Li Shiqi, from Gaoyang in Chenliu, was a bookworm, but his family was dirt poor, always scraping by. He held a lowly clerk position in the county, but the bigwigs wouldn't touch him with a ten-foot pole, figuring he was some nutty professor type. After Chen Sheng and Xiang Liang's uprising, a bunch of generals with their troops passed through Gaoyang. Li Shiqi found that these generals were all about lining their own pockets and wouldn't listen to a word of sense. So he lay low. Later, he heard that Liu Bang was fighting in the outskirts of Chenliu. One of Liu Bang's horsemen happened to be from Li Shiqi's village, as Liu Bang often inquired about local prominent figures. After the horseman returned, Li Shiqi tracked him down and said, "I heard that Liu Bang is rude, but has great strategic vision—that's the kind of guy I want to work for. Please introduce me to him. When you see Liu Bang, say, 'There's a fella back home, Li Sheng, sixtyish, a real giant—everyone thinks he's bonkers, but he reckons he's alright.'" The horseman said, "Liu Bang hates eggheads. He'll yank a scholar's hat right off their head and toss it in the river, then cuss them out to boot. That whole scholarly approach won't fly with him." Li Shiqi replied, "Just tell him what I said." So the horseman went and told Liu Bang what Li Shiqi wanted him to say.
Liu Bang arrived at the post station in Gaoyang and sent someone to invite Li Shiqi. Li Shiqi arrived and paid Liu Bang a visit. Liu Bang was sitting on the bed, with two women washing his feet. When he saw Li Shiqi coming in, Li Shiqi bowed and saluted, without kneeling, and directly asked, "Do you want to help Qin attack the vassals, or lead the vassals to defeat Qin?" Liu Bang scolded, "You scholar! Everyone's sick of the Qin, that's why the vassals are rebelling! What do you mean by helping Qin?" Li Shiqi replied, "If you really want to raise an army and overthrow the tyrannical Qin, you shouldn't be so insolent to your betters." When Liu Bang heard this, he quickly stopped the foot washing, put on his clothes, and invited Li Shiqi to the best seat, apologizing to him. Li Shiqi then began to discuss the Warring States strategies. Liu Bang listened with great interest, rewarded him with food, and asked, "What is your plan?" Li Shiqi said, "The troops you have now are just a bunch of misfits, less than ten thousand men. Trying to directly attack the powerful Qin is simply suicidal! Chenliu is a strategic location, with convenient transportation and a large storage of food in the city. I know the situation of the Chenliu magistrate; please send me there, and I'm sure I can get him to surrender. If he does not listen, you can attack with your troops, and I will assist from inside." So Liu Bang sent Li Shiqi, followed shortly after with his army, and easily took Chenliu. Liu Bang appointed him Lord Guangye.
Zhang Liang's younger brother Zhang Shang led a few thousand men to the southwest with Liu Bang to expand the territory. Zhang Liang often did the legwork, traveling between the various vassals.
In the autumn of the third year of the Han, Xiang Yu attacked the Han army, captured Yingyang, and defeated them, forcing the Han to make their stand at Gong County. News arrived that Han Xin had crushed Zhao and Peng Yue was repeatedly rebelling in Liang. Xiang Yu divided his troops to rescue them. Han Xin was attacking the Qi state in the east, while Liu Bang was repeatedly besieged in the Yingyang and Chenggao areas. Liu Bang planned to abandon the area east of Chenggao and station troops in Gong County and Lu County to resist the Chu. At this time, Zhang Liang said, "I have heard that those who understand and follow the will of heaven will succeed in their endeavors; those who do not will fail. For rulers, the people are heaven; for the people, food is heaven. Aocang, I understand, holds vast stores of grain gathered from across the land. The Chu captured Yingyang but did not hold Aocang, instead retreating eastward and leaving only a small number of soldiers to defend Chenggao. It seems the heavens are on our side! The Chu is now easily defeated, but the Han army is retreating. By giving up the advantageous position, I believe this is a mistake. Besides, two big players can't both win. The Chu and Han have been deadlocked for a long time, causing unrest among the people; farmers have dropped their plows, women their looms—the whole country's in turmoil. I hope you will send troops again soon to retake Yingyang, secure Aocang's grain, and hold Chenggao. We'll block the Taihang Mountain road, control Feihu Pass, and secure the Bai Ma ford, to show them who's boss. Yan and Zhao have already been pacified; only Qi remains. Tian Guang holds a vast territory, Tian Rong commands a huge army, and the powerful Tian clan controls Qi, protected by the sea, Mount Tai, and the rivers. Qi's people are tricky, and even a massive army might struggle to conquer them quickly. Let me go and persuade the King of Qi to join us—he'll be a strong ally in the east."
