卷九·吕太后本纪第九
卷九·吕太后本纪第九
司马迁
吕太后者，高祖微时妃也，生孝惠帝、女鲁元太后。及高祖为汉王，得定陶戚姬，爱幸，生赵隐王如意。孝惠为人仁弱，高祖以为不类我，常欲废太子，立戚姬子如意，如意类我。戚姬幸，常从上之关东，日夜啼泣，欲立其子代太子。吕后年长，常留守，希见上，益疏。如意立为赵王后，几代太子者数矣，赖大臣争之，及留侯策，太子得毋废。
吕后为人刚毅，佐高祖定天下，所诛大臣多吕后力。吕后兄二人，皆为将。长兄周吕侯死事，封其子吕台为郦侯，子产为交侯；次兄吕释之为建成侯。
高祖十二年四月甲辰，崩长乐宫，太子袭号为帝。是时高祖八子：长男肥，孝惠兄也，异母，肥为齐王；余皆孝惠弟，戚姬子如意为赵王，薄夫人子恒为代王，诸姬子子恢为梁王，子友为淮阳王，子长为淮南王，子建为燕王。高祖弟交为楚王，兄子濞为吴王。非刘氏功臣番君吴芮子臣为长沙王。
吕后最怨戚夫人及其子赵王，乃令永巷囚戚夫人，而召赵王。使者三反，赵相建平侯周昌谓使者曰：“高帝属臣赵王，赵王年少。窃闻太后怨戚夫人，欲召赵王并诛之，臣不敢遣王。王且亦病，不能奉诏。”吕后大怒，乃使人召赵相。赵相徵至长安，乃使人复召赵王。王来，未到。孝惠帝慈仁，知太后怒，自迎赵王霸上，与入宫，自挟与赵王起居饮食。太后欲杀之，不得间。孝惠元年十二月，帝晨出射。赵王少，不能蚤起。太后闻其独居，使人持酖饮之。犁明，孝惠还，赵王已死。于是乃徙淮阳王友为赵王。夏，诏赐郦侯父追谥为令武侯。太后遂断戚夫人手足，去眼，煇耳，饮瘖药，使居厕中，命曰“人彘”。居数日，乃召孝惠帝观人彘。孝惠见，问，乃知其戚夫人，乃大哭，因病，岁余不能起。使人请太后曰：“此非人所为。臣为太后子，终不能治天下。”孝惠以此日饮为淫乐，不听政，故有病也。
二年，楚元王、齐悼惠王皆来朝。十月，孝惠与齐王燕饮太后前，孝惠以为齐王兄，置上坐，如家人之礼。太后怒，乃令酌两卮酖，置前，令齐王起为寿。齐王起，孝惠亦起，取卮欲俱为寿。太后乃恐，自起泛孝惠卮。齐王怪之，因不敢饮，详醉去。问，知其酖，齐王恐，自以为不得脱长安，忧。齐内史士说王曰：“太后独有孝惠与鲁元公主。今王有七十余城，而公主乃食数城。王诚以一郡上太后，为公主汤沐邑，太后必喜，王必无忧。”于是齐王乃上城阳之郡，尊公主为王太后。吕后喜，许之。乃置酒齐邸，乐饮，罢，归齐王。三年，方筑长安城，四年就半，五年六年城就。诸侯来会。十月朝贺。
七年秋八月戊寅，孝惠帝崩。发丧，太后哭，泣不下。留侯子张辟强为侍中，年十五，谓丞相曰：“太后独有孝惠，今崩，哭不悲，君知其解乎？”丞相曰：“何解？”辟强曰：“帝毋壮子，太后畏君等。君今请拜吕台、吕产、吕禄为将，将兵居南北军，及诸吕皆入宫，居中用事，如此则太后心安，君等幸得脱祸矣。”丞相乃如辟强计。太后说，其哭乃哀。吕氏权由此起。乃大赦天下。九月辛丑，葬。太子即位为帝，谒高庙。元年，号令一出太后。
太后称制，议欲立诸吕为王，问右丞相王陵。王陵曰：“高帝刑白马盟曰‘非刘氏而王，天下共击之’。今王吕氏，非约也。”太后不说。问左丞相陈平、绛侯周勃。勃等对曰：“高帝定天下，王子弟，今太后称制，王昆弟诸吕，无所不可。”太后喜，罢朝。王陵让陈平、绛侯曰：“始与高帝喋血盟，诸君不在邪？今高帝崩，太后女主，欲王吕氏，诸君从欲阿意背约，何面目见高帝地下？”陈平、绛侯曰：“于今面折廷争，臣不如君；夫全社稷，定刘氏之后，君亦不如臣。”王陵无以应之。十一月，太后欲废王陵，乃拜为帝太傅，夺之相权。王陵遂病免归。乃以左丞相平为右丞相，以辟阳侯审食其为左丞相。左丞相不治事，令监宫中，如郎中令。食其故得幸太后，常用事，公卿皆因而决事。乃追尊郦侯父为悼武王，欲以王诸吕为渐。
四月，太后欲侯诸吕，乃先封高祖之功臣郎中令无择为博城侯。鲁元公主薨，赐谥为鲁元太后。子偃为鲁王。鲁王父，宣平侯张敖也。封齐悼惠王子章为朱虚侯，以吕禄女妻之。齐丞相寿为平定侯。少府延为梧侯。乃封吕种为沛侯，吕平为扶柳侯，张买为南宫侯。
太后欲王吕氏，先立孝惠后宫子强为淮阳王，子不疑为常山王，子山为襄城侯，子朝为轵侯，子武为壶关侯。太后风大臣，大臣请立郦侯吕台为吕王，太后许之。建成康侯释之卒，嗣子有罪，废，立其弟吕禄为胡陵侯，续康侯后。二年，常山王薨，以其弟襄城侯山为常山王，更名义。十一月，吕王台薨，谥为肃王，太子嘉代立为王。三年，无事。四年，封吕媭为临光侯，吕他为俞侯，吕更始为赘其侯，吕忿为吕城侯，及诸侯丞相五人。
宣平侯女为孝惠皇后时，无子，详为有身，取美人子名之，杀其母，立所名子为太子。孝惠崩，太子立为帝。帝壮，或闻其母死，非真皇后子，乃出言曰：“后安能杀吾母而名我？我未壮，壮即为变。”太后闻而患之，恐其为乱，乃幽之永巷中，言帝病甚，左右莫得见。太后曰：“凡有天下治为万民命者，盖之如天，容之如地，上有欢心以安百姓，百姓欣然以事其上，欢欣交通而天下治。今皇帝病久不已，乃失惑惛乱，不能继嗣奉宗庙祭祀，不可属天下，其代之。”群臣皆顿首言：“皇太后为天下齐民计所以安宗庙社稷甚深，群臣顿首奉诏。”帝废位，太后幽杀之。五月丙辰，立常山王义为帝，更名曰弘。不称元年者，以太后制天下事也。以轵侯朝为常山王。置太尉官，绛侯勃为太尉。五年八月，淮阳王薨，以弟壶关侯武为淮阳王。六年十月，太后曰吕王嘉居处骄恣，废之，以肃王台弟吕产为吕王。夏，赦天下。封齐悼惠王子兴居为东牟侯。
