Emperor Wen of Han, the son of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang, whose mother was Lady Bo. In the eleventh year of Emperor Gaozu's reign, Liu Bang suppressed the rebellion of Chen Xi, stabilized the Dai region, and made Liu Heng the King of Dai with the capital established in Zhongdu. In the autumn of the seventeenth year, Empress Lü died, and the Lü clan plotted to rebel, aiming to endanger the Liu family's reign. Chancellor Chen Ping, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo, and Marquis Zhu Liu Zhang conspired to wipe out the Lü clan and install King Heng as emperor. It's all in the "Records of Empress Gao" and the "Biography of the Five Princes of Gao."
The story of Emperor Wen of Han's ascension to the throne is next, and specific details will have to be read in historical records.
They sent envoys to bring King Heng back, but after discussions, Langzhongling Zhang Wu and others felt that the matter was unreliable. "The Han officials were all veterans from Gaozu's army. They knew warfare, and they were all sly as foxes—they were up to something. They held back before because they were scared of Gaozu and the Empress Dowager. Now the Lü clan's gone, and Chang'an's just been through a bloodbath. This 'welcoming the King' thing? It's a smokescreen. Let's fake sick and wait and see."
Song Chang, a lieutenant, spoke up, "Every single one of those ministers is wrong. The Qin Dynasty was corrupt, chaos reigned in the world, and heroes rose up in rebellion one after another. Countless people thought they could be emperor, but in the end, the Liu clan ended up on the throne. That was fate, plain and simple. The descendants of Emperor Gaozu have influence everywhere, mutually restraining each other, like a tangled mass of boulders—stable and unshakeable. Everyone knew they were powerful. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, the harsh laws of the Qin Dynasty were abolished, concise laws were enacted, and they ruled kindly. Life was good and stable. Although the Empress Dowager Lu was a force to be reckoned with, installing her own family as kings and ruling with an iron fist, the Grand Commandant was able to rally the soldiers of the Northern Army with just a few words. They all responded, serving the Liu clan and opposing the Lu clan, ultimately succeeding in overthrowing them. It was just fate, nothing anyone could do about it. These ministers want to stir things up, but the people won't stand for it. And how many supporters do they really have? Internally, there are Zhu Xu, Dong Mou, and other relatives, and externally they fear the powerful states of Wu, Chu, and the rest. Of Gaozu's sons, only the Kings of Huainan and Dai remain. King Dai, an old man, is known throughout the land for his wisdom and kindness. So the ministers are doing what's right, Your Majesty. They want to make King Dai the next emperor, and you shouldn't doubt them."
Dai Wang told the Empress Dowager Mother about this matter but was hesitant. He then cast a divination, which foretold great fortune, signifying his destiny as emperor, like the glorious reign of Xia Qi. The diviner said, "This is the will of Heaven." Dai Wang replied, "I am already a king; what else do I need to be?" The diviner explained, "Here, the Heavenly King refers to the Emperor." So Dai Wang sent the Empress Dowager's brother Bo Zhao to see Grand Commandant Zhou Bo, and Zhou Bo and his colleagues explained the reasons for supporting Dai Wang. Bo Zhao returned and reported, "It's all true; no need to worry." Dai Wang smiled and said to Song Chang, "It is just as you said." He then had Song Chang sit in a second carriage, while Zhang Wu and others each rode in a carriage, heading to Chang'an. They stopped at Gaoling and sent Song Chang ahead to observe the situation in Chang'an.
When they reached Wei Bridge, officials ranking below the Prime Minister came out to greet them. Liu Bang's son Liu Heng (Dai Wang) arrived at Wei Bridge after responding to the message. All the ministers bowed and pledged allegiance, and Liu Heng also bowed in return. Grand Commandant Zhou Bo stepped forward and said, "I have a few words to say." Song Chang replied, "If it's official business, then say it; if it's personal, an Emperor doesn't have personal business." Grand Commandant Zhou Bo then knelt down and presented the Emperor's jade seal. Liu Heng declined and said, "We can talk about this at my place."
