Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 14 Scroll 22 (continued)
The 4th year of Emperor Wu’s Zhenghe Era (89 B.C.)
In January of spring, the Emperor journeyed to Donglai and came to the sea, intending to cross the waters in search of the sacred mountains. Though his ministers remonstrated, he would not heed them. Then a great and obscure tempest arose, the sea surging in violent billows. He remained there more than ten days, yet could not embark upon the imperial naval vessel, and so returned.
On February 2, in Yong County, there were three sounds like thunder on a clear day, and two stones fell from the sky, black as soot.
In March, the Emperor personally ploughed the fields at Juding. On his return, he went to Mount Tai to perform the rites of sacrifice to Heaven.
On March 26, he made ancestral offerings in the Bright Hall. On March 29, he sacrificed to the Earth at Mount Shi’lü, and addressed his ministers, saying, “Since We ascended the throne, my extravagance has brought distress upon the realm; these things cannot be undone. Henceforth, We shall cease all actions that harm the people or waste the resources of the state.”
Tian Qianqiu said, “Among the many who traffic in occult arts and claim to be immortals, none have shown real merit. I propose they be all dismissed and expelled.”
The Emperor replied, “The Grand Herald speaks truly.” Thereupon, all occultists and seekers of immortality were dismissed and expelled.
From that time forth, the Emperor would oft lament to his ministers, saying, “I was foolish and gullible, deceived by the occultists. How could there be immortals in the world? All is falsehood. Only with moderation in food and medicine may illness be avoided.”
In June of summer, he returned and visited Ganquan Palace.
On June 25, the Grand Herald Tian Qianqiu was appointed Chancellor and ennobled as Marquis of Fumin[enrich people]. Tian Qianqiu possessed neither outstanding talent nor extraordinary merit; yet by a single remonstrance he awakened the Emperor’s mind, and within a few months was elevated to Chancellor and enfeoffed—a thing without precedent in history. Nevertheless, he was known for integrity, benevolence, and discernment, and was more effective than many of his predecessors.
Earlier, the Commandant of Granary Collection, Sang Hongyang, together with the Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate, had submitted a proposal, saying: “East of the Luntai(a.k.a. Bugur county) region there are more than five thousand acres of land fit for irrigation. We may send farming soldiers to settle there, appoint three Colonels to oversee them, and increase the cultivation of the five grains. Scouts from Zhangye and Jiuquan may serve as cavalry Marshals. Let us recruit the strong and willing to colonize and till the land, little by little establishing watchtowers and joining them into a continuous line, thereby securing the western marches, extending aid to the Wusun, and strengthening our might in the Western Regions.”
The Emperor issued an edict of deep regret, saying, “Formerly, the officials proposed increasing the tax by thirty coins in order to strengthen the borders, which brought great hardship upon the aged, the weak, and the orphaned. Now there is a proposal to send farming soldiers to Luntai. Luntai lies more than a thousand li west of Jushi. When the Marquis of Kailing, Cheng Mian, attacked Jushi, though victorious and having slain their king, yet because of the remoteness and the scarcity of provisions, several thousand soldiers perished on the road. How then can We think of extending our reach yet farther west?
“In the past, there came a letter from the military scout Hong, reporting that the Xiongnu have bound the fore and hind legs of their horses, placed them beneath the city walls, and run about saying, ‘Men of Qin, here are the horses you desire!’ This report deceived us. Furthermore, as the Han envoy was delayed in returning, I dispatched Ershi General, thinking thereby to lend weight to the envoy’s authority.
“In antiquity, when ministers and nobles deliberated, they would also consult the yarrow stalks and tortoise shell; if the signs were unfavorable, they would not proceed. In this matter of the ‘bound horses,’ the memorial was circulated and examined by the Chancellor, the Imperial Censors, the two-thousand-picul ministers, the palace grandees, palace attendants, court scholars, and even the commandants of the commanderies and principalities; all declared, ‘For the enemy to bind their own horses is most inauspicious.’ Some said, ‘They seek to puff themselves up and provoke us, as men lacking horses boast of having many.’
“The public diviners—astrologers, augurs, geomancers, and interpreters of the tortoise shell and yarrow stalks—together proclaimed it auspicious, saying, ‘The Xiongnu will surely be defeated; such a chance may never return.’ Moreover, it was foretold that a northern campaign would surely prevail at Mount Fu. The divinations pronounced Ershi General the most fortunate among the generals. Thus I myself dispatched Ershi General toward Mount Fu, with strict orders not to advance deeply.
“Now it is clear that all our plans, all our divinations, and all our omens were specious!”
“The Xiongnu scouts taken captive by the Marquis of Chonghe, Ma Tong, said, ‘The horses bound by the Xiongnu were cursed and buried, to hinder our military ventures.’ The Xiongnu often boast, ‘The Han is strong, yet cannot endure hunger and thirst; releasing one wolf will scatter a thousand sheep.’ When Ershi General failed in his mission, the soldiers died or were taken, and the army was dispersed—this grief has pierced my heart!
“Now there is yet another proposal to cultivate the distant lands near Luntai, building outposts and digging tunnels. Such acts would bring turmoil and hardship to the people, which I cannot bear. Moreover, the Grand Herald and others have suggested recruiting prisoners to serve as escorts for the Xiongnu envoys, granting them marquisates as reward for assassinating the Chanyu, to avenge past wrongs. This is contrary to the way of the Five Hegemons.
“Also, when the Xiongnu seize Han deserters, they always examine and search their bodies; how could such an assassination be accomplished? At present, our foremost task is to ban harsh and cruel measures, cease excessive levies, devote ourselves to agriculture, breed horses, and strengthen military preparedness. Let the regional governors, when they come to court with the statisticians, each present plans for the breeding of horses.”
Thus the Emperor ceased to permit military campaigns, and ennobled Tian Qianqiu as Marquis of Fumin[enrich people], to signify his intent to grant rest and foster the welfare of the people, seeking to enrich and nourish them. He further appointed Zhao Guo as Commandant of the granary collection. Zhao Guo was adept in the practice of crop rotation, and the implements he devised for ploughing and cultivation were of notable ingenuity. He taught the people methods whereby little labor yielded abundant harvests, and all profited thereby.
Sima Guang commentary: From ancient times to the present, there have ever been men of talent and virtue. Emperor Wu of Han inclined toward feats against the border tribes; the brave and fierce, who reckoned not their lives, thronged the court, enlarging the realm and fulfilling all his desires. Later, when the policy shifted to pacifying the people and exalting agriculture, there were men like Zhao Guo who taught farming to the people, bringing them benefit. The differing inclinations of one ruler drew to him men of differing kinds. If Emperor Wu had indeed embraced the virtues of the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors, and advanced the governance of the Shang and Zhou, would there not have been ministers to match those of the Three Dynasties?
In the autumn, on August 30, there was an eclipse of the sun.
The Han defector to the Xiongnu, Wei Lü, envied the favor shown to Ershi General. Seizing upon the illness of the Chanyu’s mother, Yanzhi, he instructed the shamans of the Xiongnu to declare falsely, “The late Chanyu was wroth, saying, ‘We Xiongnu, before taking the field, have ever vowed to capture Ershi General and offer him in sacrifice to our deity. Why has this not been fulfilled?’” Thereupon they seized Ershi General.
Ershi General cursed them, “My death will surely bring ruin upon the Xiongnu!” Thereafter they slaughtered him as a sacrificial victim.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
Leave a comment