Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance
By Sima Guang
Translated By Yiming Yang
Annals of Han Book 22 Scroll 30 (continued)
The 2nd year of Emperor Cheng’s Heping Era (27 B.C. continued)
The King of Yelang, Xing (Moyaxie, indigenous Yi people), the King of Gouding, Yǔ, and the Marquis of Louwo, Yu, raised troops and attacked one another. The Prefect of Zangke requested permission to dispatch an army to punish King Xing of Yelang and the others. The officials argued that the great distance made such an expedition impracticable, and instead dispatched the Grandee of the Palace, Zhang Kuang of Shu Commandery, with a commission to mediate and resolve the conflict. Xing and the others, however, did not comply with the orders; they carved wooden effigies of Han officials, set them by the roadside, and shot arrows at them.
Du Qin advised the Grand General Wang Feng: “The southern barbarian kings have shown contempt for the Han envoys and no longer fear the authority of the state. I am afraid that the officials will adopt a weaker stance and persist in seeking reconciliation. The Prefect observes developments and reports them only once they have already become rebellion. If this is so, action will be delayed a further three months; in that time, these kings and chieftains will muster their forces and fortify their positions. Their resentment will only deepen, leading inevitably to mutual destruction. Knowing their crimes to be punishable, they will recklessly assault the prefects and commandants, then withdraw into remote and inhospitable lands, dense with poisonous plants and sweltering with heat and humidity. Even if commanders like Sun Wu or Wu Qi, or warriors such as Meng Ben and Xia Yu, were to enter such perilous terrain, it would be like leaping into fire or flood—they would either burn or drown, and wisdom and valor alike would gain no advantage. To maintain these lands by settlement and farming would impose an excessive burden.
“We should act before their offenses become ominous and before they suspect Han’s punitive intent. Secretly instruct the neighboring prefects and commandants to train troops and horses, and have the Grand Minister of Agriculture prepare grain stores at key points. Select a capable prefect and dispatch him. Enter in the cool season of autumn and execute those kings and chieftains who are especially defiant. If we judge this land barren and its people of no use, then a wise ruler should not burden the Central Realm with them: abandon the commandery, forsake its inhabitants, and sever ties with their leaders. But if the achievements of the late Emperor, established over many generations, must not be allowed to decay into ruin, then act early to eliminate this threat. Once matters escalate into open war, countless lives will be lost.”
Grand General Wang Feng then recommended Chen Li of Linqiong, Marshal of Jincheng, to serve as Prefect of Zangke. Upon arriving in Zangke, Chen Li sought to communicate with Xing, King of Yelang, but Xing refused to comply. Chen Li requested permission to punish him, yet received no reply. Thereupon, Chen Li, accompanied by several dozen officials, toured the counties and reached Jutongting, where Xing was stationed. He summoned Xing, who arrived with several thousand followers, but entered with only a few dozen village chiefs to meet Chen Li. Chen Li reprimanded him and then had him beheaded.
The village chiefs said, “The general has punished the unruly and removed a threat to the people. We wish to inform the soldiers.” Displaying Xing’s head, they laid down their arms and surrendered. The King of Gouding, Yǔ, and the Marquis of Louwo, Yu, were struck with fear and offered a thousand bushels of grain, along with cattle and sheep, to welcome the officials and troops. Chen Li then returned to the commandery seat.
Xing’s father-in-law, Wengzhi, together with his son Xiewu, gathered the remaining forces and compelled twenty-two neighboring villages to rebel. By winter, Chen Li petitioned to recruit local tribes and, together with the Commandant and the Chief of Staff, divided his forces to attack Wengzhi and the others. Wengzhi fortified a key position, but Chen Li dispatched a surprise detachment to cut off their supply routes and spread false reports to sow discord among their ranks.
The Commandant Wan Nian said, “A prolonged conflict cannot be sustained.” He led his troops to attack independently, was defeated, and retreated to Chen Li’s camp. Enraged, Chen Li rebuked him and ordered his subordinates to drive him from the camp with fist blows. Commandant Wan Nian returned to the fight, and Chen Li provided reinforcements. During a severe drought, Chen Li launched an attack and severed their access to water. The barbarians then collectively beheaded Wengzhi and surrendered with his head, and the western tribes were pacified.
The 3rd year of Emperor Cheng’s Heping Era (26 B.C.)
In January of spring, the Prince of Chu, Liu Xiao, came to court. On February 16, an edict was issued commending Liu Xiao for exemplary conduct and distinguished virtue, and his son, Liu Xun, was granted the title of Marquis of Guangqi.
On February 27, an earthquake struck Qianwei, causing mountains to collapse and block the Zangke River, so that its water flowed backward.
On August 30, a solar eclipse occurred.
The Emperor observed that the court library’s collections had largely been dispersed and lost, and therefore dispatched the court usher Chen Nong to search for missing books throughout the realm. An imperial decree ordered the Grand Master of Merit, Liu Xiang, to collate the Classics, their commentaries, and the writings of the various philosophers and poets; the Commandant of Infantry, Ren Hong, to collate military texts; the Grand Astronomer, Yin Xian, to collate works on numerology and astrology; and the Court Physician, Li Zhuguo, to collate medical and technical writings. Each time a book was completed, Liu Xiang listed its chapters, summarized its principal ideas, recorded them, and presented them to the Emperor.
Liu Xiang, perceiving that the power of the Wang family had grown excessive and knowing that the Emperor favored the ancient texts of the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents, compiled materials based on the “Hong Fan” chapter of the Book of Documents. He gathered accounts of auspicious signs and calamities from antiquity through the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, down to the Qin and Han dynasties. He analyzed these events, linked them to the causes and effects of fortune and misfortune, set forth their prognostications and verifications, and arranged them into related categories. In all, there were eleven chapters, which he entitled Hong Fan: Commentary and Discussion on the Wuxing(Five Elements), and he presented them to the Emperor. The Emperor, aware of Liu Xiang’s loyalty and devotion, understood that the work had been composed to restrain the brothers of Wang Feng; yet in the end he was unable to strip the Wang family of their power.
The Yellow River again breached at Pingyuan, flowing into Jinan and Qiansheng Commanderies, causing damage roughly half as extensive as in the Jianshi era. Wang Yanshi was once more dispatched, together with the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, Yang Yan, the Grand Architect, Xu Shang, and the Grand Master of Remonstrance, Chengma Yannian, to oversee the repairs, which were completed in June. Wang Yanshi was rewarded with one hundred catties of gold. The laborers who repaired the river, having received no wages for their work, were granted an exemption from corvée service for six months.
