1
金國鳳 〈（楊振楊國柱）〉 曹變蛟 〈（朱文德李輔明）〉 劉肇基 〈（乙邦才馬應魁莊子固）〉
Jin Guofeng (Sub-biographies: Yang Zhen and Yang Guozhu)〉 Cao Bianjiao (Sub-biographies: Zhu Wende and Li Fuming)〉 Liu Zhaoji (Sub-biographies: Yi Bangcai, Ma Yingkui, and Zhuang Zigu)〉
2
金國鳳，宣府人。 崇禎中，以副總兵守松山。 十二年二月，大清以重兵來攻，環城發炮，臺堞俱摧。 城中人負扉以行。 國鳳間出兵突擊，輒敗還，乃以木石甃補城壞處。 大清兵屢登屢卻，遂分兵攻塔山、連山，令銳卒分道穴城。 國鳳多方拒守，終不下，閱四旬圍解。 帝大喜，立擢署都督僉事，為寧遠團練總兵官。 再論功，署都督同知，蔭錦衣衛千戶。 是年十月，大清兵復攻寧遠。 國鳳憤將士恇怯，率親丁數十人出據北山岡鏖戰。 移時矢盡力竭，與二子俱死。 帝聞痛悼，贈特進榮祿大夫，左都督，賜祭葬，有司建祠，增世職三級。 總督洪承疇上言：「國鳳素懷忠勇。 前守松山，兵不滿三千，乃能力抗強敵，卒保孤城。 非其才力優也，以事權專，號令一，而人心肅也。 迨擢任大將，兵近萬人，反致隕命。 非其才力短也，由營伍紛紜，號令難施，而人心不一也。 乞自今設連營節制之法，凡遇警守城，及統兵出戰，惟總兵官令是聽。 庶軍心齊肅，戰守有資，所系於封疆甚大。」 帝即允行之。 及國鳳父子柩歸，帝念其忠，命所過有司給以舟車，且加二祭。 其妻張氏援劉綎例，乞加宮保。 部議格不行，而請於世職增級外，再蔭本衛試百戶世襲，以勸忠臣。 帝可之。
Jin Guofeng was a native of Xuanfu Prefecture. During the Chongzhen era he served as vice commander and garrisoned Songshan. In the second month of the twelfth year (1639), the Qing attacked in force, encircled the city, and bombarded it until the battlements were shattered. Inside the city people had to carry door panels as shields when they moved about. Guofeng made repeated sorties, but each was beaten back; he then patched the breaches with timber and stone. Qing troops stormed the walls again and again only to be repulsed; they then split forces against Tashan and Lianshan and sent picked men to mine under the walls along several routes. Guofeng held on by every means, and the city never fell; after forty days the siege was raised. The emperor was delighted and immediately promoted him to acting Regional Military Commissioner and appointed him commander of the Ningyuan militia regiment. On a further review of his service he was made acting Chief Regional Military Commissioner, with hereditary enrollment as a thousand-household in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard. That October the Qing attacked Ningyuan again. Enraged at his troops’ cowardice, Guofeng led several dozen household retainers out to hold the northern hill ridge and fight hand to hand. When his arrows were spent and his strength gone, he and his two sons died together. The emperor mourned him deeply, posthumously granting him Grand Mentor of the Court with the title Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Left Chief Regional Military Commissioner, with state sacrifices and burial, a shrine built by the local authorities, and an increase of three grades in hereditary rank. Grand Coordinator Hong Chengchou wrote: "Guofeng has always been loyal and brave. When he held Songshan before, he had fewer than three thousand men, yet he held off a powerful enemy and kept that isolated city. That was not because his talent exceeded others’, but because he held sole authority, orders were uniform, and the men were disciplined. Once he was raised to full regional command with nearly ten thousand men under him, he lost his life instead. That was not because his ability fell short, but because the camps were chaotic, orders could not be enforced, and the men were divided. I ask that hereafter a system of joint-camp command be adopted: in any alert to hold a city or to take the field, only the regional commander’s orders shall be followed. Then the army will be united and disciplined, attack and defense will be effective, and the security of the frontier will be greatly strengthened." The emperor approved at once. When the coffins of Guofeng and his sons were brought home, the emperor, remembering their loyalty, ordered officials along the route to supply boats and carts and granted two additional sacrifices. His wife, Lady Zhang, cited the precedent of Liu Ting and asked that he be granted the honorary title of Grand Guardian. The ministry rejected that, but asked that in addition to raising his hereditary rank, a further hereditary probationary hundred-household in his original guard be granted to encourage loyal ministers. The emperor assented.
3
當松山被圍，巡撫方一藻議遣兵救援，諸將莫敢應。 獨副將楊振請行，至呂洪山遇伏，一軍盡覆。 振被執，令往松山說降。 未至里許，踞地南向坐，語從官李祿曰：「為我告城中人堅守，援軍即日至矣。」 祿詣城下致振語，城中守益堅。 振、祿皆被殺。 事聞，命優恤。
When Songshan was besieged, Grand Coordinator Fang Yizao proposed a relief force, but none of the generals would volunteer. Only Vice Commander Yang Zhen offered to go; at Lühong Mountain he ran into an ambush and his entire force was wiped out. Zhen was taken prisoner and ordered to go to Songshan to urge surrender. Before he had gone a full li he sat on the ground facing south and said to his attendant Li Lu, "Tell the men in the city to hold firm—the relief army will be here today." Li Lu went to the foot of the wall and delivered Zhen’s message, and the garrison held all the firmer. Zhen and Lu were both put to death. When word reached the court, generous posthumous honors were ordered.
4
振，義州衛人。 世為本衛指揮使。 天啟二年，河東失守，歸路梗，其母自縊。 振隨父及弟夜行晝伏，渡鴨綠江入皮島。 毛文龍知其父子才，並署軍職。 文龍死，振歸袁崇煥，為寧遠千總。 崇禎二年從入衛。 救開平有功，進都司僉書。 郵馬山之戰，以遊擊進參將。 久之，擢副總兵。 監視中官高起潛招致之，不往。 中以他事，落職。 用一藻薦，復官，及是死難。
Zhen was a native of Yizhou Guard. His family had held the hereditary command of that guard for generations. In the second year of Tianqi (1622), when the territory east of the river was lost and the road home cut off, his mother hanged herself. Zhen went with his father and younger brother by night marches and daytime concealment, crossed the Yalu, and reached Pidao. Mao Wenlong recognized their ability and gave father and son military appointments. After Wenlong’s death Zhen joined Yuan Chonghuan and served as a thousand-household at Ningyuan. In the second year of Chongzhen (1629) he marched into the metropolitan defense zone. He was promoted to Assistant Commander in the Chief Military Commission for relieving Kaiping. At the battle of Youmashan he was promoted from mobile corps commander to vice commander. In time he was made vice commander. The supervising eunuch Gao Qiqian tried to summon him, but he refused. The eunuch later had him dismissed on another charge. Yizao recommended him back to office, and on this mission he died in service.
