Reflection by Rio Grande

Category: Comprehensive Mirror

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 198): Asking for Forgiveness Rather Than Permission

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 17 Scroll 25 (continued)

    Shache(Yarkand) in 1870, Xinjiang

    The 1st year of Emperor Xuan’s Yuan’kang Era (65 B.C. continued)

    In that year, the Privy Treasurer, Song Chou, was demoted to Grand Tutor of the Prince of Sishui Liu Zong, for having once remarked: “When the phoenixes arrived at Pengcheng and had not yet reached the capital, the auspice lacked its full majesty; it might have been more fitting had they alighted upon the imperial precincts.”

    The Emperor appointed erudites and court remonstrators, who had been familiar with the administration of state affairs, to serve as prefects of commanderies and prime ministers of principalities. Xiao Wangzhi was made Prefect of Pingyuan. He submitted a memorial:

    “Your Majesty’s compassion for the people is admirable. Yet if erudites and remonstrators are sent forth to replace established officials, fearing only that Your benevolence might not reach afar, deeper concerns may be neglected. Should differing voices from remonstrators no longer be heard in court, errors may pass unnoticed, and matters of immediate urgency may overshadow the foundations of government.”

    The Emperor summoned Xiao Wangzhi and appointed him as the Privy Treasurer.

    The Prefect of Donghai, Yin Wenggui of Hedong, having excelled in his governance, was promoted to Intendant of Fufeng. Yin Wenggui was renowned for a penetrating insight into the virtues and faults of both officials and commoners under his jurisdiction. He recorded in detail the circumstances of each county and personally conducted oversight. When the magistrates handled the cases too harshly or swiftly, he made them slow down and be more lenient; If the magistrates got sloppy slightly, he reviewed their cases with careful diligence. Arrests were carried out during the autumn and winter assessments or when he visited the counties, ensuring that the accused would not linger long in confinement; those seized served as warnings to the rest. Thus officials and commoners alike held him in reverence and fear, and each strove to amend himself.

    As Prefect of Fufeng, he selected incorruptible and capable subordinates, treated them with respect regardless of his personal preference, yet dealt strictly with those who betrayed his trust. Though his merits were eminent, he remained modest and without pride, and his name became highly esteemed in the court.

    At first, Wannian, younger son of the Princess of Wusun Liu Jieyou, was cherished by the King of Shache. When the King of Shache died without an heir and Wannian was then residing at the Han court, the people of Shache, seeking alliance with Han and favor from Wusun, petitioned that Wannian be established as their king under Han authority. The court agreed and dispatched Xi Chongguo as envoy to escort Wannian back to Shache. Yet when Wannian ascended the throne, he proved cruel and harsh, and the people bitterly resented him.

    The Emperor ordered his ministers to recommend envoys to the Western Regions. The General of Van Han Zeng recommended Feng Fengshi of Shangdang to serve as Captain of the Guard, bearing the imperial scepter and escorting the tribute envoys of Dayuan and other polities to Yixun City. Meanwhile, Hutu Zheng, younger brother of the former King of Shache, conspired with neighboring states to assassinate King Wannian and the Han envoy Xi Chongguo, and then declared himself king. At the same time, the Xiongnu attacked Jushi City, but failed to take it and withdrew. The new king of Shache then sent envoys falsely reporting that the northern states had submitted to the Xiongnu and began raiding the southern route, forming a coalition against Han and cutting off communications west of Shanshan.

    At this time, the Protector-General of the Western Regions, Zheng Ji, and Colonel Sima Xi maintained military farms among the northern states. Feng Fengshi and his lieutenant Yan Chang argued that if they did not act quickly, Shache would grow powerful and threaten the entire Western Regions. Therefore, they issued an order in the Emperor’s name to the kings of the western states, mobilizing 15,000 troops from the northern and southern routes to attack Shache, and they captured its capital. The king committed suicide, and his head was sent to Chang’an. Another younger brother was appointed king in his stead. Peace having returned among the western states, Feng Fengshi disbanded the army and reported the victory to the court. The Emperor summoned Han Zeng and said: “Let congratulations be extended to General Han; you have chosen a worthy man.”

    Feng Fengshi then journeyed farther west to Dayuan. When the people of Dayuan heard that he had slain the King of Shache, they received him with honor surpassing that shown to previous envoys, and presented him with a famed steed called the “Dragon Horse.” The Emperor was greatly delighted and considered granting Feng Fengshi a noble title. The Chancellor and the generals all agreed, but the Privy Treasurer Xiao Wangzhi remonstrated: “Feng Fengshi, though an envoy, acted on his own authority and forged an imperial command to mobilize troops. Though he achieved merit, such conduct must not be made precedent. If he is ennobled, future envoys will seek fame by raising arms, provoking distant tribes and inviting calamities upon the realm. Feng Fengshi should not be granted a noble.”

    The Emperor approved Xiao Wangzhi’s counsel and instead appointed Feng Fengshi Grand Master of Merit.

    The 2nd year of Emperor Xuan’s Yuan’kang Era (64 B.C.)

    In January of spring, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm.

    The Emperor intended to establish an Empress. At that time, the mothers of Princess Guantao, Hua Jieyu[Lady of Handsome Fairness], mother of Prince Xian of Huaiyang, Zhang Jieyu, mother of Prince Xiao of Chu, and Wei Jieyu were all in favor. The Emperor at first wished to install Zhang Jieyu as Empress. Yet wavering for long and taking lessons from the treasonous plot of Huo Chengjun against the Crown Prince, the Emperor resolved instead to choose a palace woman who had no children of her own and was prudent and discreet.

    Accordingly, on February 26, Wang Jieyu[Lady of Handsome Fairness Wang] of Changling was established as Empress, and was commanded to rear the Crown Prince. Her father, Wang Fengguang, was ennobled as Marquis of Qiongcheng. The Empress was not beloved and seldom received imperial audiences.

    In May, an edict was issued:

    “The handling of legal cases concerns the lives of the people. If the living bear no resentment and the dead no grievance, then the officials may be deemed worthy. Yet it is not so today. Some officials manipulate the laws with cunning, twisting statutes to obscure their meaning, and justice fails to be impartial. Their written reports do not accord with the facts, and even We cannot discern the truth. How, then, can the people place their trust in their superiors? Let all officials of two-thousand-picul rank examine their subordinates and dismiss such men.

    “Some officials impose excessive labor, embellish relay hostels, entertain travelers extravagantly, exceeding the law in pursuit of name and reputation. This is like treading thin ice beneath the burning sun—perilous indeed! Now an epidemic spreads widely, and We grieve for the suffering of the people. Wherever calamity has struck most severely, taxation for this year shall be remitted.”

    Another edict declared:

    “The ancient emperors chose personal names seldom encountered, so that prohibition of their use caused no hardship. Therefore, my personal name shall be altered to be Liu Xun, so that it may be easily avoided.”

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 197): Turning Swords into Plowshares

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 17 Scroll 25 (continued)

    Lüshunkou Harbor, Bohai, Liaoning Province

    The 4th year of Emperor Xuan’s Di’jie Era (66 B.C. continued)

    In September, an edict was issued to reduce the price of salt throughout the realm. It was further decreed that each year, the authorities of all commanderies and kingdoms should present the records of prisoners who had perished in confinement through torture or illness. Their county, name, rank, and neighborhood were to be reported to the Chancellor and the Imperial Censor, who would investigate and submit the gravest cases for the Emperor’s judgment.

    In December, the Prince of Qinghe was deposed for incest with his sister and removed to Fangling.

    That same year, Zhu Yi, Prefect of Beihai and a native of Lujiang, famed for his governance and conduct, was appointed Grand Minister of Agriculture. Gong Sui, Prefect of Bohai, was appointed Commandant of Waterways and Parks.

    Formerly, during years of famine in the neighboring commanderies of Bohai, theft and banditry had spread unchecked, and local officials of two-thousand-picul rank proved unable to restrain them. The Emperor sought able men, and both the Chancellor and the Imperial Censor recommended Gong Sui, once Commandant of Changyi. 

