Chapter 45 9. Please master, Empress Lu cleverly avoids the disaster of waste storage

After Liu Bang took a series of measures, the royal power was gradually concentrated in the hands of Liu Bang alone. The recovery work after the war was carried out in an orderly manner, and the people gradually lived a life without worrying about food and clothing.Liu Bang felt tired, it was the relaxation after his worries were over, his throne was finally secured, and when the tight string was loosened, he naturally felt tired. Liu Bang can finally calm down and enjoy Madam Qi's singing and dancing.When Mrs. Qi danced, her long sleeves flew like colorful clouds, and when she sang, the sound of warblers echoed in the hall.Liu Bang was often intoxicated by it. He felt that he had no regrets in his old age with Mrs. Qi by his side.

Empress Lu has been neglected for a long time. Whenever she heard Miaoman's singing in the palace and the emperor's laughter, she felt restless.In order to resolve this resentment, she found many things to do, such as reviewing memorials and handling state affairs.Old age and injuries have worn away Liu Bang's heroism, and he began to let go. Many things were left to Empress Lu to do, and he and his beloved Madam Qi traveled around the mountains and rivers.Madam Qi wants more than that, right?Empress Lu realized this a long time ago. Sure enough, relying on Liu Bang's favor, Mrs. Qi asked Liu Bang many times: abolish the prince Liu Ying, and make her son Ruyi the prince.Liu Ruyi is Liu Bang's favorite son. Liu Bang thinks that Liu Ruyi is the most similar to himself, but disposing of the elders and establishing the young is a major event in the court, and it may lead to fratricide and the collapse of the country.Facing Mrs. Qi's entanglement, Liu Bang always evaded it every time. Later, Mrs. Qi cried and made noises, pretending to be sick, so she couldn't perform singing and dancing for him.Liu Bang had no choice but to discuss it when he went to court.

Liu Bang himself fell into the contradiction between reason and emotion.Ruyi inherited Liu Bang's high nose bridge, intelligent and sensible, and was born of Qi Ji. When Liu Bang thought of the mother and son in his later years, his heart was moved, and the idea of ​​making Ruyi the prince would occasionally appear in his mind. But he always dismissed this idea himself.Empress Lu is the first wife, and Liu Ying is the eldest son. If he abolishes the prince without any reason, what will the ministers think of him?Liu Bang thought for a while, and decided to test the minister's attitude.

The minister's attitude is very clear: the practice of establishing a reserve has been established since the Zhou Dynasty and cannot be easily changed.The minister also cited the example of Qin Shihuang. Qin Shihuang did not appoint the prince to help Su earlier, so Zhao Gao fraudulently established Huhai. This lesson is right in front of us.Veteran Zhou Chang resolutely opposed changing the crown prince, expressing his admonishment with death.Seeing Zhou Chang's attitude, all the ministers also unequivocally supported Zhou Chang.Seeing this situation, Liu Bang had no choice but to say: "Let's discuss again."

Empress Lu immediately broke out in a cold sweat when she knew the content of the court discussion.She thought sadly that the emperor no longer had any affection for her, and all his thoughts were on Mrs. Qi, who was good at singing and dancing. What was more serious was that the positions of the prince and queen were in jeopardy. Madam will think of other ways to step on her head.Things have come to a very critical moment. That night, Empress Lu couldn't sleep at night, tossing and turning, recalling the scene when she first married Liu Bang, feeling sad and resentful for a while.The next day, Empress Lu was extremely tired, and the female official who helped her with some official documents asked, "What's on your mind? Let us share your worries." Empress Lu expressed her worries, and the female official said after thinking about it : "I heard that Marquis Liu Zhang Liang is a think tank in the world, why doesn't the queen ask him for advice?" The words awakened Empress Lu.

