Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 21 Scroll 29 (continued)
The 4th year of Emperor Yuan’s Jianzhao Era (35 B.C.)
In January of spring, the head of Zhizhi Chanyu arrived at the capital. Gan Yanshou and Chen Tang submitted a memorial, saying:
“We have heard that the great principle under Heaven is unity. In antiquity there were the reigns of Yao of Taotang and Shun of Youyu; in the present age there is the mighty Han. The Xiongnu Chanyu Huhanye has already acknowledged himself a northern vassal, yet Zhizhi Chanyu alone remained defiant and had not yet met due punishment. West of Daxia (Bactria), the peoples believed that the mighty Han could not subdue him.
“Zhizhi Chanyu inflicted cruel suffering upon the people and committed great crimes, all witnessed by Heaven. We, your servants Gan Yanshou and Chen Tang, have led righteous troops to carry out Heaven’s punishment. Relying upon Your Majesty’s divine authority, and aided by the harmonious response of yin and yang, the weather was clear, our armies broke through the enemy lines, defeated the foe, and beheaded Zhizhi Chanyu together with his nobles. His head should be displayed among the residences of the barbarian ambassadors in the capital, so that those throughout the myriad lands may know that whoever offends the mighty Han, no matter how distant, will surely be punished.”
The Chancellor Kuang Heng and others remonstrated, saying, “Since it is spring, the season for covering bones and burying the dead, it would be fitting not to display the head of Zhizhi Chanyu.”
The Emperor decreed that it be displayed for ten days and then buried. He further ordered sacrifices to be offered at the suburban altars and proclaimed a general amnesty throughout the empire. The ministers all came forward to offer congratulations, and a banquet was held.
On June 5, Liu Jing, Prince Ai of Zhongshan, passed away. The Prince was the Emperor’s younger brother and had grown up studying together with the Crown Prince. Upon his death, the Crown Prince went to attend the mourning rites. When the Emperor saw him, he was moved by memories of the Prince of Zhongshan and was overcome with grief. The Crown Prince, however, showed no outward sorrow. The Emperor was greatly angered and exclaimed, “How can one who lacks compassion and benevolence serve the ancestral temples and become a parent to the people?”
At that time, Shi Dan, Commandant of the Cavalier Escort, was in charge of protecting the Crown Prince’s household. The Emperor reproached him. Shi Dan removed his cap and apologized, saying, “I indeed saw that Your Majesty mourned deeply for the Prince of Zhongshan, to the point of shedding tears. When the Crown Prince was about to appear, I privately instructed him not to weep, lest he further distress Your Majesty. The fault lies with me alone; I deserve death.” The Emperor found his explanation reasonable and his anger subsided.
In Lantian, an earthquake caused a mountain to collapse, blocking the Ba River. In Anling, a landslide caused the riverbank to give way, obstructing the Jing River, which then flowed backward.
The 5th year of Emperor Yuan’s Jianzhao Era (34 B.C.)
In March of spring, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire.
In summer, on June 17, the Emperor restored the Li Garden, the tomb of his great-grandfather(Liu Ju).
On June 30, at the close of the moon, a solar eclipse occurred.
In autumn, on July 28, the Emperor restored the ancestral temples and mausoleums of the Emperor Emeritus(Prince Li, great-grandfather of the Emperor, Liu Ju), as well as the temples of the imperial progenitors, and the tombs of Empress Zhaoling (mother of Emperor Gaozu), Prince Wu’ai (brother of Emperor Gaozu), Empress Zhao’ai (sister of Emperor Gaozu), and Empress Weisi (Wei Zifu). At the time, the Emperor had long been afflicted by illness and believed that the ancestral spirits were displeased. Therefore, he ordered these sites to be fully restored. The ancestral temples in the commanderies and princedoms, however, remained abolished.
In that year, Liu Kang, Prince Kang of Jiyang, was transferred to become Prince of Shanyang.
When Huhanye Chanyu of the Xiongnu heard that Zhizhi had been executed, he was both fearful and relieved. He sent a letter expressing his wish to come to court and present himself in the audience.
The 1st year of Emperor Yuan’s Jingning Era (33 B.C.)
In January of spring, Huhanye Chanyu of the Xiongnu came to the Han court and requested to enter into a marriage alliance, wishing thereby to strengthen relations. The Emperor bestowed upon him Wang Qiang of the inner palace, whose courtesy name was Zhaojun and who came from a family of upright repute.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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