Volume 199 Biographies 87: Li Yue, Wang Xian, Hu Shining, Li Chengxun, Wang Yiqi, Fan Zong, Wang Bangrui, Zheng Xiao

李鉞〈（子惠）〉王憲胡世寧〈（子純）〉（繼）李承勛王以旂范鏓掞王邦瑞〈（子正國）〉鄭曉

Li Yue. (son: Hui)〉 Wang Xian; Hu Shining. (son: Chun)〉 (continued) Li Chengxun; Wang Yiqi; Fan Zong; Wang Bangrui. (son: Zhengguo)〉 Zheng Xiao.

李鉞，字虔甫，祥符人。弘治九年進士。除御史。巡視中城，理河東鹽政，歷有聲績。正德改元，天鳴星變。偕同官陳數事，論中官李興、寧謹、苗逵、高鳳等罪，而請斥尚書李孟抃、都督神英。武宗不能用。以喪歸。劉瑾惡鉞劾其黨，假他事罰米五百石輸邊。瑾敗，起故官，出為鞏昌知府，尋遷四川副使。巡撫林俊委鉞與副使何珊討敗流賊方四等，賜金加俸。遷陜西按察使，擢右僉都御史巡撫山西。寇入白羊口。鉞度宣、大有備，必窺岢嵐、五臺間，乃亟畫戰守。寇果犯岢嵐，鉞與延綏援將安國、杭雄敗之。加俸一級。尋討平內寇武廷章等。召入理院事。

Li Yue, styled Qianfu, was a native of Xiangfu. In Hongzhi year 9 he passed the jinshi examination. He was appointed investigating censor. He inspected the Central City, administered salt affairs east of the Yellow River, and earned a solid record of achievement at every post. When the reign title changed to Zhengde, heaven thundered and the stars showed ominous shifts. Together with his colleagues he memorialized on several matters, charged the eunuchs Li Xing, Ning Jin, Miao Kui, Gao Feng, and others with crimes, and asked that Minister Li Mengbian and Commissioner-in-chief Shen Ying be removed from office. The Martial Emperor would not heed him. He returned home to observe mourning. Liu Jin resented Yue for impeaching his faction and, on a trumped-up charge, fined him five hundred piculs of grain to be sent to the border. After Jin's fall he was restored to his former post, appointed prefect of Gongchang, and soon promoted to vice commissioner of Sichuan. Grand Coordinator Lin Jun assigned Yue and Vice Commissioner He Shan to campaign against the roving bandits Fang Si and others; they defeated them, and Yue was rewarded with gold and a raise in salary. He was transferred to surveillance commissioner of Shaanxi, then promoted to right assistant censor-in-chief and appointed grand coordinator of Shanxi. Raiders entered Baiyang Pass. Yue judged that with Xuan and Da well prepared, the raiders would surely probe the corridor between Kelan and Wutai, and he urgently drew up plans for both attack and defense. The raiders did strike Kelan; Yue, together with the Yan-sui relief generals An Guo and Hang Xiong, defeated them. His salary rank was raised by one grade. He soon pacified the internal rebels Wu Tingzhang and others. He was summoned to the capital to direct affairs at the Censorate.

四年，代金獻民為兵部尚書兼督團營。中官刁永等多所陳乞，帝皆許之。又錄司禮扶安家八人官錦衣。南京守備已三人，復命卜春添註以往。禦馬監閻洪因軍政，請自考騰驤四衛及牧馬所官。鉞累疏力爭，帝皆不納，至責以抗旨，令對狀。鉞引罪乃罷。武定侯郭勛以會武宴列尚書下，疏爭之。鉞言：「中府官之有會武宴，猶禮部之有恩榮宴也。恩榮，禮部為主，會武，中府為主，故皆列諸尚書之次。宴圖可征，不得引團營故事。」帝竟從勛言。錦衣革職百戶李全奏乞復任，鉞請治其違旨罪，帝不問。於是官旗鄭彪等皆援全例以請，鉞執奏如初，而疏有「猿攀狐媚」語。帝惡之，復責對狀，奪俸一月。

In year 4 he replaced Jin Xianmin as minister of war, concurrently directing the regiment camps. The eunuch Diao Yong and others petitioned for numerous favors, and the emperor granted every request. He also enrolled eight members of Director of Ceremonials Fu An's household as officers of the Embroidered-Uniform Guard. Nanjing already had three garrison commanders, yet the emperor again ordered Bu Chun added and dispatched there. Yan Hong, director of the Imperial Stud, citing military administration, asked that officials of the Tengxiang Four Guards and the horse-pasturing offices be subject to examination. Yue memorialized repeatedly in strong opposition; the emperor rejected every plea, finally rebuked him for defying the imperial will, and ordered him to answer for it at court. Yue accepted blame, and only then was the matter dropped. Marquis Guo Xun of Wuding, finding himself seated below ministers at the Military Review banquet, memorialized in protest. Yue said, "When the central government offices hold the Military Review banquet, it is like the Ministry of Rites holding the Grace-and-Honor banquet. For Grace-and-Honor the Ministry of Rites presides; for Military Review the central government presides—so in both cases they are listed immediately after the ministers. Seating diagrams of the banquets prove the point; one cannot invoke Regiment Camp precedents." The emperor ultimately sided with Xun. Li Quan, a cashiered hundred-household of the Embroidered-Uniform Guard, petitioned to be restored to office; Yue asked that he be punished for defying the imperial will, but the emperor took no notice. Thereupon guard officers such as Zheng Biao all cited Quan's case in their petitions; Yue held firm to his original memorial, which used the phrase "apes climbing and foxes fawning." The emperor took offense, again ordered him to answer at court, and docked one month's salary.

鉞既屢諫不用，失上意，且知為近幸所嫉。會病，遂再疏乞休，許馳驛，未行，卒。贈太子少保，遣官護喪歸葬。久之，賜謚恭簡。

Yue had remonstrated again and again without effect, had lost the emperor's favor, and knew he was detested by those close to the throne. When he fell ill he twice memorialized begging retirement; permission was granted to travel by relay post; before he could depart, he died. He was posthumously made junior tutor of the heir apparent, and officials were dispatched to escort the coffin home for burial. Long afterward he was granted the posthumous title Gongjian (Respectful and Simple).

子惠，正德十二年進士，官行人。諫武宗南巡，死於廷杖。贈監察御史。

His son Hui passed the jinshi in Zhengde year 12 and served as a courier. He remonstrated against the Martial Emperor's southern tour and died under the palace bastinado. He was posthumously made investigating censor.

王憲，字維綱，東平人。弘治三年進士。歷知阜平、滑二縣。召拜御史。正德初，擢大理寺丞。遷右僉都御史。清理甘肅屯田。進右副都御史，巡撫遼東。歷鄖陽、大同。以應州禦寇功，蔭錦衣，世百戶。遷戶部右侍郎，改撫陜西，入為兵部右侍郎。近畿盜起，偕太監張忠、都督朱泰捕之，復以功蔭錦衣。武宗南征，命率戶、兵、工三部郎各一人督理軍儲。駕旋，以中旨代王瓊為兵部尚書。世宗即位，為給事中史道劾罷。

Wang Xian, styled Weigang, was a native of Dongping. In Hongzhi year 3 he passed the jinshi examination. He served successively as magistrate of Fuping and Hua counties. He was summoned and appointed investigating censor. At the beginning of the Zhengde reign he was promoted to vice director of the Court of Judicial Review. He was transferred to right assistant censor-in-chief. He oversaw the reclaimed garrison fields of Gansu. He was promoted to right vice censor-in-chief and appointed grand coordinator of Liaodong. He served as grand coordinator in Xiangyang and Datong. For merit in resisting the enemy at Yingzhou, a descendant was ennobled in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard as hereditary hundred-household. He was transferred to right vice minister of revenue, then reassigned as grand coordinator of Shaanxi, and later entered the capital as right vice minister of war. When bandits rose in the capital region, he joined eunuch Zhang Zhong and Commissioner-in-chief Zhu Tai in suppressing them and again earned a hereditary ennoblement in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard. During the Martial Emperor's southern campaign he was ordered to lead one director from each of the ministries of Revenue, War, and Works in supervising military supplies. When the imperial procession returned, a secret edict replaced Wang Qiong with him as minister of war. When Shizong succeeded to the throne, supervising secretary Shi Dao impeached him and he was dismissed.

嘉靖四年，廷推鄧璋及憲為三邊總制，言官持不可，帝竟用憲。部將王宰、史經連敗寇，璽書褒諭。吉囊數萬騎渡河從石臼墩深入，憲督總兵官鄭卿、杭雄、趙瑛等分據要害擊之，都指揮卜雲斷其歸路。寇至青羊嶺，大敗去。五日四捷，斬首三百余級，獲馬駝器仗無算。帝大喜，加憲太子太保，復予一子蔭。至是，凡三蔭錦衣世百戶矣。中官織花絨於陜，憲請罷之。又因九廟成，請釋還議禮得罪者，頗為士大夫所稱。張璁、桂萼欲用王瓊為總制，乃改憲南京兵部尚書。已，入為左都御史。朔州告急，廷推憲總督宣、大。憲不肯行，曰：「我甫入中臺，何見驅亟也。」給事中夏言、趙廷瑞劾憲托疾避難，復罷歸。

In Jiajing year 4 the court recommended Deng Zhang and Xian for the Three Borders command; censorial officials objected, but the emperor appointed Xian after all. His deputies Wang Zai and Shi Jing repeatedly defeated the enemy, and the emperor sent sealed letters of praise. Ji's horsemen, tens of thousands strong, crossed the river and drove deep inland by way of Shijiudun; Xian directed the commander-in-chief Zheng Qing, Hang Xiong, Zhao Ying, and others to seize key positions and strike them, while Commander Bu Yun cut off their retreat. At Qingyang Ridge the raiders suffered a crushing defeat and fled. In five days they won four victories, took more than three hundred heads, and captured horses, camels, weapons, and equipment beyond counting. The emperor was greatly pleased, promoted Xian to junior preceptor of the heir apparent, and again granted one descendant an ennoblement. By then he had received three hereditary ennoblements in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard as hundred-household. When eunuchs wove patterned velvet in Shaanxi, Xian petitioned to have the practice abolished. When the Nine Temples were completed he also asked that those punished in the Rites Controversy be released—acts that won him considerable praise among scholar-officials. Zhang Cong and Gui E wished to appoint Wang Qiong as border commander, so Xian was transferred to minister of war at Nanjing. Before long he entered the capital as left censor-in-chief. When Shuozhou reported an emergency, the court recommended Xian as supreme commander of Xuan and Da. Xian refused to go, saying, "I have only just entered the Central Secretariat—why am I being hustled out so soon?" Supervising secretaries Xia Yan and Zhao Tingrui impeached Xian for feigning illness to avoid hardship, and he was again dismissed and sent home.

