After Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty, why did he get rid of Han Xin, Peng Yue, and other heroes who made meritorious contributions to the founding of the country? Could it really be that Liu Bang was "cooked by a rabbit and a dog," and Liu Bang was ungrateful? In fact, there were more complicated reasons behind Liu Bang's move to kill the princes and kings with different surnames. Among them, there is not only the influence of the general trend of the times, but also the consideration of Liu Bang's personal desire for power. So, what is the real reason for Liu Bang to get rid of the heroes? How did he achieve his goal step by step? Let us walk into history together and unveil the veil of this past.
Chu and Han competed, and Liu Bang claimed the emperor with the help of the power of the princes and kings with different surnames
In 207 BC, the Qin Dynasty fell, and the world was in turmoil. In this magnificent battle for hegemony, Xiang Yu, the overlord of Chu, and Liu Bang, the king of Han, became the final winners, and the four-year battle between Chu and Han began.
In terms of military talent, Xiang Yu can be described as a genius, he is brave and good at fighting, and has been outnumbered many times and invincible. In contrast, although Liu Bang is also brave, he is far inferior to Xiang Yu in terms of military command ability. However, Liu Bangsheng is good at employing people, he recruits talents, recruits heroes from all over the world, and gathers a large number of military generals and strategists, the most famous of which are Han Xin, Peng Yue, Yingbu and other princes with different surnames.
Han Xin, who was born poor and was once despised, was ambitious and a rare military wizard. He first helped Liu Bang capture the Wei land, and then led the army to break through the Qi State and made great achievements. Peng Yue, originally a general of Xiang Yu, later surrendered to Liu Bang, and repeatedly made military exploits to help Liu Bang conquer Liangdi. Yingbu, who was originally a famous general of the Chu State, later abandoned Chu and joined the Han, and also played an important role in the struggle between Chu and Han.
It was with the help of these princes with different surnames that Liu Bang was able to gain the upper hand in the duel with Xiang Yu. In 202 BC, Xiang Yu was defeated in the Battle of Qixia and killed himself, and Liu Bang finally swept the world and established the Western Han Dynasty.
However, Liu Bang knew that although the princes with different surnames helped him win the world, they were also a potential threat to his consolidation of power. In order to win the hearts of the people and stabilize the situation, Liu Bang adopted the expedient measure of dividing the princes and kings with different surnames at the beginning of his reign as emperor. He named Han Xin as the king of Qi, Peng Yue as the king of Liang, and Yingbu as the king of Huainan, and these princes with different surnames supported their own troops in their respective fiefs, and although they were nominally subordinate to Liu Bang, they still retained considerable autonomy in reality.
Liu Bang knew that this situation was only a temporary expedient measure, and in the long run, the princes with different surnames would be contrary to his goal of establishing a centralized empire. With the growing strength of the Han Dynasty, the contradictions between him and the princes and kings with different surnames will become increasingly prominent, and a war will inevitably be inevitable in the end.
In this life-and-death power struggle, Liu Bang showed amazing political wisdom and decisiveness. He did not act rashly, but took it step by step, while encroaching on the strength of the princes and kings with different surnames, he waited for the opportunity to move, and finally eradicated these henchmen in one fell swoop, laying the foundation for the centralization of power in the Han Dynasty.
In the early days of the Han Dynasty, the contradiction between the princes and kings with different surnames and the centralization of power was prominent
At the beginning of the establishment of the Han Dynasty, although Liu Bang held the supreme imperial power, the situation in the world was still turbulent. On the one hand, after a long period of war, the society was devastated, and the people were displaced and in urgent need of recuperation; on the other hand, the princes and kings with different surnames were divided into one side and went their own way, posing a serious threat to the centralization of power.
This situation is inextricably linked with the absolute monarchy system established by the Qin Dynasty. Qin Shi Huang abolished the feudal system and established the county system, dividing the country into 36 counties, and the central government directly appointed county guards, strengthening the central government's control over the localities. However, the increasing tyranny in the later years of the Qin Dynasty intensified the contradictions within the ruling class and between the ruling class and the masses, and eventually led to the fall of the Qin Dynasty.
After Liu Bang established the Han Dynasty, although he temporarily restored the feudal system, he knew that in order to consolidate his rule, he must inherit and develop the centralized system of the Qin Dynasty. However, the princes and kings with different surnames were nostalgic for the feudal secession situation of the Warring States Period, and hoped to act arbitrarily in their own fiefdoms, which posed a great threat to Liu Bang's centralized power.
Take Han Xin, the king of Qi, for example, who had repeatedly disobeyed Liu Bang's edicts and built a large number of buildings in his fiefdom, recruited customers, and looted the people's fat and ointment, the purpose of which was to strengthen his own strength to resist the central power. Peng Yue, the king of Liang, Yingbu the king of Huainan, and others also made similar moves, each building a city in their fiefdoms and training armies in an attempt to maintain their sphere of influence.
