After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, there were always favored courtiers around the emperor. During the reign of Emperor Gaozu, there were two guys, Ji Ru and Hong Ru. These two were pretty useless, but because they were good-looking, they were deeply loved by the emperor and were always hanging around him, so all the courtiers had to kiss up to them. During Emperor Hui's reign, the palace guards and attendants imitated Ji Ru and Hong Ru's style, putting on beautiful hats, wearing gorgeous clothes, and applying makeup. Later, Ji Ru and Hong Ru were sent off to Anling.
Subsequent emperors had favored courtiers as well. Under Emperor Wen, there were the scholar Deng Tong, Zhao Tan, and Beigong Bozi, a eunuch. During Emperor Wu's reign, there were Han Yan, another scholar, and Li Yannian, a eunuch. Under Emperor Yuan, there were Hong Gong and Shi Xian, both eunuchs. During Emperor Cheng's reign, there were Zhang Fang and Chunyu Chang, both scholars. During Emperor Ai's reign, there was Dong Xian. There weren't any particularly favored courtiers during the reigns of Emperor Jing, Emperor Zhao, and Emperor Xuan. Emperor Jing only had one Langzhongling, Zhou Ren, who was relatively valued. During Emperor Zhao's reign, the Marquis of Juxiang, Jin Shang, and his adoptive father, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Ri Di, were both granted marquis titles, but they weren't that favored.
During Emperor Xuan's reign, the attendant Zhonglangjiang Zhang Pengzu, who had studied with Emperor Xuan when they were young, was made Marquis of Yangdu due to their old friendship and appointed as his constant companion, greatly loved. However, he was careful not to overstep his bounds, but his own concubine poisoned him, and the state gave him a proper burial.
Deng Tong, from Nan'an in Shu County, originally became a minor official by washing boats. Emperor Wen of Han once dreamed of going to heaven but couldn't; then a low-ranking official pushed him up to heaven, and the emperor noticed a hole in the official's clothes. Upon waking, the emperor went to the Gan Terrace to find the official with the same features he saw in his dream and found Deng Tong, who indeed had a hole in his clothes just like in the dream. The emperor asked for his name, which was Deng Tong. The emperor was chuffed and favored him, treating him differently every day. Deng Tong was cautious and did not like making friends; even when the emperor rewarded him with bathing and changing clothes, he refused to go out. So Emperor Wen of Han rewarded Deng Tong with a huge amount of wealth, tens of thousands of cash, and promoted him to the position of Grand Master. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, Deng Tong lived a life of luxury, virtually indistinguishable from that of someone residing within the imperial palace. However, Deng Tong had no special talents and could not contribute anything to the emperor, only pleasing him with caution. Emperor Wen of Han once had a face reader assess Deng Tong's fortune, and the reader said, "He will starve to death in the future." The emperor replied, "I can make him rich; how could he starve to death?" So the emperor gave Deng Tong the copper mountain in Yandao County, Shu County, to mint his own coins. Deng's coins circulated throughout the country, showing how wealthy he was at the time. Emperor Wen of Han developed a boil, and Deng Tong often helped him tend to the emperor's sore. The emperor felt uncomfortable and asked casually, "Who in the world loves me the most?" Deng Tong replied, "No one loves you more than the crown prince." When the crown prince visited the emperor to inquire about his condition, the emperor asked the crown prince to also tend to the boil. The prince's face looked unpleasant while attending to the wound. Later, when the crown prince heard that Deng Tong also helped the emperor, his resentment towards Deng Tong festered, a consequence of this humiliating and revealing incident.
After the death of Emperor Wen, Emperor Jing ascended to the throne, and Deng Tong was dismissed from his position and went home to live out his days. Not long after, someone reported that Deng Tong was counterfeiting coins. They raided his house and indeed found many coins. In the end, all his property was confiscated, and he was left with a huge debt. The items that the Princess had showered Deng Tong with were also taken by the government; they took everything, down to the last hairpin. The Princess had no choice but to support him, but Deng Tong ultimately died broke, living as a guest in someone else's home.
Zhao Tan gained the favor of the emperor because he was good at astrology and divination. Beigong Bozi (a member of the imperial family), being a relative of the emperor's lover, also received favor, but neither of them received as much favor as Deng Tong.
