Han History Exploration: Why was Emperor Liu Zhao of the Han Dynasty praised as the strongest emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty?
"Zuo's 195 Eastern Han Dynasty, after eight generations and fourteen emperors, seems to have a weaker sense of existence, except for the founding emperor Liu Xiu, who is famous all over the world and the Ming Emperor Zhang who has achieved the "rule of Ming Zhang", is not bad, other emperors do not seem to have a good reputation, almost nothing has been accomplished.
In fact, this was not the case with the fourth emperor Han and Emperor Liu Zhao, who was worthy of the title of the strongest emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty. Why is that?
1. Liu Zhaoqi
It all started with his father.
Liu Zhao's father, that is, Liu Chi, Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty, continued to become a generation of famous monarchs of the prosperous era "Ming Zhang's Rule". However, Liu Zhao's biological mother was the unknown Liang Guiren, and within a few days of giving birth to Liu Zhao, she was forced to death by Queen Dou.
It turned out that Empress Dou, who was favored by Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty, had no heirs, and she saw that Song Gui gave birth to Liu Qing, and after Liu Qing was canonized as the crown prince, she began to be anxious about what to do in the future?
After thinking about it, Empress Dou adopted Liu Zhao, the son of Liang Guiren, as the eldest son, and cultivated her own son to inherit the emperor's business, so as to maintain her status in the middle palace and the power of the Dou family.
As a result, Empress Dou tried her best to pave the way for the throne that Liu Zhao could not get. She framed Song Guiren in the palace and cursed Emperor Zhang of Han with witchcraft, and instructed her henchman Cai Lun to handle the case. After some brutal operation, Empress Dou finally abolished the position of Prince Liu Qing and was demoted to the king of Qinghe.
In 82 AD, Liu Zhaoshun was re-established as the crown prince by Emperor Zhang of the Han Dynasty.
Seven years later, Emperor Zhang of Han died. 10-year-old Liu Zhaoming succeeded to the throne in a righteous manner, this is Emperor Han He.
2. Liu Zhao's four-year puppet emperor is not useless
However, Liu Zhao, who is only 10 years old, ascends the throne, you can imagine how difficult it is. At that time, the Dou clique, a foreign relative, controlled the government, and the Empress Dowager Dou, who was promoted, was actually in charge of the dynasty, and Liu Zhao was also the puppet emperor.
This is exactly the model that Queen Dou was looking forward to.
In desperation, Liu Zhao, who had no foundation, pretended to be deaf and dumb, the Empress Dowager Dou was in power, and the Dou family with Dou Xian as the core dominated the world, and they could do whatever they wanted, and they all agreed to it.
In this way, Liu Zhao, who appeared ignorant and ignorant, safely became a puppet emperor for four years.
However, how could the precocious Liu Zhao be willing to be a puppet? He is very smart, and he is just forbearance and accumulation of momentum when he covers the sky with the Dou family, in order to "plan and then act."
As a result, the young Liu Zhao not only made friends with Liu Qing, the king of Qinghe, who was originally "incompatible", but also secretly allied with the eunuchs Zheng Zhong, Da Situ Yuan An, Ding Hong and others who were dissatisfied with the Dou family.
Even during the puppet emperor's period, he cleverly took advantage of the internal contradictions of the Dou group and agreed that the Empress Dowager Dou would protect the criminal Dou Xiantong army to conquer the Northern Xiongnu. After all, Dou Xian's military talent is still powerful. It was he who won the brilliant record of "Le Shi Yanran", which severely damaged the Northern Xiongnu and stabilized the border passes.
It can be said that "ambition is not in old age". Liu Zhao's youthful bravery can be seen from this.
3. Liu Zhao won 12 years of pro-government
In 92 AD, Liu Zhao finally ushered in a good opportunity to achieve pro-government.
When Liu Zhao was 13 years old, he was strongly supported by the upright ministers of the court, such as Yuan An, the great Situ of the third duke, who was publicly written, opposing the interference of foreign relatives in politics and the Empress Dowager Dou, who was in charge of the system, and should immediately return to the Han Dynasty and the emperor.
Dou Xian's son-in-law, Captain Guo Ju, was anxious, so he secretly plotted with his father Guo Huang, Marquis Deng Die, infantry captain Deng Lei, and Empress Dowager Dou's best friend "Mother Wen" Mrs. Deng, wanting to kill Liu Zhao and rebel, and welcome his father-in-law Dou Xian, who came back with troops, as the new emperor.
