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Tag: Wang Shang

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 249): Not Airing Dirty Laundry

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang 

    Annals of Han Book 24 Scroll 32

    Duration of 6 years

    Xia Ji, Mother of Xia Zhengshu

    The 4th year of Emperor Cheng’s Yongshi Era (13 B.C.)

    In January of spring, the Emperor visited Ganquan and offered sacrifices at the Taiyi Altar; a general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire. In March, he visited Hedong and offered sacrifices to the Earth Deity.

    In summer, there was a severe drought.

    On April 11, Linhua Hall of Changle Palace and the Eastern Guarded (Sima) Gate of Weiyang Palace were both destroyed by fire. On June 23, the gate towers of the Baling Tomb also caught fire.

    In autumn, on the last day of July, there was an eclipse of the sun.

    In winter, on November 21, the General of the Guards, Wang Shang, was relieved of his duties due to illness.

    The Prince of Liang, Liu Li, was imperious and unrestrained, committing as many as eleven offenses in a single day. The Prime Minister of Liang, Yu, reported that Liu Li harbored resentment and spoke ill of the affine family. An investigation was conducted, and an illicit affair between Liu Li and his paternal aunt Liu Yuanzi was uncovered. On account of incestuous and beastly conduct, his execution was recommended.

    The Grand Master of the Palace, Gu Yong, submitted a memorial:

    “I have heard that propriety requires the Emperor to remain secluded behind screens, unwilling to see or hear of private matters. Thus, the intentions of former emperors lay in avoiding inquiry into personal affairs and refraining from listening to intimate conversations. The Spring and Autumn Annals deliberately concealed the faults of relatives. The Prince of Liang, Liu Li, is young and suffers from some mental infirmity. The investigation originally concerned malicious speech; when no substantial evidence was found, it extended instead into matters of private conduct unrelated to the initial charge. Though the prince denied the allegations, the authorities persisted, relying on dubious testimony to establish guilt on evidence difficult to substantiate—an approach that brings no benefit to governance. To expose the scandals of the royal house and proclaim them to the world neither preserves the dignity of the imperial clan nor enhances the authority of the court, nor does it advance moral transformation through virtue.”

    “In my foolish opinion, the prince is young, while his paternal aunt is older and of a different generation. The wealth of the Prince of Liang could attract flatterers and deceivers, while his aunt must surely possess a sense of shame. The investigation was originally concerned with malicious words against maternal relatives—why, then, would she gratuitously reveal her own private disgrace? Considering these three points, the alleged affair appears improbable and contrary to common sense. I suspect there was coercion or a slip of the tongue during interrogation. Under persistent pressure and questioning by officials, she was unable to retract her words and may have spoken in error.

    “At the first sign of transgression, leniency should have been applied. Since the investigation proceeded and the prince did not confess, the Minister of Justice should be ordered to select virtuous and knowledgeable officials to reexamine the case thoroughly, ascertain the facts, and correct any errors, then return the case to the lower authorities. This would extend the virtue of accommodating the distant branches of the imperial house and cleanse it of shame, truly embodying the principle of properly treating relatives within a family.”

    The Emperor thereupon halted further proceedings in the case.

    That year, He Wu of Shu Commandery, then Colonel of the Capital Inspectorate, was appointed Intendant of Jingzhao. As an official, He Wu adhered strictly to the law and acted with impartiality, promoting the honorable and dismissing the wicked. Wherever he served, he acquired no conspicuous fame, yet after his departure he was invariably remembered with affection.

    The 1st year of Emperor Cheng’s Yuanyan Era (12 B.C.)

    In spring, on January 1, there was a solar eclipse.

    On January 24, Wang Shang was reinstated as Grand Marshal and General of the Guards.

    In March, the Emperor visited Yong and offered sacrifices at the Five-Deity Altar.

    In summer, on April 1, there was thunder without clouds, and a meteor moved southeast from beneath the sun, its radiance spreading in all directions like rain, from afternoon until dusk.

    A general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire.

    In July of autumn, a comet appeared in the eastern Well Mansion.

    The Emperor, troubled by these omens and calamities, sought the counsel of his ministers. The Prefect of Beidi, Gu Yong, responded:

    “When a ruler personally cultivates virtue and accords with the natural order, the seasons arrive in due course, the people enjoy long lives, and auspicious signs appear. If, however, he loses the Way and acts recklessly—defying Heaven and harming the people—then ominous signs arise, disasters and anomalies occur, and famine becomes frequent. If he does not reform, evil accumulates and misfortune continues. In the end, Heaven will cease to issue warnings, and the Mandate of Heaven will pass to one who is virtuous. This is the constant principle of Heaven and Earth, observed by all the ancient kings. Moreover, the measure of an emperor’s merit differs; his lifespan may be long or short, his time earlier or later, and the Way of Heaven alternates between waxing and waning.

    “Your Majesty has inherited the accomplishments of eight generations, stands at the close of a luminous age, and has passed through a cycle of two hundred and ten years. You have encountered the fate of the hexagram Unexpected of the Book of Changes and now face a cycle of calamities in the one hundred and sixth year. Since the first year of the Jianshi era, disasters and anomalies of many kinds have converged and intertwined, now amounting to twenty years. Their number and strangeness exceed all that is recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals.

    “Internally, within the deep confines of the palace’s inner chambers, Your Majesty risks the influence of rash ministers and insolent consorts, and the dangers arising from drunkenness and reckless conduct, which could bring calamity upon the state. In the secluded quarters of the northern palace gardens and lanes, and within the houses of underlings and favored women, there lies the danger of upheavals like those of Xia Zhengshu or Cui Zhu—regicides brought about by adulterous entanglements. Externally, throughout the territories of the realm, there is the threat of uprisings like those led by Fan Bing, Su Ling, Chen Sheng, or Xiang Liang. The fine line between safety and peril, and the gravest concern for the ancestral temples—these are what fill me, Gu Yong, with deep apprehension and compel me to offer repeated warnings year after year.

    “Signs appear below before they manifest above—can we afford not to be cautious? Disasters arise from the smallest beginnings, and treachery grows from the most insignificant circumstances. I respectfully urge Your Majesty to rectify the principles governing ruler and minister, to cease indulging in casual and unrestrained banquets with petty officials, to adhere strictly to the three fundamental bonds—between lord and subject, father and son, and husband and wife—to reform the administration of the inner palace, to restrain and distance those who are insolent and jealous, and to promote and draw close those who are gentle and compliant. Only after proper court procedures are observed should you venture outside; roads should be cleared by troops in advance, and you should avoid traveling alone or visiting the homes of servants for food and drink. Eliminating such practices will block the path to internal disorder.

