Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 16 Scroll 24 (continued)
The 3rd year of Emperor Xuan’s Benshi Era (71 B.C. continued)
On January 18, the five generals set forth from Chang’an. The Xiongnu, hearing that the Han had launched a great expedition, fled with their aged and weak, driving off their herds and retreating afar. Thus the five generals gained but little success.
In May of summer the campaign was concluded. Duliao General Fan Mingyou pressed beyond the frontier for more than twelve hundred li, reaching the Hou River in Puli, where he slew and captured more than seven hundred. General of the Front Han Zeng advanced over twelve hundred li to Wuyun, where he slew and captured more than one hundred. Pulei General Zhao Chongguo marched eighteen hundred li west to Mount Hou, where he slew and captured more than three hundred, among them the Xiongnu envoy, King Puyin. Learning that the foe had already retreated, he returned without attaining the set objective. The Emperor, not censuring their failure, showed lenience and spared them punishment.
Qilian General Tian Guangming advanced sixteen hundred li to Mount Jizhi, where he slew and captured nineteen. There he encountered Han envoys, among them Ran Hong, returning from the Xiongnu. Ran Hong reported that west of Jizhi Mountain the Xiongnu forces still remained. But Tian Guangming forbade him to announce it, intending to recall the troops. Assistant Censor Gongsun Yishou urged that the host should press forward, yet Tian Guangming would not heed him, and withdrew the army.
General of Tiger Fang Tian Shun advanced eight hundred li to the Danyuwu River, where he halted. He slew and captured more than nineteen hundred, then turned back.
The Emperor censured the General of Tiger Fang for failing to meet his objective and for falsifying the number of those slain and captured. Qilian General, though knowing the Xiongnu remained, delayed and dared not advance. Both were impeached, and in shame took their own lives. Gongsun Yishou was promoted to Imperial Censor.
The Wusun Kunmi, with fifty thousand horses, entered from the west together with Colonel Chang Hui. They came to the court of the Right Kuli King, seizing the Chanyu’s uncles, his sister-in-law, his daughters the princesses, the Liwu King, and his commandants, chiliarchs, and cavalry officers, in all forty thousand. They took more than seven hundred thousand head of horse, cattle, sheep, donkeys, and camels. The Wusun retained the captives for themselves. As the five generals gained no great success, and only Chang Hui accomplished his aim, he was created Marquis of Changluo.
By reason of the vast flight, the loss of life and livestock, the Xiongnu suffered grievous hurt, and bore enmity toward the Wusun. The Emperor again dispatched Chang Hui with gold and silver to reward the Wusun who had rendered service. Chang Hui thereupon reported that the state of Qiuci had formerly slain Colonel Lai Dan, yet no vengeance had been taken, and urged that swift action be undertaken. The Emperor would not permit it, but Grand General Huo Guang upheld Chang Hui’s counsel.
Chang Hui, with five hundred men, set forth to Wusun, passing through Qiuci. He levied twenty thousand troops from the nations west of Qiuci, ordered his deputy to raise twenty thousand from the nations east of Qiuci, and gathered seven thousand from Wusun. With these he encompassed Qiuci from three sides. Before battle he sent an envoy, demanding the king who had slain Han envoys. The King of Qiuci pleaded: “In the reign of my predecessor, I was deceived by the noble Guyi. I am innocent.”
Chang Hui said: “If so, deliver up Guyi, and you shall be spared.” The king seized Guyi and gave him over. Chang Hui struck off his head, and then returned.
There was a great drought.
On June 11, Cai Yi, the Chancellor and Marquis of Yangping, died.
On June 26, Wei Xian, Treasurer of Changxin Palace, was appointed Chancellor. Wei Xiang, Minister of Agriculture, was made Grand Master of Censorate.
In winter, the Chanyu of the Xiongnu himself led tens of thousands of horses to strike the Wusun, seizing many of the old and weak. As he prepared to withdraw, a mighty snowstorm fell, the snow more than ten feet deep in a single day. Men and cattle froze in great numbers, and many who sought to return could not.
The Dingling from the north, the Xianbei Wuhuan from the east, and the Wusun from the west pressed upon the Xiongnu, slaying tens of thousands, and seizing countless horses, cattle, and sheep. Besides those slain, multitudes starved. Of the people, one in three perished; of the herds, one half. The Xiongnu was further weakened, their confederation undone, and they could no longer carry out raids upon the frontier.
Later the Han sent more than three thousand horsemen in three columns into Xiongnu lands, taking several thousand prisoners. The Xiongnu, being pressed with adversity and powerless to respond, sought peace and reconciliation. The borderland was thereafter more tranquil.
In this year, Zhao Guanghan, Prefect of Yingchuan, was appointed Intendant of Jingzhao. In Yingchuan it was the custom for great families to form factions. Zhao Guanghan devised a bamboo box with a narrow mouth, so that letters once cast within could not be withdrawn, to receive the complaints of officials and commoners, urging them to denounce one another. Thus enmities multiplied, the factions dissolved, and thieves and bandits could no longer unite in bands. Those of the Xiongnu who surrendered spoke his name; hence he was promoted to Intendant of Jingzhao.
In office Zhao Guanghan was diligent and vigilant. He yielded merit to his subordinates, treated men with sincerity and fairness, and both officials and people were willing to serve him, even unto risking their lives. He had the gift of discerning the talents of men and employed them to the utmost. If any turned against him, he seized them swiftly, leaving no chance of flight. He examined cases and secured proof without delay, and justice was promptly done. In interrogation he was most skillful, laying bare hidden crimes and tracing to their roots, even the quarrels of kin and neighbors were within his grasp.
In Chang’an there were youths who gathered in poor quarters to plot robbery. Before their designs were even fully uttered, Zhao Guanghan had them seized and examined, and they confessed their scheme. His uncovering of crime seemed near to the supernatural, as though he possessed insight beyond the common.
By his governance, Jingzhao’s political atmosphere was enlightened and clean. Officials and people alike praised him; the elders of the city declared that since the founding of the Han, no man had equaled him in governing the Jingzhao.
Reflection by Rio Grande 