The Western Han Dynasty was established by Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Bang, with its capital in Chang'an; the Eastern Han Dynasty was established by Emperor Guangwu Liu Xiu, with its capital in Luoyang. In between, there was the brief Xin Dynasty (8 CE – 23 CE) established by Wang Mang who usurped the Han throne.
Although Liu Bang of the Han Dynasty started as a scoundrel, the Han Dynasty he founded was indeed great.
Unlike the short-lived unification of the Qin Dynasty, the Han Dynasty truly achieved a period of recuperation. Both the Huang-Lao Daoism advocated during the Western Han Dynasty and the Confucian culture of the Eastern Han Dynasty placed great emphasis on the livelihood of the common people. It is said that the population during the Qin Dynasty was either 20 million or 30 million, but during the Han Dynasty, it grew to 60 million.
The Two Han Dynasties period was a great Dynasty in the world at that time. From Emperor Gaozu of Han to the Wen and Jing period, the economic strength of the Han Dynasty soared, making it the first Empire in the East, comparable to Western Rome as the two great Empires. The various nations in Central Asia and the Western Regions also heard of it and feared it. By the time of Emperor Wu of Han, the Han Empire had become the most powerful Empire in the world, and the Mongol Empire was defeated and fled north in disarray. Zhang Qian's journey to the Western Regions first opened the famous "Silk Road," establishing a trade route between East and West. China thus became the center of the world trade system until the Mongol rebellion over a thousand years later. It was precisely because of the far-reaching prestige of the Han Dynasty that foreign tribes began to call the Chinese "Han people," and the Han people were happy to call themselves that. "Han" thus became the eternal name of the great China.
"Those who violate the mighty Han shall be punished, no matter how far away!" This sentence was not just a slogan; it elevated the spirit of an entire nation. The Han Dynasty was the first to take the initiative to drive away the Hu who had been encroaching on its borders, like stray dogs. The sealing of Langjuxu Mountain was a monument of the Han Dynasty.
The peak of the Han Dynasty was a Dynasty with truly clear division of labor between civil and military officials. Military generals were responsible for defending the country and expelling foreign enemies, while civil officials were responsible for political affairs and improving people's livelihoods. In later generations, the notion that military officials were three ranks lower than civil officials and that military men were vulgar did not exist in the Han Dynasty. Throughout the Han Dynasty, from the gentry clans down to the common people, all were full of spirit: invaders must die!
Even in the late Eastern Han Dynasty, there were many border guards who believed that if the Hu dared to reach out, not only their hands but also their heads must be chopped off. For example, if Gongsun Zan, who guarded the border in Youzhou, had not been killed by Yuan Shao, it's hard to say whether he might have become the next Wei Qing.
The common people, during these four hundred years of the Han Dynasty, had become accustomed to the rule of the Han Emperor, Liu. Most people, even when suffering, held the belief that the Emperor was good, and was merely being misled by his officials. As long as the Emperor found out, everything would surely get better.
However, the Emperors of the late Eastern Han Dynasty were each more self-destructive than the last. Their abilities were hundreds of times worse than those of Liu Xiu and Liu Che, so even the greatest family fortune could not withstand generations of prodigal sons squandering it!
It can be said that after four hundred years of rule, the Han Emperors had become a deified image. The legitimate ruling position of the Han imperial family was not truly challenged until the end of the Three Kingdoms period. How many years did Cao Pi's farce of abdication last? 220 CE or 221 CE? And now it is 189 CE. By this calculation, it would take thirty years of war before this idol of the Han Dynasty would collapse. The current Yellow Turban Rebellion is just a new, large crack in this idol before its collapse.
Liu Bian was quite pitiful; he was poisoned after being Emperor for only a short time. And Liu Xie, it is said Liu Xie was quite good; if the situation hadn't been so rotten, he might have even been a restorer of the Dynasty...
Fei Qian rode on an ox cart to Cui Family Village on North Mang Mountain, while irresponsibly letting his thoughts wander.
