韩长孺列传 — Shiji

Han Anguo, styled Changru, served as Grand Secretary. He was from Cheng'an in Liang, and later moved to Suiyang. He studied under Zou Tiansheng, where he mastered the teachings of Han Fei and various eclectic schools. He served the King of Liang, Xiao Kang, as a Court Gentleman.

When the Rebellion of Wu and Chu erupted, the King dispatched Anguo and Zhang Yu as generals to defend the eastern borders against the Wu forces. Zhang Yu fought valiantly, while Anguo adopted a more cautious strategy. As a result, the Wu forces could not breach Liang. After the defeat of Wu and Chu, both Anguo and Zhang Yu rose to prominence through these achievements.

King Xiao of Liang was the Empress Dowager Dou's younger brother, and she adored him. She granted him permission to appoint his own prime minister and officials of the rank of two thousand bushels, and to travel freely for recreation. But he began to act in ways that rivaled the Emperor himself. When the Son of Heaven heard of this, he was deeply displeased. The Empress Dowager, realizing the Emperor's displeasure, flew into a rage against the Liang envoys—she refused to see them and demanded they be held accountable for the King's behavior.

When Han Anguo, serving as Liang's envoy, met with the Eldest Princess, he wept as he spoke: "What filial piety does the King of Liang show as a son, what loyalty as a minister! Yet the Empress Dowager refuses to acknowledge it. During the recent rebellions of Wu, Chu, Qi, Zhao, and the other seven states, when the entire region east of the passes rose in united opposition, only Liang—closest to the throne—stood firm through hardship. The King, mindful of the Empress Dowager and Emperor within the capital, and seeing the chaos among the vassals, could not help but weep bitterly. He knelt and sent us six men forth with troops to repulse the Wu and Chu forces. Because of this, the Wu-Chu armies dared not march west, and they were ultimately destroyed. This was entirely the King's doing. Now the Empress Dowager demands accountability for minor infractions and petty formalities. The King's fathers and brothers are all emperors—his vision is grand. When he goes out, guards clear the road; when he returns, warnings are issued. His carriages and banners are all gifts from the Emperor, for he wishes to display his distinction throughout the kingdom and make it known that the Empress Dowager and Emperor favor him. Yet now his envoys arrive and are immediately detained and questioned. The King lives in fear, weeping night and day, longing for his loved ones, uncertain what to do. What filial piety and loyalty does he show, yet the Empress Dowager shows him no compassion?"

The Eldest Princess reported everything to the Empress Dowager, who was delighted and said: "I shall speak to the Emperor about this." When she did, the Emperor's resentment dissipated. He removed his crown and apologized to the Empress Dowager, saying: "Brothers cannot always instruct one another—I have caused you worry." He received all the Liang envoys and bestowed generous gifts upon them.

From that time forward, the King of Liang grew ever closer to the throne, and the Empress Dowager and Eldest Princess heaped rewards upon Han Anguo—gifts worth over a thousand chin of gold. His reputation flourished, and his influence at court solidified.

Later, Anguo was convicted of a legal offense and sentenced to imprisonment. The prison warden, Tian Jia, humiliated him. Anguo said: "Can a scattered fire not reignite?" Tian Jia replied: "If it does, I'll urinate on it."

Soon afterward, the position of Interior Secretary of Liang fell vacant. The Han court sent an envoy to appoint Anguo as Interior Secretary, raising him from the ranks of convicts to the rank of two thousand bushels. Tian Jia fled. Anguo declared: "If Tian Jia does not present himself for duty, I will destroy his entire clan." Tian Jia then came, stripped to the waist in apology. Anguo laughed and said: "You can urinate now! Are men like you worth the trouble of punishing?" In the end, he treated Tian Jia well.

When the Interior Secretary position became available, the King of Liang had recently recruited a Qi man named Gongsun Kui, whom he favored greatly and wished to appoint to the post. But Empress Dowager Dou, learning of this, issued an edict that Anguo should become Interior Secretary.

Gongsun Kui and Yang Sheng then counseled the King to seek the throne for himself as heir apparent and to expand his territories. Fearing that the Han ministers would not consent, they secretly employed assassins against key Han officials. When they murdered the former Wu Minister Yuan Ang, Emperor Jing was informed of their schemes. He sent envoys to capture Kui and Sheng, dead or alive. Several Han missions arrived in Liang, and the King ordered a nationwide search. After more than a month, they were still not found.

Interior Secretary Anguo heard that Kui and Sheng were hiding in the King's residence. He entered to see the King and wept: "A minister dies when his lord is humiliated. Because Your Majesty lacks good advisors, matters have come to this sorry pass. Since Kui and Sheng cannot be found, I beg permission to take my own life in expiation." The King asked: "How has it come to this?" Anguo continued weeping: "Your Majesty, compared to the Emperor, how close are you as a father-son relationship, compared to the relationship between the Imperial Founder and the Supreme Emperor, or between the Emperor and the Riverland King?" The King replied: "I am not as close." Anguo said: "The Supreme Emperor and the Riverland King were truly father and son, yet the Imperial Founder declared: 'I took the world with a three-foot sword'—so the Supreme Emperor was never permitted to govern, and dwelt in lieyang. The Riverland King was the eldest son of the heir apparent. For a single spoken indiscretion, he was stripped of his kingdom; for an incident involving palace walls, he ultimately took his own life in the Chamberlain of the Northern Army's office. Why? In governing the realm, one cannot ultimately let private affection override public justice. As the saying goes: 'Though one has a loving father, who can say he will not act like a tiger? Though one has a dear elder brother, who can say he will not act like a wolf?' Now Your Majesty stands among the vassal kings, yet you delight in the lies of wicked ministers, transgressing the Emperor's prohibitions and violating the laws. The Son of Heaven, because of the Empress Dowager, has refrained from applying the full penalties to Your Majesty. The Empress Dowager weeps day and night, hoping Your Majesty will reform—yet you refuse to awaken to the truth. If the Empress Dowager's imperial carriage were to reach its final journey, whom would you have to cling to?"

Before Anguo finished speaking, the King was weeping profusely. He apologized to Anguo: "I will surrender Kui and Sheng." They took their own lives. When the Han envoys reported back, the Liang matter was entirely resolved—through Anguo's efforts. From that time, Emperor Jing and the Empress Dowager held Anguo in higher regard. When the King of Liang died and King Gong ascended the throne, Anguo was convicted of a legal offense and lost his post. He returned to his home.

During the Jianyuan era, the Marquis of Wu'an, Tian Fen, became Grand Commandant of Han and held great power. Anguo sent him gifts worth five hundred chin in gold. Tian Fen spoke well of Anguo to the Empress Dowager, and the Emperor, who had long heard of Anguo's worth, summoned him to serve as Commandery Inspector of Beidi, then promoted him to Director of the Granaries.

In the sixth year of Jianyuan, when Wu'an Hou became Chancellor, Anguo became Grand Secretary.