七年正月，太后召赵王友。友以诸吕女为后，弗爱，爱他姬，诸吕女妒，怒去，谗之于太后，诬以罪过，曰：“吕氏安得王！太后百岁后，吾必击之”。太后怒，以故召赵王。赵王至，置邸不见，令卫围守之，弗与食。其群臣或窃馈，辄捕论之，赵王饿，乃歌曰：“诸吕用事兮刘氏危，迫胁王侯兮强授我妃。我妃既妒兮诬我以恶，谗女乱国兮上曾不寤。我无忠臣兮何故弃国？自决中野兮苍天举直！于嗟不可悔兮宁蚤自财。为王而饿死兮谁者怜之！吕氏绝理兮讬天报仇。”丁丑，赵王幽死，以民礼葬之长安民冢次。
己丑，日食，昼晦。太后恶之，心不乐，乃谓左右曰：“此为我也。”
二月，徙梁王恢为赵王。吕王产徙为梁王，梁王不之国，为帝太傅。立皇子平昌侯太为吕王。更名梁曰吕，吕曰济川。太后女弟吕媭有女为营陵侯刘泽妻，泽为大将军。太后王诸吕，恐即崩后刘将军为害，乃以刘泽为琅邪王，以慰其心。
梁王恢之徙王赵，心怀不乐。太后以吕产女为赵王后。王后从官皆诸吕，擅权，微伺赵王，赵王不得自恣。王有所爱姬，王后使人酖杀之。王乃为歌诗四章，令乐人歌之。王悲，六月即自杀。太后闻之，以为王用妇人弃宗庙礼，废其嗣。
宣平侯张敖卒，以子偃为鲁王，敖赐谥为鲁元王。
秋，太后使使告代王，欲徙王赵。代王谢，愿守代边。
太傅产、丞相平等言，武信侯吕禄上侯，位次第一，请立为赵王。太后许之，追尊禄父康侯为赵昭王。九月，燕灵王建薨，有美人子，太后使人杀之，无后，国除。八年十月，立吕肃王子东平侯吕通为燕王，封通弟吕庄为东平侯。
三月中，吕后祓，还过轵道，见物如苍犬，据高后掖，忽弗复见。卜之，云赵王如意为祟。高后遂病掖伤。
高后为外孙鲁元王偃年少，蚤失父母，孤弱，乃封张敖前姬两子，侈为新都侯，寿为乐昌侯，以辅鲁元王偃。及封中大谒者张释为建陵侯，吕荣为祝兹侯。诸中宦者令丞皆为关内侯，食邑五百户。
七月中，高后病甚，乃令赵王吕禄为上将军，军北军；吕王产居南军。吕太后诫产、禄曰：“高帝已定天下，与大臣约，曰‘非刘氏王者，天下共击之’。今吕氏王，大臣弗平。我即崩，帝年少，大臣恐为变。必据兵卫宫，慎毋送丧，毋为人所制。”辛巳，高后崩，遗诏赐诸侯王各千金，将相列侯郎吏皆以秩赐金。大赦天下。以吕王产为相国，以吕禄女为帝后。
高后已葬，以左丞相审食其为帝太傅。
朱虚侯刘章有气力，东牟侯兴居其弟也。皆齐哀王弟，居长安。当是时，诸吕用事擅权，欲为乱，畏高帝故大臣绛、灌等，未敢发。朱虚侯妇，吕禄女，阴知其谋。恐见诛，乃阴令人告其兄齐王，欲令发兵西，诛诸吕而立。朱虚侯欲从中与大臣为应。齐王欲发兵，其相弗听。八月丙午，齐王欲使人诛相，相召平乃反，举兵欲围王，王因杀其相，遂发兵东，诈夺琅邪王兵，并将之而西。语在齐王语中。
齐王乃遗诸侯王书曰：“高帝平定天下，王诸子弟，悼惠王王齐。悼惠王薨，孝惠帝使留侯良立臣为齐王。孝惠崩，高后用事，春秋高，听诸吕，擅废帝更立，又比杀三赵王，灭梁、赵、燕以王诸吕，分齐为四。忠臣进谏，上惑乱弗听。今高后崩，而帝春秋富，未能治天下，固恃大臣诸侯。而诸吕又擅自尊官，聚兵严威，劫列侯忠臣，矫制以令天下，宗庙所以危。寡人率兵入诛不当为王者。”汉闻之，相国吕产等乃遣颍阴侯灌婴将兵击之。灌婴至荥阳，乃谋曰：“诸吕权兵关中，欲危刘氏而自立。今我破齐还报，此益吕氏之资也。”乃留屯荥阳，使使谕齐王及诸侯，与连和，以待吕氏变，共诛之。齐王闻之，乃还兵西界待约。
吕禄、吕产欲发乱关中，内惮绛侯、朱虚等，外畏齐、楚兵，又恐灌婴畔之，欲待灌婴兵与齐合而发，犹豫未决。当是时，济川王太、淮阳王武、常山王朝名为少帝弟，及鲁元王吕后外孙，皆年少未之国，居长安。赵王禄、梁王产各将兵居南北军，皆吕氏之人。列侯群臣莫自坚其命。
太尉绛侯勃不得入军中主兵。曲周侯郦商老病，其子寄与吕禄善。绛侯乃与丞相陈平谋，使人劫郦商。令其子寄往绐说吕禄曰：“高帝与吕后共定天下，刘氏所立九王，吕氏所立三王，皆大臣之议，事已布告诸侯，诸侯皆以为宜。今太后崩，帝少，而足下佩赵王印，不急之国守藩，乃为上将，将兵留此，为大臣诸侯所疑。足下何不归将印，以兵属太尉？请梁王归相国印，与大臣盟而之国，齐兵必罢，大臣得安，足下高枕而王千里，此万世之利也。”吕禄信然其计，欲归将印，以兵属太尉。使人报吕产及诸吕老人，或以为便，或曰不便，计犹豫未有所决。吕禄信郦寄，时与出游猎。过其姑吕媭，媭大怒，曰：“若为将而弃军，吕氏今无处矣。”乃悉出珠玉宝器散堂下，曰：“毋为他人守也。”
左丞相食其免。
八月庚申旦，平阳侯窋行御史大夫事，见相国产计事。郎中令贾寿使从齐来，因数产曰：“王不蚤之国，今虽欲行，尚可得邪？”具以灌婴与齐楚合从，欲诛诸吕告产，乃趣产急入宫。平阳侯颇闻其语，乃驰告丞相、太尉。太尉欲入北军，不得入。襄平侯通尚符节。乃令持节矫内太尉北军。太尉复令郦寄与典客刘揭先说吕禄曰：“帝使太尉守北军，欲足下之国，急归将印辞去，不然，祸且起。”吕禄以为郦兄不欺己，遂解印属典客，而以兵授太尉。太尉将之入军门，行令军中曰：“为吕氏右襢，为刘氏左襢。”军中皆左襢为刘氏。太尉行至，将军吕禄亦已解上将印去，太尉遂将北军。
