Anecdote of the Fifth Queen Mother

Chapter 4 Empress Dowager Lu (3)
In the early summer of 195 BC, the arrow wound Liu Bang suffered when attacking Yingbu half a year ago did not improve due to the coming of spring, and the festering expanded on his chest.At this time, Empress Lu invited him a good doctor, saying that he could recover with peace of mind and rest.Liu Bang knew in his heart that these were words of comfort.He simply died, thinking about how to arrange the affairs after his death.Mrs. Qi and Zhao Wang Ruyi, who worried him the most, were initially settled, but he was still worried about Empress Lu.Liu Bang and Empress Lu have lived together for more than 20 years, and he is well aware of Empress Lu's vicious methods.On the issue of eradicating kings with different surnames, Empress Lu helped Liu Bang a lot. If Empress Lu used this method to deal with Liu's descendants, the consequences would be unimaginable, and a good strategy had to be thought of.Liu Bang was meditating, and the scene of Empress Lu killing Han Xin and Peng Yue flashed before him vividly and picturesquely.

Han Xin is the number one hero who helped Liu Bang conquer the world.Liu Bang secretly crossed Chencang from Hanzhong, and captured Guanzhong with his carbine, using Han Xin's trick.Liu Bang was defeated and returned to Pengcheng, and it was Han Xin who blocked Shuo Yu's offensive in Chenggao before he stabilized his position.Then, Han Xin went north, broke Wei, destroyed the dynasty, overthrew Zhao, threatened Yan, descended to Qi, and conquered half of the world for Liu Bang, completing the strategic encirclement of Xiang Yu.Liu Bang named Han Xin the king of Qi.The last Gai next battle was also commanded by Han Xin.However, due to Han Xin's high merits, after Liu Bang destroyed Xiang Yu, his first goal was to cut off Han Xin.Liu Bang first took his military power, moved him from Qi to Chu, and changed him to the king of Chu.Han Xin is a native of Huaiyin in Chu.Liu Bang nominally asked him to return to his hometown, but in fact he transferred Han Xin to leave Qidi and go to a strange place.Immediately afterwards, taking advantage of Han Xin's unstable foothold in Chu, Liu Bang used Zhang Liang's plan to deceive You Yunmeng, arrested Han Xin at a banquet, demoted him to Huaiyin Marquis, and placed him under house arrest in Chang'an.This time Han Xin was really full of resentment, and he colluded with another general of Liu Bang, Chen Xi, to overthrow Liu Bang.Chen Xi garrisoned Daidi with elite troops to defend the Xiongnu.In the autumn and September of 197 BC, Chen Xi rebelled in Dai.Liu Bang personally led the army to go to the conquest. Before leaving, he asked Han Xin to go with the army. Han Xin said that he was ill and could not follow, so Liu Bang stared in anger.Before Liu Bang left, he asked Empress Lu to act in a timely manner and get rid of Han Xin.

After Liu Bang set off for the expedition, Empress Lu and Han Xin prepared intensively.Han Xin conspired with his retainers, and estimated that when Liu Bang arrived in Daidi, he took advantage of Chen Xi's opportunity to hold Liu Bang, and armed the prisoners from various government offices, killed them in the palace, killed Empress Lu, and occupied Chang'an.This incident was reported by Han Xin's subordinates.Han Xin's meritorious service was high, and Empress Lu had no excuse to kill him, because she hadn't grasped the reason for Han Xin's rebellion.Han Xin deserved to be unlucky. He conspired to revolt, but killed a retainer because of a trivial matter, and the younger brother of the retainer turned himself in and denounced him.So Empress Lu immediately discussed with Xiao He and set up a trap.She first sent some people to pretend to be Liu Bang's envoys returning to Beijing from the front line to report victory, and the ministers of all ministries would naturally go to the palace to celebrate.Han Xin said that he was ill and would not go to court long ago, so Empress Lu sent Xiao He to invite him.Xiao He recommended Han Xinbai, and Han Xinxin was very grateful to Xiao He, without any doubts.Xiao He followed his plan and forced Han Xin to enter the palace to celebrate.Han Xin is resourceful and resourceful, but he has one of his biggest shortcomings, that is, he is arrogant and takes no one seriously.Once he passed by Fan Kuai's house, Fan Kui was very obedient, knelt down to see him off, and called Han Xin his great king.But after Han Xin went out, he said, "It's boring to be side by side with people like Fan Kui while I'm alive." Another time, Han Xin and Liu Bang were talking about leading troops to fight. Thousands of soldiers, but he himself is the more the better.Liu Bang was very upset and said, "You are so capable, yet you became my prisoner." Han Xin quickly changed his words and said, "Your Majesty is not good at leading troops, but is good at controlling generals. "Liu Bang is happy now.Han Xin didn't even care about Liu Bang, so he didn't care about Empress Lu.But he never imagined that Empress Lu's methods would not let others down.As soon as Han Xin entered the palace, he was captured by the ambushed warriors.Empress Lu immediately ordered La to be secretly executed in the warehouse where the bells were placed in Changle Palace.Before execution, Empress Lv said triumphantly to Han Xin: "Han Xin, do you still want to fly to the sky?" Providence!"