未幾，帝追念憲，召為兵部尚書。小王子入寇，條上平戎及諸邊防禦事宜。又請立京營分伍操練法，諸將不得藉內府供事，規避營操。帝皆嘉納。舊制，軍功論敘，有生擒、斬首、當先、殿後、奇功、頭功諸等，其後濫冒日多。憲定軍功襲替格，自永樂至正德，酌其輕重大小之差，臚析以上。詔著之《會典》為成式。尋兼督團營。西番諸國來貢，稱王號者百余人。憲與禮臣夏言等請如成化、弘治間例，答敕止國王一人，仍限貢期、人數。議乃定。

Before long the emperor recalled Xian with fondness and summoned him as minister of war. When the Little Prince raided, he submitted detailed proposals for pacifying the steppe and for border defense. He also asked to establish squad-based drill for the capital camps and that generals not use service in the inner palace as a pretext to evade camp training. The emperor approved all of these proposals. Under the old system military merit was assessed in categories including live capture, decapitation, leading the van, bringing up the rear, extraordinary merit, and foremost merit—but false claims grew more common every year. Xian drew up regulations for hereditary military merit from the Yongle through the Zhengde reigns, calibrating lighter and heavier distinctions, and presented an itemized memorial. An edict ordered it written into the Collected Statutes as the established standard. Soon he was also appointed to direct the regiment camps. Western Tibetan states came to offer tribute, and more than a hundred persons styled themselves kings. Xian, together with Minister of Rites Xia Yan and others, asked that, following the precedents of the Chenghua and Hongzhi reigns, the reply edict acknowledge only one king and that tribute periods and personnel quotas be reimposed. The policy was then settled.

大同兵變，憲初言首亂當誅，余宜散遣。而大學士張孚敬與總督劉源清力主用兵，憲乃不敢堅前議。源清攻城不能下，北寇又內侵，請別遣大臣禦北寇，己得專攻城。憲亦議從其奏，論者多尤憲。會帝悟大同重鎮，不宜破壞，乃寢其事，亂亦旋定。源清竟得罪去。居數年，憲引年歸，卒。贈少保，謚康毅。子汝孝，副都御史。見《丁汝夔傳》。

When the Datong troops mutinied, Xian initially argued that the ringleaders should be executed and the rest dispersed. But Grand Secretary Zhang Fojing and Grand Coordinator Liu Yuanqing strongly favored military action, and Xian then dared not hold to his earlier view. Yuanqing besieged the city without success; northern raiders invaded again from within; he asked that another minister be dispatched against the northern raiders so that he could devote himself to the siege. Xian also approved this proposal in council, and many critics blamed him. But the emperor came to see that Datong was a vital strongpoint and must not be destroyed; the matter was shelved, and the disturbance soon subsided. Yuanqing in the end was punished and left office. After several years Xian cited his age and retired home, where he died. He was posthumously made junior guardian and granted the title Kangyi (Healthy and Resolute). His son Ruxiao rose to vice censor-in-chief. See the biography of Ding Ruokui.

胡世寧，字永清，仁和人。弘治六年進士。性剛直，不畏強禦，且知兵。除德安推官。岐王初就藩，從官驕，世寧裁之。他日復請湖田，持不可。遷南京刑部主事。應詔陳邊備十策，復上書極言時政闕失。時孝宗已不豫，猶頷之。再遷郎中。與李承勛、魏校、余祐善，時稱「南都四君子」。

Hu Shining, styled Yongqing, was a native of Renhe. In Hongzhi year 6 he passed the jinshi examination. By nature he was upright and fearless before the powerful, and he also understood military affairs. He was appointed investigating magistrate of De'an. When Prince Qi first went to his fief, his attendants were arrogant; Shining reined them in. On another occasion they again petitioned for lake fields; he firmly refused. He was transferred to a directorship in the Nanjing Ministry of Justice. In response to an imperial edict he presented ten policies on border defense, and again memorialized at length on the failures of current administration. By then Xiaozong was already gravely ill, yet he still nodded his approval. He was promoted again to director. Together with Li Chengxun, Wei Xiao, and Yu Youshan, he was known at the time as the Four Gentlemen of the Southern Capital.

遷廣西太平知府。太平知州李濬數殺掠吏民，世寧密檄龍英知州趙元瑤擒之。思明叛族黃文昌四世殺知府，占三州二十七村。副總兵康泰偕世寧入思明，執其兄弟三人。而泰畏文昌夜遁，委世寧空城中，危甚。諸土酋德世寧，發兵援，乃得還。文昌懼，歸所侵地，降。土官承襲，長吏率要賄不時奏，以故諸酋怨叛。世寧令：「生子即聞府。應世及者，年十歲以上，朔望謁府。父兄有故，按籍請官於朝。」土官大悅。

He was appointed prefect of Taiping in Guangxi. Taiping prefect Li Jun repeatedly killed and plundered officials and commoners; Shining secretly ordered Longying prefect Zhao Yuanyao to arrest him. The rebel Huang Wenchang clan of Siming had killed prefects for four generations and occupied three prefectures and twenty-seven villages. Vice commander-in-chief Kang Tai entered Siming with Shining and seized three of Wenchang's brothers. But Kang Tai, fearing Wenchang, fled by night and left Shining alone in an empty city—a situation of grave danger. The native chieftains, who respected Shining, raised troops to rescue him, and only then was he able to return. Wenchang, in fear, returned the seized territories and surrendered. When native officials inherited their posts, senior officials routinely demanded bribes and failed to report succession in timely fashion; for this reason the chieftains grew resentful and rebelled. Shining ordered, "When a son is born, the prefecture must be notified at once. Heirs from age ten upward shall attend the prefecture on the first and fifteenth of each month. When a father or elder brother dies or is removed, succession shall be requested from the court according to the register." The native officials were greatly pleased.

母喪歸。服闋赴京。道滄州，流寇攻城急。世寧即馳入城，畫防守計。賊攻七日夜，不能拔，引去。再知寶慶府。岷王及鎮守中官王潤皆嚴憚之。遷江西副使。與都御史俞諫畫策擒盜，討平王浩八。以暇城廣昌、南豐、新城。當是時，寧王宸濠驕橫有異志，莫敢言，世寧憤甚。正德九年三月上疏曰：「江西之盜，剿撫二說相持，臣愚以為無難決也。已撫者不誅，再叛者毋赦，初起者亟剿，如是而已。顧江西患非盜賊。寧府威日張，不逞之徒群聚而導以非法，上下諸司承奉太過。數假火災奪民廛地，采辦擾旁郡，蹂籍遍窮鄉。臣恐良民不安，皆起為盜。臣下畏禍，多懷二心，禮樂刑政漸不自朝廷出矣。請於都御史俞諫、任漢中專委一人，或別選公忠大臣鎮撫。敕王止治其國，毋撓有司，以靖亂源，銷意外變。」章下兵部。尚書陸完議，令諫往計賊情撫剿之宜，至所言違制擾民，疑出偽托，宜令王約束之。得旨報可。宸濠聞，大怒。列世寧罪，遍賂權幸，必殺世寧。章下都察院。右都御史李士實，宸濠黨也，與左都御史石玠等上言，世寧狂率當治。命未下，宸濠奏復至，指世寧為妖言。乃命錦衣官校逮捕世寧。世寧已遷福建按察使，取道還裏。宸濠遂誣世寧逃，馳使令浙江巡按潘鵬執送江西。鵬盡系世寧家人，索之急。李承勛為按察使，保護之。世寧乃亡命抵京師，自投錦衣獄。獄中三上書言宸濠逆狀，卒不省。系歲餘，言官程啟充、徐文華、蕭鳴鳳、邢寰等交章救，楊一清復以危言動錢寧，乃謫戍瀋陽。

