Chapter 2 2. The Xiongnu inherited the Great Han Dynasty

When Attila's ancestors crossed the Volga River, the Huns in China had already performed their last big show.There is no evidence to prove that they are the same people, and there is no material to show that they have been connected, although Western historians usually refer to the Chinese Huns and Attila’s compatriots as Huns, and even though they are the same as Turks and Tatars All Mongolians. However, these two Huns are not the same. The difference is stark.At least, Attila didn't care about Roman civilization. The Chinese Huns—to be precise, the southern Huns who migrated to the interior, were full of respect and yearning for Han civilization.This difference is even reflected in their attitudes towards intermarriage: Attila regarded the incorporation of Roman and German girls as a form of tribute from the other party, while the view of the Southern Huns in China was the opposite.

The message here is very meaningful. In fact, as early as 483 years before Attila put the last Germanic princess on the marriage bed, Hu Hanxie Shanyu of the Chinese Huns married the Queen Zhaojun of the Han Palace.Of course, this kind of marriage is not the first time. For the first time, Liu Bang married the daughter of the clan as a princess to Maodun Chanyu, and Hui, Wen, Jing, and Wu followed suit.The purpose is very clear: exchange women for peace. But this does not prevent the Southern Huns from seeing themselves as the grandson of the Han emperor, if they want to.In fact, in the late period of Cao Cao's reign, the chief of the Southern Huns had changed his surname to Liu.They said: Since Mao Dundan is the son-in-law of Emperor Gao, of course we can use my grandfather's surname.

This was unexpected by Han Gaozu. Of course, Liu Bang would never have imagined that five hundred years later, the Huns would claim that they were the legal heirs of the Han Dynasty.In 304 A.D., the third year of Tai'an in the Western Jin Dynasty, a Xiongnu chief declared himself the third Han king in history in Zuoguo City (now Lishi, Shanxi).Four years later (308 A.D.), he moved his capital to Pingyang (now Linfen, Shanxi), and declared himself the new emperor of the Han Dynasty. The person who said this was Liu Yuan. Liu Yuan was originally a Sinicized Hun.As the son of the left commander of the Xiongnu appointed by Cao Cao, he lived in Luoyang Palace since he was a child. He was well-read in poetry, literature and military, and was highly appreciated by Sima Zhao and praised by celebrities.Liu Yuan himself has great ambitions.When he became king, someone proposed to revive Huhanxie Shanyu's old career, but Liu Yuan said: If you want to do it, you can be Han Gaozu and Wei Wudi. What is there to learn from Huhanxie!

Hehe, what a big tone! However, Liu Yuan and others are Sinicized Xiongnu after all, and they are well-known for the importance of integrity, and God has given them enough opportunities.At that time, during the Rebellion of the Eight Kings, the Sima royal family had frequent internal strife and fratricide.In the view of Liu Yuan Group, this is eloquent proof that the destiny does not lie in Jin, but in Han.Since the Han people can't revive the Han Dynasty, they should leave it to their younger brothers.It is only right and proper that brothers end up with brothers. So the Liu Yuan Group announced that, as the grandson of Emperor Gaozu of the Han Dynasty and the cousin of the Emperor Han, the Xiongnu had the right to legally take over the Han regime, even though this regime had been interrupted for forty years since Liu Chan's subjugation.

All that's left is to arrange the show.Emperor Gao Liu Bang, Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, and Emperor Zhaolie Liu Bei are revered as the three patriarchs. Emperor Wen Liu Heng, Emperor Wu Liu Che, Emperor Xuan Liu Xun, Emperor Ming Liu Zhuang, and Emperor Zhang Liu Da (read Ruda) are revered as the five patriarchs.Han, who was usurped by Wei and Jin, was miraculously revived in the yurt of the Huns. So, is this the Easter of Chinese civilization? of course not. In fact, Liu Yuan's ideal is that the Huns be the emperor.In this regard, he actually made it very clear: Xia Dayu and Zhou Wenwang are both barbarians, so is there any certain rule for who should be the emperor?The name of the country is Han, but Han has appeal.

This is a backdoor listing. It's a pity that the conflict between the Han and the Hungarian has a long history, and it cannot be resolved by claiming to be the grandson of Emperor Gao.During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Jin Dynasty, some people suggested that Liu Yuan be reused. The opposition said that "if you are not of my race, your heart must be different."Later, Liu Yuan became king, and the supporters said that "the Jin Dynasty has no way, and the slaves rule me."One resents the other's racism, the other is constantly wary, and they don't get along. It seems that even if the surname is changed to Liu, the Huns are still Huns in the eyes of the Han people.Therefore, after Liu Yuan's nephew and adopted son Liu Yao became emperor, he simply tore off his mask and changed the name of the country to Zhao, which was called Qian Zhao in history.He also no longer offered sacrifices to Liu Bang and others, but used Mao Dun Shanyu to match the emperor, and Gaozu Liu Yuan to match God.

