During the early establishment of the Han Dynasty, in order to make up for the damages caused by the anti-Qin War, a policy of rest and recovery was adopted, striving for simplicity in all matters, and the legal provisions were also more lenient. The two prime ministers, Xiao He and Cao Shen, ruled with a gentle hand, and people praised them with songs. During the reign of Emperor Hui and Empress Lü, they were relatively low-key, rarely leaving the palace, yet the country was peaceful, and citizens were able to farm in peace, with their clothing and food improving. During the reigns of Emperors Wen and Jing, society flourished. At that time, there were many honest officials like Wu Gong, the Prefect of Henan, and Wen Weng, the Prefect of Shu County, who were honest and fair, treating the people well, and naturally, the folks obeyed.
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, there were wars and internal reforms, which led to hardships for the people and rampant corruption. At that time, there were few officials praised for governing the country through education, with only Dong Zhongshu, the Jiangdu administrator, Gongsun Hong, the Minister of the Interior, and Er Kuan, the Imperial Censor, showing remarkable achievements in office. These three were all Confucian scholars, knew the law and the world, and used Confucian classics to guide government affairs, for which the Emperor really respected them. Dong Zhongshu repeatedly requested to resign due to illness, while Gongsun Hong and Er Kuan both rose to the highest ranks.
Emperor Zhao of Han was still young, and Huo Guang was in power. At that time, it was a period following the extravagance and frequent wars of Emperor Wu's reign, with the treasury empty and the people suffering. Huo Guang adopted a relatively conservative policy without major reforms. By the time of the Shiyuan and Yuanfeng periods, the Xiongnu eventually surrendered, the people's lives became more prosperous, and the court started selecting talented officials and paying attention to the people's needs, thus ending the liquor monopoly and the salt and iron debates.
Emperor Xiaoxuan, who rose from humble beginnings to become emperor, understood the common people's hardships. After the death of Huo Guang, he personally handled state affairs, diligently governed the country, and held court every five days, requiring officials from the prime minister down to report. When appointing provincial governors and prefects, he would personally interview them, discreetly investigate their records, and check their claims. Any discrepancies were thoroughly investigated. He often said, "People lived in peace because government was clean and the courts were fair. Only the best second-rank officials could match that!" He believed that prefects and magistrates were the bedrock of governance. Frequent changes unsettled officials and people alike; long-term appointments fostered trust and obedience. Therefore, high-achieving officials received commendations, raises, and even marquisates. He filled high court positions with recommended talent. As a result, during this period, the good officials of the Han Dynasty reached their peak, known as a revival. People like Zhao Guanghan, Han Yanshou, Yin Wengui, Yan Yannian, and Zhang Chang held high positions of power, but some were punished and even killed for their strict law enforcement. In contrast, officials like Wang Cheng, Huang Ba, Zhu Yi, Gong Sui, Zheng Hong, and Shao Xincheng governed prosperous and peaceful areas, and were remembered by the people after they left. They were honored during their lifetime and even worshipped after their death, embodying the virtues of the noble and modest gentlemen of old.
Wen Weng hailed from Shu County in Lujiang Commandery. He loved studying since childhood, was proficient in the *Chunqiu*, and got a leg up through the local recommendation system. In the later years of Emperor Jing's reign, he became the Governor of Shu, known for his kindness and focus on education. Seeing that the people of Shu were simple but backward, with some pretty rough edges, he wanted to guide them towards progress. So he handpicked some bright young officials—like Zhang Shu and a dozen others—personally oversaw their training, and sent them to the capital to study Confucian classics and law with the top scholars. He also trimmed the imperial budget, bought some Shu silk and knives as gifts for the scholars. A few years later, these Shu students returned, having completed their studies, and Wen Weng promoted them to important positions, gradually advancing them based on their performance, with some eventually becoming county magistrates or even provincial governors.
In Chengdu, Wen Weng built a school, enrolling students from all over the region and exempting them from compulsory labor. High achievers got government jobs; the others were encouraged to be good sons and focus on farming. Wen Weng often tapped students from the school to help him out. On his inspection tours, he'd bring along promising students—especially those studying the *Xiao Jing*—to help deliver messages and get a feel for the administration. Local officials and people alike looked up to them. Soon, everyone wanted their kids in the school—even wealthy families were paying for spots. In this way, the atmosphere changed significantly, and the number of Shu students heading to the capital rivaled those from Qi and Lu. By the time of Emperor Wu, schools were mandated throughout the empire—all thanks to Wen Weng's pioneering work.