To kill Liang Wang Peng Yue, Empress Lu's methods were even more vicious.Han Xin, Peng Yue, and Ying Bu were the three famous generals in the early Han Dynasty, and they were also called the Sanxiong.Empress Lu killed Han Xin in the first month of spring in 196 BC.At this time, Liu Bang had defeated Chen Xi in Daidi.Because Peng Yue claimed that he was ill and did not lead troops to the front, Liu Bang took the opportunity to falsely accuse Peng Yue of rebellion and sent envoys to arrest him.In April, Liu Bang returned to Luoyang from the front line, convicted Peng Yue of exile, and exiled him to Sichuan.It happened that Empress Lu went from Chang'an to Luoyang to meet Liu Bang, and met Peng Yue's prison car in Zheng County on the way.Empress Lu pretended to be very concerned and asked Peng Yue what was going on.Peng Yue cried and complained about his injustice, and pleaded with Empress Lu, hoping that she could say a few words and let Liu Bang forgive his crimes.Empress Lu fully agreed, and said to Peng Yue: "General Peng, your achievements are well known. You didn't accompany you this time, and for a small mistake, the emperor exiled you for a while, and I'm afraid that you will calm down at this time. You don't have to go to Sichuan. When I go to Luoyang, the emperor will pardon you." Peng Yue believed it, and followed Empress Lu to Luoyang.Empress Lv went to see Liu Bang in a hurry, but she didn't intercede with Peng Yue, but instead narrated Peng Yue's grievances and resentment full of embellishments.At the end, Queen Lu said to Liu Bang: "Your Majesty, if you keep a strong man like Peng Yue, wouldn't you let the tiger go back to the mountain?" Liu Bang said, "What can we do?" Bring Peng Yue back to Luoyang, and let the person who escorted him make a report, saying that Peng Yue resisted the order and would not go to Sichuan, and continued to plot rebellion, so he should be wiped out.” In this way, Peng Yue was not only beheaded, but also exterminated three times. Family, the whole family copied and cut.Not to mention, Peng Yue's body was boiled into meat sauce, sealed in a jar and sent to Yingbo and others to force him to rebel against Yingbo.So that Liu Bang can catch all the heroes before his death.Empress Lu's series of calculations have started and turned around.When Sima Qian wrote "The Chronicle of Empress Lu", he also had to admire her, saying that Empress Lu was "resolute" and that she "assisted the ancestors to rule the world, and the ministers who punished her were more powerful than Empress Lu".Sima Qian wrote "The Chronicle of Qin Shihuang", calling Qin Shihuang "resolute and deep".It can be seen that under the eyes of great ancient historians, Empress Lu is also a first-class figure of Qin Shihuang.

Liu Bang recalled Lu Hou's performance scene by scene, and couldn't hold his breath anymore.He scolded: "I hold the three-foot sword, take the world on horseback, and become the emperor from a commoner. Isn't this the destiny? My life is also controlled by the sky. Now the sky is calling me, and it is the genius doctor Bian Que." Reincarnation is also useless. Do you still want to hide it from me?" Liu Bang scolded Bi and kicked the doctor out, and ordered him to reward him with fifty catties of gold.Liu Bang's temper was to show Empress Lu how to consider the funeral.

A good Empress Lu, who suddenly understood, asked Liu Bang: "Your Majesty, what should not be said, I want to ask: After your Majesty is a hundred years old, Xiao Xiangguo will die, who will succeed the prime minister?" Liu Bang said: " Cao Shen will succeed you." Lu Hou asked again: "What about Cao Shen?" Liu Bang said: "After Cao Shen, Wang Ling will succeed. But Wang Ling's personality is too upright to be alone, so Chen Ping can be used as his deputy. Chen Ping is more wise, but less decisive. He can't be alone. Zhou Bo is simple and dignified. Although he has no culture, he must be the one who stabilizes the Liu family. You can use Zhou Bo as a captain." Lu asked again, and Liu Bang said: "In the future, it is not you who can manage Got it."

