Gai Kuanrao, with the courtesy name Cigong, was a native of Wei County. He passed the civil service exam and became a county scribe (a junior official). He was recommended as a langguan (a low-ranking official) for his filial piety. Later, he took the exam for the Ministry of Personnel and performed exceptionally well in his responses. He was promoted to the position of inspector and acted as the deputy head of the household department. He once accused the son of the General of the Guards, Zhang Anshi, and the Marquis of Yangdu, Pengzu, of failing to dismount at the palace gate, which also brought discredit upon Zhang Anshi. In fact, Pengzu did dismount at the palace gate. Because of his false accusation against a senior official, Gai Kuanrao was demoted to the position of security chief.
At that time, it was common practice for the guard commander to send guards out for errands when on duty. After Gai Kuanrao took office, he reviewed the previous regulations and ordered the guards and everyone on duty in the guardhouse to follow the rules. The guard commander privately asked Gai Kuanrao to come out and handle matters, but Gai Kuanrao adhered to the rules and formally bid farewell at the government office. The Minister of Personnel questioned the guard commander, and from then on, the guards no longer dared to privately order subordinate officers. The subordinate officers also stopped bowing to the guard commander and instead handled guardhouse matters first before reporting and bidding farewell, thus restoring order to the guardhouse.
When Gai Kuanrao first became a low-ranking official, right out of the palace, he shortened his robe so it wouldn't drag on the ground. He put on a large hat and wore a long sword. He personally inspected the soldiers' barracks, checked on their daily lives, visited and comforted the sick, and provided them with medicine. At the end of the year, when it was time to hand over his duties, the Emperor personally came to reward the garrison soldiers. Thousands of guards kowtowed and asked the Emperor to allow Gai Kuanrao to stay for another year to repay his kindness. The Emperor greatly appreciated him and appointed Gai Kuanrao as an Imperial Inspector, sending him to investigate customs in various regions. He promoted and demoted officials, all of which were praised by the Emperor. Later, he was promoted to Colonel of the Imperial Guard. He fearlessly impeached officials, not shying away from powerful figures, regardless of their rank. He impeached many people, and the Ministry of Justice handled these cases, some of which were accepted and others rejected. As a result, the capital became clean and honest.
Apparently, Lord Ping'enhou Xu Bo was promoted, and the Prime Minister, Censor, generals, and many other senior officials came to congratulate him, except for Kuanrao. Xu Bo personally invited him, and Kuanrao eventually deigned to grace the occasion. He sat facing east on the western steps, pointedly ignoring protocol. Xu Bo poured wine for himself and said, "About time you showed up!" Kuanrao replied, "Don't pour too much wine for me. I tend to go crazy when I'm drunk." The Prime Minister, Marquis of Wei, laughed and said, "Kuanrao, you're bold enough sober, do you need to get drunk to be bolder?" Everyone present ducked their heads.
Once we'd had a bit to eat and drink, the atmosphere became lively. Changxin Shaofu Tan Changqing started dancing, performing a silly skit about fighting monkeys and dogs. Everyone was in stitches. Only Kuanrao did not laugh. He looked up at the roof, sighed, and said, "It's really luxurious! But wealth and glory are not permanent. In the blink of an eye, they will change hands. It's like those inns—I've seen it happen time and again. Only by being cautious and careful can one enjoy long-lasting happiness. Marquis, you must be careful!" After speaking, he quickly got up and walked out, reporting Changxin Shaofu for the disrespectful monkey act as a high-ranking court official. The Emperor was ready to punish Shaofu, but Xu Bo stepped in and saved the day. After a while, the Emperor's anger subsided.
Kuanrao, a man of integrity and noble character, always wanted to work for the government. His family was very poor. He received thousands of coins in salary every month, half of which he used to grease the palms of the government's spies and runners. When he was a prefect, his son even trekked to the border to visit him frequently, showing how honest he was. However, he had a flaw—he was a master at framing others and made enemies of powerful officials. His writings were full of criticism and satire, often rubbing the Emperor the wrong way. The Emperor, knowing he was a scholar, tolerated his antics but never gave him a promotion. Some of his colleagues from the same period had already reached high positions, but Kuanrao, believing in his own integrity and beneficial contributions to the country, felt increasingly dissatisfied as he was surpassed by lesser officials. He peppered the Emperor with memorials and loved to argue.
Prince Wang Sheng greatly admires Kuang Rao's uprightness but feels that his actions are misguided. He wrote him a letter saying: "The Emperor knows you are honest and upright, unafraid of power, which is why he appointed you as the Inspector, authorized you to carry out official duties, and bestowed upon you high office and generous pay. You should always be mindful of current affairs, abide by the laws, promote morality, and have the people's welfare at heart. Even daily benefits and monthly achievements fall far short of what's expected. You still haven't repaid the Emperor's grace. Since ancient times, the Three Kings each had their own methods of governance. You're neglecting your duties, only thinking about using ancient matters to advise the Emperor, constantly offering unwelcome advice that he finds difficult to accept, and criticizing the ministers. This won't save your neck! Today's courtiers are masters of self-preservation, adept at glossing over the Emperor's flaws. Why emulate Wu Zixu's fate instead of Qu Boyu's wisdom? To risk your life like this breaks my heart! A true gentleman is principled yet adaptable. As the Book of Odes says: 'Be clear and wise, to protect oneself.' Even a fool's words may contain wisdom. You should give it some serious thought!" Kuang Rao ignored him.