然尚有南军。平阳侯闻之，以吕产谋告丞相平，丞相平乃召朱虚侯佐太尉。太尉令朱虚侯监军门。令平阳侯告卫尉：“毋入相国产殿门。”吕产不知吕禄已去北军，乃入未央宫，欲为乱，殿门弗得入，裴回往来。平阳侯恐弗胜，驰语太尉。太尉尚恐不胜诸吕，未敢讼言诛之，乃遣朱虚侯谓曰：“急入宫卫帝。”朱虚侯请卒，太尉予卒千余人。入未央宫门，遂见产廷中。日餔时，遂击产。产走，天风大起，以故其从官乱，莫敢斗。逐产，杀之郎中府吏厕中。
朱虚侯已杀产，帝命谒者持节劳朱虚侯。朱虚侯欲夺节信，谒者不肯，朱虚侯则从与载，因节信驰走，斩长乐卫尉吕更始。还，驰入北军，报太尉。太尉起，拜贺朱虚侯曰：“所患独吕产，今已诛，天下定矣。”遂遣人分部悉捕诸吕男女，无少长皆斩之。辛酉，捕斩吕禄，而笞杀吕媭。使人诛燕王吕通，而废鲁王偃。壬戌，以帝太傅食其复为左丞相。戊辰，徙济川王王梁，立赵幽王子遂为赵王。遣朱虚侯章以诛诸吕氏事告齐王，令罢兵。灌婴兵亦罢荥阳而归。
诸大臣相与阴谋曰：“少帝及梁、淮阳、常山王，皆非真孝惠子也。吕后以计诈名他人子，杀其母，养后宫，令孝惠子之，立以为后，及诸王，以强吕氏。今皆已夷灭诸吕，而置所立，即长用事，吾属无类矣。不如视诸王最贤者立之。”或言“齐悼惠王高帝长子，今其適子为齐王，推本言之，高帝適长孙，可立也”。大臣皆曰：“吕氏以外家恶而几危宗庙，乱功臣。今齐王母家驷，驷钧，恶人也。即立齐王，则复为吕氏。”欲立淮南王，以为少，母家又恶。乃曰：“代王方今高帝见子，最长，仁孝宽厚。太后家薄氏谨良。且立长故顺，以仁孝闻于天下，便。”乃相与共阴使人召代王。代王使人辞谢。再反，然后乘六乘传。后九月晦日己酉，至长安，舍代邸。大臣皆往谒，奉天子玺上代王，共尊立为天子。代王数让，群臣固请，然后听。
东牟侯兴居曰：“诛吕氏吾无功，请得除宫。”乃与太仆汝阴侯滕公入宫，前谓少帝曰：“足下非刘氏，不当立。”乃顾麾左右执戟者掊兵罢去。有数人不肯去兵，宦者令张泽谕告，亦去兵。滕公乃召乘舆车载少帝出。少帝曰：“欲将我安之乎？”滕公曰“出就舍。”舍少府。乃奉天子法驾，迎代王于邸。报曰：“宫谨除。”代王即夕入未央宫。有谒者十人持戟卫端门，曰：“天子在也，足下何为者而入？”代王乃谓太尉。太尉往谕，谒者十人皆掊兵而去。代王遂入而听政。夜，有司分部诛灭梁、淮阳、常山王及少帝于邸。
代王立为天子。二十三年崩，谥为孝文皇帝。
太史公曰：孝惠皇帝、高后之时，黎民得离战国之苦，君臣俱欲休息乎无为，故惠帝垂拱，高后女主称制，政不出房户，天下晏然。刑罚罕用，罪人是希。民务稼穑，衣食滋殖。
Fascicle Nine · Basic Annals of the Dowager Empress Lü, Ninth
司马迁
The Dowager Empress Lü was the consort of the High Ancestor in his obscure days, and bore Emperor Xiaohui and a daughter, the Dowager Luyuan. When the High Ancestor became king of Han, he got the lady Qi of Dingtao, loved and favoured her, and she bore Ruyi, King Yin of Zhao. Xiaohui as a man was humane and weak, and the High Ancestor held that he did not take after him, and constantly wished to depose the heir apparent and set up the lady Qi's son Ruyi, who took after him. The lady Qi was favoured and constantly went with the Emperor east of the Pass, weeping day and night, wishing to have her son set up in the heir apparent's place. The Empress Lü was older and was constantly left behind to keep the capital, and rarely saw the Emperor, and grew ever more distant. After Ruyi was set up as king of Zhao he several times came near to taking the heir apparent's place; but thanks to the great ministers contending for him and to the Marquis of Liu's device, the heir apparent escaped being deposed.
