Real Histories
Emperor Xiaowudi, son of Emperor Jing, was born to Lady Wang (Wang Meiren). At the age of four, he was made King of Jiaodong, and at seven, he became the Crown Prince, with his mother becoming the Empress. When Emperor Jing passed away, Xiaowudi was sixteen, and he ascended to the throne, with his grandmother Dou Shi becoming Grand Empress Dowager and his mother Empress Dowager. Three months later, Xiaowudi created his maternal uncles Tian Fei and Tian Sheng marquises, granting them fiefs as feudal lords.
In the winter of the first year of the Jianyuan era, in the tenth month, the Emperor ordered the Prime Minister, imperial censors, marquises, and high-ranking officials to recommend talented individuals who were upright and brave enough to speak their minds and offer advice. The Prime Minister objected, saying, "Those guys are pushing the ideas of Shen Buhai, Shang Yang, and the rest – that whole Legalist school of thought. It could really mess things up, so I'd say let's not go there." The Emperor agreed with the Prime Minister's opinion.
In the second year of spring, in the second month, the Emperor issued a general amnesty, giving everyone a bump up in rank, exempting those over eighty from taxes, and those over ninety from forced labor. At the same time, a new currency system of three zhu coins was implemented. In April, the Emperor decreed, "Look, back in the day, everyone valued filial piety, respecting elders was a big deal, and the court cared about rank. But the most important thing is being a good person. Villages should always respect their elders – that's how it's always been. I know a lot of good sons and grandsons want to take care of their parents, but between work and not having enough money, it's tough. That breaks my heart! Those over ninety are already tax-exempt, so let's give them some extra cash to help them out."
In May, the emperor issued another decree, saying, "The rivers and seas nurture a thousand miles of land, so the officials responsible for the rites should perform the rituals for the mountains and rivers properly. This is an annual event of the utmost importance." He also forgave the debts owed to the court by the seven states of Wu and Chu. In July, the emperor ordered, "The imperial guard is too large; reduce it by ten thousand personnel! There are also too many horses in the royal stables; give these horses to the needy!" Then, the emperor began planning to build the Mingtang and sent someone with gifts to invite Lord Sheng of Lu to assist.
In the winter of the second year, in October, Grand Secretary Zhao Wan and Langzhongling Wang Zang were imprisoned and later took their own lives because they suggested not reporting political matters to the Empress Dowager. The Prime Minister and the Grand Commandant were dismissed. In the spring of the second year, on the first day of the second month, there was a solar eclipse. In April, there appeared an unusually bright sky. That year, construction of Maoling began.
In the spring of the third year, the Yellow River flooded, causing famine in the plains, resulting in many deaths from starvation, and even leading to cannibalism. The emperor ordered the distribution of two hundred thousand cash and two hectares of land to the families relocated to Maoling. He also ordered the construction of a bridge for convenience. In July, a comet appeared in the sky.
Jichuan Wang directly killed the Grand Tutor and the Middle Tutor, with the Middle Tutor being sent into far-flung exile. Later, the Minyue Kingdom besieged Dongou Kingdom, causing Dongou to urgently send envoys for help. The emperor then sent Senior Official Yan Zhu to gather troops in Kuaiji and then sail to rescue Dongou. However, before they arrived, Minyue retreated on its own, and the army was withdrawn.
On the last day of September in the fourth year, there was a solar eclipse. In the summer of the fourth year, a blood-red wind swept across the land, frightening! In June, there was a severe drought, and in September of autumn, a comet appeared in the northeast direction, adding to the woes. In the spring of the fifth year, the court abolished the three zhu currency and switched to half liang currency.
There were also professors who taught the "Five Classics" to cultivate talents.
In April of the fourth year, Lord Pingyuan passed away—what a loss! A true great statesman.
In May, there was a locust plague, and all the crops were eaten.
In the autumn of August, both King Guangchuan and King Qinghe also passed away.
On the second day of the second month in the sixth year of Yiwei, the High Temple in Liaodong burned down.
In the fourth month of Renzi, the imperial palace's main hall also caught on fire. The emperor observed five days of mourning.
In the fifth month of Dinghai, the Empress Dowager passed away, a great national loss.
In the autumn of August, another comet appeared in the east, a long one that shot right up into the sky—spooky!
King Ying of Minyue went to attack Nanyue, and the emperor sent King Huai with troops departing from Yuzhang, and also sent Han Anguo with troops departing from Kuaiji to fight Minyue. But before they even got there, Nanyue killed King Ying, forcing Minyue's surrender and the army's withdrawal.
In the first year of Yuanguang, in the eleventh month of winter, the court began to stipulate that each county had to nominate a model citizen.
Li Guang, the Wei commander, was appointed as the General of the Valiant Cavalry stationed in Yunzhong; Cheng Bushi, the Middle commander, was appointed as the General of the Chariot Cavalry stationed in Yanmen. However, they got the boot after six months.
In the fourth month of the fourth year, the emperor granted a general amnesty and raised the status of commoners' eldest sons. The seven noble families who'd been cut off were reinstated.
In May, the emperor decreed to summon wise men, saying: "I have heard that in ancient times during the era of Tang, Yao, Yu, and Shun, as long as their portraits were displayed, the people would not commit crimes. Everywhere, people obeyed the law. During the reigns of King Cheng and King Kang of the Zhou Dynasty, punishments were rarely used, and their benevolence extended even to animals. Education spread throughout the world, and tribes like the Sushen, the Qu Suo in the north, and the Di and Qiang all submitted. There were auspicious signs in the sky, no eclipses of the sun and moon, peace in the mountains and rivers, qilins and phoenixes appearing in the wild, and auspicious omens appeared in the He Luo region. How can we achieve that prosperous era! I am now inheriting the ancestral foundation, getting up early and staying up late every day, striving to think about the great plans for governing the country. It feels like floundering, not knowing when I will reach the other shore. It is truly difficult! What measures should be taken to carry forward the achievements and virtues of the ancestors, to emulate the virtuous rule of Yao and Shun and the Three Kings? My abilities are limited, unable to implement great governance. This is evident to all of you. You virtuous men are very knowledgeable about the ways of governing ancient and modern times. Please accept my inquiry, submit your written opinions, and I will personally read them." Dong Zhongshu, Gong Sunhong, and others then spoke up.
In the seventh month of autumn, a solar eclipse occurred. In the second year, in the winter month of October, the emperor performed sacrifices at the Five Altars in Yongdi. In the spring, the emperor asked the officials and ministers: "I offered a lavish dowry of gold, silver, jewels, and silk to marry the princess to the Xiongnu Chanyu. However, the Chanyu not only did not appreciate it but further harassed the border, looting the people and causing great losses to the border areas. I am very distressed about this. Now I want to attack the Xiongnu. What do you think?" The Grand Minister Hui suggested that they should go to war.
In June, the Justice Minister Han Anguo was appointed as the General of the Guard, the Guard Lieutenant Li Guang was appointed as the Cavalry General, the Steward Gongsun He was appointed as the General of the Light Chariot, the Grand Commandant Wang Hui was appointed as the General of the Garrison, and the Grand Master Li Xi was appointed as the General of Material Resources, leading a force of 300,000 troops stationed in the valley of Mayi, hoping to lure the Chanyu to come forward and then launch an attack. The Chanyu discovered the ambush and fled. In June, the army withdrew. General Wang Hui, having first planned the attack but failed, was sentenced to death.
In September, the emperor ordered a nationwide five-day celebration.
In the spring of the third year, the Yellow River changed its course, flowing from Dunqiu to the southeast into the Bohai Sea.
In May, the emperor enfeoffed the descendants of five founding heroes as marquises.
The Yellow River burst its banks in Puyang, submerging sixteen counties. The court mobilized one hundred thousand soldiers to repair the breach. At the same time, the emperor ordered the construction of the Longyuan Palace.
In the winter of the fourth year, the Marquis of Wei, Dou Ying, committed a crime and was executed.
In the third year, during the third month of Yimao, the Prime Minister Tian Fen passed away.
In April, there was a sudden frost, killing all the grass. In May, there was an earthquake. The emperor issued a general amnesty.
In the spring of the fifth year, the King of Hejian passed away.
In summer, the emperor sent troops to Bashu to build a road to the Southern peoples. Another ten thousand troops were mobilized to repair the defenses of Yanmen Pass. In July, a strong wind blew down all the trees.
On the day of Yisi, Empress Chen was deposed, and those implicated in the matter of witchcraft were beheaded. In August, a locust plague occurred.
The emperor recruited officials and common people who understood current affairs and had studied the ways of governing the country from the sages of the past. Local government offices were to provide them with food to participate in the governance of the country together.
In the sixth year, winter saw a census of merchant caravans, while spring brought the digging of a canal to connect the flow of the Wei River.
The Xiongnu invaded Shanggu County, killing and plundering the local people. The Emperor sent General Wei Qing to lead troops from Shanggu, General Gongsun Ao from Daijun, General Gongsun He from Yunchu, and General Li Guang from Yanmen. Wei Qing reached Longcheng, where he claimed seven hundred enemy scalps. However, Li Guang and Gongsun Ao came back with nothing to show for it.
The Emperor said, "Those barbarians are always causing trouble; it's nothing new. Recently, the Xiongnu have repeatedly invaded the borders, which is why I sent the generals to lead the troops. In ancient times, warfare emphasized organizing the army and taking advantage of the enemy's invasion. The generals had just gathered, and coordination was not yet in place. Generals Gongsun Ao of Daijun and Li Guang of Yanmen appointed incompetent officers. The lieutenants behaved unethically and recklessly, abandoning the army and fleeing. Many lower-ranking officers also violated military discipline. The principle of using troops is clear: if the generals are not diligent in training and not strict in teaching, that’s their fault; if the orders are clear but the soldiers are not fully committed, that’s the soldiers' fault. The generals are facing trial, and the soldiers must be punished as well; doing both at the same time isn't right. I feel for my people, and I want to restore honor and justice, but I'm at a loss for what to do. Therefore, I'm pardoning the undisciplined soldiers from Yanmen and Daijun."
In the summer, there was a terrible drought and a plague of locusts. In June, the Emperor visited Yongdi. In the autumn, the Xiongnu again attacked the border, and the Emperor sent General Han Anguo to guard Yuyang.
In the winter of the eleventh month of 128 BC, the emperor decreed: "Hey, you guys, all you officials and ministers, you've been entrusted with managing the country's affairs, to bring everything in line, spread good learning, and make life better for everyone. This is how the Five Emperors and Three Kings built their great empires. I'm working my tail off, hoping that all people under heaven can follow this righteous path. So, I call on the elderly to revive filial piety, select outstanding talents, study the classics, and examine political affairs, to lift people's spirits. I hereby decree to really push for honesty and respect for elders, hoping to gradually form a good atmosphere and inherit our glorious traditions. As the saying goes, 'In every small village, there are bound to be honest and loyal folks; when three people walk together, one of them is bound to be my teacher.' But now, in some places, not a single talent is recommended in the entire county, which shows that education hasn’t really penetrated the hearts of the people, and those with noble character have been buried. You guys in charge, responsible for managing social customs, how can you help me find out what's really going on, get people to do the right thing, and help spread good behavior? Furthermore, it's always been the case that those who recommend talented individuals will be rewarded, while those who conceal them will be punished. So, talk to the other officials and scholars about what punishment should be given to those who have not recommended talents."
The relevant departments reported: "In ancient times, vassals recommended virtuous officials to the emperor. The first recommendation was considered 'demonstrating virtue', the second, 'promoting virtue', and the third, 'demonstrating merit'; then they would receive the reward of nine imperial gifts. If the vassals did not recommend officials, they would be demoted after the first time, have their fiefdoms reduced after the second time, and lose their titles and fiefdoms after the third time. Those who deceived superiors faced execution; those who deceived inferiors faced punishment. Those who participated in state affairs but did not benefit the people would be dismissed. Those in high positions who could not recommend talented individuals would be demoted, in order to encourage good deeds and punish evil deeds. The imperial edict now inherits the holy intentions of the previous emperor, ordering two thousand officials to recommend loyal and upright officials, with the aim of educating the people and changing the social atmosphere. Failure to make these recommendations was considered an act of disrespect, punishable accordingly; those who were not careful in their assessments and were incompetent should be dismissed." The emperor approved this memorial.
In November, Prince Liu Fei of Jiangdu passed away.
On the first day of the third month of the following year, Empress Wei was crowned. The emperor decreed: "I have heard that unchanging heaven and earth yield no effective governance, and unchanging yin and yang bring no prosperity to all things. The Book of Changes says 'to follow changes, so that the people do not tire', and the Book of Songs says 'nine changes are repeated, knowing the selection of words'. I have studied the prosperous eras of Tang, Yao, and Shun, and learned from the experiences of the Yin, Shang, and Zhou dynasties, taking history as a lesson to create a new situation. I hereby grant a general amnesty, allowing the people to start anew. All debts and lawsuits incurred during the final three years of Emperor Xiaojing's reign are hereby annulled."
In the autumn, the Xiongnu invaded Liaoxi, killing the governor; they also invaded Yuyang and Yanmen, defeating the commandants and killing over three thousand people. The emperor sent General Wei Qing to march from Yanmen and General Li Xi to march from Daijun, capturing thousands of captives. The Xiongnu incursions were met with decisive military victories.
Nanlu, the leader of the Dongyi, and others, totaling 280,000 troops, surrendered. The court arranged a place for them and established it as Canghai County.
Oh, this is big news, 280,000 troops! The Kings of Lu and Changsha have both died.
