Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, whose birth name was Liu Xiu, courtesy name Wenshu, was a native of Caiyang in Nanyang and was a ninth-generation descendant of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang of the Han Dynasty. His ancestor was Liu Fa, Prince Ding of Changsha, son of Emperor Jing of Han. Liu Fa fathered Liu Mai, who had a son named Liu Wai, Liu Wai had a son named Liu Hui, Liu Hui had a son named Liu Qin, who was the father of Emperor Guangwu. Emperor Guangwu became an orphan at the age of nine and was raised by his uncle Liu Liang. Standing at seven feet three inches tall, he had handsome features and a regal demeanor. He was a diligent farmer, while his brother Liu Bosheng enjoyed mingling with heroes and maintaining a retinue, often mocking Liu Xiu's farming pursuits and comparing him to Liu Zhong, the brother of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang. In the later years of Wang Mang's rule, the country faced consecutive years of disasters, locust plagues, and rampant banditry. In the third year of Di Huang, Nanyang suffered from severe famine, with many household guests turning to theft. To avoid the authorities, Liu Xiu went to Xinye and began selling grain in Wancheng. People in Wancheng, including Li Tong, predicted that the Liu family would rise again and the Li family would assist them. Liu Xiu was initially skeptical, but given his brother's connections, he believed they could achieve great things, especially as Wang Mang's rule teetered on the brink of collapse and chaos loomed. He began discussing raising troops with Li Tong and others and started acquiring weapons and crossbows. In October, at the age of twenty-eight, he and Li Yi, Li Tong's cousin, raised troops in Wancheng.
In November, a comet appeared in the sky. Liu Xiu then led his guests back to Chongling. At that time, his brother Liu Boshi had already gathered many troops and raised an army. Initially, the noble youths were all very afraid, fled and hid, saying, "Boshi wants to kill us." When they saw Liu Xiu wearing red clothes and a tall hat, they were taken aback, thinking, "Even such a careful and upright person is rebelling?" They gradually calmed down. Liu Boshi then recruited troops from Xinshi and Pinglin, and together with his generals Wang Feng and Chen Mu, they attacked Changju to the west. Liu Xiu initially rode a cow, only getting a horse after killing the county magistrate of Xinye. They then took Tangzixiang and killed the county magistrate of Huyang. The soldiers were angry at the unfair division of spoils and wanted to attack the Liu clan members. Liu Xiu collected all the property obtained by the clan members and distributed it to the soldiers, making everyone happy. Later, they captured Jiyang and fought against Wang Mang's former officials Zhen Fu and Liang Qiu Ci in Xiaochang'an, resulting in a crushing defeat for the Han army, forcing them to retreat and fortify Jiyang. On the first day of the first month in the year 23 AD, the Han army fought again with Zhen Fu and Liang Qiu Ci on the west side of the Bi River, defeating them completely. Zhen Fu and Liang Qiu Ci were both beheaded. Then, Liu Xiu's brother Liu Boshi defeated Wang Mang's generals Yan You and Chen Mao at Yuyang, and then besieged Wancheng. In early February, Liu Xuan was enthroned as emperor and appointed Liu Boshi as Grand Minister, and Liu Xiu was named Grand General of the Household.
In March, Liu Xiu, along with other generals, waged battles across various regions, capturing Kunyang, Dingling, and Yan. They seized a large number of cattle, horses, and treasures, and several hundred thousand hu of grain, all of which were transported to Wancheng for support. When Wang Mang learned of Zhen Fu and Liang Qiu's deaths and the establishment of a new emperor in the Han Dynasty, he was greatly alarmed. He quickly sent the Grand Tutor Wang Xun and the Grand Minister Wang Yi to lead a million-strong army, including 420,000 elite soldiers. By May, this army had arrived in Yingchuan, where it joined forces with Yan You and Chen Mao.
Earlier, Liu Xiu had a lawsuit with Yan You over the Chongling Marquis's family due to rent arrears. At that time, Yan You regarded Liu Xiu as quite remarkable. Now, those who had surrendered to Yan You in Wancheng informed him that Liu Xiu was not motivated by greed, but only cared about military strategy. Yan You burst into laughter and remarked, "This kid looks refined, but I never expected him to be like this!"
Initially, Wang Mang summoned 63 military schools from across the country that were skilled in military tactics, comprising hundreds of individuals, and appointed them to military officer positions. He carefully selected soldiers, recruited warriors, and the military flags and supplies stretched for miles, creating a spectacular sight. One giant, named Juhuabai, stood twelve feet tall with a waist measuring ten feet and was appointed as a battalion officer; Wang Mang even summoned tigers, leopards, rhinoceroses, elephants, and other fierce beasts to amplify the spectacle. Since the Qin and Han dynasties, there had never been a military expedition of this scale.
Emperor Guangwu at the time only brought a few thousand soldiers, but marched in the sunlight with great fanfare. Other generals, seeing the strong enemy forces in Xunyang and Yiyang, were terrified and ran for their lives, fleeing into Kunyang City. Each of them was so scared that they were worried about their wives and children, hoping to escape back to their own towns. Emperor Guangwu called a meeting and said, "Now we have little food left, and the enemy is strong. If we stick together and fight back, we might just pull it off; if we scatter and flee, the whole army will be wiped out. Besides, Wancheng has not been captured, so we won't have any reinforcements. If Kunyang City falls, our entire force will be done for in a day. Now, instead of just looking out for our families and stuff, why don't we work together to achieve something?" The generals were furious when they heard this, "General Liu, how can you say that!" Emperor Guangwu smiled and stood up.
