The I Ching says, "Heaven manifests signs, and the wise follow them." Eunuchs serving the emperor in the palace hold positions right by his side, so corresponding official titles were established in the Zhou Rites, with the number corresponding to the heavenly signs. In the Zhou Rites, the doorkeepers are responsible for guarding the palace gates, while the palace attendants oversee the rules of the harem. The text also notes that "there are five attendants in close proximity to the emperor." The Monthly Regulations state, "In midwinter, the eunuchs must inspect the gates and carefully guard the palace chambers." The Book of Songs also satirizes those who spread slander. Therefore, eunuchs have long been present in dynasties because they are physically castrated, simple-minded, easy to control, and less costly to maintain, right?
However, over time, the power of eunuchs gradually expanded. Capable eunuchs such as Bo Diao and Guan Su made significant contributions in the states of Chu and Jin, while Jing Jian and Miao Xian also made contributions in the states of Qin and Zhao. However, once the shortcomings of eunuchs became evident, they could cause great disasters like Shu Diao disrupting the state of Qi and Yi Li causing havoc in the state of Song. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, the system of the Qin Dynasty was followed, and the position of Chief Eunuch was formalized. Additionally, the Han Dynasty included some scholars in the eunuch selection process, who adorned themselves with silver jewelry and wore sable furs, serving the emperor in the palace. During Empress Dowager Gao's reign, Zhang Qing was appointed Grand Eunuch, entering the emperor's bedchamber to convey the emperor's orders. During the reign of Emperor Wen, Zhao Tan and Beigong Bozi were favored by the emperor. By the time of Emperor Wu, he favored Li Yannian. The emperor frequently hosted banquets in the harem, and sometimes secretly visited the suburbs, so many matters of state were handled by eunuchs. During Emperor Yuan's reign, Shi You served as Chief of the Yellow Gates, diligently and faithfully contributing significantly to the court.
Later, Hong Gong and Shi Xian, relying on flattery, deceit, and cunning, were reinstated and ultimately led to the Xiao and Zhou Rebellion, tarnishing the emperor's virtue. After the revival of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han Dynasty, all eunuchs in the court were exclusively eunuchs, no longer serving alongside other scholars. It was not until the Yongping period that the number of eunuchs was officially regulated, with four chief eunuchs and ten minor eunuchs. When Emperor He ascended to the throne at a young age, the Dou brothers held power, and the courtiers could not directly approach the emperor. The only ones who had close contact with the emperor were the eunuchs in the palace. Therefore, Zheng Zhong was able to wield power in the palace, eventually eliminating the corrupt officials, being ennobled as a marquis, and rising to the rank of Nine Ministers (Jiuching), thus strengthening the power of the eunuchs. From Emperor Ming onwards, until the Yanping period, the eunuchs' power grew increasingly stronger, and their numbers swelled. The number of chief eunuchs rose to ten, and there were also twenty minor eunuchs. They were even given decorative accessories such as golden pendants and ceremonial caps, and took charge of some official duties. After Empress Dowager Deng took control, state affairs piled up like a mountain of paperwork, and courtiers had no chance to participate in decision-making. The emperor's orders originated entirely from the harem. Helpless, they had to rely more on the eunuchs and entrust them with the management of state affairs. These eunuchs, holding noble titles and acting on behalf of the emperor, were no longer the minor players in the palace; their power far exceeded the confines of the harem. Sun Cheng was highly regarded for his role in supporting the emperor, Cao Teng participated in formulating strategies to overthrow the Huan clan, followed by the five marquises plotting together, and Liang Ji gaining control of the military. With their perceived fairness and the emperor's deep trust, they had the obedience from both the court and the common people, with no one daring to voice dissent. Some claimed their achievements rivaled those of Yi Yin and Huo Guang, while others said their strategies led to a revival of the Han Dynasty.
Although there were some loyal officials who spoke frankly at the time, they were ultimately pushed aside and oppressed. These eunuchs could make the mountains and seas change color with a single word, and could make the frost and dew change with a single breath. If they liked you, your family could enjoy wealth and honor for three generations; if they disliked you, your family could be entirely wiped out for five generations. The order of the Han Dynasty was thrown into complete disarray.
It is said that the officials donning tall hats, extravagant robes, and wielding swords are everywhere in the palace; while only a handful of servants, armed with rough straw, serve before the emperor. Government offices are scattered all over the country; the offspring of the powerful almost constitute half of the population. Mountains of gold, silver, jewels, silk, and satin are amassed, with treasures beyond count; beautiful singers, dancers, and maidservants crowd the opulent chambers. Even dogs and horses are adorned splendidly, and the houses are built with exquisite silk and brocade. All of this has been amassed through the exploitation of the common people, merely to satisfy their insatiable desires. They frame honest officials while promoting only their own cronies. Those who collude with each other and curry favor with the powerful have put their bodies and children into it, just to climb up. They use each other, so there are more and more things that harm the country, too numerous to mention. Therefore, there are complaints throughout the country, and those with aspirations can only hide in the mountains and forests, with banditry rampant and chaos reigning. Even loyal and righteous officials are furious and want to do something, but the moment they speak out, they invite disaster and are quickly silenced. This leads to a widespread chain reaction of mutual implicating and framing. None deemed upright can evade disaster. Dou Wu and He Jin, with their high status and close relationship with the royal family, capitalized on the people's grievances to rally a few powerful allies, but because of their indecision, they all ultimately failed. Perhaps this is also the arrangement of fate! Even though Yuan Shao later slaughtered widely and eradicated evil, what good does it do to use violence to restore order? From Cao Teng framing Liang Ji, ultimately allowing a foolish emperor to take the throne, Emperor Wu of Wei inherited this practice, ultimately leading to the decline of the country. "As you sow, so shall you reap," this saying truly captures the essence of the matter!
Zheng Zhong, whose courtesy name was Jichan, hailed from Chou, Nanyang. He was cautious and meticulous, and possessed great strategic acumen. During the Yongping era, he began serving in the Crown Prince's residence. After Emperor Su ascended the throne, he was appointed as a minor palace official, and later promoted to the position of Grand Attendant. At the beginning of Emperor He's reign, he was further promoted to the Director of the Imperial Bodyguards.
At that time, Empress Dowager Dou held power, and her brother General Dou Xian and others wielded significant influence. As many in the court aligned with them, Zheng Zhong remained loyal to the imperial family, refusing to form alliances with the powerful and corrupt. The Emperor trusted him greatly. When the Dou brothers plotted against the throne, Zheng Zhong was the first to take action against them. For his efforts, he was promoted to Grand Chamberlain. When it came time for rewards, he would always decline and request less. Therefore, he often participated in discussions on major political matters. Zheng Zhong's actions marked the beginning of eunuch power.
Fourteen years later, the Emperor, recognizing Zheng Zhong's merits, granted him the title of Marquis of Xiaoxiang, with a fief of 1,500 households. In the first year of Yongchu, Empress Hexi awarded him an additional 300 households.
Cai Lun, whose courtesy name was Jingzhong, hailed from Guiyang. In the later years of the Yongping era, he began serving in the palace, and during the Jianchu era, he was promoted to minor palace attendant. After Emperor He's ascension, Cai Lun rose in rank to become a Palace Attendant, frequently involved in decision-making for the Emperor. Cai Lun was talented and diligent, often giving candid advice to help rectify the Emperor's errors. During breaks, he would seclude himself to exercise in the fields. He later rose to the position of Director of Imperial Supplies. In the ninth year of Yongyuan, he was in charge of supervising the production of swords and other equipment for the palace, renowned for their fine craftsmanship and durability, becoming a benchmark for future generations.
