This is the story of Du Zhou, a man who rose to power through shrewd manipulation of the legal system. Du Zhou, a man from Nanyang, was recommended by Yi Zong, the Nanyang Prefect, to Zhang Tang, and became the Clerk of the Imperial Court. He was responsible for investigating cases of negligence and escape in the border areas, sentencing many people to death. He always pleased his superiors, so he rose quickly through the ranks, serving as a high-ranking official in the Censorate for over ten years alongside Jian Xuan.
Du Zhou was a man of few words and slow actions, but he was shrewd and calculating. Later, Jian Xuan became the Left Interior Minister, and Du Zhou became the Clerk of the Imperial Court. His enforcement methods mainly imitated Zhang Tang, but he was better at handling cases involving palace officials. If the Emperor wanted to punish someone, he would frame that person according to the Emperor's wishes; if the Emperor wanted to spare someone, he would detain them for a long time and gradually find some false evidence. Someone once told Du Zhou, "You're judging cases for the whole country, but you ignore the law and just do what the Emperor wants. Is that right?" Du Zhou replied, "What law? The old emperors' laws are just laws, and the new emperors' orders are just orders. Whatever was considered right at the time, that's the law!"
When Du Zhou took over as Tíngwèi, there were even more cases in the prison. Over a hundred cases, new and old, were tangled up, involving at least two thousand officials. Officials from all levels, from county to central government, submitted thousands of reports, resulting in over a thousand cases being sent to the Tíngwèi's office each year. Some cases involved hundreds of arrested and investigated individuals, while others involved dozens. Cases stretched across vast distances, from hundreds to thousands of miles. During the trials, officials would grill the suspects based on the reports, and if anyone balked, the whip came out to force confessions. So, the mere mention of arrest sent people scattering. Some cases dragged on for a long time, even after several amnesties. It wasn’t until over a decade later that people started accusing each other, mostly using vicious language. As a result, the number of people arrested by the prison reached sixty to seventy thousand, and the number of officials increased significantly due to the overwhelming workload.
Du Zhou was later dismissed from his position and then became the Imperial Guard Commander, responsible for arresting the relatives of Sang Hongyang and the Empress Dowager's family. Because he worked diligently and impartially, the Emperor promoted him to Grand Secretary.
When Du Zhou first became Tíngwèi, he only had one horse. But after holding important positions for a long time and rising to the rank of San Gong, with both his sons becoming county governors, his family accumulated great wealth. His rule was brutal and oppressive, his youngest son, Du Yannian, being the only exception.
Yannian, styled as Yougong, was also knowledgeable about the law. When Emperor Zhao of Han first ascended the throne, the Grand General Huo Guang, who held great power, thought highly of Yannian and appointed him as a military supervisor.
In the fourth year of Shiyuan, the barbarians of Yizhou rebelled. Yannian led the troops from Nanyang as a junior officer to fight. After the battle, he was promoted and became a censor. At this time, General Zuo Shangguan Jie and his son conspired with Gai Zhu and the Prince of Yan to rebel. An official in charge of inspecting rice fields named Yan Cang found out about their plot and hurried to inform the Minister of Works, Yang Chang. Yang Chang was scared stiff and pretended to be sick at home, then secretly told Yannian about the matter.
Upon hearing this, Yannian quickly reported it, leading to the arrest and sentencing of Shangguan Jie and his group. Because of this incident, Yannian was appointed as the Marquis of Jianping. Under Huo Guang, there was a man named Yannian who started as a minor official. Due to his reliable work and loyalty, he climbed the ranks all the way to Grand Commandant, Right Minister, and Censorate. Huo Guang was quite strict in his actions, so Yannian was responsible for playing peacemaker and keeping things calm.
During the trial of the Prince of Yan, the son of the Chief Justice, Sang Hongyang, named Sang Qian, ran away because of his father's situation and hid in the house of his father's former subordinate, Hou Shi Wu. Later, Sang Qian was caught and sentenced accordingly. Then, bam, a general amnesty! Hou Shi Wu voluntarily surrendered. At that time, the Chief Justice Wang Ping, along with the Minister of Works Xu Ren, believed that Sang Qian ran away because of his father's rebellion, and that Hou Shi Wu only hid him temporarily—not aiding a rebel. So, they wanted to use the opportunity of the amnesty to pardon Hou Shi Wu.
