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Written by: Realhistories

Category: The Book of Han (漢書)

Published: 01 December 2024

Created: 01 December 2024

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Down in southwest China, there are many ethnic minority tribes, with a total of more than a dozen leaders, among which the Yelang tribe is the largest. Heading west, there are quite a few tribes, with the Dian Kingdom being the largest. Moving north from the Dian Kingdom, there are several more tribes, with the Qiongdu tribe being the largest. These tribes all live in wooden houses, farm, and have villages and towns.

Further out, heading east from Tongshi to Yeyu, including Xiu and Kunming, people braid their hair, herd for a living, have no permanent homes, no fixed leaders, and vast territories stretching thousands of miles. Moving northeast from Xiu, there are several more tribes, with Xi and Zuo being the largest. Moving northeast from Zuo, there are again several tribes, with Ranmao being the largest. Some of these tribes have lived here for generations, while others migrate around, all on the western side of Shu. Moving northeast from Ranmao, there are more tribes, with Baima being the largest, all belonging to the Di tribe. These are all barbarian tribes on the southwest border of Bashu.

During the reign of King Chuwei, General Zhuang Jiao led troops along the river, conquering the Ba region, Qianzhong, and even further west. This Zhuang Jiao is a descendant of King Chu Zhuang. When Zhuang Jiao reached Dianchi, an area of three hundred square miles with fertile flat land all around, he used his army to claim the area for Chu. Later, when he wanted to return to report to the King of Chu, he ran into trouble when the Qin Kingdom attacked Chu, taking over the Ba and Qianzhong regions and blocking his way home. Unable to return, he became the king of the Dian Kingdom with his soldiers, changed his clothes, learned the local customs, and became a leader there. During the Qin Dynasty, these tribes were defeated, and the Qin built a barely passable five-foot-wide trail and stuck some officials in those countries. Over ten years later, the Qin Dynasty fell. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, they gave up control of these countries, only guarding the borders of Shu. The people of Bashu secretly went out to do business, buying Yama horses (a type of horse), Botong slaves (slaves from the Bo tribe), and Moxiu cattle (a type of cattle), making the Bashu region very prosperous. This trade brought unimaginable wealth to Bashu.

In the sixth year of Jianyuan, King Huai of Dahang went to attack Dong Yue, but Dong Yue killed King Huai in revenge. After King Huai's death, relying on his prestige, the county magistrate of Fanyang, Tang Meng, secretly went to investigate the situation in Nan Yue.

The Nan Yue people treated Tang Meng with fermented soybean paste produced in Shu, and Tang Meng asked them where this condiment came from. They replied, "It comes from the Zangke River in the northwest direction. The river is several miles across and flows all the way to the city of Panyu." When Tang Meng returned to Chang'an, he asked the Shu merchants and found out that only Shu produced this fermented soybean paste, and many Shu merchants secretly took it to sell in Yelang. Yelang is located by the Zangke River, which is over a hundred paces wide, easily navigable. Nan Yue controlled Yelang with wealth, and Yelang's influence extended westward to Tongshi, but Nan Yue could not control Yelang.

Tang Meng wrote to the emperor, saying, "The King of Nan Yue lives in a yellow house, flying a left-sided banner, with a territory spanning tens of thousands of miles east and west. Although it is said to be a vassal of the Han Dynasty, it is actually an independent feudal state. Now, if we go to attack Nan Yue from Changsha and Yuzhang, the water routes are frequently blocked, making passage difficult. I heard that Yelang has a hundred thousand elite soldiers who can sail through the Zangke River and unexpectedly attack Nan Yue. This is a brilliant plan. If we use the strong power of the Han Dynasty and the rich resources of the Ba Shu region to secure a passage to Yelang and set up officials there, it will be easy to control Nan Yue." The emperor approved Tang Meng's plan.

So the emperor appointed Tang Meng as the Palace Attendant General, giving him a thousand soldiers and enough provisions for over ten thousand people. He was sent from Ba Di, specifically Fu Guan, to meet the King of Yelang, Duo Tong. When Tang Meng arrived in Yelang, he presented many gifts to Duo Tong and impressed upon him the power and fairness of the Han Dynasty. They agreed to establish officials in Yelang and appoint Duo Tong's son as the county governor. The surrounding tribes of Yelang coveted the Han Dynasty's silk fabrics, but they found the roads too difficult to traverse. Ultimately, they agreed to Tang Meng's conditions. Upon his return, the emperor established the Yelang region as Jianwei Commandery.

Then, the Han Dynasty mobilized soldiers from Bashu to build roads from Bodao to the Zangke River. Sima Xiangru from Shu also suggested that counties could be established in the Yi tribal areas of Qiong and Zuo. The emperor sent Sima Xiangru to those places to pacify them, and similarly to Yelang, the Han Dynasty established a Commandant and over ten counties under the jurisdiction of Shu Commandery.

At that time, the counties in western Bashu and the roads in the southwest Yi region were already connected, facilitating the mutual transportation of goods. However, after a few years, the roads were cut off again, and soldiers found themselves tired and hungry. Coupled with the damp and hot climate in the south, many people died. The southwest Yi region rebelled multiple times, and the Han Dynasty sent troops to suppress them, resulting in a waste of manpower and resources without much success. The emperor was distressed by this and sent Gong Sun Hong to investigate. Gong Sun Hong returned and reported that establishing counties in the southwest Yi region was inconvenient. Later, Gong Sun Hong became the Chief Inspector, and at that time, the Han Dynasty was building Shuofang City to defend against the Xiongnu on the banks of the Yellow River. Gong Sun Hong and others suggested that since the southwest Yi region was constantly causing trouble, it would be better to temporarily abandon it and focus on dealing with the Xiongnu. The emperor agreed to this suggestion and revoked the counties in the southwest Yi region, leaving only two counties and a Commandant in the Nan Yi region, leaving Jianwei Commandery to fend for itself.

In 122 BC, the first year of the Yuanshou era, Zhang Qian, the Marquis of Bowang, returned from his mission to Daxia and mentioned that he saw cloth from Shu and walking sticks made of Qiong bamboo in Daxia. He asked where these items came from. People told him, "They come from the Shendu kingdom in the southeast; it's thousands of miles away. Merchants from Shu traded there." Some also heard that it takes about two thousand miles westward from Qiong to reach Shendu. Zhang Qian pointed out that Daxia lay southwest of the Han, its people admired the Han, but trade was blocked by the Xiongnu. If the road from Shu to Shendu could be opened, it would be much more convenient, and there would be no need to worry about the threat of the Xiongnu.

After hearing Zhang Qian's words, the emperor sent a delegation of over ten men, including Wang Ranzhi, Bai Shichang, and Lü Yueren, to secretly go to the southwest Yi area to find Shendu. When they arrived in Dian, the Dian king, who was the local Qiang chieftain, detained them, hoping they could help find the way to Shendu. After more than four years, however, they remained stuck in Kunming, unable to find the route. The Dian king even asked, "Is the Han larger than my kingdom?" The Marquis of Yelang felt similarly, believing his own domain a vast empire, oblivious to the Han's true scale. When the envoys returned to the court, they reported Dian to be a large and valuable kingdom worthy of alliance. The emperor took this matter very seriously.

Later, a rebellion occurred in the Nan Yue region, so the emperor sent Lord Chi Yi to lead soldiers from Jianwei County to suppress it. The Lord of Qielan feared the long journey and worried that other countries would take advantage of attacking his vulnerable people. Therefore, he rebelled with his followers, killing the envoy of the Han and the governor of Jianwei. The Han were forced to send eight captains with criminals from Bashu to attack Nan Yue. But even after Yue was pacified, the eight captains withdrew before finishing the battle. Colonel Guo Chang and Wei Guang led the troops back, and while they were returning, they conveniently took care of Qielan, which had been blocking the road to Dian, killing countless enemy troops and ultimately pacifying the Nan Yi region, establishing Zangke County. Yelang, previously a vassal of Nan Yue, was next on the list once Nan Yue fell. The Han army came to punish him, and the Lord of Yelang finally surrendered, paying homage to the emperor, who appointed him as the King of Yelang. After Nan Yue was pacified, the Han army also subdued Qielan and Qiong. They killed the Lord of Zha, and fearful of a similar fate, Ranmao and other areas quickly submitted, sending envoys to pledge allegiance and accept Han administration. Therefore, the Han established Yue Xiu County in Qiongdu as its governing place, established Shenli County in Shenli, established Wenshan County in Ranmao, and established Wudu County in Xibaima of Guanghan County. Wang Ran, dispatched south by the court, swiftly subdued the southern barbarians, proudly notifying the King of Dian to come to the capital to see the emperor. King Dian, who commanded an army of tens of thousands, had surrounding tribes such as Laoshen and Mimo, all sharing the same surname as him, colluding with each other and not obeying orders. Laoshen and Mimo were constantly harassing the court's envoys and soldiers.

In the second year of Yuanfeng, the emperor directly sent the army of Ba and Shu to attack Laoshe and Mimo. The army's arrival terrified the King of Dian, who quickly expressed his submission. Because the King of Dian was fortunate to have changed his mind, the emperor did not kill him. The King of Dian and his entire kingdom surrendered, requesting the court to send officials to govern, appoint officials, and pay regular tribute. Therefore, the court established Dian as the Yizhou prefecture, gave the King of Dian an imperial seal, and allowed him to continue managing the people. Of all the southwestern tribal leaders, only the King of Dian and the King of Yelang received royal seals. Although Dian was a small region, it was the most favored.

After twenty-three years, in the first year of Xiaozhao Shiyuan, the people of Liantou and Gufeng in Yizhou rebelled, killing the officials sent by the court. Twenty-four regions, including Zangke, Tanzhi, and Tongbing, rebelled, with over thirty thousand people joining the uprising. The court then sent over ten thousand troops from Ba and Jianwei, led by the Commandant of the Imperial Granaries, to attack Zangke, resulting in a great victory. Three years later, Gufeng and Yeyu rebelled again, and the court sent Shuihengduwei Lv Bi Hu with troops from the commandery to attack. However, Lv Bi Hu's inaction allowed the rebels to kill the governor of Yizhou and attack his own troops. Over four thousand soldiers of the court died in battle or drowned.

The following year, the court sent General Wang Ping and Dahonglu Tian Guangming to lead the troops and decisively defeat the rebels in Yizhou, killing and capturing over fifty thousand people and seizing thousands upon thousands of livestock. The emperor joyfully declared, "Marquis of Goucheng Wang Bo led his tribal leaders and people to fight against the rebels, achieving great merit. I hereby appoint him King of Goucheng! Dahonglu Guangming shall also be rewarded with the title of Marquis of Guannei, with a fief of three hundred households!" Not long after, the Di people of Wudu rebelled again, and the court sent the Commandant of the Imperial Guard Ma Shijian, Marquis Long'e Han Zeng, and Dahonglu Tian Guangming to lead the troops to attack.

During the He Ping era of the Han Dynasty, Yelang King Xing, Guoting King Yu, and Louwo Marquis Yu, among others, started fighting again, attacking each other. The Zangke prefect quickly requested the court to send troops to deal with them, but some people thought the journey was too far and it was not advisable to fight, so they sent Zhang Kuang, a Grand Master of the Palace from Shu County, to mediate.

As a result, those warring kings did not listen at all and even carved wooden figures of Han officials, standing on the side of the road shooting arrows! Du Qin said to the Grand General Wang Feng: "The Grand Master Kuang went to mediate with those rebellious kings and nobles. Despite receiving imperial orders, they resumed their fighting. They are so disrespectful to the Han envoy, not afraid of the authority of the court. The consequences can be imagined! I am afraid that the court will continue to dither and push for mediation, waiting for the prefect to report when the situation changes; in this way, time will be wasted again. When they gather more troops, consolidate their plans, and collude with each other, no one can back down, and in the end, they can only kill each other. Once they realize that they cannot escape their guilt, they will resist the officials and soldiers madly, hiding in sweltering, poisonous jungles. Even with generals like Sun Wu and Wu Qi, and soldiers like Xiang Yu, it would be a suicide mission. Sending troops would cost a fortune—an unimaginable sum!"

So, while they have not yet committed a major mistake and do not suspect that the court wants to punish them, they should secretly order the local officials to train the army, let the Minister of Agriculture prepare food reserves in strategic locations in advance, select a capable prefect to go there, and wait for the cooler autumn months before attacking to eliminate all those unruly barbarian kings. Even if it leaves those lands barren and the people displaced, a wise king wouldn't mind. It's better to simply abolish those counties and cut ties with the barbarian kings. If the achievements established by the late emperor cannot be destroyed, then these problems should be solved early while they are still small, and not wait until the problems escalate before sending troops to attack; otherwise, the common people will suffer!

General Feng recommended Chen Li, the Sima of Jincheng, to be the prefect of Zangke. Chen Li is from Linqiong and previously served as the county magistrate of Lianran, governing very strictly, which made the barbarians fear him. After arriving at Zangke, he notified King Xing of Yelang to obey orders, but Xing did not listen, so Chen Li requested permission from the court to kill him. Before the court replied, he took dozens of officials out of the city for inspection, and when they reached the Qie Tong Pavilion in Xingguo County, he called for King Xing of Yelang to come. King Xing arrived at the pavilion with a sizable army, and several local chieftains accompanied him to meet Chen Li in the pavilion. Chen Li berated him, then, without a second thought, had his head cut off. The local chieftains said, "General, you have killed this villain and eliminated the pests for the people. We are willing to go and tell everyone this news." Chen Li showed them the head of the Yelang King, and all of them immediately surrendered.

King Gou Ting and Marquis Louwo were afraid, so they quickly sent a thousand *hu* (a unit of volume) of grain, as well as cattle and sheep, to reward the soldiers. Chen Li returned to the county, and the wife of King Xing of Yelang, his father-in-law Weng Zhi, and Xing's son Xie Wu secretly gathered the remaining troops and coerced twenty-two neighboring counties into rebellion. In winter, Chen Li petitioned the court, recruited barbarians from various tribes, and divided the troops with the military commander and chief administrator to attack Weng Zhi and others. Weng Zhi built fortifications relying on the terrain, so Chen Li sent out an elite unit to cut off his supply route and used deception to sow discord among his subordinates. The military commander Wan Nian said, "The campaign is proving too costly; we cannot sustain it." So he led an attack without authorization, but was defeated and fled to Chen Li's camp. Chen Li was furious and ordered Wan Nian to be severely reprimanded. Wan Nian returned to battle, and Chen Li led troops to support him. At that time, there was a severe drought, so Chen Li cut off the enemy's water source. Finally, the barbarians killed Weng Zhi together and brought his head to surrender. Chen Li pacified the Western Yi region, and the court summoned him back to the capital. At that time, there were bandits in Ba County, so the court appointed him as the Prefect of Ba County, with a salary of two thousand stones and the title of Grand Minister of the Left. Later, he was transferred to Tianshui as Prefect, where he encouraged the people to farm and grow mulberry trees. His governance was the best in the country, and the court rewarded him with forty jin of gold. He then returned to the court and served as Left Cao Wei General and Protector of the Army Commandant, and he died in office.

Wang Mang usurped the throne of the Han Dynasty and implemented numerous institutional reforms, demoting the King of Juting, Wang Han, to a marquis. King Juting Wang Han felt very wronged, and as a result, the Prefect Zhou Qin of Zangke plotted to kill him. Wang Han's brother, Wang Cheng, killed Zhou Qin in revenge, but the officials and soldiers from the provinces and counties who went to capture him failed. The border barbarians were already restless, and now they rebelled in a swarm, even killing the Prefect of Yizhou, Cheng Long. Wang Mang sent General Feng Mao to lead the troops and laborers from Bashu and Jianwei to suppress the rebellion. In order to raise military funds, the common people were excessively taxed. After three years of fighting, seven-tenths of those who died succumbed to the plague, and the Bashu region was plunged into turmoil. Wang Mang recalled Feng Mao and had him killed, then sent General Ning Shi, Lian Dan, and Xiong Da, the Shepherd of Yong Commandery, to lead the cavalry of Tianshui and Longxi, along with one hundred thousand troops and laborers from Guanghan, Bashu, and Jianwei, plus twenty thousand transport personnel, to fight. At first, they killed thousands of people, but later the logistics fell behind, and the soldiers were hungry and sick, resulting in the deaths of several tens of thousands over three years. The war on this front was not yet over when the barbarian Ren Gui of Yuechi killed the Prefect Mei Gen and declared himself king, known as the King of Qionggu. Following Wang Mang's defeat and the restoration of the Han Dynasty, Ren Gui was executed, and his former title was revoked.

Zhao Tuo, the King of Nanyue, was from Zhengding. After the unification of the Qin Dynasty, the Qin conquered Lingnan, establishing Guilin, Nanhai, and Xiang commanderies. Settlers from the north were moved there to live among the locals. At the age of thirteen, during the reign of the second Qin emperor, the magistrate of Nanhai Commandery, Ren Xiao, was seriously ill and dying. He called Zhao Tuo, the magistrate of Longchuan, and said, "I've heard Chen Sheng and Wu Guang have revolted, and other local bigwigs are declaring independence. Nanhai's remote; we're bound to get bandits and rebels. I want to raise troops to block the passes and prepare for trouble, but I'm too sick. Panyu's a strong position—mountains, rivers, thousands of miles of territory, and plenty of northerners to support us. We could easily become our own kingdom. There's no one else I can trust here, so that's why I'm calling you." After speaking, he handed the seal to Zhao Tuo, asking him to act as the acting magistrate of Nanhai Commandery. After Ren Xiao's death, Zhao Tuo issued a warning to Hengpu, Yangshan, and Huangxi Pass, saying, "The rebel army is coming; quickly block the roads and concentrate troops for self-defense." He gradually replaced the Qin officials with his own men, often using legal means to get rid of them. After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Zhao Tuo captured Guilin Commandery and Xiang Commandery and declared himself King of Nanyue.

After Emperor Gaozu pacified the world, considering the great sacrifices made by the people of the Central Plains for unification, he did not kill Zhao Tuo. Eleven years later, Liu Bang sent Lu Jia to confer the title of King of Nanyue on Zhao Tuo and gave him the official seal, instructing him to pacify the Baiyue region, not to harm the southern border, and to work with Changsha.

During the reign of Empress Lü, there were suggestions in the court to ban the sale of iron goods at the Lingnan border. Zhao Tuo snapped, "Emperor Gaozu personally appointed me to be in charge of foreign trade. Now Empress Lü is listening to the whispers of his enemies, wanting to cut off trade with the south and ban the sale of iron goods. That's Changsha's doing! He's trying to use the north to wipe out the rest of us so he can claim the credit!"

So Zhao Tuo promptly crowned himself Emperor of Nanyue, attacked Changsha Kingdom, beating back several of its counties. Empress Dowager Lü sent General Longlu Hou Zao to suppress him, but they encountered sweltering, humid weather that sickened so many soldiers they couldn't advance. The war dragged on for about a year, ending only after Empress Dowager Lü died.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Zhao Tuo used his army and cash to buy off Minyue, Xiyue, and Luoyue, bringing them under his control. His kingdom stretched for thousands of miles, and he even used the yellow canopy and left banner, declaring himself emperor and a rival to the Central Plains.

In his first year, Emperor Wen of Han, busy pacifying the empire, let the princes and outlying tribes know he'd inherited the throne from Dai and intended to rule kindly. He personally oversaw the building of Tuo's father's tomb, established garrisons in Zhending, and made annual offerings. Emperor Wen also summoned Tuo's brothers, showering them with high office and riches.

Emperor Wen summoned Prime Minister Ping and asked who could be sent to Nanyue. Ping mentioned that Lu Jia had previously been sent to Nanyue by the late Emperor. Emperor Wen then summoned Lu Jia, appointed him as a senior official, assigned him an attendant as deputy envoy, and wrote a letter to King Zhao Tuo of Nanyue. The letter stated: "Greetings, King Zhao Tuo of Nanyue. Word is you've been busy. I, as a son of lesser standing of Emperor Gaozu, have been sent to a distant land, with a long journey ahead. I have limited knowledge and have never written to you before. After the passing of Emperor Gaozu and Emperor Xiaohui, Empress Dowager Lu took over, but fell ill, causing widespread chaos. The Lü family seized power and threw the whole country into turmoil. I was unable to control the situation alone, so I had no choice but to put someone else on the throne to succeed Emperor Xiaohui. Thanks to our ancestors and loyal subjects, we were able to eliminate the Lü clan. With the nobles and officials acting up, I had to ascend the throne. I recently heard that you wrote to Marquis Longluo, requesting the placement of your brothers and the dismissal of two generals in Changsha. I've already let Marquis Boyang go as you asked, and I've sent someone to check on your brothers in Zhending and fix up your ancestors' tombs."

Some time ago, I heard that you were using troops at the border, and border conflicts continued unabated. At that time, Changsha suffered, and Nanyue was even more severely affected. Although that is your territory, what good does it do you? It would leave countless widows, orphans, and heartbroken families; nine out of ten men would be killed. I really can't bear to see such things happen. I want to settle our tangled border disputes. I asked the ministers, and they said, "This is how the borders were drawn by Emperor Gaozu of Han; I have no authority to change them." The minister also said, "You govern the lands south of the river; that is your responsibility." Although you are called emperor, with two emperors ruling side-by-side with no peaceful communication, this is called conflict; a wise person will not fight without compromise. I hope that both sides can abandon past grievances and restore normal diplomatic relations from now on. So I have sent Lu Jia to quickly convey my intentions to you, hoping you will accept this token of goodwill and that peace will prevail between our nations. I have sent you fifty pieces of top-quality clothing, thirty pieces of medium-quality clothing, and twenty pieces of low-quality clothing, hoping you can be happy and care about your neighboring country.

Lu Jia arrived in Nanyue, and King Zhao Tuo of Nanyue was afraid, quickly prostrated himself in apology and expressed his willingness to forever be a vassal of the Han Dynasty and pay tribute on time. Then, by imperial decree, Zhao Tuo issued a nationwide order, saying, "I have heard that two talented and capable individuals cannot exist at the same time, and two wise individuals cannot coexist. The Emperor of the Han Dynasty is a wise ruler. From now on, the title of Emperor is hereby abolished, and all imperial regalia are to be discarded."