After Wen Weng's death, he was buried in the Shu region. Local officials and people built a shrine for him, and they have been performing sacrifices on time every year without interruption. Even now, the Ba and Shu regions are known for their refined culture, a legacy of Wen Weng's influence.
Wang Cheng's county of origin is unknown. He served as the prefect of Jiaodong County, and his administration was exceptionally successful. The Han Emperor Xuan was the first to praise him. In the third year of Dijie, Emperor Xuan issued a decree saying, "I've heard that rewarding merit without punishing wrongdoing is impossible, even in the days of Yao and Shun. Wang Cheng, the prefect of Jiaodong, has diligently served, registering over 80,000 refugee households. His accomplishments are outstanding. I hereby grant him the title of Marquis of Guanneihou, with a yearly salary of two thousand shi." Before he could be summoned to the capital, he died of illness. Later, the court ordered the Prime Minister and the Imperial Censor to investigate the successes and failures of the officials in various counties and prefectures. Some said that the former prefect of Jiaodong County, Wang Cheng, inflated his accomplishments to gain favor, and this led to a culture of deception and the pursuit of empty glory among officials.
Huang Ba, courtesy name Cigong, was a native of Huaiyang Yangxia. Due to the influence of powerful landlords, he was banished to Yunling. Huang Ba studied law at a young age and wanted to be an official. During the late reign of Emperor Wu of Han, he was appointed as an attendant and later promoted to positions responsible for managing imperial finances, as well as serving as an attendant and courtier. He was dismissed from his position due to being implicated in a crime committed by a fellow villager. He was later sent to Gushenli Commandery, serving as a low-level clerk (200 stone scribe) under Left Fengyi. The Commandery Administrator of Fengyi recognized Huang Ba's strong abilities and put him in charge of the commandery's financial accounting, prohibiting him from holding other positions. He managed the accounts meticulously, was known for his honesty, and was recommended as the chief administrator of Hedong's grain distribution due to his integrity. He was later recommended as the deputy prefect of Henan for the same reason. Huang Ba was intelligent, well-versed in law, gentle and modest in character, easy to get along with, and skilled in managing the people. During his tenure as deputy prefect, he always acted justly, gaining the trust of the people and holding the high regard of the prefect. Both officials and the common people held him in high esteem.
Starting from the late reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the law was enforced strictly. When Emperor Zhao of Han ascended the throne at a young age, Grand General Huo Guang held great power, leading to power struggles among court officials. Officials like Shangguanjie even conspired with Prince Yan to rebel. After Huo Guang had them all executed, he continued to enforce the laws of the late Emperor Wu of Han, punishing lower-ranking officials with severe penalties. Therefore, at that time, those officials believed that only harshness and strictness constituted capability, with Huang Ba being unique in his leniency and kindness.
Later, Emperor Xuan of Han ascended the throne, and he understood that the common people could not bear the harsh officials. Hearing that General Ba enforced the law fairly, he summoned him to serve as the Chief Justice. General Ba handled many difficult cases and was praised for his fairness in court. He later served as the Prime Minister's Chief Secretary. During a court session, he noticed that Xiahou Sheng, the Superintendent of the Changxin Palace, had major criticisms of the emperor's decrees and showed great disrespect. Although General Ba should have immediately accused him, he did not do so. Instead, he handed Xiahou Sheng over to the Chief Justice, who imprisoned him and sentenced him to death. General Ba then studied the "Book of Documents" with Xiahou Sheng in prison for three years before he was released, as recorded in the "Biography of Xiahou Sheng." After Xiahou Sheng's release, he became a Censor again and recommended General Ba as a virtuous man. Xiahou Sheng also recommended General Ba to the emperor in person, leading to his promotion to the Inspector of Yangzhou. Three years later, Emperor Xuan of Han issued a decree: "Ordering the Imperial Censor: Appoint the virtuous man and Inspector of Yangzhou, Ba, as the Prefect of Yingchuan, with a rank equivalent to two thousand stones. The government shall grant him a carriage canopy, a whole zhang taller than standard issue, as well as carriages for his attendants and chief clerk, with red-painted mudguards at the front to honor his merits." Back then, the emperor wanted to govern the country well and issued edicts several times to benefit the people, but the officials did not implement them seriously. Prefect Ba carefully selected some good officials and distributed the edicts so that the people knew the emperor's intentions. He also had the post station and village officials raising chickens and pigs to help the widowed, orphaned, and poor.
