Li Shanchang (李善長)

Overview

Li Shanchang was a Left Chancellor and Junior Tutor.

Other names

Type	English	Chinese	Pinyin
Courtesy name	Baishi	百室	Bǎishì

Life and dates

Death

AD 1390 四月…誅之
Execution
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 95

Age

77
AD 1390 年已七十有七 · Reckoning Sui
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 78

Attested activity

AD 1390 又五年…四月
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 127, passages 78, 80, 95
AD 1374 七年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 127, passage 64
AD 1376 九年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 127, passage 65
AD 1380 十三年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 127, passage 74
AD 1385 十八年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 127, passage 76
AD 1367 吳元年九月
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 38

Show 9 more source-backed claims

AD 1367 吳元年十二月辛酉
Directly stated · History of Ming 64, passage 17
AD 1371 四年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 127, passage 61
AD 1358 太祖之下婺
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 140, passages 129-130
AD 1356 太祖克集慶
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passages 212-213
AD 1353 to AD 1355 太祖略地滁陽
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 127, passage 4
AD 1356 定集慶，置江南行中書省
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passage 169
AD 1370 洪武三年
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passages 49, 51
AD 1370 洪武三年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passage 218
AD 1368 洪武元年
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 115, passages 15, 20

Family

Immediate relationships attested in the translated histories.

Parent of Li Qi (李祺)
son 子
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 65
Spouse of Wife of Li Shanzhang (李善長妻)
wife 妻
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 95
Spouse of Wife of Li Shanchang (李善長婦)
wife 婦
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 210
Sibling of Li Cunyi (李存義)
younger brother 弟 · Uncertain siblings · paternal line
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 64

Kinship Role daughters · Count 1 · 女 among household executed; exact count unspecified beyond plural
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 95
Kinship Role younger-brothers-and-nephews · Count 1 · 弟侄 included in household executed; exact plural count unspecified
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 95
Kinship Role household-dependents · Count 70 · 妻女弟侄家口七十余人
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 95

Key source chapters

Career and standing

secretary / record keeper 掌書記
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 5
Deliberator 參議
AD 1356 定集慶，置江南行中書省 · Organization Jiangnan Branch Secretariat 江南行中書省 · Appointed
Dated from the passage context · History of Ming 135, passages 169, 171
deliberator of Jiangnan Branch Secretariat 參議
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 29
director of the marshal's headquarters 帥府都事
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 25
Grand Preceptor 太師
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 51
Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent 太子少師
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 43

Show 15 more source-backed claims

Left Chancellor of State 左相國
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 39
Left Chancellor of the Secretariat 中書左丞相
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 51
Right Chancellor of State 右相國
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 32
secretary of the Grand Marshal's Office 府司馬
Appointed
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 31
太子少師
Concurrent
Directly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 20
Left Chancellor of the Secretariat 中書左相國
Held
Directly stated · History of Ming 64, passage 17
左丞相
Held
Directly stated · History of Ming 115, passage 20
Vice Commissioner of the Branch Secretariat 行省參知政事
Promoted
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 31
Founding Assistant Minister Upholding Culture 開國輔運推誠守正文臣
Granted
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 51
Silver-Green Glory Grandee 銀青榮祿大夫
Granted
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 43
Upper Pillar of State 上柱國
Granted
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 43
Duke of Han 韓國公
Enfeoffed
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 51
Duke of Xuan 宣國公
Enfeoffed
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 38
Entered
AD 1371 四年 · Retirement
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 61
Imposed
Stipend reduction · Quantity Amount: 1800 · Unit: piculs
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 70

Places and affiliations

Wu / early Ming 吳
Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Ming 64, passage 17
Polity Ming Founder's regime 太祖政權 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 227
Polity Ming 明 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passages 42, 143
Polity Zhu Yuanzhang's Jiangnan regime 太祖江南政權 · Relation Served
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 169
At Dingyuan 定遠
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 2

