Volume 238 Biographies 126: Li Chengliang, Ma Gui

李成梁子:如松如柏如楨如樟如梅麻貴兄:錦

Sons of Li Chengliang: Rusong, Rubai, Ruzhen, Ruzhang, and Rumei; elder brother of Ma Gui: Jin.

李成梁

Li Chengliang

李成梁，字汝契。高祖英自朝鮮內附，授世鐵嶺衛指揮僉事，遂家焉。成梁英毅驍健，有大將才。家貧，不能襲職，年四十猶為諸生。巡按御史器之，資入京，乃得襲。積功為遼東險山參將。隆慶元年，士蠻大入永平。成梁赴援有功，進副總兵，仍守險山。尋協守遼陽。三年四月，張擺失等屯塞下，成梁迎擊斬之，殲其卒百六十有奇。餘眾遠徙，遂空其地。錄功，進秩一等。四年九月，辛愛大入遼東。總兵官王治道戰死，擢成梁署都督僉事代之。當是時，俺答雖款塞，而插漢部長土蠻與從父黑石炭，弟委正、大委正，從弟暖兔、拱兔，子卜言台周，從子黃台吉勢方強。泰甯部長速把亥、炒花，朵顏部長董狐狸、長昂佐之。東則王杲、王兀堂、清佳砮、楊吉砮之屬，亦時窺塞下。十年之間，殷尚質、楊照、王治道三大將皆戰死。成梁乃大修戎備，甄拔將校，收召四方健兒，給以厚餼，用為選鋒。軍聲始振。

Li Chengliang, whose style name was Ruke. His great-grandfather Ying had come from Korea to enter Ming service and received appointment as hereditary assistant commander of the Tieling Guard; the family made its home there. Chengliang was bold, resolute, and physically formidable, and showed the makings of a great commander. The family was too poor for him to inherit his father's post, and he was still only a licentiate at the age of forty. A touring censor took notice of his ability, paid his way to the capital, and only then was he able to succeed to the office. By accumulated service he rose to regional vice commander at Xianshan in Liaodong. In the first year of the Longqing reign, Tümen launched a major raid into Yongping. Chengliang marched to relieve the district with distinction, was promoted to vice commander-in-chief, and continued to hold Xianshan. He was soon assigned to help defend Liaoyang as well. In the fourth month of year three, Zhang Baishi and his followers camped below the border pass; Chengliang met them in battle, killed them, and wiped out over one hundred sixty of their men. The survivors withdrew far away, leaving the region depopulated. His achievements were entered in the record and his rank was raised one step. In the ninth month of year four, Xin'ai led a major incursion into Liaodong. Commander-in-chief Wang Zhidao fell in battle, and Chengliang was elevated to acting regional commander to take his place. At that time Altan Khan had made peace with the border, but the Chahar leader Tümen—along with his uncle Heishitan, his brothers Weizheng and Daweizheng, his cousins Nuantu and Gongtu, his son Buyan Taiju, and his nephew Huang Taiji—were all rising in strength. They were aided by the Taining leaders Subanhai and Chaohua and by the Tümed leaders Donghuli and Chang'ang. To the east, Wang Gao, Wang Wutang, Qinggianu, Yanggianu, and others likewise probed the border from time to time. Within a decade the three senior commanders Yin Shangzhi, Yang Zhao, and Wang Zhidao had all been killed in action. Chengliang then set about rebuilding the army in earnest: he picked out capable officers, recruited tough fighters from every direction, paid them well, and formed them into an elite strike force. Only then did the army's reputation begin to recover.

明年五月，敵犯盤山驛，指揮蘇成勳擊走之。無何，土蠻大入。成梁遇于卓山，麾副將趙完等夾擊，斷其首尾。乘勝抵巢，馘部長二人，斬首五百八十餘級。進署都督同知，世廕千戶。又明年十月，土蠻六百騎營舊遼陽北河，去邊二百餘里，俟眾集大舉，成梁擊走之。萬曆元年，又擊走之前屯。已，又破走之鐵嶺鎮西諸堡。增秩二等。朵顏兀露絲罕以四千騎毀牆入，成梁禦卻之。

The next year, in the fifth month, the enemy struck Panshan Post and was beaten back by Commander Su Chengxun. Soon afterward Tümen launched another major raid. Chengliang met him at Zhuoshan and sent Vice Commander Zhao Wan and others to strike from both flanks, severing the head and tail of his column. He pressed the victory to their camp, killed two tribal leaders, and took more than five hundred eighty heads. He was advanced to acting regional vice commander and granted hereditary rank as a chiliarch. The following October, Tümen camped with six hundred horsemen on the north bank of the old Liao River, over two hundred li beyond the border, to await reinforcements for a major strike; Chengliang routed him. In the first year of the Wanli reign he again repulsed them at Qiantun. Soon after he broke and chased them away from the forts west of Tieling. His rank was raised two steps. The Tümed leader Ulusihan breached the wall with four thousand horsemen, but Chengliang drove him back.

建州都指揮王杲故與撫順通馬市。及是，誘殺備禦裴承祖，成梁謀討之。明年十月，杲復大舉入。成梁檄副將楊騰、遊擊王惟屏分屯要害，而令參將曹簠挑戰。諸軍四面起，敵大奔，盡聚杲寨。寨地高，杲深溝堅壘以自固。成梁用火器攻之，破數柵，矢石雨下。把總于志文、秦得倚先登，諸將繼之。杲走高臺，射殺志文。會大風起，縱火焚之，先後斬馘千一百餘級，毀其營壘而還。進左都督，世廕都指揮同知。杲大創，不能軍，走匿阿哈納寨。曹簠勒精騎往，杲走南關。都督王台執以獻，斬之。

Wang Gao, regional commander of Jianzhou, had long conducted the horse market at Fushun. Now he lured and killed Battalion Commander Pei Chengzu, and Chengliang resolved to bring him to account. The next October, Gao raided again in force. Chengliang sent Vice Commander Yang Teng and Mobile Corps Commander Wang Weiping to hold the critical passes while Regional Vice Commander Cao Lin drew the enemy out to fight. The Ming forces closed in from every side; the enemy broke and fled, crowding into Gao's fortress. The fortress stood on high ground, and Gao dug deep trenches and threw up strong walls to hold his position. Chengliang assaulted it with firearms, smashed several palisades, and brought down a storm of arrows and stones. Company commanders Yu Zhiwen and Qin Deyi led the assault over the walls, and the other officers pressed in after them. Gao climbed a high platform and shot Zhiwen dead. A strong wind sprang up; they set the fortress ablaze and in the end took more than eleven hundred heads, wrecked the camps, and withdrew. He was promoted to Left Regional Commander and granted hereditary rank as regional vice commander. Gao was badly wounded, could no longer hold his forces together, and fled to hide in the stockade at Ahanazhai. Cao Lin rode after him with picked cavalry, and Gao fled toward Nanguan. Regional Commander Wang Tai seized him and handed him over; Gao was then executed.

三年春，土蠻犯長勇堡，擊敗之。其冬，炒花大會黑石炭、黃台吉、卜言台周、以兒鄧、暖兔、拱兔、堵剌兒等二萬餘騎，從平虜堡南掠。副將曹簠馳擊，遂轉掠瀋陽。見城外列營，乃據西北高墩。成梁邀戰，發火器。敵大潰，棄輜重走。追至河溝，乘勝渡河，擊斬以千計。加太子太保，世廕錦衣千戶。明年，黑石炭、大委正營大清堡邊外，謀錦、義。成梁率選鋒馳二百里，逼其營，攻破之。殺部長四人，獲級六十有奇。五年五月，士蠻復入，聯營河東，而遣零騎西掠。成梁掩其巢，得利而還。明年正月，速把亥糾土蠻大入，營劈山。成梁馳至丁字泊，敵方分騎繞牆入。成梁夜出塞二百里，搗破劈山營，獲級四百三十，馘其長五人。加太保，世廕本衛指揮使。三月，遊擊陶承嚳擊敵長定堡，獻馘四百七十有奇。帝已告謝郊廟，大行賞賚，廕成梁世指揮僉事。有言所殺乃土蠻部曲，因盜牛羊事覺，懼罪來歸，承嚳掩殺之。給事中光懋因請治承嚳殺降罪，御史勘如懋言。兵部尚書方逢時，督撫梁夢龍、周詠先與承嚳同敘功，力為解。卒如御史奏，盡奪諸臣恩命。六月，敵犯鎮靜堡，復擊退之。十二月，速把亥、炒花、暖兔、拱兔會土蠻黃台吉，大、小委正，卜兒亥，慌忽太等三萬餘騎壁遼河，攻東昌堡，深入至耀州。成梁遣諸將分屯要害以遏之，而親提銳卒，出塞二百餘里，直搗圜山。斬首八百四十，及其長九人，獲馬千二百匹。敵聞之，皆倉皇走出塞。論功，封甯遠伯，歲祿八百石。是時，土蠻數求貢市，關吏不許，大恨。七年十月，復以四萬騎自前屯錦川營深入。成梁命諸將堅壁，自督參將楊粟等遏其沖。會戚繼光亦來援，敵遂退。俄又與速把亥合壁紅土城，聲言入海州，而分兵入錦、義。成梁逾塞二百餘里，直抵紅土城，擊敗之，獲首功四百七十有奇。

