Volume 182 Biographies 70: Wang Shu, Ma Wensheng, Liu Daxia

王恕，字宗貫，三原人。正統十三年進士。由庶吉士授大理左評事，進左寺副。嘗條刑罰不中者六事，皆議行之。遷揚州知府，發粟振饑不待報，作資政書院以課士。天順四年以治行最，超遷江西右布政使，平贛州寇。憲宗嗣位，詔大臣嚴核天下方面官，乃黜河南左布政使侯臣等十三人，而以恕代臣。成化元年，南陽、荊、襄流民嘯聚為亂，擢恕右副都御史撫治之。會丁母憂，詔奔喪兩月即起視事。恕辭，不許。與尚書白圭共平大盜劉通，復討破其黨石龍。嚴束所部毋濫殺，流民復業。移撫河南。論功，進左副都御史，稍遷南京刑部右侍郎。父憂，服除，以原官總督河道。浚高郵、邵伯諸湖，修雷公、上下句城、陳公四塘水閘。因災變，請講求弭災策。帝為賜山東租一年，畿輔亦多減免。旋改南京戶部左侍郎。

Wang Shu, whose courtesy name was Zongguan, came from Sanyuan. He received his jinshi degree in the thirteenth year of the Zhengtong reign. After serving as a Hanlin bachelor, he was made Left Assessor of the Court of Judicial Review and later promoted to Vice Director of the Left Tribunal. He once listed six abuses in the penal code, and every one was adopted after deliberation. As prefect of Yangzhou he opened the granaries to feed the hungry without waiting for imperial leave, and established the Zizheng Academy to train local students. In the fourth year of Tianshun his outstanding administration won him a leap promotion to Right Administration Commissioner of Jiangxi, where he put down the rebels in Ganzhou. On Xianzong's accession the throne ordered a rigorous review of regional officials throughout the empire; thirteen were removed, among them Hou Chen, Left Administration Commissioner of Henan, and Shu was appointed in Chen's place. In the first year of Chenghua, displaced people in Nanyang, Jing, and Xiang gathered into rebellious bands, and Shu was promoted to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief to pacify the region. When his mother died, an edict allowed him to attend the funeral but ordered him back to duty after two months. Shu declined, but the court refused. Together with Minister Bai Gui he defeated the major rebel Liu Tong, then defeated Liu Tong's follower Shi Long as well. He kept his forces under strict discipline, forbidding indiscriminate killing, and the refugees returned to their livelihoods. Transferred to govern Henan, he was promoted for his merit to Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, and later became Right Vice Minister of Justice in Nanjing. After mourning his father and completing the mourning period, he resumed office as overseer of river works. He dredged the Gaoyou and Shaobo lakes and repaired the sluices at the four ponds of Leigong, Upper and Lower Jucheng, and Chengong. In response to disasters and portents, he asked the court to study measures to avert calamity. The emperor accordingly remitted a year of taxes in Shandong, and also reduced or remitted many levies in the capital region. Shu was soon transferred to Left Vice Minister of Revenue in Nanjing.

十二年，大學士商輅等以雲南遠在萬里，西控諸夷，南接交阯，而鎮守中官錢能貪恣甚，議遣大臣有威望者為巡撫鎮壓之，乃改恕左副都御史以行，就進右都御史。初，能遣指揮郭景奏事京師，言安南捕盜兵闌入雲南境，帝即命景賫敕戒約之。舊制，使安南必由廣西，而景直自雲南往。能因景遺安南王黎灝玉帶、寶絳、蟒衣、珍奇諸物。灝遣將率兵送景還，欲遂通雲南道。景懼後禍，紿先行白守關者。因脫歸，揚言安南寇至，關吏戒嚴。黔國公沐琮遣人諭其帥，始返。而諸臣畏能，匿不奏。能又頻遣景及指揮盧安、蘇本等交通幹崖、孟密諸土官，納其金寶無算。恕皆廉得之。遣騎執景，景懼自殺，因劾能私通外國，罪當死。詔遣刑部郎中潘蕃往按之。能又以其間，驛進黃鸚鵡。恕請禁絕，且盡發能貪暴狀，言：「昔交阯以鎮守非人，致一方陷沒。今日之事殆又甚焉。陛下何惜一能，不以安邊僥。」能大懼，急屬貴近請召恕還。而是時商輅、項忠諸正人方以忤汪直罷，遂改恕掌南京都察院，參贊守備機務。能事立解，藩勘上得實，置不問。

In the twelfth year the Grand Secretaries, led by Shang Lu, argued that Yunnan—remote, flanked by barbarians on the west and Jiaozhi on the south—needed a minister of weight to rein in the rapacious eunuch defender Qian Neng; Shu was accordingly reassigned as Left Vice Censor-in-Chief with immediate promotion to Right Censor-in-Chief for the journey. Previously Neng had dispatched Commander Guo Jing to the capital with word that Annamese soldiers hunting robbers had crossed into Yunnan; the emperor promptly sent Jing back with an edict of admonition. Under the old regulations envoys to Annam had to travel via Guangxi, yet Jing took the route directly from Yunnan. Through Jing, Neng presented King Le Hao of Annam with a jade belt, jeweled sash, python robe, and other curiosities. Hao dispatched a general with soldiers to escort Jing home, hoping thereby to establish a passage through Yunnan. Afraid of later retribution, Jing tricked them by riding ahead to warn the frontier posts. He escaped back first, crying that Annamese invaders were at hand, and the pass officials raised the alarm. Mu Cong, Duke of Qian, sent envoys to admonish their commander, and the troops at last turned back. The local officials, terrified of Neng, kept silent and never reported the matter. Neng likewise kept dispatching Jing, Lu An, Su Ben, and other commanders to traffic with the native offices of Ganyao and Mengmi, extorting countless treasures. Shu uncovered every detail through his inquiries. He sent horsemen to arrest Jing, who committed suicide in terror; Shu then charged Neng with clandestine relations abroad, punishable by death. The throne ordered Pan Fan, a director in the Ministry of Justice, to conduct an on-site inquiry. Meanwhile Neng rushed a relay gift of yellow parrots to the emperor. Shu petitioned to halt the tribute and exposed the full extent of Neng's greed and violence, writing: "Jiaozhi was lost before because the wrong man was put in charge of the frontier, until a whole region fell. What we face today may be worse still. Why keep a single Neng when the safety of the frontier is at stake?" Neng was terrified and at once prevailed on his court allies to summon Shu back. Just then Shang Lu, Xiang Zhong, and other honest ministers had been ousted for crossing Wang Zhi; Shu was shifted to direct the Nanjing Censorate and advise on garrison matters. Neng's trouble dissolved at once: Pan's report confirmed the charges, but no punishment followed.

恕居雲南九月，威行僥外，黔國以下鹹惕息奉令。疏凡二十上，直聲動天下。當是時，安南納江西叛人王姓者為謀主，潛遣諜入臨安，又於蒙自市銅鑄兵器，將伺間襲雲南。恕請增設副使二員，以飭邊備，謀遂沮。

During nine months in Yunnan his prestige extended past the borderlands; from the Duke of Qian on down everyone submitted in fear. He filed twenty memorials in all, and the force of his honest remonstrance resounded throughout the realm. Annam had meanwhile sheltered a Jiangxi rebel named Wang as mastermind, slipped agents into Lin'an, and at Mengzi purchased copper to forge arms, plotting to raid Yunnan at the first opportunity. Shu requested two extra vice commissioners to stiffen border defenses, and the conspiracy collapsed.

還南京數月，遷兵部尚書，參贊如故。考選官屬，嚴拒請托，同事者鹹不悅。而錢能歸，屢譖恕於帝。帝亦銜恕數直言，遂命兼右副都御史巡撫南畿。舊制，應天、鎮江、太平、寧國、廣德官田征半租，民田全免。其後，民田率歸豪右，而官田累貧民。恕乃量減官田耗，稍增之民田。常州時有羨米，乃奏以六萬石補夏稅，又補他府戶口鹽鈔六百萬貫，公私便焉。所部水災，奏免秋糧六十余萬石。周行振貸，全活二百余萬口。江南歲輸白糧，民多至破產，而光祿概以給庖人、賤工。又中官暴橫，四方輸上供物，監收者率要羨入。織造繒采及采花卉禽鳥者，絡繹道路。恕先後論列，皆不納。

A few months after returning to Nanjing he was appointed Minister of War while keeping his advisory role. He conducted official selections and flatly rejected favor-seeking; his fellow ministers resented it. After Qian Neng came back to court he repeatedly maligned Shu before the throne. The emperor, already annoyed by Shu's bluntness, ordered him to take on the additional post of Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, grand coordinator of the southern capital districts. Formerly in Yingtian, Zhenjiang, Taiping, Ningguo, and Guangde, government land paid half the grain tax and private land none at all. In time private holdings passed chiefly to powerful landlords, and official plots were shifted onto the poor. Shu cut the extra levies on official land and raised those on private land a little. When Changzhou held surplus grain he proposed applying sixty thousand shi to the summer levy and covering six million strings of salt certificates owed by other prefectures, to everyone's relief. After floods in his region he secured remission of over six hundred thousand shi of autumn grain tax. Touring the stricken areas with relief grain, he kept more than two million people alive. Southern taxpayers shipped white rice until many families were ruined, yet the Court of Imperial Entertainments fed it to kitchen staff and low artisans. Eunuchs bullied the regions as well: those who supervised tribute collections routinely extorted extra shares. Envoys weaving silks and brocades and gathering flowers, birds, and exotic goods clogged the highways. Shu protested again and again, yet every plea was ignored.

