Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 18 Scroll 26 (continued)
The 2nd year of Emperor Xuan’s Shen’jue Era (60 B.C.)
In February of spring, phoenixes alighted and sweet dew descended upon the capital. The Emperor proclaimed a general amnesty across the realm.
In May of summer, Zhao Chongguo memorialized: “At the outset, the Qiang possessed fifty thousand troops. In total, seven thousand six hundred heads have been taken; thirty-one thousand two hundred have surrendered; five to six thousand drowned in the Yellow River and the Huangshui River or died of hunger. According to careful reckoning, those who escaped with the chieftains Jian Gong and Huang Di number no more than four thousand. Chieftain Miwang who has submitted to us is confident that they may deal with them in due time. I request that the stationed troops be withdrawn.”
The memorial was approved. Zhao Chongguo then disbanded his forces and returned to Chang’an.
Zhao Chongguo’s close friend, Haoxing Ci, upon meeting him, offered counsel, saying: “Many credit the success against the Qiang and the capture of prisoners to the assaults of the Generals of Strong-Bows and Smashing Qiang. Yet those of insight believe the enemy, though weakened, would have surrendered in any case even without further battle. In your upcoming meeting with the Emperor, General Zhao should attribute the victory to the two who led the attacks, saying their achievement far exceeds your modest claim. You would not have lost anything by saying that.”
Zhao Chongguo replied: “I am old, and rank has already been granted me in full measure. How could I deceive the enlightened lord by diminishing myself with fraud? Matters of war and state must be weighed with utmost care. As an aged servant, I must speak truthfully of the gains and losses of these military actions, even at the cost of my life. If I do not speak now, who will dare to do so after I am gone?”
He then submitted his strategy to the Emperor. The Emperor approved, dismissed General of Smashing Qiang, Xin Wuxian, restored him to his former post as Prefect of Jiuquan, and reinstated Zhao Chongguo as General of the Rear.
In autumn, the Qiang leaders Ruoling, Liliu, Zuzhong, and Erku killed the former chiefs of the Xianling—Youfei and Yang Yu. Qiang chieftains such as Dize, Yangdiao, Lianger, and Miwang made more than four thousand followers of Jian Gong and Huang Di surrender. The Emperor appointed Ruoling and his younger brother Dize as tribal kings; the remaining chiefs were each ennobled as marquises or lords. A new vassal state under Jincheng Commandery was established to receive and settle the surrendered Qiang.
An edict was issued for the recommendation of a capable Colonel to serve as Protector of the Qiang. At that time Zhao Chongguo was ill, and the Four Offices—the Chancellery, Censorate, General of Chariots and Cavalry, and General of the Van—nominated Xin Wuxian’s younger brother, Xin Tang. Zhao Chongguo rose from his sickbed and memorialized urgently, saying:
“Xin Tang is a drunkard and unfit to command the tribes. His elder brother, Xin Linzhong, is the more capable leader.”
Although Xin Tang had already received the seal of office, a new edict was issued replacing him with Xin Linzhong. Later, when Xin Linzhong fell ill and retired from his post, the Five Offices nominated Xin Tang a second time.
As Zhao Chongguo had forewarned, Xin Tang indulged habitually in drink among the Qiang, who soon rose again in rebellion. Xin Wuxian harbored deep resentment toward Zhao Chongguo, and submitted a memorial accusing Zhao Chongguo’s son, General of the Household Zhao Ang, of leaking confidential matters of state. Zhao Ang was imprisoned, and later took his own life.
The Inspector Colonel of the Capital Metropolitan, Gai Kuanrao of Weijun, was lenient in manner, upright in conduct, and generous in disposition. He often spoke and acted contrary to the Emperor’s inclinations. At that time, the Emperor emphasized strict application of law, granting great authority to the Palace Secretariat, dominated by eunuchs. Gai Kuanrao submitted a memorial saying:
“Now the sacred Way has declined, Confucian doctrine is neglected, and the survivors of castration (i.e. eunuchs) stand as though equal to Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao. Statutes are treated as though they were the Book of Odes and the Book of Documents.”
He also quoted from the Book of Changes, stating: “The Five Emperors ruled the realm as public domain, while the Three Kings governed it as private estate. A private estate passes to descendants; public office is entrusted to the worthy.”
Upon reading the memorial, the Emperor deemed his words slanderous and forwarded it to the ministers of two-thousand-picul rank for prosecution. The Bearer of the Mace (Chief of Capital Security) accused Gai Kuanrao of urging the Emperor to abdicate to him—an act of great treason.
The Grandee of Remonstration, Zheng Chang, sympathized with Gai Kuanrao’s loyalty and concern for the state, lamenting that his earnest counsel had been vilified by bureaucrats and misconstrued. He submitted a memorial defending him:
“It is said that mountains breed fierce beasts because their brambles go unchecked; likewise, a nation holds loyal ministers only when traitors and sycophants do not thrive. Inspector Colonel Gai Kuanrao seeks neither ease of life nor the comfort of fine meals. When appointed, he bears the weight of the realm; when dismissed, he defends righteousness even at the risk of death. He has no powerful kin like Uncle Xu Guanghan or Shi Gao to rely on, nor patrons such as Jin Midi or Zhang Anshi to shelter him. His charge is to supervise government; he walks the straight path—thus he offends many and pleases few. He dared to speak of state affairs, and for this he faces charges of treason and a sentence of death. I am fortunate to follow the steps of worthy officials, and my duty requires speaking in remonstrance. I dare not be silent.”
But the Emperor did not heed his words. In September, Gai Kuanrao was dismissed, imprisoned, and at last drew his sword beneath the northern gate of Weiyang Palace, ending his own life. All who witnessed it were moved to sorrow.
