| | 西域: |
大夫曰：「往者，匈奴據河、山之險，擅田牧之利，民富兵強，行入為寇，則句注之內驚動，而上郡以南咸城。文帝時，虜入蕭關，烽火通甘泉，群臣懼不知所出，乃請屯京師以備胡。胡西役大宛、康居之屬，南與群羌通。先帝推讓斥奪廣饒之地，建張掖以西，隔絕羌、胡，瓜分其援。是以西域之國，皆內拒匈奴，斷其右臂，曳劍而走，故募人田畜以廣用，長城以南，濱塞之郡，馬牛放縱，蓄積布野，未睹其計之所過。夫以弱越而遂意強吳，才地計眾非鈞也，主思臣謀，其往必矣。」 |
| | The official said, "In the past, the Xiongnu occupied the perilous terrain of the Yellow River and mountains, monopolized the benefits of farming and animal husbandry, became wealthy in population and strong in military power. When they marched inward to raid, even within Guozhu were alarmed, and all cities south of Shangjun fell." During Emperor Wen's reign, the Hu forces entered Xiaoguan Pass; beacon fires reached Ganquan. The ministers were frightened and did not know what to do, so they requested troops be stationed in the capital city to guard against the Hu. The Hu forces waged wars westward against states such as Dawan and Kangju, and communicated with various Qiang tribes to the south. The late emperor pushed forward and ceded fertile lands, establishing Zhangye and areas to the west in order to isolate the Qiang and Hu tribes, thereby dividing their support. Therefore, the states of the Western Regions all resisted the Xiongnu from within, cutting off their right arm and driving them away with drawn swords. Thus, people were recruited to cultivate land and raise livestock for expanded use; south of the Great Wall, in border commanderies along the frontier, horses and cattle roamed freely, and supplies accumulated across the fields—no one could see where this strategy had gone wrong. Indeed, a weak Yue was able to defeat the powerful Wu as it wished; this is because their land, strategy, and numbers were not equal. With determined rulers and wise ministers, success in the past was inevitable," he said.
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| | 西域: |
文學曰：「吳、越迫於江、海，三川循環之，處於五湖之間，地相迫，壤相次，其勢易以相禽也。金鼓未聞，旌旗未舒，行軍未定，兵以接矣。師無輜重之費，士無乏絕之勞，此所謂食於廚倉而戰於門郊者也。今匈奴牧於無窮之澤，東西南北，不可窮極，雖輕車利馬，不能得也，況負重嬴兵以求之乎？其勢不相及也。茫茫乎若行九皋未知所止，皓皓乎若無網羅而漁江、海，雖及之，三軍罷弊，適遺之餌也。故明王知其無所利，以為役不可數行，而權不可久張也，故詔公卿大夫、賢良、文學，所以復枉興微之路。公卿宜思百姓之急，匈奴之害，緣聖主之心，定安平之業。今乃留心於末計，摧本議，不順上意，未為盡於忠也。 |
| | The Literati said, "Wu and Yue were constrained by the Yangtze River and the sea; the Three Rivers flowed around them. They were situated among the Five Lakes, with their lands closely adjacent to each other. Their situation made it easy for one to capture the other." The gongs and drums had not yet sounded, the banners had not yet unfurled, and the army had not yet settled its formation when battle was already joined. The troops did not suffer the expense of provisions, and soldiers were not burdened with exhaustion; this was what is called fighting at the city gates while being supplied from the storehouses. Now, the Xiongnu graze in boundless marshes; their movements stretch east, west, south, and north without end. Even with swift chariots and fast horses, they cannot be captured—how much less so when one must pursue them with a weary and overburdened army? Their strength is simply not comparable. Vast and boundless, it is like traveling through the Nine Gao marshes without knowing where to stop; bright and open, it is as if one were fishing in the rivers and seas without a net. Even if they are reached, the entire army would be exhausted and worn out—this would merely serve as bait for them. Therefore, wise rulers knew that such campaigns yielded no real benefit; they understood that military expeditions could not be launched repeatedly and that power should not remain stretched for long. Hence, the emperor issued an edict to summon high officials, ministers, virtuous men of talent, and literati in order to restore a just path and revive what had been neglected. The high officials should consider the urgent needs of the people and the harm caused by the Xiongnu, following the mind of a sage ruler to establish an era of peace and stability. Now they are preoccupied with trivial matters, undermining fundamental discussions, failing to align with the emperor's will—this is not a complete expression of loyalty.
