1
楊最 〈（顧存仁高金王納言）〉 馮恩 〈（子行可時可宋邦輔薛宗鎧會翀）〉 楊爵 〈（浦鋐周天佐）〉 周怡劉魁沈束沈煉楊繼盛 〈（何光裕龔愷）〉 楊允繩 〈（馬從謙孫允中狄斯彬）〉
Yang Zui (Gu Cunren, Gao Jin, Wang Nayin))〉 Feng En (Zixing, Keshi, Song Bangfu, Xue Zongkai, Hui Chong))〉 Yang Jue (Pu Qian, Zhou Tianzuo))〉 Zhou Yi, Liu Kui, Shen Shu, Shen Lian, Yang Jisheng (He Guangyu, Gong Kai))〉 Yang Yunchang (Ma Congqian, Sun Yunzhong, Di Sibin))〉
2
楊最，字殿之，射洪人。 正德十二年進士。 授工部主事。 督逋山西，憫其民貧，不俟奏報輒返。 尚書李鐩劾之，有詔復往。 最乃與巡按御史牛天麟極陳歲災民困狀，請緩其徵。 從之。
Yang Zui, styled Dianzhi, was from Shehong. He passed the jinshi examination in the twelfth year of Zhengde. He was appointed a secretary in the Ministry of Works. While supervising the collection of tax arrears in Shanxi, he took pity on the poverty of the people and returned without waiting for memorial approval. Minister Li Yong impeached him, and an edict ordered him to return. Zui then joined the touring censor Niu Tianlin in urgently describing the year's disasters and the people's hardship, and asked that collections be eased. The court agreed.
3
歷郎中，治水淮、揚。 值世宗即位，上言：「寶應氾光湖西南高，東北下。 運舟行湖中三十餘里。 而東北堤岸不逾三尺，雨霪風厲，輒沖決，陰壞運舟，監城、興化、通、泰良田悉遭其害。 宜如往年白圭修築高郵康濟湖，專敕大臣加修內河，培舊堤為外障，可百年無患，是為上策。 其次於緣河樹杙數重，稍障風波，而增舊堤，毋使庳薄，亦足支數年。 若但窒隙補闕，茍冀無事，一遇霪潦，蕩為巨浸，是為無策。」 部議用其中策焉。 出為寧波知府。 請罷浙東貢幣，詔悉以銀充，民以為便。 累遷貴州按察使，入為太仆卿。
He rose to serve as a bureau director and oversaw water control in the Huai and Yang regions. When the Shizong Emperor came to the throne, he memorialized: "The southwest of Baoying's Fan'guang Lake is high and the northeast low. Grain transports sail more than thirty li across the lake. Yet the northeastern dikes are barely three feet high; when rains pour and winds blow hard they are always breached, quietly wrecking transport boats, and the fine farmland of Jianchang, Xinghua, Tongzhou, and Taizhou all suffer. As in former years when Bai Gui built up Kangji Lake at Gaoyou, a special edict should commission a senior minister to strengthen the inner channel and raise the old dikes as an outer barrier, giving a century without trouble—this would be the best plan. Next best would be to plant several rows of piles along the river to check wind and waves somewhat, and raise the old dikes so they are not low and thin—enough to last several years. If one only plugs leaks and patches gaps, hoping vainly for peace, then when heavy floods come everything is swept into a vast inundation—that is no policy at all." The ministry deliberated and adopted the middle course. He was appointed prefect of Ningbo. He asked that Zhedong tribute coin be abolished; an edict ordered payment entirely in silver, which the people welcomed. He was promoted in turn to surveillance commissioner of Guizhou and then entered the capital as Director of the Imperial Studs.
4
世宗好神仙。 給事中顧存仁、高金、王納言皆以直諫得罪。 會方士段朝用者，以所煉白金器百余因郭勛以進，雲以盛飲食物，供齋醮，即神仙可致也。 帝立召與語，大悅。 朝用言：帝深居無與外人接，則黃金可成，不死藥可得。 帝益悅，諭廷臣令太子監國，「朕少假一二年，親政如初。」 舉朝愕不敢言。 最抗疏諫曰：「陛下春秋方壯，乃聖諭及此，不過得一方士，欲服食求神仙耳。 神仙乃山棲澡練者所為，豈有高居黃屋紫闥，袞衣玉食，而能白日翀舉者？ 臣雖至愚，不敢奉詔。」 帝大怒，立下詔獄，重杖之，杖未畢而死。
The Shizong Emperor was devoted to immortals. The supervising secretaries Gu Cunren, Gao Jin, and Wang Nayin had all been punished for forthright remonstrance. At this time a Daoist named Duan Chaoyong presented more than a hundred vessels of refined white gold through Guo Xun, saying that if food and drink were kept in them for ritual offerings, immortals could be summoned. The Emperor immediately summoned him to talk and was greatly pleased. Chaoyong said that if the Emperor lived in seclusion without meeting outsiders, yellow gold could be made and the elixir of immortality obtained. The Emperor was still more pleased and told the court to have the heir apparent supervise the realm: "I shall withdraw for a year or two, then govern in person as before." The whole court was stunned and dared not speak. Zui submitted a bold memorial of remonstrance: "Your Majesty is still in the prime of life, yet Your sagely words have come to this—nothing but hearing one Daoist and wishing to take elixirs and seek immortality. Immortals are what mountain recluses who bathe and refine themselves become—how could one who sits high in the yellow canopy and purple gates, clad in dragon robes and fed on jade dishes, soar aloft in broad daylight? Though I am most foolish, I dare not obey such an edict." The Emperor was furious, had him thrown into the imperial prison, and heavily caned him; before the beating was finished he died.
5
最既死，監國議亦罷。 明年，勛以罪瘐死。 朝用詐偽覺，亦伏誅。 隆慶元年，贈最右副都御史，謚忠節。
After Zui's death, the plan for the heir to supervise the realm was also dropped. The next year Xun died of illness while under accusation. Chaoyong's fraud was exposed and he too was put to death. In the first year of Longqing, Zui was posthumously made Right Vice Censor-in-Chief with the posthumous title Loyal Integrity.
6
高金，石州人。 為兵科給事中。 嘉靖九年上疏言：「陛下臨禦之初，盡斥法王、國師、佛子，近又黜姚廣孝配享。 臣每嘆大聖人作為，千古莫及。 乃有真人邵元節者，誤蒙殊恩，為聖德累。 夫元節，一道流耳。 有勞，優以金帛足矣，乃加崇秩，復賜其師李得晟贈祭。 廣孝不可配享於太廟，則二人益不可拜寵於聖朝。 望削元節真人號，並奪得晟恩恤，庶異端辟、正道昌。」 帝方欲受長生術，大怒，立下詔獄拷掠。 終以其言直，釋之。 尋偕御史唐愈賢稽核禦用監財物，劾奉禦李興等侵蝕狀，置諸獄。 後累官蘇州兵備副使。
Gao Jin was from Shizhou. He served as a supervising secretary in the Bureau of War. In the ninth year of Jiajing he memorialized: "When Your Majesty first took the throne, you dismissed the Dharma Kings, State Preceptors, and Buddha-sons; recently you also removed Yao Guangxiao from the sacrificial accompaniments. I have often marveled that the acts of a great sage are unmatched in a thousand years. Yet there is the Perfected Man Shao Yuanjie, who has been wrongly showered with extraordinary favor and has become a stain on Your sagely virtue. Yuanjie is only a Daoist priest. If he has merit, rewarding him with gold and silk is enough; yet he was given exalted rank, and his teacher Li Desheng was also granted posthumous sacrifices. If Guangxiao may not share sacrifice in the Grand Temple, these two are even less fit to receive imperial favor in this holy dynasty. I beg that Yuanjie's title of Perfected Man be stripped and Desheng's favors withdrawn, so heterodox ways may be barred and the correct Way flourish." The Emperor was just then wishing to receive arts of long life; furious, he had Jin thrown into the imperial prison and tortured. In the end, because his words were forthright, he was released. Soon, together with Censor Tang Yuxian, he audited the assets of the Imperial Workshop Directorate and impeached Palace Attendant Li Xing and others for embezzlement, putting them in prison. He later rose to serve as military intendant vice commissioner at Suzhou.
7
王納言，信陽人。 為戶科給事中。 請斥太常卿陳道瀛等，坐下詔獄，謫湖廣布政司照磨。 累官陜西僉事。
Wang Nayin was from Xinyang. He served as a supervising secretary in the Bureau of Revenue. He asked that Vice Minister of Rites Chen Daoyuan and others be dismissed; for this he was cast into the imperial prison and demoted to reviser in the Huguang Provincial Administration Commission. He rose in turn to assistant administration commissioner of Shaanxi.
8
馮恩，字子仁，松江華亭人。 幼孤，家貧，母吳氏親督教之。 比長，知力學。 除夜無米且雨，室盡濕，恩讀書床上自若。 登嘉靖五年進士，除行人。 出勞兩廣總督王守仁，遂執贄為弟子。
Feng En, styled Ziren, was from Huating in Songjiang. Orphaned young and poor, his mother Lady Wu personally supervised his education. When he grew up he devoted himself to study. On New Year's Eve there was no rice and it rained; the room was soaked through, yet En read on his bed as calmly as ever. He passed the jinshi in the fifth year of Jiajing and was appointed a courier. When he went out to convey congratulations to Governor-General Wang Shouren of the two Guangs, he presented himself as his disciple.
9
擢南京御史。 故事，御史有所執訊，不具獄以移刑部，刑部獄具，不復牒報。 恩請尚書仍報御史。 諸曹郎讙，謂御史屬吏我。 恩曰：「非敢然也。 欲知事本末，得相檢核耳。」 尚書無以難。 已，巡視上江。 指揮張紳殺人，立置之辟。 大計朝覲吏，南臺例先糾。 都御史汪鋐擅權，請如北臺，既畢事，始許論列。 恩與給事中林土元等疏爭之，得如故。
He was promoted to censor at Nanjing. By precedent, when a censor conducted an inquiry he did not submit a complete dossier on transfer to the Ministry of Justice; once the Ministry's prison records were complete, no further report was sent back. En asked that the minister still report to the censor. The bureau directors rejoiced, saying the censor was their subordinate. En said, "I do not presume so. I only wish to know how affairs began and ended, so they can be checked. The minister had no answer. Afterward he toured the upper Yangtze region. Commander Zhang Shen had killed a man; En immediately had him executed. At the great triennial assessment when officials came to court for audience, the southern censorate by precedent censured first. Censor-in-Chief Wang Ban monopolized power; En asked that, as on the northern board, censure be allowed only after business was finished. En and the supervising secretary Lin Tuyuan and others memorialized in protest and secured the former practice.
10
帝用閣臣議分建南北郊，且欲令皇后蠶北郊，詔廷臣各陳所見，而詔中屢斥異議者為邪徒。 恩上言：「人臣進言甚難，明詔令直諫，又詆之為邪徒，安所適從哉？ 此非陛下意，必左右奸佞欲信其說者陰詆之耳。 今士風日下，以緘默為老成，以謇諤為矯激，已難乎其忠直矣。 若預恐有異議，而逆詆之為邪，則必雷同附和，而後可也。 況天地合祀已百余年，豈宜輕改？ 《禮》：『男不言內，女不言外』。 皇后深居九重，豈宜遠出郊野？ 願速罷二議，毋為好事希寵者所誤。」 恩草疏時，自意得重譴。 乃疏奏，帝不之罪，恩於是益感奮。
The Emperor, following a memorial of the Grand Secretaries, ordered separate northern and southern suburban sacrifices and also wished to have the empress raise silkworms at the northern suburb; he issued an edict the court to state their views, while in the edict he repeatedly denounced dissenters as heterodox. En memorialized: "For ministers to speak out is very difficult: a bright edict calls for forthright remonstrance, yet also denounces dissent as heterodox—where are we to turn? This is not Your Majesty's intent; it must be treacherous minions at your side who wish their doctrine believed and secretly traduce others. Today the spirit of the scholar-officials declines daily: silence is taken for seasoned judgment and forthrightness for affectation—already it is hard to be loyal and straight. If dissent is foreseen and preemptively denounced as heterodox, then everyone must echo in agreement before speech is allowed. Moreover, Heaven and Earth have been sacrificed together for more than a century—how can this be lightly changed? The Rites say: "The man does not speak of inner affairs; the woman does not speak of outer affairs." The empress dwells deep within the palace—how should she go far out to the suburban wilds? I beg that both proposals be quickly abandoned, lest Your Majesty be misled by those who love novelty and crave favor." When En drafted this memorial he expected heavy punishment. Yet when the memorial was submitted the Emperor did not punish him, and En was all the more stirred to zeal.
11
十一年冬，彗星見，詔求直言。 恩以天道遠，人道邇，乃備指大臣邪正，謂：
In the winter of the eleventh year a comet appeared; an edict called for forthright speech. En held that though the Way of Heaven is distant, the Way of Man is near; he fully named the grand ministers as loyal or corrupt, saying:
12
大學士李時小心謙抑，解棼撥亂非其所長。 翟鑾附勢持祿，惟事模棱。 戶部尚書許贊謹厚和易，雖乏剸斷，不經之費必無。 禮部尚書夏言，多蓄之學，不羈之才，駕馭任之，庶幾救時宰相。 兵部尚書王憲剛直不屈，通達有為。 刑部尚書王時中進退昧幾，委靡不振。 工部尚書趙璜廉介自持，制節謹度。 吏部尚書左侍郎周用才學有余，直諒不足。 右侍郎許誥講論便捷，學術迂邪。 禮部左侍郎湛若水聚徒講學，素行未合人心。 右侍郎顧鼎臣警悟疏通，不局偏長，器足任重。 兵部左侍郎錢如京安靜有操守。 右侍郎黃宗時雖擅文學，因人成事。 刑部左侍郎聞淵存心正大，處事精詳，可寄以股肱。 右侍郎朱廷聲篤實不浮，謙約有守。 工部左侍郎黎奭滑稽淺近，才亦有為。 右侍郎林昂才器可取，通達不執。
Grand Secretary Li Shi is cautious and modest, but untangling confusion is not his strength. Zhai Luan clings to power and holds his salary, handling everything in a vague and noncommittal way. Minister of Revenue Xu Zan is careful, mild, and easygoing; though he lacks decisiveness, there will be no improper expenditures. Minister of Rites Xia Yan has accumulated learning and an unrestrained talent; if given the reins, he might nearly be a chancellor who could save the times. Minister of War Wang Xian is upright and unyielding, capable and effective. Minister of Punishments Wang Shizhong advances and retreats without discernment, listless and dispirited. Minister of Works Zhao Huang is incorruptible and self-restrained, regulating expenditures with care. Minister of Personnel and Left Vice Minister Zhou Yong has talent to spare but lacks forthrightness. Right Vice Minister Xu Gao is quick in discourse but his learning is pedantic and heterodox. Left Vice Minister of Rites Zhan Ruoshui gathers disciples to lecture; his conduct has never won hearts. Right Vice Minister Gu Dingchen is alert and penetrating, not confined to partial strengths, and his capacity suffices for heavy responsibility. Left Vice Minister of War Qian Rujing is quiet and has integrity. Right Vice Minister Huang Zongshi, though skilled in letters, achieves things through others. Left Vice Minister of Punishments Wen Yuan has an upright heart, handles affairs with precision, and may be entrusted as a right-hand man. Right Vice Minister Zhu Tingsheng is solid and not superficial, modest and self-restrained. Left Vice Minister of Works Li Shi is frivolous and shallow, yet his talent is also effective. Right Vice Minister Lin Ang has talent worth employing, is penetrating and not obstinate.