At this time, the scouts returned and said that the enemy's main force was about to arrive at the north of the city, with the army stretching for hundreds of miles, without end in sight. The generals hurriedly discussed with each other, "Let's hear General Liu's plan one more time." Emperor Guangwu then went over the odds of winning or losing for them. The generals had no choice but to agree. At that time, there were only eight or nine thousand people in the city. Emperor Guangwu left Chengguo Shanggong Wang Feng and Grand Judge General Wang Chang to guard the city, and at night he led thirteen cavalrymen, including General Biaoqi Zongtiao and General Li Yi, out of the city from the south gate to recruit soldiers and buy horses outside the city. At that time, Wang Mang's army had already reached the city, with nearly one hundred thousand men, and Emperor Guangwu almost couldn't get out. After reaching Yan and Dingling, Emperor Guangwu gathered all the troops, but those generals were hesitant to leave their stuff behind and wanted to leave troops behind. Emperor Guangwu said, "If we win the battle, the riches we could gain would be worth thousands of times more than what we have now, and we can achieve great things; if we lose, we will all die, so what's the point of talking about wealth?" That’s when everyone finally agreed to follow his orders.
Yan You said to Wang Yi, "Although Kunyang City is small, it is very strong. The impostors posing as soldiers are all in Wancheng now. Quickly send a large force over there; they will definitely run away. If Wancheng is defeated, Kunyang City will naturally surrender." Wang Yi said, "When I was the Tiger Tooth General before, I besieged Zhai Yi, but failed to capture it and was blamed for it. Now I am leading a million-strong army, yet I can't take a small city. What's going on?" So he heavily surrounded Kunyang City, with hundreds of tents stretching as far as the eye can see, towering military vehicles over ten zhang tall overlooking the city, banners covering the sky, dust flying, reaching the sky and the earth, and the sound of drums and gongs echoing for miles. Some troops dug tunnels and used battering rams to attack the city walls. Dense crossbow arrows shot randomly, arrows falling like raindrops, forcing the townsfolk to use door panels to fetch water. Wang Feng and others requested to surrender, but Wang Yi did not agree.
Then, Wang Yi and his men felt they were on the brink of victory, filled with pride. At night, meteors streaked across the camp; during the day, clouds the size of mountains loomed in the sky, falling towards the camp, scattering just a foot above the ground. The soldiers were all scared and lying on the ground. In early June, Emperor Guangwu led over a thousand infantry and cavalry, personally charging into battle, deploying his forces four or five li in front of the main force. Wang Xun and Wang Yi also sent out thousands of troops to meet them. Emperor Guangwu charged forward, killing dozens of enemies. His soldiers were ecstatic, exclaiming, "General Liu used to be timid when facing small enemy forces, but now he is so brave facing a large army; it's truly unbelievable! And he is leading from the front, we ask for reinforcements for the general!"
Emperor Guangwu continued to attack, and Wang Xun and Wang Yi's armies were defeated and forced to retreat. Our forces pursued them relentlessly, killing hundreds, if not thousands, of enemy soldiers. After a series of victories, Emperor Guangwu continued to advance. At this time, Feng Yi had already captured Wancheng for three days, but Emperor Guangwu was still unaware. Emperor Guangwu then feigned sending a messenger into the city with a letter, claiming that "reinforcements had arrived for Wancheng," and intentionally threw the letter on the ground. Upon receiving the news, Wang Xun and Wang Yi felt uneasy and their fighting spirit waned. The soldiers won victory after victory, morale was high, and each soldier felt capable of taking on a hundred foes. Emperor Guangwu selected three thousand brave soldiers, launched a fierce assault from the western bank of the river, and directly penetrated the core of the enemy forces. The formation of Wang Xun and Wang Yi was in chaos, and they were overwhelmed by the unstoppable momentum of our forces. Wang Xun was killed on the spot. The defenders in the city also rushed out shouting, sandwiching the enemy from both inside and outside. The cries of battle echoed like thunder, and Wang Mang's army was completely defeated. The retreating soldiers trampled one another, and the bodies of the fugitives were scattered for miles. At that moment, a fierce thunderstorm erupted, blowing off the roof tiles. The rain poured like a downpour, causing the river to rise dangerously. Even the wild beasts trembled in terror. The soldiers scrambled to escape, and tens of thousands drowned. The river became choked with bodies. Wang Yi, Yan You, Chen Mao, and a few cavalry seized the opportunity amidst the chaos, using the bodies of the fallen to cross the river and flee.
We captured all the enemy's weapons, supplies, vehicles, and treasures, in such overwhelming quantities that counting them took several months. In the end, we even burned a lot of the remaining supplies. Emperor Guangwu then subdued Yingyang. At this time, Feng Yi was killed by Emperor Gengshi, and Emperor Guangwu hurried from his father's city to Wan to offer condolences. Officials from the Ministry of Works came to greet and comfort Emperor Guangwu, but he found it difficult to talk to them privately, feeling deep self-reproach. He never boasted about his achievements at Kunyang, nor did he dare to mourn for Feng Yi, continuing to live his life as usual. Emperor Gengshi felt ashamed and appointed Emperor Guangwu as General of the Conquering Troops, granting him the title of Marquis of Wuxin.
One September day, heroes from the Guanzhong region joined forces to kill Wang Mang and sent his head to Wan. Emperor Gengshi declared Luoyang as the capital, appointing Emperor Guangwu as Colonel of the Retainers and instructing him to renovate the imperial palace. Emperor Guangwu then began appointing officials, drafting documents, handling government affairs, and supervising inspections, all following the previous rules. At that time, officials and soldiers from the Sannong region went to greet Emperor Gengshi, seeing the generals dressed in strange attire in women's clothing and embroidered hats, which prompted laughter and even caused some to flee in fear. However, when they saw the officials under the Colonel of the Retainers, they were all overjoyed, with some elderly officials even brought to tears, saying, "We never expected to witness the majesty of Han officials again!" As a result, those with foresight began to pledge their loyalty once more.
After Emperor Gengshi arrived in Luoyang, he appointed Emperor Guangwu to pacify the barbarians, acting Grand Marshal. In October, Emperor Guangwu was ordered to cross the Yellow River to comfort the various regions. Wherever he went, he summoned local officials, county magistrates, elders, and even minor officials, evaluating their performance, promoting or dismissing them, just like a regional governor inspecting his jurisdiction. He often released prisoners, abolished the harsh policies of Wang Mang's reign, and restored the official titles of the Han Dynasty. Officials and common people were very happy, eagerly offering cattle and wine to welcome him.
