The wife of Prime Minister Gao was named Lü Zhi, originally from Danfu County, Dang Prefecture. Later, she moved to Pei County with her father and married Prime Minister Gao, who was then serving as the head of a crossroads guard. She was the first empress recorded in the history of China, holding great power and although a woman, she did not fall short of many men in her actions.
Li Yan was originally praising Empress Lü for her exceptional abilities and being a unique woman. However, when this conversation fell into the ears of Ying Zheng, the emperor was quick to catch key phrases such as "first empress" and "powerful".
Ying Zheng's mind was suddenly taken back to when he became the emperor, he thought that in order to prevent the occurrence of internal palace rebellion and interference with imperial power, he must find a way to restrict the power of the empress.
He has no intention of appointing an empress, and even if he does, he is confident that he can keep her in check. But what about his descendants?
As Empress Lü had immense power, it might not be beneficial for the descendants of Pei Gong's family.
Ying Zheng asked, "Was Empress Lü responsible for the chaos of the state and did she cause harm to the descendants of Pei Gong?"
The First Emperor was good at grasping the key points. Li Nian said, "Indeed, as Your Majesty suspected, after Emperor Xuan of Han died, Empress Lü successively installed the former young emperor and the latter young emperor, twice taking the throne and exercising power. Although she contributed to the governance of the country during her reign, her heavy reliance on relatives-in-law and eunuchs also opened up the problems of relatives-in-law exercising power exclusively and eunuchs interfering in state affairs."
The exclusive power of relatives and eunuchs exercising authority and the intervention of eunuchs in state affairs were initiated by Empress Lü, but it cannot be said that they were solely her responsibility. Even if she did not engage in such actions, subsequent Han emperors may have done so as well.
Because the emperor is at the pinnacle of the world, he can trust and employ anyone.
If you trust civil officials, they may bring harm; if you trust military officers, they may bring harm; if you trust members of the royal clan, they too may bring harm.
It's just a matter of selecting among a group of people. Choosing among the common people can bring harm, while choosing relatives and eunuchs may bring slightly less harm.
Hearing what Li Nian had said, Ying Zheng nodded, and thought even more seriously about how to properly deal with the palace and relatives-in-law.
Although he had some interest in Empress Lü, she was not the first queen in history, and she was also just a country girl from a rural area, which was not worth paying too much attention to. He said, "What about Xiao He's situation?"
Li Nian said, "Xiao He was awarded the title of 'Count of Quancun', ranked first among the benefactors, and passed away due to illness in the second year of Emperor Xuan of Han, which can be considered a good death."
Hearing that Xiao He died of illness, Ying Zheng replied in a calm tone and then said, "So who is Zhou Yan from? Was he also a commoner like Pei Gong?"
"The Records of the Grand Historian states that Han Xin began as a commoner, from Huaiyin. Regarding Han Xin, many legends are left in history, such as 'a thousand catties for a meal', 'the insult under the armpit'..."
Li Nian recounted the stories behind these two idioms to the First Emperor, allowing him to understand Han Xin's character.
The First Emperor said, "Han Xin is a person who remembers the favor of one meal. This shows his understanding of gratitude and commitment, his loyalty to righteousness, and his ability to tolerate humiliation without anger when in a high position. When he is in a high position, he does not punish those who humiliated him earlier. This indicates that he has a considerable tolerance. However, after Han Xin became powerful, he also punished the wife of the town watchman who had once insulted him earlier. This again reveals that his heart was narrow-minded. Although an old woman fed Han Xin for several days when he was drifting along, and when Han Xin stayed with the town watchman's house for several months, what is the difference?"
"It is merely because the wife of the town watchman in Nanchang refused to let him stay and eat again, he forgot the favor he had received before from her. This person seems open-minded and magnanimous, but in reality, his heart is narrow."
"He tends to be proud of himself, values self-esteem and disregards human emotions. When he is successful, he often becomes arrogant. When he is unsuccessful, he believes that others do not recognize his talents. If he becomes successful again but then falls into hardship, he may say that some people in the past were not as good as him and now they are on top of him."
Li Nian was speechless, listening in awe. He hadn't detailed the historical records of Han Xin, but the First Emperor had managed to analyze so much information from what he had said. It turns out that the Han Xin recorded in history is indeed as analyzed by the First Emperor.
