Luzer character card
Lü Ze was the eldest brother of Empress Lü. Sima Qian's attribution to Lü Ze was "sending troops to assist Emperor Gaozu to determine the world", and this statement was also an important basis for Lü Ze to be independent in military affairs. According to scholars' research, Lü Ze's main role in the war to destroy Qin and Chu-Han was to lead troops to fight. Many important generals in the Han army, such as Chen Xi, Jin She, Ding Fu, Fu Kuan, Gu Feng (also known as Chongda), Guo Meng, Zhu Zhen, etc., had a deep connection with Lü Ze. Lü Ze's achievements were enough to be a king, but he did not enjoy the glory of being a king during his lifetime. It was not until long after his death that Empress Dowager Lu posthumously named King Daowu.
In the second year of the Han Dynasty, the King of Han was defeated in Pengcheng and retreated westward. At this time, Empress Lu's brother Zhou Luhou Lüze led troops to Xiayi for the King of Han. Wang Shun went to join him at a small road, and gradually collected Han soldiers and stationed in Dang County. Then he led his army westward, passed Liangdi, and arrived at Yu County. When he arrived in Xingyang, all the defeated troops had gathered here, and Xiao He also brought all the old and weak people in Guanzhong who were not included in the military service list to Xingyang. The Han army was revived again. The Chu army set out from Pengcheng and often used the power of victory to chase and defeat the fleeing Han soldiers along the way. However, in Jingyi and Suoyi, south of Xingyang, a battle with the Han army. The Han army defeated the Chu army, so the Chu army could not cross Xingyang and advance westward.
According to relevant records, after Liu Bang founded the country, he was worried that the prince Liu Ying was weak and wanted to replace him with the son Ruyi of Qi Ji, but was unanimously opposed by all the ministers. In the end, Liu Bang failed to change the prince as he wished, which was related to Lu Ze's military achievements and many subordinates. The Lu family must have used all means to try to preserve Liu Ying's position as the prince. Liu Bang had to consider the power of the Lu family, which completely failed his plans. It should be seen that because he participated in the anti-Qin and Chu-Han wars together, Lu Ze had a very deep relationship with many generals in Liu Bang's camp, and everyone was willing to fight against the evil spirit for his old comrades.
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"The Family of Liuhou" records that the emperor wanted to depose the crown prince and establish the son of Concubine Qi, King Zhao Ruyi. Many ministers advised and dissuaded him, but they failed to change Emperor Gao's unwavering thoughts. Empress Lu was frightened and didn't know what to do. Someone said to Empress Lu: "The Marquis Liu is good at making suggestions, and the Emperor trusts him."
Empress Lu sent Jiancheng Hou Lu Ze to coerce Liu Hou and said, "You have always been the emperor's counselor. Now the emperor is planning to change the prince. How can you raise your pillow and sleep?" Liu Hou said, "The emperor was in crisis many times and adopted my strategy. Today, he is stable and wants to change the prince due to favoritism. What is the benefit of these relatives' affairs even if more than a hundred people like me give advice." Lu Ze tried his best to threaten and said, "You must give me an idea."
Liu Hou said: "It is difficult to argue with words. The emperor cannot attract four people in the world. These four people are old and think that the emperor is arrogant to others, so they escape and hide in the mountains. They refuse to be ministers of the Han Dynasty according to morality. But the emperor respects these four people very much. Now you can really spare no expense of gold, jade, silk, and ask the prince to write a letter, be humble, and prepare a cart, and then send eloquent people to hire earnestly. They should come. After coming, treat them as guests and let them follow them often and ask the emperor to see them. Then the emperor will be surprised and ask them. Once you ask them, the emperor knows that these four people are capable, so this will be a help to the prince."
So Empress Lu asked Lv Ze to send someone to carry the prince's letters and welcome these four people with humble words and generous gifts. When the four people came, they lived in the mansion of Jiancheng Hou as guests. Please note that Zhang Liang was a very noble saint and had to take into account the face of Empress Lu and Lv Ze. Under Lu Ze's "coercion" and "threat", he had to give advice for it.
In the 11th year of the Han Dynasty (196 BC), Ying Bu rebelled and the emperor fell seriously ill and planned to send the prince to lead his troops to attack the rebels. The four people discussed with each other and said, "The reason we came to protect the prince. If the prince leads his troops to quell the rebellion, the matter will be dangerous."
So he advised Jiancheng Hou Lu Ze, saying: "If the prince leads his troops to fight, if he makes a contribution, his power will not be higher than that of the prince; if he returns without success, he will suffer from disaster from now on. Besides, all the generals who went to war with the prince are all powerful generals who once pacified the world with the emperor. Now let the prince command these people. What is the difference between letting the sheep command the wolf? They will never work hard for the prince. It is certain that the prince cannot make contributions. We heard that "If you love your mother, you must hold your son." Now, Concubine Qi serves the emperor day and night, and King Zhao Ruyi is often held in front of the emperor. The emperor said, "After all, you cannot let your unsatisfied son live in my place."
Better than beloved son’, obviously, it is certain that King Ruyi of Zhao replaced the prince’s throne. Why don’t you ask Empress Lu to quickly ask Empress Lu to cry to the emperor: “Tangbu is a powerful general in the world and is very good at using troops. Nowadays, all the generals are His Majesty’s past peers, but you let the prince command these people, which is no different from letting the sheep command the wolf. No one is willing to serve the prince. Moreover, if Tangbu hears about this situation, he will attack westward with great fanfare. Although the emperor is sick, he can barely ride a baggage cart and lie down to command the army. The generals dare not do their best. Although the emperor has suffered some hardship, he still has to work hard for his wife and children.’
So Lu Ze immediately met Empress Lu that night. Empress Lu looked for an opportunity to cry to the emperor and said what the four people instructed him.
The emperor said, "I just thought that this kid could not have sent him, so I will go by myself." So the emperor personally led the troops to the east, and the ministers stayed behind, and all sent them to Bashang. Liuhou was sick and barely supported himself, and sent them to Quyou. He met the emperor and said, "I should have followed him, but the illness was heavy. The Chu people were quick and agile, and I hope the emperor would not fight against the Chu people."
Liu Hou took the opportunity to persuade the emperor, "Let the prince be the general and guard the army in Guanzhong."
The emperor said: "Although Zifang is sick, he must barely assist the prince when he is bedridden." At this time, Shusun Tong became the Grand Tutor and stayed to serve as the young tutor.
But after the end of the matter, especially during the reign of Empress Dowager Lu, the power of the Lu family suddenly expanded, and the intention of Lu to replace Liu was no longer concealed. Liu Bang's kindness to his subordinates always existed, which led to two major political groups that supported Lu or Liu. Some scholars studied that Empress Lu was a great conferred children of the Lu family, and his family claimed to have three kings, and many of them had not made any contributions, so he was able to be granted the title of marquis. Such behaviors would definitely anger the founding of the meritorious officials who had been born and died for the Han family and the war generals who had not been named after the title of marquis (during the reign of Emperor Wen of Han, he also made a title of marquis to military officers who participated in the war). This made the originally good relationship with colleagues finally deteriorated, and eventually led to the destruction of the Lü family.
Chapter completed!