    “As for the uprisings in various regions, they arise from the people’s hunger and the officials’ indifference, from the people’s suffering under heavy taxation, and from grievances below that are unknown to above. The Hongfan (‘Great Plan’) of the Book of Documents states: ‘When there is hunger without relief, to proclaim peace and prosperity invites ruin.’ In recent years, many regions have suffered damage from floods, and harvests have failed. In such circumstances, it is appropriate to reduce the regular taxes. Yet officials have proposed increasing levies, which runs counter to the principles of good governance and violates the sentiments of the people, breeding resentment and inviting disaster. I hope Your Majesty will reject proposals to raise taxes, further curb extravagant expenditures, extend benevolence broadly, provide relief to the destitute, and encourage agriculture and sericulture, thereby soothing and stabilizing the hearts of the people. If this is done, the uprisings across the realm may yet be brought to an end.”

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 247): Breaking up Fraternity

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 23 Scroll 31 (continued)

    Jue, bronze wine cup from Han dynasty

    The 2nd year of Emperor Cheng’s Yongshi Era (15 B.C. continued)

    The Emperor once held a banquet in the inner palace with Zhang Fang and several attendants, along with the Zhao sisters, the concubine Li Ping, and several Privy Counselors. They drank freely, raising their cups and laughing loudly; anyone who failed to empty his cup was penalized. At the time, the Emperor sat before a painted screen depicting King Zhou of Shang drunkenly reclining with the concubine Daji, reveling in the pleasures of the night.

    The Privy Counselor and Grand Master of Merit, Ban Bo, who had recently recovered from a long illness, was present. The Emperor pointed to the painting and asked Ban Bo, “Did King Zhou truly become so depraved?”

    Ban Bo replied, “The Book of Documents says, ‘He heeded the words of women,’ but he never reclined so brazenly in court. This painting exaggerates his misdeeds to focus public hatred upon the woman; that is not what actually happened.”

    The Emperor asked, “If he was not like this, what warning does this painting give?”

    Ban Bo answered, “It is recorded that ‘he drowned in wine,’ which led Weizi to depart. The Great Odes speak of ‘shouting and yowling,’ describing downfall through drunkenness. The admonitions against debauchery in the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents all address excessive drinking.”

    The Emperor sighed and said, “I have not heard such frank words from Ban Bo for a long time.” Zhang Fang and the others were displeased and gradually withdrew.

    At that time, a Linbiao[female officer] from Changxin Palace visited the court as a messenger and witnessed the scene. Later, when the Emperor visited the Eastern Palace, the Empress Dowager wept and said, “The Emperor’s complexion has grown thin and dark. Privy Counselor Ban Bo was recommended by the Grand General and should be held in high esteem; seek out more men like him to assist in your virtuous rule. It is also fitting to send the Marquis of Fuping, Zhang Fang, back to his fief.”

    The Emperor replied, “Yes.”

    When the Emperor’s uncles heard this, they urged the Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate to find grounds for impeaching Zhang Fang. Accordingly, Chancellor Xue Xuan and Grand Master of the Censorate Zhai Fangjin submitted a memorial stating: “Zhang Fang is insolent, indulgent, extravagant, and uncontrollable. He obstructs envoys, harms the innocent, and allows his followers to abuse their power and commit outrages. We request that Zhang Fang be dismissed and sent to his fief.”

    The Emperor, though reluctant, demoted Zhang Fang to the post of Commandant of Beidi.

    In the years that followed, a succession of calamities prevented Zhang Fang from returning, yet he received constant letters of concern from the Emperor. When Princess Jingwu fell ill, the Emperor summoned Zhang Fang back to attend to his mother. After several months, when the Princess recovered, Zhang Fang was reappointed Commandant of Hedong. Though the Emperor was deeply attached to Zhang Fang, he was constrained by the Empress Dowager and compelled to heed his ministers, and often sent him away in tears.

    When Empress Dowager Qiongcheng, the Emperor’s grandmother, passed away, the funeral arrangements were rushed, and officials imposed heavy levies to meet the expenses. On hearing of this, the Emperor held the Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate responsible. In winter, on October 8, he demoted Chancellor Xue Xuan to the status of a commoner and reduced the Grand Master of the Censorate, Zhai Fangjin, to the post of Bearer of the Mace.

    For more than twenty days the office of Chancellor remained vacant, and many officials recommended Zhai Fangjin for the position. The Emperor also valued his abilities. On November 2, Zhai Fangjin was promoted to Chancellor and granted the title of Marquis of Gaoling. The Emperor appointed Kong Guang, Cavalier Attendant-in-Ordinary and Grand Chamberlain, as the new Grand Master of the Censorate.

    Zhai Fangjin rose through his mastery of the Classics, but in office he enforced the law with severity, favored the exercise of power, and sought to establish his authority. He harbored deep resentments and often assailed others with cutting memorials that caused lasting injury. There were accusations that he pursued private vendettas and acted deceitfully, but the Emperor believed his recommendations conformed to law and precedent and did not judge them to be improper.

    Kong Guang was the youngest son of Kong Ba, Marquis of Baocheng. He served as Minister of the State Secretariat, managing confidential documents and affairs for more than ten years, always adhering to law and established practice. When the Emperor consulted him, he answered according to the Classics and the statutes, speaking what he believed to be right without seeking to curry favor. If his advice was not adopted, he did not press the matter, and thus maintained his position in stability for many years. Whenever he drafted a memorial, he destroyed the rough copy, considering it a grave impropriety for a minister to appear loyal and upright by exposing the ruler’s faults. When he recommended someone, he feared that the person might learn of it. On his days of leave, he remained with his family and never spoke of court affairs. When asked about the trees in the Wenshi Palace, he would fall silent or reply with unrelated topics, maintaining such a tight-lip that he revealed nothing at all.

    The Emperor traveled to Yong to offer sacrifices at the Five-Deity Altar.

    General of Guard Wang Shang disliked Chen Tang and accused him of “falsely claiming that the construction of Changling would be resumed, and that the appearance of a black dragon in winter was a sign of the Emperor’s frequent incognito outings.” The Minister of Justice advised that “Chen Tang’s statements were improper and showed grave disrespect.” However, in consideration of Chen Tang’s past service, the Emperor pardoned him, reduced him to commoner status, and exiled him to the frontier.

