Zhao Guanghan, courtesy name Zidu, was a native of Liwu in Hebei, previously under the jurisdiction of Hejian County. When he was young, he served as an official in the county and as an officer in the prefecture, known to be a straight shooter, efficient in handling affairs, and respectful to his subordinates. Later, he was recommended as a talented individual and appointed as the official in charge of price stabilization. Due to his outstanding performance, he was promoted to the position of Yangdi County Magistrate. Because of his exceptional achievements, he was promoted to Jingfudouwei and later served as the Jinzhaoyin. At the time of Emperor Zhao of Han's death, Du Jian of Xinfeng County served as a subordinate official in Jinzhao Prefecture, responsible for the construction of Pingling Mausoleum. Du Jian was known for his generosity and righteousness, but his guests often engaged in illegal activities. When Zhao Guanghan heard about this, he warned Du Jian beforehand. Du Jian did not change his ways, so Zhao Guanghan arrested him and dealt with him according to the law. Many powerful officials and elites came to plead for mercy, but Zhao Guanghan never agreed. Du Jian's relatives and friends conspired to rebel, but Zhao Guanghan had long known their plans and the list of participants. He ordered his subordinates to report them, saying, "If you dare to do this, be prepared for your whole family to be exterminated!" He ordered Du Jian's execution, but no one dared to carry it out. The entire capital praised Zhao Guanghan's actions.
At this time, Prince Changyi Liu He ascended the throne, living it up and acting like a spoiled brat. General Huo Guang and the ministers together deposed Prince Changyi and enthroned Emperor Xuan. Zhao Guanghan participated in this major event and was appointed as the Marquis of Guannei. He was later transferred to serve as the Prefect of Yingchuan. Yingchuan County had many powerful and wealthy families, such as the Yuan and Chu clans, who were notorious for their misdeeds. Several previous prefects had been unable to deal with them. After Zhao Guanghan took office, he arrested and executed key members of the Yuan and Chu clans within a few months, cowing the entire county into submission.
Previously, the elite families of Yingchuan intermarried, and officials and commoners were in cahoots, forming various factions. Zhao Guanghan had a real headache with this, so he had his most trustworthy officials secretly record the evidence of these people's crimes, then used the evidence to publicly prosecute them. Zhao Guanghan deliberately leaked some information to turn the powerful families against each other and accuse one another. He also taught the officials to use thin rope to make little tubes for passing anonymous letters. After receiving a letter, he would wipe the name off and pretend that the anonymous letter was written by the children of those powerful families. As a result, those powerful families turned against each other, attacking one another, and the whole rotten system fell apart, leading to a much improved social atmosphere. Officials and commoners reported each other, and Zhao Guanghan thus gained a lot of information, reducing the number of theft cases, and even if a case occurred, it could be solved quickly. Zhao Guanghan's reputation as a great administrator spread far and wide, and even the surrendered Xiongnu knew who Zhao Guanghan was.
Two years into the Benshi era, the Han Dynasty dispatched five large armies to attack the Xiongnu, and Zhao Guanghan was called up to lead troops as a prefect under the command of General Pulei Zhao Chongguo. After returning from the military campaign, he was appointed as the Jingzhao prefecture, and officially took office a year later.
Guanghan, as a 2,000-stone official, was a really nice guy, always good to his people. He'd always give a fair hearing to anyone his underlings recommended for their good performance. After achieving something, he’d attribute the credit to his subordinates, saying, "This was done by a certain junior official; I, a 2,000-stone official, couldn't have done it." He meant it, every word. His staff were fiercely loyal, ready to go the extra mile for him, no matter what. Guanghan was sharp; he knew who was pulling their weight and who wasn't. If someone slacked off, he'd give 'em a warning, but if they didn't shape up, he'd have them hauled away before they could blink. Once he'd nailed 'em, they'd confess quick enough. Guanghan was a natural; he knew the ropes better than anyone. He'd burn the midnight oil to get things done. He was a master of a technique he called "hook and line," which quickly revealed the truth of a situation. Want to know the price of a horse? He wouldn't ask the horse seller. First, he'd ask the dog seller, then the sheep seller, then the cow seller. Finally, he'd ask the horse seller. Comparing the prices, he'd know exactly what the horse was worth. Nobody else could pull that off. He knew where all the bad guys hung out, and which officials were on the take.
Once, in the city of Chang'an, a few young people were plotting a robbery in a remote vacant house, but before they could finish discussing it, Guanghan's men caught them. Su Hui, a wealthy man, had a son who was an official, and two people went to rob him. After the incident, Guanghan immediately rushed to Su Hui's house with soldiers, standing in the courtyard and sending County Magistrate Gong She to knock on the door, telling the robbers: "Zhao, the magistrate, asked me to tell you both, don't kill anyone; this guy is a man of the court! Put down your weapons and surrender; you might even get off scot-free!" When the two heard this and learned of Guanghan's reputation, they were scared and quickly opened the door, prostrating themselves on the ground. Guanghan also knelt down to thank them, saying: "Good thing we saved that official's life!" Then they were sent to prison, with instructions for the jailer to treat them well and give them food and booze. When winter came, they were to be executed, and Guanghan even prepared coffins and funeral supplies for them in advance, telling them: "No regrets, eh?" It is said that Guanghan once sent someone to summon Hudu's chief. When the chief arrived at the border, the border chief jokingly said: "When you see the magistrate, tell him I said thanks." After arriving at the government office and discussing official business with Guanghan, he asked: "The border chief asked me to thank you; why didn't you convey the message?" The Hudu chief readily admitted it. Guanghan said: "Tell the border chief thanks from me. Tell him to keep up the good work—the magistrate won't forget his help." Guanghan was like a god when it came to solving cases; his attention to detail was amazing.
Later, Guanghan submitted a memorial to the court, requesting to increase the salaries of the officials and jailers patrolling Chang'an to a substantial amount. As a result, officials at that level became more cautious and careful, no longer daring to bend the law or illegally arrest and detain people. Governance in Jingzhao Prefecture became clear, and people couldn't praise him enough. Old-timers said that since the establishment of the Han Dynasty, no one could compare to him in governing Jingzhao Prefecture. The Left Fengyi and Right Fufeng, who also governed areas near Chang'an, had lawbreakers often fleeing outside the jurisdiction of Jingzhao Prefecture. Guanghan grumbled, "Those two assistants are always messing things up for me! If I could manage them at the same time, governance would be much easier!"
At first, General Huo Guang was in power, and Guanghan worked under him. After Huo Guang's death, Guanghan noticed some bad signs and took the officials from Chang'an to the mansion of Marquis Huo Yu of Bolu, where they rushed in to search for evidence of private slaughter and sales. They smashed up the place, wrecked wine jars, and busted down doors before leaving. At that time, Huo Guang's daughter was the Empress, and when she heard, she ran to the Emperor in tears. Although the Emperor thought Guanghan's actions were a bit excessive, he also admired his style and summoned him for questioning. Since then, Guanghan had offended many bigwigs. He preferred to employ sharp, decisive, and fearless young aristocrats and newly appointed officials, all of whom acted quickly and never shied away from problems, always coming up with bold solutions that no one dared to easily oppose. In the end, Guanghan also failed because of his no-nonsense approach.
So, there was this guy from Guanghan selling alcohol in Chang'an City, but he got booted out by the Prime Minister's goons. This Guanghan dude figured it was that Su Xian ratting him out, so he went to the Guanghan County magistrate to file a complaint. The Guanghan magistrate sent some Chang'an cops to look into Su Xian. Then this cop, Yu, used this chance to nail Su Xian, saying Su Xian was AWOL in Ba and had been skimming off the top of the military supplies. Su Xian's old man went and complained to the magistrate, and the whole thing got sent upstairs for another look. Yu almost got his head chopped off, and even wanted to get the Guanghan magistrate arrested! The Emperor ordered them to grill the magistrate, who fessed up and got demoted.