13
而極論大學士張孚敬、方獻夫，右都御史汪鋐三人之奸，謂：
And he spoke at length on the wickedness of Grand Secretaries Zhang Fuyi and Fang Xianfu and Right Censor-in-Chief Wang Ban, saying:
14
孚敬剛惡兇險，冒嫉反側。 近都給事中魏良弼已痛言之，不容復贅。 獻夫外飾謹厚，內實詐奸。 前在吏部，私鄉曲，報恩讎，靡所不至。 昨歲偽以病去，陛下遣使征之，禮意懇至。 彼方倨傲偃蹇，入山讀書，直俟傳旨別用，然後忻然就道。 夫以吏部尚書別用，非入閣而何？ 此獻夫之病所以痊也。 今又遣兼掌吏部，必將呼引朋類，播弄威福，不大壞國事不止。 若鋐，則如鬼如蜮，不可方物。 所仇惟忠良，所圖惟報復。 今日奏降某官，明日奏調某官，非其所憎惡則宰相之所憎惡也。 臣不意陛下寄鋐以腹心，而鋐逞奸務私乃至此極。 且都察院為綱紀之首。 陛下不早易之以忠厚正直之人，萬一御史銜命而出，效其鍥薄以希稱職，為天下生民害，可勝言哉！ 故臣謂孚敬，根本之彗也； 鋐，腹心之彗也； 獻夫，門庭之彗也。 三彗不去，百官不和，庶政不平，雖欲弭災，不可得已。
Fuyi is fierce, vicious, and treacherous, presumptuous, jealous, and contrary. Recently Supervising Secretary Wei Liangbi has already spoken bitterly of this; I need not repeat it. Xianfu outwardly displays caution and honesty but inwardly is deceitful and treacherous. Formerly in the Ministry of Personnel he favored fellow townsmen and repaid grudges and favors without limit. Last year he feigned illness and left office; Your Majesty sent envoys to summon him with earnest ritual courtesy. He was arrogant and difficult, went into the mountains to read books, and only when an edict summoned him for another appointment did he gladly take the road. For a Minister of Personnel to be appointed elsewhere—what could it be but entry into the Grand Secretariat? This is why Xianfu's illness was cured. Now he is again sent to administer the Ministry of Personnel concurrently; he is sure to summon his faction and wield power—he will not stop until he has gravely harmed state affairs. As for Ban, he is like a ghost or goblin, beyond classification. Those he hates are only the loyal and good; what he plots is only revenge. Today he memorializes to demote one official, tomorrow to transfer another—if not someone he detests, then someone the chief minister detests. Your servant did not expect Your Majesty to entrust Ban with your inmost heart, yet Ban has carried his treachery and private ends to this extreme. Moreover, the Censorate is the head of discipline. If Your Majesty does not soon replace him with a man of loyalty, honesty, and uprightness, should censors one day go forth on commission and imitate his harshness to win approval, bringing harm to the people of the realm—how can that be fully told? Therefore your servant says Fuyi is the comet at the root; Ban, the comet at the heart; Xianfu, the comet at the gate. Until these three comets are removed, the hundred officials will not be harmonious and the myriad policies will not be level; though you wish to quell disaster, it cannot be done.
15
帝得疏大怒，逮下錦衣獄，究主使名。 恩日受搒掠，瀕死者數，語卒不變。 惟言御史宋邦輔嘗過南京，談及朝政暨諸大臣得失。 遂並逮邦輔下獄，奪職。
When the Emperor received the memorial he was greatly enraged, had En arrested and thrown into the Brocade Guard prison, and investigated who had instigated him. En daily suffered beatings and several times neared death, yet his words never changed. He only said that Censor Song Bangfu had once passed through Nanjing and discussed court affairs and the merits and faults of the great ministers. Thereupon Bangfu was also arrested and thrown into prison and stripped of office.
16
明年春移恩刑部獄。 帝欲坐以上言大臣德政律，致之死。 尚書王時中等言：「恩疏毀譽相半，非專頌大臣，宜減戍。」 帝愈怒，曰：「恩非專指孚敬三臣也，徒以大禮故，仇君無上，死有余罪。 時中乃欲欺公鬻獄耶？」 遂褫時中職，奪侍郎聞淵俸，貶郎中張國維、員外郎孫雲極邊雜職，而恩竟論死。 長子行可年十三，伏闕訟冤。 日夜匍匐長安街，見冠蓋者過，輒攀輿號呼乞救，終無敢言者。 時鋐已遷吏部尚書，而王廷相代為都御史。 以恩所坐未當，疏請寬之，不聽。
The next spring En was moved to the Ministry of Punishments prison. The Emperor wished to convict him under the statute on praising the moral conduct of great ministers and cause his death. Minister Wang Shizhong and others said: "En's memorial is half praise and half censure, not exclusively praising great ministers; the penalty should be reduced to exile. The Emperor was still more enraged and said: "En did not refer only to the three ministers Fuyi and the rest; he merely used the Great Rites as a pretext, hating the ruler and lacking respect—death leaves guilt to spare. Does Shizhong wish to deceive the public and sell justice?" Thereupon Shizhong was stripped of office, Vice Minister Wen Yuan's salary was seized, Director Zhang Guowei and Vice Director Sun Yun were demoted to the most remote miscellaneous posts, and En was in the end sentenced to death. His eldest son Xingke, aged thirteen, prostrated himself at the palace gate to plead injustice. Day and night he crawled along Chang'an Street; whenever he saw an official carriage pass he would cling to it and cry out begging rescue, yet in the end no one dared speak. At this time Ban had already been transferred to Minister of Personnel, and Wang Tingxiang had replaced him as Censor-in-Chief. Holding that En's conviction was improper, he memorialized asking leniency, but was not heeded.
17
比朝審，鋐當主筆，東向坐，恩獨向闕跪。 鋐令卒拽之西面，恩起立不屈。 卒呵之，恩怒叱卒，卒皆靡。 鋐曰：「汝屢上疏欲殺我，我今先殺汝。」 恩叱曰：「聖天子在上，汝為大臣，欲以私怨殺言官耶？ 且此何地，而對百僚公言之，何無忌憚也！ 吾死為厲鬼擊汝。」 鋐怒曰：「汝以廉直自負，而獄中多受人餽遺，何也？」 恩曰：「患難相恤，古之義也。 豈若汝受金錢，鬻官爵耶？」 因歷數其事，詆鋐不已。 鋐益怒，推案起，欲毆之。 恩聲亦愈厲。 都御史王廷相、尚書夏言引大體為緩解。 鋐稍止，然猶署情真。 恩出長安門，士民觀者如堵。 皆嘆曰：「是御史，非但口如鐵，其膝、其膽、其骨皆鐵也。」 因稱「四鐵御史」。 恩母吳氏擊登聞鼓訟冤。 不省。
When the court review came, Ban was to preside with the brush, sitting facing east; En alone knelt toward the palace. Ban ordered runners to drag him to the west side; En stood up and would not yield. The runners shouted at him; En angrily shouted back at the runners, and they all shrank away. Ban said: "You repeatedly memorialized wishing to kill me; today I kill you first. En shouted back: "The sage Son of Heaven is above; you are a great minister—do you wish to kill a remonstrating official out of private resentment? And what place is this, that you speak thus before the hundred officials—how fearless! When I die I shall be a vengeful ghost and strike you." Ban angrily said: "You pride yourself on integrity and uprightness—yet in prison you accept many gifts from people. Why?" En said: "Mutual aid in hardship is the ancient meaning. How is that like you accepting gold and silver and selling offices and ranks?" Thereupon he enumerated these matters one by one and reviled Ban without cease. Ban was still more enraged, pushed aside the desk and rose, wishing to beat him. En's voice grew still louder. Censor-in-Chief Wang Tingxiang and Minister Xia Yan cited larger principles to mediate. Ban slightly stopped, yet still signed that the facts were true. When En went out through Chang'an Gate, the crowd of onlookers was like a wall. All sighed and said: "This censor—not only is his mouth like iron; his knees, his gall, and his bones are all iron. Thus he was called the "Four-Iron Censor." En's mother Lady Wu struck the drum at the Gate of Imperial Complaint to sue for injustice. There was no response.
18
又明年，行可上書請代父死，不許。 其冬，事益迫，行可乃刺臂血書疏，自縛闕下，謂：「臣父幼而失怙。 祖母吳氏守節教育，底於成立，得為御史。 舉家受祿，圖報無地，私憂過計，陷於大辟。 祖母吳年已八十余，憂傷之深，僅余氣息。 若臣父今日死，祖母吳亦必以今日死。 臣父死，臣祖母復死，臣煢然一孤，必不獨生。 冀陛下哀憐，置臣辟，而赦臣父，茍延母子二人之命。 陛下僇臣，不傷臣心。 臣被僇，不傷陛下法。 謹延頸以俟白刃。」 通政使陳經為入奏。 帝覽之惻然，令法司再議。 尚書聶賢與都御史廷相言，前所引律，情與法不相麗，宜用奏事不實律，輸贖還職，帝不許。 乃言恩情重律輕，請戍之邊僥。 制可。 遂遣戍雷州。 而鋐亦後兩月罷矣。
The next year Xingke submitted a memorial asking to die in his father's place; this was not permitted. That winter the matter grew more urgent; Xingke then stabbed his arm and wrote a memorial in blood, binding himself below the palace gate, saying: "My father lost his father when young. Grandmother Lady Wu preserved her chastity and educated him until he was established and became a censor. The whole family received salaries; there was no way to repay the grace, yet private worry overstepped bounds and brought the great penalty. Grandmother Wu is already over eighty; the depth of her grief leaves barely a breath. If my father dies today, Grandmother Wu will surely die today as well. If my father dies and my grandmother dies again, I, a lonely orphan, will surely not live alone. I beg Your Majesty's pity to place me on the block and pardon my father, if only to prolong the lives of mother and son for a time. If Your Majesty punishes me, you do not harm my heart. If I am punished, you do not harm Your Majesty's law. I respectfully extend my neck to await the white blade. Transmission Commissioner Chen Jing presented it to the throne. When the Emperor read it he was moved to compassion and ordered the judiciary to deliberate again. Minister Nie Xian and Censor-in-Chief Tingxiang said the statute previously cited did not match the circumstances; the statute on memorializing what is not factual should be used, with redemption of penalty and restoration to office—the Emperor did not agree. They then said En's circumstances were heavy but the statute light, and asked exile to the border as a compromise. This was approved. Thereupon he was sent into exile at Leizhou. Ban also resigned two months later.
19
越六年，遇赦還。 家居，專為德於鄉。 穆宗即位，錄先朝直言。 恩年已七十余，即家拜大理寺丞，致仕。 復從有司言，旌行可為孝子。 恩年八十一，卒。
Six years later he encountered an amnesty and returned. Living at home, he devoted himself to doing good in the village. When the Muzong Emperor acceded, he recorded those of the former dynasty who had spoken directly. En was already over seventy; he was appointed Vice Director of the Court of Judicial Review at his home and then retired. Again, following the local officials' memorial, Xingke was honored as a filial son. En died at eighty-one.
20
行可既脫父於死，越數年登鄉薦。 久之，不第。 謁選，得光祿署正。 遷應天府通判，有善政。 弟時可，隆慶五年進士。 累官按察使。 以文名。
After Xingke had saved his father from death, several years later he passed the provincial examination. After a long time he did not pass the final examination. On presenting himself for selection he obtained the post of director in the Court of Imperial Entertainments. He was transferred to vice magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture and had good administration. His younger brother Shike passed the jinshi in the fifth year of Longqing. He rose repeatedly to surveillance commissioner. He was famed for his writing.
21
宋邦輔，字子相，東流人。 既罷歸，躬耕養親，妻操井臼，子樵牧。 歲時與田夫會飲，醉即作歌相和，高鳳動遠邇。 士大夫造其門者，屏輿從而後入焉。
Song Bangfu, styled Zixiang, was from Dongliu. After dismissal and return he personally farmed to support his parents; his wife worked the mortar and pestle, his sons gathered firewood and herded. At festival times he would drink with the farmers; when drunk he would compose songs in reply, and his lofty singing moved all who heard it, near and far. Scholar-officials who visited him would leave their sedan chairs and attendants outside before entering.
22
薛宗鎧，字子修，行人司正侃從子也。 嘉靖二年與從父僑同成進士。 授貴溪知縣，補將樂，調建陽。 求朱子後，復之，以主祀事。 歲饑振倉粟，先發後聞。 給由赴京，留拜禮科給事中，以逋賦還任。 至則民爭輸，課更最，仍詔入垣。 再遷戶科左給事中。 吏部尚書汪鋐以私憾斥王臣等，宗鎧白其枉。 語具《戚賢傳》。 其後，鋐愈驕。 會御史曾翀、戴銑劾南京尚書劉龍、聶賢等九人。 鋐覆疏，具留之。 帝召大學士李時，言：鋐有私，留三人而斥其六。 宗鎧與同官孫應奎復言：鋐肆奸植黨，擅主威福，巧庇龍等，上格明詔，下負公論，且縱二子為奸利。 鋐疏辨乞休，帝不許。 而給事御史翁溥、曹逵等更相繼劾鋐。 鋐又抗辨，且極詆宗鎧等挾私。 翀復言：「鋐一經論劾，輒肆中傷，諍臣杜口已三年。 蔽塞言路，罪莫大，乞立正厥辟。」 帝果罷鋐官，而責宗鎧言不早。 又惡翀「諍臣杜口」語，執下鎮撫司鞫訊。 詞連應奎，逵及御史方一桂，皆杖闕下。 斥宗鎧、翀、一桂為民，鐫應奎、溥、逵等級，調外。 宗鎧、翀死杖下。 時十四年九月朔也。 隆慶初，復宗鎧官，贈太常少卿。
Xue Zongkai, styled Zixiu, was a nephew of Xue Kan, Director of the Bureau of Foreign Envoys. In the second year of Jiajing he and his uncle Qiao both passed the jinshi examination together. He was appointed magistrate of Guixi, then transferred to Jiangle and then Jianyang. He found a descendant of Zhu Xi, restored his status, and put him in charge of the sacrificial rites. During a famine he distributed grain from the public granaries, releasing it first and reporting to the court afterward. He received credentials to go to the capital and was retained as a supervising secretary in the Ministry of Rites, but was sent back to his post because of tax arrears. When he returned the people competed to pay their taxes; his revenue rating was the highest, and he was again ordered into the Censorate. He was promoted again to Left Supervising Secretary in the Revenue Section. Minister of Personnel Wang Hong dismissed Wang Chen and others out of private resentment; Zongkai spoke out on their behalf. The full account is given in the biography of Qi Xian. Afterward Hong grew ever more arrogant. At that time Censors Zeng Chong and Dai Yan impeached nine Nanjing ministers, including Liu Long and Nie Xian. Hong submitted a reply memorial and had them all retained in office. The emperor summoned Grand Secretary Li Shi and said that Hong had acted from private motives, retaining three while dismissing six. Zongkai and his colleague Sun Yingkui memorialized again that Hong wantonly practiced treachery and built factions, usurped authority, craftily shielded Long and the others, defied the emperor's clear edict and betrayed public opinion, and moreover allowed his two sons to pursue illicit profit. Hong submitted a memorial in his defense begging to retire; the emperor refused. Then supervising secretaries and censors Weng Pu, Cao Kui, and others impeached Hong one after another. Hong argued defiantly again and bitterly slandered Zongkai and the others for acting from private motives. Chong memorialized again: "Whenever Hong is impeached he at once launches reckless slander; remonstrating officials have been silenced for three years already. Blocking the avenue of remonstrance is the gravest of crimes; I beg that he be immediately punished according to law. The emperor did dismiss Hong from office, but reproached Zongkai for not having spoken earlier. He also took offense at Chong's phrase "remonstrating officials silenced" and had him seized and interrogated by the Brocade Guard. The case implicated Yingkui, Kui, and Censor Fang Yigui; all were beaten at the palace gate. Zongkai, Chong, and Yigui were reduced to commoner status; Yingkui, Pu, Kui, and others had their ranks reduced and were transferred outside the capital. Zongkai and Chong died from the beating. This was the first day of the ninth month of the fourteenth year. At the beginning of Longqing his office was restored and he was posthumously made Vice Director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
23
曾翀，字習之，霍丘人。 以進士授南京刑部主事，改御史。 廷杖垂斃，曰：「臣言已行，臣死何憾！」 神色無變。 隆慶初，贈太常少卿。
Zeng Chong, styled Xizhi, was from Huoqiu. As a jinshi he was appointed a secretary in the Nanjing Ministry of Justice and then transferred to censor. At the court beating he was near death and said: "My words have already taken effect; what regret have I in dying! His expression did not change. At the beginning of Longqing he was posthumously made vice minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
24
楊爵，字伯珍，富平人。 年二十始讀書。 家貧，燃薪代燭。 耕隴上，輒挾冊以誦。 兄為吏，忤知縣系獄。 爵投牒直之，並系。 會代者至，爵上書訟冤。 代者稱奇士，立釋之，資以膏火。 益奮於學，立意為奇節。 從同郡韓邦奇遊，遂以學行名。
Yang Jue, styled Bozhen, was from Fuping. He did not begin to study until he was twenty. His family was poor; he burned firewood for light instead of candles. While plowing the fields he would always carry a book and recite from it. His elder brother was a clerk; he offended the magistrate and was imprisoned. Jue submitted a petition on his behalf and was imprisoned together with him. When his successor arrived, Jue submitted a memorial pleading their innocence. The successor called him a remarkable man, released them at once, and supplied him with lamp oil for his studies. He redoubled his efforts in study and resolved to live with extraordinary integrity. He studied under Han Bangqi of the same commandery and came to be famed for learning and conduct.
