Volume 222 Biographies 110: Tan Lun, Wang Chonggu, Fang Fengshi, Wu Dui, Zheng Luo, Zhang Xueyan, Zhang Jiayin, Yin Zhengmao, Ling Yunyi

譚綸徐〈（甫宰王化李佑）〉王崇古〈（子謙孫之楨之采李棠）〉方逢時吳兌〈（孫孟明孟明子邦輔）〉鄭洛張學顏張佳胤殷正茂〈（李遷）〉淩雲翼

Tan Lun, Xu Puzai (Puzai, Wang Hua, Li You)〉 Wang Chonggu (Ziqian, Sun Zhizhen, Zhicai, Li Tang)〉 Fang Fengshi, Wu Dui (Sun Mengming, Mengming's son Bangfu)〉 Zheng Luo, Zhang Xueyan, Zhang Jiayin, Yin Zhengmao (Li Qian)〉 Ling Yunyi

譚綸，字子理，宜黃人。嘉靖二十三年進士。除南京禮部主事。歷職方郎中，遷臺州知府。綸沈毅知兵。時東南倭患已四年，朝議練鄉兵禦賊。參將戚繼光請期三年而後用之。綸亦練千人。立束伍法，自裨將以下節節相制。分數既明，進止齊一，未久即成精銳。倭犯柵浦，綸自將擊之，三戰三捷。倭復由松門、澶湖掠旁六縣，進圍臺州，不克而去。轉寇仙居、臨海，綸擒斬殆盡。進海道副使，益募浙東良家子教之，而繼光練兵已及期，綸因收之以為用，客兵罷不復調。倭自象山突臺州，綸連破之馬崗、何家覽，又與繼光共破之葛埠、南灣。加右參政，會憂去。以尚書楊博薦起，復將浙兵，討饒平賊林朝曦。朝曦者，大盜張璉余黨也。璉既滅，朝曦據巢不下，出攻程鄉。知縣余甫宰嚴兵待，而遣主簿梁維棟入賊中，諭散其黨。朝曦窮，棄巢走，綸及廣東兵追擒之。尋改官福建，乞終制去。

Tan Lun, courtesy name Zili, came from Yihuang. He became a jinshi in the twenty-third year of the Jiajing reign (1544). He was first appointed a secretary in the Nanjing Ministry of Rites. He rose through the Ministry of War to director, then was transferred to serve as prefect of Taizhou. Lun was grave, resolute, and versed in military affairs. By then the Wokou had ravaged the southeast for four years, and court opinion favored training local militia to resist them. Garrison commander Qi Jiguang asked for three years before his troops would be ready for action. Lun likewise drilled a thousand men. He instituted a chain-of-command system in which every officer down to the assistant commanders was bound to control the rank below. With ranks clearly defined, movement and halts were perfectly coordinated, and in short order they became an elite force. When pirates struck Zhapu, Lun took the field in person and won three victories in a row. The raiders returned via Songmen and Chanhu, looted six neighboring counties, and marched on Taizhou; failing to take the city, they withdrew. Turning to Xianju and Linhai, they were hunted down until Lun had captured and beheaded nearly all of them. Promoted to vice commissioner for the coastal circuit, he recruited more local youths from eastern Zhejiang for training. Qi's men had by then finished their three-year drill, and Lun incorporated them into his command while disbanding the hired auxiliaries. When pirates erupted from Xiangshan against Taizhou, Lun routed them at Magang and He Jialan, then with Qi Jiguang crushed them again at Gebu and Nanwan. He was promoted to right assistant administrator, then left office to observe mourning. Recommended by Minister Yang Bo, he returned to command Zhejiang forces against the Raoping rebel Lin Chaoxi. Chaoxi had been a lieutenant of the great pirate Zhang Lian. After Zhang Lian's destruction, Chaoxi held out in his stronghold, then sallied forth to attack Chengxiang. Magistrate Xu Puzai mustered a stern defense while sending registrar Liang Weidong into the rebel camp to persuade the rank and file to scatter. Cornered, Chaoxi abandoned his nest and fled; Lun and the Guangdong troops ran him down and captured him. He was soon transferred to Fujian but petitioned to finish his mourning leave and withdrew.

繼光數破賊，浙東略定。倭轉入福建。自福寧至漳、泉，千里盡賊窟，繼光漸擊定之。師甫旋，其眾復犯邵武，陷興化。四十二年春，再起綸。道擢右僉都御史，巡撫福建。倭屯崎頭城，都指揮歐陽深搏戰中伏死，倭遂據平海衛，陷政和、壽寧，各扼海道為歸計。綸環柵斷路，賊不得去，移營渚林。繼光至，綸自將中軍，總兵官劉顯、俞大猷將左、右軍。令繼光以中軍薄賊壘，左右軍繼之，大破賊，復一府二縣。詔加右副都御史。綸以延、建、汀、邵間殘破甚，請緩征蠲賦。又考舊制，建水砦五，扼海口，薦繼光為總兵官以鎮守之。倭復圍仙遊，綸、繼光大破賊城下。已而繼光破賊王倉坪、蔡丕嶺，余賊走，廣東境內悉定。綸上疏請復行服，世宗許之。

Qi Jiguang's repeated victories largely pacified eastern Zhejiang. The pirates then shifted their operations into Fujian. From Funing to Zhangzhou and Quanzhou, pirate nests stretched a thousand li; Qi Jiguang gradually fought them down. Scarcely had the army withdrawn when the raiders struck Shaowu and captured Xinghua. In the spring of the forty-second year (1563), Lun was summoned back to service. While still on the road he was promoted to right vice censor-in-chief and appointed grand coordinator of Fujian. Pirates held Qitou Fort. Regional commander Ouyang Shen fought fiercely, was ambushed and killed, and the enemy then seized Pinghai Guard and overran Zhenghe and Shouning, each detachment blocking the sea lanes for retreat. Lun encircled them with stockades and severed their escape routes; the bandits then shifted camp to Zhulin. When Qi Jiguang arrived, Lun commanded the center in person while Liu Xian and Yu Dayou led the left and right wings. He ordered Qi to press the rebel camp with the center while the wings followed up. The enemy was shattered and one prefecture and two counties were recovered. An edict promoted him to right vice censor-in-chief. Seeing the devastation across Yan, Jian, Ting, and Shao, Lun petitioned for tax relief and remission of levies. He revived the old system of five river forts to guard the estuaries and recommended Qi Jiguang as regional commander to hold them. When pirates again besieged Xianyou, Lun and Qi Jiguang routed them beneath the walls. Soon Qi broke the enemy at Wangcangping and Caipiling; the remnants fled, and Guangdong was fully pacified. Lun petitioned to return to mourning dress, and the Jiajing Emperor allowed it.

四十四年冬，起故官，巡撫陜西。未上而大足民作亂，陷七城。詔改綸四川，至已破滅。雲南叛酋鳳繼祖遁入會理，綸會師討平之。進兵部右侍郎兼右僉都御史，總督兩廣軍務兼巡撫廣西。招降嶺崗賊江月照等。

In the winter of the forty-fourth year (1565) he was recalled to his former post as grand coordinator of Shaanxi. Before he could take up the post, the people of Dazu rebelled and captured seven cities. An edict reassigned him to Sichuan; by the time he arrived the uprising had already been crushed. The Yunnan rebel Feng Jizu had fled into Huili; Lun combined forces and brought him to submission. He was promoted to right vice minister of War with the concurrent rank of right vice censor-in-chief, serving as supreme commander of the two Guang and grand coordinator of Guangxi. He accepted the surrender of Linggang bandits such as Jiang Yuezhao.

綸練兵事，朝廷倚以辦賊，遇警輒調，居官無淹歲。迨南寇略平，而邊患方未已。隆慶元年，給事中吳時來請召綸、繼光練兵。詔征綸還部，進左侍郎兼右僉都御史，總督薊、遼、保定軍務。綸上疏曰：

Skilled in military affairs, he was the man the court turned to whenever banditry flared; he was constantly reassigned and rarely held any post for even a year. Southern piracy was largely subdued, but border crises were only beginning. In the first year of Longqing (1567), supervising secretary Wu Shilai petitioned to recall Lun and Qi Jiguang to drill troops. Lun was recalled to the ministry, promoted to left vice minister with the concurrent rank of right vice censor-in-chief, and made supreme commander of Ji, Liao, and Baoding. Lun submitted a memorial that read:

薊、昌卒不滿十萬，而老弱居半，分屬諸將，散二千里間。敵聚攻，我分守，眾寡強弱不侔，故言者亟請練兵。然四難不去，兵終不可練。

The Ji and Chang garrisons field fewer than one hundred thousand men, half of them aged or unfit, parcelled out among various commanders across two thousand li. The enemy concentrates for attack while we divide to defend; in numbers and fighting strength we are mismatched. That is why everyone urges troop training. Yet four obstacles must be cleared before training can succeed.

夫敵之長技在騎，非召募三萬人勤習車戰，不足以制敵。計三萬人月餉，歲五十四萬，此一難也。燕、趙之士銳氣盡於防邊，非募吳、越習戰卒萬二千人雜教之，事必無成。臣與繼光召之可立至，議者以為不可。信任之不專，此二難也。軍事尚嚴，而燕、趙士素驕，驟見軍法，必大震駭。且去京師近，流言易生，徒令忠智之士掣肘廢功，更釀他患，此三難也。我兵素未當敵，戰而勝之，彼不心服。能再破，乃終身創，而忌嫉易生；欲再舉，禍已先至。此四難也。

The enemy excels at cavalry. Unless thirty thousand men are levied and drilled in chariot tactics, we cannot counter them. Thirty thousand men cost five hundred forty thousand taels a year in pay alone—the first difficulty. Yan and Zhao warriors have spent their edge on routine border duty. Unless twelve thousand veterans from Wu and Yue are recruited and trained alongside them, the plan cannot work. Qi Jiguang and I can summon such men immediately, yet critics object. We are not given sole authority—this is the second difficulty. War demands harsh discipline, yet Yan and Zhao soldiers are proud by nature. Sudden exposure to strict military law will shock them. The capital is near, so rumors fly easily. Able and loyal officers will be hamstrung and their work undone, inviting fresh disasters—the third difficulty. Our men have seldom bested the enemy. A single victory will not win their respect. A second crushing blow is needed to break their spirit for good—and that is when envy and obstruction arise. By the time we wish to strike again, disaster has already struck us first. That is the fourth difficulty.

以今之計，請調薊鎮、真定、大名、井陘及督撫標兵三萬，分為三營，令總兵參遊分將之，而授繼光以總理練兵之職。春秋兩防，三營兵各移近邊。至則遏之邊外，入則決死邊內。二者不效，臣無所逃罪。又練兵非旦夕可期，今秋防已近，請速調浙兵三千，以濟緩急。三年後，邊軍既練，遣還。

My proposal: transfer thirty thousand men from the Ji garrison, Zhending, Daming, Jingxing, and the various commanders' and coordinators' personal battalions; organize them into three camps under regional, garrison, and mobile commanders; and give Qi Jiguang overall charge of training. Each spring and autumn defense season, all three camps shall shift closer to the border. If the enemy approaches, block them beyond the wall; if they break in, fight to the death inside it. If both strategies fail, I accept full punishment. Training cannot be accomplished overnight, and autumn defense is upon us. Please urgently transfer three thousand Zhejiang troops to cover the gap. After three years, when the border forces are trained, they may be sent home.

詔悉如所請，仍令綸、繼光議分立三營事宜。綸因言：「薊鎮練兵逾十年，然竟不效者，任之未專，而行之未實也。今宜責臣綸、繼光，令得專斷，勿使巡按、巡關御史參與其間。」自兵事起，邊臣牽制議論，不能有為，故綸疏言之。而巡撫劉應節果異議，巡按御史劉、巡關御史孫代又劾綸自專。穆宗用張居正言，悉以兵事委綸，而諭應節等無撓。

The throne approved every request and ordered Lun and Qi Jiguang to work out the details of the three-camp system. Lun added: "The Ji garrison has drilled troops for over ten years without result because no one had sole responsibility and nothing was carried through. Qi Jiguang and I should be given full authority to decide matters, without interference from touring or pass inspectors. Since the border wars began, frontier officers had been tied down by wrangling and could achieve little—hence Lun's blunt memorial. Grand Coordinator Liu Yingjie dissented, while touring censor Liu and pass inspector Sun Dai impeached Lun for arrogating authority. Emperor Muzong, heeding Zhang Juzheng, placed all military affairs in Lun's hands and told Liu Yingjie and the rest not to interfere.

綸相度邊隘沖緩，道里遠近，分薊鎮為十二路，路置一小將，總立三營：東駐建昌備燕河以東，中駐三屯備馬蘭、松、太，西駐石匣備曹墻、古石。諸將以時訓練，互為掎角，節制詳明。是歲秋，薊、昌無警。異時調陜西、河間、正定兵防秋，至是悉罷。綸初至，按行塞上，謂將佐曰：「秣馬厲兵，角勝負呼吸者，宜於南；堅壁清野，坐制侵軼者，宜於北。」遂與繼光圖上方略，築敵臺三千，起居庸至山海，控守要害。綸召入為右都御史兼兵部左侍郎，協理戎政。會臺工成，益募浙兵九千余守之。邊備大飭，敵不敢入犯。以功進兵部尚書兼右都御史，協理如故。其冬，予告歸。

Lun surveyed every pass for vulnerability and distance, divided the Ji garrison into twelve sectors each under a junior commander, and set up three camps: the east at Jianchang covering the country east of the Yan River; the center at Santun for Malan, Song, and Tai; the west at Shixia for Caojiang and Gushi. Commanders drilled on schedule, mutual support arranged like pincers, regulations spelled out in detail. That autumn Ji and Chang saw no alarms. Formerly Shaanxi, Hejian, and Zhengding troops were drafted each autumn; now those drafts ended. On first arriving he toured the defenses and told his officers: "Feeding horses, sharpening blades, and winning in an instant—that is the southern way. Strong walls, cleared fields, and passive control of raids—that is the northern way. He and Qi Jiguang then drafted frontier strategy and built three thousand watchtowers from Juyong to Shanhai to hold the vital points. He was recalled as right censor-in-chief and left vice minister of War, assisting in military administration. When the tower works were finished, he recruited over nine thousand more Zhejiang troops to man them. Border defenses were greatly strengthened, and the enemy no longer dared raid. For these achievements he was promoted to minister of War with the concurrent rank of right censor-in-chief, retaining his assisting duties. That winter he was granted leave to return home.

神宗即位，起兵部尚書。萬歷初，加太子少保。給事中雒遵劾綸不稱職。綸三疏乞罷，優詔留之。五年卒官。贈太子太保，謚襄敏。

When Shenzong ascended the throne, Lun was appointed minister of War. At the opening of the Wanli reign he was made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. Supervising secretary Luo Zun impeached him as unfit for office. Lun thrice petitioned to resign, but gracious edicts kept him at his post. In the fifth year of Wanli (1577) he died in office. He was posthumously made Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent with the posthumous title Xiangmin (Assiduous and Keen).

綸終始兵事垂三十年，積首功二萬一千五百。嘗戰酣，刃血漬腕，累沃乃脫。與繼光共事齊名，稱「譚、戚」。

For nearly thirty years Lun was continuously engaged in military affairs, amassing a credited head count of twenty-one thousand five hundred. Once, blood from his blade soaked his wrist in the heat of battle; it took repeated rinsing before he could take off his armor. Serving alongside Qi Jiguang, he shared equal fame; together they were known as "Tan and Qi."