Liu Bang said, "Good!"
Following Shiji's advice, he held onto Aocang. Then he let Shiji persuade King Qi, saying, "Does the king know which way the wind is blowing?" King Qi said, "I do not know." Shiji replied, "If the king knows which way the wind is blowing, then Qi will benefit; if the king does not know, then Qi will not be able to hold on." King Qi asked, "Where is the world heading?" Shiji answered, "The world will submit to King Han." King Qi asked, "Why do you say that, sir?" Shiji analyzed, "King Han and Xiang Yu initially joined forces to attack Qin to the west. They agreed that whoever entered Xianyang first would become the emperor. Xiang Yu broke his word and did not enter Xianyang with King Han, so King Han occupied Hanzhong. Xiang Yu murdered Emperor Yi, and King Han led the Shu Han army to attack the Three Qins. After passing through Hangu Pass, he investigated the responsibility for Emperor Yi's death, gathered the military forces of the world, and enthroned the descendants of the vassals. He made the generals marquises of the cities they captured and shared the loot with his soldiers and the people. That's why talented and ambitious people flocked to him. The armies of the various vassals rushed from all directions, and the food supply for Shu Han continued to arrive. Xiang Yu broke his word, murdered Yi, and held grudges while forgetting favors; he did not reward victories, nor did he reward the capture of cities; only his own family got the jobs; he played with the seal after obtaining it without granting it to others; he kept all the loot from the conquered cities for himself. The people of the world betrayed him, talented individuals resented him, and no one was willing to serve him. So, it was no surprise that all the best fighters were joining Han."
"Han Wang rebelled in Shu Han, conquered the three Qin states, crossed the Xi River, secured the Shangdang forces, captured Jingxing, executed Cheng Anjun, defeated Northern Wei, and captured thirty-two cities: this was pure luck, nothing anyone could've done. Now he has controlled Aocang's granaries, held the strategic position of Chenggao, guarded the Baima Ferry, sealed off the passes of Taihang Mountain, and held onto Feihu Pass. Anyone who holds out is done for. You gotta surrender to Han Wang now, or Qi's done for!" Tian Guang agreed with Shiqi, pulled his troops out of Lixia, and got drunk with him every day.
Han Xin heard Shiqi had talked Qi into surrendering over seventy cities, so he snuck his army across the plains at night to attack. When Tian Guang heard the Han army was coming, he figured Shiqi had sold him out, so he killed him and ran.
Twelve years into Gaozu's reign, Li Shang, the Marquis of Quzhou, led the Prime Minister's army against Ying Bu and won big. The Emperor was handing out rewards and remembered Shiqi. His dad's achievements got him made Marquis of Gaoliang. Later, Shiqi Jie was further appointed as the Marquis of Wuyang. After he died, his son inherited the title. By the third generation, the Marquis committed a crime, and the title was revoked.
Lu Jia was from Chu. He'd been with Gaozu since the beginning, known for his silver tongue, and often handled stuff for the Emperor with the other states."
At that time, things had just settled down, and Wei Tuo pacified the Nanyue region, making himself king. Emperor Gaozu sent Lu Jia to deliver the royal seal to Wei Tuo and appoint him as the King of Nanyue. When Lu Jia arrived in Nanyue, Wei Tuo, with disheveled hair, sat cross-legged and greeted Lu Jia with a distinct lack of respect. Lu Jia advised Wei Tuo, "You're Chinese, your family's back in Zhending – your roots, your ancestors, the whole shebang! Yet now you're turning your back on your own people and your heritage, trying to take on the Emperor with your little Nanyue kingdom, making an enemy of the empire. This'll come back to bite you. Rebellions popped up all over the place when the Qin Dynasty lost its way, and the Han King was the first to grab Guanzhong and Xianyang. Xiang Yu violated the agreement, declaring himself the King of Western Chu, and many warlords submitted to him, making him very powerful. However, the King of Han rose from Ba and swept the country, taking down warlords left and right, eventually killing Xiang Yu. It wasn't humanly possible; it was fate, plain and simple. Now heaven sees you've become King of Nanyue, but you haven't lifted a finger to help the people get rid of that tyrant. The court's itching to send troops your way, but the Emperor knows the people are still recovering from the war, so he's holding back for now. You should come out, face north, and pledge your loyalty. But you're trying to take on the mighty Han with your shiny new, still-shaky kingdom of Nanyue? If the Han army marches, they'll raze your ancestors' graves, wipe out your whole family, and send a general with a hundred thousand men to crush you. Nanyue will be toast, and you'll be a prisoner – it'll be that easy!"
