Chapter 78: Old Liu

The celestial screen continues to recount Liu Bang's achievements:

【In law, the Three Agreements.】

When he entered Guanzhong, he and the common folk agreed that "those who kill shall die, those who wound or steal shall be punished," abolishing the Qin dynasty's harsh punishments.

After proclaiming himself emperor, he ordered Xiao He to draft the "Nine Chapter Law," laying the legal foundation of the Han dynasty.

【Economically, he let the people rest and recover.】

He decreed a reduction of land taxes to one fifteenth;

He freed slaves, increasing the labor force;

He encouraged childbirth, granting exemption from corvée for families with sons;

He emphasized agriculture and restrained commerce, forbidding merchants from wearing silk or riding in carriages.

These policies swiftly restored the shattered social economy.

【Culturally, Liu Bang honored Confucianism and revered Confucius (though I studied little, I respect scholars).】

In his early years he disliked scholars, even using a scholar's hat as a urinal.

But after unification he realized Confucianism's usefulness, and performed the Great Prison ceremony to sacrifice to Confucius, pioneering imperial worship of Confucius.

He also had Lu Jia compose "New Discourses," summarizing the lessons of Qin's fall and understanding the principle "to obtain the empire on horseback, how can one govern the empire on horseback."

【Territorially, a preliminary unification.】

He inherited the Qin dynasty's territories, but with the Xiongnu rising in the north, after the Siege of Baideng he adopted a marriage‑alliance policy, buying the Han dynasty time to rest and recover.

In the south he sent Lu Jia on a mission to Nanyue, making Zhao Tuo a vassal, maintaining stability in Lingnan.

Liu Ji stroked his beard and gave a slight nod.

He did all these things, and did them well.

The people had food to eat, clothes to wear, the realm was peaceful— that was enough.

However, the good times did not last.

The celestial screen's tone suddenly shifted:

【Misdeeds Chapter: Old Liu's Dark History】

【Politically, he executed meritorious officials, "when the birds are gone, the bow is hidden."】

This is the part where he receives the harshest criticism.

Han Xin, Peng Yue, and Ying Bu, the three great meritorious officials, were all slain.

Han Xin, before dying, shouted the timeless saying: "When the crafty rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked; when the birds are exhausted, the fine bow is hidden; when a rival state falls, the scheming minister perishes."

Liu Bang not only killed meritorious officials, but also chopped Peng Yue into minced meat and distributed it to the feudal lords; such cruelty was hair‑raising.

The visuals, synchronized with the narration, displayed animated scenes:

Han Xin was led to the execution ground, raising his voice to the heavens: "When the crafty rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked."

Peng Yue was minced into meat paste and packed into jars.

Ying Bu, defeated in battle, was killed, his head sent back to Chang'an.

Liu Ji's complexion flushed red and then turned pale.

These events… he indeed did, but wasn't it unavoidable!

Han Xin commanded his own troops and was self‑confident, Peng Yue was fickle, and Ying Bu simply rebelled.

If he didn't kill them, would they overturn the Liu family's realm?

Just as he was about to defend himself, bullet comments began scrolling across the celestial screen:

【Zhao Kuangyin (Founding Emperor of Song): @Liu Bang (Old Liu), you didn't offer a cup of wine to relinquish military authority, you just killed people! So ruthless!】

【Zhu Yuanzhang (Founding Emperor of Ming): @Liu Bang, Brother Liu, we are both commoner emperors!】

You were called a scoundrel since childhood; I tended cattle and begged for food since I was young, I understand you!

But you killed meritorious officials too ruthlessly; I also killed, but I didn't turn Peng Yue into minced meat!

I could never copy that move!

Liu Ji watched these comments, feeling a tightness in his chest.

He killed meritorious officials to secure the realm; why does that become a dark history?

These later emperors speak without feeling any pain!

You haven't experienced those days of constant dread, so how can you know how great the threat from meritorious officials was!

He was holding his breath when the celestial screen delivered another fatal blow:

【Militarily, the Siege of Baideng was ground down by the Xiongnu.】

In 200 BC, he led 320,000 troops north against the Xiongnu, only to be surrounded by Modu Chanyu's 400,000 cavalry on Baideng Mountain for seven days and nights; he finally escaped thanks to Chen Ping's plan to bribe the A clan of Modu.

From then on he never dared a northern expedition, having to endure humiliation and pursue marriage alliances.

The scene appears:

Baideng Mountain, the Han army besieged, supplies exhausted, the sky cold and the earth frozen.