In ancient times, books and contracts were mostly written on bamboo slips, and those written on silk or silk fabric were referred to as silk books. However, silk fabric was expensive and bamboo slips were heavy, both of which were inconvenient. Cai Lun devised a method for making paper using tree bark, hemp, rags, and fishing nets. In the first year of the Yuanxing era, he presented the papermaking method to the emperor. The emperor recognized his talent, and from that point on, paper became widely used, so people all over the world called this kind of paper "Cai Hou paper."
In the first year of Yuanchu, Empress Dowager Deng, because Cai Lun had long served in the palace, appointed him to the Marquis of Longting, with a fief consisting of three hundred households. Later, he also became the Grand Minister of Changle. Four years later, the emperor found many errors and inconsistencies in the current classics and historical books, so he selected the scholar Liu Zhen and some doctors and historians who were familiar with the classics to go to Dongguan for review, with Cai Lun in charge of supervising this matter.
Cai Lun was originally instigated by Empress Dou to falsely accuse Song Guiren, the grandmother of Emperor An. When Empress Dowager Deng passed away and Emperor An took over, he ordered Cai Lun to surrender himself to the Ministry of Justice. Overcome with humiliation, Cai Lun bathed, dressed neatly, and then committed suicide by poisoning. The Cai family's noble title was subsequently revoked.
Sun Cheng, styled Zhiqing, was from Xincheng, Zhuojun. During the reign of Emperor An, he served as the Central Yellow Gate official in Changle Palace.
During that time, Empress Dowager Deng held power, while the emperor remained uninvolved in governance. The young eunuch Li Run and the emperor's wet nurse, Wang Sheng, often whispered malicious gossip about Deng Taihou's brother, Deng Kui, who was in charge of the Forbidden Army, saying that the Deng family wanted to depose the emperor and make Prince Pingyuan Liu Yi the emperor. The emperor felt a mix of anger and fear upon hearing this. Later, when Empress Dowager Deng died, the emperor swiftly ordered the execution of all the Deng family members and the deposition of Prince Pingyuan. Li Run was subsequently appointed as the Marquis of Yongxiang for his role in this affair, and three hundred households were granted to him as a fief.
Another minor official, Jiang Jing, due to his sycophancy towards the emperor, specially went to meet the newly enthroned emperor and was subsequently granted the title of Marquis of Duxiang, also receiving a fief of three hundred households. Li Run and Jiang Jing both rose in rank and became Zhongchangshi, with Jiang Jing also serving as Dachangqiu. The two of them, along with Zhongchangshi Fan Feng, Huangmenling Liu An, Goudunling Chen Da, and Wang Sheng and his son, acted brazenly and without restraint, behaving arrogantly and lawlessly. In addition, the emperor's uncle, General Geng Bao, and the empress's brother, Grand Herald Yan Xian, colluded and acted in concert, wrongfully executing Grand Commandant Yang Zhen, and even deposed the crown prince, demoting him to Prince of Jiying.
The following year, the emperor died, and his brother, the Marquis of Beixiang, ascended to the throne. Yan Xian and his associates grew even more reckless, vying for power and profit. They secretly urged the relevant authorities to accuse Fan Feng, resulting in the execution or exile of Geng Bao, Wang Sheng, and their accomplices.
In October, the Marquis of Beixiang fell seriously ill. Cheng said to Changxing Qu, the retainer of Prince Jiying, "The prince is the legitimate eldest son to inherit the throne, originally without fault. It was solely because the late emperor believed slander that led to the prince's deposition. If the Marquis of Beixiang dies, let's eliminate Jiang Jing and Yan Xian together, and the plan will succeed." They all agreed. In addition, the Zhonghuangmen Prince of Nanyang, who had previously served as the historiographer in the Crown Prince's residence, had been nursing a grudge ever since the crown prince's deposition. The Chief of the Changle Tai Office, King Guo of Jingzhao, also joined Cheng in this scheme.
On October 27th, the Lord of Beixiang died. Yan Xian reported to the Empress Dowager, requesting to choose one of the five princes to inherit the throne. Before they could make a choice, on November 2nd, Cheng and Wang Kang, along with eighteen others, secretly conspired beneath the West Bell, dressed in simple clothes, and held a secret oath-taking ceremony. On the fourth night, they gathered at the Chongde Hall and then stormed into the Zhangtai Gate. At that time, Jiang Jing, Liu An, Li Run, and Chen Da were all working at the provincial gate. Cheng and Wang rushed in and killed Jiang Jing, Liu An, and Chen Da. Because Li Run held great power and prestige in the province, they attempted to win him over. They brandished their knives and threatened Li Run, saying, "We are going to crown Ji Yin Wang as the emperor, and you cannot oppose this!" Li Run agreed. They then supported Li Run and went to the West Bell to welcome Ji Yin Wang as the emperor, who would later become Emperor Shun. They then summoned officials from the Minister of Personnel and below to accompany Emperor Shun to the South Palace Yuntai, while Cheng and the others stayed at the provincial gate to guard inside and out.
Yan Xian was trapped in the palace, feeling frantic and unsure of his next move. A low-ranking eunuch named Fan Deng advised Yan Xian to quickly lead a rebellion. Yan Xian exploited an order from the Empress Dowager to summon Captain Feng Shi and General Yan Chong to station troops at the Shuoping Gate to prevent Cheng Yuanzhen and his followers.
Yan Xian then tricked Feng Shi into entering the palace, where the Empress Dowager personally handed the seal to him and promised, "If you capture Ji Yin Wang, I will make you a Marquis of ten thousand households; if you capture Li Run, I will make you a Marquis of five thousand households!" However, Feng Shi had too few soldiers, so Yan Xian sent Feng Shi and Fan Deng to gather soldiers outside the Left Gate. Feng Shi seized the opportunity to kill Fan Deng and returned to camp to maintain their guard.
Yan Jing, the Weiwei, rushed back from the palace to the outer mansion and gathered his troops, marching to Shengdemen. Cheng Yuanzhen sent someone to summon the various ministers to capture Yan Jing. At that time, Minister Guo Zhen was lying sick in bed. Upon hearing the news, he quickly gathered soldiers from the Yu Lin Army and rushed out through the South Zhiche Gate. He happened to encounter Yan Jing and his soldiers. Guo Zhen drew his sword and shouted loudly, "Drop your weapons!" Guo Zhen dismounted and took out the emperor's token to read the edict. Yan Jing asked, "What edict is this?" Even after hearing Guo Zhen read the edict, Yan Jing refused to comply. Guo Zhen drew his sword and attacked Yan Jing's carriage, and Yan Jing's subordinates used spears to attack Guo Zhen. In the end, Yan Jing was captured, sent to the Tingwei Prison, and he died that very night.
The next morning, the court sent imperial officials to arrest Yan Xian and others, sending them to prison, and the matter was settled. Then the court issued an edict:
The decree said:
In ancient times, there was a tradition of honoring those who had rendered meritorious service, which has been a longstanding principle. At that time, the Grand Minister of the Central Secretariat, Jiang Jing, the Chief of the Yellow Gate, Liu An, the Commander of the Hook and Shield, Chen Da, and several brothers of the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Yan Xian, conspired to rebel, aiming to plunge the realm into chaos. This was utterly unacceptable!
At this time, the Central Yellow Gate officials, Sun Cheng, Wang Kang, the Grand Minister of Changle, Wang Guo, as well as Huang Long, Peng Kai, Meng Shu, Li Jian, Wang Cheng, Zhang Xian, Shi Fan, Ma Guo, Wang Dao, Li Yuan, Yang Tuo, Chen Yu, Zhao Feng, Li Gang, Wei Meng, Miao Guang, were outraged and determined not to let these villains succeed. They convened and resolved to take action against these wrongdoers to protect the imperial family's territory. As the Book of Songs reminds us, "If grievances are not redressed, and great virtues are not rewarded, how can this be done?"
