Confucius said, "If you govern people with laws and punishments, people might avoid breaking the law, but they'll lose their sense of shame. If you govern with morality and ritual, the people will have a sense of shame and be able to self-restrain." Laozi also said, "True morality isn't about striving for it; it's about living it. Fake morality is all about fear of getting caught. The more laws there are, the more thieves there will be." Sima Qian said, "Laozi's words are truly profound! Laws are tools, but they aren't the key to good governance. Laws used to be incredibly strict, yet dishonesty and corruption ran rampant. Eventually, everyone was lying to everyone else, ultimately leading to the decline of the country. At that time, officials were fighting a losing battle. Without harsh measures, how could they succeed? Moralizing without action is just neglect! So Confucius said, 'I handle lawsuits like anyone else, but my real aim is to prevent them altogether.' 'Working-class folks would laugh at Daoism.' This is not an exaggeration at all. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, they ditched the fancy rituals and embraced simplicity. Even with loopholes in the law, allowing some heinous criminals to escape punishment, the officials were diligent and honest, not daring to commit crimes, and the common people were able to live and work in peace. So, good governance isn't about harsh punishments, it's about something else entirely."
During the reign of the Empress Dowager Lü Zhi, those cruel officials all received titles and noble ranks; they oppressed the imperial family and insulted the meritorious officials. After the downfall of the Lü clan, the families of these cruel officials were also exterminated. During the reign of Emperor Jing, Chao Cuo consolidated his position with strict measures and political schemes, which eventually led to the Rebellion of the Seven States and his own demise. Following this, figures like Zhi Du and Ning Cheng emerged.
Zhi Du was from Yang County and served as a court official during the reign of Emperor Wen. During the reign of Emperor Jing, Zhi Du served as the emperor's personal guard commander, daring to speak out and criticize the ministers in court. Once, when accompanying the emperor to Shanglin Garden, a wild boar suddenly appeared while Lady Jia was in the restroom. The emperor looked at Zhi Du, who remained indifferent. The emperor wanted to personally lead the troops to rescue Lady Jia, but Zhi Du knelt before him and said, "If Lady Jia dies, we can find another one. Are there no other women like her in the world? Your Majesty, if you act recklessly, what about the ancestral temple and the empress dowager?" The emperor then changed his mind, and the wild boar left. Upon hearing this, the empress dowager rewarded Zhi Du with about 125 pounds of gold and valued him even more.
The Jianshi clan of Jinan Commandery had over three hundred households, acting tyrannical and oppressive; even high-ranking officials couldn't deal with them. Therefore, Emperor Jing appointed Zhi Du as the Prefect of Jinan. Upon taking office, Zhi Du eliminated the ringleaders of the Jianshi clan, causing the rest to tremble in fear. Over a year later, there were no theft cases in the commandery. The Prefects of the surrounding dozen commanderies all revered Zhi Du just like they revered the central government.
Zhi Du was exceptionally brave, strong, and upright, never accepting letters or favors in private. He often said, "I've left my hometown to serve as an official; I should give my all for the country, even if it means neglecting my family."
Zhi Du was later promoted to the rank of Chief Inspector. Although the Prime Minister Tiao Hou had a prestigious status and an arrogant attitude, Zhi Du still greeted him with a bow. At that time, the common people were very straightforward, willing to take responsibility for their mistakes. Zhi Du, however, fearlessly enforced the law, even against the powerful. Even nobles and imperial relatives were too scared to meet his gaze, whispering his nickname, "the Azure Hawk."
Prince Linjiang was summoned to the Chief Inspector's office for trial. He wanted to write a letter of apology to the Emperor, but Zhi Du's officials did not allow him to do so. Marquis Weiqi secretly plotted to help Prince Linjiang, but after writing the apology letter, Prince Linjiang committed suicide. Empress Dowager Dou flew into a rage and had Zhi Du punished under the harshest laws, leading to his dismissal and return home. Emperor Xiaojing immediately appointed Zhi Du as the Governor of Yanmen, allowing him to handle affairs en route and to use his own judgment.
The Xiongnu had heard tales of Zhi Du's fearsome reputation. In border areas, as long as Zhi Du had soldiers stationed, the Xiongnu would automatically retreat. Even long after his death, they dared not approach Yanmen Pass. The Xiongnu even made a wooden effigy of Zhi Du for archery practice – their cavalry couldn't hit it, proving just how much they feared him.
Empress Dowager Dou ultimately had him executed according to Han law. "He was a loyal subject!" the Emperor insisted. "And wasn't Prince Linjiang?" the Empress Dowager countered sharply. Thus, he was ultimately beheaded.
Ning Cheng was from Rang County. He initially served as a minor official by Emperor Jing's side. He had a bad temper, daring to oppress his superiors when he was a low-ranking official; when he became a high-ranking official, he treated his subordinates casually, like bundles of kindling, and was a cunning and domineering guy. He gradually rose to the position of Jinan Commandant, with Zhi Du serving as the governor at the time. Several commandants had previously walked into the governor's mansion and kowtowed to the governor, showing how afraid they were of Zhi Du. When Ning Cheng went, he rode right past Zhi Du's mansion without a second glance. Zhi Du had long heard of Ning Cheng's reputation, so he treated him with special favor and befriended him. Much later, Zhi Du died, and many of the emperor's relatives and local bigwigs near Chang'an began to violate the law and discipline at will, so the emperor appointed Ning Cheng as a Commandant. Ning Cheng's governance was similar to Zhi Du's, but he was not as clean as Zhi Du. However, the emperor's relatives and local bigwigs were all trembling with fear.
