was to go to the capital, soldiers and civilians begged him to stay. Grand Coordinator Chen Lian and others memorialized on their behalf, and he remained in his former post.
38
八年始以右副都御史巡撫福建。 平賊林壽六、魏懷三等。 福安、壽甯諸縣鄰江、浙，賊首葉旺、葉春等負險。 瑄捕誅之，餘盡解散。 帝降敕勞之，改撫河南。 議事入都，陳撫流民、振滯才十八事，所司多議行。 黃河水溢，瑄請振，且移王府祿米於他所，留應輸榆林餉濟荒，石取直八錢輸榆林，民稱便。
Only in the eighth year was he appointed Right Vice Censor-in-Chief to tour and pacify Fujian. He pacified bandits Lin Shouliu, Wei Huaisan, and others. The counties of Fuan and Shouning bordered Jiangsu and Zhejiang; bandit chiefs Ye Wang, Ye Chun, and others held difficult terrain. Zhang Xuan captured and executed them, and the rest dispersed. The emperor issued a commendation and transferred him to serve as grand coordinator of Henan. Entering the capital to discuss policy, he presented eighteen proposals on resettling refugees and reviving neglected talent; most were adopted. When the Yellow River flooded, Zhang Xuan requested relief, proposed relocating princely grain stores, and used commuted grain funds to relieve famine and supply Yulin at eight qian per shi, which the people welcomed.
39
還理院事。 尋遷南京刑部侍郎。 久之，進尚書。 二十年，星變，被劾，帝弗問。 居三年，給事御史復劾之，遂落職。 孝宗立，復官，致仕。 張鵬，字騰霄，淶水人。 景泰二年進士。 授御史。 上疏言：「懷利事君，人臣所戒。 比每遇聖節，或進羊馬錦綺，交錯殿廷。 自非貪賄，安有餘財充進奉？ 且陛下富有四海，豈借是足國哉？ 宜一切停罷，塞諂諛奔競之途。」 疏凡四事，帝頗採用。 出按大同、宣府，奏：「兩鎮軍士敝衣菲食，病無藥，死無棺。 乞官給醫藥、棺槥，設義塚，俾饗曆祭。 死者蒙恩，則生者勸。」 帝立報可，且命諸邊概行之。 奏停淮、揚征賦，給牛種。
He returned to handle court affairs. He was soon transferred to Vice Minister of Justice at Nanjing. After some time he was promoted to minister. In the twentieth year, after a celestial anomaly, he was impeached, but the emperor took no action. After three years, remonstrating officials impeached him again, and he was dismissed. When Emperor Xiaozong took the throne, his office was restored and he retired. Zhang Peng, whose style name was Tengxiao, came from Laishui. He received his jinshi degree in the second year of Jingtai. He was appointed a censor. He memorialized: "Serving the ruler for profit is what subjects must guard against. Recently at every imperial festival, sheep, horses, brocades, and silks are presented until the hall is crowded. Unless they were taking bribes, how could they have surplus wealth for tribute? Moreover, Your Majesty possesses the wealth of the four seas—how could such gifts enrich the state? All such presentations ought to cease, blocking the path of flattery and frantic competition. The memorial contained four proposals, several of which the emperor adopted. Touring Datong and Xuanfu, he memorialized: "Soldiers of the two garrisons wear rags and eat poorly; when ill they lack medicine, and when dead they lack coffins. I beg that the government supply medicine and coffins, establish charitable burial grounds, and enable seasonal sacrifices. If the dead receive grace, the living will be encouraged. The emperor approved at once and ordered all frontiers to follow suit. He memorialized to halt tax levies in Huai and Yang and to provide oxen and seed.
40
成化四年，以右僉都御史巡撫廣西，剿蠻寇有功。 其冬罷巡撫官，命還理南京都察院事。 改督漕運，兼撫淮、揚四府。 尋解漕務，專理巡撫事。 復還南院，進副都御史，巡撫寧夏。 召還，曆兵部左、右侍郎。
In the fourth year of Chenghua, as Right Vice Censor-in-Chief he pacified Guangxi and achieved merit suppressing southern bandits. That winter touring pacification posts were abolished, and he returned to handle affairs at the Nanjing Censorate. He was transferred to supervise grain transport and concurrently pacify Huai and Yang. Soon he was relieved of transport duties and devoted himself solely to pacification. He returned to the southern court, was promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief, and pacified Ningxia. He was recalled and served as Left and Right Vice Minister of War.