In the spring of year three, Tümen struck Changyong Fort and was beaten back. That winter Chaohua mustered Heishitan, Huang Taiji, Buyan Taiju, Yierdeng, Nuantu, Gongtu, Dulai'er, and others—over twenty thousand horsemen—and swept south past Pinglu Fort. Vice Commander Cao Lin gave chase, whereupon they swung toward Shenyang to loot. Finding Ming camps drawn up outside the walls, they occupied a high mound to the northwest. Chengliang met them in battle and opened fire with firearms. The enemy broke in rout, abandoning their baggage train as they fled. The pursuit carried to Hegou; riding their momentum they crossed the river and cut down the enemy by the thousand. He was appointed Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and granted hereditary rank as a chiliarch in the Embroidered Uniform Guard. The next year Heishitan and Daweizheng camped beyond the border near Daqing Fort, with designs on Jinzhou and Yizhou. Chengliang led his strike force on a two-hundred-li ride, closed on their camp, and overran it. Four tribal leaders were killed and more than sixty heads were taken. In the fifth month of year five, Tümen struck again, massing his camps east of the river while detachments harried the west. Chengliang fell on their base by surprise, took his profit, and withdrew. The next year, in the first month, Subanhai joined Tümen in a major raid and pitched camp at Pishan. Chengliang raced to Dingzipo, but the enemy had already sent parties of horsemen around the wall to break in. Chengliang marched two hundred li beyond the border by night, smashed the camp at Pishan, took four hundred thirty heads, and killed five leaders. He was appointed Grand Mentor and granted hereditary rank as commander of his home guard. In the third month Mobile Corps Commander Tao Chengyin fought the enemy at Changding Fort and reported more than four hundred seventy heads taken. The emperor had already offered thanks at the suburban altars and lavished rewards, enfeoffing Chengliang's heir as assistant commander. Word spread that the dead were in fact Tümen's men who, caught stealing livestock, had surrendered in fear of punishment—and that Chengyin had cut them down in a treacherous attack. Supervising Secretary Guang Mao then called for Chengyin to be punished for slaughtering men who had surrendered, and the censor's inquiry upheld his charge. Minister of War Fang Fengshi and the grand coordinators Liang Menglong and Zhou Yong—who had shared in crediting Chengyin's victory—argued strenuously in his defense. In the end the court followed the censor's report and stripped all the officials of their rewards. In the sixth month the enemy struck Zhenjing Fort and was repulsed once more. In the twelfth month Subanhai, Chaohua, Nuantu, and Gongtu joined Tümen, Huang Taiji, the Daweizheng and Xiaoweizheng brothers, Bu'erhai, Huanghutai, and others—over thirty thousand horsemen—who lined up along the Liao River, assaulted Dongchang Fort, and pushed inland as far as Yaozhou. Chengliang posted his generals at the critical passes to hold the enemy while he personally led elite troops more than two hundred li beyond the border in a straight thrust at Yuanshan. He took eight hundred forty heads, nine enemy leaders, and twelve hundred horses. When word reached the raiders, they all fled beyond the border in disarray. For his achievements he was enfeoffed as Earl of Ningyuan with an annual stipend of eight hundred piculs of grain. By then Tümen had repeatedly asked to trade at the border markets, but the gate officers refused him, and his resentment ran deep. In the tenth month of year seven he again plunged deep into Ming territory with forty thousand horsemen from Qiantun and the Jinchuan camp. Chengliang ordered his officers to stand firm behind the walls while he personally led Regional Vice Commander Yang Su and others to block the enemy's main thrust. Qi Jiguang arrived with reinforcements as well, and the enemy withdrew. Before long he joined Subanhai in camp at Hongtu Fort, claiming they would strike Haizhou while detachments pushed into Jinzhou and Yizhou. Chengliang marched more than two hundred li beyond the border, struck Hongtu Fort head-on, routed the enemy, and claimed more than four hundred seventy heads.

迤東都督王兀堂故通市寬奠，後參將徐國輔弟國臣強抑市價，兀堂乃與趙鎖羅骨數遣零騎侵邊。明年三月，以六百騎犯靉陽及黃岡嶺，指揮王宗義戰死。復以千餘騎從永奠入，成梁擊走之。追出塞二百里。敵以騎卒拒，而步卒登山鼓噪。成梁大敗之，斬首七百五十，盡毀其營壘。捷聞，並錄紅土城功，予成梁世襲。其秋，兀堂復犯寬奠，副將姚大節擊破之。兀堂由是不振。

Wang Wutang, regional commander of eastern Liaodong, had long traded at Kuandian, but when Regional Vice Commander Xu Guofu's brother Guochen forced down market prices, Wutang joined Zhao Suoluogu in sending small parties of horsemen to harass the border again and again. The next March he struck Aiyang and Huanggangling with six hundred horsemen; Commander Wang Zongyi was killed in the fighting. He returned with more than a thousand horsemen through Yongdian, but Chengliang beat him back. The pursuit carried two hundred li beyond the border. The enemy met him with cavalry while infantry took the heights, beating drums and shouting. Chengliang routed them utterly, took seven hundred fifty heads, and destroyed their camps to the last. When victory was reported, the Hongtu Fort campaign was credited as well and Chengliang received a hereditary grant. That autumn Wutang struck Kuandian again and was broken by Vice Commander Yao Dajie. After that Wutang never regained his former power.

土蠻數侵邊不得志，忿甚，益征諸部兵分犯錦、義及右屯、大淩河。以城堡堅，不可克，而成梁及薊鎮兵亦集，乃引去。無何，復以二萬餘騎從大鎮堡入攻錦州。參將熊朝臣固守，而遣部將周之望、王應榮出戰，頗有斬獲。矢盡，皆戰死。敵乃分掠小淩河、松山、杏山。成梁馳援，始出境。九年正月，土蠻復與黑石炭，大、小委正，卜言台周，腦毛大，黃台吉，以兒鄧，暖兔，拱兔，炒戶兒聚兵塞下，謀入廣寧。成梁帥輕騎從大寧堡出。去塞四百餘里，至襖郎兔大戰。自辰迄未，敵不支，敗走。官軍將還，敵來追。成梁逆擊，且戰且行。先後斬首三百四十，及其長八人。錄功，增歲祿百石，世廕一等。四月，黑石炭、以兒鄧、小歹青、卜言兔入遼陽。副將曹簠追至長安堡，遇伏，失千總陳鵬以下三百十七人，馬死者四百六十匹，遂大掠人畜而去。簠等下吏，成梁不問。十月，土蠻復連速把亥等十余萬騎攻圍廣寧，不克，轉掠團山堡、盤山驛及十三山驛，攻義州。成梁禦卻之。十年三月，速把亥率弟炒花、子卜言兔入犯義州。成梁禦之鎮夷堡，設伏待之。速把亥入，參將李平胡射中其脅，墜馬，蒼頭李有名前斬之。寇大奔，追馘百餘級。炒花等慟哭去。速把亥為遼左患二十年，至是死。帝大喜，詔賜甲第京師，世廕錦衣指揮使。

Tümen had raided again and again without success and burned with resentment; he mustered men from the other tribes and sent them in separate columns against Jinzhou, Yizhou, Youdun, and the Greater Ling River. The walled towns proved too strong to crack, and with Chengliang and the Jizhen forces massing against them, they withdrew. Soon they returned with more than twenty thousand horsemen, entering through Dazhen Fort to assault Jinzhou. Regional Vice Commander Xiong Chaochen held the defenses while sending his lieutenants Zhou Zhiwang and Wang Yingrong out to fight, and they took a fair number of heads. When their arrows ran out, both were killed in action. The enemy then split up to loot along the Lesser Ling River and at Songshan and Xingshan. Chengliang raced to relieve them, and only then did the raiders withdraw beyond the border. In the first month of year nine, Tümen again joined Heishitan, the Daweizheng and Xiaoweizheng brothers, Buyan Taiju, Naomao Da, Huang Taiji, Yierdeng, Nuantu, Gongtu, and Chaohu'er to gather an army below the pass, intending to break into Guangning. Chengliang led light cavalry out through Daning Fort. More than four hundred li beyond the border he fought a major battle at Aolangtu. From morning until mid-afternoon the enemy gave way and fled in defeat. As the Ming forces prepared to withdraw, the enemy gave chase. Chengliang turned to meet them, fighting as he withdrew. Before and after, three hundred forty heads were taken, along with eight enemy leaders. His achievements were recorded, his annual stipend was raised by one hundred piculs, and his hereditary rank advanced one step. In the fourth month Heishitan, Yierdeng, Xiaodaiqing, and Buyantu raided into Liaoyang. Vice Commander Cao Lin pursued them to Chang'an Fort, walked into an ambush, and lost Battalion Commander Chen Peng and three hundred seventeen men; four hundred sixty horses were killed, after which the enemy looted people and livestock on a vast scale and withdrew. Lin and his officers were turned over to the courts, but Chengliang did not pursue the matter. In the tenth month Tümen again united with Subanhai and others—over one hundred thousand horsemen—to besiege Guangning; when they could not take it, they turned to raid Tuanshan Fort, Panshan Post, and the Thirteen Mountains Post, and assaulted Yizhou. Chengliang drove them back. In the third month of year ten, Subanhai led his brother Chaohua and his son Buyantu in an attack on Yizhou. Chengliang met them at Zhenyi Fort and laid an ambush. When Subanhai rode in, Regional Vice Commander Li Pinghu shot him in the side; he fell from his horse, and Li Youming, a household retainer, rushed forward and cut off his head. The enemy broke and fled; the pursuit yielded more than one hundred heads. Chaohua and the others withdrew, mourning loudly. Subanhai had plagued eastern Liaodong for twenty years; now he was dead. The emperor was delighted and granted him a grand house in the capital, with hereditary rank as commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

初，王杲死，其子阿台走依王台長子虎兒罕。以王台獻其父，嘗欲報之。王台死，虎兒罕勢衰，阿台遂附北關合攻虎兒罕。又數犯孤山、汛河。成梁出塞，遇于曹子穀，斬首一千有奇，獲馬五百。阿台復糾阿海連兵入，抵瀋陽城南渾河，大掠去。成梁從撫順出塞百餘里，火攻古勒塞，射死阿台。連破阿海寨，擊殺之，獻馘二千三百。杲部遂滅。錄功，增歲祿百石，世廕指揮僉事。

After Wang Gao's death, his son Atai had fled to the protection of Wang Tai's eldest son Hurhan. Because Wang Tai had handed his father over for execution, he had long wanted revenge. When Wang Tai died and Hurhan's power waned, Atai threw in with the Northern Pass clans to attack Hurhan together. He also raided Gushan and the Xun River again and again. Chengliang marched beyond the border and met him at Caozigu Valley, taking more than a thousand heads and five hundred horses. Atai again joined Ahai in a raid that reached the Hun River south of Shenyang and withdrew after heavy looting. Chengliang marched from Fushun more than a hundred li beyond the border, burned Gule stockade, and shot Atai dead. He overran Ahai's camps in succession, killed him in battle, and reported two thousand three hundred heads taken. Gao's following was thus wiped out. His achievements were recorded, his stipend was raised by one hundred piculs, and his heir was enfeoffed as assistant commander.

北關清佳砮、楊吉砮素仇南關。王台沒，屢侵台季子猛骨孛羅，且藉土蠻、暖兔、慌忽太兵侵邊境。其年十二月，巡撫李松使備禦霍九皋許之貢市。清佳砮、楊吉砮率二千餘騎詣鎮北關謁。松、九皋見其兵盛，譙讓之，則以三百騎入。松先伏甲於旁，約二人不受撫則砲舉甲起。頃之，二人抵關，據鞍不遜，松叱之，九皋麾使下，其徒遽拔刀擊九皋，並殺侍卒十餘人。於是軍中砲鳴，伏盡起，擊斬二人並其從騎，與清佳砮子兀孫孛羅、楊吉砮子哈兒哈麻盡殲焉。成梁聞砲，急出塞，擊其留騎，斬首千五百有奇。余眾刑白馬，攢刀，誓永受約束，乃旋師。錄功，增歲祿二百石，改前廕指揮僉事為錦衣衛指揮使。方成梁之出塞也，炒花等以數萬騎入蒲河及大寧堡。將士防禦六日，始出塞。

Qinggianu and Yanggianu of the Northern Pass had long feuded with the Southern Pass clans. After Wang Tai's death they repeatedly harassed his youngest son Menggu Boluo and also used Tümen, Nuantu, and Huanghutai to strike the border. That December Grand Coordinator Li Song had Battalion Commander Huo Jiugao grant them permission to trade at the tribute markets. Qinggianu and Yanggianu came to Zhenbei Pass with more than two thousand horsemen to pay homage. Song and Jiugao, alarmed by the size of their force, upbraided them until they agreed to enter with only three hundred horsemen. Song had already hidden armored troops nearby on the understanding that if the two leaders refused submission, a cannon shot would signal the ambush to rise. Before long the two leaders reached the pass and remained mounted in defiance; Song rebuked them, and when Jiugao ordered them to dismount their men suddenly drew swords and attacked Jiugao, killing more than ten of his attendants as well. At that the cannon fired, the hidden troops sprang up, killed the two leaders and their escort, and wiped out Qinggianu's son Wusun Boluo and Yanggianu's son Harhama as well. Hearing the cannon, Chengliang rushed beyond the border and fell on the horsemen left behind, taking more than fifteen hundred heads. The survivors sacrificed a white horse, piled their knives in pledge, and swore perpetual obedience before the army withdrew. His achievements were recorded, his stipend was raised by two hundred piculs, and his heir's hereditary rank was upgraded from assistant commander to commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. While Chengliang was out beyond the border, Chaohua and others swept into Puhe and Daning Fort with tens of thousands of horsemen. The garrison held them off for six days before they withdrew beyond the border.

