孝景本纪

On the day yihai of the sixth month, he pardoned those who had fled the army and the descendants of the Chu royal house such as Yi who had participated in the conspiracy. He enfeoffed Grand General Dou Ying as Marquis of Weiqi. He enthroned Yi, the prince of Pinglu and descendant of the Chu royal house, as King of Chu. He enthroned his son Duan as King of Jixi and his son Sheng as King of Zhongshan. He transferred King Zhi of Jinan to become King of Zichuan, King Yu of Huaiyang to become King of Lu, and King Fei of Runan to become King of Jiangdu. King of Qi Jiangjiang and King of Yan Jia both passed away.

In the sixth year, spring, he enfeoffed the Palace Commandant as Marquis of Jianling, the Chancellor of Jiangdu as Marquis of Jianping, the Governor of Longxi as Marquis of Pingqu, the Chancellor of Zhao as Marquis of Jiangling, and the former General Bu as Marquis of Shu. The Kings of Liang and Chu both passed away. In the later ninth month, he ordered the felling of trees along the imperial highway and the cultivation of the Lancí Pool. In the seventh year, winter, he deposed Crown Prince Li, making him King of Linjiang. On the last day of the eleventh month, there was an eclipse of the sun. In spring, he exempted those who had been sentenced to labor at Yangling. Chancellor Tao Qing was dismissed. On the day yisi of the second month, he appointed Zhou Yafu, the Marquis of Tiao and formerly Supreme Commander, as Chancellor. On the day yimao of the fourth month, he enthroned the mother of the King of Jiaodong as Empress. On the day dingsi, he installed the King of Jiaodong as Crown Prince. His name was Che.

In the second year of Zhongyuan, he enfeoffed Zhou Ke, the former Minister of the Court, and his grandson Ping as Marquis of Sheng, and Zhou Chang, the former Minister of the Court, and his grandson Zuoche as Marquis of Anyang. On the day yimao of the fourth month, he proclaimed a general amnesty, granting all one rank of nobility. He lifted the prohibition against those previously barred from office. There was an earthquake. Hailstones fell in Hengshan and Yuandu, some as large as one chi and eight cun. In the second year of Zhonger, the Xiongnu invaded Yan, and thereafter the marriage alliance ceased. In the third month, he summoned the King of Linjiang to appear. He died in the office of the Commandant of the Capital. Summer: he enthroned his son Yue as King of Guangchuan and his son Ji as King of Jiaodong. He enfeoffed four marquises. On the day jiayou of the ninth month, there was an eclipse of the sun.

In the fourth year of Zhongsi, he constructed the Deyang Palace. There was a great locust plague. In autumn, he pardoned those laboring at Yangling. In the fifth year of Zhongwu, summer, he enthroned his son Shun as King of Changshan. He enfeoffed ten marquises. On the day dingsi of the sixth month, the tenth day, he proclaimed a general amnesty, granting all one rank of nobility. There was great flooding throughout the realm. He renamed the Chancellor of the Vassal Kings simply as Chancellor. In autumn, there was an earthquake.

On the day xinhai of the seventh month, there was an eclipse of the sun. In the eighth month, the Xiongnu invaded Shang Commandery.

In the first year of Houyuan, winter, he renamed the Court Counsel as Defender-in-Chief. In the third month, on the day dingyou, he proclaimed a general amnesty, granting all one rank of nobility and officials of two thousand bushels and above, as well as the Chancellors of vassal states, the rank of Right Senior. In the fourth month, there was a great public feast. On the day bingxu of the fifth month, there was an earthquake, which struck again at dawn. There was another earthquake in Shangyong lasting twenty-two days, which destroyed city walls. On the day yisi of the seventh month, there was an eclipse of the sun. Chancellor Liu She was dismissed. On the day renchen of the eighth month, he appointed the Minister of the Court, Wan, as Chancellor, enfeoffing him as Marquis of Jianling.