Liu Ji sat inside the camp tent, his face a steely blue.

Chen Ping offered a plan, bribed the A clan, the A clan whispered in Modu's ear, Modu Chanyu lifted the siege, and the Han army fled in disarray.

Liu Ji's old face swelled bright red.

The Siege of Baideng was the shame of his life.

Three hundred thousand troops were surrounded by the Xiongnu, nearly never returning.

In the end, it was thanks to women and bribes that he salvaged a life.

He has never wanted to bring up this matter.

On the celestial screen, another line of comments drifted by:

Zhu Di (Ming Chengzu): @Liu Bang, the founding emperor, I don't really agree with your heqin policy.

A true man, the Son of Heaven guards the nation's gates; I'd rather fight the Mongols to the death than send women to barter for peace!

Liu Bang: "……"

Zhu Di? The one who snatched his nephew's throne? He dares to speak of him?

What do you know! At that time the Han had just been founded, everything was in ruins, could we even fight?

Heqin, that's a delaying tactic!

Wait until the nation's strength grows, then strike back; do you understand strategy!

He was so angry his chest rose and fell, yet the sky screen kept going:

In family matters, he favored Lady Qi, sowing the seeds of Empress Lv Zhi's turmoil.

In his later years he adored Lady Qi, intending to make her son Liu Ruyi crown prince, which provoked Empress Lv Zhi's jealousy.

After his death, Empress Lv Zhi turned Lady Qi into a human pig, poisoned Liu Ruyi, and inaugurated the evil precedent of in‑law interference in state affairs.

In character, he had a rogue streak.

He was naturally suspicious; while fleeing, to lighten the load, he kicked his own children off the carriage three times;

When pursued by Xiang Yu, he almost boiled his own father, then said, "Give me a share of the broth."

Although these were helpless acts in chaotic times, they became black marks on his life.

Liu Ji's complexion was as pale as paper.

Lady Qi… Ruyi… Empress Lv Zhi… human pig… he knew all these things.

Empress Lv Zhi, that woman, was ruthless; while he lived she could be suppressed, but now that she's dead, revenge was inevitable.

But he hadn't expected it to be that ruthless.

He also kicked his children off the carriage, said he'd boil his father… he did those things, but wasn't it out of necessity?

At the time, escaping was urgent; there was no time to worry about such things!

He stared at the glaring words on the sky screen, at the moving images, and suddenly felt a chill run through his body.

So in later generations' eyes, Liu Bang is seen as a murderous minister, fearful of the Xiongnu, a lover of concubines, a child‑kicking "old rogue"?

A sharp pain seized his chest, and he coughed violently, a heart‑rending cough.

Lv Zhi hurriedly patted his back; a eunuch brought water, he took a sip, then coughed it all up, the water tinged with blood.

"Your Majesty! Your Majesty, what's wrong with you?!"

Lv Zhi was so frantic that tears welled up.

Liu Ji waved his hand, indicating he was fine.

He panted heavily, looked at the sky screen, his gaze complex.

Achievements are achievements, faults are faults; later generations see clearly, he has no excuse.

He was despondent when suddenly a burst of golden light erupted on the sky screen!

As before, a pure golden beam poured down from the center of the sky screen, vast and majestic, illuminating the night sky.

Within the golden light, a line of ancient, simple characters emerged:

Considering that Han Gaozu Liu Bang founded the Great Han, established the nation, and secured peace and prosperity, the creator of the sky screen specially bestowed a reward:

The reward grants the honoree a lifespan of seventy years, a refined‑salt production diagram, ten thousand jin of corn seeds yielding a thousand jin per mu, plus fifteen years of favorable wind and rain!

The moment the script appeared, Liu Ji felt a massive warm current flood his body, instantly spreading through every limb.

It was an indescribable sense of comfort, as if he had become fifty years younger, full of vigor, mind clear and refreshed.

He looked down at his hands; the wrinkles on his skin faded quickly, white hair turned black, and even his back straightened.

The chest pain vanished, the cough ceased, and his whole body brimmed with strength.

Even more miraculous, a diagram suddenly appeared in his hand—

A detailed, clear schematic on how to produce refined salt.

Simultaneously, he "saw" outside Chang'an City a heap of golden‑yellow, plump seeds materializing out of thin air, piled as high as a small hill.

Those must be the corn seeds, the immortal food yielding a thousand jin per mu.

Liu Bang's eyes welled, and he bowed deeply toward the sky screen: "Lord, thank you for the celestial family's grace!"