The First Petition to the Emperor Before a Military Expedition 1
Translated From the Chinese By Robert M. W. Tsou
Vassal2 Liang speaks:
Our Late Emperor3, while endeavoring in the
creation of the empire, perished midway to completion. Now the Realm Under
Heaven is divided three ways. The state of Yi lies weary and depleted. We
have indeed arrived at a critical juncture between viability and demise.
Yet, our servants are tireless and our soldiers are selfless in devotion
to our country. Their allegiance is simply a reflection of their desire to
reciprocate the Late Emperor's past magnanimity and kindness through loyal
servce to Your Majesty4
.
Now Vassal must implore Your Majesty to widen your sagely audience
in order to honor the Late Emperor and to promote morale among
the resolute. Do not recklessly abdicate faith nor employ spurious
pretenses which may impede the path to honorable remonstrance.
The Royal Court and the Ministry5 of State are one and the same. Rewards and punishments should be meted out equitably. To demonstrate Your Majesty's enlightened rule, matters of criminal guilt or innocence should be delegated to the judiciary for due disposal. There should be no place for favoritism or inequality under the law.
Among the courtiers, Kuo Yo-Zhi, Fei-Yi, and Dong-Yun are all loyal servants of pure and honorable intentions. They were chosen especially by the Late Emperor to assist Your Majesty. Vassal believes that matters of the Royal Court, whether momentous or minuscule, are best conferred with them prior to implementation. This will surely benefit to the avoidance of errors and omissions. General Hsiang-Chong, possessor of a staid temperament and extensive martial knowledge, who was commissioned in the past and pronounced "capable" by the Late Emperor, is the majority choice for the post of Chief of Staff. Vassal believes that he should be consulted in affairs of the military. Doing so will engender fairness and harmony among the ranks. Embracing the virtuous and eschewing the ignoble6 accounted for the prosperity of the early Hans while embracing the ignoble and eschewing the virtuous hastened the decline of the late Hans. During His Late Majesty's lifetime, whenever we discussed this subject, he would often lament the mistakes made by Emperors Huan and Ling7 . The Privy Counselor, the Imperial Secretary, the Elder Emissary, and the Security Advisor are all men of unswerving loyalty who will defend our cause to the death. Should Your Majesty rely and confide in them, then the days to Han's resurgence shall not be long indeed.
Vassal was but a mere commoner. Content to farm in Nan Yang and eke out a meager existence in this tempestuous times, I sought no preeminence among lords. His Late Majesty, undaunted by Vassal's lowliness, thrice visited Vassal in the thatched hut to confer on matters of national importance. Out of gratitude, Vassal decided to dedicate myself to the service of the Late Emperor. Later, we were met with destruction8 and Vassal assumed field command amidst danger and hardship, in the face of defeat; alas, that was 21 years ago! His Late Majesty knew that Vassal was prudent, so he entrusted Vassal with the Great Task before his demise. Since accepting this responsibility, Vassal has toiled days and nights lest the job be wanting or fallen short of His Late Majesty's expectations. This is why we crossed the Lu9 in May, venturing deeply to strike at the Wild Territories. Now with the South peaceful and our troops robust, it is time to call upon our forces again to reclaim the Middle Plains of the north. Contributing my finite utmost, we shall overcome and oust the treacherous tyrant10, restore the rightful Han heir and return our capital to its proper origin11. Fulfillment of these duties are indeed Vassal's way of repaying the Late Emperor and affirming allegiance to Your Majesty. From hence forward, matters of royal counseling regarding routine decision-making shall be the charge of Yo-Zhi, Yi, and Yun, while the task of brigand12 - prosecution and national restoration shall rest upon Vassal. If my goals are not met, then I shall accept fitting punishment in appeasement of the Late Emperor's spirit. Likewise, if Yo-Zhi, Yi, and Yun fail to provide wise counsel, then they, too, shall be duly punished to expose their deficiencies. Finally, I beseech Your Majesty to be ever self-reflective, to adopt the ways of the noble, to heed the guidance of the sagacious, and to pursue unfailingly the last will of our Late Emperor. To this end, Vassal is grateful beyond words. On this eve of my departure afar, I tearfully submit this petition, shaken and hardly realizing my own utterances.
Translator's Note:
(1).
The war against Wei, launched by Zhuge
Liang in 228 A.D.
(2). How a subordinate refers to himself before a lord,
used here in lieu of the first person.
(3). Liu Bei, the first Emperor of
the Shu-Han Dynasty.
(4). Liu Shan (Ah Dou), son of Liu Bei.
(5). Office
of the Minister of State (Zhuge Liang) and its staff.
(6). Also translates
to men of base character or low morality.
(7). Two of the later Emperors
of the Han Dynasty during whose reign the nation started its decline.
(8).
Battle of Steepslope Bridge where Cao defeats Liu Bei.
(9). River in
southern China.
(10). The "Treacherous Tyrant" refers to Wei ruler Cao.
(11). The capital of the Western Han was in Chang An, later it was moved
to Lo Yang during the Eastern Han period.
(12). Collective term for the
defenders of Wei.
The above courtesy of Mr.Tsou