Huan Tan, courtesy name Junshan, was from Pei State. His father served as the Director of Music during the reign of Emperor Cheng. Thanks to his father's connections, Huan Tan became a court official, since he loved music and was skilled at playing the qin. He was knowledgeable and well-versed in the Five Classics, grasping the principles of the texts instead of getting bogged down in literal interpretations. Huan Tan was a gifted writer with a particular fondness for ancient learning, and he often debated academic issues with Liu Xin and Yang Xiong. However, he was notorious for his free-spirited behavior, casual dress and disregard for appearances, and his habit of criticizing traditional Confucian scholars, which often got him marginalized.
During the reigns of Emperor Ai and Emperor Ping, he had always held the position of a court official. Empress Fu's father, Marquis Kong Xianghou Yan, had a good relationship with Huan Tan. At that time, Marquis Gao'an Dong Xian was very favored, and his sister was the Empress. As the Empress gradually lost favor, Marquis Kong Xianghou Yan also felt unfulfilled. Huan Tan advised him, "In the past, Emperor Wu wanted to establish Wei Zifu as Empress, so he secretly searched for faults of Empress Chen. As a result, Empress Chen was deposed, and Wei Zifu was established as Empress. Now Dong Xian is very favored, and his sister is loved by the Emperor. It is likely that a situation similar to Wei Zifu's may happen again. Are you not worried?" Marquis Kong Xianghou Yan was surprised and asked, "What should I do about it?" Huan Tan said, "You should not suffer for being innocent, and upright people will not be defeated by evil people. Scholars should assist the monarch with talent and wisdom, while women should win the monarch's favor with their beauty and grace. The young Empress will face many challenges ahead. She may seek help from doctors and sorcerers, and seek various remedies. You must pay attention to these matters. In addition, as the Empress's father, with a noble status and many guests, you should leverage this to strengthen your position, but be cautious of attracting criticism. It is better to dismiss ordinary guests, adhere to integrity and prudence, as this is a way to cultivate yourself, manage your family, and avert disasters." Marquis Kong Xianghou Yan said, "Okay!" So he dismissed the ordinary guests and told the Empress about Huan Tan's advice. Later, Dong Xian did indeed instruct the imperial physician Ling Qin to find faults of the Fu family, and even arrested the Empress's younger brother, the Palace Attendant Xi. However, no evidence was found in the end, so he was released. Therefore, the Fu family ultimately survived during the reign of Emperor Ai.
Later, Dong Xian was appointed Grand Marshal. Upon hearing of Huan Tan's reputation, he wished to befriend him. Huan Tan initially wrote him a letter outlining strategies for assisting the monarch and ensuring one's own safety, but Dong Xian did not heed it, resulting in their lack of interaction. During Wang Mang's usurpation, scholars and officials universally praised him in an effort to gain his favor, but Huan Tan remained silent. During Wang Mang's reign, he served as the Minister of Music; after Emperor Guangwu ascended the throne, he was appointed Grand Master of the Palace. Following Emperor Guangwu, Liu Xiu ascended the throne as Emperor Guangwu and summoned Huan Tan as an attendant, but his views were not accepted as they differed from the Emperor's. Later, the Grand Minister of Works, Song Hong, recommended Huan Tan, who was appointed as an Imperial Clerk, and he submitted a memorial emphasizing the importance of serious governance, saying: "I've learned that a country's rise and fall hinges on its governance; and the effectiveness of governance relies on the wisdom of those who assist the monarch. If those assisting the monarch are wise, the nation will thrive and matters will run smoothly; if those assisting the monarch are not wise, they will make untimely decisions and commit many mistakes. All rulers want to prosper their country and do good deeds, but why do some countries struggle with governance? It's because their definitions of wisdom differ."
King Zhuang of Chu once asked Sun Shu'ao, "I have not yet found the correct way to govern the country." Sun Shu'ao replied, "The correct way to govern the country is often unpopular; I'm afraid even you, Your Majesty, might struggle to make a decision." King Zhuang of Chu said, "If I can't decide, does the responsibility rest solely with the monarch, or does it also fall on the ministers?" Sun Shu'ao answered, "Such ministers might claim, 'Without me, they cannot be prosperous.' They might also say, 'Without me, they cannot be stable.' Sometimes the monarch is not even aware of the looming disaster, and sometimes the ministers refuse to make progress even in times of hardship. Without harmony between the monarch and the ministers, determining the right way to govern becomes impossible." King Zhuang of Chu said, "Very well! I hope you and the ministers will work together to determine the correct way to govern the country." Effective governance requires educating the populace in line with contemporary social customs, preventing issues in a timely manner, using authority and virtue alternately, and having civil governance and military achievements complement each other, to ensure political affairs align with the current circumstances and stabilize those who are restless.
