The life story and merits and demerits of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty

Liu Che (156 BC - March 29, 87 BC), Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the seventh emperor of the Western Han Dynasty, was a great statesman, strategist, and poet.

During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty (141 BC - 87 BC), politically, he established the Chinese and foreign dynasty systems, the provincial governor system, and the imperial examination system, issued favor orders, and strengthened the monarchy and centralization of power. . Economically, measures such as equalization, equalization of losses, accounting, and suing were implemented, five baht coins were minted, the government monopolized the management of salt, iron, and wine, and suppressed the power of wealthy merchants.

In terms of culture, he "deposed hundreds of schools of thought and respected Confucianism alone" and established Taixue. Externally, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty adopted an expansionist policy. In addition to long-term wars with the Xiongnu, he also conquered Minyue, Nanyue, Wei's Korea, and Dayuan. He also dug out the Western Regions, opened the Silk Road, and opened up the southwestern barbarians.

In addition, there are also measures such as the creation of era names and the promulgation of the Taichu Calendar. However, he believed in alchemy, embraced luxury, and resorted to militarism, which triggered a crisis in his rule. In his later years, the witchcraft disaster broke out. Later, because of the setback in external expansion, he issued the "Luntai Edict". In the second year of Houyuan (87 BC), Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty died in Wuzha Palace at the age of 70 and was buried in Maoling.

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Conquests from all directions

After a series of economic development and people's livelihood policies such as the recuperation and recuperation of Wenjing Zhizhi, the national strength of the Western Han Dynasty has been booming . While inheriting these policies, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty actively prepared for the development of military power.

Militarily, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty first quelled the unrest in the Minyue Kingdom in the south. Later, he began to use military means to replace the humiliating peace policy to completely solve the threat of the Huns in the north. He sent famous generals Wei Qing and Huo Qubing to attack the Xiongnu three times on a large scale, took back the Hetao area, captured the Hexi Corridor, sealed the wolf in Xu, and pushed the northern territory of the Han Dynasty from along the Great Wall to Mobei.

At the same time as the war against the Xiongnu, peaceful and military means were used to make the countries in the Western Regions surrender. After losing the fertile and lush Monan region, the Xiongnu royal court moved to Mobei. This basically solved the threat of the Xiongnu to the Central Plains since the early Western Han Dynasty and laid the foundation for the later integration of the Western Region into the Chinese territory. Zhang Qian was sent as an envoy to the Western Regions, and the Silk Road began.

In the sixth year of Yuanfeng (105 BC), Princess Xijun was ordered to marry Wusun.

In terms of astronomical calendar, the Han Dynasty has always inherited the Qin system. The Qin calendar - Zhuanxu calendar has been implemented in the early Han Dynasty, with October as the beginning of the year. Until Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty changed the calendar and implemented the new calendar. The Spring Festival began when the calendar was changed in the early days of the taichu period and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty corrected it.

The Disaster of Witchcraft

In the first year of Zhenghe (92 BC), Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty lived in Jianzhang Palace and saw a man entering the Zhonglonghua Gate with a sword. Ordinary people are ordered to be captured. The man abandoned his sword and ran away. The guards chased him but failed to capture him.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was furious and executed the gatekeeper who was in charge of the entrance and exit of the palace. In November of winter, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty mobilized cavalry from the Sanfu area to conduct a large-scale search of Shanglin Garden, and ordered the Chang'an city gate to be closed for search. Martial law was lifted eleven days later. Witchcraft incidents began to occur.

Gongsun Jingsheng, the son of Prime Minister Gongsun He, used 19 million military funds without authorization. After the failure, he was arrested and imprisoned. At that time, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty issued an edict to arrest Yangling hero Zhu Anshi. In order to atone for his son's crime, Gongsun He captured Zhu Anshi and transferred him to the court. Unexpectedly, Zhu Anshi wrote a letter in prison, claiming that Gongsun Jingsheng had an affair with Princess Yangshi and buried a wooden figure on the road to curse the emperor.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was furious. Gongsun He and his son died in prison, and everyone in the family was executed. Princess Yangshi, Princess Zhuyi, Wei Qing's son Changping Hou Wei and his wife were implicated one after another and were killed.

Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia - Emperor Wu of Han