    When he was summoned, the Emperor asked him: “How will you govern Bohai and suppress theft and banditry?”

    Gong Sui replied:“Bohai lies far away and has not felt the blessings of Your Majesty’s benevolence. The people suffer hunger and cold, and the officials show them no compassion. Thus Your Majesty’s innocent children have taken up Your Majesty’s arms and played with them in the puddles. Does Your Majesty command me to suppress them, or grant me leave to govern them?”

    The Emperor said: “We select and employ those of virtue; We desire indeed that the realm may be brought to peace.”

    Gong Sui said: “I have heard that governing a distressed people is as untangling knotted threads; it cannot be done with haste. One must proceed slowly, and only then can order be restored. I request that the Chancellor and the Imperial Censor do not bind me strictly to legal statutes, but allow me to act according to expedience.”

    The Emperor granted his request and bestowed further rewards upon him.

    Traveling by swift carriage, Gong Sui reached the border of Bohai. When word spread that the new Prefect had arrived, the commanders sent troops to greet him. Gong Sui dismissed them and sent them back. He then wrote to the counties under his charge, ordering that the pursuit and expulsion of thieves and bandits cease. All who carried hoes, sickles, and other tools of husbandry were to be regarded as good and law-abiding people, and officials were forbidden to interrogate them. Those bearing weapons alone would be deemed bandits.

    When the letters arrived, the thieves and bandits immediately dispersed, casting aside their weapons and crossbows. Thus Bohai was wholly pacified, and the people returned to their homes in peace and joy.

    Gong Sui, perceiving that the customs of Qi were luxurious and frivolous, that the people delighted in petty crafts, retail trade and neglected the plough, practiced frugality and moderation himself. He encouraged the people to devote their efforts to farming and sericulture, requiring each household to plant trees and raise livestock in proportion to its strength. Whenever he saw a man carrying a sword or blade, he ordered him to sell the sword and buy a cattle, to sell the knife and buy a calf, saying, “Why not wear cattle and calves at your side instead?”

    By his diligent inspection and guidance, the commandery grew rich in livestock and grain. Litigation ceased, and quarrels diminished.

    In this same year, a daughter of Princess Liu Jieyiu, formerly given in marriage to the King of Wusun, became wife to Jiangbin, King of Qiuci(Kucha). Jiangbin memorialized the throne, saying: “I have been granted the favor of marrying the granddaughter of Han. I wish to escort the daughter of the Princess to the court, so that she may behold the Son of Heaven.”

    The 1st year of Emperor Xuan’s Yuan’kang Era (65 B.C.)

    In January of spring, the King of Qiuci and his consort came to offer homage. Both were granted seals and ribbons; the queen was styled Princess and received abundant gifts.

    Earlier, the Duling Tomb had been prepared for the Emperor’s burial. Thereafter, the tombs of those who had served as chancellors, generals, marquises, officials of two-thousand-picul rank, and of those whose wealth reached one million, were gradually relocated to the Duling precincts.

    In March, an edict was issued: because phoenixes had gathered upon Mount Tai and in Chenliu, and sweet dew had descended upon Weiyang Palace, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm.

    The officials again urged that the Emperor’s biological father be posthumously honored as Father of the Emperor. In May of summer, a temple was erected for him.

    In winter, the office of Commandant of the Jianzhang Palace Guards was newly established.

    Zhao Guanghan, Intendant of Jingzhao, favored the sons of veteran officials, newly appointed youths, valuing strength and vigor alone, for they were swift in action and without fear, often resorting to harsh measures without hesitation. This tendency, however, led to his ruin. Zhao Guanghan condemned a man named Rong Chu to death out of personal grudge, someone memorialized to authority. The Chancellor, Wei Xiang, and the Imperial Censor took up the matter.

    Zhao Guanghan, suspecting the Chancellor’s wife in the death of a maidservant, sought to coerce and compromise Wei Xiang by accusation. Wei Xiang only intensified the investigation. Zhao Guanghan then marched to the Chancellor’s residence with his guards, forced Wei Xiang’s wife to kneel and confess, and seized more than ten of their servants and maids. Wei Xiang submitted a petition pleading his case. The Minister of Justice investigated and reported that the maid had been beaten and punished, then sent to an outer residence, where she died—contradicting Zhao Guanghan’s claims. The Emperor grew displeased and handed Zhao Guanghan over to the judicial authorities.

    Tens of thousands of officials and commoners gathered before the palace gates, weeping and wailing. Some cried: “Our lives are of no use to His Majesty—let us die in Zhao Guanghan’s place, so that the people may continue to be protected!”

    Zhao Guanghan was finally executed by waist-chopping. As magistrate of the capital, his integrity had suppressed the arrogance of the powerful and allowed the people to live in peace. The common folk cherished his memory and sang songs in his praise.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 196): Legacy of Huo Guang

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 17 Scroll 25 (continued)

    Maoling Museum, Shaanxi Province

    The 4th year of Emperor Xuan’s Di’jie Era (66 B.C. continued)

    At first, the Huo clan gave themselves over to extravagance. Xu Fu, a scholar of Maoling, said: “The fall of the Huo family is certain. Extravagance breeds immodesty; immodesty leads to disrespect for superiors. Disrespect for superiors is a departure from the Way. When a man stands above others, the multitude will surely resent him. The House of Huo held power long and many there were who bore them ill will. The realm resented them, and yet they further acted in defiance of the Way; if they were not to perish, what would they wait for!”

    He submitted a memorial, saying: “The power of the Huo clan has reached its zenith. Your Majesty, while cherishing them, should restrain them in due time, lest they bring calamity upon themselves.” This memorial was thrice laid before the Emperor, yet it was withheld without reply.

    When the Huo clan was later executed, those who had exposed their crimes were all enfeoffed. Someone then submitted another memorial on behalf of Xu Fu:

    “I have heard that when a guest sees the host’s hearth placed too near the firewood, he advises moving the fuel to prevent disaster. The host remains silent, and before long, a fire indeed breaks out. The neighbors rush to extinguish it, and the blaze is finally put out. The host slaughters cattle and prepares a feast to thank them; those whose faces were scorched by the flames receive foremost honor, and all are rewarded according to their service—save the one who warned them beforehand.

    “The people say to the host: ‘Had you heeded the guest’s counsel, there would have been no fire, no need for cattle or feasts, and no danger to life. Now you reward those burnt by the flames, but the one who urged you to move the fuel receives nothing. Is it right to honor only those who suffered burns, and not the one who would have prevented the blaze?’ The host, realizing his fault, then acknowledges the guest’s merit.

    “So too with Xu Fu of Maoling. He memorialized repeatedly, warning of rising danger within the Huo clan and urging timely restraint. Had his counsel been accepted, there would have been no need for territorial divisions or the expense of new enfeoffments, and the officials would not have suffered rebellion and extermination. Now that the matter has run its course, Xu Fu alone has received no recognition. May Your Majesty consider this, and reward him beyond those who bore the scorch of the flames.”

    The Emperor granted the scholar Xu Fu ten bolts of silk, and later appointed him Court Attendant.

    When the Emperor first ascended the throne, he went to present respects at the temple of Emperor Gaozu. The Grand General Huo Guang rode in the imperial carriage, and the Emperor felt inwardly alarmed, as though thorns pressed upon his back. Later, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Zhang Anshi, replaced Huo Guang in the carriage. With Zhang Anshi beside him, the Emperor was at ease and no longer afraid, for this Zhang Anshi was one in whom he placed intimate trust. When Huo Guang died, and his house was eventually exterminated, the people said that the downfall of the Huo clan began from that carriage seat. Twelve years later, Empress Dowager Huo was removed to the Yunlin Palace, where she took her own life.

