Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 8 Scroll 16 (continued)
The 3rd year of Emperor Jing’s Middle Era (147 B.C.)
In November of winter, the office of Grand Master of the Censorate in all principalities was abolished.
In April of summer, an earthquake occurred.
Drought prevailed, and a prohibition was issued against the brewing and drinking of alcohol.
On March 8, Liu Cheng was enfeoffed as Prince of Qinghe.
In September of autumn, locusts swarmed.
A comet was observed in the northwest.
On September 30, there was a solar eclipse.
When the Emperor deposed Crown Prince Li (Liu Rong). Chancellor Zhou Yafu protested earnestly but could not prevail; thereafter, the Emperor became estranged from Zhou Yafu.
Meanwhile, Prince Xiao of Liang often spoke ill of the Marquis of Tiao, in front of Empress Dowager Dou.
Empress Dowager Dou said, “The Empress’s brother, Wang Xin, is worthy of being made a marquis.” The Emperor declined, “In the time of the late Emperor, neither the Marquis of Nanpi, Dou Pengzu (the Empress Dowager’s nephew), nor the Marquis of Zhangwu, Dou Guangguo (the Empress Dowager’s younger brother), were granted marquisates. Only after my accession were these titles conferred. As for Wang Xin, he has yet to be ennobled (for lack of merit).”
Empress Dowager Dou replied, “Fortunes rise and fall with the times. In my lifetime, my elder brother Dou Zhangjun was not granted a marquisate, and only after his death was his son Dou Pengzu ennobled. To this day, I deeply regret it. I beg Your Majesty to bestow a marquisate upon Wang Xin without delay.”
The Emperor said, “Let me first consult with the Chancellor.”
The Emperor then discussed the matter with Zhou Yafu. Zhou Yafu said, “Emperor Gaozu swore an oath: ‘Only those bearing the Liu surname shall be made princes, and only those with meritorious service shall be made marquises.’ Now, although Wang Xin is the Empress’s brother, he has no achievements. If he is granted a marquisate, it would violate the ancestral pact.”
The Emperor fell silent and pursued the matter no further.
Later, when six Xiongnu leaders, including King Xu Lu, surrendered, the Emperor wished to grant them marquises to encourage further defections. Zhou Yafu objected, “If they betray their sovereigns and Your Majesty rewards them with marquisates, how can Your Majesty demand loyalty from your own ministers?”
The Emperor said, “I cannot follow the Chancellor’s advice.” Thus, he granted marquisates to Xu Lu and the others.
In September, Zhou Yafu cited illness and resigned from his post. The Grand Master of the Censorate, the Marquis of Tao, Liu She, was appointed Chancellor in his stead.
The 4th year of Emperor Jing’s Middle Era (146 B.C.)
In the summer, there was a locust infestation.
In the winter, on October 26, there was a solar eclipse.
The 5th year of Emperor Jing’s Middle Era (145 B.C.)
In the summer, Prince Liu Shun was appointed as the Prince of Changshan.
On June 29, a general amnesty was declared throughout the realm.
There were extensive floods.
In the autumn, on August 22, a fire broke out at the eastern gate of the Weiyang Palace.
In November, a decree was issued: “For difficult cases where doubts persist in people’s hearts even though the legal procedures have been meticulously followed and led to the death penalty, such cases should be re-examined immediately and properly decided.”
There was an earthquake.
The 6th year of Emperor Jing’s Middle Era (144 B.C.)
In October of winter, the Prince of Liang came to the capital to pay respects. He submitted a memorial expressing a desire to stay, but the Emperor did not grant permission. After returning to his princedom, the Prince seemed to be in a mood of despondent.
In December, the names of multifarious officials and ministers, such as the Minister of Justice or Chief Architect, were changed.
In the spring, on February 1, the Emperor conducted a tour to Yong and held the Sacrificial Rite at the temple of Five Color Emperors.
In March there was rain and snow.