During the intercalary month, on a Jiyou day, Liu Heng entered the Dai Palace. The ministers followed him in and discussed together. Then, Prime Minister Chen Ping, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo, Grand General Fan Kuai, Minister of Justice Zhang Cang, Minister of the Imperial Clan Liu Ying, Marquis Zhu Xuhou Liu Zhang, Marquis of Dongmou Liu Xingju, and Dianke Liu Jie all knelt down and said to Liu Heng, "As you and your brothers are not Emperor Xiaohui's sons, you are unsuitable to inherit the throne and offer ancestral sacrifices. We suggest seeking the opinions of Marquis Yin'an, the Empress Dowager Lü, the Prince of Langya, the marquises, and all officials of the second thousand-stone rank and above. You are the son of the founding emperor and the best choice to ascend the throne; we urge you to accept the emperorship." Liu Heng replied, "Carrying on the family line is a huge responsibility! I am not capable enough to bear it. I want to ask for the opinion of King Chu (Liu Jiao); I can't decide this on my own." Everyone knelt down and repeatedly requested. Liu Heng formally declined their offer multiple times. Prime Minister Chen Ping and the others said, "We've carefully considered this, and you're the best choice; the entire realm agrees. We're doing this for the sake of the empire and our ancestors; we can't afford to be careless. We hope you will agree to our request. We now offer the imperial seal and regalia." Liu Heng said, "With the support of the imperial family, the military, and the nobility, I can't refuse." So, Liu Heng ascended the throne. The ministers took their places in the court. He then sent Chief Charioteer Zhao Ying and Marquis of Dongmou Liu Xingju to clean the palace and welcome Liu Heng to the Weiyang Palace. That evening, the emperor moved into the Weiyang Palace. At night, Liu Bang appointed Song Chang as the Guard General, in charge of the northern and southern armies, and appointed Zhang Wu as the Commander of the Palace Guard. Liu Bang returned to the front hall and issued a decree to the Prime Minister, Grand Commandant, and Minister of Justice, saying, "I order the extermination of the Lü clan for their abuse of power and treason, plotting to endanger the Liu clan's ancestral temple. Thanks to the generals, prime ministers, marquises, imperial clan, and ministers for their execution; they have received the appropriate punishment. I have just ascended the throne and am granting amnesty to the world. I bestow nobility upon the people and give one cow and wine to every hundred households of women to celebrate for five days."
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In the year 180 BC, on the day of Xin Hai in October, the emperor went to the Gaomiao Temple to offer sacrifices. Then he dispatched General Bo Zhao to the Dai region to welcome the Empress Dowager. The emperor decreed: "Former Prime Minister Lv Chan usurped the position of Prime Minister, and Lv Lu became the Commander-in-Chief. They ordered General Guan Ying to lead troops to attack the Qi state, aiming to supplant the Liu clan. Guan Ying stationed in Xingyang, plotting with various regional lords to kill the Lv clan. Lv Chan was plotting treason, and Prime Minister Chen Ping, along with Grand Commandant Zhou Bo and others, moved to seize control of the army. Marquis Zhang Ao of Zhu Xu was the first to act, arresting and killing Lv Chan. Grand Commandant Zhou Bo personally led Marquis Chai Tong of Xiangping to station in the Northern Army. Jie, the Chamberlain, took away Lv Lu's seal. To commend their merits, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo was granted an additional 10,000 households of fief and rewarded with 5,000 jin of gold; Prime Minister Chen Ping and General Guan Ying each received 3,000 households of fief and 2,000 jin of gold; Marquis Zhang Ao of Zhu Xu and Marquis Chai Tong of Xiangping each received 2,000 households of fief and 1,000 jin of gold; Jie was appointed as Marquis of Yangxin and rewarded with 1,000 jin of gold."
In December, the emperor installed Liu Sui, the son of King Zhao You, as King of Zhao, and transferred Liu Ze of Langye to be King of Yan. The lands seized by the Lü clan in Qi and Chu were restored to their original owners. All the harsh laws enacted by the Lü clan to enrich the treasury were repealed.
