← Back to 資治通鑑

卷12 漢紀四

Volume 12 Han Records 4

Chapter 12 of 資治通鑑 · Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance
← Previous Chapter
Chapter 12
Next Chapter →
1
From Xuanji Shotige through Zhaoyang Chifenruo—twelve years in all.
2
1 宿 宿 ----2 ----3 ----4 ----5 使 婿 ----1 使
1. In winter the Emperor marched east against the remnant rebels of King Xin of Han at Dongyuan, passing through Bo Ren. Guan Gao and others posted assassins in the privy, intending to strike the Emperor there. The Emperor meant to lodge for the night; his heart stirred, and he asked: "What is this county called?" They said, "Bo Ren." The Emperor said, "'Bo Ren'—that is, one who forces himself upon others." He would not stay and went on. In the twelfth month the Emperor's procession returned from Dongyuan. ----2 In spring, the third month, he traveled to Luoyang. ----3 An edict forbade merchants to wear brocade, embroidery, damask, fine gauze, ramie, hemp, or felt, or to carry arms, ride in chariots, or ride horses. ----4 In autumn, the ninth month, his procession returned from Luoyang; and the kings of Huainan, Liang, Zhao, and Chu all followed. ----5 Modu of the Xiongnu repeatedly harried the northern frontier. The Emperor was troubled and asked Liu Jing. Liu Jing said: "The realm is newly settled and the troops are weary of war—we cannot yet subdue them by force. Modu killed his father and seized the throne, took his father's consorts to wife, and rules by force alone—he will not heed benevolence or righteousness. Only a long-term design can make his descendants your subjects; yet I fear Your Majesty may not be able to do it." The Emperor said, "What then?" He answered, "If Your Majesty will give him the eldest princess by the proper wife, send her with rich gifts, he will surely esteem her and make her khatun; when she bears a son, that son will surely be heir. Each season send what Han has in surplus and they lack, again and again; send eloquent persuaders to teach them ritual and propriety by example. While Modu lives, he will be your son-in-law; when he dies, your grandson will be chanyu; who has ever heard of a daughter's grandson daring to stand as equal to his mother's father! You may make them subjects by degrees without fighting. If Your Majesty cannot send the eldest princess but has clansmen and palace women falsely pose as princesses, once they know it they will not honor or draw near—and it will do no good." The Emperor said, "Excellent!" He meant to send the eldest princess. Empress Lü wept day and night: "I have only the heir and one daughter—how can we cast her away to the Xiongnu?" The Emperor in the end could not send her. ----1 In winter the Emperor took a family member's daughter, styled her the eldest princess, and gave her to the chanyu in marriage; and sent Liu Jing to conclude a treaty of harmonious kinship.
3
:: ----2 ----3 ----4 使
:: Your servant Guang says: The Marquis of Jianxin called Modu a cruel bandit who could not be moved by benevolence and righteousness, yet wished to ally with him by marriage—how his words contradict themselves! The bonds of flesh and bone, the order of honor and baseness—only men of benevolence and righteousness can truly know them; how then could you hope to subdue Modu by this! Emperors and kings of high antiquity governed the barbarians thus: if they submitted, they cherished them with virtue; if they rebelled, they awed them with might—one has never heard of marrying them. Moreover, Modu treated his father as a beast to be hunted—what regard would he have for a father-in-law! The Marquis of Jianxin's stratagem was already feeble; and when Yuan of Lu was already queen of Zhao, could she even be taken away! ----2 Liu Jing returned from the Xiongnu and said: "The White Sheep and Loufan kings of the Xiongnu south of the Yellow River lie, at their nearest, seven hundred li from Chang'an; light horsemen can reach the heart of Qin in a day and a night. The heart of Qin was newly pacified and has few people, yet the land is rich and fertile—it can be filled and strengthened. When the lords first rose, none but the Tians of Qi and the Zhao, Qu, and Jing of Chu could stir. Your Majesty has made his capital in the passes, yet in truth has few people; eastward stand the powerful clans of the Six States—if trouble comes one day, Your Majesty cannot sleep on a high pillow either. Your servant wishes Your Majesty to move the descendants of the Six States, heroes, champions, and eminent families to dwell in the passes; in peace they can guard against the Hu, and if the lords rebel, they are enough to lead an eastern campaign. This is the method of strengthening the root and weakening the branches." The Emperor said, "Excellent!" In the eleventh month he moved the great clans of Qi and Chu—the Zhao, Qu, Jing, Huai, and Tian families, five clans—and heroes and champions to the passes, granting them profitable fields and dwellings—more than a hundred thousand people in all. ----3 In the twelfth month the Emperor traveled to Luoyang. ----4 Guan Gao's enemies, learning of his plot, submitted a secret report. Thereupon the Emperor arrested the king of Zhao and all the rebels. Zhao Wu and more than ten others all strove to cut their own throats; Guan Gao alone raged and cursed: "Who ordered you to do this? The king in truth had no plot, yet you seize the king together with us. When you are all dead, who will declare to the world that the king did not rebel?" He then had a barred cart sealed with glue and went with the king to Chang'an. Gao answered at trial: "Only our sort did it; the king in truth did not know." The clerks prosecuted him; he was flogged thousands of times and stabbed and pierced until no inch of flesh remained to strike—yet he would not speak again. Empress Lü pleaded again and again: "For the princess's sake, King Zhang ought not suffer this." The Emperor said in anger: "Had Zhang Ao possessed the realm, would he have lacked your daughter!" He would not listen.
4
使輿
The commandant of justice reported Guan Gao's case and testimony to the Emperor. The Emperor said, "A valiant man! Who knows him? Question him privately." Grandee Xie said, "A man of my native place—I have long known him. He is one who stands on righteousness in Zhao and keeps his word." The Emperor sent Xie with credentials to question him before his bamboo litter. Xie exchanged greetings with him as in former days' friendship, then asked: "Did King Zhang truly have a plot or not?" Gao said, "Would any man not love his own parents, wife, and children? Now my three clans are all condemned to death—how could I love the king more than my own kin? Only that the king in truth did not rebel—it was we alone who did it." He fully set forth their original intent, why they had acted, and that the king did not know. Thereupon Xie entered and fully reported to the Emperor. In spring, the first month, the Emperor pardoned King Ao of Zhao, reduced him to Marquis of Xuanping, and moved King Ruyi of Dai to Zhao.
5
使
The Emperor admired Guan Gao's character and had Xie tell him in full: "King Zhang has been released." He therefore pardoned Guan Gao. Guan Gao said joyfully, "Has my king truly been released?" Xie said, "It is so." Xie said, "The Emperor thinks much of you, and therefore pardoned you." Gao said, "The reason I would not die though they left nothing of my body was to declare that King Zhang did not rebel. Now the king is released and my charge fulfilled—to die is without regret. Moreover, a minister who bears the name of regicide—what face has he to serve the Emperor again? Even if the Emperor did not kill me, would I not be ashamed in my own heart?" He threw back his head and cut his throat, and died.
