Kuai Tong, a native of Fanyang, originally shared the same name as Emperor Wu of Han. When the Chu-Han contention (the civil war between Chu and Han) had just begun, Wuchen almost pacified the Zhao territory and was known as the Martial Trusting Lord. Kuai Tong said to the county magistrate of Fanyang, Xu Gong: "Sir, I am Kuai Tong, a commoner from Fanyang. I've been privately worried about your safety, so I came to offer my condolences. But I'm also wishing you luck in surviving this." Xu Gong hurriedly thanked him and asked, "What's this about condolences?" Kuai Tong replied, "You've been the county magistrate for over ten years, killing people's fathers, turning them into orphans, cutting off legs, and marking faces with your cruelty. All those grieving dads and pissed-off sons don’t dare to stab you because they fear the laws of the Qin Dynasty. Now that the world is in chaos and those laws no longer matter, those grieving dads and sons will rush to gut you to get even and make a name for themselves. That’s my 'condolences', buddy."
"So, you're saying I owe my life to this?" Xu Gong asked. "Wuxin of Zhao doesn't know I'm no great shakes. He even sent people to inquire about my life and death. I plan to go see Wuxin and advise him: 'You have to win battles to take land, and conquer cities to hold them. I think this is too dangerous. If you use my strategy, you can seize land without fighting, occupy cities without attacking, and bring a thousand miles under control with just a letter. How about that?' He will definitely ask, 'What does that mean?' I will reply, 'Fanyang's magistrate should be training his troops, but they're a bunch of cowards, more interested in riches than fighting. So, they're eager to surrender their cities to you first. If you take their surrender without rewarding them, word will get around that "The County Magistrate of Fanyang surrendered first and was killed," and they will definitely hold their cities firmly and become impregnable. For the King's consideration, it is better to use yellow carriage covers and red carriage wheels to welcome the County Magistrate of Fanyang, let him ride outside the borders of Yan and Zhao, then the border cities will all communicate with each other and say "The County Magistrate of Fanyang surrendered first and gained wealth." They will all rush to surrender, like dominoes. This is what I mean by settling a thousand miles of land with a single letter.'"
Xu Gong thanked him and immediately sent Kuai Tong off to see Wuxin. Kuai Tong used this strategy to persuade Wuchen. Wuchen used a hundred carriages, two hundred cavalry, and the seal of a marquis to welcome Xu Gong. After hearing this news, more than thirty cities in Yan and Zhao surrendered. Just like Kuai Tong said it would be.
Han Xin, the great general of the Han Dynasty, first captured the King of Wei with a strategy, then swiftly conquered the states of Zhao and Dai, and made the State of Yan surrender, easily subduing these three countries. Afterwards, he led a massive army to prepare to attack the State of Qi. Before reaching the plains, he heard that the Han King had sent Li Shiqi to persuade the State of Qi to surrender. Han Xin hesitated, wondering if he should stop.
At this moment, his strategist analyzed the situation for him: "General, you were sent to take Qi, but the Han King sent someone to talk them into surrendering. Got any orders to stand down? You gotta keep going! Besides, Li Shiqi's just some bookworm. He rides in his carriage and uses his gift of gab to get over seventy cities to surrender, while you, with your tens of thousands of troops, barely managed fifty cities in Zhao. You've been a general for years—you're telling me you're less effective than some scholar?"
Upon hearing this, Han Xin felt that it made sense, so he took his advice and continued to lead his troops across the Yellow River. By this time, the State of Qi had already listened to Li Shiqi's persuasion, allowing him to stay in Qi to indulge in wine and women, letting their guard down against the Han army. Han Xin seized the opportunity, launched a surprise attack on the Qi army at Lixia (modern-day Jinan), and reached Linzi (the capital of Qi). The King of Qi felt that Li Shiqi had deceived him, so he killed him in anger and then fled in a panic. Han Xin took advantage of the situation to pacify the land of Qi and declared himself the usurper of Qi.
At that time, King Liu Bang of Han was besieged in Xiangyang by Xiang Yu and was very anxious, so he sent Zhang Liang to officially appoint Han Xin as the King of Qi to stabilize the rear. Xiang Yu, meanwhile, sent Wu She to try and convince Han Xin to join forces against Liu Bang.
Kuai Tong said to Xiang Yu, "The whole world hangs in the balance. I've got an idea: you should help the Han King, but we gotta be sly about it. I've studied faces, and let me tell you, you're destined to be just a marquis—a shaky position, and a dangerous one at that! But when I look at your back, oh my, you are destined for great wealth and glory that cannot be described!" Xiang Yu asked, "What do you mean?" Kuai Tong took the opportunity to analyze the situation at the time: "At the beginning of the war, powerful figures rose up as kings, and heroes from all over the world gathered under their banners, like a swarm of locusts, everywhere was war. At that time, everyone was most worried about the chaotic situation after the fall of the Qin Dynasty.
Now, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu are fighting, killing and displacing countless innocent people. Although the King of Han has tens of thousands of troops battling the Chu army in places like Gong County, Luoyang, and Chenggao, there has been no progress. If they lose the front line, there is no reinforcement. Xingyang is lost, Chenggao is lost; they can only retreat to Wancheng and Yexian, having played their last card. The Chu army rose up from Pengcheng, chased the Han army all the way to Xingyang, and pursued them in victory, shaking the world. But now they are trapped between Jing and Suo, unable to advance even to the foot of the Western Hills, for three years! The Chu army is exhausted, their supplies dwindling, and the people are fed up. Unless some big shot steps in, this mess ain't gonna end anytime soon."