When he arrived in Handan, Prince Miao of Zhao told Emperor Guangwu, "The Red Eyebrows Army is currently in Hedong. As long as the river is breached and flooded, a million troops could be turned into fish and shrimp!" Emperor Guangwu ignored him and went directly to Zhending. Later, Miao pretended that the fortune teller Wang Lang was the son of Emperor Cheng, and in December, he enthroned Wang Lang as the emperor, established his capital in Handan, and sent envoys to announce surrender in various regions.
In the first month of the 23rd year of the Guangwu Emperor's reign, Liu Xiu saw that Wang Lang's power was growing, so he went north to Ji County (around present-day Beijing) to recruit soldiers and gather supplies. Wang Lang ordered the arrest of Liu Xiu, offering a reward equivalent to ten thousand households, while Prince Guangyang, Liu Jie, also raised troops in response to Wang Lang in Ji County. The people of Ji County were in a panic, filled with fear, and upon hearing that messengers from Handan were approaching, all the officials in the city ran out to welcome them. Seeing this situation, Liu Xiu quickly turned his carriage around and ran south, not daring to enter the city day or night, just grabbing a bite on the roadside. When they arrived in Raoyang, Liu Xiu's men were all starving. Liu Xiu came up with a clever plan to pose as messengers from Handan and entered the relay station. The officials at the relay station were preparing to eat when Liu Xiu's starving men rushed to grab the food. The relay station officials suspected that they were impostors, so they beat the drum many times, pretending to announce the arrival of the general from Handan, scaring the officials. Liu Xiu quickly got on the carriage to escape, but worried he might not escape, so he slowly sat back down and said, "Please see the general from Handan." He waited a long time before he could leave in the carriage. The people in the relay station called out to the gatekeeper from a distance to close the gate. The gatekeeper said, "Who can say for sure in this world? How can we turn away a commanding officer?" Thus, Liu Xiu successfully escaped through the south gate.
Day and night, they pressed on through wind and snow in the bitter cold, and Liu Xiu's face was chapped by the cold. When they arrived at the Hutuo River, there were no boats available to cross; fortunately, the river was frozen, allowing them to cross on the ice. Before all the vehicles had crossed, one cart got stuck. Upon reaching the western outskirts of Xianbo City, Liu Xiu and his men got lost and were unsure of which way to go. At this time, an old man dressed in white by the roadside pointed and said, "Keep moving forward! The Prefect of Xindu, sent from Chang'an, is 80 li away from here." Liu Xiu immediately hurried to Xindu, where the Prefect Ren Guang opened the gates to welcome him. Liu Xiu then sent messengers to nearby counties to recruit soldiers and successfully recruited four thousand men. They first attacked Tangyang and Shixian, both of which quickly surrendered. Wang Mang's general Cheng Zhengping also surrendered with the entire county. Liu Zhi from Changcheng and Geng Chun from Songzi each led their clans to take control of their respective county towns and pledged allegiance to Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu then marched south and captured Quyang, and his army gradually grew stronger as tens of thousands flocked to join him.
Next, Liu Xiu turned his attention north to Zhongshan and conquered Lulu. Wherever he went, people flocked to join him. He sent letters to the troops at the border, calling for a united attack on Handan, and all the counties responded eagerly. He also launched attacks on Xinshi, Zhending, Yuanshi, and Fangzi in the south, all of which surrendered. From that point on, Liu Xiu established control over the borders of the Zhao Kingdom.
At that time, Li Yu, a general of Wang Lang, was stationed in Bairen. The Han army, unaware of this, rashly advanced. As a result, generals Zhu Fu and Deng Yu of the Han army were defeated by Li Yu, and they lost a lot of supplies. Upon hearing this news, Liu Xiu quickly regrouped the remaining soldiers under Zhu Fu and Deng Yu, fought against Li Yu at Guomen, achieved a decisive victory, and reclaimed the supplies that Li Yu had seized. Li Yu retreated into the city and held his ground; Liu Xiu was unable to capture it, so he led his troops to attack Guang'a. At this point, Geng Kuang, the Tai Shou of Shanggu, and Peng Chong, the Tai Shou of Yuyang, sent their generals Wu Han, Kou Xun, and others with cavalry to support Liu Xiu against Wang Lang. The Gengshi Emperor also dispatched the Minister of Works, Xie Gong, to confront Wang Lang. Liu Xiu seized the opportunity to reward his soldiers, then surrounded Julu. Wang Rao, the defender of Julu, held out fiercely, and it remained unconquered for over a month. Wang Lang subsequently dispatched his generals Ni Hong and Liu Feng with tens of thousands of troops to relieve Julu. Liu Xiu engaged them at Nandun, resulting in thousands of casualties. In April, Liu Xiu besieged Handan, engaging in continuous battles that ultimately defeated its defenders. On the first day of the fifth month, he captured Handan city and killed Wang Lang. After seizing Wang Lang's documents, Liu Xiu discovered that many officials had corresponded with him, writing letters to defame others, totaling thousands. Liu Xiu chose not to read these letters and ordered his generals to burn them all, stating, "Let those rebels feel at ease!" The Gengshi Emperor dispatched an imperial envoy bearing the emperor's token to appoint Liu Xiu as Prince Xiao and ordered all armies to go to Liu Xiu. Liu Xiu politely declined, stating that Hebei had yet to be pacified and that he would not accept the appointment. From this point onward, Liu Xiu began to harbor doubts about the Gengshi Emperor.
At that time, there was political chaos in Chang'an City, with rebellions breaking out everywhere. Liu Yong, the Prince of Liang, declared himself king in Suiyang, Gongsun Shu declared himself king in the Bashu region, Li Xian proclaimed the title of King of Huainan, Qin Feng claimed the title of King of Chuli, Zhang Bu raised troops in Langye, Dong Xian raised troops in Donghai, Yan Cen raised troops in Hanzhong, Tian Rong raised troops in Yiling, and all of them raised troops to attack the counties. There were many other bandits as well, including Tongma, Dafeng, Gaohu, Chonglian, Tiejing, Daqiang, Youlai, Shangjiang, Qingdu, Wuxiao, Tanxiang, Wufan, Wulou, Fuping, Huosuo, and so on. These bandits each led their own troops, totaling several million people, wreaking havoc through burning, killing, and looting everywhere.
