novelAbuy Chapter 1: My father is Emperor Wu of Han, and my son is Crown Prince Liu Ju.
Chapter 1: My father is Emperor Wu of Han, and my son is Crown Prince Liu Ju.
The sixth year of Yuanding (111 BC).
Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, dispatched General Lu Bode, General Yang Pu, and other generals to lead troops in five routes to conquer Nanyue.
After suppressing the rebellion of Lü Jia, nine prefectures, including Nanhai and Cangwu, were established, extending the empire's territory southward to Lingnan.
In the same year, the Han Dynasty adopted the measure of "establishing four commanderies and guarding two passes", dividing the lands of Wuwei and Jiuquan to establish Zhangye Commandery and Dunhuang Commandery, completing the establishment of the four commanderies in Hexi, and setting up Yumen Pass and Yang Pass west of Dunhuang to guard the strategic points.
At the same time, agricultural officials were established in Shangjun, Shuofang, Xihe, Hexi and other places, and 600,000 garrison soldiers were dispatched to cultivate land and defend the border. Large-scale immigration was also carried out to the Hexi region to strengthen the border.
General Li Xi was ordered by the emperor to conquer the Western Qiang and pacify the southwestern barbarians, and established Yizhou Commandery, Yuexi Commandery, Zangke Commandery, Shenli Commandery, and Wenshan Commandery.
...........
It is located five li south of Chang'an City, outside the Fu'ang Gate (also known as the Du Gate).
The rolling hills and flowing rivers create a lush and vibrant landscape.
The Bowang Garden, bathed in the autumn colors, is magnificent and splendid. This was the residence of the crown prince of the Han Empire: the Crown Prince's Palace.
"hehe!"
Liu Ju toyed with the Crown Prince's seal in his hand, his cold eyes sweeping across the bedchamber.
The vermilion doors, windows, and pillars, the bright yellow glazed tile roof, and the ubiquitous Four Symbols (Azure Dragon, White Tiger, Vermilion Bird, and Black Tortoise) all exude royal majesty and luxury. Even the plain silk diamond-patterned undergarment he wears is not something that ordinary nobles can possess.
The Crown Prince of the Great Han Empire, a position second only to the emperor, a status that many can only dream of.
Unfortunately, for him, this was a death warrant, much like the soul-snatching chains of the Ox-Head and Horse-Face guardians, constantly reminding him that death was imminent.
Throughout thousands of years of Eastern history, emperors and generals have been countless, with Qin Shi Huang, Emperor Wu of Han, Emperor Taizong of Tang, and Emperor Taizu of Ming being the most celebrated and also the most lamentable.
Four emperors who went down in history, none of whose eldest sons succeeded to the throne, which became a regret in history.
Among them, Liu Ju suffered the most. He was forced to rebel, and after his defeat, he hanged himself. None of his relatives survived, except for his infant grandson, who later became Emperor Xuan of Han, Liu Xun. The witchcraft accusation affected hundreds of thousands of people, a truly tragic situation.
In fact, in his later years, Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, had become a vicious dragon hovering over the empire, guarding his greatest treasure—his posthumous reputation—with his aging and enormous body. Anyone who tried to touch this treasure would be mercilessly devoured.
The phrase "a son who is not like his father" weighed heavily on the young Crown Prince Liu Ju like a towering mountain. Beneath the calm surface, undercurrents surged, and countless people were eager to make their move.
The increasingly decadent emperor and the burgeoning crown prince were destined to be unable to coexist; their relationship was essentially a power struggle between the two.
It's not just a matter of governing philosophies, but also a confrontation between the support groups behind the two sides; shared interests are the only common ground.
In his previous life, Liu Ju did not understand the deeper meaning and still harbored a sliver of hope for the bond between father and son, which led to his utterly tragic end.
"Li Guangli, Liu Quli, Jiang Chong, Su Wen!"
Four names flashed through Liu Ju's mind. These were the instigators of the witchcraft scare, a group of audacious schemers.
Li Guangli, as the maternal uncle of Liu Bo, the Prince of Changyi, colluded with Liu Quli, the Left Chancellor, and Su Wen, the Gentleman Attendant at the Palace Gate, to plot to seize the position of Crown Prince.
Jiang Chong, on the other hand, had no chance of resolving his conflict with the Crown Prince. Knowing that the Crown Prince's ascension to the throne would mean his certain death, he would naturally fight desperately.