At that time, the emperor was heavy-handed with the law and trusted palace eunuchs. An official named Kuang Rao submitted a memorial, stating: "Things are going downhill; the teachings of Confucianism are not being upheld. They were using the stick instead of carrots, laws instead of lessons from the classics." He also quoted from the "Han Shi Yi Zhuan": "Under the Five Emperors, it was a meritocracy; under the Three Dynasties, power stayed in the family. Families pass power to their sons; meritocracies pass it to the best person. It's like the seasons—when someone's done their job, they step down. And if there's no one suitable, the job stays open." The emperor read Kuang Rao's memorial and thought Kuang Rao was just whining, so he didn’t change his mind. He then sent the memo around to all the high-ranking officials. At that time, the head of the city guard believed that Kuang Rao's intention was to have the emperor abdicate in his favor, which was high treason. The guy who spoke his mind to the emperor, Zheng Changmin, sympathized with Kuang Rao's loyalty, honesty, and concern for the country and the people. However, because he spoke frankly and remonstrated, the other officials ganged up on him. He then submitted a defense for Kuang Rao, stating: "I have heard that when there are ferocious beasts on the mountain, people will not go there to pick wild vegetables; when the country has loyal ministers, treacherous individuals will not stir up trouble. Kuang Rao was a straight shooter, a man of integrity. He was poor as a church mouse, cared deeply about the country, and wasn't afraid to die for what he believed in. He didn't cozy up to the powerful or join any cliques. He just did his job, honestly, and made a lot of enemies in the process. He submitted a memorial on state affairs but was sentenced to death. Look, I'm the guy whose job it is to speak truth to power, so I can't just stay quiet." The emperor didn’t listen and ended up punishing Kuang Rao. Kuang Rao drew his sword and killed himself outside the north gate. Everyone felt bad about it.
Zhuge Feng, style name Shaoji, was a man from Langya. He became a county scholar due to his proficiency in Confucian classics and earned a good reputation for being upright and incorruptible. When Gong Yu was the Chief Imperial Censor, he promoted Zhuge Feng as his subordinate official and later recommended him to be a censor. Emperor Yuan promoted him to be the Inspector-General, where he carried out his duties impartially and fearlessly. It was said in the capital that "Zhuge Feng had an eagle eye for wrongdoing." The Emperor admired his integrity and promoted him to be a Grand Master of the Palace.
At that time, the Minister of the Palace, Xu Zhang, was favored by the Emperor due to his connections with the imperial family. He lived a life of extravagant luxury and debauchery, disregarding the law, and his guests were often involved in corrupt practices. Zhuge Feng investigated Xu Zhang's case and was about to report it when he happened to catch Xu Zhang sneaking out of the palace without permission. Zhuge Feng stopped his carriage, raised his staff, and ordered him to get off, intending to arrest him. Xu Zhang, in a panic, fled, with Zhuge Feng chasing after him. Xu Zhang eventually managed to slip into the palace and surrender himself to the Emperor. Zhuge Feng also reported the incident, which led to him being stripped of his staff. The practice of stripping the staff from the Inspector-General started with Zhuge Feng.
Your Majesty, I, Zhang Feng, am incompetent and weak-willed, lacking the eloquence to guide good people towards virtue and lacking the strength to punish the wicked. Regardless of my abilities, you promoted me to be the Inspector-General, and before I could accomplish anything, you have now elevated me to be a Grand Master of the Palace. This position is prestigious and comes with great responsibility, which I am not fit to hold. Furthermore, I am old and may die at any moment, unable to repay your kindness. When that time comes, those who comment on current affairs will surely say that I held a position without achievements. Therefore, I have always hoped to sacrifice my life immediately, without waiting for the right moment, to execute the corrupt officials, publicly display their crimes and punishments, and then willingly accept execution by the executioner's axe.
Think about it, even common people are willing to die for their friends, but in such a vast country, there is not a single loyal subject willing to sacrifice for the nation. Everyone only cares about their own interests, forgetting about the affairs of the state. The stench of corruption reaches the heavens; disasters occur frequently, and people's lives are difficult, all caused by the lack of loyalty. I feel deeply ashamed of this. Loyal subjects are not afraid of danger because they are dedicated to their ruler. Your Majesty's grace is all-encompassing, and Yao specifically gave me a letter, saying: "The duty of the Commandant of Justice is to impeach those who break the law, reward the good, and punish the evil; one should be fair and just." Your Majesty's kindness is so deep; I, Zhang Feng, am eternally grateful! But I feel deeply aggrieved, and I humbly request Your Majesty to allow me a moment of peace; please make the decision. The Emperor did not agree.
