1
張四維馬自強許國趙志臯張位朱賡
Zhang Siwei, Ma Ziqiang, Xu Guo, Zhao Zhigao, Zhang Wei, and Zhu Geng
2
張四維
Zhang Siwei
3
張四維，字子維，蒲州人．嘉靖三十二年進士．改庶吉士，授編修．隆慶初，進右中允，直經筵，尋遷左諭德．四維倜儻有才智，明習時事．楊博、王崇古久歷邊陲，善談兵．四維，博同里而崇古姊子也，以故亦習知邊務．高拱深器之．
Zhang Siwei, styled Ziwei, came from Puzhou. He passed the jinshi examination in the thirty-second year of the Jiajing reign, entered the Hanlin Academy as a bachelor, and was appointed compiler. At the start of the Longqing reign he rose to Right Middle Submitter and served at the Classics Lectern, then soon became Left Mentor. Siwei was bold and able, with a keen grasp of affairs of the day. Yang Bo and Wang Chonggu had long experience on the frontier and were adept at military discussion; Siwei was Bo's townsman and Chonggu's nephew by marriage, and so he too grew familiar with border affairs. Gao Gong held him in high regard.
4
拱掌吏部，超擢翰林學士．甫兩月，拜吏部右侍郎．俺答封貢議起，朝右持不決．四維為交關於拱，款事遂成．拱益才四維，四維亦干進不已，朝士頗有疾之者．御史郜永春視鹽河東，言鹽法之壞由勢要橫行，大商專利，指四維、崇古為勢要，四維父、崇古弟為大商．四維奏辨，因乞去．拱力護之，溫詔慰留焉．
When Gao Gong headed the Ministry of Personnel, he promoted Siwei straight to Hanlin Academician; within two months Siwei was made Right Vice Minister of Personnel. Debate over Altan's enfeoffment and tribute left the court divided, but Siwei acted as Gao's go-between and the peace settlement went through. Gao prized him all the more, while Siwei never stopped pressing for advancement, and many at court came to dislike him. Censor Gao Yongchun, inspecting the salt administration in Hedong, blamed the ruin of the salt laws on powerful men acting lawlessly and great merchants monopolizing profit; he named Siwei and Chonggu as the powerful men and Siwei's father and Chonggu's brother as the great merchants. Siwei memorialized in his defense and asked to leave office. Gao defended him vigorously, and a reassuring edict kept him in post.
5
初，趙貞吉去位，拱欲援四維入閣，而殷士儋夤緣得之，諸人遂相搆．及御史趙應龍劾士儋，士儋未去，言路復有劾四維者．四維已進左侍郎，不得已引去，無何士儋亦去．東宮出閤，召四維充侍班官．給事中曹大埜言四維賄拱得召，四維馳疏辨，求罷．帝不許，趣入朝．未至而穆宗崩，拱罷政，張居正當國，復移疾歸．
When Zhao Zhenji left office, Gao Gong wanted to bring Siwei into the Grand Secretariat, but Yin Shidan won the post through patronage, and the two factions turned on each other. After Censor Zhao Yinglong impeached Shidan—who had not yet left office—the censorate also moved against Siwei. Siwei, already promoted to Left Vice Minister, had no choice but to withdraw; Shidan soon followed. When the crown prince left seclusion, Siwei was summoned as a court attendant. Supervising Secretary Cao Dayan charged that Siwei had bribed Gao for the appointment; Siwei sent an urgent memorial in reply and asked to be dismissed. The emperor refused and ordered him to come to court. Before he arrived, Emperor Muzong died, Gao Gong fell from power, Zhang Juzheng took over the government, and Siwei again pleaded illness and went home.
6
四維家素封，歲時餽問居正不絕．武清伯李偉，慈聖太后父也，故籍山西，四維結為援．萬曆二年復召掌詹事府．明年三月，居正請增置閣臣，引薦四維，馮保亦與善，遂以禮部尚書兼東閣大學士入贊機務．當是時，政事一決居正．居正無所推讓，視同列蔑如也．四維由居正進，謹事之，不敢相可否，隨其後，拜賜進官而已．居正卒，四維始當國．累加至少師、吏部尚書、中極殿大學士．
The Siwei family had long been wealthy, and year round they kept up gifts and courtesies to Zhang Juzheng. Li Wei, the Military Noble of Wuqing and father of the Empress Dowager Cisheng, was originally registered in Shanxi; Siwei cultivated him as a backer. In the second year of Wanli he was recalled to head the Household of the Heir Apparent. The following March, Juzheng asked to add Grand Secretaries and recommended Siwei; Feng Bao also favored him, and Siwei entered the secretariat as Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion. At that time all policy flowed from Juzheng alone. He made no show of deference and treated his colleagues with open contempt. Siwei had risen through Juzheng and served him carefully, never daring to disagree; he simply followed along, accepting honors and promotions as they came. Only after Juzheng's death did Siwei take charge of the government, rising eventually to Junior Preceptor, Minister of Personnel, and Grand Secretary of the Central Peak Hall.
7
初，四維曲事居正，積不能堪，擬旨不盡如居正意，居正亦漸惡之．既得政，知中外積苦居正，欲大收人心．會皇子生，頒詔天下，疏言：「今法紀修明，海宇寧謐，足稱治平．而文武諸臣，不達朝廷勵精本意，務為促急煩碎，致徵斂無藝，政令乖舛，中外囂然，喪其樂生之心．誠宜及此大慶，蕩滌煩苛，弘敷惠澤，俾四海烝黎，咸戴帝德，此固人心培國脈之要術也．」帝嘉納之．自是，朝政稍變，言路亦發舒，詆居正時事．
Siwei had long endured humbling himself before Juzheng; the drafts he prepared did not always suit Juzheng's mind, and Juzheng in turn grew to dislike him. Once in power, knowing how deeply the court and country had resented Juzheng, he sought to win people back on a broad scale. When a prince was born and an edict went out to the empire, he submitted a memorial: 'Law and discipline are now clear, the realm is at peace, and the age may be called well governed. Yet civil and military officials, missing the court's intent to govern with vigor, have turned urgent, harsh, and petty; levies know no bounds, orders go awry, and uproar inside and outside the court has killed the people's will to live in peace. On this great occasion we should sweep away vexing severity, spread broad grace, and let all under heaven cherish the emperor's virtue—this is how to nourish popular sentiment and strengthen the state's lifeline.' The emperor praised and accepted it. From then on court policy shifted somewhat, the censorate grew bolder, and denunciations of Juzheng's era multiplied.