    Ban Gu wrote in praise of Huo Guang: Huo Guang accepted the entrusted charge of aiding a child-sovereign, bearing the weight of the Han realm, rectifying government, securing the Altars of Earth and Grain, sustaining Emperor Zhao, and establishing Emperor Xuan. To compare him with the Duke of Zhou or Ah Heng(Yi Yin) is no exaggeration! Yet Huo Guang did not study the Classics deeply and lacked clarity in the greater Way. He concealed the wickedness of his treacherous wife and raised his daughter to the throne as empress. Lost in excessive desires, he opened the gate to calamity and invited ruin upon his clan. Within three years of his death, his treasures were scattered and his lineage annihilated. How lamentable!

    Sima Guang’s commentary: Huo Guang’s service to the Han may be called loyal. Yet he could not preserve his own house. Why? The instruments of authority are tools of the ruler. When a minister clings to them long and does not return them, he will rarely avoid harming himself.

    Emperor Zhao, at fourteen years of age, already perceived the deceit of Shangguan Jie; assuredly he could have managed affairs of state. Emperor Xuan ascended the throne at nineteen, possessing intelligence, resolution, and knowledge of the people’s suffering. Yet Huo Guang held power unyieldingly, never knowing when to withdraw, and filled the court with his kin, so that resentment accumulated above and discontent spread below. The people gnashed their teeth and cast hidden glances, awaiting their moment. That he did not meet disaster in life was already fortune; how, then, could his descendants—driven by hubris and excess—avoid it?

    Even so, Emperor Xuan rewarded his descendants with noble titles, rich stipends, command of great commanderies, and presence at court. That would have been enough to requite his service. Yet he further entrusted the Huo clan with the governance of state and the power of armies. As grievances piled and penalties increased, fear and suspicion grew, and plots were born. Thus, this calamity was not solely the Huo clan’s doing; Emperor Xuan too nourished its roots.

    In former days, when Dou Jiao rebelled in Chu, King Zhuang exterminated his clan, yet he spared the Remonstration Officer, Dou Kehuang, so that good counsel should not be wholly lost. Though the crimes of Huo Xian, Huo Yu, and Huo Yunwere egregious, the loyal legacy of Huo Guang should not have gone without oblation. To leave the clan with no heir—this was Emperor Xuan’s mercilessness!

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 195): Down with Gang of Huo

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 17 Scroll 25 (continued)

    A Park in Dingtao (Shanyang), Shandong Province

    The 4th year of Emperor Xuan’s Di’jie Era (66 B.C.)

    In February of spring, the Emperor enfeoffed his maternal grandmother as Lady of Bo’ping. His maternal uncles were likewise ennobled: Wang Wugu was made Marquis of Ping’chang, and Wang Wu was made Marquis of Le’chang.

    In May of summer, hailstones the size of chicken eggs fell in Shanyang and Jiyin. Floodwaters rose to two feet and five inches. More than twenty persons died, and all birds in flight perished.

    An edict was issued: “Henceforth, those who shelter and conceal their parents, wives who shelter and conceal their husbands, and grandchildren who shelter and conceal their grandparents shall not be prosecuted.”

    Liu Wen, grandson of Prince Hui of Guangchuan, was appointed Prince of Guangchuan.

    At this time, Grand Madame Huo Xian, together with Huo Yu, Huo Shan, and Huo Yun, perceived that their authority was declining. They often gathered to lament and reproach themselves. Huo Shan said: “Now the Chancellor holds the reins of power, and the Emperor trusts him. He has overturned the statutes established by the Grand General, constantly exposing the General’s faults. Many Confucian scholars come from poor families, traveling far to the capital and enduring hunger and cold. They delight in haughty and reckless speech, heedless of taboos—such men the Grand General despised. Yet His Majesty takes pleasure in conversing with them, and all compose responses to the Emperor’s inquiries, frequently disparaging our clan.

    “Some even submitted memorials accusing our brothers of arrogance and unrestrained conduct; this wounded me deeply. I suppressed the reports and did not present them to the Emperor. But the informers have grown ever more crafty, submitting sealed memorials without cease. His Majesty commands the Chief of the Palace Secretariat to retrieve them directly, bypassing the Secretariat entirely, further diminishing his trust in me. Moreover, rumors circulate among the common people that ‘the Huo family poisoned Empress Xu.’ Could such a thing be true?”

    Huo Xian, stricken with fear, at once revealed the truth to Huo Yu, Huo Shan, and Huo Yun. They were stunned and cried out: “If this is so, why did you not tell us sooner? The Emperor’s dismissal and dispersal of the sons-in-law of our house were all because of this. The matter is grave, and the punishment will be heavy. What course remains for us?” Thus the shadows of treachery began to gather.

    A close associate of Li Jing—maternal uncle to Huo Yun—named Zhang She observed the panic within Huo Yun’s household. He said to Li Jing: “The Chancellor and the Marquis of Ping’en now hold full power. You should have Grand Madame Xian petition the Empress Dowager to remove these two first. Thereafter, depose His Majesty and establish a new Son of Heaven—such matters lie within the reach of the Empress Dowager.”

    A man of Chang’an named Zhang Zhang reported this plot. The Minister of Justice and the Bearer of the Mace took up the case, and Zhang She and his accomplices were arrested.

    Later, an imperial edict ordered the arrests suspended. Huo Shan and the others grew still more fearful and conferred among themselves: “The Emperor hesitates only out of filial reverence for the Empress Dowager; otherwise, matters would already have gone to the end. This bodes ill. The restraint will not last—once it breaks, our clan will be annihilated. It is better to act first.” They bade their daughters warn their husbands. The husbands all replied: “There is nowhere for us to flee or hide!”

    Li Jing was charged with illicit dealings with the feudal lords, and his testimony implicated the Huo clan. An edict was issued: “Huo Yun and Huo Shan are unfit to remain in the capital. Let them be stripped of office and retire to their fiefs.”

    Zhang Chang, Prefect of Shanyang, submitted a memorial:

    “I have heard that Prince Ji You rendered meritorious service to Lu, Zhao Cui contributed greatly to Jin, and Tian Wan achieved for Qi. All were amply rewarded by their states, and their descendants shared in the benefit. Yet in the end, the Tian clan usurped Qi, the Zhao clan partitioned Jin, and the Ji clan manipulated Lu. Therefore Confucius composed the Spring and Autumn Annals to trace rise and decline, censuring most severely the hereditary aggrandizement of noble houses.

    “Recently, the Grand General made resolute plans, secured the ancestral temples, and brought order to the realm—his merits are not insignificant. The Duke of Zhou governed for seven years, yet the Grand General held authority for twenty, controlling the fate of the empire. At the height of his power, he shook Heaven and Earth, disturbing the harmony of yin and yang. The court advisers should have submitted a frank memorial, saying: ‘Your Majesty has already rewarded the Grand General to the fullest for his service. Of late, the regent ministers have dominated affairs, and the power of the nobility has grown excessive; the boundary between ruler and subject is no longer distinct. It is fitting to remove the three marquises of the Huo clan from power and send them back to their fief; as for the Guard General, Zhang Anshi, grant him a cane and a tea table for retirement, consult him on occasion, and treat him with courtesy, appointing him as mentor to the Son of Heaven, with a marquis title.’

    “Your Majesty should then have issued an edict declining their proposal, expressing gratitude for past achievements. The ministers, asserting righteousness, would repeatedly press their case until it was accepted. The world would regard Your Majesty as mindful of past achievements, and the officials as discerning in principle. The Huo clan would have no grounds for resentment in generations to come.

    “Now, the court hears no upright words, and the Emperor issues decrees alone. This is no prudent course. The two marquises have already departed the capital, and the feelings of the people do not differ by much. In my humble estimation, Grand Marshal Huo Yu and his subordinates are likely gripped by fear. When those close to the throne feel insecure, it won’t be an ideal situation.

    “I, Zhang Chang, dare to speak first and expose the root of the matter. Yet I stand alone in this distant commandery, unable to pursue the argument further. I beseech Your Majesty to examine my words with care.”

    The Emperor greatly approved his proposal, but did not summon him.

