Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 22 Scroll 30 (continued)
The 3rd year of Emperor Cheng’s Jianshi Era (30 B.C.)
In March of spring, an amnesty was granted to all those imprisoned throughout the empire.
In autumn, rain fell continuously in Guanzhong for more than forty days. The inhabitants of the capital grew alarmed and spread rumors that a great flood was imminent. The common people fled in panic, trampling one another; the old and the weak cried out in distress, and great disorder arose in Chang’an. The Emperor personally appeared in the front hall and summoned the ministers to deliberate. The Grand General Wang Feng proposed: “The Empress Dowager, the Emperor, and the palace women should take to boats, and the officials and populace should be instructed to ascend the walls of Chang’an to avoid the flood.”
The Emperor and the ministers were inclined to accept Wang Feng’s proposal. Only the General of the Left, Wang Shang(Marquis of Lechang), said: “Since antiquity, even in states lacking proper governance, floods have never overrun city walls. Now the realm is at peace, there are no wars, and the people live in harmony. How could there suddenly be a flood overflowing the capital in a single day? This must be a false rumor. It is not appropriate to order the people onto the city walls and thereby further alarm them.”
The Emperor thereupon suspended the plan. After some time, conditions in Chang’an gradually returned to calm, and upon investigation the report was indeed found to be false. The Emperor praised Wang Shang for his steadfast judgment and frequently commended his counsel, while Wang Feng was deeply ashamed and regretted his hasty words.
The Emperor wished to entrust state affairs entirely to Wang Feng. In August, he dismissed Xu Jia from his post as General of Chariots and Cavalry and appointed him a Special Marquis, permitting him to attend court deliberations.
Zhang Tan was dismissed for improprieties in the selection and recommendation of officials. In October of winter, Yin Zhong, Grand Master of Merit, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate.
On December 1, a solar eclipse occurred. That night, an earthquake struck within Weiyang Palace. The Emperor issued an edict calling for the recommendation of virtuous, upright, and outspoken men capable of offering uncompromising remonstrance. Du Qin and the Associate Minister of Ceremonies, Gu Yong, responded that excessive indulgence and jealousy within the harem were harmful and could endanger the imperial succession.
In Yuesui Commandery, a mountain collapsed.
On December 30, Kuang Heng was accused of having appropriated more than four hundred mu of fief land and of overseeing a steward who embezzled more than ten catties of gold. He was dismissed from office and reduced to the status of a commoner.
The 4th year of Emperor Cheng’s Jianshi Era (29 B.C.)
In the spring, on January 26, meteorites fell four times in Bo County and twice in Feilei County.
The eunuchs of the Palace Secretariat were dismissed, and for the first time five posts were established in the State Secretariat.
On March 8, Wang Shang, Marquis of Lechang and General of the Left, was appointed Chancellor.
In summer, the Emperor summoned those who had previously been recommended for their forthright speech to the White Tiger Hall, ordering them to submit written responses to the questions he had posed. At the time, the Emperor had entrusted governance to Wang Feng, and many critics attributed various problems to him. Gu Yong, aware that Wang Feng held real power and secretly seeking to align himself with him, wrote in his essay:
“At present, the four barbarian tribes are all submissive, having become subjects and dependents. In the north there is no menace from the Xunyu tribes or Modu Chanyu; in the south, none from Zhao Tuo or Lü Jia. The frontiers are at peace, with no alarms of warfare. The major principalities govern only a few commanderies, and their authority is held by Han officials, preventing any independent action—unlike the former situations of the principalities of Wu, Chu, Yan, or Liang. Officials are interlinked, with both close and distant relations working together. Ministers and nobles display the loyalty of Shen Bo, being cautious and respectful, without the conspiracies of Marquis Zhonghe of Mang Tong, Marquis of Anyang Shangguan Jie, or Marquis of Bolu Huo Yu. In these three respects there is no cause for concern. Yet I fear that Your Majesty may overlook what is clear and evident, heed obscure and confused counsel, cast blame upon the innocent, and thereby depart from proper governance. This would result in a grave loss of Heaven’s favor and constitute one of the most serious of errors.”
“If Your Majesty sincerely examines these humble words, casts aside the tendency to indulge a single favored beauty, eliminates partiality, exercises firm masculine authority, and applies the impartiality of Heaven, then let concubines be chosen from among the people on an equal basis, adding virtuous and suitable women capable of bearing sons, without discrimination on the grounds of appearance, prior marriage, or age. By following this principle, Your Majesty may obtain heirs of humble origin, which would itself be a blessing; once an heir is established, the mother’s low status is of no consequence. Seek out honest and forthright women among female officials and palace attendants, and also broadly among the common people, so as to receive Heaven’s favor, relieve the concerns of the Empress Dowager, and appease the wrath of the Supreme Deity. In this way, the heirs will flourish and calamities will come to an end.”Du Qin expressed similar views in his examination response. The Emperor showed their examination papers to the harem and promoted Gu Yong to Grand Master of Merit.
Reflection by Rio Grande 