Sun Cheng is the leader of this operation, and Wang Kang and Wang Guo also contributed greatly. The emperor was very pleased, so he bestowed upon Sun Cheng the title of Marquis of Fuyang, granting him five households as a fief; Wang Kang was bestowed the title of Marquis of Huarong, and Wang Guo as the Marquis of Li, each granted nine thousand households; Huang Long was bestowed the title of Marquis of Xiangnan, with five thousand households; Peng Kai was bestowed the title of Marquis of Xipingchang, Meng Shu as the Marquis of Zhonglu, and Li Jian as the Marquis of Fuyang, each with four thousand two hundred households; Wang Cheng was bestowed the title of Marquis of Guangzong, Zhang Xian as the Marquis of Zhu'a, Shi Fan as the Marquis of Linju, Ma Guo as the Marquis of Wenping, Wang Dao as the Marquis of Fanxian, Li Yuan as the Marquis of Baoxin, Yang Tuo as the Marquis of Shandu, Chen Yu as the Marquis of Xiajun, Zhao Feng as the Marquis of Xixian, and Li Gang as the Marquis of Zhijiang, each with four thousand households; Wei Meng was bestowed the title of Marquis of Yiling, with two thousand households; Miao Guang was bestowed the title of Marquis of Dong'a, with one thousand households. A total of nineteen marquises were appointed! The emperor also rewarded them with various rewards, including carriages, horses, gold, silver, treasures, clothing, etc.; the rewards varied in value. Li Run was not appointed as a marquis because he did not participate in the planning beforehand. However, the emperor promoted him to be the Cavalry Captain.
In the first year of Yongjian, Sun Cheng, along with Zhang Xian, Meng Shu, and Ma Guo, had some conflicts with the Chief Commandant of the Capital, Yu Xu, and ended up going to the palace to complain, even loudly scolding the palace guards. The emperor was very angry at the time, so he dismissed Sun Cheng from his official position and dispatched all nineteen marquises back to their respective fiefs. Later, the emperor reassigned Sun Cheng to the title of Marquis of Yicheng. Upon arriving at his fief, Sun Cheng felt deeply discontented and furious, so he returned the marquis's seal and tokens to the court, then escaped back to the capital, wandering aimlessly in the mountains. The emperor ordered a widespread search for him, but ultimately restored his title, rewarded him with carriages, horses, and clothing, and sent him back to his fief.
Three years later, the emperor recognized the contributions of Cheng Yu and others and summoned them all back to the capital. Cheng Yu, Wang Dao, and Li Yuan were appointed as Cavalry Commandants, while others also received official positions from the court. In the first year of Yangjia, Cheng Yu fell seriously ill, so the emperor promoted him to the position of Chariot Commandant, a prestigious position. After Cheng Yu's passing, the emperor posthumously conferred upon him the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry and bestowed upon him the posthumous title of "Ganghou." An Imperial Censor was assigned to oversee his funeral arrangements, and the emperor personally traveled to the Northern Commandery to pay his respects to the funeral carriage.
Before his death, Cheng Yu left a written testament recommending his younger brother Cheng Mei. The emperor granted his request, dividing half of Cheng Yu's land to Cheng Mei and appointing Cheng Yu's adopted son Cheng Shou as the Marquis of Fuyang. Later, the emperor issued an edict commending those with minor contributions, appointing Xing Qu as the Marquis of Gaowangting. Four years later, the emperor decreed that eunuchs' adopted sons could inherit their titles and land, enshrining this rule into law.
Wang Kang, Wang Guo, Peng Kai, Wang Cheng, Zhao Feng, and Wei Meng had all passed away early. Huang Long, Yang Tuo, Meng Shu, Li Jian, Zhang Xian, Shi Fan, Wang Dao, Li Yuan, and Li Gang, along with their mother Lady Song E of Shanyang, were involved in bribery and corruption, seeking higher official positions and more land, and falsely accused Palace Attendants Cao Teng and Meng Ben. In the second year of Yonghe, this scandal was uncovered, and they were all sent back to their fiefdoms, with a quarter of their ancestral land confiscated. Lady Song E was stripped of her title and forced to return to farming in the countryside. Only Ma Guo, Chen Yu, and Miao Guang managed to retain their fiefdoms.
Initially, when the emperor was deposed, several young palace attendants in the Crown Prince's residence—Ji Jian, Fu Gaofan, Zhao Xi from Changqiu, He Chengliang, and Xia Zhen from the pharmacy—were implicated and punished without having committed any wrongdoing. Ji Jian and the others were exiled to the northern frontier. When the emperor was reinstated, he promoted them all to be middle-ranking eunuchs. Fu Gaofan had his death sentence commuted for concealing evidence. Ji Jian was later titled as the Marquis of Dongxiang, with a fief of three hundred households.
He Qing was known for his integrity, uprightness, and incorruptibility, and rose to the position of Grand Changqiu. During the Yang Jian era, the emperor ordered the nine ministers to nominate valiant warriors, but He Qing did not recommend anyone. When asked by the emperor, He Qing replied, "I come from humble origins and grew up in the palace. I have neither the discernment of people nor have I made friends with any scholars. Previously, Wei Yang was recommended by Jing Jian and was highly valued, but those with discernment knew he would ultimately meet a bad end. If I were to recommend someone now, it would be more of a disgrace than an honor for him." He firmly declined. After He Qing's death, the emperor remembered his loyalty and bestowed the title of Marquis of Duxiang upon his adopted son, with a fief of three hundred households.
Cao Teng, whose courtesy name was Jixing, was from Qiaoxian, Pei County, in the state of Pei. During the reign of Emperor An of the Han dynasty, he was appointed as a yellow gate attendant. When Emperor Shun of Han was still the Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace, Empress Dowager Deng felt that Cao Teng was young but cautious and honest, so she let him serve the Crown Prince, handling correspondence, which made Emperor Shun particularly close to him. After Emperor Shun ascended to the throne, Cao Teng first served as a young eunuch and later rose to become a middle-ranking eunuch.
After Emperor Huan of Han ascended the throne, Cao Teng, Zhou Fu of Chang Le, and five others, a total of seven people, were all granted the title of marquis for their great contributions in the process of enthroning the new emperor. Cao Teng was enfeoffed as Marquis of Fei Ting, later promoted to Grand Minister of State, and further honored as Specially Appointed Official. Cao Teng served in the court for over thirty years, attending to four emperors without any misconduct. All those he recommended were prominent figures across the country, such as Yu Fang and Bian Shao from Chenliu, Yan Gu and Zhang Wen from Nanyang, Zhang Huan from Hongnong, and Tang Xi Dian from Yingchuan.
Once, the Governor of Shu bribed Cao Teng, and the Inspector of Yizhou, Zhong Gao, found the bribe letters at Xiegu Pass. He reported this to the court, impeaching Cao Teng and requesting the Ministry of Justice to investigate. The emperor said, "This letter was sent from outside, not Cao Teng's fault." So Zhong Gao's report was suppressed. Cao Teng did not hold a grudge and often praised Zhong Gao as a capable official, earning admiration from those around him.
After Cao Teng's death, his adopted son Cao Song inherited his title. Zhong Gao later became Minister of Works and told his guests, "I can reach this position today thanks to the support of Minister Cao in the past." During Emperor Ling of Han's reign, Cao Song engaged in widespread bribery and donated one hundred million pieces of silver to Xiyuan, eventually rising to the position of Grand Commandant. When his son Cao Cao rebelled, Cao Song refused to follow him and fled to Langye with his younger son Cao Ji, only to be killed by the Inspector of Xuzhou, Tao Qian.