Later, they stopped listening to me, so I wrote: "I heard that the filial brothers Bo Yi and Shu Qi were abandoned, Wu Zixu was loyal but tragically killed, Duke Yin was kind but died at the hands of his brother, and the brothers Shu Wu died at the hands of their older brother. These four virtuous men, along with talents like Qu Yuan, could not even save themselves and were killed. Doesn't this make you think? If I can bring stability to the country with my death and demonstrate Your Majesty's wisdom, I would gladly do so. I fear I'll be silenced before I can act. I worry that those treacherous individuals will allow villains to prevail, blocking the path of righteousness. This will chill the hearts of loyal subjects and silence wise men. This is my concern."
So, there was this guy, Feng. During the spring and summer seasons when he held office, he wasn't too bad at running things. But once he was promoted, he spent all day talking trash about others. The Emperor transferred him to the city gate as a captain, but Feng wrote a letter of complaint, snitching on the big shots, Zhou Kan and Zhang Meng. The Emperor saw right through him and told the Imperial Censor, "This city gate captain Feng, when Zhou Kan and Zhang Meng were officials in the court before, often praised them in front of me. But when he was the chief justice, he just went around enforcing rules willy-nilly to show off his power, driving the people crazy. Seeing that he’s old, I don’t have the heart to execute him, so I let him be a city gate captain. But this old geezer not only didn’t reflect on himself, he ratted out Zhou Kan and Zhang Meng, expecting me to back him up. His accusations were baseless, full of hot air, and completely contradicted what he’d said before. That's a load of crap! Considering his old age, I don’t have the heart to punish him severely, so I’ll let him just go home." In the end, Feng just went home to retire.
Liu Fu, a descendant of the Prince of Hejian, passed the exam and became the magistrate of Xiangben County. Later, he submitted a memorial to the Emperor, weighing in on the country's problems. The Emperor summoned him and was impressed by him, promoting him to the position of advisor.
Right as Emperor Han Cheng wanted to make Zhao Jieyu Empress, he issued a decree in advance to appoint Jieyu's father, Zhao Lin, as a marquis. Liu Fu submitted a memorial saying: "I have heard that when Heaven wants to bless someone, it will first bestow auspicious signs; when Heaven wants to abandon someone, it will first bring disasters. This shows Heaven's favor or displeasure; it's as plain as the nose on your face! In the past, King Wu and the Duke of Zhou followed the will of Heaven and received auspicious signs such as fish and crows, yet they still remained cautious and warned each other. Moreover, in these chaotic times, without the blessing of inheriting the throne, they have repeatedly suffered from Heaven's wrath! Even if we reflect on ourselves day and night, correct our mistakes, fear the will of Heaven, think of our ancestors' legacy, and carefully choose a virtuous empress, pray for good fortune, and try to please Heaven and the people, we'd still worry that the prosperity of future generations will come too late. Now, giving in to his lust and making a lowborn woman Empress is truly disrespectful to Heaven and disregards the feelings of the people. This is insane! As the saying goes: 'You can't build a house with rotten wood, and you can't run a country with a bad leader.' Things that are not approved by Heaven and the people will surely bring disasters, not blessings. Everyone understands this principle, yet no one in the court dares to speak up. This breaks my heart. My royal blood got me this job, but I can't stand by and watch this happen. I dare not do anything less than my best, only hoping Your Majesty will carefully consider my words."
After the memorial was submitted, the Emperor had Liu Fu arrested and thrown in the dungeon—nobody knew what was going on.
At that time in the court, the Left General Xin Qingji, Right General Lian Bao, Grand Master of Splendor Shi Dan, and Grand Master of the Palace Gu Yong together submitted a memorial to the Emperor, saying something like this:
"We have heard that a good king always listens, values the role of advisors, and lets honest people speak their minds without fear of punishment for their candid words. This way, officials in the court can do their jobs and give advice without worrying about getting in trouble, and the court will not be filled with flatterers. The king can also avoid making mistakes.
We think Advisor Liu Fu, who was previously just a county magistrate, was promoted to advisor, which shows he must speak sharply and hit the mark to earn the emperor's appreciation. However, he has been imprisoned in the past few days. We feel that although Liu Fu is a relative of the royal family and an advisor, he has just come from the local level and may not yet understand the court's rules. Maybe he just stepped on some toes, but his offense is not too serious. Small mistakes should be overlooked, and if he has committed a serious crime, it should be openly judged for everyone to evaluate.
Even Confucius was heartbroken when Zhao Jian killed his minister, Ming Du, and left in protest. Now, we're facing terrible droughts and floods. This is a time to be open-minded and receptive to advice. However, if you punish advisors like this, no one will dare tell you the truth. Even if Liu Fu did not make a mistake by speaking frankly this time, and even if his charges are not valid, the people may not necessarily know the truth.
