240 Emperor Xiaowen’s Passing

A10.36

On the 15th day of the sixth month of the seventh year of the later era of Xiaowen emperor’s reign (157 BC), Emperor Wen died in the Weiyang Palace. His will said: "I have heard that all things in the world will eventually die. Death is the common sense between heaven and earth, and the natural law of all things in the world. What is there to be overly sad about? In this era, people love life and hate death. After death, they want to be buried lavishly to squander their family property and mourn excessively to harm their bodies. I think this is not advisable. Moreover, my virtue is shallow and I cannot help the people. Now that I have passed away, I want to make people mourn excessively for a long time and suffer from severe cold and heat, make other people's fathers and sons mourn for me, hurt the hearts of the old and the young, reduce their food, and prohibit the worship of ghosts and gods, making my virtue even shallower, how can I explain to the people of the world! I have been able to guard the ancestral temple and be held high by the princes of the world with my insignificant body for more than 20 years. Relying on the power of heaven and earth and the well-being of the country, the country has been peaceful and there is no war. I was not diligent enough, and I was always worried that my behavior would bring shame to the virtues left by the previous emperor. As time went on, I was afraid that I would not have a good end. Now I am fortunate enough to live out my life and be enshrined in the high temple again. I am not virtuous but I can have a good end, what is there to be sad about! Now I order the officials and people of the world to leave after the order is issued. After three days of mourning, everyone should take off their mourning clothes. Marrying a wife or daughter, offering sacrifices, drinking, or eating meat should not be prohibited. People who are supposed to attend the funeral and are wearing mourning clothes should not go barefoot. The width of the hemp belt of the mourning clothes should not exceed three inches. Do not display chariots and weapons, and do not mobilize men and women from the public to come to the palace to cry and mourn. Those who are supposed to mourn in the palace should cry fifteen times in the morning and evening, and stop after the ceremony is completed. It is not allowed to cry without permission when it is not the time to mourn in the morning or evening. After the burial, those who should wear the big mourning clothes for nine months should only wear them for fifteen days, those who should wear the small mourning clothes for five months should only wear them for fourteen days, and those who should be in mourning for three months should only wear mourning clothes for seven days, and then take off the mourning clothes. Other matters not within the prescribed scope shall be handled in accordance with this decree. The decree shall be announced to the world so that the people of the world can understand my intention. The mountains and rivers around the tomb of the emperor should remain as they are, and no changes should be made. The concubines from the harem to the junior eunuchs should be sent back home. " The court appointed Lieutenant Zhou Yafu as General of Chariots and Cavalry, Xu Han, the Minister of the State, as General of Garrison, and Zhang Wu, the Imperial Supervisor Attendant, as General of Restoration of Soil. 16,000 active soldiers from the counties near Chang'an and 15,000 officers and soldiers from the palace were put in use, and General Zhang Wu was in charge of directing the digging of the tomb, burying the coffin, and filling the burial mound.

后七年六月己亥，帝崩于未央宫。遗诏曰：“朕闻盖天下万物之萌生，靡不有死。死者天地之理，物之自然者，奚可甚哀。当今之时，世咸嘉生而恶死，厚葬以破业，重服以伤生，吾甚不取。且朕既不德，无以佐百姓；今崩，又使重服久临，以离寒暑之数，哀人之父子，伤长幼之志，损其饮食，绝鬼神之祭祀，以重吾不德也，谓天下何！朕获保宗庙，以眇眇之身讬于天下君王之上，二十有余年矣。赖天地之灵，社稷之福，方内安宁，靡有兵革。朕既不敏，常畏过行，以羞先帝之遗德；维年之久长，惧于不终。今乃幸以天年，得复供养于高庙。朕之不明与嘉之，其奚哀悲之有！其令天下吏民，令到出临三日，皆释服。毋禁取妇嫁女祠祀饮酒食肉者。自当给丧事服临者，皆无践。绖带无过三寸，毋布车及兵器，毋发民男女哭临宫殿。宫殿中当临者，皆以旦夕各十五举声，礼毕罢。非旦夕临时，禁毋得擅哭。已下，服大红十五日，小红十四日，纤七日，释服。佗不在令中者，皆以此令比率从事。布告天下，使明知朕意。霸陵山川因其故，毋有所改。归夫人以下至少使。”令中尉亚夫为车骑将军，属国悍为将屯将军，郎中令武为复土将军，发近县见卒万六千人，发内史卒万五千人，藏郭穿复土属将军武。

