“The Han Dynasty Power Struggle”
The Grand Tutor
Marquis Zhu Xu, Liu Zhang, had substantial influence. Dongmou Marquis lived with his younger brother. Both were brothers of King Ai of Qi, residing in Chang’an. At that time, the Lü clan wielded power and authority, intending to cause turmoil but feared the senior ministers like Jiang and Guan who were loyal to Emperor Gao. They dared not act rashly.
Marquis Zhu Xu’s wife was Lü Lu’s daughter, secretly aware of their plans. Fearful of being executed, she secretly instructed someone to inform her brother, Prince of Qi, to raise troops in the west to eliminate the Lü clan and install him as emperor. Marquis Zhu Xu wished to cooperate with ministers in between.
Prince of Qi wanted to raise troops, but his chancellor did not comply. On the day of August, he intended to have someone kill the chancellor, but the chancellor’s summoner, Ping, revolted and raised troops to besiege the prince. The prince then killed his chancellor, subsequently raised troops to the east, deceitfully seized the troops of King Langye, and took them west. The conversation is in the prince’s words.
Prince Qi then sent letters to the kings saying, “Emperor Gao pacified the world and made kings of his sons and brothers. King Ai of Qi reigned after Emperor Gao pacified the world. King Ai passed away, and Emperor Xiaohui made Marquis Liang a minister and King of Qi. Emperor Xiaohui died, and Empress Dowager ruled, during the spring and autumn, listening to the Lüs, arbitrarily deposed the emperor and crowned another, and also killed the kings of the Three Zhaos, Zhao Yin, Zhao You, and Zhao Hui, who are the three Zhaos. Honest officials advised against it, but were not heard. Now that the Empress Dowager has passed away and the emperor is young and inexperienced, relying heavily on ministers and kings. The Lü clan also arrogantly appoints themselves as officials, gathers troops with strict authority, coerces marquises and loyal officials, and issues commands to the world, endangering the ancestral temple. I lead troops to exterminate the undeserving kings.” Han heard this and sent Prime Minister Lü Chan and others to send troops to attack.
General Guan Ying of Yingying commanded troops and went to Xingyang. Then he planned, “The Lü clan controls the troops in Guanzhong, intending to endanger the Liu clan and establish themselves. Now that we have defeated Qi and returned to report, this is an additional resource for the Lü clan.” Then stationed at Xingyang, he sent envoys to Qi and Chu to form an alliance and wait for the Lü clan to change and join in their destruction. Prince of Qi heard this, returned to the western border to wait for the agreement.
Lü Lu and Lü Chan wanted to start a rebellion in Guanzhong. They feared the senior ministers like Jiang and Zhu Xu and others, as well as the armies of Qi and Chu. They also feared that Guan Ying might turn against them. They intended to wait for Guan Ying’s army to join forces with Qi before acting, but hesitated without a decision.
At that time, Prince Jichuan Wang Tai, Prince of Huaiyang Wu, and Prince Changshan Zhao were known as the younger brothers of the young emperor. As well as Lu Yuanwang, the grandson of Empress Lü, all were young and had not yet ruled. King Zhao Lu and King Liang Chan each commanded troops in the northern and southern armies, both men of the Lü clan. The marquises and ministers were unable to stabilize their lives.
The Prime Minister, Marquis Jiang Bo, could not enter the army to command troops. Marquis Li Shang, the Lord of Quzhou, was old and sick, and his son, Jia, was friendly with Lü Lu. Marquis Jiang conspired with Prime Minister Chen Ping to send someone to abduct Li Shang. He ordered his son Jia to go to Lü Lu and say, “Emperor Gao and Empress Lü settled the world together, and the nine kings of the Liu clan were established. The nine kings of the Liu clan, including the kings of Wu, Chu, Qi, Huainan, Langye, Dai, and the kings of Changshan Wang Zhao, Prince Wu of Huaiyang, Wang Taichuan, Prince Jichuan, and Wang Changshan, were all proposed by the senior ministers and announced to the kings. The kings thought it was appropriate. Now that the Empress Dowager has passed away and the emperor is young and unable to govern the world, she relies heavily on the ministers and vassals. The Lü clan has appointed themselves as officials, gathered troops, and coerced the marquises and loyal officials, issuing false orders to the world, endangering the ancestral temple. Few people have expressed concern, and the chaos has not been heard. Now that the Empress Dowager has passed away, and the emperor is still young, with the Lü clan growing more arrogant and abusing their power, the loyal ministers are locked up, the emperors are in danger, and the ancestral temple is at risk. The few of us should lead troops to kill those who are not fit to be kings.” Han heard this and sent General Lü Chan and others to send troops to attack.
General Guan Ying of Yingying commanded troops and went to Xingyang. Then he planned, “The Lü clan controls the troops in Guanzhong, intending to endanger the Liu clan and establish themselves. Now that we have defeated Qi and returned to report, this is an additional resource for the Lü clan.” Then stationed at Xingyang, he sent envoys to Qi and Chu to form an alliance and wait for the Lü clan to change and join in their destruction. Prince of Qi heard this, returned to the western border to wait for the agreement.
Lü Lu and Lü Chan wanted to start a rebellion in Guanzhong. They feared the senior ministers like Jiang and Zhu Xu and others, as well as the armies of Qi and Chu. They also feared that Guan Ying might turn against them. They intended to wait for Guan Ying’s army to join forces with Qi before acting, but hesitated without a decision.
At that time, Prince Jichuan Wang Tai, Prince of Huaiyang Wu, and Prince Changshan Zhao were known as the younger brothers of the young emperor. As well as Lu Yuanwang, the grandson of Empress Lü, all were young and had not yet ruled. King Zhao Lu and King Liang Chan each commanded troops in the northern and southern armies, both men of the Lü clan. The marquises and ministers were unable to stabilize their lives.
The Prime Minister, Marquis Jiang Bo, could not enter the army to command troops. Marquis Li Shang, the Lord of Quzhou, was old and sick, and his son, Jia, was friendly with Lü Lu.