But later, the investigating official re-investigated this case and found that although Sang Qian was a scholar, he did not advise his father against rebelling, effectively making him no better than a rebel. As for Hou Shi Wu, he was a relatively high-ranking official, and he sheltered Sang Qian, which is different from an ordinary commoner hiding a fugitive, so Hou Shi Wu cannot be pardoned. Therefore, this official accused Chief Justice Wang Ping and Minister Xu Ren of harboring a criminal.
Coincidentally, Minister Xu Ren is the son-in-law of Prime Minister Che Qianqiu, so in order to save his son-in-law, Che Qianqiu actively lobbied on Hou Shi Wu's behalf, fearing that Huo Guang would not listen. He even called a meeting of high-ranking officials and scholars at the court gates to discuss whether Hou Shi Wu should be pardoned. Those officials all knew Huo Guang's intentions and echoed that Hou Shi Wu deserved to die. The next day, Che Qianqiu reported the consensus to Huo Guang. Upon seeing this, Huo Guang realized that Che Qianqiu had secretly convened this meeting, creating conflicting reports, so he immediately arrested Chief Justice Wang Ping and Minister Xu Ren.
Court officials feared Che Qianqiu would be implicated. At this time, Yan Nian stood up to speak for Che Qianqiu. He submitted a memorial to Huo Guang, stating, "There's proper procedure for punishing criminals, but saying Hou Shi Wu deserves death seems to ignore it. The Prime Minister has not committed any major wrongdoings; he merely spoke up for his subordinate, which was typical of him. Calling that meeting was a mistake. However, I believe the Prime Minister is an old minister who has served the late Emperor before. Unless he's done something truly awful, we shouldn't just throw him away. People are saying punishments are too harsh, and officials are making things worse. Now, the Prime Minister is also implicated in this matter, which may lead to public grievances. Everyone's gossiping, and I'm worried this will cost the General popular support!"
Although Huo Guang felt that the Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Imperial Household were manipulating the law and making unfair judgments, worthy of capital punishment, he ultimately did not punish the Prime Minister, resolving the conflict with him. Du Yannian, a trusted advisor, was always able to achieve fairness and objectivity in handling these matters, reconciling various conflicts, which was his style.
It is said that since the time of Emperor Wu, the country has been in a difficult situation due to waging endless wars and squandering resources. A man named Du Yannian repeatedly told General Huo Guang, "In recent years, the harvest has been poor, and the displaced people have not fully returned. We should learn from the policies of Emperor Xiaowen's era, implement frugal, lenient, and gentle policies, heed the natural order, appease the people, and maybe next year will bring a good harvest." Huo Guang listened to his advice, began to employ talented individuals, and discussed the abolition of policies such as the monopoly on alcohol sales and the state control of salt and iron, all of which were specifically handled by Du Yannian.
If the common people and officials had any good suggestions or differing opinions, Du Yannian would carefully address them and then report to Huo Guang. He would even directly appoint those who were talented and capable of taking on important responsibilities as county magistrates or to significant positions such as Prime Minister or Inspector General. After a year, he would write reports on the performance of these individuals and submit them. If anyone made a mistake, they would be punished according to the law. He regularly collaborated with the Secretariat, the Censorate, and the Ministry of Justice to review official documents.
When Emperor Zhao was on his deathbed, he fell seriously ill, and the court called in the top physicians from across the empire. Du Yannian was responsible for managing and distributing medications. After Emperor Zhao passed away, Prince Changyi took the throne, only to be ousted later. At this time, General Huo Guang, General of Chariots and Cavalry Zhang Anshi, and other ministers discussed who should be the emperor. At that time, Emperor Xuan was still young, being raised in the palace and known as the imperial great-grandson. He was close friends with Du Yannian's son, Du Tuo. Du Yannian recognized Emperor Xuan's virtue and talent, so he advised Huo Guang and Zhang Anshi to make him the emperor. After Emperor Xuan ascended the throne, he rewarded those ministers who had contributed greatly. Du Yannian, for his role in determining the successor and stabilizing the court, was granted 2,300 households as a fief, in addition to his previous fief, totaling 4,300 households.
