Volume 308 Biographies 196: Treacherous Officials - Hu Weiyong, Chen Ying, Yan Song, Zhou Yanru, Wen Tiren, Ma Shiying

奸臣：胡惟庸陳寧陳瑛附:馬麟等嚴嵩附:趙文華等周延儒溫體仁馬士英〈（阮大鋮）〉

Treacherous Officials: Hu Weiyong; Chen Ning; Chen Ying (with appended biographies of Ma Lin and others); Yan Song (with appended biographies of Zhao Wenhua and others); Zhou Yanru; Wen Tiren; Ma Shiying (Ruan Dacheng)]〉

《宋史》論君子小人，取象於陰陽，其說當矣。然小人世所恒有，不容概被以奸名。必其竊弄威柄、構結禍亂、動搖宗祏、屠害忠良、心跡俱惡、終身陰賊者，始加以惡名而不敢辭。有明一代，巨奸大惡，多出於寺人內豎，求之外廷諸臣，蓋亦鮮矣。當太祖開國之初，胡惟庸凶狡自肆，竟坐叛逆誅死。陳瑛在成祖時，以刻酷濟其奸私，逢君長君，荼毒善類。此其所值，皆英武明斷之君，而包藏禍心，久之方敗。令遇庸主，其為惡可勝言哉！厥後權歸內豎，懷奸固寵之徒，依附結納，禍流搢紳。惟世宗朝，閹宦斂跡，而嚴嵩父子濟惡，貪得無厭。莊烈帝手除逆党，而周延儒、溫體仁懷私植黨，誤國覆邦。南都末造，本無足言，馬士英庸瑣鄙夫，饕殘恣惡。之數人者，內無閹尹可依，而外與群邪相比，罔恤國事，職為亂階。究其心跡，殆將與巳、檜同科。籲可畏哉！作《奸臣傳》。

In its discussion of gentlemen and petty men, the History of Song draws on the imagery of yin and yang—a sound approach. Yet petty men are always with us, and not every one of them deserves to be branded a traitor. Only when a man secretly wields power, foments rebellion, endangers the dynasty, murders the loyal, and shows a lifetime of concealed malice in both heart and deed may the name of traitor be laid on him without protest. In the Ming, the worst villains were usually eunuchs and palace insiders; truly monstrous ministers at court were comparatively few. Early in Taizu's reign, Hu Weiyong grew brazen in his cruelty and treachery and was eventually executed for rebellion. Under Chengzu, Chen Ying used cruelty to serve his private schemes, flattered the emperor into ever harsher rule, and ravaged the upright. Each of these men served emperors who were vigorous and decisive, yet they concealed their designs for years before they were undone. Had they served a weak emperor, the harm they might have done is beyond telling. Later, as power passed to the eunuchs, schemers who clung to imperial favor built factions, and disaster spread through the civil service. Only under Shizong did the eunuchs fall back, while Yan Song and his son compounded each other's crimes in bottomless greed. Emperor Zhuanglie drove out the traitors with his own hand, yet Zhou Yanru and Wen Tiren built private factions that misled the state and brought the dynasty to ruin. The Southern Capital's final days scarcely merit mention: Ma Shiying was a vulgar mediocrity, rapacious and cruel without restraint. Unlike earlier villains, these men could not lean on eunuch patrons; instead they banded with other corrupt officials, ignored the nation's welfare, and made themselves agents of chaos. Judged by their hearts and deeds, they belong in the same company as Li Si and Qin Hui. How dreadful indeed! Hence this chapter, the Biographies of Treacherous Officials.

胡惟庸

Hu Weiyong

胡惟庸，定遠人。歸太祖於和州，授元帥府奏差。尋轉宣使，除寧國主簿，進知縣，遷吉安通判，擢湖廣僉事。吳元年，召為太常少卿，進本寺卿。洪武三年拜中書省參知政事。已，代汪廣洋為左丞。六年正月，右丞相廣洋左遷廣東行省參政，帝難其人，久不置相，惟庸獨專省事。七月拜右丞相。久之，進左丞相，復以廣洋為右丞相。

Hu Weiyong was a native of Dingyuan. He submitted to Taizu at Hezhou and was made a memorial courier in the marshal's headquarters. He was soon made an envoy, then chief clerk of Ningguo, magistrate, assistant prefect of Ji'an, and finally surveillance commissioner of Huguang. In the first year of the Wu regime he was summoned to be vice minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices and soon promoted to its director. In Hongwu year 3 he was appointed vice grand councilor of the Secretariat. He later replaced Wang Guangyang as left vice director. In the first month of year 6 the right grand councilor Wang Guangyang was demoted to Guangdong; the emperor could find no suitable replacement and left the post vacant so long that Weiyong alone controlled the Secretariat. In the seventh month he was made right grand councilor. Eventually he was promoted to left grand councilor while Wang Guangyang was restored as right grand councilor.

自楊憲誅，帝以惟庸為才，寵任之。惟庸亦自勵，嘗以曲謹當上意，寵遇日盛，獨相數歲，生殺黜陟，或不奏徑行。內外諸司上封事，必先取閱，害己者，輒匿不以聞。四方躁進之徒及功臣武夫失職者，爭走其門，饋遺金帛、名馬、玩好，不可勝數。大將軍徐達深疾其奸，從容言於帝。惟庸遂誘達閽者福壽以圖達，為福壽所發。御史中丞劉基亦嘗言其短。久之基病，帝遣惟庸挾醫視，遂以毒中之。基死，益無所忌。與太師李善長相結，以兄女妻其從子佑。學士吳伯宗劾惟庸，幾得危禍。自是，勢益熾。其定遠舊宅井中，忽生石筍，出水數尺，諛者爭引符瑞，又言其祖父三世塚上，皆夜有火光燭天。惟庸益喜自負，有異謀矣。

After Yang Xian's execution the emperor saw talent in Weiyong and showered him with trust. Weiyong in turn applied himself, winning favor through obsequious care; as sole grand councilor for years he sometimes ordered executions and appointments without even informing the throne. He intercepted sealed memorials from every department, suppressing any that threatened him. Ambitious men from every quarter and disgraced military nobles flocked to his door with gifts of gold, silk, fine horses, and curios beyond numbering. The great general Xu Da detested his corruption and spoke of it privately to the emperor. Weiyong then tried to suborn Xu's gatekeeper Fushou to murder him, but Fushou exposed the plot. The censor-in-chief Liu Ji had also criticized him. When Liu Ji fell ill the emperor sent Weiyong with a physician to treat him—and Weiyong had him poisoned. With Liu Ji dead, he grew bolder still. He allied with Grand Preceptor Li Shanchang, marrying his elder brother's daughter to Shanchang's nephew You. Academician Wu Bozong impeached Weiyong and nearly paid with his life. From then on his power only grew. A stone formation like bamboo shoots sprang up several feet from the well at his Dingyuan estate; sycophants hailed it as a portent, and claimed that flames lit the sky nightly above three generations of his ancestors' tombs. Weiyong swelled with pride and began to harbor treasonous designs.

吉安侯陸仲亨自陝西歸，擅乘傳。帝怒責之，曰：「中原兵燹之餘，民始復業，籍戶買馬，艱苦殊甚。使皆效爾所為，民雖盡鬻子女，不能給也。」責捕盜於代縣。平諒侯費聚奉命撫蘇州軍民，日嗜酒色。帝怒，責往西北招降蒙古，無功，又切責之。二人大懼。惟庸陰以權利脅誘二人，二人素戇勇，見惟庸用事，密相往來。嘗過惟庸家飲，酒酣，惟庸屏左右言：「吾等所為多不法，一旦事覺，如何？」二人益惶懼，惟庸乃告以己意，令在外收集軍馬。又嘗與陳寧坐省中，閱天下軍馬籍，令都督毛驤取衛士劉遇賢及亡命魏文進等為心膂，曰：「吾有所用爾也。」太僕寺丞李存義者，善長之弟，惟庸婿李佑父也，惟庸令陰說善長。善長已老，不能強拒，初不許，已而依違其間。惟庸益以為事可就，乃遣明州衛指揮林賢下海招倭，與期會。又遣元故臣封績致書稱臣於元嗣君，請兵為外應。事皆未發。會惟庸子馳馬於市，墜死車下，惟庸殺挽車者。帝怒，命償其死。惟庸請以金帛給其家，不許。惟庸懼，乃與御史大夫陳寧、中丞涂節等謀起事，陰告四方及武臣從己者。

Marquis Lu Zhongheng of Ji'an, returning from Shaanxi, had illegally used the imperial courier service. The emperor rebuked him in anger: 'After the wars in the Central Plain the people have only just returned to their fields; registering households to supply relay horses is hardship enough. If every official imitated you, the people could sell every child they had and still not meet the demand. He was ordered to Dai County to hunt down bandits. Marquis Fei Ju of Pingliang, sent to oversee Suzhou's troops and people, spent his days in wine and women. The emperor was furious, sent him to the northwest to win Mongol surrenders, and when he failed rebuked him again harshly. Both men were terrified. Weiyong secretly lured them with promises of power; both were rash and bold by nature, and seeing Weiyong's dominance they began to meet with him in secret. Once, drinking at Weiyong's home, he dismissed the servants and said, 'We have broken too many laws—what will become of us if we are found out? They grew still more afraid; Weiyong then revealed his plan and told them to raise troops and horses in the provinces. Another time he sat with Chen Ning in the Secretariat reviewing the empire's military rolls, and told Commander Mao Zang to recruit guardsman Liu Yuxian, the fugitive Wei Wenjin, and others as his inner circle, saying, 'I have work for you. Li Cunyi of the Court of the Imperial Stud—Li Shanchang's younger brother and father of Weiyong's son-in-law Li You—was told to win Shanchang over in secret. Shanchang was old and could not firmly refuse; he first declined, then wavered. Weiyong grew confident the plot could succeed and sent Commander Lin Xian of Mingzhou Guard to sea to recruit Japanese pirates for a coordinated strike. He also sent the former Yuan minister Feng Ji to write to the Yuan heir, professing allegiance and begging for troops as an external force. None of this had yet come to light. Then Weiyong's son was killed when his horse bolted in the market and he was thrown under a cart; Weiyong had the carter executed. The emperor was furious and ordered Weiyong to pay with his life for the carter's death. Weiyong offered gold and silk to the family, but the emperor refused. Terrified, Weiyong plotted rebellion with Censor-in-chief Chen Ning, Vice Censor Tu Jie, and others, secretly summoning allies across the empire and among the military.

十二年九月，占城來貢，惟庸等不以聞。中官出見之，入奏。帝怒，敕責省臣。惟庸及廣洋頓首謝罪，而微委其咎於禮部，部臣又委之中書。帝益怒，盡囚諸臣，窮詰主者。未幾，賜廣洋死，廣洋妾陳氏從死。帝詢之，乃入官陳知縣女也。大怒曰：「沒官婦女，止給功臣家。文臣何以得給？」乃敕法司取勘。於是惟庸及六部堂屬咸當坐罪。明年正月，涂節遂上變，告惟庸。御史中丞商暠時謫為中書省吏，亦以惟庸陰事告。帝大怒，下廷臣更訊，詞連寧、節。廷臣言：「節本預謀，見事不成，始上變告，不可不誅。」乃誅惟庸、寧並及節。

In the ninth month of year 12 an embassy arrived from Champa, but Weiyong and his colleagues never reported it. A palace eunuch met them and reported to the throne. The emperor was enraged and rebuked the Secretariat in an edict. Weiyong and Wang Guangyang kowtowed in apology, but subtly blamed the Ministry of Rites, which in turn blamed the Secretariat. The emperor's anger deepened; he imprisoned every official involved and demanded to know who was responsible. Soon Wang Guangyang was sentenced to death; his concubine Lady Chen died with him. On inquiry the emperor learned she was the daughter of Magistrate Chen, a woman taken into the palace after his conviction. He raged: 'Women from disgraced officials are allotted only to meritorious households. What right had a civil minister to take one? He ordered the judiciary to investigate. Weiyong and the chiefs of all six ministries were now liable to punishment. In the first month of the following year Tu Jie turned informer and denounced Weiyong. Vice Censor-in-chief Shang Ao, then demoted to a Secretariat clerk, also reported Weiyong's secret plots. The emperor was furious and ordered a full court inquiry; the testimony implicated Chen Ning and Tu Jie as well. The court argued: 'Tu Jie was in on the plot from the start and informed only when it failed—he too must die. Weiyong, Chen Ning, and Tu Jie were all executed.

惟庸既死，其反狀猶未盡露。至十八年，李存義為人首告，免死，安置崇明。十九年十月，林賢獄成，惟庸通倭事始著。二十一年，藍玉征沙漠，獲封績，善長不以奏。至二十三年五月，事發，捕績下吏，訊得其狀，逆謀益大著。會善長家奴盧仲謙首善長與惟庸往來狀，而陸仲亨家奴封帖木亦首仲亨及唐勝宗、費聚、趙庸三侯與惟庸共謀不軌。帝發怒，肅清逆黨，詞所連及坐誅者三萬餘人。乃為《昭示奸黨錄》，佈告天下。株連蔓引，迄數年未靖云。

Even after Weiyong's execution the full scope of his treason was not yet known. In year 18 Li Cunyi was denounced by another; his life was spared and he was exiled to Chongming. In the tenth month of year 19 Lin Xian's case was concluded, and Weiyong's collusion with Japanese pirates first came to light. In year 21 Lan Yu's desert campaign captured Feng Ji, but Li Shanchang never reported it. In the fifth month of year 23 the plot surfaced; Feng Ji was arrested and under interrogation revealed everything, and the conspiracy grew unmistakably clear. Li Shanchang's slave Lu Zhongqian then reported his master's dealings with Weiyong, and Lu Zhongheng's slave Feng Tiemuer reported that Zhongheng and Marquises Tang Shengzong, Fei Ju, and Zhao Yong had joined Weiyong's conspiracy. The emperor's rage unleashed a purge of the traitor faction; more than thirty thousand people were implicated and executed. He issued the Record of the Exposure of the Treacherous Faction and proclaimed it to the empire. The dragnet of guilt-by-association continued for years before the turmoil subsided.

陳寧，茶陵人。元末為鎮江小吏，從軍至集慶，館於軍帥家，代軍帥上書言事。太祖覽之稱善，召試檄文，詞意雄偉，乃用為行省掾吏。時方四征，羽書帝午，寧酬答整暇，事無留滯，太祖益才之。淮安納款，奉命徵其兵，抵高郵，為吳人所獲。寧抗論不屈，釋還，擢廣德知府。會大旱，乞免民租，不許。寧自詣太祖奏曰：「民饑如此，猶征租不已，是為張士誠驅民也。」太祖壯而聽之。

Chen Ning was a native of Chaling. At the end of the Yuan he was a minor clerk in Zhenjiang; he followed the army to Jiqing, lodged with a commander, and drafted a memorial in the commander's name. Taizu read it with approval, tested him with a draft proclamation, found his style bold and imposing, and made him a clerk in the provincial administration. Campaigns were then being fought on four fronts and dispatches poured in without cease; Ning handled them with calm efficiency and Taizu came to value him highly. When Huai'an surrendered he was sent to levy its troops; at Gaoyou he was captured by Wu forces. Ning argued boldly and refused to submit; he was released and promoted to prefect of Guangde. During a severe drought he petitioned to remit the land tax, but was refused. Ning went in person to Taizu and said, 'The people are starving, yet we still collect rent—you will drive them straight into Zhang Shicheng's arms. Taizu was moved and granted his request.

辛丑除樞密院都事。癸卯遷提刑按察司僉事。明年改浙東按察使。有小隸訟其隱過，寧已擢中書參議，太祖親鞫之，寧首服，系應天獄一歲。吳元年，冬盡將決，太祖惜其才，命諸將數其罪而宥之，用為太倉市舶提舉。洪武元年召拜司農卿，遷兵部尚書。明年出為松江知府。用嚴為治，積蠹弊，多所厘革。尋改山西行省參政。召拜參知政事，知吏、戶、禮三部事。寧，初名亮，至是賜名寧。

In the xinchou year he was appointed director in the Bureau of Military Affairs. In the guimao year he was made surveillance vice commissioner. The following year he was appointed surveillance commissioner of eastern Zhejiang. A minor clerk sued him for hidden misconduct. Though Ning had already been promoted to Secretariat participant, Taizu personally tried the case; Ning confessed and spent a year in Yingtian prison. As winter ended and execution neared in the Wu year, Taizu valued his talent, had his crimes enumerated and then pardoned him, and appointed him maritime trade commissioner at Taicang. In Hongwu 1 he was summoned as minister of the Court of the Imperial Granaries and soon made minister of War. The next year he was sent out as prefect of Songjiang. He ruled with harsh severity and cut through many long-standing abuses. He was soon transferred to provincial administrator of Shanxi. He was recalled as vice grand councilor in charge of the Ministries of Personnel, Revenue, and Rites. Originally named Liang, he was now granted the name Ning.

