Category: Comprehensive Mirror

Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

By Sima Guang

Translated By Yiming Yang  

Annals of Han Book 5 Scroll 13 (continued)

The 7th year of the Empress Gao(181 B.C. continued)

Chen Ping was worried about the growing power of the Lü clan and feared he might be implicated in their downfall. While Chen Ping was preoccupied with these thoughts, Lu Jia came to see him and sat down without being invited. Chen Ping didn’t even acknowledge him.

Lu Jia asked, “What is troubling you so deeply?”

Chen Ping replied, “What do you think is troubling me?”

Lu Jia said, “You are extremely wealthy and have no further desires. But you are concerned about the Lü clan and the young emperor.”

Chen Ping agreed, “Yes, that’s it. What can I do about it?”

Lu Jia said, “When the world is at peace, the focus is on the ministers. When the world is in chaos, the focus is on the generals. When ministers and generals are in harmony, the people will follow. Even if significant events occur, power will not be divided. The balance of state power is held by two gentlemen. I often wanted to advise the Marquis of Jiang on this, but he always joked and dismissed my advice. Why don’t you befriend the Marquis of Jiang and form a deep bond with him?”

Lu Jia then laid out plans targeting the Lü clan to Chen Ping. Following his advice, Chen Ping gave the Marquis of Jiang 500 gold coins as a birthday gift and hosted a lavish feast. The Marquis of Jiang responded in kind, and the two became close friends. As their friendship grew, the power of the Lü clan began to decline. In gratitude, Chen Ping gave Lu Jia 100 house slaves, 50 carriages, and five million coins to cover his expenses for food and drink.

The Empress Dowager sent messengers to inform the Prince of Dai, Liu Heng, of her intention to relocate him to the principality of Zhao. The Prince of Dai expressed his gratitude but requested to remain guarding the borders of Dai. The Empress Dowager then appointed her nephew, Lü Lu, as the new Prince of Zhao and posthumously honored Lü Lu’s father, Lü Shizhi, Marquis Kang of Jiancheng, as Prince Zhao of Zhao.

In September, the Prince of Yan, Liu Jian, passed away, leaving behind a son born to a concubine. The Empress Dowager ordered the son to be killed, bringing an end to the Principality of Yan.

The Empress Dowager also sent the Marquis of Longlü, Zhou Zao, on a campaign against Nanyue.

The 8th year of the Empress Gao(180 B.C.)

In winter, on October 12, the Marquis of Dongping, Lü Tong, the son of Prince Su of Lü, was appointed Prince of Yan, while his younger brother, Lü Zhuang, became the Marquis of Dongping.

In March, the empress dowager performed an exorcism ritual. On her return journey, as she passed through Zhidao Post, she encountered a creature resembling a gray dog, which bit her under the arm before vanishing. Divination revealed that the ghost of the Prince of Zhao—Liu Ruyi, was responsible for this, leading to the empress dowager’s illness and pain in her armpit.

The empress dowager’s grandson, Zhang Yan, the Prince of Lu, was still young and frail. Therefore, on April 15 in the summer, she appointed Zhang Ao‘s two sons, Zhang Chi and Zhang Shou—both born of his concubine—as the Marquises of Xindu and Lechang, respectively, to assist the Prince of Lu. She also awarded the title of Marquis of Jianling to Director of Internuncio Zhang Shi, an eunuch, for his counsel in elevating the Lü clan to kingship.

The Yangtze and Han Rivers overflowed, flooding more than ten thousand households.

In July of autumn, as the empress dowager’s illness worsened, she appointed Lü Lu, the Prince of Zhao, as the top general to command the Northern Army, while Lü Chan, the Prince of Lü, was given command of the Southern Army. She exhorted them both, saying, “When the Lü clan was elevated to kingship, the ministers were not fully in accord. I fear that after my death, with the emperor still young, the ministers may stage a coup. You must seize control of the Palace Guards and ensure you are not distracted by the funeral procession, lest you lose grip of the army!”

On July 30, the empress dowager passed away, leaving a will that pardoned all criminals in the empire. Lü Chan, Prince of Lü, was appointed Chancellor of State, and Lü Lu‘s daughter was made empress. After Empress Gao‘s burial, Left Chancellor Shen Yiji was appointed Grand Tutor to the emperor.

