田叔列傳

Tian Shu was a native of Xingcheng in Zhao. His ancestors were descendants of the Tian clan of Qi. He loved swordsmanship and studied Huang-Lao philosophy under Yue Jugong. He was sharp, incorruptible, and self-assured, fond of associating with men of standing. The people of Zhao recommended him to their chancellor Zhao Wu, who presented him to King Zhang Ao of Zhao, who appointed him Gentleman of the Palace.

When Chen Xi rebelled in Dai in the seventh year of Han, the Grand Progenitor went to suppress him and passed through Zhao. King Zhang Ao personally served food with the utmost courtesy, but the Grand Progenitor sat with legs spread and berated him. Zhao Wu and dozens of other ministers were furious and urged the king to rebel. But the king bit his finger until it bled and said: "My ancestors lost their kingdom. Without His Majesty, we would be worms in the earth. How dare you speak this way!" Guan Gao and others then secretly plotted to assassinate the emperor. When the plot was discovered, only Guan Gao submitted to arrest. When the edict decreed that anyone who followed the King of Zhao would have their entire clan executed, only Meng Shu, Tian Shu, and about ten others put on convict clothing, shaved their heads, and wore iron collars, calling themselves slaves of the king's household, and followed him to Chang'an. When Guan Gao's testimony cleared the king, the Grand Progenitor summoned all ten and, finding them superior to any officials at court, appointed them as governors and chancellors. Tian Shu served as Governor of Hanzhong for over ten years.

After Empress Dowager Lu died, the great ministers destroyed the Lu clan and installed Emperor Wen. Emperor Wen summoned Tian Shu and asked who the greatest man of integrity in the realm was. Shu recommended Meng Shu, the former Governor of Yunzhong, who had been dismissed after the Xiongnu overran the border. The emperor challenged this: Meng Shu had failed to hold his post and hundreds of soldiers had died. Tian Shu prostrated himself and explained that Meng Shu's soldiers had fought like sons for a father precisely because he was a man of compassion who would not callously order them into battle. The emperor, convinced, reinstated Meng Shu as Governor of Yunzhong.

Some years later, Tian Shu lost his post through a legal conviction. When King Xiao of Liang had the former Wu chancellor Yuan Ang assassinated, Emperor Jing summoned Tian Shu to investigate. Shu obtained complete evidence but, when the emperor asked whether Liang was involved, he replied: "It was, but Your Majesty should not pursue it. If the King of Liang is punished, the Empress Dowager will be unable to eat or sleep — and that anxiety will fall upon you." The emperor, impressed by this judgment, appointed him Chancellor of Lu.

Upon arriving in Lu, over a hundred commoners came to lodge complaints that the king had seized their property. Tian Shu had the ringleaders flogged and rebuked the rest: "Is the king not your lord? How dare you accuse him!" The King of Lu, ashamed, opened his private treasury to compensate the people. The Chancellor said: "If the king took it and the Chancellor repays it, the king appears wicked and the Chancellor virtuous. The Chancellor will not participate in the repayment." The king therefore repaid everything himself.

The King of Lu was fond of hunting. The Chancellor always accompanied him into the park but would sit exposed outside rather than take shelter in the lodges, saying: "If my king endures the elements in the park, how can I alone take shelter?" The king therefore curtailed his excursions. After several years, Tian Shu died in office. His youngest son Ren refused the hundred gold pieces Lu offered for the funeral, saying: "I will not let a hundred gold pieces damage my father's good name."

Tian Shu's son Ren became a retainer of the General-in-Chief Wei Qing and distinguished himself in campaigns against the Xiongnu. He was recommended by Wei Qing and served as Gentleman of the Palace, eventually rising to Secretary to the Chancellor.

The supplementary account by Chu Shaosun tells how Tian Ren and Ren An were both poor retainers of Wei Qing's household, forced to tend vicious horses because they had no money to bribe the household steward. When they shared a bed, Ren whispered: "What poor judges of men these stewards are!" Ren An replied: "The General himself does not know men — let alone the steward!" When the two were sent to dine with stable hands at the Princess of Pingyang's household, they drew their swords and cut the mat to sit apart. When the junior minister Zhao Yu selected men from Wei Qing's household for recommendation to the emperor, he found only Tian Ren and Ren An worthy among over a hundred candidates. The emperor asked them to evaluate each other. Tian Ren said: "For standing at the army gate with a drumstick and inspiring soldiers to fight to the death, I cannot match Ren An." Ren An said: "For resolving disputes, defining right and wrong, and governing so that the people have no grievances, I cannot match Tian Ren." Emperor Wu laughed and was greatly pleased.

Tian Ren later served as Secretary to the Chancellor and exposed corruption among the Three Rivers governors, winning praise as a fearless investigator. But during the Heir Apparent's rebellion, the Chancellor ordered Ren to guard the city gates. Ren let the Heir Apparent pass. He was arrested and executed.

Ren An, serving as Protector of the Northern Army, received the Heir Apparent's tally ordering him to mobilize, but shut the gates and refused to act. Emperor Wu judged him a fence-sitter waiting to join the winning side, and had him executed as well.

The Grand Historian remarks: Confucius said, "Dwell in any state and you will surely learn its governance" — was he not speaking of Tian Shu? He was righteous and never forgot the worthy, illuminating his lord's virtue to redeem his errors. Ren was my friend, and so I have recorded his story alongside.

Chu Shaosun adds: Fan Li withdrew from Yue, declining office and rank, and his name was transmitted to later ages — who can match him? Those who come after should take warning.

Tian Shu was a man of integrity who valued righteousness above life. After Zhang Ao was exonerated, Hanzhong was his glory. He argued for Meng Shu's reinstatement. He investigated Liang with propriety and governed Lu with insight. His son Ren was involved in the crisis, but as an investigator his reputation resounded.