In the fifth year's winter, October, the Han King pursued Xiang Yu south of Yangxia, making camp and having agreed with King Xin of Qi and Wei's Prime Minister Peng Yue to combine forces to attack the Chu army. But they found them absent at Guling. The Chu launched a surprise attack, routing the Han army. The Han King retreated to his camp, digging in. With a worried expression, the Han King said to Zhang Liang, "These princes ain't comin' to help, what're we gonna do?" Zhang Liang analyzed, "The Chu army's strong, but they ain't had time to divvy up the land, so they won't stick around Guling long. Promise 'em a share of the empire, and you'll have 'em on your side in a heartbeat. King Xin's throne ain't from you, and he's on shaky ground. Peng Yue ran Liang, and you made him Prime Minister because of Wei Bao. Now that Wei Bao's dead, Peng Yue's waitin' on your word, but you ain't said nothin'. Give Peng Yue the land from Suiyang north to Gu Cheng, and give King Xin the coast east of Chen. Xin's family's in Chu—he'll jump at the chance to take it back. Be generous, give 'em the land, let 'em fight their own battles, and the Chu army'll crumble." So the Han King sent word to Han Xin and Peng Yue, and they came runnin' with their armies.
In November, Liu Jia marched into Chu territory and surrounded Shou Chun. The Han King also sent people to persuade the Grand Marshal of Chu, Zhou Yin, to betray Chu. Zhou Yin did betray Chu, bringing the troops of Shu County and Tu County, leading the soldiers of Nine Rivers to meet with Ying Bu, while also attacking Cheng Fu, and then joining forces with Liu Jia.
In December, the Han army surrounded Xiang Yu's camp at Gaixia. Xiang Yu heard the Chu songs sung by the Han army from all sides in the middle of the night, realizing that the Chu territory had been completely occupied by the Han. He escaped with a few hundred cavalry, resulting in a major defeat for the Chu army. Guan Ying caught up and killed Xiang Yu in Dongcheng. "A man of unmatched strength and spirit, but fortune turns against me, my steed stands still. What can be done when my steed stands still, alas, alas, what can be done!" The Chu territory was completely pacified, with only the state of Lu refusing to surrender. The King of Han mobilized his army, prepared to attack Lu, but considering that Lu was a country known for its loyalty and righteousness, he took Xiang Yu's head to show to the people of Lu, and only then did they surrender. Originally, King Huai appointed Xiang Yu as Duke of Lu, and even after Xiang Yu's death, Lu continued to uphold loyalty to him, so he was buried in Gucheng with ducal honors. The King of Han personally went to mourn his death, after a tearful farewell. The King of Han ennobled Xiang Bo and three others, giving them his surname, Liu. All the people in the Chu state submitted to the King of Han.
After returning to Dingtou, the King of Han went straight into the camp of King Xin of Qi and took away his military power.
Earlier, Linjiang King Gong Ao, who was appointed by Xiang Yu, had already died, and his son Wei Si succeeded as king and refused to surrender. The King of Han sent Lu Wan and Liu Jia to attack and capture Wei Si.
In the first month, Liu Bang posthumously appointed his brother as Marquis Wuai. He then ordered, "The Chu territory has been pacified. After the death of the Righteous Emperor, I want to comfort the people of the Chu territory and establish a new ruler for them. King Xin of Qi is familiar with the customs of the Chu territory, so I will appoint him as King of Chu, governing the northern Huai region, with the capital at Xiapi. The Prime Minister of Wei, Peng Yue, is diligent and loves the people, humble towards soldiers, renowned for his victories against overwhelming odds, and has defeated the Chu army many times, so I will let him be crowned king in the old territory of Wei, known as King of Liang, with the capital at Dingtao." He also said, "Eight years of war had taken its toll. Now that the world is at peace, a general amnesty was declared, pardoning all but the most serious crimes."
Next, various princes and nobles wrote to say: "King Han Xin of Chu, King Xin Han, King Ying Bu of Huainan, King Peng Yue of Liang, the late King Wu Rui of Hengshan, King Zhang Ao of Zhao, and King Zang Tu of Yan, throwing themselves at Your Majesty's feet, report: In the beginning, the Qin Dynasty was brutal and unjust, and the people of the world rose up against it. Your Majesty, you first captured the capital of the Qin King, pacified Guanzhong, and saved the day. You stabilized the world, brought peace and prosperity to the land. Your accomplishments are legendary, your kindness boundless. You have also shown favor to the princes and nobles who have made contributions, allowing them to establish their own states. Now that the land has been divided, your titles are all pretty much the same. Your Majesty's achievements are truly great and should be praised by future generations. We humbly beseech you to accept the title of Emperor." Liu Bang said: "I have heard that only a truly virtuous man deserves to be Emperor. If one has only the name without actual virtue, that is not what I want. Now, all the princes and nobles have elected me as emperor. What should I do?" The princes and nobles all said: "Your Majesty, you were once a nobody from nowhere, but you have destroyed the tyrannical Qin and shaken the world. You have come from the remote land of Hanzhong, relying on your prestige and virtue, to punish the wicked, build your reputation, and bring peace to the land. These lands weren't just gifts; they were earned. Your kindness and virtue extend throughout the world, and the princes and nobles all speak highly of you. You deserve to be Emperor, and we hope that Your Majesty will accept the title for the sake of the people of the world." Liu Bang said: "If the princes and nobles believe that this is beneficial to the people of the world, then so be it." Therefore, the princes and nobles, along with the Grand Commandant Chang'an Marquis Chen Wen and more than three hundred others, as well as the scholar Jisi Successor Lord Sun Tong, chose a lucky day in February to confer the title of emperor on Liu Bang. Liu Bang officially became Emperor at Sishui. He honored his queen as Empress, his crown prince as Crown Prince, and posthumously honored his mother as Lady Zhaoling.
