Biography
of Bao Zheng 999 – 1062 C.E.
I.
包 拯
字 希 仁, 盧 州
合 肥
人 也.
始 舉 進 士, 除 大 里 評 事, 出 知 建 昌 縣.
He started his career as a graduate of the Presented Scholar[3]
rank, and was appointed Arbiter in the Court of Judicial Review, being first
assigned to Jianchang
County
以 父 母
皆 老, 辭 不 就.
However, because his father and mother were both aged he declined the
post.
得 監 和
州 稅, 父
母 又 不 欲
行, 拯 即 解
官 歸 養.
He attained the position of Supervisor of Taxes in Hezhou,[5]
yet again his father and mother did not wish him to make the journey. Bao Zheng
therefore set aside officialdom to return home and care for them.
後 數 年, 親
繼 亡, 拯 盧
墓 終 喪, 猶
裴 徊 不 忍
去, 里 中 父
老 數 來 勸
勉.
After several years, his parents passed away. Bao Zheng buried his father and mother in Luzhou and completed the period of mourning. Yet, as if drifting forwards and backwards he was reluctant to leave because while he had been in his home town his aged father had come and given advice to him on many occasions.
久 之, 赴 調, 知 天 長 縣.
After dealing with this for some time, he left to attend his duty as an
Arbitrator assigned to Tianchang
County
有 盜 割
人 牛 舌 者, 主
來 訴.
There, there was a crook who cut off the tongue of a certain man’s ox.
The owner came and gave a report of the incident to Bao.
拯 曰: “第 歸, 殺 而 鬻 之.”
Bao Zheng said: “Do nothing more than return home, slaughter the animal, and sell the meat.”
尋 復 有 來 告 私 殺 牛 者, 拯 曰: “何 為 割 牛 舌 而 又 告 之?”
Soon thereafter, there again came a man who made a report. This man accused another of slaughtering an ox.[7]
Bao Zheng replied: “How is it that you cut off the ox’s tongue but come to
report him for slaughtering it?”
盜 驚 服.
The crook was
dumbfounded, and
surrendered.
徙 知 端 州 遷 殿 中 丞.
Bao Zheng was transferred to Duanzhou[8]
and reassigned as Palace Administration Attaché.
端 土 產
硯 , 前 守 緣
貢 , 率 取 數
十 倍 以 遺
權 貴.
Duanzhou’s
local specialty product were inkstones. Formerly, the surplus of the tribute was set aside; it was common
practice that ten times the quota was taken as a token tribute to preserve favor with
the nobles.
拯 命 製 者 才 足 貢 數,
Bao Zheng
ordered the manufacturers to fulfill only the amount of the tribute quota.
歲 滿 不 持 一硯 歸.
That year’s
quota was filled without one inkstone taken in return.
II.
尋 拜 監 察 御 吏 裏 行 , 改 監 察 御 吏.
Soon
thereafter, Bao was appointed as Acting Investigative Censor, and later
promoted to Investigative Censor proper.
時 張
堯 佐
除 節 度˛ 宣
徽 兩 使 ,
At that time,
Zhang Yaozuo[9] was appointed as both the Minister
of Revenues and as Minister of Xuan Hui Palace.
右 司 諫
張 擇 行
˛
唐 介 與
拯 共 論 之 , 語
甚 切.
Remonstrators of the Right Offices,[10]
Zhang Zexing [11]and Tang Jie,[12] together
with Bao Zheng indicted him, articulating their case with acute skill.
又 嘗 建
言 曰: “國
家 歲 賂 契
丹 , 非
禦 戎 之 策 , 宜
練 兵 選 將 , 務
實 邊 備.”
Bao made a
proposal to the throne on yet another occasion saying: “The kingdom presents a
gift annually to Khitan,[13]
yet we have no strategy for military defense against them; neither do we
properly drill our troops or select our generals; nor do we devote attention to
reality concerning our frontier preparations/defense.
又 請 重
門 下 封 駁
之 制 , 及
廢 錮 贓 吏 , 選
守 宰 , 行
考 試 補 蔭
弟 子 之 法.
Bao also requested a system of veto[14]
for high officials, as well as the deprivation of rights for a life sentence
for corrupt officials. He also proposed more cautious selections of magistrates
and the implementation of codes for exams for those of junior ranks and
hereditary ranks in order to attain the robes of insignia.
