Basic Annals of Emperor Jing of Han, Part Eleven

Emperor Xiaojing was the middle son of Emperor Xiaowen. His mother was Empress Dowager Dou. When Emperor Xiaowen was in the state of Dai, the former queen bore him three sons. By the time Empress Dowager Dou gained favor, the former queen had passed away, and those three sons also died one after another. Thus, Emperor Xiaojing was able to be established as the heir apparent.

In the first year of Emperor Xiaojing's reign, on the Yimao day of the fourth month, a general amnesty was granted to the empire. On the Yisi day, the common people were granted one rank of noble title. In the fifth month, the land tax was reduced by half, and the Temple of the Grand Founder was built for Emperor Xiaowen. The officials were ordered not to come to court for congratulations. The Xiongnu invaded the region of Dai, and the court concluded a peace and marriage alliance with them.

In the second year of spring, Xiao Xi, the grandson of the former Chancellor Xiao He, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wuling. It was decreed that men at the age of twenty must register for military service. On the Renwu day of the fourth month, Empress Dowager Xiaowen passed away. The King of Guangchuan and the King of Changsha both proceeded to their respective fiefs. Chancellor Shen Tu Jia died. In the eighth month, the Imperial Secretary Tao Qing, Marquis of Kaifeng, was appointed Chancellor. A comet appeared in the northeast. In autumn, hailstones fell in Mount Heng, some as large as five inches in diameter, accumulating to a depth of two feet in places. The planet Mars deviated from its course, lingering near the celestial north pole. The moon appeared among the stars of the Northern Dipper. Jupiter moved retrograde within the Celestial Court. The counties of Nanling, as well as Neishi and Duoyu, were established.

In the third year, on the Yisi day of the first month, a general amnesty was granted to the empire. A long star appeared in the west. Heavenly fire burned down the main hall of the Eastern Palace in Luoyang and houses within the city. Liu Pi, the King of Wu; Liu Wu, the King of Chu; Liu Sui, the King of Zhao; Liu Ang, the King of Jiaoxi; Liu Biguang, the King of Jinan; Liu Xian, the King of Zichuan; and Liu Xiongqu, the King of Jiaodong, rebelled and sent troops westward to attack. The Son of Heaven, for this reason, executed Chao Cuo and sent Yuan Ang to proclaim the imperial edict and admonish them, but they refused to stop and instead besieged the state of Liang from the west. The emperor then dispatched General-in-Chief Dou Ying and Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu to lead troops to suppress them. On the Yihai day of the sixth month, deserters and those involved in the rebellion, including Liu Yi, the son of the former King of Chu, Yuan, were pardoned. General-in-Chief Dou Ying was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Weiqi. Liu Li, the Marquis of Pinglu and son of the former King of Chu, Yuan, was established as the King of Chu. The emperor's son Liu Duan was established as the King of Jiaoxi, and another son, Liu Sheng, as the King of Zhongshan. Liu Zhi, the King of Jibei, was transferred to be the King of Zichuan; Liu Yu, the King of Huaiyang, became the King of Lu; and Liu Fei, the King of Runan, became the King of Jiangdu. Liu Jianglu, the King of Qi, and Liu Jia, the King of Yan, both died.

In the fourth year of summer, the heir apparent was established. The emperor's son Liu Zhe was established as the King of Jiaodong. On the Jiaxu day of the sixth month, a general amnesty was granted to the empire. In the intercalary ninth month, Yiyang was renamed Yangling. Passes and ferries were reestablished, requiring credentials for passage. In winter, the state of Zhao was converted into the commandery of Handan.

In the fifth year, in the third month, the Yangling tomb and the Wei Bridge were constructed. In the fifth month, commoners were recruited to move to Yangling, each receiving 200,000 cash. In the region of Jiangdu, a violent wind from the west destroyed twelve zhang of the city wall. On the Dingmao day, Chen Qiao, the son of the Grand Princess, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Longlü. The King of Guangchuan was transferred to be the King of Zhao.