The Empress Lü as a woman was firm and resolute, and she aided the High Ancestor in settling the world; of the great ministers who were put to death, many were so by the Empress Lü's strength. The Empress Lü had two elder brothers, both generals. The eldest, the Marquis of Zhoulü, died in service, and his son Lü Tai was enfeoffed as Marquis of Li and his son Chan as Marquis of Jiao; the second brother, Lü Shizhi, was Marquis of Jiancheng.
In the fourth month of the twelfth year of the High Ancestor, on the jiachen day, he died at the Changle Palace, and the heir apparent succeeded to the title of Emperor. At this time the High Ancestor had eight sons: the eldest, Fei, was Xiaohui's elder brother by another mother, and was king of Qi; the rest were all Xiaohui's younger brothers. The lady Qi's son Ruyi was king of Zhao, the lady Bo's son Heng king of Dai, and of the sons of the other ladies, Hui was king of Liang, You king of Huaiyang, Chang king of Huainan and Jian king of Yan. The High Ancestor's younger brother Jiao was king of Chu, and his elder brother's son Bi king of Wu. Of those not of the Liu, the son of the meritorious minister Wu Rui, Lord Po, named Chen, was king of Changsha.
The Empress Lü most resented the lady Qi and her son the king of Zhao, and so she had the lady Qi imprisoned in the Lasting Lane and summoned the king of Zhao. The envoy went and returned three times; Zhou Chang, Marquis of Jianping and chancellor of Zhao, said to the envoy: "The August Emperor Gao entrusted the king of Zhao to me, and the king of Zhao is young. I have privately heard that the Dowager resents the lady Qi and wishes to summon the king of Zhao and put them to death together; I dare not send the king. Moreover the king is ill and cannot obey the edict." The Empress Lü was greatly angered and sent a man to summon the chancellor of Zhao. The chancellor of Zhao having been summoned and come to Chang'an, she sent a man to summon the king of Zhao again. The king came and had not yet arrived. Emperor Xiaohui was kind and humane, and knowing that the Dowager was angry he went himself to meet the king of Zhao at Bashang and entered the palace with him, and himself kept the king of Zhao beside him in his risings and dwellings, his food and drink. The Dowager wished to kill him and could get no opening. In the twelfth month of the first year of Xiaohui the Emperor went out at dawn to shoot. The king of Zhao was young and could not rise early. The Dowager, hearing that he was alone, sent a man with poisoned wine to make him drink. At first light Xiaohui came back, and the king of Zhao was already dead. Thereupon You, king of Huaiyang, was moved to be king of Zhao. In summer an edict conferred on the father of the Marquis of Li the posthumous title Marquis Lingwu. The Dowager then cut off the lady Qi's hands and feet, plucked out her eyes, burned her ears, gave her a drug to make her dumb, and had her put in the privy, calling her "the human pig." After some days she summoned Emperor Xiaohui to look at the human pig. Xiaohui saw her, asked, and so learned that it was the lady Qi; and he wept aloud and fell ill, and for more than a year could not rise. He sent a man to say to the Dowager: "This is not the deed of a human being. Being the Dowager's son, I can in the end never govern the world." From this Xiaohui drank daily and gave himself to dissolute pleasures and would not attend to government, and so was ill.
In the second year King Yuan of Chu and King Daohui of Qi both came to court. In the tenth month Xiaohui and the king of Qi were drinking at ease before the Dowager; Xiaohui, holding the king of Qi to be his elder brother, put him in the seat of honour, as by the rites of a family. The Dowager was angry and had two cups of poisoned wine poured and set before her, and ordered the king of Qi to rise and drink her health. The king of Qi rose, and Xiaohui rose too and took a cup, meaning to drink her health along with him. The Dowager then took fright and rose herself and upset Xiaohui's cup. The king of Qi thought it strange and so dared not drink, and feigning drunkenness went out. Asking about it, he learned that it was poison; and the king of Qi was afraid, thinking he would not get out of Chang'an, and was troubled. The Inner Scribe of Qi, Shi, urged the king: "The Dowager has only Xiaohui and Princess Luyuan. Now Your Majesty has seventy and more cities, while the Princess is supported by only a few. If Your Majesty would truly offer one commandery to the Dowager as a bathing town for the Princess, the Dowager will certainly be pleased, and Your Majesty will certainly have nothing to fear." Thereupon the king of Qi offered up the commandery of Chengyang and honoured the Princess as Queen Dowager. The Empress Lü was pleased and agreed. So she set out wine at the Qi residence, drank merrily, and when it was over sent the king of Qi home. In the third year they were building the wall of Chang'an; in the fourth year it was half done, and in the fifth and sixth years the wall was finished. The lords came to assemble. In the tenth month they offered court congratulations.
In the seventh year, the eighth month of autumn, on the wuyin day, Emperor Xiaohui died. At the announcement of the death the Dowager wailed, but her tears did not fall. The Marquis of Liu's son Zhang Pijiang was a Palace Attendant, fifteen years old, and said to the chancellor: "The Dowager had only Xiaohui; now that he is dead she wails without grief. Do you know the reason?" The chancellor said, "What reason?" Pijiang said: "The Emperor has no grown son, and the Dowager fears you and the rest. If you now ask that Lü Tai, Lü Chan and Lü Lu be made generals, commanding troops in the Northern and Southern Armies, and that all the Lü enter the palace and take charge of affairs within, then the Dowager's heart will be easy and you and the rest may be lucky enough to escape disaster." The chancellor then did as Pijiang had devised. The Dowager was pleased, and her wailing then became sorrowful. The power of the Lü arose from this. There was a great pardon throughout the land. In the ninth month, on the xinchou day, he was buried. The heir apparent took the throne as Emperor and paid his respects at the temple of Gao. In the first year every order and command issued from the Dowager alone.
