Reflection by Rio Grande

Tag: Bu Shi

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 161): Killing The Goose Laying Golden Eggs

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 12 Scroll 20 (continued)

    Penglai Island, Painting by Yuan Jiang(1671-1746）

    The 1st year of Emperor Wu’s Yuanfeng Era (110 B.C.)

    In October of winter, an imperial decree was issued: “The offenses of Nanyue and Dongyue are punished; the harmony among the Western Barbarians and Northern Tribes remains incomplete. We, personally, will undertake a border inspection, wielding the military authority, appointing twelve generals, and leading the troops in person.”

    The Emperor began his journey, traversing from Yunyang county, through Shangjun, Xihe, and Wuyuan, venturing beyond the Great Wall, ascending the Chanyu Terrace in the north, and arriving at Shuofang by the Northern Yellow River. He mustered an army of 180,000 cavalry, with banners and flags stretching over a thousand li, to display his martial prowess and instill awe in the Xiongnu.

    He dispatched an emissary, Guo Ji, to notify the Chanyu: “The king of Nanyue has been captured near the northern borders of the Han. If the Chanyu desires battle, the Emperor will personally await him at the borders. However, if unwilling, submit and pay homage to the Han. Why flee so far to the bitter and barren land to the north without water or grass? Don’t do it!”

    Upon hearing this, the Chanyu flew into a rage, executing those who introduced the envoy but detaining Guo Ji and relocating him to the area of North Sea(Lake Baikal). However, the Xiongnu remained intimidated and dared not venture out.

    The Emperor then returned, paying homage at the tomb of the Yellow Emperor at Qiaoshan, releasing the troops in Xuru(an unknown place). 

    Perplexed, the Emperor asked, “I heard that the Yellow Emperor was immortal, why then is there a tomb?” 

    Gongsun Qing responded, “The Yellow Emperor ascended to heaven as an immortal. His courtiers venerated his memory and buried his ceremonial attire.” 

    The Emperor sighed and remarked, “When I ascend to heaven, will my courtiers also bury my ceremonial attire at the east tomb(a.k.a. Maoling)?” He then returned to Ganquan Palace, offering sacrifice at the Temple of Taiyi.

    The Emperor, displeased with Bu Shi‘s lack of proficiency in literature, demoted him to the position of the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, replacing him with Ni Kuan as the Grand Master of Censorate.

    The Han forces penetrated the territory of Dongyue. Dongyue had already raised an army to guard the region’s strongholds, assigning the General of Xunbei (attacking the north) to defend Wulin(Hangzhou). A soldier of Louchuan General, Yuan Zhonggu of Qiantang, beheaded the General of Xunbei. The former Marquis of Yueyan, Wu Yang, led seven hundred troops from his town to a mutiny against the Dongyue army at Hanyang. The Marquis of Jiancheng, Ao, along with King of Yao, Zou Jugu, both from Yue, killed Zou Yushan, thereafter Zou Yushan‘s troops surrendered. The Emperor ennobled Yuan Zhonggu as the Marquis of Yu’er, Wu Yang as the Marquis of Maoshi, Zou Jugu as the Marquis of Dongcheng, and Ao as the Marquis of Kailing.

    Furthermore, the Emperor ennobled Henghai General Han Yue as the Marquis of Andao, Henghai Colonel Liu Fu as the Marquis of Liaoying, and the surrendered general of Dongyue, Duojun, as the Marquis of Wuxi. Considering the treacherous topology of the Min (Fujian) region and its repeated rebellions, which would continue to cause troubles for future generations,  the Emperor decreed to all the generals that Minyue People be relocated to the area between the Yangtze River and the Huai River, thereby vacating the land.

    In January of spring, the Emperor embarked on a journey to visit Goushi, where he performed rituals and offerings at the Grand Temple of Central Mountain, Mount Taishi. His entourage at the foot of the mountain heard three times what seemed like the chant of “Long live!” A decree was issued to the ceremonial officials to expand the Grand Temple‘s rituals and offerings. Cutting trees and grass around the mountain was prohibited, and a fiefdom of three hundred households at the foot of the mountain was established to fund its maintenance.

    Continuing his eastern excursion, the Emperor paid homage to and offered sacrifices to the Eight gods at sea. Numerous individuals from the state of Qi submitted memorials about miracles and supernatural phenomena, numbering in the tens of thousands. The Emperor dispatched more boats and tasked thousands of people, who claimed to have witnessed magical mountains in the sea (perhaps a mirage), with seeking the legendary divine beings of Mount Penglai.

