Jia Shan is from Yingchuan, Henan. His grandfather, Jia Qu, was a scholar serving the Wei king in the Wei Kingdom. Jia Shan studied with his grandfather and read many books, but he wasn't your typical Confucian scholar. He once served in the cavalry under the Yingyin Marquis.
During the reign of Emperor Xiao Wen of Han, Jia Shan wrote a memorial to the emperor, discussing the principles of governing the country and warning the emperor using the example of the Qin Dynasty. This memorial was called "Words of Utmost Importance." In the memorial, he wrote:
"I have heard that as a subject, one should give it their all, even if it means getting their head chopped off, to speak frankly and offer advice. I won't bore you with ancient history, Your Majesty; let's just look at the Qin."
"Ordinary folk usually focus on self-cultivation. After achieving success and fame, they can still ensure their descendants prosper. However, the Qin Dynasty was different. Qin Shi Huang, despite ruling a vast empire, was consumed by luxury. His heavy taxes ground the people down, and the land teemed with bandits and prisoners. The populace lived in fear, hiding everywhere. When Chen Sheng shouted, the whole world responded to his uprising, showing just how deep the resentment ran! The extravagance of the Qin Dynasty did not stop there. He built hundreds of palaces stretching from Xianyang to Yongzhou, each lavishly decorated and ready for immediate occupancy. Then there was the Afang Palace, a colossal structure, miles long and incredibly opulent, overflowing with chariots and banners. The sheer extravagance left future generations struggling to even imagine such opulence."
For the sake of convenient travel, Qin Shi Huang built imperial roads throughout the country, reaching Yan and Qi in the east and Wu and Chu in the south, passing through all lakes, rivers, and seaside scenic areas. The road was fifty paces across (approximately 125 feet), with a tree planted every three zhang (about 10 meters), and tall earthen walls built along the route, embedded with golden studs and planted with evergreens. The extravagance of the road reached such a level that even subsequent generations couldn't even dream of building such a road. After Qin Shi Huang's death, he was buried in Mount Li, employing tens of thousands of laborers and taking ten years to complete. The tomb was dug three levels deep, adorned with gold, silver, jewels, bronze, and iron, its exterior painted in vibrant colors, and its interior shimmering with pearls, jade, and jadeite, resembling an opulent interior akin to a pleasure palace while the exterior blended seamlessly with the surrounding mountain landscape. The luxury of the tomb reached such a level that even a simple grave could not be afforded by future generations. The Qin Dynasty, relying on powerful military force and a brutal heart, encroached on the feudal lords and swallowed up the world, but did not pay attention to righteousness and virtue, thus drawing the wrath of Heaven. I'm risking my life to say this, hoping Your Majesty will seriously consider my words.
They say that loyal ministers serving the monarch may find honest advice ignored or even risk their lives, while sugarcoating it won't get their point across. A wise king craves honest advice, and loyal ministers must provide it, even at great personal risk. Good seed in bad soil won't sprout; but even weeds thrive by the river. Look at the Xia and Shang dynasties – even with wise men like Long Feng, Ji Zi, and Bi Gan, they all ended up dead. Under King Wen of Zhou, everyone, from the smartest to the average Joe, could contribute, and that's why the Zhou dynasty thrived. A good king, like fertile land, nurtures his people. A king's power is far greater than any storm; his authority, far heavier than any mountain. Even if a king welcomes advice with open arms, people will still be scared to speak up. And those who are cruel and self-serving? Forget about it! No amount of wisdom or bravery can save you from a tyrant's wrath. Without hearing the truth, a king dooms his kingdom.
In ancient times, the wise kings had a system: court historians recorded his mistakes, court musicians chanted cautionary verses, officials recited cautionary poems, and ministers collectively advised. Scholars passed warnings amongst themselves, while commoners debated the matter in the streets and merchants in the marketplaces, so that the monarch could hear his faults. By listening to faults and correcting them, and by following justice, the ruler could then have lasting reign. The emperor's authority extended throughout the land, meaning that everyone should be his subjects. However, the emperor honored the three elders at the academy, personally offered food with condiments, raised a toast with a cup of wine, prayed for a bountiful harvest and offered supplications for his own prudence. Officials presented him with their canes, and nobles with their shoes, recommended talents to assist themselves, and sought honest ministers to offer frank advice. Therefore, the emperor supported the elderly with dignity to show filial piety. He appointed ministers to prevent arrogance, and he appointed ministers to offer frank advice to prevent ignorance of faults. He sought to govern with a clarity understood by even the common people, pursuing endless goodness. He corrected himself when criticized by merchants and commoners, to heed good advice.
Yet, the fate of the Qin state serves as a cautionary tale. The Qin state was powerful, unified the nation, turned six states into counties, and built the Great Wall as a barrier. The strength of the Qin state, from large to small, from light to heavy, was nothing compared to a wealthy family or a powerful warrior! However, the Qin state was defeated by Chen Sheng, and the territory was taken by Liu Bang, a question that has puzzled historians for centuries.
Because Qin Shihuang was too greedy and cruel, he harmed everyone, forcing the common people to become dirt poor just to satisfy his own desires. In the past during the Zhou Dynasty, there were over 1800 vassal states, with the people of the Nine Provinces supporting the vassal lords of these states. The people only had to serve three days a year and pay one-tenth of their taxes, leaving the vassal lords with surplus wealth and the people with leftover energy, resulting in everyone singing his praises. But Qin Shihuang used the people of over 1800 vassal states to support only himself, working the people to the bone, and he’d plundered them of everything. He spent a fortune on hunting and leisure. The whole country couldn't keep up with his spending! The exhausted got no rest, the hungry and cold starved, and the wrongly condemned had no recourse. Everyone hated him, and the whole country went to hell. When Qin Shihuang was alive, the world was already in chaos, but he himself was unaware. Qin Shihuang went on an eastern inspection tour to Kuaiji and Langya, had stone inscriptions carved boasting about his accomplishments, thinking he was better than Yao and Shun. He also cast bronze bells and built the Afang Palace, thinking he could rule the world for eternity. Wise kings' names lasted only thirty or forty generations, even for Yao, Shun, Yu, and Tang, who accumulated virtues and laid the foundation for their descendants. Qin Shihuang said that after his death, his posthumous title would be determined according to the rules, and he planned to number his descendants from one to ten thousand, starting with himself as the First Emperor. Qin Shihuang calculated his achievements and virtues, estimating that his descendants could continue for generations, but he did not expect that just a few months after his death, the whole thing blew up, and his ancestors' graves were desecrated!