Works and attributed material

Collected Rites of the Great Ming 大明集禮
Relation Compiled
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 47
Records of Ancestral Instruction 祖訓錄
Relation Compiled
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 47
History of the Yuan 元史
Relation Supervised compilation
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 47
Speech · Speaker · With Ming Taizu (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passages 7-11

Events and relationships

Ambushed yuan raiders at heyang
Military · Defender · With Ming Taizu (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passages 20-21
Executed for alleged complicity with hu weiyong
Legal · Accused · With Hu Weiyong (胡惟庸)
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passages 91, 93, 95
Later implicated in a case
Political · Subject
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 219
presented enthronement rites with the ritual officials 率禮官以即位禮儀進
AD 1367 吳元年十二月辛酉 · Ritual · Presenter · Presented enthronement rites
Directly stated · History of Ming 64, passage 17
Refused guo zixing recruitment
Political · Refusee · With Guo Zixing (郭子興)
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 18
Urged founding emperor to imitate liu bang
Counsel · Adviser · With Ming Taizu (太祖)
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passages 7-12

Show 6 more source-backed claims

Relation Colleague of · Person Song Siyan (宋思顏)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passages 169, 171
Relation Colleague of · Person Mao Qi (毛騏)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 227
Relation Recommender of · Person Hu Weiyong (胡惟庸)
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 72
Relation Tutor of · Person Zhu Biao (朱標)
Directly stated · History of Ming 115, passages 20-21
Relation Recommender of · Person Wang Lian (王濂)
Directly stated · History of Ming 135, passage 213
Relation Rival of · Person Liu Ji (劉基)
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 57

Assessments and attributes

Assessment chose his lord early and helped found the dynasty, yet destroyed himself in old age · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 148
Assessment first among founding ministers; compared to Xiao He · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 54
Assessment outwardly mild, inwardly envious · Mode historian-judgment
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 55
Item iron certificate 鐵券 · Relation Bestowed
Directly stated · History of Ming 127, passage 52

Source notes

Historicity historical
Directly stated · History of Ming 64, passage 17; History of Ming 135, passage 169

References in the histories

Search passages

History

76 passages

History of Ming, Chapter 64Volume 64 Treatises 40: Ceremonial Guards · 1 passage

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皇帝儀仗：吳元年十二月辛酉，中書左相國李善長率禮官以即位禮儀進。 The emperor's ceremonial train: On the xinyou day of the twelfth month of the first Wu year, Left Chancellor Li Shanchang led the ritual officials in presenting the enthronement rites.

History of Ming, Chapter 115Volume 115 Biographies 3: Emperor Xingzong Xiaokang, Emperor Ruizong Xingxian · 1 passage

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於是左丞相李善長兼太子少師，右丞相徐達兼太子少傅，中書平章錄軍國重事常遇春兼太子少保，右都督馮宗異兼右詹事，中書平章政事胡廷端、廖永忠、李伯升兼同知詹事院事，中書左、右丞趙庸、王溥兼副詹事，中書參政楊憲兼詹事丞，傅瓛兼詹事，同知大都督康茂才、張興祖兼左右率府使，大都督府副使顧時、孫興祖同知左右率府事，僉大都督府事吳楨、耿炳文兼左右率府副使，御史大夫鄧愈、湯和兼諭德，御史中丞劉基、章溢兼贊善大夫，治書侍御史文原吉、范顯祖兼太子賓客。 Li Shanchang, left chancellor, became junior tutor; Xu Da, right chancellor, junior mentor; Chang Yuchun, associate director for military affairs, junior guardian; Feng Zongyi, right commissioner, right household master; Hu Tingduan, Liao Yongzhong, and Li Bosheng, associate directors, associate household masters; Zhao Yong and Wang Pu, vice directors, deputy household masters; Yang Xian, participating secretary, household master assistant; Fu Rong, household master; Kang Maocai and Zhang Xingzu, associate capital commissioners, left and right rate-office commandants; Gu Shi and Sun Xingzu, deputy commissioners, associate commandants; Wu Zhen and Geng Bingwen, commissioners, deputy commandants; Deng Yu and Tang He, censors-in-chief, preceptors; Liu Ji and Zhang Yi, vice censors-in-chief, senior companions; Wen Yuanji and Fan Xianzu, investigating secretaries, crown prince's guests.

