Chapter 23 Chapter Six

Since Liu Bang became the emperor, he wiped out all the kings with different surnames. The old feeling of being happy with the situation and living with the fate disappeared, and his self-consciousness gradually expanded. He really thought that "I am the best in the world" and that he was the Red Emperor. The son descended to earth and was possessed by gods and gods to bless him, and he seemed to despise the world and be arrogant.However, "Biden's siege" tore a corner of his "apotheosis" coat.He raised his troops to go on the expedition himself, not without the intention of showing off his force, and he only wanted to return in triumph.Unexpectedly, being trapped by the Huns in Baideng Mountain, he couldn’t break out of the siege. The battle was really miserable. The enemy approached him several times and almost became a prisoner and took him to the desert. After a good night's sleep, if he hadn't bribed Yan, would he still be able to return to the capital and sit on the throne safely?As long as he thought about it, he felt terrified.So, Liu Bang once again retreated from the floating intoxication and the neon clouds to reality.Once I returned to reality, I remembered a conversation I had with my officials when I just became emperor.He once said quite self-knowledge: "I am not as good as Zifang when I manage to win in the curtains and curtains thousands of miles away. I am not as good as Xiao He when I govern the country, caress the people, give them money, and keep food. Army, battle must win, attack must take, I am not as good as Han Xin. These three are all outstanding people, I can use them, and this is why I take the world." Yes, he does not have such a great ability, but he can coordinate Know how to use interpersonal relationships, have tenacity and perseverance, of course, luck is also quite good.Once sober, Liu Bang began to pay attention to being down-to-earth in front of him, stressing traditional pragmatism, and using it with ease.He seizes the good times and enjoys the good life to the fullest.As soon as his past rogue habits showed themselves, he played them without any disguise, without scruples, and justifiably.The emperor of China is aloof, and all the people seem to live for him alone. Playing a little "hooligan" is really a piece of cake, not worth mentioning.As a farmer, he doesn't have too many desires and extravagant expectations, and he is very content.

In the squandering and enjoying of life, Liu Bang is getting old day by day.In particular, the most prominent lust in his life, sometimes he wants to do it with a taste that he has more than enough energy but not enough energy. Six years after the siege of Baideng, in 195 BC, Liu Bang lived a long-term stable and comfortable life, and the restless "hooligan" factor in his heart began to surge again.At this moment, Ying Bu raised his troops to rebel against Liu Bang. On a whim, Liu Bang completely forgot the embarrassment and danger of Baideng's siege, and wanted to raise troops to conscript himself.During the fierce battle, he was shot by a stray arrow that flew over suddenly.I didn't take it seriously at the time, but on the way back I fell ill, and became very ill.Empress Lu hurriedly found the best doctor to treat him. After the good doctor diagnosed him, Liu Bang asked, "Do you think my illness can be cured?" Seeing his timid and hesitant appearance, he became angry, and couldn't help cursing: "I, as a poor poor man, took over the world with a three-foot sword in my hand. Isn't this the destiny? Human life and death, misfortune, fortune, Prosperity and wealth are all governed by God, God wants my life, even the genius doctor Bian Que can’t cure it; if God let me continue to live, I will recover without medicine.” After finishing speaking, he refused to cure the disease and ordered The man gave fifty catties of gold to the good doctor and let him go.

Deep down, Liu Bang is not afraid of death.In this life, he has walked on the edge of death too many times, and sometimes he survived a desperate situation so that he himself could not believe that he was still alive in the world.In this life, from being a commoner and a hooligan to becoming the emperor, money, beauty, honor... It seems that I have got what I deserve, and I have enjoyed all the blessings I deserve, so what is there to regret and linger on?If anything, the matter of the crown prince probably bothered and worried him the most.In all fairness, Empress Lu had played an irreplaceable positive role in his overlord career, and he also had feelings for her.However, when a woman gets old, her color will naturally fade, and if her color fades, she will fall out of favor.In the year when he was proclaimed King of Han, Liu Bang met his most beloved Mrs. Qi in Dingtao—the Qi Ji who was bumped into by Zhou Chang and wanted to hold her in his arms all day long.He and Mrs. Qi gave birth to a son, Liu Ruyi, who loves the house as much as Wu, so he is naturally overjoyed.And Mrs. Qi also nagged in Liu Bang's ear all day long, hoping that he would abolish the current prince Liu Ying and replace him with Liu Ruyi.Liu Bang has long been dissatisfied with Liu Ying's benevolence and weakness, and also intends to abolish the establishment.However, the ministers, especially Empress Lu, strongly opposed it. Liu Bang could not go his own way, so he had to follow the "public opinion" and take the second best, making Ruyi Queen Zhao.He was very clear about Empress Lu's insidiousness and ability, and the consequences of the struggle for the throne. He seemed to have foreseen the tragic ending of his beloved woman and son once he died.However, he was already seriously ill, and the days to come were numbered. In addition, Empress Lu was always by his side, so he was powerless to change and save the fate of Madam Qi and Liu Ruyi, so he had no choice but to let it go.

