Emperor Wen of Han

Author: Wang Zhanjun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-07-01
Features: This book narrates the turmoil that followed the death of Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, when Empress Lü took the throne. The Empress's family, the Lü clan, was enfeoffed as kings and seized control, causing great upheaval. The founding heroes, Zhou Yu and Chen Ping, joined forces with members of the imperial family, such as Liu Zhang, to restore order, eliminate the Lü clan, and invite Liu Heng, the Prince of Dai, to succeed as the Han emperor. After Liu Heng ascended the throne, he worked diligently, focused on agriculture, and cared for the people, reviving the nation's strength. He fought against the Xiongnu in the north to pacify border troubles and secured the southern region by subduing the Nanyue Kingdom, preventing the fragmentation of the Han empire. In the palace, he valued capable officials but also faced slander. Many regional kings harbored resentment, with Liu Bi, Liu Chang, and Liu Xingju coveting the throne and resorting to armed conflict. The benevolent yet ruthless Emperor Wen, though compassionate, was not above using harsh measures, often harming his own kin in the process of eliminating threats. Zhou Bo was imprisoned and executed swiftly, while Tie Ying wept bitterly. Chen Qi attempted assassination, and the "Plum Branch" (a secret agent) moved freely in and out of the palace as if walking on flat ground.
Emperor Wen of Han, Liu Heng, was an unprecedentedly people-friendly emperor in thousands of years of feudal history. Rising to power in times of crisis, he emerged from the ruins and took charge of the empire with an effortless yet formidable aura. He brought about reform, secured the realm internally and externally, and harbored ambitions to unify the five great causes, all while yearning for a peaceful and prosperous era. Ultimately, he laid the foundation for the "Rule of Wen and Jing," a glorious and resounding prelude to a golden age.