    The Emperor, remembering that Zhao Feiyan’s elevation to Empress had been greatly aided by Chunyu Chang, sought to reward him. He cited Chunyu Chang’s earlier recommendation to halt the construction of Changling and ordered the ministers to deliberate on conferring a title upon him. The Grand Herald Ping Dang argued, “Although Chunyu Chang offered a sound proposal, it does not meet the standards for ennoblement.” For this, Ping Dang was demoted to the post of Prefect of Julu.

    The Emperor then issued an edict commending the Attendant-in-Ordinary Wang Hong and the Privy Counselor and Commandant of the Guards, Chunyu Chang, for their outstanding counsel, and granted both the title of Marquis within the Passes.

    At the same time, the Grand Architect Xie Wannian was accused of sycophancy and disloyalty, causing widespread harm among the people. He was exiled to Dunhuang along with Chen Tang.

    Previously, Chen Xian, the Privy Treasurer, and Pang Xin, the Commandant of the Guards, both held posts superior to that of Zhai Fangjin. Zhai Fangjin rose later, becoming Intendant of Jingzhao, and was on amicable terms with Chen Xian. When the post of Grand Master of the Censorate fell vacant, all three were prominent candidates, yet Zhai Fangjin was selected. When Chancellor Xue Xuan was later found guilty and implicated Zhai Fangjin, the Emperor ordered five ministers of the two-thousand-picul rank to investigate both the Chancellor and the Grand Master of the Censorate. Chen Xian accused Zhai Fangjin in hopes of taking his position, and Zhai Fangjin thereafter harbored deep resentment toward him.

    Chen Tang, favored by Wang Feng and Wang Yin for his abilities, was also on good terms with Chen Xian and Pang Xin. He often praised them before Wang Feng and Wang Yin, which helped them gain advancement among the Nine Ministers. When Wang Shang dismissed Chen Tang, Zhai Fangjin inculpated that Chen Xian and Pang Xin had colluded with him to seek recommendations and secure offices through improper means. As a result, all three were removed from their posts.

    That year, Zhu Bo, Prefect of Langya, was appointed Intendant of Pingyi. In governing the commandery, he often selected the influential and powerful in each county for high civil or military office, according to their qualification. When notorious bandits or unusual disturbances arose, he issued letters of censure; those who exerted themselves effectively were generously rewarded, while those who failed through deceit were punished at once. Thus the powerful were brought to submission, and every policy was carried out without obstruction.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 246): Mirror of History

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 23 Scroll 31 (continued)

    Bronze Mirror from Han Dynasty

    The 2nd year of Emperor Cheng’s Yongshi Era (15 B.C.)

    In the spring, on January 3, the Marquis Jing of Anyang, Wang Yin, passed away. Wang Yin was the only member of the Wang family who was diligent and upright, often offering corrections and counsel, and displaying loyalty and integrity.

    On February 28, meteors fell like rain, numerous and unceasing, yet they extinguished before reaching the ground. On February 30, a solar eclipse occurred.

    On March 12, the Marquis of Chengdu, Wang Shang, was appointed Grand Marshal and General of the Guards. The Marquis of Hongyang, Wang Li, was promoted as a special appointee and placed in charge of the city gate troops.

    The Intendant of Jingzhao, Zhai Fangjin, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate.

    Gu Yong served as Inspector of Liangzhou. When he reported to the capital and, having completed his business, was about to depart for his post, the Emperor sent a minister of the State Secretariat to ask whether he had any message to convey. Gu Yong wrote:

    “I have heard that for those who rule the realm and govern the state, the great concern is that urgent and disquieting speech may fail to reach the Emperor’s ears. If such words were always heard, then the dynasties of Shang and Zhou would not have changed their surnames in succession, nor would the calendars of the Three Dynasties have been altered in turn. When the Xia and Shang were about to fall, even the common people knew it, yet their rulers complacently believed themselves as secure as the sun in the sky and could not perceive the danger. Thus they were blind to the spreading evils, and their great mandate was overturned without their awareness.

    “The Book of Changes says, ‘Those who are mindful of danger will find safety; those who are mindful of peril will preserve themselves.’ If Your Majesty will listen with an open and unclouded mind, without censorship or punishment, allowing even the humblest laborers to speak what they know, it would be the greatest wish of your ministers and the lasting blessing of the state.

    “In the first year of the Yongshi era, in September, a black dragon appeared in the sky; at the end of that month, there was a solar eclipse. This year, on the night of February 7, a star fell; on the February 14, there was a solar eclipse. Within six months, there have been four great anomalies, occurring in pairs within the same months. Even at the end of the Three Dynasties and amid the turmoil of the Spring and Autumn period, such things did not occur. I have heard that the reason the Three Dynasties lost their altars and ancestral temples was the indulgence of women and in wine by a gang of evildoers inside palaces; the reason the Qin dynasty perished within sixteen years or mere two generations was the extravagance of life and the lavishness of funerals. Your Majesty has done both, and I beg your pardon to explain their consequences.

    “During the Jianshi and Heping eras, the households of Empress Xu and Consort Ban dominated the court and cast their influence in all directions. Favor toward women then reached its height and could not be surpassed; now, those who follow in their footsteps have risen ten times higher still. Your Majesty has abolished the laws and regulations of the late Emperor, taken these women’s words as truth, and bestowed offices and ranks without measure. You have released criminals from royal punishments, emboldened their relatives, granted them power and authority, and disrupted governance at will, so that officials fear to act in accordance with the law. Moreover, the inner court’s prison has become a private snare, where tortures more brutal than flogging, branding, and roasting are employed, and many perish. Your Majesty has repaid favors and pursued vendettas for the families of Zhao(Feiyan) and Li(Ping), overturning rightful judgments and punishing upright officials who seek reform. Many innocent officers are imprisoned, beaten, and coerced into confessions. The inner court issues loans for profit, shares in their gains, and accepts bribes. Countless enter and never return. This is why the two solar eclipses have appeared, to reveal these offenses.

    “Heaven withdraws its aid only after a ruler places himself in helplessness first. Now Your Majesty sets aside the supreme dignity of the imperial carriage, delights in the petty affairs of commoners, disdains the lofty and august title of the Son of Heaven, and prefers the lowly names of ordinary men. You elevate and gather frivolous and unworthy persons as private companions, often leaving the secure depths of the palace, traveling day and night with such men, flocking and mingling like crows, drinking in the houses of officials and commoners, sitting together in disordered attire, indulging in excessive revelry, mixing without distinction. You pursue pleasure eagerly, spending days and nights upon the road. Those who guard the gates and serve in the imperial guard hold their weapons and keep watch over an empty palace. For several years, ministers and officials have been wondering Your Majesty’s whereabouts.