5
振從父國柱，崇禎九年為宣府總兵官。 十一年冬，入衛畿輔，從總督盧象升戰賈莊。 象升敗歿，國柱當坐罪。 大學士劉宇亮、侍郎孫傳庭皆言其身入重圍，非臨敵退卻者比。 乃充為事官，戴罪圖功。 十四年，祖大壽被困錦州，總督洪承疇率八大將往救。 國柱先至松山，陷伏中。 大清兵四面呼降，國柱太息，語其下曰：「此吾兄子昔年殉難處也，吾獨為降將軍乎！」 突圍，中矢墮馬卒。 事聞，贈恤如制。
Zhen’s uncle Guozhu became regional commander of Xuanfu in the ninth year of Chongzhen (1636). In the winter of the eleventh year he marched into the metropolitan defense zone and fought with Grand Coordinator Lu Xiangsheng at Jiazhuang. Xiangsheng was killed in defeat; Guozhu was liable to punishment. Grand Secretary Liu Yuliang and Vice Minister Sun Chuanting both argued that he had been caught in a heavy encirclement and was not like a commander who flees before the enemy. He was therefore reduced to probationary status, to serve on sufferance while seeking merit. In the fourteenth year (1641), when Zu Dashi was besieged at Jinzhou, Grand Coordinator Hong Chengchou led eight major generals to relieve him. Guozhu reached Songshan first and walked into an ambush. Qing troops on all sides shouted for surrender; Guozhu sighed and told his men, "This is where my brother’s son died years ago—am I to be the general who surrenders?" He charged out of the encirclement, was hit by an arrow, fell from his horse, and died. Posthumous honors were granted according to regulation.
6
國柱二子俱夭。 妻何氏以所遺甲胄弓矢及戰馬五十三匹獻諸朝。 帝深嘉嘆，命授一品夫人，有司月給米石，餼之終身。
Guozhu’s two sons both died in childhood. His wife, Lady He, presented to the court the armor, bows, arrows, and fifty-three war horses he had left. The emperor was deeply moved, made her a lady of the first rank, and ordered the authorities to supply her with monthly grain and stipend for life.
7
曹變蛟，文詔從子也，幼從文詔積軍功至遊擊。 崇禎四年從復河曲。 明年連破賊紅軍友等於張麻村、隴安、水落城、唐毛山，又破劉道江等於銅川橋，勇冠諸軍。 以御史吳甡薦，進參將。 文詔移山西，變蛟從戰輒勝。 及文詔改鎮大同，山西巡撫許鼎臣言：「晉賊紫金梁雖死，老回回、過天星、大天王、蠍子塊、闖塌天諸渠未滅。 變蛟驍勇絕人，麾下健兒千百，才乃文詔亞，乞留之晉中。」 從之。
Cao Bianjiao was the nephew of Cao Wenzhao; as a youth he followed Wenzhao and rose through accumulated military merit to mobile corps commander. In the fourth year of Chongzhen (1631) he took part in recovering Hequ. The following year he routed the bandits Hong Junyou and others at Zhangmacun, Long’an, Shuiluocheng, and Tangmaoshan, and Liu Daojiang and others at Tongchuan Bridge—his valor was unmatched in the army. On Censor Wu Shen’s recommendation he was promoted to vice commander. When Wenzhao was transferred to Shanxi, Bianjiao campaigned with him and won repeatedly. When Wenzhao was reassigned to command Datong, Shanxi Grand Coordinator Xu Dingchen wrote: "Though the Shanxi bandit Zijin Liang is dead, the chieftains Old Huihui, Guo Tianxing, Great Heavenly King, Scorpion Lump, and Chuang Tietian are still at large. Bianjiao’s daring is unrivaled and he has hundreds of crack troops under him; his ability is second only to Wenzhao’s—I beg that he be kept in Shanxi." The request was granted.
8
七年，群賊入湖廣，命變蛟南征。 文詔困於大同，又命北援。 七月遇大清兵廣武，有戰功。 其冬，文詔失事論戍，變蛟亦以疾歸。 明年，文詔起討陜西賊，變蛟以故官從。 大捷金嶺川，鏖真寧之湫頭鎮，皆為軍鋒。 文詔既戰歿，變蛟收潰卒，復成一軍。 總督洪承疇薦為副總兵，置麾下，與高傑破賊關山鎮，逐北三十餘里。 又與副將尤翟文、遊擊孫守法追闖王高迎祥，與戰鳳翔官亭，斬首七百余級。 又與總兵左光先敗迎祥乾州。 迎祥中箭走，斬首三百五十余級。 已而迎祥自華陰南原絕大嶺，夜出朱陽關。 光先戰不利，賴變蛟陷陣，乃獲全。 九年破闖將澄城。 偕光先等追至靖虜衛，轉戰安定、會寧，抵靜寧、固寧，賊屢挫。 其秋追混天星等，敗之蒲城。 賊西走平涼、鞏昌，復擊破之。
In the seventh year (1634), when large bandit forces entered Huguang, Bianjiao was ordered south. Wenzhao was in difficulties at Datong and Bianjiao was ordered north again to reinforce him. In the seventh month he fought Qing forces at Guangwu with success. That winter Wenzhao was condemned and banished for his defeat; Bianjiao also went home on account of illness. The next year Wenzhao was recalled to suppress the Shaanxi bandits, and Bianjiao rejoined him in his former rank. He won a great victory at Jinlingchuan and fought fiercely at Qiutou Fort in Zhenning—each time at the head of the army. After Wenzhao fell in battle, Bianjiao rallied the broken troops and formed a new army. Grand Coordinator Hong Chengchou recommended him as vice commander and kept him under his command; with Gao Jie he routed bandits at Guanshan Fort and pursued them more than thirty li north. With Vice Commander You Zhaowen and Mobile Corps Commander Sun Shoufa he pursued the Chuang King Gao Yingxiang and fought at Guanting in Fengxiang, taking more than seven hundred heads. With Regional Commander Zuo Guangxian he defeated Yingxiang at Qianzhou. Yingxiang was wounded by an arrow and fled; more than three hundred fifty heads were taken. Soon afterward Yingxiang crossed the great ridge south of Huayin by night and emerged through Zhuyang Pass. Guangxian’s battle went badly; only when Bianjiao smashed the enemy line were they able to withdraw intact. In the ninth year (1636) he defeated a Chuang general at Chengcheng. With Guangxian and others he pursued them to Jingluwei and fought through Anding, Huining, Jingning, and Guyuan, defeating the bandits again and again. That autumn he pursued Hun Tianxing and others and routed them at Pucheng. The bandits moved west toward Pingliang and Gongchang, and he defeated them again.