    Gongsun Qing was authorized to lead this expedition and scout for notable mountains, holding the imperial insignia. Upon reaching Donglai, he reported sighting a colossal figure, several zhang in height, but upon approach, it vanished, leaving enormous impressions on the ground resembling animal footprints. Some courtiers also reported seeing an elderly man walking a dog, saying, “I wish to see the Giant Grandpa (Son of Heaven),” and then disappearing suddenly. Upon hearing these reports of significant traces, the Emperor grew suspicious. By the time the ministers mentioned the elderly man, the Emperor, considering these to be divine beings, decided to stay and explore the sea further. He dispatched chariots and emissaries, numbering in the thousands, to seek these divine beings.

    In April of the summer, the Emperor proceeded to Fenggao and performed the rites to the Earth Goddess at Mount Liangfu (Shan). On April 19, the Emperor ordered the Confucian scholars among his attendants, wearing leather caps and tying writing tablets around their waists with ribbons, to conduct the ritual of shooting a bull and offering sacrifice to the Heaven God on the eastern side of Mount Tai (Feng), following the same ceremony used for sacrifices to Taiyi. An altar, twelve feet in width and nine feet in height, was erected, with a jade inscription buried underneath, containing secret writing. Upon completing the ritual, the Emperor alone, accompanied by the palace attendants and the Colonel of Charioteers, Huo Zihou (the son of Huo Qubing), ascended Mount Tai and saluted the Heavenly God again. This ritual was also kept secret. The next day, they descended via the North trail.

    On April 20, the Emperor performed the sacrificial rites at the northeastern side of Mount Suran below Mount Tai, following the same ritual used in the ceremony to worship the Earth Goddess. The Emperor personally paid respects, wearing yellow attire and kowtowing to the deity, accompanied by music. Grass mats made from three-edge reed in the Yangtze River and Huai River regions were laid beneath the offerings. Five-colored soils were used to build the altar. There were illuminations at night and white clouds emerging from the altar during the day. After the Emperor returned from the sacrificial ritual at Fenggao, he sat in the Bright Hall, where the ministers took their turns to offer longevity felicitations and praise his accomplishments.

    The imperial decree stated: “We, with my humble and short stature, have assumed the supreme authority. With great caution, we acknowledge our virtues as inadequate and our understanding of rites and music lacking. Therefore, we pray before the eight divine spirits, encountering the blessings of heaven and earth, perceiving clear signs, faintly as though there were some audible presence, trembling in the face of strange occurrences. We desired to stop but dared not, and thus ascended Mount Tai, reaching Mount Liangfu. Only then did we ascend Mount Suran, reflecting on the rejuvenation of the state, ushering in a fresh beginning, and fostering harmonious life with the scholars and ministers. Thus, the tenth month marks the first year of the Yuanfeng era.”

    “Along our tour route—Bo, Fenggao, Sheqiu, Licheng, Liangfu—the land taxes, rents, and arrears of the people have all been waived for this year without imposing any calculations. Raise one rank for the people of the entire nation.”

    The Emperor further stipulated that there would be a tour and ritual for the Heaven God at Mount Tai every five years. The feudal lords were instructed to build their residences at the foot of Mount Tai.

    Having ascended Mount Tai without any wind or rain, the occultists suggested the possibility of reaching Mount Penglai and encountering gods. The Emperor eagerly wished to sail east to search for Mount Penglai, despite the counsel of his courtiers, who were unable to dissuade him.

    Dongfang Shuo said, “Those who attain immortality do so naturally; there’s no need for impatient pursuit. If they possess  Tao(the Way), there is no worry about not encountering them; if they lack Tao(the Way), even reaching Penglai and seeing the gods would be of no avail. I implore Your Majesty to return to the palace and wait in tranquility; the immortals will come of their own accord.”

    The Emperor relented. However, during this time, Huo Zihou, the Colonel of Charioteers, fell gravely ill and passed away within a day. Huo Zihou was the son of Huo Qubing, and the Emperor deeply mourned his loss. The plans to sail across the sea were abandoned, and the Emperor traveled north to Mount Jieshi, then toured the western Liaoxi commandery and the northern border, reaching Jiuyuan. It was not until May that he arrived at Ganquan, having traveled a total of eighteen thousand li during this tour.

