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Sima Qian: Historical Records 9 Empress Dowager Lü
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Empress Dowager Lü was the wife of Emperor Gaozu when he was poor and humble. She gave birth to Emperor Xiaohui and his daughter Empress Dowager Lu Yuan. When Emperor Gaozu became the King of Han, he got Concubine Qi (Consort Qi) from Dingtao and doted upon her. She gave birth to Liu Ruyi, the King Yin of Zhao. Emperor Xiaohui was kind and weak. Emperor Gaozu thought he was not like himself, so he always wanted to abolish the crown prince and establish Concubine Qi's son Liu Ruyi because Liu Ruyi was like himself. Concubine Qi was favored and often followed Emperor Gaozu to Guandong. She cried day and night, hoping that Emperor Gaozu would establish her son to replace the crown prince. Empress Dowager Lü was old and often stayed in the capital. She rarely saw Emperor Gaozu, and the relationship between husband and wife became more distant. After Liu Ruyi was named King of Zhao, he was almost made replacing the crown prince several times. Fortunately, the ministers dissuaded the emperor, and with the strategy of Liu Hou, the crown prince was not abolished.
Empress Dowager Lü was strong and resolute. She assisted Emperor Gaozu in pacifying the world. Most of the killings of ministers were Empress Dowager Lü's plans. Empress Dowager Lü had two elder brothers, both of whom served as generals. The eldest brother Marquis Zhou Lü died for the country, and Gaozu named his son Lü Tai as Marquis Li, another son Lü Chan as Marquis Jiao; the second brother Lü Shizhi was named Marquis Jiancheng.
On the 4th month of the 12th year of Gaozu (195 BC), Gaozu died in Changle Palace, and the crown prince inherited the title of emperor. At that time, Gaozu had eight sons: the eldest son Liu Fei, who was the elder brother of Emperor Xiaohui and not born of the same mother, was named King of Qi; the rest were all younger brothers of Emperor Xiaohui, and Concubine Qi's son Liu Ruyi was named King of Zhao, and Lady Bo's son Liu Heng was named King of Dai. The sons of other concubines Liu Hui were named King of Liang, Liu You was named King of Huaiyang, Liu Chang was named King of Huainan, and Liu Jian was named King of Yan. Gaozu's younger brother Liu Jiao was named King of Chu, and his elder brother's son Liu Bi was named King of Wu. Wu Chen, the son of Wu Rui of Fan Jun, a meritorious official who did not belong to the Liu family, was named King of Changsha.
司马迁·史记卷九·吕太后本纪第九
吕太后者，高祖微时妃也，生孝惠帝、女鲁元太后。及高祖为汉王，得定陶戚姬，爱幸，生赵隐王如意。孝惠为人仁弱，高祖以为不类我，常欲废太子，立戚姬子如意，如意类我。戚姬幸，常从上之关东，日夜啼泣，欲立其子代太子。吕后年长，常留守，希见上，益疏。如意立为赵王后，几代太子者数矣，赖大臣争之，及留侯策，太子得毋废。
吕后为人刚毅，佐高祖定天下，所诛大臣多吕后力。吕后兄二人，皆为将。长兄周吕侯死事，封其子吕台为郦侯，子产为交侯；次兄吕释之为建成侯。
高祖十二年四月甲辰，崩长乐宫，太子袭号为帝。是时高祖八子：长男肥，孝惠兄也，异母，肥为齐王；余皆孝惠弟，戚姬子如意为赵王，薄夫人子恒为代王，诸姬子子恢为梁王，子友为淮阳王，子长为淮南王，子建为燕王。高祖弟交为楚王，兄子濞为吴王。非刘氏功臣番君吴芮子臣为长沙王。
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Empress Lü hated Concubine Qi and her son, the King of Zhao, the most, so she ordered Concubine Qi to be imprisoned in Yongxiang and summoned the King of Zhao. The messengers went back and forth many times. Zhou Chang, the Prime Minister of Zhao, the Marquis of Jianping, said to the messenger: "Emperor Gaozu entrusted the King of Zhao to me, and now the King of Zhao is young. I heard privately that the Queen Mother hated Concubine Qi and wanted to summon the King of Zhao to kill him together. I dare not send the King of Zhao away. Besides, the King of Zhao is also sick and cannot obey the imperial edict." Empress Lü was very angry and sent someone to summon the Prime Minister of Zhao. After he came to Chang'an, and Empress Lü sent someone to summon the King of Zhao again. The King of Zhao came, but had not arrived yet. Emperor Xiaohui was kind and benevolent. Knowing that the Queen Mother was angry, he personally went to Bashang to welcome the King of Zhao, went into the palace with him, and personally took the King of Zhao to sit, sleep and eat together. The Queen Mother wanted to kill the King of Zhao, but could not find an opportunity. In December of the first year of Emperor Xiaohui (194 BC), Emperor Xiaohui went out hunting in the early morning. The King of Zhao was young and could not get up early. When the queen mother heard that he was alone in the palace, she sent someone to bring him poisoned wine to drink. At dawn, Emperor Xiaohui returned, and King Zhao was dead. So the court changed the title of Liu You from the King of Huaiyang to the King Zhao. In the summer, Emperor Xiaohui issued an edict to posthumously honor Marquis Li’s father as Marquis Lingwu. The queen mother finally cut off Lady Qi's hands and feet, dug out her eyes, smoked her ears, poured drug into her to make her dumb, then threw her into the toilet, and called her a "human pig". After a few days, she asked Emperor Xiaohui to go and see the human pig. After seeing it, Emperor Xiaohui asked others and found out that it was Lady Qi, so he cried and fell ill. He was bedridden for more than a year and could not get up. He sent someone to ask the queen mother for instructions, saying: "This is not something a human can do. I am the queen mother's son, and I can't rule the world after all." From then on, Emperor Xiaohui indulged in drinking every day for fun and did not deal with state affairs, so he fell sick.
