Chang'an's imperial city.
Liu Heng went to Weiyang Palace to dine with Empress Dowager Zhang Yan. As they chatted casually, Zhang Yan suddenly asked, "Emperor, have you sent the Marquis of Dong'e to Shandong again?"
Liu Heng answered with some feeling, "A Jing simply cannot sit idle. He insists on doing something. Perhaps my uncle's influence was too great, and he wants to prove himself.
"A Jing and I are as close as brothers, and he is also running about for the sake of my realm. He pleaded with me, and I truly could not refuse, so I could only let him go."
With a note of admonition, Zhang Yan said, "Emperor, look at the towering trees a thousand feet tall on Dragon Ridge. They are meant to become the pillars and beams of palaces. To burn them as firewood would be to put great timber to petty use.
"Then look at the shrubs and brambles, short, dry, and hard. Those are meant for firewood. If you made them into pillars and beams, they could not support a grand building.
"This is what the sages meant by putting every thing to its proper use and letting every person exert their full abilities.
"Jing, the Marquis of Dong'e, has a gift for literary brilliance, yet you keep employing him on those crooked paths, Emperor. That is good neither for him nor for Great Han.
"He may wish to exert himself for your realm, but there is truly no need. There are countless people in the realm who can be employed in such matters.
"He has already reached the pinnacle of wealth, rank, glory, and splendor.
"The sages said, 'The grace of a gentleman is cut off after five generations.' He is only the second generation. He can still enjoy King Wen