Volume 230 Biographies 118: Cai Shiding, Wan Guoqin, Rao Shen, Tang Xianzu, Lu Zhongli, Yang Xun, Jiang Shichang, Ma Mengzhen, Wang Ruolin

蔡時鼎萬國欽〈（王教）〉饒伸〈（兄位劉元震元霖）〉湯顯祖〈（李琯）〉瑽中立〈（盧明諏）〉楊恂〈（冀體朱爵）〉姜士昌〈（宋燾）〉馬孟禎汪若霖

Cai Shiding, Wan Guoqin. (Wang Jiao)〉 Rao Shen. (Xiong Wei, Liu Yuanzhen, Yuan Lin)〉 Tang Xianzu. (Li Guan)〉 Lu Zhongli. (Lu Mingsou)〉 Yang Xun. (Ji Ti, Zhu Jue)〉 Jiang Shichang. (Song Tao)〉 Ma Mengzhen, Wang Ruolin.

蔡時鼎，字臺甫，漳浦人。萬歷二年進士。歷知桐鄉、元城，為治清嚴。征授御史。太和山提督中官田玉兼分守事，時鼎言不可，並及玉不法狀。御史丁此呂以劾高啟愚被謫，時鼎論救，語侵楊巍、申時行。報聞。已，巡鹽兩淮。悉捐其羨為開河費，置屬邑學田。

Cai Shiding, styled Taifu, was a native of Zhangpu. In the second year of the Wanli reign he passed the jinshi examination. He served successively as magistrate of Tongxiang and Yuancheng, governing with austere clarity. He was recalled and appointed investigating censor. When the eunuch Tian Yu, superintendent of Mount Taihe, also assumed partial defense duties, Shiding said this should not be permitted and reported Yu's illegal conduct as well. When Censor Ding Cilü was banished for impeaching Gao Qiyu, Shiding memorialized in his defense, his language impugning Yang Wei and Shen Shixing. The memorial was noted. Later he inspected salt administration in the two Huai regions. He donated all surplus revenues for river-dredging expenses and established school estates in subordinate counties.

還朝，會戚畹子弟有求舉不獲者，誣順天考官張一桂私其客馮詩、章維寧及編修史鈳子記純，又濫取冒籍者五人。帝怒，命詩、維寧荷枷，解一桂、鈳官。時行等為之解。帝益怒，奪鈳職，下詩、維寧吏。法司廷鞫無驗，忤旨被讓。卒枷二人一月，而調一桂南京。時鼎以事初糾發不由外廷，徑從中出，極言「宵人蜚語直達御前，其漸不可長；且盡疑大臣言官有私，則是股肱耳目舉不可信，所信者誰也？」帝怒，手劄諭閣臣治罪。會時行及王錫爵在告，許國、王家屏僅擬停俸，且請稍減詩、維寧荷校之期，以全其命。帝不從，責時鼎疑君訕上，降極邊雜職。又使人诇知發遣冒籍者多寬縱，責府尹沈思孝對狀。國、家屏復上言：「人君貴明不貴察。茍任一己見聞，猜防苛密，縱聽斷精審，何補於治；且使奸人乘機得中傷善類，害胡可言！願停察訪以崇大體，宥言官以彰聖度。」帝不懌，手詔詰讓。是日，帝思時行，遣中使就第勞問。而國等既被責，具疏謝，執爭如初。會帝意稍解，乃報聞。時鼎竟謫馬邑典史，告歸。居二年，吏部擬序遷，不許。御史王世揚請如石星、海瑞、鄒元標例，起之廢籍，不報。已，起太平推官，進南京刑部主事，就改吏部。

On returning to court, relatives of imperial consorts who had sought office without success falsely accused the Shuntian examination officials Zhang Yigui of favoring his clients Feng Shi and Zhang Weining and Compiler Shi Gang's son Ji Chun, and also of improperly admitting five persons with fraudulent registration. The emperor was angry and ordered Shi and Weining to wear the cangue; Zhang Yigui and Shi Gang were dismissed from office. Shixing and others pleaded on their behalf. The emperor grew angrier still, stripped Gang of his post, and sent Shi and Weining to the judicial authorities. The judiciary tried them at court and found no evidence, but for contradicting the imperial will they were rebuked. In the end the two men wore the cangue for one month, and Yigui was transferred to Nanjing. Shiding, since the affair had first been raised outside the outer court and came straight from within, spoke forcefully: "The slander of petty men reaches the imperial presence directly—this tendency cannot be allowed to grow; and if all ministers and remonstrating officials are suspected of partiality, then arms, thighs, eyes, and ears alike are untrustworthy—whom may one trust?" The emperor was angry and by his own hand wrote instructing the grand secretaries to punish him. As Shixing and Wang Xijue were on leave, Xu Guo and Wang Jiajing only proposed suspension of salary, and also asked that the period of cangue for Shi and Weining be somewhat reduced to spare their lives. The emperor would not agree, charged Shiding with doubting the sovereign and mocking superiors, and demoted him to a miscellaneous post on the extreme frontier. He also sent men to spy out how those banished for fraudulent registration were being dealt with, finding most leniently treated, and charged the prefect Shen Sixiao to answer for it. Guo and Jiajing again memorialized: "A ruler values clarity, not scrutiny. If he relies on his own observations alone, suspicion and strict precaution prevail—however refined his judgments, what help is this to governance; moreover, villains may seize the chance to wound the good—what harm cannot they do! We pray you cease secret inquiries to honor the larger frame, and pardon remonstrating officials to display imperial magnanimity." The emperor was displeased and by his own hand issued an edict of censure. That day the emperor thought of Shixing and sent a palace envoy to his residence to inquire after him. Yet Guo and the others, having been censured, submitted full memorials of apology yet argued as before. When the emperor's mood had eased somewhat, their memorial was noted. Shiding was ultimately banished to record-keeper of Mayi and returned home on leave. After two years the Ministry of Personnel proposed his promotion in turn; permission was refused. Censor Wang Shiyang asked that he be raised from the rolls of the dismissed as in the cases of Shi Xing, Hai Rui, and Zou Yuanbiao; no reply was given. Later he was raised as push-official of Taiping, promoted to secretary in the Nanjing Ministry of Punishments, and then transferred to the Ministry of Personnel.

十八年冬，復疏劾時行，略言：「比年天災民困，紀綱紊斁，吏治混淆。陛下深居宮闕，臣民呼籲莫聞。然群工進言，猶蒙寬貸。乃輔臣時行則樹黨自堅，忌言益甚。不必明指其失，即意向稍左，亦輒中傷。或顯斥於當時，或徐退於後日。致天下諛佞成風，正氣消沮。方且內托之乎雅量，外托之乎清明，此聖賢所以重似是之防，嚴亂德之戒也。夫營私之念重，則奉公之意必衰；巧詐之機熟，則忠誠之節必退。自張居正物故，張四維憂去，時行即為首輔。懲前專擅，矯以謙退；鑒昔嚴苛，矯以寬平。非不欲示休休之量，養和平之福，無如患得患失之心勝，而不可則止之義微。貌退讓而心貪競，外包容而中忮刻。私偽萌生，欲蓋彌著。夫居正之禍在徇私滅公，然其持法任事，猶足有補於國。今也改革其美，而紹述其私；盡去其維天下之心，而益巧其欺天下之術。徒思邀福一身，不顧國禍，若而人者，尚可俾相天下哉！」因歷數其十失，勸之省改。疏留中。尋進南京禮部郎中。卒官。貧不具含殮，士大夫賻而治其喪。

In the winter of the eighteenth year he again memorialized impeaching Shixing, in summary saying: "In recent years heaven has sent disasters and the people suffer hardship; discipline is in disorder and official administration is confused. Your Majesty dwells deep within the palace, and the cries of subjects and officials do not reach you. Yet when the multitude of officials speak up, they still receive leniency. Yet the chief minister Shixing fortifies his faction and grows ever more resentful of speech. Without need to specify faults clearly, if intent diverges even slightly he at once strikes to wound. Some he openly casts out in the present; others he slowly drives away afterward. Thus flattery and sycophancy prevail throughout the realm, and upright spirit is worn down. Yet inwardly he relies on cultivated breadth, outwardly on lucid clarity—hence the sages prized caution against what seems right and warnings against disorderly virtue. Where private striving weighs heavy, devotion to public duty must weaken; where crafty deceit grows skilled, the constancy of loyalty must retreat. Since Zhang Juzheng died and Zhang Siwei left office in grief, Shixing became chief grand secretary. Correcting previous monopolization of power, he affected humility and withdrawal; Seeing past severity, he affected leniency and fairness. Not that he did not wish to display a generous breadth and nurture the blessings of harmony—but fear of gain and loss prevailed, and the principle of stopping when one may not continue was slight. In appearance yielding, in heart greedy and contentious; outwardly inclusive, inwardly jealous and harsh. Private falsity sprouted; the more he sought to cover it, the more it showed. Juzheng's calamity lay in favoring private ties and extinguishing public duty—yet in upholding law and bearing responsibility he still could benefit the state. Now he reforms away the good and carries on the private; He utterly casts away the mind that sustains the realm and grows more artful in the arts that deceive it. Thinking only to court fortune for himself heedless of national calamity—can such a man still be entrusted to head the realm!" He then enumerated ten faults and urged him to reflect and reform. The memorial was kept within. Soon he was promoted to director in the Nanjing Ministry of Rites. He died in office. Too poor to provide full burial rites, scholar-officials contributed to conduct his funeral.