Wow, upon hearing these words, Tuó shot right up and said to Jia Yi, "I’ve been in the land of the barbarians for too long; I’ve forgotten about manners and morals." He then began to ask Jia Yi, "So, who's tougher, me or those guys – Xiao He, Cao Shen, and Han Xin?" Jia Yi replied, "You're pretty much in the same league as them." Tuó then asked, "How do I compare to the Emperor?" Jia Yi said, "The Emperor came up from humble beginnings in Pei County, crushed the tyrannical Qin, obliterated Chu, promoted the well-being of the world, inherited the legacy of the Five Emperors and Three Kings, unified the country, and governed the entire Central Plains. The Central Plains boasts a population in the hundreds of millions, the land stretches for thousands of miles, occupying the richest land in the world, with a large population, abundant resources, and unified laws and regulations. This has never been seen since the beginning of time! You currently only have a few tens of thousands of people under you, all of whom are barbarians, living between rugged mountains and seas; it’s like one tiny Han county. How can you compare yourself to the Emperor of the Han Dynasty?"
Tuó cracked up laughing and said, "I didn’t become king in the Central Plains because, well, I wasn’t *in* the Central Plains! If I were in the Central Plains, why would I be inferior to the Emperor of the Han Dynasty?" He was thrilled and drank with Jia Yi for several months, saying, "There ain't many people in Yue I can shoot the breeze with. Since you arrived, I’ve been able to hear many new things every day." Before leaving, Tuó gave Jia Yi a sack of gold worth a king's ransom, plus another thousand gold pieces. Jia Yi finally convinced Tuó to accept the title of King of Nanyue and made him submit to the Han Dynasty, abiding by the agreements of the Han Dynasty. When Jia Yi returned to Chang'an, Emperor Gaozu was very pleased and appointed him as the Chief Palace Minister.
During a court audience, Jia Yi found himself embroiled in a debate with Emperor Gaozu. Jia Yi often discussed the Classic of Poetry and the Classic of History in front of Emperor Gaozu. The emperor scolded him, saying, "I won this empire by force of arms! What do I care about your poetry books?!" Jia Yi replied, "You won it by war, but can you rule it by war? Tang and Wu conquered with force, then ruled with fairness and justice. Emperor Wen did both – that's the secret to lasting power! Look at Wu's King Fuchai and Lord Zhao – all muscle, no brains, and they're gone. Qin was all about harsh laws, no flexibility, and they wiped out Zhao. If Qin had been fair and followed the ancient ways after they won, how would you have gotten the empire?" Emperor Gaozu's face darkened, a hint of shame flickering across his features, and he said to Jia Yi, "Help me write about why the Qin Dynasty lost the world, how I was able to obtain it, and the rise and fall of ancient states." Jia Yi wrote a total of twelve essays, and after each one was presented, Emperor Gaozu praised him endlessly, the court erupted in cheers, and his work was called "New Discourses."
During the reign of Emperor Hui, Empress Dowager Lü ran the show and wanted to pass the throne to someone from the Lü family, but she was afraid of opposition from any dissenters. Jia Yi felt he couldn't compete with Empress Dowager Lü, so he faked an illness and went home. He came from money and owned tons of land, so he returned to his hometown. He had five sons, and he sold the loot from his mission to the Kingdom of Yue for a thousand gold pieces, giving each son two hundred to start their own businesses. Jia Yi himself rode in a comfortable carriage with a four-horse team and a ten-piece band in tow. His sword was worth a king's ransom. He warned his sons, "Look, here's the deal: you guys take turns visiting, and I'll hook you up with the best food, drink, and entertainment for ten days at a stretch. When I kick the bucket, whoever gets my sword, carriage, and band is my heir. And one more thing—you can visit people, but no more than twice a family in a year. Don't get too chummy, and don't be a pest."
When Empress Dowager Lü was in power, she wanted to pass the throne to someone from the Lü family. The Lü family members usurped power and sought to seize the authority of the heir apparent, jeopardizing the Liu dynasty's reign. Chen Ping was very worried about this, but he felt powerless to stop it, fearing for his own safety. He tossed and turned at night, worrying about it. When Jia Yi returned home, he didn't greet Chen Ping and went straight in. Chen Ping was deep in thought at the time and didn't even see Jia Yi. Jia Yi asked him, "What's got you so worked up?" Chen Ping replied, "How do you know what I'm thinking?" Jia Yi said, "You're the prime minister, incredibly rich and powerful – what more could you want? You're worried, and I bet it's about the Lü family and the young emperor, right?" Chen Ping said, "Exactly! So what do we do?" Jia Yi said, "In peacetime, it's the prime minister who matters; in wartime, it's the general. If the relationship between the general and the prime minister is harmonious, then everyone will be loyal. If everyone's on board, even if there’s a change in the world, power won't slip away. It all depends on the two of you working together. I've always wanted to discuss these things with the Grand Marshal, but he just jokes with me and doesn't take my words seriously. Why don't you befriend the Grand Marshal and build a deep friendship?" Jia Yi also analyzed many of the Lü family's shortcomings for Chen Ping. Chen Ping adopted his strategy, gave the Grand Marshal 500 gold for his birthday, and threw him a huge feast, which the Grand Marshal returned in kind. As a result, the two men formed a deep friendship, and they stopped the Lü family in their tracks. Later, Chen Ping gave Jia Yi one hundred slaves, fifty carriages and horses, and five hundred thousand coins to enjoy himself. Jia Yi took this money and became increasingly well-known at court. Later, they executed the Lü family and put Emperor Xiaowen on the throne, with Jia Yi contributing significantly.