    The households of Huo Yu, Huo Shan, and the others were repeatedly troubled by uncanny portents, which filled them with grief and dread. Huo Shan said, “The Chancellor has arbitrarily reduced the offerings in the ancestral temple—lambs, pigs, and even frogs. This may be the source of these calamities.” They conspired to have the Empress Dowager Shangguan host a banquet for Lady Bo’ping, the Emperor’s maternal grandmother, summoning the Chancellor, the Marquis of Ping’en(Xu Guanghan), and their subordinates. Their plan was that Fan Mingyou and Deng Guanghan, acting under the Empress Dowager’s command, would execute them during the feast, afterward depose the Emperor, and set Huo Yu upon the throne. The scheme was spoken of, but no action was taken.

    Before it could be carried out, Huo Yun was appointed Prefect of Xuantu, and Ren Xuan was sent as Prefect of Dai Commandery. When the plot came to light, in July of autumn, Huo Yun, Huo Shan, and Fan Mingyou took their own lives. Grand Madame Huo Xian, Huo Yu, Deng Guanghan, and others were arrested. Huo Yu was executed by waist-chopping; Huo Xian, her daughters, and her brothers were put to death. All connected with the Huo clan shared their fate, and several dozen households were exterminated. The Grand Coachman Du Yannian, because of past dealings with the Huo family, was also dismissed from office.

    On August 1, Empress Huo was deposed and confined in the Zhao’tai Palace. On August 17, an imperial edict enfeoffed Zhang Zhang, Court Guard Dong Zhong, Left Assistant to the Secretariat Yang Yun, and the Privy Counselors Jin Anshang and Shi Gao—all of whom had aided in exposing the conspiracy. Yang Yun was the son of the former Chancellor Yang Chang; Jin Anshang was nephew to the late General of Chariots and Cavalry Jin Midi; and Shi Gao was nephew to Lady Shi, grandmother of the Emperor.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 194): Erring on The Side of Lenience

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 17 Scroll 25 (continued)

    Jiaohe Ruin, the Capital of Jushi, Turpan, Xinjiang. Photo by Hiroooooo

    The 3rd year of Emperor Xuan’s Di’jie Era (67 B.C. continued)

    During the reign of Emperor Wu, conscription was onerous, and the people were burdened with toil and impoverishment. The destitute, driven by hardship, often transgressed the law, and corruption spread throughout the realm. To restore order, Zhang Tang, Zhao Yu, and others were appointed to establish stringent laws and ordinances. They enacted measures that imposed heavy penalties upon those who concealed offenses, and laws that held the superiors accountable, while implicating all their subordinates. They rewarded those who applied excessive severity or lodged wrongful accusations, while punishing those who showed leniency or doubt toward the accused.

    As cunning and deceit grew among the people, prohibitions multiplied in response; thus, the legal codes became ever more intricate. The system of justice turned oppressive, with countless documents and statutes filling the archives—so voluminous that no one could read them all. The application of law came to differ by region, and similar crimes were judged with dissimilar sentences. Corrupt officials exploited the confusion, bending laws to serve their own ends. Those who sought mercy were compelled to bribe, that lighter statutes might be invoked; those falsely accused were condemned to death. The cries of injustice resounded throughout the empire, and resentment filled the hearts of the people.

    A staff officer of the Justice Ministry, Lu Wenshu of Julu, presented a memorial:

    “I have heard that in the state of Qi, the calamities caused by Prince Wuzhi were turned into prosperity by Duke Huan; and in the state of Jin, the disorders brought about by Concubine Li were transformed into hegemony by Duke Wen. In more recent times, the Prince of Zhao, Liu Ruyi, perished untimely, and the Lü clan rose in rebellion; yet from that turmoil emerged Emperor Wen, venerated as Emperor Taizong. Thus it may be seen that chaos and misfortune often precede the rise of a sagacious ruler. When a new age succeeds one of disorder, there must arise extraordinary virtue to distinguish the present from the past, thereby manifesting Heaven’s Mandate. Formerly, when Emperor Zhao died without an heir, and the Prince of Changyi sank into debauchery, it was indeed Heaven’s will, opening the way for the most enlightened to ascend the throne.

    “I have heard that the Spring and Autumn Annals place great weight upon the rectification of succession and the unity of the realm. At the beginning of a reign, utmost caution must be observed to establish orthodoxy. Your Majesty, upon ascending to the throne, has aligned with the rightful order. It is now fitting to correct the faults of former times, to affirm the transmission of the Mandate, to cleanse the laws of their excesses, to relieve the people of their grievances, and to respond to the will of Heaven.

    “It is recorded that the Qin dynasty had ten wrongdoings, one of which still remains: the officers of the penal law. The handling of judicial affairs is the lifeblood of the empire. The dead cannot be restored to life, and the mutilated cannot be made whole again. The Book of Documents says, ‘Better to spare the guilty than to slay the innocent.’ Yet the law officials of today are contrary to this: they pursue harshness to gain merit, regarding cruelty as justice. Those who punish with severity win praise, while those who judge with equity fall into peril. Thus the magistrates of law desire the death of the accused, not from hatred, but to secure their own safety. Hence blood flows in the markets, and the condemned stand side by side; the yearly toll of executions numbers in the tens of thousands. This rips the heart out of the humane and the wise, and delays the coming of great peace—this is the root of the disorder.

    “Human nature is such that in comfort one cherishes life, and in agony one seeks death. Under the lash and the torture, what confession cannot be extracted? Prisoners, unable to endure the pain, take hints from their interrogators; and the officials, eager to conclude the case, guide them toward the desired confession. Fearing later reversal, they forge and embellish evidence to make it irrefutable. Even if a fair judge like Gao Yao were to review it, he would have deemed that a thousand deaths could not atone for such crimes. Why so? Because the records, filled with forced confessions and falsified testimony, stand before him as proof. Thus has it been said: ‘Draw a circle upon the ground as a prison, and none dare step within; carve wood into a prosecutor, and all fear to behold him.’ These are laments for the cruelty of officials and the cries of victims who perish unjustly. Only Your Majesty, by reforming the laws and tempering punishments, can restore harmony to the people and bring forth the tranquil winds of Great Peace throughout the realm.”

    The Emperor approved his words.

    In December, an imperial edict was issued, declaring:

    “In recent times, the officials of justice have grown adept at twisting the law, and the use of fabricated charges has become ever more severe. This is the fault of My governance. False judgments have led to wrongful convictions, the innocent have suffered punishment, and fathers and sons have been left in grief and despair. We are deeply pained by this! Now, We appoint staff of the Justice Ministry to help resolve doubtful cases of the commanderies. Their authority is limited, their emoluments modest. Furthermore, an Appeal Panel shall be established within the Ministry of Justice, with a stipend of six hundred piculs, composed of four members. Their duty shall be to ensure impartiality and uphold My intent toward fairness.”

    From that time forth, whenever the autumn reviews of appeals were held, the Emperor would frequently reside in the Hall of Proclamation, abstaining from food, deliberating upon the cases himself. Thus the judgments of criminal matters grew increasingly equitable, and justice was more faithfully rendered throughout the realm.

    Zheng Chang, the Prefect of Zhuojun Commandery, submitted a memorial, stating: “Under the current enlightened Sovereign, even without establishing the Appeal Panel, the legal system will naturally rectify itself. However, for the sake of future generations, it is advisable to revise and simplify laws and regulations. Once the laws are clearly defined, the foolish common people will know what to avoid, and corrupt officials will have no room for manipulation. Failing to correct the fundamental issues while setting up appeal panels is tantamount to address the trees while losing sight of the forest.  Once a new ruler enthroned leading to decline and negligence in governance, it would allow the appeal panels rooms to manipulate the laws and become a source of disorder again.”

    During the reign of Emperor Zhao, the Xiongnu sent four thousand cavalry to hunt near the kingdom of Jushi. When the Five Generals of Han mounted their campaign against the Xiongnu, the Xiongnu horsemen who were hunting there fled in terror. Thereafter, Jushi restored its communication with the Han. The Xiongnu, enraged, summoned the Jushi crown prince, Junsu, intending to hold him as a hostage. But Junsu, being grandson of the king of Yanqi and unwilling to become a captive of the Xiongnu, fled to Yanqi. The king of Jushi then appointed his younger son, Wugui, as crown prince. When Wugui succeeded to the throne, he forged marriage ties with the Xiongnu and caused them to block the passage between Wusun and the Han.