Han Yan, also known as Wang Sun, was the grandson of the High Bow Marquis. When Emperor Wu was still the Prince of Jiaodong, Han Yan studied with him, and their relationship was very good. After Emperor Wu became emperor, his relationship with Han Yan became even closer. Han Yan was skilled in archery and very intelligent. After Emperor Wu ascended the throne and wanted to send troops to fight the Xiongnu, Han Yan had already studied military tactics in advance, so he was more highly valued, rising to the rank of high-ranking official, and the rewards he received could be compared to those of Deng Tong.
Initially, Han Yan often ate and slept with Emperor Wu. Once, Prince Jiangdu came to the capital and went hunting with Emperor Wu in the Shanglin Park. Before the emperor's carriage had even departed, Emperor Wu asked Han Yan to take a secondary carriage with a few hundred riders to scout out the hunting grounds first. Prince Jiangdu saw from afar and thought it was the emperor's carriage, so he quickly made his attendants kneel to greet. However, Han Yan did not see and went straight over. Prince Jiangdu was very angry and went to the Empress Dowager to complain, requesting to return to his fiefdom, and saying that he was more trustworthy than Han Yan. As a result, the Empress Dowager took a dislike to Han Yan.
Han Yan served the emperor and had free rein in the palace, but got caught having an affair by the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was very angry and had Han Yan executed. Although Emperor Wu pleaded for him, he ultimately could not save him, and Han Yan died. Han Yan's younger brother, Han Shuo, also became a favorite of the emperor's, made Marquis of Andao for his military achievements, and was later killed by the Crown Prince in the Witch Gu incident. Han Yan's son was later made Marquis of Longluo, rising through the ranks to become Grand Marshal and General of the Cavalry, with his deeds recorded separately.
Li Yannian, a native of Zhongshan, was born into a family of performers, including his parents and siblings. Li Yannian was given a brutal ancient punishment for breaking the law and worked as a dog handler in the palace. His sister later gained the emperor's favor and became known as Lady Li in history, as recorded in the "Biographies of the Imperial Consorts." Li Yannian had a gorgeous voice and could even adapt songs himself. At that time, the emperor was building a place for the worship of heaven and earth and wanted to create new ceremonial music, so he asked Sima Xiangru and others to write poems to praise it. Li Yannian then composed and sang many new songs using the poems as inspiration. Later, Lady Li gave birth to the Prince of Changyi, and because of this, Li Yannian quickly rose to power, becoming the Commandant of Justice with a seal of two thousand stones, spending all his time with the emperor. The emperor's trust and favor towards him were comparable to the previous favor bestowed on Han Yan. However, the good times did not last long. After some time, Li Yannian's younger brother, Li Ji, was sleeping around with people in the palace and acted like he owned the place. After Lady Li's death, the emperor's favor towards Li Yannian waned, and he eventually had Li Yannian and his entire family killed.
After that, most of the emperor's favorites were family of the Empress, although figures like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing rose to power through their own merit.
Shi Xian, courtesy name Junfang, was from Jinan; Hong Gong was from Pei County. Both of these men had received flogging for committing crimes when they were young, but later served as Zhonghuangmen (Inner Palace Officials) in the palace and were promoted to Zhong Shangshu (Minister of Rites) for their outstanding performance. During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, they both served in the Zhongshu (Central Secretariat). Hong Gong was very familiar with legal texts and historical allusions, was a whiz at drafting official documents, and was highly competent. Later, Hong Gong became the Zhong Shu Ling (Head of the Central Secretariat), while Shi Xian became the Pushe (Deputy Minister). A few years after Emperor Yuan of Han ascended the throne, Hong Gong passed away, and Shi Xian succeeded him as the Zhong Shu Ling.
At that time, Emperor Yuan of Han fell ill and was too sick to govern. There was a man named Zhang Xian who was particularly skilled in music, had gained the emperor's trust by working in the palace for a long time, and had no factional struggles under his command. Therefore, Emperor Yuan handed over power to him. Zhang Xian ran the show, making decisions on major and minor matters, and everyone in the court kowtowed to him. Zhang Xian was quite clever and good at understanding the emperor's thoughts, but he was treacherous and cunning, liked to use trickery to harm others, and anyone who crossed Zhang Xian would immediately suffer, either being lightly punished or losing their life.