Word from the Emperor came down: "Old King Wu Rui of Hengshan, with his two sons and a nephew, led the army of the Baiyue to help the princes attack the tyrannical Qin and rendered distinguished service, and the princes made him king. Xiang Yu later seized his territory, only granting him the title of Marquis of Fan. Now, I hereby appoint him as the King of Changsha, allowing him to govern the regions of Changsha, Yuzhang, Xiangjun, Guilin, and Nanhai." The imperial edict continued: "The previous Yue King, for generations, had been worshipping their ancestors, but the Qin dynasty occupied their land, making it impossible for them to worship their ancestors. Later, when the princes attacked the Qin dynasty, he led the army of Minzhong to help destroy the Qin dynasty, but Xiang Yu did not grant him a title. So, I appoint him as the King of Minyue, allowing him to govern the Minzhong region, hoping he'll do a good job and not let me down."
Next, the emperor moved west to Luoyang. In May, the armies went home. The emperor issued another imperial edict: "As for the nobles' children in Guanzhong, all children under twelve must return; half of those over twelve must return. In the past, some common people gathered in the mountains and swamps to avoid the chaos of war and were not registered; now that the world is peaceful, order them to return to their respective counties, restore their original titles, land, and houses. Officials must explain clearly according to the laws, and absolutely no beating or scolding. Those who sold themselves as slaves due to hunger will be freed. For the soldiers in the army, in this amnesty, even those unjustly demoted below the rank of grandee will be reinstated. Those already grandees or above will be promoted. Those of rank seven grandee and above will receive land grants; those below will be restored to their former status and exempted from further service."
The imperial edict continued, saying: "From the rank of Seventh-Rank Officials and above, these are all very high titles. Many children of nobles and soldiers returning from the army have now received high titles. I have repeatedly ordered officials to prioritize the allocation of land and houses to them, as well as their necessary requests, to be processed quickly. Titles, especially those of high rank, are highly respected by me. They have been waiting at the government offices for a long time, but the officials have been slow to process their requests. Is this how things should be? In the past, during the Qin Dynasty, where even the Prime Minister showed deference to those of such high rank, commoners who reached the rank of Duke or above were respected. Now, I attach great importance to titles as well; why are the officials behaving like this?! What's more, the law stipulates that only those who have merit can receive land and houses, but many petty officials who've never seen combat have received them, while those who truly deserve it have not. This is blatant favoritism and disregard for the law! Those local officials have done a terrible job of training and supervising their subordinates. I command all officials to treat those with high titles well, as I expect. And I want a full investigation; if anyone goes against my orders, they will face severe punishment!"
Later that day, at a banquet at the Nangong Palace in Luoyang, the emperor said: "Come on, Generals, tell me the truth. Don't hold back. Why was I able to conquer the world? Why was Xiang Yu able to conquer the world before me?" Gao Qi and Wang Ling replied: "Your Majesty, while Xiang Yu cultivated an image of benevolence, your reputation is… less favorable. However, Your Majesty, you conquer cities and territories, and then distribute the land to the locals, sharing the benefits with the people of the world. Xiang Yu, on the other hand, envied the talented, harmed those who had merit, and suspected those who were capable. He did not share the victories or the benefits of the land, which is why he ultimately failed to conquer the world."
The Emperor said, "You only know one reason, not the other. I am not as good as Zhang Liang in strategizing behind the scenes, winning battles from afar; I am not as good as Xiao He in pacifying the people, supplying the army, ensuring logistics; I am not as good as Han Xin in leading a million troops, winning battles, capturing cities. These three are heroes among men, and I can use them, which is why I have unified China. Although Xiang Yu had talents like Fan Zeng, he did not know how to use them, so he was ultimately defeated by me." The ministers all agreed.
Initially, Tian Heng sought refuge with Peng Yue. After Xiang Yu's downfall, Tian Heng feared being killed, so he fled to the coast with his followers. The Emperor, fearing he might cause trouble in the future, sent envoys to pardon him, saying, "If Tian Heng comes, he'll be a prince or marquis; if not, I'll have him killed." Terrified, Tian Heng hurried to Luoyang by carriage, but before reaching thirty miles from Luoyang, he committed suicide. The Emperor, moved by his loyalty, wept and sent two thousand soldiers to give him a royal burial.
