During the Han Dynasty, a time of great upheaval and political intrigue, Dou Ying, styled Wangsun, was the cousin of Empress Dowager Wen. His father had been an official in charge of observing the ferry for several generations. Dou Ying was hospitable and served as the prime minister of the state of Wu during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen, but later resigned due to illness. After Emperor Xiaojing ascended the throne, he was appointed as the Director of the Palace Attendants.
The younger brother of Emperor Xiaojing, Prince Liang, was greatly favored by their mother, Empress Dowager Dou. One time when Prince Liang came to court, the brothers drank together. At that time, the emperor had not yet named a crown prince. After drinking too much, the emperor casually remarked, "In the future, forever, the throne will be passed to Prince Liang." Empress Dowager Dou was very pleased to hear this. Dou Ying raised his wine cup and advised the emperor, saying, "This empire was founded by our forefathers, with the tradition of passing the throne from father to son. This is the ancestral system of the Han Dynasty. How can Your Majesty pass the throne to Prince Liang?" Empress Dowager Dou began to dislike Dou Ying. Feeling that his official position was not important, Dou Ying resigned on the pretext of illness. Empress Dowager Dou even removed his name from the list of court officials, preventing him from attending court to see the emperor.
Three years later, the states of Wu and Chu rebelled, and after careful consideration of the imperial relatives, the emperor found that there was no one more capable than Dou Ying. He summoned him, but Dou Ying repeatedly declined, citing his illness as a reason for being unable to serve. Empress Dowager Dou also felt somewhat ashamed. At this point, the emperor said, "The world is in a critical situation, can Wangsun still refuse?" Therefore, the emperor appointed Dou Ying as the Grand General, rewarding him with a thousand pounds of gold. Dou Ying immediately recommended famous generals and virtuous scholars such as Yuan Ang and Luan Bu to come out and serve the country. The rewarded gold was piled under the corridor, and the officers in the army could freely use it as they passed by, without a single ounce of gold entering Dou Ying's home. Dou Ying guarded Xingyang and commanded the armies of Qi and Zhao. After the rebellion of the seven states was quelled, Dou Ying was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Weiqi. Many scholars and guests flocked to him. Whenever the court debated important matters, even the Marquis of Tiao and other marquises wouldn't dare sit on an equal footing with him.
Four years later, the emperor appointed the Crown Prince Li and Dou Ying as the grand tutor. Seven years later, Crown Prince Li was deposed, and Dou Ying tried his best to argue but was unsuccessful. He then resigned from his official position and retired to his estate south of Lantian for several months. Despite the persuasion of Dou Ying's family and associates, he refused to change his mind. It was not until Gao Sui from Liang State came to persuade Dou Ying, saying, "Your wealth and favor come from the Emperor and Empress Dowager. You've lost your position as the Crown Prince's tutor, and your arguments failed. Instead of proving your loyalty through death, you've resigned and retreated with your family, ignoring court affairs. This makes you look like you're dodging responsibility and exaggerating the Emperor's mistakes. If you anger both the Emperor and the Empress Dowager, your whole family will suffer!" Dou Ying found his words reasonable and returned to court, participating in court affairs as before.
Lord Tao did not become the prime minister, and Empress Dou recommended Lord Wei Wan to Emperor Jing on numerous occasions. Emperor Jing said, "Are you recommending Wei Qihou simply because I've shown him favor? Wei Qihou is complacent and reckless, making it difficult for him to handle the responsibilities of the prime minister." Therefore, he was not chosen, and instead, Lord Wei Wan was appointed as the prime minister.
Tian Fei was the maternal younger brother of Emperor Xiaojing's empress, and he grew up in Ling County. At that time, Dou Ying had already become the Grand General with great power, while Tian Fei was just a low-ranking official with no significant status, often going to Dou Ying to pour wine, treating him with great respect as if he were an elder. As Emperor Xiaojing grew older, Tian Fei gained more favor and trust, rising to the rank of middle official. He had excellent eloquence and had studied Confucian classics, which the empress greatly admired.
After Emperor Xiaojing kicked the bucket, Emperor Wu took over. Tian Fei, relying on his uncle's identity, was made the Marquis of Wu'an, while his younger brother Tian Sheng was named the Marquis of Zhouyang. Tian Fei, upon gaining power, was super nice to his guests, inviting scholars to come out and serve in order to take down the generals. Tian Fei's guests were behind a lot of the emperor's policies. Luckily, the Prime Minister Wei Wan got sick and quit, and the emperor was thinking about setting up the positions of Prime Minister and Grand Commandant. A man named Jie Fu told Tian Fei, "The Marquis of Wei was already a big shot, and all the scholars were on his side. You're new to this, and he's way ahead of you. If the emperor directly appoints you as Prime Minister, you'll totally bow down to the Marquis of Wei. If the Marquis of Wei becomes Prime Minister, you can become Grand Commandant. They're basically the same job, and this way you can still look humble and smart." Tian Fei then secretly tipped off the Empress Dowager, and the emperor appointed Dou Ying as Prime Minister and Tian Fei as Grand Commandant. Jie Fu congratulated Dou Ying and gave him some advice, "You've always been a goody-two-shoes, and everyone loves you, so you got the job; but a lot of people hate you and will talk trash about you. If you can tolerate others, you can stay in power for a long time; if not, you'll get fired because people are talking smack about you." Dou Ying ignored him.
