Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 13 Scroll 21 (continued)
The 4th year of Emperor Wu’s Yuanfeng Era (107 B.C.)
In October of winter, the Emperor embarked on a journey to Yong, where he performed rituals at the Five Deity Altars. He traveled along the newly opened Huizhong road, proceeding north and exiting through Xiao Pass. He passed through Mount Dulu and Mingze Marsh, journeying back from Dai and reaching Hedong.
In January of spring, the Emperor worshiped at the Earth Deity Shrine and granted amnesty to those sentenced to lesser punishments from Fenyin, Xiayang, and Zhongdu.
During the summer, a severe drought occurred.
Since Wei Qing and Huo Qubing had roamed across the Gobi Desert, the Xiongnu had rarely engaged in hostilities. They had moved far north, allowing their soldiers and horses to rest while training them in archery and hunting. They frequently sent emissaries to the Han court, using eloquent language and sweet words to seek reconciliation and a marriage alliance.
The Emperor sent Wang Wu of Beidi and others to reconnoiter the Xiongnu. Wang Wu assimilated into their customs, putting down his ambassador scepter and entering their yurts. The Chanyu liked him, promising with sweet words to send his crown prince to the Han as a hostage.
The court then dispatched Yang Xin to the Xiongnu. However, Yang Xin refused to comply with their customs. The Chanyu remarked, “We had an agreement with the Han when they sent the Princesses to us, providing silk, fabric, and quality food to establish a marriage connection and peace, ensuring the Xiongnu would not disturb the borders. But now, you seek to revert to old ways, demanding our crown prince as a hostage. What does that leave for us?”
After Yang Xin returned, the court sent Wang Wu again. The Chanyu once more deceived with sweet promises, aiming to acquire more wealth from the Han. He said to Wang Wu, “I desire to pay visits to the Han and meet the Emperor face-to-face, swearing to be brothers.” Wang Wu returned to report to the Han, and the Emperor subsequently constructed a palace in Chang’an for the Chanyu.
Xiongnu officials claimed, “We won’t hold sincere talks without a distinguished Han envoy.” They sent a nobleman to the Han, who fell ill. The Han court provided medicine in hopes of his recovery, but unfortunately, he passed away. The Han then sent Lu Chongguo, with the insignia and ribbons of 2,000-piculs official and silk as gifts, and escorting the deceased nobleman back to the Xiongnu, offering lavish burial fees of several thousand catties of gold, claiming, “This was a distinguished Han envoy.” However, the Chanyu believed that the Han had killed their esteemed envoy, and thus detained Lu Chongguo, preventing his return. All the prior discussions the Chanyu had with Wang Wu were merely empty deceptions, with no intention to enter the Han court or send their crown prince as hostage. Subsequently, the Xiongnu frequently sent raiding parties to invade the Han borders.
Therefore, Guo Chang was appointed as General Bahu[Defeating the Xiongnu], stationed east of Shuofang with the Marquis of Zhuoye, Zhao Ponu, to guard against the Xiongnu.
The 5th year of Emperor Wu’s Yuanfeng Era (106 B.C.)
In the winter, the Emperor embarked on a southern inspection and hunting tour. He arrived at Shengtang and paid homage to Emperor Shun at Mount Jiuyi. He ascended Mount Tianzhu in Qian County and sailed the Yangtze River from Xunyang. There, he personally shot and captured a jiao (a mythical creature resembling a crocodile) in the river. His fleet stretched a thousand li, landing at Zongyang before proceeding north to Langya, traveling along the coastline. Along the way, he honored and offered sacrifices at renowned mountains and great rivers.
In March of spring, the Emperor returned to Mount Tai and expanded the altar for the Heavenly Deity. On March 21, he commenced the worship of the Supreme Deity in the Bright Hall, alongside the worship of Emperor Gaozu, the founder of the Han Dynasty. He also held court for the princes, marquises, and received tax and finance reports from the commanderies and kingdoms.
In April of summer, a general amnesty was granted to the entire nation. The regions previously visited were exempted from that year’s taxes and levies. Upon his return, the Emperor visited Ganquan and held the suburban sacrifice at the Taiyi Altar.
The Marquis of Chángpíng, Wèi Qīng, passed away. His tomb was erected, shaped like Mount Lushan, a mountain in Xiongnu‘s territory.
Having repelled the barbarians and expanded the empire’s territories, the Emperor established the provinces of Jiaozhi and Shuofang, as well as the provinces of Jizhou, Youzhou, Bingzhou, Yanzhou, Xuzhou, Qingzhou, Yangzhou, Jingzhou, Yuzhou, Yizhou, and Liangzhou, totaling thirteen provinces, each overseen by an inspector.
As outstanding ministers and military figures were passing away, the Emperor issued an edict: “Extraordinary achievements are often accomplished by exceptional individuals. Sometimes unruly horses traverse thousands of miles swiftly, and individuals, despite being non-conformist and unconventional, achieve greatness. The capabilities of these exceptional horses and extraordinary individuals are realized through their utilization under proper guidance. Therefore, all provinces and commanderies are instructed to seek out officials and people of outstanding talent, exceptional abilities, and unique qualities, suitable for positions as generals, ministers, or diplomats for missions to faraway countries.”