Soldier Lou Jing requested an audience and advised the Emperor, "Your Majesty's conquest is different from the Zhou Dynasty; it is inconvenient to establish the capital in Luoyang. It is better to enter the pass and secure the strategic passes of the former Qin empire." The Emperor asked Zhang Liang, who also advised him. That day, the Emperor moved the capital to Chang'an. The Emperor made Lou Jing Lord Fengchun and gave him the Liu surname.
On the day of Renchen in the sixth month, there was a general amnesty throughout the empire.
In the autumn of the seventh month, King Zangtu of Yan rebelled, and the Emperor personally led the troops to quell the rebellion.
In the ninth month, Zangtu was captured. The Emperor ordered the princes to recommend someone to be the new King of Yan. Ten people, including Chen Xin, Marquis of Jing, all said, "Grand Commandant Lu Wan, Marquis of Chang'an, has the greatest merit; please make him the King of Yan." The Emperor sent Prime Minister Kui to pacify the Dai region with troops.
Li Ji rebelled, and the Emperor personally led the troops and swiftly defeated him. Li Ji was a general under Xiang Yu, and after Xiang Yu's defeat, Li Ji became the magistrate of Chen County and was later appointed the Marquis of Yingchuan after surrendering. When the Emperor reached Luoyang and summoned all the marquises, Li Ji, fearing for his life, rebelled again.
In late September, the emperor moved the noble's sons to Guanzhong and built the Changle Palace. In the winter of the sixth year, in October, the emperor ordered the construction of cities throughout the country. Someone reported that King Han Xin of Chu was planning a rebellion. The emperor asked his ministers for advice, and everyone suggested dealing with Han Xin immediately. At this time, Chen Ping came up with an idea, so the emperor feigned a trip to Yunmeng Marsh. In December, the emperor summoned the nobles to a meeting in Chen, where Han Xin came to greet the emperor but was arrested on the spot. The emperor issued a decree, stating, "The world is now at peace, and those who served have been ennobled. The new dynasty's just begun, and there hasn't been time to properly reward everyone. Some didn't know the law, others committed crimes, some even facing execution. I feel for them. Therefore, I hereby grant amnesty to all!" Tian Ken congratulated the emperor, saying, "That's fantastic! Your Majesty not only captured Han Xin but also pacified the Qin territory. Qin was strategically important, nestled in mountains and rivers, with a powerful army, controlling two-tenths of the land. The terrain is favorable, making it easy to launch attacks on the nobles, like pouring water from a high roof. As for Qi, it's a wealthy kingdom, strategically positioned with natural defenses, covering two thousand miles and also controlling two-tenths of the country's forces. Only someone I really trust could be King of Qi!" The emperor said, "Good!" and rewarded Tian Ken with a generous amount of gold. After returning to Luoyang, the emperor pardoned Han Xin's crimes and appointed him as the Marquis of Huaiyin. And so, peace was secured, at least for now.
On the day of Jia Shen (the 15th day of the 11th month in the traditional Chinese calendar), the emperor officially began issuing edicts and enfeoffed Cao Can and other meritorious officials as lords. The edict stated: "The state of Qi was a powerful ancient state, but now it has become a commandery; it should restore its status as a marquisate. General Liu Jia has achieved great merits many times and is known for his generosity, kindness, and upright conduct, so let him be King of Qi and also King of Jing."
On the day of Bing Wu (the 3rd day of the 1st month), King Han Xin and others submitted a petition requesting the establishment of the King of Jing using the original counties of Dongyang, Zhang, and Wu, appointing Liu Jia as the King of Jing. They also requested the establishment of the King of Chu using the counties of Dang, Xue, and Tan, appointing the emperor's brother Wen Xinjun as the King of Chu.
On the day of Ren Zi (the 2nd day of the 1st month), the emperor established the King of Dai using the fifty-three counties of Yunzhong, Yanmen, and Dai, appointing his elder brother Yi Xinhou as the King of Dai. He established the King of Qi using the seventy-three counties of Jiaodong, Jiaoxi, Linzi, Jibei, Boyang, and Chengyang, appointing his son Fei as the King of Qi. He also established the Han Kingdom using the thirty-one counties of Taiyuan and relocated King Han Xin to reside in Jinyang.
The emperor enfeoffed more than twenty great meritorious officials, and the remaining generals who were not enfeoffed were dissatisfied and murmuring. The emperor lived in the Nangong Palace and saw these generals gathering in groups and whispering to each other from the covered walkway, so he asked Zhang Liang what was going on. Zhang Liang said: "Your Highness, you and these people fought together to conquer the world. Now that you are the emperor, those enfeoffed are your former friends, and those killed are your former enemies. These military officials are calculating their merits, feeling that the rewards of the world are not enough to share. They worry that they will be executed if they make a mistake, so they are gathering to discuss rebellion!"