Dou Ying and Tian Fen both liked Confucianism. They recommended Zhao Wan as Chief Inspector and Wang Zang as Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. They also welcomed Duke Shen of Lu and planned to send the marquises back to their estates and get rid of the border checks, imposing Confucian dress codes to achieve peace in the world. They also dismissed some incompetent members of the Dou clan and stripped them of their titles. Many imperial relatives became marquises, and many marquises married princesses, none of whom wanted to return to their fiefs, leading to growing criticism of Empress Dou. Empress Dou favored the teachings of Huang-Lao (a school of thought combining elements of Huangdi and Laozi philosophies), while Dou Ying, Tian Fen, Zhao Wan, and others strongly promoted Confucianism, disparaging Daoism, which caused Empress Dou to become increasingly unhappy.
The following year, Zhao Wan, the Chief Inspector, suggested not reporting political affairs to the Crown Prince. When Empress Dou heard this, she was furious and said, "Trying to pull a Xinyuan Ping, are you?" She then dismissed Zhao Wan and Wang Zang, and Prime Minister Ying and Grand Commandant Fen were also removed from their positions. Duke Bo Zhi Xuchang was appointed as the Prime Minister, and Marquis of Wuqiang Zhuang Qingzhai was appointed as the Chief Inspector. Ying and Fen retired on their pensions. Although Fen did not hold an official position, he was favored due to his good relationship with the Dowager Empress Wang. He often gave advice to the Emperor, and his ideas always paid off, causing officials who'd been sucking up to Ying to flock to Fen instead. Fen's influence continued to grow.
In the sixth year, Empress Dowager Dou passed away, and Prime Minister Xu Chang and Grand Historian Zhuang Qingzhai were dismissed for their poor handling of the funeral. The emperor then appointed Fen as Prime Minister and Han Anguo as Grand Historian. Officials and princes throughout the land became even more beholden to Fen. Fen was not good-looking, but he came from a noble background and was extremely wealthy. He believed that the vassals had too much power, and the young emperor needed to establish his authority. If he did not take strong measures to suppress them with rituals, the country would not be stable. At that time, when the Prime Minister reported to the emperor, their discussions could last for days, and the emperor heeded his every word. His appointees often landed top positions, and his power exceeded that of the emperor. One time, the emperor said, "Have you removed the officials who should be removed? I also want to remove a few officials." On another occasion, when Fen wanted to expand his residence near the imperial palace, the emperor angrily replied, "Are you trying to grab the armory for yourself?" After that, Fen restrained himself. He hosted banquets, with his elder brother sitting in the north and himself in the east, believing that the position of the Han Dynasty Prime Minister was honorable and should not be changed because of brotherly relations. As he grew increasingly arrogant, he built a mansion more luxurious than others, owned the best fields, and acquired exotic treasures from various counties, which overflowed onto the roads. His mansion overflowed with treasures, his grounds were filled with the finest horses and dogs, and his halls echoed with the music of countless instruments. The front yard was adorned with musical instruments and various flags; the backyard housed hundreds of women. He received countless treasures, fine dogs and horses, and toys, too many to count.
With the Empress Dowager's passing, Ying's influence waned, and he found himself increasingly sidelined. The other ministers grew lax and self-indulgent, while only Guanfu still showed him respect. Thus, Ying, though frustrated and sidelined, remained loyal to Guanfu.
Guan Fu, whose courtesy name was Zhongru, was from Yingyin. His father was named Zhang Meng and had served under Yingyin Marquis Guan Ying. Because he was such a good worker, he was promoted to a very important position and was granted the surname Guan, changing his name to Guan Meng. During the Wu and Chu rebellion, Marquis Guan Ying, as the top general, called his father, Guan Meng, to be a captain. Guan Fu took a thousand men with him. His father was old, but Guan Ying insisted on taking him along, which really ticked Guan Meng off. So, he always led the charge in battles and eventually died in the Wu lines. Back then, the law said that if a father and son served in the army together and one died in battle, the other could bring the body back for burial. However, Guan Fu refused to go back to retrieve his father's body. He yelled, "I'm gonna get the Wu king or that general's head!" So, Guan Fu put on armor, grabbed a spear, and recruited brave warriors willing to join him in the army. A bunch of guys signed up. When they reached the city gate, the others were too chicken to charge. Only two people and a dozen guys rode into the Wu army's camp, killing a bunch of guys at Xixia. However, they couldn't break through, so they retreated. The other guys scattered, leaving only Guan Fu and one other guy to escape. Guan Fu took more than ten hits but lived because of some good medicine. After recovering a bit, he went to the general and said, "I know the Wu camp layout better now. Please let me go again!" The general liked his guts, but was worried he'd get killed, so he told the top general, who talked Guan Fu out of it. Later, the Wu army was defeated, and Guan Fu became a legend.
The Marquis of Yingyin recommended Guan Fu, who became a low-ranking official. After some time, he was dismissed for committing a crime and returned to his hometown of Chang'an. The officials and nobles of Chang'an all praised him, so he was appointed as acting prime minister. When Emperor Wu ascended the throne, he believed that Huaiyang was the place for sacrifices in the world and had a strong military presence, so he transferred Guan Fu to be the governor of Huaiyang. During his tenure as governor, his subordinates became the Master of the Horse. A few years passed, and Guan Fu and Dou Fu, the imperial guard commander of Changle Palace, drank together. Following a drinking argument, Guan Fu, who was drunk, hit Dou Fu. Dou Fu was the brother of the Empress Dowager Dou. The Emperor feared that the Empress Dowager would punish Guan Fu, so he transferred him to be a minister in Yan State. After some time, he was dismissed for committing another crime and returned to his hometown of Chang'an.
