1
普顏不花，字希古，蒙古氏。 倜儻有大志。 至正五年，由國子生登右榜進士第一人，授翰林修撰，調河南行省員外郎。 十一年，遷江西行省左右司郎中。 蘄黃徐壽輝來寇，普顏不花戰守之功為多，語在《道童傳》。 十六年，除江西廉訪副使。 頃之，召還，授益都路達魯花赤，遷山東廉訪使，再轉為中書參知政事。 十八年，詔與治書侍御史李國鳳同經略江南。 至建寧，江西陳友諒遣鄧克明來寇，而平章政事阿魯溫沙等皆夜遁。 國鳳時分鎮延平，城陷，遁去。 普顏不花曰：「我承制來此，去將何之？ 誓與此城同存亡耳。」 命築各門甕城，前後拒戰六十四日，既而大敗賊眾。 明年，召還，授山東宣慰使，再轉知樞密院事、平章山東行省，守禦益都。 大明兵壓境，普顏不花捍城力戰。 城陷，而平章政事保保出降。 普顏不花還告其母曰：「兒忠孝不能兩全，有二弟，當為終養。」 拜母，趨官舍，坐堂上。 主將素聞其賢，召之再三，不往。 既而面縛之，普顏不花曰：「我元朝進士，官至極品，臣各為其主。」 不屈，死之。
Puyan Buhua, whose style name was Xigu, was a Mongol. Free-spirited and ambitious, he aimed high from the start. In 1345, as a student of the National University he took first place on the right-board jinshi examination. He was appointed Hanlin reviser and transferred to vice director in the Henan Branch Secretariat. In 1351 he was transferred to director of the left and right secretariat bureaus in the Jiangxi Branch Secretariat. When Xu Shouhui of Qihuang invaded, Puyan Buhua bore the brunt of the fighting and defense; the full account appears in the 《Biography of Daotong》. In 1356 he was appointed vice surveillance commissioner of Jiangxi. Soon after he was recalled and appointed darughachi of Yidu Circuit, then promoted to surveillance commissioner of Shandong and finally transferred to associate administration councilor of the Central Secretariat. In 1358 he was ordered, together with Supervising Secretary Li Guofeng, to oversee military affairs in Jiangnan. Upon reaching Jianning, he found that Chen Youliang of Jiangxi had sent Deng Keming to attack, while Chief Councillors Aru Wensha and the rest had all fled under cover of night. Li Guofeng was then holding Yanping separately; when that city fell he fled as well. Puyan Buhua said, "I came here on imperial commission. Where would I go if I left? I swear to live and die with this city." He ordered barbicans built at every gate and held the enemy off for sixty-four days in all, then inflicted a crushing defeat on the rebel army. The following year he was recalled and appointed pacification commissioner of Shandong, then transferred again to privy council vice director and chief councillor of the Shandong Branch Secretariat, with responsibility for defending Yidu. When Ming forces pressed the frontier, Puyan Buhua held the city and fought with all his strength. When the city fell, Chief Councillor Baobao went out and surrendered. Puyan Buhua went home and told his mother, "A man cannot fulfill both loyalty and filial piety at once. I have two younger brothers who should see to your care in old age." He bowed to his mother, hurried to the government compound, and took his seat in the main hall. The commander had long heard of his worth and summoned him repeatedly, but he would not go. Before long they bound him and brought him forward. Puyan Buhua said, "I am a Yuan jinshi who rose to the highest rank. A minister serves his own lord." He would not yield and was put to death.
2
Earlier, his wife Aru Zhen had summoned the household one by one and said, "My husband has received the state's grace, and I too was enfeoffed as Lady of Qi. Now that matters have come to this, there is nothing left but death." The whole household sighed and wept. Before long the wives of Puyan Buhua's two younger brothers, each clutching an infant son, together with maidservants and concubines, drowned themselves in the south well of the residence. When Aru Zhen was about to follow, the well was already choked full and could hold no more, so she clasped her son and threw herself into the north well of the residence. His daughter, the daughters of concubines, and granddaughters all drowned as well.
