Before her death, Empress Dowager Dou wanted to tell Emperor Wu of Han three important things. Emperor Wu of Han eagerly couldn't hold back the anxiety and uneasiness in his heart, he went to the palace, faced the dying Empress Dowager Dou, and asked her what she was going to explain.
Empress Dowager Dou slowly spit out a few words, telling Emperor Wu of Han the deepest thoughts in her heart. She told Emperor Wu of Han that these matters must be handled carefully, which would affect the interests of the entire country and the people.
"Your Majesty, I have three important things to tell you. Empress Dowager Dou said slowly.
When Emperor Wu of Han heard this, his heart was extremely excited, he knew that this was the answer he was expecting, and he was ready to record every word and remember them in his heart forever.
"Queen Mother, please tell me these three important things. Emperor Wu of Han said gently.
Empress Dowager Dou looked at Emperor Wu of Han affectionately, feeling his nervousness and anxiety. She sighed softly and spoke calmly.
"The first thing is to pay attention to the country and people's livelihood, and we can't always do nothing. Empress Dowager Dou said affectionately.
Empress Dowager Dou's words were short and true, full of her wisdom and concern. When Emperor Wu of Han heard this, he felt a thrill in his heart. He remembered his lack of experience in national affairs, realized that he had been too laissez-faire in the past, and nervously asked:
"Queen Mother, can you point out what you need to pay attention to?"
"The matter of governing the country is related to the lives and property of tens of millions of people, and we cannot but be careless. Empress Dowager Dou said bitterly.
When Emperor Wu of Han heard this, he was deeply moved in his heart, and he suddenly realized what his problem was. Since then, he has not slackened and is committed to making the country more just and effective.
"The second thing is to follow the middle way and avoid prejudice. Empress Dowager Dou said affectionately again.
Empress Dowager Dou once again emphasized the importance of the Middle Way, thus exhorting Emperor Wu of Han not to favor some people and not to exclude others. At this time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty no longer blindly listened to the words of the villain as before, but humbly accepted the reminder of the Queen Mother.
"The third thing is to cherish talents and respect their opinions. Empress Dowager Dou continued.
This made Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty fully aware of the importance of talents. He realized that the true king needed more knowledge and wisdom. In this way, everyone can participate in the construction of the country and achieve a strong and prosperous country.
After Empress Dowager Dou explained these three important things, Emperor Wu of Han fell into deep thought. He understood that the deep meaning of the Queen Mother's words gave him a new understanding of the decisions he made and the things he did.
From then on, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty began a comprehensive reform of the country, according to the ideas left by the Empress Dowager Dou, and tried to help the country embark on a stronger and more stable development path.
He revisited the country's history and culture, strengthened ties with neighboring countries, and built grand hydraulic projects to promote agriculture, crafts, and commerce.
Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty also learned that a huge political and cultural change is never something that can be accomplished by one person, but requires the efforts of all people. He began to gather many talented literati, scholars, and experts to help him build and improve the infrastructure of education, science, art, etc. Noting the difficulties of the people's production and livelihood, he invested in the construction of many public facilities to help improve the people's living standards.
Of course, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty did not achieve it overnight, and many things need to be constantly tried and explored. However, Empress Dowager Dou's deathbed confession provided him with solid theoretical support, allowing him to learn how to choose the right cadres, comply with regulations, coordinate various complex interests and seek political solutions.