8
於是居正黨大懼．王篆、曾省吾輩，厚結申時行以為助．而馮保欲因兩宮徽號封己為伯，惡四維持之．篆、省吾知之，厚賄保，數短四維； 而使所善御史曹一夔劾吏部尚書王國光媚四維，拔其中表弟王謙為吏部主事．時行遂擬旨罷國光，並謫謙．四維以帝慰留，復起視事．命甫下，御史張問達復劾四維．四維窘，求保心腹徐爵、張大受賄保，保意稍解．時行乃謫問達於外，以安四維．四維以時行與謀也，卒銜之．已而中官張誠譖保，保眷大衰，四維乃授意門生李植輩發保奸狀．保及篆、省吾皆逐，朝事一大變．
Juzheng's faction was now deeply alarmed. Wang Zhuan, Zeng Shengwu, and others cultivated Shen Shixing as an ally. Feng Bao, hoping to use the posthumous titles of the two palaces to secure an earldom for himself, resented Siwei's opposition. Zhuan and Shengwu learned of this, bribed Bao heavily, and repeatedly slandered Siwei; They set up Censor Cao Yikui to impeach Minister of Personnel Wang Guoguang for fawning on Siwei and promoting Wang Qian, Guoguang's cousin by marriage, to a principal clerk in the Ministry. Shixing drafted an edict removing Guoguang and demoting Qian. The emperor had reassured Siwei and kept him in office, so he resumed his duties; but the order had barely gone out when Censor Zhang Wenda attacked Siwei again. Cornered, Siwei turned to Bao's confidants Xu Jue and Zhang Dashou and bribed Bao, who softened somewhat. Shixing then sent Wenda away to an outside post to calm Siwei. Siwei believed Shixing had been in on the scheme and never forgave him. Before long the eunuch Zhang Cheng slandered Bao; Bao's influence collapsed, and Siwei prompted his disciples Li Zhi and others to expose Bao's crimes. Bao, Zhuan, and Shengwu were all driven out, and court affairs shifted dramatically.
9
於是四維稍汲引海內正人為居正所沉抑者．雖未即盡登用，然力反前事，時望頗屬焉．雲南貢金後期，帝欲罪守土官，又詔取雲南舊貯礦銀二十萬，皆以四維言而止．尋以父喪歸．服將闋，卒．贈太師，諡文毅．
Siwei then began to bring forward upright men throughout the realm whom Juzheng had suppressed. Not all were appointed at once, but he vigorously reversed earlier policies, and public hopes settled on him. When Yunnan's tribute gold arrived late, the emperor wanted to punish the local officials; when he also ordered two hundred thousand taels of stored mining silver taken from Yunnan, Siwei's remonstrance stopped both measures. He soon went home for his father's mourning. Before mourning ended, he died. He was posthumously made Grand Preceptor with the posthumous name Wenyi.
10
張泰徵、張甲徵
Zhang Taizheng and Zhang Jiazheng
11
子泰徵、甲徵皆四維柄政時舉進士．泰徵累官湖廣參政，甲徵工部郎中．
His sons Taizheng and Jiazheng both passed the jinshi while Siwei was in power. Taizheng rose to Assistant Administration Commissioner of Huguang; Jiazheng became a director in the Ministry of Works.
12
馬自強
Ma Ziqiang
13
馬自強，字體乾，同州人．嘉靖三十二年進士．改庶吉士，授檢討．隆慶中，歷洗馬，直經筵．遷國子祭酒，振飭學政，請寄不行．遷少詹事兼侍讀學士，掌翰林院．
Ma Ziqiang, styled Tigān, came from Tongzhou. He passed the jinshi in the thirty-second year of Jiajing, entered the Hanlin Academy, and was appointed reviser. During the Longqing reign he served as reader and attended the Classics Lectern. As Chancellor of the National University he vigorously reformed academic administration and refused requests for lodging of relatives in official posts. He was then made Junior Mentor and Concurrent Reader and took charge of the Hanlin Academy.
14
禮官所掌，宗藩事最多，先後條例自相牴牾，黠吏得恣為奸利．自強擇其當者俾僚吏遵守，諸不可用者悉屏之．每藩府疏至，應時裁決，榜之部門，明示行止，吏無所牟利．龍虎山正一真人，隆慶時已降為提點，奪印敕．至是，張國祥求復故號，自強寢其奏．國祥乃重賄馮保固求復，自強力持不可，卒以中旨許之．初，俺答通貢市，賞有定額，後邊臣徇其求，額漸溢．自強請申故約，濫乞者勿與，歲省費不貲．世宗實錄成，加太子少保．
The Ministry of Rites handled more clan affairs than anything else; successive regulations contradicted one another, and clever clerks profited at will. Ziqiang chose the sound rules for his staff to follow and discarded the rest. Whenever a princely memorial arrived, he decided it promptly, posted the ruling at the ministry gate, and left clerks no room to profit. The Zhengyi Perfected Man of Longhu Mountain had already been reduced during Longqing to Supervisory Commissioner and stripped of seal and patent. Now Zhang Guoxiang sought restoration of his old title; Ziqiang shelved the memorial. Guoxiang then bribed Feng Bao heavily to press the case; Ziqiang held firm that it could not be allowed, but an edict from the inner court permitted it in the end. When Altan first opened tribute and markets, rewards had fixed quotas; later frontier officials indulged his requests until the quotas swelled. Ziqiang asked that the old agreement be enforced and excessive demands refused, saving incalculable yearly expense. When the Veritable Records of Emperor Shizong were completed, he was given the additional title of Junior Tutor of the Crown Prince.
15
六年三月，居正將歸葬父．念閣臣在鄉里者，高拱與己有深隙，殷士儋多奧援，或乘間以出，惟徐階老易與，擬薦之自代．已遣使報階，既念階前輩，己還，當位其下，乃請增置閣臣．帝即令居正推擇，遂以人望薦自強及所厚申時行．詔加自強太子太保兼文淵閣大學士，與時行並參機務．自強初以救吳中行、趙用賢忤居正，自分不敢望，及制下，人更以是多居正．時呂調陽、張四維先在閣．調陽衰，數寢疾不出，小事四維代擬旨，大事則馳報居正於江陵，聽其裁決．自強雖持正，亦不能有為，守位而已．
In the third month of the sixth year Zhang Juzheng was about to go home to bury his father. He thought of Grand Secretaries still in their home districts: Gao Gong bore him a deep grudge, Yin Shidan had many powerful backers and might seize an opening, and only the aged Xu Jie seemed manageable—he planned to recommend Jie as his stand-in. He had already sent a messenger to Jie, but then reflected that Jie was his senior and that on returning he would have to serve beneath him, so he asked instead to add Grand Secretaries. The emperor ordered Juzheng to choose men; he recommended Ziqiang and his own protégé Shen Shixing on grounds of public esteem. An edict made Ziqiang Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince and Grand Secretary of the Wenyuange, to join Shixing in state deliberations. Ziqiang had offended Juzheng by pleading for Wu Zhongxing and Zhao Yongxian and had not dared hope for appointment; when the order came, people praised Juzheng all the more for magnanimity. Lü Diaoyang and Zhang Siwei were already in the secretariat. Diaoyang was failing, often ill and absent; Siwei drafted minor edicts in his place, while major matters were rushed to Juzheng at Jiangling for decision. Though upright, Ziqiang could accomplish nothing and merely held his seat.