中官王敬挾妖人千戶王臣南行采藥物、珍玩，所至騷然，長吏多被辱。至蘇州，召諸生寫妖書，諸生大嘩。敬奏諸生抗命。恕亟疏言：「當此兇歲，宜遣使振濟，顧乃橫索玩好。昔唐太宗諷梁州獻名鷹，明皇令益州織半臂褙子，進琵琶桿撥鏤牙合子諸物，李大亮、蘇颋不奉詔。臣雖無似，有慕斯人。」因盡列敬等罪狀。敬亦誣奏恕並及常州知府孫仁，仁被逮。仁，新淦人，由進士歷知府，為人方峻，敬至不為禮，以是見忤。恕抗章救，三疏劾敬。會中官尚銘亦發敬奸狀，乃下敬等獄，戍其黨十九人，而棄臣市，傳首南京。仁亦得釋歸，後積官至巡撫寧夏右副都御史。

The eunuch Wang Jing traveled south with the magician Wang Chen, a chiliarch, to collect drugs and curios; wherever they went they caused uproar and many magistrates were insulted. Reaching Suzhou he ordered students to transcribe occult texts, and they erupted in protest. Jing reported that the students had disobeyed. Shu wrote at once: "In a famine year the court should dispatch relief, yet these men brazenly demand playthings. Long ago Li Daliang and Su Ting refused imperial orders when Liangzhou presented a famous hawk to Tang Taizong and when Tang Minghuang demanded half-sleeve jackets from Yizhou and inlaid ivory fittings for pipa pegs. I am no match for those worthies, yet I wish to emulate them." He went on to enumerate every offense of Jing and his followers. Jing struck back with false charges against Shu and dragged in Sun Ren, prefect of Changzhou, who was seized. Sun Ren of Xin'gan, a jinshi who had served as prefect, was a man of severe integrity; he refused to defer to Jing, and for that was targeted. Shu fought the case with bold memorials and thrice impeached Jing. When the eunuch Shang Ming exposed Jing's crimes, Jing was thrown into prison, nineteen accomplices were exiled, and Chen was beheaded in the marketplace with his head hung at Nanjing. Sun Ren was freed and eventually became Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, grand coordinator of Ningxia.

二十年復改恕南京兵部尚書。時錢能亦守備南京，語人曰：「王公，天人也，吾敬事而已。」恕坦懷待之，能卒斂戢。林俊之下獄也，恕言：「天地止一壇，祖宗止一廟，而佛至千余寺。一寺立，而移民居且數百家，費內帑且數十萬，此舛也。俊言當，不宜罪。」帝得疏不懌。恕侃侃論列無少避。先後應詔陳言者二十一，建白者三十九，皆力阻權幸。天下傾心慕之，遇朝事有不可，必曰：「王公胡不言也？」則又曰：「公疏且至矣」，已，恕疏果至。時為謠曰：「兩京十二部，獨有一王恕。」於是貴近皆側目，帝亦頗厭苦之。

In the twentieth year Shu was once more appointed Nanjing Minister of War. Qian Neng, then defending Nanjing, said to acquaintances, "Lord Wang is a heaven-sent man; all I can do is honor him." Shu met him with frank goodwill, and Neng finally curbed his conduct. When Lin Jun was imprisoned, Shu argued: "Heaven and earth have a single altar and the ancestors a single temple, yet Buddhist temples exceed a thousand. Every new monastery moves hundreds of families and drains the treasury by hundreds of thousands—such waste is wrong. Lin Jun was right and ought not to suffer for it." The emperor read the memorial with displeasure. Still Shu spoke plainly and shrank from nothing. He responded to twenty-one imperial calls for counsel and offered thirty-nine concrete reforms, each thwarting the favorites. All China admired him; whenever policy went wrong, people would cry, "Why is Lord Wang silent?" Others answered, 'His memorial is on its way'—and soon Shu's dispatch would appear. People sang: "Among the twelve ministries of both capitals, only Wang Shu remains upright." The mighty resented him, and even the emperor wearied of his remonstrances.

二十二年起用傳奉官，恕諫尤切，帝愈不悅。恕先加太子少保，會南京兵部侍郎馬顯乞罷，忽附批落恕宮保致仕，朝野大駭。恕數為巡撫，歷侍郎至尚書，皆在留都。以好直言，終不得立朝。既歸，名益高，臺省推薦無虛月。工部主事仙居王純比恕汲黯，至予杖，謫思南推官。孝宗即位，始用廷臣薦，召入為吏部尚書，尋加太子太保。先是，中外劾大學士劉吉者，必薦恕，吉以是大恚。凡恕所推舉，必陰撓之。弘治元年閏正月，言官劾兩廣總督宋旻、漕運總督邱鼐等三十七人宜降黜，中多素有時望者。吉竟取中旨允之，章不下吏部。恕以不得其職，拜疏乞去，不許。陜西缺巡撫，恕推河南布政使蕭禎。詔別推，恕執奏曰：「陛下不以臣不肖，任臣銓部。倘所舉不效，臣罪也。今陛下安知禎不才而拒之？是必左右近臣意有所屬。臣不能承望風指，以固祿位。且陛下既以禎為不可用，是臣不可用也，願乞骸骨。」帝乃卒用禎。

In the twenty-second year the throne revived honorary palace posts; Shu's opposition was especially fierce and the emperor's irritation deepened. Shu had been named Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent; when Ma Xian, Nanjing vice minister of war, asked to resign, a sudden marginal order removed Shu's guardian rank and sent him home—shock swept the realm. He had repeatedly been grand coordinator and risen from vice minister to minister, always in the southern capital. His outspokenness kept him from ever serving in the northern capital. In retirement his reputation soared; the censorate and ministries recommended him endlessly. Wang Chun of Xianju, a Works director, likened Shu to Ji An; he was flogged and banished to Sinan as push-official. When Xiaozong came to the throne, Shu was at last summoned on the recommendation of court ministers and made Minister of Personnel; soon afterward he was also appointed Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. Earlier, officials at court and in the provinces who impeached Grand Secretary Liu Ji always recommended Shu, which infuriated Ji. Whenever Shu put someone forward, Ji quietly blocked the appointment. In the intercalary first month of the first year of Hongzhi, remonstrance officials impeached thirty-seven men, including Song Min, supreme commander of the two Guang, and Qiu Nai, supreme commander of grain transport, saying they should be demoted or dismissed; many of them had long-standing reputations. Ji ultimately secured an inner imperial order approving the proposal, and the memorial was never sent to the Ministry of Personnel. Since Shu was being prevented from doing his job, he submitted a formal memorial begging to leave, but the request was refused. When Shaanxi needed a grand coordinator, Shu recommended Xiao Zhen, Administration Commissioner of Henan. The emperor ordered him to recommend someone else, but Shu memorialized firmly: "Your Majesty did not deem me unworthy, and entrusted me with the Ministry of Personnel. If the man I recommend proves ineffective, the fault is mine. How does Your Majesty know that Zhen lacks ability and reject him? This must be because some close attendant has someone else in mind. I cannot read the direction of the wind and bend to it merely to secure my salary and position. And since Your Majesty considers Zhen unusable, that means I too am unusable; I beg to retire." The emperor finally appointed Zhen.

時言官多稱恕賢且老，不當任劇職，宜置內閣參大政。最後，南京御史吳泰等復言之。帝曰：「朕用蹇義、王直故事，官恕吏部，有謀議未嘗不聽，何必內閣也。」恕嘗侍經筵，見帝困熱暑，請依故事大寒暑暫停，仍進講義於宮中。進士董傑、御史湯鼐、給事中韓重等遂交章論駁，恕待罪請解職，優詔不許。恕上言：「臣蒙國厚恩，日夕思報。人見陛下任臣過重，遂望臣太深，欲臣盡取朝政更張之，如宋司馬光故事。無論臣才遠不及光，即今亦豈元祐時。且六卿分職，各有攸司，臣豈敢越而謀之。但傑等責臣良是，臣無所逃罪，惟乞放還。」。帝復優詔勉留之。恕感激眷遇，益以身任國事。方以疾在告，聞帝頗擢用宦官，至有賜蟒衣給莊田者，具疏切諫。中官黃順請起復匠官潘俊供役，恕言不可以小臣壞重典。再執奏，竟報許。

Memorialists urged that Shu, virtuous and aged, was unfit for taxing posts and should join the Grand Secretariat to guide state policy. At last Wu Tai, a Nanjing censor, and others repeated the plea. The emperor replied, "As with Jian Yi and Wang Zhi, I have placed Shu in the Ministry of Personnel, and whenever he has advice I listen. Why insist on the inner cabinet?" During a Classics lecture he noticed the emperor suffering in the heat and, citing precedent, asked to suspend outdoor lectures in bitter cold or blazing heat while continuing instruction inside the palace. Dong Jie, Tang Nai, Han Zhong, and others attacked him in concert; Shu offered to resign but received a kind edict keeping him in office. Shu wrote: 'The dynasty has heaped favor on me, and I ponder how to repay it from dawn to dusk. Seeing Your Majesty trust me so deeply, many expect me to remake every policy as Sima Guang did in the Song. Even setting aside how far I fall short of Guang, this is hardly the Yuanyou age. Besides, each of the six ministries has its domain; how could I meddle in them all? Jie and the rest are justified in rebuking me; I cannot evade fault and ask only to retire." Again the throne sent a kindly edict urging him to remain. Moved by the emperor's trust, he devoted himself still more fully to public business. Though on sick leave he learned the emperor was elevating eunuchs—even giving python robes and estates—and wrote a stern comprehensive remonstrance. When the eunuch Huang Shun sought to recall craftsman Pan Jun from mourning, Shu protested that petty servants must not overturn solemn rites. He argued twice, yet approval still came down.

