My life is like walking on thin ice

Chapter 556 Mysterious and Profound?

A very typical example is the reaction of the late Emperor Liu Qi, the current Emperor Liu Rong, and Empress Dowager Dou when the Rebellion of the Seven States broke out.

As the de facto ruler of the Han dynasty at the time, Emperor Jing, whether enraged or terrified, always prioritized suppressing the rebellion.

In order to quell the rebellion, the late emperor was willing to sacrifice almost everything!
Including but not limited to: the life of teacher Chao Cuo;

The brotherhood between him and his younger brother, Liu Wu, the Prince of Liang;

Furthermore, the past mistakes of Marquis Jiang, Zhou Bo's family were temporarily overlooked, and Zhou Yafu, the general in charge of suppressing the rebellion, was given maximum wartime autonomy.

In short;

As long as the Rebellion of the Seven States of Wu and Chu could be quelled, the late emperor was willing to sacrifice everything except the Han dynasty and the throne!
Liu Rong had no doubt that if his life had helped quell the rebellion, the late emperor would have chosen to sacrifice him without hesitation.

Some later generations said that Emperor Jing of Han panicked and acted rashly, his concern leading to confusion, and he was so frightened by the sudden and massive outbreak of the Rebellion of the Seven States that he lost his composure.

But once you understand this Emperor Xiaojing, you will surely realize that this is indeed Emperor Xiaojing.

Whether it was the Rebellion of the Seven States or any other time, Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Qi, was always like this.

—For the sake of the country, one can sacrifice everything except oneself and the country itself!
What about Liu Rong?

How did Liu Rong, who was not yet Emperor Rong, or even Crown Prince Rong, view the Rebellion of the Seven States of Wu and Chu?
Looking back now, Liu Rong naturally understands that the outbreak of the Rebellion of the Seven States of Wu and Chu was inevitable.

Moreover, for the Han dynasty at that time, this rebellion, which spanned most of Guandong, was better off breaking out as soon as possible, as it would be easier to handle and quell.
Conversely, the later the outbreak, the more severe, troublesome, and difficult the consequences will be to handle.

But in Liu Rong's view at the time, the Rebellion of the Seven States of Wu and Chu was an armed rebellion that threatened the central government of the Han dynasty.

The final outcome of this rebellion will not only have a crucial impact on the course of Han history and even Chinese history, but will also pose the most direct and thorough threat to the lives and property of the late Emperor Liu Qi and the current Emperor Liu Rong.

Therefore, whether it was for the sake of the ancestral temples and the state, for the sake of the Chinese people, or for his own life and property, Liu Rong at that time desperately hoped that the rebellion could be quelled.

However, compared to the somewhat flustered late emperor, Liu Rong, who was well-versed in the course of history, had almost complete confidence in suppressing the rebellion.

Therefore, Liu Rong devoted his energy to gaining considerable political benefits for himself from the rebellion that was bound to be quelled.

It was only after Liu Rong went to Suiyang, the capital of Liang, as an "envoy to reward the army," revealed his identity as the eldest son of the emperor and the heir apparent to the soldiers defending Suiyang, and participated in the defense of Suiyang, that Liu Rong was finally appointed as the heir apparent.

In contrast, what was Empress Dowager Dou's reaction at the time?
—The Empress Dowager's first reaction upon the outbreak of the rebellion was to summon the late Emperor Liu Qi to inquire about the situation.

It was called an inquiry, but it was actually more like an interrogation.

What are you questioning?
He questioned the late Emperor Liu Qi: Why did the situation develop to this point? How did it come to this?

Did the late emperor have any way to clean up the mess and take control of the situation under the circumstances?
Then, Empress Dowager Dou's second reaction was to recommend—or rather, forcefully place—a powerful general from the maternal relatives of the emperor, Dou Ying, on his behalf.

On this point, both the Han dynasty today and later generations share a relatively unified opinion.

— Appointing Dou Ying as Grand General of the Imperial Family was both a practical necessity and a way for Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Qi, to further bind his maternal relatives, the Dou clan, to himself and the Han dynasty.

Liu Rong also does not disagree with this view.

But that's the crux of the problem.

Why would the late emperor need to appoint Dou Ying as Grand General of the Imperial Relatives to further win over and appease the Dou family, and to bind them even more tightly to himself and the Han dynasty?
As the maternal relatives of the late emperor, wasn't Lady Dou naturally bound to share in his glory and misfortune?
In theory, that is indeed the case.

Theoretically speaking, Empress Dowager Dou and her Dou clan, who were related to her, were in cahoots with the late emperor, just like Liu Wu, the Prince of Liang.

If the Rebellion of the Seven Kingdoms of Wu and Chu had ultimately escalated into the Uprising of the Seven Kingdoms of Wu and Chu, then it would not have been just the late emperor who had no place to be buried;

This also includes Liu Wu, the Prince of Liang, who was a brother of the late emperor, and Liu Piao, the Princess of Guantao, as well as Liu Rong, the current emperor's son, and the Dou family, who were relatives of the late emperor.