    Sang Hongyang had been appointed as Commandant of Grain Procurement and later as Agriculture Minister in charge of grain reserves, overseeing agriculture and managing the salt and iron monopolies across the empire. Sang Hongyang devised a system of price control, instructing distant regions to levy taxes based on the goods they traded, similar to those exchanged by merchants at different times. He established a fair price officer in the capital, who was responsible for the distribution of commodities from across the empire. Local officials in charge of agricultural affairs gathered goods from all over the country, selling them at higher prices when demand was high and buying them at lower prices when demand was low. This aimed to prevent wealthy merchants from making excessive profits and to stabilize the prices of commodities.

    During the Emperor’s tours of the counties and districts, he distributed rewards totaling over a hundred thousand bolts of silk and vast sums of money and gold, all provided from the treasury of the Minister of Agriculture. Additionally, Sang Hongyang proposed allowing officials to donate grain in exchange for filling vacancies or promotion, and to enable criminals to buy their way out of punishment. The grain transported from the provinces to the east of Xiao Mountain increased by six million picul annually, filling the granaries at Taicang and Ganquan. Surplus grain at the borders and various commodities were evenly distributed. There was a surplus of five million bolts of silk, yet the people did not face increased taxation, and the empire prospered.

    As a result of his achievements, Sang Hongyang was awarded the title of Left Privy Chancellor and two hundred catties of gold.

    At that time, there was a minor drought, and the Emperor ordered officials to pray for rain. Bu Shi said, “Local officials should focus on collecting taxes and duties, but now Sang Hongyang has instructed them to engage in market transactions and seek profits. When Sang Hongyang is boiled to death, then will heaven send rain.”

    In autumn, a comet was seen near the constellation Eastern Well, and about ten days later, another comet appeared near the constellation Three Stars. The astrologer Wang Shuo observed, “The observers only saw Saturn emerging, resembling a melon, and then it disappeared in an hour or so.” Officials all proclaimed, “Your Majesty’s conducting the Han ancestral rites has brought out the star of virtue.”

    Prince Hui of Qi, Liu Hong, passed away without leaving an heir, leading to the dissolution of the principality of Qi.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 160): Fear Factor

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 12 Scroll 20 (continued)

    Wulin (Hangzhou), Zhejiang Province

    The 6th year of Emperor Wu’s Yuanding Era (111 B.C. continued)

    In commemorating the victory in Nanyue, sacrifices were offered to Taiyi (the Polaris) and Mother Earth, marking the first use of music and dance for the occasion.

    The Marquis of Chiyi, Yi, mobilized the southern troops with the intention of attacking Nanyue. However, the Lord of Julan, fearing the long journey of the troops and the potential capture of the elderly and weak by neighboring tribes’ attacks, revolted with his followers. They killed the envoy along with the Prefect of Qianwei. In response, the Han court deployed the Eight Colonels Army, composed of convicts from the Ba and Shu commanderies, to attack Nanyue, sending General of the Household Guo Chang and Wei Guang to suppress the rebellion. They executed the Lord of Julan, the Lord of Qiongdu, and the Marquis of Zuodu, pacifying the southern ethnic groups and establishing Zangke Commandery.

    Initially allied with Nanyue, the Lord of Yelang saw Nanyue‘s downfall and decided to submit to the Han court. The Emperor recognized him as the King of Yelang. The Nanmeng tribes, feeling apprehensive, invited officials from the Han government and eventually established Qiongdu as the Yuesui Commandery, Zuodu as the Shenli Commandery, Nanmeng as the Wenshan Commandery, and the Baima tribe in the west of Guanghan as the Wudu Commandery.

    Earlier, the King of Dongyue (Dong’ou, Minyue), Zou Yushan, petitioned the Emperor, requesting to lead eight thousand soldiers to join Louchuan General‘s expedition against Lü Jia. The troops reached Jieyang, but adverse sea winds hindered their progress, forcing them to halt. Taking advantage of this delay, they secretly aligned with Nanyue. However, when Han forces defeated Nanyue at Panyu, they did not arrive to participate.