By the way, how old are Liu Bian and Liu Xie this year? Liu Bian seems older, the Changzi, fifteen or sixteen? Something like that. Liu Xie seems much younger, seven or eight?
In later generations, one would be in middle school and the other in elementary school; both would still be tender young boys!
While Fei Qian was leisurely enjoying himself outside the city without any burdens, the Grand General He Jin's head was about to explode.
How could a matter that seemed so simple to him be so complicated by these subordinates? The key was that what they said made some sense. How should he choose?
The Ten Attendants had just delivered an imperial edict, the content of which was Empress Dowager He inviting Grand General He Jin to the palace for a discussion.
Although He Jin came from a butcher's background, he was now, after all, a Grand General, and he had a group of people under him, such as his Chief Clerk Chen Lin, his subordinate Wu Kuang, and the later famous Three Lords: Yuan Shao, Yuan Shu, and Cao Cao.
Although He Jin had already been appointed Grand General, his humble origins made him very conflicted when facing the gentry clans. He appeared arrogant and overbearing, yet deep down he felt terribly inferior. He actually yearned for the recognition of the gentry clans and originally thought he would eventually become one of them.
Therefore, when super gentry clan descendants like Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu, who came from families that had served as Three Dukes for four generations, became his subordinates, He Jin drank wine all night long that night. He was ecstatic; he, a butcher who cut and sold meat, now had first-rate gentry clans bowing to him and taking orders. How could one not be happy and excited?
But his foundation was too poor. Although he tried to study hard in private after rising to a high position, he had no one to guide him, and he lacked the perseverance to work hard. Therefore, even now, he was only half-baked, having learned some superficial skills. As for governance, administration, planning, and so on, he understood nothing.
He did not understand his political opponents, had no strong-arm tactics, and was easily swayed and indecisive. This was the fundamental reason why He Jin wavered in handling the matter of The Ten Attendants, ultimately leading to his own tragedy.
Just like now, He Jin felt indecisive. He gathered his subordinates to discuss the matter, but he found that discussing it was even more perplexing.
The most perplexing was his Chief Clerk, Chen Lin, Chen Kongzhang.
He Jin's Chief Clerk, Chen Lin, known as one of the "Seven Masters of Jian'an," had profound literary attainments, especially in poetry and prose. Originally, Emperor Ling of Han arranged for Chen Lin to be the Grand General's Chief Clerk to help the uncultured He Jin gain some cultural value, but unfortunately, Chen Lin and He Jin simply did not get along. One was a scholar, the other a coarse man; one liked romantic poetry, the other liked wine and women. They had no common topics. At first, He Jin had some desire to learn and improve, but later he found that acquiring knowledge was too difficult for him, so he started to act shamelessly.
Chen Lin tried to persuade and work hard, but to no avail. Finally, he completely gave up. He had always looked down on this butcher He, and now he had even less hope for He Jin. He just did his job. If He Jin asked him a question, he would answer, not caring whether He Jin listened or acted on it. He completely became a wooden idol: he would respond only when asked, and otherwise, he would simply do his duty and ignore everything else.
Just now, when He Jin asked him what he thought of Empress Dowager He's edict, he said with a slight sneer, "This edict from the Empress Dowager must be a scheme of The Ten Attendants. You must not go; going will surely bring disaster." After saying that, he didn't explain. He Jin, listen if you want, or get lost—can't you even see such a simple thing? Is your head filled with wine, meat, and women?
He Jin was actually very frustrated. I'm just a coarse man, and every time I talk to you, I have to be so careful, it's exhausting. This is clearly an edict from the Empress Dowager, so how is it connected to The Ten Attendants? You don't explain? There's danger if I go, what kind of danger, how great is the danger? Look at your disdainful expression, do you think I can't tell just because I'm a coarse man? If it weren't for your great reputation, I would have had someone whip you long ago to let you know how red the flowers are!
He Jin thought and thought but still didn't understand, so he had to humble himself and ask: "What disaster will befall me if the Empress Dowager summons me?" Don't you know that if I don't go, it's disobeying an imperial edict? Although Empress Dowager He is my sister, I can't withstand so many critics eyeing me. If I give them something to talk about, I'll be shredded!