6
::
:: Xun Yue writes: Guan Gao was first to plot rebellion—the assassin of his lord; though he could prove his king innocent, a small loyalty cannot offset a great crime; private conduct cannot redeem public guilt. The Spring and Autumn Annals holds that the great must dwell in the correct—his crime admits no pardon.
7
:: 使 使 ----5 ----6 ----7 ----8 ----9----
:: Your servant Guang says: The High Ancestor through arrogance lost his ministers; Guan Gao through fierceness destroyed his lord. That Guan Gao plotted rebellion was the High Ancestor's fault; that Zhang Ao lost his kingdom was Guan Gao's crime. ----5 An edict: "For crimes before bingyin, all from capital punishment downward are pardoned." ----6 In the second month his procession returned from Luoyang. ----7 At first the Emperor had decreed: "Among the ministers and retainers of Zhao, any who dared follow King Zhang—their clans shall be extinguished." Gentleman-of-the-palace Tian Shu and retainer Meng Shu both submitted to shaving and fetters to become the king's household slaves and followed. When Zhang Ao was released, the Emperor admired Tian Shu, Meng Shu, and the others. He summoned them and spoke with them—none among the Han court ministers could surpass them. The Emperor appointed them all governors of commanderies and chancellors of feudal states. ----8 In summer, the sixth month, on the last day yiwei, there was a solar eclipse. ----9 This year Chancellor He was made Chancellor of State.
8
1 ----2
1. In summer, the fifth month, the Grand Imperial Father died at the Liyang Palace. In autumn, the seventh month, on guimao, the Grand Imperial Father was buried at Wannian. The kings of Chu and Liang both came to attend the funeral. Prisoners at Liyang were pardoned. ----2. Consort Qi of Dingtao had the Emperor's favor and bore the king of Zhao, Ruyi. The Emperor, finding the heir apparent benevolent and weak, said that Ruyi resembled him; though enfeoffed as king of Zhao, constantly kept him at Chang'an. When the Emperor went east of the passes, Consort Qi often followed, weeping day and night, wishing to make her son heir. Empress Lü was older and constantly remained to guard the capital, growing ever more estranged. The Emperor wished to depose the heir apparent and establish the king of Zhao; the great ministers contended against it, yet none could prevail. Grandee Secretary Zhou Chang contended strongly in court; the Emperor asked his reasoning. Chang was a stutterer and was moreover in great anger. He said: "Your servant's mouth cannot speak, yet your servant ji-ji knows it cannot be done! If Your Majesty wishes to depose the heir apparent, your servant ji-ji will not obey the edict!" The Emperor was pleased and laughed. Empress Lü listened from the eastern wing. When it was over she saw Chang, knelt to thank him, and said: "Without you, sir, the heir apparent would nearly have been deposed!"
9
----3
At that time the king of Zhao was ten years old; the Emperor worried that after his death Ruyi would not be kept safe; Chief Clerk of Seals and Tallies Zhao Yao requested a noble and strong chancellor for the king of Zhao—one whom the empress, the heir apparent, and the assembled ministers had always respected and feared. The Emperor said: "Who will do?" Yao said: "Grandee Secretary Chang—that is the man." The Emperor thereupon made Chang chancellor of Zhao and replaced Chang with Yao as Grandee Secretary. ----3. Earlier, the Emperor had made Marquis of Yangxia Chen Xi chancellor of state, overseeing the border troops of Zhao and Dai; Xi, passing by, took leave of the Marquis of Huaiyin. The Marquis of Huaiyin took his hand, cleared away attendants, and walked with him in the courtyard, sighing to Heaven: "May I speak with you?" Xi said: "Only await the general's command!" The Marquis of Huaiyin said: "Where you dwell is where the elite troops of all under Heaven are; and you, sir, are a trusted and favored subject of Your Majesty. If men say you have rebelled, Your Majesty will surely not believe it; a second time, Your Majesty will then suspect; a third time, he will surely be angry and lead the army himself. I will rise for you from within; all under Heaven may be taken." Chen Xi had always known his ability and trusted him, saying: "I respectfully receive your instruction!"
10
滿 使
Xi had always admired Lord Xinling of Wei's nurturing of knights. When he became chancellor and guarded the border, on requesting leave to return he passed through Zhao; retainers following him numbered more than a thousand chariots, and the official lodgings of Handan were all full. Zhao's chancellor Zhou Chang sought audience with the Emperor, reporting fully that Xi's retainers were very numerous, that he had held troops abroad for several years, and that there might be trouble. The Emperor sent men to re-investigate unlawful matters involving Xi's guests in Dai; many implicated Xi. Xi was afraid; Han Xin the king of Han sent Wang Huang, Manqiu Chen, and others to persuade and entice him.
11
使
The Grand Supreme Sovereign died; the Emperor sent men to summon Xi, but Xi claimed illness and did not come; in the ninth month he rebelled with Wang Huang and others, declared himself king of Dai, and plundered Zhao and Dai. The Emperor himself went east to attack him. Reaching Handan, he was pleased and said: "Xi did not seize Handan to the south and block the Zhang River—I know he can do nothing."
12
Zhou Chang memorialized: "Of Changshan's twenty-five cities, twenty are lost; I request that the governors and commandants be executed." The Emperor said: "Did the governors and commandants rebel?" He replied: "No." The Emperor said: "Their strength was insufficient—no crime."
13
The Emperor ordered Zhou Chang to select stalwart men of Zhao fit to be made generals; he presented four men. The Emperor insulted and reviled them: "Can striplings be generals?" The four were ashamed and all prostrated themselves; the Emperor enfeoffed each with a thousand households and made them generals. Attendants at his side remonstrated: "From entering Shu and Han and attacking Chu, rewards have not yet been fully carried out; now you enfeoff these—what merit?" The Emperor said: "This is not for you to know. Chen Xi has rebelled; the lands of Zhao and Dai are all in Xi's possession. I have summoned the troops of all under Heaven with urgent dispatch, yet none have arrived; at present the plan relies only on the troops within Handan. Why should I begrudge four thousand households and not use them to comfort the youths of Zhao!" All said: "Excellent!"
14
----1
He also heard that Xi's generals were all former merchants. The Emperor said: "I know how to deal with them." He thereupon used much gold to buy over Xi's generals; many of Xi's generals surrendered. ----1. In winter the Emperor was at Handan. Chen Xi's general Hou Chang led more than ten thousand men on the march; Wang Huang led more than a thousand horsemen and encamped at Quyi; Zhang Chun led more than ten thousand soldiers across the river to attack Liaocheng. Han general Guo Meng joined with a Qi general to attack and inflicted a great defeat. Grand Commandant Zhou Bo went by way of Taiyuan to settle Dai; reaching Mayi, it would not submit, so he attacked and ravaged it. Zhao Li held Dongyuan; the Emperor attacked and took it and renamed it Zhending. The Emperor offered a thousand in gold for Wang Huang and Manqiu Chen; their subordinates were all captured alive and delivered. Thereupon Chen Xi's army was defeated.