41
十八年代陳鉞為兵部尚書。 守珠池宦官韋助乞往來高、肇、瓊、廉，會守巡官捕寇。 鵬執不可，帝竟許之。 南北印馬，率遣勳臣、內侍，後以災傷止遣御史。 是年，帝復欲遣內侍，鵬等執不可。 帝勉從之，命俟後仍如故事。 鎮守大同中官汪直言小王子將大舉，請發京兵援。 鵬等言：「大同士馬四萬已足用，所請宜勿許。 且京軍困營造，精力銷沮，猝有急，何以作威厲氣，請悉停其役。」 詔可。 尋加太子少保。
In the eighteenth year he replaced Chen Yue as Minister of War. Eunuch Wei Zhu, keeper of the pearl pool, asked to travel through Gao, Zhao, Qiong, and Lian to join officials in capturing bandits. Zhang Peng insisted this could not be done, but the emperor permitted it anyway. For north-south horse branding, meritorious officials and eunuchs were usually sent; later only censors were sent because of disasters. That year the emperor again wished to send eunuchs; Zhang Peng and others objected. The emperor reluctantly agreed but ordered that the old practice resume later. Datong garrison eunuch Wang Zhi said the Little Prince was about to attack in force and begged for capital reinforcements. Zhang Peng and others said: "Datong already has 40,000 troops, which are sufficient; the request should be denied. Moreover, capital troops are exhausted by construction; if emergency strikes, how can they fight? I beg that such labor cease entirely. An edict approved. He was soon promoted to Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent.
42
鵬初為御史，剛直尚氣節，有盛名。 後揚曆中外，惟事安靜。 群小竊柄，閣臣萬安、劉吉輩專營私，鵬循職而已，不能有所匡救。 二十一年，星變，鵬偕僚屬言：「傳奉武職至八百餘人，乞悉令閑住，非軍功毋濫授。 四方鎮守、監槍、守備內官，非正統間原設者，悉宜召還。」 廷臣亦交以請，下兵部復核。 鵬畏中官，不敢堅其議，帝遂盡留之。 時論皆咎鵬。 奸民章瑾獻珍寶，得為錦衣鎮撫。 理刑缺，鵬所上不允。 知帝意屬瑾，即推用焉。 台諫劾大臣不職者多及鵬，鵬力求去，遂賜敕給驛以歸。 弘治四年卒。 諡懿簡。
When Zhang Peng first served as censor he was upright and principled, enjoying a great reputation. Later, rising through central and provincial posts, he sought only quiet in affairs. Petty men usurped power while Grand Secretaries Wan An and Liu Ji pursued private gain; Zhang Peng merely performed his duties and could not correct them. In the twenty-first year, after a celestial anomaly, Zhang Peng joined colleagues in saying: "Honorary military posts now exceed 800; I beg all be idled and none granted without military merit. Regional garrison eunuchs, firearm supervisors, and guard-post eunuchs not originally established in Zhengtong ought all be recalled. Court officials also jointly requested this; the matter went to the Ministry of War for review. Zhang Peng feared the eunuchs and did not insist; the emperor kept them all. Public opinion blamed Zhang Peng. The villain Zhang Jin presented treasures and was made an Embroidered-Uniform Guard commander. A judicial review post was vacant; Zhang Peng's recommendation was denied. Knowing the emperor favored Jin, he recommended him at once. Censors impeaching incompetent ministers often included Zhang Peng; he sought to leave office and was granted an edict, relay horses, and return home. He died in the fourth year of Hongzhi. He was given the posthumous title Yijian.
43
李裕，字資德，豐城人。 景泰五年進士。 授御史。 天順中，巡按陝西，上安邊八事。 石彪濫報首功，詔裕核實。 彪從父亨以書抵裕，裕焚之，以實聞。 亨亦旋敗。 由是有強直聲。 都御史寇深遇僚屬嚴，惟裕不為屈。
Li Yu, whose style name was Zide, came from Fengcheng. He received his jinshi degree in the fifth year of Jingtai. He was appointed a censor. During Tianshun he toured Shaanxi and presented eight proposals for securing the frontier. Shi Biao falsely reported merit; an edict ordered Li Yu to verify the facts. Shi Biao's uncle by marriage Shi Heng sent Li Yu a letter; Yu burned it and reported the truth. Shi Heng soon fell as well. From this he gained a reputation for stern integrity. Censor-in-Chief Kou Shen was severe toward colleagues, but only Li Yu did not yield.
44
以才擢山東按察使。 重囚二百餘人，或經十餘年未判，裕旬月間決遣殆盡。 大峴山賊寨七十餘，裕捕戮其魁，縱脅從，除其逋負，亂遂平。
For his talent he was promoted to Surveillance Commissioner of Shandong. More than 200 serious prisoners, some untried for over ten years, were all decided within a month. On Mount Daxian more than seventy bandit stockades were pacified when Yu executed the chiefs, released followers, and remitted tax arrears.