徐甫宰，字允平，浙江山陰人。嘉靖中舉順天鄉試，除武平知縣。武平當閩、粵交，多盜，甫宰築城立堡者三。上官以程鄉賊盜藪，調之往。既平朝曦，超擢潮州兵備僉事，添註剿寇，任一子千戶。已而程鄉賊溫鑒、梁輝等合上杭賊窺江西。平遠知縣王化遮擊之檀嶺，賊敗奔瑞金，副使李佑三戰皆捷。賊由間道歸程鄉，甫宰討擒之，余黨悉平。賚銀幣。已，補潮州分巡僉事兼理兵備事。東莞水兵徐永太等亂，停俸討賊。甫宰已疾亟，乞歸。未幾卒。

Xu Puzai, courtesy name Yunping, was from Shanyin in Zhejiang. During the Jiajing era he passed the Shuntian provincial examination and was appointed magistrate of Wuping. Wuping lay on the Fujian–Guangdong border and was rife with bandits; Puzai walled the city and built three forts. Because Chengxiang was a bandit stronghold, his superiors transferred him there. After Lin Chaoxi's defeat he was specially promoted to Chaozhou vice commissioner for military preparedness with an added mandate to suppress bandits; one son was granted the rank of chiliarch. Soon Chengxiang bandits Wen Jian, Liang Hui, and others allied with Shanghang rebels to probe into Jiangxi. Pingyuan magistrate Wang Hua blocked them at Tanling. Defeated, they fled toward Ruijin, where Vice Commissioner Li You won three victories in a row. The rebels doubled back to Chengxiang by a hidden route; Puzai pursued, captured them, and pacified the rest. He was rewarded with silver and silks. He was later appointed Chaozhou circuit intendant with concurrent charge of military preparedness. When Dongguan naval troops under Xu Yongtai mutinied, his salary was suspended while he campaigned against them. Already gravely ill, Puzai petitioned to retire. He died soon after.

王化，字汝贊，廣西馬平人。父尚學，職方郎中。化登鄉薦。嘉靖四十年，新置平遠縣，授化知縣。以擊賊檀嶺，有知兵名。田坑賊梁國相既降復叛，約三圖賊葛鼎榮等分寇江西、福建。化寄妻子會昌，而身率鄉兵往擊。賊連敗，乃縱反間會昌，言化已歿，化妻計氏慟哭自刎。化怒，追賊益急，獲國相於石子嶺。遷潮州府同知，仍署縣事。計被旌，官為立祠。化舉卓異，超擢廣東副使。南贛巡撫吳百朋以貪黷劾之，削籍。巡按御史趙淳薦其知兵，乃命以僉事飭惠、潮兵備。久之，考察罷。

Wang Hua, courtesy name Ruzan, was from Maping in Guangxi. His father Wang Shangxue had served as a director in the Ministry of War. Wang Hua passed the provincial examination. In the fortieth year of Jiajing (1561), when Pingyuan County was newly created, Wang Hua was appointed its magistrate. His victory at Tanling won him a reputation as a man who understood war. The Tiankeng bandit Liang Guoxiang, having surrendered, rebelled again and joined Ge Dingrong of Santu and others to raid Jiangxi and Fujian in concert. Wang Hua sent his family to Huichang and led the militia in person. After successive defeats the rebels spread word in Huichang that Wang Hua was dead. His wife Lady Ji wept and took her own life. Enraged, Wang Hua pressed the pursuit and captured Guoxiang at Shiziling. He was promoted to assistant prefect of Chaozhou while continuing to administer the county. Lady Ji was officially commended and a shrine was erected in her honor. Rated outstanding in personnel review, he was specially promoted to vice commissioner of Guangdong. Nanzhen grand coordinator Wu Baipeng impeached him for corruption and he was dismissed from office. Touring censor Zhao Chun praised his military knowledge, and he was reappointed vice commissioner for Huizhou and Chaozhou military preparedness. After some years he was dismissed in the regular personnel review.

李佑，字吉甫，貴州清平衛人。嘉靖二十六年進士。歷官江西副使，邀賊瑞金有功。尋敗廣東賊吳誌高、江西下歷賊賴清規等，皆賚銀幣。進江西右參政。偕總兵官俞大猷，大破劇賊李亞元。擢僉都御史，巡撫廣東。屢敗海寇林道乾、山寇張韶南等。隆慶中，被劾罷歸。

Li You, courtesy name Jifu, was from the Qingping Guard in Guizhou. He became a jinshi in the twenty-sixth year of Jiajing (1547). He served as Jiangxi vice commissioner and distinguished himself intercepting bandits at Ruijin. He soon defeated the Guangdong bandit Wu Zhigao and the Jiangxi Xialü rebel Lai Qinggui, earning silver and silk rewards each time. He was promoted to right assistant administrator of Jiangxi. With regional commander Yu Dayou he inflicted a crushing defeat on the major bandit Li Yayuan. He was promoted to vice censor-in-chief and appointed grand coordinator of Guangdong. He repeatedly defeated the sea pirate Lin Daogan and the mountain bandit Zhang Shaonan. During the Longqing era he was impeached, dismissed, and sent home.

王崇古，字學甫，蒲州人。嘉靖二十年進士。除刑部主事。由郎中歷知安慶、汝寧二府。遷常鎮兵備副使，擊倭夏港，追殲之靖江。從巡撫曹邦輔戰滸墅。已，偕俞大猷追倭出海。累進陜西按察使，河南右布政使。

Wang Chonggu, courtesy name Xuefu, came from Puzhou. He became a jinshi in the twentieth year of Jiajing (1541). He was appointed a secretary in the Ministry of Justice. Rising from director, he served successively as prefect of Anqing and Runing. Transferred to Changzhen military vice commissioner, he attacked pirates at Xiagang and pursued them to destruction at Jingjiang. He fought under Grand Coordinator Cao Bangfu at Huxu. Later he joined Yu Dayou in driving pirates out to sea. He rose through Shaanxi surveillance commissioner to right administration commissioner of Henan.

四十三年，改右僉都御史，巡撫寧夏。崇古喜譚兵，具知諸邊厄塞，身歷行陣，修戰守，納降附，數出兵搗巢。寇屢殘他鎮，寧夏獨完。隆慶初，加右副都御史。

In the forty-third year (1564) he was made right vice censor-in-chief and grand coordinator of Ningxia. Chonggu loved military study, knew every frontier pass intimately, took the field in person, strengthened defenses, accepted defectors, and repeatedly led raids on enemy camps. While raiders devastated neighboring commands, Ningxia alone remained intact. At the opening of Longqing he received the additional rank of right vice censor-in-chief.

吉囊子吉能據河套為西陲諸部長，別部賓兔駐牧大、小松山，南擾河、湟番族，環四鎮皆寇。總督陳其學無威略，總兵官郭江、黃演等皆敗死，陜西巡撫戴才亦坐免。其冬，進崇古兵部右侍郎兼右僉都御史，總督陜西、延、寧、甘肅軍務。崇古奏給四鎮旗牌，撫臣得用軍法督戰，又指畫地圖，分授諸大將趙岢、雷龍等。數有功。著力兔行牧河東，龍潛出興武襲破其營，斬獲多，加崇古右都御史。吉能犯邊，為防秋兵所遏，移營白城子。龍等出花馬池、長城關與戰，大敗之。崇古在陜七年，先後獲首功甚多。

Jineng, son of Tümen, held the Ordos as leader of the western tribes. Another branch under Bintu grazed Great and Little Songshan, raiding south against the Huang and He Tibetan peoples, so that bandits threatened all four commands. Supreme Commander Chen Qixue lacked a decisive strategy. Regional commanders Guo Jiang and Huang Yan were defeated and killed, and Shaanxi grand coordinator Dai Cai was dismissed as well. That winter Chonggu was promoted to right vice minister of War with the concurrent rank of right vice censor-in-chief, supreme commander of Shaanxi, Yan, Ning, and Gansu. He petitioned for command flags in all four sectors so coordinators could enforce military law in battle, drew maps, and distributed them to major generals such as Zhao Ke and Lei Long. He scored repeated victories. When Zhulitu grazed east of the Yellow River, Lei Long stole out from Xingwu, stormed his camp, and took many heads. Chonggu was promoted to right censor-in-chief. Jineng raided the border but was blocked by autumn-defense troops and shifted camp to Baichengzi. Lei Long and others sallied from Huamachi and Changcheng Pass and inflicted a crushing defeat. Chonggu spent seven years in Shaanxi and accumulated a large head-count merit record.

自河套以東宣府、大同邊外，吉囊弟俺答、昆都力駐牧地也。又東薊、昌以北，吉囊、俺答主土蠻居之，皆強盛。俺答又納叛人趙全等，據古豐州地，招亡命數萬，屋居佃作，號曰板升。全等尊俺答為帝，為治城郭宮殿；亦自治第，制度如王者，署其門曰開化府。又日夜教俺答為兵。東入薊、昌，西掠忻、代，遊騎薄平陽、靈石，至潞安以北。起嘉靖辛丑，擾邊者三十年，邊臣坐失事得罪者甚眾，患視陜西四鎮尤劇。朝廷募獲全者官都指揮使，賞千金，卒不能得。邊將士率賄寇求和，或反為用；諸陷寇自拔歸者，輒殺之以冒功賞；敵情不可得，而軍中動靜敵輒知。四年正月，詔崇古總督宣、大、山西軍務。崇古禁邊卒闌出，而縱其素通寇者深入為間。又檄勞番、漢陷寇軍民，率眾降及自拔者，悉存撫之。歸者接踵。西番、瓦剌、黃毛諸種一歲中降者逾二千人。

East of the Ordos, beyond the Xuanfu and Datong borders, lay the pastures of Tümen's younger brothers Altan and Qoton. Farther east, north of Ji and Chang, Tümen, Altan, and the ruling Tümen Mongols held sway—all formidable powers. Altan also sheltered the defector Zhao Quan, seized old Fengzhou territory, and gathered tens of thousands of fugitives who built houses, farmed fields, and formed the so-called banshan settlements. Zhao Quan and his followers hailed Altan as emperor and built walls and palaces for him. They built mansions for themselves with regal appointments and inscribed their gate "Kaifua Prefecture." Day and night they drilled Altan in the arts of war. They raided east into Ji and Chang, west into Xin and Dai, and their roaming horsemen pressed as far as Pingyang, Lingshi, and north of Lu'an. Since the xinchou year of Jiajing (1541) they had harassed the frontier for thirty years. Countless border officials were punished for failure, and the four Shaanxi commands suffered worst of all. The court promised the rank of regional commander and a thousand taels of silver for capturing Zhao Quan alive, yet he was never taken. Border officers and soldiers mostly bribed the raiders for peace, or were even turned into enemy agents. Defectors who escaped and returned were often killed so officials could claim merit rewards. The court could learn nothing of enemy intentions, while the enemy always knew our army's movements. In the first month of the fourth year (1570) an edict appointed Chonggu supreme commander of Xuan, Da, and Shanxi. Chonggu forbade border troops from straying out while sending long-time contacts with the enemy deep into their territory as spies. He also issued proclamations reassuring Tibetan, Han, and captive troops and civilians who came over in groups or escaped on their own, promising them protection. Defectors streamed in without pause. Within a year more than two thousand western Tibetans, Oirats, and Yellow Hair tribesmen surrendered.

其冬，把漢那吉來降。把漢那吉者，俺答第三子鐵背臺吉子也。幼失父，育於俺答妻一克哈屯。長娶大成比妓不相得。把漢自聘我兒都司女，號三娘子，即俺答外孫女也。俺答見其美，奪之。把漢恚，又聞崇古方納降，是年十月，率妻子十余人來歸。巡撫方逢時以告。崇古念因此制俺答，則趙全等可除也，留之大同，慰藉甚至。偕逢時疏聞於朝曰：「俺答橫行塞外幾五十年，威制諸部，侵擾邊圉。今神厭兇德，骨肉離叛，千里來降，宜給宅舍，授官職，豐餼廩服用，以悅其心，嚴禁出入，以虞其詐。若俺答臨邊索取，則因與為市，責令縛送板升諸逆，還被掠人口，然後以禮遣歸，策之上也。若遂桀驁稱兵，不可理諭，則明示欲殺，以撓其誌。彼望生還，必懼我制其死命。誌奪氣沮，不敢大逞，然後徐行吾計，策之中也。若遂棄而不求，則當厚加資養，結以恩信。其部眾繼降者，處之塞下，即令把漢統領，略如漢置屬國居烏桓之制。他日俺答死，子辛愛必有其眾。因加把漢名號，令收集余眾，自為一部。辛愛必忿爭。彼兩族相持，則兩利俱存，若互相仇殺，則按兵稱助。彼無暇侵陵，我遂得休息，又一策也。若循舊例安置海濱，使俺答日南望，侵擾不已；又或給配諸將，使之隨營立功，彼素驕貴不受驅策，駕馭茍乖，必滋怨望，頓生飏去之心，終貽反噬之禍，均為無策。」奏至，朝議紛然。御史饒仁侃、武尚賢、葉夢熊皆言敵情叵測。夢熊至引宋受郭藥師、張瑴事為喻。兵部尚書郭乾不能決，大學士高拱、張居正力主崇古議。詔授把漢指揮使，賜緋衣一襲，而黜夢熊於外，以息異議。

That winter Batu Palsin came over to the Ming. Batu Palsin was the son of Tiebei Taiji, Altan's third son. Orphaned young, he was raised by Altan's wife Lady Eke Khatun. Grown to manhood, he married Dacheng Bij, but the marriage was unhappy. Batu betrothed himself to a daughter of the Oiradusi, known as the Third Lady—who was also Altan's granddaughter. Altan saw her beauty and took her for himself. Enraged, and hearing that Chonggu was receiving defectors, in the tenth month he led his wife and more than ten followers to the Ming side. Grand Coordinator Fang Fengshi reported the event. Chonggu saw in this a lever against Altan that could eliminate Zhao Quan and his faction. He kept Batu at Datong and treated him with exceptional generosity. Together with Fang Fengshi he memorialized the throne: "Altan has rampaged beyond the passes for nearly fifty years, tyrannizing the tribes and harassing our borders. Now Heaven has turned from his wickedness; his kin have split away and come a thousand li to submit. We should grant them housing and office, supply grain, stipends, and clothing to win their hearts, and strictly control their movements against treachery. If Altan comes to the border to demand him back, negotiate: require him to deliver the banshan rebels bound and return seized subjects, then ceremoniously send Batu home—the superior strategy. If he grows violent and raises troops beyond negotiation, make plain our willingness to execute Batu and break his resolve. Longing for Batu's survival, he will fear that we hold his life in our hands. His spirit broken, he will not dare act boldly; then we may slowly execute our plan—the middling strategy. If we simply abandon him and demand nothing in return, we should richly support him and bind him with grace and loyalty. Those of his followers who kept surrendering should be settled inside the frontier and put under Batahan's leadership—much as the Han once stationed dependent states among the Wuhuan. When Altan Khan dies, his son Senge will inevitably inherit his following. Grant Batahan a title and charge him to gather the remnants into a tribe of his own. Senge will surely resent it and fight over the succession. If the two factions balance each other, both our interests are served; if they turn on each other, we keep our armies still and offer only nominal assistance. They will lack leisure to raid us, and we shall gain respite—yet another stratagem. If we follow precedent and settle them on the coast, Altan Khan will gaze southward daily and raids will never end; or if we parcel them out to generals to win merit in the camps—they are proud by nature and will not be driven; mishandle them and resentment will swell, they will flee in a breath, and we shall invite a turning of fangs upon us. All alike are no policy at all." When the memorial reached court, opinion was sharply divided. Censors Rao Renkan, Wu Shangxian, and Ye Mengxiong all warned that the enemy's intentions were unfathomable. Ye Mengxiong went so far as to cite the Song's reception of the defectors Guo Yaoshi and Zhang Jue. Minister of War Guo Qian could not decide; Grand Secretaries Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng forcefully backed Wang Chonggu's proposal. The throne appointed Batahan battalion commander, bestowed a suit of scarlet robes, and posted Ye Mengxiong away from court to still the controversy.

