Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Zhou Book 2 Scroll 2 (continued)
The 8th year of King Xian (361 B.C.)
Duke Xiao promulgated an edict seeking capable officials in the state of Qin: ”In ancient times, my ancestor Duke Mu, through cultivating virtue and practicing martial arts between Qi and Yong, brought peace to Jin in the east and established the Yellow River as the boundary. He then dominated the Rong and Di tribes in the west, expanding his territory for thousands of miles. The King of Zhou bestowed the title of Count upon him, and the other feudal lords all congratulated him. His achievements were admired by later generations and shone brightly.”
“However, during the reigns of the previous rulers – Duke Li, Duke Zao, Duke Jian, and Duke Chu – the country faced internal troubles, and there was no time to deal with external affairs. The Three Jin attacked and seized the territory west of the Yellow River, causing great humiliation. When Duke Xian ascended the throne, he stabilized and pacified the borders, moved the capital to Liyang, and intended to launch an eastern expedition to reclaim the ancestral land of Duke Mu and uphold his policies and laws. I often feel sad at the thought of my father’s unfulfilled aspirations. I would like to open prominent positions, for all the citizens and visitors, whoever had great ideas to build a stronger Qin would be my distinguished ministers. I will grant them a portion of the land.”
The decree reached Gongsun Yang in the state of Wey, prompting him to relocate to the state of Qin. As the grandson of Wey’s ruler, Gongsun Yang immersed himself in studying the teachings of Legalists. He had previously served under Gongshu Cuo, the prime minister of Wei, who recognized his potential but had not yet recommended him for advancement.
When Gongshu Cuo fell seriously ill, King Hui of Wei paid him a visit to offer comfort. Concerned about the management of state affairs in Gongshu Cuo‘s absence, King Hui inquired, “Who will oversee the state affairs? Heaven forbid, what will happen if you are gone?” To this, Gongshu Cuo replied, “My assistant, Wey Yang, is a young and exceptionally talented individual. You can rely on his advice for all state affairs.” King Hui listened but remained silent. Gongshu Cuo continued, “If you don’t promote him, then kill him, please do not let him leave this state.”
Agreeing with Gongshu Cuo‘s proposal, King Hui left. Gongshu Cuo immediately summoned Wey Yang and apologized, stating, “I prioritize serving our lord above all else, including my subordinates. I have just provided him with advice and informed you. You must leave immediately.” However, Wey Yang responded confidently, “If our lord did not accept your advice to promote me, why would he accept your advice to kill me?” Despite the gravity of the situation, Wey Yang did not flee.
As King Hui of Wei departed from Gongshu Cuo‘s residence, he expressed sadness over Gongshu Cuo‘s illness and recounted the prime minister’s seemingly contradictory statements. “Gongshu Cuo entrusted the entire state to Wey Yang, and yet he advised me to kill him. Is there a contradiction here?” he pondered.
Subsequently, Wey Yang made his way to the state of Qin. Through a eunuch named Jingjian, He sought an audience with Duke Xiao of Qin to present his strategies for the state’s prosperity and security. After engaging in discussions about governance, Duke Xiao of Qin was greatly pleased with Wey Yang‘s insights.
The kingdom of Wei moved its capital from Anyi to Daliang during the summer.
In the kingdom of Yue, a minister named Si, who was the younger brother of another minister named Shiqu, assassinated its king, Mangan. Subsequently, Wu Zhuan was crowned as the new king.
Prior to Wu Zhuan‘s ascension, the kingdom had endured a tragic history of regicide, with three generations of kings being murdered by their own subordinates. Fearing for his life, Prince Sou, who was in line for the throne, fled and sought refuge in a mining cave. As the kingdom urgently needed a new ruler, people embarked on a search for Prince Sou and eventually discovered him hiding in the cave.
Despite their efforts to persuade him to come out, Prince Sou refused to emerge. Consequently, the people of Yue decided to smoke him out of the cave by burning wormwood inside. With no other option, Prince Sou finally emerged from the cave. He was then placed on a carriage and proclaimed as the rightful king. As he slowly ascended the carriage, he looked up to the sky and exclaimed, “Oh my lord! Oh my lord! Why won’t you leave me alone!”
Prince Sou’s official name after becoming king was Wu Zhuan.
The 10th year of King Xian (359 B.C.)
Wey Yang started his reform, the people of Qin were not pleased by the reform. Wey Yang persuaded Duke Xiao of Qin: ”The people cannot be convinced at the beginning, but they can be delighted with the achievements in the end. Those who pursue supreme virtue do not conform to prevailing customs, and those who accomplish great deeds do not consult with the masses. Therefore, the sages, if they can strengthen the state, do not follow established norms.”