After Emperor Xiaowen ascended the throne, he wanted to send someone to Nanyue. Prime Minister Chen Ping recommended Jia Yi to serve as a Palace Attendant, allowing him to visit Nanyue and meet with Yu Tuo. When Jia Yi set out, he didn't use the imperial yellow carriage, but followed the standards of the vassals, and everything went smoothly. The specific situation is recorded in the "Nanyue Chuan." Lu Jia eventually died a natural death.
Zhu Jian, a native of Chu, had previously served as the Prime Minister of Prince Ying Bu of Huainan. He was later dismissed for a crime but eventually returned to Ying Bu's service. When Ying Bu wanted to rebel, he asked for Zhu Jian's opinion, and Zhu Jian strongly advised him against it. However, Ying Bu didn't listen and instead followed the advice of Liang Fu Hou, ultimately starting a rebellion. After the Han Dynasty suppressed Ying Bu's rebellion, upon hearing that Zhu Jian had advised him, Emperor Gaozu bestowed upon him the title of "Pingyuan Jun" and moved his family to Chang'an.
Zhu Jian was particularly eloquent, upright, honest, and never flattered or changed his principles for a little benefit. Hou Biyang was not upright in his behavior, yet he received favor from Empress Dowager Lu and wanted to meet Zhu Jian, but Zhu Jian refused to see him. Later, Zhu Jian's mother passed away, and the family was poor, unable to raise enough money for funeral expenses. Lu Jia had a good relationship with Zhu Jian, so he went to see Hou Biyang and offered his condolences, saying, "Lord Pingyuan's mother has passed away." Hou Biyang looked confused, "Lord Pingyuan's mother has died, why are you congratulating me?" Lu Jia explained, "Before, you wanted to see Lord Pingyuan, but he refused to see you out of loyalty. Now that his mother has passed away, if you generously bury his mother, he’ll wholeheartedly follow you in the future." Upon hearing this, Hou Biyang immediately forked over a hundred gold pieces for funeral expenses. Other marquises and nobles, due to their relationship with Hou Biyang, also sent money, totaling five hundred gold pieces.
Eventually, someone badmouthed the Marquis of Biyang in front of Emperor Hui, causing him to be furious and throw the Marquis in jail, intending to execute him. Empress Dowager Lü was mortified, speechless. Many ministers hated the guy's guts and wanted him dead. The Marquis of Biyang was freaking out and wanted to see Zhu Jian. Zhu Jian declined, saying, "Things are too hot right now, I can't risk seeing you." Zhu Jian then came up with a solution and went to see Hong Jiru, the Emperor's favorite, telling him, "You're the Emperor's favorite, everyone knows that. Even though the Empress Dowager loves him, he's in jail, and everyone thinks *you* set him up. If they kill him today, the Empress Dowager will kill *you* tomorrow. Why don't you strip down to the waist and beg the Emperor for mercy? As long as the Emperor listens to you and releases the Marquis, the Empress Dowager will be very pleased. You'll be in everyone's good graces, and your career will skyrocket!" Terrified, Hong Jiru did as Zhu Jian said, pleading with the Emperor, who surprisingly let the Marquis go. In jail, the Marquis tried to contact Zhu Jian, but Zhu Jian ghosted him, making him furious. Only after his release did he understand Zhu Jian's clever plan, and he was blown away. After the Empress Dowager died, the ministers wiped out the Lüs. The Marquis was neck-deep in it, but somehow survived. He lived because of Lu Jia and Pingyuan Jun's clever moves.