    “The ruler takes the people as the foundation, and the people rely upon their private resources. When private resources are exhausted, the people rebel; when the people rebel, the ruler falls. Therefore, a wise ruler cherishes and nurtures the foundation, daring not to exploit it, and treats the people as if he were conducting a great sacrifice. Now Your Majesty casually seizes the people’s resources, does not cherish their toil, and listens to the schemes of deceitful ministers. You abandoned the original great mausoleum and rebuilt Changling, employing hundreds of thousands more laborers than were used in constructing the Ganxi tomb of King Ling of Chu, and incurring expenses comparable to Mount Li of the First Emperor of Qin, thereby exhausting the realm. After five years it remained unfinished, and you reverted to the original plan. The people’s sorrow and resentment have moved Heaven. Famine has followed; the people have scattered, and millions have starved, dying along the roads. The state has no yearly reserves, and the people have not even ten days’ provisions. Both high and low are impoverished, with no means to aid one another. The Book of Songs says, ‘The mirror of Yin(a.k.a. Shang) is not far; it lies in the late age of Xia.’ I urge Your Majesty to look back upon the failures of Xia, Shang, Zhou, and Qin as a mirror by which to reflect upon your own conduct. If anything I have said is improper, I am willing to accept punishment for reckless speech!

    “Since the founding of the Han dynasty, through nine generations and more than one hundred and ninety years, seven emperors have succeeded to the throne. All followed Heaven’s mandate and upheld the ways of their ancestors, either restoring the dynasty or preserving peace and order. Yet Your Majesty alone has departed from the proper path, indulged your cravings, and acted with reckless abandon; though still in the prime of life, you lack the blessing of an heir and face the peril of ruin. The accumulated failures in governance have become too numerous and do not accord with Heaven’s will. As heir to the legacy and achievements of your forebears, to guard them in this manner—is this not betrayal?

    “At present, the fate of the state, the ancestral temples, and the balance between safety and danger all rest in Your Majesty’s hands. If Your Majesty will truly awaken to this reality, devote himself to returning to the right path, correcting past errors, and establishing new virtue, then these great anomalies may well be dispelled, Heaven’s mandate restored, and the state and ancestral temples preserved. I implore Your Majesty to reflect deeply and weigh these words with care.”

    The Emperor was by nature lenient and fond of literature, yet he was addicted to pleasure and entertainment, a constant source of anxiety for the Empress Dowager and his many uncles. Because those closest to him found it difficult to speak frankly, they urged Gu Yong and others to invoke heavenly anomalies as a pretext for stern remonstrance, encouraging the Emperor to heed and adopt their counsel. Gu Yong, knowing that he had the support of powerful affinal kin, spoke his mind without restraint, and on each occasion he was received with deference. However, when he submitted this particular response, the Emperor was greatly angered.

    General Wang Shang secretly advised Gu Yong to flee. The Emperor dispatched an imperial censor to arrest him, with orders not to pursue him beyond the Jiaodao stables. The censor failed to overtake Gu Yong and returned. The Emperor’s anger then subsided, and he repented of his actions.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 245): The Bereaved

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 23 Scroll 31 (continued)

    The Site of Changling, Lintong District, Xi’an, Shaanxi Province

    The 1st year of Emperor Cheng’s Yongshi Era (16 B.C. continued)

    The Empress Dowager had eight brothers; only her brother Wang Man died young and was not enfeoffed, and she pitied him for this. Wang Man’s widow, Qu, was supported by the Eastern Palace, and their son, Wang Mang, grew up an orphan, unable to rival his cousins, all of whom were sons of generals and marquises and indulged in extravagance, competing in displays of wealth and pleasure. Wang Mang, by contrast, humbled himself, practiced frugality, and devoted himself to study, dressing like a scholar. He served his mother and widowed sister-in-law, raised his orphaned nephews, and conducted himself with great care. He befriended eminent men outside the court and, within the imperial clan, attended to his uncles with meticulous respect.

    When the Grand General Wang Feng fell ill, Wang Mang waited upon him, personally tasting his medicine, remaining unkempt and unwashed, and not removing his clothes even to sleep or bathe for months. As Wang Feng lay dying, he commended Wang Mang to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and Wang Mang was appointed Yellow Gates Attendant and later promoted to Colonel of Shooting the Sound.

    After some time, Wang Mang’s uncle, Wang Shang, Marquis of Chengdu, submitted a memorial requesting that his fief households be divided so that Wang Mang might be enfeoffed. Dai Chong, Privy Treasurer of Changle Palace, Jin She, Privy Counselor, and Chen Tang, Commandant of the Guards—all noted gentlemen of the time—spoke highly of Wang Mang. The Emperor accordingly esteemed him, and the Empress Dowager also frequently praised him. On May 6, Wang Mang was enfeoffed as Marquis of Xindu and promoted to Cavalry Commandant, Grand Master of Merit, and Privy Counselor. He served with diligence and care, and as his rank and title grew more exalted, his conduct became ever more humble. He distributed his carriages, horses, clothing, and furs to his retainers, leaving nothing in excess at home. He sponsored and associated with renowned scholars and cultivated ties with generals, ministers, and high officials. Thus, those in office continually recommended him, and those who visited him spoke highly of him, spreading his reputation far and wide, until it surpassed that of his uncles.

    He also ventured upon bold actions without apparent shame. Once he privately purchased a maidservant. When his brothers learned of it, Wang Mang said, “General of the Rear Zhu Ziyuan has no sons. I have heard that this maid is fit for bearing children, and so I bought her.” He then immediately presented the maid to General Zhu Bo. Such was his manner of concealing his pursuit of reputation.

    On June 6, Empress Zhao was formally established, and a great amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm. Once she had been installed, however, her favor declined. Her younger sister, by contrast, was deeply beloved and was made Zhaoyi (Consort of Bright Deportment), residing in the Zhaoyang Palace. Its central courtyard was painted vermilion, and the halls above were lacquered black; all the thresholds were plated and gilded with copper; the stairways were fashioned of white jade; the walls were inlaid at intervals with golden belt, Lantian jade, and luminous pearls, and adorned with peacock feathers. Such splendor had never before been seen within the harem.

