The Biography of Zhuge Liang

Author: Chen Wende
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-01-01
Features: Zhuge Liang was born in the fourth year of Guanghe (181 AD) during the Eastern Han Dynasty. Three years later, Emperor Ling changed the era name to the first year of Zhongping. However, that same year, the Yellow Turban Rebellion occurred, shaking the foundation of the Eastern Han Dynasty. In Luo Guanzhong's Romance of the Three Kingdoms, the straw sandals seller Liu Bei met Guan Yu and Zhang Fei in Zhuo County and swore brotherhood in the Peach Garden, embarking on a moving entrepreneurial journey. From the ascension of Emperor Guangwu of the Eastern Han, who deposed Wang Mang, to the abdication of Emperor Xian to Cao Pi, a period of 150 years is known as the Later Han Dynasty. During this time, there were fourteen emperors, with each dynasty lasting less than ten years on average, making it a dynasty of short-lived emperors. Due to the early deaths of emperors, young princes ascended to the throne, and empresses became young empresses, increasing their influence over politics. The fathers and brothers of empresses seized high-ranking positions, a phenomenon known as "external influence on politics." The external powers in the Eastern Han Dynasty mostly came from the influential families of Nanyang, which passed down their power through generations, growing stronger and becoming the top privileged group in the court. The third emperor of the Eastern Han, also known as the bright ruler Emperor Zhang, died young, and his son ascended to the throne. Empress Dou held power, with her brother, General Dou Xian, controlling military and political affairs. The Dou family members occupied key positions. Next was Emperor An, who ascended to the throne at the age of thirteen. His empress's brother, Deng Shuang, nearly monopolized the decision-making power of the court. After Emperor An's death, Empress Yan's brother, Yan Xian, quickly became the "underground emperor." But the most fierce was the "Tyrannical General" Chi Ji, who was the brother of Empress Shun and the mother of Emperor Shun. After Emperor Shun's death, he seized control of the court for twenty years. Chi Ji was grotesquely ugly, lecherous, and tyrannical, but he was also quite sharp and intelligent. His wife, Sun Shou, was beautiful and greedy. The Liang family ruled the court with impunity, and officials avoided them at all costs. First, Liang Ji installed a two-year-old child, Emperor Chong, on the throne. Chong Emperor died soon after for unknown reasons, and his eight-year-old cousin, Emperor Zhi, took over. Historical records describe Emperor Zhi as "young and wise," and his mature talent made him deeply dissatisfied with Liang Ji's tyranny and brutality. He called Liang Ji the "Tyrannical General." Liang Ji, in turn, went even further and had Emperor Zhi poisoned, installing Emperor Huan, who was fifteen years old and from an external branch of the imperial family, on the throne. Liang Ji still held decision-making power over the court. During Emperor Huan's reign, the Liang family not only occupied all the high-ranking and lucrative positions in the court but also became even more tyrannical and violent. Whether in the court or among the people, anyone who dared to criticize the Liang family's behavior would face the destruction of their families. Anyone wishing to hold office in the court had to bribe the Liang family and establish a teacher-student relationship. Tributes from officials across regions to the emperor also had to pass through Liang Ji, making him a de facto "Supreme Emperor." Liang Ji's beautiful wife, Sun Shou, imitated the style of the Princess Long in her attire and daily life, openly defying the established hierarchy.