History of Ming, Chapter 127Volume 127 Biographies 15: Li Shanzhang, Wang Guangyang · 66 passages

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李善長 Li Shanzhang

李善長，字百室，定遠人。 Li Shanzhang, whose style was Baishi, came from Dingyuan.

太祖略地滁陽，善長迎謁。 When the Founding Emperor was expanding his hold around Chuyang on the Chu frontier, Shanzhang came forward to greet him.

對曰：「秦亂，漢高起布衣，豁達大度，知人善任，不嗜殺人，五載成帝業。 Shanzhang answered, "When the Qin order collapsed, Liu Bang rose from the ranks of commoners—open-handed, magnanimous, skilled at knowing men and putting them to use, sparing of bloodshed—and within five years he had won the empire.

太祖威名日盛，諸將來歸者，善長察其材，言之太祖。 As the Founding Emperor's fame spread, every commander who came to join him was assessed by Shanzhang for ability and recommended to the throne.

又欲奪善長自輔，善長固謝弗往。 Guo also tried to draw Shanzhang away to serve at his side, but Shanzhang steadfastly refused.

太祖軍和陽，自將擊雞籠山寨，少留兵佐善長居守。 While the army was encamped at Heyang, the Founding Emperor led the assault on Jilong Mountain himself, leaving Shanzhang behind with a modest garrison.

元將諜知來襲，設伏敗之，太祖以為能。 Yuan scouts discovered the weakness and struck; Shanzhang laid an ambush and routed them, and the Founding Emperor judged him capable.

太祖得巢湖水師，善長力贊渡江。 After the Chaohu flotilla came over, Shanzhang pressed hard for a crossing of the Yangzi.

既拔採石，趨太平，善長預書榜禁戢士卒。 Once Caishi fell they hurried toward Taiping; Shanzhang had already drafted a proclamation restraining the soldiers.

太祖為太平興國翼大元帥，以為帥府都事。 Made Grand Marshal of the Pacifying State and Flourishing Wings, the Founding Emperor named Shanzhang director of the marshal's headquarters.

將取鎮江，太祖慮諸將不戢下，乃佯怒欲置諸法，善長力救得解。 Before the assault on Zhenjiang the Founding Emperor worried that his commanders would not keep their men in hand; he pretended to rage and threatened legal punishment, until Shanzhang's earnest intercession won them pardon.

太祖為江南行中書省平章，以為參議。 When the Founding Emperor became Pacification Commissioner of the Jiangnan Branch Secretariat, Shanzhang was appointed deliberator.

時宋思顏、李夢庚、郭景祥等俱為省僚，而軍機進退，賞罰章程，多決於善長。 Song Siyan, Li Menggeng, Guo Jingxiang, and others served beside him in the province, but questions of campaign, promotion, reward, and punishment fell largely to Shanzhang.

改樞密院為大都督府，命兼領府司馬，進行省參知政事。 The Bureau of Military Affairs became the Office of the Grand Marshal; Shanzhang was ordered to serve concurrently as its secretary and was advanced to Vice Commissioner of the Branch Secretariat.

太祖為吳王，拜右相國。 When the Founding Emperor took the title Prince of Wu, Shanzhang was named Right Chancellor of State.

善長明習故事，裁決如流，又嫻於辭命。 Well versed in precedent, he decided cases with fluent ease and was equally adept at drafting imperial communications.

太祖有所招納，輒令為書。 Whenever the Founding Emperor sought to win someone over, he had Shanzhang write the message.

吳元年九月論平吳功，封善長宣國公。 In the ninth month of Wu year one, when rewards for pacifying Wu were apportioned, Shanzhang was enfeoffed Duke of Xuan.

太祖初渡江，頗用重典，一日，謂善長：「法有連坐三條，不已甚乎？」 In his early days south of the river the Founding Emperor relied on harsh law; one day he told Shanzhang, "The code provides three kinds of kin punishment for a single crime—is that not too severe?"