Liu Bang refused to be treated, and his illness became more and more serious.The entourage and subordinates all knew that the emperor was dying, so Empress Lu hurried forward to inquire about the funeral.Before he died, although Liu Bang was in unbearable pain, he was quite clear-headed, and he answered one by one methodically.For many years thereafter, the personnel arrangements and related strategies of the Han Dynasty were implemented and developed in accordance with his dying will. The death of Liu Bang is also very different from that of Qin Shihuang and Xiang Yu.Qin Shihuang has always been afraid of death, tabooed death, and constantly sought immortality and medicine. His overhaul of the tomb was actually to pursue another kind of eternal life. The general public has always dismissed this performance of deliberate survival; Xiang Yu was not afraid of death, but he ended his life by himself. However, this method is not advisable. The ancients believed that the hair and skin given by parents should not be treated casually, let alone a noble life?Only Liu Bang's death is the most accepted by ordinary people. Life and death are fate. You should neither be afraid of death to survive deliberately, nor seek death to intentionally kill yourself. You should treat life in a way that conforms to nature.

Not only his death, but Liu Bang's life and lifestyle are also widely accepted, recognized and recognized by the general public. Liu Bang has been favored recently, he does not deliberately elevate himself, and he does not make mysteries and poses.He became an emperor, but he was still a commoner and a commoner at heart, and everyone felt that he was the kindest.If we use today's concept of "citizenization" as an analogy, then it is a typical "peasantization" in ancient times.China is a traditional large agricultural country, and this nature has not changed much until today, more than two thousand years later.Therefore, Liu Bang's character, concept, and behavior are a type and representative that are most suitable for China's "national conditions".He seems to be one of the ordinary people, with five emotions and six desires, and never hides them.He often follows his feelings, eats when he wants, sleeps when he wants, enjoys life to the fullest, is not too harsh on himself, and does not set a lofty goal or ambition that is out of reach.To do it according to one's own ability and ability, to whatever degree you can achieve it. It is up to people to plan things and God to make things happen.He believes in the destiny, and believes that life and death are determined by fate, and that wealth and honor depend on heaven.No one can fight against the high and high-spirited God.But he has resilience—a kind of stickiness like "dog skin plaster". He is not afraid of failure. He falls down and gets up, pats the dust on his body, looks up at the sky, and walks forward without hesitation.

Yes, the common people in China really like Liu Bang, the big brother-like emperor.Of course, from another perspective, we can also say that Liu Bang established China's "Han Soul". Didn't the names "Han people" and "Han nationality" all originate from the Han Dynasty founded by Liu Bang? The Han Dynasty is indeed a dynasty worthy of nostalgia and affection.They have a rare persistence and enthusiasm for the reality of the world, and hope that it will last for a long time and last forever.From the works of art of the Han Dynasty, we can often see the depiction and shaping of life scenes, characters and objects, and sometimes even very mundane and ordinary things, such as barns, stoves, pigsty, chicken coops and so on.

However, it was also the Han Dynasty that made the spirit of pragmatism of the Chinese nation go deeper into the land.Ordinary people only pay attention to reality and benefits, and enjoy happiness and abundance. If things go on like this, they will definitely lose their precious pursuits and lofty ideals; if they are too secular, they will inevitably stay away from the sublime, great and creative, and become short-sighted, plain and mediocre. Liu Bang's so-called "hooliganism" actually contains multiple meanings.Its positive effects, such as full of vitality, broad vision, adaptability, open-mindedness, perseverance, etc., have contributed to Liu Bang's career as an emperor to a certain extent; Its disdain and abandonment are like trash; and what has the greatest impact on the public is its neutral effect, such as being at ease with the situation, living with the situation, enjoying life, being practical, shrewd and tactful, and feminine.

Liu Bang's gentleness and hooliganism not only became a model for later emperors, but also greatly discounted the masculinity, nobility, and openness of the Chinese nation.A femininity, secularity, and mediocrity gradually spread, cruelly eroding the healthy body of the nation.