1
曹鼐 〈(張益鄺埜)〉 王佐 〈(丁鉉等)〉 孫祥 〈(謝澤)〉 袁彬 〈(哈銘袁敏)〉
Cao Nai (Zhang Yi; Kuang Ye)〉 Wang Zuo (Ding Xian and others)〉 Sun Xiang (Xie Ze)〉 Yuan Bin (Ha Ming; Yuan Min)〉
2
曹鼐,字萬鐘,寧晉人。 少伉爽有大誌,事繼母以孝聞。 宣德初,由鄉舉授代州訓導,願授別職,改泰和縣典史。 七年督工匠至京師,疏乞入試,復中順天鄉試。 明年舉進士一甲第一,賜宴禮部。 進士宴禮部,自鼐始。 入翰林,為修撰。
Cao Nai, styled Wanchong, came from Ningjin. As a young man he was upright and ambitious, and won renown for the filial way he treated his stepmother. Early in the Xuande reign he entered office as Instructor at Daizhou by provincial nomination; preferring another appointment, he was moved to Registrar of Taihe County. In the seventh year, while overseeing artisans at the capital, he memorialized to take the examinations and again passed the Shuntian provincial test. The following year he ranked first in the top tier of the metropolitan examination and was given a feast at the Ministry of Rites. The Ministry of Rites banquet for new jinshi began with Nai. He entered the Hanlin Academy as a Compiler.
3
正統元年,充經筵講官。 《宣宗實錄》成,進侍講,錫三品章服。 五年,以楊榮、楊士奇薦,入直文淵閣,參預機務。 鼐為人內剛外和,通達政體。 榮既歿,士奇常病不視事,閣務多決於鼐。 帝以為賢,進翰林學士。 十年進吏部左侍郎兼學士。
In the first year of Zhengtong he served as lecturer at the imperial lecture series. When the Veritable Records of the Xuande Emperor were finished, he was promoted to Reader-in-Waiting and granted third-rank ceremonial dress. In the fifth year, on the recommendation of Yang Rong and Yang Shiqi, he took up permanent duty in the Wenyuan Pavilion and joined in deliberating on state affairs. Nai was firm inwardly and mild outwardly, and thoroughly understood how government should work. After Rong died, Shiqi was often ill and did not handle business, and most Grand Secretariat decisions fell to Nai. The Emperor considered him capable and promoted him to Hanlin Academician. In the tenth year he was promoted to Left Vice Minister of Personnel while retaining his academicianship.
4
十四年七月,也先入寇,中官王振挾帝親征。 朝臣交章諫,不聽。 鼐與張益以閣臣扈從。 未至大同,士卒已乏糧。 宋瑛、朱冕全軍沒。 諸臣請班師,振不許,趣諸軍進。 大將朱勇膝行聽命,尚書鄺埜、王佐跪草中,至暮不得請。 欽天監正彭德清言天象示警,若前,恐危乘輿。 振詈曰:「爾何知! 若有此,亦天命也。」 鼐曰:「臣子固不足惜,主上系天下安危,豈可輕進?」 振終不從。 前驅敗報踵至,始懼,欲還。 定襄侯郭登言於鼐、益曰:「自此趨紫荊,裁四十餘里,駕宜從紫荊入。」 振欲邀帝至蔚州幸其第,不聽,復折而東,趨居庸。
In the seventh month of the fourteenth year, Esen of the Oirats invaded; the eunuch Wang Zhen pressed the Emperor to take the field in person. Officials of the court submitted memorial after memorial in protest, but he would not heed them. Nai and Zhang Yi accompanied the campaign as Grand Secretariat ministers. Before they reached Datong, the soldiers were already without adequate grain. Song Ying and Zhu Mian were destroyed with their whole forces. The ministers asked to withdraw the army; Zhen refused and pressed the troops to advance. The commander Zhu Yong advanced on his knees to receive orders; the Ministers Kuang Ye and Wang Zuo knelt in the grass, yet until evening could not secure a hearing. The Director of the Astronomy Bureau Peng Deqing said the heavens showed warnings: if they proceeded as before, the imperial carriage might be imperiled. Zhen cursed him, saying: "What do you know! If that should come to pass, it is likewise Heaven's mandate. Nai said: "We subjects are not worth sparing, but Your Majesty holds the safety of the realm in your hands—how can you advance so lightly?" Zhen in the end would not agree. Reports of defeat from the advance guard arrived in succession; he at last grew afraid and wished to turn back. Guo Deng, Marquis of Dingxiang, said to Nai and Yi: "From here it is only a little over forty li to Zijing—the imperial carriage ought to enter by Zijing. Zhen wished to bring the Emperor to Yu Prefecture to visit his own house; the Emperor did not listen, and they turned east again toward Juyong.