After Emperor Wu became emperor, he transferred Ning Cheng to the capital to serve as an internal historian. At that time, many relatives were jealous of Ning Cheng and spoke ill of him, resulting in Ning Cheng being convicted and having his head shaved and being put in the cangue. At that time, nine ministers facing execution were rarely tortured first, but Ning Cheng had to endure the heaviest punishment. Ning Cheng felt that his life was over, with no hope, so he took the opportunity to escape, forging documents and secretly slipping out of the border back home. He proudly said, "If you can't make it to the rank of two thousand stones as an official, or earn millions as a merchant, how can you compare with others!" So he borrowed money, bought over a thousand acres of land, and hired thousands of poor households to work for him. Several years later, during an amnesty, he quickly accumulated a small fortune and began acting like a local hero, often meddling in official affairs and commanding a group of cavalry when going out. He was more popular than the county magistrate himself!
Zhou Yangyou, his father was the uncle of the King of Huainan, Marquis Zhouyang, so Zhou Yangyou took the Zhouyang surname. Due to family connections, Zhou Yangyou became an official, serving during the reigns of Emperor Xiaowen and Emperor Jing. During Emperor Jing's reign, Zhou Yangyou served as a prefect. After Emperor Wu came to power, the court officials were more cautious, but among those officials earning a salary of two thousand shi, Zhou Yangyou was the most arrogant, domineering, and extravagant. He would protect those he liked even if it meant breaking the law, and would bend the law to get rid of anyone he didn't like. Wherever he was posted, he'd crack down on the local bigwigs. As a prefect, he treated the commandants like county magistrates. As a commandant, he bullied the prefect, grabbing power wherever he could. He and Ji An were both big shots, with Sima An lacking literary talent. They were all high-ranking officials, and even in their carriages, they wouldn't dare sit with their cushions flat, fearing it might imply equality.
Later, Zhou Yangyou became the Commandant of Hedong and fought for power and profit with the prefect at the time, Sheng Tugong, accusing each other. As a result, Sheng Tugong was found guilty but refused to accept punishment and committed suicide, while Zhou Yangyou was executed and left to rot.
Since Ning Cheng and Zhou Yangyou, such incidents have become more and more common, and the common people have also learned to game the system. Most officials followed Ning Cheng and Zhou Yangyou's example – and that meant trouble.
Zhao Yu is from Le County (present-day Leiyang). He started as a junior scribe, later promoted to a position in the central administration due to his integrity, and eventually became a historian under the command of Grand General Dou Ying. When Dou Ying became the Premier, Zhao Yu became the Premier's record keeper, and everyone in the office praised him for his integrity and fairness. However, Dou Ying did not employ him, saying, "I know very well that Zhao Yu is capable, but his knowledge is too profound and not suitable for working in the Premier's office." During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Zhao Yu, due to his diligent work as a scribe, gradually rose through the ranks and became an imperial censor. Emperor Wu recognized his abilities and eventually promoted him to Grand Master of the Palace, a position responsible for overseeing court affairs. He collaborated with Zhang Tang on legal reforms, earning the appreciation of Emperor Wu, and officials all sought to learn from his methods. From then on, the enforcement of laws became increasingly strict.
Zhang Tang, from Du County (modern-day Duyun), was the son of a Chang'an magistrate. When his father went out on official business, he left Zhang Tang at home to look after the house. When his father returned and found that mice had stolen some meat, he angrily scolded Zhang Tang. Zhang Tang was no ordinary child; he dug open the mouse hole, caught the meat-stealing mouse, and even found the remaining meat. He then wrote a detailed report, interrogating the mouse as if it were a criminal, and even drafted a judgment, presenting the mouse and the meat as evidence. When his father saw the report, written by his son, resembling that of an experienced jailer—clear and articulate—he was shocked and eventually let Zhang Tang take charge of writing these prison documents. After his father passed, Zhang Tang stayed on in Chang'an, making a name for himself.
When Zhou Yanghou was just a minor official, he was once imprisoned in Chang'an, and Zhang Tang tried his best to help him. Later, when Zhou Yanghou became a marquis, he had a very good relationship with Zhang Tang and introduced him to others as a good person. Zhang Tang worked in the Imperial Secretariat and later became a subordinate official of Ning Chengyuan. Ning Chengyuan thought highly of Zhang Tang and recommended him to the court, transferring him to Maoling as a magistrate to manage local affairs in a moderate manner.