3
At this time there was Shen Rong, chief councillor of the Shandong Branch Secretariat, defending Dongchang. When Rong saw that the neighboring prefectures had all surrendered, he told his father, "In this life, if a man cannot fulfill both loyalty and filial piety, that man is his son." His father asked, "What do you mean?" Rong said, "The garrison is too small to match the enemy. If we fight, ten thousand lives will be ruined because of me. I have only one death with which to repay the state." He then hanged himself.
4
Min Ben, whose style name was Zongxian, was from Henei. Upright, forthright, and quick-witted by nature, he devoted himself zealously to learning. In his early years he was selected as a clerk in the Ministry of Rites. Censor-in-chief Buhua admired his talent and recruited him as an aide; he reversed wrongful convictions and won wide renown. He was promoted to registrar of the Censorate. Before long he was transferred to director of the Privy Council, appointed investigating censor, then director of the left secretariat bureau of the Central Secretariat. After five promotions he became Minister of Personnel and later moved to the Ministries of Justice and Revenue, earning praise for his ability at every step. Ben had always been poor and also suffered from an eye ailment. He once submitted a memorial asking to retire, but permission was denied; instead he was appointed attendant academician of the Hall of Gathered Worthies. When Ming forces pressed close to the capital, Ben said to his wife Lady Cheng, "The affairs of state have come to this—I have known it would for a long time. I am ashamed that I could not achieve anything to repay the debt—how dare I cherish this body and cling to life!" Lady Cheng said, "If you can die in loyalty, do I still have any attachment to life!" Ben then put on court dress, and together with Lady Cheng bowed twice facing north. He wrote in large characters on the wall: "Min Ben, Yuan recipient of the rank of Supporter of the Court and attendant academician of the Hall of Gathered Worthies, is dead." They then each hanged themselves. His two daughters—the elder Zhenzhen and the younger Nünu—seeing him dead, cried out to heaven and wept, and hanged themselves beside him as well.
5
There was one Baizhu, a Kangli, whose style name was Wenshan. Through his talent he rose by stages to director of the Hanlin National History Academy and served as tutor to the crown prince. When the army arrived, Baizhu said to his household, "My founding ancestor Hailanbo, enfeoffed as Duke of Hedong, had served the First Emperor together with Wang Khan. When the First Emperor defeated Wang Khan and gathered the tribes, my ancestor led several dozen horsemen and galloped off to the northwest. The First Emperor sent men in pursuit to question him. He said, 'In former days I served the Emperor together with Wang Khan. Wang Khan is now destroyed. If I wished to avenge him, the Emperor holds Heaven's mandate; if I wished to turn and serve the Emperor, my heart could not bear it. Therefore I withdrew to a distant land to end my days there.' These were my ancestor's words. Moreover, my ancestor was born on the northern steppe, yet even his words were such as this. I was raised in the Central Plains and studied at the National University—how can I not know what duty requires! Moreover, my forebears received the state's deep grace, and I too have drawn salary from it. Now that the state is broken, how can I still bear to witness it! Better to die than to live on in degradation." He then threw himself into a well and died. His household buried him east of the residence and burned all his books as funerary offerings.
6
Zhao Hongyi, whose style name was Renqing, was from Jizhou in Zhending. From youth he loved learning. His family was poor and owned no books, so he hired himself out to a wealthy household, working by day and borrowing books to read by night. Someone who admired his resolve had him oversee affairs without being put to menial labor. He once studied the classics under Wu Cheng of Linchuan. He was first recruited as a Hanlin scribe, then transferred to compiler of the National History Academy and reassigned as director of the Grand Music Office. When Ming forces entered the capital, Hongyi sighed and said: "A loyal minister does not serve two lords; a chaste woman does not take two husbands—so the ancients said. Today I lack the strength to save the altars of state. I have only one death with which to repay it." He and his wife Lady Xie then both hanged themselves.
7
His son Gong, a registry clerk of the Central Secretariat, took leave of his wife and children and said, "Now the imperial carriage flees north. My father and I have drawn salary yet could not render even the slightest service. My parents are already dead—how dare I still cling to life!" Someone tried to stop him, saying, "Our offices are low—why torment yourself like this." Gong rebuked him: "You are not of my company. In antiquity, men of loyalty and righteousness each gave what their hearts required—did they ask whether their office was high or low!" He then put on official dress, bowed twice facing north, and hanged himself as well.
