Reflection by Rio Grande

Tag: Zhizhi Chanyu

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 220): Gu Ji’s Mission

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 20 Scroll 28 (continued)

    Samarkand(Kangju), Uzbekistan. Photo by: Patrickringgenberg

    The 4th year of Emperor Yuan’s Chuyuan Era (45 B.C.)

    In January of spring, the Emperor journeyed to Ganquan and offered sacrifice at the Taiyi Altar.

    In March, he traveled to Hedong and made offerings to the Mother Earth deity; a pardon was granted to the convicts of Fenyin.

    The 5th year of Emperor Yuan’s Chuyuan Era (44 B.C.)

    In January of spring, the Lord Zinan of Zhou, was appointed Marquis Chengxiu of Zhou.

    In March, the Emperor traveled to Yong and offered sacrifice at the Altar of the Five Deities.

    In April of summer, a comet appeared near the constellation Orion.

    The Emperor, following the counsel of Confucian scholars such as Gong Yu, issued a decree stating that the Imperial Kitchen should not slaughter animals daily and should reduce its prepared provisions by half. Horses were to be kept only for the imperial carriage and essential official duties. The practices of wrestling; the seldom-used palace maids in the inner gardens; the offices overseeing the Three-Season Garment Works in Qi; the officials of the northern hunting grounds; the salt-and-iron administration; and the Fair-Price Granaries were all to be abolished.

    Disciples of the Imperial Academy were no longer limited in number, so that learning might be encouraged. Any commoner proficient in one of the Confucian classics was exempted from corvée. More than seventy categories of punishment were abolished.

    The Grand Master of the Censorate, Chen Wannian, passed away.

    On June 20, Gong Yu, Treasurer of Changxin Palace, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate. Gong Yu had long submitted many memorials discussing the successes and failures of state affairs. The Emperor esteemed his honesty and integrity and frequently adopted his proposals.

    Zhizhi Chanyu of the Xiongnu, resenting that the Han favored Huhanye and did not aid him, and believing himself far removed from the Middle Kingdom, mistreated the Han envoys Jiang Naishi and others. He sent an envoy with tribute, requesting the return of his hostage son. The court deliberated on sending Court Guard Marshal Gu Ji to escort the prince. Imperial Counselor Gong Yu and the Erudite Kuang Heng of Donghai argued against it, saying: “Zhizhi Chanyu’s acceptance of the ways of the Central States is but superficial, and his territory lies at an extreme distance. It is fitting that the envoy delivers his son only to the frontier and there turn back.”

    Gu Ji submitted a memorial, saying: “Between the Central States and the tribes, a bond has long endured without interruption. Now, having raised and nurtured his son for ten years with great kindness, if we abruptly cease and escort him no farther than the frontier border, returning without completing our purpose, it will appear as abandonment—causing him to feel discarded and bereft of allegiance, thereby nullifying past kindness and sowing future resentment. This is unwise.

    “Those who advise against this, having seen the humiliations suffered earlier by Jiang Naishi and the others, imagine such dangers beforehand. I, fortunate to uphold the strength of Han and to receive the enlightened command, will proclaim our profound benevolence; they will not dare to rebel. If they harbor a beast-like heart and behave immorally toward me, then the Chanyu will incur a grave crime and must flee far away, not daring to approach our borders. To sacrifice one envoy so that the people may dwell in peace is strategy for the state and the wish of Your servant. I request permission to deliver him to the court.”

    The Emperor approved his counsel.

    Upon Gu Ji’s arrival, Zhizhi Chanyu flew into rage and in the end slew Gu Ji and his retinue. Knowing that he had wronged the Han, and hearing that Huhanye was growing stronger daily, he feared attack and sought to flee to a distant region.

    The King of Kangju(Sogdiana), long harassed by the Wusun, conferred with his chieftains, saying: “The Xiongnu are a great nation, and the Wusun have long been subject to them. Now Zhizhi Chanyu wanders outside his domain. We may invite him to our eastern marches, join forces to conquer the Wusun, and establish him there, thereby eliminating the Xiongnu threat once for all.” They sent an envoy to Jiankun, where Zhizhi Chanyu then resided, to convey this plan.

