Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 1 Scroll 9 (continued)
The 1st year of Emperor Gaozu(206 B.C.)
In October of that winter, the Duke of Pei arrived at a place called Bashang. The King of Qin, Ziying, dressed in a white gown and riding a white wagon drawn by white horses, with a rope around his neck, surrendered to the Duke of Pei at a post called Zhidao. Alongside him were all the seals, tallies, and scepters of his kingdom. Some generals proposed to kill the King of Qin, but the Duke of Pei refused, saying, “King Huai II of Chu sent me west because I was known for my leniency. It would also be dishonorable to kill someone who has already surrendered.” He then handed Ziying over to his judiciary officers.
Jia Yi’s comment: Qin, which began as a small, narrow state, grew into a superpower with tens of thousands of chariots. It dominated the other eight provinces, commanded its peers’ (six kingdoms) homage for over a hundred years. It then unified the six dimensions (Heaven, Earth, East, West, South and North) into one home, turning Xiao Mountain and Hangu Pass into its palaces. Yet, when a mere peasant rose against it, the seven ancestral temples crumbled, and the last descendant of Qin was destroyed. Why did it become the laughingstock of the realm? It was because they lacked benevolence in their governance, and their capabilities in offense and defense were vastly imbalanced.
The Duke of Pei entered the city of Xianyang, where his generals began looting gold and treasures from the wealthy households. Only Xiao He focused on gathering all the government records and maps stored in the chancellor’s office and sealing them. Using these documents, the Duke of Pei gained critical knowledge of strategic routes, population distribution, and defense positions throughout the country.
The Duke of Pei then toured the emperor’s palaces, marveling at the thousands of elaborate buildings, luxurious decorations, fine horses, dogs, and beautiful women. He expressed a desire to stay in the palace. His bodyguard, Fan Kuai, strongly objected, saying, “Does the Duke of Pei aim to rule the empire, or does he just want to be a rich old man? The luxury and grandeur are precisely why the Qin empire fell. What use are these for the Duke of Pei? I urge you to return to Bashang immediately and not linger here!” Despite this, the Duke of Pei was reluctant to leave.
Zhang Liang then joined the argument, saying, “The Duke of Pei has come this far due to the immoral rule of the Qin. If we are to eliminate the remaining evils in the realm, we should be dressed in plain white cloth as a sign of mourning. Indulging in the luxuries of the Qin palaces would be like aiding tyrants such as Xia Jie in their abuse of people. Honest words may be harsh, but they guide you toward better conduct, just as bitter medicine cures illness. I hope the Duke of Pei listens to Fan Kuai’s advice.” Following this counsel, the Duke of Pei returned to his camp at Bashang.
In November, the Duke of Pei invited the elders and prominent figures from several nearby counties to a meeting. He addressed them: “You have suffered under the harsh laws of the Qin for far too long. I made an agreement with other leaders that whoever first entered the Hangu Pass would become the King of Qin. I believe I should be your king. Now, I make a covenant with you: We will adopt a simple law with only three articles—murderers will receive the death penalty, while those who commit injury or theft will be punished accordingly. All other laws of Qin are hereby repealed. All government structures and social institutions will remain intact. We are here to relieve you from hardships and will not plunder your homes or livelihoods. There is no need to fear us. I have stationed my troops at Bashang to wait for the leaders of our allies so that we can make rules together.”
He then sent messengers, along with the officers of the Kingdom of Qin, to promulgate the new law at the county, town, and village levels. The people of Qin were delighted and competed to offer beef, mutton, and wine to the soldiers. The Duke of Pei declined these tributes, saying, “Our storerooms are well-stocked with grain; there is no shortage. We do not want to burden the people.” The people of Qin were overjoyed, their only fear being that the Duke of Pei might not become the King of Qin.
Xiang Yu had successfully quelled the resistance of the Qin army to the north of the Yellow River and was preparing to lead the allied forces westward into the Hangu Pass. The soldiers, officers, and supporters of the allied troops, many of whom had been laborers or conscripts under Qin‘s harsh rule, were eager for revenge. Now, as victors, they retaliated against Zhang Han’s surrendered troops, treating them like slaves and casually demeaning them. The former Qin soldiers were disgruntled and resentful, whispering among themselves, “General Zhang and the others tricked us into surrendering to the allied forces. It would be better if we could enter the Hangu Pass and defeat the Qin army. If we fail, we’ll be dragged eastward with the allied forces, and our parents, wives, and children will be killed by the Qin. What will we do then?”
The generals heard these murmurs and reported them to Xiang Yu. Concerned, Xiang Yu summoned Qing Bu and General Pu, saying, “There are still so many soldiers from the Qin army, and they are sulky and discontented. It would be a great danger if they refuse to follow orders when we reach the Hangu Pass. I would rather eliminate them all and only take Zhang Han, Chief-Staff Sima Xin, and Commandant Dong Yi into the land of Qin.”
That night, the army of Chu carried out Xiang Yu‘s orders, massacring the surrendered Qin soldiers and burying two hundred thousand of them alive to the south of Xin’an county.
Someone advised the Duke of Pei: “The Kingdom of Qin is wealthy and has ten times the resources of the rest of the country. It holds a superior strategic position. I’ve heard that Xiang Yu has given the title of King of Yong to Zhang Han, meaning Zhang Han will effectively control Qin. When they arrive, the land of Qin won’t be yours anymore. You should immediately send troops to defend the Hangu Pass, preventing the allied forces from entering. Let’s draft more soldiers within the Pass to strengthen our defenses and halt their advance.” The Duke of Pei accepted this advice, and when Xiang Yu arrived at the Hangu Pass, he found its gates shut. Enraged to learn that the Duke of Pei had already secured the area inside the Pass, he ordered Qing Bu to open it with force.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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