Entry

Zhang Gao, a vice censor-in-chief of the right in the Censorate, died. Gao (zi Ru-qin) had his origins in Hua-ting County, Song-jiang. He passed the metropolitan examinations in the bing-xu year of the Cheng-hua reign (1466/67).... During the Hong-zhi reign (1488-1505), he was promoted to vice censor-in-chief of the right in the Censorate and appointed as grand coordinator of Yun-nan. There, he redressed cases where persons had been imprisoned under suspicious circumstances, and issued instructions to the rebellious yi. Thereby, he achieved peace and accord. However, the two tribes (部) of Mu-bang and Meng-mi continued fighting each other. Thus Gao ordered the various circuits to drill their troops to indicate the inevitability of an attack. Mu-bang and Meng-mi were frightened and they ceased hostilities. The Court was pleased with Gao's achievements and richly rewarded him. In the wu-wu year of the Hong-zhi reign (1498/99), he requested that he be allowed to return. At this time he died. Gao was very skilled and capable but was over-strict in his work. When he was in Yun-nan, the measures taken were inappropriate, leading almost to disaster. Fortunately disaster was averted.