The 6th year of Emperor Wu’s Yuanfeng Era (105 B.C.)
In winter, the Emperor embarked upon a tour of the Huizhong road.
In the spring, Shoushan Palace was constructed.
In March, the Emperor journeyed to Hedong, where he offered sacrifices to the Earth Deity and pardoned those condemned to death in Fenyin.
After the Han established contact with the southwestern tribes, five commanderies were formed to link the newly acquired lands with the previous routes leading to Daxia. For years, more than ten missions were dispatched from these initial commanderies, all of which were intercepted at Kunming, resulting in the slaughter of the envoys and the plunder of their possessions.
The Emperor, in his mercy, granted amnesty to the fugitives within the capital, ordering them to enlist in the military. He dispatched General of Bahu[eradicating Xiongnu] Guo Chang to lead them in an assault on the kingdom of Dian, resulting in the decapitation of tens of thousands. Despite the victory, communication through subsequent emissaries still could not be re-established.
In autumn, a severe drought plagued the land, followed by a locust infestation.
The envoy from the Wusun tribe, upon witnessing the vastness of the Han Empire, returned and reported its grandeur to his country, raising the esteem in which they held the Han. Upon learning of the Wusun‘s communication with the Han, the Xiongnu were filled with anger and resolved to attack the Wusun. Additionally, the nearby Dayuan and Yuezhi, who also had relations with the Han, further unsettled the Wusun. In response, they sent envoys, seeking to establish kinship through a marriage with a Han princess. After deliberation, the Emperor and his council agreed.
The Wusun presented a thousand horses as a betrothal gift for the Han princess. In return, the Han court bestowed upon Liu Xijun, daughter of Liu Jian, Prince of Jiangdu, the title of princess and sent her to marry Kunmo, King of the Wusun. She was provided with lavish dowry upon her departure. The Xiongnu, not to be outdone, also sent a woman to Kunmo as his secondary wife. Princess Liu Xijun resided in a palace of her own within the Wusun kingdom, meeting Kunmo periodically for feasts and gatherings. As Kunmo grew old and his health failed, he could no longer communicate well with the princess, who, in her isolation, began to long for her homeland. Upon hearing of her sorrow, the Emperor sympathized and dispatched envoys every other year, bearing embroidered silk curtains as gifts to console her.
In time, Kunmo, feeling the weight of his age, wished for his grandson, Cenzou(a title name), to marry the princess. However, the princess, distressed, petitioned the Emperor. The Emperor replied, “Live according to their customs; we sought this union to strengthen our ties with the Wusun and to weaken the Xiongnu.” After Kunmo‘s death, Cenzou married the princess and succeeded him as King Kunmi.
At that time, the envoys of the Han crossed beyond the Onion Ranges (the Pamir Mountains) and arrived in the land of Anxi (Parthia Empire). The Anxi sent emissaries, bearing ostrich eggs and various skilled magic performers from Lixuan (Egypt or Roman Empire) as gifts to the Han. Additionally, smaller kingdoms such as Huanqian(Khorazm), Dayi (Dahae), Jushi (Gushi), Hanmi, and Suxie (Sagdia), among others, followed suit, sending their envoys to present themselves before the Emperor. The Emperor, greatly delighted, welcomed these visitors.
Envoys from the western regions continued to come and go. When the Emperor embarked on hunting expeditions by the sea, he ensured the inclusion of foreign guests, personally guiding them through the great and bustling cities. He scattered wealth and silk as rewards, generously providing abundant supplies to showcase the vast riches and prosperity of the Han.
Particular highlights of these events included wrestling matches, exhibitions of marvels and magic, and displays of strange creatures, all watched by vast crowds of spectators. Generous rewards were bestowed, and the fields were filled with pools of wine and forests of meat. Foreign guests were granted the privilege of touring and observing the famous warehouses and treasuries of the Han, where they beheld the Empire’s immense wealth, leaving them in awe and astonishment.
The Dayuan kingdom, abundant in grapes suitable for wine production, and rich in alfalfa, favored by the Heavenly Horses, became a notable source of tribute. The Han envoys gathered samples of these resources and brought them back to the Empire. The Emperor, in turn, planted them in gardens near his detached palace, in vast fields stretching far beyond the horizon.
However, the western regions, being in proximity to the Xiongnu, harbored a deep fear of the Xiongnu envoys and thus treated them with greater deference than those from the Han.
In that year, Xiongnu Chanyu Wuwei passed away, and his young son, Wushilu, succeeded him, taking the title of “Er Chanyu” (Son of Heavenly Son). Subsequently, the new Chanyu moved further northwest, stationing the left-wing troops near Yunzhong and the right-wing troops near the commanderies of Jiuquan and Dunhuang.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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