Faced with this situation, Liu Bang knew that if measures were not taken as soon as possible to weaken the power of the princes and kings with different surnames, the centralization of power in the Han Dynasty would not be truly established, and the unification of the country would become a dead letter. However, Liu Bang knew very well that the princes and kings with different surnames were all his descendants, and if he acted rashly, it would inevitably cause turmoil in the army's morale, which would not be conducive to the stability of the regime.
Therefore, Liu Bang adopted a series of ingenious strategies, gradually weakening the power of the princes and kings with different surnames, while also constantly strengthening his centralized power. He first sent secret agents to set up an eye in the fiefs of the princes and kings to monitor their movements at any time; he also sent envoys to the fiefs of the princes and kings many times to requisition troops and goods under various names to weaken their strength; at the same time, he promoted his own cronies within the court to control the military and political power, and prepared for the final eradication of the princes and kings with different surnames.
Liu Bang's actions undoubtedly exacerbated the contradictions between him and the princes and kings with different surnames. Han Xin, Peng Yue and others became increasingly suspicious and dissatisfied with Liu Bang, and they either openly disobeyed the edict or secretly colluded with foreigners in an attempt to confront the central government. And Liu Bang is also paying close attention to their every move, waiting for an opportunity to move, ready to give them a fatal blow.
This contest between the centralized power of the absolute monarchy and the feudal separatist forces finally broke out in 196 BC. Yingbu, the king of Huainan, colluded with the Xiongnu and rebelled and was executed; Peng Yue, the king of Liang, and Chen Xuan, the acting king, rebelled one after another, but they were both pacified by Liu Bang. At this point, the power of the princes and kings with different surnames has been greatly weakened, and Liu Bang's goal of centralizing power has basically been achieved.
However, Liu Bang did not stop there. He knew that it would take greater determination and courage to completely eradicate the power of the princes and kings with different surnames and establish an unbreakable centralized power. Although Han Xin surrendered temporarily, the dissatisfaction and ambition in his heart never diminished. Liu Bang also began to have deep suspicions of this former confidant. He openly rebuked Han Xin in the court, and sent people to spy on him, ready to get rid of this henchman at any time.
Liu Bang gradually weakened the power of the princes and kings with different surnames
At the beginning of the establishment of the Han Dynasty, although Liu Bang nominally unified the whole world, in fact, the princes and kings with different surnames were divided, posing a serious threat to the central power. Faced with this situation, Liu Bang adopted a series of strategies to gradually weaken the power of the princes and kings with different surnames and consolidate his rule.
First of all, Liu Bang skillfully exploited the contradictions between princes and kings with different surnames to sow discord, so that they were suspicious of each other and had no time to take care of the threat to the central power. For example, when Han Xin, the king of Qi, and Peng Yue, the king of Liang, had a conflict over territory, Liu Bang deliberately stood by and even secretly instigated, further intensifying their contradictions. For another example, when Yingbu, the king of Huainan, and Peng Yue, the king of Liang, clashed over military power, Liu Bang also adopted a similar strategy, allowing them to consume each other.
Secondly, Liu Bang adopted the strategy of "repairing the plank road in the open and Chen Cang in the dark", showing favor to the princes and kings with different surnames on the surface, but in fact weakening their strength in secret. He first sent envoys to frequently enter and leave the fiefdoms of the princes and kings, called patrols, but in fact surveillance, and on many occasions requisitioned the troops and property of the princes and kings under various names to weaken their military and economic strength; at the same time, he promoted his own cronies within the court and controlled the military and political power, so as to prepare for the final eradication of the princes and kings with different surnames.
Under the application of these strategies, the power of the princes with different surnames was gradually weakened, and the centralization of Liu Bang's power was increasingly strengthened. In 201 BC, Liu Bang launched a full-scale offensive and successively killed Zhang Er, the king of Zhao, Peng Yue, the king of Liang, and others, clearing the way for the consolidation of centralized power.
However, among all the princes and kings with different surnames, Liu Bang was the most feared than Han Xin, the king of Qi. Han Xin not only has outstanding military talents, but also has a deep public opinion base in Qidi, and is the strongest among the princes with different surnames. Liu Bang's suspicion of Han Xin increased day by day, he first sent people to secretly monitor Han Xin's every move, and then openly reprimanded Han Xin in the court many times, forcing him to hand over military power.
In 196 BC, Liu Bang finally found an opportunity to get rid of Han Xin. He first sent people to spread rumors that Han Xin had rebelled, and then deliberately summoned Han Xin to Beijing to discuss military affairs, but in fact put him under house arrest. Subsequently, Liu Bang executed Han Xin on the charge of treason, completely eradicating this confidant.