45
成化初，遷陝西左布政使，入為順天府尹。 政聲大著。 進右副都御史，總督漕運兼巡撫江北諸府。 浚白塔、孟瀆二河以便漕。 張秋南旺及淮安西湖舊編木捍沖激，勞費無已。 裕與郎中楊恭等謀，易以石，遂為永利。 淮、鳳方饑，而太僕征預備馬二萬匹。 裕論罷之。 在淮六歲，每歲入計事，陳利病，多施行。 父憂歸，服除，留佐院事。
Early in Chenghua he became Left Administrative Commissioner of Shaanxi, then entered the capital as prefect of Shuntian. His reputation for governance was greatly renowned. He was promoted to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, supervising grain transport and pacifying northern Jiangsu. He dredged the Baita and Mengdu Rivers to facilitate grain transport. At Zhangqiu, Nanwang, and Huai'an West Lake, timber works constantly rebuilt against rushing water cost endless labor. Li Yu and Director Yang Gong replaced them with stone, securing lasting benefit. While Huai and Feng suffered famine, the Court of Imperial Studs levied 20,000 reserve horses. Li Yu argued successfully to stop the levy. For six years at Huai he reported annually on benefits and harms, and many measures were implemented. He mourned his father; after mourning he remained to assist in court affairs.
46
十九年代戴縉為右都御史。 縉附汪直，嘗請復立西廠者也，在台綱紀不立。 裕欲振之。 御史有過，或遭箠撻，由是得謗。 汪直敗，偕副都御史屠滽請雪諸忤直得罪者。 帝不悅，奪俸。 又坐累，調南京都察院。 考績赴都，留為工部尚書。
In the nineteenth year he replaced Dai Jin as Right Censor-in-Chief. Dai Jin had attached himself to Wang Zhi and once requested reestablishment of the Western Depot; censorate discipline collapsed. Li Yu wished to restore discipline. When censors erred he sometimes had them beaten; for this he was slandered. When Wang Zhi fell, he joined Vice Censor-in-Chief Tu Fu in requesting rehabilitation for those punished for opposing Zhi. The emperor was displeased and deducted his salary. He was penalized again and transferred to the Nanjing Censorate. During his performance review in the capital, he was retained as Minister of Works.
47
初，吏部尚書尹旻罷，耿裕代之。 以持正不為萬安所喜。 而李孜省方貴幸用事，欲引鄉人，乃協謀去耿裕，以裕代之。 裕本廉介負時望，以孜省故，名頗損。 其銓敘亦平。 故事，考察目有四：曰老疾，曰罷軟，曰貪酷，曰不謹。 裕言：「人材質不同。 偏執類酷，遲鈍類軟。 乞立『才力不及』一途，以寓愛惜人才之意。」 帝善之，遂著為令。 考宗立，言官交章劾裕進由孜省。 裕不平，為《辨誣錄》，連疏乞休去。 正德中卒，年八十八。
When Minister of Personnel Yin Min retired, Geng Yu replaced him. Because he was upright he was not favored by Wan An. Li Zisheng was then in favor and wished to bring in a townsman; they removed Geng Yu and replaced him with Li Yu. Li Yu had been incorrupt and esteemed, but his reputation suffered because of Zisheng. His appointments were nevertheless fair. By precedent, performance review had four categories: aged and ill, weak and incompetent, greedy and harsh, and careless. Li Yu said: "Human talent differs in quality. Obstinacy resembles harshness, and slowness resembles weakness. I beg that a category of insufficient talent and strength be established, to embody cherishing talent. The emperor approved, and it was fixed as an ordinance. When Emperor Xiaozong took the throne, remonstrators repeatedly impeached Li Yu for advancement through Zisheng. Resentful, Li Yu compiled A Record to Refute Slander and repeatedly begged to retire. He died in the Zhengde reign at the age of eighty-eight.
48
贊曰：王彰等或以性行未純，為時訾議。 綜其生平，瑕瑜互見。 然揚曆中外，勞績多有可紀。 《書》稱「與人不求備」，《春秋》之義「善善長」，則諸人固不失為國家幹濟材歟。
The appraiser says: Wang Zhang and the others, some because their conduct was not wholly pure, drew contemporary criticism. Considering their lives as a whole, flaws and merits appear side by side. Yet as they rose through central and provincial service, their labors and achievements were often worth recording. As the Book of Documents says, "Do not demand perfection in others," and the Spring and Autumn Annals principle is to "encourage goodness and let it grow"—these men surely remained useful servants of the state.