Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 208): Mother Knows Best

Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

By Sima Guang

Translated By Yiming Yang  

Annals of Han Book 19 Scroll 27

Duration of 10 years

The 4th year of Emperor Xuan’s Shenjue Era (58 B.C.)

In February of spring, phoenixes and sweet dew descended upon the capital; in celebration of these auspicious omens, the Emperor proclaimed a general amnesty throughout the empire.

Huang Ba, Prefect of Yingchuan, had governed for eight years, during which time his administration brought remarkable improvement. Throughout the realm, phoenixes and other auspicious birds appeared frequently in the commanderies and counties; Yingchuan was especially blessed with these manifestations.

In April of summer, an edict declared:

“Prefect Huang Ba of Yingchuan has diligently carried out imperial commands, and the people have been transformed by his virtue. Filial sons, loyal brothers, virtuous wives, and obedient grandchildren have greatly increased. Farmers yield their fields to one another; no one takes lost property along the roads. Widows and orphans are cared for; the poor receive support. For eight years there have been no death-row criminals nor vicious offenders confined. He is hereby appointed Marquis Within the Passes, granted one hundred cattie of gold, and awarded a stipend of two thousand piculs of grain.”

Village educators (Three-Elders), those known for filial piety, fraternal devotion, and righteous conduct, as well as exemplary farmers, were likewise granted ranks and silk. Several months later, Huang Ba was elevated to Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince.

In May, Xiongnu Chanyu sent his younger brother, Huliuruo King Shengzhi, to pay tribute to the Han court.

In October of winter, eleven phoenixes appeared at the imperial mausoleum at Duling.

The Prefect of Henan, Yan Yannian of Donghai, governed with extreme severity and caprice. Heinous criminals fated for death were sometimes released without cause, while petty offenders were sometimes executed senselessly. None could discern his intentions; the people trembled in fear, not daring to transgress. In winter, when prisoners from subordinate counties were brought for sentencing, blood was said to run for several miles. The people of Henan called him the “Butcher Chief.”

Yan Yannian had long despised Huang Ba. When the two served as prefects of neighboring commanderies, Huang Ba received honors far surpassing him, leaving Yan Yannian jealous and uneasy. During a locust infestation, his Associate Yi went out to combat the plague. Upon returning, he spoke to Yan Yannian, who remarked coldly, “Are these locusts a feast for the phoenix birds?” Yi, aged and timid, feared being harmed.

Yi and Yan Yannian had both served in the Chancellor’s office, and Yan Yannian had once treated him generously with lavish gifts. But Yi’s fear deepened. Casting a divination, he received an omen of death, which left him in despair. He went to Chang’an and submitted a memorial listing ten crimes committed by Yan Yannian. After delivering it, he swallowed poison, killing himself to show he did not speak falsely.

The case was investigated by the Associate Imperial Censor, who found evidence of grievances, slander, and political impropriety in Yan Yannian’s words and conduct. In November, Yan Yannian was convicted of malfeasance and sacrilege, and executed in the marketplace.

Earlier, Yan Yannian’s mother had traveled from Donghai hoping to spend the New Year’s Day with him and worship their ancestors. Arriving in Luoyang, she witnessed prisoners being executed and was horrified. She refused to enter the commandery guest house, staying instead at a travelers’ lodge. Yan Yannian came to greet her, but she shut the door, refusing to see him. Hat in hand, he bowed repeatedly to the ground outside her door.

After a long while, his mother admitted him and sternly rebuked: “You are blessed to serve as the prefect over a thousand-li domain, yet I hear of no acts of benevolence or moral instruction that bring peace to the people. Instead, you rely on punishments, constantly taking lives to assert authority. Is this the conduct of a parent of the people?”

Yan Yannian confessed his wrongdoing and repeatedly prostrated himself in apology. He escorted his mother to the prefect residence. After the New Year’s Day, she told him: “Heaven’s Way is clear and impartial; one must not kill recklessly. Never did I imagine that in my old age I would witness my own grown son face punishment and death! I return east now, to watch over the family graves and await the arrival of your body.”

She departed and told her other sons and relatives what had transpired. A little more than a year later, Yan Yannian indeed met his downfall, and throughout Donghai all praised the mother’s prescience.

The Xiongnu Chanyu Woyanqudi was violent and fond of war, stirring widespread resentment throughout the nation. The Crown Prince and the Left Tuqi King frequently defamed the nobles of the Eastern Division, deepening their anger. When the Wuhuan attacked Guxi King on the Xiongnu eastern frontier and captured many people, the Chanyu flew into a rage. Fearing for his life, Guxi King allied with Wuchanmu and the nobles of the Eastern Division to enthrone Jihoushan as Huhanye Chanyu. They mobilized forty to fifty thousand troops from the Eastern Division and marched west to attack Woyanqudi, advancing to the region north of the Guqieshui River. Before battle was joined, the forces of Woyanqudi collapsed and fled.

Woyanqudi sent a message to his brother, the Right Tuqi King, saying: “The Xiongnu are united against me. Will you send troops to aid me?”

The Right Tuqi King replied: “You have no regard for your kin, murdering brothers and nobles. Meet your fate yourself—do not come to pollute me!”

In fury and despair, Woyanqudi Chanyu took his own life.

The Left Grand Juqu, Dulongqi, fled to the Right Tuqi King, and their followers all surrendered to Huhanye Chanyu. Huhanye returned to the central court and, after several months, disbanded the troops, sending them back to their original territories. He then summoned his brother Hutu’wusi, who had been living among the common people, and appointed him Left Guli King. At the same time, he dispatched agents to sow dissension among the nobles under the Right Tuqi King, attempting to incite them to kill him.

That winter, however, Dulongqi and the Right Tuqi King jointly established Rizhu King Boxutang as Tuqi Chanyu, and mobilized tens of thousands of troops to strike eastward against Huhanye Chanyu. Huhanye’s forces were defeated and scattered. Tuqi Chanyu returned to the central court and appointed his eldest son Dutu’wuxi as the Left Guli King and his younger son Gumou’loutou as the Right Guli King, establishing both in the Xiongnu’s court.