Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Qin Book 2 Scroll 7 (continued)
The 1st year of the Second Emperor(209 B.C.)
On October 10, during the winter, a national amnesty was declared.
In the spring, the Second Emperor embarked on a journey to the eastern provinces, accompanied by Chancellor Li Si. They traveled eastward to Mount Jieshi on the coast and southward to the commandery Kuaiji before returning. The Second Emperor inscribed his name on all the monuments previously erected by the First Emperor, adding the names of his entourage alongside. These inscriptions reiterated the achievements and virtues of the late emperor.
Around April, nearing summer, the Second Emperor returned to Xianyang. He said to Zhao Gao, “The time of a person in this world passes as swiftly as driving a six-horse chariot over a crack in the road. Now that I am the lord of the empire, I should indulge my senses with as much pleasure as possible and fill my heart with as much joy as I desire. Can I live this way until my time is up?” Zhao Gao replied, “That is exactly what a wise lord would do, but a foolish one would not. However, we are not there yet. Let me advise Your Majesty: The princes and ministers are suspicious of what happened at Shaqiu. These princes are your elder brothers, and these ministers were appointed by the late emperor. Your Majesty has just ascended to the throne, and these princes and ministers, harboring doubts and fears, may incite rebellion. I fear for my life every day. How can Your Majesty enjoy yourself under these circumstances?”
The Second Emperor asked, “What should we do?” Zhao Gao responded, “Your Majesty must strengthen the law and intensify punishments. Encourage criminals to inform on others, and eliminate all royalties and ministers by guilt of association. Then, elevate the oppressed, enrich the poor, and promote the low-born to high positions. Replace the ministers from the late emperor’s reign with people who are close to and trusted by Your Majesty. These new appointees will be grateful to Your Majesty. By purging the discontented and conspirators, leaving only your loyal supporters, Your Majesty will finally enjoy peaceful nights and as much pleasure as you wish. This is the best advice I can offer.” The Second Emperor agreed to the plan. He made criminal laws more draconian and cruel. Once an official or royal was accused of an offense, he immediately handed them over to Zhao Gao for interrogation and prosecution. Twelve princes were executed in Xianyang, and ten princesses were quartered in Du County. Their properties were confiscated, and countless others implicated by them were arrested.
Prince Jiang Lü and his two brothers, born of the same mother, were confined in the inner palace. They were the latest to be accused. A messenger from the Second Emperor informed Jiang Lü, “Your conduct toward the emperor was improper for a subject. This crime is punishable by death. Justice will be served by law officers.” Jiang Lü responded, “I have never violated court protocol, never misbehaved during ceremonies, and never been disrespectful when speaking to the Emperor. What inappropriate behavior have I committed? I wish to know my crime before I die!” The messenger replied, “The sentencing is beyond my authority. I am merely delivering the verdict.” Prince Jiang Lü cried out “Heaven” three times and wailed, “I am innocent!” His brothers wept with him before they took their own lives with their swords. The entire royal family was horrified.
Prince Gao, another half-brother of the Second Emperor, considered fleeing but feared that his kin would suffer. He wrote to the Second Emperor, saying, “When the late Emperor was alive, I was granted fine food every time I attended court; I was provided with chariots whenever I needed to travel. His Majesty gifted me robes made for the emperor and horses from the royal stables. I should have accompanied His Majesty, but I did not. I am unfilial as his son and disloyal as his servant. A person lacking both filial piety and loyalty has no place in this world. I wish to die and be buried at the foot of Lishan Mausoleum. I beg Your Majesty to grant me this mercy!” The Second Emperor read the letter with delight and showed it to Zhao Gao, saying, “He is truly desperate, isn’t he?” Zhao Gao replied, “Subjects won’t contemplate rebellion when they are preoccupied with how to die.” The Second Emperor approved the request and granted burial money of one hundred thousand coins.
The Second Emperor resumed the construction of the E’fang Palace. Fifty thousand gladiators were conscripted to Xianyang to form the royal guard, where they were trained in archery. The court raised a large number of dogs, horses, birds, and other wild animals. Fearing a shortage of fodder, the Second Emperor ordered all commanderies and counties to supply soybeans, grains, straw, and hay. Those transporting fodder to Xianyang had to provide their own food. Grain produced within a three-hundred-mile radius of Xianyang was prohibited for private consumption, and must proffer the grain to the court.
In July of that autumn, Chen Sheng from Yangcheng county and Wu Guang from Yangxia county led an insurgency in Qi County. They had been drafted in the fourth round to secure the border near Yuyang commandery, along with nine hundred other conscripts stranded in a village called Daze[Big Marsh]. Chen Sheng and Wu Guang, both team leaders, found themselves delayed due to heavy rain, which caused road closures and made them miss the rendezvous. According to the law, this delinquency was punishable by beheading. Recognizing the people’s grievances and resentment, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang killed their commanders. They then addressed their comrades: “We’re doomed to be beheaded for being late. Even if pardoned, life on the frontier is so harsh that six or seven out of ten of us would surely die. A man doesn’t want to die; if he must die, he would rather die making a name for himself. Do the kings and nobles truly have blue blood in their veins?” Inspired, everyone followed their lead.
They built an altar and made pledges in the name of Prince Fusu and General Xiang Yan, claiming to restore the fallen kingdoms and calling their state Great Chu. Chen Sheng declared himself general, and Wu Guang became his lieutenant. They took control of Daze Village, then raided Qi County, overcoming the resistance there. They sent Ge Ying, a man from the town Fuli, to lead troops to the east of Qi County, where they attacked and conquered Zhi county, Cuo county, Ku county, Zhe county, and Qiao county. By the time they approached Chen county, their forces had grown to six or seven hundred chariots, more than a thousand cavalry, and tens of thousands of foot soldiers. With the county chief and sheriff absent, only the administrator was left to defend the gate rampart. The defenders could not hold off the attackers and were killed. Chen Sheng then occupied Chen county.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
Leave a comment