The Dowager exercised the imperial authority and proposed setting up the Lü as kings, and asked the chancellor of the right, Wang Ling. Wang Ling said: "The August Emperor Gao slaughtered a white horse and swore, 'If any who is not of the Liu is made king, let the world together strike him.' Now to make the Lü kings is not according to the compact." The Dowager was displeased. She asked the chancellor of the left, Chen Ping, and Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang. Bo and the others answered: "When the August Emperor Gao settled the world he made his sons and younger brothers kings; now that the Dowager exercises the imperial authority, to make her brothers and the Lü kings is in no way inadmissible." The Dowager was pleased and the court broke up. Wang Ling reproached Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang: "When you swore the blood covenant with the August Emperor Gao at the beginning, were you gentlemen not there? Now that the August Emperor Gao is dead and the Dowager is a female ruler and wishes to make the Lü kings, you gentlemen follow her desires and flatter her wishes and turn your backs on the covenant — with what face will you see the August Emperor Gao below the earth?" Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang said: "In opposing her to her face and contending in open court, we are not your equals; but in keeping the altars of state whole and settling the descendants of the Liu, you are not ours either." Wang Ling had nothing to answer. In the eleventh month the Dowager wished to depose Wang Ling, and so appointed him Grand Tutor to the Emperor, taking from him the chancellor's power. Wang Ling then pleaded illness and was dismissed and went home. So she made the chancellor of the left, Ping, chancellor of the right, and made Shen Yiji, Marquis of Piyang, chancellor of the left. The chancellor of the left did not attend to affairs but was set to oversee the palace, like a Director of the Palace Gentlemen. Yiji had of old been favoured by the Dowager and constantly had charge of affairs, and the high ministers all settled matters through him. She then posthumously honoured the father of the Marquis of Li as King Daowu, meaning it as a step toward making the Lü kings.
In the fourth month the Dowager wished to make the Lü marquises, and so first enfeoffed the High Ancestor's meritorious minister, the Director of the Palace Gentlemen Wuze, as Marquis of Bocheng. Princess Luyuan died and was given the posthumous title Dowager Luyuan. Her son Yan became king of Lu. The king of Lu's father was Zhang Ao, Marquis of Xuanping. She enfeoffed King Daohui of Qi's son Zhang as Marquis of Zhuxu and gave him Lü Lu's daughter to wife. The chancellor of Qi, Shou, became Marquis of Pingding. The Privy Treasurer Yan became Marquis of Wu. And she enfeoffed Lü Zhong as Marquis of Pei, Lü Ping as Marquis of Fuliu, and Zhang Mai as Marquis of Nangong.
The Dowager wished to make the Lü kings, and first set up sons of Xiaohui's harem: Qiang as king of Huaiyang, Buyi as king of Changshan, Shan as Marquis of Xiangcheng, Chao as Marquis of Zhi, and Wu as Marquis of Huguan. The Dowager hinted to the great ministers, and the great ministers asked that Lü Tai, Marquis of Li, be set up as king of Lü, and the Dowager allowed it. Marquis Kang of Jiancheng, Shizhi, died; his heir was guilty of an offence and was set aside, and his younger brother Lü Lu was set up as Marquis of Huling to carry on Marquis Kang's line. In the second year the king of Changshan died, and his younger brother Shan, Marquis of Xiangcheng, became king of Changshan and was renamed Yi. In the eleventh month Tai, king of Lü, died and was given the posthumous title King Su, and the heir apparent Jia succeeded him as king. In the third year there was nothing to record. In the fourth year she enfeoffed Lü Xu as Marquise of Linguang, Lü Ta as Marquis of Yu, Lü Gengshi as Marquis of Zhuiqi, Lü Fen as Marquis of Lücheng, and five chancellors of the lords besides.
When the Marquis of Xuanping's daughter was Emperor Xiaohui's empress, she had no son, and pretended to be with child; she took the son of one of the beauties and called him her own, killed his mother, and set up the son she had named as heir apparent. When Xiaohui died the heir apparent was set up as Emperor. When the Emperor had grown, someone said that his mother had been killed and that he was not really the Empress's son, and he then said openly: "How could the Empress kill my mother and call me her own? I am not yet grown; when I am grown I shall make a change." The Dowager heard it and was troubled by it, and fearing that he would make disorder she shut him up in the Lasting Lane, saying that the Emperor was gravely ill, and none of those about him got to see him. The Dowager said: "Whoever holds the world and governs it as the life of the myriad people should cover them like heaven and contain them like earth; above there is a glad heart with which to settle the hundred clans, and the hundred clans gladly serve their superior, and gladness passing to and fro brings the world to order. Now the Emperor's illness is long and does not cease; he has lost his senses and is deranged, and cannot carry on the succession and uphold the sacrifices of the ancestral temple, and cannot be entrusted with the world; let another take his place." The ministers all bowed their heads to the ground and said: "The August Dowager's plans for the peace of the ancestral temple and the altars of state on behalf of the common people of the world are most deep; we your servants bow our heads and receive the edict." The Emperor was deposed, and the Dowager shut him up and killed him. In the fifth month, on the bingchen day, Yi, king of Changshan, was set up as Emperor and renamed Hong. It was not called a first year, because the Dowager governed the affairs of the world. Chao, Marquis of Zhi, became king of Changshan. The office of Commandant-in-Chief was established, and Bo, Marquis of Jiang, became Commandant-in-Chief. In the eighth month of the fifth year the king of Huaiyang died, and his younger brother Wu, Marquis of Huguan, became king of Huaiyang. In the tenth month of the sixth year the Dowager said that Jia, king of Lü, was arrogant and unrestrained in his conduct, and deposed him, and made Lü Chan, younger brother of King Su, Tai, king of Lü. In summer there was a pardon throughout the land. She enfeoffed King Daohui of Qi's son Xingju as Marquis of Dongmou.
