Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 27 Scroll 35 (continued)
The 2nd year of Emperor Ai’s Yuanshou Era (1 B.C. continued)
Wang Mang held Kong Guang, the Grand Excellency of Works, in high esteem, for he was a renowned scholar who had served under three emperors, was respected by the Grand Empress Dowager, and was trusted throughout the realm. Wang Mang honored and deferred to Kong Guang, and appointed Kong Guang’s son-in-law, Zhen Han, as Privy Counselor and Commandant of the Imperial Chariots. Those of whom Wang Mang disapproved, however, he accused them of crimes, drafting indictments for Zhen Han to present to Kong Guang, insinuating it being Grand Empress Dowager’s order. Kong Guang, being by nature cautious and timid, did not dare refuse, and Wang Mang would then have the Grand Empress Dowager approve the charges.
Wang Mang charged He Wu and Gongsun Lu, who had recommended one another, and dismissed them from office. He Wu was sent back to his fief. He also accused Dong Hong, father of Dong Wu, Marquis of Gaochang, of corruption, and stripped Dong Wu of his title. In addition, Wang Mang charged Wujiang Long, Prefect of Nanjun Commandery, with having wrongfully convicted innocent people while serving as Governor of Jizhou in the case of Empress Dowager Feng of Zhongshan; Zhang You, Marquis within the Pass, with slandering the imperial house; Shi Li, Central Grand Coachman, and Ding Xuan, Prefect of Taishan, with falsely sentencing people to death; and Zhao Chang, Prefect of Henei, with defaming Zheng Chong. Although all had been pardoned by amnesty, Wang Mang argued that they were unfit to serve in the central government, reduced them to commoner status, and exiled them to Hepu.
The Zhongshan principality case had originally been handled by Shi Li and Ding Xuan, who had co-signed documents with Wujiang Long. Wang Mang had admired Wujiang Long in his youth, but Wujiang Long had kept his distance from him; Wang Mang therefore seized the opportunity to eliminate him.
Marquis of Hongyang Wang Li, the Grand Empress Dowager’s brother, held no official post, yet Wang Mang feared him because of his close kinship with the Grand Empress Dowager. Wang Mang worried that Wang Li might influence her and thereby obstruct his ambitions. He therefore had Kong Guang draft charges against Wang Li: “Formerly, Wang Li knew that Chunyu Chang, Marquis of Dingling, had committed treason. He accepted numerous bribes and misled the court with false statements in order to defend Chunyu Chang. Later, Wang Li falsely reported that the illegitimate son of the palace maidservant Yang Ji was the Emperor’s son, and people throughout the realm began to say, ‘The Emperor Shao and Empress Lü have returned.’ This gave rise to widespread suspicion and alarm across the empire and made it impossible to establish a clear precedent for future generations, since the legitimacy of assisting the child Sovereign was thereby cast into doubt. It is therefore requested that Wang Li be sent to his designated fief.”
The Grand Empress Dowager rejected the proposal.
Wang Mang then argued, “Now the Han dynasty is in decline, and there is no heir to the throne. The Grand Empress Dowager alone oversees the government on behalf of the young Emperor. Such a situation is truly perilous. Even when one acts according to justice, obedience cannot be guaranteed. If private favor is allowed to oppose the judgment of the great ministers in this manner, disorder will arise from treachery below. It is best, for the present, to send him back to his fief and summon him again later if needed.”
The Grand Empress Dowager reluctantly sent Wang Li back to his fief.
Thus did Wang Mang use intimidation and manipulation to impose his will upon those above and below him.
Those who aligned themselves with Wang Mang were promoted, while those who opposed him were eliminated. Wang Shun and Wang Yi were his trusted confidants, Zhen Feng and Zhen Han were in charge of censor and judicial punishment, Ping Yan managed covert and confidential affairs, Liu Xiu handled court documents, and Sun Jian served as claws and fangs[enforcers or hit men]. Zhen Feng’s son, Zhen Xun, Liu Xiu’s son, Liu Fen, as well as Cui Fa from Zhuojun and Chen Chong from Nanyang, were all favored by Wang Mang due to their talents and abilities.
Wang Mang appeared stern and spoke with authority. When he desired to get something done, he subtly revealed his intentions, and his followers would immediately catch on and formally propose it. Wang Mang would then bow his head, weep, and humbly decline, deceiving the Grand Empress Dowager above and demonstrating sincerity to the common people below.
In August, Wang Mang again reported to the Grand Empress Dowager, having the Empress Cheng and Empress Ai deposed and demoted to commoners, and sent to their respective gardens. On the same day, both committed suicide.
Grand Excellency of Works Peng Xuan, aware of Wang Mang‘s monopolization of power, submitted a memorandum stating: “The Three Excellencies serve as the tripod supporting the ruler. If one leg is not stable, then the vessel falls over and ruins the good food. I, your servant, lack ability and am now old and infirm, often bedridden, and prone to forgetfulness. I wish to surrender my seal and ribbons as Grand Excellency of Works and Marquis of Changping, and return to my hometown to await my end.”
Wang Mang reported this to the Grand Empress Dowager, who relieved Peng Xuan of his duties and sent him back to his fief. Wang Mang, angered by Peng Xuan’s request to retire, did not bestow the usual gifts of gold, a comfortable carriage, or a four-horse chariot. Peng Xuan lived in his fief for several years before passing away.