16
已，居正還朝，調陽謝政，自強亦得疾卒．詔贈少保，諡文莊，遣行人護喪還．
Before long Juzheng returned to court, Diaoyang resigned, and Ziqiang fell ill and died. An edict posthumously made him Junior Guardian with the posthumous name Wenzhuang and sent a courier to escort his coffin home.
17
馬怡、馬慥
Ma Yi and Ma Zhao
18
子怡，舉人，終參議； 慥，進士，尚寶卿．
His son Yi was a provincial graduate and ended his career as an administration commissioner; Zhao passed the jinshi and became Director of the Court of Imperial Entertainments.
19
關中人入閣者，自自強始．其後薛國觀繼之．終明世，惟二人．
Ziqiang was the first man from the Guanzhong region to enter the Grand Secretariat; Xue Guoguan followed him. Through the entire Ming dynasty, there were only these two.
20
許國，字維楨，歙縣人．舉鄉試第一，登嘉靖四十四年進士．改庶吉士，授檢討．神宗為太子出閤，兼校書．及即位，進右贊善，充日講官．歷禮部左、右侍郎，改吏部，掌詹事府．
Xu Guo, styled Weizhen, came from She County. He ranked first in the provincial examination and passed the jinshi in the forty-fourth year of Jiajing, entered the Hanlin Academy, and was appointed reviser. When the future Shenzong emperor left seclusion as crown prince, Guo served as collator. After the emperor's accession he became Right Subsidy to the Heir Apparent and Daily Lecturer. He served as Left and Right Vice Minister of Rites, transferred to the Ministry of Personnel, and headed the Household of the Heir Apparent.
21
十一年四月以禮部尚書兼東閣大學士入參機務．國與首輔申時行善．以丁此呂事與言者相攻，語侵吳中行、趙用賢，由是物議沸然．已而御史陳性學復摭前事劾國，時行右國，請薄罰性學．國再疏求去，力攻言者．帝命鴻臚宣諭，始起視事．南京給事中伍可受復劾國，帝為謫可受官．國復三疏乞休，語憤激，帝不允．性學旋出為廣東僉事．先是，帝考卜壽宮，加國太子太保，改文淵閣，以雲南功進太子太傅．國以父母未葬，乞歸襄事．帝不允，命其子代．御史馬象乾以劾中官張鯨獲罪，國懇救．帝為霽威受之．
In the fourth month of the eleventh year he entered the secretariat as Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion. Guo was on good terms with Chief Grand Secretary Shen Shixing. In the Ding Cilü affair he clashed with the censorate, and his language touched Wu Zhongxing and Zhao Yongxian; public opinion boiled over. Censor Chen Xingxue then dredged up old charges against Guo; Shixing sided with Guo and asked that Xingxue be lightly punished. Guo again asked to leave and fiercely attacked the censorate. The emperor sent the Director of Ceremonies to reassure him, and only then did Guo resume office. Nanjing Supervising Secretary Wu Keshou attacked Guo again; the emperor demoted Keshou. Guo submitted three more memorials asking to retire in agitated language; the emperor refused. Xingxue was soon sent to Guangdong as Assistant Surveillance Commissioner. Earlier, when the emperor divined his tomb site, Guo was made Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince and moved to the Wenyuange; for Yunnan service he rose to Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince. Guo asked to go home to bury his parents; the emperor refused and sent his son in his place. Censor Ma Xiangqian was punished for impeaching the eunuch Zhang Jing; Guo pleaded earnestly for him, and the emperor relented.
22
十七年，進士薛敷教劾吳時來，南京御史王麟趾、黃仁榮疏論臺規，辭皆侵國．國憤，連疏力詆，及主事饒伸．伸方攻大學士王錫爵，公議益不直國．國性木強，遇事輒發．數與言者為難，無大臣度，以故士論不附．
In the seventeenth year the new jinshi Xue Fujiao impeached Wu Shilai, and Nanjing Censors Wang Linzhi and Huang Rongrong submitted memorials on censorate regulations that all touched Guo. Enraged, Guo answered with successive attacks, also dragging in Director Rao Shen. Shen was then attacking Grand Secretary Wang Xijue, and public opinion turned further against Guo. Stubborn by nature, Guo burst out whenever provoked. He repeatedly clashed with the censorate and lacked a grand minister's breadth, and scholarly opinion did not support him.
23
明年秋，火落赤犯臨洮、鞏昌，西陲震動，帝召對輔臣暖閣．時行言款貢足恃，國謂渝盟犯順，桀驁已極，宜一大創之，不可復羈縻．帝心然國言，而時行為政不能奪．無何，給事中任讓論國庸鄙．國疏辨，帝奪讓俸．國、時行初無嫌．而時行適為國門生萬國欽所論，讓則時行門生也，故為其師報復云．福建守臣報日本結琉球入寇，國因言：「今四裔交犯，而中外小臣爭務攻擊，致大臣紛紛求去，誰復為國家任事者？ 請申諭諸臣，各修職業，毋恣胸臆．」帝遂下詔嚴禁．國始終忿疾言者如此．
The next autumn Huoluochi invaded Lintao and Gongchang; the western frontier shook, and the emperor summoned the assisting ministers to the warm pavilion. Shixing said tribute and peace could be relied on; Guo argued they had broken the alliance and rebelled, were utterly arrogant, and ought to be struck hard—not indulged again. The emperor inwardly agreed with Guo, but Shixing held power and could not be overborne. Before long Supervising Secretary Ren Rang called Guo shallow and base; Guo defended himself, and the emperor stripped Rang of salary. At first Guo and Shixing had no quarrel, but Shixing had just been attacked by Guo's disciple Wan Guoqin, and Rang was Shixing's disciple—so it was said he avenged his teacher. A Fujian official reported that Japan had joined Ryukyu in raiding; Guo said: 'Now the four quarters are all in violation, yet petty officials inside and outside the court compete in attack and denunciation, driving grand ministers to resign one after another—who will still serve the state? I ask that all officials be clearly instructed to attend to their duties and not indulge private feelings.' The emperor then issued a strict edict. Guo remained embittered toward the censorate to the end.
