1
起昭陽作噩,盡屠維單閼,凡七年。
From Zhaoyang Zuoe through Tuwei Shanque—seven years in all.
2
1春,正月,辛丑,葬孝宣皇帝於杜陵; 赦天下。 ----2三月,丙午,立皇后王氏,封-{后父}-禁為陽平候。 ----3以三輔、太常、郡國公田及苑可省者振業貧民; 貲不滿千錢者,賦貸種、食。 ----4封外祖父平恩戴侯同產弟子中常侍許嘉為平恩侯。 ----5夏,六月,以民疾疫,令太官損膳,減樂府員,省苑馬,以振困乏。 ----6秋,九月,關東郡、國十一大水,饑,或人相食; 轉旁郡錢穀以相救。 ----7上素聞琅邪王吉、貢禹皆明經潔行,遣使者徵之。 吉道病卒。 禹至,拜為諫大夫。 上數虛已問以政事,禹奏言:「古者人君節儉,什一而稅,無它賦役,故家給人足。 高祖、孝文、孝景皇帝,宮女不過十餘人,廄馬百餘匹。 後世爭為奢侈,轉轉益甚; 臣下亦相放效。 臣愚以為如太古難,宜少放古以自節焉。 方今宮室已定,無可奈何矣; 其餘盡可減損。 故時齊三服官,輸物不過十笥; 方今齊三服官,作工各數千人,一歲費數巨萬,廄馬食粟將萬匹。 武帝時,又多取好女至數千人,以填後宮。 及棄天下,多藏金錢、財物,鳥獸、魚鱉凡百九十物; 又皆以後宮女置於園陵。 至孝宣皇帝時,陛下惡有所言,群臣亦隨故事,甚可痛也! 故使天下承化,取女皆大過度,諸侯妻妾或至數百人,豪富吏民畜歌者至數十人,是以內多怨女,外多曠夫。 及眾庶葬埋,皆虛地上以實地下。 其過自上生,皆在大臣循故事之罪也。 唯陛下深察古道,從其儉者。 大減損乘輿服御器物,三分去二; 擇後宮賢者,留二十人,餘悉歸之,及諸陵園女無子者,宜悉遣; 廄馬可無過數十匹,獨捨長安城南苑地,以為田獵之囿。 方今天下饑饉,可無大自損減以救之稱天意乎! 天生聖人,蓋為萬民,非獨使自娛樂而已也。」 天子納善其言,下詔,令諸宮館希御幸者勿繕治; 太僕減穀食馬; 水衡省肉食獸。
1. In spring, the first month, on xinchou, Emperor Xuan was buried at Duling; the empire was pardoned. ----2 In the third month, on bingwu, Empress Wang was installed; Wang -{the cited text}- Jin was enfeoffed as Marquis of Yangping. ----3 Public fields of the Three Metropolises, the Grand Music Master, commanderies and kingdoms, and reducible imperial parks were used to revive the livelihood of the poor; those with assets under a thousand cash were lent seed and food. ----4 Palace Attendant Xu Jia, younger brother by the same mother of the emperor's maternal grandfather, Marquis Dai of Ping'en, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Ping'en. ----5 In summer, the sixth month, because pestilence afflicted the people, the court ordered the Grand Provisioner to reduce meals, cut Music Bureau staff, and reduce park horses to relieve the distressed. ----6 In autumn, the ninth month, eleven commanderies and kingdoms east of the Pass were inundated; famine followed, and in places men ate one another; money and grain from neighboring commanderies were transferred for mutual relief. ----7 The emperor had long heard that Wang Ji of Langye and Gong Yu were both versed in the classics and of pure conduct; he sent envoys to summon them. Ji died of illness on the road. Yu arrived and was appointed Remonstrating Grandee. The emperor repeatedly humbled himself to ask about government affairs. Yu memorialized: "In antiquity rulers were frugal, taxed one-tenth, and had no other levies or corvée—families were provided for and the people had enough. Emperors Gaozu, Wen, and Jing kept no more than a dozen palace women and a hundred-odd stable horses. Later generations competed in luxury, each turn more excessive; officials below imitated one another as well. I foolishly think matching high antiquity is difficult; it would be fitting to ease somewhat toward antiquity and restrain oneself. Today the palaces are already fixed and nothing can be done about that; everything else can still be cut back. In former times Qi's Three Garment Offices sent no more than ten bamboo boxes of goods; today Qi's Three Garment Offices employ thousands at each workshop, costing tens of millions a year; stable horses consume nearly ten thousand piculs of grain. Under Emperor Wu he took thousands of fine women to fill the rear palace. When he left the realm he hoarded gold, cash, and valuables—birds, beasts, fish, and turtles, one hundred ninety kinds in all; moreover he stationed rear-palace women at park-tombs. At the time of Emperor Xuan, Your Majesty loathed speaking of such things, yet ministers still followed precedent—how painful! Thus the realm carried on the transformation: bride-taking everywhere far exceeded measure; feudal lords' wives and concubines sometimes reached hundreds; wealthy officials and commoners kept dozens of singers—within were many resentful women, without many husbandless men. Among the common people as well, burials emptied the living world to fill the grave. These excesses arose from above and were chiefly the fault of great ministers who clung to precedent. Only Your Majesty would deeply examine the ancient Way and follow what is frugal. Greatly cut imperial carriages, robes, and implements—remove two parts in three; select the worthy among rear-palace women, retain twenty, return the rest, and send out all tomb-park women without sons; stable horses need not exceed several dozen; only keep the park south of Chang'an for hunting. Today the realm suffers famine—can we not greatly reduce ourselves to deliver relief and match Heaven's intent! Heaven born the sage for the myriad people—not merely for his own pleasure." The emperor accepted his counsel and issued an edict: palace residences rarely visited by the emperor should not be repaired; the Grand Coachman reduced grain for horses; the Office of Water and Parks cut meat-eating beasts.
3
:臣光曰:忠臣之事君也,責其所難,則其易者不勞而正; 補其所短,則其長者不勸而遂。 孝元踐位之初,虛心以問禹,禹宜先其所急,後其所緩。 然則優遊不斷,讒佞用權,當時之大患也,而禹不以為言; 恭謹節儉,孝元之素志也,而禹孜孜而言之,何哉! 使禹之智足不以知,烏得為賢! 知而不言,為罪愈大矣! ----8匈奴呼韓邪單于復上書,言民眾困乏。 詔雲中、五原郡轉穀二萬斛以給之。 ----9是歲,初置戊己校尉,使屯田車師故地。----
: Your servant Guang says: When loyal ministers serve their ruler, they press what is difficult; then what is easy is corrected without labor; they mend what is short; then what is long advances without exhortation. At the beginning of Emperor Yuan's accession, he humbly asked Yu; Yu should have put first what was urgent and afterward what could wait. Yet lenient delay without decision and slanderers and flatterers wielding power were the great afflictions of the time, yet Yu did not speak of them; respectful caution and frugality were Emperor Yuan's constant aim, yet Yu spoke of them tirelessly—why! If Yu's wisdom sufficed yet he did not know, how could he be called worthy! To know and not speak—the offense is all the greater! ----8 The Xiongnu chanyu Huhanye again submitted a memorial saying his people were distressed and depleted. An edict ordered Yunzhong and Wuyuan commanderies to transfer twenty thousand hu of grain to supply him. ----9 That year the Wuji Colonel was first established to garrison and farm the former territory of Cheshi.
4
1春,正月,上行幸甘泉,郊泰畤。 樂陵侯史高以外屬領尚書事,前將軍蕭望之、光祿大夫周堪為之副。 望之名儒,與堪皆以師傅舊恩,天子任之,數宴見,言治亂,陳王事。 望之選白宗室明經有行散騎、諫大夫劉更生給事中,與侍中金敞並拾遺左右。 四人同心謀議,勸導上以古制,多所欲匡正; 上甚鄉納之。 史高充位而已,由此與望之有隙。
1. In spring, the first month, the emperor traveled to Sweet Springs and sacrificed at the Great Altar. Yue Ling Marquis Shi Gao, as maternal kin, headed Secretariat affairs; former General Xiao Wangzhi and Household Gentleman Zhou Kan served as his deputies. Wangzhi was a renowned classicist; both he and Kan, through old ties as tutors, were trusted by the emperor, often dined with him, discussed order and disorder, and laid out royal affairs. Wangzhi nominated Liu Gengsheng of the imperial clan, versed in the classics and of good conduct, as Cavalier Attendant and Remonstrating Grandee in the Palace Secretariat; he and Palace Attendant Jin Chang picked up what was neglected at the emperor's side. The four men united in counsel, urging the emperor toward ancient institutions and wanting much to correct abuses; the emperor greatly inclined to accept them. Shi Gao merely filled a post; from this he bore a rift with Wangzhi.
5
中書令弘恭、僕射石顯,自宣帝時久典樞機,明習文法; 帝即位多疾,以顯久典事,中人無外黨,精專可信任,遂委以政,事無小大,因顯白決,貴幸傾朝,百僚皆敬事顯。 顯為人巧慧習事,能深得人主微指,內深賊,持詭辯,以中傷人,忤恨睚眥,輒被以危法; 亦與車騎將軍高為表裡,議論常獨持故事,不從望之等。
Palace Secretariat Director Hong Gong and Vice Director Shi Xian had long held the pivot of power from Emperor Xuan's time and were skilled in written law; when the emperor took the throne he was often ill; because Xian had long managed affairs and the inner attendants had no external faction and were dedicated and trustworthy, he entrusted him with government—matters great or small were decided as Xian reported upward; honored and favored, he dominated the court, and all officials honored and served Xian. Xian was clever and practiced in affairs, able to grasp the ruler's subtle intent; inwardly deeply malicious, he wielded deceptive argument to strike at men; for the smallest grudge he would cloak opponents in deadly law; he also worked hand in glove with General of Chariots and Cavalry Gao; in discussion they usually held alone to precedent and did not follow Wangzhi and the others.
