Volume 171 Biographies 59: Wang Ji, Xu Youzhen, Yang Shan, Wang Yue

王驥〈（孫瑾）〉徐有貞楊善〈（李實趙榮霍瑄沈固）〉王越

Wang Ji (Sun Jin)]〉 Xu Youzhen and Yang Shan (Li Shi, Zhao Rong, Huo Xuan, and Shen Gu)]〉 Wang Yue

王驥，字尚德，束鹿人。長身偉幹，便騎射，剛毅有膽，曉暢戎略。中永樂四年進士。為兵科給事中，使山西，奏免鹽池逋課二十余萬，尋遷山西按察司副使。

Wang Ji, courtesy name Shangde, came from Shulu. He was tall and powerfully built, adept at riding and archery, firm of character and courageous, and thoroughly knowledgeable in military affairs. He placed among the metropolitan graduates in Yongle 4 (1406). Appointed a supervising secretary in the Bureau of Military Affairs, he was sent to Shanxi and successfully petitioned for the remission of over two hundred thousand in delinquent salt-pond taxes; he was soon promoted to Vice Commissioner of the Shanxi Surveillance Commission.

洪熙元年入為順天府尹。宣德初，擢兵部右侍郎，代顧佐署都察院。久之，署兵部尚書。九年命為真。

In Hongxi 1 (1425), he was recalled to serve as Prefect of Shuntian. Early in the Xuande reign, he was promoted to Vice Minister of War and, standing in for Gu Zuo, took charge of the Censorate. After a time, he was appointed acting Minister of War. In the ninth year, he received the permanent appointment.

俄阿臺復入寇。帝以任禮為平羌將軍，蔣貴、趙安為副，驥督軍。三年春，偕諸將出塞，以貴為前鋒，而自與任禮帥大軍後繼，與貴約曰：「不捷，無相見也。」貴擊敵石城，敵走兀魯乃。貴帥輕騎二千五百人出鎮夷，間道兼行，三日夜及之。擒左丞脫羅，斬首三百余，獲金銀印各一，駝馬兵甲千計。驥與禮自梧桐林至亦集乃，擒樞密、同知、僉院十五人，萬戶二人。降其部落，窮進至黑泉。而趙安等出昌寧，至刁力溝，亦擒右丞、達魯花赤三十人。分道夾擊，轉戰千餘里，朵兒只伯遠遁。論功，貴、禮皆封伯，而驥兼大理卿，支二俸。尋召還，理部事。

Before long, Atai raided the frontier once more. The emperor named Ren Li General Who Pacifies the Qiang, with Jiang Gui and Zhao An as his deputies, while Ji served as overall commander. In the spring of the third year, he led the generals out beyond the frontier, placing Gui in the vanguard while he and Ren Li followed with the main army. He told Gui, "If you do not win, we are not to meet again. Gui attacked the enemy at Shicheng, and they retreated toward Wulunai. Gui took twenty-five hundred light cavalry from Zhenyi, marched by concealed routes without rest, and overtook the enemy in three days and nights. He captured the Left Chancellor Tuoluo, took more than three hundred heads, seized one gold and one silver seal, and captured over a thousand camels, horses, weapons, and suits of armor. Ji and Li marched from Wutonglin to Yijinai, capturing fifteen officials—including privy councilors, vice commissioners, and assistant commissioners—and two commanders of ten-thousand-household units. They brought the enemy tribes to submission and pursued the fleeing forces all the way to Heiquan. Meanwhile Zhao An and his column marched from Changning to Diaoligou, where they captured thirty right chancellors and darughachi. Striking from separate routes in a pincer attack, they fought across more than a thousand li until Duorizhibo fled into the distance. When rewards were distributed, Gui and Li were both enfeoffed as earls, while Ji was also made Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review and granted two salaries. He was soon recalled to the capital to resume the duties of his ministry.

久之，麓川之役起。麓川宣慰使思任發叛，數敗王師。黔國公沐晟討之，不利，道卒。以沐昂代。昂條上攻取策，征兵十二萬人。中官王振方用事，喜功名，以驥可屬，思大舉。驥亦欲自效。

Before long, the Luchuan campaign was launched. Si Renfa, the Pacification Commissioner of Luchuan, rebelled and repeatedly routed the imperial forces. Duke Mu Sheng of Qian marched against him but fared poorly and died en route. Mu Ang was appointed to replace him. Ang submitted a detailed plan for a conquest and raised an army of one hundred twenty thousand men. The eunuch Wang Zhen was then in power and eager for military glory; believing Ji could be entrusted with the command, he wanted to launch a major expedition. Ji, for his part, was eager to distinguish himself.

六年正月遂拜蔣貴平蠻將軍，李安、劉聚為副，而驥總督軍務，大發東南諸道兵十五萬討之。刑部侍郎何文淵、侍講劉球先後疏諫，不納。瀕行，賜驥、貴金兜鍪、細鎧、蟒繡緋衣、朱弓矢。驥請得以便宜從事。馳傳至雲南，部署諸將，遣參將冉保由東路趨孟定，大軍由中路至騰沖，分道夾擊。是年十一月，與貴以二萬人趨上江，圍其寨，五日不下。會大風，縱火焚柵，拔之，斬首五萬余級。進自夾象石，渡下江，通高黎貢山道。閏月至騰沖，長驅抵杉木籠山。賊乘高據險，築七壘相救。驥遣參將宮聚、副將劉聚分左右翼緣嶺上，而自將中軍奮擊之，賊大潰，乘勝至馬鞍山。

In the first month of the sixth year, Jiang Gui was appointed General Who Pacifies the Barbarians, with Li An and Liu Ju as his deputies, while Ji was made overall commander; one hundred fifty thousand troops from the southeastern circuits were mobilized for the campaign. Vice Minister of Justice He Wenyuan and Hanlin Reader Liu Qiu submitted successive memorials urging restraint, but the court would not listen. Before they set out, Ji and Gui were presented with golden helmets, fine armor, python-embroidered scarlet robes, and vermilion bows and arrows. Ji asked for discretionary authority to act as circumstances required. He rode by relay post to Yunnan, deployed his generals, sent Assistant Commander Ran Bao east toward Mengding, and led the main force along the central route to Tengchong, striking from two directions. In the eleventh month of that year, he and Gui marched on Shangjiang with twenty thousand men and besieged an enemy stockade, but could not reduce it in five days. A strong wind came up, and they set the palisades ablaze, stormed the position, and took more than fifty thousand heads. They advanced from Jiaxiangshi, crossed the Xiajiang, and opened the route through the Gaoligong Mountains. In the intercalary month they reached Tengchong and pressed forward to Shanmulong Mountain. The rebels held the high ground and difficult terrain, building seven fortified camps to reinforce one another. Ji sent Assistant Commander Gong Ju and Vice Commander Liu Ju to lead the left and right wings along the ridges, while he personally led the center in a fierce assault; the rebels broke and fled, and the army pursued them to Ma'anshan.

逾月，抵賊巢。山陡絕，深塹環之。東南面江，壁立不可上。驥遣前軍覘賊，敗其伏兵。賊更自間道立柵馬鞍山，出大軍後。驥戒軍中無動，而令都指揮方瑛以六千人突賊寨，斬首數百，復誘敗其象陣。會東路軍冉保等已合木邦、車裏、大侯諸土軍，破烏木弄、戛邦諸寨。遣別將守西峨渡，防賊軼，刻期與大軍會。驥乃督諸將環攻其七門，積薪縱火。風大作，賊焚死無算，溺江死者數萬人。思任發攜二子走孟養。獲其虎符、金牌、宣慰司印及所掠騰沖諸衛所印章三十有奇。犁其巢穴，留兵守之而還。

After more than a month, they reached the rebel stronghold. The mountain rose steep and sheer, ringed by deep trenches. To the southeast it faced the river, where cliffs rose sheer and could not be climbed. Ji sent the vanguard to scout the enemy and routed their ambush. The rebels then built a stockade at Ma'anshan by a hidden route and appeared in the rear of the main army. Ji ordered the army to hold steady, then sent Commander Fang Ying with six thousand men to storm the rebel stockade, taking several hundred heads, and afterward lured and broke their elephant formation. Meanwhile Ran Bao's eastern column had joined with the native forces of Mubang, Cheli, and Dahou and had overrun the stockades at Wumunong, Jiabang, and elsewhere. He posted a separate commander at Xi'e Ford to guard against enemy raids and to rendezvous with the main army on schedule. Ji then ordered the generals to assault all seven gates in a ring attack, piling firewood and setting it ablaze. A fierce wind blew up; countless rebels were burned alive, and tens of thousands drowned in the river. Si Renfa fled to Mengyang with his two sons. They seized his tiger tally, gold tablet, Pacification Commission seal, and more than thirty seals of the guard units around Tengchong that he had looted. They razed the rebel stronghold, left a garrison behind, and withdrew.

明年四月遣偏師討維摩土司韋郎羅。郎羅走安南，俘其妻子。傳檄安南，縛之以獻。五月，師還。帝遣戶部侍郎王質賫羊酒迎勞，賜宴奉天門。封推誠宣力武臣、特進榮祿大夫、上柱國、靖遠伯，歲祿千二百石，世襲指揮同知，賜貂蟬冠玉帶。貴進侯，劉聚等遷賞有差。從征少卿李蕡，郎中侯琎、楊寧皆擢侍郎，士卒賜予加等。府庫為竭。

In the fourth month of the following year, he sent a detached column against Wei Langluo, the native chieftain of Weimo. Langluo fled to Annam, and his wife and children were taken prisoner. A proclamation was sent to Annam, and Langluo was bound and delivered to the court. In the fifth month, the army returned. The emperor sent Vice Minister of Revenue Wang Zhi with sheep and wine to welcome the returning army and granted them a banquet at Fengtian Gate. He was enfeoffed as Earl of Jingyuan with the titles of meritorious military subject, Grand Master of Splendid Happiness, and Upper Pillar of the State, granted an annual stipend of one thousand two hundred shi and hereditary rank as Assistant Commander, and presented with a cicada cap and jade belt. Gui was promoted to marquis, and Liu Ju and the others were promoted and rewarded according to their merits. Li Fan, Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the Directors Hou Jin and Yang Ning were all promoted to vice minister, while the soldiers received enhanced rewards. The state treasuries were drained.

思任發之竄緬甸也，其子思機發復帥余眾居者藍，乞入朝謝罪。廷議因而撫之，王振不可。是年八月復命驥總督雲南軍務，帥參將冉保、毛福壽以往。未至而思機發遣弟招賽入貢，緬甸亦奏獲思任發，要麓川地。朝廷不納其貢，且敕驥圖緬甸，驥因請濟師。

After Si Renfa fled into Burma, his son Si Jifa rallied the remaining forces at Zhelan and petitioned to come to court and beg forgiveness. The court debated accepting the offer and extending pacification, but Wang Zhen would not hear of it. In the eighth month of that year, Ji was again appointed overall commander of Yunnan military affairs and marched with Assistant Commanders Ran Bao and Mao Fushou. Before he arrived, Si Jifa sent his younger brother Zhaosai to present tribute, while Burma reported that it had captured Si Renfa and demanded Luchuan territory in return. The court refused the tribute and ordered Ji to move against Burma; Ji then requested reinforcements.