Why did Qin Shihuang meet his demise unknowingly? His downfall was due to a lack of honest counsel. This was because he never took to heart the importance of showing respect to his elders and valuing wise counsel; there were no ministers to assist him, and no one dared to speak frankly and offer advice. He only liked to hear good things, tolerated sycophants, and silenced his critics, even killing those who dared to speak the truth. Therefore, those around him could only praise him, and on the surface, he appeared supremely wise and accomplished, but in reality, the world was on the verge of collapse, and no one dared to tell him. As the Book of Songs wisely observes, "It's not that they don't speak, but they fear punishment. They accept loyal advice and distance themselves from slander." This describes the situation perfectly! The Book of Songs also notes that "King Wen of Zhou stabilized his kingdom thanks to his many talented and virtuous advisors." The world has never lacked talent, so why was it only King Wen who could stabilize the realm? Because King Wen was benevolent, and thus benevolence and righteousness prevailed. After obtaining talented individuals, he respected them, allowing them to fulfill their potential, and he treated people with respect and etiquette. Therefore, if one does not make an effort to love and respect them, they will not be able to exert themselves fully; without their full effort, great achievements cannot be accomplished. Ancient wise rulers showed their respect by generously rewarding their ministers, visiting them during illness, and attending their funerals with the utmost solemnity. If a minister fell ill, the ruler would visit them multiple times; if a minister passed away, the ruler would personally offer condolences, participate in the funeral preparations and burial, dress in mourning attire, and offer sacrifices three times. Before the burial of a minister, the ruler would refrain from drinking and eating meat and would not allow music to be played. If a minister passed away during a temple ceremony, the ruler would stop the music for the ceremony. Thus, ancient rulers treated their subjects with proper etiquette; the ruler had to wear formal attire, maintain a dignified appearance, and a serious expression before meeting with subjects. This deep respect fostered unwavering loyalty and service, ensuring that their achievements and virtues would be passed down through the ages, and their reputation would be immortal.
Your Highness, now you are missing your ancestors, reminiscing about their achievements and wanting to honor their virtues, so you have selected virtuous and upright scholars and officials throughout the land. People are happy and excited, hoping for a golden age like that of Yao and Shun, and the glory of the Three Dynasties will reappear. Scholars and officials throughout the land are striving to show their abilities, hoping to inherit Your Highness's grace. Now the upright scholars are all in the court, and Your Highness has selected some of them to serve as close advisors, even going horseback riding and hunting with them, leaving the palace several times a day. I fear this will lead to neglect of court duties, official indolence, and even apathy among the vassals after hearing about it!
After Your Highness ascended the throne, you personally worked hard for the welfare of the people, practiced austerity, refrained from music, reduced the redundant guards, and stopped the annual tribute. You allocated horses from the royal stables for delivering official documents to various counties, distributed the royal gardens to farmers for cultivation, and donated more than 100,000 bolts of silk to help the poor. You respected the elderly, granting exemptions from military service for sons of men over ninety and tax relief for those over eighty. You granted titles to all men in the empire, and the ministers were all promoted to the rank of high-ranking officials. You gave out gold from the palace to reward the ministers and their families; no one was left without benefits. You pardoned criminals, providing clothing and headwear to those in need, reuniting families torn apart by imprisonment. You lightened penalties and reduced sentences, and the people were very happy. Therefore, that year there was good weather and abundant harvests; this is heaven blessing Your Highness! Lighter punishments and increased prosperity led to a decrease in crime; the people's support for Your Highness is clear. I heard that officials in Shandong read out Your Highness's decrees, and even the frailest among them came to hear your decrees, eager to witness the fruits of your virtuous reign.
Your accomplishments are really taking off, and your name's getting around. However, the emperor has started to go hunting and shooting arrows with some top officials and honest guys every day, chasing rabbits and foxes. This'll wreck your whole operation and crush everyone's hopes. Man, I'm really bummed about this! As the Book of Songs says, "Many a good start has a bad finish." I'd like to suggest Your Majesty cut back on the hunting, use the second month of summer to build a new hall, start a school, and bring back the old ways. That'll improve things, build a solid foundation for the future, and then you can do whatever you want, Your Majesty.
Ministers back then were real sticklers for the rules, so you hardly ever saw them relaxing; they were always serious and respectful. Ministers didn't go to the Emperor's parties, and honest guys didn't go hunting. Let them focus on their jobs and improving themselves, so everyone will shape up and get the job done. The Emperor will earn respect, and his accomplishments will be remembered for ages. Otherwise, everything you've accomplished will crumble, and your glory will fade away. Those scholars who are so careful at home but mess up in front of you, man, I feel bad for them. The Emperor parties with his ministers and talks business with the big shots. Parties are fun, meetings are respectful, and the plans are smart – that's how you handle big things!
During the reign of Emperor Wen, he once ordered the casting of coins. Shan Gong wrote a strongly worded letter of protest, stating that it went against the policies of the previous emperor. He also defended the Prince of Huainan, saying that the Prince wasn't guilty of anything serious and should be allowed to return to his country right away. He used the example of Chai Tangzi's misdeeds as a cautionary tale. After reading the memorial, the emperor grilled Shan Gong. Shan Gong replied, "Money ain't all that useful, but it buys you power and influence. Wealth and power are symbols of the monarch's authority. Letting regular folks mint coins is like sharing your power with them, which cannot last long!" Shan Gong spoke directly and insightfully, but the emperor ultimately did not punish him, so everyone felt comfortable speaking their minds to the Emperor. Later, the emperor ordered to stop minting coins.
