Disciplining Emperor Gaozu of Han

"Do you really want to take it back?" Liu Ying asked, somewhat reluctantly.

"There is no better way than this," Xiao He said confidently. "Don't you think about Qin? It fought against six states east of the mountains for a century, defeating the Xiongnu in the north and pacifying the Yue in the south. How much military expenditure did it require? Could the Qin people possibly afford that by farming, plowing and planting?"

"Great job!" Liu Ying cheered.

"Great! Excellent!" Xiahou Ying agreed.

"The Qin state minted coins through government minting, which led to the creation of the Qin Banliang coin." Xiao He was very knowledgeable about economics: "The Qin state became so strong because it controlled the right to mint coins and raised a lot of military funds."

What kind of war is it?

It's all about the money.

An army is a money-devouring behemoth; without money, how can it fight a war?

The Qin state had not just one enemy, but six, and the wars lasted for a century, requiring enormous military expenditures.

It's impossible for the Qin people to raise so much military funds just by farming.

Therefore, Qin's control over the minting of coins created conditions for its economic development and served as an important means of raising military funds.

"Let me think about it," Liu Bang said, still somewhat reluctantly. "They are all old brothers who followed me from Pei County; I can't let them down."

"Liu Ji, listen to me carefully, what are you still hesitating for?" Xiao He's face turned cold: "As far as I know, they are all rolling in money, much richer than you."

"Really?" Liu Bang didn't believe it.

"They hold the right to mint coins; they can mint as many as they want. This isn't making money; it's robbery. Hmm, even faster than robbery," Xiao He said coldly.

"Excellent!" Liu Ying wholeheartedly agreed.

As long as you have the right to mint coins, you can mint as many as you want; that's like picking up money off the ground.

Minting coins can quickly accumulate wealth. Why was Liu Bi, the King of Wu, so rich? It was because he controlled the copper mines in the southeast, minted coins to accumulate immense wealth, and ultimately embarked on the path of rebellion.

"I'll tell them to cast fewer, but to cast better ones." Liu Bang still harbored illusions.

"Your so-called wealth and glory will vanish in an instant," Liu Ying sneered. "Right now, you only control Guanzhong, Hanzhong, the area around Chengdu, and the vicinity of Luoyang. Your strength is small, and you can hardly raise military funds. Xiang Yu is about to attack. If you cannot defeat Xiang Yu and he drives into Guanzhong, will your so-called wealth and glory still exist?"

"..." Liu Bang had no answer.

"Excellent! Great!" Xiao He nodded heavily, clapping his hands together in strong agreement.

"Great! Lucky!" Xiahou Ying clapped his hands repeatedly, feeling that Liu Ying's words had struck a chord with him.

"After you defeat Xiang Yu and seize the world, it's not too late to give them wealth and honor," Liu Ying continued. "I think they will understand your difficulties."

"Excellent!" Xiao He echoed.

"Good!" Xiahou Ying agreed.

"But I only promised them that last year, and now I'm taking it back this year. That's a huge breach of promise," Liu Bang said, his tone softening.

"How many times have you broken your word?" Liu Ying mocked.

"You unfilial son, you can do small things, but not big things." Liu Bang glared at Liu Bang.

Xiao He pondered, trying to find a way to both regain the right to mint coins and save Liu Bang's face.

Xiahou Ying was also pondering.

However, it is difficult to have the best of both worlds in this matter.

"If you want to save face, I have a way." Liu Ying's eyes darted around, and a plan came to mind.

"What strategy?" Liu Bang asked, looking at Liu Ying.

Xiao He and Xiahou Ying looked at Liu Ying.

"Make me the crown prince, and let them give me the right to mint coins as a congratulatory gift." Liu Ying patted his chest confidently: "This is the best of both worlds."

"What? You want to be the crown prince?" Lady Qi's voice was shrill and piercing, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"You unfilial son, are you hoping for my death?" Liu Bang roared, his eyes blazing with fury.

"That's indeed a good idea!" Xiao He agreed.

"Good!" Xiahou Ying agreed.

"What...what are you plotting?" Liu Bang pointed his right finger at Xiao He and Xiahou Ying, his anger blazing. "Are you hoping I'll die soon so you can serve your young master?"

"Good!" Lady Qi nodded.

"Liu Ji, stop making baseless accusations!" Xiao He said sternly. "Liu Ying is the legitimate son; he is rightfully the crown prince!"

"Lady Lü was the legitimate wife whom the King of Han married through proper channels, and Liu Ying was his eldest son. No one can deny that." Xiahou Ying also agreed.

"This..." Liu Bang had no answer.

Liu Bang had countless wives, but only Empress Lü was his legally wedded wife. Therefore, Empress Lü was his principal wife, and her son Liu Ying was his legitimate son.

