158 Emperor’s Voice

A6.55|56

In the winter of the second year (208 BC), Zhou Zhang and other generals sent by Chen She arrived in the west with hundreds of thousands of troops. The Second Emperor was greatly alarmed and discussed with his ministers, "What should we do?" The Junior Minister Zhang Han said, "The bandits have already arrived and are strong. We cannot reach them in time if we send troops from adjacent counties. There are many prisoners in Lishan. Please pardon them and give them weapons to fight them." The Second Emperor pardoned the whole country and sent Zhang Han to lead the army. He defeated Zhou Zhang's army and Zhang fled, and then Zhang was killed in Caoyang. Then the Second Emperor sent more reinforcements, there were chief historians Sima Xin and Dong Yi, to assist Zhang Han in fighting the bandits. They killed Chen Sheng in Chengfu, defeated Xiang Liang in Dingtao, and destroyed Wei Ju in Linji. The famous bandit generals in Chu were all killed, so Zhang Han crossed the river to the north and attacked Zhao Xie the new King of Zhao and others in Julu.

Zhao Gao advised the Second Emperor, "The late emperor ruled the country for a long time, so the ministers did not dare to do bad things or say bad things. Now your Majesty is young and has just ascended the throne, how can you make decisions with the ministers in the court? If something goes wrong, your shortcomings will be exposed in front of the ministers. The emperor calls himself "Zhen Myself ", so it is not easy for people to hear his voice." So the Second Emperor often lived in the palace and made decisions with Zhao Gao. From then on, the ministers rarely had the opportunity to see the emperor, and there were more and more bandits. The court kept dispatching soldiers from Guanzhong to the east to attack the them. Right Prime Minister Feng Quji, Left Prime Minister Li Si, and General Feng Jie advised: "Bandits from all over Guandong rose up at the same time. Qin sent troops to suppress them and killed many people, but the rebellion has not been quelled. There are too many bandits because the people are too tired from garrisoning, transporting, and labor, and the taxes are too heavy. Please temporarily stop the construction of Afang Palace and reduce garrisoning and transportation in all directions." The Second Emperor said, “I have heard that Han Feizi once said, ‘The rafters of the houses of Yao and Shun were not repaired, the thatched roofs were not repaired, and they ate and drank from clay bowls. Even the gatekeepers were not so shabby. Great Yu dug the Longmen to open up the road to Great Xia, dredged the accumulated water of the Yellow River and led it into the sea. He personally took the planks and earthen hoes and rubbed off the sweat hairs on his calves. Now the slaves' labor would not be more severe than this.' Those who are noble and own the world should do whatever they want, mainly by strictly enforcing the known laws, people below will not dare to do bad things, and the whole world can be controlled. For example, the monarchs of Yu and Xia, although they were the emperors, personally engaged in poor work and set an example for the people. What is the use of laws in this case? I am the emperor of ten thousand chariots, but I am not worthy of the title. I want to build a thousand chariots and set up ten thousand chariots to match the title. Moreover, the late emperor was born in the feudal lords, and later annexed the world. Now the world has been pacified. He can drive out the barbarians from all directions to stabilize the borders, and build palaces to show his pride. You have all seen the process of the late emperor's achievements. Now, within two years of my accession to the throne, various bandits have risen up at the same time. You cannot stop them, and you want to abolish the policies implemented by the late emperor. First you cannot repay the late emperor, and second you cannot be loyal to me. Why do you hold such a high position? "He handed Feng Quji, Li Si, and Feng Jie to the jailer and investigated their various crimes. Feng Quji and Feng Jie said, "Generals and ministers cannot be insulted." So they committed suicide. Li Si was finally imprisoned and suffered Five Punishments.

二年冬，陈涉所遣周章等将西至戏，兵数十万。二世大惊，与群臣谋曰：“柰何？”少府章邯曰：“盗已至，众强，今发近县不及矣。郦山徒多，请赦之，授兵以击之。”二世乃大赦天下，使章邯将，击破周章军而走，遂杀章曹阳。二世益遣长史司马欣、董翳佐章邯击盗，杀陈胜城父，破项梁定陶，灭魏咎临济。楚地盗名将已死，章邯乃北渡河，击赵王歇等于钜鹿。

赵高说二世曰：“先帝临制天下久，故群臣不敢为非，进邪说。今陛下富于春秋，初即位，柰何与公卿廷决事？事即有误，示群臣短也。天子称朕，固不闻声。”于是二世常居禁中，与高决诸事。其后公卿希得朝见，盗贼益多，而关中卒发东击盗者毋已。右丞相去疾、左丞相斯、将军冯劫进谏曰：“关东群盗并起，秦发兵诛击，所杀亡甚众，然犹不止。盗多，皆以戍漕转作事苦，赋税大也。请且止阿房宫作者，减省四边戍转。”二世曰：“吾闻之韩子曰：‘尧舜采椽不刮，茅茨不翦，饭土塯，啜土形，虽监门之养，不觳于此。禹凿龙门，通大夏，决河亭水，放之海，身自持筑臿，胫毋毛，臣虏之劳不烈于此矣。’凡所为贵有天下者，得肆意极欲，主重明法，下不敢为非，以制御海内矣。夫虞、夏之主，贵为天子，亲处穷苦之实，以徇百姓，尚何于法？朕尊万乘，毋其实，吾欲造千乘之驾，万乘之属，充吾号名。且先帝起诸侯，兼天下，天下已定，外攘四夷以安边竟，作宫室以章得意，而君观先帝功业有绪。今朕即位二年之间，群盗并起，君不能禁，又欲罢先帝之所为，是上毋以报先帝，次不为朕尽忠力，何以在位？”下去疾、斯、劫吏，案责他罪。去疾、劫曰：“将相不辱。”自杀。斯卒囚，就五刑。