劉吉既憾恕，吉所陷壽州知州劉概及言官周纮、張昺、湯鼐、姜綰等，恕又抗章力救，吉以是益恨，乃合私人魏璋等共排之。恕先後推用羅明、熊懷、強珍、陳壽、邱鼐、白思明等，鹹諷璋等糾駁。恕知誌不得行，連章求去。帝輒慰留，且以其老特免午朝，遇大風雨雪，早朝亦免。

Liu Ji already bore a grudge; when Ji had ruined Liu Gai, prefect of Shouzhou, and censors Zhou Hong, Zhang Bing, Tang Nai, Jiang Wan, and others, Shu again defended them boldly, deepening Ji's hatred until Ji and his clients Wei Zhang and the rest combined to oust him. Officials Shu had advanced—Luo Ming, Xiong Huai, Qiang Zhen, Chen Shou, Qiu Nai, Bai Siming—were mocked and impeached by Zhang's faction. Seeing his plans blocked, Shu petitioned again and again to resign. The emperor always soothed him and held him back; owing to his age he was freed from the noon levee, and in foul weather from the dawn audience too.

徽王見沛乞歸德州田，已得旨。恕言王國懿親，不當爭尺寸地，使小民失業，帝婉辭報焉。盧溝橋成，中官李興乞進文思院副使潘俊等官。恕言：「營造常職，安得錄功。成化季始有此事，陛下初政幸已革汰，奈何復行？且山陵大工未聞升職，援例奏乞，將何詞拒之？」帝納其言。已，修京城河橋，帝復從興請授四人官，許五人冠帶。恕執奏，不從，再疏爭曰：「臣職掌銓選，義當盡言，而再疏莫回天聽，以為業已許之不可易。夫事求其當，設未當，雖十易何害。不然，流弊有不可救者。」報聞。先後以災異條七事，以星變陳二十事，鹹切時弊。壽寧伯張巒請勛號、誥券。恕言：「錢、王兩太后正位中宮數十年，錢承宗、王源始邀封爵。今皇后立甫三年，巒已封伯。遽有此請，累聖德，不可許。」通政經歷高祿，巒妹婿也，超遷本司參議。恕言：「天下之官以待天下之士，勿私貴戚，妨公議。」中旨以次等禦醫徐生超補院判，恕請選上考者，不納。文華殿中書舍人杜昌等夤緣遷秩，禦醫王玉自陳乞進官，恕皆力爭寢之。

Prince Xian of Hui had petitioned to reclaim his estates at Dezhou and already held an edict. Shu argued that an imperial kinsman ought not fight over scraps of land and ruin peasants; the emperor replied with gentle excuses. After the Lugou Bridge was finished, the eunuch Li Xing sought offices for Pan Jun and fellow artisans of the Wensi Court. Shu objected: "Building works are ordinary duties. How can they earn recorded merit? This began only in the late Chenghua years; Your Majesty's first reforms had swept it away—why bring it back? And for the tomb works no one has been promoted; once others cite this precedent, how will you turn them away?" The throne took his counsel. When the capital river bridges were rebuilt, the emperor again gave four men posts at Li Xing's plea and let five wear court insignia. Shu pressed his case in vain and wrote again: "I hold responsibility for appointments and must speak out, yet two memorials have failed to move the throne, as though a promise once made cannot be changed. One should do what is right; if a decision is wrong, why fear changing it even ten times? Otherwise evils will spread beyond repair." The court noted his memorial without acting. On calamities he listed seven reforms and on celestial warnings twenty, each striking at current abuses. Zhang Luan, Earl of Shouning, petitioned for a meritorious title and patent. Shu argued: "Empresses Qian and Wang occupied the central palace for decades before their kinsmen Qian Chengzong and Wang Yuan sought noble ranks. The current empress has been enthroned but three years, and Luan is already an earl. Such haste will stain the emperor's reputation and must be refused." Gao Lu of the Transmission Office, Luan's brother-in-law, leapt to assistant administrator by favor. Shu wrote: "State posts belong to the worthy men of the realm; do not favor noble in-laws and block fair judgment." By secret edict Xu Sheng, a third-grade physician, was made vice director; Shu demanded candidates of highest merit and was ignored. Du Chang of the Wenhua secretariat and physician Wang Yu all sought advancement by favor; Shu contested every case until they were dropped.

是時劉吉已罷，而邱濬入閣，亦與恕不相能。初，濬以禮部尚書掌詹事，與恕同為太子太保。恕長六卿，位濬上。及濬入閣，恕以吏部弗讓也，濬由是不悅。恕考察天下庶官，已黜而濬調旨留之者九十余人。恕屢爭不能得，因力求罷，不許。太醫院判劉文泰者，故往來濬家以救遷官，為恕所沮，銜恕甚。恕裏居日，嘗屬人作傳，鏤板以行。濬謂其沽直謗君，上聞罪且不小。文泰心動，乃自為奏草，示除名都御史吳禎潤色之。訐恕變亂選法。且傳中自比伊、周，於奏疏留中者，概雲不報。以彰先帝拒諫，無人臣禮。欲中以奇禍。恕以奏出濬指，抗言：「臣傳作於成化二十年，致仕在二十二年，非有望於先帝也。且傳中所載，皆足昭先帝納諫之美，何名彰過。文泰無賴小人，此必有老於文學多陰謀者主之。」帝下文泰錦衣獄，鞫之得實，因請逮濬、恕及禎對簿。帝心不悅恕，乃貶文泰禦醫。責恕沽名，焚所鏤版。置濬不問。恕再疏請辨理，不從，遂力求去。聽馳驛歸，不賜敕，月廩、歲隸亦頗減。廷論以是不直濬。及濬卒，文泰往吊，濬妻叱之出曰：「以若故，使相公齮王公，負不義名，何吊為！」恕揚歷中外四十余年，剛正清嚴，始終一致。所引薦耿裕、彭韶、何喬新、周經、李敏、張悅、倪嶽、劉大夏、戴珊、章懋等，皆一時名臣。他賢才久廢草澤者，拔擢之恐後。弘治二十年間，眾正盈朝，職業修理，號為極盛者，恕力也。武宗嗣位，遣行人賫敕存問，賚羊酒，益廩隸，且諭以讜論無隱。恕陳國家大政數事，帝優詔報之。正德三年四月卒，年九十三。平居食啖兼人，卒之日小減。閉戶獨坐，忽有聲若雷，白氣瀰漫，瞰之瞑矣。訃聞，輟朝，贈特進左柱國太師，謚端毅。五子、十三孫，多賢且顯。

Liu Ji was gone, yet Qiu Jun joined the cabinet and was no friend to Shu either. Jun had been Minister of Rites and tutor to the heir, sharing with Shu the title Junior Guardian. As head of the six ministries Shu outranked him. Once Jun entered the cabinet Shu, heading Personnel, refused to defer, and Jun resented it. Shu's nationwide review had dismissed scores of officials, yet Jun secured edicts retaining over ninety. Shu protested again and again without success and begged to retire, but the throne refused. Vice director Liu Wentai had trafficked with Jun for office and was stopped by Shu, who earned his bitter hatred. In retirement Shu had a biography written and printed for distribution. Jun charged that he peddled righteousness to defame the throne—a grave offense. Wentai then composed an accusation and asked the disgraced censor Wu Zhen to refine it. It accused Shu of perverting appointment regulations. It claimed the book likened him to Yi Yin and the Duke of Zhou and marked withheld memorials simply as 'no response.' Thus it alleged he exposed the previous emperor's refusal of counsel and violated a subject's duty. They aimed to destroy him with a fatal charge. Shu recognized Jun's hand in the memorial and replied firmly: "My book was written in Chenghua 20, and I retired in Chenghua 22; I was not seeking anything from the late emperor. Its pages praise the late emperor for heeding counsel—how does that shame him? Wentai is a base scoundrel; some veteran of polished writing and dark plots must be behind this." Wentai was jailed in the Brocade Guard; the truth emerged and he asked to try Jun, Shu, and Zhen together. Disliking Shu, the emperor only reduced Wentai to physician. He scolded Shu for vainglory and burned the blocks. Jun went untouched. Shu pleaded for a formal hearing, was denied, and insisted on resigning. He rode the relay home without a parting decree, and his stipends were sharply cut. Public opinion turned against Jun. At Jun's death Wentai came to condole, but Jun's wife expelled him: "Because of you, my husband attacked Lord Wang and earned a name for unrighteousness. What right have you to mourn?" For forty years in central and local posts Shu was fierce, honest, and consistent. His protégés Geng Yu, Peng Shao, He Qiaoxin, Zhou Jing, Li Min, Zhang Yue, Ni Yue, Liu Daxia, Dai Shan, Zhang Mao, and the rest became pillars of the state. Talents languishing in the wilds he promoted as fast as he could find them. Hongzhi's golden age, when the court brimmed with integrity and government ran smoothly, was his legacy. Wuzong's accession brought an envoy with gifts, richer pensions, and a command to speak frankly. He laid out major policies and won a kindly edict in answer. He died in the fourth month of Zhengde 3, aged ninety-three. A hearty eater all his life, he took only a little less on his last day. Alone behind closed doors he heard thunder; mist whitened the chamber, and he was gone. The court halted audiences and enfeoffed him posthumously as Grand Preceptor, Left Pillar of State, with the temple name Duanyi. Five sons and thirteen grandsons, most of them talented and eminent.