Guan Fu was a righteous person who liked to drink but disliked flattery. Those nobles who outranked him wanted to bully him, while those of lower status, especially the poor, he respected even more, treating everyone equally. In crowded places, he always promoted those of lower status. Because of this, scholars all respected him.
It is said that Guan Fu did not like to read or write, but enjoyed making friends with figures from the underworld, keeping his word, and associating with powerful and ruthless associates. His family was incredibly wealthy, with dozens or even hundreds of guests eating at his table every day. He built many houses and gardens in the Yingchuan area, and his relatives and friends competed for power and profit, acting tyrannically in the region. The common people of Yingchuan even composed a nursery rhyme to mock him: "Ying River clear, Guan family's at peace; Ying River muddy, Guan family's in a mess."
When Guan Fu was home, the important people and visitors gradually decreased. After Dou Ying lost his power, he wanted to win back his old friends who had abandoned him. Because of his relationship with Dou Ying, Guan Fu also met many noblemen and royals, and his reputation grew. They were inseparable, like father and son, wishing they'd met sooner.
Once, Guan Fu wore mourning clothes and went to visit the Prime Minister Tian Fen. Tian Fen offhandedly remarked, "I want to visit Marquis Wei Qi with you, since you are wearing mourning clothes." Guan Fu replied, "General, if you are willing to visit Marquis Wei Qi, how could I refuse just because I am wearing mourning clothes! Please tell Marquis Wei Qi that the general will come early tomorrow morning." Tian Fen agreed. Guan Fu told this to Dou Ying. Dou Ying and his wife quickly went to the market to buy beef and mutton, spent the evening preparing a feast, cleaning the house, and waiting for dawn. The next morning, they sent their servants to wait for the Prime Minister at home. By noon, Tian Fen had not arrived. Dou Ying said to Guan Fu, "Don't you think the Prime Minister might have forgotten?" Guan Fu was very unhappy and said, "It's not appropriate for me to visit him in mourning clothes." So he drove himself to meet Tian Fen. Tian Fen just dismissed Guan Fu and had no intention of going. Upon entering, Guan Fu said, "General, you promised to visit Marquis Wei Qi yesterday. Marquis Wei Qi and his wife are still attending to official business and haven't even had a bite to eat!" Only then did Tian Fen realize his mistake, apologized, and said, "I was drunk and forgot to tell Zhong Yu (Guan Fu's courtesy name)." Only then did he drive to Marquis Wei Qi's residence. His slow progress on the way only fueled Guan Fu's anger. When the banquet was almost over, Guan Fu stood up and danced for Tian Fen, but Tian Fen remained completely unmoved. Guan Fu had to move his seat, and his tone became stern. Dou Ying quickly helped Guan Fu leave and apologized to Tian Fen. Tian Fen finally departed, seemingly in good spirits, only after a long evening of drinking.
Dou Ying once had his retainer, Jifu, go ask Guan Ying for the piece of land south of the city. Guan Ying looked up and bellowed, "Although I'm just a retired old man and you're a high-ranking general, do you think you can strong-arm me out of my land?!" He flatly refused. When Guan Fu heard about this, he was so angry that he lambasted his subordinates. Seeing the tension between the two, the subordinates hurried to report to Dou Ying, saying, "Guan Ying (字 Wei Qi) is old and will die soon. Just lay low for a bit."
After a while, Dou Ying learned that Guan Ying and Guan Fu had no intention of giving him the land, and he was livid, saying, "Guan Ying's son killed someone before, and I pleaded for him to save him. I've always accommodated him, so why would I need this piece of land? Besides, what does Guan Fu have to do with me? I won't mention this again!" After saying this, he was fit to be tied.
In the spring of the fourth year of Yuanguang, Dou Ying ratted out Guan Fu to the Emperor, saying that Guan Fu's family in Yingchuan was running roughshod over people, and the common folks couldn't bear it, requesting the Emperor to investigate thoroughly. The Emperor replied, "This is the Prime Minister's responsibility; why are you complaining to me?" Guan Fu also had some dirt on Dou Ying, accusing him of corruption and taking money and benefits from the Prince of Huainan. They both aired their dirty laundry, and in the end, they called a truce and let the whole thing drop.
In the summer, Dou Ying's brother-in-law, Dou Taohou's nephew Dou Fen, married the daughter of the King of Yan. The Empress Dowager threw a huge party and invited all the nobles and royals to congratulate them. Dou Ying wanted to go with his brother-in-law, but his brother-in-law advised him not to, saying, "I made a mistake because of drinking before and offended the Prime Minister. Now the Prime Minister and I have conflicts." Dou Ying replied, "That's old news." He insisted on going with his brother-in-law.