The emperor asked, "What should we do?" Zhang Liang replied, "Sire, reward someone you're known to dislike; that'll show the others."
In March, the emperor hosted a banquet and made Yongchi a marquis, then urged the prime minister to quickly determine merits and rewards. Once the feast was over, the ministers were all very happy, saying, "Yongchi has been made a marquis, what else do we have to worry about!"
The emperor returned to Liyang and visited Taigong's house every five days. The steward of Taigong's house told him, "You can't have two suns in the sky, or two kings on the throne. Although the emperor is your son, he is also the ruler; although you are his father, you are also his subject. How can you let the boss kneel to his employee? If this continues, the emperor's authority will not be established." Later, when the emperor came to visit, Taigong took a broom, walked to the door, and turned back. The emperor was shocked and quickly went to help Taigong up. Taigong said, "The emperor is the ruler; how can you destroy the customs of the world because of me!" The emperor saw the steward's point and thought it made sense, so he rewarded the steward with five hundred catties of gold. In the fifth month of summer, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Nothing's closer than a father and son, so fathers can pass on the world to their sons, and sons must also respect their fathers. This is the highest level of human relations. In the past, the world was in chaos, with continuous wars, and the people suffered. I fought on the front lines, led my troops, risked everything to crush the rebellion, unite the kingdoms, and bring peace to the land. These were all teachings from you, Taigong! The kings, marquises, generals, officials, and nobles all respect me as the emperor, but you, Taigong, have not been given a title. Now I bestow upon you the title of Supreme Emperor."
In the ninth month of autumn, the Xiongnu surrounded Han Wangxin in Mayi, and Han Wangxin surrendered to the Xiongnu.
In October 197 BC, Liu Bang personally led his troops to Tongdi to attack Han Wang Xin, killing several of his generals. Han Wang Xin escaped and ran off to the Xiongnu. His generals Manqiuchen and Wang Huang made the son of the late Zhao king, Zhao Li, their new king, rallied Han Wang Xin's remaining troops, and joined forces with the Xiongnu to fight the Han. Liu Bang pursued them all the way from Jinyang, won battles, and chased them to Loufan. A blizzard hit, and so many soldiers got frostbite that nearly two or three out of every ten lost fingers. The army continued to advance and reached Pingcheng, where they were surrounded by the Xiongnu for seven days, until Chen Ping's clever plan got them out. Later, Liu Bang sent Fan Kuai to guard the Dai territory. In December, Liu Bang returned to Zhao State, being a real jerk to the Zhao king. In the same month, the Xiongnu attacked Dai State, causing King Xi of Dai to run off to Luoyang, where he was pardoned and made Marquis of Heyang. On Xinmao day, Liu Bang appointed his son Liu Ruyi as the King of Dai. In the spring, Liu Bang ordered that any official below the rank of Langzhong could get a pardon. New parents got a two-year break from forced labor. In February, Liu Bang arrived in Chang'an. Xiao He was building the Weiyang Palace – he'd already put up the east and north gates, the main hall, the armory, and the granaries. Liu Bang, seeing the grandeur of the palace, was very angry and said to Xiao He, "The world is not yet at peace, everyone has fought so hard for so many years, and the outcome is still uncertain. Don't you think that's a bit much?" Xiao He replied, "The world is not completely stable yet, so it's a good opportunity to build the palace. Moreover, the emperor's home is the whole country, so the palace has to be impressive to show his power, right? Besides, this can also show future generations what's what." Liu Bang was pleased to hear this. So he moved the capital to Chang'an and set up an office to manage the royal family.
In the winter of 196 BC, Liu Bang led his troops to Dongyuan to suppress the remnants of Han Xin's forces. On their return journey passing through the state of Zhao, Prime Minister Guan Gao and others conspired to kill Liu Bang because he did not respect their king. Liu Bang felt uneasy when he wanted to stay in Bairen County and asked, "What place is this?" The answer was "Bairen." Liu Bang said, "Bairen means a place of duress!" So, he did not stay in Bairen County and left.
In November, Liu Bang ordered that soldiers who sacrificed for the country should have their bodies transported back to their hometown, with their hometown providing burial attire and supplies, and conducting a memorial ceremony with local officials overseeing the burial. In December, Liu Bang departed from Dongyuan and headed to Chang'an.
In March of 195 BC, Liu Bang went to Luoyang. He ordered that all soldiers who participated in the Battle of Pingcheng and defended cities would be exempt from lifelong corvée. Those with titles lower than Gongcheng were not allowed to wear hats with the Liu clan's emblem. Merchants were not allowed to wear fine silks and other luxury fabrics, bear arms, or ride horses.
In August, Liu Bang pardoned officials who had committed crimes but had not been discovered.
In September, Liu Bang returned to Chang'an from Luoyang. The Kings of Huainan, Liang, Zhao, and Chu followed him back to Chang'an.
