The House of Prince Xiao of Liang, Twenty-eighth

King Xiao of Liang, named Wu, was the son of Emperor Xiao (Wendi) and shared the same mother as Emperor Xiao (Jingdi). His mother was Empress Dowager Dou.

Emperor Xiao (Wendi) had four sons in total: the eldest was the Crown Prince, who became Emperor Xiao (Jingdi); the second was Liu Wu; the third was Liu Can; the fourth was Liu Sheng. In the second year of Emperor Wendi's reign, he enfeoffed Liu Wu as the King of Dai, Liu Can as the King of Taiyuan, and Liu Sheng as the King of Liang. After two years, he transferred the King of Dai to be the King of Huaiyang. He gave all the territory of the Dai state to the King of Taiyuan, whose title remained King of Dai. Liu Can reigned for seventeen years and died in the second year of the Houyuan era of Emperor Wendi, with the posthumous title of King Xiao. His son Liu Deng succeeded him, known as King Gong of Dai. King Gong of Dai reigned for twenty-nine years and died in the second year of the Yuanguang era of Emperor Wu. His son Liu Yi succeeded him, known as the King of Dai. He reigned for nineteen years, when the Han dynasty expanded the frontier fortifications, using Changshan as the boundary, and transferred the King of Dai to be the King of Qinghe. The transfer of the King of Qinghe occurred in the third year of the Yuanding era.

Initially, when Liu Wu had been King of Huaiyang for ten years, King Sheng of Liang died, with the posthumous title of King Huai of Liang. King Huai of Liang was the youngest son of Emperor Wendi and was favored more than the other sons. The following year, Emperor Wendi transferred Liu Wu, King of Huaiyang, to be the King of Liang. The King of Liang began his reign as King of Liang in the twelfth year of Emperor Wendi's reign. From the time of his initial enfeoffment as king, Liu Wu had already experienced eleven years by this point.

In the fourteenth year of his reign as King of Liang, he came to court. In the seventeenth and eighteenth years, he came to court in two consecutive years, remaining in the capital and returning to his state only in the following year. In the twenty-first year, he came to court. In the twenty-second year, Emperor Wendi died. In the twenty-fourth year, he came to court. In the twenty-fifth year, he came to court again. At this time, the emperor had not yet established a crown prince. The emperor and the King of Liang were feasting and drinking, and the emperor once casually said: "After my death, I will pass the throne to you." The King of Liang declined and refused. Although he knew this was not sincere, he was secretly pleased. The Empress Dowager felt the same way.

In the spring of that year, the seven states of Wu, Chu, Qi, and Zhao rebelled. The armies of Wu and Chu first attacked the fortress of Jibi in Liang, killing tens of thousands of people. King Xiao of Liang held the city of Suiyang and appointed Han Anguo, Zhang Yu, and others as grand generals to resist Wu and Chu. Wu and Chu were blocked by Liang and dared not cross Liang to advance westward; they confronted Grand Commandant Zhou Yafu and others for three months. After Wu and Chu were defeated, the number of enemy troops that Liang had broken, killed, or captured was roughly equal to that of the central Han army. The following year, the Han established a crown prince. Thereafter, the King of Liang was most closely related to the emperor, had merit, and governed a large state occupying the richest lands in the realm. The territory was bounded by Mount Tai to the north and reached Gaoyang to the west, comprising over forty cities, most of which were large counties.

King Xiao of Liang was the youngest son of Empress Dowager Dou. The Empress Dowager doted on him, and the rewards he received were beyond counting. Thus, King Xiao built an Eastern Park, covering over three hundred square li. He expanded the city of Suiyang to seventy li. He constructed grand palaces and built elevated covered passageways connecting the palace to the Terrace, stretching over thirty li. He was granted permission to use the emperor's banners, and when he went out, he was accompanied by a thousand chariots and ten thousand cavalry. He hunted east and west, his style rivaling that of the emperor. When he traveled, the roads were cleared and placed under. He recruited heroes and gallants from all directions, and wandering scholars from east of the Xiao Mountains all came, such as Yang Sheng, Gongsun Gui, and Zou Yang from Qi. Gongsun Gui was full of strange and treacherous schemes. When he first met the King of Liang, he was rewarded with a thousand catties of gold, and his official rank reached that of Commandant; the people of Liang called him General Gongsun. Liang manufactured many weapons—crossbows, bows, and spears—numbering in the hundreds of thousands, while the treasury held nearly ten billion in cash, and its pearls, jade, and precious artifacts exceeded those of the capital.