During the early years of Emperor Yuan, the former general Xiao Wangzhi, Guanglu Daifu (Grand Minister of Ceremonies) Zhou Kan, and Zongzheng (Minister of Rites) Liu Gengsheng all served as officials in the Yushi (Censorate). Xiao Wangzhi was in charge of the affairs of the Shangshu at that time. Seeing Zhang Xian's high-handedness and abuse of power, he wrote a memorial advising, "The Shangshu's the top dog, the heart of the whole government, and it needs someone honest and fair in charge. Emperor Wu used eunuchs because he loved his harem parties, but that ain't how things were done back in the day! We need to get rid of the eunuchs in the Zhongshu and go back to the old ways – no more lawbreakers in charge!" Emperor Yuan did not listen to him, so Xiao Wangzhi got on Zhang Xian's bad side. Later, Xiao Wangzhi committed suicide, while Zhou Kan and Liu Gengsheng were demoted and could never return to officialdom. Check out *The Biography of Xiao Wangzhi* for the full story.
Afterwards, high-ranking official Zhang Meng, the Prefect of Wei County Jing Fang, the Imperial Censor Chen Xian, and Court official Jia Juan once jointly accused Zhang Xian in a memorial; some of them were even summoned to directly criticize him. Zhang Xian then went after them, trying to ruin them. Jing Fang and Jia Juan were executed, Zhang Meng killed himself in an official carriage, and Chen Xian was sentenced to hard labor, his head shaved. Even the Magistrate of Zheng County, Su Jian, who received a private letter from Zhang Xian and blew the whistle in a memorial, was later executed on other charges. Since then, everyone in the court was terrified of Zhang Xian, walking on eggshells.
Zhang Xian was thick as thieves with the Minister of the Left Lao Liang and the Minister of Finance Wu Lu Chongzong. Those who flattered them could obtain opportunities for promotion and wealth. The common people even composed satirical songs about them: "Lao Liang and Wu Lu Chongzong, so many seals, so many robes, they couldn't possibly wear them all!" This song describes their overwhelming power and numerous official positions.
It is said that the General of the Left Feng Fengshi and his son both held high positions in the court, and his daughter even became the Emperor's favorite. Xian wanted to flatter their family, so he recommended the Consort's brother Qun to serve the Emperor. The Emperor summoned him and intended to appoint him as an attendant, but Qun used the opportunity to discuss politics. When the Emperor heard that Qun said Xian monopolized power, he blew his top and fired Qun on the spot! Later, when the position of the Grand Master was vacant, everyone recommended Qun's brother, Wang, as the best man for the job. The Emperor asked for Xian's opinion, and Xian said, "Among the Nine Ministers, no one can compare to Wang. But Wang is the Consort's brother, and people will say you're playing favorites, promoting your in-laws to such a high position." The Emperor said, "Yes, I hadn't thought of that." So he praised Wang publicly but didn't give him the job, as recorded in the "Biography of Wang."
Knowing he held considerable power, he feared that one day the emperor would believe the whispers of his rivals and that someone would frame him. So he began to feign loyalty, hoping to find an opportunity to prove himself. Once, he sent people to various departments to gather tribute, and he reported to the emperor first, afraid he might miss the closing of the palace gates in the evening. He requested the emperor to order the officials to open the gates for him. The emperor agreed. He waited until evening to return, then claimed that he had opened the gates by order of the emperor. As a result, someone actually accused him of misusing his authority and falsely claiming the emperor's order. When the emperor heard about it, he laughed and showed the memorial to him. Sobbing, he declared, "Your Majesty, you trust me too much, entrusting everything to me to handle. Many people in the court are jealous of me and want to harm me. Such incidents have occurred more than once. Only a discerning emperor can see through these. I, a humble official, have no way to atone for the people's anger with my life or bear the brunt of public anger. I am willing to give up my official position, serve in the imperial palace as a cleaner, die without complaint or regret, only hoping Your Majesty will pity me and let me live." The emperor thought what he said made sense and sympathized with him, encouraging him multiple times and heavily rewarding him, with rewards and bribes totaling a vast fortune! Rumors circulated that many whispered he had caused the death of the former general Xiao Wangzhi. Xiao Wangzhi was a famous Confucian scholar at the time, and he was worried that scholars throughout the land would resent him, feeling anxious. At that time, the outstanding candidate from the Mingjing Imperial Examination, Gong Yu from Langya, became the Remonstrance Grand Master. He forged ties with him and then recommended Gong Yu to the emperor. Gong Yu later became a high court official, eventually becoming the Grand Master of the Imperial Censorate, and he was very respectful towards him. People then praised him, saying that he did not envy or frame Xiao Wangzhi. This was typical of his methods: using any means necessary to clear his name and maintain the emperor's favor.