15
使 紿 使
The Marquis of Huaiyin Xin claimed illness and did not follow in attacking Xi, but secretly sent men to Xi's camp to conspire with him. Xin plotted with household retainers by night to forge an edict pardoning all convict laborers and slaves, intending to raise them to strike Empress Lü and the heir apparent; the deployment was already settled, awaiting Xi's report. A house steward had offended Xin; Xin imprisoned him and wished to kill him. In spring, the first month, the steward's younger brother reported the emergency, informing Empress Lü of Xin's intended rebellion. Empress Lü wished to summon him but feared he might not come; she plotted with Chancellor Xiao, falsely sending a man from the Emperor's camp saying that Xi had been taken and was dead, and that marquises and assembled ministers all congratulated. The chancellor deceived Xin: "Though ill, force yourself to enter and congratulate." Xin entered; Empress Lü had warriors bind Xin and behead him in the Bell Room of Changle. As Xin was about to be beheaded he said: "I regret not using Kuai Che's plan—to be deceived by women and children, is this not Heaven's doing?" He thereupon exterminated Xin's three clans.
16
:: ----2 ----3 鹿 ----4 ----5 ----6 使 使 使使 西
:: Your servant Guang says: The age sometimes takes Han Xin as the first to frame the great design, rising with the High Ancestor from Hanzhong, settling the Three Qins, then dividing troops northward—capturing Wei, taking Dai, subduing Zhao, coercing Yan, striking east to take Qi, and south destroying Chu at Gaixia. That Han won all under Heaven was, broadly speaking, mostly Xin's achievement. Observing how he rejected Kuai Che's counsel yet received the High Ancestor at Chen—how could he have had a rebellious heart? It was truly because, losing his post, he was resentful and discontented, and so fell into rebellion. That Lu Wan, through old neighborhood ties, still faced south as king of Yan, while Xin merely as a ranked marquis attended court—is this not that the High Ancestor too had wronged Xin? Your servant considers that the High Ancestor used deceitful stratagems to capture Xin at Chen—to speak of wronging him is so; even so, Xin too had grounds on which he brought it upon himself. At the beginning, when Han and Chu faced each other at Yingyang, Xin destroyed Qi, did not return to report, and made himself king; afterward Han pursued Chu to Guling and fixed a date with Xin to attack Chu together, yet Xin did not come. At that time the High Ancestor already had a mind to take Xin in, only his strength was insufficient. When all under Heaven was already settled, what could Xin again rely upon? To seize the moment and seek profit is the ambition of the marketplace; to repay merit and return kindness is the heart of the gentleman and scholar. Xin used the marketplace ambition to profit himself, yet with the gentleman's heart expected it of others—is this not difficult? Therefore the Grand Historian judged: "Suppose Han Xin had studied the Way, been modest and yielding, not boasted of his own merit, not prided himself on his ability—then might he not have fared thus? Among Han's meritorious servants he could have been compared to the Duke of Zhou, the Duke of Shao, and Grand Duke Jiang, and later ages would have offered blood sacrifice! Not pursuing this course, yet when all under Heaven was already gathered he plotted rebellion; to exterminate his clan—was it not fitting?" ----2. General Chai Wu beheaded Han Xin the king of Han at Canhe. ----3. The Emperor returned to Luoyang. Hearing of the Marquis of Huaiyin's death, he was both pleased and pitying, and asked Empress Lü: "What did Xin say at his death?" Empress Lü said: "Xin said he regretted not using Kuai Che's plan." The Emperor said: "That is Kuai Che the persuader of Qi." He thereupon issued an edict to Qi to arrest Kuai Che. When Kuai Che arrived, the Emperor said: "Did you teach the Marquis of Huaiyin to rebel?" He replied: "Yes—I indeed taught him. The stripling did not use my stratagem, and so caused himself to be exterminated here. Had he used my plan, how could Your Majesty have exterminated him?" The Emperor angrily said: "Boil him!" Che said: "Alas! To be boiled is a grievous wrong!" The Emperor said: "You taught Han Xin to rebel—what wrong is there in boiling you?" He replied: "Qin lost the realm; all under Heaven joined the chase, and those of greatest talent and swiftest feet seized it first. Zhi's dog barked at Yao—Yao was not unkind; dogs naturally bark at anyone who is not their master. At that time I knew only Han Xin, not Your Majesty. Moreover, countless men under Heaven sharpen their wits and grip their blades wishing to do what Your Majesty has done—only that their strength fails; could you boil them all?" The Emperor said: "Let it go." ----4 He made his son Heng King of Dai, with his capital at Jinyang. ----5 A general amnesty was proclaimed for the realm. ----6 When the Emperor campaigned against Chen Xi, he called up troops from Liang; the King of Liang pleaded illness and sent a general to lead troops to Handan. The Emperor was angry and sent a man to rebuke him. The King of Liang was afraid and wished to go in person to apologize. His general Hu Zhe said: "Your Majesty at first did not go; now, rebuked, if you go you will be seized. Better to raise troops and rebel at once." The King of Liang did not listen. The Grand Steward of Liang offended someone, fled to Han, and reported that the King of Liang and Hu Zhe were plotting rebellion. Thereupon the Emperor sent envoys to seize the King of Liang; he did not perceive it and was imprisoned at Luoyang. The relevant officials prosecuted that "the marks of rebellion are complete; we request judgment according to law"; the Emperor pardoned him and made him a commoner, sending him under escort to Qingyi in Shu. Going west he reached Zheng and met Empress Lü coming from Chang'an. King Peng wept before Empress Lü, declared himself guiltless, and asked to remain at his former seat of Changyi. Empress Lü promised and traveled east with him. Reaching Luoyang, Empress Lü told the Emperor: "King Peng is a stalwart man; exiling him to Shu now is to leave trouble for yourself; better to execute him at once. I have deliberately brought him with me." Thereupon Empress Lü had her house steward report that Peng Yue was plotting rebellion again. Minister of Justice Wang Tian Guan memorialized requesting extinction of his clan; the Emperor approved the memorial. In the third month, Peng Yue's clan was extinguished to the third degree. Peng Yue's head was displayed at Luoyang; an edict: "Whoever collects and views it shall be arrested at once."
