Volume 204 Biographies 92: Chen Jiuchou, Di Peng, Sun Jilu, Ceng Xian, Ding Rukui, Yang Shouqian, Shang Dajie, Wang Yu, Yang Xuan

陳九疇翟鵬〈（張漢）〉孫繼魯曾銑丁汝夔楊守謙商大節王抒楊選

Chen Jiuchou, Di Peng (Zhang Han)〉 Sun Jilu, Ceng Xian, Ding Rukui, Yang Shouqian, Shang Dajie, Wang Yu, Yang Xuan

陳九疇，字禹學，曹州人。倜儻多權略。自為諸生，即習武事。弘治十五年進士。除刑部主事。有重囚越獄，人莫敢攖，九疇挺槊逐得之，遂以武健名。正德初，錄囚南畿，忤劉瑾，謫陽山知縣。瑾敗，復故官。歷郎中，遷肅州兵備副使。總督彭澤之賂土魯番也，遣哈密都督寫亦虎仙往。九疇奮曰：「彭公受天子命，制邊疆，不能身當利害，何但模棱為！」乃練卒伍，繕營壘，常若臨大敵。寫亦虎仙果通賊。番酋速檀滿速兒犯嘉峪關，遊擊芮寧敗死。尋復遣斬巴思等以駝馬乞和，而陰遺書虎仙及其姻黨阿剌思罕兒、失拜煙答等俾內應。九疇知賊計，執阿剌思罕兒及斬巴思付獄。通事毛鑒等守之。鑒等故與通，欲縱去，眾番皆伺隙為變。九疇覺之，僇鑒等。賊失內應，遂拔帳走。兵部尚書王瓊惡澤，並坐九疇失事罪，逮系法司獄。以失拜煙答系死為罪，除其名。

Chen Jiuchou, whose style was Yuxue, came from Caozhou. Unconventional in temperament, he was full of resourceful stratagems. Even while still a student, he trained in military matters. He passed the metropolitan examination in the fifteenth year of the Hongzhi reign (1502). He was appointed principal clerk in the Ministry of Punishments. When a dangerous prisoner broke out of jail and no one dared confront him, Jiuchou seized a spear, chased him down, and captured him—earning a reputation for martial valor. Early in the Zhengde reign, while conducting a prison review in the southern capital region, he crossed Liu Jin and was banished to serve as magistrate of Yangshan. After Jin's downfall, he was reinstated in his former post. He rose through the ranks to bureau director, then was appointed vice commissioner for frontier defense at Suzhou. When Grand Coordinator Peng Ze went to buy off Turfan with gifts, he dispatched Hami's commander Xieyihuxian on the mission. Jiuchou protested hotly: "Lord Peng bears the Son of Heaven's commission to govern the frontier. How can he refuse to face the stakes himself and only hedge his words!" He then drilled his troops and repaired the fortifications, always behaving as though a major enemy were at hand. Xieyihuxian did in fact collude with the enemy. The Turfan leader Sütan Mansur attacked Jiayuguan, and the raiding commander Rui Ning was defeated and killed. Soon they sent Zhanbasi and others with camels and horses to sue for peace, while secretly writing to Huxian and his allies by marriage, Alasi Han'er and Shibai Yanda, to arrange an inside response. Jiuchou saw through the enemy's plan and arrested Alasi Han'er and Zhanbasi, placing them in custody. The interpreter Mao Jian and others were put in charge of guarding them. Jian and his fellows had long been in contact with the enemy and meant to let them go; tribesmen everywhere watched for a chance to rise. Jiuchou uncovered the plot and executed Jian and his accomplices. Deprived of their inside help, the raiders struck camp and withdrew. Wang Qiong, Minister of War, bore a grudge against Ze and had Jiuchou charged with mishandling the affair; he was arrested and held in the judicial prison. He was punished because Shibai Yanda had died in prison, and his name was removed from the official registers.

世宗即位，起故官。俄進陜西按察使。居數月，甘肅總兵官李隆嗾部卒毆殺巡撫許銘，焚其屍。乃擢九疇右僉都御史，巡撫甘肅，按驗銘事，誅隆及亂卒首事者。九疇抵鎮，言額軍七萬余，存者不及半，且多老弱，請令召募。詔可。

When the Jiajing Emperor came to the throne, Jiuchou was restored to his former post. Before long he was promoted to surveillance commissioner of Shaanxi. Within a few months, Li Long, the regional commander in Gansu, incited his troops to beat Grand Coordinator Xu Ming to death and burn his body. Jiuchou was then promoted to Right Censor-in-Chief and appointed Grand Coordinator of Gansu; he investigated Xu's case and executed Long and the soldiers who had led the mutiny. On reaching his post, Jiuchou reported that of more than seventy thousand men on the rolls, fewer than half were actually present, and most of those were old or weak; he asked permission to recruit new troops. The throne approved his request.

嘉靖三年，速檀滿速兒復以二萬余騎圍肅州。九疇自甘州晝夜馳入城，射賊，賊多死。已，又出兵擊走之。其分掠甘州者，亦為總兵官姜奭所敗。論功，進副都御史，賚金幣。九疇上言：「番賊敢入犯者，以我納其朝貢，縱商販，使得稔虛實也。寫亦虎仙逆謀已露，輸貨權門，轉蒙寵幸，以犯邊之寇，為來享之賓。邊臣怵利害，拱手聽命，致內屬番人勾連接引，以至於今。今即不能如漢武興大宛之師，亦當效光武絕西域之計。先後入貢未歸者二百人，宜安置兩粵，其謀逆有跡者加之刑僇，則賊內無所恃，必不復有侵軼。倘更包含隱忍，恐河西十五衛所，永無息肩之期也。」事下，總制楊一清頗采其議。四年春致仕歸。

In the third year of Jiajing (1524), Sütan Mansur again laid siege to Suzhou with more than twenty thousand horsemen. Jiuchou rode day and night from Ganzhou into the city, shot at the enemy, and killed many of them. He then led troops out again and drove the enemy away. The raiding parties that struck at Ganzhou were also defeated by Regional Commander Jiang Shi. For his achievements he was promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief and rewarded with gold and silks. Jiuchou memorialized: "The frontier tribes dare to invade because we accept their tribute missions and allow their merchants, so that they come to know our strengths and weaknesses. Xieyihuxian's treason was already plain, yet by bribing powerful families he won favor at court, so that a border raider was treated as an honored guest. Frontier officials, cowed by the stakes, simply bowed to orders, until tribesmen under our rule were enlisted as guides and go-betweens—and matters reached today's crisis. Even if we cannot now emulate Emperor Wu of Han and march against Dayuan, we should at least follow Emperor Guangwu's policy of severing ties with the Western Regions. More than two hundred tribesmen who had come on tribute missions and not yet returned home should be resettled in the two Guang provinces; those with clear evidence of treason should be punished. Then the enemy would have no supporters within and would surely not raid again. If we continue to indulge them, I fear the fifteen guards and posts of Hexi will never know a moment's peace." The memorial was referred down the bureaucracy, and Grand Coordinator Yang Yiqing largely adopted his recommendations. In the spring of the fourth year he retired and went home.

初，土魯番敗遁，都指揮王輔言速檀滿速兒及牙木蘭俱死於炮，九疇以聞。後二人上表求通貢，帝怪且疑。而番人先在京師者為蜚語，言肅州之圍，由九疇激之，帝益信。會百戶王邦奇訐楊廷和、彭澤，詞連九疇。吏部尚書桂萼等欲緣九疇以傾澤，因請許通貢，而追治九疇激變狀。大學士一清言事已前決。帝不聽，逮下詔獄。刑部尚書胡世寧言於朝曰：「世寧司刑而殺忠臣，寧殺世寧。」乃上疏為訟冤曰：「番人變詐，妄騰謗讟，欲害我謀臣耳。夫其畜謀內寇，為日已久。一旦擁兵深入，諸番約內應，非九疇先幾奮僇，且近遣屬夷卻其營帳，遠交瓦刺擾其窟巢，使彼內顧而返，則肅州孤城豈復能保？臣以為文臣之有勇知兵忘身殉國者，無如九疇，宜番人深忌而欲殺也。惟聽部下卒妄報，以滿速兒等為已死，則其罪有不免耳。」已，法司具獄亦如世寧言。帝卒中萼等言，謫戍極邊。居十年，赦還。

Earlier, when the Turfan army was beaten and fled, Commander Wang Fu reported that Sütan Mansur and Yamulan had both been killed by cannon fire, and Jiuchou relayed this to the throne. Later the two men submitted memorials asking to resume tribute missions, and the emperor was astonished and suspicious. Meanwhile tribesmen already in the capital spread rumors that Jiuchou had provoked the siege of Suzhou, and the emperor believed them all the more. At this time Platoon Leader Wang Bangqi denounced Yang Tinghe and Peng Ze, and his accusations implicated Jiuchou as well. Gui E, Minister of Personnel, and his allies wished to use Jiuchou to bring down Ze; they therefore asked that tribute be permitted while prosecuting Jiuchou for having provoked the disturbance. Grand Secretary Yang Yiqing said the matter had already been settled. The emperor would not listen and had Jiuchou arrested and sent to the imperial prison. Minister of Punishments Hu Shining said at court: "If Shining, as minister of punishments, must kill a loyal minister, then kill Shining instead." He then submitted a memorial pleading Jiuchou's case: "The tribesmen are treacherous and have spread slanders, seeking only to destroy our strategists. Their plot to raid from within had been long in preparation. When they suddenly led their troops deep inside and the tribes had agreed on an inside response—had Jiuchou not acted first with bold punishments, sent subject tribesmen in the near term to drive off their camps, and in the far term allied with the Oirats to harass their strongholds, forcing them to look homeward and withdraw—how could the isolated city of Suzhou have been saved? Among civil officials who are brave, understand warfare, and give their lives for the state, none surpasses Jiuchou—the tribesmen must deeply fear him and wish him dead. His only fault is that he heedlessly believed his subordinates' false report that Mansur and the others were already dead—that charge alone cannot be dismissed." Later the judicial offices prepared the case in line with Shining's argument as well. The emperor unexpectedly took Gui and his allies at their word and banished Jiuchou to the remotest frontier. After ten years he was pardoned and allowed to return.

翟鵬，字誌南，撫寧衛人。正德三年進士。除戶部主事。歷員外郎中，出為衛輝知府，調開封。擢陜西副使，進按察使。性剛介，歷官以清操聞。嘉靖七年，擢右僉都御史，巡撫寧夏。時邊政久馳，壯卒率占工匠私役中官家，守邊者並羸老不任兵。又番休無期，甚者夫守墩，妻坐鋪。鵬至，盡清占役，使得叠更。野雞臺二十余墩孤懸塞外，久棄不守，鵬盡復之。歲大侵，請於朝以振。坐寇入停俸。復坐劾總兵官趙瑛失事，為所訐，奪職歸。

Di Peng, whose style was Zhinan, came from Funing Guard. He passed the metropolitan examination in the third year of the Zhengde reign (1508). He was appointed principal clerk in the Ministry of Revenue. He rose through the ranks to bureau director, then served as prefect of Weihui and was transferred to Kaifeng. He was promoted to vice commissioner in Shaanxi and then to surveillance commissioner. By nature stern and upright, he was known throughout his career for integrity. In the seventh year of Jiajing (1528) he was promoted to Right Censor-in-Chief and appointed Grand Coordinator of Ningxia. By then frontier administration had long grown slack: able-bodied soldiers were mostly registered as artisans and privately employed in eunuchs' households, while those left to guard the border were weak, old, and unfit for war. Frontier leave had no fixed end; in the worst cases husbands guarded beacon towers while wives manned the outposts. When Peng arrived, he cleared all illegal private registrations and restored proper rotation of duty. More than twenty beacon towers at Yeji Terrace stood isolated beyond the frontier and had long been abandoned; Peng restored them all. When famine struck severely, he requested relief from the court. He was fined by suspension of salary when the enemy raided his jurisdiction. He was again penalized for impeaching Regional Commander Zhao Ying over a military failure; Ying denounced him in turn, and he was dismissed and sent home.