Shan Chao was from Henan; Xu Huang was from Xiapi, a notable city; Ju Yuan was from Yuancheng in Weijun; Zuo Juan was from Pingyin in Henan; and Tang Heng was from Yuxian in Yingchuan. When Emperor Huan of Han first came to power, Shan Chao, Xu Huang, and Ju Yuan served as Imperial Attendants, while Zuo Juan and Tang Heng served as Junior Historians of the Yellow Gate.
At the beginning, Liang Ji's two younger sisters became the empresses of Emperor Han Shun and Emperor Han Huan. Liang Ji inherited his father's title, became the Grand General, and wielded great power, striking fear throughout the realm. Liang Ji also killed the Grand Commandant Li Gu, Du Qiao, and others, becoming even more arrogant and domineering. The empress, relying on her power, acted recklessly and often resorted to poisoning and murder. Both the court and the common folk were hushed, too afraid to voice their concerns. The emperor was oppressed for a long time, feeling resentful but afraid to act.
In the second year of the Yanxi era, the empress died. One day, while the emperor was in the restroom, he called the eunuch Cao Teng alone and asked him, "Who are the people in the palace and outside who are not on good terms with Liang Ji?" Cao Teng replied, "Dan Chao and Zuo Juan went to visit the Governor of Henan, Li Buyi, before, with humility and respect. However, Li Buyi arrested their brothers and sent them to Luoyang prison. Later, they went to Li Buyi's residence to apologize and were subsequently released. Xu Huang and Ju Yuan privately detest Liang Ji's arrogant behavior, but dare not speak out."
So the emperor called Dan Chao and Zuo Juan into the inner chamber and said, "The Liang brothers control the court, oppressing both inside and outside, and everyone below the officials bows to them. I now want to kill them. What do you think, my attendants?" Dan Chao and the others replied, "Liang Ji is indeed a traitor and should have been killed long ago. We are of humble status and are unsure of Your Majesty's intentions." The emperor said, "In that case, you attendants should secretly plan it." They replied, "Planning is not difficult, but we are afraid that Your Majesty will hesitate again." The emperor said, "Traitors harm the country and should face justice. There’s no room for hesitation!"
Then the emperor called Xu Huang, Ju Yuan, and five others to talk about this. The emperor bit Shan Chao's arm to seal their oath in blood. Shan Chao then had Liang Ji along with his relatives and followers all executed. Zuo Juan and Cao Teng were promoted to Palace Attendants. Shan Chao was made Marquis of Xinfeng, with a fief of 20,000 households and a cash reward of 15 million coins; Xu Huang was made Marquis of Wuyuan, Ju Yuan was made Marquis of Dong Wuyang, each with a fief of 15,000 households and a cash reward of 15 million coins; Zuo Juan was made Marquis of Shangcai, Cao Teng was made Marquis of Ruyang, each with a fief of 13,000 households and a cash reward of 13 million coins. These five were enfeoffed on the same day, which is why they later became known as the "Five Marquises." The emperor also made eight eunuchs, including Liu Pu and Zhao Zhong, Viscounts. From then on, the eunuchs gained power, leading to even more chaos in the court.
Shan Chao fell ill, and the emperor sent messengers to name him General of Chariots and Cavalry. The following year, Shan Chao passed away. The emperor gave him valuable items from the East Garden, packed his coffin full of jade, posthumously gave him the title and seal of General, and sent messengers to take care of his funeral arrangements. During the burial, five units of cavalry were sent out, with Imperial Attendants accompanying the coffin, and the Ministry of Works in charge of building the tomb.
It is said that these four marquis are increasingly arrogant, and the common people secretly say, "The Zuo family wields great power and dominates the region; the Xu family is a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers; the Tang family is... (the original text is omitted here)." They all compete to build large houses and luxurious pavilions, employing various clever techniques. Gold, silver, jewels, and precious silk fabrics are lavished on their dogs and horses. They also compete to marry beautiful women as concubines, dressing in extravagant finery, just like the ladies in the palace. Their servants all ride in ox carts, putting on a grand display, resembling emperors and generals. They also provide for distant relatives, some even adopting sons from different families or buying slaves as sons, in order to inherit titles and estates. Their brothers, sisters, relatives, and friends all serve as local officials, oppressing the common folk, resembling nothing more than bandits. Chao's younger brother An became the prefect of Hedong, Chao's nephew Kuang became the prefect of Jiyin, Huang's younger brother Sheng became the prefect of Henan, Chuan's younger brother Min became the prefect of Chenliu, and Yuan's older brother Gong became the magistrate of Peixian. These people have turned into parasitic scourges in their respective regions.
Xuan, the son of Huang's older brother, was appointed as the magistrate of Xiapi County, and he was a tyrant. Earlier, he had set his sights on the daughter of the former Ru'nan Prefect, Li Gao. When his proposal was rejected, he went to Li Gao's house with his subordinates after arriving in Xiapi County, kidnapped the girl, abused her, killed her with an arrow, and secretly buried her in a shrine. At that time, Xiapi County belonged to Donghai Commandery, and Huang Fu, the Prefect from Ru'nan, was in charge. Someone reported Xuan's evil deeds to him. Huang Fu immediately arrested Xuan's entire family and interrogated them all. The officials advised against it. Huang Fu said, "Xuan is a traitor. If we don't kill him today, he will continue to do evil tomorrow. Killing him is necessary. It brings me relief!" So Xuan was sentenced to death on the spot, executed, and his body was displayed publicly, striking terror throughout the entire commandery. Huang reported this to the emperor, and the emperor was furious. He demoted Huang Fu, fined him, shaved his head, and shackled him, sending him to serve in the military. The families and friends of the five marquises were tyrannical and oppressive, leading the common people to rebel and become bandits. Seven years later, Heng, another figure in this narrative, died, and he was posthumously granted the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry, similar to Chao. After Huang's death, the court rewarded him with substantial wealth, textiles, and a burial plot.
Next year, the inspector Han Yan reported Guan and his brother Nan Xianghou, accusing them of heinous crimes, using their authority to accept bribes at the local level, embezzling and perverting the law, behaving arrogantly towards guests, and oppressing the people. As a result, Guan and his brother both committed suicide. Han Yan then reported Liang Ji's brother Pei Xianggong Zang, and Zang was brought to trial at the Ministry of Justice. Liang Ji ran to the prison to plead for mercy, submitting the seal and official seal of Dong Wuhou, and the emperor agreed, demoting him to the title of Duxianghou, and ultimately died in despair. Liang Ji's brothers who inherited titles were also demoted to Xianghou, with their annual income slashed to three million yuan. The descendants who were granted titles were also deprived of their titles and land. Liu Pu and others were demoted to Guanneihou.
Speaking of a man named Hou Lan, he was from Shanyang Fangdong. During the reign of Emperor Huan of Han, he became a central palace attendant, using flattery and deceitful tactics to rise in rank and wealth, bullying others with insatiable greed, receiving huge amounts of bribes that were simply incalculable. During the Yanxi period, several years of continuous war emptied the national treasury, and the court borrowed money from officials and imposed taxes on the nobles. Hou Lan also handed over five thousand pieces of silk and was granted the title of Guanneihou. He also falsely claimed to have participated in the killing of Liang Ji and was promoted to Gao Xianghou.
Xiaohuangmen Duan Gui's hometown was in Jiyin, and like Hou Lan, he owned extensive land on the northern border of Jibei. Their servants and guests oppressed the local populace and robbed traveling merchants. Jibei Prefect Teng Yan arrested all of them, executed dozens of offenders, and displayed the bodies in the streets. Hou Lan and Duan Gui held deep resentment towards Teng Yan, so they complained to the emperor, accusing Teng Yan of unjustly killing. As a result, Teng Yan was arrested and tried at the Ministry of Justice, and was ultimately dismissed. Teng Yan, whose style name was Bo Xing, was from Beihai, and later became the Jingzhao Yin, renowned for his honesty and integrity, and was later revered as a wise elder.