In the second year (193 BC), King Yuan of Chu and King Daohui of Qi came to the court. In October, Emperor Xiaohui and the King of Qi held a banquet in front of the Queen Mother. Emperor Xiaohui thought that the King of Qi was his elder brother, so he arranged for him to sit at the top seat, according to the etiquette of ordinary people's homes. The Queen Mother was very angry, so she ordered people to pour two cups of poisoned wine and put them in front, and ordered the King of Qi to stand up and toast for her. The King of Qi stood up, and Emperor Xiaohui also stood up, took a wine cup and wanted to toast with the King of Qi. The Queen Mother was frightened, and she stood up and knocked over Emperor Xiaohui's cup. The King of Qi felt strange, so he didn't dare to drink the wine, pretending to be drunk and left. Later, after asking, he found out that it was poisoned. The King of Qi was very scared and thought he couldn't escape from Chang'an, so he was worried about it. The court historian of the King of Qi advised him, "The queen mother has only two children, Emperor Xiaohui and Princess Luyuan. Now the king has more than 70 cities, while the princess has only a few cities as her fiefdom. If the king offers a county to the queen mother as her bathing county, the queen mother will be very happy and the king will have no worries." So the king of Qi offered Chengyang County to the princess and honored her as the queen mother. Empress Lü was very happy and agreed to the king of Qi's request. She held a banquet in the king's official residence and drank happily. After the banquet, she let the king go back. In the third year (192 BC), the construction of Chang'an City began, half of it was completed in the fourth year (191 BC), and it was finally completed after the fifth year (190 BC) and the sixth year (189 BC). All the princes came to the party. In October, the princes entered the court to celebrate.
吕后最怨戚夫人及其子赵王，乃令永巷囚戚夫人，而召赵王。使者三反，赵相建平侯周昌谓使者曰：“高帝属臣赵王，赵王年少。窃闻太后怨戚夫人，欲召赵王并诛之，臣不敢遣王。王且亦病，不能奉诏。”吕后大怒，乃使人召赵相。赵相徵至长安，乃使人复召赵王。王来，未到。孝惠帝慈仁，知太后怒，自迎赵王霸上，与入宫，自挟与赵王起居饮食。太后欲杀之，不得间。孝惠元年十二月，帝晨出射。赵王少，不能蚤起。太后闻其独居，使人持酖饮之。犁明，孝惠还，赵王已死。于是乃徙淮阳王友为赵王。夏，诏赐郦侯父追谥为令武侯。太后遂断戚夫人手足，去眼，煇耳，饮瘖药，使居厕中，命曰“人彘”。居数日，乃召孝惠帝观人彘。孝惠见，问，乃知其戚夫人，乃大哭，因病，岁余不能起。使人请太后曰：“此非人所为。臣为太后子，终不能治天下。”孝惠以此日饮为淫乐，不听政，故有病也。
二年，楚元王、齐悼惠王皆来朝。十月，孝惠与齐王燕饮太后前，孝惠以为齐王兄，置上坐，如家人之礼。太后怒，乃令酌两卮酖，置前，令齐王起为寿。齐王起，孝惠亦起，取卮欲俱为寿。太后乃恐，自起泛孝惠卮。齐王怪之，因不敢饮，详醉去。问，知其酖，齐王恐，自以为不得脱长安，忧。齐内史士说王曰：“太后独有孝惠与鲁元公主。今王有七十余城，而公主乃食数城。王诚以一郡上太后，为公主汤沐邑，太后必喜，王必无忧。”于是齐王乃上城阳之郡，尊公主为王太后。吕后喜，许之。乃置酒齐邸，乐饮，罢，归齐王。三年，方筑长安城，四年就半，五年六年城就。诸侯来会。十月朝贺。
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On the Wuyin day of August in the autumn of the seventh year (188 BC), Emperor Xiaohui died. During the funeral, the Queen Mother cried but did not shed tears. Liu Hou's son, Pi Qiang, who was only 15 years old, served as the Attendant of the Court. He said to the Prime Minister: "The Queen Mother only has one son, Emperor Xiaohui. Now he has passed away, but her cry has no sadness in it. Do you know why?" The Prime Minister said: "What is the reason?" Zhang Pi Qiang said: "The Emperor has no adult sons, and the Queen Mother is afraid of you. Please ask the Queen Mother to appoint Lü Tai, Lü Chan, and Lü Lu as generals to lead the northern and southern armies. When the Lü family enters the palace and holds power in the court, the Queen Mother will be at ease, and you will be able to escape the disaster by chance." The Prime Minister did as Zhang Pi Qiang suggested. The Queen Mother was very happy, and she cried sadly. The power of the Lü family was thus established. So the court pardoned the world. On the Xinchou day of the September, Emperor Xiaohui was buried. The crown prince ascended the throne as emperor and paid homage to the temple of Emperor Gaozu. In the first year (187 BC), all orders were issued by the Queen Mother.
The Queen Mother, acting as the Emperor, wanted to discuss the enthronement of the descendants of the Lü family as kings, and asked the Right Prime Minister Wang Ling. Wang Ling said, "Emperor Gao killed a white horse and swore an oath: 'If anyone who is not a descendant of the Liu family claims the throne, all the people of the world will attack him together.' Now enthroning the descendants of the Lü family as kings violates Emperor Gao's covenant." The Queen Mother was very unhappy. She then asked the Left Prime Minister Chen Ping and Marquis of Jiang Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo and others replied, "Emperor Gao pacified the world and enthroned his descendants as kings. Now the Queen Mother is acting as the Emperor, and there is nothing wrong with enthroning brothers and descendants of the Lü family as kings." The Queen Mother was very happy and retired. Wang Ling blamed Chen Ping and Jiang Hou, saying, "Were you not present when we swore an oath of blood with Emperor Gao? Now that Emperor Gao has passed away, the Queen Mother, as a woman, is in power and wants to make the sons of the Lü family kings. Even if you want to flatter and violate the covenant, how can you face Emperor Gao in the underworld?" Chen Ping and Jiang Hou said, "Today, we are not as good as you in criticizing others in person and speaking out in the court; but you will not be as good as us in preserving the country and stabilizing the descendants of the Liu family." Wang Ling had no way to respond to them. In November, the Queen Mother wanted to dismiss Wang Ling, so she appointed him as the Emperor's tutor and deprived him of his prime ministership. Wang Ling then resigned and went home on the pretext of illness. Empress Lü then appointed Chen Ping, the left prime minister, as the right prime minister, and Shen Yiji, the Marquis of Piyang, as the left prime minister. The left prime minister did not handle state affairs, but only supervised the affairs of the palace, just like a imperial attendant supervisor. Shen Yiji was therefore favored by the Queen Mother and often participated in state affairs. The ministers all relied on him to make decisions on political affairs. At this time, the Queen Mother honored Marquis Li's father as King Daowu, and wanted to use this as a beginning to ennoble the children of the Lu family as kings.