That October, in the tenth year's winter, the Kings of Huainan, Liang, Zhao, and Chu all came to the Weiyang Palace to toast the emperor. The emperor set up a banquet in front of the palace, raised a jade cup to toast the empress dowager, and even jokingly said, "Dad always said I was no match for my second brother, Zhongli, when it came to running things. But now, who has achieved greater success, me or my second brother?" The court erupted in cheers and laughter.
Before you knew it, it was November. The Emperor moved a bunch of big families from the Qi and Chu states, including the Zhao, Qu, Jing, Huai, and Tian families, to the Guanzhong region (a region in central China), granting them fertile land and residences. In December, he went to Luoyang. During this time, a major event occurred as Guan Gao and his cronies plotted a rebellion. After the plot was exposed, Guan Gao and even Prince Zhao Ao were arrested and imprisoned. The Emperor also ordered that anyone who dared to rebel with Prince Zhao would have their entire family exterminated! Even more shockingly, ten individuals, including Tian Shu and Meng Shu, voluntarily shaved their heads, wore shackles, and became Prince Zhao's thralls, accompanying him in prison. In fact, Prince Zhao had no knowledge of their rebellion plans at all.
In January of the new year, the Emperor deposed Prince Zhao Ao and made him Marquis Xuanping. He then appointed Prince Ruyi as the new Prince Zhao, allowing him to rule the Zhao state. Early in the new year, on the day of Bingyin, the Emperor issued a general amnesty, pardoning all except those guilty of capital crimes. In the second month, he returned from Luoyang. The Emperor summoned the loyal Zhao courtiers, including Tian Shu and Meng Shu, to the palace and had a long conversation with them. He thought these guys were incredibly talented—the best he'd ever seen in the Han Dynasty. Delighted, he promoted all of them to county governors or prime ministers of vassal states.
At the end of the sixth month, there was a solar eclipse. In the tenth month of the tenth year of winter, the Kings of Huainan, Yan, Jing, Liang, Chu, Qi, and Changsha all came to pay homage to the Emperor. In May, the Empress passed away. In the seventh month of Guimao, the Emperor issued another pardon for all prisoners in Linyang Prison who were not guilty of capital crimes. In August, he commanded all vassal kings to build temples for the Empress in their own capitals.
In September, that young pup Chen Xi kicked off a rebellion. The emperor said, "Chen Xi used to work for me and was reliable. Dai Di's a vital region for me, so I appointed him as Marquis and let him be the Prime Minister to guard Dai Di. I never figured he'd team up with Wang Huang to loot Dai Di! Those folks are innocent. Anyone who ditches Chen Xi and Wang Huang and comes over to my side gets a pardon!" The emperor marched from the east and reached Handan. The emperor said happily, "Chen Xi didn't grab Handan down south, nor did he cut off the Zhang River. He's a lightweight, I tell ya'." Prime Minister Zhou Chang of Zhao reported that twenty out of Changshan's twenty-five cities were gone and requested the execution of the defenders and county officials. The emperor asked, "Did the defenders and officials rebel?" Zhou Chang replied, "No." The emperor said, "Then it's because they lack ability; they are not guilty." The emperor told Zhou Chang to pick out some Zhao tough guys who could lead troops, and Zhou Chang recommended four people. The emperor scolded, "You think you lads can be generals?!" The four men all knelt in shame. The emperor granted each of them a thousand households and made them generals. People nearby advised, "We haven't even finished handing out rewards for Shu, Han, and Chu, and now you want to reward *these* guys? What've they done to deserve it?" The emperor said, "You don't understand. Chen Xi rebelled, and Zhao and Dai Di fell into his hands. I have called for troops from all over the country, but no one has come. Now we can only rely on the soldiers from Handan. Why be tight-fisted with four thousand households? We'll use 'em to keep Zhao happy!" Everyone agreed. The emperor asked, "Got any descendants of Yue Yi around?" Yue Yi's grandson Yue Shu was found and appointed as Lord Huacheng in Yue Xiang. The emperor asked what kind of people were leading Chen Xi's troops, and someone said they were all former merchants. The emperor said, "I know how to deal with them." So the emperor bought off Chen Xi's commanders with a mountain of gold, and many of them surrendered.
In the winter of the eleventh year, the emperor was in Handan. Chen Xi's general Hou Chang led over ten thousand troops who were rampaging, while Wang Huang commanded over a thousand cavalry in Quni, and Zhang Chun led over ten thousand men to cross the Yellow River and attack Liaocheng. General Guo Meng of the Han Dynasty and the generals of the Qi Kingdom launched a joint attack and defeated them. Grand Marshal Zhou Bo set out from Taiyuan to pacify Dai territory; upon arriving at Mayi, when Mayi City did not surrender, Zhou Bo attacked, and the city was reduced to rubble. Chen Xi's general Zhao Li defended Dongyuan, and Gaozu could not capture it. The soldiers let out a barrage of curses, and the emperor was angered. After the city surrendered, the soldiers who had cursed were all executed. Those county cities that refused to surrender and even engaged in looting were required to pay three years of taxes.