17
使 西 ----7 ----8 ----9使使使
Luan Bu, a great officer of Liang, had been envoy to Qi; on his return he reported his business beneath Peng Yue's head, sacrificed, and wept for him. Officers arrested him and reported it. The Emperor summoned Bu, reviled him, and wished to boil him alive. Just as they were dragging him toward the cauldron, Bu looked back and said: "Let me speak one word before I die." The Emperor said: "What word?" Bu said: "When Your Majesty was cornered at Pengcheng and defeated between Xingyang and Chenggao, the reason the King of Xiang could not advance west was solely that King Peng held Liang and united with Han to harass Chu from the east. At that time one turn of his head—if with Chu, Han was broken; if with Han, Chu was broken. And at Gaixia, but for King Peng, the house of Xiang would not have perished. The realm was settled; King Peng split tally and received enfeoffment and also wished to pass his realm on for ten thousand generations. Now Your Majesty summoned troops from Liang once, and King Peng, ill, did not go. yet Your Majesty suspected him of rebellion; before the marks of rebellion were complete, on a harsh petty charge you executed and extinguished him. I fear that every meritorious minister will feel peril in himself. Now King Peng is dead; living is worse than death for me—I ask to go to the cauldron." Thereupon the Emperor released Bu and appointed him Commandant. ----7 On bingwu, he made Prince Hui King of Liang. On bingyin, he made Prince You King of Huaiyang. He abolished Dong commandery and largely added its territory to Liang; abolished Yingchuan commandery and largely added its territory to Huaiyang. ----8 In summer, the fourth month, the imperial procession returned from Luoyang. ----9 In the fifth month, an edict made Zhao Tuo, Qin's Commandant of Nanhai, King of Nanyue, sent Lu Jia to invest him with seal and ribbon at once, split tally for mutual envoys, and harmonize the hundred Yue so they would not trouble the southern border.
18
西 谿
Earlier, in the reign of Qin Er Shi, Commandant of Nanhai Ren Xiao was ill and near death. He summoned Longchuan magistrate Zhao Tuo and said: "Qin is without the Way; all under Heaven suffer from it. Hearing that Chen Sheng and others have risen in disorder, the realm does not know where it will settle. Nanhai is remote; I fear bandit troops may invade as far as here; I wish to raise troops, cut the new road, and defend ourselves, waiting for changes among the feudal lords; but I am gravely ill. Moreover Panyu backs on mountain defiles and blocks the South Sea; east and west it spans several thousand li, with many men of the Central States to assist; this too can sustain a whole province; one may establish a state here. Among the commandery's senior officials there is no one fit to speak with; therefore I summoned you, sir, to tell you." Thereupon he invested Tuo with the writ and charged him with the affairs of Commandant of Nanhai. Xiao died; Tuo at once issued a proclamation to the passes of Hengpu, Yangshan, and Huangxi: "Bandit troops are about to arrive—hasten to cut the roads, gather troops, and defend yourselves!" Then gradually, by law, he executed the senior officials Qin had placed and made his own followers acting administrators. After Qin was broken and extinguished, Tuo attacked and annexed Guilin and Xiang commanderies and made himself Martial King of Nanyue.
19
西 使 使 使
When Master Lu arrived, Zhao Tuo wore his hair in a chignon and received him sitting with legs spread insolently. Master Lu urged him: "You are a man of the Central States; your kinsmen and your brothers' graves are at Zhending. Now you turn against your nature, cast off cap and sash, and wish with mere Yue to oppose the Son of Heaven as an enemy state—disaster will reach you. Moreover Qin lost its government; clans and powerful heroes rose everywhere, yet only the King of Han entered the passes first and held Xianyang. Xiang Yu broke faith, made himself Western Chu Overlord, and all feudal lords submitted—he was supremely strong. Yet the King of Han rose from Ba and Shu, whipped the realm, and in the end executed Xiang Yu and destroyed him. Within five years the realm was pacified. This is not human strength—it is what Heaven has established. The Son of Heaven heard that you ruled Southern Yue and did not aid the realm in punishing violent rebels; ministers and generals wished to move troops to execute you. The Son of Heaven pitied the people, newly wearied and toiled, so for now he rested them and sent me to invest you with the king's seal and split tally for mutual envoys. Your Majesty ought to meet him in the suburbs and face north as subject; yet you wish with newly made, not yet gathered Yue to stand defiant here! If Han truly heard of it, they would dig up and burn your forefathers' graves, extinguish your clan, and send one wing general with a host of a hundred thousand against Yue—then Yue would kill its king and surrender to Han like turning the hand." Thereupon Zhao Tuo suddenly rose and sat, apologizing to Master Lu: "Dwelling long among barbarians, I have utterly lost rites and propriety." Then he asked Master Lu: "Compared with Xiao He, Cao Shen, and Han Xin—which of us is the worthier?" Master Lu said: "Your Majesty seems worthy." Again he asked: "Compared with the Emperor—which of us is the worthier?" Master Lu said: "The Emperor continues the enterprise of the Five Emperors and Three August Ones and governs the Central States; its people number in the hundreds of millions; its territory spans ten thousand li; all things are abundant and rich; government from one house—from when Heaven and Earth were first split there has never been such. Now Your Majesty's masses are no more than a hundred thousand, all barbarians in rugged mountains and seas—comparable to but one commandery of Han; how then compare with Han?" Zhao Tuo laughed loudly: "I did not rise in the Central States, therefore I am king here; had you placed me in the Central States, how would I suddenly fail to match Han?" Thereupon he detained Master Lu to drink with him. After several months he said: "Within Yue there is no one fit to speak with. When the Gentleman came, he made me day by day hear what I had never heard." He bestowed on Master Lu goods in his sack worth a thousand in gold, and other gifts also worth a thousand in gold. Master Lu in the end enfeoffed Zhao Tuo as King of Nanyue, ordering him to call himself subject and observe Han's covenant. On his return he reported; the Emperor was greatly pleased and appointed Jia Grand Master of the Palace.
20
使 ----10 ----11
Master Lu from time to time advanced and praised the Odes and Documents; the Emperor reviled him: "Your daddy got it on horseback—what business have the Odes and Documents?" Master Lu said: "You got it on horseback—can you govern it on horseback? Moreover Tang and Wu took it by force but guarded it by compliance; civil and martial employed together—that is the art of long endurance. In the past King Fuchai of Wu, Earl Zhi, and the First Emperor of Qin all perished through extreme martialism. If Qin had already united the realm and practiced benevolence and righteousness, taking the former sages as model, how would Your Majesty have obtained it?" The Emperor looked ashamed and said: "Try to write for me how Qin lost the realm, how I obtained it, and the success and failure of states in antiquity." Master Lu then roughly set forth the signs of survival and perdition, composing twelve chapters in all. Each time he presented a chapter, the Emperor never failed to praise it, and those at his sides cried "ten thousand years"; they styled his book New Discourses. ----10 The Emperor fell ill, loathed seeing anyone, and lay in the inner palace; he ordered doorkeepers not to admit ministers, and for more than ten days Zhou Bo, Guan Ying, and the rest dared not enter. Marquis of Wuyang Fan Kuai pushed through the side door and went straight in, and the great ministers followed. The Emperor lay alone with his head pillowed on a eunuch. When Fan Kuai and the others saw him they wept and said, “When Your Majesty rose with us from Feng and Pei and settled the realm, how stalwart you were! Now the realm is settled—why so weary? Your Majesty is gravely ill and the ministers are terrified; you will not see us to plan affairs, yet shut yourself off with a single eunuch? Has Your Majesty forgotten what happened with Zhao Gao?” The Emperor laughed and got up. ----11 In autumn, the seventh month, King Bu of Huainan rebelled.
