In the long course of history, there are always some characters that are unforgettable. Liu Bang and Empress Lü, the two emperors and queens who founded the Han Dynasty, were known for their eloquence and brutality. However, in their shadows, there is a very different soul quietly blooming. Liu Ying, Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty, as the son of this "black-hearted" couple, showed surprising kindness and benevolence. His life is full of contradictions and tragedies, he is both an emperor and a powerless; I want to protect my loved ones, but I have repeatedly failed. In the whirlpool of power, how does Liu Ying maintain her true heart? What kind of struggle did he go through in the brutal court struggle? Why did this emperor, known as the "White Lotus", finally escape the fate of a short life? Let's uncover this little-known history together.
In 210 BC, Qin II Hu Hai ascended the throne, and the world was in turmoil. Liu Bang and Lu Pheasant's marriage was formed in such troubled times. Liu Bang was originally a commoner, and Lu Pheasant was born in a family of eunuchs. The union of the two is not only the crystallization of love, but also a political marriage. Lu Pheasant's father, Lu Gong, took a fancy to Liu Bang's talent and married his daughter to him, laying the groundwork for the road to power in the future.
In 207 BC, Liu Ying was born. As the eldest son of Liu Bang and Lu Pheasant, he was destined to be involved in the whirlpool of power from birth. However, fate played a cruel joke on the future emperor. In the year Liu Ying was born, Liu Bang was busy fighting everywhere and establishing his achievements. The little Liu Ying, before she could feel her father's love, was involved in the troubled times of war.
Liu Ying's childhood was not peaceful. In 206 BC, Xiang Yu divided the princes, and Liu Bang was named the king of Han. Liu Ying, who was only two years old, moved to Hanzhong with her father. It was here that Liu Ying began to receive a rigorous royal education. Confucian classics, the art of war, and etiquette rules, these are all knowledge that Liu Ying must master at a young age. However, unlike other princes, Liu Ying is gentle by nature and is not keen on the art of power schemes.
In 202 BC, Liu Bang defeated Xiang Yu to unify the world and establish the Han Dynasty. At the age of five, Liu Ying was made crown prince and became the heir to the Han Empire. However, this seemingly bright future is actually fraught with crises.
After Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty, there were 3,000 beauties in the harem, and the most favored of them was Mrs. Qi. Mrs. Qi is not only beautiful, but also empathetic, and won Liu Bang's heart. Her son Liu Ruyi, although young, showed similar personality traits to Liu Bang, which made Liu Bang very happy.
In 199 BC, Liu Bang began to have the idea of deposing Liu Ying and making Liu Ruyi the crown prince. This decision caused a shock in the government and the opposition. The ministers said that changing the crown prince's position would be contrary to the ancestral system and would cause unrest. However, Liu Bang did not give up his thoughts.
In order to retain the crown prince's position, Empress Lü began a series of political operations. She sent someone to find Zhang Liang, who was in seclusion, and asked him for advice. At Zhang Liang's suggestion, Empress Lu invited the highly respected "Shangshan Sihao" and made them Liu Ying's guests. The addition of Shangshan Sihao not only increased Liu Ying's political bargaining chips, but also brought new influence to his education.
In this power struggle, the young Liu Ying seemed out of place. He neither has the eloquence of his father Liu Bang, nor does he have the power and scheming skills of his mother Lu Hou. On the contrary, he showed an extraordinary kindness and gentleness. This character trait was undoubtedly a disadvantage in the political environment of the time.
Liu Bang tried to change the crown prince several times, but each time he gave up due to the opposition of the ministers. In the process, Liu Ying gradually realized the dangerous situation she was in. However, he did not learn how to fight for power like other princes. Instead, he chose to endure in silence and work hard to learn how to govern the country.
In 195 BC, Liu Bang became seriously ill. Before his death, he finally gave up the idea of changing the crown prince and confirmed Liu Ying as the heir. However, this decision did not bring peace to Liu Ying. On the contrary, it marks the beginning of a more complex and dangerous era.
In such a childhood experience, Liu Ying developed a unique character. He has the upbringing of a royal child, but also maintains a rare innocence and kindness. This character trait, in his later reign, became both his strength and his weakness.
