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  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 268): Abdication Is No Joke

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 27 Scroll 35 (continued)

    Removal of Crown, Tomb Effigy in Paris

    The 1st year of Emperor Ai’s Yuanshou Era (2 B.C.)

    The case was handed over to the generals and ministers of the inner court. Grand Master of Merit Kong Guang and others accused Wang Jia of “deceiving the state and the Emperor and being disloyal and immoral,” and proposed that an envoy be sent to summon Wang Jia to the imperial prison of the Minister of Justice. Court Advisers Gong and others argued, “Wang Jia’s statements before and after are contradictory. He should be stripped of his titles and fiefs and reduced to commoner status.” 

    Meng, Privy Treasurer of Yongxin Palace, and others maintained, “Although Wang Jia’s offense technically warrants punishment under the law, it is not fitting, in honoring the state and exalting the ancestral temples, that a grand minister be shackled, pulled by hair and stripped of clothing, and flogged in bare skin.” The Emperor did not heed them. 

    In March, he issued an edict: “Grant the palace usher imperial credentials and staff, and summon the Chancellor to appear at the imperial prison of the Minister of Justice.”

    When the envoy arrived, the aides and clerks of the Chancellery wept together and prepared poison for Wang Jia, but he refused to take it. The Chief Clerk said, “When high ministers face arraignment, they do not proclaim their grievances, following the precedents set by earlier ministers. My Lord should consider taking your own life.”

    The envoy sat sternly at the gate of the Chancellor’s residence. The Chief Clerk again brought forward the poison. Wang Jia took the cup and dashed it to the ground, saying to his subordinates, “The Chancellor was fortunate to serve among the Three Excellencies. I have failed in my duty to the state and ought to be executed in the marketplace as a warning to all. Is the Chancellor a child or a woman, that I should chew medicine and die?”

    Wang Jia then dressed himself in full formal attire, came out to meet the envoy, bowed twice, and received the imperial decree. He rode in a minor official’s carriage, bareheaded and uncovered, and followed the envoy to the imperial prison of the Minister of Justice. There, the Minister of Justice confiscated the seals and ribbons of his offices as Chancellor and Marquis of Xinfu, bound him, and sent him under guard of the Bearer of the Mace to the Duchuan imperial prison.

    When the Emperor heard that Wang Jia had gone alive to the authorities, he was enraged and ordered that a general, together with five officials of the 2,000-picul rank, form a joint panel to investigate the case. The panel officials interrogated Wang Jia, who replied, “Those who investigate a case seek the truth. Formerly, when Liang Xiang and the others handled the case of the Prince of Dongping, they did not believe that Liu Yun’s death sentence was unjust. They wished only to refer the case to the ministers in order to demonstrate caution. I truly did not see them as wavering inwardly or outwardly, nor as siding with Liu Yun. They were fortunate to be pardoned by the general amnesty. Liang Xiang and the others are all good officials, and my private lament for them was on behalf of the state and not out of personal partiality.”

    The panel officials said, “If that is so, then what crime are you guilty of? There must surely be some reason why you have come to prison; it cannot be without cause.”

    The panel officials then began to assault and torment Wang Jia. He gave a deep sigh, looked up to Heaven, and lamented, “I was fortunate to serve as Chancellor, yet I failed to advance the worthy and dismiss the unworthy. In this I have failed the state, and even in death I have still more to answer for.”

    The panel officials asked for the names of the worthy and unworthy ministers to whom Wang Jia referred. Wang Jia replied, “The worthy are former Chancellor Kong Guang and former Excellency of Works He Wu, whom I was unable to advance. The unworthy are Dong Xian, Marquis of Gao’an, and his father, who flatter and throw the court into disorder, yet whom I was unable to remove. My crime deserves death, and I have no regret in dying.”

    Wang Jia remained imprisoned for more than twenty days and refused to eat. He vomited blood and died.

    Later, the Emperor reviewed Wang Jia’s response and came to appreciate his words. After the Grand Master of the Censorate, Jia Yan, was dismissed, Kong Guang was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate in the summer, on May 17. In the autumn, on July 9, Kong Guang was appointed Chancellor and restored to his marquisate as Marquis of Boshan. In addition, He Wu, Marquis of Sixiang, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate.

    The Emperor then realized that Kong Guang’s earlier dismissal had not been due to any fault of his own, but had been caused by slander from those close to the throne. He said, “Fu Jia, who formerly served as Privy Counselor, slandered the worthy and the upright and falsely accused high ministers, causing capable men to lose their positions for a long time. Let Fu Jia therefore be dismissed to commoner status and sent back to his original commandery.”

    In August, He Wu was transferred to the post of General of the Van. On August 24, Peng Xuan, Grand Master of the Palace, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate.

    Inspector Colonel of the Capital Region Bao Xuan was accused of humiliating the Chancellor, Kong Guang, rejecting an imperial envoy, and failing to conduct himself with the proper manners of a subject; his death sentence was commuted to the shaving of his head and the wearing of a cangue.

    Grand Marshal Ding Ming had always respected Wang Jia and pitied him for his death. On September 19, he was dismissed by imperial decree and ordered to return to his residence.

    In the winter, on October 16, Wei Shang, former Grand Tutor to the Prince of Dingtao and Grand Master of Merit, was appointed Grand Marshal and General of Chariots and Cavalry. On the intercalary November 24, Wei Shang died.

    On December 6, Dong Xian, Privy Counselor and Commandant of the Cavalry Escort, was appointed Grand Marshal and General of the Guards. The decree of appointment stated: “We establish you among the Three Excellencies to assist the Han dynasty! We know that your heart is upright, that you are able to rectify all affairs, and that you will uphold the central authority with fairness and balance!”

    At this time, Dong Xian was twenty-two years old. Although he held the rank of one of the Three Excellencies, he still served as Palace Steward and acting as the Recorder of the State Secretariat. All officials submitted their matters through Dong Xian. Since his father, Dong Gong, Commandant of the Guards, was not suited to ministerial rank, he was transferred to the post of Grand Master of Merit, with a salary equivalent to 2,000 piculs. His younger brother, Dong Kuanxin, succeeded Dong Xian as Commandant of Cavalry Escort. All members of the Dong family were made Privy Counselors, office managers, and court attendants, surpassing even the favor once shown to the Ding and Fu clans.

    When Kong Guang served as Grand Master of the Censorate, Dong Xian’s father, Dong Gong, was an official under him. Later, when Dong Xian became Grand Marshal, he and Kong Guang served together among the Three Excellencies. The Emperor therefore ordered Dong Xian to pay Kong Guang a private visit. Kong Guang, naturally respectful and cautious, understood that the Emperor wished to honor and indulge Dong Xian. When he heard that Dong Xian was coming, he carefully adjusted his attire and waited outside the gate. As soon as he saw Dong Xian’s carriage in the distance, he withdrew indoors. When Dong Xian reached the central gate, Kong Guang entered the main hall. Only after Dong Xian had stepped down from his carriage did Kong Guang come out again, bowing, paying his respects, escorting him, and receiving him with the utmost caution and deference, not daring to treat him as an equal colleague. When the Emperor heard of this, he was pleased, and immediately appointed Kong Guang’s two nephews as Grand Master of Remonstrance and Attendant-in-Waiting. Thus did Dong Xian’s power come to rival that of the sovereign.

    At that time, the Wang clan, the maternal relatives of Emperor Cheng, had already declined. Only Wang Quji, son of Marquis of Ping’e Wang Tan, served as a Privy Counselor, while his younger brother Wang Hong was an Attendant-in-Ordinary. Wang Hong’s father-in-law, General of the Household Xiao Xian, was the son of General of the Van Xiao Wangzhi. Dong Xian’s father, Dong Gong, admired Xiao Xian and wished his son Dong Kuanxin to marry Xiao Xian’s daughter. He therefore asked Wang Hong to convey his intention. Xiao Xian, fearful and not daring to accept, privately said to Wang Hong, “Lord Dong is Grand Marshal, and the wording in his appointment decree, ‘uphold the central authority,’ comes from Emperor Yao’s abdication to Emperor Shun; it is not language customarily used for the Three Excellencies. Anyone who understands this cannot but be filled with fear. How could it be fitting for a child of a family such as ours?”

    Wang Hong, naturally intelligent and perceptive, understood Xiao Xian’s meaning as soon as he heard these words. He then reported back to Dong Gong, clearly conveying Xiao Xian’s humble refusal. Dong Gong sighed and said, “What has my family done to the world so that men fear us to this extent?” He was displeased.

    Later, at a banquet in Qilin Hall, Dong Xian, his father, and other members of his family were present, while the Privy Counselors and Attendants-in-Ordinary stood in attendance. The Emperor, slightly intoxicated, looked at Dong Xian and smiled, saying, “I wish to emulate Emperor Yao and abdicate to Emperor Shun; what do you think?”

    Wang Hong stepped forward and said, “The realm belongs to Emperor Gaozu, not to Your Majesty personally. Your Majesty inherited the ancestral temple and ought to transmit it endlessly to your descendants. The responsibility of the empire is immense; an emperor must not speak of such things in jest.”

    The Emperor fell silent and was displeased, and all those present were filled with fear. Thereafter, he ordered Wang Hong to leave the court and return to the Office of the Gentlemen-at-Arms. Only after a long interval did the Grand Empress Dowager apologize on Wang Hong’s behalf, whereupon he was summoned back.

    Wang Hong then submitted a memorial of remonstrance, advising: “I have heard that when the Son of Heaven appoints the Three Excellencies, it is in imitation of the three celestial luminaries—the sun, the moon, and the stars—and those who occupy these positions must be men of virtue. The Book of Changes says, ‘The tripod’s legs are broken, and the sacrificial food is overturned,’ meaning that if the Three Excellencies are unworthy, the state cannot stand firm. In former times, Emperor Wen favored Deng Tong, yet appointed him only Grand Master of the Palace. Emperor Wu pampered Han Yan and bestowed many rewards upon him, yet did not place him in high office. Now Dong Xian, Grand Marshal and General of the Guards, has rendered no meritorious service to the Han house, has no kinship ties with the imperial family, and has shown no outstanding virtue by which he might serve as an example to the world. Yet within a few years he has been raised to the rank of the Three Excellencies and entrusted with the imperial guards. Without merit, he has been enfeoffed, while his father and brother have all been arbitrarily promoted. These rewards have exhausted the treasury, and the common people murmur; rumors fill the roads. This is truly not in accord with the will of Heaven.