At the banquet, everyone was drinking and were in high spirits. Dou Fen stood up to offer a toast, and everyone quickly rose and knelt to show respect. When it was time to toast Dou Ying, only his brother-in-law stood and knelt, while the others only remained half-kneeling. When his brother-in-law offered a toast, Dou Fen, still half-kneeling, said, "The cup is not full." His brother-in-law, with a smile, replied, "General, please overlook this minor detail!" At that moment, Dou Fen refused.
As the banquet continued, when it was Linru Hou Guan Xian's turn, Guan Xian was quietly speaking with Cheng Buxi and did not rise. His brother-in-law did not get angry with Dou Fen but instead scolded Guan Xian, "You always say Cheng Buxi is no good, worthless, yet today, on the elder's birthday, you are whispering like a timid wife!" Dou Fen said to his brother-in-law, "Cheng Buxi and Li Guang are both palace officials. Now everyone is humiliating General Cheng; why don't you speak up for General Li?" His brother-in-law replied, "In this situation today, one could lose one's head. Why bother with Cheng Buxi and Li Guang?"
As the guests began to depart, after Dou Ying left, he joked with his brother-in-law. After his brother-in-law left, Dou Fen became angry and said, "Guan Fu made me lose face!" He then ordered the guards to prevent Guan Fu from leaving. Dou Fen's uncle came out to persuade him and forced Guan Fu to apologize by holding his head down. Guan Fu became even angrier and refused to bow. Dou Fen had him tied up, locked in a room, and then summoned the senior administrator, saying, "Today, gather the members of the royal family; this is by order of the Empress Dowager."
Dou Fen accused Guan Fu of insulting people at a banquet and acting out of line, and had him locked up. Then, Dou Fen raked up old grievances and sent people to arrest members of the Guan family, all of whom were sentenced to death. Dou Ying was mortified and sought help from others, but was unable to save Guan Fu. Dou Fen's men kept him in the loop, causing members of the Guan family to flee and hide, while Guan Fu remained imprisoned with no chance to expose Dou Fen's conspiracy.
Dou Ying's wife warned Dou Rui, saying, "General Guan offended the Prime Minister and had a falling out with the Empress Dowager's family. Do you really want to go and save him?" Dou Rui replied, "Guan Fu is my benefactor, and I am willing to die for him. I have no regrets. Besides, I will not let Guan Fu die alone while I am alive." So, he secretly hid at home and then quietly went out to submit a petition.
He quickly rallied support, explaining that Guan Fu had only been drunk and disorderly, and that he did not deserve to die. The Emperor bought his story, rewarding Dou Rui with a banquet, and said, "Go to the Eastern Palace and argue your case."
Meanwhile, the Emperor thought highly of Guan Yingdong, Guan Ying's son, saying he was well-fed and living a comfortable life. However, the Prime Minister falsely accused him of other matters. Prime Minister Tian Fen went after Guan Yingdong, calling him arrogant and a real piece of work. Guan Yingdong felt helpless and decided to call Tian Fen out on his BS. Tian Fen retorted, "So what if I'm the Prime Minister and I enjoy the finer things in life – music, horses, fancy houses, hanging out with actors and artisans? But Wei Qi Hou Dou Ying and Guan Fu, they're always scheming, recruiting some army of heroes, whispering behind my back, plotting against the court, looking for any excuse to start a rebellion so they can be heroes. I'm not like them!"
The emperor asked the ministers, "Between these two individuals, who is right and who is wrong?" The Imperial Secretary, Han Anguo, said, "When discussing Guan Fu's father's death, Marquis Wei Qi said that Guan Fu charged into the Wu Kingdom's military camp with a halberd, was shot by dozens of arrows, and his bravery was legendary. Killing him over a silly argument about a wine cup seems inappropriate. Marquis Wei Qi is correct. The Prime Minister also mentioned that Guan Fu colluded with villains, oppressed the people, had immense wealth, acted tyrannically in Yingchuan, oppressed the royal family, and did not spare even his own relatives. As the saying goes, he'd grown too powerful; he needed to be cut down to size. The Prime Minister is also correct. Your Majesty, please make the decision!" The Commander of the Imperial Guards, Jifu, supported Marquis Wei Qi, while Zheng, the Interior Minister, initially supported Marquis Wei Qi but later changed his stance. The others dared not speak. The emperor, angrily, said to Zheng, "You always like to gossip, speaking ill of Marquis Wei Qi and Marquis Wu An. Today in court, you're like a deer caught in headlights. I'm about ready to have you all executed!" After speaking, the emperor stormed off to have dinner with the Dowager Empress. The Dowager Empress had already sent someone to investigate and inform her of the situation. Upon hearing it, she was extremely angry, refused to eat, and said, "I am still alive, yet these people dare to bully my brother. If I'm still around in a hundred years, wouldn't they treat my brother's family as fish to be slaughtered? Does the emperor expect to live forever? The emperor is still alive now, and things can still be covered up. But a hundred years later, can these people still keep their promises?" The emperor quickly explained, "They are all relatives, that's why they are arguing in court. If they were not relatives, any common jailer could handle such a trivial matter." At this moment, Shi Jian, the Palace Chamberlain, came out to analyze the situation for the emperor.