Gan Long, another adviser to Duke Xiao of Qin, disagreed:”That’s not right. When governance is based on established laws and regulations, officials are trained and the people find peace in it.”
Wey Yang rebutted: ”Ordinary people are content with their familiar customs, and scholars often become trapped in what they have heard. In such cases, it is appropriate for them to follow the established laws and regulations while in their official positions, and not engage in discussions beyond the scope of the law. Wise individuals create new laws, while the ignorant adhere to existing ones; virtuous people may change rituals, while the unworthy remain constrained by them.”
Duke Xiao of Qin appraised:”A good argument!”. He appointed Wey Yang as vice prime minister and immediately approved the new reform orders.
The new order organized the people into groups of ten families, where they were responsible for one another and faced collective punishment for wrongdoings. Those who reported criminals were rewarded similarly to those who killed enemies in battle, while those who concealed criminals received the same punishment as those who surrendered to the enemy. Families with more than two adult males were taxed twice as much. Those who achieved military merit were rewarded with higher titles. Infights were punished according to the seriousness of the offense. Taxes were lowered or forgiven to those endeavoring to produce surplus food or clothings. Those who neglected their duties, sought personal gains, or were lazy despite being wealthy were banished as slaves. Members of the royal family without military merit were not granted official status. A strict hierarchy was established, with titles, ranks, and other distinctions determined by one’s position in society. The distribution of land, houses, servants, and clothing was allocated based on one’s social rank. Those who achieved merit were honored, while those without military achievements, even if wealthy, did not receive any fame and acclimations.
Before the executive order had been promulgated, Wey Yang was concerned that people wouldn’t believe he meant it. To demonstrate the seriousness of the order, he erected a thirty-feet pole at the south gate of the capital and offered a reward of 10 ounces of gold to anyone who could move it to the north gate. People found this strange and were hesitant to step forward. Wey Yang then increased the prize to 50 ounces of gold. One brave individual eventually moved the pole and was immediately rewarded. From that point on, the executive orders were strictly followed.
In the first year of enforcing the new laws, thousands of people complained about the inconveniences they brought. However, a turning point came when the crown prince himself broke one of the laws. Wey Yang responded by stating that the new laws could not be enforced if the elite were exempt from them. He decided not to punish the crown prince, who was the future king and not subject to criminal laws. Instead, he took action against the crown prince’s teacher, Gongzi Qian, and branded the face of Gongzi Qian’s teacher, Gongsun Gu. The people of Qin followed the laws faithfully from the very next day.
After ten years of enforcing the new laws, the state of Qin became exceptionally well-governed. Crime decreased significantly, and even in remote mountain areas, there were no bandits. The public was willing to defend the state in times of war, yet they were afraid to engage in conflicts amongst themselves. The affairs of towns and villages were in excellent order. Those who had initially complained about the inconveniences of the new laws now changed their minds and praised the convenience they brought. Wey Yang accused these individuals of interfering with law enforcement and ordered them all to be exiled to the border areas. As a result, nobody dared to speak about state affairs again.
Sima Guang’s comments: Trust is the invaluable treasure of a statesman. The security of a state relies on its people, and the people’s security is ensured by their trust in the leadership. Without trust, a statesman would struggle to mobilize the people, and without the support of the people, a state would be unable to defend itself. Hence, since ancient times, kings refrained from lying to their subjects, and dominant states refrained from deceiving their neighbors. A good statesman refrains from deceiving their own people, just as a good head of household refrains from lying to their kinsmen.
Conversely, a bad leader resorts to cheating and deceit. They deceive neighboring states, their own people, siblings, and even their parents and children. Leaders lose the trust of their subordinates, while the common people lose trust in their leaders. Failure to establish a unifying force among leaders and their supporters leads to defeat. It is a tragic situation where the gains from cheating cannot heal the wounds of mistrust, and the advantages gained cannot compensate for what has been lost.
In historical examples, Duke Huan of Qi remained true to his pledge to Cao Mo, and Duke Wen of Jin did not abandon his promise for advantageous positions in the battle with Chu. Similarly, Marquis Wen of Wei honored his appointments with friends at Yu, and Duke Xiao of Qin did not go back on the reward for moving the pole across the capital. These four leaders were not without flaws or had impeccable reputations. Despite living in a time of violence and deception, even as unforgiving as the Lord of Shang (Wey Yang), they understood the importance of keeping their word and educating their people. Even in times of turmoil, they did not forget the significance of honesty and trustworthiness, which are even more critical attributes for statesmen ruling in times of peace.
Marquis Yi of Han has passed away, and his son succeeded him as Marquis Zhao.
Reflection by Rio Grande 