Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 23 Scroll 31 (continued)
The 2nd year of Emperor Cheng’s Hongjia Era (19 B.C.)
In spring, the Emperor traveled to Yunyang and Ganquan palace.
In March, when the erudites performed the grand archery ritual, a pheasant flew into the courtyard, ascended the steps, entered the hall, and crowed. Thereafter, pheasants also gathered at the residences of the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, the Minister of Imperial Clan, the Chancellor, the Grand Master of the Censorate, and the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and then upon the roof of the Chengming Hall in Weiyang Palace. The General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Yin, and the Secretary-in-Waiting, Chong, submitted a report:
“The energies of Heaven and Earth respond to one another; warnings to the ruler are subtle yet manifest. The pheasant is famed for its keen hearing, sensing thunder before it strikes, which is why the Monthly Ordinances record its significance. The Classic recounts the abnormal crowing of a pheasant in the time of Emperor Gaozong of Shang(while sacrificing for Tang of Shang), as a sign that misfortune was turning into blessing. Now, on the day of the grand archery ritual performed by the erudites, many pheasants gathered, flew into the courtyard, ascended the steps, and entered the hall, causing astonishment and alarm for several days. They then passed through the residences of the Three Excellencies, the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, and the Minister of the Imperial Clan, who oversee the ancestral temples and family affairs, and finally entered the palace—indicating a warning of profound significance. Men can often make admonitions to each other, but could anything surpass this?”
The Emperor later instructed the Attendant-in-Ordinary, Chao Hong, to convey to Wang Yin: “It has been reported that the feathers of the captured pheasant were somewhat broken, suggesting that it had been handled by someone. Might this not be the work of men?”
Wang Yin replied: “How could Your Majesty entertain the words of a doomed state? Who would dare to contrive deceit to malign Your Majesty’s virtue in such a way? Flatterers surround you, and there is no need for my flattery. From high officials to low, all merely strive to preserve their positions and do not speak the truth. If Your Majesty becomes aware of impending calamity and, in awe, reprimands the officials and enforces the sacred laws, then I, Wang Yin, should be the first to be punished. How could I seek to excuse myself?
“Now it has been fifteen years since Your Majesty ascended the throne, yet no heir has been established. You travel daily and neglect your duties—this failing is well known, more widely spoken of in the realm than even in the capital. There are harms in your roaming outside the palace and anxieties over illness within it. Heaven has repeatedly shown portents to urge reform, yet nothing has changed. If even Heaven cannot move Your Majesty, what hope do we, your subjects, have? I can only speak candidly and await death, my fate hanging by a thread. If Your Majesty does not set this right, my aged mother will not find peace, nor will the honor of the Empress Dowager remain secure. To whom, then, shall the empire founded by Gaozu be entrusted? It would be fitting to seek the counsel of the wise and discerning, to practice self-discipline and return to propriety, to seek Heaven’s favor, thereby establishing an heir and dispelling calamities.”
Earlier, under Emperor Yuan, frugality prevailed, and households were no longer relocated to Weiling to establish a settlement town. Under Emperor Cheng, however, construction of Chuling began, and several years later he favored a site south of Baling Qu Pavilion, also known as Changling, and again commenced building there. The Grand Craftsman, Xie Wannian, had Chen Tang submit a proposal to relocate people to establish a settlement town at the new site, seeking to claim merit and substantial rewards. Chen Tang volunteered to move first, hoping to obtain fertile fields and fine dwellings. The Emperor accepted this advice and established the settlement town of Changling.
In summer, wealthy and powerful families with assets exceeding five million were relocated to Changling, totaling five thousand households.
On May 6, three meteorites fell in Duyou Post.
In June, the grandson of Prince Xian of Zhongshan, Liu Yunke, was enfeoffed as Prince of Guangde.
That year, Prince Ai of Chengyang, Liu Yun, died. As he left no sons, his principality was abolished.
The 3rd year of Emperor Cheng’s Hongjia Era (18 B.C.)
In April of summer, an amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire.
There was a severe drought.
The Five Marquises of the Wang clan vied with one another in extravagance. The Marquis of Chengdu, Wang Shang, once fell ill and sought to escape the heat, so he borrowed the Mingguang Palace from the Emperor. Later, he even cut through the city of Chang’an, diverting water from the Feng River into a great pond within his residence, upon which he sailed boats beneath feathered canopies and surrounding curtains, with oarsmen singing Yue songs. The Emperor visited Wang Shang’s estate, saw the water diverted through the city, and was displeased, though he kept his feelings to himself.
