呂太后本紀

Empress Dowager Lü was the wife of Gaozu from his days as a commoner. She bore Emperor Hui and the Princess of Lu Yuan. When Gaozu became King of Han, he took Lady Qi of Dingtao as a consort, doted on her, and she bore Ruyi, the Hidden King of Zhao. Emperor Hui was kind-natured but weak, and Gaozu considered him unlike himself. He often wished to depose the heir apparent and install Lady Qi's son Ruyi in his place, saying Ruyi took after him. Lady Qi, being favored, constantly accompanied the Emperor on his campaigns east of the passes, weeping day and night, pressing to have her son replace the heir. Empress Lü, growing older, was always left behind to hold the capital. She rarely saw the Emperor and grew ever more estranged. After Ruyi was made King of Zhao, the heir apparent came close to being deposed on several occasions, but was saved by the arguments of senior ministers and a stratagem devised by the Marquis of Liu. Thus the heir's position was preserved.

Empress Lü was a woman of iron will. She had helped Gaozu conquer the realm, and many of the great ministers who were executed owed their deaths to her influence. She had two elder brothers, both of whom served as generals. The eldest, the Marquis of Zhoulü, died in battle; his son Lü Tai was enfeoffed as Marquis of Li, and another son Lü Chan as Marquis of Jiao. The second brother, Lü Shizhi, was made Marquis of Jiancheng.

In the fourth month of Gaozu's twelfth year, on the jiachen day, the Emperor died in the Palace of Lasting Joy. The heir apparent succeeded to the imperial title. At this time Gaozu had eight sons: the eldest, Fei, was Emperor Hui's half-brother by a different mother, and had been made King of Qi. The rest were all younger than Emperor Hui. Lady Qi's son Ruyi was King of Zhao; Lady Bo's son Heng was King of Dai; sons by other consorts included Hui, King of Liang; You, King of Huaiyang; Chang, King of Huainan; and Jian, King of Yan. Gaozu's younger brother Jiao was King of Chu, and his nephew Bi was King of Wu. The only non-Liu king was the son of the meritorious minister Lord of Fan, Wu Rui — his son Chen was King of Changsha.

Empress Lü harbored the deepest hatred for Lady Qi and her son the King of Zhao. She had Lady Qi imprisoned in the Yongxiang — the palace workhouse — and summoned the King of Zhao. The envoys went back and forth three times, but the Zhao chancellor, Zhou Chang, Marquis of Jianping, told them: "Emperor Gaozu entrusted the King of Zhao to my care. The king is young. I have heard that the Empress Dowager bears a grudge against Lady Qi and wants to summon the king to have him killed alongside her. I dare not send the king. Moreover, the king is ill and cannot obey the summons." The Empress Dowager flew into a rage and sent for the Zhao chancellor instead. Once Zhou Chang was summoned to Chang'an, she sent again for the King of Zhao.

The king set out, but before he arrived, Emperor Hui — who was compassionate by nature and knew his mother's fury — rode out to meet the King of Zhao at Bashang, brought him into the palace, and kept him at his side at all times, eating and sleeping together. The Empress Dowager wanted to kill the boy but could find no opportunity.

In the twelfth month of Emperor Hui's first year, the Emperor went out at dawn to hunt. The King of Zhao was young and could not rise early. When the Empress Dowager learned he was alone, she sent someone with poisoned wine to force him to drink. By the time Emperor Hui returned at daybreak, the King of Zhao was dead. The King of Huaiyang, You, was then transferred to become King of Zhao.

That summer, a decree posthumously honored the father of the Marquis of Li with the title Marquis Lingwu. Then the Empress Dowager had Lady Qi's hands and feet cut off, her eyes gouged out, her ears burned, a muting drug poured down her throat, and had her thrown into the latrine pit. She called her the "human swine." After several days, she summoned Emperor Hui to view the human swine. When Emperor Hui saw the creature and was told it was Lady Qi, he broke down and wept uncontrollably. He fell ill and could not rise for more than a year. He sent a message to his mother: "This is not the work of a human being. I am your son, but I will never be able to govern the realm." From then on, Emperor Hui spent his days drinking and indulging in pleasure and refused to attend to state affairs. This is why he fell ill.