Zou Yang was from the state of Qi. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, the various kings ran their own fiefdoms and hired the best and brightest. The King of Wu, Liu Pi, recruited bright young minds from all over. Zou Yang served as an official in the state of Wu alongside Yan Ji and Mei Cheng under the King of Wu. They were all famous for their literary talent and eloquence. After some time, the King of Wu became dissatisfied due to issues with the crown prince and called in sick to avoid court, secretly plotting a conspiracy. Zou Yang submitted a memorial advising against it. Since the King's plot was still under wraps, Zou Yang didn't want to accuse him directly. Instead, he began by citing examples from the Qin Dynasty and then discussed the troubles caused by the Hu people, Yue people, the states of Qi, Zhao, and Huainan, before finally making his point clear. His letter went something like this:
I have heard that the state of Qin relied on its court officials to control the world and establish inviolable borders, while also being able to send troops to attack the Hu and Yue people. However, when the Qin dynasty fell, Zhang Er, Chen Sheng, and others united to attack Hangu Pass, and Xianyang quickly fell. Why? Because the counties lacked mutual support, as did the common people! Now the Hu people have crossed the Northern River multiple times; the devastation has been so severe that birds are scarce and rabbits unseen. Border wars continue, reinforcements arrive one after another, and countless casualties mount, with supply convoys stretching for thousands of miles without interruption. Why? Zhao shirked its responsibility onto Hejian; Qi relied on the favor of Huihou; Chengyang County depended on Lu Bo; and the three Huainan counties were only concerned with their own survival. Your Majesty, while you are unconcerned, I am deeply troubled that the reinforcements will not be able to gather, the hooves of the Hu people will step into Handan, and the Yue people will cross the Yangtze River and return to Qingyang by boat. Even if the armies of Liangguo and Huaiyang march south to Huaidong and cross Guangling to stop the supply of food to the Yue people, the Han dynasty must also send troops west to Hoxi and guard the Zhang River in the north to support the great country. The Hu people will continue to attack, and the Yue people will go even deeper. This is why I am worried about Your Majesty!
I have heard that a dragon's ascent brings forth rain. If the wise king cultivates himself and his virtue, those persuasive scholars will submit and eagerly seek to make achievements. I have confidence in my ability to advise any ruler and adapt my approach as needed; there is no country I cannot handle. But I have come all the way from Huainan not because I dislike my country and like the people of Wu, but because I want to emulate the noble behavior of the ancients, and more importantly, to persuade Your Majesty to practice benevolence and righteousness. Therefore, I urge Your Majesty to give my counsel serious consideration.
I heard that even if many raptors are added together, they are not as powerful as a single large eagle. When the State of Zhao was at its peak, the powerful soldiers gathered under Congtai and suddenly became a metropolis, but still couldn't prevent King You's downfall. The tough guys from Huainan and Shandong, the many die-hard loyalists in the court, couldn't change the situation of King Li's relocation. However, if the strategy fails, even princes and generals can't maintain their positions; that's just common sense. So I hope Your Majesty carefully considers my advice.
Emperor Xiaowen founded the Han Dynasty with the land of Guanzhong. He was very cautious at the beginning, even unwilling to buy new clothes. After becoming emperor, he gave land to the infant king, taking it from the descendants of the Dongmou, Zhuxu, and Dongbao families, and gave Liang, Dai, and Huaiyang to him. Finally, he captured Jibei and imprisoned his brother in Yongdi—sounds familiar, doesn't it? Now the Son of Heaven has just inherited the foundation of the late emperor, controlling Shandong on the left and Guanzhong on the right. Things are changing fast, and nobody knows what's coming next. If Your Majesty does not carefully observe the situation, I’m worried we’ll see a repeat of the Zhou Dynasty's collapse, with another Xinyuan Ping pulling the strings. The Emperor Gao burned the mountain road, broke through Zhang Han with water, left no way out for the army, allowed the exhausted people to recuperate, and then quickly attacked Hangu Pass, defeating the Western Chu army. With water warfare, Zhang Han lost his cities; with land warfare, King Jing lost his territory. These things decide whether a country lives or dies! I hope Your Majesty carefully considers this.
The King of Wu ignored him. At that time, King Xiao of Liang was powerful and valued talent. So Zou Yang, Mei Cheng, and Yan Ji, knowing that the King of Wu couldn't be persuaded, all left Wu and went to serve King Xiao of Liang.
Zou Yang is a highly talented and strategic individual, upright and resolute, a figure whose integrity fell somewhere between the extremes represented by Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui. Yang Sheng and others, envious of Zou Yang, spoke ill of him in front of King Xiaowang of Liang. King Xiaowang was furious and had Zou Yang arrested, intending to execute him. Framed and imprisoned, Zou Yang, fearing for his life and worried about implicating others, wrote a letter from his cell:
I have heard that loyal individuals will always be rewarded, and honest people will not be suspected. I have always believed this to be true, but now it seems merely empty words. In the past, Jing Ke risked his life for Yan Dan, even producing an ominous portent, a white rainbow splitting the sky, which frightened the Prince of Yan; Mr. Wei offered strategies to the state of Qin, leading to the catastrophic defeat at the Battle of Changping. Even though he presented the precious "Tai Bai Shi Ang" (a precious gift) as an offering, King Zhao of Qin still harbored doubts about him. Is it not tragic that such world-altering talents should be distrusted by two rulers? I am wholeheartedly devoted to serving Your Majesty, expressing my thoughts openly, yet my intentions were misunderstood by the court, leading to my arrest and interrogation, which has caused the world to doubt my loyalty. If Jing Ke and Mr. Wei were alive, the Kings of Yan and Qin would not comprehend my plight! I implore Your Majesty to carefully consider my words.
In the past, a person of exquisite beauty presented treasures to the King of Chu, only to be killed; Li Si devoted himself to assisting Qin Shi Huang, yet he was ultimately executed by Hu Hai. Thus, Ji Zi feigned madness and withdrew from the world, all to avoid such calamities. I hope Your Majesty can understand the sentiments of the courtly beauty and Li Si, reflect on the actions of the Kings of Chu and Hu Hai, and not allow me to be ridiculed like Ji Zi and Jie Yu. I once heard tales of Bi Gan being cut open and dying, and Wu Zixu being stuffed into a leather bag and sunk into the river; I did not believe them, but now I know these horrors to be true. I implore Your Majesty to consider my plight with compassion.