Later, while traveling incognito, the Emperor passed the residence of the Marquis of Quyang, Wang Gen, and saw an earthen mound and a gradually raised platform resembling the White Tiger Hall of the imperial park. The Emperor was enraged and reproached the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Yin.
Wang Shang and his brother Wang Gen wished to brand their faces and mutilate their noses to apologize before the Empress Dowager. When the Emperor heard of this, he was furious and sent the Minister of the State Secretariat to rebuke the Colonel of the Capital Inspectorate and the Intendant of Jingzhao, declaring that they knew well of the Marquis of Chengdu, Wang Shang, and the others exceeding all bounds in extravagance and authority, yet concealed and shielded offenders, failing to report them or enforce the law. The two officials bowed their heads before the palace gate.
The Emperor also issued an edict to the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Yin, saying: “Why do the affines indulge in corruption and decay? Why do they seek to brand and mutilate themselves, to disfigure and disgrace one another before the Empress Dowager, wounding a compassionate mother’s heart and thereby throwing the state into peril and disorder? The affinal clan and its branches have grown strong, while We, the lord, have long been weakened day by day. Now We shall take action. Summon the Five Marquises and order them to await judgment in your house!”
That day, the ministers of the State Secretariat were ordered to submit a report citing the precedent of General Bo Zhao’s execution in the reign of Emperor Wen.
The General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Yin, begged for punishment by sitting upon a straw mat, and Wang Shang, Wang Li, and Wang Gen all carried axes and chopping boards in token of submission. After a long time, the matter was settled. The Emperor had meant only to frighten them and had no true intention of putting them to death.
In autumn, on August 15, the northern gate of Emperor Jing’s temple caught fire.
Earlier, Empress Xu and Consort Ban were both favored by the Emperor. Once, while the Emperor was touring the rear garden, he wished to ride in the same carriage with Consort Ban. Consort Ban declined, saying, “When one looks to ancient paintings, the wise and holy rulers are always shown with eminent ministers at their side, whereas the last rulers of the Three Dynasties(Xia, Shang, Zhou) are depicted with favored concubines riding with them. If we were to share the same carriage, would it not resemble that?”
The Emperor admired her words and desisted. When the Empress Dowager heard of this, she was pleased and said, “In ancient times there was a Concubine Fan of King Zhuang of Chu; now we have Consort Ban.”
Consort Ban recommended her maidservant, Li Ping, who likewise gained the Emperor’s favor and was granted the title of Consort and the surname Wei.
Later, while traveling incognito, the Emperor visited the residence of Princess of Yang’e and was captivated by the singing and dancing of Geji Zhao Feiyan. He summoned her to the palace and bestowed great favor upon her. Zhao Feiyan’s younger sister, Zhao Hede, was also summoned; she was even more alluring and refined, pure and flawless, and all who saw her were entranced by her beauty.
Nao Fangcheng, the Fragrance Erudite(female scholar) from the reign of Emperor Xuan, stood behind the Emperor when they first encountered Zhao Hede and spat upon the ground, saying, “These are beauties of calamitous water; they will surely extinguish the fire of the Han house!”
Both sisters were made Jieyu (Ladies of Handsome Fairness), and their splendor soon eclipsed the entire harem. Empress Xu and Consort Ban fell from favor. Zhao Feiyan then falsely accused Empress Xu and Consort Ban of practicing witchcraft, cursing the harem, and insulting the Emperor.
In winter, on November 16, Empress Xu was deposed and confined to the Zhaotai Palace. Her elder sister, Xu Ye, and others were executed, and their relatives were returned to their home commanderies. When Consort Ban was interrogated, she replied, “I have heard the saying: ‘Life and death are decreed; wealth and honor depend on Heaven’s appointment.’ If self-correction does not bring blessings, how could the practice of evil arts hope to do so? If ghosts and spirits are sentient, they would not accept slanderous petitions; if they are not, what use is appealing to them? Therefore, I have never cursed anyone.”
The Emperor admired her answer, pardoned her, and rewarded her with one hundred catties of gold. The Zhao sisters grew ever more arrogant and jealous. Consort Ban, fearing for her safety, requested permission to serve the Empress Dowager in the Changxin Palace, and the Emperor granted her request.
In Guanghan, a man named Zheng Gong, together with more than sixty others, attacked the official residence, freed the prisoners, seized weapons from the armory, and proclaimed themselves mountain lords.
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