In the second year, both the King Yuan of Chu and King Daohui of Qi came to court. In the tenth month, Emperor Hui held a banquet with the King of Qi in the Empress Dowager's presence. Emperor Hui, treating the King of Qi as an elder brother, seated him in the place of honor, following the etiquette of a family gathering. The Empress Dowager was furious. She ordered two goblets of poisoned wine placed before them and told the King of Qi to rise and offer a toast. The King of Qi rose, but Emperor Hui rose too and reached for a goblet, intending to drink together. The Empress Dowager, alarmed, leapt up and knocked over Emperor Hui's goblet. The King of Qi found this strange and dared not drink. He feigned drunkenness and left. Upon inquiry, he learned the wine was poisoned. Terrified that he would never leave Chang'an alive, he was consumed with worry.

The Qi Interior Secretary advised the king: "The Empress Dowager has only Emperor Hui and the Princess of Lu Yuan. Your Majesty rules over seventy cities, while the princess receives revenue from merely a few. If you were to present one commandery to the Empress Dowager as a bathing-fief for the princess, she will surely be pleased, and Your Majesty will have nothing to fear." The King of Qi thereupon offered the commandery of Chengyang and honored the princess with the title Queen Dowager. Empress Lü was delighted and agreed. She hosted a banquet at the Qi residence, and after the drinking was done, she let the King of Qi depart.

In the third year, the walls of Chang'an began to be built. By the fourth year they were half-finished, and by the fifth and sixth years the walls were complete. The feudal lords came for the assembly and offered their congratulations at the tenth-month audience.

In the autumn of the seventh year, on the wuyin day of the eighth month, Emperor Hui died. The funeral was announced. The Empress Dowager wailed, but no tears fell. Zhang Biqiang, the son of the Marquis of Liu, who served as Gentleman-in-Attendance and was only fifteen years old, said to the chancellor: "The Empress Dowager's only son was Emperor Hui. Now he is dead, yet she weeps without grief. Do you understand why?" The chancellor said: "Why?" Biqiang said: "The Emperor left no grown sons. The Empress Dowager fears you and the other ministers. If you now request that Lü Tai, Lü Chan, and Lü Lu be appointed generals commanding the Northern and Southern Armies, and that all members of the Lü clan be brought into the palace to hold power at the center — then the Empress Dowager's mind will be at ease, and you may yet escape disaster." The chancellor followed Biqiang's plan. The Empress Dowager was pleased, and at last her weeping became genuine grief. The power of the Lü clan dates from this moment. A general amnesty was declared. On the xinchou day of the ninth month, Emperor Hui was buried. The heir apparent was enthroned and presented himself at the Temple of Gaozu. In the first year of the new reign, all edicts issued from the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager assumed the regency and proposed making the Lü clansmen kings. She consulted the Right Chancellor Wang Ling. Wang Ling said: "Emperor Gaozu slaughtered a white horse and swore an oath: 'If anyone who is not of the Liu surname is made king, let all under heaven attack him.' To make the Lü clan kings violates the covenant." The Empress Dowager was displeased. She then asked the Left Chancellor Chen Ping and the Marquis of Jiang, Zhou Bo. Zhou Bo and the others replied: "Emperor Gaozu pacified the realm and made his sons and brothers kings. Now the Empress Dowager rules as regent — if she makes her own brothers and kinsmen kings, there is nothing wrong with that." The Empress Dowager was delighted and dismissed the court.

Wang Ling rebuked Chen Ping and Zhou Bo: "When we first tasted blood and swore the oath with Emperor Gaozu, were you not present? Now Gaozu is dead, a woman rules, and she wishes to make the Lü clan kings. You flatter and acquiesce and betray the covenant — with what face will you meet Emperor Gaozu in the underworld?" Chen Ping and Zhou Bo replied: "When it comes to speaking bluntly and arguing at court, we are not your equals. But when it comes to preserving the altars of state and securing the future of the Liu house, you are not ours." Wang Ling had no answer.