As the saying goes, "Old friends are like new acquaintances." What does this mean? It's about mutual loyalty and shared ideals. So Fan Yuqi escaped from Qin to Yan, using Jing Ke's head to repay Yan Dan's kindness; Wang She left Qi for Wei, committing suicide under the city to preserve Wei. Wang She and Fan Yuqi weren't just familiar with Yan and Wei when they arrived; it was their loyalty to the monarchs of these states that aligned their actions and aspirations, and their loyalty knew no bounds. Although Su Qin was not trusted by the world, he served Yan until his death; and although Bai Gui lost six cities in war, he managed to capture Zhongshan for Wei. What’s behind this? It's the trust they had in each other! Su Qin assisted Yan; even when some spoke ill of him in front of the king, the king rebuked them with a sword and gifted him a fine horse. Bai Gui was prominent in Zhongshan for a time; despite others speaking ill of him in front of the Marquis Wen of Wei, the Marquis rewarded him with luminous jade. Why is that? Because these two monarchs and their ministers truly trusted each other, not caring about superficial words!
Now, whether a woman's beautiful or ugly, once she enters the palace, she easily provokes jealousy; whether a man is talented or not, once he enters the court, he attracts envy. Back in the day, Sima Xi had his leg tendons severed in Song but eventually became the prime minister of Zhongshan; Fan Sui had his ears cut off and teeth knocked out in Wei, yet he became the Marquis Ying. These two guys stuck to their guns, disregarding factions and personal ties, only associating with a few close friends, which inevitably led to them being framed by the jealous. Thus, Shen Tudi jumped into the Yong River, and Xu Yan carried a stone and jumped into the sea. They couldn't stomach the world's ways and refused to compromise their integrity to win favor.
Looking back at Bailixi, he used to beg for food on the road, but was later given a big job by Duke Mu of Qin; Ning Qi sang under the ox cart, but was later appointed by Duke Huan of Qi to govern the country. Were these two people appointed by the two rulers after becoming officials in the court and kissing up to people around them? They were totally genuine, worked together perfectly, and were as close as brothers – nothing could break them apart. How could they be misled by believing only what they wanted to hear? Therefore, believing only what they wanted to hear will breed evil, and ruling with an iron fist will lead to chaos. In the past, the State of Lu believed the slander of the Jisun family and drove Confucius away; the State of Song believed Ziran's scheme and arrested Mozi. Talented individuals like Confucius and Mozi cannot avoid being framed by villains, leading to the near destruction of Lu and Song. Why? Because bad press can ruin anyone!
The State of Qin appointed the Rong people You Yu and subsequently dominated the Central Plains; the State of Qi appointed the Yue people Zizang, resulting in a strong national power and influence over all directions. Were these two countries following popular opinion, going with the flow, and only believing in those strange rumors and gossip? A wise ruler should listen to everyone, see everything, and lead wisely! Therefore, if the ruler and his subjects are united, even outsiders can become brothers, just like You Yu and Zizang; if the ruler and his subjects are not in harmony, even close relatives can become enemies, just like Zhu, Xiang, Guan, and Cai. Today, if today's rulers were smart like those in Qi and Qin, and didn't just believe whatever they were told like Lu and Song did, they could be even greater than the Five Hegemons – maybe even as legendary as the Three Emperors and Five Sovereigns!
So, a wise king would see this clearly, abandon self-serving concerns for his own family, and not use Tian Chang's talents, but instead reward the descendants of Bi Gan and show reverence for his ancestors, including by repairing the tombs of pregnant women. Why? Because to engage in virtuous acts, one must avoid bad things. Duke Wen of Jin befriended his enemies and became the most powerful ruler among the vassal states; Duke Huan of Qi promoted his enemies and unified the realm. Why? Because of their kindness and sincerity towards others, which comes from the heart and not from insincere words. The Qin state implemented Shang Yang's laws to weaken the eastern states of Han and Wei, temporarily becoming powerful but eventually being divided. The Yue state used the strategies of Master Zong to defeat the formidable Wu state and dominate the Central Plains, but Master Zong was killed for his outstanding accomplishments. Therefore, Sun Shu'ao resigned from the position of prime minister three times without regret, and Ling Zizhong refused the position of the three highest-ranking ministers to go grow vegetables. Now, if a monarch can rid himself of arrogance and conceit, have the intention to repay his subjects, open his heart, understand their true intentions, treat them sincerely, show them great favor, and ultimately share joys and sorrows with them without favoring any one minister, then even Jie's dog could make Yao afraid, and Zhi's guest could assassinate Confucius, let alone someone with supreme power and the abilities of a sage king! However, Jing Ke's actions brought ruin to seven generations and cost his wife her life; hardly an example of loyal service to the king!
I have heard that priceless jewels, if given secretly to others, will only make them furious. Why is this? Because you tried to get close without building a relationship first. Like a gnarled old tree, although unique, to turn it into a wheel, someone must first trim it properly. So, if you don't build a relationship first, even the best gifts will just piss people off; but if someone puts in a good word for you first, even a dead tree can make a name for itself and not be forgotten. Nowadays, even if regular folks were as smart as Yao and Shun, as eloquent as Yi Yin and Guan Zhong, and as loyal as Long Feng and Bi Gan, if they do not establish good relationships beforehand, even if they try their best to show loyalty to the current monarch, the monarch will surely give them the same angry look they'd give a sneaky gift-giver. This makes it impossible for common people to have the opportunity to make a name for themselves like a dead tree. Therefore, a wise monarch ruling the world and controlling the people is like shaping clay, unique and not influenced by brown-nosing or the opinions of the majority. So Qin Shihuang believed the words of the courtier Meng Jia, trusted Jing Ke, and ended up being assassinated; King Wen of Zhou went hunting by the Jing and Wei rivers, brought back Lv Shang, and ultimately achieved his kingdom. Qin was destroyed by trusting those around him, while the Zhou dynasty became kings by valuing Lv Shang. Why is this? Because they were able to ignore the polite niceties, unaffected by external opinions, with a keen eye to see the essence of things. Nowadays, monarchs are immersed in flattery, bound by all the stuffy formalities, letting brilliant minds be treated like common cattle. In short, building relationships is key to success, whether you're giving gifts or trying to make your mark on the world.