二十年八月，俺答入山西內地。兵部請遣大臣督軍儲，因薦鵬。乃起故官，整飭畿輔、山西、河南軍務兼督餉。鵬馳至，俺答已飽去，而吉囊軍復寇汾、石諸州。鵬往來馳驅，不能有所挫。寇退，乃召還。明年三月，宣大總督樊繼祖罷，除鵬兵部右侍郎代之。上疏言：「將吏遇被掠人牧近塞，宜多方招徠。殺降邀功者，宜罪。寇入，官軍遏敵雖無功，竟賴以安者，當錄。若賊眾我寡，奮身戰，雖有傷折、未至殘生民者，罪當原。於法，俘馘論功，損挫論罪。乃有摧鋒陷陣不暇斬首，而在後掩取者反積級受功，有逡巡觀望幸茍全，而力戰當先者反以損軍治罪，非戎律之平。」帝皆從其議。會有降人言寇且大入，鵬連乞兵餉。帝怒，令革職閑住，因罷總督官不設。鵬受事僅百日而去。

In the eighth month of the twentieth year (1541), Altan Khan raided deep into Shanxi. The Ministry of War asked that a senior official be sent to supervise military supplies and recommended Peng. He was recalled to his former rank to reorganize military affairs in the capital region, Shanxi, and Henan, with concurrent charge of supplies. Peng rode there at speed, but Altan had already withdrawn after sacking the region; Jibeng's forces then raided Fen and Shi prefectures. Peng rushed back and forth but could inflict no setback on the enemy. When the raiders withdrew, he was recalled to court. In the third month of the following year, Fan Jizu, Grand Coordinator of Xuanfu and Datong, was dismissed, and Peng was appointed Vice Minister of War in his place. He memorialized: "When officers encounter herders who have been raided grazing near the frontier, they should use every means to win them back. Those who kill surrendered tribesmen to claim merit should be punished. When the enemy raids, officers who block the enemy though without a clear victory, yet by whose efforts the region is kept safe, should receive credit. If the enemy outnumber our forces yet an officer fights with all his strength, and though there are casualties the people are not devastated, the offense should be forgiven. By law, merit is judged by captives and severed heads, guilt by losses suffered. Yet men who break the enemy line have no time to take heads, while those in the rear who pick off stragglers pile up head-counts and win rewards; some hang back hoping merely to survive, while those who fight hardest in the van are punished for troop losses—this is not fair under military law." The emperor approved all his proposals. When a surrendered tribesman reported that a major raid was imminent, Peng repeatedly requested troops and supplies. The emperor was angry, stripped him of office, and ordered him to live in retirement; the post of grand coordinator was abolished as well. Peng held office only a hundred days before he was dismissed.

其年七月，俺答復大入山西，縱掠太原、潞安。兵部請復設總督，乃起鵬故官，令兼督山東、河南軍務，巡撫以下並聽節制。鵬受命，寇已出塞。即馳赴朔州，請調陜西、薊、遼客兵八支，及宣、大三關主兵，兼募土著，選驍銳者十萬，統以良將，列四營，分布塞上，每營當一面。寇入境，遊兵挑之，誘其追，諸營夾攻。脫不可禦，急趨關南依墻守，邀擊其困歸。帝從之。鵬乃浚壕築垣，修邊墻三百九十餘里，增新墩二百九十二，護墩堡一十四，建營舍一千五百間，得地萬四千九百余頃，募軍千五百人，人給五十畝，省倉儲無算。疏請東自平刑，西至偏關，畫地分守。增遊兵三支，分駐雁門、寧武、偏關。寇攻墻，戍兵拒，遊兵出關夾攻，此守中有戰。東大同，西老營堡，因地設伏，伺寇所向。又於宣、大、三關間，各設勁兵，而別選戰士六千，分兩營，遇警令總督武臣張鳳隨機策應，此戰中有守。帝從其議，且命自今遇敵，逗遛者都指揮以下即斬，總兵官以下先取死罪狀奏請。

In the seventh month of that year, Altan again raided deep into Shanxi, plundering Taiyuan and Lu'an at will. The Ministry of War asked that the grand coordinator post be restored; Peng was recalled and given concurrent charge of military affairs in Shandong and Henan, with all grand coordinators and subordinates under his command. By the time Peng took up his commission, the raiders had already withdrawn beyond the frontier. He rode at once to Shuozhou and asked for eight detachments of auxiliary troops from Shaanxi, Ji, and Liao, the main garrisons of the three passes of Xuanfu and Datong, and local recruits; from these he would select a hundred thousand of the best fighters, place them under able generals in four camps spread along the frontier, each facing one direction. When the enemy crossed the border, light troops would harass them and lure them in pursuit, and the camps would attack from both flanks. If they could not be stopped, troops should fall back south of the passes to hold the wall and strike the enemy when they were weary on the return. The emperor approved his plan. Peng then dredged moats and built ramparts, repaired more than three hundred ninety li of frontier wall, added two hundred ninety-two new beacon towers and fourteen protective forts, built fifteen hundred barracks, reclaimed fourteen thousand nine hundred-odd qing of land, recruited fifteen hundred soldiers and gave each fifty mu, and saved incalculable amounts from the state granaries. He memorialized that from Pingxing in the east to Pian Pass in the west, the frontier should be demarcated for divided defense. He added three mobile detachments, stationed at Yanmen, Ningwu, and Pian Pass. When raiders struck the wall, garrison troops held them while mobile troops sallied beyond the passes to attack from both flanks—defense that includes counterattack. From Datong in the east to Laoying Fort in the west, ambushes were laid according to terrain to watch the enemy's movements. He also stationed elite troops between Xuanfu, Datong, and the three passes, and selected six thousand warriors in two camps to respond under Military Grand Coordinator Zhang Feng when alarm arose—offense that includes holding ground. The emperor approved his plan and ordered that henceforth anyone who dallied before the enemy at the rank of commander-in-chief or below was to be beheaded on the spot, while regional commanders and below must first sign a confession of capital crime and submit it for approval.

先是，鵬遣千戶火力赤率兵三百哨至豐州灘，不見寇。復選精銳百，遠至豐州西北，遇牧馬者百余人，擊斬二十三級，奪其馬還。未入塞，寇大至，官軍饑憊，盡棄所獲奔。鵬具實陳狀。帝以將士敢深入，仍行遷賞。舊例，兵皆團操鎮城，聞警出戰。自邊患熾，每夏秋間分駐邊堡，謂之暗伏。鵬請入秋悉令赴塞，畫地分守，謂之擺邊，九月中還鎮。遂著為令。

Earlier, Peng had sent Battalion Commander Huolichi with three hundred men to scout Fengzhou Beach, but they found no enemy. He then sent a hundred picked men far northwest of Fengzhou, encountered more than a hundred herders, killed twenty-three, seized their horses, and returned. Before they re-entered the passes, a large enemy force arrived; the government troops, hungry and exhausted, abandoned their spoils and fled. Peng reported the facts in full to the throne. The emperor, noting that the officers and men had dared to penetrate deep, still ordered promotions and rewards. Formerly, troops drilled together in garrison towns and marched out only when alarm was raised. As frontier troubles intensified, each summer and autumn troops were posted separately at frontier forts in what was called hidden deployment. Peng asked that at autumn's start all troops move to the frontier for divided deployment along the border, returning to garrison towns in the ninth month. This was established as permanent regulation.

二十三年正月，帝以去歲無寇為將帥力，降敕獎鵬，賜以襲衣。至三月，俺答寇宣府龍門所，總兵官郤永等卻之，斬五十一級。論功，進兵部尚書。帝倚鵬殄寇，錫命屢加，所請多從，而責效甚急。鵬亦竭智力，然不能呼吸應變。御史曹邦輔嘗劾鵬，鵬乞罷，弗允。是年九月，薊州巡撫朱方請撤諸路防秋兵，兵部尚書毛伯溫因並撤宣、大、三關客兵。俺答遂以十月初寇膳房堡。為郤永所拒，乃於萬全右衛毀墻入。由順聖川至蔚州，犯浮屠峪，直抵完縣，京師戒嚴。帝大怒，屢下詔責鵬。鵬在朔州聞警。夜半至馬邑，調兵食，復趨渾源，遣諸將遏敵。御史楊本深劾鵬逗遛，致賊震畿輔。兵科戴夢桂繼之。遂遣官械鵬，而以兵部左侍郎張漢代。鵬至，下詔獄，坐永戍。行至河西務，為民家所窘，告鈔關主事杖之。廠衛以聞，復逮至京，卒於獄。人皆惜之。

In the first month of the twenty-third year, the emperor credited the generals for the previous year's freedom from raids, issued an edict praising Peng, and bestowed court robes. In the third month, Altan raided Longmen Post in Xuanfu; Regional Commander Xi Yong and others drove him off and took fifty-one heads. For this achievement he was promoted to Minister of War. The emperor relied on Peng to destroy the raiders, showered him with honors, granted most of his requests, yet demanded results with great urgency. Peng also exhausted his wits and strength, yet could not adapt swiftly to changing circumstances. Censor Cao Bangfu once impeached Peng; Peng asked to resign but was refused. In the ninth month, Grand Coordinator Zhu Fang of Jizhou asked to withdraw autumn-defense troops on all routes; Minister of War Mao Bowen also withdrew the auxiliary troops at Xuanfu, Datong, and the three passes. Altan then raided Shanfang Fort in early the tenth month. Repelled by Xi Yong, he broke through the wall at Wanquan Right Guard. He marched from Shunsheng River to Yuzhou, struck Futuyu Valley, and pressed straight to Wanzian; the capital was placed under martial alert. The emperor was furious and repeatedly issued edicts blaming Peng. Peng was at Shuozhou when he heard the alarm. He reached Mayi at midnight, arranged troops and supplies, then hurried to Hunyuan and dispatched generals to block the enemy. Censor Yang Benshen impeached Peng for dallying, allowing the raiders to terrify the capital region. Dai Menggui of the military affairs section followed with the same charge. Officials were sent to arrest Peng in bonds, and Zhang Han, Left Vice Minister of War, replaced him. When Peng arrived at court, he was sent to the imperial prison and sentenced to perpetual banishment. At Hexiwu on the road he was harassed by locals and had the transit-tax clerk beat the offender. The palace agents reported this; he was arrested again, brought to the capital, and died in prison. All who knew of it regretted his fate.

初，鵬在衛輝，將入覲，行李蕭然，通判王江懷金遺之。鵬曰：「豈我素履未孚於人耶？」江慚而退，其介如此。隆慶初，復官。

Earlier, when Peng was at Weihui about to go to court, his luggage was bare; Vice Prefect Wang Jiang brought gold as a gift. Peng said, "Have I failed to live so uprightly that others cannot trust me?" Jiang withdrew in shame. Such was his uncompromising integrity. At the beginning of the Longqing reign his office was posthumously restored.