十三年二月，把兔兒欲報父速把亥之怨，偕從父炒花、姑婿花大糾西部以兒鄧等以數萬騎入掠瀋陽。既退，駐牧遼河，聲犯開原、鐵嶺。成梁與巡撫李松潛為浮橋濟師，逾塞百五十里，疾掩其帳。寇已先覺，整眾逆戰。成梁為疊陣，親督前陣擊，而松以後陣繼之，斬首八百有奇。捷聞，增歲祿百石，改廕錦衣指揮使為都指揮使。其年五月，敵犯瀋陽，伏精騎塞下，誘官軍。遊擊韓元功追襲之，敗死。閏九月，諸部長復犯蒲河，殺裨將數人，大剽掠，而西部銀燈亦窺遼、瀋。成梁令部將李平胡出塞三百五十里，搗破銀燈營，斬首一百八級。諸部長聞之，始引去。十四年二月，士蠻部長一克灰正糾把兔兒、炒花、花大等三萬騎，約土蠻諸子共馳遼陽挾賞。成梁偵得之，率副將楊燮，參將李甯、李興、孫守廉以輕騎出鎮邊堡。晝伏夜行二百餘里，至可哥毋林。大風雷，敵不覺。既至，風日晴朗，敵大驚，發矢如雨。將士冒死陷陣，獲首功九百，斬其長二十四人。其年十月，敵七八萬騎犯鎮夷諸堡，閱五日始去。十五年春，東西部連營入犯。其秋八月，復以七八萬騎犯鎮夷堡。十月，把漢大成糾土蠻十萬騎由鎮夷、大清二堡入，數日始出。

In the second month of year thirteen, Batu'er sought revenge for his father Subanhai; with his uncle Chaohua and his aunt's husband Huada he rallied Yierdeng and other western leaders and swept into Shenyang with tens of thousands of horsemen. After pulling back they camped along the Liao River, threatening Kaiyuan and Tieling. Chengliang and Grand Coordinator Li Song secretly threw a pontoon bridge across the river, marched a hundred fifty li beyond the border, and fell swiftly on the enemy camp. The enemy had already sensed the move, formed up, and met them in battle. Chengliang deployed in echelon, led the front line himself, and Song brought up the rear; they took more than eight hundred heads. When victory was reported, his stipend rose by one hundred piculs and his heir's hereditary rank was upgraded from Embroidered Uniform Guard commander to regional commander. That May the enemy struck Shenyang, hiding picked cavalry below the pass to bait the Ming forces. Mobile Corps Commander Han Yuangong gave chase, was ambushed, and killed. In the intercalary ninth month the chieftains raided Puhe again, killed several junior officers, and looted heavily, while the western leader Yindeng also probed Liaoyang and Shenyang. Chengliang sent Li Pinghu three hundred fifty li beyond the border to smash Yindeng's camp and take one hundred eight heads. When the other chieftains heard of it, they withdrew. In the second month of year fourteen, Tümen's chieftain Yikehuizheng mustered Batu'er, Chaohua, Huada, and others—thirty thousand horsemen—and agreed with Tümen's sons to ride on Liaoyang to demand payment. Chengliang learned of the plan through scouts and led Vice Commander Yang Xie and Regional Vice Commanders Li Ning, Li Xing, and Sun Shoulian with light cavalry out of Zhenbian Fort. They hid by day, marched by night for more than two hundred li, and reached Kegewulin. A violent storm masked their approach, and the enemy never noticed. When they struck, the sky had cleared; the enemy panicked and loosed arrows like rain. Officers and men charged at the risk of their lives, claiming nine hundred heads and killing twenty-four enemy leaders. That October seventy or eighty thousand horsemen assaulted the forts around Zhenyi and did not withdraw for five days. In the spring of year fifteen the eastern and western tribes joined forces and invaded together. That autumn, in the eighth month, they returned with seventy or eighty thousand horsemen against Zhenyi Fort. In the tenth month Bahandacheng gathered one hundred thousand of Tümen's horsemen and entered through Zhenyi and Daqing; they did not withdraw for several days.

北關既被創，後清佳砮子卜寨與楊吉砮子那林孛羅漸強盛，數與南關虎兒罕子歹商構兵。成梁以南關勢弱，謀討北關以輔翊之。明年五月，率師直搗其巢。卜寨走，與那林孛羅合，憑城守。城四重，攻之不下。用巨砲擊之，碎其外郛，遂拔二城，斬馘五百餘級。卜寨等請降，設誓不復叛，乃班師。

After the Northern Pass clans had been crippled, Qinggianu's son Bozhai and Yanggianu's son Nalin Boluo grew steadily stronger and repeatedly allied with Hurhan's son Daishang of the Southern Pass for war. Seeing the Southern Pass weakened, Chengliang planned to strike the Northern Pass to bolster it. The next May he led his army straight against their stronghold. Bozhai fled, joined Nalin Boluo, and held the walled town. The town had four rings of walls and resisted assault. They battered the outer walls with heavy cannon, took two towns, and claimed more than five hundred heads. Bozhai and the others sued for peace, swore not to rebel again, and the army withdrew.

十七年三月，敵犯義州，復入太平堡，把總硃永壽等一軍盡沒。九月，腦毛大合白洪大、長昂三萬騎復犯平虜堡，備禦李有年、把總馮文升皆戰死，成梁選鋒沒者數百人。敵大掠瀋陽蒲河、榆林，八日始去。明年二月，卜言台周，黃台吉，大、小委正結西部叉漢塔塔兒五萬余騎復深入遼、瀋、海、蓋。成梁潛遣兵出塞襲之，遇伏，死者千人。成梁乃報首功二百八十，得增祿廕。土蠻族弟士墨台豬借西部青把都、恰不慎及長昂、滾兔十萬騎深入海州。成梁不敢擊，縱掠數日而去。十九年閏三月，成梁乘給事侯先春閱視，謀邀搗巢功，使副將李甯等出鎮夷堡潛襲板升，殺二百八十人。師還遇敵，死者數千人。成梁及總督蹇達不以聞。巡按御史胡克儉盡發其先後欺罔狀，語多侵政府。疏雖不行，成梁由是不安於位。及先春還朝，詆尤力，帝意頗動。成梁再疏辭疾，言者亦踵至。其年十一月，帝竟從御史張鶴鳴言，解成梁任，以甯遠伯奉朝請。明年，哱拜反寧夏，御史梅國楨請用成梁，給事中王德完持不可，乃寢。

In the third month of year seventeen the enemy struck Yizhou, broke into Taiping Fort, and Company Commander Zhu Yongshou's whole detachment was destroyed. In the ninth month Naomao Da, Baihong Da, and Chang'ang struck Pinglu Fort again with thirty thousand horsemen; Battalion Commander Li Younian and Company Commander Feng Wensheng were killed, and several hundred of Chengliang's picked troops died as well. The enemy looted Shenyang, Puhe, and Yulin for eight days before withdrawing. The next February Buyan Taiju, Huang Taiji, the Daweizheng and Xiaoweizheng brothers, and the western leader Chahantatar united more than fifty thousand horsemen and again plunged deep into Liaoyang, Shenyang, Haizhou, and Gaizhou. Chengliang secretly sent troops beyond the border to hit them, walked into an ambush, and lost a thousand men. Chengliang nevertheless reported two hundred eighty heads and received a higher stipend and hereditary grant. Tümen's kinsman Shimotai Zhu, with the western leaders Qingbadu and Qiaobushen and with Chang'ang and Gunu, led one hundred thousand horsemen deep into Haizhou. Chengliang did not dare give battle and let them loot for several days before they withdrew. In the intercalary third month of year nineteen, while Supervising Secretary Hou Xianchun was on an inspection tour, Chengliang schemed for a merit-granting raid and sent Vice Commander Li Ning and others from Zhenyi Fort to strike Bansheng by surprise, killing two hundred eighty men. On the march home they ran into the enemy and lost several thousand men. Chengliang and Governor-General Jian Da kept the losses from the throne. Touring Censor Hu Kejian laid bare his pattern of deceit, and his memorials often struck at the court itself. Though the memorial was not adopted, Chengliang was no longer secure in his post. When Xianchun returned to court his attacks were especially fierce, and the emperor began to waver. Chengliang memorialized again to resign on grounds of illness, and critics piled on one after another. That November the emperor at last took Censor Zhang Heming's advice, removed Chengliang from command, and kept him at court as Earl of Ningyuan with no active duty. The next year, when Pai Bai rebelled in Ningxia, Censor Mei Guozhen urged that Chengliang be recalled; Supervising Secretary Wang Dewan objected, and the proposal died.

