When drought and locust plagues occurred throughout the country, the emperor showed favors, ordered the princes to stop paying tribute to the court, lifted the ban on exploiting mountains and swamps, and allowed the people to enter and exit freely, reduced the emperor's many costumes, carriages, and toys, reduced the number of officials around the emperor, opened the government warehouse to help the poor, and the people could also sell their titles in exchange for food.
Emperor Xiaowen came to Chang'an from Dai State. During his 23 years in office, he did not increase the number of palaces, gardens, dogs and horses, clothing, and carriages. He abolished the prohibitions that were inconvenient for the people to make life easier for them. Emperor Wen wanted to build a terrace and summoned craftsmen to calculate the cost, which was worth 100 gold. Emperor Wen said, "100 gold is equivalent to the property of ten middle-class families. I am always worried about bringing shame to the previous emperor while guarding the palace of the previous emperor. What is the point of building a terrace?" Emperor Wen usually wore coarse silk clothes. His favorite wife Shen was not allowed to wear clothes that dragged on the ground. The curtains of the palace were not allowed to be embroidered with patterns, in order to show his honesty and frugality and set an example for the world. When Emperor Wen built the Mausoleum of Baling, he used earthenware as burial objects, and was not allowed to use gold, silver, copper, or tin as decorations. He did not build a tall tomb mound, in order to save money and not bother the people. Zhao Tuo, the King of Nanyue, proclaimed himself Emperor Wu, but Emperor Wen summoned his brothers and granted them titles and salaries to repay him with kindness. Zhao Tuo then gave up his title of emperor and became a vassal of the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty made peace with the Huns, but the Huns broke the agreement and entered the country to plunder. However, Emperor Wen only ordered the border guards to strengthen their defenses and did not send troops deep into the Huns territory, fearing that it would disturb the people. The King of Wu lied that he was sick and did not come to the court, and Emperor Wen gave him a side table and a walking stick. Although the words of the ministers such as Yuan Ang were fierce, Emperor Wen often accepted their suggestions with tolerance. Among the ministers, such as Zhang Wu, when they accepted money from others, when they were discovered, Emperor Wen rewarded them with money from the palace treasury, so that they would feel ashamed in their hearts and not hand it over to the officials for punishment. Emperor Wen was committed to educating his subjects with morality, so the four seas were prosperous and etiquette and morality prevailed in the world.
天下旱，蝗。帝加惠：令诸侯毋入贡，弛山泽，减诸服御狗马，损郎吏员，发仓庾以振贫民，民得卖爵。
孝文帝从代来，即位二十三年，宫室苑囿狗马服御无所增益，有不便，辄弛以利民。尝欲作露台，召匠计之，直百金。上曰：“百金中民十家之产，吾奉先帝宫室，常恐羞之，何以台为！”上常衣绨衣，所幸慎夫人，令衣不得曳地，帏帐不得文绣，以示敦朴，为天下先。治霸陵皆以瓦器，不得以金银铜锡为饰，不治坟，欲为省，毋烦民。南越王尉佗自立为武帝，然上召贵尉佗兄弟，以德报之，佗遂去帝称臣。与匈奴和亲，匈奴背约入盗，然令边备守，不发兵深入，恶烦苦百姓。吴王诈病不朝，就赐几杖。群臣如袁盎等称说虽切，常假借用之。群臣如张武等受赂遗金钱，觉，上乃发御府金钱赐之，以愧其心，弗下吏。专务以德化民，是以海内殷富，兴于礼义。
No comments:
Post a Comment