張漢，鐘祥人。代鵬時，寇已出境，乃命翁萬達總督宣、大，而以漢專督畿輔、河南、山東諸軍。漢條上選將、練兵、信賞、必罰四事，請令大將得專殺偏裨，而總督亦得斬大將，人知退怯必死，自爭赴敵。帝不欲假臣下權，惡之。兵部言：漢老邊事，言皆可從。帝令再議。部臣乃言漢議皆當，而專殺大將，與《會典》未合。帝姑報可。會考察拾遺，言官劾漢剛愎。遂械系詔獄，謫戍鎮西衛。後數年邊警，御史陳九德薦漢。帝怒，斥九德為民。漢居戍所二十年卒。隆慶初，贈兵部尚書。

Zhang Han came from Zhongxiang. When he replaced Peng, the raiders had already withdrawn; Weng Wanda was made Grand Coordinator of Xuanfu and Datong, while Han supervised armies in the capital region, Henan, and Shandong. Han laid out four proposals—selecting generals, drilling troops, reliable rewards, and certain punishments—and asked that senior generals be empowered to execute subordinate officers and grand coordinators to execute senior generals, so that men who knew cowardice meant death would fight eagerly. The emperor did not wish to grant such authority to his subjects and disliked the proposal. The Ministry of War said Han was experienced in frontier affairs and his proposals should be adopted. The emperor ordered further deliberation. Ministry officials then said Han's proposals were sound, but that executing senior generals on one's own authority did not accord with the Collected Statutes. The emperor provisionally approved. During the evaluation for retained recommendations, censorial officials impeached Han for obstinacy. He was arrested, sent to the imperial prison, and banished to Zhenxi Guard. Several years later, when frontier alarm arose, Censor Chen Jiude recommended Han. The emperor was angry and reduced Jiude to commoner status. Han lived at his garrison post for twenty years and died there. At the beginning of the Longqing reign he was posthumously made Minister of War.

孫繼魯，字道甫，雲南右衛人。嘉靖二年進士。授澧州知州。坐事，改國子助教。歷戶部郎中，監通州倉。歷知衛輝、淮安二府。織造中官過淮，繼魯與之忤。誣逮至京，大學士夏言救免。繼魯不謝，言不悅。改補黎平。擢湖廣提學副使，進山西參政。數繩宗藩。暨遷按察使，宗藩百余人擁馬發其裝，敞衣外無長物，乃載酒謝過。遷陜西右布政使。二十六年擢右副都御史，代楊守謙巡撫山西。繼魯耿介，所至以清節聞，然好剛使氣。總督都御史翁萬達議撤山西內邊兵，並力守大同外邊，帝報可。繼魯抗章爭，言：「紫荊、居庸、山海諸關，東枕溟渤；雁門、寧武、偏頭諸關，西據黃河。天設重險，以藩衛國家，豈可聚師曠野，洞開重門以延敵？夫紫荊諸關之拱護京師，與雁門諸關之屏蔽全晉，一也。今議者不撤紫荊以並守宣府，豈可獨撤雁門以並守大同耶？況自偏頭、寧武、雁門東抵平刑關為山西長邊，自右衛雙溝墩至東陽河、鎮口臺為大同長邊，自丫角山至雙溝百四十里為大同緊邊，自丫角山至老牛灣百四十里為山西緊邊，論長邊則大同為急，山西差緩，論緊邊則均為最急。此皆密邇河套，譬之門闔。山西守左，大同守右。山西並力守左尚不能支，又安能分力以守大同之右？近年寇不敢犯山西內郡者，以三關備嚴故也。使三關將士遠離堡戍，欲其不侵犯難矣。全師在外，強寇內侵，即紫荊、倒馬諸關不將徒守哉！」萬達聞之不悅，上疏言：「增兵擺邊，始於近歲，與額設守邊者不同。繼魯乃以危言相恐，復遺臣書，言往歲建雲中議，宰執幾不免；近年撤各路兵，督撫業蒙罪。其詆排如此。今防秋已逼，乞別調繼魯，否則早罷臣，無誤邊事。」兵部是繼魯言。帝不從，下廷議。廷臣請如萬達言。帝方倚萬達，怒繼魯騰私書，引往事議君上。而夏言亦惡繼魯，不為地，遂逮下詔獄。疽發於項，瘐死。繼魯為巡撫僅四月。山西人習其前政，冀有所設施，遽以非罪死，鹹為痛惜。宗藩有上書訟其冤者，即前奪視其裝者也。穆宗即位，贈兵部左侍郎，賜祭葬，蔭一子，謚清湣。

Sun Jilu, whose style was Daofu, came from Yunnan Right Guard. He passed the metropolitan examination in the second year of the Jiajing reign. He was appointed prefect of Lizhou. After an offense he was transferred to assistant instructor at the Imperial Academy. He served as bureau director in the Ministry of Revenue and supervised the Tongzhou granary. He served successively as prefect of Weihui and Huai'an. When a eunuch of the weaving bureau passed through Huai'an, Jilu clashed with him. Falsely accused, he was arrested and brought to the capital; Grand Secretary Xia Yan secured his release. Jilu did not thank him, and Xia Yan was displeased. He was reassigned to Liping. He was promoted to vice commissioner of education in Huguang, then to administration commissioner of Shanxi. He repeatedly prosecuted members of the imperial clan. When he was promoted to surveillance commissioner, more than a hundred clansmen on horseback inspected his baggage; apart from plain clothes he owned nothing of value, and they brought wine to apologize. He was transferred to Right Administration Commissioner of Shaanxi. In the twenty-sixth year he was promoted to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and replaced Yang Shouqian as Grand Coordinator of Shanxi. Jilu was upright and unyielding; wherever he served he was known for integrity, yet he was forceful and quick to anger. Grand Coordinator Weng Wanda proposed withdrawing Shanxi's inner frontier troops and concentrating strength on Datong's outer frontier; the emperor approved. Jilu protested in a memorial: "The passes of Zijing, Juyong, and Shanhai rest on the Bohai Sea to the east; the passes of Yanmen, Ningwu, and Piantou hold the Yellow River to the west. Heaven set these formidable barriers to shield the state—how can we mass troops in open country and throw wide the gates to invite the enemy? The Zijing passes protect the capital just as the Yanmen passes shield all Shanxi—the principle is the same. Those debating this do not propose withdrawing Zijing troops to concentrate on Xuanfu—how then can we alone withdraw Yanmen to concentrate on Datong? From Piantou, Ningwu, and Yanmen east to Pingxing Pass is Shanxi's long frontier; from Shuanggou Tower to Dongyang River and Zhenkou Tower is Datong's long frontier; from Yajiao Mountain to Shuanggou is Datong's critical frontier, and from Yajiao Mountain to Laoniu Bay is Shanxi's critical frontier. On the long frontier Datong is the more urgent, but on the critical frontier both are equally urgent. All lie close to the Ordos—they are like the leaves of a door. Shanxi guards the left leaf, Datong the right. If Shanxi cannot hold even when concentrating all strength on the left, how can it spare strength to guard Datong's right? In recent years raiders have not dared strike Shanxi's inner prefectures because the three passes have been strictly defended. If troops of the three passes are posted far from their forts, it will be hard to prevent invasion. With the whole army deployed outside, a strong enemy strikes within—will not even the Zijing and Daoma passes be left to empty defense!" Weng Wanda was displeased and memorialized: "Increasing troops for spread deployment along the border began only in recent years and differs from the allotted frontier garrisons. Jilu has used alarming words to intimidate me and sent me a letter saying that when the Yunzhong proposal was debated years ago, chief ministers nearly perished; and when troops on various routes were withdrawn in recent years, grand coordinators already suffered punishment. Such is the tone of his attacks. Autumn defense is imminent; I beg that Jilu be transferred elsewhere, or dismiss me early rather than harm frontier affairs." The Ministry of War sided with Jilu. The emperor disagreed and referred the matter to court deliberation. Court officials asked that Weng Wanda's view be followed. The emperor was relying on Weng Wanda and was angry that Jilu had circulated a private letter citing past events to criticize the throne. Xia Yan also hated Jilu and gave him no support; Jilu was arrested and sent to the imperial prison. An abscess broke out on his neck and he died of wasting illness in prison. Jilu had served as grand coordinator only four months. The people of Shanxi, accustomed to his earlier administration, had hoped he would accomplish much; that he suddenly died for no crime—all lamented in grief. A clansman submitted a memorial pleading his innocence—the same man who had earlier inspected his baggage. When the Longqing Emperor ascended the throne, he was posthumously made Left Vice Minister of War, granted sacrificial burial, one son received hereditary privilege, and he was given the posthumous name Qingmin.

曾銑，字子重，江都人。自為諸生，以才自豪。嘉靖八年成進士，授長樂知縣。征為御史，巡按遼東。遼陽兵變，執辱都御史呂經。銑時按金、復，急檄副總兵李監罷經苛急事，為亂軍乞赦。經罷，趨廣寧，悍卒於蠻兒等復執辱經。其月，撫順卒亦縛指揮劉雄父子。會朝廷遣侍郎林庭昂往勘，亂卒懼。遼陽倡首者趙劓兒潛詣廣寧與蠻兒合謀，欲俟鎮城官拜表，集眾亂，為總兵官劉淮所覺，計不行。復結死囚，欲俟庭昂至，閉城門為變。而銑已刺得二城及撫順為惡者姓名，密授諸將，劓兒等數十人同日捕獲。銑上言：「往者甘肅、大同軍變，處之過輕。群小謂辱命臣，殺主帥，罪不過此，遂相率為亂。今首惡宜急誅。」乃召還庭昂，命銑勘實，悉斬諸首惡，懸首邊城，全遼大定。擢銑大理寺丞，遷右僉都御史，巡撫山東。俺答數入內地，銑請築臨清外城。工畢，進副都御史。居三年，改撫山西。經歲寇不犯邊，朝廷以為功，進兵部侍郎，巡撫如故。

Ceng Xian, whose style was Zizhong, came from Jiangdu. Even as a student he took pride in his talent. He passed the metropolitan examination in the eighth year of the Jiajing reign and was appointed magistrate of Changle. He was summoned as censor and sent to inspect Liaodong. At Liaoyang the troops mutinied, seizing and humiliating Censor-in-Chief Lü Jing. Xian was then inspecting Jin and Fu prefectures; he urgently ordered Vice Commander Li Jian to end Jing's harsh policies and pleaded for pardon for the mutinous troops. After Jing was dismissed, he hurried to Guangning, but fierce soldiers led by Yu Man'er again seized and humiliated him. That same month, soldiers at Fushun also bound Commander Liu Xiong and his son. The court sent Vice Minister Lin Ting'ang to investigate, and the mutinous soldiers grew afraid. Liaoyang ringleader Zhao Jiao'er secretly went to Guangning to conspire with Man'er, planning to rise when garrison officials paid court respects; Regional Commander Liu Huai uncovered the plot and it failed. They allied again with condemned prisoners, planning to shut the city gates and revolt when Ting'ang arrived. But Xian had already obtained the names of ringleaders in both cities and at Fushun, secretly passed them to the generals, and Jiao'er and dozens of others were captured the same day. Xian memorialized: "When troops mutinied in Gansu and Datong in the past, punishment was too light. Petty men concluded that insulting an imperial commissioner and killing a commander merited no worse, and so they rebelled in succession. Now the chief culprits should be executed at once." Ting'ang was recalled; Xian was ordered to verify the facts; all chief culprits were beheaded and their heads hung at frontier cities, and Liaodong was pacified. Xian was promoted to vice director of the Court of Judicial Review, then to Right Censor-in-Chief and Grand Coordinator of Shandong. As Altan repeatedly raided inland, Xian requested construction of Linqing's outer wall. When the work was completed, he was promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief. After three years he was transferred to Grand Coordinator of Shanxi. For a full year the enemy did not raid the border; the court credited this achievement and promoted him to Vice Minister of War while he remained grand coordinator.