239 Etiquette and Morality

A10.34|35

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。

238 Marriage with Huns

A10.30…33

In the 16th year (164 BC), Emperor Wen personally went to the Five Emperors Temple in Weiyang to hold a suburban sacrifice, and also thanked heaven for the auspiciousness in the summer, and the clothing advocated red.

In the 17th year (163 BC), Emperor Wen got a jade cup with "Longevity of the Lord" engraved on it. So Emperor Wen began to change the current year to the first year as the later era, and ordered the people of the world to gather and feast. That year, Xin Yuanping's conspiracy was exposed and his three clans were exterminated.

In the second year of later era of Xiaowen emperor (162 BC), Emperor Wen said: "I am not wise enough to extend my kindness to distant places, so some countries outside the border cannot be stable and harmonious. The people in the remote areas of the four directions cannot live and work in peace, and the people in the country work hard and cannot rest. These two faults are due to my shallow virtue and cannot benefit distant places. In recent years, the Huns have come to the border to cause trouble, killing many officials and civilians, and the officers and soldiers guarding the border cannot tell the Huns my thoughts, which makes my virtue even shallower. With such long-term grievances and wars, what will the countries in the world rely on to be peaceful? Now I have already I got up early and went to bed late, and I was busy with the world's affairs and worried about the millions of people. I was anxious and uneasy, and I never forgot this matter. So I sent envoys to tell the Chanyu my thoughts. Now the Chanyu has returned to the previous friendly path, considering the peace of the country and seeking benefits for the people. He has forgotten the small festivals with me, walked on the road together, and forged a brotherly friendship to protect the millions of people in the world. The marriage has been decided, starting right this year. "

In the winter of the sixth year of later era of Xiaowen (158 BC), 30,000 Huns entered Shangjun and 30,000 entered Yunzhong. Emperor Wen appointed Middle Minister Ling Mian as the general of chariots and cavalry, stationed in Feihu; appointed Su Yi, the former prime minister of Chu, as a general, stationed in Juzhu; ordered General Zhang Wu to station in Beidi; appointed Zhou Yafu, the governor of Henei County, as a general, stationed in Xiliu; appointed Liu Li, the chief of the clan, as a general, stationed in Bashang; and ordered Songzi Hou to station in Jimen to guard against the Huns people. A few months later, the Huns people withdrew, and the various armies also withdrew.

十六年，上亲郊见渭阳五帝庙，亦以夏答礼而尚赤。

十七年，得玉杯，刻曰“人主延寿”。于是天子始更为元年，令天下大酺。其岁，新垣平事觉，夷三族。

后二年，上曰：“朕既不明，不能远德，是以使方外之国或不宁息。夫四荒之外不安其生，封畿之内勤劳不处，二者之咎，皆自于朕之德薄而不能远达也。间者累年，匈奴并暴边境，多杀吏民，边臣兵吏又不能谕吾内志，以重吾不德也。夫久结难连兵，中外之国将何以自宁？今朕夙兴夜寐，勤劳天下，忧苦万民，为之怛惕不安，未尝一日忘于心，故遣使者冠盖相望，结轶于道，以谕朕意于单于。今单于反古之道，计社稷之安，便万民之利，亲与朕俱弃细过，偕之大道，结兄弟之义，以全天下元元之民。和亲已定，始于今年。”

后六年冬，匈奴三万人入上郡，三万人入云中。以中大夫令勉为车骑将军，军飞狐；故楚相苏意为将军，军句注；将军张武屯北地；河内守周亚夫为将军，居细柳；宗正刘礼为将军，居霸上；祝兹侯军棘门：以备胡。数月，胡人去，亦罢。

