Feng Fengshi, style name Ziming, was originally from Lu County in Shangdang but later moved to Duling. His ancestor Feng Ting was once the governor of Shangdang County in the state of Han. When Qin attacked Shangdang and blocked the roads in Taihang Mountain, Han could not hold on, so Feng Ting defected to Zhao. Zhao enfeoffed Feng Ting as Huayang Jun, and he fought against the Qin army with Zhao's general Lian Po, eventually dying in the Battle of Changping. His family scattered as a result, with some staying in Lu County and others in Zhao. Those Fengs who remained in Zhao rose to become officials, military commanders, and even Zhao's prime minister. Later, after Qin conquered the six states, Feng Ting's descendants Feng Wuzhe, Feng Quji, and Feng Jie became generals and ministers of Qin.
During the Han Dynasty, Feng Tang was famous during the reign of Emperor Wen, as he was the son of the prime minister of Zhao. Later, during the reign of Emperor Wu, Feng Fengshi was selected as a Lang official thanks to his illustrious ancestry. During the reign of Emperor Zhao, he was promoted to the position of Wuan County magistrate for his achievements. After losing his position, when he was already in his thirties, he began to study the "Spring and Autumn Annals," delving into its principles, as well as studying military strategy in depth. Later, the former general Han Zeng recommended him to be the military commandant. During the reign of Emperor Zhao of Han, he fought against the Xiongnu. After the war ended, he returned to his position as a Lang official.
During the Han Dynasty, envoys were often sent to the Western Regions, but many failed, either through corruption or incompetence, leaving the Western Regions resentful of the Han. At that time, the Wusun Kingdom had just defeated the Xiongnu and made great contributions, while the other Western Region countries had just been brought under the control of the Han Dynasty, which treated them well and sought to appease them. Therefore, the Han Dynasty carefully chose a diplomat for these missions. The former general Han Zeng recommended Fengshi to serve as an envoy to Dawan and other states.
Feng Shi arrived at Yixiu City and heard from the local commander Song that the Shache Kingdom, along with neighboring countries, had killed King Wan Nian, the Han's puppet ruler of Shache, as well as the Han envoy Xi Chongguo. To make matters worse, the Xiongnu had launched an attack on Qie Shi City; although they did not capture it, they still withdrew their troops. The Shache Kingdom also sent envoys to spread rumors that the countries in the northern Western Regions had all fallen to the Xiongnu, then attacked and plundered the Southern Route, allying with the Xiongnu to betray the Han Dynasty, severing communication with the Han from Shanshan westward. At that time, the regional governor Zheng Ji and military commander Sima Yi were still in various countries of the northern Western Regions.
Feng Shi and his deputy Yan Chang discussed and felt that if they did not quickly attack Shache, it would become stronger and harder to control, making the situation in the Western Regions very dangerous. Therefore, Feng Shi used the emperor's seal to notify the kings of the Western Regions, then mobilized the armies of various countries, totaling 15,000 soldiers from the North and South, to attack Shache together. They stormed Shache City, the Shache King killed himself, and Feng Shi sent the Shache King's head to Chang'an. Seeing this scene, the other countries in the Western Regions all submitted obediently, and the Han Dynasty's power was felt throughout the Western Regions. Feng Shi then withdrew his troops and returned to the court to report on the situation.
Emperor Xuan called Han Zeng over, beaming, and said, "Congratulations, General, the person you recommended is truly suitable!" Feng Shi later went to Dawan Country. Dawan Country, upon hearing that Feng Shi had killed the Shache King, held him in great respect, much more than other envoys. Feng Shi also brought back a horse named "Xianglong." Emperor Xuan of Han was very pleased and planned to reward Feng Shi. Every official in court chimed in, "As the *Spring and Autumn Annals* say, if a high-ranking official on a border mission stabilizes the region, he's allowed to act on his own authority. Feng Shi has made great achievements this time and should be promoted and rewarded properly."
However, Xiao Wangzhi, the Minister of the Lesser Palace, held a different opinion. He argued that although Feng Shi had completed the task, he had changed the orders on his own and mobilized troops from different regions within the Han Empire. While he had achieved success, this should not set a precedent for the future. If Feng Shi were rewarded, future envoys might imitate him, eagerly leading troops into battle to gain merit, even if it meant provoking wars thousands of miles away and causing trouble for the country. This could not continue indefinitely, so Feng Shi should not be rewarded. The Emperor accepted Xiao Wangzhi's opinion and only promoted Feng Shi to the position of Grand Master of the Palace and Commandant of the Water Conservancy.