In April, the Queen Mother wanted to ennoble the children of the Lu family as marquises, so she first ennobled Feng Wuze, a meritorious official of Emperor Gaozu, as Marquis of Bocheng. Princess Lu Yuan died and was given the posthumous title of Queen Mother Lu Yuan. Princess Lu Yuan's son Zhang Yan was ennobled as King of Lu. The father of King of Lu was Zhang Ao, Marquis Xuanping. The Queen Mother ennobled Liu Zhang, the son of King Daohui of Qi, as Marquis Zhuxu, and married him to Lu Lu's daughter. Qi Shou, the Prime Minister of Qi, was ennobled as Marquis Pingding. Yang Chengyan, the Shaofu, was ennobled as Marquis Wu. So Lü Zhong was ennobled as Marquis Pei, Lü Ping as Marquis Fuliu, and Zhang Mai as Marquis Nangong.
七年秋八月戊寅，孝惠帝崩。发丧，太后哭，泣不下。留侯子张辟强为侍中，年十五，谓丞相曰：“太后独有孝惠，今崩，哭不悲，君知其解乎？”丞相曰：“何解？”辟强曰：“帝毋壮子，太后畏君等。君今请拜吕台、吕产、吕禄为将，将兵居南北军，及诸吕皆入宫，居中用事，如此则太后心安，君等幸得脱祸矣。”丞相乃如辟强计。太后说，其哭乃哀。吕氏权由此起。乃大赦天下。九月辛丑，葬。太子即位为帝，谒高庙。元年，号令一出太后。
太后称制，议欲立诸吕为王，问右丞相王陵。王陵曰：“高帝刑白马盟曰‘非刘氏而王，天下共击之’。今王吕氏，非约也。”太后不说。问左丞相陈平、绛侯周勃。勃等对曰：“高帝定天下，王子弟，今太后称制，王昆弟诸吕，无所不可。”太后喜，罢朝。王陵让陈平、绛侯曰：“始与高帝喋血盟，诸君不在邪？今高帝崩，太后女主，欲王吕氏，诸君从欲阿意背约，何面目见高帝地下？”陈平、绛侯曰：“于今面折廷争，臣不如君；夫全社稷，定刘氏之后，君亦不如臣。”王陵无以应之。十一月，太后欲废王陵，乃拜为帝太傅，夺之相权。王陵遂病免归。乃以左丞相平为右丞相，以辟阳侯审食其为左丞相。左丞相不治事，令监宫中，如郎中令。食其故得幸太后，常用事，公卿皆因而决事。乃追尊郦侯父为悼武王，欲以王诸吕为渐。
四月，太后欲侯诸吕，乃先封高祖之功臣郎中令无择为博城侯。鲁元公主薨，赐谥为鲁元太后。子偃为鲁王。鲁王父，宣平侯张敖也。封齐悼惠王子章为朱虚侯，以吕禄女妻之。齐丞相寿为平定侯。少府延为梧侯。乃封吕种为沛侯，吕平为扶柳侯，张买为南宫侯。
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The Empress Dowager wanted to make someone from the Lu family king, so she first made the sons born to Emperor Xiaohui's concubine, Liu Qiang the King of Huaiyang, Liu Buyi the King of Changshan, Liu Shan the Marquis of Xiangcheng, Liu Chao the Marquis of Zhi, and Liu Wu the Marquis of Huguan. The Queen Mother whispered the ministers, so they requested to make Lü Tai Marquis Li the King of Lü, and the Queen Mother agreed. When Lü Shizhi, the Marquis Kang of Jiancheng, died, his son who should have succeeded him committed a crime and was deposed, so his younger brother Lü Lu was made Marquis of Huling to continue the bloodline of Marquis Kang. In the second year, King of Changshan died, and his brother Liu Shan, Marquis of Xiangcheng, was made the King of Changshan, and his name was changed to Liu Yi. In November, King Lü Tai died and was posthumously named King Su, and the crown prince Jiadai was made king. Three years passed without incident. In the fourth year, Lü Xu was made the Marquis of Linguang, Lü Ta the Marquis of Yu, Lü Gengshi the Marquis of Zuiqi, Lü Fen the Marquis of Lücheng, and five other princes and prime ministers were also named.
When the daughter of Marquis Xuanping was the Queen of Xiaohui, she had no children. She pretended that she was pregnant and took the son of a concubine and named him, killed his mother, and made the named child the crown prince. When Xiaohui died, the crown prince was made emperor. When the emperor was old, someone heard that his mother had died and that he was not the real empress's son, so he said, "How can the empress kill my mother and name me? I am not yet old, but when I grow up, I will cause trouble." The Empress Dowager heard about it and was worried that he would cause chaos, so she imprisoned him in the Eternal Alley, saying that the emperor was very ill and that no one was allowed to see him. The Empress Dowager said, "When the world is governed by the will of the people, it is governed by the heaven and tolerated by the earth. The ruler is happy to comfort the people, and the people are happy to serve the ruler. When the ruler is happy and harmonious, the world is governed. Now the emperor has been ill for a long time, and he is confused and chaotic. His being on the throne and worshiping the ancestral temple cannot continue. He cannot rule the world. He should be replaced." All the ministers bowed their heads and said, "The empress dowager has been deeply concerned about the people of the world and the ancestral temple is safe. All the ministers bow their heads and obey the order." The emperor was deposed and the empress dowager imprisoned and killed him. On the Bingchen day of May, Liu Yi, the king of Changshan, was made emperor and renamed Liu Hong. It was not called the first year because the Empress Dowagers still controlled the affairs of the world. Chao, the Marquis of Zhi, was made the king of Changshan. The position of Taiwei, the Grand Marshall, was established, and Zhou Bo, the Marquis of Jiang, was made the Taiwei. In the eighth month of the fifth year, the King of Huaiyang died, and his younger brother, Huguan Marquis Wu, was made the King of Huaiyang. In the tenth month of the sixth year, the Queen Mother said that Prince Lu Jia was arrogant and deposed him, and made King Su Tai's younger brother, Lu Chan, the King of Lu. In the summer, the prisoners of the whole country was pardoned. Xingju, the prince of King Daohui of Qi, was made the Marquis of Dongmu.
