In the ancient feudal dynasty, if there was anyone who was the most enviable, it was definitely the emperor, who had supreme power and endless money. And the emperor is also the supreme ruler, and his life is naturally very comfortable, and there is an emperor, but he does not only care about his own pleasure. Instead, he became the most frugal emperor in history, wearing straw shoes and patching dragon robes, and giving the people all the money he saved.
He was Liu Heng, emperor of Han, the fourth son of Liu Bang, the ancestor of Han Gao, and the fifth emperor of the Western Han Dynasty. After Liu Bang's death, due to his mother's low status, he did not attract persecution from Empress Lü, and the mother and son survived. At the age of seven, Liu Heng was made the acting king, and in 180 BC, after Lü Hou's death, Taiwei Chengxiang and other ministers swept Zhu Lü out of the net, and then welcomed liu Heng, the weak daiwang, into The Capital as emperor.
After Liu Heng ascended the throne, he exerted great efforts to govern, build water conservancy, dress simply, and abolish corporal punishment, so that the Han Dynasty entered a period of strength, prosperity and stability. At that time, the people were rich and the world was well-off, but Liu Heng, who had made great contributions to this, was frugal to the point of almost miserliness. The Northern Song Dynasty literary scholar Wu Yan wrote in his book "Five General Records": "I do not rely on it to see the dynasty", which is a description of Liu Heng.
At the beginning of the Han Dynasty, there was neither much money nor a lot of grain in the treasury, and at that time, the national strength was weak, and even the palace was tight, let alone the common people. Later, Liu Heng went out of the palace for a private visit and found that in the capital, even the most prosperous streets were few people, few shops were open, and there were no vendors on the street.
It presents a lifeless, lifeless state that at first glance feels like it has been looted by a robber scene. Out of the city, it is even more sparsely populated, and the cultivated land is not full of crops, but overgrown with weeds, and the people's lives are not guaranteed at all. Liu Heng, who returned to the palace, had many thoughts in his heart, determined to change all this and let the people live a good life.
At noon one day, in the main hall of Weiyang Palace, Liu Heng sat on a dragon chair directly above, and the ministers of the DPRK and China stood on either side below. After the deliberations on government affairs between the DPRK and China had been completed, Zhongshu Ling silently typed a draft in his heart, glanced at Liu Heng,, and was about to announce his withdrawal from the DPRK, when Liu Heng waved his hand to stop it.
The ministers did not dare to face the Heavenly Son directly, and they all bowed their heads, so they saw that Liu Heng was wearing a pair of straw shoes at his feet. If it was a fresh picture, it would be just a matter of secretly dressing and playing in one's own palace, but this was above the Sacred Court, under the witness of the civil and military officials, and it was so ignorant of etiquette. Therefore, some officials boldly pointed out that Liu Heng's move was losing the identity of the Son of Heaven, which was really inappropriate.
Liu Heng was not annoyed either, and replied that because the hundreds of people outside the palace did not have enough to eat, clothe and warmth, and as the Son of Heaven, he was responsible for the people. Take the straw shoes today to tell the world, start from yourself, from today, we must simplify everything and reduce all expenses. The ministers of the DPRK and the concubines of the harem were not allowed to be extravagant, and their diet, clothing, and travel should be reduced as an example.
In addition to wearing straw shoes, Liu Heng's dragon robe is called "silk robe", that is, a dragon robe made of silk with a rough surface and dark color, and Liu Heng has also worn it for several years. Even if it is worn, it will not be changed, but let the queen put on the patch and continue to wear. Liu Heng also demanded that all the tabernacles in the palace should not be embroidered with colorful patterns, and the hem of the dress should not be mopped.
Lady Shen, the most favored lady in the harem, complained in front of Liu Heng, and Liu Heng also moved her with affection for her and said something about her. Liu Heng also really implemented frugality, so that the country will be strong and the people will be rich, and the people will live and work in peace and contentment, which is to give the people all the money saved.