Overview
Chongzhen Emperor was a ruler.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
Places and affiliations
- Polity Ming 明 · Relation Ruled
Events and relationships
Assented to pardon petition
Displeased at memorial
AD 1633 六年正月 · Political · Ruler
Reduced li zhanggeng to commoner
Stripped wang zhidao from rolls
Summoned zhou yanru for private audience
Suspected bribery and handed over for trial
References in the histories
No matching passages.
History of Ming, Chapter 256Volume 256 Biographies 144: Cui Jingrong, Huang Kezuan, Bi Ziyan, Li Zhanggeng, Liu Zhifeng · 14 passages
長庚率同列上言：「陛下博覽古今，曾見有內臣參論輔臣者否？
Zhanggeng led his colleagues in memorializing, "Your Majesty has read broadly through past and present—have you ever seen a palace eunuch participate in criticizing a grand secretary?
帝不懌。
The emperor was displeased.
時副都御史王志道劾坤語尤切，帝責令回奏。
At that time Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang Zhidao impeached Kun in language especially pointed; the emperor ordered him to memorialize in reply.
奏上，帝益怒。
When the memorial was submitted the emperor grew still angrier.
推郎中王茂學為真定知府，帝不允。
He recommended Department Director Wang Maoxue as prefect of Zhending; the emperor did not approve.
復推為順德知府，帝怒，責以欺蒙，並追咎冠帶監生授職事，責令回奏。
He again recommended him as prefect of Shunde; the emperor was angry, rebuked him for deception, and also pursued blame for appointing students with honorary rank to office, ordering him to memorialize in reply.
帝召周延儒燕見，宵分始出。
The emperor summoned Zhou Yanru for a private audience over wine; he did not leave until midnight.
今乃特蒙眷註，必將曰舉朝盡欺，獨延儒一人捐軀為國，使陛下真若廷臣無可信，而延儒乃得翦所忌，樹所私，曰為馮銓、霍維華等報怨。
Now he is specially favored; it will surely be said that the whole court deceives while Yanru alone gives his body for the state, making Your Majesty believe no court minister is trustworthy—whereupon Yanru can cut down those he resents, advance those he favors, and say he is avenging Feng Quan, Huo Weihua, and the like.
此一召也，於國事無纖毫益，而於聖德有丘山之損。」
This one summons brings not the slightest benefit to state affairs but a mountain-high loss to Your Majesty's reputation."
嘗與左侍郎王命璿召對平臺，論律例及獄情，帝申飭而退。
Once he and Left Vice Minister Wang Mingxuan were summoned to audience at the Terrace of Peace, discussed statutes and prison cases, and the emperor gave stern instructions and dismissed them.
從之。
The emperor assented.
然之鳳雖為此奏，其後每上獄詞，帝必嚴駁，之鳳懼甚，諸司呈稿，遲疑不敢遽發，屢疏謝病，帝不從。
Yet although Zhifeng made this memorial, afterward whenever prison reports went up the emperor sternly rejected them; Zhifeng was greatly afraid, the various offices hesitated over drafts and dared not send them promptly, and he repeatedly memorialized to resign on grounds of illness—the emperor would not agree.
帝疑其受賄，下之吏，法司希旨坐絞。
The emperor suspected he had taken bribes, handed him over to the judicial authorities, and the law officers, seeking to please, sentenced him to strangulation.
帝怒，鐫樞級，調外。
The emperor was angry, demoted Shu, and transferred him outside the capital.