Hou Lan became increasingly arrogant and overbearing because of this incident. Hou Lan's older brother, Hou Can, became the Inspector of Yizhou. Whenever he saw a commoner who was relatively wealthy, he falsely accused them of treason, had them executed, confiscated their property, and accumulated enormous ill-gotten gains that were beyond counting. Grand Commandant Yang Bing indicted Hou Can and had him escorted back to the capital, and as a result, Hou Can took his own life en route. The Prefect of Jingzhao, Yuan Feng, counted Hou Can's carriages at the inn, and there were more than three hundred carriages, laden with gold, silver, silk, and treasures, far too numerous to tally. Hou Lan was dismissed from office because of this incident, but shortly after, he was reinstated.
In the second year of Jianning, my mother died, and I returned home to build a tomb for her. However, a supervisor named Zhang Jian appeared who accused me of corruption, extravagance, and luxurious living. He claimed that I had seized 381 houses, 118 hectares of land, and built 16 opulent mansions, all featuring high-rise buildings and expansive courtyards, pavilions, and towers shining against each other, decorated with luxurious silk, paintings, and paint, with a grand architectural scale similar to the imperial palace. He also said that I prematurely built a luxurious tomb with stone coffins, double gates, and high roofs that were a hundred feet tall, resulting in the demolition of homes, exhumation of graves, and forced abduction of men and women, committing a litany of crimes, and requested the court to execute me. However, I secretly intervened to block the memorial from being submitted.
When Zhang Jian saw that the memorial was not submitted, he proceeded to destroy my tomb and mansion, confiscated my property, detailed my alleged crimes, and claimed that my mother had entertained guests and interfered in local affairs during her lifetime. Yet, it was still ineffective. In a fit of anger and frustration, I turned the tables and falsely accused Zhang Jian of conspiring with factions, implicating former officials Li Ying, the former Changle Commandant, and Du Mi, the former Grand Herald, leading to the annihilation of their families. In the end, I succeeded Cao Jie and became the Grand Herald of Changle.
In the first year of Xiping, someone reported me for being overbearing and extravagant, and I was forced to hand over my seal and then committed suicide. The others who were complicit in my crimes also lost their official positions. Cao Jie, styled Hanfeng, was a native of Xinye in Nanyang, with ancestral roots in Weijun. For generations, his ancestors held high positions of 2,000 shi. During the early reign of Emperor Shun, he began his career as a rider in the Western Garden, later promoted to a minor Yellow Gate official. During the reign of Emperor Huan, he was promoted to be an attendant and chariot commander. In the first year of Jianning, he was ordered to lead a thousand Yellow Gate, Tiger Elite, and Feathered Forest troops to the north to welcome Emperor Ling and accompany him into the palace. After Emperor Ling ascended the throne, because of Cao Jie's support in his ascension, he was appointed as the Marquis of Chang'an, with a fief of six hundred households. At that time, Empress Dowager Dou was in power, and her father, General Dou Wu, and Grand Tutor Chen Fan conspired to kill the eunuchs. Cao Jie, along with Changle's Imperial Historian Zhu Yu, officials Shi Gongpu and Zhang Liang, Yellow Gate official Wang Zun, and Changle's attendant Teng, collaboratively forged an edict to appoint Wang Fu as the Yellow Gate Commander, and then led troops to kill Dou Wu and Chen Fan. These events are detailed in the biographies of Chen Fan and Dou Wu. As a result, Cao Jie was promoted to Changle Guard Commander, appointed as the Marquis of Yuyang, and his fief increased to three thousand households; Wang Fu was promoted to be an attendant, with no change in his position as Yellow Gate Commander; Zhu Yu was appointed as the Marquis of Duxiang, with a fief of one thousand five hundred households; Shi Gongpu, Zhang Liang, and the other five each received a fief of three hundred households; the remaining eleven were made Marquises beyond the Passes, each able to receive an annual salary of 2,000 hu of grain.
First, Cao Jie and his group secretly prayed in Mingtang Hall, saying, "Empress Dowager Dou is unreasonable; please help the Emperor get rid of her so that our plan can succeed and chaos can engulf the realm." After getting rid of the Dou faction, the Emperor ordered the Grand Treasury to provide generous rewards, awarding Cao Jie fifty million coins, and others also received rewards. Later, Cao Jie was granted the title of Marquis of Huarong. Two years later, Cao Jie fell ill and his health deteriorated. The Emperor then appointed him General of Chariots and Cavalry. Shortly after recovering from his illness, he resigned his post. Later, he became the Minister of the Palace Attendants, with the title of Tejin and a salary of two thousand shi. He was soon promoted to Grand Minister.
In the first year of Xiping, Empress Dowager Dou died. Someone wrote on the wall of the Zhuque Gate, saying, "Chaos is about to engulf the realm. Cao Jie and Wang Fu killed the Empress Dowager, and the Palace Attendant Hou Lan was responsible for many deaths. The officials in the court are merely occupying their posts, and no one dares to speak the truth." The Emperor then ordered the Commandant of Justice, Liu Meng, to arrest people, with a progress report due every ten days. Liu Meng thought the informant's words made sense, so he delayed in making arrests. After more than a month, he still did not find out who was behind the scenes. Due to his failure to act, Liu Meng was demoted to the Grand Master of Remonstrance, and the Chief of Imperial Censors, Duan Qing, was sent to arrest people. Duan Qing arrested people everywhere, even students from the Imperial Academy, detaining over a thousand people. Cao Jie and his group refused to let go of Liu Meng, so Duan Qing used other charges to impeach him. As a result, Liu Meng was convicted and sent to perform labor at the Left School. Numerous ministers advocated for Liu Meng, and ultimately, his sentence was commuted, and he was reappointed to his position in the court.
Cao Jie, along with Wang Fu and others, falsely accused the younger half-brother of Emperor Huan of Han, Prince Bohai Kui, of plotting a rebellion and had Prince Bohai killed. As a result, the twelve individuals involved were all appointed as marquesses. Wang Fu was appointed as the Marquis of Champions. Cao Jie's fiefdom also increased by four thousand six hundred households, bringing his total to seven thousand six hundred households. His father, brothers, sons, and relatives all became high-ranking officials in the court and local officials throughout the empire.
Cao Jie's younger brother, Cao Poshí, became the Cavalry Commander and had five hundred households under his command. There was a beautiful woman among them, whom Cao Poshí forcibly abducted. The five hundred households were too afraid to resist, but the woman refused and eventually committed suicide. The Cao family was notorious for their debauchery and cruelty, with numerous incidents reported.
In the second year of Guanghe, the Colonel-Director of Retainers, Yang Qiu, accused Wang Fu, his son Changle Prefect Cao Meng, and Pei Prefect Cao Ji. All three were executed in prison. After a string of calamities, the Court Official Liang Renshen believed that these disasters were caused by the crimes of Cao Jie and his associates, and thus wrote a memorial:
"It's said that in governing a country, stability is achieved through the presence of talented individuals, while danger arises from their absence. Emperor Shun had five wise ministers to assist him, leading to a well-governed realm. King Tang relied heavily on Yi Yin, which kept unscrupulous individuals away from the court. Your Majesty, when you ascended the throne, were still unable to handle all state affairs, and the Empress Dowager, in gratitude for your upbringing, temporarily took over the administration. This led to the execution of the eunuchs Su Kang and Guan Ba. Chief Advisor Chen Fan and Grand General Dou Wu looked into their accomplices and were committed to reforming the court."