In the sixth year of spring, Zhao Wan, the Commandant of the Palace, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Jianling; Cheng Jia, the Chancellor of the state of Jiangdu, as the Marquis of Jianping; Hunxie, the Governor of Longxi, as the Marquis of Pingqu; Su Jia, the Chancellor of the state of Zhao, as the Marquis of Jiangling; and Luan Bu, the former General, as the Marquis of Shu. The King of Liang and the King of Chu both died. In the intercalary ninth month, trees along the imperial roads were cut down, and Lanchi Pond was filled in.

In the seventh year of winter, the heir apparent Li was deposed and transferred to be the King of Linjiang. On the last day of the twelfth month, a solar eclipse occurred. In spring, convicts laboring at Yangling were pardoned. Chancellor Tao Qing was dismissed. On the Yisi day of the second month, Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu, Marquis of Tiao, was appointed Chancellor. On the Yisi day of the fourth month, the mother of the King of Jiaodong was established as Empress. On the Dingsi day, the King of Jiaodong was established as the heir apparent. The heir apparent was named Liu Che.

In the first year of the Zhongyuan era, Zhou Ping, the grandson of the former Imperial Secretary Zhou Ke, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Sheng; and Zuo Che, the grandson of the former Imperial Secretary Zhou Chang, as the Marquis of Anyang. On the Yisi day of the fourth month, a general amnesty was granted to the empire, and the common people were given one rank of noble title. The law prohibiting the appointment of certain individuals was abolished. An earthquake occurred. Hailstones fell in Mount Heng and Yuandu, some as large as one foot eight inches in diameter.

In the second year of the Zhongyuan era, in the second month, the Xiongnu invaded the region of Yan, and the peace and marriage alliance was severed. In the third month, the King of Linjiang was summoned to the capital. He committed suicide in the office of the Commandant of the Palace. In summer, the emperor's son Liu Yue was established as the King of Guangchuan, and another son, Liu Ji, as the King of Jiaodong. Four marquises were enfeoffed. On the Jiaxu day of the ninth month, a solar eclipse occurred.

In the third year of the Zhongyuan era, in winter, the office of the Imperial Secretary's Aide in the feudal states was abolished. In spring, two Xiongnu princes led their followers to surrender and were both enfeoffed as marquises. The emperor's son Liu Fangcheng was established as the King of Qinghe. In the third month, a comet appeared in the northwest. Chancellor Zhou Yafu was dismissed, and the Imperial Secretary Liu She, Marquis of Tao, was appointed Chancellor. In the fourth month, an earthquake occurred. On the Wuxu day of the ninth month, which was the last day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred. Troops were stationed outside the Eastern Capital Gate.

In the fourth year of the Zhongyuan era, in the third month, the Deyang Palace was constructed. A severe locust plague occurred. In autumn, convicts laboring at Yangling were pardoned.

In the fifth year of the Zhongyuan era, in summer, the emperor's son Liu Shun was established as the King of Changshan. Ten marquises were enfeoffed. On the Dingsi day of the sixth month, a general amnesty was granted to the empire, and the common people were given one rank of noble title. A great flood occurred throughout the empire. The title of Chancellor in the feudal states was changed to "Xiang." In autumn, an earthquake occurred.