5
八月辛酉次土木。 地高,掘地二丈不及水。 瓦剌大至,據南河。 明日佯卻,且遣使通和。 帝召鼐草詔答之。 振遽令移營就水,行亂。 寇騎蹂陣入,帝突圍不得出,擁以去。 鼐、益等俱及於難。 景帝立,贈鼐少傅、吏部尚書、文淵閣大學士,謚文襄,官其子恩大理評事。 英宗復位,加贈太傅,改謚文忠,復官其孫榮錦衣百戶。 鼐弟鼎進士,歷吏科都給事中。
On the xinyou day of the eighth month they encamped at Tumu. The ground was high; they dug two zhang deep but still did not reach water. The Oirats arrived in strength and occupied the south bank of the river. The next day they feigned retreat and also sent envoys to discuss peace. The Emperor summoned Nai to draft an edict in response. Zhen abruptly ordered the camp shifted toward the water, and the army fell into disorder. Enemy horsemen overran the formation; the Emperor could not break out and was seized and borne away. Nai, Yi, and the others all perished in the disaster. When the Jing Emperor took the throne, Nai was posthumously enfeoffed as Junior Tutor, Minister of Personnel, and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuan Pavilion, with the posthumous title Wenxiang; his son En was appointed Evaluator of the Court of Judicial Review. When Emperor Ying regained the throne, Nai was further posthumously enfeoffed as Grand Tutor and his posthumous title changed to Wenzhong; his grandson Rong was again appointed a commander of one hundred households in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard. Nai's younger brother Ding was a metropolitan graduate and rose to Chief Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Personnel.
6
張益,字士謙,江寧人。 永樂十三年進士。 由庶吉士授中書舍人,改大理評事。 與修《宣宗實錄》成,改修撰。 博學強記,詩文操筆立就,三楊雅重之。 尋進侍讀學士,正統十四年入文淵閣。 未三月,遽蒙難以歿。 景帝立,贈學士,謚文僖。 曾孫琮進士。 嘉靖初歷官南京右都御史。
Zhang Yi, styled Shiqian, came from Jiangning. In the thirteenth year of Yongle he passed the metropolitan examination. From Hanlin Bachelor he was appointed Secretariat Drafter, then moved to Evaluator of the Court of Judicial Review. When the Veritable Records of the Xuande Emperor were finished, he was made Compiler. He was learned and had a powerful memory; his verse and prose were finished the moment he set brush to paper, and the Three Yangs greatly valued him. He was soon promoted to Reader-in-Waiting and in the fourteenth year of Zhengtong entered the Wenyuan Pavilion. In less than three months he suddenly met disaster and died. When the Jing Emperor took the throne, he was posthumously granted the title of Academician, with the posthumous name Wenxi. His great-grandson Cong passed the metropolitan examination. Early in the Jiajing reign he rose to Right Censor-in-Chief at Nanjing.
7
鄺埜,字孟質,宜章人。 永樂九年進士,授監察御史。 成祖在北京,或奏南京鈔法為豪民沮壞,帝遣埜廉視。 眾謂將起大獄,埜執一二市豪歸。 奏曰:「市人聞令震懼,鈔法通矣。」 事遂已。 倭犯遼東,戍守失律者百余人,皆應死。 命埜按問,具言可矜狀,帝為宥之。 營造北京,執役者鉅萬,命埜稽省,病者多不死。
Kuang Ye, styled Mengzhi, came from Yizhang. In the ninth year of Yongle he passed the metropolitan examination and was appointed Investigating Censor. While the Chengzu Emperor was at Beijing, someone reported that Nanjing's paper-money system was being blocked and ruined by powerful families; the Emperor sent Ye to inspect on his behalf. Many expected a major prosecution; Ye took only one or two market magnates and returned. He memorialized: "When the market people heard the order they trembled with fear, and the paper-money system is flowing again. The matter was thereupon closed. When Japanese raiders struck Liaodong, more than a hundred men who had failed in garrison duty were all subject to the death penalty. The Emperor ordered Ye to review the cases; he fully stated grounds for compassion, and the Emperor spared them. In building Beijing, those conscripted for labor ran to tens of thousands; the Emperor ordered Ye to audit the rolls, and many who were ill were not left to die.
8
十六年有言秦民群聚謀不軌者,擢埜陜西按察副使,敕以便宜調兵剿捕。 埜白其誣,詔誅妄言者。 宣德四年振關中饑。 在陜久,刑政清簡。 父憂服除,擢應天府尹。 蠲苛急政,市征田稅皆酌其平。
In the sixteenth year someone reported that Qin people had gathered plotting sedition; Ye was promoted to Vice Commissioner of the Shaanxi Surveillance Commission and charged, as circumstances required, to mobilize troops to suppress them. Ye proved the accusation false, and an edict ordered the false accuser put to death. In the fourth year of Xuande he relieved famine in Guanzhong. After long service in Shaanxi, his criminal justice and administration were clear and restrained. When mourning for his father ended, he was promoted to Prefect of Yingtian. He abolished harsh urgent measures; market levies and field taxes were all adjusted to fair levels.
9
正統元年進兵部右侍郎。 明年,尚書王驥出督軍,埜獨任部事。 時邊陲多警,將帥乏人,埜請令中外博舉謀略材武士,以備任使。 六年,山東災。 埜請寬民間孳牧馬賠償之令,以蘇其力。
In the first year of Zhengtong he was promoted to Right Vice Minister of War. The next year, when Minister Wang Ji went out to supervise the armies, Ye alone handled the ministry's business. The frontier was then often under alert and generals were scarce; Ye asked that men of strategy and martial talent be broadly recommended throughout the court and country for appointment. In the sixth year Shandong suffered disaster. Ye asked that the rule requiring commoners to compensate for lost stud horses be eased, to restore their strength.
10
十年進尚書。 舊例諸衛自百戶以下當代者,必就試京師,道遠無資者,終身不得代。 埜請就令各都司試之,人以為便。 瓦剌也先勢盛,埜請為備,又與廷臣議上方略,請增大同兵,擇智謀大臣巡視西北邊務。 尋又請罷京營兵修城之役,令休息以備緩急。 時不能用。
In the tenth year he was promoted to Minister. By old regulation, guard officers from company commanders down who were due for succession had to be examined at the capital; those far away without means might never obtain succession in their lifetime. Ye asked that they be examined at their respective regional commands; people regarded this as convenient. As Esen of the Oirats grew powerful, Ye asked for preparations and, with court ministers, discussed strategy, requesting more troops at Datong and that a wise minister be chosen to inspect northwest frontier affairs. He soon also asked to stop the capital garrison's wall-repair labor and let them rest against emergencies. At the time this could not be adopted.