太后欲王吕氏，先立孝惠后宫子强为淮阳王，子不疑为常山王，子山为襄城侯，子朝为轵侯，子武为壶关侯。太后风大臣，大臣请立郦侯吕台为吕王，太后许之。建成康侯释之卒，嗣子有罪，废，立其弟吕禄为胡陵侯，续康侯后。二年，常山王薨，以其弟襄城侯山为常山王，更名义。十一月，吕王台薨，谥为肃王，太子嘉代立为王。三年，无事。四年，封吕媭为临光侯，吕他为俞侯，吕更始为赘其侯，吕忿为吕城侯，及诸侯丞相五人。
宣平侯女为孝惠皇后时，无子，详为有身，取美人子名之，杀其母，立所名子为太子。孝惠崩，太子立为帝。帝壮，或闻其母死，非真皇后子，乃出言曰：“后安能杀吾母而名我？我未壮，壮即为变。”太后闻而患之，恐其为乱，乃幽之永巷中，言帝病甚，左右莫得见。太后曰：“凡有天下治为万民命者，盖之如天，容之如地，上有欢心以安百姓，百姓欣然以事其上，欢欣交通而天下治。今皇帝病久不已，乃失惑惛乱，不能继嗣奉宗庙祭祀，不可属天下，其代之。”群臣皆顿首言：“皇太后为天下齐民计所以安宗庙社稷甚深，群臣顿首奉诏。”帝废位，太后幽杀之。五月丙辰，立常山王义为帝，更名曰弘。不称元年者，以太后制天下事也。以轵侯朝为常山王。置太尉官，绛侯勃为太尉。五年八月，淮阳王薨，以弟壶关侯武为淮阳王。六年十月，太后曰吕王嘉居处骄恣，废之，以肃王台弟吕产为吕王。夏，赦天下。封齐悼惠王子兴居为东牟侯。
In the seventh year (181 BC), in the first month, the Queen Mother summoned Liu You, the King of Zhao. He married the daughter of the Lü family as his queen, but he did not love her and favored another concubine. The daughter of the Lü family was jealous and left angrily. She spoke ill of him in front of the Queen Mother and framed him as saying, "How can the Lu family be crowned kings? After the Queen Mother dies, I will get rid of them."
The Queen Mother was very angry and summoned the King of Zhao for this reason. When the King of Zhao arrived, he was placed in the palace without being received. The Queen Mother ordered him to be guarded and not given food. Some of the King of Zhao's ministers secretly sent him food, but they were arrested and punished when they were discovered. The King of Zhao felt hungry, so he sang: "The Lu family is in power, the Liu family is in danger, they coerce the princes and force me to marry. The princess is jealous and accuses me of bad things, the jealous woman ruins the country, the emperor is not aware of it. There are no loyal ministers, why leave the fiefdom? I commit suicide in the wild, the heavens seek justice! Alas, I cannot regret it, I would rather kill myself early. The king starved to death, who can pity me! The Lu family is unreasonable, I ask the heavens for revenge." On Dingchou day, King You of Zhao died in prison and was buried in the common people's tomb in Chang'an according to common rites.
On the Jichou day, there was a solar eclipse, and it was dark during the day. The Queen Mother disliked it and was unhappy, so she said to her attendants, "This is because of me."
In February, Hui, the King of Liang, was moved to be the King of Zhao. Chan, the King of Lü, was moved to be the King of Liang. The King of Liang did not go to his country but became the Grand Tutor of the Emperor. The Emperor's son, Tai, the Marquis of Pingchang, was made the King of Lü. Liang was renamed Lü and Lü was renamed Jichuan. The Queen Mother's younger sister, Lü Xu, had a daughter who was married to Liu Ze, the Marquis of Yingling. Ze was a general. The Queen Mother made Kings out of the Lü clan and feared that General Liu would make trouble after her death, so she made Liu Ze the King of Langye as an appeasement.
When King Hui of Liang moved to Zhao, he was unhappy. The Queen Mother made the daughter of Lü Chan the Queen of Zhao. The Queen's attendants were all from the Lü clan, and they abused their power and secretly watched over the King of Zhao, so the King of Zhao could not do what he wanted. The King had a favorite concubine, but the Queen had someone killed her by poison. The King then composed four poems and asked the musicians to sing them. The King was so sad that he committed suicide in June. When the Queen Mother heard about it, she considered him a King who abandoned the ancestral temple rituals for the sake of a woman and had his heritage abolished.
After Zhang Ao, Marquis of Xuanping, died, his son Yan was made King of Lu, and Ao was posthumously named King Yuan of Lu.
In autumn, the Queen Mother sent an envoy to inform the King of Dai that she wanted to move him to Zhao to be the King of Zhao. The King of Dai declined and said he was willing to guard the border at Dai.
七年正月，太后召赵王友。友以诸吕女为后，弗爱，爱他姬，诸吕女妒，怒去，谗之于太后，诬以罪过，曰：“吕氏安得王！太后百岁后，吾必击之”。太后怒，以故召赵王。赵王至，置邸不见，令卫围守之，弗与食。其群臣或窃馈，辄捕论之，赵王饿，乃歌曰：“诸吕用事兮刘氏危，迫胁王侯兮强授我妃。我妃既妒兮诬我以恶，谗女乱国兮上曾不寤。我无忠臣兮何故弃国？自决中野兮苍天举直！于嗟不可悔兮宁蚤自财。为王而饿死兮谁者怜之！吕氏绝理兮讬天报仇。”丁丑，赵王幽死，以民礼葬之长安民冢次。
己丑，日食，昼晦。太后恶之，心不乐，乃谓左右曰：“此为我也。”
二月，徙梁王恢为赵王。吕王产徙为梁王，梁王不之国，为帝太傅。立皇子平昌侯太为吕王。更名梁曰吕，吕曰济川。太后女弟吕媭有女为营陵侯刘泽妻，泽为大将军。太后王诸吕，恐即崩后刘将军为害，乃以刘泽为琅邪王，以慰其心。
梁王恢之徙王赵，心怀不乐。太后以吕产女为赵王后。王后从官皆诸吕，擅权，微伺赵王，赵王不得自恣。王有所爱姬，王后使人酖杀之。王乃为歌诗四章，令乐人歌之。王悲，六月即自杀。太后闻之，以为王用妇人弃宗庙礼，废其嗣。
宣平侯张敖卒，以子偃为鲁王，敖赐谥为鲁元王。
秋，太后使使告代王，欲徙王赵。代王谢，愿守代边。
A9.17…21
Grand Tutor Lü Chan and Prime Minister Chen Ping said that Wuxin Marquis Lü Lu was the highest ranked marquis and requested to be made King of Zhao. The Queen Mother agreed and posthumously honored Lü Lu's father Kang Marquis as King Brightness of Zhao. In September, King Ling of Yan Jian died. He had a son by a beauty. The Queen Mother had him killed. There was no heir, so the kingdom was abolished. In October of the eighth year (180 BC), King Lü Su's son, Dongping Marquis Lü Tong, was made King of Yan, and Tong's brother Lü Zhuang was made Dongping Marquis.