    Louchuan General Yang Pu requested permission to lead an army to attack Dongyue. However, due to the fatigue of the troops, the Emperor declined and ordered the generals to station their forces in Yuzhang and Meiling to await further orders. Upon hearing of Louchuan General‘s request to execute him, Zou Yushan rebelled, mobilizing his troops against the Han forces and holding strategic roads. General Zou Li, who was granted the title General of Annexing Han, and others led the troops. They entered the regions of Baisha, Wulin(Hangzhou), and Meiling, killing three Han Colonels.

    During this time, Han court envoys, Agriculture Minister Zhang Cheng and the former Marquis of Shancheng, Liu Chi, were stationed there but dared not engage the enemy, opting instead to retreat to safer places. Both were executed for their cowardice.

    The Emperor, intending to send Yang Pu out again due to his previous efforts, wrote a letter of reproach, stating: “Your merit lies only in breaking Shimen and Xunxia. You did not slay generals or seize banners on the battlefield. How can you be so conceited? You captured Panyu, treating surrendering individuals as prisoners and digging up the dead as trophies; that was one misconduct. You allowed Zhao Jiande and Lü Jia to win support from Dongyue; that was the second misconduct. Soldiers were exposed year after year, yet you, the general, did not remember their hard work. You requested to inspect the coast, returning home in government vehicles, wearing gold and silver seals, and three ribbons, boasting to your hometown folks—that was the third misconduct. Missing the deadline of return and blaming bad roads as an excuse—that was the fourth misconduct. We inquired about the price of knives in Shu, and you pretended to not know, deceiving me with false information; that was the fifth mistake.”

    “When receiving orders, you did not come to Lanchi Palace, and you even remained silent the next day. Suppose your subordinate officers were asked and stayed silent, or were instructed but did not comply; what punishment would they face? With such a mindset, can you be trusted between the rivers and seas? Now that Dongyue has deeply entered our territory, can you lead your troops to redeem your misconduct?”

    Frightened and filled with remorse, Yang Pu replied, “I am willing to die to atone for my mistakes!”

    The Emperor dispatched Henghai General Han Yue to Gouzhang to set sail from the east; Louchuan General Yang Pu departed from Wulin(Hangzhou), and the Commandant of Capital, Wang Wenshu, came out from Meiling. Meanwhile, the leaders from the south, Gechuan General Yi and Xialai General Jia, led troops from Ruoxie and Baisha to confront Dongyue.

    The Marquis of Bowang, Zhang Qian, had been granted honor and prestige for facilitating communication with the Western Regions. His subordinates vied to petition the Emperor regarding the peculiarities, advantages, and dangers of foreign countries, requesting to be dispatched as emissaries. The Emperor, aware of the distant and unenjoyable nature of these regions, listened to their requests, issued the necessary credentials, and allowed them to recruit from officials and civilians without questioning their origins. He sent them adequately prepared to broaden the horizons of the West.

    However, upon their return, some of these envoys engaged in embezzlement of currency, goods, and behaviors contrary to the Emperor’s will. The Emperor, aware of these practices, sternly punished them, using severe penalties to incite redemption. Yet, they continued to request further missions, creating a cycle of persistent disregard for the law. These officials and soldiers persisted in exaggerating accounts of foreign countries; those with grandiose tales were rewarded with credentials, while those with smaller accounts were relegated to subordinate positions. Thus, individuals with no verifiable accounts zealously sought to emulate them. The envoys dispatched were often individuals of modest means, seeking to exploit their position by illicitly embezzling gifts for foreign authorities, intending to sell them for personal gain.

    As a result, the people in foreign regions grew weary of Han envoys. They noticed the frivolous and overblown tales of the Han diplomats, considering the Han forces too distant to reach them. They restricted their food supplies to torment the Han envoys. This deprivation, along with accumulated grievances, led to attacks on the Han envoys by the foreign countries.

    Especially in regions like Loulan and Jushi, small states located along the main route, attacks against Han diplomats like Wang Hui were severe. Additionally, the Xiongnu launched surprise attacks against them. The envoys claimed that the Western Regions were littered with cities and were vulnerable to attack.

    The Emperor dispatched Fuju General, Gongsun He, with fifteen thousand cavalry, covering a distance of over two thousand li from Jiuyuan, reaching the Fuju well, and then returning. Xionghe General Zhao Ponu led over ten thousand cavalry for several thousand li, reaching the Xionghe River and then returning. Their purpose was to repel and expel the Xiongnu, preventing them from intercepting Han envoys, yet not a single Xiongnu was encountered. Following this, the commanderies of Wuwei and Jiuquan were divided to establish Zhangye and Dunhuang commanderies, with people relocated to populate these areas.

