Wonderful Machines of the Far West, Vol. 1

along with Vice Minister Li Song, and the loyal martyrs Zuo Zhongyi and Yang Zhonglie, all recognized his talent as that of a "statesman capable of assisting a king" a term for someone who could rescue a dynasty in decline. They presented memorials to the throne to recommend him repeatedly, yet he was ultimately suppressed by corrupt factions and never gained high office. By the time of the Jiashen Incident the fall of the Ming Dynasty in 1644, he was a private citizen living in seclusion. He chose to end his life through fasting, a sacrifice that is truly worthy of lament.

His deeds are recorded in the History of the Ming, the Ming Jian, the Ming Ji, the Guangyu Ji, the Unified Gazetteer, the Tushu Jicheng a massive encyclopedia commissioned by the Kangxi Emperor, the Record of Martyrs Who Died for the Cause, the Continued Record of Loyalty, the Guang Wanxing Tongpu, and various unauthorized histories and anthologies. The scholars of that time all took pleasure in writing biographies, eulogies, and inscriptions to record his integrity. Our

Emperor Gaozong Chun the Qianlong Emperor posthumously awarded him the title "Zhongjie" Loyal and Chaste, adding special honors and praise. From this, one may glimpse the quality of his scholarship and character. During his life, his writings amounted to hundreds of thousands of words. Works such as Illustrations and Explanations of Wonderful Machines original: "Qiqi Tushuo", Outline of the Two Principles original: "Liangli Lüe", Principles for Scholars, Principles for the Military, and Commentaries on the Great Learning and Doctrine of the Mean original: "Xueyong Jie", among dozens of others, have long circulated throughout the world without