After Wuanhou became the prime minister, he recommended Zhang Tang as a historian and strongly advocated for him to the emperor. Zhang Tang was promoted to a censor, responsible for investigating cases. He investigated the case of Empress Chen's witchcraft, thoroughly uncovering all those involved. The emperor recognized his abilities and gradually promoted him, eventually elevating him to Chief Minister. He and Zhao Yu formulated laws and regulations together; both were inflexible in their application of the law, making officials fearful. Later, Zhao Yu was promoted to Prefect and then transferred to the Court of the Imperial Clan, while Zhang Tang became the magistrate. The two men were close, though their relationship was complex, and Zhang Tang respected Zhao Yu like a brother. Zhao Yu was upright and proud, never dining with even the highest officials. Even when nobles visited, Zhao Yu never returned the visit, dedicated to upholding the law and enforcing it without bias, always on the lookout for his subordinates' misdeeds. Zhang Tang was cunning and adept at using schemes to deal with others. When he was just a minor official, he engaged in corrupt practices and colluded privately with some wealthy merchants in Chang'an, such as Tian Jia and Uncle Yu. After becoming one of the Nine Ministers, he began to hobnob with the intellectual elite throughout the country; his admiration was entirely superficial, cultivated purely for his own advancement.
Back then, the court was all about philosophical debates. Tang handled cases and wanted to emulate ancient fairness and justice. He had scholars and students pore over the classics to help solve tough cases. When reporting difficult cases, he always first analyzed the situation clearly, figured out what the emperor would like and dislike, and then formally reported it. This made the verdict very clear and also demonstrated the emperor's wise decision-making. When reporting work, if the emperor gave instructions, Tang immediately expressed his gratitude. If the emperor didn't say anything, he'd always check with his top guys first, saying, "This is my call. If the emperor's not happy, it's all on me." In this way, even if a mistake was made, the responsibility would be on him and rarely implicate others. Sometimes he would report directly, and if the emperor was very satisfied, he would say, "This matter, I did not come up with it; it was the idea of one of my guys." When recommending talents, he also did the same, playing up their strengths and downplaying their weaknesses.
He presided over cases; if the emperor wanted to convict someone, he handled the case very seriously, making life difficult for the supervisors; if the emperor wanted to release someone, he handled the case lightly, making life easier for the supervisors. If the trial involved high-ranking officials, he used all kinds of sophisticated rhetoric to accuse them; if the trial involved ordinary people, he directly stated that even flimsy evidence would be enough to convince the emperor. So many times, the emperor would adopt Tang Weng's opinions. Tang Weng had risen to such a high position, yet he was very low-key in private and showed great humility in his interactions. He was especially kind to the children of old friends and to his impoverished siblings. He visited high-ranking officials come what may. Thus, although Tang Weng’s handling of cases was sometimes not entirely fair and just, he enjoyed an excellent reputation. Many senior officials regarded him as a capable assistant, and scholars admired him. Prime Minister Hong praised him many times.
Later, when dealing with the cases of the rebellions of the three kings of Huainan, Hengshan, and Jiangdu, Tang Weng investigated the matter thoroughly and found the root cause. Yan Zhu and Wu Bei, the emperor originally wanted to release them, but Tang Weng argued logically, saying, "Wu Bei was originally involved in the rebellion, and Yan is a trusted confidant of the emperor, who had free access to the palace and even colluded with the vassals privately. If we let such men go unpunished, how can we expect to govern the country?" The emperor listened to his words and agreed to convict them. His judgments alienated many ministers, but these very offenses ironically enhanced his reputation. In this way, Tang Weng became more and more valued, and finally rose to the position of Chief Imperial Censor.
After the Han Dynasty defeated Hunxie and other Xiongnu leaders, they launched a large-scale attack on the Xiongnu. As a result, the area south of the Yellow River suffered from floods and droughts, causing people to be displaced and desperate for government aid, but the county coffers were empty. So the Prime Minister reported to the Emperor, suggesting minting platinum and wuzhu coins, taking control of the nationwide salt and iron trade, suppressing wealthy merchants, issuing edicts against land-grabbing, and using clever tactics to enforce the laws. Zhang Tang reported to the Emperor on government affairs every morning, discussing national matters until late at night, causing the Emperor to forget to eat. The Prime Minister, Zhang Tang, held immense power, effectively controlling all national affairs.
But the common people suffered; chaos reigned, and while the county collected taxes, the benefits never trickled down. Instead, corrupt officials lined their pockets, leading Zhang Tang to crack down hard. As a result, from top to bottom, people both loved and hated Zhang Tang. When Zhang Tang fell ill, the Emperor's personal visit underscored his immense power.
