Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 21 Scroll 29 (continued)
The 1st year of Emperor Yuan’s Jingning Era (33 B.C. continued)
At first, the Left Yizhizi King had proposed the strategy by which Huhanye Chanyu submitted to the Han, thereby bringing peace and stability. Later, however, slander arose against him, alleging that he boasted of his own merit. Huhanye Chanyu therefore grew suspicious and resentful. Fearing execution, the Left Yizhizi King fled to the Han with more than a thousand followers. The Han court granted him the title of Marquis Within the Passes, allotted him a fief of three hundred households, and permitted him to retain the seal and ribbon of a Xiongnu king.
When Huhanye Chanyu later came to court, he met with the Left Yizhizi King and said, “Your counsel greatly benefited me, bringing peace to the Xiongnu. This merit is yours and cannot be forgotten. I failed to trust you and allowed you to depart without seeking to detain you—this was my fault. I now wish to report this to the Son of Heaven and request your return to the Xiongnu court.”
The Left Yizhizi King replied, “The Chanyu relied upon Heaven’s mandate in submitting to the Han and thereby attained peace. This was due to the divine favor of the Chanyu and the blessing of the Son of Heaven—how could I claim such merit? Having already surrendered to the Han, to return again to the Xiongnu would be to serve two masters. I wish to serve the Chanyu by remaining as an envoy of the Han, and I dare not obey your command.”
Though Huhanye Chanyu repeatedly urged him, he could not persuade the Left Yizhizi King to return, and thus departed alone.
The Chanyu then conferred upon Wang Zhaojun the title of Ninghu Yanzhi (“Queen of Pacifying the Nomad”), and she bore him a son named Yituzhiyashi, who later became the Right Rizhu King.
The Crown Prince underwent his capping ceremony.
In February, the Grand Master of the Censorate, Li Yanshou, passed away.
Earlier, Shi Xian had observed that Feng Fengshi and his sons were men of reputation and influence, and that Feng Fengshi’s daughter, Feng Yuan—known as Feng Zhaoyi[Lady of Bright Deportment]—served as a favored consort within the inner palace. Desiring to attach himself to their power, Shi Xian recommended Feng Qun, the older brother of Feng Yuan, saying: “The Feng Zhaoyi’s elder brother, Herald Feng, is deferential and punctilious in carrying out commands; he is fit to attend within the inner quarters.” The Emperor summoned Feng Qun, intending to appoint him as Privy Counselor. Feng Qun, however, seized the occasion to speak openly against Shi Xian’s monopolization of authority. The Emperor was greatly annoyed and dismissed him back to a Palace Gentleman.
When the office of Grand Master of the Censorate fell vacant, many officials recommended Feng Qun’s elder brother, the Grand Herald Feng Yewang. The Emperor ordered the Minister of State Secretariat to select the most worthy candidate among officials with 2000-picul rank, and Feng Yewang was judged to be best in conduct and ability. The Emperor then consulted Shi Xian, who replied: “Among the Nine Ministers, none surpasses Feng Yewang. Yet because he is the elder brother of Consort(Zhaoyi) Feng, I fear that later generations may say Your Majesty elevated him out of partiality toward your consort.”
The Emperor agreed, saying, “Well spoken—I had not considered this.” He then told the officials, “If I were to appoint Feng Yewang among the Three Excellencies, future generations would surely say that I favored my consort’s kin, and would cite Feng Yewang as their example.”
In March, the Emperor issued an edict, saying:
“Firm and unyielding, steadfast and resolute, indeed without personal desire—such is Feng Yewang, Grand Herald. Clear of mind and skillful in speech, fit to be dispatched to the four quarters—such is Wulu Chongzong, Privy Treasurer. Upright and incorrupt, frugal and disciplined—such is Zhang Tan, Junior Tutor to the Heir Apparent. Let the Junior Tutor be appointed Grand Minister of Justice.”
The Prefect of Henan, Shao Xinchen of Jiujiang, was appointed Privy Treasurer. Formerly Prefect of Nanyang, and later transferred to Henan, Shao Xinchen consistently ranked first in governance. He treated the people as his own children, delighted in promoting their welfare, personally encouraged agriculture, and opened irrigation channels. The population of his commandery doubled. Officials and commoners alike cherished him and called him “Father Shao.”
In the same month, the tombs and gardens of Emperor Hui (Liu Ying), Empress Dowager Wen (Empress Dou), and Empress Dowager Xiaozhao (Zhao Jieyu, Consort Gouyi of Emperor Wu) were restored.
Reflection by Rio Grande 
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