Besides, he's royal family, known for speaking his mind. Putting him in jail makes you look bad—like you don't care about loyal advisors. Your courtiers will be terrified; no one will dare speak up. That's not what a good king does. We beg you to reconsider."
After the emperor reviewed the petition, he transferred Liu Fu from Yeting Prison (a specific prison within the imperial palace complex) to Gonggong Prison (another prison within the palace complex), and commuted his death sentence to exile, exiling him to a distant border region, ultimately allowing him to return to his hometown. Zheng Chong, styled Ziyu, was from a prominent family in Gaomi, whose family had longstanding ties through marriage with the Wang family. His grandfather was demoted to Pingling for a minor offense. His father, Zheng Bin, was upright and served as a censor under Gonggong, earning a good reputation. Zheng Chong served as a county literary historian in his youth, later becoming a high-ranking official in the Prime Minister's Office. His younger brother, Zheng Li, was an intimate friend of Gao Wuhou Fu Xi, who later became the Grand Marshal and recommended Zheng Chong. The Emperor Ai valued his talent and promoted him to the head of the secretariat. Zheng Chong frequently advised the emperor, who initially accepted his suggestions. Every time they met, the emperor would smile and say, "I recognize the sound of Minister Zheng's shoes," reflecting their familiarity and the emperor's fondness for him.
The emperor decided to make his grandmother's cousin, Shang, a Marquis. Chong advised, "Emperor Xiaocheng conferred Marquis titles on five of his uncles, resulting in opportune celestial signs going awry, with unnatural colors in the sky and dark clouds obscuring the sun. Now, one of Fu's grandmother's cousins has already been made a Marquis. The Empress's father is the Marquis of Kongxiang, and the Marquis of Gaowu was previously ennobled for his service as one of the Three Excellencies. There is no reason to confer the title of Marquis on Shang now; this will disrupt the system, go against the will of the people, and bring no benefit to the Fu family. I heard my teacher say that those who go against the yang energy will eventually weaken, and those who oppose the yin energy will face danger and a short life. Offending people leads to the calamity of war and destruction, while offending gods brings illness and premature death. As the Duke of Zhou wisely observed, only kings who do not know hardship and only indulge in pleasure will not live long. So, kings of declining dynasties all died young, a consequence of defying the natural order! I am willing to bear the country's responsibility with my own life." After speaking, Chong stood up with the edict in hand. Fu Taihou was furious, saying, "Can you believe a mere official just talked the emperor down like that?!"
The emperor then issued a decree, saying, "Look, I was raised by the Empress Dowager; she practically raised me from a baby. I already made her dad a Marquis, but that still didn't feel like enough. Shang, her brother, was always there for her too, so I'm making him a Marquis as well. I'm even changing the name of the old title to honor her."
Chong, because Dong Xian's power was too great, advised multiple times and offended the Emperor. The Emperor began to harass him at work, and Chong got a nasty neck boil. He wanted to request retirement but did not dare. Zhao Chang, the prefect, was a scheming weasel who'd always envied Chong. Knowing that Chong had fallen out of favor, he reported that Chong was colluding with his clan and suspected of plotting rebellion, requesting severe punishment. The Emperor questioned Chong, saying, "Your house is like a zoo! How can you still try to stop me?" Chong replied, "My conscience is clear. Please investigate, Your Majesty." The Emperor was furious, threw Chong in jail, where he was tortured and died.
Sun Bao, styled Ziyan, was from Yanling, Henan. Because he was a Confucian scholar, he was appointed as a minor official in the county. Zhang Zhong, the Grand Master, took a liking to him and wanted him to teach his son. He even set him up in a nicer place and gave him a sweet deal. Sun Bao, however, requested to resign. Zhang Zhong tried hard to keep him, but he was actually quite unhappy. Later, Zhang Zhong appointed Sun Bao as the registrar. Sun Bao moved into a new house and invited neighbors to a kitchen god ceremony. Zhang Zhong observed this secretly and found it strange, so he sent his trusted person to ask Sun Bao: "Previously, the Grand Master arranged such a good house for you, but you resigned on your own. Were you trying to play the saint? Now, even the famous upright scholars in the court are unwilling to be the registrar, but you did it and moved into a better house. That's a bit of a contradiction, isn't it?"
Sun Bao replied, "If those scholars are unwilling to serve as assistant magistrate, that is their business. But you believe I am capable, and no one in the entire yamen objects. Can a scholar like me afford to be so high-minded? In the past, when your son wanted to study, you asked me to stay closer to you. According to etiquette, if someone comes to seek knowledge, I should teach; but reason cannot be forced—what does it matter if I am a little aggrieved? Moreover, as long as it is not against morality, I can do it, let alone just serving as an assistant magistrate!" Zhang Zhong listened to his words, felt very ashamed, and then recommended Sun Bao in a memorial, saying that he was a scholar of great learning and impeccable integrity and should hold an important position in the court. Sun Bao was then appointed as a Yilang and later promoted to a Censor.