The court ordered a special assessment of these meritorious officials, stating in the edict: Huo Guang's achievements surpassed those of Grand Commandant Zhou Bo; the achievements of General of Chariots and Cavalry Zhang Anshi and Prime Minister Yang Chang were comparable to Prime Minister Chen Ping; the achievements of former General Han Zeng and Minister Cai Yi were comparable to Marquis of Yingyin Guan Ying; Du Yannian's achievements were comparable to Marquis Zhu Xu Liu Zhang; the achievements of Rear General Zhao Chongguo, Grand Minister of Agriculture Tian Yannian, and Minister Shi Le were comparable to Dianke Liu Jie. All these individuals were enfeoffed as marquises and received additional land grants.
Du Yannian was gentle, meticulous, and responsible, having long been in charge of court affairs. The emperor trusted him greatly, always having him by his side during inspections and handling political affairs while in the palace. He served as one of the Nine Ministers for over a decade, accumulating a fortune in rewards and gifts.
After Huo Guang's death, his son Huo Yu plotted a rebellion with his family and was killed as a result. The Emperor wanted to promote the old minister of the Huo family, Huo Yannian, but also wanted to get rid of him. However, the Prime Minister Wei Xiang said that Huo Yannian used to hold high positions of power and had committed many misdeeds. So, an investigation was launched, only to find that many horses in the palace had died, and the palace staff could not be adequately fed and clothed. As a result, Huo Yannian was dismissed from his position and had his fiefdom reduced by two thousand households. After a few months, the Emperor called him back and appointed him as the regional governor of the northern territories.
Huo Yannian had previously been one of the Nine Ministers, but now he was assigned to a relatively minor administrative post in the borderlands, with no significant achievements in governing the counties. The Emperor personally wrote him a letter of advice. Huo Yannian then began to select good officials, curbed the power of the local magnates, and gradually stabilized the county. Over a year later, the Emperor sent messengers to deliver a personal letter, along with two thousand catties of gold, and transferred him to be the governor of Xihe, where he gained renown for his effective administration. During the reign of Wufeng, he was summoned back to the court and appointed as the Grand Minister of the Palace.
Huo Yannian lived in the place where his father used to work and did not dare to take over his father's former office, even changing his sleeping and working arrangements. At that time, the surrounding frontier regions were at peace, and Huo Yannian served as the Grand Minister of the Palace for three years. Due to old age and frailty, he requested retirement. The Emperor showed him great favor, sending the Grand Master of Luxuriant Happiness with the Emperor's letter, one hundred catties of gold, wine, and various medicinal herbs as rewards. Huo Yannian claimed to be very ill. The Emperor also provided him with a comfortable carriage and four horses, allowing him to retire at home. Several months later, Huo Yannian passed away and was posthumously ennobled as the Marquis of Respect, with his son Huo Huan inheriting his title.
Huo Huan served as a junior official when he was young. During the Ben Shi period, he followed General Pulei as a military officer to fight against the Xiongnu. After returning, he became an Imperial Censor, and later was promoted to Shanggu Commandant (a military post) and Yanmen Prefect (a governor's position). After his father Huo Yannian passed away, Huo Huan was summoned back to attend to his father's funeral, and later appointed as Taichang, overseeing the counties surrounding the imperial tombs. Every winter when handling cases, he always gave up alcohol and observed a fast, and his subordinates praised him for his kindness. During the early reign of Emperor Yuan, food prices soared, leaving many people destitute; during the Yongguang period, the Western Qiang rebelled, and Huo Huan repeatedly petitioned, using his own money and food to support the court, worth millions.
Huo Huan had six younger brothers, five of whom held high official positions. The youngest brother, Huo Xiong, served as a 2,000 stone official (a high-ranking official) in five commanderies and also as a provincial governor in three states, showing great ability and reputation. The middle brother, Huo Qin, held a lower official position but had the greatest reputation.
Huo Qin, whose courtesy name was Zixia, loved reading since childhood. Although his family was wealthy, he was partially blind and did not like to hold official positions. In Maoling, there was a man named Du Ye who shared the same name and was both renowned for his talent with Huo Qin. In order to differentiate between them, people called Huo Qin "Blind Du Zixia," and Huo Qin disliked others mentioning his eye disease, so he wore a very small hat with a brim only two inches high. Thus, people in the capital called him "Little Hat Du Zixia," while Du Ye was called "Big Hat Du Zixia."