The Xiongnu came to request a peace-through-marriage alliance, and the ministers all presented their opinions. The advisor Di Shan said, "A marriage alliance would be better." When the emperor asked him why, Di Shan replied, "War is cruel and should not be easily provoked. Emperor Gaozu wanted to fight the Xiongnu but suffered a great loss in Pingcheng, which led to the choice of a marriage alliance. During the reigns of Emperor Xiaohui and Empress Dowager Gao, the empire enjoyed a period of peace and prosperity. However, when Emperor Xiaowen wanted to deal with the Xiongnu, the northern border was constantly unstable, suffering from the hardships of war. During the reign of Emperor Xiaojing, the Seven Kingdoms of Wu and Chu rebelled, causing Emperor Xiaojing to constantly run between the two palaces, worn down by months of worry. After the rebellion was suppressed, Emperor Xiaojing never mentioned war again, and the country flourished. Now, Your Majesty, by sending troops to fight the Xiongnu, you have left the country empty and the people on the border suffering. From these circumstances, it would be better to choose a marriage alliance." The emperor asked for Zhang Tang's opinion, and Zhang Tang said, "That's the babbling of a clueless bookworm!" Di Shan responded, "I'm just a loyal simpleton, while the Grand Secretary Zhang Tang is pretending to be loyal. Look at what Zhang Tang did in Huainan and Jiangdu, using harsh laws to severely punish the vassal states and causing unrest among them. I have long known that Zhang Tang is pretending to be loyal!" The emperor angrily said, "I put him in charge of a small territory; can he stop the Xiongnu from invading and looting?" Di Shan said, "No." The emperor then asked, "How about guarding a small outpost?" Di Shan said, "Still no." The emperor asked again, "What about guarding a small pass?" Di Shan realized he couldn't argue anymore and reluctantly said, "Yes." So the emperor sent Di Shan to guard the pass. In less than a month, the Xiongnu beheaded Di Shan and rode off. Since then, a chilling silence fell over the court. Zhang Tang had a friend named Tian Jia, who was a merchant with integrity. When Zhang Tang was just a low-ranking official, he had a close relationship with Tian Jia. Even after Zhang Tang became a high-ranking official, Tian Jia still often criticized Zhang Tang's mistakes, showing his integrity. Zhang Tang's seven years as Grand Secretary ended in disgrace.
So, there was this guy from Hedong named Li Wen, who had beef with Tang He. Later, Li Wen became a high-ranking official and was always trying to get Tang in trouble in his official reports, but it never worked. Tang had a favorite historian named Lu Yeju, who knew that Tang was still upset about Li Wen. Lu secretly tipped off the Emperor about Li Wen. The Emperor put it in Tang's hands. Tang wanted to punish Li Wen, maybe even kill him. Tang knew it was all Lu Yeju's doing. The Emperor asked Tang, "So, what's the story here?" Tang played dumb and said, "Probably Li Wen pissed someone off, and they got even."
Later, Lu Yeju took a turn for the worse back home, and Tang personally went to visit him and gave him a foot rub. At that time, Zhao's economy depended on iron, and King Zhao was constantly at odds with the court over the ironworks. Tang always butted heads with King Zhao. King Zhao wanted to cause trouble for Tang and find a way to get him. Coincidentally, Lu Yeju had previously presided over a case involving King Zhao, and King Zhao held a grudge against him. He wrote, complaining, "This powerful Tang holds a high position. His subordinate historian Lu Yeju fell ill, and Tang actually went to give him a foot rub. These two are up to no good!" He sent the letter to the Justice Department. As a result, Lu Yeju died, and this incident implicated his younger brother, who worked for the government. While Tang was dealing with other officials who had committed offenses, he saw Lu Yeju's younger brother and wanted to help him on the sly, but played it cool. But Lu's brother didn't get it, and ended up resenting Tang, so he sent a letter accusing Tang and Lu Yeju of conspiring together to frame Li Wen. He sent the letter to the Department of Corrections. The corrections chief also had a bone to pick with Tang. After receiving the letter, he looked into it but never filed a report. Then, someone robbed Emperor Xiaowen's tomb, and Prime Minister Qingzhai was going to apologize to the court, and he and Tang were going together. When they arrived at the court, Tang figured only the Prime Minister needed to apologize for the royal gardens, so he didn't. The Prime Minister apologized alone, and the Emperor ordered an investigation. Tang wanted to use this to let the Prime Minister know about Li Wen, but the PM was already stressed. The three top aides hated Tang's guts and were looking for a way to nail him.
Zhu Maichen, a native of Kuaiji, was a devoted reader of the Spring and Autumn Annals. Later, a man named Zhuang Zhu boasted about him to others. As a result, Maichen, with his understanding of the Chu Ci, gained the Emperor's appreciation along with Zhuang Zhu and became an official. He was later promoted to Palace Attendant and began to wield power. At that time, Tang was just a low-ranking official who had to kneel to deliver items to Maichen and his associates.
Afterwards, Tang's fortunes rose, and he became the Minister of Justice, responsible for Huainan, where he undermined Zhuang Zhu's position while Maichen quietly awaited his chance. When Tang was appointed as the Grand Master of Remonstrance, Maichen was appointed as the governor of Kuaiji County and the chief of the capital guard, ranking among the Nine Ministers. Unfortunately, the good times did not last long; a few years later, Maichen was dismissed from office for breaking the law and became the Chief Historian.
When Maichen saw Tang again, Tang was sitting on the bed, and his assistant treated Maichen with indifference. Maichen, being from Chu, was straightforward and deeply resented Tang, always thinking of revenge against him.
Next, let's talk about Wang Chao, who was from Qi and became the Right Interior Minister based on his talent. There was also a man named Bian Tong, who was proficient in various political strategies, was domineering and authoritarian, and rose to the position of Governor of Jinan. These three individuals, Maichen, Wang Chao, and Bian Tong, all once held high positions of power but later fell from grace, ending up as Chief Historians under Tang, bowing to him quietly. Tang often acted as the Prime Minister and knew that these three Chief Historians had previously held high positions, so he deliberately made things difficult for them and oppressed them.
Therefore, these three Chief Historians conspired together, saying, "Tang initially were close friends with us but later betrayed us; now he wants to use the ancestral temple rites to accuse us; he wants to replace us! We know that Tang has many illegal activities." They ordered a search of Tang's holdings and found evidence against his aides, like Zuo Tianxin, claiming that Tianxin always knew in advance what Tang was going to report, profited from hoarding and embezzlement, and shared the gains with Tang, along with many other corrupt practices.
