Controlling mountains and rivers since the Warring States Period

Chapter 569 Emperor An
Liu Hu,

He was the sixth emperor of the Han Dynasty.
He was also the third young emperor to ascend the throne in the Han Dynasty.

Because Emperor He had difficulty conceiving, his eldest son Liu Sheng, who survived, suffered from many illnesses. Therefore, after the age of five, Emperor He ordered him to be taken into the palace and raised by the Empress as a precaution.

After Empress Yin was deposed,
Liu Hu and Liu Sheng were also transferred to Empress Deng to receive her instruction.

It stands to reason,

Liu Hu's relationship with his adoptive mother, Deng Sui, can be described as close.

After all, although Empress Deng Sui had many affairs during the day, she could not raise her young children like a real mother. However, considering her roles as empress and tutor, she was quite excellent.

Liu Hu initially respected Deng Sui very much, believing that she was someone he could rely on and trust.

But Liu Long's birth ruined everything—

The intelligent young Liu Hu understood why he entered the palace and why he had gained the late emperor's favor.

The sickly appearance of Liu Sheng, who was being raised alongside him, filled Liu Hu with wonderful ideas about his future.

But who could have imagined,
When life was fading away, how could Emperor He still muster his strength to sow a seed?

The name of the child, Liu Long, reveals his father's expectations for him.

He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, yet his hands and feet were still strong, and his loud cries delighted Emperor He.

This also made Liu Hu secretly feel disappointed.

Fortunately, the following year,
Emperor He then passed away.

Liu Hu believed he could shake again.

With the throne within reach and the magnificent empire within easy reach, even the most composed person could not control himself, let alone the twelve-year-old Liu Hu.
In later generations,
This is an age of liveliness, activity, and overflowing thoughts.
The boy, as bright as the rising sun, believed that the whole world should revolve around him.

As a result, Deng Sui firmly chose Liu Long, who could only cry and make a fuss, and sidelined her adopted son, who had been able to recite the Book of Documents and the Book of Changes since childhood and had been repeatedly praised by the late emperor as a "prodigy".

Liu Hu thus harbored some resentment, believing that in the eyes of the late emperor and Empress Dowager Deng, he was merely a backup, a "spare tire" kept in the palace.

fortunately,

Eight months later, Liu Long also passed away.

Liu Sheng said to him with great sadness, "My younger brother was not even a year old yet. The Empress Dowager had been taking such good care of him. How could he have suddenly died?"

Liu Hu thought to himself:
If they had truly put their hearts into it, that infant emperor would not have died.

It is evident that, in reality,
Deng Sui's attitude towards Liu Long was the same as her own.

It's all just a facade!

Then he thought:
Next, shouldn't it be Liu Sheng's turn to become emperor?
Before this,

Liu Hu was quite confident that he could surpass Liu Sheng and inherit the throne.

But Liu Long, the infant emperor, really shocked him, making Liu Hu realize that even the most brilliant emperor has his own selfish desires.

Who wouldn't want to pass on their bloodline?

It seems I'm destined to be a backup for life...

"The Empress Dowager has made her decision; you will be the new emperor!"

When the eunuch who delivered the order came before Liu Hu and read out Empress Dowager Deng's decree, the young man was extremely surprised.

Liu Sheng looked somewhat disappointed, but he still sincerely congratulated Liu Hu.

Perhaps it's due to my physical condition.

Liu Sheng's personality is very similar to that of his uncle, Liu Qing.

She has a clear understanding of her own position, doesn't like to compete for power, and simply accepts the arrangements made for her by her elders.

Fortunately, compared to his grandfather, Emperor Zhang, who did not like to manage the harem, and the empress he chose, Emperor He and Empress Deng Sui were all responsible people.

Liu Hu was naturally overjoyed by this.

He even regained his respect and admiration for Deng Sui, considering her to be a very wise monarch.

But soon,
Liu Hu's respect vanished once again with the appeals of the court officials and Deng Sui's relentless rejection.

He considered himself a capable person, like the late emperor, and also recognized Liu Hu's talent and ability, believing he would become an excellent ruler.

So why didn't Deng Sui return the power to him, but instead kept it in her own hands?
If it's because you think he's young and immature that you're doing this...

But experience is required to do anything.

He was initially unfamiliar with the process, but as he handled more government affairs, he naturally became more proficient.

Where is there a need for her to continue ruling as regent and ruling the world as a female monarch?
Moreover, the late emperor assumed personal rule at the age of fourteen.
He was only one year younger than the previous emperor when he ascended the throne, so why couldn't he have taken control of the government earlier?

Liu Hu became dissatisfied with Deng Sui again.

Fortunately, Zhou Zhang's coup d'état later restored his respect.

Those ministers who were exceptionally respectful to him in court, shouting "Long live the Emperor!", actually dared to plot in private to lead troops to storm the palace and depose and install the emperor. This was beyond Liu Hu's imagination.

After all, the Han Dynasty had lasted for three hundred years, and such a thing had never happened before.

Moreover, the speed at which those people changed their tune made Liu Hu realize the complexity and gravity of power struggles.

