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 Yongshi Era (15 B.C. continued)
The Emperor once held a banquet in the inner palace with Zhang Fang and several attendants, along with the Zhao sisters, the concubine Li Ping, and several Privy Counselors. They drank freely, raising their cups and laughing loudly; anyone who failed to empty his cup was penalized. At the time, the Emperor sat before a painted screen depicting King Zhou of Shang drunkenly reclining with the concubine Daji, reveling in the pleasures of the night.
The Privy Counselor and Grand Master of Merit, Ban Bo, who had recently recovered from a long illness, was present. The Emperor pointed to the painting and asked Ban Bo, “Did King Zhou truly become so depraved?”
Ban Bo replied, “The Book of Documents says, ‘He heeded the words of women,’ but he never reclined so brazenly in court. This painting exaggerates his misdeeds to focus public hatred upon the woman; that is not what actually happened.”
The Emperor asked, “If he was not like this, what warning does this painting give?”
Ban Bo answered, “It is recorded that ‘he drowned in wine,’ which led Weizi to depart. The Great Odes speak of ‘shouting and yowling,’ describing downfall through drunkenness. The admonitions against debauchery in the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents all address excessive drinking.”
The Emperor sighed and said, “I have not heard such frank words from Ban Bo for a long time.” Zhang Fang and the others were displeased and gradually withdrew.
At that time, a Linbiao[female officer] from Changxin Palace visited the court as a messenger and witnessed the scene. Later, when the Emperor visited the Eastern Palace, the Empress Dowager wept and said, “The Emperor’s complexion has grown thin and dark. Privy Counselor Ban Bo was recommended by the Grand General and should be held in high esteem; seek out more men like him to assist in your virtuous rule. It is also fitting to send the Marquis of Fuping, Zhang Fang, back to his fief.”
The Emperor replied, “Yes.”
When the Emperor’s uncles heard this, they urged the Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate to find grounds for impeaching Zhang Fang. Accordingly, Chancellor Xue Xuan and Grand Master of the Censorate Zhai Fangjin submitted a memorial stating: “Zhang Fang is insolent, indulgent, extravagant, and uncontrollable. He obstructs envoys, harms the innocent, and allows his followers to abuse their power and commit outrages. We request that Zhang Fang be dismissed and sent to his fief.”
The Emperor, though reluctant, demoted Zhang Fang to the post of Commandant of Beidi.
In the years that followed, a succession of calamities prevented Zhang Fang from returning, yet he received constant letters of concern from the Emperor. When Princess Jingwu fell ill, the Emperor summoned Zhang Fang back to attend to his mother. After several months, when the Princess recovered, Zhang Fang was reappointed Commandant of Hedong. Though the Emperor was deeply attached to Zhang Fang, he was constrained by the Empress Dowager and compelled to heed his ministers, and often sent him away in tears.
When Empress Dowager Qiongcheng, the Emperor’s grandmother, passed away, the funeral arrangements were rushed, and officials imposed heavy levies to meet the expenses. On hearing of this, the Emperor held the Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate responsible. In winter, on October 8, he demoted Chancellor Xue Xuan to the status of a commoner and reduced the Grand Master of the Censorate, Zhai Fangjin, to the post of Bearer of the Mace.
For more than twenty days the office of Chancellor remained vacant, and many officials recommended Zhai Fangjin for the position. The Emperor also valued his abilities. On November 2, Zhai Fangjin was promoted to Chancellor and granted the title of Marquis of Gaoling. The Emperor appointed Kong Guang, Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Grand Chamberlain, as the new Grand Master of the Censorate.
Zhai Fangjin rose through his mastery of the Classics, but in office he enforced the law with severity, favored the exercise of power, and sought to establish his authority. He harbored deep resentments and often assailed others with cutting memorials that caused lasting injury. There were accusations that he pursued private vendettas and acted deceitfully, but the Emperor believed his recommendations conformed to law and precedent and did not judge them to be improper.
Kong Guang was the youngest son of Kong Ba, Marquis of Baocheng. He served as Minister of the State Secretariat, managing confidential documents and affairs for more than ten years, always adhering to law and established practice. When the Emperor consulted him, he answered according to the Classics and the statutes, speaking what he believed to be right without seeking to curry favor. If his advice was not adopted, he did not press the matter, and thus maintained his position in stability for many years. Whenever he drafted a memorial, he destroyed the rough copy, considering it a grave impropriety for a minister to appear loyal and upright by exposing the ruler’s faults. When he recommended someone, he feared that the person might learn of it. On his days of leave, he remained with his family and never spoke of court affairs. When asked about the trees in the Wenshi Palace, he would fall silent or reply with unrelated topics, maintaining such a tight-lip that he revealed nothing at all.
The Emperor traveled to Yong to offer sacrifices at the Five-Deity Altar.
General of Guard Wang Shang disliked Chen Tang and accused him of “falsely claiming that the construction of Changling would be resumed, and that the appearance of a black dragon in winter was a sign of the Emperor’s frequent incognito outings.” The Minister of Justice advised that “Chen Tang’s statements were improper and showed grave disrespect.” However, in consideration of Chen Tang’s past service, the Emperor pardoned him, reduced him to commoner status, and exiled him to the frontier.
The Emperor, remembering that Zhao Feiyan’s elevation to Empress had been greatly aided by Chunyu Chang, sought to reward him. He cited Chunyu Chang’s earlier recommendation to halt the construction of Changling and ordered the ministers to deliberate on conferring a title upon him. The Grand Herald Ping Dang argued, “Although Chunyu Chang offered a sound proposal, it does not meet the standards for ennoblement.” For this, Ping Dang was demoted to the post of Prefect of Julu.
The Emperor then issued an edict commending the Attendant-in-Ordinary Wang Hong and the Privy Counselor and Commandant of the Guards, Chunyu Chang, for their outstanding counsel, and granted both the title of Marquis within the Passes.
At the same time, the Grand Architect Xie Wannian was accused of sycophancy and disloyalty, causing widespread harm among the people. He was exiled to Dunhuang along with Chen Tang.
Previously, Chen Xian, the Privy Treasurer, and Pang Xin, the Commandant of the Guards, both held posts superior to that of Zhai Fangjin. Zhai Fangjin rose later, becoming Intendant of Jingzhao, and was on amicable terms with Chen Xian. When the post of Grand Master of the Censorate fell vacant, all three were prominent candidates, yet Zhai Fangjin was selected. When Chancellor Xue Xuan was later found guilty and implicated Zhai Fangjin, the Emperor ordered five ministers of the two-thousand-picul rank to investigate both the Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate. Chen Xian accused Zhai Fangjin in hopes of taking his position, and Zhai Fangjin thereafter harbored deep resentment toward him.
Chen Tang, favored by Wang Feng and Wang Yin for his abilities, was also on good terms with Chen Xian and Pang Xin. He often praised them before Wang Feng and Wang Yin, which helped them gain advancement among the Nine Ministers. When Wang Shang dismissed Chen Tang, Zhai Fangjin inculpated that Chen Xian and Pang Xin had colluded with him to seek recommendations and secure offices through improper means. As a result, all three were removed from their posts.
That year, Zhu Bo, Prefect of Langya, was appointed Intendant of Pingyi. In governing the commandery, he often selected the influential and powerful in each county for high civil or military office, according to their qualification. When notorious bandits or unusual disturbances arose, he issued letters of censure; those who exerted themselves effectively were generously rewarded, while those who failed through deceit were punished at once. Thus the powerful were brought to submission, and every policy was carried out without obstruction.
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