In January, officials suggested promptly establishing a crown prince, saying it was a matter of honoring the ancestral temples. The emperor said: "I'm not worthy yet. Heaven hasn't shown its favor, and the people aren't prospering. Even if I cannot find a capable person to inherit the throne, rushing to establish a crown prince would only show my incompetence. What will the people think? Will they trust me?" The officials explained: "Establishing a crown prince now shows respect for our ancestors and the people. It's about ensuring the future."
The emperor said, "The King of Chu is my uncle; he is old and experienced, a seasoned statesman. The King of Wu is my older brother, and the King of Huainan is my younger brother. They're all virtuous and supportive; how can we not consider them? Among the princes, royal brothers, and meritorious officials, there are many worthy advisors. If I bypass them and simply choose my son, others will think that I have forgotten about those capable men and only care about my son. This isn't in the best interests of the realm! I really do not want to do this." The officials insisted, "In ancient times, the Yin and Zhou dynasties lasted for thousands of years because they followed this principle. The heir must be one's own son; this is a long-standing tradition. Our founding emperor unified the land, granted fiefdoms to the princes, and his name is revered as an ancestor. When the princes and marquises were enfeoffed, they also became ancestors of their countries. It's the natural order for sons to inherit the throne, generation after generation – that's the right way of the world. Therefore, the founding emperor established this system to pacify the world. Now, abandoning the practice of appointing a crown prince and instead selecting from among the princes and royal family members goes against the will of the founding emperor; there's no need to discuss this further. Crown Prince Qi is the eldest and most compassionate; let him be the next emperor." The emperor finally agreed. He then ordered that anyone showing filial piety to their father would be promoted. General Bao Zhao was made Marquis of Zhi. In the third month, the officials requested the appointment of an empress. The Empress Dowager said, "The mother of the Crown Prince, Empress Dou, should be the Empress."
The imperial edict has come down, saying, "Now is the season when spring is warm and flowers are blooming, everything is thriving. But among our common people, those elderly people living alone, the destitute and impoverished, may face the danger of starving, and no one is looking after them! How can those in authority allow this to happen? Quickly find ways to help them!" The emperor continued, "The elderly have no warm cotton clothes to wear, no meat to eat and fill their bellies. It's just the beginning of the year, without even a greeting, let alone sending some cloth, wine, and meat. How can we expect our people to honor their elders? I heard that some officials accept bribes and actually use old grain to get away with it; how is this the way to provide for the elderly! Quickly issue a reform order!"
As a result, relevant departments formulated new regulations: elderly people over eighty years old will receive one stone of rice, twenty catties of meat, and five dou of wine every month; elderly people over ninety years old will also receive an additional two pieces of cloth and three catties of cotton. These items, as well as the grain that should have been used to accept bribes, must be personally inspected by officials, and then delivered by the prime minister and the military official; those under ninety years old will be delivered by local officials. Officials in charge of households with more than two thousand shi (a unit of grain tax) must personally inspect them, and those who do not meet the standards must be urged to improve. Of course, those who have committed crimes and are currently serving sentences are not included in this.
King Yuan of Chu died.
In April, devastating earthquakes struck Qi and Chu, toppling twenty-nine mountains in a single day and unleashing catastrophic floods.
In June, the emperor announced that the various commanderies and kingdoms no longer needed to pay tribute. His grace spread throughout the world, bringing joy to the princes and the various non-Han peoples, both near and far. The emperor began to commend those who had performed meritorious deeds. The imperial edict also stated: "Back then, those ministers who executed the Lv clan and supported my ascension to the throne, I was still hesitant at the time; they all advised me, but only Commander Song Chang persuaded me, allowing me to preserve the ancestral temple and the state. Therefore, I promoted Song Chang to the position of General of the Guards and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Valiant Martial Prowess. The six individuals who initially followed me have all been elevated to the highest ranks of the court." The edict further declared: "The sixty-eight marquises who followed Emperor Gaozu into Shu and Han will each see their fiefs increased by three hundred households; those officials of the rank of two thousand shi and above, who accompanied Emperor Gaozu in guarding Yingchuan and others, ten in total, will each receive six hundred households; Shen Tu Jia and ten others guarding Huaiyang will each receive five hundred households; and Wu Wei Zu and ten others will each receive four hundred households." The emperor also appointed Zhao Jian, the uncle of the King of Huainan, as Marquis of Zhouyang, and Ju Jun, the uncle of the King of Qi, as Marquis of Jingguo, while the former Prime Minister of Changshan, Cai Jian, was made Marquis of Fan.
