Di Wu Lun, named Bo Yu, was from Changling in Jingzhao. His ancestors were from the Tian family of the Qi state, and many of them relocated to Yuanling. As a result, they adopted surnames according to the order of their migration.
When Di Wu Lun was young, he had a strong sense of justice and was upright. In the late years of Wang Mang, with bandits rampant, people from his family and neighbors all sought refuge with him. Di Wu Lun took advantage of the rugged terrain to build fortifications in strategic locations, valiantly leading the resistance against the bandits, ready to fight with weapons. He successfully repelled attacks from numerous bandit groups, including the Copper Horses and the Red Eyebrows; none of them managed to breach the defenses. Later, Di Wu Lun, now a camp leader, went to visit the county magistrate Xian Yu Bao. Xian Yu Bao was greatly impressed by him and recruited him as an official. Later, Xian Yu Bao was demoted to Gaotang as a county magistrate after making a mistake. As he departed, he grasped Di Wu Lun's hand and said regretfully, "It's a pity to have met you too late!"
Di Wu Lun later became a village tax collector, fairly collecting taxes and resolving disputes, earning the deep affection of the people. However, he felt stagnant in his career after so long in officialdom, so he relocated with his family to Hedong and changed his name to Wang Boqi, trading salt between Taiyuan and Shangdang. Wherever he went, he cleaned the roads of filth, and people began calling him "the Taoist." His relatives and friends had no idea where he had disappeared to.
After a few years, Xianyu Bao recommended him to the Governor of Jingzhao, Yan Xing, who immediately summoned Diwu Lun and appointed him as the chief registrar. At that time, there was much corruption in the minting of coins in Chang'an, so Diwu Lun was appointed as the supervisor of coinage and also in charge of managing the market in Chang'an. Diwu Lun carefully inspected the weights and measures, and as a result, fraud disappeared from Chang'an's market, leaving the people very satisfied. Every time he read the imperial edicts, he would exclaim, "This is a wise monarch; I must meet him in person!" His colleagues would tease him, saying, "You think you can meet the emperor?" Diwu Lun replied, "It's just that I haven't found someone who recognizes my talents; our ambitions just don’t align."
In the year 27 AD, Ma Rong passed the civil service examination and was appointed as the Chief Physician of Huaiyang, following the prince to the fiefdom. Emperor Guangwu summoned him and greatly admired Ma Rong. In the year 29 AD, Ma Rong followed the prince to the capital city and had the chance to meet the emperor. The emperor asked him some political questions, to which Ma Rong answered fluently, which delighted the emperor. The next day, the emperor specially summoned him again and joked with him until late at night. The emperor asked Ma Rong, "I heard that when you were an official, your family was so poor that you had to rely on your brother; is that true?" Ma Rong replied, "I married three wives, none of whom had fathers to support them. I experienced famine and war when I was young, so I dare not easily take others' things." The emperor burst into laughter. After Ma Rong left, the emperor issued an edict naming him the magistrate of Fuyi County, and before he even took office, he was promoted to Governor of Kuaiji.
Although he was a high-ranking official with a salary of two thousand shi, he personally cut grass for the horses, while his wife took care of the cooking. He only kept enough money for one month's living expenses and sold the remainder of his salary for less than its worth, distributing it to the poor. There were many superstitious practices in Kuaiji, such as divination and fortune-telling. The people often sacrificed oxen to the spirits, leading to great hardship. Those who consumed beef without offering it in sacrifice would fall ill or even die, crying out like oxen before they died. Previous county officials did not dare to prohibit such practices. When Ma Rong took office, he wrote to each county to clarify the situation to the people. Ma Rong also investigated and took action against those who exploited superstitions to intimidate the populace. Officials punished those who slaughtered oxen without permission. At first, the people were afraid, and some cursed him and spread rumors, but Ma Rong's crackdown became stricter, and eventually, these behaviors disappeared, and the people enjoyed peace and prosperity.
In the fifth year of the Yongping era, Ma Rong was summoned to the capital to answer for his alleged crimes. His family knelt and wept, following him as he was taken away. They could only manage a few miles each day before they were too exhausted to continue. Ma Rong pretended to rest in a gazebo and secretly left by boat. When this was discovered, a crowd pursued him. When they arrived at the Ministry of Justice, over a thousand officials and commoners submitted petitions on his behalf, begging the emperor for mercy. At that time, the emperor was dealing with the case of Liang Song, and many were also interceding for him. The emperor was troubled and ordered that no further petitions for the Liang family or the governor of Kuaiji be accepted. Later, the emperor personally oversaw the trials of prisoners at the Ministry of Justice, and Ma Rong was acquitted, returning to the countryside to farm and cut off all ties with others.
After a few years, he was appointed as the county magistrate of Dangqu County and appointed a local assistant named Xuan He. Xuan He later became the governor of Jiujiang and Pei County, renowned for his integrity and honesty, and was able to guide the people there towards righteousness, ultimately rising to the rank of Grand Minister of Agriculture.
After serving four years as the governor of Shu County, Lun was promoted. Shu is a prosperous land, known for its fertile soil and wealthy people, where officials flaunt their riches with luxury cars and fine horses. Lun replaced these wealthy officials with a group of impoverished yet morally upright individuals to manage affairs. As a result, bribery and corruption were entirely eliminated, leading to a well-organized government. Many of the officials he promoted ascended to high positions, including Nine Ministers and Two Thousand Stones, and people at the time believed he had a remarkable talent for recognizing ability.