八年五月復命蔣貴為平蠻將軍，調土兵五萬往，發卒轉餉五十萬人。驥初檄緬甸送思任發。緬人陽聽命，持兩端。是年冬，大軍逼緬甸，緬人以樓船載思任發覘官軍，而潛以他舟載之歸。驥知緬人資木邦水利為唇齒，且慮思機發將以獻其父故仇之，故終不肯獻思任發。驥乃趨者藍，破思機發巢，得其妻子部落，而思機發獨脫去。

In the fifth month of the eighth year, Jiang Gui was again appointed General Who Pacifies the Barbarians; fifty thousand native troops were mobilized, and five hundred thousand men were drafted to transport supplies. Ji first issued a summons demanding that Burma hand over Si Renfa. The Burmese feigned compliance while playing both sides. That winter, as the main army closed on Burma, the Burmese displayed Si Renfa on a tower ship for the imperial forces to see while secretly sending him back on another boat. Ji understood that the Burmese depended on Mubang's waterways as closely as lips and teeth, and that they feared Si Jifa would regard the surrender of his father as an unforgivable betrayal; for these reasons they ultimately refused to hand over Si Renfa. Ji then marched on Zhelan, destroyed Si Jifa's stronghold, and captured his wife, children, and followers, but Si Jifa himself escaped.

明年召還，加祿三百石，命與都御史陳鎰巡延綏、寧夏、甘肅諸邊。初，寧夏備邊軍，半歲一更。後邊事亟，三年乃更。軍士日久疲罷，又益選軍余防冬，家有五六人在邊者，軍用重困。驥請歲一更，當代者以十月至，而代者留至來年正月乃遣歸，邊備足而軍不勞。帝善其議，行之諸邊。當是時，緬人已以思任發來獻，而思機發竊駐孟養地，屢遣使入貢謝罪。中外咸願罷兵。振意終未慊，要思機發躬入朝謝。沐斌帥師至金沙江招之，不至。諭孟養執之以獻，亦不聽命。於是振怒，欲盡滅其種類。

The following year he was recalled, granted an additional stipend of three hundred shi, and ordered to inspect the frontier regions of Yan-sui, Ningxia, and Gansu together with Censor-in-Chief Chen Yi. Originally, the frontier garrison troops in Ningxia were rotated every six months. Later, as frontier emergencies multiplied, the rotation period stretched to three years. The soldiers grew worn down over time, and additional reserves were drafted for winter defense; in some households five or six men were serving on the frontier at once, and military costs became crushing. Ji proposed annual rotation: incoming replacements would arrive in the tenth month, and outgoing troops would remain until the first month of the following year before returning home, keeping the frontier adequately manned without overtaxing the soldiers. The emperor approved the proposal and applied it across all frontier regions. By then the Burmese had already delivered Si Renfa to the court, while Si Jifa remained hidden in Mengyang and repeatedly sent envoys to present tribute and beg forgiveness. Inside and outside the court, everyone wanted the war to end. Zhen remained unsatisfied and insisted that Si Jifa come to court in person to beg forgiveness. Mu Bin led troops to the Jinsha River to summon him, but Si Jifa did not come. Mengyang was ordered to seize him and deliver him to the court, but it too refused. Zhen then flew into a rage and wanted to exterminate them entirely.

十三年春復命驥總督軍務，宮聚為平蠻將軍，帥師十五萬人往。明年造舟浮金沙江，蠻人柵西岸拒守。官軍聯舟為浮橋以濟，拔其柵，進破鬼哭山，連下十余寨，墜溺死者無算。而思機發終脫去，不可得。是時，官軍逾孟養。至孟冉阝海。地在金沙江西，去麓川千里，自古兵力所不至，諸蠻見大軍皆震怖。而大軍遠涉，驥慮饋餉不繼，亟謀引還。時思機發雖遁匿，而思任發少子思陸復擁眾據孟養。驥度賊終不可滅，乃與思陸約，立石表，誓金沙江上，曰：「石爛江枯，爾乃得渡。」遂班師。

In the spring of the thirteenth year, Ji was again made overall commander, with Gong Ju as General Who Pacifies the Barbarians, and they marched with one hundred fifty thousand men. The following year they built boats to descend the Jinsha River, while the barbarians fortified the western bank to block them. The imperial army linked boats into a floating bridge to cross, stormed the stockades, broke through Guikushan, and took more than ten stockades in succession; countless men fell or drowned. Yet Si Jifa ultimately escaped and could not be taken. By then the imperial army had pushed beyond Mengyang. They reached Mengruanhai. The place lay west of the Jinsha River, a thousand li from Luchuan, where no imperial army had ever penetrated; every barbarian tribe was awestruck and terrified at the sight of the main force. But the army had marched deep into hostile territory, and Ji, fearing that supplies would run out, urgently planned to withdraw. Although Si Jifa remained in hiding, Si Renfa's youngest son Si Lu had rallied forces and held Mengyang. Ji concluded that the rebels could never be utterly destroyed; he therefore made a pact with Si Lu, set up a stone tablet, and swore an oath on the Jinsha River: "Only when the stone rots and the river runs dry may you cross. With that, the army withdrew.

驥凡三征麓川，卒不得思機發。議者咎驥等老師費財，以一隅騷動天下。而會川衛訓導詹英抗疏劾之，大略謂：「驥等多役民夫，舁彩繒，散諸土司以邀厚利。擅用腐刑，詭言進禦，實充私役。師行無紀，十五萬人一日起行，互相蹂踐。每軍負米六斗，跋陟山谷，自縊者多。抵金沙江，徬徨不敢渡；既渡不敢攻；攻而失都指揮路宣、翟亨等。俟賊解，多捕魚戶為俘。以地分木邦、緬甸，掩敗為功。此何異李宓之敗，而楊國忠以捷聞也。」奏下法司。王振左右之，得不問。而命英從驥軍自效。英知往且獲罪，匿不去。

Ji led three campaigns against Luchuan in all but never captured Si Jifa. Critics blamed Ji and his colleagues for keeping the army in the field too long and wasting resources, disturbing the entire empire over a single remote corner. Meanwhile Huichuan Guard Instructor Zhan Ying submitted a bold memorial impeaching them, charging in general that Ji and his colleagues repeatedly conscripted laborers to carry colored silks and distributed them among the native chieftains to reap large profits. They arbitrarily applied castration, falsely claiming the victims were being presented to the emperor when in fact they were kept as private servants. The army marched without discipline; when one hundred fifty thousand men set out on a single day, they trampled one another. Each soldier carried six dou of rice over mountains and valleys; many hanged themselves along the way. When they reached the Jinsha River, they hesitated and dared not cross; after crossing, they dared not attack; when they did attack, they lost Commanders Lu Xuan, Zhai Heng, and others. When the rebels dispersed, they captured many fishermen and passed them off as prisoners of war. They divided territory between Mubang and Burma and disguised defeat as victory. How is this any different from Li Mi's defeat, which Yang Guozhong reported as a victory? The memorial was referred to the judicial authorities. Wang Zhen's partisans intervened, and the case was dropped. Ying was instead ordered to join Ji's army and prove himself in service. Ying knew that if he went he would be punished, so he went into hiding and refused to go.

當是時，湖廣、貴州諸苗，所在蜂起，圍平越及諸城堡，貴州東路閉。驥至武昌，詔還軍討苗。會英宗北狩，群臣劾王振並及驥。以驥方在軍，且倚之平苗，置弗問。命佩平蠻將軍印，充總兵官，侍郎侯琎總督軍務。已而苗益熾，眾至十余萬。平越被圍半歲，巡按御史黃鎬死守，糧盡掘草根食之，而驥頓軍辰、沅不進。景泰元年，鎬草疏置竹筒中，募人自間道出，聞於朝。更命保定伯梁缶為平蠻將軍，益兵二萬人。侯琎自雲南督之前，疾戰，大破賊，盡解諸城圍。而驥亦俘刬平王蟲富等以獻。

At that time the Miao tribes of Huguang and Guizhou rose up everywhere, besieging Pingyue and other fortresses and cutting off the eastern route into Guizhou. When Ji reached Wuchang, an edict ordered him to turn back and suppress the Miao. Just then Emperor Yingzong was captured on the northern campaign, and the court officials impeached Wang Zhen and also implicated Ji. Because Ji was still in the field and the court relied on him to pacify the Miao, the matter was set aside. He was ordered to wear the seal of General Who Pacifies the Barbarians and serve as overall commander, while Vice Minister Hou Jin was made overall supervisor of military affairs. Before long the Miao grew stronger still, their numbers swelling to more than one hundred thousand. Pingyue was besieged for half a year; Investigating Censor Huang Hao held out in a desperate defense, digging up grass roots to eat when provisions ran out, while Ji halted his army at Chen and Yuan and did not advance. In Jingtai 1 (1450), Hao drafted a memorial, sealed it in a bamboo tube, and hired a courier to carry it out by a hidden route; the news reached the court. Liang Fu, Earl of Baoding, was appointed General Who Pacifies the Barbarians in his place, with twenty thousand additional troops. Hou Jin advanced from Yunnan under his command, fought fiercely, routed the rebels, and lifted the sieges of all the cities. Ji also captured and executed Wang Chongfu and others and presented them to the court.

驥還，命總督南京機務。其冬，乞世券，與之。南畿軍素偷惰。驥至，以所馭軍法教之。于謙弗重也，朝廷以其舊臣寵禮之。三年四月，賜敕解任，奉朝請。驥年七十余，躍馬食肉，盛聲伎如故。

When Ji returned, he was appointed overall supervisor of Nanjing affairs. That winter he requested a hereditary patent of nobility, and it was granted. The troops of the southern capital region had long been slack and indolent. When Ji arrived, he trained them according to the military discipline he had used with his own troops. Yu Qian did not hold him in high regard, but the court treated him with favor as a veteran minister. In the fourth month of the third year, he was granted an edict releasing him from office and given the status of a court attendee. Though in his seventies, Ji still leapt onto horseback, ate meat heartily, and kept a full retinue of musicians and entertainers as before.

久之，石亨、徐有貞等奉英宗復辟，驥與謀。賞稍後，上章自訟，言：「臣子祥入南城，為諸將所擠，墮地幾死。今論功不及，疑有蔽之者。」帝乃官祥指揮僉事。而命驥仍兵部尚書，理部事，加號奉天翊衛推誠宣力守正文臣、光祿大夫，余如故。數月請老，又三年乃卒，年八十三。贈靖遠侯，謚忠毅。傳子常及孫添。添尚嘉善長公主。

After a time, Shi Heng, Xu Youzhen, and others restored Emperor Yingzong to the throne, and Ji took part in the plot. When rewards came late, he submitted a memorial pleading his own case: "My son Xiang entered the Southern City and was jostled by the generals, falling to the ground and nearly dying. Now in the distribution of merit he has been passed over; I suspect someone has concealed the facts. The emperor thereupon appointed Xiang Assistant Commander. Ji was ordered to resume his post as Minister of War and manage the affairs of the ministry, and was granted the additional titles of Civil Minister Who Supports Heaven, Guards the Throne, Promotes Sincerity, Displays Strength, and Upholds Integrity, and Grand Master of Splendid Happiness; his other honors remained unchanged. After several months he requested retirement; three years later he died at the age of eighty-three. He was posthumously enfeoffed as Marquis of Jingyuan and given the posthumous name Loyal and Resolute. The title passed to his son Chang and then to his grandson Tian. Tian married the eldest princess of Jiashan.

