Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 8 Scroll 16 (continued)
The 2nd year of Emperor Jing’s Middle Era (148 B.C.)
In February of spring, the Xiongnu made incursions into the Princedom of Yan.
In March, Liu Rong, the Prince of Linjiang, was accused of encroaching upon the sacred wall of the ancestral temple of Emperor Wen, to augment the grounds of his palace. Summoned to the office of the Commandant of the Capital for inquiry, he sought a knife and brush wherewith to compose a letter of repentance to the Son of Heaven. Yet Zhi Du forbade his attendants to furnish such materials. Then the Marquis of Weiqi, Dou Ying, in secret had writing tools to be delivered unto him. When Liu Rong had completed his letter, he took his own life. Empress Dowager Dou, learning of these events, was sorely angered, and thereafter seized upon another incident as a pretext to have Zhi Du executed.
In April of summer, a comet was seen in the northwestern heavens.
The Emperor established his son Liu Yue as Prince of Guangchuan and Liu Ji as Prince of Jiaodong.
On the last day of September in autumn, there was an eclipse of the Sun.
Because of his close kinship to the throne and his distinguished service in suppressing rebellion, Prince Xiao of Liang(Liu Wu)was granted the rare honor of bearing the imperial banners and flags. He rode forth, attended by a thousand carriages and ten thousand mounted horsemen; whenever he left or entered his residence, the road was cleared of all common traffic — a privilege reserved for the Son of Heaven himself.
The Prince of Liang placed his trust in Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui, raising the latter to the post of Commandant of the Capital.
Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui, both men of cunning and intrigue, conspired to have the Prince of Liang contend for imperial succession. When Crown Prince Liu Rong was deposed, the Empress Dowager Dou entertained the thought of establishing Prince Liu Wu as heir. At a banquet, she lifted her cup and said to the Emperor, “Let the Prince of Liang sit beside you upon the imperial carriage.” The Emperor, kneeling and straightening his body, replied, “Yes.”
Afterward, the Emperor consulted his senior ministers. Yuan Ang stepped forward and remonstrated: “Your Majesty must not permit it. In ancient times, Duke Xuan of Song set aside his rightful heir and elevated a younger brother; thereafter, the state was plunged into chaos for five generations. To sacrifice the great order for the sake of present ease is to betray the teachings of the sages. Therefore, the principle recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals must be upheld without faltering.”
Thus the Empress Dowager’s scheme was laid to rest.
Later, the Prince of Liang sent memorials repeatedly, requesting the construction of a royal causeway from the capital of Liang to Chang’le Palace, so that he might proceed without hindrance to pay homage to the Empress Dowager. Yet Yuan Ang and others stood firm against it, and his petitions were refused.
The Prince of Liang bore resentment against Yuan Ang and other advisers for their remonstrances. In secret, he conspired with Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui, instructing assassins to put Yuan Ang and more than ten advisers to death. After carrying out the deed, the assassins fled and were not apprehended.
The Emperor, growing suspicious of the Prince of Liang, ordered a thorough investigation. Tracing the matter, it was found that the assassins had come forth from the Prince’s household. Thereupon, the Emperor commanded the arrest of Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng, and dispatched Tian Shu and Lü Jizhu to Liang to pursue the case. Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng fled into the Prince’s inner palace and hid themselves therein.
The court sent more than ten urgent envoys to Liang, repeatedly commanding the ministers and high officials with salaries of 2000-piculs to apprehend the fugitives. Yet the ministers of Liang, including Xuanqiu Bao, the Prime Minister, and Han Anguo, the Minister of the Interior, conducted an exhaustive search of the princedom for more than a month, but found no trace of them.
When Han Anguo learned that Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng were hiding within the Prince’s inner palace, he approached the Prince of Liang in tears and said, “When the lord’s name is defiled, the minister must die. That Your Highness is beset by disorder that stems from the want of loyal subjects. Now that Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng cannot be apprehended, I beg leave to resign and request death.”
The Prince of Liang replied, “Why must it come to this?”
Han Anguo, weeping bitterly, said, “I ask Your Highness: your bond with the Emperor—how does it compare to that with the Prince of Linjiang?”
The Prince of Liang answered, “It is not as close.”