In 195 BC, Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, died, and Liu Ying, who was only thirteen years old, inherited the unification as Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty. However, this seemingly bright moment actually marked the beginning of the most difficult period in Liu Ying's life.
Before Liu Bang died, he entrusted Liu Ying to Empress Lu and several important ministers. Although this decision ensured a smooth transition of power, it also laid a hidden danger for Liu Ying's future rule. Empress Lü, as the empress dowager, held actual power, while the young Liu Ying became a puppet emperor.
At the beginning of Liu Ying's ascension to the throne, the first challenge he faced was how to deal with Empress Lü's control of power. As the empress of Liu Bang, Empress Lü played an important role in the establishment of the Han Dynasty. She is not only Liu Bang's virtuous helper, but also a politician. After Liu Bang's death, she quickly took over the government and became the de facto ruler.
Empress Lu's political skills are superb, and she first won over a group of important ministers, such as Chen Ping, Zhou Bo and others. These people were Liu Bang's henchmen, and now they have become supporters of Empress Lu. At the same time, she began to install her cronies in important political positions. For example, she made her brother Lü Tai the prime minister of Zuo, becoming one of the highest officials in the court.
Faced with this situation, the young Liu Ying seems powerless to change. Although he was nominally emperor, he was in fact unable to control the government. At the court meeting, the ministers followed Empress Lü's instructions more than Liu Ying's orders. In this case, Liu Ying began to try to deal with some small-scale government affairs, trying to gradually increase her influence.
However, Liu Ying's efforts did not have much effect. Empress Lu not only controlled the government, but also closely monitored Liu Ying's every move. She arranged for her cronies to spy on Liu Ying in the palace and restrict his contact with the outside world. This practice made it difficult for Liu Ying to build up her political power.
Under these circumstances, Liu Ying began to look for other ways to influence the government. He tried to communicate privately with some ministers in the hope of gaining their support. However, most of these ministers had already been bribed or threatened by Empress Lü, and few were willing to take the risk of supporting the young emperor.
Another challenge for Liu Ying comes from dealing with specific government affairs. As a young emperor, he did not know much about the workings of the state. When dealing with complex political issues, he often seems inadequate. For example, when dealing with border issues, Liu Ying's proposals were often rejected by ministers on the grounds that they were not feasible.
Despite this, Liu Ying did not give up learning and growing. He began to study the Confucian classics in earnest, trying to learn from them how to govern the country. He also often consulted some respected ministers for advice, hoping to master the skills of governing the country as soon as possible.
In the process, Liu Ying gradually showed some unique qualities. Unlike her father, Liu Bang, Liu Ying showed more kindness and tolerance. When dealing with some political cases, he often opted for leniency, which was in stark contrast to Empress Lu's iron-fisted policies.
However, this character trait of Liu Ying was not favored in the political environment at the time. Many ministers believed that a benevolent emperor would not be able to suppress his courtiers, let alone rule the newly established empire. This view further weakened Liu Ying's position in the DPRK.
As time passed, Liu Ying gradually realized her disadvantages in this power game. He began to become more cautious and more cautious in his handling of government affairs. He tried to gradually expand his influence without angering Empress Lu.
Such efforts, while not immediately fruitful, are not entirely fruitless. Some young officials began to notice the potential of the young emperor and secretly supported him. At the same time, some of the old ministers also began to worry that Empress Lü's power was too great and might threaten the rule of the Han Dynasty, so they began to consider supporting Liu Ying.
However, just when Liu Ying's situation seemed to be improving, an even bigger challenge emerged. Empress Lü began to plan how to pass the throne to the Lü clan, which directly threatened Liu Ying's position. Faced with this situation, Liu Ying had to start an even more difficult struggle.
During the reign of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty, Liu Ying's benevolent nature was best demonstrated by his repeated attempts to save his brother. These actions not only show Liu Ying's family feelings, but also reflect his helplessness and struggle in the whirlpool of power.
Liu Ying's most famous rescue operation was against her half-brother Liu Ruyi. Liu Ruyi is the son of Liu Bang, the ancestor of the Han Dynasty, and Mrs. Qi, who was once Liu Bang's favorite son and the biggest threat to Liu Ying's position as the crown prince. However, after Liu Bang's death, the situation took a turn for the worse.