Then, he established a set of rules and regulations, set up positions such as village elders, schoolmasters, and team leaders, and promoted them among the people, aiming to persuade everyone to do good, prevent bad deeds, encourage hard work in planting mulberry trees, be frugal with money, accumulate wealth, plant trees, raise livestock, and reduce the consumption of grains for feeding horses. These measures initially seemed minor and numerous, but he managed to implement all of them with his own energy. Officials and the people discussed privately, inquiring about and exploring the secret to his success, learning from each other.
If Ba, the magistrate, wanted to investigate and understand a situation, he would select officials who had long served with integrity and honesty to carry out the tasks, and he would repeatedly remind them to pay close attention to detail. Those officials on official business dared not rest at postal stations but ate by the roadside, only to have their food stolen by crows. A commoner who was about to report to the government office happened to witness this scene and told it to Ba. Later, when the officials returned to see Ba, he warmly welcomed them and asked with concern, "Did you have a hard time? Your food was stolen by crows while eating by the roadside!" The officials were stunned; Ba clearly knew everything about their trip, so they no longer dared to conceal anything.
When elderly widows died and had no money for burial, the village would report it, and Ba would sort it out, such as saying, "There is a large tree in a certain place that can be used as a coffin, and a certain pavilion has a pig that can be used for sacrifice." When the officials went to handle it, it was exactly as Ba had said. Ba handled things so cleverly that the local officials and the people did not know how he did it and praised him like some kind of miracle worker. Criminals fled, and theft became a rarity.
Governor Ba strongly emphasized education and moral cultivation before carrying out punishments. His goal was to cultivate responsible officials. There was an old official named Xu Cheng who was both aged and deaf. The government inspector wanted to drive him away, but Governor Ba said, "Xu Cheng is a clean and good man. So what if he's a bit deaf? He can still rise to greet and welcome guests. We should help him well and not lose a capable official!" When asked why he did this, Governor Ba explained, "Constantly replacing officials, sending away the old and welcoming the new, incurs huge costs, and corrupt officials skimming money results in huge losses for everyone, both the government and the people. Moreover, new officials may not necessarily be better than the old ones and may even be worse, only adding to the chaos. Good governance means avoiding excesses."
The common people liked him because he was fair and wise, governed in an orderly manner, and the population increased year by year. He was one of the best governors in the land. Later, he was appointed as the Prefect of Jingzhao, a high-ranking official position. Unfortunately, he was impeached for failing to report the road construction in advance. He also sent unsuitable horses from the northern army, hindering military readiness. This led to several demotions. The emperor then transferred him back to Yingchuan as governor, with a salary of only eight hundred stones, but his ability to govern the region remained excellent as before.
For eight years, Yingchuan just kept getting better and better. During that time, you'd see phoenixes and mythical creatures popping up everywhere, especially in Yingchuan. The emperor felt that Governor Ba of Yingchuan really followed his orders. The common people had become very obedient. There were more filial sons, respectful younger brothers, chaste wives, and obedient grandchildren. Farmers were yielding to each other over land boundaries, nothing was found on the roads, everyone took care of widows and orphans, helped the poor, and not even a serious criminal had appeared in eight years. Both officials and the people had been well-educated, and moral standards were on the rise. Truly, he was a right-hand man! As it says in the 'Book of Documents,' "A true pillar of support!" The emperor also granted him the title of Marquis of Guannei, one hundred pounds of gold, and promoted his official position to 2,000 stones (a high-ranking official position). At the same time, those filial brothers, virtuous individuals, elders, and hardworking farmers in Yingchuan were also granted titles and silk based on their merits.
A few months later, he was appointed as the Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and later promoted to Grand Minister of Justice. In 6 BC, Ba was appointed as Chancellor and enfeoffed as Marquis of Jiancheng, with a fief of six hundred households. Although Ba had the ability to govern the people well, as Chancellor, even though he was in charge of everything, he just didn't have the same flair as Bing Ji, Wei Xiang, or Yu Dingguo. He didn't achieve as much as he did when he was a county governor.