Later, the magistrate got it into his head that this guy, Rong Chu, was stirring up trouble and got him whacked on some trumped-up charges. Someone ratted him out, and it went all the way to the Prime Minister and the Imperial Censor, who launched a full-blown investigation. The magistrate planted his own guys as guards at the PM's place to snoop around for any dirt. In mid-July of Di Jie's third year, one of the PM's maids messed up and hung herself. When the magistrate heard this, he figured the PM's wife had offed her out of jealousy.
Right when the PM was about to head to the temple for a sacrifice, the magistrate got wind of it and sent Zhao Fengshou to give the PM a heads-up, hoping to scare him off. But the PM blew him off, and the investigation got even more intense. So the magistrate decided to go after the PM. He went to see the court astrologer, who told him a minister was gonna get the chop this year. The Emperor said, "Let the Jingzhao Intendant handle it." Knowing he had to act fast, the magistrate personally led his troops into the PM's place, made the PM's wife kneel and spill the beans, and hauled off a dozen maids, saying he was investigating the maid's death.
The Prime Minister Wei wrote a letter to defend himself: "My wife did not kill the maid. Guanghan kept breaking the law and wouldn't own up to it, trying to blackmail me. Luckily, I didn't rat him out. I hope the Emperor will send a fair person to investigate the case in the minister's mansion." The case went to the Court of Judicial Review, and it was found that the Prime Minister himself had beaten the maid for making a mistake. The maid died after running off to her nephew's, which was different from what the Guanghan magistrate had said. The Censor Xiao Wangzhi accused Guanghan: "Guanghan was insulting officials, trying to bully anyone who did the right thing. He was breaking all the rules and ruining things for everyone." The Emperor was very angry and threw the Guanghan magistrate in jail, guilty of embezzlement and bribery. He'd also murdered someone, lied in court, and falsely accused soldiers of stealing supplies. The Emperor approved Xiao Wangzhi's memorial.
Tens of thousands of officials and commoners were screaming outside the palace gates. Some said, "My life's worthless to the court. I'll gladly die for Zhao so he can keep governing." In the end, the Guanghan magistrate was sentenced to death.
Although Guanghan was executed, when he was the Intendant of Jingzhao, he was honest and fair, scared the powerful, and the people thrived. People still remember and sing about him today.
Yin Wengui, styled Zixiong, was from Pingyang, Hedong, and later moved to Duling. He lost his father at a young age and lived with his uncle. He was a low-level prison clerk and knew the law inside and out. He also enjoyed practicing swordsmanship, with no one being his match. At that time, the Grand General Huo Guang was in power, and many members of the Huo family lived in Pingyang. The Huo family's servants ran wild in the marketplace, armed and unruly, and the officials couldn't stop them. Later, Wengui became the market administrator, and those people no longer dared to act recklessly. He was honest, never took bribes, and the merchants respected him.
So he quit his job and went home. Then, Tian Yannian became governor of Hedong. When he toured Pingyang, he gathered together fifty or sixty officials he knew. He lined them up—clerks on the left, soldiers on the right. After inspecting several dozen people, it was Weng Gui's turn. But he just knelt there, refusing to get up, saying, "I'm good at both, you decide where to put me." The governor's aide thought he was being a bit of a jerk, but Tian Yannian said, "No biggie." He called Weng Gui over, loved his answer, and made him a clerk, letting him follow him back to his mansion. When handling cases, he was able to find out the truth and completely resolve issues. Tian Yannian highly valued him, feeling inferior to Weng Gui, so he transferred him to the position of inspector. Hedong had twenty-eight counties, divided into two parts for management, with Hong Ru in charge of the north and Weng Gui in charge of the south. He followed the law, and the crooks got what they deserved. Even the county bosses didn't dare gripe. Later, he was recommended as the Commandant of Goushi, serving in multiple official positions in the county, all of which he managed well. He was later promoted to the Commandant of Dunei due to his integrity. When he got the Donghai job, he went to say goodbye to Yu Dingguo. Yu Dingguo's hometown was in Donghai, and he wanted to entrust his two sons to Weng Gui, asking them to wait in the back hall to meet him. After chatting all day, Yu Dingguo did not dare to let his sons show themselves. After Weng Gui left, Yu Dingguo said to his sons, "That guy's a real go-getter. You two aren't up to snuff, so don't bother him with your problems."
Weng returned to the East Sea as the governor, knowing exactly what was going on. He knew every official, good or bad, in the county, and every crime and shady deal. He kept meticulous files on every county. After taking office, he eased up on the immediate crises, giving the people a bit of breathing room at first. When problems arose, he'd check the county files. He had every county arrest corrupt officials and wealthy landowners, handing down harsh punishments, including the death penalty. He timed his arrests to coincide with the autumn and winter assessment meetings of officials or when inspecting the counties, rather than randomly. He did this to scare everyone straight, making a clear example of those who broke the law. A wealthy man named Tan Xuzhongsun ran the East Sea, a slippery character who'd been causing trouble throughout the county. Previous high-ranking officials tried to capture him, but he always managed to wriggle out of it. When Weng returned, he had Zhongsun executed, which scared everyone into behaving, and the East Sea was suddenly peaceful.
His stellar performance got him the prefect job in Youfufeng, though he didn't officially start until a year later. He picked deputies known for their honesty and fairness, and for cracking down on corruption. He treated everyone politely, but meted out justice fairly – no favors, no exceptions. He ran Youfufeng much like he'd run Donghai: meticulous records of every crook in every county. If a theft happened, Weng Gui would call in the local cops, name the mastermind, and show them how to track the guy down. He was never wrong. He was easy on the poor, but the rich and powerful? Forget about it. Landlords caught breaking the law were sent to chop wood – quotas were strict, and any slacking meant the whip. Some couldn't take it. Even in the capital, they whispered his name with respect. Youfufeng was the safest place in the whole Sanfu region under his rule. He was tough but fair, and completely above board. Humble, never boastful – everyone respected him. He died in the fourth year of Yuankang, after a few years in office. He left behind nothing but a good name. The Emperor, deeply saddened by his loss, ordered that his son receive a hundred catties of gold for the funeral rites. The Emperor’s decree stated, "I work day and night to find good people to serve the court, regardless of their background, so that we can bring peace to the people. Weng Gui was a righteous and honest man, and I deeply regret his untimely death." All three of his sons became high-ranking officials; Tian Cen, the youngest, even made it to General. Tian Hong did well as magistrate of Guangling. It seems Weng Gui had a good eye for talent.
Han Yanshou, courtesy name Changgong, was a native of Yan state who later moved to Duling. When he was young, he served as a junior clerk in the county. His father, Han Yi, was a mid-level official in Yan state. When the King of Yan plotted rebellion, Han Yi strongly advised against it, but was killed, rousing great sympathy in Yan. At that time, the aging Emperor Zhao of Han was in his later years, and the Grand General Huo Guang held power, recruiting scholar-officials from various counties and states to seek their advice on governance. Wei Xiang answered the questions as a man of letters, saying, "Rewards and punishments keep folks on the straight and narrow – that's the key to good government. Recently, the King of Yan has been a cruel and oppressive tyrant, and Han Yi risked his life to advise against it, but was killed by the King of Yan. Han Yi, though unrelated to Bi Gan, showed the same unwavering loyalty and should be heavily rewarded, to inspire loyalty throughout the land." Huo Guang accepted his suggestion and promoted Han Yanshou to be a censor (a kind of official who advised the emperor), later promoting him to the Prefect of Huaiyang. Han Yanshou was highly respected in governing Huaiyang and was later moved to Yingchuan.