萬國欽，字二愚，新建人。萬歷十一年進士。授婺源知縣。征拜御史。言事慷慨，不避權貴。十八年，劾吏部尚書楊巍，被詰讓。裏居尚書董份，大學士申時行、王錫爵座主也，屬浙江巡按御史奏請存問。國欽言份諂事嚴嵩，又娶尚書吳鵬已字子女，居鄉無狀，不宜加隆禮，事遂寢。

Wan Guoqin, styled Eryu, was a native of Xinjian. In the eleventh year of the Wanli reign he passed the jinshi examination. He was appointed magistrate of Wuyuan. He was recalled and appointed investigating censor. In memorializing he spoke boldly, not shunning the powerful. In the eighteenth year he impeached Minister of Personnel Yang Wei and was rebuked. Retired Minister Dong Fen was the examination patron of Grand Secretaries Shen Shixing and Wang Xijue; he had the Zhejiang surveillance censor memorialize requesting courtesy visits. Guoqin said Fen had flattered and served Yan Song, and had married the betrothed daughter of the late Minister Wu Peng—conduct unbecoming in retirement—and ought not receive elevated courtesy; the matter was dropped.

初，吏部員外郎趙南星、戶部主事姜士昌疏斥政府私人。給事中李春開以出位糾南星、士昌，而其黨陳與郊為助。刑部主事吳正誌上疏，言春開、與郊媚政府，幹清議，且論御史林祖述保留大臣之非。於是御史赫瀛集諸御史於朝堂，議合疏糾正誌，以臺體為辭。國欽與周孔教獨不署名。瀛大恚，盛氣讓國欽。國欽曰：「冠豸冠，服豸服，乃日以保留大臣傾善類為事，我不能茍同。」瀛氣奪，疏不果上，而正誌竟謫宜君典史。奄人袁進等毆殺平民，國欽再疏劾之。

Earlier, Vice Director Zhao Nanxing of the Ministry of Personnel and Secretary Jiang Shichang of the Ministry of Revenue had memorialized condemning the government's private partisans. Supervising Secretary Li Chunkai, as overstepping his place, impeached Nanxing and Shichang, assisted by his clique-member Chen Yujiao. Secretary Wu Zhengzhi of the Ministry of Punishments submitted a memorial saying Chunkai and Yujiao flattered the government, meddled with pure opinion, and also criticized Censor Lin Zushu for improperly retaining grand ministers. Thereupon Censor He Ying assembled all censors at court to discuss a joint memorial impeaching Zhengzhi, on the grounds of censorial integrity. Guoqin and Zhou Kongjiao alone refused to sign. Ying was greatly enraged and with fierce air rebuked Guoqin. Guoqin said: "Wearing the unicorn cap and unicorn robes, yet making it one's daily work to retain grand ministers and overturn the good—I cannot go along with this." Ying's spirit was broken; the memorial was not submitted, and Zhengzhi was ultimately banished to record-keeper of Yijun. When eunuch Yuan Jin and others beat commoners to death, Guoqin again memorialized impeaching them.

十八年夏，火落赤諸部頻犯臨洮、鞏昌。七月，帝召見時行等於皇極門，咨以方略，言邊備廢弛，督撫乏調度，欲大有所振飭。時行以款貢足恃為言。帝曰：「款貢亦不足恃。若專務媚敵，使心驕意大，豈有饜足時？」時行等奉諭而退。未幾，警報狎至，乃推鄭洛為經略尚書行邊，實用以主款議也。國欽抗疏劾時行，曰：「陛下以西事孔棘，特召輔臣議戰守，而輔臣於召對時乃飾詞欺罔。陛下怒賊侵軼，則以為攻抄熟番。臨、鞏果番地乎？陛下責督撫失機，則以為咎在武臣。封疆僨事，督撫果無與乎？陛下言款貢難恃，則雲通貢二十年，活生靈百萬。西寧之敗，肅州之掠，獨非生靈乎？是陛下意在戰，時行必不欲戰；陛下意在絕和，時行必欲與和。蓋由九邊將帥，歲饋金錢，漫無成畫。寇已殘城堡，殺吏民，猶謂計得。三邊總督梅友松意專媚敵。前奏順義謝恩西去矣，何又圍我臨、鞏？後疏盛誇戰績矣，何景古城全軍皆覆？甘肅巡撫李廷儀延賊入關，不聞奏報，反代請贖罪。計馬牛布帛不及三十金，而殺掠何止萬計！欲仍通市，臣不知於國法何如也。此三人皆時行私黨，故敢朋奸誤國乃爾。」因列上時行納賄數事。帝謂其淆亂國事，誣汙大臣，謫劍州判官。初，國欽疏上，座主許國責之曰：「若此舉，為名節乎，為國家乎？」國欽曰：「何敢為名節，惟為國事耳。即言未當，死生利害聽之。」國無以難。

In the summer of the eighteenth year the Huoluochi tribes repeatedly violated Lintao and Gongchang. In the seventh month the emperor summoned Shixing and others before the Gate of Imperial Supremacy to consult on strategy, saying frontier defenses were neglected and governors-general and grand coordinators lacked coordination, and that he wished greatly to rouse and rectify matters. Shixing spoke of relying on treaties and tribute as sufficient. The emperor said: "Treaties and tribute are also not to be relied upon. If one devotes oneself solely to flattering the enemy so that their hearts grow arrogant and their intent grand, when will they ever be sated?" Shixing and the others received the instruction and withdrew. Before long, warnings came thick and fast; Zheng Luo was promoted as minister-in-charge on frontier affairs to tour the border—in fact to preside over the peace-treaty policy. Guoqin submitted a forceful memorial impeaching Shixing, saying: "Your Majesty, since western affairs were dangerously urgent, specially summoned the chief ministers to discuss war and defense, yet at the audience the chief minister used embellished words to deceive. When Your Majesty was angry that bandits were raiding and harassing the frontier, he spoke of it as attacks on settled tribes. Are Lintao and Gongchang truly tribal lands? When Your Majesty blamed the governors for missing opportunities, he held the military officials at fault. When the frontier was ruined, were the governors truly without involvement? When Your Majesty said treaties and tribute could not be relied upon, he spoke of twenty years of tribute exchange and a million lives saved. The defeat at Xining and the raid on Suzhou—were those not lives as well? Thus Your Majesty's mind was set on war, but Shixing was sure not to want war; Your Majesty's mind was set on breaking off peace, but Shixing was sure to want peace. The reason lay with the generals of the nine marches, who year after year received gold and silver yet had no coherent plan whatsoever. Bandits had already ravaged castles and killed officials and civilians, yet they still called the policy a success. The Three-Border grand coordinator Mei Yousong was intent solely on flattering the enemy. Earlier they reported that the enemy had righteously submitted, thanked the court for its grace, and gone west—why then were they surrounding Lintao and Gongchang? Later memorials extravagantly praised their battle achievements—why had the entire army been annihilated at Jinggu? Gansu governor Li Tingyi had allowed the bandits to enter the passes; no report was made, and instead he interceded on their behalf to beg remission of their crimes. The compensation offered—horses, cattle, cloth, and silk—amounted to less than thirty taels of gold, while the killing and plunder had exceeded that ten thousandfold! To wish to resume trade with the enemy—I do not know how this accords with the law of the realm. These three men are all members of Shixing's private clique; hence they dare conspire in wickedness and mislead the state to this degree." He then listed several instances of Shixing's accepting bribes. The emperor said he had confused state affairs and slandered great ministers, and banished him to the post of judge of Jianzhou. Earlier, when Guoqin's memorial was submitted, his patron Xu Guo rebuked him, saying: "With this act, is it for your reputation and integrity, or for the state?" Guoqin said: "How would I dare act for reputation and integrity? It is only for state affairs. If my words are not fitting, let life and death, benefit and harm be as they may." Xu had no reply.

二十年，吏部尚書陸光祖擬量移國欽為建寧推官，饒伸為刑部主事。帝以二人皆特貶，不宜遷，切責光祖，而盡罷文選郎中王教、員外郎葉隆光、主事唐世堯、陳遴瑋等。大學士趙誌臯疏救，亦被譙責。國欽後歷南京刑部郎中，卒。

In year 20, Ministry of Personnel minister Lu Guangzu proposed transferring Guoqin by degree to Jianning investigating censor and Rao Shen to senior clerk in the Ministry of Punishments. The emperor held that both had been specially demoted and ought not be transferred; he sharply rebuked Guangzu and dismissed the entire selection bureau—director Wang Jiao, vice commissioner Ye Longguang, and senior clerks Tang Shiyao, Chen Linyuwei, and others. Grand Secretary Zhao Zhigao memorialized in their defense and was censured as well. Guoqin later served as a director in the Nanjing Ministry of Punishments, then died.

王教，淄川人。佐光祖澄清吏治。給事中胡汝寧承權要旨劾之，事旋白。竟坐推國欽、伸，斥為民。

Wang Jiao was a native of Zichuan. He had assisted Guangzu in reforming official governance. Supervising Secretary Hu Runing, acting on orders from the powerful, impeached him; the matter was soon cleared. In the end he was dismissed from office for having recommended the transfers of Guoqin and Rao Shen, and reduced to commoner status.