Perhaps Liu Bang was too worried. After talking with Empress Lu this time, his condition deteriorated sharply.After another ten days, Liu Bang thought up the countermeasures and made his final decision.He struggled to summon the ministers to arrange funeral affairs.He announced three policies: the first one was to announce the personnel arrangements made during the dialogue between him and Empress Lu.The second article killed a white horse and made a blood alliance with the ministers, swearing: "No one can be crowned king unless he is the Liu family, and no one can be named a marquis unless he is a meritorious official. Those who violate the covenant will be punished by the whole world." The third article, Liu Bang said Someone accused Fan Kui of treason, and ordered Chen Ping and Zhou Bo to take the imperial edict to the country of Yan, and behead Fan Kui in the army.He also ordered Guan Ying to take heavy troops to guard Xingyang.After Liu Bang finished these few things, he returned to the harem and slowly closed his eyes.This day is Jiachen in April of the lunar calendar in 195 BC, that is, April 25.

[-]. Human hog with severed limbs

Fan Kuai was a fierce general who had secured Liu Bang's seat at the Hongmen Banquet, and was originally one of Liu Bang's favorite generals.But Fan Kui was Empress Lu's brother-in-law, and Liu Bang ordered him to be executed in order to deny Empress Lu's party support. It was really embarrassing to do this job.What should Liu Bang do if he regrets it?Even if Liu Bang died, it would be difficult to explain why Empress Lu turned his face.But Chen Ping has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.He and Zhou Bo just arrested Fan Kui.Zhou Bo replaced Fan Kui as general, and Chen Ping escorted Fan Kui back to Beijing.Chen Ping's strategy is, I will leave it to you, Liu Bang, to punish him.Before Chen Ping arrived in Chang'an, Liu Bang died.Empress Lu gritted her teeth to avenge her brother-in-law, and would kill Chen Ping as soon as she came back.Unexpectedly, Chen Ping came to Liu Bang's mourning hall unhurriedly, crying and playing.Chen Ping said: "Your Majesty, I went to the army to investigate, and Fan Kui was not guilty. I brought him back. I don't want your Majesty to leave the minister. How can I deal with it!" Chen Ping's sad complaint made him excuse himself Clean and clean, but won the trust of Empress Lu.After that, Lu Yan tried to slander Chen Ping many times, but Empress Lu didn't listen.

Let's talk about how Empress Lu handled Liu Bang's funeral.He confines himself in the palace, keeps his funeral secret, and only conspires with the Marquis of Piyang to examine Shiqi.Empress Lu said: "The heroes and veterans who fought the world with Emperor Gao are all ministers to the north. I am afraid that they will not listen to the edict of the little emperor, so it is better to kill them all." Important matters that are no small matter must be considered in the long term." Who is the judge?He was originally a servant of Empress Lu's family. He spent three years as a prisoner with Empress Lu in Xiang Yu's army.When Empress Lu had something to do, she consulted with Shen Shiqi.As the saying goes: "There is no impenetrable wall." Li Ji, the son of Li Shang, the Marquis of Quzhou, and Lu Lu, the son of Lu Shizhi, the Marquis of Jiancheng, were good friends, and they talked about everything.Lu Lu told Li Ji about Empress Lu's conspiracy to kill the minister, so that his family could make up their minds early and get rid of the difficulty.Li Ji told his father Li Shang.Li Shang hurriedly went to examine Shiqi, and Li Shang said: "Everyone outside knows about the death of Emperor Gao, and there is a lot of discussion. Everyone is rumoring that the queen will not be mourned, and she wants to kill the minister. If this is true, there will be chaos in the world that day." , you and the Empress Lu are both going to exterminate the clan. Think about it, Guan Ying stationed 20 troops in Xingyang, and Zhou Bo Dai Fan Kuai sent [-] troops in Yan Dynasty. If they want to rebel, they must unite and attack Guanzhong. At that time, the ministers rebelled internally, the generals rebelled externally, and the calamity of ruining the family and the country would not have happened in an instant?" Shen Shiqi suddenly realized, and hurriedly went to the palace to report to Empress Lu.Empress Lu also felt that the situation was critical when she heard it, so she hurriedly sent a funeral and announced to the world.On May [-]th, Bingyin buried Gaodi in Gaoling.On that day, Prince Liu Ying came to the throne, known as Emperor Hui in history, and Empress Lu was honored as Empress Dowager.Emperor Hui issued a decree of amnesty, bestowed a level of honor on the people, and rewarded ministers of civil and military affairs with different levels, thus avoiding the disaster of subjugation of the country.