Word got around about this, faster and faster. The emperor asked Tang, "How come these merchants always seem to know what I'm gonna do before I do it? They're always hoarding their stuff. Is someone spilling the beans?" Tang did not defend himself. He feigned surprise, "Sure, there's gotta be a leak!" Another guy, Jianxuan, piled on, saying Tang was crooked. After hearing this, the emperor figured Tang was a sneaky, two-faced weasel, and sent eight officials to investigate. Tang denied everything. So the emperor sent Zhao Yu to interrogate him. When Zhao Yu showed up, he laid into Tang: "What's the matter with you? How many people have you had bumped off? Now everyone says you are guilty, and the Emperor's put you in my hands. You're gonna have to figure something out. So, what's your story?" Tang then wrote a letter of confession, saying, "Look, I'm just a nobody. I started out as a lowly clerk, and the Emperor's been awfully good to me, giving me this high-powered job. I don't deserve it. But those three Changshi are the ones who set me up." After speaking, Tang committed suicide.
When Tang died, all he had was five hundred bucks – the Emperor's handouts – nothing else. His brothers and sons wanted to give him a grand funeral, but his mother said, "Although Tang was once a minister of the emperor, he was slandered by those bad people before his death. How can we give him a fancy funeral?" In the end, he got buried in a plain pine box hauled by an oxcart—no fancy casket. When the emperor heard about this, he sighed, "Only a mother like that could raise a son like him!" He then ordered the investigation of the three Changshi, and Prime Minister Qingzhai also committed suicide. Tian Xin was also dismissed from his position. The Emperor always felt bad about what happened to Tang, and later he gave Tang's son, An Shi, a promotion.
Zhao Yu was dismissed midway through his tenure, but after a while, he was appointed as the Minister of the Imperial Household. Initially, many people believed Zhao Yu was involved in corrupt practices and did not trust him at all. However, when he rose to a position comparable to the Nine Ministers, the situation changed. Zhao Yu was very strict in his work; as his workload increased and he demanded more from his subordinates, he himself became more lenient, giving the appearance of fairness. Later, individuals like Wang Wenshu came to power, governing even more harshly than Zhao Yu. As Zhao Yu aged, he was transferred to Yan State to serve as Prime Minister. Several years later, he committed some offenses and was dismissed, returning home. More than a decade after Tang's death, Zhao Yu died peacefully at home.
Yi Zong was from Hedong. In his youth, he had been an outlaw alongside Zhang Cigong, engaging in widespread robbery. Yi Zong had a sister who was highly skilled in medicine and gained the favor of the Queen Mother. The Queen Mother asked her, "Do any of your siblings hold official positions?" The sister replied, "My brother is not capable." The Queen Mother then informed the emperor, who appointed Yi Zong as a junior official, and later as the magistrate of Shangdang County. Yi Zong was decisive in his work, without delay, and there were no cases of unpaid taxes in the counties under his jurisdiction, earning him the highest ranking. He was later promoted to be the magistrate of Changling and Chang'an, enforcing the law strictly and not fearing the powerful. After capturing the Queen Mother's grandson, Xiu Chengjunzi Zhong, the emperor admired him and promoted him to Commandant of He Nei. Upon arriving in He Nei, he completely eradicated the powerful Rang clan, and from then on, there were no lost items on the road and no doors left unlocked at night. Zhang Cigong also became a court official, renowned for his bravery and skill in battle, often charging into the fray and making significant contributions, eventually being appointed as the Marquis of Antou.
Ning Cheng was originally intended by the Emperor to be the county governor. However, the Imperial Censor Hong said, "When I was a minor official in Shandong, Ning Cheng was the Commandant of Jinan. His methods of governance were like a wolf in sheep's clothing, completely uncontrollable! This person cannot be allowed to govern the common people." After hearing this, the Emperor changed Ning Cheng's appointment to be the Commandant of Guandu. Over a year later, officials of all ranks in the Guandong region and people entering and leaving the passes from various places spread rumors: "Ning Cheng is like a she-devil; do not provoke his anger!"
Yi Zong was transferred from Henan to be the Prefect of Nanyang. Hearing that Ning Cheng lived in Nanyang, Yi Zong arrived at the pass, and Ning Cheng specially went to greet him by the roadside. However, Yi Zong had a bad temper and did not give Ning Cheng any face. After arriving in Nanyang County, Yi Zong searched Ning Cheng's home and smashed everything in his house to pieces. Ning Cheng was convicted because of this, and he, along with Kong, Bao, and others, all fled. The officials and people of Nanyang were too scared to leave their homes. Zhu Qiang, Du Yan, and Du Zhou from Pingshi were Yi Zong's lackeys, and Yi Zong promoted them to be palace officials. Later, several military expeditions were sent to Dingxiang, causing chaos among the officials and people there. Therefore, the Emperor transferred Yi Zong to be the Prefect of Dingxiang. Upon arriving in Dingxiang, Yi Zong immediately sentenced over two hundred people who had been imprisoned for serious crimes but for a short time, as well as over two hundred relatives and friends who had come to visit them, to death, saying, "He granted them a 'pardon'—by executing them." That day, over four hundred people were killed. From then on, everyone in Dingxiang County lived in terror, while the wicked and petty officials ran riot.