He returned home upon his mother's death. When his mourning period ended he traveled to the capital. Passing through Cangzhou, he found roving bandits pressing a fierce assault on the city. Shining immediately rode into the city and drew up a defensive plan. The bandits attacked for seven days and nights, failed to take the city, and withdrew. He was again appointed prefect of Baoqing. Prince Min and the garrison eunuch Wang Run both stood in awe of him. He was promoted to vice commissioner of Jiangxi. Together with Censor-in-chief Yu Jian he devised a plan to capture the bandits and pacified Wang Haoba. In intervals between campaigns he fortified Guangchang, Nanfeng, and Xincheng. At that time the Prince of Ning, Zhu Chenhao, was arrogant and harbored rebellious ambitions; no one dared speak out, and Shining was deeply indignant. In the third month of Zhengde year 9 he memorialized, "As for the bandits of Jiangxi, the debate between suppression and pacification has dragged on; in my humble view the matter is not hard to decide. Those already pacified should not be executed; those who rebel again should receive no pardon; those just arising should be swiftly suppressed—that is all. But Jiangxi's true affliction is not banditry. The Prince of Ning's power grows daily; unruly men gather around him and lead him into unlawful acts, while offices at every level defer to him far too readily. Again and again, under pretext of fire disasters, they seize commoners' market lands; procurement missions disturb neighboring prefectures; and their depredations reach into the poorest villages. I fear that law-abiding people, driven to desperation, will all turn to banditry. Officials fear retribution and many harbor divided loyalties; rites, music, punishments, and administration are gradually ceasing to issue from the court. I ask that either Censor-in-chief Yu Jian or Ren Hanzhong be given sole responsibility, or that another loyal and upright senior minister be chosen to oversee and pacify the region. Command the prince to govern only his own domain and not interfere with civil officials, so as to quiet the source of disorder and forestall unforeseen upheaval." The memorial was referred to the Ministry of War. Minister Lu Wan proposed that Jian be sent to assess bandit conditions and decide between pacification and suppression; as for the charges of violating regulations and disturbing the people, he suspected forgery and recommended that the prince be ordered to restrain his followers. Imperial approval was granted. Chenhao heard of this and was furious. He drew up charges against Shining, bribed powerful favorites throughout the court, and resolved to have him killed. The memorial was referred to the Censorate. Right Censor-in-chief Li Shishi, a partisan of Chenhao, joined Left Censor-in-chief Shi Jie and others in memorializing that Shining was reckless and should be punished. Before the order was issued, another memorial from Chenhao arrived, denouncing Shining for sedition and sorcery. The court then ordered officers of the Embroidered-Uniform Guard to arrest Shining. Shining had already been transferred to surveillance commissioner of Fujian and was traveling home by a circuitous route. Chenhao then falsely claimed that Shining had fled and dispatched a fast courier ordering Zhejiang investigating censor Pan Peng to seize him and send him to Jiangxi. Peng imprisoned all of Shining's family and pressed the search urgently. Li Chengxun, who was surveillance commissioner, protected him. Shining then fled to the capital and surrendered himself to the Embroidered-Uniform Guard prison. From prison he memorialized three times on Chenhao's treasonous conduct, but the court took no notice. After more than a year in prison, remonstrating officials including Cheng Qichong, Xu Wenhua, Xiao Mingfeng, and Xing Huan memorialized in succession on his behalf; Yang Yiqing again used alarming words to move Qian Ning; and Shining was banished to garrison duty at Shenyang.

既免喪家居，朝廷方議「大禮」，異議者多得罪。世寧意是張璁等，疏乞早定追崇「大禮」。未上，語聞京師。既有議遷顯陵祔天壽山者，世寧極言不可，乃並前疏上之。帝深嘉嘆。無何，聞廷臣伏闕爭，有杖死者，馳疏言：「臣向以仁、明、武三言進，然尤以仁為本。仁，生成之德；明，日月之臨，皆不可一日無。武則雷霆之威，但可一震而已。今廷臣忤旨，陛下赫然示威，辱以箠楚，體羸弱者輒斃。傳之天下，書之史冊，謂鞭撲行殿陛，刑辱及士夫，非所以光聖德。新進一言偶合，後難保必當；舊德老成，一事偶忤，後未必皆非。望陛下以三無私之心，照臨於上，無先存適莫於中。」帝雖不能從，亦不忤。尋召為兵部左侍郎。條戍邊時所見險塞利害二十五事以上。又請善保聖躬，毋輕餌藥物。獻《大學·秦誓》章、《洪範》「惟辟威福」、《系辭·節》「初爻」講義，並乞留中。給事中余經遂劾世寧啟告密之漸。世寧乞罷，不許。「大禮」成，進秩一等。復陳用人二十事。工匠趙奎等五十四人以中官請，悉授職。世寧言賞過濫，不納。屢疏引疾。改南京吏部，就遷工部尚書。已，復召為左都御史，加太子少保。辭宮銜，許之。

After his mourning ended he lived at home while the court debated the Great Rites; many who dissented were punished. Shining sided with Zhang Cong and others and memorialized asking that the Great Rites be settled promptly. Before he could submit it, word of his views reached the capital. When some proposed moving the Xian Mausoleum to be enshrined at Mount Tianshou, Shining strongly objected and then submitted his earlier memorial together with this protest. The emperor praised him deeply. Before long, hearing that court officials had prostrated themselves at the palace gate in protest and that some had died under the bastinado, he sent an urgent memorial: "Your subject formerly advanced the three principles of benevolence, clarity, and martial prowess, yet took benevolence above all as the foundation. Benevolence is the virtue that generates and nurtures; clarity is the sun and moon's shining over the realm—neither can be absent for a single day. Martial prowess is the thunder's awe—it need only strike once. Now court officials have offended the imperial will; Your Majesty has suddenly displayed wrath, humiliated them with the rod, and those of frail constitution have died on the spot. When this spreads through the realm and is written in the historical records—that the rod was applied on the palace steps and that punishment and humiliation reached scholar-officials—it will not glorify Your Majesty's sagely virtue. A newly risen man may happen to speak words that accord with Your Majesty's wish, yet later one cannot guarantee he will always be right; while a seasoned elder who offends on one matter is not necessarily always wrong thereafter. I hope Your Majesty, with a heart free of private bias in all three respects, will shine illumination from above and not harbor predetermined favor or disfavor within." The emperor, though unable to follow his advice, was not offended. Soon he was summoned as left vice minister of war. He submitted twenty-five items on the strategic passes, dangers, and advantages he had observed while serving on the frontier. He also asked that the emperor guard his health carefully and not lightly take medicines. He presented exegeses on the "Qin Oath" chapter of the Great Learning, on "Only the sovereign possesses majesty and blessing" from the Hongfan, and on the "First line" of the Appended Remarks, and asked that all be kept within the palace. Supervising secretary Yu Jing then impeached Shining for encouraging the gradual slide toward secret denunciations. Shining asked to resign; the request was denied. When the Great Rites were settled, his rank was advanced one grade. He again presented twenty proposals on the employment of officials. Fifty-four artisans including Zhao Kui were all granted offices at the eunuchs' request. Shining said the rewards were excessive; the emperor did not accept his view. He repeatedly memorialized citing illness. He was transferred to the Nanjing Ministry of Personnel, then promptly promoted to minister of works. Before long he was again summoned as left censor-in-chief and made junior tutor of the heir apparent. He declined the palace title, and permission was granted.

世寧故方嚴。及掌憲，務持大體。條上憲綱十余條，末言：「近士習忌刻，一遭讒毀，則終身廢棄。僉事彭祺發豪強罪，受謗奪官。諸如此者，宜許大臣申理。」帝采其言，惟祺報寢。執政請禁私謁，世寧曰：「臣官以察為名。人非接其貌，聽其言，無由悉其才行。」帝以為然，遂弗禁。俄改刑部尚書。每重獄，別白為帝言之，帝輒感悟。中官剛聰誣漕卒掠禦服，坐二千人，世寧劾其妄。已，聰情得抵罪，帝乃益信世寧。王瓊修郤陳九疇，將致之死。以世寧救，得戍。

Shining had formerly been stern and severe. When he took charge of the Censorate, he strove to uphold the larger principles. He submitted more than ten articles on censorial regulations, ending with: "Recently the custom among scholar-officials has grown jealous and severe; once slandered, a man is abandoned for life. Associate administration vice commissioner Peng Qi exposed the crimes of powerful families, was slandered, and lost his office. In cases such as these, great ministers ought to be allowed to plead on their behalf." The emperor adopted his advice in general, but Peng Qi's case alone was shelved. The chief ministers asked to forbid private audiences; Shining said, "Your subject's office is named for investigation. Unless one meets a man face to face and hears him speak, there is no way to know his conduct and ability fully." The emperor agreed and did not forbid private audiences. Soon he was transferred to minister of justice. In every grave case he clarified the facts for the emperor, who was invariably moved to understanding. The eunuch Gang Cong falsely accused grain-transport soldiers of plundering imperial garments and implicated two thousand men; Shining impeached him for the false charge. Before long Cong's guilt was established and he was punished; the emperor then trusted Shining all the more. Wang Qiong, nursing a grudge against Chen Jiuchou, was about to have him executed. Thanks to Shining's intervention, he was sentenced to frontier garrison duty instead.

兵部尚書王時中罷，以世寧代，加太子太保。再辭不得命，乃陳兵政十事，曰定武略、崇憲職、重將權、增武備、更賞罰、馭土夷、足邊備、絕弊源、正謬誤、惜人才。所言多破常格，帝優旨答之。土魯番貢使乞歸哈密城，易降人牙木蘭。王瓊上其事。世寧言：「先朝不惜棄大寧、交阯，何有於哈密。況初封忠順為我外藩，而自罕慎以來三為土魯番所執，遂狎與戎比，以疲我中國，耗財老師，戎得挾以邀索。臣以為此與國初所封元孽和順、寧順、安定三王等耳。安定在哈密內，近甘肅，今存亡不可知。我一切不問，獨重哈密何也？宜專守河西，謝絕哈密。牙木蘭本曲先衛人，反正歸順，非納降比，彼安得索之？唐悉怛謀事可鑒也。」張璁等皆主瓊議，格不用，獨留牙木蘭不遣。居兵部三月求去，帝不許，免朝參。世寧又上備邊三事。固稱疾篤，乃聽乘傳歸，給廩隸如制。歸數月，復起南京兵部尚書，固辭不拜。九年秋卒。贈少保，謚端敏。

Minister of war Wang Shizhong was dismissed; Shining replaced him and was made senior guardian of the heir apparent. After twice declining without success, he presented ten proposals on military administration: fix martial strategy, honor censorial duties, strengthen generals' authority, increase armaments, reform rewards and punishments, control native tribes, strengthen border defenses, cut off sources of abuse, correct errors, and cherish talent. Most of his proposals broke with convention; the emperor responded with a gracious edict. Turpan tribute envoys asked to recover the city of Hami in exchange for the surrendered man Yabulum. Wang Qiong memorialized on the matter. Shining said, "The previous dynasty did not hesitate to abandon Daning and Jiaozhi—what is Hami by comparison? Moreover, when Zhongshun was first enfeoffed as our outer dependency, since Han Shen it has been seized by Turpan three times and has grown familiar with the barbarians, wearing down China, draining the treasury, and aging the army while the barbarians use Hami to extort concessions. In my view this is no different from the three kings Heshun, Ningshun, and Anding—Yuan remnant lines enfeoffed at the dynasty's founding. Anding was within Hami, near Gansu; whether his line still exists is unknown. We pay no attention to any of that—why single out Hami for special concern? We ought to concentrate on holding Hexi and cut ties with Hami. Yabulum was originally from Quxian Guard and turned from rebellion to loyal submission—not comparable to ordinary defectors; how can they demand him back? The affair of Sidanmo in Tang times should serve as a warning." Zhang Cong and others all supported Qiong's view; the proposal was rejected, but Yabulum alone was retained and not sent back. After three months as minister of war he asked to resign; the emperor refused but exempted him from court attendance. Shining again submitted three proposals on border defense. He firmly claimed grave illness; only then was he permitted to return by relay post, with grain allowance and attendants as regulations provided. Several months after returning home he was again appointed minister of war at Nanjing; he firmly declined the appointment. He died in the autumn of year 9. He was posthumously made junior guardian and granted the title Duanmin (Upright and Keen).