Emperor Guangwu wanted to defeat Tongma, so he sent Wu Han to lead troops from ten counties to attack from the north. The Youzhou Governor, Miao Zeng, refused to obey orders, so Emperor Guangwu had him executed and conscripted his army. In the autumn, Emperor Guangwu fought against the Tongma army in Qidi, where Wu Han's cavalry joined the main army in Qingyang. The enemy army repeatedly challenged them, but Emperor Guangwu held his ground, attacking back immediately if they came out to plunder, cutting off their supply routes. After more than a month of stalemate, the enemy army ran out of food and secretly fled at night. Emperor Guangwu pursued them to Guantao and defeated them decisively.
Before all the surrendered enemies could be properly settled, Gao Hu and Chong Lian came from the southeast and joined forces with the remnants of the Bronze Horse Army. Emperor Guangwu fought a decisive battle with them in Puyang, defeating them thoroughly and forcing their surrender, and even ennobling their leaders as marquises. However, the surrendered soldiers were still feeling uneasy. Emperor Guangwu noticed this and ordered everyone to return to their camps to organize their troops, then personally rode with light cavalry to inspect each camp. The surrendered soldiers said to each other, "Emperor Xiao (Emperor Guangwu's title) has put his true heart into us; how can we not fight to the death for him!" This way, everyone became completely convinced. Emperor Guangwu assigned the surrendered soldiers to various generals, increasing the army to hundreds of thousands. Therefore, the people of the Guanzhong region referred to Emperor Guangwu as the "Bronze Horse Emperor."
Other leaders of the Red Eyebrow Army, with over a hundred thousand soldiers, including leaders like Dadou and Qingdu, were in the Shequn region. Emperor Guangwu led an attack and secured a decisive victory, scattering the enemy forces. Emperor Guangwu then sent Wu Han and Cen Peng to assassinate Xie Gong in Ye City. Qingdu and the Red Eyebrow Army attacked Hangu Pass, with the intent to confront Emperor Gengshi. Emperor Guangwu sent Deng Yu with six subordinates to march westward to confront Emperor Gengshi and the Red Eyebrow Army. At that time, Emperor Gengshi sent Grand Marshal Zhu Wei, King Wuyin Li Yi, and others to station troops in Luoyang. Emperor Guangwu also had Feng Yi guard Mengjin to hold them off.
In the first month of the first year of Jianwu, Fang Wang of Pingling wanted to proclaim the former child emperor Liu Ying. Emperor Gengshi sent Prime Minister Li Song to assassinate him.
Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu defeated several rebel armies including Youlai, Daqiang, and Wufan in Yuanshi, pursued them all the way to Youbei Ping, and won consecutive battles. However, in Shunshui North, because he underestimated the enemy and advanced recklessly, he was actually defeated. The enemy pursued closely, and in the close combat, Liu Xiu even had to climb up a high embankment to take cover. At that moment, he encountered King Feng of the Xiongnu, who dismounted and helped Liu Xiu onto his horse. Liu Xiu patted his shoulder and said with a smile to Geng Yan, "I almost got captured by the enemy—how embarrassing!" Geng Yan fired arrows desperately to hold off the pursuers, allowing them to escape. In this battle, thousands of soldiers died, and the scattered soldiers fled back to Fanyang.
The emperor was missing from the troops, and some speculated that he had died. The generals did not know what to do. Wu Han said, "Everyone needs to pull together! Wang Xiong (referring to Liu Xiu's brother Liu Yan) has a son in Nanyang. Are we still afraid that there will be no one to become emperor?" Everyone finally calmed down and took several days to recover. Although the enemy won this battle, they remained fearful of Emperor Guangwu's reputation. Since neither side knew the other, the enemy withdrew that night. The army advanced to Anjiao, fought the enemy again, and achieved a decisive victory, claiming the lives of over three thousand enemies.
The rebel army in Yuyang was thoroughly defeated by Emperor Guangwu, who sent Wu Han to lead generals such as Geng Yan, Chen Jun, and Ma Wu to pursue them in Ludong and Pinggu. Zhu Biao sent General Su Mao to attack Wen County, where Feng Yi and Kou Xun engaged in battle and decisively defeated Su Mao's army, killing the enemy general Jia Qiang. At this time, the generals discussed the idea of making Liu Xiu emperor. Ma Wu was the first to speak up, saying, "There is currently no emperor in the world. If a wise and virtuous person were to take on this great responsibility, even if Confucius were prime minister and Sun Tzu were a general, it would probably not be of much help. If we miss this opportunity now, we may regret it later. Although the king is humble and cautious, but what about the state and its people? We should quickly return to Jicheng to ascend the throne as emperor, and then consider how to deal with the rebel army. Who dares to pursue those rebels now?" Liu Xiu was surprised and said, "How dare this general say such things? He deserves to be executed!" Ma Wu replied, "All the generals think the same way." Liu Xiu had someone explain the situation, and then led the army back to Jicheng.
In April, Gongsun Shu proclaimed himself as emperor.
On his way back from Ji County, Liu Xiu passed through Fanyang and ordered the burial of the fallen soldiers. Upon reaching Zhongshan, the generals once again urged, saying, "The Han Dynasty suffered under Wang Mang's usurpation, the ancestral shrines were destroyed, heroes and righteous individuals were filled with indignation, and the people were struggling to survive. Wang Mang and Emperor Gengshi rebelled, with Emperor Gengshi relying on their power to seize the throne, but they could not govern the country properly, resulting in disorder, rampant banditry, and severe hardships for the people. Your decisive victory at Kunyang against Wang Mang's forces, followed by the capture of Handan and the pacification of the northern regions, where you controlled two-thirds of the country's land with a strong army of a million soldiers. In military strength, no one can match you; in merit and righteousness, no one can compare. We have heard that the emperor's throne cannot remain vacant for long, and the will of heaven cannot be ignored. We earnestly request that you, for the sake of the state and the people, promptly ascend the throne as emperor!" Liu Xiu still did not acquiesce.