21
使 使 使
Earlier, when the Marquis of Huaiyin was executed, Bu was already afraid. When Peng Yue was executed, his flesh was minced into paste and sent to the feudal lords. When the envoy reached Huainan the king was hunting; seeing the paste he was terrified and secretly ordered troops gathered and watches set on neighboring commanderies. A favorite concubine of Bu fell ill and sought a physician; the physician lived opposite Palace Grandee Ben He, who sent lavish gifts and drank with the concubine at the physician's house; the king suspected him of plotting rebellion and meant to arrest He. He took relay horses to Chang'an and reported: “Bu's rebellion has clear signs; he can be executed before he rises.” The Emperor read his report and consulted Chancellor Xiao, who said, “Bu is unlikely to do this; I fear an enemy falsely accused him. Detain He and send men to investigate the King of Huainan discreetly.” King Bu of Huainan, seeing He flee after a crime to report him, already suspected He had revealed state secrets; Han envoys came again and found much confirmed; so he wiped out He's clan and rose in arms. When news of the rebellion arrived, the Emperor pardoned Ben He and made him a general.
22
使 西 西 西
The Emperor summoned the generals for counsel; all said, “Send troops and crush him—he's just a brat; what can he do?” Marquis of Ruyin the Lord of Teng summoned the former Chu prime minister, the Lord of Xue, and asked him. The prime minister said, “He was bound to rebel.” The Lord of Teng said, “Your Majesty carved out lands and enfeoffed him, raised his rank and made him a king; why would he rebel?” The prime minister said, “Last year Peng Yue was killed; the year before, Han Xin; these three were men of equal merit and one mold; fearing disaster would reach them, they rebelled.” The Lord of Teng told the Emperor, who summoned the Lord of Xue and asked him; he replied, “Bu's rebellion is no surprise. If Bu adopts the upper plan, the east will no longer belong to Han; if the middle plan, victory and defeat are uncertain; if the lower plan, Your Majesty may sleep in peace.” The Emperor said, “What is the upper plan?” He replied, “Take Wu in the east and Chu in the west, absorb Qi, seize Lu, send proclamations to Yan and Zhao, and hold his ground—the east will no longer belong to Han.” “What is the middle plan?” “Take Wu in the east and Chu in the west, absorb Han, seize Wei, hold the Ao granary's grain, block Chenggao—the outcome cannot yet be told.” “What is the lower plan?” “Take Wu in the east and Xiapi in the west, shift his weight to Yue, return in person to Changsha—Your Majesty may sleep in peace and Han will be untroubled.” The Emperor said, “Which plan will he choose?” He replied, “The lower plan.” The Emperor said, “Why abandon the upper and middle plans for the lower?” He replied, “Bu was once a captive at Mount Li and made himself lord of ten thousand chariots—such men act for themselves, heedless of consequences and of the people for generations to come. So I say he will take the lower plan.” The Emperor said, “Good!” He enfeoffed the Lord of Xue with one thousand households. He then made his son Chang King of Huainan.
23
使 使 使西
At that time the Emperor was ill and meant to send the crown prince against Qing Bu. The crown prince's retainers Dongyuan Gong, Qili Ji, Xia Huang Gong, and Master Jueli urged Marquis of Jian'cheng Lü Shizhi: “If the crown prince commands troops, success will not raise his standing, and failure will bring disaster. Urge Empress Lü at once to seize a moment and weep before the Emperor: ‘Qing Bu is the realm's fiercest general and a master of war. The generals are all Your Majesty's old equals, yet you would put the crown prince over them—it is like setting a sheep to lead wolves; none will obey; and if Bu hears of it he will beat his drums and march west at once! Though Your Majesty is ill, force yourself into the supply wagon and lead them lying down—the generals will not dare hold back. Though it pains you, strive on for your wife and son!" ’” Thereupon Lü Shizhi went to Empress Lü that very night. Empress Lü seized a moment, wept before the Emperor, and spoke as the four had urged. The Emperor said, “I knew the boy was not fit to send; I will go myself."
24
西
The Emperor then led the army east in person; the ministers stayed behind and escorted him to Bashang. The Marquis of Liu was ill but forced himself up; at Qu'e he saw the Emperor and said, “I ought to follow, but I am too ill. The men of Chu are swift and fierce; do not meet them head-on!” He urged the Emperor to make the crown prince general and supervise the Guanzhong forces. The Emperor said, “Though Zifang is ill, force yourself to tutor the crown prince from your bed.” Shusun Tong was grand tutor and the Marquis of Liu acted as junior tutor. He mobilized chariots and cavalry from Shang, Beidi, and Longxi, elite troops from Ba and Shu, and thirty thousand capital guardsmen for the crown prince and encamped them at Bashang.
25
使 西----
When Bu first rebelled he told his generals, “The Emperor is old and sick of war; he will not come. If he sends his generals, they feared only Huaiyin and Peng Yue, and both are dead—the rest are nothing to fear.” So he rebelled. It turned out as the Lord of Xue had said: he attacked Jing in the east. King Jia of Jing fled and died at Fuling; seized all his troops, crossed the Huai, and attacked Chu. Chu sent troops and fought him between Xu and Tong. Chu split into three armies, hoping mutual rescue would be their advantage. Someone urged the Chu commander: “Bu is skilled in war and the people have long feared him. Moreover the art of war says, ‘When lords fight on their own soil it is scattered ground’; split three ways, if he routs one army the rest will flee—how can they rescue each other!” He would not listen. Bu routed one army as predicted; the other two scattered; Bu then marched west.
