Volume 217 Biographies 105: Wang Jiabing, Chen Yubi, Shen Li, Yu Shenxing, Li Tingji, Wu Daonan

王家屏陳于陛沈鯉于慎行李廷機吳道南

Wang Jiabing, Chen Yubi, Shen Li, Yu Shenxing, Li Tingji, and Wu Daonan

王家屏

Wang Jiabing

王家屏，字忠伯，大同山陰人。隆慶二年進士。選庶吉士，授編修，預修《世宗實錄》。高拱兄捷前為操江都御史，以官帑遺趙文華，家屏直書之，時拱方柄國，囑稍諱，家屏執不可。萬曆初，進修撰，充日講官。敷奏剴摯，帝嘗斂容受，稱為端士。張居正寢疾，詞臣率奔走禱祈，獨家屏不往。再遷侍講學士。十二年，擢禮部右侍郎，改吏部。甫逾月，命以左侍郎兼東閣大學士，入預機務。去史官二年即輔政，前此未有也。

Wang Jiabing, whose style name was Zhongbo, came from Shanyin in Datong. In 1568 he passed the metropolitan examination and received his jinshi degree. He was chosen for the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor, made a compiler, and helped compile the Veritable Records of the Jiajing Emperor. Gao Gong's older brother Jie had once served as Censor-in-Chief on the Yangtze patrol and had diverted official funds to Zhao Wenhua. Wang Jiabing recorded this plainly in the Veritable Records. Gao Gong, who was then chief minister, urged him to soften the wording, but Wang Jiabing would not yield. Early in the Wanli reign he rose to senior compiler and was appointed a daily lecturer at court. He spoke before the throne with earnest clarity, and the emperor would listen with composed attention, praising him as a man of integrity. When Zhang Juzheng fell gravely ill, his fellow literary officials hurried to offer prayers, but Wang Jiabing alone stayed away. He was soon promoted to lecturer-in-waiting. In 1584 he was made Right Vice Minister of Rites and then moved to the Ministry of Personnel. Only a month later he was named Left Vice Minister and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, and entered the inner circle of policy-making. He reached the highest ministerial rank just two years after leaving the Historiography Office, a promotion without precedent.

申時行當國，許國、王錫爵次之，家屏居末。每議事，秉正持法，不亢不隨。越二年，遭繼母憂。詔賜銀幣，馳傳，行人護行。服甫闋，詔進禮部尚書，遣行人召還。抵京師，三月未得見。家屏以為言，請因聖節御殿受賀，畢發留中章奏，舉行冊立皇太子禮。不報。復偕同官疏請。帝乃於萬壽節強一臨御焉。俄遣中官諭家屏，獎以忠愛。家屏疏謝，復請帝勤視朝。居數日，帝為一御門延見，自是益深居不出矣。

Shen Shixing headed the government, with Xu Guo and Wang Xijue after him; Wang Jiabing stood lowest in seniority among the grand secretaries. In council he held to principle and law, neither domineering nor pliant. Two years later his stepmother died, and he entered mourning. The throne granted him silver and silk, relay horses for his journey home, and an envoy to escort him. As soon as mourning ended he was promoted Minister of Rites and recalled to court by imperial messenger. He reached the capital but could not obtain an audience for three months. Wang Jiabing remonstrated, urging that on the emperor's birthday he should hold court for congratulations, then release the backlog of memorials and perform the investiture of the crown prince. The emperor gave no reply. He again joined his fellow ministers in a memorial petition. The emperor finally forced himself to hold court once on his birthday. Soon afterward the emperor sent a eunuch to praise Wang Jiabing for his loyal devotion. Wang Jiabing memorialized his thanks and again urged the emperor to attend court regularly. A few days later the emperor held court once at the Gate, but thereafter withdrew ever deeper into the palace and rarely appeared again.

評事雒于仁進四箴，帝將重罪之。家屏言：「人主出入起居之節，耳目心誌之娛，庶官不及知、不敢諫者，輔弼之臣得先知而預諫之，故能防欲於微渺。今于仁以庶僚上言，而臣備位密勿，反緘默茍容，上虧聖明之譽，下陷庶僚蒙不測之威，臣罪大矣，尚可一日立於聖世哉！」帝不懌，留中，而于仁得善去。

The case reviewer Luo Yuren submitted four admonitions to the throne, and the emperor was about to punish him severely. Wang Jiabing said: 'A ruler's comings and goings, his daily routine, and the pleasures that fill eye, ear, mind, and will are things ordinary officials neither know of nor dare to criticize. Assisting ministers who learn of them first can remonstrate in advance and thus curb desire while it is still slight. Now Yuren, a junior official, has spoken up, while I, holding a confidential post at your side, have kept silent and tolerated wrongdoing instead—diminishing Your Majesty's reputation for sagacity above and exposing junior officials below to unforeseen punishment. My offense is grave. How can I still stand one day in this enlightened age? The emperor was displeased and kept the memorial in abeyance, but Luo Yuren was able to withdraw without punishment.

十八年，以久旱乞罷，言：「邇年以來，天鳴地震，星隕風霾，川竭河涸，加以旱潦蝗螟，疫癘劄瘥，調燮之難，莫甚今日。況套賊跳梁於陜右，土蠻猖獗於遼西，貢市屬國復鴟張虎視於宣、大。虛內事外，內已竭而外患未休；剝民供軍，民已窮而軍食未裕。且議論紛紜，罕持大體；簿書淩雜，只飾靡文。綱維縱弛，愒玩之習成；名實混淆，僥幸之風啟。陛下又深居靜攝，朝講希臨。統計臣一歲間，僅兩覲天顏而已。間嘗一進瞽言，竟與諸司章奏並寢不行。今驕陽爍石，小民愁苦之聲殷天震地，而獨未徹九閽。此臣所以中夜旁皇，飲食俱廢，不能自已者也。乞賜罷歸，用避賢路。」不報。

In 1590, citing prolonged drought, he asked to resign, saying: 'In recent years heaven has thundered, the earth has quaked, stars have fallen, and winds and mists have darkened the sky; rivers have dried and streams have failed. To this have been added drought and flood, locusts and caterpillars, pestilence and plague. The task of harmonizing heaven and earth has never been harder than it is today. Moreover, the Tatars are on the march in western Shaanxi, the Tümed are fierce in western Liaodong, and tributary peoples at the border markets are again spreading their wings and glaring like tigers toward Xuanfu and Datong. The interior is drained to serve the frontier: within, resources are exhausted, yet external troubles do not cease; the people are stripped to supply the army—the people are already destitute while military provisions are still insufficient. Moreover, debate is confused and few hold to the larger principles; documents pile up in disorder, serving only to adorn empty rhetoric. The bonds of governance are slack, and habits of indolence have taken hold; name and reality are confused, and a wind of opportunism has risen. Your Majesty moreover dwells deep in seclusion, rarely attending court lectures or audiences. Counting up, in one year I have seen Your Majesty's face only twice. Once I ventured a frank word, yet it was shelved along with the memorials of all the offices and never acted upon. Now the fierce sun scorches the stones; the cries of the common people's distress fill heaven and shake the earth, yet they have not reached Your Majesty's ears. This is why I wander in distress at midnight, unable to eat or sleep, unable to restrain myself. I beg to be dismissed and sent home, to clear the way for the worthy. The emperor gave no reply.

時儲位未定，廷臣交章請冊立。其年十月，閣臣合疏以去就爭。帝不悅，傳諭數百言，切責廷臣沽名激擾，指為悖逆。時行等相顧錯愕，各具疏再爭，杜門乞去。獨家屏在閣，復請速決大計。帝乃遣內侍傳語，期以明年春夏，廷臣無所奏擾，即於冬間議行，否則待逾十五歲。家屏以口敕難據，欲帝特頒詔諭，立具草進。帝不用，復諭二十年春舉行。家屏喜，即宣示外廷，外廷歡然。而帝意實猶豫，聞家屏宣示，弗善也，傳諭詰責。時行等合詞謝，乃已。明年秋，工部主事張有德以冊立儀註請。帝復以為激擾，命止其事。國執爭去，時行被人言，不得已亦去，錫爵先以省親歸，家屏遂為首輔。以國諫疏己列名，不當獨留，再疏乞罷。不允，乃視事。家屏制行端嚴，推誠秉公，百司事一無所撓。性忠讜，好直諫。冊立期數更，中外議論紛然。家屏深憂之，力請踐大信，以塞口語，消宮闈釁。不報。

At the time the heir apparent had not been designated, and court officials submitted memorial after memorial requesting investiture. That October the grand secretaries submitted a joint memorial, pressing the issue with threats of resignation. The emperor was displeased and issued an oral instruction of several hundred words, sharply rebuking the court officials for fishing for fame and stirring up trouble, calling them rebellious. Shen Shixing and the others looked at one another in dismay, each submitted another memorial to argue the point, and shut their doors, begging to resign. Wang Jiabing alone remained in the Secretariat and again urged a swift decision on the great matter. The emperor then sent a eunuch with a message, setting the following spring or summer as the date; if the court officials made no further memorials to disturb him, the investiture would be carried out in winter; otherwise he would wait until the prince was over fifteen. Wang Jiabing held that an oral command was hard to rely on and wanted the emperor to issue a special edict; he immediately drafted one and submitted it. The emperor did not use it and again instructed that the investiture would be carried out in the spring of 1592. Wang Jiabing was pleased and at once announced it to the outer court, which rejoiced. But the emperor's mind was still hesitant; hearing that Wang Jiabing had announced it, he was displeased and sent an oral instruction to rebuke him. Shen Shixing and the others submitted a joint apology, and the matter ended. The following autumn Zhang Youde, a principal clerk in the Ministry of Works, requested the ceremonial regulations for investiture. The emperor again regarded it as provocative disturbance and ordered the matter stopped. Xu Guo pressed his argument and resigned; Shen Shixing, attacked by rumor, also resigned as he had no choice; Wang Xijue had already returned home to visit his parents; Wang Jiabing thus became chief grand secretary. Because his name had been on Xu Guo's remonstrance memorial, he felt he ought not to remain alone and submitted another memorial begging to resign. This was not granted, and he then took up his duties. Wang Jiabing's conduct was upright and strict; he acted with sincerity and fairness, and in the affairs of the hundred offices he yielded to no pressure. By nature he was loyal and outspoken and loved to remonstrate directly. The date of investiture was changed several times, and debate within and without the court grew confused. Wang Jiabing was deeply troubled and pressed strongly to fulfill the great pledge, to stop loose talk and dispel strife within the palace. The emperor gave no reply.

