Lü’s Chronicles: Qin Dynasty Intrigue

In the age of myriad states, many lords gathered their scholars, akin to the disciples of Xun Qing, to write and disseminate works across the realm. Lü Buwei, sensing potential danger, tasked his agents to compile knowledge and discussions, resulting in the Eight Views, Six Discourses, and Twelve Records, totaling over two hundred thousand words.

Footnote: The “Eight Views” cover topics such as origins, filial piety, cautious decision-making, early discernment, meticulous differentiation, precise adaptation, withdrawal from worldly affairs, and timely advice to rulers. The “Six Discourses” focus on the beginning of spring, cautious conduct, valuing integrity, avoiding superficiality, embracing compliance, and dignified comportment. The “Twelve Records” detail events across twelve months, including the Meng Spring Chronicle. The compilation spans twenty-six volumes.

This work aimed to encompass the affairs of heaven, earth, and all beings across ancient and modern times, titled Lü’s Spring and Autumn Annals. Displayed at the marketplace of Xianyang, it bore a reward of one thousand gold pieces to any who could add or subtract a single word.

As Emperor Qin Shi Huang grew stronger, the Empress Dowager’s indulgence knew no bounds. Fearing repercussions, Lü Buwei secretly sought out Lao Ai, a man of obscure origins, as his aide. Meanwhile, revelry flourished, and Lao Ai used his charm to approach the Empress Dowager with tales of his hidden talents.

Note: “Hidden talents” refers to his skill in crafting small cartwheels from chestnut wood.

Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager desired him in private. Lü Buwei then orchestrated a false accusation of misconduct against Lao Ai, manipulating events to imply improper relationships. Privately, he hinted to the Empress Dowager, “If we handle this deceit discreetly, you will gain a trusted minister.” Subsequently, the Empress Dowager generously rewarded those involved in the false accusations, and Lao Ai was stripped of his hair and eyebrows as punishment, forced into service at court.

During her pregnancy, fearing exposure, the Empress Dowager pretended to consult fortune tellers and relocated her palace to Yong. Lao Ai always accompanied her, receiving lavish rewards and dictating policies. He maintained a household staffed by thousands of servants, and over a thousand visitors sought positions as his aides.

In the seventh year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s reign, Queen Dowager Xia passed away. Her successor, Empress Huayang, was buried alongside Emperor Xiao Wen in Shouling.

Footnote: Emperor Xiao Wen’s tomb is located northeast of Wan Nian County, Yong Prefecture.

Queen Dowager Xia was interred separately in Duyuan, east of the Du Mountains.

Footnote: Queen Dowager Xia’s tomb is located twenty-five miles southeast of Wan Nian County.

She proclaimed, “Looking east for my son and west for my husband. A hundred years hence, neighboring towns will flourish.”

Footnote: Emperor Xuan’s first year, Du Ling was elevated. The Han old ritual, martial, and public three tombs are all three thousand households. This is one hundred and sixty years old.

In the ninth year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s reign, an informant revealed that Lao Ai was not an attendant but had been privately engaging in inappropriate behavior with the Empress Dowager, bearing two sons in secrecy. Lü Buwei immediately ordered an investigation, uncovering damning evidence that also implicated Prime Minister Lü Buwei. In the ninth month, Lao Ai and his entire clan were executed, and the Empress Dowager was relocated to Yong.

Footnote: According to Shuo Yuan, she was moved to Yuyang Palace.

All of Lao Ai’s aides were stripped of their possessions and exiled to Shu.

Footnote: “Possessions” here refer to their properties and wealth, while “exile” means their relocation to Shu.

The King desired to execute Prime Minister Lü Buwei, but his immense contributions and the eloquent persuasions of guests and scholars dissuaded him from carrying out the sentence.

In the tenth year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s reign, in October, Prime Minister Lü Buwei was dismissed from his post. It was then that the Qi man Mao Jiao persuaded Emperor Qin Shi Huang to retrieve the Empress Dowager from Yong, return her to Xianyang, and send him, now titled Marquis Wenxin, to govern Henan.

Footnote: According to Xu Guang, “Enter the South Palace.”

Months passed, and envoys from lords and guests awaited the roads, petitioning for Marquis Wenxin. Emperor Qin Shi Huang, fearing possible upheaval, sent a letter to Marquis Wenxin: “What have you done for Qin? Qin has enfeoffed you in Henan, with a fiefdom of a hundred thousand households. What is your affinity with Qin? You are honored as a father figure. Take your family and move to Shu!”

Lü Buwei, feeling increasingly encroached upon and fearing punishment, drank poison and died.

Footnote: According to Xu Guang, “Twelve years.” According to the imperial scroll, “The tomb of Lü Buwei is west of the North Mountain Road in Luoyang, Henan. The people say the tomb of Lü’s mother.”

Emperor Qin Shi Huang, though angry with Lü Buwei and Lao Ai, had both already died. He allowed Lao Ai’s exiled aides to return from Shu.

In the nineteenth year of Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s reign, the Empress Dowager passed away. She was posthumously titled Empress Dowager, and she was buried alongside King Zhuang Xiang in Zhiyang.

Footnote: According to Xu Guang, “It is also written as ‘Zhiyang.'”

The Historian Grandmaster said: Lü Buwei and Lao Ai were ennobled, with Lü Buwei titled Marquis Wenxin.

Footnote: According to the imperial scroll, Lü Buwei was enfeoffed. Lao Ai was enfeoffed as Marquis Changxin. The previous text mentions Lü Buwei’s enfeoffment; here, it compliments Lao Ai’s rise in favor due to Lü Buwei.

When news reached Lao Ai, he heard about it. Emperor Qin Shi Huang interrogated his attendants, but none spoke up. As he prayed at the Yong Altar, Lao Ai feared repercussions. He conspired with his allies, forged the Empress Dowager’s seal, and deployed troops to incite rebellion at Qiniang Palace.

Footnote: Qiniang Palace is located within the city walls of Qi Prefecture.

When the authorities attacked Lao Ai, he was defeated and fled, pursued and beheaded at Haozhi.

Footnote: According to the geographical record, there is also Haozhi County in Fufeng.

Thus, his family was annihilated, and Lü Buwei’s political career came to an end. Could this be the cunning figure mentioned by Confucius in “Analects”?

Footnote: The “Analects” states: “He who hears and sees acts contrary to the moral standards and does not doubt whether he lives in his own country or his own home.” Ma Rong said: “This refers to flatterers.”

Footnote: According to the Analects, Lü Buwei fishes for the unusual, entrusts his sons to Chu. Hua Yang established a successor and Han Dan offered a girl. After being sealed off from Henan, he was called the second father. Moved to Sichuan to punish slander, hung gold and made speeches. The strategy was already completed, and wealth and honor were obtained.

This translation and expansion aim to maintain the essence of the original text while making it accessible and informative to an English-speaking audience unfamiliar with ancient Chinese history and culture.