9
十年二月，巡撫孫傳庭部卒許忠叛，勾賊混十萬謀犯西安。 變蛟方西追過天星，聞亂急還，賊遂遁。 傳庭已誅迎祥，其黨闖將混天星、過天星踞洮、岷、階、文深谷間。 承疇遣變蛟、光先及祖大弼、孫顯祖合擊。 四月望，入山，遇賊郭家壩，大雨。 諸將力戰，賊死傷無算，食盡引還。 九月，階州陷，與光先並停俸。 俄擢都督僉事，為臨洮總兵官。 當是時，承疇、傳庭共矢滅賊。 傳庭戰於東，承疇戰於西，東賊幾盡。 賊在西者，復由階、成出西和、禮縣。 光先、顯祖皆無功，獨變蛟降小紅狼。 余賊竄走徽州、兩當、成、鳳間，不敢大逞。 十月，賊間蜀中虛，陷寧羌州，分三道，連陷三十余州縣。 承疇率變蛟等由沔縣歷寧羌，過七盤、朝天二關。 山高道狹，士馬饑疲，歲暮抵廣元，賊已走還秦。 變蛟等回軍邀擊，斬首五百余級。 時兵部尚書楊嗣昌創「四正六隅」之說，限三月平賊。 十一年四月以滅賊逾期，普議降罰，變蛟、光先並鐫五級，戴罪辦賊。
In the second month of the tenth year (1637), troops under Grand Coordinator Sun Chuanting mutinied under Xu Zhong, who colluded with the bandit Hun Shiwan to strike at Xi’an. Bianjiao was pursuing Guo Tianxing in the west; when he heard of the revolt he turned back in haste and the bandits dispersed. Chuanting had already executed Yingxiang; his lieutenants the Chuang generals Hun Tianxing and Guo Tianxing held the deep valleys of Tao, Min, Jie, and Wen. Chengchou sent Bianjiao, Guangxian, Zu Dabi, and Sun Xianzu against them together. On the fifteenth of the fourth month they entered the mountains and met the bandits at Guojiaba in a downpour. The generals fought fiercely; bandit dead and wounded were beyond count; when their provisions ran out they withdrew. In the ninth month Jiezhou fell, and both Bianjiao and Guangxian had their salaries suspended. Soon afterward he was promoted to Regional Military Commissioner and appointed regional commander of Lintao. At that time Chengchou and Chuanting were united in vowing to exterminate the bandits. Chuanting fought in the east and Chengchou in the west, and the eastern bandits were nearly wiped out. The western bandits broke out again through Jie and Cheng into Xihe and Lixian. Guangxian and Xianzu achieved nothing; only Bianjiao induced Little Red Wolf to surrender. The rest scattered among Huizhou, Liangdang, Cheng, and Feng and no longer dared operate openly. In the tenth month the bandits, finding Sichuan undefended, seized Ningqiang Prefecture and in three columns overran more than thirty prefectures and counties. Chengchou led Bianjiao and others from Mianxian through Ningqiang and over the Qipan and Chaotian passes. The mountains were high and the roads narrow; men and horses were exhausted; by year’s end they reached Guangyuan, but the bandits had already retreated into Qin. On the return march Bianjiao and others ambushed the bandits and took more than five hundred heads. At that time Minister of War Yang Sichang devised the "Four Fronts and Six Corners" plan, giving three months to pacify the bandits. In the fourth month of the eleventh year (1638), because the deadline for destroying the bandits had passed, Bianjiao and Guangxian were each demoted five grades and ordered to pursue the bandits under penalty.
10
賊之再入秦也，其渠魁號六隊者，與大天王、混天王、爭管王四部連營東犯，混天星、過天星二部仍伏階、文，獨闖將李自成以三月自洮州出番地。 承疇令變蛟偕賀人龍追之，連戰斬首六千七百有奇。 番地乏食，賊多死亡。 變蛟轉戰千里，身不解甲者二十七晝夜。 余賊潰入塞。 大弼駐洮州，扼戰不力。 乃走入岷州及西和、禮縣山中。 變蛟還剿，賊伏匿不敢出，惟六隊勢猶張。 六月，光先自固原進兵，賊已奔隴州、清水。 光先追至秦州，六隊及爭管王復走成縣、階州，為變蛟所扼。 其別部號三隊及仁義王、混天王降於光先，而自成、六隊及其黨祁總管避秦兵，復謀犯蜀，副將馬科、賀人龍拒之。 將還走階、文及西鄉，憚變蛟，乃走漢中，又為光先所扼。 六隊、祁總管皆降，惟自成東遁。 承疇令變蛟窮追，而設三覆於潼關之南原。 變蛟追及，大呼斫賊。 伏盡起，賊屍相枕藉。 村民用大棒擊逃者。 自成妻女俱失，從七騎遁去。 余皆降。 是時，曹兵最強，各鎮依之以為固，錄關中平賊功，進變蛟左都督。
When the bandits re-entered Qin, their leader the Six Columns, with the Great Heavenly King, Mixed Heavenly King, and Contending Manager King in four allied columns, marched east; Mixed Heaven Star and Guo Tianxing still held Jie and Wen, while the Chuang general Li Zicheng alone left Taozhou into Tibetan territory in the third month. Chengchou sent Bianjiao with He Renlong in pursuit; in a series of battles they took more than six thousand seven hundred heads. Food was scarce in the Tibetan country and many bandits perished. Bianjiao fought for a thousand li without removing his armor for twenty-seven days and nights. The survivors broke through into the frontier passes. Dabi held Taozhou but failed to block them effectively. They fled into the mountains of Minzhou, Xihe, and Lixian. Bianjiao returned to hunt them down; the bandits hid and dared not emerge—only the Six Columns still held power. In the sixth month Guangxian advanced from Guyuan, but the bandits had already run to Longzhou and Qingshui. Guangxian pursued to Qinzhou; the Six Columns and Contending Manager King fled again to Chengzhou and Jiezhou, where Bianjiao blocked them. A separate band called the Three Columns, with the Benevolence and Righteousness King and Mixed Heavenly King, surrendered to Guangxian; Zicheng, the Six Columns, and their follower Supervisor Qi, evading Qin forces, plotted again to invade Sichuan, but Vice Commanders Ma Ke and He Renlong barred the way. Turning back through Jie, Wen, and Xixiang, they feared Bianjiao and made for Hanzhong, where Guangxian blocked them again. The Six Columns and Supervisor Qi surrendered; only Zicheng escaped east. Chengchou ordered Bianjiao to pursue relentlessly and laid three ambushes on the southern plain at Tong Pass. Bianjiao caught up and shouted for the men to cut down the bandits. The ambushes sprang up and bandit dead lay in heaps. Villagers beat the fugitives with heavy clubs. Zicheng lost his wife and daughters and fled with only seven horsemen. All the rest surrendered. At that time Cao’s troops were the strongest in the field and other commands relied on them; for pacifying the bandits in Guanzhong, Bianjiao was promoted to Left Chief Regional Military Commissioner.