二十年春，給事中李獻可等請豫教，帝黜之。家屏封還御批力諫。帝益怒，譴謫者相屬。家屏遂引疾求罷，上言：「漢汲黯有言：『天子置公卿輔弼之臣，寧令從臾承意陷主於不義乎！』每感斯言，惕然內愧。頃年以來，九閽重閉，宴安懷毒，郊廟不饗，堂陛不交。天災物怪，罔徹宸聰；國計民生，莫關聖慮。臣備員輔弼，曠職鰥官，久當退避。今數月間，請朝講，請廟饗，請元旦受賀，請大計臨朝，悉寢不報。臣犬馬微誠，不克感回天意，已可見矣。至豫教皇儲，自宣早計，奈何厭聞直言，概加貶謫。臣誠不忍明主蒙弗諫之名，熙朝有橫施之罰，故冒死屢陳。若依違保祿，淟涊茍容，汲黯所謂『陷主不義』者，臣死不敢出此，願賜骸骨還田里。」

In the spring of 1592 the supervising secretary Li Xiankuo and others asked for early instruction of the heir apparent; the emperor dismissed them. Wang Jiabing returned the imperial rescript sealed and remonstrated forcefully. The emperor grew angrier still, and rebukes and banishments followed one after another. Wang Jiabing then cited illness and asked to resign, stating: 'The Han official Ji An once said: "The Son of Heaven appoints dukes and ministers as assisting officials—would he have them follow his whims and carry out his wishes, leading the ruler into unrighteousness! Whenever I reflect on these words, I am inwardly ashamed and fearful. In recent years the nine gates have been heavily shut; ease and comfort harbor poison; suburban and ancestral temples go without offerings; ruler and ministers do not meet. Heavenly disasters and strange portents do not reach Your Majesty's ears; state policy and the people's livelihood do not touch Your Majesty's concern. I fill a post among your assistants, neglecting my duties like a widowed official; long ago I ought to have withdrawn. In recent months I have asked for court lectures, for temple offerings, for New Year's Day congratulations, for attendance at the grand review—all have been shelved without response. My slight loyalty cannot move heaven's will back—it is already plain to see. As for early instruction of the imperial heir, it is plainly a matter to plan early—why dislike straight words and punish all with banishment? I truly cannot bear that an enlightened ruler should bear the name of one who will not be remonstrated with, or that a glorious age should have punishments meted out arbitrarily; therefore I have risked death to speak repeatedly. If I were to waver and preserve my salary, to be base and tolerate wrongdoing—the thing Ji An called 'leading the ruler into unrighteousness'—I would not dare do this even on pain of death. I beg to be granted my bones and sent back to my fields.'

帝得奏不下。次輔趙志臯亦為家屏具揭。帝遂責家屏希名托疾。家屏復奏，言：「名非臣所敢棄，顧臣所希者，陛下為堯、舜之主，臣為堯、舜之臣，則名垂千載，沒有餘榮。若徒犯顏觸忌，抗爭僨事，被譴罷歸，何名之有！必不希名，將使臣身處高官，家享厚祿，主愆莫正，政亂莫匡，可謂不希名之臣矣，國家奚賴焉？更使臣棄名不顧，逢迎為悅，阿諛取容，許敬宗、李林甫之奸佞，無不可為，九廟神靈必陰殛臣，豈特得罪於李獻可諸臣已哉！」

The emperor received the memorial but kept it in abeyance. The second grand secretary Zhao Zhigao also submitted a report on Wang Jiabing's behalf. The emperor then rebuked Wang Jiabing for fishing for fame and feigning illness. Wang Jiabing memorialized again, saying: 'Fame is not something I dare cast aside; what I hope for is that Your Majesty be a ruler like Yao and Shun and I be a minister like theirs—then fame would last a thousand years and there would be glory after death. If one merely offends the countenance and touches taboos, struggles in vain and is rebuked and sent home, what fame is there! If one must not seek fame, I would hold high office and my family enjoy rich salary while the ruler's faults go uncorrected and disorder goes unreformed—such a one could be called a minister who does not seek fame; on what could the state rely? To make me cast aside fame and not care, to please by flattery, to fawn and win favor—the treacherous wickedness of Xu Jingzong and Li Linfu would be nothing I could not do; the spirits of the nine temples would surely secretly strike me down—how much more than merely offending Li Xiankuo and the others!'

疏入，帝益不悅。遣內侍至邸，責以徑駁御批，故激主怒，且托疾要君。家屏言：「言涉至親，不宜有怒。事關典禮，不宜有怒。臣與諸臣但知為宗社大計，盡言效忠而已，豈意激皇上之怒哉？」於是求去益力。或勸少需就大事。家屏曰：「人君惟所欲為者，由大臣持祿，小臣畏罪，有輕群下心。吾意大臣不愛爵祿，小臣不畏刑誅，事庶有濟耳。」遂復兩疏懇請。詔馳傳歸。家屏柄國止半載，又強半杜門，以戇直去國，朝野惜焉。越八年，儲位始定。遣官賫敕存問，賚金幣羊酒。又二年卒，年六十八。贈少保，謚文端。熹宗立，再贈太保，任一子尚寶丞。

When the memorial entered, the emperor was still more displeased. He sent a eunuch to Wang Jiabing's residence, rebuking him for directly rejecting the imperial rescript, deliberately stirring the ruler's anger, and feigning illness to coerce the sovereign. Wang Jiabing said: 'When words concern one's closest kin, anger is not fitting. When the matter concerns ritual and ceremony, anger is not fitting. I and the other officials know only to speak for the great plan of altar and state, to offer loyal words—that is all; how could we have meant to stir Your Majesty's anger? Thereupon he pressed his request to resign all the more strongly. Some urged him to wait a little and see the great matter through. Wang Jiabing said: 'What a ruler wishes to do he can do because great ministers hold their salaries and junior officials fear punishment—there is contempt for the hearts of the multitude below. In my view, if great ministers do not love rank and salary and junior officials do not fear punishment by law, matters may yet be helped. Thereupon he submitted two more memorials earnestly requesting leave. An edict ordered him home by fast relay. Wang Jiabing held power for only half a year, and for more than half of that he shut his doors; he left office for his blunt integrity, and court and countryside alike regretted it. Eight years later the heir apparent was at last designated. Officials were sent bearing an imperial edict to inquire after his health, bestowing gold, silks, sheep, and wine. Two years later he died, aged sixty-eight. He was posthumously made Junior Mentor and given the posthumous title Wenuan. When the Xizong emperor ascended, he was further posthumously made Grand Mentor, and one son was appointed Director of the Imperial Treasuries.

家屏家居時，朝鮮用兵。貽書經略顧養謙曰：「昔衛為狄滅，齊桓率諸侯城楚丘，《春秋》高其義；未聞遂與狄仇，連諸侯兵以伐之也。今第以保會稽之恥，激厲朝鮮，以城楚丘之功，獎率將吏，無為主而為客，則善矣。」養謙不能用，朝鮮兵數年無功。其深識有謀，皆此類也。

While Wang Jiabing lived in retirement, war broke out in Korea. He wrote to the frontier commissioner Gu Yangqian: 'In antiquity when Wei was destroyed by the Di, Duke Huan of Qi led the feudal lords to wall Qiu; the Spring and Autumn Annals praise his righteousness; we never hear that he then made enemies of the Di and led the allied states' armies to attack them. Now you need only take the shame of Kuaiji as a spur, encourage Korea, and reward officers and men with the merit of walling Qiu—do not act as host while acting as guest, and all will be well. Yangqian could not adopt this counsel, and the Korean campaign went without success for years. His far-sighted counsel and stratagem were all of this kind.

陳于陛

Chen Yubi

陳于陛，字元忠，大學士以勤子也。隆慶二年進士。選庶吉士，授編修。萬曆初，預修世、穆兩朝實錄，充日講官。累遷侍講學士，擢詹事，掌翰林院。疏請早建東宮。十九年，拜禮部右侍郎，領詹事府事。明年，改吏部，進左侍郎，教習庶吉士。奏言元子不當封王，請及時冊立豫教，又請早朝勤政，皆不報。又明年，進禮部尚書，仍領詹事府事。

Chen Yubi, whose style name was Yuanzhong, was the son of Grand Secretary Chen Yiqin. In 1568 he passed the metropolitan examination and received his jinshi degree. He was chosen for the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor and made a compiler. Early in the Wanli reign he helped compile the Veritable Records of the Jiajing and Longqing reigns and served as a daily lecturer at court. He rose through the ranks to lecturer-in-waiting, was promoted Grand Mentor, and put in charge of the Hanlin Academy. He memorialized asking that the heir apparent be designated early. In 1591 he was appointed Right Vice Minister of Rites and put in charge of the Grand Mentor's office. The following year he was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, promoted to Left Vice Minister, and instructed the Hanlin bachelors. He memorialized that the eldest son ought not to be enfeoffed as a prince, asked for timely investiture and early instruction, and again asked for early court attendance and diligent government—all without response. The year after that he was promoted Minister of Rites while still heading the Grand Mentor's office.