In 194 BC, Empress Lü began her plan of revenge. She first designed to kill Mrs. Qi, and then turned her gaze to Liu Ruyi. At that time, Liu Ruyi had been named King of Zhao and guarded Handan. Empress Lu sent people to Handan to put Liu Ruyi to death in the way of death.
Liu Ying, who learned the news, immediately took action. He sent his confidants to Handan overnight to try to prevent this tragedy from happening. Liu Ying's envoy traveled day and night, and finally arrived in Handan before Empress Lu's envoy.
Liu Ying's envoy conveyed the emperor's will to Liu Ruyi: to immediately set off and return to Chang'an to avoid the persecution of Empress Lü. However, the young Liu Ruyi did not realize the seriousness of the danger. He thought that he was the beloved son of the first emperor, and Empress Lu did not dare to attack him. Therefore, he rejected Liu Ying's kindness and chose to stay in Handan.
Liu Ying's envoy had no choice but to return, while Empress Lü's envoy arrived later. In the end, Liu Ruyi still failed to escape the doom and was forced to commit suicide. When she learned the news, Liu Ying was devastated. Not only did he lose a brother, but he also felt powerless as emperor.
However, this defeat did not dampen Liu Ying's determination to save her brother. In the years that followed, he secretly sent people to protect his other half-brothers in an attempt to prevent the tragedy from happening again.
One of the most successful was the operation to save Liu Fei, the king of Qi. Liu Fei is Liu Bang's second son, and he is also the target of Lu Hou's attack. Empress Lü sent people to the State of Qi many times in an attempt to get rid of Liu Fei. However, before each operation, Liu Ying would try to report the news, so that Liu Fei could take precautions in advance.
Liu Ying's approach was ingenious. He ostensibly obeyed Empress Lü's will and sent an envoy to the state of Qi. But these emissaries were actually Liu Ying's henchmen, and their real mission was to warn Liu Fei and assist him in strengthening his defenses.
In a particularly dangerous situation, Liu Ying even took the risk of sending his own guards to infiltrate the Qi State in the guise of a merchant and inform Liu Fei of Empress Lü's conspiracy in detail. When Liu Fei learned about it, he immediately strengthened the palace guards, and at the same time began to handle government affairs more cautiously, so as to avoid giving Empress Lu an opportunity.
These efforts have paid off. Under Liu Ying's covert protection, Liu Fei successfully survived the most dangerous period. He not only saved his life, but also gradually developed and strengthened his own power, laying the groundwork for the future collapse of the Lu Group.
Liu Ying's deep affection for her brother was rare in the political environment at the time. In that era of brothers fighting each other and killing each other, Liu Ying's behavior was undoubtedly a clear stream. This character of his has also won the respect of some ministers.
However, these actions of Liu Ying also pose risks. Every rescue operation may be detected by Empress Lu. Once discovered, it will not only exacerbate the conflict between him and Empress Lu, but also may endanger his own safety. But even so, Liu Ying still stuck to her beliefs and did her best to protect her brother.
This pattern of behavior reflects Liu Ying's inner contradictions. As an emperor, he should maintain the stability of imperial power; But as an older brother, he could not bear to see his siblings persecuted. Between power and affection, Liu Ying chose the latter, which is both a manifestation of his benevolent nature and a flaw in his political wisdom.
Over time, Liu Ying's efforts to save her brother had some success, but it also paid a huge price. The relationship between him and Empress Lü became increasingly strained, and the power struggle between the DPRK and China became increasingly fierce. Under these circumstances, Liu Ying began to realize that it was difficult to change the entire political landscape with the strength of one person alone. He began to think about how to strike a balance between protecting his loved ones and maintaining imperial power, which became a major challenge in the later years of his reign.
As time passed, the power struggle between Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty, Liu Ying, and Empress Dowager Lü Pheasant became more and more intense. This struggle is not only about individual power, but also about the future direction of the entire Han dynasty.
In 188 BC, Liu Ying had been on the throne for seven years and was twenty years old. It stands to reason that the emperor at this age should begin to really master the government. However, Liu Ying found herself still being excluded from major decisions. Empress Lü not only controlled the ministers of the court, but also firmly grasped the military power.