    In that same year, vice minister Zheng Ji of Kuaiji, together with Colonel Sima Xi, led pardoned convicts to establish military farms in the Quli kingdom. They amassed grain, raised an army of more than ten thousand from various tribes, and, together with the recruited peasants, attacked Jushi and defeated it. The king of Jushi sued for surrender. The Xiongnu, angered, sent troops to strike Jushi. Zheng Ji and Sima Xi advanced northward to confront them, and the Xiongnu dared not proceed. Leaving one captain and twenty soldiers to guard the king, Zheng Ji returned to Quli. The Jushi king, fearing that the Xiongnu might return and kill him, fled on horseback to Wusun. Zheng Ji then received the king’s wife and children and escorted them to Chang’an.

    The Xiongnu appointed Dou Mo, the king’s younger brother, as the new king of Jushi, moved the remaining people eastward, and forbade them from dwelling in their former lands. Zheng Ji then sent three hundred officers and soldiers to settle in the reclaimed Jushi territory.

    Since his accession, the Emperor had dispatched envoys repeatedly to search for his maternal kin. For a long time none of those found proved to be the true relatives. In this year, however, the Emperor at last discovered his maternal grandmother, Lady Wang, and her sons, Wang Wugu and Wang Wu. He bestowed upon Wang Wugu and Wang Wu the rank of Inner Marquis. Within a few months, generous rewards and gifts were lavished upon them, amounting to a vast sum.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 193): Dislodging Spider Web by The Gang of Huo

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 17 Scroll 25

    Duration of 6 years

    The Hometown of Xiao Wangzhi and Shu Guang, Lanling, Shandong Province

    The 3rd year of Emperor Xuan’s Di’jie Era (67 B.C.)

    In March of spring, an imperial edict was proclaimed, stating: “If merit be left unrewarded and faults unpunished, even the virtue of Emperors Yao and Shun could not transform the people. Now, the Prime Minister of Jiaodong, Wang Cheng, has diligently fulfilled his duties; the refugees under his administration have surpassed eighty thousand households, and his achievements are manifest. Let Wang Cheng be enfeoffed as Marquis Within the Passes, with the emolument of a two-thousand-picul official.” Before the decree could be carried out, Wang Cheng fell ill and died.

    Thereafter, another edict commanded the Chancellor and the Imperial Censor to investigate the affairs of the commanderies and provinces through the Chiefs of Staff and Associates of the Prefects who reported their records to the capital, in order to examine their execution of laws and decrees. Some officials memorialized, saying: “The late Prime Minister of Jiaodong, Wang Cheng, exaggerated his achievements to obtain undue reward. From this precedent, many inferior officials now seek hollow fame and empty titles.”

    In summer, on April 22, the Emperor installed his son Liu Shi as Crown Prince. He appointed Bing Ji as Grand Tutor and the Grandee of the Palace, Shu Guang, as Junior Tutor. The Emperor further enfeoffed Xu Guanghan, the maternal grandfather of the Crown Prince, as Marquis of Ping’en, and Huo Yun, General of the Household and grand-nephew of Huo Guang, as Marquis of Guanyang.

    When Grand Madame Huo Xian, the widow of Huo Guang, heard that the Crown Prince had been established, she was seized with rage and distress. She refused food, spat blood, and cried aloud: “This child is but of common birth! How can he be made Crown Prince? Should the Empress later bear a son, he would be but a prince beneath him!” Again she urged the Empress to poison the Crown Prince. The Empress often summoned the Crown Prince to dine, but the Nanny and Wet Nurse, by custom, always tasted the food beforehand, so the Empress’s scheme could not be carried out.

    On May 25, the Chancellor, Wei Xian, citing age and illness, requested leave from his duties. He was granted one hundred catties of gold and a four-horse carriage of honor, and retired to his residence. This was the first instance of a Chancellor’s retirement being formally approved.

    On June 7, Wei Xiang was appointed Chancellor. On June 16, Bing Ji was made Grand Master of the Censorate; Shu Guang was appointed Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince, and his nephew, Shu Shou, was made Junior Tutor.

    The Crown Prince’s grandfather, Xu Guanghan, Marquis of Ping’en, memorialized, requesting that his younger brother, Xu Shun, be assigned to oversee and protect the household of the young Crown Prince. When the Emperor consulted Shu Guang on this matter, Shu Guang replied: “The Crown Prince, being heir to the state, should be surrounded by worthy teachers and companions chosen from among the able men of the realm. It is not fitting to grant undue favor solely to the Xu clan, though Uncle Xu is his grandfather. Moreover, the Crown Prince already has his Grand Tutors and Junior Tutors duly appointed, and all attendants are in place. To add Xu Shun now as guardian of his household would appear superficial and unseemly, and would not elevate the Crown Prince’s virtue in the eyes of the people.”

    The Emperor commended Shu Guang’s counsel and reported it to Wei Xiang. Wei Xiang, moved by his discernment, removed his cap in respect, saying, “Shu Guang’s foresight surpasses us all.” Thus Shu Guang’s reputation for integrity and wisdom grew ever more illustrious.

    In the capital, there was heavy rain and hail. The Associate Grand Usher, Xiao Wangzhi of Donghai, submitted a memorial declaring that the concentration of power among a few great families had brought forth these calamities. The Emperor, having long heard of Xiao Wangzhi’s integrity and discernment, appointed him Imperial Usher. At that time, the Emperor earnestly sought out men of talent; many among the people presented memorials offering counsel and proposals. The Emperor ordered that such petitions be referred to Xiao Wangzhi for deliberation. Those whose proposals were substantial were recommended to serve under the Chancellor or in the Censorate; those of lesser merit were assigned magistracies with the rank of two-thousand-picul officials. They were tested in office and assessed after one year; those who proved unfit were dismissed. All matters proposed by Xiao Wangzhi received imperial approval.

    In October of winter, an imperial edict was issued, declaring: “On September 19, the ground was shaken by an earthquake, which greatly alarmed Us. We now seek those who can admonish Us for Our faults, and those who are virtuous and upright, that they may speak freely and correct Our deficiencies. Let there be no concealment before the authorities. Since Our virtue is wanting and cannot extend afar, the borders remain unsettled with troops. Now We command that the General of Chariots and Cavalry and the General of the Right withdraw their stationed forces, to lighten the people’s burdens; for prolonged deployments exhaust the realm and hinder its pacification.”

    Another edict proclaimed: “The fish ponds and aviaries that We have not visited shall be opened to the people, that the poor may share in their use. The palaces and mansions within the commanderies and provinces shall not be repaired or rebuilt. Those who have returned from exile or displacement shall be granted public lands and seed for planting, and shall be exempted from taxes and corvée.”

    The family of Huo Guang grew ever more extravagant and unrestrained. The Grand Madame Xian, enlarged their mansions with ornate halls and towers, and fashioned carriages and palanquins adorned with painted designs, embroidered silks, and gilded ornaments. Their wheels were cushioned with braided leather and cotton; attendants in garments of variegated silk drew her carriages when she took her leisure within the residence. Huo Xian engaged in illicit relations with her slave overseer, Feng Zidu. Likewise, Huo Yu and Huo Shan rebuilt and adorned their estates, holding horse races and diversions at the Pingle Resort.

    When summoned to court audience, Huo Yun often feigned illness, yet privately went abroad accompanied by many retainers. He hunted in the Huangshan Park, sending servants to stand in his stead at court; none dared to censure him. Huo Xian and her daughters passed in and out of the Changxin Palace at all hours, heedless of restraint or decorum. Their conduct exceeded the bounds of propriety.

