My life is like walking on thin ice

Chapter 561 Take your time

It is obvious that the families of the Marquis of Pingyang, the Marquis of Zan, and the Marquis of Liu were among the founding fathers of the Han Dynasty and held special significance.

As the emperor of Han, Liu Rong naturally knew that there was a widely accepted tacit understanding among the emperors of the Han dynasty regarding these families.

The families of Xiao He (Marquis of Zan), Zhang Liang (Marquis of Liu), and Cao Shen (Marquis of Pingyang) were truly special meritorious figures who "shared the fate of the nation" in the Han Dynasty.

Even if some of these families lost their country due to crimes, the Han emperors would find a pretext to restore their families' status and titles every ten or twenty years.

For example, the Zhang family of Marquis Liu, after the first Marquis Zhang Liang, only lasted until the second Marquis Zhang Buyi. In the fifth year of Emperor Taizong's reign (175 BC), Zhang Buyi was stripped of his title and demoted to a lowly position in the city for killing the governor of Chu.

Thirty years have passed since this incident, but the calls for the restoration of the Liu Hou family have never disappeared from the court in Chang'an.

However, Emperor Xiaowen, who was considered a 'living saint', did not want to 'waste the opportunity';
Therefore, he left this opportunity to restore the family of Marquis Liu and gain prestige to his son Liu Qi.

Coincidentally, the late Emperor Liu Qi served as the crown prince for another twenty-two years. By the time he ascended the throne, he was already thirty-one years old and had long since consolidated his power. He had no need to waste this opportunity to win people's hearts.

Naturally, the task of restoring the Liu family's status and titles was left to Liu Rong, the current ruler.

—It can only be said that the Liu family was very unlucky.

Before Liu Rong could consolidate his power and begin to build his authority, the successive victories in foreign wars rendered him unnecessary to restore the Marquis of Liu's family and title in order to gain political prestige.

There was no need for it, so Liu Rong naturally wouldn't do it.

This matter was naturally left to the next emperor of the Han dynasty, Liu Rong's future successor, to handle.

In fact, according to the original historical timeline, after the second Marquis Zhang Buyi lost his title in the fifth year of Emperor Taizong's reign (175 BC), the Liu family was not restored to their title until more than a hundred years later in the fourth year of Emperor Xuan of Han's Yuankang reign (62 BC).

At that time, the Liu Hou family, which was able to restore their family name and title, was already Zhang Liang's great-grandson, that is, the fifth generation descendant: Zhang Qianqiu was in charge...

The situation was similar for the family and descendants of Zhang Liang, the Marquis of Liu, and the family of Xiao He, the Marquis of Zan.

—In the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu (202 BC), Chancellor Xiao He was granted the title of Marquis of Zan, with a fief of ten thousand households.

Just nine years later, in the second year of Emperor Xiaohui's reign (193 BC), Xiao He died and was given the posthumous title of Wenzhong.

Marquis Xiao Lu inherited the title and died six years later in the first year of the reign of Emperor Shao (187 BC) – or rather, the first year of the reign of Empress Lü. His posthumous title was Ai.

When Marquis Ai, Xiao Lu, died without an heir, Empress Lü bestowed the title of Marquis of Zan upon Xiao He's wife, Lady Tong, and also granted Xiao He's other son, Xiao Yan, the title of Marquis of Zhuyang.

Six years later, Empress Dowager Lü passed away, and Emperor Xiaowen ascended the throne. He then transferred the title of Marquis of Zan from Xiao He's wife, Lady Tong, to Xiao He's second son, Xiao Yan, and also took away Xiao Yan's original Marquisate of Zhuyang.

After twenty years of chaos in the early Han Dynasty, the Marquis of Zan family should finally be back on track.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

—Just one year after becoming the Marquis of Zan, Xiao He's second son, Xiao Yan, died and was posthumously honored as the Marquis of Ding. His son, Xiao, inherited the title.

A short year later, Xiao He's grandson, Xiao Yi, died and was posthumously honored as Marquis Yang.

Marquis Yang of Sui, Xiao Yi, had no heir, and the Marquis of Zan's state was abolished...