再傳至孫瑾。嘉靖初，提督三千營，協守南京，還掌左府。久之，佩征蠻將軍印，鎮兩廣。廣東新寧、新興、思平間多高山叢箐，亡命者輒入諸瑤中，吏不得問，眾至萬余人，流劫高要、陽江諸縣。官軍討之，輒失利。三十五年春，瑾與巡撫都御史談愷檄諸路土兵誅其魁陳以明，悉平諸巢。捷聞，加太子太保。而扶藜、葵梅諸山峒馮天恩等，據險為寇者亦數十年。瑾復督軍分道進剿，破巢二百余，復以功蔭一子錦衣百戶。言官劾其暴橫，召還。爵傳至明亡乃絕。

The title passed down again to Sun Jin. Early in the Jiajing reign, he supervised the Three Thousand Battalions, assisted in the defense of Nanjing, and later took charge of the Left Guard. After a time, he wore the seal of General Who Subdues the Barbarians and was stationed in the two Guang provinces. Between Xinning, Xinxing, and Siping in Guangdong lay many high mountains and dense bamboo groves; fugitives fled into the Yao tribes beyond official reach, their numbers swelling to more than ten thousand as they raided Gaoyao, Yangjiang, and other counties. Whenever government troops went to suppress them, they met with defeat. In the spring of the thirty-fifth year, Jin and Grand Coordinator Tan Kai mobilized native troops from the various routes to execute the rebel leader Chen Yiming and completely pacified all the strongholds. When news of the victory arrived, he was promoted to Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. Meanwhile Feng Tian'en and others in the mountain stockades of Fuli, Kuimei, and elsewhere had held difficult terrain and raided as bandits for decades. Jin again directed the army in a multi-pronged advance, destroyed more than two hundred strongholds, and was granted the privilege of ennobling one son as a hundred-household commander in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Censorial officials impeached him for brutality and tyranny, and he was recalled. The noble title continued until the fall of the Ming dynasty, when it became extinct.

徐有貞，字元玉，初名呈，吳人。宣德八年進士。選庶吉士，授編修。為人短小精悍，多智數，喜功名。凡天官、地理、兵法、水利、陰陽方術之書，無不諳究。

Xu Youzhen, courtesy name Yuanyu, originally named Cheng, came from Wu. He placed among the metropolitan graduates in Xuande 8 (1433). He was selected as a Hanlin bachelor and appointed Compiler. Short in stature but sharp and vigorous, he was full of stratagems and eager for fame and achievement. He was thoroughly versed in every book on astronomy, geography, military strategy, water control, and yin-yang occult arts.

時承平既久，邊備俞惰，而西南用兵不息，呈以為憂。正統七年疏陳兵政五事，帝善之而不能用。十二年進侍講。十四年秋，熒惑入南斗。呈私語友人劉溥曰「禍不遠矣」，亟命妻子南還。及土木難作，郕王召廷臣問計。呈大言曰：「驗之星象，稽之歷數，天命已去，惟南遷可以紓難。」太監金英叱之，胡濙、陳循咸執不可。兵部侍郎于謙曰：「言南遷者，可斬也。」呈大沮，不敢復言。

Peace had lasted so long that frontier defenses grew ever more slack, while warfare in the southwest never ceased; Cheng regarded this with alarm. In Zhengtong 7 (1442), he submitted a memorial setting forth five points on military administration; the emperor approved them but could not implement them. In the twelfth year he was promoted to Hanlin Reader. In the autumn of the fourteenth year, Mars entered the Southern Dipper. Cheng privately told his friend Liu Pu, "Disaster is not far off," and urgently sent his wife and children back south. When the Tumu disaster occurred, the Prince of Cheng summoned the court officials to discuss strategy. Cheng spoke boldly: "Examining the stars and calculating the cycles of fate, the Mandate of Heaven has departed; only moving the capital south can relieve the crisis. The eunuch Jin Ying rebuked him, and Hu Ying and Chen Xun both insisted it could not be done. Vice Minister of War Yu Qian said: "Whoever speaks of moving the capital south deserves execution. Cheng was greatly discouraged and dared not speak again.

景泰三年遷右諭德。河決沙灣七載，前後治者皆無功。廷臣共舉有貞，乃擢左僉都御史，治之。至張秋，相度水勢，條上三策：一置水門，一開支河，一浚運河。議既定，督漕都御史王竑以漕渠淤淺滯運艘，請急塞決口。帝敕有貞如軏議。有貞守便宜。言：「臨清河淺，舊矣，非因決口未塞也。漕臣但知塞決口為急，不知秋冬雖塞，來春必復決，徒勞無益。臣不敢邀近功。」詔從其言。有貞於是大集民夫，躬親督率，治渠建閘，起張秋以接河、沁。河流之旁出不順者，為九堰障之。更築大堰，楗以水門，閱五百五十五日而工成。名其渠曰「廣濟」，閘曰「通源」。方工之未成也，帝以轉漕為急，工部尚書江淵等請遣中書偕文武大臣督京軍五萬人往助役，期三月畢工。有貞言：「京軍一出，日費不貲，遇漲則束手坐視，無所施力。今泄口已合，決堤已堅，但用沿河民夫，自足集事。」議遂寢。事竣，召還，佐院事。帝厚勞之。復出巡視漕河。濟守十三州縣河夫多負官馬及他雜辦，所司趣之亟，有貞為言免之。七年秋，山東大水，河堤多壞，惟有貞所築如故。有貞乃修舊堤決口，自臨清抵濟寧，各置減水閘，水患悉平。還朝，帝召見，獎勞有加，進左副都御史。

In Jingtai 3 (1452), he was transferred to Right Preceptor of the Heir Apparent. The Yellow River had breached its banks at Shawan for seven years, and all previous efforts to control it had failed. The court officials jointly recommended Youzhen, and he was promoted to Left Assistant Censor-in-Chief to manage the project. When he reached Zhangqiu, he surveyed the water conditions and submitted three detailed proposals: install sluice gates, open branch channels, and dredge the Grand Canal. Once the plan was settled, Grain Transport Censor-in-Chief Wang Hong, citing the silted and shallow transport channels that delayed grain barges, requested urgent closure of the breach. The emperor ordered Youzhen to follow Wang's proposal. Youzhen insisted on acting at his own discretion. He said: "The shallowness of the river at Linqing is an old problem and is not caused by the breach remaining unclosed. The grain transport officials know only that closing the breach is urgent, but do not realize that even if it is closed in autumn and winter, it will breach again in the coming spring, making the effort futile. I dare not seek quick results. An edict approved his view. Youzhen thereupon mobilized a great force of laborers, personally supervised the work, dredged channels and built sluice gates, and extended the works from Zhangqiu to connect with the Yellow and Qin Rivers. Where the river branched out irregularly, nine weirs were built to block it. He further built a great weir fitted with sluice gates; after five hundred fifty-five days the work was completed. He named the channel Broad Relief and the sluice Source Access. While the work was still unfinished, the emperor, anxious about grain transport, had Minister of Works Jiang Yuan and others request that a Secretariat Director be sent with civil and military grandees to supervise fifty thousand capital troops to assist in the labor, with completion expected in three months. Youzhen said: "Once the capital troops are sent out, daily expenses will be incalculable; when floods rise they can only sit idle and watch, unable to do anything. Now the outflow has been closed and the breached dike has been strengthened; laborers from along the river alone will suffice to complete the task. The proposal was thereupon dropped. When the work was finished, he was recalled to assist in the affairs of the Censorate. The emperor richly rewarded him. He was again sent out to inspect the transport canal. In the thirteen prefectures and counties under Ji Prefecture, many canal laborers owed debts for official horses and other miscellaneous obligations; the authorities pressed them urgently, and Youzhen interceded to have the debts remitted. In the autumn of the seventh year, Shandong suffered great floods and many river dikes were destroyed, but those built by Youzhen remained intact. Youzhen then repaired the old dikes at the breach points and installed flood-release sluices from Linqing to Jining; all flooding was thereby brought under control. On returning to court, he was summoned for an audience; the emperor praised and rewarded him generously and promoted him to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief.

八年正月，景帝不豫。石亨、張輒等謀迎上皇，以告太常卿許彬。彬曰：「此不世功也。彬老矣，無能為。徐元玉善奇策，盍與圖之。」亨即夜至有貞家。聞之，大喜，曰：「須令南城知此意。」軏曰：「陰達之矣。」令太監曹吉祥入白太后。辛巳夜，諸人復會有貞所。有貞升屋覽乾象，亟下曰：「時至矣，勿失。」時方有邊警，有貞令軏詭言備非常，勒兵入大內。亨掌門鑰，夜四鼓，開長安門納之。既入，復閉以遏外兵。時天色晦冥，亨、軏皆惶惑，謂有貞曰：「事當濟否？」有貞大言「必濟」，趣之行。既薄南城，門錮，毀墻以入。上皇燈下獨出問故，有貞等俯伏請登位，乃呼進輿。兵士惶懼不能舉，有貞率諸人助挽以行。星月忽開朗，上皇各問諸人姓名。至東華門，門者拒弗納，上皇曰「朕太上皇帝也」，遂反走。乃升奉天門，有貞等常服謁賀，呼「萬歲」。

In the first month of the eighth year, Emperor Jing fell ill. Shi Heng, Zhang Er, and others plotted to welcome back the former emperor and confided in Minister of Ceremonies Xu Bin. Bin said: "This is an achievement without parallel in the age. I am old and can do nothing. Xu Yuanyu is skilled in bold stratagems; why not consult him on this? That very night Heng went to Youzhen's house. When Youzhen heard of it, he was greatly pleased and said: "The Southern City must be made aware of this plan. Er said: "It has already been conveyed in secret." They ordered the eunuch Cao Jixiang to enter and inform the empress dowager. On the night of xinsi, the conspirators gathered again at Youzhen's house. Youzhen climbed onto the roof to observe the celestial signs, then hurried down and said: "The time has come; do not miss it. At that time there was an alarm on the frontier; Youzhen had Er falsely claim that extraordinary measures were needed and led the troops into the inner palace. Heng held the gate keys; at the fourth watch of the night he opened Chang'an Gate and admitted them. Once inside, they closed the gate again to block outside troops. The sky was dark and murky; Heng and Er were both fearful and confused, and asked Youzhen: "Will the affair succeed? Youzhen declared loudly that it would surely succeed and urged them onward. When they reached the Southern City, the gate was locked, so they broke through the wall to enter. The former emperor came out alone by lamplight to ask the reason; Youzhen and the others prostrated themselves and begged him to take the throne, then called for the palanquin. The soldiers were too fearful to lift it; Youzhen led the others in helping to push it along. The stars and moon suddenly cleared, and the former emperor asked each man his name. At Donghua Gate the guards refused to admit them; the former emperor said, "I am the Retired Emperor," and they turned back. They then ascended Fengtian Gate; Youzhen and the others, in ordinary dress, paid homage and cried "Long live the emperor!"