Liu Zhao, the emperor of the Han Dynasty who learned the news, was not intimidated, and immediately made a decisive move, striking first to be strong, and quickly moved to the north palace on the grounds that the great Situ Ding Hong reported a solar eclipse in Luoyang, and promoted Ding Hong to be the captain and guard lieutenant, commanding the north and south palaces, immediately closing the city gate, directly arresting Guo Ju and his gang who were plotting against him, and all of them were imprisoned and executed.
also put Empress Dowager Dou under house arrest. He quickly sent a servant to Dou Xian's mansion to take back the ribbon of General Dou Xian's seal letter who had returned triumphantly.
Emperor Han He launched a coup d'état so quickly, so that the arrogant Dou group did not expect that in their eyes, how could the puppet emperor have such a thunderous and courageous means?
Momentarily surprised and helpless, he was swept away in one fell swoop.
In this way, the Han and Emperor successfully regained power overnight and became pro-government.
Fourth, Liu Zhao to create "Yongyuan Zhilong"
This year, Liu Zhao was only 14 years old.
After he became in power, his treatment of the Dou Group reflected the old spicy and gentle.
First of all, Dou Xian, Dou Du, and Dou Jing were strictly ordered to go to the feudal state to accept the supervision of the prime minister, and the children of the Dou family, who lost their freedom, committed suicide in despair. Then clean up the remnants of the Dou clan, the expulsion of those who should be expelled, the recall of those who should be recalled, and the return of those who should be sent back to their hometown.
For the Empress Dowager Dou who was under house arrest in Nangong, Emperor Liu Zhao of the Han Dynasty was grateful for her nurturing grace, did not eliminate her honorific title, and buried her in Jingling after her death, and called her "Empress Zhangde".
The "Yongyuan Zhilong" he created is even more remarkable.
First of all, Liu Zhao has a mind and dares to rest assured, boldly trust, and reuse capable generals.
As a result, the Western Regions Metropolitan Hu Banchao was almost "single-handedly subjugated", successfully subjugating more than 50 vassal states such as Yanqi, and expanding the sphere of influence of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the west of the Green Mountains and the Pamir Plateau; vigorously supported Gan Ying's envoy to Great Qin, contacted ancient Rome, and strengthened the national prestige of the Eastern Han Dynasty; reused the famous general Ren Shang to completely quell the Qiang Rebellion, and incorporated Qinghai Lake and the Great and Small Elm Valley into the territory ......of the Eastern Han Dynasty.
Secondly, Liu Zhao is neither humble nor arrogant, and his posture is heroic. He resolutely refused to make peace with the Xiongnu, and agreed to agree to Tiaozhi, Anxi and other West Asian countries to send envoys to pay tribute and return to the Eastern Han Dynasty.
The historian Bangu's "Big Sparrow Fu" is written about the ostriches that the Rest Empire paid tribute, and was called "Rest Sparrows" at the time.
Third, the people-oriented, sympathetic to the people, tax reduction, unjust prisons, orphans and weaknesses, and the implementation of the "Yongyuan Reform" as one of the "Taixue Policy Tests", for a time the country and the people were safe, and there was a thriving scene.
By 105 AD, the national power of the Eastern Han Dynasty was at its peak, with a population of more than 50 million and an area of more than 7 million hectares.
This is the "Yongyuan Long" known in history as "great martial arts, opening up the territory, serving the four Yi guests, and pacifying the world".
Under the grim situation of internal and external troubles at that time, it was remarkable that such brilliant achievements could be achieved.
It's a pity that the heroic and promising Emperor Liu Zhao of the Han Dynasty only ruled for 12 years, and died in Zhangde Hall at the age of 27 due to overwork, leaving behind the eternal regret of leaving prematurely.
If God is not jealous of talents, Liu Zhao can live for a few more decades, and the Eastern Han Dynasty will not "turn from prosperity to decline" so quickly.
Perhaps, this is irreversible history, destined to be incredible!
But it is worth affirming that Liu Zhao, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, with his outstanding talent, spent just 12 years to create the last precious glory of the Eastern Han Dynasty, which can be proud. It is not an exaggeration to praise him as the strongest emperor of the Eastern Han Dynasty, and he deserves it.