In mid-March, Empress Lü held a purification ceremony. On her way back by Zhi Road Pavilion, she saw a black dog-like creature that bit her under the armpit and then suddenly disappeared. She asked someone to divine, who said it was the ghost of Liu Ruyi, the Prince of Zhao, who was haunting her. Empress Gao then fell ill because of the wound under her armpit.
Empress Gao's grandson, Prince Yan of Lu, was young and had lost his parents at an early age. He was alone and weak, so she appointed two sons of Zhang Ao's former concubine, Chi as Marquis of Xindu and Shou as Marquis of Lechang, to assist Prince Yan of Lu. She also appointed the great eunuch Zhang Shi as Marquis of Jianling and Lü Rong as Marquis of Zhuzi. All the eunuchs and ministers were made Marquis of Guannei, with fiefs of 500 households.
In the middle of July, Empress Dowager of Gaozu was seriously ill, so she ordered Lü Lu King of Zhao to be the general and command the northern army; Chan King of Lü was in charge of the southern army. Empress Dowager Lü warned Chan and Lu, saying, "Emperor Gao had already conquered the world, and he made an agreement with the ministers, saying, 'If anyone other than the Liu family is king, the whole world will attack him.' Now the Lü family has kings, and the ministers are not happy. If I die, the emperor is young, and the ministers may cause a change. You must guard the palace with soldiers, be careful not to send off the funeral, and don't be controlled by others." On the 30th day of July, Empress Dowager Gao died. In her will, she gave each prince a thousand gold coins, and all generals, ministers, marquises, and officials were given gold coins according to their ranks. She issued a general amnesty. Chan King of Lü was made the prime minister, and Lü Lu's daughter was made the empress.
Empress Dowager Gao was buried, and the left prime minister Shen Yiji was made the Emperor's Tutor.
太傅产、丞相平等言，武信侯吕禄上侯，位次第一，请立为赵王。太后许之，追尊禄父康侯为赵昭王。九月，燕灵王建薨，有美人子，太后使人杀之，无后，国除。八年十月，立吕肃王子东平侯吕通为燕王，封通弟吕庄为东平侯。
三月中，吕后祓，还过轵道，见物如苍犬，据高后掖，忽弗复见。卜之，云赵王如意为祟。高后遂病掖伤。
高后为外孙鲁元王偃年少，蚤失父母，孤弱，乃封张敖前姬两子，侈为新都侯，寿为乐昌侯，以辅鲁元王偃。及封中大谒者张释为建陵侯，吕荣为祝兹侯。诸中宦者令丞皆为关内侯，食邑五百户。
七月中，高后病甚，乃令赵王吕禄为上将军，军北军；吕王产居南军。吕太后诫产、禄曰：“高帝已定天下，与大臣约，曰‘非刘氏王者，天下共击之’。今吕氏王，大臣弗平。我即崩，帝年少，大臣恐为变。必据兵卫宫，慎毋送丧，毋为人所制。”辛巳，高后崩，遗诏赐诸侯王各千金，将相列侯郎吏皆以秩赐金。大赦天下。以吕王产为相国，以吕禄女为帝后。
高后已葬，以左丞相审食其为帝太傅。
A9.22|23|24
Zhuxu Marquis Liu Zhang was powerful, and Dongmu Marquis Xingju was his younger brother. They were all brothers of King Ai of Qi and lived in Chang'an. At that time, the Lü clan was in power and they wanted to cause trouble but were afraid of Emperor Gao's former ministers, Zhou Bo and Guan Ying, so they did not dare to act. Zhuxu Marquis' wife, Lü Lu's daughter, secretly knew their plan. Fearing that she would be executed, she secretly sent someone to inform her brother, the King of Qi, to send troops to the west to kill the Lü clan and establish the throne. Zhuxu Marquis wanted to cooperate with the ministers. The King of Qi wanted to send troops, but his prime minister did not listen. On Bingwu day of August, the King of Qi wanted to send someone to kill the prime minister, so the prime minister Zhao Ping rebelled and raised troops to besiege the King. The King killed his prime minister, sent troops to the east, swindled the King of Langye's troops, and led them west. The details are recorded in "The Biography of King Daohui of Qi".
The King of Qi then sent a letter to all the princes, saying, "Emperor Gaodi (Gaozu) pacified the world and made his sons and nephews kings. King Daohui was the king of Qi. After King Daohui died, Emperor Xiaohui ordered Liu Hou Zhang Liang to establish me as the King of Qi. After Emperor Xiaohui's death, Empress Gao took power. She was old and only listened to the Lü clan. She arbitrarily deposed the emperor and established a new one. She also killed the three kings of Zhao, and destroyed Liang, Zhao, and Yan, to make kings for the Lü clan, dividing Qi into four. The loyal ministers advised the emperor, but the emperor was confused and did not listen. Now Empress Gao has passed away, and the emperor is old and unable to rule the world and relies on the ministers and princes. However, the Lü clan has arbitrarily elevated themselves to high positions, gathered troops and exercised their power, kidnapped the loyal ministers of the princes, and forged the system to rule the world, which put the ancestral temple in grave danger. I will lead the army to punish those who are not worthy of being kings." When the Han court heard about it, Prime Minister Lü Chan and others sent Yingyin Marquis Guan Ying to lead troops to attack them. When Guan Ying arrived in Xingyang, he said, "The Lü clan has taken control of the army in Guanzhong and wants to endanger the Liu clan and establish themselves. Now that we have defeated Qi and reported back, this will help the Lü clan." So he stayed in Xingyang and sent messengers to inform the King of Qi and the princes to make peace and wait for the changes in the Lü clan and punish them altogether. When the King of Qi heard this, he returned his troops to the western border to wait for an agreement.