景帝明當視朝，群臣咸待漏闕下。忽聞殿中呼噪聲，方驚愕。俄諸門畢啟，有貞出號於眾曰：「太上皇帝復位矣！」趣入賀。即日命有貞兼學士，入內閣，參預機務。明日加兵部尚書。有貞謂亨曰：「願得冠側註從兄後。」亨為言於帝，封武功伯兼華蓋殿大學士，掌文淵閣事，賜號「奉天翊衛推誠宣力守正文臣」，祿千一百石，世錦衣指揮使，給誥券。有貞遂誣少保于謙、大學士王文，殺之。內閣諸臣斥遂略盡。陳循素有德於有貞，亦弗救也。事權盡歸有貞，中外咸側目。而有貞愈益發舒，進見無時，帝亦傾心委任。

Emperor Jing was due to hold court at dawn; all the officials waited below the palace gate for the water clock to signal the hour. Suddenly they heard shouting and clamor in the hall and were startled. Soon all the gates opened, and Youzhen came out and proclaimed to the crowd: "The Retired Emperor has been restored to the throne! He urged them to enter and offer congratulations. That same day Youzhen was appointed concurrently as Hanlin Academician, entered the Grand Secretariat, and participated in state affairs. The next day he was additionally appointed Minister of War. Youzhen said to Heng: "I wish to have a note added beside my title, following my elder brother. Heng spoke on his behalf to the emperor; Youzhen was enfeoffed as Earl of Wugong and concurrently made Grand Secretary of the Hall of Imperial Canopy, managing the affairs of the Pavilion of Literary Sources, granted the title Civil Minister Who Supports Heaven, Guards the Throne, Promotes Sincerity, Displays Strength, and Upholds Integrity, given a stipend of one thousand one hundred shi, hereditary commandership in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and presented with a patent of nobility. Youzhen then falsely accused Junior Guardian Yu Qian and Grand Secretary Wang Wen and had them executed. The other members of the Grand Secretariat were driven out almost to the last man. Chen Xun, who had long shown kindness to Youzhen, was not spared either. All power passed to Youzhen, and both within and outside the court people watched him with sidelong glances. Yet Youzhen grew ever more unrestrained, appearing before the emperor at all hours, and the emperor also gave him his full trust.

有貞既得誌，則思自異於曹、石。窺帝於二人不能無厭色，乃稍稍裁之，且微言其貪橫狀，帝亦為之動。御史楊瑄奏劾亨、吉祥侵占民田。帝問有貞及李賢，皆對如瑄奏。有詔獎瑄。亨、吉祥大怨恨，日夜謀構有貞。帝方眷有貞，時屏人密語。吉祥令小豎竊聽得之，故泄之帝。帝驚問曰：「安所受此語？」對曰：「受之有貞，某日語某事，外間無弗聞。」帝自是疏有貞。會御史張鵬等欲糾亨他罪，未上，而給事中王鉉泄之亨、吉祥。二人乃泣訴於帝，謂內閣實主之。遂下諸御史獄，並逮系有貞及李賢。忽雷雹交作，大風折木。帝憾悟，重違亨意，乃釋有貞出為廣東參政。

Once Youzhen had achieved his ambition, he sought to distinguish himself from Cao and Shi. Observing that the emperor could not hide his displeasure with the two men, he gradually reined them in and subtly described their greed and tyranny; the emperor was moved by this as well. Censor Yang Xuan memorialized impeaching Heng and Jixiang for seizing commoners' farmland. The emperor asked Youzhen and Li Xian, and both answered as Yang Xuan had stated in his memorial. An edict was issued praising Yang Xuan. Heng and Jixiang were filled with great resentment and plotted day and night to frame Youzhen. The emperor was then favoring Youzhen and often dismissed attendants to speak with him in private. Jixiang had a young attendant eavesdrop and learn what was said, then leaked it to the emperor. The emperor asked in alarm: "Where did you hear this? He answered: "I heard it from Youzhen; on such-and-such a day he spoke of such-and-such a matter, and nothing of it escaped the outside world." From then on the emperor kept Youzhen at a distance. Just then Censor Zhang Peng and others intended to impeach Heng on other charges, but before the memorial was submitted, Supervising Secretary Wang Xuan leaked it to Heng and Jixiang. The two men then wept and complained to the emperor, claiming that the Grand Secretariat was really behind it. The censors were thereupon thrown into prison, and Youzhen and Li Xian were arrested as well. Suddenly thunder and hail struck together, and a great wind snapped trees. The emperor regretted his action and, unwilling to go against Heng's wishes entirely, released Youzhen and sent him out as Administrative Vice Commissioner of Guangdong.

亨等憾未已，必欲殺之。令人投匿名書，指斥乘輿，雲有貞怨望，使其客馬士權者為之。遂追執有貞於德州，並士權下詔獄，榜治無驗。會承天門災，肆赦。亨、吉祥慮有貞見釋，言於帝曰：「有貞自撰武功伯券辭雲『纘禹成功』，又自擇封邑武功。禹受禪為帝，武功者曹操始封也。有貞誌圖非望。」帝出以示法司，刑部侍郎劉廣衡等奏當棄市。詔徙金齒為民。

Heng and the others' resentment was not yet spent; they were determined to kill him. They had someone submit an anonymous letter denouncing the imperial carriage, claiming that Youzhen harbored resentment and that his client Ma Shiquan had written it. Youzhen was then pursued and arrested at Dezhou; he and Shiquan were thrown into the imperial prison and tortured, but no evidence was found. Just then Chengtian Gate was destroyed by fire, and a general amnesty was proclaimed. Heng and Jixiang, fearing that Youzhen would be released, said to the emperor: "Youzhen composed the text for his Earl of Wugong patent himself, writing 'Continuing Yu's achievement,' and also chose Wugong as his fief himself. Yu received the abdication and became emperor; Wugong was the first fief granted to Cao Cao. Youzhen's ambition aims at unlawful aspirations. The emperor produced this for the judicial authorities; Vice Minister of Justice Liu Guangheng and others memorialized that he should be executed in the marketplace. An edict ordered him exiled to Jinchi as a commoner.

亨敗，帝從容謂李賢、王翺曰：「徐有貞何大罪？為石亨輩所陷耳。其釋歸田裏。」成化初，復冠帶閑住。有貞既釋歸，猶冀帝復召，時時仰觀天象，謂將星在吳，益自負。常以鐵鞭自隨，數起舞。及聞韓雍征兩廣有功，乃擲鞭太息曰：「孺子亦應天象邪？」遂放浪山水間，十余年乃卒。

When Heng fell, the emperor said calmly to Li Xian and Wang Ao: "What great crime did Xu Youzhen commit? He was simply framed by Shi Heng and his ilk. Release him to return to his home district. Early in the Chenghua reign, his cap and belt were restored and he was allowed to live in retirement. After Youzhen was released and returned home, he still hoped the emperor would summon him again; he often looked up to observe the celestial signs, saying the general's star was in Wu, and grew ever more self-confident. He often carried an iron whip with him and frequently danced with it. When he heard that Han Yong had achieved merit in the campaign in the two Guang provinces, he threw down his whip and sighed: "Can a mere youth also answer to the celestial signs? He then wandered freely among mountains and rivers, and more than ten years later he died.

有貞初出獄時，拊士權背曰：「子，義士也，他日一女相托。」金齒歸，士權時往候之，絕不及婚事。士權辭去，終身不言其事，人以是薄有貞而重士權。

When Youzhen first left prison, he patted Shiquan on the back and said: "You are a man of honor; one day I shall entrust a daughter to you. When Youzhen returned from Jinchi, Shiquan often visited him but never mentioned the marriage. When Shiquan took his leave, he never spoke of the matter for the rest of his life; people therefore looked down on Youzhen and respected Shiquan.

楊善，字思敬，大興人。年十七為諸生。成祖起兵，預城守有勞，授典儀所引禮舍人。

Yang Shan, courtesy name Sijing, came from Daxing. At the age of seventeen he became a student. When the Yongle Emperor raised his army, Shan took part in the defense of the city with merit and was appointed Ceremonial Attendant of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

永樂元年，改鴻臚寺序班。善偉風儀，音吐洪亮，工進止。每朝謁引進奏時，上目屬之。累進右寺丞。仁宗即位，擢本寺卿。宣德六年被劾下獄，褫冠帶，逾月。

In Yongle 1 (1403), he was transferred to Usher of the Court of State Ceremonial. Shan had a commanding presence, a resonant voice, and was skilled in deportment. Whenever he led the court in paying homage and presenting memorials, the emperor's eyes would turn to him. He was promoted step by step to Right Vice Director. When Emperor Renzong ascended the throne, he was promoted to Director of the court. In Xuande 6 (1431), he was impeached and thrown into prison; his cap and belt were stripped from him for more than a month.

正統六年，子容詐作中官書，假金於尚書吳中。事覺，謫戍威遠衛，置善不問。久之，擢禮部左侍郎，仍視鴻臚事。

In Zhengtong 6 (1441), his son Rong forged a letter from a eunuch and borrowed gold from Minister Wu Zhong. When the affair was discovered, Rong was banished to garrison duty at Weiyuan Guard; Shan was not questioned. After a time he was promoted to Left Vice Minister of Rites while still overseeing the affairs of the Court of State Ceremonial.

先是袁敏者，請賫服禦物問上皇安，不納。及是，尚書胡濙等言，上皇蒙塵久，禦用服食宜付善等隨行，亦不報。時也先欲還上皇，而敕書無奉迎語，自賫賜也先外，善等無他賜。善乃出家財，悉市彼中所需者，攜以往。

Earlier, a man named Yuan Min had requested permission to carry imperial garments and goods to inquire after the former emperor's welfare; the request was not accepted. At this time Minister Hu Ying and others stated that the former emperor had long been in captivity and that his imperial garments and food should be entrusted to Shan and others to carry with them; again there was no response. At that time Esen wished to return the former emperor, but the imperial letter contained no language of welcome; apart from gifts for Esen that they carried themselves, Shan and the others had no other presents. Shan thereupon spent his own family's wealth to buy everything needed in that region and carried it with him.

既至，其館伴與飲帳中，詫善曰：「土木之役，六師何怯也？」善曰：「彼時官軍壯者悉南征，王司禮邀大駕幸其裏，不為戰備，故令汝得誌耳。今南征將士歸，可二十萬。又募中外材官技擊，可三十萬。悉教以神槍火器藥弩，百步外洞人馬腹立死。又用策士言，緣邊要害，隱鐵椎三尺，馬蹄踐輒穿。又刺客林立，夜度營幕若猿猱。」伴色動。善曰：「惜哉，今皆置無用矣。」問：「何故？」曰：「和議成，歡好且若兄弟，安用此？」因以所賫遺之。其人喜，悉以語也先。

When they arrived, his Mongol host drank with him in the tent and said in astonishment to Shan: "At the Tumu campaign, why were the six armies so timid? Shan said: "At that time all the strong troops of the government army were on the southern campaign; Director Wang invited the imperial carriage to visit his home district and made no war preparations, which is why you were able to succeed. Now the southern campaign troops have returned—some two hundred thousand men. In addition, skilled fighters and martial artists from within and outside the court have been recruited—some three hundred thousand. All have been trained in divine guns, firearms, poisoned bolts, and crossbows that pierce men and horses through the belly at more than a hundred paces and kill them instantly. Following the advice of strategists, three-foot iron spikes have been hidden at key points along the frontier; when horses' hooves tread on them, they pierce through. Furthermore, assassins stand ready in great numbers, crossing camp tents at night like apes." The host's expression changed. Shan said: "What a pity—all of this is now set aside as useless. He asked: "Why?" Shan said: "Peace has been concluded, and our friendship is like that of brothers—what need is there for such things?" He then presented what he had brought as gifts. The man was pleased and told Esen everything.