6
望之等患苦許、史放縱,又疾恭、顯擅權,建白以為:「中書政本,國家樞機,宜以通明公正處之。 武帝游宴後庭,故用宦者,非古制也。 宜罷中書宦官,應古不近刑人之義。」 由是大與高、恭、顯忤。 上初即位,謙讓,重改作,議久不定,出劉更生為宗正。
Wangzhi and his circle were distressed at the Xu and Shi clans' license and hated that Gong and Xian monopolized power; they memorialized: "The Secretariat is the root of government and the state's pivot; it should be run with luminous fairness. When Emperor Wu held banquets in the rear court he employed eunuchs—this is not the ancient system. Eunuchs in the Secretariat should be abolished, in keeping with antiquity's rule that those near punishment should not hold power." From this they sharply clashed with Gao, Gong, and Xian. The emperor, newly enthroned, was modest and reluctant and regarded reorganization as weighty; the debate long went unsettled, and Liu Gengsheng was sent out as Director of the Imperial Clan.
7
望之、堪數薦名儒、茂材以備諫官,會稽鄭朋陰欲附望之,上書言車騎將軍高遣客為奸利郡國,及言許、史弟子罪過。 章視周堪,堪白:「令朋待詔金馬門。」 朋奏記望之曰:「今將軍規模,-{云}-若管、晏而休,遂行日昃,至周、召乃留乎? 若管、晏而休,則下走將歸延陵之皋,沒齒而已矣。 如將軍興周、召之遺業,親日昃之兼聽,則下走其庶幾願竭區區奉萬分之一!」 望之始見朋,接待以意; 後知其傾邪,絕不與通。 朋,楚士,怨恨,更求入許、史,推所言許、史事,曰:「皆周堪、劉更生教我; 我關東人,何以知此!」 於是侍中許章白見朋。 朋出,揚言曰:「我見言前將軍小過五,大罪一。」 待詔華龍行污穢,欲入堪等,堪等不納,亦與朋相結。
Wangzhi and Kan repeatedly recommended renowned classicists and exceptional talent for remonstrance offices. Kuaiji's Zheng Peng secretly wished to attach himself to Wangzhi and memorialized that General of Chariots and Cavalry Gao's clients did illicit profit in commanderies and kingdoms, and cited crimes of Xu and Shi clan youths. The memorial was shown to Zhou Kan; Kan reported: "Let Peng await summons at the Golden Horse Gate." Peng submitted a memorial-note to Wangzhi, saying: "Now the general's scope--{the cited text}- if like Guan Zhong and Yan Ying you then stop, will you halt at sunset only when you reach the Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao? If you stop at Guan and Yan, your subordinates below will go home to Yanling's shore and till to the end of their days. But if the general takes up the legacy of the Duke of Zhou and Duke of Shao, personally attending from morning to night with broad hearing, then your subordinates below would scarcely dare hope to exhaust their petty strength for even one part in ten thousand!" Wangzhi at first received Peng with attention; later learning he was crooked, he cut him off entirely. Peng, a man of Chu, bore resentment, sought entry among Xu and Shi, and pushed claims about Xu and Shi affairs, saying: "All of it Zhou Kan and Liu Gengsheng taught me; I am a man east of the Pass—how would I know this!" Thereupon Palace Attendant Xu Zhang had Peng brought to audience. Peng came out and proclaimed: "I told of five small faults and one great crime of the former general." Attendant Hua Long practiced filth and wanted to join Kan's faction; they would not take him in, yet he allied with Peng as well.
8
恭、顯令二人告望之等謀欲罷車騎將軍,疏退許、史狀,候望之出休日,令朋、龍上之。 事下弘恭問狀,望之對曰:「外戚在位多奢淫,欲以匡正國家,非為邪也。」 恭、顯奏:「望之、堪、更生朋黨相稱舉,數譖訴大臣,毀離親戚,欲以專擅權勢。 為臣不忠,誣上不道,請謁者召致廷尉。」 時上初即位,不省召致廷尉為下獄也,可其奏。 後上召堪、更生,曰:「繫獄。」 上大驚曰:「非但廷尉問邪!」 以責恭、顯,皆叩頭謝。 上曰:「令出視事。」 恭、顯因使史高言:「上新即位,未以德化聞於天下,而先驗師傅。 既下九卿、大夫獄,宜因決免。」 於是制詔丞相、御史:「前將軍望之,傅朕八年,無它罪過。 今事久遠,識忘難明,其赦望之罪,收前將軍、光祿勳印綬; 及堪、更生皆免為庶人。」 ----2二月,丁巳,立弟竟為清河王。 ----3戊午,隴西地震,敗城郭、屋室,壓殺人眾。 ----4三月,立廣陵厲王子霸為王。 ----5詔罷黃門乘輿狗馬,水衡禁囿、宜春下苑、少府佽飛外池、嚴籞池田假與貧民。 又詔赦天下,舉茂材異等、直言極諫之士。 ----6夏,四月,丁巳,立子驁為皇太子。 待詔鄭朋薦太原太守張敞,先帝名臣,宜傅輔皇太子。 上以問蕭望之,望之以為敞能吏,任治煩亂,材輕,非師傅之器。 天子使使者徵敞,欲以為左馮翊,會病卒。 ----7詔賜蕭望之爵關內侯,給事中,朝朔望。 ----8關東饑,齊地人相食。 ----9秋,七月,己酉,地復震。 ----10上復征周堪、劉更生,欲以為諫大夫; 弘恭、石顯白,皆以為中郎。
Gong and Xian had the two men accuse Wangzhi and company of plotting to remove General of Chariots and Cavalry Gao and of memorializing to push aside Xu and Shi; they waited for Wangzhi's day off and had Peng and Long submit it. The matter went down to Hong Gong for inquiry. Wangzhi answered: "The outer kin in office are mostly extravagant—the aim is to correct the state, not to do evil." Gong and Xian memorialized: "Wangzhi, Kan, and Gengsheng formed a faction praising one another, repeatedly slandering great ministers, tearing apart relatives, wishing to monopolize power. As ministers unloyal, deceiving the throne and impious, they ask that the courier summon them to the Minister of Justice." At the time the emperor, newly enthroned, did not understand that "summon to the Minister of Justice" meant imprisonment and approved the memorial. Later the emperor summoned Kan and Gengsheng and said: "Imprisoned." The emperor was greatly alarmed: "Not merely inquiry by the Minister of Justice!" He reproached Gong and Xian, who all kowtowed in apology. The emperor said: "Let them go out and resume duties." Gong and Xian then had Shi Gao speak: "Your Majesty is newly enthroned and has not yet made your virtue heard throughout the realm, yet you first try your tutors. They are already down in the Nine Ministers and Grandees' prison—it is fitting to decide and dismiss them." Thereupon an edict to Chancellor and Censor: "Former general Wangzhi tutored Us eight years without other fault. The matter is long past and memory hard to clear—pardon Wangzhi's crime and take back the seals of Former General and Household Gentleman; Kan and Gengsheng are all demoted to commoners." ----2 In the second month, on dingsi, the emperor's younger brother Jing was installed as King of Qinghe. ----3 On wuwu, Longxi suffered an earthquake that destroyed walls and houses and crushed many to death. ----4 In the third month, the son of the deposed King of Guangling, Ba, was installed as king. ----5 An edict abolished Yellow Gate carriage dogs and horses; the Offices of Water and Parks, Yichun Lower Park, Lesser Treasury flying outer pools, and strict park pool fields were rented to poor commoners. Another edict pardoned the realm and raised exceptional talent of unusual grade and men of blunt remonstrance. ----6 In summer, the fourth month, on dingsi, son Ao was installed as crown prince. Attendant Zheng Peng recommended Taiyuan governor Zhang Chang, an esteemed minister of the former emperor, as fit to tutor and assist the crown prince. The emperor asked Xiao Wangzhi; Wangzhi thought Chang a capable official for troubled governance but light in talent—not material for a tutor. The emperor sent a courier to summon Chang, wishing to make him Left Governor of Feng, but he died of illness en route. ----7 An edict granted Xiao Wangzhi the rank of Marquis within the Passes, appointment in the Palace Secretariat, and attendance on the first and fifteenth of the month. ----8 East of the Pass suffered famine; in Qi territory people ate one another. ----9 In autumn, the seventh month, on day jiyou, the earth quaked again. ----10 The emperor again summoned Zhou Kan and Liu Gengsheng, wishing to make them Remonstrance Grandees; Hong Gong and Shi Xian reported against it, and all were made Gentlemen of the Palace instead.
9
上器重蕭望之不已,欲倚以為相; 恭、顯及許、史子弟、侍中、諸曹皆側目於望之等。 更生乃使其外親上變事,言「地震殆為恭等,不為三獨夫動。 臣愚以為宜退恭、顯以章蔽善之罰,進望之等以通賢者之路。 如此,則太平之門開,災異之原塞矣。」 書奏,恭、顯疑其更生所為,白請考奸詐,辭果服; 遂逮更生繫獄,免為庶人。
The emperor valued Xiao Wangzhi without cease and wished to rely on him as chancellor; Gong, Xian, and the Xu and Shi clans' sons and younger brothers, palace attendants, and the various bureaus all glared sidelong at Wangzhi and his circle. Gengsheng then had a maternal relative submit a report of irregularity, saying, "The earthquake was probably on account of Gong and the rest, not stirred by the three lone men. Your servant thinks one ought to dismiss Gong and Xian to make clear the punishment for screening out the good, and advance Wangzhi and the rest to open the road for the worthy. If so, the gate of great peace would open and the source of portents and anomalies would be blocked." When the memorial was submitted, Gong and Xian suspected Gengsheng had done it and requested investigation for treachery and fraud; under interrogation the confession indeed matched; Gengsheng was thereupon arrested and imprisoned, and dismissed as a commoner.