I've heard that those who show up in their finest threads to see the Emperor won't sell their souls for a few bucks; and nobody flashing their fancy titles is gonna compromise their morals for a quick buck. So, even if there are famous scenic spots in their hometown, Zengzi will not return; even if the city is called Chaoge, Mozi will turn back. Now, you want all the best and brightest to sell out for power and status? To kiss up to the Emperor's toadies? Forget it. They'd rather rot in a ditch than play that game. Who'd be loyal then?
King Xiao got the memo, read it right away, and treated the guy like a VIP.
At first, Sheng and Gui wanted King Xiao to push for the crown. King Xiao even submitted a petition asking the Emperor to grant him a special road from Liang Kingdom to Chang Le Palace, so the people of Liang could build a path for him to visit the Empress Dowager. Yuan Ang and the rest thought it was a dumb idea, and the Emperor said no way. King Liang flipped his lid and had Yuan Ang whacked. The Emperor suspected Liang, so he sent a whole bunch of messengers to grill him. King Liang was originally conspiring with Sheng and Gui but pretended to oppose them, so he was falsely accused. Mei and Yan? They clammed up.
When the plot of Liang Wang's rebellion was exposed and Sheng and Gui died, Lord Xiao, fearing implication, sought a way to protect himself. He deeply blamed himself and offered a king's ransom to find someone who could explain his guilt to the emperor. He heard that there was a man named Mr. Wang in the state of Qi, in his eighties and a shrewd strategist. He immediately went to visit him and told him the whole story. Mr. Wang said, "This is very difficult! Once a monarch has a deep-seated grudge and wants to impose punishment, he will definitely do so, and it is indeed difficult to resolve. Even the queen mother's high rank and close familial ties cannot stop it, let alone a minister. In the past, Qin Shi Huang held a grudge against the queen mother, and a dozen courtiers were executed for advising him. Later, because Mao Jiao reasoned with the First Emperor, appealing to his sense of justice, the emperor was not truly moved by his words but forced himself to accept it. Mao Jiao also barely escaped with his life, just like escaping from the jaws of a tiger, so that's why this matter is so difficult to handle! Do you still want to be safe now?" Lord Xiao said, "The people of the states of Zou and Lu focus on Confucian studies, those of Qi and Chu are good at debate, and sometimes the people of Han and Wei have some unique perspectives. I plan to ask them." Mr. Wang said, "Go, and stop by on your way back west." After traveling outside for more than a month without finding a suitable solution, Zou Yang returned to Mr. Wang and said, "I plan to go west to Chang'an. What would you suggest?" Mr. Wang said, "I hesitated to offer my advice earlier, fearing it would be rejected. If you are going, you must go see Wang Changjun. That is the best choice for you." Zou Yang was suddenly enlightened and said, "Alright, I will definitely follow your advice." After bidding farewell to Mr. Wang, he did not detour to the state of Liang but went straight to Chang'an and secured an introduction to Wang Changjun.
Wang Changjun is the older brother of Queen Wang (Queen Mother) and was made Marquis of Gai. Zou Yang stayed at Wang Changjun's place for a few days and took the opportunity to say, "I'm a bit of a fool, really, and not much good at anything, but I wanted to have a word." Wang Changjun quickly got up and knelt down, saying, "Oh, my goodness, I'm so honoured!" Zou Yang continued, "I heard that your younger brother in the palace is quite extraordinary, but your behaviour isn't always very careful. Now Yan Ang's affairs have blown up into a right mess, and the Prince of Liang's worried about him getting punished. If that happens, the Queen Mother will surely be heartbroken and lash out at everyone at court. I'm worried you'll get caught up in this." Wang Changjun's face changed colour in fear and asked, "What am I to do?"
Zou Yang said, "If you can actively intercede with the emperor to let the matter of Prince Liang go, you will be able to establish a stable relationship with the empress dowager. The empress dowager holds you in high esteem, and your younger brother is deeply favored by both the emperor and the empress dowager. This is simply rock solid! If you can once again achieve great merits in safeguarding the country and continuing the family line, bestowing blessings throughout the world and spreading your reputation for future generations, I hope you will seriously consider my suggestion. In the past, Shun's brother Xiang once wanted to kill Shun, but later, when Shun became emperor, he still granted Xiang a less important fief. Loving and compassionate people treat their brothers without holding grudges, without long-lasting resentment, only with doubled affection and care. That's why they are praised by future generations. The son of Duke Qingfu of the State of Lu sent someone to kill Zibian. Although the case had been clarified, Jiyu still killed Qingfu without a thorough investigation; Qingfu then killed Duke Min, but Jizi slowly pursued the criminals. The "Spring and Autumn Annals" evaluates this as a matter of family loyalty. When Lady Ai Jiang of Lu died in exile, Confucius remarked, 'Although Duke Huan of Qi's actions were legally sound, they were not honorable,' believing it was wrong. You can use these examples to persuade the emperor; perhaps the matter of Prince Liang can be resolved." Wang Changjun said, "Okay." So he took the opportunity to enter the palace and speak these words to the emperor. Later, Han Anguo also went to see Princess Chang, and indeed the matter of Prince Liang was not pursued further.
Apparently, initially, King Bo of Wu conspired with seven states to rebel, but the defenses of the State of Qi and the State of Jibei did not play a significant role. After the Han Dynasty defeated the State of Wu, the King of Qi committed suicide, leaving no heir. The King of Jibei also wanted to commit suicide, but fortunately, he saved his wife and children. At this time, Gong Sun Jia of the State of Qi said to the King of Jibei, "Let me try. I'll explain the situation to Prince Liang on your behalf and request the emperor's mercy. If my plea fails, I'll accept my fate."
Gongsun Jiā went to see King Liang and said, "Jibei, hemmed in by powerful Qi to the east, connected to Wu and Yue to the south, and threatened by Yan and Zhao to the north, is a weak state, surrounded by enemies and lacking the resources to defend itself. Even surrendering to Wu is not the right strategy. In the past, Jie Zhong of the Zheng State promised the people of the Song State to support Prince Tu to protect their ruler, a betrayal of their own ruler for short-term gain, which was an unjust act. Surrender would only invite Wu to conquer Qi first, then Jibei, before turning on Yan and Zhao. This would result in the enemy completely controlling the Shandong region. Right now, Wu and Chu are leading their armies west, trying to take over the empire, while only Jibei stands firm without surrendering. If Wu's campaign falters without Jibei, that's a victory in itself! Competing with the vassal states is like Jibei being a lamb against a tiger. Standing firm is true loyalty! But even such loyalty is doubted; regretting not surrendering sooner is hardly a blessing for the country! I worry that other vassal kings will have doubts when they see Jibei holding its ground. Only you, Your Majesty, can plead our case with the Emperor. You will have the merit of protecting the country and the reputation of comforting the people. Your grace will be passed down through generations, and your kindness will be endless. So please, Your Majesty, consider my words carefully." King Xiaowang of Liang was very happy and immediately sent someone to report this to the court. As a result, King Jibei was spared punishment and was relocated to Zichuan.