In January, Marquis of Huaiyin Han Xin rebelled in Chang'an, and his entire clan was wiped out. General Chai Wu killed King Han Xin in Canhe.
The emperor returned to Luoyang. The imperial edict was issued: "Dai territory is located north of Changshan, bordering on the nomadic tribes. The Zhao State only possesses this land from the south of Changshan, which is remote and often subjected to the invasions of the barbarians, making it difficult to become a powerful nation. A better solution would be to allocate some areas of the southern Taiyuan mountains to the Dai Kingdom and establish the western region of Yunzhong in the Dai Kingdom as Yunzhong County, thereby reducing the Dai Kingdom's suffering from border bandits. Nobles and officials, you must select appropriate candidates to serve as the king of the Dai Kingdom." Yan Wang Wan, Prime Minister He Deng, and thirty-three others said together: "Zi Heng is wise and benevolent; please appoint him as the king of Dai and establish the capital in Jinyang." A general amnesty was declared throughout the land.
Next comes February, with another imperial edict: "I want to reduce the burden of taxes. Currently, there are no clear standards for the tribute, and officials often increase taxes in order to meet their tribute obligations, especially among the princes, causing widespread complaints among the people. I command the princes and marquises to present tributes every October, with each county calculating based on the population, requiring each person to pay 63 cash per person per year to cover the costs of the tributes." The imperial edict also states: "I have heard that among kings, no one surpasses King Wen of Zhou, and among princes, no one surpasses Duke Huan of Qi, both of whom achieved greatness with the help of talented officials. Surely there are as many talented and wise men in the world today as there were in ancient times? The issue lies in rulers not actively seeking talent; how can wise men be given important roles? Today, with the grace of heaven and the assistance of capable ministers, I have pacified the world and established a unified country, aiming for its long-lasting existence, generations after generations to honor ancestral temples and never decline. Wise individuals have helped me pacify the world, but can they not share in the peace and prosperity with me? Is this appropriate? Those wise individuals who are willing to follow me, I will honor and elevate them. I declare this intention to the world, so that everyone understands my heart. The Chancellor must report to the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister to the princes, and the Deputy Chancellor to the county officials. Officials must personally persuade anyone wishing to show loyalty to the court, arrange everything for them, send them to the Prime Minister's office, and register their conduct, abilities, and age. If anyone knows of such individuals but does not report them, once discovered, they will be dismissed from their position. Those who are old, weak, or sick do not need to be sent."
In March, Prince Liang of Liang rebelled and was executed along with his entire family. Another imperial edict was issued: "Select suitable candidates to serve as Prince Liang and Prince Huaiyang." Prince Yan Wan, Chancellor He, and other ministers requested to appoint Zi Hui as Prince Liang and Zi You as Prince Huaiyang. The Eastern Commandery was abolished, with some land being transferred to the Liang Kingdom; the Yingchuan Commandery was abolished, with some land being transferred to the Huaiyang Kingdom.
In April, the emperor arrived from Luoyang. He ordered the Fengdi residents previously relocated to Guanzhong to return to their hometowns permanently.
In May, the emperor issued an imperial decree, saying, "The Lingnan people were known for their frequent fighting. During the Qin Dynasty, the people of Guanzhong were relocated to three southern counties to live among the Baiyue people. When the world was attacking the Qin Dynasty, Zhao Tuo, the Nanhai governor, governed the south for a long time and did an excellent job. Guanzhong's population remained stable. The constant fighting among the Lingnan people also subsided, entirely due to Zhao Tuo's capable governance. Now, he shall be appointed as the King of Nanyue!" Then, Lu Jia was sent to present him with the jade seal. Zhao Tuo kowtowed his thanks and swore fealty.
In June, the emperor ordered all soldiers who had followed him to fight in Shu, Hanzhong, and Guanzhong to be exempted from lifelong service.
In July, King Ying Bu of Huainan rebelled. The emperor consulted his generals. Teng Gong suggested recalling Xue Gong, Chu's former prime minister, for his strategic insights. The emperor summoned Xue Gong, who analyzed Ying Bu's situation. Impressed, the emperor made Xue Gong a marquis. The emperor formed a 30,000-strong Prince's Guard from troops in Shangjun, Beidi, and Longxi, along with Bashu engineers and the Middle Lieutenant's men, stationed at Bashang. Ying Bu, as predicted by Xue Gong, defeated King Liu Jia of Jing to the east, seized his troops and horses, crossed the Huai River to attack Chu, causing the King of Chu to flee into Xuecheng. The emperor granted amnesty to all but those sentenced to death, enlisting them in his army, and then personally led a force, augmented by troops from the various princes, to attack Ying Bu.
In October of the twelfth year, the emperor defeated Ying Bu's army in Kuaiji (modern Shaoxing). Ying Bu fled, and the emperor sent other generals to pursue him.
