《明史·列传·卷九十二》
皇帝正斋戒居住在西内，讨厌兵事，而大学士严嵩窃取权职，边关将帅一般都是因贿赂严嵩而得到提拔的，边疆防备之事很糟。
天子方斋居西内，厌兵事，而大学士严嵩窃权，边帅率以贿进，疆事大坏。
The emperor was living in seclusion in the Western Palace, fasting and praying, and he disliked military affairs. Grand Secretary Yan Song had usurped authority, and generally speaking, generals and other military officers in the border regions had been promoted because they had bribed Yan Song, so the border defenses were in very poor shape.