25
登嘉靖八年進士，授行人。 帝方崇飾禮文，爵因使王府還，上言：「臣奉使湖廣，睹民多菜色，挈筐操刃，割道殍食之。 假令周公制作，盡復於今，何補老羸饑寒之眾！」 奏入，被俞旨。 久之，擢御史，以母老乞歸養。 母喪，廬墓，冬月筍生。 推車糞田，妻馌於旁，見者不知其御史也。 服闋，起故官。
He passed the jinshi in the eighth year of Jiajing and was appointed a courier. The emperor was then exalting ritual and decorum; on returning from a mission to a princely establishment Jue memorialized: "Your servant was sent to Huguang and saw the people mostly gaunt with hunger, carrying baskets and wielding knives to cut flesh from corpses along the road and eat it. Even if the institutions of the Duke of Zhou were fully restored today, what help would that be to the aged, the weak, and the masses suffering cold and hunger! When the memorial was submitted he received an approving edict. After some time he was promoted to censor and, because his mother was old, begged to return home to support her. When his mother died he built a mourning hut by her tomb; in winter bamboo shoots sprang up there. He pushed a cart to manure the fields while his wife brought him food at the side; those who saw did not know he had been a censor. When mourning ended he was recalled to his former office.
26
帝經年不視朝。 歲頻旱，日夕建齋醮，修雷壇，屢興工作。 方士陶仲文加宮保，而太仆卿楊最諫死，翊國公郭勛尚承寵用事。 二十年元日，微雪。 大學士夏言、尚書嚴嵩等作頌稱賀。 爵撫膺太息，中宵不能寐。 逾月乃上書極諫曰：
The emperor for years did not hold court. Drought came year after year; day and night he established fasting altars and Daoist rites, repaired the Thunder Altar, and repeatedly launched construction projects. The Daoist adept Tao Zhongwen was raised to Grand Guardian, while Minister of the Imperial Stud Yang Zui died from remonstrance, and the Defender of the State Guo Xun still enjoyed favor and wielded power. On New Year's Day of the twentieth year there was a light snowfall. Grand Secretary Xia Yan, Minister Yan Song, and others composed odes of praise and congratulation. Jue clutched his breast and sighed deeply; at midnight he could not sleep. More than a month later he submitted a memorial of utmost remonstrance, saying:
27
今天下大勢，如人衰病已極。 腹心百骸，莫不受患。 即欲拯之，無措手地。 方且奔競成俗，賕賂公行，遇災變而不憂，非祥瑞而稱賀，讒諂面諛，流為欺罔，士風人心，頹壞極矣。 諍臣拂士日益遠，而快情恣意之事無敢齟齬於其間，此天下大憂也。 去年自夏入秋，恒旸不雨。 畿輔千里，已無秋禾。 既而一冬無雪，元日微雪即止。 民失所望，憂旱之心遠近相同。 此正撤樂減膳，憂懼不寧之時，而輔臣言等方以為符瑞，而稱頌之。 欺天欺人，不已甚乎！ 翊國公勛，中外皆知為大奸大蠹，陛下寵之，使諗惡肆毒，群狡趨赴，善類退處。 此任用匪人，足以失人心而致危亂者，一也。
Today the great trend of the realm is like a person whose decline and illness have already reached the extreme. Heart, belly, and every limb—none is free from affliction. Even if one wished to save him, there is no place to begin. Yet scrambling for advancement has become custom, bribes are openly practiced, calamities are met without worry, and what are not auspicious omens are hailed in congratulation; slander and flattery flow into deception—the scholar's ethos and the people's hearts have decayed to the utmost. Remonstrating ministers and upright scholars grow daily more distant, while matters of indulging one's desires go unchallenged in between—this is the realm's great worry. Last year from summer into autumn there was constant clear sky without rain. For a thousand li around the capital there was already no autumn grain. Then through a whole winter there was no snow; on New Year's Day a light snow fell and stopped. The people lost their hope; the worry of drought was the same near and far. This was precisely the time to withdraw music and reduce meals, to be anxious and ill at ease; yet assisting ministers such as Yan were just then treating it as a portent and offering praise. Deceiving Heaven and deceiving men—is it not excessive! The Defender of the State Xun is known inside and outside as a great traitor and great parasite; Your Majesty favors him, allowing him to spread evil and unleash poison, so that the crafty flock to him and the good withdraw. Employing unworthy men is sufficient to lose the people's hearts and bring crisis and disorder—the first point.
28
臣巡視南城，一月中凍餒死八十人。 五城共計，未知有幾。 孰非陛下赤子，欲延須臾之生而不能。 而土木之功，十年未止。 工部屬官增設至數十員，又遣官遠修雷壇。 以一方士之故，朘民膏血而不知恤，是豈不可以已乎？ 況今北寇跳梁，內盜竊發，加以頻年災沴，上下交空，尚可勞民糜費，結怨天下哉？ 此興作未已，足以失人心而致危亂者，二也。
Your servant inspected the southern city: in one month eighty people died of cold and hunger. Counting all five wards together, one does not know how many there are. Which of them is not Your Majesty's own child, wishing to prolong life for a moment yet unable to do so. Yet construction projects have not ceased for ten years. Subordinate officials in the Ministry of Works were increased to several tens of posts, and officials were again sent far away to repair the Thunder Altar. For the sake of one Daoist adept the people's substance is drained without pity—is this not something that can be stopped? Moreover, northern raiders are on the move, internal bandits rise in theft, and years of calamity and pestilence have left court and people alike destitute—can one still burden the people and squander resources, earning the resentment of all under Heaven? This unceasing construction is sufficient to lose the people's hearts and bring crisis and disorder—the second point.
29
左道惑眾，聖王必誅。 今異言異服列於朝苑，金紫赤紱賞及方外。 夫保傅之職坐而論道，今舉而畀之奇邪之徒。 流品之亂莫以加矣。 陛下誠與公卿賢士日論治道，則心正身修，天地鬼神莫不祐享，安用此妖誕邪妄之術，列諸清禁，為聖躬累耶！ 臣聞上之所好，下必有甚。 近者妖盜繁興，誅之不息。 風聲所及，人起異議。 貽四方之笑，取百世之譏，非細故也。 此信用方術，足以失人心而致危亂者，四也。
Heretical ways that delude the masses—sage kings surely punish them. Now strange doctrines and strange dress are arrayed in the court gardens; gold seals, purple robes, and red ribbons are bestowed even on those outside the official ranks. The office of tutor and preceptor is to sit and discuss the Way; now it is raised up and given to bizarre and heterodox persons. The disorder of ranks and grades could not be greater. If Your Majesty would truly discuss the art of governance daily with worthy grandees and scholars, then with heart upright and person cultivated, Heaven, Earth, ghosts, and spirits would all bless and enjoy—why need these demonic, absurd, heterodox arts be arrayed within the pure forbidden precincts to burden the sacred person! Your servant has heard that what those above love, those below will surely exceed. Recently demonic bandits have flourished; though executed they do not cease. Where the wind of rumor reaches, people raise strange talk. It brings laughter from the four quarters and draws the scorn of a hundred generations—not a small matter. Trusting in occult arts is sufficient to lose the people's hearts and bring crisis and disorder—the fourth point.
30
陛下臨禦之初，延訪忠謀，虛懷納諫。 一時臣工言過激切，獲罪多有。 自此以來，臣下震於天威，懷危慮禍，未聞復有犯顏直諫以為沃心助者。 往歲，太仆卿楊最言出而身殞，近日贊善羅洪先等皆以言罷斥。 國體治道，所損甚多。 臣非為最等惜也。 古今有國家者，未有不以任諫而興，拒諫而亡。 忠藎杜口，則讒諛交進，安危休戚無由得聞。 此阻抑言路，足以失人心而致危亂者，五也。
When Your Majesty first took the throne you extended inquiries for loyal counsel and with an open heart received remonstrance. For a time many officials who spoke too sharply and urgently were punished. Since then subordinates have been awed by Heaven's majesty, harboring peril and fearing disaster; one has not heard again of anyone who risked his life with direct remonstrance to counsel the throne. In past years Minister of the Imperial Stud Yang Zui spoke and his person perished; recently Academician-Expositor Luo Hongxian and others were all dismissed for their words. The state's substance and the art of governance have suffered greatly thereby. Your servant does not grieve for Zui and the others. In past and present, none who possessed a state failed to rise by employing remonstrance and perish by rejecting it. When the loyal are silenced, slander and flattery advance together; safety and danger, weal and woe cannot reach the throne. Obstructing the avenue of remonstrance is sufficient to lose the people's hearts and bring crisis and disorder—the fifth point.
31
望陛下念祖宗創業之艱難，思今日守成為不易，覽臣所奏，賜之施行，宗社幸甚。
Your servant hopes Your Majesty will recall the hardship of the ancestral founders in establishing the enterprise, reflect that preserving it today is not easy, review what your servant has memorialized, grant that it be carried out, and the altars of state will be greatly fortunate.
32
先是，七年三月，靈寶縣黃河清，帝遣使祭河神。 大學士楊一清、張璁等屢疏請賀，御史鄞人周相抗疏言：「河未清，不足虧陛下德。 今好諛喜事之臣張大文飾之，佞風一開，獻媚者將接踵。 願罷祭告，止稱賀，詔天下臣民毋奏祥瑞，水旱蝗蝻即時以聞。」 帝大怒，下相詔獄拷掠之，復杖於廷，謫韶州經歷。 而諸慶典亦止不行。
Earlier, in the third month of the seventh year, the Yellow River at Lingbao County ran clear, and the Emperor dispatched envoys to sacrifice to the river god. Grand Secretaries Yang Yiqing and Zhang Cong and others repeatedly asked that congratulations be offered; Censor Zhou Xiang of Yin submitted a defiant memorial: "The river is not yet clear and cannot diminish Your Majesty virtue. Now ministers who love flattery and novelty inflate the event with rhetoric; once sycophancy is encouraged, flatterers will crowd in. I beg that sacrifices and announcements cease, that only congratulations be offered, and that an edict forbid reporting auspicious omens while requiring immediate report of flood, drought, and locust disasters. The Emperor was furious, had Xiang thrown into the imperial prison and tortured, beaten again at court, and demoted to assistant prefect of Shaozhou. The various celebratory ceremonies were halted as well.
33
及帝中年，益惡言者，中外相戒無敢觸忌諱。 爵疏詆符瑞，且詞過切直。 帝震怒，立下詔獄搒掠，血肉狼籍，關以五木，死一夕復甦。 所司請送法司擬罪，帝不許，命嚴錮之。 獄卒以帝意不測，屏其家人，不許納飲食。 屢濱於死，處之泰然。 既而主事周天佐、御史浦鋐以救爵，先後箠死獄中，自是無敢救者。
In his middle years the Emperor grew ever more hostile to remonstrators; court and country alike took care not to touch forbidden topics. Jue memorial denounced auspicious portents, and his wording was excessively blunt. The Emperor erupted in rage, had him thrown into the imperial prison and beaten until flesh lay in heaps; bound with the five punishments, he died one night and revived. The responsible office asked to send him to the judicial authorities for sentencing; the Emperor refused and ordered him held in strict confinement. Jailers, uncertain of the Emperor intent, barred his family and refused all food and drink. Though repeatedly near death, he remained composed. Section Director Zhou Tianzuo and Censor Pu Qiong, in seeking to save Jue, were beaten to death in prison one after another; thereafter none dared intervene.
34
逾年，工部員外郎劉魁，再逾年，給事中周怡，皆以言事同系，歷五年不釋。 至二十四年八月，有神降於乩。 帝感其言，立出三人獄。 未逾月，尚書熊浹疏言乩仙之妄。 帝怒曰：「我固知釋爵，諸妄言歸過者紛至矣。」 復令東廠追執之。 爵抵家甫十日，校尉至。 與共麥飯畢，即就道。 尉曰：「盍處置家事？」 爵立屏前呼婦曰：「朝廷逮我，我去矣。」 竟去不顧，左右觀者為泣下。 比三人至，復同系鎮撫獄，桎梏加嚴，飲食屢絕，適有天幸得不死。 二十六年十一月，大高玄殿災，帝禱於露臺。 火光中若有呼三人忠臣者，遂傳詔急釋之。
A year later Section Member Liu Kui joined them; another year later Supervising Secretary Zhou Yi was imprisoned for the same reason; all five years passed without release. In the eighth month of the twenty-fourth year a spirit descended through the planchette. Moved by its words, the Emperor at once released all three. Less than a month later Minister Xiong Jian memorialized that the planchette spirit was deluded. The Emperor raged: "I knew that releasing Jue would bring a flood of absurd talk shifting blame. He again ordered the Eastern Depot to pursue and seize them. Jue had been home only ten days when the Brocade Guard arrived. After sharing a simple meal of wheat with them he set out at once. The guard said: "Should you not put your household in order? Jue stood before the screen and called to his wife: "The court has seized me. I am going. He left without a backward glance; those who watched wept. When all three arrived they were imprisoned again in the Brocade Guard prison under harsher fetters; food was repeatedly withheld, yet by heaven fortune they survived. In the eleventh month of the twenty-sixth year the Great High Mysterious Hall burned, and the Emperor prayed on the open terrace. In the firelight someone seemed to call the three loyal ministers; an urgent edict released them.
35
居家二年，一日晨起，大鳥集於舍。 爵曰：「伯起之祥至矣。」 果三日而卒。 隆慶初，復官，贈光祿卿，任一子。 萬歷中，賜謚忠介。
Two years at home passed; one morning a great bird alighted on his dwelling. Jue said: "Boqi omen has arrived. Three days later he died, as he had foretold. At the start of Longqing his post was restored; he was posthumously made Minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and one son was granted office. Under Wanli he received the posthumous title Zhongjie (Loyal and Direct).