In the winter of October in 180 BC, Prime Minister Chen Ping passed away. The emperor issued an edict, stating: "I have heard that in ancient times, the vassal states established their countries for over a thousand years, each guarding their own territories and paying tribute on time; the people lived in peace and prosperity, and there was social harmony. Now, many marquises live in Chang'an, their fiefdoms far from the capital, making it difficult to transport supplies to the officials and soldiers, and the marquises have no means to govern their people. Therefore, I order all marquises to return to their fiefdoms; the Crown Prince will oversee the relocation of all officials and those named in this edict."
At the end of November, a solar eclipse occurred. The emperor issued another imperial edict, saying: "It is said that Heaven created the people and appointed rulers to govern them. If the monarch is not wise and fair in governance, Heaven will use disasters to warn him to repent. Now, with the solar eclipse at the end of November, this disaster is evident in the sky; what greater disaster could there be? The fate of the empire rests on my shoulders, with only a few ministers as my right-hand men. My failings have even darkened the sun, moon, and stars. My fault is too great! Upon receiving this edict, reflect on my shortcomings and report any failings, however small. Recommend honest advisors who will speak truth to power to correct my shortcomings. At the same time, based on your respective duties, strive to reduce labor and expenses to benefit the people. Since I haven't been a good ruler, I am constantly worried about external mistakes, hence I have been preparing. Even if we cannot completely demilitarize the borders, we must strengthen military defense, starting with disbanding the troops of the Guard General. The Grand Steward has enough horses and money, and the rest should be used to replenish the post stations."
In January Ding Hai, 179 BC, the emperor issued another imperial edict: "Farming is the lifeblood of our nation. We must cultivate the royal fields, and I will personally lead everyone in farming to provide offerings for ancestral temple sacrifices. Those punished for past offenses, or those in debt or short on supplies, are hereby pardoned."
In the third month of the year, the relevant departments requested making the prince a vassal king. The emperor declared, "Previously, King You of Zhao was imprisoned and died. I sympathize with him and have already established his son as the King of Zhao. Pi Qiang, brother of King You of Zhao, as well as Zhu Xuhou Zhang and Xingjuhou of Jibei, have also made contributions and can be appointed as kings." Pi Qiang was established as the King of Hejian, Zhang as the King of Chengyang, and Xingju as the King of Jibei. The prince Wu was also established as the King of Dai, Can as the King of Taiyuan, and Yi as the King of Liang.
In the fifth month of the year, the emperor issued a decree: "In ancient times, to govern the world, the court set up suggestion boxes and complaint posts, a way for the people to voice their concerns! However, now the law has established charges for defamation and rumors, which makes the ministers afraid to speak the truth, and the emperor cannot know his own faults. How can we attract talented people from afar like this? Therefore, let's cancel these laws! If the common people secretly criticize the emperor a few times, or conspire to fabricate stories, the officials treat it as high treason; if they say something else, the officials treat it as defamation. These common people are ignorant and make mistakes, but they should not be put to death. From now on, these offenses will be disregarded!"
In the ninth month of the year, the emperor began distributing bronze tiger tokens and bamboo tokens to the county magistrates.
The emperor issued another decree: "Agriculture is the foundation of the world and the livelihood of the common people, but many people neglect farming and engage in commerce, leading to a poor life. I am very concerned about this issue, so now I will personally lead the officials to the fields to encourage everyone to farm. This year, let's exempt half of the land rent for all the people in the world!"