There were many influential clans in Yingchuan, making it difficult to govern. The court often selected outstanding high-ranking officials to go there. Previously, when Zhao Guanghan was the governor, he found that the customs in Yingchuan were bad, with people forming factions and gangs. So he encouraged officials and commoners to inform on each other to show his intelligence and ability. However, this resulted in the worsening of local customs, with people growing increasingly resentful of one another. Han Yanshou wanted to change this situation by teaching the people to emphasize courtesy and respect. He was worried that the people wouldn't listen, so he gathered dozens of highly respected local elders. He hosted a banquet, personally conversed with them, treated them politely, learned about local customs and the people's hardships, and explained ways to live peacefully and resolve conflicts. These elders thought Han Yanshou's idea was good and could be implemented. They worked together with him to establish rituals for wedding and funeral rites, and other ceremonies, mostly based on ancient traditions but keeping within the law. Han Yanshou then ordered officials and students at the school to wear ancient ceremonial attire, handle ceremonial objects, and conduct rites for weddings, funerals, and other events. The people followed his lead, and merchants selling counterfeit goods dumped their stock in the market. Several years later, Han Yanshou was transferred to be the governor of Dong County, a county in the east, and Huang Ba replaced him in Yingchuan. Huang Ba continued Han Yanshou's methods and governed Yingchuan very well.
Yanshou, a righteous official, valued propriety and righteousness. He enjoyed studying ancient culture and promoting moral cultivation. Upon taking office, he treated his appointees with respect, actively solicited their input, and welcomed their candid advice. He was frugal in managing funerals, demonstrating filial piety and love; he repaired schools and government offices, regularly held biannual archery contests, and organized grand ceremonies with music and dance. He also conducted civil and military examinations, with displays of axes and banners, and rigorous training in archery and horsemanship. He governed the city and collected taxes with meticulous care, always issuing notices in advance, setting clear dates, and treating these matters seriously, so officials and the people alike respected and obeyed him. He established a system of mutual oversight among his officials, based on filial piety and love, and did not allow the sheltering of wrongdoers. If there were any abnormal situations in the village, officials would know immediately, and wrongdoers dared not enter his jurisdiction. At first, it seemed a lot of work, but soon officials no longer needed to work hard to capture criminals, and the people no longer had to worry about being punished; everyone could live and work in peace. He deeply cared for his subordinates but also demanded strictness. If anyone bullied subordinates, Yanshou would blame himself, asking, "Is it my fault? How could this happen?" Subordinates felt ashamed and remorseful upon hearing this, and one county official even took his own life as a result; a subordinate also attempted suicide, leaving him speechless after his recovery. Yanshou was deeply grieved, wept bitterly, sent for a doctor, and provided generous support to the scribe's family.
One time, Yanshou was about to leave and was just getting on the carriage when one of his riders was late. Yanshou ordered the deputy to discuss the punishment. When he returned to the yamen, the gatekeeper stopped the carriage and said he wanted a word with Yanshou. Yanshou stopped the carriage and asked him. The gatekeeper said, "The 'Classic of Filial Piety' says: 'Serving your father is like serving your ruler; the respect is the same. A son's love goes to his mother, a subject's respect to his ruler, but both are combined in the love for a father.' This morning, my lord left very early, but was delayed. The rider's father came to the gate and didn't dare to come in. When the rider heard about it, he quickly came out to pay his respects, just in time to catch up with my lord getting on the carriage. Isn't punishing a man for being filial kinda messed up?" Yanshou raised his hand in the carriage and said, "I goofed; I didn't realize the mistake." When he returned to the mansion, Yanshou summoned the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper was actually a scholar who, hearing of Yanshou's reputation, had taken the gatekeeper job hoping for a chance to prove himself. Yanshou then employed him. That's just the kind of guy he was, able to take advice and appreciate kindness. In his three years in Dongjun, things ran smoothly under him, crime went down, and he became a model official.
When I took office in Fengyi, I passed the assessment and was confirmed in my post after one year. After a while, I refused to go on inspection tours of the various counties. Several officials advised me multiple times, saying, "You should go to the county to understand the customs and conditions of the people, and inspect the achievements of the local officials." I replied, "Each county has wise magistrates, and the imperial inspectors have clearly reported the good and bad of each county. I'm afraid there will be no benefit to going on an inspection tour; it might only cause more trouble." Those officials insisted that since it was spring, I should go out and encourage everyone to boost the spring planting season. I had no choice but to go on an inspection tour. When I arrived in Gaoling County, I encountered two brothers involved in a lawsuit over land, accusing each other. I felt very sad and said, "I’m fortunate to hold this position and should set an example for the whole county. Yet, I cannot promote education and instead see the people fighting against each other. This not only damages the social atmosphere but also brings shame to the wise magistrates, the tax collector, the three elders, and the filial people. The responsibility lies with me; I should resign." That day, I claimed to be sick and didn't go to work, hiding in my room at the post station to reflect on my actions. The people of the county couldn't figure out what was going on, and the county official, the tax collector, and the three elders took responsibility and awaited my judgment.
Meanwhile, the family members of the two brothers accused and advised each other. The brothers felt deep regret, shaved their heads, stripped off their clothes, apologized to me, and agreed to transfer the land to each other, promising not to fight again in the future. I was very happy; I opened the door to invite them in, served food and wine, and we ate together. Then I earnestly advised them and asked them to share this incident with the villagers to encourage those who made mistakes to repent and start anew. After that, I resumed my work, thanked the officials below the magistrate, and praised the county lieutenant. The people of the county were shaken by this, warned each other, and dared not make mistakes again. My integrity earned me the trust of officials and people alike, so much so that no one dared to deceive me.
Yanshou replaced Xiaowangzhi as the Left Fengyi, while Xiaowangzhi was promoted to the position of Grand Censor. A palace attendant named Fu told Xiaowangzhi that Yanshou had embezzled a fortune while serving as an official in Dongjun. Xiaowangzhi discussed this matter with the Prime Minister Bing Ji, who suggested granting a general amnesty and not pursuing the matter further. It just so happened that an investigator was sent to Dongjun to investigate, and Xiaowangzhi took the opportunity to have the investigator look into this matter as well.
Upon hearing this, Yanshou immediately ordered his subordinates to investigate Xiaowangzhi's embezzlement of over a million public funds while serving in Fengyi. The warehouse staff, scared stiff, confessed that they had embezzled money with Xiaowangzhi. Yanshou went after Xiaowangzhi and even had people block him at the palace gate, preventing him from entering. Xiaowangzhi also reported, "My duty is to manage national affairs, and upon hearing such matters, I dare not neglect to investigate, but Yanshou blocked me." The Emperor thought Yanshou was out of line and ordered both sides to thoroughly investigate the matter. In the end, the investigation cleared Xiaowangzhi's name, and Xiaowangzhi's investigator uncovered Yanshou's embezzlement in Dongjun.
During his time as an official in Dongjun, Yanshou was extremely arrogant and domineering! He often conducted military drills, dressed like a peacock, decorated his chariots lavishly, and even painted them with dragons, tigers, and phoenixes. He himself wore a yellow silk robe with a square collar, rode in a four-horse carriage with an escort, and had a grand procession with singers and dancers, like the emperor himself was rolling through town. Groups of five cavalrymen guarded him on both sides, while the army's commanders carried flags beside the carriage. Singers waited in the archery range, and as soon as Yanshou's carriage arrived, they sang loudly. Yanshou sat in the archery range, with cavalrymen holding spears standing in formation, and attendants carrying bows and arrows behind him. He even ordered the cavalrymen to line up around, wearing armor, riding horses, and carrying crossbows and quivers. He even had his cavalrymen horsing around, staging mock horse-stealing contests.
Yanshou also took the official bronze items and, during an eclipse, forged decorations on swords and weapons in the style of the Shangfang sword. He embezzled government money, lending it privately to forced laborers and officials. The total embezzled money and the money spent on building chariots, horses, and weapons amounted to over three million.
So, Wang Zhi, this guy, calls Yanshou out, saying that he was acting unlawfully and outrageously! Yanshou defended himself, saying, "I was previously accused by Yanshou, and now I am exposing his crimes. Everyone must think I have ulterior motives and am trying to set him up. Therefore, I hope that the Prime Minister, all officials above the rank of 2000 shi, and scholars will discuss his crimes." The case went to the bigwigs of the court, who felt that Yanshou did not have any major issues before and was now making false accusations against court ministers in an attempt to clear himself, which was too cunning and a real weasel! The Emperor hit the roof upon hearing this, and Yanshou was ultimately sentenced to death!