11
十一月，京師戒嚴，召承疇入衛，變蛟及光先從之。 明年二月，抵近畿，帝遣使迎勞，將士各有賜。 未幾，戰渾河，無功。 再戰太平砦北，小有斬獲。 及解嚴，留屯遵化。 麾下皆秦卒，思歸，多逃亡者，追斬之乃定。 時張獻忠、羅汝才既降復叛，陜西再用兵。 總督鄭崇儉乞令變蛟兵西還，帝不許，尋用為東協總兵官。
In the eleventh month the capital went on alert; Chengchou was recalled to defend it, and Bianjiao and Guangxian marched with him. The following second month they reached the metropolitan approaches; the emperor sent envoys to welcome them and rewarded officers and men. Soon afterward they fought at the Hun River without success. They fought again north of Taiping Fort with minor gains. When the emergency ended they were left at Zunhua. Their troops were all Shaanxi men who longed for home; many deserted and had to be hunted down and executed before order was restored. Zhang Xianzhong and Luo Rucai had surrendered and rebelled again, and Shaanxi was mobilized once more. Grand Coordinator Zheng Chongjian asked that Bianjiao’s army be sent west again; the emperor refused, and soon made him eastern cooperative regional commander.
12
十三年五月，錦州告急。 從總督承疇出關，駐寧遠。 七月與援剿總兵左光先、山海總兵馬科、寧遠總兵吳三桂、遼東總兵劉肇基，遇大清兵於黃土臺及松山、杏山，互有殺傷。 大清兵退屯義州。 承疇議遣變蛟、光先、科之兵入關養銳，留三桂、肇基於松、杏間，佯示進兵狀。 又請解肇基任，代以王廷臣； 遣光先西歸，代以白廣恩。 部議鹹從之，而請調旁近邊軍，合關內外見卒十五萬人備戰守。 用承疇言，師行糧從，必芻糧足支一歲，然後可議益兵。 帝然之，敕所司速措給。
In the fifth month of the thirteenth year (1640) Jinzhou reported an emergency. He followed Grand Coordinator Chengchou through the pass and encamped at Ningyuan. In the seventh month, with relief commander Zuo Guangxian, Shanhai commander Ma Ke, Ningyuan commander Wu Sangui, and Liaodong commander Liu Zhaoji, he met Qing forces at Huangtutai, Songshan, and Xingshan with heavy casualties on both sides. The Qing withdrew to Yizhou. Chengchou proposed sending Bianjiao, Guangxian, and Ke’s troops inside the pass to recover their strength, while Sangui and Zhaoji remained between Songshan and Xingshan to feign an advance. He also asked to replace Zhaoji with Wang Tingchen; he sent Guangxian west and brought in Bai Guangen in his place. The ministry approved but asked to draw in nearby frontier armies so that inside and outside the pass there would be one hundred fifty thousand men ready for battle and defense. Following Chengchou’s argument that an army cannot march without a year’s fodder and grain in hand before more troops could be added. The emperor agreed and ordered the offices to provision them at once.
13
征宣府總兵楊國柱、大同總兵王樸、密雲總兵唐通各揀精兵赴援。 以十四年三月偕變蛟、科、廣恩先後出關，合三桂、廷臣凡八大將，兵十三萬，馬四萬，並駐寧遠。
Regional commanders Yang Guozhu of Xuanfu, Wang Pu of Datong, and Tang Tong of Miyun each selected elite troops for the relief. In the third month of the fourteenth year (1641) Bianjiao, Ke, and Guangen marched out of the pass in turn; with Sangui and Tingchen there were eight commanders, one hundred thirty thousand infantry and forty thousand horses, all at Ningyuan.