Dong Zhongshu once said, "Governing a country is like tuning a musical instrument. If the instrument is not in harmony, it needs to be disassembled and retuned." However, retuning is difficult to implement, and those who go against the will of the people will ultimately fail. Therefore, Jia Yi was ostracized despite his outstanding talent, and Chao Cuo was killed for his intelligence. Although there are many talented individuals in the world, they ultimately hesitate to speak out, fearing they might repeat past mistakes.
Furthermore, the establishment of laws and regulations is not to completely eliminate all evil in the world, but to reflect the wishes of the majority. Generally, as long as it benefits the country and the majority of people, it is sufficient. By appointing officials and managing the populace, establishing rewards and punishments to distinguish between good and evil, and punishing the bad, the good will naturally benefit. Many people continue to kill each other, even after being punished by the law; the private grudges formed will be continued by future generations, leading to deeper resentments that can even result in the annihilation of entire families. Society often regards these individuals as heroes, so even the timid and weak are forced to do such things. This is the outcome of individuals taking matters into their own hands without legal constraints. There is a need to strictly enforce existing laws. If those who have already been punished by law continue to kill each other privately, even if the person escapes, their families should be moved to the border regions, and those who kill each other should receive heavier penalties, without the possibility of paying for a lighter sentence. This way, grudges can be resolved on their own, and thieves will decrease.
In governing the country, there should be a focus on agricultural production while curbing commercial profits. Therefore, the former emperor banned people from holding multiple jobs and restricted merchants from becoming officials to prevent monopolies and uphold integrity. Nowadays, wealthy merchants lend money in large quantities, and the children of the middle class serve as their bodyguards, enduring hardships similar to those of servants but receiving incomes comparable to nobles. As a result, everyone mimics this behavior, neglecting farming for easy living, resulting in extravagance, wastefulness, and hedonism. Merchants can now be instructed to report one another, and if their wealth is not derived from honest labor, they will be punished by law. This will encourage them to focus on their own work, refrain from bribing others with money, and eventually return to farming. With better farming practices, food production will increase, maximizing the land's productivity.
Next, I examine legal judgments, which vary in severity. Sometimes, the same case can result in different charges due to varying legal provisions, enabling corrupt officials to exploit the system. This is akin to opening two doors within the realm of criminal law! Now, we should mandate those who understand the law to revise legal provisions, unify the laws, and promulgate them nationwide, abolishing old provisions. In doing so, everyone will become familiar with the legal provisions, resulting in the prevention of wrongful convictions in legal proceedings.
The memorial was submitted but did not receive a response.
At that time, the emperor was deeply influenced by prophecies and often used them to decide difficult cases. Rewards were limited, contributing to a lack of stability in the realm. Tan Fu submitted another memorial:
I previously offered advice that did not receive your response. I am deeply frustrated and am risking my life to present it to you once more. The common people's strategies that benefit politics are those that align with public opinion and reason. Most individuals are easily misled by immediate concerns but value peculiar and strange things. Look at the records left by the previous kings, all based on benevolence and righteousness, without strange or false things. The principles of heaven and the essence of human life are challenging to comprehend, even for sages. Since the time of Zigong, no one has been able to explain it clearly, let alone the shallow scholars of later generations. Currently, those who resort to clever tricks, manipulate figures, fabricate texts, and forge prophecies to deceive the greedy and malevolent, mislead rulers—how can they not be restrained! I heard that Your Majesty has already seen through the fraud of alchemists seeking immortality, which is indeed wise; however, why do you still choose to believe in prophecies, which constitutes another error? Although prophecies may sometimes come true, it is like fortune-telling, merely a coincidence. Your Majesty should exercise discernment, apply your wisdom, and reject the fallacies espoused by petty individuals, expound the righteousness of the Five Classics, discard common sayings, and carefully listen to the wise counsel of knowledgeable people.