26
1西 ----2 ----3 使 ----4 ----5 ----6 ----7 使 ----8 便 西 使使 ----9 使 使 使 使
1 In winter, the tenth month, the Emperor met Bu at Qixi; Bu's troops were very sharp. The Emperor fortified Yongcheng; seeing Bu's array laid out like Xiang Yu's, he was repelled. Facing Bu across the field he called, “Why rebel at such cost?” Bu said, “I want to be emperor, that's all!” The Emperor cursed him and they joined battle. Bu's army broke and fled; crossing the Huai he fought again and again without success, and fled south of the Yangtze with a little over a hundred men while the Emperor sent other generals in pursuit. ----2 On his return he passed through Pei, stayed, and held a feast at the Pei palace, calling all old friends, elders, neighborhood mothers, and younger kin to drink with him and reliving old times in laughter. Deep in wine the Emperor sang, danced, was moved to generous grief, wept freely, and told the elders of Pei, “The wanderer grieves for home. I rose as Duke of Pei to punish the violent and rebellious and thereby gained the realm; let Pei be my personal fief, exempt its people, and never levy anything on them for all generations.” They feasted for more than ten days before he left. ----3 Han's separate generals attacked Ying Bu south and north of the Tao River and routed him utterly. Bu had once been allied by marriage to the Lord of Pan; King Cheng of Changsha, Chen, sent men to lure him, pretending they would flee together to Yue; Bu believed them and followed. Men of Poyang killed Bu in a village hut at Zixiang. ----4 Zhou Bo fully pacified Dai, Yanmen, and Yunzhong and beheaded Chen Xi at Dangcheng. ----5 Because King Jia of Jing had no heir, the Emperor made Jing into the state of Wu. On xinchou he made his elder brother Zhong's son Liu Pi King of Wu, ruling three commanderies and fifty-three cities. ----6 In the eleventh month the Emperor passed through Lu and sacrificed to Confucius with the grand offering. ----7 When the Emperor returned from defeating Qing Bu his illness grew worse and he wished all the more to replace the crown prince. Zhang Liang remonstrated in vain and, pleading illness, ceased attending to affairs. Shusun Tong remonstrated: “Formerly Duke Xian of Jin, for Lady Li's sake, deposed his heir and made Xi Qi crown prince; Jin was torn by disorder for decades and became the world's laughingstock. Qin, because it did not settle Fusu early, let Zhao Gao install Huhai by fraud and destroy its line—Your Majesty saw this yourself. The crown prince is benevolent and filial; all the realm knows it. The Empress Lü and Your Majesty endured hardship and ate plain fare—how could one betray that? If Your Majesty must depose the heir and install the younger son, your servant begs to die first and stain the ground with his neck's blood.” The Emperor said, “Enough, sir—I was only jesting.” Shusun Tong said, “The crown prince is the root of the realm; shake the root once and the realm trembles; how can you treat the realm as a jest?” Many great ministers remonstrated firmly; the Emperor saw that none of the ministers favored the King of Zhao and dropped the plan. ----8 The Chancellor, because Chang'an's territory was cramped, [said that] much land in the Shanglin park lay vacant and wasted; he wished to let the people farm it without brushwood fees, for birds and beasts to feed on. The Emperor was furious: “The Chancellor has taken so much from merchants that he petitions My park for them!” He sent the Chancellor to the commandant of justice and had him shackled and detained. Days later Wang the commandant of the guard attended and asked, “What great crime has the Chancellor committed that Your Majesty detained him so harshly?” The Emperor said, “I have heard that when Li Si served the First Emperor of Qin, he credited the ruler with good and took blame on himself. Now the Chancellor has taken much gold from merchants and petitions My park to curry favor with the people—that is why I detained him.” Wang the commandant of the guard said, “If an official duty benefits the people and one petitions for it, that is truly a chancellor's work; why should Your Majesty suspect the Chancellor of taking merchants' money? Moreover Your Majesty was years away fighting in Chu; when Chen Xi and Qing Bu rebelled, Your Majesty led the army in person; then the Chancellor held Guanzhong—if Guanzhong stirred, everything west of the pass would no longer be Yours! The Chancellor did not profit then—would he profit from merchants' gold now? Moreover Qin lost the realm because its faults went unheard; Li Si's way of shifting blame—what is there to emulate? How shallow Your Majesty's suspicion of the chancellor!” The Emperor was displeased. That day he sent an envoy with credentials to pardon and release the Chancellor. The Chancellor was old and always deferential; he came in barefoot to apologize. The Emperor said, “Chancellor, enough! The Chancellor petitioned the park for the people and I refused—I would have been no better than Jie and Zhou, while the Chancellor proved himself worthy. I detained the Chancellor so the people would hear of My fault.” ----9 When Chen Xi rebelled, King Liu Wan of Yan sent troops against his northeast. At that time Chen Xi sent Wang Huang to beg the Xiongnu for aid; King Liu Wan of Yan also sent his minister Zhang Sheng to the Xiongnu, reporting that Chen Xi's forces were broken. Zhang Sheng reached the Hu; Yan, son of the former King of Yan Zang Tu, who had fled into exile among the Hu, saw Zhang Sheng and said, “You are valued in Yan because you know Hu affairs; Yan has lasted because the lords rebel again and again and war drags on without end. Now you act for Yan and wish to destroy Chen Xi and his men at once; when they are gone, Yan will be next—and you will soon be captives yourselves. Why not have Yan hold back against Chen Xi for now and make peace with the Hu? If matters ease, you can rule Yan for long; if Han presses hard, you can still secure your state.” Zhang Sheng agreed and secretly ordered the Xiongnu to help Chen Xi attack Yan. King Liu Wan suspected Zhang Sheng of colluding with the Hu and memorialized to wipe out Zhang Sheng's clan. Sheng returned and explained fully what he had done; the king then framed others, freed Sheng's kin, and let him serve as a Xiongnu spy. and secretly sent Fan Qi to Chen Xi's camp to prolong the war and keep the armies locked without decision.
27
使 使使 使 使 使 ----10 ----11 使 ----12 ----13
While Han attacked Qing Bu, Xi often held troops in Dai; when Han attacked and killed Xi, a lieutenant general surrendered and said King Liu Wan of Yan had sent Fan Qi to Chen Xi with plans. The Emperor sent to summon Liu Wan; Wan claimed illness; the Emperor again sent Marquis of Piyang Shen Yishi and Grand Secretary Zhao Yao to welcome the King of Yan and question his attendants. Wan grew more afraid, shut himself away, and told his favorites, “Of non-Liu kings, only I and Changsha remain. Last spring Han wiped out Huaiyin's clan; in summer Peng Yue was executed—all the Lü clan's doing. The Emperor is ill and has entrusted power to Empress Lü; Empress Lü is a woman bent on finding pretexts to kill non-Liu kings and great merit-holders.” He then pleaded illness and would not go; his attendants all fled into hiding. Word leaked; Shen Yishi heard, returned, and reported in full; the Emperor grew angrier. A Xiongnu defector also said Zhang Sheng had fled to the Xiongnu as Yan's envoy. The Emperor then said, “Liu Wan has truly rebelled!” In spring, the second month, he sent Fan Kuai as chancellor to attack Wan and made his son Jian King of Yan. ----10 An edict said, “Marquis of Nanwu Zhi is also of Yue's line; establish him as King of Nanhai.” ----11 When the Emperor attacked Bu he was struck by a stray arrow; on the march his illness grew grave. Empress Lü summoned a skilled physician. The physician came in and said, “The illness can be cured.” The Emperor scornfully cursed him: “I took the realm as a commoner with a three-foot sword—is that not Heaven's mandate? Fate lies with Heaven—what use is even Bian Que?” He would not let him treat the illness, gave him fifty jin of gold, and sent him away. Empress Lü asked, “After Your Majesty passes, when Chancellor Xiao is gone, who should replace him?” The Emperor said, “Cao Shen.” Asked who was next, he said, “Wang Ling, though he is somewhat blunt; Chen Ping can assist him. Chen Ping's talents exceed what is needed, yet he is hard to entrust alone. Zhou Bo is stolid and unpolished, yet whoever secures the Liu clan will be Bo; make him grand commandant.” Empress Lü asked again; the Emperor said, “Beyond that is not for you to know.” In summer, the fourth month, on jiachen the Emperor died at Changle Palace. On dingwei mourning was proclaimed and the realm was granted a great amnesty. ----12 Liu Wan with several thousand men waited below the passes, hoping the Emperor would recover so he could come in person to apologize. Hearing the Emperor had died, he fled into the Xiongnu. ----13 In the fifth month, on bingyin, the High Emperor was buried at Changling.