饒伸，字抑之，進賢人。萬歷十一年進士。授工部主事。十六年，庶子黃洪憲典順天試，大學士王錫爵子衡為舉首，申時行婿李鴻亦預選。禮部主事於孔兼疑舉人屠大壯及鴻有私。尚書朱賡、禮科都給事中苗朝陽欲寢其事。禮部郎中高桂遂發憤謫可疑者八人，並及衡，請得覆試。錫爵疏辨，與時行並乞罷。帝皆慰留之，而從桂請，命覆試。禮部侍郎於慎行以大壯文獨劣，擬乙置之。都御史吳時來及朝陽不可。桂直前力爭，乃如慎行議，列甲乙以上。時行、錫爵調旨盡留之，且奪桂俸二月。衡實有才名，錫爵大憤，復上疏極詆桂。伸乃抗疏言：「張居正三子連占高科，而輔臣子弟遂成故事。洪憲更謂一舉不足重，居然置之選首。子不與試，則錄其婿，其他私弊不乏聞。覆試之日，多有不能文者。時來罔分優劣，蒙面與桂力爭，遂朦朧擬請。至錫爵訐桂一疏，劍戟森然，乖對君之體。錫爵柄用三年，放逐賢士，援引憸人。今又巧護己私，欺罔主上，勢將為居正之續。時來附權蔑紀，不稱憲長。請俱賜罷。」

Rao Shen, styled Yizhi, was from Jinxian. He passed the jinshi examination in Wanli 11. He was appointed senior clerk in the Ministry of Works. In year 16, educator Huang Hongxian presided over the metropolitan examination; Grand Secretary Wang Xijue's son Heng placed first, and Shen Shixing's son-in-law Li Hong was also among those pre-selected. Senior clerk Yu Kongjian of the Ministry of Rites suspected impropriety regarding the selected candidates Tu Dazhuang and Li Hong. Minister Zhu Geng and Chief Supervising Secretary Miao Chaoyang of the Rites Bureau wished to suppress the matter. Bureau director Gao Gui of the Ministry of Rites then, in indignation, demoted eight suspicious candidates, including Heng, and requested a re-examination. Xijue submitted a memorial in his own defense; he and Shixing both begged to resign. The emperor comforted and retained them all, yet granted Gui's request and ordered a re-examination. Vice Minister Yu Shenxing of the Ministry of Rites, finding Dazhuang's essay alone inferior, graded him yi (second tier) and placed him accordingly. Censor-in-Chief Wu Shilai and Chaoyang disapproved. Gui pressed forward and argued forcefully; the grades were then assigned according to Shenxing's decision, with first and second tiers duly listed. Shixing and Xijue arranged imperial rescripts to retain all the candidates and docked Gui's salary for two months. Heng truly had talent and literary reputation; Xijue was greatly enraged and again submitted a memorial vehemently denouncing Gui. Rao Shen then submitted a forceful memorial, saying: "Zhang Juzheng's three sons in succession took top examination honors, and the sons and younger kinsmen of chief ministers thereby became precedent. Hongxian went further, saying that a single examination was insufficient grounds for concern, yet boldly placed Heng first among those selected. If the son did not take the examination, they recorded the son-in-law; other abuses of private favor were widely reported. On the day of the re-examination, many could not compose acceptable essays. Shilai ignored the distinctions of superior and inferior, sided with the masked powers against Gui, and drafted a muddled petition. As for Xijue's memorial accusing Gui—with language bristling like swords and halberds, it departed from the proper manner of addressing one's sovereign. Xijue had wielded power for three years, exiling worthy scholars and advancing crafty men. Now again he cleverly shields his private interests and deceives his sovereign—the pattern suggests he will become Zhang Juzheng's successor in all but name. Shilai attaches himself to power and scorns the law, unworthy of his title as censor-in-chief. I beg that all be granted dismissal."

疏既入，錫爵、時行並杜門求去。而許國以典會試入場，閣中遂無一人。中官送章奏於時行私第，時行仍封還。帝驚曰：「閣中竟無人耶？」乃慰留時行等，而下伸詔獄。給事中胡汝寧、御史林祖述等復劾伸及桂，以媚執政。御史毛在又侵孔兼，謂桂疏其所使。孔兼奏辨求罷。於是詔諸司嚴約所屬，毋出位沽名，而削伸籍，貶桂三秩，調邊方，孔兼得免。伸既斥，朝士多咎錫爵。錫爵不自安，屢請敘用。起伸南京工部主事，改南京吏部。引疾歸，遂不復出。熹宗即位，起南京光祿寺少卿。天啟四年累官刑部左侍郎。魏忠賢亂政，請告歸。所輯《學海》六百余卷，時稱其浩博。

Once the memorial was submitted, Xijue and Shixing both shut their doors and sought to resign. Meanwhile Xu Guo had entered the examination hall to preside over the metropolitan examination, leaving no one in the Secretariat. Eunuchs delivered memorials to Shixing's private residence; Shixing sealed them and sent them back. The emperor exclaimed in alarm: "Is there truly no one in the Secretariat?" He then comforted and retained Shixing and the others, but sent Rao Shen to the imperial prison. Supervising Secretary Hu Runing, Investigating Censor Lin Zushu, and others again impeached Rao Shen and Gui, currying favor with those in power. Investigating Censor Mao Zai attacked Kongjian as well, claiming Gui's memorial had been written at Kongjian's instigation. Kongjian memorialized in his own defense and begged to be dismissed. Thereupon an edict ordered all offices to bind their subordinates strictly, forbidding them to overstep their rank and seek reputation; Rao Shen was struck from the rolls, Gui was demoted three ranks and transferred to the frontier, and Kongjian was spared. Once Rao Shen had been expelled, much of the court blamed Xijue. Xijue, ill at ease, repeatedly requested that Shen be reinstated. Rao Shen was reappointed senior clerk in the Nanjing Ministry of Works, then transferred to the Nanjing Ministry of Personnel. He cited illness and retired home, never to serve again. When the Xizong emperor took the throne, Rao Shen was appointed Vice Director of the Nanjing Directorate of Entertainments. By Tianqi 4 he had risen to Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Punishments. When Wei Zhongxian threw the government into disorder, he requested leave and returned home. His compiled Sea of Learning, more than six hundred juan in length, was praised at the time for its vast erudition.

兄位。累官工部右侍郎。母年百歲，與伸先後以侍養歸。

His elder brother was Wei. He rose to Right Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works. Their mother was one hundred years old; he and Rao Shen returned home in succession to attend her.

先是，任丘劉元震、元霖兄弟俱官九列，以母年近百歲，先後乞養親歸，與伸兄弟相類。一時皆以為榮。元震，字元東，隆慶五年進士。由庶吉士萬歷中歷官吏部侍郎。天啟中，贈禮部尚書，謚文莊。元霖，萬歷八年進士。歷官工部尚書。福王開邸洛陽，有所營建。元霖執奏，罷之。卒，贈太子太保。

Earlier, Liu Yuanzhen and Yuanlin of Renqiu, brothers who both held posts among the nine chief ministries, had—because their mother was nearly one hundred years old—successively begged leave to return home and care for her, much like the Rao brothers. At the time all regarded it as an honor. Yuanzhen, styled Yuandong, passed the jinshi in Longqing 5. From Hanlin academician he rose through Wanli appointments to Vice Minister of Personnel. Under the Tianqi reign he was posthumously made Minister of Rites and given the posthumous name Wenzhuang. Yuanlin passed the jinshi in Wanli 8. He rose to Minister of Works. When the Prince of Fu established his residence in Luoyang, there was construction planned. Yuanlin memorialized firmly against it and had the project halted. He died and was posthumously made Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent.

湯顯祖，字若士，臨川人。少善屬文，有時名。張居正欲其子及第，羅海內名士以張之。聞顯祖及沈懋學名，命諸子延致。顯祖謝弗往，懋學遂與居正子嗣修偕及第。顯祖至萬歷十一年始成進士。授南京太常博士，就遷禮部主事。十八年，帝以星變嚴責言官欺蔽，並停俸一年。顯祖上言曰：「言官豈盡不肖，蓋陛下威福之柄潛為輔臣所竊，故言官向背之情，亦為默移。御史丁此呂首發科場欺蔽，申時行屬楊巍劾去之。御史萬國欽極論封疆欺蔽，時行諷同官許國遠謫之。一言相侵，無不出之於外。於是無恥之徒，但知自結於執政。所得爵祿，直以為執政與之。縱他日不保身名，而今日固已富貴矣。給事中楊文舉奉詔理荒政，征賄巨萬。抵杭，日宴西湖，鬻獄市薦以漁厚利。輔臣乃及其報命，擢首諫垣。給事中胡汝寧攻擊饒伸，不過權門鷹犬，以其私人，猥見任用。夫陛下方責言官欺蔽，而輔臣欺蔽自如。失今不治，臣謂陛下可惜者四：朝廷以爵祿植善類，今直為私門蔓桃李，是爵祿可惜也。群臣風靡，罔識廉恥，是人才可惜也。輔臣不越例予人富貴，不見為恩，是成憲可惜也。陛下禦天下二十年，前十年之政，張居正剛而多欲，以群私人，囂然壞之；後十年之政，時行柔而多欲，以群私人，靡然壞之。此聖政可惜也。乞立斥文舉、汝寧，誡諭輔臣，省愆悔過。」帝怒，謫徐聞典史。稍遷遂昌知縣。二十六年，上計京師，投劾歸。又明年大計，主者議黜之。李維禎為監司，力爭不得，竟奪官。家居二十年卒。