As Liu Bang expected, Emperor Hui was weak, and the power fell into the hands of the Empress Dowager Lu.The first thing the Empress Dowager Lu did was to take revenge on Mrs. Qi.She ordered Madam Qi to be imprisoned in the side hall of the palace as a criminal. She cut off Madam Qi's hair, handcuffed her, put on ocher prison clothes, and punished her to do hard labor.Mrs. Qi couldn't bear this life, so she complained bitterly and sang "Song of Pounding Rice" with tears in her eyes. The lyrics are:

Son, for the queen mother and prisoner,
Pound rice all day until sunset.

I put on prison clothes and become a condemned criminal,
Son, son, you have pity on me!

Mother and child are separated, separated by three thousand miles,

I have no choice but to send someone to tell you.

The singing was heard and reported to the Empress Dowager Lu, which naturally caused even greater disasters.Empress Dowager Lu was furious when she heard this, and scolded loudly: "This bitch still wants to use his son as a backer! It's wishful thinking." Empress Dowager Lu immediately sent someone to Zhao to summon King Zhao.Zhou Chang, Prime Minister of Zhao, refused to follow the edict, and said to the envoy, "King Zhao is young, and he has been unwell recently, so he cannot go to Beijing. If you have anything to do, just ask me Zhou Chang." The Empress Dowager Lu sent envoys three times in a row, but Zhou Chang stopped them.As the saying goes, an arm cannot twist a thigh.Later, Mrs. Lu took a drastic action.She first transferred Zhou Chang back to the capital, and then recruited King Zhao.Emperor Hui Liu Ying loved his brothers. He knew that his mother had no good intentions, and he enlisted King Zhao to go to Beijing to eradicate the weeds.So he went to meet Zhao Wang outside the city in person, and left Zhao Wang in the palace to eat and live with him, which made the Empress Dowager Lu unable to do anything for a while.

In the Qin and Han Dynasties, the royal Shanglin Garden was outside Chang'an City, and the emperor often went hunting and playing.One day, just after dawn, Emperor Hui got up to go hunting.Empress Dowager Lu seized this opportunity and sent someone to poison Zhao Wang Ruyi to death.When Emperor Hui came back from hunting, King Zhao's body was stiff.Emperor Hui had to cry bitterly, and buried Zhao Wang according to the royal ceremony.

After the Empress Dowager Lu killed King Zhao, she came to deal with Madam Qi again, and her tricks were surprisingly vicious.She ordered Mrs. Qi's hands and feet to be cut off, her eyes to be gouged out, her ears to be burnt, and her voice to be hoarse, and she was thrown into the cesspit, called "human pig".Empress Dowager Lu resented her son Huidi for not being of one mind with her and protecting King Zhao, so she intentionally created this tragedy and forced Huidi to see "Renzhu".This tragic scene is unbearable to see and hear.Emperor Hui's nerves were greatly stimulated, and he said painfully: "This is not something that humans can do." Since then, Emperor Hui's nerves have become a little out of order.As a result, Emperor Hui not only lost his fertility, but also died of illness at the age of 24.