世寧風格峻整，居官廉。疾惡若仇，而薦達賢士如不及。都御史馬昊、陳九疇坐累廢；副使施儒、楊必進考察被黜；御史李潤、副使範輅為時所抑，連章薦之。與人語，吶不出口。及具疏，援據古今，洞中窾會。與李承勛善，而持議不茍合。承勛欲授隴勝官，復芒部故地，世寧言勝非隴氏子，芒氏不當復立。始以議禮與張璁、桂萼合，璁、萼德之，欲援以自助。世寧不肯附會，論事多牴牾。萼議欲銷兵，世寧力折之。昌化伯以他姓子冒封，下廷議。世寧言：「吾輩不得以厚賂故，誣朝廷」，萼為色變。萼方為吏部，而世寧引疾，言：「天變人窮，盜賊滋起，咎在吏、戶、兵三部不得人。兵部尤重，請避賢路。」又以哈密議，語侵璁，諸大臣皆忌之。帝始終優禮不替。

Shining's manner was stern and dignified, and he was incorrupt in office. He hated evil as a personal enemy, yet recommended worthy men as if he could not do so fast enough. Censors-in-chief Ma Hao and Chen Jiuchou were implicated and dismissed; vice commissioners Shi Ru and Yang Bijin were dismissed in merit review; investigating censor Li Run and vice commissioner Fan Lu were suppressed by their contemporaries—he memorialized repeatedly recommending them. In conversation he stammered and could barely speak. Yet when he drafted memorials, citing ancient and modern precedents, he struck straight to the heart of the matter. He was on good terms with Li Chengxun, yet refused to compromise his views carelessly. Chengxun wished to grant Long Sheng office and restore the Mang territory; Shining argued that Sheng was not a son of the Long clan and the Mang line ought not be re-established. At first he sided with Zhang Cong and Gui E on the Rites debate; they were grateful and wished to draw him in as an ally. Shining refused to collude, and his views often clashed with theirs. When Gui E proposed reducing the army, Shining strongly refuted him. The Earl of Changhua had a son of another surname fraudulently enfeoffed; the matter was referred to court deliberation. Shining said, "We must not deceive the court because of heavy bribes"; Gui E turned pale. Gui E had just become minister of personnel when Shining cited illness, saying, "Heaven shows omens and the people are desperate; bandits multiply—the blame lies with the ministries of Personnel, Revenue, and War for lacking the right men. The Ministry of War is especially important; I ask to yield the post to someone more worthy." He also offended Zhang Cong in the Hami debate, and the senior ministers all resented him. The emperor nonetheless treated him with unwavering favor throughout.

子純、繼。純以父任知肇慶府，有才行。繼幼不慧，不為世寧知。世寧在江西出討賊，部將入見繼。繼為指陣法，進退離合甚詳，凡三日。世寧歸閱，大異之。知其故，嘆曰：「吾有子不自識，何也？」自是擊賊，輒令繼從，與策方略。世寧十不失三，繼十不失一。世寧方草疏論宸濠，繼請曰：「是且重得禍。」世寧曰：「吾已許國，遑恤其他。」及世寧下獄，繼念其父，病死。

His sons were Chun and Ji. Chun, through his father's privilege, became prefect of Zhaoqing and showed both ability and integrity. Ji seemed dull in youth and was unknown to his father. While Shining was in Jiangxi campaigning against bandits, a deputy general came to visit Ji. Ji explained battle formations to him in great detail—advance, retreat, dispersal, and concentration—for three full days. When Shining returned and read the notes, he was astonished. Learning what had happened, he sighed, "I had a son I did not know—how could that be?" From then on, whenever he campaigned against bandits, he had Ji accompany him and help plan strategy. Shining was right seven times in ten; Ji was right nine times in ten. As Shining was drafting a memorial denouncing Chenhao, Ji pleaded, "This will bring disaster upon you again." Shining said, "I have already pledged myself to the state—how can I spare thought for anything else?" When Shining was imprisoned, Ji, grieving for his father, died of illness.

李承勛，字立卿，嘉魚人。父田，進士，官右副都御史，巡撫順天。有操執，為政不苛。承勛舉弘治六年進士。由太湖知縣遷南京刑部主事。歷工部郎中，遷南昌知府。

Li Chengxun, styled Liqing, was a native of Jiayu. His father Tian was a jinshi who served as right vice censor-in-chief and grand coordinator of Shuntian. He was a man of integrity who governed without harshness. Chengxun passed the jinshi in Hongzhi year 6. He rose from magistrate of Taihu to a directorship in the Nanjing Ministry of Justice. He served as a director in the Ministry of Works, then was appointed prefect of Nanchang.

正德六年，贛州賊犯新淦，執參政趙士賢。靖安賊據越王嶺瑪瑙岸，華林賊又陷瑞州。諸道兵不敢前。承勛督民兵剿，數有功。華林賊殺副使周憲，憲軍大潰。承勛單騎入憲營，眾乃復集。都御史陳金即檄承勛討之。賊黨王奇聽撫，搜得其衷刃，縱使還。奇感泣，誓以死報。承勛令奇密入寨，說降其黨為內應，而親率所部登山。奇夜拔柵，官軍奮而前，降者自內出，賊遂潰。已，從金斬賊渠羅光權、胡雪二，華林賊平。鎮守中貴黎安誣承勛擅易賊首王浩八獄詞，坐下吏。大理卿燕忠即訊，得白。舉治行卓異，超遷浙工按察使。歷陜西、河南左、右布政使。以右副都御史巡撫遼東。邊備久弛，開原尤甚。士馬才十二，墻堡墩臺圮殆盡。將士依城塹自守，城外數百里悉為諸部射獵地，承勛疏請修築。會世宗立，發帑銀四十余萬兩。承勛命步將四人各一軍守要害，身負畚鍤先士卒。凡為城塹各九萬一千四百余丈，墩堡百八十有一。招逋逃三千二百人，開屯田千五百頃。又城中固、鐵嶺；斷陰山、遼河之交；城蒲河、撫順，扼要沖。邊防甚固。錄功，進秩一等。又數陳軍民利病，鹹報可。以疾歸。起故官，蒞南院。三遷刑部尚書，加太子少保。

In Zhengde year 6, Ganzhou bandits attacked Xingan and seized Vice Commissioner Zhao Shixian. Jing'an bandits held Yuewang Ridge and Manao Bank, while Hualin bandits also captured Ruizhou. Government troops from the various circuits dared not advance. Chengxun led militia in suppression campaigns and won several victories. Hualin bandits killed Vice Commissioner Zhou Xian, and Zhou's army collapsed in rout. Chengxun rode alone into Zhou's camp and rallied the scattered troops. Censor-in-chief Chen Jin immediately ordered Chengxun to campaign against them. The bandit Wang Qi accepted an offer of pacification; a search found a hidden dagger, yet Chengxun released him to return. Qi wept with gratitude and vowed to repay Chengxun with his life. Chengxun sent Qi secretly into the stockade to persuade his comrades to serve as inside collaborators, while he personally led his troops up the mountain. Qi pulled up the palisade by night; government troops charged forward as the defectors emerged from within, and the bandits collapsed. Soon afterward, following Jin, he beheaded the bandit chiefs Luo Guangquan and Hu Xue, and the Hualin bandits were pacified. Garrison eunuch Li An falsely accused Chengxun of arbitrarily altering bandit chief Wang Haoba's testimony, and Chengxun was handed over to the judicial authorities. Chief justice Yan Zhong examined the case immediately and cleared him. Recommended for outstanding conduct in office, he was specially promoted to surveillance commissioner of Zhejiang. He served as left and right provincial administration commissioner of Shaanxi and Henan. As right vice censor-in-chief he was appointed grand coordinator of Liaodong. Border defenses had long been neglected, especially at Kaiyuan. There were only twelve thousand soldiers and horses, and walls, forts, and beacon towers were nearly all in ruins. Officers and soldiers defended only within the city moat, while for hundreds of li beyond the walls the various tribes used the land as hunting grounds; Chengxun memorialized asking to repair and build defenses. When Shizong succeeded to the throne, more than four hundred thousand taels of silver were issued from the treasury. Chengxun assigned four infantry generals, each with an army, to guard key points, and himself carried tools ahead of the soldiers. In all they built moats totaling more than ninety-one thousand four hundred zhang and one hundred eighty-one beacon forts. They recruited three thousand two hundred fugitives and opened fifteen hundred qing of garrison farmland. They also fortified Gu and Tieling; blocked the junction of Yin Mountain and the Liao River; and walled Pu River and Fushun, seizing strategic passes. Border defenses became very secure. His merit was recorded and his rank was advanced one grade. He also repeatedly presented proposals on matters affecting army and people, and all were approved. He returned home due to illness. He was restored to his former post and took charge of the Southern Censorate. After three promotions he became minister of justice and was made junior guardian of the heir apparent.