In October of the twenty-ninth year, King Xiao of Liang came to court. Emperor Jing sent an envoy bearing a tally, driving the imperial carriage drawn by four horses, to welcome the King of Liang below the Hangu Pass. After the audience, the King of Liang submitted a memorial requesting to remain in the capital, due to his closeness to the Empress Dowager. When entering the palace, the King of Liang accompanied Emperor Jing in the same imperial carriage; when leaving, he rode in the same carriage to hunt and play, shooting birds and beasts in the Shanglin Park. The attendants, gentlemen, and receptionists of Liang were all registered by name, allowed to enter and exit the emperor's palace gates, and were no different from the Han eunuchs.

In November, the emperor deposed Crown Prince Li. Empress Dowager Dou wished in her heart to make King Xiao of Liang the heir. Grand ministers and Yuan Ang and others remonstrated with Emperor Jing to dissuade him. The Empress Dowager's opinion was set aside, and the matter of establishing the King of Liang as heir was no longer discussed, thus ending the affair. Because the matter was secret, no one in the world knew of it. The King of Liang then took his leave and returned to his state.

In the summer of that year, in the fourth month, the emperor established the King of Jiaodong as the Crown Prince. The King of Liang resented Yuan Ang and the ministers who had participated in the deliberations. Together with Yang Sheng, Gongsun Gui, and others, he secretly sent assassins to kill Yuan Ang and over a dozen other ministers who had taken part in the discussions. The government pursued the assassins but could not capture them. The emperor then suspected the King of Liang was behind it, pursued the assassins, and indeed found that the King of Liang had sent them. Consequently, he sent envoy after envoy to Liang, repeatedly investigating and arresting Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng. Gongsun Gui and Yang Sheng hid in the King of Liang's rear palace. The envoys pressured the two-thousand-dan officials of Liang urgently. The Chancellor of Liang, Xuanqiu Bao, and the Inner Historian, Han Anguo, remonstrated with the King of Liang. Only then did the King of Liang order Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui to commit suicide, handing over their corpses. The emperor therefore resented the King of Liang. The King of Liang, afraid, sent Han Anguo through the Elder Princess to apologize to the Empress Dowager, and only then was he pardoned.

The emperor's anger gradually subsided. The King of Liang then submitted a memorial requesting an audience. After arriving at the Hangu Pass, Mao Lan advised the King of Liang to ride in a plain cloth carriage, accompanied only by two cavalrymen, and enter, hiding in the Elder Princess's garden. The Han sent envoys to welcome the King of Liang, but the King of Liang had already entered the pass, leaving his chariots and cavalry outside the pass, and no one knew where he was. The Empress Dowager wept, saying: "The emperor has killed my son!" Emperor Jing was both worried and afraid. Then the King of Liang prostrated himself before the palace gate on the execution block, begging for forgiveness. Then the Empress Dowager and Emperor Jing were greatly pleased, wept facing each other, and were reconciled as before. They summoned all of the King of Liang's attendant officials into the pass. But Emperor Jing became more distant from the King of Liang and no longer rode in the same carriage or imperial conveyance with him.

In the winter of the thirty-fifth year, the King of Liang came to court again. He submitted a memorial requesting to stay in the capital, but the emperor did not agree. After returning to his state, he was in a daze, depressed and unhappy. He went hunting at Liangshan in the north. Someone presented an ox with its legs growing from its back. King Xiao found it hateful. In the middle of the sixth month, he contracted a fever and died after six days, with the posthumous title of King Xiao.