In the eleventh month, the Empress Dowager moved to strip Wang Ling of power by promoting him to Grand Tutor of the Emperor — an honorific post with no authority. Wang Ling then pleaded illness and retired. Chen Ping was promoted from Left to Right Chancellor, and the Marquis of Biyang, Shen Yiji, was made Left Chancellor. But the Left Chancellor did not conduct government business; he was made to oversee matters inside the palace, functioning as a kind of Prefect of the Gentlemen. Shen Yiji had long been a favorite of the Empress Dowager, and he managed affairs continuously. All ministers and nobles conducted business through him. The Empress Dowager then posthumously honored the father of the Marquis of Li as King Daowu — a first step toward making the Lü clan kings.

In the fourth month, the Empress Dowager wished to enfeoff members of the Lü clan. She first conferred a marquessate on one of Gaozu's old ministers, the Prefect of the Gentlemen Wuze, making him Marquis of Bocheng — establishing a precedent. The Princess of Lu Yuan died and was posthumously titled Empress Dowager of Lu Yuan. Her son Yan was made King of Lu; his father was Zhang Ao, the Marquis of Xuanping. The son of King Daohui of Qi, Zhang, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Zhuixu and given a daughter of Lü Lu as his wife. The Qi chancellor Shou was made Marquis of Pingding. The Privy Treasurer Yan was made Marquis of Wu. Then Lü Zhong was made Marquis of Pei, Lü Ping Marquis of Fuliu, and Zhang Mai Marquis of Nangong.

The Empress Dowager wished to make the Lü clan kings. She first installed sons from Emperor Hui's harem: Qiang as King of Huaiyang, Buyi as King of Changshan, Shan as Marquis of Xiangcheng, Chao as Marquis of Zhi, and Wu as Marquis of Huguan. She then hinted to the ministers, who requested that the Marquis of Li, Lü Tai, be made King of Lü. The Empress Dowager approved. The Marquis Kang of Jiancheng, Shizhi, had died; his heir was convicted of a crime and deposed. His younger brother Lü Lu was made Marquis of Huling to continue the Kang lineage.

In the second year, the King of Changshan died, and his brother, the Marquis of Xiangcheng Shan, replaced him, with his name changed to Yi. In the eleventh month, King Tai of Lü died with the posthumous title King Su. His heir apparent Jia succeeded as king. The third year passed without incident. In the fourth year, Lü Xu was enfeoffed as Marquis of Linguang, Lü Ta as Marquis of Yu, Lü Gengshi as Marquis of Zhuiqi, Lü Fen as Marquis of Lücheng, along with five feudal chancellors.

The daughter of the Marquis of Xuanping had been made Empress Hui's consort, but she bore no children. She feigned pregnancy, took a son born to a palace beauty, claimed it as her own, and had the boy's real mother killed. This child was installed as heir apparent. When Emperor Hui died, the heir was enthroned.

As the young Emperor grew older, he somehow learned that his birth mother had been killed and that he was not the Empress's true son. He openly declared: "How could the Empress kill my mother and claim me as her own? I am not yet grown, but when I am, I will have my revenge." The Empress Dowager heard this and grew alarmed, fearing he would rebel. She confined him in the Yongxiang, announced that the Emperor was gravely ill, and allowed no one to see him.

The Empress Dowager declared: "Whoever holds dominion over the realm and governs the lives of the myriad people must shelter them like heaven and embrace them like the earth. Above, the ruler must have a joyful heart to bring peace to the people; below, the people must serve their lord with willing hearts. When this mutual joy flows freely, the realm is well governed. Now the Emperor has been ill for so long that he has lost his senses and fallen into confusion. He cannot continue the sacrifices at the ancestral temples. The realm cannot be entrusted to him. He must be replaced." The ministers all prostrated themselves and said: "The Empress Dowager's concern for the common people, the ancestral temples, and the altars of state is profound. We prostrate ourselves and accept the decree." The young Emperor was deposed, and the Empress Dowager had him secretly killed.