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| | 西域: |
大夫曰：「初，貳師不克宛而還也，議者欲使人主不遂忿，則西域皆瓦解而附於胡，胡得眾國而益強。先帝絕奇聽，行武威，還襲宛，宛舉國以降，效其器物，致其寶馬。烏孫之屬駭膽，請為臣妾。匈奴失魄，奔走遁逃，雖未盡服，遠處寒苦墝埆之地，壯者死於祁連、天山，其孤未復。故群臣議以為匈奴困於漢兵，折翅傷翼，可遂擊服。會先帝棄群臣，以故匈奴不革。譬如為山，未成一簣而止，度功業而無繼成之理，是棄與胡而資強敵也。輟幾沮成，為主計若斯，亦未可謂盡忠也。」 |
| | The official said, "Initially, when Fu Shi failed to conquer Wannu and returned, some advisors wished the ruler not to pursue his anger. If so, all the Western Regions would disintegrate and submit to the Hu; the Hu, having gained many states, would become even stronger." The late emperor rejected unusual advice and took decisive military action, launching a surprise attack on Wannu. The entire state of Wannu surrendered, offering its weapons and treasures as well as its prized horses. The Wusun and others were terrified, requesting to become subjects or concubines. The Xiongnu were disheartened, fleeing in panic. Though not entirely subdued, they now dwell far away in cold and barren lands; the strong have perished on Qilian Mountain and Tianshan, and their numbers remain unrecovered. Therefore, ministers deliberated that the Xiongnu had been weakened by Han forces, with broken wings and injured strength; they could thus be decisively attacked and subdued. Just then, the late emperor passed away before his ministers, so the Xiongnu did not change their ways. It is like building a mountain; one stops before even completing the first kuǐ, measuring achievements without any possibility of continuation. This is to abandon efforts against the Hu and instead strengthen our enemies. To abandon an almost completed task and hinder success, advising the ruler in such a way, cannot be called complete loyalty," he said.
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文學曰：「有司言外國之事，議者皆徼一時之權，不慮其後。張騫言大宛之天馬汗血，安息之真玉大鳥，縣官既聞如甘心焉，乃大興師伐宛，歷數期而後克之。夫萬里而攻人之國，兵未戰而物故過半，雖破宛得寶馬，非計也。當此之時，將卒方赤面而事四夷，師旅相望，郡國並發，黎人困苦，姦偽萌生，盜賊並起，守尉不能禁，城邑不能止。然後遣上大夫衣繡衣以興擊之。當此時，百姓元元，莫必其命，故山東豪傑，頗有異心。賴先帝聖靈斐然。其咎皆在於欲畢匈奴而遠幾也。為主計若此，可謂忠乎？」 |
| | The Literati said, "Officials who speak of foreign affairs and those who deliberate all seek temporary advantages without considering the consequences. Zhang Qian spoke of the heavenly horses with blood-sweating coats from Dawan and the genuine jade and great birds from Anxi. Upon hearing this, the imperial court was delighted and immediately launched a large-scale military campaign against Wannu, which took several years before it could be conquered. To march ten thousand li to attack a foreign state, with more than half the troops dying before battle even begins—though Wannu was defeated and prized horses obtained, this is not sound strategy. At that time, generals and soldiers were exhausted from dealing with the Four Barbarians; armies could be seen everywhere, as commanderies and states simultaneously mobilized. The common people suffered greatly, giving rise to deceit and corruption, while bandits rose up in large numbers. Local officials could not suppress them, nor could cities prevent their spread. Only then were high-ranking ministers sent out wearing embroidered robes to launch attacks against them. At this time, the common people, in their distress, could not be sure of their lives; therefore, many outstanding men from Shandong began to harbor rebellious thoughts. It was only due to the late emperor's holy wisdom and brilliance that this situation was averted. The fault lies entirely in the desire to completely subdue the Xiongnu while neglecting more immediate concerns. To advise a ruler in such a manner, can this be called loyalty?"
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