Marquis Huarong Zhu Yu committed a crime, which was exposed, leading to his own demise. He then plotted a rebellion, caused turmoil in the royal court, stormed the palace gates, seized the imperial seal, threatened the emperor, gathered ministers, and sowed discord between mother and son. This ultimately led to the killings of Chen Fan, Dou Wu, Yin Xun, and others. They then divided the city and land among themselves, rewarding each other. Fathers, sons, and brothers alike were honored, and those close to Zhu Yu were appointed to positions in the provinces and counties, some rising to high-ranking officials, others taking key positions in the government. Rather than fulfilling their duties, they focused on personal gain, amassing wealth, and building luxurious mansions that connected together. They even stole water from the palace to raise fish, indulging in lavish lifestyles that rivaled those of the royal family.
The court officials remained silent, too afraid to speak out. Governors and local officials across the nation bowed to Zhu Yu's orders, favoring relatives, rejecting talents, and elevating the incompetent. As a result, locusts ravaged the land, and foreign enemies invaded. Heaven was incensed, and disasters such as solar eclipses and earthquakes occurred for over a decade. These events were perceived as divine retribution and warnings to the emperor, urging him to awaken to the truth and execute those who had committed grave sins. Emperor Gaozong had previously restored order by addressing the Zhini Rebellion, earning merit for his reign. Recently, divine omens compelled the emperor to act in fury, resulting in the swift execution of Wang Fu and his son, which was met with public acclaim as retribution for their crimes.
I truly cannot comprehend why Your Majesty still tolerates these treacherous officials and does not completely eradicate them. In the past, the Qin Dynasty trusted Zhao Gao, leading to the destruction of the country; the Wu Kingdom heavily relied on criminals, ultimately suffering the consequences. Duke Yu held a precious jade while leading a horse, and Duke Zhao of Lu was driven away by Duke Ganhou, all because of not using talented individuals, leading to destruction or humiliation. Now, Your Majesty, out of misplaced compassion, has pardoned these rebellious acts. Once the treachery succeeds, it will be too late to regret! I have been a court official for fifteen years, and I have personally witnessed the actions of Zhu Yu. This is indeed a crime that Your Majesty cannot forgive.
I hope Your Majesty will carefully listen to my memorial, seriously consider my suggestions, eliminate these treacherous people, and appease divine wrath. If the findings regarding Zhu Yu's crimes contradict my memorial, I am willing to face execution, and my wife and children are also willing to be exiled to silence those who spread falsehoods.
Zhang Qin did not report to the emperor. As a result, Jie Zhi was directly appointed as the Prefect of the Ministers of Documents. He died four years later and was posthumously awarded the title of General of Chariots and Cavalry. Later, Yu also died of illness, and their family's title and estate were inherited by their adopted son. Shen Zhong, styled as Gongcheng, after the eunuchs were killed, was summoned to the Duke's office to work.
Lv Qiang, styled as Hansheng, was from Chenggao, Henan. When he was young, he served as a eunuch in the palace, starting as a minor gatekeeper and later rose to become a Grand Commandant. He was honest, upright, loyal to his duties, and committed to serving the public. During the reign of Emperor Ling, it was customary in the court to bestow titles on eunuchs, and Lv Qiang was to be appointed as a Marquis. Lv Qiang firmly declined, with a very sincere attitude, saying he could not bring himself to accept the title, and the emperor finally agreed to his request. Then, Lv Qiang wrote to the emperor expressing his opinions, stating in the letter:
I have heard that the fiefdoms of the princes range from four to seven hundred miles, and that even the dividing of the royal land was established by Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang with the rule that only those who have rendered meritorious service may be granted the title of marquis. This is to treat titles with respect and serve as a caution. However, I have heard that the eunuchs such as Cao Jie, Wang Fu, Zhang Rang, and the Palace Attendant Xu Xiang have all been granted the title of marquis. These eunuchs are of humble origin, lack moral integrity, and occupy lowly positions, yet they excel in flattery and sycophancy, pleasing the emperor with underhanded means to win favor, harming loyal officials, and envying the upright. They are like the second Zhao Gao, but have not received the punishment they deserve, misleading the court and forming their own faction. Your Majesty, you do not understand this, granting them land and titles at will, allowing the welfare of the state and the imperial family’s fortunes to fall into the hands of scoundrels. Not only do they benefit from titles, but their families also reap the rewards, receiving large amounts of gold, silver, and purple silk, one after another becoming ministers assisting the emperor. They have received significant benefits from the state, but have forgotten the teachings of their ancestors, neglecting virtue and instead forming cliques with wicked individuals. Your Majesty may value their talents and graciously bestow upon them, but those promoted lack moral character, while the virtuous talents cannot advance. They enjoy the country's salary in vain, only concerned with their own interests, yet Your Majesty insists on using them. The imbalance of yin and yang, agricultural failures, and the suffering of the populace all arise from this turmoil. I know that the decree for rewards has been issued, and my words may not have an effect, but I risk my life to offer this advice to Your Majesty, in a spirit of loyalty, only hoping that Your Majesty can rectify this error and put an end to this practice henceforth.
I’ve heard that there are thousands of palace maids in the harem, and their food and clothing costs hundreds of guan each day. Even though the price of food is cheap, the common people still look like they’re starving. Logically, food should be expensive, but now it’s cheap because the taxes are so heavy that they’re just being used to fill the government’s gaps. The common people are so cold they can’t even afford to wear clothes or eat. The common people are suffering so much, but no one cares about them. Those palace maids serve no purpose, just sitting around in the harem; even if the entire nation worked tirelessly farming and raising silkworms, they still couldn’t support them! In the past, there was a woman in the Chu state whose sadness led to a disaster in the West. Besides, these palace maids harbor grievances year-round; how could they not complain? Heaven created the people and entrusted the monarchs to govern them. If the monarch governs well, the common people will respect him as they do their parents and revere him like the sun and moon; even if they occasionally have to pay taxes, they’ll be grateful for the monarch’s kindness. The I Ching says: "Treat the people with a happy heart, and they will forget their toil; lead the people with a happy heart to overcome difficulties, and they will forget death." As the crown prince, you should take this lesson to heart; when you become emperor, you must put it into practice.
I also heard that Your Majesty is going to order the construction of a pavilion in your former homeland of Hejian. Your Majesty, you ascended the throne in a magnificent manner, although you started out as a prince of a vassal state. But now that you hold the highest position, you should not cling to nostalgia for your homeland! Moreover, Hejian is far from the capital city, and the site is even more remote and desolate. Building projects there would waste resources and harm the people. I see no benefits whatsoever. Currently, the powerful families of the four surnames and the officials in the palace, many of whom have no merit, are all building houses there. There are over ten thousand of these constructions, connected by corridors, adorned magnificently, intricately carved, and the extravagance is beyond description. Their funerals surpass regulations, and their luxury exceeds acceptable norms; they compete with each other, refusing to restrain themselves. The "Guliang Commentary" says: "When money is exhausted, resentment arises; when strength is exhausted, anger arises." The "Shizi" says: "The ruler is like a carpenter's ink pot, and the people are like water. If the ink pot is square, the water becomes square; if the ink pot is round, the water becomes round." The ruler's actions influence the people as wind sways the grass. If the upper class is not frugal, the lower class indulges in pleasure, to the extent that even birds and beasts feast on the people's food, and trees and stones wear the silk of the people. In the past, Shi Kuang advised Duke Ping of Jin, saying: "The beams and pillars are embroidered with brocade, but the common people can't even afford coarse cloth; there is leftover wine in the pond, but scholars die of thirst; the horses in the stable eat fine grains, but the common people starve. Close advisors hesitate to speak up, while distant ones can't voice their opinions freely." This is exactly the situation now!