于陛少從父以勤習國家故實。為史官，益究經世學。以前代皆修國史，疏言：「臣考史家之法，紀、表、誌、傳謂之正史。宋去我朝近，制尤可考。真宗祥符間，王旦等撰進太祖、太宗兩朝正史。仁宗天聖間，呂夷簡等增入真宗朝，名《三朝國史》。此則本朝君臣自修本朝正史之明證也。我朝史籍，止有列聖實錄，正史闕焉未講。伏睹朝野所撰次，可備采擇者無慮數百種。倘不及時網羅，歲月浸邈，卷帙散脫，耆舊漸雕，事跡罕據。欲成信史，將不可得。惟陛下立下明詔，設局編輯，使一代經制典章，犁然可考，鴻謨偉烈，光炳天壤，豈非萬世不朽盛事哉！」詔從之。二十二年三月，遂命詞臣分曹類纂，以于陛及尚書沈一貫、少詹事馮琦為副總裁，而閣臣總裁之。

From youth Chen Yubi studied with his father Yiqin the established facts of the state. As a historiographer he pursued statecraft all the more deeply. Because previous dynasties all compiled national histories, he memorialized: 'I have examined historians' methods: annals, tables, treatises, and biographies are called the standard history. The Song is close to our dynasty, and its institutions are especially worth consulting. In the Xiangfu era of Emperor Zhenzong, Wang Dan and others compiled and presented the standard histories of the Taizu and Taizong reigns. In the Tiansheng era of Emperor Renzong, Lü Yijian and others added the Zhenzong reign, naming it the National History of Three Reigns. This is clear proof that rulers and ministers of a dynasty compile their own dynasty's standard history. Our dynasty's historical records consist only of the successive emperors' Veritable Records; the standard history has not yet been undertaken. I observe that works compiled at court and in the countryside suitable for selection number no fewer than several hundred kinds. If we do not gather them in time, as years lengthen scrolls will scatter and fall away, the old will gradually pass, and deeds will rarely be attested. To complete a trustworthy history will then be impossible. May Your Majesty issue a clear edict and establish a bureau to compile and edit, so that the institutions and regulations of an age may be clearly consultable and great plans and splendid achievements may shine throughout heaven and earth—is this not an imperishable undertaking for ten thousand generations! An edict approved this. In March 1594 the literary officials were ordered to compile by sections; Chen Yubi, Minister Shen Yiguan, and Junior Grand Mentor Feng Qi were made deputy chief compilers, with the grand secretaries as chief compilers.

其年夏，首輔王錫爵謝政，遂命于陛兼東閣大學士，入參機務。疏陳親大臣、錄遺賢、獎外吏、核邊餉、儲將才、擇邊吏六事。末言：「以肅皇帝之精明，而末年貪黜成風，封疆多事，則倦勤故也。今至尊端拱，百職不修，不亟圖更始，後將安極。」帝優詔答之，而不能用。帝以軍政失察，斥兩都言官三十餘人。于陛與同官申救至再，又獨疏請宥，俱不納。以甘肅破賊功，加太子少保。乾清、坤寧兩宮災，請面對，不報。乞罷，亦不許。其秋，二品三年滿，改文淵閣，進太子太保。時內閣四人。趙誌臯、張位、沈一貫皆于陛同年生，遇事無齟齬。而帝拒諫益甚，上下否隔。于陛憂形於色，以不能補救，在直廬數太息視日影。二十四年冬，病卒於位，史亦竟罷。贈少保，謚文憲。終明世，父子為宰輔者，惟南充陳氏。世以比漢韋、平焉。

That summer the chief grand secretary Wang Xijue resigned from government, and Chen Yubi was ordered to hold concurrently the Eastern Pavilion Grand Secretaryship and enter to take part in state affairs. He memorialized setting forth six matters: drawing close to great ministers, recording overlooked worthies, rewarding frontier officials, auditing frontier supplies, storing up general talent, and selecting frontier officials. At the end he said: 'With the Jiajing emperor's keen intelligence, yet in his later years greed and dismissal became the fashion and the frontiers were full of trouble—that was because of weariness in diligence. Now the sovereign sits in dignified repose while the hundred offices go unreformed; if we do not urgently plan a new beginning, where will it end? The emperor answered with a gracious edict but could not put it into practice. Because military affairs had been poorly supervised, the emperor dismissed more than thirty censors of the two capitals. Chen Yubi and his colleagues pleaded for mercy twice, and he also submitted a separate memorial asking pardon—all without acceptance. For the merit of defeating bandits in Gansu he was made Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent. When the Qianqing and Kunning palaces suffered fire, he asked for a face-to-face audience—no response. He begged to resign; this too was not granted. That autumn, when three years in the second rank were complete, he was transferred to the Wenyuan Pavilion and promoted to Grand Mentor of the Heir Apparent. At the time there were four men in the Grand Secretariat. Zhao Zhigao, Zhang Wei, and Shen Yiguan were all Chen Yubi's classmates in the same examination year; in affairs they had no friction. But the emperor rejected remonstrance all the more, and ruler and ministers were blocked off from one another. Chen Yubi's distress showed in his face; because he could not remedy matters, in the duty lodge he would often sigh deeply and watch the sun's shadow. In the winter of 1596 he died of illness in office, and the history project was also abandoned. He was posthumously made Junior Mentor and given the posthumous title Wenxian. Through the entire Ming, only the Chen family of Nanchong had father and son serve as chief ministers. The age compared them to the Han Weis and Pings.

沈鯉，字仲化，歸德人。祖瀚，建寧知府。鯉，嘉靖中舉鄉試。師尚詔作亂，陷歸德，已而西去。鯉策賊必再至，急白守臣，捕殺城中通賊者，嚴為守具。賊還逼，見有備，去。奸人倡言屠城，將驅掠居民，鯉請諭止之，眾始定。四十四年，成進士，改庶吉士，授檢討。大學士高拱，其座主又鄉人也，旅見外，未嘗以私謁。

Shen Li, whose style name was Zhonghua, came from Guide. His grandfather Han was prefect of Jianning. Shen Li passed the provincial examination in the Jiajing reign. Shi Shangzhao rebelled, took Guide, and then marched west. Shen Li calculated that the bandits would certainly return, urgently informed the defending officials, arrested and killed those in the city who communicated with the bandits, and made strict defensive preparations. The bandits returned and pressed the city; seeing preparations in place, they left. Wicked men spread talk of slaughtering the city and were about to drive off and plunder the inhabitants; Shen Li asked that they be instructed to stop, and the multitude was then calmed. In 1565 he passed the metropolitan examination, was chosen for the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor, and made a reviser. Grand Secretary Gao Gong was both his examination patron and a fellow townsman; beyond formal visits on journeys he never called on him privately.

明年秋，擢侍講學士，再遷禮部右侍郎。尋改吏部，進左侍郎。屏絕私交，好推轂賢士，不使知。十二年冬，拜禮部尚書。去六品甫二年，至正卿。素負物望，時論不以為驟。久之，《會典》成，加太子少保。鯉初官翰林，中官黃錦緣同鄉以幣交，拒不納。教習內書堂，侍講筵，皆數與巨珰接，未嘗與交。及官愈高，益無所假借，雖上命及政府指，不徇也。

The following autumn he was promoted to lecturer-in-waiting and again transferred to Right Vice Minister of Rites. Soon he was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel and promoted to Left Vice Minister. He shut out private connections and loved to advance worthy men without letting them know. In the winter of 1584 he was appointed Minister of Rites. Only two years from the sixth rank he reached chief minister. He had long borne public esteem, and contemporary opinion did not regard this as sudden. After a long time, when the Collected Statutes were completed, he was made Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent. When Shen Li first served in the Hanlin, the eunuch Huang Jin, being a fellow townsman, sought to befriend him with gifts; he refused to accept. In instructing the Inner Writing Hall and attending the lecture mat he often had contact with great eunuchs but never formed connections with them. As his office grew higher he yielded to nothing; even imperial orders and government instructions he would not follow against his judgment.

十四年春，貴妃鄭氏生子，進封皇貴妃。鯉率僚屬請冊建皇長子，進封其母，不許。未幾，復以為言，且請宥建儲貶官姜應麟等。忤旨譙讓。帝既卻群臣請，因詔諭少俟二三年。至十六年，期已屆，鯉執前旨固請，帝復不從。

In the spring of 1586 the honored consort of the Zheng clan bore a son and was advanced to Imperial Honored Consort. Shen Li led his subordinates in asking to invest and establish the eldest imperial son and advance his mother—this was not granted. Before long he spoke on this again and also asked pardon for those demoted over establishing the heir, such as Jiang Yinglin. He offended the imperial will and was rebuked and reproached. The emperor having rejected the court's request, issued an edict saying to wait another two or three years. By 1588 the term had arrived; Shen Li held to the earlier instruction and pressed firmly, but the emperor again did not comply.