I returned to my hometown of Pei County and hosted a banquet at Pei Palace, inviting everyone—my old friends and neighbors—to come together for a drink. I brought one hundred and twenty children from Pei County and taught them how to sing. While we were joyfully drinking, I picked up a stringed instrument and sang, "The strong wind rises, the clouds fly high; with power throughout the world, I return to my homeland. Where can I find brave warriors to guard the four corners?" I encouraged the children to sing along. Then I stood up to dance, overwhelmed with emotion, shedding several tears of sorrow. I said to the people of Pei County, "A wanderer always misses his hometown. Although I am now based in the capital of Guanzhong, even if I die ten thousand years later, my soul will still think of Pei County. Furthermore, it was my uprising from Pei County to overthrow the tyrannical Qin dynasty that led to the world we have today, so I want to appoint Pei County as a special prefecture to show favor, restore its original people, and ensure they are no longer oppressed for generations to come." The people of Pei County drank happily that day, reminiscing about the past, joking and laughing, creating a lively atmosphere.
After more than ten days, I thought about leaving, but the people of Pei County strongly urged me to stay. I said, "There are too many of us, and you cannot afford to entertain us." So I prepared to leave. The people of Pei County, even from the outlying areas, came to greet me. I stayed and held a three-day feast. The elders and brothers of Pei County all kowtowed and said, "We are already very grateful for the restoration of our homeland in Pei County; Feng County has not been restored yet. We hope you can have mercy on us." I said, "Feng County is my birthplace; of course, I will not forget it. It's just that Yongchi rebelled and joined the Wei Kingdom, so I didn't restore it." The people of Pei County pleaded again, so I also restored Feng County, just like Pei County.
Han forces crushed Ying Bu's army north and south of the Taishui River, pursuing and killing him in Fanyang. Zhou Bo pacified the Dai region and killed Chen Xi in Dangcheng.
I issued a decree saying, "Wu State was a powerful ancient country. Recently, King Jing occupied the territory of Wu State, and now King Jing is dead. I want to establish a new King of Wu; what do you all think?" The King of Changsha and other ministers said, "Liu Bi, the Marquis of Pei, has great prestige; please appoint him as the King of Wu." I approved it, then summoned Liu Bi and said to him, "You have the look of a rebel about you!" Then I patted his back and continued, "Fifty years after the Han Dynasty, there will be a rebellion in the southeast region; could it be you? However, we're all family, in a way; you must be careful and never rebel!" Liu Bi kowtowed and said, "I dare not."
In November, I returned from Huainan. Passing through the State of Lu, I offered a grand sacrifice to Confucius.
In December, the emperor issued a decree saying, "The descendants of Qin Shi Huang, King Yin of Chu, King Anxi of Wei, King Min of Qi, and King Daoxiang of Zhao have all been cut off. Twenty households from Qin Shi Huang's descendants will guard his tomb. Chu, Wei, and Qi will each send ten; Zhao and the son of the Wei Duke will each send five. Their sole duty will be to maintain the tomb and not do anything else."
Next, after Chen Xi surrendered, he said that when Chen Xi rebelled, Prince Lu Wan of Yan sent people to secretly negotiate with him. The emperor sent Marquis Biyang, Shen Shiqi, to meet Lu Wan, but Lu Wan claimed to be ill. Shen Shiqi warned of Lu Wan's imminent rebellion. In February, the emperor sent Fan Kui and Zhou Bo to lead troops to attack Lu Wan. The emperor issued another decree saying, "My relationship with Prince Lu Wan of Yan is very good; I treat him like a son. I heard that he and Chen Xi were planning a rebellion, and I thought it was not true, so I sent people to welcome him. Lu Wan claimed to be ill and did not come; his rebellious intentions are now clear. The officials and people of Yan State are not guilty; officials with salaries of six hundred stones or above (a high-ranking official) will be promoted by one rank each. Those who surrender while staying with Lu Wan will be pardoned of their crimes and also promoted by one rank." Then, the emperor ordered the princes and kings to discuss and decide who should be established as the King of Yan. The King of Changsha and other ministers recommended establishing Zijian as the King of Yan.
The emperor decreed again: "Nan Wu Hou Zhi, a descendant of Yue, is appointed King of Nanhai." In the third month, the emperor decreed: "I've been Emperor for twelve years, unifying the land. I have pacified the world together with the heroes and talented ministers, stabilizing it. Those who served well were rewarded: kingships for the highest achievers, marquisates for others, and even the humblest received land grants. High-ranking ministers' relatives were made marquises, given the power to appoint officials and collect taxes, and their daughters became princesses. Marquises, with their fiefs, received seals and large mansions. Officials earning over two thousand shi were moved to Chang'an, given smaller houses. Those who conquered Shu, Hanzhong, and the San Qin region had their titles passed down through their families. I've done right by the talented and loyal men of this land. Anyone who acts unjustly, betrays me, or rebels will face the full wrath of the empire. Let the word go out."