Continue heading south towards Pingji, and the generals once again earnestly requested him to ascend to the throne. Liu Xiu said, "The rebels have not yet been pacified, surrounded by enemies on all sides, how can we rush to proclaim myself emperor? You all should disperse!" Geng Chun stepped forward and said, "The scholars and officials of the world have abandoned their families, left their hometowns, and followed the king through life and death; all they want is to achieve success with the king. Now that the great cause has been accomplished, with the right timing, geographical advantage, and popular support, the king has yet to proclaim himself emperor, which goes against the people's expectations. I'm worried that the scholars and officials will lose heart, thinking about leaving and suffering for nothing. If everyone scatters, it will be hard to regroup. The timing cannot be delayed, and the will of the people cannot be defied!" Geng Chun spoke very sincerely, and Liu Xiu was deeply moved, saying, "I will consider it."
Upon arriving in Hao County, Liu Xiu's former classmate and good friend Qiang Hua, who had studied together in Chang'an, brought the "Red Talisman" from Guanzhong. The inscription on the talisman read: "Liu Xiu will rise up to punish the unjust; the outsiders will gather at Longdouye. In the year forty-seven, fire will be the key symbol." The courtiers once again presented a memorial, saying, "This auspicious symbol bestowed by heaven itself is fulfilled in you; this is the will of heaven itself. The message has been spread far and wide, no need for many words. How can the auspicious signs of the White Fish of the Zhou Dynasty be compared to this? Now there is no emperor, the world is in chaos; the auspicious signs have come to pass; it's clear as day. We should follow the will of heaven and respond to the expectations of the people." Liu Xiu then ordered the appropriate officials to establish an altar at Qianqiuting Wuchengmo, south of Hao County.
On the sixth day of the sixth month, Liu Xiu ascended to the throne of the Emperor. He held a grand sacrificial ceremony, informing the Heavenly Emperor, the Earth God, and various deities. The sacrificial text was: "Emperor of Heaven, Earth Deity, favoring the mandate, belongs to Xiu Liyuan, as parents of the people, Xiu dare not accept. All the officials and subjects, not conspiring with the same words, all said: 'Wang Mang usurped the throne, Xiu was angered and raised an army, defeated Wang Xun and Wang Yi at Kunyang, executed Wang Lang and the Bronze Horse to the north of the Yellow River, pacified the world, and received grace from all under Heaven. Above, it is the heart of heaven and earth; below, it is where all things return.' The prophecy says: 'Liu Xiu raises an army to capture the Way; the Metal Rabbit cultivates virtue to become the Son of Heaven.' Xiu still refused, even to the second, even to the third. All the officials said, 'The great mandate of Heaven cannot be delayed.' Daring not to be disrespectful." This means that he informed the deities of his ascension to the throne, and the ministers advised him to accept the throne, saying that he had pacified the world; it was the will of Heaven. He declined several times but finally accepted. Then he changed the era name to Jianwu, granted a general amnesty, and renamed Hao to Gaoyi.
This month, the Red Eyebrow Army enthroned Liu Penzi as their emperor. On the day of Jiazi, shortly thereafter, General Deng Yu defeated Duke Wang Kuang of the Gengshi regime in Anyi and killed the general Liu Jun under Wang Kuang.
On the day of Xinyou in autumn, in the seventh month, Liu Xiu appointed Deng Yu as Grand Minister; on the day of Dingchou, he appointed Wang Liang as Grand Minister of Works; on the day of Renwu, he promoted several generals all at once: Wu Han became Grand Marshal, Jing Dan became Grand General of the Cavalry, Geng Yan became Grand General of the Building Might, Gai Yan became Grand General of the Tiger's Teeth, Zhu You became Grand General of the Building Righteousness, and Du Mao became Grand General.
At this time, Liu Xiu's relative, Liu Mao, proclaimed himself "Yanxin General," surrendered to Liu Xiu with his army, and was appointed as the King of Zhongshan. On the day of Jihai, Liu Xiu went to Huai County and sent Geng Yan and Chen Jun with troops to Wushe Ferry to defend against enemies to the east of Xingyang; he also sent Wu Han along with Zhu You, Cen Peng, Jia Fu, Jian Xin, and eleven other generals to besiege Zhu Wei in Luoyang.
On the Renzi day in August, Liu Xiu made sacrifices to the state gods; on the Guichou day, he also made sacrifices to Gaozu, Taizong, and Shizong in Huai County; afterwards, he went to Heyang, where King Tianli of the Xin dynasty also surrendered.
In September, the Chimei army captured Chang'an, and the Xin emperor fled to Gaoling. On the Xinwei day, the emperor issued a decree saying: "The Xin emperor has been defeated and fled, the cities were abandoned, and his wife, children, and elderly are left in disarray, wandering and homeless. I feel deep sympathy. I now appoint the Xin emperor as the King of Huaiyang. Any official or commoner who dares to harm him will be punished as a traitor!" This indicates that, despite the Xin emperor's failure, the emperor still gave him a title and strictly prohibited anyone from harming him.
On the Jiashen day, the emperor secretly appointed Zhuo Mao as his Grand Tutor. On the Xinmao day, Zhu Wei led the entire city to surrender. On the Guichou day in October, the emperor's entourage arrived in Luoyang, and he settled in Quefei Palace in Nangong, officially establishing Luoyang as the capital. The emperor then sent Cen Peng to suppress the rebellious forces in Jingzhou. In November, the emperor went to Huai County. During this time, the situation remained turbulent, with constant rebellions in various places, and the court actively sought to quell the rebellions and strengthen its rule.