Right now, both Liu Bang and Xiang Yu are depending on you. If you help the King of Han, he will win; if you help the King of Chu, he will win. I'd give my all, even my life, to be loyal to you, but I'm afraid you won't use me. Now I have an idea for you. The best plan is for the three of us to split the country, creating a three-way standoff, so nobody makes a move. With your talent, your army, and control of powerful Qi, plus alliances with Yan and Zhao, you can strike from undefended areas, secure your rear, win the people over, and become their voice. Who would dare defy you then? Control Qi, the Huai and Si river valleys. Win over the other princes with kindness and humility, and every king will bow before you. There's a saying: 'Don't miss your chance, or you'll regret it!' I hope you will consider this carefully."
The letter continued: "The King of Han's been incredibly good to me. How could I betray him for a little gain?"
A friend said, "Just think about it, back then King Changshan and Lord Cheng'an were thick as thieves. But later, because of the dispute over Zhang Yan and Chen Shi, King Changshan hightailed it and sought refuge with the Han King. He borrowed the Han King's troops and went east, fought north of Haicheng, and as a result, Lord Cheng'an was killed south of Zashi River, chopped to pieces. These two guys, who were once the best of friends, ended up killing each other. Why? Because of too much greed and you never know what people are thinking! If you treat the Han King with loyalty and righteousness now, it definitely won't be as reliable as the relationship between those two kings, and what you're involved in is way bigger than that Zhang Yan and Chen Shi thing. So I think your belief that the Han King won't harm you is dead wrong. Think about it, Zhong, a minister of Yue, went to bat for Goujian's survival, but in the end, he died. They say, 'When the wild bird is caught, the hunting dog is killed; when the enemy country is destroyed, the strategist is finished.' So, as friends go, at most you are like Zhang Yan and Lord Cheng'an; as loyal ministers go, at most you are like Minister Zhong. That should give you something to think about. Think about it. Also, I heard that guys who scare the king with their guts and brains usually end up in trouble; the guys who do the biggest things often get nothing. You crossed the Yellow River, bagged the Wei King, seized Xia Shuo, conquered Jingxing, killed Lord Cheng'an, commanded Zhao, threatened Yan, stabilized Qi, defeated hundreds of thousands of troops from Chu in the south, and finally killed Long Qie, returning victorious to the west. You've done amazing things, everyone knows it! Now, carrying these unrewarded achievements and that intimidating reputation, back in Chu, they won't trust you; back in Han, they'll be scared of you."
Where do you intend to return, basking in this glory? You are in the position of an official, yet you have a reputation that transcends borders; that's far too dangerous for someone in your position.
The letter reads: "Let's leave it at that for now. I'll give it some thought." A few days later, Kuai Tong said to Han Xin again: "Taking advice is a good sign; weighing your options is crucial. If you only do grunt work, you'll never get ahead. If you're happy with a pittance, you'll never get rich. But if you know this and still don't act, you'll be asking for trouble. A tiger hesitating is slower than a scorpion striking; Meng Ben's delay is less effective than a child's boldness. This shows that the key is to be resolute in execution. Success is hard-won, but easily lost; opportunities are rare and fleeting. 'You only get one shot at this.' I hope you will not doubt my strategy." Han Xin saw the sense in it, but he was too proud of his accomplishments, convinced Liu Bang wouldn't take Qi, so he ignored Kuai Tong. Seeing that Han Xin did not listen to his advice, Kuai Tong was very afraid, so he feigned madness and posed as a mystic.
After the dust settled, Han Xin was stripped of his title and made Marquis of Huaiyin on charges of rebellion and was eventually killed. Before his death, he sighed and said, "I regret not listening to Kuai Tong's advice in the beginning. I'm dying because of a woman!" Liu Bang said, "That was a Qi advisor, Kuai Tong." So he ordered Kuai Tong to be summoned. When Kuai Tong arrived, Liu Bang wanted to kill him and asked, "So you were the one who got Han Xin to rebel?" Kuai Tong replied, "Dogs only bark at the person who is not their master. I only knew Han Xin; I didn't know you. Moreover, when the Qin dynasty lost power, everyone was scrambling for it, and the strong took what they could. At that time, the world was in turmoil, and everyone wanted to do what you are doing, but lacked the ability, so it was necessary to get rid of the troublemakers!" After hearing this, Liu Bang pardoned him.
Under King Qi Daohui, with Cao Shen as prime minister, he welcomed smart people and took Kuai Tong as one of his advisors. At the beginning, King Tian Rong hated Xiang Yu's guts and plotted a rebellion. He pressed Qi's men into service, killing anyone who refused. At that time, Dongguo and Liang Shijun, two Qi hermits, were also forced into the army. After Tian Rong's defeat, ashamed, they escaped to the mountains.