Fen left the court, and just as he reached the door of the carriage, he called for the chief secretary Anguo and angrily said, "I was implicated with Changru by that old fogey Wei Qi. What's he up to, playing both sides?" Anguo remained silent for a while before saying to Fen, "Why don't you just play humble? If Wei Qi attacks you, just resign. Go to the Emperor and say, 'I'm ignorant and incompetent; I'm grateful for the Emperor's grace to hold this position, but I'm really not up to the job. What Wei Qi said is all true.' In this way, the Emperor will definitely think you're humble and won't dismiss you. Wei Qi, on the other hand, will feel so ashamed he'll probably crawl into a hole and die. Now that someone's attacking you and you're fighting back, it's like two old ladies fighting—how undignified!" Fen said, "I was just so mad, I didn't think straight."
Next, the emperor sent an investigator to look into the accusation made by Zhu Jiaying against Guan Fu and found that Guan Fu was innocent. As a result, Guan Fu was imprisoned in the Dusi Kong (a type of prison). Years ago, during the reign of Emperor Xiaojing, there was an old imperial decree that Jiaying had, stating, "If handling matters becomes inconvenient, you can report upwards based on the actual situation." After Guan Fu was imprisoned, the charges against him became increasingly serious, and it seemed his whole family was about to be wiped out. None of the court ministers dared to beg the emperor for mercy for Guan Fu. Jiaying had his nephew write a letter to the emperor on his behalf, and he actually got to see the emperor. However, after checking the records, it was found that there was no such posthumous decree. Only Jiaying had a copy, and it was a fake made by his servants. Therefore, the emperor sentenced Jiaying to death for forging the decree of the late emperor. In October, Guan Fu's family was also punished. Jiaying didn't find out about his death sentence until much later, so he faked an illness, stopped eating, and waited to die. Then he heard the emperor didn't really want him dead, so he started eating again, figuring he was safe. But someone badmouthed him to the emperor, and on the thirtieth day of the twelfth month, he was executed in Weicheng.
Spring came, and Fen got sick; he was in agony, feeling like he was being beaten. The emperor sent for a diviner, who said, "Marquis Wei and Guan Fu's ghosts were haunting him, trying to kill him." In the end, Fen still died. His son Tian inherited his title, but later during the Yuanshuo period, he was dismissed from his position for committing a crime. And so ended the grim tale of Zhu Jiaying and the downfall of the powerful Wei family.
Later, Prince Huainan Liu An plotted a rebellion, which was exposed. When Liu An first arrived in the capital, Fen still held the top job as Grand Commandant. He welcomed Liu An on behalf of the Emperor and said to him, "The Emperor hasn't named a crown prince yet. You're the most virtuous, the founder's grandson—if anything happened to him, who else would take the throne?" Prince Huainan was thrilled and lavished Fen with gifts of gold and silver. Ever since the Zhu Jiaying and Guan Fu mess, the Emperor had been wary of Fen, but the Empress Dowager kept him safe. When news of Prince Huainan's rebellion reached the Emperor, he said, "If old Marquis Wuan were still around, he'd have wiped him out!"
Han Anguo, styled Changru, was a native of Cheng'an in Liang State, but later moved to Suiyang. He studied Han Feizi and other subjects under Zou Tiansheng. He was a mid-level official under Liang Xiaowang. During the rebellion of Wu and Chu, Liang Xiaowang sent Han Anguo and Zhang Yu to lead troops to resist the Wu army on the eastern border. Zhang Yu fought bravely, while Han Anguo remained steady and composed, preventing the Wu army from breaking through Liang State. After the rebellion ended, Han Anguo and Zhang Yu were Liang State's new heroes.
King Xiaowang of Liang was close to the emperor and could appoint his own prime minister and senior officials, enjoying the trappings of imperial power in his comings and goings, which was a bit presumptuous. When the emperor heard about this, he was very unhappy. Learning of the emperor's displeasure, the empress dowager brusquely dismissed the envoy from Liang and questioned Xiaowang's behavior. As the Liang envoy, Han Anguo, met with the Grand Princess, he cried and said, "Xiaowang is filial to the emperor and loyal to the court. Empress dowager, why don't you understand? Previously, when the seven states of Wu, Chu, Qi, and Zhao rebelled, the eastern states launched a concerted attack from the east, and only Liang, being closest to the capital, bore the greatest pressure. Xiaowang thought of the empress dowager and emperor in the palace while the vassals were in rebellion, which weighed heavily on his mind. He cried several times and personally led us six to resist the Wu and Chu armies. The Wu and Chu armies dared not advance westward and were ultimately defeated, owing entirely to Liang's efforts! Now, because of some minor etiquette, the empress dowager is reproaching Xiaowang. Xiaowang's father and brothers are all emperors with vast knowledge, so he uses the same ceremonial procession as the Son of Heaven when traveling and speaks cautiously when entering the palace. His carriage flags were bestowed by the emperor. He just wanted to make a modest display in the country, to let everyone know that the empress dowager and emperor dote on him. Now that the envoy from Liang has arrived, you are blaming him. Xiaowang is afraid and cries day and night, missing the empress dowager and emperor, not knowing what to do. Such loyalty and filial piety, Your Highness, surely you must see that?"
The Grand Princess told the Dowager Empress all of Han Anguo's words. The Dowager Empress was very pleased and said, "Tell these words to the Emperor." The Dowager Empress conveyed Han Anguo's words to the Emperor, and after hearing them, the Emperor felt much relieved. He took off his hat and apologized to the Dowager Empress, saying, "Brothers should not admonish each other, causing you to worry instead." The Emperor then met with the envoys from Liang Kingdom and rewarded them with a large sum of gold. From then on, the relationship between Prince Xiaowang of Liang and the Emperor became even closer. The Dowager Empress and the Grand Princess also rewarded Han Anguo with over a thousand gold coins. From then on, Han Anguo's reputation soared, and he established good relations in the Han Dynasty.