    Empress Zhao dwelt in a separate hall, often associating with attendants and palace servants who had borne many children. Consort(Zhaoyi) Zhao once said to the Emperor, “My sister is headstrong and fiery. If anyone were to slander her, the Zhao family would have no descendants.” She wept bitterly, and the Emperor was moved. Believing her, he ordered the execution of anyone who reported evidence of the Empress’s misconduct. As a result, the Empress indulged in debauchery without fear of accusation, yet in the end she remained childless.

    The Grand Master of Merit, Liu Xiang, held that royal instruction should proceed from within outward, beginning with those closest to the Emperor. He therefore compiled accounts of virtuous consorts and chaste women who aided in the flourishing of their states, as well as tales of indulgence and favoritism that led to ruin, drawing from the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents, and produced a work entitled Biographies of Exemplary Women in eight volumes. He also gathered various records and deeds, composing New Prefaces and Stories of the Garden in fifty volumes, which he presented to the Emperor. He frequently submitted memorials discussing gains and losses and offering admonitions. These writings, numbering in the dozens, were meant to assist the Emperor’s understanding and to supply what was lacking in his knowledge. Although the Emperor could not fully carry out all of Liu Xiang’s proposals, he privately esteemed his words and often sighed in admiration.

    The construction of the Changling Mausoleum was extravagant and sumptuous, yet even after a long time it remained unfinished.

    Liu Xiang submitted a memorial, saying: “I have heard that kings must submit to the Three Norms—Heaven, Earth, and the People—and understand that the Mandate of Heaven bestowed upon them is broad and not confined to a single family. From antiquity to the present, there has never been a state that did not eventually perish. Emperor Wen once admired the solidity of stone sarcophagi, to which Zhang Shizhi replied, ‘If there is something desirable within, then even if it were cast in copper and buried in Mount Zhongnan, cracks would still appear.’ The dead have no ultimate end, while states rise and fall; Zhang Shizhi’s words thus look to the unending future. Emperor Wen understood this and resolved upon a simple burial.

    “The making of coffins and sarcophagi began with the Yellow Emperor. The Yellow Emperor, Emperor Yao, Shun, Yu the Great, Tang(the Perfect) of Shang, King Wen of Zhou, King Wu of Zhou, and the Duke of Zhou all had small tombs and very modest burial places. Their wise ministers and filial sons likewise followed their example and buried them simply. This truly embodies the highest loyalty and filial piety in honoring and comforting one’s lord and father. Confucius buried his mother at Fang city, with a tomb four feet high. Ji Zha of Yanling buried his son, sealing the pit so that the mound, less than half a man’s height, was scarcely visible. Yet Confucius was a filial son, Ji Zha of Yanling a compassionate father, Shun and Yu loyal ministers, and the Duke of Zhou a dutiful brother; in burying their lords, parents, and kin, all practiced simplicity. This was not merely frugality for its own sake, but a principle truly worthy of adoption.

    “The First Emperor of Qin was buried at the foot of Mount Li. His tomb was sealed down through three layers of aquifer, with a towering mound above. Mercury was made to flow as rivers and seas; golden geese and ducks were set in place; treasures were stored; mechanical devices were installed; the coffins were splendid, and the palace structures magnificent—beyond all imagining. The people of the world were driven to exhaustion by forced labor and rose in revolt. The works at Mount Li were not yet finished when a great army of a million, led by Zhou Zhang, reached its base. Xiang Yu burned the palaces and encampments, and later a shepherd boy, searching for a lost sheep with a torch, accidentally set fire to the hidden coffin and bier. From antiquity to the present, there has never been a burial as grand as that of the First Emperor, yet within a few years it suffered calamity from Xiang Yu without and from the shepherd boy within. Is it not tragic?

    “Therefore, the greater the virtue, the simpler the burial; the deeper the wisdom, the less the expense in sepulture. Those lacking virtue and understanding make their tombs ever more elaborate. The higher the mound and the more splendid the temple, the sooner they are dug up. From this one can see the contrast between enlightenment and folly, and the auspiciousness or ominousness of burial is made plain.

    “Since Your Majesty ascended the throne, you have practiced frugality. When the mausoleum was first planned, its scale was modest, and all praised Your Majesty’s wisdom. But after it was moved to Changling, humility was turned into ostentation: soil was heaped into a mountain, people’s graves were opened, and countless laborers were conscripted. Thousands of dwellings were built, the work rushed to meet deadlines, at the cost of tens of thousands. The dead are resentful below, and the living sorrowful above. I am deeply distressed. If the dead are conscious, to disturb their graves is a great injury; if they are not, what purpose does such grandeur serve? To consult the wise brings them no joy, and to display this to the common people brings only suffering. If it is merely to please the foolish and the extravagant, what value does it have?

    “I beg that Your Majesty look to the wise precedents of antiquity as a model, take the calamity of fallen Qin as a warning, and return to the original plan for the mausoleum, in accordance with the deliberations of the nobles and ministers, so as to relieve the burden on the people.”

    The Emperor was moved by these words.

    At the outset, the Grand Architect Xie Wannian falsely claimed that the Changling Mausoleum could be completed in three years, yet in the end he failed to fulfill this promise. Many officials spoke of the project’s impracticality. The matter was referred to the relevant authorities for deliberation, and they all stated:

    “The Changling Mausoleum depends on raising low ground to make it high, while the burial chamber must still be constructed on level earth. Set upon alien soil, it does not safeguard the spirit of the deceased in the afterlife, and its shallow outer layers are insecure. The labor of the workers has reached the tens of thousands; fires are lit at night, and earth is hauled from the eastern mountains, to the point that soil itself now rivals grain in price. The construction has continued for several years, and the entire realm has been burdened by its toil. Therefore, the mausoleum should follow the natural terrain, rest upon true soil, be situated in a high and prominent place, and lie close to the resting places of the other ancestors. Moreover, ten years of work have already been expended on the former mausoleums. It would be best to return to them and not relocate the people, for the sake of convenience.”

    In July of autumn, an edict was issued, saying: “We have not firmly upheld our own virtue, nor fully consulted my advisors. We mistakenly heeded the words of the Grand Architect Xie Wannian, who claimed that ‘Changling could be completed in three years.’ After five years of labor, the central mausoleum and the Forbidden Gates have not even been begun. The resources of the state are exhausted, and the people are worn down. The foreign soil is loose and unsuitable, making completion impossible. We are deeply troubled and pained by this. As the saying goes, ‘To err and not to correct is itself an error.’ Therefore, let the construction of Changling cease, and let the officials and people not be relocated from the former mausoleums, so that the hearts of the people are not disturbed.”