After Han Yuandi became Emperor, he took on the position of Commander of the Imperial Guards. At that time, more than ten thousand people in Shangjun rebelled. Earlier, during the late reign of Emperor Zhao of Han, the Xihe Hu chieftain, Ruowang, rebelled with several thousand followers. Feng Shi was ordered to lead troops to suppress the Hu rebellion. After the Right General Dian Shuguo Changhui passed away, Feng Shi took over his position and added other titles. A few years later, he was promoted to the rank of Grand Master of the Household.
In the autumn of the second year of Yongguang, Chieftain Jie Pangzhong of the Qiang tribe in Longxi rebelled again. The emperor issued a decree summoning Prime Minister Wei Xuancheng, Inspector Zheng Hong, General Wang Jie, commander of the chariot cavalry, Left General Xu Jia, Right General Feng Shi, and others to discuss countermeasures. The country had suffered several years of poor harvests, with enough food in the capital for more than 200 days, over 400 days in the border counties, and over 500 days in the Guandong region. Famine gripped the nation, and the court was worried about this when the Qiang rebellion occurred. Wei Xuancheng and the others sat in silence, offering no solutions. Feng Shi stood up and said, "The Qiang rebellion is right here, under our noses. If we don't deal with them in time, we won't be able to deter the barbarians from afar. I request to lead troops to take them out!" The emperor asked how many troops he needed, and Feng Shi replied, "I've heard that good generals don't repeatedly call up troops or keep them in the field for more than three years, so the army won't get exhausted, and we'll have luck on our side. In previous battles, underestimating the enemy led to heavy losses; repeatedly mobilizing troops would waste time and money, weakening our military power. There are probably about 30,000 rebellious Qiang people now, so conventionally, we should send 60,000 troops to deal with them. However, the Qiang only have bows and arrows and long spears, which aren't very sharp, so sending 40,000 troops is sufficient, and we can wrap this up in a month."
The Prime Minister, the Censor, and the two generals all believed that it was not appropriate to mobilize troops on a large scale at this time when the people were harvesting; sending ten thousand troops to garrison would be sufficient. Feng Shi said, "No! There are famines everywhere in the country, soldiers and warhorses are very tired, and defense and preparedness have been woefully neglected. The border barbarians have grown contemptuous of our officials, and the Qiang tribal leaders are taking advantage of the situation to cause chaos. Ten thousand troops won't scare them. If they engage in battle, they will suffer losses, and if they defend, the people will not receive rescue. In this way, it'll show we're weak, and the Qiang people will seize the opportunity to expand their gains, while other tribes will incite each other to rebel. I am worried that by then, the number of troops we mobilize will not stop at forty thousand, and money won't fix this. Therefore, instead of fighting with a small number of troops for a long time, it is better to concentrate forces for a quick decisive battle. The difference in interests is a world of difference!" Feng Shi firmly advocated his own opinion but failed to convince everyone. In the end, the Emperor ordered an increase of two thousand troops.
And so, the Emperor dispatched Feng Shi with twelve thousand cavalry to garrison, saying they were going to station troops. He also assigned him two deputies, Ren Li, commanding the right flank, and Han Chang, leading the vanguard, to go to Longxi and station in three different places. Ren Li was stationed in Baishi; Han Chang was stationed in Lintao; Feng Shi was in charge of the central army, stationed in the highest place on the west side of Shouyang Mountain. When the vanguard arrived at Jiangtong Slope, they first sent several captains to seize Qiang territory and then sent several captains to Guangyang Valley to rescue the common people. As a result, there were too many Qiang people, and they killed those captains. Feng Shi then detailed the terrain and the military situation to the Emperor, saying that at least an additional thirty-six thousand troops were needed to handle the situation. After reading the memorial, the Emperor immediately dispatched more than sixty thousand troops and appointed Yiyang Marquis Ren Qianqiu, a high-ranking minister, as General of the War Effort to assist.