Those who benefited from the witchcraft scandal included eunuchs Chang Rong and Wang Bi, Grand Censor Shangqiu Cheng, Marquis Jing Jian, Marquis Li Shou, Marquis Zhang Fuchang, Marquis Ma Tong, Attendant-in-Ordinary Ma Heluo, and Envoy of the Northern Army Ren An.
Regardless of their motives, these people directly or indirectly drove him to a dead end, and their crimes are unforgivable!
This time, he will never repeat the same mistake!
Emperor Wu of Han is now 46 years old, like the setting sun, while he is only 18 years old, like the rising sun.
As the saying goes, "When a child is not yet grown up, things will change once he is grown up!"
In this life, he will be the ruler of the Great Han Empire, expanding the Han Dynasty to an unprecedentedly vast territory. Wherever the sun and moon shine, it will be Han land; wherever rivers flow, they will be Han subjects.
"Someone come here!"
"Your Highness!"
As footsteps approached from the outside, a line of palace maids dressed in short jackets and long skirts filed in, carrying either copper basins filled with warm water or silk handkerchiefs.
"Um."
Liu Ju nodded, and the palace maids stepped forward to help him wash and dress.
Before long, he changed into a dark black robe, with a leather belt around his waist, flat shoes on his feet, and a scholar's cap on his head. He had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and his features were sharp and distinct. Every move he made exuded the aura of a superior who was not angry but dignified. Beneath his refined and peaceful appearance lay a resolute nature.
"Tap tap..."
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps broke the tranquility of the hall.
A thin figure hurried inside, dressed in a sky-blue straight-hemmed robe and wearing a turban, his face extremely pale.
"What's the matter that you're so panicked?"
Liu Ju immediately recognized the visitor as Zhang He, the Crown Prince's tutor and Zhang Tang's eldest son.
Because of his friendship with Crown Prince Liu Ju, he was castrated during the witchcraft scandal. Later, he served as the Director of the Imperial Inner Palace. During his tenure, he raised the infant Emperor Xuan of Han, Liu Xun, personally taught him and covered his living expenses. He originally intended to marry his granddaughter to Emperor Xuan, but this did not come to fruition. Instead, he arranged for Xu Pingjun to marry him.
It can be said that Zhang He was his most trusted confidant, without exception.
"Your Highness, something terrible has happened!"
Zhang Heqiang suppressed the turmoil in his heart and reported: "The Imperial Censor Jiang Chong has arrested Shen Yu."
"Um?"
With a slight frown, Liu Ju asked coldly, "What did Shen Yu do?"
"Your Highness."
"When Shen Yu was driving on the imperial road, he encountered Jiang Chong, the Imperial Censor in Embroidered Robes, who was accompanying His Majesty to Ganquan Palace."
"Jiang Chong, the Imperial Censor in Embroidered Robes, arrested him on the grounds that he had violated the law."
"Great, excellent!"
Liu Ju's eyes grew increasingly cold, and he spoke with a forced smile.
The Han dynasty inherited the Qin system and extensively constructed highways to facilitate the rapid passage of documents, troop movements, and the transportation of supplies.
The "Order B" clearly stipulates that the central road of the imperial road is the imperial road, which is only open to the emperor's carriages and horses; side roads are set up on both sides for the use of officials, envoys and others under special circumstances, and ordinary people are strictly prohibited from entering.
Under normal circumstances, the carriages of high-ranking officials and nobles would choose to travel on the main road, and only on the side roads, which was not a big deal.
However, Jiang Chong used this as a pretext to arrest Shen Yu, who was a retainer of the Crown Prince. This was clearly an attempt to establish the Crown Prince's authority.
"Your Highness."
"Should we send someone over?"
"Jiang Chong is just a mere Imperial Censor; I suppose he would do this favor."
Zhang He made a suggestion.
"No!"
Unexpectedly, Liu Ju raised his right hand high and said coldly, "Jiang Chong is a man who bewitches the emperor and misleads the people, causing chaos among the emperor and his relatives. He advances his career without relying on loyalty and integrity, and uses his cunning and treacherous methods to achieve his goals. He is a villain."
"If Your Majesty grants power lightly without careful consideration, you will surely become a great villain who will bring chaos to the world."
"As the Crown Prince and the heir apparent of the empire, I naturally cannot sit idly by."
'Thump!'
Zhang He suddenly looked up, staring at him with a face full of shock.
The former crown prince was gentle and refined, and his interactions with others were like a gentle breeze, which was praised by everyone in the Han Dynasty.
The current crown prince gave him a chilling, winter-like aura, making him feel quite unfamiliar.