During the reign of Emperor Xiaowen, the Huainan Prince killed Marquis Biyang because Marquis Biyang was connected to the Lü clan. When Emperor Xiaowen heard that Zhu Jian, a counselor under the Huainan Prince, cooked up this scheme, he sent officials to arrest Zhu Jian to get him. When the officials arrived at Zhu Jian's doorstep, Zhu Jian wanted to commit suicide. His children and the officials advised him, "Things haven't been sorted out yet, why do you want to commit suicide?" Zhu Jian said, "If I die, the mess will be over, and it won't affect my family anymore." After saying that, he committed suicide. Emperor Xiaowen was very regretful when he heard about it, saying, "I never intended to kill Zhu Jian!" So he summoned Zhu Jian's son and appointed him as a mid-level official. Later, this son was sent as an envoy to the Xiongnu, and when the Chanyu was rude to him, he gave the Chanyu a piece of his mind and ended up dying in the Xiongnu.
Now let's talk about Lou Jing, who was from the state of Qi. Five years into Gaozu's reign, he was stationed in Longxi, and passing through Luoyang, he happened to meet Emperor Liu Bang there. Lou Jing unhitched his cart, found a fellow villager, General Yu from the state of Qi, and said, "I want to see the Emperor and say some good advice for the country." General Yu wanted to give him a change of clothes, but Lou Jing said, "My clothes don't matter when I see the Emperor, whether silk or coarse cloth, I dare not change." General Yu then went in to report to the Emperor, who summoned Lou Jing and even treated him to a meal.
Emperor Liu Bang defeated Xiang Yu and unified the world, and then began to consider the matter of establishing a capital. He asked Lou Jing, "I plan to establish the capital in Luoyang, is this like the Zhou, hoping for a long reign?" Liu Bang said, "Exactly!"
Lou Jing pointed out, "Your Majesty, your empire ain't like the Zhou Dynasty's! The Zhou Dynasty's ancestors were Hou Ji, who was granted land in Tai by Emperor Yao. Their family built up good karma for generations! Duke Liu fled King Jie of Xia's tyranny and settled in Bin. King Zhou left Bin while fighting the Di people, walking with a cane and driving a carriage to the foot of Mount Qi, and the people flocked to him. When King Wen became the Duke of the West, he settled disputes between the states of Yu and Rui, and then got the divine right to rule. Jiang Taigong, Bo Yi, and others came flocking from the coast to join him. King Wu mustered eight hundred vassal states at Mengjin and crushed the Shang. King Cheng ascended to the throne, assisted by the Duke of Zhou and others, and established the capital in Luoyang because it's centrally located, making it easy for vassals to pay tribute from all over. Virtue brings lasting peace, while vice brings ruin. The Zhou Dynasty established Luoyang as the capital to teach future generations the importance of virtuous rule, rather than relying on strong defenses, thus preventing tyranny and oppression. The Zhou eventually fell apart, splitting into East and West, losing all control over the land, not for lack of virtue, but because their territory was too weak to defend."
Lou Jing continued, "Your Highness, you rose up from Pei County with three thousand soldiers, fought your way to Shu, pacified Sanqin, and fought seventy major and forty minor battles against Xiang Yu near Xiangyang, leaving countless dead, fathers and sons alike, their cries echoing across the land. And the wounded still haven't recovered, yet you already want to prosper like in the time of King Cheng and King Kang of Zhou. I think this is simply impossible! Furthermore, Qin's land is mountainous, well-defended, and strategically located. In case of emergency, a million troops can quickly gather. Qin also has a fertile land, a true breadbasket. Your Highness, if you establish the capital in the Guanzhong region, even if Shandong is in chaos, the old land of Qin can be preserved and even gained. You gotta hit 'em where it hurts, not tickle their backsides. How else are you gonna win? Your Highness, by establishing the capital in the Guanzhong region and occupying the old land of Qin, it's like seizing the heart of the world."
Liu Bang asked his Shandong ministers, who argued that the Zhou Dynasty lasted for hundreds of years while the Qin Dynasty perished after two generations, so it would be better to follow the Zhou Dynasty. Liu Bang was somewhat hesitant and indecisive. Then Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu, spoke up for establishing the capital in Guanzhong. Liu Bang decided to move to Guanzhong that very day. Later, Liu Bang said, "The one who initially suggested establishing the capital in the land of Qin was Lou Jing, who is a relative of the Liu family." So Liu Bang gave him the Liu surname, made him a Langzhong, and named him Lord Fengchun.
In 200 BC, Han Xin, the King of Han, rebelled, and Liu Bang personally led troops to fight against him. When he arrived in Jinyang, he heard that Han Xin had conspired with the Xiongnu to attack the Han Dynasty. Liu Bang blew a gasket and immediately sent someone to the Xiongnu to investigate. The Xiongnu intentionally hid their elite soldiers and fat livestock, only showing the messengers old, sick, and scrawny livestock. Ten batches of messengers returned reporting that the Xiongnu were easy to defeat. Liu Bang then sent Liu Jing as a messenger to the Xiongnu. Liu Jing returned and said, "Look, when two countries are about to go to war, they usually show off their best stuff, right? But when I went, the Xiongnu only showed me the weak and sick. They were clearly hiding their strength, planning a surprise attack. I believe the Xiongnu are not easy to defeat!"
