Empress Lü was the wife of Emperor Gaozu during his impoverished and humble days, and she bore him Emperor Hui and Princess Lu Yuan. When Gaozu ascended to the title of King of Han, he married Qi Ji from Dingtao, whom he doted upon, and she bore him Prince Zhao Yin, Liu Ruyi. Emperor Hui, a man of kindness and mild temperament, was not like his father in nature, and Gaozu often considered deposing him in favor of Ruyi, who resembled him more. Qi Ji, enjoying Gaozu’s favor, would often accompany him to the east, where she would weep day and night, hoping her son could replace Emperor Hui as the crown prince. Meanwhile, Empress Lü, growing older, remained mostly at home and saw less and less of Gaozu, causing their relationship to become more distant.
After Liu Ruyi was made King of Zhao, there were several occasions when he nearly supplanted the crown prince, but due to the persistent counsel of ministers and the strategy of Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liuxian, the throne was preserved for Emperor Hui.
Empress Lü was known for her strength and determination, assisting Gaozu in unifying the realm. She played a key role in the execution of great ministers such as Han Xin, Qing Bu, and Peng Yue. Empress Lü had two brothers, both generals under Gaozu. Her elder brother, Lord Lü Ze, died in battle, and his son, Lü Tai, was granted the title of Lord of Li, while Lü Chan was made Lord of Jiao. Her younger brother, Lü Shizhi, was granted the title of Lord of Jiancheng.
In the twelfth year of Gaozu’s reign (195 BCE), on the day of Jiachen in April, Emperor Gaozu passed away at the Chang Le Palace. His son, the crown prince, succeeded him to the throne as Emperor Hui. At the time of his death, Gaozu had eight sons: his eldest son, Liu Fei, who was the half-brother of Emperor Hui, was granted the title of King of Qi. The other sons, all of Emperor Hui’s full bloodline, were: Liu Ruyi, the son of Qi Ji, who was made King of Zhao; Liu Heng, the son of Lady Bo, who became King of Dai; Liu Hui, the son of another concubine, who was made King of Liang; Liu You, King of Huaiyang; Liu Chang, King of Huainan; and Liu Jian, King of Yan. Gaozu’s younger brother, Liu Jiao, was granted the title of King of Chu, while the son of his elder brother, Liu Bi, was made King of Wu. The son of the non-Liu minister, Wu Rui, was granted the title of King of Changsha.
Empress Lü harbored a deep resentment toward Qi Ji and her son, Prince Zhao, and thus commanded the officials of the Inner Palace to imprison Qi Ji, while sending emissaries to summon Prince Zhao to the capital. Despite multiple attempts, Zhao’s prime minister, Marquis Zhou Chang, said to the emissaries: “Emperor Gao entrusted Prince Zhao to me, and he is still young. I have heard that the Empress Dowager resents Qi Ji and wishes to have Zhao killed along with her, but I cannot allow him to be summoned. Besides, Prince Zhao is ill and cannot accept the imperial summons.” This enraged Empress Lü, who immediately summoned Zhou Chang to Chang’an. Once there, she again ordered Zhao to be summoned.
As Prince Zhao was on his way to the capital, he had not yet arrived when Emperor Hui, knowing of the Empress Dowager’s anger toward his brother, personally went to Ba Shang to meet him, escorting him back to the palace and keeping him under his protection, eating and sleeping alongside him. Empress Lü, however, found no opportunity to harm him.
In December of the first year of Emperor Hui’s reign (194 BCE), one morning, Emperor Hui went out to practice archery. Prince Zhao, still too young to rise early, was alone at home. Empress Lü learned of this and sent someone with poisoned wine for him to drink. By the time Emperor Hui returned, Prince Zhao had already passed away. As a result, Liu You, the King of Huaiyang, was made King of Zhao in his place.