He worked in Shu Commandery for seven years. After Emperor Suzong ascended the throne, he was transferred from a remote area to the capital city and took over as the Minister of State. The Emperor favored the Ma family particularly due to his regard for Empress Mingde, and the Ma brothers occupied significant posts. The Ma family members cultivated connections everywhere, and officials and nobles all tried to curry favor with them. Lun believed that the Ma family's influence was excessive and wanted the court to weaken their power. So he submitted a memorial to the Emperor, saying: "A loyal minister must not be overbearing or engage in wrongdoing, for such behavior endangers both their own family and the state." The ancients said, "Officials should not associate with foreigners or accept valuable gifts." Although Empress Guanglie had a good relationship with her maternal family, she eventually sent the Yin family back to their native place, abolished their titles, and elevated other courtiers; subsequently, the Liang and Dou families conspired and committed numerous offenses, so Emperor Ming killed them all. No powerful figures have emerged in Luoyang since then, and favor-seeking and underhanded dealings have ceased. Speaking of the Emperor's relatives, it is more honorable to serve the country diligently than to seek the favor of scholars. I always keep these principles close to my heart, even engraving them on my belt! Now everyone is talking about the Ma family. I have heard that Captain Wei, Ma Liao, accepted three thousand pieces of cloth, and City Gate Captain, Ma Fang, received three hundred taels of silver. They also discreetly provided money and gifts to officials and nobles in the Three Borders region, regardless of whether they knew them or not. I have also heard that in the twelfth month, he distributed five thousand coins to each of his relatives in Luoyang, and Captain Yueqi Ma Guang used three hundred sheep, four hundred hu of rice, and five thousand catties of meat in the twelfth month. I believe these actions violate established rules, and I really dare not report them to the Emperor. While Your Majesty wishes to treat them favorably, it is also essential to ensure they remain in check. I present all this today out of loyalty to Your Majesty and to safeguard the royal family's security. I implore Your Majesty to investigate this matter thoroughly.
When Ma Fang became the Cavalry General and was about to lead a campaign against the Western Qiang, Lun once again wrote to the emperor:
I think that royal relatives and nobles can be granted titles and estates to live a prosperous life, but they should not be assigned official positions. Why? If they follow the rules, it could hurt their face; if they abuse their power due to family relationships, it would violate the law. I heard that Ma Fang is about to march west, and I am worried. Your Majesty, you are so benevolent, and the Empress Dowager is so compassionate; if anything were to happen to Ma Fang during the campaign, it could put us in a tough spot. I heard that Ma Fang wants Du Du to be his assistant, and he has lavished him with money. Du Du is not well-regarded in his hometown and has moved to Mei Yang. His sister is still part of the Ma family, and he has gotten close to Ma Fang because of this relationship. The local magistrate has long disapproved of his illegal activities and has arrested him for questioning. Now that Du Du is by Ma Fang's side, everyone is gossiping about it, and it raises eyebrows, especially since he is being appointed as an assistant; this could very well reach the court. We ought to select capable individuals to assist Ma Fang, rather than letting him pick people at will, as this could tarnish the army's reputation. If you have any ideas, I wouldn't dream of hiding them.
As a result, my suggestions were not adopted at all.
While Lun was principled and somewhat harsh, he always disliked the harsh practices of local officials. After he rose to a high-ranking official position and the emperor was getting old, he accomplished many good deeds and praised the emperor's achievements in his writings, using this opportunity to foster a positive social climate.
Since the emperor ascended the throne, he has always shown great benevolence and tolerance, governing the country with a relatively mild approach. In his four years of reign, he even executed six corrupt regional governors and officials of the two-thousand-stone rank. These are all achievements that only the wise and talented emperor can accomplish, which we, as his subjects, cannot hope to match. However, although the emperor's decrees are always gentle and tolerant, the actual governance has been anything but lax. Despite advocating for frugality on the surface, extravagance and waste still persist. This issue is not because of the emperor, but rather due to the poor social climate fostered by incompetent officials below.
After Emperor Guangwu inherited Wang Mang's rule, he began to adopt stricter ruling methods, which later emperors followed, leading to the current social atmosphere. Most officials recommended by various counties tend to be experienced and cunning bureaucrats, with few benevolent and compassionate individuals meeting the emperor's requirements. For example, the county magistrate of Chenliu, Liu Yu, and the county magistrate of Guanjun, Ju Xie, are both cruel individuals who are solely focused on exploiting the populace and frequently oppressing and killing the commoners, leading to widespread grievances among the populace. However, many people now believe that they are capable, which contradicts moral principles and strays from the teachings of Confucian classics. We must approach this phenomenon with caution. We should not only punish Liu Yu and Ju Xie, but also hold accountable those who put them forward. If we promote more benevolent and virtuous officials to govern the country—even if it’s just a handful—the social climate will naturally improve.
When I was studying before, I recall that the Qin Dynasty fell due to its tyranny, and I have also witnessed Wang Mang's downfall due to his harsh laws. That’s why I keep emphasizing this point. Furthermore, I heard that the emperor's relatives and nobles live indulgently and extravagantly, exceeding the prescribed limits, even in the capital city. How can we expect better behavior from distant places? As the saying goes, "If one's own conduct is not correct, even if orders are given, they will not be followed." Leading by example is what earns people's obedience; just telling people what to do will only lead to insincerity. A balance between yin and yang brings bountiful harvests, and unity between ruler and subjects leads to the prosperity of the country. Officials below the provincial governor level, who visit the capital or pass through Luoyang, should be summoned to gather information about conditions in different regions and to evaluate their character. As for those officials who present differing opinions in memorials on state affairs, as long as they are allowed to return home to farm, there is no need to excessively blame them, to demonstrate the Emperor's tolerance. I hope you will consider my humble suggestions.