10
會望之子散騎、中郎人及亦上書訟望之前事,事下有司,復奏:「望之前所坐明白,無譖訴者,而教子上書,稱引亡辜之詩,失大臣體,不敬,請逮捕。」 弘恭、石顯等知望之素高節,不詘辱,建白:「望之前幸得不坐,復賜爵邑,不悔過服罪,深懷怨望,教子上書,歸非於上,自以托師傅,終必不坐,非頗屈望之於牢獄,塞其怏怏心,則聖朝無以施恩厚。」 上曰:「蕭太傅素剛,安肯就吏!」 顯等曰:「人命至重,望之所坐,語言薄罪,必無所憂。」 上乃可其奏。 冬,十二月,顯等封詔以付謁者,敕令召望之手付。 因令太常急發執金吾車騎馳圍其第。 使者至,召望之。 望之以問門下生魯國朱雲,雲者,好節士,勸望之自裁。 於是望之仰天歎曰:「吾嘗備位將相,年逾六十矣,老入牢獄,苟求生活,不亦鄙乎!」 字謂雲曰:「游,趣和藥來,無久留我死!」 竟飲鳩自殺。 天子聞之驚,拊手曰:「曩固疑其不就牢獄,果然殺吾賢傅!」 是時,太官方上晝食,上乃卻食,為之涕泣,哀動左右。 於是召顯等責問; 以議不詳,皆免冠謝,良久然後已。 上追念望之不忘,每歲時遣使者祠祭望之塚,終帝之世。
It happened that Wangzhi's son Sanqi and Gentleman of the Palace Ren Ji also memorialized suing over Wangzhi's former case; the matter was sent to the officials, who again reported, "Wangzhi's former offense was clear and there was no false accusation, yet he taught his son to submit a memorial citing poems of the guiltless dead—losing a great minister's bearing and showing disrespect; we request arrest." Hong Gong, Shi Xian, and the rest knew Wangzhi by nature had lofty integrity and would not submit to humiliation, and proposed, "Wangzhi before fortunately escaped punishment and again received noble rank and fief, yet did not repent and accept guilt, deeply harbored resentment, taught his son to memorialize, and attributed blame to the emperor—trusting that as imperial tutor he would in the end certainly not be punished. Unless Wangzhi is somewhat bent in prison to stop up his resentful heart, the sagely court has no way to bestow generous grace." The emperor said, "Grand Tutor Xiao is by nature firm—how would he consent to go to the officials!" Xian and the rest said, "Human life is utmostly weighty; what Wangzhi sits in is a slight offense of words—he will certainly have no worry." The emperor thereupon approved their memorial. In winter, the twelfth month, Xian and the rest sealed the edict and gave it to the usher, ordering him to summon Wangzhi and hand it to him in person. They then ordered the Grand Minister of Ceremonies urgently to dispatch the Commandant of the Metropolitan Area's chariots and horsemen to gallop and surround his residence. When the envoy arrived, he summoned Wangzhi. Wangzhi asked his gate student Zhu Yun of Lu about it; Yun, who loved men of integrity, urged Wangzhi to take his own life. Thereupon Wangzhi looked up to heaven and sighed, "I once filled the rank of general and minister; I am past sixty. To grow old entering prison and basely seeking to live—would that not be base!" He addressed Yun by his style name, saying, "You—hurry and bring the poisoned draught; do not long detain my death!" In the end he drank bane and killed himself. The emperor, hearing it, was startled and clapped his hands, saying, "Before I indeed doubted he would not go to prison—he has truly killed my worthy tutor!" At that time the Grand Steward was just serving the midday meal; the emperor pushed the meal away, wept for him, and his grief moved those at his side. Thereupon he summoned Xian and the rest to rebuke and question them; because their deliberation had not been thorough, all removed their caps and apologized; only after a long while did he stop. The emperor, recalling Wangzhi without forgetting, every year at the seasons sent envoys to sacrifice at Wangzhi's tomb throughout his reign.
11
:臣光曰:甚矣孝元之為君,易欺而難寤也! 夫恭、顯之譖訴望之,其邪說詭計,誠有所不能辨也。 至於始疑望之不肯就獄,恭、顯以為必無憂。 已而果自殺,則恭、顯之欺亦明矣。 在中智之君,孰不感動奮發以厎邪臣之罰! 孝元則不然。 雖涕泣不食以傷望之,而終不能誅恭、顯,才得其免冠謝而已。 如此,則奸臣安所懲乎! 是使恭、顯得肆其邪心而無復忌憚者也。 ----11是歲,弘恭病死,石顯為中書令。 ----12初,武帝滅南越,開置珠崖、儋耳郡,在海中洲上,吏卒皆中國人,多侵陵之。 其民亦暴惡,自以阻絕,數犯吏禁,率數年壹反,殺吏; 漢輒發兵擊定之。 二十餘年間,凡六反。 至宣帝時,又再反。 上即位之明年,珠崖山南縣反,發兵擊之。 諸縣更叛,連年不定。 上博謀於群臣,欲大發軍。 待詔賈捐之曰:「臣聞堯、舜、禹之聖德,地方不過數千里,西被流沙,東漸於海,朔南暨聲教,言欲與聲教則治之,不欲與者不強治也。 故君臣歌德,含氣之物各得其宜。 武丁、成王,殷、周之大仁也,然地東不過江、黃,西不過氐、羌,南不過蠻荊,北不過朔方,是以頌聲並作,視聽之類鹹樂其生,越裳氏重九譯而獻,此非兵革之所能致也。 以至於秦,興兵遠攻,貪外虛內而天下潰畔。 孝文皇帝偃武行文,當此之時,斷獄數百,賦役輕簡。 孝武皇帝厲兵馬以攘四夷,天下斷獄萬數,賦煩役重,寇賊並起,軍旅數發,父戰死於前,子鬥傷於後,女子乘亭障,孤兒號於道,老母、寡婦飲泣巷哭,是皆廓地泰大,征伐不休之故也。 今關東民眾久困,流離道路。 人情莫親父母,莫樂夫婦; 至嫁妻賣子,法不能禁,義不能止,此社稷之憂也。 今陛下不忍悁悁之忿,欲驅士眾擠之大海之中,快心幽冥之地,非所以救助饑饉,保全元元也。 詩云:『蠢爾蠻荊,大邦為讎。』 言聖人起則後服,中國衰則先畔,自古而患之,何況乃復其南方萬里之蠻乎! 駱越之人,父子同川而浴,相習以鼻飲,與禽獸無異,本不足郡縣置也。 顓顓獨居一海之中,霧露氣濕,多毒草、蟲蛇、水土之害; 人未見虜,戰士自死。 又非獨珠崖有珠、犀、玳瑁也。 棄之不足惜,不擊不損威。 其民譬猶魚鱉,何足貪也! 臣竊以往者羌軍言之,暴師曾未一年,兵出不逾千里,費四十餘萬萬; 大司農錢盡,乃以少府禁錢續之。 夫一隅為不善,費尚如此,況於勞師遠攻,亡士毋功乎! 求之往古則不合,施之當今又不便,臣愚以為非冠帶之國,《禹貢》所及,《春秋》所治,皆可且無以為。 願遂棄珠崖,專用恤關東為憂!」 上以問丞相、御史。 御史大夫陳萬年以為當擊,丞相-{于定國}-以為:「前日興兵擊之連年,護軍都尉、校尉及丞凡十一人,還者二人,卒士及轉輸死者萬人以上,費用三萬萬餘,尚未能盡降。 今關東困乏,民難搖動,捐之議是,」上從之。 捐之,賈誼曾孫也。----
: Your servant Guang says: How extreme was Emperor Yuan as ruler—easy to deceive and hard to awaken! As for Gong and Xian's false accusations against Wangzhi, their perverse words and deceitful schemes—there truly were things he could not distinguish. As for his first doubting that Wangzhi would not consent to go to prison, and Gong and Xian thinking he would certainly have no worry— yet afterward he indeed killed himself—then Gong and Xian's deception was also clear. In a ruler of middling wisdom, who would not be moved and roused to punish wicked ministers! Emperor Yuan was not so. Though he wept, refused food, and grieved for Wangzhi, in the end he could not execute Gong and Xian—he only got them to remove their caps and apologize, and that was all. If so, where would wicked ministers be punished! This was what let Gong and Xian unleash their wicked hearts without further fear or restraint. ----11 That year Hong Gong died of illness; Shi Xian became Director of the Palace Secretariat. ----12 Initially, when Emperor Wu destroyed Nanyue, he opened and established Zhuya and Dan'er commanderies on islands in the sea; clerks and soldiers were all men of the central states and often encroached on and bullied the people. The people too were violent and wicked; trusting themselves cut off by distance, they repeatedly violated official prohibitions—on average once every several years they rebelled and killed officials; Han would then dispatch troops to attack and pacify them. Within more than twenty years there were six rebellions in all. By Emperor Xuan's time they rebelled twice more. The year after the emperor took the throne, Shannan county in Zhuya rebelled and troops were dispatched to attack it. The various counties rebelled in turn; for successive years it was not settled. The emperor broadly deliberated with his ministers and wished to dispatch a great army. Awaiting-edict Jia Juanzhi said, "Your servant has heard that the sage virtue of Yao, Shun, and Yu—their territory did not exceed several thousand li; west it reached the moving sands, east it approached the sea; north and south it extended to their transforming teaching. The saying is: those who wished to receive the transforming teaching were governed; those who did not wish it were not forcibly governed. Therefore ruler and ministers sang their virtue, and living creatures each obtained their proper place. Wu Ding and King Cheng were the great benevolence of Yin and Zhou, yet their lands east did not pass the Yangzi and Yellow River, west did not pass the Di and Qiang, south did not pass the southern