They say that Emperor Gaozu, in battle, took a stray arrow—a nasty wound. The wound was deep, so Empress Lu quickly summoned the best physician. After the doctor went in and examined him, the emperor asked, "Can my illness be cured?" The doctor replied, "It can be cured." As a result, the emperor scolded him harshly, saying, "I rose from a commoner, wielding a three-foot sword to conquer the world. Isn't this fate? My fate is in the hands of Heaven; even if Bian Que were alive, what could he do!" So the Emperor didn't let him treat the wound, but gave him fifty catties of gold and sent him packing.
Empress Dowager Lu then asked the emperor, "After Xiao He's gone, who'll take his place?" The emperor said, "Cao Can can." Empress Dowager Lu asked about the next one, "Wang Ling could do it, but he's a bit slow; Chen Ping can help him out. Chen Ping's sharp, but he can't do it all himself. Zhou Bo's a good man, but not much of a scholar. But Zhou Bo's the one to keep the Liu family in power; make him Grand Commandant." Empress Dowager Lu continued to ask about the next candidates, and the emperor said, "Don't you worry about what comes next."
Lu Wan led several thousand men at the border, hoping the Emperor would recover so he could personally offer his thanks. As a result, on April 1st, the Emperor died in Changle Palace. When Lu Wan heard about it, he fled and sought refuge with the Xiongnu. Empress Lü and Shen Shiqi talked, "Those generals were all commoners once; now they're forced to be our subjects, and they're bound to be resentful, especially now that they have to serve the young Emperor. If we don't get rid of them, the whole country will be in chaos!" So, Empress Lü did not hold a funeral. Someone heard this news and went to inform Li Shang. Li Shang found Shen Shiqi and said, "I heard the Emperor's been dead four days, and there's still no funeral. Sounds like they're planning to wipe out those generals. If that's the case, we're in deep trouble! Chen Ping and Guan Ying are holding down Xingyang with a hundred thousand men, and Fan Kui and Zhou Bo are guarding Yan and Dai with two hundred thousand. If the court's in chaos and the generals rebel, we're toast!" Shen Shiqi told Empress Lü these words, so on April 27th, Empress Lü held the funeral and declared a general amnesty. On May 9th, the Emperor was buried in Changling. Afterwards, the crown prince and the court officials went to the Empress Dowager's temple. The court declared, "The Emperor rose from humble beginnings to unite the land. He's the founder of the Han Dynasty, and his achievements are unmatched!" So, he was posthumously titled Emperor Gaozu.
Initially, the founding emperor Liu Bang wasn't very educated, but he was a sharp thinker who was always figuring things out and valued other people's input. Even back when he was a lowly palace guard, everyone treated him the same way, without any airs. In order to win over the hearts of the people, he initially established the "Three-Chapter Covenant." After pacifying the world, he put Xiao He in charge of the legal code, Han Xin on military law, Zhang Cang on regulations, Shusun Tong on etiquette, and Lu Jia to write the "New Treatise." He swore oaths with his loyal followers, inscribing them on symbolic tokens and cinnabar-red iron tablets, then storing them in the Temple's golden coffer. Even though he was always swamped, his vision was huge.
According to some accounts, the Spring and Autumn Annals, Jin state records, and Cai Mo's writings all mention that after the decline of the Taotang clan, their descendant Liu Lei once mastered the art of dragon-riding and served Kong Jia; the Fan clan are his descendants. Fan Xuanzi, a Jin official, also stated, "Our ancestors, tracing back before Yu Shun, were of the Taotang clan. Under the Xia, they became the Yulong clan; under the Shang, the Shiwei clan; and under the Zhou, the Tangdu clan. It was only after Duke Wen of Jin made an oath at the Xia Tai Alliance that they adopted the surname Fan." The Fan clan were Jin officials, and under Duke Wen of Lu, they once fled to the Qin State. Later, they returned to the Jin State, settling there, and their descendants became known as the Liu clan. Liu Xiang mentioned that during the Warring States period, the Liu clan was taken captive from Qin to Wei. After the Qin State destroyed the Wei State, the Liu clan moved to Daliang and later relocated to Fengyi. Therefore, Zhou Shi told Yong Chi, "Fengyi is where Daliang's inhabitants relocated to." In the songs praising the founding emperor, it is sung, "The ancestors of the Han Dynasty emperors originated from the Taotang clan. It was not until the Zhou Dynasty that they were surnamed Liu. They moved to the eastern part of the Wei State and finally settled in Fengyi." Fengyi was the hometown of the emperor's father. They had not been in Fengyi for long, so there were very few tombs there. When the founding emperor became emperor and established officials for sacrificial ceremonies, shamans from Qin, Jin, Wei, and Chu states, for generations, included Liu Bang's ancestors in their sacrifices to Heaven and Earth. This surely lends credence to the story. From this, it can be inferred that the Han Dynasty inherited the heavenly mandate of Yao and Shun, and the fortune was already very strong. Liu Bang's uprising, with the red flag symbolizing fire virtue, was a clear sign from Heaven, indicating he received the mandate of Heaven.