36
爵之初入獄也，帝令東廠伺爵言動，五日一奏。 校尉周宣稍左右之，受譴。 其再至，治廠事太監徐府奏報。 帝以密諭不宜宣，亦重得罪。 先後系七年，日與怡、魁切劘講論，忘其困。 所著《周易辨說》、《中庸解》，則獄中作也。
When Jue first entered prison the Emperor ordered the Eastern Depot to monitor his words and conduct and report every five days. Guard Zhou Xuan showed him slight favor and was punished. On his second arrest the eunuch Xu Fu, who managed depot affairs, submitted a report. The Emperor held that secret instructions must not be disclosed; Xu Fu was heavily punished as well. Imprisoned seven years in all, he debated earnestly each day with Yi and Kui and forgot their hardship. His Exposition on the Book of Changes and Commentary on the Doctrine of the Mean were composed in prison.
37
浦鋐，字汝器，文登人。 正德十二年進士。 授洪洞知縣，有異政。 嘉靖初，召為御史。 刑部尚書林俊去國，中官秦文已斥復用，鋐疏力爭之。 且言武定侯郭勛奸貪，宜罷其兵權。 忤旨，奪俸三月。 以養母歸。 母喪除，起掌河南道事。 給事中饒秀考察黜，訐鋐與同官張祿、段汝礪，給事中李鳳來，考功郎余胤緒，談省署得失，鋐等坐罷。
Pu Qiong, styled Ruqi, came from Wendeng. He passed the jinshi in Zhengde year 12. Appointed magistrate of Hongdong, he achieved remarkable governance. Early in Jiajing he was summoned to serve as censor. When Minister Lin Jun left office and the eunuch Qin Wen, though dismissed, was reappointed, Qiong memorialized forcefully against it. He also said Military Marquis Guo Xun was corrupt and greedy and should be stripped of military command. Defying the imperial will, he lost three months salary. He went home to care for his mother. After his mother mourning he was recalled to manage the Henan surveillance circuit. When Supervising Secretary Rao Xiu was dismissed on inspection he accused Qiong, colleagues Zhang Lu and Duan Rushi, Supervising Secretary Li Fenglai, and Review Director Yu Yinxu of discussing provincial affairs in private; all were dismissed.
38
家居七年，廷臣交薦。 起故官，出按陜西，連上四十余疏。 總督楊守禮請破格超擢，未報。 而楊爵以直諫系詔獄，鋐馳疏申救曰：「臣惟天下治亂，在言路通塞。 言路通，則忠諫進而化理成； 言路塞，則奸諛恣而治道隳。 御史爵以言事下獄，幽囚已久，懲創必深。 臣行部富平，皆言爵愨誠孚鄉里，孝友式風俗，有古賢士風。 且爵本以論郭勛獲罪。 今勛奸大露，陛下業致之理，則爵前言未為悖妄。 望弘覆載之量，垂日月之照，賜之矜釋，使列朝端，爵必能盡忠補過，不負所學。」 疏奏，帝大怒，趣緹騎逮之。 秦民遠近奔送，舍車下者常萬人，皆號哭曰：「願還我使君。」 鋐赴征，業已病。 既至，下詔獄，搒掠備至。 除日復杖之百，錮以鐵柙。 爵迎哭之，鋐息已絕，徐張目曰：「此吾職也，子無然。」 系七日而卒。 穆宗嗣位，恤典視爵等。
At home seven years, court ministers recommended him repeatedly. Recalled to his former post, he inspected Shaanxi and submitted more than forty memorials in succession. Governor-general Yang Shouli asked that he be promoted out of turn; no reply came. When Yang Jue was imprisoned for blunt remonstrance, Qiong urgently memorialized: "Your servant holds that the realm order and disorder depend on whether remonstrance is heard. When remonstrance flows freely, loyal counsel advances and good governance follows; when it is blocked, flattery runs riot and governance collapses. Censor Jue has been imprisoned for his words; long confinement will deepen the lesson. Touring Fuping in office, your servant heard everywhere that Jue is honest and trusted in his district, filial and brotherly, a model to custom, with the air of ancient worthies. Moreover Jue was originally punished for criticizing Guo Xun. Now Xun wickedness is fully exposed and Your Majesty has already punished him; Jue earlier words were not reckless. I beg Your Majesty broad mercy and bright favor to release him and restore him to court; Jue will surely serve with loyal remonstrance and not betray his learning. When the memorial arrived the Emperor was furious and ordered the Brocade Guard to seize him. People of Shaanxi near and far ran to see him off; tens of thousands left their carts, wailing: "Return our magistrate to us. Qiong answered the summons already ill. On arrival he was thrown into the imperial prison and beaten without mercy. On New Year Eve he was beaten a hundred times again and shackled in iron. Jue came weeping; Qiong seemed dead, then slowly opened his eyes: "This is my duty—do not weep, sir. After seven days in prison he died. When Muzong succeeded, he received posthumous honors like Jue and the others.
39
周天佐，字子弼，晉江人。 嘉靖十四年進士。 授戶部主事。 屢分司倉場，以清操聞。
Zhou Tianzuo, styled Zibi, came from Jinjiang. He passed the jinshi in Jiajing year 14. He was appointed section director in the Ministry of Revenue. Repeatedly assigned to granary duty, he was famed for integrity.
40
二十年夏四月，九廟災，詔百官言時政得失。 天佐上書曰：「陛下以宗廟災變，痛自修省，許諸臣直言闕失，此轉災為祥之會也。 乃今闕政不乏，而忠言未盡聞，蓋示人以言，不若示人以政。 求言之詔，示人以言耳。 御史楊爵獄未解，是未示人以政也。 國家置言官，以言為職。 爵系獄數月，聖怒彌甚。 一則曰小人，二則曰罪人。 夫以盡言直諫為小人，則為緘默逢迎之君子不難也。 以秉直納忠為罪人，又孰不能為容悅將順之功臣哉？ 人君一喜一怒，上帝臨之。 陛下所以怒爵，果合於天心否耶？ 爵身非木石，命且不測，萬一溘先朝露，使諍臣飲恨，直士寒心，損聖德不細。 願旌爵忠，以風天下。」 帝覽奏，大怒。 杖之六十，下詔獄。
In the fourth month of summer, year 20, the Nine Temples burned; an edict ordered all officials to speak on current policy. Tianzuo memorialized: "Your Majesty, moved by the ancestral temple disaster to reform and invite blunt speech on faults, has the chance to turn calamity into blessing. Yet faults abound while loyal words are not fully heard—showing policy matters more than showing words. An edict seeking words only shows people words. Censor Yang Jue remains imprisoned—that is not yet showing policy. The state establishes remonstrance officials to speak. Jue has been imprisoned for months; imperial anger only grows. First he is called a petty man; next he is called a criminal. If blunt remonstrance makes one a petty man, then silent flattery is easy. If loyal blunt speech makes one a criminal, who cannot become a flattering courtier? A ruler every joy and anger is watched by Heaven. Does Your Majesty anger at Jue truly accord with Heaven heart? Jue is not wood or stone; his life hangs in the balance—if he dies, remonstrators will resent and upright men will despair, gravely harming imperial virtue. I beg that Jue loyalty be honored to instruct the realm. The Emperor read the memorial and was furious. He was beaten sixty times and thrown into the imperial prison.
41
周怡，字順之，太平縣人。 為諸生時，嘗曰：「鼎鑊不避，溝壑不忘，可以稱士矣。 不然，皆偽也。」 從學於王畿、鄒守益。 登嘉靖十七年進士，除順德推官。 舉卓異，擢吏科給事中。 疏劾尚書李如圭、張瓚、劉天和。 天和致仕去，如圭還籍待勘，瓚留如故。 頃之，劾湖廣巡撫陸傑、工部尚書甘為霖、采木尚書樊繼祖。 立朝僅一歲，所摧擊，率當事有勢力大臣。 在廷多側目，怡益奮不顧。
Zhou Yi, styled Shunzhi, came from Taiping County. As a student he said: "One who does not shrink from cauldron or axe, who does not forget the ditch and gully, may be called a gentleman. Otherwise it is all pretense. He studied under Wang Ji and Zou Shouyi. In Jiajing year 17 he passed the jinshi and was made investigating prefect of Shunde. Rated outstanding, he was promoted to supervising secretary in the Personnel Section. He memorialized to impeach Ministers Li Rugui, Zhang Zan, and Liu Tianhe. Tianhe retired; Rugui returned home pending investigation; Zan remained in office. Soon he impeached Huguang Grand Coordinator Lu Jie, Minister of Works Gan Weilin, and Timber Minister Fan Jizu. In court only one year, those he attacked were mostly powerful ministers in charge. Many at court glared at him; Yi strove all the harder without flinching.
42
二十二年六月，吏部尚書許贊率其屬王與齡、周鈇訐大學士翟鑾、嚴嵩私屬事。 帝方響嵩，反責贊，逐與齡等。 怡上疏曰：
In the sixth month of year 22 Minister Xu Zan and subordinates Wang Yuling and Zhou Fu accused Grand Secretaries Zhai Luan and Yan Song of private patronage. The Emperor favored Song and instead blamed Zan, expelling Yuling and the others. Yi submitted a memorial, saying:
43
人臣以盡心報國家為忠，協力濟事為和。 未有公卿大臣爭於朝、文武大臣爭於邊，而能修內治、禦外侮者也。 大學士鑾、嵩與尚書贊互相詆訐，而總兵官張鳳、周尚文又與總制侍郎翟鵬、督餉侍郎趙廷瑞交惡，此最不祥事，誤國孰甚？
Ministers take exhausting the heart in serving the state as loyalty and joining strength to accomplish affairs as harmony. Never yet have grandees contending at court and ministers contending at the frontier been able to repair internal governance and repel external enemies. Grand Secretaries Luan and Song and Minister Zan slandered one another, while Regional Commanders Zhang Feng and Zhou Shangwen were again at odds with Grand Coordinator Zhai Peng and Grain Commissioner Zhao Tingrui—what could be more ill-omened, or more ruinous to the state?
44
今陛下日事禱祠而四方災祲未銷，歲開輸銀之例而府庫未充，累頒蠲租之令而百姓未蘇，時下選將練士之命而邊境未寧。 內則財貨匱而百役興，外則寇敵橫而九邊耗。 乃鑾、嵩恁藉寵靈，背公營私，弄播威福，市恩酬怨。 夫輔臣真知人賢不肖，宜明告吏部進之退之，不宜挾勢徇私，屬之進退。 嵩威靈氣焰，淩轢百司。 凡有陳奏，奔走其門，先得意旨而後敢聞於陛下。 中外不畏陛下，惟畏嵩久矣。 鑾淟涊委靡，讃雖小心謹畏，然不能以直氣正色銷權貴要求之心，柔亦甚矣。
Now Your Majesty daily attends prayer and sacrifice while calamities in the four quarters are not dispelled; year after year silver is levied while the treasuries are not filled; repeatedly edicts remitting rent are issued while the common people are not revived; from time to time orders to select generals and drill troops are issued while the borders are not pacified. Within, goods are exhausted while a hundred corvées arise; without, bandits and enemies run rampant while the Nine Garrisons are drained. Yet Luan and Song rely on favor, turn their backs on the public to pursue private ends, manipulate authority and favor, and trade kindness for revenge. Assisting ministers who truly know whether men are worthy or unworthy should plainly tell the Ministry of Personnel to advance or dismiss them; they should not wield power for private ends and direct advancement and dismissal. Song's authority and arrogance trample all offices. Whenever there is a memorial, men run to his gate, first obtaining his intent and only then daring to report to Your Majesty. Inside and outside the court they do not fear Your Majesty; they have long feared only Song. Luan is base and listless; though Zan is cautious and timid, he cannot with upright spirit dissolve the demands of the powerful—his softness is also extreme.
45
且直言敢諫之臣，於權臣不利，於朝廷則大利也。 御史謝瑜、童漢臣以劾嵩故，嵩皆假他事罪之。 諫諍之臣自此箝口，雖有梼杌、兜，誰復言之？
Moreover, ministers who speak directly and dare to remonstrate are disadvantageous to powerful ministers but greatly advantageous to the court. Censors Xie Yu and Tong Hanchen, because they impeached Song, were all punished by Song on pretext of other matters. Remonstrating ministers from then on were silenced; though there were fierce men like Tao Wu and Dou, who would speak again?
46
帝覽疏大怒，降詔責其謗訕，令對狀。 杖之闕下，錮詔獄者再。
When the emperor read the memorial he was greatly angered, issued an edict reproaching him for slander, and ordered him to answer the charges in person. He was beaten below the palace gate and twice imprisoned in the imperial prison.
47
劉魁，字煥吾，泰和人。 正德中登鄉薦。 受業王守仁之門。 嘉靖初，謁選，得寶慶府通判。 歷鈞州知州，潮州府同知。 所至潔己愛人，扶植風教。 入為工部員外郎，疏陳安攘十事，帝嘉納。 二十一年秋，帝用方士陶仲文言，建祐國康民雷殿於太液池西。 所司希帝意，務宏侈，程工峻急。 魁欲諫，度必得重禍，先命家人鬻棺以待。 遂上帝曰：「頃泰享殿、大高玄殿諸工尚未告竣。 內帑所積幾何？ 歲入幾何？ 一役之費動至億萬。 土木衣文繡，匠作班朱紫，道流所居擬於宮禁。 國用已耗，民力已竭，而復為此不經無益之事，非所以示天下後世。」 帝震怒，杖於廷，錮之詔獄。 時御史楊爵先已逮系，既而給事中周怡繼至，三人屢瀕死，講誦不輟。 系四年得釋，未幾復追逮之。 魁未抵家，緹騎已先至，系其弟以行。 魁在道聞之，趣就獄，復與爵、怡同系。 時帝怒不測，獄吏懼罪，窘迫之愈甚，至不許家人通飲食。 而三人處之如前，無幾微尤怨。 又三年，與爵、怡同釋，尋卒。 隆慶初，贈恤如制。
Liu Kui, styled Huanwu, was from Taihe. In the Zhengde reign he passed the provincial examination. He studied under Wang Shouren. At the beginning of Jiajing he presented himself for appointment and became vice magistrate of Baqing Prefecture. He served successively as prefect of Junzhou and vice prefect of Chaozhou. Wherever he went he kept himself pure and loved the people, supporting custom and teaching. He entered the capital as Vice Director of Works and memorialized ten measures for pacification; the emperor praised and accepted them. In the autumn of the twenty-first year the emperor, following the Daoist adept Tao Zhongwen's words, built the Thunder Hall for Protecting the State and Comforting the People west of the Supreme Essence Pool. The responsible offices, hoping to please the emperor's intent, strove for grandeur and extravagance and pressed the work with harsh urgency. Kui wished to remonstrate and reckoned he would surely suffer heavy punishment; he first ordered his family to sell a coffin and await it. He then memorialized the emperor: "Recently the works on the Hall of Grand Sacrifice, the Great Supreme Mystery Hall, and others have not yet been announced complete. How much has the inner treasury accumulated? How much is the yearly income? The cost of a single project often reaches hundreds of millions. Builders and carpenters wear brocade; craftsmen rank with purple and red; the dwellings of Daoist clergy rival the palace precincts. State expenditure is already drained and the people's strength already exhausted, yet again this unorthodox and useless affair is undertaken—not the way to show all under Heaven and posterity. The emperor was shaken with rage, beat him at court, and imprisoned him in the imperial prison. At that time Censor Yang Jue had already been seized and imprisoned; afterward Supervising Secretary Zhou Yi arrived in turn; the three repeatedly neared death yet lectured and recited without cease. Imprisoned four years they were released; before long they were pursued and seized again. Before Kui reached home the brocade guards had already arrived and seized his younger brother to take him away. Kui heard of it on the road and hastened to enter prison, again imprisoned together with Jue and Yi. At that time the emperor's anger was unpredictable; the jailers feared punishment and pressed them ever harder, even not allowing family to bring food or drink. Yet the three bore it as before, without the slightest resentment. After three more years they were released together with Jue and Yi; soon afterward he died. At the beginning of Longqing posthumous honors and relief were granted according to regulation.