鯉素鯁亮。其在部持典禮，多所建白。念時俗侈靡，稽先朝典制，自喪祭、冠婚、宮室、器服率定為中制，頒天下。又以士習不端，奏行學政八事。又請復建文年號，重定《景帝實錄》，勿稱郕戾王。大同巡撫胡來貢議移祀北嶽渾源，力駁其無據。太廟侑享，請移親王及諸功臣於兩廡，毋與帝後雜祀。進世廟諸妃葬金山者，配食永陵。諸帝陵祀，請各遣，官毋兼攝。諸王及妃墳祝版稱謂未協者，率請裁定。帝憂旱，步禱郊壇，議分遣大臣禱天下名山大川。鯉言使臣往來驛騷，恐重困民，請齋三日，以告文授太常屬致之，罷寺觀勿禱，帝多可其奏。鄭貴妃父成憲為父請恤，援後父永年伯例，鯉力駁之。詔畀葬資五千金，鯉復言過濫。順義王妻三娘子請封，鯉不予妃號，但稱夫人。真人張國祥言肅皇享國久長，由虔奉玄修所致，勸帝效之，鯉劾國祥詆誣導諛，請正刑辟。事亦寢。秦王誼璟故由中尉入繼，而乞封其弟郡王，中貴為請，申時行助之，鯉不可。唐府違帛請封妾子，執不從，帝並以特旨許之。京師久旱，鯉備陳恤民實政以崇儉戒奢為本，且請減織造。已，京師地震，又請謹天若戒，恤民窮。畿輔大侵，請上下交修，詞甚切。帝以四方災，敕廷臣修省，鯉因請大損供億營建，振救小民。帝每嘉納。

Shen Li was by nature upright and bright. In his ministry he upheld ritual and made many proposals. Mindful that current custom was extravagant, he consulted the institutions of earlier reigns and from mourning sacrifices, capping and marriage, palaces, and vessels and dress set a moderate standard for all and promulgated it throughout the realm. Because scholar-official practice was not upright, he memorialized and put into effect eight items of educational administration. He also asked to restore the Jianwen reign title, revise the Veritable Records of Emperor Jing, and not call him the Deposed Prince of Cheng. The Datong grand coordinator Hu Laigong proposed moving sacrifice to the Northern Peak at Hunyuan; Shen Li forcefully refuted this as groundless. For secondary offerings in the Imperial Ancestral Temple he asked to move imperial princes and meritorious ministers to the two side halls and not mix their worship with that of emperors and empresses. He advanced the consorts of the Shizong temple buried at Jinshan to receive offerings at the Yongling. For sacrifices at the various imperial tombs he asked that each be sent its own official and that offices not hold concurrent appointments. Where the prayer-board titles for princes and consorts' tombs were not harmonious, he generally asked that they be decided. The emperor, troubled by drought, walked in prayer at the suburban altar; it was proposed to send great ministers in divisions to pray at famous mountains and great rivers throughout the realm. Shen Li said that envoys coming and going would disturb the post stations and likely burden the people again; he asked to fast three days, entrust the prayer text to a subordinate of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices to deliver it, and stop prayers at temples and monasteries—the emperor approved most of his memorial. The father of the Zheng honored consort, Cheng Xian, asked mourning benefits for his father, citing the precedent of the Yongnian marquis, father of an empress; Shen Li forcefully refuted this. An edict granted five thousand taels of gold for burial expenses; Shen Li again said this was excessive. The wife of the Prince of Shunyi, the Third Lady, asked for enfeoffment; Shen Li did not grant her the title of consort but only called her Lady. The Perfected Man Zhang Guoxiang said the Jiajing emperor enjoyed a long reign because of devout cultivation of the Mysteries and urged the emperor to imitate this; Shen Li impeached Guoxiang for slander, deception, and leading flattery and asked that proper punishment be applied. The matter was also shelved. The Prince of Qin, Yi Jing, had originally entered the succession from a commandery prince rank and now asked to enfeoff his younger brother as Prince of a Commandery; a eunuch pleaded for this and Shen Shixing supported it—Shen Li would not allow it. The house of Tang sent silk in violation of regulations asking to enfeoff a son by a concubine; he held firm and would not comply, but the emperor permitted it by special edict as well. The capital had long suffered drought; Shen Li fully set forth policies to relieve the people, taking reverence for frugality and warning against extravagance as the foundation, and also asked to reduce weaving and manufacture. Later, when the capital suffered an earthquake, he again asked to heed heaven's warnings and relieve the people's distress. When the capital region suffered severe famine, he pleaded that ruler and subjects alike must mend their ways; his language was deeply urgent. When disasters struck across the realm, the emperor ordered the court to undertake moral self-examination; Shen Li seized the moment to urge steep cuts in palace provisioning and building projects and relief for the common people. The emperor consistently praised and accepted his advice.

初，藩府有所奏請，賄中貴居間，禮臣不敢違，輒如誌。至鯉，一切格之，中貴皆大怨，數以事間於帝。帝漸不能無疑，累加詰責，且奪其俸。鯉自是有去志。而時行銜鯉不附己，亦忌之。一日，鯉請告，遽擬旨放歸。帝曰：「沈尚書好官，奈何使去？」傳旨諭留。時行益忌。其私人給事中陳與郊為人求考官不得，怨鯉，屬其同官陳尚象劾之。與郊復危言撼鯉，鯉求去益力。帝有意大用鯉，微言：「沈尚書不曉人意。」有老宮人從子為內豎者，走告鯉；司禮張誠亦屬鯉鄉人內豎廖某密告之。鯉並拒之，曰：「禁中語，非所敢聞。」皆恚而去。鯉卒屢疏引疾歸。累推內閣及吏部尚書，皆不用。二十二年，起南京禮部尚書，辭弗就。

In earlier times, whenever princely households submitted petitions, they bribed eunuchs to intercede, and the officials of rites dared not refuse—they invariably approved whatever was asked. Shen Li blocked every such request; the eunuchs loathed him and repeatedly whispered against him to the emperor. The emperor gradually grew suspicious, repeatedly reprimanded him, and even withheld his salary. From that point Shen Li resolved to resign. Shen Shixing, resenting Shen Li's refusal to align with him, also came to fear and dislike him. One day Shen Li requested leave, and Shixing at once drafted an edict dismissing him. The emperor said, "Minister Shen is an excellent official—why let him go?" An edict was sent ordering him to remain in office. Shen Shixing's jealousy only deepened. His protégé, supervising secretary Chen Yujiao, had failed to secure an examining official for a petitioner and blamed Shen Li; he urged his colleague Chen Shangxiang to impeach him. Chen Yujiao piled on with inflammatory accusations; Shen Li pressed all the harder to resign. The emperor still meant to promote Shen Li and remarked pointedly, "Minister Shen does not grasp what people mean." An elderly palace woman's nephew, serving as an inner attendant, hurried to tell Shen Li; Director of Ceremonial Zhang Cheng likewise asked a fellow townsman of Shen Li's, an inner attendant named Liao, to pass the message in secret. Shen Li refused them both, saying, "Palace talk is not something I dare to hear." They departed in fury. Shen Li finally submitted repeated memorials pleading illness and returned home. He was repeatedly nominated for the Grand Secretariat and for Minister of Personnel, but the emperor appointed neither post to him. In the twenty-second year of Wanli he was recalled as Nanjing Minister of Rites, but he declined the appointment.

二十九年，趙志臯卒，沈一貫獨當國。廷推閣臣，詔鯉以故官兼東閣大學士，入參機務，與朱賡並命。屢辭不允。明年七月始入朝，時年七十有一矣。一貫以士心夙附鯉，深忌之，貽書李三才曰：「歸德公來，必奪吾位，將何以備之？」歸德，鯉邑名，欲諷鯉辭召命也。三才答書，言鯉忠實無他腸，勸一貫同心。一貫由此並憾三才。鯉既至，即具陳道中所見礦稅之害。他日復與賡疏論。皆弗納。楚假王被訐事起，禮部侍郎郭正域請行勘，鯉是之。及奸人所撰《續憂危竑議》發，一貫輩張皇其事，令其黨錢夢臯誣奏正域、鯉門生，協造妖言，並羅織鯉奸贓數事。帝察其誣，不問。而一貫輩使邏卒日夜操兵圍守其邸。已而事解，復譖鯉詛咒。鯉嘗置小屏閣中，列書謹天戒、恤民窮、開言路、發章奏、用大僚、補庶官、起廢棄、舉考選、釋冤獄、撤稅使十事，而上書「天啟聖聰，撥亂反治」八字。每入閣，輒焚香拜祝之，讒者遂指為詛咒。帝取入視之，曰：「此豈詛咒耶？」讒者曰：「彼詛咒語，固不宣諸口。」賴帝知鯉深，不之信。

In the twenty-ninth year Zhao Zhigao died, leaving Shen Yiguan sole head of government. When the court recommended candidates for the Grand Secretariat, an edict appointed Shen Li, retaining his previous rank, as Eastern Pavilion Grand Secretary to enter and assist in state affairs—he was appointed alongside Zhu Geng. He declined repeatedly, but the emperor would not allow it. He did not enter court until the seventh month of the following year, by which time he was seventy-one. Shen Yiguan, knowing that scholars had long favored Shen Li, deeply resented him and wrote to Li Sancai: "When the Lord of Guide arrives, he will surely take my place—how should I prepare?" Guide was Shen Li's home district—Yiguan meant to suggest that Shen Li refuse the appointment. Li Sancai replied that Shen Li was loyal and straightforward, and urged Shen Yiguan to cooperate in good faith. Shen Yiguan henceforth resented Li Sancai as well. As soon as Shen Li arrived, he laid out in full the harm mining levies were doing, as he had witnessed along the way. On another occasion he joined Zhu Geng in submitting a memorial on the subject. Neither memorial was accepted. When the case of the alleged pretender to the Chu princely line arose, Vice Minister of Rites Guo Zhengyu urged a formal inquiry, and Shen Li supported him. When the forged tract Continued Discussion of Anxiety and Peril in the Heir's Establishment came to light, Shen Yiguan's faction sensationalized the case, had his ally Qian Menggao accuse Guo Zhengyu and Shen Li's students of colluding in seditious talk, and fabricated multiple charges of graft against Shen Li as well. The emperor saw through the frame-up and took no action. Nevertheless Shen Yiguan's men posted armed patrols day and night around Shen Li's residence. When the affair subsided, they accused Shen Li anew of casting curses. Shen Li had kept a small screen in his study listing ten reforms—heed heaven's warnings, relieve the people's distress, open avenues of remonstrance, relay memorials promptly, appoint great ministers, fill vacant posts, rehabilitate the disgraced, conduct examinations fairly, release the wrongfully imprisoned, and withdraw mining tax commissioners—and inscribed above them the eight characters: "May Heaven enlighten the sage's understanding and restore order from chaos." Each time he entered the Grand Secretariat he would burn incense and bow before it; his enemies then claimed he was performing curses. The emperor had the screen brought in and said, "How is this a curse?" His accusers said, "Curse words are not meant to be spoken aloud." But the emperor knew Shen Li too well to believe them.