In the second year of winter, the Emperor rewarded the Kings of Huainan and Zichuan, granting them retirement and exempting them from attending court.
He is quite considerate of his old ministers.
In the first month of spring, the Emperor issued a decree stating: "The bond between the Princes of Liang and Chengyang is deep; they wish to divide their land between themselves, and I approve! If other princes want to divide their fiefdoms among their offspring, they can also submit a request. I will personally review it and arrange the hierarchy of the fiefdoms." From then on, the land of the vassal states began to be divided, and the offspring of the princes became vassals.
This Emperor is truly a good elder brother and a shrewd politician.
The Xiongnu attacks continued unabated, entering Shanggu and Yuyang, killing over a thousand officials and civilians. The Emperor then sent Generals Wei Qing and Li Xi to lead troops from Yunzhong to Gaoque, all the way to Fuli, capturing thousands of prisoners. The court recovered the Henan region and established Shuofang County and Wuyuan County.
However, we have also recovered a lot of lost territory.
At the end of March, there was a solar eclipse.
In the summer, the court recruited 100,000 people to migrate to Shuofang and also relocated the ultra-wealthy in the counties and states, with assets exceeding three million coins, to Maoling.
This Emperor is strengthening his control!
In the autumn, Prince Dingguo of Yan committed a crime and took his own life.
In the third year of spring, the court revoked Canghai County.
In March, the Emperor issued a decree stating: "Punishment serves as a deterrent, and these decrees demonstrate my concern for the people. Because the people are not yet fully aware of education, I am very happy to be able to continuously progress with the scholars, work diligently, and not shy away from hard work. Therefore, I have decided to grant a general pardon!"
This is good news, a general pardon for all!
In the summer, the Xiongnu invaded Daijun, killing the governor; they then invaded Yanmen, killing over a thousand people.
On the day of Gengwu in the sixth month, the Empress Dowager passed away.
In autumn, the court abolished the governance of the southwestern Yi, built Shuofang City, and ordered the people to hold a five-day feast. In the fourth year of winter, the Emperor toured Ganquan. In summer, the Xiongnu invaded Daijun, Dingxiangjun, and Shangjun, killing thousands of people. In the fifth year of spring, a severe drought occurred. General Wei Qing led six generals, commanding over ten thousand troops, marched from Shuofang and Gaoque, and captured fifteen thousand prisoners. The drought was a major disaster, but fortunately, General Wei Qing won the battle, somewhat offsetting the losses. In June, the Emperor decreed: "I've heard that good governance relies on proper ritual and music. But these are now in disrepair, and it grieves me. So, we'll be recruiting scholars from across the land to serve the court. I order the ritual officials to promote learning and discussion of the classics, to restore and strengthen our rituals and music, setting an example for the whole country. The Ministry of Rites should increase the number of students studying under the scholars, strengthening moral standards throughout the land, and fostering exceptional talent." Prime Minister Hong's request to increase the number of students led to a rise in enrollment. In autumn, the Xiongnu invaded Daijun and killed the commandant. In the second year of spring in February, General Wei Qing led six generals, commanding over ten thousand cavalry, set out from Dingxiang and killed over three thousand Xiongnu. The army returned to Dingxiang, Yunzhong, and Yanmen to regroup. The Emperor issued a general pardon. In April, Wei Qing led six generals on another expedition, crossed the desert, and won a resounding victory. Former General Zhao Xin's army was defeated and surrendered to the Xiongnu. Right General Su Jian lost his army and escaped back alone, and was demoted to commoner status.
In June, the emperor announced, "I have heard that what the Five Emperors did was different, and how things were done in the Three Dynasties was also different. Although they took different paths, their ultimate goal was to establish merit. Confucius once taught Duke Ding about making friends with distant countries and attacking nearby ones, discussed the duties of commoners with Duke Ai, and advised Duke Jing on frugality. Although these methods were different, they all aimed at addressing the most pressing issues at that time. Now the country is unified, but the northern border is still unstable, which worries me a lot. The Grand General recently went to inspect the northern border, defeated the Xiongnu, and killed eighteen thousand enemies. Prisoners and those who'd made mistakes received generous rewards, allowing them to avoid punishment or get lighter sentences. Now the Grand General has achieved another victory, killing nineteen thousand enemies. Those who'd been given titles and rewards and wanted to sell them should not be pursued further. Let's make this the law." Officials suggested a system of military awards to commend the achievements of soldiers and officers.
In the winter of the first year of Emperor Wu's reign, in the tenth month, the emperor toured the Yong region and sacrificed at the Five Altars. He captured a white unicorn and composed the "Song of the White Unicorn."
In November, the Kings of Huainan and Hengshan were involved in a plot to rebel and were executed. Thousands upon thousands were killed.
In December, the heavy snow killed many.
In the second year, in April, the emperor declared a general amnesty.
In the year of Dingmao, I appointed the Crown Prince. At the same time, I also granted a substantial promotion to the Right Chief, and those who emulated their fathers were also elevated in their official positions. I decreed, "I have heard that Jiu Yao said to Yu, governing a country lies in knowing and using the right people. Only by knowing and employing talent can one become a sage ruler, which is a difficult task! A ruler is to his people as the heart is to the body; when the body suffers, the heart suffers too. Recently, the countries of Huainan and Hengshan have been lacking in virtue, and rampant corruption and bribery have become widespread. Being adjacent to each other and swept up in rebellious sentiment, they even plotted a rebellion; this is all my fault. In the Book of Songs, it says, 'Anxious and worried, fearing that the country will be in chaos.' I've pardoned everyone in the land and want to wipe the slate clean. I admire those who honor their parents and work diligently, and I also sympathize with the elderly, the infirm, the vulnerable, and the lonely. They lack for food and clothing, and my heart goes out to them. Therefore, I want to send messengers to inspect the whole country, comfort them, and give rewards. The order is as follows: 'The Emperor orders the messengers to reward the village elders and filial sons of each county with five bolts of cloth each; brothers living in harmony and hardworking individuals with three bolts of cloth each; those over ninety, widows, orphans, and the lonely with two bolts of cloth and three catties of cotton each; and those over eighty with three stones of rice each. If there are any grievances or officials derelict in their duties, the messengers must report immediately. Distribute these rewards promptly, without delay.'"
On the last day of the fifth month of the year Yisi, the sun was swallowed by darkness. The Xiongnu invaded Shanggu, killing hundreds of people. In the tenth month of the following winter, I went to Yongdi to inspect and offered sacrifices at Wuzhi. In the spring of the third year, on the day of Wuyin in the third month, the Prime Minister Hong passed away. I sent the Cavalry General, Huo Qubing, to expedition to Longxi, reaching Gaolan and slaughtering over eight thousand enemy soldiers. In the summer, a foal was born in the Yuwu River. Nanyue presented tamed elephants and talking birds as tribute.
General Huo Qubing and Gongsun Ao headed north, traveling over two thousand miles, crossing Juyan, and massacring and looting over thirty thousand enemies. The Xiongnu invaded Yanmen, killing and plundering hundreds of people. I dispatched Wei Wei Zhang Qian and Langzhong Li Guang to march from the right of Beiping. Li Guang killed over three thousand Xiongnu soldiers. His entire four-thousand-strong army was wiped out, leaving only him alive. They should have been executed, but were pardoned and demoted to commoners.
Prince Liu Jian of Jiangdu committed suicide after committing a crime. Prince Liu Ji of Jiaodong passed away. In the autumn, Kunxie, the Xiongnu king, killed King Xiutu and surrendered with over forty thousand of his people. I set up five vassal states for them, incorporating their lands into Wuwei and Jiuquan counties.
In the third year of spring, a comet appeared in the east. In May, the emperor granted a general amnesty! Then, the youngest son of King Kang of Jiaodong was appointed as King of Luan. The great-grandson of the former Prime Minister Xiao He was also appointed as a marquis, boosting the Xiao family's prestige.
In the autumn, the Xiongnu people invaded again, penetrating Beiping and Dingxiang, killing over a thousand people, a truly infuriating event! The court promptly sent officials to the counties affected by floods, urging them to plant drought-resistant wheat. They also called on capable officials and people to lend food to the poor, and praising them for it. To ease the pressure on the border, the emperor reduced the garrison in Longxi, Beidi, and Shangjun by half. Furthermore, officials who made mistakes were ordered to dig the Kunming Pool as punishment.
In the fourth winter, someone reported to the emperor that many poor people in Guandong had moved to Longxi, Beidi, Xihe, Shangjun, and Kuaiji, totaling 725,000 people! The local government was broke and could not support so many people, so they requested the emperor's permission to mint platinum coins using silver and tin, as well as some leather coins for emergency use. Also, a new currency unit called "wénqián" (缗钱) was officially introduced that year. In the spring, a comet resembling a broom appeared in the northeast, and in the summer, a long comet appeared in the northwest, which was thought to be a bad omen.
General Wei Qing led four generals from Dingxiang, while General Huo Qubing led troops from Daijun, each with 50,000 cavalry and hundreds of thousands of infantry. Wei Qing marched to Mubei, surrounded the Chanyu (the title for the Xiongnu leader), and beheaded over 19,000 enemies before making a victorious return after reaching Tianyanshan. Huo Qubing fought against the Xiongnu King, capturing over 70,000 prisoners, and then performed a sacrificial ceremony on Langjuxu Mountain before returning in triumph to the capital. These two battles resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands on both sides, a tragic outcome! Former General Li Guang and later General Li Xi were delayed in battle, with Li Guang committing suicide as a result, and Li Xi redeeming himself with money.
In the fifth year, on March *甲午日* (Jiǎwǔ rì), Prime Minister Li Cai made a mistake and committed suicide. That year, there was a shortage of horses, so the emperor ordered the breeding of 200,000 pairs of horses. At the same time, the half liang coin was abolished, and the five zhu coin was introduced. Additionally, corrupt officials and troublesome commoners were exiled to the border regions.
In the tenth month of the sixth winter, the emperor rewarded officials below the prime minister with gold for officials of 2000-stone rank and above, and silk for officials of under 1000-stone rank and their attendants. People in the frontier regions were also rewarded with brocade according to their circumstances. That winter, there was so much rain that even ice didn't form. On the day of Bing Si (the Bing Si day), in the fourth month of summer, the emperor appointed Prince Liu Hong as the King of Qi, Liu Dan as the King of Yan, and Liu Xu as the King of Guangling, and a decree was specifically issued for this. In June, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Recently, it has been said that due to the lightness of the coins, there has been an increase in evil-doers. Although the farmers have suffered, it is not too much, and the act of land consolidation has been prohibited, so we will change the coins to control them. According to the ancient classics, this system is now very applicable. It has been a month since the old coins were abolished, but people in the mountains and marshes have not yet understood. Good government guides people to do right, and justice changes people's ways. Why aren't officials doing a better job of guiding the people? Have the common people taken the wrong path to peace and prosperity, while the greedy officials take advantage of oppressing them? This is truly chaotic! Now, I am dispatching six doctors to tour the country, to comfort the widowed, disabled, and sick, and to provide relief to those who cannot sustain themselves. Inform the elders and filial sons, let them be teachers of the common people, recommend those of noble character, and let them come to the court. I greatly admire talented individuals, and I am pleased to know them. Promote their excellent virtues widely; those with special talents can be specially recommended, as this is the duty of the envoys. Investigate in detail those who are discouraged, as well as those who have been wronged and dismissed, the wicked, and those who neglect the land and govern harshly, and report them. Report any helpful suggestions from the counties to the prime minister and the censor." In September, the Grand Marshal and General of Chariots and Cavalry, the brother of Wei Qing, Huo Qubing, passed away.
In May of the first year of the Yuanding era, the emperor granted a general amnesty, and the whole country celebrated for five days. A bronze tripod was discovered near the Fen River. Prince Pengli of Jidong was deposed and exiled to Shangyong for a crime. In the second year, in the winter of the eleventh month, Imperial Grand Secretary Zhang Tang committed a crime and died in prison. In the twelfth month, Prime Minister Qing Zhai died after being imprisoned. In the spring, construction of Boliang Terrace began. In the third month, a heavy snowfall occurred. In the summer, there was a flood, and thousands perished from starvation in the Guandong region.
In September, the emperor issued a decree saying, "My compassion knows no bounds, and justice will not be deterred by hardship. While the capital hasn't yet seen a bountiful harvest, the resources of our mountains, forests, and lakes are available to all. The floods have ravaged Jiangnan, and winter approaches; I fear for their lives. Jiangnan, with its unique fire-plowing and water-hoeing methods, is receiving grain shipments from Bashu to Jiangling. I've dispatched scholars to oversee the relief efforts and ensure no further suffering. All officials and citizens who aid the starving and distressed must submit detailed reports."
In the winter of the third year, the location of Hangu Pass was changed to Xin'an, and the original Hangu Pass was renamed Hongnong County. In November, it was ordered that informers reporting illegal hoarding would receive half the confiscated goods as a reward. A fire broke out at Yangling Garden on the Wuzi day of the first month (January). In April, there was a hailstorm, and over ten counties in Guandong were ravaged by famine, resulting in acts of cannibalism. Prince Shun of Changshan died, and his son Be Pu inherited the throne, but later committed a crime and was deposed and exiled to Fangling.
In the winter of October in 121 BC, the emperor went to Yong County to worship the Five Zhis. He elevated the common people by one rank and rewarded every hundred households with cattle and wine. His journey began in Xiayang, proceeding eastward to Fenyin.