On the Bingxu day in December, the emperor returned to Luoyang from Huai County. At this time, the Chimei army assassinated the Xin emperor, Wei Xiao occupied the Longyou region, and Lu Fang rebelled in Anding. General Shu Shou, tasked with suppressing the rebels, was killed in battle against the Five Rebel Armies at Quliang.
On the first day of the first lunar month in the second year of the Jiazi cycle, a solar eclipse occurred. Grand Marshal Wu Han led nine generals to battle against the bandits from Tanxiang east of Ye City, achieving a decisive victory as the enemy surrendered one after another. On the day of Gengchen, the emperor granted titles of marquis to the meritorious generals, with the most distinguished ones being granted four counties, while the rewards for other meritorious officials varied. The emperor also issued a decree saying, "Human nature's weakness lies in indulgence after achieving satisfaction, seeking temporary pleasure, and forgetting caution and obedience to the law. Your achievements are great, and I hope you will carry on this legacy, always remain vigilant, walk a tightrope, work diligently, be cautious, and be more careful every day than the day before. Those commanders whose achievements have yet to be recorded, please report to the Grand Herald as soon as possible, and I will verify and reward them one by one." Doctor Ding Gong believed that in ancient times, emperors enfeoffed marquises, and the granted territories typically did not exceed a hundred li, in order to strengthen centralization and weaken local forces. Now suddenly granting four counties does not comply with the law. The emperor said, "Historically, nations have fallen due to tyrannical rulers, and there has never been a case of destruction due to the enfeoffment of many territories to meritorious officials." Therefore, the emperor sent an envoy to bestow the seal and insignia on the spot, and issued a written edict, which stated: "Maintain a high position without arrogance, hold a high position without danger; wield power without indulgence, achieve fame without arrogance. Always remain vigilant, admonish future generations, and forever be vassals of the Han Dynasty." On the day of Renwu, Generals Deng Ye and Yu Kuang, serving under Emperor Gengshi, surrendered, and both were restored to their original titles. On the day of Renzi, the emperor built a tall temple in Luoyang, established the Altar of the State Gods, set up the Suburban Altar in the south of the city, and officially began to implement the Fire Virtue, with red as the revered color. This passage describes a series of measures taken by the court to consolidate its rule, appease the people, and worship the heavens and the earth, reflecting the intricate and volatile political landscape of the time.
In the first month of that year, the Chimei Army burned down the palaces in Chang'an, even excavated the imperial tombs, and looted the Guanzhong region. The Grand Commandant Deng Yu entered Chang'an and sent envoys to present the ancestral tablets of the eleven generations of emperors to the Gaomiao Temple for worship. At the same time, the King of Zhending, Yang He, and the Marquis of Linyi, Rang, conspired to rebel! The Emperor immediately sent General Geng Chun to suppress them. On the sixth day of the second month, the Emperor traveled to Xiuwu. The Grand Minister of State Wang Liang was dismissed, and a few days later, the Grand Master of the Palace, Song Hong, was appointed as the Grand Minister of State. The Emperor also sent General Jing Dan, the Commander of Chariots and Cavalry, with the General of Conquest, Jie Zun, and two other generals to fight the bandits in Hongnong, and they achieved a swift victory. Then he sent Jie Zun to besiege the bandit Zhang Man in Manzhong.
At this point, the Prefect of Yuyang, Peng Chong, also rebelled, attacking the Governor of Youzhou, Zhu Fu, at Jicheng. Over in Hanzhong, Yan Cen even declared himself the King of Wuan, creating significant unrest. A few days later, the Emperor returned from Xiuwu. On the sixth day of the third month, the Emperor proclaimed a general amnesty and issued a specific edict stating, "Recently, there have been too many wronged people in the prisons, and the penalties have been too severe. This deeply saddens me! Confucius said, 'If the penalties are not just, the common people will have no way to comply.' Thus, we must consult with the officials, scholars, and advisors of the Two Thousand Stone rank to lighten the penalties."
Furthermore, the Emperor sent the Chief Commander Jia Fu with two generals to fight the Prince of Yanzheng, Yin Zun, of the Gengshi Emperor, and defeated him, leading to Yin Zun's surrender. Unfortunately, the General of Valiant Cavalry, Liu Zhi, died in battle against the rebels, which was truly unfortunate. The Emperor then sent the General of Tiger Teeth, Gai Yan, to lead four generals to confront Liu Yong. By April, they had besieged Liu Yong in Suiyang. A general of the Gengshi Emperor, Su Mao, killed the Prefect of Huaiyang, Pan Jian, and then defected to Liu Yong.
On the tenth day of April, the emperor conferred the title of King of Guangyang upon his uncle Liu Liang, his brother's son Liu Zhang inherited the title of King of Taiyuan, Zhang's younger brother Liu Xing as King of Lu, and Liu Zhi, the legitimate son of the Marquis of Chongling, was conferred the title of King of Chengyang. On the seventh day of May, the emperor appointed the Yuan clan King She of Gengshi Emperor as the King of Sishui, and the son of King Yang inherited the title of King of Zhending, while Lady Zhou Chang was conferred the title of Duke of Zhou Chengxiu. On the sixteenth day of May, the emperor issued a decree stating, "If the common people want to sell their wives or children and return home to serve their parents, they are allowed to do so! Anyone who coerces them will face legal punishment!" On the fifth day of June, the emperor appointed Lady Guo as the empress, his son Liu Qiang as the Crown Prince, and granted amnesty to all and promoted the ranks of officials by one level. On the eighteenth day of June, the emperor appointed the royal relative Liu Zhong as King of Zichuan. In August, the emperor personally led troops to quell the Five Schools Army. On the eighteenth day of August, the emperor arrived at Neihuang and defeated the Five Schools Army, causing them to surrender. Oh, General Deng Long was sent to rescue Zhu Fu but ended up fighting with Peng Chong in Ludi, resulting in a crushing defeat for Deng Long's forces. Gai Yan captured Suiyang, causing Liu Yong to flee to Qiaoxian. General Deng Feng, known for breaking the enemy, actually rebelled in Yuyang! On the day of Renxu in September, the emperor returned from Neihuang. Sadly, General Jing Dan of Chariots and Cavalry passed away. On a positive note, Yan Cen secured a significant victory over the Red Eyebrow Army in Duling. However, there was a famine in Guanzhong, and the common people were so desperate that they resorted to cannibalism!
