Overview
Emperor Wu was a ruler.
IdentityHistorical · Male · Title only
Life and dates
Attested activity
Places and affiliations
- Polity Western Han 漢 · Relation Ruled
Events and relationships
Appointed Hong Imperial Secretary
Deemed Hong incompetent after Xiongnu report
Ordered Zhu Maichen to challenge Hong
Ranked Hong first
Summoned worthies and scholars
BC 140 建元元年 · Recruitment · Sovereign
References in the histories
No matching passages.
Records of the Grand Historian, Chapter 112Biographies of the Marquis of Pingjin and Zhufu · 17 passages
建元元年，天子初即位，招賢良文學之士。
In the first year of the Jianyuan era, the newly enthroned Emperor issued a call for men of worth and scholarly talent.
使匈奴，還報，不合上意，上怒，以為不能，弘乃病免歸。
He was dispatched on a mission to the Xiongnu, but upon his return, his report displeased the Emperor. Furious, the Emperor deemed him incompetent. Gongsun Hong pleaded illness, secured his release, and went home.
策奏，天子擢弘對為第一。
Yet when the essays reached the Emperor, the Son of Heaven himself elevated Gongsun Hong's response to first place.
是時通西南夷道，置郡，巴蜀民苦之，詔使弘視之。
At that time, the court was opening roads into the lands of the southwestern tribes and establishing new commanderies. The people of Ba and Shu groaned under the burden, and the Emperor dispatched Gongsun Hong to investigate.
還奏事，盛毀西南夷無所用，上不聽。
Upon his return, he reported vigorously that the southwestern tribes were of no use to the empire, but the Emperor would not heed his counsel.
每朝會議，開陳其端，令人主自擇，不肯面折庭爭。
In every court deliberation, he would lay out the essential issues and let the Emperor decide, never once confronting anyone or arguing openly before the assembled officials.
於是天子察其行敦厚，辯論有餘，習文法吏事，而又緣飾以儒術，上大說之。
The Emperor thus observed that his conduct was sincere and generous, his reasoning more than persuasive, and that he was well versed in legal and administrative matters, all of which he deftly adorned with Confucian learning. The Emperor was delighted.
嘗與主爵都尉汲黯請閒，汲黯先發之，弘推其後，天子常說，所言皆聽，以此日益親貴。
On one occasion, he and Ji An, the Commandant of Noble Ranks, jointly sought a private audience. Ji An spoke first, and Gongsun Hong followed up with supporting arguments. The Emperor was invariably pleased and accepted everything they said. In this way, Gongsun Hong's standing grew day by day.
嘗與公卿約議，至上前，皆倍其約以順上旨。
There were times when he would reach an agreement with the other ministers beforehand, only to abandon the consensus once before the Emperor, aligning himself instead with the imperial will.
上問弘。
The Emperor turned to Gongsun Hong for his response.
上然弘言。
The Emperor accepted his answer.
左右幸臣每毀弘，上益厚遇之。
Though the imperial favorites continually maligned Gongsun Hong, the Emperor only treated him with greater generosity.
於是天子乃使朱買臣等難弘置朔方之便。
The Emperor then dispatched Zhu Maichen and others to debate Gongsun Hong on the merits of establishing the Shuofang Commandery.
上乃許之。
The Emperor granted his request.
上問弘。
The Emperor put the question to Gongsun Hong.
且無汲黯忠，陛下安得聞此言。」
And yet, were it not for Ji An's loyalty, how would Your Majesty ever have heard such words?'
天子以為謙讓，愈益厚之。
The Emperor regarded this as a display of modesty and self-effacement, and favored him all the more.