Empress Lv was the mother of Emperor Hui of Han. She followed Liu Bang in conquering the world. Her father, her brother, and several brothers of her husband were all made marquises. After Emperor Hui became emperor, he appointed Empress Lv as the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager also appointed her niece's daughter as the Empress, but since the Empress didn't have children, the Empress Dowager selected a young boy from the palace to be the Crown Prince. When Emperor Hui died, this young boy became emperor, but he was still a child, so Empress Lv took over the reins of power and issued a general pardon. She also made her nephew Lv Tai, Lv Chan, and Lv Lu, as well as Lv Tai's son Lv Tong, kings, and made several members of the Lv family marquises. You can read all about this in the *Biographies of the Imperial Families*.
In the first month of the first year, the emperor issued a decree saying: "A few days ago, Emperor Xiaohui wanted to abolish the crime of implicating three generations and spreading false rumors, but before he could decide, he passed away. Now, I’ve decided to abolish these crimes." In the second month, commoners got promoted, with each household being raised by one level. They created one new job for someone who was super filial, a hard worker in the fields, and made 2000 shi a year. On the day of Bing Shen in May, there was a fire at Zhao's palace. Then they made Qiang King of Huaiyang, Buyi King of Hengshan, and gave Hong, Chao, and Wu marquis titles in Xiangcheng, Zhi, and Huguan, respectively. Autumn came, and the peach and plum blossoms were everywhere.
In the spring of the second year, the emperor decreed, "The Grandfather Emperor pacified the land, and those who contributed were all granted titles as marquises. The people lived in peace and prosperity, enjoying his blessings. Upon careful consideration, it has been a long time since then, but the achievements of those meritorious officials have not been properly recorded, which doesn't do much to honor their achievements and keep their memory alive. So I figured we should rank these guys by how much they contributed and put their names in the temple, to be passed down from generation to generation, with their titles passing down through their families. So you marquises hash this out and let me know." Prime Minister Chen Ping said, "I've talked it over with Marquises Zhou Bo, Li Shang, Guan Ying, Shen Shiqi, and the others: the marquises have already received rewards and land grants, and you've already been very generous. It is requested to inscribe their names in the ancestral temple according to the size of their contributions." The emperor approved. There was an earthquake on the first month's Yimao day, and the mountains in Qiangdao and Wudu collapsed. On the day of Bingxu in the sixth month, which was the end of the month, there was a solar eclipse. In the seventh month, Prince Hengshan Wang Buyi passed away. The issuance of eight zhu coins began.
In the summer of the third year, the Yangtze River and Han River flooded, causing thousands of families to be left homeless. Autumn brought the unbelievable sight of stars in the daytime sky.
Back in the Han Dynasty, in the fourth year's summer, young Emperor Liu Hong, knowing he wasn't the Empress's real son, felt pretty cheesed off and started whining. Seeing this, the Empress Dowager had him chucked into Yongxiang. A decree was then issued, basically saying the Emperor was too sick and messed up to rule, so they needed a new Emperor. "Thank goodness you're looking out for the country, Your Majesty!" the ministers all cried, bowing low. So, on the Bingchen day of May, Prince Hengshan Liu Hong became Emperor.
Spring of year five saw Nanyue's King Wutuo crown himself Emperor Nanwu. Prince Liu Qiang of Huaiyang kicked the bucket in August. September saw the court's cavalry from Hedong and Shangdang heading to Beidi.
One spring morning in year six, people saw stars in broad daylight! That summer, the fourth month brought a royal pardon and a promotion for the Changling official to a 2000-stone post. Construction of Changling started in June. The Xiongnu struck again that year, hitting Dida and Ayang. And the government started minting five-fen coins.