48
沈束，字宗安，會稽人。 父侭，邠州知州。 束登嘉靖二十三年進士，除徽州推官，擢禮科給事中。 時大學士嚴嵩擅政。 大同總兵官周尚文卒，請恤典，嚴嵩格不予。 束言：「尚文為將，忠義自許。 曹家莊之役，奇功也。 雖晉秩，未酬勛，宜贈封爵延子孫。 他如董旸、江瀚，力抗強敵，繼之以死。 雖已廟祀，宜賜祭，以彰死事忠。 今當事之臣，任意予奪，冒濫或幸蒙，忠勤反捐棄，何以鼓士氣，激軍心？」 疏奏，嵩大恚，激帝怒，下吏部都察院議。 聞淵、屠僑等言束無他腸，第疏狂當治。 帝愈怒，奪淵、僑俸，下束詔獄。 已，刑部坐束奏事不實，輸贖還職。 特命杖於廷，仍錮詔獄。 時束入諫垣未半歲也。 逾年，俺答薄都城。 司業趙貞吉以請寬束得罪，自是無敢言者。
Shen Shu, styled Zong'an, was from Kuaiji. His father Jin was prefect of Binzhou. Shu passed the jinshi in the twenty-third year of Jiajing, was appointed investigating commissioner of Huizhou, and was promoted to Supervising Secretary in the Rites Section. At that time Grand Secretary Yan Song monopolized government. Datong Regional Commander Zhou Shangwen died and a posthumous favor was requested; Yan Song blocked it and would not grant it. Shu said: "Shangwen as a general pledged himself to loyalty and righteousness. At the battle of Caojiazhuang he achieved a marvelous feat. Though his rank was advanced, his merit was not rewarded; he should be granted posthumous enfeoffment extending to his descendants. Others such as Dong Yang and Jiang Han forcefully resisted strong enemies and followed with their deaths. Though they already have temple sacrifice, imperial offerings should be granted to display loyalty in death. Now ministers in charge grant and withhold at will; the undeserving may luckily receive favor while the loyal and diligent are cast aside—how can soldierly spirit be roused and military hearts inspired? When the memorial was submitted Song was greatly enraged, stirred the emperor's anger, and had it sent to the Ministry of Personnel and Censorate for deliberation. Wen Yuan, Tu Qiao, and others said Shu had no other intent but that his memorial was reckless and should be punished. The emperor grew angrier, suspended Yuan's and Qiao's salaries, and sent Shu to the imperial prison. Afterward the Ministry of Justice convicted Shu of memorializing matters not factual; he paid a fine and returned to office. By special order he was beaten at court and again imprisoned in the imperial prison. At that time Shu had entered the remonstrance bureau less than half a year. After a year Altan pressed close to the capital. University Lecturer Zhao Zhenji offended by begging to lighten Shu's punishment; from then on none dared to speak.
49
束系久，衣食屢絕，惟日讀《周易》為疏解。 後同邑沈練劾嵩，嵩疑與束同族為報復，令獄吏械其手足。 徐階勸，得免。 迨嵩去位，束在獄十六年矣，妻張氏上書言：「臣夫家有老親，年八十有九，衰病侵尋，朝不計夕。 往臣因束無子，為置妾潘氏。 比至京師，束已系獄，潘矢誌不他適。 乃相與寄居旅舍，紡織以供夫衣食。 歲月積深，淒楚萬狀。 欲歸奉舅，則夫之饘粥無資。 欲留養夫，則舅又旦暮待盡。 輾轉思維，進退無策。 臣願代夫系獄，令夫得送父終年，仍還赴系，實陛下莫大之德也。」 法司亦為請，帝終不許。
Shu was imprisoned long; food and clothing were repeatedly cut off; he only daily read the Book of Changes and wrote a commentary. Later Shen Lian of the same district impeached Song; Song suspected kinship with Shu and revenge, and ordered the jailers to shackle his hands and feet. Xu Jie persuaded him and he was spared. When Song left office Shu had been in prison sixteen years; his wife Lady Zhang submitted a memorial saying: "Your servant's husband has aged parents at home, eighty-nine years old, their decline and illness advancing, not counting on the morrow from morning. Formerly, because Shu had no son, your servant took a concubine for him, Lady Pan. When she reached the capital Shu was already imprisoned; Pan swore she would not marry another. Together they lodged at an inn and spun and wove to supply her husband's food and clothing. Months and years piled deep; their anguish was beyond description. If she wished to return to serve her father-in-law, her husband would have no means for gruel. If she wished to remain and support her husband, her father-in-law again awaited death morning and evening. Turning this over in thought, advance and retreat offered no plan. Your servant wishes to be imprisoned in her husband's place, allowing her husband to escort his father through his final year and then return to imprisonment—truly Your Majesty's boundless virtue. The judicial offices also petitioned on her behalf; the emperor in the end did not permit it.
50
帝深疾言官，以廷杖遣戍未足遏其言，乃長系以困之。 而日令獄卒奏其語言食息，謂之監帖。 或無所得，雖諧語亦以聞。 一日，鵲噪於束前，束謾曰：「豈有喜及罪人耶？」 卒以奏，帝心動。 會戶部司務何以尚疏救主事海瑞，帝大怒，杖之，錮詔獄，而釋束還其家。
The emperor deeply hated remonstrance officials; because court beating and exile were not enough to check their speech, he long imprisoned them to wear them down. Daily he ordered jailers to report their speech, food, and rest—called surveillance memorials. If nothing was obtained, even jests were reported. One day magpies clamored before Shu; Shu said in jest: "Can there be joy reaching a criminal? The jailer reported it and the emperor's heart was moved. It happened that Ministry of Revenue Clerk He Yishang memorialized to save Section Chief Hai Rui; the emperor was greatly angered, beat him, imprisoned him in the imperial prison, and released Shu to return home.
51
束還，父已前卒。 束枕塊飲水，佯狂自廢。 甫兩月，世宗崩，穆宗嗣位。 起故官，不赴。 喪除，召為都給事中。 旋擢南京右通政。 復辭疾。 布衣蔬食，終老於家。 束系獄十八年。 比出，潘氏猶處子也，然束竟無子。
When Shu returned his father had already died earlier. Shu rested his head on the mourning clod and drank water, feigning madness and disabling himself. Barely two months later the Shizong Emperor died and the Muzong Emperor succeeded. He was recalled to his former office but did not go. When mourning ended he was summoned as Chief Supervising Secretary. Soon he was promoted to Right Vice Commissioner of Nanjing. Again he pleaded illness. In plain cloth and simple food he ended his days at home. Shu was imprisoned eighteen years. When he came out Lady Pan was still a maiden in status, yet Shu in the end had no son.
52
沈煉，字純甫，會稽人。 嘉靖十七年進士。 除溧陽知縣。 用伉倨，忤御史，調茬平。 父憂去，補清豐，入為錦衣衛經歷。
Shen Lian, styled Chunfu, was from Kuaiji. He passed the jinshi in the seventeenth year of Jiajing. He was appointed magistrate of Liyang. Because of his proud and haughty manner he offended a censor and was transferred to Chiping. He left on his father's mourning, was reassigned to Qingfeng, and entered the capital as an administrative assistant in the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
53
煉為人剛直，嫉惡如仇，然頗疏狂。 每飲酒輒箕踞笑傲，旁若無人。 錦衣帥陸炳善遇之。 炳與嚴嵩父子交至深，以故煉亦數從世蕃飲。 世蕃以酒虐客，煉心不平，輒為反之，世蕃憚不敢較。
Lian as a man was upright and rigid, hating evil as if it were a personal enemy, yet he was rather unrestrained and wild. Whenever he drank he would sit with legs sprawled and laugh proudly, as if no one were beside him. Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard Lu Bing treated him well. Bing was on very deep terms with Yan Song and his son; for this reason Lian also often drank with Shifan. Shifan abused guests with wine; Lian's heart was not at peace and he would turn it back on him; Shifan feared him and did not dare contend.
54
會俺答犯京師，致書乞貢，多嫚語。 下廷臣博議，司業趙貞吉請勿許。 廷臣無敢是貞吉者，獨煉是之。 吏部尚書夏邦謨曰：「若何官？」 煉曰：「錦衣衛經歷沈煉也。 大臣不言，故小吏言之。」 遂罷議。 煉憤國無人，致寇猖狂，疏請以萬騎護陵寢，萬騎護通州軍儲，而合勤王師十余萬人，擊其惰歸，可大得誌。 帝弗省。
When Altan invaded the capital he sent a letter begging tribute with many insulting words. It was sent down for court ministers to debate extensively; Academician Zhao Zhenji asked that it not be granted. Court ministers dared not approve Zhenji; only Lian agreed. Minister of Personnel Xia Bangmo said: "What sort of official? Lian said: "Shen Lian, manager in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard. Great ministers do not speak, so a petty clerk speaks." Discussion was then halted. Lian, indignant that the state had no men and enemies ran wild, memorialized asking ten thousand cavalry to guard the imperial tombs, ten thousand cavalry to guard Tongzhou military stores, and combining more than a hundred thousand troops of those who came to aid the throne to strike their weary return—great achievement could be obtained. The emperor did not heed it.
55
嵩貴幸用事，邊臣爭致賄遺。 及失事懼罪，益輦金賄嵩，賄日以重。 煉時時搤腕。 一日從尚寶丞張遜業飲，酒半及嵩，因慷慨罵詈，流涕交頤。 遂上疏言：「昨歲俺答犯順，陛下奮揚神武，欲乘時北伐，此文武群臣所願戮力者也。 然制勝必先廟算，廟算必先為天下除奸邪，然後外寇可平。 今大學士嵩，貪婪之性疾入膏肓，愚鄙之心頑於鐵石。 當主憂臣辱之時，不聞延訪賢豪，咨詢方略，惟與子世蕃規圖自便。 忠謀則多方沮之，諛諂則曲意引之。 要賄鬻官，沽恩結客。 朝廷賞一人，曰：『由我賞之』； 罰一人，曰：『由我罰之』。 人皆伺嚴氏之愛惡，而不知朝廷之恩威，尚忍言哉！ 姑舉其罪之大者言之。 納將帥之賄，以啟邊陲之釁，一也。 受諸王餽遺，每事陰為之地，二也。 攬吏部之權，雖州縣小吏亦皆貨取，致官方大壞，三也。 索撫按之歲例，致有司遞相承奉，而閭閻之財日削，四也。 陰制諫官，俾不敢直言，五也。 妒賢嫉能，一忤其意，必致之死，六也。 縱子受財，斂怨天下，七也。 運財還家，月無虛日，致道途驛騷，八也。 久居政府，擅寵害政，九也。 不能協謀天討，上貽君父憂，十也。」 因並論邦謨諂諛黷貨狀。 請均罷斥，以謝天下。 帝大怒，搒之數十，謫佃保安。
Song enjoyed favor and wielded power; frontier officials competed to send bribes. When they lost affairs and feared guilt, they increasingly carted gold to bribe Song; bribes grew heavier day by day. Lian from time to time wrung his wrists. One day drinking with Vice Director Zhang Xunye, halfway through wine they reached Song; he therefore cursed generously, tears streaming down his face. He then submitted a memorial saying: "Last year Altan violated obedience; Your Majesty roused divine martial spirit and wished to take the opportunity for a northern expedition—this is what civil and military ministers wished to strive together for. Yet to overcome the enemy one must first calculate in the temple; temple calculation must first remove evil and treachery for the realm—only then can external enemies be pacified. Now Grand Secretary Song—his greedy nature has entered to the marrow; his foolish and base heart is harder than iron and stone. At the time when the lord sorrows and ministers are shamed, he did not hear of extending visits to worthy heroes and consulting strategy—only with his son Shifan he plotted for their own convenience. Loyal plans he obstructed in many ways; flattery and sycophancy he drew in with bent intent. Demanding bribes to sell offices, trading grace to win clients. When the court rewarded one man, he said: 'It is I who rewarded him'; when it punished one, he said: 'It is I who punished him.' All men watched the Yan clan's loves and hates and did not know the court's grace and awe—can one still speak of it! Let me speak of his crimes in their greater aspects. Accepting generals' bribes and thereby opening frontier provocations—the first. Receiving princes' gifts and on every matter secretly making way for them—the second. Usurping the Ministry of Personnel's power—even petty county clerks he made pay; official standards were greatly ruined—the third. Demanding the yearly tribute of surveillance and grand coordinators, causing subordinates to pass it on in succession while village wealth daily shrank—the fourth. Secretly restraining remonstrance officials so they dared not speak bluntly—the fifth. Jealous of worth and hating ability—whoever once offended his intent he surely caused to die—the sixth. Indulging his son to receive wealth and gathering resentment throughout the realm—the seventh. Transporting wealth home—no day without it—causing disturbance on roads and post stations—the eighth. Long holding government and monopolizing favor to harm governance—the ninth. Unable to cooperate in heaven's punishment and thereby leaving the lord and father worry—the tenth. He also together discussed Bangmo's flattery and bribery. He asked that all be dismissed together to apologize to the realm. The emperor was greatly angered, beat him dozens of times, and banished him to farm in Bao'an.
56
既至，未有館舍。 賈人某詢知其得罪故，徙家舍之。 裏長老亦日致薪米，遣子弟就學。 煉語以忠義大節，皆大喜。 塞外人素戇直，又諗知嵩惡，爭詈嵩以快煉。 煉亦大喜，日相與詈嵩父子為常。 且縛草為人，象李林甫、秦檜及嵩，醉則聚子弟攢射之。 或踔騎居庸關口，南向戟手詈嵩，復痛哭乃歸。 語稍稍聞京師，嵩大恨，思有以報煉。
When he arrived there was no lodging. A merchant inquired and learned he was punished for this reason and moved his family to lodge him. The village elders also daily brought firewood and rice and sent sons to study. Lian spoke to them of loyal righteousness and great integrity; all were greatly pleased. Frontier people are by nature blunt and straight; they also knew Song's evil and competed to curse Song to please Lian. Lian also was greatly pleased and daily with them cursed the Song father and son as a matter of course. Moreover he bound straw into human forms resembling Li Linpu, Qin Hui, and Song; when drunk he gathered sons and nephews to shoot at them. Sometimes he leaped on horseback to Juyong Pass, faced south with dagger in hand cursed Song, then wept bitterly and returned. The words gradually reached the capital; Song greatly hated him and thought how to repay Lian.