三年，坐事出知蘇州。尋改浙江行省參政，未行，用胡惟庸薦，召為御史中丞。太祖嘗禦東閣，免冠而櫛。寧與侍御史商暠入奏事，太祖見之，遂移入便殿，遣人止寧毋入。櫛已，整冠出閣，始命入見。六年命兼領國子監事。俄拜右御史大夫。八月遣釋奠先師。丞相胡惟庸、參政馮冕、誠意伯劉基不陪祀而受胙，太祖以寧不舉奏，亦停俸半月。自是，不預祭者不頒胙。久之，進左御史大夫。

In year 3 he was demoted to prefect of Suzhou for an offense. He was soon made Zhejiang provincial administrator, but before he could leave, Hu Weiyong recommended him and he was summoned as vice censor-in-chief. Once Taizu was at the Eastern Pavilion with his cap off, combing his hair. Ning and attendant censor Shang Ao came to report; the emperor saw them, withdrew to a side hall, and sent word that Ning should not enter. When he had finished combing, straightened his cap, and emerged, Ning was at last admitted. In year 6 he was ordered to oversee the Directorate of Education as well. He was soon made right censor-in-chief. In the eighth month he was sent to perform the libation to Confucius. Grand Councilor Hu Weiyong, Participant Feng Mian, and Earl of Sincerity Liu Ji skipped the sacrifice yet still received sacrificial meat; because Ning failed to report this, Taizu docked his salary for half a month. Henceforth anyone who did not attend the sacrifice received no sacrificial meat. Eventually he was promoted to left censor-in-chief.

寧有才氣，而性特嚴刻。其在蘇州徵賦苛急，嘗燒鐵烙人肌膚。吏民苦之，號為陳烙鐵。及居憲台，益務威嚴。太祖嘗責之，寧不能改。其子孟麟亦數諫，寧怒，捶之數百，竟死。太祖深惡其不情，曰：「寧於其子如此，奚有於君父耶！」寧聞之懼，遂與惟庸通謀。十三年正月，惟庸事發，寧亦伏誅。

Ning was gifted, but by nature he was exceptionally harsh and cruel. As prefect of Suzhou he collected taxes with brutal urgency and once branded people's skin with heated iron. Officials and commoners suffered under him and nicknamed him Chen the Branding Iron. At the Censorate he pursued intimidation all the more. Taizu rebuked him, but Ning would not reform. His son Menglin remonstrated repeatedly; Ning beat him hundreds of times in a rage until the boy died. Taizu despised his heartlessness and said, 'If Ning treats his own son like this, what would he do to his sovereign and father! Terrified by this, Ning threw in his lot with Weiyong's conspiracy. In the first month of year 13, when Weiyong's plot was exposed, Ning too was executed.

瑛天性殘忍，受帝寵任，益務深刻，專以搏擊為能。甫蒞事，即言：「陛下應天順人，萬姓率服，而廷臣有不順命、效死建文者，如侍郎黃觀、少卿廖升、修撰王叔英、紀善周是修、按察使王良、知縣顏伯瑋等，其心與叛逆無異，請追戮之。」帝曰：「朕誅奸臣，不過齊、黃數輩，後二十九人中如張紞王鈍、鄭賜、黃福、尹昌隆，皆宥而用之。況汝所言，有不與此數者，勿問。」後瑛閱方孝孺等獄詞，遂簿觀、叔英等家，給配其妻女，疏族、外親莫不連染。胡閏之獄，所籍數百家，號冤聲徹天。兩列御史皆掩泣，瑛亦色慘，謂人曰：「不以叛逆處此輩，則吾等為無名。」於是諸忠臣無遺種矣。

By nature Chen Ying was cruel; favored by the emperor, he grew ever harsher and made persecution his specialty. On taking office he said, 'Your Majesty has Heaven's mandate and the people obey, yet ministers such as Vice Minister Huang Guan, Junior Minister Liao Sheng, Compiler Wang Shuying, Recorder Zhou Shixiu, Surveillance Commissioner Wang Liang, and Magistrate Yan Bowei would rather die for Jianwen than serve you—their hearts are no different from rebellion; I beg that they be hunted down and killed. The emperor replied, 'I punished only a handful of traitors like Qi and Huang; of the twenty-nine others, men such as Zhang Shuo, Wang Dun, Zheng Ci, Huang Fu, and Yin Changlong were all pardoned and employed. And if any you name are not among those men, leave them alone.' Later Ying reviewed Fang Xiaoru's case files, registered the households of Guan, Shuying, and the rest, assigned their wives and daughters to servitude, and implicated every collateral and in-law kin. In Hu Ying's case hundreds of households were confiscated; cries of injustice shook the heavens. Censors on both sides wept openly; Ying too looked grim and said, 'Unless we treat these men as rebels, we are good for nothing. Thus the loyal ministers were exterminated to the last man.

瑛為都御史數年，所論劾勳戚、大臣十余人，皆陰希帝指。其他所劾順昌伯王佐，都督陳俊，指揮王恕，都督曹遠，指揮房昭，僉都御史俞士吉，大理少卿袁復，御史車舒，都督王瑞，指揮林泉、牛諒，通政司參議賀銀等，先後又數十人，俱得罪。帝以為能發奸，寵任之，然亦知其殘刻，所奏讞不盡從。中書舍人芮善弟夫婦為盜所殺，心疑其所親，訟於官。刑部驗非盜，縱之。善白帝刑部故出盜，帝命御史鞫治，果非盜。瑛因劾善妄奏，當下獄。帝曰：「兄弟同氣，得賊惟恐逸之，善何罪，其勿問。車裏宣慰使刀暹答侵威遠州地，執其知州刀算黨以歸。帝遣使諭之，刀暹答懼，歸地及所執知州，遣弟刀臘等貢方物謝罪。瑛請先下刀臘法司，且逮治刀暹答。帝曰：「蠻僚之性稍不相得則相仇，改則已。今服罪而復治之，何以處不服者。」遂赦弗問。知嘉興縣李鑒廷見謝罪，帝問故。瑛言：「鑒籍奸党姚瑄，瑄弟亨當連坐，而鑒釋亨不籍，宜罪。」鑒言：「都察院文止籍瑄，未有亨名。」帝曰：「院文無名而不籍，不失為慎重。」鑒得免。戶部人材高文雅言時政，因及建文事，辭意率直，帝命議行之。瑛劾文雅狂妄，請置之法。帝曰：「草野之人何知忌諱，其言有可采，奈何以直而廢之。瑛刻薄，非助朕為善者。」以文雅付吏部，量材授官。海運糧漂沒，瑛請治官軍罪，責之償。帝曰：「海濤險惡，官軍免溺死，幸矣。」悉釋不問。瑛之奸險附會，一意苛刻，皆此類也。

As chief censor for years, Ying impeached more than a dozen meritorious nobles and great ministers, always reading the emperor's mood. He also brought down Marquis Wang Zuo of Shunchang, Commanders Chen Jun, Wang Nu, Cao Yuan, and Fang Zhao, Vice Censor-in-chief Yu Shiji, Vice Minister of Justice Yuan Fu, Censor Che Shu, Commander Wang Rui, Commanders Lin Quan and Niu Liang, Secretariat participant He Yin, and dozens more besides. The emperor valued him for exposing wrongdoing yet knew his cruelty and did not approve every case he brought. Secretariat draftsman Rui Shan's brother and wife were murdered by bandits; he suspected relatives and sued. The Ministry of Justice found no bandits and released the suspects. Shan told the emperor the Ministry had deliberately freed the killers; censors investigated and confirmed they were innocent. Ying then impeached Shan for false reporting and demanded his arrest. The emperor said, 'Brothers are of one flesh—a man who has lost kin fears only that the killer will escape; what crime has Shan committed? Let it drop. Dao Tianda, pacification commissioner of Cheli, seized land in Weiyuan and carried off its prefect Dao Suandang. The emperor sent envoys; Dao Tianda, afraid, returned the land and the prefect and sent his brother Dao La with tribute to apologize. Ying asked that Dao La be sent to the judiciary first and Dao Tianda arrested. The emperor said, 'Barbarian chiefs feud at the slightest provocation; when they submit, accept it. They have apologized—if we punish them again, what of those who refuse to submit?' He pardoned them and took no further action. Magistrate Li Jian of Jiaxing was summoned to apologize; the emperor asked why. Ying said Jian's family had been registered because of traitor Yao Xuan; Xuan's brother Heng should have been included, but Jian released Heng without registering him and should be punished. Jian replied that the Censorate order named only Xuan, not Heng. The emperor said, 'If the document named no one else, not registering Heng was prudent.' Jian was acquitted. Gao Wenya, a talented man in the Ministry of Personnel, spoke frankly on current affairs including the Jianwen reign; the emperor ordered his proposals considered. Ying impeached Wenya for arrogance and demanded legal punishment. The emperor said, 'How would a rustic know court taboos? If his words have merit, why discard them for bluntness? Ying is harsh—he does not help me govern well.' Wenya was sent to the Ministry of Personnel and given an appointment suited to his ability. When sea-transport grain was lost at sea, Ying demanded that the transport troops be punished and forced to pay compensation. The emperor said, 'The sea is treacherous; that the troops escaped drowning is fortune enough.' He released them all without further inquiry. Ying's treachery, opportunism, and relentless harshness were all of this kind.

帝北巡，皇太子監國。瑛言兵部主事李貞受皁隸葉轉等四人金，請下貞獄。無何，貞妻擊登聞鼓訴冤。皇太子命六部大臣廷鞫之，自辰至午，貞等不至，惟葉轉至。訊之，雲貞不承，不勝拷掠死，三皁錄皆笞死三日矣，貞實未嘗受金。先是，袁綱、覃珩兩御史俱至兵部索皁隸，貞猝無以應，兩御史銜之，興此獄。於是刑科給事中耿通等言瑛及綱、珩朋奸蒙蔽，擅殺無辜，請罪瑛。皇太子曰：「瑛大臣，蓋為下所欺，不能覺察耳。」置勿問，械系綱、珩，以其罪狀奏行在。又有學官坐事謫充太學膳夫者，皇太子令法司與改役，瑛格不行，中允劉子春等復劾瑛方命自恣。皇太子謂瑛曰：「卿用心刻薄，不明政體，殊非大臣之道。」時太子深惡瑛，以帝方寵任，無如何。久之，帝亦浸疏瑛。九年春，瑛得罪下獄死，天下快之。

While the emperor toured the north, the crown prince governed as regent. Ying reported that Ministry of War director Li Zhen had taken bribes from clerks including Ye Zhuan and asked that Zhen be imprisoned. Soon Zhen's wife beat the Denunciation Drum to protest his innocence. The crown prince ordered the six ministries to try the case in open court; from morning until noon Zhen and the others failed to appear—only Ye Zhuan came. Under questioning he said Zhen had denied the charge; broken by torture he died; the three clerks had already been beaten to death three days earlier; Zhen had never taken a bribe. Earlier Censors Yuan Gang and Tan Heng had come to the Ministry demanding clerks; Zhen had none ready to hand over; the two censors bore a grudge and fabricated the case. Supervising Secretary Geng Tong and others then charged that Ying, Gang, and Heng had conspired to deceive the court and murdered innocent men, and demanded Ying be punished. The crown prince said, 'Ying is a senior minister; he was probably deceived by his subordinates and failed to see through them. He dropped the charge against Ying, put Gang and Heng in chains, and reported their crimes to the emperor on campaign. When a disgraced school official was demoted to cook in the Imperial Academy, the crown prince ordered a lighter assignment; Ying refused to comply; Junior Mentor Liu Zichun and others again impeached Ying for defying orders. The crown prince told Ying, 'Your heart is cruel, you do not understand how government should work, and this is no way for a great minister to behave. The crown prince deeply loathed Ying, but with the emperor still favoring him there was nothing to be done. In time the emperor too grew distant from Ying. In the spring of year 9 Ying fell from favor, died in prison, and the empire rejoiced.

帝以篡得天下，御下多用重典。瑛首承風旨，傾誣排陷者無算。一時臣工多效其所為，如紀綱、馬麟、丁玨、秦政學、趙緯、李芳，皆以傾險聞。綱在《佞幸傳》。

Having seized the throne, the emperor often ruled his subjects with harsh laws. Ying was foremost in carrying out that intent; the men he framed and destroyed were beyond counting. Many officials of the day imitated him—Ji Gang, Ma Lin, Ding Jue, Qin Zhengxue, Zhao Wei, and Li Fang were all notorious for their treacherous schemes. Gang's biography appears in the chapter on imperial favorites.

馬麟等

Ma Lin and others

玨，山陽人。永樂四年，裏社賽神，誣以聚眾謀不軌，坐死者數十人。法司因稱玨忠，特擢刑科給事中。伺察百僚小過，輒上聞。居官十年，貪黷不顧廉恥。母喪未期，起復視事，輒隨眾大祀齋宮，復與慶成宴，為御史俞信等所劾，論大不敬當死。帝曰：「朕素疑其奸邪，若悉行所言，廷臣豈有一人免耶？」遂謫戍邊。

Ding Jue was a native of Shanyang. In Yongle year 4 he denounced a village festival as a seditious assembly; dozens were executed on his false charge. The judiciary praised his loyalty and specially promoted him to supervising secretary of the Penal Section. He spied on officials for the smallest faults and reported them at once. For ten years in office he was corrupt and shameless. Recalled from mourning before the period had ended, he attended the great sacrifice in the fasting palace and the celebration banquet; Censor Yu Xin impeached him for grave irreverence, a capital offense. The emperor said, 'I have long suspected his treachery; if everything he reported were acted on, would a single minister survive? He was banished to frontier garrison duty instead.

政學，慈谿人。永樂二年進士。曆行在禮部郎中，務掇人過失，肆為奸貪。十六年春，有罪伏誅。

Qin Zhengxue was a native of Cixi. He passed the jinshi examination in Yongle year 2. As director in the traveling Ministry of Rites he hunted for others' faults and indulged in treachery and graft. In the spring of year 16 he was found guilty and executed.

緯初為大興教諭，燕兵起，與城守有勞。擢禮科給事中，坐罪謫思南宣慰司教授。永樂七年，復原官，務捃摭朝士過。久之，遷浙江副使。後入朝，仁宗見其名曰：「此人尚在耶！是無異蛇蠍。」遂謫嘉興典史。

Zhao Wei was first an instructor in Daxing; when the Yan army rose he distinguished himself in the city's defense. Promoted to supervising secretary of the Rites Section, he was later demoted to professor in Sinan for an offense. In Yongle year 7 he was restored to office and devoted himself to exposing court officials' faults. Eventually he was made vice commissioner of Zhejiang. When he later came to court, Renzong saw his name and exclaimed, 'This man is still alive! He is no different from a snake or scorpion. He was demoted to recorder of Jiaxing.

芳，潁上人。永樂十三年進士。曆刑科給事中。宣宗數禦便殿，與大臣議事。芳言：「洪武中，大臣面議時政，必給事中二人與俱，請復其舊。」帝是之。芳輒自矜，百司所為，少不如意，即詣帝前奏之，人比之紀綱。久之，帝亦惡其奸，黜為海鹽丞，棄官歸。

Li Fang was a native of Yingshang. He passed the jinshi examination in Yongle year 13. He served as supervising secretary of the Penal Section. Xuanzong often met ministers in the side hall to discuss policy. Fang said, 'Under Hongwu, two supervising secretaries always attended when ministers discussed policy with the emperor face to face—I beg that practice be restored. The emperor agreed. Fang grew arrogant; at the slightest dissatisfaction with any department he ran to the emperor; men compared him to Ji Gang. In time the emperor came to loathe him, demoted him to assistant magistrate of Haiyan, and he resigned.