24
廷臣爭請冊立，得旨二十年春舉行．十九年秋，工部郎張有德以儀注請，帝怒奪俸．時行適在告，國與王家屏慮事中變，欲因而就之，引前旨力請．帝果不悅，責大臣不當與小臣比．國不自安，遂求去．疏五上，乃賜敕馳傳歸．踰一日，時行亦罷，[一]而冊立竟停．人謂時行以論劾去，國以爭執去，為二相優劣焉．
Court officials repeatedly pleaded for investiture of the heir and received an edict fixing it for the spring of the twentieth year. In the autumn of the nineteenth year Bureau Director Zhang Youde of the Ministry of Works requested the ritual protocol; the emperor, enraged, stripped him of salary. Shixing happened to be on leave; Guo and Wang Jiaping feared a change of course and tried to seize the moment, citing the earlier edict to press hard. The emperor was displeased and rebuked the grand ministers for acting like petty officials. Guo felt uneasy and asked to leave; after five memorials he was sent home by fast courier with an edict. One day later Shixing was also dismissed, [1] and investiture was halted after all. People said Shixing left under impeachment while Guo left over dispute—a judgment on which of the two chancellors was the better man.
25
國在閣九年，廉慎自守，故累遭攻擊，不能被以汙名．卒，贈太保，諡文穆．
Guo served in the Grand Secretariat nine years. Careful and self-restrained in integrity, he could not be stained with corruption despite repeated attacks. When he died he was posthumously made Grand Guardian with the posthumous name Wenmu.
26
趙志臯
Zhao Zhigao
27
趙志，字汝邁，蘭谿人．隆慶二年進士及第，授編修．萬曆初，進侍讀．張居正奪情，將廷杖吳中行、趙用賢．志偕張位、習孔教等疏救，格不上，則請以中行等疏宣付史館，居正恚．會星變考察京朝官，遂出志為廣東副使．居三年，再以京察謫其官．居正歿，言者交薦，起解州同知．旋改南京太僕丞，歷國子監司業、祭酒，再遷吏部右侍郎，並在南京．尋召為吏部左侍郎．
Zhao Zhigao, styled Rumai, came from Lanxi. He topped the jinshi in the second year of Longqing and was appointed compiler. At the start of Wanli he became reader. When Zhang Juzheng resumed mourning while still in office and was about to have Wu Zhongxing and Zhao Yongxian beaten at court, Zhigao joined Zhang Wei, Xi Kongjiao, and others in memorializing for them. The memorials were blocked; they then asked that Wu and Zhao's memorials be proclaimed and sent to the Historiography Office. Juzheng was furious. During the stellar-portent review of capital officials Zhigao was sent to Guangdong as vice commissioner. After three years he was demoted again in the capital review. After Juzheng's death, censorate officials recommended him and he was appointed assistant prefect of Jiezhou, then Nanjing assistant director of the Ministry of Works, vice director and chancellor of the National University, and twice Right Vice Minister of Personnel—all in Nanjing. He was soon recalled as Left Vice Minister of Personnel.
28
十九年秋，申時行謝政，薦志及張位自代．遂進禮部尚書兼東閣大學士，入參機務．明年春，王家屏罷，王錫爵召未至，志暫居首輔．會寧夏變起，兵事多所咨決．主事岳元聲疏論錫爵，中言當事者變亂傾危，為主事諸壽賢、給事中許弘綱所駁．志再辨，帝皆不問．
In the autumn of the nineteenth year Shen Shixing resigned and recommended Zhigao and Zhang Wei as successors. Zhigao was promoted to Minister of Rites and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion. The next spring Wang Jiaping was dismissed; Wang Xijue had been summoned but had not arrived, and Zhigao temporarily served as chief grand secretary. When the Ningxia revolt broke out, many military matters were referred to him. Director Yue Yuansheng memorialized against Xijue, saying those in charge were stirring turmoil and endangering the state; Director Zhu Shouxian and Supervising Secretary Xu Honggang rebutted him. Zhigao defended himself again; the emperor made no inquiry in either case.
29
二十一年，錫爵還朝，明年五月遂歸，志始當國．遼東失事，詔褫巡撫韓取善職，逮副使馮時泰詔獄，而總兵官楊紹勳止下御史問．給事中吳文梓等論其失平，志亦言：「封疆被寇，武臣罪也．今寬紹勳而深罪文吏，武臣益恣，文吏益喪氣．」帝不從，時泰竟謫戍．皇太后誕辰，帝受賀畢，召見輔臣暖閣，志論宥御史彭應參．言官乞減織造，志等因合詞請．尋極論章奏留中之弊，請盡付諸曹議行．帝惡中官張誠黨霍文炳，以言官不舉發，貶黜者三十餘人．志等連疏諫，皆不納．累坐少傅，加太子太傅，改建極殿．
In the twenty-first year Xijue returned to court; the next May he went home, and Zhigao at last took charge of the government. After the Liaodong disaster an edict stripped Grand Coordinator Han Qushan and sent Vice Commissioner Feng Shitai to prison, while supreme commander Yang Shaoxun was only referred to the censorate. Supervising Secretaries Wu Wenzi and others called this unfair; Zhigao said: 'When the frontier is invaded, military officers bear the guilt. Lenience toward Shaoxun and harsh punishment of civil officials will embolden the military and dishearten the civil service.' The emperor did not agree; Shitai was banished to border garrison duty. On the empress dowager's birthday the emperor summoned the assisting ministers to the warm pavilion; Zhigao spoke of pardoning Censor Peng Yingcan. Censorate officials asked to reduce imperial weaving, and Zhigao jointly petitioned. He then strongly criticized memorials held in the inner court and asked that all be sent to the ministries for action. The emperor hated the eunuch Zhang Cheng and his partisan Huo Wenbing; because censorate officials did not expose them, more than thirty were demoted. Zhigao remonstrated repeatedly, but none was accepted. He rose to Junior Tutor, then Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and moved to the Jijidian.
30
時兩宮災，彗星見，日食九分有奇，三殿又災，連歲間變異迭出．志請下罪己詔，因累疏陳時政缺失．而其大者定國本、罷礦稅諸事，凡十一條．優詔報聞而已．皇長子年十六時，志嘗請舉冠婚禮．帝命禮官具儀．及儀上，不果行．二十六年三月，志等復以為言，終不允．
Both palaces burned, a comet appeared, a solar eclipse covered more than nine-tenths of the sun, and the three main halls burned—calamities piled up year after year. Zhigao asked for a self-reproach edict and submitted successive memorials on policy failures, chief among them fixing the succession and abolishing mining taxes, eleven items in all. He received only favorable acknowledgments. When the eldest imperial son was sixteen Zhigao asked that his coming-of-age and wedding rites be held; the emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites to prepare the ritual, but when it was submitted it was not carried out. In the third month of the twenty-sixth year Zhigao raised it again; in the end the emperor refused.