    “In ancient times, the spirit of a serpent transformed into human form and gave birth to the beauty Bao Si, thereby bringing disorder to the Zhou dynasty. I fear that Your Majesty may incur the reproach of having erred, while Dong Xian may suffer the calamity that befalls a petty man who does not know when to advance and when to withdraw. Such conduct on Your Majesty’s part is not the way to leave an example for future generations.”

    Although the Emperor did not heed Wang Hong’s words, he admired the strength of his character and youthful spirit and did not punish him.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 267): Cronies Ascending to Heaven

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 27 Scroll 35 (continued)

    Chinese proverb 人得道，鸡犬升天 with immortal, family, chickens, and dogs
    A joyful Taoist immortal rises among family, animals, clouds, and a heavenly palace.

    The 1st year of Emperor Ai’s Yuanshou Era (2 B.C. continued)

    On January 17, Empress Dowager Fu died. She was buried together with Emperor Yuan at Weiling and was posthumously styled Empress Dowager Fu of Emperor Yuan.

    The Chancellor and the Imperial Censor memorialized the throne concerning the sins of Xifu Gong, Sun Chong, and others. Consequently, the Emperor dismissed Xifu Gong and Sun Chong from office and sent them back to their respective states. In addition, several dozen court attendants, officials of the various offices, and eunuch attendants were removed from their posts.

    Bao Xuan submitted a memorial stating: “Your Majesty takes Heaven as father, Earth as mother, and nourishes the people as your children. Since ascending the throne, the ‘father’ has been obscured”—referring to the solar eclipse—“the ‘mother’ has been shaken”—referring to the earthquakes—“and the ‘children’ have been alarmed by false rumors. Today’s eclipse, occurring at the beginning of the three cycles of year, month, and day, is truly something to be feared. Even common people, on the first day of the new moon, are careful not to break their household utensils; how much more so when the sun itself is eclipsed? Your Majesty has deeply reproached yourself inwardly, withdrawn from the main hall, invited frank remonstrance, sought criticism, dismissed and sent away the imperial affines, and other sycophants who consumed without contributing, summoned Kong Guang to serve as Grand Master of Merit, exposed the wrongdoing of Sun Chong and Xifu Gong, dismissed them from office, and sent them back to their fiefs. The people are all pleased and joyful. When Heaven and the people are of one mind, the satisfaction of the people reflects the intent of Heaven.

    “However, on February 16, a white rainbow crossed the sun, and continuous clouds gathered without yielding rain. This shows that the anxieties and resentments of the people have not yet been resolved. Dong Xian, Privy Counselor and Commandant of the Cavalry, is not related to Your Majesty by blood, yet he has risen through his good look, flattery, and sycophancy. The rewards bestowed upon him have been excessive, exhausting the state treasury. He has combined three residences into one and still finds them too small, even demolishing a court infirmary to enlarge his estate. Imperial envoys and laborers serve the residences of Dong Xian and his father, and even officials and soldiers on night duty are rewarded for serving his household. Whenever there is a sacrificial gathering at their ancestral tomb, the Imperial Kitchen is ordered to provide the food. The revenues of all under Heaven, which ought to sustain one sovereign, are instead exhausted upon the household of Dong Xian. Is this the will of Heaven, or the will of the people?

    “Heaven cannot be deceived for long; when favor is carried to such an extreme, it becomes a means of harming the one so favored. If Your Majesty truly wishes to show compassion to Dong Xian, then you should apologize to Heaven and Earth, reconcile yourself with the people of the empire, dismiss Dong Xian, and send him back to his fief. Confiscate his carriages and household goods and return them to the state treasury. In this way, Dong Xian and his father may preserve their lives; otherwise, those hated by all under Heaven have never been able to enjoy lasting peace. Sun Chong and Xifu Gong as well are unfit to remain in their fiefs and should be removed as a gesture of repentance before the world. Recall He Wu, Shi Dan, Peng Xuan, and Fu Xi, so that the people may see clearly what accords with the will of Heaven, and establish great policies to inaugurate an era of great peace.”

    The Emperor, moved by these extraordinary words, accepted Bao Xuan’s recommendations and recalled He Wu and Peng Xuan. Bao Xuan was appointed Inspector Colonel of the Capital Region.

    The Emperor, under the pretext of a parting edict left by Empress Dowager Fu, ordered the Grand Empress Dowager to instruct the Chancellor and the Censorate to increase Dong Xian’s fief by 2,000 households and to grant him three additional marquisates: Marquis of Kongxiang, Marquis of Ruchang, and Marquis of Yangxin. Wang Jia, however, returned the imperial edict and submitted a sealed memorial of remonstrance, stating:

    “I have heard that titles, rewards, and land allocations are bestowed by Heaven. As it says in the Book of Documents: ‘Heaven mandates virtue, giving five garments to men of different rank, each with its proper form and color.’ A ruler who confers titles on Heaven’s behalf must therefore be especially cautious. If land is granted improperly, the people will not be convinced, and the harmony of yin and yang will be disturbed, bringing deep and swift harm to Your Majesty’s health. That Your Majesty’s health has long been unsettled has caused me profound inward anxiety.

    “As for Dong Xian, Marquis of Gao’an, he is a flattering favorite. Your Majesty has exhausted titles and ranks in honoring him, depleted the treasury in enriching him, and diminished the dignity of the sovereign in indulging him. Your authority has already been impaired, and the imperial treasury exhausted, yet you still fear that it is not enough. Wealth comes from the labor of the people. Emperor Wen once wished to build a terraced pavilion, but abandoned the project because it would have cost only a few hundred catties of gold, thus displaying his restraint. Now, by contrast, Dong Xian squanders public resources for private gain, and his household has received as much as a thousand catties of gold. Never in history has there been such favor shown to an eminent subject, and word of it has spread to every quarter, provoking universal resentment. A local saying has it: ‘When a thousand men point at someone, he will die though he is not ill.’ This has always been a matter of deep concern to me.

    “Now the Empress Dowager, invoking the alleged final command of Empress Dowager Fu of Yongxin, instructs the Chancellor and the Censorate to increase Dong Xian’s fief and grant him three marquisates. I, Wang Jia, am profoundly perplexed by this. The collapse of mountains, the earthquakes, and the solar eclipse occurring on the first day of the first month are all warnings of yin encroaching upon yang. Dong Xian has already been enfeoffed twice; Fu Yan and Fu Shang have twice exchanged fiefs; Zheng Ye sought rewards through private favor. They have already received favor beyond all measure, yet they continue to demand without end, utterly ignorant of restraint. This gravely undermines the intention of honoring Empress Dowager Fu. It cannot be proclaimed to the realm; great harm has already been done.

    “Excessive indulgence and deceit throw yin and yang out of harmony, and their mutual disturbances in turn affect the body. Your Majesty has long been unwell, and the heir has not yet been established. It is fitting that all affairs now be rectified, bringing them into accord with the hearts of Heaven and the people, so as to seek blessings and protection. Why should Your Majesty disregard your own safety and indulge private whims, forgetting the hardships endured by Emperor Gaozu in establishing these institutions and intending them to be transmitted for all eternity?

    “I have sealed and returned this edict and do not dare allow it to be made public. It is not that I begrudge death or do not dare impeach myself for acting contrary to the decree; rather, I fear that news of this will spread throughout the land.”

    The Minister of Justice, Liang Xiang, was handling the case of Liu Yun, Prince of Dongping. At the time, fewer than twenty days remained in the winter month, and Liang Xiang suspected that Liu Yun had been falsely accused and that the charges had been exaggerated. He proposed that the case be transferred to Chang’an and reviewed by the ministers and officials. The Director of the State Secretariat, Ju Tan, and the Deputy Director, Zongbo Feng, agreed that this should be permitted. The Emperor, however, believed that Liang Xiang and the others were merely acting with excessive caution while waiting to see how his illness would develop, maintaining a two-faced posture and hoping to let the winter pass without taking decisive action against evil and punishing wrongdoing. Consequently he dismissed Liang Xiang and the others from office and reduced them to commoner status.

    A few months later, a general amnesty was proclaimed. Wang Jia submitted a memorial recommending that “Liang Xiang and the others are men of talent and good conduct. A wise ruler commends his ministers for their achievements and forgives their past faults. I privately feel regret on behalf of the court for these three men.”

    When this memorial was presented, the Emperor was displeased. More than twenty days later, Wang Jia submitted the sealed memorial quoted above opposing the addition of further households to Dong Xian’s fief, which further angered the Emperor. The Emperor summoned Wang Jia to the State Secretariat and rebuked him, saying, “Liang Xiang and the others had previously been charged with disloyalty, and their crimes were already well established. You yourself had already impeached yourself on this matter. Why, then, are you now praising them and saying that you ‘regret this on behalf of the court’?” Wang Jia removed his cap and apologized for his offense.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 266): Spoiled Rotten

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 27 Scroll 35

    Duration of 4 years

    A Painting of Shanglin Park

    The 1st year of Emperor Ai’s Yuanshou Era (2 B.C.)

    In the spring, on January 1, an edict was issued ordering the generals and officials of the 2,000-picul rank each to recommend a man well versed in military strategy. Thereupon, Fu Yan, Marquis of Kongxiang, was appointed Grand Marshal and General of the Guards, and Ding Ming, Marquis of Yang’an, was appointed Grand Marshal and General of Agile Cavalry.

    On the same day, there was a solar eclipse. The Emperor issued an edict to the Three Excellencies, the ministers, and the officials, ordering them to present with utmost sincerity their criticisms and acknowledgments of fault; he also commanded each of them to recommend a man of integrity, uprightness, and frank speech. A general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire.

    The Chancellor, Wang Jia, submitted a sealed memorial, stating: “Emperor Yuan upheld the great enterprise and was gentle, reverent, and sparing in his desires. At that time, there were four billion coins in the capital treasury. On one occasion, he visited Shanglin Park, accompanied by Noble Consort Feng. While they were viewing the animal enclosure, a wild beast suddenly charged out. Noble Consort Feng stepped forward to confront it. Emperor Yuan admired her courage and awarded her 50,000 coins. Although the women of the inner palace received special favor and rewards, they were not permitted to display excessive gratitude in public. The Emperor maintained fairness without partiality and was careful not to lose the hearts of the people. Rewards were modest, and at that time there were very few wealthy relatives of the imperial house. For this reason, the treasuries of the Privy Treasury and the Office of Waterworks held abundant reserves.

    “Although the Chuyuan(48 B.C.-) and Yongguang(43 B.C.-) eras were marked by calamities and famine, and there was also the rebellion of the Western Qiang, the state was able to sustain military campaigns abroad and relieve the poor at home, yet there was never any anxiety over financial exhaustion, because the state coffers were amply supplied.