At that time, the Emperor's uncle and Grand General Wang Feng leveraged his imperial connections to influence politics and was eager to find talented individuals to help. Wang Feng's father, Wang Jin, the Marquis of Qinghou, had a good relationship with Huo Guang, so Wang Feng knew Huo Guang's abilities well and recommended him to serve as the Commander of the armory of the Grand General's Manor. This sinecure was exactly what Huo Guang desired.
Huo Guang, a shrewd and insightful strategist, was known for his womanizing when the emperor was the crown prince. After ascending the throne, the empress dowager ordered the selection of virtuous maidens to fill out the imperial harem. Huo Guang took the opportunity to say to General Wang Feng, "Ancient rites stipulate marrying nine wives to maximize his male essence, to widely propagate descendants, and to honor ancestors; we must select virtuous maidens from good families, regardless of beauty, to help the emperor run his harem. If a concubine's child is flawed, don't replace her, to ensure the emperor's longevity and avoid harem disputes. Therefore, if the concubines have virtuous morals, the descendants will have wise rulers; if the harem system is dignified and regulated, the monarch will have longevity. Abolishing the old system should not be done casually, to maintain women's good morals; with good morals, the emperor's life can be prolonged. The Book of History mentions a lifespan of forty-three years, referring to the harm caused by excessive indulgence. Men at fifty still have lustful desires; women at forty start to age. An older woman serving a young emperor without proper decorum will cause all sorts of trouble; the empress will get suspicious, and the other concubines will start scheming. Therefore, Duke Xian of Jin was wrongly accused due to slander, and Shen Sheng suffered unjustly. The emperor is currently in his prime, without an heir, learning various ways of governing, and has not yet started selecting consorts. General, as you assist in state affairs, you should implement the 'nine wives' system now, choosing women from good families, and don't worry so much about looks, voice, or talent, as this will be the way for generations. Watch out for pretty women when you're young; the poem 'Xiao Bian' can serve as a warning. Don't forget this, General."
Dowager Empress Fengbai thought Qin's arguments were completely baseless and not worth worrying about. Qin emphasized again: "The Book of Songs says, 'The example of Yin is close at hand, in the Xia dynasty.' This warning is so close to us, but we always turn a deaf ear to it. Can we not be cautious?" Qin then mentioned the matter of the nine princesses again, briefly talked about their fortunes and misfortunes, leaving everyone feeling both sorry and scared. Qin was worried that the general did not attach importance to this matter, so he emphasized it repeatedly.
The rules for the imperial harem? That's a big deal, it affects the whole country's fate! Look at the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties – what happened at the end? Look at our ancestor worship ceremonies – what happened? And look at what's been happening lately – wasn't every disaster caused by women acting up? The Book of Songs uses the low, sad sound of jade as a metaphor, and the *Guan Ju* poem says the same thing, indicating that women who chase beauty and pleasure end up with short lives, wreck the system, and bring down the whole country. So I wrote poems about good women, hoping to help the Emperor, hoping they'd be loyal, filial, kind, and generous. Long live the Emperor! A stable country – that's what we all want. You gotta step up, General! The *I Ching* says, "Get the basics right, and everything else will fall into place."
If you're not sure what to do, look at history, look at what's happening now. If you keep changing your mind, people will get confused and you won't get anything done. This nine-princess system follows ancient rules, won't hurt anyone, people will like it, it's easy to do, and it'll help the country! General, you're advising the Emperor, but you're hesitating. The whole world's watching! General, listen to me. Think about what the *Guan Ju* means. The Emperor's giving you power, the country's stable – this is your chance to build a lasting legacy for the Han Dynasty! Don't mess this up! Dowager Empress Fengbai can't make up new rules; she's stuck with the old ones.
Later, the Empress Dowager's sister, Sima Junli, was messing around with Qin's nephew, which the emperor found out about. Qin felt embarrassed and scared, so he asked to retire and go home.
Your Majesty, recently there have been solar eclipses and earthquakes. You have summoned honest and outspoken officials, and Liang Fang recommended me.
No way! Your Majesty, you’ve called the ministers and those who dare to speak out because you’re worried about angering the gods and these unusual phenomena, wanting to figure out what the gods wanted and see where you might have gone wrong. I’m not exactly a genius, with shallow knowledge, and not qualified to engage in lengthy discussions with you.