8
Gong's daughter Guannu, seventeen years old, was weeping bitterly over his body when several neighboring old women came and urged her to flee with them. She said, "I am not yet married—where would I flee?" She would not listen. When the old women tried to pull her away by force, she said, "In human life, even at a hundred years one must still die once." She then slipped into the central hall, untied her sash, and hanged herself.
9
鄭玉，字子美，徽州歙縣人。 幼敏悟嗜學，既長，覃思《六經》，尤邃於《春秋》，絕意仕進，而勤於教。 學者門人受業者眾，所居至不能容。 學者相與即其地構師山書院以處焉。 玉為文章，不事雕刻煅煉，流傳京師，揭徯斯、歐陽玄咸加稱賞。 至正十四年，朝廷除玉翰林待制、奉議大夫，遣使者賜以御酒名幣，浮海征之。 玉辭疾不起，而為表以進曰：「名爵者，祖宗之所以遺陛下，使與天下賢者共之者，陛下不得私予人。 待制之職，臣非其才，不敢受。 酒與幣，天下所以奉陛下，陛下得以私與人，酒與幣，臣不敢辭也。」 玉既不仕，則家居，日以著書為事，所著有《周易纂注》。 十七年，大明兵入徽州，守將將要致之，玉曰：「吾豈事二姓者耶！」 因被拘囚。 久之，親戚朋友攜具餉之，則從容為之盡歡，且告以必死狀。 其妻聞之，使語之曰：「君苟死，吾其相從地下矣。」 玉使謂之曰：「若果從吾死，吾其無憾矣。」 明日，具衣冠，北向再拜，自縊而死。
Zheng Yu, whose style name was Zimei, was from She County in Huizhou. From childhood he was quick and fond of learning. When grown, he pondered deeply the Six Classics and was especially accomplished in the 《Spring and Autumn Annals》. He set aside all thought of office and devoted himself to teaching. So many scholars and disciples came to study with him that his dwelling could no longer hold them all. The scholars together built the Shishan Academy on that site to house them. Yu's essays avoided elaborate polish. When they circulated in the capital, Jie Xisi and Ouyang Xuan both praised them highly. In 1354 the court appointed Yu as Hanlin attendant compiler and Gentleman for Discussion, sent envoys bearing imperial wine and famous silks, and summoned him by sea. Yu pleaded illness and did not go, but submitted a memorial saying, "Titles and offices are what the ancestors bequeathed to Your Majesty to share with worthy men throughout the realm. Your Majesty may not bestow them privately. As for the post of attendant compiler, I lack the talent for it and dare not accept it. Wine and silks are what the realm offers Your Majesty, and Your Majesty may give them privately to others. As for wine and silks, I dare not decline." Since Yu would not take office, he remained at home and devoted his days to writing. Among his works was the 《Collected Commentary on the Book of Changes》. In 1357, when Ming forces entered Huizhou, the defending commander was about to bring him over. Yu said, "Would I serve two dynasties!" He was therefore imprisoned. After a long while, relatives and friends brought food and drink to visit him. He received them at ease and made merry, and told them he would certainly die. When his wife heard this, she sent word: "If you are to die, I shall follow you beneath the earth." Yu sent back word: "If you truly follow me in death, I shall have no regret." The next day he put on cap and robes, bowed twice facing north, and hanged himself.
10
Huang Fu, whose style name was Yinshi, was from Jinxi in Fuzhou. Broadly learned and versed in the classics, skilled in prose, and especially accomplished in poetry. In 1357, on the recommendation of Left Chancellor Taiping, he was appointed registrar of the Huainan Branch Secretariat. Before he took up the post he was appointed assistant instructor of the National University, then erudite of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, then erudite of the National University, promoted to supervisor, and elevated to Hanlin attendant compiler and concurrently compiler of the National History Academy. In 1368, when the capital had fallen, Fu sighed and said, "I rose through Confucian learning and received the state's grace again and again. I was teacher to the crown prince's sons and spoke for the forbidden grove. Even if I am not put to death, with what face could I meet the scholars of the realm!" He then threw himself into a well and died, aged sixty-one. His poetry and prose have been handed down to posterity.