Zhao Tuo's letter read: "Zhao Tuo, a loyal old servant of the southern tribes, bows repeatedly and presents a memorial to the Emperor: I was a former official of Nanyue, and the Emperor Gaozu once bestowed upon me the seal of Zhao Tuo, appointing me as the King of Nanyue, a vassal of the Han dynasty, to pay tribute on time. When Emperor Xiaohui ascended the throne, he remembered our old ties and increased his rewards to me. After Empress Lü came to power, she favored sycophants, listened to slander, and treated the barbarians differently, ordering, 'No gold or iron tools for the Nanyue people; they can have cattle and sheep, but only the males.' I was out of touch with the court, my horses and sheep have aged, I feel that I have not properly honored my ancestors, and have committed a capital offense, so I had my ministers, Zhong Wei Gao and Ping Fan, the Imperial Historian, present a memorial to seek pardon, but received no response. I then heard that my parents' graves had been damaged, and my brothers and clan members had been executed. Officials discussed together, 'We're ignored in court and can't rule ourselves here.' Therefore, I made myself emperor, established my own country, not meaning any harm to the world. When Empress Lü heard of this, she was extremely angry, took away Nanyue's title, and cut off contact with Nanyue. I suspect that the King of Changsha sent people to spread slander, which is why I dared to send troops to attack the border of Changsha. Furthermore, the southern terrain is swampy and humid; to the west is the West Ou kingdom, another small kingdom; to the east is Minyue, another small kingdom; and to the northwest is the kingdom of Changsha, which has a significant barbarian population. Therefore, I presumptuously usurped the title of emperor just for kicks. I control vast territories of over a hundred cities, with a million-strong army, yet I bow to the north, submitting to the Han dynasty. Why is this? I couldn't go against my ancestors' wishes! I have lived in Nanyue for forty-nine years and now have grandchildren. However, I rise early and sleep late every day, have restless nights, cannot eat, do not look at splendid things, do not listen to the sound of bells and drums, all because I cannot serve the Han dynasty! If Your Majesty could pity me now, restore my former title, and restore communication with the envoys of the Han dynasty, my corpse will not decay after death; I promise never to proclaim myself emperor again! I have sent two jade bi discs, ten rhinoceros horns, five hundred purple shells, a thousand green birds, forty pairs of their feathers, a cassia wood box, and two peacocks. Bows repeatedly, reporting to Your Majesty the Emperor."

Not provided.

After Lu Jia returned, he reported the situation to Emperor Wen of Han, who was very pleased. Later, during the reign of Emperor Jing of Han, the kingdom of Nanyue continued to send envoys to bow before the emperor. However, Nanyue still referred to itself as a kingdom domestically; when sending envoys to the Han court, although they claimed to be following the orders of the Han court, they were basically just another vassal state.

In the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Hu Hai's grandson, Zhao Tuo, became the king of Nanyue. Three years later, King Ying of Minyue led his troops south to attack the Nanyue border. Nanyue sent a letter to Emperor Wu of Han, saying, "We're both your vassal states, so we shouldn't be fighting each other. Minyue just attacked us, and we can't fight back without your say-so." The Emperor was impressed by Nanyue's loyalty, so he sent troops to attack Minyue. Before the army even got there, King Ying was killed by his own brother, Yu Shan, who then surrendered. The Han army called it a day.

Emperor Wu of Han sent Yan Zhu to offer condolences to Nanyue. When King Hu of Nanyue saw Yan Zhu, he repeatedly kowtowed and said, "The emperor actually sent troops to attack Minyue, how's that for gratitude?" He then sent his crown prince, Yingqi, to Chang'an to serve the emperor. He told Yan Zhu, "Our country has just suffered from war, and my envoy's already on his way. I'm planning to head to the capital soon to pay my respects." After Yan Zhu left, the ministers of Nanyue advised Hu, saying, "The Han's attack on Ying scared the bejesus out of us. Moreover, the late king said that serving the emperor must pay attention to etiquette; don't try to butter him up out of fear. If you go to the capital to meet the emperor and do not return, that's a surefire recipe for disaster!" So Hu lied about being sick and ultimately did not go to the capital. Years later, Hu became seriously ill, and Crown Prince Yingqi requested to return to the country. After Hu's death, he was posthumously named King Wen. After Yingqi succeeded to the throne, he hid his grandfather and great-grandfather's imperial seals. While serving as a hostage in Chang'an, Yingqi married a woman from the Jiao family of Handan and had a son named Xing. Upon ascending to the throne, he petitioned to establish the Jiao woman as queen and Xing as crown prince. The Han Dynasty sent envoys multiple times to hint at him, but he continued to do as he pleased, was a bit of a bloodthirsty chap, feared going to the capital to meet the emperor, insisted on governing the country with Han Dynasty laws like other vassals within the country, kept faking illness, and ultimately did not go to the capital to meet the emperor. He just sent his son, Cigong, to Chang'an. After Yingqi's death, he was posthumously named King Ming.

After the crown prince inherited the throne, his mother became the Dowager Queen. Before marrying the King of Nam Viet, the Dowager Queen had an affair with Anguo Shaoji from Baling. After the death of the King of Nam Viet, in the fourth year of Yuanding, the Han Dynasty sent Anguo Shaoji to persuade the King of Nam Viet and the Dowager Queen to visit Chang'an to meet the emperor. They also sent the eloquent official Zhongjun, among others, to deliver the imperial edict, and dispatched the valiant Weichen and his men to ensure the mission's success, stationing troops led by Lu Bode in Guiyang just in case. The young King of Nam Viet's mother, a Chinese woman, renewed her affair with Anguo Shaoji during his visit. The people of Nam Viet all knew about this, so many did not support the Dowager Queen. Afraid of rebellion and wanting to use the Han Dynasty's strength to their advantage, the Dowager Queen persuaded the King of Nam Viet and his favored officials to submit to the Han Dynasty. She took the opportunity of the Han Dynasty envoys to write to the Han Dynasty emperor, requesting to meet the emperor every three years like the other tributary states, and to exempt border tariffs. The Han Dynasty emperor agreed to her request, granting the Prime Minister of Nam Viet, Lu Jia, a silver seal, as well as the seals of the Interior Minister, Grand General, and Grand Tutor, with other official seals to be set by Nam Viet itself. The Han Dynasty also pardoned criminals previously convicted in Nam Viet and allowed Nam Viet to adopt Han Dynasty laws. The Han Dynasty envoys stayed in Nam Viet to help them integrate. The King of Nam Viet and the Dowager Queen began preparing for their journey to the capital.

The Prime Minister of Nanyue, Lv Jia, was very old. He had assisted three Nanyue kings and had more than seventy relatives and friends in official positions. His sons married Nanyue princesses, and his daughters married into the royal family. He also had connections with the King of Cangwu. Lv Jia was incredibly influential in Nanyue; many trusted him more than the king himself. Despite repeatedly warning the Han court against aggression, the emperor did not heed his warnings. Suspecting rebellion, Lv Jia repeatedly refused to meet with the Han envoys. The Han envoys respected him but were not allowed to harm him at that time. Fearing Lv Jia's potential rebellion, the king and queen hoped to use the Han envoys to get rid of him. At a banquet, the queen subtly goaded the Han envoys, hoping to incite them against Lv Jia, but they remained hesitant. Lv Jia, sensing a trap, slipped away. Enraged, the queen wanted to kill Lv Jia on the spot, but the king restrained her. Lv Jia returned home, feigning illness to avoid the king and envoys. He secretly planned a rebellion. The king had no intention of killing Lv Jia, a fact Lv Jia was aware of, so he bided his time for months. The queen desperately wanted Lv Jia and his supporters dead, but lacked the means.

The Emperor heard about this, figured the envoy he'd sent was a total wimp – he'd just run off! What a disgrace! The Emperor also thought that the King of Nanyue and the Queen Mother had already secretly defected to the Han Dynasty; there was no need to send in the whole army, so he wanted to send Zhuang Can with two thousand men to investigate the situation. Zhuang Can was all, "If it's just talks, a few guys'll do. But if we're talking war, two thousand ain't enough!" The Emperor couldn't persuade him, so he had to cancel Zhuang Can's troops.

Then this dude, Han Qianqiu – former Prime Minister of Jibei – pipes up, "Nanyue's army is small potatoes, and the King's ready to roll over. It's just Lu Jia causing all the trouble. Give me three hundred good men, and I'll bring you Lu Jia's head on a platter!" The Emperor then sent Han Qianqiu with the Queen Mother's brother Jue Le and two thousand troops. The minute they hit Nanyue, Lu Jia flipped out and announced to the whole country, "The King's just a kid! The Queen Mother's Chinese, and she's been cozying up to those Han envoys. She's practically begging to surrender, handing over the old King's treasures to suck up to the Emperor. She went to Chang'an with them, and now they're all slaves! All they cared about was the quick buck, and they threw the whole Zhao dynasty under the bus!" Then Lu Jia and his brother led the army, killed the Queen Mother and the King of Nanyue, and also killed all the Han Dynasty envoys. Then Lu Jia told the King of Cangwu and the other counties to crown the King's oldest son – Yue's wife, Shu Yanghou Jiande – as the new King.

After Han Qianqiu led the troops in, they captured some small towns. Later, unexpectedly, the Southern Yue even provided Han Qianqiu's forces with supplies and safe passage. However, when they were only forty miles away from Panyu, the Southern Yue army suddenly attacked and wiped out his entire army. The Southern Yue people sealed the letter from the Han Dynasty messenger, placed it on the border, sent a phony apology, and also sent troops to defend important passes. The emperor said, "Although Han Qianqiu was not successful, he was the bravest general in our army. I made his son, Han Yannian, the Marquis of Cheng'an. As for Jue Le, his sister is the Queen Mother and the first to want to join the Han Dynasty. I also named his son, Guangde, Marquis of Zhao." Then the emperor ordered a general amnesty, saying, "My country's weak right now, and the princes are all doing their own thing. They criticize me for not suppressing the rebels. Lu Jia, Jiande, and the rest were running riot. I command the armies of Southern Yue and south of the Yangtze River, a 100,000 strong naval force, to suppress them!"

In the autumn of 112 BC, Lu Bode, appointed General of Fubo, marched south from Guiyang along the Huang River; Chief Commandant Yang Pu, appointed General of Lou Chuan, moved south from Yuzhang along the Hengpu River; the Marquis of Guiyi and the Marquis of Xialai were appointed as the Generals of Ge Chuan and Xia Lai, respectively, with one army moving down the Li River and another reaching Cangwu; at the same time, the Marquis of Chiyi was tasked with utilizing criminals from Bashu and recruiting soldiers from Yelang to march down the Zangke River; all the armies finally met in Panyu.

Next, in the winter of 111 BC, the Admiral led an elite force to first capture Xunxiang, break through the Shimen, and captured numerous Yue warships and supplies. They then pursued their victory, defeating the morale of the Yue army and holding tens of thousands of Yue prisoners, awaiting General Fubo's arrival. General Fubo led a force composed of convicts, but due to the long journey, they arrived later than scheduled, with only a thousand men remaining when they linked up with the Admiral. The two armies then attacked together. Upon arriving at Panyu, the Admiral found Jiande and Jia defending the city. He chose a favorable position in the southeast, while General Fubo stationed in the northwest. In the evening, the Admiral launched a fierce attack, defeating the Yue army and setting the city on fire. The Yue army had heard of General Fubo's fame but did not know the size of his force, causing panic. General Fubo set up camp and sent messengers to offer terms of surrender. He promised rewards, including official seals and robes, and encouraged the soldiers to persuade their comrades to surrender. While the Admiral attacked and burned the city, he also drove the fleeing enemy into General Fubo's camp. The next morning, everyone in Panyu surrendered to General Fubo. Only Lu Jia and Jiande, with hundreds of followers, escaped into the sea at night. General Fubo asked the surrendered soldiers, learned the direction of Lu Jia's escape, and sent troops to pursue. In the end, his Captain Sima Suhong captured Jiande and was created Marquis of Haichang; Du Ji, a Yue commander who captured Lu Jia, became Marquis of Lincai.

Cangwu King Zhao Guang and Yue King share the same surname. Upon hearing that the Han army was approaching, they readily surrendered and were titled Marquis Sui Tao. The magistrate of Jieyang in Yue territory also surrendered to the Han Dynasty and was titled Marquis An Dao. Yue general Bi Qu surrendered with his troops and was titled Marquis Liao. The Guilin prefect persuaded more than 400,000 people in the Ou Luo region to surrender and was titled Marquis Xiangcheng. The armies of Generals Ge Chuan and Xia Lai, and Marquis Chi Yi's Ye Lang troops had not yet reached Panyu, but Nanyue was already under control. Therefore, the Han Dynasty established the territories of Dan'er, Zhuyai, Nanhai, Cangwu, Yulin, Hepu, Jiaozhi, Jiuzhen, and Rinan as nine counties of Nanyue. General Fubo got a promotion for this. General Lou Chuan was promoted to Marquis for his bravery in battle, breaking through enemy strongholds.

Ever since Yituo became king, Nanyue experienced a total of five generations of monarchs. When the last king died, Nanyue had existed for ninety-three years.

They say that the kings of Minyue, Wuzhu, and Yuedonghai were all descendants of King Goujian of Yue, surnamed Zou. After the Qin Dynasty unified the country, they abolished their royal titles and designated their territories as Minzhong Commandery. Later, when the feudal lords rebelled against the Qin, Wuzhu and Yao led their people to seek refuge with the magistrate of Fanyang, Wu Rui—the famous Fan Jun, a powerful local leader—and joined the feudal lords in overthrowing the Qin Dynasty. At that time, Xiang Yu had the final say and did not grant them royal titles, so they did not assist the Chu Kingdom. Later, when the Han Dynasty fought against Xiang Yu, Wuzhu and Yao led the people of Yue to assist the Han Dynasty. Five years into the Han Dynasty, Wuzhu was made King of Minyue again and continued to rule the original Minzhong region, with the capital in Yexian. In the third year of Emperor Xiaohui, the Han Dynasty recognized the Yue lords' contributions during the reign of Emperor Gaozu, and because King Yao was successful and popular with his people, he was titled King of East Sea, with the capital in Dong'ou.

Several generations later, in the third year of Emperor Xiaojing, Wu Wang Bi rebelled and tried to persuade Minyue to join him, but they refused. Only Dong Ou followed King Bi in rebellion. After King Bi was defeated, Dong Ou was not punished by the Han Dynasty because they betrayed King Bi by killing his son, Dantu.

King Bi's son, Ju, escaped to Minyue. He hated Dong Ou for killing his father and urged Minyue to attack Dong Ou. In the third year of Jianyuan, Minyue finally sent troops to besiege Dong Ou. Dong Ou quickly sent messengers to the court for help. The Emperor asked Grand Tutor Tian Fan what to do. Tian Fan said, "Fighting's just par for the course down in Minyue. No need to bother the court with it." Minister Yan disagreed and believed they should help. The Emperor then sent Yan Zhu, the court minister, to lead troops to Kuaiji prefecture (in modern-day Zhejiang province) and then sail to rescue Dong Ou, as detailed in the "Biography of Yan Zhu." Before the Han army arrived, Minyue withdrew their troops.

Later, Dong Ou asked to move to the Central Plains, and they were resettled in the Yangtze and Huai River regions.

Six years back, Minyue went to war with Nanyue. But Nanyue was pretty well-behaved; they didn't dare fight without telling the Emperor first. The Emperor sent out Daxing Wang Hui from Yuzhang and Dasi Nong Han Anguo from Kuaiji – both generals. Before the armies even got to the border, King Ying of Minyue led his troops to occupy strategic locations. Yushan, his brother, huddled with the family and said, "Our king just went to war without asking the Emperor, so he sent troops to punish us. The Han army's huge – even if we got lucky and won, more troops would come, and they'd wipe us out in the end. So, we should kill the king, apologize to the Emperor, and hope he calls off his armies. If we fight and lose, we're all swimming with the fishes!"

Everyone agreed, so they killed him and sent his head to Wang Hui. Daxing Wang Hui said, "I came here to kill this king. Now that his head has been sent, the problem is solved without fighting. Couldn't be better!" So he told Han Anguo's army to stand down and sent a fast courier to the Emperor with the good news. The Emperor called the generals back, saying, "King Ying was the ringleader; only Sun Youjun stayed out of it." He made Jiang Liuchou the new Yueyao King, in charge of the Minyue sacrifices.

Yushan, now a hero for killing King Ying, got a lot of support and secretly crowned himself king. The Emperor heard about this and figured, "Why bother sending more troops? Yushan saved us the trouble by killing Ying!" So, he made Yushan the new Dongyue King, to rule Nanyue alongside the Yueyao King.

In the fifth year of Yuanding, the rebellion in Nanyue broke out again. Yu Shan submitted a memorial requesting to lead eight thousand soldiers on junks to attack Lu Jia and others. When the army reached Jieyang, they were hindered by strong winds and waves at sea. He found himself in a bind and secretly colluded with the people of Nanyue. After the Han army captured Panyu, the general on the junk submitted a memorial requesting to lead troops to attack eastern Guangdong. The emperor figured the guys were beat and did not agree. Therefore, the troops were withdrawn, and all military officers were ordered to stay in Yuzhang Meiling on standby.

In the following autumn, I heard that the general on the junk was coming to punish Yu Shan, and the Han army was stationed on the border, ready to take action. Yu Shan then sent troops to block the Han army's path and gave General Zou Li and others a grand title of "Han-Devouring General." He then led his troops to attack Baisha, Wulin, and Meiling, killing three captains of the Han army. At that time, the envoys sent by the Han dynasty, Zhang Cheng and the former Marquis of Mountain Zhou, were supposed to station troops. However, seeing the situation, they dared not attack and instead hid, eventually being executed for cowardice. Yu Shan also carved a "Wu Emperor" jade seal, declared himself emperor, deceived the common people, and spouted lies.

The emperor then dispatched General Han Shuo from Ju Zhang, arriving by boat from the east; the junk general attacked from Wulin; Lieutenant Wang Wenshu attacked from Meiling; Duke of Yue led warships, and General Xia Lai also attacked from Ruxie and Baisha directions. In the winter of the first year of Yuanfeng, the Han army had advanced into Dongyue. Dongyue originally stationed troops in strategic locations for resistance and even sent General Xunbei to guard Wulin. As a result, they defeated several captains of the junk army and even killed their chief officer. Later, the soldiers of the junk army killed General Xunbei in Qiantang and were subsequently ennobled as the Marquis of Yuer. Before this, the main Han offensive hadn't even begun yet.

So, what happened was that the former ruler of Yue, Wu Yang, was already aligned with the Han Dynasty. When the Han envoy returned to persuade Yu Shan to surrender, Yu Shan refused to listen. When the Henghai Army arrived, Wu Yang led his seven hundred local men in rebellion, attacking the Dong Yue army in Hanyang. At this time, the former ruler of Yue, Ao, and King Ju of Yu Gu conspired together, killed Yu Shan, and then surrendered their army to the Henghai Army. Ju Gu was made Lord of Dong Cheng with a fief of ten thousand households; Ao was made Lord of Kailing; Wu Yang was made Lord of Maoshi; Henghai General Han Shuo was made Lord of Andao; Henghai Colonel Fu was made Lord of Liaoying. This Fu was the son of the King of Chengyang, who had previously been the Lord of Haichang but was deprived of his title for committing a crime. He later joined the army, distinguished himself, and due to his royal connections, regained his title. The remaining Dong Yue generals surrendered their armies upon the Han army's arrival, and they were all made Lords of Wuxi. Another general from Oulu, Zuo Huangtong, killed King Xi Yu and was made Lord of Xiaofu.

The Emperor said, "The terrain of Dong Yue is narrow and full of obstacles, and the people of Min Yue and Dong Yue are both strong and unpredictable," so he ordered all military officers and civilians to be relocated to the Jianghuai region. Thus, the Dong Yue region was depopulated.

So the story goes, King Man of Joseon was originally from Yan State. When he was in Yan State, he often led troops to attack *Zhenfan* and *Joseon*, established officials there, and built defensive fortifications. After Qin State destroyed Yan State, this area became a backwater in the Liaodong region. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, it was considered too far and difficult to defend here, so the original border of Liaodong was repaired again, with the Pèi River, which formed the border, and it was placed under the jurisdiction of Yan State. Following King Lu Wan's rebellion and flight to the Xiongnu, King Man became a fugitive. He raised a team of more than a thousand people, with him were followers from various barbarian tribes, and fled eastward out of the border, crossed the Pèi River, occupied the abandoned cities and border fortifications from the Qin Dynasty period, gradually controlled the barbarian tribes such as *Zhenfan* and *Joseon*, as well as some veterans from Yan and Qi, and established his own kingdom, with the capital at Wangxian.

At this time, Emperor Xiaohui of the Han Dynasty and Empress Dowager Lü had just pacified the world, and the Governor of Liaodong made an agreement with King Man to make him a vassal of the Han Dynasty, responsible for guarding the border, keeping out invaders, and not obstructing barbarian leaders who wanted to visit the emperor. After this was reported to the court, the emperor approved it. Therefore, King Man used his military strength and resources to continuously annex surrounding small cities. *Zhenfan* and *Lintun* all submitted to him, and his kingdom expanded enormously in a short period of time.

Later, Wang Man's grandson, You Qu, succeeded to the throne. He attracted more and more defectors from the Han Dynasty, but he always refused to meet with the Han emperor. Zhenfan and Chenguo wanted to petition the emperor, but they were blocked by him. In the second year of the Han Yuanfeng era, the Han Dynasty sent an envoy, She He, to persuade You Qu, but You Qu refused to heed the emperor's orders. On his departure, as She He reached the Pei River, the King of Puyo sent someone to assassinate the people escorting She He. They then crossed the Pei River, escaped back to the border, and reported to the Han emperor that they had "killed a Joseon general." The emperor found this report convenient, did not investigate further, and even appointed She He as Liaodong's Eastern Commandant. Korea, enraged by She He's death, sent troops to attack, killing She He.

This made the Han emperor furious, so he pressed criminal conscripts into service to attack Korea. In the autumn of that year, the Han Dynasty sent General Yang Pu, commander of the Lou Chuan fleet, with fifty thousand troops sailing through the Bohai Sea from the state of Qi. At the same time, General Xun Zhi from Liaodong went to punish You Qu. You Qu's army defended the mountain pass. As a result, many of General Xun's soldiers deserted, causing army morale to crumble and leading to defeat. Many soldiers fled and were executed. General Yang Pu arrived first with seven thousand troops at the strategic location of Wang Xian. You Qu defended the city and, seeing that the Lou Chuan army was outnumbered, took the initiative to attack, resulting in the defeat and rout of the Lou Chuan army. General Yang Pu lost most of his forces, fled to the mountains, hid for more than ten days, and slowly rallied his scattered troops. The army attacking Korea on the west side of the Pei River also failed to break through.

The Emperor thought the two generals' plan to attack Youqu was useless, so he sent Wei Shan to intimidate Youqu into surrendering. When Youqu saw the envoy, he kept bowing and begging forgiveness, saying, "I am willing to surrender, but I am afraid you will kill me by deceit; now that I see your sincerity, I will surrender." Then he sent his prince to apologize, offering five thousand horses and supplies. Ten thousand armed men were poised to cross the river, but the envoy and the left general suspected this was a trick by Youqu, believing that the prince had already surrendered, so they should let their guard down. Suspecting a trick, the prince turned back. After Wei Shan returned, the emperor had him killed.

The left general routed the upstream forces, then came to the city and surrounded it from the northwest. The navy showed up and set up camp south of the city. Youqu held out for months.