I’ve heard that solar eclipses and earthquakes happen because of the weakening of yang energy and the rise of yin energy. It’s always the same principle: the subordinate is yin to the superior. The Spring and Autumn Period recorded thirty-six solar eclipses and five earthquakes, with causes ranging from barbarian invasions of the Central Plains to power falling into the hands of subjects, wives dominating their husbands, or subjects betraying their rulers. Although the circumstances may vary, the root cause is the same.
Upon careful observation of the court, I’ve found that the officials are perfectly content, there are no conflicts among the imperial relatives, none of the eastern kingdoms are a threat, and there are no signs of rebellion among the border tribes. So, the problem may lie in the harem. Why do I say this? Because the solar eclipse happened on Wushen day, during the hour of Wei, and Wuxu belongs to earth, which corresponds to the palace. The earthquake occurred at Wei Yang Palace that night, likely due to palace intrigue among the concubines competing for favor and plotting against each other. Watch out, Your Majesty!
The changes in celestial phenomena and human affairs correspond to each other. When there are problems among the people below, strange omens will appear above. If one can respond with virtuous governance, calamities and portents will be eliminated; if one cannot respond with good governance, calamities will descend. Emperor Gaozong, because of the ominous bird's call, warned himself, governed the country seriously, and lived to be a hundred years old. The Yin dynasty flourished once more as a result, and the key lies in how he responded to the celestial phenomena. To respond to celestial phenomena, one must be sincere and trustworthy. Duke Jing of Song was just a ruler of a small state, but because he sincerely did not want to transfer disasters to the people, he expressed his repentance to the heavens three times, and as a result, the ill omen subsided. Sire, as long as you are sincere in your heart and seriously consider the changes in celestial phenomena, what kind of response can't move the heavens? What kind of calamity can shake your rule? Confucius said, "Is the heart of benevolence still far away?" As long as you govern the harem well, curb extravagance and indulgence, be frugal and thrifty, personally handle government affairs, often ride in ordinary carriages, walk on footpaths, oversee the harem's well-being, and frequently visit the empress dowager and empress, if you do this, you'll surpass even the legendary Yao and Shun; so what is there to fear from those anomalies? If you do not handle government affairs seriously, do not appoint officials based on their abilities, squander the nation's wealth on your own excesses, exhaust the strength of the people to satisfy your own desires, surround yourself with flatterers and shun honest advisors, believe in deceitful individuals, and execute loyal and righteous individuals, then capable men will withdraw from public life, your ministers will grumble, and even without celestial anomalies, the country will be in danger. There are many important matters in the country, and you bear the weight of your ancestors' legacy. You cannot indulge in pleasures or be excessively extravagant. You should restrain unnecessary desires and protect the lives of the people. Forgive my bluntness, Sire, but my words may not be worth your time.
One summer, the emperor summoned all the ministers bold enough to offer frank advice to the White Tiger Hall and set them a series of questions: What are the fundamental principles of the universe? What is the way of governing a country for an emperor? What is the central message of the Six Classics? What's most important in life and how to live it? How to choose the right people? What should be the government's top priority? Their answers had to be grounded in the classics.
Qin replied, "Heaven values sincerity, and Earth values integrity; without sincerity and integrity, nothing will thrive. Growth is the most precious thing between heaven and earth. Emperors receive the mandate of Heaven and Earth, govern the world well, and allow all things to flourish. Emperors emulate heaven and earth; without benevolence, they cannot bestow blessings widely, and without righteousness, they cannot rectify themselves. Self-discipline, proper conduct, and extending compassion to others—this is the core idea of the Six Classics. Being unfilial to parents will lead to disloyalty to the ruler, disrespect for official positions, lack of courage in battle, and lack of trustworthiness with friends. Confucius said, 'Filial piety knows no bounds, and I've never heard of it bringing misfortune.' Filial piety should be the foremost concern in human relations. When assessing someone, consider the conduct of their hometown, their abilities during their term of office, whom they promote, what they reward, what they refrain from doing in poverty, what they do not take in times of need, what they value in their daily life, and what their long-term goals are. Confucius said, 'Observe his motives, examine the reasons for his actions, and investigate what he is content with; in this way, one can understand him.' This is the method of selecting talents. The Yin Dynasty inherited the simplicity of the Xia Dynasty, the Zhou Dynasty inherited the civilization of the Yin Dynasty, and now the Han Dynasty inherits the shortcomings of the Zhou and Qin Dynasties. It should restrain extravagance, uphold simplicity, reduce luxury, promote frugality, value practicality, and reject hypocrisy. Confucius said, 'An over-fondness for purple diminishes the beauty of red'; this is the focus that should be emphasized in the governance of the country today. I have some concerns privately; speaking out may anger Your Majesty, but not speaking out will accumulate over time and eventually lead to great disaster. But I can't sell my soul for a pat on the back."
