Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 10 Scroll 18 (continued)
The 5th year of Emperor Wu’s Yuan’guang Era (130 B.C. continued)
In earlier years, when Wang Hui led a campaign against Minyue, he dispatched the Magistrate of Poyang, Tang Meng, to deliver their strategy to Nanyue. While in Nanyue, Tang Meng was served with betel sauce. Inquiring of its origin, he was told, “It comes from the northwest, along the Zangke River. That river is several li across and passes near the city of Panyu.”
Upon returning to Chang’an, Tang Meng questioned merchants from Shu. They confirmed that betel sauce was a product solely of Shu, and that much of it was illicitly transported and sold to the Yelang people. The kingdom of Yelang lies along the Zangke River, which spans over one hundred chi(feet) in breadth, broad enough to bear boats. Nanyue was compelled to provide them with goods and labor, reaching even as far as Tongshi, yet still failed to bring them fully under subjugation.
Tang Meng thereupon submitted a memorial to the Emperor:
“The King of Nanyue rides beneath a yellow canopy and displays a royal standard. His domain stretches more than ten thousand li from east to west. Though styled a vassal beyond the borders, in truth he governs as an autonomous prince. Now, should we wish to march upon Nanyue, we must pass through the territories of Changsha and Yuzhang, where the waterways are intricate and difficult to navigate.
“I have heard that the elite troops of Yelang number in excess of ten thousand. If we launch vessels upon the Zangke River and strike by surprise, catching them unawares, it will be a most advantageous strategy against Nanyue. Moreover, the might of the Han, supported by the wealth of Ba and Shu, is sufficient to establish an administrative command over Yelang with ease.”
The Emperor received the memorial with approval.
Tang Meng was appointed General of the Household, given command of one thousand soldiers, with a supporting force of more than ten thousand men, and ample military provisions. He advanced through the Zuo Pass from the commanderies of Ba and Shu and made contact with Duotong, the Marquis of Yelang. Tang Meng bestowed generous gifts and extolled the rewards of submission. He proposed the establishment of Han governance, offering to appoint Duotong’s son as the local magistrate.
The lesser towns nearby, coveting Han silk and fine cloth, judged the southern route too perilous to be practicable. Thus they acceded to Tang Meng’s proposal.
Upon his return, Tang Meng reported to the Emperor. The Emperor thereupon established Yelang as a commandery, naming it Qianwei, and dispatched troops from Ba and Shu to open a road from Bodao to the Zangke River. Laborers numbered in the tens of thousands. Many perished from hardship; many more deserted. Martial law was enforced with severity, and leaders of desertion were punished according to the statutes. This sowed great fear and unrest among the people of Ba and Shu.
When word of this reached the throne, the Emperor dispatched Sima Xiangru to censure Tang Meng and the commanders. Sima Xiangru addressed the people, proclaiming that these harsh measures were not in accord with the sovereign’s intent. Having pacified the region, he returned to report at court.
At that time, the tribal chieftains of Qiongdu and Dingzuo, hearing of the honors and rewards bestowed upon the southwestern barbarians who submitted, sought to become vassals of the Han. They memorialized the throne, requesting the dispatch of imperial envoys and the appointment of Han officials to administer their lands.
The Emperor consulted Sima Xiangru, who submitted the following counsel:
“Qiongzuo, and Ranmang lie close to Shu. The roads thither are readily traversed. In the time of Qin, these regions were opened and established as commanderies and counties, but with the fall of Qin and the rise of Han, they were abandoned. Now, if once more commanderies and counties are founded therein, they will prove more governable than other southern tribes.”
The Emperor accepted this proposal and appointed Sima Xiangru as General of the Household. He was sent as an envoy to the southwestern regions, bearing imperial insignia. Accompanied by Assistant Envoy Wang Ranyu et al. and riding mail carriages, he bore generous gifts and gold to secure the allegiance of the tribal leaders.
The chieftains of Qiongzuo, Ranmang, and Siyu all submitted memorials requesting to become Han subjects. The empire abolished the former border passes, extended its frontiers with new checkpoints, and in the west reached the Moshui and Ruoshui Rivers, while in the south, the border extended to the Zangke. A new road was tunneled through Lingguan Mountain, bridging over the Sunshui River, and through Qiongdu. A commandant’s office was established, and more than ten counties were placed under the administration of Shu Commandery.