少子承裕，字天宇。七歲能詩，弱冠著《太極動靜圖說》。恕官吏部，令日接賓客，以是周知天下賢才，選用無不當。舉弘治六年進士。恕致政，承裕即告歸侍養。起授兵科給事中，出理山東、河南屯田。減登、萊糧額，三畝征一斗，還青州、彰德軍田先賜王府者三百六十余頃。武宗立，屢遷吏科都給事中。以言事忤劉瑾，罰米輸塞上。再遷太仆卿。嘉靖六年累官南京戶部尚書。清逋稅一百七十萬石，積羨銀四萬八千余兩。帝手書「清平正直」褒之。在部三年，致仕，卒。贈太子少保，謚康僖。

The youngest, Chengyu, courtesy name Tianyu. He wrote verse at seven and in youth authored a treatise on the Supreme Ultimate. While Shu headed Personnel he had Chengyu greet visitors daily, learning every talent in the land. He became a jinshi in Hongzhi 6. On Shu's retirement Chengyu went home to nurse him. He was appointed war supervising secretary and oversaw garrison farms in Shandong and Henan. He cut Deng and Lai taxes to one dou per three mu and restored 360-odd qing in Qingzhou and Zhangde from princely grants. Under Wuzong he advanced to chief personnel supervising secretary. His frank memorials angered Liu Jin, who fined him grain for the border. He later became Director of the Imperial Stud. By Jiajing 6 he was Nanjing Minister of Revenue. He recovered 1.7 million shi of arrears and banked over 48,000 taels. The emperor personally wrote 'Pure, level, upright, and straight' in praise. He served three years, retired, and died. He was posthumously Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, temple name Kangxi.

马文升

Ma Wensheng

馬文升，字負圖，鈞州人。貌瑰奇多力。登景泰二年進士，授御史。歷按山西、湖廣，風裁甚著。還領諸道章奏。母喪除，超遷福建按察使。成化初，召為南京大理卿，以父喪歸。

Ma Wensheng, courtesy name Futian, came from Junzhou. He was striking in looks and unusually strong. A jinshi of Jingtai 2, he became a censor. Inspecting Shanxi and Huguang he won fame for stern integrity. Back at court he handled memorials from every province. After his mother's mourning he leapt to Fujian Surveillance Commissioner. Early in Chenghua he was called to be Nanjing Chief Justice, then left for his father's funeral.

滿四之亂，陜西巡撫陳價下吏，即家起文升右副都御史代價。馳至軍，與總督項忠討平之。事具忠傳。錄功進左副都御史，巡撫如故。文升數條奏便宜，務選將練兵，修安邊營至鐵鞭城烽堠，剪除劇賊。西固番族不即命者悉滅之。修茶政，易番馬八千有奇，以給士卒。振鞏昌、臨洮饑民，撫安流移。績甚著。是時，孛羅忽、滿都魯、乚加思蘭比歲犯邊。文升請駐兵韋州，而設伏諸堡待之。遂敗寇黑水口，擒其平章叠烈孫，又敗之湯羊嶺，斬首二百，名其嶺曰：「得勝坡」，勒石紀之而還。文升軍功甚盛，奏捷不為誇張，中亦無主之者，以是賞薄。至九年冬，總制王越以大捷奏，文升亦遣子琇報功。廷臣勘奏不實，坐停俸三月。

When Man Si rebelled, coordinator Chen Jia was jailed and Wensheng was summoned from home as Right Vice Censor-in-Chief in his place. He raced to camp and with Governor Xiang Zhong crushed the rebels. The campaign is told fully in Zhong's biography. Rewarded, he became Left Vice Censor-in-Chief and kept the coordinator's post. He urged choosing generals, drilling soldiers, rebuilding frontier posts to Iron Whip City, and wiping out bandits. Disobedient Xigu tribes were exterminated. Tea policy reforms brought eight thousand-odd horses for the army. He fed Gongchang and Lintao in famine and resettled refugees. His record was brilliant. Boluohu, Mandulur, and Yibasanjin attacked annually. He garrisoned Weizhou and laid ambushes along the forts. He defeated the raiders at Heishui Pass and captured their pingzhang Tieliesun, then defeated them again at Tangyang Ridge, taking two hundred heads; he named the ridge "Victory Slope," set up a stele to commemorate it, and withdrew. Though his victories were real and modestly reported, he lacked court patrons and was meagerly rewarded. In winter of year 9 Wang Yue claimed a great victory and Wensheng sent his son Xiu to report too. Investigators ruled the claims false and docked three months' pay.

十一年春，代越總制三邊軍務，尋入為兵部右侍郎。明年八月，整飭遼東軍務。巡撫陳鉞貪而狡，將士小過輒罰馬，馬價騰踴。文升上邊計十五事，因請禁之，鉞由是嗛文升。文升還部轉左。十四年春，鉞以掩殺冒功激變，中官汪直欲自往定之。帝令司禮太監懷恩等七人詣內閣會兵部議。恩欲遣大臣往撫，以沮直行。文升疾應曰：「善。」恩入白，帝即命文升往。直不悅，欲令其私人王英與俱，文升謝絕之。疾馳至鎮，宣璽書撫慰，無不聽撫者。又請前以也先亂失授官璽書者十余人，得襲官。事定，直欲攘其功，請於帝，挾王英馳至開原，再下令招撫。文升乃推功與直，然直內慚。文升又與直抗禮，奴視其左右，直益不喜。而陳鉞益諂事直，得直歡。日夜譖文升，思中之未有以發也。文升還，賜牢醴。明年春，以遼東屢失事，遣直偕定西侯蔣琬、尚書林聰等按之。會余子俊劾鉞，鉞疑出文升意，傾之益急。直因奏文升行事乖方，禁邊人市農器，致怨叛。乃下文升詔獄，謫戍重慶衛。直既傾文升，則與鉞大發兵激功，鉞以是驟遷至尚書。

In spring of year 11 he succeeded Yue commanding the Three Frontiers, then became Vice Minister of War. The next year's eighth month he put Liaodong forces in order. Coordinator Chen Yue, greedy and sly, fined minor offenses in horses until prices skyrocketed. Wensheng proposed fifteen frontier reforms banning the practice, and Yue hated him for it. Back at the ministry he moved to the left vice post. In spring of year 14 Yue's false battle honors sparked mutiny, and eunuch Wang Zhi wanted to lead the campaign. Seven eunuchs led by Huai En were sent to consult the cabinet and War Ministry. En hoped a grand minister's mission would stop Zhi from going. Though ill, Wensheng instantly said, "Excellent." En spoke to the emperor, who immediately dispatched Wensheng. Zhi wanted his man Wang Ying to accompany him; Wensheng refused. Racing to the frontier he proclaimed the comforting edict, and all submitted to pacification. He secured hereditary office for a dozen men who lost patents in Esen's turmoil. Zhi then tried to steal the credit, rushed with Wang Ying to Kaiyuan, and reissued pacification orders. Wensheng deferred the glory to Zhi, though Zhi was secretly ashamed. He met Zhi as an equal and treated Zhi's followers like slaves, deepening the rift. Chen Yue fawned on Zhi and won his favor. He slandered Wensheng day and night, seeking a pretext in vain. On his return the court rewarded him with meat and wine. Next spring, after Liaodong's repeated failures, Zhi went with Jiang Wan and Lin Cong to investigate. Yu Zijun impeached Yue, who blamed Wensheng and redoubled his attacks. Zhi charged that Wensheng had forbidden farm tools on the frontier, provoking revolt. He was jailed and exiled to Chongqing guard. With Wensheng gone, Zhi and Yue waged aggressive wars for glory, and Yue vaulted to minister.

十九年，直敗，文升復官。明年起為左副都御史巡撫遼東。文升凡三至遼，軍民聞其來皆鼓舞。益禁抑中官、總兵，使不得朘削，眾益大喜。

When Zhi fell in year 19, Wensheng was reinstated. Next year he became Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, coordinator of Liaodong. Three times he went to Liaodong, and each arrival was met with joy. He barred eunuchs and commanders from extortion, to universal delight.

