Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 20 Scroll 28 (continued)
The 2nd year of Emperor Yuan’s Yongguang Era (42 B.C.)
In February of spring, a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm.
On February 5, Wei Xuancheng, Grand Master of the Censorate, was appointed Chancellor, and Zheng Hong, Intendant of Fufeng, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate.
On March 1, at the new moon, a solar eclipse occurred.
In June of summer, a general amnesty was again granted to the empire.
The Emperor asked the Palace Steward Kuang Heng about the meaning of the earthquake and the solar eclipse. Kuang Heng submitted a memorial:
“Your Majesty embodies sacred virtue and opens the way to peace, showing compassion even to foolish officials and commoners who violate the law. In recent years Your Majesty has repeatedly granted general amnesties, allowing the people to correct themselves and begin anew—this is a great blessing to the realm.
“However, I observe that after the amnesties, deceit and wickedness have not diminished. One day there is a general amnesty; the next, crimes are committed anew; prisons are continually filled. This reveals that the root of the problem has not been addressed.
“The customs of our age are such that people are greedy, valuing wealth over righteousness; they pursue pleasure and extravagance, belittle the bonds of kinship, seek alliances through marriage, and dare to test the boundaries of the law as they pursue profit by opportunistic means. Without altering these underlying causes, even if amnesties were granted every year, it would be difficult to eliminate crime and make punishments unnecessary. In my humble view, it is essential to profoundly transform the ethos of the land.
“The court is the pillar of the realm. If the court speaks words of discontent, contention will arise below; if those above act for private gain, those below will become unyielding; if those above use unprincipled means to overcome others, those below will harbor harmful intent; if ministers seek profit, the people will turn to theft. The court is the root of society.
“To govern the realm, it is essential that the example be set from above. The transforming influence of instruction does not come from preaching alone, but from virtuous men holding office and capable men fulfilling their duties. When the court reveres propriety, the officials will act with deference; moral conduct will spread outward, beginning with those near at hand. Only then will the people know whom to emulate, gradually improving themselves without being aware of the change.
“As the Book of Songs says: ‘The city of Shang is orderly, the supreme model for the four quarters.’ Today’s Chang’an, seat of the Son of Heaven, should directly inherit the sacred teachings. Yet its customs differ little from those of distant regions. Visitors from commanderies and principalities find no model to follow; at times they witness extravagance and emulate it. This is the root of education and transformation, the pivot of reforming customs; it must be rectified first.
“I have heard that the interaction between Heaven and humanity is such that spiritual omens answer one another, and good and evil move in mutual response. Events below are mirrored above. When Yin stirs and changes, the still is shaken, as in an earthquake; when Yang is obscured, the bright grows dark, as at a solar eclipse; thereafter follow the disasters of flood and drought.
“Your Majesty should, in awe of Heaven’s warnings, take pity upon the people; reduce extravagance, examine institutions, cherish loyalty and integrity, and distance yourself from the cunning and the fawning. By exalting supreme benevolence, correcting corrupt customs, and elevating moral conduct in the capital, virtuous influence will flow beyond the borders, producing great transformation, renewing propriety and deference.”
The Emperor found his words pleasing and promoted Kuang Heng to Grand Master of Merit.
Xun Yue’s commentary: An amnesty is a measure suited to particular times; it is not a constant policy. When the Han first arose, it followed upon the tumult of Qin’s wars, in an age of great confusion when almost every household was liable to punishment. Therefore the simple law of three articles and the general amnesty were instituted to purge corruption and give the people a new beginning—such measures accorded with the times.
Later generations inherited these practices without adapting them to changing circumstances, and thus their appropriateness was lost.
In the reigns of Emperors Hui and Wen, there was no need for an amnesty. But in the time of Emperor Jing, the Seven Kingdoms rebelled; factions arose with divergent aims, and deceit became widespread. By the end of Emperor Wu’s reign, excessive taxes and labor levies gave rise to banditry, and the affair of the Crown Prince together with the witchcraft calamity plunged the people into fear and disorder. Likewise, under Emperor Guangwu, following the restoration after turmoil, conditions made an amnesty fitting.
In July of autumn, the Qiang tribes of Longxi rebelled. An edict summoned Chancellor Wei Xuancheng and others to deliberate. At that time, the year’s harvest was poor, and the court was already anxious; suddenly the Qiang uprising erupted, yet Wei Xuancheng and the others remained silent, none venturing a word.
General of the Right, Feng Fengshi, said: “The Qiang barbarians lie close at hand and have risen against us. If we do not strike quickly, we cannot overawe the tribes afar. I am willing to lead a host to suppress them.”
The Emperor asked how many troops were needed. Feng Fengshi replied: “I have heard that those skilled in war do not repeatedly mobilize troops, nor store provisions for more than three years. Thus their forces are not left long in exposure, and they swiftly enact Heaven’s punishment. The rebels number some thirty thousand; therefore we should employ twice that number—sixty thousand men. Yet the Qiang and Xirong chiefly use bows and spears, weapons not exceptionally keen; forty thousand should suffice. One month will settle the matter.”
The Chancellor, the Grand Master of the Censorate, and the Two Generals (the General of Chariots and Cavalry and the General of the Left) all said: “The people are still recovering; it is unwise to mobilize great numbers. Ten thousand garrison troops will suffice.”
Feng Fengshi objected, saying: “No—it will not suffice. Famine spreads, our soldiers and horses are weak, and our defenses have long been neglected. The barbarians may deem our garrisons feeble and feel no fear. If we fight in the field, our troops may break and suffer wounds; if we cling to our forts, the people will not be rescued. This will reveal our weakness. The Qiang will seize the moment, and the tribes will unite and rise. I fear that the levies of the Central Plain will surpass even forty thousand, and the matter cannot be settled with coins alone. Thus a small force will protract the war, whereas a decisive strike will settle it swiftly. The difference is ten thousandfold.”
Feng Fengshi pressed his argument vigorously but could not prevail. An edict was issued adding only two thousand more troops. Thereafter Feng Fengshi was dispatched with twelve thousand cavalry, ostensibly for garrison duty, with the Minister of Vassal Affairs Ren Li and the Protection Commandant Han Chang as his lieutenants.
Upon reaching Longxi, they established three garrisons. Han Chang first sent two colonels against the Qiang, but the enemy were numerous, overwhelmed them, and the two colonels were slain.
Feng Fengshi then submitted detailed calculations of the terrain and the forces required, requesting an additional thirty-six thousand troops to settle the matter decisively. His memorial persuaded the Emperor, who mobilized more than sixty thousand soldiers.
In August, the Emperor appointed the Minister of Rites and Marquis of Yiyang, Ren Qianqiu, as General of Fervent Resolve to assist in the campaign.
By October of winter, the troops had reached Longxi; in November they advanced in unison. The Qiang suffered a crushing defeat; several thousand heads were taken, and the remainder fled beyond the borders.
While the campaign was still underway, the court again levied ten thousand troops and appointed Han Anguo, Prefect of Dingxiang, as General of Establishing Might. But when news arrived of the Qiang defeat, they returned without advancing.
An edict was issued demobilizing the officers and troops, leaving a portion to remain in garrison-farms and guard the strategic passes.
Reflection by Rio Grande 