237 The Virtue of Earth

A10.26…29

In the winter of the 14th year (166 BC), the Huns planned to enter the border to plunder, they attacked the pass fortress and killed military head Sun Ang of Beidi. Emperor Wen then sent three generals to station in Longxi, Beidi, and Shangjun respectively, and appointed Zhou She as the General of Guards, and Supervisor Attendant Zhang Wu as the General of Chariots and Cavalry, stationed north of the Wei River, with 1,000 chariots and 100,000 cavalry. Emperor Wen personally comforted the soldiers, rectified the army, issued instructions, and rewarded the soldiers of the whole army. Emperor Wen wanted to lead the soldiers to attack the Huns in person, but the ministers dissuaded him, and Emperor Wen refused to listen. The Queen Mother resolutely stopped Emperor Wen, and Emperor Wen gave up. So he appointed Zhang Xiangru, Marquis of Dongyang, as the general, Dong Chi, Marquis of Cheng, as the internal historian, and Luan Bu as the general, and sent troops to attack the Huns. The Huns fled.

In spring, Emperor Wen said, "I have been able to offer sacrifices and jade to the Emperor of Heaven and the ancestral temple for fourteen years, which is a long time. I am not diligent and wise, but I have been able to govern the world for a long time. I feel ashamed for this. The altar should be expanded and more sacrifices should be provided. In the past, the former kings showed favors from afar without asking for returns, offered sacrifices to mountains and rivers from afar without praying for blessings, put talents prior to relatives, considered the people first and themselves next, and were extremely wise. Now I heard that the officials in charge of sacrifices prayed for blessings from the gods, but all of them were attributed to me, but they did not consider the people. I feel ashamed for this. People like me with shallow virtues enjoy the blessings of the gods alone, while the people cannot enjoy them, which makes my virtues even shallower. Now I order the officials in charge of sacrifices to express respect to the gods and not pray for me." 

At that time, Zhang Cang, the Marquis of Beiping, was the prime minister and was formulating music and calendar. Gongsun Chen, a native of Lu County, wrote a letter to explain the theory of the end and beginning of the five virtues, and proposed that the current one is the earth virtue, which corresponds to the appearance of the yellow dragon, and the calendar and clothing systems should be changed. The emperor referred the matter to the prime minister and other officials for discussion. After studying it, the prime minister believed that the present was the water virtue, and began to stipulate that October was the beginning of the year and that the clothing should be black. He believed that Gongsun Chen's theory was incorrect and requested that it should not be adopted.

In the 15th year (165 BC), a yellow dragon appeared in Chengji. The emperor then summoned Gongsun Chen of Lu County again, appointed him as a doctor, and asked him to explain the relevant theories of the earth virtue. So Emperor Wen issued an edict saying: "A strange divine creature appeared in Chengji, but it did not harm the people. This year's harvest is very good. I will personally go to the suburbs to sacrifice to the Emperor of Heaven and the gods. The officials in charge of etiquette will discuss it, and don't worry about my fatigue." The officials in charge of etiquette all said: "In ancient times, the emperor personally went to the suburbs in summer to sacrifice to the Emperor of Heaven according to etiquette, so it was called suburban sacrifice." So Emperor Wen personally visited Yong County for the first time, sacrificed to the Five Emperors in the suburbs, and thanked the heaven for the auspicious signs in the fourth month of summer. Xin Yuanping, a native of Zhao, was summoned because of his skill in the art of observing qi. He took the opportunity to persuade Emperor Wen to build the Temple of the Five Emperors in Weiyang. At the same time, he wanted to instigate the emperor to salvage the Nine Tripod Cauldrons of the Zhou, saying that there would definitely be a brilliant gem to be found.

