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He was the emperor’s only son, yet because the emperor placed excessive trust in his favored concubines, his position as crown prince was abruptly revoked. Determined not to let the throne fall into the hands of powerful in-laws, he resolutely chose to stage a coup and seize power.
This man was Liu Bao, the eighth emperor of the Eastern Han dynasty, and the sole son of Emperor An, Liu Hu. But how did a once-disgraced crown prince manage to launch a successful coup? Was this a long-planned scheme on his part, or a twist of fate shaped by history?
展开剩余91%In the spring of the first year of Yangjia, Emperor Shun of Han, Liu Bao, introduced a sweeping reform called the “Yangjia New System.” This reform was arguably the most advanced policy of the Han dynasty. Under its influence, the capital and the whole Eastern Han realm experienced an unprecedented era of prosperity and flourishing.
Let’s explore what exactly this new system changed to earn praise from future generations as a reform ahead of its time by centuries. The Yangjia New System was proposed by the then Minister of Personnel, Zuo Xiong. The core of the reform was a transformation of the existing “Chajiu” system into an examination-based selection process.
Why did Minister Zuo propose this change? What flaws had the long-standing Chajiu system revealed over time? Originally, local officials would select and recommend talented individuals within their jurisdictions to higher authorities and the central government. Those recommended would undergo some evaluation and then be appointed to official posts.
In simple terms, local officers recommended candidates, and they alone decided the standards. The system left too much room for personal bias. Local officials often favored their own protégés, relatives, or even colluded with wealthy local elites. As a result, many genuinely capable and ambitious talents were overlooked, missing the chance to advance to the capital and serve the country.
In response to these issues, Zuo Xiong introduced the exam system to reform the selection process. This innovation was extremely forward-thinking for its time, because it established subject-specific examinations similar to the imperial exams seen in later dynasties like the Sui.
By doing so, talent selection became more impartial, and those chosen had proven knowledge and ability. Yet the reform met fierce opposition from the powerful aristocratic families, who saw their influence directly threatened. Fortunately, Emperor Shun Liu Bao was a ruler who understood the stakes and did not abandon the reform despite pressure from the elites.
Moreover, he believed the reform suited the current needs of governance, as it would help him select capable officials loyal to his rule. Remarkably, Liu Bao was only eighteen at the time—how did such a young emperor enact such decisive reforms?
To understand this, we must first look at how he ascended the throne. Though Liu Bao was the only son of Emperor An, his path to succession was far from smooth. Despite being the sole crown prince, Emperor An shocked the court by announcing the abolition of Liu Bao’s status as heir apparent.
Yes, the emperor was willing to strip his only son of the crown prince title. But why? Had Liu Bao committed some unforgivable offense?
In truth, Liu Bao’s early life was marked by misfortune. His mother was not of noble birth but a palace maid named Lady Li, favored by Emperor An. After a difficult pregnancy lasting ten months, she gave birth to Liu Bao, the emperor’s only son.
The empress, Yan Ji, jealous of Lady Li, poisoned her with a cup of deadly wine. Liu Bao grew up motherless but, as a royal bloodline descendant, the empress could not bring herself to harm him directly.
Still, life in the palace was far from easy for Liu Bao. Despite harsh conditions, he did not develop bitterness. Instead, he was simple, honest, and benevolent from childhood. His intelligence and filial piety won praise from Empress Dowager Deng, who urged Emperor An to name him crown prince.
Even after being appointed crown prince, Liu Bao faced threats and intimidation from Empress Yan and her allies in the palace. At just ten years old, he suffered from severe illness due to fear and anxiety, living in constant dread. Emperor An eventually decided to have him live with his wet nurse for protection.
However, Empress Yan spread rumors accusing Liu Bao of plotting rebellion and conspiring with palace officials to assassinate Emperor An. Enraged, the emperor ordered the removal of Liu Bao’s crown prince title. Despite pleas from others, Liu Bao was officially stripped of his position and reassigned to a remote official post far from the capital.
When Liu Bao was eleven, Emperor An died suddenly during a ritual at Zhangling. Knowing this, Empress Yan and her brother conspired to install a puppet emperor to control the court. Fearing Liu Bao might claim the throne, they falsely reported that the emperor was ill and appointed a controllable figure as temporary ruler.
Unfortunately, this stand-in soon fell gravely ill and died mysteriously. Meanwhile, Grand Minister Li He, upon hearing the news, gathered loyal officials to plan Liu Bao’s enthronement. With the help of Liu Bao’s wet nurse Song E and ally Sun Cheng, they eliminated Yan Ji’s eunuch faction and welcomed Liu Bao as emperor—the Han Shun Emperor—at just eleven years old.
After ascending, Liu Bao received the imperial insignia from Empress Dowager Yan and quickly consolidated his power by removing corrupt eunuchs and relatives of the empress, laying the foundation for his rule. To thank his wet nurse, he granted Song E the title Lady of Shanyang and ennobled her supporters.
Yet within a year, those nobles were all dismissed. It turned out Song E had begun colluding with eunuchs to seek greater power. Upon learning this, Liu Bao stripped her of her title and sent her back to the countryside.
At the same time, Liu Bao was aware of deep-rooted problems in the court. He launched thorough investigations into corrupt officials, rooting out those abusing power and accepting bribes. He also expanded the Yangjia New System nationwide. Though it upset the aristocratic families, Liu Bao pressed on with the reforms.
These efforts laid the groundwork for a flourishing era in Luoyang lasting thirteen years. Unfortunately, Liu Bao’s untimely death cut this golden age short, and the reforms quickly faded into obscurity—a tragic loss for history.
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