[-]. The system of addressing the imperial court

In the autumn of 188 BC, on the 15th day of the eighth month, Emperor Hui died in Weiyang Palace, and the crown prince, who was nominally the son of Emperor Hui, came to the throne.What is strange is that Empress Dowager Lu has only one son, Emperor Hui, but when Emperor Hui died, Empress Dowager Lu did not shed a tear at the funeral.Right Prime Minister Wang Ling, Left Prime Minister Chen Ping, and Taiwei Zhou Bo were all puzzled.Although Emperor Hui was dissatisfied with the tyranny of his mother, he indulged in sensuality and killed himself.But Emperor Hui was extremely filial, and never disobeyed his mother in behavior. Why was Empress Dowager Lu so ruthless, without any hint of sadness?At that time, Zhang Liang, Xiao He, Fan Kui and many other founding fathers had passed away.Zhang Liang's son, Zhang Biqiang, was only [-] years old and served as a servant, so he was able to enter and leave the palace.Zhang Piqiang carefully observed the expression of Empress Dowager Lu, figured out what was on her mind, and hurried to report to Chen Ping.Zhang Piqiang tried first and said, "Do you know why the Empress Dowager Lu is not sad?" Chen Ping shook his head and said, "I don't know." Think about the countermeasures, it is too dangerous." Chen Ping said: "My good nephew, don't be fooled, let's talk about your opinion!" Zhang Piqiang said: "It is obvious that Emperor Hui is dead and cannot be resurrected. What the Queen Mother is worried about is The minister refused to accept. What she thought was how to get rid of you, how could she have the mind to go to the funeral!" Zhang Piqiang clarified the problem in one sentence, and Chen Ping stomped his feet and said, "That's the reason, but what should I do?" Zhang Piqiang Said: "This matter is easy to handle. You come forward and ask the queen mother's nephews Lu Tai, Lu Chan, and Lu Lu to be generals, let them command the forbidden army, and let Zhu Lu enter the palace to take charge of the affairs. The queen mother will be happy. Only the ministers can avoid killing themselves. Only when there is disaster, the country can be stable.” That is to say, the ministers are required to take the initiative to hand over power.Isn't this cultivating Lu's power?Chen Ping couldn't think of a good strategy for a while, so in order to relieve his urgent need, he played a book according to Zhang Biqiang's opinion.The Empress Dowager Lu was indeed very happy.Then there was a cry of grief, Emperor Hui was buried, and an amnesty order was issued.After this, Empress Dowager Lu trusted Chen Ping even more.

Of course, the Empress Dowager Lu will not be satisfied with letting Zhu Lu only be generals.After she stabilized the situation, she took an inch forward and proposed to make Zhulu king.She said to Wang Ling, Prime Minister You: "I, Emperor Zuogao, conquered the world, and all the Lus have made great contributions. They should be crowned kings. What do you think of the prime minister?" Wang Ling immediately expressed his opposition.Wang Ling said: "Emperor Gao killed the white horse and formed an alliance with the ministers, and established a code of law, 'No one is not a king unless he is a Liu, and no one is not a prince unless he is a hero.' You know, Queen Mother, how do you enshrine the Lus?" The Empress Dowager Lu changed Color, very upset.She asked Chen Ping, Prime Minister of Zuo, and Zhou Bo, Taiwei, and they said in unison: "Emperor Gao is the emperor, and his descendants are kings. Now the Queen Mother proclaims the rule and acts as the emperor on her behalf. It is completely justified to make all Lv kings." , very happy.He announced his retreat.On the way back, Wang Ling reprimanded Chen Ping and Zhou Bo and said, "You two also drank the blood of the white horse. You flattered the Queen Mother today and betrayed Emperor Gao. What face would you have to go underground to meet Emperor Gao?" Chen Ping, Zhou Bo said: "Confront the Queen Mother face to face, we are not as good as you; but in the end, you are not as good as us to stabilize the descendants of the Liu family and protect the country!" Desire, there is nothing to say for a while.

A few days later, Empress Dowager Lu issued an imperial edict, removing her from the post of Prime Minister of the Royal Mausoleum, and promoting her to be the Young Emperor Taifu.This was a bright rise and a dark fall, but Wang Ling refused to accept it, claiming that he was ill and would not go to court, depressed, and was so angry that he died.Empress Dowager Lu promoted Chen Ping to be Prime Minister You, and appointed her favored minister, Shen Shiqi, as Prime Minister Zuo and Lang Zhongling.Shen Shiqi only works in the palace and stays around the Empress Dowager Lu.

After the personnel change, the Empress Dowager Lu took over all the power, and Zhu Lu was granted four kings and nine lords.The four kings are: Lu Tai, the eldest son of the elder brother Lu Ze, who was named King Lu in the first year of the system (187 BC).In the second year of death, his eldest son Lu Jia succeeded him; Lu Ze's second son, Lu Chan, was granted the title of King Lu in the sixth year (182 BC), and moved to the King of Liang in the seventh year (181 BC). Lu Tong, the second son of Lu Tai, was granted the title of King Yan in the eighth year (180 BC); Lu Lu, the eldest son of the second brother Lu Shizhi, was granted the title of King Zhao in the seventh year (181 BC).The Eight Marquises are: the third son of Lu Tai was granted the title of Marquis of Dongping; the second son of Lu Shizhi, Lu Zhong was granted the title of Marquis of Pei; He was granted the title of Marquis of Yu; Lu Gengshi was given the title of Marquis of Teng;

(End of this chapter)