袁盎晁错列传 — Shiji

Yuan Ang was a native of Chu, whose courtesy name was Si. His father had been a bandit's leader, and the family was relocated to Anling. During the reign of the Empress Dowager Lü, Ang served as a household retainer for Lü Lü. When Emperor Wen assumed the throne, Ang's elder brother Kai recommended him for the position of Court Gentleman.

The Marquis of Jiang, who had become Chancellor, was departing from court one day, walking briskly with evident satisfaction. The Emperor treated him with great respect and personally saw him off. Yuan Ang stepped forward and said: "Your Majesty, what manner of man is the Chancellor?" "A pillar of the state," the Emperor replied. Ang said: "The Marquis is what one calls a meritorious official, not a pillar of the state. A true pillar of the state shares the sovereign's fortune—when the sovereign lives, he lives; when the sovereign perishes, he perishes. During Empress Dowager Lü's time, the Lü clan held power and arbitrarily appointed themselves princes. The House of Liu hung by a thread. At that time the Marquis was Grand Commandant, master of military affairs, yet he could not set things right. When the Empress Dowager died, the ministers collectively rose against the Lü clan. The Grand Commandant commanded the armies and happened to meet with success—this is what makes him a meritorious official, not a pillar of the state. The Chancellor now shows signs of arrogance toward his sovereign. Your Majesty, in yielding to him, both sovereign and minister have breached protocol. I respectfully submit that this is not the proper course."

At the next court session, the Emperor was more dignified, and the Chancellor more apprehensive. Soon afterward the Marquis of Jiang caught sight of Yuan Ang and said: "I was on good terms with your brother, yet now this child vilifies me in court!" Ang made no apology.

When the Marquis was dismissed from the chancellorship and returned to his domain, someone from among the people sent up a memorial accusing him of treason. He was arrested and confined in the Qing Chamber. None of the princes or high officials dared speak for him—only Yuan Ang declared him innocent. When the Marquis was released, it was largely due to Ang's efforts, and the two became close friends.

The King of Huainan, a notorious ruler, came to court. He had killed the Marquis of Qiping and conducted himself with extreme arrogance. Yuan Ang remonstrated: "When great nobles become too haughty, trouble surely follows. It would be appropriate to reduce their territories." The Emperor would not listen. The King of Huainan grew ever more defiant. When the Crown Prince of Chaiwu conspired against the throne and was discovered, the investigation implicated the King of Huainan. He was summoned and exiled to Shu, transported in a barred carriage.

Yuan Ang, who was then a General of the Gentlemen of the Palace, remonstrated: "Your Majesty has long pampered the King of Huainan and failed to restrain him, which led to this pass. Now you subject him to harsh treatment. The King is a man of proud spirit. If he should die of exposure on the road, though the empire is vast, Your Majesty will be unable to contain such an act—and the charge of murdering a brother will stand. What then?" The Emperor would not listen, and the exile proceeded.

The King of Huainan, upon reaching Yong, fell ill and died. When the Emperor heard of it, he abandoned his meals and wept bitterly. Yuan Ang entered, kowtowed, and asked to be punished. The Emperor said: "This came about because I did not heed your counsel." Ang replied: "Your Majesty should take comfort. These are past events—how could one regret them? Besides, Your Majesty has performed three deeds that have elevated you above the age." "What three deeds of mine exceed the age?" asked the Emperor. Ang said: "When Your Majesty dwelt in Dai, the Empress Dowager was ill for three years. You did not close your eyes nor remove your garments. Medicines were not offered until Your Majesty had tasted them personally. Even a common man like Zeng Shen found such filial devotion difficult—yet Your Majesty, a king, practiced it. How far you surpass Zeng Shen in piety! When the Lü clan controlled affairs and ministers held autocratic power, Your Majesty traveled from Dai in a six-horse carriage into uncertain depths—even a brave warrior like Ben would not have matched Your Majesty's courage. When you arrived at the Alternate Capital in Dai, you declined the imperial seat twice, facing west, and three times, facing south. Xu You needed but one refusal, yet Your Majesty refused the empire five times—four times more than Xu You. Moreover, Your Majesty relocated the King of Huainan to break his will and reform him. The officials in charge were merely negligent, and so he died of illness." The Emperor was then appeased. "What is to be done?" he asked. Ang said: "The King of Huainan has three sons; they are entirely in Your Majesty's hands." The Emperor thereupon enfeoffed all three as princes. From this, Yuan Ang's reputation grew throughout the court.