Once all the members of the Ma family who committed crimes have been exiled back to their home country and the Dou family starts to gain power, Lun submitted another memorial, stating:
I am a person of average ability, but I carry the heavy responsibility of assisting the monarch. By nature, I am timid and weak, yet I hold a high position, enjoying wealth and honor. However, I never forget my responsibilities, constantly urging myself on. Even in the face of death, I will not retreat, especially during these turbulent times. Having inherited the shortcomings of past emperors, people now favor ostentatious language and gravitate towards wickedness; few can uphold the righteous path. I observe General Dou Xian, a relative of the queen, in charge of the imperial army. He is young and ambitious, humble and charitable, which is indeed a good way to cultivate relationships with scholars. However, most who frequent the homes of the powerful are flawed and compromised; few can honor their commitments and embrace a simple life. Those scholars without ambition gather around him. When people gather, it resembles a flood; even mosquitoes can produce a thunderous sound, all of which is a result of extravagance. Some even propose using the powerful to eliminate those who have been cast aside, which is utterly absurd. Those who are treacherous and pursue power must be avoided. I hope Your Majesty will command the queen and General Dou Xian to remain secluded, not to interact with scholars casually, to avert future troubles, ensuring General Dou Xian can preserve his fortune and maintain harmony between the ruler and subjects without any barriers. This is what I sincerely wish to see.
Lord Lun is dedicated to his duties, responsible, and always straightforward in his words and actions. Sometimes his sons advise him not to be this way, but he always reprimands them. He presents all the memorials and suggestions submitted by officials to the emperor with no selfish motives whatsoever. He is upright and honest, not eloquent, and during his tenure, he was known for his integrity and honesty. People at that time compared him to the ancient minister Gong Yu. However, he is rather blunt, is indifferent to appearances, and is therefore held in low regard. Someone asked Lord Lun, "Do you have any selfish motives?" Lord Lun replied, "Someone once offered me a thousand-mile horse; although I did not accept it, I always thought about it, yet in the end, I never made use of it. My brother's son is often sick; I visit him ten times a day, and only then can I sleep peacefully at night. When my son is sick, even though I did not go to see him personally, I can't sleep a wink all night. In situations like this, how can you say I have no selfish motives?" Later, Lord Lun, due to old age and frailty, submitted a request for retirement. In the third year of Yuanhe, the emperor granted his request, allowing him to enjoy his retirement with an annual salary of two thousand shi, and also giving him an additional five hundred thousand coins and a mansion. Several years later, Lord Lun passed away at the age of over eighty, and the emperor provided him with funeral supplies, clothing, and money as well as silk.
Lord Lun's fifth son, named Fifth Jie, served successively as the Prefect of Guiyang, Lujiang, and Nanyang, and received praise wherever he went. When Emperor Shun was deposed as crown prince, Fifth Jie served as the Grand Master of the Palace and, together with other officials, firmly opposed the change in succession. After Emperor Shun ascended the throne, he promoted Fifth Jie to Grand Master of Works, and he eventually passed away in office. Lord Lun's great-grandson is Fifth Zhong.
The commentary in the book says: Fifth Lun is upright and rigid, with a rather stiff character, not the gentle and friendly type. However, his memorials reveal a tendency towards generosity and kindness. Is this to compensate for his usual severity? This is similar to how ancient people used rough leather for adornment. However, a nobleman cannot be more extravagant than his superiors, nor can he be too harsh on his subordinates. How can someone in a high position be on par with ordinary shepherds? Isn't this an overcorrection? Therefore, he cannot be considered to truly follow the doctrine of the mean.
Fifth Lun, styled Xingxian, had aspirations to serve his country from a young age. After becoming an official, he earned a reputation throughout the state. During the Yongshou period, he served as the Minister of Works and was sent to investigate disasters in Jizhou. He accused the provincial governor and officials below the rank of two thousand shi, resulting in many being punished and dismissed, with dozens fleeing their posts. Upon his return to court, he was made Marquis of Gaomi for his outstanding performance. At that time, banditry was rampant in Xuzhou and Yanzhou, with Gaomi located at the border of the two states. Fifth Lun stockpiled large quantities of food, diligently trained his soldiers, and the bandits, upon hearing this, were intimidated and ceased their activities. Displaced families returned to their homes, with thousands of families returning within a year. Due to his outstanding achievements, he was subsequently appointed Minister of Defense.
Later, he was promoted to Yanzhou Inspector. Kuang, the nephew of Senior Palace Attendant Shan Chao, was appointed as the Administrator of Jiyin, abusing his power and engaging in corruption and bribery. Diwu Zhong wanted to take him down, but he couldn't find a suitable candidate. Hearing that Wei Yu was a just and upright person, he summoned him and said, "I heard that you are not afraid of authority; now I want to entrust this matter to you. How do you feel about that?" Wei Yu replied, "I will do my utmost." After Wei Yu left, Diwu Zhong immediately rushed to Dingtao, closed the city gates, and arrested over forty of Kuang's guests, confidants, and officials, seizing over fifty million in ill-gotten gains within six or seven days. Diwu Zhong immediately impeached Kuang and implicated Shan Chao. Kuang, driven into a corner, sent assassins to kill Wei Yu. Wei Yu saw through their scheme, arrested the assassins, and obtained all the evidence. The entire province was in an uproar, and the court commended the incident. At that time, bandits like Sun Wuji in the area of Mount Tai were rampant, creating a state of chaos, and the local authorities were powerless. Zhong Gong (Zhong Shiheng) said to Yu, "Our country has enjoyed peace for too long and has forgotten the realities of war, but Mount Tai's terrain is treacherous, and those bandits are still at large. Although we have elite troops, it’s challenging to deploy them against the bandits. I’d be better off trying to persuade them to surrender." Upon hearing this, Yu quickly agreed. Zhong Gong went and discussed the situation with Sun Wuji and his men, and Sun Wuji surrendered along with over three thousand of his followers.