11
Baitie Muer, whose style name was Junshou, was a Mongol. Nothing is known of his family's background or career. Wherever he held office, he was renowned for integrity and ability. During the Zhizheng reign he was promoted by stages to director of the left and right secretariat bureaus in the Fujian Branch Secretariat. The branch secretariat was administered from Fuzhou. In 1367 Ming cavalry marched out through Shan Pass and took Shaowu, while a naval force advanced along the coast toward Fujian and arrived suddenly beneath the city walls. Baitie Muer knew the city could not be held. He brought his wives and concubines upstairs and said with feeling, "A man dies for his state; a woman dies for her husband—that is righteousness. Now the city is about to fall. I shall certainly die here—will you follow me?" They all wept and said, "We ask only to die—nothing else." Six of them hanged themselves and died.
12
He had a ten-year-old daughter. Judging that she could not take her own life, he deceived her, saying, "Kowtow and worship the Buddha—that may keep me safe." The moment she bowed, he seized a rice sack and pressed her to death with it. The wet nurse held his infant son and stood weeping nearby. Baitie Muer looked at them intently and sighed, saying, "The father dies for the state; the mother dies for her husband. Concubines and daughters follow the father—all ought to die. As for your three-year-old son—by righteousness, whom should he follow? For the sake of the ancestral line, he may be spared." He then ordered the nurse to take the child and hide in a nearby commoner's house, gathered gold and pearls, and gave them to her, saying, "If trouble comes, use these to ransom the boy's life." Before long the army entered the city. He lit a lamp and set himself ablaze; flames burst from the windows on every side, and he burned himself to death.
13
迭裡彌實，字子初，回回人。 性剛介，事母至孝。 年四十，猶不仕，或問之，曰：「吾不忍舍吾母以去也。」 以宿衛年勞，授行宣政院崇教，三遷為漳州路達魯花赤，居三年，居甚安之。 時陳有定據全閩，八郡之政，皆用其私人以總制之。 朝廷命官，不得有所與。 大明兵既取福州，興化、泉州皆納款。 或以告，迭裡彌實仰天歎曰：「吾不材，位三品，國恩厚矣，其何以報乎！ 報國恩者，有死而已。」 亡何，吏走白招諭使者至，請出城迓之，迭裡彌實從容語之曰：「爾第往，吾行出矣。」 乃詣廳事，具公服，北面再拜畢，引斧斫其印文，又大書手版曰「大元臣子」。 即入位端坐，拔所佩刀，剚喉中以死。 既死，猶手執刀按膝坐，儼然如生時。 郡民相聚哭庭中，斂其屍，葬東門外。
Dielimishi, whose style name was Zichu, was a Hui Muslim. Stern and upright by nature, he served his mother with utmost filial devotion. At forty he still would not take office. When someone asked why, he said, "I cannot bear to leave my mother." Through years of service in the imperial guard, he was appointed Chongjiao of the Traveling Office of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs and promoted three times to darughachi of Zhangzhou Circuit. After three years in office he lived there in great contentment. At this time Chen Youding held all of Fujian, and the administration of its eight prefectures was entirely controlled by his own men. Officials appointed by the court could take no part in it. Once Ming forces had taken Fuzhou, Xinghua and Quanzhou both submitted. When someone told him, Dielimishi looked up to heaven and sighed, saying, "I am without talent, yet hold third rank—the state's grace is deep. How can I repay it! To repay the state's grace, there is only death." Before long a clerk ran in reporting that pacification envoys had arrived and asking permission to go out and welcome them. Dielimishi said calmly, "You go on ahead—I am about to go out myself." He then went to the hall of affairs, put on official dress, and bowed twice facing north. He took an axe and chopped at the seal inscription, then wrote in large characters on his name tablet: "Subject of the Great Yuan." He then took his seat upright, drew the sword at his belt, and stabbed himself in the throat. After death he still sat with the sword in his hand upon his knee, looking exactly as in life. The people of the prefecture gathered and wept in the courtyard, prepared his body for burial, and interred him outside the east gate.