In the sixth year of the Zhongyuan era, on the Jimao day of the second month, the emperor traveled to Yong and sacrificed to the Five Emperors. In the third month, hailstones fell. In the fourth month, the King of Liang, Xiao; the King of Chengyang, Gong; and the King of Runan all died. The sons of the King of Liang, Xiao, were established: Liu Ming as the King of Jichuan, Liu Pengli as the King of Jidong, Liu Ding as the King of Shanyang, and Liu Bushi as the King of Jiyin. The state of Liang was divided into five parts. Four marquises were enfeoffed. The Commandant of Trials was renamed Grand Judge; the Privy Treasurer for Construction was renamed Grand Master of Works; the Commandant of the Palace for Noble Ranks was renamed Commandant; the Chief Steward of the Longevity Palace was renamed Chief Steward of the Longevity Palace; the Director of the Palace Women was renamed Grand Chief of the Autumn; the Grand Usher was renamed Usher; the Grand Master of Ceremonies was renamed Grand Master of Ceremonies; the Director of Guests was renamed Grand Usher; and the Superintendent of Grain was renamed Grand Minister of Agriculture. The rank of the Grand Palace Supply was set at two thousand piculs, and the offices of Left and Right Palace Attendants were established, subordinate to the Grand Palace Supply. On the Xinhai day of the seventh month, a solar eclipse occurred. In the eighth month, the Xiongnu invaded the commandery of Shang.

In the first year of the Houyuan era, in winter, the title of Grand Master of the Palace was changed to Commandant of the Palace Guards. On the Dingyou day of the third month, a general amnesty was granted to the empire, the common people were given one rank of noble title, and officials receiving a salary of two thousand piculs and chancellors of feudal states were granted the noble rank of Right Chief of the Commoners. In the fourth month, a great drinking festival was permitted throughout the empire. On the Bingxu day of the fifth month, an earthquake occurred, and another tremor followed during the morning meal. In Shangyong County, earthquakes continued for twenty-two days, damaging city walls. On the Yisi day of the seventh month, a solar eclipse occurred. Chancellor Liu She was dismissed. On the Renchen day of the eighth month, the Imperial Secretary Wei Wan was appointed Chancellor and enfeoffed as the Marquis of Jianling.

In the second year of the Houyuan era, in the first month, three earthquakes occurred within a single day. General Zhi attacked the Xiongnu. A five-day drinking festival was permitted. The Neishi and all commanderies were ordered not to feed grain to horses; violators would have their horses confiscated by the government. Convicts were ordered to wear clothing made of seven-sheng coarse cloth. Using horses to pound grain was prohibited. Due to a poor harvest, the people of the empire were forbidden to consume grain without planning for the next harvest. The fiefs of marquises were reduced, and they were sent back to their own states. In the third month, the Xiongnu invaded Yanmen. In the tenth month, the fields around Changling were leased out. A severe drought occurred. Plague broke out among the people in the states of Mount Heng, Hedong Commandery, and Yunzhong Commandery.

In the third year of the Houyuan era, in the tenth month, the sun and moon both appeared red for five consecutive days. On the last day of the twelfth month, the sun appeared purple. The five planets deviated from their courses, lingering in the Supreme Enclosure. The moon passed through the Celestial Court. On the Jiayin day of the first month, the heir apparent underwent the capping ceremony. On the Jiazi day, Emperor Xiaojing passed away. His posthumous edict granted one rank of noble title to all men from the feudal kings down to commoners who were heirs of their fathers, and one hundred cash to every household in the empire. Palace women were released to return to their families, and they were exempted from lifelong taxes and corvée labor. The heir apparent ascended the throne; this was Emperor Xiaowu. In the third month, Tian Fen, the younger brother of the Empress Dowager, was enfeoffed as the Marquis of Wu'an, and his other brother, Tian Sheng, as the Marquis of Zhouyang. The county of Yangling was established.

The Grand Historian says: When the Han dynasty arose, Emperor Xiaowen practiced great virtue, and the people of the empire felt secure and at peace. By the time of Emperor Xiaojing, there was no longer concern about kings of different surnames, but Chao Cuo harshly reduced the fiefs of the feudal kings, which led to the Seven States rising together and joining forces to attack westward. This was because the power of the feudal kings was too great, and when Chao Cuo adopted the policy of reducing their territories, he did not proceed gradually. It was only when Lord Zhufu proposed the policy of bestowing favors that the feudal kings gradually weakened and ultimately became settled. Was not the key to safety or danger found in strategy?