57
先是，許論總督宣、大，常殺良民冒功，煉貽書誚讓。 後嵩黨楊順為總督。 會俺答入寇，破應州四十余堡，懼罪，欲上首功自解，縱吏士遮殺避兵人，逾於論。 煉遺書責之加切。 又作文祭死事者，詞多刺順。 順大怒，走私人白世蕃，言煉結死士擊劍習射，意叵測。 世蕃以屬巡按御史李鳳毛。 鳳毛謬謝曰：「有之，已陰散其黨矣。」 既而代鳳毛者路楷，亦嵩黨也。 世蕃屬與順合圖之，許厚報。 兩人日夜謀所以中煉者。 會蔚州妖人閻浩等素以白蓮教惑眾，出入漠北，泄邊情為患。 官軍捕獲之，詞所連及甚眾。 順喜，謂楷曰：「是足以報嚴公子矣。」 竄煉名其中，誣浩等師事煉，聽其指揮，具獄上。 嵩父子大喜。 前總督論適長兵部，竟覆如其奏。 斬煉宣府市，戍子襄極邊。 予順一子錦衣千戶，楷待銓五品卿寺。 時三十六年九月也。 順曰：「嚴公薄我賞，意豈未愜乎？」 取煉子袞、褒杖殺之，更移檄逮襄。 襄至，掠訊方急，會順、楷以他事逮，乃免。
Previously Xu Lun as governor-general of Xuan and Da often killed innocent people to claim merit; Lian sent a letter reproaching him. Afterward Song's faction Yang Shun became governor-general. When Altan invaded and broke more than forty fortresses of Yingzhou, fearing guilt he wished to present a first achievement to excuse himself and let officials and soldiers intercept and kill people fleeing war—exceeding Lun. Lian sent a letter blaming him still more sharply. He also wrote a text sacrificing those who died for the cause; the words much stabbed Shun. Shun was greatly angered, sent a private person to tell Shifan that Lian gathered dead soldiers to practice swordsmanship and shoot arrows with intent hard to fathom. Shifan entrusted it to touring censor Li Fengmao. Fengmao falsely thanked him saying: "There was such a thing; they have already been secretly dispersed. Afterward Lu Kai replaced Fengmao; he too was Song's faction. Shifan entrusted him to join with Shun in plotting; he promised rich repayment. The two day and night plotted how to strike Lian. It happened that the sorcerer Yan Hao and others of Weizhou long used the White Lotus teaching to delude the multitude, going in and out of the northern desert and leaking frontier intelligence to cause harm. Government troops captured them; their testimony implicated very many. Shun was pleased and said to Kai: "This is enough to repay Master Yan's son. They inserted Lian's name among them, falsely charging that Hao and others took Lian as teacher and obeyed his commands; the full case was submitted. The Song father and son were greatly pleased. Former governor-general Lun happened to head the Ministry of War and in the end confirmed the memorial as submitted. Lian was executed at Xuanfu market; his son Xiang was banished to the extreme frontier. Shun was given one son as commander of a thousand households in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard; Kai awaited selection for fifth-rank temple office. It was the ninth month of the thirty-sixth year. Shun said: "Master Yan thinks my reward thin—is his intent not yet satisfied? He took Lian's sons Gun and Bao and beat them to death with sticks, and again sent a dispatch to seize Xiang. When Xiang arrived, plundering interrogation was pressing; it happened that Shun and Kai were seized on other matters and he was spared.
58
後嵩敗，世蕃坐誅。 臨刑時，煉所教保安子弟在太學者，以一帛署煉姓名官爵於其上，持入市。 觀世蕃斷頭訖，大呼曰：「沈公可暝目矣。」 因慟哭而去。
Afterward Song fell and Shifan was executed for his crime. At the time of execution, youths of Bao'an whom Lian had taught, now in the National University, took a cloth with Lian's name and office written on it and carried it into the market. Watching Shifan's head cut off, they cried loudly: "Master Shen can close his eyes. They therefore wailed and left.
59
隆慶初，詔褒言事者。 贈煉光祿少卿，任一子官。 襄乃上書，言順、楷殺人媚奸狀。 給事中魏時亮、陳瓚亦相繼論之。 遂下順、楷吏，論死。 天啟初，謚忠湣。
At the beginning of Longqing an edict honored those who spoke on affairs. Lian was posthumously made vice director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and one son was granted office. Xiang then submitted a memorial on Shun and Kai's killing men to flatter the wicked. Supervising secretaries Wei Shiliang and Chen Zan also in succession discussed it. Shun and Kai were then sent to the legal offices and sentenced to death. At the beginning of Tianqi he was given the posthumous title Loyal and Lamented.
60
楊繼盛，字仲芳，容城人。 七歲失母。 庶母妒，使牧牛。 繼盛經裏塾，睹里中兒讀書，心好之。 因語兄，請得從塾師學。 兄曰：「若幼，何學？」 繼盛曰：「幼者任牧牛，乃不任學耶？」 兄言於父，聽之學，然牧不廢也。 年十三歲，始得從師學。 家貧，益自刻厲。 舉鄉試，卒業國子監，徐階丞賞之。 嘉靖二十六年登進士。 授南京吏部主事。 從尚書韓邦奇遊，覃思律呂之學，手制十二律，吹之聲畢和。 邦奇大喜，盡以所學授之，繼盛名益著。 召改兵部員外郎。
Yang Jisheng, styled Zhongfang, was from Rongcheng. At seven he lost his mother. The concubine mother was jealous and made him herd cattle. Jisheng passed the village school and seeing village children read, his heart loved it. He therefore told his elder brother and asked to study with the schoolmaster. His brother said: "You are young—why study? Jisheng said: "The young are fit to herd cattle—are they not fit to study?" His brother spoke to their father; he was allowed to study, yet herding was not abandoned. At thirteen he first obtained a teacher to study. The family was poor and he strove all the more in self-restraint. He passed the provincial examination, completed study at the National University, and Vice Minister Xu Jie appreciated him. In the twenty-sixth year of Jiajing he passed the jinshi. He was appointed principal clerk in the Nanjing Ministry of Personnel. Following Minister Han Bangqi he deeply pondered pitch-pipe studies, personally made twelve pitch pipes, and when blown the sounds all harmonized. Bangqi was greatly pleased and taught him all he had learned; Jisheng's fame grew. He was summoned and transferred to vice director in the Ministry of War.
61
俺答躪京師，鹹寧侯仇鸞以勤王故有寵。 帝命鸞為大將軍，倚以辦寇。 鸞中情怯，畏寇甚。 方請開互市市馬，冀與俺答媾，幸無戰鬥，固恩寵。 繼盛以為讎恥未雪，遽議和示弱，大辱國，乃奏言十不可、五謬。 大略謂：
When Altan trampled the capital, Marquis Qiu Luan because of aiding the throne had favor. The emperor ordered Luan as great general and relied on him to handle the raiders. Luan was cowardly within and greatly feared the raiders. He was then asking to open mutual markets for horses, hoping to treat with Altan and fortunately avoid fighting, thereby securing favor. Jisheng thought shame and hatred were not yet washed away and hastily to discuss peace showed weakness—a great insult to the state—and memorialized ten impossibilities and five fallacies. In general he said:
62
互市者，和親別名也。 俺答蹂躪我陵寢，虔劉我赤子。 天下大讎也，而先之和。 不可一。 往下詔北伐，天下曉然知聖意，日夜征繕助兵食。 忽更之曰和，失信於天下。 不可二。 以堂堂中國，與之互市，冠履倒置。 不可三。 海內豪傑爭磨礪待試，一旦委置無用。 異時欲號召，誰復興起？ 不可四。 使邊鎮將帥以和議故，美衣俞食，馳懈兵事。 不可五。 往時邊卒私通境外，吏率裁禁，今乃導之使與通。 不可六。 盜賊伏莽，徒懾國威不敢肆耳，今知朝廷畏怯，睥睨之漸必開。 不可七。 俺答往歲深入，乘我無備故也。 備之一歲，以互市終。 彼謂國有人乎？ 不可八。 或俺答負約不至； 至矣，或陰謀伏兵突入； 或今日市，明日復寇； 或以下馬索上直。 不可九。 歲帛數十萬，得馬數萬匹。 十年以後，帛將不繼。 不可十。
Mutual markets are another name for marriage alliance. Altan trampled our imperial tombs and slaughtered our children. He is the great enemy of the realm—yet first to make peace with him. Impossible—the first. Impossible—the first. Previously an edict went down for a northern expedition; the realm clearly knew the sacred intent and day and night gathered arms and provisions. Suddenly changing it to peace loses faith with the realm. Impossible—the second. Impossible—the second. With the august Middle Kingdom to mutual market with them—cap and shoes inverted. Impossible—the third. Impossible—the third. Heroes within the seas grind weapons awaiting trial; once cast aside as useless, when another time you wish to summon them, who will rise again? Impossible—the fourth. Impossible—the fourth. Making frontier commanders and generals for the sake of peace talks enjoy fine clothes and ample food and slacken military affairs. Impossible—the fifth. Impossible—the fifth. Formerly frontier soldiers privately communicated outside the border and officials generally restrained and forbade it; now they are led to communicate. Impossible—the sixth. Impossible—the sixth. Bandits lurk in coverts; they only fear state authority and dare not run wild—now knowing the court's timidity, the gradual opening of contempt is sure. Impossible—the seventh. Impossible—the seventh. Altan in past years invaded deeply because we were unprepared. Prepared for a year, yet it ends in mutual markets. Will they think the state has men? Impossible—the eighth. Impossible—the eighth. Or Altan breaks the agreement and does not come; if he comes, or secretly plots ambush to burst in; or markets today and raids tomorrow; or demands upper value for inferior horses. Impossible—the ninth. Yearly silks tens of thousands, obtaining horses tens of thousands. After ten years silks will not continue. Impossible—the tenth. Impossible—the tenth.
63
議者曰：「吾外為市以羈縻之，而內修我甲。」 此一謬也。 夫寇欲無厭，其以釁終明甚。 茍內修武備，安事羈縻？ 曰：「吾陰市，以益我馬」。 此二謬也。 夫和則不戰，馬將焉用？ 且彼寧肯予我良馬哉？ 曰：「市不已，彼且入貢」。 此三謬也。 夫貢之賞不貲，是名美而實大損也。 曰：「俺答利我市，必無失信」。 此四謬也。 吾之市，能盡給其眾乎？ 能信不給者之無入掠乎？ 曰：「佳兵不祥」。 此五謬也。 敵加己而應之，何佳也？ 人身四肢皆癰疽，毒日內攻，而憚用藥石可乎？
Those who discuss say: 'Externally we market to restrain them, while internally we repair our armor.' This is one fallacy. This is one fallacy. The raiders' desire is insatiable; that they end in provocation is clearly seen. If internally martial preparations are repaired, why restrain at all? They say: 'We market in secret to increase our horses.' This is the second fallacy. This is the second fallacy. If at peace there is no fighting, what use horses? Moreover would they willingly give us good horses? Moreover would they willingly give us good horses? They say: 'If markets do not cease, they will enter and offer tribute.' This is the third fallacy. This is the third fallacy. Rewards for tribute are not meager—this is a beautiful name with great real loss. They say: 'Altan profits by our markets and surely will not break faith.' This is the fourth fallacy. This is the fourth fallacy. Can our markets fully supply their multitude? Can we trust that those not supplied will not enter to plunder? Can we trust that those not supplied will not enter to plunder? They say: 'Fine weapons are inauspicious.' This is the fifth fallacy. This is the fifth fallacy. When the enemy attacks and one responds, what is inauspicious about it? When a person's four limbs are all carbuncles and poison attacks inward daily, yet one fears using medicine and stone—can that be?
64
夫此十不可、五謬，明顯易見。 蓋有為陛下主其事者，故公卿大夫知而莫為一言。 陛下宜奮獨斷，悉按諸言互市者，發明詔選將練兵。 不出十年，臣請為陛下竿俺答之首於槁街，以示天下萬世。
These ten impossibilities and five fallacies are obvious and easy to see. Surely there are those who manage this matter for Your Majesty; therefore grand secretaries and great ministers know yet dare not speak a word. Your Majesty should vigorously exercise sole judgment, entirely dismiss those who speak of mutual markets, issue a bright edict to select generals and drill troops. Within ten years your servant asks to pole Altan's head at Gao Street for Your Majesty to show the realm for ten thousand generations.
65
疏入，帝頗心動，下鸞及成國公朱希忠，大學士嚴嵩、徐階、呂本，兵部尚書趙錦，侍郎聶豹、張時徹議。 鸞攘臂詈曰：「豎子目不睹寇，宜其易之。」 諸大臣遂言遣官已行，勢難中止。 帝尚猶豫，鸞復進密疏。 乃下繼盛詔獄，貶狄道典史。 其地雜番，俗罕知詩書。 繼盛簡子弟秀者百余人，聘三經師教之。 鬻所乘馬，出婦服裝，市田資諸生。 縣有煤山，為番人所據，民仰薪二百里外。 繼盛召番人諭之，鹹服曰：「楊公即須我曹穹帳亦舍之，況煤山耶？」 番民信愛之，呼曰「楊父」。
When the memorial entered the emperor was quite moved; it was sent down to Luan and Defender-in-chief Zhu Xizhong, Grand Secretaries Yan Song, Xu Jie, and Lu Ben, Minister of War Zhao Jin, and Vice Ministers Nie Bao and Zhang Shiche to discuss. Luan rolled up his sleeves and cursed: "This stripling has not seen the raiders—no wonder he makes light of it. The great ministers then said dispatching officials had already gone and the situation was hard to stop. The emperor still hesitated; Luan again submitted a secret memorial. Jisheng was then put in the imperial prison and demoted to recorder of Didao. The place mixed with various tribes; custom rarely knew poetry and books. Jisheng selected more than a hundred outstanding youths of the district and hired teachers of the Three Classics to instruct them. He sold the horse he rode and his wife's clothing to buy fields to support the students. The county had Coal Mountain occupied by tribesmen; the people relied on firewood two hundred li away. Jisheng summoned tribesmen and instructed them; all submitted saying: "If Master Yang needs even our felt tents we would abandon them—how much more Coal Mountain? The tribesmen trusted and loved him and called him "Father Yang."
66
已而俺答數敗約入寇，鸞奸大露，疽發背死，戮其屍。 帝乃思繼盛言，稍遷諸城知縣。 月余調南京戶部主事，三日遷刑部員外郎。 當是時，嚴嵩最用事。 恨鸞淩己，心善繼盛首攻鸞，欲驟貴之，復改兵部武選司。 而繼盛惡嵩甚於鸞。 且念起謫籍，一歲四遷官，思所以報國。 抵任甫一月，草奏劾嵩，齋三日乃上奏曰：
Afterward Altan several times broke agreements and invaded; Luan's villainy was greatly exposed; carbuncle broke out on his back and he died; his corpse was dismembered. The emperor then thought of Jisheng's words and slightly transferred him to magistrate of Zhucheng. After a month he was transferred to principal clerk in the Nanjing Ministry of Revenue; in three days he was moved to vice director in the Ministry of Punishments. At that time Yan Song was most in power. Hating that Luan looked down on him, he was kindly disposed to Jisheng for first attacking Luan and wished to raise him quickly; he again changed him to Military Selection in the Ministry of War. Yet Jisheng hated Song more than Luan. Moreover thinking he rose from demoted register with four promotions in one year, he thought how to repay the state. Barely a month in office he drafted a memorial impeaching Song, fasted three days, then submitted saying:
67
臣孤直罪臣，蒙天地恩，超擢不次。 夙夜祗懼，思圖報稱，蓋未有急於請誅賊臣者也。 方今外賊惟俺答，內賊惟嚴嵩，未有內賊不去，而可除外賊者。 去年春雷久不聲，占曰：「大臣專政」。 冬日下有赤色，占曰：「下有叛臣」。 又四方地震，日月交食。 臣以為災皆嵩致，請以嵩十大罪為陛下陳之。
Your servant, a solitary and blunt criminal minister, received heaven and earth's grace and was promoted beyond measure. Day and night I only fear and think how to repay—there is nothing more urgent than asking to execute the wicked minister. Now the external enemy is only Altan; the internal enemy is only Yan Song—never has an internal enemy been removed while an external enemy could be excluded. Last year spring thunder long did not sound; divination said: 'Great ministers monopolize government.' Winter below there was red color; divination said: 'Below there are rebellious ministers.' Moreover earthquakes in the four quarters and eclipses of sun and moon. Your servant thinks disasters are all caused by Song; I ask to set forth Song's ten great crimes for Your Majesty.