二十五年夏，以原官總督陜西三邊軍務。寇十萬余騎由寧塞營入，大掠延安、慶陽境。銑率兵數千駐塞門，而遣前參將李珍搗寇巢於馬梁山陰，斬首百余級。寇聞之，始遁。捷奏，賚銀幣。既而寇屢入，遊擊高極死焉，副總兵蕭漢敗績。銑疏諸將罪，治如律。時套寇牧近塞，零騎往來，居民不敢樵采。銑方築塞，慮為所擾，乃選銳卒擊之。寇稍北，間以輕騎入掠，銑復率諸軍驅之遠徙。參將李珍及韓欽功為多，詔增銑俸一級，賜銀幣有加。

In the summer of the twenty-fifth year he was appointed Grand Coordinator of the three Shaanxi frontiers at his former rank. More than a hundred thousand enemy horsemen entered through Ningsai Camp and plundered Yan'an and Qingyang. Xian led several thousand troops to hold the frontier pass while sending former Battalion Commander Li Zhen to strike the enemy camp on the shady slope of Mabang Mountain, taking more than a hundred heads. When the enemy heard this, they began to withdraw. Victory was reported and he was rewarded with silver and silks. Afterwards the enemy raided repeatedly; Raiding Commander Gao Ji was killed and Vice Commander Xiao Han was defeated. Xian memorialized the generals' offenses and punished them according to law. Ordos raiders pastured near the frontier, and scattered horsemen came and went so residents dared not gather firewood. Xian was building frontier walls and feared disturbance; he selected crack troops to attack them. The enemy withdrew northward but still raided with light cavalry; Xian again led the armies to drive them far away. Battalion Commander Li Zhen and Han Qin achieved the most merit; an edict increased Xian's salary one grade and added silver and silks.

銑素喜功名，又感帝知遇，益圖所報稱。念寇居河套，久為中國患，上疏曰：「賊據河套，侵擾邊鄙將百年。孝宗欲復而不能，武宗欲征而不果，使吉囊據為巢穴。出套則寇宣、大、三關，以震畿輔；入套則寇延、寧、甘、固，以擾關中。深山大川，勢顧在敵而不在我。封疆之臣曾無有以收復為陛下言者，蓋軍興重務也；小有挫失，媒孽踵至，鼎鑊刀鋸，面背森然。臣非不知兵兇戰危，而枕戈汗馬，切齒痛心有日矣。竊嘗計之：秋高馬肥，弓矢勁利，彼聚而攻，我散而守，則彼勝；冬深水枯，馬無宿槁，春寒陰雨，壤無燥土，彼勢漸弱，我乘其弊，則中國勝。臣請以銳卒六萬，益以山東鎗手二千，每當春夏交，攜五十日餉，水陸交進，直搗其巢。材官騶發，炮火雷激，則寇不能支。此一勞永逸之策，萬世社稷所賴也。」遂條八議以進。是時，銑與延、寧撫臣欲西自定邊營，東至黃甫川一千五百里，築邊墻禦寇，請帑金數十萬，期三年畢功。疏並下兵部。部臣難之，請令諸鎮文武將吏協議。詔報曰：「賊據套為中國患久矣，朕宵旰念之，邊臣無分主憂者。今銑倡恢復議甚壯，其令銑與諸鎮臣悉心上方略，予修邊費二十萬。」銑乃益銳。而諸巡撫延綏張問行、陜西謝蘭、寧夏王邦瑞及巡按御史盛唐以為難，久不會奏。銑怒，疏請於帝，帝為責讓諸巡撫。會問行已罷，楊守謙代之，意與銑同。銑遂合諸臣條上方略十八事，已，又獻營陣八圖，並優旨下廷議。

Xian had always delighted in achievement, and feeling the emperor's favor, he strove all the more to repay it. Reflecting that the enemy held the Ordos and had long plagued China, he memorialized: "The raiders occupy the Ordos and have harassed the frontier for nearly a century. Emperor Xiaozong wished to recover it but could not; Emperor Wuzong wished to campaign but failed, allowing Jibeng to make it his stronghold. When they leave the Ordos they raid Xuanfu, Datong, and the three passes, shaking the capital region; when they enter the Ordos they raid Yan, Ning, Gan, and Gu, disturbing the central region. In deep mountains and great rivers the advantage lies with the enemy, not with us. Frontier officials have never urged recovery to Your Majesty, for military campaigns are weighty affairs; a small setback brings slander in its train, and executioners' tools stand before and behind one. I am not unaware that war is perilous, yet sleeping with my weapon and sweating my horse, I have gnashed my teeth in grief for many days. I have considered: in autumn when horses are fat and bows strong, if they gather to attack while we scatter to defend, they win; in winter when waters freeze and grasses wither, horses lack fodder; in spring cold rains leave no dry earth—their strength weakens and we exploit their disadvantage, then China wins. I request sixty thousand crack troops plus two thousand Shandong spearmen; each spring and summer, carrying fifty days' provisions, advancing by land and water straight to their stronghold. When engineers deploy and cannon thunder like lightning, the enemy cannot stand. This is a policy of one effort for lasting peace, on which the dynasty for ten thousand generations depends." He thereupon submitted eight detailed proposals. At that time Xian and the Yan and Ning grand coordinators wished to build a frontier wall from Dingbian Camp west to Huangfu River east, fifteen hundred li, requesting several hundred thousand taels to be completed in three years. The memorial was referred to the Ministry of War. The ministry found it difficult and asked military and civil officials of all garrisons to deliberate. An edict replied: "The enemy's occupation of the Ordos has long plagued China; I think of it day and night, yet frontier officials do not share my worry. Now Xian's recovery proposal is bold; let Xian and frontier officials present strategy carefully; I grant two hundred thousand for wall repair." Xian grew all the bolder. But Grand Coordinators Zhang Wenxing of Yan-Sui, Xie Lan of Shaanxi, Wang Bangrui of Ningxia, and Investigating Censor Sheng Tang considered it difficult and long delayed a joint memorial. Xian was angry and memorialized; the emperor rebuked the grand coordinators. Zhang Wenxing had been dismissed and Yang Shouqian replaced him; Yang agreed with Xian. Xian then joined officials in submitting eighteen strategic proposals and eight camp formation diagrams; all received favorable edicts and court deliberation.

廷臣見上意向銑，一如銑言。帝忽出手詔諭輔臣曰：「今逐套賊，師果有名否？兵食果有余？成功可必否？一銑何足言，如先民荼毒何？」初，銑建議時，輔臣夏言欲倚以成大功，主之甚力。及是，大駭，請帝自裁斷。帝命刊手詔，遍給與議諸臣。時嚴嵩方與言有隙，欲因以傾言，乃極言套必不可復。陰詆言，故引罪乞罷，以激帝怒。旋復顯攻言，謂「向擬旨褒銑，臣皆不預聞。」兵部尚書王以旗會廷臣覆奏，遂盡反前說，言套不可復。帝乃遣官逮銑、出以旗代之；責科道官不言，悉杖於廷，停俸四月。帝雖怒銑，然無意殺之也。鹹寧侯仇鸞鎮甘肅時，以阻撓為銑所劾，逮問。嵩故雅親鸞。知銑所善同邑蘇綱者，言繼妻父，綱與銑、言嘗交關傳語，乃代鸞獄中草疏，誣銑掩敗不奏，克軍餉鉅萬，遣子淳屬所親蘇綱賂當途。其言絕無左驗，而帝深入其說，立下淳、綱詔獄。給事中齊譽等見帝怒銑甚，請早正刑章。帝責譽黨奸避事，鐫級調外任。及銑至，法司比擬邊帥失陷城砦者律。帝必欲依正條，當銑交結近侍律斬，妻子流二千里，即日行刑。銑既死，言亦坐斬，而鸞出獄。

Court officials, seeing the emperor favored Xian, all spoke as Xian did. The emperor suddenly issued a handwritten edict to chief ministers: "In driving the Ordos enemy out now, is the army truly renowned? Are provisions truly sufficient? Is success truly certain? What is one Xian worth—what of the people's suffering? Earlier, when Xian first proposed, Grand Secretary Xia Yan wished to rely on him for a great achievement and supported him vigorously. At this he was greatly alarmed and asked the emperor to decide himself. The emperor ordered the handwritten edict published and given to all deliberating officials. Yan Song was at odds with Xia Yan and wished to bring him down; he argued the Ordos absolutely could not be recovered. He secretly slandered Yan and deliberately begged dismissal citing his own offenses to provoke the emperor's anger. Soon he openly attacked Yan, saying, "When the edict praising Xian was drafted, I was not consulted." Minister of War Wang Yiqi joined court officials in reply and completely reversed their former view, saying the Ordos could not be recovered. The emperor sent officials to arrest Xian and replaced him with Yiqi; he blamed censorial officials for not speaking out, had them beaten at court, and suspended salary four months. Although angry with Xian, the emperor had no intention of killing him. Marquis Qiu Luan of Xianning, when commanding Gansu, had been impeached by Xian for obstruction and arrested for trial. Song had long been intimate with Luan. Knowing Su Gang of Xian's district was Xia Yan's former father-in-law and that Gang, Xian, and Yan had exchanged messages, he drafted a prison memorial for Luan accusing Xian of concealing defeats, embezzling vast provisions, and sending his son Chun through Gang to bribe those in power. There was no corroborating evidence, yet the emperor deeply believed it and sent Chun and Gang to the imperial prison. Seeing the emperor's great anger, Supervising Secretary Qi Yu and others requested early punishment. The emperor blamed Yu for factionalism and avoiding duty, reduced his rank, and transferred him outside. When Xian arrived, the judicial offices compared his case to the statute for frontier commanders who lost cities and forts. The emperor insisted on the proper article, sentencing Xian under associating with palace attendants to execution, wife and children exiled two thousand li, executed that day. After Xian died, Xia Yan was also executed, and Luan was released.

銑有膽略，長於用兵。歲除夜，猝命諸將出。時塞上無警，諸將方置酒，不欲行，賂鈴卒求緩於銑妾。銑斬鈴卒以徇。諸將不得已，丙夜被甲行。果遇寇，擊敗之。翼日入賀畢，前請故。銑笑曰：「見烏鵲非時噪，故知之耳。」皆大服。銑廉，既歿，家無余貲。

Xian had courage and stratagem and excelled in warfare. On New Year's Eve he suddenly ordered the generals out. There was no frontier alarm; the generals were feasting and did not wish to go, bribing the bell-ringer to ask his concubine to plead for delay. Xian executed the bell-ringer as an example. The generals had no choice but to don armor at the third watch and march. They indeed encountered the enemy and defeated them. The next day after New Year congratulations they asked how he had known. Xian smiled and said, "I saw crows and magpies crying out of season, and so knew." All were greatly impressed. Xian was incorrupt; after his death his family had no surplus wealth.

隆慶初，給事中辛自修、御史王好問訟銑誌在立功，身罹重辟，識與不識，痛悼至今。詔贈兵部尚書，謚襄湣。萬歷中，從御史周磐請，建祠陜西。

At the beginning of Longqing, Supervising Secretary Xin Zixiu and Censor Wang Haowen pleaded that Xian aimed to achieve merit and suffered the heavy penalty; all grieve to this day. An edict posthumously made him Minister of War with the posthumous name Xiangmin. In the Wanli reign, following Censor Zhou Pan's request, a shrine was built in Shaanxi.

李珍者，故坐事失官。銑從徒中錄用，復積戰功至參將。銑既被誣，詔遣給事中申價等往核，因並劾珍與指揮田世威、郭震為銑爪牙，下之詔獄。連及巡撫謝蘭、張問行，御史盛唐，副總兵李琦等，皆斥罰。勒淳、綱贓，恤陣亡軍及居民被難者。銑嘗檄府衛銀三萬兩制車仗，亦責償於淳。且酷刑拷珍，令其實克餉行賂事，幾死，卒不承。淳用是免，珍竟論死，世威、震謫戍。其後，俺答歲入寇，帝卒不悟，輒曰：「此銑欲開邊，故行報復耳。」

Li Zhen had formerly lost office for an offense. Xian selected him from convicts, restored him, and he rose through battle achievements to battalion commander. After Xian was falsely accused, an edict sent Supervising Secretary Shen Jia to verify; Zhen was impeached with commanders Tian Shiwei and Guo Zhen as Xian's henchmen and sent to prison. This implicated Grand Coordinators Xie Lan and Zhang Wenxing, Censor Sheng Tang, Vice Commander Li Qi, and others, all punished. Chun and Gang were forced to repay embezzled funds; compensation was given to soldiers killed and residents who suffered. Xian had requisitioned thirty thousand taels from prefectures and guards for equipment, also charged to Chun. He also tortured Zhen to make him confess embezzling provisions for bribery; Zhen nearly died but never confessed. Chun was spared; Zhen was sentenced to death, and Shiwei and Zhen were banished. Afterwards Altan raided every year; the emperor never understood, but always said, "This is Xian taking revenge for wishing to open the frontier."