31
張居正柄國，權震主．申時行繼之，勢猶盛．王錫爵性剛負氣，人亦畏之．志為首輔，年七十餘，耄矣，柔而懦，為朝士所輕，詬誶四起．其始為首輔也，值西華門災，御史趙文炳論之．無何，南京御史柳佐、給事中章守誠言，吏部郎顧憲成等空司而逐志，實激帝怒．已而給事中張濤、楊洵，御史冀體、況上進，南京評事龍起雷相繼披詆．而巡按御史吳崇禮劾其子兩淮運副鳳威，鳳威坐停俸．未幾，工部郎中岳元聲極言志宜放，給事中劉道亨詆尤力．志憤，言：「同一閣臣也，往日勢重而權有所歸，則相率附之以媒進．今日勢輕而權有所分，則相率擊之以博名．」因求退益切．帝慰諭之．
When Zhang Juzheng held power his authority overshadowed the throne; Shen Shixing succeeded him with influence still strong; Wang Xijue was proud and formidable. Zhigao as chief grand secretary was over seventy, aged, gentle and timid, looked down on by court officials, and abuse erupted on every side. When he first became chief secretary, fire struck the Gate of Western Splendor and Censor Zhao Wenbing criticized him. Nanjing Censor Liu Zuo and Supervising Secretary Zhang Shoucheng said Personnel Director Gu Xiancheng and others had emptied the bureau and, in driving out Zhigao, had truly stirred the emperor's anger. Supervising Secretaries Zhang Tao and Yang Xun, Censors Ji Ti and Kuang Shangjin, and Nanjing Reviewer Long Qilei then launched fierce attacks in succession. Touring censor Wu Chongli impeached his son Fengwei, salt transport vice commissioner of the Two Huai, who was suspended from salary. Bureau Director Yue Yuansheng said Zhigao should be dismissed; Supervising Secretary Liu Daohang denounced him with especial force. Zhigao, angered, said: 'They are all Grand Secretaries alike. When power was heavy and authority had a center, they flocked to attach themselves for advancement. Now power is light and authority divided, and they flock to attack for renown.' He asked to withdraw all the more urgently; the emperor comforted him.
32
初，日本封貢議起，石星力主之．志亦冀無事，相與應和．及封事敗，議者蜂起，凡劾星者必及志．志每被言，輒疏辨求退，帝悉勉留．先嘗譴言者以謝之，後言者益，則多寢不下，而留志益堅．迨封事大壞，星坐欺罔下獄論死，位亦以楊鎬故褫官，而志終不問．然志已病不能視事，乞休疏累上，御史于永清、給事中桂有根復疏論之．志身在褥，於罷礦、建儲諸大政，數力疾草疏爭，帝歲時恩賜亦如故．
When debate over Japan's enfeoffment and tribute arose, Shi Xing strongly advocated it; Zhigao too hoped for peace and joined in assent. When enfeoffment failed, critics swarmed; whoever attacked Xing also implicated Zhigao. Whenever Zhigao was attacked he defended himself and asked to retire; the emperor always urged him to stay. At first he sometimes rebuked censorate officials to mollify Zhigao; later, as attacks grew fiercer, many memorials were shelved while Zhigao was retained all the more firmly. When the enfeoffment collapsed entirely, Xing was imprisoned for deception and sentenced to death; Wei was stripped of office over Yang Hao, while Zhigao was never questioned. Yet Zhigao was already ill and unable to conduct affairs; retirement memorials piled up, and Censor Yu Yongqing and Supervising Secretary Gui Yougen attacked him again. Confined to his sickbed, he repeatedly forced himself to draft memorials on great policies such as abolishing mining and establishing the heir; the emperor's seasonal gifts continued as before.
33
志疾轉篤．在告四年，疏八十餘上．二十九年秋卒於邸舍．贈太傅，諡文懿．
Zhigao's illness grew critical. On leave four years, he submitted more than eighty memorials. In the autumn of the twenty-ninth year he died in his lodgings. He was posthumously made Grand Tutor with the posthumous name Wenyi.
34
張位，字明成，新建人．隆慶二年進士．改庶吉士．授編修，預修世宗實錄．
Zhang Wei, styled Mingcheng, came from Xinjian. He passed the jinshi in the second year of Longqing, entered the Hanlin Academy, was appointed compiler, and helped compile the Veritable Records of Emperor Shizong.
35
萬曆元年，位以前代皆有起居注，而本朝獨無，疏言：「臣備員纂修，竊見先朝政事，自非出於詔令，形諸章疏，悉湮沒無考．鴻猷茂烈，鬱而未章，徒使野史流傳，用偽亂真．今史官充位，無以自．宜日分數人入直，凡詔旨起居，朝端政務，皆據見聞書之，待內閣裁定，為他年實錄之助．」張居正善其議，奏行焉．
In the first year of Wanli, Wei noted that earlier dynasties all kept diaries of activity and presence while the present dynasty alone had none, and submitted a memorial: 'Your servant serves among the compilers and sees that affairs of former reigns, unless they issued as edicts or appeared in memorials, are lost without trace. Great achievements remain unrecorded, and unofficial histories spread falsity. Historiographers today hold empty posts with no way to establish themselves. Several men should attend duty each day and record all edicts, conduct, and court governance as witnessed, for the Grand Secretariat to approve, as material for future Veritable Records.' Zhang Juzheng approved and had it implemented.
36
後以救吳中行、趙用賢忤居正意．時已遷侍講，抑授南京司業．未行，復以京察，謫徐州同知．居正卒之明年，用給事中馮景隆、御史孫維城薦，[二]擢南京尚寶丞．俄召為左中允，管司業事，進祭酒．疏陳六事，多議行．以禮部右侍郎，教習庶吉士，引疾歸．詔起故官，協理詹事府，辭不赴．久之，以申時行薦，拜吏部左侍郎兼東閣大學士，與趙志並命．
Later, for pleading for Wu Zhongxing and Zhao Yongxian he offended Juzheng. Though already promoted to lecturer, he was demoted to vice director of studies in Nanjing. Before he left he was demoted again in the capital review to assistant prefect of Xuzhou. The year after Juzheng died, on recommendation of Supervising Secretary Feng Jinglong and Censor Sun Weicheng, [2] he was promoted to assistant director in the Nanjing Court of Imperial Entertainments. Soon he was recalled as left middle submitter, managed the duties of vice director of studies, and rose to chancellor. He memorialized on six matters, many of which were adopted. As Right Vice Minister of Rites and instructor of Hanlin bachelors he pleaded illness and went home. An edict recalled him to assist in the Household of the Heir Apparent; he declined. Long afterward, on Shen Shixing's recommendation, he was appointed Left Vice Minister of Personnel and Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion, together with Zhao Zhigao.
