Entry

Yang Ning, Minister of Justice in Nan-jing, died. Ning (zi Yan-shi) had his origins in She County, Zhi-li. After passing the metropolitan examinations, he was appointed as a secretary in the Ministry of Justice. In the third year of the Zheng-tong reign (1438/39), he accompanied the Minister of War Wei Yuan on inspection of border defences in Xuan-fu and Da-tong. In the fourth year (1439/40), the army was despatched on expedition to destroy Lu-chuan. The eunuchs superintended the force and it was recommended that Ning accompany them. When the army arrived in their territory, the bandits went to the military headquarters and submitted their surrender. The senior general accepted this. Ning stated: "The troops have not yet advanced and yet the enemy has surrendered. This is a ruse to beguile us. We should ready the troops and have them in full preparedness." Not long after that the bandit troops indeed did come. For his achievements, he was promoted to director. In the sixth year (1441/42), an army was again raised to proceed against Lu-chuan. The Minister of War Wang Ji supervised military affairs and again recommended that Ning accompany them. The army attacked and took the bandits' palisade forts on Mt. Shan-mu-long and destroyed their lairs. The army then withdrew. For his achievements, Ning was further promoted to vice minister of the right in the Ministry of Justice. In the ninth year (1444/45), he was appointed as consultant for Yun-nan military affairs. He requested the establishment of the Long-chuan Pacification Commission and the building of a walled city at the strategic pass at Teng-chong, so as to be able to control the man and the yi.....