    In this year, the Prime Minister of Qi, Bu Shi, was promoted to Grand Master of Censorate. After assuming his position, Bu Shi reported grievances: “It is inconvenient to let the magistrates monopolize the commerce of salt and iron tools in various commanderies and regions. They produce poor-quality items at excessively high prices. They force the people to buy these goods, causing distress. Moreover, there are high shipping costs due to exorbitant ship taxes and a scarcity of merchants.” This displeased the Emperor and contributed to his growing dissatisfaction with Bu Shi.

    Sima Xiangru fell gravely ill and wrote before his passing a testament praising the Emperor’s achievements and virtues, citing omens and urging the Emperor to bestow offerings at Mount Tai. Impressed by his words and coincidentally finding a treasure cauldron, the Emperor consulted court officials and scholars to discuss the Feng-Shan ceremonies. However, as the Feng-Shan rituals were rarely performed and their procedures were not widely known, various occultists claimed, “Feng-Shan signifies immortality. Before the Yellow Emperor‘s era, these ceremonies attracted unusual phenomena and supernatural occurrences, and spoke to the gods. Even the First Emperor of Qin failed to perform it properly. If Your Majesty insists, start slowly. If there is no adverse weather, you may proceed with the ritual.”

    The Emperor ordered scholars to compile texts from the “Book of Documents,” “Rites of Zhou,” and “Regulations of the Kings” to draft the procedures for the Feng-Shan ceremony. However, after several years, the rituals remained incomplete. Seeking advice, the Emperor consulted the Left Interior Minister Ni Kuan, who opined, “Offering sacrifice at Mount Tai for Heaven and offering sacrifice at Mount Liangfu for Earth are auspicious ceremonies that exalt the surname of one’s ancestors and seek auspicious signs from heaven—this is the grand ceremony of emperors. However, the essence of such offerings is not clearly expounded in the classics. The completion of the Feng-Shan ceremony should follow the will of the sage ruler and should be directed by them. This matter cannot be adequately resolved by ministers. Your Majesty has been contemplating a grand event but has allowed this issue to linger for several years, causing everyone to strive without success. Only the Son of Heaven, by establishing a harmonious center and encompassing all aspects, can harmonize the sounds of metal and resonate with the jade to align with celestial blessings, laying the foundation for ten thousand generations.”

    The Emperor personally devised the rituals, incorporating elements of Confucian learning into the proceedings. When presenting the Feng-Shan ceremonial vessels specially made to the gathered scholars, some criticized them as “not in accordance with ancient practices.” Subsequently, all the scholars were dismissed from service.  The Emperor followed the ancient customs, uplifted the troops’ morale and rewarded the soldiers with wine and dining before the Feng-Shan ceremony was conducted.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 152): Monopolizing Salt And Iron Production

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 11 Scroll 19 (continued)

    Dian Lake, Kunming, Yun’nan Province. Photo by Emitchan

    The 3rd year of Emperor Wu’s Yuanshou Era (120 B.C.)

    In the spring, a comet appeared in the eastern sky.

    In May, during the summer, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire.

    During the rebellion of the Prince of Huainan, the Prince of Jiaodong, Liu Ji, had heard rumors of the matter and, sensing danger, secretly made preparations for defense. When government officials investigated the Huainan case, some testimonies implicated Prince Liu Ji. His mother, Madame Wang, the younger sister of the Empress Dowager, had a close relationship with the Emperor. Distressed by the circumstances, Liu Ji fell ill and passed away, daring not to leave a will regarding his heir.

    When the Emperor heard of his death, he was moved with compassion and appointed Liu Ji’s eldest son, Liu Xian, as the new Prince of Jiaodong. In addition, the Emperor enfeoffed Liu Ji’s younger son, Liu Qing, as the Prince of Liu’an, granting him the land that had once belonged to the Prince of Hengshan.

    In the autumn, the Xiongnu invaded the regions of Youbeiping and Dingxiang, each with several tens of thousands of cavalry. They killed and plundered over a thousand people.