成梁鎮遼二十二年，先後奏大捷者十，帝輒祭告郊廟，受廷臣賀，蟒衣金繒歲賜稠疊。邊帥武功之盛，二百年來未有也。其始銳意封拜，師出必捷，威振絕域。已而位望益隆，子弟盡列崇階，僕隸無不榮顯。貴極而驕，奢侈無度。軍貲、馬價、鹽課、市賞，歲幹沒不貲，全遼商民之利盡籠入己。以是灌輸權門，結納朝士，中外要人，無不飽其重賕，為之左右。每一奏捷，內自閣部，外自督撫而下，大者進官廕子，小亦增俸賚金。恩施優渥，震耀當世。而其戰功率在塞外，易為緣飾。若敵入內地，則以堅壁清野為詞，擁兵觀望；甚或掩敗為功，殺良民冒級。閣部共為蒙蔽，督撫、監司稍忤意，輒排去之，不得舉其法。先後巡按陳登雲、許守恩廉得其殺降冒功狀，擬論奏之，為巡撫李松、顧養謙所沮止。既而物議沸騰，御史硃應轂、給事中任應徵、僉事李琯交章抨擊。事頗有跡，卒賴奧援，反詰責言者。及申時行、許國、王錫爵相繼謝政，成梁失內主，遂以去位。

Chengliang held Liaodong for twenty-two years and reported ten great victories; each time the emperor sacrificed at the suburban altars, accepted congratulations from the court, and showered him with python robes and gold brocade year after year. No frontier commander in two hundred years had matched such a record of military glory. At first he was hungry for honors; his campaigns always succeeded, and his fame reached the farthest frontiers. In time his standing rose ever higher; his sons and brothers filled the highest ranks, and even his servants rode on privilege. At the height of his power he turned arrogant and spent without limit. Military funds, horse prices, salt levies, and market bounties—year after year he skimmed sums beyond counting, and monopolized every profit that traders and commoners in Liaodong might have made. With this wealth he bought off powerful families and courtiers alike; no influential figure inside or outside the government escaped his lavish bribes or failed to plead his cause. Every victory he reported brought rewards all down the line—from the Grand Secretariat to the frontier governors: the senior were promoted and their sons enfeoffed, the junior received raises and gold. Imperial favor was lavish beyond measure, and his glory dazzled the age. Yet most of his fighting took place beyond the border, where accounts were easy to dress up. When the enemy penetrated inland he cited the doctrine of strengthening walls and clearing the countryside while holding his troops back to watch; and in the worst cases he turned defeat into victory and killed peaceful civilians to claim merit heads. The Grand Secretariat and ministries shielded him together; any governor, coordinator, or surveillance commissioner who crossed him was driven out before he could be prosecuted. Touring censors Chen Dengyun and Xu Shou'en in turn uncovered his practice of killing surrendering men and claiming false merit and prepared indictments, but Grand Coordinators Li Song and Gu Yangqian blocked them. Before long public outrage boiled over, and Censor Zhu Yinggu, Supervising Secretary Ren Yingzheng, and Vice Commissioner Li Guan bombarded the court with memorials against him. The charges had substance, yet thanks to powerful patrons at court, the accusers themselves were rebuked. Once Shen Shixing, Xu Guo, and Wang Xijue had left office in turn, Chengliang lost his protectors at court and was forced to step down.

成梁諸戰功率藉健兒。其後健兒李平胡、李甯、李興、秦得倚、孫守廉輩皆富貴，擁專城。暮氣難振，又轉相掊克，士馬蕭耗。迨成梁去遼，十年之間更易八帥，邊備益弛。

In most of his battles, Chengliang depended on his private corps of elite fighters. Later those valiant soldiers—Li Pinghu, Li Ning, Li Xing, Qin Deyi, Sun Shoulian, and others—grew rich and powerful, each commanding a city of his own. The army had sunk into lethargy; the commanders preyed on one another, and men and horses dwindled away. After Chengliang left Liaodong, eight commanders succeeded one another in a decade, and frontier defenses steadily decayed.

二十九年八月，馬林獲罪。大學士沈一貫言成梁雖老，尚堪將兵。乃命再鎮遼東，年已七十有六矣。是時，土蠻、長昂及把兔兒已死，寇鈔漸稀。而開原、廣寧之前復開馬、木二市。諸部耽市賞利，爭就款。以故成梁復鎮八年，遼左少事。以閱視敘勞，加至太傅。

In the eighth month of year twenty-nine, Ma Lin was punished for an offense. Grand Secretary Shen Yiguan argued that despite his age, Chengliang remained fit to lead armies. He was therefore sent back to command Liaodong, though he was already seventy-six. By then Tumen, Chang Ang, and Batuer had all died, and raids across the border grew infrequent. The horse and timber markets were reopened near Kaiyuan and Guangning. The tribes coveted the profits of trade and competed to make peace. Chengliang therefore held command for another eight years, and eastern Liaodong saw little trouble. After frontier inspections and merit reviews, he was promoted to Grand Tutor.

當萬曆初元時，兵部侍郎汪道昆閱邊，成梁獻議移建孤山堡于張其哈剌佃，險山堡於寬佃，沿江新安四堡於長佃、長嶺諸處，仍以孤山、險山二參將戍之，可拓地七八百里，益收耕牧之利。道昆上於朝，報可。自是生聚日繁，至六萬四千餘戶。及三十四年，成梁以地孤懸難守，與督、撫蹇達、趙楫建議棄之，盡徙居民于內地。居民戀家室，則以大軍驅迫之，死者狼籍。成梁等反以招復逃人功，增秩受賞。兵科給事中宋一韓力言棄地非策。巡按御史熊廷弼勘奏如一韓言，一韓復連章極論。帝素眷成梁，悉留中不下。久之卒，年九十。

In Wanli's first year, Vice Minister of War Wang Daokun toured the frontier. Chengliang proposed moving Gushan Fort to Zhangqihala tuntian, Xianshan Fort to Kuantun, and relocating the four Xin'an forts along the river to Changtun, Changling, and nearby sites, with vice commanders garrisoning Gushan and Xianshan—thereby opening seven or eight hundred li of land and reaping greater gains from agriculture and grazing. Wang submitted the plan to court and received approval. Settlers multiplied until the region held more than sixty-four thousand households. In year thirty-four, Chengliang joined Supreme Commander Jian Da and Grand Coordinator Zhao Ji in urging abandonment, citing the land's exposed position; all settlers were driven into the interior. The people clung to their homes; the army drove them out by force, and corpses littered the roads. Chengliang and his colleagues were nonetheless rewarded with promotions for having "recalled fugitives." Supervising Secretary Song Yihan of the military affairs section vehemently argued that abandoning the land was a fatal mistake. Touring Censor Xiong Tingbi investigated and reported as Song Yihan had warned; Song Yihan followed with a series of impassioned memorials. The emperor, who had always favored Chengliang, suppressed every memorial and let none reach the open court. He died at last, aged ninety.

弟成材，參將。

His younger brother Chengcai held the rank of vice commander.

子如松、如柏、如楨、如樟、如梅皆總兵官；如梓、如梧、如桂、如楠亦皆至參將。

His sons Rusong, Rubai, Ruzhen, Ruzhang, and Rumei all became regional commanders; Ruzi, Ruwu, Rugui, and Runnan rose to vice commander as well.

子如松

His son Rusong

如松，字子茂，成梁長子。以父廕為都指揮同知，充甯遠伯勳衛。驍果敢戰，少從父諳兵機。再遷署都督僉事，為神機營右副將。萬曆十一年，出為山西總兵官。給事中黃道瞻等數言如松父子不當並居重鎮，大學士申時行請保全之，乃召僉書右府。尋提督京城巡捕。給事中邵庶嘗劾如松及其弟副總兵如柏不法，且請稍抑，以全終始，不納。十五年，復以總兵官鎮宣府。巡撫許守謙閱操，如松引坐與並。參政王學書卻之，語不相下，幾攘臂。巡按御史王之棟因劾如松驕橫，並詆學書，帝為兩奪其俸。已復被論，給事中葉初春請改調之，乃命與山西李迎恩更鎮。其後，軍政拾遺，給事中閱視，數遭論劾。帝終眷之，不為動，召僉書中府。

Li Rusong, style name Zimao, was Chengliang's eldest son. Through his father's privilege he entered office as vice commissioner of the regional military commission and served in the hereditary guard of the Earl of Ningyuan. Bold and battle-hardened, he had learned the art of war at his father's side since boyhood. He was promoted to acting vice commissioner of the chief military commission and appointed deputy commander of the Divine Engine Corps. In Wanli year eleven he was appointed regional commander of Shanxi. Supervising Secretary Huang Daozhan and others protested that father and son should not hold major frontier commands together; Grand Secretary Shen Shixing interceded to protect him, and Rusong was recalled to a secretarial post in the right office of the military commission. He was soon appointed to direct the capital's patrol police. Supervising Secretary Shao Shu once impeached Rusong and his younger brother Rubai, vice regional commander, for misconduct and urged that their power be curbed for their own good; the plea was rejected. In year fifteen he returned to Xuanfu as regional commander. When Grand Coordinator Xu Shouqian reviewed the troops on parade, Rusong insisted on seating him as an equal. Vice Commissioner Wang Xueshu refused; the exchange grew heated and nearly came to blows. Touring Censor Wang Zhidong impeached Rusong for arrogance and criticized Xueshu as well; the emperor docked both men's salaries. Criticism mounted again; Supervising Secretary Ye Chuchun urged a transfer, and Rusong was ordered to swap posts with Li Ying'en of Shanxi. Thereafter lapses in military administration brought repeated impeachments from supervising secretaries on inspection tours. The emperor's favor never wavered; Rusong was recalled to a secretarial post in the central military commission.

二十年，哱拜反寧夏，御史梅國楨薦如松大將才，其弟如梅、如樟並年少英傑，宜令討賊。乃命如松為提督陝西討逆軍務總兵官，即以國楨監之。武臣有提督，自如松始也。已命盡統遼東、宣府、大同、山西諸道援軍。六月抵寧夏。如松以權任既重，不欲受總督制，事輒專行。兵科許弘綱等以為非制，尚書石星亦言如松敕書受督臣節度，不得自專，帝乃下詔申飭。先是，諸將董一奎、麻貴等數攻城不下。如松至，攻益力。用布囊三萬，實以土，踐之登，為砲石所卻。如樟夜攀雲梯上，不克。遊擊龔子敬提苗兵攻南關，如松乘勢將登，亦不克，乃決策水攻。拜窘，遣養子克力蓋往勾套寇，如松令部將李寧追斬之。已，套寇以萬余騎至張亮堡。如松力戰，手斬士卒畏縮者，寇竟敗去。水侵北關，城崩。如松及蕭如薰等佯擊北關誘賊，而潛以銳師襲南關，攀雲梯而上。拜及子承恩自斬叛黨劉東暘、許朝乞貸死。於是如松先登，如薰及麻貴、劉承嗣等繼之，盡滅拜族。錄功，進都督，世廕錦衣指揮同知。

In year twenty, when Pai Bai rebelled in Ningxia, Censor Mei Guozhen recommended Rusong as a commander of exceptional talent and urged that his young brothers Rumei and Ruzhang join the campaign. Rusong was appointed supreme commander of Shaanxi military affairs against the rebels, with Mei Guozhen as supervising censor. Rusong was the first military officer to receive the title of supreme commander. He was soon placed in command of all relief forces from Liaodong, Xuanfu, Datong, and Shanxi. He reached Ningxia in the sixth month. Rusong's authority was vast, and he resented taking orders from the governor-general; on nearly every matter he acted alone. Xu Honggang and others protested that this violated precedent; Minister of War Shi Xing reminded the court that Rusong's commission required him to obey the governor-general; the emperor issued an edict rebuking him. Generals Dong Yikui, Ma Gui, and others had already assaulted the city several times without success. Rusong's arrival intensified the assault. Thirty thousand earth-filled sacks were piled to scale the walls, but cannon fire drove the attackers back. Ruzhang led a night assault up scaling ladders but failed. Mobile corps commander Gong Zijing attacked the south gate with Miao troops; Rusong pressed the assault but was likewise repulsed, and turned to flooding the city. Cornered, Pai Bai sent his adopted son Keligai to summon Ordos allies; Rusong sent Li Ning in pursuit, who caught and killed him. Soon more than ten thousand Ordos horsemen reached Zhangliang Fort. Rusong fought fiercely, personally executing troops who flinched; the raiders were routed. Floodwaters breached the north gate and brought down the wall. Rusong and Xiao Ruxun staged a feint at the north gate while elite troops stormed the south wall on scaling ladders. Pai Bai and his son Chengen executed their lieutenants Liu Dongyang and Xu Chao and pleaded for their own lives. Rusong was first over the wall; Ruxun, Ma Gui, Liu Chengsi, and others followed, and Pai Bai's clan was wiped out. His achievements were entered on the rolls; he was promoted to regional commander-in-chief, with hereditary rank as vice commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