14
At this time there was also Huo Dubuding, a Hui Muslim and former jinshi who had risen by stages to associate surveillance commissioner of Guangdong; and there was Lü Fu, director of the left and right secretariat bureaus in the Jiangxi Branch Secretariat. Both were living in retirement in Fuzhou. Fu, by order of the branch secretariat, was acting as magistrate of Changle County. When Fuzhou fell, Huo Dubuding said, "We three brothers have all been jinshi and received the state's grace for forty years. Though we now hold no office, the great principle is at stake—how can we endure disgrace!" He tied a stone to his waist and threw himself into a well. Fu also said, "My family has drawn salary from the throne for generations. Though I now hold only an acting post, if I do not repay the state with my death, how can I face my ancestors beneath the earth." He took a rope and hanged himself. Huo Dubuding's elder brother Muruding had held office in Jiankang; and his brother Hairuding had held office in Xinzhou. Earlier, it is said, they too had all died in the state's calamity.
15
樸賽因不花，字德中，肅良合台人。 有膂力，善騎射。 由速古兒赤授利器庫提點，再轉為資正院判官，累遷同知樞密院事，遷翰林學士，尋升承旨，賜虎符，兼巡軍合浦全羅等處軍民萬戶都元帥，除大司農，出為嶺北行省右丞，昇平章政事。 至正二十四年，甘肅行省以孛羅帖木兒矯弒皇后、皇孫，遣人白事，平章政事也速答兒即欲署諭眾榜，樸賽因不花持不可曰：「此大事，何得輕信，況非符驗公文。」 卒不署榜。 既而果妄傳。 會皇太子撫軍冀寧，承製拜樸賽因不花翰林學士承旨，遷集賢大學士，又為宣政院使，遂拜中書平章政事。 大明兵逼京師，詔樸賽因不花以兵守順承門，其所領兵僅數百羸卒而已。 乃嘆息謂左右曰：「國事至此，吾但知與此門同存亡也。」 城陷被執，以見主將，唯請速死，不少屈。 主將命留營中，終不屈，殺之。
Pusaiyin Buhua, whose style name was Dezhong, was from the Sulianghetai people. He was powerfully built and skilled in horsemanship and archery. From the imperial guard he was appointed intendant of the Arsenal, then transferred to vice director of the Zizheng Court and promoted by stages to privy council vice director and Hanlin academician, soon elevated to Hanlin academician-in-ordinary. He was granted a tiger tally and concurrently made commander-in-chief over the military and civilian households of Hepu, Jeolla, and other districts, appointed Minister of Agriculture, sent out as right vice councillor of the Lingbei Branch Secretariat, and promoted to chief councillor. In 1364 the Gansu Branch Secretariat reported that Bolu Temur had falsely murdered the empress and the imperial grandson and sent someone to inform the court. Chief Councillor Yesudar immediately wished to sign a proclamation to the people. Pusaiyin Buhua objected, saying, "This is a grave matter—how can it be lightly believed, especially when there is no verified official document." In the end he did not sign the proclamation. Before long it proved to be a false rumor. When the crown prince pacified the army in Jining, Pusaiyin Buhua was appointed by imperial order Hanlin academician-in-ordinary, transferred to grand academician of the Hall of Gathered Worthies, made commissioner of the Office of Buddhist and Tibetan Affairs, and finally appointed chief councillor of the Central Secretariat. When Ming forces pressed the capital, Pusaiyin Buhua was ordered to hold Shuncheng Gate with troops—only several hundred weak and weary soldiers. He sighed and said to those beside him, "The affairs of state have come to this—I know only to live and die with this gate." When the city fell he was seized and brought before the commander. He asked only to die quickly and would not yield in the least. The commander ordered him kept in camp, but he never submitted and was put to death.
16
At this time there was Zhang Yong, whose style name was Cunzhong, from Wenzhou. Bold and generous by nature, he was skilled in the art of Great Unity Numbers. When the realm fell into disorder, he presented his plans to frontier commissioner Li Guofeng and was appointed by imperial order vice director of the Fujian Branch Secretariat, charged with training troops at Shan Pass. Before long he went to the capital on business and presented the 《Chart of Great Unity Numbers》. Emperor Shundi was pleased and promoted him to vice director of the Secretariat. The crown prince established the Great Pacification Army Bureau and ordered Yong to organize militia in Fangshan. He was transferred to associate director of the Directorate of Palace Buildings, then appointed Minister of Justice while still leading the militia organization. When the various stockades had surrendered, Yong held Luotuo Valley and sent his aide Duan Zhen to request aid from Köke Temür, but received no reply. Yong alone held firm and fought on. The other commanders broke and fled, but he had no thought of leaving. Before long the stockade resident Li Shijie seized Yong and brought him out to surrender. When he was brought before the commander, Yong would not submit and was killed together with Zhen.