However, there was a fellow named Shan Chao who always held a grudge against Zhong Gong, which led to Zhong Gong being demoted to Shuofang. To make matters worse, Shan Chao's grandson Dong Yuan was appointed as the governor of Shuofang, and Dong Yuan harbored a deep hatred for Zhong Gong! Earlier, when Zhong Gong was the governor of Weizhou, he took a liking to a minor official named Sun Bin, thought highly of him, and treated him exceptionally well. When Zhong Gong was demoted, Sun Bin learned of Shan Chao's scheme and quickly went to his friends in the same county, Lu Zi Zhi and Zhen Zi Ran, saying, "This thief hates his master; this is an age-old story! The Fifth Lord (Zhong Shi Heng) is now going to be sent to a remote area, while Shan Chao's grandson is the governor there. This situation is too dangerous; just thinking about it is frightening. I'm going to catch up with the Lord and hope to help him avoid this disaster. If I can safely bring the Lord back, I'll leave him in your care." Lu Zi Zhi and Zhen Zi Ran immediately said, "You go; we also have this intention!"
So, Sun Bin took a few capable fighters and chased after Zhong Gong overnight, catching up with him in Taiyuan. They fought off the officials escorting Zhong Gong, drove them away, got Zhong Gong on a horse while Sun Bin followed on foot. They traveled over four hundred miles in just a day and night, finally brought Zhong Gong back home safely. Zhong Gong stayed hidden at Lu Zi Zhi and Zhen Zi Ran's homes for several years. Later, Zang Min, the official in charge of Xuzhou, filed a memorial accusing Zhong Gong, saying:
I've heard that ambitious people, even if they face immense humiliation, will find ways to achieve success. Just like Ji Bu faced humiliation at the hands of the Zhu family, and Guan Zhong made mistakes and faced reprimand. Both of these individuals were able to rise from adversity, not because they feared death and hid their talents, but because they hid their talents and strategies, waiting for the right opportunity, hoping to make a difference. In the end, they both seized their moments - one met Emperor Gaozu and made their mark, and the other met Duke Huan and became a hegemon among the vassals. Their past mistakes of fleeing and attacking enemies were pardoned, they were promoted from prisoners, and with their strategic assistance to the state, their achievements were passed down for generations, and their names were recorded in history. If the two monarchs had been too harsh at the time, these two individuals would have met a dog’s fate, their reputations sunk in obscurity, and they would not have had the chance to show their merits in making up for their mistakes and demonstrating their unique talents.
I heard that our former Yanzhou governor, Fifth Kind, was extremely upright, with no hint of bribery in the countryside and never spoke out of turn in court. He had a natural aversion to evil, acting fairly and justly, so everyone recognized him as upright and honest, ranking him at the top of the list of the upright. The principle of the "Spring and Autumn Annals" emphasizes using a person's strengths, abandoning their weaknesses, remembering their small virtues, and overlooking their major faults. Fifth Kind was implicated in a case involving thieves, and before his health had recovered, his crime had reached the point of being exiled, which wasn't a serious crime. In the past, even when Yu Shun faced punishment from his parents, he quickly ran away. So Fifth Kind fled to preserve his life, hoping to be brought back into favor like Ji Bu. I hope Your Majesty won't hold back even a bit of kindness, allowing Fifth Kind to pass with his loyal regrets.
He was later pardoned and released from prison and ultimately passed away at home.
Zhong Liyi, styled Zizi'a, was a native of Shan Yin, a region at the foot of Mount Kuaiji. When he was young, he served as the district courier supervisor in the county. At that time, some county officials were found to have received bribes in the form of alcohol, and the prefectural office needed to keep records and investigate. Zhong Liyi sealed the records and approached the governor, saying, "The 'Spring and Autumn Annals' states that one should first deal with internal matters before external matters, and the 'Book of Songs' says, 'first manage one's own wife before managing the country,' which indicates that governance should begin close to home before addressing distant issues. We should first address the issues within our prefecture and temporarily tolerate minor faults in distant counties." The governor thought he was wise and appointed him to manage a county. In the fourteenth year of Jianwu, a great epidemic broke out in Mount Ji, resulting in the deaths of over ten thousand people. Despite this, Zhong Liyi dedicated himself to caring for his family, raised funds for medicine, and many people in his jurisdiction were saved as a result.
He was initially recommended for his filial piety and integrity and later promoted to serve in the household of Hou Ba, the Marquis of Taiwei. Once, the court ordered a group of prisoners to be escorted to He Nei, but it was an especially cold winter and the prisoners were sick and unable to walk. When passing through Hongnong, he took the initiative to discuss with the local county magistrate about providing warm clothing for the prisoners. The magistrate had no option but to agree and report the matter to the higher authorities. Emperor Guangwu, after reviewing the memorial, specifically asked Hou Ba, "How come this minor official under your command is so compassionate? He is truly a good official!" Consequently, he ordered the shackles of the prisoners to be removed during the journey, allowing them to proceed as they wished, and they all arrived on time without any violations. Upon his return home, he resigned from his post due to illness.
Later, he was appointed the magistrate of Xiaqiu County. There was an official named Tan Jian who embezzled from the county. After discreetly inquiring about the situation, Tan Jian bowed in submission and confessed. Reluctant to impose a harsh punishment, he permitted him to return home to recuperate. Upon hearing this, Tan Jian's father prepared wine for him and said, "I have heard that tyrannical rulers use knives to harm the people, while righteous rulers execute punishment with justice. You have committed a crime; this is your fate." Then he forced Tan Jian to drink poisoned wine, leading to his suicide. Twenty-five years later, he was promoted as the magistrate of Tangyi County. There was a man in the county named Fang Guang who was imprisoned for avenging his father. His mother passed away due to illness, and Fang Guang was devastated, starving himself in grief. Out of sympathy for Fang Guang, he permitted him to return home to tend to his mother's funeral arrangements. Other officials opposed this, but he said, "The blame lies with me; it shouldn't affect others." So he let him go home. After handling his mother's affairs, Fang Guang returned to prison as expected. He discreetly reported this to the court, and as a result, Fang Guang was eventually granted clemency.