General Zuo was a favorite of the emperor and always at his side. He leads soldiers from the Yan Kingdom, who are a bunch of cocky, battle-hardened vets. The Lou Chuan fleet, all Qi troops, had taken a real beating at sea and got their butts kicked by General You Qu, losing a ton of men. The troops were scared stiff, and their commanders were mortified, so when surrounding General You Qu, they were playing it cool.

General Zuo is eager to attack and was secretly trying to get them to surrender, but no final decision has been made. But try as he might, he couldn't get them to cooperate. General Zuo also tries to persuade the Qi Kingdom to surrender, but they refuse and lean towards the Lou Chuan fleet instead. The two generals hated each other's guts. General Zuo figured the Lou Chuan fleet, having lost a battle and now cozying up to the Qi without surrendering, was planning a rebellion, so he held back.

The emperor sent Wei Shan to talk You Qu into surrendering, but Wei Shan got cold feet and messed things up with General Zuo, blowing the whole thing. With the two generals at each other's throats, the city wasn't budging. Therefore, the former Governor of Jinan, Gongsun Sui, is sent to mediate and given the authority to handle the situation. General Zuo told Gongsun Sui that they should've taken Qi by now, but the Lou Chuan fleet kept blowing them off.

General Zuo laid it all out for Gongsun Sui: if they didn't take Qi now, it'd be a disaster—the Lou Chuan fleet and their army could both get wiped out. Gongsun Sui agrees and uses the emperor's token to summon the Lou Chuan commander to General Zuo's camp for discussions. Zuo set a trap, nabbed the Lou Chuan commander, and took his army. He reported it to the emperor, and then—bam!—Gongsun Sui got the axe.

General Left merged two armies together and immediately went on the offensive against Korea. Prime Ministers Lu Ren, Han Tao, Ni Xi, and General Wang Hao discussed together, saying, "Initially, we wanted to surrender to General Lou Chuan, but now that he has been captured, only General Left is left leading the troops. This is getting out of hand, and the king won't give in." Han Tao, Wang Hao, and Lu Ren eventually surrendered to the Han. Lu Ren later died in battle.

In the summer of the third year of Yuanfeng, Prime Minister Ni Xi sent someone to kill the King of Korea, Right Qu, and then surrendered to the Han with his men. However, Xiancheng had not yet been captured, so Right Qu's minister Cheng Yi rebelled again and attacked the officials of the Han. General Left then sent Right Qu's son Chang and the son of surrendered Prime Minister Lu Ren to inform the people and killed Cheng Yi. In this way, Korea was eventually divided into four counties by the Han: Zhenfan, Lintun, Yuelang, and Xuantu. Can became the Marquis of Huaqing, Tao the Marquis of Qiuzhu, Hao the Marquis of Pingzhou, Chang the Marquis of Ji, and Cui the Marquis of Juyang for his father's death in battle and his own service.

After General Left returned from the war, because they were all backstabbing each other and their plans were terrible, he was eventually executed. General Lou Chuan was also sentenced to death for launching an attack without waiting for General Left's orders when the army reached Liekou, causing a large number of casualties, but he got off with a pardon and became a commoner.

It is said that for generations, the people of Chu and Yue had their own land. When the Zhou Dynasty was in decline, the territory of the Chu State extended five thousand miles, and Goujian was once the king of the Yue State. After the Qin Dynasty destroyed the vassal states, only the Dian kingdom, a remnant of Chu, remained. When the Han fought the southwestern barbarians, only the Dian State still received the emperor's favor. After the Dongyue State was destroyed and its people resettled, even someone like Wang Jugu was still a high-ranking official. These three regions flourished thanks to capable ministers. The southwest was opened up by Tang Meng and Sima Xiangru, the two Yue regions by Yan Zhu and Zhu Maichen, and Korea by She He. They timed it perfectly; with the country thriving, they all succeeded. Real hard workers! That's exactly what the old folks meant by "winning them over with kindness and respect," isn't it?

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: The Book of Han (漢書)

Published: 01 December 2024

Created: 01 December 2024

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After a couple of months, the Chanyu returned to the royal court and ordered a ceasefire, allowing everyone to return to their original homes. Then, he found his brother, Hudu Wusi, who had been hidden among the people, and appointed him as the Left Valley King. He also sent someone to inform a powerful figure in the right wing, hoping that he would kill the King of the Right.

That winter, Du Longqi and the King of the Right jointly enthroned Rizhu King Boxutang as the Tujie Chanyu. They then led an army of tens of thousands to attack the Chanyu to the east. As a result, the Chanyu was defeated and fled. Tujie Chanyu came back victorious, appointing his eldest son as the Left Valley King and his youngest son as the Right Valley King, allowing them to stay in the Chanyu's royal court.

In the following autumn, Tujie Chanyu sent Rizhu King Xianxian's brother, King Aojian of the Right, to lead twenty thousand cavalry as the Wujie Captain. He was stationed in the east to guard against the Chanyu. At this time, the King of Jie in the west and Weili Danghu conspired to falsely accuse the King of the Right, claiming that he wanted to declare himself the Wujie Chanyu. Tujie Chanyu believed this and had the King of the Right and his son killed. Later, Tujie Chanyu realized that he had wrongly accused the King of the Right and had Weili Danghu killed. King of Jie was afraid and fled, declaring himself the Jie Chanyu. Upon hearing this, King Aojian of the Right also crowned himself the Cheli Chanyu. The Wujie Captain also made himself the Wujie Chanyu. And just like that, there were five Chanyus!

Tuqi personally led troops to the east to attack Cheli, and also sent Du Longqi to attack Wujie. Both Wujie and Cheli were defeated and fled to the northwest, joining forces with Hujie, swelling their ranks to forty thousand. Wujie and Hujie both abandoned the title of Chanyu and supported Cheli together. Hearing this, Tuqi sent his top general and a duwei to lead forty thousand cavalry to the east to guard against Huhanxie, while he himself led forty thousand cavalry to the west to attack Cheli. Cheli was defeated and fled to the northwest, so Tuqi withdrew his troops to the southwest and finally stationed at Xidun.

The following year, Huhanxie sent his brother Yugu Liwang to lead troops to attack Tuqi's camp, resulting in the death of over ten thousand people. Upon hearing this news, Tuqi immediately led sixty thousand cavalry to attack Huhanxie. On the way to Shugu, they encountered Huhanxie's forty thousand troops, and a direct battle ensued. Tuqi was defeated and died of rage. Du Longqi then fled back to the Han Dynasty with Tuqi's young son, Yugu Liwang Gumo Lou, while Cheli surrendered to Huhanxie.

Huli Qu, a general under Huhanxie, and his father Huzhilei Wundun, seeing the chaos within the Xiongnu, led tens of thousands of their men to surrender to the Han Dynasty. The Han emperor made Huli Qu the Marquis of Xincheng and Huzhilei Wundun the Marquis of Yiyang. At that time, Li Ling's son installed a man named Wujie Duwei as the new Chanyu, but Huhanxie captured and killed him, reasserting his control over the Xiongnu, though his forces were down to a few tens of thousands.

King Xiuxun, cousin of Tuqi Chanyu, led five or six hundred horsemen to kill Zuo Daqie Qu, then took Zuo Daqie Qu's army under his command and proclaimed himself Runzheng Chanyu in the west. Later, Huhanye Chanyu's brother, King Zuoxian, also declared himself Zhichi Gudu Hou Chanyu in the east. Two years later, Runzheng Chanyu led his army to attack Zhichi Chanyu. Zhichi Chanyu fought against Runzheng Chanyu, killed him, absorbed his troops, and then attacked Huhanye Chanyu. Huhanye Chanyu was defeated, his army fled, and Zhichi Chanyu took over the Khan's court.

After the defeat, Huhanye's minister, Zuo Yizhizi, suggested that he should submit to the Han Dynasty, seek their help, and stabilize the Xiongnu. Huhanye asked everyone, and they all said, "No! We Xiongnu have always conquered through force, built our nation on horseback, and ruled over all others. For a Xiongnu warrior, death in battle is the greatest honor. Brother fights brother for the Khanate; whoever wins, lives or dies, leaves a legacy for generations to come. Although the Han Dynasty is powerful, it has not completely conquered the Xiongnu. Why betray our ancestors, bow to the Han, and become a laughingstock to the world? And how could we lead others then?"

Zuo Yizhi said, "No! Strength and weakness can change. Currently, the Han Dynasty is strong, and countries like Wusun and Chengguo have become subjects of the Han Dynasty. Since the Chanyu Chidi Hou, the Xiongnu's national strength has been weakening day by day, with no hope of recovering lost territory. Although they may seem strong on the surface, they haven't known a day's peace! Now, submitting to the Han Dynasty can ensure survival, while refusal will lead to destruction. What better option is there?" The ministers debated for a long time. The Huhanye Chanyu eventually adopted his suggestion, leading his army close to the Han Dynasty border and sending his son, Prince Yuxian Wang Zhuluqutang, to the Han Dynasty as a hostage. Zhi Zhi Chanyu also sent his son, General Yuda Jiangyuli, as a hostage to the Han Dynasty. This year marked the first year of Emperor Xuan of Han's Ganzhou era.

The following year, Huhanye Chanyu sent envoys to the Han Dynasty, expressing his desire to visit the Emperor in the coming year's first month. The Han dispatched Cavalry Commandant Han Chang to welcome him, gathering two thousand cavalry from seven counties along the way to escort him.

In the first month, the Chanyu visited the Emperor at Ganquan Palace. The Han Emperor treated him with special favor, ranking him above the princes. The Chanyu referred to himself as a subject during the audience, and the Emperor did not address him directly. The Emperor bestowed many gifts upon him, including hats and clothes; a gold seal and a jade-adorned sword; bows, arrows, and ceremonial items; chariots, saddles, and fifteen horses; twenty jin of gold, and two hundred thousand coins, among other things.

After the ceremony, the Han Dynasty sent an escort to accompany the Chanyu back to his residence in Changping. The Emperor himself traveled to Chiyang Palace from Ganquan Palace for rest. Upon arriving in Changping, the Emperor dispensed with the Chanyu's formal audience, but all the ministers on duty at the palace gate could go watch. Loads of tribal leaders and nobles gathered under the Wei Bridge to welcome the Chanyu, cheering along the way. When the Emperor reached the Wei Bridge, everyone shouted "long live." After over a month, the Chanyu returned home.

Before leaving, the Shanyu actively requested to stay near the Guangluo Pass, in case of any emergency to help the Han Dynasty guards of the recently surrendered city. The Han Dynasty then sent Changleweiwei Gao Changhou Dong Zhong and Cheqiwei Han Chang, with sixteen thousand cavalry, and also reinforced the escort with several thousand more troops and mounts from the border counties to escort the Shanyu out of the Shuofang Jilu Pass. The Emperor also ordered Dong Zhong and others to stay behind to protect the Shanyu, help him deal with those who did not obey him, and allocated a total of thirty-four thousand shi of grain to provision the Shanyu. That year, Chizhi Shanyu also sent envoys to pay tribute, and the Han Dynasty extended him considerable courtesies.

The following year, both Shanyus sent envoys to pay tribute, and the Han Dynasty treated the envoy of Huhanye Shanyu even more generously. A year later, Huhanye Shanyu came to pay tribute again, and His Imperial Majesty's gifts matched the previous year's, augmented by an additional 110 sets of clothes, 9000 pieces of silk, and 8000 catties of cotton. The Han Dynasty, being engaged in troop deployments, did not provide a cavalry escort for his return journey.

At first, Chizhi Shanyu thought that Huhanye Shanyu, having surrendered to the Han Dynasty, was in a weak position and could not return to his hometown, so he led his army westward, intending to seize the territories to the west. Then, a brother named Tuyu Shanyu, who originally followed Huhanye Shanyu, also fled to the right land. He rallied the remaining thousands of his brothers' troops and declared himself the Yili Khan. Their paths crossed, leading to a battle where Chizhi Shanyu decisively defeated and killed Yili Shanyu, absorbing his fifty thousand-strong army into his own.

Word reached the Han court that the Han Dynasty sent troops to support the Chanyu of the Hu Hanxie, so Zhi Zhi Chanyu dug in his heels in the east. He realized he couldn't deal with the Xiongnu on his own, so he continued westward, approaching the Wusun, hoping to join forces with them. He sent envoys to the Wusun leader, Xiu Ju Tu. Upon seeing that the Chanyu of the Hu Hanxie was backed by the Han Dynasty, Xiu Ju Tu recognized Zhi Zhi Chanyu as a renegade leader trying to curry favor with the Han. He killed Zhi Zhi Chanyu's envoy, took his head, and sent it to the Han's protector, while dispatching eight thousand cavalry to confront Zhi Zhi Chanyu in battle.

Seeing the large Wusun forces and realizing his envoy never returned, Zhi Zhi Chanyu ordered his troops to strike against the Wusun, defeating them. He then attacked the Wujie to the north, who surrendered. He mobilized his forces again, conquering Jiandun to the west and the Dingling to the north, gobbling up all three in one fell swoop. He frequently sent troops against the Wusun and won every time. His new capital lay seven thousand li east of his court and five thousand li south of Cheshi.

Just as Emperor Yuan of the Han Dynasty had ascended to the throne, the Hu Hanxie Chanyu wrote to him again, saying his people were suffering. The Han ordered the Yunzhong and Wuyuan counties to allocate twenty thousand hu of grain to support him. Zhi Zhi Chanyu felt the trip was too long and resented the Han's support for the Hu Hanxie, so he sent word, wanting his son to go to the Han Dynasty as a hostage. The Han sent Gu Ji to escort his son, but Zhi Zhi Chanyu killed Gu Ji. The Han never heard from Gu Ji again, but later, some surrendered Xiongnu reported that Zhi Zhi Chanyu had killed all who surrendered. When the Hu Hanxie Chanyu arrived in the Han, the officials gave him a thorough grilling upon his arrival.

In the second year, the Han Dynasty sent the chariot commander Han Chang and the Grand Master of Ceremonies Zhang Meng to send the son of the Xiongnu Chanyu as a hostage, checking in on Guji, and formally absolving the Xiongnu Chanyu of any wrongdoing to ease his concerns. Han Chang and Zhang Meng saw the Xiongnu Chanyu and found that his people were increasing, and there was a lot of wildlife on the border. The Xiongnu Chanyu was perfectly capable of defending himself and held no fear of the Zhi Chanyu. Word reached them that many of the Xiongnu Chanyu's advisors urged his return north, fearing he'd be harder to manage. So Han Chang and Zhang Meng formed an alliance with him, with the agreement saying: "From now on, the Han and the Xiongnu are family. No more trickery or fighting. If someone steals, report it, and we'll punish them and make things right. If there's a war, we'll have each other's backs. If either side breaks this, heaven will punish them and their kids for generations." Han Chang and Zhang Meng, together with the Chanyu and his ministers, went to the Nuo River in the Eastern Mountains of the Xiongnu, sacrificed white horses to Heaven, and the Chanyu brought out a ceremonial dagger, gold, and fine wine, along with a skull-shaped drinking cup, a trophy from his victory over the Yuezhi king. They all shared a blood oath.

Han Chang and Zhang Meng returned to report, and the ministers in the court were abuzz with discussion, believing: "The Chanyu Huhanye guards the border like one of our protectorates; even if he wants to return north, he cannot cause any harm. Han Chang and Zhang Meng blasphemously invoked curses on both Han and Xiongnu ancestors without authorization, giving the Chanyu the opportunity to curse the heavens, which is a huge insult to our country—totally unacceptable! We should send envoys to appease Heaven and break the alliance. Han Chang and Zhang Meng overstepped their authority and are gravely culpable." The emperor believed they had made mistakes and ordered them to be punished according to their crimes, but the alliance could not be dissolved. Later, Chanyu Huhanye eventually returned north, more and more people joined him, and his country finally stabilized.

Zhi Zhi Chanyu killed the envoy of the Han Dynasty; he knew he was in the wrong and, having heard that Chanyu Huhanye was becoming more powerful, feared being attacked and wanted to escape to a distant place.

At this time, the Kangju King was constantly harassed by the Wusun, so he discussed with his generals and thought that the Xiongnu were a powerful people, and the Wusun had previously submitted to the Xiongnu. Now that Zhi Zhi Chanyu was trapped outside, we could invite him to settle in our eastern territories, let him attack the Wusun with us, and then support him as king; that would solve our Xiongnu problem. So the Kangju King sent envoys to contact Zhi Zhi Chanyu in Jiankun. Zhi Zhi Chanyu was already afraid, resented the Wusun, and was very happy to hear the Kangju King's plan. He formed an alliance with the Kangju King and led his army to the west. The Kangju King also sent a nobleman with thousands of camels, donkeys, and horses to welcome Zhi Zhi Chanyu. As a result, many of Zhi Zhi Chanyu's soldiers perished from exposure and starvation on the way, and only over three thousand people arrived in Kangju. Later, the Han Dynasty's general Gan Yanshou and deputy general Chen Tang attacked Kangju, killed Zhi Zhi Chanyu, and you can read all about it in the biographies of Gan Yanshou and Chen Tang.

After the death of Zhizhi Chanyu, Huhanye Chanyu was both happy and afraid. He wrote to Emperor Yuan of Han, saying, "I have always wanted to come and see the Emperor, but because Zhizhi Chanyu was in the west, I was worried that he and the Wusun would attack me together, so I have not dared to come to the Han Dynasty. Now that Zhizhi Chanyu has been killed, I hope to be able to come and pay my respects." In the first year of Jingning, Huhanye Chanyu once again visited the court. The treatment given by Emperor Yuan was the same as before, except that the gifts of clothes, silk, and brocade were doubled compared to the meeting at the Yellow Dragon. Huhanye Chanyu himself expressed his desire to form a marriage alliance with the Han Dynasty to show closeness. Emperor Yuan gave the well-born lady Wang Zhaojun to Huhanye Chanyu. Huhanye Chanyu was very happy and wrote that he was willing to defend the border from Shanggu to Dunhuang for generations, requesting that the Han Dynasty withdraw its troops and garrisons from the border, allowing the Emperor and the people to catch their breath. Emperor Yuan ordered the relevant departments to discuss this matter, and everyone thought it was a good idea. However, Langzhong Hou Ying, who was familiar with border affairs, believed that he could not agree to Huhanye Chanyu's request. Emperor Yuan asked Hou Ying what was going on, and Hou Ying said: Since the time of the Zhou and Qin dynasties, the Xiongnu have always been pushy and overbearing, frequently infringing on the border. After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, the situation became even worse. I have heard that from the northern border to Liaodong, there are the Yinshan Mountains, stretching east and west for over a thousand li, with thick forests and teeming wildlife. Previously, Chanyu Maodun relied on the terrain of the Yinshan Mountains to manufacture bows and arrows, often coming out to rob and making the Yinshan Mountains his hunting ground.

By the time of Emperor Wu of Han, troops were sent to conquer and seize the Yin Mountains, extending the border north of the Great Wall. Then, border forts and checkpoints were built, along with signal towers and passes; an outer city was constructed, and troops were stationed for defense, which slightly stabilized the border. North of the Yin Mountains, the land is sparse with vegetation, mostly sandy, making it difficult to hide from Xiongnu invasions. If they launched a southern attack, they would have to pass through deep mountains and valleys, making movement inconvenient. It's said among border folk that every time the Xiongnu pass by the Yin Mountains, they can't help but cry. If we were to remove the defenses and troops from the border now, it would be a gift to the Xiongnu, utterly unacceptable!

The Emperor's kindness extends throughout the land, and the heavens have blessed the Xiongnu, allowing them to survive and submit. It's simply the nature of these tribes to be humble when weak and arrogant when strong. In the past, the outer city was dismantled, and guard posts and passes were reduced; now only watchtowers and beacon towers remain. As the ancients wisely said, even in peace, we must remain vigilant, and therefore cannot withdraw our defenses!

Even with China's strict laws and moral teachings, people still commit crimes. Can we really trust them to keep their word? Throughout history, China has always used checkpoints and bridges to control its vassals, to prevent subjects from rebelling. The border forts and stationed troops protect not only against the Xiongnu, but also against the vassal states and their people. It also prevents those who were once Xiongnu from fleeing back to their old masters.

Recently, the Western Qiang region near the border mingles a lot with the Han people, but officials and common people are greedy, stealing their livestock and even their women and children. Therefore, the Western Qiang people resent us, a legacy of resentment that has been handed down through generations. If we remove the defense of the border, it will breed arrogance, complacency, and conflict, with disastrous results. Many soldiers have died in battle after joining the army and never returned, leaving their families destitute. Once they have the opportunity, they will escape to the Xiongnu to seek refuge with their relatives.

The slaves in the border areas also live in hardship, and many want to escape. They say, "We heard that life is happy on the Xiongnu side, but the defense on the border is so strict, what should we do?" So, people regularly escape across the border from time to time. The bandits are cunning and ruthless, often operating in gangs. If they have nowhere to go, they will escape to the north, making it difficult to control.

Since the construction of the border, it has been over a hundred years. These borders are not all built with earth walls. Some are built using rocks, trees, abandoned firewood, as well as streams, valleys, and water gates, slightly leveled by soldiers and then constructed. It was a massive undertaking, incredibly expensive and difficult to quantify.

I'm worried those advocating this haven't considered the consequences of scrapping all the forced labor and garrisons. If anything went wrong, the border would be breached, the outposts and tunnels destroyed, forcing us to rebuild from scratch. How could centuries of work be undone in an instant?

If the garrison is removed and the surveillance reduced, the Chanyu will think we've abandoned the border, and he will definitely be more grateful to the Han Dynasty, constantly asking for favors. However, if we make a slight mistake, the consequences are unpredictable. This would enrage the barbarians and cripple China. This isn't a long-term solution, nor is it the best way to keep the barbarians in check.

The emperor put his foot down and said, "Stop discussing the withdrawal of troops from the border!" Then he sent a general to explain things in person to the Chanyu: "Chanyu, you have requested in writing to withdraw the troops stationed at the border and have future generations guard the frontier. That's a smart idea, Chanyu. You're thinking long-term, putting the people first, and showing respect for tradition – I really appreciate that! We've got border defenses all over China, not just to keep out invaders, but to keep the peace at home too. That's why we need strong laws – to keep everyone on the same page. I get what you're saying, Chanyu. No worries. You're probably wondering why we're not pulling back, so I've sent the top general to give you the full story." The Chanyu quickly expressed his gratitude: "I'm a bit out of my depth here, Your Majesty. It's awfully kind of you to send someone to explain."