The Xiongnu Chanyu, Xulüquanqu, led more than one hundred thousand cavalry to hunt near the frontier, intending thereafter to invade and raid the border regions. Before he reached his objective, however, his subordinate Tichuqutang defected to the Han and reported the situation. The court enfeoffed Tichuqutang as Marquis of Luxilulu for military advisory, and dispatched General Zhao Chongguo with over forty thousand horsemen to garrison along the border of the nine commanderies in preparation for Xiongnu incursion. After about a month, the Chanyu suffered a severe hemorrhage and dared not advance; he therefore withdrew. Soon after, he sent envoys—Tiwangdulihuci and others—to the Han to seek peace, but no reply was delivered before Chanyu’s death.
When Xulüquanqu first ascended the throne, he had alienated his queen, Zhuanqu Yanzhi. Zhuanqu Yanzhi engaged in secret relations with the Right Tuqi King Tuqitang. When Tuqitang prepared to attend an assembly at Longcheng, Zhuanqu Yanzhi discouraged him, warning that Xulüquanqu Chanyu was gravely ill and urging him not to travel far. Within days the Chanyu died. Seizing the moment, the powerful noble Haosu King Xing’wei’yang sent envoys to summon the princes, but before they arrived Zhuanqu Yanzhi and her brother—the Left Grand Juqu (general) Dulongqi—conspired to enthrone the Right Tuqi King as the next Chanyu, known as Woyanqudi. Woyanqudi Chanyu was the great-great-grandson of Wuwei Chanyu.
Woyanqudi was harsh and violent. Upon taking power, he executed Xing’wei’yang and others, elevated Dulongqi to high office, dismissed all the sons and relatives of Xulüquanqu, and replaced them with his own kin.
Xulüquanqu’s son, Jihoushan, unable to succeed to the chanyu-ship, fled to his father-in-law Wuchanmu. Wuchanmu had governed a small state between Kangju and Wusun, long harried by attacks. He led several thousand of his people to surrender to the Xiongnu. Hulugu Chanyu had previously given Wuchanmu in marriage to the elder sister of his nephew King Rizhu, and entrusted him with command of his followers, assigning him to rule the Western Division.
The King Rizhu, Xianxianchan, was the son of the Left Tuqi King and originally destined to inherit the chanyu-ship. Yet he yielded it to Hulugu Chanyu, who promised to return the throne to him in time. Many among the people therefore believed Xianxianchan ought to be Chanyu instead. However, he bore deep resentment toward Woyanqudi, and thus led his followers in an attempt to defect to the Han. He sent envoys to Quli and secretly communicated with the Cavalry Commandant Zheng Ji.
Zheng Ji summoned fifty thousand allied troops from the tribes of Quli and Qiuci (Kucha) to receive King Rizhu, along with twelve thousand of his followers and twelve minor princes. They followed Zheng Ji to the great bend of the Yellow River, where several defectors were apprehended and executed by Zheng Ji. Thereafter they advanced to the capital. The Han court enfeoffed Xianxianchan as Marquis of Gui’de.
Having subdued Jushi and secured the surrender of the King Rizhu, Zheng Ji exercised authority throughout the Western Regions. He thereafter maintained the security of the routes northwest of Jushi and was appointed Viceroy Protector-General. Thus, the office of Viceroy originated with Zheng Ji. He was ennobled as Marquis of An’yuan. Establishing his headquarters in the central Western Regions, he stationed himself at the city of Wulei, more than 2,700 li beyond Yangguan. With the Xiongnu greatly weakened and no longer daring to contend for the Western Regions, the former office of Commandant of Servants was abolished. The Viceroy thereafter supervised the affairs of the thirty six states—such as Wusun and Kangju—reporting disturbances and pacifying them. Matters that could not be settled peacefully were suppressed by force. Thus the authority of the Han extended firmly into the Western Regions.
Woyanqudi Chanyu appointed his cousin Boxutang as the new King Rizhu.
The King of Wusun, Kunmi Wong Guimi, submitted a memorial through the Marquis of Changluo, Chang Hui, stating: “I wish to appoint Yuan Guimi, my grandson of Han descent, as my heir. I further request a new marriage alliance with a Han princess, to strengthen kinship and sever all ties with the Xiongnu.”
The Emperor referred the matter to the court for deliberation. The Grand Herald Xiao Wangzhi opposed it, saying: “Wusun lies far on the frontier, its situation unstable. Such a request should not be granted.”
However, the Emperor, acknowledging Wusun’s recent merits and its break from Xiongnu allegiance, approved the proposal. The younger sister of the Queen of Wusun, Liu Jieyou—whose name was Liu Xiangfu—was selected as princess. She was prepared with lavish gifts and escorted by Chang Hui to Dunhuang. Before they crossed the frontier, news arrived of Kunmi Wong Guimi’s death. The nobles of Wusun, acting collectively and according to a prior agreement, installed Cenqu’s son Nimi as Kunmi, styling him the “Mad King.”
Chang Hui then submitted a new memorial requesting that the young princess remain in Dunhuang. He hurried ahead to Wusun, rebuked the nobles for failing to enthrone Yuan Guimi, and declared he would return the princess to the Han. The matter was once again brought to the court for deliberation. Xiao Wangzhi opposed granting Chang Hui’s request, “Wusun is duplicitous and difficult to rely upon. Now that we return the princess simply because Yuan Guimi was not made as Chanyu, we have not betrayed the Wusun—indeed, it benefits the Han. Should the princess be wed, future corvée and burdens would only grow.”
The Emperor agreed, and ordered the young princess to be returned.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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