37
王錫爵還朝，帝適降諭三王並封，以待嫡為辭．而志、位遽請帝篤修交泰，早兆高禖，議者竊哂之．趙南星以考察事褫官，朝士詆錫爵者多及位．錫爵去，志為首輔．位與志相厚善．志衰，位精悍敢任，政事多所裁決．時黜陟權盡還吏部，政府不得侵撓．位深憾之，事多掣其肘．以故孫鑨、陳有年、孫丕揚、蔡國珍皆不安其位而去．
When Wang Xijue returned to court the emperor had just issued an edict enfeoffing all three princes, using the wait for a legitimate heir as pretext. Zhigao and Wei hastily asked the emperor to cultivate harmony between heaven and earth and pray early at the Gao Mei altar; critics privately laughed. Zhao Nanxing was stripped of office in the review affair; many who denounced Xijue also implicated Wei. When Xijue left, Zhigao became chief secretary. Wei was close to Zhigao; as Zhigao declined, Wei was sharp and bold and decided much of the business of government. Appointment and dismissal had returned entirely to the Ministry of Personnel, and the secretariat could not interfere. Wei deeply resented this and often checked its hand, so Sun Luan, Chen Younian, Sun Piyang, and Cai Guozhen all left their posts in discomfort.
38
二十四年，兩宮災，礦稅議起，位等不能沮．及奸人請稅煤炭，開臨清皇店，位與沈一貫乃執奏不可，不報．明年春，偕一貫陳經理朝鮮事宜．請於開城、平壤建置重鎮，練兵屯田，通商惠工，省中國輸輓．且擇人為長帥，分署朝鮮八道，為持久計．事下朝鮮議．其國君臣慮中國遂其土，疏陳非便，乃寢．頃之，日本封事壞，位力薦參政楊鎬才，請付以朝鮮軍務．鎬遭父喪，又請奪情視事，且薦邢玠為總督．帝皆從之．位已進禮部尚書，改文淵閣，以甘肅破賊功，加太子太保，復以延鎮功，進少保、吏部尚書，改武英殿．
In the twenty-fourth year both palaces burned and debate over mining taxes arose; Wei and the others could not stop it. When schemers asked to tax coal and open an imperial shop at Linqing, Wei and Shen Yiguan firmly memorialized that this could not be allowed; no reply came. The next spring, together with Yiguan, he set forth plans for administering Korean affairs: strong garrisons at Kaesong and Pyongyang, trained troops and garrison fields, open commerce and favored crafts, and reduced transport from China; men should be chosen as chief commanders over Korea's eight circuits as a long-term plan. The matter was sent to Korea for deliberation; its ruler and ministers feared annexation, stated the disadvantage, and the plan was shelved. When the Japanese enfeoffment failed, Wei strongly recommended Vice Commissioner Yang Hao and asked that Korean military affairs be entrusted to him. Hao met his father's death; Wei asked that mourning be set aside so he could serve, and recommended Xing Jie as supreme commander. The emperor agreed to all. Wei had risen to Minister of Rites and the Wenyuange; for crushing bandits in Gansu he was made Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince; for merit on the Yan frontier he became Junior Guardian and Minister of Personnel and moved to the Wuying Hall.
39
三殿災，志適在告，位偕同列請面慰，不許．乃請帝引咎頒赦，勤朝講，發章奏，躬郊廟，建皇儲，錄廢棄，容狂直，宥細過，補缺官，減織造，停礦使，徹稅監，釋繫囚．帝優詔報之，不能盡行．位又言：「臣等請停礦稅，非遽停之也，蓋欲責成撫按，使上不虧國，下不累民耳．」於是給事中張正學劾位逢迎遷就，宜斥．帝亦不省．
When the three halls burned, Zhigao happened to be on leave; Wei and his colleagues asked for an audience of consolation and were refused. He then asked the emperor to acknowledge guilt and issue a general amnesty, attend court diligently, hold lectures, release memorials, visit suburban altars in person, establish the imperial heir, recall the discarded, tolerate blunt speech, pardon minor faults, fill vacant posts, reduce weaving, halt mining envoys, withdraw tax supervisors, and release prisoners. The emperor replied favorably but could not carry out everything. Wei added: 'When we asked to halt mining taxes, we did not mean to halt them at once; we wished to hold governors and grand coordinators responsible so the state would not lose revenue and the people would not be burdened.' Supervising Secretary Zhang Zhengxue then impeached Wei for fawning and trimming his sails and said he should be dismissed; the emperor took no notice.
40
位初官翰林，聲望甚重，朝士冀其大用．及入政府，招權示威，素望漸衰．給事中劉道亨劾位奸貪數十事．位憤，力辨，遂落道亨三官．呂坤、張養蒙與孫丕揚交好，而沈思孝、徐作、劉應秋、劉楚先、戴士衡、楊廷蘭則與位善，各有所左右．丕揚嘗劾位，指道亨為其黨．道亨恥之，劾位以自解．已而贊畫主事丁應泰劾楊鎬喪師，言位與鎬密書往來，朋黨欺罔，鎬拔擢由賄位得之．帝怒下廷議．位惶恐奏辨，帝猶慰留．給事中趙完璧、徐觀瀾復交章論．位窘，亟奏：「言交攻，孤忠可憫．臣心無纖毫愧，惟上矜察．」帝怒曰：「鎬由卿密揭屢薦，故奪哀授任．今乃朋欺隱慝，辱國損威，猶云無愧．」遂奪職閒住．
When Wei first served in the Hanlin Academy his reputation was very high and court officials hoped for great things from him. Once in government he wielded power to awe others and his standing gradually waned. Supervising Secretary Liu Daohang impeached him on dozens of counts of wickedness and greed; Wei, enraged, defended himself and had Daohang stripped of three ranks. Lü Kun and Zhang Yangmeng were friendly with Sun Piyang, while Shen Sixiao, Xu Zuo, Liu Yingqiu, Liu Chuxian, Dai Shiheng, and Yang Tinglan were friendly with Wei; each side had its partisans. Piyang once impeached Wei and identified Daohang as his partisan; shamed, Daohang impeached Wei to clear himself. Planning Secretary Ding Yingtai then impeached Yang Hao for losing the army, saying Wei exchanged secret letters with Hao, that their faction deceived and concealed wrongdoing, and that Hao's promotion came through bribing Wei. The emperor angrily sent the matter to court deliberation. Wei fearfully defended himself; the emperor still kept him in office. Supervising Secretaries Zhao Wanbi and Xu Guanlan attacked him again. Cornered, Wei submitted: 'Denunciations attack from every side; lone loyalty deserves pity. Your servant's heart has not the slightest shame—may Your Majesty examine and show mercy.' The emperor angrily said: 'Hao was repeatedly recommended through your secret memorials, therefore mourning was set aside and he was appointed. Now you conspire in deceit and conceal wickedness, disgracing the state and diminishing authority, yet still say you have no shame.' He was stripped of office and sent into retirement.