Lü Lu and Lü Chan wanted to start a rebellion in Guanzhong. But they were afraid of Zhou Bo Marquis Jiang and Zhu Xu, and also the troops of Qi and Chu. They were also afraid that Guan Ying would betray them. They wanted to wait for Guan Ying's troops to join forces with Qi before starting the rebellion, so they were hesitant. At that time, Tai the King of Jichuan, Wu the King of Huaiyang, Chao the King of Changshan, who was called the younger brother of the young emperor, and King of Lu Yuan the grandson of Empress Lü, were all young and had not yet entered the country, and lived in Chang'an. Lu the King of Zhao and Chan King of Liang each led troops to the Southern and Northern Armies, were all people of the Lü clan. None of the princes and ministers were sure that they could save their own lives.
朱虚侯刘章有气力，东牟侯兴居其弟也。皆齐哀王弟，居长安。当是时，诸吕用事擅权，欲为乱，畏高帝故大臣绛、灌等，未敢发。朱虚侯妇，吕禄女，阴知其谋。恐见诛，乃阴令人告其兄齐王，欲令发兵西，诛诸吕而立。朱虚侯欲从中与大臣为应。齐王欲发兵，其相弗听。八月丙午，齐王欲使人诛相，相召平乃反，举兵欲围王，王因杀其相，遂发兵东，诈夺琅邪王兵，并将之而西。语在齐王语中。
齐王乃遗诸侯王书曰：“高帝平定天下，王诸子弟，悼惠王王齐。悼惠王薨，孝惠帝使留侯良立臣为齐王。孝惠崩，高后用事，春秋高，听诸吕，擅废帝更立，又比杀三赵王，灭梁、赵、燕以王诸吕，分齐为四。忠臣进谏，上惑乱弗听。今高后崩，而帝春秋富，未能治天下，固恃大臣诸侯。而诸吕又擅自尊官，聚兵严威，劫列侯忠臣，矫制以令天下，宗庙所以危。寡人率兵入诛不当为王者。”汉闻之，相国吕产等乃遣颍阴侯灌婴将兵击之。灌婴至荥阳，乃谋曰：“诸吕权兵关中，欲危刘氏而自立。今我破齐还报，此益吕氏之资也。”乃留屯荥阳，使使谕齐王及诸侯，与连和，以待吕氏变，共诛之。齐王闻之，乃还兵西界待约。
吕禄、吕产欲发乱关中，内惮绛侯、朱虚等，外畏齐、楚兵，又恐灌婴畔之，欲待灌婴兵与齐合而发，犹豫未决。当是时，济川王太、淮阳王武、常山王朝名为少帝弟，及鲁元王吕后外孙，皆年少未之国，居长安。赵王禄、梁王产各将兵居南北军，皆吕氏之人。列侯群臣莫自坚其命。
A9.25|26|27
Zhou Bo, the Grand Marshal and Marquis of Jiang, was not allowed to come into the army to take charge. Li Shang, the Marquis of Quzhou, was old and sick, and his son Li Ji was on good terms with Lü Lu. The Marquis of Jiang conspired with the Prime Minister Chen Ping to have Li Shang kidnapped. Then they let his son go to trick Lü Lu, "Emperor Gao and Queen Lü ruled the world together. The nine kings of Liu’s and the three kings of Lü’s are all established by ministers, which had been announced to the princes, and the princes all thought appropriate. Today, the empress dowager passed away, the emperor is young, and your majesty wears the seal of the king of Zhao. He who defends the border when there is no internal urgency in the country is the true general, but to have soldiers stationed here raise the eyebrows among the ministers and princes. Why don't you return the general's seal to the Grand Marshal? And please ask the king of Liang to return to the seal of the country and ally with the minister. The army will be dismissed, and the minister will be safe, and with high pillows the king will rule thousands of miles. This is the benefit of the world. Lü Lu believed in his plan and wanted to return to the general's seal, so the army would be in the charge of the Grand Marshal.
And he sent someone to report it to Lü Chan and the seniors of the Lü‘s, and they thought it was either appropriate or inappropriate, and all were hesitate making up their minds. Lü Lu trusted Li Ji and often went out hunting with him. When he passed by his aunt Lü Xu's house and went in for a visit. Lü Xu was furious and said, "You are a great general but you have abandoned your army. The Lü family will soon have nowhere to go." She threw pearls, jade and other treasures on floor of the hall and said, "Don't worry to guard for others."
Left Prime Minister Shen Yiji was dismissed.
In August, on the morning of the Gengshen, Cao Zhu, the Marquis of Pingyang, who were on the duty of imperial historian’s affairs, came to see Prime Minister Lü Chan to discuss state affairs. Jia Shou, the supervisor of attendants, just came back from his mission to Qi, and he was scolding Lü Chan and said, "You did not leave for your state quickly, now even if you want to go , can you still leave?" He informed Lü Chan in detail about Guan Ying's alliance with Qi and Chu to kill the Lü family, and urged Lü Chan to enter the palace as soon as possible. Marquis Pingyang heard all their conversation and ran to inform the Prime Minister and the Grand Marshal. The Grand Marshal wanted to get into the Northern Army base, but couldn’t get in. Ji Tong, the Marquis of Xiangping, was in charge of the imperial seals, so he was asked to take the imperial seals and falsely convey the imperial decree to allow the marshal to enter the Northern Army. The Grand Marshal ordered Li Ji and Liu Jie, the Imperial Minister of Guests, to persuade Lü Lu, saying, "The Emperor has sent the Grand Marshal to guard the Northern Army and wants you to be enfeoffed. Return the seal and leave quickly, otherwise, disaster will occur." Lü Lu believed that Li Ji would not deceive him, so he gave the general's seal to the Minister of Guests and rendered the military power to the Grand Marshal. The Grand Marshal had the seal, after entering the military gate, he ordered, "Those who support Lü should show their right arms, and those who support Liu should show their left arms." The soldiers in the army all exposed their left arms to support Liu. When the Grand Marshal arrived at the Northern Army, General Lü Lu had already returned the seal and left, so he took command of the Northern Army.