    Zhizhi Chanyu, already fearing and resenting the Wusun, was greatly delighted by Kangju’s proposal. They formed an alliance, and Zhizhi Chanyu led his forces westward. Many among his followers perished from the cold along the way, leaving but three thousand men. When they reached Kangju, the King of Kangju gave his daughter in marriage to Zhizhi Chanyu, and Zhizhi Chanyu likewise gave his daughter to the King of Kangju. The King of Kangju revered Zhizhi Chanyu greatly, intending to use his strength to overawe the neighboring states.

    Zhizhi Chanyu repeatedly borrowed troops to strike the Wusun, penetrating deeply into Chigu[Red Valley, near Lake Issyk-Kul] city, killing and capturing many and driving off livestock. The Wusun did not dare to pursue. An area of five thousand square miles of western land lay desolate and uninhabited.

    In winter, on December 9, Grand Master of the Censorate Gong Yu died. On December 19, Xue Guangde, Treasurer of Changxin Palace, was appointed Gong Yu’s successor.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 215): The Emperor from Plebs

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 19 Scroll 27 (continued)

    Duling Tomb of Emperor Xuan of Han, Shaanxi Province

    The 4th year of Emperor Xuan’s Ganlu Era (50 B.C.)

    In summer, the Prince of Guangchuan, Liu Haiyang, was deposed and exiled to Fangling for engaging in lascivious and incestuous behavior and the unjust killing of innocent people.

    In October of winter, a fire broke out in the Xuanshi Hall of the Weiyang Palace.

    In this year, Prince of Dingtao, Liu Xiao was relocated and became the Prince of Chu.

    Both Xiongnu Chanyu Huhanye and Zhizhi sent envoys to the Han court with tributes. The Han treated the envoys of Huhanye with extra respect.

    The 1st year of Emperor Xuan’s Huanglong Era (49 B.C.)

    In January of spring, the Emperor went on a journey to Ganquan and performed a suburban sacrifice at the Taizhi altar.

    Xiongnu Chanyu Huhanye came to the Han court; in February, he returned to his country. 

    Zhizhi Chanyu thought that Huhanye‘s forces were weak and, subjugated by the Han, would not return to his territory. He then led his people westward, intending to annex the west region. Additionally, the younger brother of Tuqi Chanyu, who originally served Huhanye Chanyu, also fled to the west territory, gathered the remaining troops of his two brothers, and with several thousand men, declared himself Yilimu Chanyu. On the way, he encountered Zhizhi Chanyu, and they fought; Zhizhi Chanyu killed him and consolidated his forces, gaining more than fifty thousand men.

    Zhizhi Chanyu heard that the Han had sent troops through the valley to assist Huhanye and decided to remain in the west territory. Realizing that he could not establish control over all the Xiongnu, he moved further west, closer to Wusun, intending to form an alliance. He sent envoys to the Junior Kunmi, Wujiutu, but Wujiutu killed his envoys and dispatched eight thousand cavalry to confront Zhizhi Chanyu. Zhizhi Chanyu detected their plan, mobilized his troops, and attacked Wusun, defeating them. He then moved north to attack Wujie, Jiankun, and Dingling, conquering the three nations. He repeatedly sent troops to attack Wusun and always emerged victorious. Jiankun was seven thousand li east of the Chanyu court and five thousand li south of Jushi.  Zhizhi Chanyu established his capital at Jiankun.

    In March, a comet appeared in the constellations of Wangliang(Beta Cassiopeia) and Gedao(Epsilon Cassiopeiae), entering the constellation of Purple Forbidden Enclosure.