28
----14 ----15
At first the High Ancestor did not cultivate letters, yet he was clear-sighted, loved counsel, and listened well; from gatekeepers to garrison soldiers he treated old acquaintances as before. At first he followed the people's will in making the Three-Article Covenant. When the realm was settled he had Xiao He compile laws and ordinances, Han Xin set forth military law, Zhang Cang fix regulations and statutes, and Shusun Tong establish ritual observances; he also split tally-fish with the merit-holders and swore oaths—red writing on iron contracts, gold caskets and stone chambers—and stored them in the ancestral temple. Though day by day left no leisure, the design was vast and far-reaching. ----14 On jisi the crown prince took the throne and honored the empress as empress dowager. ----15 When the High Emperor was gravely ill, someone slandered Fan Kuai, saying, “He sides with the Lü clan; when the Emperor passes he means to use troops to kill King Ruyi of Zhao and his kin.” The Emperor was furious; using Chen Ping's plan he summoned Marquis of Jiang Zhou Bo to take the edict beneath the bed: “Chen Ping, take relay horses at once, bring Bo, and replace Kuai as general; when Ping reaches the army, behead Kuai at once!” The two took the edict and galloped relay; before reaching the army they reasoned: “Fan Kuai is an old companion of the Emperor, his merit great, and husband to Empress Lü's brother Lü Xu'ou's daughter—close kin and high in rank. The Emperor, in anger and enmity, wants him killed—we fear he will regret it; better to imprison him and present him to the Emperor and let the Emperor kill him himself.” Before reaching the army they built an altar and summoned Fan Kuai with credentials. Kuai received the edict and was bound at once, loaded on a caged cart, and relayed to Chang'an; and had Marquis of Jiang Bo replace him and lead troops to pacify Yan's rebel counties.
29
使 宿 使 ----16 使 使使 使 使
Ping went on; hearing the Emperor had died, fearing Lü Xu'ou would slander him to the empress dowager, he galloped ahead by relay. He met an envoy with an edict for Ping and Guan Ying to garrison Xingyang. Ping took the edict, galloped straight back to the palace, and wept with extraordinary grief; and firmly asked to lodge in the inner guard. The empress dowager then made him director of the palace gentlemen to tutor and instruct Emperor Hui. After that Lü Xu'ou's slander could not proceed. When Fan Kuai arrived he was pardoned and his rank and fief restored. ----16 The empress dowager had Lady Qi imprisoned in the everlasting alleys, shorn and shackled, dressed in ochre robes, and set to pounding grain. She sent an envoy to summon King Ruyi of Zhao. The envoy came three times; Chancellor of Zhao Zhou Chang told him, “The High Emperor entrusted the King of Zhao to me; the king is young. I hear the empress dowager resents Lady Qi and means to summon the King of Zhao and kill him with her—I dare not send the king. The king is also ill and cannot obey the edict.” The Empress Dowager was furious and first sent men to summon Zhou Chang. Once Chang reached Chang'an, she sent men again to summon the King of Zhao. The king set out but had not yet arrived; the Emperor, knowing the Empress Dowager was angry, went himself to meet the King of Zhao at Bashang, brought him into the palace, and personally kept him at his side day and night for meals and daily life. The Empress Dowager wished to kill him but found no opportunity.
30
1 使 使 使
1 In winter, the twelfth month, the Emperor went out early to hunt. The King of Zhao was young and could not rise early; the Empress Dowager sent men with poisoned wine and made him drink it. At dawn the Emperor returned and found the King of Zhao already dead. The Empress Dowager then cut off Lady Qi's hands and feet, gouged out her eyes, deafened her ears, forced a drug that left her mute, and had her kept in the privy, calling her “the human swine.” After several days she summoned the Emperor to see the human swine. The Emperor saw her, learned it was Lady Qi, and wept bitterly; he fell ill and for more than a year could not get up. He sent someone to tell the Empress Dowager: “This is not what a human being would do. I am Your Majesty's son, yet in the end I cannot govern the realm.” From that day the Emperor drowned himself in wine and pleasure and ceased to attend to government.
31
:: ----2 ----3西
:: Your servant Guang says: As a son, when parents err one should remonstrate; if they will not listen, then weep and follow them. How can one hold the High Ancestor's legacy, be lord of the realm, unable to bear his mother's cruelty, then abandon the state without a thought and indulge in wine and women to ruin one's health? Emperor Hui may be called devoted to petty kindness yet ignorant of great duty. ----2 King You of Huaiyang was transferred to be King of Zhao. ----3 In spring, the first month, construction began on the northwest section of Chang'an's walls.
32
1 使 ----2 ----3西 ----4 ----5 ----6
1 In winter, the tenth month, King Daohui of Qi came to court and drank in the Empress Dowager's presence. The Emperor, treating the King of Qi as his elder brother, gave him the seat of honor. The Empress Dowager was angry, poured poison wine, set it before him, and offered it to the King of Qi as a toast for long life. The King of Qi rose; the Emperor rose as well to take the cup; the Empress Dowager was alarmed and rose herself to spill the Emperor's cup. The King of Qi found it strange, dared not drink, feigned drunkenness, and left; and on inquiry learned it was poisoned—he was terrified. Qi's interior secretary admonished the king and had him offer Chengyang commandery as Princess Yuan of Lu's fief. The Empress Dowager was pleased and let the King of Qi return to Qi. ----2 In spring, the first month, on guiyou, two dragons were seen in a commoner's well at Lanling. ----3 Longxi was shaken by an earthquake. ----4 In summer there was drought. ----5 Marquis of Heyang Zhong died. ----6 Marquis of Pei Wenzhong Xiao He fell ill; the Emperor visited him in person and asked, “When you are gone, who can replace you?” He replied, “No one knows a minister like his lord.” The Emperor said, “What of Cao Shen?” He kowtowed and said, “Your Majesty has the right man; I die without regret!"
33
In autumn, the seventh month, on xinwei, Xiao He died. When Xiao He acquired land and houses he always chose poor, remote sites; as head of the household he would not build high walls or fine roofs. He said, “If later generations are worthy, let them learn thrift from me; if unworthy, let them not be seized by powerful families."
34
使
On guisi, Cao Shen was appointed chancellor of state. When Shen heard Xiao He had died, he told his retainers, “Pack at once for the journey! I am about to become chancellor.” Before long an envoy did summon Shen. Early on, when Shen was still obscure, he and Xiao He were close; when they became general and chancellor they fell out; yet when Xiao He was dying, the worthy man he recommended was Shen alone. Shen succeeded Xiao He as chancellor; he changed nothing and followed Xiao He's rules entirely: he chose commandery and state officials who were plain and awkward in rhetoric, men of substance and long experience, and at once summoned them to be the chancellor's clerks; officials who spoke in sharp, ornate prose and sought fame he promptly dismissed. Day and night he drank strong wine. When ministers, grandees, subordinate officials, and guests saw that Shen attended to nothing and came wishing to speak, he at once plied them with strong wine; if they still wished to speak, he would ply them again; they left drunk and never got to make their point—this became routine. When he saw minor faults he would cover them up; the chancellor's office was untroubled.