Tang Xianzu, styled Ruoshi, was from Linchuan. In his youth he excelled at literary composition and enjoyed considerable renown. Zhang Juzheng wished his son to pass the examinations and gathered renowned scholars from across the realm to support him. Hearing of Xianzu and Shen Maoxue, he ordered his sons to invite them. Xianzu declined the invitation; Maoxue then passed the examinations alongside Juzheng's son Siziu. Xianzu did not pass the jinshi until Wanli 11. He was appointed erudite in the Nanjing Directorate of Sacrifices, then promoted to senior clerk in the Ministry of Rites. In year 18, following a celestial anomaly, the emperor sternly rebuked the remonstrating officials for deception and suspended their salaries for one year. Xianzu memorialized, saying: "Are the remonstrating officials all unworthy? Your Majesty's authority has been quietly usurped by the chief ministers, and so the inclinations of the remonstrating officials have been silently shifted as well. Investigating Censor Ding Cilü was first to expose deception in the examinations; Shen Shixing had Yang Wei impeach and remove him. Investigating Censor Wan Guoqin spoke forcefully on frontier deception; Shixing urged his colleague Xu Guo to have him banished to a distant post. A single word of criticism against those in power, and out you went. Thus the shameless bound themselves ever more tightly to those in power. They treated every rank and stipend they obtained as a gift from those in power. Even if they might not save their lives or reputations in the end, for the present they were already rich and elevated. Supervising Secretary Yang Wenju, commissioned to administer famine relief, extorted bribes totaling tens of thousands. On reaching Hangzhou he feasted daily on West Lake, selling judgments and trading recommendations for hefty profit. The chief minister, upon his return and report, promoted him to lead the remonstrance bureau. Supervising Secretary Hu Runing attacked Rao Shen; he was nothing but a faction's lackey, yet through a private patron he was grossly appointed to office. Your Majesty has only just rebuked the remonstrating officials for deception, yet the chief ministers continue to deceive with impunity. If this is not remedied now, I say four losses Your Majesty will regret: the court once used rank and stipend to nurture worthy men; now it merely spreads patronage for private factions—rank and stipend are being wasted. Officials sway with every wind and know neither integrity nor shame—human talent is being wasted. Chief ministers grant wealth and rank beyond all precedent without its being regarded as favor—established institutions are being wasted. Your Majesty has reigned twenty years. In the first decade Zhang Juzheng was forceful and grasping; he surrounded himself with favorites and ruined governance with clamor; in the latter decade Shixing was pliant and grasping; he too surrounded himself with favorites and ruined governance through indulgence. Your sage rule itself is being wasted. I beg that Wenju and Runing be expelled immediately and the chief ministers admonished to examine their faults and reform." The emperor was enraged and banished him to Xuwen as a district clerical officer. He was later transferred to serve as magistrate of Suichang. In year 26 he traveled to the capital for the routine evaluation, submitted his resignation, and returned home. The following year at the grand evaluation the responsible officials resolved to dismiss him. Li Weizhen, as supervising commissioner, argued strenuously in his defense but failed; in the end Xianzu was stripped of office. He lived at home twenty years and then died.

顯祖意氣慷慨，善李化龍、李三才、梅國楨。後皆通顯有建豎，而顯祖蹭蹬窮老。三才督漕淮上，遣書迎之，謝不往。

Xianzu was spirited and magnanimous, and counted Li Hualong, Li Sancai, and Mei Guozhen among his friends. They all later rose to prominence and achieved distinction, while Xianzu struggled on, aging in poverty. Sancai, supervising grain transport on the Huai, sent a letter inviting him; Xianzu politely declined.

顯祖建言之明年，福建僉事李琯奉表入都，列時行十罪，語侵王錫爵。言惟錫爵敢恣睢，故時行益貪戾，請並斥以謝天下。帝怒，削其籍。甫兩月，時行亦罷。琯，豐城人。萬歷五年進士。嘗官御史。既斥歸，家居三十年而卒。

The year after Xianzu's memorial, Li Guan of Fujian, an assistant commissioner, submitted a memorial in the capital listing ten crimes of Shixing, with language that also implicated Wang Xijue. He argued that only because Xijue dared behave so arrogantly had Shixing grown greedier and harsher, and begged that both be dismissed together to appease the realm. The emperor was enraged and struck him from the civil register. Barely two months later Shixing too was dismissed. Guan was a native of Fengcheng. He passed the jinshi examination in Wanli 5. He had once served as investigating censor. After his dismissal he lived at home thirty years and then died.

顯祖子開遠，自有傳。

Xianzu's son Kaiyuan has a separate biography.

逯中立，字與權，聊城人。萬歷十七年進士。由行人擢吏科給事中。遇事敢言。行人高攀龍，御史吳弘濟，南部郎譚一召、孫繼有、安希範鹹以爭趙用賢之罷被斥，中立抗疏曰：「諸臣率好修士，使跧伏田野，誠可惜也。陛下怒言者，則曰『出朕獨斷』，輔臣王錫爵亦曰『至尊親裁』。臣謂所斥者非正人也，則斷自宸衷，固陛下去邪之明；即擬自輔臣，亦大臣為國之正。若所斥者果正人也，出於輔臣之調旨，而有心斥逐者為妒賢；即出於至尊之親裁，而不能匡救者為竊位。大臣以人事君之道，當如是乎？陛下欲安輔臣，則罷言者；不知言者罷，輔臣益不自安。」疏入，忤旨，停俸一歲。

Lu Zhongli, styled Yuquan, was a native of Liaocheng. He passed the jinshi in Wanli 17. Promoted from junior tribute emissary to supervising secretary in the Personnel Bureau. He spoke boldly on public affairs. The junior emissary Gao Panlong, Investigating Censor Wu Hongji, and the southern ministry clerks Tan Yizhao, Sun Jiyou, and An Xifan were all dismissed for protesting Zhao Yongxian's removal. Zhongli submitted a bold memorial: "These men are for the most part men of cultivated integrity; to leave them crouching in the countryside is a genuine waste. When Your Majesty grows angry at remonstrators, you say it was 'my sole decision'; Chief Minister Wang Xijue likewise says 'the Son of Heaven's personal judgment.' I say that if those dismissed were not upright men, then a decision from the imperial mind itself would indeed show Your Majesty's brilliance in expelling evil; even if drafted by the chief ministers, that too would be the proper conduct of great ministers on the state's behalf. but if those dismissed were truly upright men and the dismissal came from the chief ministers' instructions, then those who drove the expulsion were jealous of talent; and even if the decision came from the Son of Heaven's personal judgment, those who could not rescue the men are merely holding office by theft. Is this how great ministers should serve their ruler through the handling of personnel? If Your Majesty wishes to reassure the chief ministers, you dismiss the remonstrators; yet you do not realize that when remonstrators are dismissed, the chief ministers become only less secure." When the memorial was submitted it offended the throne and his salary was suspended for one year.

尋進兵科右給事中。有詔修國史，錫爵舉故詹事劉虞夔為總裁。虞夔，錫爵門生也，以拾遺劾罷。諸御史言不當召。而中立詆虞夔尤力，並侵錫爵，遂寢召命。未幾，文選郎顧憲成等以會推閣臣事被斥，給事中盧明諏救之，亦貶秩。中立上言：「兩年以來，銓臣相繼屏斥。尚書孫鑨去矣，陳有年杜門求罷矣，文選一署空曹逐者至再三，而憲成又繼之。臣恐今而後，非如王國光、楊巍，則不能一日為冢宰；非如徐一槚、謝廷寀、劉希孟，則不能一日為選郎。臧否混淆，舉錯倒置，使黜陟重典寄之權門，用舍斥罰視一時喜怒，公議壅閼，煩言滋起。此人才消長之機，理道廢興之漸，不可不深慮也。且會推閣臣，非自十九年始。皇祖二十八年廷推六員，而張治、李本二臣用；即今元輔錫爵之入閣，亦會推也。蓋特簡與廷推，祖宗並行已久。廷推必諧於僉議，特簡或由於私援。今輔臣趙誌臯等不稽故典，妄激聖怒，即揭救數語，譬之強笑，而神不偕來，欲以動聽難矣。方今疆埸交聳，公私耗敝，群情思亂，識者懷憂。乃朝議紛紜若爾，豈得不長嘆息哉！」帝怒，嚴旨責讓，斥明諏為民，而貶中立陜西按察司知事。引疾歸，家居二十年卒。熹宗時，贈光祿少卿。

He was soon promoted to right supervising secretary in the Military Bureau. An edict ordered the compilation of the national history, and Xijue recommended the former Grand Mentor Liu Yuqi as chief compiler. Yuqi was Xijue's protégé and had been dismissed after impeachment by a remonstrance official. The censors said he should not be recalled. Zhongli denounced Yuqi with particular force and also attacked Xijue, and the summons was shelved. Before long Gu Xiancheng, Documents Selection Clerk, and others were dismissed over the joint recommendation of Grand Secretariat members; Supervising Secretary Lu Mingsou intervened on their behalf and was demoted as well. Zhongli memorialized: "For two years now, appointment officials have been driven out one after another. Minister Sun Luan is gone; Chen Younian has shut his doors seeking release; the Documents Selection office has been emptied of its staff repeatedly, and now Xiancheng has followed them. I fear that hereafter no one may serve even a day as Director of Personnel unless he is a man like Wang Guoguang or Yang Wei; and no one may serve even a day as Selection Clerk unless he is a man like Xu Yigao, Xie Tingcan, or Liu Ximeng. Merit and fault are confused, promotions and demotions reversed; the grave power of appointment and dismissal is lodged with powerful factions; hiring, dismissal, and punishment follow momentary moods; public opinion is stifled and contentious talk multiplies. This strikes at the rise and fall of talent and the gradual abandonment or revival of good governance—it cannot be pondered too deeply. Moreover, joint recommendation of Grand Secretariat members did not begin only in year 19. In the twenty-eighth year of the dynastic founder's reign six men were recommended at court, and Ministers Zhang Zhi and Li Ben were appointed; even the present chief assistant Xijue's entry into the Grand Secretariat came through joint recommendation. Special selection and court recommendation have long been practiced in parallel by our ancestors. Court recommendation must harmonize with collective opinion; special selection may arise from private patronage. Now Chief Ministers Zhao Zhigao and others, without consulting ancient precedent, recklessly provoked the emperor's wrath; a few lines of rescue posted afterward are like forced laughter to which no spirit responds—it will hardly sway his mind. At present the frontiers are alight with alarms, public and private resources are exhausted, popular sentiment inclines toward disorder, and thoughtful men are deeply worried. Yet court deliberation is in such turmoil—how can one not sigh deeply!" The emperor was enraged, issued a stern rebuke, reduced Mingsou to commoner status, and demoted Zhongli to clerical officer in the Shaanxi Surveillance Commission. He cited illness and returned home, lived there twenty years, and died. Under the Xi Zong emperor he was posthumously granted Vice Minister of the Imperial Household.