會朝鮮倭患棘，詔如松提督薊、遼、保定、山東諸軍，克期東征。弟如柏、如梅並率師援剿。如松新立功，氣益驕，與經略宋應昌不相下。故事，大帥初見督師，甲胄庭謁，出易冠帶，始加禮貌。如松用監司謁督撫儀，素服側坐而已。十二月，如松至軍，沈惟敬自倭歸，言倭酋行長願封，請退平壤迄西，以大同江為界。如松叱惟敬憸邪，欲斬之。參謀李應試曰：「藉惟敬紿倭封，而陰襲之，奇計也。」如松以為然，乃置惟敬于營，誓師渡江。

Just then the Japanese invasion of Korea grew urgent; Rusong was ordered to command the armies of Ji, Liaodong, Baoding, and Shandong for an eastern campaign on a fixed schedule. His brothers Rubai and Rumei marched with their own forces to join the campaign. Fresh from victory, Rusong grew insufferably arrogant and refused to defer to Commissioner Song Yingchang. By custom a commander meeting his supervising commissioner for the first time appeared in armor to perform obeisance in the courtyard, then changed into formal dress before civilities were exchanged. Rusong greeted Song with the perfunctory ceremony a surveillance commissioner owed a governor—plain clothes and a seat to one side. In the twelfth month Rusong reached the front. Shen Weijing had returned from negotiations saying Hideyoshi sought investiture and offered to withdraw west of Pyongyang as far as the Taedong River. Rusong denounced Shen Weijing as a devious mediator and nearly had him executed. Staff officer Li Yingshi said, "Use Shen Weijing to lure the Japanese with promises of investiture, then strike in secret—that is a brilliant stratagem. Rusong agreed, kept Shen Weijing in camp, and led the army across the river after a solemn oath.

二十一年正月四日，師次肅寧館。行長以為封使將至，遣牙將二十人來迎，如松檄遊擊李寧生縛之。倭猝起格鬥，僅獲三人，餘走還。行長大駭，復遣所親信小西飛來謁，如松慰遣之。六日，次平壤。行長猶以為封使也，踔風月樓以待，群倭花衣夾道迎。如松分佈諸軍，抵平壤城，諸將逡巡未入，形大露，倭悉登陴拒守。是夜，襲如柏營，擊卻之。明旦，如松下令諸軍無割首級，攻圍缺東面。以倭素易朝鮮軍，令副將祖承訓詭為其裝，潛伏西南。令遊擊吳惟忠攻迄北牡丹峰。而如松親提大軍直抵城下，攻其東南。倭砲矢如雨，軍少卻。如松斬先退者以徇。募死士，援鉤梯直上。倭方輕南面朝鮮軍，承訓等乃卸裝露明甲。倭大驚，急分兵捍拒，如松已督副將楊元等軍自小西門先登，如柏等亦從大西門入。火器併發，煙焰蔽空。惟忠中砲傷胸，猶奮呼督戰。如松馬斃于砲，易馬馳，墮塹，躍而上，麾兵益進。將士無不一當百，遂克之。獲首功千二百有奇。倭退保風月樓。夜半，行長渡大同江，遁還龍山。甯及參將查大受率精卒三千潛伏東江間道，復斬級三百六十。乘勝逐北。十九日，如柏遂復開城。所失黃海、平安、京畿、江源四道並復。酋清正據鹹鏡，亦遁還王京。

On the fourth day of the first month, year twenty-one, the army encamped at Suning Lodge. Hideyoshi, expecting investiture envoys, sent twenty officers to welcome them; Rusong ordered Mobile Corps Commander Li Ningsheng to seize them. The Japanese fought back; only three were taken, the rest escaped. Hideyoshi was shaken and sent his confidant Konishi Yukinaga; Rusong put him at ease and dismissed him. On the sixth they reached Pyongyang. Hideyoshi still believed them to be investiture envoys; he waited at Moonlight Tower while Japanese officers in ceremonial robes lined the streets to welcome them. Rusong deployed his forces before the city, but his generals hesitated at the gates; the ruse was exposed, and the Japanese manned the walls. That night they raided Rubai's camp but were driven off. At dawn Rusong forbade his men to pursue heads for merit and ordered a concentrated assault on the east. Knowing the Japanese held Korean troops in contempt, he sent Vice Commander Zu Chengxun's men forward disguised as Korean soldiers, lying in wait to the southwest. Mobile Corps Commander Wu Weizhong was ordered to attack Peony Peak on the north. Rusong personally led the main force to the southeast wall. A storm of Japanese fire forced the army to give ground. Rusong executed the first men to retreat as an example. He rallied volunteers who stormed the walls on grappling hooks. The Japanese, still treating the southern force as Koreans, were stunned when Chengxun's men threw off their disguises and revealed Ming armor. Panicked, the Japanese divided their forces; Rusong had already led Yang Yuan's men over the Small West Gate, while Rubai entered through the Great West Gate. Volleys of firearms filled the sky with smoke and flame. Wu Weizhong took a cannonball to the chest yet continued shouting orders. Rusong's horse was killed by cannon fire; he mounted another, fell into a moat, clawed his way out, and drove his men forward. His men fought as ten against one, and the city fell. More than twelve hundred enemy heads were counted for merit. The survivors fell back to Moonlight Tower. At midnight Hideyoshi crossed the Taedong and fled to Ryongsan. Li Ning and Vice Commander Zha Dashou, with three thousand elite troops in ambush on a river path, cut down another three hundred sixty heads. They pressed the pursuit in triumph. On the nineteenth Rubai recovered Kaesong. The four lost provinces—Hwanghae, Pyeongan, Gyeonggi, and Gangwon—were all restored. Kato Kiyomasa, who still held Hamgyeong, also fled back to Seoul.

官軍既連勝，有輕敵心。二十七日再進師。朝鮮人以賊棄王京告。如松信之，將輕騎趨碧蹄館。距王京三十里，猝遇倭，圍數重。如松督部下鏖戰。一金甲倭搏如松急，指揮李有聲殊死救，被殺。如柏、寧等奮前夾擊，如梅射金甲倭墜馬，楊元兵亦至，斫重圍入，倭乃退，官軍喪失甚多。會天久雨，騎入稻畦中不得逞。倭背嶽山，面漢水，聯營城中，廣樹飛樓，箭砲不絕，官軍乃退駐開城。二月既望，諜報倭以二十萬眾入寇。如松令元軍平壤，扼大同江，接餉道；如柏等軍寶山諸處為聲援；大受軍臨津；留寧、承訓軍開城；而身自東西調度。聞倭將平秀嘉據龍山倉，積粟數十萬，密令大受率死士從間焚之。倭遂乏食。

After successive victories the Ming army grew overconfident. On the twenty-seventh they marched again. Korean informants reported that the Japanese had abandoned the capital. Rusong believed them and rode ahead with a light cavalry force toward Byeokjegwan. Thirty li from Seoul they suddenly ran into Japanese forces and were encircled on every side. Rusong fought at the head of his men in a desperate engagement. A Japanese warrior in golden armor closed on Rusong; Commander Li Yousheng threw himself into the melee to save him and was killed. Rubai and Li Ning struck from the flanks, Rumei shot down the golden-armored warrior, and Yang Yuan's troops hacked their way in—forcing the Japanese to withdraw at the cost of heavy Ming casualties. Prolonged rains turned the paddies to mud and left the cavalry helpless. The Japanese entrenched on Namsan above the Han, linked camps throughout the city, and rained arrows and cannon fire from siege towers until the Ming army pulled back to Kaesong. At the mid-month full moon, intelligence claimed two hundred thousand Japanese were on the move. Rusong posted Yang Yuan at Pyongyang to hold the Taedong and keep the supply line open; Rubai took up positions around Mount Bao to support the main force; Zha Dashou held the Imjin line; Li Ning and Zu Chengxun remained at Kaesong; while he personally shuttled between the wings to direct operations. Learning that a Japanese commander held the Ryongsan granaries with hundreds of thousands of bushels of rice, he sent Zha Dashou with picked men on a secret raid to burn them. The Japanese soon ran short of provisions.

初，官軍捷平壤，鋒銳甚，不復問封貢事。及碧蹄敗衄，如鬆氣大索，應昌、如松急欲休息，而倭亦芻糧並絕，且懲平壤之敗，有歸志，於是惟敬款議復行。四月十八日，倭棄王京遁，如松與應昌入城，遣兵渡漢江尾倭後，將擊其惰歸。倭步步為營，分番迭休，官軍不敢擊。倭乃結營釜山，為久留計。時兵部尚書石星力主封貢，議撤兵，獨留劉綎拒守。如松乃以十二月班師。論功，加太子太保，增歲祿百石。言者詆其和親辱國，屢攻擊之。帝不問。

After the victory at Pyongyang the Ming army was at its sharpest and gave no further thought to negotiated peace. After the rout at Byeokjegwan Rusong's confidence collapsed; he and Song Yingchang were eager to regroup, while the Japanese—short of supplies and chastened by Pyongyang—were ready to withdraw, and Shen Weijing's peace negotiations resumed. On the eighteenth of the fourth month the Japanese quit Seoul; Rusong and Song Yingchang entered the city and sent troops across the Han to harass the retreating enemy. The Japanese retreated in fortified stages, resting in relays, and the Ming army dared not attack. They fortified Busan, plainly intending to remain. War Minister Shi Xing pushed hard for a tributary settlement, arguing for withdrawal and leaving only Liu Ting to hold the line. Rusong withdrew his army in the twelfth month. For his service he was made Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent and granted an extra hundred piculs of annual grain. Critics denounced the peace as a national humiliation and attacked him repeatedly. The emperor paid them no heed.