At that time, Zhao Yu and Zhang Tang became high-ranking officials due to their strict law enforcement, but their governance methods were relatively lenient, adhering to the law. However, Yi Zong was like a fierce eagle, ruthlessly capturing small thieves. Later, cash and silver began to circulate, and people started breaking the law, especially in the capital. So the emperor appointed Yi Zong as the chief of internal security and Wang Wenshu as the chief of imperial security. Wang Wenshu was very cruel; he never informed Yi Zong of his plans, and Yi Zong constantly undermined him, stealing Wang Wenshu's credit. Yi Zong killed many people, but he thought nothing of it. As a result, more and more evil people emerged, the situation became more serious, and the problem grew larger. Officials saw killing and arresting as their main jobs, and Yan Feng was promoted because of his brutality. Yi Zong was even more ruthless than anyone.
The emperor went to Dinghu for a vacation and had been sick for a long time. He then suddenly went to Ganquan, where many places along the road were not repaired. The emperor angrily said, "Does Yi Zong think I'll never use this road again?" So he severely reprimanded him. In winter, someone reported Yang Ke for bribery, and Yi Zong decided Yang Ke was disrupting public order, so his subordinates arrested those working for Yang Ke. When the emperor heard about it, he sent Du Shi to handle the matter, believing that Yi Zong's actions were undermining morale and the government's work, so he dismissed Yi Zong. A year later, Zhang Tang also died.
Wang Wenshu was from Yangling and had done some bad things when he was young. Later, he took the exams and was appointed as a local magistrate in the county but was dismissed several times. After becoming an official, he excelled in handling cases and rose to the position of court historian. Later, he worked with Zhang Tang and was promoted to the Guangping military commander.
He selected more than ten bold and daring influential local elites from the counties as his enforcers. These individuals all had serious crimes, but he used them to capture thieves, turning a blind eye to their actions. Even if these people committed a hundred crimes, he did not punish them according to the law; if anyone tried to escape, he would take the opportunity to exterminate their entire clan. Because of this, the bandits on the borders of Qi and Zhao dared not approach Guangping County, and Guangping County became so safe that you could leave valuables on the road and they wouldn't be stolen. When the emperor heard about this, he promoted him to the position of the prefect of Henei.
When he was in Guangping County before, he had already inquired into the details of the cunning and corrupt officials in Henei County. After taking office, he pacified the county within three months. He ordered the county to prepare fifty fast horses as a courier system from Henei to Chang'an. Using the same strategy as in Guangping County, he captured the local tyrants and bullies in the county, involving thousands of households. He submitted a memorial to the court requesting punishment, with the major offenders being executed along with their entire extended families, while the minor offenders were to be executed and their properties confiscated for public use. The memorial was approved remarkably quickly. Afterward, it was calculated that the killings extended over more than ten miles. The people of Henei felt that his petitions were processed with incredible speed. By the end of December, a deathly silence fell over the county; no one dared to go out at night, and even the barking of dogs could not be heard in the wilderness. His governance also affected the surrounding counties, and the people all flocked to him. In the spring, Wang Wenshu sighed, "Man, I wish winter lasted another month! My record would be perfect!" He loved killing and showing off his power, disregarding the lives of the people. When the emperor heard about this, he thought he was very capable and promoted him to the position of military governor. His style of governance was the same as in Henei County, transferring away those notorious corrupt officials and advisors, such as Yang Ji and Ma Wu in Henei, and Yang Gan and Cheng Xin in Guanzhong.
Even the highest officials feared him, and no one dared to govern carelessly. When Yizong died and Zhang Tang fell from power, Wang Wenshu was transferred to be the Chief Justice, and Yin Qi succeeded him as military governor.
Yin Qi was from Chiping in Dongjun. He gradually rose to the position of Inspector through his work in documentation. He worked under Zhang Tang, who praised him for his integrity and courage, assigning him to capture thieves. He was decisive and unafraid of the powerful. His reputation grew even larger after he was promoted to Inner Guard Commander. The Emperor thought highly of him and promoted him to Palace Attendant, which only caused more hardship for the people. Yin Qi was tough but not much of a scholar, causing honest officials to be stymied while the crooked ones went underground. As a result, he was punished. The Emperor reinstated Wang Wenshu as Palace Attendant, while Yang Pu, known for his cruelty, was appointed as Chief Commandant.
Yang Pu was from Yiyang. He started as a minor official in charge of a thousand men. Henan's governor recognized his abilities and promoted him to Inspector, sending him to the eastern regions to capture thieves. He showed great courage and decisiveness in his dealings, eventually rising to the position of Chief Commandant, a top official, impressing the Emperor. During the rebellion in Nanyue, he was appointed as Admiral of the Naval Forces and achieved military success, earning the title of Marquis of Liang. Unfortunately, he was later arrested by Xun Zhi and died shortly after falling ill.