It is said that later, Anguo committed a crime and was imprisoned. The prison guard Tian Jia intentionally humiliated him. At that time, Anguo made a meaningful remark, "Can dead embers be rekindled?" Tian Jia contemptuously replied, "If it can be reignited, throw water on it to extinguish it!" Soon after, the position of Prefect of Liang became vacant, and the Han Dynasty sent envoys to appoint Anguo as Prefect. He went from prisoner to high-ranking official. When Tian Jia heard this news, he was so scared that he fled. Anguo then threatened, "If Tian Jia does not come out to serve as an official, I will wipe out his entire family!" Tian Jia, frightened, went to apologize to Anguo bare-chested. Anguo looked at Tian Jia and said with a smile, "Can someone like you really help run the country?" In the end, Anguo still treated him generously.
After the position of Prefect became vacant, the King (referring to the Prince of Liang) received a man from the Qi Kingdom named Gongsun Gui. Gongsun Gui persuaded the King to recommend him as Prefect. Upon learning of this, Dowager Empress Dou ordered the King to appoint Anguo as Prefect of Liang.
Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng goaded King Liang into rebellion, hoping to make him crown prince and hand over Yizhou to him. They were afraid that the ministers of the Han Dynasty would not agree, so they secretly sent people to assassinate a powerful Han official. In the process, they even killed Yuan Ang, the former Wu prime minister. Emperor Jing, learning of their plot, ordered a nationwide manhunt. Ten waves of Han envoys swarmed Liang, combing the kingdom for over a month without success.
Anguo heard that Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng were hiding with Prince Liang, so he went to see Prince Liang crying, saying, "When the boss is disgraced, the underling should take the fall. There are no good ministers to assist the king, so this whole situation has happened. Now that Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng have not been caught, please grant me the death penalty!" Prince Liang asked, "What happened that made it so serious?" Anguo cried and said, "Look, Your Highness. Just think about it for a second. Compared to the relationship between you and the emperor, the relationship between the old emperor and the first emperor, and the relationship between the emperor and Prince Linjiang, which one is closer?" Prince Liang said, "Of course, not as close as them." Anguo said, "The old emperor and Prince Linjiang are father and son, but the first emperor said, 'I am the one who wielded a three-foot sword to conquer the world,' so the old emperor was unable to participate in court affairs in the end and could only live in Liyang. Prince Linjiang, originally the crown prince, was deposed of his position as crown prince because of a single careless word; later, because of that palace wall business, he ended up committing suicide in the office of the Commandant. Why? You can't let feelings get in the way of ruling a country. As the saying goes: 'You can't trust your own family sometimes.' Now, Your Highness, you are a vassal, yet you believe the slanderous words of those rotten apples, breaking the law and causing trouble. The emperor, for the Empress Dowager's sake, cannot bear to punish you. The Empress Dowager cries every day, hoping that Your Highness can repent, but you're still not getting it. If the Empress Dowager dies, who would you rely on then?" Before Anguo could finish speaking, Prince Liang started crying and thanked Anguo, saying, "I will arrest them now!" That day, Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng committed suicide. The Han envoy returned to report, and the affairs of the Liang kingdom were resolved, all because of Anguo. Emperor Jing and the Empress Dowager were even more impressed with Anguo.
King Xiaowang died, and King Gong succeeded to the throne. Anguo lost his position for violating the law and was out of a job. After Emperor Wu ascended the throne, Marquis Wu'an Tian Fei became the Grand Commandant, and the royal family and their cronies held power. Anguo sent five hundred gold to Tian Fei, who put in a good word for Anguo with the Empress Dowager. The Emperor had already heard of Anguo's talent, so he summoned him and appointed him as the Beidi Prefect, later promoting him to Minister of Agriculture. Minyue and Dongyue were at war, and the court sent Anguo and King Huai of Dai with troops to quell the rebellion. Before they arrived in Dongyue, the King of Dongyue was killed, Dongyue surrendered, and the Han army withdrew. That year, Tian Fei became the Prime Minister, and Anguo became the Minister of Justice.
The Xiongnu sought peace, and everyone was discussing how to handle the situation. King Huai of Dai, who was from the Yan Kingdom and had long been an official on the border, was familiar with such matters. He said, "When the Han Dynasty makes peace with the Xiongnu, they usually tear up the treaty a few years later. Instead of agreeing to them, it's better to send troops directly!" Anguo replied, "Fighting that far is a bad idea. Those Xiongnu are wild as horses, flitting about like birds—impossible to catch. Even if we occupy their territory, we won't expand much land; even if we recruit their people, we won't strengthen much power. Since ancient times, they have never submitted to any dynasty. We’d be running ourselves ragged for nothing. The Xiongnu would just sit back and let us wear ourselves out. It's a recipe for disaster. Therefore, I think peace is better." Most folks sided with Anguo, so the Emperor agreed to peace.