From the fifth year of Emperor Taizu Gaozong's reign to the third year of Emperor Taizong's reign, a mere twenty-five years passed.

The Zanhou family, starting with the following ancestors: Marquis Wenzhong Xiao He, the second Marquis Ai Xiao Lu, the third Marquis Tong Shi, the fourth Marquis Ding Xiao Yan, and the fifth Marquis Yang Xiao Yi;
The title was passed down for five generations, until it reached Xiao He's grandson, at which point the line ended and the state was abolished.

Historically, the restoration of the Zanhou family's status and title took nearly sixty years.

—In the third year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuanshou reign (120 BC), Xiao Qingzhao, the great-grandson of Xiao He, restored his family's status.

Two years later, Xiao Qing died and was posthumously honored as Marquis Gong. His son, Xiao Shoucheng, inherited the title.

Ten years after inheriting the title, in the fourth year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuanfeng era (107 BC), Marquis Xiao Shoucheng of Zan was stripped of his title for embezzling gold.

Then, after another forty-year gap, the Marquis of Zan was able to re-establish his family during the reign of Emperor Xuan...

It can only be said that the Han emperor's repeated actions of stripping away titles and then repeatedly issuing edicts to restore family members in order to win people's hearts were masterful.

Thus, the families of Xiao He (Marquis of Zan), Zhang Liang (Marquis of Liu), and Cao Can (Marquis of Pingyang) truly became the families promised by Emperor Taizu Liu Bang: "May the Yellow River be as smooth as a belt, Mount Tai as firm as a whetstone, may the country be forever peaceful, and may love extend to their descendants"—families that shared prosperity with the Liu Han ancestral temple and the state.

Of course, the situations of the three companies are different.

—The Zhang family of Marquis Liu, Zhang Liang, only lasted for two generations before losing their kingdom to the second Marquis, Zhang Buyi, due to a crime. It took them a hundred years to regain their family's power.
The family of Xiao He, the Marquis of Zan, continued to prosper for five generations within three generations before their lineage died out and they were removed from the state. It was only fifty years later that the family was restored.

The situation was different for the Cao family, the Marquis of Pingyang.

Cao Shen, the first ancestor of the family, was enfeoffed in the fifth year of Emperor Gaozu (202 BC) and died thirteen years later in the sixth year of Emperor Hui (189 BC). His posthumous title was Marquis Yi.

Cao Zhu, the second Marquis, inherited the title and, during the process of the feudal lords and ministers jointly eliminating the Lü clan, he was suspected of siding with the Lü clan.
Therefore, after Emperor Xiaowen ascended the throne, the Pingyang Marquis family was removed from the central government in Chang'an and the core of Han dynasty power decision-making.

Twenty-nine years after inheriting the title, the second Marquis Cao Zhu died in the fourth year of the reign of Emperor Taizong (160 BC), and was posthumously honored as Marquis Jing.

Cao Qi, the third-generation Marquis, inherited the title and died seven years later in the third year of Emperor Xiaojing's reign (153 BC). His posthumous title was Marquis Jian.

The current Empress Cao Shu is the daughter of Cao Qi, the Marquis of Pingyang.

Of course, there is also Cao Shi, the fourth-generation Marquis of Pingyang in the contemporary era.

In the original historical timeline, Cao Shi, the fourth Marquis of Pingyang, reigned for a full twenty-three years after inheriting the title.

In the fifth year of Emperor Wu of Han's reign (130 BC), Cao Shi died and was posthumously honored as Marquis Yi.

Marquis Cao Xiang, the fifth-generation Marquis, reigned for fifteen years and died in the second year of Emperor Wu of Han's Yuanding era (115 BC). His posthumous title was Marquis Gong.

Marquis Cao Zong, the sixth ruler, reigned for twenty-four years. In the second year of the Zhenghe era (91 BC), he was implicated in the infamous witchcraft case that shocked the world, was convicted and executed, and lost his kingdom because of his crime.

Nearly a century later, in the second year of Emperor Ai of Han's Yuanshou reign (1 BC), Cao Benshi, the ninth-generation descendant of Cao Can, was granted permission to restore his family's status.

