In the history of the Western Han Dynasty, the Han Xuan Emperor Liu Qian was a very important emperor, during his reign, he worked hard to change the situation of the decline of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty in his later years, and achieved Zhongxing, and some people even believe that this is the strongest period of the Han Dynasty's military strength and the most prosperous economy. However, Emperor Xuan of Han made a fatal mistake, he knew that the prince was weak and incompetent, but he still did not depose him, which led the Western Han Dynasty to a road of decline. What's going on here?
First, the prince
Emperor Xuan of Han had few sons, only five, of whom the crown prince was the eldest son, Liu Yi, who later became Emperor Yuan of Han. In the third year of the Di Festival, Emperor Xuan of Han made Liu Yi, who was only eight years old, crown prince and asked Xiao Wangzhi to tutor the crown prince. As the crown prince grew older, Emperor Xuan of Han increasingly felt that Liu Yi was not the best candidate for the throne, because the crown prince was "gentle and kind". Once, when Emperor Xuan of Han held a banquet, the crown prince Liu Yi advised: "Your Majesty's punishment is too deep, and it is advisable to use Confucianism." ”
Emperor Xuan of Han was very angry, and immediately criticized the prince: "The Han family has its own system, which is originally based on the overlord Dao, but it is pure Ren MoralIsm, using Zhou Zhenghu!" And the vulgar Confucianism is not up to date, but it is good that it is ancient and not modern, so that people are dazzled by the name and reality, and they do not know what to keep, so why should they be appointed? This passage of Emperor Xuan of Han clearly pointed out the ruling ideology of the Western Han Dynasty, although on the surface it was "deposing a hundred families and respecting Confucianism alone", but in fact it was "external Confucianism and internal law". At the end of the banquet, Emperor Xuan of Han sighed and said, "Those who mess with my family, the prince also!" ”
2. The King of Huaiyang
As mentioned earlier, Emperor Xuan of Han had five sons, and since he felt that the crown prince was not good, was there a better candidate? This person is Liu Qin, the second son of Emperor Xuan of Han and the King of Huaiyang. According to historical records, Liu Qin was deeply favored by Emperor Xuan of Han, and he paid more attention to studying the works of the Dharma, "The Xian King grew stronger, good scriptures and laws, was intelligent and talented, and the emperor loved him very much." Because "the prince is lenient and loves Confucianism", Emperor Xuan of Han was dissatisfied with the prince, but he often praised Liu Qin, "True my son!" ”
In addition, Liu Qin's mother, Zhang Jieyu, was Emperor Xuan of Han's favorite concubine. Emperor Xuan of Han deposed Empress Huo and once planned to make Zhang Jieyu empress, but at that time the crown prince Liu Yi was young, so he gave up, and finally established "Wang Jieyu as the queen, so that the mother raised the crown prince". However, Emperor Xuan of Han did not like Empress Wang, "After no favor, I hope to see the emperor, only Zhang Jieyu is the most fortunate." Both the King of Huaiyang and Zhang Jieyu were the closest and most beloved people of Emperor Xuan of Han, but he still did not depose the crown prince!
III. The Queen
Why didn't Emperor Xuan of Han depose the crown prince? It's because he can't forget someone, a woman who keeps him from memory to death! This person was Xu Pingjun, emperor Xuan's wife and the crown prince's biological mother! The matter has to start from the scourge of the witches, the young Liu Yi has been fostered in the Court, living with Xu Guanghan, thanks to the care of Xu's family, Emperor Xuan of Han was able to survive, he and Xu Pingjun Qingmei Bamboo Horse, grew up together. Later, under the auspices of Zhang He, the 16-year-old Liu Yi was married to Xu Pingjun.
The following year, Xu Pingjun had already given birth to a son for Liu Yi, that is, Liu Yi. Later, the chancellor Huo Guang made Liu Yi the new emperor. When choosing an empress, Emperor Xuan of Han did not choose Huo Guang's daughter, but issued an edict "Seeking the Sword when The Sword is Small", and everyone understood that the original emperor wanted Xu Pingjun to be the empress, which is the origin of the idiom "The Sword Is Deep". Later, Xu Pingjun was killed by Huo Guang's wife, and Emperor Xuan of Han was very distressed, but he could only bear it. After that, whenever he saw the crown prince, Emperor Xuan of Han probably thought of Xu Pingjun, "With a small amount of xu clan, everything starts from a small beginning, so in the end he does not betray it."
References: 1. Book of Han; 2. Zizhi Tongjian