Later that summer, an imperial decree was issued to posthumously honor Lü Ze, the father of Lü Tai, with the title of Marquis of Lingwu. Empress Lü then ordered that Qi Ji’s limbs be severed, her eyes gouged out, her ears deafened, and her mouth made mute before being thrown into a pigsty, calling her “a human pig.” After several days, Empress Lü summoned Emperor Hui to see “the human pig.” Upon learning that it was Qi Ji, he wept bitterly and fell ill, unable to recover for over a year. During this time, Emperor Hui sent an emissary to the Empress Dowager, stating: “This is inhuman. As your son, I can no longer govern the realm.” From then on, he indulged in wine and revelry, ignoring state affairs and remaining in poor health.
In the second year of Emperor Hui’s reign (193 BCE), both King Liu Jiao of Chu and King Liu Fei of Qi came to the capital to pay their respects. In October, Emperor Hui and King Fei of Qi were drinking together in the presence of Empress Lü. As King Fei was the elder brother, Emperor Hui, following family customs, invited him to sit in the place of honor. Enraged by this, Empress Lü ordered two cups of poisoned wine to be placed before King Fei. When King Fei stood to offer a toast to her, Emperor Hui, following suit, stood as well, intending to drink with the Empress Dowager. Alarmed, Empress Lü hurriedly stood up and poured out Emperor Hui’s wine. King Fei, sensing something amiss, pretended to be drunk and left the banquet.
Afterward, King Fei learned the wine had been poisoned and feared for his life, realizing he could not escape Chang’an. The interior minister of Qi suggested to King Fei: “Empress Dowager only has two children: Emperor Hui and Princess Lu Yuan. You now rule over seventy cities, while the princess governs only a few. If you offer one of your counties as a tribute for her, Empress Dowager will be pleased, and you will no longer need to worry.” King Fei agreed and presented the City of Yang as a gift to the Empress Dowager, even going so far as to violate the normal propriety by elevating his half-sister, Princess Lu Yuan, to the status of Queen Dowager. Empress Lü was pleased and accepted the offer. After a celebratory feast at King Fei’s residence, he returned to his fief.
In the third year of Emperor Hui’s reign (192 BCE), the construction of the city of Chang’an began. By the fourth year (191 BCE), half of it was completed, and by the fifth and sixth years (190 BCE and 189 BCE), it was finished. The princes gathered in the capital for a grand celebration in October.
In the seventh year of Emperor Hui’s reign (188 BCE), in the autumn of August, Emperor Hui passed away. At the time of his funeral, the Empress Dowager only cried dry tears, showing no true sorrow. Zhang Biquang, the fifteen-year-old son of Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liuxian, who served as the court attendant, said to the Chancellor, Chen Ping: “Empress Dowager has only one son, and now that he has passed, she cries but does not mourn properly. Do you understand why?” Chen Ping asked, “What is the reason?” Biquang replied, “Without a male heir, Empress Dowager fears for the old ministers here. If you, Chancellor, were to request that Lü Tai, Lü Chan, and Lü Lu be made generals and command the two imperial guards, with all members of the Lü family holding power within the palace, Empress Dowager would feel secure, and you will be safe.”
The Chancellor followed this advice, and Empress Lü was pleased, finally shedding true tears of mourning. This marked the beginning of the Lü family’s control over the imperial court. A general amnesty was declared, and in September, Emperor Hui was laid to rest. The crown prince ascended the throne as Emperor, and a formal ceremony was held at the Gaozu Temple, paying tribute to his father. In the first year of the young emperor’s reign (187 BCE), all state decrees came directly from the Empress Dowager.
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After the Empress Dowager began exercising imperial power, she convened her ministers to discuss the plan of elevating the Lü family members to the status of kings. She first consulted with the Right Chancellor, Wang Ling. Wang Ling remarked, “Emperor Gao once swore an oath, after the killing of the white horse, that any non-Liu family member who claims the title of king would be jointly condemned by the world. Now, if the Lü family is made kings, it would be a violation of that vow.” The Empress Dowager was displeased by this response. She then consulted the Right Chancellor Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo and his colleagues replied, “When Emperor Gao pacified the world, he appointed the sons of Liu to be kings. Now that the Empress Dowager holds the imperial authority, it is within her prerogative to make the Lü family members kings.” The Empress Dowager was greatly pleased with this reply, and the meeting was adjourned.