On the bingchen day of the fifth month, the King of Changshan, Yi, was installed as Emperor, and his name was changed to Hong. No new era was proclaimed, because the Empress Dowager controlled all affairs of the realm. The Marquis of Zhi, Chao, was made King of Changshan. The office of Grand Commandant was established, and Zhou Bo, Marquis of Jiang, was appointed to fill it.

In the eighth month of the fifth year, the King of Huaiyang died, and his brother, the Marquis of Huguan Wu, became King of Huaiyang. In the tenth month of the sixth year, the Empress Dowager declared that King Jia of Lü was arrogant and insubordinate. She deposed him and installed Lü Chan, the younger brother of the late King Su Tai, as King of Lü. That summer, a general amnesty was declared. Liu Xingju, son of King Daohui of Qi, was enfeoffed as Marquis of Dongmou.

In the first month of the seventh year, the Empress Dowager summoned the King of Zhao, You. You had been given a Lü woman as queen, but he did not love her. He loved another consort. The Lü queen grew jealous, left in anger, and slandered him to the Empress Dowager, fabricating accusations and claiming he had said: "How can the Lü clan presume to be kings? After the Empress Dowager dies, I will surely destroy them."

The Empress Dowager was furious and summoned the King of Zhao on this pretext. When the king arrived, he was placed under house arrest at his residence and denied an audience. Guards surrounded the building, and he was given no food. When any of his retainers tried to smuggle food to him, they were arrested and punished.

Starving, the King of Zhao composed a song:

"The Lü clan holds power — the Liu house is in peril. They coerce the princes — and force upon me a wife. My wife, consumed by jealousy — slanders me with lies. A scheming woman ruins the state — yet those above refuse to see. I have no loyal ministers — why have I lost my kingdom? I will end my life in the open fields — may heaven vindicate the just! Alas, what cannot be undone — better to have ended it sooner. To be a king and die of starvation — who will pity me? The Lü clan has severed all principle — I entrust my vengeance to heaven."

On the dingchou day, the King of Zhao died in confinement. He was buried with commoner's rites in the public cemetery of Chang'an.

On the jichou day, there was a solar eclipse and darkness at midday. The Empress Dowager was disturbed by it, uneasy in her heart. She said to her attendants: "This is on account of me."

In the second month, the King of Liang, Hui, was transferred to become King of Zhao. Lü Chan, King of Lü, was transferred to become King of Liang, though he did not go to his fief but served as Grand Tutor in the capital. The imperial son, the Marquis of Pingchang Tai, was installed as King of Lü. The name of Liang was changed to Lü, and Lü was renamed Jichuan. The Empress Dowager's younger sister Lü Xu had a daughter married to Liu Ze, the Marquis of Yingling, who served as Grand General. The Empress Dowager, having made the Lü clan kings, feared that after her death this Liu general might cause trouble. She therefore made Liu Ze King of Langya to pacify him.

When the King of Liang Hui was transferred to Zhao, he was deeply unhappy. The Empress Dowager gave him a daughter of Lü Chan as queen. The queen's attendants were all Lü clansmen who monopolized power, secretly monitored the king, and left him no freedom. The king had a beloved consort; the queen had her poisoned. The king then composed four songs and ordered his musicians to sing them. Overwhelmed with grief, he killed himself in the sixth month. When the Empress Dowager heard of this, she declared he had abandoned the rites of the ancestral temple over a woman and abolished his line of succession.

The Marquis of Xuanping, Zhang Ao, died. His son Yan was made King of Lu, and Ao was posthumously titled King of Lu Yuan.

In the autumn, the Empress Dowager sent envoys to the King of Dai, proposing to transfer him to Zhao. The King of Dai declined, saying he wished to remain and guard the border.