I heard that in the past, Cai Yong, the Imperial Censor, spoke directly to you in front of you at the Jinyang Gate, but the eunuchs Cao Jie and Wang Fu, among others, used imperial edicts to hint at your intentions. Cai Yong did not hide his thoughts out of fear and instead denounced those treacherous individuals. You let his words be known, which led to rumors and slander from malicious individuals who distorted his words and fabricated reports to frame him. Eventually, you punished Cai Yong because of these slanders, and his wife and children were exiled, leaving them destitute. Isn't this betraying a loyal subject? Now the ministers in the court take Cai Yong's case as a lesson, fearing inexplicable disasters from above and the threat of assassination from below. I know that the court will no longer hear honest advice.
Furthermore, General Duan Feng, with unparalleled martial arts skills and extensive knowledge of border affairs, fought for the country even in old age. He served two emperors and made significant contributions. You have promoted him to a high position, but he was falsely accused and persecuted by the Chief of the Imperial Guards Yang Qiu, leading to his death and the exile of his wife and children. The people mourned this, and the meritorious officials were disappointed. You should reinstate Cai Yong and restore the honor of General Duan Feng's family in order to provide loyal subjects with a path forward and quell the people's grievances.
You know he is a loyal subject, yet you still cannot reinstate him.
At that time, Your Majesty, you collected many treasures, gathered rare treasures from all over the world, and every item contributed by each county must first be sent to the Central Treasury, referred to as a "guidance fee." I daringly submitted a memorial: all the wealth in the world is generated by the two qi of yin and yang, and ultimately all belongs to you, Your Majesty. Since it all belongs to you, how can there be a distinction between public and private? However, now the Ministry of Works is collecting treasures from various counties, the central treasury is filled with silk from all over the world, the West Garden has collected the wealth of the Ministry of Agriculture, the central stables have gathered the horses of the Grand Equerry, and these contributed items must first pay the "guidance fee." This has increased the burden on the people, causing them to suffer, and the number of contributed items is very small, corrupt officials profit from it, and the people suffer. Moreover, those sycophantic ministers offer their own personal belongings to curry favor with Your Majesty, and Your Majesty indulges them, which encourages their arrogance.
Historically, the selection of officials was the responsibility of the Three Offices; the Three Offices would conduct assessments, and the Councillors would examine their conduct, measure their abilities, and evaluate them based on their political achievements after examinations and appointments. If no problems were found, it would be handed over to the Ministry of Personnel. The Ministry of Personnel would conduct impeachments, then request the Court of Judicial Review to investigate, find out the truth of the matter, and then impose punishment. However, now the appointment of officials rests solely with the Ministry of Personnel, or is directly appointed by Your Majesty. In this way, the Three Officials can avoid the responsibility of selecting officials, and the Ministry of Personnel does not have to bear responsibility. When rewards and punishments are unclear, who will take their responsibilities seriously?
Speaking, if there are no obvious errors, it's like a mirror that reflects no flaws, so what is there to blame? If you are afraid of making mistakes and leaving a record, then simply don't speak; if you are afraid of the mirror showing flaws, then simply don't look in the mirror. I hope Your Majesty will carefully consider my words and not blame me for any recorded errors or revealed flaws.
The memorial was not accepted.
In the first year of Zhongping, the Yellow Turbans rebelled, and the emperor asked me what should be done. I thought we should first deal with the corrupt officials in the imperial court, then grant amnesty to all, particularly the party members involved in the corruption, and then assess the abilities of the provincial governors and officials of the two-thousand-shi rank. The emperor accepted my suggestion and granted amnesty to the party members first. The eunuchs were terrified and eager to resign, and quickly summoned their relatives and children back to the capital. As a result, the eunuchs Zhao Zhong and Xia Yun persisted in their false accusations against me, saying that I "conspired with the party members and often read 'The Biography of Huo Guang'. My brothers are all corrupt." The emperor was displeased and sent the eunuch to arrest me. I heard that the emperor wanted to see me, and I angrily exclaimed, "If I die, chaos will ensue! As a grown man, I want to be loyal to the country. Do I still have to fight with the authorities?" After saying that, I committed suicide. Zhao Zhong and Xia Yun continued to falsely accuse me, claiming, "I was summoned and didn't know what I was being asked, so I hid in the bushes to scare myself. There must be a deceitful conspiracy!" So they arrested my relatives and confiscated my property. At that time, five eunuchs were known for their integrity and loyalty: Ji Yin, Ding Su, Xu Yan from Xiapi, Guo Dan from Nanyang, Li Xun from Ruyang, and Zhao You from Beihai. They lived among the people and never sought power or profit. Li Xun saw the scholars arguing and even bribing each other for exam rankings, and changing the words in the classics for personal gain. He reported this to the emperor and, together with the scholars, carved the "Five Classics" onto stone for Cai Yong to proofread. From then on, the text of the "Five Classics" was finalized, and the arguments ceased. Zhao You was knowledgeable and often proofread books, receiving acclaim from numerous scholars. There was also a young eunuch, Wu Kang from Ganling, who was not only skilled in divination but also knowledgeable and upright. Knowing he would not be highly valued, he often pretended to be sick and lived leisurely in a temple.
Zhang Rang is from Shu Prefecture; Zhao Zhong is from Anping. They both served in the palace when they were young, and during the reign of Emperor Huan, they were both junior palace attendants. Zhao Zhong was rewarded for his involvement in the killing of Liang Ji and was appointed as Duxiang Marquis. In the eighth year of the Yanxi era, he was demoted to Marquis within the Passes, with a stipend of one thousand hu.
During the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, both Rang and Zhong were promoted to Court Eunuchs and were also enfeoffed as marquises. They colluded with Cao Jie and Wang Fu, forming close relationships. After Cao Jie's death, Rang succeeded him as Chief Eunuch. Rang had a head steward under him who was in charge of managing household affairs. He took bribes, gaining considerable power and influence.
There was a man named Meng Tuo from Fufeng who was extremely wealthy. He had a good relationship with Rang's slaves, often visited Rang, and generously offered lavish gifts. Rang's slaves were grateful to him and asked Meng Tuo, "What do you want? We'll help you with whatever we can!" Meng Tuo said, "I just hope you can help me meet Lord Rang once." At that time, when people visited Rang, there were often hundreds or thousands of carriages and carts. Meng Tuo pointed to Rang's mansion and said, "I need to see Lord Rang." However, when he arrived, he was unable to enter. As a result, Rang's head steward and a group of slaves met Meng Tuo along the way and carried him in a sedan chair into the mansion.
Those who came to visit Rang were astonished by Meng Tuo's ability to easily meet Rang. They all rushed to offer him bribes of treasures. Meng Tuo gave some of these treasures to Rang, who was very pleased and subsequently promoted Meng Tuo to Inspector of Liangzhou.
At that time, the Twelve Eunuchs Cao Jie, Wang Fu, Zhao Zhong, Xia Yun, Guo Sheng, Sun Zhang, Bi Lan, Li Song, Duan Gui, Gao Wang, Zhang Gong, Han Kui, and Song Dian, each of them was one of the emperor's closest ministers. They were ennobled as marquises and enjoyed wealth and honor. Their relatives and friends were spread all over the place, corrupting and oppressing the people. They were simply social parasites. The Yellow Turban Rebellion broke out, and bandits were rampant; chaos reigned everywhere. A man named Zhang Jun, hailing from Zhongshan, served as a palace attendant. He wrote to the emperor: "I believe the fundamental reason Zhang Jiao was able to rebel, and why so many people were willing to follow him, lies with you twelve eunuchs. You have placed your relatives and friends in various official positions, where they embezzle money and oppress the people. The people have grievances but nowhere to appeal, so they resorted to rebellion. These twelve eunuchs should have their heads cut off and hung in the southern suburbs as a warning to the people. They should apologize and send envoys to inform the entire country. In this way, without the need for fighting, those bandits will naturally disappear."