Nine years later, in the first year of the Xin Dynasty, also known as the first year of the founding of the dynasty (8 AD), the Western Han Dynasty fell, and the Pingyang Marquis family "shared the fate of the country".

Eighteen years later, in the second year of Emperor Guangwu of Han's Jianwu era, the Han dynasty was restored. Cao Hong, the son of Cao Benshi, received an imperial edict from Emperor Guangwu of Han, Liu Xiu, to restore his family's fortunes...

It can be said that among the three families of meritorious marquises who "shared the fate of the Han Dynasty"—the Marquis of Zan, the Marquis of Liu, and the Marquis of Pingyang—the Cao family of the Marquis of Pingyang was the one that went the most steadily and far.

—Even during the Three Kingdoms period at the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Cao Cao, the warlord who divided the country into three, claimed to be a descendant of Cao Can, the Marquis of Pingyang! Although it is difficult to verify the truth, it is not hard to see from Cao Cao's act of 'actively claiming his bloodline identity' that even four hundred years after the founding of the Han Dynasty, the Cao family of the Marquis of Pingyang was still renowned throughout the world.

In Liu Rong's timeline, the fate of the Pingyang Marquis family had clearly undergone a dramatic change.

Just like in the original history, the Pingyang Marquis family in this timeline was also prominent since the founding ancestor Cao Can, and was ostracized by the central court because the second Marquis Cao Zhu was implicated by the Lü family.

The subsequent three generations of Marquis Cao Qi and the four generations of Marquis Cao Shou were also 'ordinary marquises with ten thousand households in their fiefdoms, but without any real power'.

However, after Liu Rong included the Pingyang Marquis family, who were originally on a downward spiral, in his list of potential maternal relatives and ultimately established them as such, the Pingyang Marquis family, which had been on a downward spiral, saw a glimmer of hope and rebounded from its lowest point.

Unlike ordinary maternal relatives, the Pingyang Marquis family was a family of meritorious marquises who had experienced both prosperity and decline.

Moreover, they are among the top two of the 147 marquises who were founded, and they are also the second-ranked family among the eighteen meritorious marquises listed by Emperor Taizu!
To put it in a way that is easier for people of later generations to understand: Since the Han Dynasty, the Pingyang Marquis family has been extremely wealthy, reaching the pinnacle of wealth—with a fief of ten thousand households and holding the position of prime minister!

He had also experienced a period of decline, and had fallen to the floor—possessing a fiefdom with ten thousand households but no official salary of a hundred bushels of grain.

Having experienced such extreme rise and fall, the Pingyang Marquis family possesses a composure and calmness that is rare among ordinary people.

No matter how great the favor or reward, it would be difficult to make the Pingyang Marquis family overjoyed—after all, no favor or reward could be greater than the position of prime minister and a fief of ten thousand households.
At the same time, no matter how severe the punishment, it could not cause the Pingyang Marquis family to panic – how bad could it be?
They were merely punished for crimes or losing their country due to childlessness, and then their families were restored a few decades later.

Furthermore, the reason why the Pingyang Marquis family did not lose its kingdom during the reign of Emperor Taizong after only a few decades or two or three generations, unlike the Liu Marquis family and the Zan Marquis family, and why it was able to steadily continue for six generations, is also closely related to the strict family discipline and unique political vision of the Pingyang Marquis family.

In the original history, from the first ancestor Cao Can to Cao Zong, the Han imperial throne was passed down for seven generations. The Pingyang Marquis family made only two mistakes from beginning to end.

Cao Can, the progenitor of the emperor, wisely chose to stay out of the conflict between Liu and Lü during the reign of Emperor Hui. He neither flattered Empress Lü to her face nor became a loyal subject of Emperor Hui.

The phrase "a sage emperor who governs by doing nothing" was so offensive to Emperor Hui of Han that Liu Ying had no choice but to swallow his anger, and it also ensured that Cao Can ultimately had a peaceful end, serving as prime minister until his death.

Unfortunately, the Second Marquis Cao Zhu failed to inherit his father Cao Can's political wisdom and brazenly sided with the Lü clan in the struggle between Liu and Lü!