Loads of folks, thousands of 'em, escorted him all the way to Weicheng. Folks of all ages helped push his cart, vying to give him booze and grub. Yanshou couldn't say no, so he drank cup after cup—he figured he put away a stone of wine or more! He instructed his aides to distribute the wine and meat to the people escorting him, saying, "You all went to a lot of trouble to see me off. If I kick the bucket, there ain't nothin' I can do to repay ya'll." At that time, everyone bidding him farewell was in tears.
Yanshou had three sons, all officials. Before he died, he advised his sons not to become officials anymore, using himself as an example. His sons listened and quit their jobs. It wasn't until his grandson Yanwei that someone took up an official position again, eventually becoming a general. Yanwei was a real charmer, a natural leader; his soldiers would do anything for him. But Yanwei got himself whacked for living too high on the hog—just like his grandpa!
Zhang Chang, or Zigao as he was known, hailed from Pingyang in Hedong. His grandfather Zhang Ru served as the Prefect of Shanggu and later moved to Maoling. His father Zhang Fu served under Emperor Wu of Han and rose to the position of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness. Zhang Chang moved to Duling with Emperor Xuan. He started out as a low-level clerk in the prefect's office back home. He did a good job, so they promoted him to run the Ganquan Granary, and eventually he became Master of Ceremonies. Du Yannian held him in high regard.
It just so happened that Prince Changyi was about to become emperor, but he was completely lawless. Zhang Chang advised in a memorial: "Emperor Xiaozhao died young without an heir. The court was in a panic, so they picked a suitable successor. Everyone was practically holding their breath, hoping the carriage wouldn't be late on the day he was welcomed. Now the young emperor's on the throne, and the whole country's watching his every move. The emperor's advisors hadn't even been rewarded yet. Changyi already moved into the palace – a huge mistake!" Within two weeks, Changyi was deposed. Zhang Chang's outspokenness made him famous, and he was promoted to Governor of Yuzhou. His constant, loyal advice led Emperor Xuan to recall him to court as Grand Master, where he shared responsibility for the Secretariat with Yu Dingguo. Zhang Chang's honesty angered Grand Marshal Huo Guang, who promptly banished him to Hangu Pass, managing military supplies and cutting costs. After deposing Changyi, the still-nervous Emperor Xuan transferred Zhang Chang to Shanyang. Long after Huo Guang's death, Emperor Xuan finally took the reins of power. He made Huo Guang's nephews, Huo Shan and Huo Yun, marquises and promoted his son, Huo Yu, to Grand Marshal. Huo Shan and Huo Yun were soon disgraced, but the Huo family's sons-in-law and relatives all found government jobs.
This has made Inspector General Xue Chang very anxious. He quickly wrote a memorial to Emperor Xuan of Han, saying: "I heard that the descendants of Ji You from the State of Lu, the Zhao family from the State of Jin, and Tian Wan from the State of Qi all made contributions, and their countries rewarded their descendants. But what happened in the end? The Tian family usurped Qi, the Zhao family divided Jin, and the Ji family tyrannically controlled Lu. Confucius's *Spring and Autumn Annals* chronicles these events, highlighting the dangers of powerful noble families.
General Huo assisted Your Majesty in pacifying the world and securing the imperial throne and the realm. His contributions are indeed great. The Duke of Zhou assisted King Cheng for only seven years, while General Huo has assisted Your Majesty for twenty years, holding the fate of the nation in his hands. At the height of General Huo's power, omens of unrest appeared: celestial disturbances occurred, earthquakes, fires, and various strange phenomena emerged frequently, all because of the abuse of power by the powerful minister.
Court officials should speak their minds; Your Majesty has already amply rewarded General Huo. Now, the Huo family's ministers hold too much power, and the distinction between ruler and subject has become blurred. Huoshan and Huoyun should be stripped of their marquisates. General Zhang Anshi should also be allowed to retire with imperial honors and consulted only occasionally.
If Your Majesty issues a decree to do so, even if ministers object, the greater good will prevail. This way, the world will know that Your Majesty remembers past contributions, the ministers understand etiquette, and the descendants of the Huo family will not be in danger. No one dares speak truth to power; therefore, Your Majesty's personal drafting of this decree is unwise."
Now Huo Shan and Huo Yun have been dismissed, and the rest are scared stiff. In my opinion, Huo Yu and the rest of the Huo clan are probably terrified. Keeping your officials scared isn't a sustainable strategy. I want to speak to Your Majesty in person about these matters, but my position is too low, and I have no opportunity. It's hard to put my thoughts into words, let alone write them down. Yi Yin failed to assist King Jie five times before successfully aiding King Tang; Xiao He recommended Han Xin, and it took several years before he succeeded. And here I am, miles away, stuck writing letters to express my worries. So I'm begging you, Your Majesty, please consider this! Emperor Xuan thought it was a good idea, but did nothing about it.
Some time later, banditry was rife in Bohai and Jiaodong, causing chaos everywhere. Therefore, Geng Shouchang wrote a petition to the emperor, volunteering to go suppress the rebellion. He said, "I have heard that loyalty and filial piety dictate that one should be devoted to serving and respecting parents at home, and to serve the emperor with single-minded dedication when in office. Even in the smallest of kingdoms, there are ministers who are not afraid to sacrifice for their country, let alone us, the subjects of the great Han Emperor! Your Majesty is busy with state affairs day and night, tirelessly working for the country, truly neglecting rest and food! We, as subjects, should do our best to contribute to the country. There are 93,000 households in Shanyang County, with a population of over 500,000, but so far, there are still seventy-seven bandits at large, and other government affairs are similarly neglected. My abilities are limited, and I cannot help you; I have been living leisurely in the county for so long, forgetting about the important matters of the country, which is truly shameful for loyalty and filial piety! I have heard that the counties near Jiaodong and Bohai have had poor harvests for years, with bandits rising, even attacking government offices, robbing prisoners, looting markets, kidnapping marquises, and the officials are undisciplined, allowing the wicked to run rampant. Fearless, I, Geng Shouchang, will obey your orders and do my best to strike these bandits and comfort the lonely and helpless people. If things are accomplished, I will report the local situation in detail, explaining why governance was poor before and how it is now being managed well."
After reading the petition, the emperor immediately summoned Geng Shouchang and appointed him as the Prefect of Jiaodong, rewarding him with thirty pounds of gold. Geng Shouchang declined the reward, saying, "Without a system of rewards and punishments in place in these chaotic counties, it is impossible to persuade the good or punish the evil. I request Your Majesty reward those officials who capture bandits as generously as, or even more so than, those in the Three Adjuncts regions." The emperor agreed to his request.
Upon arriving in Jiaodong, Geng Shouchang immediately publicly offered rewards for turning in other thieves, leading to a wave of arrests and killings. Dozens of officials who successfully apprehended thieves were promoted to county magistrate by the Emperor. In this way, the thieves turned on each other, leading to their downfall. The people finally felt safe, and peace returned to Jiaodong.
It is said that after some time, Queen Wang often went hunting outside. A letter of advice was submitted to her, "They say Prince Qin loved lavish music, so Lady Ye banned Zheng and Wei tunes; and since King Chu was a keen hunter, Lady Fan avoided eating game. It wasn't about disliking good food or music, but about curbing desires and avoiding indulgence to keep the rulers on the straight and narrow and protect the dynasty. Royal protocol dictated that the Queen Mother travel by carriage, be attended by her father-in-law, wear jade ornaments, and maintain a dignified appearance. This emphasized self-control, not self-indulgence, for those of high rank. Your Majesty is known throughout the land for your beauty and kindness. However, word of your frequent hunting trips might reach the Emperor, and that wouldn't look good. I hope this historical precedent will guide your actions, setting an example for the court and earning the praise of your ministers. I am honored to submit this advice." The Queen Mother heeded the advice and ceased her hunting excursions.