Wang Ling reprimanded Chen Ping and Zhou Bo, saying, “Were you not present when Emperor Gao swore the blood oath? Now that Emperor Gao has passed, the Empress Dowager is acting as the ruler, yet she seeks to make the Lü family kings, violating the oath that we all swore. How will you face Emperor Gao in the afterlife if you let her indulge her desires and betray the vow we made?” Chen Ping and Zhou Bo responded, “It is true that we cannot match you in confronting the Empress Dowager directly. However, when it comes to safeguarding the Han dynasty and ensuring the stability of the Liu family, we believe we are better positioned to serve that purpose than you.”
Wang Ling had no response to this.
In November, the Empress Dowager, wishing to remove Wang Ling, promoted him to the position of Imperial Tutor but stripped him of his real power as Right Chancellor. Wang Ling, feigning illness, resigned and returned to his homeland. The Empress Dowager appointed Chen Ping as the new Right Chancellor and promoted the Marquis of Puyang, Shen Shiqi, to the position of Left Chancellor. However, Shen Shiqi was more concerned with overseeing the palace affairs than performing his duties as a minister, much like the position of Chief Steward. Having previously served as the Empress Dowager’s personal attendant during her time under Xiang Yu’s army, Shen Shiqi enjoyed her trust and often had the final say in major decisions. All court ministers had to consult with him before carrying out any government business.
The Empress Dowager also posthumously honored Lü Tai’s father, Lü Ze, with the title of King of Daowu, aiming to use this as a precedent for appointing the Lü family members as kings.
In April, the Empress Dowager began the process of making the Lü family members princes. She first made Feng Wuze, a minister who had served Emperor Gao, the Marquis of Bocheng. Following the death of Princess Lü Yuan, she bestowed upon her the posthumous title of Empress Lü Yuan and made her son, Zhang Yan, the King of Lü. She also appointed the son of the King of Qi, Liu Fei, the Prince of Zhu Xu, and betrothed him to Lü Lu’s daughter. The Empress Dowager then made several other appointments, including Liu Qi as the Marquis of Pei and Lü Ping as the Marquis of Fuliu.
The Empress Dowager sought to elevate several other members of the Lü family, including Liu Qiang, the son of a consort from the late Emperor’s harem, whom she made the King of Huaiyang. She also made Liu Buqi the King of Changshan and Liu Shan the Marquis of Xiangyang. Several other appointments followed, further consolidating the Lü family’s power.
In the second year (186 BCE), the King of Changshan, Liu Buqi, passed away, and his brother Liu Shan was promoted to his position and renamed Liu Yi. In November, Lü Tai passed away and was posthumously honored as King Su. His son, Lü Jia, succeeded him as King.
In the third year (185 BCE), no major events were recorded. By the fourth year (184 BCE), the Empress Dowager made her sister, Lü Xu, the Marquis of Lingguang, and further solidified the Lü family’s dominance by making several other key appointments.
Empress Lü Yuan, the daughter of the Marquis of Xuanping, had previously pretended to be pregnant, claiming a child born in the harem as her own, even going as far as murdering the child’s mother to have him installed as heir. Upon Emperor Hui’s death, the young emperor was secretly imprisoned, as the Empress Dowager feared the possibility of future rebellion when the emperor grew older and learned of the truth about his birth.
Upon hearing of the emperor’s growing resentment, the Empress Dowager had him confined in the Palace of Eternal Peace, announcing that the emperor was severely ill and could not be seen by anyone. She stated, “Those who hold the world and govern the people should nurture them as Heaven nurtures the Earth. If the emperor is afflicted with illness and is unable to fulfill his duties, he cannot continue to rule. Someone else must be appointed in his place.” The ministers, bowing in respect, agreed to her decision. They deposed the emperor and secretly had him executed.
In May, the King of Changshan, Liu Yi, was appointed as the new emperor and renamed Liu Hong. The year was not marked as a new era since the Empress Dowager continued to wield power as the de facto ruler. Liu Chao, the former Marquis of Zhi, was reassigned as the King of Changshan. The position of Grand Commander was established, and Marquis Zhou Bo was appointed as the Grand Commander.