A guest said to a man named Tong, "Sir, you are famous for discovering and promoting talented individuals in front of Cao the Prime Minister. No one in the entire Qi Kingdom is better at this than you. You know that Mr. Dongguo and Mr. Liang Shijun are outstanding talents that ordinary people cannot match. Why not recommend them to Cao the Prime Minister?" Tong replied, "I see your point. My wife gets along well with the other women in the village. Once, it seems, she pilfered some meat, and her mother-in-law, discovering this, got very angry and kicked her out. The next morning, my wife visited those women she was close with, explained what happened, and apologized. They said, 'Don't you worry, love, we'll sort this out for you.' So, they took a package and went to the meat thief's house to borrow fire, saying, 'Last night, our dog stole a piece of meat and got into a fight, and we need to borrow fire to deal with it.' The meat thief's family hurriedly called my wife back. Sometimes, the oddest things work out; there’s always a suitable solution. I want to try this method with Cao the Prime Minister." So, Tong went to see Cao the Prime Minister and said, "Some women remarry in a flash, while others remain widows, never leaving their homes. If you want to marry a wife, which type would you choose?" Cao the Prime Minister replied, "Of course I would choose the one who does not remarry." Tong said, "Then, you should select talents in the same way. Mr. Dongguo and Mr. Liang Shijun are rare talents in the Qi Kingdom. They live in seclusion and never bow down to seek official positions. I hope you can send someone to invite them." Cao the Prime Minister said, "I will definitely do that." And so, he welcomed them both with open arms.
Tong compiled a commentary on the strategists of the Warring States period and their shifting tactics, comprising eighty-one chapters, titled "Junyong". At first, Tong had a good relationship with An Qisheng, a man from Qi. An Qisheng had once offered advice to Xiang Yu, but Xiang Yu did not accept it. Xiang Yu later wanted to reward them, but they firmly refused.
Wu Bei, a man from the Chu State, was said to be a descendant of Wu Zixu. Renowned for his abilities, Wu Bei served as a Huainan mid-level general. At that time, King Huainan was a patron of the arts, known for his humility and respect for talent. He had hundreds of scholars in his employ, and Wu Bei was one of the most prominent.
King Huainan engaged in some clandestine activities, and many people offered him private counsel. Later, the king called from the East Palace, "General, come here. I need to speak with you." The man replied, "Your Majesty, how can you utter such treasonous words? When Wu Zixu advised the King of Wu, and the King of Wu did not listen, Wu Zixu said, 'I see deer frolicking on the Gusu Terrace.' Now I want to see this palace overrun with weeds, and the dew soaking my robes!" Enraged, King Huainan had the man's parents arrested and threw him in jail for three months.
After a while, the King of Huainan called him again and said, "Sir, do you promise me?" The man replied, "No, I just want to submit my humble opinion to the king. I have heard that wise people can perceive the unspoken, and far-sighted individuals can foresee the future, so sages can act without fail. King Wen of Zhou accomplished a single task, and his achievements remained renowned for centuries, being ranked as one of the three kings; this is what is known as acting in accordance with the will of heaven." The King of Huainan asked, "Is the court peaceful now, or is it in chaos?" The man said, "The world is peaceful." The King of Huainan was not pleased and said, "How can you say it's peaceful?" The man replied, "I have privately observed the court; the social order is well-maintained, and the measures of the court follow ancient rules, with customs and discipline intact. Wealthy merchants are abundant throughout the land, roads are unobstructed, and commercial trade is flourishing. Various subjugated tribes and kingdoms, including the Southern Yue, Qiang, and Bai, offer tribute, and the Dong'ou come to court to see the emperor. The court has also opened up Guangchangyu (a region in the north) and established Shuofang (a military outpost), and the Xiongnu have been repulsed. Although it has not reached the level of peace and prosperity of ancient times, things are relatively peaceful." The King of Huainan became angry again, and the man apologized profusely, fearing for his life.
The Prince of Huainan said, "If there is a disturbance in Shandong, the Han Dynasty will definitely send a general to pacify it. What's your take on this general?" The man replied, "I know Huang Yi; he followed the general to fight the Xiongnu and came back. He said the general treats officials with respect and soldiers with kindness, so everyone is willing to serve him. The general rides a horse up and down the mountain like a shot, excels in martial arts, and has led troops in battle many times, making him difficult to deal with. Also, Cao Liang returned from Chang'an as a messenger; he said the general's commands are clear, he is brave in battle, always leading the soldiers at the front. He shares his soldiers' hardships, only resting or drinking after they do, a true leader. He uses the money rewarded by the Dowager Empress to reward the soldiers. Even the famous generals of ancient times are not as good as him." The Prince of Huainan said, "Prince Liao is exceptionally intelligent, a rare talent; he believes that the officials and nobles are just wearing masks." The man said, "You gotta take out the general first to even think about a rebellion."
The Prince asked Zhang Liang, "So, you think the Wu rebellion was a bad idea?" Zhang Liang replied, "It is wrong. The King of Wu was given a cushy job as a sacrificial priest for the Liu family, receiving salaries and authority from the court, but he did not pay homage. He commanded the forces of four counties, had a massive territory, minted coins from copper on the mountains, boiled seawater to make salt, cut down wood in Jiangling to build ships; the country was wealthy, with many people, and often bribed other vassal states with treasures, forming an alliance with seven states, advancing westward, capturing Daliang, defeating Hufu, and ultimately losing everything in a disastrous campaign, becoming a laughingstock. Despite Wu's great strength, why did they ultimately fail? Because he defied Heaven, ignored his people, and missed his chance."