    The Emperor fell gravely ill and assembled his trusted senior ministers. He summoned his maternal relative and Privy Counselor, the Marquis of Leling Shi Gao, the Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince Xiao Wangzhi, and the Junior Tutor Zhou Kan to the forbidden inner palace. He appointed Shi Gao as Grand Marshal and General of Chariots and Cavalry, Xiao Wangzhi as General of the Van and Chamberlain, and Zhou Kan as Grandee of Merit. They all received the Emperor’s posthumous edict to assist in governance and oversee the State Secretariat. 

    In winter, on December 7, the Emperor Xuan passed away in Weiyang Palace.

    Ban Gu’s praising commentary: During Emperor Xuan’s reign, rewards and punishments were delivered with certainty, reputation and performance were meticulously examined. Those involved in administration, literature, and law enforcement were all highly competent. In terms of technical skills, craftsmanship, and tools, few subsequent reigns such as Emperor Yuan and Emperor Cheng’s could match the standards set during the eras of Emperor Xuan, which demonstrated what may look like when officials fulfilled their duties and the people lived in peace. 

    Encountering the time when the Xiongnu were riven by discord, He pressed down the one with lost moral compass and secured the one with moral standing, and with trusted might overawed the northern barbarians. The Chanyus, admiring his virtue, bowed their heads and declared themselves vassals. 

    His merit illumined the ancestors, his enterprise descended to his heirs; he may be said to have wrought a mid-renaissance era comparable in virtue to that of King Gaozong of Shang and King Xuan of the Zhou.

    On December 26, the Crown Prince(Liu Shi) ascended to the throne. He paid worship at the Emperor Gaozu Temple, honoring the Empress Dowager as the Grand Empress Dowager and the former Empress as the Empress Dowager.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 211): Subsidizing Grain Market

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 19 Scroll 27 (continued)

    Xiyue Temple, Huayin(Yang Yun’s hometown), Shaanxi Province. Photo by: Acstar

    The 4th year of Emperor Xuan’s Wufeng Era (54 B.C.)

    In the spring, Prince Li of Guangling Liu Xu committed suicide.

    The Xiongnu Huhanye Chanyu declared himself a vassal and sent his younger brother, the Right Luli King, to serve at the Han court as hostage. Because there were no more marauders at the border, the garrison troops were reduced by twenty percent.

    The Chief Associate of the Agriculture Ministry, Geng Shouchang, submitted a memorial stating: “In years of abundant harvests, grain is cheap, and farmers earn little profit. According to precedent, each year, four million bushel of grain are transported from the East of Hangu Pass to supply the capital, using sixty thousand laborers. It would be better to purchase grain from the regions of the Three metropolises, Hongnong, Hedong, Shangdang, and Taiyuan to supply the capital. This would reduce the number of laborers needed for transporting grain from the east of Hangu Pass by more than half.” The Emperor approved his plan. 

    Geng Shouchang further proposed: “The border regions should all build granaries. When grain is cheap, the government should buy it at higher prices to benefit the farmers; when grain is expensive, the government should sell it at lower prices to stabilize the market. This system would be called ‘Always-Fair Granaries’.” 

    The people found this beneficial. The Emperor then issued an edict granting Geng Shouchang the title of Marquis within the Passes.

    On April 1 of the summer, there was a solar eclipse.

    Yang Yun, having lost his rank and title, lived at home purchasing real estates and found amusement in his wealth. His friend, Sun Huizong of Xihe, the Prefect of An’ding, wrote to Yang Yun advising and warning him, stating that “a high-ranking official who has been dismissed should shut his doors in fear and humility, drawing sympathy; he should not be purchasing real estates, entertaining guests, and seeking accolades.” 

    Yang Yun, being the son of the former chancellor, had talents and abilities and had gained prominence in the court from a young age. Having been suddenly dismissed due to innuendos, he harbored resentment and wrote back to Sun Huizong:

    “I have deeply reflected, realizing my great errors and shortcomings, and resolved to live the rest of my life as a farmer. Thus, I have led my wife and children to dedicate ourselves to farming and mulberry cultivation, not expecting this to be a cause for criticism. Human emotions cannot be entirely restrained, and even sages do not prohibit them. Therefore, when mourning the death of one’s lord or father, there is a timebox to end it. It has been three years since my punishment. The work of farming is toiling of four seasons, and at the end of the year, we slaughter sheep, roast lamb, and share wine to comfort ourselves. After drinking, feeling warm and tipsy, I look up to the sky, beat earthenware, and sing loudly for emotional relief. 