    “During Emperor Cheng’s reign, officials repeatedly criticized the harm caused by incognito excursions and by exclusive favor shown to certain consorts. They also warned that the Emperor’s indulgence in wine and sexual excess would damage his virtue and shorten his years. Their words were severe, yet the Emperor never resented them. Favorites such as Chunyu Chang, Zhang Fang, and Shi Yu were repeatedly demoted; the property of Shi Yu’s family never exceeded ten million coins. Zhang Fang was exiled, and Chunyu Chang died in prison. The Emperor did not allow private affections to injure public justice. Thus, although there was much criticism within the court, the state remained secure, and the succession was transmitted to Your Majesty.

    “When Your Majesty was still a prince, you delighted in the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents and practiced frugality. When you were summoned to the capital, people everywhere praised your virtue. For this reason, the hearts of the people were transferred from Emperor Cheng to Your Majesty. After ascending the throne, you replaced costly hangings and removed embroidered fabrics. The imperial carriage used only plain silk to bind the edges of the mats. When plans were made to rebuild your own ancestral temple, you were concerned lest it burden the people, and because of financial strain you halted the construction. Only now has it begun again.

    “Meanwhile, Dong Xian, Commandant of the Cavalry, has begun constructing an official residence in Shanglin Park and has built a grand mansion, its gate facing the northern watchtower, using the imperial canal to supply water to its gardens and ponds. Court envoys supervise the construction, and the rewards granted to the officials and laborers exceed even those bestowed for the building of Your Majesty’s ancestral temples. When Dong Xian’s mother was ill, the imperial kitchens of Chang’an supplied sacrificial provisions, and all travelers along the roads were furnished with food and drink. Whenever articles were made for Dong Xian, Your Majesty personally examined and approved them; and if the workmanship was fine, the artisans received special rewards. Such generosity surpasses even the offerings made to the ancestral temples and the Three Palaces(Palaces for Emperor, Empress and Empress Dowager).

    “When Dong Xian’s family holds banquets for marriages or other occasions among their close relatives, the various offices of the administration pay the expenses, and rewards of up to 100,000 coins are bestowed even upon lackeys, maidservants, and house slaves. When Dong Xian’s household goes shopping in the public markets, envoys of Your Majesty oversee the transactions, causing alarm among the merchants and tumult in the streets, while the ministers stand bewildered and fearful. An edict was once issued ordering the abandonment of the gardens, yet more than 2,000 hectares of land were granted to Dong Xian, thereby undermining the law limiting the extent of private landholding. This extravagance and indulgence have disturbed the harmony of yin and yang, giving rise to numerous disasters and strange portents. Rumors have spread among the people; they run about in alarm carrying sticks, and Heaven has confounded their minds so that they cannot restrain themselves.

    “Your Majesty is known for benevolence, wisdom, and caution, yet now faces criticism of such severity. Confucius said, ‘When there is danger and one does not avert it, when the state is falling and one does not uphold it, then what use is such a minister?’ I, Wang Jia, am fortunate to hold this office, yet inwardly I grieve and lament that I have been unable to convey my loyal and sincere counsel. If my death could benefit the state, I would not dare to cherish my own life. I hope that Your Majesty will carefully reflect upon your particular inclinations and examine what is widely questioned by others. In former times, favored courtiers such as Deng Tong and Han Yan became cocky and transgressed the proper bounds, indulging themselves without restraint. Petty men are unable to curb their desires and in the end fall into guilt or sins, bringing disorder to the state and perishing before they can enjoy their rewards. This is what is meant by spoiling someone rotten. It would be fitting to reflect deeply upon the lessons of the past, to restrain the excessive favor shown to Dong Xian, and thereby ensure his safety.”

    Reading more memorials like this, the Emperor gradually became displeased with Wang Jia.

    Former Inspector of Liangzhou, Du Ye, submitted a strategic memorial after being recommended as a candidate for Uprightness, stating: “I have heard that the superiority of yang and the subordination of yin are the way of Heaven. Thus, even if a man is of humble status, he remains the yang of his household; whereas even if a woman is of exalted rank, she remains the yin of her state. Therefore, the rites clearly establish the principle of the Three Obeisances(women’s obeisance to her father before marriage, her husband after marriage, or her son when her husband dies). Even if a woman possessed the virtue of King Wen of Zhou’s mother, she would still be obliged to rely upon her son. In ancient times, Duke Zhuang of Zheng indulged the favoritism of his mother Wu Jiang toward his younger brother Gongshu Duan, which in the end led Gongshu Duan to attempt the usurpation of the state; King Xiang of Zhou suffered internal pressure because of Queen Dowager Hui, and was driven into exile in Zheng. After the rise of the Han dynasty, Empress Dowager Lü wielded power on behalf of her kin and nearly endangered the state.

    “I have observed that Your Majesty has disciplined yourself through austerity and righteousness, intending to revive the realm. Yet no auspicious omens have appeared, while solar eclipses and earthquakes have occurred. According to the Spring and Autumn Annals, disasters and anomalies speak through symbols. A solar eclipse signifies that yang is overshadowed by yin. The character kun 坤, which represents the earth, is composed of the radical for soil(土) and the radical for mother(母), and embodies the virtue of stillness and tranquility; an earthquake is a manifestation of abnormal yin. These omens are exceedingly clear, and I dare not refrain from speaking candidly on the matter.

    “In former times, Zengzi asked about the righteousness of obeying one’s father, and Confucius replied, ‘What kind of question is that?’ He praised Min Ziqian for adhering to propriety and not blindly following his parents, acting always in accordance with reason, so that no one could drive a wedge between him and his family. Nowadays, all the brothers of the imperial affines, regardless of worthiness, serve within the imperial chambers and are appointed to official positions. Some command the guards or even hold garrison commands as generals. Such favoritism within a single family, accumulating power and privilege without precedent, is rarely seen or heard of in history. They have even been granted the posts of Grand Marshal and Grand General concurrently. Even at the height of the Huangfu clan under King Xuan of Zhou, or during the dominance of the Three Huan in Lu, when the armed force was divided into three armies, matters were never as extreme as they are today. On the very day of these appointments, a solar eclipse occurred. That it happened neither before nor after, but precisely at that moment, shows that Your Majesty is overly yielding and insufficiently decisive, listening to every suggestion and complying with every wish of the Empress Dowager. Those who are guilty are not punished, while those without merit receive rank and title. To allow such errors to accumulate into this disorder is a failing of Your Majesty, and I wish to make it plain in order to warn the holy court.

    “What the poets criticized and what the Spring and Autumn Annals condemned point to situations of this very kind and are by no means irrelevant. Looking back from the present, we may feel indignation and disapproval; yet when it concerns our own conduct, if we do not reflect upon it, we regard it as acceptable. This is the root of miscalculation. I hope that Your Majesty will be more earnest and sincere, reflect upon the beginning of the reign, act in accordance with ancient principles, satisfy the hearts of the people, and thereby cause the common people to rejoice, while Heaven and the myriad spirits withdraw their wrath. When that is so, why should there be any doubt that auspicious signs and blessings will arrive?”

    The Emperor thereupon summoned Kong Guang to the imperial carriage and questioned him about the solar eclipse. Kong Guang was appointed Grand Master of Merit, with a salary equivalent to that of a 2,000-picul official, and was also made Palace Steward, his rank being second only to that of the Chancellor.

    After Wang Mang had been sent to his fief, he shut his gates and lived in seclusion. During this period, his son Wang Huo killed a servant; Wang Mang severely rebuked him and forced him to commit suicide. After Wang Mang had spent three years in his fief, officials and commoners submitted more than a hundred petitions protesting that he had been wrongfully treated. At this time, the men recommended for virtue, Zhou Hu, Song Chong, and others, also submitted memorials, once again earnestly praising Wang Mang’s conduct and merits. Consequently, the Emperor summoned Wang Mang and Wang Ren, Marquis of Ping’e, back to the capital to attend to the Grand Empress Dowager.

    Dong Xian, taking advantage of the solar eclipse, obstructed the policies of Fu Yan and Xifu Gong regarding war with the Xiongnu. On January 11, the Emperor confiscated Fu Yan’s seal and ribbon, relieved him of his duties, and sent him back to his residence.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 265): Treading Lightly with Neighbors

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 26 Scroll 34 (continued)

    Mounted warrior in fur armor facing a robed official holding a scroll on a dirt path
    A mounted Xiongnu warrior met a robed official delivering a scroll

    The 4th Year of Emperor Ai’s Jianping Era (3 B.C. continued)

    Xiongnu Chanyu submitted a letter expressing his desire to visit the Han court once every five years. At that time, the Emperor was ill, and some argued: “The Xiongnu come from the upper reaches and bring ill fortune. In the Huanglong(49 B.C.) and Jingning(33 B.C.) eras, when the Chanyu came to the Middle Kingdom, great misfortunes followed.” For this reason, the Emperor hesitated and consulted the ministers, who likewise believed that facilitating the Chanyu’s visit at such a time would only burden the state treasury. Accordingly, the Chanyu’s envoy made preparations to depart. Before he left, however, Yang Xiong, Attendant at the Yellow Gate, submitted a memorial advising against this decision:

    “I have heard that the governance taught in the Six Classics values preventing disorder before it arises, and that the art of war values securing victory before battle is joined. These principles may appear subtle and ineffable, yet they are the foundation of great affairs and cannot be neglected. Now the Chanyu has written to request an audience, but the state has refused him and turned his envoy away. In my foolishness, I believe that from this moment a breach will open between Han and Xiongnu. The Xiongnu were a people whom the Five Emperors(Yellow Emperor, Emperor Zhuanxu, Emperor Ku, Emperor Yao, and Emperor Shun) could not make their subjects, nor could the Three Sovereigns(Yu, the Great, King Tang of Shang, King Wu of Zhou) bring them fully under control. That they have now been brought to submission is therefore most manifest.

    “I dare not range too far into remote antiquity, but shall instead take examples from the Qin onward to make the matter clear. Despite the might of the First Emperor of Qin and the power of General Meng Tian, they still did not dare press beyond the Western River, and so they built the Great Wall to mark the boundary. Then, when the Han dynasty first rose, despite the majesty and martial authority of Emperor Gaozu, an army of three hundred thousand men was besieged at Pingcheng. At that time, though there were many able strategists and wise ministers, the means by which they escaped remain unknown to this day. Later, during the reign of Empress Lü, the Xiongnu behaved with arrogance and insolence, and were appeased only through secret letters sent by powerful ministers.