On the day of Jiazi in November, an Earth God Shrine was built on the banks of the Fen River in Fenyin. After the sacrifice was completed, the emperor went to Xingyang. Upon returning to Luoyang, the emperor issued a decree saying, "When worshiping the Earth God, I looked at the Yellow River and Luo River, toured Yuzhou, saw the old site of the Zhou Dynasty, but found no sacrifices. I asked the wise old men in the area, only to find out that the descendants of Jia, the disgraced son of the Zhou Dynasty, were still there. I appointed the descendants of Jia as Lord Zinan of Zhou and had him in charge of sacrificing to the ancestors of the Zhou Dynasty."
In February of 120 BC, King Sheng of Zhongshan passed away.
In the summer, the emperor appointed the sorcerer Luan Da as the Marquis of Letong and promoted him to General.
In June, a magnificent tripod was obtained next to the Earth God Shrine. In the autumn, a superb horse was born in the Wo Wa water. The emperor composed two songs, "Precious Tripod" and "Heavenly Horse," for this occasion.
The emperor appointed Prince Shang of Changshan as the King of Sashi.
In October of the winter of 119 BC, the emperor went to Yong County to sacrifice at Wuzhi. Then he crossed Longshan, climbed onto Kongtong Mountain, and inspected the banks of Zuli River before returning.
On the day of Xinsi in November, which is both the first day of the month and the winter solstice, a Taizhi was built in Ganquan. The emperor personally went to the outskirts to worship the heavens and earth, witness the sun and moon's passage. The emperor issued a decree saying, "Despite my high position, I haven't done enough for my people. Many still go hungry and cold, so I toured to sacrifice to the Earth God and pray for a good harvest. A Xianwen Ding was unearthed in Jizhou and recommended for sacrifice. A superb horse was born in Wo Wa water, which I will ride. I'm scared stiff I'm not up to the job, so I want to proclaim to the heavens and earth and reflect on myself. As the *Shi Jing* says, 'strong horses conquer rebels.' I personally inspected the border, handled government affairs until late at night. I saw the Qinling Mountains and observed astronomical phenomena. On the night of Xinmao, I saw a light as bright as twelve moons. As the *Yi* says, 'three days before and after.' I am very worried that the harvest will not be good, so I observed a period of fasting and purification, and on the day of Dingyou, I worshipped the heavens and earth outside the city."
In April of 119 BC, the grandson of the King of Nanyue, Lü Jia, rebelled, killing the envoys of the Han Dynasty as well as the King and Dowager Queen of Nanyue. The Emperor ordered a nationwide pardon throughout the empire. On the last day of the month of Dingchou, a solar eclipse occurred. In autumn, frogs and toads engaged in a bizarre mass brawl.
The old Emperor dispatched several armies: General Fubo, Lu Bode, led his troops south from Guiyang along the Huang River; General Lou Chuan, Yang Pu, followed the Zhen River from Yuzhang; the Marquis of Guiyi, Yan Ze, advanced from Lingling along the Li River as the General of Gechuan; and another general named Jia was in charge of Xialai, marching south along the Cangwu River. These generals led soldiers who had committed crimes, with just the southern naval forces numbering one hundred thousand! In addition, the Marquis of Yuechi also sent troops, pressing Bashu convicts into service, along with soldiers from Yelang, marching south along the Zangke River, eventually converging in Panyu.
In September, over 160 Marquises were stripped of their titles because the golden wine they offered at the ancestral rites was deemed substandard. Prime Minister Zhao Zhou was even imprisoned for this and eventually died. Luan Da, the Marquis of Letong, was almost beheaded for falsely accusing others.
To the west, one hundred thousand Qiang people rebelled, colluding with the Xiongnu to attack Guan'an (a strategically important location) and besiege Fanghan (another important city). The Xiongnu even directly invaded Wuyuan County, killing the Commandant!
In October of the sixth year of winter, the Emperor assembled cavalry from Longxi, Tianshui, and Anding Counties, along with infantry from the Commandant's command, Henan County, and He'nan County, totaling one hundred thousand men. He sent General Li Xi and Prefect Xu Ziwei to suppress the Western Qiang rebellion, finally quelling the uprising.
The Emperor took an eastern tour, planning to go to Goushi. When he reached Tongxiang in Zuoyi, he heard that Nanyue had been pacified, and in celebration, renamed the place Wenzhi County.
In spring, in the new Zhongxiang Township of Jixian, Lu Jia was found, so the place was renamed Huojia County. Before the troops sent by the Marquis of Yuechi were fully in place, the emperor ordered the conquest of the southwestern barbarians and swiftly quelled the rebellion. Afterwards, the emperor conquered the southern Yue area and established Nanhai, Cangwu, Yulin, Hepu, Jiaozhi, Jiuzhen, Rinan, Zhuyai, and Dan'er counties. After conquering the southwestern barbarians, five counties were established: Wudu, Zangke, Yuexi, Shenli, and Wenshan.
In autumn, King Yu Shan of Dongyue rebelled, slaughtering Han generals and officials. The emperor sent General Han Shuo and Captain Wang Wenshu from Kuaiji, and General Yang Pu from Yuzhang to attack him. General Gongsun He was sent from Jiuyuan, and General Zhao Pono was sent from Lingju. Both of these forces traveled over two thousand li but found no trace of the Xiongnu and returned. Finally, the emperor created Zhangye and Dunhuang counties from parts of Wuwei and Jiuquan, resettling people there.
In the tenth month of winter, 113 BC, Emperor Wu of Han issued a decree saying: "The Southern Yue and Dong'ou have already been subdued, but the tribes of the west and the Northern Xiongnu have not completely submitted. I intend to inspect the borders, select elite soldiers, personally command the army, appoint twelve generals, and march together." Emperor Wu of Han departed from Yunyang, traveled north through Shangjun, Xihe, and Wuyuan, crossed the Great Wall, ascended the Chanyu Terrace, reached Shuofang, and camped by the North River. Leading 180,000 cavalry, his banners stretched for miles, intimidating the Xiongnu. Emperor Wu of Han sent envoys to inform the Xiongnu Chanyu: "The Southern Yue king's head's already decorating the north gate of the Han! If you dare to fight, I, the Son of Heaven, will personally lead the troops at the border waiting for you; if you do not dare, hurry up and surrender! Why hide out in the freezing wasteland up north?" The Xiongnu were too scared to respond. Emperor Wu of Han returned, sacrificed to the Yellow Emperor at Qiaoshan, and then returned to Ganquan Palace. The Dong Yue people killed their king, and the rest surrendered. Emperor Wu of Han decreed: "The Dong Yue region is tricky and unstable – a future problem. We'll move the people to the Jianghuai area." Thus, the land of Dong Yue became empty. At the start of spring, Emperor Wu of Han visited Goushi. Emperor Wu of Han issued a decree: "I have visited Mount Hua all the way to Mount Song." He hunted a boar (a type of wild animal) and saw the statue of the mother of the Xia Dynasty's King Qi. The next day, Emperor Wu of Han personally ascended Mount Song, and the officials and soldiers at the temple heard the crowd cheer "Long live the Emperor!" three times. Emperor Wu of Han responded to their cheers one by one. He ordered an increase in sacrificial officials at Taishi Mountain, prohibited cutting down trees and grass on the mountain, allocated three hundred households at the foot of the mountain as a sacrificial township, named Chonggao, dedicated to Taishi Mountain, exempting them from taxes. Then, he continued east towards the coast.
In the fourth month of summer, on the day of Gui Mao, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty returned and ascended Mount Tai, holding a ceremony in the Mingtang. Emperor Wu issued a decree, saying: "I inherited this mighty throne with humble means, constantly worried I wasn't up to the job, lacking in virtue and musical knowledge. Therefore, I have sacrificed to the eight gods, received blessings from heaven, and seen auspicious signs, as if heaven is responding to me. These signs spooked me so bad I couldn't even think of stopping the tour, so I ascended Mount Tai and reached Liangfu; only then did I feel at ease. I want to start anew, and with all the scholars, reform ourselves, and declare October as the first year of Yuanfeng. In the counties I visited – Bo, Fenggao, Sheqiu, Licheng, and Liangfu – the land rent, taxes, and loans owed by the people have all been forgiven. Widows over seventy get two extra bolts of cloth. Taxes will no longer be collected in these four counties this year. Everyone in the empire gets a promotion! I also give each hundred households a cow and wine."
From Mount Tai, Emperor Wu headed east again, all the way to Jieshi. Then he passed through the west of Liao and the north of Jiuyuan, returning to Ganquan Palace.
In autumn, a comet appeared in the sky, first near Dongjingxing, and then near Santai. Prince Qi Hong died.
The next winter, in October, the emperor went to Yongdi to sacrifice at Wuzhi.
In spring, the emperor went to Goushi, and then to Donglai. In the fourth month of summer, the emperor returned to sacrifice at Mount Tai. Reaching Huzi, he found the Yellow River flooding; he ordered everyone from the generals down to pitch in and block the breach, and even composed the "Song of Huzi" for this occasion. He pardoned prisoners along the way and gave orphans, widows, and old folks four stones of rice each. Back home, he built the Ganquan Tongtiantai and the Chang'an Feilian Pavilion.
The Korean king offed the Liaodong prefect, so the emperor rounded up every death row inmate to attack Korea.
In June, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Magical fungus has grown in Ganquan Palace, with nine branches connected to the leaves. Heaven has shown its favor, even the palace has been given auspicious signs, all because of my great virtue. Therefore, I pardon the world and reward the people of Yunyang's hundred households with cattle and wine." The emperor also composed the "Song of the Lingzhi Chamber" for this occasion.
In autumn, the emperor built the Mingtang under Mount Tai. The emperor sent General Yang Pu and Left General Xun Zhi to lead recruited criminals to attack Korea by ship. He also sent General Guo Chang and Middle General Wei Guang to lead the army of Ba Shu to pacify the disobedient tribes of the southwestern barbarians and established Yizhou Prefecture there.
In the third year of spring, the emperor held a performance of Jiadi (a form of ancient Chinese wrestling), with people from three hundred miles around coming to watch. In summer, Korea killed their king and surrendered, so the emperor established the territories of Lelang, Lintun, Xuantu, and Zhenfan in Korea. General Yang Pu was dismissed as a commoner due to a crushing defeat, while Left General Xun Zhi was executed for claiming excessive credit.
In July, King Duan of Jiaoxi died. The Di people of Wudu rebelled, so the emperor relocated them to Jiuquan Prefecture. In the fourth year of winter in October, the emperor went to Yongdi to offer sacrifices to the Five Deities (Wuzhi). The emperor then traveled north from Xiaoguan, passed through Mingze, returned from Dai, and arrived in Hedong.
In the third month of spring, the emperor sacrificed to the Earth Goddess Hou Tu. The emperor issued a decree saying, "I personally sacrificed to the Earth Goddess and saw the light gathering on the altar, with three candle lights appearing overnight. When I arrived at the Zhongdu Palace, light also appeared in the hall. Therefore, I pardon the death row inmates in Fenyin, Xiayang, and Zhongdu, and grant tax exemption to these three counties and the Yang family for this year."
In summer, there was a severe drought, and many common people died of thirst. In autumn, taking advantage of the weakness of the Xiongnu, the emperor sent envoys to persuade them to submit. The Xiongnu leader sent envoys, who died in the capital. The Xiongnu invaded the border, so the emperor sent General Guo Chang to guard the northern borderlands.
Five years ago in winter, I went on a winter hunting trip down south and arrived in the Tang Dynasty. I went to Jiuyi Mountain to offer sacrifices to Yu Shun. I also climbed Tianzhu Mountain, traveled down the river from Xunyang by boat, and I even managed to shoot a dragon in the river! My fleet stretched for miles and miles and only stopped after reaching Zongyang. I commemorated the event with a song called "The Song of Zongyang in the Tang Dynasty." Afterwards, I traveled north to Langya, reached the seaside, and paid my respects at every famous mountain and river along the way.
A few months later, in March, I returned to Mount Tai and beefed up the Fengshan ceremony. On that day, I offered sacrifices to my ancestors in the Mingtang and then called in the princes and marquises for the county reports.
In April, I issued a decree saying, "I'd toured Jingzhou and Yangzhou, cleaned up the Yangtze and Huai River, seen the awesome power of the ocean, and finished the big Fengshan ceremony at Mount Tai. Everything was going great, so I decided to make the whole thing even bigger! So, a big amnesty! No taxes this year for any county, and free cloth for widows, widowers, orphans, and the elderly, plus food for poor families." Afterwards, I returned to Ganquan Palace and offered sacrifices to heaven and earth at Taizhi.
Grand Marshal Qing died.
We'd just set up thirteen provincial governorships. The court was brimming with talent – brilliant civil and military officials everywhere. However, I issued a decree saying, "To do great things, you need great people. Think of a thoroughbred – it takes constant work to make it run a thousand miles. Some people are quiet, but they can rise to the occasion. Great talent is like a thoroughbred – use it right, and it'll do amazing things. So, I ordered every province and county to find the best and brightest – people who could be generals, ambassadors, anything!"
In the winter of the sixth year, I went to the Huizhong Palace.
That spring, I started building the Shoushan Palace.