King Xiao of Liang was benevolent and filial. Whenever he heard that the Empress Dowager was ill, he could not eat or sleep peacefully, and often wished to stay in Chang'an to serve the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager also loved him deeply. When she heard of King Xiao's death, Empress Dowager Dou wept with extreme grief and refused to eat, saying: "The emperor has indeed killed my son!" Emperor Jing was both sorrowful and terrified, not knowing what to do. He consulted with the Elder Princess, and then divided Liang into five states, enfeoffing all five sons of King Xiao as kings and granting the five daughters soup and bath estates. He then reported this to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager was then pleased and ate an extra meal for the emperor's sake.

King Xiao of Liang's eldest son, Liu Mai, succeeded him as King of Liang, known as King Gong; his son Liu Ming was enfeoffed as King of Jichuan; his son Liu Pengli was enfeoffed as King of Jidong; his son Liu Ding was enfeoffed as King of Shanyang; his son Liu Bushi was enfeoffed as King of Jiyin.

During King Xiao of Liang's lifetime, his wealth numbered in the hundreds of millions, too much to count. After his death, the remaining gold in the treasury still exceeded four hundred thousand catties, and other valuables were comparable.

In the third year of King Gong of Liang, Emperor Jing died. King Gong reigned for seven years and died. His son Liu Xiang succeeded him, known as King Ping.

In the fourteenth year of King Liang Ping, Liu Xiang, his mother was Empress Dowager Chen. The mother of King Gong was Empress Dowager Li. Empress Dowager Li was King Ping's biological grandmother. King Ping's queen was surnamed Ren, called Queen Ren. Queen Ren was greatly favored by King Ping, Liu Xiang. Previously, when King Liang Xiao was alive, he had a lei vase worth a thousand gold pieces. King Xiao instructed his descendants to carefully preserve the lei vase and not give it to anyone. Queen Ren heard of this and wanted to obtain the lei vase. King Ping's grandmother, Empress Dowager Li, said: "The former king left a command; you cannot give the lei vase to anyone. As for other items, even if worth tens of millions, they may be disposed of at will." Queen Ren was determined to have it. King Ping, Liu Xiang, directly sent someone to open the treasury, take out the lei vase, and bestow it upon Queen Ren. Empress Dowager Li was very angry. When an envoy from Han came to Liang, Empress Dowager Li wanted to personally lodge a complaint. King Ping, Liu Xiang, and Queen Ren obstructed her, closing the main gate. Empress Dowager Li struggled with them to open the gate, and her fingers were pinched and injured. In the end, she was unable to see the Han envoy. Empress Dowager Li also privately engaged in licentious affairs with the Chief of Palace Provisions and the Langzhong Yin Ba and others. Because of this, King Ping and Queen Ren sent people to use this matter to hint at and stop Empress Dowager Li. Empress Dowager Li, because of her own licentious behavior, dropped the matter. Later, Empress Dowager Li fell ill and died. While she was ill, Queen Ren never visited to inquire after her health; after her death, she did not observe mourning.

During the Yuanshuo era, in Suiyang there was a man named Lei Jianfan. Someone insulted his father, and this person also rode out in the same carriage with a retainer of the Grand Administrator of Huaiyang. After the retainer got out of the carriage, Lei Jianfan killed his (enemy) in the carriage, then left. The Grand Administrator of Huaiyang was very angry, and therefore blamed the Erqian shi officials of Liang. The officials of Liang below the rank of Erqian shi searched for Lei Jianfan with great urgency, capturing Lei Jianfan's relatives. Lei Jianfan knew the hidden affairs within the state of Liang, so he submitted a memorial reporting an incident, detailing the situation of the King of Liang and his grandmother fighting over the lei vase. At that time, officials from the Chancellor on down saw this memorial and wanted to use it to strike at the senior officials of Liang. The memorial was presented to the Son of Heaven. The Son of Heaven turned it over to officials for interrogation, and it was indeed true. The high ministers requested that Liu Xiang be deposed and made a commoner. The Son of Heaven said: "Empress Dowager Li had licentious behavior, and King Liang Ping, Liu Xiang, lacked good teachers and tutors to instruct him, thus he fell into unrighteousness." Consequently, eight cities were excised from the state of Liang, and Queen Ren was beheaded and her head displayed in public. The remaining territory of Liang still had ten cities. Liu Xiang reigned for thirty-nine years and died; his posthumous title was King Ping. His son, Liu Wushang, succeeded him as King of Liang.