當 時 諸
道 轉 運 加
按 察 使 ,
At that time, the various circuits of the Tax Transport Bureau were
adding honorific titles of Surveillance Commissioner.[15]
其 奏 劾 官 吏 多 摭 細 故 ,
The result of which was countless piles of Memorials of Impeachment to
the Throne of ministers and officials, all concerning trifling affairs.
務 苛 察
相 高 尚 , 吏
不 自 安 ,
The endeavors of petty investigations and high-mindedness were the
result of their work—officials without self-constraint.
拯 於 是
請 罷 按 察
使.
Bao Zheng thereupon requested the eradication of the Surveillance
Commissioner position.
III.
去 使 契
丹 , 契
丹 令 典
客 謂 拯
曰:
Bao was sent as an envoy to the Khitan. The Khitan ambassador to the
empire addressed Bao Zheng saying:
“雄 州
新 開 便 門 , 乃
欲 誘 我 叛
人 ,
“Xiongzhou[16]
has recently opened a side gate to my city because they wish to spy on my
insurgent force.
以 刺 疆
事 耶?”
Will this not provoke border affairs?”
拯 曰: “涿
州 亦 嘗
開 門 矣 , 刺
疆 事 何 必
開 便 門 哉?”
Bao Zheng replied: “Zhuozhou[17] has
already opened its main gate for you to
come in. As for provoking border affairs, why should we not open a side gate?!”[18]
其 人 遂
無 以 對.
The Khitan delegation then had no argument with which they could respond.
IV.
歷 三 司 戶 部 判 官 , 出 為 京 東 轉 運 使 ,
Bao’s experience
included Administrative Assistant to the State Finance Commission of the
Ministry of Revenue. Upon leaving this section he had become Minister of the
Tax Transport Bureau of the East
Capital Road
改 尚 書 工 部 員 外 郎 ˛ 直 集 賢 院 , 徙 陝 西 , 又 徙 河 北 ,
He was reassigned
as Vice Director of the Ministry of Works, and he was nominated to the Academy of Scholarly Worthies Shanxi ,[21]
and subsequently to Hebei
入 為 三 司 戶 部 副 使 .
Therein, he became the Vice Minister of the Ministry of
Works.
奏 隴 斜 谷 務 造 船 材 木 ,
The locale, Zoulong Xiegu,[23] was
responsible for the levy for the timber of boat manufacturing.
率 課 取 於 民 ;
Bao proposed this levy should be remitted to the people.
又 七 州 出 賦 河 橋 竹 索 , 恆 數 十 萬 , 拯 皆 奏 罷 之.
Moreover, the seven states that were levied this tax gave the
bamboo from the bridges over rivers. The amount that was levied was fixed at
100,000 annually. Bao Zheng memorialized for this to be completely eliminated.
契 丹 聚 兵 近 塞 , 邊 郡 稍 警 , 命 拯 往 河 北 調 發 軍 食.
At one point the Khitan gathered troops close to the border, which
in the provinces bordering the frontier created a slight alarm. Bao Zheng was
ordered to go to Hebei
拯 曰:“漳 河 沃 壤 ,人 不 得 耕 ,邢 ˛ 洛 ˛ 趙 三 州 民 田 萬 五 千 頃 ,
Bao Zheng said: “In Zhanghe[24] the
soil is irragated, but the people are unable to plow it, and in the three
states of Xing, Luo, and Zhao[25] the
people’s fields number 15,000 hectares.
率 用 牧 馬 ,
請 悉 以 賦 民.” 從 之.
I propose these
lands be use as horse pasture, requesting that it be recognized as a bequest to
the people.” It was done.
解 州 鹽 法 率 病 民 , 拯 往 經 度 之 , 請 一 切 通 商 販.
In Jiezhou[26] the
Salt Bureau was responsible for the administration over public health, Bao
Zheng went over to Jiezhou to assist in this matter, where he requested that
all transports of salt be done commercially.[27]
V.
除 天
章 閣
待 制 ˛ 知
諫 院.
Bao was appointed to Tianzhang Pavilion as Academician in Waiting,[28] and
was assigned to the Bureau of Remonstrance.
數 論 斥
權 倖 大 臣 , 請
罷 一 切 內
除 曲 恩.
He denounced interim appointments of sycophants as Grand Ministers, and
requested the discharge of all the inner court-appointees who were
beneficiaries of underhanded favour.