Yuan Ang often displayed a sense of proportion and generous spirit. The eunuch Zhao Tong, who had repeatedly found favor, was accustomed to harming Ang, and Ang resented it. Ang's nephew, Zhong, served as a Permanent Mounted Attendant, holding a scepter and riding alongside the imperial carriage. He advised Ang: "If you challenge this man, humiliate him in court. He will be ruined and his influence gone." When Emperor Wen went out, Zhao Tong served as his chariot companion. Yuan Ang knelt before the carriage and said: "I have heard that those who share a six-foot carriage with Your Majesty are the heroes of the realm. Though Han lacks talent, why must Your Majesty share your carriage with a eunuch fit only for execution?" The Emperor laughed and dismissed Zhao Tong. Zhao Tong wept as he descended from the carriage.

The Emperor was traveling from the Baling mausoleum and wished to drive down a steep slope to the west. Yuan Ang rode alongside and gripped the reins. "Are you afraid, General?" asked the Emperor. Ang replied: "I have heard that a man of great wealth does not sit beneath the eaves, nor does a wealthy man ride a balancing pole. A wise ruler does not take risks seeking fortune. Now Your Majesty races six horses down a steep mountain. Should the horses spook and the carriage break, though Your Majesty may value yourself lightly, what of the High Temple and the Empress Dowager?" The Emperor stopped.

The Emperor visited the Upper Garden, accompanied by the Empress and Lady Shen. In the inner palace they had always sat together on the same mat. When it came time to be seated in the audience hall, the Palace Secretary spread the seating. Yuan Ang ordered Lady Shen to be seated apart. Lady Shen was furious and refused to sit. The Emperor was also angry and rose, returning to the inner palace. Ang pressed forward and said: "I have heard that when rank is properly ordered, the relationship between high and low is harmonious. Now that Your Majesty has established an Empress, Lady Shen is merely a consort. How could a consort share the same seat as the sovereign? This would indeed destroy the proper distinction. Moreover, if Your Majesty favors Lady Shen, you may simply reward her generously. What you do for Lady Shen will bring her harm. Does Your Majesty not recall the tale of the human pig?" The Emperor was delighted and summoned Lady Shen to explain. Lady Shen rewarded Ang with fifty jin of gold.

Yuan Ang, however, because of his frequent blunt remonstrances, could not remain long at court and was transferred to be Commandant of Longxi. He loved his soldiers, and they vied to die for him. He was promoted to Chancellor of Qi and then transferred to be Chancellor of Wu.

At his departure, his nephew Zhong said to him: "The King of Wu has been arrogant for a long time, and his realm is full of treacherous men. If you now try to impeach and discipline them, he will either petition against you or send assassins. The south is damp and unhealthy. You should drink heavily every day and constantly counsel the King, 'Do not rebel.' If you follow this plan, you may escape harm." Ang adopted Zhong's advice, and the King of Wu treated him well.

On his way home after leaving office, Ang met Chancellor Shen Tuchengjia. He dismounted and paid his respects, but the Chancellor merely acknowledged him from his carriage. Ang felt ashamed before his subordinates and went to the Chancellor's residence to petition for an audience. The Chancellor kept him waiting a long time before receiving him. Ang knelt and said: "I request a private word." The Chancellor said: "If your business is public, take it to the office of the Deputy Chancellor. I will consider a memorial. If it is private, I do not accept private discourse." Ang knelt again and said: "As Chancellor, how do you compare yourself to Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang?" "I am their inferior," replied the Chancellor. Ang said: "Good—you acknowledge your inferiority. Chen Ping and the Marquis assisted the Great Emperor, settled the empire, served as generals and chancellors, and executed the Lü clan while preserving the House of Liu. You, however, were an officer promoted through military service, rising to company captain, accumulating merit until you became Governor of Huaiyang—none of it through brilliant strategies or battlefield victories. Moreover, since Your Majesty came from Dai, whenever the Palace Gentlemen present memorials or proposals, you always pause to receive them. If the proposals are unsuitable, you set them aside; if they are worthy, you adopt them—and always speak well of the writers. Why? Because you wish to attract worthy men of talent to serve the empire. Daily you hear what you have never heard, daily you learn what you did not know, and you grow wiser each day. Now you seal the mouths of the empire and grow more foolish. To expect a wise sovereign to blame a foolish Chancellor—and you will soon suffer the consequences." The Chancellor bowed twice and said: "I am a crude man who knew nothing. I am grateful for your instruction." He invited Ang in and seated him as an honored guest.

Yuan Ang had always disliked Chao Cuo. Whenever Cuo was seated, Ang would leave; whenever Ang was seated, Cuo would leave—the two never spoke in the same hall. When Emperor Wen died and Emperor Jing ascended the throne, Chao Cuo became Grandee Secretary. He ordered officials to investigate whether Yuan Ang had received wealth from the King of Wu, and when the charge was substantiated, the Emperor granted a general amnesty and reduced Ang to commoner status.