Wang said, "A man's death is often a quick affair. Besides, why would the Wu Kingdom rebel? There are over forty generals of the Han army passing through Chenggao every day. I've ordered a temporary occupation of the fortress at Chenggao; you lead the troops to block the roads at Huanyuan Pass and Yique Pass in Yingchuan. Chen Ding will lead the army from Nanyang to guard Wuguan, and the Governor of Henan is only guarding Luoyang. So what's the problem? However, in the north, there are still the borders of Linjin Pass, Hedong, Shangdang, as well as Henan and the Zhao Kingdom, where many valleys provide passage. Some say, 'Cut off the road to Chenggao, and the world's communication will be cut off.' Occupy the strategic region of Sanchuan (referring to the area encompassing modern-day Henan, Shaanxi, and Shanxi provinces) and recruit forces from all over the world. What do you think?" Zhang Liang said, "I can see its disasters, but I can't see its benefits."
The King of Huainan, Sun Jian, wanted to rebel and discussed this with his counselors. Sun Jian said, "It's time to strike! The people of the world are suffering unbearably, the vassals have made many mistakes, and they are all quite uneasy. I'll march west; if they join me, great; if not, I'll fall back to Hengshan."
He replied, "If you retreat to Hengshan and then hit Lujiang, first secure Xunyang's boats, hold Xiazhi, take Jiujiang's ferry, and cut off Yuzhang's waterways. Deploy strong bows and crossbows along the river to defend, stop the army of Nanjun from heading south, protect Kuaiji in the east, establish contact with Jinyue in the south, and control the Jianghuai region. Only then can you survive for a few more years. I don't see any benefits."
Sun Jian asked, "My advisors, Zuo Wu, Zhao Xian, and Zhu Jiaoru, all think there is an 80-90% chance of success. Why do you say there are no benefits?"
He answered, "Your Majesty, all your key advisors are in jail. The rest are useless."
Sun Jian said, "Chen Sheng and Wu Guang started with nothing – just a hundred men or so – and rose up from Daze. Their call to arms was answered across the land, and by the time they reached Xixian, they commanded an army of 1.2 million! Although my country is small now, I can also gather 200,000 troops. How can you say there is disaster without blessing?"
It was said: "I dare not die a mysterious and unjust death like Wu Zixu. I hope Your Majesty will not be misled by false accusations like King Fuchai of Wu. Back then, the Qin Dynasty was tyrannical, brutally suppressing the people, executing scholars, burning sacred texts like the Book of Songs and the Book of Documents, and destroying ancestral shrines. They abandoned rituals, righteousness, integrity, and shame, governing solely through harsh laws, while transporting grain from the coast to the distant West River. At that time, men toiled in the fields yet still went hungry, and women wove tirelessly but had little to wear. Qin Shi Huang even sent Meng Tian to construct the Great Wall, which stretched for thousands of miles, frequently deploying tens of thousands of troops, leading to countless deaths, with bodies littering the fields and blood flowing like rivers. The commoners suffered greatly, with half of all families ripe for rebellion. He also sent Xu Fu to seek the elixir of immortality at sea, taking with him vast treasures, three thousand boys and girls, and various craftsmen. After reaching the remote wetlands, Xu Fu never returned. The populace was grief-stricken, with six out of ten families on the verge of revolt. He then sent Wei Tuo to cross the Five Ridges and attack the Baiyue tribes. Seeing that China was exhausted, Wei Tuo declared himself the King of Nanyue. None of those sent out ever returned, and the masses were disaffected and ready to revolt, with seven out of ten families wanting to rise up. Qin Shi Huang also constructed luxurious palaces, including the Palace of A Fang, imposed heavy taxes, and conscripted soldiers. Families were torn apart by harsh laws and cruel punishments. The people, desperate and resentful, cried out against their rulers, their suffering palpable, with eight out of ten families longing for change. Someone said to the founder Liu Bang: 'The time has come.' Liu Bang replied: 'Wait, the sage should rise from the southeast.' Less than a year later, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang rebelled, Liu Bang and Xiang Yu responded, and the whole world joined in. This was the opportunity to act upon the fall of the Qin Dynasty. Their hope for change was as desperate as a farmer's for rain, so they rebelled from the army and eventually seized power."
Now, Your Majesty, do you think it was easy for High Emperor Liu Bang to conquer the world? Have you not seen the recent wars between Wu and Chu? Your Majesty now rules a unified land, cares for the people, and shows kindness and virtue. Even without saying a word, your prestige is like thunder; even before taking action, the changes are swift. Your mere thoughts command respect for miles around; the people are utterly loyal, like shadows to their master. The talent of the Grand General is far inferior to Zhang Han and Yang Xiong. I believe Your Majesty is mistaken to cite Chen Sheng and Wu Guang as examples. Moreover, Your Majesty's military strength is not even one-tenth of Wu and Chu, and the peace of the realm is a thousand times greater than under the Qin. I hope Your Majesty will consider my advice. I recall the story of Ji Zi, who upon returning to his ruined homeland, composed the mournful "Mai Xiu," mourning King Zhou for not heeding Bi Gan's advice. Therefore, Mengzi said, though King Zhou was an emperor, he met a worse fate than a commoner after death. King Zhou sealed his own doom long before heaven turned against him. Your Majesty, I mourn your willingness to surrender your throne and face execution, to become the first minister to die in the Eastern Palace! Tears streamed down his face.