盧明諏，黃巖人。萬歷十四年進士。

Lu Mingsou was a native of Huangyan. He passed the jinshi in Wanli 14.

楊恂，字伯純，代人。萬歷十一年進士。授行人，擢刑科給事中。錦衣冗官多至二千人，請大加裁汰，不用。累遷戶科都給事中。朝鮮用兵，冒破帑金不貲。恂請嚴敕邊臣，而劾武庫郎劉黃裳侵耗罪。黃裳卒罷去。尋上節財四議，格不行。

Yang Xun, styled Bochun, was a native of Dai Prefecture. He passed the jinshi in Wanli 11. Appointed junior tribute emissary, he was promoted to supervising secretary in the Punishments Bureau. Superfluous Embroidered Guard offices had grown to as many as two thousand; he asked that they be drastically reduced, but the request was ignored. He rose through successive promotions to chief supervising secretary in the Revenue Bureau. The Korean campaign saw the treasury falsely drawn upon without limit. Xun asked that frontier officials be sternly admonished by edict and impeached Arsenal Clerk Liu Huangshang for embezzlement and waste. Huangshang was ultimately dismissed. He soon submitted four proposals for fiscal economy, but they were blocked and not adopted.

王錫爵謝政，趙誌臯代為首輔。御史柳佐、章守誠劾之。誌臯乞罷，不許。御史冀體極論誌臯不可不去。帝怒，責對狀。體抗辭不屈，貶三秩，出之外，以論救者眾，竟斥為民。恂復論誌臯，並及張位。其略曰：「今之議執政者，僉曰擬旨失當也，貪鄙無為也。是固可憂，而所憂有大於是者。許茂橓罷閑錦衣，厚賫金玉為奸，被人緝獲。使大臣清節素孚，彼安敢冒昧如此！乃緝獲者被責，而行賄者不問。欲天下澄清，其可得耶？可憂者一。楊應龍負固不服，執政貪其重餌，與之交通。如近日綦江捕獲奸人，得所投本兵及提督巡捕私書。其余四緘及黃金五百、白金千、虎豹皮數十，不言所投。臣細詢播人，始囁嚅言曰『求票擬耳』。夫票擬，輔臣事也，而使小醜得以利動哉？可憂者二。推升者，吏部職也。邇來創專擅之說以蠱惑聖聰，陛下入其言而疑之。於是內托上意，外諉廷推，或正或陪，惟意所欲。茍兩者俱無當，則駁令更推；少不如意，譴謫加焉。倘謂簡在帝心，非政府所預，何所用者非梓裏姻親，則門墻密契也？如是而猶曰吏部專擅乎？可憂者三。言官天子耳目，糾繩獻納，其職也。邇來進朋黨之說以激聖怒，陛下納其譖而惡之。於是假托天威，肆行胸臆。非顯斥於建白之時，則陰中於遷除之日。倘謂斷自宸衷，無可挽救，何所斥者非宿昔積怨，則近日深仇也？如是而猶謂言官結黨乎？可憂者四。首輔誌臯日薄西山，固無足責。位素負物望，乃所為若斯；且其機械獨深，朋邪日眾，將來之禍，更有難言者。請罷誌臯而防位，嚴飭陳於陛、沈一貫，毋效二人所為。」疏入，忤旨。命鐫一級，出之外。誌臯、位疏辨，且乞宥恂，於陛、一貫亦論救。乃以原品調陜西按察經歷。引疾歸。久之，吏部尚書蔡國珍奉詔起廢。及恂，未召卒。

Wang Xijue left office and Zhao Zhigao succeeded him as chief grand secretary. Investigating Censors Liu Zuo and Zhang Shoucheng impeached him. Zhigao asked to retire but was not allowed. Investigating Censor Ji Ti argued at length that Zhigao could not remain. The emperor was angry and ordered him to answer at audience. Ji resisted at audience and would not yield; he was demoted three ranks and sent outside the capital; because many petitioned in his defense, he was ultimately reduced to commoner status. Xun again memorialized against Zhigao and also implicated Zhang Wei. In summary he wrote: "Those who criticize the present administration all say their drafting of rescripts is improper and that they are greedy, base, and inactive. That is worrisome enough, but there is greater cause for worry. Xu Maolian, dismissed to idle status in the Embroidered Guard, lavished gold and jade in corrupt dealings and was seized in the course of an investigation. Had the chief ministers' integrity long commanded trust, how would he have dared behave so recklessly! Yet the investigator was punished while the briber went unpunished. Can the realm ever be made clean while this is so? This is the first cause for alarm. Yang Yinglong defied the government stubbornly; the chief ministers, greedy for his heavy bribes, dealt with him secretly. As when recently at Qijiang a conspirator was captured bearing private letters to the Ministry of War and the grand coordinator's patrol officers. There were also four other packets, five hundred liang of gold, a thousand liang of silver, and dozens of tiger and leopard pelts, with no indication of the intended recipient. I questioned natives of Bo closely; only then did they murmur that the gifts were 'to obtain draft approval.' Draft approval is the chief ministers' responsibility—are petty villains now to sway it with bribes? This is the second cause for alarm. Promoting officials is the Ministry of Personnel's proper duty. Lately men have invented charges of ministerial usurpation to mislead the emperor, and Your Majesty has believed them and grown suspicious. They then appealed inward to the emperor's will and outward blamed court recommendation; whether principal nominee or runner-up, they chose as they pleased. If neither candidate suited them, they rejected the list and ordered a new round; At the least sign of displeasure they imposed censure and exile as well. If appointments are truly the emperor's alone and the government never meddles, why are appointees always kinsmen from the chief minister's home district or his closest protégés? And after all this they still call the Ministry usurping? This is the third cause for alarm. Censors are the emperor's ears and eyes; to impeach wrongdoing and present remonstrances is their proper duty. Lately men have pressed charges of factionalism to stir the emperor's wrath, and Your Majesty has believed their calumnies and turned against the censors. They then invoked imperial authority to give free rein to private vendettas. They either drove men out openly when they submitted memorials or struck them down covertly when appointments were made. If dismissals truly issue from the emperor alone and cannot be reversed, why are those driven out always men with whom the ministers have long-standing grudges or fresh bitter feuds? And after all this they still say the censors have formed factions? This is the fourth cause for alarm. Chief Minister Zhao Zhigao is near death and hardly merits blame on that account. Zhang Wei has long enjoyed public esteem, yet his conduct is such as this; his machinations run unusually deep, his faction grows daily, and the harm to come will be harder still to describe. I beg that Zhigao be removed and Wei be restrained, and that Chen Yubi and Shen Yiguan be sternly warned not to follow those men's example." When the memorial arrived, it offended the throne. He was ordered demoted one rank and sent into exile. Zhigao and Wei submitted defenses and pleaded for Xun's pardon; Yubi and Yiguan also intervened on his behalf. He was then transferred at his original rank to clerk in the Shaanxi Surveillance Commission. He cited illness and returned home. Long afterward Minister of Personnel Cai Guozhen was ordered by edict to recall dismissed officials. When it came to Xun, before he could be summoned he had died.

冀體，武安人。被廢，累薦不起，卒於家。

Ji Ti was a native of Wu'an. Dismissed from office, he was repeatedly recommended for recall but never summoned, and died at home.

其時以論誌臯獲譴者又有朱爵，開州人。由茌平知縣召為吏科給事中。嘗論時政闕失，因疏誌臯、位寢閣壅蔽罪，不報。尋切諫三王並封，且論救朱維京、王如堅等，復劾誌臯、位私同年羅萬化為吏部。坐謫山西按察知事，卒於家。天啟中，贈太仆少卿。

At that time another who was punished for criticizing Zhigao was Zhu Jue, a native of Kaizhou. From district magistrate of Chiping he was summoned to supervising secretary in the Personnel Bureau. He once criticized current policy and memorialized against Zhigao and Wei for idling in the Grand Secretariat and blocking the court; no response came. Soon afterward he vigorously opposed the joint enfeoffment of the three princes, pleaded for Zhu Weijing, Wang Rujian, and others, and again impeached Zhigao and Wei for privately appointing their examination-year colleague Luo Wanhua to the Ministry of Personnel. He was demoted to clerical officer in the Shanxi Surveillance Commission and died at home. Under the Tianqi emperor he was posthumously granted Vice Minister of the Court of the Imperial Stud.

姜士昌，字仲文，丹陽人。父寶，字廷善。嘉靖三十二年進士。官編修。不附嚴嵩，出為四川提學僉事。再轉福建提學副使，累遷南京國子監祭酒。請罷納粟例，復積分法，又請令公侯伯子弟及舉人盡入監肄業，詔皆從之。累官南京禮部尚書。嘗割田千畝以贍宗族。

Jiang Shichang, styled Zhongwen, was a native of Danyang. His father Bao was styled Tingshan. He passed the jinshi in Jiajing 32. He served as Hanlin Compiler. Refusing to ally with Yan Song, he was sent out as Education Vice Commissioner in Sichuan. He was later transferred to Education Vice Commissioner in Fujian and eventually promoted to Chancellor of the Nanjing Directorate of Education. He asked to abolish the grain-purchase admissions rule, restore the points-based examination system, and require sons of nobles and juren graduates to study at the Directorate; the emperor approved all these requests. He rose to Minister of Rites in Nanjing. He once set aside a thousand mu of land to support his clan.