68
高皇帝罷丞相，設立殿閣之臣，備顧問視制草而已，嵩乃儼然以丞相自居。 凡府部題覆，先面白而後草奏。 百官請命，奔走直房如市。 無丞相名，而有丞相權。 天下知有嵩，不知有陛下。 是壞祖宗之成法。 大罪一也。
The founding emperor abolished the chancellor and established palace ministers to prepare consultation and view draft memorials only—yet Song solemnly took the chancellor as himself. Whatever ministries memorialized, he first informed face to face then drafted the memorial. When hundred officials requested orders they ran to his straight room as to a market. Without the chancellor's name yet with chancellor's power. The realm knew Song and did not know Your Majesty. This destroys the ancestors' established law. Great crime—the first. Great crime—the first.
69
陛下用一人，嵩曰「我薦也」； 斥一人，曰「此非我所親，故罷之」。 陛下宥一人，嵩曰「我救也」； 罰一人，曰「此得罪於我，故報之」。 伺陛下喜怒以恣威福。 群臣感嵩甚於感陛下，畏嵩甚於畏陛下。 是竊君上之大權。 大罪二也。
When Your Majesty employed one man, Song said 'I recommended him'; when you dismissed one, he said 'This is not my intimate—therefore he is dismissed.' When Your Majesty pardoned one, Song said 'I saved him'; when you punished one, he said 'This offended me—therefore I repay him.' He watched Your Majesty's joy and anger to wield authority and favor at will. Ministers were moved by Song more than by Your Majesty, feared Song more than Your Majesty. This steals the ruler's great authority. Great crime—the second. Great crime—the second.
70
陛下有善政，嵩必令世蕃告人曰：「主上不及此，我議而成之」。 又以所進揭帖刊刻行世，名曰《嘉靖疏議》，欲天下以陛下之善盡歸於嵩。 是掩君上之治功。 大罪三也。
When Your Majesty had good policy, Song surely had Shifan tell people: 'The lord did not reach this—I discussed and accomplished it.' Moreover the memorials he presented were printed and circulated under the name 'Jiajing Memorials,' wishing all Your Majesty's goodness to return to Song. This covers the ruler's governing achievement. Great crime—the third. Great crime—the third.
71
陛下令嵩司票擬，蓋其職也。 嵩何取而令子世蕃代擬？ 又何取而約諸義子趙文華輩群聚而代擬？ 題疏方上，天語已傳。 如沈煉劾嵩疏，陛下以命呂本，本即潛送世蕃所，令其擬上。 是嵩以臣而竊君之權，世蕃復以子而盜父之柄，故京師有「大丞相、小丞相」之謠。 是縱奸子之僭竊。 大罪四也。
Your Majesty ordered Song to handle draft approval—this is his duty. Why did Song take it and order his son Shifan to draft in his place? Why again take adopted sons Zhao Wenhua and others to gather and draft in place? When a memorial was just submitted, heaven's words were already transmitted. Like Shen Lian's memorial impeaching Song—Your Majesty ordered Lu Ben; Ben secretly sent it to Shifan's place and let him draft the response. Thus Song as minister stole the ruler's power and Shifan as son stole the father's handle—hence in the capital there was the song 'great chancellor, little chancellor.' This indulges the wicked son's usurpation. Great crime—the fourth. Great crime—the fourth.
72
嚴效忠、嚴鵠，乳臭子耳，未嘗一涉行伍。 嵩先令效忠冒兩廣功，授錦衣所鎮撫矣。 效忠以病告，鵠襲兄職。 又冒瓊州功，擢千戶。 以故總督歐陽必進躐掌工部，總兵陳圭幾統後府，巡按黃如桂亦驟亞太仆。 既藉私黨以官其子孫，又因子孫以拔其私黨。 是冒朝廷之軍功。 大罪五也。
Yan Xiaozhong and Yan He were suckling children who had never once entered the ranks. Song first had Xiaozhong falsely claim merit in the two Guang and appointed him commandant of the Embroidered-Uniform Guard. Xiaozhong reported illness; He inherited his brother's post. Again falsely claiming Qiongzhou merit, he was promoted to commander of a thousand households. Therefore former governor-general Ouyang Bijing leaped to head the Ministry of Works, Commander Chen Gui nearly commanded the Rear Office, and touring censor Huang Rugui was suddenly made vice minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud. Having used private factions to office his sons and grandsons, he again used sons and grandsons to pull up his private factions. This usurps the court's military merit. Great crime—the fifth. Great crime—the fifth.
73
逆鸞先已下獄論罪，賄世蕃三千金，薦為大將。 鸞冒擒哈舟丹兒功，世蕃亦得增秩。 嵩父子自誇能薦鸞矣，及知陛下有疑鸞心，復互相排詆，以泯前跡。 鸞勾賊，而嵩、世蕃復勾鸞。 是引背逆之奸臣。 大罪六也。
The rebel Luan was already imprisoned and judged; he bribed Shifan three thousand gold and was recommended as great general. Luan falsely claimed merit in capturing Hachandan'er; Shifan also obtained raised rank. The Song father and son boasted of ability to recommend Luan; when they knew Your Majesty doubted Luan they again mutually slandered to erase former traces. Luan hooked the raiders and Song and Shifan again hooked Luan. This introduces rebellious wicked ministers. Great crime—the sixth. Great crime—the sixth.
74
前俺答深入，擊其惰歸，此一大機也。 兵部尚書丁汝夔問計於嵩，嵩戒無戰。 及汝夔逮治，嵩復以論救紿之。 汝夔臨死大呼曰：嵩誤我。 是誤國家之軍機。 大罪七也。
Previously when Altan invaded deeply, to strike his weary return was one great opportunity. Minister of War Ding Rukui asked Song's plan; Song warned not to fight. When Rukui was seized for judgment Song again deceived him with talk of rescue. Rukui at the point of death cried loudly: Song misled me. This misleads the state's military opportunity. Great crime—the seventh. Great crime—the seventh.
75
郎中徐學詩劾嵩革任矣，復欲斥其兄中書舍人應豐。 給事厲汝進劾嵩謫典史矣，復以考察令吏部削其籍。 內外之臣，被中傷者何可勝計？ 是專黜陟之大柄。 大罪八也。
Director Xu Xueshi impeached Song and was removed from office; he again wished to dismiss his elder brother Hanlin bachelor Yingfeng. Supervising secretary Li Rujin impeached Song and was demoted to recorder; again on inspection he ordered the Ministry of Personnel to strike his name from the register. How many inside and outside were slandered and could not be counted? This monopolizes the great power of dismissal and appointment. Great crime—the eighth. Great crime—the eighth.
76
凡文武遷擢，不論可否，但衡金之多寡而畀之。 將弁惟賄嵩，不得不朘削士卒； 有司惟賄嵩，不得不掊克百姓。 士卒失所，百姓流離，毒遍海內。 臣恐今日之患不在境外而在域中。 是失天下之人心。 大罪九也。
Whatever civil and military promotion and transfer, regardless of fitness, only the measure of gold's abundance was used to bestow it. Generals and commanders only bribed Song and had to drain the soldiers; local officials only bribed Song and had to squeeze the common people. Soldiers lost their place; the people were displaced; poison spread throughout the seas. Your servant fears today's calamity is not outside the borders but within the realm. This loses the hearts of the realm. Great crime—the ninth. Great crime—the ninth.
77
自嵩用事，風俗大變。 賄賂者薦及盜跖，疏拙者黜逮夷、齊。 守法度者為迂疏，巧彌縫者為才能。 勵節介者為矯激，善奔者為練事。 自古風俗之壞，未有甚於今日者。 蓋嵩好利，天下皆尚貪。 嵩好諛，天下皆尚諂。 源之弗潔，流何以澄？ 是敝天下之風俗。 大罪十也。
Since Song wielded power customs greatly changed. Those who bribed were recommended even to robbers; the blunt and clumsy were dismissed even to Yi and Qi. Those who observed law were called pedantic and remote; those who cleverly patched were called able. Those who urged integrity were called harsh and provocative; those good at scrambling were called experienced in affairs. Since ancient times the ruin of customs has never been worse than today. Song loves profit—the realm all esteems greed. Song loves flattery—the realm all esteems sycophancy. If the source is not pure, how can the flow be clear? This ruins the customs of the realm. Great crime—the tenth. Great crime—the tenth.
78
嵩有是十罪，而又濟之以五奸。 知左右侍從之能察意旨也，厚賄結納。 凡陛下言動舉措，莫不報嵩。 是陛下之左右皆賊嵩之間諜也。 以通政司之主出納也，用趙文華為使。 凡有疏至，先送嵩閱竟，然後入禦。 王宗茂劾嵩之章停五日乃上，故嵩得展轉遮飾。 是陛下之喉舌乃賊嵩之鷹犬也。 畏廠衛之緝訪也，令子世蕃結為婚姻。 陛下試詰嵩諸孫之婦，皆誰氏乎？ 是陛下之爪牙皆賊嵩之瓜葛也。 畏科道之多言也，進士非其私屬，不得預中書、行人選。 推官、知縣非通賄，不得預給事、御史選。 既選之後，入則杯酒結歡，出則饋饣盡相屬。 所有愛憎，授之論刺。 歷俸五六年，無所建白，即擢京卿。 諸臣忍負國家，不敢忤權臣。 是陛下之耳目皆賊嵩之奴隸也。 科道雖入籠絡，而部寺中或有如徐學詩之輩亦可懼也，令子世蕃擇其有才望者，羅置門下。 凡有事欲行者，先令報嵩，預為布置，連絡蟠結，深根固蒂，各部堂司大半皆其羽翼。 是陛下之臣工皆賊嵩之心膂也。 陛下奈何愛一賊臣，而忍百萬蒼生陷於塗炭哉？
Song has these ten crimes and moreover aids them with five treacheries. Knowing that attendants at the side can discern intent, he bribed thickly to win them. Whatever Your Majesty's words, conduct, and movements—all were reported to Song. Your Majesty's attendants at the side are all Song's spies. Using the Communications Office to handle outgoing and incoming, he employed Zhao Wenhua as envoy. Whatever memorial arrived was first sent to Song to read through, then entered the inner court. Wang Zongmao's memorial impeaching Song was stopped five days before submission—therefore Song could turn and cover. Your Majesty's mouth and tongue are Song's hawks and dogs. Fearing the Embroidered-Uniform Guard's investigation, he had his son Shifan form marriage alliances. Your Majesty try asking whose daughters are the wives of Song's grandsons? Your Majesty's claws and teeth are all Song's connections. Fearing the many words of the censorate, jinshi who were not his private followers could not enter Hanlin or courier selection. Investigating censors and magistrates who did not pass bribes could not enter supervising secretary or censor selection. After selection, entering they formed wine friendship; going out they sent gifts in succession. Whatever loves and hates were entrusted for attack and impeachment. After five or six years of salary with nothing memorialized, they were promoted to capital minister. Ministers bore the state and did not dare offend the powerful minister. Your Majesty's ears and eyes are all Song's slaves. Though the censorate entered the net, in ministries and temples there were some like Xu Xueshi who could still be feared; he had his son Shifan select those with talent and reputation and gather them at his gate. Whatever affair wished to be carried out was first reported to Song and pre-arranged, linked and coiled, roots deep and stems firm—more than half of each ministry's chiefs were his wings. Your Majesty's ministers and workers are all Song's heart and backbone. Why does Your Majesty love one wicked minister and bear to let a million common people sink in charcoal?
79
至如大學士徐階蒙陛下特擢，乃亦每事依違，不敢持正，不可不謂之負國也。 願陛下聽臣之言，察嵩之奸。 或召問裕、景二王，或詢諸閣臣。 重則置憲，輕則勒致仕。 內賊既去，外賊自除。 雖俺答亦必畏陛下聖斷，不戰而喪膽矣。
As for Grand Secretary Xu Jie, specially promoted by Your Majesty, he also on every matter follows and dares not hold straight—this must be called bearing the state. I beg Your Majesty to hear your servant's words and examine Song's treachery. Or summon and ask the two princes Yu and Jing, or inquire of the grand secretaries. In heavy cases place under the law; in light cases order retirement. When the internal enemy goes, the external enemy is removed of itself. Even Altan will surely fear Your Majesty's sacred decision and lose courage without fighting.
80
疏入，帝已怒。 嵩見召問二王語，喜謂可指此為罪，密構於帝。 帝益大怒，下繼盛詔獄，詰何故引二王。 繼盛曰：「非二王誰不懾嵩者！」 獄上，乃杖之百，令刑部定罪。 侍郎王學益，嵩黨也。 受嵩屬，欲坐詐傳親王令旨律絞，郎中史朝賓持之。 嵩怒，謫之外。 於是尚書何鰲不敢違，竟如嵩指成獄，然帝猶未欲殺之也。 系三載，有為營救於嵩者。 其黨胡植、鄢懋卿怵之曰：「公不睹養虎者耶，將自貽患。」 嵩頷之。 會都御史張經、李天寵坐大辟。 嵩揣帝意必殺二人，比秋審，因附繼盛名並奏，得報。 其妻張氏伏闕上書，言：「臣夫繼盛誤聞市井之言，尚狃書生之見，遂發狂論。 聖明不即加戮，俾從吏議。 兩經奏讞，俱荷寬恩。 今忽闌入張經疏尾，奉旨處決。 臣仰惟聖德，昆蟲草木皆欲得所，豈惜一回宸顧，下垂覆盆？ 倘以罪重，必不可赦，願即斬臣妾首，以代夫誅。 夫雖遠禦魑魅，必能為疆場效死，以報君父。」 嵩屏不奏，遂以三十四年十月朔棄西市，年四十。 臨刑賦詩曰：「浩氣還太虛，丹心照千古。 生平未報恩，留作忠魂補。」 天下相與涕泣傳頌之。
When the memorial entered the emperor was already angry. Song seeing the words about summoning the two princes was pleased and thought this could be made a crime; he secretly constructed it before the emperor. The emperor was still more greatly angered, put Jisheng in the imperial prison, and interrogated why he cited the two princes. Jisheng said: "Besides the two princes, who is not awed by Song! When the case was submitted he was beaten a hundred times and ordered the Ministry of Punishments to fix punishment. Vice Minister Wang Xueyi was Song's faction. Receiving Song's commission he wished to convict under the statute of falsely transmitting an imperial prince's order by strangulation; Director Shi Chaobin held against it. Song was angry and demoted him outside. Then Minister He Ao dared not disobey and in the end followed Song's intent to complete the case; yet the emperor still did not wish to kill him. Imprisoned three years, some worked to rescue him for Song. His faction Hu Zhi and Yan Maqing alarmed him saying: "Do you not see the tiger-keeper? You will bring disaster on yourself. Song nodded assent. It happened that Censor-in-chief Zhang Jing and Li Tianchong were sentenced to great execution. Song guessed the emperor's intent would surely kill the two men; at the autumn review he attached Jisheng's name in the same memorial and obtained reply. His wife Lady Zhang knelt at the gate and submitted a memorial saying: "My husband Jisheng mistakenly heard market words and still clung to a student's view—therefore he uttered mad talk. The sage did not immediately add execution but let the legal offices judge. Twice submitted for judgment, both received lenient grace. Now suddenly inserted at the tail of Zhang Jing's memorial, he received imperial order for execution. Your servant looks up at sacred virtue—even insects and plants all wish to obtain their place; how can one spare one turn of imperial regard and drop favor on the covered basin? If the crime is heavy and cannot be pardoned, I beg immediately to cut off your servant's head in place of my husband's execution. Though far repelling evil spirits, she surely can die effectually for the frontier to repay lord and father. Song screened and did not submit; on the first day of the tenth month of the thirty-fourth year he was abandoned at the western market—aged forty. Facing execution he composed a poem: "Vast spirit returns to the great void; red heart illumines a thousand ages. Life's grace not yet repaid—leave it for loyal souls to mend. The realm together wept and spread and praised it.