太尉绛侯勃不得入军中主兵。曲周侯郦商老病，其子寄与吕禄善。绛侯乃与丞相陈平谋，使人劫郦商。令其子寄往绐说吕禄曰：“高帝与吕后共定天下，刘氏所立九王，吕氏所立三王，皆大臣之议，事已布告诸侯，诸侯皆以为宜。今太后崩，帝少，而足下佩赵王印，不急之国守藩，乃为上将，将兵留此，为大臣诸侯所疑。足下何不归将印，以兵属太尉？请梁王归相国印，与大臣盟而之国，齐兵必罢，大臣得安，足下高枕而王千里，此万世之利也。”吕禄信然其计，欲归将印，以兵属太尉。使人报吕产及诸吕老人，或以为便，或曰不便，计犹豫未有所决。吕禄信郦寄，时与出游猎。过其姑吕媭，媭大怒，曰：“若为将而弃军，吕氏今无处矣。”乃悉出珠玉宝器散堂下，曰：“毋为他人守也。”
左丞相食其免。
八月庚申旦，平阳侯窋行御史大夫事，见相国产计事。郎中令贾寿使从齐来，因数产曰：“王不蚤之国，今虽欲行，尚可得邪？”具以灌婴与齐楚合从，欲诛诸吕告产，乃趣产急入宫。平阳侯颇闻其语，乃驰告丞相、太尉。太尉欲入北军，不得入。襄平侯通尚符节。乃令持节矫内太尉北军。太尉复令郦寄与典客刘揭先说吕禄曰：“帝使太尉守北军，欲足下之国，急归将印辞去，不然，祸且起。”吕禄以为郦兄不欺己，遂解印属典客，而以兵授太尉。太尉将之入军门，行令军中曰：“为吕氏右襢，为刘氏左襢。”军中皆左襢为刘氏。太尉行至，将军吕禄亦已解上将印去，太尉遂将北军。
A9.28|29
However, the Lü family still controlled the Southern Army. When Marquis Pingyang heard about it, he informed Prime Minister Chen Ping of Lü Chan's plan, and Chen Ping asked Marquis Zhuxu to assist the Grand Marshal. The Grand Marshal ordered Marquis Zhuxu to guard the military gate. He also sent Marquis Pingyang to inform the guards: "Don't let Prime Minister Lü Chan enter the palace gate." Lü Chan, unaware that Lü Lu had already left the Northern Army, entered the Weiyang Palace and attempted to cause chaos, but was unable to enter the palace and wandered around the door. Marquis Pingyang was worried that he could not stop him from entering, so he ran to tell the Grand Marshal. The Grand Marshal was also worried that he could not defeat the Lü family, and did not dare to publicly say that he wanted to exterminate the Lü family, so he said to Marquis Zhuxu: "Hurry up and enter the palace to protect the emperor." Marquis Zhuxu requested that some troops be allocated to him, and the Grand Marshal gave him more than a thousand soldiers. When Marquis Zhuxu entered the Weiyang Palace, he saw Lü Chan in the palace. It was dusk at that time, and Marquis Zhuxu attacked Lü Chan. When Lü Chan escaped, a strong wind blew, so his followers were confused and dared not fight. Marquis Zhuxu chased Lü Chan and killed him in the toilet of the attendant's mansion.
After Marquis Zhuxu killed Lü Chan, the emperor sent an envoy with a seal to express his gratitude to Marquis Zhuxu. Marquis Zhuxu tried to take the imperial seal away, but the envoy refused to let go. So he followed the envoy in the same carriage, used the imperial seal to run away, and killed Lü Gengshi, the guard of Changle Palace. On his way back, Marquis Zhuxu drove into the Northern Army and reported to the Grand Marshal. The Grand Marshal stood up, bowed and congratulated Marquis Zhuxu, saying, "The only thing we were worried about was Lü Chan. Now that Lü Chan has been killed, the world is at peace." So he sent people to arrest all the men and women of the Lü family, regardless of age, and beheaded them all. On the Xinyou day, Lü Lu was arrested and beheaded, and Lü Xiang was beaten to death. People were sent to kill Lü Tong, the King of Yan. Zhang Yan, the King of Lu, was deposed. On the Renxu day, the court reinstated Shen Yiji, the emperor's tutor, as the left prime minister. On the Wuchen day, the King of Jichuan was renamed the King of Liang, and Liu Sui, the son of King You of Zhao, was named the King of Zhao. Marquis Zhuxu Liu Zhang was sent to inform the King of Qi about the extermination of the Lü family and asked him to withdraw his troops. Guan Ying's army also withdrew from Xingyang.