17
丁好禮，字敬可，真定蠡州人。 精律算，初試吏於戶部，辟中書掾，授戶部主事，擢江南行台監察御史，復入戶部為員外郎，拜監察御史，又入戶部為郎中，升侍郎。 除京畿漕運使，建議置司於通州，重講究漕運利病，著為成法，人皆便之。 除戶部尚書。 時國家多故，財用空乏，好禮能撙節浮費，國家用度，賴之以給。 拜參議中書省事，遷治書侍御史，出為遼陽行省左丞，未行，留為樞密副使。 至正二十年，遂拜中書參知政事。 時京師大饑，天壽節，廟堂欲用故事大宴會，好禮言：「今民父子有相食者，君臣當修省，以弭大患，燕會宜減常度。」 不聽，乞謝事，乃以集賢大學士致仕，給全俸家居。 擴廓帖木兒扈從皇太子還京，輸山東粟以遺朝貴，饋好禮麥百石，好禮不受。 二十七年，復起為中書平章政事，尋以論議不合，謝政去，特封趙國公。 大明兵入京城，或勉其謁大將，好禮叱之曰：「我以小吏致位極品，爵上公，今老矣，恨無以報國，所欠惟一死耳。」 後數日，大將召好禮，不肯行，舁至齊化門，抗辭不屈而死，年七十五。
Ding Haoli, whose style name was Jingke, was from Li County in Zhending. Skilled in law and calculation, he first entered service in the Ministry of Revenue, was recruited as a Central Secretariat aide, and appointed director in that ministry. He was promoted to investigating censor of the Jiangnan Branch Censorate, returned to the Ministry of Revenue as vice director, appointed investigating censor again, then director and vice minister. He was appointed transport commissioner of the capital region, proposed establishing an office at Tongzhou, studied carefully the benefits and harms of canal transport, set them down as established regulations, and everyone found the system convenient. He was appointed Minister of Revenue. At a time when the state faced many troubles and finances were exhausted, Haoli curbed wasteful spending, and the state's expenditures relied on him to be met. He was appointed participant in the affairs of the Central Secretariat, transferred to supervising secretary, and sent out as left vice councillor of the Liaoyang Branch Secretariat, but before he departed was retained as privy council vice director. In 1360 he was appointed associate administration councilor of the Central Secretariat. At a time of great famine in the capital, on the Emperor's Birthday the court wished to hold a grand banquet by precedent. Haoli said, "Now fathers and sons among the people are eating one another. Ruler and ministers ought to examine themselves to quell this calamity; feasts should be scaled back below the usual level." His advice was not heeded. He requested to retire and was made grand academician of the Hall of Gathered Worthies with permission to retire, receiving full salary while living at home. Köke Temür escorted the crown prince back to the capital and sent Shandong grain as gifts to court nobles. He presented Haoli with a hundred piculs of wheat, but Haoli refused it. In 1367 he was recalled as chief councillor of the Central Secretariat. Before long, because his views did not accord with others, he resigned and was specially enfeoffed as Duke of Zhao. When Ming forces entered the capital, some urged him to call on the commander. Haoli rebuked them, saying, "I rose from a petty clerk to the highest rank and was enfeoffed as a grand duke. Now I am old and regret that I have nothing with which to repay the state—all that remains is one death." Several days later the commander summoned Haoli. He refused to go and was carried to Qihua Gate, where he spoke defiantly without yielding and died, aged seventy-five.
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That same day, Associate Administration Councilor Guo Yong was also carried to Qihua Gate. The crowd shouted at him to bow. Yong said, "A minister serves his own lord—death is my allotted portion. What bowing is there!" He spoke without yielding in the least and died. Yong, whose style name was Yunzhong, was a Mongol who entered office through the National University. He was promoted by stages to investigating censor of the Shaanxi Branch Censorate and, together with his colleagues, impeached Privy Council Director Yesan Temur for losing the army and was demoted to assistant magistrate of Zhongxing Superior Prefecture. Later Yesan Temur was dismissed for his crimes. Yong was recalled and appointed investigating censor, promoted by stages to participant in the Central Secretariat. His integrity and righteousness are spoken of together with Haoli's.