231 Crown Prince

A10.8

In the first month of the year, officials from relevant departments suggested, "Appointing a crown prince early will honor the ancestral temple. Please appoint a crown prince." Emperor Wen said, "My virtue is shallow. The gods have not yet enjoyed the sacrifices, and the people of the world are not satisfied. Now even if I cannot find a wise, sage, and virtuous person in the world to abdicate the throne to him, I say that I want to appoint a crown prince in advance. This will make my virtue even shallower. How can I tell the people of the world? Let's put this matter aside for the time being." The official said, "Appointing a crown prince in advance is to honor the ancestral temple and the country, and to show that we have not forgotten the people of the world." Emperor Wen said, "The King of Chu is my uncle. He is old and understands many principles of the world and understands the general situation of the country. The King of Wu is my elder brother. He is kind and benevolent and likes morality. The King of Huainan is my younger brother. He upholds morality to assist me. Aren't they the heirs established in advance? The princes, brothers of the royal family, and meritorious ministers are many wise and virtuous people. If I recommend virtuous people to assist me in completing my unfinished business, it will be a good thing for the country and a blessing for the world. . If I do not recommend them now, but insist on appointing my own son, people will think that I have forgotten the virtuous and only care about my own son. I think this is not a way to share the worries of the people of the world. I think this is not advisable. "The officials all resolutely requested, "In ancient times, the Shang and Zhou dynasties established their countries and maintained peace for more than a thousand years. In ancient times, no dynasty that won the world lasted longer than this, because the emperors of these two dynasties must have chosen their own sons as their successors. This is a long-standing tradition. Emperor Gao personally led the civil officials and military generals, and as soon as he pacified the world, he established the vassal states and became the Taizu of the emperors of this dynasty. The vassal kings and marquises who first accepted the fiefdoms were also the ancestors of each country. The descendants inherit the throne and it will not be cut off from generation to generation. This is the great justice of the world, so Emperor Gao established this system to stabilize the people's hearts. Now abandoning what should be followed and selecting other vassal and royal family members is not Emperor Gao's original intention. It is not appropriate to discuss it further. Prince Liu Qi is the oldest and pure and kind, so I request to make him the crown prince. "Emperor Wen agreed. Therefore, he rewarded all the common people in the world who were destined to be fathers and heirs by promoting their titles one level higher. He conferred the title of Marquis of Chen on General Bo Zhao.

正月，有司言曰：“蚤建太子，所以尊宗庙。请立太子。”上曰：“朕既不德，上帝神明未歆享，天下人民未有嗛志。今纵不能博求天下贤圣有德之人而禅天下焉，而曰豫建太子，是重吾不德也。谓天下何？其安之。”有司曰：“豫建太子，所以重宗庙社稷，不忘天下也。”上曰：“楚王，季父也，春秋高，阅天下之义理多矣，明于国家之大体。吴王于朕，兄也，惠仁以好德。淮南王，弟也，秉德以陪朕。岂为不豫哉！诸侯王宗室昆弟有功臣，多贤及有德义者，若举有德以陪朕之不能终，是社稷之灵，天下之福也。今不选举焉，而曰必子，人其以朕为忘贤有德者而专于子，非所以忧天下也。朕甚不取也。”有司皆固请曰：“古者殷周有国，治安皆千余岁，古之有天下者莫长焉，用此道也。立嗣必子，所从来远矣。高帝亲率士大夫，始平天下，建诸侯，为帝者太祖。诸侯王及列侯始受国者皆亦为其国祖。子孙继嗣，世世弗绝，天下之大义也，故高帝设之以抚海内。今释宜建而更选于诸侯及宗室，非高帝之志也。更议不宜。子某最长，纯厚慈仁，请建以为太子。”上乃许之。因赐天下民当代父后者爵各一级。封将军薄昭为轵侯。

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。”