By the fifth year (183 BCE), the King of Huaiyang, Liu Qiang, passed away, and his brother Liu Wu was appointed as the new King of Huaiyang. In the sixth year (182 BCE), the Empress Dowager dismissed Lü Jia, whom she accused of arrogance and misconduct, and replaced him with Lü Tai’s younger brother, Lü Chan, as Lü Wang. In the summer, a general amnesty was granted. The son of the King of Qi, Liu Xingju, was made the Marquis of Dongmo.
This marked a pivotal moment in the consolidation of power by the Lü family.
In the first month of the seventh year (181 BCE), the Empress Dowager summoned King Liu You of Zhao to the capital. Liu You’s queen was the daughter of the Lü family, but Liu You disliked her and favored other concubines. The Lü princess became very jealous, and, angered by her situation, she left her home to slander Liu You in front of Empress Dowager Lü. She accused him of saying, “How can the Lü family be granted kingship? After the Empress Dowager passes away, I will surely deal with them.” The Empress Dowager was furious and ordered Liu You to come to the capital. Upon his arrival, she housed him in a government mansion but refused to meet with him. She also stationed guards around him and denied him food. Some of his servants secretly brought him food, but they were caught and punished. Liu You, starving, composed a song to express his suffering:
“The Lü family holds great power in court,
The Liu family’s empire is truly in danger;
By coercing the kings, they marry their daughters as my wives.
My wife’s jealousy knows no bounds,
She slanders and accuses me falsely;
These malicious women bring harm and chaos to the nation,
Unaware that even the Emperor is deceived.
It’s not that I lack loyal ministers,
But why have we lost our kingdom?
I’ll end my life in this wild, desolate place,
For only Heaven can discern the right from wrong.
Regret comes too late,
Better to enter the underworld early.
A king dies of hunger, silently,
Who will pity him?
The Lü family has extinguished justice,
I pray Heaven will avenge me.”
On Dingchou day, King Liu You was starved to death in captivity. His burial was conducted with the rites of a commoner, and he was interred beside the common people’s graves in Chang’an.
On Jichou day, there was a solar eclipse, and day turned to night. The Empress Dowager was extremely disturbed, feeling despondent, and remarked to those around her, “This is because of me.”
In the second month, the Empress Dowager reappointed King Liu Hui of Liang to the position of Zhao King. Lü Chuan, the King of Lü, was reappointed as King of Liang, though he remained at the court as the Emperor’s Grand Tutor. Emperor’s son, Liu Tai, was appointed Lü King, and the Kingdom of Liang was renamed the Kingdom of Lü. The former Lü Kingdom was renamed Jichuan.
The Empress Dowager’s sister, Lü Xu, had a daughter who married General Liu Ze of Yingling. Fearing Liu Ze might cause trouble after her death, the Empress Dowager named him the King of Langya to secure his loyalty.
When King Liu Hui of Liang was reappointed as Zhao King, he was discontent. The Empress Dowager then arranged for Lü Chuan’s daughter to marry him, making her the Queen. Her entourage, composed entirely of Lü family members, seized power, secretly monitoring the king and restricting his movements. Liu You, having a favorite concubine, was heartbroken when the Queen’s agents poisoned her. He then wrote four verses to be sung by the court musicians:
“My heart is broken by the queen’s treachery,
With her jealousy, she took my beloved;
A nobleman’s betrayal, and the court’s injustice,
Why have we lost our way?
My grief, I cannot express,
Soon I’ll leave this world in sorrow.”
In June, Liu You, overcome by despair, took his own life. Upon hearing of his death, the Empress Dowager, disapproving of Liu You’s neglect of ancestral rites in favor of his concubine, stripped him of his royal succession rights. Afterward, the Empress Dowager granted the title of King of Lu to Zhang Yan, son of the late Xuánping Marquis Zhang Ao.
In autumn, the Empress Dowager sent emissaries to King Liu Heng of Dai, asking him to relocate to the capital as Zhao King. However, Liu Heng respectfully declined, choosing to remain in Dai to protect the borders.