先是，閣臣奏揭不輕進，進則無不答者。是時中外扞格，奏揭繁，多寢不下。鯉以失職，累引疾求退。獎諭有加，卒不能行其所請。三十二年，敘皮林功，加太子太保。尋以秩滿，加少保，改文淵閣。

Formerly, confidential memorials from the Grand Secretariat were submitted sparingly, and once submitted were always answered. Now court and country were at loggerheads; memorials piled up, and most were left unanswered. Feeling he could no longer perform his duties, Shen Li repeatedly pleaded illness and asked to resign. The emperor showered him with commendations, yet still refused his request to leave. In the thirty-second year his service in suppressing the Pilin rebellion was rewarded with promotion to Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent. Shortly afterward, at the end of his term, he was made Junior Guardian and transferred to Wenyuan Pavilion.

鯉初相，即請除礦稅。居位數年，數以為言。會長陵明樓災，鯉語一貫、賡各為奏，俟時上之。一日大雨，鯉曰：「可矣。」兩人問故，鯉曰：「帝惡言礦稅事，疏入多不視，今吾輩冒雨素服詣文華奏之，上訝而取閱，亦一機也。」兩人從其言。帝得疏，曰：「必有急事。」啟視，果心動，然不為罷。明年長至，一貫在告，鯉、賡謁賀仁德門。帝賜食，司禮太監陳矩侍，小璫數往來竊聽，且執筆以俟。鯉因極陳礦稅害民狀，矩亦戚然。鯉復進曰：「礦使出，破壞天下名山大川靈氣盡矣，恐於聖躬不利。」矩嘆息還，具為帝道之。帝悚然遣矩諮鯉所以補救者。鯉曰：「此無他，急停開鑿，則靈氣自復。」帝聞，為首肯。一貫慮鯉獨收其功，急草疏上。帝不懌，復止。然越月果下停礦之命，鯉力也。

As soon as Shen Li entered the Grand Secretariat, he called for abolishing mining levies. Throughout his years in office he raised the issue again and again. When fire damaged the Bright Tower at the Changling mausoleum, Shen Li told Shen Yiguan and Zhu Geng each to draft a memorial and await the right moment to submit it. One rainy day Shen Li said, "Now is the time." When they asked why, he said, "The emperor hates hearing about mining levies and often ignores such memorials. If we go now in plain robes through the rain to submit them at the Wenhua Gate, his surprise may make him read them—that is our opening." The two men did as he advised. Receiving the memorial, the emperor said, "This must be urgent." He opened it and was indeed moved, but still did not abolish the levies. At the winter solstice the following year, with Shen Yiguan on leave, Shen Li and Zhu Geng went to offer congratulations at the Gate of Human Virtue. The emperor granted them a meal, with Director of Ceremonial Chen Ju in attendance; junior eunuchs shuttled back and forth to eavesdrop, pens in hand to record every word. Shen Li spoke at length about the suffering mining levies inflicted on the people, and Chen Ju looked deeply troubled. Shen Li added, "When mining commissioners go forth, they ravage the famous mountains and rivers until their vital essence is spent—I fear this bodes ill for Your Majesty's health." Chen Ju sighed and withdrew, then reported everything to the emperor. Alarmed, the emperor sent Chen Ju to ask Shen Li what could be done. Shen Li answered, "There is but one remedy: halt mining at once, and the land's vital essence will restore itself." The emperor nodded in agreement. Fearing Shen Li alone would win the credit, Shen Yiguan hastily drafted his own memorial. The emperor was displeased and once again held off acting. Yet within a month the order halting mining levies was indeed issued—thanks to Shen Li.

鯉遇事秉正不撓。壓於一貫，志不盡行。而是時一貫數被論，引疾杜門，鯉乃得行閣事。皇孫生，詔赦天下。中官請征茶蠟夙逋，鯉以戾詔旨，再執奏，竟報寢，帝乳母翊聖夫人金氏，其夫官都督同知，歿，請以從子繼。鯉言都督非世官，乃已。真人張國祥謂皇孫誕生，己有祝釐功，乞三代誥命且世襲詹事主簿。鯉力斥其謬，乃賚以金幣。帝惑中貴言，將察核畿輔牧地，諭鯉撰敕。鯉言：「近年以來，百利之源，盡籠於朝廷，常恐勢極生變。況此牧地，豈真有豪右隱占新墾未科者？奸民所傳，未足深信。」遂止。雲南武弁殺稅使楊榮。帝怒甚，將遣官逮治。鯉具陳榮罪狀，請誅為首殺榮者，而貸其餘，乃不果逮。陜西稅使梁永求領鎮守事，亦以鯉言罷。遼東稅使高淮假進貢名，率所統練甲至國門。鯉中夜密奏其不可，詔責淮而止。時一貫雖稱疾杜門，而章奏多即家擬旨，鯉力言非故事。

Shen Li stood upright and unyielding in every affair. Checked by Shen Yiguan, he could not fully carry out his aims. But when Shen Yiguan, repeatedly attacked by critics, claimed illness and withdrew, Shen Li was able at last to manage Grand Secretariat affairs himself. At the birth of the imperial grandson, an edict proclaimed a general amnesty. Eunuchs sought to collect long-standing arrears on tea and wax levies; Shen Li argued this violated the amnesty and submitted twice in firm protest—the request was shelved. The emperor's wet nurse, Lady Jin of Assisting Sagacity, whose husband had held the post of Vice Commissioner-in-Chief of the Chief Military Commission, asked upon his death that a nephew inherit the rank. Shen Li replied that military commissioner posts were not hereditary, and the request was denied. The Perfected Man Zhang Guoxiang claimed merit for prayers offered at the imperial grandson's birth and asked for patents of nobility extending three generations and a hereditary post as Registrar of the Directorate of Education. Shen Li forcefully rejected the claim; Zhang was given gold and silk instead. Persuaded by eunuchs, the emperor planned an audit of pasture lands in the capital region and ordered Shen Li to draft the edict. Shen Li said, "In recent years every source of revenue has been drawn into the court's grasp; I constantly fear that when exploitation reaches its limit, upheaval will follow. Moreover, do these pasture lands truly conceal powerful families squatting on newly reclaimed, untaxed land? Such tales come from scheming rumormongers and are not to be trusted." The plan was abandoned. A military officer in Yunnan killed the tax commissioner Yang Rong. The emperor was furious and prepared to send officials to apprehend and punish those involved. Shen Li detailed Yang Rong's crimes, urged execution only for the ringleaders in his killing and leniency for the rest, and the apprehension was not carried out. The Shaanxi tax commissioner Liang Yong's bid to assume garrison command was likewise blocked on Shen Li's advice. The Liaodong tax commissioner Gao Huai marched the armed troops under his command to the capital gates under the pretext of delivering tribute. Shen Li submitted a secret midnight memorial protesting the move; the emperor rebuked Gao Huai and ordered him to stop. Though Shen Yiguan claimed illness and stayed home, he continued drafting edicts from his residence; Shen Li insisted this violated precedent.

鯉既積忤一貫，一貫將去，慮鯉在，貽己後憂欲與俱去，密傾之。帝亦嫌鯉方鯁，因鯉乞休，遽命與一貫同致仕。賡疏乞留鯉，不報。既抵家，疏謝，猶極陳怠政之弊，以明作進規。年八十，遣官存問，賚銀幣。鯉奏謝，復陳時政要務。又五年卒，年八十五。贈太師，謚文端。

Having long crossed Shen Yiguan, Shen Yiguan—as he prepared to retire—feared Shen Li would remain and cause him trouble afterward; wishing to take Shen Li with him, he secretly worked against him. The emperor likewise resented Shen Li's stubborn rectitude; when Shen Li asked to retire, he promptly ordered him to leave office together with Shen Yiguan. Zhu Geng memorialized asking that Shen Li be kept on—there was no response. After reaching home he submitted a memorial of thanks that still laid bare the evils of slack governance, offering frank counsel in the spirit of enlightened rule. At eighty the court sent officials to inquire after his health and bestow silver and silk. Shen Li submitted his thanks and again outlined pressing issues of state. Five years later he died, at the age of eighty-five. He was posthumously honored as Grand Preceptor with the posthumous name Wenduan ("Cultured and Upright").