嚴嵩，字惟中，分宜人。長身戍削，疏眉目，大音聲。舉弘治十八年進士，改庶起士，授編修。移疾歸，讀書鈐山十年，為詩古文辭，頗著清譽。還朝，久之進侍講，署南京翰林院事。召為國子祭酒。嘉靖七年曆禮部右侍郎，奉世宗命祭告顯陵，還言：「臣恭上寶冊及奉安神床，皆應時雨霽。又石產棗陽，群鸛集繞，碑入漢江，河流驟漲。請命輔臣撰文刻石，以紀天眷。」帝大悅，從之。遷吏部左侍郎，進南京禮部尚書，改吏部。

Yan Song, courtesy name Weizhong, was a native of Fenyang. He was tall and lean, with sparse features and a booming voice. He passed the jinshi in Hongzhi year 18, entered the Hanlin as a commoner graduate, and was made a compiler. He retired on grounds of illness and read at Qianshan for ten years, writing poetry and prose that won him a reputation for refinement. Back at court he was eventually made attendant expositor and acting head of the Nanjing Hanlin Academy. He was summoned to be chancellor of the Imperial Academy. In Jiajing year 7, as vice minister of Rites he performed sacrifices at Xianling and reported, 'When I presented the precious register and installed the spirit couch, timely rain cleared each time. Stones at Yang bore jujube patterns, egrets flocked and circled, and when the stele entered the Han River the waters surged. He asked that assisting ministers compose and carve an inscription to record Heaven's favor. The emperor was delighted and agreed. He became left vice minister of Personnel, then minister of Rites at Nanjing, then minister of Personnel.

居南京五年，以賀萬壽節至京師。會廷議更修《宋史》，輔臣請留嵩以禮部尚書兼翰林學士董其事。及夏言入內閣，命嵩還掌部事。帝將祀獻皇帝明堂，以配上帝。已，又欲稱宗入太廟。嵩與群臣議沮之，帝不悅，著《明堂或問》示廷臣。嵩惶恐，盡改前說，條畫禮儀甚備。禮成，賜金幣。自是，益務為佞悅。帝上皇天上帝尊號、寶冊，尋加上高皇帝尊諡聖號以配，嵩乃奏慶雲見，請受群臣朝賀。又為《慶雲賦》、《大禮告成頌》奏之，帝悅，命付史館。尋加太子太保，從幸承天，賞賜與輔臣埒。

After five years in Nanjing he came to the capital for the imperial birthday. When the court debated revising the History of Song, ministers asked that Song stay as minister of Rites and Hanlin academician to direct it. When Xia Yan entered the Grand Secretariat, Song was ordered back to run the ministry. The emperor planned to sacrifice to Emperor Xian in the Bright Hall, paired with the Supreme Lord. He also wished to enshrine him as an ancestor in the Imperial Temple. Song and the ministers opposed this; the emperor was displeased and issued Clarifying Questions on the Bright Hall. Song panicked, reversed his position entirely, and laid out the rites in exhaustive detail. When the rites were done, he received gold and silk. From then on he flattered the emperor all the more. When the emperor bestowed titles on the Supreme Lord and paired the High Emperor, Song reported auspicious clouds and asked ministers to offer congratulations. He composed a rhapsody and an ode on the great rites; the emperor was pleased and sent them to the Historiography Office. He was made Grand Guardian of the Heir Apparent, accompanied the emperor to Chengtian, and received rewards equal to grand secretaries.

嵩歸日驕。諸宗籓請恤乞封，挾取賄賂。子世蕃又數關說諸曹。南北給事、御史交章論貪污大臣，皆首嵩。嵩每被論，亟歸誠於帝，事輒已。帝或以事諮嵩，所條對平無奇，帝必故稱賞，欲以諷止言者。嵩科第先夏言，而位下之。始倚言，事之謹，嘗置酒邀言，躬詣其第，言辭不見。嵩布席，展所具啟，跽讀。言謂嵩實下己，不疑也。帝以奉道嘗御香葉冠，因刻沈水香冠五，賜言等。言不奉詔，帝怒甚。嵩因召對冠之，籠以輕紗。帝見，益內親嵩。嵩遂傾言，斥之。言去，醮祀青詞，非嵩無當帝意者。

After returning, Song grew daily more arrogant. Imperial clansmen seeking favors were extorted for bribes. His son Shifan also repeatedly intervened in government bureaus. Censors north and south repeatedly impeached corrupt ministers, always naming Song first. Whenever impeached, Song quickly professed loyalty to the emperor and the matter died. When consulted, his answers were dull, yet the emperor deliberately praised them to silence critics. Song had passed the examinations before Xia Yan, yet ranked below him. At first he relied on Yan, serving him humbly; he once brought wine to Yan's door, but Yan refused to see him. Song spread his mat, laid out his prepared memorials, and knelt to read them aloud. Yan believed Song was genuinely his inferior and suspected nothing. The emperor, practicing Daoism, wore a crown of fragrant leaves and carved five incense crowns for Yan and others. Yan refused the edict; the emperor was furious. Song wore the crown at his next audience, veiled in light gauze. The emperor took this as devotion and drew closer to Song. Song then turned on Yan and drove him out. With Yan gone, only Song could write the Daoist prayers the emperor wanted.

二十一年八月拜武英殿大學士，入直文淵閣，仍掌禮部事。時嵩年六十餘矣。精爽溢發，不異少壯。朝夕直西苑板房，未嘗一歸洗沐，帝益謂嵩勤。久之，請解部事，遂專直西苑。帝嘗賜嵩銀記，文曰「忠勤敏達。」尋加太子太傅。翟鑾資序在嵩上，帝待之不如嵩。嵩諷言官論之，鑾得罪去。吏部尚書許贊、禮部尚書張璧同入閣，皆不預聞票擬事，政事一歸嵩。贊嘗歎曰：「何奪我吏部，使我旁睨人。」嵩欲示厚同列，且塞言者意，因以顯夏言短，乃請凡有宣召，乞與成國公硃希忠、京山侯崔元及贊、璧偕入，如祖宗朝謇、夏、三楊故事，帝不聽，然心益喜嵩，累進吏部尚書、謹身殿大學士、少傅兼太子太師。

In the eighth month of year 21 he was made grand secretary of the Hall of Military Glory, entered the Wenyuan Pavilion, and still ran the Ministry of Rites. Song was already past sixty. His vigor seemed undiminished by age. He attended the Western Garden morning and night without returning home to bathe; the emperor deemed him ever more diligent. Eventually he resigned the ministry and attended only at the Western Garden. The emperor gave him a silver tally inscribed Loyal, diligent, keen, and penetrating. He was soon made Grand Tutor of the Heir Apparent. Zhai Luan outranked Song, yet the emperor favored Song more. Song incited censors against him and Luan was dismissed. Xu Zan and Zhang Bi joined the Grand Secretariat but neither drafted rescripts; power rested entirely with Song. Zan once sighed, Why strip me of the ministry and leave me watching from the sidelines? To appear generous and silence critics while exposing Xia Yan's faults, Song asked to enter audiences with Zhu Xizhong, Cui Yuan, Zan, and Bi as in Hongwu times; the emperor refused but liked him more, promoting him repeatedly.

久之，帝微覺嵩橫。時贊老病罷，璧死，乃復用夏言，帝為加嵩少師以慰之。言至，復盛氣陵嵩，頗斥逐其黨，嵩不能救。子世蕃方官尚寶少卿，橫行公卿間。言欲發其罪，嵩父子大懼，長跪榻下泣謝，乃已。知陸炳與言惡，遂與比而傾言。世蕃遷太常少卿，嵩猶畏言，疏遣歸省墓。嵩尋加特進，再加華蓋殿大學士。窺言失帝眷，用河套事構言及曾銑，俱棄市。已而南京吏部尚書張治、國子祭酒李本以疏遠擢入閣，益不敢預可否。嵩既傾殺言，益偽恭謹。言嘗加上柱國，帝亦欲加嵩，嵩乃辭曰：「尊無二上，上非人臣所宜稱。國初雖設此官，左相國達，功臣第一，亦止為左柱國。乞陛下免臣此官，著為令典，以昭臣節。」帝大喜，允其辭，而以世蕃為太常卿。

In time the emperor sensed Song's arrogance. When Zan retired ill and Bi died, Xia Yan returned; the emperor made Song junior master to console him. Yan returned in triumph, humbled Song, and expelled his followers; Song could not protect them. His son Shifan, junior director of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, bullied officials freely. When Yan threatened to expose Shifan's crimes, father and son knelt weeping at his couch until Yan relented. Knowing Lu Bing hated Yan, Song allied with him to destroy Yan. Shifan was made vice minister of Imperial Sacrifices; Song still feared Yan and sent him home to tend the family tomb. Song soon received special advancement and became grand secretary of the Hall of Canopy. When Yan lost favor, Song framed him and Zeng Xu over the Ordos affair; both were executed. Zhang Zhi and Li Ben were soon promoted into the Grand Secretariat from distant posts and dared not contradict him. Having destroyed Yan, Song feigned humility all the more. Yan had been made Pillar of the State; when the emperor offered Song the same title, he declined: Honor admits no second; above is not for subjects. Though the title existed at the founding, even Guo Da received only left Pillar of the State. I beg Your Majesty to spare me this title and fix it as precedent for ministers' integrity. The emperor was delighted, granted his request, and made Shifan director of Imperial Sacrifices.

嵩無他才略，惟一意媚上，竊權罔利。帝英察自信，果刑戮，頗護己短，嵩以故得因事激帝怒，戕害人以成其私。張經、李天寵、王忬之死，嵩皆有力焉。前後劾嵩、世蕃者，謝瑜、葉經、童漢臣、趙錦、王宗茂、何維柏、王曄、陳塏、厲汝進、沈練、徐學詩、楊繼盛、周鈇、吳時來、張翀、董傳策皆被譴。經、煉用他過置之死，繼盛附張經疏尾殺之。他所不悅，假遷除考察以斥者甚眾，皆未嘗有跡也。

Song had no real talent—only flattery, usurped power, and private gain. The emperor was sharp, severe, and touchy about his faults; Song exploited this to destroy enemies. Song had a hand in the deaths of Zhang Jing, Li Tianchong, and Wang Yu. Those who impeached Song and Shifan—including Xie Yu, Ye Jing, Yang Jisheng, and Dong Chuance—were all punished. Jing and Lian died on other charges; Jisheng was killed appended to Zhang Jing's memorial. Others he removed through transfers and evaluations without a trace of cause.

俺答薄都城，慢書求貢。帝召嵩與李本及禮部尚書徐階入對西苑。嵩無所規畫，委之禮部。帝悉用階言，稍輕嵩。嵩復以間激帝怒，杖司業趙貞吉而謫之。兵部尚書丁汝夔受嵩指，不敢趣諸將戰。寇退，帝欲殺汝夔。嵩懼其引己，謂汝夔曰：「我在，毋慮也。」汝夔臨死始知為嵩紿。

Altan Khan threatened the capital and insolently demanded tribute. The emperor summoned Song, Li Ben, and Xu Jie to the Western Garden. Song offered no plan and deferred to the Ministry of Rites. The emperor followed Xu Jie's advice and valued Song less. Song again inflamed the emperor's anger and had Zhao Zhenji beaten and banished. Minister of War Ding Ruai, under Song's orders, dared not press the generals to fight. When the raiders withdrew the emperor wanted Ruai executed. Song feared Ruai would implicate him and said, While I am here, have no fear. Ruai learned only at the scaffold that Song had deceived him.

大將軍仇鸞，始為曾銑所劾，倚嵩傾銑，遂約為父子。已而鸞挾寇得帝重，嵩猶兒子蓄之，浸相惡。嵩密疏毀鸞，帝不聽，而頗納鸞所陳嵩父子過，少疏之。嵩當入直，不召者數矣。嵩見徐階、李本入西內，即與俱入。至西華門，門者以非詔旨格之。嵩還第，父子對泣。時陸炳掌錦衣，與鸞爭寵，嵩乃結炳共圖鸞。會鸞病死，炳訐鸞陰事，帝追戮之。於是益信任嵩，遣所乘龍舟過海子召嵩，載直西內如故。世蕃尋遷工部左侍郎。倭寇江南，用趙文華督察軍情，大納賄賂以遣嵩，致寇亂益甚。及胡宗憲誘降汪直、徐海，文華乃言：「臣與宗憲策，臣師嵩所授也。」遂命嵩兼支尚書俸無謝，自是褒賜皆不謝。

General Qiu Luan, once impeached by Zeng Xu, relied on Song to destroy Xu and treated him as a father. Luan then leveraged the raids to win favor; Song still treated him as a son until they grew hostile. Song secretly slandered Luan; the emperor ignored him but accepted Luan's reports of the Songs' faults and grew cooler. Song went days without summons to attendance. Seeing Xu Jie and Li Ben enter the inner palace, he went in with them. At the Xihua Gate guards barred them for lack of an edict. Song returned home and wept with his son. Lu Bing of the Brocade Guard rivaled Luan; Song allied with Bing against him. When Luan died, Bing denounced his secret crimes and the emperor punished him posthumously. He trusted Song still more, sent his dragon boat to fetch him, and carried him into the inner palace as before. Shifan was soon made left vice minister of Works. Zhao Wenhua was sent to supervise the anti-pirate campaign; he bribed Song heavily and the raids grew worse. When Hu Zongxian induced Wang Zhi and Xu Hai to surrender, Wenhua claimed the strategy came from his teacher Song. Song was granted ministerial salary without need for thanks; thereafter he accepted rewards without formal gratitude.

帝嘗以嵩直廬隘，撤小殿材為營室，植花木其中，朝夕賜禦膳、法酒。嵩年八十，聽以肩輿入禁苑。帝自十八年葬章聖太后後，即不視朝，自二十年宮婢之變，即移居西苑萬壽宮，不入大內，大臣希得謁見，惟嵩獨承顧問，禦劄一日或數下，雖同列不獲聞，以故嵩得逞志。然帝雖甚親禮嵩，亦不盡信其言，間一取獨斷，或故示異同，欲以殺離其勢。嵩父子獨得帝窾要，欲有所救解，嵩必順帝意痛詆之，而婉曲解釋以中帝所不忍。即欲排陷者，必先稱其善，而以微言中之，或觸帝所恥與諱。以是移帝喜怒，往往不失。士大夫輻輳附嵩，時稱文選郎中萬寀、職方郎中方祥等為嵩文武管家。尚書吳鵬、歐陽必進、高燿、許論輩，皆惴惴事嵩。

Finding Song's quarters cramped, the emperor built him new rooms with garden and daily imperial meals and wine. At eighty Song was allowed a sedan chair in the forbidden garden. After year 18 the emperor stopped holding court; after year 20 he lived only in the Western Garden; ministers rarely saw him; only Song received his notes and could do as he pleased. Yet the emperor did not fully trust Song, sometimes deciding alone or feigning disagreement to divide his power. Only the Songs knew the emperor's mind; to save a man Song would first denounce him harshly, then gently intercede. To destroy a man they first praised him, then struck with a subtle phrase touching the emperor's shame or taboo. Thus they steered the emperor's moods with uncanny success. Officials flocked to Song; Wan Cai and Fang Xiang were called his civil and military stewards. Ministers Wu Peng, Ouyang Bijin, Gao Yao, and Xu Lun all served Song in terror.

嵩握權久，遍引私人居要地。帝亦浸厭之，而漸親徐階。會階所厚吳時來、張翀、董傳策各疏論嵩，嵩因密請究主使者，下詔獄，窮治無所引。帝乃不問，而慰留嵩，然心不能無動，階因得間傾嵩。吏部尚書缺，嵩力援歐陽必進為之，甫三月即斥去。趙文華忤旨獲譴，嵩亦不能救。有詔二王就婚邸第，嵩力請留內。帝不悅，嵩亦不能力持。嵩雖警敏，能先意揣帝指，然帝所下手詔，語多不可曉，惟世蕃一覽了然，答語無不中。及嵩妻歐陽氏死，世蕃當護喪歸，嵩請留侍京邸。帝許之，然自是不得入直所代嵩票擬，而日縱淫樂於家。嵩受詔多不能答，遣使持問世蕃。值其方耽女樂，不以時答。中使相繼促嵩，嵩不得已自為之，往往失旨。所進青詞，又多假手他人不能工，經此積失帝歡。會萬壽宮火，嵩請暫徙南城離宮，南城，英宗為太上皇時所居也，帝不悅。而徐階營萬壽營甚稱旨，帝益親階，顧問多不及嵩，即及嵩，祠祀而已。嵩懼，置酒要階，使家人羅拜，舉觴屬曰：「嵩旦夕且死，此曹惟公乳哺之。」階謝不敢。

Long in power, Song placed his men in every key post. The emperor tired of him and drew closer to Xu Jie. When Jie's allies memorialized against Song, Song had them imprisoned but could find no ringleader. The emperor reassured Song but was shaken; Jie found openings against him. Song installed Ouyang Bijin as minister of Personnel; within three months he was dismissed. Zhao Wenhua offended the emperor and was punished; Song could not save him. An edict sent the two princes to their wedding residences; Song begged they stay in the palace. The emperor refused; Song could not prevail. Song could read the emperor's mood, but the emperor's own edicts were often obscure; only Shifan understood them instantly. When Lady Ouyang died Shifan should have mourned at home; Song kept him in the capital. The emperor agreed, but Shifan no longer drafted for his father and indulged himself at home. Song could not answer edicts and sent to ask Shifan. Absorbed in entertainment, Shifan answered late. Eunuchs pressed Song; he answered himself and often missed the mark. His prayers were drafted by others and grew clumsy; the emperor's favor waned. When Wanshou Palace burned Song asked to move to the southern city where Yingzong had lived; the emperor was displeased. Xu Jie's rebuilding pleased the emperor; consultation passed Song by except for rituals. Terrified, Song feasted Jie, had his household kowtow, and begged him to protect his family after death. Jie humbly refused.