As for Liu Bang's beloved son, he was merely a concubine, not his legal wife. Therefore, Liu Ruyi could only be a son born out of wedlock, not a legitimate son.

"But I'm pregnant." Lady Qi touched her lower belly, feeling dizzy and on the verge of tears.

"What? What? You're pregnant?" Liu Bang was overjoyed, his face beaming with delight.

Liu Ying stared at Lady Qi's small belly, muttering to himself, "Could she really be pregnant?"

"Madam, please be careful with your words." Xiao He's face turned serious as he reminded her, "This matter involves the prince, and it is of utmost importance. If this had not happened, Madam would have known the consequences."

"Really!" Lady Qi said with certainty.

"She's truly my darling." Liu Bang embraced Lady Qi, kissed her on the pretty face, and then, holding her close, tried to run away.

Xiao He stopped him, saying, "Liu Ji, is military expenditure more important, or your pleasure?"

"Of course... military expenses are more important." Liu Bang really wanted to say that his own pleasure was more important, but seeing Xiao He's cold expression, he could only make a sacrifice.

"Since military spending is so important, let's settle this matter today. Do you want to withdraw the minting of coins?" Xiao He stared intently at Liu Bang: "There is no other way to do this."

"I..." Liu Bang hesitated.

"You don't have to make Liu Ying the crown prince, as long as you're willing to swallow your pride and talk to your old brothers," Xiao He said in a deep voice.

"I..." Liu Bang's face turned pale and then red, unable to make up his mind.

"But I'm really pregnant," Lady Qi said crisply. "Isn't it too early to establish a crown prince now?"

"The matter of establishing a crown prince should be handled as soon as possible." Xiao He's eyes were blazing as he glared at Lady Qi.

Lady Qi wanted to glare back, but lacked the confidence, so she could only lower her head.

Xiao He's gaze was like a sword: "Liu Ji, I ask you: If Qin Shi Huang had established Fusu as the crown prince earlier, and Qin Shi Huang had left Fusu to oversee the country during his inspection tour, could Zhao Gao have forged the imperial edict?"

"No!" Liu Bang remained silent for a long time.

"If Qin Shi Huang had made Fusu the crown prince, Fusu would have had the title of crown prince. Even if Zhao Gao forged the imperial edict, would Fusu have committed suicide because he had no title?" Xiao He asked again.

"No!" Liu Bang remained silent for a moment.

"Your return this time coincides with the arrival of your eldest son, Liu Ying, in Guanzhong. Take this opportunity to establish a crown prince before going to the front lines. If anything unforeseen happens, your foundation will not be completely destroyed," Xiao He pleaded, clasping his hands together and bending his waist at a ninety-degree angle.

"Please, King Han, establish a crown prince!" Xiahou Ying also came to plead.

"King Han..." Lady Qi said sweetly.

"It's not impossible for me to make Ying'er the crown prince, but I must test him." Liu Bang looked at Lady Qi, then at the two important ministers, Xiao He and Xiahou Ying, and was in a dilemma. Finally, he thought of a way to delay.

"Liu Ying is the son of the principal wife and the legitimate heir. It is perfectly legitimate to make him the crown prince. Liu Ji, what are you still hesitating for?" Xiao He stared at Lady Qi.

Lady Qi quickly lowered her head.

"I earnestly request the King of Han to establish a crown prince!" Xiahou Ying pleaded again.

"Are you all in such a hurry? Can't I even test you?" Liu Bang said coldly.

"You..." Xiao He was somewhat annoyed.

Xiahou Ying wanted to say more.

"How will he test me?" Liu Ying really didn't care about Liu Bang's so-called test. With his abilities, it wouldn't be difficult for him to pass. He was just curious about what kind of difficult questions Liu Bang would ask.

"Ying'er, it's not impossible for you to become the crown prince. Go and eliminate Zhang Han!" Liu Bang said to Liu Ying.

"What?! Zhang Han isn't dead yet?" Liu Ying jumped three feet high, his face full of shock.

Note:

According to the Records of the Grand Historian, after Liu Bang's defeat at Pengcheng, he returned to Guanzhong and "drew water to irrigate Feiqiu. Feiqiu surrendered, and Zhang Han committed suicide. Feiqiu was renamed Huaili."

According to the "Annals of Emperor Gaozu" in the Book of Han, Liu Bang defeated Zhang Han after returning to Guanzhong following his defeat at Pengcheng: "He diverted water to irrigate Feiqiu, and Feiqiu surrendered. Zhang Han committed suicide. Yong was pacified, with more than eighty counties established, including the commanderies of Heshang, Weinan, Zhongdi, Longxi, and Shangjun."