Foreign interference in government affairs is the most common kind of interference in government affairs in the history of our country. Even if it is as strong as the Han and Tang Dynasties, it is difficult to escape the fate of being disturbed by foreign relatives. The famous usurpation of han by Wang Mang and the title of emperor by Wu Zetian in history were both extreme consequences of foreign forces subverting imperial power.
The closest empress dowager to us is also a typical example of listening to the government and interfering with the imperial program, and her insults continue to this day. Because the harm of foreign relatives interfering in politics is extremely great, successive emperors have also carefully studied the method of preventing foreign relatives from interfering in politics.
And what this article is about is about how the emperor of the Han Dynasty prevented foreign relatives from interfering in politics after the Zhulu Rebellion. Say it and don't believe it!
First of all, let's start with the Zhulu Rebellion.
According to the "Book of Han and The Biography of Foreign Relatives", "The prosperity of the husband and daughter's favor is from the smallest to the most respected, and the poor and rich are not meritorious, which is feared by the Taoists, and the sect of misfortune and blessing is also." The preface from Han Xing, and finally Xiao Ping, the foreign relatives in the back court color spoiled Wen more than twenty people.
In 195 BC, Liu Bang fell ill and died. In the same year, his son Liu Ying ascended the throne as Emperor Hui of Han. At the time of Liu Ying's ascension to the throne, he was only 17 years old, coupled with his weak nature, so he was powerless to resist the cruelty and arrogance of his mother, so the power of the court was controlled by the empress dowager Lü Yan, and Liu Ying eventually became depressed.
Liu Ying, who fell ill, died of illness in 188 BC at the age of 23. As a result, Lü Hou established the Young Emperor and was ruled by Lü Hou linchao. Four years later, the Young Emperor was deposed, and Lü Hou began to establish Liu Hong, the King of Hengshan, as emperor.
When Lü Hou came to the dynasty, he vigorously cultivated the lü family's power and cut off the Liu family's power. She first killed Liu Bang's son Liu You, and then made her brothers the kings of various regions. Lü Tai, Lü Chan, Lü Lu, and Lü Tong all became kings, and the Lü family's power continued to grow under Lü Hou's control, and Liu Bang's restriction of "not being a king of Liu" was broken by Lü Hou.
In July 180 BC, Lü Hou died of illness. The princes of the Lü clan, because they were afraid of being persecuted by the Liu clan, secretly rebelled in Lü Lu's house. However, the news of their conspiracy reached Liu Xiang, the King of Qi, and in order to defend Liu Xiang's country, Liu Xiang decided to raise an army against Zhu Lü.
After that, it ended with the defeat of the Lü clan. And the Lü clan, young and old, men and women, were all killed. At this point, the Lü clique was completely suppressed, and the ruling power returned to the hands of the Liu clique. This incident is also known as the "Rebellion of the Zhulu".
Because the impact of the Zhulu Rebellion was too great, the later emperors of the Han Dynasty were very concerned about preventing foreign relatives from interfering in politics.
So after the Zhulu Rebellion, how did the emperors of the Han Dynasty prevent foreign relatives from interfering in politics?
Below, take Emperor Wu of Han as an example.
During the period of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, there were three foreign relatives interfering in politics! The first was Empress Dou, fortunately Empress Dou was a good person, so it was a thrilling time for Emperor Wu of Han! The second was that the mother and uncle Tian Yu interfered in the government, and finally solved the problem for the talented Han Wudi! The third is the problem of foreign relatives interfering in the administration of future generations in the old age!
Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty, who had personally experienced foreign interference in politics, had a lot of experience in how to prevent it, and he had two ways to do this.
First, use new foreign relatives to resist old foreign relatives
In the sixth year of Emperor Wu of Han's reign, Empress Dowager Tu died, and Emperor Wu began to pro-government. At this time, the wei clan's power was still in a weak position, so Emperor Wu promoted the status of his maternal clan Tian clan's foreign relatives, and then used his uncle Tian Feng to oppose the foreign relative Dou Yao, and Emperor Wu of Han consciously reduced Dou's power.
Dou Infant was in the fourth year of Emperor Wu of Han Yuanguang, and was "abandoned by Emperor Wu of Weicheng". At the same time, he deposed Empress Chen for the "crime of witchcraft" and confined her to Nagato Palace. There were more than 300 people involved in this incident, and Dou's foreign forces were completely cut off.
Second, avoid mothers and children
In his later years, Emperor Wu of Han decided to appoint the young Liu Fuling as the next emperor. However, because Liu Fuling was still too young at this time, Emperor Wu of Han issued an order to prevent foreign relatives from interfering in politics--Lizi killed his mother.
By setting up Liu Fuling and killing Lady Hook Ge, Emperor Wu of Han's approach seemed cruel, but in fact it was quite wise. In order to solve the problem of foreign relatives interfering in politics, he directly executed Mrs. Hook Ge, which also completely eliminated the phenomenon of foreign relatives interfering in politics. It can be said that although Emperor Wudi of Han's approach was bloody, it was also the simplest and most effective method.
There is even a record in the "History of the Family of Foreign Relatives": "Those who gave birth to children for Emperor Wu, no man or woman, and their mothers all died, can not be described as unwise saints!" Clear foresight, for the sake of future generations, is not beyond the reach of ignorance and ignorance."
However, although Emperor Wudi of han was quite effective in how to prevent foreign relatives from interfering in politics, the later emperors of the Han Dynasty did not continue the practice of Emperor Wudi of Han. Although many emperors with great talent and great talent have discovered the signs of foreign relatives interfering in politics, they have not been able to solve them in the end, so that they have caused a catastrophe of national destruction!
In 8 AD, his cousin Wang Mang usurped Han.
What do you think about that?
References: "Hanshu , Foreign Relatives " , History of Foreign Relatives "