又 列 上
唐 魏 鄭
公 三 疏 ,
He also enumerated three Dukes, those of Tang, Wei, and Bao Zheng, as
negligent.
願 置 之
坐 右 , 以 為 龜
鑒.
Though they wished to be recognized in the seats to the right of the
emperor, they should have been considered examples of debauchery.
又 上 言
天 子 當 明
聽 納 ,
Bao also addressed the issue of the awaited appointment of the crown
prince being made public.
辨 朋 黨 , 惜
人 才 , 不 主 先
入 之 說 , 凡
七 事;
He, moreover addressed the issues of bias toward certain political
factions, the need to treasure individual talent, not giving too much weight to
preconceived speech, and the importance of the Seven Indispensable Things.[29]
請 去 刻
薄 , 抑 僥 倖 , 正
刑 明 禁 , 戎
興 作 , 禁 妖 妄.
He also made requests on topics such as departing from harsh punishments,
the notion of manipulated felicity, the concealment of suitable punishments,
the initiation of war, and the preclusion of prophetic apparitions.
朝 廷 多
施 行 之.
The imperial court implemented many of these.
VI.
除 龍
圖 閣
直 學 士 ˛ 河
北 都 轉
運 使.
He was appointed as Auxiliary Academician of the Longtu Pavilion,[30]
and elevated to Tax Transport Commissioner of the Hebei
嘗 建 議
無 事 時 徙
兵 內 地 , 不
報.
There, he suggested that in times of peace the military should be
relocated to the inner territories, but this was not approved.
至 是 , 請: “罷
河 北 屯
兵 , 分之 河
南 兗 ˛ 鄆
˛
齊 ˛ 濮 ˛ 曹
˛
濟 都 郡 ,
To this, he responded with a request: “The Hebei Militia should be disassembled, and divided among the
regions south of the River,[31]
in the provincial municipalities of Yan, Yun, Qi, Pu, Cao, and Ji.[32]
設 有 警 , 無
後 期 之 憂.
They can be established there as a policing force so that at some later
date there will be no concerns for the people.
借 曰 戍
兵 不 可 遽
減 , 請 訓 練
義 勇 , 少 給 糇
糧 , 每 歲 之
費 ,
I make pretext to say that our regular defensive forces can not be
suddenly diminished, and I request the training and drilling of volunteers and
irregular troops. In addition, I request they should be given some provisions
as well as a minor remuneration every year.
不 當 屯
兵 一 月 之
用 , 一 州 之
賦 , 則 所 給
者 多 矣.” 不
報.
And, if one of the municipalities does not perform a month’s duty as militia,
then they shall be responsible for levies of one state. Thus, those who are
willing to give their service will be many.” This was not approved.
徙 知 瀛
州 , 諸
州 以 公 錢
貿 易 , 積 歲 所
負 十 餘 萬 , 悉
奏 除 之.
Bao was transferred to Yingzhou.[33] The
various states there were using the state coffers for commercial trade. Year
after year the state was responsible for more than ten thousand in costs. Bao
memorialized that this should altogether be brought to an end.
以 喪 子
乞 便 郡 , 知
揚 州 , 徙
盧 州 , 遷
刑 部 郎 中.
In order to mourn for his son that had died, Bao requested a transfer to
a closer province. He was assigned to Yangzhou
坐 失 保
任 , 左 授 兵
部 員 外 郎˛ 知
池 州.
However, he let the opportunity slip by to secure this commission, and
was conferred a lesser post in the Ministry of War as Vice Director, assigned
to Chizhou.[35]
VII.
復 官 , 徙 江 寧 府 , 召 權 知 開 封 府 , 遷 右 司 郎 中.
Upon returning to regular service, he was transferred to Jiangning Prefecture ,[36]
and summoned provisionally to serve in Kaifeng Prefecture
拯 立 朝
剛 毅 , 貴 戚 宦
官 為 之 斂
手 , 聞 者 皆
憚 之.
At court, Bao Zheng was known for his resolute and steadfast manner. Nobles,
relatives of the emperor, eunuchs, officials and all those considered to have
long sleeves[38] who had heard of his reputation
feared him.
人 以 包
拯 笑 比
黃 河 清 , 童
稚 婦 女 , 亦
知 其 名 , 呼
曰 “包 待 制.”