barbarians and Jing, north did not pass Shuofang—thereby eulogies arose together, and all who saw and heard rejoiced in their lives; the Yuechang clan, through nine translations, came to offer tribute—this is not what arms and armor could bring about. Reaching Qin, it raised armies for distant attacks, coveting the outer while emptying the inner, and the empire split and turned away. Emperor Wen laid down arms and promoted culture; at that time cases judged numbered in the hundreds, and levies and corvée were light and simple. Emperor Wu sharpened troops and horses to repel the four barbarians; cases judged throughout the empire numbered in the tens of thousands, levies were troublesome and corvée heavy, bandits and robbers arose together, armies were repeatedly dispatched—fathers died in battle ahead, sons were wounded fighting behind, women manned the barrier towers, orphans wailed on the roads, old mothers and widows wept in the lanes—all because the territory was vast beyond measure and campaigns did not cease. Now the masses east of the Pass have long been distressed, drifting and scattered on the roads. In human feeling none are closer than father and mother, none more joyful than husband and wife; yet it has reached selling wives and children—law cannot forbid it, righteousness cannot stop it; this is the state's worry. Now Your Majesty cannot bear petty anger and wishes to drive soldiers and masses to crowd them into the midst of the great sea, gratifying your heart in a dark and distant land—this is not the way to rescue famine or preserve the common people. The Odes say, 'Stupid are you, southern barbarians of Jing—the great state becomes your foe.' The saying is: when sages arise they submit afterward; when the central states decline they rebel first—from antiquity this has been a trouble; how much more to recover the southern ten-thousand-li barbarians! The people of Luoyue bathe father and son in the same stream, are accustomed to drinking through the nose, and differ in nothing from birds and beasts—they originally were not worth establishing commanderies and counties over. Dull and alone they dwell in the midst of one sea—fog, dew, and damp air; many poisonous plants, insects, serpents, and harms of water and soil; before men have seen the enemy, soldiers die on their own. Moreover it is not that Zhuya alone has pearls, rhinoceros horn, and tortoise shell. To abandon it is not worth regretting; not attacking does not diminish prestige. Its people are like fish and turtles—what is there worth coveting! Your servant privately takes the former Qiang campaign to speak of it: the exposed army had not yet been a year, troops went out not more than a thousand li, and the cost was more than four hundred thousand ten-thousands; the Grand Minister of Agriculture's money was exhausted, and then the Privy Treasury's sealed money was used to continue it. For one corner to be ill-governed the expense was still thus—how much more for tiring the army in distant attack, losing soldiers without achievement! Sought in past antiquity it does not fit; applied in the present it is also not convenient. Your servant thinks that for states not of cap and sash, what the Yu Tribute reaches, and what the Spring and Autumn governs—all may for the time being be left undone. I wish to abandon Zhuya forthwith and devote effort solely to relieving east of the Pass as the worry!" The emperor thereupon questioned the chancellor and censor. Censor-in-Chief Chen Wannian thought they ought to attack; Chancellor -{the cited text}- thought, "The other day troops were raised to attack them for successive years-Protector of the Army colonels, commandants, and assistants eleven in all; those who returned, two; soldiers and transport dead more than ten thousand; expense more than thirty thousand ten-thousands-and still they could not all be made to submit. Now east of the Pass is exhausted and the people are hard to stir—Juanzhi's proposal is right," the emperor followed it. Juanzhi was the great-grandson of Jia Yi.
12
1春,詔曰:「珠崖虜殺吏民,背畔為逆。 今廷議者或言可擊,或言可守,或欲棄之,其指各殊。 朕日夜惟思議者之言,羞威不行,則欲誅之; 狐疑辟難,則守屯田; 通乎時變,則憂萬民。 夫萬民之飢餓與遠蠻之不討,危孰大焉? 且宗廟之祭,凶年不備,況乎辟不嫌之辱哉! 今關東大困,倉庫空虛,無以相贍,又以動兵,非特勞民,凶年隨之。 其罷珠崖郡,民有慕義欲內屬,便處之; 不欲,勿強。」 ----2夏,四月,乙未晦,茂陵白鶴館災; 赦天下。 ----3夏,旱。 ----4立長沙煬王弟宗為王。 ----5長信少府貢禹上言:「諸離宮及長樂宮衛,可減其太半以寬徭役。」 六月,詔曰:「朕惟烝庶之饑寒,遠離父母妻子,勞於非業之作,衛於不居之宮,恐非所以佐陰陽之道也。 其罷甘泉、建章宮衛,令就農。 百宮各省費。 條奏,毋有所諱。」 ----6是歲,上復擢周堪為光祿勳,堪弟子張猛為光祿大夫、給事中,大見信任。----
1. In spring an edict said, "The barbarians of Zhuya killed officials and people, turned their backs and became rebels. Now those deliberating at court some say they may be attacked, some say they may be held, some wish to abandon them—their intents each differ. We day and night only ponder the deliberators' words: if prestige is shamed and not carried out, We wish to execute them; if We are doubtful and avoid difficulty, then hold them with garrison farming; if We penetrate the changes of the times, then We worry for the myriad people. Of the myriad people's hunger and the distant barbarians' not being punished—which danger is greater? Moreover, for the ancestral temple's sacrifices, in famine years they are not complete—how much more to avoid disgrace one does not despise! Now east of the Pass is greatly distressed, storehouses empty and void, with nothing to support and relieve them; again to move troops—not only does it weary the people, famine years follow. Let Zhuya commandery be abolished; among the people those who admire righteousness and wish to submit inward, conveniently settle them; those who do not wish it, do not force them." ----2 In summer, the fourth month, on the last day yiyi, Maoling's White Crane Lodge burned; he pardoned all under Heaven. ----3 In summer there was drought. ----4 He established Zong, younger brother of Prince Yang of Changsha, as king. ----5 Chief Steward for the Great Dowager's Household Gong Yu submitted words, "The various detached palaces and the guards of Changle Palace may have more than half reduced to ease corvée." In the sixth month an edict said, "We only think of the masses' hunger and cold, far from fathers, mothers, wives, and children, toiling at work not their proper occupation, guarding palaces where We do not dwell—We fear this is not the way to assist the way of yin and yang. Let the guards of Ganquan and Jianzhang palaces be abolished and ordered to return to farming. The hundred offices should each reduce expenses. Memorialize item by item; let nothing be concealed." ----6 That year the emperor again promoted Zhou Kan to Director of the Gentlemen of the Palace; Kan's disciple Zhang Meng to Grand Master of Splendor and Palace Attendant—greatly trusted.
13
1春,正月,上行幸甘泉,郊泰畤。 三月,行幸河東,祠后土; 赦汾陰徒。----
1. In spring, the first month, the emperor traveled to Ganquan and sacrificed at the Grand Altar. In the third month he traveled to Hedong and sacrificed to the Earth Queen; he pardoned the convicts of Fenyin.