二十五年冬，遼東總兵董一元罷，廷推者三，中旨特用如松。言路復交章力爭，帝置不報。如松感帝知，氣益奮。明年四月，土蠻寇犯遼東。如松率輕騎遠出搗巢，中伏力戰死。帝痛悼，令具衣冠歸葬，贈少保、甯遠伯，立祠，諡忠烈。以其弟如梅代為總兵官，授長子世忠錦衣衛指揮使，掌南鎮撫司，仍充甯遠伯勳衛，復廕一子本衛指揮使，世襲。恤典優渥，皆出特恩雲。世忠未久卒，無子。弟顯忠由廕曆遼東副總兵，當嗣爵，朝臣方惡李氏，無為言者。至崇禎中，如松妻武氏訴於朝。章下部議，竟寢。後莊烈帝念成梁功，顯忠子尊祖得嗣甯遠伯。闖賊陷京師，遇難。

In the winter of year twenty-five Dong Yiyuan was removed as Liaodong commander; though three candidates were nominated, the throne appointed Rusong by special edict. The censorate protested again in a flood of memorials, but the emperor ignored them. Grateful for the emperor's trust, Rusong fought with redoubled zeal. The following April the Tümen Mongols raided Liaodong. Rusong led a light cavalry force on a deep raid, walked into an ambush, and died fighting. Deeply mourning him, the emperor ordered him buried in full regalia, posthumously made him Junior Guardian and Baron of Ningyuan, raised a shrine, and gave him the posthumous name Zhonglie ("Loyal and Valiant"). His brother Li Rumei succeeded him as commander; his eldest son Shizhong was made an Embroidered-Uniform Guard commander and placed in the Southern Pacification Office, retaining the Ningyuan baron's hereditary guard, and another son was enfeoffed with a hereditary command in the same guard. The mourning honors were extraordinarily generous, all by special imperial favor. Shizhong died soon afterward without an heir. His younger brother Xianzhong, who had risen to deputy commander of Liaodong through enfeoffment, should have inherited the title, but the court despised the Li family and no one spoke on his behalf. In the Chongzhen era Rusong's widow Lady Wu petitioned the throne. The memorial was referred to the ministries, but the matter died in committee. Later the Chongzhen Emperor, remembering Li Chengliang's service, allowed Xianzhong's son Zunzu to succeed as Baron of Ningyuan. He perished when Li Zicheng's rebels took Beijing.

子如柏

His son: Li Rubai

如柏，字子貞，成梁第二子。由父廕為錦衣千戶。嘗與客會飲，砲聲徹大內，下吏免官。再以廕為指揮僉事。數從父出塞有功，曆密雲遊擊，黃花嶺參將，薊鎮副總兵。萬曆十六年，御史任養心言：「李氏兵權太盛。姻親廝養分操兵柄，環神京數千里，縱橫蟠據，不可動搖。如柏貪淫，跋扈尤甚。不早為計，恐生他變。」帝乃解如伯任。於是成梁上書乞罷，並請盡罷子弟官，帝慰留不許。久之，起故官，署宣府參將。引疾歸。

Li Rubai, courtesy name Zizhen, was Li Chengliang's second son. He entered service through his father's privilege as a chiliarch in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard. At a banquet with guests his fireworks thundered into the Forbidden City; the authorities stripped him of rank. He later regained office through enfeoffment as assistant commander. He campaigned beyond the passes with his father, later serving as mobile corps commander at Miyun, brigade commander at Yellow Flower Ridge, and deputy commander at Jizhou. In the sixteenth year of Wanli Censor Ren Yangxin memorialized: "The Li family's military power has grown excessive. Relatives and household clients command troops across thousands of li around the capital in a network no one can challenge. Rubai's greed and arrogance were worst of all. Unless something is done soon, I fear worse trouble will follow. The emperor then removed Rubai from office. Li Chengliang then asked to resign and to strip all his sons of their posts; the emperor refused and kept him in service. Eventually he was reinstated as acting brigade commander at Xuanfu. He resigned citing illness.

如松之禦倭朝鮮也，詔如柏署都督僉事，先率師赴援。既拔平壤，如柏疾趨開城，攻克之，斬首百六十有奇。師旋，進都督同知，為五軍營副將。尋出為貴州總兵官。二十三年，改鎮寧夏。著力兔犯平虜、橫城，如伯邀之，大獲，斬首二百七十有奇。進右都督。再以疾歸，家居二十餘年。會遼東總兵官張承廕戰歿，文武大臣英國公張惟賢等合疏薦如柏，詔以故官鎮遼東。蒙古炒花入犯，督諸將擊卻之。

When Rusong was sent to Korea, Rubai was named acting regional vice commander and ordered ahead with the relief force. After Pyongyang fell he rushed on Kaesong, took it, and counted more than one hundred sixty heads. On the army's return he was promoted to regional commander in chief and made deputy general of the Five Camps. He was soon posted as commander of Guizhou. In year twenty-three he was transferred to command Ningxia. When Zhali Tu raided Pinglu and Hengcheng, Rubai ambushed him for a major victory, taking more than two hundred seventy heads. He was promoted to Right Regional Commander. Illness sent him home again, where he lived in retirement for more than twenty years. When Zhang Chengyin was killed in action, Zhang Weixian and other ministers jointly recommended Rubai, and the throne restored him to command Liaodong. He led his officers to repulse an invasion by the Mongol leader Chahua.

始成梁、如松為將，厚畜健兒，故所向克捷。至是，父兄故部曲已無復存，而如柏暨諸弟放情酒色，亦無復少年英銳。特以李氏世將，起自廢籍中。顧如柏中情怯，惟左次避敵而已。我大清師臨河，如柏故引軍防懿路。及楊鎬四路出師，令如柏以一軍出鴉鶻關。甫抵虎攔路，鎬聞杜松、馬林兩軍已覆，急檄如柏還。大清哨兵二十人見之，登山鳴螺，作大軍追擊狀，如柏軍大驚，奔走相蹴死者千余人。御史給事中交章論劾，給事中李奇珍連疏爭尤力。帝終念李氏，詔還候勘。既入都，言者不已。如柏懼，遂自裁。

When Chengliang and Rusong commanded, they kept large corps of hardened warriors and rarely lost a battle. By then their father's veterans were gone, and Rubai and his brothers had squandered their youth in drink and women. They were restored only because the Lis were hereditary frontier commanders. Yet Rubai was timid at heart and would only take second rank to keep clear of the enemy. When the Qing army reached the river, Rubai kept his forces on the defensive at Yilu. In Yang Hao's four-pronged campaign Rubai was assigned one column through Yahu Pass. Rubai had barely reached Hulun when Yang Hao, learning that Du Song and Ma Lin had been destroyed, ordered him back. Twenty Qing scouts sighted them, climbed a hill, and blew horns as if a great host were pursuing; Rubai's panicked troops trampled one another to death—more than a thousand. Censors and supervising secretaries denounced him in a storm of memorials; Li Qizhen led the charge with repeated petitions. The emperor, still mindful of the Li family's service, recalled Rubai pending inquiry. Once he reached Beijing the attacks did not stop. In fear Rubai took his own life.

子如楨

His son: Li Ruzhen

如楨，成梁第三子。由父廕為指揮使。屢加至右都督，並在錦衣。嘗掌南、北鎮撫司，提督西司房，列環衛者四十年。最後，軍政拾遺，部議罷職，章久留不下。如楨雖將家子，然未曆行陣，不知兵。及兄如柏革任，遼人謂李氏世鎮遼東，邊人憚服，非再用李氏不可，巡撫周永春以為言。而是時如柏兄弟獨如楨在，兵部尚書黃嘉善遂徇其請，以如楨名上，帝即可之。時萬曆四十七年四月也。

Li Ruzhen was Li Chengliang's third son. He entered service through his father's privilege as a guard commander. He rose to Right Regional Commander while remaining in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard. He headed both the southern and northern Pacification Offices, supervised the Western Bureau, and served in the capital guard for forty years. Near the end a personnel review found grounds to remove him, but the memorial sat unreleased for a long time. Though born to a military family, Ruzhen had never seen combat and knew nothing of war. After Rubai was dismissed, Liaodong argued that only a Li could hold the frontier's respect; Grand Coordinator Zhou Yongchun said as much to the court. With Rubai gone, Huang Jiashan gave in to the plea and nominated Ruzhen; the emperor approved at once. This was in the fourth month of the forty-seventh year of Wanli.

如楨藉父兄勢，又自以錦衣近臣，不肯居人下。未出關，即遣使與總督汪可受講鈞禮，朝議譁然，嘉善亦特疏言之。如楨始怏怏去。既抵遼，經略楊鎬使守鐵嶺。鐵嶺故李氏宗族墳墓所在。當如柏還京，其族党部曲高貲者悉隨之而西，城中為空。後鎬以孤城難守，令如楨還屯瀋陽，僅以參將丁碧等防守，力益弱。大清兵臨城，如楨擁兵不救，城遂失。言官交章論列，經略熊廷弼亦論如楨十不堪，乃罷任。天啟初，言者復力攻，下獄論死。崇禎四年，帝念成梁勳，特免死充軍。

Trading on his family's influence and his position as a palace guards officer, Ruzhen refused to take orders from anyone. Before even leaving the capital he sent envoys to demand ceremonial parity with Governor-General Wang Keshou; the court was outraged, and Huang Jiashan filed a special protest. Ruzhen set out in sullen resentment. On reaching Liaodong Yang Hao stationed him at Tieling. Tieling was the ancestral seat of the Li clan. When Rubai left for Beijing his wealthy kinsmen and clients went with him, and Tieling was left hollow. Yang Hao later judged the city indefensible and moved Ruzhen to Shenyang, leaving only Ding Bi's brigade to hold Tieling—further weakening the garrison. When the Qing army came to Tieling, Ruzhen refused to move to its relief and the city was lost. Censors denounced him in droves; Xiong Tingbi listed ten reasons he was unfit for command, and he was removed. Early in the Tianqi reign critics renewed their attack; he was imprisoned and sentenced to death. In the fourth year of Chongzhen the emperor, remembering Li Chengliang's service, spared his life and sentenced him to military exile.

子如樟

His son Li Ruzhang.

如樟，亦由父廕，曆都指揮僉事。從兄如松征寧夏，先登有功，累進都督僉事。曆廣西、延綏總兵官。

Li Ruzhang likewise entered service through his father's hereditary privilege and eventually became an assistant regional commander. On his cousin Rusong's Ningxia campaign he led the first assault over the walls and was rewarded; he was promoted repeatedly until he became a regional vice commander. He held regional commands in Guangxi and then in Yan-sui.

子如梅

His son Li Rumei.

如梅，字子清。亦由父廕，曆都指揮僉事。從兄如松征日本，卻敵先登。屢遷遼東副總兵。二十四年，炒花、卜言兔將入犯，如梅謀先襲之。督部將方時新等出塞三百里，直搗其廬帳，斬首百餘級而還。明年，如梅與參政楊鎬謀復從鎮西堡出塞，潛襲敵營，失利，損部將十人，士卒百六十人。如梅以血戰重創，免罪。

Li Rumei, whose style name was Ziqing. He likewise entered service through his father's hereditary privilege and eventually became an assistant regional commander. On Rusong's campaign against Japan he repulsed the enemy and was first over the ramparts. He was promoted repeatedly until he became vice regional commander of Liaodong. In year twenty-four Chaohua and Buyantu were preparing a raid; Li Rumei proposed a preemptive strike. He led Fang Shixin and other officers three hundred li beyond the border in a direct attack on their camp, took over a hundred heads, and withdrew. The following year Rumei and Civil Participant Yang Hao planned another sortie from Zhenxi Fort to surprise the enemy camp; the attack failed, costing ten officers and a hundred and sixty men. Rumei had been badly wounded in fierce fighting and was spared punishment.