二十一年進右都御史，總督漕運。淮、徐、和饑，移江南糧十萬石、鹽價銀五萬兩振之。是年冬，召為兵部尚書。明年，以李孜省譖，調南京。

In year 21 he became Right Censor-in-Chief and grain transport director. Famine struck Huai, Xu, and He; he shipped 100,000 shi of Jiangnan grain and 50,000 taels in salt funds. That winter he was called to be Minister of War. Next year Li Zisheng's slander sent him to Nanjing.

孝宗即位，召拜左都御史。弘治元年上言：「憲宗朝，嶽鎮海瀆諸廟，用方士言置石函，周以符篆，貯金書道經、金銀錢、寶石及五谷為厭勝具，宜毀。」從之。又上言十五事，悉議行。帝耕藉田，教坊以雜戲進。文升正色曰：「新天子當使知稼穡艱難，此何為者？」即斥去。御史徐瑁、賀霖失承旨下獄。文升言初政不宜輒罪言官，遂得釋。尋命提督十二團營。

Xiaozong summoned him as Left Censor-in-Chief. In Hongzhi 1 he memorialized: "Under Xianzong, stone caskets were buried at the state temples of mountains, marches, seas, and waterways on the advice of occult specialists; they were ringed with talismanic writing and filled with golden Daoist scriptures, gold and silver coins, gems, and the five grains as apotropaic objects. They should be destroyed." The throne agreed. He proposed fifteen reforms, all adopted. At the plowing ceremony the entertainment office offered variety shows. Wensheng said gravely, "A new emperor should learn the toil of the fields. What are these diversions for?" He had them dismissed at once. Censors Xu Wan and He Lin were jailed for missing an edict. He argued that early rule must not punish critics, and they were freed. He was soon put in charge of the twelve regimental camps.

明年，代余子俊為兵部尚書，督團營如故。承平既久，兵政廢弛，西北部落時伺塞下。文升嚴核諸將校，黜貪懦者三十余人。奸人大怨，夜持弓矢伺其門，或作謗書射入東長安門內。帝聞，詔錦衣緝捕，給騎士十二，衛文升出入。文升乞休，優詔不許。

Next year he succeeded Yu Zijun as war minister while retaining the camps. Peace had rotted the army while frontier tribes watched for openings. He audited officers and removed over thirty who were greedy or timid. Enemies lurked at his door with bows or shot slander sheets into the East Chang'an Gate. The emperor ordered arrests and twelve guards to escort him. He begged to retire but was kindly kept on.

小王子以數萬騎牧大同塞下，勢洶洶。文升以疾在告，帝使中官挾醫視，因就問計。文升謂「彼方敗於他部，無能為。請密為備，而揚聲逼之，必徙去。」已而果然。遭繼母憂，詔起復，再疏辭，不許。西北別部野乜克力，其長曰亦剌思王，曰滿哥王，曰亦剌因王，各遣使款肅州塞，乞貢且互市。巡撫許進、總兵官劉寧為請，文升言互市可許，入貢不可許，乃卻之。

The Little Prince herded tens of thousands of horses below Datong, a threatening host. Ill at home, he was visited by a eunuch-physician sent to ask his counsel. He said: 'They were just beaten by another tribe and are harmless. Prepare in secret, but make a public show of pressure, and they will surely withdraw." So it happened. Mourning his stepmother, he was ordered back; twice he refused and was overruled. Northwestern Yemekli chiefs Yilasi, Mange, and Yilayin sought trade and tribute at Suzhou pass. Xu Jin and Liu Ning petitioned; Wensheng allowed trade but refused tribute missions.

土魯番既襲執陜巴，而令牙蘭據守哈密，僭稱可汗，侵沙州，迫罕東諸部附己。文升議，此寇桀驁，不大創終不知畏，宜用漢陳湯故事襲斬之。察指揮楊翥熟番情，召詢以方略。翥備陳罕東至哈密道路，請調罕東兵三千為前鋒，漢兵三千繼之，持數日糧，間道兼程進，可得誌。文升喜，遂請於帝，敕發罕東、赤斤、哈密兵，令副總兵彭清將之，隸巡撫許進往討，果克之，語詳《進傳》。

Turfan held Shamba, garrisoned Yalan in Hami as khan, raided Shazhou, and coerced eastern tribes. He urged a Chen Tang-style strike, saying the raiders would heed only force. He consulted Commander Yang Yong of Chaxi, expert on the tribes. Yong mapped the route and proposed 3,000 Handom scouts plus 3,000 Han troops with swift supplies by secret paths. The emperor approved; Peng Qing and Xu Jin took Hami, as told in Jin's biography.

團營軍不足，請於錦衣及騰驤四衛中選補。已得請矣，中官寧瑾阻之。文升及兵科蔚春等言詔旨宜信，不納。陜西地大震。文升言：「此外寇侵淩之兆。今火篩方跳梁，而海內民困財竭，將懦兵弱。宜行仁政以養民，講武備以固圉。節財用，停齋醮，止傳奉冗員，禁奏乞閑地。日視二朝，以勤庶政。且撤還陜西織造內臣，振恤被災者家。」帝納其言，內臣立召還。

He sought recruits from the Brocade Guard and Tengxiang guards for the camps. Approval came, yet eunuch Ning Jin obstructed it. Wensheng and Wei Chun insisted edicts must be honored, but were ignored. Shaanxi suffered a great earthquake. He said: 'This foretells foreign aggression. Huosai stirs while the people are drained and the army enfeebled. Rule with benevolence and strengthen defenses. Cut expenses, end ritual excess, purge honorary posts, and stop land grabs. Hold both daily audiences and work diligently. Also recall the Shaanxi weaving eunuchs and aid the families of the afflicted." The emperor agreed and recalled the eunuchs immediately.

文升為兵部十三年，盡心戎務，於屯田、馬政、邊備、守禦，數條上便宜。國家事當言者，即非職守，亦言無不盡。嘗以太子年及四齡，當早諭教。請擇醇謹老成知書史如衛聖楊夫人者，保抱扶持，凡言語動止悉導之以正。若內庭曲宴，鐘鼓司承應，元宵鰲山，端午競渡諸戲，皆勿令見。至於佛、老之教，尤宜屏絕，恐惑眩心誌。山東久旱，浙江及南畿水災，文升請命所司振恤，練士卒以備不虞。帝皆深納之。民困賦役，文升極陳其害，謂：「今民田十稅四五，其輸邊塞者糧一石費銀一兩以上，豐年用糧八九石方易一兩。若絲綿布帛之輸京師者，交納之費過於所輸，南方轉漕通州至有三四石致一石者。中州歲役五六萬人治河，山東、河南修塞決口夫不下二十萬，蘇、松治水亦如之。湖廣建吉、興、岐、雍四王府，江西益、壽二府，山東衡府，通計役夫不下百萬。諸王之國役夫供應亦四十萬。加以湖廣征蠻，山、陜防邊，供饋餉給軍旅者又不知凡幾。賦重役繁，未有甚於此時者也。宜嚴敕內外諸司，省煩費，寬力役，毋擅有科率，王府之工宜速竣。庶令困敝少蘇。更乞崇正學，抑邪術，以清聖心；節財用，省工作，以培邦本。」詔下所司詳議。他所論奏者甚眾。在班列中最為耆碩，帝亦推心任之。自太子太保屢加至少保兼太子太傅，歲時賜賚，諸大臣莫敢望也。

For thirteen years as war minister he drove military reform—garrison farms, horses, defenses, and guards. On any state matter, even beyond his portfolio, he spoke fully. He urged early education for the four-year-old heir. He wanted matrons like Lady Yang of Weisheng to guide the heir's every word and deed. He must not see inner revels, lantern displays, or dragon-boat pageants. Buddhist and Daoist rites should be kept away lest they confuse him. He sought relief for drought and flood zones and troop drills for crises. The emperor embraced every proposal. The people were crushed by taxes and labor service, and Wensheng set out the harm in detail: "Today private fields are taxed at forty to fifty percent; grain sent to the frontier costs more than one tael per shi, and even in good years eight or nine shi of grain are needed to obtain one tael. Tribute cloth costs more to deliver than it is worth; southern grain sometimes loses three shi per one delivered. Millions labor on rivers and dikes in the central plain and south. Princely construction in Huguang, Jiangxi, and Shandong alone consumed a million laborers. Princely enfeoffment processions took four hundred thousand more. Add Miao campaigns, frontier garrisons, and army supply—beyond counting. Burden has never been greater. Cut waste, ease labor, ban illegal levies, and finish princely works swiftly. Only then can the people recover. Uphold orthodox learning and suppress sorcery to purify the imperial mind; save public wealth and reduce labor projects, so as to strengthen the foundation of the realm." The throne ordered detailed review. He filed countless other memorials. He was the eldest statesman and enjoyed the emperor's full trust. Promoted repeatedly to tutor ranks, he received gifts no peer could match.

