Keywords and terms: righteous war ; on violence, on "not fighting and subduing the enemy" ; hypotheses about Ming strategic decision making, Bingshu 兵書, Ming security problems along the northern border ; Seven Military Classics (Wujing 武經) Sunzi 孫子, Wuzi bingfa 武子兵法 ; Sima fa 司馬法 ; Wei Liaozi 尉繚子, Taigong liutao 太公六韜, Huangshigong sanlue 黃石公三略, Tang Taizong Li Wei Gong wendui 唐太宗李韋公問 對 ; Ming statecraft, wall-building, Fan Ji 范濟, Yu Qian 于謙, Wang Shu 王恕, Wang Shouren (Yangming) 王守仁 (陽明), Yang Yiqing 楊一清, Wang Qiong 王瓊, Zeng Xian 曾銑, Weng Wanda 翁萬達, Yang Jisheng 楊繼盛, Wang Chonggu 王崇古 ; Mongol strategems and tactics.
Glossary of Chinese military terms used to describe legitimate actions directed at an enemy, p. 270-273.

All references based on : Franke, W., An introduction to the sources of Ming history, with minor corrections. N.B. Zhu Qizhen 朱祁鎮, Ming Zhengtong 明正統, Temple name Yingzong 英宗.
Pitailu 否泰錄. (middle of 15th century)....Record of the events in Beijing and in the headquarters of the Oirat chieftain Esen from the beginning of the campaign in 1449 to the return of the captive emperor Yingzong in 1450....See p.60 [2.5.1]
Beishilu 北使錄.... Li Shi 李實, jinshi 1442. Narrative of the author’s personal experience; he went several times to the camp of Esen in order to negotiate the release of the captive emperor. It covers the time from the capture of the emperor in 1449 to his return to Beijing the following year. Other titles: Chushi lu 出史錄, Shibei lu 使北錄...See p. 60 [2.5.2]
Zhengtong linrong lu 正統臨戎錄. (middle 15th century)...Yang Ming 楊銘 (a Mongol with the original name Haming 哈銘)...Accounts of the captive Emperor Yingzong, whom Yang Ming together with Yuan Bin accompanied. The narrative is written in the colloquial language and is more detailed than that of Yuan Bin. A refacimento of this narrative in the literary language is the Zhengtong beishou shiji 正統北狩事蹟. It has, of course, much less value as a historical source. See p. 60 [2.5.3]
Beizheng shiji 北征事蹟 (1465)...Accounts of the campaign and events during the captivity of Emperor Yingzong, whom Yuan Bin as an officer of the Imperial Guard accompanied. According to Wada Sei, the text is based upon the report made by Yuan Bin but actually written by Yin Zhi 尹直 and submitted in 1465. See p. 60 [2.5.4]

"Xiangyue 鄉約 (1550).... Treatise on rural defense and on the construction of fortifications in rural areas, with illustrations. Preface by He Ming 郝銘, 1550..." Cf. Franke, An introduction to the sources of Ming history, p. 207 [7.2.1].

"Saiyu 塞語 (1550).... Treatise on the defense of the northern border against the Mongols..." Cf. Franke, An introduction to the sources of Ming history, p. 212 [7.3.12].