十四年冬，匈奴谋入边为寇，攻朝冉阝塞，杀北地都尉卬。上乃遣三将军军陇西、北地、上郡，中尉周舍为卫将军，郎中令张武为车骑将军，军渭北，车千乘，骑卒十万。帝亲自劳军，勒兵申教令，赐军吏卒。帝欲自将击匈奴，群臣谏，皆不听。皇太后固要帝，帝乃止。于是以东阳侯张相如为大将军，成侯赤为内史，栾布为将军，击匈奴。匈奴遁走。

春，上曰：“朕获执牺牲珪币以事上帝宗庙，十四年于今，历日绵长，以不敏不明而久抚临天下，朕甚自愧。其广增诸祀墠场珪币。昔先王远施不求其报，望祀不祈其福，右贤左戚，先民后己，至明之极也。今吾闻祠官祝釐，皆归福朕躬，不为百姓，朕甚愧之。夫以朕不德，而躬享独美其福，百姓不与焉，是重吾不德。其令祠官致敬，毋有所祈。”

是时北平侯张苍为丞相，方明律历。鲁人公孙臣上书陈终始传五德事，言方今土德时，土德应黄龙见，当改正朔服色制度。天子下其事与丞相议。丞相推以为今水德，始明正十月上黑事，以为其言非是，请罢之。

十五年，黄龙见成纪，天子乃复召鲁公孙臣，以为博士，申明土德事。于是上乃下诏曰：“有异物之神见于成纪，无害于民，岁以有年。朕亲郊祀上帝诸神。礼官议，毋讳以劳朕。”有司礼官皆曰：“古者天子夏躬亲礼祀上帝于郊，故曰郊。”于是天子始幸雍，郊见五帝，以孟夏四月答礼焉。赵人新垣平以望气见，因说上设立渭阳五庙。欲出周鼎，当有玉英见。

236 Corporal Punishment Abolished

A10.23|24|25

In the summer of the 13th year (167 BC), Emperor Wen said: "I have heard that disasters arise from resentment, and good fortune arises from benevolence. This is in accordance with the way of heaven. I should bear the responsibility for the mistakes of all officials. Now the 

Mizhu office has blamed all the faults onto his subordinates, which shows my lack of humanity. I think this is unacceptable. I am abolishing this position."

In May, Chunyu Yi, Taicang magistrate of Qi, committed a crime and was about to be punished. The imperial court issued an edict to arrest him and escort him to Chang'an. Taicang Gong had five daughters but no son. When he was about to be taken away, he scolded his daughters, saying, "Giving birth to children without sons is useless in an emergency." His youngest daughter, Tiying, cried alone and followed her father to Chang'an, where she wrote a letter to the court, saying, "My father was an official, and the people of Qi praised him for his integrity and justice. Now he has committed a crime and should be punished. I am sad that the dead cannot come back to life, and the limbs of the punished cannot be reassembled. Even if they want to reform, there is no other way. I am willing to be punished as an official slave to atone for my father's sins so that he can reform." Tiying's letter was sent to the emperor, who sympathized with her filial piety and issued an edict saying, "I heard that in the time of You Yu, the criminals were punished by drawing patterns of corresponding punishments on their clothes and hats to distinguish them from the clothes of ordinary people, but the people did not violate the laws. Why was this? Because it was a peaceful and prosperous era. There are three things in the current laws. Is it because I have a shallow moral character and do not teach people clearly? I feel ashamed that my teaching methods are imperfect and have led to the ignorant people falling into lawlessness. The Book of Songs says: 'A harmonious and happy gentleman is the parent of the people.' Now when people commit crimes, they are punished before they are taught. Even if someone wants to change his ways, there is no chance. I feel very sorry for them. Punishment leads to the mutilation of limbs and tattoos on the skin, which cannot be restored for life. How painful and immoral, how can it meet the wishes of parents! Corporal punishment should be abolished. "

Emperor Wen said: "Agriculture is the foundation of the world. There is no more important matter than this. Now people have to pay taxes for hard work, which makes people who are engaged in the main industry and those who are engaged in the secondary industry the same. This is because the method of encouraging farming is not perfect. Immediately exempt farmland from taxes.”