After Emperor Xianzong ascended to the throne, he summoned him to the court and appointed him as a Minister. At that time, the Governor of Jiaozhi, Zhang Hui, was recalled by the court and executed for embezzling one thousand taels of silver. The embezzled funds were sent to the Ministry of Finance, and the court ordered that these rewards be distributed among the officials. He received some pearls and gemstones, but he threw them on the ground and refused to accept any reward. The emperor was surprised and asked him why. He replied, "I have heard that Confucius would not drink from stolen water, and Zeng Can returned home for the sake of his mother because he disliked the bad reputation of those things. These rewards are too tainted, and I dare not accept them." The emperor sighed, "You are truly incorruptible!" So he was rewarded with three hundred thousand coins. Later, he was promoted to the position of Minister of Works. The emperor often visited Guangcheng Garden for leisure, but he felt that this was distracting the emperor from state affairs, so he repeatedly advised the emperor, just as he had previously advised against hunting. The emperor listened to his advice and immediately returned to the palace. During the summer of the third year of Yongping, there was a drought, while the court was preoccupied with the construction of the Northern Palace. He submitted a memorial urging the emperor to halt the construction of the Northern Palace in order to pray for rain from heaven.
Your Majesty, because of the drought, you are worried about the suffering of the people, so you stepped away from the main hall to reflect on your actions. However, although there have been dark clouds recently, it hasn't rained heavily. Is there something in your policies that displeases the heavens? In the past, when King Tang of Shang encountered a drought, he reflected on himself using six matters, saying, "Is it because my policies are unreasonable? Is it because the people are suffering? Is it because the palace is too luxurious? Is it because there are too many concubines in the harem? Is it because corruption is rampant? Is it because treacherous officials are in power?" I see that construction at the northern palace is still underway, delaying the farming time for the people; this is what you call a luxurious palace! In ancient times, it was not because the palaces were small that people suffered, but because the people were not at peace. Construction should be halted for now to align with the will of heaven. I am just an ordinary person, without much ability, but I have long enjoyed high office and generous rewards, been promoted to a close adviser, and received many rewards. I am both happy and afraid, feeling foolish and incompetent, as if I deserve to die.
The Emperor replied, "The six matters King Tang reflected upon were all the faults of a single individual. You do not need to take off your official hat and shoes. Since the drought came from the heavens, with dark clouds appearing several times, I have been very anxious and afraid, seeking the blessing of the heavens, so I have been praying in various places and observing celestial signs, sacrificing at the Hall of Light in the north and holding the Yu sacrifice in the south. Now I have ordered the craftsmen to stop building the palace and reduce unnecessary projects in the hope of averting disasters." Then the Emperor thanked the officials, and the rain began to fall just in time.
Once, the Emperor rewarded Hu Zijian, but the Minister mistakenly wrote "ten" as "one hundred" while handling official matters. The Emperor, seeing the account book submitted by the Minister of Agriculture, was furious and ordered the official to be punished. I quickly knelt down and said, "This kind of mistake is one that anyone could make. If this is seen as a fault due to negligence, then my official position is high, and the blame is heavy; the official's position is low, and the blame is light. The fault lies with me, so I should be punished first." I then removed my clothes in preparation for punishment. The Emperor calmed down and instructed me to put my clothes back on, sparing the official.
The emperor has a hot temper and loves to listen to rumors, so the court ministers are often reprimanded. Even officials beneath the highest-ranking ministers are often scolded or even physically punished by the emperor. Once, the emperor got angry about something and struck the court official Yao Song with his cane. Yao Song ran under the bed to hide, which only made the emperor angrier. He shouted loudly, "Court official, come out! Court official, come out!" Yao Song said, "The emperor is dignified, and the nobles are esteemed. I have never heard of the emperor personally hitting a court official." The emperor forgave him. The ministers in the court were all trembling, working cautiously, afraid of angering the emperor. Only I dared to speak frankly and advise directly, repeatedly receiving imperial edicts. When the ministers made mistakes, I consistently interceded on their behalf. Later, some unusual phenomena began to occur, and I wrote to the emperor again...
Emperor, you should diligently practice filial piety, study the classics, make sacrifices to heaven and earth, and show respect for spirits and deities, care for the people, work diligently, and never slack off. But now the weather is abnormal, the sun and moon are dim, the river water is flooding, and the seasons are mismatched. All of this is because the ministers have not done a good job of promoting education and governance, but instead have created a culture of harshness. Officials are indiscriminately killing innocent people. There is a complete lack of mutual respect among the officials, and they are not united. As a result, there is infighting and poisoning, causing chaos in the natural order, leading to natural disasters. The common people can be influenced by morality, but it is difficult to conquer them by force. The ancient kings knew that the key to good governance was to let the people live in harmony, so that there is peace in the world, with no disasters or chaos. The poem "Deer’s Cry" surely emphasizes the importance of banquets because it is only when the hearts of humans and gods are in tune that the weather will harmonize. I hope Your Majesty will show your grace, oversee all affairs, instruct the relevant departments to handle human lives with care, reduce punishments, follow the timing of nature, harmonize yin and yang, and let this blessing continue without end.
Although the emperor did not fully adopt his advice, he knew of his loyalty. It was for this reason that he was soon reassigned and appointed as the Chancellor of Lu. Later, when Deyang Palace was completed, the officials held a grand banquet. The emperor thought of Mr. Zhongli and said to the courtiers, "If Minister Zhongli were still here, this palace would not have been built."