In the second year, a powerful local magnate, Nie Yi, from Yanmen County and Mayi County, after hearing the advice of the Great King Hui, said: "The Xiongnu just concluded a marriage alliance, and relations on the border are relatively peaceful. We can lure them in with gifts, then ambush and attack them. This is definitely a good way to defeat them!" The Emperor then gathered his ministers and asked: "I married off my daughter to the Chanyu and showered him with gold, silver, silks, and other riches. Yet, the Chanyu shows no gratitude, and his raids and looting are only getting worse, causing frequent scares at the border. I'm considering sending troops. What are your thoughts?"
Great King Hui replied: "Your Majesty, I've been thinking the same thing. I heard that in the past, during its peak, there were powerful enemies from the north, the Xiongnu, and there were even internal rebellions, but people still lived comfortably, farmed their lands, and had full granaries, and the Xiongnu dared not invade easily. Now, Your Majesty, the empire is unified, our people are united, our sons are manning the borders and supplying them, and we're fully prepared. Yet the Xiongnu keep raiding. It's clear: they don't fear us! I say, it's time to strike!"
An Guo said, "No way. I heard that Emperor Gaozu was once surrounded in Pingcheng, with the Xiongnu piling up so many horse saddles that they were higher than the city walls in several places. During the famine in Pingcheng, he went without food for seven days, and everyone thought he was done for. However, once the siege was lifted, he didn't hold a grudge. A wise ruler always puts the country first and won't harm the nation's interests over personal grievances. That's why he sent Liu Jing with a thousand catties of gold to arrange a marriage alliance, which brought five generations of peace. Emperor Xiaowen also concentrated the country's elite troops in Guangwu Changxi, but didn't achieve anything and scared the people half to death. Later, he realized that war wasn't the answer, so he resumed the marriage alliance. We can learn a lot from those two emperors. I believe it's best not to go to war."
Hui said, "I disagree. I heard that the Five Emperors all had different rituals, and the Three Kings all had different kinds of music. It wasn't about breaking the rules; it was about doing what was right for the situation. Furthermore, Emperor Gaozu fought for decades, facing hardship and danger, and did not seek revenge on Pingcheng not because he lacked the ability, but to rebuild and bring peace to the land. Now our borders are under attack, we're losing soldiers left and right, and supply lines are stretched thin. That's not what a good ruler wants. That's why I say 'going to war is beneficial.'"
Anguo said, "Nah. I heard that you shouldn't switch careers unless you're seeing at least ten times the return, and don't rock the boat unless you're sure it'll be worth it. Ancient kings stuck to tradition, followed old rules, and played it safe. Moreover, those barbarian tribes never submitted, and you can't force them to. I believe those barren wastelands and useless people aren't worth the effort. Besides, the Xiongnu light cavalry were like a whirlwind – here one minute, gone the next, fast as lightning. They rely on animal husbandry for a living, excel in horseback archery, move with water and grass, and have no fixed abode, making them difficult to control. Neglecting farming and weaving to fight the Xiongnu is just not worth it. That's why I said, 'No war!'"
Hui said, "Not so. Smart people seize opportunities, just like a phoenix riding the wind. Duke Mu of Qin, starting with a small kingdom, conquered fourteen countries and expanded his territory enormously. Later, Meng Tian pushed the Xiongnu back, securing thousands of miles of land and making the Yellow River the new border. You can't reason with the Xiongnu; you have to fight them. We're stronger than ever. Taking out the Xiongnu will be easy – like shooting fish in a barrel. Then we can take on the Yuezhi. So, let's attack!"
Anguo said, "No. I have heard that a general should use well-fed soldiers against hungry enemies, organized troops against chaotic enemies, and well-rested troops against tired enemies. Therefore, defeating the enemy in battle and breaking through the city during a siege often means victory is achieved from a position of command. This is the way of using troops by the wise. Furthermore, I have heard that weak winds cannot lift feathers; a strong crossbow's arrow cannot penetrate Lu's fine linen. What goes up must come down, just like day turning to night. Now, advancing lightly into enemy territory and driving straight in makes it difficult to achieve victory. If the troops are closely arranged, they will be surrounded; if they march in a dispersed manner, they will be divided and surrounded; if marching speed is fast, there will be insufficient provisions; if marching speed is slow, opportunities will be lost. Before reaching a thousand miles away, the troops will be short of food. As the saying goes, 'You gotta give to get.' Perhaps there are other clever strategies to capture the Xiongnu Chanyu, but I do not know; if not, I do not see the benefits of deepening into enemy territory. That's why I said, 'We should not immediately send troops out.'"
Hui said, "No. When grass and trees are frozen, the wind cannot blow through; still water runs deep, and shapes cannot escape; generals who understand the art of war will not be confused by words. I advocate sending troops, but not to immediately penetrate enemy territory. Instead, we should follow the Chanyu's intentions and lure him to the border. We can select elite cavalry and brave warriors to ambush and prepare for battle, carefully choosing dangerous terrain to set up defenses and be on alert. We have occupied favorable terrain and can attack him from his left, right, front, or rear. The Chanyu will definitely be captured; it's a sure thing."
The emperor said, "Great!" and then adopted Wang Hui's plan, secretly sending Nie Yi to the Xiongnu as a spy. Nie Yi headed to the Xiongnu and said to the Chanyu, "I can kill the county magistrate of Mayi, then surrender with the city, and you'll get all the loot." The Chanyu, buying it hook, line, and sinker, agreed. Nie Yi faked the deaths of a few convicts, strung their heads up outside Mayi, showed them to the Chanyu's messenger, and said, "The chief official of Mayi is already dead, you can come quickly." So the Chanyu crossed the border, leading a hundred thousand cavalry into Wuzhou Pass.