That's not something a teenager can solve with his passion and naivety alone.

Since then,

Liu Hu gradually became more composed and stopped indulging in the euphoria of his initial ascension to the throne.

But a young person's mind is always fickle.

When Liu Sheng, the "******" whom his ministers had planned to promote to power, was not driven away or imprisoned as a result of the execution and exile of Grand Minister of Works Zhou Zhang and others, he received appeasement and rewards from Empress Dowager Deng, who even mentioned the privilege of granting him a fiefdom.
Liu Hu's mood plummeted again.

He had realized that sitting on the throne did not mean he could do whatever he wanted, and that the possibility of being overthrown by his subordinates was not entirely out of the question.

Therefore, he was extremely wary of Liu Sheng, the late emperor's son and his biggest rival.

Admittedly,

Before the birth of Emperor Shang, Liu Long, the late emperor tacitly approved his right to succession.

Admittedly,

Faced with the death of Emperor Shang and the need to choose between two emperors to appoint a new ruler, Empress Dowager Deng ultimately set aside her emotions and placed the crown on Liu Hu's head.

But who can guarantee that Empress Dowager Deng won't change her mind in the future?

Given her power and status, it is entirely possible for her to depose and install an emperor.

And who can guarantee that other officials, out of their remembrance and admiration for Emperor He and their emphasis on Liu Sheng's bloodline, won't launch another campaign to support him as emperor?
Liu Hu is no longer the naive boy he once was!
Having been hit by a coup just one year after ascending the throne, Liu Hu gradually developed the composure and shrewdness of an emperor.

When Empress Dowager Deng chose a young woman from a high-ranking family as Liu Sheng's wife, Liu Hu felt even more resentful.

His wet nurse, Lady Wang, recognized the emperor's mood and often comforted him.

However, Wang's method of "consolation" was somewhat different:
Often, she would relay Empress Dowager Deng's power and prestige to the emperor, and then, when the emperor was in a bad mood, she would wipe away her tears and say some worried words to him.

The emperor did not suspect her intentions. He only felt that the palace was magnificent and that his wet nurse, who had raised him since childhood, was the most loyal and caring person.

Although he arrived in Luoyang at the age of five and enjoyed the treatment of a prince,

But because I have memories from a young age,
Modern etiquette also recognizes the special status of wet nurses.

Therefore, he quickly regained the close relationship he had with Wang since childhood.

Lady Wang was very attentive in serving him, making the emperor feel a rare sense of ease and comfort.

Under Empress Dowager Deng's rule, the extravagant atmosphere outside the Han Dynasty was not effectively curbed, and people's hearts remained restless, creating an atmosphere of extravagance and decadence.
The extravagance and indulgence within the imperial city were suppressed.

Having endured two purges by Empress Dowager Deng, the palace servants had long lost the composure they had developed from the late emperor's amiable treatment of eunuchs. They now had to follow the rules in everything they did, and their clothing and behavior were never out of line.

Therefore, the court and the public praised Empress Dowager Deng's virtue.

The emperor, however, felt that the palace was too restrictive and made him feel suffocated.

It was only with the Wang family that he could relax a little.

"The Empress Dowager has been in power for several years, and the Han Dynasty has suffered disasters every year. This is truly worrying to me."

During a conversation with his wet nurse, the emperor made the same remarks again.

Wang merely blinked at this, then began to tell the emperor about the hardships Empress Dowager Deng had endured, and casually mentioned:
"If the burden of governing the country were shared with His Majesty, he wouldn't be so overworked."

Upon hearing this, the emperor silently waved his hand.

Seeing this, Lady Wang remained silent and went forward to attend to the emperor's daily needs.

……

In the fourth year of the Yongchu era of the Han Dynasty,
The Southern Xiongnu, who had rebelled in the north, were once again subdued by the Han army.
The Southern Xiongnu Chanyu arrived in Luoyang in a prison cart, took off his felt hat and shoes, and entered the palace to apologize to the emperor.

The Wuhuan envoy lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to make a move.

The Xianbei king, who had been granted a title by the Han Dynasty, also came in person, knelt before the emperor like the Xiongnu Chanyu, confessed his sins, and cut off his hair as a sign of repentance.

Having heard that the Han Dynasty suffered from natural disasters every year
The Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu, whether he had taken the wrong medicine or had not experienced a thorough beating from the Han Dynasty for too long, made the absurd judgment that "the Han people have long been wiped out by natural disasters, and we can easily take them down by marching south and enjoy the vast land."

So last year,

He actively contacted the neighboring Wuhuan and Xianbei people, wanting to take them down to "hunt for grain".

The latter hesitated only for a moment before agreeing.

Because the Han Dynasty has indeed been much more lenient towards foreigners over the years.

After the fall of the Yan state, the only enemy that the Han Dynasty could muster the strength to deal with disappeared.

The Southern Xiongnu had been domesticated like domesticated hounds.
While the Wuhuan and Xianbei appeared powerful, they comprised numerous tribes, and their rapid rise to power had created many internal conflicts.
Therefore, to the Great Han, these guys were simply not worthy of his intervention.