People jokingly compared Bao Zheng as being more pure than the Yellow River . Young children and housewives also knew his
name, and called him “Academician Bao.”
京 師 為
之 語 曰: “關
節 不 到 , 有
閻 羅 包 老.”
In the capital there grew a quip concerning him: “Before collusion is
accomplished, the King of Hell,[39]
Old Bao will be there.”
舊 制 , 凡
訟 訴 不 得
徑 造 庭 下.
In the old system, all who wanted to file a suit were unable to pass
through the narrow path created to reach the great hall.[40]
拯 開 正
門 , 使 得 至
前 陳 曲 直 , 吏
不 敢 欺.
Bao Zheng opened the main gate making it possible for people to go before
the judge and plea their rights and wrongs. Thus, officials were too afraid and
did not dare to intimidate the people any longer.
中 官 勢
族 築 園 榭 , 侵
惠 民 河 , 以
故 河 塞 不
通 ,
A mid-ranked eunuch’s family home and garden pavilion was encroaching
upon the Huimin River
適 京 師
大 水 , 拯 乃
悉 毀 去.
It reached the capital as a minor flood. Bao Zheng thereupon ordered
that it all be demolished.
或 持 地
券 自 言 有
偽 增 步 者 , 皆
審 驗 劾 奏
之.
The eunuch took a land voucher which he personally, yet falsely claimed had
an increased amount of land. It was examined and he the eunuch was impeached.
VIII.
遷 諫 議
大 夫 ˛ 權
御 吏 中 丞.
Bao was reassigned as a Grand Minister of Remonstrance and Provisional
Imperial Service Administration Attaché.
奏 曰: “東
宮 虛 位 日
久 , 天 下 以
為 憂 , 陛 下 持
久 不 決 , 何
也?”
He memorialized to the throne saying: “There has been an empty place in
the Eastern Palace
仁 宗 曰: “卿 欲 誰 立?”
The Emperor Renzong replied: “Who would you have me establish as
heir-apparent?”
拯 曰: “臣
不 才 備 位 , 乞
豫 建 太 子
者 , 為 宗 廟
萬 世 計 也.
Bao Zheng responded: “I am not merely trying to prepare a position for
myself in the future by pleading of your hesitation of the establishment of the
crown prince. I am planning for your ancestral temple’s fulfillment 10,000
generations.
陛 下 問
臣 欲 誰 立 , 是
疑 臣 也.
You majesty inquires of me who I desire to be established as crown
prince, but this eludes me.
臣 年 七
十 , 且 無 子 , 非
邀 福 者.”
My years are seventy, yet I have no son. This is not a case of my
seeking fortune.
帝 喜 曰: “徐
當 議 之.”
The emperor delighted, said: “You have advised this with dignity and
propriety.”
御 吏 府
得 自 舉 屬
官 , 減 一 歲
休 暇 日 , 事
皆 施 行.
The imperial officials’ residences obtained a self-proposed elevation to
that of the ministers’ class, and they were deducted for one year’s summer
retreat. These matters were all implemented.
IX.
張 方
平 為 三
司 使 , 坐 買 豪
民 產 , 拯 劾
奏 罷 之;
While Zhang Fangping was State Finance Commissioner, he purchased a luxurious
civilian estate while sitting on the bench, so to speak. Bao Zheng memorialized
an impeachment and he Zhang was removed
而 宋
祁 代 方
平 , 拯
又 論 之;
Thereafter, Song Qi replaced Fangping, but Bao Zheng criticized him also.
祁 罷 , 而
拯 以 樞 密
直 學 士 權
三 司 使.
Qi bowed out, and Bao Zheng by virtue of his title as Auxiliary Academician
of State Affairs was provisionally instated as State Finance Commissioner.
歐 陽
修 言: “拯
所 謂 牽 牛
蹊 田 而 奪
之 牛, 罰 已 重
矣, 又 貪 其
富 , 不 亦 甚
乎!”
Ouyang Xiu said: “That which Bao Zheng proposes in this case is like leading
an ox across the field to steal the ox. The penalties these officials endured
were already too severe, yet he covets their fortune. Is this not too much?!
拯 因 家
居 避 命 , 久
之 乃 出.
Bao Zheng retired to his hometown to evade appointment, and resided there for some time before coming out and back into the panorama of officialdom.
其 在 三
司 , 凡 諸 筦
庫 供 上 物 , 舊
皆 科 率 外
郡 , 積 以 困
民.