In this year, an incident occurred that became a turning point in the power struggle between Liu Ying and Empress Lü. At that time, news of the invasion of the Xiongnu came from the border. As is customary, such major military decisions should be handled by the emperor himself. Liu Ying saw this as an opportunity to show her abilities, so she summoned her courtiers to discuss countermeasures.
However, just as Liu Ying was about to give the order, Empress Lu suddenly intervened. As the queen mother, she directly vetoed Liu Ying's decision and put forward her own response plan. What was even more embarrassing for Liu Ying was that the courtiers echoed Empress Lu's opinion one after another, completely ignoring the existence of the emperor.
This incident made Liu Ying realize that in order to truly grasp power, it was necessary to break the control of Empress Lü. He began to secretly meet with some old ministers in an attempt to find support. Among them, Zhou Bo, a veteran who once followed Liu Bang, became an important ally of Liu Ying.
Although Zhou Bo was ostensibly attached to Empress Lü, he knew that the growth of the Lü group was a major threat to the Liu dynasty. He secretly provided Liu Ying with a lot of inside information about the DPRK and China to help Liu Ying understand the actual political situation.
At the same time, Liu Ying also began to try to confront Lu Hou in policy. In 187 B.C., a severe drought swept through the Central Plains. Empress Lü advocated higher taxes to cope with the emptiness of the treasury, while Liu Ying proposed a plan to reduce taxes. This was the first time that Liu Ying openly opposed Empress Lu on major policies.
Ms. Liu's decision was supported by a number of ministers, especially those from the disaster-stricken areas. They believe that tax cuts can help people tide over the difficult times and will help the country stabilize in the long run. Although the policy battle ended in a compromise, Liu Ying won the favor of some officials.
However, Empress Lu did not stop there. She began to monitor Liu Ying's every move more closely. The attendants and eunuchs in the palace were all bought by her, and Liu Ying's daily life was under her control. Even Liu Ying's diet was personally arranged by Empress Lu.
Under this pressure, Liu Ying had to be more cautious. He began to learn to disguise himself, ostensibly respectful to Empress Lu, but in fact he was secretly accumulating strength. He used every opportunity to meet with ministers and tried to build an image of himself as benevolent and virtuous as a way to win support.
In 186 BC, an unexpected opportunity arose. Empress Lu's younger brother Lü Chan was reported for corruption and bribery. According to the law, Lu Chan should be severely punished. However, Empress Lu wanted to use her power to protect her younger brother.
Liu Ying seized the opportunity. He openly stated at the court meeting that everyone is equal before the law, even the emperor's relatives and relatives are no exception. This statement won the approval of many ministers, but also put Empress Lu in a dilemma.
In the end, under the pressure of public opinion, Empress Lu had to agree to punish Lu Chan, although the punishment was relatively light. This incident not only damaged the reputation of the Lu family, but also raised Liu Ying's status in the hearts of the courtiers.
However, this small victory did not fundamentally change the situation. Empress Lü's power remained unbreakable, and she began to take more radical measures to consolidate her position. She vigorously promoted the Lu clan and installed them in key positions in the court. By 184 BCE, almost half of the high-ranking officials in the court were related to the Lü clan.
Faced with this situation, Liu Ying felt a deep powerlessness. He realized that it would be difficult to turn the situation around on his own. He began to seek outside support, especially those who remained loyal to the Liu clan.
Liu Ying secretly sent people to contact several important princes and kings, including Liu Fei, the king of Qi, and Liu Jiao, the king of Chu. He expressed to them his concern about the current situation, suggesting that they should be wary of the ambitions of the Lu group. Although this approach was risky, it also laid the groundwork for the princes to crusade against the Lü clan in the future.
As time passed, the contradictions between Liu Ying and Lu Hou became more and more public. The court formed two camps: the emperor faction headed by Liu Ying and the foreign relatives faction headed by Empress Lü. This antagonistic situation not only affected the normal operation of the government, but also brought unstable factors to the entire society.
In this protracted power struggle, Liu Ying has suffered repeated setbacks, but she is also growing. He gradually grew from an ignorant young emperor to a ruler with his own political opinions. However, fate always seems to work against him. Just as he was about to take more power, a sudden illness disrupted all plans.
In 188 BC, the health of Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty, Liu Ying, began to deteriorate dramatically. The young emperor, who was only 26 years old, was in the prime of his life, but was suddenly struck down by an unknown disease.