    The descendants of Xiao He, the Marquis of Zan, who inherited his title, either died without heirs or committed crimes, so that their line was extinguished five times. Empress Gaozu, Emperor Wen, Emperor Jing, Emperor Wu, and Emperor Xuan all remembered Xiao He’s great service and repeatedly restored collateral branches of his family to the marquisate. In this year, Xiao He’s seventh-generation descendant, Xiao Huo, Marquis of Zan, was charged with having his slave kill a man. His death sentence was commuted, and he was assigned to hard labor on the city walls. Earlier, the Emperor had issued an edict directing the authorities to seek out the descendants of the founding heroes of the Han dynasty, but for a long time the records remained incomplete.

    Du Ye advised the Emperor, saying: “The ancient rulers Yao and Shun, and the kings of the Three Dynasties(Xia, Shang, Zhou), all enfeoffed the lords in order to secure the harmony of the realm. Thus the ancestral sacrifices of Yan and Qi were maintained alongside those of Zhou, with sons succeeding fathers and brothers following brothers, without interruption through the years. How could this have been achieved without the punishments and exertions of the ancestors, by which their descendants were enabled to enjoy the fruits? When we trace back the meritorious officials of the Han, all were granted hereditary titles and swore oaths by mountains and rivers. Yet in little more than a hundred years, those who inherited these titles have all passed away, their bones lying alone in the graves, their descendants scattered, living as destitute servants and dying as wandering corpses. When one reflects on the past, it is all the more grievous in the present.

    “The benevolent court, moved by compassion, issued an edict to seek out their descendants, and people from all quarters returned joyfully with loyal hearts. Yet years have passed without proper inquiry, and I fear that those who speak of it do not grasp its great significance, offering only empty words. This obscures Your Majesty’s great virtue and spreads a reputation for ungenerosity on the part of the court, which does not serve to instruct or to encourage future generations. Though it may be difficult to carry it out in full, we should at least continue to honor those of outstanding merit.” The Emperor accepted this counsel.

    On July 15, Xiao He’s sixth-generation descendant, Xiao Xi, Chief of Nanluan County, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Zan.

    The younger brother of Prince Ai of Chengyang, Liu Li, was also established as Prince of Chengyang.

    On August 19, the Great Grand Empress Dowager Wang, consort of Emperor Xuan, passed away.

    In September, a black dragon(dark cloud of odd shape?) appeared in Donglai.

    On September 30, a solar eclipse occurred.

    In this year, the Prefect of Nanyang, Chen Xian, was appointed Privy Treasurer, and the Privy Counselor Chunyu Chang was appointed Commandant of Waterways And Parks.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 243): Sister Flowers

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 23 Scroll 31 (continued)

    Purportedly Personal Seal Stamp of Zhao Feiyan

    The 2nd year of Emperor Cheng’s Hongjia Era (19 B.C.)

    In spring, the Emperor traveled to Yunyang and Ganquan palace.

    In March, when the erudites performed the grand archery ritual, a pheasant flew into the courtyard, ascended the steps, entered the hall, and crowed. Thereafter, pheasants also gathered at the residences of the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, the Minister of Imperial Clan, the Chancellor, the Grand Master of the Censorate, and the General of Chariots and Cavalry, and then upon the roof of the Chengming Hall in Weiyang Palace. The General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Yin, and the Secretary-in-Waiting, Chong, submitted a report:

    “The energies of Heaven and Earth respond to one another; warnings to the ruler are subtle yet manifest. The pheasant is famed for its keen hearing, sensing thunder before it strikes, which is why the Monthly Ordinances record its significance. The Classic recounts the abnormal crowing of a pheasant in the time of Emperor Gaozong of Shang(while sacrificing for Tang of Shang), as a sign that misfortune was turning into blessing. Now, on the day of the grand archery ritual performed by the erudites, many pheasants gathered, flew into the courtyard, ascended the steps, and entered the hall, causing astonishment and alarm for several days. They then passed through the residences of the Three Excellencies, the Grand Minister of Ceremonies, and the Minister of the Imperial Clan, who oversee the ancestral temples and family affairs, and finally entered the palace—indicating a warning of profound significance. Men can often make admonitions to each other, but could anything surpass this?”

    The Emperor later instructed the Attendant-in-Ordinary, Chao Hong, to convey to Wang Yin: “It has been reported that the feathers of the captured pheasant were somewhat broken, suggesting that it had been handled by someone. Might this not be the work of men?”

    Wang Yin replied: “How could Your Majesty entertain the words of a doomed state? Who would dare to contrive deceit to malign Your Majesty’s virtue in such a way? Flatterers surround you, and there is no need for my flattery. From high officials to low, all merely strive to preserve their positions and do not speak the truth. If Your Majesty becomes aware of impending calamity and, in awe, reprimands the officials and enforces the sacred laws, then I, Wang Yin, should be the first to be punished. How could I seek to excuse myself?

    “Now it has been fifteen years since Your Majesty ascended the throne, yet no heir has been established. You travel daily and neglect your duties—this failing is well known, more widely spoken of in the realm than even in the capital. There are harms in your roaming outside the palace and anxieties over illness within it. Heaven has repeatedly shown portents to urge reform, yet nothing has changed. If even Heaven cannot move Your Majesty, what hope do we, your subjects, have? I can only speak candidly and await death, my fate hanging by a thread. If Your Majesty does not set this right, my aged mother will not find peace, nor will the honor of the Empress Dowager remain secure. To whom, then, shall the empire founded by Gaozu be entrusted? It would be fitting to seek the counsel of the wise and discerning, to practice self-discipline and return to propriety, to seek Heaven’s favor, thereby establishing an heir and dispelling calamities.”

    Earlier, under Emperor Yuan, frugality prevailed, and households were no longer relocated to Weiling to establish a settlement town. Under Emperor Cheng, however, construction of Chuling began, and several years later he favored a site south of Baling Qu Pavilion, also known as Changling, and again commenced building there. The Grand Craftsman, Xie Wannian, had Chen Tang submit a proposal to relocate people to establish a settlement town at the new site, seeking to claim merit and substantial rewards. Chen Tang volunteered to move first, hoping to obtain fertile fields and fine dwellings. The Emperor accepted this advice and established the settlement town of Changling.