While in the State Finance Commission, Bao had all of the various
management warehouses supply a full complement of goods, while all of the old was
moved out along the border provinces as support for the troubled and poor
populations.
拯 特 為
置 場 和 市 , 民
得 無 擾.
Bao Zheng specifically established a square to stabilize the city
market, simply for the peoples’ sake.[42]
吏 負 錢
帛 多 縲 繫 , 間
輒 逃 去 , 并
械 其 妻 子
者 , 類 皆 釋
之.
Officials often bore the responsibility for the cost of many bolts of
silk, which were born off on the flanks of chariots, along with the people’s
wives shackled one after the other to the chariots, tied ready to release them
all.[43]
遷 給 事
中 , 為 三 司
使.
Bao was reassigned to the Board of Supervising Censors as State Finance
Commissioner.
數 日 , 拜
樞 密 副 使.
After several days, he was appointed Vice Minister of State Affairs.
頃 之 , 遷
禮 部 侍 郎 , 辭
不 受 , 尋 以 疾
卒 , 年 六 十
四.
Yet again after some time, he was transferred to the Ministry of Rites
as an Attendant Gentleman, but declined and did not accept the position. Soon thereafter,
because of illness, he passed away at the age of sixty-four.
贈 禮 部
尚 書 , 謚 孝
肅.
He was posthumously designated as Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and
conferred the name Xiaosu[44]
X.
拯 性 峭
直 , 惡 吏 苛
刻 , 務 敦 厚 , 雖
甚 嫉 惡 , 而
未 嘗 不 推
以 忠 恕 也.
Bao Zheng’s character was stern and upright, he loathed officials who
were merciless and harsh, he was devoted to honesty and sincerity. Although
deeply resented and hated, he never failed to reciprocate with anything but
honesty and consideration.
與 人 不
茍 合 , 不 偽 辭
色 悅 人 , 平
居 無 私 書 , 故
人 ˛ 親 黨 皆
絕 之.
He was not careless with others. He was not like others who were pleased
by superficially fleeting beauty. He lived in a common residence and had no
books of his own. Therefore, people, intimate ties, and cliques all disregarded
him.
雖 貴 , 衣
服 ˛ 器 用 ˛ 飲
食 如 布 衣
時.
Though noble, his clothes, utensils, drink and food were as the common
people of the time.
嘗 曰: “後
世 子 孫 仕
宦 , 有 犯 贓
者 , 不 得 放
歸 本 家 , 死
不 得 葬 大
塋 中.
He once said: “Later generations, the posterity of officials entering
service: there are those that commit corruption, not returning anything of
worth to their roots or family, and who die but do not attain burial in the
midst of great luminosity.
不 從 吾
志 , 非 吾 子
若 孫 也.”
If they have not followed my will, then they are no son of my posterity.
初 , 有 子 名
繶 , 娶 催
氏 , 通
判 潭 州 , 卒.
Bao initially had a son named Yi, who took a wife from the Cui clan, but
passing through Tanzhou[45]
he died.
催 守 死 , 不 更 嫁.
The Cui family then feared death, and were not willing to married off
anymore daughters.
拯 嘗 出
其 媵 , 在
父 母 家 生
子 ,
Bao Zheng once went to visit his concubine, who at his father and
mother’s home gave birth to a son.
催 密 撫
其 母 , 使 謹 視
之.
Cui secretly reared her mother, causing her to lose her sight.
繶 死 後 , 娶
媵 子 歸 , 名
曰 綖.
After Yi died, Bao took a concubine as his wife. Her name was Yan.
有 奏 議
十 五 卷.
Bao Left fifteen volumes of Memorials of Advisement to the Throne.
[1] References to Bao Zheng
can be found in Song shi: Juan 316 Lie zhuan 75; Dong du shi lue: Juan 73; Long ping ji: Juan 11.
[2] In modern-day Anhui Province
[3] The rank of Presented
Scholar is the highest attainment in imperial civil service exams. (jinshi, 進士).
[4] In modern-day Jiangxi Province
[6] In modern-day Jiangsu Province
[7] I believe fu (復) somewhat complicates the grammar of this
sentence in English. Its function in this sentence is meant to emphasize the
fact that there was a second visit to Bao concerning this case, thus the separation of the single sentence into two.