帝以京營多弊，欲振飭之。遂加承勛太子太保，改兵部尚書兼左都御史，專督團營。尋兼掌都察院。以疾，三疏乞休，且言：「山西潞城賊以四道兵討之，不統於一人，故無功。川、貴芒部之役措置乖方，再勝再叛，宜命伍文定深計，毋專用兵。豐、沛河工，二年三易大臣，工不就，宜令知水利者各陳所見，而俾侍郎潘希曾度可否。其尤要者，在決壅蔽患。仿唐、宋轉對、次對故事，不時召見大臣。」帝不允辭，下其議於所司。時秦、晉、楚、蜀歲祲，詔免田賦。承勛言：「有司例十月始征賦。今九月矣，恐官吏督趣，陰圖乾沒。宜及其未征，遣官馳告以所蠲數。山陬僻壤，俾悉戶曉。有司不能奉宣德意者，罪之。撫按失舉奏，並坐。」帝褒納之。奏奪京營把總湯清職。郭勛為求復，語侵承勛。承勛因求退，給事中王準等劾勛恣。乃敕責勛，而下清法司。兵部尚書胡世寧致仕，詔承勛還部代之。疏言：「朝廷有大政及推舉文武大臣，必下廷議。議者率相顧不發，拱手聽。宜及未議前，備條所議，布告與議者，俾先諗其故，然後平心商質，各盡所懷。議茍不合，聽其別奏。庶足盡諸臣之見，而所議者公。」帝然其言，下詔申飭。尋命兼督團營。言官攻張璁、桂萼黨，並及承勛。承勛連章求退，帝復溫旨答之。中官出鎮者，率暴橫。承勛因諫官李鳳毛等言，先後裁二十七人，又革錦衣官五百人，監局冒役數千人。獨禦馬監未汰，復因給事中田秋奏，多所裁減。而請以騰驤四衛屬部，核詭冒，制可。中官言曩彰義門破也先，東市剿曹賊，皆四衛功，以直內故易集，隸兵部不便。承勛言：「彰義門之戰，禍由王振。東市作賊，即曹吉祥也。」帝卒從承勛議，歸兵部。寇犯大同，議遣大臣督兵。眾推都御史王憲，憲不肯行。給事中夏言謂承勛曰：「事急，公當請行。」承勛竟不請。給事中趙廷瑞並劾之。會寇退，罷。

The emperor, finding many abuses in the capital camps, wished to reform them. Chengxun was made senior guardian of the heir apparent, transferred to minister of war concurrently with left censor-in-chief, and placed exclusively in charge of the regiment camps. Soon he also took charge of the Censorate. Citing illness, he thrice memorialized begging retirement and said, "The Lucheng bandits of Shanxi were attacked by troops from four circuits without unified command, and therefore achieved nothing. The Mang campaign in Sichuan and Guizhou was mishandled, with victories followed by renewed rebellion; Wu Wending should be ordered to plan carefully and not rely solely on military force. For the river works at Feng and Pei, three ministers were replaced in two years without completing the work; experts in water control should each present their views, and Vice Minister Pan Xizeng should assess feasibility. Most vital of all is to resolve the harm of obstruction and concealment. Following Tang and Song precedents of rotating and second responses, the court should summon senior ministers from time to time." The emperor refused his resignation and referred his proposals to the relevant offices. At the time Qin, Jin, Chu, and Shu suffered crop failure; an edict exempted land tax. Chengxun said, "By rule local offices begin collecting tax in the tenth month. It is already the ninth month, and I fear officials will press for collection and secretly embezzle the funds. Before collection begins, officials should be dispatched post-haste to announce the exempted amounts. In mountain recesses and remote districts, every household should be informed. Officials who fail to carry out the imperial intent should be punished. Grand coordinators and regional inspectors who fail to report violations should be punished as well." The emperor praised and accepted the proposal. He memorialized to strip Tang Qing, a company commander of the capital camps, of his post. Guo Xun pleaded for his restoration, his words offending Chengxun. Chengxun thereupon asked to retire; supervising secretaries Wang Zhun and others impeached Guo Xun for arrogance. The emperor then rebuked Guo Xun by edict and referred Qing to the judicial authorities. Minister of war Hu Shining retired; an edict ordered Chengxun back to the ministry to replace him. He memorialized, "When the court has major policies or recommends senior civil and military officials, the matter must be referred to court deliberation. Deliberators generally look at one another in silence, folding their hands and waiting to be told what to do. Before deliberation begins, the issues should be fully itemized and circulated to participants so they understand the background, then discuss calmly and each state their views fully. If deliberation fails to reach agreement, participants should be allowed to submit separate memorials. Thus all ministers' views may be fully heard and deliberation will be fair." The emperor approved his proposal and issued an edict reinforcing it. Soon he was also ordered to supervise the regiment camps concurrently. Censorial officials attacked the faction of Zhang Cong and Gui E and implicated Chengxun as well. Chengxun memorialized repeatedly asking to retire; the emperor again responded with a gracious edict. Eunuchs assigned to garrison posts were generally violent and overbearing. Acting on remonstrating officials Li Fengmao and others, Chengxun dismissed twenty-seven eunuchs in succession, cut five hundred Embroidered Uniform Guard posts, and eliminated thousands of fraudulent registrations in supervisory offices. Only the Imperial Horse Stud had not yet been reduced; again, on supervising secretary Tian Qiu's memorial, many further cuts were made. He also requested placing the four Tengxiang guards under the ministry and auditing fraudulent registrations; the proposal was approved. Eunuchs argued that at Zhangyi Gate they had defeated Esen and at East Market they had suppressed Cao's rebels—all feats of the four guards; because they were directly under the palace they could be assembled quickly, and subordination to the Ministry of War would be inconvenient. Chengxun said, "At the battle of Zhangyi Gate the disaster came from Wang Zhen. The rebel at East Market was none other than Cao Xiangji." The emperor ultimately followed Chengxun's view and returned the guards to the Ministry of War. Raiders invaded Datong, and the court proposed sending a senior minister to supervise the troops. All recommended censor-in-chief Wang Xian, but Wang refused to go. Supervising secretary Xia Yan told Chengxun, "The matter is urgent—you should volunteer to go." Chengxun ultimately did not volunteer. Supervising secretaries Zhao Tingrui and others impeached both men. When the raiders withdrew, the matter was dropped.

十年春，大風晝晦，帝憂邊事。承勛言：「去歲冰合，敵騎盡入河套。延、寧、固原皆當警備。甘肅軍餉專仰河東，宜於蘭州糴貯，以備緩急。曩河西患土魯番，今亦卜喇又深入。兩寇雲擾，孤危益甚。套寇出入，並經莊浪。急宜繕塞設險，斷臂截踵，使不得相合。兀良哈最近京師，不善撫，即門庭寇。雲南安鳳之叛，軍民困敝，臨安、蒙自盜賊復興，曠日淹時，恐釀大患。交阯世子流寓老撾，異日歸命請援，或據地求封，皆未可測。惟急用人理財，俾邊鄙無虞。」帝嘉納焉。

In the spring of year 10 a great wind darkened the sky by day, and the emperor grew anxious about border affairs. Chengxun said, "Last year the rivers froze and enemy horsemen poured into the Ordos. Yan, Ning, and Guyuan should all be placed on alert. Gansu's military provisions depend entirely on Hedong; grain should be purchased and stored at Lanzhou against emergencies. Formerly Hexi suffered from Turpan; now Yibula has again penetrated deep into the region. With two enemies swarming like clouds, the frontier grows ever more isolated and perilous. Ordos raiders come and go, all passing through Zhuanglang. We must urgently repair defenses and establish barriers—cut the arm and sever the heel—so the two enemies cannot join forces. The Uriankhai are closest to the capital; if poorly pacified, they become raiders at the doorstep. In Yunnan, An Feng's rebellion has exhausted troops and civilians, bandits have risen again at Lin'an and Mengzi, and prolonged delay may brew a greater disaster. The Jiaozhi heir-apparent wanders in Laos; someday he may return to submit and request aid, or seize territory and seek enfeoffment—all unforeseeable. Only by urgently appointing capable men and managing finances can the frontiers be kept secure." The emperor praised and accepted the memorial.

承勛瀋毅有大略。帝所信任，自輔臣外，獨承勛與胡世寧，大事輒咨訪。二人亦孜孜奉國，知無不言。世寧卒半歲，承勛亦卒，帝深嗟悼。贈少保，謚康惠。所賚予，常典外，特賜白金、彩幣、米蔬諸物。承勛官四十年，家無余資。其議「大禮」，亦與世寧相合雲。

Chengxun was grave and resolute, with great strategic vision. Among those the emperor trusted, apart from chief ministers only Chengxun and Hu Shining were consulted on major affairs. The two also served the state diligently and spoke frankly on every matter they knew. Half a year after Shining died, Chengxun also died, and the emperor deeply mourned him. He was posthumously made junior guardian and granted the title Kanghui (Peaceful and Kind). Beyond the usual rites, he was specially granted white gold, colored silks, grain, vegetables, and other goods. Chengxun served forty years in office, yet his family had no surplus wealth. It is said that his views on the Great Rites also accorded with Shining's.