In the second year of Hòuyuán, the earth trembled three times in one day. General Zhi attacked the Xiongnu. There was a feast for five days. He ordered that within the capital and commanderies, grain might not be fed to horses, and any violation would be confiscated by the authorities. He ordered that convicts wear coarse cloth of seven strands. He prohibited the use of horses for grain-pounding. Because the harvest was poor, he banned the preparation of food throughout the realm for more than one year. He reduced the allowances of marquises and ordered them to proceed to their domains. In the third month, the Xiongnu invaded Yanmén. In the tenth month, he collected land tax on the long-fallow fields of Changling. There was a great drought. Plagues struck the people of Hengshan, Hedong, and Yunzhong Commandery.

In the third year of Houyuan, tenth month, both sun and moon were eclipsed and appeared red for five days. On the last day of the twelfth month, there was thunder and lightning. The sun appeared purple. The five planets moved in retrograde, guarding the Great Marsh. The moon passed through the celestial court. In the first month, on the day jiayin, the Crown Prince came of age. On the day jiazi, Emperor Jing died. In his testamentary edict, he granted one rank of nobility to every father throughout the realm from feudal lords down to commoners, and one hundred coins per household. He ordered the palace attendants to return home, and that they would receive no further distributions. The Crown Prince ascended the throne as Emperor Wu. In the third month, he enfeoffed his maternal uncles Fen as Marquis of Wu'an and Sheng as Marquis of Zhouyang. He established Yangling as the new site.

The Grand Historian remarks: When the Han dynasty arose, Emperor Wen exercised great virtue, and the realm cherished peace and contentment. By the time of Emperor Jing, there was no further concern about threats from other clans. Yet Chao Cuo's harsh measures against the vassal kings precipitated the simultaneous uprising of seven states, which marched westward in alliance. The vassals had grown too powerful, and Chao Cuo's approach was too abrupt. It was only when Zhufu Yan proposed a solution that the vassals weakened and the realm achieved peace. Was this not precisely a matter of strategy? Emperor Jing ascended the throne and cultivated quietude and restraint, urging the people toward agriculture, leading his subjects with virtue, establishing institutions and creating models for ritual and law. When the states of Wu and Chu suddenly rose in rebellion, their wicked intentions manifested. They sought to exploit the situation and cause confusion. Though Chao Cuo was executed, the city of Liang was not yet conquered. General Zhou marched out against them, pursuing and defeating the rebels. He quelled the traitorous enemies with ease. Yet why was the Supreme Commander ultimately thrown into prison? Alas, for all his wisdom, this meritorious achievement was never recorded!

Chao Cuo harshly reduced the fiefs of the feudal lords, prompting the seven kingdoms to rise in rebellion together and march west in confederation, because the lords had grown too powerful and Chao Cuo had acted without a gradual approach. After Zhufu Yan presented his advice, the lords were weakened and peace was finally attained. Does not the pivot between safety and danger lie in strategy? Emperor Jing assumed the throne and continued to cultivate a quiet and reserved manner, devoting himself entirely to settling the people, and he practised frugality with reverence. He encouraged the people in agriculture and guided his subordinates with virtue. His institutions were newly created and his rites and laws became models to follow. In the reign of Emperor Jing, the people were prosperous, rites and music greatly flourished, and the realm was tranquil and at peace.

Suddenly Wu and Chu rose up, bursting forth with vicious treachery. They fabricated pretexts to create a rift and defied the imperial carriage, causing chaos and confusion. Although Chao Cuo was executed, the siege of Liang city was not lifted. The Marquis of Tiao, Zhou Yafu, took command, chasing the fleeing enemy and pursuing the routed troops to the north. He quickly beheaded the rebel leaders and instantly exterminated those wicked traitors. Why then did the Grand Commandant, Zhou Yafu, end his days in prison? Alas, enlightened sovereign, that this merit was not recorded! Even though Chao Cuo was killed, the rebellion of the seven kingdoms did not immediately cease. Later, thanks to the efforts of Liu Bi, King of Qi, the borders became somewhat stable. Yet hidden troubles still remained, and full prosperity was not attained. Descendants forever bear this in mind, using it to encourage those who come after.