Feng Shi piped up, "Just send me the troops—no need for another general." He then explained in detail the difficulties and costs of logistics. The Emperor said to Right General Huo, "Your Majesty greets you. You've been slaving away out there. The Qiang tribe invaded the border, killing officials and civilians, which is just plain wrong. Therefore, I order you to lead the soldiers to carry out God's judgment. With your excellent abilities and leading elite troops, defeating rebels will be a sure thing. However, this betrayal thing is making the Han Dynasty look bad. Was it due to insufficient preparation in the past? Was it because of insufficient favor and unclear alliances? I'm puzzled. Your report says the Qiang tribe is entrenched in the deep mountains, and you need to guard key points and have reinforcements to win. The deployment is already confirmed, so it’s not possible to send more generals. I have also heard about this. Previously, due to your insufficient troops for self-defense, cavalry from nearby areas were sent day and night to support, not for offensive purposes. Now, we've mobilized troops from Sanfu, Hedong, and Hongnong, and other units are on their way. Furthermore, war's a gamble—you win some, you lose some. The key is to not have sufficient preparation beforehand and not carefully estimate the enemy, so we sent in the valiant general. Military strategy says that when a general goes to war, they must have subordinate generals to help with the strategy. Got any questions, General? By caring for the soldiers and gaining their support, you won't regret your actions. And make sure you treat prisoners well, which is your duty. As for transportation costs, logistics is taken care of, don't you worry. Once he arrives, we'll hit the Qiang together."
In October, the entire army reached Longxi. In November, the large army attacked together. The Qiang were routed, thousands beheaded, and the rest fled beyond the border. The war was not over yet, and the Han Dynasty recruited another ten thousand soldiers, appointing Han Anguo, the Prefect of Dingxiang, as the General who Established Might. Before Han Anguo could set out, he heard the news of the Qiang's defeat and returned. The Emperor declared, "With the Qiang routed and fleeing beyond the border, our weary troops can be stationed to cultivate the land and guard strategic points."
In February of the following year, Feng Shi returned to the capital, holding the same position as before, Left General Feng Shi, who also held the post of Guanglu Xun. Later, due to his achievements, he was thus ennobled as Marquis of Guanneihou. The court issued a decree saying, "The Qiang are brutal and cruel, harming the people, attacking the temples in Longxi Prefecture, burning down relay stations, and destroying roads and bridges, defying Heaven itself! Left General Feng Shi led the troops to battle before and killed more than eight thousand enemy soldiers, capturing tens of thousands of warhorses, cattle, and sheep." More than thirty junior officers who went on the expedition with him were also rewarded.
Feng Shi died a year later. He held important positions in the army for a decade, being a seasoned veteran, with achievements and reputation second only to General Zhao Chongguo.
Now, concerning General Fenwu Ren Qianqiu, his father Ren Gong, during the reign of Emperor Zhao, took part in the prime minister's campaign, captured and killed the rebel Left General Shangguan Jie, and was therefore enfeoffed as a marquis. During the reign of Emperor Xuan, he served as the Grand Tutor and later passed away. Ren Qianqiu inherited his father's title and also served as the Grand Tutor. During the reign of Emperor Cheng, Marquis of Lechang Wang Shang recommended Feng Shi to be the Left General, while Ren Qianqiu served as the Right General, and later Ren Qianqiu was also promoted to the Left General. The Ren family's service to the empire lasted for generations, ending only with Wang Mang's seizure of power.
Two years after Feng Chang's death, the Protector General of the Western Regions, Gan Yanshou, was made a marquis for eliminating the Chieftain of Zhizhi. At that time, Prime Minister Kuang Heng believed that Gan Yanshou went rogue and disobeyed orders. He referred to Xiao Wang's previous opinion and thought that Gan Yanshou shouldn't be made a marquis. However, most people praised Gan Yanshou's achievements, so the emperor went with the flow and made him a marquis. At this time, Du Qin submitted a memorial, pushing for Feng Shi to get credit for what he'd done. He said: "The King of Shache killed the envoy of the Han in the past and conspired with other countries to betray the Han. General Feng Shi acted on orders and, based on his own judgment, led troops to eliminate the King of Shache, secured the city, and calmed things down on the border. Some people believe that Feng Shi acted on orders but overstepped his authority. Nobody's ever been made a marquis for doing that, and the laws of the Han also say you can't act on your own, so he wasn't made a marquis. The Xiongnu Chieftain Zhizhi also killed the envoy of the Han, fled to Kangju, and the Protector General Gan Yanshou led over 40,000 troops to attack him, killed him, and was made a marquis. Look at it this way: Zhizhi was less guilty than the Shache king; the Shache had more troops than Zhizhi; Feng Shi led fewer troops; Feng Shi made significant contributions to stabilizing the border; and Gan Yanshou's actions posed a greater risk to the country. They both acted on their own and violated orders, but Gan Yanshou got the marquisate while Feng Shi got nothing. If two guys do the same thing but one gets rewarded and the other doesn't, it breeds distrust and confusion, undermining discipline and leaving everyone wondering what's going on. Feng Shi served the country, was not afraid of sacrifice, was loyal to his duties, and his reputation was outstanding; he was a top border commander, but he got the shaft and no recognition for it. A wise ruler wouldn't do that; it'll kill morale and make people lose faith. I hope the emperor will order the relevant departments to re-examine this matter." The emperor just let it go; it was from the old emperor's time, anyway.