    “As the poem goes: ‘In the fields by the southern mountain, weeds grow unkempt; planting one hectare of beans, they fall and become stalks.’ Life is meant for the pursuit of joy today, why wait for wealth and status tomorrow? Indeed, such indulgence is excessive, but I do not realize its inappropriateness.”

    Yang Yun‘s nephew, Marquis of Anping, Yang Tan, said to Yang Yun: “Your offense was minor, and you have greater merit; you will be employed again!” 

    Yang Yun replied: “What good is merit! The Emperor is not worthy of serving my whole life.” 

    Yang Tan said: “The Emperor is indeed as you say. Officials like Colonel Gai Kuanrao and Left Pingyi Han Yanshou, who gave their all, were executed based on some accusation.”

    There was an eclipse, and a palace horseman named Cheng memorialized an accusation, “Yang Yun is proud and extravagant, unrepentant for his errors. The blame for the eclipse lies with him.” 

    The case was handed over to the Minister of Justice, who found Yang Yun‘s letter to Sun Huizong. The Emperor read it and was greatly offended. The Minister of Justice deemed Yang Yun guilty of grave treason and sentenced him to be waist-chopped; his wife and children were exiled to Jiuquan Commandery. Yang Tan was stripped of his title and made a commoner. Those in office who were close friends with Yang Yun, including Wei Xuancheng, the Guard Commandant of Weiyang Palace, and Sun Huizong, were all dismissed from their positions.

    Sima Guang’s commentary: Considering the wisdom of Emperor Xuan of Han, the fact that Wei Xiang and Bing Ji were chancellors, Yu Dingguo was the minister of Justice, and yet the deaths of Zhao Guanghan, Gai Kuanrao, Han Yanshou, and Yang Yun did not satisfy public opinion’s muster is indeed lamentable. This greatly tarnished his good governance. According to the Rites of Zhou, the law of the Minister of Justice includes discussions on virtuousness and capability. How could the governance of Zhao Guanghan and Han Yanshou not be considered capable? How could the integrity of Gai Kuanrao and Yang Yun not be considered virtuous? Thus, even if they had committed capital crimes, they should still have been pardoned, let alone for crimes not worthy of death. Yang Xiong considered Left Pingyi Han Yanshou‘s accusation of Xiao Wangzhi to be a self-inflicted wound by a minister. What caused Han Yanshou to commit such an offense to his superior was pushed by Xiao Wangzhi. The Emperor did not investigate this, and Han Yanshou alone bore the blame. Isn’t that unwarranted!

    The Xiongnu leader Runchen Chanyu led his troops eastward to attack Zhizhi Chanyu. Zhizhi Chanyu fought back, killed him, and merged his forces; then he advanced to attack Huhanye Chanyu. Huhanye Chanyu’s troops were defeated and fled, and Zhizhi Chanyu took Xiongnu‘s court as his headquarters.

  • Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance(Part 209): Xiongnu with Five Chanyus

    Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

    By Sima Guang

    Translated By Yiming Yang  

    Annals of Han Book 19 Scroll 27 (continued)

    Huifeng Pagoda, Puyang(Dongjun), Henan Province

    The 1st year of Emperor Xuan’s Wufeng Era (57 B.C.)

    In January of spring, the Emperor traveled to Ganquan to perform the suburban sacrifice to Heaven at the Taizhi Altar.

    The Crown Prince, Liu Shi, underwent the formal ceremony of capping and was invested with the rites of manhood.

    In autumn, the Xiongnu Tuqi Chanyu sent the Right Aojian King—brother of Xianxianchan—and the Wuji Commandant, each leading twenty thousand cavalry, eastward to guard against Huhanye Chanyu. At this time, King Hujie of the western division conspired with the Weili’danghu, falsely accusing the Right Tuqi King of plotting to make himself Chanyu. Tuqi Chanyu thereupon killed the Right Tuqi King and his son. When their innocence was later discovered, he executed Weili’danghu as well.