Fortunately, he handled the situation well and was not physically purged as a "remnant of the Lü clan" by Emperor Taizong, who succeeded to the throne. However, he was thus removed from the central government in Chang'an.

From the second Marquis Cao Zhu to the sixth Marquis Cao Zong, the Pingyang Marquis family never made a mistake again.

—When Emperor Taizong was choosing his successor, the Pingyang Marquis family had long since joined the camp of Crown Prince Liu Qi, rather than Prince Liu Yi of Liang;
When Emperor Xiaojing was choosing a successor, the Pingyang Marquis family remained calm until Crown Prince Liu Rong was deposed and the tenth prince Liu Zhi was established. Only then did they "lately arrive" and bet on Crown Prince Liu Zhi.

Ultimately, even the most meticulous plans can have a flaw. In the hands of Cao Zong, a sixth-generation marquis, he became involved in the witchcraft case during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, which led to the first time in over a hundred years after the founding of the Han Dynasty that the state was abolished.

But in truth, one can't really blame Cao Zong, the sixth-generation Marquis.

The historical witchcraft calamities were not about taking sides or which side to support.

No matter what you choose, Emperor Wu of Han, who became senile in his later years, would have every reason to punish you.

Is it Liu Ju, the Crown Prince of Zhanli?

That goes without saying—remnants of witchcraft!
Which emperor was Emperor Wu of Han?

Not at all.

Emperor Wu of Han would say: "I was deceived by a villain and, without realizing it, wronged the Crown Prince. Why didn't you try to persuade me?"

Damn!

This won't work, that won't work—can't I just not take sides?

It still doesn't work.

Not only is it not an option, it is also the worst of the three.

Why shouldn't we take sides?

--what?

—Is your salary just free food?

—If something goes wrong, you will be disloyal to both the crown prince and the emperor. What do you want to do?

—Is he plotting to usurp the throne, or is he scheming against the government?

It is precisely because of this bizarre judgment that "this won't work, that won't work, and not choosing is even worse" that the historical witchcraft calamity eventually developed into an epic case with far-reaching implications.

When the rebellion broke out, Emperor Wu of Han executed the "rebellious party" around Crown Prince Li.
After the chaos was quelled, he punished those around him, but none of them were the 'petty people' who tried to persuade him.
Finally realizing their mistake, they began to settle scores with those 'treacherous officials' who remained neutral.

This became a famous historical scene that took place during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han.

In such a complex situation, it was perfectly normal for Cao Zong, the sixth Marquis of Pingyang, to lose his kingdom due to his crimes.

As for the present situation, Liu Rong had concerns about the Pingyang Marquis family, a powerful and complex maternal relative.

—It's not that I'm worried the Pingyang Marquis family will become complacent and become another Li family relative by marriage;
Rather, they were worried that the family's rich political experience might allow them to leverage their status as "relatives of the emperor" and, without possessing the necessary abilities, return to the level of the first Marquis, Cao Can.

After all, in history, Tian Fen, the maternal relative of Emperor Wu of Han, single-handedly caused the Yellow River to ravage the Guandong region for more than 20 years—all for the sake of preventing the Yellow River from flooding his own fiefdom.

If a mere merchant like Tian Fen, from the humble Changling Tian clan, could grow into such a menace, how much more so the powerful Pingyang Marquis family?

Tian Fen was a merchant by birth; even if he did something bad, it would only be for financial gain.
However, the Pingyang Marquis family were founding fathers, and their ancestors even served as prime ministers!

When this family gets malicious, they are truly 'professionals turned to the dark side'!
Fortunately, today—amidst the uproar both inside and outside the court, Cao Shi, the fourth-generation Marquis of Pingyang, took the initiative to come to Weiyang Palace to request an audience with Liu Rong.

This attitude alone was enough to reassure Liu Rong.

Next, I need to have a good talk with Cao Shi, give him a good talking-to when necessary, and comfort him when needed.

As for the rest, we'll have to wait and see how the Pingyang Marquis family performs in the future.

—We can take our time with things in the future.

Especially the Pingyang Marquis family, as Liu Rong's wife's family, could sit back and wait, slowly planning the future of their family.

(End of this chapter)