Empress Dowager Dou might survive, but she would inevitably be imprisoned in the deep palace by the new emperor Liu Bi, just like Emperor Taizu of Tang, Li Yuan.

It was said to be a mere survival, but in reality, it was worse than death.

If that's the case, why did the late emperor do this?

It's clearly a relationship where we both prosper and suffer together;

Why did the late emperor use the powerful general Dou Ying, a relative of the emperor, to win over and appease the Dou family, and even offer the throne to motivate his younger brother Liu Wu to suppress the Wu-Chu Rebellion?
If it were any other feudal emperor, Liu Rong could have understood it as a meaningless and superfluous act.

But the late emperor would not.

Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Qi, would not.

Emperor Jing of Han, Liu Qi, may not have inherited his father, Emperor Taizong Xiaowen's, superb political skills and outstanding political talent.
They may not even have learned their father's imperial strategies.

However, in terms of 'hitting the mark with every shot,' the late Emperor Liu Qi was even better than Emperor Taizong.

Among the feudal emperors of China, the late emperor was a very typical and representative figure who would not act until he saw a clear opportunity—or even more so, he would absolutely not act until he saw a big opportunity.

Unless absolutely necessary, the late emperor would never have used the promise of a powerful relative of the empress, a general, or even the title of "Crown Prince," a promise that shocked the world, to win over or appease people who didn't need to be won over.

Since the late emperor did it, it means that there must have been a necessity to do it.

In other words, since the late emperor offered the position of Grand General, it means that without this position, the Dou family, and even the Empress Dowager Dou, would face problems.

As for what specific problems might arise—it's unlikely that he will defect to Liu Bi.

However, at least in terms of enthusiasm for suppressing the rebellion, there will inevitably be situations where people go through the motions but don't put in the effort, or even don't put in the effort at all.

Even worse—Empress Dowager Dou, who already had this intention, might very well use the excuse that the "Policy of Reducing the Feudal States" led to the Rebellion of the Seven States of Wu and Chu to forcibly depose the late emperor and install Liu Wu, the King of Liang, on the throne!

To avoid such potential problems, to prevent internal strife, and to maximize the support of his maternal relatives and his stepmother, the late emperor offered the position of Grand General of the Imperial Relatives.

Similarly, even if they were brothers born of the same mother, the late emperor had to make the grand promise of becoming the "Crown Prince" to ensure that Prince Liu Wu of Liang would be motivated to quell the rebellion.

That's where the interesting part of the whole thing lies.

—The situation at that time was already extremely bad!

The situation was so dire that the late emperor was willing to go to any lengths, even sacrificing his teacher Chao Cuo's life, removing the shackles from the Zhou family, and offering the throne as a bargaining chip—using every possible means to quell the rebellion!

The situation was so dire that even Liu Rong, who was well-versed in history and knew that the rebellion could be quelled, couldn't help but feel a sense of dread and intense crisis!

Against this backdrop, instead of focusing on serving the suppression of the rebellion, Empress Dowager Dou actually intended to take advantage of the chaos and use the rebellion for political gain!

First, he secured a promise for his son Liu Wu to become the "Crown Prince";

Later, he secured a position as a general for his maternal relatives, the Dou family, so that Dou Ying, who could only become the Crown Prince's tutor, could become the Crown Prince's grand tutor and be ennobled for his military achievements!
Looking at the timeline, Dou Ying's current position as prime minister is also due to the fact that Empress Dowager Dou secured the position of Grand General for him during the suppression of the Rebellion of the Seven States.

Because in the current Han Dynasty, no one but a Marquis of Che can become prime minister!

Even Shen Tu Jia, the former prime minister of the previous emperor's reign, who was already a Marquis within the Passes, was still hastily promoted to Marquis Che by Emperor Taizong just a few hours before Emperor Taizong appointed him prime minister. And if Dou Ying hadn't served as a Grand General, a relative of the empress, and participated in the suppression of the Rebellion of the Seven States, he would almost certainly have had no hope of ever achieving a military merit and being ennobled!

Therefore, everything becomes obvious.

—The Rebellion of the Seven States of Wu and Chu broke out, and the late Emperor Xiaojing was in a panic, seemingly making a desperate gamble to quell the rebellion;

As a time traveler, Liu Rong knew that the rebellion would eventually be quelled, which is why he barely managed to suppress his panic and seize the opportunity to gain political advantage for himself.

Empress Dowager Dou, on the other hand, began to profit without hesitation or burden, even though the outcome of the rebellion was uncertain and the result was completely unknown!
Moreover, the profits they made all directly targeted the vital interests of the Han dynasty, even undermining the national interests of the Han dynasty's ancestral temples and state.