善長因請自大逆而外皆除之，遂命與中丞劉基等裁定律令，頒示中外。 Shanzhang asked that every offense save grand treason be struck from collective punishment; the Emperor then ordered him, Vice Censor-in-Chief Liu Ji, and others to revise the code and publish it throughout the realm.

太祖即帝位，追帝祖考及冊立後妃太子諸王，皆以善長充大禮使。 At his accession, whenever the throne honored imperial ancestors or invested empress, heir, and princes, Shanzhang served as chief ritual commissioner.

置東宮官屬，以善長兼太子少師，授銀青榮祿大夫、上柱國，錄軍國重事，餘如故。 When the heir's household was staffed, Shanzhang became Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent, received Silver-Green Glory Grandee and Upper Pillar of State, was charged to record weighty civil and military affairs, and otherwise kept his posts.

帝幸汴梁，善長留守，一切聽便宜行事。 While the Emperor was at Bianliang, Shanzhang stayed behind with full authority to act as he saw fit.

定天下岳瀆神祗封號，封建諸王，爵賞功臣，事無巨細，悉委善長與諸儒臣謀議行之。 Titles for the empire's sacred mountains and rivers, investiture of princes, ennoblement of meritorious servants—matters great and small were referred to Shanzhang and the scholar-officials for deliberation and execution.

帝謂：「善長雖無汗馬勞，然事朕久，給軍食，功甚大，宜進封大國。」 The Emperor said, "Shanzhang never rode in the van, yet he has served Us long, fed the armies, and his service is surpassing; he deserves enfeoffment as duke of a great state."

乃授開國輔運推誠守正文臣、特進光祿大夫、左柱國、太師、中書左丞相，封韓國公，歲祿四千石，子孫世襲。 He received the titles Founding Assistant Minister Upholding Culture, specially advanced Glory Grandee of the First Rank, Left Pillar of State, Grand Preceptor, and Left Chancellor of the Secretariat, was enfeoffed Duke of Han with four thousand piculs a year and hereditary succession.

時封公者，徐達、常遇春子茂、李文忠、馮勝、鄧愈及善長六人。 Six men received ducal rank: Xu Da, Mao son of Chang Yuchun, Li Wenzhong, Feng Sheng, Deng Yu, and Shanzhang.

而善長位第一，制詞比之蕭何，褒稱甚至。 Shanzhang nevertheless ranked first; the enfeoffment text likened him to Xiao He, and the praise was lavish.

善長外寬和，內多忮刻。 Outwardly he was gentle and accommodating; inwardly he was quick to resent.

參議李飲冰、楊希聖，稍侵善長權，即按其罪奏黜之。 When deliberators Li Yinbing and Yang Xisheng encroached on his authority, he found cause against them and had them cashiered.

太祖所任張昶、楊憲、汪廣洋、胡惟庸皆獲罪，善長事寄如故。 Zhang Chang, Yang Xian, Wang Guangyang, and Hu Weiyong, whom the throne had raised, all fell for crime, yet Shanzhang's trust held.

徙江南富民十四萬田濠州，以善長經理之，留濠者數年。 One hundred forty thousand prosperous Jiangnan households were relocated to Hao with their lands for Shanzhang to manage, and he stayed there several years.

七年擢善長弟存義為太僕丞，存義子伸、佑皆為群牧所官。 In year seven his brother Cunyi became Vice Director of the Imperial Stud, and Cunyi's sons Shen and You received posts in the Pasturage Office.

祺尚主後一月，御史大夫汪廣洋、陳寧疏言：「善長狎寵自恣，陛下病不視朝幾及旬，不問候。 A month after Qi's marriage, Censor-in-Chief Wang Guangyang and Chen Ning reported, "Shanzhang, emboldened by favor, had failed to attend the Emperor during a ten-day illness.