The emperor presented Zhang Jun's memorial to Cao Jie and his companions. They were terrified and quickly went barefoot and kowtowed in a plea for mercy, saying they were willing to go to Luoyang prison by themselves and offer their family assets to support the military. As a result, the emperor ordered them to put their hats back on and their shoes, and continue working as if nothing had happened. The emperor, furious, confronted Zhang Jun, declaring, "This kid is really crazy! Are there no good people among the ten eunuchs?" Zhang Jun once again submitted a memorial with the same content as before, but the emperor paid him no mind. The emperor also ordered the court officials and imperial censor to investigate whether Zhang Jun had any connections to Zhang Jiao's cult. The censors acted on Cao Jie’s suggestion and falsely accused Zhang Jun of practicing the dark arts of the Yellow Turbans. In the end, Zhang Jun was arrested and died in prison. In fact, Cao Jie and his associates were secretly colluding with Zhang Jiao, having close ties. Later, the scandals involving the other two eunuchs, Feng Yu and Xu Feng, came to light, and they were executed. The emperor was very angry and questioned Cao Jie and the others, saying, "You often claim that anyone who opposes you is plotting a rebellion, arrest them all, and even execute them. Now those who oppose you are contributing to the country, yet you are in league with Zhang Jiao. Shouldn't you be punished?" Cao Jie and the others quickly kowtowed and said, "This was the doing of Wang Fu and Hou Lan before." Only then did the emperor stop.
Next year, something big is going to happen in the palace! They say the South Palace is going to be built, and Let and Zhong told the emperor they want to impose a nationwide farmland tax at ten coins per mu to be used for palace construction. As a result, they're gathering timber and stone from places like Taiyuan, Hedong, and Dida, and each prefecture must transport goods to the capital city. The eunuchs at the Yellow Gate are incredibly arrogant, and if the goods delivered do not meet their standards, they force lowball purchases, paying only a fraction of what the work is worth, and then selling at high prices to other eunuchs. Some of these eunuchs may not even accept the goods, which leads to the timber just rotting away, and the palace remains unfinished year after year. Local officials, in order to complete their tasks, secretly increase taxes, leaving the people to suffer tremendously! The emperor secretly collects goods through the eunuchs in the West Garden, under the guise of "envoys," to keep local officials in the dark and make it easier to take bribes.
Local officials and talented scholars alike have to pitch in money and effort for palace construction to get promoted. Bigger counties have to cough up two to three million coins, and others aren't off the hook either. Those in office have to negotiate prices with the eunuchs in the West Garden before they can take their posts. If they can't scrape together enough cash, some even take their own lives. Even those who want to stay honest and refuse to take the job end up being forced into it.
At that time, the newly appointed Julu Prefect and Henan Sima, Zhi Gang, was relieved of a donation of three million coins due to his reputation for integrity. However, after receiving the imperial decree, he sighed and said, "I'm supposed to be the people's official, but instead, I'm exploiting them. I can't do this just to hit targets!" He then tried to back out of the position due to illness, but the emperor wouldn't allow it. He went to Mengjin, wrote a memorial laying out the flaws of the current government and the historical lessons of how corruption led to national ruin, and then took poison and ended his life. After he submitted the memorial, the emperor temporarily stopped collecting funds for the palace construction.
The emperor built a "Wanjin Hall" in the West Garden and brought a large amount of gold, silver, and silk fabrics from the Si Nong Temple, piled up like mountains. He also went to Hejian to buy land and houses, constructing residences and gardens. The emperor was originally from a marquis family and used to be very poor. He always lamented that Emperor Huan left no decent houses behind, so he desperately accumulated wealth and even distributed money to some eunuchs and attendants, each of whom was given tens of millions of coins. He often said, "Eunuch Zhang is my father, Eunuch Zhao is my mother." Once these eunuchs gained power, they shamelessly erected extravagant mansions, resembling the imperial palace. The emperor frequently ascended the Yong'an Tower. The eunuchs were afraid that he would see the houses they lived in, so they had the Chief Eunuch Shang Dan advise him, saying, "The emperor should not climb high, as it will make the people uneasy." From then on, the emperor dared not go up the tower again.
The following year, the emperor ordered the official Song Dian, in charge of palace repairs, to renovate the Southern Palace and the Jade Hall. He also had the Yeting Ling Bi Lan cast four bronze figures in a row, placed at Canglong Que and Xuanwu Que, and cast four large bells, each capable of holding two thousand 'hu' of grain, hanging in front of the Jade Hall and Yuntai Hall. He also cast bronze Tianlu and Chanchu that spouted water, directing it to the east of Pingmen Bridge, allowing it to flow into the palace. He also constructed rotating carts and water sprinklers, placed on the west side of the bridge, used to sprinkle and sweep the roads of the southern and northern suburbs, to reduce the costs for the people in maintaining the roads. He also cast bronze coins with four stripes, each coin with four stripes. At the time, some people privately remarked that this was overly extravagant and wasteful, signaling a bad omen. After these coins were cast, they would definitely scatter like the four stripes. As a result, the capital indeed fell into chaos, and these coins did indeed spread to various parts of the country. Later, the emperor appointed Dong Zhuo as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, but he was soon dismissed.
Six years later, the emperor died. Yuan Shao, the general, persuaded He Jin to kill the eunuchs to win the people's favor. The plan was leaked, which resulted in He Jin's death. Yuan Shao led his troops to kill Dong Zhuo, and every captured eunuch, regardless of rank, was killed. Dong Zhuo and others took the emperor and fled to the Yellow River with dozens of followers. The pursuers were hot on their heels, and Dong Zhuo and others tearfully said their goodbyes, saying, "We are going to die; the world will fall into chaos. Your Majesty must look after yourself!" After saying that, they all threw themselves into the river.
From ancient times to the present, those who have brought down great enterprises and destroyed the ancestral lineage, their failures can be traced back. In the three dynasties of Xia, Shang, and Zhou, troubles came from favoring concubines; the Qin Dynasty perished due to extravagance and cruelty; the Western Han Dynasty lost its power due to the power of the empress dowager's relatives; and the Eastern Han Dynasty fell due to the chaos caused by eunuchs. The reasons for the rise and fall of these dynasties have been recognized since the Xia and Shang periods. Now, let's briefly discuss how those corrupt eunuchs gained power.
These people were originally criminals who had committed crimes and nearly lost their lives. They held no status in their families, were unremarkable in appearance, and lacked any background. However, they initially appeared humble, were skilled at reading others, and easily gained the trust of others. Gradually, they got involved in politics and picked up many rules and customs. As a result, the young emperor came to rely on these older officials; the empress dowager also trusted the eunuchs' advice, had no reason to distrust them, and was particularly close to them. Some of these people were indeed honest and capable of rectifying evil; some were skilled in flattery, deceit, and hiding the truth; some leveraged their reputation for loyalty to promote themselves. They weren't ruthless and cruel at first; they became that way over time.
However, bad and good people may appear different on the surface, and this has its reasons. When they become greedy for personal gain, their followers grow increasingly powerful. Even if the upright ministers oppose them, they are often preemptively silenced. By the time the royal relatives sense something amiss and seek to resist, the eunuchs have already seized power. Therefore, loyal ministers are often outsmarted by treacherous officials, and the country ultimately heads towards destruction. The Book of Changes says, "Stepping on frost will soon turn into solid ice." The seeds of this disaster were sown long ago. Look at the rise and fall of these eunuchs now; how could such a situation have arisen overnight? Even minor missteps, when accumulated, can result in major calamities. Moreover, those insignificant individuals who dare to meddle in state matters! They manipulate language and put on false fronts, sometimes pretending to be virtuous, other times acting menacing, ultimately bringing harm to both family and nation, with dire consequences!