In March, I went to Hedong to sacrifice to Hou Tu. I proclaimed, "My sacrifice at Mount Shoushan was followed by the appearance of treasures, even gold, from Mount Kunlun. When offering sacrifices to Hou Tu, divine light shone brightly, three times as bright as a burning candle. Therefore, I pardon all but death-row prisoners in Fenyin, and grant one bolt of cloth to every poor person in the land." Yizhou and Kunming rebelled, and I ordered the pardon of deserters in the capital who did not obey orders to join the army, appointing General Hu Guo Chang to lead the army to suppress the rebellion. In the summer, the people of the capital watched gladiatorial contests at Shanglin Pingle Pavilion. In the autumn, there was drought and a plague of locusts. In October of the first year of the Taichu era, I went to Mount Tai. On the winter solstice (November 1st), I offered sacrifices to the God in the Mingtang. On the Yiyou day, Bailiangtai caught fire. In December, I offered sacrifices to Hou Tu at Gaoli, and then went to the east of Bo Sea to offer a distant sacrifice to Mount Penglai. In the spring, I returned to Ganquan and listened to reports from various places. In February, I started construction on the Jianzhang Palace. In May, I reformed the calendar, with the first month as the beginning of the year, using yellow as the color and five as the number, reorganized the official ranks, and harmonized them with music. I sent General Gongsun Ao (of the Yindou command) to build a city for surrender outside the border. That August, Emperor Wu ordered Second Division General Li Guangli to lead a large contingent of convicts westward to the Dawan kingdom.
This year, locusts flew from the east all the way to Dunhuang; it was absolutely horrifying! In January of the following year, the Prime Minister, Gongsun Qing, passed away. In March, Emperor Han Wu went to Hedong to perform a ritual sacrifice to the Earth God, and then ordered a nationwide amnesty, with a five-day holiday, followed by another five-day holiday to worship the household door gods; it was almost like a festival. In the fourth month of summer, Emperor Han Wu decreed, "I personally go to Jieshan to worship the Earth God, and there are always miraculous responses! Therefore, pardon the criminals below the death penalty in Fenyin and Anyi!" In May, they began drafting horses from the populace to supplement the war horses in the army. In autumn, another swarm of locusts arrived! Emperor Han Wu sent General Junji Zhao Pono with twenty thousand cavalry to fight the Xiongnu in Shuofang, but this army never returned... In December, the Chief Minister Er Kuan also passed away.
In January of the third year, Emperor Han Wu went on another tour to the east, as far as the coast. After returning in the fourth month of summer, he repaired the sacrificial site of Mount Tai and erected a stone monument. Afterwards, he sent the high-ranking official Xu Ziwei to build a series of cities outside the Wuyuan Pass, all the way to Luju, and then sent General Han Shuo to garrison the troops; the Strong Crossbow Captain Lu Bode was responsible for building the Juyan Pass. In autumn, the Xiongnu invaded again, attacking Dingxiang and Yunzhong, killing thousands of people, destroying the official buildings and fortifications, and even reaching Zhangye and Jiuquan, killing the local commandants.
In the spring of the fourth year, General Li Guangli finally killed the King of Dawan and captured a sweat-blooded horse! For this, he even specially wrote an ode, "Ode to the Celestial Steed of the West," to celebrate. In autumn, Emperor Han Wu began to build the Mingguang Palace. In winter, he went to stay in a royal hunting lodge for a period of time. He also moved the office location of the Hongnong Commandant to Wuguan and stipulated that taxes should be collected from those entering and leaving Wuguan to pay for the food of the guards.
In the first month of the first year of the Tianhan era, Emperor Wu of Han went to Ganquan to perform sacrifices at the Taizhi altar. In the third month, he then went to Hedong to sacrifice to the Earth Goddess. During this period, the Xiongnu sent envoys to offer tribute to the Han court, which improved relations. In the fifth month of summer, Emperor Wu of Han ordered a nationwide pardon throughout the empire. In autumn, he ordered the closure of city gates, conducted a massive manhunt, and arrested the criminals who had been exiled to Wuyuan.
In the second year of spring, Emperor Wu of Han took a trip east to the coast, then returned to stay at his palace in Huizhong. In the fifth month of summer, General Li Guangli led thirty thousand cavalrymen from Jiuquan and fought a battle with the Right Valiant King of the Xiongnu at Tianshan, killing thousands of enemy soldiers. At the same time, Emperor Wu of Han sent General Yindou from Xihe to lead five thousand foot soldiers from Juyan to the north to fight the Xiongnu Chanyu, also killing a massive number of enemy soldiers. Unfortunately, Li Ling's army was defeated in the end, and he surrendered to the Xiongnu. In autumn, Emperor Wu of Han ordered the prohibition of worshipping witch gods on the roads and conducted another large-scale search. That year, the six Quli states also sent envoys to offer tribute to the Han court.
Bandits under the leadership of Xu Bo and others blocked the mountains and attacked cities in the Taishan and Langye areas, causing roads to be blocked. The emperor sent messengers such as Baosheng, dressed in embroidered robes and armed with axes, to capture these bandits. Many officials below the prefectural level were killed.
In the eleventh month of winter, the emperor ordered the Guandu captain, saying, "These capable folks are in cahoots with the eastern bandits; you must carefully inspect those entering and leaving the pass."
In the second month of spring in the third year, the Grand Minister Wang Qing committed a crime and killed himself. The government started a liquor monopoly.
In the third month, the emperor went to Taishan to offer sacrifices, repaired the facilities for the Enthronement Ceremony, sacrificed at the Mingtang, and then accepted the suggestions of the ministers. He then went to Beidi to offer sacrifices at Changshan and buried a dark jade there.
In the fourth month of summer, there was a nationwide pardon throughout the empire. The emperor's travels exempted areas from paying land taxes.
In autumn, the Xiongnu invaded Yanmen, and the governor of Yanmen fled in fear, and was executed. In the first month of the fourth year, the emperor summoned the princes to Ganquan Palace. Then he mobilized the elite troops nationwide, sending General Li Guangli with sixty thousand cavalrymen and seventy thousand infantrymen from Shuofang, General Gongsun Ao with ten thousand cavalrymen and thirty thousand infantrymen from Yanmen, General Han Shuo with thirty thousand infantrymen from Wuyuan, and Commander of the Crossbow Corps Lubode with over ten thousand infantrymen to join Li Guangli. Li Guangli fought against the Xiongnu Chanyu for several days on the Yuwu River; Gongsun Ao suffered losses in the battle against the Xiongnu's Left Worthy King, and both withdrew their troops. In the fourth month of summer, the emperor appointed Prince Liu Bo as the King of Changyi. In the ninth month of autumn, it was stipulated that those guilty of capital crimes could reduce their punishment by paying fifty thousand coins. In the first month of the first year of Taishi, General Gongsun Ao was sentenced to be beheaded for his crime. Some officials and powerful figures from various counties were relocated to Maoling and Yunling. In the sixth month of summer, there was a general amnesty throughout the country. In the first month of the second year, the emperor went on a tour to the Huai River. In the third month, it was suggested by officials that when I went to the outskirts to worship the deity, I went west to Longshan and obtained a white unicorn to offer to the ancestral temple, a divine horse appeared in the Wowa water, and gold was found on Mount Tai. We should change the original names. Now let's rename the gold as 'Línzhǐ' (footprint of a unicorn) to match the auspicious signs. These items were then given as rewards to the princes. In autumn, there was a drought. In September, it was stipulated that those guilty of capital crimes could reduce their punishment by paying fifty thousand coins. The Chief Censor, Du Zhou, passed away. In the first month of the third year, the emperor went to Ganquan Palace to entertain foreign envoys. In the second month, he ordered a nationwide celebration for five days. The emperor went to the East Sea, obtained a red goose, and wrote a song called "The Song of the Vermilion Goose." The emperor also went to Langye to worship Rucheng Mountain, climbed Zhifu Mountain, and gazed at the sea, while the people cried out, "Long live the emperor."
During the winter, the emperor gives each person passing by his residence five thousand coins, and gives widows, orphans, and those living alone a piece of cloth each.
In the spring of the fourth year, in the third month, the emperor went on a pleasure trip to Mount Tai. On the day of Renwu, he offered sacrifices to his High Ancestor (Gaozu) in the Mingtang, sacrificing together with the gods, and also accepted the advice of the ministers. On the day of Guiwei, he offered sacrifices to Emperor Xiaojing in the Mingtang. On the day of Jiashen, the ancestral tombs were renovated. On the day of Bingxu, sacrifices were made at Shilu.
In the summer of the fourth month, the emperor went to Buqi and offered sacrifices to the spirits at Jiaomen Palace, as if the entire countryside had come to pay their respects. The emperor also wrote a song called "The Song of Jiaomen." In the summer of the fifth month, the emperor returned to Jianzhang Palace, held a grand banquet, and granted a general pardon.
In the autumn of the seventh month, a snake from the state of Zhao entered the city from outside and fought with a multitude of snakes under the Xiaowen Temple, causing all the city's snakes to die. On the night of the first day of the tenth month, a solar eclipse occurred. In the twelfth month, the emperor went to Yongdi to offer sacrifices at Wuzhi, then traveled west to Anding and north to Beidi.
In the first month of the first year of Zhenghe, in the spring, the emperor returned and stayed at Jianzhang Palace. In the third month, King Pengzu of Zhao died. In the winter of the eleventh month, the emperor sent cavalry from the three prefectures to search the Shanglin Garden and sealed off Chang'an, which was only reopened eleven days later. This marked the beginning of the witchcraft accusations.
In the second year, in the first month of spring, Prime Minister He was imprisoned and eventually died. In the summer of the fourth month, a strong wind blew, causing houses to be overturned and trees to be broken. In the intercalary month, Princess Zhuji and Princess Yangshi were both executed due to the witchcraft accusations. In the summer, the emperor went to Ganquan for leisure. In the autumn of the seventh month, Han Shuo, the Marquis of An Dao, and the envoy Jiang Chong went to the Prince's Palace to search for witchcraft. On the day of Renwu, the prince and the empress conspired to kill Jiang Chong, then led troops to battle with Prime Minister Liu Qumao in Chang'an, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands. On the day of Gengyin, the prince fled, and the empress committed suicide. The emperor began to station troops at the city gates and increased the number of yellow banners. The Grand Minister Bao Shengzhi and the judge Tian Ren were held accountable for negligence, with Bao Shengzhi committing suicide and Tian Ren sentenced to death.
On the Xinhai day of the eighth month, the Crown Prince committed suicide by the lake. On the Guihai day, there was an earthquake. In September, Zhao Jingsu's son, Yan, was installed as the King of Pinggan. The Xiongnu invaded Shanggu and Wuyuan, killing many officials and civilians.
In the third year of the spring in the first month, the Emperor toured Yongdi, reaching Anding and Beidi. The Xiongnu invaded Wuyuan and Jiuquan, killing two prefects. In March, the Emperor sent General Guangli with seventy thousand troops from Wuyuan, Grand Master Shangqiu Cheng with twenty thousand troops from Xihe, and General Ma Tong with forty thousand cavalry from Jiuquan to resist the Xiongnu. Shangqiu Cheng fought the Xiongnu at Xunji Mountain, killing many of them. When Ma Tong reached Tianshan, the Xiongnu fled, and the Cheshi surrendered. Their armies returned to the capital. Guangli was defeated and surrendered to the Xiongnu.
In May, the Emperor ordered a general amnesty. In June, Prime Minister Qu Mao was imprisoned and sentenced to death; his wife was also beheaded. In the autumn, a locust plague struck. In September, the rebels Gongsun Yong and Hu Qian were discovered and both executed.
In the first month of the fourth year, the Emperor inspected Donglai and arrived at the seaside. On the Dingyou day of the second month, a meteorite fell in Yongdi, with two pieces; the sound was heard four hundred miles away. In March, the Emperor held a farming ceremony in Juding. He then visited Mount Tai, offering sacrifices and conferring titles. On the Gengyin day, sacrifices were held in the Mingtang. On the Guisi day, sacrifices were held at Shilu. In June, the Emperor returned to Ganquan Palace. On the Xinhai day of the eighth month, a solar eclipse occurred.
In the first month of the Houyuan era, the Emperor went to Ganquan Palace, performed sacrifices to Heaven and Earth at Taizhi, and then inspected Anding. Prince Changyi Liu Bo died. In February, the Emperor issued a decree saying: "Look, I was out doing my duty, sacrificing to Heaven and checking the northern border, and I saw a flock of cranes. Didn't shoot 'em, didn't take anything to offer as a sacrifice. I told Taizhi about it, and Heaven and Earth answered back. So, general amnesty!"
In June, Chief Inspector Shangqiu Cheng committed suicide following a crime. Luo He, Minister of Ceremonies, and his brother, the Marquis of Chonghe, conspired to rebel. Jin Ridian, the Imperial Carriage Prefect, Huo Guang, the Cavalry Commander, and Shangguan Jie worked together to quell the rebellion. In July, an earthquake occurred, and many places saw springs erupt.
During his second year on the throne, the Emperor summoned the princes and rewarded members of the royal family at *Ganquan Palace* in the first month. In the second month, the Emperor inspected *Wu Zuo Palace* in *Zhuxi*. On Yichou, the Emperor appointed Prince Liu Fuling as the Crown Prince. On Dingmao, the Emperor passed away at *Wu Zuo Palace*, and his body lay in state at *Wuyang Palace*. On Jia Shen in the third month, the Emperor was buried at *Maoling*.
Praise: The Han inherited some problems from the old feudal lords. Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang rectified the chaos, and Emperors Wen and Jing focused on recovery. However, there were still some shortcomings in restoring the ancient ritual system. When Emperor Xiaowu ascended the throne, he decisively rejected rival schools of thought and promoted the "Six Classics." He sought talent from all over the country, selected outstanding individuals, and allowed them to make significant contributions. He founded the Imperial Academy, held suburban sacrifices, reformed the calendar, standardized music, created poetry and music, built places for Fengshan sacrifices, worshipped the hundred gods, and inherited the rituals of the Zhou Dynasty. His commands and writings were brilliant and worthy of praise. Later successors were able to follow his great achievements, showcasing the prosperity of three generations. A talented and strategic ruler like Emperor Wu, who maintained the frugal and people-loving style of Emperors Wen and Jing, surpasses even the wise rulers praised in the "Book of Songs" and "Book of Documents."
