Emperor Xiaoi, the grandson of Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty, originally held the title of Prince Gong. His mother was named Lady Ding. He inherited the throne at the age of three and had a passion for studying literature and law from a young age. In the fourth year of the Yuan Yan era, he went to the capital to see the emperor, accompanied by his teachers, prime minister, and military governor. At that time, Prince Xiaowang of Zhongshan also came to visit, but he was accompanied by only one teacher. The emperor found this strange and asked Prince Gong about it. Prince Gong replied, "According to the law, when vassals visit the emperor, they can bring high-ranking officials from their own state. My teachers, prime minister, and military governor are all high-ranking officials, so I brought them all." The emperor asked him to recite the Classic of Poetry, and he recited it fluently, even explaining its meanings.
The next day, the emperor asked Prince Xiaowang, "Why did you only bring your teacher?" Prince Xiaowang couldn't answer. The emperor asked him to recite the Classic of Documents, but he couldn't do that either. Moreover, when eating in front of the emperor, he ate first and finished his food before anyone else; when getting up, his socks were a mess. As a result, Emperor Cheng felt that Prince Xiaowang was not capable, and he admired Prince Gong even more, praising his talents multiple times.
At that time, Prince Gong's grandmother, Dowager Empress Fu, also accompanied him to see the emperor. She privately bribed Zhao Zhaoyi, the emperor's favorite concubine, and the emperor's uncle, Cavalry General Wang of Quyang. Zhao Zhaoyi and General Wang strongly recommended Prince Gong, as the emperor had no sons and they were looking out for themselves. The emperor himself admired his talents, held his coming-of-age ceremony, and then sent him back. That year, he was seventeen years old.
In the second year, the emperor appointed Ren Hong, the Commander of the Palace Guards, as the Grand Chamberlain, bearing the imperial edict to summon Prince Dingtao and appoint him as the Crown Prince. Prince Dingtao declined, saying, "I am fortunate to inherit my father's title and become a prince. I'm not up to the job of Crown Prince. Your Majesty is wise and kind. You've inherited the ancestral throne and follow the will of Heaven. May your reign be long and prosperous! I hope to remain in my fief temporarily, pay respects to Your Majesty every day, and return to my fief when Your Majesty has your own son." After the memorial was submitted, the emperor received it. A month later, the emperor appointed Sun Jing, King of Chu, as Prince Dingtao, to encourage the Crown Prince's preparations for succession by instructing him to offer sacrifices to the Duke of Gong. This is recorded in historical accounts.
In March of 7 BC, Emperor Cheng of Han died. On the fifteenth day of the fourth month, the Crown Prince ascended the throne and became emperor, then went to the Gaomiao Temple to make offerings. The Empress Dowager became Grand Empress Dowager, and the Empress became Empress Dowager. A general amnesty was declared, and the whole nation celebrated together! The nobility were each rewarded with a horse, officials and commoners were promoted, and every household was given cattle and wine. Cloth and silk were distributed to the elderly, the filial, the hardworking, and those in need – widowers, widows, orphans, and the alone. The Grand Empress Dowager posthumously honored Prince Dingtao of Gong as Emperor Gong.
On the 27th of May, the emperor appointed Empress Fu as the empress. The imperial edict stated: "Following the old saying, 'A mother's status rises with her son's,' we honor Empress Dowager Ding Tao and Empress Ding with the titles of Honored Empress Dowager and Honored Empress respectively. They each have their own advisors, with equally lavish fiefs." The emperor also posthumously ennobled Empress Fu's father as the Marquis of Chongzu, and Empress Ding's father as the Marquis of Baode. Empress Fu's uncle Ding Ming was elevated to the Marquis of Yang'an, while another uncle Ding Man was appointed as the Marquis of Pingzhou. At the same time, Ding Man's father was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Pingzhouhuai, Empress Fu's father Yan was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Kongxiang, and the Empress Dowager's younger brother, the head of the stables and Grandee of the Palace Zhao Qin, was appointed as the Marquis of Xincheng. Wow, what a generous handout! In June, the emperor ordered: "Zheng's music is all wrong; it's bad for society, so the emperor shut down the music office!" Marquis Quyang Gen, who previously suggested the construction of the Altar of the Soil and Grain and performed well, was awarded an additional 2,000 households. The Imperial Stable Master Anyang Marquis Shun, who had previous merits with the emperor, was also given a bonus of 500 households. Prime Minister Kong Guang and Grand Minister of Works He Wu were each awarded an additional 1,000 households. The emperor further decreed: "Prince Liang of Hejian has observed the mourning for the empress dowager for three years, really showing the rest of the family how it's done, so he is given an additional 10,000 households."
