The Virtue and Legacy of He Wu

He Wu, courtesy name Jun Gong, was a native of Pixian County in Shu Commandery. During the reign of Emperor Xuan, the world was at peace, and the various frontier tribes were submissive. The divine and auspicious signs were frequent between the periods of Shenjue and Wufeng. In this time, Wang Xiang, the Inspector of Yizhou, commissioned the orator Wang Bao to compose three poems: “Zhonghe,” “Yuezhi,” and “Xuanbu” to extol the virtue of the Han Dynasty. At the age of fourteen or fifteen, He Wu practiced singing with Yang Fu and others in Chengdu. Emperor Xuan, following the example of Emperor Wu, sought to meet and honor exceptional individuals and summoned He Wu and his peers to the Xuan Hall. The Emperor remarked, “These are matters of great virtue; I am not worthy of them!” Wang Bao was appointed as a waiting scholar, and He Wu and the others were given silk and dismissed.

He Wu studied under the scholars and concentrated on the “I Ching.” He was appointed as a gentleman of rank through the top examination in archery and developed a friendship with Zhai Fangjin. His commendable performance led him to be promoted to the position of magistrate of Hu County. Due to legal issues, he was removed from office and returned to his hometown. His five brothers were all local officials, and their family was well-respected in their region. He Wu’s brother Xian had a household with market status and was often exempt from taxes. The market official, dissatisfied with this, tried to cause trouble for the Xian family. Xian, angry, considered using official power against the market official. He Wu intervened, arguing, “If our family’s tax obligations are not prioritized, isn’t it right to support the officials?” He Wu petitioned the governor, who then appointed the market official as a lowly soldier. This action was highly praised throughout the province.

After some time, the Minister of the Interior, Wang Yin, recommended He Wu for his virtuous and upright character, and He Wu was appointed as a censor and then as the Inspector of Yangzhou. His appointments were marked by his strict adherence to justice. In his role as Inspector, He Wu mandated that all officials of the two-thousand stone rank must disclose their performance reports. Those who confessed to their mistakes would be pardoned, while those who did not would be subjected to the harshest penalties, which could include death.

The Governor of Jiujiang, Dai Sheng, known as Xiao Dai due to his familiarity with the “Book of Rites,” was notorious for his corrupt practices. Although the previous inspector had favored him due to his scholarly reputation, when He Wu became inspector, he investigated Dai Sheng’s governance and found it lacking. Dai Sheng, fearing the repercussions, resigned and later became a scholar, disparaging He Wu to the court. He Wu, however, never spoke ill of him in return. Despite the controversies, Dai Sheng’s son and his associates became notorious bandits, and Dai Sheng was left in a precarious position. Nevertheless, He Wu intervened to save him from execution, and Dai Sheng felt deep shame and admiration towards He Wu.

Whenever He Wu reported to the capital, Dai Sheng, despite his previous actions, would always come to express his gratitude. As an inspector, He Wu maintained the practice of visiting academies to test the students’ knowledge and understanding before proceeding with official duties. He would assess their performance, inspect land use, and inquire about the quality of crops, ensuring a thorough and fair administration.

Initially, He Wu served under Governor He Shou, who, recognizing He Wu’s talent for governance, favored him due to their shared surname. Later, when He Shou became the Grand Minister of Agriculture, his nephew served as the Administrator of Lujiang. At this time, He Wu was in the capital for official duties, and He Shou’s nephew was in Chang’an. He Shou organized a gathering with He Wu’s brothers and former associates, and during a banquet, He Shou’s nephew was introduced as the Administrator of Yangzhou, deemed less capable. He Wu’s brothers felt embarrassed, and He Wu remarked, “The position of Inspector is one of great responsibility, tasked with promoting good and removing the bad. It is proper to meet with those in high positions and not to be influenced by personal connections.” Eventually, He Wu’s advice led to a meeting with the Administrator of Yangzhou, who was honored with a drink.

During his five-year tenure as Inspector, He Wu was promoted to the position of Minister of State. He was appointed to various positions, including Governor of Qinghe and later, a role in the central administration. He was known for his ability to maintain order and respect across the provinces. He Wu had a reputation for fairness and was instrumental in reforming the administrative system.

In the first year of the Shu era, the Minister of Justice, Kong Guang, was demoted, and He Wu was appointed as the Minister of Justice. With the changes in the imperial court, He Wu’s position was elevated to Minister of State, and he was granted the title of Marquis of Sih. Despite being a man of humble origins, He Wu was known for his kindness and the promotion of capable individuals. His administrative reforms were aimed at reducing corruption and improving the effectiveness of governance.

In his later years, He Wu faced challenges from political factions, including the rise of Wang Mang. Despite his efforts to maintain stability, He Wu’s career was marred by political strife. After Wang Mang’s usurpation of the throne, He Wu was accused of various offenses and ultimately chose to end his life. His contributions were recognized posthumously, and he was given the title of Marquis of Si. His legacy is remembered for his virtue and dedication to just governance.

This translation captures He Wu’s life, highlighting his commitment to justice, his administrative reforms, and his enduring legacy amidst political turbulence.