Seeing Li Nian's surprised expression, the First Emperor smiled and said, "From your look, I am sure my words are correct!"
"Thank goodness I didn't consider deceiving the First Emperor at the time, otherwise, even if I were still alive, I might be lame or paralyzed now."
Li Nian said, "Your Majesty is wise. Han Xin indeed had talents, but according to the later generations' comments, his EQ was lacking, that is to say, his interpersonal relations were often inappropriate. He was not in harmony with his superiors and colleagues. How could he not have faced downfall?"
Even if Han Xin was not killed and he rebelled, he would eventually come to an end. At most, he could rely on his strong military talent to bounce around for a few more years, but it was impossible for him to seize the empire.
Considering from the perspective that Han Xin truly revolted, killing Han Xin was absolutely right by Empress Lü. She indeed rid the Great Han and its people of a plague.
The stronger Han Xin's abilities, the more severe the consequences of his rebellion would be, and in the end, it would still be the common people who would suffer.
Ying Zheng said, "The 'Three Great Heroes' of the Han Dynasty, Your Majesty has already heard of two. What kind of person is this last one, Zhuge Liang, who can make the King of Pei say 'It is in the tent that strategic plans are made and victories are won from a distance. I am not as capable as Zhuge Liang'?"
Li Nian was thinking whether to ask the First Emperor for mercy for Zhang Liang, as he was a renowned strategic genius in Chinese history and a sage known since childhood. If he were to be killed by the First Emperor based on his words, it would indeed be too regrettable.
But in the end, Li Nian abandoned the thought.
One must not think that because they have gained the trust of the First Emperor, they can ask for anything they want.
This matter can only be brought up by the First Emperor. He should give advice when asked, but not proactively mention it. If the First Emperor thinks he is using his trust to control, it will not be good.
Do you think that because you believe I trust you now, you can become complacent and start giving orders to me? When it comes to my actions, how can you dare to interfere?
Li Nian said, "Master, 'Ziyang' is not his surname, but his given name. His actual surname is Zhang Liang!"
Zhang Liang?
Ying Zheng furrowed his brow, turned it over in his mind a few times, and couldn't quite figure out what to think. He then asked, "What is the relationship between him and Zhang Kaidi and Zhang Ping?"
The First Emperor did not guess that Zhang Liang was the grandson of Zhang Kaidi and the son of Zhang Ping, he just remembered those two names, so he asked casually without thinking too much. It was an accident.
Li Nian was not surprised that the First Emperor would associate Zhang Liang with Zhang Kaidi and Zhang Ping.
Because Han was the first among the Six States to be conquered by the Qin Dynasty, when formulating the strategy to conquer Han, the First Emperor must have studied various aspects of the Kingdom of Han carefully at that time, including its military, history, and related figures...
And Zhang Liang's grandfather Zhang KaiDi served as the prime minister of three dynasties of the Kingdom of Han, and his father Zhang Ping also served as the prime minister of two dynasties of the Kingdom of Han. Although both were dead when the Qin Dynasty conquered Han, they would not have been forgotten in the research on the strategy to conquer Han.
'Leave me alone, Master, I haven't even mentioned it yet, and the First Emperor has already guessed your background!'
Li Nian respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, Zhang Liang is indeed the grandson of Zhang KaiDi and the son of Zhang Ping!"
Ying Zheng also stunned for a moment, thinking for a few moments before asking again, "Isn't he resentful towards me and the Qin Dynasty for conquering and destroying the Kingdom of Han?"
Li Nian said, "Yes! According to historical records, in the twenty-ninth year of Emperor Shǐ's reign, when Your Majesty toured the east of the realm, Zhang Liang had buried himself in the area where Your Majesty must pass, and attempted to assassinate Your Majesty."
Ying Zheng's eyes narrowed slightly, and speaking in a tone that concealed any joy, he said, "It seems he holds a deep grudge against me and the Qin Dynasty. After the assassination attempt failed and he escaped, he joined Pei Gong at the end of the Qin Dynasty and eventually achieved his wish."
"Among the nobility of the six states, there are many people like Zhang Liang. Although the Qin Dynasty was able to conquer and destroy their countries, it was unable to eradicate their hearts! Continue!"