Emperor Yuan was bedridden in his later years and favored the Prince Gong of Dingtao, who strongly supported Crown Prince Liu Shi. After Emperor Yuan's death, Emperor Cheng ascended the throne and promoted Wang Xian to be the Grand Superintendent of the Changxin Palace, with an official rank of 2,000 shi. However, Wang Xian quickly fell from grace and was sidelined for several months. The Prime Minister and the Imperial Censor all accused Wang Xian of past crimes, leading to the dismissal of his allies, Láo Liáng and Chén Shùn. Wang Xian and his wife were sent back to his hometown in disgrace, where he fell seriously ill and eventually died on the way. All those he'd promoted were dismissed from their positions. For example, the Superintendent of the Lesser Palace, Wǔlù Chōngzōng, was demoted to be the Prefect of Xuāntú, and the Imperial Censor, Yī Jiā, was demoted to be the Commandant of Yànmén. In Chang'an City, there was a popular folk song that goes: "Yi to Yàn, Lù to Tú, Láo Liáng and Chén, no more power."
Chunyu Chang, whose courtesy name was Zihóng, was a native of Yuancheng in Wei Commandery. When he was young, he became an attendant at the Yellow Gate by virtue of being the nephew of the Empress Dowager, but did not receive the Emperor's favor. By chance, the Grand General Wang Feng fell ill, and Chunyu Chang served and cared for Wang Feng day and night, showing great filial piety. Before his death, Wang Feng entrusted Chunyu Chang to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. The Emperor admired Chunyu Chang's loyalty and promoted him to be a commander, later advancing him to be the Superintendent of the Water Conservancy Department, the Palace Attendant, and finally the Commandant of the Guards, becoming one of the Nine Ministers.
After some time, Zhao Feiyan caught the emperor's eye, and he wanted to make her the empress, but the empress dowager disagreed because she thought Zhao Feiyan wasn't of noble birth. Chunyu Zhang often shuttled messages between the Eastern Palace and the empress dowager. Over a year later, Zhao Feiyan finally became the empress, and the emperor was very grateful to Chunyu Zhang. He acknowledged Chunyu Zhang's past services and issued an edict saying: "Jie Wannian, the Chief Architect, wanted to build Changling – a huge, expensive project that caused great labor and financial loss. The attendant Wei Wenyu Chunyu Zhang repeatedly advised stopping it and returning to his hometown. I accepted Chunyu Zhang's suggestion, called a meeting, and everyone agreed with him. His advice saved the day, bringing peace to the people. I made him Marquis of Guannei." Later, Chunyu Zhang was also named Marquis of Dingling, becoming incredibly powerful and influential, surpassing all the other officials. He made friends with powerful regional lords and governors, taking huge bribes. He also married many concubines, living the high life and ignoring the law.
Initially, Empress Xu was kicked out because of her superstitious beliefs and lived in Changding Palace. Her sister, Xu Min, was a widow and the wife of Long'e Si Marquis at the time. Chang (referring to Chang Luo) slept with her sister and made her his concubine. Empress Xu then used her sister to bribe Chang Luo in hopes of regaining favor and becoming a concubine again. Chang Luo took mountains of gold, carriages, clothes, and jewels from Empress Xu, promising to put in a good word with the emperor. In the end, he indeed made Xu Min the new Left Empress. Whenever Xu Min visited, Chang Luo would send her letters, full of insults and mockery aimed at the old Empress. Their scheme went on for years.
At that time, the Emperor's uncle, Wang Gen, served as the Grand Marshal for several years, running the government. He had been ill for a long time and had requested retirement multiple times. Chang Luo, using his royal connections, was steadily climbing the ranks, aiming to replace Wang Gen. Wang Gen's nephew, Wang Mang, was very jealous of Chang Luo's favor and secretly learned about Chang Luo accepting bribes from Xu Jian. While serving Wang Gen during his illness, Wang Mang told him, "Chang Luo is very pleased to see that you've been ill for so long! He thinks he can soon replace you in running the government and has even started discussing your clothes and future position." Then, Wang Mang told Wang Gen everything about Chang Luo's wrongdoings. Upon hearing this, Wang Gen was furious and said, "If that's the case, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Wang Mang replied, "I wasn't sure how you'd react, so I didn't dare to speak." Wang Gen said, "Go report to the Crown Prince!" Wang Mang then went to see the Empress Dowager and detailed Chang Luo's extravagance, desire to replace Wang Gen, and his involvement with the sister of the noblewoman in the Changding Palace, where he received their clothing. The Empress Dowager was also angry and said, "That scoundrel! Go tell the Emperor!" Wang Mang then reported the matter to the Emperor, who, upon hearing it, fired Chang Luo and sent him home.
