Emperor Xuan of Han was heroic throughout his life, and the Han Dynasty under his rule became the highest peak of social development during the Western Han Dynasty. However, he failed to choose the prince. After his crown prince Liu Yi came to power, due to his limited ability and lack of courage, he was unable to control the group of courtiers, resulting in a fierce struggle between the three forces of foreign relatives, Confucian courtiers, and eunuchs in the dynasty. Eventually, the Western Han Dynasty went into decline in this struggle and internal friction. So that later, when the imperial power fell, Wang Mang stole the throne, destroyed the Western Han Dynasty, and established a new dynasty.
(Stills of Emperor Xuan of Han)
In fact, during the reign of Emperor Xuan of Han, he had already keenly discovered this and foresaw the future historical decline process of the Western Han Dynasty. At that time, he said that "those who mess with my family, the prince is also", believing that after the prince comes to power, it will inevitably cause chaos and decline in the Han family world. However, why did Emperor Xuan of Han not change the crown prince, but waited for the prince to wreak havoc on his Han family in the future?
First, let's take a look at why Emperor Xuan of Han was dissatisfied with his crown prince Liu Yi. Under what circumstances did he say that.
In his later years, Emperor Xuan of Han's great-grandfather, Emperor Wu of Han, was suspicious of his body and feared that his ministers would seize his throne. Therefore, he killed the minister many times, bringing about a bloody storm. Especially because of the "curse of the witches", tens of thousands of ministers and the Liu family were killed.
After Emperor Xuan of Han came to power, according to the usual practice, he should learn the lessons of Emperor Wu of Han, adopt the "Huairou" ruling technique, and implement benevolent government. Curiously, however, Emperor Xuan of Han did not do this, and of course he was also practicing benevolent government, but at the same time he often used severe punishment to suppress the ministers.
His crown prince Liu Yi did not understand Emperor Xuan of Han's approach, and because he had been influenced by Confucianism since childhood, coupled with his opposition to the "tyranny" of Emperor Wu of Han, he proposed it to his father in the hope that he would be able to implement benevolent government. It was also in that case that Emperor Xuan of Han told Liu Yi that the Han family's method of rule was "the combination of kings and hegemons", that is, "enwei and shi", and only in this way could the emperor's prestige be ensured and the ministers grateful.
It is likely that he saw that Liu Yi was very unconvinced by his statement, and he probably made a contemptuous look, so he was very disappointed and anxious, and said the words "those who mess with my family, the prince is also".
(Liu Yi stills)
Then, since Emperor Xuan of Han knew that Liu Yi would not listen to his set, and would not adopt his ruling techniques after coming to power in the future, why didn't he change the crown prince?
1. Liu Yi was the son of Xu Pingjun.
Xu Pingjun was of great significance to the life of Emperor Xuan of Han. Due to the influence of the "Witch Deception Incident", Emperor Xuan of Han was a prisoner from an early age, and he was blinded and bullied. And another time, he was almost killed by Emperor Wu of Han.
It is in such hardships and hardships that Xu Pingjun does not dislike his origin, marries him, and encourages him to work hard, study culture diligently, and make friends extensively. It was precisely in this way that Emperor Xuan of Han laid a solid foundation for him to maturely handle government affairs after he became emperor.
But it was such a person who he deeply loved, but he was killed by Huo Guang's family. Moreover, he was killed by the Huo family when Xu Pingjun gave birth to a child, and his death was quite miserable. At that time, the Huo family not only killed Xu Pingjun, but also prepared to attack the crown prince Liu Yi many times, trying to poison Liu Yi.
Even if Xu Pingjun was killed by the Huo family, Emperor Xuan of Han at that time did not dare to show any dissatisfaction, after all, his fate was still in Huo Guang's hands. Only after Huo Guang's death could he avenge his beloved wife.
Out of gratitude and guilt for his beloved wife Xu Pingjun, Emperor Xuan of Han was reluctant to depose Xu Pingjun's son as crown prince no matter what. This was also the most important reason why Emperor Xuan of Han was unwilling to depose Liu Yi.
(Xu Pingjun stills)
Second, the abolition of the prince will cause great disasters.
Emperor Wu of Han caused tens of thousands of people to be killed because of the "scourge of witchcraft" by the crown prince Liu Zhao, the vast majority of whom were disciples of Liu. Although Emperor Xuan of Han did not see this incident with his own eyes, he really experienced it. This memory was very painful for Emperor Xuan of Han.
Although Emperor Xuan of Han was not very satisfied with his crown prince, the risk of changing the prince was even greater. Even if Xu Pingjun is not considered, Liu Yi is also the eldest son of his own concubine. Since ancient times, the "primogeniture inheritance system" has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people. If you choose the eldest son to inherit the throne, there will be no problem. If the eldest son is not chosen, the DPRK and The CPC will inevitably focus on the issue of Li Chu and trigger a bloody storm. From Han Gaozu to Han Jingdi to Emperor Wudi of Han, this is all the case. Emperor Xuan of Han naturally did not want such a tragedy to happen.
Third, there was no external impetus for Emperor Xuan of Han to depose the crown prince.
Study the situation of Han Gaozu, Han Jingdi, and Emperor Wu of Han, and we will find out. All the wasted princes will be implemented because of the influence of external forces. Han Gaozu deposed the crown prince because he liked Lady Qi and did not like Empress Lü, so he wanted to replace the prince with Lady Qi's son. Emperor Jing of Han deposed the crown prince because of Liu Yan's intervention and his jealousy of Li Ji. Emperor Wu of Han deposed the crown prince, which was the fall of Jiang Chong and others.
However, when Liu Yi was crown prince, there was no intervention from any external forces. Therefore, even if Emperor Xuan of Han had such a thought, he would not put it into action.
(Reference: Book of Han)