俺答方掠西番，聞變急歸，調辛愛兵分道入犯，索把漢甚急。辛愛佯發兵，陰擇便利，以故俺答不得誌。一克哈屯思其孫，朝夕哭，俺答患之。巡撫逢時遣百戶鮑崇德入其營，俺答盛氣待之曰：「自吾用兵，而鎮將多死。」崇德曰：「鎮將孰與而孫？今朝廷待而孫甚厚，稱兵是速其死也。」俺答疑把漢已死，及聞言，心動，使使诇之。崇古令把漢緋袍金帶見使者，俺答喜過望，崇德因說之曰：「趙全等旦至，把漢夕返。」俺答大喜，屏人語曰：「我不為亂，亂由全等。令吾孫降漢，是天遣之合也。天子幸封我為王，永長北方，諸部孰敢為患。即不幸死，我孫當襲封，彼受朝廷厚恩，豈敢負耶？」遂遣使與崇德俱來，又為辛愛求官，並請互市。崇古以聞，帝悉報可。俺答遂縛全等十余人以獻，崇古亦遣使送把漢歸。帝以叛人既得，祭告郊廟，磔全等於市。加崇古太子少保、兵部尚書，總督如故。

Altan Khan was plundering the western Tibetans when news of the crisis brought him racing home. He sent Senge's forces in by separate routes and urgently demanded Batahan's return. Senge feigned to deploy his men while secretly choosing the easier course, and thus Altan Khan failed to accomplish his purpose. Ikhai Khatun, longing for her grandson, wept day and night until Altan Khan grew vexed. Grand Coordinator Fang Fengshi sent Centurion Bao Chongde into the camp. Altan Khan met him in a fury and said, "Since I took up arms, how many frontier commanders have perished." Bao Chongde replied, "What are those commanders beside your grandson? The court treats your grandson with the utmost favor. To march against us is to hasten his death." Altan Khan had feared Batahan was already dead; at these words his heart stirred, and he sent envoys to investigate. Wang Chonggu had Batahan greet the envoys in scarlet robe and gold belt. Altan Khan rejoiced beyond all hope. Bao Chongde pressed him: "Deliver Zhao Quan and his fellows by dawn, and Batahan returns by dusk." Altan Khan was overjoyed. Dismissing attendants, he said privately, "I did not seek turmoil—turmoil came from Zhao Quan and his gang. That my grandson should submit to the Han is Heaven's own design. The Son of Heaven has deigned to enfeoff me king of the north for all time—what tribe would dare trouble me? Should I die before my time, my grandson will inherit the title. Having tasted the court's bounty, how could he turn traitor?" He dispatched envoys with Bao Chongde, interceded for an office for Senge, and asked for border markets. Wang Chonggu reported upward; the Emperor approved every request. Altan Khan bound Zhao Quan and a dozen others and sent them as tribute. Wang Chonggu, in turn, returned Batahan by envoy. With the traitors in hand, the Emperor reported to the suburban altars and had Zhao Quan and his fellows torn apart in the marketplace. Wang Chonggu was made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent and Minister of War while remaining supreme commander.

把漢既歸，俺答與其妻撫之泣。遣使報謝，誓不犯大同。崇古令要土蠻、昆都力、吉能等皆入貢，俺答報如約，惟土蠻不至。崇古念土蠻勢孤，薊、昌可無患，命將士勿燒荒搗巢，議通貢市，休息邊民。朝議復嘩。尚書郭乾謂馬市先帝明禁，不宜許。給事中章端甫請敕崇古無邀近功，忽遠慮。崇古上疏曰：「先帝既誅仇鸞，制復言開市者斬，邊臣何敢故違禁旨，自陷重辟。但敵勢既異昔強，我兵亦非昔怯，不當援以為例。夫先帝禁開馬市，未禁北敵之納款。今敵求貢市，不過如遼東、開原、廣寧之規，商人自以有無貿易，非請復開馬市也。俺答父子兄弟橫行四五十年，震驚宸嚴，流毒畿輔，莫收遏劉功者，緣議論太多，文網牽制，使邊臣無所措手足耳。昨秋，俺答東行，京師戒嚴，至倡運磚聚灰塞門乘城之計。今納款求貢，又必責以久要，欲保百年無事，否則治首事之罪。豈惟臣等不能逆料，他時雖俺答亦恐能保其身，不能制諸部於身後也。夫拒敵甚易，執先帝禁旨，一言可決。但敵既不得請，懷憤而去，縱以把漢之故，不擾宣、大，而土蠻三衛歲窺薊、遼，吉能、賓兔侵擾西鄙，息警無時，財務殫絀，雖智者無以善其後矣。昔也先以克減馬價而稱兵，忠順王以元裔而封哈密，小王子由大同二年三貢，此皆前代封貢故事。夫揆之時勢，既當俯從，考之典故，非今創始。堂堂天朝，容荒服之來王，昭聖圖之廣大，以示東西諸部，傳天下萬世，諸臣何疑憚而不為耶？」因條封貢八事以上。

When Batahan came home, Altan Khan and his wife held him and wept. Envoys carried his thanks, and he swore never again to strike at Datong. Wang Chonggu demanded tribute from Tumen, Kunultu, Jining, and the rest. Altan Khan pledged compliance, but Tumen alone stayed away. Judging Tumen isolated and Ji and Chang therefore secure, Wang Chonggu forbade burning the grasslands or raiding camps, and urged tribute and markets so the frontier people might breathe. Court debate flared anew. Minister Guo Qian argued that the late emperor had expressly forbidden horse markets and they must not be allowed. Supervising Secretary Zhang Duanfu asked that Wang Chonggu be charged not to seize a near triumph and forget distant peril. Wang Chonggu memorialized: "After the late emperor executed Qiu Luan, he decreed death for anyone who spoke again of opening markets. What frontier officer would deliberately defy that and invite execution? But the enemy is no longer as strong as then, nor our troops as timid. The old precedent should not bind us. The late emperor forbade horse markets, not the submission of northern foes. What they seek is merely the Liaodong, Kaiyuan, and Guangning arrangement—merchants trading what they have. It is not a demand to reopen horse markets. For forty or fifty years Altan Khan and his kin rampaged, shaking the throne and poisoning the capital approaches, yet none could check them or claim victory—because endless debate and bureaucratic nets left frontier officers unable to act. Last autumn Altan marched east. Beijing went on alert, even to hauling bricks, piling ash to block gates, and crowding the ramparts. Now that they submit and seek tribute, we demand eternal pledges and a century of peace—or else punish the men who led the way. We ministers cannot foresee the future; nor, in time, may Altan Khan himself guarantee control of the tribes once he is gone. Refusal is easy: invoke the late emperor's ban and decide with a word. Yet if they are refused and leave in wrath, then even if, for Batahan's sake, they spare Xuan and Da, Tumen and the three guards will harry Ji and Liao yearly, Jining and Bintu the western marches. Alarms will never end and the treasury will bleed dry—no sage could repair what follows. Esen once marched over reduced horse prices; the Loyal and Obedient Prince was enfeoffed at Hami as a Yuan scion; the Little Prince thrice offered tribute through Datong in two years—all precedents of enfeoffment and tribute. The times demand compliance; precedent shows this is no invention of our day. Let the august dynasty receive kings from the wilds, display the breadth of sacred rule to every tribe, and bequeath the example to ten thousand generations—why should ministers hesitate?" He then submitted eight articles on enfeoffment and tribute.

詔下廷議。定國公徐文璧、侍郎張四維以下二十二人以為可許，英國公張溶、尚書張守直以下十七人以為不可許。尚書朱衡等五人言封貢便、互市不便，獨僉都御史李棠極言當許狀。郭乾悉上眾議。會帝御經筵，閣臣面請外示羈縻，內修守備。乃詔封俺答順義王，名所居城曰歸化；昆都力、辛愛等皆授官；封把漢昭勇將軍，指揮使如故。俺答率諸部受詔甚恭，使使貢馬，執趙全余黨以獻。帝嘉其誠，賜金幣。又雜采崇古及廷臣議，賜王印，給食用，加撫賞，惟貢使不聽入京。

An edict sent the matter to court debate. Duke of Dingguo Xu Wenbi, Vice Minister Zhang Siwei, and twenty-two others favored approval; Duke of Yingguo Zhang Rong, Minister Zhang Shouzhi, and seventeen others opposed it. Minister Zhu Heng and five colleagues favored tribute but not markets; only Censor-in-Chief Li Tang urged acceptance in the strongest terms. Guo Qian reported every opinion to the throne. At the classics lecture the Grand Secretaries asked that outward show be one of loose reins, inward policy one of hard defense. An edict enfeoffed Altan Khan as Prince of Shunyi and named his seat Guihua—Return to Transformation; Kunultu, Senge, and the rest received offices; Batahan was made General of Manifest Courage while keeping his battalion command. Altan Khan led the tribes to receive the edict with deep respect, sent horses in tribute, and handed over Zhao Quan's remaining followers. The Emperor praised his sincerity and rewarded him with gold and silks. Adopting proposals from Wang Chonggu and the court, he granted the princely seal and provisions, added pacification gifts, but barred tribute envoys from the capital.

河套吉能亦如約請命。以事在陜西，下總督王之誥議。之誥欲令吉能一二年不犯，方許封貢。崇古復上疏曰：「俺答、吉能親為叔侄，首尾相應。今收其叔而縱其侄，錮其首而舒其臂，俺答必呼吉能之眾就市河東宣、大；商販不能給，而吉能糾俺答擾陜西，四鎮之憂方大矣。」帝然其言，亦授吉能都督同知。崇古乃廣召商販，聽令貿易。布帛、菽粟、皮革遠自江淮、湖廣輻輳塞下，因收其稅以充犒賞。其大小部長則官給金繒，歲市馬各有數。崇古仍歲詣弘賜堡宣諭威德。諸部羅拜，無敢嘩者。自是邊境休息。東起延、永，西抵嘉峪七鎮，數千里軍民樂業，不用兵革，歲省費什七。詔進太子太保。

Jining of the Ordos likewise petitioned for enfeoffment under the agreement. Because the matter lay in Shaanxi, it went to Supreme Commander Wang Zhigao. Wang Zhigao wanted two years without raids before granting enfeoffment and tribute. Wang Chonggu memorialized again: "Altan Khan and Jining are uncle and nephew in truth, acting in concert head and tail. To embrace the uncle and loose the nephew is to bind the head and free the arm. Altan will summon Jining's people to market east of the river in Xuan and Da; Merchants cannot supply them all, and Jining will rally Altan to ravage Shaanxi—the four garrisons will face far greater peril." The Emperor agreed and likewise made Jining Vice Commissioner-in-Chief. Wang Chonggu then summoned merchants broadly and opened trade. Cloth, grain, and hides streamed to the passes from the Yangtze-Huai and Huguang, and he taxed them to fund rewards. Great and small chiefs received silks from the state; annual horse purchases were fixed by quota. Each year Wang Chonggu went to Hongci Fort to proclaim imperial majesty and grace. The tribes bowed in ranks; none dared raise a clamor. From that time the frontier knew rest. From Yan and Yong east to Jiayu west, seven garrisons over thousands of li—soldiers and civilians at peace, arms unused, yearly costs cut by seven parts in ten. He was promoted to Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent.

萬歷初，召理戎政。給事中劉鉉劾崇古行賄營遷，詔責鉉妄言。已，加少保，遷刑部尚書，改兵部。初，俺答諸部嘗越甘肅掠西番。既通款，其從孫切盡臺吉連歲盜番，不得誌，求俺答西援。崇古每作書止之，俺答亦報書謝。是年，俺答請與三鎮通事約誓，欲西迎佛。崇古上言：「西行非俺答意，且以迎佛為名，不可沮，宜飭邊鎮嚴守備，而陰泄其謀於番族以示恩。」於是鉉及同官彭應時、南京御史陳堂交章論崇古弛防徇敵。崇古疏辯乞休。帝優詔報之，令勿以人言介意。給事中尹瑾、御史高維崧再劾之，崇古力請致仕，帝乃允歸。

Early in Wanli he was summoned to oversee military affairs. Supervising Secretary Liu Xuan accused Wang Chonggu of bribery to win promotion; an edict rebuked Liu for reckless speech. He was made Junior Guardian, then Minister of Punishments, then Minister of War. Earlier Altan's tribes had crossed Gansu to raid the western Tibetans. After peace was made, his grand-nephew Ciejin Taiji raided Tibetans yearly without success and begged Altan's aid to the west. Wang Chonggu wrote repeatedly to restrain him; Altan answered with thanks. That year Altan asked to exchange envoys and oaths with the three garrisons, intending to go west to welcome the Buddha. Wang Chonggu reported: "The westward march is not Altan's true aim. Since he takes welcoming the Buddha as pretext, do not openly discourage him; tighten the garrisons while secretly warning the Tibetan tribes to show favor." Liu Xuan, Peng Yingshi, and Nanjing Censor Chen Tang then impeached Wang Chonggu for slackening defense and indulging the enemy. Wang Chonggu defended himself and asked to retire. The Emperor answered graciously, bidding him pay no heed to gossip. Yin Jin and Censor Gao Weisong impeached him again. Wang Chonggu pressed hard for retirement, and the Emperor let him go.

俺答既死，辛愛、撦力克相繼襲封。十五年，詔以崇古竭忠首事，三封告成，蔭一子世錦衣千戶，有司以禮存問。又二年卒。贈太保，謚襄毅。

After Altan died, Senge and Chelik succeeded to the title in turn. In year fifteen an edict praised Wang Chonggu's loyal initiative in the three enfeoffments, granted one son hereditary command in the Embroidered Uniform Guard, and ordered officials to visit him with ritual courtesy. Two years later he died. He was posthumously made Grand Guardian with the posthumous name Xiangyi—Assisting and Resolute.

崇古身歷七鎮，勛著邊陲。封貢之初，廷議紛呶，有為危言撼帝者。閣臣力持之，乃得成功。順義歸款二十年，崇古乃歿。總督梅友松撫馭失宜，西邊始擾，而禍已紓於嘉靖時，宣、大則歸款迄明季不變。

Wang Chonggu served seven garrisons in person; his merit shone on the marches. When enfeoffment and tribute began, court debate was fierce; some used alarming words to shake the Emperor. The Grand Secretaries held firm, and success followed. Twenty years of Shunyi's submission passed before Wang Chonggu died. Supreme Commander Mei Yousong mismanaged affairs and the west grew troubled again, yet the worst had been eased in Jiajing; Xuan and Da kept the peace until the dynasty fell.

子謙，萬歷五年進士。官工部主事，榷稅杭州。羅木營兵變，脅執巡撫吳善言。謙馳諭之乃解。終太仆少卿。孫之楨，以蔭累官太子太保、左都督，掌錦衣衛事凡十有七年；之采，萬歷二十六年進士，官兵部右侍郎，陜西三邊總督。

His son Qian became a metropolitan graduate in Wanli year five. He served as secretary in the Ministry of Works and levied transit duties at Hangzhou. When the Luomu garrison mutinied, the troops seized Grand Coordinator Wu Shanyan. Qian rode in haste to reason with them, and the hostage was freed. He ended as Vice Minister of the Imperial Stud. His grandson Zhizhen, by privilege of descent, rose to Grand Guardian and Left Chief Commander, directing the Embroidered Uniform Guard for seventeen years; Zhicai, a Wanli year-twenty-six graduate, became Vice Minister of War and supreme commander of Shaanxi's three western garrisons.