At that time, the sparrow from the home of the Jingzhao Prefect Zhang Chang flew to the Prime Minister's residence. Ba thought it was a sign from heaven and planned on reporting to the emperor. Zhang Chang told Ba, "I noticed you were grilling the county officials and prefects on how they were improving things for the people, making life better, and asked for specific examples. For instance, farmers weren't fighting over land, men and women kept to themselves, nobody was stealing stuff, and they were actually nominating good people for awards. You ranked them: top marks if they had good stories, middle if they were vague, and bottom if they had nothing to show. Although you didn't say it outright, you wanted them to do this. When the officials and prefects reported back, my family's sparrow flew to the roof of the Prime Minister's office, and everyone there saw it. Many officials from neighboring counties recognized the sparrow, but when asked, they pretended not to know. Your plan was to tell the Emperor that the bird was a sign that your reforms were working. They later found out it flew from my house, so the matter was dropped. The county officials thought it was pretty funny that you, Mr. Prime Minister, were so clever and kind but missed such an obvious thing."
"When Jia An was the Prefect of Huaiyang, he resigned from his position and said to Li Xi, the Grand Administrator, 'Zhang Tang, the Grand Master of Records, harbors deceit and flattery, trying to undermine the whole system. Why didn't you report it earlier? When we're both in deep trouble!' Li Xi was afraid of Zhang Tang and ultimately did not dare to speak. Later, Zhang Tang was executed. When the Emperor heard about the conversation between Jia An and Li Xi, he punished Li Xi and made Jia An a marquis because he admired Jia An's loyalty. I am not deliberately criticizing the Prime Minister, but I am worried that the ministers dare not submit memorials, and local officials are afraid of the Prime Minister's punishment. They only cater to the Prime Minister's preferences, each doing their own thing, competing and cutting corners, pretending to be modest with their land, keeping men and women apart, and pretending no one ever steals anything. They look good on paper, but it's all a sham, leading to lax governance and even causing chaos. If the capital first implements these symbolic gestures, it will not reduce corruption and promiscuity, but instead deceive the world with false appearances, which is unacceptable. If the feudal lords implement these practices first and the false reputation spreads to the capital, it would also be a serious matter. The Han Dynasty inherited past shortcomings and, based on changing circumstances, established laws and regulations to promote good deeds and prohibit evil deeds. The articles are detailed and complete, and cannot be further expanded. High-ranking officials should clearly warn local officials, instructing them to report to the Two Thousand Stones, the Three Elders, filial sons and brothers, laborers, filial scholars, and honest officials. County business has to be done by the book, no making up your own rules. Anyone caught faking it will be severely punished to demonstrate the principle of rewarding good and punishing evil.' The Emperor greatly appreciated Zhang Chang's opinion, summoned the officials in charge of implementing policies, and instructed them to follow Zhang Chang's instructions. Ba, who was also present, felt very ashamed."
So, the story goes, the Marquis of Leling, Shigao, was a close friend of Prime Minister Xiao He and was really well-liked at court. Because of this, Xiao He recommended Shigao to be appointed as the Grand Commandant. The Emperor had a messenger ask Xiao He, "The position of Grand Commandant has been vacant for a long time. You've been holding this position alongside your duties to chill out and promote culture. If things go south, or we've got a war on our hands, every minister's gotta fight. Your job is to keep things running smoothly, make sure everyone's treated fair, and there's no crime in the streets! The position of General is appointed by me. Shigao is a close confidant of mine, someone I trust. What gives you the right to recommend him?" The messenger told Xiao He what the Emperor said. Xiao He apologized right away, but it took days for the Emperor to forgive him. Since then, Xiao He never dared to recommend anyone casually. Ever since the Han Dynasty started, nobody's been a better administrator than Xiao He.
Xiao He served as Prime Minister for five years, kicked the bucket in his third year of Ganlu, and was posthumously named the Marquis of Ding. After Xiao He's death, Shigao surprisingly became the Grand Marshal. Xiao He's son, Xiaoshang, inherited the title and became the Commandant of Guan. After Xiaoshang's death, his son, Xiaofu, inherited the title and became the Commandant of Wei, one of the top nine officials. After Xiaofu's death, his son, Xiaozhong, inherited the title until the Han Dynasty was overthrown by Wang Mang. Among Xiao He's descendants, there were five or six who became big shots.