11
也先入寇,王振主親征,不與外廷議可否。 詔下,埜上疏言:「也先入犯,一邊將足制之。 陛下為宗廟社稷主,奈何不自重。」 不聽。 既扈駕出關,力請回鑾。 振怒,令與戶部尚書王佐皆隨大營。 埜墮馬幾殆,或勸留懷來城就醫。 埜曰:「至尊在行,敢托疾自便乎?」 車駕次宣府,朱勇敗沒。 埜請疾驅入關,嚴兵為殿。 不報。 又詣行在申請。 振怒曰:「腐儒安知兵事,再言者死!」 埜曰:「我為社稷生靈言,何懼?」 振叱左右扶出。 埜與佐對泣帳中。 明日,師覆,埜死,年六十五。
When Esen invaded, Wang Zhen insisted on a personal campaign and did not consult the outer court on whether it should proceed. When the edict was issued, Ye memorialized: "Esen has come raiding; one frontier general is enough to contain him. Your Majesty is lord of the ancestral temples and altars of soil and grain—how can you fail to cherish yourself? He was not heeded. After accompanying the imperial procession beyond the passes, he pressed strongly for the carriage to return. Zhen was angry and ordered him and Minister of Revenue Wang Zuo both to follow the main camp. Ye fell from his horse and nearly died; some urged him to stay at Huailai City for treatment. Ye said: "The supreme sovereign is on the march—how dare I plead illness for my own convenience? When the imperial procession reached Xuanfu, Zhu Yong was destroyed. Ye asked that they hurry through the passes and array troops as rearguard. No reply was received. He again went to the traveling palace to petition. Zhen raged: "What do pedantic scholars know of war—say it again and you die! Ye said: "I speak for the realm and the people—what have I to fear?" Zhen ordered attendants to haul him out. Ye and Zuo wept together in the tent. The next day the army was destroyed; Ye died at sixty-five.
12
埜為人勤廉端謹,性至孝。 父子輔為句容教官,教埜甚嚴。 埜在陜久,思一見父,乃謀聘父為鄉試考官。 父怒曰:「子居憲司,而父為考官,何以防閑?」 馳書責之。 埜又嘗寄父褐,復貽書責曰:「汝掌刑名,當洗冤釋滯,以無忝任使,何從得此褐,乃以汙我。」 封還之。 埜奉書跪誦,泣受教。 景泰初,贈埜少保,官其子儀為主事。 成化初,謚忠肅。
Ye was diligent, incorrupt, upright, and cautious, and by nature profoundly filial. His father Fu was Instructor at Jurong and taught Ye with great strictness. Long in Shaanxi, Ye longed to see his father and planned to engage him as examiner for the provincial examination. His father stormed: "You sit in the Surveillance Commission while your father is examiner—how is that to be kept proper? He sent a swift letter rebuking him. Ye once sent his father a brown robe and wrote again to rebuke him: "You hold criminal justice—you should clear wrongs and release the detained, not fail your charge; how did you get this robe to stain me? He sealed it and sent it back. Ye received the letter, knelt to read it aloud, and weeping took the lesson. Early in Jingtai, Ye was posthumously made Junior Guardian; his son Yi was appointed Director. At the beginning of Chenghua he received the posthumous title Zhongsu.
13
王佐,海豐人。 永樂中舉於鄉。 卒業太學,以學行聞,擢吏科給事中。 器宇凝重,奏對詳雅,為宣宗所簡註。
Wang Zuo came from Haifeng. Under Yongle he passed the provincial examination. He graduated from the Imperial Academy, won renown for learning and conduct, and was raised to Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Personnel. He was grave in bearing; his memorials and responses were thorough and refined, and the Xuande Emperor marked him out.
14
宣德二年,超拜戶部右侍郎。 以太倉、臨清、德州、淮、徐諸倉多積弊,敕佐巡視。 平江伯陳瑄言,漕卒十二萬人,歲漕艱苦,乞僉南方民如軍數,更番轉運。 詔佐就瑄及黃福議之。 佐還奏,東南民力已困,議遂寢。 受命治通州至直沽河道。 已,赴宣府議屯田事宜。
In the second year of Xuande he was abruptly promoted to Right Vice Minister of Revenue. Because granaries at Taicang, Linqing, Dezhou, Huai, and Xu harbored many abuses, the Emperor ordered Zuo to inspect them. Chen Xuan, Earl of Pingjiang, said 120,000 transport laborers found annual grain transport crushing and asked to conscript southern commoners in army-like numbers, rotating for transport. An edict ordered Zuo to consult Chen Xuan and Huang Fu. Zuo returned and reported southeastern strength already spent; the plan was shelved. He was charged to manage the waterways from Tongzhou to Zhigu. Later he went to Xuanfu to discuss garrison-farming affairs.