I’ve heard that in times of peace and prosperity, scholars are highly valued, while during national crises, talented military generals are esteemed. Now that our dynasty has restored the ancestral legacy and I have become the emperor, there are still many bandits that have not been pacified in various regions. This is all due to ineffective strategy. I’ve closely observed Your Majesty’s military campaigns. Those who surrendered did not receive generous rewards to entice them; instead, their possessions were seized. As a result, the generals and soldiers are filled with suspicion, forming factions and rebelling year after year. The ancients said, "Everyone knows how to take, but not how to give." If Your Majesty could set aside titles and prioritize rewards, sharing the fruits of victory with the generals and soldiers, who wouldn’t want to join? Who could resist persuasion? What place could not be conquered? What battle could not be won? This way, one can turn small gains into big victories and slow progress into swift success, bring the dead back to life, and recover lost things!
After reading the memorial, the emperor was quite displeased. Later, the emperor issued a decree to discuss the site selection for the Lingtai. The emperor said to me, "I want to use divination to decide, what do you think?" I remained silent for a long time and said, "I do not understand divination." The emperor asked me why, and I explained why divination isn’t considered orthodox scripture. The emperor was furious, saying, "Huan Tan disrespects the sacred way and disregards the law! Behead him for me!" I kowtowed until I bled, and was only pardoned after a long time. Later, I was demoted to be a county magistrate in Liu'an, feeling miserable the whole time, and eventually fell ill and died on the journey, at the age of over seventy.
I previously wrote a book called "New Discourses," which chronicled events from that time, consisting of twenty-nine chapters. After finishing it, I presented it to the emperor, who was quite fond of it. I also had a chapter on "Qin Dao" that I hadn’t completed, and Emperor Suzong asked Ban Gu to help me finish it. I wrote a total of twenty-six pieces, including fu, elegies, letters, and memorials.
During the Yuanhe period, Emperor Suzong embarked on an eastern hunting trip and arrived in Pei County. He even sent people to offer sacrifices at my tomb, which filled the villagers with pride. Feng Yan, courtesy name Jingtong, was from Du Ling in Jingzhao. His grandfather, Feng Yewang, served as the Grand Herald during the reign of Emperor Yuan. Feng Yan had extraordinary talent from a young age; he was able to recite the Book of Songs by the age of nine and had read extensively by the age of twenty. During the chaotic times, General Lian Dan was sent by Emperor Wang Mang of the Xin Dynasty to suppress a rebel in Shandong. Lian Dan invited Feng Yan to be his advisor, and they went to Dingtao together. Wang Mang issued an urgent decree to Lian Dan, saying, "The warehouses are empty, the national treasury is empty; now is the time to take a risk and go to war! General, you bear the heavy responsibility of the country and cannot die on the battlefield pointlessly. How can you repay the emperor's grace and complete the mission like this?" Lian Dan was terrified and quickly summoned Feng Yan that night to show him the decree. Feng Yan advised Lian Dan, "I have heard that success comes from following the trend, which is the greatest principle; achieving success by going against the current is the most valuable strategy. Therefore, as long as you can succeed, you don't need to worry about the means; think about the bigger picture and don’t get bogged down by the small stuff. In the past, when Feng Chou's father knelt at the shaft of the carriage to offer water to his ruler, he received praise from the vassals; in the state of Zheng, Jie Zhong took risks and eventually returned to power, leaving a good reputation in the Spring and Autumn Annals. Sacrificing your own life for others, or your own survival for the survival of others, is what a true gentleman would do. Going against the will of the majority to protect the country and oneself is the thinking of a wise person. The Book of Changes says: 'When one is destitute, there will be change; when there is change, there will be progress; when there is progress, there will be longevity. Therefore, one is blessed by heaven, auspicious, and there is no disadvantage.' If one knows that something cannot be done but insists on doing it anyway, resulting in the defeat of the army, the soldiers being killed or injured, no benefit to the court, losing one's own life, and going against the current situation at that time, this is not something a wise or brave person would do."