Otherwise, the translation might read: “Soon thereafter, there again came one
who accused an individual of slaughtering his own ox.” This could possibly be
misinterpreted as a second, separate case of identical circumstances.
[8] In modern-day Guangdong Province
[9] Reference to Zhang Yaozuo
can be found in Long ping ji: Juan 11.
[10] Officials in/over the
Ministries of War, Justice, Works, or State Affairs.
[11] Reference to Zhang Zexing
can be found in Song shi: Juan 301, Lie zhuan 60.
[12] Reference to Tang Jie can
be found in Song shi: Juan 316, Lie zhuan
78.
[13] Khitan Tartars:
Non-Chinese tribes people along the frontier regions.
[14] The term “veto” in this
case is representative of the power and
right of officials to request a stay of orders while debating or memorializing
the issue thereof.
[15] Also known as “Fiscal
Circuit Intendant.”
[16] In modern-day Hebei Province
[17] Also in modern-day Hebei Province
[18] This incident seems a
little vague in contextual detail, however I believe the key notion presented
in this exchange is one of suspicion on account of the spying taking place
between the two nations. I believe the Khitan ambassador is insinuating the
that spies from Xiongzhou have managed an undetected way to enter (a side
gate/door) into a Khitan city or settlement. Zheng’s reply to this obvious
farce of rhetorical attack (“Will this not provoke border affairs?”) is blunt—the
way (door) into Zhuozhou is wide open for Khitan spies to enter, and therefore
“provoking border affairs” should not be an issue.
[19] The “East Capital Road West Capital Road
etc
[20] An association of
honorary distinction, primarily composed of academicians and officials
recognized for contributions to the body of notable public and civil service
policy as well as literary works. See Charles O. Hucker, The Dictionary of Official Titles in Imperial China, (Stanford:
Stanford University Press) entry 553.
[21] In modern-day Shanxi Province
[22] In modern-day Hebei Province
[23] In modern-day Sichuan
[24] In modern-day Hubei Province
[25] All three of these locales
are also
in modern-day Hubei Province
[26] In modern-day Shanxi Province
[27] Again, this instance
lacks some detail and context. I surmise that there was apparently some burden
upon the Salt Bureau in Jiezhou dealing with “the sick populace” (bing min病 民), or perhaps more suitably phrased as “public
health” in English, where Bao was most likely requested to assist in the matter
since he was experienced with both the salt industry and transportation matters
and policy while in Shanxi [see Bao Zheng
Ji Bian Nian Jiao Bu (Huangshan shu she: Hefei, China, 1989) 121.] As to
the solution of the problem being that of commercial transport of the salt, it
is unclear exactly how that eased the burden of the salt bureau, but perhaps it
was a fiscally redeeming resolution removing the task of transport from the
civil service.
[28] The notability of being a
Scholar of the Tianzhang Pavilion is comparable to that of the Academy
of Scholarly Worthies , and is
equivalent to the induction into the Hanlin
Academy
[29] The “Seven Indispensable Things” were
fuel/fire, rice, oil, salt, soy, vinegar, and tea.
[30] Again, the notability of being an Academician
of the Longtu
Pavilion is similar to that of the Tianzhang Pavilion and the Academy of Scholarly
Worthies
[31] The Yellow River .
[32] These municipalities were all, obviously,
located south of the Yellow River; in modern-day Henan Province
[33] Modern-day Beijing
[34] In modern-day Jiangsu Province
[35] In Modern-day Anhui
Province
[36] In modern-day Jiangsu Province
[37] In modern-day Henan Province
[38] The Chinese phrase “lian shou” (斂手) is more
along the meaning of retracting ones hand into their long sleeves. However, I
believe the idea behind this represents the highbrow atmosphere at court, as
well as all those who belong to it—those with long sleeves.
[39] The “King of Hell,” is actually named Yan
Luo, fabled to be the Judge of the Underworld.
[40] This, I believe, is an allusion to the
difficulty common people might have had in accessing the formal process of
recourse due to the elevated nature of officialdom over the them.
[41] An allusion to the lack of an appointed
heir, the crown prince.
[42] With the last expression I was quite
liberal, but I believe I have captured the feeling of the phrase—literally: “the
people’s gain was that of no disturbance.”
[43] This entire passage baffles me. I have no
clue as to its place in the sequence of events, but have translated it as best
as I could.
[44] “Filial and Solemn”
[45] In modern-day Hunan Province
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