李棠，長沙人。由吏部郎中累遷右副都御史，巡撫南、贛。督僉事諸察討平韶州山賊。終南京吏部右侍郎。仕宦三十年，以介潔稱。天啟初，追謚恭懿。

Li Tang was from Changsha. From director in the Ministry of Personnel he rose to Vice Censor-in-Chief and grand coordinator of Nan and Gan. As supervising commissioner he joined campaigns and pacified the mountain bandits of Shaozhou. He ended as Vice Minister of Personnel at Nanjing. Thirty years in office won him a name for integrity and austerity. Early in Tianqi he received the posthumous name Gongyi—Reverent and Gracious.

方逢時，字行之，嘉魚人。嘉靖二十年進士。授宜興知縣，再徙寧津、曲周。擢戶部主事，歷工部郎中，遷寧國知府。廣東、江西盜起，詔於興寧、程鄉、安遠、武平間築伸威鎮，擢逢時廣東兵備副使，與參將俞大猷鎮之。已而程鄉賊平，移巡惠州。

Fang Fengshi, styled Xingzhi, was from Jiayu. He became a metropolitan graduate in Jiajing year twenty. He was appointed magistrate of Yixing, then moved to Ningjin and Quzhou. He rose to secretary in Revenue, served as director in Works, and became prefect of Ningguo. When bandits rose in Guangdong and Jiangxi, an edict built Shenwei Garrison between Xingning, Chengxiang, Anyuan, and Wuping. Fang Fengshi was made Guangdong vice commissioner for military preparedness and garrisoned it with Regional Commander Yu Dayou. When the Chengxiang bandits were pacified, he was shifted to inspect Huizhou.

隆慶初，改宣府口北道，加右參政。旋擢右僉都御史，巡撫遼東。四年正月，移大同。俺答犯威遠堡，別部千余騎攻靖鹵，伏兵卻之。其冬，俺答孫把漢那吉來降，逢時告總督王崇古曰：「機不可失也。」遣中軍康綸率騎五百往受之。與崇古定計，挾把漢以索叛人趙全等。遣百戶鮑崇德出雲石堡語俺答部下五奴柱曰：「欲還把漢則速納款，若以兵來，是趣之死矣。」五奴柱白俺答，邀入營，說以執趙全易把漢。俺答心動，遣火力赤致書逢時。而全方從臾用兵，俺答又惑之，令其子辛愛將二萬騎入弘賜堡，兄子永邵卜趨威遠堡，自率眾犯平虜城。逢時曰：「此必趙全謀也。」全嘗投書逢時，言悔禍思漢，欲復歸中國。逢時以示俺答，俺答大驚，有執全意。及戰，又不利，乃引退。辛愛猶未知，奄至大同。逢時使人持把漢箭示之曰：「吾已與而父約，以報汝。」辛愛執箭泣曰：「此吾弟鐵背臺吉故物也，我來求把漢，把漢既授官，又有成約，當更計之。」乃遣部下啞都善入見。逢時曉以大義，犒而遣之。辛愛喜，因使求幣，逢時笑曰：「臺吉，豪傑也，若納款，方重加爵賞，何愛此區區，損盛名。」辛愛大慚，復遣啞都善來謝曰：「邊人不知書，蒙太師教，幸甚。俺答使者至故將田世威所，世威亦讓之曰：「爾來求和，兵何為者？」使者還報俺答，召辛愛還。辛愛東行，宣府總兵官趙岢遏之，復由大同北去。於是巡按御史姚繼可劾逢時輒通寇使，屏人語，導之東行，嫁禍鄰鎮。大學士高拱曰：「撫臣臨機設策，何可泄也。但當觀後效，不宜先事輒易。」帝然之。俺答乃遣使定約，夜召全等計事，即帳中縛之送大同。逢時受之，崇古亦送把漢歸。逢時以功進兵部右侍郎兼右僉都御史。甫拜命，以憂歸。後崇古入理京營，神宗問誰可代者，大學士張居正以逢時對。

Early in Longqing he took the Xuanfu North Pass circuit as Right Administration Commissioner. Soon he became Right Censor-in-Chief and grand coordinator of Liaodong. In the first month of year four he was transferred to Datong. Altan struck Weiyuan Fort; another column of a thousand horse attacked Jinglu and was repelled by ambush. That winter Altan's grandson Batahan Nangji surrendered. Fang Fengshi told Wang Chonggu, "The moment must not be lost." He sent Central Commander Kang Lun with five hundred cavalry to receive him. With Wang Chonggu he planned to use Batahan as leverage to demand the traitor Zhao Quan and his fellows. He sent Centurion Bao Chongde from Yunshi Fort to tell Altan's man Wunuzhu: "Return Batahan at once by submitting. March with arms and you hasten his death." Wunuzhu reported to Altan, invited Bao into camp, and urged seizing Zhao Quan in exchange for Batahan. Altan's heart stirred; he sent Huolichi with a letter to Fang Fengshi. But Zhao Quan was urging war, and Altan wavered again. He sent Senge with twenty thousand horse against Hongci Fort, his brother's son Yongshabuo toward Weiyuan, and led the main host against Pinglu. Fang Fengshi said, "This is surely Zhao Quan's doing." Zhao Quan had once written Fang Fengshi that he repented and wished to return to China. Fang Fengshi showed it to Altan, who was greatly alarmed and inclined to seize Zhao Quan. When battle went ill, he withdrew. Senge, still unaware, suddenly appeared at Datong. Fang Fengshi sent a man with Batahan's arrow, saying, "I have already pledged with your father to answer you." Senge gripped the arrow and wept. "This was my brother Iron-back Taiji's. I came for Batahan; he already holds office and a pact is made—we must think again." He sent his follower Yadushan to audience. Fang Fengshi instructed him in duty, feasted him, and sent him off. Senge rejoiced and asked for silks. Fang Fengshi laughed: "Taiji, you are a hero. Submit and you will be richly enfeoffed—why haggle over trifles and stain your name?" Deeply ashamed, Senge sent Yadushan again: "We border folk are unlettered. Your instruction, Grand Coordinator, is our fortune. Altan's envoys came to former general Tian Shiwei, who reproved them: "You seek peace—why then arms?" The envoys reported back; Altan recalled Senge. Senge marched east; Xuanfu commander Zhao Ke blocked him, and he turned north again through Datong. Investigating Censor Yao Jike then impeached Fang Fengshi for receiving enemy envoys freely, speaking in private, guiding them east, and shifting blame to neighboring garrisons. Grand Secretary Gao Gong said, "A grand coordinator shapes stratagems in the moment—how can that be disclosed beforehand? Watch the outcome; do not lightly change course before the fact." The Emperor agreed. Altan sent envoys to fix terms, summoned Zhao Quan and his fellows by night, bound them in the tent, and sent them to Datong. Fang Fengshi received them; Wang Chonggu returned Batahan. For his merit Fang Fengshi was made Vice Minister of War and Right Censor-in-Chief. He had barely accepted the appointment when mourning called him home. Later, when Wang Chonggu took charge of the capital garrisons, Shenzong asked who might replace him. Zhang Juzheng named Fang Fengshi.

萬歷初，起故官，總督宣、大、山西軍務。始逢時與崇古共決大計，而貢市之議崇古獨成之。逢時復代崇古，乃申明約信。兩人首尾共濟，邊境遂安。逢時分巡口北，時親行塞外，自龍門盤道墩以東至靖湖堡山梁一百餘里，形勢聯絡，嘆曰：「此山天險。若修鑿，北可達獨石，南可援南山，誠陵京一藩籬也。」及赴陽和，道居庸，出關見邊務修舉，欲並遂前計。上疏曰：「獨石在宣府北，三面鄰敵，勢極孤懸。懷、永與陵寢止限一山，所系尤重。其地本相屬，而經行之路尚在塞外，以故聲援不便。若設盤道之險，舍迂就徑，自龍門黑峪以達寧遠，經行三十里，南山、獨石皆可朝發夕至，不惟拓地百里，亦可漸資屯牧，於戰守皆利。」遂與巡撫吳兌經營修築，設兵戍守。累進兵部尚書兼右副都御史，總督如故，加太子少保。

Early in Wanli he was recalled and made supreme commander of Xuan, Da, and Shanxi. At first Fang Fengshi and Wang Chonggu settled the grand design together, but Wang Chonggu alone carried tribute and markets through. When Fang Fengshi succeeded Wang Chonggu, he renewed the covenants of trust. Working in concert from first to last, they secured the frontier. Fang Fengshi inspected the North Pass in person, often riding beyond the wall. From Longmen Pandao Beacon east to the Jinghu ridge—over a hundred li of linked terrain—he sighed, "This ridge is heaven's barrier. Cut a road through it and one could reach Dushi north and aid the Southern Mountains south—a true screen for the tombs and the capital." Going to Yanghe by Juyong, he saw the frontier well ordered and wished to carry the plan through. He memorialized: "Dushi lies north of Xuanfu, enemy on three sides, perilously exposed. Huai and Yong are separated from the imperial tombs by a single range—the stake is grave indeed. The lands are naturally joined, yet the road still lies beyond the passes, so mutual aid is slow. Open Pandao, cut the straight path from Longmen Heiyu to Ningyuan—thirty li—and Dushi and the Southern Mountains could answer each other within a day. We would expand a hundred li of ground and feed garrisons by colonization, to the good of defense and attack alike." He joined Grand Coordinator Wu Dui in building the works and posting garrisons. He rose to Minister of War and Vice Censor-in-Chief, kept supreme command, and was made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent.

五年，召理戎政。時議者爭言貢市利害，逢時臨赴闕，上疏曰：

In year five he was summoned to manage military affairs. Debate raged over tribute and markets. As Fang Fengshi prepared to attend court, he memorialized:

陛下特恩起臣草土中，代崇古任，賴陛下神武，八年以來，九邊生齒日繁，守備日固，田野日辟，商賈日通，邊民始知有生之樂。北部輸誠效貢，莫敢渝約，歲時請求，隨宜與之，得一果餅，輒稽首歡笑。有掠人要賞，如打喇明安兔者，告俺答罰治，即俯首聽命。而異議者或曰「敵使充斥為害」，或曰「日益費耗，彼欲終不可足」，或曰「與寇益狎，隱憂叵測」。此言心則忠矣，事機或未睹也。

Your Majesty raised me from obscurity to replace Wang Chonggu. By your martial grace, in eight years the nine marches have grown in people, hardened in defense, widened in fields, and quickened in trade—the border folk have learned what it is to live. The northern tribes offer loyalty and tribute and dare not break covenant. Meet their seasonal requests as fit—a fruit cake wins bowed heads and laughter. When raiders demand reward—as Dalai Mingantu did—complaint to Altan brings instant submission. Yet critics say enemy envoys swarm and harm us, costs mount and appetites never end, or familiarity with raiders breeds hidden peril. Their hearts are loyal, yet they may not see how affairs truly stand.

夫使者之入，多者八九人，少者二三人，朝至夕去，守貢之使，賞至即歸，何有充斥。財貨之費，有市本，有撫賞，計三鎮歲費二十七萬，較之鄉時戶部客餉七十余萬，太仆馬價十數萬，十才二三耳。而民間耕獲之入，市賈之利不與焉。所省甚多，何有耗費。乃若所憂則有之，然非隱也。方庚午以前，三軍暴骨，萬姓流離，城郭丘墟，芻糧耗竭，邊臣首領不保，朝廷為旰食。七八年來，幸無此事矣。若使臣等處置乖方，吝小費而虧大信，使一旦肆行侵掠，則前日之憂立見，何隱之有哉？

Envoys number at most eight or nine, at least two or three. They come at dawn and leave at dusk; tribute guards return when rewarded—where is the swarm? Costs include market capital and pacification gifts—two hundred seventy thousand yearly for three garrisons, against former guest rations of seven hundred thousand and stud horse prices over one hundred thousand: barely two or three in ten. Nor is this to count farming gains and merchants' profits among the people. The savings are vast—where is the drain? What is to be feared exists—but it is not hidden. Before the gengwu year armies rotted on the field, people fled, walls crumbled, fodder failed, frontier officers lost their heads, and the court ate late in dread. For seven or eight years we have been spared that. Mishandle affairs, begrudge small costs, break great faith—and let them raid at will—and yesterday's dread returns at once. What is hidden about that?

其所不可知者，俺答老矣，誠恐數年之後，此人既死，諸部無所統一，其中狡黠，互相爭構，假托異辭，遂行侵擾。此則時變之或然，而不可預料者。在我處之，亦惟罷貢絕市，閉關固壘以待。仍禁邊將毋得輕舉，使曲常在彼，而直常在我。因機處置，顧後人方略何如耳。夫封疆之事，無定形亦無定機，惟朝廷任用得人，處置適宜，何必拘拘焉貢市非而戰守是哉？臣又聞之，禦戎無上策。征戰禍也，和親辱也，賂遺恥心。今曰貢，則非和親矣；曰市，則非賂遺矣；既貢且市，則無征戰矣。臣幸藉威靈，制伏強梗，得免斧鉞之誅。今受命還朝，不復與聞閫外之事，誠恐議者謂貢市非計，輒有敷陳，國是搖惑。內則邊臣畏縮，外則部落攜貳，事機乖迕，後悔無及。臣雖得去，而犬馬之心實有不能一日忘者，謹列上五事。

What cannot be known is that Altan is old. When he dies, the tribes may lack a single lord; the cunning will quarrel under false pretexts and raid again. That is a contingency of changing times, not something foreseen today. Our answer then is to end tribute, cut markets, close passes, and strengthen ramparts. Forbid frontier generals rash action, so wrong stays with them and right with us. Dispose as circumstance demands; let later men judge the stratagem. Frontier affairs have no fixed form or moment. Employ the right men and act fitly—why bind ourselves to saying tribute and markets are wrong and war and defense right? I have heard that guarding against barbarians admits no supreme stratagem. War is calamity, marriage alliance shame, gifts a wound to the heart. Today we say tribute—not marriage alliance; we say markets—not gifts; both tribute and markets—and no war. By your majesty's grace I subdued the stubborn and escaped the axe. Now I return to court and will no longer hear frontier affairs, yet I fear debaters will call tribute and markets folly and shake the national course. Within, frontier officers will shrink; without, tribes will waver; affairs will go awry beyond remedy. Though I depart, a loyal servant's heart cannot forget for a day. I respectfully submit five matters.

至京，復奏上款貢圖。尋代崇古為尚書，署吏部事，加太子太保。以平兩廣功，進少保。累疏致仕歸，禦書「盡忠」字賜之。二十四年卒。

At the capital he submitted again a diagram of submission and tribute. Soon he replaced Wang Chonggu as minister, acted for the Ministry of Personnel, and was made Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. For pacifying the two Guang he was made Junior Guardian. He memorialized repeatedly to retire; the Emperor bestowed the brush characters "Utmost Loyalty." In year twenty-four he died.

逢時才略明練。處置邊事，皆協機宜。其功名與崇古相亞，稱「方、王」雲。

Fang Fengshi was brilliant and seasoned in counsel. In border affairs he always acted in accord with circumstances. His reputation nearly matched Wang Chonggu's, and the two were spoken of together as "Fang and Wang."