In his youth, Xiao He served as a minor official in Yangxia. One day, he went out with some guy who read fortunes and saw a woman. The fortune-teller said, "This woman will be wealthy and noble in the future; otherwise, fortune telling wouldn't be reliable!" Xiao He found out she was a village shaman's daughter. He married her, and they lived happily ever after. After becoming Prime Minister, Xiao He moved to Duling to live.
Zhu Yi, courtesy name Zhongqing, was a native of Shu County, Lujiang Commandery. When he was young, he served as a junior official in Tongxiang, Shu County. He was honest and fair, always prioritized the people's well-being. He never scolded or beat the common people, often caring for the elderly and widowed. As a result, the people and officials under his jurisdiction all loved and respected him. Later, he was promoted and became a subordinate of the governor, and then recommended for his talent to be the Minister of Agriculture. He was then promoted to be the Governor of Beihai and later transferred to the central government as the Minister of Agriculture due to his outstanding performance. He was loyal to his friends but incorruptible. The Emperor valued him greatly, and everyone in the court respected him.
At that time, Zhang Chang was serving as the Governor of Jiaodong Commandery and wrote a memorial to the court, saying, "A smart emperor looks to the past to find good people, and this is the perfect time for loyal advisors to speak up. I, Zhang Chang, am far away in the border commandery and can only carry out my duties in a routine manner. I feel very stifled, with no opportunity to showcase my talents. Even if there were opportunities, where could I use them? With your wise leadership, it's like a hungry person finding bran and vegetables to be sweet; it's all about timing. Even the best people need a chance to shine. In the past, even though Chen Ping was talented, he still had to rely on Wei Qian's recommendation to be highly valued; although Han Xin was outstanding, he also had to rely on Xiao He's recommendation to be trusted. Therefore, each era has its own outstanding talents. If we wait for people like Yi Yin and Lv Shang to recommend them, then these people will not have the opportunity to shine because of your promotion."
Upon hearing Zhang Chang's words, the court officials actively recommended talented individuals and made a real difference. Yi, as a high-ranking official of the court, lived a simple and frugal life, using his salary to support his family and community, with no extra wealth at home.
In the first year of Shenjue, Yi died. The emperor was very saddened and issued a decree praising him: "Yi, the Chief Agricultural Officer, was honest and upright, always putting public duty first, never associating with the powerful, nor accepting bribes. He was truly a person of noble character! Unfortunately, he died unexpectedly, and I am deeply grieved! I specially grant Yi's son one hundred pounds of gold as a funerary gift."
At the beginning, when Yi was seriously ill and about to die, he told his son: "I used to be an official in Tongxiang, and the local people there loved me very much. You must bury me in Tongxiang. I'd rather be remembered by the people of Tongxiang than my own family." After Yi's death, his son followed his wishes and buried him outside the west gate of Tongxiang. The local people indeed built a tomb and shrine for him, and they have been worshipping him every year ever since.
Gong Sui, styled Shaoqing, was a native of Nanyang, Shanyang, Shandong. He passed the civil service exams and became an official, eventually serving as the governor of Changyi and working for Prince Liu He of Changyi. Liu He was a bit of a flake, while Gong Sui was honest and principled, advising Prince Liu privately and even criticizing his teachers and prime ministers in public. He quoted scripture and explained the situation, even crying while advising, persisting until he lost his voice, yet never stopping. When he pointed out the king's mistakes to his face, Prince Liu covered his ears and ran away, saying, "That Prefect really knew how to make a scene!" Everyone respected and feared him.
Changyi Wang often lived it up with some attendants, chefs, and butchers all day long, handing out gifts like candy. Gong Sui burst into tears and pleaded with him, and even the people around him cried along. Changyi Wang asked, "Why are you crying, Your Majesty?" Gong Sui said, "I fear for the kingdom! I hope you can give me a chance to serve the kingdom faithfully." Changyi Wang let the people around him leave, and Gong Sui said, "Do you know why King Jiaoxi lost his kingdom?" Changyi Wang replied, "I don't know." Gong Sui explained, "I heard that King Jiaoxi had a treacherous minister named Hou De. King Jiaoxi did bad things just like Jie and Zhou, but Hou De praised him to the heavens, claiming he was like Yao and Shun. King Jiaoxi enjoyed his flattery, often shared his bed with him, and only listened to Hou De's words, which led to his downfall. Now, Your Majesty, you are also getting close to villains, gradually picking up bad habits; your kingdom's in danger! You must be careful! I hope you can select some officials who are knowledgeable in history and have high moral character to serve you. Study the classics and practice proper court etiquette; it's the only way to save your kingdom." Changyi Wang agreed.