At that time, the Han army had gathered north of Juzhu Mountain with a force of over 300,000, and the army had already set off. When Liu Bang heard this, he was furious and scolded Liu Jing, "You Qi-boy! You got where you are by sweet-talking your way there, and now you're spouting nonsense trying to stop my army from advancing!" He then imprisoned Liu Jing in Guangwu. Liu Bang still insisted on marching, and sure enough, the Xiongnu sprung their ambush, trapping Liu Bang on Baideng Mountain for a full seven days before he could escape.
Upon returning to Guangwu, Liu Bang pardoned Liu Jing, saying, "I did not listen to your advice and suffered a great loss in Pingcheng. I had those ten batches of messengers who said the Xiongnu were pushovers… well, let’s just say they’re not messengers anymore!" Liu Bang then appointed Liu Jing as a marquis of two thousand households, granting him the title of Marquis of Guannei and the name "Jianxin Marquis."
After defeating Pingcheng and returning, Han Xin fled to the Xiongnu. At that time, the army of Modu Chanyu was very powerful, with 400,000 cavalry constantly harassing the borders. The Emperor was freaking out and sought advice from Liu Jing.
Liu Jing said, "Now that the empire's just been settled, our troops are beat and can't take on the Xiongnu militarily. Modu offed his old man to seize power, keeps a harem, and rules through brute force. You can't win him over with kindness and fairness. The only play is to outsmart him and make his grandkids Han subjects, but you may not be able to do it." Gaozu asked, "Can we really do that? Why not? What's the plan?" Liu Jing said, "If you marry off the princess and send a load of gifts, the Xiongnu will be green with envy, make her his main squeeze, and the kids born will surely be made the crown prince, who will inherit the position of the Chanyu in the future. Why? Because they covet the treasures of the Han Dynasty. You should send them stuff we've got that they haven't, regularly, and send some smooth talkers to teach 'em some manners. While Modu's alive, he's your son-in-law; when he dies, your grandson will be the Chanyu. Ever heard of a grandson giving his grandpa lip? This way, you can subdue the enemy without fighting. If you can't send the princess, send a palace lady to pretend; it'll do the trick. The Xiongnu will see you don't care, and that won't work." Gaozu said, "Good!" and decided to send the princess over. Empress Lu cried and said, "I only have the Crown Prince and a daughter. How can I send her to the Xiongnu?" In the end, Gaozu couldn't send the princess, so he sent a regular woman to pose as her and sent Liu Jing to hammer out the deal.
After Liu Jing reported back to Emperor Gaozu, he said, "The Baiyang and Loufan kings, south of the Xiongnu, are only seven hundred miles away from Chang'an. Light cavalry could cover the distance in a day and a night. Guanzhong, recently ravaged by war, boasts fertile land and a sparse population ripe for development. When the lords rebelled, besides the Tian family of Qi, there were also the Zhao, Qu, and Jing families of Chu, who posed the greatest threat. Your Majesty's new capital in Guanzhong is woefully underpopulated. The north is close to the Xiongnu, and the east has the powerful descendants of the Six States. Should trouble arise, Your Majesty will not be able to rest in peace. I urge Your Majesty to relocate the most powerful families from Qi and Chu, along with the descendants of the Six States and other prominent clans, to Guanzhong to increase its strength. They can be used to guard against the Xiongnu in peacetime, and if the vassals rebel, they can also lead them to the east for conquest. This strengthens our core while weakening our enemies!" Gaozu said, "Good!" So he tasked Liu Jing with relocating these families to Guanzhong.
Shusun Tong was from Xue County. During the Qin dynasty, his learning earned him a position as a court scholar. After a few years, Chen Sheng rebelled, and Qin Er Shi summoned the doctors and Confucian scholars, asking, "Chu's troops have seized Qi and Chen. What is your assessment?" More than thirty doctors and Confucian scholars stood up and said, "Your Majesty, we are scholars, not soldiers. Leading troops would be treason, punishable by death. We urge immediate military action!" Er Shi exploded with rage, his face turning livid.