Next, at that time, the Prefect of Yingchuan, Huang Ba, was appointed as the Mayor of Chang'an due to his outstanding performance. However, Huang Ba did not perform well during his time as Mayor of Chang'an and was dismissed and sent back to Yingchuan. The court then issued an edict to the Imperial Censor saying, "Let Chang, the Magistrate of Jiaodong, serve as the Mayor of Chang'an." Since the death of Zhao Guanghan, several successive Mayors of Chang'an, like Huang Ba, had been unable to handle the position. The capital was gradually becoming deserted, with numerous theft cases especially in Chang'an city, causing great distress to the merchants. The Emperor asked Chang how to deal with this, and Chang believed it could be stopped. After taking office, Chang went to inquire with the local elders and some gang leaders in Chang'an city, and found that most of them were respected elders in their neighborhoods. Chang summoned them all for questioning, then pardoned their crimes and allowed them to make amends by returning what they'd stolen. The theft leaders said, "If we are suddenly called to the official office, it may scare off other thieves. It would be better to register together." Chang registered them as officials and sent them home. Chang hosted a banquet, and all the thieves came to congratulate him, getting drunk, and one even got ochre on Chang's robe. Officials patrolled the backstreets, arresting anyone with ochre stains. They were interrogated about their crimes, with some individuals found to have committed over a hundred cases, all of whom were punished according to the law. From then on, the city grew quieter, there were no more theft cases in Chang'an city, and the Emperor was delighted.
Zhang Chang was super efficient at getting things done and always fair, cracking down on bad stuff right away. Sometimes he'd bend the rules a bit; overall, the guy had guts. He ran things kinda like Zhao Guanghan, but he wasn't as good at busting criminals as Zhao Guanghan. However, Zhang Chang was proficient in "Spring and Autumn" and used Confucian ideology to guide his work, so there was a real refined touch to his accomplishments, always praising those who did good, unlike Zhao Guanghan, who was always cracking the whip. That's why he stayed out of trouble and ultimately wasn't implicated in any crimes.
Jingzhao was the capital, with a large population in Chang'an City and prosperity in the Sui region. Lots of two-thousand-shi officials got the boot from Jingzhao pretty quick, some lasting a couple of years, others a few months, or even less, ruining their careers. Only Zhao Guanghan and Zhang Chang lasted. Whenever the court had big decisions to make, he'd always quote the classics, lay out the pros and cons, and convince everyone, even the Emperor. But the guy was a bit of a slob; he'd ride back from court through Zhangtai Street, making the officials clear a path while he patted his horse's neck.
Even crazier, he'd pluck his wife's eyebrows, and everyone in Chang'an was talking about "Zhang Jingzhao's eyebrows." Someone ratted him out to the Emperor, who asked what was up. Zhang Chang said, "Your Majesty, I've heard there are things couples do in private that are way worse than plucking eyebrows!" The Emperor laughed it off. But he never got promoted.
I had a good relationship with Xiao Wangzhi and Yu Dingguo. At first, I was punished alongside Yu Dingguo for advising the promotion of Prince Changyi. Yu Dingguo later became a high-ranking official managing the Shangshu affairs, while I was sent away to be a regional prefect. At that time, Xiao Wangzhi was a chief official. Later, Xiao Wangzhi was promoted to Grand Master of the Imperial Secretariat, Yu Dingguo became the Prime Minister, and I never rose above the position of a county governor. I served as the Prefect of Jingzhao for nine years. Because of my good relationship with the Grand Master of the Palace Attendants, Yang Yun, I refused to resign, even though all of Yang Yun's associates were dismissed after he was executed for treason.
I sent a low-ranking official named Xu Shun to investigate a case involving thieves. Xu Shun believed that I should be dismissed for accusing others and refused to help me with the case, so he secretly returned home. Someone advised Xu Shun, but he said, "I've already worked hard for this lord. He has only been the Prefect of Jingzhao for five days. Can I help him with the case again?" When I heard this, I immediately sent officers to arrest Xu Shun and throw him in prison. Before the winter solstice arrived, the officials in charge of the case interrogated Xu Shun day and night, eventually torturing him to death. As Xu Shun was about to be executed, I had the registrar deliver my order to him: "So, how'd you like your five days as Prefect? Winter's almost over – think you'll live to see spring?" Then Xu Shun was publicly displayed in the marketplace. Just as the beginning of spring approached, an imperial envoy arrived to investigate wrongful cases. Xu Shun's family brought his body, along with my order, to file a complaint. The envoy reported that I cruelly killed an innocent man. The Emperor figured my crime wasn't that bad, so he let me sort it out myself. He first brought out the memorial where I had declared Yang Yun unfit for office and then demoted me to a commoner. When the dismissal order arrived, I returned my seal at the palace gates and then ran.
A few months later, the people of the capital relaxed their vigilance, banging gongs and drums everywhere, creating a peaceful scene. However, a big bandit appeared in Yizhou. The emperor wanted to reinstate Zhang Chang and sent messengers to summon him to the palace. At that time, Zhang Chang was burdened with a whole heap of trouble. When the messenger arrived at his home, his wife and children were bawling their eyes out, but he was smiling and said, "I was running for my life, all for the good of the people. The local officials were about to arrest me. Now that the messenger has come, it means the emperor wants to reinstate me!" After speaking, he packed his things and followed the messenger to the court. Then he wrote a memo saying, "I got lucky and became a magistrate in Jingzhao Prefecture, but I was being punished for killing the magistrate's chief investigator of theft, Xu Shun. Xu Shun and I had a good relationship in the past, and I had helped him many times. However, when he found out that I was going to be dismissed for my wrongdoing and was under investigation, he went home and told me to return to Jingzhao Prefecture in five days. This was a double-cross and set a bad example. I believe Xu Shun's behavior was unacceptable. I wrongfully killed him, and the trial was unfair. I'd take a death sentence without a whimper."
The emperor summoned Zhang Chang and appointed him as the governor of Jizhou prefecture. Zhang Chang used to be a fugitive, but now he was tasked with governing the state and counties. After taking office in Jizhou, Guangchuan was overrun by bandits. With his sharp observation, Zhang Chang identified the leader of the thieves and their hiding place, then had their leader killed. The siblings of the King of Guangchuan, as well as royal relatives like Liu Diao, were colluding with the thieves, providing them with money and supplies. When the officials pursued them, they found their tracks leading to the palace. Zhang Chang personally led the officials of the counties, surrounded the palace with a large contingent of troops, searched for Liu Diao and others, and eventually found them in a hidden chamber of the palace. Zhang Chang captured all the officials involved in the rebellion and executed them, hanging their heads at the palace gate. He then impeached the King of Guangchuan. The emperor, unable to bear to punish him, stripped him of his title. Zhang Chang served as the governor of Jizhou for over a year, and all the thieves in Jizhou were brought under control. Later, he became the Prefect of Taiyuan, and after serving for a year, Taiyuan became peaceful.
Some time later, Emperor Xuan died. Emperor Yuan had just ascended the throne, and the court advisor Zheng Peng recommended Zhang Chang to the emperor, stating that he was a highly regarded official from the previous reign and should assist the crown prince. The emperor asked the former general Xiao Wangzhi for his opinion, and Xiao Wangzhi believed that although Zhang Chang was capable of handling complex situations, his abilities were limited, and he was not fit to be the teacher of the crown prince. The emperor then sent messengers to summon Zhang Chang, intending for him to serve as the Left Fengyi (a high-ranking government position). However, Zhang Chang died before taking office. In the past, Zhang Chang had killed some officials in Taiyuan, and their families held a grudge against him, leading them to assassinate Zhang Chang's son, Zhang Huang, in Duling. All three of Zhang Chang's sons eventually became commandants.