Unfortunately, though He Jin asked, his face wasn't turned towards Chen Lin, nor did he specifically ask Chen Lin by name. So Chen Lin half-closed his eyes and pretended not to hear, clearly displaying an attitude of, "Why is this fool asking such foolish questions? Just obey, no explanation needed."
Silence filled the hall.
Grand General, what kind of question is that?
Chief Clerk Chen remained silent, and the others below also found it difficult to answer.
It was Yuan Shao who broke the silence and saved He Jin: "Now that the plan is exposed and the matter revealed, does the General still wish to enter the palace?" Grand General He Jin, that's a great question! How would we know what kind of danger there will be? We are not those eunuchs; how could we know how they plan to deal with you?
Moreover, Grand General He Jin, what were you doing earlier? Didn't we remind you about Dou Wu's situation? You hesitated and didn't act. Now, The Ten Attendants all know you intend to deal with them. Our plan has been exposed, so why would you still go into the palace to seek trouble? Anyway, there's danger if you go into the palace. As for what kind of danger, sorry, we don't know.
Cao Cao also chimed in: "First summon The Ten Attendants out, then you can enter." Cao Cao offered a radical solution. Aren't The Ten Attendants planning something sinister? Get these people out of the palace first, then even if there's danger inside the palace, it won't matter without their leaders, and then you, He Jin, will definitely be safe going in.
This idea sounded good, but unfortunately, like the last one, it was not very feasible.
Aside from his own connection to The Ten Attendants by birth, Cao Cao himself did not really believe that He Jin and The Ten Attendants would truly break ties. The struggle between the imperial in-laws and The Ten Attendants was an excellent tradition of the Han Dynasty. How capable would you, a butcher He, have to be to completely eliminate The Ten Attendants? Although I don't know what the danger is, I can give you an idea that will surely solve this danger, as for whether it can be done, that's another matter.
He Jin was furious after hearing Cao Cao's suggestion. Last time you said that to deal with The Ten Attendants, a prison official would suffice, and I actually believed you. But Yuan Shao was good, he explained it to me, saying it was something that looked good but was actually impossible. I haven't even settled the score with you, and now what kind of idea are you giving me?
If I could directly order The Ten Attendants to go here and there, why would I need to deal with them at all? It's precisely because they don't listen to my orders! And you say to summon them out? Summon them with what?
He Jin laughed in anger and said, "This is a child's view. I hold the power of the world; what dare The Ten Attendants do?" Did you hear that, child? That's you, Cao Cao, Cao Aman. Don't think I'm easy to fool. I'm the Grand General in power; be careful, or I'll turn hostile.
Yuan Shao cupped his hands and said, "If you must go, we will lead armored guards to escort you, to prevent any unforeseen circumstances." If you want to court death, then go ahead. Anyway, we've done what we should. Bringing more people will also intimidate those Ten Attendants.
He Jin nodded. This was a decent suggestion. So he took out the tiger tally and had Yuan Shao and Cao Cao each bring five hundred men as guards. If he was going to do it, he might as well make a grand show of it. How could a few dozen or a hundred people set off my prestige as He Jin?
At this moment, Yuan Shu unexpectedly stepped forward and volunteered: "Ben Chu and Brother Mengde have official duties, which might be inconvenient. Why don't I lead them? I will surely ensure the General's safety." Yuan Shao and Cao Cao were officially appointed Eight Colonels of the Western Garden. While they could summon troops with the General's tiger tally, there was no imperial order. If they were held accountable later, it would be difficult to explain. It would be better for me, who has no official position, to lead them, so there will be no grounds for criticism.
Logically, this was indeed correct, but why was Yuan Shu, who usually shirked responsibility, so proactive today? Yuan Shao's heart stirred, and he turned to glance at Cao Cao.
Cao Cao also reacted at the same time and gave Yuan Shao a look. Something unusual was happening; there must be a trick!
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