吏部尚書屠滽罷，廷推文升。御史魏英等言兵部非文升不可，帝亦以為然。乃命倪嶽代滽，而加文升少傅以慰之。嶽卒，以文升代。南京、鳳陽大風雨壞屋拔木，文升請帝減膳撤樂，修德省愆，禦經筵，絕遊宴；停不急務，止額外織造；振饑民，捕盜賊。已，又上吏部職掌十事。帝悉褒納。一品九載滿，加少師兼太子太師。帝以將考察，特召文升及都御史戴珊、史琳至暖閣，諭以秉公黜陟。又以文升年高重聽，再呼告之，命左右掖之下階。始文升為都御史，王恕在吏部，兩人皆以正直任天下事。疏出，天下傳誦。恕去，人望皆歸文升。迨為吏部，年已八十。修髯長眉，遇事侃侃不少衰。

When Tu Fu left Personnel, the court favored Wensheng. Censors said War needed Wensheng; the emperor agreed. Ni Yue replaced Tu while Wensheng was made Junior Tutor as consolation. When Ni Yue died, Wensheng took Personnel. Storms wrecked Nanjing and Fengyang; he urged frugal meals, no music, self-examination, Classics study, and an end to revels; 'halt petty projects and extra weaving;' 'relieve the hungry and catch bandits.' He later submitted ten rules for Personnel. The emperor praised and adopted them all. After nine years at rank one he became Junior Preceptor and Tutor. Before an inspection he summoned Wensheng, Dai Shan, and Shi Lin to the Warm Pavilion for fair promotions. Finding him deaf with age, the emperor repeated his orders and had attendants help him down. As censor-in-chief alongside Wang Shu in Personnel, both bore the realm's burdens uprightly. Their memorials were copied and read throughout the land. After Shu's departure all eyes rested on Wensheng. By the time he headed Personnel he was eighty. Long-bearded and long-browed, he argued as boldly as ever.

孝宗崩，文升承遺詔請汰傳奉官七百六十三人，命留太仆卿李綸等十七人，余盡汰之。正德元年，禦用監中官王瑞復請用新汰者七人，文升不奉詔。給事中安奎刺得瑞納賄狀，劾之。瑞恚，誣文升抗旨，更下廷議，皆是文升，帝終不聽。文升因乞歸，不許。

At Xiaozong's death Wensheng executed the will to purge 763 honorary attendants, sparing only seventeen including Li Lun. In Zhengde 1 eunuch Wang Rui sought to restore seven dismissed men; Wensheng refused. Supervising secretary An Kui exposed Rui's bribes and impeached him. Rui accused Wensheng of defiance; court debate backed Wensheng and the emperor held firm. He begged to retire but was refused.

是時，朝政已移於中官，文升老，日懷去誌。會兩廣缺總督，文升推兵部侍郎熊繡。繡怏怏不欲出，其鄉人御史何天衢遂劾文升徇私欺罔。文升連疏求去，許之。賜璽書、乘傳，月廩歲隸有加。家居，非事未嘗入州城。語及時事，輒顰蹙不答。居三年，劉瑾亂政，坐文升前用雍泰為朋黨，除其名。五年六月卒，年八十五。瑾誅，復官，贈特進光祿大夫、太傅，謚端肅。

Court power lay with eunuchs; the aged Wensheng longed to go home. He recommended Xiong Xiu for the vacant Liang-Guang command. Xiu resented the post; his fellow townsman He Tianqu impeached Wensheng for nepotism. Repeated pleas won his release. He received a sealed edict, relay horses, and richer stipends. In retirement he rarely entered the city except on necessity. Asked about politics he frowned and stayed silent. Three years later Liu Jin struck his name for having favored Yong Tai. He died in the sixth month of year 5, aged eighty-five. After Jin's fall he was restored and posthumously enfeoffed Grand Tutor Duansu.

文升有文武才，長於應變，朝端大議往往待之決。功在邊鎮，外國皆聞其名。尤重氣節，厲廉隅，直道而行。雖遭讒詬，屢起屢仆，迄不少貶。子璁，以鄉貢士待選吏部，文升使請外，曰：「必大臣子而京秩，誰當外者？」卒後逾年，大盜趙鐩等剽河南，至鈞州，以文升家在，舍之去。攻泌陽，毀焦芳家，束草若芳像裂之。嘉靖初，加贈文升左柱國、太師。

Gifted in civil and military affairs, he settled crises the court could not decide alone. Frontier service made his name known abroad. He prized integrity and walked the straight path. Slander and reversals never bent him. His son Cong, a provincial graduate awaiting appointment by the Ministry of Personnel, was sent by Wensheng to request a provincial post; Wensheng said, "If ministers' sons must all receive capital appointments, who will go outside?" A year after his death bandits spared Junzhou out of respect for his home. At Biyang they wrecked Jiao Fang's house and rent a straw effigy of him. Early Jiajing added posthumous rank as Left Pillar and Grand Preceptor.

刘大夏

Liu Daxia

劉大夏，字時雍，華容人。父仁宅，由鄉舉知瑞昌縣。流民千余家匿山中，邏者索賂不得，誣民反。眾議加兵。仁宅單騎招之，民爭出訴，遂罷兵，擢廣西副使。

Liu Daxia, courtesy name Shiyong, came from Huarong. His father Renzhai became magistrate of Ruichang via the provincial exam. A thousand refugees hid in the hills; patrolmen, refused bribes, cried rebellion. Officials urged military action. Renzhai rode alone to parley; the people submitted and he was made Guangxi vice commissioner.

大夏年二十舉鄉試第一。登天順八年進士，改庶吉士。成化初，館試當留，自請試吏。乃除職方主事，再遷郎中。明習兵事，曹中宿弊盡革。所奏覆多當上意，尚書倚之若左右手。汪直好邊功，以安南黎灝敗於老撾，欲乘間取之。言於帝，索永樂間討安南故牘。大夏匿弗予，密告尚書余子俊曰：「兵釁一開，西南立糜爛矣。」子俊悟，事得寢。朝鮮貢道故由鴉鶻關，至是請改由鴨綠江。尚書將許之，大夏曰：「鴨綠道徑，祖宗朝豈不知，顧紆回數大鎮，此殆有微意。不可許。」乃止。中官阿九者，其兄任京衛經歷，以罪為大夏所笞。憲宗入其譖，捕系詔獄，令東廠偵之無所得。會懷恩力救，乃杖二十而釋之。十九年，遷福建右參政，以政績聞。聞父訃，一宿即行。

At twenty Daxia topped the provincial exams. A jinshi of Tianshun 8, he entered the Hanlin. Early Chenghua he declined Academy tenure to serve in office. He became a Bureau of Military Appointments secretary, then director. Knowing military affairs, he swept away bureau abuses. His reports pleased the throne; the minister relied on him utterly. Wang Zhi, craving frontier glory, sought to conquer Annam after Le Hao's defeat by Laos. He asked the emperor for Yongle files on the Annam war. Daxia hid the archives and secretly warned Minister Yu Zijun: "Once war begins, the southwest will be ruined overnight." Yu Zijun understood and the plan died. Korea sought to shift its tribute route from Yahu Pass to the Yalu. The minister was about to agree, but Daxia said: "The Yalu route is shorter. Did the founders not know that? Yet they deliberately wound the route through several major garrisons; there must have been a subtle reason. It must not be allowed." The change was blocked. Eunuch A Jiu's brother, a guard experience officer, was flogged by Daxia. Xianzong jailed him on slander; the Eastern Depot found no crime. Huai En saved him with twenty strokes of the rod. In year 19 he became Fujian Right Administration Commissioner with a fine record. On his father's death he left after only one night.

弘治二年服闋，遷廣東右布政使。田州、泗城不靖，大夏往諭，遂順命。後山賊起，承檄討之。令獲賊必生致，驗實乃坐，得生者過半。改左，移浙江。

After mourning in Hongzhi 2 he became Guangdong Right Administration Commissioner. He pacified Tianzhou and Sicheng by personal mission. He later campaigned against mountain bandits. He required living captives and verified guilt; over half were spared. Promoted left, he transferred to Zhejiang.

六年春，河決張秋，詔博選才臣往治。吏部尚書王恕等以大夏薦，擢右副都御史以行。乃自黃陵岡浚賈魯河，復浚孫家渡、四府營上流，以分水勢。而築長堤，起胙城歷東明、長垣抵徐州，亙三百六十里。水大治，更名張秋鎮曰「安平鎮」。孝宗嘉之，賜璽書褒美，語詳《河渠志》。召為左副都御史，歷戶部左侍郎。

In spring of year 6 the Yellow River broke at Zhangqiu. Wang Shu recommended him as Right Vice Censor-in-Chief for the work. He dredged the Jia Lu River and reopened upstream channels to split the flood. He built a 360-li dike from Zuocheng to Xuzhou. The waters were brought under control, and Zhangqiu was renamed "Anping Town." Xiaozong praised him in a sealed edict, detailed in the Water Control Treatises. He became Left Vice Censor-in-Chief, then Left Vice Minister of Revenue.

十年命兼左僉都御史，往理宣府兵餉。尚書周經謂曰：「塞上勢家子以市糴為私利，公毋以剛賈禍。」大夏曰：「處天下事，以理不以勢，俟至彼圖之。」初，塞上糴買必粟千石、芻萬束乃得告納，以故，中官、武臣家得操利權。大夏令有芻粟者，自百束十石以上皆許，勢家欲牟利無所得。不兩月儲積棄羨，邊人蒙其利。明年秋，三疏移疾歸，築草堂東山下，讀書其中。越二年，廷臣交薦，起右都御史，總制兩廣軍務。敕使及門，攜二僮行。廣人故思大夏，鼓舞稱慶。大夏為清吏治，捐供億，禁內外鎮守官私役軍士，盜賊為之衰止。

In year 10 he was sent to manage Xuanfu army grain. Minister Zhou Jing warned him, "Powerful frontier families profit privately from grain markets; do not invite disaster by being too rigid." Daxia replied: 'I serve principle, not influence—we shall see on arrival.' Formerly only bulk lots of 1,000 shi and 10,000 fodder bundles were accepted, favoring the powerful. He accepted lots as small as ten shi or one hundred bundles, ending their monopoly. In two months stores overflowed and soldiers benefited. Next autumn he retired thrice and built a study on East Mountain. Two years on he was made Right Censor-in-Chief, commander of Liang-Guang. He traveled with only two servants when the edict arrived. Guangdong rejoiced at his return. He cleaned government, cut levies, barred private impressment, and bandits faded.