十三年夏，上曰：“盖闻天道祸自怨起而福繇德兴。百官之非，宜由朕躬。今秘祝之官移过于下，以彰吾之不德，朕甚不取。其除之。”

五月，齐太仓令淳于公有罪当刑，诏狱逮徙系长安。太仓公无男，有女五人。太仓公将行会逮，骂其女曰：“生子不生男，有缓急非有益也！”其少女缇萦自伤泣，乃随其父至长安，上书曰：“妾父为吏，齐中皆称其廉平，今坐法当刑。妾伤夫死者不可复生，刑者不可复属，虽复欲改过自新，其道无由也。妾愿没入为官婢，赎父刑罪，使得自新。”书奏天子，天子怜悲其意，乃下诏曰：“盖闻有虞氏之时，画衣冠异章服以为僇，而民不犯。何则？至治也。今法有肉刑三，而奸不止，其咎安在？非乃朕德薄而教不明欤？吾甚自愧。故夫驯道不纯而愚民陷焉。诗曰‘恺悌君子，民之父母’。今人有过，教未施而刑加焉？或欲改行为善而道毋由也。朕甚怜之。夫刑至断支体，刻肌肤，终身不息，何其楚痛而不德也，岂称为民父母之意哉！其除肉刑。”

上曰：“农，天下之本，务莫大焉。今勤身从事而有租税之赋，是为本末者毋以异，其于劝农之道未备。其除田之租税。”

235 Rebels of kings

A10.21|22

When King of Jibei Liu Xingju heard that the emperor was in Dai and wanted to attack the Huns, he took the opportunity to rebel and mobilized his troops to launch a surprise attack on Xingyang. So the emperor issued an edict to withdraw the 85,000 cavalry led by the prime minister, and sent Chen Wu, the Marquis of Jipu, as the general to lead an army of 100,000 to counterattack the King of Jibei. Marquis Qi Zeng He was appointed general and stationed in Xingyang. In July, on the day of Xin Hai, the emperor returned to Chang'an from Taiyuan. So he issued an edict to the relevant departments, saying: "The King of Jibei has betrayed my kindness, disobeyed the monarch, and implicated the officials and people who followed him, committing the crime of high treason. If the officials and people of Jibei can settle it down before the arrival of the imperial army, and those who surrendered to the imperial court with the army, fiefdom and capital will be pardoned and restore their original official positions and titles. Those who had exchanges with Liu Xingju, the king of Jibei but did not participate in the conspiracy, will be also pardoned. In August, the imperial army defeated the Jibei army and captured the King of Jibei. The emperor pardoned the officials and people in Jibei who rebelled with the king of Jibei.

In sixth years (174 BC), officials of the relevant departments reported that Liu Chang, the king of Huainan, abandoned the decree of the previous emperor, and did not listen to the imperial order of the emperor. The specifications of the palace where he lived exceeded the limit, and the entrance and exit were similar to that of the emperor. He formulated the decree without authorization, planned to rebel with Chen Qi, the prince of the Marquis of Ji Pu, and sent people to send envoys to Minyue and the Huns, and trying to use the local army to endanger the ancestral temple. After discussion, the ministers all said, "Liu Chang should be executed in public." Emperor Wen couldn't bear to punish the King of Huainan, pardoned his death penalty, and deposed his throne. The ministers requested that the king of Huainan be exiled to Yandao and Qiongdu in Shu, and Emperor Wen approved it. Liu Chang died of illness on the way without arriving at the place of exile. Emperor Wen felt pity for him. Later, in the sixteenth year (164 BC.), Liu Chang was honored as the king of Huainan, nicknamed King Li, and made his three sons the king of Huainan, the king of Hengshan and the king of Lujiang.

济北王兴居闻帝之代，欲往击胡，乃反，发兵欲袭荥阳。于是诏罢丞相兵，遣棘蒲侯陈武为大将军，将十万往击之。祁侯贺为将军，军荥阳。七月辛亥，帝自太原至长安。乃诏有司曰：“济北王背德反上，诖误吏民，为大逆。济北吏民兵未至先自定，及以军地邑降者，皆赦之，复官爵。与王兴居去来，亦赦之。”八月，破济北军，虏其王。赦济北诸吏民与王反者。

六年，有司言淮南王长废先帝法，不听天子诏，居处毋度，出入拟于天子，擅为法令，与棘蒲侯太子奇谋反，遣人使闽越及匈奴，发其兵，欲以危宗庙社稷。群臣议，皆曰“长当弃市”。帝不忍致法于王，赦其罪，废勿王。群臣请处王蜀严道、邛都，帝许之。长未到处所，行病死，上怜之。后十六年，追尊淮南王长谥为厉王，立其子三人为淮南王、衡山王、庐江王。