In the first month of the seventh year the Dowager summoned You, king of Zhao. You had a daughter of the Lü as his queen and did not love her but loved another lady; the Lü daughter was jealous, went off in anger, and slandered him to the Dowager, falsely charging him with offences, saying: "How should the Lü be made kings! When the Dowager is dead after her hundred years, I shall certainly strike at them." The Dowager was angry, and for this reason summoned the king of Zhao. The king of Zhao came; she lodged him in a residence and would not see him, and had guards surround and watch him and gave him no food. When some of his ministers secretly sent him food, they were at once arrested and charged. The king of Zhao, being hungry, then sang: "The Lü have charge of affairs — the Liu are in peril; they press and force the kings and marquises and forcibly gave me a consort. My consort being jealous, she has charged me falsely with evil; a slanderous woman throws the state into disorder, and my sovereign does not awake. I have no loyal minister — why then must I lose my state? I cut my own life short in the open country, and let blue heaven uphold the upright! Alas, there is no repenting — better to have made an end of myself early. To be a king and starve to death — who will pity me! The Lü have cut off all principle; I entrust my vengeance to Heaven." On the dingchou day the king of Zhao died in confinement, and was buried with the rites of a commoner beside the graves of the common people of Chang'an.
On the jichou day there was an eclipse of the sun and it grew dark by day. The Dowager disliked it and was unhappy in her heart, and said to those about her, "This is on my account."
In the second month Hui, king of Liang, was moved to be king of Zhao. Chan, king of Lü, was moved to be king of Liang, but the king of Liang did not go to his state and became the Emperor's Grand Tutor. The imperial son Tai, Marquis of Pingchang, was set up as king of Lü. Liang was renamed Lü and Lü renamed Jichuan. The Dowager's younger sister Lü Xu had a daughter who was wife to Liu Ze, Marquis of Yingling, and Ze was Grand General. The Dowager, having made the Lü kings, feared that after her death General Liu might do harm, and so made Liu Ze king of Langye, to soothe his heart.
When Hui, king of Liang, was moved to be king of Zhao, his heart was not glad. The Dowager made Lü Chan's daughter queen of Zhao. All the queen's attendant officers were of the Lü, and they usurped power and secretly watched the king of Zhao, so that the king of Zhao could not do as he pleased. The king had a favourite lady, and the queen sent men to kill her with poisoned wine. The king then made four songs and had his musicians sing them. The king grieved, and in the sixth month killed himself. The Dowager heard of it and held that the king had for a woman's sake cast aside the rites of the ancestral temple, and abolished his line.
Zhang Ao, Marquis of Xuanping, died, and his son Yan became king of Lu; Ao was given the posthumous title King Yuan of Lu.
In autumn the Dowager sent an envoy to tell the king of Dai that she wished to move him to be king of Zhao. The king of Dai declined and asked to guard the frontier of Dai.
The Grand Tutor Chan, the chancellor Ping and the others said that Lü Lu, Marquis of Wuxin, was the highest of the marquises and first in rank, and asked that he be set up as king of Zhao. The Dowager allowed it, and posthumously honoured Lu's father Marquis Kang as King Zhao of Zhao. In the ninth month King Ling of Yan, Jian, died; he had a son by one of his beauties, and the Dowager sent men to kill him, so that he had no heir and the state was abolished. In the tenth month of the eighth year she set up Lü Tong, Marquis of Dongping and son of King Su of Lü, as king of Yan, and enfeoffed Tong's younger brother Lü Zhuang as Marquis of Dongping.
In the middle of the third month the Empress Lü performed the purification, and returning she passed the Zhi road and saw a thing like a grey dog which seized the Dowager Gao under the arm and suddenly was seen no more. She had it divined, and they said it was Ruyi, king of Zhao, working mischief. The Dowager Gao thereupon fell ill of the wound under the arm.
The Dowager Gao, because her daughter's son Yan, king of Lu, was young and had early lost his parents and was orphaned and weak, enfeoffed the two sons of Zhang Ao's former ladies, Chi as Marquis of Xindu and Shou as Marquis of Lechang, to assist Yan, king of Lu. And she enfeoffed the Palace Chief Usher Zhang Shi as Marquis of Jianling and Lü Rong as Marquis of Zhuzi. The prefects and assistants of all the palace eunuchs were made Marquises Within the Pass with fiefs of five hundred households.
In the middle of the seventh month the Dowager Gao was gravely ill, and so ordered Lü Lu, king of Zhao, to be supreme general in command of the Northern Army, while Chan, king of Lü, took charge of the Southern Army. The Dowager Empress Lü warned Chan and Lu: "When the August Emperor Gao had settled the world, he made a compact with the great ministers, saying, 'If any who is not of the Liu is made king, let the world together strike him.' Now the Lü are kings and the great ministers are not content. When I am dead, the Emperor will be young and the great ministers may make a change. You must hold the troops and guard the palace; take care not to escort the funeral, and do not let yourselves be controlled by others." On the xinsi day the Dowager Gao died, and by testamentary edict each of the lords and kings was granted a thousand in gold, and the generals, chancellors, full marquises, gentlemen and officers were all granted gold according to their rank. There was a great pardon throughout the land. Chan, king of Lü, was made Chancellor of State, and Lü Lu's daughter was made the Emperor's empress.
The Dowager Gao having been buried, the chancellor of the left, Shen Yiji, was made the Emperor's Grand Tutor.
Liu Zhang, Marquis of Zhuxu, had spirit and strength, and Xingju, Marquis of Dongmou, was his younger brother. Both were younger brothers of King Ai of Qi and lived at Chang'an. At this time the Lü had charge of affairs and usurped power and wished to make disorder, but they feared the old great ministers of the August Emperor Gao, Jiang and Guan and the rest, and dared not act. The Marquis of Zhuxu's wife was Lü Lu's daughter, and he secretly knew their plot. Fearing to be put to death, he secretly sent a man to tell his elder brother the king of Qi, wishing him to send troops west and put the Lü to death and take the throne. The Marquis of Zhuxu meant to answer from within together with the great ministers. The king of Qi wished to send out troops, and his chancellor would not listen. On the bingwu day of the eighth month the king of Qi meant to send a man to put the chancellor to death; the chancellor Zhao Ping thereupon turned against him and raised troops meaning to besiege the king, and the king accordingly killed his chancellor and then sent out troops eastward, treacherously seized the troops of the king of Langye, took command of them all and went west. This is told in the account of the king of Qi.