King Jichuan, Liu Ming, was a son of King Liang Xiao. In the sixth year of the Zhongyuan era of Emperor Jing, he was enfeoffed as King of Jichuan from the Marquis of Huanyi. After seven years, he committed the crime of shooting and killing his own Zhongwei. The relevant Han officials requested that he be executed. The Son of Heaven could not bear to kill him, so he deposed Liu Ming and made him a commoner. He was moved to Fangling, and his fief was incorporated into Han, becoming a commandery.

King Jidong, Liu Pengli, was a son of King Liang Xiao. In the sixth year of the Zhongyuan era of Emperor Jing, he was enfeoffed as King of Jidong. In the twenty-ninth year, Liu Pengli became arrogant and fierce, lacking the etiquette of a ruler. After dark, he would privately go out with his servants and several tens of fugitive youths to rob and kill people, seizing their goods and property for amusement. It was discovered that over a hundred people had been killed. Everyone in the state knew of this, and no one dared to walk at night. The sons of the murdered people submitted memorials to report this. The relevant Han officials requested that he be executed. The Emperor could not bear it, so he deposed him and made him a commoner, moving him to Shangyong. His fief was incorporated into Han, becoming the Dahe Commandery.

King Shanyang Ai, Liu Ding, was a son of King Liang Xiao. In the sixth year of the Zhongyuan era of Emperor Jing, he was enfeoffed as King of Shanyang. He reigned for nine years and died, leaving no sons. His state was abolished, and his fief was incorporated into Han, becoming the Shanyang Commandery.

King Jiyin Ai, Liu Bushi, was a son of King Liang Xiao. In the sixth year of the Zhongyuan era of Emperor Jing, he was enfeoffed as King of Jiyin. He died after one year, leaving no sons. His state was abolished, and his fief was incorporated into Han, becoming the Jiyin Commandery.

The Grand Historian says: Although King Liang Xiao, due to his closeness to the Emperor and the love of the Empress Dowager, was enfeoffed in fertile lands, it happened to coincide with the flourishing of the Han dynasty and the prosperity of the people. Therefore, he was able to accumulate wealth, expand his palaces and residences, and the specifications of his chariots, horses, and attire rivaled those of the Son of Heaven. But this was indeed an overstepping of bounds.

Master Chu says: When I served as a Gentleman, I heard this matter in the palace from old Gentlemen who enjoyed meddling. I privately believe that causing King Liang Xiao to harbor resentment and desire to do evil deeds originated from within the palace. At that time, the Empress Dowager was a female ruler. Because of her partiality for her youngest son, she wanted to make the King of Liang the Heir Apparent. The high ministers did not promptly and directly state that this was impermissible, but instead flattered and attended to trivial matters, privately currying favor to obtain rewards. These were not loyal ministers. If they had directly remonstrated like the Marquis of Weiqi, Dou Ying, how could there have been subsequent calamities? Emperor Jing met privately with the King of Liang and accompanied the Empress Dowager in drinking. Emperor Jing said: "After my ten thousand autumns and a thousand years, I will pass the imperial throne to the King of Liang." The Empress Dowager was very pleased. Dou Ying was present and prostrated himself, saying: "The laws of the Han dynasty stipulate that the throne is passed to the eldest son by the legal wife. How can Your Majesty now pass it to your younger brother, arbitrarily disrupting the regulations of Emperor Gao!" Thereupon, Emperor Jing remained silent. The Empress Dowager was unhappy in her heart.