The Emperor was well pleased.
An imperial edict was issued to dispatch ten thousand troops to reinforce and fortify the defenses at Yanmen Pass.
In July of autumn, a great wind arose; trees were toppled, and the land was shaken.
At that time, Chu Fu, a woman versed in sorcery and illicit rites, gathered a band of witches and conspired to instruct Empress Chen—who had fallen from favor—in the use of spells and incantations to curse those who held the Emperor’s affection, and to regain his love through occult means. When word of this reached the Emperor, he commanded censor Zhang Tang to conduct a full inquiry.
Zhang Tang’s investigation was exhaustive and uncovered a vast conspiracy implicating more than three hundred persons. Chu Fu was executed; her head was exposed at the city gate as a warning to all.
On July 9, the Empress was stripped of her title. Her seals and regalia were taken, and she was confined in retirement within the Changmen Palace.
Dowager Duchess Dou, a.k.a. Princess of Guantao and mother of the Empress Chen, was stricken with remorse and dread, fearing punishment for the transgressions of her daughter. She prostrated herself before the Emperor and offered words of gratitude for his clemency.
The Emperor replied: “The Empress transgressed the bounds of righteousness, and thus I had no recourse but to depose her. Yet this is not a judgment upon you. Hold fast to your virtue, and let not idle tongues breed mistrust. Though the Empress is dethroned, she shall enjoy all due rites and honors as before. The Changmen Palace shall differ in no wise from the central palace.”
In years past, the Emperor had held a banquet at the residence of Dowager Duchess Dou. There, he encountered Dong Yan, a purveyor of jewelry and a paramour of the duchess. Pleased with his manner, the Emperor honored Dong Yan with rich robes and high station, addressing him as “Master of the House” rather than by name, and having him join the imperial revelries.
Thereafter, Dong Yan stood high in favor. His name was renowned throughout the realm. He amused himself in the northern palace, galloping through the Pingle Garden, organizing cockfights, soccer ball games, races of horses and hounds—pastimes that brought great delight to the Emperor.
Once, the Emperor held a feast in the great hall of Weiyang Palace. He sent an attendant to summon Dong Yan.
At that moment, Dongfang Shuo, Gentleman of the Household and bearer of the halberd, laid down his weapon and stepped forward, saying, “Dong Yan has committed three grave offenses. Why is he permitted to enter the inner court?”
The Emperor asked, “What are these offenses?”
Dongfang Shuo replied: “First, though a commoner, he consorted intimately with a princess—this is his first crime. Second, he has corrupted the norms between men and women, subverted the rites of matrimony, and thereby harmed the moral order of the realm—this is his second crime. Third, Your Majesty has reached an age to devote yourself to the Six Classics, to cultivate virtue and uphold the teachings of the sages. Yet Dong Yan neither reveres the Classics nor encourages learning. Instead, he delights in frivolity and extravagance, indulging in horse races and dog chases, and wallows in the pleasures of the eyes and ears. Such a man is a blight upon the state and a canker upon the ruler. This is his third crime.”
The Emperor remained silent. After a long pause, he said, “The feast has already been prepared. We will mend it by ourselves later.”
Dongfang Shuo said, “No! The main hall is where the Mandate of the Former Emperors resided; no man guilty of transgression should be permitted to set foot therein. From indulgence grows disorder; from disorder, usurpation. The corruption of the inner chambers has brought ruin to states since ancient times. Consider the calamity of the State of Qi[Duke Huan of Qi], brought about by the cruelty and wickedness of flatterers such as Shu Diao and Yi Ya. The execution of Qingfu preserved the State of Lu.”
The Emperor replied, “Your words are just,” and at once ordered that the feast be moved to the Northern Palace. Dong Yan was summoned instead through the East Gate, an entrance for marshals.
In recognition of Dongfang Shuo’s upright counsel, the Emperor bestowed upon him thirty cattie of gold. Thereafter, Dong Yan’s favor steadily declined.
From that time forward, the princesses and consorts increasingly overstepped the bounds of decorum.
Reflection by Rio Grande 