吳兌，字君澤，紹興山陰人。嘉靖三十八年進士。授兵部主事。隆慶三年，由郎中遷湖廣參議。調河南，遷薊州兵備副使。五年秋，擢右僉都御史，巡撫宣府。兌舉鄉試出高拱門。拱之初罷相也，兌獨送至潞河。及拱再起兼吏部，遂超擢之。釋褐十三年得節鉞，前此未有也。

Wu Dui, courtesy name Junze, was a native of Shanyin in Shaoxing. He received his jinshi degree in the thirty-eighth year of the Jiajing reign (1559). He was appointed a principal clerk in the Ministry of War. In the third year of Longqing (1569), he was promoted from bureau director to administration vice commissioner in Huguang. He was transferred to Henan, then promoted to vice commissioner for military preparations at Jizhou. In the autumn of the fifth year (1571) he was promoted to right vice censor-in-chief and appointed grand coordinator of Xuanfu. Dui had passed the provincial examination as a protégé of Gao Gong. When Gao was first removed from the chancellorship, Dui alone accompanied him to the Lu River. When Gao returned to power and also headed the Ministry of Personnel, he promptly promoted Dui far ahead of the normal schedule. Thirteen years after entering official life he received a frontier command with full military authority, something without precedent.

時俺答初封貢，而昆都力、辛愛陰持兩端，助其主土蠻為患。兌事智計，操縱馴伏之。嘗偵俺答離營獵，從五騎直趨其營。守者愕，控弦。從騎呵之曰：「太師來犒軍耳！」皆拜跪迎導，且獻酪。兌遍閱廬帳，抵暮還。市者或潛盜所鬻馬，兌使人棓擊之，曰：「後復盜，即閉關停市。」諸部追究所奪馬，並執其人以謝。辛愛復擾邊，俺答曰「宣、大，我市場也。」戒勿動。然辛愛猶傑驁，俺答常以己馬代入貢。既得賞賜，抵地不肯受，又遣兵掠車夷。車夷者，不知其所出，自嘉靖中徙至，與史夷雜居，皆宣鎮保塞屬也。辛愛掠之，以其長革固去，其二比妓來駐龍門教場。兌以史、車唇齒，車被掠，史益孤，奏築堡居之。使使詰責辛愛，令還革固而勒其比妓遠邊。辛愛誘比妓五蘭且沁、威兀慎，歲盜葛峪堡器甲、牛羊。兌皆付三娘子罰治。三娘子有盛寵於俺答，辛愛嫉妒，數詛詈之。三娘子入貢，宿兌軍中，訴其事。兌贈以八寶冠、百鳳雲衣、紅骨朵雲裙，三娘子以此為兌盡力。辛愛、撦力克相繼襲王，皆妻三娘子，三娘子主貢市者三世。昆都力嘗求封王，會病死，其子青把都擁兵至塞，多所要挾。兌諭以禍福，而耀武震之。青把都懼，貢如初，其女東桂嫁朵顏都督長昂，嘗隨父入貢，訴其貧。兌諭其昆弟，每一馬分一繒畀之。後東桂報土蠻別騎掠三岔河東，兌得為備，有功。

At that time Altan had only just been granted tribute and border trade, while Kundulun and Singe secretly played both sides and helped their lord Tümen harass the frontier. Dui relied on stratagem and skillfully brought them to heel. Once, learning that Altan had left camp to hunt, he rode with only five men straight to the Mongol camp. The guards were astonished and strung their bows. His attendants shouted, "The Grand Preceptor has come to reward the troops! They all bowed and knelt to receive him, presented kumiss, and escorted him about. Dui inspected every tent in the camp and returned at dusk. When market-goers secretly stole horses offered for sale, Dui had them clubbed and announced, "Steal again and we will close the passes and halt the market. The tribes then recovered the stolen horses and handed over the thieves to make amends. When Singe again raided the frontier, Altan said, "Xuanfu and Datong are my marketplaces. He forbade Singe to stir trouble there. Singe remained proud and unruly, and Altan often sent his own horses in Singe's name when tribute was presented. Once the rewards were issued, Singe would refuse them on the spot and again send troops to plunder the Cheyi. The Cheyi, whose origin is unknown, had migrated in during the Jiajing era and lived intermingled with the Shiyi; both groups were subjects under Xuanfu's frontier defense. Singe raided them, carried off their chief Gegu, and two of his subsidiary wives came to camp at the Longmen drill ground. Dui reasoned that the Shiyi and Cheyi stood or fell together; with the Cheyi raided the Shiyi would be isolated. He memorialized to build a fort where they could settle. He sent envoys to rebuke Singe, demanding the return of Gegu and that the subsidiary wives withdraw far from the border. Singe drew in the subsidiary wives together with Wulanqien and Weiwushen, who each year stole armor, cattle, and sheep from Geyu Fort. Dui turned them all over to the Third Lady for punishment. The Third Lady enjoyed great favor with Altan; Singe envied her and repeatedly cursed and abused her. When the Third Lady came to present tribute she stayed in Dui's camp and told him what had happened. Dui presented her with a crown of eight treasures, a robe embroidered with a hundred cloud-phoenixes, and a red cloud skirt with bone ornaments; from then on the Third Lady exerted herself fully on his behalf. Singe and Chalük succeeded one another as khans, each taking the Third Lady as wife; for three generations she directed tribute and trade. Kundulun had once sought investiture as khan; he died of illness, and his son Qingbadu brought troops to the border with numerous demands. Dui lectured him on advantage and peril while displaying military might to overawe him. Qingbadu, afraid, resumed tribute as before. His daughter Donggui married Chang Ang, commander of the Tümed, and once came with her father to present tribute and pleaded her poverty. Dui told her brothers to give her one bolt of silk for each horse presented. Later Donggui warned that Tümen had sent a separate force to raid east of the Sancha River; Dui was able to ready defenses and earned merit.

萬歷二年春，推款貢功，加兌右副都御史。貢市畢，加兵部右侍郎兼右僉都御史。五年夏，代方逢時總督宣、大、山西軍務。俺答西掠瓦剌，聲言迎佛，寄帑於兌，留旗箭為信。尚書王崇古奏上方略，使兌諭俺答繞賀蘭山後行，勿道甘肅；又陰泄其謀於瓦剌。俺答兵遂挫，留青海未歸。而青把都復附土蠻，其部下時入寇。大學士張居正令兌趣俺答東還約束之，青把都亦罰治其下，款貢乃益堅。七年秋，以左侍郎召還部，尋加右都御史，仍佐部事。

In the spring of the second year of Wanli (1574), for his work in arranging tribute and trade, he was promoted to right vice censor-in-chief. When the tribute season ended, he was further appointed vice minister of war and concurrently right vice censor-in-chief. In the summer of the fifth year (1577) he replaced Fang Fengshi as supreme commander of military affairs in Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi. Altan raided west into the Oirats, claiming he was going to welcome the Buddha. He left goods in Dui's custody and banner arrows as tokens. Minister Wang Chonggu submitted a plan to the throne, directing Dui to tell Altan to march behind the Helan Mountains and not pass through Gansu; he also secretly disclosed the plan to the Oirats. Altan's army was thereupon checked, and he lingered in Qinghai without returning. Qingbadu again joined Tümen, and his followers periodically crossed in to raid. Grand Secretary Zhang Juzheng ordered Dui to press Altan to return east and restrain him; Qingbadu also punished his subordinates, and the peace-through-tribute system grew firmer still. In the autumn of the seventh year (1579) he was recalled to the ministry as left vice minister, soon given the concurrent rank of right censor-in-chief while continuing to assist in ministry business.

九年夏，復以本官總督薊、遼、保定軍務兼巡撫順天。泰寧速把亥與青把都交通，陰入市宣府，而歲犯遼東以要款。朝廷拒不許，兌修義州城備之。明年春，速把亥來寇，總兵官李成梁擊斬之。其弟炒花、侄老撒卜兒悉遁去。詔進兌兵部尚書仍兼右都御史。尋進太子少保，召拜兵部尚書。御史魏允貞劾兌歷附高拱、張居正，且饋馮保金千兩，封識具存。給事王繼光亦言兌受將吏饋遺，御史林休徵助之攻。帝乃允兌去，後數年卒。

In the summer of the ninth year (1581) he again served as supreme commander of military affairs in Ji, Liaodong, and Baoding, concurrently grand coordinator of Shuntian. Subahai of the Taining and Qingbadu were in league, secretly trading in Xuanfu while raiding Liaodong each year to force favorable terms. The court refused; Dui repaired Yizhou city to guard against them. The next spring Subahai raided; regional commander Li Chengliang attacked and killed him. His younger brother Chaohua and his nephew Laosabuer all fled. An edict promoted Dui to minister of war while he retained the concurrent rank of right censor-in-chief. He was soon made junior guardian of the heir apparent and appointed minister of war. Censor Wei Yunzhen impeached Dui for long currying favor with Gao Gong and Zhang Juzheng, and for giving the eunuch Feng Bao a thousand taels of gold with the seal still unbroken. Supervising secretary Wang Jiguang also charged that Dui accepted gifts from generals and officers; censor Lin Xiuzheng joined the attack. The emperor allowed Dui to retire; he died several years later.

孫孟明，襲錦衣千戶，佐許顯純理北司刑。天啟初，讞中書汪文言，頗為之左右。顯純怒，誣孟明藏匿亡命。下本司拷訊，削籍歸。崇禎初，起故官，累遷都督同知，掌衛事。孟明居官貪，以附東林，頗得時譽。子邦輔襲職，亦理北司刑。崇禎末，給事中姜采、行人司副熊開元以言事同日系詔獄，帝欲置之死，邦輔故緩其獄。帝怒稍解，令嚴訊主使者。邦輔乃略訊即具獄上，詔予杖百，二人由是獲免。

His grandson Mengming inherited a command in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard at the thousand-man level and assisted Xu Xianchun in trials at the northern prison. Early in the Tianqi reign, while trying the Secretariat clerk Wang Wenyan, he often leaned the case Wang's way. Xianchun, enraged, falsely charged Mengming with harboring fugitives. He was handed to his own prison for torture, struck from the rolls, and sent home. At the beginning of Chongzhen he was restored to office, rose eventually to vice commissioner-in-chief, and directed guard affairs. Mengming was corrupt in office, yet by siding with the Donglin faction he won considerable contemporary praise. His son Bangfu inherited the post and likewise handled cases in the northern prison. Late in Chongzhen, supervising secretary Jiang Cai and vice director of the Pedestrian Office Xiong Kaiyuan were imprisoned the same day for remonstrance; the emperor wished to execute them, but Bangfu deliberately drew out the trial. The emperor's anger eased somewhat, and he ordered a strict inquiry into who was behind them. Bangfu then conducted only a perfunctory inquiry and at once submitted a completed dossier. An edict ordered them beaten a hundred strokes, and the two thereby escaped execution.

鄭洛，字禹秀，安肅人。嘉靖三十五年進士。除登州推官，征授御史。劾罷嚴嵩黨鄢懋卿、萬寀、萬虞龍。出為四川參議，遷山西參政。佐總督王崇古款俺答有功。萬歷二年，由浙江左布政使改右僉都御史，巡撫山西。移大同，加右副都御史，入為兵部右侍郎。七年，以左侍郎總督宣、大、山西軍務。昆都力子滿五大令銀定入犯，洛奏停貢市，遣使責俺答罰贖駝馬牛羊，乃復許款。三娘子佐俺答主貢市，諸部皆受其約束。及辛愛襲封，年老且病，欲妻三娘子。三娘子不從，率眾西走，辛愛自追之，貢市久不至。洛計三娘子別屬，則辛愛雖王無益，乃使人語之曰：「夫人能歸王，不失恩寵，否則塞上一婦人耳。」三娘子聽命。辛愛更名乞慶哈，貢市惟謹。洛以功加兵部尚書兼右副都御史。十四年，乞慶哈死，子撦力克當襲。三娘子以年長，自練兵萬人，築城別居。洛恐貢市無主，復諭撦力克曰：「夫人三世歸順，汝能與之匹，則王，不然封別有屬也。」撦力克盡逐諸妾，復妻三娘子。遂以明年嗣封，並奏封三娘子忠順夫人。洛乃上疏請定市馬數，宣府不得逾三萬，大同萬四千，山西六千，而申飭將吏嚴備，以防盜竊，且無輕遏其部落馳獵者。帝嘉納之。御史許守恩劾洛。乞歸，不允。自太子少保累加至太子太保，召為戎政尚書。

Zheng Luo, courtesy name Yuxiu, was a native of Ansu. He received his jinshi degree in the thirty-fifth year of Jiajing (1556). He was appointed judicial assistant of Dengzhou and, on imperial summons, made a censor. He impeached and secured the dismissal of Yan Maoqing, Wan Cai, and Wan Yulong, partisans of Yan Song. He served as administration commissioner in Sichuan, then was transferred to the same post in Shanxi. Assisting supreme commander Wang Chonggu in arranging peace with Altan, he earned merit. In the second year of Wanli (1574), from left administration commissioner of Zhejiang he was appointed right vice censor-in-chief and grand coordinator of Shanxi. He was transferred to Datong, promoted to right vice censor-in-chief, and entered the ministry as vice minister of war. In the seventh year (1579), as left vice minister he became supreme commander of military affairs in Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi. Mandudaling, son of Kundulun, led Yinding in a raid. Luo memorialized to suspend tribute and trade, sent envoys to demand that Altan punish the offenders and redeem the camels, horses, cattle, and sheep, and only then allowed peace to resume. The Third Lady assisted Altan in managing tribute and trade, and all the tribes were bound by her authority. When Singe succeeded to the title, old and ill, he wished to take the Third Lady as wife. The Third Lady refused and led her followers west; Singe pursued her in person, and tribute and trade long ceased. Luo reasoned that if the Third Lady attached herself elsewhere, Singe would be khan in name only. He sent word to her: "If you return to the khan, you will not lose favor; otherwise you are but another woman on the frontier. The Third Lady obeyed. Singe took the name Qiqingha, and tribute and trade were thereafter conducted with care. For his merit Luo was promoted to minister of war and concurrently right vice censor-in-chief. In the fourteenth year (1586) Qiqingha died, and his son Chalük was to succeed. The Third Lady, by reason of her seniority, herself drilled ten thousand troops and built a separate walled residence. Luo feared tribute and trade would lack a head. He again told Chalük, "The lady has been loyal for three generations; if you can stand as her equal you shall be khan—otherwise the title will go elsewhere. Chalük drove out all his other wives and again took the Third Lady as wife. He succeeded the next year and jointly memorialized to enfeoff the Third Lady as Lady Zhongshun. Luo then memorialized to fix horse quotas for border trade—no more than thirty thousand at Xuanfu, fourteen thousand at Datong, six thousand in Shanxi—and to warn generals and officers to guard strictly against theft and not lightly obstruct tribal hunting. The emperor approved and adopted the plan. Censor Xu Shou'en impeached Luo. He asked to retire and was refused. From junior guardian of the heir apparent he rose step by step to grand guardian and was summoned as minister of military administration.