14
承疇主持重，而朝議以兵多餉艱，職方郎張若麒趣戰。 承疇念祖大壽被圍久，乃議急救錦州。 七月二十八日，諸軍次松山，營西北岡。 數戰，圍不解。 八月，國柱戰歿，以山西總兵李輔明代之。 承疇命變蛟營松山之北，乳峰山之西，兩山間列七營，環以長壕。 俄聞我太宗文皇帝親臨督陣，諸將大懼。 及出戰，連敗，餉道又絕。 樸先夜遁。 通、科、三桂、廣恩、輔明相繼走。 自杏山迤南沿海，東至塔山，為大清兵邀擊，溺海死者無算。 變蛟、廷臣聞敗，馳至松山，與承疇固守。 三桂、樸奔據杏山。 越數日，欲走還寧遠。 至高橋遇伏，大敗，僅以身免。 先後喪士卒凡五萬三千七百余人。 自是錦州圍益急，而松山亦被圍，應援俱絕矣。 九月，承疇、變蛟等盡出城中馬步兵，欲突圍出，敗還。 守半年，至明年二月，副將夏成德為內應，松山遂破。 承疇、變蛟、廷臣及巡撫丘民仰，故總兵祖大樂，兵備道張鬥、姚恭、王之楨，副將江翥、饒勛、朱文德，參將以下百余人皆被執見殺，獨承疇與大樂獲免。
Chengchou favored caution, but the court, finding the army costly to feed, and Bureau Director Zhang Ruolin pressing for battle. Mindful that Zu Dashi had been besieged for so long, Chengchou resolved to relieve Jinzhou at once. On the twenty-eighth of the seventh month the armies reached Songshan and camped on the northwest ridge. After several engagements the siege was not broken. In the eighth month Guozhu was killed in battle and Shanxi commander Li Fuming replaced him. Chengchou placed Bianjiao north of Songshan and west of Rufeng Mountain, with seven camps between the two peaks and a long trench around them. Soon word came that the Qing Taizong Emperor Wen had come in person to direct the battle; the generals were terrified. They went out to fight and were beaten again and again, and their supply lines were cut. Pu was the first to flee by night. Tong, Ke, Sangui, Guangen, and Fuming fled one after another. From Xingshan south along the coast to Tashan the Qing intercepted them; countless men drowned in the sea. Hearing of the rout, Bianjiao and Tingchen raced to Songshan and held on with Chengchou. Sangui and Pu fell back to Xingshan. After several days they tried to break back to Ningyuan. At Gaoqiao they were ambushed and routed, escaping only with their lives. In all they lost fifty-three thousand seven hundred odd troops. Thereafter the siege of Jinzhou tightened, Songshan was surrounded, and all relief was cut off. In the ninth month Chengchou and Bianjiao sent out every horse and foot soldier in the city to break out, but were beaten back. They held half a year; in the second month of the following year Vice Commander Xia Chengde turned traitor and Songshan fell. Chengchou, Bianjiao, Tingchen, Grand Coordinator Qiu Minyang, former commander Zu Dale, defense officials Zhang Dou, Yao Gong, and Wang Zhiji, vice commanders Jiang Zhu, Rao Xun, and Zhu Wende, and more than a hundred officers down to vice commander were captured and killed; only Chengchou and Dale were spared.
15
文德，義州衛人，後家錦州。 崇禎時，積功至松山副將。 忤監視中官高起潛，為所中，斥罷。 十一年起故官。 及城被圍，領前鋒拒守甚力，城破竟死。
Wende was a native of Yizhou Guard; his family later settled at Jinzhou. Under Chongzhen he rose through merit to vice commander at Songshan. He offended the supervising eunuch Gao Qiqian, who denounced him and had him dismissed. In the eleventh year he was restored to office. When the city was besieged he led the vanguard and fought stubbornly; when it fell he died at his post.
16
三月，大壽遂以錦州降。 杏山、塔山連失，京師大震。 詔賜諸臣祭葬，有司建祠。 變蛟妻高氏以贈蔭請，乃贈榮祿大夫、太子少保，世蔭錦衣指揮僉事。
In the third month Dashi surrendered Jinzhou. Xingshan and Tashan fell in turn and the capital was shaken. The court granted state sacrifices and burials and ordered shrines built. Bianjiao’s wife Lady Gao petitioned on his posthumous honors; he was granted Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent, with hereditary rank as assistant commander in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard.
17
法司會鞫王樸罪。 御史郝晉言：「六鎮罪同，皆宜死。 三桂實遼左主將，不戰而逃，奈何反加提督？」 兵部尚書陳新甲覆議，請獨斬樸，勒科軍令狀，再失機即斬決。 三桂失地應斬，念守寧遠功，與輔明、廣恩、通皆貶秩，充為事官。
The judicial offices jointly tried Wang Pu. Censor Hao Jin argued: "The six commands are equally guilty and all deserve death. Sangui was the chief commander in Liaodong; he fled without fighting—why was he promoted to grand coordinator instead? Minister of War Chen Xin Jia replied that only Pu should be executed, that Ke be bound by military law to be executed on the next failure. Sangui deserved death for abandoning his post, but in view of his defense of Ningyuan he, with Fuming, Guangen, and Tong, was demoted and reduced to probationary status.
18
輔明，遼東人，累官副總兵。 崇禎八年從祖寬擊賊，連蹙之嵩縣、汝州、確山。 明年追破賊於滁州。 敘功，加都督僉事。 十二年擢山西總兵官，被劾罷。 明年從承疇出關，使代國柱，竟敗。 十六年為援剿總兵。 是冬，大清兵薄寧遠，輔明馳援，軍敗猶力戰，歿於陣。 事聞，贈特進榮祿大夫、左都督，世蔭錦衣副千戶，賜祭葬，列壇前屯祀之。
Fuming was a native of Liaodong and rose to vice commander. In the eighth year of Chongzhen he followed Zu Kuan against bandits and drove them through Songxian, Ruzhou, and Queshan. The next year he routed bandits at Chuzhou. For this he was made Regional Military Commissioner. In the twelfth year he was made Shanxi regional commander but was impeached and dismissed. The next year he followed Chengchou through the pass to replace Guozhu and was defeated in the end. In the sixteenth year he became relief-and-suppression commander. That winter Qing forces threatened Ningyuan; Fuming rode to relieve it; his army was beaten but he fought on and died in the line. Posthumously he was granted Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and Left Chief Regional Military Commissioner, hereditary vice thousand-household in the Embroidered-Uniform Guard, state burial, and a shrine before Qiantun.