The Empress Dowager’s Grand Tutor Lü Chuan and Prime Minister Chen Ping advised her to appoint the Marquis of Wu, Lü Lu, as Zhao King, given his position among the top marquises. She agreed, and also posthumously honored Lü Lu’s father, Marquis Kang, as Zhao Zhaowang. In September, King Liu Jian of Yan passed away. He had a son by a concubine, whom the Empress Dowager had killed, ending the Yan royal line. In October of the eighth year (180 BCE), the Empress Dowager appointed Lü Su’s son, the Marquis of Dongping, Lü Tong, as the new King of Yan, and also appointed Lü Tong’s brother, Lü Zhuang, as Marquis of Dongping.
In the middle of March, the Empress Dowager held a purification and prayer ritual to remove calamities and seek blessings. On her return, while passing by Zhi Daoting, she encountered a strange sight: a black figure, resembling a dog, struck her underarm before vanishing. Diviners were consulted, and it was interpreted as a bad omen, with the spirit of Zhao King Liu Ruyi causing her misfortune. From then on, the Empress Dowager suffered from a chronic pain in her underarm.
Due to the young age of her grandson, the King of Lu, Zhang Yan, who had lost both parents early and was left vulnerable, the Empress Dowager appointed two sons of Zhang Ao’s former concubine, Zhang Chi and Zhang Shou, as new marquises to assist the young king. She also appointed Zhang Shi, the Grand Envoy, as Marquis of Jianling, and Lü Rong as Marquis of Zhuzhi. All eunuchs who held court positions were made marquises of the interior with lands.
In mid-July, the Empress Dowager fell seriously ill and appointed King Lü Lu as General of the North Army, while Lü Chuan would command the South Army. The Empress Dowager advised both Lü Lu and Lü Chuan, saying, “When Emperor Gaozu pacified the empire, he made an oath with the ministers, saying, ‘No one who is not a Liu descendant shall be made a king.’ Now that the Lü family is granted kingship, the ministers will be dissatisfied. If I die, the young Emperor may not be able to maintain control, and the ministers might rebel. You must secure the palace, hold onto the military power, and ensure that no one can overpower you. Do not honor my death prematurely.” On the day of Xinsi, the Empress Dowager passed away, leaving behind a decree bestowing one thousand pounds of gold to each king and granting gold to ministers and officials based on their rank. A general amnesty was declared, and Lü Chuan was made the Chancellor. Lü Lu’s daughter was made Empress.
After Empress Dowager Lü was buried, she appointed Chancellor of the Left, Xun Shiqi, to be the Imperial Tutor to the Emperor.
Duke of Zhu Xu, Liu Zhang, was known for his courage and strength, while his brother, Liu Xingju, the Duke of Dongmu, was also a formidable figure. Both were brothers of King Liu Xiang of Qi and lived in Chang’an. At that time, the Lü family held sole power and harbored plans for rebellion, but they feared the old ministers of Emperor Gao, such as Zhou Bo and Guan Ying, and did not dare to take reckless action. Duke of Zhu Xu’s wife was the daughter of Lü Lü, and because of this, he secretly learned of the Lü family’s conspiracy. Fearing for his own life, he sent a message to his brother, King Liu Xiang of Qi, urging him to lead an army westward to overthrow the Lü family and claim the throne for himself. Duke of Zhu Xu also prepared to rally ministers within the court to serve as inside supporters.
King Liu Xiang was ready to march, but his chancellor resisted his command. On the day of Bingwu in August, King Liu Xiang intended to send someone to assassinate the chancellor. The chancellor, Shao Ping, rebelled, mobilized his army, and planned to besiege King Liu Xiang. As a result, King Liu Xiang had the chancellor killed and then sent his army eastward, seizing the forces of King Liu Ze of Langya, and combining them with his own to march west. This incident is recorded in the “Biographies of King Dao Hui of Qi”.