明日謁也先，亦大有所遺，也先亦喜。善因詰之曰：「太上皇帝朝，太師遣貢使必三千人，歲必再賚，金幣載途，乃背盟見攻何也？」也先曰：「奈何削我馬價，予帛多剪裂，前後使人往多不歸，又減歲賜？」善曰：「非削也，太師馬歲增，價難繼而不忍拒，故微損之。太師自度，價比前孰多也？帛剪裂者，通事為之，事露，誅矣。即太師貢馬有劣弱，貂或敝，亦豈太師意耶？且使者多至三四千人，有為盜或犯他法，歸恐得罪，故自亡耳，留若奚為？貢使受宴賜，上名或浮其人數，朝廷核實而予之。所減乃虛數，有其人者，固不減也。」也先屢稱善。善復曰：「太師再攻我，屠戮數十萬，太師部曲死傷亦不少矣。上天好生，太師好殺，故數有雷警。今還上皇，和好如故，中國金幣日至，兩國俱樂，不亦美乎？」也先曰：「敕書何以無奉迎語？」善曰：「此欲成太師令名，使自為之。若載之敕書，是太師迫於朝命，非太師誠心也。」也先大喜，問：「上皇歸將復得為天子乎？」善曰：「天位已定，難再移。」也先曰：「堯、舜如何？」善曰：「堯讓舜，今兄讓弟，正相同也。」其平章昂克問善：「何不以重寶來購？」善曰：「若賫貨來，人謂太師圖利。今不爾，乃見太師仁義，為好男子，垂史策，頌揚萬世。」也先笑稱善。知院伯毅帖木耳勸也先留使臣，而遣使要上皇復位。也先懼失信，不可，竟許善奉上皇還。

The next day, when Shan paid his respects to Esen, he also gave many gifts, and Esen was pleased as well. Shan then questioned him: "During the reign of the Retired Emperor, the Grand Preceptor always sent tribute missions of three thousand men, and twice each year gifts were bestowed; gold and silks filled the roads—why then did you break the alliance and attack? Esen said: "Why was my horse price reduced, the silks given me mostly cut and torn, envoys sent back and forth mostly not returning, and the annual gifts reduced?" Shan said: "It was not a reduction; the Grand Preceptor's horses increase each year, and the price could not be sustained, yet we could not bear to refuse—therefore it was slightly reduced. Grand Preceptor, judge for yourself—is the price not higher than before? The cut and torn silks were the work of interpreters; when the affair came to light, they were put to death. Even if some tribute horses were weak or some sable furs worn, could that truly have been the Grand Preceptor's wish? Moreover, the envoys often numbered three or four thousand; some stole or broke other laws and, fearing punishment when they returned home, simply fled—what would be gained by detaining them? When tribute envoys received feasts and gifts, the rolls sometimes inflated their numbers; the court verified the head count before dispensing rewards. Only phantom figures were cut; anyone who actually existed was never shortchanged." Esen repeatedly expressed approval. Shan added: "The Grand Preceptor attacked us twice and slaughtered hundreds of thousands; your own followers also suffered heavy losses. Heaven cherishes life, yet the Grand Preceptor delights in killing—that is why thunder has warned you again and again. Return the Retired Emperor now, restore friendship as before, and China's gold and silks will flow in daily—both realms will rejoice. Would that not be splendid? Esen said: "Why does the imperial edict contain no words of welcome? Shan said: "This is meant to burnish the Grand Preceptor's reputation—so that you may do it yourself. If it were written into the edict, people would say the Grand Preceptor acted only under compulsion from the court, not from his own heart. Esen was greatly pleased and asked: "When the Retired Emperor returns, will he again become emperor? Shan said: "The Mandate's seat is already settled; it cannot easily be moved again. Esen said: "What of Yao and Shun? Shan said: "Yao yielded the throne to Shun; now an elder brother yields to a younger brother—the principle is the same. His counselor Angke asked Shan: "Why not bring heavy treasure to buy him back? Shan said: "If we brought treasure to ransom him, people would say the Grand Preceptor acted for gain. Act otherwise, and you show the Grand Preceptor's benevolence and righteousness—a true man of honor, whose name will live in the histories and be praised for ten thousand generations. Esen laughed and expressed approval. Commissioner Bo Yitiemuer urged Esen to hold the envoys and send a messenger demanding the Retired Emperor's restoration. Esen feared to break his word and refused; in the end he allowed Shan to escort the Retired Emperor home.

時舉朝競奇善功，而景帝以非初遣旨，薄其賞。遷左都御史，仍蒞鴻臚事。二年，廷臣朝正旦畢，修賀朝房。善又曰：「上皇不受賀，我曹何相賀也？」三年正月加太子太保。六年以衰老乞致仕，優詔不許。

The whole court marveled at Shan's achievement, but the Jing Emperor held his reward to a minimum, on the ground that it had not been the purpose of the original mission. He was promoted to Left Censor-in-Chief while continuing to oversee the Court of State Ceremonial. In the second year, after the court had finished the New Year's Day audience, the ministers refurbished the congratulatory reception halls. Shan said again: "The Retired Emperor does not accept congratulations—why should we congratulate one another? In the first month of the third year he was made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. In the sixth year he petitioned to retire on account of age and infirmity; an edict graciously refused.

善負才辨，以巧取功名，而憸忮為士論所棄。其為序班，坐事與庶吉士章樸同系獄，久之，相狎。時方窮治方孝孺黨，樸言家有孝孺集，未及毀。善從借觀，密奏之。樸以是誅死，而善得復官。于謙、王文之戮，陳循之竄，善亦有力焉。子宗襲爵，後革「奪門」功，降金吾指揮使。孫增尚公主。

Shan traded on talent and eloquence to win rank and renown by artifice, but his spite and jealousy left him scorned among the literati. While serving as an usher, he was imprisoned for an offense together with the Hanlin probationer Zhang Pu; after a long confinement they grew close. The court was then hunting down Fang Xiaoru's partisans; Pu mentioned that his family still possessed Fang's collected writings, not yet destroyed. Shan borrowed the collection to read it and secretly reported the matter. Pu was executed for this, and Shan was restored to office. Shan also had a hand in the executions of Yu Qian and Wang Wen and the exile of Chen Xun. His son Zong inherited the title; later, when the "Storming the Gate" honors were revoked, he was reduced to commander of the Imperial Guard. His grandson Zeng married an imperial princess.

李實，字孟誠，合州人。正統七年進士。為人恣肆無拘檢，有口辨。景泰初，為禮科給事中。也先令完者脫歡議和，實請行。擢禮部右侍郎以往，少卿羅綺為副。至則見上皇，頗得也先要領，還言也先請和無他意。及楊善往，上皇果還。是年十月進右都御史，巡撫湖廣。五年召還，掌院事。初，實使謁上皇，請還京引咎自責，失上皇意。後以居鄉暴橫，斥為民。

Li Shi, styled Mengcheng, was a native of Hezhou. He passed the metropolitan examination in the seventh year of Zhengtong. He was by nature unrestrained and undisciplined, with a ready tongue for debate. At the opening of the Jingtai reign he served as a supervising secretary in the Bureau of Rites. When Esen had Oirat Taqi open peace talks, Shi volunteered to go. He was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites and dispatched, with Vice Director Luo Qi as his deputy. On arrival he met the Retired Emperor, gained a fair grasp of Esen's demands, and reported on his return that Esen's peace overtures had no ulterior motive. When Yang Shan went, the Retired Emperor was indeed brought home. In the tenth month of that year he was promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief and appointed grand coordinator of Huguang. In the fifth year he was recalled to head the Censorate. Earlier, on his mission Shi had visited the Retired Emperor and asked to return to the capital to confess guilt and accept blame, which lost him the Retired Emperor's favor. Later, for violent misconduct while at home, he was stripped of rank and reduced to commoner status.

趙榮，字孟仁，其先西域人。元時入中國，家閩縣。舅薩琦，官翰林，從入都，以能書授中書舍人。

Zhao Rong, styled Mengren, came of Western Region stock. Under the Yuan they entered China and settled in Min County. His maternal uncle Sa Qi held office at Hanlin; Rong followed him to the capital and, for his skill in calligraphy, was appointed a drafting clerk in the Secretariat.

正統十四年十月，也先擁上皇至大同，知府霍瑄謁見，慟哭而返。也先遂犯京師，奉上皇登土城，邀大臣出迓。榮慨然請行。大學士高谷拊其背曰：「子，忠義人也。」解所佩犀帶贈之，即擢大理右少卿，充鴻臚卿。偕右通政王復出城朝見，進羊酒諸物。也先以非大臣，遣之還，而邀于謙、石亨、王直、胡濙出。景帝不遣。改榮太常少卿，仍供事內閣。景泰元年七月擢工部右侍郎，偕楊善等往。敕書無奉迎語，善口辯，榮左右之，竟奉上皇歸。進左侍郎。

In the tenth month of the fourteenth year of Zhengtong, Esen brought the Retired Emperor to Datong; Prefect Huo Xuan went to pay his respects, wept bitterly, and returned. Esen then pressed on to the capital, brought the Retired Emperor up onto the earthen rampart, and summoned the ministers to come out and receive him. Rong stepped forward and volunteered. Grand Secretary Gao Gu clapped him on the back and said: "You are a man of loyalty and righteousness. He unfastened the rhinoceros-horn belt at his waist and gave it to him, then immediately promoted him to Vice Director of the Dali Court and appointed him Protocol Secretary. Together with Vice Commissioner Wang Fu he went outside the city to pay audience, presenting sheep, wine, and other gifts. Esen sent them back on the ground that they were not senior ministers, and instead demanded that Yu Qian, Shi Heng, Wang Zhi, and Hu Ying come out. The Jing Emperor refused to send them. Rong was transferred to Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices while continuing to serve in the Grand Secretariat. In the seventh month of the first year of Jingtai he was promoted to Vice Minister of Works and went with Yang Shan and others. The edict bore no words of welcome; Shan was eloquent and Rong supported him, and in the end they escorted the Retired Emperor home. He was promoted to Left Vice Minister.

行人王晏請開沁河通漕運，再下廷議，言不便，遣榮往勘。還，亦言不便。尋奉敕會山東、河南三司相度河道。眾以榮不由科目，慢之。榮怒，多所撻辱，又自攝衣探水深淺。三司各上章言榮單馬馳走，驚駭軍民，杖傷縣官，鬻廩米多取其直。撫、按薛希璉、張琛亦以聞。章下治河僉都御史徐有貞核奏。法司言，榮雖失大體，終為急於國事，鬻米從人所為。諸臣侮大臣，抗敕旨，宜逮治，希璉、琛亦宜罪。帝令按臣責取諸臣供狀，宥之。

Clerk Wang Yan proposed opening the Qin River to link the grain transport route; after repeated court debate found the plan impractical, Rong was sent to inspect the site. On his return he too reported that it would not work. Soon afterward he received orders to join the three provincial offices of Shandong and Henan in surveying the river course. The officials looked down on Rong because he had not risen through the examination system. Rong flew into a rage, beat and humiliated many of them, and even rolled up his own robes to test the depth of the water. Each of the three provincial offices memorialized that Rong had ridden alone at full gallop, terrifying soldiers and civilians, beaten county officials with rods, and sold granary rice at inflated prices. The grand coordinator and surveillance commissioner, Xue Xilian and Zhang Chen, reported the matter as well. The memorials were referred to Xu Youzhen, the Censor-in-Chief in charge of river works, for investigation and report. The judicial offices held that although Rong had overstepped propriety, he had been zealous for state business, and the sale of grain had been done by his attendants. The officials had insulted a senior minister and defied an imperial order—they should be arrested and punished; Xilian and Chen deserved punishment as well. The emperor ordered the investigating commissioners to take written confessions from the officials and pardoned them.