In November, Cen Peng, the Minister of Justice, was appointed by the court as the Grand General of the Southern Expedition, leading eight generals to confront and campaign against Deng Feng in the countryside. Meanwhile, the remnants of the Copper Horse, Green Calf, and Youlai factions surprisingly proclaimed Sun Deng as emperor in Shangjun. Sun Deng was ultimately killed by his own general, Le Xuan, who subsequently surrendered with over fifty thousand troops. The court then appointed Deputy General Feng Yi to take over from Deng Yu in the fight against the Red Eyebrow Army, and also sent Fu Long, the Grand Master of the Palace, with the emperor's tokens to appease Qingzhou and Xuzhou, encouraging Zhang Bu to surrender.
On the Wuyou day of the twelfth month, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Wang Mang abolished our imperial family and marquises, the ancestral tablets have no place to rest, and it saddens me greatly! Therefore, we must restore the former marquisates. If the marquis himself has passed away, let his descendants register with the Ministry of Personnel to receive their titles."
That year, Gai Yan and others defeated Liu Yong to the west of Pei County. It is reported that in the final years of Wang Mang, there was a severe drought and locust plague, when one jin of gold could only buy one hu of grain; now, wild grasses blanket the ground, hemp and ramie grow exceptionally lush, wild silkworms spin cocoons everywhere, and the hillsides are full of them, with common people collecting cocoons for profit.
In the third year of spring, on the Jiazi day of the first month, the court appointed Deputy General Feng Yi as the Grand General of the Western Expedition, and Du Mao as the Grand General of the Valiant Cavalry. Deng Yu, the Grand Minister of Works, and Feng Yi fought against the Red Eyebrow Army in Huixi, but both faced defeat.
Ji Zun, the General of Conquering the Barbarians, defeated the barbarian army and killed Zhang Man. On Xinsi day, the emperor established temples for the late Emperor Nandun Jun and the previous four emperors. On Renwu day, a general amnesty was declared throughout the empire.
In the intercalary month of Yisi, Deng Yu, the Grand Minister of Works, was dismissed from his post.
That kid Feng Yi fought a battle with the Chimei Army at the foot of Mount Xiaoshan, and beat them so badly that the remaining soldiers fled towards Yiyang. The Emperor personally led the troops to pursue them. On the Jihai day, the Emperor arrived at Yiyang. On the Jiachen day, the Emperor took command of the army and set up the formation, with Grand Marshal Wu Han leading the elite troops in the vanguard, with the central army trailing behind, and the cavalry and the Imperial Guards positioned on the left and right flanks. Seeing this formation, the Chimei Army was scared stiff and quickly sent someone to beg for mercy. On the Bingwu day, the Emperor and the Chimei ministers surrendered without a fight, handing over the Emperor's seal and insignia. The Emperor made them gate captains. On the Wushen day, the Emperor returned from Yiyang. On the Jixu day, the Emperor issued a decree saying, "Those pesky bandits causing chaos everywhere and hurting the people, that guy (referring to the leader of the Chimei Army) even dared to declare himself emperor and confuse the world. I took action to crush them, quickly defeating them, and over a hundred thousand people surrendered without a fight. The Emperor's seal and insignia have returned to the palace. This is all thanks to our ancestors' blessings and the hard work of the soldiers. How could I possibly take credit for this? I'll pick a good day to honor the ancestral temple, reward all the firstborn sons across the land, and if they show filial piety to their fathers, they will be promoted one rank each."
On the Jiwu day in the second month, the Emperor honored the ancestral temple and received the imperial seal.
Liu Yong made Dong Xian the King of Haixi and Zhang Bu the King of Qi. But then Zhang Bu turned against us and killed Grand Master Fulong. The Emperor went to Huaixian and sent Wu Han with two generals to Zhixi to defeat the Qingdu Army, scoring a decisive victory.
On the Renshen day in the third month, the Emperor appointed Fuzhan as the Grand Commandant.
Peng Chong occupied Jicheng and declared himself King of Yan. The Emperor led the troops to attack Deng Feng and arrived at Duyang.
In April, the Emperor defeated Deng Feng in Xiao Chang'an and executed him. Feng Yi and Yan Cen fought a battle in Shanglin and emerged victorious. Wu Han led seven generals to fight against Liu Yong's subordinate Su Mao in Guangdong, securing a significant victory. General Huya besieged Liu Yong in Suiyang.
On the Jiyu day of May, the Emperor did not return to the palace. On the Yimao day at the month's end, a solar eclipse occurred.
On the Renxu day in June, the Emperor proclaimed a general amnesty. Geng Yan and Yan Cen fought a battle in Rangdi, winning a decisive victory.
In the autumn of XX year in July, General Zhen Nan, Cen Peng, led three generals to attack Qin Feng. They claimed a resounding victory at Liqiu and captured Qin Feng's general Cai Hong. That same day, the Emperor issued a decree that stated: "Officials below 600 stones, officials at the grassroots level, if guilty, must first obtain permission before any action is taken. Elderly people over 80 years old, children under 10 years old, and women who were arrested with criminals, if not committing serious crimes or specifically named by the Emperor, shall not be detained. Those who need to be interrogated can be questioned on the spot. Female prisoners can be hired to send them home." During this period, Gai Yan seized Suiyang, captured Liu Yong, and Su Mao and Zhou Jian made Liu Yong's son Liu Yu the Prince of Liang.
On the Renshen day in October of winter, the Emperor went to Chongling, sacrificed at the Garden Temple, and hosted a banquet for old friends and local dignitaries at the old residence. On the Yiwei day in November, the Emperor returned from Chongling. At this point, Zhang Feng, the Prefect of Zhuo County, instigated a rebellion. That year, Li Xian proclaimed himself Emperor, and General Weixian of the Western Province reported this incident to the imperial court. General Jianyi, Zhu You, engaged in battle with Jie Zun and Yan Cen in Dongyang, killing Yan Cen's general Zhang Cheng.