Emperor Jing of Han was the son of Emperor Wen of Han, and his mother was Empress Dou. Seven years after Emperor Wen's death, in June, on Dingwei day, Emperor Jing ascended to the throne, honoring his grandmother Bo Shi as Grand Empress Dowager and his mother Dou Shi as Empress Dowager. In September, a comet appeared in the west.
In the winter of the first year of Emperor Jing's reign, in October, he issued an edict saying, "I have heard that in ancient times, ancestral sacrifices emphasized achievements and virtues, and the establishment of ritual and music systems had their reasons. Singing and dancing express virtues and achievements. Sacrifices at the mausoleum of Gaozu are accompanied by the dances of 'Wu De', 'Wen Shi', and 'Wu Xing'; those at the mausoleum of Emperor Xiaohui are accompanied by the dances of 'Wen Shi' and 'Wu Xing'. During my father Emperor Wen of Han's reign, he opened up trade routes, fostering unity among the people; he abolished defamation and corporal punishment, rewarded the elderly, cared for the widows and orphans, and ensured the people lived in peace and prosperity; he reduced his own desires, did not accept tributes, did not abuse the national treasury, did not kill the innocent, and did not seek personal gain; he also abolished palace punishments and released palace maids, which was rare in history. My abilities are limited; I cannot do as he did. These are things that previous emperors could not achieve, but my father personally did. His virtue was as vast as the heavens and earth, his benevolence touched everyone in the land. His merits shine as brightly as the sun and the moon, but the current offerings at his mausoleum are inadequate, and that troubles me deeply. Therefore, I have decided to create a new sacrificial dance for the mausoleum of Emperor Wen of Han—the 'Zhao De' dance—to showcase his great merits. In this way, the merits of our ancestors will be passed down for generations and will forever be remembered, and I am very happy about this. Let's discuss this with the Prime Minister, the Marquises, senior officials, and the ritual experts before we make it official."
The Prime Minister and others wrote to the Emperor, saying, "Your Majesty has always been concerned about filial piety. Creating the 'Zhao De' dance for Emperor Wen of Han to showcase his merits is something we humble servants cannot match. We believe that as for accomplishments, no one is greater than Emperor Gaozu; as for virtue, no one is more illustrious than Emperor Wen of Han. Therefore, Emperor Gaozu's temple should be called 'Taizu Temple', and Emperor Wen of Han's temple should be called 'Taizong Temple'. The emperor should worship the ancestors' temples for generations to come; each province and state should also establish a Taizong Temple for Emperor Wen of Han; the nobles should send envoys to participate in the emperor's worship of the ancestors' temples. Please issue an imperial decree." Emperor Jing said, "Approved!"
In the spring of the first month, the emperor issued a decree, saying, "For the past few years, the harvests have been disastrous, and the common people have no food to eat. Starvation has claimed many lives, and my heart aches for them! Some areas are sparsely populated, hindering farming and livestock; some areas have fertile land but lie fallow with no one to farm them, with convenient water sources but people unable to relocate. I encourage those wishing to relocate to less populated areas to do so!"
In April, there was a general amnesty, and the common people were all promoted by one rank. The Chief Inspector Qing Zhai was sent to negotiate peace with the Xiongnu. In May, they cut land taxes in half. In July, the emperor decreed, "Officials taking bribes of food and drink from underlings will be severely punished; those who accept money and goods, or engage in profiteering, will be punished less severely. The Justice Minister and the Premier will discuss and enact specific laws." After discussing with the Premier, the Minister of Justice, Xin Jin, said, "Officials and all those in official positions who accept food and drink provided by their subordinates in the course of their duties, as long as the expenses are calculated clearly, will not be investigated. For other matters, if they engage in profiteering, the goods will be seized and given to the county. After officials are transferred, dismissed, or removed from office, if they accept gifts from their former subordinates, they'll lose their rank, be demoted to private, and fired. Those without titles will be fined two gold taels and have their corrupt gains confiscated. Whistleblowers get the seized goods." The following December, a comet appeared in the southwest. The minimum age for marriage was set at twenty. In March, Prince De became the King of Hejian, Yan the King of Linjiang, Yu the King of Huaiyang, Fei the King of Runan, Pengzu the King of Guangchuan, and Fa the King of Changsha. On the day of Renwu in April, the Empress Dowager died. In June, the Prime Minister Jia passed away. The grandson of the late Prime Minister Xiao He, Xiao Xi, was appointed as a marquis. In the autumn, they made peace with the Xiongnu.
In December of the third year's winter, the emperor decreed: "Hui, son of Marquis Xiangping Jia, is unfilial, plotting rebellion and attempting to kill Jia. This is high treason! Pardon Jia's crimes, restore his title of Marquis of Xiangping, and the titles of his family members implicated. Hui and his family will be dealt with according to the law." In the first month of spring, the main hall of Prince Huaiyang's palace caught fire. Kings Bi of Wu, Ao of Jiaoxi, Wu of Chu, Sui of Zhao, Piguang of Jinan, Xian of Zichuan, and Xiongqu of Jiaodong all rebelled. A general amnesty was issued. The Grand Commandant Yafu and the Grand General Dou Ying were sent to suppress the rebellion. To quell the rebellion, Chief Imperial Secretary Chao Cuo was executed. At the end of February, there was a solar eclipse.
Emperor Wu of Han defeated the rebellion of the seven states, resulting in the execution of over one hundred thousand. King Bi of Wu was hunted down to Dantu and eliminated. Kings Ao of Jiaoxi, Wu of Chu, Sui of Zhao, Piguang of Jinan, Xian of Zichuan, and Xiongqu of Jiaodong, terrified, all committed suicide.
Next, in the sixth month, the emperor issued a decree: "King Bi and his followers rebelled, causing widespread unrest. The populace was forced to suffer. Now that Bi and his followers have been subdued, those implicated, along with deserters, are pardoned! The sons of King Yuan of Chu, Liu Bi, were also involved in the rebellion. I will not punish them; instead, I strip them of their titles to avoid sullying the royal family." Then, Liu Li was appointed as King of Chu, succeeding King Yuan; Prince Liu Duan was appointed as King of Jiaoxi, and Liu Sheng as King of Zhongshan. Each household's rank was raised.
In the spring of the fourth year, checkpoints were set up again to manage the movement of people. On the Jisi day of the fourth month, Prince Liu Rong was appointed as the Crown Prince, and Liu Che was appointed as King of Jiaodong. In June, another amnesty was declared, further elevating the people's rank! In July, King Linjiang Liu E died. At the end of October, there was another solar eclipse that night.
In January of the fifth year, construction of Yangling began. In the summer, people were recruited to move to Yangling, each receiving 200,000 copper coins as a resettlement fee. That year, the princess was married to the Xiongnu Khan. In December of the sixth year, there was thunder and heavy rain. In the ninth month of autumn, Empress Bo was deposed. At the end of the seventh year in November, there was a solar eclipse! In the first month, Crown Prince Liu Rong was deposed and renamed Prince Linjiang. In the second month, the position of Grand Commandant was abolished. In the fourth month, Wang Shi was appointed as Empress. On the day of Ding Si, Prince of Jiaodong Liu Che was appointed Crown Prince, and those who observed filial piety for their fathers were promoted one rank.
In the fourth month of the second year, they pardoned everyone and promoted the common people one rank! The grandson of the late Chief Imperial Censor, Zhou Ke and Zhou Chang, was appointed Marquis. In the second month of the second year, it was decreed that when feudal kings and marquises were first enfeoffed, the Grand Herald must report their posthumous titles, memorial inscriptions, and imperial edicts. After the death of a marquis or the appointment of a feudal tutor, the Grand Minister must report their posthumous titles, memorial inscriptions, and imperial edicts. When a feudal king dies, the Master of Works must offer condolences, perform rituals, present gifts, oversee the funeral, and assist in the appointment of an heir. When a marquis dies, the Imperial Chamberlain must offer condolences, perform rituals, oversee the funeral, and assist in the appointment of an heir. As for burial, the state allows up to three hundred people to assist in carrying the coffin, digging the grave, filling the soil, and repairing the tomb.
Finally, the Xiongnu invaded the Yan Kingdom! Word is, they're switching from Lingchi to straight-up beheading for executions.
In March, Linjiang Wang Rong was arrested by the imperial government for usurping land belonging to the Taizong Temple, and he killed himself. That April, a comet appeared in the northwest. The emperor then installed his son Yue as prince of Jiaodong. In July, the imperial government changed the title of county governor to Prefect and the title of county captain to Commander. In September, the emperor posthumously ennobled the sons of four ministers who had served Chu and Zhao as marquises. On the last day of the lunar month of Jiaxu, a solar eclipse occurred.
In November of the third year, the imperial government abolished the position of Grand Historian in the vassal states. In January of the following year, the Empress Dowager died. In the summer, there was a severe drought, and the imperial government ordered a ban on brewing alcohol. In September, a locust plague occurred, and another comet appeared in the northwest. On the last day of the lunar month of Wuxu, another solar eclipse occurred. That year, the emperor appointed his son Cheng as Qinghe Wang. In March of the fourth year of spring, the construction of Deyang Palace began. The Grand Historian submitted a memorial suggesting a ban on horses over five feet nine inches tall and whose teeth were not fully erupted from leaving the pass. In the summer, another locust plague occurred. In autumn, the imperial government issued a general amnesty, pardoning those who had committed capital crimes during the construction of Yangling; families were permitted to bury their dead. On the Wuyou day of October, another solar eclipse occurred.
Five years into his reign, during the summer, the emperor appointed the prince Shun as the King of Changshan. In June, the court ordered a general amnesty and raised everyone's social rank by one level. In August, on the day of Jiyou, a fire broke out in the palace on the east side of Weiyang Palace. The court renamed the prime ministers of the vassal states "Ministers." In September, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Laws, weights, and measures exist to prevent violence and wrongdoing. The trial of cases involves people's lives, and the dead cannot be resurrected. Some officials do not abide by the laws, treating bribes as commodities for trade, forming factions for private gain, and using harsh means to show their shrewdness, causing innocent people to suffer injustice. I am deeply saddened by this. Those who are guilty but refuse to confess, exploiting legal loopholes to continue their crimes, are subject to harsher penalties. Those difficult cases, even if they comply with legal provisions but make people feel uncomfortable, should be retried."
In October of the sixth year's winter, the emperor inspected Yongdi and performed sacrifices at five different suburban altars. In December, the court changed the names of some official positions and established penalties for counterfeiting gold; offenders will be executed. In the third month of the second year, it rained with snow. In the summer of the fourth month, the King of Liang passed away. The court divided the kingdom of Liang into five smaller kingdoms and appointed Liang's five dutiful sons as kings.
In May, the emperor ordered: "Remember, officials, you're setting an example for everyone else! Your mounts and clothes should be decent. Officials with salaries of over 600 shi (a unit of salary) are considered high-ranking officials. Those who do not follow the rules, or do not wear official robes while wandering in the streets, are no different from the common people. It is stipulated that officials with salaries of over 2000 shi (a unit of salary) can have their carriages painted red, with the yoke also painted red; those with salaries between 1000 and 600 shi can have the left side of the yoke painted red. When officials travel, the mounts and clothes of their entourage cannot exceed their official rank, otherwise they will be demoted; officials who don't keep up appearances in public will be reported by officials with salaries of over 2000 shi, and those who do not obey the laws in the capital will be reported to the Prime Minister and the Censorate for punishment." Previously, many officials were promoted based on military merit, so their mounts and clothes were relatively simple, which is why these rules were established. In addition, because some harsh officials were enforcing the law excessively, the emperor ordered a reduction in penalties and established specific regulations for corporal punishment, all of which are recorded in the "Criminal Code." In June, the Xiongnu raided Yanmen Pass, pushing as far as Wuquan and into Shangjun, making off with a large number of horses. Two thousand soldiers died in battle. In July, on the last day of the month of Xinhai, a solar eclipse occurred. In the first month of the following year, the emperor ordered: "Judging cases is a serious matter! People have different levels of intelligence, and officials have different ranks. Cases with doubts should be first handled by the relevant departments, and if they cannot make a decision, they should be transferred to the Chief Justice (the highest judicial official). If a judgment is found to be inappropriate after it has been issued, the officials handling the case will not be considered at fault. I hope that those who judge cases will be as lenient as possible." In March, there was a general amnesty, and the common people were all promoted by one rank, while officials with salaries of over 2000 shi and the prime ministers of the vassals were promoted to Right Shouchang (a significant rank in the imperial court). In the summer, a grand banquet was held for five days, and the common people could buy wine to drink. In May, an earthquake occurred. On the last day of the month of Yisi in July, another solar eclipse occurred. General Zhou Yafu, the Marquis of Tiaohou, was imprisoned and later executed.