十五年拜兵部尚書，屢辭乃拜命。既召見，帝曰：「朕數用卿，數引疾何也？」大夏頓首言：「臣老且病，竊見天下民窮財盡，脫有不虞，責在兵部，自度力不辦，故辭耳。」帝默然。南京、鳳陽大風拔木，河南、湖廣大水，京師苦雨沈陰。大夏請凡事非祖宗舊而害軍民者，悉條上厘革。十七年二月又言之。帝命事當興革者，所司具實以聞，乃會廷臣條上十六事，皆權幸所不便者，相與力尼之。帝不能決，下再議。大夏等言：「事屬外廷，悉蒙允行。稍涉權貴，復令察核。臣等至愚，莫知所以。」久之，乃得旨：「傳奉官疏名以請；幼匠、廚役減月米三斗；增設中官，司禮監核奏；四衛勇士，禦馬監具數以聞。余悉如議。」織造、齋醮皆停罷，光祿省浮費巨萬計，而勇士虛冒之弊亦大減。制下，舉朝歡悅。先是，外戚、近幸多幹恩澤，帝深知其害政，奮然欲振之。因時多災異，復宣諭群臣，令各陳缺失。大夏乃復上數事。

In year 15 he became Minister of War after repeated refusals. When he was summoned to audience, the emperor said, "I have called on you repeatedly; why do you repeatedly claim illness?" Daxia kowtowed and said, "I am old and ill. I see that the people are exhausted and the treasury is empty; if anything unexpected happens, the blame will fall on the Ministry of War. I know I do not have the strength to manage it, and so I decline." The emperor fell silent. Storms, floods, and endless rain afflicted the realm. He asked to list all non-ancestral abuses harming soldiers and people. In the second month of year 17 he spoke again. Sixteen reforms were proposed, all opposed by favorites. The emperor hesitated and ordered more debate. Daxia and the others said, "All matters belonging to the outer court have been approved. Anything touching favorites was sent back for review. We are too foolish to understand why." After a long delay, an imperial order came down: "For honorary attendants appointed by transmitted command, submit their names by memorial; apprentices and kitchen staff lose three dou monthly; new eunuch posts need Ceremonies approval; the four guards' warriors need Stud headcounts. all the rest shall be as proposed." Weaving and feasts stopped; Entertainments saved millions and false warriors were culled. The court rejoiced when the edicts came down. The emperor knew kin and favorites harmed rule and wished to reform. After disasters he ordered ministers to list failings. Daxia submitted more reforms.

其年六月再陳兵政十害，且乞歸。帝不許，令弊端宜革者更祥具以聞。於是，大夏舉南北軍轉漕番上之苦，及邊軍困敝、邊將侵克之狀極言之。帝乃召見大夏於便殿，問曰：「卿前言天下民窮財盡。祖宗以來征斂有常，何今日至此？」對曰：「正謂不盡有常耳。如廣西歲取鐸木，廣東取香藥，費固以萬計，他可知矣。」又問軍，對曰：「窮與民等。」帝曰：「居有月糧，出有行糧，何故窮？」對曰：「其帥侵克過半，安得不窮。」帝太息曰：「朕臨禦久，乃不知天下軍民困，何以為人主！」遂下詔嚴禁。當是時，帝方銳意太平，而劉健為首輔，馬文升以師臣長六卿，一時正人充布列位。帝察知大夏方嚴，且練事，尤親信。數召見決事，大夏亦隨事納忠。

In the sixth month he listed ten military abuses and begged to retire. The emperor refused and demanded fuller detail on abuses. He detailed transport misery, frontier exhaustion, and generals' graft. The emperor then summoned Daxia to the informal hall and asked, "You said before that the people are poor and the treasury exhausted. Since the founders, levies have followed fixed rules. Why have things come to this today?" He replied: 'Because they are no longer truly fixed. Guangxi's ironwood and Guangdong's aromatics alone cost tens of thousands—imagine the rest.' On the army he said: 'Soldiers are as poor as civilians.' The emperor asked: 'They have monthly pay and campaign grain—why poor?' He answered, "Their commanders skim more than half; how could they not be poor?" The emperor sighed: 'I never knew such suffering—what kind of ruler am I?' He issued a strict prohibition. Xiaozong sought peace; Liu Jian led the cabinet and Ma Wensheng the ministries, with upright men throughout. He found Daxia stern and seasoned and trusted him deeply. Summoned often, Daxia gave loyal counsel on every issue.

大同小警，帝用中官苗逵言，將出師。內閣劉健等力諫，帝猶疑之，召問大夏曰：「卿在廣，知苗逵延綏搗巢功乎？」對曰：「臣聞之，所俘婦稚十數耳。賴朝廷威德，全師以歸。不然，未可知也。」帝默然良久，問曰：「太宗頻出塞，今何不可？」對曰：「陛下神武固不後太宗，而將領士馬遠不逮。且淇國公小違節制，舉數十萬眾委沙漠，奈何易言之。度今上策惟守耳。」都御史戴珊亦從旁贊決，帝遽曰：「微卿曹，朕幾誤。」由是，師不果出。

A Datong scare led the emperor, on eunuch Miao Kui's advice, to consider a campaign. Grand Secretaries Liu Jian and the others remonstrated forcefully, but the emperor still hesitated and asked Daxia, "When you were in the Guang region, did you know of Miao Kui's achievement in raiding the nests at Yan and Sui?" Daxia answered, "I heard of it. Those captured were only a dozen or so women and children. The army returned intact only by court prestige. Otherwise, we do not know what would have happened." After a long silence the emperor asked, "Taizong often campaigned beyond the passes. Why can that not be done now?" Daxia answered, "Your Majesty's martial spirit is certainly not inferior to Taizong's, but today's generals, officers, and horses fall far short. Remember the Duke of Qi who lost an army in the desert—do not take this lightly. In present conditions, I judge that the best policy is defense alone." Censor-in-Chief Dai Shan also urged agreement from the side, and the emperor abruptly said, "Without you gentlemen, I would nearly have made a mistake." The expedition was canceled.

莊浪土帥魯麟為甘肅副將，求大將不得，恃其部眾強，徑歸莊浪。廷臣懼生變，欲授以大帥印，又欲召還京，處之散地。大夏請獎其先世忠順，而聽麟就閑。麟素貪虐失眾心，兵柄已去無能為，竟怏怏病死。

Lu Lin of Zhuanglang, denied a major command, marched home with his troops. Ministers feared revolt and debated promoting or summoning him. Daxia proposed honoring his ancestors and letting Lin retire. Lin, unpopular and stripped of troops, died resentful.

帝欲宿兵近地為左右輔。大夏言：「保定設都司統五衛，祖宗意當亦如此。請遣還操軍萬人為西衛，納京東兵密雲、薊州為東衛。」帝報可。中官監京營者恚失兵，揭飛語宮門。帝以示大夏曰：「宮門豈外人能至？必此曹不利失兵耳。」由是，間不得行。

The emperor wanted nearby garrisons as flanks. Daxia said, "Baoding has a regional command overseeing five guards; the founders must have intended the same arrangement here. Send back ten thousand drill troops to form the western guard, and assign the Jingdong troops at Miyun and Jizhou to form the eastern guard." The emperor agreed. Camp eunuchs, losing troops, posted libel at the palace gate. The emperor showed it to Daxia and said, "How could outsiders reach the palace gate? It must be these fellows, angry at losing troops." The plan was stalled.