日本封事敗，其年八月，進署都督僉事，充禦倭副總兵，赴朝鮮援剿，時麻貴三路進師，令如梅將左軍，與右軍共攻蔚山。如梅偕參將楊登山騎兵先進，設伏海濱，而令遊擊擺賽以輕騎誘賊，斬首四百有奇，餘賊遁歸島山。副將陳寅冒矢石奮呼上，破柵兩重。至第三柵，垂拔，楊鎬為總理，宿與如梅昵，不欲寅功出其上，遽鳴金收軍。翊日，如梅至，攻之，不能拔。已而賊援至，如梅軍先奔，諸軍亦相繼潰。贊畫主事丁應泰劾鎬，並劾如梅當斬者二，當罪者十，帝不納。旋用為禦倭總兵官。會其兄如松戰歿，即命如梅馳代之。逾年，坐擁兵畏敵，劾罷。久之，起僉書左府。四十年，鎬巡撫遼東，力薦如梅為帥。不得，至以死爭。給事中麻僖、御史楊州鶴力持不可，乃止。

After the failed Japanese investiture negotiations, in the eighth month of that year he was made acting regional vice commander and deputy general for defense against Japan, and sent to Korea. Ma Gui was advancing in three columns and assigned Rumei the left wing to attack Ulsan together with the right. Rumei advanced first with Yang Dengshan's cavalry, laid ambushes along the coast, and sent Bai Sai with a light detachment to bait the Japanese—over four hundred were killed, and the survivors retreated to Waesan. Vice Commander Chen Yin charged under fire, shouting encouragement, and broke through two lines of palisades. At the third palisade, on the verge of capture, supreme coordinator Yang Hao—long friendly with Rumei and unwilling to see Chen Yin win greater glory—suddenly ordered a withdrawal. The next day Rumei took command and assaulted the position, but could not capture it. Japanese reinforcements soon arrived; Rumei's troops broke first, and the rest of the army followed in rout. Planning secretary Ding Yingtai impeached Yang Hao and charged Rumei with two capital crimes and ten lesser offenses, but the emperor took no action. Rumei was soon appointed regional commander for defense against Japan. When his brother Rusong fell in battle, Rumei was ordered to hurry north and succeed him. Within a year he was impeached for hoarding troops and shying from the enemy and was removed from command. After a long interval he was restored to a secretarial post in the left military commission. In year forty, as grand coordinator of Liaodong, Yang Hao pressed hard for Rumei to be made supreme commander. When he failed, he went so far as to threaten his own life over the appointment. Supervising Secretary Ma Xi and Censor Yang Zhouhe objected firmly, and the appointment was dropped.

成梁諸子，如松最果敢，有父風。其次稱如梅，然躁動，非大將才，獨楊鎬深信。後復倚任其兄如柏，卒以致敗。

Of Li Chengliang's sons, Rusong was the boldest and most resolute—very much in his father's mold. Rumei ranked next, but he was impulsive and restless, lacking the temperament of a great commander; only Yang Hao placed full faith in him. Yang Hao later leaned on his brother Rubai as well—and that dependence ultimately led to disaster.

麻貴，大同右衛人。父祿，嘉靖中為大同參將，從鎮帥劉漢襲板升，大獲。俺答圍右衛，祿與副將尚表固守，乘間擊斬其部長，寇乃引退。辛愛犯京東，祿以宣府副總兵入衛，與子遊擊錦並有卻敵功。

Ma Gui was a native of Datong Right Guard. His father Ma Lu had been a Datong assistant commander under Jiajing; he followed Regional Commander Liu Han on a raid against Bansheng and won a major victory. When Altan besieged Right Guard, Ma Lu and Vice Commander Shang Biao held the walls; catching an opening, they killed a tribal chief and drove the raiders off. When Xin'ai threatened the eastern capital, Ma Lu marched east as Xuanfu vice commander; he and his son Jin both distinguished themselves in repelling the invasion.

貴由舍人從軍，積功至都指揮僉事，充宣府遊擊將軍。隆慶中，遷大同新平堡參將。寇大入，掠山陰、懷仁、應州。將吏並獲罪，獨貴與兄副將錦拒戰有功，受賞。萬曆初，再遷大同副總兵。十年冬，以都督僉事充寧夏總兵官。無何，徙鎮大同。時諸部納款久，撦力克襲封順義王，奉中國益虔。貴頻以安邊勞蒙賜賚。

Ma Gui entered service as a garrison attendant, rose through merit to assistant regional commander, and was appointed mobile corps commander of Xuanfu. Under Longqing he became assistant commander at Xinping Fort, Datong. Raiders poured in, pillaging Shanyin, Huairen, and Ying Prefecture. Most officers were punished; only Ma Gui and his elder brother Jin were rewarded for holding the line in battle. Early in Wanli he was promoted again to vice regional commander of Datong. In the winter of year ten he became regional commander of Ningxia with the rank of regional vice commander. Soon afterward he was reassigned to command Datong. The border tribes had been at peace for years; Chelik inherited the Shunyi princedom and professed ever deeper loyalty to the Ming. Ma Gui was repeatedly honored with imperial gifts for keeping the frontier quiet.

十九年，為閱視少卿曾乾亨所劾，謫戍邊。明年，寧夏哱拜反。廷議貴健將知兵，且多畜家丁，乃起戍中為副將，總兵討賊。屢攻城不克。其五月，哱拜以套寇五百騎圍平虜堡，貴選精卒三百間道馳卻之。俄以總督魏學曾命撫著力兔、銀定、宰僧於橫城，啖以重利，皆不應，貴乃還攻城。寧夏總兵董一奎攻其南，固原總兵李昫攻其西，故總兵劉承嗣攻其北，牛秉忠攻其東，貴以遊兵主策應。哱拜自北門出戰，將往勾套部，貴逐之入城，別遣將馬孔英、麻承詔等擊套寇援兵，俘斬百二十人。拜初與套部深相結，諸部長稱之為王。日坐著力兔帳中，主籌畫，至是不敢復出。俄朝命蕭如薰代董一奎，盡將諸道援兵，以貴為副。而李如松軍亦至，攻益急。賊奉黃金、繡蟒于卜失兔等，請急徇靈州，先據下馬關，沮餉道。卜失兔與莊禿賴果合兵犯定邊，而宰僧從花馬池西沙湃入。貴迎擊，挫宰僧于石溝。會董一元搗土昧巢，諸部長俱解去。賊復乞援於著力兔，擁眾大入。如松率勁騎迎戰張亮堡，自卯迄巳，敵銳甚。會貴及李如樟等兵至，夾擊之，寇乃卻。逐北至賀蘭山，獲首級百二十餘。持示賊，賊益洶懼。無何城破，賊盡平。貴以功增秩，子予。尋擢總兵官，鎮守延綏。

In year nineteen, Junior Minister Zeng Qianheng impeached him, and he was exiled to frontier garrison duty. The following year Pai Bai rebelled in Ningxia. The court judged Ma Gui a tough, experienced commander with a large personal following; he was recalled from exile as deputy and supreme commander to crush the rebellion. Repeated assaults on the city failed. In the fifth month Pai Bai sent five hundred Ordos cavalry to invest Pinglu Fort; Ma Gui picked three hundred elite troops, took a back route, and drove them off. Grand Coordinator Wei Xueceng then ordered Ma Gui to win over Zhulitu, Yinding, and Zaiseng at Hengcheng with rich rewards; when they refused, he resumed the siege. Dong Yikui of Ningxia assailed the south, Li Xu of Guyuan the west, the former commander Liu Chengsi the north, and Niu Bingzhong the east, while Ma Gui's mobile detachments coordinated the encirclement. Pai Bai sallied from the north gate to summon Ordos allies; Ma Gui drove him back inside and sent Ma Kongying and Ma Chengzhao against the relief column, killing or capturing a hundred and twenty. Pai Bai had once been closely allied with the Ordos chiefs, who addressed him as their king. He spent his days in Zhulitu's tent directing strategy—until he no longer dared leave it. The court soon replaced Dong Yikui with Xiao Ruxun, uniting all relief columns under his command with Ma Gui as his second. Li Rusong's army arrived as well, and the pressure on the city intensified. The rebels sent gold and brocade robes to Bushitu and others, urging a rapid thrust toward Lingzhou and seizure of Xiamaguan to cut Ming supply lines. Bushitu and Zhuang Tülai joined forces and struck Dingbian, while Zaiseng entered west of Huamachi via Xishapo. Ma Gui intercepted them and defeated Zaiseng at Shigou. Meanwhile Dong Yiyuan raided the Ordos base at Tumei, and the tribal chiefs withdrew. The rebels appealed again to Zhulitu, who led a large force back into Ming territory. Rusong met them at Zhangliang Fort with elite cavalry; from dawn through mid-morning the enemy fought fiercely. When Ma Gui and Li Ruzhang arrived with reinforcements, the Ming forces caught the raiders in a pincer and drove them back. The pursuit reached Helan Mountain, yielding more than a hundred and twenty heads. Ma Gui displayed the trophies to the besieged garrison, who grew ever more panicked. The city soon fell and the rebellion was crushed. Ma Gui was promoted for his service and his son received honors. He was soon made regional commander of Yan-sui.

二十二年七月，卜失兔糾諸部深入定邊，營張春井。貴乘虛搗其帳於套中，斬首二百五十有奇。還自寧塞，復邀其零騎。會寇留內地久，轉掠至下馬關。寧夏總兵蕭如薰不能禦，總督葉夢熊急檄貴赴援。督副將蕭如蘭等連戰曬馬台、薛家窪，斬首二百三十有奇，獲畜產萬五千。帝為告廟宣捷，進署都督同知，予世廕。明年，卜失兔復入塞，掠八日而還。順義王撦力克約之納款，不從，復擬大入。貴勒兵萬五千人：遊擊閻逢時等出紅山為中軍，參將師以律等出高家堡、神木、孤山為左軍，參將孫朝梁等出定邊、安邊、平山為右軍，而自以大軍當一面。銜枚疾趨，逾塞六十里。寇莫知所防，大潰。俘斬四百有奇，獲馬駝牛羊千五百。再進秩，予廕。尋以病歸。

In the seventh month of year twenty-two Bushitu rallied the tribes for a deep strike into Dingbian and camped at Zhangchun Well. Ma Gui exploited their absence to strike their camps in the Ordos bend and took more than two hundred fifty heads. On his return from Ning-sai he ambushed their stragglers. The raiders had lingered inside the frontier so long that their raids reached Xiamaguan. Xiao Ruxun of Ningxia could not stop them; Grand Coordinator Ye Mengxiong urgently summoned Ma Gui. Ma Gui led Xiao Rulan and others in fights at Shaima Terrace and Xuejiawa, killing over two hundred thirty and capturing fifteen thousand animals. The emperor reported victory at the ancestral temple, promoted Ma Gui to acting regional commander-in-chief, and granted him hereditary privilege. The next year Bushitu raided the frontier for eight days before withdrawing. Prince Chelik urged him to submit; he refused and prepared another major invasion. Ma Gui led fifteen thousand troops—Yan Fengshi's center column through Hongshan, Shi Yilü's left through Gaojiabao, Shenmu, and Gushan, Sun Chaoliang's right through Dingbian, Anbian, and Pingshan, while he took the main force on the decisive front. They marched in silence sixty li beyond the border. Caught off guard, the raiders broke and fled in chaos. They killed or captured over four hundred men and seized some fifteen hundred horses, camels, cattle, and sheep. He was promoted again and granted hereditary privilege. He soon retired due to illness.