Mei Cheng, also known as Shu, was from Huaiyin and served as a Langzhong. When King Bo began to resent the central government and plotted rebellion, Mei Cheng wrote a memorial advising:
I have heard that self-preservation is key to success; failure to do so leads to ruin. Shun started with nothing, but eventually came to rule all under Heaven; Great Yu had no more than a small settlement of ten households, but ultimately commanded all the feudal lords. The armies of King Tang of Shang and King Wu of Zhou were confined to only a hundred li of territory, yet they ruled justly and compassionately, all because they understood the strategies of governance. Therefore, a father's love for his son is natural, and loyal subjects must speak out even at the risk of losing their heads, in order to prevent errors in decision-making and ensure their achievements last for eternity. I am taking a risk, speaking frankly to express my foolish loyalty to you, hoping that Your Majesty will consider my words, granting me your sympathy.
Imagine a thin rope supporting an immense weight, suspended high above an endless abyss; even the most foolish person would know that the rope is about to break and feel fear. When a horse is startled and the rope is on the verge of breaking, the burden is increased; once the rope breaks, it cannot be reattached, and the army would be lost forever. The chance of survival lies in a single moment. If you heed the advice of loyal subjects, you can turn calamity into fortune. If you insist on your current path, it is as dangerous as stacking blocks, even harder than ascending to the heavens; if you change your mind, it's as easy as flipping your hand, as secure as Mount Tai. Now, if you wish to live out your days in peace, enjoy endless happiness, and hold supreme power, it is as easy as flipping your hand, as secure as Mount Tai. Yet, you are determined to take risks like building a precarious tower, facing challenges as difficult as ascending to the heavens, which is what baffles me.
The nature of human beings is to fear exposure but dislike leaving traces. They are self-defeating; the more traces there are, the quicker the exposure. Yet, they do not know when to stop in time, ultimately leading to exposure with all traces gone. The best way to keep others unaware is to not speak; the best way to keep others from understanding is to not act. It's like one person stoking a fire while a hundred try to fan it out—pointless. Just remove the firewood and put out the fire. Trying to remedy a problem without addressing its root is like trying to bail water out of a sinking ship with a teaspoon.
You You Ji, a legendary archer from ancient China, was the best archer in the state of Chu. He could hit the leaves of a poplar tree a hundred steps away—hitting a poplar leaf from a hundred paces is a testament to his incredible skill. However, the distance he shot arrows was only within a hundred steps; compared to me, I'm afraid he wouldn't even pick up a bow and arrow.
Good fortune has its foundation, and misfortune has its origin. Nurture good fortune, and nip misfortune in the bud; where does misfortune come from? This emphasizes the importance of preventing problems before they occur!
The relentless flow of water on Mount Tai can carve through stone; a thin rope can wear through the thickest tree trunk. Water is not a drill on a stone, and silk is not a saw on wood; it is just the gradual erosion that causes it. This illustrates how slow and steady wins the race.
If you weigh things one tiny weight at a time, you'll get the total wrong when you're weighing something heavy; if you measure things one inch at a time, you'll get the total wrong when measuring something long. Use big weights to weigh big things, and long measurements to measure long things – that’s the way to get it right. You gotta be precise, mate. No room for messing about.
When a tree's just a little sprout, you can just yank it out of the ground. Best to nip it in the bud, innit?
You don't see a whetstone wearing down, but it does; you don't see a tree growing, but it does; you don't see good deeds paying off, but they do; you don't see bad deeds causing trouble, but they do. It's all about the long game, and what goes around comes around, see?
I hope the King'll give this some proper thought, Your Majesty. It's timeless wisdom, this is. That's my advice, Your Majesty.
But the King of Wu? Didn't listen, went off to Liang and hung out with King Xiaoyan. Silly sod brought it all on himself, then.
When Emperor Jing took the throne, Chao Cuo, the chief minister, established a system for the Han Dynasty that weakened the vassal states. The King of Wu plotted a rebellion with six other states and led his troops west, claiming they were avenging Chao Cuo. Upon hearing this, the Han killed Chao Cuo to placate the vassal states. This is the background of the King of Wu's rebellion.
Mei Cheng then advised King Wu, saying: In the past, Qin faced difficulties from the Hu Rong in the west. They guarded against the Yuzhong Pass in the north, resisted the Qiang and Zhuo in the south, and confronted the six states in the east. The six states relied on the reputation of Lord Xinling, followed the strategies of Su Qin, and used the power of Jing Ke to unite and resist Qin. However, Qin eventually conquered the six states, destroyed their kingdoms, and unified the world. Why is this so? The difference came down to geography and the strength of their people.
The Han now holds all of Qin's land and the populations of the six states. They've also patched things up with the Rong and Di, and control the Qiang and Zhuo lands to the south. Compared to Qin, they've got a tenth of the land but a hundred times the people. Your Majesty understands this clearly. Now, those yes-men advising you ignore family ties, the people's strength, and the size of the country. Instead, they think Wu's gonna be trouble, which is what I'm worried about. Mei Cheng shows how strong the Han is and how dangerous things are for the King of Wu, highlighting the damage bad advisors can do.
