Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 26 Scroll 34 (continued)
The 4th Year of Emperor Ai’s Jianping Era (3 B.C.)
In January of spring, there was a severe drought.
Without any apparent cause, the people east of Hangu Pass were suddenly seized with terror and fled. They carried bundles of straw or held a single stalk, passing it from one person to another and saying that they were transmitting the decree of the Queen Mother of the West. As they moved along, crowds gathered, at times numbering as many as a thousand. Some ran with disheveled hair and bare feet; some broke through barriers at night; some climbed over walls to gain entry; some drove carts or rode horses in frantic haste; and some seized relay-station vehicles along the way. This movement spread through twenty-six commanderies and kingdoms, reached the capital, and could not be checked. The people also assembled in villages, streets, and fields, setting up gaming tables, singing, dancing, and worshiping the Queen Mother of the West. This continued until autumn, when it finally subsided.
The Emperor wished to grant a noble title to Fu Shang, cousin of Empress Dowager Fu, who served as a Privy Counselor and Grand Master of Merit. Zheng Chong of Pingling, Deputy Director of the State Secretariat, advised against it, saying: “When Emperor Cheng conferred marquisates upon his five maternal uncles, Heaven turned red and yellow, the day grew dim, and a black vapor appeared in the sky at midday. Marquis Kongxiang was the father of the Empress, and Fu Xi, Marquis of Gaowu, held rank among the Three Excellencies; their enfeoffments had justifiable grounds. Now, without any such justification, Your Majesty intends to bestow another title upon Fu Shang. This disrupts the established order and runs contrary to the will of both Heaven and the people. It will bring no blessing to the Fu clan. I am willing to sacrifice my life to correct this error.”
Zheng Chong then held up the imperial edict as he spoke. Empress Dowager Fu was enraged and exclaimed, “How is it that the Emperor is controlled by a petty minister?”
On February 28, the Emperor issued an edict enfeoffing Fu Shang as Marquis of Ruchang.
Dong Xian of Yunyang, Commandant of Cavalry Escort and Privy Counselor, enjoyed the Emperor’s special favor. When the Emperor went out, Dong Xian rode beside him in the imperial carriage; when he entered the palace, Dong Xian attended at his side. He received innumerable rewards and gifts, and his privilege and influence shook the court. He often slept in the Emperor’s company. On one occasion, while the Emperor was taking a daytime nap, Dong Xian lay resting on the Emperor’s sleeve. When the Emperor wished to rise, Dong Xian was still fast asleep and did not notice. Unwilling to disturb him, the Emperor cut off his own sleeve and rose.
The Emperor also decreed that Dong Xian’s wife might freely enter the palace and stay in his residence there. Furthermore, he summoned Dong Xian’s younger sister to become an Imperial Zhaoyi(Consort), a rank second only to that of the Empress. Consort Dong, Dong Xian, and his wife all attended to the Emperor day and night. Dong Xian’s father, Dong Gong, was appointed Privy Treasurer and granted the title of Marquis within the Passes. The Emperor ordered the Chief Architect to build a grand residence for Dong Xian beneath the northern gate tower, with tiered halls, great gates, and an extravagance of design carried to the utmost. He bestowed upon him weapons from the imperial armory and rare treasures from the imperial household. The finest items were selected and transferred to Dong Xian’s residence. Even the Emperor’s own carriage and garments were inferior in quality to those possessed by the Dong family.
The Emperor also bestowed upon Dong Xian treasures from the imperial coffin prepared in the Eastern Garden, as well as pearl burial garments and jade chest pants intended as funerary cerements in advance, all fully made in advance. In addition, he ordered the Chief Architect to build a tomb for Dong Xian beside the Yiling Mausoleum, with an inner chamber conveniently arranged, adorned with sturdy cypress carvings, and an outer approach enclosed by walls stretching for several miles. The tomb’s great gate and towers, covered with protective netting, presented a magnificent appearance.