15
六年,尚書劉中敷得罪,召理部事,尋進尚書。 十一年承詔訊安鄉伯張安兄弟爭祿事,坐與法司相諉,被劾下吏,獲釋。 時軍旅四出,耗費動以鉅萬,府庫空虛。 佐從容調劑,節縮有方。 在戶部久,不為赫赫名,而寬厚有度,政務糾紛,未嘗廢學,人稱其君子。
In the sixth year Minister Liu Zhongfu offended and was punished; Zuo was summoned to run the ministry and soon made Minister. In the eleventh year he was ordered to investigate the stipend dispute of Zhang An, Earl of Anxiang, and his brother; for shifting blame with the judicial offices he was impeached, sent to the magistrates, then released. Armies then marched everywhere and costs often ran to tens of millions; the treasury was empty. Zuo calmly adjusted affairs and economized with skill. Long in Revenue, he sought no loud fame yet was generous and measured; though business piled up, he never quit study, and men called him a gentleman.
16
土木之變,與鄺埜、丁鉉、王永和、鄧棨同死難。 贈少保,官其子道戶部主事。 成化初,謚忠簡。
At Tumu he died with Kuang Ye, Ding Xian, Wang Yonghe, and Deng Qi. Posthumously he was made Junior Guardian; his son Dao was appointed Director in Revenue. At the beginning of Chenghua he received the posthumous title Zhongjian.
17
丁鉉,字用濟,豐城人。 永樂中進士。 授太常博士。 歷工、刑、吏三部員外郎,進刑部郎中。 正統三年超拜刑部侍郎。 九年出理四川茶課,奏減其常數,以俟豐歲。 振饑江淮及山東、河南,民鹹賴之。 平居恂恂若無能,臨事悉治辦。 從征歿,贈刑部尚書,官其子琥大理評事。 後謚襄湣。
Ding Xian, styled Yongji, came from Fengcheng. Under Yongle he passed the metropolitan examination. He was appointed Doctor of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. He rose through Vice Director posts in Works, Punishments, and Personnel, then became Director of Punishments. In the third year of Zhengtong he was abruptly promoted to Vice Minister of Punishments. In the ninth year he went to administer Sichuan tea duties and memorialized to cut the regular quota until abundant years. He relieved famine in Jianghuai, Shandong, and Henan; the people all relied on him. In ordinary times he seemed mild and incapable; when business came he handled everything. He died on the campaign and was posthumously made Minister of Punishments; his son Hu was appointed Evaluator of the Court of Judicial Review. Later he received the posthumous title Xiangmin.
18
王永和,字以正,昆山人。 少至孝。 父病伏枕十八年,侍湯藥無少懈。 永樂中舉於鄉,歷嚴州、饒州訓導。 以蹇義薦,為兵科給事中。 嘗劾都督王彧鎮薊州縱寇,及錦衣馬順不法事。 持節冊韓世子妃,糾中官蹇傲罪。 以勁直聞。 正統六年進都給事中。 八年擢工部右侍郎。 從征歿,贈工部尚書,官其子汝賢大理評事。 後謚襄敏。
Wang Yonghe, styled Yizheng, came from Kunshan. From youth he was profoundly filial. His father lay ill eighteen years; he tended medicines without slackening. Under Yongle he passed the provincial examination and served as Instructor at Yanzhou and Raozhou. On Jian Yi's recommendation he became Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for War. He once impeached Commander Wang Yu for garrisoning Jizhou and letting raiders roam, and Ma Shun of the Embroidered-Uniform Guard for unlawful acts. Bearing credentials he invested the Han heir's consort and impeached the eunuch Jian Ao. He became known for firm uprightness. In the sixth year of Zhengtong he was promoted to Chief Supervising Secretary. In the eighth year he was raised to Right Vice Minister of Works. He died on the campaign and was posthumously made Minister of Works; his son Ruxian was appointed Evaluator of the Court of Judicial Review. Later he received the posthumous title Xiangmin.
19
鄧棨,字孟擴,南城人。 永樂末年進士。 授監察御史,奉敕巡按蘇、松諸府。 期滿將代去,父老赴闕乞留,得請。 旋以憂去。 宣德十年,陜西闕按察使,詔廷臣舉清慎有威望者。 楊士奇薦棨,遂以命之。 正統十年入為右副都御史。 北征扈從,師出居庸關,疏請回鑾,以兵事專屬大將。 至宣府、大同,復再上章。 皆不報。 及遇變,同行者語曰:「吾輩可自脫去。」 棨曰:「鑾輿失所,我尚何歸! 主辱臣死,分也。」 遂死。 贈右都御史,官其子常大理評事。 後謚襄敏。
Deng Qi, styled Mengkuo, came from Nancheng. At the end of Yongle he passed the metropolitan examination. He was appointed Investigating Censor and by imperial order inspected Suzhou and Songjiang prefectures. When his term ended, local elders went to court begging he stay; the request was granted. Soon after he left on mourning. In the tenth year of Xuande Shaanxi lacked a Surveillance Commissioner; an edict ordered ministers to recommend men pure, cautious, and of standing. Yang Shiqi recommended Qi, and he was appointed. In the tenth year of Zhengtong he entered as Right Vice Censor-in-Chief. On the northern campaign he accompanied the guard; when the army passed Juyong he memorialized for the carriage to return and military affairs to rest with the commander alone. At Xuanfu and Datong he submitted memorials again. None received reply. When disaster struck, a companion said: "We can save ourselves. Qi said: "The imperial carriage is lost—where can I go! When the lord is shamed the minister dies—that is duty. He thereupon died. Posthumously he was made Right Censor-in-Chief; his son Chang was appointed Evaluator of the Court of Judicial Review. Later he received the posthumous title Xiangmin.