于慎行

Yu Shenxing

于慎行，字無垢，東阿人。年十七，舉於鄉。御史欲即鹿鳴宴冠之，以未奉父命辭。隆慶二年成進士。改庶吉士，授編修。萬曆初，《穆宗實錄》成，進修撰，充日講官。故事，率以翰林大僚值日講，無及史官者。慎行與張位及王家屏、沈一貫、陳于陛咸以史官得之，異也。嘗講罷，帝出御府圖畫，令講官分題。慎行不善書，詩成，屬人書之，具以實對。帝悅，嘗大書「責難陳善」四字賜之，詞林傳為盛事。

Yu Shenxing, whose style name was Wugou, came from Dong'e. At seventeen he passed the provincial civil examination. The supervising censor wished to confer the cap on him at the Lu-Ming banquet, but he declined for lack of his father's permission. In 1568 he passed the metropolitan examination and received his jinshi degree. He was made a Hanlin bachelor and appointed a compiler. Early in the Wanli reign, after the Veritable Records of the Longqing Emperor were finished, he was promoted to senior compiler and assigned as a daily lecturer at court. By custom, daily lecturers were usually drawn from the senior ranks of the Hanlin Academy—historiographers had never held the post. Shenxing, along with Zhang Wei, Wang Jiabing, Shen Yiguan, and Chen Yubi, all received the appointment despite being historiographers—a departure from precedent. On one occasion, after a lecture, the emperor produced paintings from the imperial collection and asked each lecturer to compose on an assigned theme. Shenxing was a poor calligrapher, so once his poem was done he had someone else copy it out and told the emperor plainly what he had done. The emperor was delighted and once bestowed on him a large inscription of the four characters "Pressing for difficulty and presenting what is good"—a gift the Hanlin Academy long celebrated as a signal honor.

御史劉臺以劾張居正被逮，僚友悉避匿，慎行獨往視之。及居正奪情，偕同官具疏諫。呂調陽格之，不得上。居正聞而怒，他日謂慎行曰：「子吾所厚，亦為此耶？」慎行從容對曰：「正以公見厚故耳。」居正怫然。慎行尋以疾歸。居正卒，起故官。進左諭德，日講如故。時居正已敗，侍郎丘橓往籍其家。慎行遺書，言居正母老，諸子覆巢之下，顛沛可傷，宜推明主帷蓋恩，全大臣簪履之誼。詞極懇摯，時論韙之。由侍講學士擢禮部右侍郎。轉左，改吏部，掌詹事府。尋遷禮部尚書。

When Censor Liu Tai was arrested for impeaching Zhang Juzheng, his colleagues all kept their distance, but Shenxing alone went to see him. When Zhang Juzheng declined to leave office to mourn his father, Shenxing joined his colleagues in submitting a memorial of protest. Lü Diaoyang intercepted the memorial, and it never reached the throne. Zhang Juzheng heard of it and was furious. On another day he said to Shenxing, "I have always favored you—would you do this too?" Shenxing answered calmly, "It is precisely because you have shown me such favor." Zhang Juzheng was displeased. Before long Shenxing resigned and went home, citing illness. After Zhang Juzheng died, Shenxing was recalled to his former post. He was promoted to Left Mentor of the Heir Apparent and continued his duties as a daily lecturer. By then Zhang Juzheng had already fallen from power, and Vice Minister Qiu Zhen was sent to inventory and seize his family's property. Shenxing wrote to Qiu Zhen, noting that Zhang Juzheng's mother was elderly and his sons, with their household ruined, were in wretched straits; he urged that the emperor's grace be extended to shield the family and that the bond between sovereign and minister be honored to the end. His words were deeply earnest, and public opinion applauded him. He was promoted from Lecturer-in-Waiting to Right Vice Minister of Rites. He was transferred to the left vice ministership, reassigned to the Ministry of Personnel, and put in charge of the Household of the Heir Apparent. Before long he was appointed Minister of Rites.

慎行明習典制，諸大禮多所裁定。先是，嘉靖中孝烈後升祔，祧仁宗。萬曆改元，穆宗升祔，復祧宣宗。慎行謂非禮，作《太廟祧遷考》，言：「古七廟之制，三昭三穆，與太祖之廟而七。劉歆、王肅並以高、曾、祖、禰及五世、六世為三昭三穆。其兄弟相傳，則同堂異室，不可為一世。國朝成祖既為世室，與太祖俱百世不遷，則仁宗以下，必實歷六世，而後三昭三穆始備。孝宗與睿宗兄弟，武宗與世宗兄弟，韶穆同，不當各為一世。世宗升，距仁宗止六世，不當祧仁宗。穆宗升祔，當祧仁宗，不當祧宣宗。」引晉、唐、宋故事為據，其言辨而核。事雖不行，識者服其知禮。又言：「南昌、壽春等十六王，世次既遠，宜別祭陵園，不宜祔享太廟。」亦寢不行。

Shenxing was thoroughly versed in ritual law and settled many major ceremonial disputes. Earlier, during the Jiajing reign, when Empress Xiaolie was enshrined in the imperial temple, Emperor Renzong was removed from his place. At the start of the Wanli reign, when Emperor Muzong was enshrined in the temple, Emperor Xuanzong was displaced in turn. Shenxing argued that this violated ritual propriety and wrote An Inquiry into Ancestral Temple Displacement, stating: "The ancient system of seven temples consisted of three zhao and three mu, together with the founding ancestor's shrine, for seven in all. Liu Xin and Wang Su both understood the three zhao and three mu to comprise the great-great-grandfather, great-grandfather, grandfather, and father, along with the fifth and sixth generations. When the throne passed between brothers, they shared one hall but occupied separate chambers and could not be counted as a single generation. In our dynasty, since the Yongle Emperor was made the perpetual shrine and he and the founding emperor are both never displaced, there must be six actual generations from the Hongxi Emperor downward before the three zhao and three mu are complete. The Hongzhi Emperor and Ruizong were brothers, as were the Zhengde and Jiajing Emperors; their zhao and mu positions were identical, and they should not each be counted as separate generations. When the Jiajing Emperor was enshrined, only six generations had passed since the Hongxi Emperor; the Hongxi Emperor should not have been displaced. When the Longqing Emperor was enshrined, the Hongxi Emperor should have been displaced—not the Xuande Emperor." He cited Jin, Tang, and Song precedents in support, and his argument was precise and well substantiated. Although his proposal was not adopted, informed opinion respected his mastery of ritual. He also argued that the sixteen princely lines of Nanchang, Shouchun, and the like, being many generations removed, should be honored at their own mausoleum parks rather than enshrined in the Grand Ancestral Temple." This proposal, too, was shelved.

十八年正月，疏請早建東宮，出閣講讀。及冬，又請。帝怒，再嚴旨詰責。慎行不為懾，明日復言：「冊立臣部職掌，臣等不言，罪有所歸。幸速決大計，放歸田里。」帝益不悅，責以要君疑上，淆亂國本，及僚屬皆奪俸。山東鄉試，預傳典試者名，已而果然。言者遂劾禮官，皆停俸。慎行引罪乞休。章累上，乃許。家居十餘年，中外屢薦，率報寢。三十三年，始起掌詹事府。疏辭，復留不下。居二年，廷推閣臣七人，首慎行。詔加太子少保兼東閣大學士，入參機務。再辭不允，乃就道。時慎行已得疾。及廷謝，拜起不如儀，上疏請罪。歸臥於家，遂草遺疏，請帝親大臣、錄遣逸、補言官。數日卒，年六十三。贈太子太保，謚文定。

In the first month of the eighteenth year of Wanli he submitted a memorial urging that the heir apparent be formally invested and begin formal study outside the palace. That winter he petitioned again. The emperor was furious and twice issued stern edicts rebuking him. Shenxing was undeterred. The next day he wrote again: "Investiture of the heir is this ministry's duty; if we remain silent, the blame will fall on us. Please settle this great matter at once and allow me to retire to my home." The emperor grew still angrier, accusing him of holding the throne hostage, casting doubt on the sovereign, and unsettling the succession—and stripped him and his subordinates of their salaries. During the Shandong provincial examination, the names of the chief examiners were leaked in advance—and the leak proved accurate. Critics then impeached the Rites officials, and all of them had their salaries suspended. Shenxing accepted blame and asked to retire. After repeated memorials, the emperor finally granted his request. He lived in retirement for more than ten years. Recommendations poured in from inside and outside the court, but they were invariably ignored. In the thirty-third year of Wanli he was at last recalled to head the Household of the Heir Apparent. He submitted a memorial declining the appointment, but the emperor kept him in post. After two years, the court recommended seven men for the Grand Secretariat, with Shenxing ranked first. An edict made him Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and Eastern Pavilion Grand Secretary, entrusting him with affairs of state. He declined twice, but when the emperor would not accept his refusal, he set out for the capital. By then Shenxing was already ill. At his audience of thanks, his bows and movements fell short of proper form, and he submitted a memorial asking to be punished. He went home to his sickbed and drafted a final memorial urging the emperor to meet his ministers in person, recall overlooked talent, and fill the ranks of remonstrating officials. He died a few days later, at the age of sixty-three. He was posthumously honored as Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and given the posthumous name Wending.

慎行學有原委，貫穿百家。神宗時，詞館中以慎行及臨朐馮琦文學為一時冠。

Shenxing's scholarship was deeply grounded and ranged across the full breadth of classical learning. During the Wanli reign, Shenxing and Feng Qi of Linqu were considered the leading literary figures in the Hanlin Academy.

李廷機

Li Tingji

李廷機，字爾張，晉江人。貢入太學，順天鄉試第一。萬曆十一年，會試復第一，以進土第二授編修。累遷祭酒。故事，祭酒每視事，則二生共舉一牌詣前，大書「整齊嚴肅」四字。蓋高皇帝所制，以警師儒者。廷機見之惕然，故其立教，一以嚴為主。

Li Tingji, whose style name was Erzhang, came from Jinjiang. He entered the Imperial Academy as a tribute student and ranked first in the Shuntian provincial examination. In the eleventh year of Wanli he again topped the palace examination and, as second-ranked jinshi, was appointed a compiler. He rose through the ranks to become Chancellor of the Directorate of Education. By custom, whenever the chancellor took up his duties, two students would carry before him a placard bearing the four characters "Orderly, strict, and solemn." The founding emperor had instituted this practice as a reminder to teachers and scholars. Tingji was deeply moved when he saw it, and in his teaching he made strictness his guiding principle.