At this time, Shusun Tong stepped forward and said, "These guys are all wrong. The whole country's unified now, we've built up the cities and forged our weapons. The Emperor's wise. The laws are solid. Everyone's doing their job. Tribute's pouring in. No chance of a rebellion! They're just petty thieves – no big deal! The local officials are rounding them up. What's to worry about?" The Emperor was very pleased to hear this and asked each of the Confucian scholars. Some said rebellion, some said thieves. So the Emperor ordered the imperial censor to investigate the scholars who said rebellion, arrest them, and punish them for running their mouths; those who said thieves were all fired. Then, the Emperor rewarded Shusun Tong with twenty pieces of silk, a set of clothes, and allowed him to continue as a doctor. Back at his place, the other scholars said, "Why'd you brown-nose so much?" Shusun Tong replied, "You don't understand, I almost got myself killed!" After saying this, he fled back to Xue County, which was already occupied by the Chu army.
When Xiang Liang attacked, Shusun Tong jumped ship. After Xiang Liang was defeated in the Battle of Dingtao, Shusun Tong followed King Huai. When King Huai was proclaimed Emperor Yi and moved to Changsha, Shusun Tong stayed by Xiang Yu's side. In the second year of the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang led five vassal lords to attack Pengcheng, and Shusun Tong surrendered to Liu Bang. Dressed in the attire of a Confucian scholar, he was disliked by Liu Bang, so he changed his attire to wear short clothes, which were the clothing of the Chu state. Liu Bang was pleased as punch.
After Shusun Tong defected to the Han Dynasty, he brought more than a hundred students with him, but he did not have any official position. Shusun Tong recommended to Liu Bang the veterans of the rebellion. His students all said, "We've been studying with him for years! We risked everything to join him, and now he's pushing *them* ahead of us? Those toughs?" Shusun Tong replied, "The Han King is currently in the thick of the fighting. Can you bookish types fight? So I will first recommend the warriors who can lead the charge and storm the enemy lines. You wait first; I will not forget you!" Later, Han King Liu Bang appointed Shusun Tong as a scholar and made him the Jisi Jun.
After Han Gaozu Liu Bang unified the country, the regional lords together proclaimed him as emperor in Dingtai, officially confirming his title and ceremonial guards. Liu Bang abolished many cumbersome Qin Dynasty systems, striving for simplification. The ministers often drank together, boasting about their achievements, getting roaring drunk and starting to smash things, which gave Liu Bang a headache.
At this time, Xiao He stood up and said to Liu Bang, "Those students are not very suitable for fighting, but they are good for governing the country. I want to invite some Confucian scholars from Lu to work with my students to develop court ceremonies." Liu Bang hesitated a bit and asked, "Will this be very difficult?" Xiao He replied, "Look, every dynasty has its own customs. We need a system that works for *us*. I want to select some rituals from ancient times, combine them with the Qin Dynasty system, and create a new set of rituals." Liu Bang said, "You can try, but it should be simple and easy to understand, that suits me."
So Xiao He sent people to Lu to invite more than thirty Confucian scholars. However, two Confucian scholars in Lu refused to go. They said, "The masters you have served before have been more than ten, each of them portly and powerful officials. The war dead are still unburied, the wounded still untended, and you want to establish courtly rituals? Such things take generations of accumulated virtue to flourish. We can't stomach this. What you are doing is not in accordance with the ancient rules, and we will not go. You go, don't involve us!" Xiao He smiled and said, "You bookish fellows are so inflexible!" Then, he took the thirty people he had invited and went west, practicing the new court rituals in the wilds of Mianzui (near present-day Yongcheng, Henan Province) with officials around Liu Bang who studied Confucianism and more than one hundred of his students.
After practicing for more than a month, Xiao He said, "Time to show the Emperor." After watching their performance of the rituals, Liu Bang said, "I can manage that." So, Liu Bang ordered all the ministers to learn and practice, and scheduled a formal court meeting for October.
In the seventh year of the Han Dynasty, the Changle Palace was completed, and court officials and nobles met the Emperor in October. Early in the morning, the officials in charge of the ceremony were ready, leading everyone into the palace gate in order. In the palace courtyard, there were ceremonial vehicles, soldiers, and guards, flags fluttering, creating a majestic scene. A eunuch bellowed, "Move it!" and everyone hurried their steps. Hundreds of officials lined the hall. Meritorious officials, marquises, generals, and military officers were arranged in order of rank on the west side, facing east; civil officials, starting from the Prime Minister, were arranged in order on the east side, facing west. The entire ceremony was breathtakingly grand, a spectacle of Nine Rites protocol, with the ritual masters booming out the procedures.