三邊總督曾銑議復河套，大學士夏言主之。數下優旨獎銑，令以旂集廷臣議。以旂等力主銑議。議上，帝意忽變，嚴旨咎銑，令再議。以旂等惶恐，盡反前說。帝逮銑，令以旂代之。套寇自西海還，肆掠永昌，鎮羌總兵官王繼祖禦卻之。已，復來犯，並及鎮番、山丹。部將蔡勛、馬宗援三戰皆捷。前後斬首一百四十余級。論功，蔭以旂一子。已而寇數萬復屯寧夏塞外，將大入。官軍擊之，斬首六十余級，寇宵遁。延綏、寧夏開馬市，二鎮市五千匹。其長狠臺吉等約束所部，終市無嘩。以旂以聞。詔大賚二鎮文武將吏，以旂復賜金幣。錄延綏將士破敵功，再蔭一子。在鎮六年，修延綏城堡四千五百余所，又築蘭州邊垣，加官至太子太保。比卒，軍民為罷市。贈少保，謚襄敏，再予一子官。

Three-frontier grand coordinator Zeng Xian proposed recovering the Ordos, and grand secretary Xia Yan supported him. The emperor several times issued favorable edicts praising Zeng Xian and ordered Yiqi to gather court ministers for deliberation. Yiqi and others strongly upheld Zeng Xian's proposal. When the deliberation was submitted, the emperor's intent suddenly changed; a stern edict blamed Zeng Xian and ordered a new deliberation. Yiqi and others, in fear, completely reversed their earlier position. The emperor arrested Zeng Xian and ordered Yiqi to replace him. Ordos raiders returning from the Western Sea plundered Yongchang; regional commander of Zhenqiang Wang Jizu repelled them. Before long they attacked again, reaching Zhenfan and Shandan as well. Deputy commanders Cai Xun and Ma Zongyuan fought three battles, all victorious. In all more than 140 heads were taken. For merit, one of Yiqi's sons received hereditary office. Before long tens of thousands of raiders again camped outside Ningxia's borders, poised for a major invasion. Government troops attacked them, took more than 60 heads, and the raiders fled by night. Yansui and Ningxia opened horse markets, and the two garrisons traded five thousand horses. Their chiefs, including Hen Taiji, restrained their followers, and the markets concluded without disturbance. Yiqi reported the matter. An edict greatly rewarded the civil and military officers of both garrisons, and Yiqi was again granted gold and silks. Recording the Yansui officers' and soldiers' merit in defeating the enemy, another of Yiqi's sons received hereditary office. During six years in the post he repaired more than 4,500 fortifications in Yansui and built Lanzhou's border wall, and was promoted to senior guardian of the heir apparent. When he died, soldiers and civilians closed their markets in mourning. He was posthumously made junior guardian, granted the title Xiangmin (Assisting and Keen), and another son was given office.

范鏓，字平甫，其先江西樂平人，遷瀋陽。鏓登正德十二年進士，授工部主事，遷員外郎。嘉靖三年，伏闕爭「大禮」，下獄廷杖。由戶部郎中改長蘆鹽運司同知，遷河南知府。歲大饑，巡撫都御史潘塤駁諸請振文牒，候勘實乃發。鏓不待報，輒開倉振之，全活十余萬。民爭謳頌鏓，語聞禁中。帝為責戶部及塤與巡按御史匿災狀。塤歸罪鏓以自解，被劾罷去，鏓名由此顯。遷兩淮鹽運使，條上鹺政十要。歷四川參政，湖廣按察使，浙江、河南左、右布政使。

Fan Zong, styled Pingfu, was descended from a family of Leping in Jiangxi that later moved to Shenyang. Zong passed the jinshi in Zhengde year 12, was appointed a director in the Ministry of Works, and was promoted to vice director. In Jiajing year 3 he prostrated at the palace gate protesting the Great Rites, was imprisoned, and was beaten at court. He moved from a directorship in the Ministry of Revenue to vice commissioner of the Changlu Salt Transport Circuit, then was appointed prefect of Henan. During a great famine, grand coordinator Pan Kun rejected all requests for relief documents, insisting on verification before issuing grain. Zong, without waiting for approval, opened the granaries and distributed relief, saving more than 100,000 lives. The people vied in singing Zong's praises, and word reached the palace. The emperor rebuked the Ministry of Revenue, Pan Kun, and the touring censor for concealing the famine. Pan Kun blamed Zong to save himself, was impeached and dismissed, and Zong's reputation rose accordingly. He was transferred to commissioner of the Lianghuai Salt Transport Circuit and submitted ten essentials for salt administration. He served as administration vice commissioner of Sichuan, surveillance commissioner of Huguang, and left and right administration commissioner of Zhejiang and Henan.

二十年，擢右副都御史，巡撫寧夏。鏓為人持重，有方略。既蒞重鎮，不上首功。一意練步騎，廣儲蓄，繕治關隘亭障，寇為遠徙，俘歸者五百人。上疏言：「邊將各有常祿，無給田之制。自武定侯郭勛奏以軍餘開墾田園給將領，委奸軍為莊頭，害殊大。宜給還軍民，任耕種便。」帝從其請。居數年，引疾歸。

In year 20 he was promoted to right vice censor-in-chief and grand coordinator of Ningxia. Zong was dignified and possessed strategic ability. Once installed at this vital post, he did not inflate merit by reporting enemy heads. He concentrated on drilling infantry and cavalry, expanding stores, and repairing passes and watchtowers; the raiders withdrew far away, and five hundred captives returned home. He memorialized, "Frontier generals each receive regular salaries; there is no system of granting them fields. Since Marquis of Wuding Guo Xun memorialized to allocate reclaimed land from army surplus to generals and appoint corrupt soldiers as estate managers, the harm has been very great. The land should be returned to soldiers and civilians for them to farm as they see fit." The emperor granted his request. After several years in office he cited illness and returned home.

起故官，撫河南。尋召為兵部右侍郎，轉左。尚書王以旂出督三邊，鏓署部事。頃之，奉詔總理邊關厄隘。奏上經略潮河川、居庸關諸處事宜，請於古道門外蜂窩嶺增墩臺一為外屏，浚濠設橋，以防沖突。川西南兩山對處，各設敵臺，以控中流，分戍兵番直守要害。又薊鎮五里垛、劃車、開連口、慕田谷等地，宜設墩臺。惡谷、紅土谷、香爐石等地，宜斬崖塹。居庸關外諸口，在宣府為內地，在居庸則為邊藩，宜敕東中路文武臣修築。加潮河川提督為守備，增副將居庸關，領天壽山、黃花鎮。設橫嶺守備，塞懷來路，增置新軍二千余人，資團練。又議紫荊、倒馬、龍泉等關及山海關、古北口經略事宜，請於紫荊之桑谷，倒馬之中{穴羔}關峪，龍泉之陡石嶺諸要害，創築城垣，增設敵樓營舍。薊州所轄燕河、太平、馬蘭、密雲四路，修築未竟者，括諸司贖鍰竣之。而浮圖峪、插箭嶺尤為紫荊、倒馬二關沖，移參將分駐石門杜家莊，俾保定總兵駐紫荊。薊、遼懸絕千里，移建昌營遊擊於山海關。三屯等營缺軍，應速募，馬不足者補入。其常戍之兵介胄不備，量給鎧仗，番上者悉予行糧，毋俾荷戈枵腹。又言：「諸路緩急，以密雲之分守為最。各關要害，以密雲之迤西為最。若燕河之冷口，馬蘭之黃崖，太平之榆木嶺、擦崖子，皆所急也。宜敕撫鎮督諸將領分各營士馬，兼側近按伏之兵，叠為戰守。」兵部言：「軍戍久，戀土。猝移置，恐他變。莫若山海關增置能將一員，募軍三千屯駐，聽薊、遼撫臣調度，援燕河。」余如鏓言，下守臣議。

He was restored to his former office and appointed grand coordinator of Henan. Soon he was summoned as vice minister of war (right), then transferred to the left. When Minister Wang Yiqi went out to supervise the three frontiers, Zong acted in his stead at the ministry. Before long, by imperial order he took overall charge of strategic passes on the borders. He memorialized on plans for the Chaoxi River, Juyong Pass, and other places, asking that one watchtower be added outside Ancient Road Gate at Fengwo Ridge as an outer screen, that moats be dredged and bridges set, to guard against sudden assault. Where two mountains face each other southwest of the river, enemy towers should be set on each side to control the midstream, with garrison troops rotated in shifts to guard the vital points. At Wuliduo, Huache, Kailiankou, Mutian Valley, and other places in the Jizhou garrison, watchtowers should also be built. At Egu, Hongtugu, Xianglushi, and other places, cliffs should be cut and trenches dug. The passes outside Juyong are interior land from Xuanfu's perspective but frontier territory from Juyong's; civil and military officials of the eastern middle route should be ordered to repair them. The Chaoxi River supervisor should be promoted to garrison commandant; a vice commander should be added at Juyong Pass to oversee Tianshou Mountain and Huanghua Garrison. A Hengling garrison commandant should be established to block the Huailai road, and more than two thousand new troops should be added to support militia training. He also set forth plans for Zijing, Daoma, and Longquan passes and for Shanhaiguan and Gubeikou, asking that walls be built anew and enemy towers and barracks added at such vital points as Sanggu in Zijing, the Zhonggan Pass ravine in Daoma, and Doushi Ridge in Longquan. For the four routes under Jizhou—Yanhe, Taiping, Malan, and Miyun—unfinished repairs should be completed with fines collected from all offices. Futu Valley and Chajian Ridge are especially the points of thrust for Zijing and Daoma; the vice commander should be moved to station separately at Shimen and Dujiazhuang, and the Baoding regional commander should be stationed at Zijing. Jizhou and Liaodong are a thousand li apart; the Jianchang camp mobile commander should be moved to Shanhaiguan. Santun and other camps lack troops and should be recruited quickly; those short of horses should be made up. Troops on standing garrison lack armor and helmets—armor and weapons should be issued as needed; all those on rotation should receive marching rations, lest they bear arms on empty stomachs. He also said, "Among all routes for urgency, the Miyun divisional commander is paramount. Among pass strongpoints, the country west of Miyun is paramount. Cold Pass on the Yanhe route, Huangya on Malan, Yumu Ridge and Caiyazi on Taiping—all are urgent. The grand coordinators and regional commanders should be ordered to lead the generals in dividing each camp's troops and horses, together with nearby ambush forces, in layered battle-and-defense deployment." The Ministry of War said, "Troops garrisoned long grow attached to the land. Sudden transfer might provoke other disturbances. Better to add one capable general at Shanhaiguan, recruit three thousand troops to camp there, and let the Jizhou and Liaodong grand coordinators deploy them to relieve Yanhe." The remainder followed Zong's proposals and was sent down to border officials for deliberation.