In former times, King Cheng of Zhou stood under a tree with his young younger brother. He took a tong leaf and gave it to his younger brother, saying: "I use this to enfeoff you." The Duke of Zhou heard of this and entered an audience, saying: "The Son of Heaven enfeoffing his younger brother is very good." King Cheng said: "I was merely joking with him." The Duke of Zhou said: "A ruler has no improper actions, and there should be no words spoken in jest. Once spoken, it must be carried out." Consequently, he enfeoffed the younger brother as the Marquis of Ying. From then on, King Cheng never dared to speak in jest for his entire life; once spoken, it was always carried out. The Classic of Filial Piety says: "Do not speak words that are not in accordance with ritual; do not do deeds that are not in accordance with the Way." This is the law-like speech of the sages. Now the ruler should not have spoken those fine words to the King of Liang. The King of Liang, with the support of the Empress Dowager above, had been arrogant and overbearing for a long time. He had repeatedly heard the fine words of Emperor Jing about passing the throne to him after ten thousand autumns and a thousand years, but in reality, it was not carried out.

Furthermore, when the feudal kings came to court to see the Son of Heaven, the Han laws stipulated that they should have a total of four audiences. When they first arrived, they entered the palace to perform the "small audience" ceremony. On the morning of the first day of the new year, they held up skins, silk, and jade bi disks to congratulate on the new year, performing the "statutory audience" ceremony. After that, on the third day, the Son of Heaven set up a banquet for the feudal kings, bestowing gold, money, and goods. The day after that, they again entered the palace to perform the "small audience" ceremony, taking leave and departing. In total, they did not stay in Chang'an for more than twenty days. What is called the "small audience" is a private meeting within the forbidden palace, drinking in the provincial palace. This was not a place ordinary gentlemen could enter. Now the King of Liang traveled west to the court, but because of this, he lingered, staying for nearly half a year. When entering the palace, he rode in the same carriage as the Son of Heaven; when leaving the palace, he also rode in the same carriage. Using grand words to hint at something but not actually giving it to him caused him to speak resentful words and plot rebellion. Only then worrying about this—is this not a great error! If one is not a great worthy, one does not understand yielding. Now the rituals and laws of the Han dynasty stipulate that those who come to court to congratulate on the new year usually do so with one feudal king and four marquises together, coming once every ten years or so. But the King of Liang came to court every year for years in a row, lingering for a long time. The common saying goes, "An arrogant son is not filial." This is not a malicious statement. Therefore, for the feudal kings, they should appoint worthy Grand Masters, Grand Tutors, and loyal and outspoken Chancellors. Men like Ji An and Han Changru, who dare to speak directly and remonstrate strongly—how could there be calamities then!