霍瑄，字廷璧，鳳翔人。由鄉舉入國學，授大同通判。正統十二年，以武進伯朱冕薦，就擢知府。也先擁英宗至城下，瑄與理餉侍郎沈固等出謁，叩馬號泣。眾露刃叱之，不為動。上皇命括城內金帛，瑄悉所有獻之，上皇嘉嘆。寇數出沒大同、渾源，伺軍民樵采，輒驅掠。或幸脫歸，率殘傷肢體。遺民相率入城，無所棲，又乏食。瑄俱為奏之。老弱聽暫徙，發粟振，而所留城守丁壯除賦役。秩滿當遷，鎮巡諸臣乞留。詔加山西右參政，仍治府事。

Huo Xuan, styled Tingbi, was a native of Fengxiang. Recommended through the county examination, he entered the Imperial Academy and was appointed vice prefect of Datong. In the twelfth year of Zhengtong, on the recommendation of Marquis Wu Jin Zhu Mian, he was promoted directly to prefect. When Esen brought Emperor Yingzong to the foot of the city wall, Xuan went out with Vice Minister of Grain Supply Shen Gu and others to pay respects, clinging to the horse and wailing. The enemy bared their blades and shouted at him, but he did not flinch. The Retired Emperor ordered gold and silks gathered within the city; Xuan presented everything he owned, and the Retired Emperor praised him warmly. Raiders repeatedly struck around Datong and Hunyuan, lying in wait for soldiers and civilians out gathering firewood, then driving them off and looting them. Those who escaped returned maimed more often than not. Survivors streamed into the city in groups, with nowhere to live and no food to eat. Xuan memorialized on all these matters. The aged and weak were allowed to relocate temporarily, grain was issued for relief, and able-bodied men who remained to defend the city were exempted from taxes and corvée labor. When his term expired and he was due for transfer, the garrison and touring officials petitioned to keep him. An edict made him Right Assistant Commissioner of Shanxi while he continued to govern the prefecture.

英宗復位，征拜瑄工部右侍郎，而固亦以石亨薦，起為戶部尚書。既而巡撫上瑄治行，賜誥旌異。初，瑄在大同，巡撫年富被逮，瑄資其家還裏，為鎮守太監韋力轉所惡，撻之十余。至是瑄以聞，且言力轉每宴輒用妓樂，服禦僭侈如王者，強取部民女為妾。力轉亦訐瑄違法事。帝兩釋焉。其年轉左，賜二品服。成化初，屢為言官所劾。命致仕。卒於京師。

When Emperor Yingzong was restored to the throne, Xuan was summoned and appointed Vice Minister of Works; Shen Gu, on Shi Heng's recommendation, was recalled as Minister of Revenue. Soon afterward the grand coordinator submitted a report on Xuan's governance, and he was granted an edict of commendation for outstanding service. Earlier, while Xuan was in Datong, Grand Coordinator Nian Fu was arrested; Xuan paid for his family's journey home, for which Garrison Eunuch Wei Lizhuan took offense and had him beaten more than ten times. At this point Xuan reported the matter, adding that Lizhuan always entertained with singing girls and musicians at his banquets, dressed and lived with regal extravagance, and forcibly took local girls as concubines. Lizhuan in turn denounced Xuan for unlawful conduct. The emperor pardoned them both. That year he was transferred to the left vice ministry and granted second-rank robes. At the opening of the Chenghua reign he was repeatedly impeached by censorial officials. He was ordered to retire from office. He died in the capital.

瑄初治郡有聲，晚節不檢。特以艱危時見知天子，遂久列顯位。

Xuan had won renown in his early governance of the prefecture, but his later years were unrestrained. He held high office for so long only because he had won the emperor's favor in a time of crisis.

沈固，丹陽人。永樂中，起家鄉舉，積官至尚書。石亨敗，乞休去。

Shen Gu was a native of Danyang. During the Yongle reign he entered official life through provincial recommendation and rose step by step to become a minister. When Shi Heng was overthrown, he asked to retire from office.

王越，字世昌，濬人。長身，多力善射。涉書史，有大略。登景泰二年進士。廷試日，旋風起，揚其卷去，更給卷，乃畢事。授御史，出按陜西。聞父訃，不俟代輒歸，為都御史所劾。帝特原之。天順初，起掌諸道章奏，超拜山東按察使。七年，大同巡撫都御史韓雍召還，帝難其代，喟然曰：「安得如雍者而任之。」李賢薦越，召見。越偉服短袂，進止便利。帝喜，擢右副都御史以行。甫至，遭母憂，奪情視事。越乃繕器甲，簡卒伍，修堡寨，減課勸商，為經久計。

Wang Yue, courtesy name Shichang, was a native of Jun. He was tall and powerfully built, and an excellent archer. Well versed in history and the classics, he had a broad strategic mind. He passed the jinshi examination in 1451, the second year of the Jingtai reign. On the day of the palace examination a whirlwind suddenly sprang up and swept his examination paper away; he was given a fresh paper and at last completed the test. He was appointed a censor and dispatched on an inspection tour of Shaanxi. When word came of his father's death, he went home without waiting for a successor and was impeached by the censor-in-chief. The emperor personally granted him pardon. At the opening of the Tianshun reign he was recalled to handle memorials from all provincial circuits and was promoted directly to surveillance commissioner of Shandong. In the seventh year Han Yong, the grand coordinator and censor-in-chief at Datong, was recalled to court. The emperor struggled to find a successor and sighed, "Where can I find someone like Yong to put in that post? Li Xian recommended Wang Yue, and the emperor summoned him for an audience. Wang Yue cut an imposing figure in short military sleeves, and his bearing was quick and assured. Delighted, the emperor promoted him to right vice censor-in-chief and dispatched him to the post. He had barely taken up the post when his mother died; he was ordered to remain on duty despite the mourning period. Wang Yue set about repairing arms and armor, drilling the ranks, rebuilding forts and stockades, cutting taxes to encourage commerce, and laying plans for lasting defense.

成化三年，撫寧侯朱永征毛裏孩，以越贊理軍務。其秋，兼巡撫宣府。

In 1467, the third year of the Chenghua reign, the Marquis of Funing, Zhu Yong, marched against Molihai, with Wang Yue assisting in the management of military affairs. That autumn he was given the additional post of grand coordinator of Xuanfu.

五年冬，寇入河套，延綏巡撫王銳請濟師，詔越帥師赴之。河套者，周朔方、秦河南地，土沃，豐水草。東距山西偏頭關，西距寧夏，可二千里。三面阻河，北拊榆林之背。唐三受降城在河外，故內地。明初，阻河為守，延綏亦無事。自天順間，毛裏孩等三部始入為寇，然時出沒，不敢久駐。至是始屯牧其中，屢為邊患。越至榆林，遣遊擊將軍許寧出西路龍州、鎮靖諸堡，範瑾出東路神木、鎮羌諸堡，而自與中官秦剛按榆林城為聲援。寧戰黎家澗，瑾戰崖窯川，皆捷；右參將神英又破敵於鎮羌，寇乃退。

In the winter of the fifth year raiders entered the Ordos region; Wang Rui, grand coordinator of Yan-sui, asked for reinforcements, and the court ordered Wang Yue to lead an army to his support. The Ordos region was the ancient land of Shuofang under the Zhou and of Henan under the Qin—fertile soil with rich pasture and ample water. It stretched from Piantou Pass in Shanxi on the east to Ningxia on the west—a span of roughly two thousand li. The Yellow River hemmed it in on three sides, while to the north it lay hard against the rear of Yulin. Under the Tang the three surrender cities lay beyond the river, so the region had counted as inner territory. In the early Ming the frontier was held along the river, and Yan-sui too remained quiet. From the Tianshun period onward Molihai and three allied divisions began raiding across the border, but they appeared only intermittently and did not dare stay for long. By this time they had begun to settle and graze there in earnest, and the frontier suffered repeated raids. When Wang Yue reached Yulin, he sent the mobile commander Xu Ning by the western route through the forts at Longzhou and Zhenjing, Fan Jin by the eastern route through Shenmu and Zhenqiang, and himself remained at Yulin with the eunuch Qin Gang to hold the city as a reserve. Xu Ning fought at Lijiajian and Fan Jin at Yayaokou; both won victories; and the right assistant commander Shen Ying routed the enemy again at Zhenqiang, after which the raiders withdrew.

明年正月以捷聞，越引還。抵偏頭關，延綏告警。兵部劾越擅還。詔弗罪，而令越屯延綏近地為援。寇萬余騎五路入掠，越令寧等擊退之。進右副都御史。是年三月，朝廷以阿羅出等擾邊不止，拜撫寧侯朱永為將軍，與越共圖之。破敵開荒川，諸將追奔至牛家寨，阿羅出中流矢走。論功，進右都御史。

In the first month of the following year news of the victory was sent to court, and Wang Yue led his troops back. When he reached Piantou Pass, an alarm came from Yan-sui. The Ministry of War impeached Wang Yue for withdrawing without authorization. An edict declined to punish him and instead ordered Wang Yue to encamp near Yan-sui as a reserve force. More than ten thousand mounted raiders entered in five columns to plunder; Wang Yue ordered Xu Ning and the others to beat them back. He was promoted to right vice censor-in-chief. In the third month of that year, with Alacu and his allies still raiding the frontier without letup, the court appointed the Marquis of Funing, Zhu Yong, as commanding general to join Wang Yue in dealing with them. They routed the enemy at Kaihuangchuan; the generals pursued the fugitives to Niujiazhai, where Alacu was wounded by an arrow and fled. When rewards were allotted for merit, he was promoted to right censor-in-chief.

又明年，越以方西征，辭大同巡撫。詔聽之，加總督軍務，專辦西事。然是時寇數萬，而官軍堪戰者僅萬人，又分散防守，勢不敵。永、越乃條上戰、守二策。尚書白圭亦難之，請敕諸將守。其年，寇復連入懷遠諸堡，永、越禦卻之。圭復請大舉搜套。

The following year Wang Yue, already engaged in the western campaign, asked to be relieved of the Datong grand coordinator post. The court agreed and added to his title supreme commander of military affairs, putting him in sole charge of the western front. Yet the raiders now numbered in the tens of thousands, while barely ten thousand government troops were fit for battle—and those were scattered across defensive posts. The odds were against them. Zhu Yong and Wang Yue then submitted detailed proposals for both an offensive and a defensive strategy. Minister Bai Gui was likewise daunted by the prospect and asked that the generals be ordered to stand on the defensive. That year the raiders again broke into the forts around Huaiyuan in succession; Zhu Yong and Wang Yue drove them back. Bai Gui again urged a major expedition to scour the Ordos region.

明年遣侍郎葉盛至軍議。時永已召還，越以士卒衣裝盡壞，馬死過半，請且休兵，與盛偕還。而廷議以套不滅，三邊終無寧歲；先所調諸軍已逾八萬，將權不一，迄無成功。宜專遣大將調度。乃拜武靖侯趙輔為平虜將軍，敕陜西、寧夏、延綏三鎮兵皆受節制，越總督軍務。比至，寇方深入環慶、固原飽掠，軍竟無功。

The following year the court sent Vice Minister Ye Sheng to the front to consult with the command. By then Zhu Yong had already been recalled; Wang Yue reported that the men's clothing and equipment were in ruins and more than half the horses had died, asked for a temporary halt to operations, and returned to court with Ye Sheng. Court opinion held, however, that unless the Ordos were cleared the three border regions would never see a year of peace; more than eighty thousand troops had already been mobilized, yet divided command had produced no success. A single senior commander should be sent to take unified charge. The Marquis of Wujing, Zhao Fu, was then appointed Pacifier of the Barbarians General; an edict placed the armies of the Shaanxi, Ningxia, and Yan-sui garrisons under his command, with Wang Yue as supreme commander of military affairs. By the time they arrived, the raiders had already driven deep into Huanqing and Guyuan and sacked them at leisure; the expedition accomplished nothing.