At first, Zuoyizhizi helped the Chanyu plan to submit to the Han Dynasty, and he finally pulled it off. Later, someone jealous of Zuoyizhizi claimed he was exaggerating his achievements. Zuoyizhizi felt uneasy, and the Chanyu also began to doubt him. Afraid of being killed, Zuoyizhizi surrendered to the Han Dynasty with over a thousand people. The Han Dynasty appointed him a marquis, granted him a fief of three hundred households, and allowed him to wear a king's seal and sash. During the Jingning period, the Chanyu came to visit the Emperor of the Han Dynasty and saw Zuoyizhizi again. The Chanyu gratefully said, "Thanks to your advice, the Xiongnu have been peaceful ever since – brilliant work! How can I forget your kindness? I let you down, causing you to leave the Han Dynasty and never return. It’s my fault. Now I want to ask the Emperor to allow you to return to the Xiongnu." Zuoyizhizi replied, "Look, Chanyu, you made peace with the Han because of your own good luck and the gods' favor, not because of me! I've already joined the Han, and going back would be a betrayal. I'm happy to keep serving you from here." No matter how much the Chanyu begged, Zuoyizhizi wouldn't budge.

Wang Zhaojun, her Xiongnu name was Ning Hu E Shi, gave birth to a son named Ituzhiyasi, who later became the King of the Right Wing. Huhanye Chanyu reigned for twenty-eight years and passed away in the second year of the Han Dynasty. At first, Huhanye Chanyu favored the sister of Zuo Yizhi and the daughter of King Huyan. The elder daughter became Zhuangqu E Shi (a title for a Xiongnu queen) and had two sons, the elder son named Qiemoche and the younger son named Nangzhiyasi. The younger daughter became Da E Shi (the chief queen) and had four sons, the elder son named Diaotaomogao, the second son named Qiemeixu, both older than Qiemoche, and the two youngest sons named Xianhele, both younger than Nangzhiyasi. In addition, Huhanye Chanyu had over ten sons with other E Shi. Zhuangqu E Shi had a high status, and Qiemoche was very popular among the people.

When Huhanye Chanyu was near death, he wanted to appoint Qiemoche as his successor. However, his mother Zhuangqu E Shi said, "The Xiongnu have been in turmoil for over ten years, with constant warfare. Thanks to the help of the Han Dynasty, we have been able to stabilize. Now that peace has just returned, the people are still recovering and suffering heavy casualties. Qiemoche is still young, and the people might not support him. I am worried that this will once again endanger the country. Both I and Da E Shi are wives of the Chanyu, and we both have sons. Diaotaomogao would be a better choice." Da E Shi also said, "Although Qiemoche is young, the ministers can assist him in handling state affairs together. Dumping someone with a high position for a lower one will only cause trouble down the road!" In the end, the Chanyu listened to Zhuangqu E Shi's advice, appointed Diaotaomogao as the successor, and agreed to pass the throne to his brother. And so, the throne passed to Diaotaomogao, setting the stage for the next chapter in Xiongnu history.

After the death of the Xiongnu Chanyu Hu Hanxie, Diao Tao Mogao succeeded to the throne and was known as the Fuzhulei Ruodidi Chanyu. After Fuzhulei Ruodidi Chanyu ascended to the throne, he sent his son, a high-ranking prince, to the Han court to serve the emperor. He also appointed Qie Mixu as the Left Noble King, Qie Moche as the Left Gulixi King, and Nangzhayas as the Right Noble King. Fuzhulei Ruodidi Chanyu also married Wang Zhaojun and had two daughters, with the eldest living in Xubu and the youngest living in Dangyu.

In 28 BC, during the first year of Heping, the Xiongnu Chanyu sent Youshi Gaolin Wang Yixiemoyan and others to the Han court to offer New Year's greetings. After the greetings, the Han court sent envoys to escort them back to their country. However, Yixiemoyan said, "If the Han court won't take me in, I'll kill myself—I ain't going back." The envoys reported this to the court, and the court discussed how to handle the situation.

Some ministers believed that, according to past precedent, his surrender should be accepted. However, the Minister of Ceremonies Gu Yong and the Court Gentleman Du Qin proposed a different opinion. They said, "Since the establishment of the Han dynasty, the Xiongnu have always been a threat at the borders, which is why we have offered high rewards to encourage their surrender. Now that the Chanyu has bowed down and become a vassal of the Han dynasty, even sending envoys to congratulate us, it is clear that he has no ill intentions. The Han dynasty's acceptance of his congratulations should be different this time. We've already taken his gifts, so taking in his runaway would be like trading a loyal king for a single guilty man."

In case the Chanyu has just ascended to the throne and is considering seeking refuge with the Han, but is unsure of the pros and cons, he secretly sends Yixie Mo Yan to feign surrender to sound out the situation. Accepting him would break faith with the Chanyu, damage relations, and undermine trust among border officials; or this could be a Hun trick to stir up trouble between the Han and the Xiongnu. If we accept his surrender, we would play right into their hands, giving them an excuse. Border security and military operations are at stake; we can't afford to be reckless. Therefore, we should not accept his surrender in order to show our strength, outsmart the Xiongnu, and earn the Chanyu's trust." The emperor approved their recommendation. Therefore, he sent Zhonglang General Wang Shun to investigate Yixie Mo Yan's surrender. Yixie Mo Yan said, "I was out of my mind; I was just babbling!" And so, he was sent back. He kept his position but refused further contact with Han envoys. The next year, the Chanyu asked for a meeting with the Han. In the first month of the fourth year of Heping, the Chanyu finally arrived at the court and was rewarded with twenty thousand bolts of silk and other fine fabrics, and twenty thousand catties of cotton, along with other rewards as before. The Chanyu ruled for ten years and passed away in the first year of Hongjia. His brother, Qumi Xu, succeeded him and became known as Suo Xie Ruo Di Chanyu. After Suo Xie Chanyu ascended the throne, he sent his son Prince Zhu Liusi to serve the emperor of the Han and appointed Qie Mo Che as the Left King. Suo Xie Chanyu ruled for eight years. In the first year of Yuanyan, he prepared to visit the Han, but fell ill and died on the way after two years of travel. His brother, Qie Mo Che, succeeded him and became known as Che Ya Ruo Di Chanyu. When Che Ya Chanyu took the throne, he sent his son Prince You Yu Tu Qiu Dan Wang Wuyi to serve as an attendant and appointed Nang Zhi Ya Si as the Left King. Che Ya Chanyu was only four years old when he ascended the throne and died in the first year of Suihe.

Then his younger brother, Nangzhiyasu, succeeded to the throne and was called Wuzhuliu Ruodi Chanyu. During the reign of Wuzhuliu Ruodi, he appointed his second son, Le, as the Left Noble King and his fifth son, Yu, as the Right Noble King. He also sent his son, Yugu Nuwang Wudi Yasi, as a hostage to the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty sent a high-ranking general, Xiahou Fan, and a deputy commander, Han Rong, to negotiate with the Xiongnu.

At that time, Wang Gen, the Emperor's uncle and a powerful general, was in charge of the affairs of the Shangshu. It was suggested to Wang Gen, "The Xiongnu's territory extends into the Han Dynasty, reaching as far as Zhangye County, where unique wood grows that can be used directly for making arrow shafts and feathers. If we could obtain this land, it would greatly benefit border defense, the country would gain vast territory, and the general could establish illustrious merits that would be recorded in history." Wang Gen reported this proposal to the Emperor. The Emperor originally wanted to ask the Chanyu for this land, but considering that doing so might backfire and damage national prestige, he hesitated. Wang Gen secretly instructed Xiahou Fan to negotiate with the Chanyu in his own way.

Xiahou Fan arrived at the Xiongnu and kind of subtly said to the Chanyu, "I privately observed that the Xiongnu territory extends into the territory of the Han Dynasty, reaching as far as Zhangye Commandery. Three commandants of the Han Dynasty are stationed on the border, with hundreds of soldiers stationed there, enduring great hardships and long-term guard duty. The Chanyu should submit a memorial offering this land to the Han Dynasty, delineate the border, and reduce the guard duties of the two commandants and hundreds of soldiers to show their gratitude. This way, the Han Dynasty's reward will certainly be great." The Chanyu asked, "Is this the Emperor's will, or a personal request from the envoy?" Xiahou Fan replied, "This is the Emperor's intention, but I was just looking out for the Chanyu." The Chanyu said, "Emperor Xuan and Emperor Yuan both showed mercy to my father, Huhanye Chanyu, and gave the land north of the Great Wall to the Xiongnu. This land is where King Wengui resides. I do not yet know the specific situation and production there; please allow me to send someone to investigate." So Xiahou Fan and Han Rong returned to the Han Dynasty.

Later, the Han Dynasty sent them again to negotiate with the Xiongnu for that piece of land. The Chanyu said, "My father and brothers have passed down the throne for five generations, and the Han have never asked for this land before, so why now? I have asked King Wengui; the western Xiongnu tribes rely on the wood from this mountain for building tents and vehicles, and this is the land of my ancestors; I cannot give it up." After Xiahou Fan got back, he was promoted to the position of Taiyuan Prefect. The Chanyu sent word about Xiahou Fan's land grab to the Han Dynasty court. The court issued a decree stating, "Xiahou Fan falsely claimed an imperial decree to demand land from the Chanyu. He should have been executed, but there was a pardon; he's been demoted to Jinan Prefect and is off the Xiongnu case."

The next year, Wudiyasi died and was sent back to the Xiongnu for burial. Then the Xiongnu sent Prince Jiliu Kun as a hostage to the Han Dynasty.

In the year 5 BC, the prince of the Wusun Kingdom, Bei Yuan Zhi, led a whole crew of guys on horseback to the western border of the Xiongnu, stealing cattle and sheep, and killing many Xiongnu people. When the Chanyu of the Xiongnu heard about this, he sent Wu Yi Ling, the Xiongnu's Left Great Household Official, with five thousand cavalry to attack the Wusun, killing more than eight hundred people, capturing over a thousand, and taking away all the cattle and sheep. Bei Yuan Zhi, fearing for his safety, quickly sent his son Qu Lu to the Xiongnu as a hostage. The Chanyu accepted the hostage and reported the incident to the Han Dynasty. The Han Dynasty then sent Zhonglang General Ding Yelin and Deputy Colonel Gong Chengyin to the Xiongnu, really chewing the Chanyu out and ordering him to release the Wusun hostages. After receiving the order, the Chanyu released Qu Lu.

In the year 3 BC, the Chanyu of the Xiongnu wrote a letter to the Han Dynasty, saying that he wanted to visit the emperor in five years. At that time, Emperor Ai of the Han Dynasty was ill, and some people said that having the Xiongnu show up from the north wasn't a good omen. Since the time of Emperor Huanglong and Jingning, whenever the Chanyu visited the Han Dynasty, major events would occur. The emperor hesitated and asked his ministers for advice. The ministers thought it was a drain on the treasury and advised against agreeing to the Chanyu's request. As the Xiongnu envoy was preparing to return home, Huangmen Lang Yang Xiong advised the emperor in a memorial:

"I have heard that the Six Classics say the smartest thing is to get ready before things go south; and in warfare, winning before the fighting starts is key. These points may seem small, but they're huge – you can't ignore them. Now that the Chanyu has written a letter requesting an audience, if our country does not agree and sends him away, I believe that the Han Dynasty and the Xiongnu will become enemies from now on. Not even the Five Emperors or the Three Kings could handle them; it's clear how difficult they are to deal with. I won't go back too far, but let's look at what happened under the Qin Dynasty to illustrate my point."

Qin Shi Huang was so powerful, and Meng Tian was such a badass, leading more than 400,000 troops, but he didn’t dare to attack Xi He and only built the Great Wall to separate them.

Later, when the Han Dynasty was just established, although Emperor Gaozu was very powerful, 300,000 troops were trapped in Pingcheng, and the soldiers went seven days without food. At that time, there were lots of clever advisors and silver-tongued officials, but nobody knows how they got out of that mess.

Empress Dowager Gao was particularly angry with the Xiongnu, and the ministers discussed countermeasures in court. Fan Kuai proposed to take 100,000 troops to go and mess with the Xiongnu. However, Ji Bu said, "They should chop off Fan Kuai's head! The guy's a babbling idiot who's just kissing up!" The ministers then wrote to appease the Xiongnu, which took care of the problem and calmed everyone down.

During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, the Xiongnu again harassed the northern border. Xiongnu scouts even reached Yong County and Ganquan, scaring the pants off the capital. Three generals were quickly sent to set up camp at Xiliu, Jimen, and Bashang to guard against them, and it took a couple of months before the troops were withdrawn.

After Emperor Wu of Han became emperor, he tried to trick the Xiongnu into a trap in Mayi, sending General Han Anguo with 300,000 troops to ambush them. However, the Xiongnu discovered the trap and escaped, wasting a ton of money and men, and didn't even catch a single Xiongnu, let alone the Chanyu!

Later, Emperor Wu of Han figured out a long-term plan, sending in a massive army led by Wei Qing and Huo Qubing, and they fought for over a decade. As a result, the Han army crossed the Xi He, smashed the Xiongnu's main camp, beat the crap out of Zhiyan, raided their royal court, chased them all the way to the ends of the earth, held a big ceremony on Langjuxu Mountain, did some rituals on Guyanshan Mountain, got all the way to the Hanhai, and took hundreds of Xiongnu bigwigs prisoner.

Since then, the Xiongnu have been very afraid, more eager to make peace, but always unwilling to bend the knee.

Oh, back then, why did those emperors spend a fortune and let so many innocent common people suffer, just to scare the Xiongnu in the north? They believed that without effort there would be no peace, and without spending money there would be no lasting stability, so they endured it, mobilized hundreds of thousands of troops to attack the Xiongnu, spent the treasury's money to fill up Lushan, and did not regret it.

At first, the Xiongnu were so arrogant, wanting to plunder the Wusun, even daring to have designs on the princess! The Han Dynasty sent five generals and 150,000 cavalry to the south to fight them, and even had the Changluo Marquis (the title for a noble) lead 50,000 Wusun cavalry to attack from the west. In the end, both sides came back with nothing to show for it. It was all for show, just to flex the Han army's muscles and let the Xiongnu know what the Han army was made of, like thunder and a fierce wind. Although there was no significant result, two generals were killed. So, the Xiongnu in the north were dissatisfied, and our China has never been able to sleep peacefully.

It wasn't until the Yuan Kang and Shenjue periods that the situation improved. The emperor was generous and the policies were sound, and the Xiongnu were in turmoil on their own, with several Chanyus (the Xiongnu title for their leader) vying for supremacy. Huhanye Chanyu led a part of his people to submit to the Han Dynasty, bowing and calling themselves subjects. But the Han Dynasty still had some precautions against them and did not completely lift control. Since then, the Han Dynasty did not stop those who wanted to come as tribute, and did not force those who did not want to come. Why? Because these guys were naturally aggressive, strong as oxen, and stubborn as mules, difficult to persuade with kind words, easy to suspect you at the slightest wrong, very tough, and good luck getting them to play nice.

So, think about it: before the Xiongnu surrender, we have to send troops on a distant expedition, cost a fortune and drain the country, resulting in a bloodbath, breaking through strong cities and defeating the enemy. How difficult is that? After the Xiongnu surrender, we still have to send people to appease them, give them gifts, pay attention to etiquette, and be cautious everywhere—what a huge hassle! In the past, we'd mop up places like Dawan, Wuhuan, Gouzhang, Dangjie, Korea, and Lianyue in a matter of weeks, tops. Poof! They were our counties, and we cleaned up nicely without any trouble afterward. But the Xiongnu in the north are different; they're our sworn enemies! They've been a major headache from ancient times to the present, and the emperors of past dynasties have always taken them seriously. They’re not easy to deal with.

Now the Chanyu has expressed his willingness to surrender, with sincere intentions, wanting to leave his territory and present his thoughts to the court. It's an age-old strategy, and it's what the heavens would want. It'll cost us, but it's a necessary evil! However, we blew him off, saying there’s no definite date, squandering goodwill and sowing the seeds of future conflict! That's a recipe for disaster. We're being friendly while simultaneously pushing him away. He's going to be furious. We broke our promises. We'll make him blame us. He'll never surrender now. We can't bully him into it, and we can't reason with him either. This is seriously worrying.

Smart people see what's coming, clever people hear what's not said. Gotta be ready before things kick off. If we don’t value prevention, without it, strategies like the one at Mayi are impossible, Wei Qing and Huo Qubing's achievements are meaningless, and the five generals' reputation is worthless. If you wait 'til things blow up, even the smartest guys and best talkers can't fix it. Being ready beforehand is way better!

Moreover, in the past, to control the Western Regions and conquer the Cheshi, we built cities and fortresses, set up the Protectorate, and governed thirty-six countries. The money spent each year is countless. Was it all just to prevent the Kangju and Wusun from attacking the west of the White Dragon Ridge? The real goal was to balance the Xiongnu! A hundred years of effort could be wasted due to just one day of negligence, spending a lot of effort but cherishing only a fraction. I'm really worried about this country, you know? Your Majesty, you need to pay attention to this and curb the signs of border unrest before turmoil and war break out.

After the memorial was presented, the emperor finally got it, recalled the Xiongnu envoy, and sent a letter to the Chanyu agreeing to his request. He rewarded him with fifty pieces of fine silk and ten pounds of gold. Before the Chanyu could leave, he got sick and sent word he'd come next year. According to custom, when the Chanyu came to the court, there were over two hundred people, including princes, nobles, and attendants. The Chanyu wrote again, saying, "I have received the grace of the emperor, the people live in peace and prosperity, the country is strong, and I hope to bring five hundred people to the court to show the emperor's great virtue." The emperor just said yes.

In the second year of Yuanshou, the Chanyu came to the court. The Emperor arranged for him to stay at the Putao Palace in Shanglin Garden to avoid the ill omen of Tai Sui. The Emperor specifically ordered everyone to treat the Chanyu with the utmost respect, and the Chanyu was aware of this. The Emperor also rewarded him with 370 sets of clothing, 30,000 rolls of silk and satin, 30,000 catties (approximately 33,000 pounds) of cotton, and other rewards similar to those during the Heping period. After the audience, the Emperor dispatched Zhonglang General Han Kuang to escort the Chanyu back to his country. After the Chanyu left the border, he arrived at Xiutun Jing, crossed the Chetianlu River, and the journey was long. Han Kuang and his men were running low on rations, so the Chanyu provided them with food, delaying their return by more than fifty days.

At first, the Emperor sent Jiliu Kun to follow the Chanyu. When they arrived at the Xiongnu, the Emperor assigned Jiliu Kun's brother, You Daqie Fang, and his wife to serve the Chanyu. After Jiliu Kun returned to his country, the Emperor sent You Daqie Fang's brother, Zuo Rizhu Wangdu, and his wife to serve the Chanyu.

At that time, Emperor Ping of Han was still young, and the Empress Dowager was in charge of the court, while the Marquis of Xindu, Wang Mang, held great power. Wang Mang wanted to demonstrate his power and influence to the Empress Dowager, claiming to be more powerful than his predecessors, so he suggested to the Chanyu to send Wang Zhaojun (also known as Xubu Juciyun) to the palace to serve the Empress Dowager. Therefore, the Empress Dowager often rewarded her with lavish gifts.

The two kings of the Western Regions, Jugu from the Kingdom of Cheshi and Doudou from the Kingdom of Hulai, expressed their displeasure toward the Protector-General of the Han Dynasty because their people and relatives had all defected to the Xiongnu, as detailed in the *Western Regions Annals.*

After the Xiongnu Chanyu occupied the Left Valley Li, he sent envoys to write a letter to the Han Dynasty, saying, "They're mine now." The Han Dynasty sent Zhonglang Generals Han Long and Wang Chang, along with Vice Colonels Zhen Fu and Wang She, and Shizhong Yezhe Bao Chang to the Xiongnu, telling the Chanyu, "We already control the Western Regions. You shouldn't accept them; we're taking them back." The Chanyu replied, "Emperors Xuan and Yuan were good to us and set rules: south of the Great Wall belongs to the Emperor, and north of the Great Wall belongs to the Chanyu. If anyone crosses the border, let us know. If anyone defects, don't take 'em. I know my father, Huhanye Chanyu, received great kindness from the Han Dynasty and before he died, he instructed: 'If anyone from China comes to surrender, don't keep them; send them back to the border to repay the Emperor's kindness.' But these guys are foreigners, so it's cool." The Han Dynasty envoys said, "You guys are tearing yourselves apart! You'd be wiped out if it weren't for us. We saved your hides, your families, and your whole future! Show some gratitude!" The Chanyu apologized and gave the guys back. The Han Dynasty then sent General Wang Meng to the Western Regions to wait for those Xiongnu collaborators to surrender. The Chanyu sent people to return them to their country and requested forgiveness from the Han Dynasty for their crimes. The envoy reported it, but the Emperor said no. So, the Western Region kings got their heads chopped off and put on display. Then the Han Dynasty established four rules:

- Chinese deserters to the Xiongnu

- Wusun defectors to the Xiongnu

- Western Region states surrendering with Han seals to the Xiongnu

- Wuhuan defectors to the Xiongnu

None of them are to be accepted. The Han Dynasty then sent Generals Wang Jun and Wang Chang, along with Vice Colonels Zhen Fu and Wang Xun to the Xiongnu, delivering these four rules in a sealed letter for the Chanyu to follow, and also to get back the old rules Xuan had set.

Back then, Wang Mang was calling the shots, and he decreed that everyone in the country had to use only one name. He sent envoys to the Xiongnu Chanyu, saying, "You should learn from us and change to a single name. The Han will hook you up big time." The Chanyu agreed and wrote, "It's an honor to be a Han vassal. I'm super impressed with your whole peaceful, prosperous thing. My original name was Nangzhiyas, now I have changed my name to Zhi." Wang Mang was stoked and immediately told the Empress Dowager. Then he sent envoys back to the Chanyu with a whole bunch of gifts. The Han issued four edicts. Later, the guys escorting the Wuhuan envoy told the Wuhuan, "Forget paying the Xiongnu for leather and cloth." So, naturally, some Xiongnu tax collectors showed up, along with a bunch of folks looking to trade. The Wuhuan people directly refused, saying, "We are following the emperor's orders and cannot pay taxes to the Xiongnu anymore!" The Xiongnu guys flipped out, grabbed a few Wuhuan chiefs, tied 'em up, and strung 'em up. The chiefs' brothers were furious. They whacked the Xiongnu envoys and their crew, then stole their women, horses, and cattle. When the Xiongnu Chanyu heard, he immediately sent the Left Xian King's army to get revenge and teach those Wuhuan a lesson. The Wuhuan scattered – some hid in the mountains, others bolted east towards the border. The Xiongnu slaughtered a bunch of Wuhuan and took about a thousand women and kids back to their Left Land territory. Then they told the Wuhuan, "Bring horses, livestock, and leather to buy back your people!" Over two thousand Wuhuan relatives showed up with money and livestock to get their people back. The Xiongnu took the money, but kept the prisoners.