The Grand Tutor Lü Chan and Chancellor Chen Ping proposed that Lü Lu, the Marquis of Wuxin, who ranked first among the marquises, be made King of Zhao. The Empress Dowager approved, and Lü Lu's father, the late Marquis Kang, was posthumously honored as King Zhao of Zhao. In the ninth month, King Ling of Yan, Jian, died. He had a son by a palace beauty, but the Empress Dowager had the child killed. With no heir, the kingdom was abolished. In the tenth month of the eighth year, Lü Tong, the Marquis of Dongping and son of the late King Su of Lü, was made King of Yan. Tong's brother Lü Zhuang was made Marquis of Dongping.

In the middle of the third month, Empress Lü performed a purification ritual. On her way back, passing through the Zhidao, she saw an apparition like a grey dog that lunged at her armpit, then vanished. Diviners said it was the ghost of the King of Zhao, Ruyi, taking revenge. From that point on, the Empress Dowager suffered from pain in her armpit.

Because her grandson, the young King of Lu Yuan Yan, had lost both parents early and was orphaned and vulnerable, the Empress Dowager enfeoffed two sons of Zhang Ao by a former consort — Chi as Marquis of Xindu and Shou as Marquis of Lechang — to support King Yan. She also enfeoffed the Palace Grandee Zhang Shi as Marquis of Jianling and Lü Rong as Marquis of Zhuzi. All chiefs and deputies among the palace eunuchs were made Marquises Within the Passes with fiefs of five hundred households.

In the middle of the seventh month, the Empress Dowager fell gravely ill. She appointed Lü Lu, King of Zhao, as Supreme General commanding the Northern Army, and Lü Chan, King of Lü, to hold the Southern Army. She warned Lü Chan and Lü Lu: "After Emperor Gaozu pacified the realm, he made a covenant with the ministers: 'If anyone not of the Liu surname is made king, let all under heaven attack him.' Now the Lü clan holds kingships, and the ministers are resentful. When I die, the Emperor will be young, and the ministers may attempt a coup. You must hold the armies and guard the palace. Under no circumstances go out to escort my funeral cortege — do not let yourselves be outmaneuvered."

On the xinsi day, the Empress Dowager died. Her testament granted each feudal king a thousand catties of gold and distributed gold to generals, chancellors, marquises, and officials according to their rank. A general amnesty was declared. Lü Chan was made Chancellor of State, and a daughter of Lü Lu was made empress.

After the Empress Dowager was buried, the Left Chancellor Shen Yiji was made Grand Tutor of the Emperor.

The Marquis of Zhuixu, Liu Zhang, was a man of great physical strength. The Marquis of Dongmou, Xingju, was his younger brother. Both were brothers of the King Ai of Qi, and both resided in Chang'an. At this time, the Lü clan had seized all power and were plotting rebellion, but they feared Gaozu's old ministers — the Marquis of Jiang and Lord Guan among others — and had not yet dared to act. The wife of the Marquis of Zhuixu was a daughter of Lü Lu, and she had secretly learned of the Lü clan's plans. Fearing they would all be killed, she secretly sent word to her husband's brother, the King of Qi, urging him to raise troops, march west, destroy the Lü clan, and claim the throne. The Marquis of Zhuixu planned to coordinate from within the capital with the senior ministers.

The King of Qi wanted to mobilize, but his chancellor refused. On the bingwu day of the eighth month, the King of Qi tried to have the chancellor killed. The chancellor, Zhao Ping, counter-attacked and raised troops to surround the king. The king killed his chancellor, then mobilized his forces. Moving east, he seized the King of Langya's troops by trickery, combined them with his own, and marched west. The details are recorded in the account of the King of Qi.