The emperor summoned Wu Bei again and asked him, "According to what you said, will this plan succeed?" Wu Bei replied, "I really have no other way. I have a foolish plan." The emperor asked, "What plan?" Wu Bei said, "Right now, the feudal lords have no rebellious intentions, and the common people have no grievances. Shuofang (a remote region) has vast land with few people, so we can exile the wealthy and criminals there. We can ask the Prime Minister and the important officials to issue orders to exile those with more than 500,000 cash, as well as those who have committed serious crimes, to Shuofang. We can also boost the military presence and speed up the operation. We can forge some edicts, claiming they are orders from the top guys, to arrest the feudal lords, the crown prince, and the favored courtiers. This would stir up the commoners and scare the lords stiff; even if they tried to defend themselves, it'd be no use." The emperor said, "This plan is feasible, but I think there’s no need to make it so grand—just exile them." Later, the plot was exposed, and Wu Bei voluntarily surrendered, admitting that he conspired with the King of Huainan. This was the situation. The emperor was impressed by Wu Bei's smooth talk and his use of Han Dynasty stories, and almost let him off. However, Zhang Tang said, "Wu Bei was the first to advise the King of Huainan, and he's toast!" So Wu Bei was killed.
Jiang Chong, courtesy name Zici, was a native of Handan, Zhao State. His original name was Qi, and his sister was skilled in playing the zither and dancing; she married Prince Dan of Zhao. Qi became a favorite of King Jingsu. After a while, the prince suspected Qi of revealing his secrets to the king, leading to a conflict between them. He tried to arrest Qi but failed, so he arrested Qi's parents and siblings instead, and after interrogation, they were all executed. Qi disappeared from then on, fleeing to Guanzhong and changing his name to Chong. He went to Chang'an to report that Prince Dan of Zhao was having an affair with his half-sister and that people in the queen's palace were colluding with local thugs and getting away with robbery and other crimes. After the memorial was submitted, the emperor was furious and ordered the counties to surround the Zhao palace with troops, arrest Prince Dan, and have him tried in Weijun prison.
Prince Pengzu of Zhao was the emperor's half-brother, and he pleaded for the prince, saying, "Jiang Chong is a fugitive low-ranking official who deliberately spread rumors to provoke the emperor and seek revenge. Even if they ground him up, he wouldn't care. I hope Your Majesty can select some brave soldiers from Zhao State to fight against the Xiongnu, risking their lives to atone for Prince Dan's crime." The emperor did not agree, and in the end, Prince Dan of Zhao was deposed.
Jiang Chong was summoned to the Quan Tai Palace. He asked to wear his usual clothes, and the emperor said okay. He wore a gauzy robe and a fancy crown. Jiang Chong was tall and burly, with a very majestic appearance. The emperor felt that he was very special from afar and said to those around him, "Wow, Yan and Zhao sure do produce some impressive guys, huh?"
Jiang Chong approached the Emperor, and the Emperor asked him about the current affairs. The Emperor was pleased with Jiang Chong's answers. Then, Jiang Chong volunteered for a mission to the Xiongnu. The Emperor asked him how he planned to do it, and Jiang Chong replied, "Just play it by ear, learn from the enemy, and don't overthink it." The Emperor then sent Jiang Chong as an inspector to the Xiongnu. Upon his return, he was appointed to oversee bandit activity in the Three Adjuncts area and crack down on extravagant behavior. Many imperial relatives and courtiers were incredibly extravagant at the time. Jiang Chong went after them one by one, demanding their carriages and horses be confiscated and that they be sent to serve in the Northern Army to fight the Xiongnu. The Emperor approved. Jiang Chong immediately wrote to the head of the household staff and the Emperor's personal attendant, ordering the arrest of the courtiers and attendants slated for the Northern Army, and instructed the palace guards to prevent unauthorized access to the palace. The kids of those nobles and courtiers were terrified and rushed to the Emperor, begging for mercy and offering bribes. The Emperor agreed and ordered them to pay millions of cash to the Northern Army according to their official ranks. The Emperor saw Jiang Chong as loyal, honest, fair, and always getting straight to the point. When Jiang Chong went out, he met Princess Chang of Guantao riding in her carriage. Jiang Chong stopped her and questioned her, to which Princess Chang replied, "I have the Empress Dowager's decree." Jiang Chong said, "Only the princess can pass; no other vehicles are allowed." He confiscated her carriage and horses and sent them to the palace.
Later, Jiang Chong followed the emperor to Ganquan Palace and encountered envoys from the Crown Prince's residence traveling in carriages on the road. Jiang Chong handled them according to regulations. When the Crown Prince heard about this, he sent someone to apologize to Jiang Chong, saying, "It wasn't about the carriages; we just didn't want the Emperor to know, to avoid affecting those who usually don't follow the rules. I hope Lord Jiang can be forgiving!" Jiang Chong did not listen and still reported the matter to the emperor. The emperor said, "That's what a good minister does!" The emperor trusted Jiang Chong very much, and Jiang Chong's reputation struck fear into the hearts of everyone in the capital. Later, Jiang Chong was promoted to the position of Shuiheng Duwei, benefiting his family and friends. After some time, he ran afoul of the law and was dismissed from his position.