Minister Zhongli served for five years, governing with benevolence and the welfare of the people as his guiding principles, and most of the people were wealthy and well-off. Later, he died in office due to a long illness. Before his death, he wrote a memorial stating that in times of peace and prosperity, one should not rush to achieve success, but should be more tolerant and gentle. The emperor was deeply moved and issued a decree expressing his condolences, bestowing upon him two hundred thousand coins.
Yao Song, from Henan, was simple, honest, and loyal by nature. Coming from a poor family, he became a government official, often on duty alone without proper bedding, using a wooden block for a pillow and eating coarse bran. Every night, the emperor would see Yao Song during his nightly rounds and would inquire about his well-being. The emperor admired him greatly and ordered that officials below the rank of Minister were to be provided with meals, bedding, curtains, and robes, as well as two attendants. Yao Song later rose to the position of Prefect of Nanyang.
Song Jun, also known as Shuxiang, was from Anyang, Nanzhong County. His father, Song Bo, served as a General of the Household in the early years of Jianwu. Song Jun became a government official at the age of fifteen thanks to his father's connections. He enjoyed studying and would visit scholars during his time off, becoming well-versed in the Book of Songs and the Book of Rites, and skilled in debate. In his twenties, he was appointed as the magistrate of Chenyang County. The locals were mostly uneducated and superstitious, so Song Jun established schools for them, banned immoral rituals, leading to a peaceful and content life for the people. He later resigned from his position due to his grandmother's passing and stayed in Yingchuan as a guest.
It is said that Geng Shu later became an official known as a Yezhe (a title equivalent to an imperial attendant). At that time, the rebellious Wuling tribes had surrounded General Liu Shang of Wuwei, and the emperor urgently ordered him to swiftly gather three thousand troops from Jiangxia to rescue them. When Geng Shu arrived, General Liu Shang had already died in battle. At that time, General Ma Yuan also arrived, and the emperor ordered Geng Shu to serve as a supervisor under Ma Yuan, attacking the tribes together. However, the barbarian forces put up fierce resistance, making it impossible to break through. Later, General Ma Yuan tragically died in battle, and many soldiers in the army fell ill and died. Concerned about the army's low morale, Geng Shu decided to withdraw, proposing to the other generals, "The soldiers are sick and unable to fight. Why not fake an imperial decree and negotiate with them?" The other generals were too terrified to respond. Geng Shu said, "A loyal subject serves the nation; if stability can be achieved, we can report it afterward." So he faked an imperial decree, appointed Ma Yuan's subordinates to guard Yuanling, and sent them with the fake decree to the barbarian camp to negotiate peace. The barbarians were frightened, killed their leader, and surrendered. Geng Shu then disbanded their forces, sent them back to their respective counties, appointed new officials, and only then returned to the court. Before reaching the capital, Geng Shu submitted a letter confessing his crime of faking the imperial decree. However, Emperor Guangwu admired his accomplishments and rewarded him with substantial gold and silver, granting him permission to return home to honor his ancestors. From then on, whenever the court faced differing opinions from various regions, the emperor would always consult Geng Shu's advice.
Later, Geng Shu was promoted to magistrate of Shangcai County. At that time, there was a rule in the prefecture that prohibited extravagance and waste in funerals. Geng Shu said, "Going overboard with funerals is just a small mistake. There are still many lawless individuals who haven't been properly educated. It’s not the correct way to govern the country to rush to punish those who exceed the etiquette." Therefore, he ultimately did not enforce this rule. I was transferred to Jiujiang as the governor. There were a lot of tigers in Jiujiang, often injuring people, and the people were suffering. In the past, those officials set traps to catch tigers, but there were still casualties. After I took office, I wrote to the county magistrates under me, "Tigers are in the mountains, crocodiles are in the water; they all have their own living space. Moreover, there are fierce beasts in the Jianghuai region, just like there are chickens, ducks, pigs, and sheep in the northern region. Now that tigers are injuring people, the responsibility lies with those corrupt officials who are busy setting traps to catch tigers all day long, and that's not the way to solve the problem! We should focus on rectifying corrupt officials, promoting loyal and upright individuals, simply dismantle those traps, and stop enforcing those harsh rules and regulations!" Later, people said that the tigers all went to the east of the Yangtze River in groups. In the first year of Zhongyuan, Shanyang, Chudi, and Peixian were hit by locust plagues. The locusts flew to the boundaries of Jiujiang but dispersed on their own, so my reputation spread instantly. There are two mountains in Junqiu County, called Tangshan and Houshan, and the local people worshiped them together. Those shamans would take men and women from local families as in-laws, changing them every year, and those who were taken were too afraid to marry or have children. The previous governors did not dare to intervene in this matter. I ordered, "From now on, these two mountains will marry brides from the homes of shamans; stop harassing the common people!" This really solved the problem once and for all.
In the first year of the Yongping era, I was transferred to Donghai as the governor. I served for five years before being dismissed for a minor mistake. I then settled in Yingchuan. However, the officials and citizens of Donghai remembered my kindness; they even composed songs and traveled to the capital to petition the emperor for my return, with thousands of supporters! The emperor recognized my abilities and, seven years later, summoned me back to the court, appointing me as the Minister of Personnel. Most of the time, my views on controversial issues aligned with the emperor's. Once, I edited some controversial documents, and the emperor believed I was shielding corrupt officials, became furious, and had me arrested. The other ministers were terrified and knelt to beg for mercy. I stood tall and declared, "A loyal minister acts with integrity and will never waver! If I forsake my principles out of fear of the emperor's authority, then I would rather die than submit!" A nearby eunuch reported my words to the emperor. The emperor admired my integrity, immediately ordered my release, and promoted me to the rank of Colonel of the Imperial Guard. A few months later, I was appointed governor of Henei, where I achieved remarkable results.