In the year when Wang Mang usurped the throne, which was also the first year of the Xin Dynasty, he sent out five envoys led by Wang Jun, along with Zhen Fu, Wang Sa, Chen Rao, Bo Chang, and Ding Ye, preparing lavish gifts of gold and silver to present to the Xiongnu Chanyu. Wang Mang wanted the Chanyu to know that he was appointed by the heavens to replace the Han Dynasty, so he intended to exchange the Chanyu's old seal. The old seal was engraved with the five characters "Xiongnu Chanyu Seal," which Wang Mang changed to "New Xiongnu Chanyu Seal."

When the envoys arrived at the Xiongnu, they presented the new seal and cord to the Chanyu and ordered him to surrender the old seal. The Chanyu bowed in acceptance. Just as the envoys were about to receive the seal, the Chanyu was about to hand it over. At that moment, a close female relative of the Chanyu, Xi Hou Su, advised him, saying, "Have you not seen what characters are engraved on the new seal yet? It's best not to give it up just yet." Upon hearing this, the Chanyu stopped and refused to hand over the old seal. The envoys were invited into the Chanyu's tent to sit down, and the Chanyu wanted to offer them wine and blessings. Wang Jun, one of the envoys, said, "The old seal and cord should be handed over at the right time." The Chanyu replied, "Alright." He then tried to present the old seal and cord again. Su interjected, "You haven't seen what characters are engraved on the new seal yet, so don't hand it over just yet." The Chanyu, angered, exclaimed, "They've changed the inscription!" He then took off the old seal and cord and surrendered them to the envoys.

The envoys were given new seals and sashes, but did not open them. The banquet lasted until nightfall. General Chen Rao said to the other generals, "Look, Gu Xi Hou (a title) almost got the Chanyu (Xiongnu leader) to back out. If he sees these new seals are different, he'll demand the old ones back. We won't be able to talk him out of it. We got these seals with a lot of trouble; losing them would be a disaster! Let's just smash the old ones and be done with it." The other generals hesitated, and no one responded. Chen Rao, a man from the Yan Kingdom, was resolute and brave. He immediately picked up an axe and smashed the old seal.

The next day, the Chanyu sent General You Gu Dou Hou (a title) to tell the envoys, "The seal given by the Han Dynasty to the Chanyu should say '玺' (seal), not '章' (chapter), and it shouldn't have '汉' (Han) on it. Only lesser seals have those characters. Changing '玺' to '新' (new) makes it look like just any old official seal. I hope to receive the old seal." The envoys showed the broken old seal to General You Gu Dou Hou and said, "The new dynasty's mandate is heaven-sent. We destroyed the old seal as ordered. The Chanyu needs to accept the new order." After reporting back, the Chanyu, having received many bribes, had no choice but to send his brother, Prince You Xian Wang Yu, with gifts of horses and cattle to apologize and beg for the return of the old seal.

The army returned to the place where King Xianzhu of the Left Li lived and saw many Wuhuan people, so they asked Xian what was going on. Xian explained the situation in detail. The general barked, "No taking in surrendering Wuhuan! Get 'em outta here!" Xian said, "I want to secretly inform the Chanyu first, and after getting his response, then send them back." The Chanyu sent Xian back to ask, "Inside or outside the border?" The general did not dare to make a decision and quickly reported to the higher-ups. The response from above was to send them back from outside the border.

The Chanyu first fell out with the Han over Xiahou Fan's land. Later, since they couldn't collect taxes from the Wuhuan, they just started looting the Wuhuan, making things worse. And to top it all off, he forged the seal, really ticking off the Wuhuan. So the Chanyu sent a dozen or so commanders, with ten thousand cavalry, supposedly to escort the Wuhuan, to muster near Shuofang. The Shuofang prefect immediately reported it.

The following year, Xuzhili, Cheshi's king, tried to surrender to the Xiongnu, but our commander Du Qin whacked him. Xuzhili's brother Hulanzhi led more than two thousand people, looted property, and surrendered to the Xiongnu, which the Chanyu accepted. Then Hulanzhi and the Xiongnu teamed up to invade Cheshi, killing the king's eldest son and wounding the commander's second-in-command before escaping back to the Xiongnu.

Chen Liang, Zhongdai, Han Xuan, Ren Shang – these Wujixiaowei officers saw all the uprisings in the West, heard the Xiongnu were about to roll in, and figured, "Screw this, we're not dying with them!" They grabbed a few hundred men, offed their boss, Dao Hu, and sent word to the Xiongnu's Nanli Khan, Nanjiangjun.

The Xiongnu's Southern General led two thousand cavalry into the Western Regions to welcome Chen Liang and company. Chen Liang and his group strong-armed over two thousand Wujixiaowei soldiers, their families, and dependents—men, women, and children—into going with them to Xiongnu territory. Han Xuan and Ren Shang stayed with the Southern General, while Chen Liang and Zhong went directly to the King's Court of the Chanyu, where they were settled separately near the Lingwu River. The Chanyu appointed Chen Liang and Zhong as Wuhuan Generals, allowing them to live by his side and often inviting them to feasts. Western Regions Protector Duan Qin reported that the Southern General of the Xiongnu, Yui Zizhi Zi (Yizhi), led his troops to attack various countries.

Upon hearing this, Wang Mang ordered the Xiongnu split into fifteen separate khanates and sent Zhonglang General Lin Bao and Deputy Xiaowei Dai Ji to lead ten thousand cavalry with many treasures to the Yunzhong Pass, to lure Huhanye Chanyu's sons and install each as a separate Chanyu. He also sent envoys to coax the surrender of Huyuli Khan Xian, his son Deng, and their supporters, promising to appoint Xian as a filial Chanyu, rewarding him with a chariot and drum carriage, one thousand catties of gold, one thousand bolts of silk, and ten ornate halberds; appointing his supporters as Chanyus loyal to him and rewarding them with five hundred catties of gold. They were then escorted to Chang'an. Wang Mang appointed Lin Bao as the Duke of Xuanwei and made him General of Tiger Teeth; he appointed Dai Ji as the Duke of Yangwei and made him General of Tiger Armor.

Upon hearing this, the Xiongnu Chanyu was furious, saying, "Our ancestors received Emperor Xuan's favor; how can we betray that now? The current emperor is not a descendant of Emperor Xuan of Han; what right does *he* have to be emperor?" He then sent the Left Bone Marquis, the Right Yizhizi King Hulusi, and the Left Virtuous King Le to attack the Yunchong Yishou Pass, killing many officials and civilians. This happened in the third year of Wang Mang's reign.

Later, the Xiongnu chieftain ordered the commanders of the left and right divisions and the kings of various border areas to lead troops into the pass to plunder. This time, the scale was very large, with over ten thousand seasoned bandits, several thousand of medium scale, and several hundred of smaller scale. They killed the prefects and commanders of Yanmen and Shuofang, looted innumerable people and livestock, leaving the border regions devastated.

Newly crowned Wang Mang, relying on the full national treasury, wanted to establish prestige and therefore appointed twelve generals, drafting elite troops and hardened warriors from various counties to be stationed in key border areas, continuously transporting military supplies to the border. The planned total military strength reached three hundred thousand, with three months' worth of provisions prepared, planning a ten-pronged attack, ruthlessly hunting down the Xiongnu, driving them to Dingling (a place name), then installing Huhanye Chanyu's fifteen sons as kings.

One of Wang Mang's generals, Yan You, came out to advise:

"I've heard that the Xiongnu have plagued us for ages, but I've never heard of a successful campaign against them. Later, the Zhou, Qin, and Han dynasties all fought against the Xiongnu, but none of them found a good strategy. The Zhou had a middling strategy at best, the Han a poor one, and the Qin none at all."

During the time of King Zhou Xuan, the rebellious Xianyun led troops to invade, reaching Jingyang. King Zhou Xuan sent troops to drive the Xiongnu out of the country and then returned. He felt that the Xiongnu invasion was like mosquitoes biting people—a simple matter to deal with. Therefore, it was widely praised that King Zhou Xuan was wise; this is considered a moderate strategy. Emperor Han Wu, on the other hand, carefully selected generals, trained the army, and moved with minimal baggage as he penetrated enemy territory. Although he won battles, the Xiongnu kept retaliating, fighting for over thirty years, which caused heavy losses to our country and severely damaged the Xiongnu. Although everyone agreed that Emperor Han Wu was powerful, this was actually a bad strategy. Emperor Qin Shi Huang couldn't bear a small shame but underestimated the labor of the people. He built the Great Wall over thousands of miles, starting from the seaside to transport materials. Although the territory was consolidated, the country was drained of its treasury and eventually perished; this was a catastrophic miscalculation.

Now the world is facing serious droughts, with several years of poor harvests, especially severe in the northwest border. You need to deploy three hundred thousand troops, prepare for three hundred days of food and supplies, and support the Haidai area in the east and the Jianghuai area in the south to be fully prepared. Calculating the distance, it may not even be possible to assemble within a year. The first troops to arrive can only sleep rough, exhausted and without combat power; this is the first challenge. The border areas are already empty, unable to keep the troops fed. Transporting from the country's interior isn't well coordinated; this is the second challenge.

One person's rations for 300 days require enough grain for 18 hu, which cannot be carried by manpower alone. You need another 20 hu just for the oxen! That's a crazy amount of weight! The Xiongnu territory is all sand and alkali land, with scarce water and grass. We've learned from past campaigns that the oxen won't last more than a hundred days – they'll be completely done for. The Xiongnu region is especially cold in autumn and winter, and windy in spring and summer. We'd need tons of blankets, cooking gear, and firewood – it's all just too much weight. And with just rough food and water, through all four seasons... disease is a real threat. Therefore, in the past, when fighting the Xiongnu, it was at most for 100 days, not because we didn't want to fight longer, but because we just couldn't keep it up any longer.

With the supply train following along, our fast troops can't keep up with those Xiongnu – they just run away. Even if we encounter the Xiongnu, the supply train becomes a burden. And if we get into a tight spot, we're stuck in a line, easy pickings for the Xiongnu to attack from both sides. And even with all this effort, we might not even win! I'm really worried about this, you know? Now that the troops have been dispatched, the first troops should be allowed to penetrate enemy territory, strike the Xiongnu hard, and let them taste the bitterness.

Wang Mang ignored the warnings and kept the army in that valley, causing nationwide panic. After taking the title of "Xiao Chanyu" conferred by Wang Mang, Xian hightailed it back to the Xiongnu and told the Chanyu all about Wang Mang's threats. The Chanyu thought "Yu Su Zhi Zhi Hou" was a pathetically low position. Then the old Chanyu died, and Wang Mang made Deng Dai Zhu the new "Shun Chanyu."

General Chen Qin and General Wang Xun stationed at Gexie Pass in Yunzhong County. At that time, the Xiongnu frequently raided the border, killing generals, officials, and soldiers, looting the populace and stealing their livestock, causing extremely heavy losses. The captured Xiongnu prisoners all confessed that Jiao, the son of Xian, the Xiaohou Chanyu, had led multiple raids. The generals reported this to the imperial court. Four years later, Wang Mang had Xian's son, Deng, publicly executed in Chang'an.

Initially, since the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, there had been no wars in the northern border for decades, with the people living in peace and prosperity, the population flourishing, and the land teeming with cattle and horses. However, Wang Mang provoked the Xiongnu into conflict, leading to countless casualties among the border people, with many taken as captives. In addition, the armies of twelve tribes were stationed at the border for so long that the soldiers were exhausted. Within a few years, the northern border became desolate, with corpses scattered across the wilderness.

Wuzhuliu Chanyu was in power for 21 years and died five years later. The Xiongnu prime minister, the Yugu Duohou, Xubudang, was the son-in-law of Wang Zhaojun's daughter, Yimojuyun. Yimojuyun had always wanted to marry into the Han Dynasty and had a good relationship with Xian. Observing Xian's successive appointments by Wang Mang, he bypassed others and installed Xian as Chanyu.

When Wulei Chanyu died, he appointed his younger brother Yu as Left Guli King. Wuzhuliu Chanyu's son, Sutu Huben, had been Left Xian King, but now his uncle, Lu Hun (son of Tu Qie's wife), became Right Xian King. Since the Left Xian King had died several times under Wuzhuliu Chanyu, the title was considered unlucky, and it was renamed "Hu Yu." The Hu Yu was second in line to the throne, making him the likely heir. Xian resented Wuzhuliu Chanyu for his demotion and for preventing him from inheriting the throne, so, once he became Chanyu, he demoted the Hu Yu to Left Tuqie King. Ciyun and Xubu Dang then talked Xian into marrying into the Han Dynasty.

Back in 15 BC, Wang Mang sent Yun and Dang to the Xiongnu lands west of the river to talk to the border officials about seeing the Marquis. This Marquis was named Wang She, the nephew of Wang Zhaojun. The central military commander reported this matter to Wang Mang. Wang Mang then sent Wang She and his brother, Zhandehou Sa, commander of the cavalry, to the Xiongnu to congratulate the new Chanyu on taking power, bringing lots of gold, clothes, and silk, while also falsely claiming that an attendant of the Han court, Zeng, was still in the Xiongnu. At the same time, they also tried to bribe Chen Liang, Zhong Dai, and others. The Chanyu captured these four individuals, along with the 27 members of the family of the bandit Zhiyin, who had previously killed the captain Dao Hu, chained them up, handed them over to the emissaries, and also sent forty people, among them cook Weiguxi Wangfu, to escort Wang She and Sa back. Wang Mang had Chen Liang and the others burned alive, disbanded all the garrisons, keeping only the guerrilla commander. The Chanyu, greedy for Wang Mang's bribes, pretended to be friendly with the Han, but secretly kept raiding. Later, after the emissaries returned, they learned that Zeng had died long ago, which made the Chanyu very angry, so he led the Xiongnu people to invade the Han Dynasty from the left side, and the raids never stopped. When the emissaries asked the Chanyu why he did this, he replied, "The Wuhuan and some bad Xiongnu were raiding the border, just like you Han have your share of thieves! I just took over, I don't have much power yet, and I'm doing my best to stop them. I wouldn't dare do anything else."

In May of 14 BC, Wang Mang sent Wang She and five elite commanders to escort Wei Guxi Wang and deliver the bodies of the previously killed attendants Deng and other nobles and followers, all transported in simple carriages. Upon reaching the border, the Chanyu sent Yun, along with Daqie Shes, son of Dang, and others to welcome them. After Wang Xian and his group arrived, they lavished the Chanyu with gold, silver, and jewels, and also persuaded him to change the Xiongnu's name to "Gongnu." The Chanyu agreed and accepted, granting them seals and titles. Dang, the Fenggu Hou, was made Marquis of Hou'an, and his son She became the Hou of Hou'an. The Chanyu was greedy for Wang Mang's gold, so he agreed on the surface, but the Xiongnu kept raiding. Wang Xian and Wang She paid a ransom for Chen Liang and others, which they then distributed to Yun and Dang. In December, they returned to the Han border, and Wang Mang was very happy, rewarding Wang She with two million coins and also granting rewards to Fu An and others.

The Chanyu Xian reigned for five years and died in 9 BC. His brother Zuo Xian Wang Yu succeeded him and was called Hudu and Shidao Gaoru Dijan Chanyu. The Xiongnu adopted the title "Gaoru," meaning "filial piety," because they admired the Han emperors' use of "孝" (xiào) in their posthumous titles.

After Huduohershi became Shanyu, he grew greedy for rewards and sent his younger brother, King Xiedu, along with She, Qu, and Yun (the brothers of the two princesses), to pay tribute in Chang'an. Wang Mang sent the Marquis of Heqin, He Jin, to the border to meet with She, Qu, and Yun, and then used military force to bring them to Chang'an. The younger son of one of the princesses escaped from the border and returned to the Xiongnu. When the princesses arrived in Chang'an, Wang Mang appointed one of them as Xubu Shanyu and planned to send troops to help her ascend to power. However, the military deployment did not go smoothly, and the Xiongnu became even angrier, invading the northern border together and causing destruction. Later, one of the princesses died of illness, and Wang Mang married his daughter, Lu Dai, to An Gong She to curry favor with them, still intending to send troops to support them. However, the Han army's killing of Wang Mang also resulted in the deaths of She and Qu.

In the winter of the second year of Gengshi, the Han Dynasty sent a high-ranking military officer, Gui Dehou Sa, and the Grand Marshal, Chen Zun, to visit the Xiongnu. According to the old customs of the Han Dynasty, they were given the seal and ribbon of the Shanyu, as well as the seal and ribbon of kings and nobles, and sent back the remaining relatives, nobles, and attendants of the two princesses. The Shanyu was very proud and told Chen Zun and Gui Dehou Sa, "The Xiongnu and Han had a long and complex relationship, often described as brotherly. When there was chaos within the Xiongnu, Emperor Xiaoxuan helped Huduan Shanyu ascend to power, so we submitted to and respected the Han Dynasty. Now that the Han Dynasty is also in chaos, with Wang Mang usurping the throne, the Xiongnu has attacked Wang Mang, leaving his borders weak and fueling popular longing for the Han Dynasty's return. Wang Mang ultimately failed, and the Han Dynasty revived, which is why we deserve renewed respect!" Chen Zun and the others argued with the Shanyu, but he insisted on this view. They only returned to their country in the summer of the following year. Meanwhile, the Red Eyebrow Army attacked Chang'an, and the Gengshi regime failed.

Ancient texts warned against the "barbarians outsmarting the Han," the Book of Songs describes how "the Rong and Di were a menace," and the "Spring and Autumn Annals" mentions how "civilization was threatened by the barbarians on all sides." Barbarian invasions have been an old problem! Since the Han Dynasty, those loyal ministers and good generals—who among them didn’t strategize in the court to deal with the Xiongnu, debating endlessly?

Under Emperor Gaozu, there was Liu Jing; during Empress Lü's reign, there were Fan Kuai and Ji Bu; during Emperor Wen's time, there were Jia Yi and Chao Cuo; and during Emperor Jing's rule, there were Wang Hui, Han Anguo, Zhu Maichen, Gongsun Hong, and Dong Zhongshu. These officials held diverse opinions, but overall, their suggestions can be summed up in two categories: one group of civil officials advocated for peace, while the other group of military generals pushed for conquest. They only saw the immediate benefits and dangers, without grasping the fundamental issue of the Xiongnu.

From the Han Dynasty to now, a longer time than the Spring and Autumn Period, dealing with the Xiongnu has truly seen it all: making peace, going to war, groveling, bullying, and bribing. The situation was ever-changing, and power shifted back and forth. So, let's unpack this.

The first to propose peace was Liu Jing. At that time, the world had just been unified, having just experienced the painful lesson of the Battle of Pingcheng. Therefore, his suggestion was adopted to make peace with the Xiongnu, sending gifts to the Chanyu, hoping to maintain border peace. During the reign of Emperor Hui and Empress Gao, the peace policy continued, but the Xiongnu kept raiding and looting, and the Chanyu became even more arrogant. During Emperor Wen's reign, there was also trade with the Xiongnu, and even Han princesses were married off, with more gifts sent each year, but the Xiongnu still repeatedly violated agreements, and the border was frequently disturbed.

So when Emperor Wen, nearing middle age, felt a growing sense of urgency, he personally donned armor, mounted a horse, and commanded elite troops from six counties. He honed their horsemanship, archery, and battle formations in the imperial hunting ground, gathered the finest soldiers from across the nation, stationed forces in Guangwu, sought Feng Tang's counsel, discussed the selection of generals, and sighed, lamenting the lack of capable ministers of old. This demonstrated the futility of relying solely on marriage alliances; it was a very obvious lesson.

Dong Zhongshu witnessed the changes in four generations of court politics yet still wished to adhere to the old governing strategy, even strengthening it. His idea was: "Justice can move gentlemen, while interests can tempt the greedy. People like the Xiongnu cannot be persuaded with benevolence and righteousness; they can only be enticed with substantial rewards and made to swear to heaven. Thus, we must offer them generous concessions to confuse their minds, make an oath before heaven to solidify the agreement, and have them take their beloved sons as hostages to restrain their actions. Even if the Xiongnu want to be fickle, what can they do? Lose vast riches? Deceive Heaven? Kill their own sons? The consequences would be dire! Tax revenue and bribes were insufficient to fund the military, and fortifications were no match for a strong alliance. Ensuring the border people—parents, children, and all—lived in comfort and plenty, the Xiongnu would fear to approach the Great Wall, and the Central Plains would know peace. This, undeniably, was the better course of action."

A careful analysis of Dong Zhongshu's proposals, combined with the actual situation at the time, reveals that his methods were unrealistic given the circumstances and proved ultimately flawed. During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, although victories were achieved in battles, the losses in men and horses were substantial, nearly offsetting the gains. Although the Henan region was developed and the Shuofang Commandery was established, they also abandoned over 900 li of territory north of Zhaoyang. The Xiongnu were notoriously rebellious. How could they be expected to offer their sons as hostages? Therefore, Dong Zhongshu's suggestions were completely impractical. Without setting hostages, merely relying on empty promises and arranged marriages would only repeat the failed experiences of Emperor Wen of Han and would instead encourage the Xiongnu's consistent deceitful behavior. They failed to appoint competent military commanders to the border regions. Fortifications and equipment were neglected. Weapons were inadequate. Instead of investing in defense, they relied on squeezing taxes and bribes from the populace to fund costly tributes to the Xiongnu. Their faith in empty promises was naive. They foolishly hoped the Xiongnu would simply stay away.

By the time of Emperor Xuan of Han, building on Emperor Wu's successes against the Xiongnu, a century of decline had left the Xiongnu teetering on the brink of collapse. The Han dynasty seized the opportunity, adopted appropriate strategies, and used a combination of kindness and force. This policy of carrots and sticks eventually led to the Chanyu's submission. He sent his son as a hostage to the Han dynasty. For three generations, the Xiongnu remained vassals of the Han. Peace reigned along the border; the land flourished; and three generations lived without the threat of war.

So, after the Han Dynasty had been around for sixty-odd years, when Wang Mang usurped the throne, things started getting hairy along the borders. The Xiongnu chieftain felt pretty cheesed off, and the relationship with the Han Dynasty completely deteriorated. Wang Mang was a real jerk; he killed the chieftain's son, and the border clashes went completely haywire. Earlier, when Chanyu Huhanye came to visit the Emperor of the Han Dynasty, the court discussed how to receive him. Xiao Wangzhi said, "These barbarians are all over the place; we should treat them with courtesy and get them to submit willingly, rather than force them. Even if their grandkids run off and hide, as long as they send envoys, we don't treat them as traitors." When Emperor Xiaoyuan was in charge, someone proposed to cancel the defense of the border areas, but Hou Ying thought it was not feasible, showing that he knew you gotta be ready for anything, even when things are good, and he thought long-term. Later, those Xiongnu chieftains would abandon their own sons just to grab some loot, regardless of gains and losses. They plundered tens of thousands of items each year, while the gifts we sent were worth only a thousand gold—that's a rip-off. Dong Zhongshu missed the mark on this one. You can't just think short-term; you gotta think long-term too, or you won't get anything done. Yan You made some good points about the Qin and Han wars. Those old-time emperors knew how to run a country: dividing up the land, setting up provinces, figuring out taxes, and keeping things running smoothly. Some focused on the law, others on education—different strokes for different folks, you know?