King Liu Xiang sent letters to the other vassal kings saying, “After Emperor Gao pacified the empire, he granted fiefs to his descendants, and King Dao Hui was installed in Qi. After King Dao Hui’s death, Emperor Xiao Hui appointed Zhang Liang to make me King of Qi. After Emperor Xiao Hui passed away, Empress Dowager Lü took control of the court. She is now elderly and has relied on the Lü family, who have overstepped their bounds, deposing and establishing emperors at will, while murdering Zhao Kings Liu Ruyi, Liu You, and Liu Hui, and abolishing the fiefs of the Liu family in Liang, Zhao, and Yan. Instead, they granted kingships to the Lü family and divided Qi into four parts. Though loyal ministers tried to advise her, she did not listen. Now that Empress Dowager Lü has passed and the emperor is still young and unable to govern, it is the duty of the ministers and vassals to assist him. Yet, the Lü family has taken it upon themselves to raise officials, gather troops, and increase their power, threatening the loyal vassals, issuing imperial decrees in the emperor’s name, placing the Liu family’s ancestral temple in danger. I am marching to kill those who should not be kings.”
Upon learning of this, the Chancellor of the Left, Lü Chan, and other officials sent General Guan Ying to confront King Liu Xiang’s forces. Guan Ying, upon arriving at Xingyang, discussed with his soldiers, saying, “The Lü family holds power in the capital and plans to overthrow the Liu family to claim the throne for themselves. If we defeat King Liu Xiang and report back, it will only strengthen the Lü family’s position.” Guan Ying then left his army stationed at Xingyang and sent messengers to inform King Liu Xiang and the other vassal kings, inviting them to unite and wait for the Lü family to rebel, at which point they could act together to destroy them. King Liu Xiang, having learned of Guan Ying’s plan, withdrew his forces and returned to the western borders of Qi, awaiting the agreed-upon action.
Lü Lü and Lü Chan considered starting a rebellion in the capital, but they feared the old ministers, such as Duke of Jiang and Duke of Zhu Xu, and the armies of Qi and Chu. They also worried that Guan Ying might betray them, so they hesitated, waiting for Guan Ying’s forces to engage King Liu Xiang before acting. Meanwhile, the nominal younger brothers of the emperor, King Liu Tai of Jichuan, King Liu Wu of Huaiyang, King Liu Chao of Changshan, and Lü’s grandson, King Zhang Yan of Luyuan, were too young to govern their fiefs and resided in Chang’an.
Lü Lü, the King of Zhao, and Lü Chan, the King of Liang, each commanded separate armies in the north and south. Both were members of the Lü family, and the court ministers and vassals felt their lives were in danger.
The Grand Minister, Duke of Jiang Zhou Bo, was unable to enter the military camp to oversee the affairs of the army. Marquis of Quzhou Li Shang was old and ill, but his son Li Ji was close to Lü Lü. The Duke of Jiang then conferred with Prime Minister Chen Ping and decided to have Li Shang’s son, Li Ji, trick Lü Lü by saying, “Emperor Gao and Empress Dowager Lü jointly pacified the empire, and the nine Liu kings and three Lü kings were appointed after discussions with the ministers. This matter was made known to the vassals, who all agreed. Now that the Empress Dowager has passed and the emperor is young, you, bearing the seal of King Zhao, are not returning to defend your fief but are acting as General and keeping your army here, which has raised suspicion among the ministers and vassals. Why not return the general’s seal to the court and give military command back to the Grand Minister? You and King Liang should return to your fiefs, and the ministers will be at ease, while the kingdom of Qi will cease its war. You will be able to rule your fief securely for generations to come. This is the path to prosperity for your descendants.” Lü Lü, trusting Li Ji, believed his advice and prepared to hand over the general’s seal and return the military forces to the Grand Minister.
Lü Lü informed Lü Chan and the elders of the Lü family about this, but opinions were divided on whether to proceed. Some approved, while others hesitated. Lü Lü trusted Li Ji and often went out hunting with him. Once, as they passed by his aunt Lü Huan’s residence, Lü Huan became furious, saying, “As a general, you are giving up your army, and the Lü family will have no place to stand.” She then threw all her jewels and treasures onto the courtyard floor, saying, “I will no longer protect these treasures for others.”
After the burial of Empress Lü, the position of Grand Tutor to the Emperor was given to the Left Chancellor, Xun Shiqi.