In the winter of the second year, in October, the court cut back on some of the vassals' territories. In the spring of the second year, the Xiongnu invaded Yanmen Pass again, and the governor Feng Jing died fighting against them. The court brought in chariots, cavalry, and officers to guard the border. In the spring, due to poor harvests, the court banned using grain to feed horses in the inner counties and seized the grain instead. In April, the emperor issued a decree saying, "All that fancy carving will delay farming; all that fancy weaving of silks will delay women's work. People get desperate when they're hungry and cold. I'll be out there plowing, and the Empress will be tending her silkworms, to provide offerings for ancestral temples and sacrificial clothes, setting an example for the people. I'm cutting back on tribute, court expenses, and taxes, hoping that people can focus on farming and silk production, accumulating enough food to cope with disasters. The strong shouldn't push around the weak, and the many shouldn't bully the few; our elders can die in peace, and orphans and widows can thrive. Now, with poor harvests, the common people do not have enough food to eat. What is the reason for this? It may be because some officials are corrupt, bribed, using money to buy hearts, oppressing the people, and exploiting them. The county magistrate's acting like a bandit—unbelievable! All two-thousand-stone officials are to do their jobs; any officials slacking off or causing trouble, the Prime Minister will report them to me, and they'll answer for it. Let everyone know what I mean."
In May, the emperor issued a decree saying, "People are not afraid of not knowing, but of being deceived; not afraid of not being brave, but of being overbearing; not afraid of not being wealthy, but of not being content. Only clean officials, those with few desires and easily satisfied. Now, to become an official, one must have property exceeding a hundred thousand guan, but clean officials may not necessarily have a lot of property. Those with real estate cannot become officials, and those without property cannot become officials; it's a tough situation for them. With property reaching forty thousand guan, one can become an official, so that clean officials will not be underutilized for a long time, and greedy people cannot gain too many benefits."
In autumn, there was a severe drought.
In the third month of the third year, the emperor issued a decree saying, "Agriculture is the foundation of the world. Gold and jewels, one cannot eat when hungry or wear when cold; they are only used as currency, not knowing their ultimate purpose. When the harvest is poor, there are many merchants, but fewer farmers. Each county is ordered to encourage farming, sericulture, and tree planting to ensure food and clothing security. If officials treat the people as cruelly as they treat miners, they will be punished for theft. Officials of the rank of two thousand shi who turn a blind eye will also be held accountable for the same crime."
The crown prince's coming-of-age ceremony was held, and the emperor granted those who had mourned for their parents an increase in their title.
On the day of Jiazi, the emperor passed away in the Weiyang Palace. His will stipulated that each prince and marquis receive two sets of horses, each official of the rank of two thousand shi receive two jin of gold, and each household of the common people receive one hundred coins. The palace maids returned to their homes, regained their freedom, and resumed their normal lives.
On the day of Guichou in the second month, the emperor was laid to rest in the Yangling Mausoleum.
Word was that some folks were saying, "Confucius said, 'These were the people who kept the Xia, Shang, and Zhou dynasties on the right track,' this is truly correct!" During the end of the Zhou Dynasty and the Qin Dynasty, the laws were a mess—confusing, harsh, and ultimately useless against all the bad stuff going on.
After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, a lot of those pesky, restrictive rules were tossed out, giving the people a chance to breathe. During the reign of Emperor Wen, frugality was promoted even more. Emperor Jing followed in his dad's footsteps. In this way, over the course of fifty or sixty years, the social atmosphere changed, and the common people became straightforward and kind. Think about it – the Zhou's Cheng and Kang, and the Han's Wen and Jing – what great rulers!
Emperor Wen of Han, the son of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang, whose mother was Lady Bo. In the eleventh year of Emperor Gaozu's reign, Liu Bang suppressed the rebellion of Chen Xi, stabilized the Dai region, and made Liu Heng the King of Dai with the capital established in Zhongdu. In the autumn of the seventeenth year, Empress Lü died, and the Lü clan plotted to rebel, aiming to endanger the Liu family's reign. Chancellor Chen Ping, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo, and Marquis Zhu Liu Zhang conspired to wipe out the Lü clan and install King Heng as emperor. It's all in the "Records of Empress Gao" and the "Biography of the Five Princes of Gao."
The story of Emperor Wen of Han's ascension to the throne is next, and specific details will have to be read in historical records.
They sent envoys to bring King Heng back, but after discussions, Langzhongling Zhang Wu and others felt that the matter was unreliable. "The Han officials were all veterans from Gaozu's army. They knew warfare, and they were all sly as foxes—they were up to something. They held back before because they were scared of Gaozu and the Empress Dowager. Now the Lü clan's gone, and Chang'an's just been through a bloodbath. This 'welcoming the King' thing? It's a smokescreen. Let's fake sick and wait and see."
Song Chang, a lieutenant, spoke up, "Every single one of those ministers is wrong. The Qin Dynasty was corrupt, chaos reigned in the world, and heroes rose up in rebellion one after another. Countless people thought they could be emperor, but in the end, the Liu clan ended up on the throne. That was fate, plain and simple. The descendants of Emperor Gaozu have influence everywhere, mutually restraining each other, like a tangled mass of boulders—stable and unshakeable. Everyone knew they were powerful. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, the harsh laws of the Qin Dynasty were abolished, concise laws were enacted, and they ruled kindly. Life was good and stable. Although the Empress Dowager Lu was a force to be reckoned with, installing her own family as kings and ruling with an iron fist, the Grand Commandant was able to rally the soldiers of the Northern Army with just a few words. They all responded, serving the Liu clan and opposing the Lu clan, ultimately succeeding in overthrowing them. It was just fate, nothing anyone could do about it. These ministers want to stir things up, but the people won't stand for it. And how many supporters do they really have? Internally, there are Zhu Xu, Dong Mou, and other relatives, and externally they fear the powerful states of Wu, Chu, and the rest. Of Gaozu's sons, only the Kings of Huainan and Dai remain. King Dai, an old man, is known throughout the land for his wisdom and kindness. So the ministers are doing what's right, Your Majesty. They want to make King Dai the next emperor, and you shouldn't doubt them."
Dai Wang told the Empress Dowager Mother about this matter but was hesitant. He then cast a divination, which foretold great fortune, signifying his destiny as emperor, like the glorious reign of Xia Qi. The diviner said, "This is the will of Heaven." Dai Wang replied, "I am already a king; what else do I need to be?" The diviner explained, "Here, the Heavenly King refers to the Emperor." So Dai Wang sent the Empress Dowager's brother Bo Zhao to see Grand Commandant Zhou Bo, and Zhou Bo and his colleagues explained the reasons for supporting Dai Wang. Bo Zhao returned and reported, "It's all true; no need to worry." Dai Wang smiled and said to Song Chang, "It is just as you said." He then had Song Chang sit in a second carriage, while Zhang Wu and others each rode in a carriage, heading to Chang'an. They stopped at Gaoling and sent Song Chang ahead to observe the situation in Chang'an.
When they reached Wei Bridge, officials ranking below the Prime Minister came out to greet them. Liu Bang's son Liu Heng (Dai Wang) arrived at Wei Bridge after responding to the message. All the ministers bowed and pledged allegiance, and Liu Heng also bowed in return. Grand Commandant Zhou Bo stepped forward and said, "I have a few words to say." Song Chang replied, "If it's official business, then say it; if it's personal, an Emperor doesn't have personal business." Grand Commandant Zhou Bo then knelt down and presented the Emperor's jade seal. Liu Heng declined and said, "We can talk about this at my place."
During the intercalary month, on a Jiyou day, Liu Heng entered the Dai Palace. The ministers followed him in and discussed together. Then, Prime Minister Chen Ping, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo, Grand General Fan Kuai, Minister of Justice Zhang Cang, Minister of the Imperial Clan Liu Ying, Marquis Zhu Xuhou Liu Zhang, Marquis of Dongmou Liu Xingju, and Dianke Liu Jie all knelt down and said to Liu Heng, "As you and your brothers are not Emperor Xiaohui's sons, you are unsuitable to inherit the throne and offer ancestral sacrifices. We suggest seeking the opinions of Marquis Yin'an, the Empress Dowager Lü, the Prince of Langya, the marquises, and all officials of the second thousand-stone rank and above. You are the son of the founding emperor and the best choice to ascend the throne; we urge you to accept the emperorship." Liu Heng replied, "Carrying on the family line is a huge responsibility! I am not capable enough to bear it. I want to ask for the opinion of King Chu (Liu Jiao); I can't decide this on my own." Everyone knelt down and repeatedly requested. Liu Heng formally declined their offer multiple times. Prime Minister Chen Ping and the others said, "We've carefully considered this, and you're the best choice; the entire realm agrees. We're doing this for the sake of the empire and our ancestors; we can't afford to be careless. We hope you will agree to our request. We now offer the imperial seal and regalia." Liu Heng said, "With the support of the imperial family, the military, and the nobility, I can't refuse." So, Liu Heng ascended the throne. The ministers took their places in the court. He then sent Chief Charioteer Zhao Ying and Marquis of Dongmou Liu Xingju to clean the palace and welcome Liu Heng to the Weiyang Palace. That evening, the emperor moved into the Weiyang Palace. At night, Liu Bang appointed Song Chang as the Guard General, in charge of the northern and southern armies, and appointed Zhang Wu as the Commander of the Palace Guard. Liu Bang returned to the front hall and issued a decree to the Prime Minister, Grand Commandant, and Minister of Justice, saying, "I order the extermination of the Lü clan for their abuse of power and treason, plotting to endanger the Liu clan's ancestral temple. Thanks to the generals, prime ministers, marquises, imperial clan, and ministers for their execution; they have received the appropriate punishment. I have just ascended the throne and am granting amnesty to the world. I bestow nobility upon the people and give one cow and wine to every hundred households of women to celebrate for five days."
There is no text provided for translation.
In the year 180 BC, on the day of Xin Hai in October, the emperor went to the Gaomiao Temple to offer sacrifices. Then he dispatched General Bo Zhao to the Dai region to welcome the Empress Dowager. The emperor decreed: "Former Prime Minister Lv Chan usurped the position of Prime Minister, and Lv Lu became the Commander-in-Chief. They ordered General Guan Ying to lead troops to attack the Qi state, aiming to supplant the Liu clan. Guan Ying stationed in Xingyang, plotting with various regional lords to kill the Lv clan. Lv Chan was plotting treason, and Prime Minister Chen Ping, along with Grand Commandant Zhou Bo and others, moved to seize control of the army. Marquis Zhang Ao of Zhu Xu was the first to act, arresting and killing Lv Chan. Grand Commandant Zhou Bo personally led Marquis Chai Tong of Xiangping to station in the Northern Army. Jie, the Chamberlain, took away Lv Lu's seal. To commend their merits, Grand Commandant Zhou Bo was granted an additional 10,000 households of fief and rewarded with 5,000 jin of gold; Prime Minister Chen Ping and General Guan Ying each received 3,000 households of fief and 2,000 jin of gold; Marquis Zhang Ao of Zhu Xu and Marquis Chai Tong of Xiangping each received 2,000 households of fief and 1,000 jin of gold; Jie was appointed as Marquis of Yangxin and rewarded with 1,000 jin of gold."
In December, the emperor installed Liu Sui, the son of King Zhao You, as King of Zhao, and transferred Liu Ze of Langye to be King of Yan. The lands seized by the Lü clan in Qi and Chu were restored to their original owners. All the harsh laws enacted by the Lü clan to enrich the treasury were repealed.
In January, officials suggested promptly establishing a crown prince, saying it was a matter of honoring the ancestral temples. The emperor said: "I'm not worthy yet. Heaven hasn't shown its favor, and the people aren't prospering. Even if I cannot find a capable person to inherit the throne, rushing to establish a crown prince would only show my incompetence. What will the people think? Will they trust me?" The officials explained: "Establishing a crown prince now shows respect for our ancestors and the people. It's about ensuring the future."
The emperor said, "The King of Chu is my uncle; he is old and experienced, a seasoned statesman. The King of Wu is my older brother, and the King of Huainan is my younger brother. They're all virtuous and supportive; how can we not consider them? Among the princes, royal brothers, and meritorious officials, there are many worthy advisors. If I bypass them and simply choose my son, others will think that I have forgotten about those capable men and only care about my son. This isn't in the best interests of the realm! I really do not want to do this." The officials insisted, "In ancient times, the Yin and Zhou dynasties lasted for thousands of years because they followed this principle. The heir must be one's own son; this is a long-standing tradition. Our founding emperor unified the land, granted fiefdoms to the princes, and his name is revered as an ancestor. When the princes and marquises were enfeoffed, they also became ancestors of their countries. It's the natural order for sons to inherit the throne, generation after generation – that's the right way of the world. Therefore, the founding emperor established this system to pacify the world. Now, abandoning the practice of appointing a crown prince and instead selecting from among the princes and royal family members goes against the will of the founding emperor; there's no need to discuss this further. Crown Prince Qi is the eldest and most compassionate; let him be the next emperor." The emperor finally agreed. He then ordered that anyone showing filial piety to their father would be promoted. General Bao Zhao was made Marquis of Zhi. In the third month, the officials requested the appointment of an empress. The Empress Dowager said, "The mother of the Crown Prince, Empress Dou, should be the Empress."
The imperial edict has come down, saying, "Now is the season when spring is warm and flowers are blooming, everything is thriving. But among our common people, those elderly people living alone, the destitute and impoverished, may face the danger of starving, and no one is looking after them! How can those in authority allow this to happen? Quickly find ways to help them!" The emperor continued, "The elderly have no warm cotton clothes to wear, no meat to eat and fill their bellies. It's just the beginning of the year, without even a greeting, let alone sending some cloth, wine, and meat. How can we expect our people to honor their elders? I heard that some officials accept bribes and actually use old grain to get away with it; how is this the way to provide for the elderly! Quickly issue a reform order!"