士昌五歲受書，至「惟善為寶」，以父名輟讀拱立。師大奇之。舉萬歷八年進士，除戶部主事，進員外郎。請帝杜留中，錄遺直，舉召對，崇節儉。尋進郎中。以省親去。還朝，言吏部侍郎徐顯卿構陷張位，少詹事黃洪憲力擠趙用賢，宜黜之以警官邪；主事鄒元標、參政呂坤、副使李三才素著直讜，宜拔擢以厲士節。又請復連坐之法，慎巡撫之選，旌苦節之士，重贓吏之罰。疏入，給事中李春開劾其出位。遂下詔禁諸司毋越職刺舉。已，因風霾，請早建國本。貴妃父鄭承憲乞改造父塋，詔與五千金。士昌言：「太后兄陳昌言止五百金，而妃家乃十之，何以示天下？」弗納。稍遷陜西提學副使，江西參政。

At five Shichang began his studies; when he came to the phrase 'Only goodness is treasure,' he stopped because his father's name was Bao and stood with folded hands. His teacher was astonished. He passed the jinshi in Wanli 8, was appointed director in the Ministry of Revenue, and promoted to vice director. He asked the emperor to stop hoarding memorials in the palace, recall upright officials who had been cast aside, hold audiences, and promote frugality. He was soon promoted to bureau director. He left office to visit his parents. On his return he said Vice Minister Xu Xianqing had framed Zhang Wei and Junior Mentor Huang Hongxian had driven out Zhao Yongxian; both should be dismissed to warn the wicked; Directors Zou Yuanbiao, Lü Kun, and Li Sancai were known for blunt integrity and should be promoted to encourage honest conduct. He also asked to restore collective responsibility, choose grand coordinators carefully, honor men of stern integrity, and stiffen penalties on corrupt officials. When the memorial arrived, Supervising Secretary Li Chunkai impeached him for overstepping his office. An edict was then issued forbidding all offices from impeaching outside their jurisdiction. Later, citing adverse omens in the weather, he asked that the heir apparent be named early. Zheng Chengxian, father of the honored consort, asked to rebuild his father's tomb; the edict granted him five thousand liang of gold. Shichang said: 'The empress dowager's brother Chen Changyan received only five hundred liang, yet the consort's family receives ten times as much—how is this to be shown to the realm?" The request was rejected. He was gradually promoted to Education Vice Commissioner in Shaanxi and administration commissioner in Jiangxi.

三十四年，大學士沈一貫、沈鯉相繼去國。明年秋，士昌賫表入都，上疏曰：

In year 34 Grand Academicians Shen Yiguan and Shen Li left office in succession. The following autumn Shichang brought tribute memorials to the capital and submitted:

皇上聽一貫、鯉並去，輿論無不快一貫而惜鯉。夫一貫招權罔利，大壞士風吏道，恐天下林居貞士與己齟齬，一切阻遏，以杜將來。即得罪張居正諸臣，皇上素知其忠義、註意拔擢者，皆擯不復用，甚則借他事處之。其直道左遷諸人、久經遷轉在告者，一貫亦擯不復用。在廷守正不阿、魁磊老成之彥，小有同異，亦巧計罷之。且空部院以便於擇所欲用，空言路以便於恣所欲為，空天下諸曹與部院、言路等，使人不疑。至於己所欲用所欲為者，又無不可置力而得誌；所不欲者，輒流涕語人曰「吾力不能得之皇上」。善則歸己，過則歸君，人人知其不忠。

Your Majesty allowed Yiguan and Li to leave together; public opinion rejoiced at Yiguan's departure but regretted Li's. Yiguan grasped power for profit and ruined official morale; fearing upright scholars in retirement who might oppose him, he blocked them all to forestall future challenge. Even officials punished under Zhang Juzheng, whom Your Majesty knew to be loyal and whom you had meant to promote, he barred from reappointment and sometimes punished on other pretexts. Officials demoted for their integrity and those long on leave after transfers he likewise refused to recall. Upright senior statesmen at court he removed by artifice at the slightest disagreement. He emptied the ministries to choose whom he pleased, silenced the censors to act as he pleased, and hollowed out the bureaus so that no one would suspect his design. Whatever he wished to appoint or undertake, he could always bring about by force; what he opposed he would reject with tears, telling others, 'I cannot prevail upon the emperor.' He claimed credit for good deeds and blamed the emperor for failures; everyone knew he was faithless.

夫鯉不肥身家，不擇利便，惟以眾賢效之君，較一貫忠邪遠甚。一貫既歸，貨財如山，金玉堆積；鯉家徒壁立，貧無余貲，較一貫貪廉遠甚。一貫患鯉邪正相形，借妖書事傾害，非皇上聖明，幾至大誤。臣以為輔臣若一貫憸邪異常，直合古今奸臣盧杞、章惇而三矣。然竟無一人以鯉、一貫之賢奸為皇上正言別白者，臣竊痛之。

Li did not enrich his household or seek petty advantage but devoted himself to presenting worthy men to the throne; in loyalty he differed vastly from Yiguan. Since Yiguan retired his wealth has piled like a mountain, gold and jade heaped high; Li's household has bare walls and not a coin to spare—his probity stands in striking contrast to Yiguan's greed. Yiguan, fearing the contrast between Li's integrity and his own corruption, used the demon-book case to destroy him; had Your Majesty not been wise, grave injustice would have followed. I hold that a minister as treacherous as Yiguan belongs beside the great villains of history, Lu Qi and Zhang Dun. Yet no one has plainly told Your Majesty which of the two is worthy and which wicked—I grieve at this in private.

且一貫之用，由王錫爵所推轂。今一貫去，以錫爵代首揆，是一貫未嘗去也。錫爵素有重名，非一貫比。然器量褊狹，嫉善如仇。高桂、趙南星、薛敷教、張納陛、於孔兼、高攀龍、孫繼有、安希範、譚一召、顧憲成、章嘉禎等一黜不復。頃聞錫爵有疏請錄遺佚。謂宜如其所請，召還諸臣，然後敦趣就道，不然，恐錫爵無復出理也。至論劾一貫諸臣，如劉元珍、龐時雍、陳嘉訓、朱吾弼，亦亟宜召復，以為盡忠發奸者之勸。至於他臣，以觸忤被中傷異同致罷去者，請皆以次拂拭用之。

Moreover Yiguan rose through Wang Xijue's patronage. Now that Yiguan is gone, Xijue has taken the chief ministership—so Yiguan has not truly left. Xijue enjoys a long-standing reputation and is not Yiguan's equal in infamy. Yet he is narrow-minded and hates the good as if they were his enemies. Gao Gui, Zhao Nanxing, Xue Fujiao, Zhang Nabi, Yu Kongjian, Gao Panlong, Sun Jiyou, An Xifan, Tan Yizhao, Gu Xiancheng, Zhang Jiazhen, and others were dismissed once and never recalled. I have lately heard that Xijue has memorialized asking to recall dismissed officials. I say His request should be granted and these officials summoned back before he is pressed to take office; otherwise I fear Xijue will never serve again. Those who impeached Yiguan, such as Liu Yuanzhen, Pang Shiyong, Chen Jiaxun, and Zhu Wubi, should also be recalled at once to encourage men who speak loyal truth against corruption. As for others dismissed for offending the chief ministers, slandered, or expelled over petty disagreements, I ask that they be restored in due order.

說者謂皇上於諸臣，雖三下明詔，意若向用，實未欲用者，臣獨以為不然。皇上初嘗罷傅應禎、余懋學、鄒元標、艾穆、沈思孝、吳中行、趙用賢、朱鴻謨、孟一脈、趙世卿、郭惟賢、王用汲等，後又嘗謫魏允貞、李三才、黃道瞻、譚希恩、周弘禴、江東之、李植、曾乾亨、馮景隆、馬應圖、王德新、顧憲成、李懋檜、董基、張鳴岡、饒伸、郭實、諸壽賢、顧允成、彭遵古、薛敷教、吳正誌、王之棟等，旋皆擢用。頃年改調銓曹鄒觀光、劉學曾、李復陽、羅朝國、趙邦柱、洪文衡等於南京，亦俱漸還清秩。而鄒元標起自戍所，累蒙遷擢，其後未有一言忤主，而謂皇上忽復怒之，而調之南，而錮不復用，豈不厚誣皇上也哉。蓋皇上本無不用諸臣之心，而輔臣實決不用諸臣之策也。說者謂俗流世壞，宜用潔清之臣表率之。然古今廉相，獨推楊綰、杜黃裳，以其能推賢薦士耳。王安石亦有清名，乃用其學術驅斥諸賢，竟以禍宋。為輔臣者可不鑒於此哉。

Some say that though Your Majesty three times issued clear edicts seeming to favor these men, you did not truly mean to employ them; I do not believe this. Your Majesty first dismissed Fu Yingzhen, Yu Maoxue, Zou Yuanbiao, Ai Mu, Shen Sixiao, Wu Zhongxing, Zhao Yongxian, Zhu Hongmo, Meng Yimai, Zhao Shiqing, Guo Weixian, Wang Yongji, and others; later you also banished Wei Yunzhen, Li Sancai, Huang Daozhan, Tan Xien, Zhou Hongfu, Jiang Dongzhi, Li Zhi, Zeng Qianheng, Feng Jinglong, Ma Yingtu, Wang Dexin, Gu Xiancheng, Li Maojian, Dong Ji, Zhang Minggang, Rao Shen, Guo Shi, Zhu Shouxian, Gu Yuncheng, Peng Zungu, Xue Fujiao, Wu Zhengzhi, Wang Zhidong, and others—yet in time you promoted them all. In recent years Zou Guanguang, Liu Xuezeng, Li Fuyang, Luo Chaoguo, Zhao Bangzhu, Hong Wenheng, and others were transferred from the Appointment Bureau to Nanjing posts, yet all have gradually been restored to proper rank. Zou Yuanbiao was raised from exile and repeatedly promoted; he has not once offended the throne since. To claim that Your Majesty suddenly grew angry again, transferred him to the south, and locked him in disgrace forever is to slander Your Majesty grievously. Your Majesty never lacked the will to employ these men; it is the chief ministers who have resolved not to employ them. Some say the age is corrupt and that pure officials should be set up as models. Yet history praises only Yang Guan and Du Huangshang among incorrupt chief ministers, because they could recommend worthy men. Wang Anshi likewise had a reputation for purity, yet used his doctrines to drive out worthy men and in the end brought disaster upon the Song. Should not chief ministers take this as a warning?