Wen Shu later became a prefect. When he was young, he was not very good at speaking and appeared clumsy in the court, struggling to express himself. But after becoming a prefect, he found his footing. In terms of catching thieves, he was very familiar with the local ways and who held power in Guanzhong, knowing who the local bullies were and who the corrupt officials were. He used these people to develop strategies. Those officials who were too strict in investigating cases caused thieves and hooligans to inform on each other, so Wen Shu established a dedicated team to manage these criminals. Wen Shu was very good at flattering those in power, especially attentive to the big shots; to those without power, he treated them like slaves. Those wealthy elites, no matter how serious their crimes were, he turned a blind eye; those without power, even if they were relatives of bigwigs, he would punish them severely. He was very skilled at manipulating language, cleverly framing common people to protect the wealthy from being implicated. This was how he governed as a prefect. Those cunning and deceitful people were all subdued by him, jailed and silenced, and no one dared to speak up for them. His subordinates were all fierce and intimidating, like tigers. Therefore, in the prefect's mansion, from the small crooks to the powerful and influential people, all treated him with utmost respect. In order to maintain their reputation, those in power praised his effective governance. After serving as a prefect for several years, many of his subordinates became wealthy due to their power.
After Wen Shu returned from pacifying Dong Yue, he made some minor mistakes due to disagreements and was punished and dismissed. At that time, the emperor was planning to build the Tongtian Terrace but couldn't find enough manpower. Wen Shu volunteered to gather the idle personnel from the prefect's mansion and was able to recruit tens of thousands of people to work. The emperor was pleased and appointed him as the Minister of Works. He was later transferred to the position of Right Interior Secretary, and he continued to govern in the same ruthless manner, resulting in a decrease in the number of corrupt individuals. However, he lost his position due to breaking the law. He was then appointed as the Right Assistant, acting as the prefect, and his methods remained unchanged.
More than a year later, Wan Jun's rebellion broke out, and the court summoned experienced officials. Wen Shu secretly hid his subordinate Hua Cheng. Later, someone reported that Wen Shu had taken money from the cavalry and engaged in other corrupt activities. The crimes were enough to warrant extermination of the entire family, and Wen Shu committed suicide. His two younger brothers and two sons-in-law were also exterminated for other crimes. Guanlu Xu Ziwei lamented, "Man, in ancient times there was the 'extermination of three generations,' but Wang Wen Shu alone implicated five generations for extermination; truly tragic!"
After Wen Shu's death, his family still had a small fortune. A few years later, Fang Yin Qi, the Huaiyang Commandant, died of illness, but his family's wealth was less than fifty gold. During his lifetime, he executed many people in Huaiyang. After his death, his enemies tried to burn his body, but it mysteriously disappeared and was later buried by his family.
Wen Shu and his ilk ran the region by turning a blind eye to crime, leading to county governors, commandants, and other high-ranking officials adopting Wen Shu's methods. As a result, the common people and officials became more daring in committing crimes, and thieves multiplied. Nanyang spawned Mei Mian and Bai Zheng; Chu saw the rise of Yin Zhong and Du Shao; Qi had Xu Bo; and Yan and Zhao were plagued by Jian Lu and Fan Sheng, and many more.
These gangs, numbering in the thousands, crowned themselves with titles, attacked cities, looted armories, freed death row inmates, bound and humiliated county governors and commandants, even slaughtering high-ranking officials. Then, they'd send out proclamations, demanding food from every county. Smaller gangs, still numbering in the hundreds, terrorized the countryside, their raids countless.
Later, the emperor had no choice but to send the top dog in the censorate and the PM's right-hand man to urge local officials to catch the thieves. But it didn't do a lick of good. Finally, Fan Kun, a big shot in the emperor's court, along with some senior captains and Zhang De, who had previously served as one of the Nine Ministers, were sent. Dressed in embroidered clothes and carrying the emperor's seal and tiger charm, they led troops to suppress the thieves. This crackdown saw a mountain of heads roll, with some battles resulting in more than ten thousand beheaded thieves. Many local officials were implicated for colluding with the thieves, and some faced execution, with the most severe cases involving thousands.
Years went by, and only a few ringleaders were finally caught. The bandits scattered, then came back stronger than ever, hiding in deep mountains and forests, with their hideouts everywhere, making it impossible to wipe them out. So they came up with the "Shen Ming Law," which basically said that if the uprising of the thieves wasn't discovered in time, or if it was discovered but not enough were caught, everyone responsible for that area—from senior officials to grassroots clerks—would be executed.
After that, those officials were terrified of getting the chop. Even if they discovered the thieves, they dared not report it for fear of not catching them and being held accountable, which could implicate the entire government office. To save their own necks, the officials clamped down on anyone who spoke up. So the thieves just kept growing in numbers, with everyone covering for each other and finding ways to beat the system.