At first, Zhang Chang became the governor of Jingzhao, and his younger brother Zhang Wu was appointed as the Prime Minister of Liangguo. At that time, the King of Liang was a real tyrant, with lots of local bigwigs among the common people, making it difficult to govern. Zhang Chang asked Zhang Wu, "So, how're you gonna run Liangguo?" Zhang Wu respected his older brother very much, and was a bit afraid, so he clammed up. Zhang Chang then sent him to Hangu Pass with instructions to get the answer from him. Zhang Wu replied, "You gotta know how to handle a spirited horse with a bit and reins. Liangguo is vast and populous, with officials and commoners alike exhausted, so we should govern it with tough laws." The officials relayed Zhang Wu's words back, and Zhang Chang smiled and said, "If that's your plan, you'll do great, Zhang Wu." After taking office, Zhang Wu did indeed govern Liangguo effectively; he turned out to be a good administrator.
Zhang Chang's grandson, Zhang Song, became a county governor during Wang Mang's reign and was even made a marquis. He surpassed Zhang Chang in knowledge and literary talent, but his ability to govern affairs was not as good as his grandfather's. After Zhang Song died, the Zhang line died out.
Wang Zun, courtesy name Zigan, was a native of Gaoyang in Zhuo prefecture. He became an orphan at a young age and was taken in by his uncle, who sent him to tend sheep. Wang Zun secretly studied and became proficient in historical texts. At the age of thirteen, he requested to work as a low-level prison official. Several years later, he worked in the office of the governor, responsible for delivering edicts and handling affairs. Wang Zun always had the right answer. The governor was amazed and promoted him to a clerk, putting him in charge of overseeing the prison. After a long time, Wang Zun resigned due to illness and went to study under the county literary official to learn "The Book of Documents" and "The Analects," understanding their main points. He was later summoned back to once again oversee the prison and became an official responsible for hearing cases in the county. Several years later, due to his outstanding performance, he was recommended to serve as a subordinate official to the Inspector of Youzhou. The governor valued Wang Zun's integrity and transferred him to Liaoxi to serve as a salt official. He repeatedly submitted memorials on political matters, which were forwarded to the prime minister and the censorate.
During the Chu Yuan era, he was recommended for promotion for his outspoken memorials and was appointed as the magistrate of Guo County. He was later transferred to serve as the magistrate of Huaili County, concurrently managing the affairs of Meiyang County. In the first month of the year, a woman in Meiyang County accused her son of being unfilial, saying, "My son treats me like his wife, he's jealous of me, and he's always beating me!" Upon hearing this, Wang Zun sent officials to arrest and interrogate the son, who admitted to the crime. Wang Zun said, "There is no law against 'abusing one's wife,' something even the sages could not bear to include in the legal code. This is what they call 'wrongful imprisonment'!" Wang Zun then threw legal procedure out the window. He marched out, had the kid strung up from a tree, and had five mounted guards shoot him full of arrows. Terror gripped the populace.
The emperor visited Yongzhou and passed through Guozhou, where the level of pomp and circumstance was exactly the same as before. The emperor promoted me to be the prefect of Anding. After taking office, I issued orders to the subordinate counties, saying, "County magistrates and clerks, you are responsible for the well-being of the people. You must uphold the law, suppress violence, assist the weak, show compassion, and govern justly. It's hard work! I just took office today, and I hope everyone can strive to correct their behavior and lead by example. If there was corruption in the past and you can amend it now, I will work with you to govern the area. You must diligently perform your duties and never violate the law." I also instructed my clerks, saying, "You must work hard and assist me in governing the area. If you aren't capable, resign quickly and don't occupy the position for too long, hindering talent. Just as a bird needs strong wings to fly far, a well-run household is essential for effective governance. The county magistrate must carefully record the abilities of all officials and report them to me separately. Merit, not wealth, should determine appointments. Even a wealthy merchant with millions of assets isn't worthy of heavy responsibility. When Confucius governed the state of Lu, he swiftly dealt with corruption, even executing Shao Zhengmao within seven days. I've been in office for a month now, but the county clerk Zhang Fu is scheming, corrupt, and not abiding by the law; he has embezzled a vast sum of public funds! I’m sending him to prison now, and the officer responsible for escorting him will report to you, magistrate; you must warn him! They all need to face justice together!" Zhang Fu died a few days after being imprisoned, and all his fraudulent crimes and millions in ill-gotten gains were exposed. My authority intimidated the entire county; thieves scattered and fled to neighboring counties. Many powerful figures were executed or confessed to their crimes. My uncompromising stance, while effective in rooting out corruption, ultimately led to my dismissal.
Later I was appointed as the General who protects the Qiang people, then promoted to Cavalry Commander, responsible for escorting military provisions. As a result of the Qiang rebellion, the transportation routes were cut off, and tens of thousands of soldiers had me surrounded. I led over a thousand cavalry to fight my way out. Even though I hadn't gotten around to reporting my success, they canned me for going AWOL after the pardon came through.
The Prefect of Zhuo County, Xu Ming, felt that a guy like you shouldn't be stuck out in the sticks, so he recommended you to be the magistrate of Mei County, and later promoted you to the Inspector of Yizhou. Before this, Prince Langye Yang also served as the Inspector of Yizhou. When he toured the treacherous mountain pass of Jiuzheban, he exclaimed, "With my old man's body, I can't keep hauling it over these killer mountains!" Later, he left Yizhou due to illness. When you became the Inspector of Yizhou and arrived at Jiuzheban, you asked the local officials, "Is this the road that freaked out Prince Langye Yang?" The official replied, "Yes." You yelled at your driver, "Get moving! Yang was a good son, and I'm a loyal dude!" During your two years as the Inspector of Yizhou, your name got around, and even the barbarians started kissing your ring. Scholar Zheng Kuan came to Yizhou to check things out, saw your achievements in governing the region, and reported to the court, leading to your promotion to Dongping Minister.
And that's how you went from a nobody in the boonies to Minister of Dongping – all thanks to your smarts and good character. You were a great leader, but even better, everyone – even the barbarians – respected you for your loyalty and how much you loved your family. Now that's what I call a success story! The saying, "Yang was a good son, and Wang Zun was a loyal man," sums you up perfectly. It shows how responsible and dedicated you were.
So, the story goes that at that time, the King of Dongping, relying on his close relationship with the emperor, was a total party animal and didn't give a hoot about the law, which ultimately implicated the esteemed Fu Jiezhi. Later, Fu Jiezhi was appointed as the prime minister and came to the palace of the King of Dongping with the emperor's decree. Before the King of Dongping could come out to receive the decree, Fu Jiezhi went back, had a bite to eat, and then returned to read the decree. After reading the decree, Fu Jiezhi met the King of Dongping again, with the Grand Tutor reciting a poem, "The Rat and the Mouse," which was a thinly veiled warning. Fu Jiezhi then said, "Don't try to use a pea-shooter to take down a fortress!" The King of Dongping was furious upon hearing this and returned to the harem. Fu Jiezhi also turned around and left directly.
Before this, the King of Dongping often went in and out of the palace privately, wreaking havoc in the city, and colluding with the families of the concubines in the harem. After Fu Jiezhi took office, he called in the head stablehand and barked, "The King's gotta follow protocol when he goes out. Only the royal bells and the phoenix chariot are allowed to leave the palace. If anyone drives a small carriage privately, arrest him and teach him a lesson he won't forget!" Later, Fu Jiezhi went to pay his respects to the King of Dongping, who invited him to the court. Fu Jiezhi said to the King of Dongping, "Look, I'm the new Prime Minister, and everyone thinks I'm toast. They sent me here to keep you in line. People call you brave, but you're just responsible. Real bravery? That's me!" The King's blood ran cold as he looked at Fu Jiezhi, thinking of killing him, but he smiled and said, "I want to see what the prime minister's sword looks like." Fu Jiezhi lifted his robe and turned to the attendant next to him, saying, "Take out the sword for the king to see. So, you're accusing me of trying to intimidate you with my sword?" The King of Dongping understood Fu Jiezhi's meaning and had long heard of Fu Jiezhi's reputation. He respected Fu Jiezhi's backbone, so he hosted a banquet, toasting and chatting with Fu Jiezhi, very happy.