In the winter of the third year, at the end of the tenth month of the Dingyou month, a solar eclipse occurred. At the end of the eleventh month of the Dingmao month, another solar eclipse occurred.
The emperor said, "A few days ago, I ordered the marquises to return to their fiefdoms, but they have not yet left. The Prime Minister is a man I trust implicitly, so let him go and urge the marquises to return to their fiefdoms on my behalf." Therefore, the position of the Prime Minister Bo was dismissed, and he was sent back to his fiefdom.
In December, Grand Marshal Ying Yinhou Guan Ying was appointed as the Prime Minister. The Grand Marshal's position was abolished and placed under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister.
In April, Prince Zhang of Chengyang died, and Prince Liu Chang of Huainan killed Marquis Shenshiqui.
In May, the Xiongnu ravaged Beidi and Henan, burning, killing, and looting everywhere. The Emperor went to Ganquan and sent Prime Minister Guan Ying to fight the Xiongnu, who fled. The Emperor also mobilized the Central Guards and Cai officials, placing them under the Guard General in Chang'an.
The Emperor departed from Ganquan to Taiyuan, where he met with former officials and rewarded them. He also held a ceremony to reward the meritorious officials, and every household got a cow and some wine. The people of Taiyuan and Jinyang were exempt from paying land taxes for three years. The Emperor stayed in Taiyuan for more than ten days.
When Prince Liu Xingju heard the Emperor was going after the Xiongnu himself, he flipped out and rebelled, planning to attack Xingyang. As a result, the Emperor stripped the Prime Minister of his military command and appointed Marquis Chaowu as the Grand General, leading four generals and a hundred thousand troops to punish him. Marquis Zenghe was appointed as a general and stationed in Xingyang.
In the autumn of July, Emperor Wen of Han returned from Taiyuan to Chang'an. He then issued an edict, saying, "That little punk Prince Xingju of Jibei has violated the rules, rebelled against heaven, caused suffering to the people, and committed heinous crimes! The people of Jibei took care of Xingju themselves before our army even got there! They surrendered the city. Everyone's pardoned, with their official positions and titles restored! Those who'd joined him got a pardon too!" In August, Xingju was captured, and he was terrified.
In December, Year Four, Prime Minister Guan Ying passed away. Man, what a loss! In May of Year Two, the Liu family relatives, who had no substantial assets, were granted vast estates by the emperor, each with two thousand households! In September of autumn, seven sons of King Qi Daohui were enfeoffed as marquises—now that's what I call royal favor! Tough gig being an official, eh? Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, got into trouble and was hauled off to jail. Oh, and this year also saw the construction of the Gu Cheng Temple. In February of Year Five, there was an earthquake that scared the bejesus out of everyone! In April of summer, the ban on private coinage was lifted, and four-zhu coins were minted again. In October of Year Six, peach trees and plum trees were blooming—way out of season! In November, Prince Liu Chang of Huainan wanted to rebel but was deposed, exiled to Shu, and ultimately died in Yong. In October of Year Seven, the emperor issued another decree, stating that the wives and sons of high-ranking officials were not allowed to arrest people at will. In April of Year Seven, the emperor granted a general amnesty—everybody celebrated! On the day of Guichou in June, a fire broke out in the windows of the palace on the east side of the Palace of Eternal Harmony. In the summer of Year Eight, the four sons of King Li of Huainan were enfeoffed as marquises. That year, a long comet appeared in the east—nobody knew if it was good or bad. In the spring of Year Nine, there was a severe drought—total crop failure! In the winter of Year Ten, the emperor took a trip to Ganquan Palace. General Bo Zhao passed away. In November of Year Eleven, the emperor went to Dai and only returned in the first month of the following year. In June of Year Eleven, Prince Liang Yi passed away. The Xiongnu invaded the border again, reaching Didao. In December, Year Twelve, the Yellow River breached in Dongjun. In the first month of the following year, the emperor gave the princes another two thousand households each. In February, they let the emperor's concubines get married. In March, checkpoints were abolished—no more travel permits!