    The Emperor, who had once dwelt among the common people, perceived the long-entrenched hubris and unchecked influence of the Huo clan, and discerned that disorder was festering within. When he took personal charge of state affairs, the Grand Master of the Censorate, Wei Xiang, often conferred with him on matters of government. Huo Xian said to Huo Yu, Huo Yun, and Huo Shan: “You neglect the charge left by the Grand General. Now, the Grand Master of the Censorate serves as the Emperor’s close adviser within the palace. Should he speak ill of you, what means do you have to save yourselves?”

    Soon thereafter, the retainers of the two households quarreled over precedence on the road. A slave of the Huo family sought to break down the gate of the Grand Master’s mansion. A Censor came forth and prostrated himself in apology, whereupon the slave withdrew. When word reached the Huo household, Huo Xian and her kin grew fearful, sensing that calamity was near.

    During the tenure of Wei Xiang as Chancellor, he often conferred with the Emperor in private. The Marquis of Ping’en, Xu Guanghan, and the Privy Counselor, Jin Anshang, freely entered and withdrew from the inner court. Huo Shan held authority over the State Secretariat. The Emperor decreed that officials and commoners alike might submit sealed memorials directly to the throne, without passing through the Secretariat; and that ministers might be received in a private audience apart from its supervision. This deeply displeased the Huo clan.

    The Emperor, having heard reports that the Huo family had poisoned Empress Xu but lacking conclusive proof, began to take precautionary measures. He appointed Fan Mingyou, Marquis of Pingling and son-in-law of Huo Guang—then serving as General of the Northern Garrisons and Commandant of the Weiyang Palace Guards—as Chamberlain. He dispatched Ren Sheng, husband of Huo Guang’s second daughter and formerly General of the Household and Supervisor of the Feather-Forest Guard, to serve as Prefect of Anding. After several months, Zhang Shuo, husband of Huo Guang’s elder sister and Grandee of Merit with duties as palace liaison, was sent to govern Shu Commandery. Wang Han, General of the Household and grandson-in-law of Huo Guang, was appointed Prefect of Wuwei. Later, Deng Guanghan, Commandant of the Changle Palace Guard and husband of Huo Guang’s eldest daughter, was transferred to serve as Privy Treasurer.

    On August 14, Zhang Anshi was made Guard General, with command over the palace guards, the city gates, and the Northern Army. Huo Yu was appointed Grand Marshal, yet he wore only a small cap and bore neither seal nor ribbon of office. The Emperor dissolved the military units formerly under his control, though Huo Yu still retained the nominal title once held by Huo Guang. Fan Mingyou, the Duliao General, was stripped of his seals and tallies, left only with his duties as Chamberlain. Zhao Ping, Commandant of the Cavalry, Cavalier Attendant, and Grandee of Merit, also son-in-law to Huo Guang, was likewise deprived of his seal and ribbon as Commandant of the Cavalry.

    All commanders of the imperial guards stationed about for eastern(residence of the Crown Prince) and western(residence of the Emperor) palaces—those of the frontier units drawn from the Nomad, the Yue tribes and the Feather-Forest guards—were replaced by men of the Xu and Shi clans, whom the Emperor trusted as his own kin and allies.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 192): Stepping out of the Shadow of Huo Guang

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 16 Scroll 24 (continued)

    A Book On Huo Guang

    The 2nd year of Emperor Xuan’s Di’jie Era (68 B.C.)

    In the spring, Huo Guang fell gravely ill. The Emperor went in person to visit him, wept at his side, and inquired after his health status. Huo Guang memorialized his gratitude, requesting that three thousand households be divided from his fief and given to his grandnephew Huo Shan, Commandant of Chariots, so that Huo Shan might continue the sacrifices of his deceased elder brother Huo Qubing. On that same day, Huo Guang’s son, Huo Yu, was appointed General of the Right.

    On March 8, Huo Guang died. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager themselves attended his funeral. A minister of two-thousand-picul rank was appointed to oversee the construction of his tomb, which was made in the manner of the imperial household, with a hearse and sepulcher of full honor. He was posthumously styled Marquis of Xuancheng. Troops of the Three-He commanderies—Henan, Henei, and Hedong—were sent to open the ground, inter his coffin, and raise his mound. Three hundred households were settled in his tomb-park, with officers appointed to tend and sacrifice. An edict decreed that his descendants should preserve their rank and fiefs for generations, exempt from levy and corvée.

    The Grand Master of Censorate, Wei Xiang, submitted a sealed memorial, saying: “The state has newly lost its Grand General. It is fitting to exalt and advance meritorious ministers, that no high office remain vacant, and that the frontier states may be reassured, so as to prevent contention for power. It is proper that the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Zhang Anshi, be appointed Grand General, and relieved of his post as Chamberlain. His son, Zhang Yanshou, may then assume the office of Chamberlain.”

    The Emperor inclined to this counsel. On April 17, Zhang Anshi was made Grand Marshal and General of Chariots and Cavalry, also the Recorder of the State Secretariat.

    That year phoenixes gathered in Lu, and a multitude of birds followed. A general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm.

    To honor and reward the virtue of the late Grand General, the Emperor enfeoffed Huo Shan, grandson of Huo Qubing, as Marquis of Leping, and made him Director of the State Secretariat and Commandant of Chariots.

    Wei Xiang, the Grand Master of Censorate, submitted a sealed memorial through Lord of Changcheng, Xu Guanghan, saying:

    “The Spring and Autumn Annals reproach the ministers of the realm: in Song the royal kindred held sway for three generations, and in Lu the Jisun usurped power; both brought peril to their states. Since the Houyuan reign of Emperor Wu, the system of rewards has slipped from the court’s control, and the governance of the realm has lain in the hands of mighty ministers. Now Huo Guang is dead, but his son again holds the post of General of the Right, and his brother’s grandson controls the central command. Brothers, brothers-in-law, and kinsmen fill the armies with power. Grand Madame Xian and all her daughters enter the Changxin Palace by day and by night, ordering its gates to be opened at will, indulging in luxury and extravagance. If their power is not diminished, if their influence is not checked, hidden plots may arise, and the foundation of the state will not be secure. It is fitting to pare down their strength, to prevent calamity in time, and to safeguard the heritage of the meritorious.”

    By custom, all petitions required two copies, one marked “duplicate,” first read in the State Secretariat, and if containing disfavor, withheld. Wei Xiang proposed, through Xu Guanghan, that he be allowed to present his memorial without the duplicate, so that it could not be obstructed. The Emperor approved, appointed Wei Xiang additionally as Palace Liaison, and accepted all his counsel.

    The Emperor himself, having been raised among the people, well understood their hardships. After the death of Huo Guang he took direct charge of the government, scrutinizing affairs with diligence, and holding hearings every five days. From the Chancellor to the lowest officials, all submitted reports and were examined for their merit. The achievements of the Privy Counselors and Secretariat officers were richly rewarded, extending even to their descendants, and this became a precedent faithfully observed. Thus the administration was orderly, the protocols complete, and from top to bottom harmony prevailed, with no trace of neglect.

    When appointing provincial inspectors, commandery prefects, and princely ministers, the Emperor himself inquired into their worth, observed their talents, and later judged their deeds to test their words. If speech and action did not accord, their hearts were revealed. He often said: “The people’s peace in their fields, and the lessening of their sighs and sorrows, come from upright governance. Of those who share with Us this charge, none are weightier than the ministers of two-thousand-picul rank.”

    He deemed the commandery prefect the root of order, and held that frequent removals disturbed the people. When the people knew their governors were settled long-term, and could not be deceived, they willingly followed the laws and teachings.

    Thus, when inspectors of the provinces showed skill in rule, the Emperor by edict praised and encouraged them, increased their stipends, bestowed gold, and raised their rank to that of Inner Marquis. When offices stood vacant, he appointed men from those recommended.

    Therefore, in the time of Han, virtuous officials flourished, and this age was acclaimed as a time of  renaissance.

    Upon the death of the Xiongnu Chanyu Huyandi, his younger brother, the Left Tuqi King, ascended the throne, taking the title Xulüquanqu Chanyu. He raised the daughter of the Right Grand General to be Grand Yanzhi, and deposed the former favorite, Zhuànqú Yanzhi. The Left Grand Zuqu, her father, nursed resentment.