帝才鏓甚。會兵部尚書趙廷瑞罷，即命鏓入代。鏓以老辭，且言隨事通變，乏將順之宜。帝怒，責鏓不恭，削其籍。時嚴嵩當國，而鏓本由徐階薦，天下推為長者，惜其去，不以罪。然鏓罷，帝召翁萬達，甫至以憂去，丁汝夔代之。明年，諳達逼都城，汝夔遂誅死。而鏓歸久之乃卒。隆慶元年復官。

The emperor valued Zong highly. When Minister of War Zhao Tingrui was dismissed, Zong was immediately ordered to replace him. Zong declined on grounds of age, and said that adapting flexibly to events lacked the propriety of yielding to the sovereign's will. The emperor was angry, rebuked Zong for disrespect, and struck him from the rolls. At the time Yan Song held power; Zong had originally been recommended by Xu Jie; the realm esteemed him as an elder statesman and regretted his departure, not treating it as a criminal punishment. Yet when Zong left, the emperor summoned Weng Wanda; he had just arrived when he left on mourning leave, and Ding Ruokui replaced him. The next year Anda pressed the capital, and Ruokui was then executed. Zong returned home and died only after a long interval. In the first year of Longqing his office was restored.

王邦瑞，字惟賢，宜陽人。早有器識。為諸生，山東盜起，上剿寇十四策於知府。正德十二年成進士。改庶吉士。與王府有連，出為廣德知州。嘉靖初，祖憂，去。補滁州。屢遷南京吏部郎中，出為陜西提學僉事。坐歲貢不中式五名以上，貶濱州知州。再遷固原兵備副使。涇、邠巨盜李孟春，流劫河東、西，剿平之。以祖母憂去。服除，復提學陜西，轉參政。母憂解職。起擢右僉都御史，巡撫寧夏。寇乘冰入犯，設伏敗之。改南京大理卿。未上，召為兵部右侍郎。

Wang Bangrui, courtesy name Weixian, was a native of Yiyang. From youth he showed capacity and discernment. As a student, when bandits rose in Shandong he submitted fourteen stratagems against bandits to the prefect. In the twelfth year of Zhengde he passed the palace examination. He was made a Hanlin bachelor. Connected with a princely house, he was sent out as prefect of Guangde. At the start of Jiajing, on his grandfather's mourning he left office. He was reassigned to Chuzhou. After several promotions he became a director in the Nanjing Ministry of Personnel, then went out as education intendant of Shaanxi. Because more than five annual tribute students failed the metropolitan examination, he was demoted to prefect of Binzhou. He was transferred again to vice commissioner for military affairs at Guyuan. The great bandit Li Mengchun of Jing and Bin raided east and west of the Yellow River; Bangrui suppressed and pacified him. He left on his grandmother's mourning. When mourning ended he again served as education intendant of Shaanxi, then was made administration commissioner. On his mother's mourning he left office. He was recalled and promoted to right vice censor-in-chief and grand coordinator of Ningxia. When bandits invaded on the ice he laid an ambush and defeated them. He was transferred to chief judge of the Nanjing Court of Judicial Review. Before he took up the post he was summoned as vice minister of war.

改吏部，進左。諳達犯都城，命邦瑞總督九門。邦瑞屯禁軍郭外，以巡捕軍營東、西長安街，大啟郭門，納四郊避寇者。兵部尚書丁汝夔下獄，命邦瑞攝其事，兼督團營。寇退，請治諸將功罪，且浚九門濠塹，皆報可。邦瑞見營制久弛，極陳其弊。遂罷十二團營，悉歸三大營，以鹹寧侯仇鸞統之。邦瑞亦改兵部左侍郎，專督營務。復條上興革六事。中言宦官典兵，古今大患，請盡撤提督監槍者。帝報從之。又舉前編修趙時春、工部主事申旞知兵，並改兵部，分理京營事。未幾，帝召兵部尚書翁萬達未至，遲之，遂命邦瑞代。條上安攘十二事。

He was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel and advanced to the left vice ministership. When Anda attacked the capital, Bangrui was ordered to command all nine gates. Bangrui camped the forbidden army outside the walls, posted patrol troops on East and West Chang'an Streets, and opened the city gates wide to admit refugees from the four suburbs fleeing the raiders. When Minister of War Ding Ruokui was imprisoned, Bangrui was ordered to act in his stead and also supervise the regiment camps. When the raiders withdrew he requested that generals' merits and faults be judged and that the moats and ramparts of the nine gates be dredged—all were approved. Bangrui saw that camp regulations had long been lax and set forth the abuses at length. Thereupon the twelve regiment camps were abolished and all returned to the three great camps under Xianning Marquis Qiu Luan. Bangrui was also made left vice minister of war, specializing in camp affairs. He again submitted six items for reform. Among them he said that eunuchs commanding troops were a great calamity of past and present and asked that all supervisors and gunnery overseers be utterly withdrawn. The emperor approved and followed this. He also recommended former compiler Zhao Shichun and works section director Shen Zhe as knowing warfare, and both were transferred to the Ministry of War to manage capital camp affairs separately. Before long the emperor summoned Minister of War Weng Wanda, who had not yet arrived; vexed by the delay, he ordered Bangrui to replace him. He submitted twelve items on pacification and settlement.

仇鸞構邦瑞於帝，帝眷漸移。會鸞奏革薊州總兵官李鳳鳴、大同總兵官徐玨任，而薦京營副將成勛代鳳鳴，密雲副將徐仁代玨。旨從中下。邦瑞言：「朝廷易置將帥，必采之公卿，斷自宸衷，所以慎防杜漸，示臣下不敢專也。且京營大將與列鎮將不相統攝，何緣京營，乃黜陟各鎮。今曲徇鸞請，臣恐九邊將帥悉奔走托附，非國之福也。」帝不悅，下旨譙讓。鸞又欲節制邊將，罷築薊鎮邊垣。邦瑞皆以為不可。鸞大憾，益肆讒構。會邦瑞復陳安攘大計，遂嚴旨落職，以冠帶辦事。居數日，大計自陳。竟除名，以趙錦代。邦瑞去，鸞益橫。明年誅死，錦亦坐黨比遣戍，於是帝漸思之。逾十年，京營缺人，帝曰：「非邦瑞不可。」乃起故官。

Qiu Luan slandered Bangrui to the emperor, and imperial favor gradually shifted away. When Luan memorialized to remove Jizhou regional commander Li Fengming and Datong regional commander Xu Jue, recommending capital camp deputy Cheng Xun to replace Fengming and Miyun deputy Xu Ren to replace Jue— The rescript issued from below followed this. Bangrui said, "When the court changes generals and commanders, it must seek them from among the dukes and ministers and decide from the imperial heart alone—this is how to guard against abuse and show that subordinates may not act on their own. Moreover, capital camp great generals do not command the generals of the various garrisons—on what ground may the capital camps dismiss and appoint commanders in each frontier garrison? Now to bend to Luan's request—I fear all nine-border generals will rush to curry favor, which would not be a blessing for the state." The emperor was displeased and issued a rebuking edict. Luan also wished to control frontier generals and halt construction on Jizhou's border wall. Bangrui held all of these impossible. Luan deeply resented this and redoubled his slander. When Bangrui again set forth his great plan for pacification, a stern edict demoted him, permitting him to serve while wearing his official cap and belt. After several days he himself memorialized at the grand evaluation. In the end his name was removed from the rolls and Zhao Jin replaced him. When Bangrui departed, Luan grew still more overbearing. The next year Luan was executed; Jin was also exiled as a partisan—in consequence the emperor gradually came to think of Bangrui. More than ten years later, when the capital camp lacked a man, the emperor said, "Bangrui alone will do." He was then recalled to his former office.

既至，疏便宜數事，悉允行。逾年卒。贈太子少保，謚襄毅，遣行人護喪歸葬。

Once he arrived he memorialized several practical items, all of which were approved and carried out. After a year more he died. He was posthumously made junior guardian of the heir apparent, granted the posthumous title Xiangyi (Resolute and Steadfast), and an emissary was sent to escort the coffin home for burial.

邦瑞嚴毅有識量。歷官四十年，以廉節著。子正國，南京刑部侍郎。

Bangrui was stern and resolute, with capacity and judgment. Over forty years in office he was noted for integrity and frugality. His son Zhengguo became vice minister of justice at Nanjing.

鄭曉，字窒甫，海鹽人。嘉靖元年舉鄉試第一。明年成進士，授職方主事。日披故牘，盡知天下厄塞、士馬虛實、強弱之數。尚書金獻民屬撰《九邊圖志》，人爭傳寫之。以爭「大禮」廷杖。大同兵變，上疏極言不可赦。張孚敬柄政，器之，欲改置翰林及言路，曉皆不應。父憂，歸，久之不起。

Zheng Xiao, courtesy name Zhifu, was a native of Haiyan. In the first year of Jiajing he placed first in the provincial examination. The next year he passed the palace examination and was appointed a director in the Ministry of War. Daily he pored over old archives until he knew thoroughly the strategic chokepoints of the realm and the strength and weakness of troops and horses. Minister Jin Xianmin commissioned him to compile the Record of the Nine Frontiers, and people competed to copy it. For protesting the Great Rites at court he was beaten with the court cudgel. When Datong troops mutinied he memorialized strongly that they must not be pardoned. Zhang Fuzhen held power and valued him, wishing to transfer him to the Hanlin Academy and the remonstrance circuit; Xiao would not agree. On his father's mourning he returned home and for a long time did not take office.

許讃為吏部尚書，調之吏部。歷考功郎中。夏言罷相，帝惡言官不糾劾，詔考察去留。大學士嚴嵩因欲去所不悅者，而曉去喬佑等十三人，多嵩所厚。嵩大憾曉，調文選。嵩欲用趙文華為考功，曉言於讃曰：「昔黃禎為文選，調李開先考功，皆山東人，詔不許。今調文華，曉避位而已。」讃以謝嵩。嵩欲以子世蕃為尚寶丞，曉曰：「治中遷知府，例也。遷尚寶丞，無故事。」嵩益怒。以推謫降官周鈇等，貶曉和州同知。稍遷太仆丞，歷南京太常卿。召拜刑部右侍郎。

Xu Zan, as minister of personnel, transferred him to that ministry. He served as director in the Ministry of Personnel's merit-review bureau. When Xia Yan was dismissed as chief minister, the emperor resented that remonstrating officials had failed to impeach him and ordered a merit review to decide who should remain in office. Grand Secretary Yan Song, wishing to remove officials he disliked, arranged for Xiao to dismiss Qiao You and thirteen others—most of whom Song favored. Song deeply resented Xiao and transferred him to the civil appointment bureau. Song wished to appoint Zhao Wenhua to merit review; Xiao told Zan, "Formerly Huang Zhen held civil appointment and transferred Li Kaixian to merit review—both were from Shandong, and an edict forbade it. If Wenhua is transferred now, I am simply yielding the post." Zan used this to decline Song's request. Song wished to make his son Shifan an assistant director of the Court of Imperial Seals; Xiao said, "Promotion from administration vice commissioner to prefect is standard precedent. Promotion to assistant director of Imperial Seals has no precedent." Song grew even angrier. On the pretext of recommending demoted officials such as Zhou Fu, he demoted Xiao to administration vice commissioner of Hezhou. He was gradually promoted to vice director of the Court of the Imperial Stud and later served as minister of imperial sacrifices at Nanjing. He was summoned and appointed right vice minister of justice.

