Why did Liu Bang, an emperor from the grass roots, say, "I am called the emperor today?"

In the fifth year of the Han Dynasty (202 BC), after Liu Bang completely defeated Xiang Yu, when the army arrived in Dingtao, a group of his generals, including Han Xin, Ying Bu and Peng Yue, signed a letter asking Liu Bang to proclaim himself emperor. Liu bang was humble several times, and the general wrote several times. After performances by both sides, Liu Bang finally agreed to be emperor. On the third day of February, he was proclaimed emperor in the "Yang of Surabaya" (that is, Dingtao, now Dingtao County, Shandong Province), and the founding name was Korea. When Liu Bang proclaimed himself emperor, he told a bunch of ministers that the court etiquette in the Qin Dynasty was too complicated. We are brothers. Don't do that. Everything is simple, drinking and eating meat, regardless of each other. People listened to the words of Emperor Liu, and everyone was happy.

However, after a while, the problem came out. A group of heroes who farmed with Liu Bang, especially those who followed him from Pei County, were generous in manners and frank in words, but most of them were uneducated and lacked restraint. At the banquet, the military commanders were as drunk as a fiddler, and when they talked about the past wars, they all came to the spirit and boasted about their contributions. Happy, sword dance. If words don't agree, quarreling is common, and even fighting will happen. At banquets called by the emperor, people often hold swords, shout and cut down columns and tables, making the court a battlefield. Liu bang felt that these buddies' actions were outrageous, but he didn't know how to restrain them. At this time, a man named Shu saw Liu Bang's mind and made suggestions to Liu Bang. He said to Liu Bang: "Although Confucian scholars can't charge on the battlefield and attack the city slightly, they are good at holding on to the fruits of victory and managing state affairs. Shandong is the birthplace of Confucianism. Please allow me to recruit Confucian scholars there, and I will lead them to be courtiers. " Hearing this, Liu Bang asked Uncle Sun Tong a question that seems meaningless and a little funny today. Liu Bang asked him, "Is it difficult? Can I learn? " Isn't it ridiculous that an emperor should worry that he can't learn manners? In fact, Liu Bang's worry is justified. Liu bang came from the bottom. Although he knows how to control talents, his cultural knowledge is really not high. His military commanders are as vulgar as he is. If the courtiers are too complicated, these people will resist. If the ceremony is made but can't be carried out, it is completely meaningless.

Uncle Sun Tong assured Liu that the most ignorant people can learn, not to mention the noble emperor. Liu smiled and agreed to his uncle's suggestion and put him in charge of it.

Shu was a doctor in the Qin Dynasty, who was knowledgeable and proficient in Confucianism. With the approval of Liu Bang, Shu went to Shandong as planned, recruited a group of Confucian scholars who were proficient in the etiquette of the Three Qin Dynasties, and led them to formulate a set of courtiers that was more concise than the courtiers of the Qin Dynasty in accordance with the spirit of "respecting the emperor and restraining the courtiers" and the principle of simplicity, easy learning and strong sense of ceremony.

Li cheng Uncle Sun Tong led his Confucian scholars to demonstrate to Liu Bang. Liu bang said with satisfaction, "I can learn this, too." So he summoned the ministers of civil and military affairs and ordered them to follow Uncle Sun Tong's orders and practice courtship outside the city. Uncle Sun Tong led Confucian scholars to learn etiquette. After practicing for a month, the ministers are familiar with it. Uncle Sun Tong will report to Liu Bang and ask Liu Bang to personally review the ministers' exercises. Liu bang was very satisfied after reading it.

In the seventh year of Emperor Gaozu (200 BC), the Changle Palace was restored in Xiao He. On New Year's Day, ministers formally congratulated in Changle Palace. The new ceremony was implemented from this day.

On New Year's Day, the main hall of Changle Palace was decorated with ceremonial etiquette early, which was serious and neat. During the court session, ministers decided their positions according to the size of their official titles. According to the court ceremony formulated by Uncle Sun Tong, ministers face the emperor, prostrate, stand up, salute and sit down, and no one dares to have the slightest disorder. The censor has the final say, even drinking and toasting have specific rules. High in the hall, Emperor Gaozu looked solemnly at the mighty military commander in front of him, and the noisy court in the past became humble and orderly. No one dares to speak loudly and clap their shoulders again. Liu bang blurted out happily: "today I know I am the emperor's treasure!" " "

Without rules, there would be no Fiona Fang. Shu strengthened the sense of ceremony in the court and created a solemn atmosphere by making rules. Through the system to strengthen respect and rank, Liu Bang found the feeling of being an emperor. Liu Bang was the first person in the history of China to become emperor from the grass roots through uprising. Uncle Sun Tong's courtiers not only made him feel like an emperor, but also set an example for later emperors. Uncle Sun Tong did a significant job, which made the leaders very satisfied. Emperor Liu Bang immediately promoted him to Taichang and gave him 500 Jin of gold.