As a result, relevant departments formulated new regulations: elderly people over eighty years old will receive one stone of rice, twenty catties of meat, and five dou of wine every month; elderly people over ninety years old will also receive an additional two pieces of cloth and three catties of cotton. These items, as well as the grain that should have been used to accept bribes, must be personally inspected by officials, and then delivered by the prime minister and the military official; those under ninety years old will be delivered by local officials. Officials in charge of households with more than two thousand shi (a unit of grain tax) must personally inspect them, and those who do not meet the standards must be urged to improve. Of course, those who have committed crimes and are currently serving sentences are not included in this.
King Yuan of Chu died.
In April, devastating earthquakes struck Qi and Chu, toppling twenty-nine mountains in a single day and unleashing catastrophic floods.
In June, the emperor announced that the various commanderies and kingdoms no longer needed to pay tribute. His grace spread throughout the world, bringing joy to the princes and the various non-Han peoples, both near and far. The emperor began to commend those who had performed meritorious deeds. The imperial edict also stated: "Back then, those ministers who executed the Lv clan and supported my ascension to the throne, I was still hesitant at the time; they all advised me, but only Commander Song Chang persuaded me, allowing me to preserve the ancestral temple and the state. Therefore, I promoted Song Chang to the position of General of the Guards and bestowed upon him the title of Marquis of Valiant Martial Prowess. The six individuals who initially followed me have all been elevated to the highest ranks of the court." The edict further declared: "The sixty-eight marquises who followed Emperor Gaozu into Shu and Han will each see their fiefs increased by three hundred households; those officials of the rank of two thousand shi and above, who accompanied Emperor Gaozu in guarding Yingchuan and others, ten in total, will each receive six hundred households; Shen Tu Jia and ten others guarding Huaiyang will each receive five hundred households; and Wu Wei Zu and ten others will each receive four hundred households." The emperor also appointed Zhao Jian, the uncle of the King of Huainan, as Marquis of Zhouyang, and Ju Jun, the uncle of the King of Qi, as Marquis of Jingguo, while the former Prime Minister of Changshan, Cai Jian, was made Marquis of Fan.
In the winter of October in 180 BC, Prime Minister Chen Ping passed away. The emperor issued an edict, stating: "I have heard that in ancient times, the vassal states established their countries for over a thousand years, each guarding their own territories and paying tribute on time; the people lived in peace and prosperity, and there was social harmony. Now, many marquises live in Chang'an, their fiefdoms far from the capital, making it difficult to transport supplies to the officials and soldiers, and the marquises have no means to govern their people. Therefore, I order all marquises to return to their fiefdoms; the Crown Prince will oversee the relocation of all officials and those named in this edict."
At the end of November, a solar eclipse occurred. The emperor issued another imperial edict, saying: "It is said that Heaven created the people and appointed rulers to govern them. If the monarch is not wise and fair in governance, Heaven will use disasters to warn him to repent. Now, with the solar eclipse at the end of November, this disaster is evident in the sky; what greater disaster could there be? The fate of the empire rests on my shoulders, with only a few ministers as my right-hand men. My failings have even darkened the sun, moon, and stars. My fault is too great! Upon receiving this edict, reflect on my shortcomings and report any failings, however small. Recommend honest advisors who will speak truth to power to correct my shortcomings. At the same time, based on your respective duties, strive to reduce labor and expenses to benefit the people. Since I haven't been a good ruler, I am constantly worried about external mistakes, hence I have been preparing. Even if we cannot completely demilitarize the borders, we must strengthen military defense, starting with disbanding the troops of the Guard General. The Grand Steward has enough horses and money, and the rest should be used to replenish the post stations."
In January Ding Hai, 179 BC, the emperor issued another imperial edict: "Farming is the lifeblood of our nation. We must cultivate the royal fields, and I will personally lead everyone in farming to provide offerings for ancestral temple sacrifices. Those punished for past offenses, or those in debt or short on supplies, are hereby pardoned."
In the third month of the year, the relevant departments requested making the prince a vassal king. The emperor declared, "Previously, King You of Zhao was imprisoned and died. I sympathize with him and have already established his son as the King of Zhao. Pi Qiang, brother of King You of Zhao, as well as Zhu Xuhou Zhang and Xingjuhou of Jibei, have also made contributions and can be appointed as kings." Pi Qiang was established as the King of Hejian, Zhang as the King of Chengyang, and Xingju as the King of Jibei. The prince Wu was also established as the King of Dai, Can as the King of Taiyuan, and Yi as the King of Liang.
In the fifth month of the year, the emperor issued a decree: "In ancient times, to govern the world, the court set up suggestion boxes and complaint posts, a way for the people to voice their concerns! However, now the law has established charges for defamation and rumors, which makes the ministers afraid to speak the truth, and the emperor cannot know his own faults. How can we attract talented people from afar like this? Therefore, let's cancel these laws! If the common people secretly criticize the emperor a few times, or conspire to fabricate stories, the officials treat it as high treason; if they say something else, the officials treat it as defamation. These common people are ignorant and make mistakes, but they should not be put to death. From now on, these offenses will be disregarded!"
In the ninth month of the year, the emperor began distributing bronze tiger tokens and bamboo tokens to the county magistrates.
The emperor issued another decree: "Agriculture is the foundation of the world and the livelihood of the common people, but many people neglect farming and engage in commerce, leading to a poor life. I am very concerned about this issue, so now I will personally lead the officials to the fields to encourage everyone to farm. This year, let's exempt half of the land rent for all the people in the world!"
In the winter of the third year, at the end of the tenth month of the Dingyou month, a solar eclipse occurred. At the end of the eleventh month of the Dingmao month, another solar eclipse occurred.
The emperor said, "A few days ago, I ordered the marquises to return to their fiefdoms, but they have not yet left. The Prime Minister is a man I trust implicitly, so let him go and urge the marquises to return to their fiefdoms on my behalf." Therefore, the position of the Prime Minister Bo was dismissed, and he was sent back to his fiefdom.
In December, Grand Marshal Ying Yinhou Guan Ying was appointed as the Prime Minister. The Grand Marshal's position was abolished and placed under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister.
In April, Prince Zhang of Chengyang died, and Prince Liu Chang of Huainan killed Marquis Shenshiqui.
In May, the Xiongnu ravaged Beidi and Henan, burning, killing, and looting everywhere. The Emperor went to Ganquan and sent Prime Minister Guan Ying to fight the Xiongnu, who fled. The Emperor also mobilized the Central Guards and Cai officials, placing them under the Guard General in Chang'an.
The Emperor departed from Ganquan to Taiyuan, where he met with former officials and rewarded them. He also held a ceremony to reward the meritorious officials, and every household got a cow and some wine. The people of Taiyuan and Jinyang were exempt from paying land taxes for three years. The Emperor stayed in Taiyuan for more than ten days.
When Prince Liu Xingju heard the Emperor was going after the Xiongnu himself, he flipped out and rebelled, planning to attack Xingyang. As a result, the Emperor stripped the Prime Minister of his military command and appointed Marquis Chaowu as the Grand General, leading four generals and a hundred thousand troops to punish him. Marquis Zenghe was appointed as a general and stationed in Xingyang.
In the autumn of July, Emperor Wen of Han returned from Taiyuan to Chang'an. He then issued an edict, saying, "That little punk Prince Xingju of Jibei has violated the rules, rebelled against heaven, caused suffering to the people, and committed heinous crimes! The people of Jibei took care of Xingju themselves before our army even got there! They surrendered the city. Everyone's pardoned, with their official positions and titles restored! Those who'd joined him got a pardon too!" In August, Xingju was captured, and he was terrified.
In December, Year Four, Prime Minister Guan Ying passed away. Man, what a loss! In May of Year Two, the Liu family relatives, who had no substantial assets, were granted vast estates by the emperor, each with two thousand households! In September of autumn, seven sons of King Qi Daohui were enfeoffed as marquises—now that's what I call royal favor! Tough gig being an official, eh? Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, got into trouble and was hauled off to jail. Oh, and this year also saw the construction of the Gu Cheng Temple. In February of Year Five, there was an earthquake that scared the bejesus out of everyone! In April of summer, the ban on private coinage was lifted, and four-zhu coins were minted again. In October of Year Six, peach trees and plum trees were blooming—way out of season! In November, Prince Liu Chang of Huainan wanted to rebel but was deposed, exiled to Shu, and ultimately died in Yong. In October of Year Seven, the emperor issued another decree, stating that the wives and sons of high-ranking officials were not allowed to arrest people at will. In April of Year Seven, the emperor granted a general amnesty—everybody celebrated! On the day of Guichou in June, a fire broke out in the windows of the palace on the east side of the Palace of Eternal Harmony. In the summer of Year Eight, the four sons of King Li of Huainan were enfeoffed as marquises. That year, a long comet appeared in the east—nobody knew if it was good or bad. In the spring of Year Nine, there was a severe drought—total crop failure! In the winter of Year Ten, the emperor took a trip to Ganquan Palace. General Bo Zhao passed away. In November of Year Eleven, the emperor went to Dai and only returned in the first month of the following year. In June of Year Eleven, Prince Liang Yi passed away. The Xiongnu invaded the border again, reaching Didao. In December, Year Twelve, the Yellow River breached in Dongjun. In the first month of the following year, the emperor gave the princes another two thousand households each. In February, they let the emperor's concubines get married. In March, checkpoints were abolished—no more travel permits!
The emperor has issued another imperial decree, saying: "If we want the people to live well, we gotta prioritize farming. I've personally led by example in farming for ten years, but we ain't got much more farmland. Year after year of bad harvests means folks are starving. Clearly, we ain't doing enough, and those officials ain't pulling their weight. I've issued several orders to encourage the planting of trees by the people, but the effect is not significant, because the officials ain't following my orders, and they ain't advising the people properly. And these farmers bust their butts, but the officials don't give a damn. That ain't right. So, this year, farmers' taxes are cut in half!"
The emperor continued: "Respecting your parents and loving your brothers – that's just common sense; hard work in the fields is how people make a living; three wise old folks are the people's teachers; honest officials are role models for everyone. I really appreciate what those great ministers have done. But a lot of counties don't have officials who follow the rules. Is that how the people really feel? The problem is, our system for picking good officials is messed up! So, we're sending envoys to give gifts: five bolts of cloth to the wise old folks and the good sons, two bolts to those who love their brothers and work hard in the fields, and three bolts to honest officials making over 200 stones a year. And find out what problems the people are facing. Then, set quotas for these good people – the wise old folks, the good sons, the brothers who get along, and the hardworking farmers – based on how many families there are. Let them teach the people."
After several years, on the first day of the second month of the fourteenth year, the emperor decreed, "I will personally lead the people of the world to farm the land to provide food for sacrifices; the empress will personally raise silkworms to provide clothing for sacrifices, with specific rituals to be established separately." In the summer, the secret sacrificial rites were abolished, with details recorded in the "Annals of Suburban Sacrifices." In May, corporal punishment was abolished, with details recorded in the "Criminal Code." In June, the emperor decreed, "Agriculture is the foundation of the world; there is nothing more important than this. The people work hard to cultivate the land, yet they still have to pay taxes. This is putting the cart before the horse; how can we encourage them to farm well? Therefore, the taxes on fields are abolished. At the same time, rewards are given to elderly widows and widowers throughout the world in cloth, silk, and cotton, with specified quantities."
In the winter of the fourteenth year, the Xiongnu invaded the border and killed the Prefect of Beidi. The emperor dispatched three armies to be stationed in Longxi, Beidi, and Shangjun respectively, with the Lieutenant Zhou She serving as the Guard General and the Commandant Zhang Wu serving as the Cavalry General, stationed north of the Wei River, with a military force of one thousand chariots and one hundred thousand troops. The emperor personally comforted the troops, reorganized military discipline, reiterated military orders, and rewarded the officials and soldiers. The emperor initially intended to lead the campaign against the Xiongnu himself, but his courtiers advised against it, and he did not listen. It was only after repeated persuasion from the empress dowager that the emperor relented. Therefore, the Marquis of Dongyang Zhang Xiangru was appointed as the Grand General, with the Marquis Dong He and the Minister Luan Bu serving as generals, to go and strike the Xiongnu, forcing them into retreat.
The emperor issued a decree in the spring, saying: "I've been offering sacrifices to Heaven and our ancestors for fourteen years, using the proper livestock and vessels. Even after all this time, I'm still ashamed of my own shortcomings and how I've been running this country. So I'm gonna ramp up the sacrifices. Those old kings, they were smart. They looked out for the people, didn't ask for anything in return, kept good company, and stayed away from family drama. That's true wisdom, right there! I hear the priests are only praying for *me* at these sacrifices, not for the people. It's not right. I get all the good stuff while the people get nothing. That just shows how bad I am at this job. I'm telling those priests to keep it respectful and leave out the wish lists."
A yellow dragon showed up in Chengji that spring (fifteenth year). The emperor issued a decree to discuss the arrangements for the suburban sacrifice ceremony. Gongsun Chen was in charge of sacrificial clothing, and Xinyuan Ping was responsible for the arrangements of the five temples. In April, the emperor went to Wei Yang and held the suburban sacrifice ceremony for the first time, worshipping the Five Emperors and granting amnesty to the world. We fixed up the important mountains and rivers, got the old sacrifices going again, and everyone's doing their job on schedule. In September, the emperor told everyone – kings, dukes, the whole shebang – to find him some honest, brave people who weren't afraid to speak their minds. He checked them out himself, listened to what they said, and the whole thing's in the *Chao Cuo Biography*.
In April (year sixteen), he went to Wei Yang and worshipped the Five Emperors. In May, six sons of King Dao Hui of Qi and three sons of King Li of Huainan were enfeoffed as kings. In September, they found a jade cup that said "Long live the Emperor!" So, big party! And we changed the name of the era the next year. October, first year of Hou Yuan: Xinyuan Ping got caught faking evidence and plotting a rebellion. The whole family got whacked.