Furthermore, I heard that when a good opportunity arises, one must seize it and not let it slip away. Zhang Liang served five kings of Han and once tried to assassinate the First Emperor of Qin at Bolangsha. His bravery surpassed that of Meng Ben and Xia Yu, and his fame was even greater than that of Mount Tai. Your ancestors, General, were all loyal subjects of the Han Dynasty. Now that the new dynasty has just been established, many talents are unwilling to join it. Chaos reigns throughout the country, and the people all yearn for the benevolence of the Han Dynasty. They miss it more than the poet misses Duke Zhou, who is remembered for planting the sweet osmanthus tree. How much more for his descendants? The common people celebrate with song and dance, and surely heaven will bless them. For you, General, the best course of action is to occupy a major territory, pacify officials and soldiers, boost their morale, reward them with cattle and wine within a hundred miles, recruit talented warriors, consult loyal and wise strategists, win over the hearts of the people for the future, wait for changes in circumstances to benefit the people, and your fortunes and achievements will last for generations. Why face defeat in the Central Plains and die in the wilderness, bringing shame upon your ancestors? The sage can turn danger into safety; the wise can turn defeat into victory. I hope you’ll think carefully, General, and not just go with the flow." Ultimately, Lian Dan chose not to follow Wang Yan's advice.
When I arrived in Suiyang, I said to Dan again, "I have heard that intelligent people can see the unseen, wise people can predict things before they happen, let alone those with true foresight. Generally speaking, disasters are caused by negligence, catastrophes start from small details; once a situation fails, it can't be salvaged, and once an opportunity is lost, it’s gone for good. As Gong Sunyang once said, 'There are noble people who go unrecognized, and insightful views that are deemed unnecessary.' So, only believing in mediocre remarks, only adopting cliché strategies, only learning the practices of the world will forfeit their noble and transcendent qualities. A decisive leader is a wise ruler, whereas a hesitant leader will only create passivity. Opportunities will not come again, so please do not hesitate anymore!" Dan didn't listen to me, and ended up dying in Wuyan while fighting against the Chimei army. I subsequently fled to Hedong.
In the second year of Gengshi, the court appointed the Minister of Works, Bao Yong, as the Grand General to stabilize the north. Seizing the opportunity, I advised Bao Yong, saying: I have heard that a wise monarch will not disdain sincere and loyal advice, but will use it to infer profound and unpredictable matters; loyal subjects will not shy away from difficult discussions, but will do their best to solve national affairs. Therefore, when the ruler and their subjects unite, they can establish merits, make their mark, and be remembered for generations. I feel fortunate to be living in such an enlightened and tolerant time as yours, and it is also a time when frank advice is needed. How could I possibly remain silent and evade my duty, and not offer my loyalty to the best of my ability!
I have longed to escape the disaster brought by Wang Mang. Starting from the battles in Dong Commandery, followed by the wars in the Western Sea, the Ba Shu region was overrun by southern tribes, and the northern Di people breached the border areas. After years of fighting across thousands of miles, the turmoil remains unresolved, and the wars continue. Punishments have grown harsher, and taxes have increased. Powerful rebel forces are attacking from all directions, and the common people are suffering from hunger and cold. Fathers, sons, wives, and daughters are fleeing everywhere; homes have become ruins, and fields lie fallow. Epidemics are spreading, and disasters are unrelenting. Therefore, by the rivers, lakes, and seas, chaos reigns, with people killing one another. The common people are suffering heavy casualties, and more than half of the dead are probably due to this disaster; the poison of this disaster has seeped into the very marrow of society, and even the common people are filled with resentment.
The emperor, drawing on his divine virtue and military might, rose like a dragon soaring and a phoenix rising, leading the armies of Wan and Ye regions, reorganizing the scattered soldiers, and defeating the enemy forces at Kunyang. He attacked all the way to Wuguan, defeated a million troops, destroyed nine elite units, shook the world, swept across the land, and quelled the rebellion. In a short time, the entire nation was stabilized. The emperor inherited the illustrious legacy of the founding emperor, completed the unfinished business of civil and military governance, protected the state, and the nation's fortunes flourished. His virtue exceeded that of any ancient emperor, and his achievements were unprecedented. The people everywhere believe that by freeing themselves from Wang Mang's rule and submitting to the holy Han dynasty, they should receive happiness and peace. The emperor's grace extended to all corners of the realm, and his benevolence toward the people was as effortless as a feather gliding on the breeze.