20
英宗之出也,備文武百官以行。 六師覆於土木,將相大臣及從官死者不可勝數。 英國公張輔及諸侯伯自有傳。 其余姓氏可考者,卿寺則龔全安、黃養正、戴慶祖、王一居、劉容、淩壽; 給事、御史則包良佐、姚銑、鮑輝、張洪、黃裳、魏貞、夏誠、申祐、尹竑、童存德、孫慶、林祥鳳; 庶寮則齊汪、馮學明、王健、程思溫、程式、逯端、俞鑒、張瑭、鄭瑄、俞拱、潘澄、錢昺、馬預、尹昌、羅如墉、劉信、李恭、石玉。 景帝立,既贈恤諸大臣,自給事、御史以下,皆降敕褒美,錄其子為國子生,一時恤典綦備雲。
When Emperor Ying marched out, civil and military officials of every rank went with him. The six armies were destroyed at Tumu; generals, ministers, and attendants who died were beyond counting. Zhang Fu, Duke of Ying, and the marquises and earls have separate biographies. Of others whose names are known, among ministers and directors were Gong Quan'an, Huang Yangzheng, Dai Qingzu, Wang Yiju, Liu Rong, and Ling Shou; among supervising secretaries and censors were Bao Liangzuo, Yao Xian, Bao Hui, Zhang Hong, Huang Shang, Wei Zhen, Xia Cheng, Shen You, Yin Hong, Tong Cunde, Sun Qing, and Lin Xiangfeng; among lower officials were Qi Wang, Feng Xueming, Wang Jian, Cheng Siwen, Cheng Shi, Lu Duan, Yu Jian, Zhang Tang, Zheng Xuan, Yu Gong, Pan Cheng, Qian Bing, Ma Yu, Yin Chang, Luo Ruyong, Liu Xin, Li Gong, and Shi Yu. When the Jing Emperor took the throne, after enfeoffing the great ministers, from supervising secretaries and censors down edicts praised them and enrolled their sons in the Imperial Academy—condolence rites were then complete indeed.
21
龔全安,蘭溪人。 進士,授工科給事中,累遷左通政。 歿贈通政使。 黃養正,名蒙,以字行,瑞安人。 以善書授中書舍人,累官太常少卿。 歿贈太常卿。 戴慶祖,溧陽人,王一居,上元人。 俱樂舞生,累官太常少卿。 歿,俱贈太常卿。 包良佐,字克忠。 慈溪人。 進士,授吏科給事中。 鮑輝,字淑大,浙江平陽人。 進士,授工科給事中,數有建白。 張洪,安福人; 黃裳,字元吉,曲江人。 俱進士,授御史。 裳嘗言寧、紹、臺三府疫死三萬人,死者宜蠲租,存者宜振恤。 巡視兩浙鹽政,請恤水災。 報可。 魏貞,懷遠人。 進士,官御史。 申祐。 字天錫,貴州婺川人。 父為虎嚙。 祐持梃奮擊之,得免。 舉於鄉,入國學,帥諸生救祭酒李時勉。 旋登進士,拜四川道御史,以謇諤聞。 尹竑,字太和,巴人; 童存德,字居敬,蘭溪人。 俱進士,官御史。 林祥鳳,字鳴臯,莆田人。 由鄉舉授訓導,擢御史。 齊汪,字源澄,天臺人。 以進士歷兵部車駕司郎中。 程思溫,婺源人; 程式,常熟人; 逯端,仁和人。 俱進士,官員外郎。 俞鑒,字元吉,桐廬人。 以進士授兵部職方司主事。 駕北征,郎中胡寧當從,以病求代,鑒慷慨許諾。 或曰:「家遠子幼奈何?」 鑒曰:「為國,臣子敢計身家!」 尚書鄺埜知其賢,數與計事,鑒曰:「惟力勸班師耳。」 時不能用。 張瑭,字廷玉,慈溪人。 進士,授刑部主事。 尹昌,吉永人。 進士,官行人司正。 羅如墉,字本崇,廬陵人。 進士,授行人。 從北征,瀕行,訣妻子,誓以死報國,屬翰林劉儼銘其墓。 儼驚拒之,如墉笑曰:「行當驗耳。」 後數日果死。 劉容,太仆少卿。 淩壽,尚寶少卿。 夏誠、孫慶皆御史。 馮學明,郎中。 王健,員外郎。 俞拱、潘澄、錢昺,皆中書舍人。 馬預,大理寺副。 劉信,夏官正。 李恭,石玉,序班。 裏居悉無考。
Gong Quan'an came from Lanxi. A metropolitan graduate, he was appointed Supervising Secretary for Works and rose to Left Vice Commissioner of Transmission. On death he was posthumously made Commissioner of Transmission. Huang Yangzheng, personal name Meng, known by his style name, came from Ruian. For calligraphy he was appointed Secretariat Drafter and rose to Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. On death he was posthumously made Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Dai Qingzu came from Liyang; Wang Yiju from Shangyuan. Both were music-and-dance students and rose to Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. On death both were posthumously made Ministers of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices. Bao Liangzuo, styled Kezhong. From Cixi. A metropolitan graduate, he was appointed Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for Personnel. Bao Hui, styled Shuda, came from Pingyang in Zhejiang. A metropolitan graduate, he was appointed Supervising Secretary for Works and often offered proposals. Zhang Hong came from Anfu; Huang Shang, styled Yuanji, came from Qujiang. Both passed the metropolitan examination and were appointed censors. Shang once reported thirty thousand dead of plague in Ning, Shao, and Tai; the dead should have rents remitted and the living relieved. Inspecting salt affairs in the two Zhe provinces, he sought relief for flood victims. The request was approved. Wei Zhen came from Huaiyuan. A metropolitan graduate, he served as censor. Shen You. Styled Tiansi, from Wuchuan in Guizhou. His father was mauled by a tiger. You seized a staff and struck hard; his father was saved. He passed the provincial examination, entered the Imperial Academy, and led students to rescue Chancellor Li Shimian. Soon he passed the metropolitan examination and was appointed censor of the Sichuan circuit, known for blunt integrity. Yin Hong, styled Taihe, was from Ba; Tong Cunde, styled Jujing, came from Lanxi. Both were metropolitan graduates and served as censors. Lin