Empress Xiaohui Zhang died in March.
The emperor issued a decree saying, "These past few years, the harvests have been bad, and we've been hit with floods, droughts, and disease. I'm stumped. I just can't figure it out. Is it my fault? Did I mess up somehow? Or is it something bigger – bad luck, the land's not yielding, people are fighting amongst themselves, and even the gods seem to have turned their backs? What's going on here? Are my officials spending too much, and wasting too much time on nonsense? Why are my people going hungry? We haven't lost any land, and the population hasn't exploded. We should have plenty to go around, more than they did back in the old days, so why the food shortage? What's the problem? Is it too many folks chasing side hustles that hurt farming? Too much booze? Too many livestock eating up the grain? I haven't quite figured out what's most important here. Talk it over with the Prime Minister, the nobles, the top officials, and the scholars. Tell me everything; don't hold back!"
Two years later, in the summer, the emperor made an inspection tour of the Yuyang Palace in Yuxian. In June, the Prince of Dai died. The Xiongnu and the Han Dynasty made peace. The emperor issued a decree saying: "I am neither wise nor able to implement benevolent policies, which has led to unrest in the border regions. The people in these areas are burdened by endless toil and suffering, and the people in the country are also overworked. These two issues stem from my inadequate virtue, which fails to benefit distant lands. In recent years, the Xiongnu have repeatedly invaded the borders, killing officials and civilians. The border soldiers cannot discern the true intentions of the Xiongnu, further exacerbating my mistakes. Long-term wars are disasters for both the country and the people. Now I work day and night, worrying about the people of the world, losing sleep over their plight, and I have never forgotten a single day. Therefore, I have sent many envoys to the Xiongnu to convey my wishes. Now the Chanyu has heeded his ancestors' wisdom, caring for the peace of the nation and the suffering of the people. He is willing to abandon past mistakes with me, forge a brotherly alliance, and protect the people of the world. Peace can be achieved, starting this year."
In the spring of the third year, in February, the emperor inspected the Dai region. In the summer of the fourth year, on the last day of April, there was a solar eclipse. In May, the court granted a general amnesty, freeing all slaves and servants. The emperor went to oversee the Yuxian region. In the spring of the fifth year, in January, the emperor inspected Longxi. In March, he went to oversee the Yuxian region. In the autumn of the seventh month, the emperor made an inspection tour of the Dai region.
The winter of the sixth year saw the Xiongnu being aggressive, with thirty thousand cavalry invading Shangjun, and another thirty thousand cavalry entering Yunchun. Faced with this emergency, the emperor acted swiftly and appointed Ling Mian as General of Chariots and Cavalry, stationed at Feihu; Su Yi as general at Juzhu; Zhang Wu at Beidi; Zhou Yafu at Xiliu; Liu Li at Basha; and Xu Li at Jimen. This was a full-scale mobilization to meet the Xiongnu threat.
After a few months, in April, disaster struck with a severe drought, followed by a locust plague. The harvest was completely ruined, and people were really suffering. The emperor, upon seeing this, quickly waived the vassals' tributes, opened up the mountains and marshes for foraging, cut court spending on clothes, laid off some court officials, opened the national treasury to help the victims, and even let people sell their titles to survive. In short, the emperor pulled out all the stops to help the people.
In the summer of 141 BC, on the day of Jihai in the sixth month, Emperor Wu of Han kicked the bucket in the Weiyang Palace. In his will, he said, "I've heard that all things in the world, born and perish, are natural laws. Death is a normal phenomenon between heaven and earth. Why should there be excessive grief? Nowadays, people love life and hate death, lavishing money on funerals and wearing heavy mourning, which I strongly disapprove of. Moreover, my own virtue is insufficient, and I have not been able to let the people live a good life. Now that I am dead, I still have to let everyone wear mourning clothes for a long time, endure the hardships of cold and heat, making the people sad, burdening the elderly, affecting their daily lives, and even delaying the worship of ghosts and gods. Wouldn't that make me look bad? I have luckily preserved the ancestral temples, and the country has been stable without war, thanks to heaven's blessings and the state's protection. My abilities are limited, and I have always been worried about making mistakes and ashamed of the late Emperor's virtues. After being emperor for so long, I have always been afraid of not dying well. Now, I have finally died peacefully, able to be enshrined in the ancestral temple, so what is there to be sad about? Therefore, I command officials and people throughout the country to remove their mourning clothes within three days of my passing. Marriage, sacrifices, drinking, and eating meat are not prohibited. As for those who need to observe mourning, do not be too particular. Mourning belts should not exceed three inches in width, there is no need to prepare vehicles and weapons, and the people should not be forced to mourn in the palace. Those mourning in the palace should cry fifteen times in the morning and evening each day, and other rituals are exempted. Apart from the designated mourning times, private weeping is not allowed. The rest should wear deep red mourning for fifteen days, light red for fourteen days, plain clothes for seven days, and then remove the mourning clothes. For matters not explicitly specified, follow these standards. Let this decree be known throughout the land so that everyone understands my intentions. Leave the landscape of Balin as it is, and keep funerals for consorts and concubines below Guifu simple."
The imperial edict appointed the Cavalry General as Lieutenant Yafu, the Garrison General as the Governor of the Subordinate Country Han, and the Veteran General as Commander Zhang Wu. It also mobilized 16,000 soldiers from nearby counties and 15,000 palace guards, to be commanded by Generals Zang, Chuan, and Fu. At the same time, officials below the princes and those showing filial piety, brotherly love, and diligence in farming were rewarded with gold, silver, and silk, each in varying amounts. Emperor Wu of Han was buried in Baling on the sixth month's Yisi day.
It is said that Emperor Xiaowen had been emperor for twenty-three years, and there had been no increase in palaces, gardens, carriages, clothes, and all that. If there were any inconveniences, they were immediately canceled for the convenience of the common people. Once, he wanted to build a terrace, and when he called the craftsmen to calculate the cost, it turned out to be a hundred gold. The emperor said, "A hundred gold, that is the entire wealth of ten ordinary households! I feel guilty living in the palace left by the late emperor; why would I still build a terrace?" He wore coarse cloth himself. Even the clothes worn by his favorite Lady Shen did not drag on the ground. The tents had no fancy embroidery, all to set an example of simplicity. The Baling tomb he built for himself was made entirely of plain pottery, without any decorations of gold, silver, copper, or tin, built into the hillside, keeping it low to the ground.
The King of Nanyue, Weituo, crowned himself emperor. Emperor Xiaowen sent people to summon Weituo's brothers and tried to win them over with kindness, leading Weituo to finally submit. After making peace with the Xiongnu, they broke their word and came raiding. Emperor Xiaowen beefed up border security but stopped short of invading Xiongnu territory, worried about putting too much strain on the people. The King of Wu faked illness to skip court, so Emperor Xiaowen sent him a gift of walking sticks. Even when advisors like Yuan Ang gave him a hard time, Emperor Xiaowen always listened and used their advice to his advantage. When officials like Zhang Wu were caught taking bribes, Emperor Xiaowen showered them with even more gifts, hoping to shame them into better behavior. Emperor Xiaowen ruled by moral example, and the country flourished, with everyone behaving properly. For years, there were only a few hundred court cases, and hardly anyone needed punishing. Man, that's some serious compassion!
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.
Emperor Hui, the son of Emperor Gaozu Liu Bang, whose mother was Empress Lü. When Hui was five years old, his father Liu Bang had just become the King of Han. Two years later, Liu Bang appointed him as the Crown Prince. In the fourth month of the twelfth year, Liu Bang passed away. On the bingyin day of the fifth month, Hui ascended to the throne and honored his mother Lü as Empress Dowager. He upped everyone's social standing a notch to mark the occasion.
In terms of officials, those who served as Zhonglang (middle-ranking officials) and Langzhong (supervisors) for six years were promoted by three levels, while those who served for four years were promoted by two levels. Those who served as Wailang (outside officials) for six years were promoted by two levels, those who served as Zhonglang for less than a year were promoted by one level, and those who served as Wailang for less than two years were rewarded with ten grand. Palace eunuchs and monks were treated the same as Langzhong, while palace guards and staff received treatment similar to that of Wailang. When Hui was the Crown Prince, his chariot's coachmen were also granted a high-ranking title, and the chamberlains who served a full five-year term were promoted by two levels.
Additionally, money was distributed for funerals as follows: officials of two thousand shi received twenty thousand coins; officials of six hundred shi or above received ten thousand; and officials of five hundred shi or below, down to zuoshi, received five thousand. Those who committed crimes deserving punishment were fined as follows: forty gold for generals, twenty gold for officials of two thousand shi, six gold for officials of six hundred shi or above, and two gold for officials of five hundred shi or below, down to zuoshi. Hui also cut taxes and went back to the old one-fifteenth rate.
The title of nobility is granted to those ranked as Fifth Rank officials or higher, or those holding official positions of Six Hundred Shi (a unit of rank or salary in the Han Dynasty) or higher, as well as those known for their prominent service in the palace. If they commit crimes such as theft, they will be exempt from capital punishment and instead sentenced to labor service; for those ranked as officials of higher status or their relatives who commit crimes, they will also be sentenced to labor service instead of corporal punishment. Elderly individuals over the age of seventy and children under the age of ten who commit crimes deserving punishment will be exempt from punishment. Emperor Hui also stated, "Officials are meant to govern the people. As long as they fulfill their duties, the people can live in peace and contentment. Therefore, we should improve their treatment and allow them to serve the people well." Officials of Six Hundred Shi or higher can now live together with their families; those who have previously served as generals, commanders, or held official positions of Two Thousand Shi or higher will only pay taxes for their households, without additional charges.
He ordered all the princes and kings of the various commanderies to establish temples for the founding emperor.
In the winter of the first year of Emperor Hui's reign, King Zhao Yin Ruyi died. Common people who commit crimes can buy their way out of death by purchasing a thirty-level title of nobility. Emperor Hui also rewarded the people by granting each household an additional level of nobility, which provided them with certain privileges.
In the first month of the second year of Emperor Hui's reign, construction of Chang'an City began.
In the tenth month of the second winter of Emperor Hui's reign, King Qi Daohui came to court to meet Emperor Hui and gifted Chengyang County to expand Princess Lu Yuan's lands. Emperor Hui made Princess Lu Yuan Empress Dowager.
On the day of Guichou (a date in the sexagenary cycle) in the first month of the third year of Emperor Hui's reign, two dragons appeared in a well in Lanling, disappearing on the night of Yihai. An earthquake occurred in Longxi.
That summer, there was a drought. Marquis Heyang Zhong died.
On the day of Xinwei (another date in the sexagenary cycle) in the seventh month of autumn, Prime Minister He died.
In the spring of the third year of Emperor Hui's reign, fourteen thousand six hundred men and women were conscripted from within six hundred li (approximately 200 kilometers) of Chang'an to help construct the city, which was completed in thirty days.
The Emperor gave a princess title to a royal lady, who was married to the Xiongnu Chanyu.
In May, King Miaoyue Yao was established as the King of Donghai. In June, twenty thousand slaves and commoners from the princes, marquises, and lords were gathered to assist in the construction of Chang'an City.
In July, the royal stables caught fire. King Zhao Tuo of Nanyue expressed submission and paid tribute. In October, in the fourth year, on the Renyin day, Zhang Shi was made the queen. In the second year of January, those who were filial to their parents, siblings, and worked hard in farming were exempted from forced labor. On the Jiazi day of the third month, the emperor held a coronation ceremony, granted amnesty to the world, abolished laws hindering officials and the people, and repealed the law of holding books. The Hongtai hall in the Changle Palace caught fire, and there was a bloody rain in Yiyang, an ominous sign in ancient Chinese belief. On the Yihai day of July, the Ling Room of Weiyang Palace caught fire; on the Bingzi day, the weaving room also caught fire.
In October of the fifth year, there was thunder, and unexpectedly, peach and plum trees bloomed while the jujube trees had already borne fruit, which was truly an abnormal celestial phenomenon! In the second year of January, 14,500 people from within six hundred li (approximately 200 miles) of Chang'an City were once again assembled to build Chang'an City, which took thirty days to complete. That summer, there was a severe drought. On the Jichou day of August, Prime Minister Cao Can died. In September, Chang'an City was completed, and the emperor granted titles to the people, with each household being promoted by one level.
On the Xinchou day of the sixth year in October, Prince Qi Fei passed away. The emperor legalized the buying and selling of titles. Women between the ages of fifteen and thirty who were still unmarried had to pay five times the tax. In June, Marquis Wuyang Kui passed away. The construction of Chang'an West Market and Aocang began.
In the seventh year of October, chariot troops and officers were assembled in Xingyang, led by Grand Commandant Guan Ying. On the Xinchou day of the second year of January, a solar eclipse occurred. On the Dingmao day of May, another solar eclipse occurred, which quickly ended. On the Wuyin day of August, the emperor passed away in Weiyang Palace. On the Xinchou day of September, he was buried in Anling.
Historical records evaluate: Emperor Xiaohui promoted filial piety and family harmony within the empire and showed respect for his ministers, especially favoring Prince Dao of Qi and King Yin of Zhao, demonstrating deep affection! He heeded Sun Shu's advice with caution and readily accepted Cao Can's counsel, demonstrating his benevolent nature. Unfortunately, the actions of the Cao family and Empress Dowager Lü ultimately undermined his legacy, which is truly heartbreaking!
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