丁汝夔，字大章，霑化人。正德十六年進士。改庶吉士。嘉靖初，授禮部主事。爭「大禮」被杖，調吏部。累官山西左布政使，擢右副都御史，巡撫甘肅。歷撫保定、應天。入為左副都御史。坐事調湖廣參政。復以故官撫河南。歷吏部左、右侍郎。二十八年十月拜兵部尚書兼督團營。條上邊務十事，皆報可。當是時，俺答歲寇邊，羽書疊至。天子方齋居西內，厭兵事，而大學士嚴嵩竊權，邊帥率以賄進，疆事大壞。其明年八月甲子，俺答犯宣府，諸將拒之不得入。汝夔即上言：「寇不得誌於宣府，必東趨遼、薊。請敕諸將嚴為備。潮河川乃陵京門戶，宜調遼東一軍赴白馬關，保定一軍赴古北口。」從之。寇果引而東，駐大興州，去古北口百七十里。大同總兵官仇鸞知之，率所部馳至居庸南。順天巡撫王汝孝駐薊州，誤聽諜者謂寇向西北。汝夔信之，請令鸞還大同勿東，詔俟後報。及興州報至，命鸞壁居庸，汝孝守薊州。未幾，寇循潮河川南下至古北口，薄關城。總兵官羅希韓、盧鉞不能卻，汝孝師大潰。寇遂由石匣營達密雲，轉掠懷柔，圍順義城。聞保定兵駐城內，乃解而南，至通州。阻白河不得渡，駐河東孤山，分剽昌平、三河，犯諸帝陵，殺掠不可勝紀。

Ding Rukui, whose style was Dazhang, came from Zhanhua. He passed the metropolitan examination in the sixteenth year of the Zhengde reign. He was appointed Hanlin bachelor. Early in the Jiajing reign he was appointed principal clerk in the Ministry of Rites. In disputing the Grand Rites controversy he was beaten with the rod and transferred to the Ministry of Personnel. He rose to Left Administration Commissioner of Shanxi, then Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and Grand Coordinator of Gansu. He served successively as Grand Coordinator of Baoding and Yingtian. He entered the capital as Left Vice Censor-in-Chief. For an offense he was transferred to administration commissioner of Huguang. He was again appointed Grand Coordinator of Henan at his former rank. He served successively as Left and Right Vice Minister of Personnel. In the tenth month of the twenty-eighth year he was appointed Minister of War with concurrent supervision of the regiment camps. He submitted ten proposals on frontier affairs; all were approved. At that time Altan raided the frontier every year and urgent dispatches piled up. The emperor lived in seclusion in the western palace, weary of war, while Grand Secretary Yan Song usurped power; frontier commanders advanced through bribery, and frontier affairs collapsed. In the eighth month of the following year, on the day jiazi, Altan attacked Xuanfu; the generals held him off. Rukui immediately memorialized: "Having failed at Xuanfu, the raiders will surely turn east toward Liao and Ji. I request that generals be ordered to prepare strictly. Chaohe River is the gateway to the capital; a Liaodong detachment should go to Baima Pass and a Baoding detachment to Gubeikou." The throne approved. The raiders did turn east and encamped at Daxing Prefecture, one hundred seventy li from Gubeikou. Qiu Luan, Regional Commander of Datong, learned of this and led his troops at speed south of Juyong. Wang Ruxiao, Grand Coordinator of Shuntian, was at Jizhou and mistakenly believed spies who said the raiders were heading northwest. Rukui believed this and asked that Luan return to Datong; an edict ordered him to wait for later reports. When the report from Xingzhou arrived, Luan was ordered to hold Juyong and Ruxiao to defend Jizhou. Soon the raiders followed Chaohe River south to Gubeikou and pressed the pass. Regional Commanders Luo Xihan and Lu Yue could not repel them; Ruxiao's army collapsed in great defeat. The raiders passed through Shixia Camp to Miyun, raided Huairou, and besieged Shunyi. Hearing Baoding troops were in the city, they withdrew south to Tongzhou. Blocked by the Bai River, they encamped on Gushan east of the river, raided Changping and Sanhe, violated imperial tombs, and killed and plundered beyond counting.

京師戒嚴，召各鎮勤王。分遣文武大臣各九人，守京城九門，定西侯蔣傳、吏部侍郎王邦瑞總督之，而以錦衣都督陸炳，禮部侍郎王用賓，給事御史各四人，巡視皇城四門。詔大小文臣知兵者，許汝夔委用。汝夔條上八事，請列正兵四營於城外四隅，奇兵九營於九門外近郊。正兵營各一萬，奇兵營各六千。急遣大臣二人經略通州、涿州，且釋罪廢諸將使立功贖罪。帝悉從之。然是時冊籍皆虛數。禁軍僅四五萬，老弱半之，又半役內外提督大臣家不歸伍，在伍者亦涕泣不敢前。從武庫索甲仗，主庫奄人勒常例，不時發。久之不能軍。乃發居民及四方應武舉諸生乘城，且大頒賞格。仇鸞與副將徐玨、遊擊張騰等軍白河西，楊守謙與副將朱楫等軍東直門外，諸路援兵亦稍集。議者率謂城內虛，城外有邊兵足恃，宜移京軍備內釁，汝夔亦以為然。遂量掣禁軍入營十王府、厭壽寺前。掌營務者成國公朱希忠恐以兵少獲譴，乃東西抽掣為掩飾計。士疲不得息，出怨言，而莫曉孰為調者，則爭詈汝夔。鸞兵無紀律，掠民間。帝方眷鸞，令勿捕。汝夔亦戒勿治鸞兵。民益怨怒。

The capital was placed under martial alert and troops from all garrisons were summoned. Nine civil and military officials each were dispatched to guard the capital's nine gates; Marquis Jiang Chuan of Dingxi and Vice Minister Wang Bangrui supervised, while Commander Lu Bing, Vice Minister Wang Yongbin, and four supervising secretaries and censors inspected the imperial city gates. An edict permitted Rukui to appoint officials who understood military affairs. Rukui submitted eight proposals, requesting four regular camps outside the city corners and nine special camps outside the nine gates. Each regular camp was to have ten thousand men, each special camp six thousand. He urgently requested two senior officials for Tongzhou and Zhuozhou and that dismissed generals be released to redeem guilt through merit. The emperor approved all. Yet the registers were all fictitious numbers. The forbidden army numbered only forty or fifty thousand; half were old and weak, and half served eunuch supervisors' households and never returned to ranks; those in ranks wept and dared not advance. When armor was requested from the armory, the eunuch in charge extorted fees and did not issue it in time. After a long time they still could not take the field. Residents and military examination candidates from all quarters were put on the walls and great rewards proclaimed. Qiu Luan with Vice Commander Xu Yu and Raiding Commander Zhang Teng camped west of the Bai River; Yang Shouqian with Vice Commander Zhu Ji outside Dongzhimen; relief troops gradually gathered. Most argued the interior was empty but frontier troops outside sufficed; capital troops should guard against internal trouble, and Rukui agreed. Capital troops were partially withdrawn into camps before the ten princely mansions and Yanshou Temple. Zhu Xizhong, Duke of Cheng who managed camps, feared blame for too few troops and shifted men east and west as cover. Soldiers, exhausted without rest, complained without knowing who had transferred them, and cursed Rukui. Luan's troops lacked discipline and plundered civilians. The emperor favored Luan and ordered they not be arrested. Rukui also warned against punishing Luan's troops. The people grew more resentful.

寇遊騎四出，去都城三十里。及辛巳，遂自通州渡河而西，前鋒七百騎駐安定門外教場。明日，大營薄都城。分掠西山、黃村、沙河、大小榆河，畿甸大震。初，寇逼通州，部所遣偵卒出城不數里，道遇傷者，輒奔還妄言誑汝夔。既而言不讎，汝夔弗罪也。募他卒偵之復如前。以故寇眾寡遠近皆不能知。

Raider cavalry ranged thirty li from the capital. On the day xinsi they crossed from Tongzhou westward; seven hundred vanguard horsemen encamped at the drill ground outside Anding Gate. The next day the main camp pressed the capital. They raided Xishan, Huangcun, Shahe, and the Yu Rivers; the metropolitan region was shaken. When raiders pressed Tongzhou, ministry scouts went only a few li out; meeting the wounded they fled back and deceived Rukui. When their reports proved false, Rukui did not punish them. Other scouts behaved the same. Therefore the enemy's strength and distance could not be known.

宣府總兵官趙國忠，參將趙臣、孫時謙、袁正，遊擊姚冕，山西遊擊羅恭等，各以兵入援，營玉河諸處。詔兵部核諸鎮兵數，行賞賚。勤王兵先後五六萬人，皆聞變即赴，未賫糗糧。制下犒師，牛酒無所出。越二三日，援軍始得數餅餌，益饑疲不任戰。

Zhao Guozhong of Xuanfu, Zhao Chen, Sun Shiqian, Yuan Zheng, Yao Mian, Luo Gong of Shanxi, and others led relief troops and encamped at Yuhe. An edict ordered the Ministry of War to verify garrison troop numbers and issue rewards. Relief troops, fifty or sixty thousand in all, hurried at the alarm without rations. When orders came to reward the army, there was no beef or wine. After two or three days they received only a few cakes and grew hungrier, exhausted, and unfit for battle.

帝久不視朝，軍事無由面白。廷臣多以為言，帝不許。禮部尚書徐階復固請，帝乃許。癸未，群臣昧爽入。至日晡，帝始禦奉天殿，不發一詞，但命階奉敕諭至午門，集群臣切責之而已。帝怒文武臣不任事，尤怒汝夔。吏部因請起楊守禮、劉源清、史道、許論於家。汝夔不自安，請督諸將出城戰，而以侍郎謝蘭署部事。帝責其推委，命居中如故。寇縱橫內地八日，諸軍不敢發一矢。寇本無意攻城，且所掠過望，乃整輜重，從容趨白羊口而去。

The emperor had long not held court and military affairs could not be reported in person. Court officials repeatedly spoke of this; the emperor refused. Minister of Rites Xu Jie firmly requested again; the emperor consented. On the day guiwei officials entered before dawn. Not until mid-afternoon did the emperor appear at Fengtian Hall, uttering not a word but ordering Jie to deliver an edict at Meridian Gate scolding officials severely. The emperor was angry that officials were incompetent and especially angry with Rukui. The Ministry of Personnel requested recall of Yang Shouli, Liu Yuanqing, Shi Dao, and Xu Lun from retirement. Uneasy, Rukui asked to lead generals out to fight, with Vice Minister Xie Lan acting as minister. The emperor blamed him for shirking and ordered him to remain as before. The raiders ranged the interior eight days; armies did not loose a single arrow. They never intended to attack the city; having plundered beyond expectation, they gathered baggage and leisurely departed through Baiyangkou.