14
1春,正月,以周子南君為周承休侯。 ----2三月,上行幸雍,祠五畤。 ----3夏,四月,有星孛於參。 ----4上用諸儒貢禹等之言,詔太官毋日殺,所具各減半; 乘輿秣馬,無乏正事而已。 罷角抵、上林宮館希御幸者、齊三服官、北假田官、鹽鐵官、常平倉。 博士弟子毋置員,以廣學者。 令民有能通一經者,皆復。 省刑罰七十餘事。 ----5陳萬年卒。 六月,辛酉,長信少府貢禹為御史大夫。 禹前後言得失書數十上,上嘉其質直,多採用之。 ----6匈奴郅支單于自以道遠,又怨漢擁護呼韓邪而不助己,困辱漢使者江乃始等; 遣使奉獻,因求侍子。 漢議遣衛司馬谷吉送之,御史大夫貢禹、博士東海匡衡以為:「郅支單于鄉化末醇,所在絕遠,宜令使者送其子,至塞而還。」 吉上書言:「中國與夷狄有羈縻不絕之義,今既養全其子十年,德澤甚厚,空絕而不送,近從塞還,示棄捐不畜,使無鄉從之心,棄前恩,立後怨,不便。 議者見前江乃無應敵之數,智勇俱困,以致恥辱,即豫為臣憂。 臣幸得建強漢之節,承明聖之詔,宣諭厚恩,不宜敢桀。 若懷禽獸心,加無道於臣,則單于長嬰大罪,必遁逃遠捨,不敢近邊。 沒一使以安百姓,國之計,臣之願也。 願送至庭。」 上許焉。 既到,郅支單于怒,竟殺吉等; 自知負漢,又聞呼韓邪益強,恐見襲擊,欲遠去。 會康居王數為烏孫所困,與諸翕侯計,以為:「匈奴大國,烏孫素服屬之。 今郅支單于困厄在外,可迎置東邊,使合兵取烏孫而立之,長無匈奴憂矣。」 即使使到堅昆,通語郅支。 郅支素恐,又怨烏孫,聞康居計,大說,遂與相結,引兵而西。 郅支人眾中寒道死,餘財三千人。 到康居,康居王以女妻郅支,郅支亦以女予康居王,康居甚尊敬郅支,欲倚其威以脅諸國。 郅支數借兵擊烏孫,深入至谷城,殺略民人,驅畜產去。 烏孫不敢追。 西邊空虛不居者五千里。 ----7冬,十二月,丁末,貢禹卒。 丁已,長信少府薛廣德為御史大夫。----
1. In spring, the first month, he made the Lord of Zhouzi South Marquis of Zhou, Heir of Rest. ----2 In the third month the emperor traveled to Yong and sacrificed at the Five Altars. ----3 In summer, the fourth month, a comet appeared in Can. ----4 The emperor used the words of the various Confucians Gong Yu and the rest; he decreed the Grand Provisioner not to kill daily, and what was prepared should each be reduced by half; Feed the imperial carriage horses, but only so that regular duties are not neglected. He abolished wrestling contests, Shanglin park lodges rarely visited by the emperor, the Qi Three-Garment Office, the Beijia field office, the salt-and-iron office, and the Ever-Normal Granary. No fixed quota was set for Erudite students, to broaden the ranks of scholars. He ordered that any commoner who could master one classic was to receive full exemption from levies. He reduced punishments in more than seventy matters. ----5 Chen Wannian died. In the sixth month, on day xinyou, Chief Steward for Eternal Faith Gong Yu became censor-in-chief. Yu had submitted dozens of memorials on policy gains and losses; the emperor praised his plain sincerity and adopted much of his advice. ----6 The Xiongnu chanyu Zhizhi, thinking himself far from Han and resenting Han's support for Huhanye rather than himself, mistreated Han envoys Jiang Naishi and others; he sent an envoy with tribute and requested the return of his hostage son. Han deliberated sending Guard Major Gu Ji to escort the prince home; Censor-in-Chief Gong Yu and Erudite Kuang Heng of Donghai argued, "Chanyu Zhizhi's turning toward civilization is not yet secure; his domain is utterly remote—it is fitting to have an envoy escort his son only to the border passes and then return." Ji submitted a memorial, saying, "The Central States and the barbarians have the principle of keeping them on loose reins without breaking ties; we have now nourished and kept his son whole for ten years, with very great grace—to cut off ties and not send him home, having him return only from near the passes, shows that we cast him away and will not keep him, leaving him no heart to follow his homeland, abandoning former grace and creating later resentment—is inexpedient. The debaters, seeing that Jiang earlier had no means to meet the enemy and that both wisdom and courage were exhausted, leading to disgrace, thereby anticipate worry for your subject. Your subject is fortunate to uphold the Han's strong integrity, receive the enlightened emperor's edict, proclaim thick grace, and ought not dare to be obstinate. If he harbors a beast's heart and does violence to your subject, then the chanyu will long bear a great crime and is sure to flee far away, not daring to approach the border. To lose one envoy to secure the common people is the state's plan and your subject's wish. I wish to escort him to the chanyu's court." The emperor approved. When he arrived, Chanyu Zhizhi was enraged and in the end killed Ji and the others; knowing he had wronged Han, and also hearing that Huhanye was growing stronger, he feared attack and wished to go far away. It happened that the king of Kangju had repeatedly been harassed by Wusun; with the various chieftains he plotted, saying, "The Xiongnu are a great power; Wusun has long submitted to them. Now Chanyu Zhizhi is distressed and stranded abroad; we can welcome him and place him in the east, combine forces to take Wusun and establish him there—then we will long be free of Xiongnu trouble." They thereupon sent an envoy to Jiankun to communicate with Zhizhi. Zhizhi had long been fearful and resented Wusun; hearing Kangju's plan, he was greatly pleased, joined with them, and led his troops west. Many of Zhizhi's followers died on the road from cold; only about three thousand remained. When he reached Kangju, the king of Kangju gave his daughter in marriage to Zhizhi; Zhizhi also gave his daughter to the king of Kangju; Kangju greatly honored Zhizhi, wishing to rely on his might to intimidate the various states. Zhizhi repeatedly borrowed troops to attack Wusun, penetrating deep to Valley City, killing and plundering the people, and driving off livestock. Wusun did not dare pursue. The western border lay empty and uninhabited for five thousand li. ----7 In winter, the twelfth month, on day dingmo, Gong Yu died. On day dingsi, Chief Steward for Eternal Faith Xue Guangde became censor-in-chief.
15
1春,正月,上行幸甘泉,郊泰畤。 視畢,因留射獵。 薛廣德上書曰:「竊見關東困極,人民流離。 陛下日撞亡秦之鐘,聽鄭、衛之樂,臣誠悼之。 今士卒暴露,從官勞倦,願陛下亟反宮,思與百姓同憂樂,天下幸甚!」 上即日還。 ----2二月,詔:「丞相、御史舉質樸、敦厚、遜讓、有行者,光祿歲以此科第郎、從官。」 ----3三月,赦天下。 ----4雨雪、隕霜,殺桑。 ----5秋,上酎祭宗廟,出便門,欲御樓船。 薛廣德當乘輿車,免冠頓首曰:「宜從橋。」 詔曰:「大夫冠。」 廣德曰:「陛下不聽臣,臣自刎,以血污車輪,陛下不得入廟矣!」 上不說。 先驅光祿大夫張猛進曰:「臣聞主聖臣直。 乘船危,就橋安,聖主不乘危。 御史大夫言可聽。」 上曰:「曉人不當如是邪!」 乃從橋。 ----6九月,隕霜殺稼,天下大饑。 丞相-{于定國}-,大司馬、車騎將軍史高,御史大夫薛廣德,俱以災異乞骸骨。 賜安車、駟馬、黃金六十斤,罷。 太子太傅韋玄成為御史大夫。 廣德歸,縣其安車,以傳示子孫為榮。 ----7帝之為太子也,從太中大夫孔霸受《尚書》。 及即位,賜霸爵關內侯,號褒成君,給事中。 上欲致霸相位,霸為人謙退,不好權勢,常稱「爵位泰過,何德以堪之!」 御史大夫屢缺,上輒欲用霸; 霸讓位,自陳至於再三。 上深知其至誠,乃弗用。 以是敬之,賞賜甚厚。 ----8戊子,侍中,衛尉王接為大司馬、車騎將軍。 ----9石顯憚周堪、張猛等,數譖毀之。 劉更生懼其傾危,上書曰:「臣聞舜命九官,濟濟相讓,和之至也。 眾臣和於朝則萬物和於野,故簫《韶》九成,鳳皇來儀。 至周幽,厲之際,朝廷不和,轉相非怨,則日月薄食,水泉沸騰,山谷易處,霜降失節。 由此觀之,和氣致祥,乖氣致異,祥多者其國安,異眾者其國危。 天地之常經,古今之通義也。 今陛下開三代之業,招文學之士,優遊寬容,使得並進。 今賢不肖渾殽,白黑不分,邪正雜糅,忠讒並進; 章交公車,人滿北軍,朝臣舛午,膠戾乖剌,更相讒訴,轉相是非; 所以營惑耳目,感移心意,不可勝載,分曹為黨,往往群朋將同心以陷正臣。 正臣進者,治之表也; 正臣陷者,亂之機也; 乘治亂之機,未知孰任,而災異數見,此臣所以寒心者也。 初元以來六年矣,按春秋六年之中,災異未有稠如今者也。 原其所以然者,由讒邪並進也; 讒邪之所以並進者,由上多疑心,既已用賢人而行善政,如或譖之,則賢人退而善政還矣。 夫執狐疑之心者,來讒賊之口; 持不斷之意者,開群枉之門; 讒邪進則眾賢退,群枉盛則正士消。 故《易》有《否》、《泰》,小人道長,君子道消,則政日亂; 君子道長,小人道消,則政日治。 昔者鯀、共工、驩兜與舜、禹雜處堯朝,周公與管、蔡並居周位,當是時,迭進相毀,流言相謗,豈可勝道哉! 帝堯、成王能賢舜、禹、周公而消共工、管、蔡,故以大治,榮華至今。 孔子與季、孟偕仕於魯,李斯與叔孫俱宦於秦,定公、始皇賢季、孟、李斯而消孔子、叔孫,故以大亂,污辱至今。 故治亂榮辱之端,在所信任; 信任既賢,在於堅固而不移。 《詩》云:『我心匪石,不可轉也,言守善篤也。 《易》曰:『渙汗其大號』,言號令如汗,汗出而不反者也。 今出善令未能逾時而反,是反汗也; 用賢未能三旬而退,是轉石也。 《論語》曰:『見不善如探湯。』 今二府奏佞謅不當在位,歷年而不去。 故出令則如反汗,用賢則如轉石,去佞則如撥山,如此,望陰陽之調,不亦難乎! 是以群小窺見間隙,緣飾文字,巧言醜詆,流言、飛文嘩於民間。 故《詩》云:『憂心悄悄,慍於群小,』小人成群,誠足慍也。 昔孔子與顏淵、子貢更相稱譽,不為朋黨; 禹、稷與皋陶傳相汲引,不為比周,何則? 忠於為國,無邪心也。 今佞邪與賢臣並交戟之內,合黨共謀,違善依惡,歙歙訿訿,數設危險之言,欲以傾移主上,如忽然用之,此天地之所以先戒,災異之所以重至者也。 自古明聖未有無誅而治者也,故舜有四放之罰,孔子有兩觀之誅,然後聖化可得而行也。 今以陛下明知,誠深思天地之心,覽《否》、《泰》之卦,歷周、唐之所進以為法,原秦、魯之所消以為戒,考祥應之福、災異之禍,以揆當世之變,放遠佞邪之黨,壞散險詖之聚,杜閉群枉之門,廣開眾正之路,決斷狐疑,分別猶豫,便是非炳然可知,則百異消滅而眾祥並至,太平之基,萬世之利也。』 顯見其書,愈與許、史比而怨更生等。
1 In spring, the first month, the emperor traveled to Sweet Springs and sacrificed at the Great Altar. When the rites were finished, he remained to hunt. Xue Guangde submitted a memorial, saying, "I have seen that east of the passes is in extreme distress and the people are displaced. Your Majesty daily strikes Qin's bell of ruin and listens to Zheng and Wei music—your subject is truly grieved. Now soldiers stand exposed and attending officials are weary; I wish Your Majesty would quickly return to the palace and think to share worry and joy with the people—the realm would be greatly fortunate!" The emperor returned that same day. ----2 In the second month, an edict: "The chancellor and censor are to recommend men who are plain, sincere, humble, yielding, and of good conduct; the Director of the Masters of Writing each year is to rank palace gentlemen and attendants by this standard." ----3 In the third month, he amnestied All-under-Heaven. ----4 Rain and snow fell, frost dropped from the sky, and mulberry trees were killed. ----5 In autumn, the emperor performed the autumnal offering at the ancestral temples, went out through Convenience Gate, and wished to ride a tower boat. Xue Guangde was to attend the imperial carriage, removed his cap and kowtowed, saying, "You ought to go by the bridge." An edict said, "Grandee, put on your cap." Guangde said, "If Your Majesty will not heed your subject, your subject will cut his own throat and stain the carriage wheels with blood—Your Majesty will not be able to enter the temple!" The emperor was displeased. The vanguard Director of the Masters of