The king of Qi then sent the lords and kings a letter: "When the August Emperor Gao settled the world, he made his sons and younger brothers kings, and King Daohui was made king of Qi. When King Daohui died, Emperor Xiaohui sent the Marquis of Liu, Liang, to set me up as king of Qi. When Xiaohui died, the Dowager Gao had charge of affairs; being advanced in years, she listened to the Lü, arbitrarily deposed the Emperor and set up another, and moreover killed three kings of Zhao one after another, wiped out Liang, Zhao and Yan in order to make the Lü kings, and divided Qi into four. Loyal ministers came forward and remonstrated, and the sovereign, deluded and disordered, would not listen. Now the Dowager Gao is dead, and the Emperor is young in years and cannot govern the world, but must rely on the great ministers and the lords. Yet the Lü have moreover arbitrarily exalted their own offices, gathered troops and made their authority severe, coerced the full marquises and loyal ministers, and issued forged edicts to command the world, so that the ancestral temple is endangered. I lead troops in to put to death those who ought not to be kings." When Han heard of it, the Chancellor of State Lü Chan and the others sent Guan Ying, Marquis of Yingyin, with troops to strike him. Guan Ying reached Xingyang and then plotted, saying: "The Lü hold troops within the Pass and mean to endanger the Liu and set themselves up. If I now break Qi and go back and report, this will only add to the Lü's resources." So he stayed and camped at Xingyang, and sent envoys to inform the king of Qi and the other lords, joining with them and waiting for the Lü to make their move, in order to put them to death together. The king of Qi heard of it and so turned his troops back to his western border and waited on the agreement.
Lü Lu and Lü Chan wished to raise disorder within the Pass; within, they stood in awe of the Marquis of Jiang, the Marquis of Zhuxu and the rest; without, they feared the troops of Qi and Chu, and they also feared that Guan Ying would turn against them. They wished to wait until Guan Ying's troops joined with Qi before acting, and hesitated without deciding. At this time Tai, king of Jichuan, Wu, king of Huaiyang, and Chao, king of Changshan, nominally younger brothers of the young Emperor, together with Yan, king of Lu, the Empress Lü's daughter's son, were all young and had not gone to their states, but lived at Chang'an. Lu, king of Zhao, and Chan, king of Liang, each commanded troops in the Southern and Northern Armies, and all were men of the Lü. Neither the full marquises nor the ministers could feel sure of their own lives.
The Commandant-in-Chief, Bo, Marquis of Jiang, could not get into the army and take charge of the troops. Li Shang, Marquis of Quzhou, was old and ill, and his son Ji was on good terms with Lü Lu. The Marquis of Jiang then plotted with the chancellor Chen Ping and sent men to seize Li Shang, and had his son Ji go and deceive Lü Lu, saying: "The August Emperor Gao and the Empress Lü together settled the world; of the Liu nine were made kings and of the Lü three, and all by the deliberation of the great ministers, and the matter was proclaimed to the lords, and the lords all thought it proper. Now the Dowager is dead and the Emperor is young, and you wear the seal of the king of Zhao and do not hurry to your state to guard your domain, but are supreme general commanding troops and staying here, and so are suspected by the great ministers and the lords. Why do you not give back the general's seal and hand over the troops to the Commandant-in-Chief? Ask the king of Liang to give back the Chancellor of State's seal, make a covenant with the great ministers and go to his state, and the Qi troops will certainly withdraw, the great ministers will be at ease, and you may sleep soundly and be king over a thousand li. This is a benefit for ten thousand generations." Lü Lu trusted the plan and wished to give back the general's seal and hand over the troops to the Commandant-in-Chief. He sent a man to report to Lü Chan and the elders of the Lü, and some thought it convenient and some said it was not, and the plan hung in doubt without decision. Lü Lu trusted Li Ji and from time to time went out hunting with him. Passing the house of his aunt Lü Xu, Xu was greatly angered and said, "You are a general and abandon your army; the Lü now have no place." And she brought out all her pearls, jade and precious vessels and scattered them below the hall, saying, "I will not keep them for others."
The chancellor of the left, Yiji, was dismissed.
At dawn on the gengshen day of the eighth month, Zhu, Marquis of Pingyang, acting as Grandee Secretary, saw the Chancellor of State Chan to discuss affairs. The Director of the Palace Gentlemen Jia Shou had been sent to Qi and came back, and he reproached Chan, saying, "You did not go early to your state; now though you wish to go, can it still be done?" And he told Chan fully that Guan Ying had joined in a vertical alliance with Qi and Chu and meant to put the Lü to death, and urged Chan to go quickly into the palace. The Marquis of Pingyang overheard something of what was said, and galloped to tell the chancellor and the Commandant-in-Chief. The Commandant-in-Chief wished to enter the Northern Army and could not. Tong, Marquis of Xiangping, was in charge of the credentials. So they had him carry the credentials and falsely admit the Commandant-in-Chief to the Northern Army. The Commandant-in-Chief further had Li Ji and the Director of Guests Liu Jie first persuade Lü Lu, saying: "The Emperor has sent the Commandant-in-Chief to hold the Northern Army, and wishes you to go to your state. Quickly give back the general's seal and take your leave; otherwise disaster will arise." Lü Lu, thinking that his friend Li would not deceive him, then took off the seal and handed it to the Director of Guests, and gave the troops to the Commandant-in-Chief. The Commandant-in-Chief took command and entered the camp gate, and gave an order through the army: "Those for the Lü, bare the right arm; those for the Liu, bare the left." In the army all bared the left arm for the Liu. By the time the Commandant-in-Chief arrived, the general Lü Lu had already taken off the supreme general's seal and gone, and the Commandant-in-Chief then commanded the Northern Army.