    “During the reign of Emperor Wen, the Xiongnu invaded and plundered the northern frontier, and their scouts reached Yong and Ganquan. The capital was thrown into alarm, and three generals were dispatched to garrison Xiliu, Jimen, and Bashang as a precaution, remaining there for several months before being withdrawn. When Emperor Wu ascended the throne, he attempted to entice the Xiongnu into the trap at Mayi, but the effort ended in vain, wasting resources and exhausting the troops without even catching sight of a single Xiongnu, much less the Chanyu himself. Only after he had deeply considered the strategy necessary for the survival of the state and laid plans for generations to come did he mobilize several hundred thousand troops and send Wei Qing and Huo Qubing to command them. Over the course of more than ten years, they crossed the western reaches of the Yellow River, traversed the Gobi Desert, broke through Mount Tianyan, struck the Chanyu’s royal court, reached the furthest limits of Xiongnu territory, pursued the fleeing enemy, and offered sacrifice to Heaven on the Khentii Mountains and to Earth at Mount Guyan. They reached Lake Baikal and captured hundreds of Xiongnu nobles. From that time onward, the Xiongnu were filled with fear and sought peace through marriage alliances, yet even then they did not submit as vassals.

    “Did our predecessors willingly bear such immense expense and mobilize innocent people merely to satisfy ambitions to explore the northern wilderness? Certainly not. They understood that without a single great exertion, there could be no long-lasting peace, and that without temporary expense, there could be no enduring tranquility. Therefore they were willing to endure the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of troops in order to crush the jaws of those ravenous tigers, and to pour out the resources of the state treasury until they filled the ravines of Mount Lu(Mount Dianyan), without regret. At the beginning of the Benshi era(73 B.C.), the Xiongnu, harboring malicious intent, sought to seize Wusun and harassed the princess there. In response, we dispatched five generals leading one hundred and fifty thousand cavalry to attack them, yet gained little. The campaign served only to display our military might like thunder and wind. Although they returned empty-handed, two generals were nevertheless punished, which shows that the northern barbarians had not yet been subdued and that the Middle Kingdom still could not rest securely.

    “By the Yuankang(65 B.C.-) through Shenjue(61 B.C.) eras, however, great virtue and divine enlightenment had spread abroad, and the Xiongnu fell into internal strife, with five Chanyus contending for supremacy. The Rizhu King and Huhanye Chanyu came over to us and bowed in submission as vassals. Yet even then we held them only loosely and did not exercise full control as if over a maid. Since that time, we have not refused those who wished to come for an audience, nor have we compelled those who did not wish to come. Why is this so? Foreign peoples are by nature fierce and belligerent, formidable in appearance and strong in body. They rely upon strength and courage; they are difficult to transform through benevolence, yet easy to provoke through hostility. Their power is hard to subdue, and their goodwill hard to preserve. Therefore, before they have submitted, we labor our armies in distant campaigns, exhaust the resources of the state, heap up corpses, and shed blood in order to break their strength and overcome them, and even then it is achieved only with difficulty. But once they have submitted, we must appease and comfort them, maintain relations through gifts and ceremony, and observe bows and salutations with meticulous care, with every detail prepared and attended to.

    “In former times we sacked the cities of Dayuan, trampled the stockades of the Wuhuan, breached the walls of Guzeng, swept through the lands of Dangzi of the Western Qiang, cut down the banners of Joseon, and seized the standards of the Two Yues, Nanyue and Minyue. In nearby campaigns, no more than ten days or a month were required; in distant ones, the toil did not exceed that of two seasons. Thus we ploughed up their courts, swept clean their hamlets, turned them into commanderies and counties, and set officials over them. Like clouds dispersed and mats rolled up, they left behind no lingering calamity. Only the northern Xiongnu were not so easily dealt with. They are truly the great enemy of the Middle Kingdom. In this they far surpass those of the other frontiers. For this reason, the men of former ages esteemed the threat they posed all the more and never dared to take them lightly.

    “Now the Chanyu seeks with a sincere heart to return to allegiance, wishing to leave his court and present himself before Your Majesty. This accords with an ancient strategy long anticipated by the divine spirits. Even if it should entail expense to the state, it is an expense that must be borne. How can we refuse him on the grounds that he brings ill fortune from upstream of the Yellow River, keep him at a distance with vague promises of some uncertain future date, erase past favor, and open the way to future estrangement? Once we arouse suspicion and distance them, causing them to harbor resentment in their hearts, then if they repudiate their former pledges, seize upon past words, and lay their grievances upon Han, thereby cutting themselves off, in the end they will have no intention to face northward in submission. They will be beyond intimidation and beyond persuasion. How could this not become a great cause for anxiety?

    “A wise ruler perceives what has not yet taken form; a keen listener hears what has not yet made a sound. If we truly act before matters arise, there will be no need for arms and no cause for worries. Otherwise, once a breach has opened, then no matter how wise the advisers within or how eloquent the envoys without, it will still be inferior to preventing it beforehand. Moreover, our former efforts to control the Western Regions and establish commanderies, garrisons, and protectorates over the thirty-six states cost millions each year. Was this because we feared Kangju or Wusun might cross Bailongdui and invade our western frontier? No—it was done in order to control the Xiongnu. To labor for a hundred years and lose it in a single day, to spend ten in order to save one—this is what I find troubling for the state. I hope Your Majesty will consider how to prevent disorder and war before they arise, and thereby avert disaster on the frontier.”

    Upon reading the memorial, the Emperor was brought to his senses. He recalled the Xiongnu envoy and sent another letter to the Chanyu granting his request. Yang Xiong was rewarded with fifty bolts of silk and ten cattie of gold. The Chanyu, however, fell ill and sent another envoy to request permission to visit in the following year, and this too was granted by the Emperor.

    As Dong Xian’s intimacy with the Emperor grew ever more excessive, the Ding and Fu clans began to feel threatened by his influence. Meanwhile, Fu Yan, Marquis of Kongxiang, and Xifu Gong schemed to obtain positions of power from which they might direct the government. At this time, the Chanyu, because of illness, still had not come to court. Seizing upon the opportunity, Xifu Gong submitted a proposal, suggesting:

    “The Chanyu was supposed to cross the frontier in November, but later excused himself on grounds of illness and did not come, which raises suspicion that some other scheme is afoot. The two Kunmis of Wusun are weak, whereas Beiyuanzhi is strong and has allied himself with the Chanyu, even sending his son to attend at his side. There is reason to fear that they may join forces and overwhelm Wusun. If Wusun falls, the Xiongnu will grow stronger, and the Western Regions will be endangered. We may make use of a defector from the barbarians, have him impersonate an envoy of Beiyuanzhi, and send a letter to the Emperor petitioning that, by imperial authority, the Chanyu be ordered to return Beiyuanzhi’s hostage sons. This message can then be passed along so that the Xiongnu envoys will also hear of it. This is what is meant by the saying: ‘The highest form of warfare is to thwart the enemy’s strategy; next to that is to break his alliances.’”

    After the memorial was presented, the Emperor summoned Xifu Gong and convened the ministers and generals for discussion. Gongsun Lu, General of the Left, argued:

    “The Central Empire has always pacified the barbarians through authority and trust. Xifu Gong’s plan, which relies on deception and advances a strategy rooted in mistrust, is unacceptable. Moreover, the Xiongnu have long depended upon the virtue of the former emperors, guarding the frontier and maintaining their status as vassals. Now the Chanyu, because of illness, is unable to come to court to pay tribute, but he has sent an envoy to explain the matter and has not failed in his duty as a vassal. I, Gongsun Lu, believe that in my lifetime I shall never see the Xiongnu bring trouble to our borders.”

    Xifu Gong pulled at Gongsun Lu from behind and said, “I am making plans for the state, hoping to anticipate future developments and prepare for matters before they take shape, considering what may arise over generations to come. But Gongsun Lu would make his plans according to his old age and short span of life, looking only at what lies immediately before him. My views are not on the same plane as Gongsun Lu’s; we cannot even speak of them on the same day.”

    The Emperor said, “Well spoken!” He then dismissed the ministers and continued the discussion privately with Xifu Gong.

    Taking this opportunity, Xifu Gong further proposed: “Disasters and anomalies have been appearing with increasing frequency. I fear that some extraordinary event must be brewing. We should send the Grand General to inspect the frontier troops, strengthen our defenses, and execute a prefect in order to establish authority and overawe the barbarians on every side. In this way we would respond to these strange portents and anomalies.

    “Those who deliberate on government are troubled by men who are fawning, obsequious, and treacherous; who are glib and cunning in argument; and who are harsh and severe. In the past, Duke Mu of Qin did not follow the advice of Baili Xi and Jian Shu, and thus brought ruin upon his army. He afterward repented and blamed himself, loathed the ministers who had led him astray, and longed for the counsel of gray-haired elders; thus his name was passed down to later ages. I wish that Your Majesty would examine the warnings of antiquity, turning them over again and again for comparison, and not let the first words that enter your ears become fixed preconceptions.”

    The Emperor, however, did not listen.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 264): Seven Miseries And Seven Fatalities

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 264): Seven Miseries And Seven Fatalities

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 26 Scroll 34 (continued)

    Adult cuckoo bird feeding multiple open-mouthed nestlings in a nest
    A cuckoo bird feeds its hungry chicks fairly

    The 4th Year of Emperor Ai’s Jianping Era (3 B.C. continued)

    In June summer, Empress Dowager Fu was honored as Grand Empress Dowager.

    In autumn, on August 19, the Emperor issued an edict sharply rebuking the ministers and the Three Excellencies, stating: “In former times, the state of Chu had Ziyu as a minister, and Duke Wen of Jin sat leaning to one side out of respect due to him. More recently, Ji An thwarted the rebellious designs of the Prince of Huainan. Now, when men such as Liu Yun, Prince of Dongping, have plotted to assassinate the Son of Heaven and commit treason, this shows that the ministers and the Three Excellencies, who ought to serve as the arms and legs of the state, have failed to devote themselves with vigilance and wisdom to suppressing trouble before it arose. Fortunately, through the blessings of the ancestral temples, Dong Xian, Privy Counselor and Commandant of the Cavalry, together with others, discovered the plot and reported it. All the conspirators have accordingly been punished. Does not the Book of Documents say, ‘Employ virtue and confer benefit in order to manifest good deeds’? Therefore, I hereby enfeoff Dong Xian as Marquis of Gao’an,  Prefect of Nanyang Sun Chong, as Marquis of Fangyang, Left Bureau Chief and Grandee of Merit Xifu Gong, as Marquis of Yiling, and Youshi Tan as Marquis within the Passes.”

    In addition, he enfeoffed Fu Ye, son of Fu Zhengyun, a half-brother of Empress Dowager Fu, as Marquis of Yangxin.