At first, Wang Mang served as a eunuch, frequently assisting the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and had a particularly good relationship with them. However, Liu Li, the Marquis of Hongyang, never became the Grand Marshal to assist the Emperor and suspected that Wang Mang was undermining his reputation behind his back, holding a grudge against him. The Emperor was aware of this. When Wang Mang was about to return to his fiefdom, Liu Rong, Liu Li's son, went to Wang Mang to ask for help in obtaining the position of Cavalry General. Wang Mang took the opportunity to give Liu Rong many treasures to pass on to Liu Li. Liu Li then had words with Wang Mang while holding onto these items.
This raised suspicions in the Emperor's mind, prompting an investigation by the relevant authorities. The investigation revealed that Liu Rong was arrested by the court historian, and Liu Li forced Liu Rong to commit suicide to silence him. The Emperor was now certain Wang Mang was up to no good, so he had Wang Mang arrested and detained in the Luoyang prison for thorough interrogation. Eventually, Wang Mang confessed, admitting that he had once defaced the Emperor's palace and even plotted to seize power. His crimes were deemed extremely serious, and he ultimately died in prison. His wife and children were exiled to Hepu, while his mother was sent back to her hometown. Only then did Liu Li return to his own fiefdom. Due to Wang Mang's actions, several dozen generals, officials, and county magistrates were dismissed from their positions. Wang Mang later took over the position of the deceased Grand Marshal and became the new Grand Marshal. After some time, Wang Mang brought his mother and son, Wang Pu, back to Chang'an. However, Wang Pu committed a crime later on, and Wang Mang had him killed, sending his family back to their hometown.
Initially, although Wang Mang was favored as the Emperor's relative, he could not compare to Zhang Fang, the Marquis of Fuping, who was highly favored by the Emperor. Zhang Fang often slept and woke up with the Emperor, and even went on secret trips together, exploring the countryside.
Dong Xian, with the courtesy name Shengqing, was from Yunyang. His father, Dong Gong, had served as an imperial censor and arranged for him to become a low-level attendant in the Crown Prince's household. More than two years passed. One night, while on duty in the palace, handsome Dong Xian caught the Emperor's eye. The Emperor, smitten, asked who he was and immediately promoted him to Yellow Gate Attendant, beginning his rise to favor. Learning that Dong Xian's father was the Marquis of Yunzhong, the Emperor immediately appointed him county magistrate of Baling, later promoting him to a higher office. Dong Xian continued to rise in favor, eventually becoming a Marquis and a Palace Attendant, always by the Emperor's side in public and private. Within months, he was awash in riches and power, causing a scandal at court. They were inseparable, often sharing the same bed. Once, while taking a nap together during the day, Dong Xian rested his head on the Emperor's sleeve. When the Emperor woke up and didn’t want to disturb him, he simply cut off the sleeve before getting up. This perfectly illustrates their bond. Dong Xian was known for his gentle personality and skill in pleasing the Emperor to solidify his position. Whenever the Emperor granted him a bath, Dong Xian would linger, ensuring the imperial physicians attended to him.
The emperor felt it was too difficult to part with Dong Xian, so he ordered that Dong Xian's wife have free access to the palace, allowing her to live in his official residence. The emperor also summoned Dong Xian's sister into the palace and made her a Zhaoyi, with a position second only to the empress. He renamed Dong Xian's residence "Jiaofeng," matching the empress's "Jiaofang." Dong Xian's sister and wife entered and exited the palace every day, serving by the emperor's side. The emperor bestowed an unimaginable amount of wealth upon them. He also promoted Dong Xian's father to a high-ranking official position, appointed him as a Guanneihou, and granted him a fief, later allowing him to become the Minister of the Guards. Additionally, he promoted Dong Xian's father-in-law to the position of Jiangzuo Dajiang, and Dong Xian's younger brother became the Zhijinwu. The emperor ordered the Jiangzuo Dajiang to build a luxurious mansion for Dong Xian at the Beique, featuring a magnificent palace with wide-open gates, exquisite building materials and craftsmanship, and pillars and thresholds wrapped in brocade. The emperor bestowed gifts upon everyone from Dong Xian's household servants to the imperial guards in the armory, as well as treasures. The items given to Dong Xian's younger brother filled the Dong family home, while the emperor's own possessions were relegated to second-class status. Even the treasures stored in the East Garden, including pearl garments and jade boxes, were prepared to be given to Dong Xian, without exception. The emperor also had the Jiangzuo Dajiang build a tomb for Dong Xian next to the Yiling, which included a guest house, cypress trees planted around it, a long road outside, a sprawling walled complex with impressive gates and towers.