19
樸，榆林衛人。 父威，官左都督，九佩將印，為提鎮者五十年。 兄世欽，裏居殉難，見《尤世威傳》中。 樸由父蔭屢遷京營副將。 崇禎六年，賊躪畿南，命樸與倪寵為總兵官，將京軍六千，監以中官楊應朝、盧九德，屢有斬獲功，進右都督。 明年代曹文詔鎮大同，進左都督。 九年秋，都城被兵，詔樸入衛，賚蟒衣彩幣，竟無功。 十一年加太子太保。 是冬，從總督盧象升入衛，方戰欒城、束鹿間。 或言大同有警即引兵歸。 及是救錦州，以首逃下詔獄。 十五年五月伏誅。
Pu was a native of Yulin Guard. His father Wei was Left Chief Regional Military Commissioner, bore nine general’s seals, and for fifty years held command or regional command. His elder brother Shiqin, in retirement, died for the cause—see the biography of You Shiwei. Pu rose through his father’s privilege to vice commander in the capital armies. In the sixth year of Chongzhen, when bandits ravaged the metropolitan south, Pu and Ni Chong were made regional commanders with six thousand capital troops under eunuchs Yang Yingchao and Lu Jiude; they won repeated victories and Pu was promoted to Right Chief Regional Military Commissioner. The next year he replaced Cao Wenzhao as commander of Datong and was made Left Chief Regional Military Commissioner. In the autumn of the ninth year (1636) the capital was attacked; Pu was ordered to reinforce it and given python robes and silks, but achieved nothing. In the eleventh year he was made Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. That winter he followed Grand Coordinator Lu Xiangsheng to defend the capital and was fighting between Luancheng and Shulu. Rumor had it that he would march home at the first alarm from Datong. When he marched to relieve Jinzhou he was the first to flee and was thrown into prison. In the fifth month of the fifteenth year (1642) he was executed.
20
科，起偏裨至大帥，戰功亞變蛟，與三桂同守寧遠有功。 十六年春，督兵入衛，賜宴武英殿，命從大學士吳甡南征，不果行。 明年三月從李建泰西征。 李自成兵至，科遂降，封懷仁伯。
Ke rose from a junior officer to full command; his battle record was second only to Bianjiao’s, and with Sangui he had merit defending Ningyuan. In the spring of the sixteenth year (1643) he led troops to the capital, was feasted in the Hall of Martial Glory, and was ordered to follow Wu Shen south—but never went. The next March he followed Li Jiantai on the western expedition. When Li Zicheng’s army arrived Ke surrendered and was made Earl of Huairen.
21
廣恩，初從混天猴為盜。 既降，屢立戰功。 松山敗還，代馬科鎮山海關。 是年十一月，京師戒嚴，廣恩入衛，賚銀幣羊酒。 俄戰龍王口，稍有斬獲，以捷聞。 帝始惡廣恩觀望，降旨譙責，而冀其後效，特命敘功。 明年四月合八鎮兵戰螺山，悉潰敗。 總督趙光抃請帝召之入，用為武經略。 廣恩以帝頻戮大將，己又多過，懼不敢至，假索餉名，頓真定。 大學士吳甡將南征，密請帝嚴旨逮治，而己力救，率之剿寇。 廣恩感甚。 無何，帝遣中官賫二萬金犒其軍，且諭以溫旨。 廣恩遂驕，不為甡用，大掠臨洺關，徑歸陜西。 帝不得已，命隸督師孫傳庭辦賊。 十月，郟縣師覆，加廣恩蕩寇將軍，俾緣道收潰卒以保潼關。 未幾，潼關亦破，廣恩西奔固原。 賊將追躡及之，即開門降。 自成大喜，握手共飲，封桃源伯。
Guangen had first served the bandit Mixed Heaven Monkey. After surrendering he won repeated victories. After the Songshan disaster he returned and replaced Ke as commander of Shanhai Pass. That November the capital went on alert; Guangen marched in and was rewarded with silver, silks, sheep, and wine. Soon he fought at Longwangkou with minor gains and reported a victory. The emperor first resented Guangen’s hesitation, rebuked him by edict, yet still hoped for better service and ordered his merits recorded. The next April he joined eight commands at Luoshan and was utterly routed. Grand Coordinator Zhao Guangbian asked the emperor to recall him and made him military intendant. Guangen, knowing the emperor was executing generals and conscious of his own faults, dared not come; he halted at Zhending on the pretext of collecting pay. Wu Shen, about to campaign south, secretly asked for a stern arrest order while himself intervening to save Guangen and lead him against bandits. Guangen was deeply grateful. Soon the emperor sent a eunuch with twenty thousand taels to reward his army and spoke encouraging words. Guangen then grew arrogant, refused Shen’s orders, plundered Linming Pass, and marched straight back to Shaanxi. The emperor had no choice but to place him under Commander Sun Chuanting to fight bandits. In the tenth month the army at Yingxian was destroyed; Guangen was named Bandit-Suppressing General and told to gather fugitives along the road to hold Tong Pass. Soon Tong Pass fell too; Guangen fled west to Guyuan. Bandit pursuers caught him at Guyuan; he opened the gates and surrendered. Zicheng rejoiced, drank with him hand in hand, and made him Earl of Taoyuan.
22
通，口辯無勇略。 既敗歸，仍鎮密雲。 其年冬，奉詔入衛，命守禦三河、平谷。 大清兵下山東，通尾之而南，抵青州，迄不敢一戰。 明年復尾而北，戰螺山，敗績。 已，命從甡南征。 甡未行而斥，乃令通轄薊鎮西協。 五月汰密雲總兵官，命兼轄中協四路。 尋用孔希貴於西協，而命通專轄中協。 十月，關外有警，命率師赴援，以銀牌二百為賞功用。 事定，復移鎮西協。 帝顧通厚，有蟒衣玉帶之賜，召見稱卿而不名，錫之宴，獎勞備至。 明年，賊逼宣府，命移守居庸，封定西伯。 無何，賊犯關，即偕中官杜之秩迎降，京師遂陷。
Tong was eloquent but lacked courage and strategy. After his defeat he still held Miyun. That winter he was ordered to reinforce the capital and defend Sanhe and Pinggu. Qing troops overran Shandong; Tong trailed them south to Qingzhou and never offered battle. The next year he followed north again and was beaten at Luoshan. He was then ordered to follow Shen south. Shen was dismissed before marching; Tong was given the western cooperative of Jizhen. In the fifth month the Miyun command was abolished and he was given the four routes of the central cooperative as well. Soon Kong Xigui took the western cooperative and Tong held only the central. In the tenth month there was an alarm beyond the passes; he was ordered to relieve it with two hundred silver tokens promised for merit. When the crisis passed he was moved back to the western cooperative. The emperor favored Tong lavishly—python robes, jade belts, audiences where he was addressed as “minister” without his name, feasts and unstinting praise. The next year, when bandits threatened Xuanfu, he was shifted to Juyong and made Earl of Dingxi. Soon bandits breached the passes; he and eunuch Du Zhiji went out to surrender, and the capital fell.