However, some generals plunder the common people, violate moral principles, kill families, rape women, burn houses, loot property, eat tree bark when hungry, and go without proper clothing in the cold. The people have no place to voice their grievances, feeling desperate and helpless. Now the Grand General, with noble character, holding significant power, leading the three armies, pacifying the people of Bingzhou, his genuine compassion for the people has touched everyone. His noble reputation has spread throughout the army, and he has garnered many supporters. Moreover, is the Grand General's mission merely to uphold his noble character and integrity? He must achieve great accomplishments for the country! In the past, King Xuan of Zhou and Duke Huan of Qi needed people like Shen Bo, Zhao Hu, Guan Yiwu, and Ji Fu to eliminate evil and stabilize the territory. Moreover, now the territory of the Han Dynasty is vast, the emperor is working to restore the Han dynasty, and the Grand General is a pillar of the country; this must not be overlooked!
I heard that when a war drags on, soldiers will become tired, and chaos can ensue when there are too many people. The bandits in Handan have not been eliminated yet, and trouble has started in Zhending. Your army is stationed just a hundred miles away, General, keeping watch over the city day in and day out, with weapons at the ready. The common folk are living in fear. How can you afford to let your guard down and not take this seriously? Bingzhou is a place near famous passes to the east and bordering the powerful Xiongnu to the north. The land is fertile, the population is large; it is a place surrounded by enemies, both offensive and defensive. If you don’t prepare properly, what will you do when the time comes? So remember, "If you don’t build goodwill in times of peace, you won’t have anyone to rely on in times of crisis." Now the lives of the common people are in your hands, General. You must rely on excellent talents, replace those who are incompetent with capable individuals. In a village of ten households, there are always loyal and trustworthy folks. As long as you can find the right people, have them assist you, and even those in the mountains and rivers will be grateful for your kindness. Then select elite soldiers, mobilize the stationed troops, ensure all three branches of your army are well-organized, inspect local resources, look at the convenience of water sources, formulate farming strategies, and practice battle formations and archery skills. This way, your reputation will grow far and wide, and the common people will be able to live in peace and happiness. If you can guard Taiyuan, pacify Shangdang, win the hearts of the people, and promote talented and virtuous individuals, the world will know peace and prosperity, and your name will be celebrated. I hope, General, that you will shine like the sun and moon, possess great foresight, learn the principles of the Six Classics, refer to the military strategies of Sun Tzu and Wu Qi, carefully weigh the pros and cons of various opinions, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your troops, surpass the accomplishments of Zhou Nan, leave behind a legacy as good as Gantang's, and may your achievements be remembered through the ages, enduring and unbroken.
Even the strategies of Master Yi Yin and Master Jiang Shang are no match for yours!
General Yong has always valued me, permitting me to choose my own subordinates. So he appointed me as the General of the Han Establishment, commanding the Wolf Mengchang unit, stationed in Taiyuan, together with Prefect Tianyi of Shangdang, we prepared the troops to defend the territory of Bingzhou.
Subsequently, when Emperor Shizu ascended the throne, he sent Imperial Advisor Liu Yan to attack Tianjing Pass. Tianyi fought over ten battles with Liu Yan, but Liu Yan failed to capture it. Tianyi brought his mother and wife to the camp, which led to their capture by Liu Yan. Eventually, upon hearing of Emperor Gengshi's defeat, he sent envoys to Luoyang to present jade and warhorses, and was appointed as the Prefect of Shangdang. He subsequently sent envoys to urge General Yong and me to surrender, but General Yong and I were skeptical and refused to surrender, deeply frustrated at Tianyi for breaking the previous agreement. Consequently, I composed a letter to Tianyi, in which I stated:
When Duke Wen of Jin fled, Zifan was loyal to him; when Zhao Wuzi encountered difficulties, Cheng Ying showed his virtue for him. The loyalty of these two men is unquestionable! Now, three princes have betrayed the court, the Red Eyebrow Army threatens the country, the people's hearts are in turmoil, the country is in imminent danger; this is the perfect time for loyal ministers to make their mark and for brave warriors to fight the enemy! Boyu, you have been promoted and given significant responsibilities. The Shangdang region is strategically important, easy to defend and hard to breach, with three passes to the east and can serve as a barrier to the west. Why would you hand over such an important area to the enemy, create a vulnerability in our defenses, and give the enemy a chance to exploit it? This is truly disheartening!
