中英雙語話史記 第53期:光武中興

Emperor Guangwu Revitalizes the Han

光武中興

War continued after Liu Xiu, Emperor Guangwu, claimed the throne.

光武帝劉秀登基後戰爭仍不斷髮生。

Over the next dozen years Liu Xiu wiped out the Lulin and Red-brow armies and other local forces.

在接下來的十幾年間，劉秀平定了綠林軍和赤眉軍以及其他的一些地方勢力。

The country became united again in A.D.36.

國家與公元36年再次獲得統一。

Liu Xiu was one of the few Chinese emperors with talent for handling both military and civil affairs.

劉秀是中國的帝王中極少同時具有軍事和國家大事天賦的人之一。

In war he was able to achieve victory using the strategy of surprise even when the enemy outnumbered his troops.

作戰中就算對手的兵力比他充足，他也能夠出奇制勝。

He appointed people to appropriate positions based on their different abilities, instead of their relationship with him.

他根據人們不同的才能而不是與自己的關係派遣給他們合適的職務。

For instance, he promoted many commoners and ordinary soldiers to become generals.

例如，他任許多平民或普通士兵爲大將。

He even gave an important position to Zhu Wei, a man who had been involved in the conspiracy to murder his elder brother.

他還重用曾密謀殺害他大哥有牽連的朱鮪。

After reuniting the country, Emperor Guangwu devoted most of his time attending to state affairs, rather than resting on his laurels.

重新統一全國後，光武帝將更多的時間投入到了國家大事之中而不是享受着自己的美名。

According to historical records, he went to the imperial court early every morning, where he would discuss important matters with his ministers until sunset.

據史料記載，他每日早早上朝，與他的大臣們商議大事直到太陽西下。

Often the meetings would last until as late as midnight.

大多數時候會議會持續到午夜時分。

Emperor Guangwu’s dedication led to the implementation of many wise policies.

光武帝的奉獻爲國家增添了更多的英明決策。

For example, while taking measures to strengthen the power of the imperial family, he made a point of simplifying state organization and reducing surplus personnel.

比如，當採取措施加強王室的權力時，他強調要簡化國家機構，裁減冗官。

He personally took the lead in reversing the extravagant trends of the late Western Han government.

他以身作則帶頭扭轉西漢末期的奢靡之風。

Growing up among the common people, Emperor Guangwu knew their hard lot and thus promulgated lenient laws and low taxes to help the people recover.

因爲自己也是長於普通人之家，他充分了解人民的疾苦，所以頒佈了仁慈的法律和低廉的稅收來幫助人民恢復。

He described such policies as “running the country with kindness” thus steering the Eastern Han toward a good beginning.

他稱這些法令爲“溫和執政”並因此引導東漢走向一個良好的開端。

His reign indeed came to be acclaimed as “Gangwu Revitalizing the Han.”

他掌權的時期因此被稱爲“光武中興”。

Before his death in A.D. 57, Emperor Guangwu decreed a simple funeral for himself because he had been “of little use to the people.”

在他於公元前57年駕崩之前，光武帝爲自己辦了一個簡單的葬禮，因爲他認爲自己“對人民無用”。

By then the population of the country had reached 21 million, almost twice the figure at the beginning of the Eastern Han.

在他之後，國家的人口達到了21000000，幾乎是東漢開始時的兩倍。