The Lü clan plotted to take action, but hesitated due to fear of powerful ministers like the Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo, and the Marquis of Yingyin, Guan Ying. The Marquis of Zhuxu, Liu Zhang, who had married Lü Lu‘s daughter, learned of their plan and secretly informed his elder brother, Liu Xiang, the Prince of Qi. He warned that the Lü clan was preparing to act and suggested launching an attack towards the west, with the Marquis of Zhuxu and the Marquis of Dongmou as allies within the capital, to overthrow the Lü clan and enthrone the Prince of Qi as emperor.

The Prince of Qi, along with his maternal uncle Si Jun, the Lord of Chamberlain Zhu Wu, and Commandant of the Central Guard Wei Bo, secretly conspired to launch the attack. However, the Prime Minister of Qi, Shao Ping, disapproved of the plan. In August, the Prince of Qi decided to have Shao Ping killed, but when Shao Ping discovered this, he sent troops to besiege the palace. Wei Bo deceived Shao Ping, “The Prince wished to mobilize troops but lacked the proper authorization from the Han Dynasty’s tiger tally. You did the right thing to surround the prince’s palace. I volunteered to lead the troops to put the Prince of Qi under house-arrest.” Shao Ping believed him and authorized him to lead the troop, and Wei Bo then surrounded Shao Ping’s residence, prompting Shao Ping to commit suicide.

As a result, Si Jun became the Prime Minister of Qi, Wei Bo was appointed general, and Zhu Wu became Minister of Interior. They then mobilized the state’s military forces.

Zhu Wu was sent to deceive Liu Ze, the Prince of Langya, saying: “The Lü clan has rebelled, and the Prince of Qi has dispatched troops to the west to exterminate them. Since the Prince of Qi is young and inexperienced in military affairs, he wishes to entrust the country to Your Majesty. As a general under Emperor Gaozu, Your Majesty’s presence in Linzi is requested to discuss matters with the Prince of Qi.”

Believing this, the Prince of Langya hurried west to meet the Prince of Qi, but upon arrival, he was detained. Zhu Wu then mobilized and led the Langya army. The Prince of Langya advised the Prince of Qi, saying: “Your Majesty, as Emperor Gaozu‘s grandson, you are the rightful heir to the throne. However, the court officials are hesitant and have not yet made a decision. Among them, I, Liu Ze, have served the longest and am the most respected, and the officials are awaiting my judgment. Keeping me here would be meaningless. Allow me to return to the court and deliberate with the ministers.”

The Prince of Qi agreed and sent the Prince of Langya on his way with additional carriages. Once the Prince of Langya departed, the Prince of Qi raised an army and attacked Jinan to the west, which had become part of the Lü state. He also sent letters to various princes, outlining the Lü clan’s crimes and proposing that they raise troops to exterminate them.

Chancellor Lü Chan learned of the Prince of Qi‘s campaign and sent the Marquis of Yingyin, Guan Ying, to attack the Prince of Qi. However, when Guan Ying reached Xingyang, he had second thoughts: “The Lü clan has a strong military presence in Guanzhong and intends to threaten the Liu family and establish themselves as rulers. If I defeat Qi and return, it will only strengthen the Lü clan’s position.” He decided to remain where he was and sent envoys to meet with the Prince of Qi and other princes, intending to wait for the Lü clan to overthrow the Liu dynasty, and then crush them.

The Prince of Qi, learning of Guan Ying‘s plan, decided to return to the western border and wait for the Lü clan’s next move.

Lü Lu and Lü Chan wanted to revolt, but they hesitated, fearing not only the Marquis of Jiang, the Marquis of Zhuxu, and others within the court, but also the armies of Qi and Chu outside. They were also concerned that Guan Ying might defect to the other side. They hoped to wait until Guan Ying‘s forces clashed with those of Qi before launching their rebellion, but they remained indecisive.

At that time, Liu Tai, the Prince of Jichuan; Liu Wu, the Prince of Huaiyang; Liu Chao, the Prince of Changshan; and Zhang Yan, the Prince of Lu, were all still young and had not yet departed for their respective kingdoms. They resided in Chang’an. Lü Lu, the Prince of Zhao, and Lü Chan, the Prince of Liang, commanded the northern and southern armies, respectively, and were the primary leaders of the Lü clan. None of the other marquises or ministers felt assured of their safety or were firmly committed to any particular course of action.