I heard that when the King of Liang traveled west to court and went to pay respects to Empress Dowager Dou, during a private audience he sat with Emperor Jing at the Empress Dowager’s side, and their conversation was very close and intimate. The Empress Dowager said to Emperor Jing: “I have heard that the custom of the Yin dynasty was to favor close kin, and the custom of the Zhou dynasty was to honor the venerable; their principles were the same. In the future, entrust the King of Liang to you with the comfort carriage and the great procession.” Emperor Jing knelt on his mat, rose, and replied: “Yes.” After the feast ended and they came out, Emperor Jing summoned Yuan Ang and those ministers versed in the classics and asked: “What does the Empress Dowager mean by saying such words?” They all replied: “The Empress Dowager’s intent is to establish the King of Liang as the Heir Apparent of the Emperor.” Emperor Jing asked for specifics, and Yuan Ang and the others said: “The custom of the Yin dynasty was to favor close kin, so they established younger brothers. The custom of the Zhou dynasty was to honor the venerable, so they established sons. The Yin system was plain; plainness means imitating Heaven, favoring those one is close to, hence establishing younger brothers. The Zhou system was ornate; ornateness means imitating Earth, honoring the venerable means showing respect, respecting the fundamental source, hence establishing the eldest son. Under the Zhou custom, when the Heir Apparent died, they established the legitimate grandson. Under the Yin custom, when the Heir Apparent died, they established his younger brother.” Emperor Jing said: “What is the public opinion on this?” They all replied: “Now the Han dynasty imitates the Zhou, and the Zhou custom cannot establish a younger brother; it should establish a son. Hence the Spring and Autumn Annals criticizes Duke Xuan of Song. When Duke Xuan of Song died, he did not establish his son but yielded the throne to his younger brother. After the younger brother received the throne and died, he in turn returned the throne to his elder brother’s son. The younger brother’s son contended for the throne, believing he should inherit from his father, and assassinated his elder brother’s son. Thus the state fell into great chaos, with disasters unending. Therefore the Spring and Autumn Annals says: ‘The superior man regards maintaining the legitimate line as paramount; the turmoil in Song was caused by Duke Xuan.’ Your servant requests to go see the Empress Dowager and explain this matter.” Yuan Ang and the others entered the palace to see the Empress Dowager and said: “The Empress Dowager said she wants to establish the King of Liang. If the King of Liang dies, who does she plan to establish then?” The Empress Dowager said: “I will then establish the Emperor’s son.” Yuan Ang and the others then reported to the Empress Dowager the case of Duke Xuan of Song, who did not establish the legitimate line, leading to calamities and turmoil that continued for five generations without end, and how small impatience ruins great plans. The Empress Dowager then understood, abandoned the idea, and immediately ordered the King of Liang to return to his fief. When the King of Liang heard that these suggestions came from Yuan Ang and other ministers, he harbored resentment and sent men to assassinate Yuan Ang. Yuan Ang looked at the assassin and said: “I am the one people call General Yuan; have you mistaken me for someone else?” The assassin said: “It is you!” He stabbed him, dropped the sword, and it remained embedded in the body. Looking at the sword, it was newly sharpened. Inquiring among the sword sharpeners in Chang’an, one craftsman said: “A certain attendant of the King of Liang came to have this sword sharpened.” Thus they learned of it and discovered the plot, and sent envoys to pursue the assassin. There were more than ten ministers the King of Liang wanted to kill; when the judicial officials pursued the matter to the end, signs of rebellion gradually emerged. The Empress Dowager would not eat, weeping day and night without ceasing. Emperor Jing was deeply worried and consulted the high ministers and nobles; the ministers believed that only by sending officials versed in the classics to handle the case could it be resolved. So they sent Tian Shu and Lü Jizhu to handle the case. Both were versed in the classics and understood the great principles of propriety. When they returned, upon reaching the Baccang Stable, they took fire and burned all the confessions concerning the King of Liang’s rebellion, returning empty-handed to report to Emperor Jing. Emperor Jing said: “How did it go?” They replied: “The King of Liang knew nothing. Those who did this were merely his favored ministers Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui and their like. They have already been executed according to law; the King of Liang is innocent.” Emperor Jing was very pleased and said: “Go quickly to pay respects to the Empress Dowager.” When the Empress Dowager heard this, she immediately rose, sat up, and ate, her mood calmed. Therefore, those who are not versed in the classics and do not understand the great principles of ancient and modern propriety cannot serve as the Three Dukes or as close attendants. People of shallow knowledge are like looking at the sky through a bamboo tube.

The youngest son of Emperor Wen was enfeoffed to the kingdom of Liang. The Empress Dowager doted on him excessively, and he greatly expanded the city of Suiyang. Banners fluttered and guards were strict, his manner rivaling that of the Son of Heaven. He achieved merit in pacifying the Wu-Chu rebellion, but his schemes were ruined by Yang Sheng and Gongsun Gui. Dou Ying remonstrated bluntly; Yuan Ang was assassinated and severely wounded. The Han dynasty thoroughly investigated the case of Liang, with envoys’ carriages coming and going in an unbroken stream. The calamity arose from a spoiled son, leading to such recklessness. Although later the kingdom of Liang was divided into five fiefs, in the end it did not prosper.