十八年，洮河用兵，詔兼右都御史，經略陜西、延、寧、甘肅及宣、大、山西邊務。松套賓兔等屢越甘肅侵擾河、湟諸番。及俺答迎佛，又建寺於青海，奏賜名仰華，留永邵卜別部把爾戶及丙兔、火落赤守之，俱牧海上。他部往來者，率取道甘肅，甘肅鎮臣以通款弗禁也。丙兔死，其子真相進據莽剌川，火落赤據捏工川，益並吞番族。河套都督卜失兔亦遣使邀撦力克，撦力克遺洛書，以赴仰華為名。洛使從塞外行，又諭忠順夫人曰：「彼中撫賞不能多，且王家在東，恐有內顧憂也。」撦力克遂行。未至，把爾戶部卒闌入西寧。副總兵李奎方醉，單騎馳之。卒持鞚自白，為奎所斫，遂大噪，射奎死。火落赤、真相進圍舊洮州，副總兵李聯芳敗歿。入臨洮、河州、渭源，總兵官劉承嗣失利，遊擊李芳等皆死。當是時，撦力克已至仰華，火落赤、真相益挾為重，關中大震，惟把爾戶不助逆。事聞，詔洛經略七鎮，以僉事萬世德、兵部員外郎梁雲龍隨軍贊畫，而停撦力克貢市。俄罷總督梅友松，命洛兼領其事。洛以洮河之禍，由縱敵入青海，乃馳至甘肅，令曰：「北部自青海歸巢者，聽假道；自巢入青海者，即勒兵拒之。」未幾，卜失兔至水泉，欲趨青海。總兵官張臣與相持月余，洛設伏掩擊之，卜失兔僅以身免。莊禿賴後至，聞之亦退去。

In the eighteenth year (1590), with war on the Tao River, an edict made him concurrently right censor-in-chief to oversee Shaanxi, Yan, Ning, Gansu, and the frontiers of Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi. Tribal leaders such as Bintu of Songtao repeatedly crossed Gansu to harass the Tibetan peoples along the Huang and Tao rivers. When Altan went to welcome the Buddha he also built a temple at Qinghai; the court granted the name Yanghua and left Barhu of Yongshaobu's separate division together with Bingtu and Huolochi to guard it, all pasturing on the Qinghai grasslands. Other tribes traveling through generally took the Gansu route; the Gansu commander, because peace had been granted, did not stop them. When Bingtu died, his son Zhenxiang advanced and seized Mangchuan; Huolochi seized Niegongchuan, further swallowing Tibetan territory. Bushitu, commander of the Ordos, also sent envoys to invite Chalük; Chalük wrote to Luo, claiming he was going to Yanghua. Luo had him march outside the passes and also told Lady Zhongshun, "Rewards in the west cannot be generous, and with your house in the east you may worry about turning back. Chalük then set out. Before he arrived, troops of Barhu's division broke into Xining. Vice commander Li Kui, drunk, rode out alone. A soldier seized his bridle to explain; Kui struck him down. They thereupon raised a great uproar, shot Kui, and killed him. Huolochi and Zhenxiang advanced and besieged Old Taozhou; vice commander Li Lianfang was defeated and killed. They entered Lintao, Hezhou, and Weiyuan; regional commander Liu Chengsi was defeated, and guerrilla commander Li Fang and others were all killed. By then Chalük had reached Yanghua; Huolochi and Zhenxiang leaned on him all the more. Guanzhong was shaken, and only Barhu did not join the rebels. When word reached the court, an edict put Luo in charge of seven commands, with commissioner Wan Shide and ministry bureau director Liang Yunlong to assist in planning, and suspended Chalük's tribute and trade. Soon supreme commander Mei Yousong was dismissed and Luo was ordered to assume that post as well. Luo held that the Tao River disaster came from letting the enemy into Qinghai. He hastened to Gansu and proclaimed, "Northerners returning from Qinghai to their home pastures may pass through; those going from their pastures into Qinghai are to be met with troops and turned back. Before long Bushitu reached Shuiquan and wished to press on to Qinghai. Regional commander Zhang Chen faced him in stalemate for more than a month; Luo set an ambush and struck; Bushitu barely escaped with his life. Zhuangtulai arrived later; hearing of it, he too withdrew.

明年，洛與雲龍入西寧，控扼青海。撦力克聞之，西徙二百里，還洮河所掠人口，與忠順夫人輸罪請歸。火落赤、真相亦夜去，兩川余黨留莽敕南山。洛慮諸部約結，先遣使趣撦力克北歸，別遣雲龍、世德收番族以弱其勢，而具以狀奏聞。言：「自順義南牧，借途收番，子女牛羊皆有之，生死唯所制。洮河之役，遂為向導，番戎之勢不分，則心腹之患無已。臣鼓舞勞來，招回諸番八萬余人，皆陛下威德所致。」且具陳收番有六利。是時，撦力克觀望不即歸，洛與相羈縻，先遣總兵官尤繼先擊走莽剌余寇。督撫魏學曾、葉夢熊等請決戰，夢熊又騰書都下，洛疏持不可。夢熊乃調苗兵三千為選鋒，詆洛為秦檜、賈似道。會撦力克北歸謝罪，乞復貢市，洛乃進兵青海，走火落赤、真相，焚仰華，置戍西寧、歸德而還。尚書石星以宣、大事急，請速召洛究款戰之計。洛既至，與總督蕭大亨、巡撫王世揚、邢玠等上疏曰：「撦力克諉罪火落赤、真相，桀驁之狀已斂。且其部落數千里，部長十余輩。在巢保疆者，宣鎮則青把都兄弟未嘗東窺薊、遼，而兀慎、擺腰五路之在新平，馴服猶故。在西行牧者，不他失未嘗窺莽、捏，而大成比妓則又歸巢獨先。今以一人之罪，概絕諸部，消往日之恩，開將來之隙，臣未見其可。今史二外叛，屢犯邊疆，若令順義王縛獻以著信，然後酌議市賞，在我固未為失策也。」議遂定。尋加少保，仍召理戎政。順義王果縛史二來獻，復款如故。

The next year Luo and Yunlong entered Xining and secured Qinghai. When Chalük heard of it he moved west two hundred li, returned the people plundered on the Tao River, and with Lady Zhongshun confessed guilt and asked to return. Huolochi and Zhenxiang also withdrew by night; remnant bands of the two valleys remained on Mangchi South Mountain. Luo, fearing the tribes would league together, first sent envoys to urge Chalük north, separately sent Yunlong and Shide to win over the Tibetans and weaken the enemy, and reported the full situation to the throne. He wrote, "Since the Shunyi Khan pastured south, using the route to absorb Tibetans, they gained wives, children, cattle, and sheep and held life and death in their hands. In the Tao River campaign they served as guides. If Tibetan strength were not divided, the peril to our heartland would never end. I have encouraged and won back more than eighty thousand Tibetans—all through Your Majesty's majesty and virtue. He also set forth in detail six advantages in winning over the Tibetans. Chalük hesitated and did not return at once; Luo kept him in check while first sending regional commander You Jixian to drive off the Mangchi remnant raiders. Grand coordinators Wei Xueceng and Ye Mengxiong urged a decisive battle; Mengxiong also sent inflammatory letters to the capital, but Luo memorialized against it. Mengxiong then deployed three thousand Miao troops as shock troops and slandered Luo as Qin Hui and Jia Sidao. When Chalük returned north to apologize and begged to resume tribute and trade, Luo advanced into Qinghai, drove off Huolochi and Zhenxiang, burned Yanghua, posted garrisons at Xining and Guide, and returned. Minister Shi Xing, because affairs on the Xuan frontier were urgent, asked that Luo be quickly summoned to settle the plan for peace or war. When Luo arrived, he joined supreme commander Xiao Dayheng and grand coordinators Wang Shiyang and Xing Zhi in a memorial: "Chalük blames Huolochi and Zhenxiang; their arrogance has already been curbed. His tribes extend thousands of li, with more than ten chiefs. Those guarding the frontier in their home pastures—at Xuanfu Qingbadu and his brothers have not looked east toward Ji and Liaodong, while the Wuzhen and Baiyao five routes at Xinping remain as tame as before. Those pasturing west—Butashi has not eyed Mangchuan and Niegongchuan, while Dacheng's subsidiary wives were the first to return home. To cut off all the tribes for one man's crime, canceling past kindness and opening future rifts—I do not see how that can be justified. Now the two outer Shiyi have rebelled and repeatedly raid the frontier. If the Shunyi Khan binds and presents them to show good faith, we may then weigh tribute and rewards—in our view that is no losing policy. The decision was settled accordingly. He was soon made junior guardian and again summoned to direct military administration. The Shunyi Khan indeed bound the two Shiyi and presented them; peace was restored as before.

初，閱邊給事中張棟言，洮河之衄，殞將喪師，洛為其所輕，故東西移帳自便。太仆寺丞徐琰復詆洛，乞處分以除誤國之罪。棟再疏劾洛欺罔，給事中章尚學亦請令洛回宣、大。至是撦力克歸，棟又言：「火、真亂首，順義亂階，洛宜除兇雪恥，乃虛詞誘敵，而重利媚之。今火、真依海為窟，出沒如故，洛輒侈然敘文武勞。乞敕所司，毋徇洛請。」洛乃謝病歸。尚書星言洛無重利啖敵事，且有威望，不宜久棄。逾三年，官軍與番人夾擊把爾戶於西寧，大破之。星復奏洛收番之功，再詔起用。當時以洛有物議，卒不推也。卒，贈太保，謚襄敏。

Earlier, border-inspecting supervising secretary Zhang Dong had said that after the Tao River defeat, with generals killed and troops lost, Luo was treated lightly and therefore shifted camps east and west at his convenience. Assistant director of the Court of the Imperial Stud Xu Yan again slandered Luo, asking that he be punished to remove the crime of harming the state. Dong again memorialized to impeach Luo for deception; supervising secretary Zhang Shangxue also asked that Luo be sent back to Xuanfu and Datong. When Chalük returned, Dong again wrote, "Huolochi and Zhenxiang are the ringleaders and the Shunyi Khan the stepping-stone to disorder. Luo ought to destroy the villains and wipe away shame, yet he uses empty words to lure the enemy while richly bribing them. Huolochi and Zhenxiang still rely on the sea as a lair and raid as before, yet Luo grandly records civil and military merit. I beg the responsible offices not indulge Luo's requests. Luo thereupon pleaded illness and retired. Minister Xing said Luo had not richly bribed the enemy and had prestige; he should not long be left unused. More than three years later, government troops together with the Tibetans struck Barhu at Xining and inflicted a great defeat. Xing again memorialized Luo's merit in winning over the Tibetans, and an edict again ordered his recall. At the time, because Luo was controversial, he was in the end not promoted. When he died he was posthumously made grand guardian and given the posthumous title Xiangmin.

張學顏，字子愚，肥鄉人。生九月失母，事繼母以孝聞。親喪廬墓，有白雀來巢。登嘉靖三十二年進士，由曲沃知縣入為工科給事中。遷山西參議，以總督江東劾去官。事白，遷永平兵備副使，再調薊州。俺答封順義王，察罕土門汗語其下曰：「俺答，奴也，而封王，吾顧弗如。」挾三衛窺遼，欲以求王。而海、建諸部日強，皆建國稱汗。大將王治道、郎得功戰死，遼人大恐。隆慶五年二月，遼撫李秋免，大學士高拱欲用學顏，或疑之，拱曰：「張生卓犖倜儻，人未之識也，置諸盤錯，利器當見。」侍郎魏學曾後至，拱迎問曰：「遼撫誰可者？」學曾思良久，曰：「張學顏可。」拱喜曰：「得之矣。」遂以其名上，進右僉都御史，巡撫遼東。

Zhang Xueyan, courtesy name Ziyu, was a native of Feixiang. He lost his mother at nine months and served his stepmother with a reputation for filial piety. During mourning for his parents he built a mourning hut at the tomb; white magpies came to nest there. He passed the metropolitan examination in the thirty-second year of Jiajing (1553) and, from magistrate of Quwo, entered office as a supervising secretary in the Ministry of Works. He was transferred to administration vice commissioner in Shanxi and was impeached and removed by supreme commander Jiang Dong. When the matter was cleared he was made vice commissioner for military preparations at Yongping, then transferred again to Jizhou. When Altan was enfeoffed as Shunyi Khan, Chahan Tumen Khan told his followers, "Altan is a slave, yet he is made king—I am not his equal. He took the Three Guards and eyed Liaodong, seeking a royal title thereby. Meanwhile the Haixi and Jianzhou tribes grew stronger daily, each establishing a state and calling themselves khan. Generals Wang Zhidao and Lang Degong died in battle, and the people of Liaodong were greatly afraid. In the second month of the fifth year of Longqing (1571) Liaodong grand coordinator Li Qiu was dismissed. Grand Secretary Gao Gong wished to appoint Xueyan; some doubted it, and Gao said, "Zhang is outstanding and bold—people have not yet recognized him. Put him amid tangled affairs and the sharp tool will show. Vice Minister Wei Xueceng arrived later; Gao met him and asked, "Who is fit for Liaodong grand coordinator?" Xueceng thought a long while and said, "Zhang Xueyan will do." Gong said with pleasure, "I have got him." He submitted the name, and Xueyan was promoted to right vice censor-in-chief and appointed grand coordinator of Liaodong.

遼鎮邊長二千餘里，城砦一百二十所，三面鄰敵。官軍七萬二千，月給米一石，折銀二錢五分，馬則冬春給料，月折銀一錢八分，即歲稔不足支數日。自嘉靖戊午大饑，士馬逃故者三分之二。前撫王之誥、魏學曾相繼綏輯，未復全盛之半。繼以荒旱，餓莩枕籍。學顏首請振恤，實軍伍，招流移，治甲仗，市戰馬，信賞罰。黜懦將數人，創平陽堡以通兩河，移遊擊於正安堡以衛鎮城，戰守具悉就經畫。大將李成梁敢力戰深入，而學顏則以收保為完策，敵至無所亡失，敵退備如初，公私力完，漸復其舊。十一月，與成梁破土蠻卓山，進右副都御史。明年春，土蠻謀入寇，聞有備而止。

The Liaodong frontier stretched more than two thousand li, with a hundred and twenty forts and walled posts, bordered by enemies on three sides. Official troops numbered seventy-two thousand. Each month they received a picul of grain, commuted to two mace five candareens of silver; horses in winter and spring received fodder, commuted to one mace eight candareens monthly—even in a good year supplies lasted only a few days. From the great famine of the Jiajing wuwu year, two-thirds of men and horses had fled or perished. Former grand coordinators Wang Zhihao and Wei Xueceng had in succession soothed and gathered them, but had not restored even half the former strength. Famine and drought followed, and the dead lay piled one upon another. Xueyan first requested relief, filled the ranks, recalled refugees, readied armor and weapons, purchased war horses, and made rewards and punishments credible. He dismissed several cowardly generals, built Pingyang Fort to link the two rivers, moved guerrilla forces to Zheng'an Fort to guard the prefectural city, and fully arranged offensive and defensive measures. Great general Li Chengliang dared to fight deep in enemy territory, while Xueyan made holding the defenses and preserving strength his complete policy. When the enemy came nothing was lost; when they withdrew defenses stood as before. Public and private strength was restored, and gradually the old order returned. In the eleventh month, together with Chengliang he defeated Tümen at Zhuoshan and was promoted to right vice censor-in-chief. The next spring Tümen plotted to invade but, hearing defenses were ready, stopped.

奸民闌出海上，踞三十六島。閱視侍郎汪道昆議緝捕，學顏謂緝捕非便。命李成梁按兵海上，示將加誅，別遣使招諭，許免差役。未半載，招還四千四百余口，積患以消。秋，建州都督王杲以索降人不得，入掠撫順，守將賈汝翼詰責之。杲益憾，約諸部為寇，副總兵趙完責汝翼啟釁，學顏奏曰：「汝翼卻杲饋遺，懲其違抗，實伸國威，茍緣此罷斥，是進退邊將皆敵主之矣。臣謂宜諭王杲送還俘掠，否則調兵剿殺，毋事姑息以蓄禍。」趙完懼，饋金貂，學顏發之，詔逮完，而宣諭王杲如學顏策。諸部聞大兵且出，悉竄匿山谷。杲懼，十二月約海西王臺送俘獲就款，學顏因而撫之。

Evil men slipped out to sea and occupied the thirty-six islands. Touring inspector Wang Daokun planned to hunt them down; Xueyan said that was not expedient. He ordered Li Chengliang to hold troops at sea as if punishment would follow, and separately sent envoys to summon and instruct them, promising exemption from corvée labor. In less than half a year more than four thousand four hundred persons were brought back, and the long-standing trouble was dispelled. In autumn Jianzhou commander Wang Gao, failing to obtain surrendered people he demanded, raided Fushun; defending officer Jia Ruyi rebuked him. Gao grew more resentful and agreed with the tribes to raid. Vice commander Zhao Wan blamed Ruyi for provoking trouble. Xueyan memorialized, "Ruyi refused Gao's gifts and punished his defiance—it truly extended national majesty. If he is dismissed for this, advancing and retiring frontier generals will all be at the enemy's bidding. I hold that Wang Gao should be ordered to return captives; otherwise troops should be sent to exterminate him—do not indulge him and store up disaster. Zhao Wan, afraid, presented gold and sable; Xueyan exposed it. An edict arrested Wan, and Wang Gao was instructed as Xueyan had proposed. When the tribes heard great forces were about to march, they all hid in the valleys. Gao was afraid; in the twelfth month he agreed with Haixi king Tai to send captives and submit, and Xueyan thereupon pacified him.