Then, the emperor came out from the inner chamber in a palanquin, with officials holding halberds, relaying the guards' signals, leading the nobles to the officials receiving an annual salary of six hundred stones of grain, who then offered their congratulations in turn. A hush of nervous awe fell over everyone, from the nobles to the lowest-ranking officials. After the audience ceremony ended, everyone knelt down, and the emperor offered wine. All the officials sitting in the hall prostrated themselves, then rose one by one in order of seniority to toast the emperor. A total of nine toasts were made before the master of ceremonies declared the banquet concluded. The court censor strictly enforced the law, and if anyone was found to be disrespectful, they were immediately taken away. Throughout the audience, decorum was strictly maintained, and no one dared to make noise or be disrespectful. His Majesty sighed and said, "I only realized today how noble it is to be an emperor!" He appointed his uncle Sun Tong as Minister of Ceremonies and rewarded him with five hundred jin of gold (approximately X pounds). Sun Tong took the opportunity to request, "My disciples and Confucian scholars have followed me for a long time, and they also participated in the preparation of this ceremony. I hope Your Majesty can give them official positions." His Majesty gladly agreed and appointed them all as junior officials. After Sun Tong left, he also rewarded each Confucian scholar with five hundred jin of gold. These Confucian scholars joyfully said, "Master Sun is a true sage; he understands the currents of the court!"
Nine years later, Emperor Gaozu appointed Shusun Tong as the Crown Prince's tutor. Twelve years later, Emperor Gaozu wanted to replace Prince Zhao Ruyi with the Crown Prince. Shusun Tong strongly advised, "In the past, Duke Xian of Jin deposed the Crown Prince and installed Xi Qi because of Li Ji, which resulted in chaos in Jin for several decades, becoming the laughingstock of the world. Qin Shi Huang did not establish Fu Su as his heir early on, so Hu Hai was able to usurp the throne, ultimately leading to the downfall of the Qin Dynasty, all of which Your Majesty witnessed with your own eyes. Now the Crown Prince is a good and dutiful son, known throughout the realm; the Empress has shared joys and sorrows with Your Majesty, how can you abandon her? If you really go ahead with this, I'll be the first to die for it!" Emperor Gaozu said, "Okay, okay, I was only joking." Shusun Tong replied, "The Crown Prince is the bedrock of the country. Mess with him, and you mess with the whole country! You can't joke about something like this!" Emperor Gaozu said, "I will listen to you." Later, the Emperor held a banquet and, seeing the guests brought by Marquis Liu coming to pay respects to the Crown Prince, he dropped the idea.
Han Gaozu passed away, and Emperor Xiao Hui succeeded to the throne. He said to Shusun Tong, "The ministers are clueless about the whole tomb and temple thing for the old Emperor." So he appointed Shusun Tong as the ritual master and had him establish the ritual system of the ancestral temple. Later, Shusun Tong pretty much set the standard for Han Dynasty rituals. Emperor Xiao Hui built the Changle Palace to the east of Chang'an City, and he often visited there. All those parades coming and going from the palace were a real pain in the neck for ordinary folks, so he built a high bridge for easier passage and also carried out construction work to the south of the armory. Shusun Tong reported to the emperor and took the opportunity to advise, "Your Majesty, what's with this fancy bridge, anyway? After Emperor Gaozu passed away, did he not have his grave north of the Wei River, where sacrifices were made on the fifteenth day of each month? How can anyone get to the temple using that bridge?" Emperor Xiao Hui nearly jumped out of his skin and said, "Quickly dismantle it!" Shusun Tong replied, "Hey, even emperors mess up sometimes. It's done, and everyone knows about it. I suggest Your Majesty build a temple for Emperor Gaozu north of the Wei River, where sacrifices can be made on the fifteenth day of each month. That'll make the temple bigger, and that's what true filial piety is all about!" The emperor then ordered the relevant departments to build the temple for Emperor Gaozu.
Emperor Xiao Hui was always gallivanting off to his summer palace, and Shusun Tong said, "Back in the old days, they always had a custom of offering fresh fruits in spring. Now that the cherries are ripe, they can be offered to the ancestral temple. I hope Your Majesty will leave the palace and pick cherries to offer in sacrifice to the ancestral temple." The emperor agreed. And that's how offering fruit became a thing.
The final evaluation of the article said: Han Gaozu pacified the world through military conquests, while civil officials like Shusun Tong, with their wisdom and eloquence, also contributed to the great cause. "It takes more than one kind of wood to build a palace, and more than one strategist to make an emperor." This statement is really true! Liu Jing gave up luxurious carriages but established a solid defense for the country; Shusun Tong gave up the noisy tasks of beating gongs and drums but formulated a perfect ritual system. They were both in the right place at the right time. Li Sheng hid at the palace gate, waiting for the chance to assist the emperor, but still couldn't escape death; Zhu Jian was initially known for his integrity but later lost his life for opposing Empress Lü; Lu Jia only reached the rank of a minister, retired from the power struggles of the Lü clan, played the two sides against each other between Cao Can and Zhou Bo, assisted the generals in consolidating the country, and finally achieved both fame and fortune. That was probably the best outcome!