However, Liu Yao was already the last emperor of the "Han-Former Zhao", and it was in Liu Cong's era that he achieved his imperial career, although Liu Yao also contributed a lot.Liu Cong, the fourth son of Liu Yuan, also grew up in Luoyang, the capital of the Western Jin Dynasty. At a young age, he became a famous calligrapher, sinologist and Chinese writer in the capital, and he was considered the best of the best. Isn't Liu Cong even more of a Sinicized barbarian? However, it was the blood of the Huns that flowed on Liu Cong.He is tall and strong, and can draw a bow of three hundred catties, which is by no means comparable to those frail scholars in the Western Jin Dynasty.Therefore, not only did he seize the throne without hesitation when threatened, but he also sent the last two emperors of the Western Jin Dynasty and their dynasties to the guillotine.

Both Jin emperors were captured by Liu Yao, one in Luoyang (311 AD) and the other in Chang'an (316 AD).When they were killed by Liu Cong, one was 30 years old (Jin Huai Emperor) and the other was 19 years old (Jin Min Emperor).Before they died, they all acted as Liu Cong's bartenders, pouring wine and washing glasses. Emperor Jin Min was called to the toilet to turn over the toilet seat for Liu Cong, and all the accompanying Jin officials cried bitterly. In a fit of rage, Liu Cong killed them all. In fact, even if they were not killed, these people would be worse off than dead.After Emperor Huai surrendered, Liu Cong named him Duke of Kuaiji and invited him to dinner.Liu Cong said: When you were the king of Yuzhang, I went to visit with a friend. You said you were famous for a long time, showed me the lyrics you wrote, and gave me many gifts. Do you remember these things?

Emperor Huai of Jin said: How dare I forget, I only hate that I didn't know Longyan at that time. Liu Cong said: "Your family is fighting each other, why is it so fierce?" Emperor Huai of Jin said: The destiny is in the great Han (Liu Yuan regime), so the courtiers have to make room for His Majesty to clean the room.If the ministers and others unite sincerely and carry forward the foundation of Emperor Wu, how can His Majesty win the world? What a "self-expelling" is really shameless!Liu Cong was very satisfied when he heard this, and immediately rewarded him with a beautiful girl, although later Liu Cong poisoned the king of subjugation and took the girl as his own.

Looking at it this way, Emperor Huai is already a servile servant, why should he kill him? Hate, but also fear and loathing. In fact, the reason for Liu Cong's two murders is probably here.One day he went out hunting and asked Jin Mindi to wear a military uniform as a pioneer. The people along the way couldn't help but shed tears when they saw him.So Liu Cong realized sensitively that people's hearts are in Han and Jin, not with fake and shoddy people like them.This is almost an unchangeable status quo and reality.He couldn't think of any other way but to kill. At that time, Liu Cong must have mixed feelings in his heart.

Complicated emotions are inevitable because identity is a big issue.In fact, when the Liu Yuan Group claimed to be the legal successor of the great Han, it also meant that the Han regime was orthodox and the Han civilization was authentic.Therefore, they are entering the Han and entering China, not chaotic Han and China, let alone destroying Han and China.The question is, who could understand this at the time?Even they themselves may not think clearly. National integration seems to have a long way to go. In fact, not only Han people and Hu people, but also Hu people have conflicts, conflicts, and struggles.Eleven years after Emperor Jin Min was murdered, the "Han-Qian Zhao" of the Xiongnu also perished, and it was another Hu who raised the butcher knife.He killed Liu Yao, the last emperor of Zhao Dynasty, and turned northern China into his own stage. This happened in AD 329.At this time, it was nearly half a century before the Great Migration of European Nationalities (374 AD) caused by the Huns in Central Asia. From Liu Yuan becoming king to Liu Yao being killed, the regime of the Sinicized Huns only existed for twenty-five years, just like a shooting star across the night sky.However, the situation of great unification has been torn open, and the fresh wind blows in with blood, and a new nation and a new civilization will be born in the intersection of blood and fire.It's just that in the relay race of the Long March, more torchbearers are needed to complete the race.

---

Notes: Volume eighty-five.Please also refer to (French) René Grousse's "Chinese Civilization", New World Publishing House.