Word had it that some proposed: "Establishing rules and regulations, strict control, and putting a stop to all the wild spending and loose living is the primary task of governing the country, a truth followed by emperors of all dynasties. Now the princes, marquises, princesses, officials with salaries of over two thousand shi, as well as the wealthy and powerful, all keep a large number of servants, own unlimited land and houses, and exploit the common people, causing them to lose their livelihoods and live in desperate straits. Therefore, their possessions should be restricted." The relevant departments reported on this matter: "Princes' land in the capital, marquises' land in Chang'an, princesses' land in the counties, as well as the land of lesser nobles, officials, and common people, should not exceed thirty acres. Princes can have up to two hundred servants, marquises and princesses one hundred, and lesser nobles, officials, and common people thirty. Children under ten and those over sixty were exempt. Merchants were banned from owning land and holding official positions; violators will be punished according to the law. Any excess land, livestock, and servants beyond the specified amount will be confiscated. The production of government-produced luxury goods like brocade is difficult and wastes women's time on needlework, so production is to be stopped and no longer submitted. Ending the practice of nepotism and behaviors that slander and deceive the law. Palace maids under thirty could marry. Government servants over fifty were freed. Counties were banned from sending rare birds and animals to the court. Increase the salaries of officials below three hundred shi. Officials who are cruel and mistreat the people should be promptly dismissed. No more petitions for pardons for past crimes. Scholars' students whose parents died got three years off."
In the autumn, Marquis Wang Gen of Quyang and Marquis Wang Kuang of Chengdu committed crimes. Wang Gen was sent back to his fiefdom, while Wang Kuang was demoted to a commoner and returned to his original county.
The emperor issued a decree, saying: "I bear the heavy responsibility of my ancestors, and I'm terrified of letting down Heaven and my ancestors. Recently, the sun and moon have been dim, the stars have been acting strangely, and earthquakes have occurred in various places. Not long ago, there was a flood in the Henan region, which killed many people and destroyed many houses. I'm to blame for causing the people to suffer disasters, and I am very afraid. I've dispatched inspectors to investigate and register in various places, and I've provided 3,000 coins for funeral expenses to the families of the deceased. I command the counties and regions that have suffered disasters: if more than a quarter of the population is affected and their property is worth less than 100,000 coins, they will be exempt from taxes this year."
In the first month of the first year of Jianping, there was a general amnesty. The attendant Zhongwei and the newly appointed Marquis of Chengyang, Zhao Qin, and the Marquis of Chengyang, Zhao Ji, committed crimes and were stripped of their titles and banished to western Liao.
The Empress Dowager issued a decree that the fields of the Wang clan's relatives, except for the tombs, should be distributed to the poor.
In the second month, the emperor issued a decree, saying: "It is said that a wise king governing the country must first select talents. I command the Grand Marshal, marquises, generals, important officials, provincial governors, prefects, and county magistrates to each recommend a person who is filial, loyal, able to speak frankly and dare to remonstrate, knowledgeable in political affairs, and able to be close to the people."
In the third month, the emperor rewarded the princes, princesses, marquises, prime ministers, generals, important officials, officials of the capital, and court officials with gold, silver, treasures, silk, and cloth, each with different amounts. This shows that the emperor, to keep everyone happy and maintain control, carried out a large-scale reward to the court officials to show favor.
In winter, the Empress Dowager of Zhongshan King and her brother, the Marquis of Yixiang, Feng Can, committed crimes, and both committed suicide.
