Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 24 Scroll 32 (continued)
The 1st year of Emperor Cheng’s Yuanyan Era (12 B.C. continued)
Central Barracks Colonel of the North Corps, Liu Xiang, submitted a memorial, stating:
“I have heard that Emperor Shun admonished Emperor Yu, saying, ‘Do not be like Danzhu in arrogance,’ and that the Duke of Zhou warned King Cheng of Zhou, saying, ‘Do not be like King Zhou of Shang.’ Wise emperors and enlightened kings have always taken the failures and chaos of former ages as warnings and have not shunned discussion of rise and fall. Therefore, I venture to set forth my foolish views in full and respectfully hope that Your Majesty will give them careful consideration.
“According to the Spring and Autumn Annals, over a span of 242 years there were thirty-six solar eclipses. Now, within the past three years, solar eclipses have occurred consecutively. Since the beginning of the Jianshi era, there have been eight solar eclipses over twenty years, averaging once every two years and six months—an occurrence exceedingly rare in history. Anomalies may be great or small, rare or frequent; their prognostications may be delayed or immediate, mild or severe. Observing the transition between Qin and Han, examining the lack of heirs of Emperor Hui and Emperor Zhao, noting the brief reign of the Prince of Changyi, and considering the manner in which Emperor Xuan ascended the throne, all these events were accompanied by notable anomalies recorded in the Han annals. The departure and return of Heavenly favor are thus strikingly clear and unmistakable!”
“I am fortunate to belong to the most distant branch of the imperial clan and sincerely behold Your Majesty’s magnanimous and enlightened virtue. I wish to dispel these grave anomalies and raise Your Majesty’s legacy to the level of Gaozong of Shang and King Cheng of Zhou, thereby bringing glory to the Liu lineage. For this reason, I have repeatedly submitted earnest memorials to Your Majesty, risking my life and again by speaking words that may be displeasing.”
“Astronomical phenomena are difficult to comprehend fully. Even when they are set out in diagrams, they still require verbal explanation to be clearly understood. I therefore request a private audience, so that I may point out and expound upon these matters using the charts.”
The Emperor immediately granted Liu Xiang an audience, but in the end his counsel was not adopted.
The Marquis of Hongyang, Wang Li, recommended Chen Xian as an upright man. After submitting his policy proposals, Chen Xian was appointed Grand Master of Merit and Palace Steward. The Chancellor, Zhai Fangjin, again raised objections, stating: “Chen Xian formerly served as one of the Nine Ministers but was dismissed for corruption and greed, and therefore should not be recommended as an upright man to serve as an inner-court official.” He further accused the Marquis of Hongyang of “falsifying information during the recommendation process.” By imperial decree, Chen Xian was dismissed, but the Marquis of Hongyang was not impeached.
On December 2, Wang Shang was appointed Grand General. On December 18, Wang Shang died. His younger brother, the Marquis of Hongyang, Wang Li, was then next in line to assist in governance. Earlier, the Marquis of Hongyang had dispatched one of his retainers to exploit the authority of Li Shang, Prefect of Nanjun, to appropriate several hundred hectares of newly reclaimed land by registering it as wasteland. He then submitted a petition and sold the land to the public, reaping profits exceeding ten million. This was exposed by Sun Bao, Judicial Supervisor under the Chancellor, whereupon the Emperor dismissed the Marquis of Hongyang and instead promoted his younger brother, the Grand Chamberlain and Marquis of Quyang, Wang Gen. On December 27, Wang Gen was appointed Grand Marshal and General of Agile Cavalry.
The Special Appointee and Marquis of Anchang, Zhang Yu, requested the land at Feiniu[fat cow] Pavilion in Pingling. The Marquis of Quyang, Wang Gen, objected, arguing that the land ought to be reserved for the mausoleum and the route used for officials’ ceremonial outings, and that it would be preferable to grant Zhang Yu land elsewhere. The Emperor did not accept this advice and ultimately granted the land to Zhang Yu. As a result, Wang Gen resented Zhang Yu’s being favored and frequently slandered him.
The Emperor, however, held Zhang Yu in even greater esteem. Whenever Zhang Yu fell ill, the Emperor personally inquired after his health. He even drove himself to Zhang Yu’s residence, knelt at his bedside, and Zhang Yu kowtowed in gratitude. At the time, Zhang Yu’s young son held no official post. Zhang Yu would often look at his son and then at the Emperor, whereupon the Emperor bestowed upon the youth the offices of Yellow Gate Attendant and Palace Steward, appointing him to serve at Zhang Yu’s bedside.