Feng Shi had nine sons and four daughters. The eldest daughter, Yuan, was chosen to enter the palace and became Consort Zhao of the Yuan Emperor, giving birth to the Prince of Zhongshan, later known as Xiaowang. After the Yuan Emperor's death, Yuan became the Empress Dowager of Zhongshan and followed her son to the state of Zhongshan. Feng Shi's eldest son, Tan, was recommended by the Grand Minister as a highly recommended official, becoming a court official and later working his way up to Sima of Tianshui (a regional administrative post). During Feng Shi's campaign against the Western Qiang, Tan served as a captain, accompanied his father on the expedition, made achievements, but died of illness before he could be appointed an official. Tan's younger brothers, Yewang, Qun, Li, and Can, all achieved high official positions.
Yewang (courtesy name Junqing) was a scholar proficient in the Book of Songs. When he was young, he became a junior official in the Crown Prince's office due to his father's influence. At the age of eighteen, he wrote to the Emperor requesting to be appointed as the county magistrate of Chang'an. Emperor Xuan thought he was ambitious and asked the Prime Minister Wei Xiang, who disagreed. Later, Yewang worked his way up through his merits, first becoming the county magistrate of Dangyang, then Liyang, and later Xiayang.
During the reign of the Yuan Emperor, Yewang was promoted to the Prefect of Longxi due to his outstanding achievements. He was later recalled to the court and appointed as the Left Fengyi. Over a year later, the county magistrate of Chiyang, a notorious corrupt official, took advantage of Yewang's young age and royal background to continue his misconduct. Yewang's subordinate, Zhao, one of Yewang's inspectors, discovered that the magistrate had embezzled ten taels of gold (approximately equivalent to a significant sum in that era) and arrested him. The magistrate refused to confess, and Zhao ended up killing him. The magistrate's family petitioned the court, and the case fell into the hands of the judicial officer. In order to prove Yewang's integrity, Zhao committed suicide. This incident spread throughout the capital, and Yewang's reputation soared, leading to his promotion as the Grand Master of Ceremonies (responsible for overseeing ceremonial functions).
After a few years, the Imperial Censor, Li Yanshou, passed away, and many people recommended Ye Wang to take his place. The Emperor instructed the Ministry of Personnel to select a suitable candidate from the top 2,000 officials, and Ye Wang excelled in all aspects. The Emperor worried, "If I promote Ye Wang, everyone will say I'm playing favorites with the Empress's family." Therefore, the Emperor issued a decree stating, "Ye Wang, known for his strength and integrity, should remain in his current position. Wulu Chongzong, a sharp mind and skilled speaker, is well-suited for various posts. Zhang Tan, renowned for his honesty and thrift, will be the new Imperial Censor." The Emperor chose Zhang Tan from the list of candidates, bypassing Ye Wang, in order to avoid suspicion, as Ye Wang was the brother of the Empress. Ye Wang sighed and said, "Everyone else gets ahead because of their sister; we get screwed because of hers!" Although Ye Wang did not become one of the Three Excellencies, he was highly regarded by the Emperor and had a good reputation, being quite famous at the time.
After Emperor Cheng ascended the throne, someone submitted a memorial stating that Ye Wang (the father of Wang Mang) was the Emperor's maternal uncle and was not suitable to serve as one of the Nine Ministers. He got shipped off to be Prefect of Shang County and was rewarded with one hundred catties of gold. The Inspector of Shuofang, Xiao Yu, recommended Ye Wang, saying, "Ye Wang is exceptionally talented, able to cultivate his character internally and benefit the people externally. It's a shame such a talented guy can't serve the Emperor." Emperor Cheng had heard of Ye Wang when he was Crown Prince, and later, after a bout of illness, he was given a lighter assignment – fixing up riverbanks – before finally landing the job as Langye Prefect.