    Xifu Gong, having now drawn close to the Emperor, frequently came forward to speak on affairs and argued without restraint, submitting memorials that sharply attacked the ministers and the Three Excellencies. People feared his words and avoided meeting his eyes when they saw him.

    The Emperor ordered the eunuchs to remove weapons from the Imperial Armory and, on ten separate occasions, deliver them to the residences of Dong Xian and Wang E, the Emperor’s wet nurse. The Bearer of the Mace[capital police chief] Wujiang Long, submitted a memorial stating:

    “The weapons in the Imperial Armory are intended for public use throughout the empire. The state’s military preparations, including repair and manufacture, are all funded by the Minister of Agriculture. Yet the funds of the Minister of Agriculture are not even used to support the Emperor’s personal needs; the Emperor’s maintenance labor and the granted rewards come from the Privy Treasury. In general, one must not draw upon what is stored for the root in order to supply the needs of the branches, nor must one harness the strength of the people for frivolous expenditures. To distinguish public from private and thereby manifest the proper way—herein lies the essential point.

    “In ancient times, when the feudal lords and regional commanders were permitted to carry out punitive expeditions on their own authority, they were then granted axes and halberds; likewise, under the Han, when frontier officers were charged with repelling invaders, they too were granted arms from the state arsenal. In every such case, these favors were bestowed only after duties had first been entrusted to them. According to the principles of the Spring and Autumn Annals, private households do not store armor, precisely in order to restrain ministerial power and diminish private force.

    “Now Dong Xian and the others are merely favored companions or petty consorts personally cherished by the Emperor, yet they are being supplied with the public resources of All-under-Heaven to provision their private residences; the awe-inspiring instruments of the state are being diverted to equip their households; the resources of the people are being apportioned to these frivolous favorites, and military weapons are being laid out for petty consorts. This is an arrangement contrary to propriety, one that fosters wantonness and usurpation. It is not the means by which an example is set for the four quarters. Confucius said, ‘If solemn music fit for the Son of Heaven is played in the halls of the three great ministerial families, what may not be done?’ I request that these arms be returned to the state arsenal.”

    The Emperor was displeased.

    Shortly thereafter, Empress Dowager Fu sent an usher to purchase eight female servantmaids from the Office of the Bearer of the Mace at a deliberately low price. Wujiang Long submitted a memorial, saying: “The purchase price was too low; I request that it be adjusted to the fair market value.”

    The Emperor then issued an edict to the Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate, stating: “Wujiang Long holds rank among the Nine Ministers, yet instead of addressing the deficiencies of the court, he submits a petition bargaining over prices with Yongxin Palace. This harms public morals and violates proper norms. In consideration of Wujiang Long’s earlier sound advice on matters of national security, he is hereby demoted to the post of Commandant of Pei Commandery.”

    Toward the end of Emperor Cheng’s reign, Wujiang Long had served as a Grand Master of Remonstrance and had once submitted a memorial stating: “In ancient times, outstanding feudal lords were chosen to become senior ministers, thereby displaying honor for merit and virtue. It would be fitting to summon the Prince of Dingtao to reside in the State Guesthouse, so that he may serve the needs of all under Heaven.” For this reason, the Emperor, who had formerly been the Prince of Dingtao, remembered his words and treated him with leniency.

    The Grand Master of Remonstrance, Bao Xuan of Bohai, submitted a memorial:

    “I have observed that during the reign of Emperor Cheng, affinal relatives wielded power, and all men pulled strings through their connections, filling the court with their favorites. This obstructed the way of worthy men, brought disorder to the realm, encouraged unbridled extravagance, and impoverished the common people. As a result, there were ten solar eclipses and four appearances of comets—omens of impending disaster—which Your Majesty personally witnessed. How is it, then, that matters are now becoming even worse than before?

    “Today, the people suffer from seven miseries. When yin and yang are out of harmony, floods and droughts arise: this is the first misery. When the government imposes heavy exactions and endlessly levies taxes and rents: this is the second misery. When greedy officials collude with one another and continue to extort bribes: this is the third misery. When powerful families prey upon the people and exploit them without restraint: this is the fourth misery. When oppressive officials conscript labor, disrupting the seasons of farming and sericulture: this is the fifth misery. When villagers beat the drum in alarm, and men and women pursue burglars along the roads: this is the sixth misery. When thieves and bandits plunder and seize the property of the people: this is the seventh misery.

    “If these seven miseries were not enough, there are also seven fatalities. When cruel officials beat people to death: this is the first fatality. When judgments in legal cases are excessively harsh: this is the second fatality. When the innocent are wrongly convicted and perish: this is the third fatality. When thieves and bandits rise up and commit acts of violence: this is the fourth fatality. When feuds and vendettas lead to mutual destruction: this is the fifth fatality. When bad harvests bring hunger and starvation: this is the sixth fatality. When pestilence and epidemic disease break out: this is the seventh fatality.

    “The people endure seven miseries without receiving a single benefit; to hope for peace in the state is indeed difficult. The people suffer seven fatalities without a single reprieve; to hope for leniency in the enforcement of the law and the abolition of harsh punishments is indeed difficult. Are these not the result of the greed and cruelty of ministers and prefects, who have brought about such degeneration?

    “The officials have been fortunate enough to occupy high positions and receive generous emoluments, yet where are those who show compassion for the common people and help Your Majesty spread virtue and instruct the masses? They seek only to benefit their own households, satisfy their clients, and pursue deceitful gain. They take compliance and concession for virtue, and keep their mouths shut while drawing their salaries, calling this wisdom. They regard men such as me, Bao Xuan, as foolish. Yet Your Majesty raised me from obscurity in the wilderness, sincerely hoping that I might contribute even the slightest assistance, like the feathers of a bird. Was it merely to bestow upon me fine food, high office, and a distinguished residence for no reason?

    “The realm belongs to Heaven above. Your Majesty is, above, the Son of August Heaven, and below, the father and mother of the common people. On behalf of Heaven, you shepherd and nurture the multitude and should regard them all alike, in accordance with the ode “The Cuckoo.” (an ode in the Book of Songs praising a cuckoo feeding all his seven offspring equally). Now the poor eat nothing but vegetables, wear tattered clothes, and cannot even protect their own families. This truly fills me with grief. If Your Majesty does not save them, to whom can they turn for help? How can Your Majesty instead lavish favor solely upon affinal relatives and beloved courtiers such as Dong Xian, bestowing rewards upon them in amounts of tens of thousands, and allowing their slaves, attendants, and retainers to drink wine as if it were water and consume veal as if it were beans, so that even lackeys and errand-runners become rich? This is not the will of Heaven.

    “As for Fu Shang, Marquis of Ruchang, he was enfeoffed without merit. Official titles and ranks are not for Your Majesty alone to dispense; they are offices of the empire, to be bestowed for the public good. If Your Majesty raises the unworthy to high position, how can Heaven approve and the people submit? Sun Chong, Marquis of Fangyang, and Xifu Gong, Marquis of Yiling, are eloquent enough to sway the multitude and brazen enough to act without restraint; they are the standard-bearers of the wicked and the most treacherous deceivers in the empire. It is time they were dismissed. As for the younger affinal relatives who have not yet studied the Classics, they should all be sent away to learn under proper teachers. The former Grand Commandant Fu Xi should be summoned with all urgency to restrain the affinal clans. He Wu, former Excellency of Works; Shi Dan; Kong Guang, former Chancellor; and Peng Xuan, former General of the Left, all served as Erudites and held offices among the Three Excellencies. Gong Sheng served as Director of Justice, and the selection of officials in the commanderies and principalities was always conducted with care. These men can be entrusted with great responsibilities. Previously, because Your Majesty could not tolerate a minor offense, He Wu and the others were dismissed, causing disappointment throughout the empire. Can Your Majesty tolerate so many who lack merit and virtue, yet not endure men such as He Wu and the rest? To govern the empire, one must take the heart of the empire as one’s own, and not act solely according to personal desires.”

    Although Bao Xuan’s words were caustic, the Emperor, recognizing him as a renowned Confucian scholar, treated him with forbearance.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 263): Passion of Cut Sleeve

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 26 Scroll 34 (continued)

    Royal person sleeping on ornate chair while attendant tends to leg wound
    Emperor Ai and Dong Xian

    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.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 262): Beyond Drawing Eyebrows

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 26 Scroll 34 (continued)

    Zhang Chang Painted Eyebrows for His Wife Every Day, Paint by Gai Qi (1773-1828)

    The 3rd year of Emperor Ai’s Jianping Era (4 B.C.)

    In January of spring, Liu Guanghan, the brother of Prince Yi of Guangde, was established as Prince of Guangping.

    On January 21, a fire broke out in the main hall of Gui Palace, where Empress Dowager Fu resided.

    The Emperor sent an envoy to summon Chancellor Ping Dang, intending to bestow a noble title upon him. Ping Dang, however, was gravely ill and did not answer the summons. Some members of his household urged him to force himself to rise and accept the marquisate for the sake of his descendants. Ping Dang said, “I have already occupied a high office and yet failed to fulfill my duties. If I rise now to accept the marquisate and then lie down again only to die, my death will bear even greater guilt. By not rising now, I am acting precisely for the sake of my descendants.” 

    He then submitted a letter requesting retirement, but the Emperor did not grant permission. On March 28, Ping Dang passed away.

    A comet appeared near the constellation Ox-Driver.

    In the summer, on April 17, Wang Jia was appointed Chancellor, and Wang Chong, Prefect of Henan, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate. Wang Chong was the son of Wang Jun, Intendant of Jingzhao. Observing the harsh and strained character of government at the time, as well as the constant rise and fall of prefects and ministers, Wang Jia submitted a memorial, saying:

    “I have heard that the achievement of a sage king lies in his ability to find the right men. Confucius said, ‘Talented men are hard to find’—is this not so? Therefore, ‘The succession of feudal lords by their sons was a means of emulating worthy forefathers.’ Even if the heirs were not all equally virtuous, the Son of Heaven selected ministers and principal officials to assist them. When these lords governed their states, they were honored for generations, and only then did the scholars and common people attach themselves to them. Thus education and culture flourished, and good government was established.

    “Today’s prefects are more important than the feudal lords of old. In former times, when the worthy were selected, capable men were so difficult to find that some were chosen even from among prisoners. Wei Shang was imprisoned for an offense, but Emperor Wen, moved by the words of Feng Tang, sent an envoy bearing a mandate to pardon him and appoint him Prefect of Yunzhong. Xiongnu feared him. Emperor Wu(should have been Emperor Jing) selected Han Anguo from among the prisoners and appointed him Interior Minister of Liang, thereby bringing peace to the Prince of Liang and his household. Zhang Chang, while serving as Intendant of Jingzhao, was about to be dismissed for an offense. A cunning official, knowing this, deliberately provoked him. Zhang Chang arrested and executed the man, but the dead man’s family sought redress, and an investigator reopened the case, accusing Zhang Chang of unlawful homicide. The case was submitted, but Emperor Xuan withheld judgment. After remaining a fugitive for more than ten days, Zhang Chang was recalled by Emperor Xuan and appointed Inspector of Jizhou, where he proved his worth. The previous emperors did not favor these three men out of personal partiality, but valued their talents because they were of benefit to the state.