On the morning of the day of Gengshen in the eighth month, the acting Imperial Censor Cao Zhi met with Chancellor Lü Chan to discuss affairs. The Imperial Minister Jia Shou, returning from a diplomatic mission in Qi, seized the opportunity to reproach Lü Chan: “Your Majesty, you have yet to return to your fief. Now, even if you wish to depart, is it still possible?” He then revealed to Lü Chan all the plans about General Guan Ying’s alliance with the armies of Qi and Chu, and their shared objective of eliminating the Lü family. He urged Lü Chan to enter the palace at once. Cao Zhi, having overheard this, rushed to inform Chancellor Chen Ping and Grand Marshal Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo had intended to enter the northern army, which was tasked with guarding Empress Lü’s former residence, the Chang Le Palace, a stronghold of the Lü faction, but he was unable to do so due to the northern army’s strong influence. Instead, he sent the Marquis of Xiangping, Ji Tong, to bear the imperial seals and falsely issue orders in the name of the emperor, granting Zhou Bo entry into the northern army. Zhou Bo also dispatched Li Ji and the chamberlain Liu Jie to persuade Lü Lü, saying: “The emperor has appointed Grand Marshal Zhou to oversee the northern army. You should quickly return to your fief, surrender your general’s seal, and depart—otherwise, a great calamity will befall you.” Trusting Li Ji, Lü Lü handed over the seal of command, relinquishing his military power to Zhou Bo. Upon taking the seal, Zhou Bo entered the military camp and issued orders: “Those who support the Lü family, bare your right arm. Those who support the Liu family, bare your left arm.” The soldiers, in unison, exposed their left arms in allegiance to the Liu family. Before Zhou Bo could reach the northern army, Lü Lü had already vacated the camp, and Zhou Bo thus took command.
However, the southern army remained under Lü’s control. After learning of Lü Chan’s schemes, Cao Zhi informed Chancellor Chen Ping, who then summoned the Marquis of Zhu Xu, Liu Zhang, to assist Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo placed Liu Zhang in charge of the military gates, commanding Cao Zhi to notify the guard at Weiyang Palace: “Do not allow Chancellor Lü Chan to enter the palace.” Unaware that Lü Lü had already left the northern army, Lü Chan attempted to enter Weiyang Palace, preparing to incite rebellion, but was denied entry. He wandered about in confusion. Fearing failure, Cao Zhi hastened to inform Zhou Bo. The Grand Marshal, similarly anxious about the outcome, did not dare to explicitly order Lü Chan’s death but instead sent Liu Zhang into the palace, instructing him: “Hurry to the palace to protect the emperor.” Liu Zhang requested soldiers, and Zhou Bo provided him with over a thousand troops. When Liu Zhang entered Weiyang Palace, he found Lü Chan already inside. By evening, Liu Zhang launched an attack on Lü Chan, who fled. A fierce wind arose, causing confusion among Lü Chan’s attendants, and no one dared resist. Liu Zhang chased Lü Chan, cornering him at the lavatory of the Imperial Minister’s residence, where he was killed.
After Liu Zhang killed Lü Chan, the emperor sent a messenger bearing the imperial seals to offer congratulations. Liu Zhang, wishing to seize the seals, was denied by the messenger. In a bold move, Liu Zhang insisted on sharing the same carriage with the messenger, using the seals to command the horses through the palace and slay Lü Changshi, the palace guard of Chang Le Palace. He then hurried back to report to Zhou Bo in the northern army. Zhou Bo, rising to congratulate Liu Zhang, said: “We were most concerned about Lü Chan, as he, holding the office of Chancellor and controlling the southern army, posed a significant threat. Now that he has been dealt with, the Liu family’s rule is secure.” Zhou Bo immediately ordered the arrest of all Lü family members—men and women, old and young—and their execution. On the day of Xinyou, Lü Lü was captured and beheaded, while Lü Huan was beaten to death with bamboo strips. Also executed was King Lü Tong of Yan, and King Zhang Yan of Lu was deposed. On the day of Renxu, the emperor’s former Grand Tutor, Xun Shiqi, was reinstated as Left Chancellor. On the day of Wuchen, King Liu Tai of Jichuan was demoted to King of Liang, and Liu Sui, the son of King Zhao You, was made King of Zhao. The Marquis of Zhu Xu was dispatched to inform the King of Qi of the events and order him to recall his troops. Meanwhile, General Guan Ying also withdrew his forces from Xingyang and returned to the capital.