At that time, Wang Feng, the Marquis of Yangping and Emperor Cheng's uncle, had been serving as Grand Marshal and General for eight or nine years, maybe even longer, overseeing the court affairs. During this time, there were frequent natural disasters. Wang Zhang, the Jingzhao governor, criticized Wang Feng for his usurpation of power and suggested replacing him with Ye Wang. The Emperor initially agreed with Wang Zhang's suggestion, but later killed Wang Zhang. (You can read more about this in the *Biography of Empress Yuan*). Ye Wang was terrified by this and fell ill. After three months of illness, he took leave and went home to Duling with his wife to recover.
General Wang Feng accused Lord Yewang, the chief censor, of taking unauthorized leave under the guise of illness and returning home privately, as well as illegally taking the tiger talisman out of the province without permission, showing disrespect for the emperor's decrees. Du Qin, who was working at General Wang's residence at the time, admired Yewang and his son and wrote a letter to Wang Feng defending Yewang, stating: "According to the laws, a high-ranking official who takes leave and passes through Chang'an can receive an audience and rewards. Some people now believe that taking leave in advance to return home is allowed, but receiving leave due to illness is not; these two situations should be considered together, which goes against the original intention of leniency. Taking leave in advance is in accordance with the law, while receiving leave due to illness for three months is the emperor's grace. According to the law, taking leave allows one to return home, but receiving the emperor's grace does not; this is unfair. Furthermore, there is precedent for high-ranking officials being granted leave due to illness to return home, with no stipulation against leaving the county. An ancient saying goes: 'When in doubt about rewards, err on the side of generosity to encourage merit; when in doubt about punishments, err on the side of leniency to avoid injustice.' Now, not only is the law being violated, but precedent as well, and instead of using a charge of disrespect to punish, this goes against the principle of being lenient with doubts about punishment. Furthermore, high-ranking officials are responsible for managing vast territories and commanding military power; they should not leave their counties. If this were to become law, Yewang would be punished for an act that wasn't illegal at the time. Rewards and punishments are serious matters of state and should be considered carefully!" However, Wang Feng did not listen and ultimately dismissed Yewang from his position. From then on, officials of the rank of 2,000 stones, such as county magistrates and prefects, even if granted leave by the emperor due to illness, could not return home.
Initially, Feng Yewang inherited his father's title and became a marquis of the Inner Passes, then resigned and returned home. After a few years, he died at home after many years. His son, Feng Zuo, inherited the title, and it wasn't until his grandson, another Feng Zuo, during the era of Empress Dowager Zhongshan, that their family title was discontinued.
Feng Qun, styled Zichan, was proficient in the Book of Changes (Yijing). He was highly recommended as a model official by the Ministry of Rites and was appointed as a Langguan (a low-ranking court official). Later, he was promoted to a Yezhe (a senior court official). During the Jianzhao period, he was selected as a Futing Xiaowei (a military prefect). The Guanglu Xun (a high-ranking official in the imperial court) highly valued his abilities and promoted him to be the magistrate of Meiyang County. His career progressed rapidly, and he successively served as the commander of the Changle garrison, the Duwei of Qinghe, and the Taishou of Longxi. He was upright and just, and he died in his forties. During his tenure as Duwei, he once proposed a strategy regarding river embankments, which was recorded in the "Gouxu Zhi."
Feng Li, styled Shengqing, was proficient in the Spring and Autumn Annals. Due to his father's connections, he initially served as a Langguan and gradually rose through various departments. During the Jingning period, as the uncle of the reigning Empress Dowager, he was assigned to Wuyuan as a Duwei. Several years later, he was promoted to be the Taishou of Wuyuan, and later transferred to be the Taishou of Xihe Commandery and Shang Commandery. Feng Li was upright and just during his tenure, with similar governance achievements to Feng Yewang, but he was more compassionate and willing to teach the people. The people praised the two brothers, Feng Yewang and Feng Li, for their successive appointments as Taishous, composing a song that goes: "Great Lord Feng, Little Lord Feng, the brothers succeed each other in brilliance, wise and virtuous, benefiting the people, his rule was as wise and benevolent as that of the legendary rulers of Lu and Wei, or Duke Zhou and King Kang." Later, Feng Li was transferred to be the Taishou of Donghai. Due to the damp climate there, he came down with rheumatism. Upon hearing this, the emperor transferred him to Taiyuan, where the climate was better. He served as the Taishou of five commanderies in his lifetime, leaving behind a good reputation in each place. Finally, he died in office due to old age.
