230 Fair Laws

A10.5|6|7

On the day of Xinhai of the 11th month, the emperor ascended the throne and went to the Gao Temple. The Right Prime Minister Chen Ping was transferred to the position of left Prime Minister, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo was transferred to the position of right prime minister, and the great general Guan Ying was transferred to the position of Grand Commandant. All the former territories of Qi and Chu that had been seized by the various Lu clans were restored.

On the day of Ren Zi, Emperor Wen sent General Bo Zhao to Dai to welcome the Empress Dowager. The Emperor said: "Lü Chan made himself as Prime Minister and Lü Lu as Superior General. They falsely issued an imperial edict to send General Guan to lead the army to attack Qi in order to replace Liu. Guan Ying stayed in Xingyang and did not attack Qi. He and the princes planned to destroy Lü. Lü Chan wanted to cause chaos. Prime Minister Chen Ping and Grand Commandant Zhou Bo planned to seize the military power of Lü Chan and others. Liu Zhang, Marquis Zhuxu, took the lead in arresting Lü Chan and others. The Grand Commandant personally led Liu Tong, Marquis Xiangping, to enter the Northern Army with the imperial edict. The Imperial Courtier Liu Jie personally seized the General Seal of King Zhao Lü Lu. Based on all the above, the Grand Commandant Zhou Bo was granted an additional fief of 10 thousand households and a reward of five thousand catties of gold. Prime Minister Chen Ping and General Guan Ying each were granted an additional fief of three thousand households and a reward of two thousand gold. Liu Zhang the Marquis Zhuxu, Liu Tong the Marquis Xiangping, and Liu Xingju the Marquis Dongmu each were granted an additional fief of two thousand households and a reward of one thousand gold. The Imperial Courtier Liu Jie was granted the title of Marquis Yangxin and a reward of one thousand gold."

In December, Emperor Wen said: "Laws are the guidelines for governing the country. They can be used to prohibit violence and persuade people to be good. Now, after the offenders are convicted, their innocent parents, wives, children and brothers are punished together, and their children are confiscated as official slaves. I think this practice is not advisable. Let the ministers discuss it." The officials of the relevant departments all said: "The people cannot govern themselves, so laws are made to restrain them. The family members who are implicated are also arrested, just to make people worry and make them look at the violation of the law carefully. This practice has a long history. Let's follow the original practice. The law is more appropriate." Emperor Wen said: "I have heard that fair laws make the people loyal and fair, and appropriate punishments make the people obedient. Moreover, officials are the ones who govern the people and persuade them to be good. If officials cannot persuade the people and use unfair laws to punish them, it will be harmful to the people and force them to do bad things. What should be used to prohibit it? I don't see why it is appropriate. The ministers should think about it in detail. "The officials of the relevant departments said: "Your Majesty's grace is great and his merits are great, which is beyond our imagination. We will obey the imperial edict and abolish the law that punishes innocent family members as official slaves."

辛亥，皇帝即阼，谒高庙。右丞相平徙为左丞相，太尉勃为右丞相，大将军灌婴为太尉。诸吕所夺齐楚故地，皆复与之。

壬子，遣车骑将军薄昭迎皇太后于代。皇帝曰：“吕产自置为相国，吕禄为上将军，擅矫遣灌将军婴将兵击齐，欲代刘氏，婴留荥阳弗击，与诸侯合谋以诛吕氏。吕产欲为不善，丞相陈平与太尉周勃谋夺吕产等军。朱虚侯刘章首先捕吕产等。太尉身率襄平侯通持节承诏入北军。典客刘揭身夺赵王吕禄印。益封太尉勃万户，赐金五千斤。丞相陈平、灌将军婴邑各三千户，金二千斤。朱虚侯刘章、襄平侯通、东牟侯刘兴居邑各二千户，金千斤。封典客揭为阳信侯，赐金千斤。”

十二月，上曰：“法者，治之正也，所以禁暴而率善人也。今犯法已论，而使毋罪之父母妻子同产坐之，及为收帑，朕甚不取。其议之。”有司皆曰：“民不能自治，故为法以禁之。相坐坐收，所以累其心，使重犯法，所从来远矣。如故便。”上曰：“朕闻法正则民悫，罪当则民从。且夫牧民而导之善者，吏也。其既不能导，又以不正之法罪之，是反害于民为暴者也。何以禁之？朕未见其便，其孰计之。”有司皆曰：“陛下加大惠，德甚盛，非臣等所及也。请奉诏书，除收帑诸相坐律令。”