In the second year, on the first day of the first month of spring, the emperor granted amnesty to the world. On the second day of the second month, the emperor visited Huai County and returned on the second day of the third month. The emperor dispatched General Deng Yu along with two other generals to engage Yan Cen at Wudang, achieving victory. In the fourth month of summer, on the fifth day, the emperor went to Ye City and then traveled to Linping on the sixth day. The emperor dispatched Grand Marshal Wu Han to Ji Mountain to combat bandits, securing a significant victory. In May, the emperor traveled to Yuanshi and then to Lulu on the fifth day. The emperor sent General Ji Zun with four other generals to Zhuo County to confront Zhang Feng, resulting in his death. On the seventh day of the sixth month, the emperor returned to the palace. On the seventh day of the seventh month, the emperor went to Qiao County. The emperor dispatched General Ma Wu and Adjutant General Wang Ba to besiege Liu Yu in Chuihui. Dong Xian attacked Lanling City, where Ben Xiu was stationed; Ben Xiu surrendered, and Dong Xian subsequently besieged the city. Generals Gai Yan and Pang Meng attempted to rescue Ben Xiu but were unsuccessful, leading to the capture of Lanling City by Dong Xian. In the eighth month of autumn, on the fifth day, the emperor journeyed to Shou Chun. Grand Master Xu Yun unlawfully killed Liu Du, the Prefect of Linhuai, and was subsequently executed. The emperor dispatched General Ma Cheng with three generals to confront Li Xian. In the ninth month, the army laid siege to Li Xian in Shu County. In the winter, on the first day of the tenth month, the emperor returned to the palace. Grand Tutor Zhuo Mao passed away. On the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the emperor traveled to Wancheng. The emperor dispatched General Zhu You with two generals to besiege Qin Feng in Liqiu. In the year XX AD (specific year determined by historical records), on the first day of the twelfth month, the emperor visited Liqiu for an inspection. That year, General Feng Yi and Gongsun Shu's generals clashed in battle at Chencang, with Feng Yi emerging victorious.
In the second year of spring, on the guisi day in the first month, the emperor returned to the palace. On the bingwu day in the second month, a general amnesty was declared across the country, and there was widespread celebration! General Ma Wu and Deputy General Wang Ba captured Chuihui City. On the yichou day, the emperor visited Wei County for an inspection. On the renshen day, Empress Yin An was conferred the title of Duke of Yin Shaojia. During this time, Peng Chong was murdered by his own servants, and the Yuyang region was also brought under control. Grand Marshal Wu Han, along with General Geng Yan, went to Fuping to fight, capturing a large number of bandits on the plains, achieving a significant victory and subduing them completely. In the summer, the emperor dispatched Geng Yan, along with two generals, to confront Zhang Bu.
On the guiyi day of the third month, the emperor relocated Prince Guangyang Liang to Zhao State to assume kingship. During this time, General Pingdi Pang Meng revolted, killing Sun Meng, the prefect of Chu County, before defecting to Dong Xian. The emperor sent General Zhen Nan Cen Peng to lead two generals to fight the Tianrong in Jinxiang, achieving a decisive victory. In April, the region experienced a drought and a locust plague. General Dou Rong of Hexi sent envoys to present tribute.
On the bingzi day of the fifth month, the emperor issued a decree saying: "The drought is severe, the wheat has all withered, and we haven't sown the autumn seeds yet. I'm really worried! There are still many corrupt officials and unjust judges who haven't been dealt with, and there are many wrongful cases in the prisons, causing the people distress. Is this all just bad luck? It’s affecting the weather, right? Order the officials, Sanfu, and various counties to release the prisoners in custody. Those not sentenced to death should be released without further trial. Those who have been sentenced should be restored to civilian status. Promote the kind and upright, and remove the greedy and cruel, and let everyone do their own work well!"
In June, General Jianyi Zhu You captured Liqiu and took Qin Feng; while Pang Yin and Su Mao surrounded Peach City. At that time, the emperor was in Mengdi and personally led his troops to confront them. The emperor first organized his army in Rencheng, then advanced to rescue Peach City, and defeated Pang Meng and his forces.
On the seventh day of July, the emperor visited Pei County to perform sacrifices at Gaoyuan Temple. The emperor also ordered the repair of the tombs in the western capital. Afterwards, the emperor traveled to the frontier regions to subdue Dong Xian. The emperor then attacked Dong Xian in Changlv, achieving a resounding victory.
On the eighth day of the eighth month, the emperor went to Tan County, leaving Wu Han to attack Liu Yu, Dong Xian, and others, while the emperor's entourage inspected Pengcheng and Xiapi. Wu Han captured Tan County and took Liu Yu prisoner; Wu Han continued to besiege Dong Xian and Pang Meng in Xu County.
In the winter of the tenth month, the emperor returned to the palace and then joyfully traveled to Lu to worship Confucius at the Grand Minister of Works' shrine. Geng Yan and others fought Zhang Bu at Linzi, defeating him. The emperor also happily went to Linzi and then to Juxian. Zhang Bu killed Su Mao and surrendered, finally pacifying the Qi region. Oh, and this year the establishment of the Imperial University had just begun! After returning to the palace, the emperor made a special visit to the Imperial University to reward the scholars and students, each with different rewards.
On the eleventh day of the eleventh month, the Grand Tutor Zheng Zhan was relieved of his duties, and the Prefect Hou Ba took his place and became the Grand Tutor.
In the twelfth month, a man named Lu Su proclaimed himself emperor in Jiuyuan, what sheer audacity! The General of the Western Province, Wei Xiao, even sent his son Wei Xun to serve as an attendant to the emperor. The Governor of Jiaozhi, Deng Rang, along with seven county magistrates, came to pay tribute. The emperor also issued a decree exempting Jiyang County from two years of corvée labor.
This year, while wild grains gradually dwindled, cultivated land increased.