然尚有南军。平阳侯闻之，以吕产谋告丞相平，丞相平乃召朱虚侯佐太尉。太尉令朱虚侯监军门。令平阳侯告卫尉：“毋入相国产殿门。”吕产不知吕禄已去北军，乃入未央宫，欲为乱，殿门弗得入，裴回往来。平阳侯恐弗胜，驰语太尉。太尉尚恐不胜诸吕，未敢讼言诛之，乃遣朱虚侯谓曰：“急入宫卫帝。”朱虚侯请卒，太尉予卒千余人。入未央宫门，遂见产廷中。日餔时，遂击产。产走，天风大起，以故其从官乱，莫敢斗。逐产，杀之郎中府吏厕中。
朱虚侯已杀产，帝命谒者持节劳朱虚侯。朱虚侯欲夺节信，谒者不肯，朱虚侯则从与载，因节信驰走，斩长乐卫尉吕更始。还，驰入北军，报太尉。太尉起，拜贺朱虚侯曰：“所患独吕产，今已诛，天下定矣。”遂遣人分部悉捕诸吕男女，无少长皆斩之。辛酉，捕斩吕禄，而笞杀吕媭。使人诛燕王吕通，而废鲁王偃。壬戌，以帝太傅食其复为左丞相。戊辰，徙济川王王梁，立赵幽王子遂为赵王。遣朱虚侯章以诛诸吕氏事告齐王，令罢兵。灌婴兵亦罢荥阳而归。
A9.30|31|32
The ministers secretly discussed with each other and said, "Shaodi (young emperor) and Prince of Liang, Prince of Huaiyang, and King of Changshan are not the biological sons of Emperor Xiaohui. Empress Lü used a trick to treat other people's sons as Emperor Xiaohui's sons, killed the children's mothers, raised them in the harem, and made Emperor Xiaohui regard them as his own sons, establish them as his heirs, and confer titles on them as kings to strengthen the power of the Lü family. Now the Lü family has been completely wiped out, and only the emperor they established is left. When he grows up and takes power, we will have no chance to survive. It is better to choose the best one among the kings to be the emperor." Someone said, "King Daohui of Qi is the eldest son of Emperor Gaodi (Gaozu), and now his legitimate son is King of Qi. In terms of blood relationship, he is the eldest legitimate grandson of Emperor Gao and can be made the emperor." The ministers all said, “The Lü family took advantage of their status as relatives by marriage to do evil things and almost endangered the whole country. They harmed meritorious officials. Now the mother of the King of Qi is from the Si family, and Si Jun is an evil man. If King of Qi is made emperor, the Lü family's chaos will happen again." And they wanted to make King Huainan the emperor, but everyone thought that he was young and his maternal clan was very vicious. So everyone said: "The King of Dai is the eldest of Emperor Gao's surviving sons. He is kind, filial, tolerant and generous. His Queen Mother's family, the Bo family, is also cautious and kind. Moreover, it is legitimate to make the eldest son the emperor. The King of Dai is famous for his kindness and filial piety. It is most appropriate to make him the emperor." So they reached an agreement and secretly sent a messenger to invite the King of Dai. But the King of Dai sent the messenger back to decline. The messenger was sent for a second time, and from then on the King of Dai set off in a carriage pulled by six horses. On the last day of the intercalary ninth month, he arrived in Chang'an and stayed at Dai’s Mansion. The ministers all went to pay homage to the King of Dai, presented the seal of the Son of Heaven to the King of Dai, and jointly made the King of Dai the Son of Heaven. The King of Dai declined several times, but the ministers insisted on requesting, and finally the King of Dai agreed.
Liu Xingju, Marquis of Dongmu, said: "I did not make any contribution to the extermination of the Lü family. I request to clean up the palace for your majesty." So he and Teng Gong, the Grand Coachman and Marquis of Ruyin, entered the palace, stepped forward and said to the young emperor: "You are not a descendant of the Liu family, and you should not be the emperor." So he turned around and ordered the guards holding halberds to put down their weapons and leave. A few guards refused to lay down their weapons, so the eunuch chief Zhang Ze came forward and told them, so they also laid down their weapons, Teng Gong then called for a carriage to take the young emperor out of the palace. The young emperor said, "Where do you want to put me?" Duke Teng said, "Not in the palace." The young emperor was placed in the Shaofu. So the ministers followed the emperor's carriage to Dai's mansion to welcome the King of Dai, and reported, "The palace has been cleaned up." The King of Dai entered the Weiyang Palace that night. Ten envoys guarded the Gate Duanmen with halberds and said, "The emperor is here, why do you want to go in?" The King of Dai told the Grand Marshall. The Grand Marshall came forward to tell them, and the ten envoys laid down their weapons and walked away. The King of Dai finally entered the palace to handle state affairs. That night, the relevant departments went to the official residences of various officials and executed the King of Liang, the King of Huaiyang, the King of Changshan and the young Emperor. The King of Dai was established as the Son of Heaven, and died after 23 years in office. He was posthumously named Emperor Xiaowen.
Taishigong the Grand Historian said: "During the reign of Emperor Xiaohui and Empress Gao, the people were free from the suffering of war. The emperor and his ministers wanted to rest and recuperate, so Emperor Xiaohui did not personally handle affairs. Empress Lü, as a woman, held great power and issued orders without leaving her house. The country remained peaceful. There were few punishments and few criminals. The people were engaged in farming and had plenty of food and clothing."
诸大臣相与阴谋曰：“少帝及梁、淮阳、常山王，皆非真孝惠子也。吕后以计诈名他人子，杀其母，养后宫，令孝惠子之，立以为后，及诸王，以强吕氏。今皆已夷灭诸吕，而置所立，即长用事，吾属无类矣。不如视诸王最贤者立之。”或言“齐悼惠王高帝长子，今其適子为齐王，推本言之，高帝適长孙，可立也”。大臣皆曰：“吕氏以外家恶而几危宗庙，乱功臣。今齐王母家驷，驷钧，恶人也。即立齐王，则复为吕氏。”欲立淮南王，以为少，母家又恶。乃曰：“代王方今高帝见子，最长，仁孝宽厚。太后家薄氏谨良。且立长故顺，以仁孝闻于天下，便。”乃相与共阴使人召代王。代王使人辞谢。再反，然后乘六乘传。后九月晦日己酉，至长安，舍代邸。大臣皆往谒，奉天子玺上代王，共尊立为天子。代王数让，群臣固请，然后听。
东牟侯兴居曰：“诛吕氏吾无功，请得除宫。”乃与太仆汝阴侯滕公入宫，前谓少帝曰：“足下非刘氏，不当立。”乃顾麾左右执戟者掊兵罢去。有数人不肯去兵，宦者令张泽谕告，亦去兵。滕公乃召乘舆车载少帝出。少帝曰：“欲将我安之乎？”滕公曰“出就舍。”舍少府。乃奉天子法驾，迎代王于邸。报曰：“宫谨除。”代王即夕入未央宫。有谒者十人持戟卫端门，曰：“天子在也，足下何为者而入？”代王乃谓太尉。太尉往谕，谒者十人皆掊兵而去。代王遂入而听政。夜，有司分部诛灭梁、淮阳、常山王及少帝于邸。代王立为天子。二十三年崩，谥为孝文皇帝。
太史公曰：孝惠皇帝、高后之时，黎民得离战国之苦，君臣俱欲休息乎无为，故惠帝垂拱，高后女主称制，政不出房户，天下晏然。刑罚罕用，罪人是希。民务稼穑，衣食滋殖。
The End of A9