23
光先，梟將也，與賊角陜西，功最多。 自遼左遣還，廢不用。 後聞廣恩從賊，亦詣賊降。
Guangxian was a fierce commander whose record against Shaanxi bandits was the greatest. Sent back from Liaodong, he was left unused. Later, learning Guangen had joined the rebels, he too went over and surrendered.
24
又有陳永福者，守開封，射李自成中目。 及自成陷山西，令廣恩諭之降。 永福懼誅，意猶豫。 自成折箭以示信，乃降，封為文水伯。 後自成敗還山西，永福為守太原，殺晉府宗室殆盡。
There was also Chen Yongfu, who held Kaifeng and shot Li Zicheng in the eye. When Zicheng overran Shanxi he sent Guangen to offer surrender. Yongfu feared death and hesitated. Zicheng broke an arrow as a pledge of faith; Yongfu then surrendered and was made Earl of Wenshui. Later, when Zicheng retreated to Shanxi, Yongfu held Taiyuan and killed nearly every member of the Jin imperial clan.
25
劉肇基，字鼎維，遼東人。 嗣世職指揮僉事，遷都司僉書，隸山海總兵官尤世威麾下。 崇禎七年從世威援宣府，又從剿中原賊。 進遊擊，戍雒南蘭草川。 明年遇賊，戰敗傷臂。 未幾，世威罷，肇基及遊擊羅岱分將其兵，與祖寬大破賊汝州，斬首千六百有奇。 後從寬數有功，而其部下皆邊軍，久戍思歸，與寬軍噪而走。 總理盧象升乃遣之入秦。 其秋，畿輔有警，始還山海，竟坐前罪解職，令從征自效。 俄以固守永平功復職，屢遷遼東副總兵。
Liu Zhaoji, courtesy name Dingwei, was a native of Liaodong. He inherited an assistant commandership, rose to Assistant Commander in the Chief Military Commission, and served under Shanhai commander You Shiwei. In the seventh year of Chongzhen (1634) he followed Shiwei to relieve Xuanfu and then campaigned against central-plain bandits. He was made mobile corps commander and garrisoned Lancao on the Luonan Lancao River. The next year he met bandits in battle, was beaten, and wounded his arm. Soon Shiwei was dismissed; Zhaoji and Luo Dai split his army; with Zu Kuan he routed bandits at Ruzhou and took more than sixteen hundred heads. He then followed Kuan with further victories, but his men were frontier troops weary of garrison duty; they mutinied with Kuan’s force and deserted. Grand Coordinator Lu Xiangsheng sent them into Shaanxi. That autumn the capital region was threatened; he returned to Shanhai, was punished for the mutiny and dismissed, and ordered to earn reinstatement in the field. Soon, for holding Yongping, he was restored and promoted repeatedly to Liaodong vice commander.
26
十二年冬，薊遼總督洪承疇請用為署總兵官，分練寧遠諸營卒。 兵部尚書傅宗龍稍持之，帝怒，下宗龍獄，擢肇基都督僉事任之。 明年三月，錦州有警。 承疇命吳三桂偕肇基赴松山為聲援。 三桂困松、杏間，肇基救出之，喪士卒千人。 七月與曹變蛟等戰黃土臺及松山、杏山。 九月，復戰杏山，肇基軍稍卻。 承疇甄別諸將，解肇基職，代以王廷臣。 十七年春，加都督同知，提督南京大教場，及福王立，史可法督師淮、揚，肇基請從征自效。 屢加左都督、太子太保。 可法議分布諸將，奏薦李成棟、賀大成、王之綱、李本身、胡茂楨為總兵官。 成棟鎮徐州，大成揚州，之綱開封。 本身、茂楨隸高傑麾下，為前鋒。 而令肇基駐高家集，李樓鳳駐睢寧，以防河。 棲鳳本甘肅總兵，以地失留淮、揚間也。 閣標前鋒，則用張天祿駐瓜洲。 十一月，肇基、棲鳳以可法命謀取宿遷。 初八日渡河，復其城。 越數日，大清兵圍邳州，軍城北，肇基軍城南，相持半月，大清兵引去。
In the winter of the twelfth year Grand Coordinator Hong Chengchou asked to make him acting regional commander to train the Ningyuan garrisons. Minister of War Fu Zonglong hesitated; the emperor was furious, imprisoned Zonglong, and promoted Zhaoji to Regional Military Commissioner. The next third month Jinzhou reported an emergency. Chengchou sent Wu Sangui with Zhaoji to Songshan as reinforcement. Sangui was trapped between Songshan and Xingshan; Zhaoji rescued him at the cost of a thousand men. In the seventh month he fought with Cao Bianjiao and others at Huangtutai, Songshan, and Xingshan. In the ninth month he fought again at Xingshan and his line gave ground. Chengchou reviewed the commanders, removed Zhaoji, and replaced him with Wang Tingchen. In the spring of the seventeenth year (1644) he was made Chief Regional Military Commissioner and superintendent of Nanjing’s great training ground; when the Prince of Fu was enthroned and Shi Kefa took command on the Huai-Yang front, Zhaoji volunteered. He was repeatedly promoted to Left Chief Regional Military Commissioner and Junior Guardian of the Heir Apparent. Kefa planned the deployment and recommended Li Chengdong, He Dacheng, Wang Zhiji, Li Benshen, and Hu Maozhen as regional commanders. Chengdong held Xuzhou, Dacheng Yangzhou, Zhiji Kaifeng. Benshen and Maozhen served under Gao Jie as vanguard. Zhaoji was posted at Gaojiaji and Li Loufeng at Suining to guard the river. Loufeng had been Gansu regional commander and stayed in Huai-Yang after losing his province. Zhang Tianlu was stationed at Guazhou as river vanguard. In the eleventh month Zhaoji and Loufeng, on Kefa’s orders, planned to retake Suqian. On the eighth they crossed the river and retook the city. Days later Qing forces besieged Pizhou; Loufeng held the north and Zhaoji the south; after half a month the Qing withdrew.