其意以陰諷李廷機。廷機大恚，疏辨曰：「人才起用，臣等不惟不敢幹至尊之權，亦何敢侵吏部職。」士昌見疏，復貽書規之，廷機益不悅，然帝尚未有意罪士昌也。會朱賡亦疏辨如廷機指，帝乃下士昌疏，命罪之。吏部侍郎楊時喬、副都御史詹沂請薄罰，不許。詔鐫三秩為廣西僉事。御史宋燾論救，復詆一貫，刺廷機。帝益怒，謫燾平定判官，再謫士昌興安典史。

The passage was meant as an oblique rebuke of Li Tingji. Tingji was furious and defended himself in a memorial: 'In raising officials we dare neither encroach upon Your Majesty's authority nor trespass upon the Ministry of Personnel." Shichang read the defense and wrote again to admonish him; Tingji grew angrier still, but the emperor had not yet meant to punish Shichang. When Zhu Geng also submitted a defense along Tingji's lines, the emperor circulated Shichang's memorial and ordered him punished. Vice Minister Yang Shiqiao and Vice Censor-in-Chief Zhan Yi asked for a lenient sentence, but this was refused. By edict he was demoted three ranks and appointed vice commissioner in Guangxi. The censor Song Tao pleaded for Jiang's pardon but renewed his attacks on Shen Yiguan and aimed barbs at Li Tingji. The emperor's wrath deepened: Tao was demoted to judge at Pingding, and Shichang was demoted again to clerk at Xing'an.

士昌好學，勵名檢。居恒憤時疾俗，欲以身挽之。故雖居散僚，數有論建，竟齟齬以終。士昌謫之明年，禮部主事鄭振先劾賡等大罪十二，亦鐫三秩，調邊方用。

Shichang was studious and strict in guarding his reputation. He lived in constant indignation at the times and the mores, and wished to set them right by his own effort. Though he held only minor posts, he submitted advice again and again, yet ended his career in repeated conflict. The year after Shichang's demotion, Zheng Zhenxian of the Ministry of Rites impeached Zhu Geng and others on twelve grave charges; he too was demoted three ranks and assigned to the frontier.

宋燾，泰安人。萬歷二十九年進士。自庶吉士授御史，任氣好搏擊。出按應天諸府，疏斥首輔朱賡。廷臣繼有請，皆責備輔臣，其端自燾發也。及坐謫，旋請假歸。卒於家。天啟初，贈士昌太常少卿，燾光祿少卿。

Song Tao was a native of Tai'an. He passed the metropolitan examination in the twenty-ninth year of Wanli. After service as a Hanlin academician he was made a censor; he was headstrong and loved to strike at opponents. On circuit in the Yingtian prefectures he memorialized against the chief minister Zhu Geng. Court officials followed with further petitions, all blaming the chief ministers—a movement Tao had begun. After his demotion he soon took leave and went home. He died at home. At the start of the Tianqi reign Shichang was posthumously made Grand Master of the Court and Tao Vice Minister of the Imperial Household.

馬孟禎，字泰符，桐城人。萬歷二十六年進士。授分宜知縣。將內召，以征賦不及四分，為戶部尚書趙世卿所劾，詔鐫二秩。甫三日，而民逋悉完。鄒元標、萬國欽輩亟稱之。續授御史。文選郎王永光、儀制郎張嗣誠、都給事中姚文蔚、陳治則，以附政府擢京卿，南京右都御史沈子木年幾八十未謝政，孟禎並疏論之。大學士李廷機被劾奏辨，言入仕以來，初無大謬。孟禎駁之曰：「廷機在禮部昵邪妄司官彭遵古，而聶雲翰建言忤時，則抑之至死。秉政未幾，姜士昌、宋燾、鄭振先皆得罪。姚文蔚等濫授京堂，陳用賓等屢擬寬旨。猶不謂之謬哉？」王錫爵辭召，密疏痛詆言者。孟禎及南京給事中段然並上疏極論。尋陳僉商之害，發工部郎陳民誌、範鈁黷貨罪。又陳通壅蔽、錄直臣、決用舍、恤民窮、急邊餉五事。請召用鄒元標、趙南星、王德完，放廷機還田裏。皆不報。

Ma Mengzhen, courtesy name Taifu, was a native of Tongcheng. He passed the metropolitan examination in the twenty-sixth year of Wanli. He was appointed magistrate of Fenyi. When he was about to be recalled to the capital, Zhao Shiqing, Minister of Revenue, impeached him because tax collection had not reached forty percent, and by edict he was demoted two ranks. Within three days the people paid every arrear in full. Zou Yuanbiao, Wan Guoqin, and others praised him at once. He was soon made a censor. Mengzhen jointly memorialized against Wang Yongguang and Zhang Sicheng of the Ministry of Rites, chief supervising secretaries Yao Wenwei and Chen Zeze—promoted to capital posts for siding with the government—and Shen Zimu of Nanjing, who at nearly eighty still would not retire. When Li Tingji was impeached he defended himself, claiming that since taking office he had committed no grave fault. Mengzhen rebutted: "While at the Ministry of Rites Tingji favored the corrupt director Peng Zungu, yet when Nie Yunhan spoke against the times Tingji hounded him to his death. Shortly after he took power, Jiang Shichang, Song Tao, and Zheng Zhenxian were all punished. Men such as Yao Wenwei were improperly given capital posts, while Chen Yongbin and others repeatedly drafted lenient edicts. Can this still be called no grave error?" Wang Xijue declined recall and in a secret memorial bitterly denounced the critics. Mengzhen and Duan Ran, supervising secretary at Nanjing, submitted forceful counter-memorials. He soon exposed the harm of merchant levies and impeached Chen Minzhi and Fan Bang of the Ministry of Works for corruption. He also urged five reforms: ending obstruction, recalling upright ministers, deciding appointments, relieving the people's distress, and securing frontier pay. He asked that Zou Yuanbiao, Zhao Nanxing, and Wang Dewan be recalled, and that Tingji be sent home to his fields. None of these received a response.

三十九年夏，怡神殿災。孟禎言：「二十年來，郊廟、朝講、召對、面議俱廢，通下情者惟章奏。而疏入旨出悉由內侍，其徹禦覽與果出聖意否，不得而知，此朝政可慮也。臣子分流別戶，入主出奴，愛憎由心，雌黃信口，流言蜚語，騰入禁庭，此士習可慮也。畿輔、山東、山西、河南，比歲旱饑。民間賣女鬻兒，食妻啖子，鋌而走險，急何能擇。一呼四應，則小盜合群，將為豪傑之藉，此民情可慮也。」帝亦不省。

In the summer of the thirty-ninth year the Yi Spirit Hall burned. Mengzhen wrote: "For twenty years suburban rites, court lectures, imperial audiences, and face-to-face deliberation have all lapsed; only memorials still carry grievances upward. Yet memorials go in and edicts come out entirely through eunuchs, so whether they reach the emperor's eyes or truly express his will cannot be known—this is alarming for statecraft. Officials have split into factions, slavish to patrons and fickle in judgment; rumor and slander fly into the palace—this is alarming for the conduct of scholars. The capital region, Shandong, Shanxi, and Henan have suffered drought and famine in successive years. Families sell daughters and sons; some eat wife and child; driven to desperation they cannot choose their course. At one shout they answer from four sides; petty bandits gather and may become the foundation for rebels—this is alarming for the people's temper." The emperor took no notice.

吏部侍郎蕭雲舉佐京察，有所庇，孟禎首疏攻之。論者日眾，雲舉引去。山海參將李獲陽忤稅監，下獄死，孟禎為訟冤，因請貸卞孔時、王邦才、滿朝薦、李嗣善等之在獄者，且言：「楚宗一獄，死者已多，今被錮高墻者，誰非高皇帝子孫，乃令至是。」皆弗聽。四十二年冬，考選科道，中書舍人張光房、知縣趙運昌、張廷拱、曠鳴鸞、濮中玉，以言論忤時，抑不得與。孟禎不平，具疏論之。是時三黨勢張，忌孟禎讜直，出為廣東副使。移疾不赴。天啟初，起南京光祿少卿，召改太仆。以憂歸。魏忠賢得誌，為御史王業浩所論，遂削籍。崇禎初，復官。

When Vice Minister Xiao Yunju of the Ministry of Personnel ran the capital evaluation and showed favoritism, Mengzhen was the first to attack him in a memorial. Critics multiplied daily until Yunju withdrew. Li Huoyang, garrison commander at Shanhai, defied the tax commissioner and died in prison; Mengzhen pleaded his case and asked clemency for Bian Kongshi, Wang Bangcai, Man Chaojian, Li Shishan, and others still imprisoned, adding: "In the Chu-clan affair many are already dead; those now walled in the heights—who is not a descendant of the founding emperor, yet brought to this pass?" All went unheeded. In the winter of the forty-second year, when censorate posts were filled, Zhang Guangfang, Zhao Yunchang, Zhang Tinggong, Kuang Mingluan, and Pu Zhongyu were barred because their outspoken views offended the court. Mengzhen protested and submitted a full memorial on the matter. The three factions were ascendant and resented his blunt integrity; he was posted out as vice commissioner in Guangdong. He pleaded illness and did not take up the post. At the start of Tianqi he was recalled as Vice Minister of the Imperial Household at Nanjing, then summoned to the Court of Imperial Studs. He returned home on mourning leave. When Wei Zhongxian rose to power, censor Wang Yehao impeached him and he was struck from the rolls. At the start of Chongzhen his office was restored.