Han Anguo said, “The Prince of Linjiang, being the direct heir to the throne, for a slight transgression, was deposed and sent to Linjiang, and thereafter took his own life in the Chief Commandant’s office over the matter of the palace construction. Why was this so? Because in governing a realm, private sentiment must not overtake public duty. Now, among the princes, Your Highness alone has heeded the deceitful counsel of wicked men, violated the imperial commands, and unsettled the order of the realm. Thanks to the Empress Dowager’s favor, His Majesty yet withholds judgment. The Empress Dowager weeps day and night, praying Your Highness might reform. Yet you still do not awaken to the peril. Should the Empress Dowager’s carriage hasten her passing, upon whom then shall Your Highness rely?”
Before Han Anguo had finished speaking, the Prince was already in tears. He bowed and said, “I shall now address the matter of Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng.”
Thus the Prince of Liang ordered Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng to take their own lives and surrender their bodies.
Nevertheless, from this time onward, the Emperor had ill feelings toward the Prince of Liang.
The Prince of Liang, fearful of calamity, dispatched Zou Yang to Chang’an to confer with Wang Xin, brother of the Empress. Zou Yang said, “Your Lordship’s younger sister enjoys the utmost favor of the Emperor; none within the inner palace may compare. Yet Your Lordship’s own conduct often strays from what is right. Should the court press its inquiry into Yuan Ang’s affair and the Prince of Liang be punished, the Empress Dowager would be left without an outlet for her grief and rage. Her resentment would then fall upon the honored ministers. I fear for Your Lordship’s welfare.”
Wang Xin asked, “What course should I take?”
Zou Yang replied, “If Your Lordship would speak persuasively before the Emperor and bring a halt to the investigation into the Prince of Liang, you would thereby deepen the Empress Dowager’s gratitude to the very marrow of her bones. With the Empress Dowager’s favor and your sister’s influence in the inner and outer palaces, your position would be secured like an iron rampart. In ancient times, although Xiang plotted daily against his brother Shun, yet when Shun ascended the throne, he still ennobled Xiang and granted him Youbi as his fief. Between virtuous siblings, there are no hidden grudges or enduring resentments; only profound affection and loyalty. Thus has Emperor Shun been venerated through the ages. If Your Lordship employs this reasoning, it may move the Emperor and spare the Prince of Liang.”
Wang Xin replied, “I accept your counsel.”
Seizing his opportunity, Wang Xin spoke accordingly to the Emperor. The Emperor’s wrath thereafter gradually abated.
At that time, the Empress Dowager was consumed with sorrow over the case of the Prince of Liang. She refused food and wept without ceasing, day and night. The Emperor, likewise troubled, could find no peace.
Soon thereafter, Tian Shu and his company, having concluded their investigation, returned. Upon reaching the Bachang stables, they burned all the testimonial documents concerning the case of the Prince of Liang and presented themselves before the Emperor empty-handed.
The Emperor asked, “Have you obtained evidence against the Prince of Liang?”
Tian Shu replied, “We have found evidence warranting death.”
“Where is the evidence?”
“May Your Majesty refrain from seeking it.”
The Emperor demanded the reason. Tian Shu said, “If the Prince of Liang is not executed, then the laws of Han are rendered void. If he is executed, yet the Empress Dowager, stricken by grief, loses her rest and appetite, the sorrow will weigh upon Your Majesty alone.”
The Emperor, hearing this, was greatly relieved and favored Tian Shu’s counsel.
He then ordered Tian Shu and his companions to go before the Empress Dowager and say, “The Prince of Liang was unaware of these matters. The plot was devised by the treacherous ministers Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui, who have already been put to death.”
When the Empress Dowager heard this, she rose, partook of a meal, and her spirit was at last calmed.
Taking advantage of the moment, the Prince of Liang submitted a memorial requesting an audience. Upon reaching the border, his minister Mao Lan counseled him to travel in secrecy, riding in a cloth-covered carriage with only two attendants. Thus concealed, he hid within the garden of the Royal Princess(Princess Guantao).
Meanwhile, the Han court had already dispatched envoys to greet him at the border pass. Yet the Prince had entered the pass ahead of them, while his carriages and mounted guards remained outside, unaware of his whereabouts.
The Empress Dowager, hearing of this, wept bitterly, saying, “The Emperor has indeed slain my son!” The Emperor grew anxious and fearful.
Soon thereafter, the Prince of Liang appeared at the palace gate, humble and subdued, offering his apology by prostrating himself beneath the guillotine. The Empress Dowager and the Emperor, moved to tears, received him and reconciled, restoring the former affection between them. All of the Prince’s attendants were then permitted to enter the pass.
However, though outwardly reconciled, the Emperor henceforth grew distant from the Prince of Liang and would no longer share a carriage with him. The Emperor favored Tian Shu and promoted him to be Prime Minister of Lu.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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