The King of Qi then sent a letter to all the feudal kings: "Emperor Gaozu pacified the realm and made his sons and brothers kings. King Daohui was given Qi. When King Daohui died, Emperor Hui sent the Marquis of Liu, Zhang Liang, to install me as King of Qi. After Emperor Hui's death, Empress Dowager Lü took power. Advanced in years, she listened to the Lü clan, deposed and replaced emperors at will, killed three successive Kings of Zhao, abolished the kingdoms of Liang, Zhao, and Yan to install Lü clansmen, and carved Qi into four parts. Loyal ministers remonstrated, but the sovereign was confused and would not listen. Now the Empress Dowager is dead. The Emperor is young and cannot govern the realm; he depends on the ministers and feudal lords. Yet the Lü clan has appointed itself to high offices, concentrated armies, intimidated the marquises and loyal ministers, forged imperial decrees to command the realm, and endangered the ancestral temples. I am leading my troops to destroy those who have no right to be kings."

When the Han court learned of this, the Chancellor of State Lü Chan sent Guan Ying, the Marquis of Yingyin, to lead an army against Qi. Guan Ying reached Xingyang and deliberated: "The Lü clan holds military power within the passes and intends to overthrow the Liu house and seize power for itself. If I defeat Qi and return to report victory, I will only be strengthening the Lü clan's position." He therefore halted at Xingyang, sent envoys to the King of Qi and the other feudal lords, and formed a joint alliance to wait for the Lü clan to make its move, then destroy them together. When the King of Qi received this message, he pulled his forces back to his western border and waited.

Lü Lu and Lü Chan intended to launch a rebellion in the capital region, but they feared the Marquis of Jiang and the Marquis of Zhuixu within, and the armies of Qi and Chu without. They also feared Guan Ying would turn against them. They wanted to wait until Guan Ying's forces had engaged Qi before making their move, but they hesitated and could not decide. At this time, the King of Jichuan Tai, the King of Huaiyang Wu, and the King of Changshan Chao — nominally younger brothers of the young Emperor — along with the King of Lu Yuan, Empress Lü's grandson, were all minors who had not gone to their fiefs and remained in Chang'an. Lü Lu as King of Zhao and Lü Chan as King of Liang each commanded troops in the Northern and Southern Armies. Every man in both forces was a Lü loyalist. The marquises and ministers feared for their lives.

The Grand Commandant Zhou Bo could not get into the Northern Army camp to take command. The Marquis of Quzhou, Li Shang, was old and sick, but his son Li Ji was on good terms with Lü Lu. Zhou Bo and Chancellor Chen Ping devised a plan: they coerced Li Shang and sent his son Li Ji to deceive Lü Lu. Li Ji told him: "Emperor Gaozu and Empress Lü together pacified the realm. The Liu house established nine kings, the Lü house three — all by agreement of the senior ministers, publicly announced to the feudal lords, who accepted it as proper. Now the Empress Dowager is dead and the Emperor is young. You wear the seal of the King of Zhao but instead of going to your fief to guard the frontier, you serve as Supreme General commanding troops here in the capital — arousing the suspicion of ministers and lords alike. Why not return the seal, hand your troops over to the Grand Commandant, and ask the King of Liang to return the Chancellor of State's seal? Swear a covenant with the ministers, then go to your kingdom. The Qi army will stand down, the ministers will rest easy, and you can sleep soundly as king of a thousand li. This is a plan for ten thousand generations." Lü Lu believed the argument and was inclined to hand over the general's seal and transfer command to the Grand Commandant. He sent word to Lü Chan and the Lü elders; some thought it a good idea, others did not. The debate went back and forth without resolution.

Lü Lu trusted Li Ji and went out hunting with him from time to time. He visited his aunt Lü Xu, who flew into a rage: "You are the general, and you abandon the army? The Lü clan is finished!" She took out all her pearls, jade, and precious objects and scattered them on the floor, saying: "I will not guard these for others."

The Left Chancellor Shen Yiji was dismissed.

At dawn on the gengshen day of the eighth month, the Marquis of Pingyang, Zhu, acting as Imperial Secretary, went to see the Chancellor of State Lü Chan to discuss plans. The Prefect of the Gentlemen Jia Shou, who had just returned from a mission to Qi, berated Lü Chan: "You did not go to your kingdom when you could have. Now even if you wanted to leave, is it still possible?" He informed Lü Chan in full that Guan Ying had allied with Qi and Chu and intended to destroy the Lü clan, and urged Lü Chan to rush into the palace immediately.