    At this time the Han, deeming the Xiongnu no longer a threat, withdrew garrisons from the frontier towns to give rest to the people. The Chanyu rejoiced, and with his nobles resolved to seek peace and marriage with the Han. But the Left Grand Zuqu opposed it, saying: “Formerly, when Han envoys came, they brought soldiers with them. If we now imitate the Han, we too should first dispatch troops.” He then proposed to go forth with the Huluzi King, each leading ten thousand horses, to hunt along the southern border, and when they joined, to cross into Han soil together.

    Before they reached their march, three riders defected to the Han and disclosed the plan. The Emperor forthwith mobilized the border cavalry, sending the Military Supervisor under the Grand General Zhizhong, with four other commanders, to lead five thousand cavalry in three divisions, patrolling several hundred li beyond the passes. Each captured scores of men before returning. The Xiongnu, alarmed at the loss of their three riders, dared not advance and withdrew.

    That year the Xiongnu suffered famine. Of men and herds, six or seven in ten perished. They set two hosts, each of ten thousand horses, to guard against Han incursion. In autumn, led by their chiefs, thousands of the Xiru tribesmen, who had once submitted to the Xiongnu, were driven south with their flocks. They fought the Xiongnu at Otuo, and were bloodily repulsed. At length they broke through, descended south, and surrendered to the Han.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 191): After A Large Earthquake

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 16 Scroll 24 (continued)

    Anqiu, Shandong Province

    The 4th year of Emperor Xuan’s Benshi Era (70 B.C.)

    In March of spring, Huo Chengjun, daughter of Huo Guang, was established as Empress. A general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire.

    The former Empress Xu had lived humbly and with frugality; but when Empress Huo was elevated, the splendor of her carriages and entourages, and the rewards lavished upon officials, rose into the tens of millions. Thus the restraint of the former Empress was cast aside.

    In summer, on April 29, an earthquake shook forty-nine commanderies at once. Hills and mountains collapsed, city walls fell, buildings were destroyed, and more than six thousand perished. The ancestral temples in Beihai and Langya were also ruined. The Emperor issued an edict to the Chancellor, the Censors, the Marquises, and the ministers of two-thousand-picul rank, commanding them to confer with scholars versed in the classics, to examine the signs and omens, and to speak without concealment. He further ordered the intendants of the Three Metropolis regions, together with the Ministry of Rites and the internal commanderies, each to recommend one man of virtue and uprightness.

    A general amnesty was again proclaimed. The Emperor, in mourning for the loss of life by the earthquake, refrained from appearing in the main hall for five days. Xiahou Sheng and Huang Ba were released from prison: Xiahou Sheng was appointed Grandee of Remonstrance and Palace Liaison, while Huang Ba was made Inspector of Yangzhou.

    Xiahou Sheng was by nature simple and upright. His manner was plain and without ornament. At times he erred in speech, addressing the Emperor as “you” rather than “Your Majesty,” or calling ministers by their style-names in the Emperor’s presence. Yet the Emperor took no offense, and placed trust in him.

    Once, after discoursing with the Emperor, Xiahou Sheng repeated their words to others. The Emperor rebuked him. Xiahou Sheng replied calmly: “What Your Majesty has spoken is right; I merely magnified it. The teachings of Emperor Yao were spread through the realm, and are recited to this day. I thought it proper to transmit your words, and therefore I did so.” The Emperor, perceiving his sincerity, accepted it.

    In weighty councils, the Emperor trusted Xiahou Sheng for his plain dealing, saying: “Master Xiahou speaks truth. Let none withhold because of past faults.”

    Afterward he served as Treasurer of Changxin Palace, and then as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. At ninety years he died. The Empress Dowager bestowed two million cash for his funeral, and mourned in white for five days, as for a great teacher. Among the Confucian scholars he was held in the highest esteem, and they gloried in his renown.

    In May, phoenixes gathered in Anqiu and Chunyu of Beihai.

    The Prince of Guangchuan, Liu Qu, slew more than ten of his tutors, consorts, and attendants. Some he drowned with molten lead and tin poured into their mouths; others he dismembered, poisoned, and boiled, that none might survive. For this he was deposed and removed to Shangyong, where he took his own life.

    The 1st year of Emperor Xuan’s Di’jie Era (69 B.C.)

    In January of spring, a comet appeared in the west sky.

    The Prince of Chu, Liu Yanshou, suspected that the Prince of Guangling, Liu Xu, son of Emperor Wu, might ascend the throne should the order of succession be broken. Desiring to secure himself, he arranged for Zhao Heqi, brother of his mother-in-law, to take a daughter of Prince of Guangling in marriage. Liu Yanshou then bade Zhao Heqi to carry a letter to the Prince of Guangling, warning him to keep his eyes and ears keen, and not allow others to seize the throne. Zhao Heqi’s father, Zhao Changnian, reported this. When the matter was investigated, Zhao Heqi confessed. In November of winter, Liu Yanshou killed himself. The Prince of Guangling Liu Xu was not implicated.

    On December 30, there was a solar eclipse.

    That year Yu Dingguo was made Minister of Justice. Yu Dingguo was skilled in deciding difficult cases, impartial in judgment, and compassionate toward widows and orphans. In doubtful charges he reduced punishments, and always examined matters with care. The court praised him, saying: “When Zhang Shizhi was Minister of Justice, there were no unjust judgments in the empire. Now Yu Dingguo holds that office, and the people know themselves not to be wronged.”

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 189): Murder She Committed

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 16 Scroll 24 (continued)

    Fuzi, A Poisonous Plant

    The 3rd year of Emperor Xuan’s Benshi Era (71 B.C.)

    On January 13, Empress Gong’ai Xu died. At that time, Grand Madame Xian, wife of the Grand General Huo Guang, desired to advance her youngest daughter, Huo Chengjun, to higher station, yet saw no means. It happened that Empress Xu, being pregnant, fell ill.

    There was then a woman physician, Chunyu Yan, favored by the Huo household, who had formerly entered the palace to attend Empress Xu. Her husband, Chunyu Shang, was a palace gatekeeper, and he said to her: “You should visit Grand Madame Xian, and in my name request the office of Supervisor of Anchi Pond.”

    Chunyu Yan accordingly went to Grand Madame Xian. Grand Madame Xian seized the occasion, dismissing attendants around her and received her in secret, and called her by her style-name, saying: “Shaofu, if you can do me a service, I shall assuredly requite it. Can you?”

    Chunyu Yan replied: “Whatever my lady commands, I can attempt.”

    Grand Madame Xian said: “The General has always loved our little daughter Chengjun, and longs to raise her station. I entrust this matter to you.”

    Chunyu Yan, startled, asked: “What can I do?”

    Grand Madame Xian said: “Childbirth is ever perilous; one may hardly escape the jaws of death. The Empress is about to give birth—this is the chance to rid ourselves of her with poison. Then Chengjun shall be Empress. If Shaofu can accomplish this, wealth and rank shall be shared with you.”

    Chunyu Yan hesitated, saying: “The medicines for the imperial house are compounded by many hands, and are always tested by others. How can poison be introduced?”

    Grand Madame Xian replied: “I am going to leave that to Shaofu. The General holds sway over the empire; who would dare to speak against him? If we act with care, no mishap will follow. My only fear is that Shaofu may not consent.”

    After a long silence, Chunyu Yan said: “I am willing to exhaust all effort.”

    Chunyu Yan compounded a potion with Fuzi(Carmichael’s monkshood) and other substances, and smuggled it into Changding Palace. After Empress Xu was delivered, Chunyu Yan mingled the poison with a great bolus prepared by the imperial physicians, and gave her to swallow.

    After a short while, Empress Xu said: “My head grows faint. Is there poison in the medicine?” Chunyu Yan answered: “There is none.” Soon the Empress’ distress increased, and she died.

    When Chunyu Yan departed from the palace, she ran into Grand Madame Xian on the way. They exchanged felicitations, though Grand Madame Xian dared not show her gratitude openly.