35
使 使
Shen's son Zhu was a palace grandee. The Emperor wondered that the chancellor neglected affairs and thought, “Does he think I am too young?” He sent Zhu home to question Shen privately. Shen was furious and flogged Zhu two hundred strokes, saying, “Get back to court at once! Affairs of the realm are not for you to discuss!” At court the Emperor reproached Shen: “Just now I had you admonish your father.” Shen removed his cap and apologized: “Your Majesty, consider—whose sagely prowess compares with the High Emperor's?” The Emperor said, “How would I dare compare myself to the late Emperor!” He said again, “Your Majesty, consider—whose ability compares with Xiao He's?” The Emperor said, “You seem not to match him.” Shen said, “Your Majesty speaks rightly. The High Emperor and Xiao He settled the realm; the laws are already clear. Now Your Majesty reigns at ease; Shen and the rest keep their posts and hold to what was established without loss—is that not enough?” The Emperor said, “Good!"
36
----1 ----2 使使 使 使使 ----3 便 ----4 ----5 ----6
Shen served as chancellor for three years; the people sang: “Xiao He made the laws, uniform as if drawn with one stroke; Cao Shen replaced him and kept them without loss. He carried on that quiet rule; the people were at peace.” ----1 In spring, one hundred forty-six thousand men and women within six hundred li of Chang'an were mobilized to wall the city; after thirty days they were dismissed. ----2 An imperial clanswoman was made a princess and married to Maodun, chanyu of the Xiongnu. At that time Maodun was at the height of his power; he wrote a letter and sent an envoy to Empress Gao with wording that was grossly lewd and insulting. Empress Gao was furious, summoned generals, chancellors, and ministers, and debated executing the envoy and sending troops to attack. Fan Kuai said, “Give me one hundred thousand men and I will march at will through the Xiongnu!” Palace gentleman-general Ji Bu said, “Kuai deserves execution! When the Xiongnu besieged the High Emperor at Pingcheng, Han had three hundred twenty thousand troops and Kuai was supreme general, yet could not break the siege. The songs of victory have barely ended and the wounded have just risen, yet Kuai would shake the realm and boast of marching at will with one hundred thousand—this is bare-faced deceit. Moreover barbarians are like birds and beasts: fine words are not worth rejoicing over, nor foul words worth anger.” Empress Gao said, “Good!” She ordered Grand Usher Zhang Shi to reply with a deeply humble apology and also send two carriages and two teams of four horses as gifts. Maodun sent another envoy to apologize: “I had never heard of China's rites and righteousness; Your Majesty was gracious to pardon me.” He presented horses, and peace through marriage followed. ----3 In summer, the fifth month, Lord Yao of Minyue was made King of Donghai. Yao and Wuzhu were both descendants of King Goujian of Yue; they followed the lords in destroying Qin with great merit, and their people were readily loyal—therefore they were enfeoffed. His capital was at Dong'ou; for generations he was called King of Dong'ou. ----4 In the sixth month, twenty thousand convict laborers of feudal kings and marquises were mobilized to wall Chang'an. ----5 In autumn, the seventh month, the imperial stables burned. ----6 That year the Qian Di of Shu Jian rebelled and were suppressed.
37
1 -{}- ----2 ----3 ----4 ----5
1 In winter, the tenth month, Empress Zhang was installed. -{the cited text}-: she was the daughter of the Emperor's elder sister, Princess Yuan of Lu; the Empress Dowager wished to strengthen kin ties and therefore matched her to the Emperor. ----2 In spring, the first month, commoners noted for filial piety, fraternity, and diligence in farming were exempted from service and taxes. ----3 In the third month, on jiazi, the Emperor came of age and amnestied the realm. ----4 Laws that hindered officials and people were trimmed; the law against keeping books was abolished. ----5 Because the Emperor's visits to pay court to the Empress Dowager at Changle Palace and his occasional trips there repeatedly cleared the streets and troubled the people, he built a covered corridor south of the armory. Chamberlain for Ceremonials Shusun Tong remonstrated: “This is the road the High Emperor used when he went out monthly to attend the spirit garments and caps—how can descendants travel along the ancestral temple road!” The Emperor was alarmed and said, “Tear it down at once!” Shusun Tong said, “A ruler makes no mistaken actions. It is already built and all the common people know of it. I wish Your Majesty would establish a Yuan temple north of the Wei and each month bring out the spirit robes and caps to tour it, thereby broadening the ancestral temples—this is the root of great filial piety.” The Emperor then decreed that the relevant officials establish the Yuan temple.
38
:: ----6 ----7 ----1 ----2 ----3谿 ----4 ----1 ----2 ----3 ----4 ----1 ----2 ----3 ----4
:: Your servant Guang says: Faults are what no one can avoid; only the sage and worthy can recognize them and correct them. The sage kings of old, fearing they might err yet not know it, set up the timber for slander and placed the drum for bold remonstrance—were they afraid of the people hearing their faults! Therefore Zhong Hui praised Cheng Tang, saying, “To amend faults without regret.” Fuyue admonished Gaozong, saying, “Be not ashamed of faults and doing wrong.” From this we see that for a ruler it is surely not to be without fault that is admirable, but to amend faults that is praiseworthy. Now when Shusun Tong remonstrated with Emperor Hui he said, “A ruler makes no mistaken actions”—this teaches rulers to gloss over faults and persist in error; is that not absurd! ----6 The Hong Terrace of Changle Palace caught fire. ----7 In autumn, the seventh month, on yihai day, the Ling chamber of Weiyang Palace caught fire; on bingzi day, the weaving chamber caught fire. ----1 In winter, thunder; peach and plum trees blossomed, and jujubes bore fruit. ----2 In spring, the first month, again one hundred forty-five thousand men and women within six hundred li of Chang'an were mobilized to wall Chang'an; after thirty days the work ceased. ----3 In summer there was great drought; the Yangtze and Yellow rivers ran low, and streams and ravines dried up. ----4 In autumn, the eighth month, on jichou day, Marquis Yi of Pingyang Cao Shen died. ----1 In winter, the tenth month, Wang Ling was made right chancellor and Chen Ping left chancellor. ----2 King Daohui of Qi, Fei, died. ----3 In summer, Marquis Wen of Liu Zhang Liang died. ----4 Zhou Bo was made grand commandant. ----1 In winter, chariots, cavalry, and elite troops were sent to Xingyang under Grand Commandant Guan Ying. ----2 In spring, the first month, on the new moon xinchou, there was a solar eclipse. ----3 In summer, the fifth month, on dingmao day, there was a total solar eclipse. ----4 In autumn, the eighth month, on wuyin day, the Emperor died in Weiyang Palace. A general amnesty was proclaimed throughout the realm. In the ninth month, on xinchou day, he was buried at Anling.
39
Earlier, Empress Dowager Lü ordered Empress Zhang to take another woman's child to rear and killed the mother, making him crown prince. After the burial the crown prince took the throne; he was young; the empress dowager presided over court and ruled in her own name.
← Previous Chapter
Back to Chapters
Next Chapter →