遼陽鎮東二百餘里舊有孤山堡，巡按御史張鐸增置險山五堡，然與遼鎮聲援不接。都御史王之誥奏設險山參將，轄六堡一十二城，分守叆陽。又以其地不毛，欲移置寬佃，以時絀不果。萬歷初，李成梁議移孤山堡於張其哈佃，移險山五堡於寬佃、長佃、雙墩、長領散等。皆據膏腴，扼要害。而邊人苦遠役，出怨言。工甫興，王杲復犯邊，殺遊擊裴承祖。巡按御史亟請罷役，學顏不可，曰：「如此則示弱也。」即日巡塞上，撫定王兀堂諸部，聽於所在貿易。卒築寬佃，斥地二百餘里。於是撫順以北，清河以南，皆遵約束。明年冬，發兵誅王杲，大破之，追奔至紅力寨。張居正第學顏功在總督楊兆上，加兵部侍郎。

East of Liaoyang, more than two hundred li away, there had long been Gushan Fort; touring censor Zhang Duo added five forts at Xianshan, yet they did not link in mutual support with the Liaodong command. Censor-in-chief Wang Zhihao memorialized to establish a vice commander at Xianshan governing six forts and twelve cities, with divided defense at Aiyang. Because the land was barren he also wished to move the post to Kuandian, but seasonal shortages prevented it. At the beginning of Wanli, Li Chengliang proposed moving Gushan Fort to Zhangqiha Tun and the five Xianshan forts to Kuandian, Changdian, Shuangdun, Changling, and San. All occupied fertile ground and controlled strategic points. Yet frontier people complained of distant service and murmured against it. Work had just begun when Wang Gao again violated the border and killed guerrilla commander Pei Chengzu. The touring censor urgently asked to halt the project; Xueyan refused, saying, "That would show weakness. That very day he toured the frontier, pacified Wang Wutang and the tribes, and allowed trade where they were. He finally built Kuandian and opened more than two hundred li of land. Thereupon from north of Fushun to south of Qinghe all kept their agreements. The next winter he sent troops to execute Wang Gao, inflicted a great defeat, and pursued the rout to Hongli Stockade. Zhang Juzheng ranked Xueyan's merit above supreme commander Yang Zhao's and promoted him to vice minister of war.

五年夏，土蠻大集諸部犯錦州，要求封王。學顏奏曰：「敵方憑陵，而與之通，是畏之也。制和者在彼，其和必不可久。且無功與有功同封，犯順與效順同賞，既取輕諸部，亦見笑俺答。臣等謹以正言卻之。」會大雨，敵亦引退。其冬，召為戎政侍郎，加右都御史。未受代，而土蠻約泰寧速把亥分犯遼、瀋、開原。明年正月破敵劈山，殺其長阿醜臺等五人，學顏遂還部。逾年，拜戶部尚書。

In the summer of the fifth year, the Tumen leader assembled the tribes, attacked Jinzhou, and demanded to be enfeoffed as a king. Zhang Xueyan memorialized: "The enemy is bearing down on us; to negotiate with them would be to show fear. The terms of peace would be dictated by them, and any truce could not endure. Moreover, granting the same honors to the undeserving and the deserving, and the same rewards to rebels and loyalists alike, would belittle the other tribes and invite Altan's ridicule. We your ministers therefore respectfully decline in plain terms. At that moment heavy rain fell, and the enemy withdrew as well. That winter he was recalled to serve as Vice Minister of Military Affairs and was promoted to Right Censor-in-Chief. Before he could assume the new office, the Tumen arranged with the Taining leader Subahai to raid Liao, Shen, and Kaiyuan in concert. In the first month of the next year he routed the enemy at Pishan, killing the chief Achutai and four others, after which Xueyan returned to the capital ministry. A year later he was appointed Minister of Revenue.

時張居正當國，以學顏精心計，深倚任之。學顏撰會計錄以勾稽出納。又奏列清丈條例，厘兩京、山東、陜西勛戚莊田，清溢額、脫漏、詭借諸弊。又通行天下，得官民屯牧湖陂八十余萬頃。民困賠累者，以其賦抵之。自正、嘉虛耗之後，至萬歷十年間，最稱富庶，學顏有力焉。然是時宮闈用度汰侈，多所征索。學顏隨事納諫，得停發太倉銀十萬兩，減雲南黃金課一千兩，余多弗能執爭。而金花銀歲增二十萬兩，遂為定額。人亦以是少之。

Zhang Juzheng was then in charge of the government and, finding Xueyan meticulous in fiscal matters, placed great trust in him. Xueyan drew up accounting registers to track income and expenditure. He also submitted rules for a nationwide land survey, regularized noble estates in the two capitals, Shandong, and Shaanxi, and remedied abuses involving excess holdings, concealed parcels, and false transfers. The policy was applied empire-wide, recovering more than eight hundred thousand mu of official, private, garrison, pasture, and lake lands. Commoners crushed by compensation levies were permitted to offset them against their tax assessments. From the fiscal exhaustion of the Zhengde and Jiajing periods until the tenth year of Wanli, the empire enjoyed its greatest prosperity, to which Xueyan contributed substantially. Yet palace spending had grown lavish and the court demanded ever more supplies. Xueyan admonished the throne case by case, winning suspension of one hundred thousand taels from the Grand Granary and a cut of one thousand taels in Yunnan's gold levy, though on many other demands he could not hold the line. The annual "flower silver" levy rose by two hundred thousand taels and was thereafter fixed as a permanent quota. For this people thought somewhat less of him.

十一年四月，改兵部尚書，時方興內操，選內豎二千人雜廝養訓練，發太仆寺馬三千給之。學顏執不與馬，又請停內操，皆不聽。其年秋，車駕自山陵還，學顏上疏曰：「皇上恭奉聖母，扶輦前驅，拜祀陵園，考卜壽域，六軍將士十余萬，部伍齊肅。惟內操隨駕軍士，進止自恣。前至涼水河，喧爭無紀律，奔逸沖突，上動天顏。今車駕已還，猶未解散。謹稽舊制，營軍隨駕郊祀，始受甲於內庫，事畢即還。宮中惟長隨內侍許佩弓矢。又律：不系宿衛軍士，持寸刃入宮殿門者，絞；入皇城門者，戍邊衛。祖宗防微弭亂之意甚深且遠。今皇城內被甲乘馬持鋒刃，科道不得糾巡，臣部不得檢閱。又招集廝養仆隸，出入禁苑，萬一驟起邪心，朋謀倡亂，嘩於內則外臣不敢入，嘩於夜則外兵不及知，嘩於都城白晝則曰天子親兵也，驅之不肯散，捕之莫敢攖。正德中，西城練兵之事，良可鑒也。」疏上，宦豎皆切齒，為蜚語中傷。神宗察知之，詰責主使者。學顏得免，然亦不能用也。

In the fourth month of the eleventh year he was moved to Minister of War just as the palace was promoting inner-court drill: two thousand eunuchs were selected, trained together with servants, and three thousand horses from the Imperial Stud were assigned to them. Xueyan refused to release the horses and again asked that the inner drill be stopped; both pleas were ignored. That autumn, when the emperor returned from the tombs, Xueyan memorialized: "Your Majesty dutifully escorted the Empress Dowager, led the procession to the tombs, and inspected the burial site, while more than one hundred thousand troops of the six armies kept perfect order. Only the inner-drill soldiers following the carriage moved and halted as they pleased. Earlier, at Liangshui River, they brawled without discipline, broke ranks in a stampede, and provoked the emperor's anger. Now that the tour is over, they have still not been disbanded. According to former practice, camp troops who escorted the emperor to suburban sacrifices received armor from the inner arsenal only for the occasion and returned it when the rite ended. Inside the palace only senior inner attendants were allowed to bear bows and arrows. The law further provides: any soldier not on night guard who carries even a short blade through a palace gate is strangled; anyone who enters a gate of the Imperial City is banished to a frontier post. The founding emperors' intent in forestalling the slightest disorder was profound and far-sighted. Today, within the Imperial City, armored men ride horses with edged weapons—whom the censors cannot patrol and my ministry cannot inspect. Servants and retainers are also admitted to the forbidden park. Should they suddenly turn traitorous and plot revolt, a riot inside would keep outer officials out; a riot at night would outpace the outer garrison; a riot by day in the capital would be called the emperor's own army—ordered to disperse, they would refuse; seized, none would dare resist. The western-city drill under the Zhengde emperor is a clear warning. When the memorial arrived, the eunuchs seethed and spread slander against him. Emperor Shenzong saw through it and rebuked the instigators. Xueyan was spared, but his proposals were still not adopted.

考滿，加太子少保。雲南嶽鳳、罕虔平，進太子太保。時張居正既歿，朝論大異。初，御史劉臺以劾居正得罪，學顏復論其贓私。御史馮景隆論李成梁飾功，學顏亟稱成梁十大捷非妄，景隆坐貶斥。學顏故為居正所厚，與李成梁共事久，物論皆以學顏黨於居正、成梁。御史孫繼先、曾乾亨、給事中黃道瞻交章論學顏。學顏疏辯求去，又請留道瞻，不聽。明年，順天府通判周弘禴又論學顏交通太監張鯨，神宗皆黜之於外。學顏八疏乞休，許致仕去。二十六年；卒於家。贈少保。

At the end of his term he was given the additional title Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. After the pacification of Yue Feng and Han Qian in Yunnan, he was promoted to Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. By then Zhang Juzheng had died and opinion at court had shifted sharply. Earlier the censor Liu Tai had been punished for impeaching Juzheng; Xueyan now revived charges of Juzheng's corruption. When the censor Feng Jinglong accused Li Chengliang of inflating his merits, Xueyan insisted that Chengliang's ten great victories were genuine, and Jinglong was demoted and driven out. Xueyan had long been favored by Juzheng and had served with Chengliang for years; the public regarded him as Juzheng's and Chengliang's partisan. The censors Sun Jixian and Zeng Qianheng and the supervising secretary Huang Daozhan memorialized against him in turn. Xueyan defended himself and asked to resign, and also asked that Daozhan be kept at his post; both requests were denied. The following year the Tongzhou assistant prefect Zhou Hongfu again accused Xueyan of collusion with the eunuch Zhang Jing; Emperor Shenzong dismissed all the accusers from office. Xueyan submitted eight memorials begging retirement and was allowed to go home. In the twenty-sixth year he died at home. He was posthumously honored as Junior Guardian.

張佳胤，字肖甫，銅梁人。嘉靖二十九年進士。知滑縣。劇盜高章者，詐為緹騎，直入官署，劫佳胤索帑金。佳胤色不變，偽書券貸金，悉署遊僥名，召入立擒賊，由此知名。擢戶部主事，改職方，遷禮部郎中。以風霾考察，謫陳州同知。歷遷按察使。

Zhang Jiayin, courtesy name Xiaofu, was a native of Tongliang. He became a jinshi in the twenty-ninth year of the Jiajing reign. He served as magistrate of Hua County. A notorious bandit, Gao Zhang, posed as an imperial messenger, entered the magistrate's office, and seized Jiayin to extort government funds. Jiayin showed no fear; he forged a note promising borrowed gold, signed with the names of idle wanderers, summoned them inside, and seized the robbers at once—winning renown thereby. He was promoted to principal clerk in the Ministry of Revenue, moved to the Bureau of Operations, and rose to director in the Ministry of Rites. In a review prompted by ominous winds he was demoted to vice prefect of Chenzhou. He was gradually promoted to surveillance commissioner.

隆慶五年冬，擢右僉都御史，巡撫應天十府。安慶兵變，坐勘獄辭不合，調南京鴻臚卿，就遷光祿。進右副都御史，巡撫保定，道聞喪歸。

In the winter of the fifth year of Longqing he was made Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and grand coordinator of Yingtian's ten prefectures. After a mutiny in Anqing, he was transferred to Director of Ceremonies at Nanjing because his report on the prison case was deemed improper, and was soon made Director of the Imperial Stables. He was promoted to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and grand coordinator of Baoding, but on the way learned of a death in the family and returned home.

萬歷七年，起故官，巡撫陜西。未上，改宣府。時青把都已服，其弟滿五大猶桀驁，所部八賴掠塞外史、車二部，總兵官麻錦擒之。佳胤命錦縛八賴將斬，而身馳赦之，八賴叩頭誓不敢犯邊。後與總督鄭洛計服滿五大。入為兵部右侍郎。

In the seventh year of Wanli he was recalled to his former rank and appointed grand coordinator of Shaanxi. Before he assumed office he was transferred to Xuanfu. The Qingbatu Mongols had already submitted, but Mandawu, younger brother of the chieftain, remained defiant; his follower Balai raided the Shi and Che tribes beyond the border, and the regional commander Ma Jin captured him. Jiayin ordered Jin to bind Balai for execution, then rode ahead himself to grant a pardon; Balai kowtowed and swore never again to raid the frontier. Later, with Governor-General Zheng Luo, he devised means to bring Mandawu to submission. He entered the capital as Vice Minister of War.

十年春，浙江巡撫吳善言奉詔減月餉。東、西二營兵馬文英、劉廷用等構黨大噪，縛毆善言。張居正以佳胤才，令兼右僉都御史代善言。甫入境，而杭民以行保甲故，亦亂。佳胤問告者曰：「亂兵與亂民合乎？」曰：「未也。」佳胤喜曰：「速驅之，尚可離而二也。」既至，民剽益甚。佳胤從數卒佯問民所苦，下令除之。眾益張，夜掠巨室，火光燭天。佳胤召遊擊徐景星諭二營兵，令討亂民自贖。擒百五十人，斬其三之一。乃佯召文英、廷用，予冠帶。而密屬景星捕七人，並文英、廷用斬之。二亂悉定。帝優詔褒美。尋以左侍郎還部，錄功，加右都御史。

In the spring of the tenth year the Zhejiang grand coordinator Wu Shanyan, carrying out an edict, cut the troops' monthly pay. Ma Wenying and Liu Tingyong of the eastern and western camps formed factions, raised a great uproar, and bound and beat Shanyan. Zhang Juzheng, valuing Jiayin's ability, had him concurrently appointed Right Vice Censor-in-Chief to replace Shanyan. Hardly had he entered the province when the people of Hangzhou also rioted over the baojia household-registration system. Jiayin asked his informants: "Have the mutinous soldiers and the rioting populace joined forces? They answered, "Not yet." Jiayin said gladly: "Drive them apart quickly—they can still be kept separate." After his arrival the people's looting grew worse. Jiayin went out with only a few attendants, feigning inquiry into the people's hardships, and issued orders removing their grievances. The mob grew bolder; by night they looted great houses until firelight filled the sky. Jiayin summoned the mobile-detachment commander Xu Jingxing and ordered the two camps' soldiers to suppress the rioters as penance. One hundred fifty were seized and a third of them were executed. He then feigned a summons to Wenying and Tingyong and bestowed caps and belts on them. Secretly he told Jingxing to arrest seven men and beheaded them together with Wenying and Tingyong. Both disturbances were quelled. The emperor issued an edict praising his service. Soon he returned to the ministry as Left Vice Minister; when merits were recorded he received the additional title Right Censor-in-Chief.