It is said that Mr. Jun Chang was in poor health and confined to bed. The common people prayed for him and sent daily inquiries about his condition, demonstrating their deep love and respect for him! When he fell ill, he submitted a resignation request, and the emperor let his son Zitiao become the prince's attendant. Mr. Jun Chang, leaning on a cane, entered the palace to express his gratitude, and the emperor sent eunuchs to comfort him and ensure he received proper care in the palace. Later, when the position of Minister of Works opened up, the emperor recognized Mr. Jun Chang's capabilities and wanted him to become the prime minister, so he summoned him to the palace and sent two guards to assist him. Mr. Jun Chang expressed his gratitude, saying, "I feel cursed by fate; my illness is worsening, and I truly cannot serve in the court any longer!" He wept and firmly insisted on resigning. The emperor was deeply saddened, so he allowed Zitiao to help Mr. Jun Chang out of the palace and rewarded him with thirty thousand coins.
Jun Da Ren was kind and gentle, disliking complicated laws and regulations. He always felt that as long as officials were kind-hearted, even if they were somewhat corrupt or indulgent, it was not a big deal; those harsh and strict officials, who, while they may be clean and law-abiding themselves, were cunning and greedy, inflicting suffering on the people, resulting in hardship and displacement, which was the real disaster. When he was working in the Shangshu Department, he always wanted to advocate for reason, but the political climate was tense at that time, so he ultimately didn't dare to speak out. Later, the emperor learned of his words and felt regret. In the first year of Jianchu, Jun Da Ren passed away at home. His descendant, named Yi, was the son of Jing, who earned a living teaching "The Grand Xiahou Shangshu" and later became the Governor of Liaodong. Yi inherited his father's legacy from a young age and was recommended as a filial and incorruptible official during the Xianzong period, and was promoted to Marquis Ayanghou for his responses in court that pleased the emperor. During the Jianchu period, he was called to serve as a Shangshu.
Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty was a very kind-hearted and filial person. Therefore, his uncles, the Kings of Jinan and Zhongshan, often visited the palace and received the emperor's special favor. The other brothers also remained in the capital and were not sent to their own fiefdoms. Zhang believed this was inappropriate, as officials should adhere to rules and not indulge excessively in favor. He wrote a memorial advising, "Your Majesty, you are filial to your parents and have deep affection. You have treated the brothers of the late emperor, the Kings of Jinan and Zhongshan, with special favor, reluctant to let them go. They have frequently visited the palace and have been residing in the capital for an extended period. You honor them as uncles, treating them as family, allowing them to enter the palace gates directly by carriage without bowing, dining with them, and giving them many rewards. In ancient times, Duke of Zhou had the virtue of a saint and made great contributions to pacifying the country, earning him the title of 'uncle' and receiving rewards. Now, the Kings of Jinan and Zhongshan are just branches of the imperial family, yet they receive the benefits of a major kingdom. After you ascended the throne, you pardoned their past mistakes, restored their titles, increased their fiefdoms, and their descendants were enfeoffed. Their favor exceeds the regulations, and the respect shown is excessive. The principle of the 'Spring and Autumn Annals' is that all uncles and brothers should submit to the monarch in order to maintain order and strengthen the country. Your Majesty, with your noble virtues, should set an example for future generations and not disrupt the established norms between ruler and subjects due to personal feelings, losing the norms of the relationship between ruler and subjects. Furthermore, the six princes, including the Prince of Xiping, have all established families and careers, with complete officials. They should promptly return to their fiefdoms to establish a foundation for their descendants. However, they all reside in the capital, frequently socializing with one another, and their marriages are more lively than those of the imperial family. Their households are filled with servants and horses, indulging in luxury and excess, receiving overly generous stipends. Today, the fiefdoms across various regions are prosperous, with convenient transportation and easy tribute. It is not difficult to travel to and from the capital. You should set aside your emotional attachments and prioritize what is right, ordering the Kings of Jinan and Zhongshan to return to their fiefdoms, and the Prince of Xiping and others to go to their fiefdoms as soon as possible to fulfill the expectations of the people." The emperor accepted his advice.
In the second year of the Zhanghe era, the Xianbei defeated the Northern Xiongnu, and the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu seized the opportunity to request troops for a northern campaign, in hopes of reclaiming their former territories. At that time, Empress Dowager Dou was in power and wanted to agree to the request of the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu. Zhang submitted a memorial stating:
"Regarding those barbarian tribes, they inhabit regions far from our Central Plains, in the coldest northern regions surrounded by deserts. They have no understanding of etiquette and righteousness, where the strong impose their will and the weak must submit. Since the establishment of the Han Dynasty, we have fought many battles, but each time the losses outweigh the gains. Emperor Guangwu personally led battles and understood the dangers involved. Therefore, when the barbarians surrendered, he settled them down, allowing them to live peacefully, which has been going on for forty years. Now the Xianbei tribe is obedient; we have captured tens of thousands of their prisoners without doing much, and the common people do not know how difficult this achievement is. The achievements of the Han Dynasty have now reached their zenith! Why is that? Because those barbarians fight among themselves and do not harm our soldiers. I believe the Xianbei are waging war against the Xiongnu primarily for plunder, and if we let the Southern Xiongnu return to the north, we will need to exert control over the Xianbei. If the Xianbei's plundering desires are thwarted and they do not receive rewards, these wolfish youths will undoubtedly stir up trouble again! Now that the Northern Xiongnu have fled and are requesting peace and marriage, we should take the opportunity to make them submit and use them as our outer defense, which is the best solution! Should we expend considerable resources and effort to appease the Southern Xiongnu at this time, we will miss a great opportunity and turn from safety to danger, which is unacceptable! Therefore, we must not agree to their request."