久之，遷南京吏部右侍郎，署部事。二十七年，典京察，無偏私。嘗兼署戶、工二部事，綜理精密。奏行軫恤行戶四事，商困大蘇。外城陵垣，多所繕治，費皆取公帑奇羨，不以煩民。召為禮部右侍郎，四辭不允，越二年始受任。時已進左侍郎，遂代郭正域視部事。會楚王華奎因正域發其餽遺書，誣訐正域不法數事。廷機意右楚王，而微為正域解。大學士沈一貫欲藉妖書傾正域，廷機與御史沈裕、同官塗宗浚俱署名上趨定生光獄，株連遂絕。

After some time he was transferred to Right Vice Minister of Personnel in Nanjing and placed in charge of the ministry. In the twenty-seventh year he presided over the capital personnel review and showed no favoritism. He also served concurrently in the Ministries of Revenue and Works, managing both with meticulous care. He memorialized four measures to relieve traveling merchant households, greatly easing their hardship. He oversaw extensive repairs to the outer city walls and imperial mausoleum ramparts, funding the work entirely from surplus public funds without burdening the populace. He was summoned to serve as Right Vice Minister of Rites. He declined four times before the emperor would accept his refusal; only after two years did he take up the post. By then he had already been promoted to Left Vice Minister and took over the ministry from Guo Zhengyu. When Guo Zhengyu exposed correspondence revealing gifts from the Prince of Chu, Hua Kui, the prince retaliated with false accusations of misconduct. Tingji leaned toward the Prince of Chu, but quietly offered mitigating explanations for Zhengyu. Grand Secretary Shen Yiguan sought to use the "demonic book" case to destroy Guo Zhengyu. Tingji, Censor Shen Yu, and his colleague Tu Zongjun all signed a memorial urging a swift verdict in the Li Shengguang case, cutting short the widening web of accusations.

三十三年夏，雷震郊壇。既率同列條上修省事宜，復言今日闕失，莫如礦稅，宜罷撤。不報。其冬，類上四方災異。秦王誼漶由中尉進封，其庶長子應授本爵，夤緣欲封郡王，廷機三疏力持。王遣人居間，廷機固拒，特旨許之。益府服內請封，亦持不可。

In the summer of the thirty-third year, lightning struck the suburban sacrificial altar. He had already joined his colleagues in submitting a detailed program of self-reform; he now argued that of all the empire's current failings, none was graver than the mining tax, which ought to be abolished. The emperor did not respond. That winter he submitted successive reports on disasters and portents from across the empire. The Prince of Qin, Yi Huan, had been promoted from Guard Commander to Commandery Prince; his eldest son by a concubine was entitled only to the original lower rank, but through influence sought promotion to Commandery Prince. Tingji submitted three memorials firmly opposing the request. The prince sent intermediaries to sway him, but Tingji stood firm—until an imperial special edict granted the request anyway. He also blocked a request from the Prince of Yi's household for enfeoffment during the mourning period.

廷機遇事有執，尤廉潔，帝知之。然性刻深，亦頗偏愎，不諳大體。楚宗人華勣以奏訐楚王，撫按官既擬奪爵，錮高墻，廷機授《祖訓》謀害親王例，議置之死。言路勢張，政府暨銓曹畏之，不敢出諸外，年例遂廢。禮部主事聶雲翰論之，廷機希言路意，中雲翰察典。給事中袁懋謙劾之。廷機求退，不允。

Tingji was principled in office and notably incorruptible, and the emperor was aware of it. Yet he was harsh by nature, somewhat obstinate, and lacked a grasp of the larger picture. When Hua Xu, a member of the Chu imperial clan, denounced the Prince of Chu in a memorial, the provincial officials had already proposed stripping his title and imprisoning him. Tingji invoked the Ancestral Instructions' precedent for plotting against an imperial prince and argued for the death penalty. The censorial officials were at the height of their power; the chief ministers and the Ministry of Personnel feared them and dared not make the case public, and the annual review precedent was abandoned. Nie Yunhan, a principal secretary in the Ministry of Rites, criticized the decision. Seeking to placate the censorial faction, Tingji marked Yunhan down in the annual performance review. Supervising Secretary Yuan Maoqian impeached him. Tingji asked to resign, but the emperor refused.

時內閣止朱賡一人。給事中王元翰等慮廷機且入輔，數陰詆之。三十五年夏，廷推閣臣，廷機果與焉。給事中曹於忭、宋一韓、御史陳宗契不可。相持久之，卒列以上。帝雅重廷機，命以禮部尚書兼東閣大學士，入參機務。廷機三辭始視事。元翰及給事中胡忻攻之不已，帝為奪俸，以慰廷機。已而姜士昌、宋燾復以論廷機被黜，群情益憤。廷機力辨求罷，又疏陳十宜去，帝慰諭有加。明年四月，主事鄭振先論賡十二罪，並及廷機。廷機累疏乞休，杜門數月不出。言者疑其偽，數十人交章力攻。廷機求去不已，帝屢詔勉留，且遣鴻臚趣出，堅臥不起。待命逾年，乃屏居荒廟，廷臣猶有繁言。至四十年九月，疏已百二十餘上，乃陛辭出都待命。同官葉向高言廷機已行，不可再挽，乃加太子太保。賜道里費，乘傳，以行人護歸。居四年卒。贈少保，謚文節。

At the time Zhu Geng was the sole member of the Grand Secretariat. Supervising Secretaries Wang Yuanhan and others, fearing that Tingji would soon join the Grand Secretariat, repeatedly attacked him behind the scenes. In the summer of the thirty-fifth year, when the court recommended candidates for the Grand Secretariat, Tingji was among them. Supervising Secretaries Cao Yubin and Song Yihan and Censor Chen Zongqi objected. The dispute dragged on, but in the end Tingji was ranked first. The emperor had long held Tingji in high regard and appointed him Minister of Rites and Eastern Pavilion Grand Secretary, entrusting him with affairs of state. Tingji declined three times before finally assuming his duties. Yuanhan and Supervising Secretary Hu Xin kept up their attacks; the emperor suspended their salaries to reassure Tingji. Shortly afterward, Jiang Shichang and Song Tao were dismissed yet again for speaking out against Tingji, and outrage in the ranks only deepened. Tingji pleaded his case forcefully and asked to be relieved, memorializing ten reasons he ought to resign; the emperor replied with warm reassurance and still greater favor. The next April, Section Chief Zheng Zhenxian submitted a memorial listing twelve crimes of Zhu Geng and implicating Tingji as well. Tingji sent memorial after memorial begging leave of office and shut himself indoors, refusing to emerge for months on end. Critics suspected he was feigning illness, and dozens of officials submitted memorial after memorial demanding his removal. Tingji kept pressing to resign. The emperor repeatedly issued edicts urging him to stay, even dispatching the Director of Ceremonies to summon him forth—but he stayed in bed and would not budge. After waiting more than a year for a decision, he withdrew to live in a ruined temple; court officials still had plenty to say about him. By the ninth month of the fortieth year, having submitted more than a hundred and twenty memorials, he formally took leave of the emperor and left the capital to await final orders. His colleague Ye Xianggao argued that Tingji was already on his way and could not be recalled; the court then added to his titles the post of Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent. He was granted travel expenses, given use of the imperial courier service, and sent home under the escort of a palace messenger. Four years later he died. He was posthumously honored as Junior Guardian and given the posthumous title Wenjie.

廷機系閣籍六年，秉政止九月，無大過。言路以其與申時行、沈一貫輩密相授受，故交章逐之。輔臣以齮龁受辱，屏棄積年而後去，前此未有也。廷機輔政時，四川巡撫喬璧星銳欲討鎮雄安堯臣，與貴州守臣持議不決。廷機力主撤兵，其後卒無事，議者稱之。閩人入閣，自楊榮、陳山後，以語言難曉，垂二百年無人，廷機始與葉向高並命。後周如磐、張瑞圖、林釬、蔣德璘、黃景昉復相繼云。

Tingji had been enrolled on the Grand Secretariat roster for six years and actually held power for only nine months, with no major misdeeds to his name. Censorial officials attacked him in waves because they believed he had been in secret league with Shen Shixing, Shen Yiguan, and their faction. That a grand secretary should be hounded by petty slander, cast aside for years, and driven out only after a long ordeal was without precedent. While Tingji was in office, Sichuan Grand Coordinator Qiao Bixing was eager to launch a punitive campaign against An Yaochén, military commander of Zhen'an, but he and the Guizhou provincial officials deadlocked over the decision. Tingji strongly argued for withdrawing the troops; in the event nothing came of the affair, and later commentators praised his judgment. No native of Fujian had entered the Grand Secretariat since Yang Rong and Chen Shan—nearly two centuries earlier—because their accents were hard for others to follow; Tingji was the first to break that drought, appointed alongside Ye Xianggao. Later Zhou Rupan, Zhang Ruitu, Lin Qian, Jiang Delin, and Huang Jingfang would follow in succession.