The emperor was looking to reward some deserving folks but couldn't find anyone suitable. Then, some court officials, Sun Chong and Xifu Gong, told the Prince of Dongping that someone had been cursing during a religious ceremony. The authorities investigated, and everyone confessed.
The Emperor ordered Xifu Gong and Sun Chong to investigate the matter, proving the innocence of these men. The Emperor then issued a decree, making Xian the Marquis of Gao'an, Xifu Gong the Marquis of Yiling, and Sun Chong the Marquis of Fangyang, each getting 1,000 households. After some time, the Emperor further granted Xian an additional two thousand households.
Prime Minister Wang Jia suspected that the accusations against Prince Dongping were unjust, and he really didn't like Xifu Gong and the others. He repeatedly advised the Emperor, complaining that these guys were messing up the government. As a result, Wang Jia was jailed for speaking his mind and eventually died.
The Han emperor, newly on the throne, had a powerful grandmother, Empress Fu, and a powerful mother, Empress Ding. Fu's younger brother Xixian served as Grand Marshal to assist the Emperor, always giving him advice. However, because they clashed, he offended the Empress and was eventually dismissed. The Emperor's uncle Ding Mingdai succeeded Xixian as Grand Marshal, holding real power, but he was a nasty piece of work, often suppressing the talented individuals and kissing up to the Emperor. Only after Wang Jia died did Ding Mingdai express any regret.
The emperor increasingly values talented individuals and wants to promote them to the highest positions, but he dislikes the behavior of Ding Mingdai. Therefore, the emperor issued an edict dismissing Ding Mingdai from his post, stating: "Previously, Dongping Wang Yun coveted high positions and engaged in curses and sacrifices. Yun's uncle Wu Hong served the emperor as a court physician and conspired with the imperial secretary Yang Hong to rebel; it was a grave matter. Thankfully, our ancestors' blessings saw us through, and Dong Xian and others reported the situation in time, leading to the rebels being dealt with. The general's brother, Wu, a court official, and the general's clan father, Xuan, a cavalry captain, both knew the relationship between Wu Hong and Xu Dan and other noble relatives. Xuan even recommended Dan to be a royal attendant, and Wu had a close relationship with Wu Hong, recommending him multiple times. Wu Hong's arrogance grew with his connections to the Wu family, and with his medical skills, he nearly jeopardized the empire. Considering my regard for Empress Gong, I did not punish Dongping Wang Yun. Despite his high rank, the general failed to set a good example, did not prevent the rebellion, and did not punish Yun and Hong severely. Instead, he favored Xuan and Wu, even lamenting Wu Hong's death and praising his medical skills, while claiming that Dong Xian and others were fortunate to be rewarded. He envied the loyal and virtuous, slandering those who had earned merit; alas, it is truly heartbreaking! This mirrors the saying, 'If a ruler lacks capable generals, those generals should be punished.' So Ji You poisoned Shuya and was praised in the 'Spring and Autumn Annals'; Zhao Dun did not suppress the rebels but was accused of killing the king. I know you're facing severe punishment, so I'm writing this letter to advise you. However, you've shown no remorse and have been colluding with Prime Minister Wang Jia, allowing him to act with impunity and deceive the court. You've been found guilty, and considering your past contributions, I can't bring myself to punish you harshly. So I'm relieving you of your duties and sending you into retirement."
Therefore, the emperor appointed Dong Xian to replace Ding Ming as the Grand Marshal. The emperor issued an edict: "Heaven has given me this mandate, emulating the wise rulers of ancient times, appointing you as my top advisor. I hope you will do your best, lead the army, defend the borders, correct the court, and uphold justice. All the people under Heaven are under my rule, the generals obey my orders, the army relies on my authority; you must be ever vigilant!"