    “During the time of Emperor Wen, some officials held office so long that they passed down the names of their offices as surnames to their children and grandchildren, as with the Cang and Ku families, who descended from officials in charge of granaries and storehouses. Officials of the two-thousand-picul rank took satisfaction in their offices and duties; as a result, superiors and subordinates alike were bound to mutual accountability, and no one dared act carelessly or neglect his responsibilities. Later, however, conditions gradually changed. Beginning with the highest ministers, appointments came to be made in haste, and policies were altered with constant frequency. The Inspector Colonel and the provincial inspectors examined matters with excessive minuteness, exposing even private affairs. Some officials remained in office only a few months before being replaced, so that farewells and receptions were continually seen along the roads. Men of average ability, if they could only comply and preserve themselves, did so; men of inferior ability harbored fear, looked inward only to secure their own positions, and in all things schemed for private advantage—and such men were many. Thus officials of the two-thousand-picul rank came increasingly to be slighted and held cheap; clerks and common people treated them with disdain. Some seized upon their minor faults, magnified them into crimes, and spoke of them to the inspectors and the Inspector Colonel of the Capital Region, or else submitted memorials accusing them before the Emperor. The populace, knowing how easily such officials might be imperiled, would, upon the slightest dissatisfaction, at once conceive thoughts of desertion and rebellion.

    “Formerly, when Su Ling and others of Shanyang rebelled, the officials and soldiers faced the crisis, yet none was willing to die for principles and righteousness, because the authority of the prefects and ministers had already been undermined. Emperor Cheng regretted this and therefore issued an edict that officials of the two-thousand-picul rank were not to be condemned for giving the accused the benefit of doubt. He also sent an envoy to reward them with gold, so as to reassure them, for he truly understood that in times of national peril the responsibility rested upon officials of the two-thousand-picul rank. Only if they were honored and not lightly overruled could they command their subordinates. Emperor Xuan valued those officials who governed the people with benevolence, and he would sometimes hold accusations in abeyance until they happened to coincide with a general amnesty.

    “According to former precedent, the State Secretariat was sparing in sending accusations down for prosecution, for such actions vexed and disturbed the common people: investigations and verifications would be undertaken, prosecutions ensued, and some would die in prison. Thus, only when the text of a charge contained the words ‘I dare to accuse this’ was it sent down. May Your Majesty devote your attention solely to the selection of the worthy, remember the good and forget the faults, show forbearance toward your ministers and sons, and not demand perfection from them. Among the officials of two-thousand-picul rank, the provincial inspectors, and the county magistrates of the Three Districts of the capital, if there are men of ability fit for office, human nature cannot but include some error or deviation. It is fitting to treat such matters with breadth and leniency, so that those who exert themselves to the utmost may find encouragement. This is the urgent task of the present age and the state’s immediate advantage.

    “Previously, when Su Ling rebelled, it was decided to send an official to investigate, yet there was no suitable man to dispatch. Yin Feng, magistrate of Zhouzhi County, was then summoned, appointed Grand Master of Remonstrance, and sent to deal with the matter. Today, capable officials are very few. Those who show promise should be nurtured and trained in advance, so that in times of crisis they will not hesitate to sacrifice themselves. To seek talent in the haste of an emergency is not the way to display the clarity and wisdom of the court.”

    Wang Jia then recommended such confucianists as Gongsun Guang and Man Chang, as well as capable officials such as Xiao Xian and Xue Xiu, all of whom had previously served in offices of the two-thousand-picul rank and enjoyed good reputations. The Emperor accepted his recommendations and employed them.

    In June, Liu Min, the son of Prince Qing of Lu and Marquis of Wuxiang, was established as the Prince of Lu.

    Because the Emperor’s illness had not yet stabilized, the Grand Empress Dowager (Wang Zhengjun) issued an edict in winter, on November 5, ordering the restoration of the Taiyi Altar at Ganquan and the Earth Shrine at Fenyin, and the abolition of the sacrificial rites at the southern and northern suburbs. As the Emperor himself was unable to go in person either to Ganquan or to the region east of the Yellow River, he sent officials to carry out the ceremonies and offer the sacrifices.

    In Wuyan County, the loess on Mount Wei suddenly rose up, covering the grass like a roadway. Moreover, a stone on Mount Hu moved and stood upright. Liu Yun, Prince of Dongping, and his queen, Ye, personally went to the site to offer sacrifices. They set up a stone resembling the one on Mount Hu, bound bundles of cogon grass, and worshiped it. Xifu Gong of Henei and Sun Chong of Chang’an conspired to accuse others, saying, “This is a good opportunity to seek a marquisate.” They then joined with the Court Gentleman Youshi Tan and reported Liu Yun to the imperial court through the Attendant-in-ordinary Song Hong.

    At that time, the Emperor was ill and beset by many taboos and apprehensions, so the matter was handed over to the responsible officials for investigation. Queen Ye of Dongping was arrested and imprisoned. She confessed that she had performed sacrificial rites and curses in prayer for Liu Yun to become Emperor, claiming that the upright stone was an omen corresponding to Emperor Xuan’s rise to the throne. The officials requested that the Prince be executed, but an imperial decree was issued instead demoting him and exiling him to Fangling. Liu Yun then committed suicide, while his queen Ye, her uncle Wu Hong, and Madame Fang, Emperor Cheng’s aunt and the Marchioness Gong of Ancheng, were all executed in the marketplace. The case also implicated Wang Chong, Grand Master of the Censorate, who was demoted to Minister of Agriculture. Sun Chong was promoted to Prefect of Nanyang, Youshi Tan to Commandant of Yingchuan, and Song Hong and Xifu Gong were both appointed Grandee of Merit, Left Bureau Chief, and Palace Stewards.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 261): An Occultist’s Apocrypha

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 261): An Occultist’s Apocrypha

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 26 Scroll 34 (continued)

    Oracle Bone Script Used for Divination

    The 2nd year of Emperor Ai’s Jianping Era (5 B.C. continued)

    During the reign of Emperor Cheng, a man from Qi named Gan Zhongke fabricated two texts, the Calendar of the Heavenly Offices and the Scripture of Great Peace, in twelve volumes. He claimed that the Han dynasty was approaching the great end of Heaven and Earth and should therefore receive a new mandate from Heaven. He transmitted these doctrines to Xia Heliang of Bohai and others. Liu Xiang, Colonel of the Central Garrison, reported that Gan Zhongke was feigning powers derived from ghosts and spirits in order to deceive the Emperor and delude the people. Gan Zhongke was imprisoned and confessed, but he died of illness before his sentence could be carried out. Xia Heliang and others nevertheless continued to spread his teachings in secret.

    After the Emperor ascended the throne, Xie Guang, Inspector Colonel of the Capital region, and Li Xun, Commander of the Cavalry, introduced Xia Heliang and others, all of whom were then serving on temporary assignment as Yellow Gate attendants. They were frequently summoned to present their arguments, declaring:

    “The House of Han had already declined in mid-course and ought to have received a new mandate. Emperor Cheng did not respond to Heaven’s command; therefore his line was cut off. Now the Emperor has long been ill, and prodigies and anomalies have repeatedly appeared. This is the means by which Heaven reproaches and warns mankind. It is fitting that the court swiftly change the era name and alter the imperial appellation; only then may the Emperor’s years be prolonged, imperial sons be born, and the omens of disaster cease. If that which has been obtained through the mandate is not put into practice, then there will be no calamity or misfortune that does not occur. A great flood will arise, and a disaster of fire will also come, sweeping the people away.”

    The Emperor, having long been ill and hoping to derive some benefit from these measures, ultimately accepted the proposals of Xia Heliang and the others. He issued an edict granting a general amnesty throughout the realm, renamed the second year of the Jianping era as the first year of the Taichu era, and assumed the title “Divinely Blessed, Peaceful Emperor Liu.” The length of the day was set at 120 units on the water clock, an increase of twenty over the previous 100 units.

    In July of autumn, the area of Yongling Pavilion on the northwestern plain of Weicheng was designated as the preliminary site of the Emperor’s mausoleum. No people from the commanderies or principalities were required to relocate there.

    A little more than a month after the Emperor changed his title, his illness remained unabated. Xia Heliang and the others again sought to alter state affairs arbitrarily, but the senior ministers strongly opposed them and argued that such measures should not be permitted. Xia Heliang and his group then submitted a memorial stating: “The high ministers are ignorant of the heavenly mandate. The Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate should be dismissed, and Xie Guang and Li Xun should be appointed to assist in governance.”

    The Emperor, seeing that their prophecies were baseless and had not been fulfilled, issued an edict in August, stating: “The attendant candidates Xia Heliang and others proposed changing the era name and the imperial title, as well as increasing the unit of time measurement, in order to secure the enduring stability of the state. I trusted their doctrine without sufficient scrutiny and mistakenly listened to their words, hoping thereby to bring blessings to the people, yet no auspicious signs came to pass. To err and not correct it—this is truly a mistake. The edict of June 10, with the exception of the amnesty, is to be entirely revoked. Xia Heliang and the others, who have departed from the right way and misled the people, are to have their treacherous conduct thoroughly investigated.”

    As a result, all of them were imprisoned and executed. Xie Guang and Li Xun had their death sentences commuted by one degree and were exiled to Dunhuang Commandery.

    Because of his lingering illness, the Emperor restored all the temples to the gods that had been established by previous generations, more than seven hundred in number, and in a single year thirty-seven thousand sacrifices were offered.

    Empress Dowager Fu continued to harbor resentment toward Fu Xi. She instructed Fu Yan, the Marquis of Kongxiang, to hint to Chancellor Zhu Bo that he should submit a memorial seeking Fu Xi’s removal from his marquisate. Zhu Bo discussed the matter with Zhao Xuan, Grand Master of the Censorate. Zhao Xuan remarked, “The Emperor has already made his decision; would it not be improper to raise the matter again?”

    Zhu Bo replied, “I have already given my word to the Marquis of Kongxiang. Even an ordinary man may compel another to risk his life through a pledge; how much more so the supreme ruler, the Empress Dowager? I have no choice but either to do it or to die.” Zhao Xuan thereupon agreed.