The Grand Commandant, Marquis of Jiang, could not command the army directly. The Marquis of Quzhou, Li Shang, was old and in poor health, and his son, Li Ji, was a friend of Lü Lu. The Marquis of Jiang conspired with Chancellor Chen Ping and arranged for someone to abduct Li Shang, then compelled Li Ji to deceive Lü Lu by saying: “Emperor Gaozu and Empress Lü jointly established the empire, and the nine princes from the Liu clan, along with the three princes from the Lü clan, were all appointed based on the ministers’ counsel. This has been communicated to the princes, and they all support it.”

“Now that the empress dowager has passed away and the emperor is young, you, as the Prince of Zhao, are carrying the royal seal but are not defending the state’s borders. Instead, you are acting as chief commander and keeping your army here, which is raising suspicion among the ministers and princes. Why not return the seal of commander-in-chief and entrust your army to the Grand Commandant? Also, let the Prince of Liang return the chancellor’s seal, make a pact with the ministers, and then return to your princedoms. This will force the Qi army to withdraw, and the ministers will feel secure. You can then enjoy ruling a vast princedom, securing the prosperity of your descendants for generations.”

Lü Lu believed in this plan and considered handing over his army to the Grand Commandant. He sent word to Lü Chan and the other senior members of the Lü clan. Some thought it was a good idea, while others disagreed, leaving the plan unimplemented.

Lü Lu trusted Li Ji and was out hunting with him when they happened to pass by his aunt, Lü Xu. She became furious and said, “If you, as a commander, abandon your troops, the Lü family will have no place to survive!” In her anger, she threw all her pearls and valuables onto the floor, exclaiming, “I don’t want to keep them for others!”

On September 10, the Marquis of Pingyang, Cao Zhu, acting as Grand Master of the Censorate, visited Chancellor Lü Chan to discuss state affairs. During the meeting, Jia Shou, the Grand Chamberlain and an emissary back from Qi, reproached Lü Chan, saying, “As the Prince of Liang, you should have reported to your principality earlier. Now that you want to leave, is it still possible?” He then revealed Guan Ying’s plan to execute the Lü family with the assistance of the Princes of Qi and Chu, urging Lü Chan to enter the palace immediately.

The Marquis of Pingyang overheard this and rushed to inform Chancellor Chen Ping and Grand Commandant Zhou Bo.

The Grand Commandant attempted to enter the Northern Army but was denied access. The Marquis of Xiangping, Ji Tong, was in charge of the imperial tally. Marquis of Jiang ordered him to hold the tally and falsely claimed that the emperor had authorized the Grand Commandant to enter the Northern Army on an urgent matter. The Grand Commandant then had Li Ji and the Grand Herald, Liu Jie, persuade Lü Lu, saying, “The Emperor has appointed the Grand Commandant to lead the Northern Army and wants you to return to your princedom. You should hand over your command seal and leave immediately, or disaster will follow soon.”

Lü Lu, trusting Li Ji, believed he wouldn’t lie and handed over his seal to the Grand Herald, entrusting his troops to the Grand Commandant. By the time the Grand Commandant arrived at the army, Lü Lu had already departed. Upon entering the army gate, the Grand Commandant commanded the soldiers, “Those who support the Lü clan should bare their right arms and shoulders, and those who support the Liu clan should bare their left arms and shoulders.” The soldiers all bared their left arms and shoulders, and the Grand Commandant took control of the Northern Army.

However, the Southern Army remained intact. Prime Minister Chen Ping summoned the Marquis of Zhuxu, Liu Zhang, to serve as the Grand Commandant’s assistant and ordered him to guard the army camp gate. Meanwhile, the Marquis of Pingyang, Cao Zhu, instructed the Commandant of the Court Guards not to allow Chancellor Lü Chan to enter the palace.

Lü Chan, unaware that Lü Lu had already left the Northern Army, entered Weiyang Palace with the intention of starting a rebellion. Denied entry at the palace gate, he anxiously paced back and forth. The Marquis of Pingyang, fearing he would not be able to stop Lü Chan, rushed on horse to warn the Grand Commandant. The Grand Commandant, wary of the Lü family’s influence and hesitant to openly call for their execution, instructed the Marquis of Zhuxu, “Hurry and protect the Emperor in the palace!”

Marquis Zhuxu requested soldiers, and the Grand Commandant provided him with over a thousand troops. They entered Weiyang Palace and found Lü Chan in the court.