So, the Wu Kingdom's having a go at the Han Dynasty, like gnats on an ox, and simply cannot pose any threat. The Emperor heard that the King of Wu was slacking off, and the vassal lords also expressed their willingness to abide by the late Emperor's covenant. Now that the Han Dynasty has executed three important court officials to make up for past mistakes, this is truly a display of Your Majesty's power and prestige, just like the legendary Emperors Tang and Wu, known for their might! Although the Wu Kingdom is just a vassal state, it is even richer than the Emperor himself, with most of the Central Plains under its control. The Han Dynasty governs twenty-four commanderies and seventeen vassal states, with goods transported endlessly by land and waterways. However, Wu's Dongshan treasury dwarfs the Han's; food transported westward by land flows continuously, while the waterways are packed with shipments, far surpassing the granaries of Hailing in Wu. The Han Dynasty built Shanglin Garden and various palaces, gathering rare treasures and exotic animals, yet these cannot compare to the exquisite gardens of Changzhou in Wu. The Han Dynasty may visit Qu Tai and patrol the roads, but they can't match the daily pond scenery enjoyed in Wu. While the Han builds high walls and deep moats, supplemented by pass cities, they pale in comparison to the natural defenses of the Jianghuai region. So, Your Majesty, you've got plenty to be pleased about!
Now, Your Highness, you should quickly pull back your army to preserve half of your forces. Otherwise, if the Han Dynasty learns of Wu's ambitions, they will surely be furious and send elite troops down the Yangtze River to attack your capital; Lu and Donghai will cut off Wu's food supply; the King of Liang will organize the army, train for battle, stockpile food, and defend the city while waiting for Wu to run out of supplies. By then, even if you want to retreat back to your country, it will be too late. The Huainan alliance has broken its promises; the King of Qi committed suicide to cover up his crimes, and the four allied states are unable to deploy troops within their own territories. The State of Zhao has imprisoned people from Handan, and these matters can no longer be hidden; it is already very clear. You're a thousand miles from home, trapped in this tiny town. Generals Zhang and Han are stationed here, with Generals Gao and Su on either side. The army cannot come down from the walls, and the soldiers all wear worried expressions. I'm worried about you, Your Highness. Please, think about this!
In the end, the King of Wu did not heed Cheng's strategies and was captured, leading to his country's destruction. After the Han Dynasty pacified the Rebellion of the Seven States, Cheng became a household name. Emperor Jing summoned him and appointed him as the Commandant of Hongnong. Cheng had long been an important guest of the vassal states, enjoying the company of many brilliant men and living the life he loved. He hated the job and faked an illness to get out of it. He then went to the State of Liang to enjoy himself, where everyone there was a poet, and Cheng's talent stood out. After the death of King Xiao, Cheng returned to Huaiyin.
When Emperor Wu of Han was still Crown Prince, he had heard of Mei Cheng's great reputation. After ascending the throne, he sent a comfortable carriage to fetch Mei Cheng, only to find him dead on the way. Emperor Wu then ordered inquiries about Cheng's son, but none of them could write. It was later discovered that Cheng's son, Xue Gao, had the ability.
Xue Gao, courtesy name Shaoruo. When his father Mei Cheng was in the state of Liang, he took Xue Gao's mother as his concubine. When Mei Cheng returned east, Xue Gao's mother did not want to go with him. Mei Cheng got angry, gave Xue Gao a generous sum of money, and let him and his mother stay in Liang. When Xue Gao was seventeen years old, he petitioned King Xiao of Liang and was appointed to a position at court. Three years later, he was sent on a mission, clashed with his colleagues, was wrongly accused, punished, and stripped of his possessions. Xue Gao fled to Chang'an. During an amnesty, he wrote another memorial to the court, claiming he was Mei Cheng's son. Emperor Wu was very pleased, summoned him, had him serve in the palace, where Xue Gao composed poetry on the spot. Emperor Wu also had him compose poems for the Pingle Pavilion, very satisfied with his work. He was sent on a mission to the Xiongnu. Xue Gao was not well-versed in classics, had a witty way with words, and his poetry was full of humor, which greatly pleased Emperor Wu. He was as well-liked as Dongfang Shuo and Guo Sheren, but unlike Yan Zhu, he never rose to high office or great wealth.
Emperor Wu of Han only had a son at the age of twenty-nine, and the court rejoiced. Therefore, Emperor Wu had Xue Gao and Dongfang Shuo collaborate on creating the *Ode to the Crown Prince's Birth* and *Prayer for the Crown Prince's Enthronement.* They were ordered to create these works, breaking with tradition, highlighting the Emperor's joy at his son's birth. When Empress Wei was just made empress, Xue Gao wrote her some cautionary poems, and Xue Gao's were superior to Dongfang Shuo's.
Emperor Wu went on tours to Ganquan, Yongzhou, and Hedong, went on an eastern hunting expedition, performed the Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai, repaired breached riverbanks, inspected the palaces and villas in the Three Adjuncts, explored the mountains, rivers, and lakes, hunted and practiced archery, rode horses and drove chariots, played cuju, and engaged in engraving. Whenever Emperor Wu was moved, he would have Xue Gao write poetry. Xue Gao wrote articles very quickly, completing them instantly upon receiving the imperial decree, so he wrote many poems. Although Sima Xiangru was skilled in writing, his speed was slow, so his output was small, but the quality was higher than Xue Gao's. Xue Gao humbly wrote in his poems that he was not as good as Sima Xiangru and compared himself to a stage actor, regretting being seen as one. Therefore, his poems sometimes satirized Dongfang Shuo and sometimes made fun of himself. His style was adaptable, humorous, and never overly flowery. A total of 120 of his works survive, along with dozens more considered too silly or crude for publication.
Lu Wenshu, courtesy name Changjun, was from Julu Dongli. His dad was a local gatekeeper. When Lu Wenshu was young, he was tasked with herding sheep, but he was a bit of a rascal, picking up reeds by the river, cutting them into strips, making them into little books, and using them for calligraphy practice. Gradually, his writing improved, and he wanted to get a low-level government job, studying legal texts. Eventually, he became a clerk in the prison, and the county brought him in for all the tough cases. When the prefect inspected the area, he noticed Lu Wenshu's talent and appointed him as an official in charge of judging documents. He also studied the "Spring and Autumn Annals" and understood its principles. He was later recommended for his integrity and filial piety, becoming the magistrate of Shanyi County. He got fired for a blunder and went back to being a clerk in the county.