27
順治二年三月，大清兵抵揚州，可法邀諸將赴援。 獨肇基自白洋河趨赴，過高郵不見妻子。 既入城，請乘大清兵未集，背城一戰。 可法持重，肇基乃分守北門，發炮傷圍者。 已而城破，率所部四百人巷戰，格殺數百人。 後騎來益眾，力不支，一軍皆沒。 副將乙邦才、馬應魁、莊子固等皆同死。
In the third month of Shunzhi year 2 (1645) Qing troops reached Yangzhou and Kefa called the generals to relieve it. Only Zhaoji hurried from Baiyang River, passing Gaoyou without stopping for his family. Once inside he urged a battle with the city at their backs before the Qing concentrated. Kefa was cautious; Zhaoji took the north gate and shelled the besiegers. When the city fell he led four hundred men in street fighting and killed hundreds in close combat. More cavalry poured in; overwhelmed, his entire command perished. Vice commanders Yi Bangcai, Ma Yingkui, Zhuang Zigu, and others died with him.
28
乙邦才，青州人。 崇禎中，以隊長擊賊於河南、江北間。 大將黃得功與賊戰霍山，單騎逐賊，陷淖中。 賊圍而射之，馬斃，得功徒步鬥。 天將暮，僅余二矢。 邦才大呼沖賊走，得功乃得出。 邦才授以己馬，分矢與之，且走且射，殪追騎十余人，始得及其軍。 得功自是知邦才。
Yi Bangcai was a native of Qingzhou. Under Chongzhen, as a squad leader he fought bandits in Henan and north Jiangsu. General Huang Degong fought bandits at Huoshan; chasing alone he rode into a bog. Bandits surrounded and shot him; his horse died and he fought on foot. Dusk was falling and he had only two arrows left. Bangcai charged the bandits with a shout and they scattered; Degong escaped. Bangcai gave him his horse, shared his arrows, and while retreating shot down more than ten pursuers before rejoining the army. From that day Degong knew Bangcai’s worth.
29
時有張衡者，亦以驍敢名。 賊圍六安急，總督馬士英救之。 甫至，斥其左右副將，而號於軍中曰：「孰為乙邦才、張衡者？」 兩人入謁，即牒補副將，以其兵授之，曰：「為我入六安，取知州狀來報。」 兩人出，即簡精騎二百，夜沖賊陣而入，繞城大呼，曰：「大軍至矣，固守勿懈！」 城中人喜，守益堅。 兩人促知州署狀，復奪圍出，不損一騎。
There was also Zhang Heng, famed for equal daring. When Lu’an was hard pressed, Grand Coordinator Ma Shiying marched to relieve it. On arrival he dismissed his vice commanders and shouted through the camp, "Which of you are Yi Bangcai and Zhang Heng?" They came forward; he made them vice commanders on the spot, gave them his troops, and said, "Enter Lu’an and bring me the prefect’s report." They chose two hundred elite horsemen, charged the bandit lines by night, and circled the walls crying, "The main army is here—hold firm!" The garrison took heart and held all the firmer. They had the prefect sign a report, broke out again, and returned without losing a man.
30
時潁、壽、六安、霍山諸州縣數被寇，邦才大小十余戰，鹹有功。 及可法鎮揚州，攜之行。 至是戰敗，自刎死。
Ying, Shou, Lu’an, and Huoshan were repeatedly raided; Bangcai fought more than ten engagements, large and small, and won each time. When Kefa took command at Yangzhou he brought Bangcai with him. In the final battle he was defeated and took his own life.
31
馬應魁，字守卿，貴池人。 初為小將，率家丁五十人巡村落間。 猝遇賊，眾懼欲奔。 應魁大聲曰：「勿怖死！ 死，命也。」 連發二矢殪二賊，賊即退。 可法因拔為副總兵，俾領旗鼓。 每戰披白甲，大書「盡忠報國」四字於背，至是巷戰死。
Ma Yingkui, courtesy name Shouqing, was a native of Guichi. He began as a junior officer leading fifty household retainers on village patrols. They suddenly met bandits; his men panicked and wanted to run. Yingkui shouted, "Do not fear death! Death is fate." He loosed two arrows and killed two bandits, and they withdrew at once. Kefa made him vice commander and put him in charge of the standards. In every battle he wore white armor with "Serve the state with utmost loyalty" written large on his back; he died fighting in the streets at Yangzhou.
32
莊子固，字憲伯，遼東人，年十三，殺人亡命。 後從軍有功，積官至參將。 嘗從山西總兵許定國救開封，軍半道噪歸，定國獲罪。 子固輯余眾，得免議。 後可法出鎮，用為副總兵，俾興屯於徐州、歸德間。 子固募壯士七百人，以赤心報國為號。 聞揚州被圍，率眾馳救，三日而至。 城將破，欲擁可法出城，遇大清兵，格鬥死。
Zhuang Zigu, courtesy name Xianbo, was a native of Liaodong who at thirteen killed a man and fled. He later entered the army, won distinction, and rose to vice commander. He once followed Shanxi commander Xu Dingguo to relieve Kaifeng; the army mutinied halfway home and Dingguo was punished. Zigu rallied the remnants and escaped blame. When Kefa took the field he made Zigu vice commander and set him to open military colonies between Xuzhou and Guide. Zigu raised seven hundred stalwarts under the banner "Loyal Hearts for the State. When he heard Yangzhou was besieged he marched to its relief and arrived in three days. As the city was falling he tried to escort Kefa out, met Qing troops, and died fighting.
33
他若副將樓挺、江雲龍、李豫，參將陶國祚、許謹、馮國用、陳光玉、李隆、徐純仁，遊擊李大忠、孫開忠，都司姚懷龍、解學曾等十余人，皆以巷戰死。
Vice commanders Lou Ting, Jiang Yunlong, and Li Yu; colonels Tao Guozuo, Xu Jin, Feng Guoyong, Chen Guangyu, Li Long, and Xu Chunren; mobile corps commanders Li Dazhong and Sun Kaizhong; and directors Yao Huailong and Xie Xuezeng—more than a dozen officers—all died in the streets.
34
贊曰：金國鳳之善守，曹變蛟之力戰，均無愧良將材。 然而運移事易，難於建功，而易於挫敗，遂至謀勇兼絀，以身殉之。 蓋天命有歸，莫之為而為者矣。
The historian comments: Jin Guofeng’s defense and Cao Bianjiao’s fighting both mark them as generals of the first rank. Yet as fortune turned it grew harder to win and easier to lose; strategy and courage alike failed, and they gave their lives for the dynasty. Heaven’s mandate had already found its lord—what happened, happened of itself.