未幾，拜戎政尚書，尋兼右副都御史，總督薊、遼、保定軍務。以李成梁擊斬逞加努功，加太子少保。成梁破土蠻沈陽，復進太子太保。召還理部事。敘勞，予一品誥。御史許守恩劾佳胤營獲本兵，御史徐元復劾之，遂三疏謝病歸。越二年卒。贈少保。天啟初，謚襄憲。

Before long he was made Minister of Military Affairs and soon also Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, with overall command of Ji, Liao, and Baoding. When Li Chengliang's feat in killing Chengjianu was recognized, Jiayin was given the additional title Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. When Chengliang routed the Tumen at Shenyang, he was further promoted to Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent. He was recalled to manage the ministry. When rewards were distributed he received a patent of the first rank. The censor Xu Shouen impeached Jiayin for usurping the Ministry of War; the censor Xu Yuan impeached him again, and he submitted three memorials pleading illness and retired. Two years later he died. He was posthumously honored as Junior Guardian. At the opening of the Tianqi reign he was given the posthumous title Xiangxian.

殷正茂，字養實，歙人。嘉靖二十六年進士。由行人選兵科給事中。劾罷南京刑部侍郎沈應龍。歷廣西、雲南、湖廣兵備副使，遷江西按察使。隆慶初，古田僮韋銀豹、黃朝猛反。銀豹父朝威自弘治中敗官兵於三厄，殺副總兵馬俊、參議馬鉉，正德中嘗陷洛容。嘉靖時，銀豹及朝猛劫殺參政黎民衷，提督侍郎吳桂芳遣典史廖元招降之。遷元主簿以守，而銀豹數反覆。隆慶三年冬，廷議大征。擢正茂右僉都御史巡撫廣西。正茂與提督李遷調土、漢兵十四萬，令總兵俞大猷將之。先奪牛河、三厄險，諸軍連克東山鳳凰寨，蹙之潮水。廖元誘僮人斬朝猛，銀豹窮，令其黨陰斬貌類己者以獻。捷聞，進兵部右侍郎，巡撫如故。改古田為永寧州，設副使參將鎮守。未幾，僉事金柱捕得銀豹，正茂因自劾。詔磔銀豹京師，置正茂不問。

Yin Zhengmao, courtesy name Yangshi, was a native of She County. He became a jinshi in the twenty-sixth year of the Jiajing reign. From the post of courier he was chosen supervising secretary in the Office of Scrutiny for War. He impeached and removed Shen Yinglong, Vice Minister of Justice at Nanjing. He served as vice commissioner for military preparedness in Guangxi, Yunnan, and Huguang, then was promoted to surveillance commissioner of Jiangxi. At the beginning of Longqing the Gutian Yao chiefs Wei Yinbao and Huang Chaomeng rebelled. Yinbao's father Chaowei, since the Hongzhi era, had defeated government forces at San'e, killed Vice Commander Ma Jun and Assistant Commissioner Ma Xuan, and in the Zhengde reign had once seized Luorong. In the Jiajing period Yinbao and Chaomeng murdered and plundered, killing Assistant Commissioner Li Min'ai; Supervising Vice Minister Wu Guifang sent the clerk Liao Yuan to offer surrender terms. Yuan was promoted to registrar to hold the district, but Yinbao vacillated again and again. In the winter of the third year of Longqing the court decided on a major expedition. Zhengmao was promoted to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and appointed grand coordinator of Guangxi. With Supervising General Li Qian he assembled one hundred forty thousand native and Han troops and placed Regional Commander Yu Dayou in command. They first took the strongholds at Niuhe and San'e; the armies in succession captured the Dongshan Fenghuang stockade and pressed the enemy to the Chaoshui narrows. Liao Yuan induced the Yao to behead Chaomeng; cornered, Yinbao had his men secretly kill someone resembling himself and present the head. When victory was reported he was promoted to Vice Minister of War while retaining the grand coordinator post. Gutian was redesignated Yongning Prefecture, with a vice commissioner and regional commander stationed there. Soon Registrar Jin Zhu captured Yinbao; Zhengmao then impeached himself. An edict ordered Yinbao executed by dismemberment in the capital and excused Zhengmao.

尋代遷提督兩廣軍務。當是時，群盜惠州藍一清、賴元爵，潮州林道乾、林鳳、諸良寶，瓊州李茂，處處屯結。廣中日告警，倭又數為害。正茂議守巡官畫地分守，而徙瀕海謫戍之民於雲南、川、湖，絕倭向導。乃令總兵官張元勛、參政江一麟等先後殺倭千余，以次盡平諸盜。廣西巡撫郭應聘亦奏平懷遠、洛容瑤，語詳元勛及李錫傳。正茂以功累加兵部尚書兼右副都御史。倭復陷銅鼓、雙魚，元勛大破之儒峒；犯電白，正茂剿殺千余人。嶺表略定。

Soon he replaced Li Qian as supervising general of the two Guang provinces. At that time bandits were entrenched everywhere: Lan Yiqing and Lai Yuanjue in Huizhou, Lin Daoqian, Lin Feng, and Zhu Liangbao in Chaozhou, and Li Mao in Qiongzhou. Guangdong was in daily alarm, and Japanese raiders struck again and again. Zhengmao proposed that defending and touring officials divide the territory for defense, and that exiles on the coast be resettled in Yunnan, Sichuan, and Huguang to deny the Japanese local guides. He then had Regional Commander Zhang Yuanxun, Assistant Commissioner Jiang Yilin, and others kill more than a thousand Japanese in turn and thereafter pacify the bandits one by one. The Guangxi grand coordinator Guo Yingpin also reported pacifying the Huaiyuan and Luorong Yao; particulars appear in the biographies of Zhang Yuanxun and Li Xi. For his achievements Zhengmao was repeatedly promoted until he held the posts of Minister of War and Right Vice Censor-in-Chief. The Japanese again seized Tonggu and Shuangyu; Yuanxun routed them heavily at Rudong; when they invaded Dianbai, Zhengmao pursued and killed more than a thousand. Lingnan was largely pacified.

萬歷三年，召為南京戶部尚書，以淩雲翼代。明年，改北部。疏請節用，又諫止采買珠寶。而張居正以正茂所饋鵝罽轉奉慈寧太后為坐褥。李幼孜與爭寵，嗾言官詹沂等劾之。遂屢引疾。六年，致仕歸。久之，起南京刑部尚書。居正卒之明年，御史張應詔言，正茂以金盤二，植珊瑚其中，高三尺許，賂居正，復取金珠、翡翠、象牙饋馮保及居正家人遊七。正茂疏辨，請告，許之。二十年卒。

In the third year of Wanli he was summoned to be Minister of Revenue at Nanjing; Ling Yunyi replaced him. The following year he was transferred to the northern ministry. He memorialized urging frugality and again remonstrated against procuring pearls and gems. Zhang Juzheng took the goose-down rug Zhengmao had presented and had it sent to Empress Dowager Cining as a seat cushion. Li Youzi, competing for influence, incited the censor Zhan Yi and others to impeach him. He repeatedly pleaded illness. In the sixth year he retired. After a long interval he was again appointed Minister of Justice at Nanjing. In the year after Juzheng's death the censor Zhang Yingzhao charged that Zhengmao had given Juzheng two gold trays with coral set in them standing more than three feet high, and had also sent gold, pearls, jadeite, and ivory to the eunuch Feng Bao and to Juzheng's retainer You Qi. Zhengmao defended himself in a memorial and asked to retire; permission was granted. In the twentieth year he died.

正茂在廣時，任法嚴，道將以下奉行惟謹。然性貪，歲受屬吏金萬計。初征古田，大學士高拱曰：「吾捐百萬金予正茂，縱幹沒者半，然事可立辦。」時以拱為善用人。

While in Guangdong Zhengmao enforced the law strictly; commanders and defenders obeyed him in fear. Yet he was greedy by nature and each year accepted tens of thousands in gold from subordinates. When the Gutian campaign began, Grand Secretary Gao Gong said: "I will give Zhengmao a million in gold; even if he pockets half, the business can still be finished quickly. People at the time regarded Gao Gong as skilled at using men.

李遷，字子安，新建人。嘉靖二十年進士。隆慶四年官南京兵部右侍郎，以左侍郎總督兩廣。給事中光懋言兩廣向設提督，事權畫一，今兩巡撫相牽掣，不便。乃改遷提督兼巡撫廣東，而特命正茂為廣西巡撫。後遂為定制。以平銀豹功加右都御史。尋討惠、潮山寇，俘斬千二百余級。召為刑部尚書。引疾歸，卒。謚恭介。遷出入中外三十年，不妄取一錢。年近七十，母終，廬墓。

Li Qian, courtesy name Zi'an, was a native of Xinjian. He became a jinshi in the twentieth year of the Jiajing reign. In the fourth year of Longqing he was Right Vice Minister of War at Nanjing and, as Left Vice Minister, supervised military affairs in the two Guang provinces. The supervising secretary Guang Mao argued that the two provinces had once had a single supervising general with unified authority, whereas two grand coordinators now hindered each other. Qian was therefore made supervising general while also grand coordinator of Guangdong, and Zhengmao was specially appointed grand coordinator of Guangxi alone. This later became the permanent arrangement. For pacifying Yinbao he received the additional title Right Censor-in-Chief. Soon he campaigned against the mountain bandits of Huizhou and Chaozhou, capturing or beheading more than twelve hundred. He was summoned to be Minister of Justice. He pleaded illness, retired, and died. He was given the posthumous title Gongjie. Qian served inside and outside the government for thirty years without ever taking a single cash unrightfully. When he was nearly seventy his mother died and he lived in a mourning hut at her tomb.

淩雲翼，字洋山，太倉州人。嘉靖二十六年進士。授南京工部主事。隆慶中，累官右僉都御史，撫治鄖陽。疏論衛所兵消耗之弊，凡六事，多議行。萬歷元年，進右副都御史，巡撫江西。三遷兵部左侍郎兼右僉都御史，提督兩廣軍務，代殷正茂。時寇盜略盡，惟林鳳遁去。鳳初屯錢澳求撫，正茂不許，遂自彭湖奔東番魍港，為福建總兵官胡守仁所敗。是年冬，犯柘林、靖海、碣石，已，復犯福建。守仁追擊至淡水洋，沈其舟二十。賊失利，復入潮州。參政金淛諭降其黨馬誌善、李成等，鳳夜遁。明年秋，把總王望高以呂宋番兵討平之。尋進征羅旁。羅旁在德慶州上下江界、東西兩山間，延袤七百里。成化中，韓雍經略西山，頗安輯，惟東山瑤阻深箐剽掠，有司歲發卒戍守。正茂方建議大征，會遷去。雲翼乃大集兵，令兩廣總兵張元勛、李錫將之。四閱月，克巢五百六十，俘斬、招降四萬二千八百余人。岑溪六十三山、七山、那留、連城諸處鄰境瑤、僮皆懼。賊首潘積善求撫，雲翼奏設官戍之。論功，加右都御史兼兵部侍郎。賜飛魚服。乃改瀧水縣為羅定州，設監司、參將。積患頓息。六年夏，與巡撫吳文華討平河池、咘咳、北三諸瑤，又捕斬廣東大廟諸山賊。嶺表悉定。召為南京工部尚書，就改兵部，以兵部尚書兼右副都御史總督漕運，巡撫淮、揚。河臣潘季馴召入，遂兼督河道。加太子少保。召為戎政尚書，以病歸。家居驕縱，給事、御史連章劾之。詔奪官，後卒。

Ling Yunyi, courtesy name Yangshan, was a native of Taicang Prefecture. He became a jinshi in the twenty-sixth year of the Jiajing reign. He was appointed principal clerk in the Nanjing Ministry of Works. During Longqing he rose step by step to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and pacification commissioner of Yunyang. He memorialized on six abuses eroding garrison forces; most of his proposals were adopted. In the first year of Wanli he was promoted to Right Vice Censor-in-Chief and grand coordinator of Jiangxi. After three promotions he became Left Vice Minister of War with the additional title Right Vice Censor-in-Chief, supervising the two Guang in Yin Zhengmao's place. By then bandits were largely gone; only Lin Feng remained at large. Feng had first camped at Qian'ao seeking surrender; Zhengmao refused, so he fled from Penghu to Wugang in eastern Taiwan and was defeated by Fujian's regional commander Hu Shouren. That winter he raided Zhelin, Jinghai, and Jieshi, and later struck Fujian again. Shouren pursued him to the Freshwater Sea and sank twenty of his vessels. Defeated, the pirates re-entered Chaozhou. Assistant Commissioner Jin Zhe induced Ma Zhishan, Li Cheng, and others to surrender; Feng fled by night. In the autumn of the next year Company Commander Wang Wangao, with Luzon auxiliaries, campaigned and pacified him. Soon he launched the campaign against Luopang. Luopang lay between the upper and lower river boundaries of Deqing Prefecture and between the eastern and western mountains, stretching seven hundred li. In the Chenghua period Han Yong had pacified the western hills, but eastern-hill Yao in deep ravines still raided, and the government sent garrisons every year. Zhengmao had just proposed a major campaign when Li Qian left office. Yunyi then massed troops and placed the two Guang regional commanders Zhang Yuanxun and Li Xi in command. In four months they stormed five hundred sixty lairs, capturing, killing, or accepting the surrender of more than forty-two thousand eight hundred. Neighboring Yao and Zhuang of Cenxi's sixty-three mountains, the seven mountains, Naliu, and Liancheng all grew fearful. The bandit chief Pan Jishan sought surrender; Yunyi memorialized to station officials and troops. For his merit he received the additional titles Right Censor-in-Chief and Vice Minister of War. He was granted the flying-fish robe. Longshui County was redesignated Luoding Prefecture, with surveillance commissioners and regional commanders installed. Chronic disorders abruptly ceased. In the summer of the sixth year, with Grand Coordinator Wu Wenhua, he pacified the Yao of Hechi, Buke, and the northern three districts, and again hunted down the mountain bandits of Damiao in Guangdong. Lingnan was entirely pacified. He was summoned as Minister of Works at Nanjing, then moved to the Ministry of War, and as Minister of War with the additional title Right Vice Censor-in-Chief he supervised Grand Canal transport and served as grand coordinator of Huai and Yang. When river commissioner Pan Jixun was recalled, Yunyi also took charge of the waterways. He received the additional title Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. He was summoned as Minister of Military Affairs and retired on grounds of illness. At home he grew arrogant and unrestrained; supervising secretaries and censors memorialized against him in turn. An edict stripped him of rank; he died afterward.

雲翼有幹濟才。羅旁之役，繼正茂成功。然喜事好殺戮，為當時所譏。

Yunyi had talent for practical administration. In the Luopang campaign he built on Zhengmao's success. Yet he delighted in action and favored killing, and contemporaries mocked him for it.

贊曰：譚綸、王崇古諸人，受任巖疆，練達兵備，可與余子俊、秦纮先後比跡。考其時，蓋張居正當國，究心於軍謀邊瑣。書疏往復，洞矚機要，委任責成，使得展布，是以各盡其材，事克有濟。觀於此，而居正之功不可泯也。

The commentators say: Tan Lun, Wang Chonggu, and their fellows, entrusted with the frontier marches, were skilled in military preparedness and may be ranked with Yu Zijun and Qin Hong. Consider their era: Zhang Juzheng held power and devoted himself to military plans and border affairs. Memorials flowed back and forth; he grasped the crucial points, delegated responsibility, and demanded results, allowing each man to deploy his talents—so affairs were brought to success. Seen in this light, Juzheng's achievement cannot be denied.

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