Xiangfeng, styled Minggao, came from Putian. By provincial examination he was appointed Instructor, then raised to censor. Qi Wang, styled Yuancheng, came from Tiantai. As a metropolitan graduate he served as Director in the Ministry of War's Chariot Office. Cheng Siwen came from Wuyuan; Cheng Shi came from Changshu; Lu Duan came from Renhe. All were metropolitan graduates and served as vice directors. Yu Jian, styled Yuanji, came from Tonglu. As a metropolitan graduate he was appointed Director in the Ministry of War's Bureau of Appointments. On the northern campaign, Director Hu Ning should have gone; ill, he asked to be replaced, and Jian generously agreed. Someone said: "Your home is far and your children young—what then? Jian said: "For the state—how dare a subject reckon his household!" Minister Kuang Ye knew his worth and often consulted him; Jian said: "Only press to withdraw the army." At the time this could not be adopted. Zhang Tang, styled Tingyu, came from Cixi. A metropolitan graduate, he was appointed Director in the Ministry of Punishments. Yin Chang came from Jiyong. A metropolitan graduate, he served as Director of the Bureau of Envoys. Luo Ruyong, styled Benchong, came from Luling. A metropolitan graduate, he was appointed Envoy. On the northern campaign, before leaving he bade farewell to wife and children, swore to die for the state, and asked Hanlin Academician Liu Yan to inscribe his tomb. Yan was startled and refused; Ruyong smiled: "You will soon see it verified. A few days later he indeed died. Liu Rong was Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud. Ling Shou was Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Xia Cheng and Sun Qing were both censors. Feng Xueming was a Director. Wang Jian was a Vice Director. Yu Gong, Pan Cheng, and Qian Bing were all Secretariat Drafters. Ma Yu was Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review. Liu Xin was Director of the Summer Office. Li Gong and Shi Yu were Ceremonial Attendants. Their native places cannot all be verified.
22
孫祥,大同人。 正統十年進士。 授兵科給事中。 擢右副都御史,守備紫荊關。 也先逼關,都指揮韓青戰死,祥堅守四日。 也先由間道入,夾攻之,關破。 祥督兵巷戰,兵潰被殺,言官誤劾祥棄城遁。 寇退,有司修關,得其屍戰地,焚而瘞之,不以聞。 祥弟祺詣闕言冤,詔恤其家。 成化改元,錄其子紳為大理寺右評事。
Sun Xiang came from Datong. In the tenth year of Zhengtong he passed the metropolitan examination. He was appointed Supervising Secretary of the Office of Scrutiny for War. He was raised to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and garrisoned Zijing Pass. When Esen pressed the pass, Regional Commander Han Qing died fighting; Xiang held four days. Esen entered by a hidden route and attacked from both sides; the pass fell. Xiang led troops in street fighting; the army broke and he was killed; censors wrongly impeached him for abandoning the city. When raiders withdrew, officials repairing the pass found his body on the field, burned and buried it, and did not report it. His younger brother Qi went to court to plead injustice; an edict comforted the family. At Chenghua's accession, his son Shen was enrolled as Right Evaluator of the Court of Judicial Review.
23
又謝澤者,上虞人。 永樂十六年進士。 由南京刑部主事出為廣西參政。 正統末,擢通政使,守備白羊口。 王師敗於土木,守邊者無固誌,澤與其子儼訣而行。 受事未數日,也先兵大入,守將呂鐸遁。 澤督兵扼山口,大風揚沙,不辨人馬。 或請移他關避敵,澤不可。 寇至,眾潰,澤按劍厲聲叱賊,遂被殺。 事聞,遣官葬祭,錄儼為大理評事。
There was also Xie Ze, from Shangyu. In the sixteenth year of Yongle he passed the metropolitan examination. From Director in the Nanjing Ministry of Punitions he went out as Administrative Commissioner of Guangxi. Late in Zhengtong he was raised to Commissioner of Transmission and garrisoned Baiyang Pass. When the army was defeated at Tumu, frontier defenders lost heart; Ze bade farewell to his son Yan and went. Within days Esen's troops poured in and defending commander Lü Duo fled. Ze directed troops to hold the pass; a great wind raised sand until men and horses could not be told apart. Some asked to move to another pass to avoid the enemy; Ze refused. When raiders came the force broke; Ze gripped his sword, shouted at the enemy, and was killed. When reported, officials were sent to bury and sacrifice; Yan was enrolled as Evaluator of the Court of Judicial Review.