At such a critical juncture, he almost disregarded the ancestral temples and the state, and for the sake of himself and his family, he brazenly damaged national interests for personal gain!
If anyone else had done this, even eight hundred lives wouldn't have been enough for the late emperor to wreak havoc on!

That's why Liu Rong said that the late emperor, Empress Dowager Dou, and he himself had completely different stances.

Liu Rong's stance was consistent with that of the late emperor; both were acting in the best interests of the Han dynasty—even if it was for his own good, it was mostly for the good of his own Han dynasty, and ultimately, it was for the good of the country.

But Empress Dowager Dou's "for her own good" was not for the good of the Han dynasty.

It was for the good of Dou Yifang and for the good of the Dou family.

This difference in stance inevitably led to indelible disagreements between the late emperor and his son Liu Rong, and between Empress Dowager Dou and the two sides on different issues.

After all, your perspective is determined by your position.

If you can't even put your buttocks together, you're bound to think the same way.

In fact, Liu Rong has become increasingly aware of this over the years.

Empress Dowager Dou, and I, or rather the late Emperor Liu Qi, were not of the same mind at all.

To put it more bluntly, in Empress Dowager Dou's heart, even the ancestral temples and the state of the Han dynasty might not have held much weight.

Empress Dowager Dou's thoughts and wishes were nothing more than to "support each other" with the deceased Emperor Taizong Xiaowen.

Empress Dowager Dou protected Emperor Taizong's reputation and used this to consolidate her own position.

That's it.

As for the people of the world, or the ancestral temples and state of the Han dynasty—while Empress Dowager Dou could not be said to be completely indifferent, her level of concern was clearly not very high.

Again.

In Empress Dowager Dou's mind, the legacy of Emperor Taizong and the stability of the ancestral temple and the state came first, personal interests and the interests of the Dou family came second, and the national interests of the Han dynasty came third.

Being ranked third—to have secured a place in Empress Dowager Dou's heart—is already quite an achievement.

Liu Rong couldn't expect too much from this woman who didn't share his surname.

Even the people of the world, and even the judgment of history, clearly cannot ask for more.

"Grandmother, you must have received the news by now, right?"

"—The eldest son of the emperor was given the name 'Xuan' by his grandson."

After much deliberation, Liu Rong finally spoke up tactfully, intending to reassure Empress Dowager Dou.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the Empress Dowager merely nodded indifferently and gave a soft "hmm".

Then, as if talking to himself, he said, "Mysterious..."

"Liu Xuan..."

...

The Tao Te Ching states: "The Tao that can be told is not the eternal Tao; the name that can be named is not the eternal name."

“Namelessness is the beginning of heaven and earth; name is the mother of all things.”

"Therefore, one should always be without desire in order to observe its subtlety; one should always have desire in order to observe its manifestations."

"—These two originate from the same source but have different names; they are both called: Xuan."

"Profound and mysterious, the gateway to all wonders..."

This inexplicable chanting only elicited a shake of the head and a smile from Liu Rong.

The Empress Dowager's words are taken from the first chapter of the Tao Te Ching: the Spring and Autumn Annals.

The specific meaning is obscure and the story is long.

But the Empress Dowager's intention in bringing up this passage was clearly in the last sentence: "mysterious and profound."

—After Liu Rong subtly expressed his attitude by naming the eldest prince Xuan, the Empress Dowager also subtly raised her doubts.

Could it be that the emperor is deliberately creating a mystery to protect his eldest son?

After all, the word '玄' (xuán) has more than just the meaning of 'black'.

It could even be said that 'black' is merely the most superficial interpretation of the word 'mysterious'.

If one were to delve deeper, or even indulge in unrestrained enjoyment, the "mysterious" aspect of the eldest prince's name is certainly worth discussing...

"Grandmother is so learned that I am ashamed."

"It reminds me of the 'mysterious' character in the name of the eldest prince. Where did my grandson originally get it?"

Liu Rong remained unfazed, sensing the underlying doubt in the Empress Dowager's words.

He spoke the truth, drawing the Empress Dowager's attention back, and then said in a serious tone, "I have heard that in the theory of feng shui, 'xuan' often refers to a place of extreme yin."

"When used metaphorically to describe a person, it can refer to their coldness and calmness."

"—The grandson named the eldest prince Xuan, which was taken from this meaning, hoping that the eldest prince would be a calm and reserved person."

"After all, our Han dynasty should not produce another King Daohui of Qi, who is frivolous in his behavior and whose descendants are prosperous but disrespectful."

Having said all that, Liu Rong had already laid everything bare.

—The eldest son of the emperor, Liu Xuan, is at best a mere Liu Fei, the King of Qi Daohui.

Even Fatty Liu can't be one!
As for the crown prince, or even the future emperor, it wouldn't even be in Liu Rong's favor to have this eldest son, whom he hoped would be aloof and calm.

(End of this chapter)