During the Hongjia period, a large-scale bandit uprising broke out in Guanghan County. Sun Bao was selected as the Governor of Yizhou. The Prefect of Guanghan, Hu Shang, was the nephew of the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Wang Yin, and was mediocre and incompetent. After Sun Bao took office, he personally went deep into the valleys, reasoned with them, and persuaded the bandits to realize their mistakes. Most of the bandits repented and surrendered voluntarily, and Sun Bao sent them home under escort. Then, Sun Bao requested punishment for himself, petitioning the court that Hu Shang was the main culprit of this uprising, citing the principles of the "Spring and Autumn Annals": only kill the main culprit. Hu Shang also submitted a report, claiming that Sun Bao released some bandit leaders who should have been punished. Hu Shang was arrested and imprisoned; Sun Bao was sentenced to death for negligence but was later pardoned. Officials and people of Yizhou all wrote petitions to vindicate Sun Bao, saying he was being marginalized by General Wang Yin. The Emperor once again appointed Sun Bao as the Governor of Jizhou, and he eventually rose to become Attendant of the Chancellor.
So, the story goes that at that time, the Emperor's uncle, the Marquis of Hongyang, sent people to secretly cultivate hundreds, maybe even thousands, of acres of wasteland in partnership with Li Shang, the Governor of Nanjun. Many of these lands were borrowed by the common people using government-managed irrigation systems, which they both seized. Then they wrote to the Emperor, saying they'd happily hand the land over to the county. The Emperor ordered the county to assess the value of these lands, and the result was a sum exceeding ten million – a fortune!
Upon hearing about this, Bao immediately sent the Prime Minister Shi to investigate the matter. It was discovered that they had deceived the Emperor; they’d pulled a fast one and weren't loyal to him. Li Shang was imprisoned and eventually died. Although the Marquis of Hongyang was not punished, his brother, the General Wei, passed away, and he inherited his brother's title. The Emperor still didn't trust the Marquis, so he appointed his younger brother, the Marquis of Quyang, as the Grand Marshal Cavalry General.
Just then, trouble broke out in Yizhou, with the barbarians rebelling and causing chaos in Ba and Shu. The Emperor believed that Bao was a big shot out west, so he appointed him as the Prefect of Guanghan, a high-ranking position, and rewarded him with thirty jin of gold (about 35 pounds). After arriving in Guanghan, Bao pacified the barbarians, and everyone, from the officials to the common folk, sang his praises.
I was appointed as the Prefect of Jingzhao. My former subordinate, Hou Wen, was a man of integrity who never flattered or fawned over others, often using illness as an excuse to avoid official duties. I showered him with kindness and hospitality, hoping to make him a friend, hosting banquets for him every day and having my wife accompany us. Hou Wen requested to be appointed as a subordinate official, and when we met, I treated him with respect as I would a guest. Several months later, on the day of Liqiu, I appointed Hou Wen as the Inspector of the Eastern Region. When he came to see me, I ordered, "Today, the eagles and falcons have begun hunting; we should crack down on the bad guys and make 'em wish they'd never been born. Are there such people in your jurisdiction?" Hou Wen replied, "If there aren't any, I'd be letting you down." I asked, "Who are they?" Hou Wen said, "Du Zhiji from Baling." I asked again, "Are there others?" Hou Wen said, "When the wolves are running the show, you don't bother with the foxes." I remained silent.
This Du Zhiji is a well-known tough guy, with good relations with the General of Chariots and Cavalry Chunyu Chang and the Grand Herald Xiaoyu. I had previously offended the General of Chariots and Cavalry and had a problem with the Marquis of Hongyang, and I was also afraid of danger. At that time, Chunyu Chang was in favor and had a good relationship with me, and I wanted to flatter him. Just as I took office, Chunyu Chang recommended Du Zhiji to me, so I was stuck between a rock and a hard place about how to deal with Hou Wen. He could tell I was sweating bullets and said, "You have always been renowned for your authority. Now that you want to arrest Du Zhiji, you should first close the door to guests and not inquire about other matters. This way, for a whole year, no one will dare to falsely accuse you. If you directly punish Du Zhiji and then send him to do other tasks, there will be a lot of gossip, and your name will be mud." I said, "I understand."
Du Zhiji had his ear to the ground. Upon learning of this matter, he became a recluse, not letting anyone near him. He even dug a small hole in the backyard wall and just grew his own vegetables. Due to his relationship with Hou Wen, he laid his cards on the table with me. Hou Wen said, "Du Zhiji and I are from the same hometown, and we have no grudges. We are just following orders and doing our duty. If you can clean up your act, I promise not to pursue your past mistakes. If you don't get your life together and are just pretending to change, you’ll be begging for it." Du Zhiji didn't dare break the law again, and I didn't punish anyone for a whole year. The following year, Du Zhiji died of illness. During my three years as the magistrate of Jingzhao, the people of the capital praised me. Later, Chunyu Chang lost his influence, and I, along with Xiao Yu and others, got the chop. Hou Wen also resigned and returned home, dying there. Du Zhiji's son, Du Cang, styled Jun'ao, had an even greater reputation than his father and was also a famous tough guy.