Writing Zhang Meng advanced and said, "Your subject has heard that when the ruler is sage, ministers are upright. Riding a boat is perilous; taking the bridge is secure—a sage ruler does not court peril. The censor-in-chief's words should be heeded." The emperor said, "Should not one who understands people be like this!" Thereupon he went by the bridge. ----6 In the ninth month, frost dropped from the sky and killed the crops; the realm suffered great famine. Chancellor -{Yu Dingguo}-, Grand Marshal and General of Chariots and Cavalry Shi Gao, and Censor-in-Chief Xue Guangde all resigned on account of prodigies and anomalies. They were granted cushioned carriages, four-horse teams, and sixty jin of gold, and were dismissed. Tutor of the Heir Apparent Wei Xuancheng became censor-in-chief. Guangde returned home and displayed his cushioned carriage, passing it down to show his descendants as an honor. ----7 When the emperor was heir apparent, he studied the Documents under Grand Master of the Palace Kong Ba. When he took the throne, he granted Ba the rank of marquis within the passes, styled him Lord of Baocheng, and made him attendant within the palace. The emperor wished to elevate Ba to chancellor; Ba was humble and retiring, not fond of power, and often said, "My noble rank is too high—what virtue could bear it!" The office of censor-in-chief was repeatedly vacant, and the emperor would then wish to employ Ba; Ba yielded the post and stated his reasons repeatedly. The emperor deeply knew his utmost sincerity and therefore did not employ him. Because of this the emperor honored him and bestowed very generous rewards. ----8 On day wuzi, Attendant within the Palace and Commandant of the Guards Wang Jie became grand marshal and general of chariots and cavalry. ----9 Shi Xian feared Zhou Kan, Zhang Meng, and others, and repeatedly slandered them. Liu Gengsheng feared they would be overthrown and submitted a memorial, saying, "Your subject has heard that when Shun appointed the nine officers, they yielded to one another in abundance—this was harmony at its height. When ministers were harmonious at court, the myriad things were harmonious in the wilds; therefore when the Xiao Shao was played nine times, the phoenix came to take its place. Down to the time of Kings You and Li of Zhou, when the court was not harmonious and ministers turned to blame and resent one another, sun and moon were eclipsed, springs boiled over, valleys shifted, and frost fell out of season. Viewed from this, harmonious qi brings auspice, perverse qi brings prodigies; where auspices are many the state is secure, where prodigies are many the state is in peril. This is Heaven and Earth's constant canon and the common meaning through antiquity and the present. Now Your Majesty has opened the enterprise of the Three Dynasties, summoned men of letters, and been leisurely, lenient, and tolerant, enabling them to advance together. Yet now worthy and unworthy are mixed in confusion, right and wrong are not distinguished, crooked and straight are intermingled, and loyal and slanderous men advance together; memorials crowd the imperial carriage office, men fill the Northern Army, court ministers clash, stick fast in perversity and cut against one another, alternately slander and accuse, and turn to judge right and wrong; thereby bewildering ears and eyes and shifting the heart's intent—more than can be recorded; they divide into factions and often band together to entrap upright ministers. When upright ministers advance, it is the outward sign of good governance; when upright ministers are entrapped, it is the mechanism of disorder; seizing the mechanism between order and disorder, not knowing who will bear responsibility, while prodigies and anomalies repeatedly appear—this is why your subject's heart is chilled. Six years have passed since the beginning of Chuyuan; examining six-year spans in the Spring and Autumn Annals, prodigies and anomalies have never been as dense as now. Tracing why it is so, it is because slander and wickedness advance together; the reason slander and wickedness advance together is that above there is much doubting; having already employed worthy men and practiced good government, if someone slanders them, worthy men withdraw and good government is undone. One who holds a doubting heart invites slanderous mouths; one who maintains an undecisive intent opens the gate for a crowd of crooked men; when slander and wickedness advance, the multitude of worthies withdraw; when crooked men flourish, upright gentlemen vanish. Therefore the Changes has Pi and Tai: when the petty man's way grows long and the gentleman's way wanes, government daily grows disordered; when the gentleman's way grows long and the petty man's way wanes, government daily grows well ordered. In antiquity Gun, Gong Gong, and Huan Dou were mixed in Yao's court with Shun and Yu; the Duke of Zhou and Guan and Cai together held Zhou offices—at that time they advanced in turn to destroy one another and rumors slandered one another—how could it all be told! Emperors Yao and King Cheng were able to treat Shun, Yu, and the Duke of Zhou as worthy and eliminate Gong Gong, Guan, and Cai; therefore there was great order and glory down to the present. Confucius served in Lu together with the Ji and Meng clans; Li Si and Shusun both held office in Qin; Duke Ding and the First Emperor treated the Ji, Meng, and Li Si as worthy and eliminated Confucius and Shusun—therefore there was great disorder and disgrace down to the present. Therefore the beginning of order and disorder, glory and disgrace, lies in whom one trusts; once trust is placed in the worthy, it lies in being firm and not shifting. The Odes says, "My heart is not stone—it cannot be turned," speaking of steadfastly keeping to the good." The Changes says, "He disperses sweat with his great proclamation," meaning that orders are like sweat—once sweat issues forth it does not return." Now good orders are issued but cannot pass the season before being reversed—this is reversing sweat; employing the worthy but not reaching thirty days before dismissing them—this is turning stone. The Analects says, "Seeing what is not good is like probing boiling water." Now the Two Offices memorialize that flatterers and sycophants ought not to hold office, yet year after year they are not removed. Therefore issuing orders is like reversing sweat, employing the worthy is like turning stone, removing flatterers is like moving mountains—with this, to hope for the harmony of yin and yang—is it not difficult! Because of this petty men spy out gaps, trim and adorn their words, use clever speech to defame, and rumors and flying writings clamor among the people. Therefore the Odes says, "My worried heart is secret, angry at the crowd of petty men"—when petty men form crowds, it is truly enough to anger one." In antiquity Confucius with Yan Yuan and Zigong praised one another in turn and did not form factions; Yu and Ji with Gao Yao passed on and drew one another up and did not form cliquish alliances—why was it so? They were loyal in serving the state, without wicked intent. Now the sycophantic and wicked mingle with worthy ministers in the same court, form factions and plot together, turn from good and rely on evil, whisper and clamor, and repeatedly utter dangerous words, wishing to sway the sovereign. If such men were suddenly put in power, that is why Heaven and Earth give warnings beforehand and why calamities and portents come again and again. Since antiquity no enlightened sage has ever governed without punishments. Shun had the four banishments, and Confucius had the execution at the two watchtowers—only then could sage transformation be carried out. Now, with Your Majesty's clear understanding, truly ponder Heaven and Earth's intent, study the hexagrams Pi and Tai, take what Zhou and Tang advanced as your model and what Qin and Lu destroyed themselves by as your warning, weigh the blessings of auspicious omens against the disasters of portents to gauge the changes of the age, banish the faction of sycophants and the wicked, break up gatherings of dangerous slander, shut the gates of perversity, and open wide the path of the upright. Cut through doubt and distinguish what is uncertain, so that right and wrong stand clear; then the hundred anomalies will vanish, many auspicious signs will come together, and the foundation of great peace and the benefit of ten thousand generations will be secured." When Xian saw the memorial, he drew still closer to Xu and Shi and bore resentment toward Gengsheng and his associates.