41
無何，有獲妖書名憂危竑議者，御史趙之翰言位實主謀．帝亦疑位怨望有他志，詔除名為民，遇赦不宥．其親故右都御史徐作、侍郎劉楚先、祭酒劉應秋、給事中楊廷蘭、主事萬建崑皆貶黜有差．
Before long a sorcerous book called the Proposal of Worry for the Heir was seized; Censor Zhao Zhihan said Wei was the real ringleader. The emperor also suspected Wei of resentment and other designs; an edict removed his name and made him a commoner, not to be pardoned even in amnesty. His friends and associates—Right Censor-in-Chief Xu Zuo, Vice Minister Liu Chuxian, Chancellor Liu Yingqiu, Supervising Secretary Yang Tinglan, and Director Wan Jiankun—were all demoted to various degrees.
42
位有才，果於自用，任氣好矜．其敗也，廷臣莫之救．既卒，亦無湔雪之者．天啟中，復官，贈太保，諡文莊．
Wei was talented, decisive in following his own judgment, and willful and fond of self-importance. When he fell, no court official rescued him; after he died, no one cleared his name. In the Tianqi reign his office was restored; he was posthumously made Grand Guardian with the posthumous name Wenzhuang.
43
朱賡，字少欽，浙江山陰人．父公節，泰州知州．兄應，刑部主事．賡登隆慶二年進士，改庶吉士，授編修．萬曆六年以侍讀為日講官．宮中方興土木，治苑囿．賡因講宋史，極言「花石綱」之害，帝為悚然．歷禮部左、右侍郎．帝營壽宮於大峪山，命賡往視．中官示帝意欲倣永陵制，賡言：「昭陵在望，制過之，非所安．」疏入，久不下．已，竟如其言．累官禮部尚書，遭繼母喪去．
Zhu Geng, styled Shaoqin, came from Shanyin in Zhejiang. His father Gongjie was prefect of Taizhou; his elder brother Ying was a director in the Ministry of Justice. Geng passed the jinshi in the second year of Longqing, entered the Hanlin Academy, and was appointed compiler. In the sixth year of Wanli he served as Daily Lecturer. The palace was then undertaking construction and tending gardens; lecturing on Song history, Geng spoke at length of the harm of the Flower and Stone Convoys, and the emperor was startled. He served as Left and Right Vice Minister of Rites. When the emperor was building his tomb at Dayu Mountain, he ordered Geng to inspect the site. A eunuch conveyed the emperor's wish to follow the scale of the Yongling tomb; Geng said: 'The Zhaoling tomb is in view; to exceed it in scale would be unsettling.' The memorial was submitted but long went unanswered; in the end it was done as he said. He rose to Minister of Rites and left on account of his stepmother's death.
44
二十九年秋，趙志卒，沈一貫獨當國，請增置閣臣．帝素慮大臣植黨，欲用林居及久廢者．詔賡以故官兼東閣大學士參預機務，遣行人召之．再辭，不允．明年四月詣闕，即捐一歲俸助殿工．其秋極陳礦稅之害，帝不能用．既而與一貫及沈鯉共獻守成、遣使、權宜三論，大指為礦稅發，賡手筆也．賡於己邸門獲妖書，而書辭誣賡動搖國本，大懼．立以疏聞，乞避位．帝慰諭有加．一貫倡小窮治不已．賡在告，再貽書一貫，請速具獄無株連，事乃得解．
In the autumn of the twenty-ninth year Zhao Zhigao died; Shen Yiguan alone held the government and asked to add Grand Secretaries. The emperor had long feared faction among grand ministers and wished to use men in retirement and those long out of office. An edict appointed Geng to his former post as Grand Secretary of the Eastern Pavilion; a courier was sent to summon him. He declined twice and was refused. The next April he came to court and immediately donated one year's salary to aid hall construction. That autumn he strongly set forth the harm of mining taxes; the emperor could not adopt it. Then together with Yiguan and Shen Li he submitted the three treatises On Maintaining the Achievement, On Dispatching Envoys, and On Expedient Measures—prompted chiefly by mining taxes and written in Geng's own hand. Geng found a sorcerous book at his own gate slandering him as shaking the foundation of the state and was greatly afraid; he immediately reported it and asked to step aside. The emperor comforted him warmly. Yiguan urged that petty men be pursued without cease. Geng, on leave, wrote Yiguan again asking that the case be quickly concluded without implicating others, and the affair was resolved.
45
三十三年大計京官．帝留被察者錢夢輩，及南京察疏上，亦欲有所留．賡力陳不可，曰：「北察之留，旨從中出，人猶咎臣等．今若出自票擬，則二百餘年大典，自臣壞之，死不敢奉詔．」言官劾溫純及鯉，中使傳帝意欲去純．賡言大臣去國必採公論，豈可於劾疏報允．帝下南察疏，而純竟去．其冬，工部請營三殿．時方濬河、繕城，賡力請俟之異日．帝皆納之，不果行．
In the thirty-third year came the great review of capital officials. The emperor retained those reviewed, including Qian Mengchen; when the Nanjing review memorial came up he also wished to retain some. Geng strongly objected: 'When the northern review retentions came by edict from the inner court, people still blamed us. If retention now comes from our draft edicts, a great institution of more than two hundred years will be broken by me—I dare not obey even on pain of death.' Censorate officials impeached Wen Chun and Shen Li; a eunuch conveyed the emperor's wish to remove Chun. Geng said grand ministers leaving office must follow public opinion; how could dismissal be granted on an impeachment memorial? The emperor issued the Nanjing review memorial, and Chun left in the end. That winter the Ministry of Works asked to rebuild the three halls; with river dredging and wall repair underway, Geng strongly asked that this wait. The emperor accepted and did not carry it out.