丞相胡惟庸初為甯國知縣，以善長薦，擢太常少卿，後為丞相，因相往來。 Hu Weiyong had been magistrate of Ningguo; Shanzhang recommended him, he rose to Vice Director of Imperial Sacrifices and then chancellor, and the two kept up ties.

而善長弟存義子佑，惟庸從女婿也。 Shanzhang's nephew You, son of his brother Cunyi, was married to Hu Weiyong's daughter.

十三年，惟庸謀反伏誅，坐党死者甚眾，善長如故。 In year thirteen Hu Weiyong's treason was uncovered and he was executed; many partisans perished, but Shanzhang was untouched.

御史台缺中丞，以善長理台事，數有所建白。 With no vice censor-in-chief in the Censorate, Shanzhang directed its business and several times submitted recommendations.

善長不謝，帝銜之。 Shanzhang offered no thanks, and the Emperor took offense.

又五年，善長年已七十有七，耄不檢下。 Five years later, aged seventy-seven, he no longer kept his household in check.

四月，京民坐罪應徙邊者，善長數請免其私親丁斌等。 In the fourth month, as condemned capital residents were sent to the border, Shanzhang repeatedly pleaded for his clients Ding Bin and others.

命逮存義父子鞫之，詞連善長，云：「惟庸有反謀，使存義陰說善長。 Cunyi and his son were arrested; their testimony touched Shanzhang: "Hu had plotted rebellion and sent Cunyi to win him over.

善長驚叱曰：『爾言何為者！ Shanzhang cried out in alarm, 'What nonsense is this!

已，又使善長故人楊文裕說之云：『事成當以淮西地封為王。』 Later Hu sent Shanzhang's old friend Yang Wenyu, promising, 'If the plot succeeded he would be made king of the Huai-west lands.'

善長驚不許，然頗心動。 Shanzhang refused in alarm, yet his heart wavered.

惟庸乃自往說善長，猶不許。 Hu Weiyong came in person to persuade him, and still he would not agree.

居久之，惟庸復遣存義進說，善長歎曰：『吾老矣。 Long afterward Hu sent Cunyi again; Shanzhang sighed, 'I am old.

或又告善長云：「將軍藍玉出塞，至捕魚兒海，獲惟庸通沙漠使者封績，善長匿不以聞。」 Another informer said to Shanzhang, "General Lan Yu, campaigning beyond the frontier, had seized Hu's messenger Feng Ji at Buyur Lake, and Shanzhang had hidden the fact without reporting it."

於是御史交章劾善長。 Censors then impeached him in a flood of memorials.

而善長奴盧仲謙等，亦告善長與惟庸通賂遺，交私語。 Slaves such as Lu Zhongqian also testified to bribes and secret talk between Shanzhang and Hu.

獄具，謂善長元勳國戚，知逆謀不發舉，狐疑觀望懷兩端，大逆不道。 The verdict held that Shanzhang, founding minister and imperial kin, knowing of treason yet failing to expose it and hedging between sides, had committed grand treason.

善長子祺與主徙江浦，久之卒。 Shanzhang's son Qi and the princess were exiled to Jiangpu; years later he died.

善長死之明年，虞部郎中王國用上言：「善長與陛下同心，出萬死以取天下，勳臣第一，生封公，死封王，男尚公主，親戚拜官，人臣之分極矣。 In the year after Shanzhang died, Wang Guoyong, director in the Yu Bureau, submitted a memorial: "Shanzhang stood with Your Majesty in one purpose, risked death again and again to win the empire, and stood first among the founding ministers—duke in life, king in death, a son married to a princess, kinsmen raised to office. No subject could ask for more.

善長與惟庸，猶子之親耳，于陛下則親子女也。 Shanzhang's tie to Hu Weiyong was no closer than that of sons-in-law; toward Your Majesty he was bound by a daughter of the imperial house.

使善長佐惟庸成，不過勳臣第一而已矣，太師國公封王而已矣，尚主納妃而已矣，寧復有加於今日？ Had Shanzhang helped Hu Weiyong succeed, he would still be only first among ministers, Grand Preceptor, duke, king, imperial marriage—nothing beyond what he already possessed?