But there was still the Southern Army. The Marquis of Pingyang heard of it and told the chancellor Ping of Lü Chan's plot, and the chancellor Ping then summoned the Marquis of Zhuxu to assist the Commandant-in-Chief. The Commandant-in-Chief ordered the Marquis of Zhuxu to oversee the camp gate. He ordered the Marquis of Pingyang to tell the Commandant of the Guards, "Do not let the Chancellor of State Chan in at the hall gate." Lü Chan did not know that Lü Lu had already left the Northern Army, and so entered the Weiyang Palace meaning to make disorder; he could not get in at the hall gate and paced back and forth. The Marquis of Pingyang, fearing they might not prevail, galloped to tell the Commandant-in-Chief. The Commandant-in-Chief still feared he might not prevail against the Lü and dared not say openly that they were to be put to death, and so sent the Marquis of Zhuxu, saying, "Go quickly into the palace and guard the Emperor." The Marquis of Zhuxu asked for soldiers, and the Commandant-in-Chief gave him a thousand and more. Entering the gate of the Weiyang Palace, he then saw Chan in the courtyard. At the hour of the evening meal he struck at Chan. Chan fled; a great wind rose, and for this reason his attendant officers were thrown into confusion and none dared fight. They pursued Chan and killed him in the privy of the office of the Director of the Palace Gentlemen.
The Marquis of Zhuxu having killed Chan, the Emperor ordered an usher to carry credentials and commend the Marquis of Zhuxu. The Marquis of Zhuxu wished to take the credentials; the usher would not, so the Marquis of Zhuxu rode with him, and by means of the credentials galloped off and beheaded Lü Gengshi, Commandant of the Guards at Changle. Returning, he galloped into the Northern Army and reported to the Commandant-in-Chief. The Commandant-in-Chief rose and bowed and congratulated the Marquis of Zhuxu, saying, "The only one we feared was Lü Chan; now that he is put to death, the world is settled." So he sent men in parties to arrest all the Lü, men and women, and beheaded them all, young and old alike. On the xinyou day Lü Lu was arrested and beheaded and Lü Xu was flogged to death. They sent men to put Lü Tong, king of Yan, to death and deposed Yan, king of Lu. On the renxu day the Emperor's Grand Tutor Yiji was again made chancellor of the left. On the wuchen day the king of Jichuan was moved to be king of Liang, and Sui, son of King You of Zhao, was set up as king of Zhao. They sent Zhang, Marquis of Zhuxu, to tell the king of Qi of the putting to death of the Lü and to order him to disband his troops. Guan Ying's troops too left Xingyang and went home.
The great ministers plotted secretly together, saying: "The young Emperor and the kings of Liang, Huaiyang and Changshan are none of them truly sons of Xiaohui. The Empress Lü by a device falsely named other men's sons as his, killed their mothers and reared them in the harem, made Xiaohui treat them as sons, set one up as his heir and made the others kings, in order to strengthen the Lü. Now we have wiped out all the Lü, and if we leave those they set up, when they grow and take charge of affairs, we and ours will be left without kind. It would be better to look for the worthiest of the kings and set him up." Someone said, "King Daohui of Qi was the August Emperor Gao's eldest son; now his principal son is king of Qi, and tracing it to the root, he is the August Emperor Gao's eldest grandson by the principal line, and may be set up." The great ministers all said: "The Lü, an outside family, were evil and nearly endangered the ancestral temple and threw the meritorious ministers into disorder. Now the king of Qi's mother's family is the Si; Si Jun is an evil man. If we set up the king of Qi, it will be the Lü over again." They thought of setting up the king of Huainan, but held him young and his mother's family evil too. So they said: "The king of Dai is at present the August Emperor Gao's surviving son and the eldest, humane, filial, generous and kindly. The Dowager's family, the Bo, are careful and good. Moreover to set up the eldest is in the proper order, and he is known throughout the world for humaneness and filial piety: it is convenient." So they together secretly sent men to summon the king of Dai. The king of Dai sent a man to decline. They went twice, and then he rode in a six-horse post carriage. On the last day of the intercalary ninth month, the jiyou day, he reached Chang'an and lodged at the Dai residence. The great ministers all went to pay their respects, presented the Son of Heaven's seal to the king of Dai, and together honoured and set him up as Son of Heaven. The king of Dai declined several times, and when the ministers pressed him he then consented.
Xingju, Marquis of Dongmou, said, "In putting the Lü to death I had no merit; let me be allowed to clear the palace." So with the Grand Coachman, Lord Teng, Marquis of Ruyin, he entered the palace, came before the young Emperor and said, "You are not of the Liu, and ought not to be set up." Then he looked round and signalled to the halberd-bearers about him to lay down their arms and withdraw. A few would not lay down their arms, and the Director of Eunuchs Zhang Ze explained to them, and they too laid down their arms. Lord Teng then called for a carriage and carried the young Emperor out. The young Emperor said, "Where do you mean to take me?" Lord Teng said, "Out to your lodging." He lodged him in the Privy Treasury. Then they brought the Son of Heaven's carriage of state and welcomed the king of Dai from his residence. They reported, "The palace has been carefully cleared." That very evening the king of Dai entered the Weiyang Palace. There were ten ushers holding halberds guarding the main gate, who said, "The Son of Heaven is here; what are you, that you should enter?" The king of Dai then spoke to the Commandant-in-Chief. The Commandant-in-Chief went and explained, and the ten ushers all laid down their arms and departed. The king of Dai then entered and attended to government. That night the officers in parties put to death the kings of Liang, Huaiyang and Changshan and the young Emperor in their residences.
The king of Dai was set up as Son of Heaven. In the twenty-third year he died, and his posthumous title was Emperor Xiaowen.
The Lord Grand Astrologer says: In the time of Emperor Xiaohui and the Dowager Gao, the common people were able to leave behind the sufferings of the Warring States, and ruler and ministers alike wished to rest in doing nothing. Therefore Emperor Hui sat with folded hands, and the Dowager Gao, a female ruler, exercised the imperial authority; government did not go beyond her chamber door, and the world was at peace. Punishments were seldom used and the guilty were few. The people applied themselves to sowing and reaping, and clothing and food increased and multiplied.