    Zhu Bo was reluctant to single out Fu Xi alone in his memorial. He recalled that He Wu, the former Grand Excellency of Works and Marquis of Sixiang, had likewise been dismissed for a similar offense and sent back to his fief. Accordingly, Zhu Bo submitted a memorial stating: “Fu Xi and He Wu, while in office, were of no benefit to the government. Although they have already been dismissed, it is inappropriate for them to retain their marquisates. I request that both be stripped of their titles and reduced to commoner status.”

    The Emperor, knowing that Empress Dowager Fu had long borne a grudge against Fu Xi, suspected that Zhu Bo and Zhao Xuan were acting under her orders. He summoned Zhao Xuan to the Office of the State Secretariat for questioning, and Zhao Xuan confessed. An imperial edict was then issued: “Let Peng Xuan, General of the Left, together with the officials of the central court, investigate this matter.”

    Peng Xuan and the others reported: “Zhu Bo, Zhao Xuan, and Fu Yan acted unrighteously and with disrespect. We request that they be summoned to the imperial prison and handed over to the Minister of Justice.”

    The Emperor reduced Zhao Xuan’s death sentence by three degrees and confiscated one-fourth of Fu Yan’s fief. He also dispatched a special envoy to summon Chancellor Zhu Bo to the Minister of Justice. Zhu Bo committed suicide, and his marquisate was abolished.

    In September, Ping Dang, the Grand Chamberlain, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate. In winter, on October 1, he was promoted to Chancellor. Because this appointment fell outside the customary season for the enfeoffment of marquises, he was instead granted the title of Marquis Within the Pass. Wang Jia of Pingling, Intendant of Jingzhao, was appointed the new Grand Master of the Censorate.

    The Emperor wished to place members of the Ding and Fu clans in key positions. In this same year, Peng Xuan of Huaiyang, General of the Left, was dismissed and sent home with the title of Marquis Within the Pass. In his place, Ding Wang, the Grand Chamberlain, was appointed General of the Left.

    Beiyuanzhi, chieftain of the Wusun, invaded and plundered the western borderlands of the Xiongnu. The Chanyu dispatched troops to attack him, killing several hundred people, capturing more than a thousand, and driving off cattle and other livestock. Fearing further retaliation, Beiyuanzhi sent his son Qulu to the Xiongnu as a hostage. The Chanyu accepted him and reported the matter to the Han court. The Emperor then sent an envoy to reprimand the Chanyu and demanded the return of Beiyuanzhi’s son. The Chanyu obeyed the order and sent him back.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 260): Four Is A Crowd

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 26 Scroll 34

    Duration of 3 years

    Drum Demon

    The 2nd year of Emperor Ai’s Jianping Era (5 B.C.)

    In January of spring, a comet appeared near the Cowherd star (Altair).

    The Ding and Fu clans were growing increasingly imperious and extravagant, and all resented Fu Xi’s frugality and humility. In addition, Empress Dowager Fu wished to seek a more exalted title so as to place herself on the same level as Emperor Cheng’s Grand Empress Dowager(Wang Zhengjun). Fu Xi, together with Kong Guang and Shi Dan, all maintained that this was unacceptable. The Emperor greatly valued the opinions of his officials, yet he was also under internal pressure from Empress Dowager Fu, and so he remained indecisive on the matter for more than a year. Empress Dowager Fu became extremely angry, and the Emperor, having no other choice, first removed Shi Dan in order to give Fu Xi a warning. Fu Xi, however, ultimately did not heed it. Zhu Bo and Fu Yan, the Marquis of Kongxiang, formed an alliance and conspired to press for the exalted title. They met frequently with the Emperor in his leisure hours and submitted sealed memorials criticizing Fu Xi and Kong Guang. On February 20, the Emperor decided to dismiss Fu Xi from court and send him home with only his marquisate.

    Since the abolition of the office of Grand Master of the Censorate, many had argued that the system had departed from ancient practice. In the Han dynasty, from the imperial title down to the assistant managers, nearly everything differed from antiquity, and only the Three Excellencies now had been altered, leaving their duties unclear and of no benefit to governance. Zhu Bo therefore proposed: “According to the old system, officials with salaries of two thousand piculs who had received the highest evaluations were selected from among the commanderies and principalities, and the best among them was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate. A capable Grand Master of the Censorate was then promoted to Chancellor. Thus the order of rank was established so as to honor the Emperor’s virtue and emphasize the importance of state affairs. Now, however, the Chancellor is appointed directly from among ministers of two thousand piculs, without first passing through the office of Grand Master of the Censorate. As a result, the authority of these offices has been diminished and no longer reflects the importance of affairs of state. I humbly suggest that the office of Grand Excellency of Works be abolished, that the office of Grand Master of the Censorate be restored, and that the old system be followed. I am willing to devote my utmost efforts as Grand Master of the Censorate, and thereby set an example for the other ministers.” 

    The Emperor agreed.

    In the summer, on April 2, Zhu Bo was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate, having been demoted from Chancellor. In addition, Ding Ming, the elder brother of Queen Dowager Ding and Marquis of Yang’an, was appointed Grand Marshal and General of the Guards, with an office and official staff assigned to him; thus the office of Grand Marshal was reinstated according to the old system.

    Empress Dowager Fu also issued decrees of her own to the Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate, declaring: “Fu Xi, Marquis of Gaowu, has been disloyal to the Emperor. He colluded with the former Grand Excellency of Works, Shi Dan, disobeyed orders, and harmed the imperial clan. He must not be permitted to attend court, but should be banished to his march.”

    During the reign of the late Emperor, Chancellor Kong Guang had disputed the succession of the King of Dingtao, the present Emperor, and in doing so had deeply offended Empress Dowager Fu. Consequently, once the Fu family came to power, they joined with Zhu Bo in discrediting and slandering Kong Guang. On April 19, Kong Guang was reduced to commoner status.

    Grand Master of the Censorate Zhu Bo was promoted to Chancellor and granted the title of Marquis of Yangxiang, while Zhao Xuan, the Privy Treasurer, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate. When the certificate of appointment was issued and they ascended to the imperial hall to receive it, there arose a loud sound like that of a bell, heard by all the palace attendants. The Emperor inquired about it from Yang Xiong of Shu Commandery and Li Xun, both Yellow Gate Gentlemen-in-Attendance.

    Li Xun replied: “This is what the Grand Laws chapter of the Book of Documents calls a drum demon. According to the text, when an unwise ruler is confused by the multitude, and admits into court men who possess reputation without substance, then there will be sound without form, and its source will be unknown. The book says, ‘If it occurs in the middle of the year, the month, and the day, it should implicate the prime ministers.’ Now it is April, and the strange phenomenon occurred around noon, which indicates the middle. The prime ministers refer to the executive ministers. It would therefore be appropriate to remove the Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate in response to this sign from Heaven. Yet even if they are not removed, should they fail to retire within a year, misfortune will befall them of itself.”

    Yang Xiong also chimed in: “The drum demon signifies a failure to heed counsel. Zhu Bo is obstinate and crafty, which suggests that he is suited to be a general rather than Chancellor; otherwise, if Heaven is angered, there may be sudden and severe calamities.”

    The Emperor did not heed them.

    As Zhu Bo was now Chancellor, the Emperor adopted his advice and issued an edict: “The title Emperor Gong of Dingtao shall no longer be used. The Empress Dowager Gong shall be honored as Grand Empress Dowager, and her residence shall be called Yongxin Palace. The Queen Dowager Gong(Consort Ding) shall be honored as Empress Dowager, and her residence shall be called Zhong’an Palace. A tomb shall be established in the capital for Emperor Gong, in accordance with the precedent set for Emperor Xuan’s father, Emperor Dao.”

    Thus, each of the four empress dowagers came to have her own Privy Treasury and Imperial Stables, each headed by a minister with a salary of two thousand piculs. Empress Dowager Fu, now honored as the Grand Empress Dowager, became especially imperious. When speaking with the Grand Empress Dowager Wang, she even referred to her as the “old woman.”

    At that time, the Ding and Fu clans rose rapidly in influence within the span of only a few years, and many high ministers and marquises emerged from their ranks. However, the Emperor did not grant them power on the same scale that the Wang family had enjoyed during the reign of Emperor Cheng.

    Chancellor Zhu Bo and Grand Master of the Censorate Zhao Xuan submitted a memorial stating: “Dong Hong, the former Marquis of Gaochang, was the first to propose changing the honorific titles of the Emperor’s parents. Yet he was accused by Shi Dan, the Marquis Within the Pass, and was reduced to commoner status. At that time, the realm was in mourning and authority had been entrusted to Shi Dan. Failing to understand the significance of these honorific titles, Shi Dan made groundless objections and demeaned them, thereby injuring filial piety, which is a grave act of disloyalty. Your Majesty, in your benevolence and wisdom, should make these honorific titles manifest. Dong Hong ought to be restored as Marquis of Gaochang in recognition of his loyalty and filial piety. As for Shi Dan, who has shown himself rebellious and violent, although he has been pardoned, he should not be permitted to retain any title or fief. We request that he be reduced to commoner status.” The request was approved.

    They further proposed: “Wang Mang, Marquis of Xindu, formerly held the office of Grand General. He did not uphold the significance of these honorific titles, but instead belittled them, thereby injuring filial piety, and should be severely punished. Although he has received a pardon, he should not be allowed to retain any title or land. We request that he be reduced to commoner status.”

    The Emperor said, “Since Wang Mang is connected to the Grand Empress Dowager, do not reduce him to commoner status; instead, send him back to his march.” The same treatment was extended to Wang Ren, Marquis of Ping’e, who had sheltered the relatives of Zhaoyi(Consort) Zhao; all were sent back to their fiefs.

    People throughout the realm felt that the Wang family had been mistreated and sympathized with them. The Grand Master of Remonstration Yang Xuan submitted a sealed memorial, saying: “Emperor Cheng gave profound thought to the importance of the ancestral temple and praised Your Majesty’s supreme virtue as the continuation of Heaven’s mandate. His sacred intentions were deep, and his grace was boundless. It is well known that the late Emperor intended for Your Majesty to succeed him and serve in the Eastern Palace. The Grand Empress Dowager, now seventy years of age, mourns constantly and has ordered her relatives to avoid contention with the Ding and Fu families, so that even people along the roads weep for her. How could this not cause Your Majesty to reflect deeply? At this moment, when Your Majesty stands aloft and gazes far off toward the Yanling Mauselum, does Your Majesty not feel humbled before Emperor Cheng?” 

    The Emperor was deeply moved by his words and restored the title of Marquis of Chengdu to Wang Yi, the second son of Wang Shang.