Therefore, in the "Spring and Autumn Annals," the Huaxia region and the Yi and Di are distinguished. The Yi and Di are greedy and love money, wearing their hair loose and clothes unlike ours. They are fierce and savage, completely different from us Chinese in their dress, customs, diet, and language. They live in the cold wilderness of the north, rely on hunting for a living, and their living areas are separated by valleys and deserts, a world apart from the Central Plains region. Therefore, the sage kings treat them as if they were animals, not making treaties with them or attacking them proactively. Treaties with them were easily broken and costly, while attacking them would waste men and money and attract more enemies. Their land cannot be cultivated, their people refuse to submit, so we can only keep them at arm's length, preventing their inward migration, maintaining a distance and not getting too close. Our political influence and laws did not extend to them. If they came to pay tribute, we would receive them with rituals; even if they were fickle, they were made to understand their wrongdoing. This was the usual approach of sage kings towards the barbarians.

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: The Book of Han (漢書)

Published: 01 December 2024

Created: 01 December 2024

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After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, there were always favored courtiers around the emperor. During the reign of Emperor Gaozu, there were two guys, Ji Ru and Hong Ru. These two were pretty useless, but because they were good-looking, they were deeply loved by the emperor and were always hanging around him, so all the courtiers had to kiss up to them. During Emperor Hui's reign, the palace guards and attendants imitated Ji Ru and Hong Ru's style, putting on beautiful hats, wearing gorgeous clothes, and applying makeup. Later, Ji Ru and Hong Ru were sent off to Anling.

Subsequent emperors had favored courtiers as well. Under Emperor Wen, there were the scholar Deng Tong, Zhao Tan, and Beigong Bozi, a eunuch. During Emperor Wu's reign, there were Han Yan, another scholar, and Li Yannian, a eunuch. Under Emperor Yuan, there were Hong Gong and Shi Xian, both eunuchs. During Emperor Cheng's reign, there were Zhang Fang and Chunyu Chang, both scholars. During Emperor Ai's reign, there was Dong Xian. There weren't any particularly favored courtiers during the reigns of Emperor Jing, Emperor Zhao, and Emperor Xuan. Emperor Jing only had one Langzhongling, Zhou Ren, who was relatively valued. During Emperor Zhao's reign, the Marquis of Juxiang, Jin Shang, and his adoptive father, the General of Chariots and Cavalry, Ri Di, were both granted marquis titles, but they weren't that favored.

During Emperor Xuan's reign, the attendant Zhonglangjiang Zhang Pengzu, who had studied with Emperor Xuan when they were young, was made Marquis of Yangdu due to their old friendship and appointed as his constant companion, greatly loved. However, he was careful not to overstep his bounds, but his own concubine poisoned him, and the state gave him a proper burial.

Deng Tong, from Nan'an in Shu County, originally became a minor official by washing boats. Emperor Wen of Han once dreamed of going to heaven but couldn't; then a low-ranking official pushed him up to heaven, and the emperor noticed a hole in the official's clothes. Upon waking, the emperor went to the Gan Terrace to find the official with the same features he saw in his dream and found Deng Tong, who indeed had a hole in his clothes just like in the dream. The emperor asked for his name, which was Deng Tong. The emperor was chuffed and favored him, treating him differently every day. Deng Tong was cautious and did not like making friends; even when the emperor rewarded him with bathing and changing clothes, he refused to go out. So Emperor Wen of Han rewarded Deng Tong with a huge amount of wealth, tens of thousands of cash, and promoted him to the position of Grand Master. During the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, Deng Tong lived a life of luxury, virtually indistinguishable from that of someone residing within the imperial palace. However, Deng Tong had no special talents and could not contribute anything to the emperor, only pleasing him with caution. Emperor Wen of Han once had a face reader assess Deng Tong's fortune, and the reader said, "He will starve to death in the future." The emperor replied, "I can make him rich; how could he starve to death?" So the emperor gave Deng Tong the copper mountain in Yandao County, Shu County, to mint his own coins. Deng's coins circulated throughout the country, showing how wealthy he was at the time. Emperor Wen of Han developed a boil, and Deng Tong often helped him tend to the emperor's sore. The emperor felt uncomfortable and asked casually, "Who in the world loves me the most?" Deng Tong replied, "No one loves you more than the crown prince." When the crown prince visited the emperor to inquire about his condition, the emperor asked the crown prince to also tend to the boil. The prince's face looked unpleasant while attending to the wound. Later, when the crown prince heard that Deng Tong also helped the emperor, his resentment towards Deng Tong festered, a consequence of this humiliating and revealing incident.

After the death of Emperor Wen, Emperor Jing ascended to the throne, and Deng Tong was dismissed from his position and went home to live out his days. Not long after, someone reported that Deng Tong was counterfeiting coins. They raided his house and indeed found many coins. In the end, all his property was confiscated, and he was left with a huge debt. The items that the Princess had showered Deng Tong with were also taken by the government; they took everything, down to the last hairpin. The Princess had no choice but to support him, but Deng Tong ultimately died broke, living as a guest in someone else's home.

Zhao Tan gained the favor of the emperor because he was good at astrology and divination. Beigong Bozi (a member of the imperial family), being a relative of the emperor's lover, also received favor, but neither of them received as much favor as Deng Tong.

Han Yan, also known as Wang Sun, was the grandson of the High Bow Marquis. When Emperor Wu was still the Prince of Jiaodong, Han Yan studied with him, and their relationship was very good. After Emperor Wu became emperor, his relationship with Han Yan became even closer. Han Yan was skilled in archery and very intelligent. After Emperor Wu ascended the throne and wanted to send troops to fight the Xiongnu, Han Yan had already studied military tactics in advance, so he was more highly valued, rising to the rank of high-ranking official, and the rewards he received could be compared to those of Deng Tong.

Initially, Han Yan often ate and slept with Emperor Wu. Once, Prince Jiangdu came to the capital and went hunting with Emperor Wu in the Shanglin Park. Before the emperor's carriage had even departed, Emperor Wu asked Han Yan to take a secondary carriage with a few hundred riders to scout out the hunting grounds first. Prince Jiangdu saw from afar and thought it was the emperor's carriage, so he quickly made his attendants kneel to greet. However, Han Yan did not see and went straight over. Prince Jiangdu was very angry and went to the Empress Dowager to complain, requesting to return to his fiefdom, and saying that he was more trustworthy than Han Yan. As a result, the Empress Dowager took a dislike to Han Yan.

Han Yan served the emperor and had free rein in the palace, but got caught having an affair by the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was very angry and had Han Yan executed. Although Emperor Wu pleaded for him, he ultimately could not save him, and Han Yan died. Han Yan's younger brother, Han Shuo, also became a favorite of the emperor's, made Marquis of Andao for his military achievements, and was later killed by the Crown Prince in the Witch Gu incident. Han Yan's son was later made Marquis of Longluo, rising through the ranks to become Grand Marshal and General of the Cavalry, with his deeds recorded separately.

Li Yannian, a native of Zhongshan, was born into a family of performers, including his parents and siblings. Li Yannian was given a brutal ancient punishment for breaking the law and worked as a dog handler in the palace. His sister later gained the emperor's favor and became known as Lady Li in history, as recorded in the "Biographies of the Imperial Consorts." Li Yannian had a gorgeous voice and could even adapt songs himself. At that time, the emperor was building a place for the worship of heaven and earth and wanted to create new ceremonial music, so he asked Sima Xiangru and others to write poems to praise it. Li Yannian then composed and sang many new songs using the poems as inspiration. Later, Lady Li gave birth to the Prince of Changyi, and because of this, Li Yannian quickly rose to power, becoming the Commandant of Justice with a seal of two thousand stones, spending all his time with the emperor. The emperor's trust and favor towards him were comparable to the previous favor bestowed on Han Yan. However, the good times did not last long. After some time, Li Yannian's younger brother, Li Ji, was sleeping around with people in the palace and acted like he owned the place. After Lady Li's death, the emperor's favor towards Li Yannian waned, and he eventually had Li Yannian and his entire family killed.

After that, most of the emperor's favorites were family of the Empress, although figures like Wei Qing and Huo Qubing rose to power through their own merit.

Shi Xian, courtesy name Junfang, was from Jinan; Hong Gong was from Pei County. Both of these men had received flogging for committing crimes when they were young, but later served as Zhonghuangmen (Inner Palace Officials) in the palace and were promoted to Zhong Shangshu (Minister of Rites) for their outstanding performance. During the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, they both served in the Zhongshu (Central Secretariat). Hong Gong was very familiar with legal texts and historical allusions, was a whiz at drafting official documents, and was highly competent. Later, Hong Gong became the Zhong Shu Ling (Head of the Central Secretariat), while Shi Xian became the Pushe (Deputy Minister). A few years after Emperor Yuan of Han ascended the throne, Hong Gong passed away, and Shi Xian succeeded him as the Zhong Shu Ling.

At that time, Emperor Yuan of Han fell ill and was too sick to govern. There was a man named Zhang Xian who was particularly skilled in music, had gained the emperor's trust by working in the palace for a long time, and had no factional struggles under his command. Therefore, Emperor Yuan handed over power to him. Zhang Xian ran the show, making decisions on major and minor matters, and everyone in the court kowtowed to him. Zhang Xian was quite clever and good at understanding the emperor's thoughts, but he was treacherous and cunning, liked to use trickery to harm others, and anyone who crossed Zhang Xian would immediately suffer, either being lightly punished or losing their life.

During the early years of Emperor Yuan, the former general Xiao Wangzhi, Guanglu Daifu (Grand Minister of Ceremonies) Zhou Kan, and Zongzheng (Minister of Rites) Liu Gengsheng all served as officials in the Yushi (Censorate). Xiao Wangzhi was in charge of the affairs of the Shangshu at that time. Seeing Zhang Xian's high-handedness and abuse of power, he wrote a memorial advising, "The Shangshu's the top dog, the heart of the whole government, and it needs someone honest and fair in charge. Emperor Wu used eunuchs because he loved his harem parties, but that ain't how things were done back in the day! We need to get rid of the eunuchs in the Zhongshu and go back to the old ways – no more lawbreakers in charge!" Emperor Yuan did not listen to him, so Xiao Wangzhi got on Zhang Xian's bad side. Later, Xiao Wangzhi committed suicide, while Zhou Kan and Liu Gengsheng were demoted and could never return to officialdom. Check out *The Biography of Xiao Wangzhi* for the full story.

Afterwards, high-ranking official Zhang Meng, the Prefect of Wei County Jing Fang, the Imperial Censor Chen Xian, and Court official Jia Juan once jointly accused Zhang Xian in a memorial; some of them were even summoned to directly criticize him. Zhang Xian then went after them, trying to ruin them. Jing Fang and Jia Juan were executed, Zhang Meng killed himself in an official carriage, and Chen Xian was sentenced to hard labor, his head shaved. Even the Magistrate of Zheng County, Su Jian, who received a private letter from Zhang Xian and blew the whistle in a memorial, was later executed on other charges. Since then, everyone in the court was terrified of Zhang Xian, walking on eggshells.

Zhang Xian was thick as thieves with the Minister of the Left Lao Liang and the Minister of Finance Wu Lu Chongzong. Those who flattered them could obtain opportunities for promotion and wealth. The common people even composed satirical songs about them: "Lao Liang and Wu Lu Chongzong, so many seals, so many robes, they couldn't possibly wear them all!" This song describes their overwhelming power and numerous official positions.

It is said that the General of the Left Feng Fengshi and his son both held high positions in the court, and his daughter even became the Emperor's favorite. Xian wanted to flatter their family, so he recommended the Consort's brother Qun to serve the Emperor. The Emperor summoned him and intended to appoint him as an attendant, but Qun used the opportunity to discuss politics. When the Emperor heard that Qun said Xian monopolized power, he blew his top and fired Qun on the spot! Later, when the position of the Grand Master was vacant, everyone recommended Qun's brother, Wang, as the best man for the job. The Emperor asked for Xian's opinion, and Xian said, "Among the Nine Ministers, no one can compare to Wang. But Wang is the Consort's brother, and people will say you're playing favorites, promoting your in-laws to such a high position." The Emperor said, "Yes, I hadn't thought of that." So he praised Wang publicly but didn't give him the job, as recorded in the "Biography of Wang."

Knowing he held considerable power, he feared that one day the emperor would believe the whispers of his rivals and that someone would frame him. So he began to feign loyalty, hoping to find an opportunity to prove himself. Once, he sent people to various departments to gather tribute, and he reported to the emperor first, afraid he might miss the closing of the palace gates in the evening. He requested the emperor to order the officials to open the gates for him. The emperor agreed. He waited until evening to return, then claimed that he had opened the gates by order of the emperor. As a result, someone actually accused him of misusing his authority and falsely claiming the emperor's order. When the emperor heard about it, he laughed and showed the memorial to him. Sobbing, he declared, "Your Majesty, you trust me too much, entrusting everything to me to handle. Many people in the court are jealous of me and want to harm me. Such incidents have occurred more than once. Only a discerning emperor can see through these. I, a humble official, have no way to atone for the people's anger with my life or bear the brunt of public anger. I am willing to give up my official position, serve in the imperial palace as a cleaner, die without complaint or regret, only hoping Your Majesty will pity me and let me live." The emperor thought what he said made sense and sympathized with him, encouraging him multiple times and heavily rewarding him, with rewards and bribes totaling a vast fortune! Rumors circulated that many whispered he had caused the death of the former general Xiao Wangzhi. Xiao Wangzhi was a famous Confucian scholar at the time, and he was worried that scholars throughout the land would resent him, feeling anxious. At that time, the outstanding candidate from the Mingjing Imperial Examination, Gong Yu from Langya, became the Remonstrance Grand Master. He forged ties with him and then recommended Gong Yu to the emperor. Gong Yu later became a high court official, eventually becoming the Grand Master of the Imperial Censorate, and he was very respectful towards him. People then praised him, saying that he did not envy or frame Xiao Wangzhi. This was typical of his methods: using any means necessary to clear his name and maintain the emperor's favor.

Emperor Yuan was bedridden in his later years and favored the Prince Gong of Dingtao, who strongly supported Crown Prince Liu Shi. After Emperor Yuan's death, Emperor Cheng ascended the throne and promoted Wang Xian to be the Grand Superintendent of the Changxin Palace, with an official rank of 2,000 shi. However, Wang Xian quickly fell from grace and was sidelined for several months. The Prime Minister and the Imperial Censor all accused Wang Xian of past crimes, leading to the dismissal of his allies, Láo Liáng and Chén Shùn. Wang Xian and his wife were sent back to his hometown in disgrace, where he fell seriously ill and eventually died on the way. All those he'd promoted were dismissed from their positions. For example, the Superintendent of the Lesser Palace, Wǔlù Chōngzōng, was demoted to be the Prefect of Xuāntú, and the Imperial Censor, Yī Jiā, was demoted to be the Commandant of Yànmén. In Chang'an City, there was a popular folk song that goes: "Yi to Yàn, Lù to Tú, Láo Liáng and Chén, no more power."

Chunyu Chang, whose courtesy name was Zihóng, was a native of Yuancheng in Wei Commandery. When he was young, he became an attendant at the Yellow Gate by virtue of being the nephew of the Empress Dowager, but did not receive the Emperor's favor. By chance, the Grand General Wang Feng fell ill, and Chunyu Chang served and cared for Wang Feng day and night, showing great filial piety. Before his death, Wang Feng entrusted Chunyu Chang to the Empress Dowager and the Emperor. The Emperor admired Chunyu Chang's loyalty and promoted him to be a commander, later advancing him to be the Superintendent of the Water Conservancy Department, the Palace Attendant, and finally the Commandant of the Guards, becoming one of the Nine Ministers.

After some time, Zhao Feiyan caught the emperor's eye, and he wanted to make her the empress, but the empress dowager disagreed because she thought Zhao Feiyan wasn't of noble birth. Chunyu Zhang often shuttled messages between the Eastern Palace and the empress dowager. Over a year later, Zhao Feiyan finally became the empress, and the emperor was very grateful to Chunyu Zhang. He acknowledged Chunyu Zhang's past services and issued an edict saying: "Jie Wannian, the Chief Architect, wanted to build Changling – a huge, expensive project that caused great labor and financial loss. The attendant Wei Wenyu Chunyu Zhang repeatedly advised stopping it and returning to his hometown. I accepted Chunyu Zhang's suggestion, called a meeting, and everyone agreed with him. His advice saved the day, bringing peace to the people. I made him Marquis of Guannei." Later, Chunyu Zhang was also named Marquis of Dingling, becoming incredibly powerful and influential, surpassing all the other officials. He made friends with powerful regional lords and governors, taking huge bribes. He also married many concubines, living the high life and ignoring the law.

Initially, Empress Xu was kicked out because of her superstitious beliefs and lived in Changding Palace. Her sister, Xu Min, was a widow and the wife of Long'e Si Marquis at the time. Chang (referring to Chang Luo) slept with her sister and made her his concubine. Empress Xu then used her sister to bribe Chang Luo in hopes of regaining favor and becoming a concubine again. Chang Luo took mountains of gold, carriages, clothes, and jewels from Empress Xu, promising to put in a good word with the emperor. In the end, he indeed made Xu Min the new Left Empress. Whenever Xu Min visited, Chang Luo would send her letters, full of insults and mockery aimed at the old Empress. Their scheme went on for years.

At that time, the Emperor's uncle, Wang Gen, served as the Grand Marshal for several years, running the government. He had been ill for a long time and had requested retirement multiple times. Chang Luo, using his royal connections, was steadily climbing the ranks, aiming to replace Wang Gen. Wang Gen's nephew, Wang Mang, was very jealous of Chang Luo's favor and secretly learned about Chang Luo accepting bribes from Xu Jian. While serving Wang Gen during his illness, Wang Mang told him, "Chang Luo is very pleased to see that you've been ill for so long! He thinks he can soon replace you in running the government and has even started discussing your clothes and future position." Then, Wang Mang told Wang Gen everything about Chang Luo's wrongdoings. Upon hearing this, Wang Gen was furious and said, "If that's the case, why didn't you tell me earlier?" Wang Mang replied, "I wasn't sure how you'd react, so I didn't dare to speak." Wang Gen said, "Go report to the Crown Prince!" Wang Mang then went to see the Empress Dowager and detailed Chang Luo's extravagance, desire to replace Wang Gen, and his involvement with the sister of the noblewoman in the Changding Palace, where he received their clothing. The Empress Dowager was also angry and said, "That scoundrel! Go tell the Emperor!" Wang Mang then reported the matter to the Emperor, who, upon hearing it, fired Chang Luo and sent him home.

At first, Wang Mang served as a eunuch, frequently assisting the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and had a particularly good relationship with them. However, Liu Li, the Marquis of Hongyang, never became the Grand Marshal to assist the Emperor and suspected that Wang Mang was undermining his reputation behind his back, holding a grudge against him. The Emperor was aware of this. When Wang Mang was about to return to his fiefdom, Liu Rong, Liu Li's son, went to Wang Mang to ask for help in obtaining the position of Cavalry General. Wang Mang took the opportunity to give Liu Rong many treasures to pass on to Liu Li. Liu Li then had words with Wang Mang while holding onto these items.

This raised suspicions in the Emperor's mind, prompting an investigation by the relevant authorities. The investigation revealed that Liu Rong was arrested by the court historian, and Liu Li forced Liu Rong to commit suicide to silence him. The Emperor was now certain Wang Mang was up to no good, so he had Wang Mang arrested and detained in the Luoyang prison for thorough interrogation. Eventually, Wang Mang confessed, admitting that he had once defaced the Emperor's palace and even plotted to seize power. His crimes were deemed extremely serious, and he ultimately died in prison. His wife and children were exiled to Hepu, while his mother was sent back to her hometown. Only then did Liu Li return to his own fiefdom. Due to Wang Mang's actions, several dozen generals, officials, and county magistrates were dismissed from their positions. Wang Mang later took over the position of the deceased Grand Marshal and became the new Grand Marshal. After some time, Wang Mang brought his mother and son, Wang Pu, back to Chang'an. However, Wang Pu committed a crime later on, and Wang Mang had him killed, sending his family back to their hometown.

Initially, although Wang Mang was favored as the Emperor's relative, he could not compare to Zhang Fang, the Marquis of Fuping, who was highly favored by the Emperor. Zhang Fang often slept and woke up with the Emperor, and even went on secret trips together, exploring the countryside.

Dong Xian, with the courtesy name Shengqing, was from Yunyang. His father, Dong Gong, had served as an imperial censor and arranged for him to become a low-level attendant in the Crown Prince's household. More than two years passed. One night, while on duty in the palace, handsome Dong Xian caught the Emperor's eye. The Emperor, smitten, asked who he was and immediately promoted him to Yellow Gate Attendant, beginning his rise to favor. Learning that Dong Xian's father was the Marquis of Yunzhong, the Emperor immediately appointed him county magistrate of Baling, later promoting him to a higher office. Dong Xian continued to rise in favor, eventually becoming a Marquis and a Palace Attendant, always by the Emperor's side in public and private. Within months, he was awash in riches and power, causing a scandal at court. They were inseparable, often sharing the same bed. Once, while taking a nap together during the day, Dong Xian rested his head on the Emperor's sleeve. When the Emperor woke up and didn’t want to disturb him, he simply cut off the sleeve before getting up. This perfectly illustrates their bond. Dong Xian was known for his gentle personality and skill in pleasing the Emperor to solidify his position. Whenever the Emperor granted him a bath, Dong Xian would linger, ensuring the imperial physicians attended to him.

The emperor felt it was too difficult to part with Dong Xian, so he ordered that Dong Xian's wife have free access to the palace, allowing her to live in his official residence. The emperor also summoned Dong Xian's sister into the palace and made her a Zhaoyi, with a position second only to the empress. He renamed Dong Xian's residence "Jiaofeng," matching the empress's "Jiaofang." Dong Xian's sister and wife entered and exited the palace every day, serving by the emperor's side. The emperor bestowed an unimaginable amount of wealth upon them. He also promoted Dong Xian's father to a high-ranking official position, appointed him as a Guanneihou, and granted him a fief, later allowing him to become the Minister of the Guards. Additionally, he promoted Dong Xian's father-in-law to the position of Jiangzuo Dajiang, and Dong Xian's younger brother became the Zhijinwu. The emperor ordered the Jiangzuo Dajiang to build a luxurious mansion for Dong Xian at the Beique, featuring a magnificent palace with wide-open gates, exquisite building materials and craftsmanship, and pillars and thresholds wrapped in brocade. The emperor bestowed gifts upon everyone from Dong Xian's household servants to the imperial guards in the armory, as well as treasures. The items given to Dong Xian's younger brother filled the Dong family home, while the emperor's own possessions were relegated to second-class status. Even the treasures stored in the East Garden, including pearl garments and jade boxes, were prepared to be given to Dong Xian, without exception. The emperor also had the Jiangzuo Dajiang build a tomb for Dong Xian next to the Yiling, which included a guest house, cypress trees planted around it, a long road outside, a sprawling walled complex with impressive gates and towers.