且善長豈不知天下之不可幸取。 Surely Shanzhang knew the realm could not be seized by chance.

善長胡乃身見之，而以衰倦之年身蹈之也。 Why would Shanzhang, who had seen this with his own eyes, in his weary old age walk into it himself.

今善長之子祺備陛下骨肉親，無纖芥嫌，何苦而忽為此。 Shanzhang's son Qi is Your Majesty's own kin by marriage, without the smallest quarrel—what reason would drive him to such a deed.

臣恐天下聞之，謂功如善長且如此，四方因之解體也。 I fear the empire will hear that even a servant like Shanzhang came to this end, and the regions will lose heart.

今善長已死，言之無益，所願陛下作戒將來耳。」 Shanzhang is dead and words cannot help him; I ask only that Your Majesty guard against such acts hereafter."

三年，李善長病，中書無官，召廣洋為左丞。 In year three, when Li Shanzhang fell ill and the Secretariat stood vacant, Guangyang was summoned as Left Vice Director.

及善長以病去位，遂以廣洋為右丞相，參政胡惟庸為左丞。 When Shanzhang retired ill, Guangyang became Right Chancellor and Hu Weiyong Left Vice Director.

其從容丞弼之任者，李善長、汪廣洋、胡惟庸三人而已。 Only Li Shanzhang, Wang Guangyang, and Hu Weiyong truly bore the steady work of assisting rule.

故終明之世，惟善長、廣洋得稱丞相。 Thus through the entire Ming only Shanzhang and Guangyang ever bore the title chancellor.

獨惜善長以布衣徒步，能擇主於草昧之初，委身戮力，贊成鴻業，遂得剖符開國，列爵上公，乃至富極貴溢，於衰暮之年自取覆滅。 It is a pity that Shanzhang, a man in plain sandals who chose his lord in the chaos of founding, gave his life to the cause, helped build the dynasty, won investiture and the highest rank, and stood at the summit of wealth—yet in old age destroyed himself.

History of Ming, Chapter 135Volume 135 Biographies 23: Chen Yu, Ye Dui, Fan Chang, Song Siyan, Guo Jingxiang, Yang Yuangao, Ruan Hongdao, Kong Keren · 7 passages

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及定集慶，置江南行中書省，太祖總省事，以李善長及思顏為參議。 When Jiqing was secured, the Jiangnan branch secretariat was established with the Founder as its chief; Li Shanchang and Song were made deliberators.

而思顏獨與善長並授參議，其任較諸人為重。 Song alone shared the rank of deliberator with Li Shanchang, and his responsibilities were heavier than those of the others.

濂，字習古，定遠人，李善長婦兄也。 Wang Lian, courtesy name Xigu, was a native of Dingyuan and the elder brother of Li Shanchang's wife.

善長為言，得召見，除執法官，讞獄平允。 Li Shanchang spoke on his behalf; he was summoned for an audience, appointed judge of the law, and his judgments were fair and even.

帝謂善長曰：「濂有王佐才，今死，朕失一臂。」 The Emperor said to Li Shanchang, "Wang had the talent of a king's minister; now that he is dead, I have lost an arm."

後善長坐事，帝嘆曰：「使王濂在，必不至是。」 Later, when Li Shanchang was implicated in a case, the Emperor sighed and said, "If Wang Lian had still been alive, things would surely not have come to this."

是時太祖左右惟善長及騏，文書機密，皆兩人協贊。 At that time only Li Shanchang and Mao Qi stood at the Founder's side; confidential documents were all handled jointly by the two of them.

History of Ming, Chapter 140Volume 140 Biographies 28: Wei Guan, Tao Houzhong, Liu Shihuan, Wang Zongxian, Lu Wensui, Wang Guan, Dao Tong, Lu Xi, Qing Wensheng · 1 passage

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興宗，故隸人也，李善長、李文忠皆以為不可。 Xingzong had once been a bondservant, and both Li Shanzhang and Li Wenzhong objected to the appointment.