方事棘，帝趣諸將戰甚急。汝夔以咨嵩。嵩曰：「塞上敗或可掩也，失利輦下，帝無不知，誰執其咎？寇飽自飏去耳。」汝夔因不敢主戰，諸將亦益閉營，寇以此肆掠無所忌。既退，汝夔、蘭及戶、工尚書李士翺、胡松，侍郎駱颙、孫禬皆引罪。命革士翺職，停松俸，俱戴罪辦事，侍郎各停俸五月，而下汝夔獄。帝欲大行誅以懲後。汝夔窘，求救於嵩。嵩曰：「我在，必不令公死。」及見帝怒甚，竟不敢言。給事御史劾汝夔禦寇無策。帝責其不早言，奪俸有差。趣具獄，怒法司奏當緩，杖都御史屠僑、刑部侍郎彭黯、大理卿沈良才各四十，降俸五等。刑科張侃等循故事覆奏，各杖五十，斥侃為民。坐汝夔守備不設，即日斬於市，梟其首，妻流三千里，子戍鐵嶺。汝夔臨刑，始悔為嵩所賣。

When affairs were critical the emperor urgently pressed generals to fight. Rukui consulted Song. Song said: "Defeat on the frontier may be concealed, but defeat below the imperial carriage—the emperor will know. Who bears the blame? The raiders are sated and will depart of themselves." Rukui dared not advocate battle; generals closed their camps, and raiders plundered without restraint. After withdrawal, Rukui, Lan, Ministers Li Shi'ang and Hu Song, and Vice Ministers Luo Yang and Sun Qi all cited offenses. Shi'ang was removed, Song's salary suspended, all continuing under guilt; vice ministers suspended five months; Rukui was imprisoned. The emperor wished to execute widely as a warning. Cornered, Rukui begged Song for rescue. Song said: "While I am here, you will certainly not die." Yet seeing the emperor's great anger, he dared not speak. Censors impeached Rukui for having no strategy against the raiders. The emperor blamed him for not speaking earlier and reduced salary. He urged the case completed; angry at recommended leniency, he had Tu Qiao, Peng An, and Shen Liangcai beaten forty times and salary reduced five grades. Zhang Kan and others memorialized in review; each was beaten fifty times and Kan dismissed. Rukui was sentenced for failing to prepare defenses, beheaded that day, his head displayed, wife exiled three thousand li, son banished to Tieling. At execution Rukui regretted being sold out by Song.

方廷訊時，職方郎王尚學當從坐。汝夔曰，「罪在尚書，郎中無預」，得減死論戍。比赴市，問左右：「王郎中免乎？」尚學子化適在旁，謝曰：「荷公恩，免矣。」汝夔嘆曰：「汝父勸我速戰，我為政府誤。汝父免，我死無恨。」聞者為泣下。隆慶初，復官。

During trial, Bureau Director Wang Shangxue was to be implicated. Rukui said, "Guilt lies with the minister, not the director," and Shangxue received banishment instead of death. Going to execution he asked: "Is Bureau Director Wang spared?" Shangxue's son Hua thanked him: "Thanks to your grace, he is spared." Rukui sighed: "Your father urged quick battle; I was misled by the government. Your father is spared; I die without regret." Hearers wept. At the beginning of Longqing his office was posthumously restored.

汝夔既下獄，並逮汝孝、希韓、鉞。寇未盡去，官校不敢前，托言汝孝等追寇白羊口，遠不可卒至。比逮至，論死。帝怒漸解，而汝孝復以首功聞，命俱減死戍邊。

After Rukui was imprisoned, Ruxiao, Xihan, and Yue were also arrested. The raiders had not fully departed and court officers dared not advance, claiming Ruxiao and others were pursuing them at Baiyangkou. When arrested, they were sentenced to death. As the emperor's anger eased, Ruxiao was reported for chief merit; all received reduced sentences to frontier banishment.

楊守謙，字允亨，徐州人。父誌學，字遜夫，弘治六年進士。巡撫大同、寧夏，邊人愛之。累官刑部尚書，卒，謚康惠。

Yang Shouqian, whose style was Yunheng, came from Xuzhou. His father Zhixue, whose style was Xunfu, passed the metropolitan examination in the sixth year of Hongzhi. He served as Grand Coordinator of Datong and Ningxia; frontier people loved him. He rose to Minister of Punishments and died; his posthumous name was Kanghui.

守謙登嘉靖八年進士，授屯田主事。改職方，歷郎中，練習兵計。出為陜西副使，改督學政，有聲，就拜參政。未任，擢右僉都御史，巡撫山西。上言偏頭、老營堡二所，余地千九百余頃，請興舉營田。因薦副使張鎬為提調，牛種取給本土。帝稱為忠，即報可。俄移撫延綏。請久任鎬，終其事。其後二年，營田大興。計秋獲可當帑銀十萬，邊關谷價減十五。守謙薦鎬可大用，且言延綏、安定諸邊可如例。戶部請推行之九邊。帝悅，命亟行之，錄守謙、鎬功。守謙未去延綏，而鎬已巡撫寧夏矣。

Shouqian passed the metropolitan examination in the eighth year of Jiajing and was appointed principal clerk for land tax. He transferred to military affairs, served as bureau director, and studied military planning. He served as vice commissioner of Shaanxi, then education commissioner, gained renown, and was appointed administration commissioner. Before taking office he was promoted to Right Censor-in-Chief and appointed Grand Coordinator of Shanxi. He memorialized that Piantou and Laoying Fort had more than nineteen hundred qing of surplus land and requested military colonies. He recommended Vice Commissioner Zhang Hao as supervisor, with oxen and seed from local sources. The emperor praised this as loyal and approved immediately. Soon he was transferred to Grand Coordinator of Yan-Sui. He requested that Hao serve long enough to complete the work. Two years later military colonies flourished. The autumn harvest was calculated to equal one hundred thousand taels of treasury silver and frontier grain prices fell fifteen percent. Shouqian recommended Hao for greater appointment and said Yan-Sui, Anding, and other frontiers could follow the model. The Ministry of Revenue requested extension to the nine frontiers. The emperor was pleased, ordered rapid implementation, and recorded Shouqian and Hao's achievements. Shouqian had not yet left Yan-Sui when Hao was already Grand Coordinator of Ningxia.

守謙至延綏，言：「激勸軍士在重賞。令斬一首者升一級，不願者予白金三十兩。賞已薄，又文移察勘，動涉歲時，以故士心不勸。近宣、大事棘稍加賞格，請倍增其數，鎮巡官驗明即給。蓋增級、襲蔭，有官者利之，窮卒覬賞而已。」兵部以為然，定斬首一級者與五十兩，著為令。以前山西修邊功，增俸一級，賜金幣有加。請給新設遊兵月餉，發倉儲貸饑卒，皆報許。

When Shouqian reached Yan-Sui he said: "Encouraging soldiers lies in heavy rewards. Beheading one head merited one grade of promotion, or thirty taels of silver for those unwilling. Rewards were meager and verification dragged on for years, so soldiers were not encouraged. Recently Xuan and Da were critical and rewards increased slightly; I request doubling amounts with immediate payment after verification. Promotion and hereditary privilege benefit officers; poor soldiers only hope for cash reward." The Ministry of War agreed and fixed fifty taels per head as regulation. For repairing the Shanxi frontier, his salary increased one grade and he received gold and silks. He requested monthly pay for new mobile troops and grain loans for starving soldiers; all approved.

二十九年進副都御史，巡撫保定兼督紫荊諸關。去鎮之日，傾城號泣，有追送數百里外者。未幾，俺答入寇，守謙率師倍道入援。帝聞其至，甚喜，令營崇文門外。會副總兵朱楫，參將祝福、馮登亦各以兵至，人心稍安。寇遊騎散掠枯柳諸村，去京城二十里。守謙及楫等兵移營東直門外。詔同仇鸞調度京城及各路援兵，相機戰守。

In the twenty-ninth year he was promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief, Grand Coordinator of Baoding with supervision of Zijing passes. When he left his post the whole city wept; some followed him hundreds of li. Soon Altan invaded; Shouqian led his army at double speed to aid the capital. Hearing he had arrived, the emperor was pleased and ordered him to encamp outside Chongwen Gate. Vice Commander Zhu Ji and Battalion Commanders Zhu Fu and Feng Deng arrived; popular sentiment calmed somewhat. Raider cavalry plundered Koliu and other villages twenty li from the capital. Shouqian and Ji moved camps outside Dongzhimen. An edict ordered them with Qiu Luan to coordinate capital and relief troops.

寇薄都城，諸將高秉元、徐鏞等禦之，不能卻。帝拜鸞大將軍，進守謙兵部右侍郎，協同提督內外諸軍事。鸞時自孤山還，至東直門觀望，斬死人首六級，報功。守謙孤軍薄俺答營，而陣無後繼，不敢戰。帝聞不悅。而尚書丁汝夔慮喪師，戒勿輕戰。諸將離城遠，見守謙不戰，亦堅壁，輒引汝夔及守謙為辭。流聞禁中，帝益怒。

When raiders pressed the capital, Generals Gao Bingyuan and Xu Yong could not repel them. The emperor made Luan grand general and promoted Shouqian to Vice Minister of War to jointly supervise military affairs. Luan returned from Gushan to Dongzhimen, beheaded six corpses, and reported merit. Shouqian led a lone army near Altan's camp but had no reserve and dared not fight. The emperor heard with displeasure. Minister Ding Rukui, fearing defeat, warned against light battle. Generals far from the city, seeing Shouqian not fight, held their walls and cited Rukui and Shouqian. Rumors reached the palace and the emperor grew angrier.

初，寇抵安定門，詔守謙與楫等合擊，莫敢前。守謙亦委無部檄，第申儆備。寇遂毀城外廬舍。城西北隅火光燭天，內臣園宅在焉，環泣帝前，稱將帥為文臣制，故寇得至此。帝怒曰：「守謙擁眾自全，朕親降旨趣戰，何得以部檄為解。」寇退，遂執守謙與汝夔廷鞫之。坐失誤軍機，即日戮於市。守謙臨刑時，慨然曰：「臣以勤王反獲罪，讒賊之口實蔽聖聰。皇天後土知臣此心，死何恨。」邊陲吏士知守謙死，無不流涕者。

When raiders reached Anding Gate, an edict ordered Shouqian and Ji to attack; none advanced. Shouqian pleaded lack of ministry dispatch and only reported heightened preparedness. The raiders destroyed outer buildings. Fire lit the northwest corner where eunuchs' gardens lay; they wept before the emperor, blaming civil officials for restraining generals. The emperor said angrily: "Shouqian preserves himself; I personally ordered battle—how can he cite lack of ministry dispatch? When raiders withdrew, Shouqian and Rukui were tried at court. Convicted of mishandling military affairs, they were executed that day. At execution Shouqian said: "I came to aid the throne yet am punished; slander blinds the sage ear. Heaven and earth know my heart; I die without regret. Frontier officials and soldiers all wept at Shouqian's death.

守謙坦易無城府，馭下多恩意。守官廉，位至開府，蕭然若寒士。然性遲重，客有勸之戰者，應曰：「周亞夫何人乎？」客曰：「公誤矣，今日何得比漢法？」守謙不納，竟得罪。隆慶初，贈兵部尚書，謚恪湣。

Shouqian was open and without hidden designs; he showed much kindness to subordinates. Incorrupt in office, though grand coordinator, he lived plainly as a poor scholar. Yet he was slow by nature; when urged to fight he asked: "Who was Zhou Yafu? The guest said: "You are mistaken—today cannot be compared to Han law." Shouqian would not accept and ultimately suffered punishment. At the beginning of Longqing he was posthumously made Minister of War with posthumous name Kemin.