The court ministers gathered in secret and discussed, “Emperor Shao and the Kings of Lü (Liu Tai), Huaiyang (Liu Wu), and Changshan (Liu Chao) are not truly the sons of Emperor Hui. Empress Lü, using deceit, brought other people’s children and falsely claimed them to be the sons of Emperor Hui, having their biological mothers killed and raising them in the imperial harem. She persuaded Emperor Hui to adopt them as his own sons and made them heirs or appointed them as vassal kings to strengthen the power of the Lü family. Now that the Lü family has been eradicated, we still have these individuals, placed by Lü, remaining. Once they grow and gain power, we will face annihilation. It would be wiser to select the most virtuous vassal king and establish him as emperor.”
One suggested, “King of Qi, Liu Fei, the eldest son of Emperor Gao, has his legitimate son now serving as the King of Qi, and in essence, his direct grandson could be made emperor.” However, the ministers disagreed, saying, “The Lü family, through their influence as maternal relatives, nearly destroyed the Liu dynasty and harmed the loyal ministers and virtuous officials. Now, the maternal grandfather of King of Qi is from the Sì family, and Sì Jūn was a villain. If King of Qi were made emperor, it would be as if the Lü family still ruled.” They then considered appointing King of Huainan, Liu Chang, but dismissed the idea as he was too young and his maternal family was also notorious for their cruelty. Finally, they agreed: “King of Dai, Liu Heng, is the oldest of Emperor Gao’s sons and is known for his kindness, filial piety, and tolerance. His mother, Empress Dowager Bo, comes from a prudent and virtuous family. Furthermore, it is only rightful to appoint the eldest son as emperor, and King of Dai, famed for his benevolence and filial devotion, is the most suitable choice.” They sent secret emissaries to summon King of Dai to the capital.
King of Dai sent word to refuse the summons, but upon the emissaries’ return, he agreed and made his way to the capital with a retinue of six carriages. On the last day of the leap ninth month, Ji You, he arrived in Chang’an and took residence at the official residence of King of Dai. The ministers came to greet him, presenting the imperial jade seal, and together, they declared him emperor. King of Dai repeatedly declined, but the ministers insisted, and he finally relented.
Marquis of Che Mó, Liu Xingju, said, “I have not contributed to the downfall of the Lü family, but I request permission to clean the imperial palace.” Together with the Grand Master of the Household, Marquis of Ruyin, Teng Gong, and General Xiahou Ying, they entered the palace and approached Emperor Shao, saying, “You are not a descendant of the Liu family and should not be made emperor.” They then turned to the guards and instructed them to lay down their weapons. A few refused, but the Chamberlain Zhang Ze intervened, and they finally complied. Teng Gong then summoned a carriage and took Emperor Shao out of the palace. When asked where they were taking him, Teng Gong responded, “We are taking you to a place to reside.” He was housed at the Imperial Residence. Afterward, the carriage that served the emperor’s travel was sent to meet King of Dai, who entered the palace that night.
At the palace gates, ten imperial attendants with halberds stopped him, questioning, “The emperor is still here. Who are you to enter?” King of Dai called over the Grand Marshal to explain, and the ten attendants lowered their weapons and stepped aside. King of Dai then entered the inner court to assume control of the administration. That same night, officials went to the residences of King of Liang, King of Huaiyang, King of Changshan, and Emperor Shao, executing them.
King of Dai was enthroned as emperor, ruling for twenty-three years before passing away. He was posthumously honored with the title of Emperor Xiaowen.
Sima Qian, the Grand Historian, remarked: During the reigns of Emperor Hui and Empress Lü, the common people were freed from the hardships of the Warring States period. Both the ruler and his ministers sought to govern with minimal intervention, allowing the state to recover. Emperor Hui adopted a passive style, dressed in his robes, hands folded, and allowed affairs to be managed without direct involvement. Empress Lü, acting as a female regent, took on the emperor’s duties, yet her governance remained confined to the palace. Despite this, the empire remained peaceful. There was a rare use of punishment, and crimes were few. The people focused on agriculture, and prosperity followed with abundant food and clothing.