I heard that you’ve committed yourself to the court, loyal and steadfast, just like someone carrying a water jug. Wisdom is in knowing how to uphold one's integrity without relying on external forces. When Yanzi made an oath with others, they pointed a curved spear at his neck, but he did not waver in his vow; when Xie Xi defended the city of Cheng, both the Jin and Lu states threatened him, but he held onto the city. Look, Yanzi and Xie Xi faced no danger of being killed, nor did they covet unjust wealth. But you’ve earned a reputation as a traitor to the court and endured the disgrace of losing territory. I genuinely feel ashamed for you! Furthermore, the commoners of Zhu secretly captured the city, betrayed their ruler, and sought benefits; though despicable, their names are still remembered in history. Mou Yi of the Ju state exchanged land for food, yet his name was not erased. Therefore, a true man must consider propriety in his actions and uphold righteousness in his dealings. No one who has violated these principles has ever kept their reputation.
For you, Boyu, I have seriously considered it. The best way is to work together with Minister Bao, to demonstrate your loyalty and achieve greatness that stands the test of time! If you are willing to give up your official position to join Minister Bao out of concern for your family, then righteousness will be upheld, enemies will be freed of their grievances, you won’t lose your responsibility of governing the county, and you will also be able to protect the lives of the common people. At that time, you’ll be able to speak confidently and earn the respect of the people! But if you covet the power of the party and are reluctant to give up the land of the party, I fear you might repeat the mistakes of the Zhou and Zhao states, and Shangdang will suffer disasters again as it did two years ago. Previously, Yan Pingzhong listened to the words of Yanling Jizi, ultimately avoiding the Luangao crisis; Sun Linfu did not listen to the advice of Muzi and ended up being cursed for life. I hope you, Boyu, can take my words to heart, like a needle piercing your soul. You can either hold the city or make a quick escape! A wise person can turn danger into safety and defeat into victory; I hope you can be self-reliant and not follow the crowd.
In the letter I received, it was written: Although I am timid, I still want to be a good person. How can I be greedy for life and fear death! With a curved halberd at my neck, I will not change my heart; this reflects my true desire. By the way, some time ago, my mother and brothers were all taken away by the army, but my hometown remained safe and unharmed. Isn’t it because they appreciate my integrity? If people could live between heaven and earth, with a lifespan as enduring as gold or stone, then of course they could pursue immortality and avoid dangerous places. But living to a hundred is hard enough, let alone the vast difference between the old and the strong. If the court I previously served is still there, and I could continue to act with loyalty and righteousness, even if my mother were to be killed and my wife and children taken away, I would accept it willingly.
Some time ago, those cunning bandits in Shangdang surrounded the city and left no way out. Two righteous armies took control of Jingxing. I personally broke through the enemy's encirclement, resisted Zong Zheng's attacks, and showcased my wit and bravery. I clearly knew that the previous court fell victim to the army, and the new emperor has appointed Situ to govern the Sannai area, with Longxi and Beidi also responding. This matter is as clear as day, beyond comparison to the sun, moon, or the vastness of the earth. Life and death are predetermined, and wealth and honor are dictated by fate. The rise and fall of the world is truly predestined. Even if I were to die, what difference would it make?
The fundamental principle of human interactions is to show gratitude and uphold righteousness, with great righteousness between ruler and subject and deep affection and kindness between mother and child. Now that the old master has died, to whom should I pledge my loyalty? When my mother was captured, it was time to fulfill my filial duties. But they wielded their power to tempt me with high positions and rewards, suppressed my conscience, and wanted me to turn a blind eye, which is utterly foolish!
I am thirty years old this year, have been a court official, and I've never had many desires since childhood, detesting the intrigues of politics. Furthermore, while I hold a position of honor, I find myself in a perilous situation. The more wealth I have, the more dangerous my life becomes. I grasp this simple truth, not to mention you gentlemen.
Jun Chang and Jing Tong proclaimed their own integrity to each other. Just like Zhong You allowing his gatekeeper to take an official position, Confucius criticized him for deceiving the heavens. Jun Chang occupied the land of two states, plus an additional county, but the border in Hedong was in dire straits, yet the army did not go to the rescue of Zhi Di. Shangdang was besieged, and when the Zong Zheng arrived at the border, no one came to assist. The army's prestige was swept away, the country's power diminished day by day, the Three Kings betrayed us, and the Chimei assassinated the emperor, but I have yet to see anyone like Mo Zhai who has amassed merit to save the Song state, like Shen Baoxu who tirelessly worked to save the Chu state, or like Wei Nu who flew back to comfort her brother. The Lord has been dead for a year, and no one knows what to do; everywhere is filled with false hopes and empty words—it's truly absurd! If you can't even handle the living, how can you concern yourself with the dead? If you can't even fulfill your duties as a subject, how can you possibly talk about ruling as a monarch? Am I tired of being a subject and want to be a ruler? Want to shake Mount Tai and stir the North Sea? If things fail, I will be in danger too; you should think carefully about what I said!