In the twelfth month of the seventh year, the Xiongnu invaded Didao and carried off over two thousand people. On the first day of the new year, King Zhao, Liu You, died in his mansion. On the last day of the first month, there was a solar eclipse. The court appointed Prince Liang, Lü Chan, as Prime Minister, King Zhao, Liu Lu, as Grand General, and appointed Marquis of Yingling, Liu Ze, as King of Langye. On the day of Xinwei in May, another imperial decree was issued, stating: "Lady Zhaoling was a consort of the late Emperor; Marquis Wuai and Lady Xuan are siblings of the founding emperor; their titles and posthumous honours were deemed insufficient and required reconsideration." The Prime Minister and other ministers suggested that Lady Zhaoling be honored as Empress Zhaoling, Marquis Wuai be honored as King Wuai, and Lady Xuan be honored as Empress Zhaoai. In June, King Zhao, Liu Hui, took his own life. In September of the autumn, King Yan, Liu Jian, passed away. The Southern Yue once more attacked Changsha, and the court sent Marquis of Longlu, Zao, to lead troops to fight.
In the spring of the eighth year, the court appointed Zhang Shiqing, Attendant of the Central Palace, as a marquis, and other central officials, eunuchs, prefects, and magistrates were granted the title and fief of Marquis within the Passes. In the summer, the Yangtze River and Han River flooded, submerging countless households. On the day of Xinsi in July, the Empress Dowager died in the Weiyang Palace. Before her death, the Empress Dowager left a decree, rewarding each feudal king with a thousand gold, and rewarding generals, marquises, and other officials according to their respective ranks. The court once again granted a general amnesty.
General Lv Lu and Prime Minister Lv Chan controlled the court. They were well aware that they were violating Emperor Gaozu's last wishes and feared being overthrown by the court and the princes. Therefore, they plotted a rebellion. At that time, Liu Zhang, the Qi king's son, was in the capital. He married Lv Lu's daughter and learned of the Lvs' plot. He sent someone to inform his brother, the Prince of Qi, to attack them from the west. Liu Zhang also planned to team up with Grand Commandant Zhou Bo and Prime Minister Chen Ping to kill the Lvs. The Prince of Qi marched west, making it look like Prince Liu Ze had sent the troops, combining forces and marching west. Lv Chan and Lv Lu sent General Guan Ying to meet them in battle. When Guan Ying arrived in Xingyang, he sent someone to contact the Prince of Qi, hoping to wait for the Lvs to weaken before attacking.
The Grand Commandant Zhou Bo and Prime Minister Chen Ping discussed and decided that the son of Marquis Li Shang had a good relationship with Lu Lü. They then sent people to kidnap Li Shang and let his son deceive Lu Lü. His son said to Lu Lü, "Emperor Gaozu and Empress Dowager Lü, together, pacified the realm; the Liu family received nine princely fiefs, and the Lü family, three—all of which were decided by the ministers and officially notified to the princes. It was deemed a suitable arrangement. Now that the Empress Dowager has passed away and the Emperor is still young, you should return to your fiefdom. Your continued presence here with your troops will inevitably arouse suspicion among the ministers and princes. Why not immediately surrender your command to the Grand Commandant? At the same time, request the Prince of Liang to hand over the Prime Minister's seal, ally with the court, and return to your fiefdoms together? The Qi armies will surely withdraw, the ministers will be at ease, and you can enjoy your fief without worries. This is a long-term plan!" Lu Lü believed this scheme and sent people to inform Lu Chan and the elders of the Lü clan. Some people thought this idea was not good; opinions were not unified, and no decision was made. Lu Lü, believing Li Shang's son, went out with him, passing by his aunt Lu Yu's house. Lu Yu, enraged, declared, "As a general, you have abandoned the army, and the Lü clan now has no way out!" She flung open her coffers, scattering jewels and treasures across the floor, crying, "I will not keep these for others!"