Jian Xuan was from Yangzhou. Initially, he worked as a low-level clerk in the office of the Governor of Hedong, responsible for some clerical work without incident. Later, General Wei Qing bought horses in Hedong and met him, seeing potential in him, so he recommended him to the emperor, and Jian Xuan was transferred to the emperor's stables as a minor supervisor. He had strong work abilities and high efficiency, gradually rising through the ranks to become an Inspector General and Minister. He was once responsible for investigating the case of Zhu Fu Yan and the rebellion of the Prince of Huainan, and his reports were incredibly effective, concise, and logically airtight, delivering scathing critiques of the accused, resulting in numerous executions. Everyone said he was daring in his judgments and acted swiftly. His career had its share of ups and downs, but he served as an Inspector General and Minister for almost two decades. After Wang Wenshu was dismissed from his position as Left Commandant (a senior military officer), Jian Xuan became the Left Interior Minister. He oversaw the rice and salt trade; no official or subordinate could get away with anything under his watch, as he strictly enforced the law, harshly punishing violators. After serving as an official for several years, most officials could not handle the trivial matters in the local areas well, but Jian Xuan was able to start with small matters and turn them into big achievements. However, his iron-fisted approach proved unsustainable in the long run, and he was later dismissed from his position. He was then appointed as the Right Fu Feng (another senior official role), but offending Cheng Xin, who then fled to Shanglin Park. Jian Xuan sent the magistrate of Meixian to capture Cheng Xin, but during the arrest, soldiers accidentally fired on the Shanglin Park gate. Jian Xuan was punished for this, charged with high treason, and according to the law, he was to be executed along with his nine generations. He took his own life. Meanwhile, Du Zhou's star was rising.
Du Zhou was from Du Yan in Nanyang. At that time, Yi Zong served as the Governor of Nanyang and recognized Du Zhou's abilities, recommending him to the court as a judicial official. He had a good relationship with Zhang Tang, who praised him for his reliable work. Later, he was promoted to Censor. He was once responsible for investigating cases of border breaches, resulting in numerous executions. He was skilled at understanding the Emperor's thoughts, thus gaining favor and serving as a Supreme Censor for over ten years, around the same time as Jian Xuan.
Du Zhou's governing style was similar to Jian Xuan's, but he was more stable and appeared generous on the surface while being meticulous and deep in thought internally. When Jian Xuan was Left Interior Minister, Du Zhou was a judicial official. Their governing styles were similar to Zhang Tang's, but they excelled at observing and waiting. When the Emperor wanted to punish someone, they would seize the opportunity to frame that person. Conversely, when the Emperor wanted to forgive someone, they would first detain the individual and slowly gather some false evidence to convince the Emperor that the person wasn't so bad after all.
Some criticized Du Zhou, saying, "You make judgments for the Emperor without following the law, completely basing your decisions on the Emperor's wishes. Is this how judgments should be made?" Du Zhou replied, "What's so special about the law? The Emperor's word is law, past or present. Whatever he says goes!"
During Zhou Yang's tenure as the top cop, the number of prisoners in the prison kept increasing. The total number of detained officials, both recently arrested and long-term detainees, was no less than one hundred. Officials from various regions and central government officials continued to submit cases to the Ministry of Justice, with over a thousand reports submitted in a year. Some reports detailed hundreds of witnesses and volumes of documents. Others involved only dozens of people; some cases spanned vast distances, both near and far. When handling cases, officials would question the accused based on the content of the reports, and if the prisoners did not comply, they would use beatings and brutal interrogations to force confessions. Therefore, as soon as people heard they were going to be arrested, they would quickly flee and hide. Those who were detained for a long time even experienced more than ten pardons, only to be released ten or more years later. However, after they were released, most of them would trash the system, claiming that the court was unfair. During Zhou Yang's tenure as the top cop and central government officials, the number of people detained in prisons reached tens of thousands, and the number of officials increased by well over a hundred thousand.
Zhou Yang was later dismissed and appointed as the chief of police, responsible for capturing thieves, and successfully arrested important figures such as Sang Hongyang and the relatives of Empress Wei. The emperor believed that he was diligent and impartial, so he promoted him to Inspector General. He had two sons, both serving as local governors. His methods of governance were cruel and harsh, even surpassing those of Wang Wenshu and others. Initially, when Du Zhou was summoned as a court historian, he only had one horse, and it was incomplete; but after serving in important positions for a long time, he rose to the rank of San Gong, and his descendants also held high positions, accumulating millions in wealth. Such was the capricious nature of power in those days.
Sima Qian says: Take Zhi Du and Du Zhou, for example—these ten guys were all known to be hardasses. However, Zhi Du is honest, dares to speak the truth, and considers the overall situation of the country. Zhang Tang is into that whole Yin and Yang thing, deeply trusted by the emperor, often debating national affairs, and the country benefits from it. Zhao Yu strictly adheres to the law and enforces it fairly. Du Zhou, on the other hand, is good at flattery and seeks to win favor through silence. Since Zhang Tang died, the laws have become stricter, with harsh criticisms everywhere, leading to increasing corruption in the officialdom. The big nine are all busy with their official duties, and they are fundamentally unable to correct these mistakes, let alone have time to think about anything beyond the law! However, among these ten individuals, the honest can serve as examples, and the corrupt can serve as warnings. Their strategies, teachings, and measures for fighting corruption all reflect a balance of civil and military qualities. Although their methods are brutal, they can also be considered diligent and responsible.
As for the cruelty of people like Feng Dang, the guy running Shu County, the unauthorized killings by Li Zhen, the boss of Guanghan, Mi Pu in Dong County beheading criminals, Luo Bi in Tianshui County passing the buck, Chu Guang in Hedong County indiscriminately killing, and the brutality of Wu Ji, the Intendant of Jingzhao, and Yin Zhou, the governor of Fengyi, plus Yan Feng, the Commandant of Shuiheng, what’s the deal with them? Seriously, what’s the deal with them?