二十五年，日本封事敗，起貴備倭總兵官，赴朝鮮。已，加提督，盡統南北諸軍。貴馳至王京，倭已入慶州，據閑山島，圍南原。守將楊元遁，全州守將陳愚衷亦遁，倭乘勢逼王京。貴別遣副將解生守稷山，朝鮮亦令都體察使李元翼出忠清道遮賊鋒。生頗有斬獲功，參將彭友德亦破賊青山。倭將行長退屯井邑，清正還慶州。經略邢玠、經理楊鎬先後至，分兵三協：左李如梅，右李芳春、解生，中高策。貴與鎬督左右協兵專攻清正。策駐宜寧，東援兩協，西扼行長。諸軍至慶州，倭悉退屯蔚山，如梅誘敗之。清正退保島山，築三砦自固。遊擊茅國器率死士拔其砦，斬馘六百五十，諸軍遂進圍其城。城新築以石，堅甚，將士仰攻多死。圍十日，倭襲敗生兵。明年正月二日，行長來援，九將兵俱潰。賊張旗幟江上，鎬大懼，倉皇撤師，以捷奏。既而敗狀聞，帝罷鎬，責貴以功贖。與劉綎、陳璘、董一元分四路。貴居東，當清正，數戰有功。會平秀吉死，官軍益力攻。十一月，清正先遁，貴遂入島山、西浦，諸路共俘斬二千二百有奇。明年三月，旋師。進右都督，予世廕。

In year twenty-five, after the failed Japanese investiture talks, Ma Gui was recalled as regional commander for defense against Japan and sent to Korea. He was soon named supreme commissioner with authority over all Ming forces in the theater. Ma Gui rushed to Seoul, but the Japanese had already taken Gyeongju, occupied Hansan Island, and were besieging Namwon. Yang Yuan, the defender of Namwon, fled; Chen Yuzhong of Jeonju fled as well; the Japanese pressed toward Seoul. Ma Gui sent Vice Commander Xie Sheng to hold Jisan, while the Koreans ordered Inspector-General Yi Won-yuk to block the Japanese advance through Chungcheong. Xie Sheng won notable kills; Peng Youde defeated the enemy at Qingshan. Konishi Yukinaga pulled back to Jeongnyeong, and Kato Kiyomasa to Gyeongju. Commissioner Xing Jie and Manager Yang Hao arrived in turn and divided the army into three wings—Rumei on the left, Fangchun and Xie Sheng on the right, Gao Ce in the center. Ma Gui and Yang Hao directed the left and right wings against Kato Kiyomasa. Gao Ce held Uiryung, supporting the eastern wings while blocking Yukinaga to the west. The allied armies reached Gyeongju; the Japanese fell back to Ulsan, where Rumei baited and routed them. Kiyomasa withdrew to Waesan and fortified three redoubts. Mao Guoqi led a suicide squad that stormed a redoubt and took six hundred fifty heads, and the allies moved to besiege the fortress. The walls were freshly built of stone and extremely strong; many died in the uphill assaults. After ten days of siege the Japanese counterattacked and routed Xie Sheng's force. On the second day of the first month, Yukinaga arrived with reinforcements and the allied commanders' armies collapsed. The Japanese lined the river with banners; Yang Hao panicked, withdrew in disarray, and reported a victory. When the truth came out, the emperor dismissed Yang Hao and let Ma Gui redeem himself through further service. He split his forces into four columns with Liu Ting, Chen Lin, and Dong Yiyuan. Ma Gui took the eastern wing opposite Kato Kiyomasa and won credit in repeated clashes. When word arrived that Hideyoshi was dead, the imperial armies redoubled their assault. In the eleventh month Kato Kiyomasa fled first; Ma Gui then moved into Waesan and Seopo, and the columns together killed or captured more than twenty-two hundred enemy. In the third month of the following year the army withdrew. He was promoted to Right Regional Commander and granted hereditary privilege.

三十八年，命貴鎮遼東。泰寧炒花素桀驁，九子各將兵，他部宰賽、暖兔又助之。邊將畏戰，但以增歲賞為事，寇益無所忌。明年，臨邊要賞，將士出不意擊之，拔營遁，徙額力素居焉。其地忽天鳴地震，炒花驚懼，再徙渡老河，去邊幾四百里，其第三子色特哂之，南移可哥毋林，伺隙入犯。貴伏兵敗之，追北至白雲山，斬馘三百四十有奇。色特憤，謀復仇。糾宰賽、以兒鄧，皆不應。乃東糾卜言顧、伯要兒，西糾哈剌漢乃蠻，合犯清河，皆潰。以兒鄧等懼，代炒花求款，邊境乃寧。明年，插漢虎墩兔以三萬騎入掠穆家堡。禦之，敗去。其夏，貴引病乞罷，詔乘傳歸。

In year thirty-eight Ma Gui was appointed to command Liaodong. Chaohua of the Taining Mongols had long been fierce and unruly; each of his nine sons led his own force, while Zaisai and Nuantu of other tribes lent support. Border commanders feared fighting and contented themselves with buying peace through ever larger annual gifts, so the raiders grew bolder. The next year, when they came to the border demanding tribute, Ma Gui's troops caught them by surprise; they abandoned camp and fled, and he resettled the site at Emülüsu. Heaven thundered and the earth shook there; terrified, Chaohua withdrew again across the Laohu River, nearly four hundred li from the frontier. His third son Setese moved south to Kewumu Woods and waited for a chance to raid. Ma Gui ambushed and routed them, chasing them as far north as White Cloud Mountain and claiming more than three hundred forty heads. Setese burned with anger and plotted revenge. He tried to rally Zaisai and Yiriden, but both refused. He then gathered Buyan Gu and Boya'er in the east and Harhan Naiman in the west, and they jointly struck Qinghe—but all were driven off in defeat. Yiriden and his allies, fearing reprisals, sued for peace on Chaohua's behalf, and the frontier quieted. The next year Hudun Tu of the Chahars led thirty thousand cavalry to raid Mujia Fort. Ma Gui met them and drove them off in defeat. That summer Ma Gui cited illness and asked to be relieved; the throne ordered him home by imperial relay.

貴果毅驍捷，善用兵，東西並著功伐。先後承特賜者七，錫世廕者六。及歿，予祭葬。稱一時良將焉。

Ma Gui was resolute, swift, and skilled in command, winning distinction on both the eastern and western fronts. Over his career he received seven special imperial gifts and six grants of hereditary privilege. At his death the court granted him sacrificial and funeral honors. He was reckoned among the finest generals of his age.

兄錦

His elder brother Ma Jin

兄錦，少從父行陣，有戰功。累官千總，協守大同右衛。千戶魏昂者，坐罪亡入沙漠，引寇至城下，挾取妻子，錦伏甲擒之。俺答圍城，數突圍，城卒完。尋以殺人，並父奪官下吏。當事以塞上方用兵，而錦父子兄弟並敢戰，曲法貸之。屢遷宣府遊擊將軍。以勤王功，進秩一等，遷大同參將。隆慶初，進本鎮副總兵，從趙岢出塞敗寇兵，與弟貴並有保境功。俺答納款，錦招塞外叛人歸者甚眾。萬曆五年，擢山西總兵官。尋改鎮宣府，卒。

His elder brother Ma Jin had campaigned at his father's side from boyhood and won battle honors. Rising to the rank of chiliarch, he helped garrison Datong Right Guard. When the chiliarch Wei Ang fled into the desert after a crime and brought raiders to the walls to seize hostages, Ma Jin concealed armed men and took him prisoner. When Altan besieged the city, Jin led repeated sorties and kept the walls intact. Soon afterward he and his father were stripped of rank and handed to the magistrates for a killing. With the frontier already at war and the Ma Jin family all proven fighters, the authorities bent the law and let them off. He was promoted repeatedly until he became Mobile Corps Commander of Xuanfu. For his service in the campaign to defend the capital, his rank rose one step and he became regimental vice commander at Datong. At the opening of the Longqing reign he was made vice regional commander of his own garrison; he followed Zhao Ke beyond the pass to defeat raiders, and he and his brother Ma Gui shared credit for securing the frontier. After Altan made peace, Ma Jin persuaded many deserting tribesmen beyond the passes to come back. In Wanli year five he was appointed regional commander of Shanxi. He was shortly after transferred to command Xuanfu, where he died.

錦子承勳，遼東副總兵，都督僉事，南京後府僉書。從子承恩，都督同知，宣府、延綏、大同總兵官。更曆諸鎮，以勇力聞。後起援遼東，屢退避，下獄當死。詔納馬八百匹免罪，其家遂破。承詔，寧夏參將。從平哱拜有功。後為蒼頭所弑。承訓，薊鎮副總兵。承宣，洮、岷副總兵。承宗，遼東副總兵。天啟初，戰死沙嶺。

Ma Jin's son Chengliang served as Liaodong vice regional commander, assistant regional commander, and secretary in the Nanjing rear bureau. His nephew Chengen rose to regional vice commander and held regional commands at Xuanfu, Yan-sui, and Datong. He served successive frontier posts and was known for raw courage. Later recalled to reinforce Liaodong, he repeatedly shied from battle; thrown into prison, he was condemned to death. The throne let him buy clemency with eight hundred horses, and his family was ruined. Chengzhao was regimental vice commander of Ningxia. He distinguished himself in the campaign to suppress Pai Bai. He was later murdered by a household slave. Chengxun was vice regional commander of Ji. Chengxuan was vice regional commander on the Tao–Min frontier. Chengzong was Liaodong vice regional commander. At the opening of the Tianqi reign he was killed in action at Shaling.

麻氏多將才。人以方鐵嶺李氏，曰「東李西麻」。

The Ma family produced many men of military talent. People likened them to the Li clan of Tieling in the east and called the pair "Li in the East, Ma in the West."

贊曰：自俺答款宣、大，薊門設守固，而遼獨被兵。成梁遂擅戰功，至剖符受封，震耀一時，倘亦有天幸歟！麻貴宣力東西，勳閥可稱。兩家子弟，多曆要鎮，是以時論以李、麻並列。然列戟擁麾，世傳將種，而恇怯退避，隳其家聲。語曰「將門有將」，諸人得無愧乎！

The appraisal says: After Altan made peace with Xuanfu and Datong, Ji was strongly garrisoned, yet Liaodong alone bore the brunt of war. Li Chengliang then monopolized military glory, rising to split tally and receive enfeoffment and dazzle his age—perhaps heaven favored him after all! Ma Gui served with distinction on both fronts—a meritorious house in its own right. The sons of both houses held one key garrison after another, so contemporaries ranked the Li and Ma clans together. Yet men born to halberds and banners, heirs to a martial line, cravenly held back and ruined their houses' good name. As the proverb has it, "A general's house breeds generals"—should these men not feel ashamed!

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