I heard that being obsessed with beauty without restraint will inevitably lead to favoritism; with favoritism, one will favor one person; favoring one person will narrow the selection range of heirs, and jealousy will arise as a result. In this way, palace intrigue will be difficult to avoid. Only Your Majesty can stay virtuous, be generous, and keep your hands clean in order to gain the support of the people, prosper the descendants, and stabilize the country. The right or wrong of other matters does not need to be reiterated one by one!
Due to his previous illness, the Emperor gave Qin some time off with paid leave. Later, he was appointed as a government official, but was soon dismissed due to illness.
I visited General Mo's mansion, where important state affairs were often discussed with Feng (referring to a certain powerful official). Feng often recommended influential figures such as Wang Jun, Wei Anshi, and Wang Yanshi, and also interceded for Feng Ye Wang, Wang Zun, Hu Chang, and others, getting them off the hook. In addition, he was also involved in managing relations with border tribes and bolstering the position of national heroes. Feng is behind a lot of good policies these days.
Seeing Feng's great power, I advised him, saying, "Although the Duke of Zhou was highly respected, and King Cheng, his wise nephew, rarely listened to gossip, he still feared the rumors of Guan Shu and Cai Shu. Qin's Marquis of Rang, King Zhao's powerful uncle, was feared throughout the region. King Zhao was very fond of him, but still had his guard up. However, Fan Sui, a nobody from the outside, easily gained the trust of King Zhao and ultimately brought down the Marquis of Rang. There is also the recent incident of the Marquis of Wu'an being dismissed. These three stories, separated by centuries, all teach the same lesson: be careful who you trust! I hope that General, learn from the Duke of Zhou's humility, avoid the Marquis of Rang's hubris, control your desires like the Marquis of Wu'an did not, and don't let another Fan Sui manipulate you."
After some time, there was another solar eclipse. The Prefect of the capital, Wang Zhang, submitted a memorial requesting an audience with the Emperor, bluntly stating that Huo Guang's abuse of power had deceived the Emperor and that he should be gotten rid of in response to the bad signs from heaven. The Emperor, seeing the light after hearing this, summoned Wang Zhang to discuss the matter. Huo Guang was terrified, so the Emperor ordered him to submit a letter of apology and resignation. Huo Guang's memorial was written heartbreakingly. The Empress Dowager was inconsolable. The Emperor, who had always been close to and trusted by Huo Guang since childhood, could not bear to dismiss him, so he reinstated Huo Guang.
Feeling ashamed, Huo Guang feigned illness and wanted to retire completely. The Emperor comforted him, saying, "General, you have devoted yourself to ruling the empire for ten years, yet the celestial phenomena continue to show abnormalities. Therefore, you request retirement, taking full responsibility and showing deep remorse. Your sincerity has moved everyone. However, you are just a subject, following protocol. That's not how an emperor treats a loyal subject like you, and it's not how you repay his trust. Although the Duke of Zhou (a legendary figure known for his loyalty) was old, he remained in the capital, clearly indicating he would not leave Chengzhou to show his loyalty to the royal family. The Duke of Shanfu (a loyal minister known for his unwavering devotion), an official of a different surname with no relation to King Xuan of Qi, was sealed in the state of Qi, still longing to stay. How much more so for the relationship between you and the Emperor! If you want the world to be stable and eliminate the signs of celestial anomalies, no one is better suited for this than you, and the Emperor is well aware of this, which is why he persuaded you. 'The Book of Documents' says, 'Don't give up on me!' I hope you, General, do not doubt King Cheng because of the gossip from the provinces, and remain steadfast in your loyalty." Huo Guang resumed his duties once again. The Emperor ordered an official to accuse Wang Zhang, the Prefect of the capital, who died in custody. This incident is recorded in Empress Yuan's biography.