未幾，帝入方士藍道行言，有意去嵩。御史鄒應龍避雨內侍家，知其事，抗疏極論嵩父子不法，曰：「臣言不實，乞斬臣首以謝嵩、世蕃。」帝降旨慰嵩，而以嵩溺愛世蕃，負眷倚，令致仕，馳驛歸，有司歲給米百石，下世蕃於理。嵩為世蕃請罪，且求解，帝不聽。法司奏論世蕃及其子錦衣鵠、鴻，客羅龍文，戍邊遠。詔從之，特宥鴻為民，使侍嵩，而錮其奴嚴年於獄，擢應龍通政司參議。時四十一年五月也。龍文官中書，交關為奸利，而年最黠惡，士大夫競稱萼山先生者也。

Soon, through the Daoist Lan Daoxing, the emperor showed he meant to remove Song. Censor Zou Yinglong learned of the plot and memorialized fiercely, offering his head if he lied. The emperor comforted Song but ordered him to retire for indulging Shifan; Shifan was sent to the judiciary. Song pleaded for Shifan; the emperor refused. The judiciary sentenced Shifan, his sons, and client Luo Longwen to frontier exile. The edict followed, pardoned one son to serve Song, imprisoned the slave Yan Nian, and promoted Yinglong. This was the fifth month of year 41. Longwen traded in office; the slave Nian was the vilest; officials called him Mr. Eshan.

嵩既去，帝追念其贊玄功，意忽忽不樂，諭階欲遂傳位，退居西內，專祈長生。階極陳河，帝曰：「卿等不欲，必皆奉君命，同輔玄修乃可。嚴嵩既退，其子世蕃已伏法，敢更言者，並應龍俱斬。」嵩知帝念己，乃賂帝左右，發道行陰事，系刑部，俾引階。道行不承，坐論死，得釋。嵩初歸至南昌，值萬壽節，使道士藍田玉建醮鐵柱宮。田玉善召鶴，嵩因取其符籙，並己祈鶴文上之，帝優詔褒答。嵩因言：「臣年八十有四，惟一子世蕃及孫鵠皆遠戍，乞移便地就養，終臣餘年。」不許。其明年，南京御史林潤奏：「江洋巨盜多入逃軍羅龍文、嚴世蕃家。龍文居深山，乘軒衣蟒，有負險不臣之志。世蕃得罪後，與龍文日誹謗時政。其治第役眾四千，道路皆言兩人通倭，變且不測。」詔下潤逮捕，下法司論斬，皆伏誅，黜嵩及諸孫皆為民。嵩竊政二十年，溺信惡子，流毒天下，人咸指目為奸臣。其坐世蕃大逆，則徐階意也。又二年，嵩老病，寄食墓舍以死。

After Song left the emperor missed his Daoist service and told Jie he wished to abdicate and seek immortality. Jie objected; the emperor said all must assist his mystic cultivation. Song is gone and Shifan dead; whoever speaks again, with Yinglong, shall die. Song bribed the emperor's attendants to expose Daoxing and implicate Jie. Daoxing refused to implicate Jie; sentenced to death, he was released. Returning to Nanchang for the birthday, Song had Lan Tianyu perform rituals. Song sent Tianyu's talismans and a crane prayer; the emperor replied graciously. Song begged that Shifan and his grandson be moved nearer so he could be supported in old age. The request was denied. Nanjing censor Lin Run reported that pirates sheltered with Luo Longwen and Yan Shifan. Longwen lived in the mountains in python robes with the air of a rebel. After Shifan's fall he and Longwen daily slandered the government. He employed four thousand builders; rumor said he colluded with Japanese pirates. Run arrested them; all were executed; Song and his grandsons were made commoners. Song held power twenty years, trusted his wicked son, and was universally called a traitor. The charge of great treason against Shifan was Xu Jie's design. Two years later the aged Song died in a tomb lodge.

世蕃，短項肥體，眇一目，由父任入仕。以築京師外城勞，由太常卿進工部左侍郎，仍掌尚寶司事。剽悍陰賊，席父寵，招權利無厭。然頗通國典，曉暢時務。嘗謂天下才，惟己與陸炳、楊博為三。炳死，益自負。嵩耄昏，且旦夕直西內，諸司白事，輒曰：「以質東樓。」東樓，世蕃別號也。朝事一委世蕃，九卿以下浹日不得見，或停至暮而遣之。士大夫側目屏息，不肖者奔走其門，筐篚相望於道。世蕃熟諳中外官饒瘠險易，責賄多寡，毫髮不能匿。其治第京師，連三四坊，堰水為塘數十畝，羅珍禽奇樹其中，日擁賓客縱倡樂，雖大僚或父執，虐之酒，不困不已。居母喪亦然。好古尊彝、奇器、書畫，趙文華、鄢懋卿、胡宗憲之屬，所到輒輦致之，或索之富人，必得然後已。被應龍劾戍雷州，未至而返，益大治園亭。其監工奴見袁州推官郭諫臣，不為起。御史林潤嘗劾懋卿，懼相報，因與諫臣謀發其罪，且及冤殺楊繼盛、沈練狀。世蕃喜，謂其黨曰：「無恐，獄且解。」法司黃光升等以讞詞白徐階，階曰：「諸公欲生之乎？」僉曰：「必欲死之。」曰：「若是，適所以生之也。夫楊、沈之獄，嵩皆巧取上旨。今顯及之，是彰上過也。必如是，諸君且不測，嚴公子騎款段出都門矣。」為手削其草，獨按龍文與汪直姻舊，為交通賄世蕃乞官。世蕃用彭孔言，以南昌倉地有王氣，取以治第，制擬王者。又結宗人典楧陰伺非常，多聚亡命。龍文又招直餘黨五百人，謀為世蕃外投日本，先所發遣世蕃班頭牛信，亦自山海衛棄伍北走，誘致外兵，共相回應。即日令光升等疾書奏之。世蕃聞，詫曰：「死矣。」遂斬於市。籍其家，黃金可三萬餘兩，白金二百萬餘兩，他珍寶服玩所值又數百萬。

Shifan was short-necked, fat, one-eyed, and entered office through his father. For building the outer wall he rose from director of Imperial Sacrifices to left vice minister of Works. Fierce and treacherous, he abused his father's favor for endless gain. Yet he knew the institutions and current affairs well. He said the empire had only three talents: himself, Lu Bing, and Yang Bo. When Bing died he grew still more arrogant. Senile Song attended the inner west daily and referred all business to East Tower. East Tower was Shifan's nickname. Shifan ran everything; ministers might wait all day unseen. The worthy feared him; the base crowded his gate with gifts. He knew every official's wealth and the bribe due—nothing was hidden. His capital mansion spanned several wards with ponds and rare creatures; he forced even seniors to drink without mercy. He did the same even while mourning his mother. He extorted antiquities from Wenhua, Maoqing, Zongxian, and the rich. Sent to Leizhou he turned back and built greater gardens. His slaves would not rise for Assistant Magistrate Guo Jianchen. Lin Run, fearing Maoqing, joined Jianchen to expose Shifan and the murders of Yang Jisheng and Shen Lian. Shifan told his men the case would be dismissed. The judiciary showed Jie the indictment; he asked whether they wanted Shifan to live. All said they wanted him dead. Jie said that was exactly how to let him live. Song had taken the emperor's intent in the Yang and Shen cases. Making it explicit would expose the emperor's error. Then they would be in danger and Shifan would ride free from the capital. Jie revised the charge to Longwen's ties with Wang Zhi and bribery for offices. Shifan seized Nanchang granary land said to have kingly qi and built a princely mansion. He joined clansmen to watch for rebellion and gathered fugitives. Longwen recruited Zhi's remnants for Shifan to flee to Japan; the foreman Niu Xin deserted north to summon foreign troops. That day Jie ordered urgent memorialization. Shifan heard and cried, Dead! He was beheaded in the market. Confiscation yielded tens of thousands of taels of gold and millions in silver and treasures.

趙文華等

Zhao Wenhua and others

趙文華，慈谿人。嘉靖八年進士。授刑部主事。以考察謫東平州同知。久之，累官至通政使。性傾狡，未第時在國學，嚴嵩為祭酒，才之。後仕於朝，而嵩日貴幸，遂相與結為父子。嵩念己過惡多，得私人在通政，劾疏至，可預為計，故以文華任之。文華欲自結於帝，進百華仙酒，詭曰：「臣師嵩服之而壽。」帝飲甘之，手敕問嵩。嵩驚曰；「文華安得為此！」乃宛轉奏曰：「臣生平不近藥餌，犬馬之壽誠不知何以然。」嵩恨文華不先白己，召至直所詈責之。文華跪泣，久不敢起。徐階、李本見之為解，乃令去。嵩休沐歸，九卿進謁，嵩猶怒文華，令從吏扶出之。文華大窘，厚賂嵩妻。嵩妻教文華伺嵩歸，匿於別室，酒酣，嵩妻為之解，文華即出拜，嵩乃待之如初。以建議築京師外城，加工部右侍郎。

Zhao Wenhua was a native of Cixi. He passed the jinshi in Jiajing year 8. He was made a director in the Ministry of Justice. Evaluation demoted him to assistant prefect of Dongping. Eventually he became commissioner of the Secretariat of Transmission. Treacherous by nature, he had impressed Song when Song was university chancellor. In court, as Song rose, they became sworn father and son. Song placed him in Transmission to intercept impeachment memorials in advance. Wenhua presented Immortal Wine to the emperor, claiming Song's longevity came from it. The emperor found it sweet and asked Song by personal edict. Song said in alarm: How could Wenhua do this! He tactfully replied that he never took medicine and did not know why he lived so long. Song hated that Wenhua had not told him first and reviled him at the duty room. Wenhua knelt weeping and dared not rise. Xu Jie and Li Ben interceded and he was dismissed. On rest day the nine ministers called; Song still raged and had Wenhua carried out. Wenhua bribed Song's wife heavily. Song's wife hid Wenhua, interceded when Song was drunk, and restored their bond. For proposing the outer wall he was made right vice minister of Works.

東南倭患棘，文華獻七事。首以祭海神為言，請遣官望祭於江陰、常熟。次訟有司掩骼輕徭。次增募水軍。次蘇、松、常、鎮民田，一夫過百畝者，重科其賦，且預徵官田稅三年。次募富人輸財力自效，事寧論功。次遣重臣督師。次招通番舊黨並海鹽徒，易以忠義之名，令偵伺賊情，因以為間。兵部尚書聶豹議行其五事，惟增田賦、遣重臣二事不行。帝怒，奪豹官，而用嵩言即遣文華祭告海神，因察賊情。當是時，總督尚書張經方征四方及狼士兵，議大舉，自以位文華上，心輕之。文華不悅。狼兵稍有斬獲功，文華厚犒之，使進剿，至漕涇戰敗，亡頭目十四人。文華恚，數趣經進兵。經慮文華輕淺泄師期，不以告。文華益怒，劾經養寇失機，疏方上，經大捷王江涇。文華攘其功，謂己與巡按胡宗憲督師所致，經竟論死。又劾浙江巡撫李天寵罪，薦宗憲代，天寵亦論死。帝益以文華為賢，命鑄督察軍務關防，即軍中賜之。文華自此出總督上，益恣行無忌。欲分蘇松巡撫曹邦輔滸墅關破賊功，不得，則以陶宅之敗，重劾邦輔。陶宅之戰，實文華、宗憲兵先潰也。兵科給事中夏栻得其情，劾文華欺誕。吏科給事中孫浚亦白邦輔冤狀。帝終信文華言，邦輔坐遣戍。文華既殺經、天寵，復先後論罷總督周琉、楊宜，至是又傾邦輔，勢益張。文武將吏爭輸貨其門，顛倒功罪，牽制兵機，紀律大乖，將吏人人解體，徵兵半天下，賊寇愈熾。文華又陳防守事宜，請籍閒田百萬畝給兵，為屯守計，而令裏居縉紳，分督郡邑兵事。為兵部所駁而寢。

With Japanese raids urgent, Wenhua presented seven proposals. First he proposed sacrifices to the sea god at Jiangyin and Changshu. Next he urged covering exposed bones and lightening corvée. Next he urged more naval recruits. Next he proposed heavy taxes on large holdings in the lower Yangtze and three-year advance levies. Next he proposed recruiting rich donors for later reward. Next he proposed sending a senior minister to supervise troops. Next he proposed turning smugglers into spies against the pirates. Nie Bao adopted five measures; increased land tax and a senior commander were rejected. The emperor stripped Bao and sent Wenhua to sacrifice to the sea god and inspect the raids. Grand Coordinator Zhang Jing planned a major campaign and looked down on Wenhua. Wenhua was displeased. Wenhua rewarded Lang troops who were defeated at Caojing with fourteen commanders lost. Wenhua repeatedly pressed Jing to attack. Jing feared Wenhua would leak plans and told him nothing. Wenhua impeached Jing for delay just as Jing won at Wangjiangjing. Wenhua claimed the victory for himself and Zongxian; Jing was executed. He destroyed Li Tianchong and installed Zongxian, who also had Tianchong executed. The emperor cast him a military supervision seal in camp. Wenhua now outranked the grand coordinator and acted without restraint. Denied a share of Bangfu's victory, he used the Taozhai defeat to destroy him. At Taozhai Wenhua and Zongxian's troops had fled first. Xia Shi impeached Wenhua for deceit. Sun Jun reported Bangfu's injustice. The emperor believed Wenhua; Bangfu was exiled. Having killed Jing and Tianchong and removed Liu, Yang, and Bangfu, his power swelled. Officers bribed him, discipline collapsed, and the pirates grew worse. He proposed garrison farms and gentry-led local defense. The Ministry of War rejected it.

官軍既屢敗，文華知賊未易平，欲委責去。會川兵破賊周浦，俞大猷破賊海洋，文華遂言水陸成功，江南清晏，請還朝。帝悅，許之。比還，敗報踵至，帝疑其妄，數詰嵩，嵩曲為解，帝意終不釋。會吏部尚書李默發策試選人，中言「漢武征四夷，而海內虛耗。唐憲復淮、蔡，而晚業不終。」文華劾其謗訕，默坐死。帝以是謂文華忠，進工部尚書，且加太子太保。是時，嵩年老，慮一旦死，有後患，因薦文華文學，宜供奉青詞，直內閣。帝不許。而東南警遝至，部議再遣大臣督師，已命兵部侍郎沈良材矣，嵩令文華自請行，為帝言江南人矯首望文華。帝以為然，命兼右副都御史，總督江南、浙江諸軍事。時宗憲先以文華薦代楊宜為總督，及文華再出，宗憲欲藉文華以通於嵩，諂奉無不至。文華素不知兵，亦倚宗憲，兩人交甚歡。已而宗憲平徐海，俘陳東，文華以大捷聞，歸功上玄。帝大喜，祭告郊廟社稷，加文華少保，廕子錦衣千戶。召還朝，文華乃推功元輔嵩，辭升廕，帝優詔不允。

After defeats he knew the pirates could not be quickly beaten and wished to leave. When victories came he claimed Jiangnan was pacified and asked to return. The emperor agreed. Defeat reports followed his return; the emperor doubted him and questioned Song in vain. Minister Li Mo's examination essay quoted Han Wu's costly campaigns. It cited Tang recovery of Huai and Cai yet decline at the end. Wenhua impeached him for slander; Mo was executed. The emperor deemed Wenhua loyal and made him minister of Works and Grand Guardian. Old Song recommended Wenhua for the Grand Secretariat and green-lotus prayers. The emperor refused. The ministry had named Shen Liangcai when Song had Wenhua volunteer, claiming Jiangnan awaited him. The emperor made him grand coordinator of Jiangnan and Zhejiang. Zongxian flattered Wenhua to reach Song. Ignorant of war, Wenhua relied on Zongxian; they were intimate. When Zongxian captured Chen Dong, Wenhua reported victory to Heaven. The emperor sacrificed and ennobled Wenhua's son in the Brocade Guard. Recalled, he credited Song and declined rewards; the emperor refused his refusal.