    A severe flood struck the region east of Mount Xiao, causing widespread famine and scarcity among the populace. In response, the Emperor dispatched envoys to empty the granaries of various counties and commanderies, providing relief to the impoverished. However, the supplies were insufficient. The wealthy, officials, and notable individuals were encouraged to lend aid to the poor, with their names recorded on an honor roll to be presented to the court. Yet, even this was not enough to alleviate the suffering. As a result, over seven hundred thousand destitute individuals were relocated west of the passes and southward to regions around Shuofang and the Xinqinzhong area. These people were entirely dependent on the government for their clothing and sustenance, receiving assistance for several years. Officials were appointed to oversee their welfare, and their carriages moved along the road in a continuous procession. The expenses incurred in this relief effort amounted to billions, a sum beyond calculation.

    After Han acquired the territory of the Hunye King, incursions by the nomadic tribes into the Longxi, Beidi, and Shangjun Commanderies significantly decreased. In response, an edict was issued to reduce the garrison troops in these three commanderies by half, thereby alleviating the burden of conscription across the empire.

    The Emperor then set his sights on pacifying Kunming. As Kunming was home to Dian Lake, which spanned approximately three hundred square lis(one li is half a kilometer), the Emperor ordered the construction of Kunming Pond to serve as a site for naval warfare exercises. 

    During this time, the laws grew more stringent, leading to the dismissal or banishment of many officials. Military drafts became more frequent, and commoners often managed to buy their way out of service by purchasing the rank of Fifth Grandee, which led to a shortage of conscripts. Those exempted from service through the chiliarch or Fifth Grandee ranks were summoned to serve as low-ranking officials. Those unwilling to accept these positions were required to donate horses. Officials who manipulated the laws were sentenced to penal labor at the Royal Shanglin Park, where they were tasked with reclaiming wasteland and digging the Kunming Pond.

    A wonder horse was obtained from the depths of the Wowa pond, an oasis in the far Northwest. The Emperor, having recently established a music bureau, commissioned Sima Xiangru and others to compose poetry and lyrical compositions to celebrate the horse. Li Yannian, an eunuch, was appointed as Commandant of Harmony, wearing the seal of 2000-picul ranking. The poems were crafted to harmonize with the eight musical tones and often contained language drawn from the “Erya” (a classical Chinese dictionary). Scholars, familiar only with one branch of Confucius classics, found the language in these compositions incomprehensible and had to gather experts in Five Classics and study them together to decipher their meaning.

    When the wonder horse was obtained, it was incorporated into a song. Ji An, observing this, remarked, “Whenever a king creates music, it should honor the ancestors above and educate the people below. Your Majesty has obtained a horse, and now you’re turning poems into songs. But will the ancestor kings and the common people understand the meaning of these songs?” The Emperor, though silent, was clearly annoyed by the remark.

    The Emperor constantly sought scholars and officials, seemingly never satisfied with their numbers. Yet, his nature was stern and severe. Even those courtiers who had once been trusted and favored, if they committed minor offenses or engaged in trivial deceit, were swiftly punished or executed without leniency.

    Ji An, ever the voice of caution, remonstrated, saying, “Your Majesty, you exhaustively seek out talents, yet before they can be fully utilized, you have them executed. By indiscriminately punishing those with limited capabilities, I fear the pool of talented individuals throughout the realm will dwindle. Who then, will assist Your Majesty in governing?”

    Ji An spoke with indignation, but the Emperor smiled and explained, “Why worry about a scarcity of talent? It’s merely a matter of not being able to recognize them. If one could, would there be a lack of capable individuals? Talent is like a tool; if one possesses it but refuses to make the most of it, it is as good as not having it. If they are not put to death, what other way would you have me deal with them?”

    Ji An responded, “Although I cannot convince Your Majesty with my words, I still believe this approach is inappropriate. I hope Your Majesty will consider this matter carefully and rectify it moving forward. Do not dismiss my reasoning simply because I am a foolish man.”

    The Emperor turned to the courtiers and, with a wry smile, said, “If Ji An claimed to be sycophantic, that would have not been the case. He claims he is a foolish man, and that is certainly true!”

    The 4th year of Emperor Wu’s Yuanshou Era (119 B.C.)

    In the winter, officials reported, “Local officials have overly expansive expenditures, while wealthy merchants and great traders engage in metal smelting and salt boiling, accumulating fortunes amounting to tens of thousands of gold, yet they do not assist in the urgent needs of the state. We request that a currency reform to mint new coins, to meet the demands of the treasury, and that actions be taken to suppress the extravagance and those who exploit the system for personal gain.”