After Wang Zhang's death, folks were up in arms about it, using this to criticize the court. The emperor wanted to smooth things over, so he advised Huo Guang, saying, "Wang Zhang's punishment was kept hush-hush. Everyone only knows that he usually liked to speak his mind and offer advice, thinking he wasn't punished for an official crime, but rather for something he reported about a solar eclipse. Even if he had done something wrong, it wouldn't have been public knowledge. People in the capital don't know, let alone those in distant places. I'm afraid people would just assume he was punished for speaking his mind. This could nip the problem in the bud and damage the emperor's reputation for fairness. I believe we should use this matter of Wang Zhang to reward people for speaking their minds and let all officials show what they can do, doing even better than before, to demonstrate that the emperor is wise and won't punish speech. This way, rumors will be dispelled and doubts clarified." Huo Guang followed his strategy. This was the emperor's way of fixing things and looking good.
He lived a quiet life, never holding office, and died peacefully. His sons and brothers held positions of two thousand stones (a high-ranking official), almost ten of them. His brother, who had previously been relieved of his duties as chief minister, was appointed as a marquis and received courtly honors. He passed away during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han, and his son inherited his title.
His son was very capable, as he was a marquis and was selected and appointed as the Grand Master of Ceremonies. He often spoke bluntly, pointing out what was right and wrong at court, not currying favor with the powerful, and didn't get along with Prime Minister Zhai Fangjin and Marquis Chunyu Zhang of Dingling. Later, his son was dismissed for committing a crime and was reassigned as the Commandant of Hangu Pass. When Marquis Chunyu Zhang of Dingling committed a crime and was to return to his fiefdom, the uncle of Chunyu Zhang, Marquis Hongyang, wrote a letter to his son saying, "Alas, pity my old sister whose hair has turned white, leaving the pass with a worthless son. I hope you will no longer hold grudges over past matters." After Marquis Chunyu Zhang returned from the pass, he pleaded guilty, was re-arrested, and imprisoned in Luoyang. Prime Minister Shi Gao discovered the letter from Marquis Hongyang and reported his son's disrespect in heeding the request, leading to his dismissal and return to his fiefdom.
So, in the spring of that year, Prime Minister Fang Jin kicked the bucket. I wrote to the emperor saying: Fang Jin was thick as thieves with Chang Shen, always singing each other's praises and pushing each other up the ladder. Chang Shen screwed up royally but got away with it. This was clearly a whitewash; he was just going with the flow and settling old scores. According to the rules, if a mate screws up big time, they should be dismissed from their position and not allowed to return home. But this time, Chang Shen was allowed to return home—that was a slap on the wrist! The Hongyang Marquis's son accepted a bribe from Chang Shen, so he was sent packing, and that wasn't even a serious crime! As a result, Fang Jin went after his cronies, General Zhu Bo, Julu's governor Sun Hong, and ex-treasurer Chen Xian, accusing them of being dismissed from their positions and sent back home. This whole thing stinks; it was all because of one sentence from Fang Jin. Folks were wondering what the heck was going on and said Sun Hong didn't get along with the Marquis. Sun Hong used to be a minister, and Fang Jin was the Grand Secretary at the time. He pushed Long Ke into a high-ranking position, but Sun Hong cheated on his mission, making him look bad, which made Fang Jin resentful towards Sun Hong. Also, when Fang Jin was running Jingzhao, Chen Xian was a big shot among the Nine Ministers, whom you know. Fang Jin had a good relationship with the Censor-in-Chief Shi Dan. When the Grand Secretary position was vacant, he got Shi Dan to accuse Chen Xian of being corrupt, but nothing came of it. Fang Jin then became the Grand Secretary himself. Once he was Prime Minister, he immediately framed Chen Xian, sacked him, and sent him packing, all using the Marquis thing as an excuse. Everyone was saying the country had given Fang Jin way too much power.
Besides, Shi Dan wasn't exactly brilliant, and Guanglu Xun Xu Shang both gained high-ranking positions and fat salaries by flattering Fang Jin. Shi Dan even personally recommended the Yizi County Premier, Shi Neng, claiming he could talk to the gods and get blessings for the country, almost succeeding. Fortunately, you're a wise and strong ruler, sending your man Mao Moru to look into it, which uncovered their scam and had them executed. If Shi Dan knew the truth and reported it, it would be lying; if he reported without knowing the truth, it would be believing in that mumbo-jumbo, breaking the law. Either way, they deserved to die, worse than what Zhu Bo, Sun Hong, and Chen Xian got. Fang Jin, on the other hand, has been arrogant, selfish, and power-hungry. He only looked after his cronies. He squashed anyone who stood in his way. He lined his pockets with public money. He broke the law left, right, and centre. He thought he owned the place. Everyone was terrified of him – from top officials to his own family. Having all that power but being disloyal and untrustworthy isn't the way to run a country. Now that Fang Jin has died from illness and you haven't punished him but instead given him a fancy funeral, think about this, Your Majesty, and learn from it.