24
袁彬,字文質,江西新昌人。 正統末,以錦衣校尉扈帝北征。 土木之變,也先擁帝北去,從官悉奔散,獨彬隨侍,不離左右。 也先之犯大同、宣府,逼京師,皆奉帝以行。 上下山阪,涉溪澗,冒危險,彬擁護不少懈。 帝駐蹕土城,欲奉書皇太后貽景帝及諭群臣,以彬知書令代草。 帝既入沙漠,所居止毳帳敝幃,旁列一車一馬,以備轉徙而已。 彬周旋患難,未嘗違忤。 夜則與帝同寢,天寒甚,恒以脅溫帝足。
Yuan Bin, styled Wenzhi, came from Xinchang in Jiangxi. Late in Zhengtong, as corporal of the Embroidered-Uniform Guard he accompanied the Emperor north. At Tumu Esen seized the Emperor and bore him north; attendants scattered, but Bin alone stayed at his side. When Esen raided Datong and Xuanfu and pressed the capital, he always took the Emperor along. Over hills and streams, through danger, Bin shielded him without slackening. At Tucheng the Emperor wished to write the Empress Dowager and instruct ministers; knowing Bin could write, he had him draft it. In the desert his dwelling was only a felt tent with worn curtains, one cart and one horse beside for moving on. Through hardship Bin never showed disobedience. At night he slept with the Emperor; in bitter cold he warmed the Emperor's feet with his side.
25
有哈銘者,蒙古人。 幼從其父為通事,至是亦侍帝。 帝宣諭也先及其部下,嘗使銘。 也先輩有所陳請,亦銘為轉達。 帝獨居氈廬,南望悒郁。 二人時進諧語慰帝,帝亦為解顏。
There was Ha Ming, a Mongol. From youth he had followed his father as interpreter; now he also attended the Emperor. When the Emperor addressed Esen and his men, he often used Ming. When Esen's elders had requests, Ming conveyed them. The Emperor dwelt alone in a felt lodge, gazing south in gloom. The two sometimes offered witty words to comfort him, and his face would lighten.
26
中官喜寧為也先腹心。 也先嘗謂帝曰:「中朝若遣使來,皇帝歸矣。」 帝曰:「汝自送我則可,欲中朝遣使,徒費往返爾。」 寧聞,怒曰:「欲急歸者彬也,必殺之。」 寧勸也先西犯寧夏,掠其馬,直趨江表,居帝南京。 彬、銘謂帝曰:「天寒道遠,陛下又不能騎,空取凍饑。 且至彼而諸將不納,奈何?」 帝止寧計。 寧又欲殺二人,皆帝力解而止。 也先將獻妹於帝,彬請駕旋而後聘,帝竟辭之。 也先惡彬、銘二人,欲殺者屢矣。 一日縛彬至曠埜,將支解之。 帝聞,如失左右手,急趨救,乃免。 彬嘗中寒,帝憂甚,以身壓其背,汗浹而愈。 帝居漠北期年,視彬猶骨肉也。
The eunuch Xi Ning was Esen's trusted confidant. Esen once told the Emperor: "If the central court sends envoys, the Emperor will return. The Emperor said: "You may escort me yourself; wanting the court to send envoys only wastes the trip." Ning heard and raged: "Bin wants a quick return—he must die." Ning urged Esen to raid Ningxia westward, seize horses, and drive to the south Yangzi, settling the Emperor at Nanjing. Bin and Ming told the Emperor: "Cold weather and a long road—you cannot ride; you would only freeze and starve for nothing. And if you arrive and generals will not receive you, what then? The Emperor stopped Ning's plan. Ning again wished to kill them; both times the Emperor forcefully stopped it. When Esen would offer his sister, Bin asked the carriage return before betrothal; the Emperor declined. Esen hated Bin and Ming and several times wished to kill them. One day he bound Bin in open country to dismember him. The Emperor heard and rushed as if he had lost his hands; Bin was spared. Bin once suffered severe cold; the Emperor pressed his body on Bin's back until sweat soaked through and he recovered. A full year north of the desert, the Emperor regarded Bin as kin.
27
及帝還京,景帝僅授彬錦衣試百戶。 天順復辟,擢指揮僉事。 尋進同知。 帝眷彬甚,奏請無不從。 內閣商輅既罷,彬乞得其居第。 既又以湫隘,乞官為別建,帝亦報從。 彬娶妻,命外戚孫顯宗主之,賜予優渥。 時召入曲宴,敘患難時事,歡洽如故時。 其年十二月進指揮使,與都指揮僉事王喜同掌衛事。 二人嘗受中官夏時囑,私遣百戶季福偵事江西。 福者,帝乳媼夫也。 詔問誰所遣,二人請罪。 帝曰:「此必有主使者。」 遂下福吏,得二人受囑狀。 所司請治時及二人罪。 帝宥時,二人贖徒還職,而詔自今受囑遣官者,必殺無赦。 已而坐失囚,喜解職,彬遂掌衛事。 五年秋,以平曹欽功,進都指揮僉事。
When the Emperor returned, the Jing Emperor gave Bin only trial command of one hundred households in the Guard. At Tianshun's restoration he was raised to Assistant Commander. Soon he was advanced to Vice Commander. The Emperor favored Bin greatly; whatever he asked was granted. After Grand Secretariat minister Shang Lu was dismissed, Bin asked for his residence. Finding it cramped, he asked officials to build him another house; the Emperor approved. When Bin married, the Emperor had maternal relative Sun Xianzong preside and gave lavish gifts. He was often summoned to private feasts to recount their hardships; joy flowed as in old times. That twelfth month he was advanced to Commander and, with Assistant Regional Commander Wang Xi, jointly ran the Guard. The two had accepted instructions from eunuch Xia Shi and privately sent Commander Ji Fu to spy in Jiangxi. Fu was the husband of the Emperor's wet nurse. An edict asked who had sent him; the two pleaded guilty. The Emperor said: "Someone must be behind this. Ji Fu was sent to the magistrates, and proof the two had accepted instructions was obtained. The offices asked to punish Shi and the two. The Emperor pardoned Shi; the two redeemed labor and returned to office, while an edict declared that hereafter any official accepting instructions to dispatch men must be executed without pardon. Later, for letting a prisoner escape, Xi was removed and Bin alone managed guard affairs. In the fifth year's autumn, for pacifying Cao Qin's rebellion, he was advanced to Assistant Regional Commander.