文華既寵貴，志日驕，事中貴及世蕃，漸不如初，諸人憾之。帝嘗遣使賜文華，值其醉，拜跪不如禮，帝聞惡其不敬。又嘗進方士藥，帝服之盡，使小璫再索之，不應。西苑造新閣，不以時告成。帝一日登高，見西長安街有高甍，問誰宅。左右曰：「趙尚書新宅也。」旁一人曰：「工部大木，半為文華作宅，何暇營新閣。」帝益慍。會三殿災，帝欲建正陽門樓，責成甚亟，文華猝不能辦。帝積怒，且聞其連歲視師黷貨要功狀，思逐之，乃諭嵩曰：「門樓庀材遲，文華似不如昔。」嵩猶未知帝意，力為掩覆，且言：「文華觸熱南征，因致疾，宜增侍郎一人專督大工。」帝從之。文華因上章稱疾，請賜假靜攝旬月。帝手批曰：「大工方興，司空是職。文華既有疾，可回籍休養。」制下，舉朝相賀。

As he rose he grew proud and slack with the eunuchs and Shifan; many resented him. Drunk when the emperor's envoys came, he was rude in ceremony. He gave the emperor Daoist medicine and ignored a request for more. A Western Garden pavilion was late. The emperor saw a grand roof on West Chang'an Street and asked whose house it was. They said it was Vice Minister Zhao's new house. Another said half the ministry timber built Wenhua's house instead of the pavilion. The emperor grew angrier. When the three halls burned he could not rebuild the Zhengyang Gate tower in time. Angered by delays and corruption, the emperor told Song Wenhua was not as before. Song covered for him and proposed adding a vice minister for construction. The emperor agreed. Wenhua memorialized illness and asked ten days' leave. The emperor wrote that the minister of works must oversee great works. If ill, he may return home. The court rejoiced when the decree came.

帝雖逐文華猶以為未盡其罪，而言官無攻者，帝怒無所泄。會其子錦衣千戶懌思以齋祀停封章日請假送父，帝大怒，黜文華為民，戍其子邊衛。以禮科失糾劾，令對狀。於是都給事中謝江以下六人，並廷杖削籍。文華故病蠱，及遭譴臥舟中，意邑邑不自聊，一夕手捫其腹，腹裂，臟腑出，遂死。後給事中羅嘉賓等核軍餉，文華所侵盜以十萬四千計。有詔征諸其家，至萬曆十一年征猶未及半，有司援恩詔祈免。神宗不許，戍其子慎思於煙瘴地。

The emperor still thought Wenhua insufficiently punished but censors were silent. His son's improper leave enraged the emperor; Wenhua was made a commoner and his son exiled. The Rites Section was ordered to answer for failing to impeach. Chief Supervising Secretary Xie Jiang and six others were beaten and dismissed. Ill with gu poison, he split open his belly in the boat and died. Audit found he had embezzled 104,000 taels. Collection from his estate was still incomplete in Wanli year 11. Shenzong refused and exiled his son Shensi.

鄢懋卿，豐城人。由行人擢御史，屢遷大理少卿。三十五年，轉左僉都御史。尋進左副都御史。懋卿以才自負，見嚴嵩柄政，深附之，為嵩父子所暱。會戶部以兩浙、兩淮、長蘆、河東鹽政不舉，請遣大臣一人總理，嵩遂用懋卿。舊制，大臣理鹽政，無總四運司者。至是懋卿盡握天下利柄，倚嚴氏父子，所至市權納賄，監司郡邑吏膝行蒲伏。

Yan Maoqing was a native of Fengcheng. From courier he rose to vice minister of Justice. In year 35 he became left vice censor-in-chief. Soon he was made left vice censor-in-chief. Talented and arrogant, he attached to the Song father and son. When salt administration failed, Song installed Maoqing as overseer. No minister had ever held all four salt circuits. He held all salt profits, sold power, and made officials crawl.

懋卿性奢侈，至以文錦被廁床，白金飾溺器。嵊時遺嚴氏及諸權貴，不可勝紀。其按部，常與妻偕行，制五彩輿，令十二女子舁之，道路傾駭。淳安知縣海瑞、慈谿知縣霍與瑕，以抗忤罷去。御史林潤嘗劾懋卿要索屬吏，饋遺巨萬，濫受民訟，勒富人賄，置酒高會，日費千金，虐殺不辜，怨咨載路，苛斂淮商，幾至激變，五大罪。帝置不問。四十年召為刑部右侍郎。兩淮餘鹽，歲征銀六十萬兩，及懋卿增至一百萬。懋卿去，巡鹽御史徐爌極言其害，乃復六十萬之舊。嵩敗，御史鄭洛劾懋卿及大理卿萬寀朋奸黷貨，兩人皆落職。既而寀匿嚴氏銀八萬兩，懋卿紿得其二萬，事皆露，兩人先後戍邊。

He used brocade bedding and gold urinals. He sent countless gifts to the Yans and the powerful. He traveled with his wife in a twelve-bearer sedan that stunned the roads. Magistrates Hai Rui and Huo Yuxia were dismissed for defying him. Lin Run charged him with five great crimes including extortion and near rebellion. The emperor ignored it. In year 40 he was summoned as right vice minister of Justice. Huai surplus salt rose from 600,000 to 1,000,000 taels under him. After he left the levy returned to 600,000. After Song's fall Zheng Luo impeached Maoqing and Wan Cai; both were dismissed. Cai hid Yan silver; Maoqing seized part; both were exiled.

時坐嚴氏黨被論者，前兵部右侍郎柏鄉魏謙吉、工部左侍郎南昌劉伯躍、南京刑部右侍郎德安何遷、右副都御史信陽董威、僉都御史萬安張雨、應天府尹祥符孟淮、南京光祿卿南昌胡植、南京光祿少卿武進白啟常、右諭德蘭谿唐汝楫、南京太常卿掌國子監事新城王材、太僕丞新喻張春及嵩婿廣西副使袁應樞等數十人，黜謫有差。植與嵩鄉里，嘗勸嵩殺楊繼盛。啟常官禮部郎，匿喪遷光祿，與材、汝楫俱為世蕃狎客。啟常至以粉墨塗面供歡笑。而材、汝楫俱出入嵩臥內，關通請屬，尤為人所惡云。

Dozens associated with the Yan faction were punished, from Wei Qianji to Yuan Yingshu, with varying penalties. Zhi, Song's townsman, had urged killing Yang Jisheng. Qichang concealed mourning; he, Cai, and Ruji were Shifan's intimates. Qichang even painted his face for amusement. Cai and Ruji passed in and out of Song's bedroom trading favors and were especially hated.

周延儒

Zhou Yanru

周延儒，字玉繩，宜興人。萬曆四十一年會試、殿試皆第一。授修撰，年甫二十餘。美麗自喜，與同年生馮銓友善。天啟中，遷右中允，掌司經局事。尋以少詹事掌南京翰林院事。

Zhou Yanru, courtesy name Yuyong, was a native of Yixing. In Wanli year 41 he topped both metropolitan and palace examinations. He was appointed compiler in his early twenties. Handsome and vain, he befriended fellow graduate Feng Quan. Under Tianqi he managed the Classics Bureau as right junior mentor. He soon headed the Nanjing Hanlin Academy.

莊烈帝即位，召為禮部右侍郎。延儒性警敏，善伺意指。崇禎元年冬，錦州兵嘩，督師袁崇煥請給餉。帝御文華殿，召問諸大臣，皆請發內帑。延儒揣帝意，獨進曰：「關門昔防敵，今且防兵。寧遠嘩，餉之，錦州嘩，復餉之，各邊且效尤。」帝曰：「卿謂何如？」延儒曰：「事迫，不得不發。但當求經久之策。」帝頷之，降旨責群臣。居數日，復召問，延儒曰：「餉莫如粟，山海粟不缺，缺銀耳。何故嘩？嘩必有隱情，安知非驕弁構煽以脅崇煥邪？」帝方疑邊將要脅，聞延儒言，大說，由此屬意延儒。十一月，大學士劉鴻訓罷，命會推，廷臣以延儒望輕置之，列成基命、錢謙益、鄭以偉、李騰芳、孫慎行、何如寵、薛三省、盛以弘、羅喻義、王永光、曹於汴十一人名上。帝以延儒不預，大疑。及溫體仁訐謙益，延儒助之。帝遂發怒，黜謙益，盡罷會推者不用。二年三月召對延儒於文華殿，漏下數十刻乃出，語秘不得聞。御史黃宗昌劾其生平穢行，御史李長春論獨對之非。延儒乞罷，不允。南京給事中錢允鯨言：「延儒與馮銓密契，延儒柄政，必為逆黨翻局。」延儒疏辨，帝優詔褒答。其年十二月，京師有警，特旨拜延儒禮部尚書兼東閣大學士，參機務。明年二月加太子太保，改文淵閣。六月，體仁亦入。九月，成基命致仕，延儒遂為首輔。尋加少保，改武英殿。

When Zhuanglie ascended he was summoned as right vice minister of Rites. Yanru was clever at reading the emperor's mind. In Chongzhen 1 Jinzhou troops mutinied; Yuan Chonghuan asked for pay. At Wenhua Hall all ministers asked for inner treasury funds. Yanru alone said the passes now must guard against their own troops. Paying mutineers at Ningyuan and Jinzhou would invite imitation everywhere. The emperor asked his view. Yanru said payment was urgent. But a long-term plan was needed. The emperor nodded and rebuked the ministers. Days later Yanru said grain, not silver, should be used. Why mutiny then? Perhaps arrogant officers incited it to coerce Chonghuan? The emperor, suspecting generals, was pleased and favored Yanru. When Liu Hongxun retired, ministers omitted Yanru and listed eleven others. The emperor was suspicious that Yanru was omitted. When Wen Tiren attacked Qianyi, Yanru helped. The emperor dismissed Qianyi and all on the recommendation list. In month 3 of year 2 he had a secret long audience at Wenhua Hall. Censors impeached his conduct and solitary audience. He begged to resign in vain. Qian Yunjing warned Yanru would reverse the traitor case with Feng Quan. Yanru defended himself; the emperor replied graciously. In month 12 he was made minister of Rites and Eastern Pavilion grand secretary. In month 2 of the next year he entered the Wenyuan Pavilion. Wen Tiren entered the cabinet in month 6. When Cheng Jiming retired in month 9, Yanru became chief assistant. He was made junior guardian of the Hall of Military Glory.

體仁既並相，務為柔佞，帝意漸響之。而體仁陽曲謹媚延儒，陰欲奪其位，延儒不知也。體仁與吏部尚書王永光謀起逆案王之臣、呂純如等。或謂延儒曰：「彼將翻逆案，而外歸咎於公。」延儒愕然。會帝以之臣問，延儒曰：「用之臣，亦可雪崔呈秀矣。」帝悟而止。體仁益欲傾延儒。四年春。延儒姻婭陳於泰廷對第一，及所用大同巡撫張廷拱、登萊巡撫孫元化皆有私，時論籍籍。其子弟家人暴邑中，邑中民熱其廬，發其先壟，為言官所糾。兄素儒冒錦衣籍，授千戶，又用家人周文郁為副總兵，益為言者所詆。

Tiren flattered the emperor and won favor. Tiren flattered Yanru outwardly while plotting his fall. Tiren and Wang Yongguang plotted to raise traitor-case figures. Someone warned Yanru he would be blamed for reversing the traitor case. Yanru was startled. When asked about Zhichen, Yanru said it would whitewash Cui Chengxiu. The emperor understood and stopped. Tiren pressed harder against Yanru. In the spring of year 4. His kin Chen Yutai topped the palace exam; his appointees Zhang Tinggong and Sun Yuanhua were accused of favoritism. His household terrorized the district until locals burned his lodge and tombs. His brother Suru fraudulently entered the Brocade Guard; his slave became vice commander—drawing more attacks.

五年正月，叛將李九成等陷登州，囚元化。侍郎劉宇烈視師無功，言路鹹指延儒庇宇烈。於是給事中孫三傑、馮元飆，御史余應桂、衛景瑗、尹明翼、路振飛、吳執禦、王道純、王象雲等，屢劾延儒。應桂並謂延儒納巨盜神一魁賄。而監視中官鄧希詔與總督曹文衡相訐奏，語侵延儒。給事中李春旺亦論延儒當去。延儒數上疏辯，帝雖慰留，心不能無動。已而延儒令于泰陳時政四事，宣府太監王坤承體仁指，直劾延儒庇於泰。給事中傅朝佑言中官不當劾首揆，輕朝廷，疑有邪人交構，副都御史王志道亦言之。帝怒，削志道籍，延儒不能救。體仁各處嗾給事中陳贊化劾延儒「昵武弁李元功等，招搖罔利。陛下特恩停刑，元功以為延儒功，索獄囚賕謝。而延儒至目陛下為羲皇上人，語誖逆。」帝怒，下元功詔獄，且窮詰贊化語所自得。贊化言得之上林典簿姚孫渠、給事中李世祺，而副使張鳳翼亦具述延儒語。帝益怒。錦衣衛帥王世盛拷掠元功無所承。獄上，鐫世盛五級，令窮治其事。延儒覬體仁為援，體仁卒不應，且陰黜與延儒善者，延儒大困。六年六月引疾乞歸，賜白金、彩緞，遣行人護行。體仁遂為首輔矣。

In month 1 of year 5 Li Jiucheng took Dengzhou and imprisoned Yuanhua. Liu Yulie failed in command; censors said Yanru shielded him. Many censors repeatedly impeached Yanru. Yinggui charged he took bribes from the bandit Shen Yikui. Eunuch Deng Xizhao and Cao Wenheng's mutual impeachments touched Yanru. Li Chunwang said Yanru should resign. The emperor comforted him but was shaken. Wang Kun impeached Yanru for shielding Yutai. Fu Chaoyou said eunuchs should not impeach the chief assistant. The emperor struck Wang Zhidao from the rolls; Yanru could not help. Tiren incited Chen Zanhua to impeach Yanru for Li Yuangong. Yuangong extorted prisoners, thinking Yanru had saved him. Yanru called the emperor a Fuxi-era ruler—treasonous words. The emperor imprisoned Yuangong and pressed Zanhua for sources. Zanhua implicated Yao Sunqu, Li Shiqi, and Zhang Fengyi. The emperor grew angrier. Wang Shisheng tortured Yuangong without result. Shisheng was demoted and ordered to press the case. Yanru sought Tiren's aid in vain as Tiren purged his allies. In month 6 of year 6 he retired ill with honors. Tiren became chief assistant.

始延儒裏居，頗從東林游，善姚希孟、羅喻義。既陷錢謙益，遂仇東林。及主會試，所取士張溥、馬世奇等，又皆東林也。至是歸，失勢，心內慚。而體仁益橫，越五年始去。去而張至發、薛國觀相繼當國，與楊嗣昌等並以娼嫉稱。一時正人鄭三俊、劉宗周、黃道周等，皆得罪。溥等憂之，說延儒曰：「公若再相，易前轍，可重得賢聲。」延儒以為然。溥友吳昌時為交關近侍，馮銓復助為謀。會帝亦頗思延儒，而國觀適敗。十四年二月詔起延儒。九月至京，復為首輔。尋加少師兼太子太師，進吏部尚書、中極殿大學士。

At home he had associated with Donglin figures. After destroying Qianyi he hated the Donglin. The scholars he selected were Donglin men. Returning in disgrace, he was ashamed. Tiren ruled harshly five more years. Later ministers were called lewd and jealous. Upright men were punished. Zhang Pu urged him to reform if recalled. Yanru agreed. Wu Changshi and Feng Quan helped plot his return. The emperor missed Yanru; Guoguan fell. In month 2 of year 14 Yanru was recalled. In month 9 he became chief assistant again. He was made minister of Personnel and Central Peak grand secretary.