帝嘗諭大夏曰：「臨事輒思召卿，慮越職而止。後有當行罷者，具揭帖以進。」大夏頓首曰：「事之可否，外付府部，內咨閣臣可矣。揭帖滋弊，不可為後世法。」帝稱善。又嘗問：「天下何時太平？」對曰：「求治亦難太急。但用人行政悉與大臣面議，當而後行，久之天下自治。」嘗乘間言四方鎮守中官之害。帝問狀，對曰：「臣在兩廣見諸文武大吏供億不能敵一鎮守，其煩費可知。」帝曰：「然祖宗來設此久，安能遽革？第自今必廉如鄧原、麥秀者而後用，不然則已之。」大夏頓首稱善。大夏每被召，跪禦榻前。帝左右顧，近侍輒引避。嘗對久，憊不能興，呼司禮太監李榮掖之出。一日早朝，大夏固在班，帝偶未見，明日諭曰：「卿昨失朝耶？恐御史糾，不果召卿。」其受眷深如此。特賜玉帶、麒麟服，所賚金幣、上尊，歲時不絕。

The emperor once told Daxia, "Whenever affairs arise, I think of summoning you, but I stop because I fear overstepping the bounds of your office. From now on, when something should be done or halted, submit it in a sealed note." Daxia kowtowed and said, "Whether a policy should be carried out can be handled by the offices and ministries outside and by consultation with the Grand Secretariat inside. Sealed notes breed abuse and must not become a precedent for later generations." The emperor praised the answer. The emperor once also asked, "When will the realm be at peace?" Daxia answered, "In seeking good order, one must not be too impatient. Discuss appointments and policies face to face with the ministers, act only when the measures are right, and in time the realm will settle itself." He spoke of the harm of frontier eunuch defenders. The emperor asked about the situation, and Daxia answered, "When I was in the two Guang, I saw that all the civil and military grandees together did not consume as much support as a single defending eunuch. From that you can know the expense." The emperor said, "But the ancestors established these posts long ago. How can they be abolished suddenly? From now on, appoint only men as honest as Deng Yuan and Mai Xiu; otherwise, do not appoint them." Daxia kowtowed in approval. Daxia knelt before the couch when summoned. Attendants withdrew when the emperor glanced aside. Once Li Rong helped the exhausted Daxia from the hall. One morning Daxia was in the court ranks, but the emperor happened not to see him. The next day the emperor said, "Were you absent from court yesterday? I feared the censors would impeach you, so I held back from summoning you." Such was the depth of imperial favor. He received jade belt, python robe, and endless gifts.

未幾，孝宗崩，武宗嗣位，承詔請撤四方鎮守中官非額設者。帝止撤均州齊元。大夏復議上應撤者二十四人，又奏減皇城、京城守視中官，皆不納。頃之，列上傳奉武臣當汰者六百八十三人，報可。大漢將軍薛福敬等四十八人亦當奪官，福敬等故不入侍以激帝怒。帝遽命復之，而責兵部對狀，欲加罪。中官寧瑾頓首曰：「此先帝遺命，陛下列之登極詔書，不宜罪。」帝意乃解。中官韋興者，成化末得罪久廢，至是夤緣守均州。言官交諫，大夏等再三爭，皆不聽。正德元年春，又言：「鎮守中官，如江西董讓、薊州劉瑯、陜西劉雲、山東朱雲貪殘尤甚，乞按治。」帝不悅。大夏自知言不見用，數上章乞骸骨。其年五月，詔加太子太保，賜敕馳驛歸，給廩隸如制。給事中王翊、張襘請留之，吏部亦請如翊、襘言，不報。

At Wuzong's accession he moved to withdraw extra frontier eunuchs. Only Qi Yuan at Junzhou was removed. He listed twenty-four more for withdrawal and cuts to palace guards—all rejected. Six hundred eighty-three honorary soldiers were approved for dismissal. Forty-eight Great Han generals including Xue Fujing were to be struck; they had boycotted court to anger the emperor. The emperor restored them and threatened to punish the war ministry. The eunuch Ning Jin kowtowed and said, "This was the late emperor's dying command, and Your Majesty included it in the accession edict. It should not be punished." The emperor relented. Disgraced eunuch Wei Xing sought to defend Junzhou by favor. Remonstrators and Daxia protested repeatedly in vain. In the spring of Zhengde 1 he again said, "Among the defending eunuchs, Dong Rang in Jiangxi, Liu Lang in Jizhou, Liu Yun in Shaanxi, and Zhu Yun in Shandong are especially rapacious and cruel. I ask that they be investigated and punished." The emperor was displeased. Knowing he was ignored, Daxia begged to retire. In the fifth month he was made Junior Guardian and sent home with full honors. Wang Yi and Zhang Gui and Personnel asked to retain him—no answer.

大夏忠誠懇篤，遇知孝宗，忘身徇國，於權幸多所裁抑。嘗請嚴核勇士，為劉瑾所惡。劉宇亦憾大夏，遂與焦芳譖於瑾曰：「籍大夏家，可當邊費十二。」三年九月，假田州岑猛事，逮系詔獄。瑾欲坐以激變律死，都御史屠滽持不可，瑾謾罵曰：「即不死，可無戍耶？」李東陽為婉解，且瑾诇大夏家實貧，乃坐戍極邊。初擬廣西，芳曰：「是送若歸也」，遂改肅州。大夏年已七十三，布衣徒步過大明門下，叩首而去。觀者嘆息泣下，父老攜筐送食，所至為罷市、焚香祝劉尚書生還。比至戍所，諸司憚瑾，絕饋問，儒學生徒傳食之。遇團操，輒荷戈就伍。所司固辭，大夏曰：「軍，固當役也。」所攜止一仆。或問何不挈子姓，曰：「吾宦時，不為子孫乞恩澤。今垂老得罪，忍令同死戍所耶？」大夏既遣戍，瑾猶摭他事罰米輸塞上者再。

Loyal to Xiaozong, he served the state and curbed favorites. His strict review of warriors angered Liu Jin. Liu Yu also resented Daxia, and he and Jiao Fang slandered him to Jin, saying, "If Daxia's estate is confiscated, it can cover twelve years of frontier expenses." In the ninth month of year 3 he was jailed on the Cen Meng pretext. Jin wanted to execute him under the statute on inciting disorder, but Censor-in-Chief Tu Yong blocked it; Jin cursed, "Even if he does not die, can he not at least be sent to garrison exile?" Li Dongyang mediated; finding Daxia poor, Jin exiled him to the frontier. Guangxi was first proposed, but Fang said, "That is sending him home," so the destination was changed to Suzhou. At seventy-three he walked in plain clothes past the Daming Gate, kowtowed, and left. Crowds wept; markets closed; incense burned for his safe return. Officials feared Jin and cut supplies; only students fed him. At drill he took a spear and joined ranks. The responsible office firmly refused, but Daxia insisted, "A soldier should serve." He had only one servant. When someone asked why he did not bring his sons and grandsons, he said, "When I was in office, I never sought favors for my descendants. Now, old and convicted, how could I bear to make them die with me at the garrison?" Jin twice fined him grain for the border after exile.

五年夏，赦歸。瑾誅，復官，致仕。清軍御史王相請復廩隸，錄其子孫。中官用事者終嗛之，不許。大夏歸，教子孫力田謀食。稍贏，散之故舊宗族。預自為壙誌，曰：「無使人飾美，俾懷愧地下也。」十一年五月卒，年八十一。贈太保，謚忠宣。

Amnesty in summer of year 5 brought him home. After Jin's fall he was restored and retired. Wang Xiang sought stipends and offices for his family. Powerful eunuchs refused. He taught his family to farm. Surplus went to friends and clan. He prepared his own tomb inscription in advance, saying, "Do not let people adorn me with false praise and leave me ashamed underground." He died in the fifth month of year 11, aged eighty-one. He was posthumously Grand Preceptor Zhongxuan.

大夏嘗言：「居官以正己為先。不獨當戒利，亦當遠名。」又言：「人生蓋棺論定，一日未死，即一日憂責未已。」其被逮也，方鋤菜園中，入室攜數百錢，跨小驢就道。赦歸，有門下生為巡撫者，枉百里謁之。道遇扶犁者，問孰為尚書家，引之登堂，即大夏也。朝鮮使者在鴻臚寺館遇大夏邑子張生，因問起居曰：「吾國聞劉東山名久矣。」安南使者入貢曰：「聞劉尚書戍邊，今安否？」其為外國所重如此。

Daxia once said, "In office, the first priority is to correct oneself. One must not only guard against profit, but also keep away from reputation." He also said, "A person is judged only when the coffin is closed. So long as one day of life remains, one day of care and responsibility remains." Arrested while hoeing, he took a few coins and a donkey to prison. A former student, now grand coordinator, traveled far to visit. On the road he asked a plowman for the minister's house—it was Daxia. A Korean envoy at the Court of State Ceremonial hostel met Daxia's townsman Zhang and sent greetings through him, saying, "Our country has long known the name of Liu of East Mountain." An Annamese envoy asked: 'We heard Minister Liu was banished—is he safe?' Such was his renown abroad.

贊曰：王恕砥礪風節，馬文升練達政體，劉大夏篤棐自將，皆具經國之遠猷，蘊畜君之正誌。綢繆庶務，數進讜言，跡其居心行己，磊落光明，剛方鯁亮，有古大臣節概。歷事累朝，享有眉壽，朝野屬望，名重遠方。《詩》頌老成，《書》稱黃髮，三臣者近之矣。恕昧遠名之戒，以作傳見疏。而文升，大夏被遇孝宗之朝，明良相契，荃宰一心。迨至宦豎乘權，耆舊擯斥，進退之際所系詎不重哉！

The historian writes: Shu tempered his integrity, Wensheng mastered statecraft, and Daxia held himself with discipline—each bore far-reaching statecraft and upright loyalty to the throne. They managed affairs, spoke frankly, and in heart and deed were luminous, firm, and worthy of ancient great ministers. Serving many reigns into great age, they were pillars at court and famed abroad. As the Odes honor elders and the Documents honor white-haired sages, these three approached that ideal. Shu forgot the warning against vainglory and was estranged for his published biography. Wensheng and Daxia flourished under Xiaozong, ruler and ministers of one mind. When eunuchs ruled and elders were driven out, how momentous their rise and fall proved!

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