When the Rebellion of Wu and Chu erupted, Chao Cuo said to his subordinates: "Yuan Ang received much gold from the King of Wu and has been his consistent defender, insisting he would not rebel. Now he has indeed rebelled—I should request that Ang be prosecuted, for he surely knows the plot." The officials replied: "The matter has not yet developed; punishing him now would only sever communication. Now that armies march westward, what use is prosecution? Besides, Yuan Ang could not possibly be party to any conspiracy." Cuo remained undecided. Someone warned Yuan Ang, who was terrified. That night he visited Dou Ying and explained the cause of the Wu rebellion, requesting an audience with the Emperor to explain personally.

Yuan Ang was made Grand Sacrificial Official and sent to Wu. Dou Ying was made General of the Van. The two had always been close allies. When Wu rebelled, the elder statesmen of the capitals and virtuous scholars throughout Chang'an vied to attach themselves to the two men, and their retinues numbered hundreds of carriages daily.

After Chao Cuo was executed, Yuan Ang, as Grand Sacrificial Official, was dispatched to Wu. The King of Wu wished to appoint him general, but he refused. The King then sought to have him killed, sending a Commandant with five hundred troops to surround Ang in his camp.

When Ang had served as Chancellor of Wu, there had been a junior clerk who once seduced one of Ang's beloved maidservants. Ang knew of it but did not expose him and continued to treat him as before. Someone told the clerk: "The Lord knows of your affair with the maid." The clerk fled. Ang drove after him and caught him, then gave him the maid and made him a junior clerk again.

When Ang arrived in Wu on this mission, he was placed under guard. The clerk who had become the officer in charge of Ang's guard—a certain Sima—seeing his opportunity, took all his own provisions, including two jars of strong wine. The weather was freezing, the soldiers hungry and thirsty. When they had drunk themselves into a stupor and lay sleeping throughout the camp, the Sima went to Ang at night and said: "You may leave now. The King of Wu has ordered your execution at dawn." Ang did not believe him. "Who are you?" he asked. The Sima replied: "I am the junior clerk who once stole your maid." Ang was startled and thanked him: "You have been fortunate in your relatives; I should not burden you." The Sima said: "Go quickly—I am about to flee as well, leaving behind my relatives. What do I have to fear?" He cut through the prison stockade with a sword and led Ang through a passage among the drunken soldiers. The Sima and Ang parted ways. Ang concealed the imperial tally in his garments, took a staff, and walked seven or eight li. At dawn he saw horsemen from Liang, who rode off with him, thus escaping to report his deliverance.

After Wu and Chu were defeated, the Emperor enfeoffed the son of the Prince of Yuan, who had been created Marquis of Pinglu, as Prince of Chu, and made Yuan Ang his Chancellor. Ang presented memorials with proposals, but they were not heeded. He resigned due to illness and returned home, living casually among his neighbors, strolling about with them, watching cockfights and dog races.

Ju Meng of Luoyang once visited Ang, and Ang treated him well. A wealthy man of Anling said to Ang: "I have heard that Ju Meng is a gambler. Why does a general consort with him?" Ang replied: "Though Ju Meng is a gambler, when his mother died, those who came to the funeral numbered over a thousand carriages. He has qualities that surpass ordinary men. Moreover, people in distress turn to those who can help. When one faces sudden danger and knocks on a door, the response is not 'my family is far away,' nor 'whether I live or die is my own affair'—the hope of the empire rests on just two men: Ju Xin and Ju Meng. Now you always go about with a few horsemen. When danger comes, can you truly rely on them?" Ang cursed the wealthy man and would not associate with him. When others heard of this, they all praised Yuan Ang.

Though Yuan Ang lived in retirement, Emperor Jing constantly sent men to consult him on matters of state. The Prince of Liang sought to be named heir, and Ang presented arguments against it, after which the Prince's ambitions were thwarted. The Prince of Liang resented Ang for this and sent assassins. The assassin, upon arriving in Chang'an and inquiring about Yuan Ang, heard only praise from everyone. He went to Ang and said: "I came with the Prince of Liang's gold to kill you, but you are a man of honor and I cannot bring myself to harm you. However, there are over a dozen other assassins behind me—be on your guard!" Yuan Ang's heart was troubled, and his household was beset by strange omens. He went to a diviner to inquire about his fate. Upon returning, assassins from the Prince of Liang's faction indeed waylaid and killed him outside the outer gate of Anling.