It is said that Liu Yong and Liu Yan were initially skeptical of the imperial order. Rumors circulated that Emperor Gengshi had fled north with the Chimei army, and Liu Yong and Liu Yongxin believed it to be true, so they stationed troops at Jie Xiu and even sent people to write letters to Shangdang, saying that the emperor was in Yongzhou, intentionally deceiving the populace. Liu Yong also sent his younger brother Liu Sheng, his son Liu Mei, and Zhang Shu to persuade Nie Cheng to surrender; Zhang Shu's family was in Shangdang, and the people of Shangdang were related to Zhang Shu. He also sent a letter urging Liu Yong to surrender, but Liu Yong disregarded it, leading to a bitter enmity between them. This Liu Yi, styled Boyu, was from Fengyi, and later became the Prefect of Yuyang. Later, Liu Yong and Liu Yan learned that Emperor Gengshi had already died, so they withdrew their troops together, wearing straw hats, and surrendered to Henei.
The emperor was displeased with them for arriving late. Liu Yong was forgiven because of his achievements and was given a prominent position again, but Liu Yan did not receive the same treatment. Liu Yong comforted Liu Yan, saying, "In the past, Emperor Gaozu rewarded Ji Bu because he committed a crime; he killed Ding Gu because he achieved merit. Now that we have encountered a wise ruler, what do we have to fear?" Liu Yan said, "There is a story about a man who seduced his neighbor's wife, and when he seduced the older woman, she scolded him; when he seduced the younger woman, she retaliated against him. Later, her husband died, and she ended up marrying the man who seduced her. When asked, 'Didn't your husband scold you?' she replied, 'If he wanted me to retaliate against him, I would; if I wanted him to scold me, he would.' Fate is hard to predict, but following the path of humanity is straightforward. As long as we stick to the path of humanity, what is there to fear as subjects?" After a while, the emperor appointed Liu Yan as the magistrate of Quyang County. He killed the great bandit Guo Sheng and others, subdued more than five thousand people, and should have received a reward for his merits, but he did not receive any rewards because someone falsely accused him.
In the sixth year of Jianwu, a solar eclipse occurred, and Liu Yan wrote a letter to the emperor, proposing eight suggestions: first, highlight the virtue of civil governance; second, praise military achievements; third, repair past achievements; fourth, attract talents from all over the world; fifth, clarify reward and punishment standards; sixth, simplify legal provisions; seventh, adjust the salaries of officials; and eighth, pacify the border areas. The letter was submitted, and the emperor planned to call him in. Initially, when Liu Yan was the county magistrate of Langmeng, he was falsely accused of a crime, which implicated the prominent official Linghu Lue. At that time, Linghu Lue was the chief historian of the Ministry of Works and went to Wang Hu, the Prefect of the Imperial Secretariat, and Zhou Shengfeng, the Master of Writing, to slander Liu Yan, claiming, "Liu Yan wants to see the emperor to harm you!" Wang Hu and others were afraid, so they conspired to slander Liu Yan together, and as a result, Liu Yan never got to meet the emperor.
General Wei Yinxing and Duke Yin of Xinyang, being relatives of the emperor, held prominent status and showed great respect for Zhang Yan. Zhang Yan befriended them. Because of this relationship, he was sought after by various lords and later became an official in the capital city. At that time, the emperor was cracking down on the relatives and guests of the nobility, punishing them severely under the law, with serious crimes resulting in death or exile and lesser offenses leading to demotion. As a result, Zhang Yan offended the emperor. He even went to prison himself, but the emperor issued a decree pardoning him and dropped the charges.
He returned to his hometown and stayed indoors, keeping to himself and cutting ties with his former friends. "Returning to the old county in the west, closing the door for self-protection, no longer communicating with relatives and friends." This line truly reflects his state of mind at that time. He understood that offending the emperor meant that maintaining a low profile was his best means of self-protection. Thus, he chose to distance himself from political turmoil and lead a quiet life. For him, this might have been the best outcome. After all, in that turbulent era, staying alive was more important than anything else.