Gong Sui selected ten people, including Zhang An, a court official of the rank of Langzhong, to serve King Changyi. After a few days, King Changyi dismissed Zhang An and the others. After a while, a series of strange incidents occurred in the palace. King Changyi asked Gong Sui what was going on, and Gong Sui said that this foreshadowed a great calamity; the palace would soon be deserted, as detailed in the *Biography of King Changyi*. Just as Emperor Zhao of Han died without a son, King Changyi Liu He inherited the throne, and all officials were summoned to the palace. King Changyi Liu He's teacher An Le was appointed as the Commander of the Changle Guard. When Gong Sui saw An Le, he cried and said, "Your Majesty has grown increasingly arrogant since his ascension, not listening to advice; despite his recent bereavement, he indulges in feasting and revelry with close attendants, engaging in reckless pursuits, riding in lavish carriages and driving about, all while acting against all propriety. In ancient times, ministers had the option of retiring, but now they cannot leave. Open opposition risks death; covert opposition, discovery. In the end, they face death and disgrace. What can be done? You are His Majesty's senior minister and should strongly advise him!" King Changyi was deposed after 27 days on the throne due to his debauchery. Officials of the Changyi Kingdom were executed for unjustly accusing King Changyi, with over 200 people killed. Only Gong Sui and Captain Wang Yang had their punishment reduced for repeatedly advising against the king's actions; they were subjected to the Chengdan punishment (having their heads shaved and performing penal servitude). Shortly after Emperor Xuan of Han ascended the throne, several counties around Bohai experienced famine and widespread banditry that defied the efforts of senior officials. The Emperor, following the recommendation of the Prime Minister and Imperial Censor, selected a capable man named Gongsun Sui to be appointed as the Governor of Bohai. At that time, Gongsun Sui was over seventy years old and was summoned by the Emperor. Gongsun Sui was short and small, not matching the Emperor's expectations. Emperor Xuan harbored some reservations about him and asked, "Bohai is in such chaos, and I am very anxious. How do you propose to resolve this bandit problem to my satisfaction?"
Gongsun Sui replied, "Bohai is too far from the capital to get any help from the government. The common people are poor and cold, and the officials do not care. That's why the Emperor's own people are fighting each other with the Emperor's own weapons! Now, do you want me to defeat them, or do you want them to behave?" Emperor Xuan was very pleased and said, "Of course, the point of picking good officials is to keep things peaceful!" Gongsun Sui said, "I have heard that governing unruly people is like governing a tangled rope; you can't just yank on it. It cannot be rushed; only through gradual efforts can it be managed well. I hope the Prime Minister and the Censorate will temporarily not restrict me with all the red tape, allowing me to handle things flexibly." The Emperor agreed, rewarded him with gold, and sent a carriage to escort him to his post.
When Gongsun Sui got to Bohai, the county heard that the new governor had arrived and sent soldiers to welcome him. Gongsun Sui sent them all back, then issued a decree to all counties, ordering them to stop pursuing thieves. Anyone with a hoe or farming tools was considered a law-abiding citizen, and the officials weren't allowed to bother them; only those carrying weapons were considered thieves. Gongsun Sui arrived at the governor's mansion alone in a carriage, and Bohai calmed right down, and the bandits vanished. Previously, Bohai Commandery had frequent robberies, but upon hearing Gongsun Sui's orders, they immediately disbanded, dropped their weapons, and picked up hoes. So the bandits were all sorted, and everyone else could get on with their lives. He opened up the storehouses to feed the hungry, chose good officials, and looked after the people so they could live decent lives.
Gongsun Sui saw that folks in Qi lived extravagantly, were obsessed with all sorts of useless crafts, and neglected farming. So he set an example by living a simple life and encouraged the people to farm. He ordered each household to plant an elm tree, one hundred leeks, fifty onions, a plot of garlic chives, raise two sows, and five chickens. If anyone wore a sword at their waist, they were to sell the sword and buy a calf, saying, "What's with the calf?" In spring and summer, they must work the land, and in autumn and winter, they must bring in their harvest on time, as well as store some fruits and water chestnuts. Gongsun Sui often toured the countryside, and everyone in the county started putting money aside; everybody, from the officials on down, was doing well, and there were fewer lawsuits.