In the late afternoon, they launched an attack on Lü Chan, forcing him to flee. A strong gust of wind suddenly blew, causing Lü Chan’s subordinates to panic and lose their ability to fight back. Lü Chan was chased down and killed in the latrine of the Grand Chamberlain’s office. After Lü Chan‘s death, the Emperor ordered an internuncio to present the imperial tally as a token of appreciation to Marquis of Zhuxu.

Marquis of Zhuxu attempted to take the tally, but the internuncio refused. Determined, Marquis of Zhuxu boarded the same wagon as the internuncio and rushed to the palace with the tally, beheading Lü Gengshi, the guard captain of ChangLe Palace, along the way.

Marquis of Zhuxu, after taking care of the palace, hurried back to the Northern Army to report to the Grand Commandant. The Grand Commandant congratulated him, “Our only concern was Lü Chan. Now that he has been executed, there will be no more problems in the empire!” He then ordered the arrest of all members of the Lü clan, men and women alike, and had them executed, regardless of age.

On September 11, Lü Lu was arrested and executed, Lü Xu was whipped to death, and Lü Tong, the Prince of Yan, was executed. Zhang Yan, the Prince of Lu, was deposed.

On September 18, the Prince of Jichuan(Liu Tai) was promoted to Prince of Liang. Marquis of Zhuxu was then dispatched to inform the Prince of Qi about the extermination of the Lü clan and was ordered to stop further military actions.

Comprehensive Reflections to Aid in Governance

By Sima Guang

Translated By Yiming Yang  

Annals of Han Book 5 Scroll 13

The 1st year of the Empress Gao (187 B.C.)

In winter, the Empress Dowager proposed appointing members of the Lü family as kings and sought the opinion of Right Chancellor Wang Ling. Wang Ling replied, “When Emperor Gaozu swore an oath over the sacrificed white horse, he said, ‘If anyone outside the Liu family becomes king, the whole world will rise against them.’ If we make the Lü family kings now, we would be breaking that oath.” The Empress Dowager was displeased with this response, so she asked for the opinion of Left Chancellor Chen Ping and Grand Commandant Zhou Bo. They replied, “Emperor Gaozu established the rule that only the sons of kings may become kings. Now that the Empress Dowager holds power, making the Lü family kings is acceptable.” The Empress Dowager was delighted and ended the court session.

Afterwards, Wang Ling reprimanded Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang, reminding them of the oath they had sworn with Emperor Gaozu. He asked, “Were you not present? Now that Emperor Gaozu has passed, and the Empress Dowager wants to make the Lü family kings, if you yield and break the oath, how will you face Emperor Gaozu in the afterlife?” Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang replied, “When it comes to standing your ground and directly opposing the Empress Dowager, we do not have your courage. However, in safeguarding the empire and the Liu family’s lineage, you are not as prudent as we are.” Wang Ling was unable to argue with them.

On December 5, the Empress Dowager appointed Wang Ling as Grand Tutor to the Emperor, but in reality, she stripped him of his authority as chancellor. Wang Ling, citing poor health, resigned and retired to home.

The Empress Dowager then promoted Left Chancellor Chen Ping to Right Chancellor and appointed the Marquis of Biyang, Shen Yiji, as Left Chancellor. However, Shen Yiji was not assigned any functions of a chancellor; he was simply tasked with overseeing the palace, as if he were the Minister of the Imperial Household. Shen Yiji, favored by the Empress Dowager, became influential, and court officials began following his lead in decision-making.

The Empress Dowager harbored resentment toward Grand Master of Censorate Zhao Yao for his efforts to protect Prince Yin of Zhao (Liu Ruyi), and she accused him of a crime and removed him from office.

Ren Ao, formerly a jailer in Pei County and now Prefect of Shangdang Commandery, earned the Empress Dowager‘s favor through his virtuous service to her in the past and was appointed Grand Master of the Censerate.

The Empress Dowager posthumously honored her father, the Marquis of Linsi, Mr. Lü as King of Xuan, and her brother, the Marquis Lingwu of Zhoulü, Lü Ze, as King of Daowu, thereby paving the way for the Lü family to gradually ascend to kingship.

In January, the laws enforcing the execution of three clans for heinous crimes and the laws punishing heresy-mongering were abolished.

In April, Princess Yuan of Lu passed away. Her son, Zhang Yan, was named Prince of Lu, and Princess Yuan was posthumously honored as Empress Dowager Yuan of Lu.

On April 28, the so-called sons of Emperor Hui were given noble titles: Liu Shan was granted the title of Marquis of Xiangcheng, Liu Chao was named Marquis of Zhi, and Liu Wu was made Marquis of Huguan.