商大節，字孟堅，鐘祥人。嘉靖二年進士。授豐城知縣。始為築城，捕境內盜幾盡。擢兵科給事中。京察竣，復命科道互相劾，被謫鹽城縣丞。三遷刑部郎中，出為廣東僉事。搗海南叛黎巢，增秩，賜金幣。累官山東按察使。擢右僉都御史，巡撫保定兼提督紫刑諸關。慮俺答內侵，疏請重根本，護神京。居四年，召理院事。俺答果大舉薄都城。詔城中居民及四方入應武舉者悉登陴守，以大節率五城御史統之。發帑金五千兩，命便宜募壯士。屢條上軍民急務。比寇退，復命兼管民兵，經略京城內外。訓練鼓舞，軍容甚壯。擢右副都御史，經略如故。所募民兵已四千，請以三等授餉。上者月二石，其次遞減五鬥。帝亟從之。

Shang Dajie, whose style was Mengjian, came from Zhongxiang. He passed the metropolitan examination in the second year of Jiajing. He was appointed magistrate of Fengcheng. He first built the city wall and captured nearly all local bandits. He was promoted to supervising secretary in the military section. After the capital evaluation, censorial officials impeached one another; he was demoted to assistant magistrate of Yancheng. After three promotions he became bureau director in the Ministry of Punishments and vice commissioner of Guangdong. He destroyed rebel Li nests in Hainan, received increased rank, and gold and silks. He rose to surveillance commissioner of Shandong. He was promoted to Right Censor-in-Chief, Grand Coordinator of Baoding with supervision of Zijing passes. Fearing Altan's invasion, he memorialized to strengthen foundations and protect the capital. After four years he was summoned to manage court affairs. Altan did raid in force and press the capital. An edict ordered residents and examination candidates onto the walls; Dajie led five-city censors to command them. Five thousand taels were issued for recruiting warriors at discretion. He repeatedly submitted urgent matters for army and people. When raiders withdrew he was ordered to manage militia inside and outside the capital. Through training and encouragement, military appearance was imposing. He was promoted to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief with oversight unchanged. Militia recruited numbered four thousand; he requested three grades of pay. The highest received two shi monthly, the next decreasing by five dou. The emperor quickly approved.

仇鸞為大將軍，盡統中外兵馬，惡大節獨為一軍，不受其節制，欲困之。乃請畫地分守，以京師四郊委大節。大節言：「臣雖經略京城，實非有重兵專戰守責者也。京城四郊利害，鸞欲專以臣當。臣節制者，止巡捕軍，鸞又頻調遣，奸宄猝發，誰為捍禦哉？」所爭甚晰，而帝方寵鸞，不欲人撓其事，責大節懷奸避難，立下詔獄。法司希旨，當大節斬。嚴嵩言：「大節誠有罪，但法司引律非是。幸赦其死，戍極邊。」亦不聽。時三十年四月也。

Qiu Luan as grand general controlled all troops and hated Dajie's independent army, wishing to trap him. He requested demarcated defense, assigning the capital's four suburbs to Dajie. Dajie said: "Though I oversee the capital, I have no heavy troops with sole battle responsibility. Luan wishes to assign all risks of the four suburbs to me. I command only patrol troops, yet Luan requisitions them—when trouble arises, who defends? His argument was clear, but the emperor favored Luan; he blamed Dajie for evasion and imprisoned him. Judicial offices curried favor and sentenced Dajie to execution. Yan Song said: "Dajie is guilty, but the statutes cited are incorrect. I beg mercy—banish him to the remotest frontier." This was also rejected. This was the fourth month of the thirtieth year.

明年八月，鸞死，大節故部曲石鏜、孫九思等數百人伏闕訟冤，章再上。兵部侍郎張時徹等言：「大節為逆鸞制肘，以抵於法，乞順群情赦之。」帝怒，鐫時徹二秩。明年竟卒於獄。隆慶初，復故官，贈兵部尚書，謚端湣。

The next year Luan died; Dajie's former troops knelt at the palace gate pleading injustice. Vice Minister Zhang Shiche said Dajie was constrained by Luan and begged pardon. The emperor was angry and reduced Shiche two grades. The next year Dajie died in prison. At the beginning of Longqing his office was restored; he was posthumously made Minister of War with posthumous name Duanmin.

王忬，字民應，太倉人。父倬，南京兵部右侍郎，以謹厚稱。忬登嘉靖二十年進士，授行人，遷御史。皇太子出閣，疏以武宗居青宮為戒。又劾罷東廠太監宋興。出視河東鹽政，以疾歸。已，起按湖廣，復按順天。

Wang Yu, whose style was Minying, came from Taicang. His father Zhuo was Right Vice Minister of War at Nanjing, known for prudence and honesty. Yu passed the metropolitan examination in the twentieth year of Jiajing, served as courier, then censor. When the crown prince left the palace school, he warned against repeating Emperor Wuzong's conduct in the Eastern Palace. He also impeached and removed Eastern Depot eunuch Song Xing. He inspected salt administration in Hedong and returned home ill. Later he inspected Huguang and again Shuntian.

二十九年，俺答大舉犯古北口。忬奏言潮河川有徑道，一日夜可達通州。因疾馳至通為守禦計，盡徙舟楫之在東岸者。夜半，寇果大至。不得渡，遂壁於河東。帝密遣中使覘軍，見忬方厲士乘城。還奏，帝大喜。副都御史王儀守通州，御史姜廷頤劾其不職，忬亦言儀縱士卒虐大同軍。大同軍者，仇鸞兵也。帝立命逮儀，而超擢忬右僉都御史代之。寇退，忬請振難民，築京師外郭，修通州城，築張家灣大小二堡，置沿河敵臺。皆報可。尋罷通州、易州守禦大臣，召忬還。

In the twenty-ninth year Altan raided in force at Gubeikou. Yu memorialized that Chaohe River had a shortcut reaching Tongzhou in a day and night. Despite illness he hurried to Tongzhou to prepare defenses and moved all boats on the east bank. At midnight the raiders arrived in force. Unable to cross, they encamped east of the river. The emperor sent a palace agent to observe and saw Yu encouraging soldiers on the wall. On reporting back the emperor was greatly pleased. Wang Yi guarded Tongzhou; Censor Jiang Tingyi impeached him, and Yu said Yi allowed soldiers to abuse Datong troops. They were Qiu Luan's soldiers. The emperor ordered Yi arrested and abruptly promoted Yu to Right Censor-in-Chief in his place. When raiders withdrew, Yu requested refugee relief, outer capital walls, Tongzhou repairs, Zhangjiawan forts, and river beacons—all approved. All were approved. Soon defending ministers of Tongzhou and Yizhou were dismissed and Yu recalled.

三十一年出撫山東。甫三月，以浙江倭寇亟，命忬提督軍務，巡視浙江及福、興、漳、泉四府。先後上方略十二事，任參將俞大猷、湯克寬，又奏釋參將尹鳳、盧鏜系。賊犯溫州，克寬破之。其據昌國衛者，為大猷擊退。而賊首汪直復糾島倭及漳、泉群盜連巨艦百余蔽海至，濱海數千里同告警。上海及南匯、吳淞、乍浦、蓁嶼諸所皆陷，蘇、松、寧、紹諸衛所州縣被焚掠者二十余。留內地三月，飽而去。忬乃言將士逐毀其船五十余艘。於是先所奪文武將吏俸，皆得復。尋以給事王國禎言，改巡撫。忬方視師閩中，賊復大至，犯浙江，盧鏜等頻失利。御史趙炳然劾其罪，帝特宥忬，忬因請築嘉善、崇德、桐鄉、德清、慈溪、奉化、象山城，而恤被寇諸府。

In the thirty-first year he became Grand Coordinator of Shandong. After three months, Japanese pirates in Zhejiang grew urgent; Yu was ordered to supervise military affairs in Zhejiang and four Fujian prefectures. He submitted twelve strategies, entrusted Yu Dayou and Tang Kekuan, and memorialized release of Yin Feng and Lu Zhen. When bandits struck Wenzhou, Kekuan defeated them. Those at Changguo Guard were driven off by Dayou. Leader Wang Zhi gathered island Japanese and pirates with more than a hundred great ships; thousands of li of coast were alarmed. Shanghai, Nanhui, Wusong, and more than twenty prefectures and counties of Su, Song, Ning, and Shao were seized and burned. They remained inland three months, sated, and departed. Yu reported officers and soldiers had destroyed more than fifty ships. Salaries of officials previously seized were restored. Soon, on Wang Guozhen's recommendation, he became grand coordinator. Yu was directing troops in Fujian when bandits struck Zhejiang again; Lu Zhen suffered repeated defeats. Censor Zhao Bingran impeached him; the emperor pardoned Yu, who requested walls at seven counties and relief for raided prefectures.

時已遣尚書張經總督諸軍。大同適中寇，督撫蘇祐、侯鉞俱被逮，乃進忬右副都御史，巡撫大同。秋防事竣，就加兵部右侍郎。薊遼總督楊博還朝，即移忬代之。尋進右都御史。忬言：「騎兵利平地，步兵利險阻。今薊鎮畫地守，請去他郡防秋馬兵八千，易之以步，歲省銀五萬六千余兩。」從之。打來孫十余萬騎深入廣寧諸處，總兵官殷尚質等戰歿。忬停俸三月。未幾，打來孫復以十萬騎屯青城，分遣精騎犯一片石、三道關。總兵官歐陽安拒卻之。事聞，賚銀幣。把都兒等犯遷安，副總兵蔣承勛戰死。降忬兵部侍郎，留任。

Minister Zhang Jing had been dispatched as grand coordinator. Datong was raided and coordinators Su You and Hou Yue arrested; Yu was promoted to Grand Coordinator of Datong. When autumn defense ended he was made Vice Minister of War. Yang Bo returned to court and Yu replaced him as Grand Coordinator of Ji and Liao. Soon he was promoted to Right Censor-in-Chief. Yu said: "Cavalry excel on level ground; infantry excel in difficult terrain. I request removing eight thousand autumn-defense cavalry from other prefectures for infantry, saving fifty-six thousand taels yearly. This was approved. Dalai Sun led more than a hundred thousand horsemen into Guangning; Yin Shangzhi died in battle. Yu's salary was suspended three months. Dalai Sun again encamped at Qingcheng with a hundred thousand horsemen, sending elite cavalry against Yipianshi and Sandao Pass. Regional Commander Ouyang An repelled them. Silver and silks were bestowed. Badu'er violated Qian'an; Vice Commander Jiang Chengxun died in battle. Yu was demoted to Vice Minister of War but retained his post.

初，帝器忬才，甚眷之。及所部屢失事，則以為不足辦寇，諭嚴嵩與兵部計防守之宜。嵩奏流河口邊墻有缺，故寇乘之入，宜大修邊墻。且令忬選補額兵，操練戰守，不得專恃他鎮援兵。部條六事，如嵩指。帝乃下詔責忬，赦其罪，實主兵，減客兵，如議。於是練兵之議起。時寇別部入沈陽，有鄉兵金仲良者擒其長討賴。忬賚銀幣，官仲良三級。防秋畢，復忬官。尋復用沈陽卻寇功，蔭一子。已而寇復入遼陽，副總兵王重祿敗績。御史周斯盛以聞。帝置忬不問，治他將吏如律。

Earlier the emperor valued Yu's talent and favored him greatly. After repeated failures he was deemed insufficient; Yan Song and the Ministry of War were instructed on defense. Song said the wall at Liukou had gaps and should be greatly repaired. Yu was to fill allotted troops and drill them, not rely solely on relief troops. The ministry submitted six items as Song directed. The emperor blamed Yu, pardoned him, made allotted troops primary and guest troops secondary. Thereupon drilling allotted troops was discussed. A band entered Shenyang; militiaman Jin Zhongliang captured leader Tolai. Yu received silver and silks; Zhongliang was promoted three grades. When autumn defense ended Yu's office was restored. Soon hereditary privilege for one son was granted for repelling Shenyang raiders. Raiders again entered Liaoyang and Vice Commander Wang Chonglu was defeated. Censor Zhou Sisheng reported this. The emperor left Yu unpunished and punished other officers.