Later, the Empress Dowager listened to gossip that Fu Jiezhi was a cocky Prime Minister who disrespected the Emperor. The Prince of Dongping was beside himself with rage, making him impossible to reason with. The Empress Dowager was worried that both mother and son would lose their lives because of this, so she did not allow the Prince of Dongping to see Fu Jiezhi again. The Empress Dowager also said, "If you don't do something, I'll kill myself before the Prince does something terrible!" In the end, Fu Jiezhi was dismissed and demoted to a commoner. General Wang Feng submitted a memorial requesting the reinstatement of Fu Jiezhi, appointing him as an army officer, and later promoting him to the position of Chief Inspector.
It is said that initially, Shi Xian, the Imperial Secretary, was a powerful, domineering jerk who did everything wrong. Prime Minister Kuang Heng and Imperial Censor Zhang Tan were too scared of him to say anything. When Emperor Yuan died and Emperor Cheng took over, Shi Xian was transferred to the position of Master of the Imperial Stables, losing his power. Kuang Heng and Zhang Tan then seized the opportunity to expose Shi Xian's past crimes and demanded he be fired.
Then, someone accused Kuang Heng and Zhang Tan, saying that as the Three Excellencies, they should have taken the world as their responsibility, but they did not report the truth; instead, they coddled Shi Xian, misled the king, and failed to fulfill their duty to assist the monarch, which is simply unforgivable! The accusation memorial stated: "Prime Minister Kuang Heng and Grand Minister of Mass Zhang Tan hold the positions of the Three Excellencies, responsible for the moral and ethical standards of the state. Their duties are to formulate strategies, unify standards, promote education, and beautify customs. They knew that the Imperial Secretary Shi Xian and others were running rampant and causing chaos, harming the world, but failed to timely report and request punishment. Instead, they misled the king, causing harm to the country and the people, and fundamentally did not fulfill their duty to assist the monarch! These crimes warranted punishment, even with a general pardon! After the amnesty, Kuang Heng and Zhang Tan accused Shi Xian but concealed their own disloyalty, instead exaggerating the mistakes of Shi Xian and others appointed by the late emperor, claiming that all officials feared Shi Xian even more than they feared the emperor. This is clearly undermining the emperor's authority, not the behavior that a minister should have, lacking the dignity of a minister!"
The memorial also stated: "In the first month, the emperor visited the Altar of Heaven, and after the sacrifice, Kuang Heng and other officials sat below the hall door, with Kuang Heng facing south and the others facing west. Kuang Heng even went so far as to arrange seats facing east for his subordinate, Shang, standing up to let them sit down, and they engaged in private discussions for a long time. The emperor inspected the scene, all officials were present, and the people gathered, but Kuang Heng blatantly disregarded protocol by allowing his subordinate to sit above him and currying favor in public, behaving in a manner that disrupted the court's hierarchy. Kuang Heng even sent a servant to the palace to inquire about the emperor's schedule, and when the emperor arrived, Kuang Heng remained seated, with an unchanged expression, showing no respect, being arrogant and disrespectful, truly irreverent!" After receiving the memorial, the emperor let the matter drop.
Kuang Heng felt ashamed and afraid, took off his hat to apologize, and handed over the Prime Minister's seal and the Marquis seal. The Emperor, who had just ascended the throne and had recently dealt harshly with a minister, then ordered the Imperial Inspector to investigate the matter. Some accused him of spreading false accusations, revealing pardoned offenses, repeatedly attacking ministers, disregarding legal procedures, inflating minor infractions, slandering the Prime Minister, insulting high officials, showing contempt for the state, and being disrespectful to the Emperor. The Emperor then ordered the person to be demoted to Magistrate of Gaoling, and a few months later, this person was dismissed due to illness.
It is said that the mountain bandits on the south side of the mountain, led by Zong Zong, with hundreds of men, were terrorizing the populace. The court appointed the former Hongnong Prefect Fu Gang as the military commander, leading more than a thousand elite soldiers to pursue them, but after more than a year of pursuit, they still could not be caught.
Someone told the Grand General Huo Guang: "These hundreds of mountain bandits are right under our noses. Sending troops to capture them is futile. If this is known to foreign tribes, wouldn't they laugh at us? You need to choose a powerful Jingzhao Prefect!" When Huo Guang heard this, he thought it made sense and recommended Zhang Zun. Zhang Zun was first appointed as a Censor, and later also served as the Commander of the Jingfu Garrison, in charge of the affairs of the Jingzhao Prefect. Within less than a month of taking office, all those mountain bandits were captured.
Later, Zhang Zun was promoted to the position of High-Ranking Official and officially appointed as the Jingzhao Prefect, serving for three years. Unfortunately, he later offended an envoy and got into trouble. The Superintendent of the Imperial Guard sent an assistant named Fang with the Emperor's edict, instructing Zhang Zun to send people to arrest the criminals. Fang told Zhang Zun: "This arrest must be done quietly." However, Zhang Zun said: "I do things openly and honestly. The Jingzhao Prefecture has never engaged in underhanded tactics, so it is normal for information to leak." Fang insisted: "Only officials from the prefecture should be sent to make the arrest." Zhang Zun replied: "The edict did not specify that officials from the Jingzhao Prefecture should make the arrest, so I cannot send people on my own." As a result, within three months, Chang'an's jails overflowed with over a thousand prisoners.
Zhang Zun went on a tour of inspection once, and a man named Guo Ci voluntarily told him, "Xu Zhong and a dozen others killed my brother to get their hands on the money. Please go back and investigate!" However, the officials below dared not arrest anyone. After Zhang Zun returned from the tour of inspection, he reported to the court, saying, "Might doesn't make right, and everyone deserves a fair shake. As long as a lenient policy is implemented, society will naturally be stable and harmonious."
But the Grand Minister reported that Zhang Zun was a bully who never learned his lesson. He talked a good game, but he was arrogant and disrespectful, losing the respect of his people and unfit for his position among the Nine Ministers. In the end, Zhang Zun was dismissed, and a lot of folks felt bad for him.
When the timing was right, Hu Sanlao Gong, a respected elder, submitted a petition on behalf of Wang Zun, the magistrate of Jingzhao Prefecture, claiming that Wang Zun's governance of the prefecture was impressive! In the past, the bandits in the Nanshan Mountains robbed and murdered, blocked the roads, and kept the city gates locked down. Sending in the troops was a huge, expensive failure, and two officials were dismissed as a result. The bandits became more rampant, causing low morale among officials and becoming a national security risk. At that time, the court offered a huge bounty for their capture and death. Guannei Hou Kuan Zhong, a local noble, asked about the strategy to suppress the bandits and made Wang Zun the acting magistrate of Jingzhao.
Wang Zun was a real workhorse, working his butt off day and night, treating others humbly, and getting those lazy officials moving and their spirits up. In less than twenty days, the gang fell apart, and their leaders surrendered. With the end of the chaos caused by the thieves, farmers could get back to work. Wang Zun also looked out for the poor and took down the powerful. The bullies in Chang'an, like Jia Wan from the East Market, Yu Zhang from the West City, Jian Zhang from the Forbidden City, Zhao Fang from the wine shop, and Yang Zhang from Duling, were a bunch of thugs running wild, breaking the law, and terrorizing everyone. Several high-ranking officials had failed to deal with them for over twenty years, but Wang Zun cleaned house, punishing them with the law until they all confessed their crimes. The corrupt individuals were eliminated, and both officials and people praised Wang Zun. He cleaned up the mess, punished the criminals, and stamped out the corruption—something even the best generals couldn't manage. Although Wang Zun was officially appointed as the Intendant of Jingzhao, the court didn’t give him any special rewards.
Now the Chief Censor accused Wang Zun of disrupting the natural order, worrying about the country, and following the decree, pacifying words and rectifying errors, like Gong Taotian. What's going on? It turns out that the Deputy Chief Censor, Yang Fu, who used to be Wang Zun's subordinate, was a sneaky, backstabbing weasel who loved to use his pen as a weapon. Yang Fu got drunk and went to Wang Zun's servant Li Jia's house. Li Jia decked him, and Yang Fu's nephew even pulled a knife! Yang Fu held a grudge and wanted to retaliate against Wang Zun. I suspect he cooked up this whole thing to get back at Wang Zun.