    In summer, wealthy and powerful families with assets exceeding five million were relocated to Changling, totaling five thousand households.

    On May 6, three meteorites fell in Duyou Post.

    In June, the grandson of Prince Xian of Zhongshan, Liu Yunke, was enfeoffed as Prince of Guangde.

    That year, Prince Ai of Chengyang, Liu Yun, died. As he left no sons, his principality was abolished.

    The 3rd year of Emperor Cheng’s Hongjia Era (18 B.C.)

    In April of summer, an amnesty was proclaimed throughout the empire.

    There was a severe drought.

    The Five Marquises of the Wang clan vied with one another in extravagance. The Marquis of Chengdu, Wang Shang, once fell ill and sought to escape the heat, so he borrowed the Mingguang Palace from the Emperor. Later, he even cut through the city of Chang’an, diverting water from the Feng River into a great pond within his residence, upon which he sailed boats beneath feathered canopies and surrounding curtains, with oarsmen singing Yue songs. The Emperor visited Wang Shang’s estate, saw the water diverted through the city, and was displeased, though he kept his feelings to himself.

    Later, while traveling incognito, the Emperor passed the residence of the Marquis of Quyang, Wang Gen, and saw an earthen mound and a gradually raised platform resembling the White Tiger Hall of the imperial park. The Emperor was enraged and reproached the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Yin.

    Wang Shang and his brother Wang Gen wished to brand their faces and mutilate their noses to apologize before the Empress Dowager. When the Emperor heard of this, he was furious and sent the Minister of the State Secretariat to rebuke the Colonel of the Capital Inspectorate and the Intendant of Jingzhao, declaring that they knew well of the Marquis of Chengdu, Wang Shang, and the others exceeding all bounds in extravagance and authority, yet concealed and shielded offenders, failing to report them or enforce the law. The two officials bowed their heads before the palace gate.

    The Emperor also issued an edict to the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Yin, saying: “Why do the affines indulge in corruption and decay? Why do they seek to brand and mutilate themselves, to disfigure and disgrace one another before the Empress Dowager, wounding a compassionate mother’s heart and thereby throwing the state into peril and disorder? The affinal clan and its branches have grown strong, while We, the lord, have long been weakened day by day. Now We shall take action. Summon the Five Marquises and order them to await judgment in your house!”

    That day, the ministers of the State Secretariat were ordered to submit a report citing the precedent of General Bo Zhao’s execution in the reign of Emperor Wen.

    The General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Yin, begged for punishment by sitting upon a straw mat, and Wang Shang, Wang Li, and Wang Gen all carried axes and chopping boards in token of submission. After a long time, the matter was settled. The Emperor had meant only to frighten them and had no true intention of putting them to death.

    In autumn, on August 15, the northern gate of Emperor Jing’s temple caught fire.

    Earlier, Empress Xu and Consort Ban were both favored by the Emperor. Once, while the Emperor was touring the rear garden, he wished to ride in the same carriage with Consort Ban. Consort Ban declined, saying, “When one looks to ancient paintings, the wise and holy rulers are always shown with eminent ministers at their side, whereas the last rulers of the Three Dynasties(Xia, Shang, Zhou) are depicted with favored concubines riding with them. If we were to share the same carriage, would it not resemble that?”

    The Emperor admired her words and desisted. When the Empress Dowager heard of this, she was pleased and said, “In ancient times there was a Concubine Fan of King Zhuang of Chu; now we have Consort Ban.”

    Consort Ban recommended her maidservant, Li Ping, who likewise gained the Emperor’s favor and was granted the title of Consort and the surname Wei.

    Later, while traveling incognito, the Emperor visited the residence of Princess of Yang’e and was captivated by the singing and dancing of Geji Zhao Feiyan. He summoned her to the palace and bestowed great favor upon her. Zhao Feiyan’s younger sister, Zhao Hede, was also summoned; she was even more alluring and refined, pure and flawless, and all who saw her were entranced by her beauty.

    Nao Fangcheng, the Fragrance Erudite(female scholar) from the reign of Emperor Xuan, stood behind the Emperor when they first encountered Zhao Hede and spat upon the ground, saying, “These are beauties of calamitous water; they will surely extinguish the fire of the Han house!”

    Both sisters were made Jieyu (Ladies of Handsome Fairness), and their splendor soon eclipsed the entire harem. Empress Xu and Consort Ban fell from favor. Zhao Feiyan then falsely accused Empress Xu and Consort Ban of practicing witchcraft, cursing the harem, and insulting the Emperor.

    In winter, on November 16, Empress Xu was deposed and confined to the Zhaotai Palace. Her elder sister, Xu Ye, and others were executed, and their relatives were returned to their home commanderies. When Consort Ban was interrogated, she replied, “I have heard the saying: ‘Life and death are decreed; wealth and honor depend on Heaven’s appointment.’ If self-correction does not bring blessings, how could the practice of evil arts hope to do so? If ghosts and spirits are sentient, they would not accept slanderous petitions; if they are not, what use is appealing to them? Therefore, I have never cursed anyone.”

    The Emperor admired her answer, pardoned her, and rewarded her with one hundred catties of gold. The Zhao sisters grew ever more arrogant and jealous. Consort Ban, fearing for her safety, requested permission to serve the Empress Dowager in the Changxin Palace, and the Emperor granted her request.

    In Guanghan, a man named Zheng Gong, together with more than sixty others, attacked the official residence, freed the prisoners, seized weapons from the armory, and proclaimed themselves mountain lords.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 239): Jibin–A Kingdom in Kashmir

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 22 Scroll 30 (continued)

    K2 base camp, Kashmir

    The 4th year of Emperor Cheng’s Heping Era (25 B.C.)

    In January of spring, Xiongnu Chanyu came to court.

    An amnesty was granted to all convicts throughout the empire.

    On March 1, a solar eclipse occurred.

    The Prefect of Langya, Yang Rong, was connected by marriage to Wang Feng. When disasters occurred in his commandery, Chancellor Wang Shang conducted an investigation. Wang Feng interceded on Yang Rong’s behalf, but Wang Shang refused to heed him and submitted a report calling for Yang Rong’s dismissal. The Emperor subsequently disregarded the report. Wang Feng resented Wang Shang for this and secretly sought to find fault with him.