越、輔以滿都魯、孛羅忽、乚加思蘭方強盛，勢未可破，乃奏言：「欲窮搜河套，非調精兵十五萬不可。今饋餉煩勞，公私困竭，重加科斂，內釁可虞。宜姑事退守，散遣士馬，量留精銳，就糧鄜、延，沿邊軍民悉令內徙。其寇所出沒之所，多置烽燧，鑿塹築墻，以為保障。」奏上，廷議不決。越等又奏：「寇知我軍大集，移營近河，潛謀北渡，殆不戰自屈。但山、陜荒旱，芻糧缺供，邊地早寒，凍餒相繼。以時度之，攻取實難，請從防守之策，臣等亦暫還朝。」於是部科諸臣劾越、輔欺謾。會輔有疾，召還，以寧晉伯劉聚代。

Wang Yue and Zhao Fu reported that Mandul, Bolohu, and Ygasan were at the height of their power and could not yet be broken, and memorialized: "To scour the Ordos thoroughly would require no fewer than one hundred fifty thousand elite troops. Supply lines are already overstrained, public and private resources are exhausted, and further levies would risk unrest at home. For the present we should fall back to the defensive, disperse troops and horses, keep only a picked force supplied from Fu and Yan, and order all frontier soldiers and civilians to relocate inland. Where the raiders come and go we should build more beacon towers, dig trenches, and raise walls as a defensive screen. The memorial went up, but the court could not settle on a decision. Wang Yue and his colleagues memorialized again: "The raiders know our armies are massed; they have shifted camp toward the river and are secretly planning to cross north—they may well withdraw without a fight. But the hills and fields of Shaanxi are stricken by drought, fodder and grain are running short, the frontier turns cold early, and men are succumbing to hunger and frost in succession. Given the season, an offensive is impracticable; we ask permission to adopt the defensive plan and return temporarily to court. Thereupon officials of the ministries and the censorate impeached Wang Yue and Zhao Fu for deceiving the throne. Zhao Fu then fell ill and was recalled; the Earl of Ningjin, Liu Ju, was appointed in his place.

明年，越與聚敗寇溫天嶺，進左都御史。是時三遣大將，皆以越總督軍務。寇每入，小擊輒去，軍罷即復來，率一歲數入。將士益玩寇，而寇勢轉熾。其年九月，滿都魯及孛羅忽、乚加思蘭留妻子老弱於紅鹽池，大舉深入，直抵秦州、安定諸州縣。越策寇盡銳西，不備東偏，乃率延綏總兵官許寧、遊擊將軍周玉各將五千騎為左右哨，出榆林，逾紅兒山，涉白鹽灘，兩晝夜行八百里。將至，暴風起，塵翳目。一老卒前曰：「天贊我也。去而風，使敵不覺。還軍，遇歸寇，處下風。乘風擊之，蔑不勝矣。」越遽下馬拜之，擢為千戶。分兵千為十覆，而身率寧、玉張兩翼，薄其營，大破之。擒斬三百五十，獲駝馬器械無算，焚其廬帳而還。及滿都魯等飽掠歸，則妻子畜產已蕩盡，相顧痛哭。自是遠徙北去，不敢復居河套，西陲息肩者數年。初，文臣視師者，率從大軍後，出號令行賞罰而已。越始多選跳蕩士為腹心將，親與寇搏。又以間覘敵累重邀劫之，或剪其零騎，用是數有功。

The following year Wang Yue and Liu Ju defeated the raiders at Wentian Ridge, and he was promoted to left censor-in-chief. By then three senior generals had been sent to the front, and in every case Wang Yue served as supreme commander of military affairs. Each time the raiders crossed the border a minor strike would drive them off, but once the army stood down they returned—several incursions in a year was the rule. The troops grew ever more complacent toward the enemy, while the raiders grew bolder. In the ninth month of that year Mandul, Bolohu, and Ygasan left their wives, children, and noncombatants at Red Salt Pool and launched a major raid deep into the interior, reaching as far as Qinzhou and Anding. Wang Yue reasoned that the raiders had committed their full strength to the west and left their eastern flank exposed; he led the Yan-sui commander Xu Ning and the mobile commander Zhou Yu, each with five thousand horsemen as left and right vanguards, out from Yulin, over Hong'er Mountain and across White Salt Shoals, covering eight hundred li in two days and nights. As they were nearing their objective a violent wind sprang up and dust blotted out the sky. An old soldier stepped forward and said, "Heaven is on our side. March with the wind at our backs and the enemy will never know we are coming. When we turn back and meet the raiders returning, we will have the wind at our backs. Strike with the wind behind us and we cannot fail to win. Wang Yue immediately dismounted and bowed to him, then promoted him on the spot to commander of a thousand. He split one thousand men into ten ambush parties, then personally led Xu Ning and Zhou Yu to deploy on both wings, closed on the enemy camp, and broke it completely. They killed or captured three hundred fifty men, took camels, horses, and weapons beyond count, burned the enemy encampment, and withdrew. When Mandul and his men returned laden with plunder, they found their wives, children, and herds utterly destroyed; they looked at one another and wept. From then on they moved far to the north and dared not settle in the Ordos again; the western frontier enjoyed several years of relief. Previously, when civil officials supervised armies they usually followed in the rear of the main force, issuing orders and meting out rewards and punishments—and little else. Wang Yue was the first to pick out daring fighters as his trusted commanders and to engage the enemy in person. He also sent scouts to track the enemy and repeatedly ambushed their supply trains, or picked off detached cavalry—by such means he won repeated victories.

十年春，廷議設總制府於固原，舉定西侯蔣琬為總兵官，越提督軍務，控制延綏、寧夏、甘肅三邊。總兵、巡撫而下，並聽節制。詔罷琬，即以越任之，三邊設總制自此始。論功，加太子少保，增俸一級。紀功郎中張謹、兵科給事中郭鏜等論劉聚等濫殺冒功，並劾越妄奏。越方自以功大賞薄，遂怏怏，稱疾還朝。

In the spring of the tenth year the court proposed establishing a supreme command headquarters at Guyuan, nominating the Marquis of Dingxi, Jiang Wan, as commander-in-chief, with Wang Yue supervising military affairs over the three frontier regions of Yan-sui, Ningxia, and Gansu. Commanders-in-chief, grand coordinators, and all officers below them were placed under his authority. An edict removed Jiang Wan and gave the post directly to Wang Yue—the post of supreme commander over the three frontier regions dates from this appointment. When rewards were allotted for merit, he was made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and given one step in salary. Zhang Jin of the merit-recording office and Guo Tang, a supervising secretary in the military section of the censorate, charged Liu Ju and others with indiscriminate killing and false claims of merit, and also impeached Wang Yue for reckless memorializing. Wang Yue, feeling his achievements had outstripped his rewards, grew resentful, pleaded illness, and returned to the capital.

明年與左都御史李賓同掌院事，兼督十二團營。越素以才自喜，不修小節，為朝議所齮。至是乃破名檢，與群小關通。奸人韋英者，以官奴從征延綏，冒功得百戶。汪直掌西廠用事，英為爪牙，趙因英自結於直。內閣論罷西廠，越遇大學士劉吉、劉珝於朝，顯謂之曰：「汪直行事亦甚公。如黃賜專權納賂，非直不能去。商、萬在事久，是非多有所忌憚。二公入閣幾日，何亦為此？」珝曰：「吾輩所言，非為身謀。使值行事皆公，朝廷置公卿大夫何為？」越不能對。

The following year he joined Left Censor-in-Chief Li Bin in directing the Censorate and was also put in charge of the Twelve Regiments. Wang Yue had always been proud of his ability and disdained petty proprieties, and court opinion had long been set against him. Now he cast off all restraint and consorted with unsavory characters. One such man was the schemer Wei Ying, who had gone to Yan-sui as a government bondsman, falsely claimed military merit, and been granted the rank of commander of a hundred households. Wang Zhi ran the Western Depot and wielded real power; Wei Ying served as his henchman, and Wang Yue used Ying to cultivate ties with Zhi. When the Grand Secretariat debated abolishing the Western Depot, Wang Yue encountered Grand Secretaries Liu Ji and Liu Bing at court and said openly, "Wang Zhi's conduct is quite fair. Take Huang Ci, who monopolized power and took bribes—without Wang Zhi he could never have been removed. Shang and Wan have been in power for years; on matters of right and wrong they have too much to lose. You two have only just entered the Grand Secretariat—why take this line yourselves? Liu Bing replied, "What we say is not for our own advantage. If eunuchs could be trusted to act fairly in every case, what need would the court have for its grand ministers and high officials?" Wang Yue had no answer.

兵部尚書項忠罷，越當遷，而朝命予陜西巡撫余子俊。越彌不平，請解營務，優詔不許。因自陳搗巢功，為故尚書白圭所抑，從征將士多未錄，乞移所加官酬之。子俊亦言越賞不酬功，乃進兵部尚書，仍掌院事。尋加太子太保。

When Minister of War Xiang Zhong was removed from office, Wang Yue should have been promoted, but the court instead named Yu Zijun Grand Coordinator of Shaanxi. Wang Yue grew still more indignant and asked to be relieved of his camp command, but an edict of special favor refused the request. He then submitted a memorial on his own behalf, stating that credit for the nest-raiding campaign had been withheld by the late Minister Bai Gui and that many officers and soldiers who had fought under him had gone unrewarded; he asked that the offices recently granted him be transferred to compensate them. Yu Zijun likewise reported that Wang Yue's rewards did not match his achievements, and so Yue was promoted to Minister of War while continuing to head the Censorate. He was soon given the additional title of Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent.

越急功名。汪直初東征，越望督師，為陳鉞所沮。鉞驟寵，心益艷之。十六年春，延綏守臣奏寇潛渡河入靖虜，越乃說直出師。詔拜保國公朱永為平虜將軍，直監軍，而越提督軍務。越說直令永率大軍由南路，己與直將輕騎循塞垣而西，俱會榆林。越至大同，聞敵帳在威寧海子，則盡選宣、大兩鎮兵二萬，出孤店，潛行至貓兒莊，分數道。值大風雨雪晦冥，進至威寧，寇猶不覺，掩擊大破之。斬首四百三十余級，獲馬駝牛羊六千，師不至榆林而還。永所出道迂，不見敵，無功。由是封越威寧伯，世襲，歲祿千二百石。越受封，不當復領都察院，而越不欲就西班。御史許進等頌其功，引王驥、楊善例，請仍領院事，提督團營。從之。明年復與直、永帥師出大同。適寇入掠，追擊至黑石崖，擒斬百二十余人，獲馬七百匹。進太子太傅，增歲祿四百石。明制，文臣不得封公侯。越從勛臣例，改掌前軍都督府，總五軍營兵，督團營如故。自是真為武人，且望侯矣。其年五月，宣府告警，命佩平胡將軍印，充總兵官。復以直監督軍務，率京軍萬人赴之。比至，寇已去，因留屯其地。至冬，而直為其儕所間，寵衰。越等再請班師，不許。陳鉞居兵部，亦代直請。帝切責之，兩人始懼。已，大同總兵官孫鉞卒，即命越代之，而以直總鎮大同、宣府，悉召京營將士還。