Several years passed, and the court sent envoys to summon Zhang Sui (using Zhang Sui instead of "Sui" to avoid ambiguity) to take up an official position. Yicao Wangsheng (using Wangsheng instead of "Wang" to avoid ambiguity) was really itching to go along. However, his assistant felt that Wangsheng usually drank too much and wasn't cut out for that kind of thing. Zhang Sui couldn't bring himself to say no to Wangsheng, so he took him to the capital together.
In the capital, Wangsheng drank every day and totally blew off Zhang Sui. Later, when Zhang Sui was brought into the palace to meet the emperor, Wangsheng was drunk and yelled from behind Zhang Sui, "Hey, wait a sec, Prefect, I want to say a few words to you." Zhang Sui asked him what it was, and Wangsheng said, "If the emperor asks you about how to govern Bohai, don't make up your own answers; just say, 'It's all thanks to the emperor's grace, not the merit of a nobody like me.'" Zhang Sui remembered Wangsheng's words.
When Zhang Sui got to the emperor, the emperor did indeed ask him about the situation in Bohai. Zhang Sui answered according to what Wang Sheng had said. The emperor was chuffed by his modesty and said with a smile, "Where'd you learn that from?" Zhang Sui quickly replied, "I didn't come up with these myself; it was Wang Sheng who taught me." The emperor felt that Zhang Sui was too old to take on higher official positions, so he appointed him as the Captain of Shuiheng and Wang Sheng as the Deputy Captain of Shuiheng, to commend Zhang Sui. The Shuiheng gig involved overseeing the Shanglin Garden and the imperial gardens, looking after palace building, and sorting out temple sacrifices. It was a plum job, and the Emperor really rated Zhang Sui. Zhang Sui died in post.
Next, let's talk about Zhaoshin, also known as Wengqing, who was from Shouchun in Jiujang. He aced the imperial exams and became a Lang official, then got sent to Guyang County as magistrate. Because he did such a good job, he was promoted to be the county magistrate of Shangcai. He ran the place, treating the people like his own kids, and wherever he went, he was praised by the people. He was later promoted to Prefect of Lingling, but resigned due to illness and returned home. The court called him back as an advisor, and later he was promoted to Prefect of Nanyang, using the same methods that worked so well in Shangcai.
Xin was always busy as a bee, and he was quite resourceful. He really looked out for the common folk and had their best interests at heart. He personally encouraged farmers to get out there and farm, constantly pottering about in the fields and rarely resting at home. He scoured the county, fixing up water sources, digging canals, building dams and reservoirs—dozens of 'em! This brought in more and more land under cultivation, until he had a whopping 30,000 hectares irrigated! People were better off, with every household saving money. To avoid disputes over water use, Xin also established a fair water usage system, carved in stone by the fields. He cracked down on lavish weddings and funerals, pushing for everyone to be more frugal. Lazy, good-for-nothing sons of county officials? He sent them packing, and if they'd broken the law, he came down on them hard.
His work made a huge difference: people worked harder, and the population doubled. Crime and lawsuits dried up. Everyone, from officials to common folk, called him "Father Xin." The Jingzhou governor told the emperor all about Xin's amazing work for the people, saying the county was booming thanks to him. The emperor rewarded him with forty catties of gold. He went on to be governor of Henan, always at the top of his game, getting promoted again and again, and showered with gold.
During the reign of Jingning, he was appointed as a Shao Fu, one of the nine highest-ranking ministers. He proposed to the court that the remote and rarely used palaces and buildings in Shanglin Park should no longer be repaired or maintained. He also requested a reduction in the personnel of the various musical and theatrical performers, as well as the palace weapons, crossbows, and other equipment, cutting them by half. The imperial gardens featured winter-only crops like onions and leeks, which were grown under cover and artificially heated day and night to allow them to thrive in a warm environment. Xincheng believed these unnatural, potentially harmful vegetables were unsuitable for tribute and requested their removal, resulting in annual savings of tens of millions. Xincheng died in office in his old age.
In the fourth year of Yuanshi, the court issued an edict to honor the officials and ministers who were beneficial to the people. Wenweng from Shu County and Zhaofu from Jiujiang responded to the edict. Every year at this time, the county's high-ranking officials would lead their subordinates to pay respects at Xincheng's tomb, and a shrine was erected in his honor in Nanyang.