81
初，繼盛之將杖也，或遺之蚺蛇膽。 卻之曰：「椒山自有膽，何蚺蛇為！」 椒山，繼盛別號也。 及入獄，創甚。 夜半而蘇，碎瓷碗，手割腐肉。 肉盡，筋掛膜，復手截去。 獄卒執燈顫欲墜，繼盛意氣自如。 朝審時，觀者塞衢，皆嘆息，有泣下者。 後七年，嵩敗。 穆宗立，恤直諫諸臣，以繼盛為首。 贈太常少卿，謚忠湣，予祭葬，任一子官。 已，又從御史郝傑言，建祠保定，名旌忠。
Initially when Jisheng was about to be beaten, someone offered him python gall. He refused saying: "Jiaoshan has his own gall—what need of python! Jiaoshan was Jisheng's sobriquet. When he entered prison the wounds were severe. At midnight he revived, smashed a porcelain bowl, and with his hand cut away rotten flesh. When flesh was gone tendons hung on membrane; again with his hand he cut them off. The prison guard held the lamp trembling as if about to fall; Jisheng's spirit was as before. At the court review onlookers filled the streets; all sighed and some wept. Seven years later Song fell. When Muzong rose he favored blunt remonstrance ministers, with Jisheng as chief. He was posthumously made vice minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, given the posthumous title Loyal and Lamented, granted sacrificial burial, and one son was granted office. Afterward following Censor Hao Jie's words a temple was built at Baoding named Commemorating Loyalty.
82
後繼盛論馬市得罪者，何光裕、龔愷。 光裕，字思問，梓潼人。 嘉靖二十年進士。 改庶吉士，除刑科給事中。 偕同官楊上林、齊譽請召遺佚。 帝可之，已而報罷。 巡視京營，劾罷尚書路迎。 與給事中謝登之、御史曾佩建議節財，冗費大省。 邊事迫，命清理諸陵守衛軍，條上祛弊七事，多報可。
Afterward those punished with Jisheng for discussing the horse market were He Guangyu and Gong Kai. Guangyu, styled Siwen, was from Zitong. He passed the jinshi in the twentieth year of Jiajing. Changed to Hanlin bachelor, appointed supervising secretary in the Punishments Section. Together with colleagues Yang Shanglin and Qi Yu he asked to summon the overlooked. The emperor approved; afterward it was reported cancelled. Inspecting the capital garrison he impeached and dismissed Minister Lu Ying. With supervising secretary Xie Dengzhi and Censor Zeng Pei he proposed economizing—redundant expenses were greatly reduced. Frontier affairs pressing, he was ordered to clear the guard soldiers of the various tombs; he listed seven matters to remove abuses—many approved.
83
屢遷兵科都給事中。 都指揮呂元夤緣得錦衣，總旗王松冒功襲千戶，光裕皆舉奏之。 兵部尚書趙錦疏辯，帝斥元，下松都察院獄，而奪錦等俸。
He was repeatedly promoted to chief supervising secretary in the War Section. Commander Lu Yuanyin obtained the Embroidered-Uniform Guard through connections; Chief Flag Wang Song falsely claimed merit to inherit a thousand-household post—Guangyu memorialized against both. Minister of War Zhao Jin memorialized in defense; the emperor rebuked Yuan, put Song in the Censorate prison, and withheld Jin and others' salaries.
84
仇鸞之開馬市也，命尚書史道主之。 徇俺答請，以粟豆易牛羊。 光裕與御史龔愷等劾道：「委靡遷就。 馬市既開，復請封號。 今其表意在請乞，而道以為謝恩。 況表文非出賊手。 道不去，則彼有無厭之求，我無必戰之誌，誤國事不小。」 時帝方向鸞，責光裕等借道論鸞，以探朝廷。 杖光裕、愷八十，余奪俸。 光裕不勝杖，卒。 隆慶初，贈太常不卿。
When Qiu Luan opened the horse market he ordered Minister Shi Dao to preside. Yielding to Altan's request, grain and beans were exchanged for cattle and sheep. Guangyu with Censor Gong Kai and others impeached Dao: "Weak and accommodating. The horse market once opened, again requesting enfeoffment. Now the memorial's intent is to beg; yet Dao thought it thanks for grace. Moreover the memorial text did not come from the raiders' hand. If Dao does not go, then they have insatiable requests while we have no will surely to fight—harm to state affairs is not small. At the time the emperor was inclined toward Luan and blamed Guangyu and others for using Dao to discuss Luan and probe the court. Guangyu and Kai were beaten eighty times; the rest had salary withheld. Guangyu could not bear the beating and died. At the beginning of Longqing he was posthumously made vice minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices.
85
愷既杖，官如故。 尋列靖江王驕恣狀，疏止大征粵寇。 終湖廣副使。 愷，字次元，松江華亭人。 嘉靖二十六年進士。
Kai after the beating remained in office as before. Soon he listed the arrogant and unrestrained conduct of the Prince of Jingjiang and memorialized to stop the great campaign against Guang bandits. He ended as vice commissioner of Huguang. Kai, styled Ciyuan, was a native of Huating in Songjiang. He passed the jinshi in the twenty-sixth year of Jiajing.
86
楊允繩，字翼少，松江華亭人。 嘉靖二十三年進士。 授行人。 久之，擢兵科給事中。 嚴嵩獨相，有詔廷推閣員。 允繩偕同官王德、沈束、陳慎簡輔臣、收錄遺佚二事。 未幾，奉命會英國公張溶、撫寧侯朱嶽、定西侯蔣傳等簡應襲子弟於閱武場。 指揮鄭璽忽傳寇至，溶等皆懼走，允繩獨不動，因奏之。 褫璽職，奪溶、嶽營務，罰傳等俸，由是知名。 又劾罷兵部尚書趙廷瑞。
Yang Yunchang, styled Yishao, was from Huating in Songjiang. He passed the jinshi in the twenty-third year of Jiajing. He was appointed courier. After a long time he was promoted to supervising secretary in the War Section. Yan Song alone was chancellor; an edict ordered court recommendation of grand secretaries. Yunchang with colleagues Wang De, Shen Shu, and Chen Shen on simplifying assisting ministers and collecting the overlooked—two matters. Before long he was ordered together with Duke Zhang Rong of England, Marquis Zhu Yue of Funing, and Marquis Jiang Chuan of Dingxi to select heirs among sons and nephews at the review ground. Commander Zheng Xi suddenly reported raiders arrived; Rong and others were all afraid and fled—only Yunchang did not move and therefore memorialized it. Xi's office was stripped; Rong's and Yue's camp duties were taken; Chuan and others' salaries were fined—thereby he became known. He again impeached and dismissed Minister of War Zhao Tingrui.
87
居諫垣未幾，疏屢上。 言提學憲臣宜簡行誼，府州縣職宜量地煩簡為三等，皆報可。 俺答入犯，朝議急兵事。 允繩請令五軍都督府、府軍前衛及錦衣衛堂上官，每遇考選軍政之歲，各具疏自陳，聽科道官拾遺； 騰驤四衛及錦衣衛指揮以下，聽兵部考察。 詔皆從之，著為令。 已，又陳禦邊四事，報可。 再遷戶科左給事中。 謝病歸。 久之，起故官。
In the remonstrance bureau not long, memorials were repeatedly submitted. He said education commissioners should be chosen for conduct and righteousness; prefecture and county posts should be graded into three classes according to local trouble—all approved. When Altan invaded, court discussion urgently discussed military affairs. Yunchang asked that officers of the Five Military Commissions, the Forward Guard, and chief officers of the Embroidered-Uniform Guard each year at military selection submit memorials stating themselves and let censorate officials pick up omissions; for Tengxiang Four Guards and Embroidered-Uniform Guard commanders and below, let the Ministry of War examine. Edicts all followed and were established as regulations. Afterward he again presented four matters for defending the frontier—all approved. He was again promoted to left supervising secretary in the Revenue Section. He asked leave on illness and returned. After a long time he resumed his former office.
88
三十四年九月上疏言倭患，因推弊原，謂：「近者督撫命令不行於有司，非官不尊、權不重也。 督撫蒞任，例賂權要，名『謝禮』。 有所奏請，佐以苞苴，名『候禮』。 及俸滿營遷，避難求去，犯罪欲彌縫，失事希芘覆，輸賄載道，為數不貲。 督撫取諸有司，有司取諸小民。 有司德色以事上，督撫顏以接下。 上下相蒙，風俗莫振。 不肖吏又乾沒其間，指一科十。 孑遺待盡之民必將挺而為盜，隱憂不止海島間也。」
In the ninth month of the thirty-fourth year he submitted a memorial on Japanese piracy and tracing the root of abuses said: "Recently governors-general' orders do not prevail over local officials—not because offices are not honored or power not heavy. When governors-general take office they routinely bribe the powerful—called 'thanks gift.' Whatever they memorialize they assist with gifts—called 'waiting gift.' When salary is full they scheme transfer, avoid difficulty and seek departure, when guilty wish to cover, when affairs fail hope protection—bribes fill the road in countless sums. Governors-general take from local officials; local officials take from the common people. Local officials show stern color in serving superiors; governors-general show a face in receiving subordinates. Above and below mutually deceive—customs cannot be revived. Unworthy clerks again embezzle in between—pointing at one tax they take ten. People left with nothing awaiting the end will surely rise as bandits—hidden worry is not only on the islands."
89
其冬巡視光祿。 光祿丞胡膏偽增物直，允繩與同事御史張巽言劾之。 下法司按驗。 膏窘，言：「玄典隆重，所用品物，不敢徒取充數。 允繩憎臣簡別太精，斥言醮齋之用，取具可耳，何必精擇？ 其欺謗玄修如此。」 帝遂大怒，下允繩及膏詔獄。 刑部尚書何鰲當允繩儀仗內訴事不實律絞，帝命仍與巽言杖於廷。 巽言奪三官。 膏調外任。 居五年，允繩竟死西市。 先是，有馬從謙者，以謗醮齋杖死。 穆宗即位，贈允繩光祿少卿，予一子官。 天啟初，謚忠恪。 膏尋以貪墨被劾，誅。
That winter he inspected the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Vice Director Hu Gao falsely increased item values; Yunchang with colleague Censor Zhang Xunyan memorialized against him. It was sent to the legal offices for verification. Gao was cornered and said: "The mysterious rites are solemn; goods used dare not merely take numbers to fill. Yunchang hates my careful selection too fine and denounces the use for fasting altars—take what suffices; why must one choose finely? He deceives and slanders mysterious cultivation thus. The emperor then was greatly angered and put Yunchang and Gao in the imperial prison. Minister He Ao judged Yunchang under the statute of false matter in ceremonial regalia by strangulation; the emperor ordered still to beat Yunchang and Xunyan at court. Xunyan was stripped of three ranks. Gao was transferred to an outside post. After five years Yunchang in the end died at the western market. Previously Ma Congqian was beaten to death for slandering fasting altars. When Muzong rose he posthumously made Yunchang vice director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments and granted one son office. At the beginning of Tianqi he was given the posthumous title Loyal and Respectful. Gao soon was impeached for corruption and executed.
90
馬從謙，字益之，溧陽人。 嘉靖十年舉順天鄉試第一。 越三年成進士，授工部主事。 出治二洪，有政績。 改官主客，擢尚寶丞，掌內閣制誥。 章聖太后崩，勸帝行三年喪，不報。 稍進光祿少卿。 提督中官杜泰乾沒歲鉅萬，為從謙奏發，泰因誣從謙誹謗。 巡視給事中孫允中、御史狄斯彬劾泰，如從謙言。 帝方惡人言醮齋，而從謙奏頗及之，怒下從謙及泰詔獄。 所司言誹謗無左證，帝益怒。 下從謙法司，以允中、斯彬黨庇，謫邊方雜職。 法司擬從謙戍遠邊。 帝命廷杖八十，戍煙瘴，竟死杖下。 而泰以能發謗臣罪，宥之。 時三十一年十二月也。 久之，光祿寺災，帝曰：「此馬從謙余孽所致耳。」 隆慶初，恤先朝建言杖死諸臣。 中官追恨從謙，沮之。 給事中王治、御史龐尚鵬力爭。 帝以從謙所犯，比子罵父，終不許。
Ma Congqian, styled Yizhi, was from Liyang. In the tenth year of Jiajing he placed first in the Shuntian provincial examination. Three years later he passed the jinshi and was appointed principal clerk in the Ministry of Works. Going out to manage the two Hongs he had administrative achievements. Changed to the Foreign Clients office, promoted to vice director of the Court of Imperial Regalia, in charge of inner cabinet edicts. When Empress Dowager Zhangsheng died he urged the emperor to observe three years' mourning; no reply. He was slightly advanced to vice minister of the Court of Imperial Entertainments. Supervising eunuch Du Tai embezzled tens of thousands yearly; Congqian memorialized and exposed it; Tai therefore slandered Congqian. Supervising secretary Sun Yunzhong and Censor Di Sibin impeached Tai—as Congqian said. The emperor then hated people speaking of fasting altars; Congqian's memorial much touched on it—the emperor angrily put Congqian and Tai in the imperial prison. The responsible office said slander had no corroboration; the emperor was still more angry. Congqian was sent to the legal offices; Yunzhong and Sibin were judged as party protectors and demoted to miscellaneous posts on the frontier. The legal offices proposed Congqian be banished to the far frontier. The emperor ordered court beating eighty times and banishment to miasma lands—he died under the beating. Tai because he could expose the slandering minister's crime was pardoned. It was the twelfth month of the thirty-first year. After a long time the Court of Imperial Entertainments burned; the emperor said: "This is caused by Ma Congqian's remnant evil. At the beginning of Longqing he favored those who spoke and were beaten to death in the previous reign. Eunuchs bore grudges against Congqian and obstructed it. Supervising secretary Wang Zhi and Censor Pang Shangpeng strove forcefully. The emperor said Congqian's offense compared to a son cursing his father—in the end he did not permit.
91
允中，太原人。 後屢遷應天府丞。 斯彬，從謙同邑人。
Yunzhong was a native of Taiyuan. Later he was repeatedly promoted to vice magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture. Sibin was a native of the same district as Congqian.
92
贊曰：語有之：「君仁則臣直」。 當世宗之代，何直臣多歟！ 重者顯戮，次乃長系，最幸者得貶斥，未有茍全者。 然主威愈震，而士氣不衰，批鱗碎首者接踵而不可遏。 觀其蒙難時，處之泰然，足使頑懦知所興起，斯百余年培養之效也。
The comment says: There is a saying: 'When the lord is benevolent the ministers are straight.' In the age of Shizong, how many straight ministers were there! The serious were openly executed, the next long imprisoned; the most fortunate were demoted and expelled—none escaped whole. Yet the more the lord's authority shook, the more scholar morale did not decline; those who touched scales and shattered heads followed in succession and could not be stopped. Observing them in hardship, bearing it with composure—enough to make the stubborn and cowardly know what to rise to; this is the effect of more than a hundred years of cultivation.