Han Xin's tragic end caused great panic among the princes and kings with different surnames. They all expressed their submission, took the initiative to hand over their military power, and asked Liu Bang for forgiveness. Liu Bang took advantage of the situation and successively got rid of Yingbu, the king of Huainan, Lu Juan, the king of Yan, and others, so far, the power of the princes and kings with different surnames has completely collapsed, and Liu Bang's centralized power has been unprecedentedly strengthened.
In this contest between the centralized power of absolute monarchy and the feudal separatist forces, Liu Bang was undoubtedly the final victor. It took him less than five years to completely eradicate the power of the princes and kings with different surnames and establish an unbreakable centralized power. However, behind this victory is the blood and lives of countless heroes. Han Xin, Peng Yue, Yingbu and others were all founding heroes who helped Liu Bang conquer the world, however, when their interests conflicted with Liu Bang's centralized power, they had to become the target of Liu Bang's eradication.
This harsh reality reflects the essence of the absolute monarchy. Under this system, the power of the monarch is supreme, and any force that poses a threat to the monarchy must be ruthlessly eradicated. And those founding heroes who have made great contributions will not escape the tragic fate of being "cooked by rabbits and dead dogs".
The historical impact of Liu Bang's killing of princes and kings with different surnames
Although Liu Bang's killing of princes and kings with different surnames was cruel and ruthless, it objectively played a role in strengthening the centralization of power and consolidating the rule of the Han Dynasty.
First of all, Liu Bang eradicated the princes and kings with different surnames, eliminated the local separatist forces, and laid a solid foundation for the unification of the Han Dynasty. At the beginning of the establishment of the Han Dynasty, although Liu Bang nominally unified the world, in fact, Han Xin, Peng Yue, Yingbu and other princes with different surnames still divided one side, posing a serious threat to the central power. They each supported their own troops, built a lot of construction in their fiefdoms, looted the people's fat and ointment, and even colluded with foreigners to seek independence. This situation has seriously affected the unity and stability of the country.
After Liu Bang killed the princes and queens with different surnames, he completely eradicated these local separatist forces, so that the rule of the Han Dynasty could be implemented throughout the country. Local governors were appointed directly by the central government, central government decrees were unimpeded, and the unity of the country was strengthened as never before. This laid a solid foundation for the long-term peace and stability of the Han Dynasty.
Secondly, Liu Bang killed the princes and kings with different surnames, dealt a blow to the local separatist forces, and cleared the way for strengthening centralized power. In feudal society, local separatist forces and centralized power were a pair of contradictions. The existence of local separatist forces will inevitably weaken centralized power, and the strengthening of centralized power will inevitably require the eradication of local separatist forces.
Liu Bang's killing of princes and kings with different surnames conformed to this historical law. He eliminated the princes and kings with different surnames who were divided into one side, and firmly held the military and political power in the hands of the central government, so that the centralized power of the Han Dynasty was unprecedentedly strengthened. This highly centralized absolute monarchy provided a strong guarantee for the prosperity of the Han Dynasty.
Thirdly, Liu Bang's killing of princes and kings with different surnames objectively laid the foundation for the development of the absolute monarchy system in later generations. After the establishment of the absolute monarchy system in the Qin Dynasty, this system was further developed and improved in the Han Dynasty. And Liu Bang's killing of princes and kings with different surnames is undoubtedly an important part of this process.
Liu Bang eliminated the princes and kings with different surnames, brought the local armed forces back to the central government, and strengthened the central government's control over the localities. This highly centralized model of rule became a model for later monarchs to follow. Since then, both the Western Han Dynasty and the Eastern Han Dynasty have further strengthened the absolute monarchy on this basis. The division of the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties was also seen as a departure from the centralization of the Han Dynasty.
It can be said that Liu Bang's act of killing princes and kings with different surnames objectively promoted the development of the absolute monarchy system and laid the foundation for the supremacy of imperial power in later generations.
Of course, Liu Bang's act of killing princes and kings with different surnames also caused some negative effects. Most of the princes and kings with different surnames who were killed were the founding heroes who once assisted Liu Bang in fighting the world. Liu Bang's brutal repression of them shook the foundation of his rule to a certain extent and exacerbated social unrest.
In addition, Liu Bang's killing of princes and kings with different surnames strengthened the centralization of power, but also planted the root of imperial autocracy. Since then, in order to maintain their imperial power, the rulers of the Western Han Dynasty have carried out purge of meritorious officials and relatives again and again, resulting in political turmoil and social unrest. This kind of malpractice continued until the Eastern Han Dynasty, and finally caused the tragedy of Wang Mang's usurpation of the Han Dynasty.
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Liu Bang's act of killing the princes and kings with different surnames is a double-edged sword. While it strengthened the centralization of power and consolidated the rule of the Han Dynasty, it also planted the bane of imperial autocracy. This historical lesson is worthy of deep consideration by future rulers.