In April of summer, Prince Xiao of Liang, Liu Wu, passed away. Empress Dowager Dou, upon hearing the news, was filled with grief and sorrow, refusing to eat. She lamented, “The Emperor has indeed killed my son!” The Emperor was deeply saddened and didn’t know what to do. He consulted with his elder sister, the Royal Princess(Princess Guantao) and decided to divide the principality of Liang into five separate princedoms. He then established five sons of Liu Wu as kings: Liu Mai as the Prince of Liang, Liu Ming as the Prince of Jichuan, Liu Pengli as the Prince of Jidong, Liu Ding as the Prince of Shanyang, and Liu Bushi as the Prince of Jiyin. Additionally, each of Prince Xiao of Liang‘s five daughters was granted a fiefdom.
When this plan was presented to the Empress Dowager, she found solace in it and her mood improved. She resumed one meal a day. Before the Prince Xiao of Liang‘s death, his wealth had been immense, calculated to be billions of coins. After his death, there were still over four hundred thousand catties of pure gold left in his treasury, not to mention various other valuables.
As the Emperor had already reduced the severity of the corporal punishment in the law books, it was observed that the number of caning deaths did not decline as expected. Therefore, he further reduced the number of strokes from three hundred to two hundred for certain offenses, and from two hundred to one hundred for others. Additionally, the law established specifications for the use of a proper instrument for caning: a cane that was five feet long, with a one-inch thick base made of bamboo, and a thin tip measuring half an inch, ensuring that the nodes were flattened. The strokes were applied to the buttocks, instead of the back. The striker must be the same person to complete one punishment. This revision aimed to ensure that the person being punished survives.
However, while the caning penalty had been mitigated, the severity of the death penalty remained, leading to a situation where the penalties for minor offenses were lenient compared to serious crimes. This discrepancy in the severity of punishments made it easier for the people to commit lesser offenses without significant fear of consequences.
In the month of June, the Xiongnu invaded the region near Yanmen Pass and reached Wuquan. They entered the Shangjun Commandery and seized horses from the imperial pastures. In the ensuing conflict, two thousand officials and soldiers lost their lives.
Li Guang from Longxi, was then the Prefect of Shangjun Commandery. On one occasion, he ventured out with a hundred cavalry and unexpectedly encountered several thousand Xiongnu horsemen. Witnessing Li Guang’s retinue, they perceived them as bait, causing an alarm that led them up a hill and organized a formation.
Li Guang‘s hundred riders were filled with fear, eager to flee. Li Guang said to them, “We are several dozen li away from the main army. If we flee with just a hundred riders like this, the Xiongnu will chase us and shoot us down in no time. But if we stay and present ourselves as bait, they will hesitate to attack us, thinking we are part of a larger force.” He instructed his riders, “Forward!”
When they were about two li away from the Xiongnu formation, he halted and commanded, “Dismount and loosen your saddle girths!”
The riders were concerned, “The enemy is numerous and so close. What if they attack us?”
Li Guang responded, “The Xiongnu are thinking that we are fleeing. Now, by dismounting and loosening our saddle girths, we show that we’re not retreating, thus strengthening their suspicions that we are luring them.”
As a result, the Xiongnu cavalry refrained from attacking. There was a commander among them riding a white horse, guarding his troops. Li Guang mounted his horse, rode with about ten riders, shot and killed the commander on the white horse, and then returned to his own troops. Once among his troops, Li Guang ordered them to dismount and loosen their saddle girths, instructing them to lie down beside their horses. As nightfall approached, the Xiongnu soldiers grew increasingly suspicious. Around midnight, they speculated that the Han forces had an ambush nearby, planning to attack at night. Thus, the Xiongnu retreated with their troops.
At dawn, Li Guang returned to his main army.
In the autumn, on July 29, there was a solar eclipse.
After the death of Zhi Du, many members of the imperial family in and around Chang’an began to commit various crimes without restraint. As a response to this situation, the Emperor summoned Ning Cheng, who was serving as the Commandant of Jibei, to become the new Commandant of the Capital. Ning Cheng‘s methods of governance resembled those of Zhi Du, but his honesty and incorruption was not as pronounced. Nonetheless, both the imperial family members and influential figures were apprehensive and cautious.The Prince Gong of Chengyang, Liu Xi, passed away.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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