At that time, Zhang Liang was in a semi-reclusive state, and he didn't ask much about political affairs. It was not easy to ask him to speak out.Empress Lu found her elder brother Lu Ze.Lu Ze also had no good solution, so he hijacked Zhang Liang secretly and forced Zhang Liang to offer advice.Zhang Liang said to Lu Ze: "The emperor can indeed listen to my opinions when he is fighting, but after all, it is the emperor's family business to abandon the elder and establish the young. I don't think the prince can be saved by talking alone." Lu Ze heard this and hurried Said: "Sir, do you have any good ideas?" Zhang Liang said: "There are four old men who are known as 'Shangshan Sihao'. They are famous sages. They are already eighty years old. They sent people to invite them many times, but they avoided seeing them and refused to accept the emperor's conferment. If you think of a good way to invite 'Shangshan Sihao' out to assist the prince, let them accompany the prince every day, Especially when he was with the crown prince during the court, the emperor knew that 'Shangshan Sihao' was also assisting the crown prince, so he might change his mind." Lu Ze felt as if he had found a treasure, and hurriedly relayed Zhang Liang's words to Empress Lu.

Empress Lu put it into practice immediately. She first sent people to secretly search for the four masters, and spent a lot of manpower to find out their hobbies and temperaments.Then she asked the prince to write a sincere letter and carefully prepared generous gifts.After everything was ready, Lu Ze was sent to bring the prince's personal letter and generous gifts, and invited "Shangshan Sihao" out of the mountain.After Lu Ze left, Empress Lu anxiously waited for the news, and within a few days, Lu Ze brought good news, saying that four eminent scholars had agreed to go out to assist the prince.

Why did Liu Bang invite them many times and they refused to come, but Queen Lu came after inviting him once?It may be that the prince's letter was very touching, and Empress Lu also took a lot of pains in preparing the gift.It can be said that Empress Lu came prepared and would not return without success.The emperor paid off, and "Shangshan Sihao" was finally taken back to Chang'an by Lu Ze.Empress Lu breathed a sigh of relief. Since then, the palace often saw four more old people around the prince. These four old people have white hair and eyebrows, and are very particular about their clothes and crowns. They are personable and quite fairy-like.Everyone guessed the identities of these four old people one after another, feeling that they were not ordinary people.At a court banquet, Liu Bang found it strange that there were four old people beside the prince, so he asked them, "Who are you?" , Xia Huanggong.Liu Bang was very surprised when he heard about it, and said: "I have invited you for many years, and you have avoided me. Why do you follow my son now?" Duke Dongyuan said: "We have long heard that your majesty does not like reading and despises scholars. He also loves to lose his temper and swear at others. The four of us are all old and don’t want to be humiliated, so we dare not come to see His Majesty.” Xia Huanggong went on to say: “Now I hear that the prince is benevolent, filial and respectful, and loves scholars all over the world. Serving for the prince, that’s why we’re here.” The two old men spoke in a simple and natural way, and their words of praise for the prince seemed very real, and it’s not known whether they were ordered by Empress Lu, but Liu Bang really felt a lot of emotions when he heard it. .

Liu Bang thinks that the prince has established prestige among the people... He is happy about this, but he is also a little bit disappointed.He was silent for a while, then sighed and said: "Then please take good care of the prince for me and help him well." The four old people agreed, and after toasting, they left.Liu Bang looked at the backs of the four old people who left, and sighed again. After the court banquet, Liu Bang met Mrs. Qi and said to Mrs. Qi: "Being an emperor seems to be one-sided, but in fact, there are times when you have no choice!" Mrs. Qi asked him why, and Liu Bang said, "I want to change the prince, but now four All the dignitaries came to assist the prince, and the prince's wings are already full and hard to shake! Empress Lu is such a good master!" Madam Qi heard that her dream of being a queen had been shattered, and immediately burst into tears.

Liu Bang tried his best to comfort Mrs. Qi, and loved her even more than before, but he never mentioned Prince Yili again.The prince finally got the heir, and Empress Lu respected Zhang Liang very much for this. In the past dynasties, the change of royal heir often led to a coup in the palace. Therefore, the establishment of a crown prince has always been regarded as a very important matter by the ruling class.Liu Bang and all the officials of the Han Dynasty knew that the prince should not be abolished easily, otherwise it would cause disaster, but when Liu Bang tilted the balance to the emotional side, it was inevitable that he would be biased.The abolition of the prince directly threatened the interests and status of Empress Lv. At a very critical moment, she was able to make a quick decision and implement actions, and finally stopped Liu Bang's easy storage, revealing the potential of a politician.Later, Liu Ying ascended to the throne of God, and the Han Dynasty entered the period of Empress Lv's dictatorship, and Empress Lv stepped onto the stage of history as a female politician.