In March of the second spring, the emperor dismissed the Minister of Works and restored the position of the Censor. This shows that the emperor was shaking things up at court to deal with the new political landscape.
In the fourth month of summer, the emperor issued a decree saying, "The Han system emphasizes respecting family, showing the importance of hierarchy. We're changing the title of the Dingtao Emperor – 'Dingtao' is no longer appropriate. Empress Dowager Gong is now Empress Dowager, her palace is Yongxin Palace; Empress Gong is now Empress, her palace is Zhongan Palace. We'll build a temple for Emperor Gong in the capital. And everyone in the land is pardoned!" This passage mainly discusses the emperor's construction of the imperial ancestral temple, adjustments to the titles of imperial family members, and the act of granting amnesty throughout the land.
Governors were dismissed, and the position of regional governors was restored. This also reflects adjustments to local administrative institutions, showing the emperor's emphasis on administrative management.
On the day of Gengshen in June, Empress Dowager Ding died. The emperor said, "I've heard that couples should be together, like the Book of Songs says: 'Even after death, they should be buried together.' In the past, Ji Wuzi built a tomb for his wife, and the coffin of Dushi was placed under the western steps. Ji Wuzi requested a joint burial, which was granted. That tradition goes back to the Zhou. The Book of Songs says it's proper. Good sons treat their dead parents like they were alive. So, the Empress Dowager will be buried with Emperor Gong." Therefore, Empress Dowager was buried in Dingtao. Fifty thousand people from Chenliu and Jiyin were mobilized to build the tomb. This passage describes the emperor's mourning and a proper burial for Empress Dowager, demonstrating the emperor's filial piety and respect for traditional rituals.
The high-ranking official Xia Heliang and others advised the emperor, saying that the prophecy of the Crimson Spirit predicted that the national fate of the Han Dynasty would decline, but later would receive another mandate from heaven, suggesting a change of era name. The emperor issued a decree saying, "The Han Dynasty has been established for over two hundred years, and things are going well for the Han. Heaven has sent us good omens, showing the Han Dynasty still has the Mandate of Heaven. I'm not worthy, but I can't go against Heaven's will! To start fresh, we'll change dynasties, and everyone's pardoned! The second year of Jianping will be renamed the first year of Taichu, and I will be known as Emperor Taiping of Chensheng, using a 120-unit calendar." This passage describes the emperor accepting the suggestion to change the era name and granting a general amnesty, marking the beginning of a new era.
In July, the Yongling Pavilion on the northwest outskirts of Weicheng was designated as the Chuling. We left the people where they were, letting them get on with their lives. This passage explains the emperor's selection of the new tomb site and his care for the well-being of the people.
In August, the emperor issued an edict, saying, "Xia Heliang and others suggested changing the era name, the country's name, and the calendar, claiming it would ensure the long-term stability of the country. I believed their advice at the time, hoping that all the people of the world would benefit, but it backfired, and we lost the 'Jiaying' era name. These ideas broke with tradition and were a bad idea. That June Jiazi edict wasn't an amnesty, so everything's cancelled! Xia Heliang and his cronies misled the people, and they'll face the music." These individuals eventually confessed and were punished.
The Prime Minister Bo, the Chief Minister Xuan, and Marquis Yan of Kongxiang all committed offenses. Prime Minister Bo committed suicide, Chief Minister Xuan received a reduced punishment, and Marquis Yan of Kongxiang had a quarter of his property confiscated. These events are recorded in the "Biography of Bo."
In the third year of spring, in the first month, the brother of the Prince of Guangde, Guanghan, was established as the Prince of Guangping.
On the day of Guimao, the main hall of the Empress Dowager's Guigong caught fire.
On the day of Jiyou in the third month, the Prime Minister passed away. That night, an unusual star was seen near the star of the Drum in the River.
In June, King Luqing's son, Min, became the Marquis of Wuxiang.
In November, on the Renzi day, the emperor offered fresh sacrifices at Ganquan Taizhi and Fenyin Houtu, while the sacrifices at the Southern Suburb and Northern Suburb were canceled. Dongping Wang Yun, his wife Yan, and the wife of Duke Ancheng Gong, all committed crimes. Dongping Wang Yun committed suicide, while Yan and Gong were sent into exile, forced to work in the marketplace.