The emperor has issued another imperial decree, saying: "If we want the people to live well, we gotta prioritize farming. I've personally led by example in farming for ten years, but we ain't got much more farmland. Year after year of bad harvests means folks are starving. Clearly, we ain't doing enough, and those officials ain't pulling their weight. I've issued several orders to encourage the planting of trees by the people, but the effect is not significant, because the officials ain't following my orders, and they ain't advising the people properly. And these farmers bust their butts, but the officials don't give a damn. That ain't right. So, this year, farmers' taxes are cut in half!"
The emperor continued: "Respecting your parents and loving your brothers – that's just common sense; hard work in the fields is how people make a living; three wise old folks are the people's teachers; honest officials are role models for everyone. I really appreciate what those great ministers have done. But a lot of counties don't have officials who follow the rules. Is that how the people really feel? The problem is, our system for picking good officials is messed up! So, we're sending envoys to give gifts: five bolts of cloth to the wise old folks and the good sons, two bolts to those who love their brothers and work hard in the fields, and three bolts to honest officials making over 200 stones a year. And find out what problems the people are facing. Then, set quotas for these good people – the wise old folks, the good sons, the brothers who get along, and the hardworking farmers – based on how many families there are. Let them teach the people."
After several years, on the first day of the second month of the fourteenth year, the emperor decreed, "I will personally lead the people of the world to farm the land to provide food for sacrifices; the empress will personally raise silkworms to provide clothing for sacrifices, with specific rituals to be established separately." In the summer, the secret sacrificial rites were abolished, with details recorded in the "Annals of Suburban Sacrifices." In May, corporal punishment was abolished, with details recorded in the "Criminal Code." In June, the emperor decreed, "Agriculture is the foundation of the world; there is nothing more important than this. The people work hard to cultivate the land, yet they still have to pay taxes. This is putting the cart before the horse; how can we encourage them to farm well? Therefore, the taxes on fields are abolished. At the same time, rewards are given to elderly widows and widowers throughout the world in cloth, silk, and cotton, with specified quantities."
In the winter of the fourteenth year, the Xiongnu invaded the border and killed the Prefect of Beidi. The emperor dispatched three armies to be stationed in Longxi, Beidi, and Shangjun respectively, with the Lieutenant Zhou She serving as the Guard General and the Commandant Zhang Wu serving as the Cavalry General, stationed north of the Wei River, with a military force of one thousand chariots and one hundred thousand troops. The emperor personally comforted the troops, reorganized military discipline, reiterated military orders, and rewarded the officials and soldiers. The emperor initially intended to lead the campaign against the Xiongnu himself, but his courtiers advised against it, and he did not listen. It was only after repeated persuasion from the empress dowager that the emperor relented. Therefore, the Marquis of Dongyang Zhang Xiangru was appointed as the Grand General, with the Marquis Dong He and the Minister Luan Bu serving as generals, to go and strike the Xiongnu, forcing them into retreat.
The emperor issued a decree in the spring, saying: "I've been offering sacrifices to Heaven and our ancestors for fourteen years, using the proper livestock and vessels. Even after all this time, I'm still ashamed of my own shortcomings and how I've been running this country. So I'm gonna ramp up the sacrifices. Those old kings, they were smart. They looked out for the people, didn't ask for anything in return, kept good company, and stayed away from family drama. That's true wisdom, right there! I hear the priests are only praying for *me* at these sacrifices, not for the people. It's not right. I get all the good stuff while the people get nothing. That just shows how bad I am at this job. I'm telling those priests to keep it respectful and leave out the wish lists."
A yellow dragon showed up in Chengji that spring (fifteenth year). The emperor issued a decree to discuss the arrangements for the suburban sacrifice ceremony. Gongsun Chen was in charge of sacrificial clothing, and Xinyuan Ping was responsible for the arrangements of the five temples. In April, the emperor went to Wei Yang and held the suburban sacrifice ceremony for the first time, worshipping the Five Emperors and granting amnesty to the world. We fixed up the important mountains and rivers, got the old sacrifices going again, and everyone's doing their job on schedule. In September, the emperor told everyone – kings, dukes, the whole shebang – to find him some honest, brave people who weren't afraid to speak their minds. He checked them out himself, listened to what they said, and the whole thing's in the *Chao Cuo Biography*.