The Empress Dowager sought to establish members of the Lü family as kings. She began by naming Emperor Hui‘s so-called sons, Liu Qiang as Prince of Huaiyang and Liu Buyi as Prince of Hengshan. She then dispatched the Director of Internuncio Zhang Shi to subtly promote the idea of nominating Lü family members as kings among the ministers. The ministers subsequently proposed that Marquis of Li, Lü Tai, the eldest son of King of Daowu (Lü Ze), be made Prince of Lü, and that Jinan Commandery in Qi be ceded to the principality of Lü as its territory.

On May 4, a fire broke out on the Cong terrace in the King of Zhao’s palace.

In autumn, peach and plum blossoms bloomed unexpectedly.

The 2nd year of the Empress Gao(186 B.C.)

In November, during the winter, Prince Su of Lü, Lü Tai, passed away.

On January 27, an earthquake struck, causing mountains to collapse between Qiangdao County and Wudu County.

On May 9, Liu Yingke, the son of Prince Yuan of Chu, was granted the title of Marquis of Shangpi, and Liu Zhang, the son of Prince Daohui of Qi, was appointed Marquis of Zhuxu. Both were assigned to serve in the imperial guard. Additionally, the Empress Dowager married the daughter of Lü Lu to Liu Zhang.

On June 30, the last day of the month, a solar eclipse occurred.

In July, during autumn, Prince Ai of Hengshan, Liu Buyi, passed away.

The currency denomination of eight zhu was reintroduced into circulation.

On July 27, Emperor Hui‘s so-called son, the Marquis of Xiangcheng, Liu Shan, was established as Prince of Hengshan, and his name was changed to Liu Yi.

The 3rd year of the Empress Gao(185 B.C.)

In the summer, the Yangtze River and the Han River overflowed, causing flooding that affected over 4,000 households.

In the autumn, stars were visible in the daytime.

The Yi River and the Luo River also overflowed, causing flooding that affected over 1,600 households. The Ru River also overflowed, causing flooding that affected over 800 households.

The 4th year of the Empress Gao(184 B.C.)

On February 7, Emperor Hui’s alleged son, Liu Tai, was established as the Marquis of Changping.

On April 21, the Empress Dowager granted her younger sister, Lü Xu, the title of Marquess of Lin’guang.

As the Young Emperor grew older, he became aware that he was not Emperor Hui’s son and said, “How could the Empress Dowager kill my mother and make me emperor? When I am grown, I will do something about it!”

The Empress Dowager heard of this and confined him to a narrow alley (Yong Lane), where harem women were incarcerated, claiming that he was ill and could not be seen by anyone. She told her ministers, “The emperor has been mentally ill for a long time and is unable to govern the country. We must choose a successor.” All the ministers knelt and said, “The Empress Dowager is wise and benevolent and has always been deeply concerned with the welfare of the country and the ancestors’ temples. We humbly obey the imperial edict.”

Thus, the young emperor was deposed and killed in secret. On May 11, the Prince of Hengshan, Liu Yi, was installed as the new emperor and took the name Liu Hong. His reign was not counted as the first year of an era, as the Empress Dowager ruled as regent. The Marquis of Zhi, Liu Chao, was granted the title of Prince of Hengshan.

In the same year, Cao Zhu was appointed grand master of the censorate.

The officials in charge requested that the Empress Dowager ban the trade of goods and ironware at the border markets with the Nanyue kingdom. In response, the King of Nanyue, Zhao Tuo, dismissed the idea, saying, “Emperor Gaozu founded our kingdom and permitted us to trade with the Middle Kingdom and exchange emissaries. Now, Empress Gao has listened to the slanders of her advisors and seeks to isolate us and cut off our trade. This is surely the plot of the Prince of Changsha, who wants to use the Middle Kingdom’s power to attack and conquer Nanyue, annexing it as his own and taking it as his trophy.”

The 5th year of the Empress Gao(183 B.C.)

In the spring, King Zhao Tuo proclaimed himself Emperor Wu of Nanyue and launched an attack on Changsha. He defeated the defenses in several counties before retreating.

In August, during the autumn, the Prince Huai of Huaiyang, Liu Qiang, passed away and was succeeded by the Marquis of Huguan, Liu Wu, who became the new Prince of Huaiyang.

In September, cavalry from Hedong and Shangdang were dispatched to camp in Beidi commandery.