延儒被召，溥等以數事要之。延儒慨然曰：「吾當銳意行之，以謝諸公。」既入朝，悉反體仁輩弊政。首請釋漕糧白糧欠戶，蠲民間積逋，凡兵殘歲荒地，減見年兩稅。蘇、松、常、嘉、湖諸府大水，許以明年夏麥代漕糧。宥戍罪以下，皆得還家。復注誤舉人，廣取士額及召還言事遷謫諸臣李清等。帝皆忻然從之。延儒又言：「老成名德，不可輕棄。」於是鄭三俊長吏部，劉宗周掌都察院，范景文長工部，倪元璐佐兵部，皆起自廢籍。其他李邦華、張國維、徐石麒、張瑋、金光辰等，佈滿九列。釋在獄傅宗龍等，贈已故文震孟、姚希孟等官。中外翕然稱賢。嘗燕侍，帝語及黃道周，時道周方謫戍辰州。延儒曰：「道周氣質少偏，然學與守皆可用。」蔣德璟請移道周戍近地。延儒曰：「上欲用即用之耳，何必移戍。」帝即日復道周官。其因事開釋如此。

Zhang Pu demanded promises on his recall. Yanru vowed to reform to thank them. In court he reversed Tiren's policies. He remitted debts and reduced taxes on war-ravaged land. Flooded lower Yangtze prefectures could pay in summer wheat instead of transport grain. Those below garrison punishment were sent home. He restored candidates, broadened quotas, and recalled exiles like Li Qing. The emperor gladly agreed to all. He said established worthies must not be discarded. Zheng Sanjun, Liu Zongzhou, Fan Jingwen, and Ni Yuanlu were restored. Li Banghua and others filled the ministries. He released prisoners and honored the dead. Court and country praised him as worthy. At a banquet the emperor mentioned Huang Daozhou, then garrisoned at Chenzhou. Yanru said Daozhou was biased but learned and upright enough to use. Jiang Dejing asked to move Daozhou nearer. Yanru said the emperor could simply recall him. The emperor restored Daozhou that day. He often secured releases this way.

帝尊禮延儒特重，嘗於歲首日東向揖之，曰：「朕以天下聽先生。」因遍及諸閣臣。然延儒實庸駑無材略，且性貪。當邊境喪師，李自成殘掠河南，張獻忠破楚、蜀，天下大亂，延儒一無所謀畫。用侯恂、範志完督師，皆僨事，延儒無憂色。而門下客盛順、董廷獻因緣為奸利。又信用文選郎吳昌時及給事中曹良直、廖國遴、楊枝起、曾應遴輩。

On New Year's Day the emperor bowed to him and entrusted him with the realm. He extended the gesture to all grand secretaries. Yet Yanru was mediocre, strategy-less, and greedy. As the realm collapsed he offered no plan. His grand coordinators failed; he seemed untroubled. Clients Sheng Shun and Dong Tingxian profited corruptly. He trusted Wu Changshi and several supervising secretaries.

昌時，嘉興人。有幹材，頗為東林效奔走。然為人墨而傲，通廠衛，把持朝官，同朝鹹嫉之。行人司副熊開元廷劾延儒納賄狀，觸帝怒，與給事中薑埰俱廷杖，下詔獄。左都御史宗周、僉都御史光辰以救開元、埰罷，尚書石麒又以救宗周等罷，延儒皆弗救，朝議皆以咎延儒。會昌時以年例出言路十人於外，言路大嘩。掌科給事中吳麟徵、掌道御史祁彪佳劾昌時挾勢弄權，延儒頗不自安。

Changshi was from Jiaxing. He had talent and served the Donglin. Yet he was corrupt, proud, and tied to the eunuch factories. Xiong Kaiyuan impeached Yanru for bribery; he and Jiang Cai were beaten and imprisoned. Zongzhou, Guangchen, and Shilin fell trying to save prisoners; Yanru did not help. Changshi posted ten censors outside the capital; censors were furious. Wu Linzheng and Qi Biaojia impeached Changshi; Yanru grew uneasy.

初，延儒奏罷廠衛緝事，都人大悅。朝士不肖者因通賂遺，而廠衛以失權，胥怨延儒。又傲同官陳演，演銜刺骨。掌錦衣者駱養性，延儒所薦也，養性狡狠背延儒，與中官結，刺延儒陰事。十六年四月，大清兵略山東，還至近畿，帝憂甚。大學士吳甡方奉命辦流寇，延儒不得已自請視師。帝大喜，降手敕，獎以召虎、裴度，賜章服、白金、文綺、上駟，給金帛賞軍。延儒駐通州不敢戰，惟與幕下客飲酒娛樂，而日騰章奏捷，帝輒賜璽書褒勵。偵大清兵去，乃言敵退，請下兵部議將吏功罪。既歸朝，繳敕諭，帝即令藏貯，以識勳勞。論功，加太師，廕子中書舍人，賜銀幣、蟒服。延儒辭太師，許之。居數日，養性及中官盡發所刺軍中事。帝乃大怒，諭府部諸臣責延儒蒙蔽推諉，事多不忍言，令從公察議。陳演等公揭救之，延儒席槁待罪，自請戍邊。帝猶降溫旨，言「卿報國盡忱，終始勿替，」許馳驛歸，賜路費百金，以彰保全優禮之意。及廷臣議上，帝復諭延儒功多罪寡，令免議。延儒遂歸。

He had ended factory secret arrests to popular joy. Corrupt officials bribed; factory guards resented him. He slighted Chen Yan, who hated him deeply. Luo Yangxing, whom he promoted, spied on him with eunuchs. In month 4 of year 16 the Qing army neared the capital; the emperor was alarmed. Yanru volunteered to supervise the army when Wu Shen was sent against bandits. The emperor praised him like Zhao Hu and Pei Du and sent rich rewards. He stayed at Tongzhou feasting while reporting false victories. When the Qing withdrew he claimed victory and asked for merit reviews. He returned the commendation edict for the archives. He was made Grand Preceptor and his son ennobled. He declined Grand Preceptor and was allowed. Days later Yangxing and eunuchs exposed his army deceits. The emperor raged and ordered public judgment on Yanru's deceit. Colleagues tried to save him; he awaited punishment and asked for frontier exile. The emperor sent a mild edict and travel money. The emperor halted deliberation, citing great merit. Yanru went home.

既去，給事中郝絅疏請除奸，以指延儒。帝不聽。山東僉事雷縯祚糾範志完，亦及延儒。已而御史蔣拱宸劾吳昌時贓私巨萬，大抵牽連延儒，而中言昌時通中官李端、王裕民，洩漏機密，重賄入手，輒預揣溫旨告人。給事中曹良直亦劾延儒十大罪。帝怒甚，禦中左門，親鞫昌時，折其脛，無所承，怒不解，拱宸面訐其通內，帝察之有跡，乃下獄論死，始有意誅延儒。初，薛國觀賜死，謂昌時致之。其門人魏藻德新入閣有寵，恨昌時甚，因與陳演共排延儒，養性復騰蜚語。帝遂命盡削延儒職，遣緹騎逮入京師。時舊輔王應熊被召，延儒知帝怒甚，宿留道中，俟應熊先入，冀為請。帝知之，應熊既抵京，命之歸。延儒至，安置正陽門外古廟，上疏乞哀，不許。法司以戍請，同官申救，皆不許。冬十二月，昌時棄市，命勒延儒自盡，籍其家。

Hao Jiong asked to remove Yanru as a traitor. The emperor refused. Lei Peizuo impeached Fan Zhigang and Yanru. Jiang Gongchen charged Changshi with vast graft tied to Yanru and eunuch leaks. Cao Liangzhi charged ten great crimes. The emperor tried Changshi brutally, then turned on Yanru. Xue Guoguan's death was blamed on Changshi. Wei Zaode and Chen Yan joined Yangxing to destroy Yanru. Yanru was stripped and arrested to the capital. Yanru delayed on the road hoping Yingxiong would plead for him. The emperor sent Yingxiong home. He was lodged outside Zhengyang Gate and denied mercy. The judiciary and colleagues failed to save him. Changshi was executed; Yanru was ordered to kill himself; his estate was seized.

溫體仁

Wen Tiren

溫體仁，字長卿，烏程人。萬曆二十六年進士。改庶起士，授編修，累官禮部侍郎。崇禎初遷尚書，協理詹事府事。為人外謹而中猛鷙，機深刺骨。

Wen Tiren, courtesy name Zhangqing, was a native of Wucheng. He passed the jinshi in Wanli year 26. He became a Hanlin compiler and rose to vice minister of Rites. Early in Chongzhen he became minister and assisted the Grand Secretariat. Outwardly cautious, inwardly fierce and scheming.

崇禎元年冬，詔會推閣臣，體仁望輕，不與也。侍郎周延儒方以召對稱旨，亦弗及。體仁揣帝意必疑，遂上疏訐謙益關節受賄，神奸結黨，不當與閣臣選。先是，天啟二年，謙益主試浙江，所取士錢千秋者，首場文用俚俗詩一句，分置七義結尾，蓋奸人紿為之。為給事中顧其仁所摘，謙益亦自發其事。法司戍千秋及奸人，奪謙益俸，案久定矣。至是體仁復理其事，帝心動。次日，召對閣部科道諸臣於文華殿，命體仁、謙益皆至。謙益不虞體仁之劾己也，辭頗屈，而體仁盛氣詆謙益，言如湧泉，因進曰：「臣職非言官不可言，會推不與，宜避嫌不言，但枚卜大典，宗社安危所系。謙益結黨受賄，舉朝無一人敢言者，臣不忍見皇上孤立於上，是以不得不言。」帝久疑廷臣植党，聞體仁言，輒稱善。而執政皆言謙益無罪，吏科都給事中章允儒爭尤力，且言：「體仁熱中觖望，如謙益當糾，何俟今日。」體仁曰：「前此，謙益皆閑曹，今者糾之，正為朝廷慎用人耳。如允儒言，乃真黨也。」帝怒，命禮部進千秋卷，閱意，責謙益，謙益引罪。歎曰：「微體仁，朕幾誤！」遂叱允儒下詔獄，並切責諸大臣。時大臣無助體仁者，獨延儒奏曰：「會推名雖公，主持者止一二人，餘皆不敢言，即言，徒取禍耳。且千秋事有成案，不必復問諸臣。」帝乃即日罷謙益官，命議罪。允儒及給事中瞿式耜、御史房可壯等，皆坐謙益黨，降謫有差。

In Chongzhen 1 he was omitted from Grand Secretariat recommendation. Zhou Yanru was also omitted. Tiren attacked Qian Qianyi for examination bribery and faction. In Tianqi year 2 Qianyi's candidate Qian Qianqiu used a fraudulent examination trick. Gu Qiren exposed it; Qianyi reported it himself. The case had long been settled with punishments. Tiren revived the case and moved the emperor. The next day both men were summoned to Wenhua Hall. Qianyi was unprepared; Tiren denounced him fiercely at the divination ceremony. Tiren claimed Qianyi's faction silenced the court. The emperor, suspecting factions, praised Tiren. Ministers defended Qianyi; Zhang Yunru said Tiren was eager and late. Tiren said he impeached Qianyi only now that it mattered. Tiren called Yunru the real faction. The emperor read Qianqiu's paper and blamed Qianyi. He sighed that without Tiren he would have erred. Yunru was imprisoned; ministers were rebuked. Only Yanru defended Tiren on collective recommendation. Yanru said the Qianqiu case was closed. Qianyi was dismissed that day. Yunru and others were punished as Qianyi's faction.

亡何，御史毛九華劾體仁居家時，以抑買商人木，為商人所訴，賂崔呈秀以免。又困杭州建逆祠，作詩頌魏忠賢。帝下浙江巡撫核實。明年春，御史任贊化亦劾體仁娶娼、受金，奪人產諸不法事。帝怒其語褻，貶一秩調外。體仁乞罷，因言：「比為謙益故，排擊臣者百出。而無一人左袒臣，臣孤立可見。」帝再召內閣九卿質之，體仁與九華、贊化詰辯良久，言二人皆謙益死黨。帝心以為然，獨召大學士韓爌等於內殿，諭諸臣不憂國，惟挾私相攻，當重繩以法。體仁復力求去以要帝，帝優詔慰答焉。已，給事中祖重曄、南京給事中錢允鯨、南京御史沈希詔相繼論體仁熱中會推，劫言者以黨，帝皆不聽。法司上千秋獄，言謙益自發在前，不宜坐。詔令再勘。體仁復疏言獄詞皆出謙益手。於是刑部尚書喬允升，左都御史曹於汴，大理寺卿康新民，太僕寺卿蔣允儀，府丞魏光緒，給事中陶崇道，御史吳甡、樊尚璟、劉廷佐，各疏言：「臣等雜治千秋，觀聽者數千人，非一手一口所能掩。體仁顧欺岡求勝。」體仁見於汴等詞直，乃不復深論千秋事，惟詆於汴等黨護而已。謙益坐杖論贖，而九華所論體仁媚璫詩，亦卒無左驗。當是時，體仁以私憾撐拒諸大臣，輾轉不肯詘。帝謂體仁孤立，益響之。未幾，延儒入閣。其明年六月，遂命體仁以禮部尚書兼東閣大學士。

Mao Jihua charged Tiren with timber extortion and bribing Cui Chengxiu. He was said to have praised Wei Zhongxian in Hangzhou. The emperor ordered verification in Zhejiang. Ren Zanhua charged prostitution, bribes, and seizure of property. The emperor demoted Ren Zanhua one rank. Tiren begged to resign, citing attacks over Qianyi. He claimed he stood alone. The emperor summoned ministers; Tiren called his accusers Qianyi's faction. The emperor told Han Kuang the ministers attacked from private motives. Tiren threatened resignation; the emperor comforted him. More censors attacked Tiren; the emperor ignored them. The judiciary said Qianyi had reported first and should not be punished. The emperor ordered reinvestigation. Tiren said the case was Qianyi's fabrication. Many officials said the Qianqiu case could not be covered up. They said Tiren deceived to win. Tiren stopped pressing Qianqiu and attacked factional protection. Qianyi was beaten and ransomed; the Wei praise charge failed. Tiren resisted ministers from private grudges. The emperor thought him isolated and favored him more. Soon Yanru entered the Grand Secretariat. In month 6 of the next year Tiren became Eastern Pavilion grand secretary.

體仁既藉延儒力得輔政，勢益張。逾年，吏部尚書王永光去，用其鄉人閔洪學代之，凡異己者，率以部議論罷，而體仁陰護其事。又用御史史褷、高捷及侍郎唐世濟、副都御史張捷等為腹心，忌延儒居己上，並思傾之。初，帝殺袁崇煥，事牽錢龍錫，論死。體仁與延儒、永光主之，將興大獄，梁廷棟不敢任而止，事詳龍錫傳。比龍錫減死出獄，延儒言帝盛怒解救殊難，體仁則佯曰：「帝固不甚怒也。」善龍錫者，因薄延儒。其後太監王坤、給事中陳贊化先後劾延儒，體仁默為助，延儒遂免歸。始與延儒同入閣者何如寵，錢象坤逾歲致政去，無何，如寵亦去。延儒既罷，廷臣惡體仁當國，勸帝復召如寵。如寵屢辭，給事中黃紹傑言：「君子小人不並立，如寵瞻顧不前，則體仁宜思自處。」帝為謫紹傑於外，如寵卒辭不入，體仁遂為首輔。

Relying on Yanru, Tiren grew more powerful. Min Hongxue replaced Wang Yongguang and Tiren purged opponents through the ministry. He used Shi Qian, Gao Jie, Tang Shiji, and Zhang Jie against Yanru. Yuan Chonghuan's case implicated Qian Longxi. They nearly raised a great case until Liang Tingdong stopped it. Yanru said rescue was hard; Tiren claimed the emperor was not angry. Longxi's friends despised Yanru. Wang Kun and Chen Zanhua impeached Yanru with Tiren's help. He Rulong and others left the cabinet. Ministers urged recalling He Rulong. Huang Shaojie said Rulong should enter or Tiren should yield. Shaojie was exiled; Rulong refused; Tiren became chief assistant.

體仁荷帝殊寵，益忮橫，而中阻深。所欲推薦，陰令人發端，己承其後。欲排陷，故為寬假，中上所忌，激使自怒。帝往往為之移，初未嘗有跡。姚希孟為講官，以才望遷詹事。體仁惡其逼，乃以冒籍武生事，奪希孟一官，使掌南院去。禮部侍郎羅喻義，故嘗與基命、謙益同推閣臣，有物望。會進講章中有「左右未得人」語，體仁欲去之，喻義執不可。體仁因自劾：「日講進規例從簡，喻義駁改不從，由臣不能表率。」帝命吏部議，洪學等因謂：「聖聰天亶，何俟喻義多言。」喻義遂罷歸。時魏忠賢遺黨日望體仁翻逆案，攻東林。會吏部尚書、左都御史缺，體仁陰使侍郎張捷舉逆案呂純如以嘗帝。言者大嘩，帝亦甚惡之。捷氣沮，體仁不敢言，乃薦謝升、唐世濟為之。世濟尋以薦逆案霍維華得罪去。維華之薦，亦體仁主之也，體仁自是不敢訟言用逆黨，而愈側目諸不附己者。

Favored by the emperor, Tiren grew jealous and obstructive. He had others start recommendations he then endorsed. He feigned leniency to trap victims into provoking the emperor. The emperor often shifted without visible cause. Yao Ximeng was promoted for talent. Tiren stripped Yao Ximeng and sent him to the southern academy. Luo Yuyi had once been recommended for the cabinet. Tiren tried to remove Luo Yuyi over lecture wording. Tiren impeached himself to attack Luo Yuyi. Personnel ministry sided with Tiren against Luo Yuyi. Luo Yuyi was dismissed. Wei loyalists hoped Tiren would reverse the traitor case. Tiren tried to install Lu Chunru via Zhang Jie. The court and emperor rejected Lu Chunru. Zhang Jie failed; Tiren recommended Xie Sheng and Tang Shiji. Tang Shiji fell for recommending Huo Weihua. Tiren stopped openly using traitor men but attacked opponents.