46
三十四年，一貫、鯉去位，賡獨當國，年七十有二矣．朝政日弛，中外解體．賡疏揭月數上，十不能一下．御史宋燾首諷切賡，給事中汪若霖繼之．賡緣二人言，力請帝更新庶政，於增閣臣、補大僚、充言路三事語尤切．帝優詔答之而不行．賡乃素服詣文華門懇請，終不得命．賡以老，屢引疾，閣中空無人．帝諭簡閣臣，而廷臣慮帝出中旨如往年趙志、張位故事．賡力疾請付廷推，乃用于慎行、李廷機、葉向高，而召王錫爵於家，以為首輔．給事中王元翰、胡忻以廷機之用，賡實主之，疏詆廷機並侵賡．賡疏辭，帝為切責言者．既而姜士昌及燾被謫，言路謂出賡意，益不平．禮部主事鄭振先遂劾賡十二大罪，且言賡與一貫、錫爵為過去、見在、未來三身．帝怒，貶振先三秩．俄以言官論救，再貶二秩．
In the thirty-fourth year Yiguan and Shen Li left office; Geng alone held the government at seventy-two. Court governance slackened daily and the state fell apart inside and out. Geng submitted memorials month after month; nine out of ten received no response. Censor Song Tao was first to criticize him sharply; Supervising Secretary Wang Ruolin followed. On their words Geng strongly asked the emperor to renew governance, speaking with especial force on adding Grand Secretaries, filling high posts, and staffing the censorate. The emperor replied favorably but did not act. Geng then went in plain dress to the Gate of Literary Glory to plead and received no order. Old and repeatedly pleading illness, he left the Grand Secretariat empty. The emperor ordered selection of Grand Secretaries, but court officials feared edicts from the inner court as in the days of Zhao Zhigao and Zhang Wei. Geng, forcing himself despite illness, asked that selection be entrusted to court recommendation; Yu Shenxing, Li Tingji, and Ye Xianggao were appointed, and Wang Xijue was recalled from home as chief secretary. Supervising Secretaries Wang Yuanhan and Hu Xin, saying Tingji's appointment was Geng's doing, denounced Tingji and attacked Geng. Geng declined; the emperor sharply rebuked the censorate. Jiang Shichang and Song Tao were then demoted; the censorate believed this came from Geng and grew more resentful. Rites Director Zheng Zhenxian impeached Geng on twelve major counts and said Geng with Yiguan and Xijue formed the three bodies of past, present, and future. The emperor demoted Zhenxian three ranks; when censorate officials pleaded for him he was demoted two ranks more.
47
先，考選科道，吏部擬上七十八人．候命踰年，不下，賡連疏趣之．三十六年秋，命始下．諸人列言路，方欲見風采，而給事中若霖先嘗忤賡，及是見黜，適當賡病起入直時．謂賡修郤，攻訐四起，先後疏論至五十餘人．給事中喻安性者，賡里人，為賡上疏言：「今日政權不由內閣，盡移於司禮．」言者遂交章劾安性，復侵賡．是時賡已寢疾，乞休疏二十餘上．言者慮其復起，攻不已，而賡以十一月卒於官．遺疏陳時政，語極悲切．賡先加少保兼太子太保，進吏部尚書、文華殿大學士．及卒，贈太保，諡文懿．御史彭端吾復疏詆賡，給事中胡忻請停其贈諡，帝不聽．
Earlier, in the censorate selection examination the Ministry of Personnel proposed seventy-eight men. They waited more than a year for orders; Geng submitted successive memorials urging action. In the autumn of the thirty-sixth year the orders came down. The men took their places in the censorate and were just about to show their mettle when Supervising Secretary Ruolin, who had earlier offended Geng, was dismissed just as Geng was rising from illness to attend duty. They believed Geng was settling old scores; attacks erupted on every side, and more than fifty memorials criticized him in succession. Supervising Secretary Yu Anxing, Geng's townsman, submitted a memorial for him saying: 'Today governmental power does not lie with the Grand Secretariat but has entirely shifted to the Directorate of Ceremonial.' Censorate officials then impeached Anxing in succession and again attacked Geng. By then Geng was bedridden; he had submitted more than twenty retirement memorials. Censorate officials feared he would rise again and attacked without cease, while Geng died in office in the eleventh month. His final memorial on current policy was utterly grief-stricken. He had earlier been made Junior Guardian and Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince and promoted to Minister of Personnel and Grand Secretary of the Wenhua Hall. When he died he was posthumously made Grand Guardian with the posthumous name Wenyi. Censor Peng Duanwu again denounced him; Supervising Secretary Hu Xin asked that his posthumous honors be halted; the emperor refused.
48
賡醇謹無大過，與沈一貫同鄉相比，暱給事中陳治則、姚文蔚等，以故蒙詬病云．
Geng was sober and cautious without major faults, but as a townsman of Shen Yiguan he associated closely with him and was intimate with Supervising Secretaries Chen Zhize, Yao Wenwei, and others; for this he suffered reproach.
49
朱敬循
Zhu Jingxun
50
子敬循，官禮部郎中，改稽勳．前此無正郎改吏部者，自敬循始．終右通政．
His son Jingxun served as a director in the Ministry of Rites and transferred to Records of Merit—the first regular director to move to the Ministry of Personnel. He ended as Right Vice Commissioner of Communications.
51
贊曰：四維等當軸處中，頗滋物議。 其時言路勢張，恣為抨擊。 是非瞀亂，賢否混淆，相敵仇，罔顧國是。 詬誶日積，又烏足為定論乎。 然謂光明磊落有大臣之節，則斯人亦不能無愧辭焉。
The commentator says: Siwei and the others, holding power at the center of government, aroused considerable public criticism. At that time the censorate was powerful and attacked at will. Right and wrong were confused, the worthy and unworthy mingled, factions treated one another as enemies, and the good of the state was disregarded. Abuse piled up day by day—how could any of it stand as final judgment? Yet to call them open, upright, and possessed of a grand minister's integrity—these men too cannot escape reproach.
52
校勘記
Collation Notes
53
[一]踰一日時行亦罷一日，原作「一月」。 本書卷一一０宰輔年表萬曆十九年：時行「九月致仕」，國「九月致仕」。 兩人致仕都在九月。 神宗實錄卷二四０萬曆十九年九月、國榷卷七五頁四六五八都作壬申許國去，甲戌，申時行去，正踰一日。 據改。
[1] 'One day later Shixing was also dismissed.' The original text read 'one month.' Volume 110 of this work, Grand Ministers Chronological Table, Wanli year 19: Shixing 'retired in the ninth month,' Guo 'retired in the ninth month.' Both men retired in the ninth month. The Veritable Records of Emperor Shenzong, juan 240, ninth month of Wanli 19, and Guoque juan 75, page 4658, both read: on renshen Xu Guo left; on jiaxu Shen Shixing left—exactly one day apart. Amended accordingly.
54
[二]用給事中馮景隆御史孫維城薦孫維城，原作「孫惟成」，據神宗實錄卷一三三萬曆十一年丙戌條、明進士題名碑錄隆慶辛未科改。
[2] 'On recommendation of Supervising Secretary Feng Jinglong and Censor Sun Weicheng.' Sun Weicheng—the original read 'Sun Weicheng'; amended according to the Veritable Records of Emperor Shenzong, juan 133, Wanli 11 bingxu entry, and the Stele Record of Ming Jinshi, Longqing xinwei cohort.