16
是歲,夏寒,日青無光,顯及許、史皆言堪、猛用事之咎。 上內重堪,又患眾口之浸潤,無所取信。 時長安令楊興以材能幸,常稱譽堪,上欲以為助,乃見問興:「朝臣斷斷不可光祿勳,何邪?」 興者,傾巧士,謂上疑堪,因順指曰:「堪非獨不可於朝廷,自-{州里}-亦不可也! 臣見眾人聞堪與劉更生等謀毀骨肉,以為當誅; 故臣前書言堪不可誅傷,為國養恩也。」 上曰:「然此何罪而誅? 今宜奈何?」 興曰:「臣愚以為可賜爵關內侯,食邑三百戶,勿令典事。 明主不失師傅之恩,此最策之得者也。」 上於是疑之。
That year summer was cold, the sun looked greenish and dim, and Xian together with Xu and Shi all said it was because Kan and Meng were wielding power. The emperor inwardly valued Kan highly, yet also worried that constant slander from many quarters left him nothing he could trust. At the time Metropolitan Magistrate Yang Xing, favored for his talent, often praised Kan. The emperor wished to use him as an ally and therefore summoned Xing and asked, "The court ministers keep insisting that the Grand Master of Splendor cannot serve—why is that?" Xing was a crafty opportunist. Seeing that the emperor doubted Kan, he followed the emperor's inclination and said, "Kan is not only unfit at court-even in his own -{the cited text}- he is unfit! Your subject has seen that when people heard Kan and Liu Gengsheng and others were plotting to harm the emperor's own kin, they thought he ought to be executed; therefore your subject wrote earlier that Kan ought not be executed or harmed, in order to preserve grace for the state." The emperor said, "Yet what crime would justify execution? What should be done now?" Xing said, "Your subject foolishly thinks he might be granted rank as Marquis within the Passes, with a fief of three hundred households, and not be allowed to handle affairs. An enlightened ruler does not cast off the grace owed a teacher—this is the best possible policy." The emperor thereupon came to doubt Kan.
17
司隸校尉琅邪諸葛豐始以特立剛直著名於朝,數侵犯貴戚,在位多言其短。 後坐春夏系治人,徙城門校尉。 豐於是上書告堪、猛罪,上不直豐,乃制詔御史:「城門校尉豐,前與光祿勳、光祿大夫猛在朝之時,數稱言堪、猛之美。 豐前為司隸校尉,不順四時,修法度,專作苛暴以獲虛威; 朕不忍下吏,以為城門校尉。 不內省諸己,而反怨堪、猛以求報舉,告按無證之辭,暴揚難驗之罪,毀譽恣意,不顧前言,不信之大也。 朕憐豐之耆老,不忍加刑,其免為庶人!」 又曰:「豐言堪、猛貞信不立,朕閔而不治,又惜其材能未有所效,其左遷堪為河東太守,猛槐里令。」
Director of Convict Labor Zhuge Feng of Langye was at first famed at court for his uncompromising integrity; he repeatedly clashed with powerful families, and those in office often spoke of his faults. Later he was convicted for imprisoning and prosecuting people in spring and summer and was transferred to Commandant of the City Gates. Feng thereupon submitted a memorial accusing Kan and Meng of crimes. The emperor did not side with Feng and issued an edict to the imperial censor: "Commandant of the City Gates Feng, when he was at court with the Grand Master of Splendor and Grand Master of the Palace Meng, repeatedly praised Kan and Meng. When Feng was Director of Convict Labor he ignored the seasons, revised laws and standards, and relied on harsh cruelty to win empty prestige; We could not bear to hand him over to the law officers and made him Commandant of the City Gates instead. He does not examine himself, yet resents Kan and Meng and seeks retaliation, lodging accusations without evidence and publicly airing charges hard to prove, praising and blaming as he pleases without regard to his former words—this is gross faithlessness. We pity Feng in his old age and cannot bear to punish him further; let him be dismissed as a commoner!" He also said, "Feng claimed Kan and Meng lacked integrity; We pitied them and did not prosecute, yet also regretted that their talents had not yet borne fruit—demote Kan to Administrator of Hedong and Meng to Magistrate of Huaili."
18
:臣光曰:諸葛豐之於堪、猛,前譽而後毀,其志非為朝廷進善而去奸也,欲比周求進而已矣。 斯亦鄭朋、楊興之流,烏在其為剛直哉! 人君者,察美惡,辨是非,賞以勸善,罰以懲奸,所以為治也。 使豐言得實,則豐不當絀; 若其誣罔,則堪、猛何辜焉! 今兩責而俱棄之,則美惡、是非果安在哉! ----10賈捐之與楊興善。 捐之數短石顯,以故不得官,稀復進見; 興新以材能得幸。 捐之謂興曰:「京兆尹缺,使我得見,言君蘭,京兆尹可立得。」 興曰:「君房下筆,言語妙天下; 使君房為尚書令,勝五鹿充宗遠甚。」 捐之曰:「令我得代充宗,君蘭為京兆,京兆,郡國首,尚書,百官本,天下真大治,士則不隔矣!」 捐之復短石顯,興曰:「顯方貴,上信用之; 今欲進,第從我計,且與合意,即得入矣!」 捐之即與興共為薦顯奏,稱譽其美,以為宜賜爵關內侯,引其兄弟以為諸曹; 又共為薦興奏,以為可試守京兆尹。 石顯聞知,白之上,乃下興、捐之獄,令顯治之,奏「興,捐之懷詐偽,更相薦譽,欲得大位,罔上不道!」 捐之竟坐棄市,興髡鉗為城旦。
: Minister Guang said: Zhuge Feng toward Kan and Meng praised them first and slandered them afterward. His aim was not to advance good for the court and remove the wicked, but only to form factions and seek promotion. He belongs to the same breed as Zheng Peng and Yang Xing—where is the integrity in that! A ruler examines good and evil, distinguishes right from wrong, rewards to encourage good conduct, and punishes to chastise wickedness—that is how he governs. If Feng's charges were true, then Feng ought not have been demoted; if they were false, then what crime had Kan and Meng committed! Now both parties are blamed and both are cast aside—then where do good and evil, right and wrong, actually lie! ----10 Jia Juanzhi was on good terms with Yang Xing. Juanzhi repeatedly criticized Shi Xian and for that reason could not obtain office and rarely gained audience again; Xing had newly been favored for his talent. Juanzhi said to Xing, "The metropolitan governorship is vacant. If you let me gain audience and speak for you, Lord Lan, you can obtain the metropolitan governorship at once." Xing said, "Lord Fang, when you take up the brush your words are unmatched under Heaven; if you were made Director of the Masters of Writing, you would far surpass Wulu Chongzong." Juanzhi said, "Let me replace Chongzong and you, Lord Lan, become metropolitan governor. Chang'an is the head of the commanderies and kingdoms, and the Masters of Writing are the root of the hundred officials. Then the empire would truly be well governed and scholars would no longer be shut out!" Juanzhi again criticized Shi Xian. Xing said, "Xian is at the height of power and the emperor trusts him; if you wish to advance now, simply follow my plan—for the moment agree with him, and you can get in at once!" Juanzhi then joined Xing in drafting a memorial recommending Xian, praising his merits, proposing that he be granted rank as Marquis within the Passes, and bringing in his brothers to serve in the various bureaus; they also jointly drafted a memorial recommending Xing, proposing that he be tried as acting metropolitan governor. When Shi Xian learned of this, he reported it to the emperor. Xing and Juanzhi were sent to prison and Xian was ordered to prosecute them. He memorialized, "Xing and Juanzhi harbored deceit, praised each other in turn, and sought high office—deceiving the sovereign, a capital offense!" Juanzhi was in the end executed in the marketplace; Xing was shaved, fettered, and sentenced to corvée labor as a wall-builder.
19
:臣光曰:君子以正攻邪,猶懼不克。 況捐之以邪攻邪,其能免乎! ----11徙清河王竟為中山王。 ----12匈奴呼韓邪單于民眾益盛,塞下禽獸盡,單于足以自衛,不畏郅支,其大臣多勸單于北歸者。 久之,單于竟北歸庭,民眾稍稍歸之,其國遂定。----
: Minister Guang said: A gentleman uses rectitude to attack wickedness, yet still fears he may not prevail. How much less can one who uses wickedness to attack wickedness, as Juanzhi did, hope to escape! ----11 King Jing of Qinghe was moved to become King of Zhongshan. ----12 Among the Xiongnu, Chanyu Huhanye's following grew ever stronger; game below the frontier passes was exhausted; the chanyu had enough strength to defend himself and no longer feared Zhizhi; and many of his great ministers urged him to return north. After a long time the chanyu at last returned north to his court; his people gradually came back to him, and his state was thereby settled.