234 Bronze Tiger and Bamboo Envoy

A10.16…20

The emperor said: "In ancient times, when the country was governed, there were flags for good and wood for slander, so that people could come to advise the government. Now the law has the crime of slandering and making false statements, which makes the ministers afraid to speak freely, and the emperor has no way to hear about mistakes. How can we attract virtuous people from far away? Get rid of it. Some people curse the emperor to make an agreement and then slander each other, and the officials think it is some big rebellion. If they say something else, the officials will think it is slander. This is the ignorance of the common people and they will die. I don't accept it. From now on, those who commit this will not be punished."

In September, bronze tiger talisman and bamboo envoy talisman were first made between the imperial court and governors of the counties and states.

In the third year, on the last day, the Dingyu, of the tenth month of the year, there was a solar eclipse. In November, the emperor said: "The day before yesterday, the emperor issued an edict to send the states of the marquisates, but some of them refused to go. The prime minister is my priority, so he should lead the states of the marquisates for me." Marquis Jiang Zhou Bo was dismissed from the position of the prime minister and returned to his office in his fiefdom, and Guan Ying, the Grand Commandant and Marquis Yingyin,  was appointed as the new prime minister. The position of the Grand Commandant was dismissed and subordinated to the prime minister. In April, King Chengyang Liu Zhang died. King Huainan Liu Chang and his follower Wei Jing killed Marquis Piyang Shen Yiji.

In May, the Huns entered the northern land and lived in Henan as a bandit. The emperor first visited Ganquan. In June, the emperor said: "Han and the Huns agreed to be brothers and not to harm the border, so they gave generous gifts to the Huns. Now the Virtuous King of the Right left his country and led his people to live in the surrendered land in Henan. He is not doing what he always does. He travels near the border, captures and kills officials and soldiers, drives away the local barbarians who protect the border and prevents them from living in their hometowns, bullies border officials, invades and steals, and is very arrogant and unruly. Immediately have the border officials recruit 85,000 cavalry to Gaonu, and sent the prime minister Marquis Yingyin Guan Ying to attack the Huns." The Huns retreated, and the emperor conscripted a number of lieutenant officers under the command of the general guard and stationed them in Chang'an.

On the day of Xinmao, the emperor went from Ganquan to Gaonu, and visited Taiyuan. He met all the old ministers and gave them gifts. He rewarded the people for their merits and gave cattle and wine to the people in the village. At the same time, he exempted the people of Jinyang and Zhongdu from taxes and corvee for three years, and stayed in Taiyuan for more than ten days.

上曰：“古之治天下，朝有进善之旌，诽谤之木，所以通治道而来谏者。今法有诽谤妖言之罪，是使众臣不敢尽情，而上无由闻过失也。将何以来远方之贤良？其除之。民或祝诅上以相约结而后相谩，吏以为大逆，其有他言，而吏又以为诽谤。此细民之愚无知抵死，朕甚不取。自今以来，有犯此者勿听治。”

九月，初与郡国守相为铜虎符、竹使符。

三年十月丁酉晦，日有食之。十一月，上曰：“前日诏遣列侯之国，或辞未行。丞相朕之所重，其为朕率列侯之国。”绛侯勃免丞相就国，以太尉颍阴侯婴为丞相。罢太尉官，属丞相。四月，城阳王章薨。淮南王长与从者魏敬杀辟阳侯审食其。

五月，匈奴入北地，居河南为寇。帝初幸甘泉。六月，帝曰：“汉与匈奴约为昆弟，毋使害边境，所以输遗匈奴甚厚。今右贤王离其国，将众居河南降地，非常故，往来近塞，捕杀吏卒，驱保塞蛮夷，令不得居其故，陵轹边吏，入盗，甚敖无道，非约也。其发边吏骑八万五千诣高奴，遣丞相颍阴侯灌婴击匈奴。”匈奴去，发中尉材官属卫将军军长安。