Zheng Chong, believing Dong Xian’s excessive pampering and privileges to be improper, admonished the Emperor and thereby deeply offended him. As a result, he was repeatedly censured in the course of his official duties. Suffering from a boil on his neck and wishing to retire, he nevertheless dared not submit such a request. Zhao Chang, Director of the State Secretariat, a flatterer who had long harbored malice toward Zheng Chong, knew that he had become estranged from the Emperor and seized the opportunity to submit a memorial stating: “Zheng Chong maintains illicit ties with the Liu clan and is suspected of treason. I request that he be investigated.”
The Emperor rebuked Zheng Chong, saying, “Your gate is like a marketplace, crowded with visitors; how dare you presume to constrain and admonish your sovereign?”
Zheng Chong replied, “My gate may indeed be like a marketplace, but my heart is as clear as still water. I request a full investigation.”
The Emperor was enraged and sent Zheng Chong to prison. Sun Bao, Inspector Colonel of the Capital Region, submitted a memorial stating: “Upon examining the case reported by Zhao Chang, Director of the State Secretariat, against Zheng Chong, Deputy Director of the State Secretariat, it was found that although he was subjected to severe interrogation and torture to the point of near death, he did not confess a single word. People in the streets all proclaim his innocence. It is suspected that Zhao Chang bears private grudges against Zheng Chong and has wrongfully accused him. If key ministers serving near the imperial palace are made to suffer unjust slander, the harm done to the state is no small matter. I request that Zhao Chang be investigated in order to relieve public resentment.”
After reading the memorial, the Emperor issued an edict, saying: “Sun Bao, Inspector Colonel of the Capital Precinct, has deceived his sovereign by siding with subordinates and fabricating slander in the spring, the season of pardons, in order to fulfill his treacherous designs. He is indeed a traitor to the state. Sun Bao is hereby dismissed from office and reduced to commoner status.”
Zheng Chong ultimately died in prison.
On March 22, Jia Yan, Palace Legal Clerk, Cavalier Attendant-in-Waiting, and Grand Chamberlain, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate.
The Emperor wished to grant Dong Xian a marquisate but lacked a proper pretext. Fu Jia, a Privy Counselor, advised him to alter the memorandum submitted by Xifu Gong and Sun Chong, which had accused the Prince of Dongping of wrongdoing, by replacing the name of Song Hong with that of Dong Xian as the one who had reported the matter. His intention was to use this as a meritorious service to justify granting Dong Xian a marquisate, first bestowing upon the three men the title of Marquis within the Passes. Shortly thereafter, the Emperor wished to enfeoff Dong Xian and the others, but feared Wang Jia’s disapproval. He therefore first sent Fu Yan, Marquis of Kongxiang, to present the edict to the Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate.
Chancellor Wang Jia and Grand Master of the Censorate Jia Yan then submitted a memorial stating: “We have observed that three men, Dong Xian among them, have recently been granted noble titles, giving rise to widespread rumor among the people. All are saying that Dong Xian alone enjoys special favor, while the other two have merely been included along with him. To this day, such talk has not subsided. If Your Majesty still intends to bestow further grace upon Dong Xian and the others, it would be proper first to make public the grounds on which they were originally recommended, and to consult with the ministers, grandees, erudites, and advisers, so that the matter may be weighed against precedents of antiquity and of later times, and its justification made clear before lands and titles are conferred. Otherwise, we fear this will greatly alienate the multitude, and all within the realm will speak vehemently against it. If the matter is openly debated, some will surely argue in favor of their enfeoffment, and it will then rest with Your Majesty to decide whom to follow. Even if public opinion remains unsatisfied, the blame will be shared and will not rest upon Your Majesty alone.
“When Chunyu Chang, Marquis of Dingling, was first enfeoffed, his case likewise was debated. Gu Yong, the Minister of Agriculture, held that Chunyu Chang deserved enfeoffment; thus the people attributed the blame to Gu Yong, and the late Emperor did not bear the criticism alone. We, your servants Wang Jia and Jia Yan, are humble and unworthy, and already bear more than enough guilt to merit death. We know that by agreeing and offering no contradiction to Your Majesty, we might preserve ourselves for a time. The reason we do not dare do so is that we wish to repay Your Majesty’s great kindness.”
The Emperor, though reluctant, temporarily suspended the enfeoffment.
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