Ban Gu’s commentary: Xue Guangde suspended his carriage to uphold the honor of serving the state; Ping Dang declined a noble title out of modesty; and Peng Xuan, perceiving danger, chose to withdraw. They were not like those who acted merely out of fear of losing power.
On August 27, Wang Chong, General of the Right, was appointed Grand Excellency of Works, and Ma Gong, the Grand Chamberlain, became General of the Right. Zhen Feng, who had served as Left Administrator and General of the Household, was promoted to Grand Chamberlain.
On September 1, the Prince of Zhongshan ascended the imperial throne, and a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm.
The new emperor, Emperor Ping, was only nine years old. The Grand Empress Dowager presided over the court, while Grand Commandant Wang Mang held actual power. All officials obeyed Wang Mang. As Wang Mang’s influence grew with each passing day, Kong Guang became increasingly anxious and uncertain how to proceed. He submitted a letter requesting retirement. Wang Mang then reported to the Grand Empress Dowager that, given the Emperor’s youth, it would be appropriate to appoint tutors. Kong Guang was reassigned as the Emperor’s Grand Tutor, granted the title of one of the Four Regents—Grand Tutor, Grand Preceptor, Grand Guardian, and Grand General—and made Palace Steward. He was placed in charge of the imperial household, overseeing the guards and provisions, and regulating the Emperor’s food, decor and clothing.
Ma Gong was appointed Grand Excellency over the Masses, and Zhen Feng became General of the Right.
In the winter, on October 12, Emperor Ai was buried in the Yiling Mausoleum.
The 1st year of Emperor Ping’s Yuanshi Era (1 A.D.)
In January of spring, Wang Mang hinted to the officials in Yizhou, made tribesmen from beyond the frontier to claim that they belonged to the Yuechang tribe and, through multiple interpreters, to present as tribute one white pheasant and two black pheasants. Wang Mang reported this to the Grand Empress Dowager, who issued an edict ordering that the white pheasant be offered in the ancestral temple.
Thereupon, the assembled ministers lavishly extolled Wang Mang’s merits and virtues, citing the auspicious omen of the white pheasant presented in the time of King Cheng of Zhou. They said that although the Duke of Zhou was still alive in person, a noble title had nevertheless been conferred upon him by the house of Zhou. They accordingly declared that Wang Mang should be granted the title Duke of Anhan, “Pacifier of Han,” and that the number of households in his fief should be increased in proportion to the dignity of the title. The Grand Empress Dowager commanded the State Secretariat to carry out the proposal.
Wang Mang submitted a memorial, saying: “Your servant, together with Kong Guang, Wang Shun, Zhen Feng, and Zhen Han, jointly determined this policy. I now beg that the merits and rewards of Kong Guang and the others alone be separately set forth, and that your servant Wang Mang be left aside and not placed on the same footing with them.”
Zhen Han presented this memorial to the Grand Empress Dowager, who thereupon issued an edict, saying: “‘Without partiality and without faction, the kingly way is broad and leveled.’ When a minister has the merit of securing the ancestral temples, it must not be obscured and left unproclaimed merely because of ties of flesh and blood. You must not decline!”
Wang Mang again submitted memorials, firmly declining the honor three and four times, claiming illness and remaining in bed. Those attending the throne reported to the Grand Empress Dowager, saying, “It would be best not to press Wang Mang against his wishes, but only to set forth the cases of Kong Guang and the others; then Wang Mang will consent to rise.”
On February 28, the Grand Empress Dowager issued an edict: “The Grand Tutor and Marquis of Boshan, Kong Guang, is to be promoted to Grand Preceptor. The General of Chariots and Cavalry and Marquis of Anyang, Wang Shun, is to be promoted to Grand Guardian, and both are to receive an additional fief of ten thousand households. Zhen Feng, General of the Left and Grand Chamberlain, is to be promoted to Junior Tutor and ennobled as Marquis of Guangyang. They are granted the rank of the Four Regents. Zhen Han, Privy Counselor and Commandant of the Chariots, is to be ennobled as Marquis of Chengyang.”
Although these four had accepted their rewards, Wang Mang still did not rise. The ministers therefore submitted another petition, stating: “Although Wang Mang continues to decline, it is only fitting to honor a meritorious minister in due order and reward his great leadership, thereby demonstrating the weight of his contribution and not disappointing either the courtiers or the common people.”
The Grand Empress Dowager then issued another edict: “Wang Mang, Grand Commandant and Marquis of Xindu, is to be appointed Grand Tutor, with authority over the Four Regents, and is to be granted the title Duke of Anhan, together with an increased fief to twenty-eight thousand households.”
Wang Mang, overwhelmed with alarm, had no choice but to accept the titles of Grand Tutor and Duke of Anhan. He declined, however, the additional households of the fief, saying, “I would rather wait until the common people are adequately provided for, and only then receive this reward.”
The ministers again pressed the matter, whereupon the Grand Empress Dowager issued an edict: “Since the Duke himself has pledged to secure the welfare of the common people, we shall comply with his wish. His salary and rewards are to be doubled from their former level. When the people have become prosperous, the Grand Excellency over the Masses and the Grand Excellency of Works shall report it, and then the additional fief shall be granted.”