    Zhu Bo also submitted a memorial: “According to Han precedent, the provincial inspectors held low salary ranks yet received substantial rewards, and thus achievements were encouraged and promotion advanced. Previously, however, the office of inspector was abolished and replaced by that of governor, which carried a full salary rank of two thousand piculs and stood just below the Nine Ministers. Whenever vacancies arose among the Nine Ministers, governors with the highest merit ratings were appointed to fill them. Those of middling ability merely guarded their positions. I fear that, as a result, the function of supervision has been weakened and deceitful practices are no longer restrained. I request that the office of provincial governor be abolished and that the office of inspector be restored.” The Emperor agreed.

    On June 5, Empress Dowager Ding passed away. An edict was issued ordering her burial in the garden of Emperor Gong of Dingtao. Fifty thousand men were conscripted from the nearby commanderies of Chenliu and Jiyin to excavate the grave and complete the reburial.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 259): Heroine Zhaoyi Feng

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 25 Scroll 33 (continued)

    Lamp in Changxin Palace

    The 1st year of Emperor Ai’s Jianping Era (6 B.C. continued)

    On January 4, Grand Master of Merit Fu Xi was appointed Grand Marshal and granted the title of Marquis of Gaowu.

    In autumn, on September 15, two meteorites fell in Yu County.

    The Chamberlain Ling Bao, the Gentleman of the Yellow Gate Duan You, and others again submitted a memorial, saying: “The Empress Dowager Gong of Dingtao (formerly Zhaoyi Fu of Emperor Yuan and grandmother of the Emperor) and the Queen Dowager Gong of Dingtao (Madame Ding, the Emperor’s mother) should not retain the designation of the Dingtao fief in their exalted titles. Their carriages, clothing, and all other distinctions should conform to the imperial style, and officials below the rank of 2,000 piculs should be appointed to attend to their needs. Furthermore, a temple should be built in the capital for Emperor Gong of Dingtao.”

    The Emperor again issued a decree, and many officials, accommodating themselves to his wishes, agreed: “The mother is honored through her son; it is proper to establish a still more exalted title in order to manifest filial piety.”

    Only Chancellor Kong Guang, Grand Marshal Fu Xi, and Grand Excellency of Works Shi Dan dissented. Shi Dan said: “The sage kings established rites in accordance with the principles of Heaven and Earth. The distinctions between high and low exist in order to rectify the positions of Heaven and Earth, and must not be disturbed. Now, to append the designation ‘Gong of Dingtao’ to the titles of the Empress Dowager Gong of Dingtao and the Empress of Dingtao implies that the mother follows the son and the wife follows the husband. To establish officials for them, and to grant them carriages and garments comparable to those of the Grand Empress Dowager, does not make clear the principle that ‘under one ruler there cannot be dual sovereignty.’ The title Empress Dowager of Dingtao and its posthumous designation have already been settled and should not be altered.

    “According to the rites: ‘If the father is a gentleman and the son is the Son of Heaven, he sacrifices to his father with the rites of the Son of Heaven, but wears the mourning garments of a gentleman.’ A son has no principle by which he may ennoble his father with rank—this is the proper way to honor father and mother.

    “He who is made heir to another becomes that man’s son; therefore, for the one to whom he is heir, he wears the full three years of unhemmed sackcloth mourning gown, while for his own father and mother he reduces it to the one-year term. This makes clear that one honors the original ancestor and esteems the proper line of succession.

    “The Filial Emperor Cheng, whose sacred grace was deep and far-reaching, therefore established an heir for Prince Gong, so as to uphold and continue his sacrifices, causing Emperor Gong of Dingtao to stand as the Great Ancestor of one state, not to be destroyed for ten thousand generations. Grace and duty were thereby already complete.

    “Your Majesty has now inherited the person of the late Emperor, upholding the great ancestral line and bearing responsibility for the sacrifices of the ancestral temples, of Heaven and Earth, and of the altars of soil and grain. In principle, you cannot again serve the sacrifices of Emperor Gong of Dingtao by bringing them into the late Emperor’s temple.

    “Now, to wish to establish a temple in the capital and have the ministers and officials sacrifice to him is to leave him without a proper presiding descendant. Moreover, when kinship is exhausted, the temple should be destroyed. To cast aside the sacrifice of the Great Ancestor of one state, which ought not to fall, and instead follow an irregular rite—one without a proper presiding heir and one that should be destroyed when kinship is exhausted—this is not the correct way to honor and magnify Emperor Gong.”

    Shi Dan gradually lost the Emperor’s regard through his repeated dissent.

    At that time, a memorial was presented, saying: “In ancient times, tortoise shells and cowrie shells were used as currency; now they have been replaced by coins. Because of this, the people have become poorer, and it is appropriate to reform the currency.”

    The Emperor asked Shi Dan for his opinion, and Shi Dan agreed that the currency should be changed. However, the officials charged with reviewing the memorial considered it impractical to alter the coinage after it had been in use for so long. Shi Dan, already advanced in age, forgot his earlier view and instead concurred with the opinion of the other officials.

    Furthermore, Shi Dan had instructed an aide to draft a memorial, but the aide secretly kept a copy of it. When the relatives of the Ding and Fu families learned of this, they sent someone to submit a memorial accusing Shi Dan of “submitting sealed memorials, while men in the streets hold copies of his drafts.” The Emperor consulted the generals and ministers, and they all replied: “Loyal ministers ought not to make their criticisms known to the public. When ministers submit sealed memorials, they must not be leaked; such improper conduct should be dealt with by the Minister of Justice.” The case was therefore referred to the Minister of Justice, and Shi Dan was charged with grave disrespect.

    Before the matter had been settled, the Palace Steward and Erudites Shen Xian and Gui Qin submitted a memorial, saying: “Shi Dan’s learning in the Classics and his exemplary conduct are outstanding; among recent ministers, few can compare with him. Moved by deep feeling, he submitted a sealed memorial, but in allowing his chief clerk to handle it without sufficient care, it was leaked. The fault for the leak does not lie with Shi Dan himself. If he is demoted on this account, public opinion may not be satisfied.” The Emperor thereupon demoted Shen Xian and Gui Qin by two ranks each.

    Shi Dan was then dismissed with the following statement: “We, considering your station exalted and your charge weighty, find that you harbor deceit and mislead the state, advancing and withdrawing memorials contrary to my intent, wavering back and forth and speaking inconsistently. This is a great disgrace to you.

    “Yet because you once held the office of Grand Tutor, I have not had the heart to hand you over to the Minister of Justice for investigation and punishment. Let the seals and ribbons of the Grand Excellency of Works and the Marquis of Gaole be surrendered. You are hereby dismissed and sent back to private life.”

    The Director of the State Secretariat, Tang Lin, then submitted a memorial, saying: “I have seen the decree dismissing Grand Excellency of Works Shi Dan, and I am deeply pained by it. When a gentleman composes writings, he conceals the faults of the worthy.

    “Shi Dan, in his mastery of the Confucian Classics, has served as a model for the scholars of the age; in virtue, he has been a venerable elder of the state. He personally instructed Your Sacred Majesty, and his rank stood among the Three Excellencies. The error for which he was condemned was slight, and within the Four Seas no one has seen in him any grave fault. The matter is already past; to deprive him of rank was too severe. Those in the capital who understand such things all deem it fitting that Shi Dan’s rank and fief be restored, so that he may again attend court audiences.

    “I pray only that Your Majesty, weighing and observing the hearts of the multitude, may find some means to comfort and restore a minister who once served as imperial tutor.”

    The Emperor agreed with Tang Lin’s words and issued an edict granting Shi Dan the title of Marquis Within the Pass.

    The Emperor also followed Du Ye’s advice and summoned Zhu Bo, reinstating him as Grand Master of Merit and then promoting him to Intendant of Jingzhao. In winter, on October 23, Zhu Bo was appointed Grand Excellency of Works.

    The Prince of Zhongshan, Liu Jizi, had suffered from blue baby syndrome since childhood. His grandmother, Queen Dowager Feng of Zhongshan, formerly Zhaoyi Feng of Emperor Yuan, personally cared for him and frequently prayed and made offerings at temples. The Emperor sent Zhang You, an usher-physician, to treat him in the principality of Zhongshan. Zhang You, who was known for mental instability and erratic behavior, fell ill while in Zhongshan, lost his reason, and returned on his own to Chang’an in the west. The Ministry of Personnel reprimanded him for abandoning his post. Fearing punishment under such pressure, Zhang You falsely accused the Queen Dowager of Zhongshan, formerly Zhaoyi[Lady of Bright Deportment] Feng, of cursing the Emperor and Dowager Empress Fu.

    Dowager Empress Fu and Queen Dowager Feng of Zhongshan had both served Emperor Yuan, and Dowager Empress Fu harbored old resentment against her. Censor Ding Xuan was therefore appointed to investigate the matter. After several days, no evidence was found. The Emperor then sent Shi Li, Chief Usher and a eunuch, to take charge of the case. Hoping to win the title of marquis, Shi Li followed the wishes of Dowager Empress Fu and investigated the Queen Dowager Feng’s female relatives, including her younger sister Feng Xi and her sister-in-law Junzhi, causing the deaths of several dozen people. He then falsely reported that they had plotted to murder the Emperor and place the Prince of Zhongshan on the throne.

    Queen Dowager Feng was interrogated but did not confess. Shi Li said, “How was it that you were so brave when facing a bear in court, yet so cowardly now?” The Queen Dowager then told her attendants, “This is language from the inner palace of the previous generation. How could this official know of it? They are trying to frame me!” She then took poison and killed herself. Among those accused, including Feng Shen, Marquis of Yixiang, Junzhi, Feng Xi and her husband, as well as their children, some committed suicide and others were executed, for a total of seventeen deaths. Everyone mourned them.

    Sun Bao, Inspector Colonel of the Capital Region, petitioned for a review of the Feng family case. Dowager Empress Fu was greatly enraged and said, “The Emperor has appointed the Inspector Colonel to supervise and investigate me! The matters concerning the Feng family are already clear. They wish to expose and malign me, and I shall be condemned for it!” The Emperor accordingly followed her wishes and imprisoned Sun Bao.

    Tang Lin, Director of the State Secretariat, disputed this decision, and the Emperor demoted him to Dunhuang as Marquis of Yuzezhang, accusing him of partisanship. Grand Marshal Fu Xi and Grand Master of Merit Gong Sheng firmly contested the matter as well. After soothing Dowager Empress Fu, the Emperor released Sun Bao and restored him to office. Zhang You, having been the first to bring the accusation, was granted the title of Marquis Within the Pass, and Shi Li was promoted to Grand Coachman.