    He had Geng Ding of Pinyang submit a letter stating: “Wang Shang consorted illicitly with his father’s maidservant; moreover, his younger sister was promiscuous, and one of her slaves killed her secret lover—Wang Shang is suspected of having instructed and instigated this act.” The Emperor judged these salacious accusations insufficient to damage a high minister. Wang Feng, however, persisted in pressing the case, and it was referred to the Colonel of the Capital Inspectorate.

    Zhang Kuang, a Grandee of the Palace and a native of Shu Commandery, known for his sycophantic and crafty disposition, submitted a memorial vehemently denouncing Wang Shang. The officials requested that Wang Shang be summoned to the imperial prison. The Emperor, who held Wang Shang in high esteem and knew that Zhang Kuang’s words were often malicious, decreed, “Do not investigate.” Yet Wang Feng continued to press the matter.

    In summer, on April 20, an edict was issued confiscating the Chancellor’s seal and ribbon from Wang Shang. Three days after his dismissal, Wang Shang fell ill, vomited blood, and died. He was posthumously styled Marquis Li. As for Wang Shang’s sons, younger kinsmen, and close associates who held posts such as Cavalier Commandant, Privy Counselor, Attendant-in-Ordinary, and various administrative and clerical offices, all were reassigned to positions outside the palace, and none were permitted to remain as palace liaisons or to continue service in the imperial guard. The officials proposed abolishing his marquisate; however, an imperial edict declared that his eldest son, Wang An, would inherit the title as Marquis of Lechang.

    When the Emperor was Crown Prince, he studied the Analects under Zhang Yu of Lianzhuo. Upon ascending the throne, he granted Zhang Yu the title of Marquis within the Passes, appointed him Secretary and Grandee of Merit with emoluments of the two-thousand-picul rank, and had him serve as Palace Liaison and Recorder of the State Secretariat. Zhang Yu, together with Wang Feng, oversaw the State Secretariat, but he felt ill at ease and frequently feigned illness, submitting memorials requesting to retire in order to avoid Wang Feng. The Emperor did not permit this and instead treated him with even greater favor.

    On June 5, Zhang Yu was appointed Chancellor and enfeoffed as Marquis of Anchang.

    On June 29, King Xiao of Chu, Liu Xiao, died.

    Earlier, in the reign of Emperor Wu, when contact was first made with the Western Region, Jibin (Kashmir or Kabul) considered itself so remote that Han forces could not reach it and therefore did not submit, frequently raiding and killing Han envoys. After some time, the Han envoy Wen Zhong conspired with Yinmofu (Hermaeus), a son of the Rongqu (Hellenes) king, to attack and kill the Rongqu king and install Yinmofu as King of Jibin.

    Later, when the scout Zhao De visited Jibin, he fell out with Yinmofu, who chained Zhao De and killed more than seventy of his subordinates. Yinmofu then sent envoys to offer an apology. Emperor Yuan, recognizing the extreme distance involved, did not pursue the matter and allowed the envoys to return, thereby severing relations.

    When the new Emperor ascended the throne, Jibin again sent envoys to apologize, and the Han court intended to dispatch a return mission. Du Qin advised Wang Feng: “Previously, Yinmofu was installed by the Han and later rebelled. There is no greater grace than to set a man upon a throne and give him a people to rule, and no greater crime than to seize and kill envoys. The reason they neither repay kindness nor fear punishment is that they know they are too distant for our forces to reach. When they seek something, they speak humbly; when they desire nothing, they grow insolent. They can never truly submit.

    “The reason the Central Realm maintains contact and bestows gifts upon the barbarians is to make them neighbors and to prevent invasion. At present, the narrow passes of Xiandu cannot be crossed by Jibin. Even if they were to admire and submit to us, it would not suffice to secure the Western Regions. If they do not submit, they likewise cannot threaten our cities.”

    “Previously, their rebellion and violence against us alarmed all the states of the Western Regions and led to the severing of relations. Now they profess repentance and send gifts, yet their envoys are neither nobles nor kinsmen of their king, but merely lowly merchants. These merchants seek to trade under the guise of tribute. If we take the trouble to escort them as far as the Xiandu Pass, we risk being deceived and extending courtesies that do not befit their humble status. In all cases where escorts are dispatched to accompany guests, the purpose is to guard against bandit attacks. From the Kingdom of Pishan(Guma Nahiyisi) onward, to the south, there are four or five states no longer subject to Han. Though more than a hundred scouts are posted, and though the night watches are divided into five shifts with clappers struck to keep guard, raids and plunder still occur from time to time.

    “Donkeys are used to carry provisions, and one must rely on the various states to supply grain in order to sustain the journey. Some states are poor and small and cannot provide food; others are violent and deceitful and refuse to give it. Bearing the credentials of the Mighty Han, one may yet starve among the mountain valleys, begging and receiving nothing. After being stranded for ten or twenty days, men and beasts are abandoned in the open wilderness, never to return.

    “Moreover, one must cross Mount Great Headache and Mount Lesser Headache, the Red Earth Ridge and the Burning Body Ridge, where men grow feverish and sallow, plagued by headache(altitude sickness) and vomiting, and the donkeys and cattle suffer the same. Beyond these lie the Three-Pools Coil and the Stone-Slope Road: at their narrowest they are but one foot six or seven inches wide; at their longest they extend a full thirty li. They overlook precipitous, unfathomable depths. Travelers, whether mounted or on foot, must support one another, pulling along with ropes. Only after more than two thousand li does one reach the Xiandu Pass. When a donkey falls, before it has descended halfway it is smashed to pieces in the ravine; when a man falls, the violence of the plunge makes it impossible even to look back toward him. The obstructions and dangers are beyond all telling.

    “The sage kings of antiquity divided the realm into the Nine Provinces and established the Five Zones of Service(each concentric zone is 500 li from center), devoting themselves to what lay within and not seeking what lay without. Now envoys are dispatched, bearing the mandate of the Supreme Command, to escort alien traders. They weary multitudes of officials and soldiers, traverse roads of peril and hardship, and exhaust the resources of the Central Realm in order to attend to what is of no use in distant lands. This is not a policy for long endurance. Let the envoy receive the credentials, accompany them as far as Pishan, and then return.”

    Wang Feng agreed with Du Qin’s counsel. Jibin, seeking profit from trade and gifts, thereafter sent envoys only once every few years.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 234): Equal Opportunity in Heir Reproduction

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 22 Scroll 30 (continued)

    Qionghai Lake, Xichang(Yuesui), Sichuan Province

    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.