| | Shuofang Kunqian, a subject exiled to Yong, kowtows twice and presents this memorial to Your Majesty the Emperor. I, Yong, have received great favor and special grace from Your Majesty. Initially appointed through the Grand Secretariat, I served as a minor official in Diancheng. Because of my father's relationship, I relied upon my uncle, Weiyi Zhi. At that time, I was summoned by the Ministry of Rites and appointed as a Langzhong. I received an imperial decree to serve at the Eastern Pavilion for compiling historical records, and thus joined a group of scholars in serving as Yilang officials. I bathed in Your Majesty's grace, answered questions from His Majesty, and served for six years. Zhi handled confidential matters with diligence and ran errands for Your Majesty. Thus, I advanced from the right-hand post of the central government to serve as a chancellor for an outer fief, and then returned to serve as governor of the capital. Within ten days, I ascended to the highest ranks. My father and I from one family have both received Your Majesty's grace and favor. Yet we were unable to devote our hearts and strength to achieve even the slightest contribution, and suddenly faced accusations, falling into disgrace and punishment. Your Majesty, with the virtue of heaven and earth, could not bear to execute me with the guillotine or saw. Instead, I was allowed to accept a lesser punishment. My father, son, and family were exiled to the frontier regions, preserving our lives as we breathed on together. It is not something unworthy subjects like I dare to hope for again; it is not a punishment deserved by my crimes and wickedness; nor can words or writing adequately express this. When I was first sentenced, I was in the imperial prison of Luoyang. Upon my release from the prison, I recalled that during the Yuanchu period, former Shangshu Lang Zhang Jun had been condemned to a severe punishment for leaking confidential matters. After leaving the carriage gate, I was again ordered to be re-examined. An imperial decree arrived urgently ordering my rescue from a first-class punishment and instead sentencing me to labor at Zuo Xiao. Jun submitted a memorial expressing gratitude, and was then transferred for exile. The local officials hurriedly ordered my departure, forcing me under the hands of the magistrates. I had no time to rest, bearing sorrow and words in my heart, with no opportunity to present them upward. After arriving at the place of exile, I was stationed on the frontier guarding beacon towers, responsible for observation and vigilance. I was filled with anxiety and fear, no longer capable of fulfilling my duties. With a brush in hand, I hastily drafted this memorial to present it at the imperial court. I truly know that Your Majesty's enlightened dynasty does not hold me overly responsible for my faults. Yet there are matters in my foolish heart I have been unable to fully express. Since my days as a commoner, I have always believed that the ten "Zhi" (treatises) in the Book of Han ended with Wang Mang and did not continue beyond Emperor Shizong. Although there are annals and biographies since then, no one has continued writing the treatises. My late teacher, former Grand Tutor Hu Guang, knew that I had some understanding of this field and kindly shared with me the knowledge he possessed. Although incomplete, it roughly outlines the beginning and end; over twenty years I have accumulated and pondered on these thoughts. Since I did not hold the appropriate office, it was not within my power as an official or commoner to compose such works. Heaven guided me, and I was appointed as a Zuo Zu Lang (official in charge of historical compilation). I proposed that ten treatises should be compiled, and thus with Yilang Zhang Hua and others, we divided the task among ourselves; the most difficult sections were entrusted to me. I first worked on the treatise on laws and calendars, taking calculation as its foundation and astronomy as verification. I requested Grand Master Tian Zhu to examine it over many years, but there were often significant discrepancies found. There must be additions and revisions before it can be implemented as a permanent law; the principles are profound and subtle, and cannot be decided by one person alone. Langzhong Liu Hong was skilled in calculations, so I recommended him to the throne and worked with him to study charts and documents, tracing measurements and degrees. We began to find some leads when I was suddenly punished and exiled to the frontier. I secretly grieve, for one misdeed has caused the interruption of a historical record that was once lacking and revised by Hu Guang. Twenty years of thought have been cut short before completion. This anxious feeling remains deeply in my heart, yet I am unable to express it fully. I originally intended to wait until the punishment was carried out, but eventually, through the county officials, I submitted a report detailing my case. On the ninth day of the seventh month this year, the Xiongnu attacked Yanchi Xian of Jun Zhou. At that time, the Xianbei also launched successive attacks on Yunzhong and Wuyuan. Within one month, beacon fires did not cease. Unexpectedly, the western barbarians conspired together with far-reaching plans; I fear a major upheaval may occur and do not know how to resolve it. The local officials are all anxious and uncertain about what to defend, and I, in my isolated and perilous position, hang my life on the edge of weapons, destined to be buried in dust and ashes, with no certainty of survival. lóg I truly fear that my thoughts will perish along with my body, leaving me to regret in the netherworld. Thus I have not delayed further but humbly list these treatises before my downfall. One of them is a work that I wish to revise and finalize, while four others are those that should be continued. Three of them are new works not included in the previous treatises that I wish to compose. In addition, materials from classical texts and other books deemed suitable for collection, as well as imperial edicts and decrees upon which these writings should be based, have been categorized by headings and recorded on the left side of each chapter. Initially, when I was investigated, my wife and children fled in panic; all documents were lost, leaving nothing to refer to. Added to this were feelings of fear and sorrow, which scattered my thoughts so that out of ten things, I could not recall even one. What little I did remember I feared might be mistaken, yet still I dare to lay bare my foolish sentiments at the risk of a capital offense. I humbly request that Your Majesty order an investigation at the Eastern Pavilion, retrieve all relevant memorials, and cross-reference them with sealed imperial documents to complete what is missing. If this clarifies the state's dignity and becomes known after my death, even if my liver and brains are scattered or my white bones shattered, I will have no further regrets. I only beg Your Majesty to examine this carefully. I respectfully submit it through General Huo Yu, the commander of the border forces. I, Yong, bow my head in mortal sin and kowtow twice to present this memorial.
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