    At this time, within the Imperial Park, there were white deer, and the Privy Treasury possessed a surplus of silver and tin. With these resources, they created leather currency from the hides of the white deer, each piece measuring a square foot, with edges embroidered in colorful patterns. These leather notes were valued at 400,000 copper coins. Princes, dukes, and other relatives of the imperial family were required to present jade discs on top of the leather notes as part of court tributes and ceremonial offerings.

    Additionally, three types of silver coins were minted: the largest, circular in shape, bore a dragon design and was valued at 3,000 copper coins; the next size, square, featured a horse design and was valued at 500 copper coins; and the smallest, oval-shaped, bore a turtle design and was valued at 300 copper coins. The government ordered the county treasuries to withdraw half-tael coins and replace them with three-zhu (1/24 tael) coins. Counterfeiting any of these metal coins was punishable by death. Yet, despite the severity of the penalty, countless cases of both officials and commoners engaging in the counterfeiting of silver coins were reported.

    To manage these economic reforms, Dongguo Xianyang and Kong Jin were appointed as treasurers in the Ministry of Agriculture (Revenue), overseeing salt and iron affairs. Sang Hongyang rose to prominence for his adeptness in accounting. Dongguo Xianyang was a major salt-boiling operator in Qi, while Kong Jin managed large-scale smelting operations in Nanyang. Both scaled their production, generating profits worth thousands of catties of gold. Sang Hongyang, the son of a merchant from Luoyang, exhibited remarkable mental arithmetic skills from a young age, and began serving as an attendant at the age of thirteen. The trio’s influence on economic affairs was paramount, and they meticulously analyzed financial matters, down to the smallest figures.

    An edict was issued forbidding the populace from privately forging iron tools or boiling salt, under penalty of fettering the left big toe and confiscating their tools. Furthermore, ministers demanded that all merchants and craftsmen declare their assets. One thousand coins were counted as one min (also known as Guan, or one string of coins equaling one tael of silver), and a tax of 120 coins was imposed on every 2,000 min in possession. Any individual owning a carriage or boat longer than five zhang (approximately 15 meters) was also subject to this levy. Failure to declare assets resulted in a year of military service on the borders and the forfeiture of the undeclared coins. Those who brought to light on undeclared assets received half of the seized coins. This policy was primarily proposed by Zhang Tang, the Grand Master of the Censorate.

    Zhang Tang presented memorials to the court daily, discussing national expenditures to the point of exhausting the Emperor; at times, the Emperor would forget to eat. The Chancellor, Li Cai, occupied his position but refrained from engaging in governance, leaving Zhang Tang to make all decisions regarding national matters. The populace, feeling unrest and discontent, largely blamed Zhang Tang for their hardships.

    Bu Shi of Henan repeatedly offered to donate his wealth to the county authorities to support the border defenses. The Emperor, curious about Bu Shi’s motivation, sent an envoy to inquire.

    The envoy asked, “Do you wish to become an official?”

    Bu Shi replied, “I am a humble farmer and shepherd. I am not accustomed to serving in official positions, nor do I desire such a role.”

    The envoy then asked, “Is there any injustice or grievance in your family that you wish to report?”

    Bu Shi responded, “I have no disputes with anyone. I assist those in need among my fellow townspeople and educate those who lack virtue. The people in my village all live in harmony with me. Why would I feel wronged by anyone? I have nothing to report.”

    The envoy, intrigued, asked, “If that is the case, what do you wish for?”

    Bu Shi answered, “If the Emperor is punishing the Xiongnu, I believe that wise men should sacrifice themselves at the borders, and the wealthy should contribute their resources. This way, the Xiongnu can be annihilated.”

    Impressed by his words, the Emperor appreciated Bu Shi’s character and wished to set him as an example for the people. Consequently, Bu Shi was summoned and appointed as a Gentleman of the Household, bestowed with the title of Left Chief Councilor (ranked 10 out of 20 orders of merit), granted ten hectares of land, and a public announcement was made to demonstrate the Emperor’s recognition. Shortly after, Bu Shi was further promoted to the Grand Tutor of the principality of Qi.

    In the spring, a meteor was seen in the northeast. During the summer, a long comet appeared in the northwest.