Consequently, the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu chose not to advance northward.
Later, he was promoted to Colonel of the Imperial Guard. At the start of the Yongyuan era, the two brothers, General Dou Xian, wielded significant power. Infantry Colonel Deng Die, Henan Prefect Wang Diao, former Shu County Prefect Lian Fan, and others were all supporters of Dou Xian, frequently visiting the Dou Xian mansion, bullying others and acting with complete disregard for anyone else's feelings. As a result, he became estranged from the Dou family. Two years later, he passed away due to illness.
Sun Ju held the position of Minister of Works during Emperor Ling's reign.
Han Lang, styled Boqi, was from Xue County in the state of Lu. He was born into a world in chaos and was abandoned in a thicket three days later; after a few days, when the chaos had subsided, his mother went to see him and found him still alive, and brought him home. When he grew up, he developed a passion for studying the classics and gained extensive knowledge, specializing in teaching the "Book of Documents." Later, he was recommended for his filial piety and integrity.
During the Yongping era, I served as an Imperial Censor, tasked with investigating the Chu prison cases, and alongside officials from the Three Offices, I reviewed the cases of Yan Zhong and Wang Ping. The case implicated several nobles, including the Marquis of Suixiang, Geng Jian, the Marquis of Langling, Zang Xin, the Marquis of Huzhe, Deng Li, and the Marquis of Qucheng, Liu Jian. All four marquises claimed they had never met Yan Zhong and Wang Ping. At that time, the Emperor was furious; the officials were too frightened to utter a word, and all those implicated were arrested, with no one daring to plead for them. I believed these individuals were deeply wronged, so I interrogated Geng Jian privately and discreetly observed the reactions of Yan Zhong and Wang Ping. As a result, Yan Zhong and Wang Ping appeared bewildered and were unable to respond. I understood that they were lying, so I reported to the Emperor that Geng Jian and the others were innocent victims of the false accusations made by Yan Zhong and Wang Ping. I suspected that many other innocent people had suffered similar injustices.
The emperor summoned me and asked, "Since Geng Jian and the others are innocent, why did Yan Zhong and Wang Ping implicate them?" I replied, "Yan Zhong and Wang Ping knew they were guilty, so they falsely accused others in an attempt to prove their innocence." The emperor then asked, "If that's the case, why didn't you report earlier that the four lords were innocent? The case has been closed for so long, why are they still imprisoned?" I answered, "Although my investigation concluded that they were innocent, I was worried that other people might reveal their crimes, so I didn't want to drag anyone else into this." The emperor became furious and scolded, "You official, trying to please both sides, get out!" The guards were about to pull me away, but I said, "Please let me say one last thing before I die. I dare not deceive the emperor; I only wish to serve the country." The emperor asked, "Who else submitted the petition with you?" I replied, "I know I may be wiped out, so I dare not involve others. I only hope the emperor understands the truth. The people I questioned all said they were being haunted by demons and ghosts. Subjects should unite against such threats. It's safer to keep them locked up to avoid future problems. Interrogating one person implicates ten; interrogating ten implicates a hundred. Furthermore, when court officials kneel and answer the emperor's questions, the old system of punishing nine generations for one crime is still in place. The emperor's mercy only punishes the guilty party, and the people are grateful. However, when they return home, they silently sigh, knowing many are wronged but they don't dare go against the emperor's wishes. Everything I have said today, even if I die, I will not regret." After hearing my words, the emperor calmed down and ordered my release. Two days later, the emperor personally visited the Luoyang prison and released over a thousand prisoners. Later, Yan Zhong and Wang Ping died in prison, while I turned myself in. When the amnesty was declared, I lost my position and later was recommended for my filial piety.
During the Jianchu period, the emperor called a meeting with all his ministers, and Lord Lang stepped forward to thank the emperor. The emperor praised him for his loyalty and service to the late emperor, and appointed him as the magistrate of Yixian. A little over a year later, he was promoted to magistrate of Jiyang County. When his mother passed away, he resigned from his position and returned home to mourn. The common people greatly missed him.
In the first year of Zhanghe, the emperor was on an eastern hunting trip and passed through Jiyang. Three respected elders, along with the local people, submitted a memorial to the emperor, reporting on Lord Lang's previous achievements. When the emperor reached Liangdi, he summoned Lord Lang and ordered the Three Offices to clear a path for him to take up a new position in the Ministry of Personnel. During the Yongyuan period, Lord Lang was promoted twice more, eventually becoming the Governor of Qinghe. However, he was later dismissed for a small infraction.
In the third year of Yongchu, Grand Commandant Zhang Yu recommended Lord Lang for the position of Doctor, and the emperor sent someone to invite him. Before he could start the new position, he passed away at the age of eighty-four.
The text notes: Zuo Qiuming once said, "The words of a compassionate person bring great benefits!" Just one word from Yanzi made Duke Huan of Qi lessen the punishment. Like Zhongli Yi advocating for the people and Lord Lang defending against injustice in court, these are all examples of compassion! Honest people are consistent in their words and actions because of their loyalty, and they are uncompromising because they dare to speak out. These two individuals could do this due to their natural kindness, making their words reliable and their actions steadfast.
The final paragraph praises Lord Lang, stating that Boyu and Zi'a—referring to characters whose context is needed—were steadfast and eliminated harsh governance. Lord Lang was upright in his administration, counseling the emperor to avoid extravagance and waste. Song Jun (referring to a character, context needed for full understanding) implemented good policies and prohibited evil practices. Even the birds and beasts respected his virtues, and the people dared to voice their grievances to him. He had a kind heart, respected his elders, cut ties with favoritism, and distanced himself from the powerful. The people were grateful to him, and the emperor trusted him.
