Chapter 25 Chapter 24 Shun Emperor Liu Bao

In the fourth year of Emperor Yanguang of the Eastern Han Dynasty (125 A.D.), Emperor An passed away while on a tour. Liu Bao, who was 11 years old, succeeded him as Emperor Shun. Liu Baoben was the son of Emperor An and his concubine Li Shi, and was once established as the crown prince.Because Queen Yan had no children, she killed Li, and then sought an opportunity to abolish Liu Bao as the crown prince.Emperor An died on the way out, and the accompanying Empress Yan and her brothers were afraid that the ministers in the court would support Liu Bao as emperor, so they kept the funeral secret. After returning to the palace, they arranged everything before announcing the news.At this time, the Deng brothers had complied with the decision of Empress Yan conspiring with the eunuchs, and sent people to welcome Liu Yi, the son of Beixiang Hou, the son of King Liu Shou of Jibei, as emperor.

Beixiang Hou became ill after he became emperor, and he never recovered.Sun Cheng, the eunuch and Zhongchang attendant, said to Chang Xingqu, Liu Bao, the king of Jiyin: "Liu Bao, the king of Jiyin, is the direct son of the first emperor. He had no fault at all. He was deposed because the first emperor listened to slander. If Beixiang Hou dies, we will unite and Kill Jiang Jing and Yan Xian together, the matter must be successful!" Soon, Hou Beixiang died.The Empress Dowager Yan and others blocked the news to keep the ministers from knowing, and secretly selected other princes to inherit the throne.In order to prevent accidents, they closed the gate of the palace and sent heavy soldiers to guard it.

Although the ministers don't know the details, they can't hide it from the eunuchs in the palace.Sun Cheng and more than a dozen people secretly gathered in the Deyang Hall of the palace to hold an oath ceremony. Each of them cut off a piece of clothing, determined to work together to achieve great things.Two nights later, Sun Cheng and others discussed again in Chongde Hall and decided to act immediately.So he drew his knife and went to Zhangtaimen.They killed the eunuch who was close to the Yan family, leaving only the veteran eunuch Li Run, put the knife on his neck, and said: "Now we welcome King Jiyin, don't be half-hearted." Li Run felt that there was no need to object , I had to say: "Okay!" So Sun Cheng and others helped Li Run up, and they all went to the west bell to welcome Liu Bao, the king of Jiyin, who is the emperor, as Emperor Shun.This year, Liu Bao was 11 years old.In the second year, the name was changed to "Yongjian".

After succeeding, Emperor Shun immediately led Shang Shuling and Shang Shu's servants to the Nangong, climbed to the Yuntai, summoned the officials and officials, and ordered Huben and Yulin sergeants to guard the gates of the South and North Palaces closely.The Empress Dowager's brother Yan Xian and others got the news, but in the end they had no choice but to wait for death.Emperor Shun gained an absolute advantage, and sent envoys to the Empress Dowager Yan to seize the Xishou, and sent Shi Yushi to arrest Yan Xian and his younger brother Yan Yao, the school captain of the city gate, and Yan Yan, the executive king.After the Yan brothers were captured, they were all executed, and the queen mother was moved to the palace.So far, Emperor Shun's action to eliminate political enemies has come to an end.

Sun Cheng and others were granted the title of Marquis Shiyi because of their support.After Emperor Shun ascended the throne, he gradually alienated Sun Cheng and others, trusted another eunuch Zhang Fang, and discussed important matters with Zhang Fang first.Relying on Emperor Shun's trust, Zhang Fang showed off his power and acted illegally.Yu Xu, the lieutenant of the Sili school, was not afraid of power, collected Zhang Fang's crimes, and wrote a letter of impeachment.But when the memorial arrived at Emperor Shun's place, there was no follow-up.When Sun Cheng learned about it, he hurried to see Emperor Shun.Sun Cheng said to Emperor Shun: "When your Majesty and we were preparing for the uprising, you thought treacherous officials were the scourge of the country. Now that you have ascended the throne, you are repeating the same mistakes as the previous emperor! Yu Xu, the captain of Sili, was arrested for his loyalty to the country. Zhongchang Zhang Fang's crimes of lawlessness, corruption and bribery are well known in the world, but His Majesty thinks he is a loyal minister. Now that the astrology has changed, it shows that there are treacherous ministers in the palace. Zhang Fang should be arrested immediately, which is in line with God's will!" At that time, Zhang Fang was standing behind Shun Emperor, and Sun Cheng shouted: "The treacherous minister Zhang Fang, come down and be bound!" Zhang Fang knew that Sun Cheng was powerful, so he had to leave Shun Emperor and go to the East Chamber.Because of Sun Cheng's merits in supporting him, Emperor Shun was frightened by his remaining prestige, so he had to send Zhang Fang to a remote area.