Zhu Anshi accused Prime Minister Gongsun He and his son, as well as Grand Steward Jing Sheng, of being involved in witchcraft, which also implicated Princess Yangshi and some other princesses. As a result, Gongsun He and his son were both killed. This incident is also recorded in the "Biography of Gongsun He." Later, when the emperor went to Ganquan Palace and his health was not good, Jiang Chong saw that the emperor was getting old and worried that he would be targeted by the Crown Prince after the emperor's death. So he had a bad idea and told the emperor that his illness was caused by witchcraft. The emperor then sent Jiang Chong to investigate the witchcraft case.
Jiang Chong took a Hu shaman to dig around for wooden dolls and arrested those who practiced witchcraft, even going to perform rituals at night to deceive people. As long as there was a trace of evidence, they would be arrested and interrogated, using red-hot iron tongs to force confessions. The common people falsely accused each other, and officials would easily arrest people on charges of treason, resulting in tens of thousands being slaughtered.
At that time, the emperor was old and very suspicious, feeling that the people around him were all using witchcraft to curse him. No matter what happened, no one dared to clear their name. Jiang Chong knew the emperor's thoughts, so he said that the palace was full of wicked sorcery, starting with the favored concubines in the harem, then investigating the empress, and finally pointing the finger at the prince's palace. As a result, a wooden figure was dug out in the prince's palace. Terrified and unable to clear his name, the prince had Jiang Chong arrested and executed, personally scolding him: "You Zhao dog! Stirring up trouble between the king and his son wasn't enough, now you're trying to do it to me and my father?" The prince completely fell apart because of this incident. This is also recorded in *Li Yuan Chuan*. Later, Emperor Wu learned that Jiang Chong was deliberately framed, so he wiped out Jiang Chong's entire family.
Xi Fugong, styled Ziwei, was from Heyang County, River He Province. When he was young, he was a disciple of a Confucian scholar, studying "Spring and Autumn" and reading many historical books. He was tall and handsome, different from others.
Emperor Ai had just ascended the throne. The father of the empress, Marquis Kongxiang Fu Yan, had a good relationship with Wang Mang and was his fellow villager and friend. Wang Mang, leveraging his friendship with Fu Yan, expanded his network. Previously, Sun Chong of Chang'an was famous for his silver tongue and was even let go from his post as the Prefect of Runan because of it. After he became friends with Wang Mang, they both petitioned the emperor to be summoned into the palace as court officials.
At that time, Emperor Ai was in poor health. Shortly after ascending the throne, someone accused the Zhongshan Xiaohou Wang's Dowager of cursing the emperor. The Dowager and her brother, Feng Shen, both committed suicide as a result, but the exact charges were unclear. Later, in Wuyan County, a stone mysteriously appeared, seemingly splitting the earth open, and a road was opened up. Wang Mang and Sun Chong discussed, "The emperor has no heir, and his health is poor. The lords of the eastern regions are secretly plotting. Now, a stone has appeared in Wuyan standing by itself. Those treacherous officials will twist this to their advantage, claiming it is a sign of the previous emperor's auspicious return. Prince Dongping, Liu Yun, and his wife were performing nightly rites, ostensibly to curse the emperor, hoping to seize power illegitimately. And the Empress's uncle, Wu Hong, uses witchcraft and medical skills to gain favor with the emperor and frequently enters the palace. Huo Xian's plot will soon bear fruit, and a similar treachery to that of Jing Ke is brewing. This is the situation; we must accuse them to succeed. Exposing the traitors of the country and eliminating our enemies is our strategy to be ennobled!"
So, Wang Mang and Sun Chong, together with the Right General Tan, reported this to the emperor through the chamberlain Song Hong. The emperor was very angry and handed the matter over to the relevant department for investigation. Prince Dongping Liu Yun, Liu Yun's wife, and Wu Hong were all executed. The emperor promoted Sun Chong to Prefect of Nanyang, Tan to Commandant of Yingchuan, while Song Hong and Wang Mang were both elevated to Grand Master of Splendid Happiness.
At that time, Dong Xian, a high-ranking official in the imperial court, was highly favored by the Emperor, who wanted to confer a marquisate on him. So he issued a decree saying, "Wang Mang and Sun Chong spoke up for Dong Xian, so I'm making Dong Xian the Marquis of Gao'an, Sun Chong the Marquis of Fangyang, and Wang Mang the Marquis of Yiling, each with a fief of one thousand households. And Tan gets the title of Marquis Within the Passes, along with a fief." Prime Minister Wang Jia suspected the truth of the Dongping King case and opposed the rewards for Dong Xian and the others, which is recorded in the "Biography of Wang Jia." Wang Jia believed that Dong Xian had too much power, and that Sun Chong and Wang Mang were all rotten apples. He was worried that they would disrupt the country and should not be trusted. As a result, Wang Jia offended the Emperor.
Oh, I have a close relationship with the Emperor, often entering the palace to chat with him, saying whatever I want without reservation. As a result, everyone avoided me like the plague, practically running and hiding when they saw me coming, looking at me askance.
