Establishing a thousand-year family from the nobles of the Western Han Dynasty

Chapter 12: White Horse Alliance
Liu Bang was very happy when he returned to his hometown. The banquet lasted for more than ten days. He left reluctantly only when Lu Zhi from the palace sent someone to urge him to leave.

Half a month later, the royal army of more than 200,000 who had gone to fight against the Donghu and Ying Bu returned to the capital under the leadership of generals such as Liu Bang and Xu Zhen. The princes with the surname Liu and the King of Changsha all rushed to Chang'an to pay homage to His Majesty as they had received His Majesty's order.

Only Prince Lu Wan of Yan did not make any move, and continued to flirt with the Donghu.

Since the imperial court conferred titles on the kings of the Liu clan, this was the first time so many court officials and princes had gathered together. Chang'an was immediately plunged into a state of busyness.

In fact, since Liu Bang ascended the throne, he has never summoned so many princes back to the capital, except for the funeral of Liu Taigong who passed away. Anyone with a discerning eye can see that His Majesty is intending to entrust the orphan to the care of others!

In March of the twelfth year of the Han Dynasty, an army of more than 200,000 people arrived in Chang'an after marching from Pei County for half a month.

Empress Lü Zhi, who was temporarily in charge of the government, led the princes and court officials to stand outside the city to welcome the return of His Majesty's army. When they saw Liu Bang dismount, the officials all kowtowed three times and bowed nine times respectfully. Liu Bang helped Lü Zhi, who was at the front, up and said, "Please don't be polite. An emperor should respect his empress and court officials. Otherwise, he will cause dissatisfaction in the world and eventually be condemned by the people like the tyrannical Qin Shi Huang."

Lü Zhi was not stubborn and stood up slowly: "I thank your majesty on behalf of all the ministers."

Liu Bang took the Queen's hand and walked slowly into Chang'an City, saying as he walked: "I heard that the four great sages of Shangshan have agreed to come out of seclusion to assist Ying'er?"

Lu Zhi's eyes suddenly lit up, but she remained calm: "Yes, thanks to your majesty's kindness among the people."

After hearing this, Liu Bang murmured to himself, "I didn't expect that the prince could actually invite the great sage who I have invited many times but could not shake him to assist me. It seems that he is now fully grown and it will be difficult to move him anymore."

"Well, it's fate. With Zi Fu's help, Ying'er might become a wise ruler. What happens after his death is beyond my control."

The two of them walked hand in hand into the emperor's carriage surrounded by ministers, looking like a loving couple.

"Hiss..." Liu Bang suddenly fell ill, holding the place where the arrow pierced his chest with a ferocious expression. He was hit by a poisonous stray arrow during the expedition against Ying Bu, and his life would not last long, probably not beyond May.

"Your Majesty, how are you?" Lu Zhi hurriedly stood up and supported the other person, looking very anxious.

"I'm fine. You go tell Sun Shutong to set up the altar quickly." Liu Bang waved his hands and forced himself to endure the piercing pain. He now had more important things to do, which was related to the stability of the Liu family.

"Your Majesty, please go back to the palace first. The imperial physician is very skilled and will definitely cure you." Lu Zhi did not intend to do so, but instead ordered the coachman to go faster.

"It's unnecessary. Just do whatever I tell you to do. I know my own body very well!" Liu Bang pushed the other person away impatiently. He had already put life and death aside. What if he died? This life was worth it!

"No, I will go find Prime Minister Xu to persuade you." Seeing that Liu Bang was not cooperating, Lu Zhi planned to let Xu Zhen come.

Now the only one who can persuade His Majesty is Xu Zhen.

"Forget it, forget it. Isn't it enough for me to promise you? Zi Fu has had a bumpy journey, so let him rest." Liu Bang seemed helpless. He didn't want to cure this disease.

He was a little confused about what Lu Zhi was thinking. It was obvious that the disease could not be cured, so why bother? Maybe the doctor would be executed, which would be a waste of blood.

At the same time, the princes in the rear were not idle either. Most of them were trying their best to curry favor with Xu Zhen, the emperor's favorite.

"Marquis Jing has truly demonstrated the might of the Han Dynasty in this battle. I still remember the battle with Xiang Yu in Pengcheng."

King Liu Jiao of Chu started to flatter him. Everyone knew that Xu Zhen would be an important minister entrusted by His Majesty in the future, so it was always a good idea to establish a good relationship with him.