Although Zhang Yu resided in his own home, he held the title of Special Appointee and served as a mentor to the Emperor. Whenever major affairs of state arose, Zhang Yu was invariably consulted. At that time, many officials and commoners submitted memorials citing disasters and anomalies and criticizing the Wang family’s monopoly of power. The Emperor was somewhat persuaded, yet felt that the evidence was not conclusive. He personally visited Zhang Yu’s residence, dismissed all others, and questioned him about heavenly portents, showing him the memorials criticizing the Wang family.
Fearing resentment from Wang Gen, Marquis of Quyang, Zhang Yu—advanced in years and with weak descendants—addressed the Emperor:
“The Spring and Autumn Annals speak of solar eclipses and earthquakes as portents that may signify feudal lords killing one another or barbarians invading the realm. The meanings of such calamities are profound and difficult to discern. For this reason, sages rarely spoke of fate, spirits, or omens. Even disciples such as Zigong could not fully comprehend these matters, much less shallow scholars. Your Majesty should cultivate governance and respond with virtue, sharing blessings with the people. This is the true intent of the classics. Young scholars who misconstrue the Way should not be relied upon; decisions ought to be grounded in the teachings of the canonical texts.”
The Emperor had long trusted and esteemed Zhang Yu and therefore harbored no suspicions toward the Wang family. Later, when Wang Gen, Marquis of Quyang, and other members of the Wang clan learned of Zhang Yu’s remarks, they were all gratified and personally drew closer to him.
Thereupon, Zhu Yun, former Magistrate of Huaili County, submitted a request for an audience with the Emperor. In the presence of the assembled officials, Zhu Yun declared:
“Now the high ministers of the court neither guide the Emperor rightly nor benefit the people. They merely sit idle, occupying their posts and consuming resources, just as Confucius said: ‘A petty man cannot be entrusted with serving his lord; if he fears the loss of position, there is no limit to what he will do.’ I request the imperial sword to be granted, that I may behead one treacherous minister as a warning to the rest!”
The Emperor asked, “Who is this treacherous minister?”
Zhu Yun replied, “The Marquis of Anchang, Zhang Yu.”
The Emperor was enraged and said, “A lowly official slanders his superiors and insults a mentor of the court—this is a crime punishable by death without pardon!”
The censor was about to escort Zhu Yun away, but Zhu Yun held on to the banister and broke it when being pulled away. He cried out, “If I am to be executed, I shall join Longfeng and Bi Gan in the afterlife, and that will suffice for me! I only wonder how this holy dynasty will be judged!” Thereupon, the censor dragged him away.
At that moment, the General of the Left, Xin Qingji, removed his cap, unfastened his seal and ribbon, and knelt upon the palace steps, declaring: “This minister is known for blunt and uncompromising speech. If Zhu Yun’s words are true, then another should be put to death; if they are false, he should be spared. I dare to stake my life on this!” Xin Qingji kowtowed until his forehead bled.
The Emperor’s anger gradually subsided, and he relented. Later, when the broken banister was to be repaired, the Emperor said, “Do not replace it; mend it as it is, to honor honest ministers.”
The Xiongnu leader Souxie Chanyu was preparing to come to court, but before he crossed the frontier he fell ill and died. His younger brother, Qiemoche, succeeded him as Juya Ruodi Chanyu and appointed Nangzhiyasi as Left Tuqi King.
Zhang Fang, Commandant of Beidi, after only several months in office, was recalled to serve as Privy Counselor. The Empress Dowager wrote to the Emperor, saying, “The previous instructions have not yet taken effect, and the Marquis of Fuping returns once again. How could I remain silent?”
The Emperor apologized, “We shall now comply with your command.” Accordingly, Zhang Fang was sent out to serve as Commandant of the Suzerain State of Tianshui.
The Emperor appointed Privy Treasurer Xu Shang and Chamberlain Shi Dan as Grand Masters of Merit, and Ban Bo as Commandant of the Waterways and Parks. All were concurrently made Privy Counselors with a stipend of two thousand piculs of grain, and they frequently accompanied the Emperor to the Eastern Palace to pay visits to the Empress Dowager. On other important affairs of state, they often conveyed imperial instructions to the senior ministers for deliberation. The Emperor also gradually weary of banquets and resumed the study of the classical texts, greatly pleasing the Empress Dowager.
In that year, the General of the Left, Xin Qingji, died. Xin Qingji was a formidable minister of the state, serving in a time of peace, when the Xiongnu and the Western Regions alike respected and admired his authority and integrity.
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