    Later, memorials were submitted accusing the physicians of mismanaging the care of the Empress. The Emperor commanded that all who had attended her be seized and cast into prison. Grand Madame Xian, struck with fear, hastened to inform Huo Guang, saying: “Since we have trespassed, do not permit the officials to pursue Chunyu Yan too closely!”

    Huo Guang was greatly shaken, and at first thought to deliver up his wife; but he could not bear it, and when he heard of Chunyu Yan’s part, he chose to conceal it.

    Thereafter, when the official report on the death of Empress Xu was submitted, Huo Guang ordered that Chunyu Yan not be investigated. Seizing the moment, Grand Madame Xian pressed Huo Guang to send their daughter into the palace.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 188): Studying on Death Row

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 16 Scroll 24 (continued)

    Xiahou Sheng And Huang Ba

    The 2nd year of Emperor Xuan’s Benshi Era (73 B.C. continued)

    In July of autumn, an edict was issued appointing Liu Jian, heir of Prince La of Yan, Liu Dan, as Prince of Guangyang; and Liu Hong, youngest son of the Prince of Guangling, Liu Xu, as Prince of Gaomi.

    Formerly, there had been strife between Shangguan Jie and Huo Guang. When Huo Guang destroyed Shangguan Jie, he then adhered to the statutes of Emperor Wu, applying severe punishments to restrain his subordinates. From this, lesser officials took severity as their model, believing harshness to be the mark of ability.

    But Huang Ba of Huaiyang, then Associate Prefect of Henan, always held leniency as his principle. When the Emperor went among the people, he perceived that the common folk suffered under the harshness of officials. Hearing of Huang Ba’s reputation for fairness and gentleness, he summoned him to serve as a chief judge in the Ministry of Justice. Huang Ba, in judging doubtful cases, was ever equitable, and thus maintained fairness and balance in the court.

    The 2nd year of Emperor Xuan’s Benshi Era (72 B.C.)

    In the spring, the Minister of Agriculture, Tian Yannian, committed suicide after being convicted of crime. When mourning for Emperor Zhao, he had leased carts from the people, but deceitfully inflated the rent, embezzling thirty million cash. An aggrieved party reported him.

    The Grand General Huo Guang summoned him for questioning, wishing to give him latitude. Tian Yannian vehemently denied it, saying: “Such a thing never happened!” Huo Guang replied: “Even if it did not, we must examine it to the end.”

    The Grand Master of Censorate, Tian Guangming, spoke to the Grand Coachman Du Yannian, saying: “According to the justice of the Spring and Autumn Annals, faults may be redeemed by merit. When the Prince of Changyi was deposed, without the resolute courage of Tian Zibin[Tian Yannian’s courtesy name], the great design could not have been accomplished. Now, if he had begged thirty million from the court itself and been granted them, would that not suffice? I would speak thus to the Grand General.”

    Du Yannian relayed this to Huo Guang. Huo Guang said: “It is true. He was a valiant man; at that momentous hour he shook the whole court.” Then he lifted his hand to his breast and said: “The memory still burdens my heart. Convey my apology to the Grand Master Tian, and entreat him to persuade the Minister of Agriculture to go to prison, that he may pass through lawful trial.”

    Tian Guangming delivered this message. Tian Yannian answered: “If the court would show me lenience, I would be grateful. But how can I endure the shame of prison, the laughter of men, and the spittle upon my back?”

    He then shut himself in a chamber of the Ministry of Agriculture, baring his arm, pacing with a blade in hand. After some days, hearing the drumbeat of envoys come to proclaim the edict, he cut his own throat and died.

    In May of summer, an edict was issued, saying: “Emperor Wu, in his filial piety, benevolence, and martial exploits, accomplished abundant virtue. Yet the music of his ancestral temple has not been established, which is a cause of great sorrow. Let the marquises, the ministers of two-thousand-picul rank, and the scholars deliberate upon it.”

    The officials engaged in wide discussion, and all assented to the decree. Only Xiahou Sheng, Privy Treasurer of Changxin Palace, spoke in dissent, saying: “Though Emperor Wu attained merit in pacifying the four barbarians and enlarging the borders, yet countless soldiers perished, and the wealth and strength of the people were drained. His extravagance and excess knew no bounds, and the empire was left in exhaustion. The dead were many, famine and locusts swept for thousands of li, and men even devoured one another. The injuries yet remain unrepaired, and the grace shown to the people was scant. It is not fitting to establish music for his temple.”

    The other officials rose together against him, saying that he opposed the imperial edict. But Xiahou Sheng declared: “An edict must not be obeyed without reflection. It is the duty of a loyal subject to speak plainly and directly, not merely to echo the ruler’s will. What I have said is from my heart. Though it cost me death, I shall not repent.”

    The Chancellor and the Censors accused Xiahou Sheng of opposing the imperial decree, of slandering the late Emperor, and of uttering blasphemy. Huang Ba, Chief-of-Staff to the Chancellor, was charged with shielding Xiahou Sheng and failing to impeach him. Both were cast into prison.

    Thereafter the authorities proposed to elevate the ancestral temple of Emperor Wu, styling it Shizong Temple, and to compose temple music with the “Magnificent Virtues” and the “Five-Colored Dance of the Wenshi Era.” In the provinces and counties that Emperor Wu had once visited, temples were erected in his honor, following the precedents of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Wen.

    Xiahou Sheng and Huang Ba remained in custody for months. Huang Ba desired to study the Book of Documents under Xiahou Sheng, but Xiahou Sheng rejected, saying: “I am under sentence of death.” Huang Ba quoted Confucius: “If I learn the truth in the morning, I could die content in the evening.” Xiahou Sheng, moved by his earnestness, consented to teach him. Though imprisoned through two winters in succession, they never ceased their study and discourse.

    When the Princess who Liu Xijun had been wed to the Wusun Kunmi Cenzou died, the Han court once more sent Liu Jieyou, granddaughter of the Prince of Chu, Liu Wu, to Wusun, and she became wife to Cenzou. Cenzou had a young son, Nimi, born of his tribal consort. Foreseeing his own death, he entrusted the succession to his uncle’s son Weng’guimi, saying: “When Nimi comes of age, restore the throne to him.”

    When Weng’guimi ascended, he styled himself the Fat King, and again took to wife Princess Liu Jieyou of Chu. She bore him three sons—Yuan’guimi, Wan’nian, and Da’le—and two daughters.

    Under the reign of Emperor Zhao, Princess Liu Jieyou sent a memorial, saying: “The Xiongnu and Jushi have allied to assail Wusun. Only the Son of Heaven could save us.” The Han court gathered horse and soldier, deliberating an expedition against the Xiongnu. 

    Just then Emperor Zhao had passed away, the new Emperor dispatched the Grandee Chamberlain Chang Hui as envoy to Wusun. Both the Princess and the Great Kunmi sent envoys with letters, saying: “The Xiongnu have mustered hosts once again to attack Wusun, demanding: ‘Deliver to us the Han Princess at once!’ Their purpose is to sever Wusun from the Han. The Great Kunmi is willing to muster fifty thousand picked horsemen and exert full strength against the Xiongnu. Only the Son of Heaven can dispatch troops, to save the Princess and the Kunmi!”

    Formerly the Xiongnu had often harried the Han frontier, and the Han also longed to strike back. In autumn, a great host was levied: the Grand Master of Censorate, Tian Guangming, was made Qilian General, and with forty thousand horse rode forth from Xihe; Fan Mingyou, Duliao General, led thirty thousand from Zhangye; Han Zeng, General of the Van, led thirty thousand from Yunzhong; Zhao Chongguo, Pulei General, led thirty thousand from Jiuquan; and Tian Shun, Prefect of Yunzhong, was appointed General of Tiger Fang, leading thirty thousand from Wuyuan. Their design was to advance beyond the frontier by two thousand li. Chang Hui was made Colonel with the tally, to oversee the Wusun forces and unite them in striking the Xiongnu.