    Terrified, King Hujie rebelled and proclaimed himself Hujie Chanyu. Upon hearing this, the Right Aojian King also declared himself Cheli Chanyu. The Wuji Commandant followed suit, calling himself Wuji Chanyu.

    Thus, among the Xiongnu there arose five Chanyus at once.

    Tuqi Chanyu personally led his forces eastward to strike at Cheli Chanyu, sending Dulongqi to attack Wuji Chanyu. Both Wuji and Cheli Chanyu were defeated and fled northwest, joining Hujie Chanyu, forming a combined force of forty thousand. Wuji Chanyu and Hujie Chanyu then renounced their titles and supported Cheli Chanyu in unison.

    When Tuqi Chanyu learned of this, he dispatched the Left Grand General and Commandant with forty thousand cavalry east to guard against Huhanye Chanyu, while he himself led forty thousand cavalry west to attack Cheli Chanyu. Cheli Chanyu was defeated once more and fled to the northwest. Tuqi Chanyu then marched his army southwest and encamped in the Tadun region.

    At this time many advisers at the Han court said: “The Xiongnu have long harmed the frontier. Now, amid their internal chaos, we should seize the opportunity to mobilize troops and destroy them.”

    The Emperor asked the Grand Master of the Censorate, Xiao Wangzhi, for his view. Xiao Wangzhi wrote:

    “In the Spring and Autumn Annals, when Shi Gai of Jin invaded Qi, he withdrew his troops upon hearing that the Marquis of Qi had just died. The gentlemen esteemed this—attacking not during mourning—holding that benevolence wins the hearts of filial sons, and righteousness moves the feudal lords.

    “The late Chanyu admired our culture, sought harmony, called himself our younger brother, and sent envoys requesting peace and marriage alliance. The whole nation rejoiced, and the tribes of all directions heard of it. Yet before these accords could be fulfilled, he was slain by traitorous ministers.

    “If we now strike them, it would be taking advantage of their misfortune. They will surely scatter and flee. To deploy the army for an unjust cause is to labor in vain and fail to achieve success.

    “It is fitting instead to send envoys to offer condolences, aid the weak, and relieve them in their calamity. When all the tribes hear of this, they will revere the benevolence and righteousness of the Middle Kingdom. Should the rightful Chanyu receive our support and be restored, he will surely submit and serve, manifesting the greatness of our virtue.”

    The Emperor accepted his counsel.

    In winter, on December 1, there was a solar eclipse.

    Han Yanshou succeeded Xiao Wangzhi as Intendant of Pingyi. When Xiao Wangzhi heard that Han Yanshou had allegedly squandered more than ten million coins of public funds during his term in Dongjun, he dispatched an imperial censor to investigate. When Han Yanshou learned of this, he immediately ordered his subordinates to investigate Xiao Wangzhi’s use of over one million coins of public funds during his own tenure in Pingyi.

    Xiao Wangzhi reported: “My duty is to supervise the realm. I dare not disregard a reported case—yet now Han Yanshou retaliates against me.”

    The Emperor, displeased with both, ordered that each be thoroughly investigated. No substantive evidence was found against Xiao Wangzhi. However, the imperial censor sent by Xiao Wangzhi to investigate Dongjun discovered that Han Yanshou had extravagantly exceeded his official allowance in hosting guests; had taken copper from public warehouses to cast swords during lunar eclipses, imitating the operations of the imperial armories; and had used state funds and silk to recruit officers responsible for levying labor, outfitting his carriages with armor—all costing the state more than three million coins.

    Han Yanshou was ultimately convicted of deception and improper conduct, and was executed in the marketplace.