I once criticized a bunch of ministers in a memorial, saying, "The current Prime Minister Wang Jia is useless and gutless, completely ineffective! The Grand Master Jia Yan is weak and incapable, unable to accomplish anything! The General Gongsun Lu and the Commandant Bao Xuan may seem upright on the surface, but they are all fools who do not understand politics! As for the other officials, let's not even mention them; they are all a bunch of good-for-nothings. If the enemy attacks, these bumbling officials will be useless. We'll be overrun before we even know it! Military reports will come pouring in, urgent military orders one after another, and those dead weight officials will be at a loss. Even if there are a few with courage, they would rather commit suicide than face it. Even if they are beheaded, what can change? We're in deep trouble!"
I pitched another idea to the Emperor: "The Qin built the Zhengguo Canal, and that's what made 'em rich and powerful. Now that the land in the capital is fertile, we should plan some water projects and dig more irrigation canals." So the Emperor gave me his seal of office and put me in charge of water projects around Guanzhong. My idea was to dig a canal in Chang'an, feeding water to the Taicang granaries and cutting down on food transport. But it got shot down.
Dong Xian was riding high, and Ding Fu and the rest were green with envy, doing everything they could to bring him down. Kong Xianghou Yan and Wang Mang were scheming to get into the Emperor's inner circle. Just then, the Xiongnu Chanyu was due in November, but sent word he was sick and would come next year. Wang Mang seized this opportunity to report to the Emperor: "The Chanyu was supposed to enter the pass to pay tribute in November, but now he's delaying it on the grounds of being sick. Something smells fishy here. The two Kunmi forces of Wusun are weak, while Beiyuan Zhi is very powerful, occupying a strategic location and commanding a hundred thousand troops. They are secretly colluding with the Xiongnu Chanyu, even sending his son to serve him. If the Chanyu uses the powerful strength of Beiyuan Zhi, imitating the strategy of annihilating Wusun in the past, and sends troops south, the consequences would be disastrous. If Wusun is destroyed, the Xiongnu will become even stronger, and the Western Regions will be in danger."
We'd get some surrendered Xiongnu to pretend to be envoys from Beiyuan Zhi and send a message to the Emperor saying: "We sent our son to the Chanyu, not 'cause we like him, but 'cause we're scared of him! We hope Your Majesty can be merciful and allow the Chanyu to take his son back. We are willing to assist the Wujixiaowei in jointly guarding the border of the E Dou Nu area." Then we would distribute this memorial to the generals, so that the Xiongnu guests in the Han Dynasty could hear this news. That's what they call 'winning hearts and minds'!
After Wang Mang submitted his memorial, the Emperor summoned him and convened a meeting with ministers and generals. General Gongsun Lu stood up and opposed, saying, "Our country has always kept the minority ethnic groups on the borders happy and under control. Wang Mang wants to use underhanded tactics, which is unacceptable. Moreover, the Xiongnu have always been grateful for the late emperor's grace, guarding the borders and being proper vassals. Now, because the Chanyu is ill and unable to come to court, he has sent envoys to explain the situation, which shows he is doing his duty. I'm not worried about the Xiongnu in my lifetime!" Wang Mang refuted Gongsun Lu, saying, "I am planning for the long-term interests of the country, making preparations in advance. Although the plan has not been implemented yet, I am thinking for the sake of the country for generations to come! General Gongsun Lu is only concerned with petty gains and is short-sighted! We're on completely different wavelengths, and we can't even be in the same room!" The Emperor said, "Wang Mang is right!" So he dismissed the other ministers and discussed countermeasures with Wang Mang alone.
Someone suggested to the Emperor, "In previous years, Mars stayed in Xin Xiu, Venus shone brightly, and Jiao Xiu obscured He Gu Xing. These signs mean war is coming. Later, rumors spread, and the court issued a decree to gather military supplies everywhere. The country's in a panic, fearing a full-blown war. It is best to send the Grand General to lead the border defense forces, strengthen military preparations, make an example of a prefect to make a point, and intimidate the barbarians from all directions to scare everyone straight." The Emperor found it reasonable and took it to ask the Prime Minister.
The Prime Minister loved this idea, saying, "Governing's about doing, not talking, and pleasing Heaven's about action, not games. You can't fool the common folk, let alone the gods. When Heaven sends a sign, it's a warning to the ruler – a wake-up call to mend their ways and do right. Those smooth-talking debaters, when they see some celestial phenomenon, just spout hot air and fabricate lies about the Xiongnu, Wusun, and Western Qiang wanting to rebel, inciting war and playing power games. That's not how you follow the will of Heaven. That county magistrate's guilty. Ship him to the capital for trial. Execute him on sight – even if you just bump into him! They're terrified, but those debaters claim it'll bring peace. Yeah, right. They're smooth talkers, but don't believe a word. Those politicians are all about flattery, power plays, sweet talk, and scheming. Flattery rots a ruler's soul, power plays breed resentment, sweet talk hides the truth, and scheming destroys trust. Take Duke Mu of Qin. He ignored Bailixi and Jianshu – big mistake! His army got smashed, and he spent the rest of his days kicking himself for ignoring good advice. He's remembered for that, you know. Your Majesty, learn from his mistakes. Don't let smooth talkers fool you."