The 6th year of the Empress Gao(182 B.C.)

In October, during the winter, the Empress Dowager deposed the Prince of Lü, Lü Jia, for his arrogance and unruliness. In November, she appointed Lü Chan, the younger brother of Prince Su, as the new Prince of Lü.

In the spring, stars were visible during the daytime.

In the summer, on April 3, a general amnesty was declared across the empire.

The emperor granted Liu Xingju, the younger brother of the Marquis of Zhuxu, Liu Zhang, the title of Marquis of Dongmou and ordered him to join the imperial guard.

The Xiongnu invaded the counties of Didao and Ayang.

A five-fen currency was issued.

In the winter, the Marquis of Xuanping, Zhang Ao, passed away and was posthumously honored with the title “Prince Yuan of Lu.”

The 7th year of the Empress Gao(181 B.C.)

In December, during the winter, the Xiongnu invaded Didao County and captured over two thousand people.

In the spring, during the first month, the Empress Dowager summoned Liu You, Prince You of Zhao. Liu You had married a woman from the Lü clan but did not love her, preferring another concubine. The Lü woman, angered, left him and slandered him to the Empress Dowager, claiming he had said, “How could the Lü clan have a prince? After the Empress Dowager passes away at the age of 100, I will surely attack them.” Upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager summoned Liu You to the capital, placed him under house arrest, and forbade him from seeing anyone or receiving food. Some of his officials secretly provided him food, but they were caught and punished. On January 18, Liu You died of starvation, and his body was buried in a commoner’s grave in Chang’an.

On January 30, there was a solar eclipse. The Empress Dowager, displeased, said to those around her, “This is because of me!”

In February, the Prince of Liang, Liu Hui, was transferred to become the Prince of Zhao, and Lü Chan, the Prince of Lü, was appointed as the new Prince of Liang. However, the new Prince of Liang did not go to his principality but instead served as the Grand Tutor to the Emperor.

In the autumn, on June 30, the Marquis of Pingchang, Liu Tai, was installed as the Prince of Jichuan.

The daughter of the Empress Dowager‘s sister, Lü Xu, was married to General Liu Ze, the Marquis of Yingling, who was a cousin of Emperor Gaozu. Tian Sheng from the state of Qi persuaded the Director of Internuncio, Zhang Shi, “The Lü clan has become kings, but the ministers have not yet fully accepted them. Now, the Marquis of Yingling, Liu Ze, is the eldest of the Liu clan. If you suggest to the Empress Dowager to make him a prince, the power of the Lü clan will be further strengthened.” Zhang Shi reported this to the Empress Dowager, who agreed with the idea, and thus she separated Langya commandery from the Qi state and made Liu Ze the Prince of Langya.

When Liu Hui, the Prince of Zhao, was relocated to the territory of Liang, he was unhappy. The Empress Dowager appointed a daughter of Lü Chan as his queen, and the queen’s attendants, all members of the Lü clan, abused their power and kept a close watch on the prince. The prince’s beloved concubine was poisoned and killed on the queen’s orders. In June, overwhelmed by grief and anger, the prince committed suicide. The Empress Dowager blamed his death on his lack of respect for his royal duties and lineage, attributing it to his preference for women over his responsibilities for ancestral temples. As a result, the prince was posthumously stripped of his title, and his descendants were disinherited.

At that time, members of the Lü clan held power and were in control. Marquis Zhuxu, Liu Zhang, though only twenty years old, was physically strong and resentful that the Liu clan was not given important positions. At one banquet with the Empress Dowager, Liu Zhang was appointed to serve wine. He requested to serve it according to military rules, and the Empress Dowager agreed. As they drank, Liu Zhang asked to sing the “Plowing and Weeding Song,” and the Empress Dowager consented. Liu Zhang sang, “Deeply plow and sow the seed, seedlings dislike being crowded. For seedlings not of the same kind, wield the hoe to weed them out!” The Empress Dowager remained silent.

Later, a member of the Lü clan became drunk and left the banquet early. Liu Zhang pursued him, drew his sword, and killed him. Upon his return, he reported, “Someone tried to escape, and I punished him according to military law.” The Empress Dowager and her attendants were greatly shocked, but since she had agreed to his use of military law, there was no way to chastise him. The banquet ended on a sour note. After this incident, the Lü clan members feared Marquis Zhuxu, Liu Zhang, and even high officials began to side with him, strengthening the Liu clan’s power.