In April (year sixteen), he went to Wei Yang and worshipped the Five Emperors. In May, six sons of King Dao Hui of Qi and three sons of King Li of Huainan were enfeoffed as kings. In September, they found a jade cup that said "Long live the Emperor!" So, big party! And we changed the name of the era the next year. October, first year of Hou Yuan: Xinyuan Ping got caught faking evidence and plotting a rebellion. The whole family got whacked.
Empress Xiaohui Zhang died in March.
The emperor issued a decree saying, "These past few years, the harvests have been bad, and we've been hit with floods, droughts, and disease. I'm stumped. I just can't figure it out. Is it my fault? Did I mess up somehow? Or is it something bigger – bad luck, the land's not yielding, people are fighting amongst themselves, and even the gods seem to have turned their backs? What's going on here? Are my officials spending too much, and wasting too much time on nonsense? Why are my people going hungry? We haven't lost any land, and the population hasn't exploded. We should have plenty to go around, more than they did back in the old days, so why the food shortage? What's the problem? Is it too many folks chasing side hustles that hurt farming? Too much booze? Too many livestock eating up the grain? I haven't quite figured out what's most important here. Talk it over with the Prime Minister, the nobles, the top officials, and the scholars. Tell me everything; don't hold back!"
Two years later, in the summer, the emperor made an inspection tour of the Yuyang Palace in Yuxian. In June, the Prince of Dai died. The Xiongnu and the Han Dynasty made peace. The emperor issued a decree saying: "I am neither wise nor able to implement benevolent policies, which has led to unrest in the border regions. The people in these areas are burdened by endless toil and suffering, and the people in the country are also overworked. These two issues stem from my inadequate virtue, which fails to benefit distant lands. In recent years, the Xiongnu have repeatedly invaded the borders, killing officials and civilians. The border soldiers cannot discern the true intentions of the Xiongnu, further exacerbating my mistakes. Long-term wars are disasters for both the country and the people. Now I work day and night, worrying about the people of the world, losing sleep over their plight, and I have never forgotten a single day. Therefore, I have sent many envoys to the Xiongnu to convey my wishes. Now the Chanyu has heeded his ancestors' wisdom, caring for the peace of the nation and the suffering of the people. He is willing to abandon past mistakes with me, forge a brotherly alliance, and protect the people of the world. Peace can be achieved, starting this year."
In the spring of the third year, in February, the emperor inspected the Dai region. In the summer of the fourth year, on the last day of April, there was a solar eclipse. In May, the court granted a general amnesty, freeing all slaves and servants. The emperor went to oversee the Yuxian region. In the spring of the fifth year, in January, the emperor inspected Longxi. In March, he went to oversee the Yuxian region. In the autumn of the seventh month, the emperor made an inspection tour of the Dai region.
The winter of the sixth year saw the Xiongnu being aggressive, with thirty thousand cavalry invading Shangjun, and another thirty thousand cavalry entering Yunchun. Faced with this emergency, the emperor acted swiftly and appointed Ling Mian as General of Chariots and Cavalry, stationed at Feihu; Su Yi as general at Juzhu; Zhang Wu at Beidi; Zhou Yafu at Xiliu; Liu Li at Basha; and Xu Li at Jimen. This was a full-scale mobilization to meet the Xiongnu threat.
After a few months, in April, disaster struck with a severe drought, followed by a locust plague. The harvest was completely ruined, and people were really suffering. The emperor, upon seeing this, quickly waived the vassals' tributes, opened up the mountains and marshes for foraging, cut court spending on clothes, laid off some court officials, opened the national treasury to help the victims, and even let people sell their titles to survive. In short, the emperor pulled out all the stops to help the people.