In the fourth year of spring, there was a severe drought. The common people in the Guandong region (the eastern part of China) spread talismans said to be blessed by the Queen Mother of the West everywhere, and these talismans spread to various counties and finally to the capital. The common people also gathered to sacrifice to the Queen Mother of the West, and some even climbed onto the roofs with torches in the middle of the night, making a racket to scare each other.
In February, the emperor named the Empress Dowager's cousin, court official Fu Shang, as the Marquis of Ruchang; and the Empress Dowager's maternal brother, court official Zheng Ye, as the Marquis of Yangxin.
In March, the court officials, the Commander of the Cavalry Dong Xian, the Chief Minister of the Imperial Clan Xifu Gong, and the Prefect of Nanyang Sun Chong, were all enfeoffed as marquises for recommending Dongping Wang to the emperor. These events are recorded in the "Records of the Virtuous."
In May, the emperor rewarded officials from two thousand stones to six hundred stones, as well as all male peerages.
In June, the emperor elevated the Empress Dowager to the title of Empress Dowager.
In August, the north gate of Gong Huang Garden (a royal garden) caught on fire.
In winter, the emperor issued a decree for generals and officials above two thousand stones to recommend talented individuals who are skilled military strategists with vision.
On the first day of the first month of the year Yuanshou, which was New Year's Day, there was a solar eclipse in the morning. The emperor issued a decree saying, "Although I have preserved the empire and its people, my abilities are limited, and I have been working day and night without a moment of peace. Now that there is disorder in the heavens, people are suffering; the responsibility lies with me. I order all ministers to work hard to govern the country, hoping for improvement. However, some abused their power, oppressing the people while feigning integrity to boost their reputations; others were too lenient, allowing the rot to set in. Therefore, the evil-doers are becoming more and more arrogant, the empire's harmony is fraying, and the people are groaning under the weight of it all. Unfortunately, on New Year's Day, there was another solar eclipse; the root of this disaster lies with me! Ministers, you must hold all officials accountable, promote those who are upright and kind, and remove the evil-doers in order to stabilize the hearts of the people. I admit my faults here and will not hide them. Let generals, marquises, and officials recommend someone virtuous and outspoken. At the same time, there will be a general amnesty!"
On the day of Dingsi, Empress Dowager Fu died. In the third month, Prime Minister Jia committed a crime, was imprisoned, and eventually died. In the ninth month, Grand Marshal Piao Qijun got the boot. On the doors of the temple of Emperor Xiaoyuan, the bronze turtle and snake ornaments mysteriously clanged.
In the second year, in the first month, the Xiongnu Chanyu and the Wusun Dajunmi came to the court to see the emperor. In the second month, they returned to their country, and the Chanyu wasn't happy with his visit. Check out the *Xiongnu Chronicles* for more details. On the last day of the fourth month, there was another solar eclipse. In the fifth month, the court adjusted the positions of the Three Excellencies: General Wei Dong Xian was promoted to Grand Marshal, Kong Guang was promoted to Grand Minister, Peng Xuan was promoted to Grand Commander, and was appointed as the Marquis of Changping. The positions of Sizhi, Sili, and Sikou were still being debated. In the sixth month, the emperor died in the Weiyang Palace. In the ninth month, the emperor was buried in Yiling.
Historians say that Emperor Xiaohuai was outstanding in literary talent and quick-witted from the time he was a prince to when he became the Crown Prince. He had a great reputation from a young age. However, he inherited the legacy left by Emperor Xiaocheng, but the power was in the hands of others. Therefore, after taking office, he purged the court to establish his own prestige, imitating Emperor Wu of Han and Emperor Xuan of Han. In fact, he did not care for the pleasures of the flesh and preferred to watch archery and martial arts performances in his spare time. He was struck by paralysis after taking the throne, and his illness worsened in his later years. He died shortly after becoming emperor, which is a real shame.