After Emperor Cheng of Han kicked the bucket, Emperor Ai took the throne. Ye (Wang Mang) sent a letter to the emperor, saying: "The Wang family has been running the show too long, and there are no loyal ministers in the court who dare to speak their minds; the imperial relatives are weak, just like prisoners. From junior officials to high-ranking officials, almost all are the powerful ministers' puppets. Marquis Quyang, who once assisted the emperor in governance, knew that Zhao Zhaoyi had killed the imperial prince but did not dare to report it. Instead, he colluded with the Zhao family, behaving recklessly, framing Empress Xu, exterminating the Xu family, and undermining Emperor Yuan's relatives. The half-siblings, Marquis Hongyang and Lady Chunyu, were also cast aside in their old age. The Xin Dynasty had a bloodbath in the capital; it was a terrifying regime. Marquis Gaoyang Xue Xuan was known for being unfilial, and Marquis Anchang Zhang Yu was a snake in the grass. They misled the court and made the late emperor look bad to the people; this is too dangerous! Your Majesty has just ascended the throne, all alone and vulnerable, with powerful ministers who could seize power at any time, sitting on a powder keg. You should put justice before personal feelings early on to stabilize the hearts of the people. I believe that Zhu Bo is loyal, brave, and outstanding, a true patriot; he should be summoned to your side to stabilize the world. With him in court, Your Majesty will be safe. In the past, the Lü family wanted to endanger the Liu family's rule; if it weren't for those loyal old-timers, the Lü clan would have taken over."
Ye submitted another memorial suggesting the establishment of a temple for Prince Gong in the capital city to honor his filial piety. At this time, Duke Dong Hong of Gaochang also proposed to honor Empress Dowager Dinghou of Dingtai as the Empress Dowager. Grand Minister Shi Dan and others impeached Dong Hong for misleading the country and acting improperly, resulting in Dong Hong's dismissal from his position and demotion to a commoner. Ye defended Dong Hong in another petition. Many of the contents of his memorials were adopted and implemented, and Zhu Bo was indeed appointed. Ye was then summoned to serve as the Grand Minister of Ceremonies again. Over a year later, he was demoted to the Governor of Shangdang. Later, the Inspector of the Imperial Censorate reported that during Ye's tenure as Grand Minister of Ceremonies, the elections were conducted unfairly, leading to Ye's dismissal from office and his return to his fief.
After Emperor Ai's death, Wang Mang seized power, and those who had previously suggested building a temple and erecting a monument for Emperor Ai were all dismissed and exiled to Hepu. Ye, who had already been dismissed from office, was in a bad mood, living in constant fear, and eventually died from excessive worry. During Emperor Cheng's reign, Ye married Princess Yingyi, the emperor's sister, who died without leaving any children. Ye's family requested to bury him with the princess in the capital city, but this was not approved. He was only given the posthumous title of "Huanghou" (a posthumous title indicating nobility), and his family line ended with his grandchildren. Initially, Du Zhou was exiled to Maoling during Emperor Wu's reign, but later during the Yanping period, he was exiled to Duling.
Zhang Tang and Du Zhou both climbed the ranks from humble beginnings as clerks, eventually becoming high-ranking officials and even being included among the ranks of ruthless officials. They both had sons who were both brilliant and upright, holding prominent positions, with their descendants serving as officials in the court and keeping each other in check, until the Jianwu era. However, the Du family's line eventually died out, and no one in the Confucian world could match their good fortune and accomplishments. People claim to be descendants of the Tang Dynasty's Du family. Is that true? Now, turning to Qin, he was very good at grasping the situation and adept at planning. Early in the Jian Shi era, he wrote to the emperor about women's proper conduct and ultimately succeeded. His success was as the *Guan Ju* suggests: foresight is a skill beyond those who are all show and no substance. As for Ye, he is an opportunist, a master of ingratiation, praising those in power while undermining his rivals. His boldness in standing up to the powerful, despite his clear preferences, is certainly admirable!
