Overview
Emperor Wu was a ruler.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
BC 134 元光元年
BC 128 to BC 123 元朔中
References in the histories
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Book of Han, Chapter 74Volume 64a: Yan, Zhu, Wuqiu, Zhufu, Xu, Yan, Zhong, Wang, and Jia 1 · 19 passages
衛將軍數言上，上不省。
Wei Qing spoke for him again and again, but the emperor paid no heed.
今臣不敢隱忠避死，以效愚計，願陛下幸赦而少察之。
I dare not choose safety over loyalty; I lay a rough plan before you and beg you to weigh it with care.
願陛下孰計之而加察焉。
Weigh these words, sire, with the utmost care.
書奏，上召見三人，謂曰：「公皆安在？
When the three memorials arrived, the emperor received them together and cried: "Where have you men been hiding?
偃說上曰：「古者諸侯地不過百里，強弱之形易制。
Zhufu Yan urged the throne: "In antiquity no fief passed a hundred li across—strong and weak were easy to balance.
願陛下令諸侯得推恩分子弟，以地侯之。
Command every prince to divide his domain among sons and brothers and enfeoff them as marquises.
彼人人喜得所願，上以德施，實分其國。
Each child wins a title while you seem only generous—in truth you slice their kingdoms thin.
於是上從其計。
The emperor adopted the policy that history calls the extended grace edict.
又說上曰：「茂陵初立，天下豪桀兼並之家，亂眾民，皆可徙茂陵，內實京師，外銷奸猾，此所謂不誅而害除。」
He next urged removal of the rich and overmighty to the new tomb town at Maoling—strengthening the capital while draining the provinces of troublemakers without a headsman's axe.'
上又從之。
The throne agreed again.
上覽其說，下公卿議，皆言不便。
The emperor circulated his plan; the high ministers voted it down.
元朔中，偃言齊王內有淫失之行，上拜偃為齊相。
During Yuanshuo he denounced the king of Qi for incest and depravity; the emperor named him chancellor of Qi to deal with it.
趙王恐其為國患，欲上書言其陰事，為居中，不敢發。
The king of Zhao meant to memorialize his crimes but dared not move while Yan held the emperor's ear.
及齊王以自殺聞，上大怒，以為偃劫其王令自殺，乃征下吏治。
News of the suicide enraged the emperor; he believed Yan had hounded the king to death and threw him to the jailers.
上欲勿誅，公孫弘爭曰：「齊王自殺無後，國除為郡，入漢，偃本首惡，非誅偃無以謝天下。」
The emperor would have spared him, but Hong insisted: "Qi is now a commandery without an heir because of Yan. He is the author of the crime; spare him and you cannot face the realm."
上聞之，以車為長者。
Learning of it, the emperor praised Kong Che as a gentleman of the old school.
故雖有強國勁兵，陛下逐走獸，射飛鳥，弘游燕之囿，淫從恣之觀，極馳騁之樂，自若。
Then, though rival kingdoms arm to the teeth, you may hunt, feast, and race your chariots across the imperial parks and still sleep sound.
雖然，臣竊以陛下天然之質，寬仁之資，而誠以天下為務，則不難侔，而成、康之俗未必不復興也。
Yet given your natural breadth of mind, if you make the people's peace your daily work, you may yet rival the sage founders, and the age of Cheng and Kang may rise again.
安則陛下何求而不得，何威而不成，奚征而不服哉？
With stability, whatever you seek is yours, whatever awe you raise is obeyed—what foe would refuse to bend?