After Emperor Ai became emperor, he promoted Zhang Bao to the position of top censor, and later he was promoted to head of the imperial guard. It is said that in the past, Empress Dowager Fu and Empress Dowager Feng, the mother of Prince Xiaowu of Zhongshan, both served Emperor Yuan, and they had a feud. Empress Dowager Fu had the relevant departments investigate Empress Dowager Feng, forcing her to commit suicide, which the common people felt was very unjust. Zhang Bao then petitioned for a re-investigation of this matter. When Empress Dowager Fu heard this, she went ballistic and said, "The Emperor appointed the head of the imperial guard just to supervise me, right? The Feng family's guilt is obvious, and Zhang Bao is trying to rake up the past to tarnish my reputation. I must punish him!" The Emperor then followed Empress Dowager Fu's wishes and imprisoned Zhang Bao. The chief scribe, Tang Lin, fought tooth and nail for Zhang Bao, but the Emperor said that Tang Lin was in cahoots with Zhang Bao and demoted him to a low-level official in Dunhuang. The top general, Fu Xi, and the royal advisor, Gong Sheng, also pleaded for Zhang Bao, and only then did the Emperor, because of Empress Dowager Fu, release Zhang Bao and restore his official position.
A while later, Zheng Chong was imprisoned. Zhang Bao wrote again, saying, "I've heard that officials should do what's right and can't use their position for personal gain, nor should they ignore someone just because they're powerful. I am fortunate to have the Emperor's trust, and my duty is to expose evil. I dare not look the other way for fear of someone's influence, as that would deceive the Emperor.
After reviewing the case file of the former Minister of Works, Zheng Chong, submitted by Minister Chang, it was found that Zheng Chong was brutally beaten after being imprisoned and did not admit to any crime until he died. Word on the street is he's innocent. I suspect Chang and Zheng Chong were in cahoots, trying to set each other up. This is a high-ranking official close to the Emperor, and being wronged has seriously damaged the country's reputation! I request a thorough investigation of Minister Chang to stop people from getting angry."
After the memorial was submitted, the Emperor was furious, thinking Zhang Bao was a good and honest man and did not want to kill him. So he issued an edict to the Prime Minister and Grand Marshal, saying, "The Minister of Justice Zhang Bao reported that the former Minister of Works, Zheng Chong, was wronged and requested an investigation into Minister Chang. However, Zheng Chong is a close minister by the Emperor's side, his crimes are clear, and Zhang Bao harbors evil intentions. He spread rumors and created trouble, plotting against the state. That's a crime! Haven't the ancients said, 'Slander can ruin a country'? Strip Zhang Bao of his rank!"
After Emperor Ai died, Wang Mang went to the Empress Dowager and said he wanted to give her some treasures, and then he became the Palace Attendant, welcoming the Prince of Zhongshan with Wang Shun and others. After Emperor Ping ascended to the throne, he became the Grand Minister of Agriculture. At that time, a yellow dragon appeared in the river in Yuexi Commandery. Grand Tutor Kong Guang, Grand Minister Ma Gong, and other officials all said that Wang Mang's achievements were as great as those of Duke Zhou and should be enshrined in the ancestral temple. However, Wang Bao said, "Duke Zhou was so wise, and Duke Zhao was so capable, yet they had disagreements recorded in historical books without damaging each other's reputation. Now, there are no auspicious signs, and the people are suffering. Every matter is praised by the ministers in unison. Is there really nothing wrong?" Many ministers changed their expressions at that time, and Attendant Zhen Han immediately took the initiative to stop the matter. Later, Wang Bao sent someone to fetch his mother, but she fell ill on the way and stayed at his brother's house. Wang Bao only brought his wife back. Censor Chen Chong reported Wang Bao to the emperor, and the matter was handed over to the three highest-ranking ministers for investigation. Wang Bao said, "My mother is over seventy years old, her eyesight is failing, and my filial duty feels less pressing. Let's all support her together, and I will bring my wife home. That's perfectly acceptable." In the end, Wang Bao was dismissed and retired at home. During the Jianwu era, the court posthumously honored the ministers who had made contributions before, and Wang Bao's grandson, Wang Kang, received an official appointment.
Junfang Guo Jianglong was from Lanling in the East Sea. General Wang Yin, the Commander of the Imperial Guard, was responsible for the affairs of the Shangshu Tai in the palace and the military outside. Following established practices, he selected staff officers and military aides, suggesting Guo Jianglong for the position of attendant. He was later promoted to censor. When Emperor Cheng was nearing death, Guo Jianglong wrote a memorial stating, "In ancient times, princes were chosen to become ministers and officials to commend their merits. Now we should bring the Prince of Dingtang to the capital to bring peace to the land." Later, the emperor indeed appointed the Prince of Dingtang as the crown prince, and Guo Jianglong was promoted to Governor of Yizhou, later becoming Prefect of Yingchuan. When Emperor Ai ascended the throne, due to Guo Jianglong's high reputation, he was appointed as the Jingzhao prefect and later promoted to Commander of the Palace Guard.