During the Yuanfeng period, the Imperial Inspector, Guang, oversaw the cases in the imperial prison. He saw promise in Lu Wenshu, so he transferred him to a clerkship in the Department of Memorials, and later he became the historian of the Tingwei. Upon the death of Emperor Zhao, Prince Changyi Liu He was deposed, and Emperor Xuan ascended the throne. Lu Wenshu wrote a memorial to the emperor, urging a moral revival and lighter punishments. In his memorial, he said:
I have heard that in the past, the Qi state suffered disasters due to a foolish ruler, but Huan was able to revive it; the Jin state experienced chaos caused by Lady Li, but Wen was able to reinstate Xian. In recent years, Prince Zhao died early, and the Lv clan rebelled, but Emperor Xiaowen became the founding emperor of the Han dynasty. These examples show how calamity can pave the way for wise rule. Therefore, Huan and Wen were able to rise from weakness to prosperity because they valued both civil and military achievements, cared for the people, and their merits extended to the vassals. While not reaching the heights of the Three Emperors and Five Emperors, all under heaven submitted to their rule of benevolence and righteousness. Emperor Wen sought to govern with supreme virtue, in accordance with Heaven's will, promote benevolence and righteousness, reduce punishments, ease border restrictions, benefit near and far, respect talents as honored guests, cherish the people as one's own children, feel inner peace, and extend this peace to the realm, resulting in empty prisons and a tranquil land.
After the previous dynasty's upheaval, there will surely be different blessings, which wise and virtuous rulers use to manifest the mandate of heaven. Previously, when Emperor Zhao passed away without an heir, the ministers worried and anxiously discussed strategies, supporting Prince Changyi because he was a close relative of Emperor Zhao. However, heaven did not grant him the throne; he lived a life of dissipation and ultimately perished. This calamity, upon closer examination, reveals Heaven's design for a new golden age. Therefore, General Huo Guang, appointed by Emperor Wu, threw his full support behind the Han, made decisive decisions, removed unjust individuals, supported those with virtue, assisted heaven in its actions, and thus secured the dynasty and brought peace to the land.
I heard from the records of "Spring and Autumn" that when a rightful ruler ascends to the throne, they should bring about unity and govern cautiously. Your Majesty has just ascended to the throne by Heaven's grace and should correct the mistakes of the previous dynasty, continue the good work of the past, cut the red tape, relieve the people's hardship, and comply with the will of heaven.
I heard that there were ten fatal mistakes in the Qin Dynasty, and there is still one left: the issue of prison administration. During the Qin Dynasty, scholars were disrespected, military commanders were favored, men of integrity were ignored, but prison officials were highly regarded; truth-tellers were branded as slanderers, and those who pointed out flaws were accused of spreading lies. Therefore, brilliant minds were ignored, and loyal advisors and brave generals kept their counsel, while flattery blinded them; real threats were ignored. This is the fundamental reason for the downfall of the Qin Dynasty.
Now that the world is at peace, thanks to Your Majesty's deep grace, there is no danger of war, and no hardship of hunger and cold; every family lived in peace and prosperity. However, the era of peace and prosperity has not been fully realized yet, and the reason lies in the chaos of the prisons. Prisons are crucial to the well-being of the realm! The dead can't be brought back, and damaged families can't be mended. The "Book of History" says, "It's better to let a guilty man go free than to wrongly condemn an innocent one." But the prison officials today are not like this; they all vied with each other to be the strictest. Harsh judges got promoted, while lenient ones got punished. Therefore, the jailers wanted prisoners dead, not out of hatred, but to protect themselves. As a result, dead bodies littered the streets, the jails overflowed with the tortured, and thousands were executed each year, which would break the heart of any just ruler! The reason why the era of peace and prosperity has not been fully achieved is all because of this.
Look, when folks are feeling good, they wanna live; when they're hurting, they wanna die. Torture'll make anyone talk. Therefore, when a prisoner can't take the pain, they'll make up things to say; the guards love it—they can twist things to get what they want. If they're scared of getting in trouble, they'll fluff up the story for the court. Even a smart judge like Gao Tao would think the guy deserved to hang. Why? Because after the fluffing, the charges seem crystal clear. So these guards, they make things worse than they are, they're brutal, they'll do anything, and they don't care about the country. They're a plague on the land! There's a saying: "A circle on the ground's a prison, ain't no way to get a confession; a wooden doll's a jailer, the sentence is all wrong." Prisons are the worst thing ever; these guards mess up the law, ruin everything, and stop any progress. They're the real problem. This is one of the ten losses of the Qin Dynasty that I mentioned.
They say if you leave crow and kite eggs alone, you'll attract phoenixes; if you don't go after people for speaking out, you'll get good advice. Your Majesty, only you can stop the lies and encourage people to speak truth to power. Learn from the mistakes of the Qin, follow the good examples of Emperors Wen and Wu, make the laws simpler, and get rid of these brutal prison practices. Then peace and prosperity will reign, lasting as long as the heavens and earth, and your people will be blessed.
The emperor greatly appreciated his words, so he promoted him to be the estate manager of Guangyang County. Later, the Imperial Secretary recommended Wen Shu for his high learning, and he was promoted to be the Youfufeng County Administrator. At that time, the court issued an order for high-ranking officials to recommend people who could be sent to the Xiongnu. Wen Shu wrote a letter expressing his willingness to go with his followers, even if it meant dying in the wilderness, to fulfill the duties of a loyal citizen. This matter was investigated by General of the Douliao Commandery Fan Mingyou and Imperial Stable Master Du Yannian, and in the end, Wen Shu was dismissed and returned to his original position. After a long time, he was promoted to be the Governor of Linhuai, where he governed excellently and eventually died in office.
Wen Shu learned calendar and astronomy from his grandfather, and he believed that the downfall of the Han Dynasty would occur from 37 BC to 7 AD. He once warned the emperor in advance. During Emperor Cheng's reign, Gu Yong also made similar remarks. When Wang Mang seized the throne and wanted to use Wen Shu's words to justify his takeover of the Han Dynasty, he deliberately recorded Wen Shu's prophecy. Wen Shu's son and grandson both reached high official positions.
The article concludes by saying: just like Zang Sundar of the State of Lu, whose use of ritual propriety earned him lasting respect, or Jia Shan's outspokenness, or even Zou Yang and Mei Cheng's bravery in perilous times, Wen Shu's tactful yet firm words secured his family's lasting prominence. It was only right.