28
時門達恃帝寵,勢傾朝野。 廷臣多下之,彬獨不為屈。 達誣以罪,請逮治。 帝欲法行,語之曰:「任汝往治,但以活袁彬還我。」 達遂鍛煉成獄。 賴漆工楊塤訟冤,獄得解。 然猶調南京錦衣衛,帶俸閑住。 語詳《達傳》。
Men Da then relied on imperial favor and his power tilted the court. Many ministers bowed to him; Bin alone would not yield. Da framed charges and asked he be arrested and tried. The Emperor wished the law enforced and told him: "Try the case, but bring Yuan Bin back alive. Da forged evidence into a completed case. Thanks to lacquerer Yang Kan pleading injustice, the case was dissolved. Yet Bin was transferred to the Nanjing Guard, drawing salary while idle. Details appear in the biography of Men Da.
29
越二月,英宗崩,達得罪,貶官都勻。 召彬復原職,仍掌衛事。 未幾,達征下獄,充軍南丹。 彬餞之於郊,饋以贐。 成化初,進都指揮同知。 久之,進都指揮使。 先是,掌錦衣衛者,率張權勢,罔財賄。 彬任職久,行事安靜。
Two months later Emperor Ying died; Da offended and was demoted to Duyun. Bin was summoned back to his original post and again ran the Guard. Soon Da was arrested on campaign and banished to Nandan. Bin saw him off beyond the walls and gave parting gifts. At Chenghua's beginning he was advanced to Vice Regional Commander. After long service he was advanced to Regional Commander. Earlier, Guard commanders generally flaunted power and sought bribes. Bin served long and conducted affairs quietly.
30
十三年擢都督僉事,蒞前軍都督府。 卒於官。 世襲錦衣僉事。
In the thirteenth year he was raised to Assistant Commander-in-Chief and entered the Front Military Commission. He died in office. His line hereditarily held Assistant Commander in the Guard.
31
哈銘從帝還,賜姓名楊銘,歷官錦衣指揮使,數奉使外蕃為通事。 孝宗嗣位,汰傳奉官,銘以塞外侍衛功,獨如故。 以壽卒於官。
When Ha Ming returned with the Emperor he was granted the name Yang Ming; he rose to Guard Commander and often served abroad as interpreter. When Xiaozong succeeded, supernumerary posts were culled; Ming alone remained for guarding the Emperor beyond the passes. He died in office at a great age.
32
袁敏者,金齒衛知事也。 英宗北征,應募從至大同。 及駕還,駐萬全左衛。 敏見敵騎逼,請留精兵三四萬人扼其沖,而車駕疾驅入關。 王振不納,六師遂覆。 敏跳還,上書景帝曰:「上皇曩居九重,所服者袞繡,所食者珍羞,所居者瓊宮瑤室。 今駕陷沙漠,服有袞繡乎? 食有珍羞乎? 居有宮室乎? 臣聞之,主辱臣死。 上皇辱至此,臣子何以為心,臣不惜碎首刳心。 乞遣官一人,或就令臣賫書及服御物問安塞外,以盡臣子之義。 臣雖萬死,心實甘之。」 命禮部議,竟報寢。
Yuan Min was Clerk of the Jinchi Guard. On Emperor Ying's northern campaign he volunteered and followed to Datong. When the carriage returned it halted at Wanquan Left Guard. Min saw enemy horsemen pressing close and asked thirty or forty thousand elite troops hold their thrust while the carriage hurried through the passes. Wang Zhen would not accept; the six armies were destroyed. Min escaped and memorialized the Jing Emperor: "The Retired Emperor once dwelt in the Ninefold Enclosure, wearing dragon robes, eating delicacies, dwelling in jade halls. Now trapped in the desert—does he wear dragon robes? Does he eat delicacies? Does he dwell in palaces? I have heard: when the lord is shamed the minister dies. The Retired Emperor shamed so—what heart can subjects have? I do not spare my life. I beg one official be sent, or I be ordered to carry a letter and imperial goods to inquire beyond the passes, fulfilling a subject's duty. Though I die ten thousand deaths, my heart would be glad. The Ministry of Rites was ordered to deliberate; in the end the memorial was shelved.
33
贊曰:異哉,土木之敗也。 寇非深入之師,國非積弱之勢,徒以宦豎竊柄,狎寇弄兵,逆眾心而驅之死地,遂致六師撓敗,乘輿播遷,大臣百官身膏草野。 夫始之不能制其不出,出不能使之早旋,枕藉疆場,無益於敗。 然值倉皇奔潰之時,主辱臣死,誌異偷生,亦可無譏於傷勇矣。
The commentator says: Strange indeed was the defeat at Tumu! The raiders were not a deep invasion; the state was not weak—only eunuchs usurped power, treated raiders lightly, toyed with arms, defied popular will and drove men to death's ground, so the six armies broke, the carriage wandered, and ministers and officials greased the wild grass. At first they could not stop the march; once out they could not bring it home—bodies piled on the frontier, which did not mend defeat. Yet in frantic rout, when the lord is shamed the minister dies—those who did not steal life need not be reproached for wounding courage.