    Thousands of officials and commoners accompanied him to Weicheng. Elders and children pushed his carriage, vying to offer him wine and meat. Unable to refuse their kindness, Han Yanshou drank from each vessel, consuming more than a dou (roughly 10 liters) of wine. He instructed his clerks and scribes to thank the people who escorted him, saying: “I am grateful for the trouble you have taken to see me off. I die without regret!”

    All the common people present wept.

    The 2nd year of Emperor Xuan’s Wufeng Era (56 B.C.)

    In January of spring, the Emperor traveled to Ganquan and performed the suburban sacrifice to Heaven at the Taizhi Altar.

    The General of Chariots and Cavalry, Han Zeng, passed away. In May, Xu Yanshou was appointed Grand Marshal and General of Chariots and Cavalry.

    Chancellor Bing Ji, advanced in age, was greatly esteemed by the Emperor. Xiao Wangzhi, however, frequently spoke to him with disrespect, which displeased the Emperor. The Chancellor’s Assistant reported that Xiao Wangzhi had treated the Chancellor insolently and had also used his subordinates for private trade, gaining profits amounting to 103,000 coins. He petitioned that Xiao Wangzhi be arrested and investigated.

    In autumn, on August 2, an edict demoted Xiao Wangzhi to serve as Grand Tutor to the Crown Prince. Huang Ba, who had previously held that post, was appointed Grand Master of the Censorate.

    The Huhanye Chanyu sent his younger brother, the Right Luli King, and others westward to attack the garrison of Tuqi Chanyu, killing more than ten thousand. Upon hearing of this, Tuqi Chanyu led sixty thousand cavalry to retaliate against Huhanye Chanyu. Tuqi’s forces were defeated, and he took his own life. Dulongqi and Tuqi Chanyu’s young son, the Right Luli King Gumouloutou, fled to the Han. In the east, Cheli Chanyu surrendered to Huhanye Chanyu.

    In August of winter, Huhanye’s Left General Wuli Qu, together with his father—the Husulei (title) Wuli Wendun—observed the disorder among the Xiongnu and led tens of thousands of their people to surrender to the Han. Wuli Qu was granted the title Marquis of Xincheng, and Wuli Wendun was granted the title Marquis of Yiyang.

    At this time, the son of Li Ling reinstated the Wuji Commandant as Wuji Chanyu, but Huhanye Chanyu captured him and had him beheaded. Huhanye Chanyu then returned to the central Chanyu court, yet his following numbered only in the tens of thousands. Tuqi Chanyu’s cousin, the Xiuxun King, declared himself Runzhen Chanyu in the western region. Huhanye’s elder brother, the Left Tuqi King Hutuwusi, likewise proclaimed himself Zhizhi Guduhou Chanyu in the eastern region.

    The Chamberlain, Marquis of Pingtong, Yang Yun, was honest and impartial, but proud of his own virtue and talent. He was naturally abrasive and sharp-tongued, enjoyed exposing the faults of others, and thus provoked many resentments at court. He fell into enmity with the Grand Coachman Dai Changle. When someone submitted a memorial accusing Dai Changle of crimes, Dai Changle suspected that Yang Yun had instigated it.

    Dai Changle, in turn, submitted a memorial accusing Yang Yun, stating:

    “Yang Yun submitted a memorial defending Han Yanshou. The Court Assistant Manager Qiu Chang said to him: ‘I hear you, Marquis, spoke in defense of the Intendant of Pingyi—can you save his life?’

    Yang Yun replied: ‘Such matters are difficult; even a man of integrity may not survive! I cannot even protect myself—just like the saying, a mouse cannot hide in its hole because it is nibbing a grass crown in its mouth.’

    He also said to me: ‘Since January the skies have remained overcast without rain—so recorded in the Spring and Autumn Annals, and as Master Xiahou Sheng explained—this is the omen of a minister’s rebellion.’”

    The case was referred to the Minister of Justice. Yu Dingguo, Minister of Justice, ruled that Yang Yun harbored malice and uttered pernicious words, constituting grave treason. The Emperor, unwilling to execute him, ordered instead that both Yang Yun and Dai Changle be dismissed from office and reduced to commoner status.