The Marquis of Pingyang overheard some of this conversation and raced to alert the Chancellor and the Grand Commandant. The Grand Commandant tried to enter the Northern Army but was refused entry. The Marquis of Xiangping, Tong, held the office of Keeper of Tallies and Credentials. Zhou Bo ordered him to use his tally to smuggle the Grand Commandant into the Northern Army on a forged authorization.

Zhou Bo then sent Li Ji and the Director of Guests Liu Jie to persuade Lü Lu: "The Emperor has ordered the Grand Commandant to take command of the Northern Army. He wants you to go to your kingdom. Return the general's seal at once and leave, or disaster will follow." Lü Lu, still trusting that Li Ji's brother would not deceive him, handed over the seal to the Director of Guests and surrendered his troops to the Grand Commandant.

The Grand Commandant entered the camp gates, took command, and issued an order throughout the army: "Those who stand with the Lü clan, bare your right shoulders. Those who stand with the Liu clan, bare your left." Every soldier in the camp bared his left shoulder for the Liu house. By the time the Grand Commandant reached the command post, General Lü Lu had already surrendered his Supreme General's seal and departed. The Grand Commandant now held the Northern Army.

However, the Southern Army remained. When the Marquis of Pingyang learned of events, he informed Chancellor Chen Ping of Lü Chan's plot. Chen Ping summoned the Marquis of Zhuixu to assist the Grand Commandant. The Grand Commandant ordered the Marquis of Zhuixu to guard the palace gates and told the Marquis of Pingyang to instruct the Commander of the Palace Guard: "Do not allow the Chancellor of State Lü Chan through the palace gates."

Lü Chan, unaware that Lü Lu had already surrendered the Northern Army, entered the Weiyang Palace grounds intending to stage his coup. He found the palace gates barred to him and paced back and forth. The Marquis of Pingyang, fearing they might not prevail, rode to alert the Grand Commandant. The Grand Commandant, still unsure of victory and afraid of the remaining Lü forces, did not dare openly proclaim an order to execute them. Instead he sent word to the Marquis of Zhuixu: "Enter the palace immediately and protect the Emperor."

The Marquis of Zhuixu requested troops. The Grand Commandant gave him over a thousand soldiers. He entered the Weiyang Palace gates and encountered Lü Chan in the courtyard. It was the hour of the afternoon meal. He attacked. Lü Chan fled. At that moment a great wind rose, throwing Lü Chan's attendants into confusion — none dared fight. They pursued Lü Chan and killed him in a latrine of the Prefect of the Gentlemen's offices.

Having killed Lü Chan, the Marquis of Zhuixu received an imperial envoy bearing a tally to commend him. The Marquis of Zhuixu tried to seize the tally as his own credential, but the envoy refused. The Marquis of Zhuixu then jumped into the envoy's chariot and rode off with the tally. He drove to the Palace of Lasting Joy and beheaded Lü Gengshi, the Commander of its Guard. He then galloped back to the Northern Army and reported to the Grand Commandant.

The Grand Commandant rose, bowed, and congratulated the Marquis of Zhuixu: "The only one we feared was Lü Chan. Now he is dead — the realm is settled." He dispatched men in separate detachments to hunt down every member of the Lü clan, male and female, young and old, and had them all executed.

On the xinyou day, Lü Lu was captured and beheaded, and Lü Xu was beaten to death. Envoys were sent to execute Lü Tong, King of Yan, and to depose the King of Lu, Yan. On the renshu day, Shen Yiji, the former Grand Tutor, was restored as Left Chancellor. On the wuchen day, the King of Jichuan was transferred to become King of Liang, and Liu Sui, son of King You of Zhao, was made King of Zhao. The Marquis of Zhuixu, Zhang, was sent to inform the King of Qi that the Lü clan had been destroyed and to order him to stand down his troops. Guan Ying's army also withdrew from Xingyang and returned.