Minister Can, styled Shuping, was very knowledgeable and had read the Book of Documents thoroughly. When he was young, he served as a Huangmen Lang (a court official close to the emperor) and worked in the palace for over ten years. He was serious and meticulous, paying great attention to his appearance and behavior, and always behaved impeccably. Can was the younger brother of the Empress, and he was very cautious in his work. His seriousness earned him respect, but he never got close to the emperor.
During the Jingning period, because he was the empress's uncle, he was sent to Weiling as a lowly grain-storekeeper. Owing to his recurring ailments, he was transferred to the palace as a court official assigned to the emperor's quarters, and the emperor specially ordered him not to do any work. During the Yangshuo period, the King of Zhongshan came to visit the emperor, and the official was promoted to the Weitouwei of Shanghe Nong (a position overseeing agricultural affairs). Later, he resigned from his position because of his poor health and returned to Weiling as a chamberlain. During the Yongshi period, he was promoted out of turn to be the county governor of Dai, but because Dai was too far from the capital, he was transferred to Anding County as the county governor. Several years later, he resigned from his position due to illness and later became a censor (an official who advised the emperor and investigated wrongdoing), also overseeing the water affairs of the Left Fengyi.
During the Suihe period, the King of Dingtao was named the crown prince, and because the King of Zhongshan was deposed, the emperor appointed the official as the Marquis of Yixiang to console the King of Zhongshan. After being appointed as a marquis, the official requested to go to Zhongshan to see the King of Zhongshan and the empress dowager. Before he could depart, the King of Zhongshan passed away. When the King of Zhongshan was ill, the official petitioned the court to lower his own title, only to be a marquis within the Passes (a lower rank of marquis), and to stay in Chang'an. The emperor sympathized with him and decreed: "The loss of the young and virtuous King of Zhongshan grieves me deeply. I share in the sorrow of his uncle, Marquis Yixiang, and grant his request to reduce his title to Marquis within the Passes and return to Chang'an. Let him return to the capital to serve the court as a marquis." At that time, the other four marquises held him in high regard, and the Prime Minister Zhai Fangjin also valued him, often advising him, "You're a bit too formal, aren't you? Because your nephew was deposed, you cannot hold high office in the court. Although you are one of the five marquises now, with a noble status, you should be appropriately humble and cautious, showing respect to the other marquises. However, you're always so impeccably dressed and carry yourself with such gravity, which does not improve your relationship with the other marquises, but rather causes trouble for yourself!" The official was naturally meticulous about etiquette and never changed his style.
Not long after, Emperor Ai ascended the throne. Emperor Ai's grandmother, Empress Dowager Fu, ruled the roost. She'd always had it in for Lady Zhongshan, Can's sister, for supposedly cursing the emperor. She framed Lady Zhongshan for cursing the emperor – a serious charge, as the *Biographies of the Imperial Consorts* makes clear. An official was sent to haul Can in for questioning at the Ministry of Justice, and he ended up topping himself. Before killing himself, he cried out to heaven, "My whole family – father, brothers, sons – we've all been high-ranking officials, I was even a marquis! And now this? My sister and I, we'd rather be dead than face our ancestors!" Seventeen people died in all, and everyone felt sorry for him. His family was sent packing back to their ancestral home.
Now, Can Feng – everyone said he was a straight shooter, careful as they come, a real gentleman, like that line from the *Book of Songs*: "Restrained and dignified, only at the corner of virtue." He was a stickler for detail, always planning meticulously, and incredibly careful about where he worked – a real role model. Such a shame he died so unjustly!
It's always the same, isn't it? Good guys get screwed, bad guys get away with murder. Look at Boyi and Shuqi, starving to death in exile; Mencius, punished in the palace; Shensheng, murdered; Qu Yuan, drowning himself... It's all in the *Book of Songs*, in Qu Yuan's *Li Sao* – the heartbreak, the injustice. Like the scriptures say, "The sorrow of the heart, tears have fallen." You can only imagine the grief of Can Feng and his family.