In the past, Bai Qi was a great general of the Qin state, defeating Han and Wei in the east and capturing Yingdu in the south, but was executed at Duyou after being falsely accused by Ying Hou. Wu Qi guarded Xihe for the Wei state, and neither Qin nor Han dared to invade, but he was harmed by the slanderous words of villains, expelled from Wei, and fled to Chu. The Qin state acted on slander and executed capable generals, while the Wei state believed in slander and expelled wise ministers, all due to a failure to discern the truth and an inability to judge people correctly, resulting in significant losses! We courtiers are heartbroken. Wang Zun is upright, dedicated to the public good, dares to criticize the powerful, and punish the strong. He pacified banditry, relieved the country's worries, had a stellar record and commanded great respect, a true pillar of the state. Yet now, due to the enemy's slander, he is falsely accused, unable to claim pardon for his merits, nor receive a fair hearing, and must endure false accusations without recourse. Wang Zun was selected and appointed by the court due to chaos in the capital and rampant banditry, and was promoted to the high office of minister. After quelling the rebellion and punishing the strong, he was dismissed due to slander by villains. In just a few years, Wang Zun was sometimes regarded as a wise minister and sometimes as a villain—this is a gross injustice! Confucius said: "To love someone and wish them to live, to hate someone and wish them dead – this is delusion." "Slander that does not hold water can be said to be clear." We urge all the officials and scholars present to investigate the character of Wang Zun. If Wang Zun really "harmed the yin and yang," it is a capital crime; if he truly "rebelled against the truth," it is a crime of exile. If the memorial of the censor is true, Wang Zun should be executed and exiled, without mercy. And those who recommended Wang Zun should also be punished. If the memorial of the censor is false, it is also malicious slander and should be punished to deter slander and fraud. We hope that the emperor will discern the truth. Despite these accusations, the emperor, recognizing Wang Zun's abilities, later appointed him Governor of Xuzhou and subsequently promoted him to Governor of Dong Commandery.
Long ago, the Yellow River rose so high that it flooded all the way to Jindi County (a major administrative region), scaring the townsfolk, especially the elderly and children, who fled in all directions, fearing that the embankment would burst and cause an even greater disaster. The magistrate personally led officials and the people to sink a white horse into the river as a sacrifice to the River God. He even held a ceremonial jade scepter, asking a shaman to pray, and wanted to use his own body to block the breach in the embankment, so he set up a tent to live on the embankment. Countless people knelt down and begged him to leave, but he refused to go. When the river rose to its highest point, the embankment finally burst, and the people fled for their lives. Only a scribe, crying, stood beside the magistrate, motionless. Miraculously, the river slowly receded! The townsfolk admired the magistrate's courage and loyalty. Three elderly men with white hair, named Zhu Ying, reported this matter to the court. The court sent people to investigate, and the results were exactly as they had said. So the emperor issued a decree to the imperial censor, saying, "The Yellow River in the eastern county rose so high that it broke the Jindi embankment, and it looked like it was about to burst three feet. The people were scared and fled in all directions. The magistrate risked his life, standing in the most dangerous place, to stabilize the people's hearts. He bravely faced the danger without avoiding it, and the people returned to repair the embankment, ultimately avoiding disaster. I highly commend him! Promote him to a high-ranking official, and reward him with twenty pounds of gold!" Years later, he passed away, but the people remembered him fondly. His son, Wang Bo, also became the magistrate of Jingzhao, but unfortunately, he was deemed unfit for office and was later dismissed.
Wang Zhang, whose courtesy name was Zhongqing, was from Juping County in Taishan. When he was young, he became an official based on his literary talent, eventually becoming a censor known for his outspokenness. When Emperor Yuan ascended the throne, he promoted Wang Zhang to be the Left Cao Zhonglang General (a high-ranking military position). Wang Zhang had a good relationship with the Deputy Imperial Censor Chen Xian, and together they went after Minister Shi Xian. As a result, they were framed by Shi Xian; Chen Xian was sentenced to death (later commuted to publicly shaving his head as punishment), and Wang Zhang was dismissed from office. After Emperor Cheng succeeded to the throne, he summoned Wang Zhang back as a censor, and later promoted him to be the Chief Inspector, commanding respect from the court and royal family. After Wang Zhang was dismissed, his successors were incompetent, so the court selected him to be the Intendant of Jingzhao. At that time, the Emperor's uncle, the Grand General Wang Feng, was in charge of the court, and although Wang Zhang was recommended by Wang Feng, he did not align himself with Wang Feng or support his authoritarian rule. One day, during a solar eclipse, Wang Zhang wrote a memorial criticizing Wang Feng's suitability for the position of Grand General and that a loyal and virtuous person should be selected instead. The Emperor initially agreed, but couldn't bring himself to fire Wang Feng. Wang Zhang was therefore suspected and ultimately framed by Wang Feng for treason, as detailed in the "Biography of Yuan Hou." When Wang Zhang was a scholar in Chang'an, he lived with his wife. When Wang Zhang fell ill, they didn't even have a decent blanket; he had to lie in his old cowhide coat. Feeling distressed, he cried to his wife, sobbing. Upon hearing this, his wife immediately became angry and scolded him, saying, "Zhongqing! You're a big shot in the capital, one of the most important men in court! And you're crying over a little setback? Pull yourself together!"
Later, Wang Zhang became an official and rose to the position of Jingzhao Yin. He wanted to submit a memorial to the emperor to express his opinions. His wife urged him, "You gotta know when to quit. Have you forgotten the days when you cried while lying in a cowhide coat?" Wang Zhang replied, "Women don't get it!" Nevertheless, he still submitted the memorial. As a result, he was jailed, along with his wife. Wang Zhang's young daughter, around twelve years old, woke up screaming in the middle of the night, "Dad usually handles nine cases a day, but today he only did eight and then quit. Dad's always been honest; if anyone's gonna die, it'll be him!" The next day, they found Wang Zhang dead. His wife and daughter were both exiled to Hepu.
After General Feng's death, his brother Chengdu Hou Shang became the new general and assisted the emperor. He requested the emperor to send Wang Zhang's wife and daughter back to their original county. His family, though, did alright. They got rich selling pearls, worth millions. Then, the Tai Shan prefect, Xiao Yu, bought back Wang Zhang's land and house.
Wang Zhang served in Jingzhao Yin for two years before his death. He didn't do anything wrong, but people were furious and started calling him one of the "Three Wangs." One of them, Wang Jun (also known as Wang Yangzi), even got his own biography.
According to the book, since Emperor Xiaowu of Han established the three official positions of Left Fengyi, Right Fufeng, and Jingzhao Yin (three important administrative posts), the common people often say, "There were Zhao Guanghan and Zhang Chang before, and later, three prominent officials were known as 'the Three Kings'." However, Liu Xiang only recorded Zhao Guanghan, Yin Wengui, and Han Yanshou in his own writings; Feng Shang's biography recorded Wang Zun; and Yang Xiong's account was much the same. Zhao Guanghan was smart and capable; his subordinates dared not deceive him. Han Yanshou was upright and incorruptible, able to change the local customs wherever he went, but they fell out of favor with the emperor due to their outspokenness and ultimately lost their positions and ruined their prospects. Yin Wengui was honest and upright, one of the few upright officials at that time. Zhang Chang was gentle and cultured, loyal in advising the emperor, strict in law enforcement, clear in rewards and punishments, with remarkable achievements, but also known for his casual demeanor and perceived lack of diligence. Wang Zun was a skilled administrator and military strategist, able to make achievements wherever he went, although somewhat devious and prone to self-aggrandizement. Wang Zhang was upright and incorruptible, steadfast in his principles, but he lacked a sense of priorities, and was ultimately killed; his wife and daughter were also exiled—a most unfortunate fate.