The soldiers' resolve weakened as a result, and the hands that had been brandishing their swords fell limp, causing the barbarians' necks to itch again, as they wanted to use them to test the sharpness of the Han people's great swords.

The result was naturally very good.

Empress Dowager Deng, who was troubled by powerful and influential families and also furious about natural disasters in various places, needed someone to vent her anger on.

If the Southern Xiongnu Chanyu hadn't taken off his hat quickly enough and sat in the prison cart willingly enough, he could have completely gotten rid of the sore neck and freed himself from a burden of about three hundred taels of silver, a round but useless weight.

The Wuhuan and Xianbei also rushed to Luoyang, crawling on their knees to the palace, looking so terrified they were almost fainting.

This made Emperor Liu Hu feel proud and enjoy the wonderful feeling of being the Son of Heaven.

have a look,

The barbarians all submit to my feet!
Is there anything in the world that cannot go my way?

He temporarily forgot about Empress Dowager Deng sitting behind him and wanted to raise his hand to grant a pardon to the barbarian leaders who were trembling and begging for the Han Dynasty's forgiveness.

But Empress Dowager Deng interrupted him.

She coldly issued the order to detain the Xiongnu Chanyu in Luoyang and replace him with a new Chanyu who had been studying as a hostage in Luoyang since childhood and was extremely Sinicized.

Regarding the Xianbei and Wuhuan,

As an accomplice, she demanded that the Xianbei king pay tribute to the Han Dynasty with a large number of horses, cattle, and sheep as compensation, and release the Han people who had been captured from the border over the years.

"Of course, the Murong tribe doesn't need to do that."

"I should reward their loyalty!"

When the Xianbei king planned to lead his people in a rebellious charge against the Han Dynasty...
The Murong tribe was the most opposed among the Xianbei tribes.

to this end,

The Xianbei king first led his men to deal with the Murong tribe, and then leisurely headed south with the Xiongnu.

The Murong tribe did not yield. They immediately sent envoys across the Great Wall to report the matter to Luoyang, and later launched an attack, joining forces with the Han Dynasty to attack these three rebellious families.

Empress Dowager Deng was very satisfied with the attitude of the Murong tribe and believed that this tribe was worth supporting.

Upon hearing this, the Xianbei king's face paled slightly, his lips twitched a few times, but he ultimately lowered his head and remained silent.

In this Clash of Clans,

The Murong tribe openly challenged the authority of the main tribe. Although they were beaten in the back, they were not weakened. Otherwise, they would not have been able to join forces with the Han army and form a pincer movement.

Now that he has lost, the entire Xianbei, except for the Murong tribe, will have to suffer the bitter consequences imposed by the Han.

One can imagine that

In the future, the Murong clan is destined to challenge, and even replace, his position.

Just like how the Southern Xiongnu were forcibly replaced by a new, obedient and compliant Chanyu.

The emperor on the throne, like the Xianbei king, showed a change in expression. His originally excited and bright eyes gradually dimmed as Empress Dowager Deng dealt with the barbarians.

No one cared about his reaction.
The courtiers and defeated officials would only respond to the Empress Dowager's orders and shout "Long live the Empress Dowager!"

His expression turned cold.

Sitting behind her, Deng Sui failed to notice the change in the emperor's mood—the emperor was nominally her son, but whom she had actually raised for many years.
She was not swayed by the praise from her ministers after she achieved a brilliant victory, nor did she develop any lofty or imposing thoughts.

She was only thinking about the disasters reported from various places that had just been put forward.

He sighed silently, referring to the post-war relief efforts for the soldiers and the resettlement of the affected border residents.

Emperor Gaozu of Han once tasted the wonder of imperial power through the homage of his ministers.

Empress Deng Sui now feels the pressure of imperial power due to the courtiers' homage.

Perhaps only an irresponsible monarch who only cares about enjoying himself and has the mindset of "what do I care about the deluge after I die" can truly enjoy power?

Anyway, Deng Sui was a very serious person.

She can't bring herself to just let go and ignore things.

"Then, we should promote some new officials to help me implement the new policies."

She raised her hand to signal the officials to slowly retreat, and Deng Sui and the emperor, supported by the palace servants, entered the inner court.

As she walked, she kept thinking:
"Zhang Heng did a very good job."

"As a result, the floods in Jiangnan have been somewhat alleviated, and Jingzhou and Yangzhou can accommodate more people migrating..."

"But we still need to find ways to control the locust plague in the Central Plains. Some people have written some booklets on locust control and presented them to me. I don't know how effective they will be..."

The Han Dynasty was simply too big.

Even a monarch working tirelessly day and night will always have endless affairs to handle and problems to solve.

Deng Sui understood to some extent why emperors of the Han Dynasty often died young.

And in the distance,

Upon returning from Rome, Gan Ying looked at the disheveled and grimy Southern Xiongnu people and exclaimed in surprise:
"The Xiongnu in the Western Sea were defeated, and the Xiongnu in the Central Plains were also defeated."

"These two families really are brothers!"

The time of being beaten
Even their appearances after being beaten are so similar.

(End of this chapter)