At that time, Dong Xian was in favor, and the emperor actually sent the palace guards to transfer troops from the armory, a total of ten batches, to escort Dong Xian and the emperor's nanny, Wang Ashi. Censor Wang Mang submitted a memorial saying: "The weapons in the armory are public resources of the state and military equipment; their repair and manufacture must be paid for with the money from the Minister of Agriculture. Even the emperor's travel expenses are not enough, let alone daily expenses and rewards, which are all the responsibility of the Imperial Treasury. In short, state resources cannot be used to satisfy personal desires, and the strength of the people cannot be squandered on extravagant expenses. It is necessary to distinguish between public and private, and set a correct example. In ancient times, only after obtaining permission for conquest would feudal lords and local officials be granted weapons and tools of war; the officials on the borders of the Han dynasty, whose duties were to resist external enemies, would also be granted weapons from the armory, but only after completing their tasks. The principle recorded in the 'Spring and Autumn Annals' is that weapons should not be stored in households in order to suppress the power of vassals and reduce private power. Now, people like Dong Xian are merely court favorites and concubines favored by the emperor, yet they use the country's public resources to satisfy their personal desires and arm their households with state weapons. The people's resources are being squandered on these sycophants, and the weapons of the country are enjoyed by the concubines. This is outrageous and will only encourage extravagance and debauchery, not set an example for the people. Confucius said: 'What good is it to demand things from three families?' I request the retrieval of the weapons from the armory." The emperor said nothing.
After a period of time, Empress Dowager Fu instructed the palace officials to buy official courtesans at a low price, and also purchased eight official courtesans from the Palace Guard headquarters. Wang Mang submitted a memorial stating that the prices were too low and requested a re-pricing. The Emperor then issued an edict to the Prime Minister and the Grand Secretary: "If proper decorum prevails, then disputes like those between Yu and Rui would not occur. Wang Mang, as one of the Nine Ministers (high-ranking officials), should not only rectify the shortcomings of the court, but instead submitted a memorial squabbling over the price of the imperial concubines at Yongxin Palace. Your actions are public knowledge. Your behavior goes against reason, starting a trend of grabbing for glory and gain, failing to set an example for the officials, and damaging customs." Due to Wang Mang's previous merits in advising, he was only demoted to the position of the Pei County magistrate and later promoted to the Nan County governor.
When the younger Wang Mang was young, he admired the elder Wang Mang, but the elder did not have a close relationship with him. After Emperor Ai's death, the elder Wang Mang seized power and had the Grand Minister Kong Guang accuse the younger Wang Mang, stating that when he was governor of Jizhou, he wronged good people in handling the case of Empress Feng of Zhongshan and should not hold office in the court. At that time, the Imperial Messengers Li Shi and Ding Xuan were also involved in this matter, but only submitted memorials with the younger Wang Mang. Li Shi was the Imperial Stables Master at the time, and Ding Xuan was the Shanyang governor. Additionally, the Imperial Secretary Zhao Chang falsely accused Zheng Chong, who was demoted to Prefect of Henan and exiled to Hepu. He Bing, styled Zilian, had a grandfather who was an official with a rank of 2,000 shi (a high official rank), and they moved from Pingyu County to Pingling County. He Bing also held a position in the county, rising to the rank of Minister of Works and serving under He Wu. He Wu valued his ambition and integrity, believing he could handle difficult matters, and recommended him to be the Magistrate of Changling County, where his rule was so effective that people didn't even lose anything on the roads.
It is said that at that time, the powerful Wang family, the family of Queen Mother Qiong Cheng, had a lot of clout in the capital, and the attendant He Bing had good relations with those frivolous knights, pulling a lot of strings in the capital. Later, He Bing was dismissed for committing a crime, but he had even more followers around him. He returned to Changling to pay respects at the ancestral tomb, partying it up for days. He Bing, worried that he might commit another crime, personally visited him and said, "This graveyard's way out in the sticks. You should get going." Wang Linqing agreed. In fact, earlier, Wang Linqing had killed a maid's husband and buried the body in the tomb, which He Bing knew about. However, because it wasn't the right time and Wang Linqing had just been dismissed, He Bing did not expose him, only wanting him to leave Changling quickly and had him escorted out. Wang Linqing was usually proud and afraid of losing face in front of guests, so He Bing anticipated that he might change his mind and had his men ready.