The senior ministers secretly deliberated among themselves: "The young Emperor and the Kings of Liang, Huaiyang, and Changshan are none of them true sons of Emperor Hui. Empress Lü schemed to take other women's children, killed the mothers, raised the boys in the harem, and had Emperor Hui claim them as his own, installing them as heirs and kings to strengthen the Lü clan. Now that the Lü clan has been exterminated, if we leave these pretenders in place, when they grow up and take power, our kind will be finished. Better to select the most worthy of the feudal kings and enthrone him."

Someone said: "King Daohui of Qi was Emperor Gaozu's eldest son. His legitimate son is now King of Qi. Tracing the lineage, this makes him Gaozu's eldest legitimate grandson. He could be enthroned." The ministers all objected: "The Lü clan, through the power of the empress's maternal family, nearly destroyed the ancestral temples and threw the meritorious ministers into chaos. The King of Qi's maternal family is the Si clan — and Si Jun is a dangerous man. If we enthrone the King of Qi, we will simply have another Lü clan." They considered the King of Huainan, but he was too young, and his mother's family was also troublesome.

Finally they said: "The King of Dai is currently Gaozu's eldest surviving son. He is the most senior in age, and he is known for his benevolence, filial piety, and generosity. The Empress Dowager's family, the Bo clan, is prudent and virtuous. Moreover, enthroning the eldest follows proper order, and his reputation for benevolence and filial devotion is known throughout the realm. It is the best choice."

They secretly sent envoys to summon the King of Dai. The King of Dai sent his apologies and declined. The envoys returned twice before he finally agreed and set out in a relay carriage with six horses. On the last day of the intercalary ninth month, the jiyou day, he arrived in Chang'an and took up residence at the Dai residence. All the senior ministers came to pay their respects, presented the imperial seals, and jointly proclaimed him Son of Heaven. The King of Dai declined several times; the ministers pressed their case; at last he consented.

The Marquis of Dongmou, Xingju, said: "I had no role in destroying the Lü clan. Allow me to clear the palace." He entered the palace together with the Grand Coachman, Lord Teng, the Marquis of Ruyin. Approaching the young Emperor, he said: "You are not of the Liu bloodline. You have no right to the throne." He turned and waved away the halberd-bearing guards, who laid down their weapons and left. A few refused to disarm; the Eunuch Director Zhang Ze spoke to them, and they too laid down their weapons.

Lord Teng then summoned the imperial chariot and loaded the young Emperor into it. The boy asked: "Where are you taking me?" Lord Teng said: "Out to lodgings." He was placed in the residence of the Privy Treasurer.

The full imperial carriage procession was then prepared to welcome the King of Dai from his residence. Word was sent: "The palace has been thoroughly cleared." That evening, the King of Dai entered the Weiyang Palace. Ten ushers bearing halberds guarded the main gate and challenged him: "The Son of Heaven is within. Who are you, and why do you enter?" The King of Dai sent for the Grand Commandant. The Grand Commandant went to explain, and the ten ushers laid down their weapons and departed.

The King of Dai entered and took up the business of governance. That night, officials in separate detachments executed the Kings of Liang, Huaiyang, and Changshan, along with the deposed young Emperor, at their residences.

The King of Dai was enthroned as Son of Heaven. He reigned for twenty-three years, died, and was given the posthumous title Emperor Xiao Wen.

The Grand Historian remarks: In the time of Emperor Hui and Empress Dowager Lü, the common people were able to leave behind the suffering of the civil wars. Both sovereign and ministers desired nothing more than to rest and practice non-interference. Therefore Emperor Hui sat with folded hands, and Empress Dowager Lü, a woman, ruled from behind the curtain. Government did not reach beyond the chamber door, and the realm was tranquil. Punishments were seldom applied, and criminals were few. The people devoted themselves to plowing and planting, and clothing and food grew abundant.