However, as an emperor, he cannot be restrained by these eunuchs.Not long after, Emperor Shun dismissed all 19 eunuchs, including Sun Cheng, who participated in the establishment, on the charge of "fighting for merit", and drove them all out of Luoyang, the capital city.Two years later, Emperor Shun recalled Sun Cheng and others' contributions and recalled them to Luoyang.Sun Chengguan worships the captain of the cavalry and has no real power.Finally died in Luoyang. After Emperor Shun came to power, internal and external troubles continued.In the third year of Yongjian (AD 118), an earthquake occurred in Luoyang, and Hanyang collapsed.In the fifth year of Yongjian (AD 130), drought and locust plagues occurred in Luoyang, and locust plagues also occurred in the other 12 counties.In the future, wind, waterlogging, flood and drought will occur from time to time.The economic situation of Emperor Shun's dynasty was not good, and its politics became increasingly corrupt.

In the fifth year of Yonghe (AD 140), the Qiang uprising, which had been subdued for more than 10 years, broke out again.After the uprising broke out, Emperor Shun quickly ordered to gather more than 100,000 troops to suppress it.This war lasted for 15 years and ended in the first year of Emperor Chong Yongjia, costing more than 8 billion.The generals who participated in the war were indulgent and unscrupulous, embezzling military pay and filling their own pockets.But the soldiers were tortured and worked hard, and their bones were staring at each other. The war against the Qiang increased the burden on the people, and political corruption aroused greater dissatisfaction among the people.From the sixth year of Yonghe (AD 141), small-scale people's uprisings began to break out in Guangling, Jiangxia, Nanjun, Yizhou, Xuzhou and other places.Although these uprisings were suppressed, the dissatisfaction of the people grew day by day.

In the sixth year of Yongjian (AD 131), Emperor Shun wanted to make a queen.At this time, there were four nobles in the harem who were favored, and Emperor Shun didn't know which one to choose.At this time, Liang Yu, the daughter of Liang Shang, was selected to enter the palace as a nobleman, and was often called to serve by Emperor Shun.After recruiting too many times, Liang Yu declined and said: "I hope your majesty will sprinkle the rain like rain in the sky." Emperor Shun thought Liang nobleman was very virtuous and loved him even more.In the second year, Liang Yu was named queen.Liang Shang was originally an official worshiping captain of the Tunqi school, but this time he had a good time with his daughter and added a special promotion.Soon, he worshiped Jinwu again.After two years, he was promoted to general.

Correspondingly, the contradictions within the ruling class have further intensified.Eunuchs and relatives gained power one after another in the internal struggle of the palace, blocking the promotion of bureaucrats and scholar-bureaucrats whose main ladder was to become an official.In the first year of Han'an (AD 141), General Liang Shang died, and Liang Ji succeeded his father as General.In the second year of Han'an (142 A.D.), Emperor Shun sent 8 people, including Du Qiao and Guanglu doctor Zhang Gang, to branch prefectures and counties to inspect political achievements and impeach corrupt officials.Zhang Gang went out of the capital, went to Luoyang Duting, buried the wheel in the ground, and said: "The jackal is in power, how can I ask the fox?" So he turned back and impeached Liang Ji for corruption, indulgence, and disloyalty to the emperor. He listed 15 crimes in total. .At this time, Empress Liang was being favored, and Liang's in-laws were all over the dynasty, forming a political group.Emperor Shun knew that what Zhang Gang said was true, but he did not deal with Liang Ji.At this time, the corruption cases reported by the other seven people who went on patrol in the local area were also related to Liang.Liang Ji hated Zhang Gang and others.Just at this time, a peasant uprising broke out in Guangling (now Yangzhou, Jiangsu). Liang Ji took the opportunity to recommend Zhang Gang as the prefect of Guangling and drove him out of the capital.

In the first year of Jiankang (AD 114), amidst internal and external troubles, Emperor Shun passed away. He reigned for 19 years and was 30 years old.At that time, he was buried in Xianling, with the temple name "Jingzong" and the posthumous title "Shundi".