The emperor did not heed the advice of the prime minister and ordered, "Recently, disasters have been continuous, there are many thieves, and signs of war are also quite obvious. But I have not heard of any general feeling worried about this, carefully selecting soldiers and organizing weapons and equipment. The military supplies are scarce; who will be responsible for this? Although the world is peaceful, forgetting about war can be very dangerous. Let the Grand Marshal and the governors of each county recommend one person each who is familiar with military tactics and has foresight and insight; the Grand Marshal will recommend two people to report to the court." The emperor then appointed Fu Yan, Marquis of Kongxiang, as Grand Marshal Wei General, and Ding Ming, Marquis of Yang'an, as Grand Marshal Piaoqi General.
Today, a solar eclipse occurred. Dong Xian was mortified because of this, and Yan (referring to Yan Rang) was also alarmed. After a few days, the emperor revoked Yan Rang's appointment as Wei General, and the prime minister and the censor accused Dong Xian of his crimes. This led to the emperor's displeasure with Dong Xian and his cronies, and he issued a decree saying, "The Marquis of Fangyang, the Prefect of Nanyang, Chong, has always had a bad reputation; he is a ruthless and tyrannical person who harms the people. The Marquis of Yiling, the Left Cao Guanglu Dafu Dong Xian, fabricated deceitful schemes to mislead the court. They both associate with officials and curry favor with the powerful, scheming for personal gain. Now, Dong Xian and Chong are dismissed and sent back to their estates."
Dong Xian returned to his fiefdom and, before he had the chance to build a house, temporarily lived in a humble shed. Some bad people thought that the Marquis's family was wealthy, so they often lurked outside at night. Dong Xian's fellow villager, Jia Hui from Hanoi, went to visit him and taught him a way to drive away thieves. He fashioned a dagger from the branches of a mulberry tree in the southeast and drew the Big Dipper on it. Then, with disheveled hair, Dong Xian stood in the courtyard at night, facing the Big Dipper, jabbed the "dagger," and muttered incantations to ward off evil spirits. Someone wrote a report accusing Dong Xian of harboring resentment toward the court. Furthermore, he was said to have mocked his promotion, observed constellations, predicted the emperor's fortune, and cursed like a wizard. The emperor sent imperial officials and court investigators to arrest Dong Xian and detain him in the Luoyang prison. When they wanted to interrogate him, Dong Xian let out a cry and collapsed to the ground. The jailer came forward to inquire and found that he was dead, with blood flowing from his nostrils and ears. In a short while, he died. More than a hundred people were imprisoned together with him for their complicity. Dong Xian's mother, Sheng Shi, was beheaded for her crime of cursing the emperor during a sacrifice to the kitchen god; his wife and family were exiled to Hepu. Dong Xian's relatives, who were close to him, were all spared from punishment. After the death of Emperor Ai, the relevant authorities reported: "Fang Yanghou Chong and Right Teacher Tan, among others, hatched a treacherous plot, implicating the imperial family in their conspiracy. Even if they were pardoned, they should not retain their titles and remain in the Central Plains." As a result, Fang Yanghou Chong and others were dismissed from their positions and exiled to Hepu County.
At first, he served as an imperial attendant, often speaking his mind freely and making bold statements. He was afraid of attracting trouble, so he wrote a farewell poem: "Dark clouds gather, where is my solace! Eagles and falcons are fierce, phoenixes hover! Trapped like a bird in a net, every move a gamble! Thorns entwine, where can I find refuge! Loyalty forgotten, entangled and confused! My neck is broken, my wings clipped—how can I fly! Tears flow, heart aches, liver hurts. The rainbow shines, the sun dims, fate dark and unopened. Painful cries to the heavens, who will speak of this injustice! Looking up at the sky, calling on God, I observe. The autumn wind mourns for me, floating clouds cast shadows. Alas, what reason to linger? I comfort the dragon, stroking its beard. Wandering far and wide, my end draws near. Powerless, I contemplate the world." A few years later, he died, his fate mirroring the grim prophecy of his poem.
Hey, consider this: Confucius once said, "I hate those smooth-talking folks who lead the country to ruin." Kuai Tong got three wise men killed with just one sentence. You mess with words, you mess with your life! Wu Bei served as an adviser in a troubled country, loyal and devoted, but in the end, he was framed by traitors and killed. Serves 'em right, doesn’t it? The "Book of Documents" records four types of sins, and the "Book of Songs" sings the song "Green Fly." Since the Spring and Autumn Period, there have been plenty of folks who’ve failed because of disasters!
Get this: Zi He's advice almost got Duke Yin of Lu killed; Luan Shu framed the Xi clan, and Duke Li of Jin was killed; Shu Niu attacked the Zhong clan, and the Shu Sun clan got wiped out; Hou Bo slandered the Ji clan, and Duke Zhao was driven away; Fei Ji presented a beautiful woman, and Chu Jian was driven away; Zai Pi slandered Wu Zixu, and King Fuchai perished; Li Yuan offered his sister, and Lord Chunshen was killed; the official of Shangguan complained of injustice, and King Huai was imprisoned; Zhao Gao framed Li Si, and the Second Emperor got strangled; Yi Li made an alliance in Kandi, and Song Cong was killed; Jiang Chong caused the disaster of witchcraft, and the Crown Prince was killed; Xi Fu rebelled, and King Dongping was executed.
These examples all show that small mistakes can lead to big failures. And screwing over your friends? Yeah, that's a bad idea. So let's all be careful what we say!