俄改兵部，兼副都御史總督漕運。大江南北皆中倭，漕艘幾阻。曉請發帑金數十萬，造戰舸，築城堡，練兵將，積芻糗。詔從之。中國奸民利倭賄，多與通。通州人顧表者尤桀黠，為倭導。以故營寨皆據要害，盡知官兵虛實。曉懸重賞捕戮之。募鹽徒驍悍者為兵，增設泰州海防副使，築瓜洲城，廟灣、麻洋、雲梯諸海口皆增兵設堠。遂破倭於通州，連敗之如臯、海門，襲其軍呂泗，圍之狼山，前後斬首九百余。賊潰去。錄功，再增秩，三賚銀幣。時賊多中國人。曉言：「武健才谞之徒。困無所逞，甘心作賊。非國家廣行網羅，使有出身之階，恐有如孫恩、盧循輩出乎其間，禍滋大矣。洪武時倭寇近海州縣。以高皇帝威靈，兼謀臣宿將，築城練兵，經略數年，猶未乂安。乃招漁丁、島人、鹽徒、蜑戶籍為水軍至數萬人，又遣使出海宣布威德。久之，倭始不為患。今江北雖平，而風帆出沒，倏忽千里。倭恃華人為耳目，華人借倭為爪牙，非詳為區畫，後患未易弭也。」帝頗采納之。

Soon he was transferred to the Ministry of War, concurrently serving as vice censor-in-chief supervising grain transport. Japanese raiders struck throughout the lands north and south of the Yangzi, and grain-transport vessels were nearly cut off. Xiao asked to issue several hundred thousand taels from the treasury to build war junks, erect forts, train troops, and stock fodder and grain. The emperor approved his request. Chinese traitors profited from Japanese bribes, and many colluded with the raiders. A Tongzhou man named Gu Biao was especially fierce and cunning and served as a guide for the Japanese. For this reason their camps held every strategic point and they knew the government's military strengths and weaknesses in full. Xiao offered a heavy reward for his capture and execution. He recruited fierce salt smugglers as soldiers, added a Taizhou coastal defense vice commissioner, walled Guazhou, and reinforced Miaowan, Mayang, Yunti, and other estuaries with troops and beacon mounds. He then defeated the Japanese at Tongzhou, repeatedly routed them at Rugao and Haimen, raided their forces at Lüsi, besieged them at Langshan, and took more than nine hundred heads in all. The raiders collapsed and fled. His merit was recorded, his rank was raised again, and he was rewarded with silver and silks three times. At the time most of the raiders were Chinese. Xiao said, "Men of martial vigor and talent. Trapped with no outlet for their abilities, they willingly turn to banditry. Unless the state broadly recruits them and provides paths to advancement, I fear men like Sun En and Lu Xun may arise among them, and the disaster will grow far worse. In the Hongwu reign Japanese pirates approached coastal prefectures and counties. Even with the August Emperor's majesty, together with strategists and veteran generals, building walls and training troops over several years of planning, the coast was still not fully pacified. They then enrolled fishermen, islanders, salt smugglers, and boat people as naval forces numbering tens of thousands, and sent envoys overseas to proclaim imperial majesty and virtue. Only after a long time did the Japanese cease to be a menace. Now, though the north of the Yangzi is pacified, enemy sails appear and vanish across a thousand li in an instant. The Japanese rely on Chinese as their eyes and ears, while Chinese use the Japanese as their claws and teeth—unless we plan carefully, later troubles will not be easily quelled." The emperor largely adopted his proposals.

尋召為吏部左侍郎，遷南京吏部尚書。帝以曉知兵，改右都御史協理戎政。尋拜刑部尚書。諳達圍大同右衛急，帝命兵部尚書楊博往督大師，乃以曉攝兵部。曉言：「今兵事方棘，而所簡聽征京軍三萬五千人，乃令執役赴工，何以備戰守？乞歸之營伍。」帝立從之。

Soon he was summoned as left vice minister of personnel, then appointed minister of personnel at Nanjing. Because the emperor knew Xiao understood military affairs, he appointed him right censor-in-chief to assist in military administration. Soon he was appointed minister of justice. When Anda urgently besieged Datong Right Guard, the emperor ordered Minister of War Yang Bo to supervise the main army and had Xiao act in his stead at the Ministry of War. Xiao said, "Military affairs are critical, yet of the thirty-five thousand capital troops selected for campaign, they are being sent to labor on construction projects—how can they prepare for war and defense? I beg that they be returned to their units." The emperor immediately agreed.

尋還視刑部事。嚴嵩勢益熾。曉素不善嵩。而其時大獄如總督王忬以失律，中允郭希顏以言事，曉並予輕比，嵩則置重典。南都叛卒周山等殺侍郎黃懋官，海寇汪直通倭為亂，曉置重典，嵩故寬假之。惟巡撫阮鶚、總督楊順、御史路楷，以嵩曲庇，曉不能盡法，議者譏其失出雲。故事，在京軍民訟，俱投牒通政司送法司問斷。諸司有應鞫者，亦參送法司，無自決遣者。後諸司不復遵守，獄訟紛拿。曉奏循故事，帝報許，於是刑部間捕囚畿府。而巡按御史鄭存仁謂訟當自下而上，檄州縣，法司有追取，毋輒發。曉聞，率侍郎趙大祐、傅頤守故事爭，存仁亦據律執奏。章俱下都察院會刑科平議。議未上，曉疏辨。嵩激帝怒切讓，遂落曉職，兩侍郎亦貶二秩。

Soon he returned to oversee affairs at the Ministry of Justice. Yan Song's power grew ever stronger. Xiao had never been on good terms with Song. Yet in major cases such as Grand Coordinator Wang Yu's violation of military regulations and Middle Assistant Guo Xiyan's remonstrance, Xiao applied lenient sentences while Song imposed harsh ones. When Southern Capital mutineers led by Zhou Shan killed Vice Minister Huang Maoguan, and sea bandit Wang Zhi colluded with the Japanese in rebellion, Xiao imposed harsh sentences while Song deliberately showed leniency. Only in the cases of Grand Coordinator Ruan E, Grand Coordinator Yang Shun, and Investigating Censor Lu Kai—whom Song protected—could Xiao not apply the law fully; critics mocked that his failures outweighed his merits. By precedent, lawsuits involving soldiers and civilians in the capital were submitted to the Court of Transmission and referred to the judiciary for judgment. When various offices had cases requiring trial, they also referred them to the judiciary; none decided cases on their own authority. Later the various offices ceased to observe this practice, and legal cases became hopelessly tangled. Xiao memorialized to restore the old practice; the emperor approved, and the Ministry of Justice again began arresting prisoners in the capital districts. But investigating censor Zheng Cunren argued that lawsuits ought to proceed from lower to higher levels; he ordered prefectures and counties not to release prisoners when the judiciary sought them. When Xiao heard of this, he led Vice Ministers Zhao Dayou and Fu Yi in upholding precedent in protest; Cunren also memorialized citing the statutes. Both memorials were referred to the Censorate and the penal review section for joint deliberation. Before the deliberation was submitted, Xiao memorialized in his own defense. Song incited the emperor's anger into a sharp rebuke; Xiao was dismissed from office, and the two vice ministers were demoted two ranks.

曉通經術，習國家典故，時望蔚然。為權貴所扼，誌不盡行。既歸，角巾布衣與鄉里父老遊處，見者不知其貴人也。既卒，子履淳等訟曉禦倭功於朝，詔復職。隆慶初，贈太子少保，謚端簡。履淳自有傳。

Xiao mastered the classics, was versed in state precedents, and enjoyed a towering reputation among his contemporaries. Thwarted by powerful favorites, he could not fully carry out his aims. After returning home, he wore a scholar's kerchief and plain clothes and mingled with village elders; those who met him did not know he was a man of high rank. After his death, his son Lüchun and others petitioned the court regarding Xiao's merit in resisting the Japanese; an edict restored his office posthumously. At the beginning of the Longqing reign he was posthumously made junior tutor of the heir apparent and granted the title Duanjian (Upright and Simple). Lüchun has his own biography.

贊曰：李鉞諸人皆以威略幹濟顯於時。鉞與王憲、王以旂之治軍旅，李承勛、范鏓之畫邊計，才力均有過人者。胡世寧奮不顧身，首發奸逆，危言正色，始終一節。《易》稱「王臣蹇蹇」，世寧近之矣。王邦瑞抵抗權幸，躓而復起，鄭曉諳悉掌故，博洽多聞，兼資文武，所在著效，亦不愧名臣雲。

The appraiser says: Li Yue and the others all distinguished themselves in their time through martial prowess and practical achievement. In governing armies, Yue together with Wang Xian and Wang Yiqi; in planning border strategy, Li Chengxun and Fan Zong—all possessed talent and strength surpassing ordinary men. Hu Shining risked his life without hesitation, was first to expose treachery and rebellion, spoke alarming truths with an upright bearing, and held to one principle from beginning to end. The Book of Changes speaks of "the king's ministers striving strenuously"—Shining came close to that ideal. Wang Bangrui resisted powerful favorites, stumbled yet rose again; Zheng Xiao was thoroughly versed in administrative precedents, broadly learned, and combined civil and military talents—wherever he served he achieved results and was no unworthy of the name great minister.

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