On the day of August Gengshen, Pingyang Hou Chai was assisting the Chief Imperial Censor in handling affairs when he happened to see Prime Minister Chan dealing with state matters. At that moment, the Minister of the Palace Attendants, Jia Shou, returned from the state of Qi and reported to Prime Minister Chan, saying, "My Lord, shouldn't you have planned ahead? Is it still time to take action now?" Jia Shou then detailed to Prime Minister Chan the situation of Guan Ying, who were in league with Qi and Chu against the court. Upon hearing this, Pingyang Hou Chai hurried to inform Prime Minister Chan and the Grand Commandant Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo tried to get into the Northern Army, but couldn't. At this time, Marquis Xiangping Ji Tong held the imperial token, so Zhou Bo had him use the imperial token in the name of the Emperor to mobilize the Northern Army. Zhou Bo then sent Li Ji and Dianke Liu Jie to persuade Lu Lu, saying, "The Emperor wants the Grand Commandant to guard the Northern Army, hoping you will hand over the country and quickly surrender military power, resign from office, and return home. Otherwise, disaster will come!" Lu Lu immediately handed over military power to Dianke and then handed over the army to Grand Commandant Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo entered the military camp and ordered the entire army, "Those loyal to the Lu clan wear right-lapel robes; those loyal to the Liu clan, left-lapel robes!" The soldiers all put on left-lapel robes. In this way, Zhou Bo took control of the Northern Army. However, the Southern Army was still under Lu's control, so Prime Minister Pingyang Hou Chai summoned Marquis Zhuxu Zhang to assist Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo had Marquis Zhuxu Zhang guard the gate of the military camp and instructed Pingyang Hou Chai to inform the Guard Commander not to let Prime Minister Chan enter the gate of the Weiyang Palace. Prime Minister Chan, unaware that Lu Lu had handed over the Northern Army, attempted to rebel by entering the Weiyang Palace. Unable to enter the palace gate, he paced back and forth at the gate. Pingyang Hou Chai quickly informed Grand Commandant Zhou Bo, who was concerned about not being able to defeat him and dared not directly say to kill him. Instead, he told Marquis Zhuxu Zhang, "Quickly enter the palace to protect the Emperor!" Zhang led the thousands of soldiers Zhou Bo had arranged for him and entered through the side gate of the Weiyang Palace, where they encountered Prime Minister Chan in the courtyard. It was mealtime at the time, and they attacked Prime Minister Chan, who fled. A fierce wind howled that day, throwing the palace into chaos; no one dared fight. They hunted him down and finally killed him in the privy of the officials' quarters.
After Lord Zhang killed Chancellor Chan, the Emperor sent an official with the imperial decree to offer condolences. Zhang wanted to take the decree, but the official refused. Zhang followed the official back, and using the authority of the decree, had the Changle Guard commander, Lu Gengshi, killed. He then returned to the Emperor's Northern Army and reported the situation to Grand Commandant Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo congratulated Lord Zhang, saying, "Our only concern was Chancellor Chan; with him gone, the realm is secure!" On the day of Xinyou (a day in the sexagenary cycle), Lu Lu was beheaded, and Lu Xi was beaten to death. Then they rounded up and executed the entire Lu clan. The ministers secretly discussed and believed that the young emperor and his three brothers were illegitimate and therefore unfit to rule, so they killed them all and enthroned Emperor Wen. This event is recorded in "Biography of Zhou Bo" and "Biography of King Gao Wu."
During the reigns of Emperor Hui and Empress Dowager Gao, the people of the country finally escaped the hardships of the constant wars of the Warring States period. At that time, the Emperor and the ministers all hoped for peace throughout the land, so they did not have to worry about anything. Therefore, Emperor Hui spent his days doing nothing, while Empress Dowager Gao, though in power, mostly stayed in her quarters. However, even so, the world was peaceful and stable, with little need for punishment, and the common people were able to focus on farming with increasing prosperity in their clothing and food.
These were prosperous times! This period is celebrated for its peace and prosperity, a time when both ruler and ministers sought a life free from conflict, leading to a period of remarkable tranquility. Look at how well the common people lived! With a stable country, no need for war, everyone could eat well and dress warmly, working hard in farming and living increasingly prosperous lives. The era's prosperity stemmed from the enlightened rule of the Emperor and Empress, who prioritized the well-being of their subjects.