辛卯，帝自甘泉之高奴，因幸太原，见故群臣，皆赐之。举功行赏，诸民里赐牛酒。复晋阳中都民三岁。留游太原十余日。

233 Agriculture is the Foundation

A10.13|14|15

At the end of November, there was a solar eclipse. On December 15, there was another solar eclipse. The emperor said: "I have heard that Heaven first created the common people and then appointed a king to rule them. If a monarch is immoral and his policies are unfair, then Heaven will use natural disasters to warn him and remind him that he has not governed the country well. So at the end of November, a solar eclipse occurred, expressing Heaven's intention of condemnation. Is there any greater natural disaster than this! I have obtained the qualification to protect the ancestral temple and the state, and I am above the people and the king with my insignificant strength and body. The stability and chaos of the world depend on me alone. Only two or three ministers can assist me with all their strength like my arms and legs. I am unable to govern and educate all living beings, and I have also diminished the brilliance of the sun, moon and stars. This is a great lack of virtue. When an order is issued, you should think carefully about my mistakes as well as the limitations of my knowledge, insights and thoughts, and report them to me. And recommend those who are virtuous, upright and capable of speaking frankly to strongly advise me to correct the mistakes I made. You must manage your respective duties well and reduce corvée and taxes to facilitate the people. Since I am unable to travel far away to implement benevolent policies, I am extremely fearful and uneasy in my heart, always worrying that the barbarians outside will do wrongful things without scruples. Therefore, the military alert on the border cannot be lifted yet. Even though I cannot withdraw the troops stationed on the border now, but I have so many strict palace guards around me, so I have to withdraw the guards that General Wei has set up for me. The horses under the charge of the Imperial Coachman should only be kept as many as needed, and the rest should be placed in the post stations."

In January, the Emperor said: "Agriculture is the foundation of the world. Immediately open up the land for cultivation. I will personally lead the princes and the people to cultivate the land in order to provide grain for the ancestral temple for sacrifices."

In March, some officials requested to enthronize the prince as a vassal king. The emperor said, "King You of Zhao was imprisoned until his death. I feel very sorry for him. I have already enthroned King Zhao's eldest son Liu Sui as the new King of Zhao. Liu Sui's younger brother Liu Pijiang and King Daohui of Qi’s sons Liu Zhang, Marquis of Zhuxu, and Liu Xingju, Marquis of Dongmu, have made contributions to the country and can also be enfeoffed as princes. " So he made Liu Pijiang, the youngest son of King You of Zhao, the King of Hejian; several busy prefectures and counties of Qi were divided among Zhuxu Marquis, who was named the King of Chengyang; he made Dongmu Marquis the King of Jibei; he made the prince Liu Wu the King of Dai, the prince Liu Can the King of Taiyuan, and the prince Liu Yi the King of Liang. 

十一月晦，日有食之。十二月望，日又食。上曰：“朕闻之，天生蒸民，为之置君以养治之。人主不德，布政不均，则天示之以菑，以诫不治。乃十一月晦，日有食之，適见于天，菑孰大焉！朕获保宗庙，以微眇之身讬于兆民君王之上，天下治乱，在朕一人，唯二三执政犹吾股肱也。朕下不能理育群生，上以累三光之明，其不德大矣。令至，其悉思朕之过失，及知见思之所不及，匄以告朕。及举贤良方正能直言极谏者，以匡朕之不逮。因各饬其任职，务省繇费以便民。朕既不能远德，故闲然念外人之有非，是以设备未息。今纵不能罢边屯戍，而又饬兵厚卫，其罢卫将军军。太仆见马遗财足，余皆以给传置。”

正月，上曰：“农，天下之本，其开籍田，朕亲率耕，以给宗庙粢盛。”

三月，有司请立皇子为诸侯王。上曰：“赵幽王幽死，朕甚怜之，已立其长子遂为赵王。遂弟辟强及齐悼惠王子朱虚侯章、东牟侯兴居有功，可王。”乃立赵幽王少子辟强为河间王，以齐剧郡立朱虚侯为城阳王，立东牟侯为济北王，皇子武为代王，子参为太原王，子揖为梁王。