The onset of the disease was so sudden that it caught the whole court off guard. At first, Liu Ying only felt slightly unwell and often felt dizzy. The imperial physician diagnosed it as overwork and advised him to rest more. However, rest did not lead to improvement, but rather worsened symptoms.
As time went on, Liu Ying's condition worsened. He began to have a high fever, shortness of breath, and was unable to eat normally. The ministers of the DPRK and China have offered advice, some suggest finding famous doctors, and some advocate seeking help from the immortals. However, no matter what method she tried, Liu Ying's condition never improved.
At this critical moment, an unexpected figure stepped forward. This is Liu Fei, the king of Qi who has been rescued by Liu Ying many times. After learning the news that the emperor was seriously ill, Liu Fei immediately sent his imperial doctor to Chang'an. This doctor, named Chun Yuyi, was already a well-known doctor at that time.
After Chun Yuyi arrived in Chang'an, he immediately treated Liu Ying. After careful examination, he found that Liu Ying's condition was more complicated than he imagined. In addition to the external symptoms, Liu Ying also had serious problems with the function of her internal organs. Chun speculated that this could be caused by long-term use of certain medications.
This diagnosis caused an uproar in the DPRK and China. Some people began to wonder if Liu Ying's condition was related to human factors. For a while, all kinds of speculations were rampant. Some people suggest that this may have been the work of Empress Lu, while others believe that it was the murderous hand of other political enemies. However, in the absence of conclusive evidence, these speculations have never been confirmed.
In the face of such a complex situation, Chun Yuyi recommends a conservative treatment plan. The prescriptions he prescribed were mainly to regulate the internal organs and restore vitality, and at the same time strictly control Liu Ying's diet and daily life. At his suggestion, the dietary system in the palace was overhauled, and all food entering the emperor's palace was subject to multiple inspections.
However, even Chun Yuyi's meticulous treatment failed to save Liu Ying's life. In the winter of 188 BC, Liu Ying's condition deteriorated again. This time, he fell into a coma and his life was in danger.
During Liu Ying's serious illness, the political situation in the DPRK and China became turbulent again. Empress Lü took the opportunity to tighten her control over the government, while the ministers who supported Liu Ying fell into passivity. Some ministers even began to consider the issue of succession to the throne, after all, Liu Ying did not leave an heir.
Just when the government and the opposition were worried about Liu Ying's condition, an unexpected event broke the peace. In December 188 BC, a veteran who claimed to be Liu Bang's old army suddenly appeared in the city of Chang'an. The veteran claimed to have a miraculous prescription that could cure Liu Ying's stubborn illness.
The news soon reached the palace. In the atmosphere of the time, any opportunity that might save the emperor's life should not be missed. After much consideration, the minister decided to give it a try.
However, on the eve when the veteran was about to enter the palace to treat Liu Ying, he suddenly disappeared mysteriously. Some people say that he was secretly dealt with by Empress Lu's people, and some people think that he is just a liar who absconded for fear of crime. Whatever the truth, this episode adds a bit of legend to Liu Ying's final days.
On December 21, 188 BC, Liu Ying, Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty, died quietly in a coma at the age of 26. When the news broke, the whole country mourned. However, in the midst of this mourning, the political wrestling has not stopped.
After Liu Ying's death, because there were no heirs, the issue of succession to the throne became the focus of attention of the government and the opposition. In the end, under the control of Empress Lü, Liu Ying's half-brother Liu Heng was made the new monarch and was Emperor Wen of Han. Although this decision settled the dispute for a while, it also laid the groundwork for the future collapse of the Lu Group.
Although Liu Ying's life was short, she left behind many historical topics worthy of deep thought by future generations. His benevolent character, his power struggle with Empress Lü, his protection of his brother, and his eventual mysterious death have all become topics of keen discussion among historians. During his short seven-year reign, Liu Ying was unable to completely break free from Empress Lü's control, but some of his policies and measures laid the foundation for the future reign of Wenjing.
Liu Ying's mausoleum is located in the east of Chang'an City and is called Anling. According to historical records, the scale of Anling is not large, which may reflect Liu Ying's humble style during his lifetime. In its mausoleum, many precious cultural relics have been unearthed, which provide important information for the study of the history and culture of the early Western Han Dynasty.