bs2> Emperor Wu attributed the defeat to #LiLing, with all government officials subsequently condemning him for it. Sima was the only person to defend Li Ling..whom he respected. #EmperorWu interpreted Sima's defence of Li as an attack on his brother-in-law, #LiGuangli, who had also fought against the #Xiongnu without much success, and sentenced Sima to death. At that time, execution could be commuted either by money or castration. Since Sima did not have enough money to atone his "crime"..
> he endured three years. He described his pain thus: "When you see the jailer you abjectly touch the ground with your forehead. At the mere sight of his underlings you are seized with terror ... Such ignominy can never be wiped away." Sima called his castration "the worst of all punishments". In 96 BC, on his release from prison, Sima chose to live on as a palace eunuch to complete his histories, rather than commit suicide..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sima_Qian
#SimaQian #司馬遷