20
1春,二月,赦天下。 ----2丁酉,御史大夫韋玄成為丞相; 右扶風鄭弘為御史大夫。 ----3三月,壬戌朔,日有食之。 ----4夏,六月,赦天下。 ----5上問給事中匡衡以地震日食之變,衡上疏曰:「陛下躬聖德,開太平之路,閔愚吏民觸法抵禁,比年大赦,使百姓得改行自新,天下幸甚! 臣竊見大赦之後,奸邪不為衰止,今日大赦,明日犯法,相隨入獄,此殆導之未得其務也。 今天下俗,貪財賤義,好聲色,上侈靡,親戚之恩薄,婚姻之黨隆,苟合徼幸,以身設利; 不改其原,雖歲赦之,刑猶難使錯而不用也,臣愚以為宜壹曠然大變其俗。 夫朝廷者,天下之楨幹也。 朝有變色之言,則下有爭鬥之患; 上有自專之士,則下有不讓之人; 上有克勝之佐,則下有傷害之心; 上有好利之臣,則下有盜竊之民; 此其本也。 治天下者,審所上而已。 教化之流,非家至而人說之也; 賢者在位,能者布職,朝廷崇禮,百僚敬讓,道德之行,由內及外,自近者始,然後民知所法,遷善日進而不自知也。 《詩》曰:『商邑翼翼,四方之極。』 今長安,天子之都,親承聖化,然其習俗無以異於遠方,郡國來者無所法則,或見侈靡而放效之; 此教化之原本,風俗之樞機,宜先正者也。 臣聞天人之際,精祲有以相蕩,善惡有以相推,事作乎下者象動乎上,陰變則靜者動,陽蔽則明者晻,水旱之災隨類而至。 陛下祗畏天戒,哀閔元元,宜省靡麗,考制度,近忠正,遠巧佞,以崇至仁,匡失俗,道德弘於京師,淑問揚乎疆外,然後大化可成,禮讓可興也。」 上說其言,遷衡為光祿大夫。
1 In spring, the second month, an amnesty was proclaimed for the empire. ----2 On dingyou, Censor-in-Chief Wei Xuancheng became chancellor; Zheng Hong of Right Fufeng became censor-in-chief. ----3 In the third month, on the first day renxu, there was a solar eclipse. ----4 In summer, the sixth month, an amnesty was proclaimed for the empire. ----5 The emperor questioned Palace Attendant Kuang Heng about the earthquake and solar eclipse. Heng submitted a memorial saying, "Your Majesty personally embodies sage virtue and opens the road to great peace. You pity foolish officials and common people who stumble into the law. Year after year you have proclaimed great amnesties so the people may reform and renew themselves—the empire is greatly fortunate! Your subject has observed that after great amnesties wicked conduct does not decline. Today there is a great amnesty, tomorrow people break the law again and enter prison in succession—this probably means guidance has not hit its mark. The customs of the empire today value wealth and slight righteousness, delight in pleasure and display, exalt extravagance, thin kinship ties, exalt marriage factions, join hastily and seek lucky breaks, and set up profit for themselves; and unless the root is changed, even yearly amnesties will not make punishments fall idle. Your subject foolishly thinks the customs ought to be transformed all at once and on a grand scale. The court is the main pillar of the empire. If at court there are words that change men's faces, below there will be strife; if above there are self-willed men, below there will be men who refuse to yield; if above there are assistants who love to overcome others, below there will be hearts bent on injury; if above there are ministers who love profit, below there will be thieves among the people; that is the root of it. He who governs the empire need only examine whom he elevates. The flow of transforming instruction does not come from visiting every house and preaching to each person; the worthy hold office, the able perform their duties, the court honors ritual, the hundred officials are respectful and yielding, and the practice of virtue spreads from within outward, beginning with what is near—only then do the people know what to follow, advance toward good daily, and do so without even knowing it. The Odes says, "The Shang capital stands solemn and strong, the model for the four quarters." Yet Chang'an, the Son of Heaven's capital, personally receives sage transformation, yet its customs are no different from distant regions. Visitors from the commanderies and kingdoms find no model to follow, or they see extravagance and imitate it; this is the root of transforming instruction and the pivot of custom—what ought to be rectified first. Your subject has heard that between Heaven and man essences and vapors stir one another, good and evil push one another, and affairs arising below are mirrored in movement above—when yin shifts, what was still moves; when yang is blocked, what was bright grows dim; flood and drought follow in their kinds. Your Majesty reverently heeds Heaven's warnings and pities the common people. You ought to reduce extravagance, examine institutions, draw near the loyal and upright, send away the crafty and sycophantic, exalt utmost benevolence, and correct failing customs. When virtue is magnified in the capital and good report spreads beyond the borders, then great transformation can be achieved and courtesy and yielding can flourish." The emperor was pleased with his words and transferred Heng to Grand Master of the Palace.
21
:荀悅論曰:夫赦者,權時之宜,非常典也。 漢興,承秦兵革之後,大愚之世,比屋可刑,故設三章之法,大赦之令,蕩滌穢流,與民更始,時勢然也。 後世承業,襲而不革,失時宜矣。 若惠、文之世,無所赦之。 若孝景之時,七國皆亂,異心並起,奸詐非一; 及武帝末年,賦役繁興,群盜並起,加以太子之事,巫蠱之禍,天下紛然,百姓無聊,人不自安; 及光武之際,撥亂之後:如此之比,宜為赦矣。 ----6秋,七月,隴西羌彡姐旁種反,詔召丞相韋玄成等入議。 是時,歲比不登,朝廷方以為憂,而遭羌變,玄成等漠然,莫有對者。 右將軍馮奉世曰:「羌虜近在竟內背畔,不以時誅,無以威制遠蠻,臣願帥師討之!」 上問用兵之數,對曰:「臣聞善用兵者,役不再興,糧不三載,故師不久暴而天誅亟決。 往者數不料敵,而師至於折傷,再三發調,則曠日煩費,威武虧矣。 今反虜無慮三萬人,法當倍,用六萬人。 然羌戎,弓矛之兵耳,器不犀利,可用四萬人。 一月足以決。」 丞相、御史、兩將軍皆以為:「民方收斂時未可多發,發萬人屯守之,且足。」 奉世曰:「不可。 天下被饑饉,士馬羸耗,守戰之備久廢不簡,夷狄有輕邊吏之心,而羌首難。 今以萬人分屯數處,虜見兵少,必不畏懼。 戰則挫兵病師,守則百姓不救,如此,怯弱之形見。 羌人乘利,諸種並和,相扇而起,臣恐中國之役不得止於四萬,非財幣所能解也。 故少發師而曠日,與一舉而疾決,利害相萬也。」 固爭之,不能得。 有詔,益二千人。 於是遣奉世將萬二千人騎,以將屯為名,典屬國任立、護軍都尉韓昌為偏裨,到隴西,分屯三處。 昌先遣兩校尉與羌戰,羌虜盛多,皆為所破,殺兩校尉。 奉世具上地形部眾多少之計,願益三萬六千人,乃足以決事。 書奏,天子大為發兵六萬餘人。 八月,拜太常弋陽侯任千秋為奮武將軍以助之。 冬,十月,兵畢至隴西,十一月,並進,羌虜大破,斬首數千級,餘皆走出塞。 兵未決間,漢復發募士萬人,拜定襄太守韓安國為建威將軍,未進,聞羌破而還。 詔罷吏士,頗留屯田,備要害處。
: Xun Yue's discussion says: Amnesty is a timely expedient, not a standing institution. When Han arose, inheriting the aftermath of Qin's wars, in an age of great ignorance where almost every household could be punished, the law of three chapters and orders of great amnesty were established to wash away foul currents and make a fresh start with the people—the times required it. Later generations inherited the practice and followed it without reform—missing the timely fit. In ages such as those of Emperors Hui and Wen, there was nothing to amnesty. In the time of Emperor Xiaojing the seven states all rebelled, divergent hearts arose together, and treachery was manifold; and by the late years of Emperor Wu levies and corvée multiplied, bandit gangs arose together, and there were added the affair of the heir apparent and the disaster of witchcraft—All-under-Heaven was in turmoil, the people had no relief, and no one felt secure; and at the time of Emperor Guangwu, after settling disorder—times like these called for amnesty. ----6 In autumn, the seventh month, the Qiang of the Shan-jie collateral lineage in Longxi rebelled; an edict summoned Chancellor Wei Xuancheng and others to deliberate. At this time harvests had failed year after year and the court was already worried when the Qiang disturbance struck. Xuancheng and the others sat blankly, with no one able to reply. General of the Right Feng Fengshi said, "The Qiang are near at hand, rebelling within the frontier. If they are not punished promptly, there is no way to awe distant barbarians. Your subject wishes to lead troops to punish them!" The emperor asked how many troops would be needed. He replied, "Your subject has heard that one who skillfully uses troops does not raise corvée twice or transport grain three times. Therefore armies should not long rage abroad while Heaven's punishment is swiftly decided. In the past we several times misjudged the enemy and armies were broken. Repeated levies waste time and money and diminish martial prestige. Now the rebels are estimated at no less than thirty thousand men. By rule one ought to double that and employ sixty thousand. Yet the Qiang and Rong are only bow-and-spear fighters; their weapons are not sharp—forty thousand should suffice. One month should be enough to settle it." The chancellor, censor, and both generals all held, "The people are just at harvest time and cannot be levied in great numbers. Send ten thousand to garrison the frontier—that will suffice for now." Fengshi said, "That will not do. The empire suffers famine; soldiers and horses are worn down; defenses have long been neglected; the barbarians already look down on frontier officials—and the Qiang are the hardest of them. If ten thousand are divided and garrisoned in several places, the enemy will see how few the troops are and surely will not fear them. If they fight, the army will be broken; if they only defend, the people cannot be rescued. In that way weakness will be plain for all to see. The Qiang will seize the advantage, the various tribes will join together and fan one another into revolt. Your subject fears the empire's campaign will not stop at forty thousand men, and money alone cannot solve it. Therefore to send few troops and waste days, versus one effort and swift decision—the difference in benefit and harm is ten thousandfold." He argued firmly but could not prevail. An edict was issued to add two thousand men. Thereupon Fengshi was sent leading twelve thousand cavalry under the title of garrison commandant, with Director of Dependent States Ren Li and Protector Army Commandant Han Chang as flank assistants. They reached Longxi and divided garrisons in three places. Han Chang first sent two commandants to fight the Qiang. The enemy were numerous and strong, both units were defeated, and the two commandants were killed. Fengshi reported in full on the terrain and troop strength and asked for thirty-six thousand more men, saying only then would the affair be settled. When the memorial arrived, the emperor greatly raised an army of more than sixty thousand men. In the eighth month Ren Qianqiu, Marquis of Yiyang and Grand Master of Ceremonies, was appointed General Who Displays Martial Might to assist him. In winter, the tenth month, the troops all reached Longxi; in the eleventh month they advanced together. The Qiang were routed, several thousand heads were taken, and the rest all fled beyond the frontier. While the campaign was still undecided, Han again recruited ten thousand men and appointed Han Anguo, Administrator of Dingxiang, as General Who Establishes Might. He had not advanced when he heard the Qiang were defeated and returned. An edict dismissed the officers and soldiers, but many were left to garrison-farm and guard strategic points.