The emperor was looking to reward some deserving folks but couldn't find anyone suitable. Then, some court officials, Sun Chong and Xifu Gong, told the Prince of Dongping that someone had been cursing during a religious ceremony. The authorities investigated, and everyone confessed.

The Emperor ordered Xifu Gong and Sun Chong to investigate the matter, proving the innocence of these men. The Emperor then issued a decree, making Xian the Marquis of Gao'an, Xifu Gong the Marquis of Yiling, and Sun Chong the Marquis of Fangyang, each getting 1,000 households. After some time, the Emperor further granted Xian an additional two thousand households.

Prime Minister Wang Jia suspected that the accusations against Prince Dongping were unjust, and he really didn't like Xifu Gong and the others. He repeatedly advised the Emperor, complaining that these guys were messing up the government. As a result, Wang Jia was jailed for speaking his mind and eventually died.

The Han emperor, newly on the throne, had a powerful grandmother, Empress Fu, and a powerful mother, Empress Ding. Fu's younger brother Xixian served as Grand Marshal to assist the Emperor, always giving him advice. However, because they clashed, he offended the Empress and was eventually dismissed. The Emperor's uncle Ding Mingdai succeeded Xixian as Grand Marshal, holding real power, but he was a nasty piece of work, often suppressing the talented individuals and kissing up to the Emperor. Only after Wang Jia died did Ding Mingdai express any regret.

The emperor increasingly values talented individuals and wants to promote them to the highest positions, but he dislikes the behavior of Ding Mingdai. Therefore, the emperor issued an edict dismissing Ding Mingdai from his post, stating: "Previously, Dongping Wang Yun coveted high positions and engaged in curses and sacrifices. Yun's uncle Wu Hong served the emperor as a court physician and conspired with the imperial secretary Yang Hong to rebel; it was a grave matter. Thankfully, our ancestors' blessings saw us through, and Dong Xian and others reported the situation in time, leading to the rebels being dealt with. The general's brother, Wu, a court official, and the general's clan father, Xuan, a cavalry captain, both knew the relationship between Wu Hong and Xu Dan and other noble relatives. Xuan even recommended Dan to be a royal attendant, and Wu had a close relationship with Wu Hong, recommending him multiple times. Wu Hong's arrogance grew with his connections to the Wu family, and with his medical skills, he nearly jeopardized the empire. Considering my regard for Empress Gong, I did not punish Dongping Wang Yun. Despite his high rank, the general failed to set a good example, did not prevent the rebellion, and did not punish Yun and Hong severely. Instead, he favored Xuan and Wu, even lamenting Wu Hong's death and praising his medical skills, while claiming that Dong Xian and others were fortunate to be rewarded. He envied the loyal and virtuous, slandering those who had earned merit; alas, it is truly heartbreaking! This mirrors the saying, 'If a ruler lacks capable generals, those generals should be punished.' So Ji You poisoned Shuya and was praised in the 'Spring and Autumn Annals'; Zhao Dun did not suppress the rebels but was accused of killing the king. I know you're facing severe punishment, so I'm writing this letter to advise you. However, you've shown no remorse and have been colluding with Prime Minister Wang Jia, allowing him to act with impunity and deceive the court. You've been found guilty, and considering your past contributions, I can't bring myself to punish you harshly. So I'm relieving you of your duties and sending you into retirement."

Therefore, the emperor appointed Dong Xian to replace Ding Ming as the Grand Marshal. The emperor issued an edict: "Heaven has given me this mandate, emulating the wise rulers of ancient times, appointing you as my top advisor. I hope you will do your best, lead the army, defend the borders, correct the court, and uphold justice. All the people under Heaven are under my rule, the generals obey my orders, the army relies on my authority; you must be ever vigilant!"

At that time, Huo Guang was only twenty-two years old, but he was already one of the three highest-ranking officials, frequently involved in court affairs, and also served as the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat. All officials had to submit their reports to the emperor through him. Because Huo Guang's father, Huo Gong, was not suitable for a high-ranking position, the emperor appointed him as the Grand Master of Ceremonies, with a salary of two thousand stones. Huo Guang's younger brother, Huo Xin, replaced him as the Commandant of the Cavalry. The relatives of the Huo family all held important positions in the palace, such as court attendants and officials handling imperial requests, their power even surpassing the Ding and Fu families.

The following year, the Xiongnu leader came to visit the Han emperor and held a banquet. All the court officials were present. The leader was surprised to see Huo Guang in such a high position at a young age and asked the interpreter. The emperor instructed the interpreter to reply: "Although the Grand Marshal is young, he is a very talented and wise individual." Upon hearing this, the leader immediately stood up and paid his respects to Huo Guang, congratulating the Han dynasty on having such a wise minister.

At first, when Prime Minister Kong Guang served as the Inspector General, Huo Guang's father, Huo Gong, worked under him. When Huo Guang became the Grand Marshal and joined Kong Guang as one of the top three officials, the Emperor allowed Huo Guang to visit Kong Guang privately. Kong Guang was very respectful and cautious, knowing that the Emperor wanted to elevate Huo Guang. Upon hearing that Huo Guang was coming to visit, Kong Guang hurriedly adjusted his robes and went out to greet him. When he saw Huo Guang's carriage approaching, he retreated back into the house. Huo Guang walked to the middle of the front gate, and only then did Kong Guang come out to greet him. After Huo Guang got off the carriage, Kong Guang approached him to pay respects, treating Huo Guang with utmost deference, far from equals. When Huo Guang returned, the Emperor was delighted to hear about the incident and immediately appointed Kong Guang's two nephews as Imperial Advisors and Palace Chamberlains. From then on, Huo Guang's power was almost equal to that of the Emperor.

At that time, the Wang family, the relatives of Emperor Cheng, had already declined, with only the Marquis of Ping'a, Tan Zi Quji, still having some influence. When Emperor Ai was still Crown Prince, Tan Zi Quji was just an unimportant son born out of wedlock, but he received favor from Emperor Ai. After Emperor Ai ascended the throne, he promoted Tan Zi Quji to be a Palace Attendant and Commander of the Cavalry. Because the Wang family had lost their power in the court, Emperor Ai favored his old friend Tan Zi Quji and even promoted Tan Zi Quji's younger brother, Tan Hong, to be a Palace Attendant. Tan Hong's father-in-law was named Xiao Xian, the son of former General Xiao Wang, who had served as a county magistrate for a long time before resigning due to illness and now held the rank of Household General.

The two brothers both held high positions, and their father Tan Gong felt extremely proud of this and wanted to marry into a powerful family. Tan Hong acted on behalf of his younger brother, Tan Kuanxin, the Commandant, to propose to Xiao Xian and marry Xiao Xian's daughter. Xiao Xian was terrified and immediately refused, saying he daren't. He then privately told Tan Hong, "Dong Gong became the Grand Marshal, and the decree reads 'to hold the reins of power,' which is an allusion to Yao passing the throne to Shun, not a common practice of the Three Dukes! When those old ministers see these words, all of them were afraid. This is way too much for a regular guy!" Tan Hong, being very clever, realized the seriousness of the situation after hearing Xiao Xian's words, and went back to tell his father Tan Gong, relaying Xiao Xian's concerns to him. Tan Gong sighed and said, "What have we done to scare everyone so much?" He was very unhappy.

Later, the emperor held a banquet in the Qilin Hall, and Tan Gong, his son, and relatives were all drinking and eating together, with Tan Hong and his brother—the Privy Councilor and the Palace Attendant—by their side. The emperor, drinking, casually glanced at Tan Gong and smiled, asking, "I want to imitate Yao and Shun's abdication, what do you think?" Tan Hong quickly said, "This empire was built by Emperor Gaozu, not something you personally own! Your Majesty should inherit the ancestral foundation and pass the country on to future generations. This responsibility is huge, Your Majesty. This isn't a laughing matter!" After hearing this, the emperor remained silent, and everyone present was too scared to breathe. So the emperor sent Tan Hong away, and never invited him back.

Gosh, Xian had just finished building his new house, a sturdy structure, but unexpectedly the main gate collapsed, and Xian had a bad feeling about it. A few months later, Emperor Ai passed away. The Empress Dowager called Xian into her private chambers and asked him how to arrange the funeral. Xian was too distraught to speak, so he simply removed his hat in apology and left. The Empress Dowager said, "Marquis Mang of Xindu handled the late Emperor's funeral; he's the expert on this sort of thing. I'll have him help you." Xian quickly thanked her. The Empress Dowager sent for Mang. The moment Mang arrived, he, at the Empress Dowager's behest, accused Xian of neglecting the Emperor's illness and keeping him confined to his home and out of the palace. Despairing, Xian went to the palace gates, doffed his hat, and prostrated himself barefoot. Mang had a messenger read the Empress Dowager's decree, instantly relieving Xian of his post. The decree stated, "With all these natural disasters and unrest lately, the people are suffering terribly. The Three Officials are the pillars of the country, but Marquis Gao'an Xian lacks experience; as the Grand Marshal, he cannot win people's hearts, suppress rebellions, and pacify the borders. Take back the Grand Marshal's seal and let him retire!" That very day, Xian and his wife took their own lives, and their family buried them secretly under the cover of darkness.

Wang Mang figured they were playing possum, so he had his guys dig up Xian's coffin and have a post-mortem done in the slammer. Wang also had Grand Tutor Guang report: "This Xian guy, naturally shifty, wormed his way into being a marquis by brown-nosing. Him and his old man ran the show, showering his brothers with favors and gifts. They built mansions, fancy tombs – living it up like emperors, blowing a fortune and emptying the treasury. The pair were total snobs, ignoring even messengers and never even bothering to say thanks for all the gifts. Their crimes were obvious. Xian committed suicide and confessed, but even after his death, his father and the others showed no remorse, painting the coffin with sand in the colors of the four seasons, with a blue dragon on the left and a white tiger on the right, and gold and silver sun and moon on top, with jade and precious stones inside the coffin. They were living the high life, fit for an emperor! They got lucky escaping death, and they shouldn't be allowed to stay around here. I want their stuff confiscated. Fire every official who worked with Xian." Xian's father Gong, brother Kuanxin, and their relatives were sent to Hepu, while his mother was sent back to their hometown of Julu. People in Chang'an were all talking about it, and when they went to Xian's house to mourn, they nearly got robbed. The government auctioned off everything the Dongs owned – 430 million. They dug up Xian's body, stripped him naked for the autopsy, then buried him in the prison.

Zhu Xu, a big shot, quit his job at the Grand Marshal's place, bought him a coffin and burial clothes, and gave him a proper burial. Wang Mang flipped out when he heard and cooked up another excuse to get rid of Zhu Xu. But Zhu Xu's son, Zhu Fu, did really well under Emperor Guangwu, becoming Grand Marshal and Minister of Works, and even a marquis.

Now, about Wang Hong. He was a stickler for the rules during Wang Mang's rule, and after Wang Mang's failure, he resigned from his position. Emperor Guangwu issued a decree saying, "King Wu wiped out the Shang, and even honored Shang Rong's family. Wang Hong was upright and cautious; nobody dared touch him during times of war. Let's get his son a job in the government!" Wang Hong's son later held a pretty minor job and passed away. Xiao Xian is the great-grandson of Dong Xian.

The meaning of this passage is that Dong Xian's sweet-talking, emperor-pleasing ways weren't just for women; men could do it too. They all had different stories, but Dong Xian was the emperor's absolute favorite. Both father and son were top dogs at court—that's unheard of! However, they didn't get where they were honestly; they were in over their heads, and it didn't end well for them. This shows that excessive favoritism can harm people.

The Han Dynasty started going downhill under Emperors Yuan and Cheng, and by the time Ai and Ping took over, it was completely kaput. During their reigns, the country was in a mess. The emperor was sick, no heir, surrounded by crooks, the court was a shambles, and the whole country was teetering on the brink of collapse. When the emperor kicked the bucket, the crooks took over. Dong Xian got strangled, Ding and Fu were banished, and even the Empress wasn't safe—she got tossed in jail. It was all the emperor's fault—he trusted the wrong people. Like Confucius said, "Watch out for bad company!" Emperors shouldn't pick officials based on who they like—that's the lesson here.

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Written by: Realhistories

Category: The Book of Han (漢書)

Published: 01 December 2024

Created: 01 December 2024

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In the past, the emperor established the country, and the vassals established their own fiefdoms. From nobles to commoners, everyone had their own rank and status. Therefore, commoners obeyed their superiors, and those below did not dare to have any disloyal thoughts. Confucius once said: "When the world is at peace, government runs smoothly without the ministers needing to constantly intervene." Each government department operated according to laws and regulations, fulfilling their duties, and if they were negligent, they would be punished. Corruption and bribery were also punishable. In this way, there was harmony between superiors and subordinates, and all kinds of matters could be handled well.

Later, the Zhou Dynasty weakened, and the levers of power fell into the hands of the vassals. After Duke Huan and Duke Wen, the power was inherited by the great ministers, while the attendants wielded great power. During the Warring States period, it became even more chaotic, with states attacking each other and desperately seeking power and profit. So the sons of various vassal states, like Lord Xinling of Wei, Lord Pingyuan of Zhao, Lord Mengchang of Qi, and Lord Chunshen of Chu, relied on the power of the royal nobles to become powerful retainers, engaging in all sorts of underhanded dealings, which were not only tolerated but also respected by everyone. Prime Minister Yu Qing of Zhao, for the sake of his friend, disregarded the country and the monarch, navigating the crisis between Wei and Qi; Lord Xinling stole the military seal, mobilized troops without authorization, and went to rescue Lord Pingyuan from danger. These individuals were all trying to elevate their status in front of the vassals, to make a name for themselves, and those who were braggarts and layabouts took these four heroes as role models. As a result, self-serving actions, prioritizing personal connections over national interests, became the norm, while loyalty to one's lord and duty vanished.

After the establishment of the Han Dynasty, the law wasn't strictly enforced, and nobody cared to fix it. So prime ministers like Chen Xi traveled with a massive procession, and Wu Bi and the King of Huainan attracted thousands of guests. Court officials, like the Marquis of Wei Qi and the Marquis of Wuan, fought for power and profit; commoner knights, like Ju Meng and Guo Jie, ran roughshod over the common people, their influence spanned the land, even defying princes and dukes. The common people admired their reputation and deeds and wanted to be just like them. Even if they were eventually executed, they believed they died for glory, just like Ji Lu and Qiu Mu, who died without regret. Therefore, Zengzi once said, "The elite had lost their moral compass, and the people had been adrift for ages." If there were no wise rulers in power, using just laws to govern the land, how would the people know right from wrong and fix their errors?

Ancient law held that the Five Hegemons were the legacy of the Three Kings' criminals, and the Six States inherited the sins of the Hegemons. Local strongmen were simply the next generation of outlaws. Not to mention people like Guo Jie, who was just a commoner but held the power of life and death; his crimes should have been punished long ago. However, he was gentle and kind to others, generous in his kindness, helping the poor, humble and cautious, never boasting about himself—he had many admirable qualities. Unfortunately, his bad choices ultimately led to his ruin, and no one else can be blamed for that.

From the Marquis of Wei, Marquis of Wu'an, and King of Huainan onwards, the emperor really hated these regional powers. Wei Qing and Huo Qubing also changed their previous ways. However, local powerful families still existed, with the nobles in the capital city rolling in it, which has always been a common occurrence. Only during the reign of Emperor Cheng of Han was the power of the Wang family, who were relatives of the emperor, the strongest, with Lou Hu serving as Grand General. During the reign of Wang Mang, Chen Zun was the most prominent among the court officials, while among the common people, Yuan She, the renowned swordsman, was the leader.

The Zhu family, natives of the State of Lu, lived during the same period as Emperor Gaozu of Han. The people of Lu followed Confucianism, but the Zhu family was renowned for their chivalry. They took in over a hundred tough guys, as well as countless common people. However, they never boasted of their achievements, doing good deeds quietly and anonymously. They always helped those who needed it most, starting with the poor. Despite having some wealth, they dressed modestly, ate simply, and rode in ox carts. They always put others' urgent matters before their own, even if it meant neglecting their own stuff. They once secretly helped Ji Bu out of a predicament, and although Ji Bu later rose to a high position, the Zhu family never went to see him. East of Hangu Pass, everyone wanted to be their friend.

Tian Zhong, a native of the State of Chu, was also renowned for his chivalry. He looked up to the Zhu family like they were his own parents, but believed himself to be far inferior to them. After Tian Zhong, there was Ju Meng.

Ju Meng was from Luoyang. During the Zhou Dynasty, many people became wealthy through business, but Ju Meng became famous for his chivalrous deeds. When Wu and Chu rebelled, the Taiwei served as the Grand Commandant and rode his horse eastwards. When he reached Henan, he met Ju Meng. The Taiwei joyfully said, "With all the trouble Wu and Chu are causing, and they didn't even ask Ju Meng for help? Figured they wouldn't get far!" At that time, the world was in chaos, and a guy like Ju Meng was a bigger threat to the court than any foreign power. Ju Meng was a gambler his whole life, enjoying games of chance for many years. However, when his mother passed away, he sent a thousand carriages to her funeral, even though she died far from home. But when he died, he didn't even leave ten copper coins behind. Wang Meng from Fuli was also famous for his chivalrous deeds in the Jianghuai region. At the time, the heroes Jianshi and Chen Zhoufu from Jinan were also well-known. Emperor Jing heard about them and sent people to kill them all. But later, more troublemakers popped up like weeds, including Zhu Bai from the Dai Kingdom, Han Wubie from the Liang Kingdom, Xue Kuang from Yangdi, and Han Ru from Shan County. Guo Jie was from Zhi County in Henan and was the grandson of Xu Fu, a renowned fortune teller. Guo Jie's father was also generous and righteous, but he was executed during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen. Guo Jie was calm and resolute, and he didn't drink alcohol. As a young man, he was a cold-blooded killer, quick to take revenge and even quicker to draw his sword. He often sought revenge for friends, stood up for justice, and even committed robbery, theft, and attacks. He faked money, robbed tombs – the list of his crimes was endless. However, he was lucky as hell, always escaping trouble as if he had a guardian angel.

As Guo Jie grew older, he turned over a new leaf, becoming frugal, returning good for evil, being generous to others, but not caring much about rewards. However, he increasingly played the hero. Even though he had saved someone's life, he did not boast about his achievements, and he still held grudges as before. Many young people admired his behavior and would take revenge on his behalf, behind his back.

Guo Jie's nephew, relying on Guo Jie's reputation, drank with others and demanded that people pour his wine. When someone refused, thinking it was not their duty, Guo Jie's nephew forced them. The man, enraged, stabbed Guo Jie's nephew and ran. Guo Jie's sister was furious, saying, "Using old-school methods to kill my son, the thief is still at large!" She threw her son's body on the roadside, refusing to bury him, wanting to humiliate Guo Jie. Guo Jie secretly found out the whereabouts of his nephew's killer. Cornered, the killer gave himself up and told Guo Jie everything. Guo Jie said, "You did what you had to; my son had it coming." He then released the killer, punished his nephew, and buried his nephew. Many people heard about this incident and had even more respect for Guo Jie.

There was a man named Guo Jie, whom everyone else avoided. Only one guy sat there, legs sprawled out, watching him openly. Guo Jie asked him his name, and the man wanted to kill him. Guo Jie said, "Folks in this town don't hold me in high regard, that's my fault, not his!" So he secretly asked the prison warden, "I value this person; let him go when the shift changes." Every time shift change came, Guo Jie went several times, and the guards did not question him. Feeling strange, they asked for the reason, and Guo Jie asked the guard to release the man. The guy, legs still sprawled, just bowed his head in apology. When young people heard about this, they admired Guo Jie even more.

There was a nasty feud brewing in Luoyang, and the city's bigwigs tried mediating—ten times over, no luck. The person then went to Guo Jie. Guo Jie met the enemy at night, and surprisingly, the enemy listened to his mediation. Guo Jie said to the enemy, "I heard that the officials in Luoyang have tried to mediate many times without success. Now you are lucky to listen to my mediation. How can I steal the thunder of those big shots from other counties?" So he left that night without anyone knowing, saying, "Don't worry, let the powerful people in Luoyang mediate after I leave."

Guo Jie was short in stature, humble, and frugal. He never rode a horse and wouldn't dream of taking a carriage to the county seat. When he went to other counties to help others with their affairs, if he could fix it, great. If not, he made sure everyone was happy before he even thought about food. So the bigwigs all loved him, practically fighting over him to handle their problems. City kids and rich folks from the surrounding counties would show up at his place in the dead of night—sometimes a dozen carriages strong—begging him to put them up and look after them.

When Guo Jie was transferred to Maoling, he was very poor, and his property was not enough to cover the confiscation. The officials were afraid to disobey the order. General Wei pleaded for him, saying, "Guo Jie's family is poor, and his property is not enough to cover the confiscation." The emperor replied, "Guo Jie is a commoner, but his influence is so great that even the general has to speak for him. How can he be considered poor?" Guo Jie was moved, and he was seen off by countless people. Yang Jizhu, a county official in Zhi County, oppressed Guo Jie, and Guo Jie's nephew killed Yang Jizhu. When Guo Jie entered Guanzhong, the elite, both those who knew him and those who did not, all wanted to befriend him. The people in the city killed Yang Jizhu, and his family went to the court to file a complaint. After hearing this, the emperor sent officials to arrest Guo Jie. Guo Jie fled, leaving his mother and family in Xiayang, and he escaped to Linjin. There was a man named Ji Shaoweng in Linjin who did not know Guo Jie at all but still let him pass. Ji Shaoweng let Guo Jie go, and Guo Jie went to Taiyuan, keeping everyone he met informed of his location. The officials traced Ji Shaoweng, who killed himself immediately. It took a long time to catch Guo Jie and investigate his crimes, and all the people Guo Jie killed were before the general amnesty. A Confucian scholar sat in front of the envoy, and when guests praised Guo Jie, the scholar said, "Guo Jie relied on trickery to break the law. How can he be considered a virtuous man?" When Guo Jie's guests heard this, they killed the scholar and cut off his tongue. The officials then investigated Guo Jie's responsibility, but Guo Jie truly did not know who killed the scholar, and the killer was never found. The officials reported that Guo Jie was innocent. However, Grand Minister Gongsun Hong said, "Guo Jie, a commoner, acted with righteousness and chivalry. Killing someone over a minor grudge, even if Guo Jie did not know about it, is a more serious offense than if he did. It is simply unforgivable!" Therefore, his entire family was executed.