At that time, Huo Guang was only twenty-two years old, but he was already one of the three highest-ranking officials, frequently involved in court affairs, and also served as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. All officials had to submit their reports to the emperor through him. Because Huo Guang's father, Huo Gong, was not suitable for a high-ranking position, the emperor appointed him as the Grand Master of Ceremonies, with a salary of two thousand stones. Huo Guang's younger brother, Huo Xin, replaced him as the Commandant of the Cavalry. The relatives of the Huo family all held important positions in the palace, such as court attendants and officials handling imperial requests, their power even surpassing the Ding and Fu families.
The following year, the Xiongnu leader came to visit the Han emperor and held a banquet. All the court officials were present. The leader was surprised to see Huo Guang in such a high position at a young age and asked the interpreter. The emperor instructed the interpreter to reply: "Although the Grand Marshal is young, he is a very talented and wise individual." Upon hearing this, the leader immediately stood up and paid his respects to Huo Guang, congratulating the Han dynasty on having such a wise minister.
At first, when Prime Minister Kong Guang served as the Inspector General, Huo Guang's father, Huo Gong, worked under him. When Huo Guang became the Grand Marshal and joined Kong Guang as one of the top three officials, the Emperor allowed Huo Guang to visit Kong Guang privately. Kong Guang was very respectful and cautious, knowing that the Emperor wanted to elevate Huo Guang. Upon hearing that Huo Guang was coming to visit, Kong Guang hurriedly adjusted his robes and went out to greet him. When he saw Huo Guang's carriage approaching, he retreated back into the house. Huo Guang walked to the middle of the front gate, and only then did Kong Guang come out to greet him. After Huo Guang got off the carriage, Kong Guang approached him to pay respects, treating Huo Guang with utmost deference, far from equals. When Huo Guang returned, the Emperor was delighted to hear about the incident and immediately appointed Kong Guang's two nephews as Imperial Advisors and Palace Chamberlains. From then on, Huo Guang's power was almost equal to that of the Emperor.
At that time, the Wang family, the relatives of Emperor Cheng, had already declined, with only the Marquis of Ping'a, Tan Zi Quji, still having some influence. When Emperor Ai was still Crown Prince, Tan Zi Quji was just an unimportant son born out of wedlock, but he received favor from Emperor Ai. After Emperor Ai ascended the throne, he promoted Tan Zi Quji to be a Palace Attendant and Commander of the Cavalry. Because the Wang family had lost their power in the court, Emperor Ai favored his old friend Tan Zi Quji and even promoted Tan Zi Quji's younger brother, Tan Hong, to be a Palace Attendant. Tan Hong's father-in-law was named Xiao Xian, the son of former General Xiao Wang, who had served as a county magistrate for a long time before resigning due to illness and now held the rank of Household General.
The two brothers both held high positions, and their father Tan Gong felt extremely proud of this and wanted to marry into a powerful family. Tan Hong acted on behalf of his younger brother, Tan Kuanxin, the Commandant, to propose to Xiao Xian and marry Xiao Xian's daughter. Xiao Xian was terrified and immediately refused, saying he daren't. He then privately told Tan Hong, "Dong Gong became the Grand Marshal, and the decree reads 'to hold the reins of power,' which is an allusion to Yao passing the throne to Shun, not a common practice of the Three Dukes! When those old ministers see these words, all of them were afraid. This is way too much for a regular guy!" Tan Hong, being very clever, realized the seriousness of the situation after hearing Xiao Xian's words, and went back to tell his father Tan Gong, relaying Xiao Xian's concerns to him. Tan Gong sighed and said, "What have we done to scare everyone so much?" He was very unhappy.
Later, the emperor held a banquet in the Qilin Hall, and Tan Gong, his son, and relatives were all drinking and eating together, with Tan Hong and his brother—the Privy Councilor and the Palace Attendant—by their side. The emperor, drinking, casually glanced at Tan Gong and smiled, asking, "I want to imitate Yao and Shun's abdication, what do you think?" Tan Hong quickly said, "This empire was built by Emperor Gaozu, not something you personally own! Your Majesty should inherit the ancestral foundation and pass the country on to future generations. This responsibility is huge, Your Majesty. This isn't a laughing matter!" After hearing this, the emperor remained silent, and everyone present was too scared to breathe. So the emperor sent Tan Hong away, and never invited him back.