文震孟以講《春秋》稱旨，命入閣。體仁不能沮，薦其党張至發以間之，而日伺震孟短，遂用給事中許譽卿事，逐之去。先是，秦、楚盜起，議設五省總督，兵部侍郎彭汝楠、汪慶百當行，憚不敢往，體仁庇二人，罷其議。賊犯鳳陽，南京兵部尚書呂維祺等議，令淮撫、操江移鎮，體仁又卻不用。既而賊大至，焚皇陵。譽卿言：「體仁納賄庇私，貽憂要地，以皇陵為孤注，使原廟震驚，誤國孰大焉。」體仁素忌譽卿，見疏益憾。會謝升以營求北缺劾譽卿，體仁擬旨降調，而故重其詞。帝果命削籍，震孟力爭之，大學士何吾騶助為言。體仁訐奏震孟語，謂言官罷斥為至榮，蓋以朝廷賞罰為不足懲勸，悖理蔑法。帝遂逐震孟並罷吾騶。震孟既去，體仁憾未釋。庶起士鄭鄤與震孟同建言，相友善也，其從母舅大學士吳宗達謝政歸。體仁劾鄤假乩仙判詞，逼父振先杖母，言出宗達。帝震怒，下鄤獄。其後體仁已去，而帝怒鄤甚，不俟佐證，磔死。滋陽知縣成德，震孟門人，以強直忤巡按御史禹好善，被誣劾，震孟為不平。體仁劾德，杖戍之。

Wen Zhenmeng entered the cabinet for lecturing on the Annals. Tiren used Zhang Zhifa and Xu Yuqing's case to oust Wen Zhenmeng. Tiren blocked five-province coordinators when Peng Runan and Wang Qingbai refused. Tiren rejected shifting troops when bandits threatened Fengyang. Bandits burned the imperial tombs. Xu Yuqing charged Tiren with risking the imperial tombs. Tiren hated Xu Yuqing more. Tiren drafted a harsh rescript against Yuqing. The emperor struck Yuqing from the rolls despite Wen Zhenmeng's protest. Tiren accused Wen Zhenmeng of scorning punishment. Wen Zhenmeng and He Wuzuo were dismissed. Tiren's resentment continued. Zheng Man was allied with Wen Zhenmeng; Wu Zongda had retired. Tiren charged Zheng Man with forcing his father to beat his mother. Zheng Man was imprisoned. After Tiren left, Zheng Man was dismembered without trial. Cheng De, Wen Zhenmeng's student, was impeached for offending a censor. Tiren had Cheng De beaten and exiled.

體仁輔政數年，念朝士多與為怨，不敢恣肆，用廉謹自結於上，苞苴不入門。然當是時，流寇躪畿輔，擾中原，邊警雜遝，民生日困，未嘗建一策，惟日與善類為仇。誠意伯劉孔昭劾倪元璐，給事中陳啟新劾黃景昉，皆奉體仁指。禮部侍郎陳子壯嘗面責體仁，尋以議宗籓事忤帝指，竟下獄削籍。其所引與同列者，皆庸材，苟以充位，且藉形己長，固上寵。帝每訪兵餉事，輒遜謝曰：「臣夙以文章待罪禁林，上不知其駑下，擢至此位。盜賊日益眾，誠萬死不足塞責。顧臣愚無知，但票擬勿欺耳。兵食之事，惟聖明裁決。」有詆其窺帝意旨者，體仁言：「臣票擬多未中窾要，每經御筆批改，頌服將順不暇，詎能窺上旨。」帝以為樸忠，愈親信之。

For years Tiren acted cautiously and refused gifts publicly. Amid collapse he offered no policy and only attacked the good. Liu Kongzhao and Chen Qixin attacked Ni Yuanlu and Huang Jingfang for Tiren. Chen Zizhuang rebuked Tiren and was imprisoned. His colleagues were mediocrities who made him look capable. He claimed ignorance of military affairs when asked. He said he deserved death as bandits multiplied. He said he could only draft rescripts honestly. He deferred military decisions to the emperor. He denied reading the emperor's mind. The emperor found him plain and loyal.

自體仁輔政後，同官非病免物故，即以他事去。獨體仁居位八年，官至少師兼太子太師，進吏部尚書、中極殿大學士，階左柱國，兼支尚書俸，恩禮優渥無與比。而體仁專務刻核，迎合帝意。帝以皇陵之變，從子壯言，下詔寬恤在獄諸臣，吏部以百餘人名上。體仁靳之，言於帝，僅釋十餘人。秋決論囚，帝再三諮問，體仁略無平反。陝西華亭知縣徐兆麟涖任甫七日，以城陷論死，帝頗疑之。體仁不為救，竟棄市。帝憂兵餉急，體仁惟倡眾捐俸助馬修城而已。所上密揭，帝率報可。

Colleagues left through illness, death, or dismissal. Tiren held power eight years with unmatched honors. He devoted himself to harsh policies pleasing the emperor. After the tomb disaster the emperor ordered prisoner relief. Tiren allowed only a dozen releases. Tiren rarely reversed death sentences. Xu Zhaolin was executed after seven days in office; the emperor doubted. Tiren let Xu Zhaolin be executed. Tiren only proposed salary donations for walls. His secret memorials were usually approved.

體仁自念排擠者眾，恐怨歸己，倡言密勿之地，不宜宣洩，凡閣揭皆不發，並不存錄閣中，冀以滅跡，以故所中傷人，廷臣不能盡知。當國既久，劾者章不勝計，而劉宗周劾其十二罪、六奸，皆有指實。宗籓如唐王聿鍵，勳臣如撫寧侯硃國弼，布衣如何儒顯、楊光先等，亦皆論之，光先至輿櫬待命。帝皆不省，愈以為孤立，每斥責言者以慰之，至有杖死者。庶起士張溥、知縣張采等倡為復社，與東林相應和。體仁因推官周之夔及奸人陸文聲訐奏，將興大獄。嚴旨察治，以提學御史倪元珙、海道副使馮元颺不承風指，皆降謫之。最後復有張漢儒訐錢謙益、瞿式耜居鄉不法事。體仁故仇謙益，擬旨逮二人下詔獄嚴訊。謙益等危甚，求解於司禮太監曹化淳。漢儒偵知之，告體仁。體仁密奏帝，請並坐化淳罪。帝以示化淳，化淳懼，自請案治，乃盡得漢儒等奸狀及體仁密謀。獄上，帝始悟體仁有黨。會國弼再劾體仁，帝命漢儒等立枷死。體仁乃佯引疾，意帝必慰留。及得旨竟放歸，體仁方食，失匕箸，時十年六月也。逾年卒，帝猶惜之，贈太傅，諡文忠。

He hid cabinet records to conceal whom he harmed. Liu Zongzhou charged twelve crimes and six treacheries. Princes, nobles, and commoners all attacked him; Yang Guangxian awaited death in a coffin. The emperor rebuked and killed his critics. Zhang Pu and Zhang Cai founded the Restoration Society with the Donglin. Tiren tried to raise a great case against the Restoration Society. Ni Yuanqi and Feng Yuanbiao were demoted for defying him. Zhang Hanru impeached Qianyi and Shigao at home. Tiren had Qianyi and Shigao arrested. They sought Cao Huachun's help. Hanru informed Tiren. Tiren asked to punish Huachun too. Huachun investigated and exposed Tiren's plot. The emperor realized Tiren had a faction. Guobi impeached Tiren; Hanru was cangued. Tiren feigned illness expecting retention. He was dismissed in month 6 of year 10 and dropped his chopsticks. He died; the emperor posthumously honored him Wenzhong.

崇禎末，福王立於南京，以尚書顧錫疇議，削其贈諡，天下快焉。尋用給事中戴英言，復如初。體仁雖前死，其所推薦張至發、薛國觀之徒，皆效法體仁，蔽賢植黨，國事日壞，以至於亡。

Fu's court stripped his honors; the realm rejoiced. His honors were soon restored. His successors imitated him until the dynasty fell.

馬士英〈（阮大鋮）〉

Ma Shiying (Ruan Dacheng)]〉

馬士英，貴陽人。萬曆四十四年，與懷寧阮大鋮同中會試。又三年，士英成進士，授南京戶部主事。天啟時，遷郎中，曆知嚴州、河南、大同三府。崇禎三年，遷山西陽和道副使。五年，擢右僉都御史，巡撫宣府。到官甫一月，檄取公帑數千金，饋遺朝貴，為鎮守太監王坤所發，坐遣戍。尋流寓南京。時大鋮名掛逆案，失職久廢，以避流賊至，與士英相結甚歡。

Ma Shiying was a native of Guiyang. In Wanli year 44 he and Ruan Dacheng passed the metropolitan exam. Three years later he passed the jinshi and became a Nanjing Revenue director. Under Tianqi he became director and served as prefect of three prefectures. In Chongzhen year 3 he became Yanghe vice commissioner. In year 5 he became Xuanfu grand coordinator. Within a month he was caught bribing with public funds and exiled. He soon drifted to Nanjing. Dacheng, long disgraced in the traitor case, joined Shiying in Nanjing.

大鋮機敏猾賊，有才藻。天啟初，由行人擢給事中，以憂歸。同邑左光斗為御史有聲，大鋮倚為重。四年春，吏科都給事中缺，大鋮次當遷，光斗招之。而趙南星、高攀龍、楊漣等以察典近，大鋮輕躁不可任，欲用魏大中。大鋮至，使補工科。大鋮心恨，陰結中璫寢推大中疏。吏部不得已，更上大鋮名，即得請。大鋮自是附魏忠賢，與霍維華、楊維垣、倪文煥為死友，造《百官圖》，因文煥達諸忠賢。然畏東林攻己，未一月遽請急歸。而大中掌吏科，大鋮憤甚，私謂所親曰：「我猶善歸，未知左氏何如耳。」已而楊、左諸人獄死，大鋮對客詡詡自矜。尋召為太常少卿，至都，事忠賢極謹，而陰慮其不足恃，每進謁，輒厚賄忠賢閽人，還其刺。居數月，復乞歸。忠賢既誅，大鋮函兩疏馳示維垣。其一專劾崔、魏。其一以七年合算為言，謂天啟四年以後，亂政者忠賢，而翼以呈秀，四年以前，亂政者王安，而翼以東林。傳語維垣，若時局大變，上劾崔、魏疏，脫未定，則上算疏。會維垣方並指東林、崔、魏為邪黨，與編修倪元璐相詆，得大鋮疏，大喜，為投合算疏以自助。崇禎元年，起光祿卿。御史毛羽健劾其黨邪，罷去。明年定逆案，論贖徒為民，終莊烈帝世，廢斥十七年，鬱鬱不得志。

Dacheng was clever, treacherous, and literary. Early in Tianqi he became supervising secretary then mourned at home. He relied on censor Zuo Guangdou of his town. In year 4 spring Dacheng was due for chief supervising secretary; Guangdou summoned him. Donglin leaders preferred Wei Dazhong over Dacheng. They assigned Dacheng to the Engineering Section instead. Dacheng secretly had eunuchs suppress Dazhong's promotion. Personnel had to submit Dacheng's name; he got the post. Dacheng joined Wei Zhongxian and made the Hundred Officers Chart. Fearing the Donglin, he fled home within a month. Dacheng raged when Dazhong won Personnel. After Yang and Zuo died in prison Dacheng boasted. At court he served Zhongxian but bribed his gatekeepers. He soon begged leave again. After Zhongxian's fall Dacheng sent two memorials to Yang Weiyuan. One impeached Cui and Wei. One blamed Donglin before year 4 and Wei after. He told Weiyuan which memorial to use when. Weiyuan used Dacheng's reckoning memorial against the Donglin. In Chongzhen 1 he was raised as director of Imperial Entertainments. Mao Yujian impeached him; he was dismissed. The traitor case exiled him for seventeen years.

流寇逼皖，大鋮避居南京，頗招納遊俠為談兵說劍，覬以邊才召。無錫顧杲、吳縣楊廷樞、蕪湖沈士柱、餘姚黃宗羲、鄞縣萬泰等，皆復社中名士，方聚講南京，惡大鋮甚，作《留都防亂揭》逐之。大鋮懼，乃閉門謝客，獨與士英深相結。周延儒內召，大鋮輦金錢要之維揚，求湔濯。延儒曰：「吾此行，謬為東林所推。子名在逆案，可乎？」大鋮沉吟久之，曰：「瑤草何如？」瑤草，士英別字也，延儒許之。十五年六月，鳳陽總督高鬥光以失五城逮治。禮部侍郎王錫兗薦士英才，延儒從中主之，遂起兵部右侍郎兼右僉都御史，總督廬、鳳等處軍務。

In Nanjing he recruited bravos hoping for border appointment. Restoration Society figures expelled Dacheng with a public petition. Afraid, Dacheng only clung to Shiying. Dacheng bribed Yanru at Weiyang for rehabilitation. Yanru said the Donglin had pushed him. Your name is on the traitor case—is that acceptable? Dacheng suggested Yaocao—Shiying's sobriquet. Yanru agreed to use Shiying. In month 6 of year 15 Gao Douguang was arrested for losing five cities. Wang Xiyao and Yanru made Shiying grand coordinator.

永城人劉超者，天啟中以征安邦彥功，積官至四川遵義總兵官，坐罪免，數營復官不得。李自成圍開封，超請募士冠協擊，乃用為保定總兵官，令率兵赴救。超憚不敢行，宿留家中，以私怨殺御史魏景琦等三家，遂據城反。巡撫王漢討之，被殺。帝乃命士英偕太監盧九德、河南總兵官陳永福進討。明年四月，圍其城，連戰，賊屢挫，築長圍困之。超官貴州時，與士英相識，緣舊好乞降。士英佯許之，超出見，不肯去佩刀。士英笑曰：「若既歸朝，安用此？」手解其刀。已，潛去其親信，遂就縛。獻俘於朝，磔死。時流寇充斥，士英捍禦數有功。

Liu Chao, a disgraced general, sought restoration. Chao was made Baoding zongbing to relieve Kaifeng. Chao rebelled at home instead of marching. Wang Han was killed attacking him. Shiying, Lu Jiude, and Chen Yongfu were sent against him. In month 4 of the next year they besieged the city. Chao knew Shiying and offered surrender. Shiying feigned agreement; Chao kept his sword. Shiying asked why he needed a sword if he submitted. He took the sword. He disarmed Chao's men and seized him. Chao was dismembered at court. Shiying had some merit against bandits.

十七年三月，京師陷，帝崩，南京諸大臣聞變，倉卒議立君。而福王由崧、潞王常淓俱避賊至淮安，倫序當屬福王。諸大臣慮福王立，或追怨「妖書」及「挺擊」、「移宮」等案；潞王立，則無後患，且可邀功。陰主之者，廢籍禮部侍郎錢謙益，力持其議者兵部侍郎呂大器，而右都御史張慎言、詹事姜曰廣皆然之。前山東按察使僉事雷縯祚、禮部員外郎周鑣往來遊說。時士英督師廬、鳳，獨以為不可，密與操江誠意伯劉孔昭，總兵高傑、劉澤清、黃得功、劉良佐等結，而公致書於參贊機務兵部尚書史可法，言倫序親賢，無如福王。可法意未決。及廷臣集議，吏科給事中李沾探士英指，面折大器。士英亦自廬、鳳擁兵迎福王至江上，諸大臣乃不敢言。王之立，士英力也。

In month 3 of year 17 the capital fell; Nanjing debated a new ruler. Fu and Lu princes fled to Huai'an; succession favored Fu. Ministers feared Fu would revive old case grievances. They preferred Lu for lack of backlash and possible merit. Qian Qianyi led secretly for Lu; Lu Daqi and others favored Fu. Lei Peizuo and Zhou Biao lobbied for Lu. Shiying allied with generals and eunuchs for Fu while writing Kefa on succession. Kefa hesitated. Li Zhan refuted Daqi at assembly per Shiying's cue. Shiying marched troops to welcome Fu; ministers fell silent. Fu's throne was Shiying's work.