In the summer of 141 BC, on the day of Jihai in the sixth month, Emperor Wu of Han kicked the bucket in the Weiyang Palace. In his will, he said, "I've heard that all things in the world, born and perish, are natural laws. Death is a normal phenomenon between heaven and earth. Why should there be excessive grief? Nowadays, people love life and hate death, lavishing money on funerals and wearing heavy mourning, which I strongly disapprove of. Moreover, my own virtue is insufficient, and I have not been able to let the people live a good life. Now that I am dead, I still have to let everyone wear mourning clothes for a long time, endure the hardships of cold and heat, making the people sad, burdening the elderly, affecting their daily lives, and even delaying the worship of ghosts and gods. Wouldn't that make me look bad? I have luckily preserved the ancestral temples, and the country has been stable without war, thanks to heaven's blessings and the state's protection. My abilities are limited, and I have always been worried about making mistakes and ashamed of the late Emperor's virtues. After being emperor for so long, I have always been afraid of not dying well. Now, I have finally died peacefully, able to be enshrined in the ancestral temple, so what is there to be sad about? Therefore, I command officials and people throughout the country to remove their mourning clothes within three days of my passing. Marriage, sacrifices, drinking, and eating meat are not prohibited. As for those who need to observe mourning, do not be too particular. Mourning belts should not exceed three inches in width, there is no need to prepare vehicles and weapons, and the people should not be forced to mourn in the palace. Those mourning in the palace should cry fifteen times in the morning and evening each day, and other rituals are exempted. Apart from the designated mourning times, private weeping is not allowed. The rest should wear deep red mourning for fifteen days, light red for fourteen days, plain clothes for seven days, and then remove the mourning clothes. For matters not explicitly specified, follow these standards. Let this decree be known throughout the land so that everyone understands my intentions. Leave the landscape of Balin as it is, and keep funerals for consorts and concubines below Guifu simple."
The imperial edict appointed the Cavalry General as Lieutenant Yafu, the Garrison General as the Governor of the Subordinate Country Han, and the Veteran General as Commander Zhang Wu. It also mobilized 16,000 soldiers from nearby counties and 15,000 palace guards, to be commanded by Generals Zang, Chuan, and Fu. At the same time, officials below the princes and those showing filial piety, brotherly love, and diligence in farming were rewarded with gold, silver, and silk, each in varying amounts. Emperor Wu of Han was buried in Baling on the sixth month's Yisi day.
It is said that Emperor Xiaowen had been emperor for twenty-three years, and there had been no increase in palaces, gardens, carriages, clothes, and all that. If there were any inconveniences, they were immediately canceled for the convenience of the common people. Once, he wanted to build a terrace, and when he called the craftsmen to calculate the cost, it turned out to be a hundred gold. The emperor said, "A hundred gold, that is the entire wealth of ten ordinary households! I feel guilty living in the palace left by the late emperor; why would I still build a terrace?" He wore coarse cloth himself. Even the clothes worn by his favorite Lady Shen did not drag on the ground. The tents had no fancy embroidery, all to set an example of simplicity. The Baling tomb he built for himself was made entirely of plain pottery, without any decorations of gold, silver, copper, or tin, built into the hillside, keeping it low to the ground.
The King of Nanyue, Weituo, crowned himself emperor. Emperor Xiaowen sent people to summon Weituo's brothers and tried to win them over with kindness, leading Weituo to finally submit. After making peace with the Xiongnu, they broke their word and came raiding. Emperor Xiaowen beefed up border security but stopped short of invading Xiongnu territory, worried about putting too much strain on the people. The King of Wu faked illness to skip court, so Emperor Xiaowen sent him a gift of walking sticks. Even when advisors like Yuan Ang gave him a hard time, Emperor Xiaowen always listened and used their advice to his advantage. When officials like Zhang Wu were caught taking bribes, Emperor Xiaowen showered them with even more gifts, hoping to shame them into better behavior. Emperor Xiaowen ruled by moral example, and the country flourished, with everyone behaving properly. For years, there were only a few hundred court cases, and hardly anyone needed punishing. Man, that's some serious compassion!