吳道南

Wu Daonan

吳道南，字會甫，崇仁人。萬曆十七年進士及第。授編修，進左中允。直講東宮，太子偶旁矚，道南即輟講拱俟，太子為改容。歷左諭德少詹事。擢禮部右侍郎，署部事。歷城、高苑牛產犢，皆兩首兩鼻，道南請盡蠲山東諸稅，召還內臣，又因災異言貂珰斂怨，乞下詔罪己，與天下更新。皆不報。尋請追諡文朝忠臣。京師久旱，疏言：「天下人情鬱而不散，致成旱災。如東宮天下本，不使講明經術，練習政務，久置深闈，聰明隔塞，鬱一也。法司懸缺半載，讞鞫無人，囹圄充滿，有入無出，愁憤之氣，上薄日星，鬱二也。內藏山積，而閭閻半菽不充，曾不發帑振救，坐視其死亡轉徙，鬱三也。累臣滿朝薦、卞孔時，時稱循吏，因權珰構陷，一系數年，鬱四也。廢棄諸臣，實堪世用，一斥不復，山林終老，鬱五也。陛下誠渙發德音，除此數鬱，不崇朝而雨露遍天下矣。」帝不省。

Wu Daonan, whose style name was Huifu, came from Chongren. In the seventeenth year of the Wanli reign he passed the palace examination and received his jinshi degree. He was appointed a Hanlin Compiler and later promoted to Left Sub-Reader of the Heir Apparent. While lecturing in the Eastern Palace, he once noticed the crown prince glance away; Daonan immediately stopped speaking and stood with hands clasped, waiting; the prince straightened up at once. He rose through the posts of Left Preceptor and Junior Mentor of the Heir Apparent. He was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites and put in charge of the ministry's business. In Licheng and Gaoyuan oxen bore deformed calves, each with two heads and two noses. Daonan memorialized to remit all Shandong levies, recall inner-court eunuchs from the provinces, and—citing strange omens—warn that palace commissioners were stoking popular resentment; he urged the emperor to issue a self-reproach edict and inaugurate a fresh start for the realm. None of his proposals received a response. He soon memorialized to grant posthumous titles to the loyal officials of the Jianwen reign. After a prolonged drought in the capital, he memorialized: "The grievances of the people throughout the realm are pent up and cannot disperse, and this has brought on drought. The Eastern Palace is the foundation of the realm, yet the heir is not taught the classics or trained in affairs of state, but kept long in the inner quarters with his talents stifled — that is the first grievance. The judicial offices have stood vacant for half a year with no one to hear cases; the prisons are packed full, with prisoners entering but never leaving. Grief and rage rise to heaven itself — that is the second grievance. The inner treasury is piled high, yet in the lanes and alleys people can scarcely fill half a bowl with beans; the court never opens the coffers for relief but sits by while people die or flee — that is the third grievance. Imprisoned officials crowd the court — Man Chaojian and Bian Kongshi, once praised as model magistrates, were framed by powerful eunuchs and held for years — that is the fourth grievance. Capable officials cast aside are dismissed once and never recalled, to end their days in obscurity — that is the fifth grievance. If Your Majesty will truly issue words of grace and lift these burdens, relief will spread across the realm before the morning is out." The emperor took no notice.

道南遇事有操執，明達政體。朝鮮貢使歸，請市火藥，執不予。土魯番貢玉，請勿納。遼東議開科試士，以巖疆當重武，格不行。父喪歸。服闋，即家拜禮部尚書兼東閣大學士，預機務，與方從哲並命。三辭不允，久之始入朝。故事，廷臣受官，先面謝乃蒞任。帝不視朝久，皆先蒞任。道南至，不獲見，不敢入直。同官從哲為言，帝令先視事，道南疏謝。居數日，言：「臣就列經旬，僅下瑞王婚禮一疏。他若儲宮出講、諸王豫教、簡大僚、舉遺失、撤稅使、補言官諸事，廷臣舌敝以請者，舉皆杳然，豈陛下簡置臣等意。」帝優詔答之，卒不行。迨帝因「梃擊」之變，召見群臣慈寧宮。道南始得面謝，自是不獲再見。

In office Daonan acted with firm principle and a clear grasp of government. When a Korean tribute envoy requested gunpowder for purchase on his return journey, he refused. When Turfan offered jade as tribute, he argued against accepting it. When Liaodong proposed holding civil examinations, he vetoed the plan on the grounds that a strategic frontier must prioritize military strength. He returned home to observe mourning for his father. When his mourning period ended, he was appointed from home as Minister of Rites and Eastern Pavilion Grand Secretary, charged with affairs of state alongside Fang Congzhe. He declined three times before accepting; only after a long delay did he come to court. By custom, newly appointed ministers were to appear before the emperor to give thanks before taking up their duties. The emperor had long absent himself from court, so everyone simply assumed their posts without an audience. When Daonan arrived he could not obtain an audience and refused to take up his duties in the Grand Secretariat. Fang Congzhe interceded for him; the emperor told him to assume his duties first; Daonan submitted a memorial of thanks. After several days he memorialized: "Your servant has taken up my post for more than ten days, yet only one memorial on the Rui Prince's wedding has been issued. As for the crown prince's education, princely instruction, appointing senior officials, recommending overlooked talent, withdrawing tax commissioners, and filling remonstrance posts — matters on which court ministers have pleaded until their tongues are worn — there has been no response at all. Is this truly what Your Majesty intended when you appointed us?" The emperor replied with a gracious edict, but in the end acted on none of it. Not until the emperor summoned the court to Cining Palace in the wake of the "Staff Assault" incident did he receive them. Only then did Daonan get his long-awaited audience; he never saw the emperor again.

織造中官劉成死，遣其黨呂貴往護，貴嗾奸民留己督造。中旨許之，命草敕。道南偕從哲爭，且詢疏所從進，請永杜內降，弗聽。鄱陽故無商稅，中官為稅使，置關湖口征課。道南極言傍湖舟無所泊，多覆沒，請罷關勿征，亦不納。

When Liu Cheng, the eunuch overseer of the Weaving Directorate, died, his ally Lü Gui was dispatched to handle affairs; Gui schemed with local ruffians to have himself retained as supervisor of production. The emperor approved the request by secret edict and ordered a patent of appointment drafted. Daonan and Fang Congzhe protested and demanded to know who had forwarded the request; they asked that secret edicts from the inner palace be abolished once and for all—but the emperor would not listen. Poyang had never levied merchant taxes, but a eunuch tax commissioner established a checkpoint at Hukou to collect duties. Daonan argued forcefully that boats on the lake had nowhere to moor and many were sinking; he pleaded to close the checkpoint and end the levies—but that too was rejected.

道南輔大政不為詭隨，頗有時望。歲丙辰，偕禮部尚書劉楚先典會試。吳江舉人沈同和者，副都御史季文子，目不知書，賄禮部吏，與同里趙鳴陽聯號舍。其首場七篇，自坊刻外，皆鳴陽筆也。榜發，同和第一，鳴陽亦中式，都下大嘩。道南等亟檢舉，詔令覆試。同和竟日構一文。下吏，戍煙瘴，鳴陽亦除名。

As a grand secretary Daonan refused to bend with every wind and enjoyed considerable repute at court. In the bingchen year he and Minister of Rites Liu Chuxian served as chief examiners of the metropolitan examination. Shen Tonghe of Wu County, son of Vice Censor-in-Chief Shen Jiwen, was illiterate; he bribed a Ministry of Rites clerk and was assigned an examination cell alongside his neighbor Zhao Mingyang. Of the seven essays he submitted for the first session, all but those copied from commercial editions were written by Zhao Mingyang. When the results were posted, Tonghe ranked first and Mingyang also passed—provoking an uproar throughout the capital. Daonan and his colleagues immediately reported the fraud; the emperor ordered a re-examination. Tonghe managed to compose a single essay only after an entire day's struggle. Tonghe was handed over to the authorities and exiled to the malarial south; Mingyang was struck from the rolls as well.

先是，湯賓尹科場事，實道南發之，其黨側目。御史李嵩、周師旦遂連章論道南，而給事中劉文炳攻尤力。道南疏辨乞休，頗侵文炳。文炳遂極詆御史張至發助之。道南不能堪，言：「臺諫劾閣臣，職也，未有肆口嫚罵者。臣辱國已甚，請立罷黜。」帝雅重道南，謫文炳外任，奪嵩等俸。御史韓浚、朱堦救文炳，復詆道南。道南益求去。杜門逾年，疏二十七上，帝猶勉留。會繼母訃至，乃賜道里費，遣行人護歸。天啟初，以覃恩即家進太子太保。居二年卒。贈少保，謚文恪。

Earlier, it was Daonan who had exposed the examination fraud involving Tang Binyin; his enemies watched him with hostile eyes. Censors Li Song and Zhou Shidan followed with memorial after memorial denouncing Daonan, and Supervising Secretary Liu Wenbing led the attack. Daonan replied in a memorial defending himself and asking to resign, sharply rebuking Liu Wenbing in the process. Wenbing then launched a blistering attack, joined by Censor Zhang Zhifa. Daonan could bear it no longer and memorialized: "For censorial and remonstrance officials to impeach grand secretaries is their duty—but never before has one descended to open abuse. Your servant has shamed the state beyond measure; I beg to be dismissed at once." The emperor, who had long valued Daonan, demoted Wenbing to a provincial post and suspended the salaries of Li Song and the others. Censors Han Jun and Zhu Jie rallied to Wenbing's defense and renewed their attacks on Daonan. Daonan pressed harder to resign. He shut himself indoors for more than a year, submitting twenty-seven memorials begging leave; the emperor still urged him to remain. When word came of his stepmother's death, the court granted him travel expenses and dispatched a palace messenger to escort him home. Early in the Tianqi reign he was promoted at home to Junior Tutor of the Heir Apparent as part of a general amnesty. Two years later he died. He was posthumously honored as Junior Guardian and given the posthumous title Wenkew.

贊曰：《傳》稱「道合則服從，不合則去」，其王家屏、沈鯉之謂乎！廷機雖頗叢物議，然清節不汙。若于陛之世德，慎行之博聞，亦足稱羽儀廊廟之選矣。

The eulogist writes: The Record says, "When the Way aligns, serve; when it does not, depart"—surely this describes Wang Jiabing and Shen Li! Though Tingji drew considerable controversy, his integrity remained unstained. As for Chen Yubi's inherited virtue and Yu Shenxing's erudition, they too were worthy ornaments of the imperial council.

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