Since then, although there were many tough guys, none of them were worth a damn. However, Fan Zhongzi from Chang'an in Guanzhong, Zhao Wangsun from Huai Li, Gao Gongzi from Chang Ling, Guo Wengzhong from Xihe, Lu Wengru from Taiyuan, Er Changqing from Linhuai, and Chen Junru from Dongyang, although they were tough guys, they were humble and courteous, and acted like real gentlemen. As for those from the northern road, the Yao family, the Zhu Du family from the western road, Qiu Jing from the southern road, Zhao Tuoyu Gongzi from the eastern road, and Zhao Diao from Nanyang, these people were basically just criminals, not worth mentioning at all! This is something only yokels would be ashamed of.

Yu Zhang, known as Zixia, was from Chang'an. The city of Chang'an was bustling with people, and each neighborhood had its own heroes. Yu Zhang lived in Liushi in the west of the city, known as "Yu Zhang Zixia of the West City." He worked for the magistrate of Jingzhao and followed him to the imperial palace to serve. The princes and nobles in the palace competed to pay their respects to him, but no one talked to the magistrate. Yu Zhang was so scared that he trembled, and later the magistrate didn't take him into the palace anymore.

He had a good relationship with the Imperial Secretary Shi Xian, and thus his place was always buzzing with visitors. In the early reign of Emperor Cheng, Shi Xian was dismissed from office for being corrupt and was sent back to his hometown. Shi Xian was wealthy, and when he was about to leave, he left behind millions of dollars worth of stuff, wanting to give it to Yu Zhang, but Yu Zhang did not accept. When asked why, Yu Zhang sighed, "Being just a regular person, I have received Mr. Shi's favor. Now that Mr. Shi's family has fallen and he can't even settle himself, if I accept his wealth, it will bring disaster to the Shi family. What good would that do?" Everyone admired and praised him for his decision.

During the Heping period, Wang Zun became the magistrate of Jingzhao and started going after the tough guys. He killed Yu Zhang, as well as Jian Zhanghui, Zhao Jun from Jiushi, and Jia Ziguang, all of whom were famous heroes in Chang'an, taking revenge for others and training killers.

Lou Hu, whose style name was Junqing, was from the state of Qi. His father was a doctor, and Lou Hu followed him to practice medicine in Chang'an from a young age, visiting the homes of officials and nobles. He was well-versed in medical books, materia medica, and various medical skills, with tens of thousands of characters. Many elders admired him for his talent, saying, "With talents like Junqing, why not become an official?" So, Lou Hu said goodbye to his father, started studying the classics, and worked as an official in Jingzhao Prefecture for several years, gaining a good reputation.

At that time, the Wang family was in power, with many guests coming and going. The five marquis brothers competed with each other for fame and fortune, and their guests had different biases, making it hard to stay on everyone's good side. Only Lou Hu could enter their mansions and win them over. He made friends with scholars and officials, winning over everyone, especially the elders, who were especially fond of him. Despite his short stature, he had good eloquence and always stuck to his principles in discussions, commanding respect from his listeners. He and Gu Yong were both regular visitors of the five marquises, and people in Chang'an would say, "Gu Ziyun was known for his writing, and Lou Junqing for his speaking," describing how highly they were valued. Thousands of carriages attended his mother's funeral, and a song was sung in his honor: "The Five Marquises' mourning was led by Lou Junqing."

Later, Ping Ahou recommended Lou Hu as a person of integrity and appointed him as a censor, sending him on missions to various places. Lou Hu traveled with a lavish entourage and substantial funds. Passing through the Qi State, he requested to pay respects to his ancestors' graves, meet with relatives and friends, and lavish hundreds of gold coins daily based on their relationships. After returning from his missions, he reported his work to the court, which pleased the emperor and led to his promotion as the prefect of Tianshui. After a few years, he retired and returned to live in Chang'an. At that time, Chengdu Hou Shang served as the Grand Marshal and wanted to visit Lou Hu after leaving court. His chief secretary advised against it, but Chengdu Hou Shang still went to Lou Hu's home. Lou Hu's home was very small, and the officials stood waiting under their carriages. After waiting for a long time and with rain approaching, the chief secretary said to the officials from the Western Court, "He wouldn't listen, so there they were, stuck in the alley waiting to get soaked!" When Chengdu Hou Shang returned and heard about this, he was very angry and dismissed the chief secretary for not advising him properly, making sure he'd never get another job.

Later, Lou Hu was recommended again to serve as the prefect of Guanghan. During the Yuan Shi era, Wang Mang served as the Prince of Anhan, holding great power. Wang Mang's eldest son, Wang Yu, and his brother-in-law, Lu Kuan, plotted to blood the gates of Wang Mang's mansion, hoping to scare him into relinquishing power. When the plot was exposed, Wang Mang was furious and killed Wang Yu, while Lu Kuan escaped. Lu Kuan's father had known Lou Hu before, and when Lu Kuan fled to Guanghan and passed by Lou Hu's place, he did not tell him about the incident. A few days later, a decree to capture Lu Kuan arrived, and Lou Hu arrested him. Wang Mang was delighted and summoned Lou Hu to appoint him as the former Radiant, granting him the title of Lord of Xixiang and ensuring his son was appointed to one of the Nine Ministries.

So, the story goes, before Wang Mang seized the throne, the man named Wang Mang, who had not yet become emperor, lived in his residence in Mangju. In that area, there were some agitators named Zhao Peng and Huo Hong, who caused disturbances with a group of followers, reaching the place where Wang Mang lived. At that time, he was just a low-ranking official, relying on their protection to avoid being demoted to a commoner. During his time in office, they pocketed all his rewards, salary, and bribes. Later, when Wang Mang no longer held office and those five marquises had all died—who had previously supported him—he himself had grown old, lost his power and influence, and his former friends had also dispersed.

When Wang Mang seized power, due to their previous relationship, he brought him back and appointed him as a minor official in the outskirts of Louji. At this time, the son of the Marquis of Chengdu, Shang Yi, became the Chief Minister with great power. Shang Yi's former friends all flattered him, except for Wang Mang, who remained unchanged. Instead, Shang Yi respected him like a father and did not dare to neglect him. Once, when Shang Yi hosted a banquet, Wang Mang sat at the table, respectfully offering wine to Shang Yi, saying, "Let me offer you a toast, sir!" Over a hundred people present all stood up and knelt down, except for Wang Mang, who sat there upright, still smiling at Shang Yi and saying, "My lord, how does it feel to be so powerful?"

As for Wang Mang, he had an old friend named Lu Gong who had no sons, so he entrusted his care to Wang Mang. They ate and lived together, and their wives also shared a household. When Wang Mang left office and returned home, his wife found Lu Gong increasingly difficult to live with. When Wang Mang found out, he tearfully rebuked his wife, saying, "Lu Gong is my old friend; he is old and has no one to rely on. He entrusted everything to me, and I should take good care of him!" So, Wang Mang continued to support Lu Gong until his death. After Wang Mang's death, his son inherited his marquisate.

Then there's another guy named Chen Zun, (his formal name was Menggong), and he was from Duling. His grandfather was named Chen Sui, (his style name was Zhangzi). When Emperor Xuan of Han was young, he was friends with Chen Sui, and they often played chess and gambled together. Chen Sui was always losing to the Emperor. When Emperor Xuan became emperor, he promoted Chen Sui and eventually made him the governor of Taiyuan. The Emperor even wrote him a letter that said: "Hey Taiyuan Governor, your job's sweet, your paycheck's fat – you can finally win back all that dough you lost to me. And tell the wife!" Chen Sui was quick to thank him and said, "That was before the big pardon in the first year of Yuanping." See? The Emperor really looked after him! Later, during the reign of Emperor Yuan, Chen Sui was summoned to the capital city and became the mayor of Chang'an, eventually rising to the position of chief justice.

When Chen Zun was young, he lost his father and served as an official in Jingzhao with Zhang Song and Bo Song. Zhang Song was knowledgeable, understanding, and honest, while Chen Zun was dissolute and behaved quite differently. Despite their contrasting characters, they had a good relationship. During the reign of Emperor Ai, both of them were well-known and considered role models by later generations. They were both appointed to government offices, where most officials rode simple vehicles, thin horses, and wore plain clothes. However, Chen Zun was fastidious about his carriage, horses, and clothing, and there was always a constant buzz of activity in front of his house. He often came home drunk, delaying official business. The Western Secretariat wanted to punish him according to the rules, but a subordinate official would report to Chen Zun, and he would always say, "Don't bother me until I've reached my quota of mistakes." According to the rules, one must be punished after making a hundred mistakes, and only then would the Western Secretariat report for punishment. The Grand Commandant Ma Gong, who highly regarded Chen Zun, said, "This person has great talent and a broad mind. How can we blame him for such trivial matters?" So he recommended Chen Zun to manage some difficult counties in the Three Commanderies and appointed him as the magistrate of Yuyi County. Eventually, he had a conflict with the Prefect of Fufeng and quit his job.

Zhao Peng and Huo Hong, two notorious thieves from Huai Li, emerged. Chen Zun was appointed as a military officer and defeated Zhao Peng and Huo Hong, earning merit and was subsequently ennobled as the Marquis of Jiawei. He lived in Chang'an, where the marquis, courtiers, and influential figures from the provinces all respected him greatly. Local officials and heroes who came to the capital all paid visits to Chen Zun. Chen Zun was particularly fond of drinking. Every time he threw a drinking feast, the guests crowded the house. He'd then lock the door, toss their carriage axles down the well, stranding his guests regardless of how pressing their business. Once, a regional inspector came to report to him while he was drinking. The inspector was very anxious, but when Chen Zun was dead drunk, he burst in and met Chen Zun's mother, who allowed him to leave through the back door. Despite his constant inebriation, he never shirked his duties.

He was over eight feet tall, with a large head and a big nose, looking very imposing. He had a smattering of history and a talent for poetry. He excelled in calligraphy, and his letters were prized possessions for their recipients. Nobody dared cross him. He commanded universal respect, nobody daring to slight him. At that time, there was another marquis with the same name as Chen Zun. Whenever he arrived at someone's doorstep, people would say, "It's Marquis Chen Meng!" The household would be thrown into a panic, but upon seeing that it was not Chen Zun, they nicknamed him "Chen Jingzuo" (literally, "Chen Startles-the-Seated").

Wang Mang thought Wang Zun was a real whiz, and he got rave reviews while in office, so he made him the administrator of Henan. As soon as Wang Zun took office, he sent a lowly clerk to the west to deliver letters, and at the same time called ten scribes to help him write thank-you notes to his old friends in the capital. Sitting at the table, he dictated the contents of the letters, and the scribes dashed them off. He tailored each letter to its recipient while also handling official business, writing hundreds of letters in one go. This caused a stir in Henan. Within months, he was dismissed because of this.

At first, when Wang Zun became the administrator of Henan, his brother Wang Ji became the administrator of Jingzhou. When they took office, they both passed through Chang'an and went to a wealthy household together. It was the family of the Prince of Huaiyang, surnamed Zuo. They threw a party there. Later, the censor Chen Chong learned about this and ratted them out, saying, "The brothers Wang Zun and Wang Ji are both very fortunate, receiving the emperor's favor and rising in official ranks. Wang Zun was appointed as a marquis and served as a county magistrate, while Wang Ji became a governor and carried out his duties. Their responsibilities are to uphold the law and set a good example, but they cannot behave themselves. When Wang Zun just took office, he took the county magistrate's carriage to a small alley in the countryside and hit on a widow named Zuo Ajun, drinking, singing, and dancing at her place. He even nodded off in his seat, spending the night at her house with his maid looking after him. Wang Zun clearly knew that drinking and feasting should be moderate, and that it is improper to enter a widow's home, but he got drunk and chased women, disgraced his office, which is a total disgrace! I request that they both be dismissed!" After Wang Zun was dismissed, he returned to Chang'an, where his parties got even bigger.

A long time later, he was appointed as the Governor of Jiujiang and Hanoi, holding the rank of 2,000-stone official three times in total. Zhang Song also became the Governor of Danyang and was titled the Marquis of Shude. Later, both of them were removed from office and returned to Chang'an with their marquis titles. Zhang Song lived a relatively poor life, with few guests; occasionally, some admirers would come to seek advice from him, discussing ancient texts. Wang Zun, on the other hand, spent his days surrounded by friends, with his house always full of visitors and their carriages and horses, and constant feasting.

There was a eunuch named Yang Xiong who wrote a piece called "Ode to Wine" to advise Emperor Cheng of Han. In his article, he said that those who are addicted to wine are like bottles. Imagine a bottle perched precariously by a well: one wrong move, and it shatters. When the wine bottle is filled with wine, it cannot contain anything else and can only be trapped by the well, unable to move. Once it is broken, it becomes shattered, its usefulness destroyed. So, it's better to be a wineskin instead! Sure, a wineskin's a bit silly, with a belly like a large wine jar, always filled with wine, and others have to borrow from it to drink. It's government property, placed in the carriage, entering and leaving the palace, serving the country. So, what's the problem with wine?

Emperor Cheng of Han, Liu Ao, was delighted to hear this and said to Zhang Song, "My situation with you is like that of the bottle and the wineskin, right? You devote yourself to study, demanding of yourself, never daring to slack off, while I indulge in pleasure, with no less official position and fame than you, yet I am happier, don't you agree?" Zhang Song replied, "Everyone has their own aspirations and ways of living. You cannot be like me even if you wanted to, and I cannot imitate you if I wanted to. However, those who follow my example are more likely to succeed, while those who follow yours will likely fail. That's my philosophy."

Later, Wang Mang usurped the Han Dynasty, and both of these men sought refuge in Chiyang. As a result, Zhang Song was killed by rebel troops. Emperor Gengshi, Liu Xuan, arrived in Chang'an, and the ministers recommended Liu Zun to serve as the Supreme Commander, also sending him and Liu Sa, the Marquis of Guidi, to negotiate with the Xiongnu. The Chanyu wanted to threaten Liu Zun, but Liu Zun argued with reason, clearly explaining the stakes and the justice of the matter. The Chanyu was deeply impressed by him and sent him back. Later, Emperor Gengshi failed, and Liu Zun remained in Shuofang, where he was defeated by rebel troops. At that time, he was also drunk and was killed in this way.

Now, let's talk about Yuan She, with the courtesy name of Juxian. His grandfather, known for his heroism, moved from Yangdi to Maoling during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han. Yuan She's father served as the Nanyang prefect during the reign of Emperor Ai of Han. At that time, the world was prosperous, and in large counties like Nanyang, high-ranking officials had taxes and funeral expenses amounting to vast sums. This money was enjoyed together by wives and children to consolidate the family's wealth. Moreover, few people completed the three-year mourning period. However, after Yuan She's father passed away, he returned all the gifts from Nanyang and observed mourning at home for three years, thus gaining great fame. After the mourning period, the people of Fufeng County requested him to serve as a magistrate, and many people followed his example in dress and manners. The Grand Minister Shi Dan believed in his governing ability and recommended him to serve as the magistrate of Gugou County when he was in his twenties. When the people of Gugou County heard of his reputation, they all became well-behaved without needing to be told.

Firstly, it is mentioned that She's uncle was killed by the Maoling Qin clan. She stayed in the valley for half a year, voluntarily resigned, and sought revenge. The influential people in the valley helped him kill the Qin clan, making him a fugitive. He was on the run for over a year and only came out after encountering a general amnesty. Local heroes from various counties, as well as those with integrity in Chang'an and Wuling, particularly admired him. She made every effort to interact with them, and his doorstep was worn down by visitors, filling the entire neighborhood with guests.

Some people criticized She, saying, "You were born into a family of high-ranking officials, living a virtuous life from a young age, honoring your parents, doing good deeds, and showing courtesy. Now, to avenge a wrong, you act so dignified, as if you haven't lost your sense of righteousness and morality. Why did you later indulge yourself and become one of those roguish adventurers?" She replied, "Haven't you seen those widows who have fallen on hard times and are destitute? They also started out well-behaved, aspiring to be as virtuous as Song Boji and Chen Xiaofu. Unfortunately, once they are defiled by thieves, they become licentious. Although they know it is wrong, they cannot turn back. My current situation is the same as theirs!"

I heard about She from Nanyang. He thought that by giving up a grand funeral in Nanyang for someone else, he gained a good reputation but neglected his ancestors' graves, which is not filial. So he went all out building tombs and houses, with surrounding corridors and ornate doors. Initially, during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, the Cao family, the magistrate of Jingzhao, was buried at Maoling. The common people called that road "Jingzhao Road" (京兆千). She admired it and bought land to build a road, erecting a stele that read "Nanyang Road" (南阳千). However, no one walked on that road, instead calling it "Yuanshi Road" (原氏千). He funded the road by soliciting donations from the wealthy and elders. He himself dressed plainly, rode in simple carriages, and lived in a humble manner, while his wife and children lived in hardship. He was solely focused on helping people in need, always ready to lend a hand.

Once, someone hosted a banquet and invited He to drink. He entered the alley and happened to meet an acquaintance who told him that his mother was sheltering in an alley house because of her illness. He immediately went to visit and knocked on the door. The family possessed nothing, so He went in to offer condolences and inquire about the funeral arrangements. He said, "Just ensure the place is cleaned and prepared, and I'll handle everything else." He returned to the host's house and sighed to the guests, "There's been a death in the family, and nothing has been done yet; how can I have the heart to drink? I would like to ask everyone to remove the food and drinks." The guests asked what to do, so He sat and carved a list of necessities on a piece of wood, assigning them to the guests to buy. The guests rushed around, and by the afternoon, everything was purchased. He personally checked everything and said to the host, "I'm ready for my reward." Everyone had a meal together, but He didn't eat much. Then he took the coffin and offerings, followed the guests to the mourning family, helped prepare the body for burial, and oversaw the funeral arrangements until the burial. This is how eager he was to help others. Later, someone slandered He, calling him a "ruthless power-monger." The family members of the deceased immediately killed the slanderer right then and there.

A bunch of his guests had gotten into trouble with the law, and the whole thing was reported to the Emperor. Wang Mang tried to have them all whacked a few times, but chickened out each time. Yang She was spooked and figured he'd get a government job to lay low and avoid those guys. When his mom died, he was working security at the tomb. He got a cushy job as a Zhonglang, but quit after a short while. Yang She wanted to visit his mother's grave and didn't want to see those guests, so he secretly made an appointment with old friends to visit the grave together. He drove his own car out to Maoling. It was almost dark when he got there, and he hid himself in the village. He sent his servant to get some meat, but the guy got into a brawl with the butcher, cut the poor fella, and ran off. The new county magistrate, Yin Gong, hadn't even met Yang She yet when he heard about this. He was furious. Yin Gong knew Yang She was a big shot, so he figured he'd make an example of him and sent the cops after him. By noon, the servant was still MIA, and the cops were ready to off Yang She. Yang She was freaking out, not knowing what to do. Just then, his friends showed up – dozens of carts full of bigwigs – and they all begged Yin Gong to let him go. Yin Gong said no at first, but the big shots said, "Look, just make the servant strip naked, tie himself up, stick arrows in his ears, and march him to the courthouse to confess. That'll save face, right?" Yin Gong agreed. Yang She did as they said, confessed, and was set free.

At first, Yang She was friends with the wealthy Qi Taibo, but Qi Taibo's younger brother Wang Yougong was always jealous of Yang She. At that time, when he was a small-time official in the county government, he said to Yin Gong, "If you keep humiliating Yang She like this, and if the emperor really sends you back to be a low-level bureaucrat, he's got a whole army of assassins, silent killers; just thinking about it is chilling. He built a tomb that exceeded regulations; his crimes are as plain as day, and the emperor will know sooner or later. In my opinion, just tear down his tomb, report his past crimes to the court, and you'll get promoted. That way, he won't dare to blame you." Yin Gong believed his words, and sure enough, Wang Mang yanked him back. Yang She therefore held a grudge against Wang Yougong. He rounded up his cronies and sent his oldest son with twenty carts to raid Wang Yougong's place. Wang Yougong's mother was Qi Taibo's mother, and when those guests saw her, they all knelt down and paid their respects, saying, "Watch out, you don't want to upset Lady Qi!" In the end, they killed Wang Yougong's father and son, and even cut off their heads.

Now, this Wang She, his character is a bit like that Guo Jie from back then. He was all smiles and politeness, a wolf in sheep's clothing, but with a killer instinct. He'd kill you over a spilled cup of tea, and he had a body count to prove it. In the late years of Wang Mang, the world was in chaos, uprisings broke out everywhere, and many princes and nobles recommended Wang She, saying he was good at winning people's hearts and leading troops into battle, a talent that could be used. Wang Mang summoned him, listed a long list of his crimes, and in the end, instead of killing or punishing him, he appointed him as the top dog in Zhenrong.

Not long after Wang She took office, Chang'an fell. All over the place, fake officials popped up, raising armies, killing the old guard, and pledging allegiance to Liu Xiu's Han forces. Those who'd hitched their wagon to Wang She, the Wang Mang governor, owed him their lives. Later, Wang She was escorted back to Chang'an, and Gengshi Emperor's Western Screen General, Shentu Jian, wanted to see him and valued him highly. Yin Gong, the former Maoling magistrate, had trashed Wang She's place, yet Shentu Jian promoted him to chief clerk. Wang She didn't seem to hold a grudge.

After Wang She followed Shentu Jian out, Yin Gong specially went to visit him and said, "Things have changed, let's forget about it, okay?" When Wang She heard this, he was furious and cursed, "Yin Jun, what the hell do you think I am?!" Because of this, Wang She sent someone to assassinate Yin Gong.

Wang She wanted to escape, and Shentu Jian felt ashamed and resentful, but pretended to say, "I'm about to team up with Yuan Ju to defend the Sanfu region. Are we gonna throw all that away over some two-bit clerk?" Then he deliberately leaked the news to let Wang She surrender to the prison by himself, pretending to agree. So they sent Wang She to jail in a motorcade of dozens of carts. But halfway there, Shentu Jian ambushed them, scattered the convoy, and had Wang She killed right then and there. Then they hung his body in the Chang'an marketplace as a warning.

Starting from the time of Emperor Ai and Emperor Ping, there were many influential figures in various regions, but very few made a real name for themselves. Among those whose reputation spread throughout the provinces were Du Jun'ao of Baling, Han Youru of Chiyang, Xiu Junbin of Ma Ling, and Cao Zhongshu of Xihe, all of whom had an unassuming nature. During Wang Mang's reign, fearing these figures, he hunted them down to wipe them out. Wang Mang especially wanted to capture Cao Zhongshu, but he could never catch him. Cao Zhongshu had a good relationship with General Sun Jian, and Wang Mang suspected that Sun Jian was hiding him, so he grilled Sun Jian. Sun Jian replied, "Go ahead and kill me if you want to shut me up." Wang Mang was a ruthless tyrant who couldn't stand opposition, but seeing Sun Jian so resolute, he surprisingly backed down and ultimately did not capture Cao Zhongshu. Later, Cao Zhongshu's son, Shao You, also became famous for his chivalry.