初，帝從楊博言，命薊鎮入衛兵聽宣大調遣。忬言：「古北諸口無險可守，獨恃入衛卒護陵京，奈何聽調發？」帝怒曰：「曩令薊鎮練兵，今一卒不練，遇防秋輒調他鎮兵，兵部詳議以聞。」部臣言：「薊鎮額兵多缺，宜察補」。乃遣郎中唐順之往核。還奏額兵九萬有奇，今惟五萬七千，又皆羸老。忬與總兵官安、巡撫馬珮及諸將袁正等，俱宜按治。乃降忬俸二級。帝因問嵩：「邊兵入衛，舊制乎？」嵩曰：「祖宗時無調邊兵入內地者。正德中劉六猖獗，始調許泰、郤永領邊兵討賊。庚戌之變，仇鸞選邊兵十八支護陵京，未用以守薊鎮。至何棟始借二支防守，忬始盡調邊兵守要害，去歲又征全遼士馬入關，致寇乘虛入犯，遼左一空。若年復一年，調發不已，豈惟糜餉，更有他憂。」帝由是惡忬甚。逾月，寇犯清河，總兵官楊照禦之，斬首八百余級。越四日，土蠻十萬騎薄界嶺口，副將馬芳拒卻之。明日，敵騎二百奔還，芳及安俘斬四十級。忬猶被賚。

Earlier the emperor ordered Ji interior-defense troops to obey Xuan and Da dispatch. Yu said: "Gubei passes have no terrain to defend; we rely on interior-defense troops for tombs and capital—how can they be dispatched? The emperor angrily said: "I ordered Ji to drill troops; none are drilled, and other garrisons are always called—the ministry shall report." Ministry officials said Ji allotted troops were deficient and should be filled. Bureau Director Tang Shunzhi was sent to verify. He reported allotted troops should exceed ninety thousand; only fifty-seven thousand weak and old remained. Yu, An, Ma Pei, and Yuan Zheng should all be punished. Yu's salary was reduced two grades. The emperor asked Song: "Is dispatching frontier troops interior an old institution? Song said: "Ancestrally frontier troops were never dispatched inland. In Zhengde when Liu Six was rampant, Xu Tai and Xi Yong were first dispatched inland. In the gengxu crisis Qiu Luan selected eighteen detachments for tombs and capital. He Dong borrowed two detachments; Yu dispatched all frontier troops; last year all Liaodong troops were summoned inside, leaving the frontier empty. If dispatch continues yearly, provisions will be wasted and other troubles arise. The emperor thereby hated Yu greatly. A month later raiders violated Qinghe; Yang Zhao took more than eight hundred heads. Four days later Tumen led a hundred thousand horsemen to Jieling Pass; Ma Fang repelled them. The next day two hundred enemy horsemen fled; Fang and An beheaded forty. Yu still received rewards.

三十八年二月，把都兒、辛愛數部屯會州，挾朵顏為鄉導，將西入，聲言東。忬遽引兵東。寇乃以其間由潘家口入，渡灤河而西，大掠遵化、遷安、薊州、玉田，駐內地五日，京師大震。御史王漸、方輅遂劾忬、安及巡撫王輪罪。帝大怒，斥安，貶輪於外，切責忬，令停俸自效。至五月，輅復劾忬失策者三，可罪者四，遂命逮忬及中軍遊擊張倫下詔獄。刑部論忬戍邊，帝手批曰：「諸將皆斬，主軍令者顧得附輕典耶？」改論斬。明年冬，竟死西市。

In the second month of the thirty-eighth year Badu'er and Xin'ai encamped at Huizhou, using Tumed guides, feinting east while entering west. Yu hastily led troops east. Raiders entered through Panjiakou, crossed the Luan west, plundered Zunhua, Qian'an, Jizhou, and Yutian five days—the capital shook. Censors Wang Jian and Fang Lu impeached Yu, An, and Wang Lun. The emperor dismissed An, demoted Lun, blamed Yu, and suspended his salary. By the fifth month Lu impeached Yu again; Yu and Zhang Lun were arrested. The ministry sentenced banishment; the emperor wrote: "All generals are beheaded—shall the commander receive a light sentence? The sentence was changed to execution. The next winter he was executed at the West Market.

忬才本通敏。其驟拜都御史，及屢更督撫也，皆帝特簡，所建請無不從。為總督數以敗聞，由是漸失寵。既有言不練主兵者，益大恚，謂：「忬怠事，負我。」嵩雅不悅忬。而忬子世貞復用口語積失歡於嵩子世蕃。嚴氏客又數以世貞家瑣事構於嵩父子。楊繼盛之死，世貞又經紀其喪，嵩父子大恨。灤河變聞，遂得行其計。穆宗即位，世貞與弟世懋伏闕訟冤。復故官，予恤。

Yu's talent was keen and versatile. His abrupt promotions were imperial selections; his proposals were never refused. As grand coordinator he was repeatedly defeated and gradually lost favor. When told allotted troops were not drilled he grew angrier, saying Yu had failed him. Song had long disliked Yu. Yu's son Shizhen also angered Shifan through sharp words. Yan clients repeatedly framed the Wang household before father and son. At Yang Jisheng's death Shizhen arranged the funeral; the Yans hated this deeply. When news of the Luan River disaster arrived, they carried out their plan. When the Longqing Emperor ascended the throne, Shizhen and his brother Shimao knelt at the palace gate pleading injustice. His former office was restored and consolation granted.

楊選，字以公，章丘人。嘉靖二十三年進士。授行人。擢御史，遷易州兵備副使。俺答圍大同右衛，巡撫朱笈被逮，超拜選右僉都御史代之。與侍郎江東、總兵官張承勛解其圍。憂歸，再起，仍故職。四十年擢總督薊遼副都御史。條上封疆極弊十五事，多從其請。以居庸岔道卻敵功，進兵部右侍郎。

Yang Xuan, whose style was Yigong, came from Zhangqiu. He passed the metropolitan examination in the twenty-third year of Jiajing. He was appointed courier. He was promoted to censor, then vice commissioner for military preparedness at Yizhou. When Altan besieged Datong Right Guard and Zhu Ji was arrested, Xuan was abruptly promoted to replace him. With Vice Minister Jiang Dong and Regional Commander Zhang Chengxun he relieved the siege. He returned for mourning, was recalled, and resumed his former post. In the fortieth year he was promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief, Grand Coordinator of Ji and Liao. He submitted fifteen items on frontier abuses; most were granted. For repelling the enemy at the Juyong side road he was promoted to Vice Minister of War.

明年五月，古北口守將遣哨卒山塞，朵顏衛掠其四人。部長通漢叩關索賞，副總兵胡鎮執之，並縛其黨十余人。通漢子懼，擁所執哨卒至墻下，請易其父。通漢者，辛愛妻義父也，選欲以牽制辛愛，要其子入質，乃遣還父。自是諸子叠為質，半歲而代。選馳疏以聞，自詡方略。選及巡撫徐紳等俱受賞。

In the fifth month of the following year, scouts beyond Juyong were seized by Tumed Guard. Chief Tonghan sought reward at the pass; Hu Zhen arrested him and bound more than ten followers. Tonghan's son brought seized scouts to the wall to exchange for his father. Tonghan was Xin'ai's wife's adoptive father; Xuan demanded the son as hostage before returning the father. Thereafter sons served as hostages in rotation every half year. Xuan hurriedly memorialized and praised his own strategy. Xuan, Xu Shen, and others all received rewards.

十月丁卯，辛愛與把都兒等大舉自墻子嶺、磨刀峪潰墻入犯，京師戒嚴。帝大驚，諭閣臣徐階曰：「朕東見火光，此賊去京不遠，其令兵部諭諸軍並力剿逐。」明日，選以寇東遁聞，為將士祈賞。帝疑，以問階。對曰：「寇營尚在平谷，選等往通州矣，謂追殺者，妄也。」帝銜之。寇稍東，大掠三河、順義，圍諸將傅津等於鄭官屯。選遣副將胡鎮偕總兵官孫臏、遊擊趙溱擊之。臏、溱戰歿，鎮力戰得脫。寇留內地八日不退。紿事中李瑜遂劾選、紳與副使盧鎰，參將馮詔、胡粲，遊擊嚴瞻等，俱逮下詔獄。又二日，寇始北去，京師解嚴。

On dingmao of the tenth month Xin'ai and Badu'er broke through Qiangziling and Modaoyu; the capital was placed under martial alert. The emperor told Xu Jie: "I see firelight east—the raiders are near; order all armies to pursue together. The next day Xuan reported raiders fled east and requested rewards. The emperor was suspicious and asked Jie. Jie replied: "The camp is still at Pinggu; Xuan is at Tongzhou—the pursuit claim is false. The emperor bore a grudge. Raiders moved east, plundered Sanhe and Shunyi, and besieged Fu Jin at Zhengguan Village. Xuan dispatched Hu Zhen with Sun Bin and Zhao Qin to attack. Bin and Qin died in battle; Zhen escaped. Raiders remained inland eight days without withdrawing. Li Yu impeached Xuan, Shen, Lu Yi, Feng Zhao, Hu Can, and Yan Zhan; all were arrested. Two days later raiders withdrew north and the alert was lifted.

初，諜者言寇將窺墻子嶺，部檄嚴待之，而三衛為寇導者紿選赴潘家口。寇已入，選、紳懼得罪，徑趨都城，屯東直門外，旋還通州。及遣鎮等禦，又不勝。內侍家薊西者，嘩言通漢父子實召寇。帝入其言，益怒。法司坐選、紳、詔守備不設律斬，鎰等戍。帝諭錦衣朱希孝坐以縱通漢勾賊罪，復下選詔獄。選不承，止承質通漢父子事，且言事已上聞。希孝錄其語上，刑部如帝指論選死。即戳於市，梟其首示邊，妻子流二千里。紳論死系獄，詔及鎰等戍邊。帝雖怒選甚，但欲誅其身，法司乃並坐其妻子。隆慶初，始釋還。

Spies warned of Qiangziling, but three guards guiding raiders deceived Xuan toward Panjiakou. After raiders entered, Xuan and Shen hurried to the capital, encamped at Dongzhimen, then Tongzhou. When Zhen was sent to resist, he again could not win. Eunuchs from west of Ji claimed Tonghan father and son summoned the raiders. The emperor believed this and grew angrier. Judicial offices sentenced Xuan, Shen, and Zhao to death; Yi and others to banishment. The emperor ordered Zhu Xixiao to convict for indulging Tonghan and sent Xuan to prison again. Xuan confessed only to holding Tonghan hostage, saying it had been reported. Xixiao recorded his words; the ministry sentenced death as directed. He was executed, his head displayed on the frontier, wife and children exiled two thousand li. Shen was sentenced to death and imprisoned; Zhao and Yi were banished. Though the emperor wished only to kill Xuan, the judicial offices implicated wife and children. At the beginning of Longqing they were released.

贊曰：世宗威柄自操，用重典以繩臣下，而弄權者借以行其私。於是賜阘冗廢職之徒事敗伏辜，而出力任事之臣亦中危法受戮，邊臣不得自展布，而武備綍矣。陳九疇、翟鵬、孫繼魯、曾銑皆可用之才，或謫或死，不以其罪。銑復套之議甚偉。然權臣當軸，而敵勢方強，雖頗、牧烏能有為？丁汝夔之戮，於法誠不為過。然戎律之弛，有由來矣，而汝夔獨蒙其咎。王忬、楊選於邊備甚疏，宜不免雲。

The commentator says: Emperor Shizong wielded authority himself, using severe law to bind officials, while power-players pursued private ends. Thus worthless failures were punished while meritorious servants were executed; frontier officials could not act and military preparedness declined. Chen Jiuchou, Di Peng, Sun Jilu, and Ceng Xian were usable talents, yet were demoted or died undeservedly. Xian's proposal to recover the Ordos was grand. Yet with powerful ministers in power and the enemy strong, could even Pian and Mu accomplish anything? Ding Rukui's execution was not unjust by law. Yet military law had long been slackening, and Rukui alone bore the blame. Wang Yu and Yang Xuan were lax in frontier defense and could hardly escape blame.

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