Wang Yue was driven by an urgent hunger for fame and glory. When Wang Zhi first led an eastern campaign, Wang Yue hoped to take overall command, but Chen Yue blocked him. Chen Yue suddenly rose in favor, and Wang Yue's envy only grew keener. In the spring of the sixteenth year, the frontier officials of Yan-sui reported that raiders had secretly crossed the river into Jing-lu, and Wang Yue persuaded Wang Zhi to take the field. An edict appointed the Duke of Protecting the State, Zhu Yong, General Who Pacifies the Barbarians, with Wang Zhi supervising the army and Wang Yue directing military affairs. Wang Yue persuaded Wang Zhi to have Zhu Yong lead the main force by the southern route while he and Zhi themselves led light cavalry west along the border wall, all to rendezvous at Yulin. When Wang Yue reached Datong and learned that the enemy camp lay at Weining Lake, he mustered all twenty thousand troops from the Xuanfu and Datong garrisons, marched out from Gudian, stole up to Mao'erzhuang by secret routes, and divided his force into several columns. A fierce snowstorm blotted out the sky; they pressed on to Weining while the raiders still had no inkling of their approach, then fell upon them in a surprise attack and broke them completely. They took more than four hundred thirty heads, captured six thousand horses, camels, cattle, and sheep, and withdrew without ever reaching Yulin. Zhu Yong's column took a roundabout route, never encountered the enemy, and won no success. For this Wang Yue was enfeoffed as Marquis of Weining with a hereditary title and an annual stipend of twelve hundred shi. Once ennobled, Wang Yue should no longer have headed the Censorate, but he was unwilling to take his place among the civil officials of the western rank. Censor Xu Jin and others praised his achievements, citing the precedents of Wang Ji and Yang Shan, and asked that he continue to head the Censorate and direct the regiment camps. The court agreed. The following year he again led an army out from Datong with Wang Zhi and Zhu Yong. Raiders happened to cross the border on a plundering raid; pursuing them to Black Stone Cliff, the army killed or captured more than one hundred twenty men and took seven hundred horses. He was promoted to Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent, and four hundred shi were added to his annual stipend. Under Ming law, civil officials could not be enfeoffed as duke or marquis. Following the precedent set for meritorious nobles, Wang Yue was transferred to head the Front Army Command Headquarters, given overall command of the Five Armies Camps, and continued to direct the regiment camps as before. From that point he was truly a military man, and he already had his eye on a marquisate. That same year, when Xuanfu sounded the alarm in the fifth month, he was ordered to wear the seal of General Who Pacifies the Hu and serve as overall commander. Wang Zhi was again placed in charge of supervising military affairs, and Wang Yue led ten thousand capital troops to the scene. By the time they arrived the raiders had already withdrawn, so they remained and garrisoned the area. By winter Wang Zhi had been undermined by his rivals at court, and imperial favor toward him waned. Wang Yue and the others again asked to withdraw the army, but the request was denied. Chen Yue, who now headed the Ministry of War, also petitioned on Wang Zhi's behalf. The emperor sharply rebuked them, and only then did the two men begin to fear for themselves. Soon afterward the overall commander of Datong, Sun Yue, died; Wang Yue was immediately ordered to replace him, while Wang Zhi was given overall charge of Datong and Xuanfu and all capital-camp officers and soldiers were recalled.

明年，寇犯延綏。越等調兵援之，頗有斬獲，益祿五十石。帝是時益知越、直交結狀。大學士萬安等以越有智計，恐誘直復進，乃請調越延綏以離之。兩人勢益衰。明年，直得罪，言官並劾越。詔奪爵除名，謫居安陸，三子以功蔭得官者，皆削籍，且使使賫敕諭之。越聞使至，欲自裁，見敕有從輕語，乃稍自安。越既為禮法士所疾，自負豪傑，驁然自如。飲食供奉擬王者，射獵聲樂自恣，雖謫徙不少衰。故其得罪，時議頗謂太過，而竟無白之者。孝宗立，赦還。

The following year raiders struck Yan-sui. Wang Yue and his subordinates shifted troops to the relief and won a fair number of kills and captures; fifty shi were added to his stipend. By this time the emperor understood more clearly how closely Wang Yue and Wang Zhi were allied. Grand Secretaries Wan An and others, knowing Wang Yue's cunning, feared he would draw Wang Zhi back into power and therefore asked that Yue be transferred to Yan-sui to break the alliance. The influence of the two men declined still further. The following year Wang Zhi fell from grace, and censorial officials impeached Wang Yue along with him. An edict stripped him of his title and removed his name from the rolls, banished him to Anlu, struck from the registers all three sons who had received office through inherited merit, and sent envoys bearing an imperial instruction to read the decree to him. When Wang Yue heard the envoys had arrived he was ready to take his own life, but when he saw that the edict contained language of leniency he grew somewhat reassured. Wang Yue had long been resented by men of propriety and learning; confident in his own heroic stature, he carried himself with arrogant ease. His table and retinue rivaled a king's; he indulged freely in hunting, music, and pleasure, and even in exile his style of living scarcely diminished. For this reason many at the time felt his punishment had gone too far, yet in the end no one spoke up for him. When the Xiaozong Emperor came to the throne, he was pardoned and allowed to return.

弘治七年，越屢疏訟冤。詔復左都御史，致仕。越年七十，耄矣，復結中官李廣，以中旨召掌都察院事。給事中季源、御史王一言等交章論，乃寢。

In the seventh year of the Hongzhi reign, Wang Yue repeatedly submitted memorials pleading his innocence. An edict restored him to the post of Left Censor-in-Chief and granted him retirement. Wang Yue was seventy years old and already in his dotage, yet he again attached himself to the eunuch Li Guang and, by secret rescript, was summoned back to head the Censorate. Supervising Secretary Ji Yuan, Censor Wang Yiyan, and others submitted successive memorials in protest, and the appointment was dropped.

十年冬寇犯甘肅。廷議復設總制官，先後會舉七人，不稱旨。吏部尚書屠滽以越名上，乃詔起原官，加太子太保，總制甘、涼邊務兼巡撫。越言甘鎮兵弱，非籍延、寧兩鎮兵難以克敵，請兼制兩鎮，解巡撫事。從之。明年，越以寇巢賀蘭山後，數擾邊，乃分兵三路進剿。斬四十三級，獲馬駝百余。加少保，兼太子太傅。遂條上制置哈密事宜。會李廣得罪死，言官連章劾廣黨，皆及越。越聞憂恨，其冬卒於甘州。贈太傅，謚襄敏。

In the winter of the tenth year raiders struck Gansu. At court they debated reestablishing the post of overall frontier controller; seven candidates were recommended in turn, but none satisfied the emperor. Minister of Personnel Tu Yong submitted Wang Yue's name; an edict then recalled him to his former rank, added the title Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, and put him in overall charge of the Gansu and Liangzhou frontier while also serving as Grand Coordinator. Wang Yue argued that the Gansu garrison was too weak and that the enemy could not be defeated without troops from the Yan-sui and Ningxia garrisons; he asked to command both garrisons as well and to be relieved of his duties as Grand Coordinator. The court agreed. The following year, with the raiders encamped behind Helan Mountain and repeatedly harassing the frontier, Wang Yue divided his force into three columns and advanced to suppress them. They took forty-three heads and captured more than one hundred horses and camels. He was promoted to Junior Guardian and concurrently made Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent. He then submitted a detailed plan for administering Hami. Just then Li Guang fell from grace and died; censorial officials submitted a stream of memorials impeaching Li Guang's faction, and all of them implicated Wang Yue. When Wang Yue heard the news he was stricken with grief and resentment, and that winter he died at Ganzhou. He was posthumously granted the title Grand Mentor and given the posthumous name Xiangmin.

越姿表奇偉，議論飆舉。久歷邊陲，身經十余戰，知敵情偽及將士勇怯，出奇制勝，動有成算。獎拔士類，籠罩豪俊，用財若流水，以故人樂為用。又嘗薦楊守隨、鐘、屠滽輩，皆有名於世。睦族敦舊，振窮恤貧，如恐不及。其膽智過絕於人。嘗與朱永帥千人巡邊，寇猝至，永欲走，越止之，列陣自固，寇疑未敢前。薄暮，令騎皆下馬，銜枚魚貫行，自率驍勇為殿，從山後行五十里抵城，謂永曰：「我一動，寇追擊，無噍類矣，示暇以惑之也。下馬行，無軍聲，令寇不覺耳。」性故豪縱。嘗西行謁秦王，王開筵奏妓。越語王：「下官為王吠犬久矣，寧無以相酬者？」因盡乞其妓女以歸。一夕大雪，方圍爐飲，諸妓擁琵琶侍。一小校诇敵還，陳敵情。未竟，越大喜，酌金卮飲之，命彈琵琶侑酒，即以金卮賜之。語畢益喜，指妓絕麗者目之曰：「若得此何如？」校惶恐謝。越大笑，立予之。校所至為盡死力。

Wang Yue had a singularly imposing presence, and his speech was swift and forceful. Long seasoned on the frontier, he had personally fought more than ten battles; he knew the enemy's deceptions and the courage or cowardice of his officers and men, and by striking with surprise he almost always won with a plan already in hand. He rewarded and promoted men of talent, gathered bold spirits under his command, and spent money like water, so that men were glad to serve him. He had also recommended Yang Shousui, Zhong Qi, Tu Yong, and others, all of whom won renown in their time. He was devoted to his clan and loyal to old friends, relieving the destitute and succoring the poor as if he feared he might not reach them in time. His courage and wit were beyond ordinary men. Once, while leading a thousand men on a border patrol with Zhu Yong, he was suddenly set upon by raiders; Yong wanted to flee, but Wang Yue stopped him, formed ranks, and held firm—the raiders suspected a trap and did not dare advance. At dusk he ordered every rider to dismount and march in single file with bits in their mouths; he personally led the crack troops as rearguard and, going fifty li behind the mountains, reached the city. He said to Yong, "If I had made one move the raiders would have pursued and none of us would have survived; I showed ease to confuse them. March on foot and there is no sound of an army—that is how you keep the enemy from noticing." By nature he was bold and unrestrained. Once, traveling west, he paid a call on the Prince of Qin, who spread a banquet with musicians performing. Wang Yue said to the prince, "Your humble servant has long served as the prince's hunting hound—is there nothing with which to reward me?" Thereupon he asked for all the courtesans and took them home with him. One snowy evening, as he was drinking around the brazier, the courtesans attended him with pipas in their arms. A junior officer returned from scouting the enemy and reported what he had found. Before the report was finished Wang Yue was delighted; he poured wine from a golden goblet for the man to drink, ordered a pipa played to accompany the wine, and immediately gave him the goblet. When the report was finished he was still more pleased; pointing at an exceptionally beautiful courtesan he looked at the officer and said, "If you could have her, how would that suit you?" The officer fearfully declined. Wang Yue laughed heartily and immediately gave her to him. Wherever that officer went afterward, he gave his utmost in service.

越在時，人多咎其貪功。及死，而將餒卒惰，冒功糜餉滋甚，邊臣竟未有如越者。

While Wang Yue was alive many blamed him for grasping after credit. After his death, generals grew slack and soldiers lazy; false claims of merit and waste of rations grew worse than ever, and among frontier officials there was ultimately no one to match him.

贊曰：人非有才之難，而善用其才之難。王驥、王越之將兵，楊善之奉使，徐有貞之治河，其才皆有過人者。假使隨流平進，以幹略自奮，不失為名卿大夫。而顧以躁於進取，依附攀援，雖剖符受封，在文臣為希世之遇，而譽望因之隳損，甚亦不免削奪。名節所系，可不重哉！

Commentary: The difficulty is not in finding talent, but in using it well. Wang Ji's command of troops, Wang Yue's generalship, Yang Shan's diplomatic missions, and Xu Youzhen's river works—all possessed talent beyond the ordinary. Had they gone with the flow and risen steadily, relying on their own ability and resolve, they would not have fallen short of becoming renowned ministers and great officers. Yet they were instead impatient for advancement, attaching themselves to powerful patrons and climbing by connection; though they received seals and enfeoffment—a rare honor for a civil official—their reputations were ruined in the process, and in the end many lost even what they had gained. Reputation and integrity hang in the balance—can they not be held sacred!

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