當王監國時，廷推閣臣，劉孔昭攘臂欲得之，可法折以勳臣無入閣例。孔昭乃訟言：「我不可，士英何不可？」於是進士英東閣大學士兼兵部尚書、都察院右副都御史，與可法及戶部尚書高弘圖並命，士英仍督師鳳陽。士英大慍，令高傑、劉澤清等疏趣可法督師淮、揚，而士英留輔政，仍掌兵部，權震中外。尋論定策功，加太子太師，廕錦衣衛指揮僉事。九月，敘江北歷年戰功，加少傅兼太子太師、建極殿大學士，廕子如前。十二月，進少師。明年，進太保。當是時，中原郡縣盡失，高傑死睢州，諸鎮權侔無統。左良玉擁兵上流，跋扈有異志。而士英為人貪鄙無遠略，復引用大鋮，日事報復，招權罔利，以迄於亡。

Kefa blocked Kongzhao from the cabinet. Kongzhao demanded Shiying enter the cabinet too. Shiying became grand secretary with Kefa and Hongtu. Shiying forced Kefa to the front while he held power in Nanjing. He was made Grand Guardian and ennobled his son. In month 9 he received more honors for northern campaigns. In month 12 he became junior master. The next year he became grand tutor. The central plain was lost; generals were divided. Zuo Liangyu was rebellious upstream. Shiying was greedy and employed Dacheng until ruin.

初，可法、弘圖及薑曰廣、張慎言等皆宿德在位，將以次引海內人望，而士英必欲起大鋮。有詔廣搜人材，獨立逆案不可輕議。士英令孔昭及侯湯國祚、伯趙之龍等攻慎言去之，而薦大鋮知兵。初，大鋮在南京，與守備太監韓贊周暱。京師陷，中貴人悉南奔，大鋮因贊周遍結之，為群奄言東林當日所以危貴妃、福王者，俾備言於王，以潛傾可法等。群奄更極口稱大鋮才，士英亦言大鋮從山中致書與定策謀，為白其附璫贊導無實跡。遂命大鋮冠帶陛見。大鋮乃上守江策，陳三要、兩合、十四隙疏，並自白孤忠被陷，痛詆孫慎行、魏大中、左光鬥，且指大中為大逆。於是大學士姜曰廣、侍郎呂大器、懷遠侯常延齡等並言大鋮逆案巨魁，不可召。士英為大鋮奏辨，力攻曰廣、大器，益募宗室統昚、建安王統鏤輩，連疏交攻。而以大學士高弘圖為御史時嘗詆東林，必當右己，乃言「弘圖素知臣者。」弘圖則言先帝欽定逆案一書，不可擅改。士英與爭，弘圖因乞罷。士英意稍折，遲回月余，用安遠侯柳祚昌薦，中旨起大鋮兵部添注右侍郎。左都御史劉宗周言：「殺大中者魏璫，大鋮其主使也。即才果足用，臣慮黨邪害正之才，終病世道。大鋮進退，實系江左興亡，乞寢成命。」有旨切責。未幾，大鋮兼右僉都御史，巡閱江防。尋轉左侍郎。明年二月進本部尚書兼右副都御史，仍閱江防。

Established ministers were pushed aside for Dacheng. An edict barred reopening the traitor case. Shiying removed Shenyan and praised Dacheng's military skill. Dacheng was close to eunuch Han Zanzhou in Nanjing. Dacheng turned eunuchs against the Donglin and Kefa. Eunuchs and Shiying whitewashed Dacheng's past. Dacheng was summoned to court. Dacheng attacked the Donglin and claimed loyalty. Jiang Yueguang and others opposed Dacheng's recall. Shiying defended Dacheng and attacked opponents. Shiying thought Hongtu would favor him. Hongtu said the traitor case could not change. Hongtu resigned after arguing. After a month a special edict made Dacheng vice minister of War. Liu Zongzhou said Dacheng masterminded Dazhong's death. He feared factional talent would harm the age. He said Dacheng's appointment threatened the southeast. The emperor sharply rebuked Zongzhou. Dacheng inspected river defense. He became left vice minister. In month 2 of the next year he became minister while inspecting defenses.

呂大器、薑曰廣、劉宗周、高弘圖、徐石麒皆與士英齟齬，先後罷歸。士英獨握大柄，內倚中官田成輩，外結勳臣劉孔昭、硃國弼、柳祚昌，鎮將劉澤清、劉良佐等，而一聽大鋮計。盡起逆案中楊維垣、虞廷陛、郭如暗、周昌晉、虞大復、徐復陽、陳以瑞、吳孔嘉；其死者悉予贈恤，而與張捷、唐世濟等比；若張孫振、袁弘勳、劉光鬥皆得罪先朝，復置言路為爪牙。朝政濁亂，賄賂公行。四方警報狎至，士英身掌中樞，一無籌畫，日以鋤正人引凶黨為務。

Opponents of Shiying were dismissed one by one. Shiying ruled with eunuchs, generals, and Dacheng. He restored many traitor-case figures. Dead traitor allies were posthumously honored. Punished men returned as censors. Government was corrupt and bribery rampant. Shiying attacked the upright and promoted villains.

初，舉朝以逆案攻大鋮，大鋮憾甚。及見北都從逆諸臣有附會清流者，因倡言曰：「彼攻逆案，吾作順案與之對。」以李自成偽國號曰順也。士英因疏糾從逆光時亨等；時亨名附東林，故重劾之。大鋮又誣逮顧杲及左光鬥弟光先下獄，劾周鑣、雷縯祚殺之。時有狂僧大悲出語不類，為總督京營戎政趙之龍所捕。大鋮欲假以誅東林及素所不合者，因造十八羅漢、五十三參之目，書史可法、高弘圖、薑曰廣等姓名，內大悲袖中，海內人望，無不備列。錢謙益先已上疏頌士英，且為大鋮訟冤修好矣，大鋮憾不釋，亦列焉，將窮治其事。獄詞詭秘，朝士皆自危，而士英不欲興大獄，乃當大悲妖言律斬而止。

Dacheng resented the court's attacks. He proposed a Surrender Case against the traitor case. Li Zicheng's regime was called Shun. Shiying impeached those who followed the Shun regime. He especially attacked Shiheng as Donglin. Dacheng imprisoned Guangxian and attacked Zhou Biao and Lei Peizuo. The mad monk Dabei was captured by Zhao Zhilong. Dacheng forged a list of targets in Dabei's sleeve. Even Qianyi was listed though he had reconciled with Dacheng. Shiying stopped at executing Dabei for demonic speech.

張縉彥以本兵首從賊，賊敗，縉彥竄歸河南，自言集義勇收復列城，即授原官，總督河北、山西、河南軍務，便宜行事。其他大僚降賊者，賄入，輒復其官。諸白丁、錄役輸重賂，立躋大帥。都人為語曰：「職方賤如狗，都督滿街走。」其刑賞倒亂如此。大清兵抵宿遷、邳州，未幾引還。史可法以聞，士英大笑不止，坐客楊士聰問故。士英曰：「君以為誠有是事耶？」乃史公妙用也。歲將暮，防河將吏應敘功，耗費軍資應稽算，此特為序功、稽算地耳。」侍講衛胤文兼給事中，監高傑軍。傑死，胤文窺士英指，論可法督師為贅。士英即擢胤文兵部右侍郎，總督傑營將士以分其權，可法益不得展布。

Zhang Jinyan returned from following bandits and was restored. Surrendered officials bought restoration with bribes. Commoners bought high command with bribes. A rhyme mocked that commanders filled the streets. Rewards and punishments were inverted. Qing troops reached Suqian and Pizhou then withdrew. Kefa reported Qing withdrawal; Shiying laughed. Shiying denied it was real. He called it Kefa's stratagem. He claimed reports were only for merit reviews. Wei Yinwen supervised Gao Jie's army. Yinwen called Kefa's supervision superfluous after Jie's death. Shiying promoted Yinwen to divide Kefa's power.

先是，左良玉接監國詔書，不肯拜，袁繼咸強之，乃開讀如禮。而屬承天守備何志孔、巡按御史黃澍入賀，陰伺朝廷動靜。澍挾良玉勢，當陛見，面數士英奸貪不法，且言嘗受張獻忠偽兵部尚書周文江重賄，為題授參將，罪當斬。志孔亦論士英岡上行私諸罪。司禮太監韓贊周叱志孔退，士英跪乞處分，澍舉笏直擊其背曰：「願與奸臣同死。」士英大號呼，王搖首不言者久之，贊周即執志孔候命。王因澍言意頗動，夜諭贊周，欲令士英避位。士英佯引疾，而賂福邸舊奄田成等向王泣曰：「上非馬公不得立，逐馬公，天下將議上背恩矣。且馬公去，誰念上者？」王默然，即慰留士英。士英亦畏良玉，請釋志孔，而命澍速還湖廣。故都督掌錦衣衛劉僑者，嘗遣戍，由周文江賄張獻忠，受偽命，為錦衣指揮使。及良玉復蘄、黃，僑削髮逃去，澍持之急。而士英納僑賄，令訐澍，遂復僑官，削澍職。尋以楚府中尉言，逮澍。良玉令部將群嘩，欲下南京索餉，因保救澍。袁繼鹹為上疏代澍申理，士英不得已，乃免逮。澍遂匿良玉軍中，良玉與士英由此有隙。及偽太子獄起，良玉遂假為兵端。

Zuo Liangyu at first refused the regency edict. He sent agents to watch Nanjing. Huang Shu denounced Shiying at audience. He Zhikong also attacked Shiying. Shu struck Shiying's back in audience. The prince was silent; Zhikong was seized. The prince was moved to remove Shiying. Shiying's eunuchs pleaded he was needed to enthrone the prince. Who would care for the prince without Shiying? The prince kept Shiying. Shiying released Zhikong and sent Shu away. Liu Qiao had served Zhang Xianzhong. Qiao fled when Liangyu recovered Qi and Huang. Shiying restored Qiao and stripped Shu. Shu was arrested on a prince's accusation. Liangyu's troops clamored to save Shu. Yuan Jixian saved Shu from arrest. Shu hid with Liangyu; a rift opened. The false prince case became Liangyu's pretext for war.

太子之來也，識者指其偽，而都下士民譁然是之。時又有童氏者，自稱王妃，亦下獄。督撫、鎮將交章爭太子及童妃事。王亟出獄詞，遍示中外，眾論益籍籍，謂士英等朋奸，導王滅絕倫理。澍在良玉軍中，日夜言太子冤狀，請引兵除君側惡。良玉亦上疏請全太子，斥士英等為奸臣。又以士英裁其餉，大憾，移檄遠近，聲士英罪。復上疏言：「自先帝之變，士英利災擅權，事事為難。逆案先帝手定，士英首翻之。《要典》先帝手焚，士英復修之。越其傑貪焚遣戍濫授節鉞。張孫振贓汙絞犯，驟畀京卿。他如袁弘勳、楊文、劉泌、王燧、黃鼎等，或行同狗彘，或罪等叛逆，皆用之當路。己為首輔，用腹心阮大鋮為添注尚書。又募死士伏皇城，詭名禁軍，動曰廢立由我。陛下即位之初，恭儉明仁，士英百計誑惑，進優童豔女，傷損盛德。復引用大鋮，睚眥殺人，如雷縯祚、周鑣等，鍛煉周內，株連蔓引。尤其甚者，借三案為題，凡生平不快意之人，一網打盡。令天下士民，重足解體。目今皇太子至，授受分明。大鋮一手握定抹殺識認之方拱乾，而信朋謀之劉正宗，忍以十七年嗣君，付諸幽囚。凡有血氣，皆欲寸磔士英、大鋮等，以謝先帝。乞立肆市朝，傳首抒憤。」疏上，遂引兵而東。士英懼，乃遣阮大鋮、硃大黃、黃得功、劉孔昭等禦良玉，而撤江北劉良佐等兵，從之西。時大清兵日南下，大理少卿姚思孝，御史喬可聘、成友謙請無撤江北兵，亟守淮、揚。士英厲聲叱曰：「若輩東林，猶藉口防江，欲縱左逆入犯耶？北兵至，猶可議款。左逆至，則若輩高官，我君臣獨死耳！」力排思孝等議，淮、揚備禦益弱。會良玉死，其子夢庚連陷郡縣，率兵至採石。得功等與相持，大鋮、孔昭方虛張捷音，以邀爵賞，而大清兵已破揚州，逼京城。

Many knew the prince was false yet the crowd believed. Lady Tong claiming to be consort was imprisoned. Officials disputed the prince and Lady Tong. The prince's statement failed to calm opinion against Shiying. Shu urged Liangyu to purge Shiying. Liangyu defended the prince and attacked Shiying. Liangyu resented pay cuts and denounced Shiying. Liangyu listed Shiying's crimes since the capital's fall. Shiying overturned the fixed traitor case. Shiying restored the burned Canon. He abused appointments including Gao Jie. Zhang Sunzhen was promoted despite crimes. Villains were placed in high office. He made Dacheng added minister. He hid soldiers in the palace threatening deposition. Shiying corrupted the prince with pleasure. Dacheng murdered enemies like Lei and Zhou. The three cases became a net for enemies. The realm lived in terror. The true prince had come with clear succession. Dacheng suppressed recognition of the prince. All wished to kill Shiying and Dacheng. He begged public execution. Liangyu marched east. Shiying sent armies against Liangyu and pulled northern troops west. Officials begged to keep northern troops for Huai-Yang. Shiying accused them of letting Zuo Liangyu in. Northern troops might be negotiated with. If Zuo came only the court would die. He rejected defense plans; Huai-Yang weakened. After Liangyu died Menggeng advanced to Caishi. While they fought false victories, Qing troops took Yangzhou.

五月三日，王出走太平，奔得功軍。孔昭斬關遁。明日，士英奉王母妃，以黔兵四百人為衛，走浙江。經廣德州，知州趙景和疑其詐，閉門拒守。士英攻破，執景和殺之，大掠而去。走杭州，守臣以總兵府為母妃行宮。不數日，大鋮、大典、方國安俱倉皇至，則得功已兵敗死，王被擒，次日，請潞王監國，不受。未幾，大兵至，王率眾降，尋同母妃北去。此即大器等之所議欲立者也。

On month 5 day 3 the prince fled to Degong. Kongzhao fled. Shiying fled to Zhejiang with the queen mother. Guangde magistrate Zhao Jinghe refused them. Shiying killed Zhao Jinghe and plundered Guangde. Hangzhou gave the queen mother the commander's mansion. All fled to Hangzhou; the prince was captured; Lu was asked to supervise and refused. The prince surrendered and went north. This was the Lu prince they had once preferred.

杭州既降，士英欲謁監國魯王，魯王諸臣力拒之。大鋮投硃大典於金華，亦為士民所逐，大典乃送之嚴州總兵方國安軍。士英，國安同鄉也，先在其軍中。大鋮掀髯指掌，日談兵，國安甚喜。而士英以南渡之壞，半由大鋮，而己居惡名，頗以為恨。已，我兵擊敗士英、國安。無何，士英、國安率眾渡錢塘，窺杭州，大兵擊敗之，溺江死者無算。士英擁殘兵欲入閩，唐王以罪大不許。明年，大兵巢湖賊，士英與長興伯吳日生俱擒獲，詔俱斬之。事具國史。大鋮偕謝三賓、宋之晉、蘇壯等赴江幹乞降，從大兵攻仙霞關，僵僕石上死。而野乘載士英遁至台州山寺為僧，為我兵搜獲，大鋮、國安先後降。尋唐王走順昌。我大兵至，搜龍扛，得士英、大鋮、國安父子請王出關為內應疏，遂駢斬士英、國安於延平城下。大鋮方遊山，自觸石死，仍戮屍云。

Shiying was refused by Prince Lu's court. Dacheng was driven from Jinhua to Fang Guoan. Shiying and Guoan were fellow townsfolk. Dacheng talked war; Guoan was pleased. Shiying blamed Dacheng for the southern disaster. Government troops defeated them. They crossed the Qiantang and were destroyed. Fujian refused Shiying for his crimes. Shiying and Wu Risheng were captured and beheaded. Detailed in the national history. Dacheng died attacking Xianxia Pass after surrendering. Unofficial histories say Shiying was caught as a monk. Prince Tang fled to Shunchang. A letter exposing them as inner agents led to joint execution at Yanping. Dacheng killed himself on a rock but was still dismembered.

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