孟禎少貧。既通顯，家無贏資。惟銜趙世卿抑己，既入臺即疏劾世卿，人以為隘。

Mengzhen was poor in youth. Even after he rose to prominence his household held no surplus wealth. He alone bore a grudge against Zhao Shiqing for demoting him; once on the Censorate he impeached Shiqing, which many judged petty.

汪若霖，字時甫，光州人。父治，保定知府。若霖舉萬歷二十年進士，授行人。三十三年，擢戶科給事中。言「有司貪殘，率從輕論，非律；邊吏竭脂膏，外媚敵，內媚要津，而京軍十萬半虛冒，非計。」兵部尚書蕭大亨被劾求去，吏部議留，若霖力詆部議。雲南民變，殺稅使楊榮，詔從巡撫陳用賓言，命四川丘乘雲兼領。若霖言：「用賓養成榮惡，今不直請罷稅，而倡議領於四川，負國甚。乞亟斥用賓，追寢前命。」皆不報。

Wang Ruolin, courtesy name Shifu, was a native of Guangzhou. His father Zhi was prefect of Baoding. Ruolin passed the metropolitan examination in Wanli 20 and was made an emissary. In the thirty-third year he was promoted to supervising secretary of the Household Section. He said, "When officials are greedy and cruel, sentences are habitually too light—this is not lawful; frontier officers drain the people to flatter enemies abroad and patrons at court, while half the capital garrison of a hundred thousand men exist only on paper—this is no policy." When Minister Xiao Daheng of War was impeached and asked to retire, the Ministry of Personnel voted to keep him; Ruolin fiercely attacked that decision. A Yunnan uprising killed the tax commissioner Yang Rong; the court followed Grand Coordinator Chen Yongbin and ordered Qiu Chengyun of Sichuan to take concurrent charge. Ruolin wrote: "Yongbin nurtured Rong's abuses; instead of demanding an end to the levies he proposed putting Sichuan in charge—this deeply betrays the state. I beg that Yongbin be dismissed at once and the prior order revoked." None of this was heeded.

進禮科右給事中。自正月至四月不雨，若霖上疏曰：「臣稽《洪範傳》，言之不從，是謂不晙，厥罰恒旸。今郊廟宜親，朝會宜舉，東宮講習宜開，此下累言之，而上不從者也。又有上言之而中變者：稅務歸有司，權珰猶侵奪；起廢有明詔，啟事猶沈閣是也。有上屢言之而久不決、下數言之而上不斷者：中外大僚之推補，被劾諸臣之進退是也。凡此皆言不從之類。積郁成災，天人恒理。陛下安得漠然而已哉！」時南京戶、工二部缺尚書，禮部缺侍郎，廷推故尚書徐元泰、貴州巡撫郭子章、故詹事範醇敬。若霖言：「三人不足任，且舉者不能無私。請自今廷推勿以一人主持，眾皆畫諾。宜籍舉主姓名，復祖宗連坐之法。」詔申飭如若霖言，所推悉報寢。兵部主事張汝霖，大學士朱賡婿也。典試山東，所取士有篇章不具者。若霖疏劾之，停其俸。中官楊致中枉法拷殺指揮鄭光擢，若霖率同官列其十罪，不報。朱賡獨相，朝事益弛。若霖言：「陛下獨相一賡，而又畫接無聞，補牘莫應，此最大患也。方今紀綱壞，政事壅，人才耗，庶職空，民力窮，邊方廢，宦豎橫，盜賊繁，士大夫幾忘廉恥禮義，而小民愁苦冤痛之聲徹於宇內。輔臣宜慨然任天下重，收拾人心，以效之當寧。如徒謙讓未遑，或以人言，輕懷去就，則陛下何賴焉？」賡乃緣若霖指，力請帝急行新政。帝亦不省。五月朔，大雨雹。若霖謂用人不廣，大臣專權之象，具疏切言之。已而京師久雨，壞田廬。若霖復言大臣比周相倚，小臣趨風，其流益甚；意復詆賡及新輔李廷機輩也。三十六年，巡視庫藏，見老庫止銀八萬，而外庫蕭然，諸邊軍餉逋至百余萬。疏請集議長策，亦留中。

He was promoted to right supervising secretary of the Ritual Section. From the first month through the fourth no rain fell; Ruolin memorialized: "I have consulted the Hong Fan tradition: when counsel goes unheeded, it is called obscurity, and the punishment is lasting drought. The suburban altars should be attended in person, court audiences held, and lectures for the heir apparent resumed—matters urged again and again below yet never heeded above. Some policies were announced and then reversed: taxes were restored to civil officials, yet powerful eunuchs still seized them; recalled officials were covered by a clear edict, yet their cases still languish in the archives. Some matters were urged repeatedly above yet long unresolved, or many times below yet never decided above: appointments of high ministers at court and in the provinces, and the fate of impeached officials. All these belong to counsel unheeded. Grievances piled high become calamities—such is the constant way of Heaven and man. How can Your Majesty remain indifferent!" At that time the Nanjing ministries of Revenue and Works lacked ministers and the Ministry of Rites a vice minister; the court recommended former minister Xu Yuantai, Guizhou grand coordinator Guo Zizhang, and former household tutor Fan Chunjing. Ruolin said, "These three are unfit for office, and the recommenders cannot be free of private motive. I ask that hereafter no single man dominate a court recommendation while all others merely assent. Record the recommenders' names and restore the ancestral law of joint liability." An edict rebuked the court as Ruolin urged, and every nominee was left in abeyance. Zhang Rulin, a director in the Ministry of War, was son-in-law to Grand Secretary Zhu Geng. As examiner in Shandong he passed candidates whose examination essays were incomplete. Ruolin impeached him by memorial and his salary was suspended. The eunuch Yang Zhizhong tortured and killed Commander Zheng Guangzhuo contrary to law; Ruolin and his colleagues listed ten crimes against him, without response. Zhu Geng served as sole grand secretary and court business grew ever more lax. Ruolin wrote: "Your Majesty relies on Geng alone, yet scheduled audiences go unheld and supplementary memorials unanswered—this is the gravest worry. Discipline is ruined, government blocked, talent spent, posts vacant, the people drained, frontiers neglected, eunuchs rampant, banditry rife; scholar-officials have nearly forgotten integrity, while the cries of the suffering common folk fill the realm. The chief ministers should boldly shoulder the realm, rally hearts, and serve the throne. If they only defer in false modesty or lightly quit office at rumor, on whom can Your Majesty rely?" Geng then took Ruolin's cue and urgently begged the emperor to enact new policies. The emperor again took no notice. On the first day of the fifth month hail fell in torrents. Ruolin held that narrow appointments and ministers' monopoly of power were portents, and stated this bluntly in a memorial. Soon afterward prolonged rain in the capital ruined fields and houses. Ruolin again charged that great ministers formed cliques and small officials followed the current, worsening the tide; again aiming at Zhu Geng and the new assistant Li Tingji and his circle. In the thirty-sixth year he inspected the treasuries: the old vault held only eighty thousand taels of silver, the outer vaults were bare, and frontier pay was in arrears by more than a million. He memorialized for a council to devise a long-term plan, but it too was shelved.

先是，吏部列上考選應授科道者，知縣新建汪元功、進賢黃汝亨、南昌黃一騰與焉。賡黨給事中陳治則推轂元功、汝亨。若霖劾二人囂競，吏部因改擬部曹。治則怒劾一騰交構。帝以言官紛爭，留部疏。廷臣屢請乃下，而責若霖首昌煩言，並元功、汝亨、一騰各貶一級，出之外。廷臣論救，皆不省。若霖遂出為潁州判官，卒。

Earlier the Ministry of Personnel had submitted candidates for censorate appointment, including the magistrates Wang Yuangong of Xinjian, Huang Ruheng of Jinxian, and Huang Yiteng of Nanchang. Zhu Geng's clique-member Supervising Secretary Chen Zhi pushed forward Yuangong and Yuheng. Ruolin impeached the two for arrogant rivalry, and the Ministry of Personnel accordingly reassigned them to posts within the ministries. Zhi in anger impeached Yiteng for intrigue and collusion. Because the remonstrating officials were quarreling, the emperor withheld the ministry's memorial. Only after court officials repeatedly petitioned was it issued; he blamed Ruolin as the first to stir up contentious talk, and demoted Yuangong, Yuheng, and Yiteng each one rank and sent them outside the capital. Court officials memorialized in their defense; none of it was heeded. Ruolin was then sent out as assistant prefect of Yingzhou, where he died.

贊曰：明至中葉以後，建言者分曹為朋，率視閣臣為進退。依阿取寵則與之比，反是則爭。比者不容於清議，而爭則名高。故其時端揆之地，遂為抨擊之叢，而國是淆矣。雖然，所言之是非，閣臣之賢否，黑白判然，固非私怨惡之所得而加，亦非可盡委之沽直好事，謂人言之不足恤也。

Commentary: From the mid-Ming onward, those who spoke out formed factions by bureau and generally measured advance and retreat by the grand secretaries. To fawn and win favor was to side with them; to oppose them was to contend. Those who sided with them could not bear the pure criticism of public opinion, while to contend brought high reputation. Thus the seat of chief ministers became a thicket of attacks, and the nation's constant purpose was thrown into confusion. Nevertheless, whether what was said was right or wrong and whether grand secretaries were worthy or not—the black and white stood clearly apart; this was not something private hatred could distort, nor could it all be dismissed as the posturing of those who courted a reputation for uprightness and meddled in affairs, as though men's words were not worth heeding.

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