Gosh, Xian had just finished building his new house, a sturdy structure, but unexpectedly the main gate collapsed, and Xian had a bad feeling about it. A few months later, Emperor Ai passed away. The Empress Dowager called Xian into her private chambers and asked him how to arrange the funeral. Xian was too distraught to speak, so he simply removed his hat in apology and left. The Empress Dowager said, "Marquis Mang of Xindu handled the late Emperor's funeral; he's the expert on this sort of thing. I'll have him help you." Xian quickly thanked her. The Empress Dowager sent for Mang. The moment Mang arrived, he, at the Empress Dowager's behest, accused Xian of neglecting the Emperor's illness and keeping him confined to his home and out of the palace. Despairing, Xian went to the palace gates, doffed his hat, and prostrated himself barefoot. Mang had a messenger read the Empress Dowager's decree, instantly relieving Xian of his post. The decree stated, "With all these natural disasters and unrest lately, the people are suffering terribly. The Three Officials are the pillars of the country, but Marquis Gao'an Xian lacks experience; as the Grand Marshal, he cannot win people's hearts, suppress rebellions, and pacify the borders. Take back the Grand Marshal's seal and let him retire!" That very day, Xian and his wife took their own lives, and their family buried them secretly under the cover of darkness.
Wang Mang figured they were playing possum, so he had his guys dig up Xian's coffin and have a post-mortem done in the slammer. Wang also had Grand Tutor Guang report: "This Xian guy, naturally shifty, wormed his way into being a marquis by brown-nosing. Him and his old man ran the show, showering his brothers with favors and gifts. They built mansions, fancy tombs – living it up like emperors, blowing a fortune and emptying the treasury. The pair were total snobs, ignoring even messengers and never even bothering to say thanks for all the gifts. Their crimes were obvious. Xian committed suicide and confessed, but even after his death, his father and the others showed no remorse, painting the coffin with sand in the colors of the four seasons, with a blue dragon on the left and a white tiger on the right, and gold and silver sun and moon on top, with jade and precious stones inside the coffin. They were living the high life, fit for an emperor! They got lucky escaping death, and they shouldn't be allowed to stay around here. I want their stuff confiscated. Fire every official who worked with Xian." Xian's father Gong, brother Kuanxin, and their relatives were sent to Hepu, while his mother was sent back to their hometown of Julu. People in Chang'an were all talking about it, and when they went to Xian's house to mourn, they nearly got robbed. The government auctioned off everything the Dongs owned – 430 million. They dug up Xian's body, stripped him naked for the autopsy, then buried him in the prison.
Zhu Xu, a big shot, quit his job at the Grand Marshal's place, bought him a coffin and burial clothes, and gave him a proper burial. Wang Mang flipped out when he heard and cooked up another excuse to get rid of Zhu Xu. But Zhu Xu's son, Zhu Fu, did really well under Emperor Guangwu, becoming Grand Marshal and Minister of Works, and even a marquis.
Now, about Wang Hong. He was a stickler for the rules during Wang Mang's rule, and after Wang Mang's failure, he resigned from his position. Emperor Guangwu issued a decree saying, "King Wu wiped out the Shang, and even honored Shang Rong's family. Wang Hong was upright and cautious; nobody dared touch him during times of war. Let's get his son a job in the government!" Wang Hong's son later held a pretty minor job and passed away. Xiao Xian is the great-grandson of Dong Xian.
The meaning of this passage is that Dong Xian's sweet-talking, emperor-pleasing ways weren't just for women; men could do it too. They all had different stories, but Dong Xian was the emperor's absolute favorite. Both father and son were top dogs at court—that's unheard of! However, they didn't get where they were honestly; they were in over their heads, and it didn't end well for them. This shows that excessive favoritism can harm people.
The Han Dynasty started going downhill under Emperors Yuan and Cheng, and by the time Ai and Ping took over, it was completely kaput. During their reigns, the country was in a mess. The emperor was sick, no heir, surrounded by crooks, the court was a shambles, and the whole country was teetering on the brink of collapse. When the emperor kicked the bucket, the crooks took over. Dong Xian got strangled, Ding and Fu were banished, and even the Empress wasn't safe—she got tossed in jail. It was all the emperor's fault—he trusted the wrong people. Like Confucius said, "Watch out for bad company!" Emperors shouldn't pick officials based on who they like—that's the lesson here.