After Wang Linqing left, he crossed Jing Bridge, sent his servant back to the temple to smash the drum with a knife. He Bing then led the soldiers to pursue Wang Linqing. After chasing for a good few miles, Wang Linqing was exhausted and had his servant wear his hat and clothes while he changed into plain clothes and melted into the crowd to escape. As it was getting dark, they caught up and collared the servant wearing Wang Linqing's clothes. The servant said, "I am not an attendant, I am a servant." He Bing knew they had caught the wrong person, sighed, and said, "Wang, you're really at the end of your rope, huh, resorting to pretending to be a servant to escape?" He then ordered the servant's head to be cut off, took the drum back to the county, put it under the city pavilion, and posted a sign that read: "Wang Linqing: Killer & Drum Smasher!" The common people were terrified. Wang Linqing escaped like this, and everyone speculated that he had died.
The Empress Dowager Qiong Cheng was very fond of Wang Linqing. When she heard about this, she bawled her eyes out and told Emperor Ai. After hearing what happened, Emperor Ai figured He Bing was right and made him the Longxi prefect.
Yan Xu became the new prefect of Lingyang, then took up his post in Yingchuan. Yan Xu was filial, treated his staff like his teachers and friends, reflected on his mistakes behind closed doors, and never boasted. The situation in Yingchuan was chaotic. Wang Mang sent messengers to summon Yan Xu, and hundreds of officials sent him off, but Yan Xu knelt down and cried bitterly. One of his staff advised, "Tai Shou, this is good news. You shouldn't be so sad!" Yan Xu replied, "I am grieving for the people of Yingchuan, not for myself! They'll send a real hard-ass to replace me, someone who'll crack down on everyone. I'm crying for them now, before it even happens!"
Yan Xu arrived in the capital and was appointed as an envoy for etiquette. At that time, Zhong Yuan from Yingchuan served as the equivalent of our Personnel and Justice Ministers, with great power. His brother Zhong Wei was a clerk in the county, embezzling and accepting bribes, and he'd raked in over a thousand gold. After Yan Xu took office, he visited Zhong, who took his hat off and begged for his brother, even offering to take the punishment himself. Zhong Yuan said, "The blame lies with my brother for violating the law, not with you, Tai Shou." Zhong Yuan panicked and sent for his brother.
In Yangzhai County, the local thugs Zhao Ji and Li Kuan kept many followers, relying on their martial prowess to act tyrannically in the region, even raping women and oppressing officials, running rampant in Yingchuan Commandery. It was said that when Yan Xu took office, they all fled. As soon as Yan Xu arrived, he selected nearly ten officials who were both brave and legally astute, arranged for civil officials to try the cases of the three men, and assigned martial officials to arrest them, each doing their job. Yan Xu ordered, "These three men did not offend me, but broke the law and must be punished. Zhong Wei committed most of his crimes before the general amnesty, so take him to Hangu Pass and do not let him undermine public order; if he does not enter the pass, arrest him. Zhao Ji and Li Kuan committed heinous crimes, and even if they escape far away, their heads must be brought back to atone to the people." Fearing his brother's implication, Zhong Wei fled to Luoyang, only to be killed by officials there. Zhao Ji and Li Kuan were also captured in other commanderies, their heads were brought back to Yingchuan, and Yan Xu made a public example of them, displaying their heads and the case files in the market. Yingchuan Commandery thus returned to peace. Yan Xu praised those with high moral character in an official report, and his achievements were recorded in the "Yingchuan Commandery Annals," achieving a reputation like Huang Ba's. He was honest; his wife didn't even live in the official residence. A few years later, Yan Xu passed away. On his deathbed, he summoned his chief clerk and orally dictated his will, saying, "Tell Zihui (his son), I lived a life of poverty, and even though I can receive the statutory funeral expenses after death, do not accept them. Bury me in a simple coffin, sufficient for the purpose." Zihui followed his father's wishes. Wang Mang promoted Zihui to be a border commandant. During the Jianwu period, Yan Xu's grandson was appointed as a court official.
Let's talk about Gai Kuanrao – when he was in office, he was as straight as an arrow, always standing tall in court. Like the *Shi Jing* says, he was the picture of a righteous official – the best there was! If only he'd taken Wang Sheng's advice, he'd have been a legendary wise man! But those famous guys – Zhuge Liang, Liu Bei, and Zheng Xuan – were a bit arrogant and didn't think like Gai Kuanrao. Confucius himself said, "I've never met a truly upright person!" Look what happened to those guys – Gai Kuanrao almost got framed in Jizhou, Sun Bao lost his job in Dingling, and that's just the famous ones! What about everyone else? You just never know, do you? And then there's He Bing's honesty and Ya Yinweng's quiet retirement – makes you think, huh?
Praise: Gai Kuanrao, the upright minister, stood tall in court – the *Shi Jing*'s ideal official! If he had followed Wang Sheng's advice throughout his life, he would have been a wise minister of ancient times. Although Zhuge, Liu, and Zheng were somewhat arrogant, they had different aspirations. Confucius said, "I've never met a truly upright person." Looking at the reputations of these individuals, Gai Kuanrao almost tarnished his name in Jizhou, Sun Bao lost his position in Dingling – what about ordinary people? Think about He Bing and Ya Yinweng – amazing!