"Yes, Your Majesty often praises Jinghou, who is truly an important minister of the country." Liu Bi, who had just been named King of Wu, also came up.

Xu Zhen looked at Liu Bi deeply, then smiled and said, "You two are noble princes, and are also relied on by His Majesty."

"Hahaha...then let's work for the Han together." Liu Jiao said with a smile.

Just as several people were chatting happily, Xu Zhen noticed a young man next to them who looked very dull. Others like Liu Ruyi and Liu Hui were playing nearby, but this man was exceptionally calm.

"Who is this King of Chu?" Liu Jiao took a look and replied with a smile, "You don't even know this Marquis Jing? King of Dai Liu Heng, the fourth son of His Majesty, has a very taciturn personality."

"Is he Liu Heng..." Xu Zhen looked at him for a long time and was speechless.

The young man looked only seven or eight years old, with a calmness and maturity that did not match his age on his face. He seemed to have no chance of getting along with Liu Chang and the others.

At this moment, Liu Heng seemed to have noticed Xu Zhen, and hurried over to greet him: "Greetings, Prime Minister Xu."

Xu Zhen helped him up: "Dai Wang, there is no need to do this."

"Prime Minister Xu, I'm going to go find my mother first." Liu Heng noticed the deep meaning in the other party's eyes and planned to leave first.

"Well, I just happen to be going to the palace too." Xu Zhen nodded. He knew that Liu Heng was hiding his incompetence, so he didn't make things difficult for him.

.........

As soon as Liu Bang returned to the palace, Lu Zhi immediately ordered people to invite the most skilled physician in Chang'an to treat him, and promised that if he was cured, he would be granted a title of nobility.

After the white-haired doctor entered the palace, he began to examine the arrow wound in Liu Bang's body, and his eyes became more and more solemn.

"How is my injury? Can it be cured?" Liu Bang didn't hold much hope, but still asked a routine question.

The doctor first looked at the wound, then felt the pulse, and then said calmly: "Your Majesty is wrong, this disease can be cured."

As soon as he finished speaking, Liu Bang pushed the man away with a face full of anger, and shouted: "I was just a village headman in Sishui before, but I was able to take over the world with a three-foot sword. Isn't this destiny? My fate is determined by heaven, so what use is Bian Que here?"

After cursing, Liu Bang waved his hand impatiently: "Come here, give him fifty taels of gold and kick him out of the palace!"

The old eunuch at the side came forward, gave him several dozen taels of gold, and sent him out of the palace.

Seeing the doctor being driven away, Lu Zhi, who was outside the door, hurried over to greet him.

"What a waste of time! What kind of quack doctor did he find for me? If he had some expertise, couldn't he see that I'm beyond help?" Liu Bang cursed while drinking. He wouldn't live long anyway, so he might as well make himself feel better.

"Your Majesty, the altar and sacrificial supplies are ready." Lu Zhi did not mention the matter of treatment again. Anyone could see that Liu Bang was seeking death and had no intention of living.

“Well, gather all the princes and court officials together, and let everyone swear to the heaven together.” Liu Bang put down the wine, stood up and walked out.

Soon, all the ministers and princes in the inner capital, including Xu Zhen, received the imperial edict and went to the southern suburbs of Chang'an to hold a sacrificial ceremony. At this time, everyone was curious about the content of the ceremony.

It actually made Liu Bang attach so much importance to it that he even summoned all the ministers and princes.

On the solemn altar, Liu Bang stood at the top with his ministers gathered below, waiting to take the oath.

"Everyone, today the traitor Ying Bu has been pacified. In my lifetime, I have appointed eight princes of the opposite sex, and six of them rebelled. What does this mean? Princes of different surnames are destined to be the most unstable factor in the world."

Liu Bang was the first to smear the animal blood in porcelain on his mouth, and other princes and ministers followed suit. This is called blood oath.

Liu Bang solemnly announced: "Today we swear an oath with blood and kill a white horse as proof."

"From now on, anyone who is not a member of the Liu family and is crowned a king, or who is not a meritorious official and is given a title, will be attacked by the whole world!"

The official in charge of the sacrifice also killed the white horse with a spear, and the famous White Horse Alliance officially took effect! From then on, it was a taboo for the opposite sex to be crowned king for most of the Han Dynasty.

(End of this chapter)