At this time, the Han Dynasty had already ambushed a massive army of over 300,000 troops and chariots, hidden in the valleys near Mayi. Li Guang (Weiwei) commanded the cavalry, Gongsun He (Taifu) the light chariots, Wang Hui (Grand Commandant) the garrison, Li Xi (Taizhong Daifu) handled supplies, and An Guo (Imperial Censor) was in charge of the guard, with all other generals under their command. The plan was to attack once the Chanyu entered Mayi. Wang Hui and Li Xi then set out from Daijun to attack the Chanyu's rear logistics. But the Chanyu spotted the Han ambush more than a hundred miles from Mayi and hightailed it back. You can read all about it in the *Xiongnu Chronicles*. Word on the border was the Chanyu was gone, so the Han army gave chase, but figuring they wouldn't catch him, Wang Hui and the rest called it a day.
The Emperor was furious because Wang Hui did not attack the Chanyu's supply lines. Wang Hui said: "The original plan was to wait for the Chanyu to enter Mayi City and for the two armies to engage in battle before attacking his logistics; that's the only way we'd win. Now that the Chanyu has left without coming, if I take thirty thousand men against him, we'll get slaughtered and look like fools. I know that I will be executed when I return, but at least I can save the lives of thirty thousand soldiers for Your Majesty." So the Emperor had Wang Hui hauled before the court, and the court found Wang Hui guilty of insubordination and sentenced him to death. Wang Hui bribed Prime Minister Tian Fen with a thousand gold. Tian Fen was too scared to plead with the Emperor, so he went to the Empress Dowager and said: "Wang Hui originally proposed the plan for Mayi City. Now that he has failed, killing him is like we're doing the Xiongnu a favor!" The Emperor went to the Empress Dowager, who told him what Tian Fen had said. The Emperor said: "The plan for Mayi City was proposed by Wang Hui, which is why he mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops nationwide and acted according to his plan. Even letting the Chanyu go doesn't change anything. Even a small victory would have calmed the troops and the court. If we don't kill Wang Hui, we'll look like fools." Hearing this, Wang Hui killed himself.
Han Anguo was a man who had far-sighted vision, knew what should be done and what should not be done, and was very principled. Although a bit greedy, the people he recommended were all honest and upright, far more competent than he was. For example, when he was in Liangguo, he recommended Hu Sui and Zang Gu, who were leading figures at the time. Everyone admired him, thinking he was a shrewd judge of character, but the emperor considered him just a pawn in the emperor's game. Han Anguo served as the Imperial Censor for five years. After Prime Minister Tian Fei died, he served as acting Prime Minister, but due to his poor health and increasing frailty, the emperor wanted to appoint him as Prime Minister. After checking his condition, it was found that he was indeed unwell, so Lord Xue Ze of Pingji was appointed as Prime Minister. Later, Han Anguo resigned due to illness, and after a few months of recovery, he became a Lieutenant Colonel, and more than a year later was transferred to the position of Guard General. At that time, General Wei Qing and others defeated the Xiongnu and captured Longcheng.
The following year, the Xiongnu launched a major border incursion. For more details, refer to "The Biography of Wei Qing." Han Anguo served as the Commissary General, stationed in Yuyang. He captured some Xiongnu prisoners and claimed the Xiongnu had retreated. He then told the emperor that it was the height of the planting season and requested a withdrawal of troops. A month after the withdrawal, the Xiongnu invaded Shanggu and Yuyang on a large scale. At that time, Han Anguo had only over 700 soldiers, and when he led the troops into battle, he was injured and had to retreat to the camp. The Xiongnu took away thousands of people and a large number of livestock. The emperor was very angry and sent someone to blame Han Anguo, transferring him to the easternmost frontier to be stationed in Beiping. At that time, the Xiongnu threatened to invade the east.
Han Anguo was initially the Imperial Censor and the Guardian of the Army, but he was gradually demoted. Wei Qing and other emerging generals achieved great success, and their status continued to rise. Han Anguo, because of his demotion and heavy losses in guarding the border, regretted his failures but was relieved to be relieved of his duties. He was transferred to the easternmost frontier, feeling depressed, and a few months later he died spitting blood.
Hu Sui, along with Sima Qian, helped establish the laws and calendar of the Han Dynasty. He rose to the position of Grand Tutor, known for his integrity and noble character. The Emperor originally intended for him to be Prime Minister, but he died of illness. The commentary states, "Dou Ying and Tian Fei became prominent because of their royal connections, while Guan Fu gained fame for his wise decisions. They all held high ministerial posts and contributed to great national endeavors. However, Dou Ying couldn't adapt to change, Guan Fu lacked strategy and humility, and Tian Fei was arrogant due to his power. Their bad deeds caught up with them and ultimately led to their ruin. Even a little luck couldn't save them from failure. People like Han Anguo, who were favored by the Emperor, ultimately met tragic ends and died in sorrow. It is truly lamentable how fate unfolds. And individuals like Wang Hui, who led the army but bore responsibility for failure—was that simply fate?"
